*** UPDATED x1 *** Not buying the spin
Tuesday, Jul 12, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Pearson at the Tribune…
The House Republican Organization has been prolific in its TV advertising against potential Democratic targets in the fall’s legislative contests, and it’s back at it again.
But in its latest ad, linking three Downstate Democrats to powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan, it accuses them of backing “a bailout for Chicago schools.”
This raises the conundrum facing Republicans — including Gov. Rauner. They vowed not to give the city’s financially troubled schools any extra money. But in a full-year school funding deal that Rauner and many Republicans supported, CPS gets extra funding, including the possibility of a state taxpayer-financed pension subsidy.
Republicans backing the deal quickly wanted to let their suburban and Downstate constituents know that the bill was not a Chicago “bailout,” just as Democrats had insisted. Now, Republicans may be faced with being asked to define the word “bailout.”
…Adding… I was looking at the wrong roll call. Sorry about that! Targets in both parties were pulled off that roll call.
* Geiger in this afternoon’s Tribune…
In the end, Rauner and lawmakers agreed on a spending plan for schools that ensured that no school district would receive less money that it got last year, while sending extra money to poorer districts, including an additional $130 million to CPS and potentially more than $200 million for teacher pensions on top of that.
But that battle of wills, waged most publicly by Rauner, positioned him as the chief obstructionist in the school funding formula issue, even though lawmakers themselves can’t agree on how the formula should be changed. The new commission is an attempt by Rauner to seize control of that discussion, and to potentially reposition himself as an advocate for the school districts that routinely lose out under the current formula.
Even so, Rauner on Tuesday was vague about what he’d like to see emerge from the commission. And while he acknowledged that spending more money on schools will require the state to find a way to pay for it, he wouldn’t commit to raising taxes to do so, saying he’s an “anti-tax person,” who ran for office “to try to bring down the tax burden.”
No love for the guv there.
* If you look at the timing of the governor’s announcement today, and couple it with the fact that he seemed kinda uninformed about his own commission (30 members or 25?), I can’t help but wonder if he at least partly wanted to prove to everyone that he was nowhere near Donald Trump’s downtown fundraiser today. Whether that was intentional or not, he certainly succeeded.
*** UPDATE *** Charles Thomas and I are apparently on the same wavelength…
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is in Chicago and the state’s top Republican - Gov. Bruce Rauner - was not with him.
The governor announced Tuesday morning he will form a commission to change the way that Illinois funds public education. Not only is he not attending the fundraiser with Trump, but his office scheduled that event at the same time. Intentional or not, it does drive home the point that Rauner has not endorsed Trump for the presidency.
“I love you, Charles. I am not going to comment,” Gov. Rauner said. “I have said everything I am going to say about the presidential race.”
The governor said he has so much to do in the state of Illinois that he has no time for presidential politics - at least that is how he is avoiding the Trump controversy.
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
All he has to do now is come up with a plan for next week…
At an unrelated news conference Tuesday morning at the Thompson Center, Rauner walked out without responding to reporters who asked what he’d be doing instead of attending his party’s national convention.
- DuPage - Tuesday, Jul 12, 16 @ 2:32 pm:
More money spent without more revenue in is not going to work out.
- Keyrock - Tuesday, Jul 12, 16 @ 2:34 pm:
The Governor has several important speeches booked for next week in schools in towns with populations under 3,000.
- How Ironic - Tuesday, Jul 12, 16 @ 2:38 pm:
@ Gov Rauner “Rauner walked out without responding to reporters”…..I thought he was ready and able to take all those arrows….
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 12, 16 @ 2:42 pm:
===Rauner walked out without responding to reporters who asked what he’d be doing instead of attending his party’s national convention.===
It’s known that we will be filming “DHS” most days, including a “very special” episode. I’m glad the Governor kept to the confidentiality agreement.
To the Post,
With all due respect,
If you can’t “remember” if it’s 30 or 25, why are you rolling out this ridiculousness other than to be away from Trump?
Knowing a fundamental … Fact… like the agreed to numbers… that’s not a lapse, that poor advance, Staff, Crew, and elected work being done.
Amateur hour.
The governor, while having ole Slip and Sue hanging about, couldn’t bring in 4 “bicameral, bipartisan” participants as window dressing?
This was thrown together (I hope)
If this wasn’t thrown together, but planned, staged, written, and prepped for… yikes, that’s one embarrassing pass.
Rauner is the Governor of Illinois, rolling out a panel that will “transform” education with an “aggressive” schedule…
… but couldn’t remember 25… or 30… and no one showed up to support him… physically?
I can’t believe this inept Press Shop continually beats everyone.
I suggest 27 members, have former Sen. Meeks be that moderator but can vote “if needed”
I know, boy I sound silly, but at least I’m not the elected governor ill-prepared to speak to a plan…
… I’m just mocking an embarrassing way that entire shop has decided to handle their business.
I guess governing and transforming Illinois isn’t worth the time and effort to look… professional?
I guess looking competent is… optional?
25, 30… Does it matter?
- Juvenal - Tuesday, Jul 12, 16 @ 2:42 pm:
=== The new commission is an attempt by Rauner to seize control of that discussion, and to potentially reposition himself as an advocate for the school districts that routinely lose out under the current formula. ===
It is not possible for Rauner to position himself as an advocate for school districts.
Rauner has been spewing anti-government rhetoric for two years at great expense.
He put a former charter school chief in charge of reforming public school funding.
He is going yo use this commission as an opportunity to open the door to privatizing public education even further.
It’s no coincidence this is happening as they announce the public-private venture in Will County.
Mark. My. Words.
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Jul 12, 16 @ 2:44 pm:
Didn’t we discuss that the pension thing is a Rauner trap? Or am I getting it mixed up with something else? If it’s a Rauner trap then Kay, Rauners widdle wuv westie (West Highland terrier said in a snarky baby tone, trans. little love westie) was doing what he was supposed to do as instructed by his owner. Kay’s district doesn’t really care about a Chicago bailout. It doesn’t stick in the Metro East.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Jul 12, 16 @ 2:48 pm:
No, we’re not buying the spin. Rauner is focused like an arrow on messages that play to emotion, not logic. He’s not about governing or even trying to govern. This is a ploy. Like most commissions and committees, it will be a waste (yes, here’s your waste gov) of time and money.
- Cubs in '16 - Tuesday, Jul 12, 16 @ 2:48 pm:
===he wouldn’t commit to raising taxes to do so, saying he’s an “anti-tax person,” who ran for office “to try to bring down the tax burden.”===
Sheesh, is anybody PRO-tax? I mean really. This is such a dumb stance and he regurgitates it over and over.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Jul 12, 16 @ 2:52 pm:
=== I thought he was ready and able to take all those arrows ===
No. This is among the myriad of meaningless rhetorical statements made by Rauner to fool the folks.
- How Ironic - Tuesday, Jul 12, 16 @ 3:01 pm:
@Norseman, yes I do realize that. /s
On another note, how do you do the bold text?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 12, 16 @ 3:02 pm:
===Republicans backing the deal quickly wanted to let their suburban and Downstate constituents know that the bill was not a Chicago “bailout,” just as Democrats had insisted. Now, Republicans may be faced with being asked to define the word “bailout.”===
The micro is what gets you in the end when you have utterly ridiculous macro messages…
- Formerly Known as Frenchie M - Tuesday, Jul 12, 16 @ 3:08 pm:
If Rauner is so concerned about the media “understanding” his message — he certainly doesn’t do a good job *clarifying* the message when he’s standing at the podium. (25 member commission? 30 member? Which is it?)
Anyway, it might be time to reinvigorate Pence’s plan for a “state run” news agency. Pravda on the Plains, yeah — but that might be the sort of “clarification” that could help Rauner during these weirdly confusing off-the-cuff Q&A post-press-conference sessions.
BTW, I wonder if Rauner is just saying stuff to (a) hear himself say it and then (b) see if it sticks. I have to wonder what he actually *believes* — as opposed to what he says to hear himself say in order to determine if it’s something worth believing.
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Jul 12, 16 @ 3:17 pm:
A. They also voted for $400 million for colleges universities and MAP that was not in the GOPie atopgap.. opps
B. Get the preshow video tga slip&sue and the other props atandin’ behind BigBrain podium before shooed off camera.
C. Better to hide from Trump outside 312 AC
- Norseman - Tuesday, Jul 12, 16 @ 3:20 pm:
I use html code.
- RTR - Tuesday, Jul 12, 16 @ 3:21 pm:
Put the CPS pension pick-up aside, any member who voted in favor of the K-12 funding last month can be accused of voting for a Chicago “bailout” because of the equity grant in that bill. The grants sent extra dollars to districts based on poverty levels. Chicago got about $100 of the $250 million that was allocated.
- Illinois Bob - Tuesday, Jul 12, 16 @ 3:31 pm:
@Cubs in 16
=Sheesh, is anybody PRO-tax? I mean really. This is such a dumb stance and he regurgitates it over and over.=
ummm…YEAH. It’s called the Democratic Party, they just don’t want to “own” the tax increase. their solution is to increase taxes dramatically on a minority of voters in Illinois so that they can maintain political power without losing too many votes.
As demonstrated in the last election, Illinois voters are only too happy to raise taxes… as long as it’s on somebody else.
- illini - Tuesday, Jul 12, 16 @ 3:32 pm:
Yet, once again the inept Rauner Spin Machine wins the day!
When will the established media ( other than CapitolFax ) start to pick up on the games he is playing and the nuances he uses in his statements?.
Some hard questions were asked at the BND and the Southern, yet he totally changed the focus of those questions to get back to his TAA.
The credibility of BVR has been in doubt for a long time - yet, from what I can see, is not being called out, except on this site.
Thank you, Rich, for this gem you have created.
- Cubs in '16 - Tuesday, Jul 12, 16 @ 4:13 pm:
@ILBob
What I meant was no one to my knowledge likes to pay more in taxes; regardless of political affiliation. You can argue about the best ways to generate revenue but there are certain realities that can’t be ignored. If Rauner has figured out how to balance the budget without raising taxes I’d love to hear him explain it.
- Juvenal - Tuesday, Jul 12, 16 @ 4:27 pm:
@IllinoisBob
Democrats would rather tax people with money than people with no money.
It’s true.
But its not ideological.
Democrats are just better at math.
5% of nothing is nothing.
- Mama - Tuesday, Jul 12, 16 @ 5:00 pm:
“Intentional or not, it does drive home the point that Rauner has not endorsed Trump for the presidency.”
Rauner said, “I will support the Republican nominee.”
Translation: This means he will support Trump.
- Justin Observer - Tuesday, Jul 12, 16 @ 5:05 pm:
I think a contest is in store – for the best responses when asked if one is going to attend the Republican National Convention this year. I would nominate:
Arizona Senator Jeff Flake (Rep.). Associated Press reporter Erica Werner reported that when asked whether Flake would attend the convention, he said, “No, I’ve got to mow my lawn.” Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) told reporters he had “a longstanding appointment downtown.” Another (unnamed) member said he “had to be at the doctor’s office and couldn’t make it.” He then asked to remain anonymous. A third said he had a “breakfast meeting.” The same member — who asked not to be named — then pulled out his schedule for Thursday morning. When he saw that there wasn’t any event on his schedule, the member took out a pen and wrote “Breakfast meeting” on it. “See, I have one!” he joked. (–Multiple sources, for the above, most are from the Associated Press or the Cleveland Patch.)
Methinks this may be a very interesting Convention…
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Jul 12, 16 @ 5:39 pm:
Not only did he boast he was the GOPie leader but he would back the nominee…looks like election nite phone call
- Huh? - Tuesday, Jul 12, 16 @ 8:01 pm:
“The governor said he has so much to do in the state of Illinois that he has no time for presidential politics”
1.4% is too busy running around the State bashing Madigan and the super majority in the GA that he controls.