No “Plan B” for Senate right now
Monday, May 15, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Brian Mackey…
After 22 months without a budget, all eyes have been on the state Senate. But after another failed attempt to vote on the “grand bargain” last week, it’s reasonable to ask if anyone is thinking about plan B.
The answer from Senate budget negotiators is: not yet. Each says they’re still trying to make a comprehensive deal both sides can live with.
“We are focused on getting an agreement on a budget that has cuts in it, that is balanced, that has reforms,” says Sen. Dale Righter, a Republican from Mattoon.
Sen. Heather Steans, a Democrat from Chicago, say they’re still negotiating: “I’m remaining really optimistic that we’re actually going to get some Republicans to yes, and that’s certainly my hope.”
* Senate President Cullerton, meanwhile, penned an SJ-R op-ed…
More than 70 days passed with no action, just repeated promises that things are “really close.” I tried to jump-start efforts last week because I have a calendar and I can see that we are running out of time.
We managed to pass one proposal, giving local governments greater financial flexibility when it comes to borrowing, something that should save local taxpayers money. But the governor still believes that, despite proposed cuts and reforms, the benefit system for injured workers is too generous. He continues to pull Republicans off the deal until those benefits are cut further.
It’s a similar situation with a property tax freeze. A two-year freeze is waiting to be voted upon. It would pass if called for a vote, but the Republican sponsor won’t do so because the governor wants a stricter, longer freeze on local governments’ abilities with no consideration of the potential consequences.
And every day we turn another page on the calendar, approaching that May 31 deadline.
I’ll keep negotiating, but at some point negotiating has to lead to a deal, and a deal has to result in votes to move forward.
- winners and losers - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 10:56 am:
The Grand Bargain has nine lives because it has parts that can not and will not pass on their own merits.
It you want to pass something politically distasteful, put it in an over 1,000 page bill (or in a package of many bills tied together - even if that violates the Illinois Constitution).
- cdog - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 10:58 am:
Details on work comp? If causation is not cleaned up, its not a good statute.
Two year property tax freeze? Please. (rolls eyes)
Why can’t the local governments in Illinois get by on less money, like the rest of the nation? How ’bout a FOREVER freeze?
A little shock to the system builds robustness. A little #skininthegame for local taxing bodies, instead of unlimited access to the pocketbooks of residents, is a good thing.
The power is too asymmetrical now.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 11:00 am:
===“We are focused on getting an agreement on a budget that has cuts in it, that is balanced, that has reforms,” says Sen. Dale Righter, a Republican from Mattoon.===
All you need to know about Rauner’s dishonesty in making a deal is right here.
“that has reforms”
That’s code, Sen Righter?
“When Rauner blows it up again and again… it’s because it “doesn’t go far enough”
That a crock. This is explaining the hostages need to be held.
This is why Leader Radogno got undercut.
The way to get a deal is to pass the doable work, force it on Madigan to complete the deal.
Rauner and Raunerites are forcing the issues to blow up deals, not find paths to find agreements(?)
- Skeptic - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 11:10 am:
“that has reforms”
Yet Madigan is the reason for the impasse?
- Chicago 20 - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 11:13 am:
Rauner will undercut anyone and everyone to get his way. The only budget that Rauner will accept must contain all of the “turn around agenda” items with absolutely no concessions.
Illinois won’t have a budget until Rauner is gone.
- VanillaMan - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 11:17 am:
A little shock to the system….?
Where have you been? We got literally thosands of citizens getting tazed in their nads daily, but you don’t think it’s enough?
You think paying more in taxes to be worse than what they’re going through?
Anyone thinking that our system is not getting the shock of its life right now, needs something similar to happen to them.
Who are you, Marie Antoinette?
- Gruntled University Employee - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 11:18 am:
=== “I’m remaining really optimistic that we’re actually going to get some Republicans to yes, and that’s certainly my hope.”===
Respectfully Senator Steans, there’s only one Republican that needs to get to yes.
- T sowell - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 11:21 am:
The Dems are clearly the ones balking at the property tax freeze - Harmon is on the record on this matter
- Oswego Willy - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 11:23 am:
===The Dems are clearly the ones balking at the property tax freeze===
You should ask mayors and municipal leaders about the freeze too, Republicans and Democrats…
- A guy - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 11:26 am:
==We got literally thosands of citizens getting tazed in their nads daily===
Ouch. It’s early, but I’m prepared to vote for this as phrase of the day.
- Michelle Flaherty - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 11:32 am:
Have you ever really thought through the property tax freeze?
It doesn’t involve a penny of state revenue.
It is purely the state — which is two years into choas with no budget — telling every local government what it can and cannot do.
Makes perfect sense.
If only those local officials making the decisions were subject to elections. Oh wait. They are? So the state needs to save local voters from themselves?
Springfield always has known best.
- Grandson of Man - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 11:34 am:
I strive to believe in doing the doable today. We live in a democracy that we crafted to give us many opportunities to change course and improve upon what we did yesterday. That’s why we have two legislative sessions every year, and elections every two years.
Why can’t Rauner pass what’s available today and work to change tomorrow? Who the heck does he think he is that he can leap ahead of the process when virtually everyone else has to work hard and wait until the votes are there?
- Reforms R Us - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 11:44 am:
=Springfield always has known best.=
If misguided public policy is called a “reform”, it’s a good and desirable thing by definition.
- City Zen - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 11:44 am:
The Grand Bargain needs better branding. How about Resplendent Capitulation?
- Rod - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 11:46 am:
Unfortunately there was not one sentence in President Cullerton’s op-ed piece that even touched on the incredible complexity of linking together numerous bills and calling it a package. There was not one sentence attempting to support various revenue assumptions inherent in the package, there was not one sentence discussing the fact that the SB 6 appropriation bill there are insufficient funds to pay vendors outstanding bills, or the fact that the GO restructuring bonds (SB 4) will not fully cover the outstanding money owed.
As has been usual in this discussion the crisis situation is emphasized and the need for something to be done with the budget is the central narrative.
Amazingly Governor Rauner too will remain silent of the potential problems with this approach to fiscal governance of Illinois as long as he gets as much of his turn around package in place as possible. Up to now he hasn’t gotten all that he wants, so it is not moving.
The Rauner turn around package is of course based on the fundamental idea that a more business friendly Illinois will just become a job magnet and in turn generate tax revenue. It takes into no consideration at all that companies can find numerous states now with extremely business friendly climates and workers to fill many job types. There is no reason to believe this strategy will work.
- walker - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 12:04 pm:
Any “deal” includes sufficient commitments of “Yes” votes.
- Last Bull Moose - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 12:08 pm:
The property tax freeze extends the state cash flow problem to local governments. Such a bad idea. Did not work in California as Prop 13.
- cdog - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 12:09 pm:
Folks are getting “tazed in the nuts daily” because they are being used as a means to an end, not because of cash flow.
- Ginhouse Tommy - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 12:09 pm:
OW is right. Pass a doable budget, give it to Madigan and then let him sweat it out. According to this blog every May about this time MJM has budget meetings, gives the public some smoke screen like he’s doing something useful and then quits saying that no agreement could be reached. Put the ball in his court and then watch what happens.
- Nick Name - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 12:12 pm:
“You should ask mayors and municipal leaders about the freeze too, Republicans and Democrats…”
And school districts. This will kill them.
- Langhorne - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 12:30 pm:
–I’ll keep negotiating, but at some point negotiating has to lead to a deal, and a deal has to result in votes to move forward.–
A deal requires 60 and 30. The only number rauner wants to get to is zero. Zero hostages left standing.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 12:46 pm:
===”Details on work comp? If causation is not cleaned up, its not a good statute.”===
The comp proposals overall look like they can save some serious money to employers right now, based upon the version I’ve seen. If everyone is going to press on “causation” and “AMA Standards” which at best will affect roughly less than 7% of the cases out there that actually get litigated, then measuring those cases within the compensation universe is probably too narrow to be considered “savings.” Add the additional costs of doctor examinations for AMA Standards including medical record reviews by them ($750.00 to $1,250.00 per case) then add similar costs for “causation” opinions, and suddenly the “savings” with AMA and causation get pretty well wiped out by litigation costs to employers if those provisions are implemented. Consider also that the Illinois Supreme Court may eventually drop kick the AMA standards out the window or severely emasculate them.
The changes to the medical fee schedule and credits for 8(d)2 injuries, including reattaching hips to legs and shoulders to arms, should result in pretty significant savings across the board and are overdue. Some loosing of administration restrictions imposed during the 2011 amendments and Quinn administration currenly confronting the Commission should result in some savings as well. Remember, the lion’s share of Commission funding comes from employers.
Just my thoughts on what I am seeing.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 12:53 pm:
- Louis G Atsaves -
That’s done really great stuff there on WC.
Thank you for sharing. Your insight here is really appreciated.
OW
- Oswego Willy - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 12:55 pm:
“some”
- cdog - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 1:14 pm:
Louis,
Thank you, and interesting. All makes sense.
Don’t you think that having a causation rule would deter an erroneous presentation of blaming the employer for a non-workplace injury.
I think so.
- RNUG - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 1:23 pm:
Plan B should be (1) no budget at all, no K-12 stopgap, just go with the court ordered spending and (2) a straight income tax increase sufficient to cover the annual $8B shortfall we currently have under the court mandated spending plus enough more to pay down the existing backlog over 3 years.
Rauner’s actions say he doesn’t want a budget, so don’t give him one. And when he gets the tax increase, pass it again. Just keep repeating until he either signs it or 2019 rolls around.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 1:35 pm:
===”Don’t you think that having a causation rule would deter an erroneous presentation of blaming the employer for a non-workplace injury.”===
Great question! Some work injuries occur outside of the actual workplace. The current standard calls for compensable injuries to “arise out of and in the course of the employment.” The complaints over “traveling employees” is but one example. Contracting a serious disease which manifests itself later that evening at home (or causes a heart attack) is another type of example.
As to “deterrence” or preventing erroneous presentation of cases, clarity in the law is a must. Simply making things more expensive on the litigation side would be a “deterrence” that may prevent legitimate injuries (or defenses) from being presented for trial.
When discussing those types issues, it’s like walking a high wire. Sometimes one or both sides end up falling for the wrong reasons.
- Skeptic - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 1:49 pm:
Louis: Let me go on record saying that while I wildly disagree with you on many topics, I appreciate the knowledge and insight you’ve presented here.
- wordslinger - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 4:31 pm:
Rauner has been saying they’re “negotiating” and “making progress” for two years.
But whenever they “get close,” Gov. Lucy pulls back the ball.
What else do you need to know?
- cdog - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 7:20 pm:
Thanks for the insight and expertise, Louis. I get what your saying and know you’re probably correct.
The door swings both ways.