A little late
Wednesday, Jun 29, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* OK, so now we know why the Daily Herald jumped in with their drama-filled editorial late yesterday…
About a dozen Illinois newspapers are using their front pages to call on Illinois’ political leaders to end the state’s year-old budget stalemate.
Newspapers in Springfield, Chicago and other cities are publishing simultaneous editorials in their editions Wednesday, when lawmakers return to the capitol to debate budget proposals.
Newspapers rarely use their front pages for opinion pieces or coordinate opinions. Many plan to use the headline “Enough.”
Rosanne Cheeseman is interim publisher of the (Springfield) State Journal-Register, which coordinated the effort. She said papers are taking the unusual step because lawmakers appear to have stopped listening to constituents.
* Some newspapers, like the Northwest Herald, simply ran the same editorial as the SJ-R. It’s not bad at all. Others, like the Decatur Herald & Review, ran their own editorials.
* But the News-Gazette was having none of that and doubled down on its support for Gov. Rauner…
But that [2011] tax hike — Madigan’s solution then as it is now — solved nothing. That’s why it’s our view that Rauner would be making a mistake by acceding to Madigan’s tax hike proposal without gaining needed reforms in exchange. He has proposed changes to the state’s workers’ compensation plan, offered to back Democratic Senate President John Cullerton’s pension reform legislation and asked that local governments be given more flexibility in negotiating with unions to control costs.
Those changes could help make a positive difference in restoring Illinois’ weak economy to good health.
It would be easy now for Rauner to simply throw up his hands and cave in to Madigan’s demands. The Chicago Democrat is tough as nails in the pursuit of his political goals.
But it would solve nothing. Rauner didn’t run for governor to preside over Illinois’ continuing decline. That’s why this battle — obnoxious and unpalatable though it is — will likely resume when the truce expires after the November election.
- Formerly Known as Frenchie M - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 9:43 am:
… and this is exactly what Rauner needs to say, “See, everyone supports me.”
—
Rauner didn’t run for governor to preside over Illinois’ continuing decline.
—
Says who?
- Whinnin' - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 9:44 am:
The Champaign-Urbana community, which includes the U of I, deserves much better than the News-Gazette.
- illini97 - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 9:44 am:
To the 1 millions Illinoisans losing access to needed services, hang in there.
Sincerely, Editorial Board of the News-Gazette
- Doug Simpson - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 9:46 am:
*Rauner didn’t run for governor to preside over Illinois’ continuing decline.*
******
However he seems to be governing that way!
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 9:47 am:
==Rauner didn’t run for governor to preside over Illinois’ continuing decline.==
No. I presumed he ran for Governor to, you know, actually govern.
Anyone still saying “hang in there” needs their head examined.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 9:51 am:
–Those changes could help make a positive difference in restoring Illinois’ weak economy to good health.–
Show me, beyond dorm-room, bong-hitting blather.
But I’m guessing that paying Illinois businesses the billions they’re owed by the state might even be a better idea.
A lot of businesses, they do better when they get paid, I’ve noticed over the years.
- YSW - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 9:52 am:
If you call cutting the bill backlog in half “nothing” then yeah, raising taxes accomplished nothing.
- CharlieKratos - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 9:56 am:
So the News-Gazette is the only rational, non-collectivist paper in Illinois? /s
- Qui Tam - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 9:56 am:
=But that [2011] tax hike — Madigan’s solution then as it is now — solved nothing. That’s why it’s our view that Rauner would be making a mistake by acceding to Madigan’s tax hike proposal without gaining needed reforms in exchange.=
On what does their E-Board base its assumption that the TA savings/growth replaces revenues from the 2011 tax hike?
- Hullabaloo - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 9:57 am:
Tell me, News-Gazette, how exactly Worker’s Comp, an unconstitutionl on its face pension reform, and local collective bargaining reforms would do anything to help the state’s budget mess?
Let me guess “expand the tax base”? That same line was used in Kansas, Wisconsin and Michigan to disastrous results. So, sorry, News-Gazette- like the milque toast editorials running across the state- yours misses the mark.
- @MisterJayEm - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 10:00 am:
“About a dozen Illinois newspapers are using their front pages to call on Illinois’ political leaders to end the state’s year-old budget stalemate.”
Collectivism!!1!
– MrJM
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 10:09 am:
The ball is in your court MJM. Concede to a few items and there will likely be a compromise which include increased revenues.
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 10:13 am:
CNG is another dimension as usual. The 2011 tax hike did help avoid huge cuts to THE U, other universities and community colleges, etc
More importantly is the media failure to list # for SqueezeTheBeast and Durkie. Wait til ya see the excuse.
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 10:14 am:
BTW free copies of this heroic effort is now appearing at the State House without the meat market sticker plastered to the P!…Head to Magro’s for their $149 Firecracker Bundle
- Cook County Commoner - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 10:17 am:
Seems like an exercise in futility. I doubt most voters are paying attention. Until the fiscal fiasco hits them personally, they are blissfully detached.
- Joe M - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 10:40 am:
==Concede to a few items and there will likely be a compromise which include increased revenues.=
Anonymous - 10:09 am, when will people like you get it through your head that increased revenue is not part of a compromise - its basic math. The Governor needs increase revenues to make the state work, as much as anybody else.
- Kitty - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 10:51 am:
Whinnin’ @ 9:44, spot on. The C-U News-Gazette can be reliably counted on to support interests of Rauner and the corporate elite class, even if these interests are detrimental to the majority of the community the purportedly serves.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 10:54 am:
More collectivism at work. Very impressive!
You got to love this State in spite of itself!
- Union Man - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 11:07 am:
it’s important to not give the Governor any victories… That would only be the first domino
- The Dude Abides - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 11:22 am:
@YSW, you made the same point I was going to make. The News Gazette is clueless. The tax increase cut the backlog of bills from around 10 billion to 4 billion and they call that nothing.
- James Knell - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 11:27 am:
==That’s why this battle — obnoxious and unpalatable though it is — will likely resume when the truce expires after the November election.==
Wait, there’s a truce before the election that expires after the election?
Also, +1 to Joe M @ 10:40
Tax increases are NOT a Republican concession to Democrats. They seem to be a Republican concession to math - one which they are very resistant to acknowledging. First, science denial… now math denial.
- The Lowly LA - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 12:05 pm:
= UM: “it’s important to not give the Governor any victories… That would only be the first domino” =
It is that kind of philosophy and thinking by both sides that has fostered this impasse.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 12:11 pm:
===It is that kind of philosophy and thinking by both sides that has fostered this impasse.===
Yep.
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 1:10 pm:
One glaring omission was contact info for SqueezeTheBeaat & Durkie…”Enough” braintrusters ’splained:
“I would say our edit board is of the opinion that the governor will control anything Radogno or Durkin will do or agree to.
But thanks for the feedback.
Best,
Angie”
OK
- Mama - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:30 pm:
The newspapers forgot to provide contact information for Senator Radogno and Representative Durkin. They both serve as leaders for the Republican party.
- Mama - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:35 pm:
Rich, how did we go from ‘60′ newspapers to less than a dozen around the state publishing an editorial stating people of fed up with the state’s impasse? Did they chicken out?