* Senate President John Cullerton on the governor’s State of the State address…
“The Senate is well aware of the state of our state. That’s why we are working together to put an end to the budget impasse and restore economic stability to Illinois. Our state is filled with wonderful people and places. It is state government that has failed and fallen behind. Our efforts continue in the Senate to turn this around and I remain optimistic that we are near an agreement.”
That’s the best response I’ve seen today.
But optimism alone isn’t gonna pass that grand bargain.
* Tribune…
The complex package, including tax increases, as well as workers’ compensation changes aimed at helping business and a new plan to alter state worker pensions, met with heavy opposition from an alliance of business and unions.
Democratic senators said privately they were fearful that Republicans could not deliver the votes needed to reflect the bipartisan nature of the compromise plan.
They don’t need many. And Cullerton has come a long way since veto session, when he once again demand that Rauner set the tax hike level himself. And while he’s been saying for months that Republicans need to put a bunch of votes on any tax hike roll call, I’m pretty sure he’ll accept a fraction of that now.
* Meanwhile…
(T)he Illinois Policy Institute, a libertarian group that usually backs the governor, said that while he “has been able to make significant progress” in some ways, “he cannot do it alone.” To help out, the group adds that it intends next week to release its own plan to balance the budget without a penny of tax hikes.
That’ll be fun.
- walker - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 2:49 pm:
IPI’s getting nervous.
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 2:51 pm:
“To help out, the group adds that it intends next week to release its own plan to balance the budget without a penny of tax hikes.”
It’ll be interesting to see where their “alternative dollars” are going to come from.
- Tommydanger - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 2:52 pm:
What is the over/under on how many times the IPI uses the phrase, “projected savings” in their budget plan?
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 2:53 pm:
I imagine the IPI plan will be based on “pension reform” in the billions and at least another billion in “cuts to fraud and waste.”
Perhaps they can call their plan an “Alterative Budget” since it will likely be based on “alternative facts.”
- Norseman - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 3:02 pm:
=== That’ll be fun. ===
That’ll be a fantasy!
- Rogue Roni - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 3:02 pm:
Step one replace all current workers with volunteers
Step two liquidate the poor
Step three utopia
- Ma - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 3:04 pm:
“The complex package, including tax increases, as well as workers’ compensation changes aimed at helping business and a new plan to alter state worker pensions, met with heavy opposition from an alliance of business and unions.”
Does anyone know what the ‘new plan to alter state worker pensions’ involves?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 3:06 pm:
I guess my question is…
“Do I trust President Cullerton or IPI?”
If I’m choosin’…
- Chicago_Downstater - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 3:17 pm:
I will wait on IPI’s budget proposal with bated breath. Hopefully I’ll have enough oxygen in the tank left to give it the hearty laugh I’m sure it will deserve.
- wondering - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 3:20 pm:
Ma, I received an email on the pension plan. If it is accurate, and I think it is, the plan is Tier 1 active employees must either give up COLA or future raises will not be counted for pension calculation. On the face of it, a non starter with the S.C.
- wondering - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 3:26 pm:
Wonder why IPI took 2 years to even approach making a proposal and why are they doing so now? I think walker hit it, the Mendoza noose, the G.A. salary suit, and the social agency suits are making the “Hang in there Governor” crowd shaky.
- RNUG - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 3:27 pm:
== Does anyone know what the ‘new plan to alter state worker pensions’ involves? ==
See SB-11. Short version. As introduced, does not apply to SERS or JRS. Others get a coerced choice between Tier 2 AAI rules with future raises counting in FAC or keep Tier 1 AAI and FAC only counts current salary, not future raises; no “keep what you have option”. There are also some other changes in some cases.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 3:46 pm:
- wondering - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 3:20 pm:
Ma, I received an email on the pension plan. If it is accurate, and I think it is, the plan is Tier 1 active employees must either give up COLA or future raises will not be counted for pension calculation. On the face of it, a non starter with the S.C.”
Fine, then don’t give them raises.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 3:55 pm:
IPI will have silly proposals like cut all spending across the board x percent.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 3:58 pm:
RNUG, isn’t SERS the biggest group of state employees?
- My New Handle - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 4:09 pm:
Leaving SURS in this laatest version of a pension “fix” sticks it university and community college employees and their respective boards. I wonder who will bring suit if it comes to that.
- Yup - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 4:50 pm:
I believe that Rauner’s goal is to scare republicans from voting in favor of the Senate plan so that he can bash the democrats alone for a tax hike although it was through bipartisian leaders agreement to come up with a plan.