Republicans get their talking points
Thursday, Jul 14, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* This memo went out to House and Senate Republicans today…
From: Tim Nuding, Director, Governor’s Office of Management and Budget
Mitch Holzrichter, Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative Affairs
To: Republican Members of the House of Representatives and Senate
Date: July 14, 2016
Fiscal Year 2016 in Review – Holding Strong for Taxpayers
Illinois state government has been overspending and overpromising for years. Rather than confront the State’s deteriorating fiscal condition, prior governors and General Assemblies, controlled by Democrat supermajorities, just kicked the can farther down the road. They bandaged over our fiscal problems with unbalanced budgets, borrowed funds, and tax increases, resulting in record backlogs of unpaid bills and more than $100 billion in unfunded pension liabilities.
But during the last fiscal year, Governor Rauner and Republicans in the legislature changed the dynamic in Springfield by placing a renewed emphasis on the taxpayer as a key stakeholder in state government. From July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016, Governor Rauner and Republicans in the legislature:
Click here to read the rest and tell us what you think.
- sal-says - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 2:47 pm:
== Fiscal Year 2016 in Review – Holding Strong for Taxpayers ==
“Fiscal Year 2016 in Review – Holding Strong for Destroying Illinois”
There Timmy; fixed it for ya.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 2:49 pm:
Other than the poor grammar/insults, this is fine.
- Thoughts Matter - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 2:51 pm:
Two things
1. Separate and Co-equal branches of government. Republican legislators don’t work for the Governor. They work for their constituents. Who would like them to get something done.
2. Republican legislators do have a relationship with the head of the Republican Committee, who happens to be employed as the Govermor. This kind of crap needs to come from his campaign staff, not his Governors’ staff - who are paid for by taxpayers.
I am over this.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 2:51 pm:
Dear Democrats,
Raunerites want this to be about “taxpayers”
Hmm. Ok.
I’d just run that Ron Sandack embarrassment where he tells the Daily Show… it’s about taxpayers..
‘nember hoe that went?
Yeah, me too.
So, if Raunerites want the discussion to be about taxpayers, remember what was said to The Owl…
“I think you’re doing it wrong”
Right? Exactly right.
- Formerly Known as Frenchie M - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 2:52 pm:
Holding strong for *wealthy* taxpayers is what it sounds like. The million plus taxpayers who depended on the services that Rauner decimated probably aren’t thrilled about this “holding strong” lingo. It’s actually code for “decimating higher education and social services”.
I dunno. I read this, and it sounds to me like they’re trying to convince themselves. I mean, “Began the process to sell the Thompson Center?”
That’s like saying, yeah, I started my diet today.
- How Ironic - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 2:52 pm:
The GOP should develop a little chant they can shout as they walk the halls.
Start -”Hang On”
Response - “How Long”
Return - “Until you collapse and we can count your loss as savings”
It’s a little wordy, but really how can you capture the willful destruction of a state in a brief chant?
- Centennial - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 2:53 pm:
I do not remember government correspondence ever being so overtly political and partisan.
Is it just me?
- Doug Simpson - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 2:58 pm:
Simpler than that. Hook Governor Bruce Rauner to Trump. He’s endorsed him.
The press needs to ask him at every opportunity if McCroryCare is coming to Illinois? How is marriage defined? When is the wall going up? Muslims banned?
Its driving Paul Ryan bat-s*** crazy!
- Under Influenced - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 2:58 pm:
Uhhhh didn’t Munger say something about backlog of bills increasing over the next few months….
- kimocat - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 2:59 pm:
I certainly would not expect anything honest from this crew — shout those lies loud and often.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 3:00 pm:
Do yourself a solid…
At the 4:11 mark… Hit “Play”…
The Owl talks about… you guessed it… taxpayers.
http://goo.gl/poaTKh
Capiche, Non-Raunerites?
Ok, what else ya got, Raunerites?
- Anon221 - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 3:01 pm:
I would hope that the Dems take this point by point and “grade” the content. Get your red pens out! The 800 million in savings for instance. If you need help, just do some searches on CapFax!
- NoGifts - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 3:02 pm:
A lot of people will remember our republican governors.
- Curious - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 3:02 pm:
So we’re going to see a new story about Boss Rauner dictating to GOP members what to say and how to say it, right? There definitely will be some column inches in major papers about how Rauner’s bought the party and turned it in to a…what’s that word again?
- AlfondoGonz - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 3:05 pm:
Rauner makes me want to stop paying taxes so he no longer considers me one of his constituents.
- Formerly Known as Frenchie M - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 3:07 pm:
I’d like to see Reboot/Politifact assess some of the veracity of these claims.
I mean, the ‘Saved 800 million dollars’ has already been soundly debunked. But I’d like to see the other points picked apart — especially the fraud reduction.
- Highland IL - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 3:08 pm:
When does the Director share a letter with the House & Senate Democrats?
- Anon221 - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 3:09 pm:
So…5.5% is a crushing tax amount. Will 5% be OK to get us back on track??? Just might take care of that $2.5 billion overage Munger is forecasting. Coulda, shoulda 18 months plus ago. Stop fighting and get on with it this fall.
- @MisterJayEm - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 3:17 pm:
From July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016, Governor Rauner and Republicans in the legislature: Slept well on the weekends.
– MrJM
- Langhorne - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 3:18 pm:
Disappointing campaign hoo-hah.
Instead of political spin, the budget director should analyze and present a proposal on how to get an actual balanced budget. The TA is DOA, so the only logical conclusion is that “starve the beast” is actually the intended outcome.
- illini - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 3:22 pm:
The Rauner Spin Machine has once again taken the initiative and it is doing well in getting its message to the compliant, and largely sympathetic, press. Expect much more of this.
- Annonin' - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 3:24 pm:
Sheer genius
Why waste campaign cash when the taxpayers can be flushed…again
And to ignore the 2 Nuding plans that were 3-4 billion out of balance. Must be tough for them to be bossed around by Madigan.
- Mister Whipple - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 3:27 pm:
But during the last fiscal year, Governor Rauner and Republicans in the legislature changed the dynamic in Springfield by placing a renewed emphasis on…
kicking the can down the road again.
- Norseman - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 3:31 pm:
Typical Rauner fertilizer.
Social service providers and other debtees should put together their own updated failure list.
- steward - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 3:35 pm:
Loved how he mentioned that 1229 and 580 would have sent negotiations to an arbitrator who would, “force the state into AFSCME’s proposal.”
That is only true if the arbitrator believed our proposal was more fair. Is Nuding basically admitting the governor’s proposal is unfair?
Oh and the 18 union argument again. But they weren’t offered the same thing. And the only one that was, voted it down…
- Skeptic - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 3:37 pm:
“I’d like to see Reboot/Politifact assess some of the veracity of these claims.” And there’s that “Arbitration with AFSCME will cost $3B” line again.
- here we go - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 3:38 pm:
Interesting, super-partisan memo.
Tim is a smart and respectable man. Him, and the Governor, know that they also participated in “kicking the can down the road.” Considering that this was not a “real budget” or even an actual solution, just a band-aid to get us to December. The personal income tax is STILL going to be raised, Rauner has already made that clear. Wait, so did this CPS bailout happen or not? Because, well….
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 3:45 pm:
I do hope Ron Sandack is highlighted in the Non-Raunerites rebuttal.
How delicious is it that Raunerites want the discussion to be about “taxpayers” and Ron Sandack, embarrassingly gets scolded that he’s “doing it wrong”.
It’s like “Let’s pick a theme where we’ve been mocked nationally… hey, let’s use ‘taxpayers’ and highlight Ron Sandack’s mockable appearance on The Daily Show. That’s fun!”
Maybe everyone forgot Ron Sandack already tested that whole “taxpayer” framing…
The Owl, hooting a warning that no one heard.
- Precinct Captain - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 3:46 pm:
Good thing those Republicans aren’t under the thumb of a political boss like Mike Madigan! They’re totally independent with full agency to act on their own!
- MasterPiece - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 3:50 pm:
Why has no one mentioned the announcement on the IDES intranet of the gov’s t-shirt sale? “The Governor’s tent at the State Fair will focus on education, with the theme “Educating Our Future.” “This year, we’re offering State of Illinois employees the option to purchase T-shirts designed around this theme. T-shirts are $13.23 each, and you can purchase them online now through Friday July 15 directly through this link.”. …
- MasterPiece - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 3:53 pm:
That, and a bake sale should take care of that pesky $8 billion backlog.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 3:57 pm:
===Why has no one mentioned===
You just did.
Sheesh.
- Norseman - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 3:59 pm:
=== Why has no one mentioned the announcement on the IDES intranet of the gov’s t-shirt sale? ===
You just did. (We don’t have access to their intranet.)
Any intellectually challenged AFSCME folks purchasing this campaign (cough, cough) I mean educational item?
- The Dude Abides - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 4:15 pm:
They are touting their accomplishments while their policies are slowly burning the state to the ground. As Crain’s Business stated, by every measure Illinois is worse off under the Rauner Administration than they were before they assumed control. They are touting their failures as accomplishments. Must be an election year. Remember what they said about keeping taxes low because eventually taxes will be even higher than they would have been had they acted responsibly from the beginning.
- Trolling Troll - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 4:17 pm:
Governors day at the Fair should be …..fun this year.
- G'Kar - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 4:27 pm:
You can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig.
To the post.
Reading all this and other comments by the governor and his staff, it sounds to me that there will be no additional money added to the budget in January, if Rauner can help it. That means Higher Education can expect a 50% reduction for FY 17 after an ~65% reduction in FY 16. Yuck!
- Demoralized - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 4:50 pm:
Problem is the Governor is only “standing strong for taxpayers” until after November. Then he’s going to sit down and sign a tax increase.
- The Fool On The Hill - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 4:55 pm:
David McSweeney is; “Stayin’ the course!”
- Hottot - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 5:07 pm:
Social service agencies going unpaid, blatantly lying about state negotiations with AFSCME, the Alton Meals on Wheels program closed, children homes in Chicago closed, Chicago State University laying off 300 employees, the Chicago public school system nearly forced into bankruptcy at the desire of Rauner…..yeah, their record is one to be proud of!
- Last Bull Moose - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 5:14 pm:
Since Tim Nuding signed this letter as the Director of GOMB, is it fair game for the GA to quiz him on the specifics of it?
- Rabid - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 6:04 pm:
“renewed emphasis on the taxpayer” you only represent taxpayers? Those that pay the most?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 6:13 pm:
If taxpayers are key stakeholders in concerns of our state, don’t ALL taxpayers count, or just certain ones? Seems that taxpayers and those who work for the public AND PAY TAXES don’t have equal consideration a stakeholders. I’d like an explanation of that attitude.
- peon - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 6:54 pm:
Good luck selling this, even with $20M.