50 Comments - The Dude Abides - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 12:32 pm: I’m very glad to hear that Madigan requested this meeting. Madigan needs to provide a face saving lifeline to the Governor. IMO, if they would include some meaningful workman’s comp reform in the budget negotiations, that would make businesses across the state very happy and give the Governor something I would consider pretty substantial. Madigan needs to give the Governor something. - rocky - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 12:33 pm: Ok what did he say? - winners and losers - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 12:35 pm: ==to do one thing – pass a budget== To do ONE thing. - Carhartt Union Negotiating Team - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 12:39 pm: Governor Rauner in 3, 2, 1… “I’m glad Mike Madigan has decided to do what I’ve been doin’ since hard workin’ taxpayin’ bidness owners elected me to volunteer as the Governor - focus on a budget. I’m ah waitin’ for his support for term limits, redistrictin’ reform and a permanent property tax freeze…. ….and real reforms to attract bidnessez… …when he reforms all that, I’ll work real hard at my volunteerin’ to add new or adjusted items to the list cause I wanta’ compromise - BELIEVE ME, nobody wants it more… - Flynn's mom - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 12:51 pm: Does the governor have a budget costume? Has the lack of a budget costume been the problem all along? - Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 12:53 pm: Code from MJM—-Agree with me on my agenda, and I’ll get back with you on any items you want to negotiate. You can trust me. - Dirty Red - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 12:57 pm: The Speaker issues press releases? - Amalia - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 12:59 pm: Focus on budget. does that mean that Madigan was trying to hypnotize Rauner? - Rocky Rosi - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 1:07 pm: There will be no budget until after the election. - hot chocolate - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 1:19 pm: Nice to see he’s at least in Springfield and working…kinda. This guy has the most power of anyone in the state and he’s been darn near silent on all major issues including the budget since this legislative session began. He has been saying NOTHING. How does he continue to get away with that? - Flippy - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 1:43 pm: Rocky Rosi: I agree, but which election! - RNUG - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 1:45 pm: Too bad we weren’t a fly on the wall to that conversation. I’m going to guess the Speaker threw out a lifeline of sorts to Rauner; be interesting to see if he grabs it. - A guy - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 1:52 pm: Interesting that he requested a meeting. More interesting that they met. Not surprising that in light of the request and the meeting, he wants the world to know it occurred. Maybe something’s cooking… - Arock - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 1:53 pm: A lifeline? He offered nothing, it is obvious he thinks no reforms are necessary which is asinine. - Mike Cirrincione - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 1:53 pm: Nobody knew governin’ could be so complicated! - Illinois Governor Bruce & TV Commercial *Star* - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 1:55 pm: ===A lifeline? He offered nothing, it is obvious he thinks no reforms are necessary which is asinine=== lol, oh - Arock -, Rauner doesn’t have 60 or 30. It’s asinine to think Rauner can get his proposals passed. Anything the Speaker can help Rauner with to get 60 and 30 should be applauded. Why aren’t you applauding? - Earnest - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 1:59 pm: I don’t like Madigan, but at least I find him credible when he says he met with Rauner and summarizes what they talked about. Can’t say the same for Rauner because he lies a lot. - Gordon Willis - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 1:59 pm: I kinda picture Michael Corleone (Madigan) speaking to Senator Geary (Rauner)…. - Annonin' - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 2:03 pm: Mr/Ms Arock: Reforms are bustin’ out all over….just today the House approved a new not for profit to sell work comp insurance. GOPies P* for insurers and opposed, but this will allow for cheaper policies. Can’t get any more reformin’ that that. - RNUG - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 2:06 pm: == A lifeline? He offered nothing, it is obvious he thinks no reforms are necessary which is asinine == I’m sure there was plenty of tough talk, but I’d also bet the Speaker pointed to a path out of the forest. It’s most likely a path the Governor doesn’t want to take … but it may be Rauner’s only alternative to continue to wander around lost for the rest of his term. - Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 2:06 pm: ===A lifeline? He offered nothing, it is obvious he thinks no reforms are necessary which is asinine.=== Actually what is asinine is that the Governor has no specific reforms he is pushing. He has a long list, prioritizes nothing, and then is surprised that 90 (never the less 179) people can’t seem to agree on them. Real leaders actually have bills drafted, have them presented, and make deals and push hard to get the job done. It really makes you wonder, what does this guy actually want? And is he actually willing to do anything to get it done? - tobias846 - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 2:09 pm: Like some other commenters here, I think Madigan probably offered Rauner something at the meeting. There is no way Madigan would request a meeting with Rauner simply to say “focus on the budget.” I am no fan of Madigan but he does not waste his time on pointless meetings. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 2:13 pm: === he does not waste his time on pointless meetings=== He’s been to about a million of them. - phocion - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 2:14 pm: The timing is interesting. Who did Madigan meet with yesterday? - The Real Just Me - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 2:14 pm: Seemingly, the lifeline the Speaker is offering to the Governor is just this: “You can avoid being the only Governor in IL history not to have any budget at all.” The Governor will probably swat that lifeline away because Rauner hears Madigan’s offer as: “You will sign the biggest tax increase in IL history.” The Governor apparently does not fear for his political life now. He’s winnin’ after all. And he’s got $50 million and a consistent simplistic message to prove it. - Fav Hum - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 2:22 pm: Code from MJM—-Agree with me on my agenda, and I’ll get back with you on any items you want to negotiate. You can trust me. EXACTLY. Madigan must really miss G Ryan & Co. Not being able to dictate terms must be painful for the Speaker - Il annoyed - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 2:27 pm: I think Madigan probably did offer Rauner a lifeline, but I think Rauner is too politically naive and too full of himself to understand how badly he needs it. I think the Gov. is terribly naive to think voters will see him as an outsider, after failin to pass a budget or any sig legislation for 4 straight years. - Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 2:30 pm: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iYHGTaKuu5A - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 2:31 pm: ===Code from MJM—-Agree with me on my agenda, and I’ll get back with you on any items you want to negotiate. You can trust me.=== If anything, Madigan is a man of his word, to a “fault”, and to the dismay of those on the wrong side. This cheering of Rauner, it only works if you agree social services need to close and universities fold, so, you are cheering destruction of Illinois, and you may not even realize it. - Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 2:33 pm: Both leaders need a deal, stop with the nonsense that just Rauner does. That is completely idiotic. Madigan needs to make a deal as do all democrats just as much as Rauner and all the Republicans. I have seen no polling that blames just Rauner for the impasse despite what 90 percent of the commenters think. - jimk849 - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 2:34 pm: Madigan asked him to focus on the budget. Tomorrow maybe he can ask Rauner to focus on telling the truth. Maybe Madigan could ask him to focus on a new virtue every day and become like a big brother to Bruce you know like a mentor. - Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 2:37 pm: Madigan is a man of his word? He pledged to work cooperatively and professionally to solve the #1 problem in the state of Illinois- the budget deficit. He does not speak to Leader Durkin and will not compromise with the Governor or the Senate President. Other than that, he is all about the cooperation. He also said cuts and revenues are needed, then proposed neither in his last minute budget that had neither cuts or revenues. How has he done keeping his word? - Arock - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 2:41 pm: Yes it is asinine to think that Rauner can get anything done with Madigan. After all Madiagan’s leadership has placed Illinois into a hole that no other state wants to be in and you folks want to stay the course. - hot chocolate - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 2:42 pm: So tired of hearing 60 and 30. it takes 61 and 31. Therefore, yes Governor needs legislative majorities to pass his priorities. But the legislature also needs him. You can’t wish that away. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 2:43 pm: ===Madigan is a man of his word?=== When was the last time a governor said “Madigan said he had the votes and let me down”? If Madigan says he’ll deliver, he’s proven his word is good. ===He also said cuts and revenues are needed, then proposed neither in his last minute budget that had neither cuts or revenues.=== Yep. It’s up to a governor, Article VIII, Section 2, (a) to start with a budget. Rauner wants Madigan to propose cuts, and carry the votes for a tax increase, all the while destroy labor, or, if Rauner gets none if that, Rauner will concur to destroy social services and higher education. What Caucus leader thinks… “I need to get votes to raise taxes and cut programs AND destroy labor, with a partner that will pin all this in the end”? No Caucus leader, or Caucus for that matter will go along with that. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 2:45 pm: ===Yes it is asinine to think that Rauner can get anything done with Madigan. After all Madiagan’s leadership has placed Illinois into a hole that no other state wants to be in and you folks want to stay the course=== Then Rauner should easily get 60 and 30 and embarrass Madigan. Why can’t Rauner. As - Lucky Pierre - says, cowards and losers live in the past… - wondering - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 2:46 pm: Madigan is an asset to Illinois with this governor in office. Imagine Rauner unchained. - Shake - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 2:47 pm: Shake Up Rauner.. Mike Madigan.. - Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 2:48 pm: Speaker Madigan pushed and passed pension reform that “destroyed labor” when there was a democrat in the Governor’s office. Now that there is a Republican trying to balance the budget, it is all politics. No destroying labor now. Quite a man of principle, it is not a problem when a Republican and the Senate President are trying to pass it, only when Quinn was - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 2:51 pm: ===Speaker Madigan pushed and passed pension reform that “destroyed labor” when there was a democrat in the Governor’s office.=== Ironically, it only took Rauner to solidify a rift Rauner could’ve exploited by not going after the trades. Rookie mistake? Up for discussion. ===Now that there is a Republican trying to balance the budget, it is all politics. No destroying labor now.=== Was it Madigan or Rauner with that PowerPoint in Decatur? ===Quite a man of principle, it is not a problem when a Republican and the Senate President are trying to pass it, only when Quinn was=== “Pat Quinn failed” See how governors take heat? - DuPage - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 2:52 pm: @12:32 ===Madigan needs to give the Governor something.=== Madigan should give Rauner’s Turnaround Agenda items an up or down vote, AFTER a balanced budget with adequate, additional revenue is in place. If they pass, they pass. If they don’t, they don’t. Budget first, until then Madigan should give Rauner NOTHING. - Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 2:54 pm: I think the Speaker said he had the votes on the veto override regarding AFSCME negotiations being removed from the Governor’s office. He of course did not, so there is that - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 2:55 pm: ===Madigan needs to make a deal as do all democrats just as much as Rauner and all the Republicans=== That’s not true. Just today Goldberg wanted a stand alone K-12 funding bill. That doesn’t sound like Rauner wants a budget. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 2:58 pm: ===Speaker said he had the votes on the veto override regarding AFSCME negotiations being removed from the Governor’s office. He of course did not, so there is that=== 1) Ken Dunkin, et al, Rauner causing even Republicans headaches to force the override failure. 2) Read. I said a governor saying. It’s like your complete incompetence predicates logal things like blatently ignoring reading for comprehension. - VanillaMan - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 3:12 pm: The last time I saw Governor Rauner was when he dressed up like Howdy Dowdee, showed me a roll of duct tape and I kept waiting for Robert Guillame as Benson to appear when the audience began laughing. So it’s a bonus that he found time away from his Peanut Gallery to meet with a real government official. Adds credibility! - Honeybear - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 3:57 pm: A guy - I’m with you. I think something is cooking. A topic that I’m interested in got extended by a month. Just a month. - Shake - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 4:04 pm: Just Keep Paying Me My Due Pension.. Pierre.. Return Bargaining Table Rauner? - Shake - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 4:08 pm: Retired State Prison Guards Are The Superstars.. Get It. - Boone's is back - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 4:10 pm: ===The only thing new there is the meeting itself.=== LOL, well that just killed my hope. - DWA - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 6:37 pm: About 10 years ago CPS pension was under state control.Chicago wanted control of that and took control of it.Now its near calapse.NOW CHICAGO IS GOING BROKE AND EXPECTS THE STATE TO MAKE GOOD THEIR MISHANDALING FUNDS.THANK YOU MADAGEN Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.