Caption contest!
Monday, Dec 5, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* AP…
Democrat Susana Mendoza was sworn in as Illinois comptroller Monday, saying bipartisan agreement is needed to get the state out of its fiscal crisis, but also saying GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner’s “turnaround agenda” shouldn’t be linked to passing a budget.
“I don’t think that the approach of tying non-budgetary related items to the budget has proved fruitful for Illinoisans,” Mendoza, 44, told reporters concerning Rauner’s priorities, which have ranged from term limits and a property-tax freeze to limiting some collective bargaining and lowering workers’ compensation costs. “I think all of those things independently should be standing on their own merits and should not be tied to the budget.” […]
“I will use the full power of my office to prevent Illinois’ hospitals, group homes, rape crisis centers and universities from going under,” Mendoza said. […]
“As I said during my campaign, I am here to be that independent, truth-telling fiscal watchdog that will prioritize … both the state’s fiscal and moral health,” Mendoza said. “If anyone from the governor on down tells you we can afford to bail out the big power companies but we have to bail on Illinois’ school children, I’ll be here to call their bluff.”
That last line closely echoed Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s criticism of the governor for backing the Exelon deal while vetoing Chicago Public Schools funding…
“The governor said he was going to sign a bill to bail out the utilities and then vetoed a bill that bailed on the children of the city of Chicago. That’s the way I look at it,” said Emanuel of a measure that raises electricity rates for consumers and keeps open two nuclear power plants.
* Anyway, let’s welcome our new comptroller…
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* Gov. Rauner was asked today about his recent calls to Democrats to tone down their rhetoric. But what about the BossMadigan.com site, which is run by the Illinois GOP that’s almost totally funded by the governor? Why not give that a rest for a while?
His response…
This is the job we’ve chosen. We’re in a field where politics is always going on. Partisan stuff. That’s on the side. We can keep that out. That’s not in the room when we’re negotiating. That’s its own process. I have nothing to do with it. I don’t spend my time thinking about it or focusing on it. We ought to be mature enough, thoughtful enough that we can put politics aside. Politics are always going on. That’s the world we live in. We should focus in the room on getting a compromise, doing the right thing for the long term for the people of Illinois… The political stuff, the partisan stuff, ignore it. That shouldn’t matter. That should not get in the way.
* From my inbox today…
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Rauner says he’s “proud” of the Exelon deal
Monday, Dec 5, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* AP…
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner says legislation that provides billions of dollars in subsidies to power giant Exelon Corp. is imperfect but that he’s “proud” of the deal lawmakers reached.
The measure approved Thursday provides $235 million per year to Exelon to keep unprofitable nuclear plants running in Clinton and the Quad Cities. More than 4 million customers of power-distributing subsidiaries ComEd and Ameren will pay more to finance the plan.
Rauner has previously blasted “special deals” for corporations. On Thursday he vetoed additional state money for Chicago Public Schools, calling it a “bailout.”
The Republican, who’s expected to sign the Exelon bill, said Friday that Clinton and the Quad Cities communities would have been “devastated” if those plants closed.
* The Quad City Times, where one of the plants is located, hailed the bill’s passage…
For a few days, Illinois touted a functioning government, and the sudden bit of 11th-hour bipartisanship salvaged nuclear plants in Cordova and Clinton, Illinois. […]
This time, Gov. Bruce Rauner showed real leadership. For months, his administration was oddly silent on the Exelon bill. Only when it really mattered did Rauner and his staff speak up, leveraging its full political muscle to shape something palatable to Rauner, pro-business Republicans and environmentally minded Democrats. Rauner’s administration said late Thursday that the Exelon bill is expected to be signed into law.
Madigan, too, backed off on his “poison pill.” Finally, Illinois’ dominant speaker freed his members to speak for themselves.
* Tom Kacich had a different take…
It made for another sad commentary on a Legislature that seems impotent and fearful in the ongoing budget dispute between Rauner and Michael Madigan, but was willing and able to take tough votes to assist a profitable corporation.
* Crain’s was more direct…
The governor’s team actively worked to craft the Exelon bailout. Too bad the only time Rauner and Democrats in the General Assembly found common cause, it was to do the state harm.
Ouch.
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* Illinois Review…
“It’s all about clean hands,” a group of Republican lawmakers is complaining Monday, and the Illinois Democrats that filed a lawsuit last week to get their paychecks from State Comptroller Leslie Munger simply “don’t have them.”
The lawsuit six state representatives filed last week sues on behalf of all the state lawmakers affected by Munger’s policy of “No budget, No pay,” but those six are a part of the reason why no state budget has been passed, and why they’re not getting their paychecks.
“In order to be worthy to file the lawsuit, those filing must be worthy of asking, and they have not complied with the statutory requirements” to pass a balanced state budget Illinois Review was told by a source that wanted to remain anonymous. […]
“The House members must comply with their required duties or they have no standing to file a complaint about not getting their paychecks - in other words, they don’t have ‘clean hands’ required,” and that position could soon be filed in court.
* Here’s a bit more from an e-mail that’s being circulated among some lawmakers that I obtained this afternoon…
As of June 30, 2014, the General Assembly members get paid under a continuing appropriation bill covering their salaries.
Unfortunately for the continuing appropriation bill, the cumulative effect of the current expenditures exceeding funds estimated to be available by the General Assembly, such an appropriation bill is unconstitutional under Article VIII, Section 2(b) of the Illinois Constitution which says:
“The General Assembly by law shall make appropriations for all expenditures of public funds by the State. Appropriations for a fiscal year shall not exceed funds estimated by the General Assembly to be available during that year. “
The doctrine of unclean hands is an affirmative defense to a Mandamus of the type requested by the 6 Illinois House members. First, look at the standard definition of Unclean Hands:
“For instance, if a plaintiff asks the court for an injunction to stop the defendant from dumping his trash in the plaintiff’s backyard, the defendant may argue that the plaintiff has also dumped her trash in the defendant’s backyard, and so the plaintiff has “unclean hands” and should not receive the injunction she wants. The doctrine is based on an idea of basic fairness: One person should not be able to stop another person from doing a bad action if the first person is also doing it.”
http://www.rotlaw.com/legal-library/what-are-unclean-hands/
Second, consider the fact that it is the very acts of the 6 named Plaintiffs individually and collectively as a body that has refused to send to the governor’s desk a Constitutional appropriations bill where all expenditures do not exceed the funds estimated to be available. The doctrine Unclean Hands of Plaintiffs should prevent the Cook County Court from issuing a Mandamus order.
The only step missing in this lawsuit is to have one or more members of the General Assembly file an interpleader to join the lawsuit as a matter of right and to oppose the relief requested because of the unclean hands of the plaintiffs. Do not let the crooks who created this problem and who can collectively solve the problem by the own required duty avoid the effects of their own Constitutional malfeasance.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Press release…
Governor Bruce Rauner today called on Democratic legislators to put taxpayers and critical human services ahead of their own personal gain by withdrawing their lawsuit seeking paychecks and join him in pushing for a balanced budget with reforms.
“This lawsuit is a stunning reminder of why we need change in Springfield,” Governor Rauner said. “Only in Illinois would politicians who have failed to pass a balanced budget and reforms put their own personal gain before taxpayers and critical human services.”
As promised, Governor Rauner does not accept a paycheck or benefits.
“Democrats should end this frivolous lawsuit, put taxpayers and human services ahead of themselves, and pressure their leadership to work with Republicans on passing a balanced budget with reforms that create jobs, lower property taxes and improve our schools,” Rauner added.
Governor Rauner and Republican leaders are pushing for a balanced budget with reforms that will create jobs, lower property taxes and improve our schools.
Speaker Mike Madigan prefers a stopgap spending measure. While the speaker prefers calling it a budget, it is not. What the speaker advocates for is simply a short term, incomplete stopgap spending measure. Last week, the governor made clear that he will only support a stopgap measure if the Democrats pass term limits and a permanent property tax freeze.
He also talked about it at his press conference today…
*** UPDATE 2 *** From a plaintiff in that lawsuit…
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Question of the day: Golden Horseshoes
Monday, Dec 5, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Yes, it’s that time of the year again. I realize that many of you are grumpy as heck, but our annual awards are a Statehouse tradition and we’re not going to stop now.
As always, we’ll start off light. Your nominations, please, for best political bar and best political restaurant in Springfield?
Make sure to explain your nomination or it won’t count. These awards are about intensity rather than numerical supremacy. And please nominate in both categories.
Thanks!
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* I have some appointments to deal with and some errands to run today, so I probably will not be around when this breaks.
Friday e-mails from a reader…
I’m in the court St Clair County. Judge is issuing a TRO to prevent implementation of Rauner’s last best and final offer.
So they agreed that the TRO would come out Monday at noon. Mum’s the word until then.
I’ve confirmed this with others.
*** UPDATE *** I’m told that the Illinois Labor Relations Board has issued its written ruling, which the governor’s people say renders the St. Clair County decision moot.
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* From a reader…
Good Morning.
I read the blog often to help keep up to date on various downstate activities and enjoy the knowledge and difference of opinions everyone brings and shares.
When it comes to the budget, I am not sure if anyone has shared that while a K-12 budget may have been passed, the bigger picture of an overall budget still affects districts. The gaping revenue whole that has produced the backlog is still taking a toll on a district like mine.
As of now, we are in the 6th month of the budget year and the State still owes us over $600k from last fiscal year. As you may or may not know, School Districts get categorical money from ISBE and the State as well as the General State Aid (GSA) that is talked so much about. We get the GSA monthly, and are happy for that, but we get those categorical payments four times a year. As it stands, we are still owed that final payment from last year and have not of course seen the first payment this year.
This still puts hardships on districts and do not think that this is mentioned enough as I know that there are other districts that serve a low socioeconomically diverse population like we do. I just think that it should be noted that passing that budget did not necessarily save districts, it just saved them from shutting our doors at the beginning of the year.
Students still suffer when cash flow is this bad and we need to make decisions on what we purchase and when because our state is not only dead last in the country with education funding, but is this far behind with what they do pay.
Patrick Palbicke
Director of Business/CSBO
Beach Park District #3
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Unclear on the concept
Monday, Dec 5, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The State Journal-Register offers advice to our new Illinois Comptroller, Susana Mendoza…
One of your main duties is to cut the state’s checks; we feel you should know that as of right now, there are hundreds of nonprofits, social service agencies, schools and other vendors waiting to be paid for work they did or services they provided months ago. We were encouraged to hear that you do not believe state legislators should be bumped to the front of the line for payment, and they would have to wait just like everyone else does.
Granted, it might not be your choice anymore: Six Democratic lawmakers filed suit Friday against your predecessor, Leslie Munger, saying she was violating the constitution by not issuing them paychecks. They may legally be right, but perhaps you can tell them what you said last week during a Better Government Association forum held in Springfield, that withholding paychecks is not a punitive action, but that the pain has to be shared. It’s a concept some state lawmakers haven’t always understood.
Sure, it may be unconstitutional. Sure, it gives unprecedented authority to an otherwise ministerial executive branch officer to set state policy by fiat. And sure, it hasn’t worked at all.
But, hey, it polls off the charts and allows us to howl populist platitudes at the wind, so by all means let’s do it!
* I realize this is a completely “politically incorrect” thing to say in our current political climate, but duly elected members of the Illinois General Assembly should not be held hostage to the political whims of a state comptroller.
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About those 14 minutes
Monday, Dec 5, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From Sunday…
“Today we talked about the budget for 14 minutes,” Madigan said, and then actually provided the tick-tock. “From 10:16 to 10:20 and from 11:15 to 11:25 we talked about the budget.” The meeting ended at about 11:38 or so.
* This is a big reason why it only lasted 14 minutes. The Republicans unexpectedly turned the table on the Democrats…
However, Radogno argued that the brevity of discussion was by state Democrats’ design.
“Today we said, ‘OK, what are your ideas on the budget?’ ” Radogno said. “[Madigan] had Greg Harris there — his appointed spokesman — unprepared to talk about the budget.”
* Rep. Harris had kind of a lame excuse…
Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, countered that unknowns in the future of the state’s economic situation needed to be “accurately accounted for” before a substantive discussion could take place. […]
Harris argued lawmakers have a number of questions to answer before substantive progress can be made. Among them, Illinois’ new road lockbox amendment, which requires all transportation related fees and taxes be used exclusively for transportation-related expenses. Harris also referenced the incoming Trump administration and looming questions regarding block grants for Medicaid.
“These will have profound implications on our state budget-making,” Harris said.
No doubt those will have profound implications, but Trump won’t even be inaugurated until after the second half of the stopgap starts. And he has to pass a whole lot of bills for whatever he wants to do. Illinois can’t wait to deal with the rest of this fiscal year while DC sorts itself out. Leave that talk to next fiscal year.
So, maybe by tomorrow, when the leaders meet again, the Democrats can walk in with a plan.
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* Gov. Bruce Rauner a few days ago…
“My strong recommendation is that we tone down the rhetoric,” Rauner said Friday, when asked about harsh response from Emanuel. “Heated rhetoric doesn’t help. Getting emotional doesn’t help. Pointing fingers doesn’t help. Let’s stay mature. Let’s stay thoughtful. Let’s stay positive.”
* From the almost solely Rauner-funded ILGOP today…
Four More Added to BossMadigan.com
Time for Cullerton, Nekritz, Scherer and Moylan to Prove Their Independence
The Illinois Republican Party this morning made four more additions to BossMadigan.com – Sen. Tom Cullerton and Reps. Elaine Nekritz, Sue Scherer and Marty Moylan.
“Mike Madigan is doing everything in his power to block a property tax freeze, term limits, job-creating economic reforms and a balanced budget,” said Illinois Republican Party spokesman Steven Yaffe. “It’s time for legislators to put a balanced budget and bipartisan reforms ahead of Mike Madigan.”
“Tom Cullerton already betrayed the students in his district by voting to bail out Chicago Public Schools with $215 million in taxpayer money, but Elaine Nekritz, Sue Scherer and Marty Moylan can prove their independence by opposing this reckless bailout and refusing to support Mike Madigan for speaker until he allows votes on bipartisan reforms.”
Tom Cullerton
Just this month, Tom Cullerton betrayed the students in his district by voting to bail out Chicago Public Schools with $215 million in taxpayer money. Before his most recent election, Cullerton voted against the bailout, but he now sold out to Mike Madigan. Tom Cullerton proved that he cares more about Madigan’s Chicago agenda than the families in his own district.
Elaine Nekritz
Elaine Nekritz has voted 7 times to make Mike Madigan the Speaker of the House. In return, she was selected by Madigan to serve on his leadership team. Only the most loyal legislators are named one of Madigan’s top lieutenants, and taxpayers have paid a steep price for Nekritz’s loyalty.
Nekritz voted for Mike Madigan’s reform-free, 67% income tax hike, the largest in state history. She joined Madigan in teaming with Rod Blagojevich on a pension scheme that increased debt by up to $22 billion. And Nekritz even voted for legislation that makes sure she gets paid even if there is no state budget. Now, legislators are using the Nekritz-backed legislation to sue so they get paid before social services receive their funding.
It’s time for Elaine Nekritz to break with Mike Madigan.
Sue Scherer
Sue Scherer’s campaigns have pocketed more than $850,000 from Mike Madigan. So, it’s no surprise Scherer voted repeatedly to make Madigan the Speaker. Scherer also supported Madigan’s broken budget that would increase state debt by $8 billion or force a $1,000 tax hike with no reforms on Illinois families. She also helped enable the current lawsuit filed by legislators that is trying to force they get paid ahead of funding for services for the needy.
Sue Scherer can show her independent by finally opposing Mike Madigan as Speaker.
Marty Moylan
Mike Madigan has helped funnel nearly $1 million into Marty Moylan’s campaigns, and Moylan’s returned the favor by twice supporting Madigan as Speaker. Moylan joined Madigan in trying to hold local schools hostage to force a bailout for Chicago, and he voted for Madigan’s broken budget that would have required a massive tax hike without reforms. Moylan also voted to make sure he gets paid even if the government shuts down.
It’s time for Marty Moylan to put the people ahead of his political patron. It’s time for him to vote against Mike Madigan as Speaker.
…Adding… Meanwhile…
Members of the Illinois House will cast votes in January on whether Michael Madigan will again serve as their speaker. And the state’s Republican Party is warning that if metro-east lawmakers vote the wrong way, it’ll haunt them in 2018.
Republicans have been trying to make an issue of whether downstate House members will vote for Madigan as speaker. Their efforts include a website, www.bossmadigan.com, which singles out Democratic House members from Southern Illinois: Rep. Jerry Costello II, D-Smithton; Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Eldorado; Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville; and Rep. Dan Beiser, D-Alton.
Costello said he hasn’t made a decision.
“I don’t think I can answer that question until I know who all the candidates are,” he said. “What I have to do is vote in a way which helps me best represent my constituents and my district. I represent roughly 110,000 people, and what I’ve got to do is make sure the vote I cast isn’t an emotional vote — that it’s a vote that allows me to best represent those people.”
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* JB Pritzker has been calling around gauging support for a possible run for governor…
Some Democrats believe Pritzker, who has instant name recognition, a lengthy resume in philanthropy and an investment in Chicago’s business and tech world, is uniquely positioned to go up against multimillionaire Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, who in 2014 spent a record amount of money in an Illinois governor’s race — more than $65 million.
“J.B. is not intimidated by Rauner’s money,” said a source close to Pritzker. “If he did this, he would do whatever it took to do it the right way. He would run to win and he would do what it takes to do that.” […]
Not everyone is cheering Pritzker’s potential candidacy. Some progressives fear pitting a billionaire against another multi-millionaire would create the wrong narrative in the Democrats’ quest to retake the governor’s mansion. Democrats have painted Rauner as the out-of-touch rich guy who is allowing the state’s neediest to suffer in order to push through his personal political agenda. Warring sides have left the state without a full budget since Rauner took office in 2015. […]
“[Chris Kennedy] can’t walk in with a check for $100 million and go toe to toe with Rauner,” said one said a top Illinois political operative who was among those Pritzker called.
We’ll see. Rich guys like to talk a lot of smack about writing big checks, but few actually do. Rauner did, which made him unique. And, speaking of money, Rauner stressed that he didn’t inherit his great wealth, which helped him connect with people lower on the economic food chain (think his grandparents’ trailer at their dairy farm that he mentions every chance he gets, or his fondness for his Harley, or his trash-can van, or his g-droppin’ ways). Pritzker inherited a fortune, which makes it far tougher for him to show he’s like everyone else.
Also, when he hires an opposition researcher to thoroughly look into his own past, we’ll know he’s more than just taking a cursory look at this run. Rauner did that early on, which was key to understanding that he was dead serious about his campaign.
Pritzker may have “instant name recognition” in some circles, but I gotta figure that lots of folks in Rock Island or St. Clair counties don’t know who the heck he is. More importantly, what will he do to build the party beyond Cook County and other reliable Democratic strongholds? He doesn’t have to win Downstate, of course, but he has to do much better than Pat Quinn within that region. We already know he’s a progressive Democrat, but how will Pritzker connect with the rest of the state?
And, early on, he’ll need an answer to the “Madigan question.” He needs to show that he can get things done, but isn’t willing to return to the pre-Rauner “status quo.” That’ll be important to Downstate and also to the suburbs, where the pro-choice Rauner will pursue independent women with a ferver.
* Your further suggestions?
…Adding… Right on schedule…
From the narrative…
There are a few guidelines that were employed in this process. First, no incumbent starts a cycle in the Toss Up column. Do we expect Illinois GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner and Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf to have difficult races? Absolutely, but first they need announced first-tier opposition.
Emphasis added.
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Rhetoric can have consequences
Monday, Dec 5, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* My Crain’s Chicago Business column…
If you want to get things done in government, you have to occasionally be careful with your political rhetoric. That’s easier said than done in this age of anything goes, grab ‘em by the whatever campaigns. But here’s one small but important example.
During the campaign, state Sen. Gary Forby’s Republican opponent Dale Fowler sent out a mailer headlined: “Organized labor can’t trust Gary Forby!”
That would be news to the Illinois AFL-CIO, which endorsed Forby, D-Benton, along with just about every union in his district.
Why can’t labor trust Forby? ”Forby voted to install Rauner appointees to the board deciding the fate of our union contracts,” the mailer said.
So a Republican candidate who, in one way or the other, got most of his money from Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner sent out a mailer denouncing a pro-union Democrat for voting to confirm Rauner’s anti-union appointees.
Cute.
Now, you may have heard that Illinois government is in meltdown mode. The state hasn’t had a real budget since Rauner was inaugurated almost two years ago because the governor won’t negotiate a budget until he obtains some anti-union, pro-business reforms.
Just about nothing can get done in this toxic environment. But one of the few things that has worked so far has been the Illinois Senate’s confirmation process. The governor, to his credit, sat down with Democratic Senate President John Cullerton early in his term and went through the details of how the process worked and what was expected from both sides. Rauner has worked well with Cullerton, who is far more willing to make accommodations than House Speaker Michael Madigan.
Some folks predicted massive appointment confirmation battles between the Democratic Senate and the Republican governor, but it’s been smooth sailing.
Last year, Rauner appointed Alexander “Sandy” Stuart to the Illinois Teachers Retirement System board. Stuart’s father, Robert Stuart Jr., was a former chairman and CEO of Quaker Oats, and the wealthy Lake Forest resident is respected in Republican circles. But the nomination drew an angry response from the Illinois Federation of Teachers.
Stuart’s family foundation gave a six-figure contribution to the Illinois Policy Institute. The economically right-wing group has also received money from Rauner and opposes defined-benefit pensions, and, like Rauner, opposes prevailing wage laws and champions so-called “right to work” legislation.
The Rauner folks claim the Stuart Family Foundation made those contributions when its founder, Robert Stuart Jr., was still alive and making the decisions. The elder Stuart founded the America First Committee, which opposed America’s entrance into World War II. He was a pretty far-right dude.
Sandy Stuart’s nomination sat in limbo while he continued to serve on the TRS board for the past year. The Illinois Education Association, the state’s largest teachers union, never publicly opposed his nomination.
However, the governor quietly
Click here to read the rest before commenting, please. Thanks.
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* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
As Senate President John Cullerton sees it, Gov. Bruce Rauner “needed an excuse” to veto a bill last week that would’ve given the Chicago Public Schools $215 million for its June 30th pension payment. And Cullerton believes he turned out to be that excuse.
There’s little doubt that Rauner was likely to veto the proposal, which passed in June with Rauner’s support contingent upon a pension reform agreement by early January. Rauner’s office was already privately threatening to veto it as part of the ever-escalating war over a “stopgap” budget with House Speaker Michael Madigan. And, frankly, one of the biggest reasons why the neo-liberal education reformer ran for governor in the first place was his view that the Chicago Teachers Union had “won” its 2011 strike and needed to be severely reined in or even broken. “Starve the beast” to force teacher layoffs would be one way to hobble that union.
Not to mention that the governor and his top people have been convinced for months that Speaker Madigan wouldn’t ever come to terms on a pension reform deal. A proposal backed by Mayor Emanuel to make changes to the pension laws for non-educator employees at the Chicago Public Schools system is opposed by the CTU, and Madigan and that union have become super-tight since Rauner’s inauguration—and the relationship only strengthened when CTU backed Madigan during his primary campaign earlier this year.
It also probably didn’t help matters much when Cullerton suggested to Rauner during a leaders meeting earlier last week that it would be a whole lot easier to pass a pension reform bill if the governor reached a contract agreement with AFSCME. Gov. Rauner, who has often referred to the state employee union as “AF-Scammy” and said during his campaign that he might have to “take a strike” to bring the union to heel, told Cullerton in no uncertain terms that the two issues were not connected and would not be connected. This from the same guy who wants to connect term limits to passing a budget.
And then after last Thursday’s leaders meeting at the Statehouse, Cullerton was asked about the timeline of the pension reform negotiations so that CPS could get its $215 million. “You’re talking about two different bills,” Cullerton said. “We haven’t talked about putting those two things together at this point in time.” Reporters followed up, saying they thought there was a deal tying the two topics together. Cullerton said that was the governor’s plan. Rauner, he said, had declared he wouldn’t sign the CPS bill without a pension agreement, but that the Democratic leaders had always reserved the right to override if that didn’t happen.
The governor’s people only heard Cullerton say there was no deal. They claimed he was deliberately blowing things up and were furious about it. The governor’s veto of the CPS legislation soon emerged: “Breaking our agreement undermines our effort to end the budget impasse and enact reforms with bipartisan support,” Rauner wrote in his veto message.
The move took Cullerton by surprise. He agreed during a chat with me later in the day that he’d put a parliamentary hold on the bill in June in order to “buy time to negotiate the pension reform.” But he denied that he’d broken any agreement. “Pension reform was the price for signing the bill,” he admitted, but “I was always reserving the right to try to override” a CPS funding veto if that deal couldn’t be done.
“They misunderstood what I said and they should’ve called and asked me and I would’ve gone back out and clarified it,” Cullerton insisted. “They just vetoed the bill.” That failure to reach out to him convinced Cullerton that Rauner was simply looking for any excuse to kill the CPS bill.
Cullerton insisted that he was serious about trying to negotiate a pension reform deal. “I’m the only one pushing the pension reform stuff. He hasn’t actually worked on passing any bills,” Cullerton said of Rauner.
Sen. Cullerton didn’t deny that he’d brought up settling the AFSCME contract with Rauner, but said it was a “logical” step to take to find the necessary votes to pass a pension reform bill. Plenty of Republican legislators, after all, have state employees in their districts. “You don’t just go out there and pass a bill,” he said, adding, “They don’t know how to pass a bill.”
They do know how to veto one, though.
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[Comments are now open on this post.]
* Speaker Madigan literally counted the minutes that the four leaders and the governor spent talking about the budget today: 14.
“Today we talked about the budget for 14 minutes,” Madigan said, and then actually provided the tick-tock. “From 10:16 to 10:20 and from 11:15 to 11:25 we talked about the budget.” The meeting ended at about 11:38 or so.
So, apparently, he was checking his watch a lot.
“The remainder of the meeting was concerned with local government consolidation and mandates on local governments,” Madigan said.
What did those budget talks consist of? “Obviously, not too much,” Madigan cracked.
The good news as far as Madigan is concerned: “There’s an agreement we’re going to talk about the budget on Tuesday,” the Speaker told reporters. The meeting will be held at 2 o’clock. The Republicans leaders, however, didn’t confirm that particular topic.
On workers’ comp and other reforms, Madigan said, “I’m available for those discussions,” but then went back to his repeated rhetoric on how the leaders have worked out a budget “7 times” in the last two years and they should stick to that format.
* Raw audio, including Rep. Greg Harris’ comments about the budget process and how they need to wait and see how things like Donald Trump’s proposals play out before they could formulate a new budget plan…
* House GOP Leader Jim Durkin emerged from the meeting to say he remains “alarmed” by the lack of urgency to get a budget. “We have a divided government,” he said, and Republicans are willing to work with Democrats on their priorities, but want the Democrats to work with them on GOP priorities.
“We did a pretty deep dive today” into local government consolidation, said Senate GOP Leader Christine Radogno. But, she said, there was a “lack of engagement” on the topic from the Democrats.
Leader Radogno said the leaders were meeting based totally on Speaker Madigan’s availability.
Radogno said the Republicans asked Madigan what his budget plans were. He didn’t have a plan, she said, partly because the Democrats said they needed to wait and see the impacts of Donald Trump’s agenda. “If we are waiting on that, we are certainly not going to see it by December 31st,” Radogno said, referencing the end of the current stopgap budget.
Leader Durkin said it was clear to him that this was all about the 2018 governor’s race. The idea, he said, was to stall in order to not give Gov. Rauner any victories at all and then defeat him in two years.
“There was a new level of stalling today,” Radogno claimed, particularly since the Democrats weren’t prepared to discuss their actual budget plans.
* Raw audio…
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