* Gov. Rauner was asked by a social services provider yesterday what will happen when the stopgap budget expires…
First, the governor repeated his long-standing pledge that “what I won’t do is raise taxes and have no reforms and no changes. I won’t do it.”
Then he pushed back on what he called “spin . . . that I’m heartless, I don’t care about the most vulnerable.”
“Baloney,” Rauner said. “Many, many of the agencies that have been hurt, including my wife’s work, I personally have donated, I’m a huge supporter, huge advocate. I don’t want to cut your service. I’m just trying to bring some principle and some discipline to the process.”
Next, Rauner said he had offered up a number of reform ideas and was looking for agreement on some combination of those ideas in exchange for a broader budget deal.
“Pick your reforms. I would do it for just a few. How about term limits and fair maps and workers’ comp reform?” Rauner asked. “Pick two or three. I’ve laid out 15. Pick any of them. But let’s pick something.”
Discuss.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 9:38 am:
===“Baloney,” Rauner said. “Many, many of the agencies that have been hurt, including my wife’s work, I personally have donated, I’m a huge supporter, huge advocate. I don’t want to cut your service. I’m just trying to bring some principle and some discipline to the process.”===
Matthew 6:1-3
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 9:43 am:
Today’s number… “4″
The number of miles from the Rauner YMCA to Payton Prep.
See… When Rauner wants you to “look”, Rauner thinks that putting your name on a building, “Rauner cares!”
When it matters, when it mattered most, when no one was watching, Rauner personally denied a worthy child, so his denied Winnetka-living daughter could have a seat…
That’s heartless… that speaks to the person…
- yeah - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 9:45 am:
Well if anyone is an expert on baloney, well…
- @MisterJayEm - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 9:46 am:
“I don’t want to cut your service. I’m just trying to bring some principle and some discipline to the process. *** How about term limits and fair maps and workers’ comp reform?” — Bruce Rauner, October 17, 2016.
“In Illinois there’s been a long-time history of what I would call social service, social justice, a bigger role for government in the safety net than in many other states. I think we can drive a wedge issue in the Democratic Party on that topic” — Bruce Rauner, September 18, 2012.
Hammering the most vulnerable as political wedges has always, always, ALWAYS been Bruce Rauner’s one and only plan.
What’s to discuss?
– MrJM
- Anon221 - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 9:46 am:
Rauner- “But let’s pick something.”
How about someone ELSE… in 2018!
Get him revved up, and he starts to sound, I don’t know, privileged??? I donated…I’m an advocate…My wife’s program…
- The Captain - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 9:46 am:
Emphasis mine. I think that’s a pretty telling quote and it shows a) what the Governor thinks his top priority is in this conversation and b) whose side he’s on.
- illinoised - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 9:47 am:
“Principle and discipline” is easy to say when one does not have a mortgage nor car payment and can afford to buy food for the family.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 9:48 am:
–“Pick your reforms. I would do it for just a few. How about term limits and fair maps and workers’ comp reform?” Rauner asked. –
There it is.
I spent big money for this gig. If I don’t get my partisan wish list, real people will suffer, right now. I’ll hold my breath, stamp my little feet, take my ball and go home. And those in need can lump it.
See, you just can’t have Meals on Wheels, or rape crisis centers, or youth homeless shelters, unless there’s a term-limits amendment.
How does that not make sense?
How many times does the guy have to tell you?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 9:49 am:
===“Pick your reforms. I would do it for just a few. How about term limits and fair maps and workers’ comp reform?” Rauner asked. “Pick two or three. I’ve laid out 15. Pick any of them. But let’s pick something.”===
Hostage-takers usually speak like this when…
The request for a helicopter is denied, and free travel to Costa Rica isn’t going to happen.
Rauner admitting, right THERE, that reforms must happen or you will continue to be hurt speaks to the heartlessness that IS Bruce Rauner.
“Pick your reforms. I would do it for just a few. How about term limits and fair maps and workers’ comp reform?” Rauner pleaded with the negotiating team as hostages slowly get worse. “Pick two or three. I’ve laid out 15. Pick any of them. But let’s pick something.”
The negotiators know. Hostage takers care about the mission, never about the hostages.
When you are heartless… this logic makes… sense.
- Jocko - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 9:50 am:
I don’t want to cut your service. I’m just trying to bring some principle and some discipline to the process…that will justify my cuts to your service.
The mic appears to have cut out right at the end.
- illinoised - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 9:50 am:
Tell dialysis patients that their ride to treatment is not available due to “principle and discipline.” I’m sure that will assuage their fears of impending death.
- Magic carpet ride - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 9:52 am:
Now if you want to talk about someone “heartless” how about that Mike Madigan. That Madigan guy says he supports the middle class and social services. Madigan is the “heartless” one.
Fake governor bruce rauner.
- jade me not - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 9:55 am:
“Pick your reforms”.
Translation: I need a personal win before I release the hostages. It’s not about priorities of policy, it’s about me winning and declaring victory during Rauner Republican caucuses.
- PublicServant - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 9:55 am:
Yeah, paying you social service providers and providing service to the people you serve is a drag on the state economy, so until I’m allowed to take the money away from some other middle class families, you won’t be seeing much in the way of state payments. It’s a win-win for me and my buddies…I do however, feel horrible about this whole situation that I’m forcing…Horrible, just horrible I tell you!
- Ares - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 9:55 am:
Let the people set the limits of an elected official’s term - at the ballot box.
- Anon - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 9:56 am:
===“Pick two or three. I’ve laid out 15. Pick any of them. But let’s pick something.”===
I think someone has realized he’s spent almost two years in office now and has nothing to show for it.
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 9:58 am:
So BigBrain sees check writin’ as a form of compassion. SOunds like Trump who equated big buildin’s with “sacrifice.
DON’T FORGET BigBrain’s trip to the Cdale alternative school, talking about the importance and bein’ told his plans hurt them.
Those twin boulders are pullin’ folks down big time
Durkie may want to give that loot back pronto.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 9:58 am:
The sad thing is, if he had any political skills at all, he could have a fully funded budget and also a heck of a bully pulpit to make the case for any number of reforms, some of which might even be necessary. In other words, if he did his job, he could have his cake and eat it too.
But that would require hard work. He hasn’t shown that he’s up for that. Too bad. He could have been a great governor but he threw it all away because he didn’t understand the job.
- Huh? - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 9:59 am:
“I’m heartless, I don’t care about the most vulnerable.”
There is the campaign sound bite. He said it out loud and on tape.
- RIJ - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 9:59 am:
Governor “Baloney” - you reap what you sow. Enjoy the next two years.
- Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:00 am:
Are the Democrats whose policies are chasing good middle class manufacturing jobs out if this state heartless? These jobs average over $70K per year.
They are able to claim with very little push back that they are the only ones looking out for the middle class. Their record on workers comp, property tax and numerous other reforms speaks otherwise.
Tell that to the decimated workers suffering from one of the highest unemployment rates in America
The Speaker and Senate President are opposing all of the Rauner reforms and proposing none of their own.
The Senate President won’t even call his own pension reform bill.
- Bobby Catalpa - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:00 am:
Hey, Rauner, here’s a couple tips:
You don’t get to declare yourself heartless.
Just because you *donate* money doesn’t mean you know anything about what you’re donating to. I donate to the Red Cross. It doesn’t mean I know how to mop up a disaster.
And, finally, get a clue, Rauner. Money doesn’t equal compassion. Money doesn’t equal intelligence.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:03 am:
=“Baloney,” Rauner said. “Many, many of the agencies that have been hurt, including my wife’s work, I personally have donated, I’m a huge supporter, huge advocate. I don’t want to cut your service. I’m just trying to bring some principle and some discipline to the process.”=
My wife’s work? Doesn’t she volunteer?
How nice that her “work” was able to get a $5 million donation.
I wonder how many other social service agencies would or could benefit from such a donation but are not a charity playground for Illinois economic elites?
Nice when your “work” has a lot of super wealthy pals to cover the ransom for your hubbies hostage-taking.
- Huh? - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:03 am:
“I don’t want to cut your service. I’m just trying to bring some principle and some discipline to the process.”
Translation: “It isn’t my fault that I am hurting you.”
Sounds kind of like an abusive relationship.
- Magic carpet ride - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:06 am:
One more comparison between rauner and trump-They can’t make the PIVOT…..
- Cassandra - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:07 am:
Well, the fact that he even says something like this suggests the pressure may be getting to him. I mean really, is this relevant. He’s a politican. So is Madigan. We hired them, and other high-level politicians, to run a complex state government in tough economic times, tough for the middle and lower income classes anyway. We need decisions, not rhetoric. And let’s hope the final decision isn’t: Mr. and Mrs. Middle Class pay for everything via a massive, regressive tax increase to sustain a state government that cuts nothing.That would be truly heartless. It’s also more than likely to happen because, well, it’s the easy button.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:10 am:
- Cassandra -
“Because… taxpayers”
Got it.
Thanks.
- Juvenal - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:13 am:
“Many, many of the agencies that have been hurt, including my wife’s work, I personally have donated, I’m a huge supporter, huge advocate.”
Who do you think you are kidding?
You donate to get your name on the building, the applause at the black tie event.
That’s why your name is on the playground at the Kohl Children’s Museum…not because you are trying to uplift the suffering children of Glencoe, Glenview, Wilmette and Winnetka.
BTW, did he just call his wife’s organization undisciplined and unprincipled?
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:14 am:
–to sustain a state government that cuts nothing.–
Go ahead. Tell me at this point what should get cut. Be very specific.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:15 am:
Workers comp reform and a property tax freeze were doable, but not for Rauner because the reforms didn’t go far enough. You had to start somewhere, and Rauner was severely outnumbered.
As far as heartlessness, I’d call him heartless in some key ways. He came into politics to start a political revolution, wielding a sledgehammer and hating his opponents. He also refuses to acknowledge that the highest earners like himself are part of the problem–paying low state income taxes for decades.
- Groundhog Day - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:16 am:
Ok, well, we think you have an actual, anatomic heart. This could be confirmed easily with a stethoscope, or by checking your pulse. Not like Dick Cheney pre-transplant. But when considering a metaphorical heart, the part that has empathy and care for others; um, no, we have seen zero evidence for that.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:17 am:
===How nice that her “work” was able to get a $5 million donation.===
Reality?
Diana Rauner supports Bruce Rauner and the holding of Social Services hostage.
Suing the Rauner Administration is a “business decision”, not a compassionate resort.
You get $5 million to keep your “business” running, that wasn’t an accident, and the timing wasn’t coincidental.
I guess… The Rauners purposely donated these millions so they can have Bruce say he cares when Bruce’s actions say otherwise…
… pretty interesting “business decision” there… the “inoculating donations”?
- Jaded - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:19 am:
47th Ward, that is spot on.
- Aldyth - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:19 am:
Governor, to quote Joe Biden: “That’s a bunch of malarkey.”
- motorcycle vest - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:20 am:
Rich people think that throwing some $$ at a charity absolves them of all their sins. Hey Bruce, we all give to charity and if you ranked us by the percentage of our overall welath, your donations would look pittiful.
The real problem is he can’t comprehend/doesn’t care what it’s like to go without essential healthcare or services that just help you live from day to day.
What’s worse, as others have said, is that this was the intended strategy all along. He knew people would be harmed and that he would use that as leverage. That’s beyond heartless. It’s immoral and downright evil.
- Skeptic - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:20 am:
Lucky: Just because you find the D’s ideas unpalatable doesn’t mean that have none.
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:20 am:
There’s no use in arguing with him. He’ll never self-blame. People like Rauner and Trump are incapable of it. Everybody knows someone like this.
- City Zen - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:22 am:
Does taxing retirement income count as a reform?
- Chicagonk - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:25 am:
We have two men in Rauner and Madigan who’s egos prevent them from coming to an agreement.
- Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:25 am:
47th ward - some of Rauner’s reforms might even be necessary? Will someone alert the Democrats that given the crisis Illinois state government is in reforming nothing is extreme.
What is supposed to happen in divided government in moving to the middle and compromising. Rauner has done so and is willing to settle for 2 or 3 of the 15 reform proposals
Senate and House Democrats can’t even agree on a compromise budget between the two houses controlled by supermajorities. How can you expect them to compromise with Rauner
- Cassandra - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:28 am:
Honeybear,
That would be taxpayers who have to fund their own personal welfare states in today’s national, go-it-alone economy. Increasing health care costs, retirement (no more defined benefit pensions) college for the kids. And not just college, but a home in a neighborhood that is high-priced enough to have have excellent k-12. That would be a neighborhood with really high property taxes and comparatively expensive homes.
So yeah, we need the money. But all this would change, you say, if we just got rid of Bruce Rauner and raised taxes?. I don’t blame Rauner or the Democrats for national trends. Maybe no poliitcian can fix this. But ascribing all our woes to the “heartlessness’ of the state’s current chief politician seems a bit too simple.
As for cutting-let’s start with state’s prison system-a poster child for the evils of mass incarceration.
- Cassandra - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:30 am:
It doesn’t matter, City Zen. The politicians in this state will never tax retirement income. Ever.
- Flynn's mom - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:31 am:
@OW @9:43….you nailed it!
- Stark - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:35 am:
Lucky Pierre, divided government doesn’t mean holding the state’s budget hostage for the advancement of your own agenda. Divided government means you work to compromise but not demanding you get a win before the compromise can even start. “Give me a sucker before I go to the doctor’s office”. How silly.
- Jocko - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:36 am:
==Rauner has done so and is willing to settle for 2 or 3 of the 15 reform proposals==
Based on what? His word? Rauner hasn’t been honest about his intentions since speaking at the tax policy conference on September 2012.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:42 am:
Sorry, but as a governor you don’t sit on your can, finger points, spend millions attacking the majority party leaders you need to get your work done, screw the unions, lie throughout your campaign, watch Illinois collapse into debt, and be considered empathetic.
If you think that, then you are lacking an ability to think at all.
- Magic carpet ride - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:43 am:
Now rauner is a heartless braggart.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:44 am:
===Rauner has done so and is willing to settle for 2 or 3 of the 15 reform proposals===
He could have had a property tax freeze and some modest changes to worker’s comp. Who is not moving to the middle? Lol.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:46 am:
- Flynn’s Mom -
Thank you, humbly, and may I also defer a great deal to - 47th Ward -…
Me? Rauner could’ve been a great governor.
Rauner chose to fund “documentaries”, refused to get budgetary compromise, alienated all of Labor unlike any governor in recent memory, and Rauner believes costumes and “selfies” help people… and connect… to people, and governing… governing is the residue of poor leverage used on the less fortunate.
No one denies reforms are needed, no one denies reforms are warranted, but 1.4% and $500+ million in return to destroy labor… or social services “get it”?
That’s Rauner. That’s heartless. That’s a waste… “of what could’ve been”… a heck of a turnaround… from a politically savvy governor, an outsider… that had a heart. Rauner has proven he’s not that governor.
- Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:46 am:
A Property tax freeze with no ability for the local governments to freeze spending is the kind of smoke and mirrors we have been doing for decades.
- Magic carpet ride - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:51 am:
Thank you “Vanilla Man @10:42.
Who says rauner has not made any accomplishments in the last two years. This sums it up and I totally agree with VM again.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:57 am:
–The sad thing is, if he had any political skills at all, he could have a fully funded budget and also a heck of a bully pulpit to make the case for any number of reforms, some of which might even be necessary. In other words, if he did his job, he could have his cake and eat it too.–
I believe it’s a fundamental mistake to think that Rauner is not accomplishing some of his goals.
You don’t initiate and then preside over this kind of destruction for nearly two years by accident.
“Squeeze the beast” might not have initially been the primary objective, but it was certainly on the agenda. And it is being accomplished.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:59 am:
===…no ability for the local governments to freeze spending is the kind…===
Aw, use your words, don’t “be shy”
“… to end prevailing wage and collective bargaining… ”
Why won’t you mention that?
Is it because there’s no 60 or 30 for “that”?
Rauner’s “monumental mistake” was Decatur. Rauner coulda went after AFSCME and public sector labor and left Police/Fire and the trades alone. Why Rauner felt he had the “leverage” to get all Labor is beyond me…
From - @MisterJayEm -
“In Illinois there’s been a long-time history of what I would call social service, social justice, a bigger role for government in the safety net than in many other states. I think we can drive a wedge issue in the Democratic Party on that topic” — Bruce Rauner, September 18, 2012.
… maybe it’s not beyond me.
It IS the plan.
- Jimmy H - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 11:06 am:
Rauner can’t get the votes for what he wants, so he’s strong-arming the State’s most vulnerable. That’s reasonable isn’t it? …snark
- Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 11:06 am:
OW use your words to explain how property taxes (revenues) can be “frozen” but expenditures cannot?
The votes allow democrats to run great ads on voting for property tax freezes with no substance in the legislation to freeze local expenditures.
- Whatever - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 11:07 am:
Can anyone list his 15 reforms? I never heard of more than 5 or 6.
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 11:13 am:
–But all this would change, you say, if we just got rid of Bruce Rauner and raised taxes?.–
Nope, I didn’t say that.
–But ascribing all our woes to the “heartlessness’ of the state’s current chief politician seems a bit too simple.–
Sure there are things Madigan has done. But since Rauner took over he’s refused to do his constitutional duty without his reforms. Who is the hostage taker? The hostage taker is the PERPETRATOR! Rauner is not the victim.
Rauner is the perpetrator.
- Wensicia - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 11:15 am:
Rauner: I’m not insensitive. I just don’t care.
- downstate commissioner - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 11:16 am:
I’ll bet that the amount of money he has given to charity isn’t anywhere near what he has given to political campaigns…
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 11:17 am:
- Lucky Pierre -
Rauner feels Organized Labor makes too much. It’s not about reducing expenditures. If it was, we’d all have those numbers from Rauner.
If Rauner wanted this to be an economic issue, Rauner would show the real economic impact in real dollars. Rauner discusses ideological changes, which include “Unions workers make too much”
That’s why Decatur was such a monumental mistake.
There’s no 60 or 30 to lower worker wages. There’s no 60 and 30 for the arbitrary removal of collective bargaining outright.
Get 60 and 30.
On the property tax strawman you have with lowering expenditures, isn’t that a “local” thing? Rauner seems to be inserting himself in “local control”
Hmm.
- Henry Francis - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 11:18 am:
Am I missing something? I didn’t see anything in Ms. Kutlesa’s question that said Rauner was heartless. Did he bring that up on his own? If so, that demonstrates to me he is sensitive to claims of being heartless and defending against such attacks when they aren’t even being made.
The governor doth protest too much, me thinks?
- AlfondoGonz - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 11:29 am:
Is it fair game to call him brainless?
Hopefully, if Rauner wins a second term, he can drop the Village People getups and switch to a Wizard of Oz themed wardrobe.
- Get a Job!! - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 11:42 am:
=I don’t want to cut your service. I’m just trying to bring some principle and some discipline to the process.”=
The moment I read this, I instantly though of this Caddy Shack scene.
Judge Smails: I’ve sentenced boys younger than you to the gas chamber. Didn’t want to do it. I felt I owed it to them.
- Whatever - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 11:45 am:
Lucky Pierre @ 11:06 am ==OW use your words to explain how property taxes (revenues) can be “frozen” but expenditures cannot?==
Who says expenditures cannot be frozen? Or, to anticipate an answer that teacher and public employee wages will never be held down as long as there is collective bargaining, what makes anyone think that a local government that cannot bargain for a pay freeze will somehow work up the nerve to elect out of collective bargaining altogether?
And, since you seem to like the Governor’s reforms so much, can you list his 15 proposals?
- Kyle Hillman - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 11:54 am:
Can we get a list of the 15?
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 12:05 pm:
=Rauner feels Organized Labor makes too much. It’s not about reducing expenditures. If it was, we’d all have those numbers from Rauner.=
I am sure that the AFSCME bargaining team is no walk in the park. To some degree, that is their job. To be tough bargainers on behalf of their members.
Rauner does not like to bargain, and does not respect the rights of those who choose to unionize. He would prefer them to be weak and at his heal like a company that is going busto.
That isn’t how it works though, and he cannot handle it. he wants to tell people how it is, not work with them to define the relationship.
Example of his poor bargaining? Look at anyone of his superstars. He over paid for just about all of them.
- Kurt Niermann - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 12:13 pm:
The governor just released the 2016 Workers Compensation Insurance Oversight Report (http://insurance.illinois.gov/reports/report_links.asp). The charts show a massive transfer of wealth from injured workers and their providers to the carriers since the 2011 amendments. As of 2015, comp carriers were pocketing 47.4 cents of every dollar in premiums (53.5% loss ratio). Why is it that Rauner has held up social services over the last year with a demand that workers continue to take a deeper hit? Seems like the governor could improve the business climate by having his department disgorge the obscene profits from the carriers?
- Liberty - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 12:14 pm:
Spoken like a true narcissist.
- Kurt Niermann - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 12:15 pm:
Sorry about the math. The workers comp carriers are only enjoying 46.5% of each dollar in premiums.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 12:51 pm:
Lucky:
So you think the Governor should continue to hold his breath and stomp his feet until he gets his property tax bill - the one that basically throws out the ability to collectively bargain if the local government so chooses? That isn’t going to happen. Why not get what you can get?
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 1:39 pm:
==Pick two or three. I’ve laid out 15. Pick any of them.==
Not sure what the 15 include. I would like to see the list. I can think of a handful but can’t get to 15.
Also, the Governor wants them to pick from his list AND pass them exactly as he wants them. That sort of “compromise” isn’t going to work. If he wants them to pick 2 or 3 then he better be willing to negotiate the details of those 2 or 3. Otherwise we’ll continue to get nowhere fast.
- Blue dog dem - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 1:44 pm:
Cassie. I like your way of thinking.
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 1:51 pm:
Great points Demoralized
- Mama retired - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 1:55 pm:
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 9:48 am: =
Its strange that he never mentioned “union busting” as one of his terms to a balanced budget. However, everyone knows busting the unions in IL is his top priority.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 1:56 pm:
==Pick two or three. I’ve laid out 15. Pick any of them.==
He just starts saying random nonsense words when he goes off script. Like he has “dozens of corporations lined up” to come to Illinois. No basis in reality.
- Gesq1 - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 2:12 pm:
Or… “I’m not heartless, but I’m going to need to get what I want for me and the rich folks that want to make more money in Illinois before I agree to fund anything that helps those that can’t help themselves. You don’t like those greedy injured workers more than the poor do you? I mean all it would take for me to help those poor people is for you to agree that unions are terrible for my buddies, I mean Illinois.”
- Rabid - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 2:14 pm:
He acts like a used car salesman with 15 different colored yogos that can’t make a sale so sad
- Libertas - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 2:24 pm:
Can someone please name for me the reform proposals that Madigan has offered up? Please be specific.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 2:29 pm:
===Can someone please name for me the reform proposals that Madigan has offered up? Please be specific.===
So you admit Rauner is heartless and holding social services hostages, hurting purposely the most needy… heartlessly.
Got it. Thanks.
- Cubs in '16 - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 2:30 pm:
===Can someone please name for me the reform proposals that Madigan has offered up? Please be specific.===
“Reform” is the governor’s agenda, not the Speaker’s. Why would Madigan offer up reform proposals?
- Chicagonk - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 2:43 pm:
===Can someone please name for me the reform proposals that Madigan has offered up? Please be specific.===
== So you admit Rauner is heartless and holding social services hostages, hurting purposely the most needy… heartlessly.
Got it. Thanks.==
So you don’t think that Illinois has any opportunities for reform? I think it’s clear at this point that Rauner is comfortable holding social services hostage if he doesn’t get some reform.
- Anon - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 2:44 pm:
Rauner seems pretty reasonable.
- BigDoggie - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 2:49 pm:
I’m truly scared to be an Illinoisan. Other than Lucky Pierre, it seems that everyone else here is willing and anxious to just throw as much money at our legislature as they possibly can with no strings attached. I guess that must be based on how well that’s worked out for us in the past?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 2:49 pm:
===So you don’t think that Illinois has any opportunities for reform===
I said, above…
===- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 10:46 am
“No one denies reforms are needed, no one denies reforms are warranted, but 1.4% and $500+ million in return to destroy labor… or social services “get it”?… “===
Rauner is heartless to get “reforms” that hurt people or people will get hurt.
See the 2012 quote.
The question about Illinois and reform isn’t in dispute.
Rauner destroying either Labor or Social Services is what’s at play.
- Rabid - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 2:49 pm:
My govenor is giving social services a wedgie before the election
- Blue dog dem - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 2:50 pm:
Big Doggie. Heel. Dont lump old Blue into the tax without cuts group.
- Nick Name - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 2:52 pm:
“everyone else here is willing and anxious to just throw as much money at our legislature as they possibly can with no strings attached”
Who said that? Where?
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 3:06 pm:
–”everyone else here is willing and anxious to just throw as much money at our legislature as they possibly can with no strings attached”
Who said that? Where?–
No one. Ever.
The Bots aren’t exactly Varsity material.
- Earnest - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 3:10 pm:
>Can someone please name for me the reform proposals that Madigan has offered up? Please be specific.
Don’t need to look at offers–he has a record of actually doing things…Tier II was very unpopular and saves the state money over time, he consistently passed budgets that decreased human services spending, he refused to include money for state worker raises in a budget, passed w/c reform awhile back, passed a hugely unpopular tax increase but made it temporary when it needed to be permanent, passed a couple of budgets that began to catch up bills and make the pension payments, then passed one that took us off a cliff when the tax increased expired.
Madigan has a record of doing specific things and does not say a different thing each time he is asked a question. He doesn’t say he will provide details later unless he’s going to.
Given Madigan’s unpopularity I don’t think it’s unfair to be vexed with Rauner’s strategy of distraction from his actions instead of making the positive argument for the positive changes he wants for Illinois and the projected benefit from them. They can come up with dollar projections at the drop of a hat when they want to.
- Cubs in '16 - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 3:35 pm:
Madigan has repeatedly said let’s get a budget first and then talk about what we can do in the way of reforms. He recognized what the lack of a budget would do to programs. Rauner insists on HIS reforms being part of a budget. So here we sit…
- City Zen - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 3:48 pm:
==“Reform” is the governor’s agenda, not the Speaker’s. Why would Madigan offer up reform proposals?==
Surprised someone would actually type this, contemplate, and choose to hit send rather than delete.
- RNUG - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 5:06 pm:
You either lead with popular ideas (or sell those ideas on facts and logic, not emotion), follow someone who has ideas that can be sold, or get out of the way.
Rauner has proven he can’t sell his ideas to the Illinois taxpayers. He won’t follow anyone else. And he won’t get out of the way.
What’s really sad is Rauner squandered many opportunities. He could have gotten some work comp reform. He could have gotten a temporary property tax freeze, but probably at the cost of increased state school aid (and a resulting income tax increase or the closure of business tax loopholes). He could have cut some union power and achieved some union claw-backs if he went about it in a piece meal process instead of total war to destroy all unions.
But that’s what you get when you elect a chief executive who only knows how to issue orders and use the (mostly bankruptcy) courts to achieve his objectives.
This will only end badly. The way people are dug in, either with capitulation to Madigan before 2018, or the removal of one of the two in the 2018 election. Unfortunately, a lot of State services, especially in the health / welfare categories, will be nothing but scorched earth by then.
- Langhorne - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 5:10 pm:
You are leverage. And don’t you ever forget it .
“Principle and discipline” sounds better, though.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 5:12 pm:
@RNUG @5:06-
As OW says- ballgame, right there. Succinctly and fairly stated. Well done sir!
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 5:32 pm:
–Can someone please name for me the reform proposals that Madigan has offered up? Please be specific.–
The DCEO Public Private Partnership was a reform.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 6:54 pm:
What is considered waste to one person is a lifeline to another person. Think about those the cuts would hurt the most.
- Mama Retired - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 6:56 pm:
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 6:54 pm: -
Is me Mama retired.
Rich, my nickname keeps disappearing like a magic act.
- blue dog dem - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 7:23 pm:
Honey. That was snarkoliscous.
- peon - Tuesday, Oct 18, 16 @ 7:28 pm:
Almost 2 years now and this budget strategy hasn’t worked yet to produce the TA, and won’t because it isn’t leverage. But the Governor restates the same strategy unchanged.
It’s not heartlessness I’m worried about.