* Let’s return to Chris Kaergard’s interview of Gov. Rauner…
We’re doing big things and good things. For example, we’ve already transformed much of state government, but people don’t know it. We’ve cut more than $800 million out of wasteful spending inside state government already. Huge transformation.
* I asked for a list of that $800 million in “wasteful spending” and here’s what the governor’s office sent. Click the pic if you need a larger image…
DHS programs, child care, job training, transit assistance for people with disabilities, cop cars and cop equipment, and a delayed opening of a residence for veterans (construction of which, by the way, has started again, so is that wasteful?).
All waste…
The Psychiatric Leadership Capacity Grant provides funding to community mental health centers in Illinois to help cover the cost of employing a psychiatrist. The money goes to most of the roughly 140 mental health centers in the state. Often, mental health centers do not have a full-time psychiatrist on staff but bring one in for a few days each week or month to meet with patients and prescribe medication. […]
“There was no explanation or notice from DHS and certainly no suggestion about how community mental health folks should proceed without that funding,” says David Cole, director of the Moultrie County Counseling Center in Sullivan. He says his center gets about $37,000 annually for psychiatric service. “It’s a big cut. The entire line was just crossed out.”
Man, this guy is really something.
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
In an interview with reporter Chris Kaergard yesterday, Gov. Bruce Rauner said, “We’ve cut more than $800 million out of wasteful spending inside state government already.” When asked by The Capitol Fax’s Rich Miller to provide evidence of these cuts, the Rauner Administration responded with this document that details cuts to child care, healthcare, recycling programs, veterans housing, transportation funding for the disabled, state police funding, and other critical services provided by the state.
Illinois Working Together Campaign Director Jake Lewis released the following statement regarding Governor Rauner’s “wasteful spending” cuts:
“It is absolutely shameful that Governor Rauner would label child care, healthcare, recycling, transportation for the disabled, veterans housing and state police programs as ‘wasteful’. The very idea that Rauner could think of these programs as ‘wasteful’ clearly demonstrates his utter heartlessness when it comes to Illinois’ neediest. Not only does the governor not care about the most vulnerable in Illinois, he views programs to support them as ‘wasteful’.
“Unfortunately, these callous comments are also completely unsurprising. In addition to his harmful cuts to children, veterans, and public safety, Governor Rauner created a devastating budget impasse that has caused untold damage to Illinois’ families, seniors, and economy. But in Governor Rauner’s world, a million Illinoisans losing access to critical services is just cutting ‘waste’. Meanwhile, the state racks up hundreds of millions of dollars in interest fees on its late bills due to the Rauner impasse. It may take years for the state to recover from the damage Rauner has caused.”
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 11:31 am:
State Police squad cars are paid for out of a designated fund from an additional $1 per license plate fee as approved by the legislature. How can that money be considered a savings by the governor? Oh yea, he sweeps it to pay for other things.
- JPC - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 11:33 am:
We can pay some now in the form of these services, or a lot later in emergency rooms, etc.
- JoeMaddon - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 11:34 am:
Wasteful spending, according to this governor, includes:
Child Care
Homeless support services
Supportive Housing
Recycling
Violence prevention programs
etc, etc, etc.
Unbelievable.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 11:34 am:
“Wasteful spending” must be in the eye of the beholder.
Along with being “heroic.”
- Handle Bar Mustache - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 11:35 am:
This is a stunning document that will trigger some bad news.
- Aldyth - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 11:35 am:
That must be the “no social agenda” agenda.
- How Ironic - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 11:36 am:
Child Care, Vets, all ‘wasteful’. That ought to be on every campaign piece, every press talking point, everything. Rauner thinks that if you’re old or young, sick or disabled…you’re wasteful.
The man is sickening.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 11:36 am:
A list that the Governor owns.
The Office of the Goveror says Bruce Rauner thinks cuts…
In law enforcement
To Veterans
For mental health
For transit
For people with disabilities
… Bruce Rauner made these decisions.
There’s no Madigan here, Rauner’s Office says Rauner owns these “savings”
Of course… one man’s savings is another state’s destruction by the constitutional Executive.
- Handle Bar Mustache - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 11:37 am:
Rauner’s bragging about delaying a veterans home?
Shameless.
7 million in agency layoffs? (Details please)
Coal program cuts? (Paging Phil Gonet…)
Really?…the Chicago Vets Home?!
- JoeMaddon - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 11:37 am:
Also… he thinks that Child Care is so wasteful that he has restored a significant amount of those cuts, and has committed to restoring the rest of the cuts if/when we have a full budget. So, wasteful, eh?
- SAP - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 11:39 am:
It’s like he’s trying to make Illinois into Mississippi, but without the warm climate.
- Chicago Cynic - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 11:39 am:
$100 million for Iliana is wasteful but is it spending? In other words, is this a real cut or is it only hypothetical?
- Norseman - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 11:39 am:
A rich man’s definition of waste is a poor man’s definition of treasure.
This man has no shame.
- How Ironic - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 11:39 am:
Bruce has no social agenda, literally. After he’s finished with Illinois there won’t be any society left.
- State Worker THX 1138 - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 11:40 am:
Those darn people with their darn disabilities…. Wow, just wow. Money over compassion, every time.
- Huh? - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 11:42 am:
Sigh. Wander off, shaking head.
- illinois manufacturer - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 11:43 am:
Child care is the biggest…145 million …the Illiana maybe. I would have don’t for corridor protection and only built if it became feasible for the fullest to do it…..Because of delays at IDOT we have to waste 27 million to keep the Beardstown Bridge from collapsing when the replacement should be under construction. So subtract 27 million from the list.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 11:45 am:
“We’re doing big things and good things”
For who? Your mega rich buddies? Or the poor, infirm and elderly? Because it is the latter who are being hurt by these “wasteful” spending cuts.
- How Ironic - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 11:45 am:
I have a feeling that if Rauner were to ever perform as Scrooge in a retelling of “A Christmas Carol” the ending would be far different than we are accustomed to.
- Grass Bowl - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 11:46 am:
Don Harmon may want to use my name in reference to the guy in the big chair after seeing this “waste”
- Norseman - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 11:47 am:
=== That must be the “no social agenda” agenda. ===
We mistook that statement. We thought it meant Rauner wasn’t pushing the usual conservative moral issues. Now we know it means he wants no social service providers.
- Keyrock - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 11:50 am:
How can Dr. Rauner sleep?
- DuPage Saint - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 11:54 am:
Hey he got rid of the Hawaiian governor didn’t he? Then there was all the staff reductions and job consolidation in the Executive branch. O forget that last sentence.
Anyway I am sure he will donate the money he wins as humanitarian of the year to the state
- Vole - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 11:55 am:
Hammering some moral fiber into the collective.
- DuPage Dave - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 11:55 am:
It believe Col. Sherman Potter would have called this list “horse hockey”.
- Thoughts Matter - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 11:56 am:
Medicaid rate reductions… That will surely help poor people find doctors
DHS programs not covered by court order…because only the court ordered ones aren’t wasteful?
Because only able bodied people need the bus, disabled people shouldn’t leave their home?
Our military vets should continue to be homeless?
Is the group health savings net of the increased interest payments for payment delays?
- @MisterJayEm - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 11:57 am:
In her book “White Trash: The 400-Year Untold Story of Class in America,” Nancy Isenberg recounts how the 18th century’s moneyed elites viewed their poor and needy countrymen as contemptible “waste people” who’s wretchedness threatened civilized commerce.
The more things change…
– MrJM
- jojo - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 11:59 am:
Keyrock, when you have 8 zeros behind the first digit in your bank account I imagine you sleep very well at night, He simply does not care about public services because he has never relied on or needed any of them
- Adam Smith - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 11:59 am:
Just to be clear…
Every penny spent in the name of social services is, by definition, purely beneficial and effective. Never has one dime spent by government been wasteful, duplicative, inefficient or misdirected.
So we are all agreed, just because the grantee says the tax money is being used perfectly we are to blindly accept that and never try to reduce or redirect government spending.
Cool. That sounds really sustainable.
- GOP Extremist - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 12:00 pm:
These are for the most part collectivist programs. We need to be competitive to be compassionate. Truly heroic transformation.
- Jocko - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 12:03 pm:
Not to worry, adopting the TA agenda should cover about 60% of this.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 12:05 pm:
===Every penny spent in the name of social services is, by definition, purely beneficial and effective===
Don’t argue like a child. Grow up or leave.
- Anon221 - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 12:11 pm:
If some party in Illinois doesn’t use this to educate their constituents on what the TurnAround truly is, then might as well hand over seats to Rauner right now and save him some campaignin’ money.
- illinois manufacturer - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 12:11 pm:
Our Medicaid problem is not how we run it it’s the bad rate we get from the feds. I am sure Kirk and Rauner are on that…
- d.p.gumby - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 12:15 pm:
Did Madigan force these draconian cuts or are these savings of wasteful spending? Wait–what time is it and who is the audience?
- Vole - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 12:16 pm:
Besides the intended initial impact of those expenditures, what might have been the multiplier effect of that $845 million in the Illinois economy? You know, circulating through many hands and businesses, and not just stagnating in some evil collective someplace, undermining economic individualism.
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 12:20 pm:
This seems like a beginner’s mistake for the Governor’s office. Calling something “waste” and providing a list of the cuts. What does Todd Maisch think of the Governor calling the Illiana expressway, waste?
- Skirmisher - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 12:25 pm:
I don’t necessarily support a lot of these proposed cuts, and feel that society benefits, or should benefit, from many of these programs. But at the same time I do have to observe that very few of these programs are essential to the core operations of state government. Most would not have existed 50-60 years ago before the “Great Society”. And I think terms like “Draconian” fall into the realm of spin.
- Shake - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 12:29 pm:
I Guess This Is Winnin??
- JoanP - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 12:36 pm:
Look, I’m perfectly willing to accept that there may be some waste withing a particular program. But I do not for one second believe that a program’s *entire budget* is waste.
That list is ridiculously simplistic. How about giving us actual details, Governor?
- How Ironic - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 12:37 pm:
@ Skirmisher- “I do have to observe that very few of these programs are essential to the core operations of state government.”
Yes, this. We should go back to the good old days of debtor prisons, and sending the young, elderly and infirm out to die when they can no longer fend for themselves.
Sounds like a wonderful society.
- Honeybear - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 12:39 pm:
Each one of those lines has jobs and families attached to it.
- Doofman - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 12:39 pm:
This is a great example of the disconnect between public perceptions of government spending and the reality, particularly when viewed through the lens of polling: one person’s waste is another person’s vital program. When polling shows that the public overwhelmingly believes and supports dealing with the budget issues by “eliminating waste” it usually doesn’t mean the “paying $800 for a toilet seat” type, but rather the “get rid of the programs I specifically disagree with” kind. Similar to how Congress has an overall approval rating somewhere south of the public approval of, say, chlamydia or Nickelback, but if you go district by district and add up the individual approval ratings you’ll get something much closer to or even north of 50%
- Foster brooks - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 12:40 pm:
Are these cuts coming from donna arduin?
- Newsclown - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 12:41 pm:
Well, all I can say is, if the Governor was rated like his employees are, his employee evaluation would have to say:
X-”Does not meet expectations”.
X-”Assigned projects not completed by due dates, blames others.”
X-”Great difficulty in working with others, creates hostile work environment”
X-Travels in State Vehicles at above posted speed limits.”
X-Would NOT recommend for retention or promotion.
X-Recommend discharge with prejudice.
- Galena Guy - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 12:41 pm:
“Most would have not existed 50-60 years ago before the ‘Great Society’.”
I turn 60 in December and really am nostalgic for the days of polio, separate but equal laws, blatant and vicious housing discrimiation, no voting rights for minorities, abject poverty in Appalachia, black lung disease for Southern IL coal miners and all those other things that make me yearn for the good old days. GooD times they were.
- Nick Name - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 12:44 pm:
He’s claiming $170 million in savings from group health insurance, managed care, vision, dental, etc.
Does AFSCME know he’s already claiming savings in health care costs without a new contract being agreed to or ratified?
- Square Pegs - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 12:47 pm:
Correct me if I’m wrong (really), but aren’t the cuts to child care from the reduction in eligibility to below 185% FPL, which he later restored?
And are the other cuts related to not paying sites during FY16?
And it is a cut to decide not to build the Illiana?
And is it a cut to delay opening a vets home in Chicago?
- Anon221 - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 12:50 pm:
How old is this list? Was it generated pre-Bridge, consent decrees, and court orders? Seems like it may be a bit dated in claims.
- Aldyth - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 12:52 pm:
Says the guy with no social agenda.
- not buying what you are selling - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 12:53 pm:
When thert industry for Springfield is tourism houses
- not buying what you are selling - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 12:56 pm:
When when one of the main items in Springfield is tourism how does cutting the tourist office help
- @MisterJayEm - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 1:03 pm:
“I do have to observe that very few of these programs are essential to the core operations of state government.”
waste /wāst/ noun. An act or instance of using or expending something carelessly, extravagantly, or to no purpose.
Bruce Rauner did not characterize his cuts as inessential to state government’s core operations, he characterized them as “wasteful spending inside state government.” Rich then asked for a list of that $800 million in “wasteful spending”. And this is the list of “waste” that the governor’s office produced.
This isn’t a discussion about the historical role of state government in the years before I was born, this is a discussion about a Governor of Illinois who explicitly called DHS childcare and State Police forensic equipment WASTE.
– MrJM
- Formerly Known as Frenchie M - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 1:05 pm:
Nearly a quarter of the 800 million claimed “transformed” is imaginary.
There is no healthcare savings without an AFSCME contract, one way or the other.
And this isn’t the “bad faith” that Barclay was talking about yesterday?
Come on, Bruce. The fact that can’t be truthful — ever — is an ongoing issue.
- Annonin' - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 1:07 pm:
$quad cars, day care Profit,Kline it al will be proud to hype in the Trump GOTV Push
- Simple Simon - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 1:11 pm:
Aren’t OSLAD grants paid for by the real estate transfer tax? Another dedicated, nonGRF “cut” that does not help him balance the budget at all…
- Annonin' - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 1:14 pm:
Bow bigbrain blurted this # out during this weeks wandering minstrel press tour cap fax first to ask
- Macomb resident - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 1:15 pm:
$170M in savings attributable to group health insurance? Hmm, not paying providers does not equal “savings.” I’d love to see how the dependent audit turned out. CMS contracted that out to some out of state firm, by the way. I would not be surprised if the audit cost more than it saved.
- Doug Simpson - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 1:20 pm:
Tip of the hat to Galena Guy.
Well said.
- James Knell - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 1:21 pm:
Hey MrJM, thanks for the tip on White Trash: The 400-Year Untold Story of Class in America,” Nancy Isenberg. I just read the NY Times review and it sounds pretty good. I can’t wait to get home and listen to it on Audible.
- Downstate - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 1:23 pm:
In our little county, we have Three different organizations dedicated to the same social issue. The duplicative effort is a HUGE waste of money and manpower.
- IllinoisBoi - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 1:26 pm:
Apparently what the Founding Fathers called “Commonwealth” or the “General Welfare” is now considered “Collectivism.”
- Chicagonk - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 1:27 pm:
I think that Rauner needs to stop using the word wasteful. There is nothing wrong with a debate on the right mix of spending and taxation. “Wasteful” is inflammatory and detracts from the message.
- Anon221 - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 1:28 pm:
Downstate- What are the specifics of the programs??? Is it possible that they compliment instead of duplicate efforts? Without providing any details, how do the rest of us know there is waste? Just your word?
- Wensicia - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 1:29 pm:
Cuts like the above can’t be blamed on the unions or Madigan. Rauner gets full credit.
- Formerly Known as Frenchie M - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 1:31 pm:
Wow –
Couple these imaginary cuts with this article:
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20160705/david-roeder-rauner-runs-again-but-on-what-record?rssfeed=true
And you’ve got a winner!
#HangInThere, Bruce.
(Nevermind all the millions and millions Rauner is going to spend out of the his pocket for re-election that would be better spent going to some of these “wasteful” programs.)
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 1:32 pm:
It’s apparent the Carharts were a disguise, Rauner hasn’t got a clue with regard to government, government reform.
If someone takes a look at the salaries given to new Florida executive staff at DCFS, its is do as I say not as I do.
- DuPage - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 1:34 pm:
“…the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; those who are in the shadows of life; the sick, the needy and the handicapped. ”
Hubert H. Humphrey
Rauner fails the moral test of his governorship by calling all the money cut from these programs “wasteful spending”. Minnesota takes better care of their weakest and most helpless citizens. Minnesota’s taxes are higher then Illinois, yet their economy is doing better then Illinois. Businesses seem to like to move there.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 1:37 pm:
- @MisterJayEm -
+1, Yeomam work all day today. Wow.
To the Post,
If anyone still wonders why Rich Miller and this Blog and the Fax is so well-respected and unmatched in its coverage, this Post is a Prime Example, and each day Rich continues to cover THE story that is the Rauner Governing.
It’s one thing for this Governor to be flippant. I know I can be very flippant, but it’s quite another to be flippant in “waste” and it turns out that this so-called “waste”, as clearly and plainly shown by Rich Miller, is actual ignoring core needs or functions, and that’s not even discussing the “social agenda” decimation happening right now at the hands of Bruce Rauner…
… as a flippant Rauner calls his… savings… waste.
Thanks, Rich. These are THE stories that need sunshine. Rauner loves nothing better to decimate, eliminate, or or outright destroy… and nary a word is said.
- Thinking - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 1:39 pm:
When came into office, Rauner said he could save $500 million in CMS. IF you give credit for $170 million on group health (big if), where is the other $330 million. Let’s also ask the question how much it has cost to hire consultants who are teaching CMS and other agencies how to be “lean” ( Six Sigma) v. how much has been saved implementing any of those business school theories.
- Whatever - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 1:41 pm:
So he’s claiming $93 million in savings for DHS programs that couldn’t be funded because there was no budget and no court orders? I thought the lack of a budget was Madigan’s doing, so he should get the credit.
- zatoichi - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 1:46 pm:
Who needs psychiatric leadership dollars and assorted DHS programs? If the people seeing a psychiatrist would just put some effort into their own care and take their meds they would be fine. Group health insurance? If you need medical care just work out a simple payment plan with the provider then declare bankruptcy. Done. Child care? If you cannot take care of the children why you having them? It is all part of transformative thinking as we step forward to responsibilities for self care. Yeah that’s the ticket!
- Obamas Puppy - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 2:04 pm:
Lets just call this the “Collectivist List”.
- Nick Name - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 2:05 pm:
Jason Barclay, speaking of not bargaining in good faith, have you seen the last line of your boss’s list of FY ‘16 cost savings?
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 2:07 pm:
Thank goodness the truly needy like Ebay, Amazon, CapitalOne, CDW, etc., made the cut for their $100 million plus in tax credits from Rauner.
Guess what, though? If you don’t read this blog, the odds are very good that you’ll never see the detail of what Rauner considers “wasteful spending.”
Illinois media, with some notable exceptions, have virtually abandoned any effort to do “numbers” stories. It’s all “personality conflicts” and dueling catch phrases, over and over again.
- Precinct Captain - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 2:08 pm:
This is what the governor is proud of. These are things he sees as accomplishments. I’ve never seen someone run on a pro-untested rape kits platform before.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 2:14 pm:
===the odds are very good that you’ll never see the detail of what Rauner considers “wasteful spending.”===
I’ve made sure a couple of folks saw that list. We’ll see.
- Threepwood - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 2:16 pm:
Even if Downstate’s anecdote were correct, it’d be less than useless. Anecdotes reinforce the handwavey soundbite “debate” that passes for discourse these days. I’m no more interested in your own anecdotal experience than I am in the ShamWow guy’s testimonials.
Show me solid, verifiable data that I can draw useful conclusions from. Show me the relative scope of a decision’s impacts. Show me prior plausibility. And show me the human values at play in the proposal, because you can’t govern on statistics alone.
- Henry Francis - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 2:23 pm:
Heck, why not include stiffing vendors as “cutting waste.” He can then claim even more savings!
Not like anyone whose name doesn’t rhyme with Itch Filler would ever challenge the claim.
- Formerly Known as Frenchie M - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 2:26 pm:
18 months, and this is the Rauner accomplishment.
No one — and I mean no one — would have guessed these cuts (I mean, Amtrak? Seriously? Only a rich guy would cut Amtrak) would form the basis of Rauner “transformative” candidacy.
The critical question is: okay, you’ve made your move — you’ve made the wasteful cuts — now where are the jobs? Where are things getting better?
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 2:28 pm:
The Retired Teachers’ Association, very reliable voters, has that list and posted it on their FB page.
This might bring ol’ ISPeeved outta retirement for a bit too, Rich.
- Shemp - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 2:41 pm:
Medicaid rate reductions just increases the cost to those with insurance and causes hospitals to raise rates. Really puts the hurt on hospitals in less than affluent areas both urban and especially downstate.
- Shemp - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 2:42 pm:
I have no doubt from my experiences working with some agencies that there is a fair amount of waste to be cut, but would love to know how they (the Gov) determined the waste was there and assigned those amounts to waste.
- Retiree - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 3:02 pm:
Asking again - now that he’s eliminated all that “waste” what happens to the funds that were budgeted, but not authorized for spending. The stopgap budget only covers the first half of 2016/2017. WHAT ABOUT 2015/2016??????
- Daniel Plainview - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 3:11 pm:
- In our little county, we have Three different organizations dedicated to the same social issue. The duplicative effort is a HUGE waste of money and manpower. -
Don’t hide your light under a bushel, pal. Rauner could use some help with details since he and his superstar staff are either unwilling or incapable of producing them.
- Rod - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 3:19 pm:
A point must be made about the claimed savings based on Medicaid eligibility redeterminations claimed by Governor Rauner of $53 million. First I would recommend people read this Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law article on the process in Illinois see http://jhppl.dukejournals.org/content/early/2015/12/22/03616878-3476129.full.pdf
In this article we discover that —in Illinois up to 25 percent of Medicaid clients are being disenrolled each year, the majority of whom are most likely eligible. Maximus the contractor, under Quinn and Rauner, has run a game of disenrollment claiming savings, but never discussing the numbers eventually ending up back on Medicaid. Reports to the General Assembly never, ever examine if subsequent to disenrollment the people return to Medicaid eligibility, see for example https://www.illinois.gov/hfs/SiteCollectionDocuments/IMRP%20Qtrly%20Report%20(Q3-FY%202016).pdf
Now the formal disenrollment is done by a state employee based on Maximus recommendation following a labor complaint. None the less the entire project itself is very suspect.
- Langhorne - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 3:20 pm:
Were any of these cuts (not savings) restored by the stopgap budget? Remember, RAUNER said no one can force him to spend money.
“Savings” occur when you accomplish the same or greater result, w fewer resources. “Cuts” are when you whack something, regardless of harm or destruction. If you don’t care about real harm to individuals, any heartless fool can cut.
- sal-says - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 3:27 pm:
== Honeybear - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 12:39 pm: Each one of those lines has jobs and families attached to it. ==
Wife just read Honeybear’s comment to me with tears in her eyes. Quoting her: ‘How can he do that?’
Yes. And it’s because raunner doesn’t care. And his lifestyle changes exactly zero regardless of what he does to IL.
- phocion - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 3:29 pm:
Rauner’s description of this list as “waste” without more information was a mistake. Is it possible that some of these programs are, indeed, wasteful? Yes. But to read the comments here is to be reminded of what is true about Illinois voters. Few want services cut, and even fewer want their taxes raised. Rauner should be the adult in the room and say that while some of these cuts may be painful in the short-term, the long-term economic stability of Illinois is at stake. And, yes, he should call out programs that are duplicative, ineffective, have a history of fraud/cronyism, as examples of other reasons he had to cut. It’s a lot easier being here, anonymous, criticizing someone making tough decisions. We all should consider that sometimes.
- bobhail - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 3:29 pm:
I’m familiar with the IHDA budget and not sure where these “savings”come from since their state funding was appropriated in the stopgap budget. Also, Governor Rauner must not have seen the IHDA 2015 Annual Report, which states that IHDA “invested $2.1 billion in 16,321 units of affordable housing in FY2015, generating $815.9 million for Illinois’ economy, creating 12,300 jobs and helping families find quality, affordable homes throughout the state.” He can read it at http://www.ihdafy15.com.
- State Worker THX 1138 - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 3:41 pm:
Brought this to mind…
At this festive season of the year, Mr Governor , … it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir.”
“Are there no prisons?”
“Plenty of prisons…”
“And the Union workhouses.” demanded the Governor. “Are they still in operation?”
“Both very busy, sir…”
“Those who are badly off must go there.”
“Many can’t go there; and many would rather die.”
“If they would rather die,” said the Governor, “they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.”
- Oh Really - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 3:45 pm:
Words matter. While the headline grabbing rhetoric of Governor Rauner labeling child care, healthcare and disability programs as ‘wasteful’ is attention grabbing and incites anger– the reality is that there is rampant abuse of these programs by dishonest vendors and program participants. Child care vendors billing the state for services even when the kids don’t show up for daycare; transit companies billing for rides for the disabled that never happened; improper Medicaid payments for home care providers that were never delivered. These are the realities of ‘waste’ that are rampant in this state, despite the misleading rhetoric.
- Politix - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 3:45 pm:
CJIA programs such as Motor Vehicle Theft Preventiom Council…
That’s not cost savings. That was a fund sweep. About $11m was collected by the council from insurers who paid $1 into the trust for each vehicle they insured last year. The money in that trust has been spent on evidence-informed theft prevention and yard audit initiatives for years. These programs/staff were never supported with state dollars.
And opting not to fund Ceasefire - does that really count as a cost savings? That’s a funding cut. And the program has made its way in appropriations bills, budgets and stop gaps multiple times over the last 18 mos.
Words matter, governor.
- Simple Simon - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 3:48 pm:
Phocion- I think you will find that many or most on this list believe in math and recognize that a tax increase is needed. This may just be due to Rich’s good works. Also, we may not be representative of the population in general.
- Simple Simon - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 3:52 pm:
I should add that Rauner would be given more respect if he had actually made some decisions like you suggest, in the form of a balanced budget. Not this specious list of savings that don’t exist.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 3:53 pm:
– Words matter. While the headline grabbing rhetoric of Governor Rauner labeling child care, healthcare and disability programs as ‘wasteful’ is attention grabbing and incites anger– the reality is that there is rampant abuse of these programs by dishonest vendors and program participants–
Show your work. Otherwise, just words that don’t matter.
- Norseman - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 3:54 pm:
=== Rauner should be the adult in the room and say … ===
When can we expect him to be an adult! We shall be waiting for your answer!
- sal-says - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 4:00 pm:
== Thanks, Rich. These are THE stories that need sunshine. Rauner loves nothing better to decimate, eliminate, or or outright destroy… and nary a word is said. ==
Yes, thanks for doing the work & having the ‘parts’ to post it. Great job. Now, how’s about the Chi TV media & non-troncs pick this story up & go with it? RRStar? RR Times? SJR? Anyone?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 4:04 pm:
What will happen to those of us who have state health insurance?
- Pawn - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 4:19 pm:
Oh Really — where is your evidence for “rampant abuse” by program vendors and participants? I work in the field and I don’t see what you are talking about.
You say that words matter. Well, I happen to agree with you. And the definition of “rampant” is something that is “flourishing or spreading unchecked, widespread, unrestrained.”
Go away until you grow up a little.
- phocion - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 4:20 pm:
Norseman,
Kaatu. Barada. Nikto.
- Austinman - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 4:23 pm:
So Heroic
- Skeptic - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 4:24 pm:
” you’ve made the wasteful cuts — now where are the jobs?” Michael Madigan and the Unemployed Citizens he controls…
- Oh Really - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 4:44 pm:
@Pawn - The last independent statewide audit report, performed by KPMG, and made available by the Illinois Auditor General, describes numerous deficiencies in controls at DHS and HFS, with specific mention of millions of $ in likely improper payments made to vendors in the public assistance programs in Illinois. If the state audit report isn’t accurate, so be it– but that’s a better source of the truth than this blog!
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 4:59 pm:
–The last independent statewide audit report, performed by KPMG, and made available by the Illinois Auditor General, describes numerous deficiencies in controls at DHS and HFS, with specific mention of millions of $ in likely improper payments made to vendors in the public assistance programs in Illinois–
Why don’t you spit it out and give some specific highlights, with dollar amounts, if you’re trying to make a point? Is it hundreds of millions, tens of millions or what?
I’ve looked at the latest Auditor General report summaries for DHS and HFS and don’t have a clue as to what you’re referring to.
Are you purposely being obtuse?
- JS Mill - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 5:29 pm:
So many excellent comment! Thanks to first and foremost Rich and Norseman, AA, Honeybear, MrJM et al. You guys are the real superstars!!!
This is shaping up to be Rauner’s legacy- if you are not one of his you are “waste”. This, if properly applied, will be or can be his political epitaph.
I hope.
- Nobody Sent - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 5:43 pm:
Wow! $6M in savings at the ICC from transfers and vacancies! I suppose that is what you call it when your political hack “CEO” fires the most competent non-union employees and forces the retirement of the best union employees. It will take years to rebuild that agency so that it can actually do its job again.
- old man - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 5:51 pm:
This list appears to have been written by one of the Koch brothers think tanks. What a myopic and morally corrupt effort.
- Trolling Trolll - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 7:10 pm:
I’ve said it before and I will say it again, how anyone can defend this immoral coward is beyond me.
- Granny - Thursday, Jul 7, 16 @ 7:29 pm:
Regretfully, we moved from NY State to IL 25 yrs go, We have 2 daughters with DD & MI. We raised 2 grandsons w/o any help from the State if IL. My husband lost the job we moved to IL for after 20 yrs. as a devoted employee. We have struggled to keep our heads above water since then. We are sorry we voted for Rauner as he has no compassion for any needy people. We will not make this mistake again!
- Ms. SHEESH - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 11:41 am:
I’m not too sure how many will read this–but “Man, this guy is really something”—-So is the other guy after the damage is done: http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/watchdogs-ex-gov-jim-edgar-aims-to-cash-in-on-states-cash-woes/ Let’s keep everyone informed with this piece of news