One way forward
Friday, Jun 3, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* While the Radogno quote doesn’t really suggest compromise, I am told that a middle-ground figure could be reached on K-12 spending if people put their minds to it…
Rauner’s proposal included only $220 million more for schools statewide—a fraction of the $900 million figure that was in bills that separately passed the House and the Senate. Roughly half of that money would have gone to Chicago Public Schools, and CPS chief Forrest Claypool says he needs all of it to put toward an anticipated $1 billion deficit in the upcoming school year.
“We need this stability, and not this strategy of pitting region against region,” Claypool told me, referring to Rauner’s suggestion that Democrats just are trying to wire “a bailout” of CPS.
Insiders suggest to me that Rauner is prepared to raise his schools figure as part of a deal on an interim budget. “There’s a big difference” between what Democrats want and what Rauner currently is proposing, says Radogno, clearly suggesting that a bargain is doable.
The problem is all this GOP thundering about how they won’t back a CPS bailout. The governor is letting the Republicans (and himself) get way out over their skis on this issue.
The logical and humane choice here would be to split the difference, put an additional $500 million or so into K-12, including some help for Chicago, and call it a day.
Wartime footings are not conducive to logic and humanity, however.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 10:29 am:
Lots of “Green” and a Rauner signature…
“…for a Chicago Bailout!”
The politics are turning a ridiculous blind eye to the governing that will have to happen.
Short-sided…tom-foolery
- 47th Ward - Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 10:29 am:
===Insiders suggest to me that Rauner is prepared to raise his schools figure as part of a deal on an interim budget.===
Rauner’s idea of an “interim budget” needs a lot more flushing out before anyone thinks this is a real offer. From what I understand, his stop gap budget is limited, and based on the mess that is the current situation.
Take higher ed for example. Rauner isn’t proposing giving them a six month budget based on FY15 totals. He’s offering to give them just enough to keep the lights on in the fall. No MAP either.
So before anyone suggests that Rauner is being reasonable by offering a six month budget, ask for the details. And whatever he tells you, get it in writing.
It’s just another smokescreen. Rauner knows the schools need to open, and once they do, he can continue to bleed the rest of state government dry.
- DunkinDoNUTS - Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 10:29 am:
We elected Rauner to do what he is doing . CPS made its own bed now the have to wallow in it .
- anon - Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 10:31 am:
Any agreement reached now would contain more money for CPS. To pass, it would require a sifnificant number of GOP votes, including from those who have been railing against a CPS bailout. Apparently it’s a bad bailout only when the Democrats propose it.
- @MisterJayEm - Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 10:36 am:
“Wartime footings are not conducive to logic and humanity, however.”
When someone explicitly (and exclusively) uses the tactics of aerial combat, parties will inevitably find themselves on wartime footings. And OODA Loops win dog fights — not negotiation, compromise or humanity.
– MrJM
- FarmerSon - Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 10:37 am:
“We elected Rauner to do what he is doing” Rauner got elected to get rid of Quinn.
- Honeybear - Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 10:40 am:
The politics are turning a ridiculous blind eye to the governing that will have to happen.
Or is it possible that the current perfidy is to ensure that no governing happens in the ultimate high stakes game where all political capital has been wagered in an attempt to break the back of the opponent; In a sense a kamikaze campaign?
- Illinois Bob - Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 10:47 am:
@Rich
=The logical and humane choice here would be to split the difference, put an additional $500 million or so into K-12, including some help for Chicago, and call it a day.=
Fine. Giving away another half billion to schools which already are funded at 18% per student above the national average may be good politics, but LOUSY accounting and financial management.
Tell us, good sir, from where they can cut a half billion in the budget to transfer to K-12 schools.
Unless the Illinois Treasurer and Comptroller graduated from the “Hogwart’s School of Finance” you can’t just make a half billion pop up out of thin air!LOL
- CCP Hostage - Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 10:50 am:
Thanks @MrJM for the OODA Loops explanation and link yesterday. It’s helping me understand and better keep clarity in all of this impasse. Hopefully it will help as we human services providers move forward in our advocacy attempts.
- JS Mill - Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 10:50 am:
=The logical and humane choice here would be to split the difference, put an additional $500 million or so into K-12, including some help for Chicago, and call it a day.=
I agree with the above.
CPS is in dire straights and have to make many changes that will result in a better bottom line, but more importantly a better education for kids. This can be accomplished without cannibalizing other schools.
Rich’s suggestion can be the springboard to a better long-term solution. It provides a short term increase that relieves some pressure on schools and allows for a thorough vetting of a long term solution.
- Markus - Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 10:51 am:
If the people most impacted by this mess wake up and realize they comprise the majority of the population and can make a difference by voting in November, this will end. If we maintain the “status quo”, they won’t vote and we welcome President Trump and the age of the Raunerites.
- Skeptic - Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 10:56 am:
“… get way out over their skis on this issue. . . Wartime footings are not conducive to logic and humanity, however.”
I would suggest standing off-balance on slippery pieces of composite materials on a snowy mountainside is also not conducive to a logical or humane descent.
- Norseman - Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 10:56 am:
=== The governor is letting the Republicans (and himself) get way out over their skis on this issue. ===
Yep. I’d also add on tax increases. Clearly Rauner needs and wants some increases and is seeking his agenda not only because he believes in it, it’s good political cover.
- East Central Illinois - Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 10:56 am:
FarmerSon +1
- Anonymous - Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 10:59 am:
This is a Gordian knot that no one seems to know how to untie it. Madigan and the boys in the House are content to let us drift forever. To good cop bad cop between Madigan and Cullerton goes on year after year.
- Earnest - Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 11:16 am:
Originally I thought it was a typo and thought it was: Rauner was prepared to raze his schools. /s
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 11:20 am:
CPS currently owes $38000 per pupil.
The state will provide some help where possible, but they are pretty strapped as well. Eventually Chicago will have to solve this. Their low property taxes will have to increase additionally for starters, at least to similar rates of the surrounding areas.
- ash - Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 11:45 am:
If we split of K-12, again, we get a repeat of last year and those universities and social service agencies hanging on are going to to be gone.
- Concerned - Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 11:59 am:
Does anybody else see the quad cities and Clinton needed every citizen to pay more for electricity to save 1500 jobs and the Chicago mess as related. Both need bailouts! The deal will be to bail out the downstate/western cities and Chicago and we can all pay a little more.
- Way Way Down Here - Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 12:01 pm:
We talked about “dog whistles” yesterday, so let’s paint by the numbers today. Students in the CPS are 90+% minority. 86% of them are economically disadvantaged. There are 233,000 students in elementary school. That number drops to 112,000 after eight grade. So we just cut these kids loose? I don’t care who’s at fault. Don’t even start with me on that. What have we become? Sorry, but this ticks me off.
- scott aster - Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 12:30 pm:
time to close the 50 schools that Rahm talked about when he did the first 50 and fire about 500 teachers and have the rest take a pay freeze for 5 years.
- Honeybear - Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 12:34 pm:
Way way down here +1
We are failing our precious children. It saddens me too. It also angers me when trolls shoot down people and proposals trying to help, like in yesterdays violence discussion. It is at best Randian selfish narcissism and at worst covert racism. We must take to the streets. We must take to the social media. We must take it to those who we come across in our daily lives. We must address it and not let up.
- walker - Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 12:52 pm:
The cooler heads in Springfield will mostly ignore what Gov. Rauner says on the campaign trail these days, or what is said in letters sent out by targeted Dem candidates.
Both sides are using 18-month old talking points, and will have to walk back a bit when any compromise is reached.
Interested voters are being set up with current rhetoric, for future confusion and frustration.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 1:02 pm:
–It’s just another smokescreen. Rauner knows the schools need to open, and once they do, he can continue to bleed the rest of state government dry. –
That’s about how I see it.
- Way Way Down Here - Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 1:08 pm:
Thanks for your kind words Ms. Bear. I didn’t mean to rant. Well, I kind of did. My daughter-in-law teaches at a rural school “down here”. Statistics there: 96% white/70% economically disadvantaged. And you’d be surprised how well, the “Us vs Chicago” pitch sells down here. And yes, I’m thinking the same thing you are.
- Way Way Down Here - Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 1:11 pm:
Thanks Ms. Bear.
- Way Way Down Here - Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 1:18 pm:
Sorry for the double post.
- peon - Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 1:27 pm:
= –It’s just another smokescreen. Rauner knows the schools need to open, and once they do, he can continue to bleed the rest of state government dry. –
That’s about how I see it. =
I agree. But the strategy confuses me.
No TA items were achieved in an entire year - so it’s not exactly working. This isn’t likely to change.
You can inflict much harm but you can’t reduce your debts significantly. Unlike bankruptcy he is used to, the debts here can’t easily be written off. Also, you risk major disruption in society and losing political control of the process.
I can only assume Rauner believes that perseverance with the strategy will ultimately prevail. I don’t see it.
- Joe M - Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 2:13 pm:
If Illinois is ever going to have any kind of property tax relief, then the State is going to need to pick up a lot more of K-12 funding. Therefore, the higher figure of the Democrats may have more merit, if we really do want to help Illinoisans with their property tax burden.