44 Comments - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 9:39 am: Mendoza is going to appeal. That’s the best move, that’s the ONLY move. I want Mendoza to appeal, all the way to the ILSC. I want this do these ridiculous newspapers and uninformed media types realize they are advocating for a Third-World state existence and the Constitution exists to stop blind ignorance to the Separation of Powers for public grandstanding is foolish in the realm of governing. I said it that day… Pay the legislators, pay them all. “Appeal” this ruling, 100%. Put the populist ignorance to rest with an ILSC ruling. Any media outlet not understanding the governing principles here that Quinn, Rauner, Munger, and even Mendoza failed within understanding their own oaths too. Enough. - Romeo - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 9:45 am: If a private employer didn’t pay employees for months on end, you can be sure there’d be a HUGE uproar from the employees. I get it, the “people” don’t want to reward lack of performance, but do we honestly want our state representatives and senators to have to drive for Uber to make ends meet? While the emotional in me says don’t pay the legislators, the logical thinking realizes that they legally HAVE to be paid. - Tron - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 9:45 am: ==died on that hill== After yesterday’s “trench warfare”? Lots of warlike imagery going on. I’m sure our young men and women serving in uniform in hot spots around the world are marveling at the bravery of Illinois politicians. /s - Thoughts Matter - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 9:46 am: Nation of laws. Court order. Mic drop. Appeal, yes- but respect the court in the meantime. Can we declare these editorial staffs to be in contempt of court? - Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 9:53 am: There is a reason why both Comptrollers publicly supported this, most Illinois residents don’t believe the legislature is “doing their job”. No balanced budgets in 15 years. Who can blame them for their cynicism, half way through the legislative session that has zero accomplishments, leading House and Senate Democrats say publicly there will be no budget or Grand Bargain for the next year and a half. After all there is an election coming up in November of 2018. Who believed them when they said everything would be resolved after the last election, in November of 2016 ? - Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 9:54 am: Is the Quad-Cities Times trying to be the Chicago Tribune? - GOP Extremist - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 9:57 am: “Munger died on that hill”" Lol. And she was resurrected by the man soley responsible for the two year dumpster fire. - Demoralized - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 9:57 am: Lucky: First of all, no Comptroller of either party should be withholding paychecks. I don’t care what public opinion says. Second, Governor killed the last “Grand Bargain.” The Governor has said he’s engaged in trench warfare. The Governor has started running campaign ads for 2018 already. So don’t give me this story that it’s only the Democrats declaring that there will be no “bargain” until the next election. The Governor has now made his position pretty clear as well. Try, just once, to argue honestly. Just. Once. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 9:58 am: Some edit boards and pundits are just talk-radio or cavle TV gasbags. The don’t seek to inform or persuade with a reasoned, well-written argument. They “shock” and “entertain” with a verbal rant put down on paper Iike their heroes on the radio box do. Lot of Rupert Pupkins with delusions of “stardom” in Illinois media. - Demoralized - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 9:59 am: ==zero accomplishments== And, as I’ve said before, the Governor has ZERO accomplishments for more than 2 years now so I guess the Democrats and the Governor are evenly matched in the accomplishments game. Again, honesty isn’t your best quality. - The Way I See It - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 9:59 am: Munger “died on that hill”? That wasn’t why she lost the election, it was what made her competitive. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 10:01 am: ===There is a reason why both Comptrollers publicly supported this, most Illinois residents don’t believe the legislature is “doing their jobs”=== You won’t flip Chance’s #DoYourJob. Letting it die is probably best. You don’t want Chance to revisit that’s Also, public policy isn’t measured solely as “good” by popularity. That’s why we line in an age of laws and constitutions. The rest? You continue to fail to engage in honest discourse. That part IS true. - Retired - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 10:03 am: Why is a newspaper based in Iowa commenting on Illinois government? - Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 10:06 am: The Governor killed the Grand Bargain? You are assuming the Grand Bargain had the votes to pass, several bills failed including pension reform remember. It would not be the first time budget negotiations blew up half way through a legislative session. I don’t recall one side throwing in the towel this early before, do you? One side saying take it or leave it is not a negotiation and that is what the Democrats did on the permanent vs temporary tax swap. They could have exchanged for a temporary income tax but refused - Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 10:06 am: LOL…No wonder subscriptions continue to fall. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 10:14 am: ===The Governor killed the Grand Bargain? You are assuming the Grand Bargain had the votes to pass, several bills failed including pension reform remember=== Rauner personally peeled off the votes. You KNOW this, you’ve been educated on this. This is true, you just can’t comprehend truth? Rauner undercut Leader Radogno. It’s not up for discussion or debate. Be honest. Argue honestly. ===It would not be the first time budget negotiations blew up half way through a legislative session. I don’t recall one side throwing in the towel this early before, do you?=== At no other time, that I can recall, has a governor thought not having a budget, and the destruction being caused by that lack of budget, is that governor winning. - Lucky Pierre - Your blatent dishonesty is only Trumped by you doubling down on the dishonesty, like all things around you are “new” abc you’re “unaware” of truth. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 10:15 am: ===I mean, they aren’t wrong…=== Except for that whole constitution thingy… ugh. - JS Mill - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 10:17 am: =You are assuming the Grand Bargain had the votes to pass, several bills failed including pension reform remember.= That is funny. Here I have been, completely misunderstanding your commentary. My bad. Only now do I realize you are making jokes. I wonder what GOP heavy hitter/major funder and party majority ownership put the nix on GOP votes? Maybe you should ask a few. I know two that told me it was Rauner. Duh. - Moe Berg - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 10:24 am: Either the ed boards are willfully ignoring or are simply ignorant about a foundational principle of the state and federal constitutions - the separation of powers. Disturbing, since their own existence is predicated on a constitutional protection. As we are seeing in D.C. at the moment, and with these ed boards, the first loyalty isn’t to country and constitution, it’s to ideology and party. Dangerous and potentially tragic. - walker - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 10:29 am: LP. Sometimes you overplay you’re hand. We both know Rauner pulled votes off the “grand bargain” and stopped it in its tracks, and that many budgets in the past 15 years were both technically and truly balanced. Some produced operational surpluses used to pay down past due bills and pension ramp payments. Can you please stop with the false talking points? You sound like paid political staff. - Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 10:35 am: Is this the only take it or leave it legislation ever rejected? Does anyone believe if the Grand Bargain made it over to the House that Soeaker Madigan would just rubber stamp as is and not insist on changes? I am sure if the Speaker did that you all would be saying he “killed the Grand Bargain” right? LOL Only the Speaker gets to exercise his power not the Governor I guess Seems about right - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 10:41 am: ===Does anyone believe if the Grand Bargain made it over to the House that Soeaker Madigan would just rubber stamp as is and not insist on changes=== Let’s see it get thru the Senate first, reminding you for the 8th time. Like this… ===Is this the only take it or leave it legislation ever rejected?=== Are you calling Leader Radogno disingenuous? She said it wasn’t take it or leave it. Who am I to believe? … was to this… ? ===Only the Speaker gets to exercise his power not the Governor I guess=== So you’re admitting Rauner blew up the Grand Bargain… Keep your falsehoods straight, please. - Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 10:45 am: See the other post Willy, nothing is killed - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 10:50 am: ===See the other post Willy, nothing is killed=== Sen. Brady proposing a budget too? Hmm…. - VanillaMan - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 11:13 am: It is inappropriate to claim that Illinois’ first statewide elected official of Hispanic heritage is a slave. Quad Cities publication saying it? Pathetically colloquial. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 11:15 am: ===See the other post Willy, nothing is killed=== Sen. Brady proposing a budget too? Hmm…. Or Sen. Barickman’s “revelation”… Lots of noise? - Nick Name - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 11:16 am: “There is a reason why both Comptrollers publicly supported this, most Illinois residents don’t believe the legislature is “doing their job”.” No. Munger supported it because she was Rauner’s wingman and did as she was told. Mendoza supported it because she was pandering for votes, when she would have done better to courageously demand that Munger do her job and uphold her oath of office. - JS Mill - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 11:21 am: @Nick Name x2!! That is exactly how it went down. - Demoralized - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 11:31 am: ==Only the Speaker gets to exercise his power not the Governor I guess== Do you enjoy being a constant victim? I’ve never seen someone argue like a child more than you do. ==The Governor killed the Grand Bargain?== If you are asking that question seriously and dispute that fact then you have solidified once and for all the notion that you cannot engage in honest debate. You want to stick to talking points and press releases and have no interest in a discussion of facts. - Demoralized - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 11:33 am: ==nothing is killed== Only one word can describe that statement. Clueless. - Demoralized - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 11:52 am: ==racist== Umm, what? Where did that come from? Not. Cool. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 11:55 am: “Umm, what? Where did that come from? Not. Cool.” Agreed it is not cool. Read his posts about Chance the Rapper and crime. - Pol Strategist - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 12:00 pm: Smarter for Mendoza would’ve been to move for a stay in Circuit Court…probably would’ve been denied. Then she could’ve asked Appellate Court for a stay, that also probably would’ve been denied. However courts ruled on stay, Mendoza would’ve had a clean record & would’ve avoided this criticism. Now she’s like the pol who voted No on 10,000 tax hikes, but voted yes on one and gets blasted for the 1 yes vote. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 12:21 pm: ===Smarter for Mendoza would’ve been to move for a stay in Circuit Court…probably would’ve been denied.=== Really? You can guarantee that? When the courts are involved, nothing is guaranteed. Use the ruling as cover, pay everyone as the constitution and statues prescribe, appeal with stay. Smart politics. Further, as a strategist, if it is finally ruled unconstitutional, you have your client doing an unconstitutional thing all the way thru, probably petitions. That’s not too bright. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 12:41 pm: “Demoralized - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 9:59 am: ==zero accomplishments==” because? Because: the people elected him, had and still do have an expectation, of reducing property taxes?, reducing corporate costs,? enabling all kids educations,? consolidating government costs,,,? getting the unions costs to all people who live here down? because… keep in mind all those yummy benny’s the unions get we ALL pay for,, and none of this has been done,, because? because why?? Because the legislators run by MJM’s machine has failed to bring it all to the floor for votes. And that is not the Gov’s issue. It’s the legislators failure to vote, on what needs to be done to clean up the State of Illness and what has transpired her for decades. that is why this is the State of Illness. It’s beyond pathetic - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 1:02 pm: ===Because the legislators run by MJM’s machine has failed to bring it all to the floor for votes.=== This is only truthful if Rauner had 60 votes in the House. If Rauner had 60 votes in the House to vote for these things, Rauner himself would put them on stairs behind him, with a podium and microphone and Rauner would blast Madigan for stopping the 60. Why hasn’t Rauner done that? Further, ===And that is not the Gov’s issue.=== Geo. Ryan, former governor…? ===“The governor is the top guy. He is the leader. House Speaker Mike Madigan is not. The governor has to make things happen. If he doesn’t get everything he wants, he’s got to figure out how much he can get. To get something done. He’s got to take the wheel. He’s got to have a plan. It’s like everything in life.”=== ===It’s the legislators failure to vote, on what needs to be done to clean up the State of Illness and what has transpired her for decades=== Get 60 on the stairs, have Rauner show it and lead with those 60, then get back to me. - Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 1:40 pm: You can only get 60 votes in the House if you call the bills. Why are they afraid to call the bills as written? Because they are popular and it would be embarrassing to vote against them? The Speaker controls the rules committee and nothing gets voted on without his approval. The Governor does have a plan, getting rid of the Speaker so Illinois can function again - Demoralized - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 1:49 pm: ==The Governor does have a plan, getting rid of the Speaker so Illinois can function again== Yeah. Brilliant plan. That’s governing. Do you even realize how incompetent you make this Governor sound like when you continue to post your rants about how everything would be fine if Mike Madigan would stop being mean to the Governor? He’s the Governor for crying out loud. Your comments demean him and you don’t even realize it. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 2:56 pm: ===You can only get 60 votes in the House if you call the bills=== You either can’t read are arguably disingenuous to a fault. Rauner shows 60 on the stairs, that’s real governmental leverage. Pay attention. ===Why are they afraid to call the bills as written? Because they are popular and it would be embarrassing to vote=== lol, Rauner doesn’t have 60 votes to embarrass anyone. ===The Governor does have a plan, getting rid of the Speaker so Illinois can function again=== … by ruining the state, running down social services, destroying higher education… and an disapproval rating of 58% for Rauner? What a plan, lol - Pol Strategist - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 4:13 pm: To Oswego Willy: If Mendoza wants to maximize her chances for reelection or to defeat Rauner (if she runs against him), moving for a stay would have been smarter. She would have taken away from her opponent the ability to criticize her for caving in to the “do nothing legislators, who didn’t earn their pay.” Voters don’t care about the finer points of constitutional law. One could say Mendoza’s actions were more statesman like, but politically smart, no. - Pol Strategist - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 4:20 pm: 2nd post made in error…sorry about that. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 4:25 pm: ===If Mendoza wants to maximize her chances… moving for a stay would have been smarter.=== No. The politics of having the Supreme Court possibly ruling that your intention and actions are inconsistent with the rule of law and the Comstitution… not the best way to seem… capable. It’s far easier to explain “I’ve been following the law, I guess you prefer to ignore the law and your oath?” No, playing the Quinn card didn’t help Quinn either. ===She would have taken away from her opponent the ability to criticize her for…=== … for what, exactly? An unconstitutional populist move that may bring a unanimous opinion from the Supremes? So your advice is to ignore looking competent, but try to see incapable? ===…caving in to the “do nothing legislators, who didn’t earn their pay.”=== Yeah, you have no idea what that Supreme Court ruling will eventually look like. Playing it as Mendoza is, she now can have that ruling as a plus, and be seen as competent. ===One could say Mendoza’s actions were more statesman like… === No, one will say Mendoza followed the constitution as her oath described. What you are describing is political malpractice while a court ruling can get her politically out of this mess. Almost as awful as Rutherford’s Friday Fiasco ===…but politically smart, no.=== Nothing like having the Suprees telling a Constitutional they’re breaking their oath, possibly. That’s “smart”. Yikes, mixing court rulings and fallout… you aren’t helping the client. Too many variables, so follow the law, and the duties. - Franklin Delano Bluth - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 8:20 pm: Anybody else notice the EDITORIAL BOARD at the paper couldn’t catch the misspelling of “lawmakers” in the third paragraph. But as long as they get their click-baity title and half-baked labels into print, who cares? - Generic Drone - Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 11:42 pm: Right, cuz we all know Munger never rolled over for Rauner! Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.