[Comments are now open.]
* Press release…
Rank and file members of the Illinois House of Representatives, including:
· Representative Kelly Cassidy (D-14),
· Representative Deb Conroy (D-46),
· Representative Laura Fine (D-17),
· Representative Christian Mitchell (D-26),
· Representative Elaine Nekritz (D-57),
· Representative Carol Sente (D-59),
· Representative Litesa Wallace (D-67),
· Representative Emanuel Chris Welch (D-7), and
· Representative Sam Yingling (D-62)
are eagerly anticipating the Governor’s annual budget address. The Illinois Constitution requires the Governor to present the General Assembly with a balanced budget every year, and requires that the members of the General Assembly — including rank and file members — approve a budget.
For the last two years, however, leaders in Springfield have created a toxic political discourse that has prevented a budget from being enacted. As a result, hundreds of thousands of Illinois residents are increasingly alienated by the political process and are quickly losing faith in government.
“For the last two years, the so-called budget negotiations conducted by leaders in Springfield have been dominated by toxic political rhetoric from two conflicting camps: the Governor and the Speaker,” said Representative Sam Yingling. “Rank and file House members have been left on the sidelines of a debate that has more to do with ego and political games than the needs of our constituents.”
The lack of a state budget under Governor Rauner has harmed Illinois’ economy and has lead to the steady decrease of the state’s credit rating. To make matters worse, the backlog of unpaid bills has steadily risen during the budget impasse, reaching nearly $11 billion by the end of 2016.
“The impact of the last two years without a state budget has been devastating on the families and communities in my district,” said Representative Chris Welch. “Without a responsible budget, children and families in my district do not have access to vital, life-saving services. Students at our community colleges and public universities seeking higher education — an education that serves as a stepping stone to the middle class — are not certain that they will be able to complete their degree programs. Illinois businesses are left without a trained workforce.”
“I look forward to hearing Gov. Rauner fulfill his constitutionally prescribed role of presenting my colleagues and I with a balanced budget that prioritizes working families and the most vulnerable,” said Representative Litesa Wallace, “The last 2 years have gravely impacted those who need their state government the most—whether it’s a disabled individual attempting to maintain their independence and dignity or a working family just trying to make ends meet as they pay for their child to attend child care or college — they deserve a full budget. Again, I look forward to the governor prioritizing the people of Illinois with his Budget proposal. ”
Rank and file members of the house are awaiting the Governor’s balanced budget proposal, scheduled for Wednesday February 15th at noon, and are eager to be independent voices for the people of their districts as they debate the proposal offered by the Governor.
*** UPDATE *** The ILGOP is not buying it…
“Actions speak louder than words. These legislators are now trying to cover up the fact that they ceded all control to Mike Madigan last month when they voted to again make Mike Madigan the Speaker of the House. If House Democrats wonder why rank-and-files legislators have little say over the workings of the Illinois House, they should look in a mirror.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Steven Yaffe
In an outrageously ironic press release, nine House Democrats today issued a statement today complaining that “Rank and file House members have been left on the sidelines.”
Yes, that’s what House Democrats are claiming just weeks after voting to give Mike Madigan a 17th term as Speaker and passing Mike Madigan’s “rules” which give him total power over the Illinois House.
Kelly Cassidy, Deb Conroy, Laura Fine, Christian Mitchell, Elaine Nekritz, Carol Sente, Litesa Wallace, Emanuel Chris Welch, and Sam Yingling all voted to crown Mike Madigan.
No one forced them to make that choice.
I’ll open comments tomorrow.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 14, 17 @ 7:32 am:
To the Post,
Where Yaffe failed in a pretty solid rebuttal is…
===…all voted to crown Mike Madigan.===
Ugh.
You waste 3 good, nay, solid paragraphs in laying out a solid reuttal that falls in the lap of your (ILGOP) narrative… and you close like a 13-year old?
If Yaffe wonders why I know he’s lacking, look at that close, then remove it, and read that response again.
Why ruin a softball pitch? Only those lacking the insight of “winning the argument” do that. What a shame.
- Earnest - Tuesday, Feb 14, 17 @ 7:46 am:
Great to see that the Illinois Democratic Party has put together a strong, unified messaging campaign which they desperately need. /s
- Red rider - Tuesday, Feb 14, 17 @ 8:00 am:
Just more talk.
- ILPundit - Tuesday, Feb 14, 17 @ 8:10 am:
Two points:
1) As long as Madigan gets his votes for Speaker and the House Rules, he generally has no problem if people distance themselves from him if it helps them in their districts. This has always been the case. So the fact that these particular Reps called out Madigan in the statement isn’t the real news here.
2) The real news of the statement is that its sole purpose is to raise expectations for the Governor to actually submit a full, balanced budget plan. Anyone following the editorial boards, columnists, and political twitter can see that the growing pressure from all corners for the Governor to finally lay some cards on the table with respect to the budget.
The conventional wisdom is the Governor will punt again, and when he does, these Reps, as long with a host of others, are going to tee off on Rauner for blowing his 3rd straight budget address.
My sense is the administration hasn’t figured out that the political dynamics of year three without a budget are not going to be like years 1 & 2. The focus is beginning to consolidate on him, egged on my the fact that the election season for his re election looms large. Blaming it on Madigan ain’t gonna cut it if he can’t get a budget.
- Gruntled University Employee - Tuesday, Feb 14, 17 @ 8:12 am:
It looks like House Dems are sending a message to the boss, as they well should. But, anyone who thinks this will cause any of the House Dems to side with the Raunerites is daffy.
- titan - Tuesday, Feb 14, 17 @ 8:18 am:
If that is how they felt, shouldn’t they have pared back some power in the rules they passed?
- cdog - Tuesday, Feb 14, 17 @ 8:28 am:
What Yaffe is really telling all of us out here in VoterLand, is that he didn’t do well in math class.
Revenue >= Expenses
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Feb 14, 17 @ 8:44 am:
The House GOP is right, actions speaks louder than words.
If these nine Dems are truly asserting some independence, and if my math is correct, they could band together and make a deal with the House GOP caucus on anything.
So if they have a problem with “leadership,” they should assert themselves. Nothing prevents them from doing so.
The House GOP caucus, at least, isn’t making a pretense of being independent of Rauner. As if they could.
- Deft Wing - Tuesday, Feb 14, 17 @ 8:59 am:
The Benign Nine plan on actually introducing a budget just as soon as they stop ranting about Trump. #CanYouSayNever
- Chicagonk - Tuesday, Feb 14, 17 @ 9:08 am:
@titan - You would think that, but why make actual changes when you can write a strongly worded letter.
- Echo The Bunnyman - Tuesday, Feb 14, 17 @ 9:17 am:
OW… Spot on. Great they called them out as Madigan supporters. Yay!
How about someone on the R side reach out and talk to this group? Create a working group for Illinois? I understand how crazy the concept of cuts and revenue agreements can be.. Somebody lead. Please.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Feb 14, 17 @ 9:18 am:
== The ILGOP is not buying it… ==
What?
The entire GA has been on the sidelines waiting for this failed IL governor to deliver his Constitutionally Mandated Balanced Budget for two years & counting now! Start doing your job, Brucie, govern. It IS ALL on you.
- Skeptic - Tuesday, Feb 14, 17 @ 9:18 am:
“No one forced them to make that choice.” So having 50,000,000 reasons dangling over your head to vote a certain way makes you *more* credible?
- lake county democrat - Tuesday, Feb 14, 17 @ 9:21 am:
I completely agree with Wordslinger and have been saying that for years - but I thought though that this was “hostage taking” and we couldn’t have any negotiations about anything non-monetary (including political reform). Same for forcing Rauner to present a budget first, even if it was a sham filled with undefined sequestration cuts that would have been rejected immediately. It was a pretty hard line being drawn by both sides.
- DuPage Bard - Tuesday, Feb 14, 17 @ 9:26 am:
Let’s see what the Dems have to say after the Big Show
- A guy - Tuesday, Feb 14, 17 @ 9:28 am:
This is where we are now. Words matter little. No one will believe any of these proclamations from either side until the words are followed with decisive action. Now they’ve got to prove it. We’ll see.
- The Captain - Tuesday, Feb 14, 17 @ 9:31 am:
I read that differently. After the election Rauner wanted to do a quick budget (and non budget prerequisites) and the Speaker wanted to have his members involved in the process so he brought Greg Harris and Rauner got upset. Now you’ve got some of the members calling for the members getting involved in the process and it reads to me like they’re calling for working groups and budgeting via the approp committees rather than just leadership behind closed doors. I’d say they just gave the Speaker cover for going the route he’d prefer anyway, getting all of the caucus involved, which happens to be a slower process though. But if Rauner accuses him of dragging his feet with a drawn out process he can point to this press release from his members as cover.
- Juice - Tuesday, Feb 14, 17 @ 9:33 am:
Would have loved to see how this conversation went down.
Rep. Drury: I would like to sign on to the letter.
Everyone else: NOBODY ASKED YOU SCOTT!!!
- titan - Tuesday, Feb 14, 17 @ 9:41 am:
+++ - wordslinger - Tuesday, Feb 14, 17 @ 8:44 am: The House GOP is right, actions speaks louder than words.
If these nine Dems are truly asserting some independence, and if my math is correct, they could band together and make a deal with the House GOP caucus on anything.
So if they have a problem with “leadership,” they should assert themselves. Nothing prevents them from doing so. +++
If they did, couldn’t the Speaker simply refuse to call the Bill for a vote (under the recently re-approved House rules)?
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Feb 14, 17 @ 9:50 am:
Did Capt Fax delete the segment of the Yaffe yodel that reviewed the success of the Elect Drury gambit or denounce IPI attack on BigBrain? Perhaps someone could ring them up and ask.
- One to the Dome - Tuesday, Feb 14, 17 @ 9:53 am:
The House GOP can also offer a version of a budget. That is something their members would actually vote for. What will they cut and when that’s done, where will the addditional revenue come from. Unless they also will not support anything that does not part of the “structural reform” (term limits, workers comp, pension reform…) than they will not vote for anything.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Feb 14, 17 @ 10:24 am:
–I completely agree with Wordslinger and have been saying that for years - but I thought though that this was “hostage taking” and we couldn’t have any negotiations about anything non-monetary (including political reform). –
Speak for yourself. I’m talking solely about a budget, not any of Rauner’s hostages. I consider his tactics an illegitimate and willfully destructive abuse of power.
- PDJT - Tuesday, Feb 14, 17 @ 12:26 pm:
“But the state GOP claimed the Democrats were essentially all talk and no action.”
As opposed to the GOP rank and file who won’t even utter a word criticism toward the governor.
SAD!
- Rod - Tuesday, Feb 14, 17 @ 2:25 pm:
If Governor Rauner presents a balanced budget inclusive of millions of significant cuts for human services along with a very small tax increase, a small increase in k-12 funding, Kelly Cassidy would be amongst the first to yell. This entire press release is silly.
The Democrats signing on to the statement don’t just want a balanced budget but one that is essentially “progressive.” That is understandable, but why not be honest about it?
- walker - Tuesday, Feb 14, 17 @ 5:09 pm:
IL pundit has the logic down
Rod: I get what you’re saying, but I don’t think there’s much available distance between any “conservative” or “progressive” balanced budget proposals. The numbers are so bad, and unforgiving, that arithmetic narrows the options to “brutal.”
- Whatever - Tuesday, Feb 14, 17 @ 5:48 pm:
Wordslinger @ 8:44 am ==If these nine Dems are truly asserting some independence, and if my math is correct, they could band together and make a deal with the House GOP caucus on anything.==
Except that there is no way that the Governor will allow the Republican members to do anything that would limit his ability to blame all the tax increases and or budget cuts on the Democrats, and this would mean the Republicans would be taking the lead on both. We would see primary spending in 2018 that exceeds spending in most previous statewide general elections.