* Sun-Times…
Gov. Bruce Rauner has invited the four top legislative leaders to a leaders meeting on Monday ahead of the first veto session on Tuesday.
The governor’s office confirmed Rauner sent out the request on Thursday, asking the leaders to a meeting at their convenience, either in Chicago or Springfield.
Discuss.
…Adding… Press release…
Kim Clarke Maisch, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, released the following statement this morning in response to Governor Rauner’s call for a meeting with legislative leaders:
“Today, Gov. Bruce Rauner formally asked to sit down with the four legislative leaders to continue negotiations on a balanced budget and key economic reforms. NFIB would like to say that small-business owners, the key job creators in our state, are desperate for reforms that will provide a path to greater economic certainty and success.
“Small-business owners have been stifled by an acrimonious election, a burdensome regulatory climate and the constant threat of higher wages and workplace mandates. The election is over. It is time for a bipartisan, balanced budget agreement and workplace reforms that will benefit all the taxpayers in Illinois.”
NFIB is a pretty Republican-leaning group, so I doubt this will have much impact on MJM.
*** UPDATE *** Senate President John Cullerton told me a few minutes ago that he’d be happy to attend the leaders’ meeting on Monday, but only if Speaker Madigan shows up as well. “I’m not willing to be the entertainment,” he explained. Cullerton said he didn’t yet know if Madigan would show up.
A call to Madigan’s spokesman Steve Brown has not yet been returned.
* Meanwhile…
Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno, on the call for a Legislative Leaders’ meeting with Governor Rauner prior to the fall veto session:
“A meeting of the minds with the four legislative leaders and the Governor is the prime opportunity to jumpstart our collaborative process. The time is now to come together to address the serious issues facing Illinois with comprehensive solutions. I look forward to joining the Governor and my colleagues on Monday.”
And…
“With the election behind us, it is time we get back to work fixing Illinois. I am absolutely ready and willing to meet on Monday to restart negotiations on a balanced budget solution and reforms. The voters of Illinois sent us to Springfield to solve problems, they demand cooperation and compromise. We can get the job done if both parties agree to keep an open mind, and return to the table.”
- Jim Durkin, House Republican Leader
…Adding… IMA…
With the election now over, it’s time for our elected officials to shift their utmost focus to balancing the state’s budget and enacting job creation reforms that will spur economic growth and investment in Illinois. Illinois businesses and families cannot afford to wait any longer. Since January, Illinois has lost 9,800 good, high-paying manufacturing jobs causing further erosion of our middle class. Recent headlines have announced Illinois manufacturing companies moving operations across state lines due to a more secure business environment. The latest Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification report for October announced just this week that more than 800 workers will be laid off in coming months with the majority of those being manufacturing jobs.
The voters spoke on Tuesday and are demanding results. It’s time to make Illinois work again and we stand ready to work with policymakers to make that happen.
- RNUG - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 11:02 am:
Would love to be a fly on the wall at this meeting. It will probably set the tone for the next year.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 11:04 am:
Bring in the cameras, in the interest of transparency.
- Team Sleep - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 11:05 am:
I would rather this happen before veto session begins than at 3:00 p.m. on the final day of veto session or the final day of lame duck session.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 11:05 am:
Wonder if Madigan goes or the Speaker “Blagojeviches” him and will send emissaries from now on… or until the movie “Madigan” finally stops running.
It’s ine thing to run hard against a foe, it’s another to personally go after a foe with phony radio, newspapers, movies, and $40+ million personally contributed to pay for all the above and more.
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 11:08 am:
===Would love to be a fly on the wall at this meeting. It will probably set the tone for the next year.===
Ah. So they will come together, have a pleasant discussion, decide on a path forward, then Rauner will saying something patently false about the meeting, Madigan gets PO’d, and we flip the record album over to side B. But hey, side B is where all the “deep cuts” are right?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 11:08 am:
I’ll add, can the public have a current, complete and specific list of the governor’s preconditions before engaging on a budget?
Shouldn’t be a big ask.
- Spliff - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 11:08 am:
Speaker: “We will vote on any bill you want as long as you can put 47 votes on it!”
- wordslinger - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 11:09 am:
pardon, 1108 was me.
- Anon221 - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 11:12 am:
Rauner has a major trust issue that he has helped craft himself. I really don’t see anything coming out of this meeting other than Rauner re-emphasizing his power stance and having Durkin and Radogno there to nod at appropriate moments. The actual session itself will probably not accomplish any overrides. Lame ducks have nothing to gain or lose if they toe the party line. Re-instated Raunerites are going to toe the line or vote Present. Democrats will go on record on those issues that are important to their constituents, not necessarily to the TA.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 11:13 am:
Rauner just threw away a year’s salary (for him, which is many lifetimes for most people) to lose his biggest statewide race and net 4 seats of the 11 his House caucus needs to flip control. Madigan can probably afford to be magnanimous. But if Rauner’s going to make disparaging press statements afterwards, that’ll be telling.
- yeah - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 11:16 am:
Unless the invitation came with a Revenue Ask to discuss, I’d be unavailable.
- Amalia - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 11:22 am:
and on the agenda is also the 100 day Trump plan. it is a must read, including that he wants to end Federal funding to sanctuary cities. forget trickle down, he is going to be damn bursting down. everyone has to talk to buckle up.
- The Dude Abides - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 11:26 am:
By all means they should all accept the invitation though I don’t expect any groundbreaking progress, at least after one meeting. At some point unless both sides throw each other a bone or two the impasse will continue to drag. I need to emphasize that the GOP agreeing to increase the income tax is not throwing the Democrats a bone. Both sides know that the state’s finances can’t be fixed without revenue so I think it’s a non starter that it is being used as a bargaining chip. Of course I understand the political reason the GOP is playing it that way.
- From the 'Dale to HP - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 11:27 am:
Until we know what parts of the turnaround Rauner is willing to drop, this is all pretty pointless.
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 11:33 am:
Can we get a list of Kim Maisch’s “burdensome regulations”? Perhaps we could “relieve” small business of some burdensome TIF/Enterprise Zone regulations to help fund public services. Perhaps that would help property tax rates as well.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 11:34 am:
= the constant threat of higher wages=
I get the workplace mandates concerns and other regulatory issues concerns, but the rising wages?
Wages need to rise. Along with profits. That is part of how an economy grows.
If I am Madigan and Cullerton my public response if to demand that he governor lay out a real plan for revenues and expenditures.
Show us your work Governor, you are only the highest elected office in the state.
Time to lead.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 11:37 am:
===”…It is time for a bipartisan, balanced budget agreement and workplace reforms that will benefit all the taxpayers in Illinois.”===
Encouraging the continued hostage-holding isn’t helping.
Thanks Kim Clarke Maisch!
- Earnest - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 11:43 am:
>NFIB is a pretty Republican-leaning group
Couldn’t tell from the vague, non-specific, probably-moving-goalposts description of “needs reforms.” /s
- Not Rich - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 11:45 am:
If the Speaker shows up, whats the over under on the amount of words he says in the meeting? 20?
- LizPhairTax - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 11:47 am:
Add “stifled by an acrimonious election” to “hang in there, governor” on the Maisch family greatest hits album.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 11:49 am:
–“Small-business owners have been stifled by an acrimonious election, a burdensome regulatory climate and the constant threat of higher wages and workplace mandates.–
Seriously, is it going to be another year of vague, content-free talking points?
Be specific, back it up with facts and sell it. Shallow hackery, we’re all full up.
- Joe M - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 12:01 pm:
“constant threat of higher wages”
God forbid, anyone ever get higher wages. What is the world coming to? /s Doesn’t Maisch realize that folks need wages to be able to purchase things from the businesses that NFIB represents?
- wordslinger - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 12:13 pm:
Can we get a poll of Illinois legislators who want to join Maisch in her crusade against “the constant threat of higher wages?”
Income stagnation is only the biggest problem impacting the most people in the United States for about the last 40 years.
Worker productivity has skyrocketed, income has remained the same. Why do you think people in the Western democracies are so honked off?
And to the whiz kid economists at NFIB — you don’t “create” jobs. Consumers do. If they ain’t buying, you ain’t selling.
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/10/09/for-most-workers-real-wages-have-barely-budged-for-decades/
- illinoised - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 12:13 pm:
All part of the game. Wake me up when one of you gets serious.
- Deft Wing - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 12:20 pm:
TA reminder that the post is about the Governor calling a meeting of the legislative leaders ahead of the coming veto session. Given what’s taken place over the past 2 years, it is impossible to believe how any well-meaning person could take issue with an opportunity to talk and try and achieve compromise.
Come on people, you have to be better than what appears above … yes?
- Union proud - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 12:22 pm:
” the constant threat of higher wages and workplace mandates.”
Higher wages?!? Oh no! Hide the children!
And what is a “workplace mandate?”
- Cheryl44 - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 12:24 pm:
What? Workers want to be paid now?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 12:25 pm:
Any meeting taking place that is the continued Rauner talking points and no avenue to get Turnaround Agenda items… and Rauner continuing to refuse to see revenue not as a “give” but a required element that can’t be leveraged for TA items…
If the above continues, then Rauner again will fail to be a governor brokering in an honest manner.
Never mistake activity for achievement - John Wooden.
Five people sitting at a table with Rauner reading wants he can’t get 60 and 30 for IS the Wooden quote to a T
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 12:27 pm:
I concur that we should see detailed plans and estimates. That’s the transparency we need and deserve.
I fear that we’re going to get more of the same. What reason does Rauner have to drop his collective bargaining and prevailing wage demands? They are central to his reform ideas.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 12:27 pm:
==the constant threat of higher wages==
And that’s a bad thing why?
- Demoralized - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 12:29 pm:
==What reason does Rauner have to drop his collective bargaining and prevailing wage demands?==
I’ll give you a good one. A Democratic General Assembly that will never pass what he wants. It’s one of the reasons he’s failed at governing. Failure to recognize the realities of the political landscape.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 12:39 pm:
Kim and Todd need to show us the way to low wage nirvana by giving back all but the minimum wage portion of their salaries. Show us how good it is kids!
- Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 12:42 pm:
I think the I is going to have to come out of NFIB.
- Robert the Bruce - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 12:43 pm:
I’m skeptical anything will get accomplished, but how can meeting be worse than not meeting?
- jon r - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 1:02 pm:
Didn’t the “Donald” run on the idea of stagnant wages of those left behind?
- anon - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 1:11 pm:
Cullerton picking up right where he left off. In Madigan’s shadow.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 1:51 pm:
=Come on people, you have to be better than what appears above … yes? =
LOl, that is sweet. You thinking you are clever or thoughtful.
Kind of like Radogno thinking she has a majority or a mandate.
OK, comedy break over. Show me your numbers. You know…the ones that prove that the TA will deliver measurable results above the current growth data.
BTW- the Wisconsin natives are getting restless with a lack of results and diminished services.
Same goes for Kansas.
- Anon221 - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 2:00 pm:
JS Mill- Brownback in on Trump’s possible cabinet list. Maybe KS can get rid of him that way. As for us in IL, no such luck.
http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/the-buzz/article113729994.html
- Ahoy! - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 2:10 pm:
Cullerton needs to show some backbone and grow out of Madigan’s shadow. Maybe if he would show a little tough love we might get out of this faster.
- ludwig_van - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 2:32 pm:
Something tells me Madigan isn’t going to show up.
Or, if he does show up, he simply sits there silently for the duration of the meeting.
- Honeybear - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 2:34 pm:
Meeting the day before the ILRB decision. I know you are all rolling your eyes at me. But that’s what I’m thinking.
- A guy - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 2:41 pm:
==BTW- the Wisconsin natives are getting restless with a lack of results and diminished services.==
So much so that they just elected President Elect Trump. /s
Seriously; the Governor requests a meeting with Leaders and they just blow it off? Isn’t there some part of you that thinks that kind of approach is beneath a Leader?
- Angry Chicagoan - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 2:41 pm:
Madigan’s connection of Rauner to Trump is probably the best thing Rauner had going for him in this election. We need a different approach in the legislative leadership.
- Handle Bar Mustache - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 2:49 pm:
I hope Madigan attends. He and Cullerton can strike a grand bargain on revenue and get this state back on track. Rauner should set aside the hostage agenda which has done permanent harm to so many people in Illinois.
- Corporate Thug - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 3:01 pm:
“Make Illinois work again..” Clever.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 3:18 pm:
Let’s be very, very clear. “Crystal Clear”
If the meeting is “this”…
http://bit.ly/2g1CD9H
===“Pick your reforms. I would do it for just a few. How about term limits and fair maps and workers’ comp reform?” (Gov. Bruce) Rauner asked. “Pick two or three. I’ve laid out 15. Pick any of them. But let’s pick something.”===
Why meet?
Read that. It’s literally “Give me, then vote against yourselves”
Nope. If “that” is the meeting, why meet?
- Honeybear - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 3:23 pm:
I believe it is “Give me” or “I’ll blow AFSCME’s head off right in front of you and everyone.
- Enviro - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 3:25 pm:
=BTW- the Wisconsin natives are getting restless with a lack of results and diminished services.==
==So much so that they just elected President Elect Trump. /s==
Seriously? Trumps support comes mainly from those who are most dissatisfied and angry with a lack of good paying jobs and diminished government services.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 3:29 pm:
@A guy- I know how high your expectations for me are.
Give this a read.
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2016/1103/How-tax-cuts-changed-Wisconsin
- JS Mill - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 3:36 pm:
=Isn’t there some part of you that thinks that kind of approach is beneath a Leader?=
Leaders are not toadies for the governor, unless they are Republicans. Then they follow, lock step, his directions. BTW- this is supported by evidence.
If it was a real meeting about a substantive bargain, well…that would be different. To sit and listen to Rauner drone on about the same unsubstantiated drivel. No thanks and I do not blame them.
If he had some hard evidence, some real numbers, to demonstrate the potential success of the TA I woul djump ship and get behind it in a heart beat.
Hasn’t happened. Won’t happen is my guess. He has only had two years.
Meanwhile the GOP is bought and paid for. Step out of line and you will have a @^#% problem.
Ask McCann.
Never has one party been so under the thumb of one person in Illinois History.
Given Madigan’s reputation and power, that is saying something.
- Loop Lady - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 3:51 pm:
I’ll say the same thing to Cullerton as I did to Radogno, lead or get out of the way…
- wordslinger - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 3:55 pm:
What’s the agenda for the meeting?
Could the governor reveal to the public his current pre-conditions before he will engage in good-faith on an annual budget?
- Deft Wing - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 4:01 pm:
Cullerton will go if Madigan goes. Wow.
Such a strong indication of leadership.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 4:09 pm:
==the Governor requests a meeting with Leaders and they just blow it off?==
It depends on what the agenda is. If it’s the same agenda - budget for Turnaround Agenda - then there’s no point in meeting. If it’s a “wipe the slate clean meeting” then it’s probably worthwhile.
- zatoichi - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 4:47 pm:
Wonder what stopped Radongo and Durkin from saying the exact same statements after the last election process? At some point they gotta actually solve those problems voters sent them to Springfield to solve. That pesky balanced budget thing would be a nice start point.