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Where’s your plan?
Thursday, Dec 8, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller * Phil Kadner’s latest column ends thusly…
Actually, Kadner’s column was about Donald Trump. I substituted the governor’s name on my own because, well, it’s even more true here. Criticism is important, of course, but the Democrats in this state have yet to pass any sort of economic development plan in the past two years - unless bailing out Exelon’s two nuclear plants qualifies.
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- Not It - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 11:53 am:
Both the US and IL House Democrats also are relying on the same tired and out of touch leadership to lead them to a victory that is dependent on the Republicans failing, instead of creating a winning alternative of their own.
- Arsenal - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 11:57 am:
Always the problem for the party that doesn’t hold the Chief Executive’s office.
State Dems have bandied about a lot of ideas, but not coalesced around any particular agenda because, well, everyone wants their agenda to be in the driver’s seat so they’re not willing to sign on to anyone else’s.
That can easily change once there’s a candidate for Governor, though. Depending on who that candidate is.
National Dems, meanwhile, are still shell-shocked.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 11:59 am:
===everyone wants their agenda to be in the driver’s seat===
That would probably be true if anybody actually had an agenda.
- MAMA - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 12:01 pm:
Before we can execute initiatives to spur job growth, we need to save the current jobs in IL.
The Dems & Governor Rauner need to figure out how to save the state’s current jobs (including Union jobs).
Will the governor jump in to save the state workers union jobs like he did for Exelon employees?
- Michael Westen - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 12:04 pm:
Neither did the GOP pre-Rauner, so I guess they’re even in that regard.
- Chicago Cynic - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 12:04 pm:
Amen. Dems completely lack a coherent economic message. Just saying, “Rauner bad” doesn’t cut it.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 12:05 pm:
=”That would probably be true if anybody actually had an agenda.”=
Rich, do you believe that no one under the Dome has an agenda? Really???
- thunderspirit - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 12:07 pm:
That’s the void right now.
Disagreeing with Governor Rauner’s agenda is fine (goodness knows I disagree with it), but you need to sell an alternative at the same time.
- Big Muddy - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 12:08 pm:
You know what I would love to see from the Dem’s? The plan that shows how they will pay for all the spending they have jacked up over the last 10 years on a go forward basis. Thought you couldn’t spend what you don’t have but Illinois Dem’s seem to not know that little adage.
- Not It - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 12:12 pm:
Michael Weston, I’m going to disagree with you on your comment that Illinois Democrats never had any plans. Every year they filed a package of bills on a wide variety of issues, but they never got released from Rules.
- jim - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 12:13 pm:
Dems have no economic plan, except to raise taxes.
raising taxes, of course, is not an economic plan.
It’s a shame they don’t because they’re the self-proclaimed party of the average guy, although average guys don’t seem much persuaded of that anymore,
- Handle Bar Mustache - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 12:13 pm:
Dan Biss should get credit for offering a plan here https://roadbackillinois.com/
- Galena Guy - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 12:19 pm:
Big Muddy, care to show us all that spending the Dems have “jacked up” in the last ten years? Everything I have read tells me that the state does more with fewer workers than most of the surrounding states. I also tend to believe the IL Economic Policy Institute more than the claptrap that comes from the IPI….not that Dems don’t need to come up with an economic development plan.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 12:19 pm:
Why would a legislative body assume the role of the executive? Especially, if that executive would immediately paste the document on a certain website?
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 12:21 pm:
===Especially, if that executive would immediately paste the document on a certain website? ===
A pro-jobs agenda is a bad thing? What the heck are you talking about? And, yes, you bet I’d post it. Right away.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 12:24 pm:
The website would be a certain boss.com.
- Rabid - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 12:27 pm:
Leagalization polls well, millionaire tax, tax credit for voting
- CLJ - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 12:30 pm:
I advised the Wisconsin Democrats with the same challenge; develop a plan that stands for something other than saying Scott Walker is a bad person. Interestingly, their reply was that they feared offending one or multiple groups within the party by taking firm positions one way or the other. It was as if they were trying to keep a loose coalition of the willing together. I believe the fear of offending someone/group by pushing concrete plans is paralyzing the party at many levels.
- Big Muddy - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 12:32 pm:
Galena Guy,
Google is your friend! COGFA has some great data out there for you to do some homework on. Example, State total expenditures by function, FY12 up 6.1%, FY13 up 3.7% and FY14 up 3.7%. Compare that to any index and show me how state government isn’t growing at an unsustainable pace.
- Not It - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 12:39 pm:
Oops! At 12:12 pm I meant to say House Republicans had a package of bills that never left Rules.
- Cassandra - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 12:48 pm:
Well, if Pres-elect Trump gets his big infrastructure program, that could help Illinois, hard though it might be hard for the anti-Trump folks to swallow. We’ll probably know its prospects not long after the inauguration.
And then there’s the middle class tax cut which is supposed to free up more purchasing power. Oh wait. That’s on the national level. Here in Illinois, both parties want to raise taxes on the middle class.
Anyway, hard as it is for many to contemplate, Illinois’ relative prosperity in the near future may depend heavily on the decisions and initiatives implemented by the Trump administration. Who would have thought it.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 12:50 pm:
===that could help Illinois===
If the House Speaker passes the enabling legislation here.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 12:58 pm:
Big Muddy
Go back and track how much of those increases were due to pension payments or other mandated programs. Looking at a percentage without any context isn’t a way to win an argument.
- cdog - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 1:00 pm:
a couple thoughts…
New terms, definitions, and economic academics are being written now. Dems are definitely getting left behind because their policies aren’t producing anything except decline.
Also, Rabid says maybe a “tax credit for voting.” I find that kind of funny. Won’t help the Dems there with that. Their base seems to have trouble having ID’s for voting (evidenced by their legal efforts against voter id laws). A tax credit for voting is would be expecting too much. /s
- Keyser Soze - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 1:01 pm:
The national economy has been virtually stagnant for years. Yet, some states are holding their own, or even thriving. But, not this one. In Illinois voters do what they are told, or vote against someone or something. It would be refreshing to actually have a compelling reason to vote for someone or something in this state. A positive agenda would be a good place to start.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 1:14 pm:
Not having a jobs agenda, or any agenda, is a bad thing. The Democrats are guilty of not having agendas and messaging. Right now is the right time for Democrats to have a package of policy proposals to use the power of government to improve the state. They need to have messaging to combat Rauner. They owe this to voters, to give them clear choices.
That agenda can have pro-business reforms, like more workers comp reform. We see that many Democrats support a property tax freeze.
This is the perfect time to have a platform/agenda that counters Rauner’s– one that protects workers, higher ed and social services. One that makes tax fairness a big issue. One that looks to improve the business climate without trashing so many people who are not wealthy CEO types.
Democrats will have opportunities in states to pass laws that protect people against what Trump and the far right will probably bring. If union rights are diminished and health insurance is repealed, they can push for laws that provide healthcare and worker protections at the state level.
- Earnest - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 2:00 pm:
I definitely agree that the Democrats are not offering any positive incentives to back them. Millionaire tax, for example–important enough to put on a ballot to boost voter turnout, but, popular as it was, never called for a vote.
How are they better on social services? They’ve been cut and hurting for a decade. Agencies closed under Quinn due to late payments. (I do think they’re better on social services, not doing a shakeout like Ragdono/Rauner, but they don’t have much credibility in selling the idea that things will be a lot better under them.
Higher education seems ripe as an issue on which to attack Rauner. Democrats don’t have the bad record there they have with social services. they could target legislators in those districts to try to make inroads downstate. Higher education as having a positive impact on our business climate…would seem to be a good message, if they had one.
They’re going to need messaging on Madigan. On the bright side, there is a laser focus on him so what he says and does gets in the news. Also on the bright side, there’s lots of room to improve his numbers. Nice to know what your opponents main issue will be two years ahead of an election, if you use the knowledge effectively.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 2:02 pm:
===there’s lots of room to improve his numbers===
I think there’s still room for decline, too.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 2:42 pm:
—-Will the governor jump in to save the state workers union jobs like he did for Exelon employees?
Its not good PR to loose Private sector jobs…BR’s PR team make it sound like Public jobs are just a burden on the taxpayers…..
—-And then there’s the middle class tax cut which is supposed to free up more purchasing power. Oh wait. That’s on the national level. Here in Illinois, both parties want to raise taxes on the middle class.
Well if Trump gives us a little you can count on Illinois to take it away!!
- Earnest - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 2:54 pm:
>I think there’s still room for decline, too.
That hadn’t occurred to me. It kind of shocks me to realize it’s true.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:14 pm:
“Well if Trump gives us a little you can count on Illinois to take it away!!”
One could only hope. It would be great if Illinois Democrats’ answers to Trump tax cuts are tax increases and protections of health insurance and workers’ standards of living. If red states want to cut healthcare and do away with worker protections due to what happens in national government, they can go right ahead and do so.
The rest of us need to be resourceful to seize opportunities and make lemonade out of the lemons we’re given.
- Annonin' - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:22 pm:
Let’s honest Ds passed BigBrain’s DCEOs privatization plan — the Holy Grail of BigBrain prsperity. He couldn’t take a little oversight and then fumbled around for a year before doing his EO.
That sounds like a plan to us.
- Galena Guy - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:41 pm:
Thank you Demoralized. My point exactly. If I had a brush that broad, I could seal coat my driveway
- Anon Downstate - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:45 pm:
Personally, I doubt any of these would fly (primarily due to ideological conflicts), but maybe, just maybe somebody would start thinking creatively….
1) Agriculture.
Pro: Illinois has a massive AG base, we’ve got both LAND and WATER, a decent statewide transportation network, and an established Agricultural education base in our high schools and universities.
Con: Right now, it’s a Republican stronghold because the Democrats have pretty much abandoned AG. Also, the Democrats would rather fight for funding social services/providers then AG. So result is a WWI style stalemate.
2) Utilize National Center for Education Statistics data in IL Universities budgeting and resource funding. If there’s an imbalance between numbers of students going into majors and where there is a lack of employment for those students once graduated, then don’t keep pouring resources into those areas of study.
There’s no reason to keep graduating Sociology majors if they can only get part-time jobs in the ‘Gig’ economy.
3) Fully fund studies in different emerging technologies. Additive manufacturing, robotics, nano technology, Food Sciences (a hot area), Construction Engineering, etc. Put your resources, limited as they may be, where future jobs are going to come from.
Pro: If you are successful, you hit the jackpot. Jobs and startups on a large scale.
Con: Long term commitment required. IF political ideology wins out over technology, you lose.
Again, the Democrats would rather fight for funding social services/providers then alternative.
Question is, when (IF) the Democrats will be willing to adjust their tactics. Frontal assaults have not been working. Retreating back into to the castle (”Fortress Chicago/Cook County”) isn’t exactly successful either. Might want to try a different approach.
- ArchPundit - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 5:45 pm:
This is absolutely right–make Rauner sign or veto the bills. He should be forced every day to confront part of a Democratic plan. Make him veto something every day of every week.