70 Comments - Downstate - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 11:10 am: Why would the Dems engage at this point? - Deft Wing - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 11:15 am: Given those comments, Rauner beats Madigan again. I predict Madigan won’t engage and will only harden. Thus, the fight continues until 2018 starting today. Rauner’s legislative victories over Madigan yesterday settles nothing. Yet. - Bobby Catalpa - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 11:16 am: No reason for Madigan to engage now. Rauner continues to be the problem in Illinois. Now there are two people standing between us and Pence’s Indiana (or Brownback’s Kansas): Madigan and Mendoza. Had Munger pulled it out, it might be a different story. - Aldyth - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 11:17 am: Rather empty words, I’d say. - Amalia - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 11:18 am: Rauner is up for election in 2 years. Lisa could likely be the opponent. Rauner thinks his statement is for the good of the people. Mike started the campaign for the next election. I don’t feel good about my party’s response. I feel better about hearing Rauner’s words. Time to become an independent. - Langhorne - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 11:19 am: Translation: Blah, blah, nicey nice, and so on “Reforms”: square one, ground zero, discipline, persistence, starve the beast, destruction, more of the same. - Hamlet's Ghost - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 11:21 am: Until Rauner proposes a balanced budget there is nothing to engage with. - Jocko - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 11:22 am: “Be competitive so we can be compassionate” Translation: Give me what I want and I “promise” to give you what you want. - Big Joe - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 11:22 am: Here’s an idea. Maybe Rauner can propose a balanced budget for once. Not one that depends on millions of dollars saved by an unconstitutional pension reform bill. It’s time to get serious Gov. Not just words, do something!! Put it out there for discussion. No? I didn’t think so. - Honeybear - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 11:22 am: Let 100 flowers bloom! - Huh? - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 11:25 am: After all the vitriol of the campaign, 1.4% thinks that it is time to be “nice”? Lots of like with that. - hisgirlfriday - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 11:25 am: Rauner can afford to be magnanimous and talk about bipartisanship now. Republicans getting to make the Scalia Supreme Court appointment is gonna kill AFSCME for him. - MOON - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 11:26 am: Madigan is right on point. Amalia, forget the idea that Lisa is running for Gov. The Speaker is going to be around for a long time….as Speaker. - Not It - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 11:27 am: For crying out loud, dude, can you post an Oscar pic already?!?!?! - Last Bull Moose - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 11:31 am: Rauner’s words carry no weight. If he proposes a balanced budget, that action would have weight. - anon - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 11:33 am: Is Rauner serious about reaching an agreement? If so, he will abandon his nonbudgetary demands. I doubt that will happen. - Earnest - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 11:33 am: Rauner’s words have never been reliable indicators of his actions. I still think, the worse things are, the stronger his hand, and he’ll continue on his current path. Madigan’s going to have to figure out how to be more than the new party of ‘no’ and get more done than just passing K-12 out of political expedience. - AlfondoGonz - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 11:36 am: You’ve got a lotta nerve to say you are my friend When I was down you just stood there grinnin’ You’ve got a lotta nerve to say you got a helping hand to lend You just want to be on the side that’s winnin’ You say I let you down, ya know its not like that If you’re so hurt, why then don’t you show it? You say you’ve lost your faith, but that’s not where its at You have no faith to lose, and ya know it I know the reason, that you talked behind my back I used to be among the crowd you’re in with Do you take me for such a fool, to think I’d make contact With the one who tries to hide what he don’t know to begin with? You see me on the street, you always act surprised You say “how are you?”, “good luck”, but ya don’t mean it When you know as well as me, you’d rather see me paralyzed Why don’t you just come out once and scream it No, I do not feel that good when I see the heartbreaks you embrace If I was a master thief perhaps I’d rob them And tho I know you’re dissatisfied with your position and your place Don’t you understand, its not my problem? I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes And just for that one moment I could be you Yes, I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes You’d know what a drag it is to see you - Chicago Barb - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 11:39 am: After all the Republican commercials bashing Democrats for raising taxes, I don’t see how any of them can vote for a tax increase. No balanced budget without revenues. So two more years of the same old same old. - Robert the Bruce - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 11:40 am: ==Why would the Dems engage at this point?== 1) Because a budget is a good thing for the state, and both parties need to engage. 2) Because by not engaging, they lost seats, and they don’t want to lose more in 2018. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 11:40 am: By his actions, there’s no reason to believe that things aren’t going to plan for Gov. Rauner. If he wanted a balanced budget, he’d propose one. If he wanted to honor state contracts and fund higher ed, the deal could happen in a minute. If he didn’t want to squeeze the beast, it wouldn’t be happening. Since he took office, his veto is — and remains — the last word. His “economic agenda” is a con; that’s why his whiz kids at GOMB aren’t pumping out paper showing projected economic growth and jobs that would result from it — after nearly two years. - Liberty - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 11:40 am: Rauner is no Pence or Trump. There is no rauner revolution… he has to lead not stand in the way. - Roman - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 11:41 am: Yesterday’s results won’t change a darn thing. Here’s what will: someone going to the appelate court to challenge the St. Clair county judge’s order to pay state employees without an appropriation. (Not sure how the six-month “stop gap” plays into the case, but the six months expire Dec. 31st.) Does Mendoza have the guts to try this? - wordslinger - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 11:52 am: –1) Because a budget is a good thing for the state, and both parties need to engage.– After all this time… by his actions…. what makes you think that “engaging” in a budget is a priority of the governor’s? He’s been clear about a list of non-budget pre-conditions. - 4 percent - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:01 pm: In 2011, Madigan and Cullerton led the work comp effort because they acknowledged the high cost and the additional taxes that would be paid under the higher income tax rate. They are on record publicly saying it. So, what has changed except that we have a GOP Governor. There can be agreement if they decide that they want to negotiate and not just say no. - Cheryl44 - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:10 pm: Governor Rauner, No. Cheryl44 - Ahoy! - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:10 pm: Rauner wants it, he will make a deal. Madigan has to be willing to engage. If Madigan engages so will Cullerton. We should all know where the problem is as well as the solution. Madigan is not up against a push over which he is use to, he’s going to have to give up a little more than normal and he needs to adapt or drive our state further into madness. - Deft Wing - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:11 pm: To paraphrase the great Forrest Gump: Bitter is, as bitter does. - Timmeh - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:13 pm: ==So, what has changed except that we have a GOP Governor. There can be agreement if they decide that they want to negotiate and not just say no.== Being willing to give up something isn’t a guarantee of being willing to give up more later. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:14 pm: Nice words, as usual. Where is the action? - The_Equalizer - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:15 pm: Someone said that Dems can’t keep being the party of “no”. That’s entirely wrong. The Congress spent pretty much eight years as the party of “no” and got rewarded last night. Dems might feel the same on the state level. - Big Muddy - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:16 pm: “if the Democrats even engage” So Madigan is going to keep hostages hostage? Let’s keep that in perspective as we collar Rauner with all the problems moving forward. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:17 pm: (Sigh) Governors need budgets. It’s the true document that weighs abs measures and allows a price tag to policy and governing like no other document, speech, sound bite, or position paper could ever do. Any governor not willing to have a budget but willing for ANY actor in government to dictate a budget to a governor really isn’t concerned to the governing, policy or to the fiscal health or well-being of the state. Rauner can speak to any and all the political this or any cycle he will engage in as a political actor. As a governor, allowing the state to not have a budget is a reflection on a governor and a governor only, because what Executive of a state is willing to let the Legislature weigh and measure their impact in policy or governing and the dollars to measure that governing. When Rauner decides a budget is most important, than words like these will matter. Not a moment sooner. - Skeptic - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:20 pm: “Now is the time to move forward together.” Then sit down with AFSCME and let’s get this contract settled. - Loop Lady - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:20 pm: What Deft Wing said… Dems are in for a long drought in IL Madigan becoming ever more toxic…even to his own members.. - Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:22 pm: According to the totals on the Tribune website for the contested House and Senate districts, this election was actually a lot closer than most would think. Total votes cast in contested house races 1,024,791 for Republican and 1,076,012 for Democrat. +5% for the Democrats Total votes cast for contested Senate seats 610,030 Republican and 570,876 Democrat. +6% for the Republicans. Speaker Madigan is a bit off on his opinion of how strong the Democratic majority is on the legislature. The maps are far too skewed to get a representative democracy. http://elections.chicagotribune.com/results/ - Ghost - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:27 pm: Have to find common ground and try to work this out. Rauner has for the moment extended an olive branch, which is a way forward. time to set the past behind and see what can be done going forward accept his offer and see what happens going forward. we cant keep whining need to take positive action to resolve issues. the economy is facing some potential downturns in our future we need solutions now - VanillaMan - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:28 pm: Rauner realized that he didn’t win and he is in a hole. So his statement is an attempt to discover the depths of that hole. If he was a real governor with real accomplishments, his statement could begin a conversation. However Rauner is a failure and will be unable to just pretend that all he did was now in the past. Rauner has to reestablish credibility by showing Illinoisans and his political opponents he is more than empty rhetoric. Rauner has to take action in order to be believed all this point. Rauner has lost too much to feign power. He’s going to need to create accomplishments to start getting out of that hole he spent millions of dollars in digging with his inactions. - Sense of a Goose - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:31 pm: Just like we did after the last election? - Amalia - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:34 pm: look to the east. it’s DC where the Republicans will be in total charge of the Federal government. stuff will change. lots of stuff. and it will not just trickle down….like taxes…they may make changes that will have deep effects on what we can control here. they say they don’t like federal decisions that affect, say, reproductive choices, but they can make federal decisions that will effect that and much more. unions, financial regulations, education, environment. what will Madigan do against Federal decisions? Perhaps Rauner knows what help…in his vision…he can get via Fed changes. truly frightening. - The Dude Abides - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:35 pm: I do agree that the Dems would be better off if Madigan retired. What would the GOP do if they could no longer associate every Democrat to Madigan. It’s much too soon to predict a long drought for Democrats in this state. They did do well in the statewide races last night. - Anon221 - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:36 pm: Competiveness can equal exclusiveness. Compassion can equal inclusion. So, all I’m really hearing, once again from Rauner, is leverage, leverage, leverage. Well, Durkin is going to have to be the fulcrum now, whether he may like that role or not. - From the 'Dale to HP - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:38 pm: Rauner doesn’t want a deal. Why is he pretending that he does? - GA Watcher - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:39 pm: The comments have so far been mostly about Speaker Madigan and the Democrats and whether they will be willing to budge. Let’s not forget, Republican Leaders Durkin and Radogno have consistently expressed opposition over the years to using the lame duck session to resolve significant issues. - BK Bro - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:40 pm: Rauner simply reaffirmed that there’s no political need for him to change course. Dems will hold their ground. Next 2 years will be the same as previous 2 years. Only possible change will come if AFSCME strikes. - illinoised - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:43 pm: =Rauner wants it, he will make a deal.= Wishful thinking at best. Rauner will make no deal until painted into a corner. We are not there yet. - Loop Lady - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:44 pm: Who’s gonna run against Bruce and his self funded campaign in 2018 with Madigan on their back? - Robert the 1st - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:46 pm: Maybe Trump will do Rauner a solid and sign a national right-to-work law in? - wordslinger - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:52 pm: –The maps are far too skewed to get a representative democracy.– LP, you and Katrina are having fun with meaningless dorm-room numbers games. Want another meaningless number? Clinton is up 200,000 in the national popular vote. Does that mean the electoral college is “far too skewed to get a representative democracy?” - Not It - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:52 pm: Lucky Pierre - your analysis would make more sense if this wasn’t a gerry mandered map. - Oneman - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:54 pm: So if I am reading the general tone of the comments… The Democrats should not engage and Rauner should not get anything he is asking for? So basically you want the governor to capitulate on everything he is asking for. Yeah, that’s good government. - walker - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:55 pm: Rauner’s words haven’t changed in two years. Still code for non-budget items agreed to before any serious budget proposal or negotiation. Show us something different. - Demoralized - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:57 pm: ==Speaker Madigan is a bit off on his opinion of how strong the Democratic majority is on the legislature== And yet the actual number of representatives says otherwise. Waxing philosophical might be fun for you but has zero applicability to the real world the rest of us live in. - Juvenal - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 1:01 pm: I cannot imagine either Democrats or Republicans passing a lame duck tax hike, Rich. Google “Rauner lame duck tax hike”. There is a deal to be made, but it will either be a vote where the majority of the new Republican caucuses including both leaders are Yeses on the tax increase. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 1:08 pm: - Oneman - If Durkin and Rauner can get 60 votes, needing 7-10 Democrats in the House, then Rauner can get what he needs. Until Rauner and Durkin get something that can get 60 in the House, as every governor from either party has done in recent memory starting from 1970… … that’s the governing bar. Same as it ever was. Nothing more or less is being asked of Rauner. - Simple Simon - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 1:18 pm: Ghost says this is an olive branch from Rauner. Baloney! This is Lucy holding the football for Charlie Brown and smiling. - Oneman - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 1:32 pm: OW– The basic tone here has become everything Rauner is asking for is evil… Doing something about workman’s comp — Evil Fair maps — Evil Pensions — Evil Unions — Evil There is some room for compromise on this stuff, not even all of it but the comments here seem to indicate that the only thing they want on compromise here is on additional revenue. Do people really think the Republicans are going to raise taxes without getting something in return? Governing is lett - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 2:02 pm: ===Doing something about workman’s comp — Evil Fair maps — Evil Pensions — Evil Unions — Evil=== Doing something about workman’s comp — I’ve even suggested Louis Atsavess find a workable solution Fair maps — I’m on board, but holding a budget hostage for it? Pensions — Always said it needs to be Constitutional. Activity - Achievement in pensions? No thanks. Unions — Rauner needs 60 and 30 for that. Just like every governor would need. The phoniness of this helping property taxes isn’t fooling anyone. ===Do people really think the Republicans are going to raise taxes without getting something in return?=== Welp, then that’s hostage taking on a Governor’s part. Attaching a required element of a budget for a desired want IS hostage taking, no other way to describe it. Revenue is required, unless Rauner wants to submit a budget with $9 billion in cuts to balance that Rauner will own those $9 billion in cuts. My 308 friend, this is fundamental governing versus hostage taking without showing what a budget with $9 billion in cuts looks like. No budget with $9 billion in cuts, then revenue is 100% required. Not up for discussion. With respect. BTW, bummer that OHS and OEHS are out of the football playoffs. The buzz around was fun while it lasted. - Joe M - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 2:14 pm: Maybe as we get closer to the 2018 election, Rauner will bend and change. After all, his name will be on the 2018 statewide ballot. Michael Madigan’s will not. - A guy - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 2:28 pm: The Speaker did take a hit yesterday. Doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. To him, every hit is a big hit. Everything is personal. Nothing is business when it comes to elections. That does put him in a position to exercise some leverage to do something positive and bipartisan looking and feeling. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised. - Chucktownian - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 2:31 pm: With Mendoza getting ready to quit doing Rauner’s bidding, I suspect he’s realized he’s in a vice. Spending tens of millions to win a handful of races (while losing the real proxy race) won’t change much and didn’t come anywhere close to changing the situation in the legislature. And the midterms now become a potential Dem pickup because President Trump will be radioactive by then. - Rod - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 2:41 pm: I see no good reason for Governor Rauner to make any efforts to lift the budget impasse until it becomes clear what sort of deregulation comes down from the Trump White House and the Republican controlled Congress. Keeping the budget impasse in place is to the Governor’s advantage right now. For example many DHS rules relating to the provision of services that add additional costs to the State could well be eliminated, Mr. Trump has also publicly supported either the complete elimination of the US Department of Education or its radical downsizing with a massive elimination of rules tied to funds which in turn could lead to changes in State k-12/special education funding levels. As Trump has said “If we don’t eliminate it completely, we certainly need to cut its power and reach. Education has to be run locally. Common Core, No Child Left Behind, and Race to the Top are all programs that take decisions away from parents and local school boards. These programs allow the progressives in the Department of Education to indoctrinate, not educate, our kids.” - Union Man - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 2:52 pm: You see no good reason for Rauner to lift his Budget Boycott? We aren’t trading marbles here… Govt is supposed to operate efficiently, not be a partisan baton to pummel opposition. - Rabid - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 3:19 pm: What level of support will my new president bestow on my uncooperative govenor? Please apologize to reince priebus for snubbing the party so Illinois won’t suffer - Bored Chairman - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 3:53 pm: Hey Joe M., How about Madigan bending and changing? He lost seats, including one of his leaders. People are fed up. Time for the Speaker to compromise. What’s it going to be? - North Shore Joe - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 3:54 pm: Trump’s victory is to Rauner’s detriment, as Dems. will be more riled up in a midterm than they would be if Clinton got elected. Two years from now, we will see that BR lost the most last night. - Central Illinois - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 4:54 pm: I think the problems were hear before Rauner was elected. He is just man enough to stand up. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 5:03 pm: ===I think the problems were hear before Rauner was elected. He is just man enough to stand up.=== … like refusing to fund Higher Ed. That was an ongoing problem? Yeah, that’s what I thought. - Jack Kemp - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 8:07 pm: Lot of sour grapes today, eh folks? - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 8:17 pm: - Jack Kemp - Raunerites will get over it. Losing the fake super-majority and now having Trump as POTUS for midterms, I could understand the sour grapes too… Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.