* Tribune…
A group of House and Senate Democrats on Wednesday are scheduled to unveil what they’re calling the “Illinois comeback agenda,” a five-point plan to try to counter Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s “turnaround agenda.”
Rauner has made parts of his economic plan prerequisites for a full budget deal, which hasn’t yet been struck during his first term. While the governor’s plan has continued to morph, key pillars include a property tax freeze, changes to the state’s workers’ compensation system and term limits on elected officials.
Details of the Democratic plan were still being worked out Tuesday. Details of the Democratic plan were still being worked out Tuesday but could include five legislative measures dealing with the budget, campaign finance, criminal justice, education funding and health, said Ryan Keith, an adviser helping to organize the announcement. The group also will unveil a new nonprofit called Reimagine Illinois to help push the proposals.
The effort comes as some rank-and-file Democrats grow increasingly frustrated by what they view as a lack of a strategy to fight back against Rauner. They want to present ideas to counter accusations that they are simply acting as obstructionists. [Emphasis added.]
Big presser today and yet they admit they hadn’t worked out the issues by the day before. Yep. They’re experts at that messaging stuff, those Dems.
*** UPDATE 1 *** From the ILGOP…
The Illinois Republican Party issued the following statement regarding the Chicago Tribune’s report this morning that Democrats will announce a new legislative agenda focused on campaign finance, criminal justice, education funding, health care and the budget.
“While it’s nice to see Democrats join the Governor on criminal justice reform and improving schools, it’s alarming that their agenda appears to include nothing to lower property taxes or increase jobs throughout the state. And any effort to fix the political system that doesn’t include term limits or redistricting reform isn’t a serious one. Illinoisans want a balanced budget with real spending caps, a true property tax freeze, and economic reforms to grow jobs. Democrats should add these key items to their agenda if they are serious about improving Illinois.” - Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Steven Yaffe
- PublicServant - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 10:03 am:
About time. It also goes without saying that the Democrats need to start hammering their positions home in the media on all fronts too.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 10:07 am:
The kiddie soccer analogy is apt. Imagine all of the kids around the ball, chasing it wildly, and no one covering their assigned part of the field. Yep, that’s this group.
We’re not an organized political party, we’re a collection of interest groups that is always temporarily aligned. That’s what makes messaging hard for us. Well that, and a sense of shame, which the GOP lacks.
- Linus - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 10:08 am:
I’m not sure which is more interesting: This group trying to seize control of Dem messaging and direction, or shadow leader Bill Brady trying to seize control of the Senate GOP caucus and narrative for the Governor.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 10:12 am:
Meh, I see the last-minute scramble as healthy, as in the message is not being dictated from the top down, but being hammered out among rank and file.
Much easier to put together a message when only one person’s opinion counts, as with the IL GOP today. You could teach Koko the gorilla to repeat those talking points over and over.
About time the Dems did something. It’s not like the Rauner crew was any good at it, with their shallow, robotic talking points, they were just unopposed.
- Jake From Elwood - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 10:28 am:
The biggest difference is that goals are achieved in kiddie soccer. Lots of them.
- walker - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 10:40 am:
“Reimagine Illinois”
Oh that’s what Dems need — a call for more intellectual meandering!
Jeez, how about something with “fix”, or “build,” or “pull,” or “work,” or “act” in it.
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 10:41 am:
We have played and coached Kiddie Soccer and we find this headline an affront to the hordes of Kiddie Soccer fans around the globe. Please rewrite.
BTW makes more sense that GovDuct&Dodge’s coup attempt with the Senate GOPie with Brady playing the crash test dummy this week.
- Flynn's mom - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 10:52 am:
We used to take the kids out for ice cream after soccer. Can we all plan on meeting both sides at Tastee Freeze? Just one rule, we all have to play nice or no cone.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 11:07 am:
Sorry, but kiddies play soccer better than the Illinois government governs.
- Skeptic - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 11:08 am:
“Illinoisans want a balanced budget with real spending caps, a true property tax freeze, and economic reforms to grow jobs.”
Replace “Illinoisans” with any demographic group and the sentence rings equally true. And equally lacking in any substance whatsoever.
- Fax Machine - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 11:29 am:
FWIW, Dan Biss’s former staffer Allison Leipsiger is listed as the Registered Agent of Reimagine Illinois with the Secretary of State
- Skeptic - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 11:33 am:
“Illinoisans want a balanced budget with real spending caps, a true property tax freeze, and economic reforms to grow jobs”, said Every Politician Ever about Every Constituency Ever.
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 11:35 am:
Over two years into the Rauner administration with no proposals other than obstruction so far so a group of Democratic back benchers come up with a plan.
Or more accurately plan to make a plan.
I am sure it there will be no shallow robotic talking points about issues that matter like our terrible unemployment, the highest property taxes in America, record out migration, lack of trust in our state government because of no redistricting or term limits, sky high workers comp, stagnant manufacturing compared to our neighboring states.
I am sure their press release will much more substantive than anything Koko would say, after all they have had two plus years to come up with it.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 11:45 am:
== lack of trust in our state government because of no redistricting or term limits==
You think that’s why state government has a mistrust issue? lol.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 11:46 am:
LP, don’t worry, your gig is safe for now. Koko can’t type.
- JoeMaddon - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 11:46 am:
**a group of Democratic back benchers come up with a plan**
Yea, that Don Harmon. A real backbencher.
- Fax Machine - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 11:49 am:
This effort has a feel of Harmon campaigning for Senate President (if Cullerton does retire at the end of this term)
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 11:52 am:
==Meh, I see the last-minute scramble as healthy, as in the message is not being dictated from the top down, but being hammered out among rank and file.==
Indeed. Frankly, *this much* planning makes it seem a little hollow to me.
==Or more accurately plan to make a plan.==
Is that kinda like Rauner’s plan to balance the budget, with Step 1: Never Actually Introduce a Balanced Budget?
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 11:55 am:
==Deputy Governor Munger will be available for interviews==
lol
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 11:56 am:
===We appreciate that Comptroller Mendoza will appeal the Court’s ruling, but frankly, it’s too little too late.===
Welp, you can’t appeal anything until it’s ruled on, so that makes no sense, so what is the Wingman saying…
===Before the ink was dry on the judge’s order, she expedited payments for all eight months of lawmaker back pay costing taxpayers more than $8 million and causing more delays for human service organizations.===
Hmm. That’s her beef? The court ruled in the favor of the legislators. By asking for a stay, that’s like Munger’s Chief of Staff deciding that Munger’s own oath is fine in breaking.
I guess when you choose to be a Wingman, you go Full Unconstitutional?
===She had the chance to ask the Court to keep politicians, including herself, from being prioritized for payment from the state but she declined===
Mendoza is appealing. I guess Mebdoxa has far more respect for the rule of law, the constitution, seperation of powers then a Wingman does?
===It’s clear that Comptroller Mendoza’s priorities are to help herself and her friends in the legislature at the expense of those most in need===
It’s quite clear the Wingman thinks Brubd Rauner should be the head of a Third World, Banana Republic, where Wingman who don’t need jobs, get jobs, and the constitution and seperation of powers is nothing, not unlike an oath a Comptroller might take. That’s clear.
#Sad
- Fixer - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 11:59 am:
I’m sure ED is beating the hordes of reporters away wanting to interview a failed comptroller appointed to a made up position by her best buddy. /s
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 12:05 pm:
Joe Maddon the post says rank and file Democrats i.e. back benchers
Yesterday Senator Harmon said there would be no budget for the next year and a half
- WhoKnew - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 12:05 pm:
“Deputy Governor Munger” - another Endpoint to share in the blame game.
Pretty soon we’re gonna have a real mess!!/s
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 12:06 pm:
Can always depend on Yaffe for drive-by analysis.
- GOP Extremist - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 12:09 pm:
More sour grapes from Munger. We voted you out, go away mad if you have to but please just go away.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 12:10 pm:
What’s the payroll on that posse of 23 that Munger brought along with her to her made-up job in the governor’s office?
Cher doesn’t travel with an entourage that big.
In this era of fiscal disaster, what vital services are the 24 of them performing that werent being done before?
Would those positions have been created and filled if Munger had lost?
Talk about political machine hacks snout-deep in the public trough.
- LizPhairTax - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 12:26 pm:
“she expedited payments for all eight months of lawmaker back pay costing taxpayers more than $8 million and causing more delays for human service organizations.”
Mendoza didn’t “cost” anyone anything. Those costs were incurred it was just a matter of when they’d be paid out.
- Ratso Rizzo - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 12:46 pm:
===- wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 11:46 am:
LP, don’t worry, your gig is safe for now. Koko can’t type.===
Thanks, word. Now I have to change my shirt from the coffee I laughed up on it.
- Skeptic - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 1:39 pm:
Ratso @ 12:46p Agreed, the ’sling man is on a roll today.