36 Comments - Federalist - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 10:57 am: Neither Madigan or Rauner really care about good government. It is all about them and their agendas. It would take total massive protests by individual citizens, and not just the usual organized labor, welfare and business groups, to force these parties to move forward. That will not happen! It may well be that Rauner is out of office before a real budget is ever signed into legislation. - illinois manufacturer - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 11:00 am: Do these pundits who think that without Madigan that the rank and file would love the TA? I don’t think Will Guzzard is a secret Rauner fan. It more the opposite . DDownstate GOP that have their constiuants under attack by Rauner. - wordslinger - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 11:01 am: What is it Democrats are supposed to “give in” on, and what are these “reforms” that are so critical that they’re worth the price of all this damage? For months now, it’s just been weasel-words. What, specifically, are the issues at hand today? If they’re so important, and so critical, can someone at least articulate them in a meaningful, quantifiable way so we know what we’re dealing with? Or are we just to take it all as some mysterious matter of faith, this effort to “save the soul of our state.” - J. Nolan - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 11:13 am: Wordslinger - please stop being intentionally obtuse. The remaining agenda items have been detailed ad nauseum by the Gov, GOP, various groups for over a year. What don’t you understand about the fact that if IL had only grown at the National AVERAGE over last 15 years we would have no deficits, wouldn’t have needed 2011 tax hike, and would have 19 billion more over that period to put into schools. Reforms to spur long term economic growth IS THE BUDGET. - Ducky LaMoore - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 11:17 am: It really is a shame Rauner burned the Cullerton bridge. That was the way out of this mess. But then again, I really don’t think Rauner wants to get out of this mess. For some reason, we can only have higher taxes if we have lower wages for the governor to agree to do his job. Yeah, that’ll really grow the economy! - Ratso Rizzo - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 11:19 am: ===- J. Nolan - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 11:13 am: Wordslinger - please stop being intentionally obtuse. The remaining agenda items have been detailed ad nauseum by the Gov, GOP, various groups for over a year. What don’t you understand about the fact that if IL had only grown at the National AVERAGE over last 15 years we would have no deficits, wouldn’t have needed 2011 tax hike, and would have 19 billion more over that period to put into schools. Reforms to spur long term economic growth IS THE BUDGET.=== I don’t think Word was being obtuse. Everyone knows the details of the TA agenda. The point of his statement is what are the measurable benefits to the TA? Give us some verifiable statistics backing up the claims that the TA is necessary and beneficial. - Wensicia - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 11:20 am: You can’t get to compromise while trying to impose reforms that will actually create billions in revenue that will erase all deficits. That’s a fantasy. - wordslinger - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 11:23 am: –Wordslinger - please stop being intentionally obtuse. The remaining agenda items have been detailed ad nauseum by the Gov, GOP, various groups for over a year.– Please, humor me. I’m a little thick. It would be swell if you could take a few minutes and reveal the current, specific pre-conditions and they’re projected, quantifiable benefits. They’re so dreamy, it should be easy for you. - JS Mill - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 11:23 am: =What don’t you understand about the fact that if IL had only grown at the National AVERAGE over last 15 years we would have no deficits, wouldn’t have needed 2011 tax hike, and would have 19 billion more over that period to put into schools.= Yeah Word, what don’t you get with all of that very specific detail about the TA and growin’ the economy and gettin’ rid of fraud and waste. /s @jnolan- you prove Words point, but the cool aide seems to have effected your reasoning. Word +1 - Ducky LaMoore - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 11:29 am: ===Reforms to spur long term economic growth IS THE BUDGET.=== Wrong. That is so wrong I can’t believe someone as knowledgeable as you would type it. First, we need a balanced budget to get our credit rating back. Because the fact of the matter is, the government doesn’t create growth. A stable government is something big and mid sized companies look at when they want to move into a state. If a CEO looks at Illinois and sees junk credit ratings, a non functioning government, and a poor leader at the helm who is whistling past the graveyard, why would they consider Illinois even if we were a “Right to Work” (for less) state? Yes there are things Illinois can do to make the state more welcoming to business. But you have to start with a budget. Fantasy reforms are NOT A BUDGET. - Oswego Willy - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 11:32 am: “Reforms” are not budgetary terms. Assets, liabilities, revenue, payables, receivables… Reforms are NOT a budgetary accounting principle. - Markus - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 11:43 am: J. Nolan “What don’t you understand about the fact that if IL had only grown at the National AVERAGE over last 15 years we would have no deficits, wouldn’t have needed 2011 tax hike, and would have 19 billion more over that period to put into schools. Reforms to spur long term economic growth IS THE BUDGET.” You mean “reforms” like Kansas implemented? - JackD - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 11:44 am: Which “reforms” are the Democrats supposed to give in on? - Norseman - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 11:45 am: Nolan, the extent of the alleged compromises haven’t been released. Nobody is going to argue that growth is needed. The argument is over whether the measures advertised as spurring that growth will succeed. What evidence based data shows that reducing wages will spur growth. The one thing I know for sure is that the alleged benefits of TA are not worth the destruction to the state and it’s social service structure caused by this impasse. - JackD - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 11:45 am: I should have added, should the Democrats give in on “reforms” because the Governor won’t give in and somehow he should be deferred to? - Huh? - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 11:48 am: “… are we just to take it all as some mysterious matter of faith, this effort to “save the soul of our state.” Yes, we, the ill informed, uneducated and poor folk, not fortunate enough to own 9 homes and earn over $1million per week, are supposed to blindly genuflect and bow our heads in awe to His Worshipful, the Supreme and Mighty Lord High Master of vulture capitalism because his wise words and kindly actions will lead us out of the desert of undue union influence, overdue pension obligations, unpaid bills and crushed social services into the promised right to work land of no prevailing wage, low pay jobs with no worker comp protection. Where local agencies have local control over their frozen property taxes. All this will come to pass when the Noble Lord vanquishes the evil Speaker of Madiganistan, a man so vile and corrupt, standing in our Dear Leader’s path, frustrating the benevolence of our betters. We will all live happily knowing that the All Knowing, Worshipful, Supreme and Mighty Lord High Master has shown us the error of our ways and lead us to the path of true righteousness of running the State like a bidness. If you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you. /S - Federalist - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 11:54 am: Reforms? Budget? No matter how you define it or slice it these two guys are in a rutting season style horn lock. So it makes little difference. And they really don’t care what any of us think about the problem. - Huh? - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 12:17 pm: “Please, humor me. I’m a little thick.” If venerable and beloved Wordslinger can’t see the error of his ways, what hope is there for us against the corruption of the evil Speaker of Madiganistan? Dear Lord High Master please save us. - Mama - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 12:19 pm: “Please contact your lawmakers and tell them to order their leaders to stay at the table until they create a responsible budget that also includes some of the reforms necessary to restore Illinois’ future.” Rich, which reforms do they think are necessary to restore IL’s future? - Mama - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 12:25 pm: Regarding the temporary budget idea - I feel Cullerton had the right idea. Rauner should accept a temporary budget as opposed to NO budget. - Mama - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 12:30 pm: - Norseman @ 11:45 am: - +1 - Grandson of Man - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 12:31 pm: There are other ways to skin the cat, and perhaps now is the time to be sad that they’re not with us or even remotely realistic. The millionaire tax. Too bad the millionaire tax or a progressive state income tax doesn’t get enacted here. It’s popular, beneficial and fair. Millionaires don’t flee higher tax states and actually leave in less frequency than everyone combined, according to a study. The study reports using 13 years of income tax data–speaking of numbers. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-05-26/higher-taxes-don-t-scare-millionaires-into-fleeing-their-homes-after-all Too bad also that we don’t want to legalize marijuana here in Illinois. Colorado reports very good fiscal benefits to cities. http://www.denverpost.com/2016/05/26/marijuana-sales-tax-revenue-huge-boon-for-colorado-cities/ - btowntruth - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 12:38 pm: Did the SuperStars write those BND and Dispatch/Argus editorials or merely dictate them over the phone to those editorial boards? - Captain Illini - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 12:40 pm: “There are just four days left to foment a little rebellion before the speaker wins his waiting game” Let me correct this…There are four days left for the ILGOP to hide behind the ILDems…because on day five, they’ll have to grow a pair and start voting yes or no versus present and represent…or loose big come November. - Anonymous - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 1:16 pm: While we await the possibility of utopia occurring should the TA ever come to pass (snark), I have to ask what folks think of the state of our well-being now? How’s your life today, compared to 2-3 years ago? Having relatives in other states, they’ve heard about our ongoing saga and cannot believe any governor would inflict such destruction( and that we would stand by and watch it happen). They have referred to the chicanery as a joke - Dandy Edward - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 1:22 pm: What don,t the Democrats understand. We have the highest paid strate work force in the country, businesses do not want to come here do to the highest total tax percentage and workers comp. rates in the country. The state has a higher unemployment rate than most states. Rauner is trying to fix this so we can grow Illinois economy and increase state revenues. The way things are now who would want to invest here. - Oswego Willy - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 1:26 pm: ===The state has a higher unemployment rate than most states.=== That’s on Rauner. You’re welcome. - Oswego Willy - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 1:29 pm: - Dandy Edward - Your IPI talking points are in the right order. They mean very little but you said them, yeah you! If you have any figures besides 1.4% or $500+ million. What other numbers you got? - RNUG - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 1:32 pm: == For some reason, we can only have higher taxes if we have lower wages for the governor to agree to do his job. Yeah, that’ll really grow the economy! == Have to have the lower wages so the 1.4% make the same profit after the higher taxes. Remember, it takes a lot of cash flow to keep up 9 homes and maintain all those club memberships. - RNUG - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 1:45 pm: == While we await the possibility of utopia occurring should the TA ever come to pass (snark), I have to ask what folks think of the state of our well-being now? How’s your life today, compared to 2-3 years ago? == Actually, mostly good with a little bad. Still 6 feet above ground and a little money in the bank. Miss mom who passed away and still a bit of hassle with that estate. And the Mrs and I are a bit older, slower and sorer. But the kids and grand-kids are fine. Slowly winnowing away at everything I said I would do when retired. Bought a new car so I’m no longer using a 33 year old one every day. Life is OK, not quite as good as my late 40’s to mid-50’s, but not bad. Oh, you were talking about the effects of the budget standoff on personal lives! As I noted in the discussion here the other day, I’m only seeing very minor effects personally. That’s why the standoff has lasted this long. Most people aren’t being significantly affected. And please pick a name … - RNUG - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 1:53 pm: == What don,t the Democrats understand. We have the highest paid strate work force in the country, businesses do not want to come here do to the highest total tax percentage and workers comp. rates in the country. The state has a higher unemployment rate than most states. Rauner is trying to fix this so we can grow Illinois economy and increase state revenues. The way things are now who would want to invest here. == We also have the least number of state government workers per capita. And more than anything else, businesses want a stable and consistent business environment. They can adapt to high costs like taxes and work comp; they can’t adjust government changing directions every year. Pass a realistic budget with sustaining revenue for future years and you’ll have taken a major step in reforming the business conditions here in Illinois. - Formerly Known As... - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 2:12 pm: ==The trouble is that both sides are blocked. Neither can go forward without the other and so neither is willing to fold.== This +100. Rauner can’t get the votes for passage alone. Madigan can’t get the votes for an override alone. Rauner, the Senate, as well as rank-and-file members were legitimately compromising in good faith on multiple issues. Then Madigan took his ball and went home. - AC - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 2:15 pm: Even if there was a benefit to passing the turnaround agenda, and I don’t believe there is, there won’t be many employers left to benefit from passing it anyway, not at this rate: https://illinoisepi.wordpress.com/2016/05/24/illinois-has-the-highest-unemployment-in-the-nation/ - Formerly Known As... - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 2:22 pm: ==the card player, knew when to fold and wait for a better hand.== The only problem is that there is no =better hand= or another hand. This is the best hand you have. If Speaker Madigan is not willing to compromise on even the most basic reforms over the budget, what else is powerful enough that could possibly compel him to agree to anything unpopular with his base? And even if he admits the state may need some reform, why would he do so during an election year? - NorthsideNoMore - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 4:43 pm: Madigan’s history is negotiates Everything so what’s the big deal with any reform request? He simply has not gotten what he wants out of the Deal. Gov apparently the same way in his dealings. The tug of war continues. One things for sure I Wouldn’t want to go back to my district Wednesday with out a budget. - Norseman - Monday, May 30, 16 @ 5:11 pm: IL Session Countdown Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.