Not a bad question.
Next question, this is from Edward Headnott – or Hadnott – from Chicago, and Edward asks: What happened to the art of compromise? [Laughs]
Edward, great question. What happened to the art of compromise? So let’s talk about that.
You know, in order to compromise you need two sides who are willing to compromise, who want to come to a middle ground, and the tragedy in Illinois — we’ve had people who’ve controlled our system, and who’ve controlled our General Assembly, and who’ve controlled our Democratic Party, they’ve been in power for 35 years.
And, they created the system and they have no interest in changing it, not even a little bit, because that would admit that they have failed, that would admit that they needed to change, and they don’t want to acknowledge that. That’s our fundamental challenge, but we’ve just got to stay persistent. We’ve got to find common ground, and compromise so we can move forward.
Let me give you some examples about this. So, I’ve said — term limits, hugely popular among Democrats and Republicans. Good policy. It’ll change the culture inside state government very quickly, and we’ll have people in government who are there for the right reasons. So far, the members in the House, in the majority, the House Democrats, have said: No term limits, won’t talk about it, take it off the table. So, that’s, they’re not willing to compromise at all. And over in the Senate, they’ve said: well we’ll talk about term limits, maybe we’ll consider them for legislative leaders, but for nobody else. And I said: How about as a compromise on term limits, how about if we have you and the General Assembly won’t put term limits on yourselves, out of your own self interest — I don’t agree with you, I think that’s wrong — but how about put term limits on me, all governors, lieutenant governors, attorneys general, comptroller, treasurer, secretary of state, and also legislative leaders? How about that as a compromise — don’t put it on yourselves as legislators, but put it on everybody else? That’s a compromise. So far they’ve said no.
Similarly on property taxes. I’ve said: Give the people of Illinois the ability to control their own property taxes, let’s freeze them were they’re at, and let the people through a voter referendum and voter control decide if property taxes go up or down or stay flat. It’s a reasonable thing. So far, the House Democrats under Speaker Madigan have said no, won’t talk about it, take it off the table, refuse. And over in the Senate, they’ve said well, we’ll consider it, maybe we’d do a two year property tax freeze, but no real local control. A two year property tax freeze? That’s nothing. Your property taxes will go through the roof in the third year. That’s a phony reform. That’s just a headline. That’s not real change.
So there’s not real compromise going on. There’s not real change to the system. We’ve got to get compromise, we need to find common ground, meet in the middle and we can come up with solutions so we’ll have balanced budgets and get good things done for the people of Illinois. Especially property tax relief, and especially growing more jobs across the state. We’ve just got to stay persistent. I hope the members of the General Assembly, especially in the Senate, where they’re at least a little more open to compromise, I hope they’ll keep working, and we’ll get to a good place for everybody with a truly balanced budget.
- Honeybear - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 1:21 pm:
Nice Gov Rauner
One of the finest examples of
Perfidy AND Gaslighting
Ever
Masterful in its immorality
- Anonymous - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 1:24 pm:
Property tax freeze - would be less popular if we called it what it is…another unfunded Local Government Mandate.
- Pundent - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 1:27 pm:
I never realized until hearing Rauner’s comments how critical “persistence” was in achieving compromise. It explains a lot. I think in his view compromise and capitulation are one in the same.
- Norseman - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 1:28 pm:
Honeybear said it all.
- Ole' Nelson - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 1:28 pm:
Money obviously can’t buy self-awareness.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 1:29 pm:
===…we’ve had people who’ve controlled our system, and who’ve controlled our General Assembly, and who’ve controlled our Democratic Party, they’ve been in power for 35 years.===
Yeah, I’m gonna stop you right here…
Attacking those you need to find common ground with to get any compromise reinforces the clear intent with these phony “Facebook Live!” appearances;
Left-handed continued bashing of Democrats, be it Madigan or including Cullerton, but make the purposeful damage to Illinois a “failure” by the Dems where you (Gov Rauner) want partisan politics and the dividing, a wedge if you will, as the passive way to squeeze the beast, close state universities, hurt Illinois’ most in need, and keep taxes where they are when you (Governor) cheered, begged, asked, for that sun setting.
The stall tactic. The word salad. The purposeful wedge to destroy a state… or Labor… and both social services and higher education will get destroyed either way.
Diana Rauner calls this a business decision.
- Linus - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 1:30 pm:
His talents are wasted here in Illinois. You know, the U.S. Senate is a place that actually rewards and celebrates the filibuster arts of timekilling bloviation.
- RNUG - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 1:31 pm:
Does Rauner ever go back and listen to himself?
- Ahoy! - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 1:32 pm:
Number 1, that is not gaslighting, for some reason (and this has become popular since Trump) it has become a go to word for folks, and quite frankly, I can see why with Trump, however, the above does not qualify as gaslighting. “You keep using that word, I do not think it means what you think it means.”
Also, I don’t think the Governor is that off base with this one, especially with Madigan. Of course the Governor’s only saving grace from all this dysfunction is that he’s dealing wit a ship of fools in the general assembly. Which is too bad because they are giving his own incompetence an out in all of this.
- Albany Park Patriot - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 1:32 pm:
Aren’t Republicans big proponents of “English only?”
- Hottot - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 1:32 pm:
Rauner’s version of compromise is “Give me what I want.”
First, no person would ever vote to raise their own property taxes, so that’s a complete farce. Second, if he’s serious about compromise, he would submit a budget to the General Assembly that includes the reforms he wants, as well as the revenue the Democrats want. He won’t do that because he’s not serious about compromise.
- Anon221 - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 1:33 pm:
Did Rauner just completely forget about he permanent property tax freeze that passed the House in the lame duck? I realize it’s null now with the 100th, but wasn’t that “workin’ together”? (And before I get lectured, take this with a pinch of snark)
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 1:33 pm:
Thank you Governor Rauner for explaining to us how our state government has collapsed, and how you’ve failed to keep our state from collapsing further. Thanks for revealing yourself as a victim instead of a governor.
You are like a guy who got a job as an airline pilot, and keeps telling us that you would do the job if there were no more than ten passengers, the brand of peanuts must be of your choosing, and you have to fly nude.
- Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 1:34 pm:
I have no idea what he just said. And yet I do. Intentional obfuscation. Quite impressive word salad.
- Rabid - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 1:35 pm:
Term limits hugely popular among the uninformed to end statesmanship, and be replaced with easy controlled inexperience legislators
- ZC - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 1:36 pm:
Hmm, the words come out, they mean nothing. Whom does this remind me of.
- G'Kar - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 1:36 pm:
I must of missed it, but when did Rauner suggest that term limit compromise?
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 1:37 pm:
Governor Edgar, could you help us out by explaining why governors compromise?
OK - now Governor Blagojevich…
Governor Ryan?
See Bruce, you shouldn’t have ran for office at all.
- Michelle Flaherty - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 1:38 pm:
Gov. Rauner really is perfecting his Trump impersonation.
- Lance Mannion - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 1:38 pm:
Given the reactions here, I’d say Rauner’s performance was highly effective for his purposes. He’s continuing to frame the issues that matter most, politically anyway.
Let Dems make the case against a property tax freeze and term limits. Good luck with that.
- Keyrock - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 1:38 pm:
The proof of the value of having an education from Dartmouth AND Harvard.
- Anon221 - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 1:41 pm:
The Rauner Salad (dressed with oil only):
2827 characters (no spaces)
590 words
7 paragraphs
0 content
Price: $11 million per day or a $20 million “tip”
- Demoralized - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 1:41 pm:
These events are a waste of time as far as information goes. It’s the same response he’s given about 1,000 times before. It’s your standard dog and pony show and they do it because they have nothing else to talk about. I wish they worried half as much about governing and getting something done as they did laying blame on Madigan (and now the Senate) for everything that’s wrong with the world.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 1:42 pm:
==I must of missed it, but when did Rauner suggest that term limit compromise?==
For that matter, how is what the Senate offered up *not* a compromise?
That being said, overall, this was pretty long-winded, but it didn’t strike me as particularly word-salad-y.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 1:42 pm:
Also, I’m pretty sure the House passed a property tax freeze. It may not have been “his” freeze but they passed one. So that part of his comment was simply inaccurate.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 1:45 pm:
To piggy-back off - VanillaMan -, and with respect;
GHR?
===“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.”===
Gov. Edgar?
===”He (Rauner) comes from a different background than I do. But I just think it’s very important for a governor, you’ve got to have a good budget and you need it in place,” Edgar told reporters. “You can try to compromise on some issues — and I think there are certain things (Democrats in the Legislature) might give him — but some of the things he’s asking for, they’re not going to give him. They’re just not going to give him.”===
Not ONE thing Rauner said in that word salad sounds like a governor that knows how to govern…
… or far worse…
A man wanting destruction disguised as parties not finding common ground.
Rauner wants the state hurting. Rauner’s winning. Rauner tells us so.
- Rabid - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 1:51 pm:
Term limits, freezing local property taxes, governor’s wish list adds no value to the budget
- Valvino - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 1:56 pm:
If term limits are passed, won’t the people in office now be grandfathered? Rauner forgets the Republicans are to blame for the budget problems also.
- milkman - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 2:02 pm:
Dear Rauner. Since you’ve stonewalled so long now the Dems will compromise when your out of office with your replacement in a year and a half!
- Linus - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 2:04 pm:
I’ve now got it: Rauner and Trump are literally the same guy. They’ve never been seen together, right? No photos? Neither wants to publicly acknowledge the other’s existence? But they sound increasingly identical — ?
- Chicago Barb - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 2:14 pm:
He missed the part in the definition of compromise that both sides have to give something.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 2:17 pm:
Geez, don’t you wish this babbler would have bought a boat or something to occupy his time in retirement?
- Mama - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 3:40 pm:
= Rabid - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 1:51 pm:
Term limits, freezing local property taxes, governor’s wish list adds no value to the budget=
Bingo! However, he doesn’t care about that. All he cares about is winning.
- Chicago_Downstater - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 3:55 pm:
@wordslinger
Bahahaha! Equal parts savage and depressingly accurate–as far as this commenter is concerned.
To Rauner’s excuses:
I think what annoys me the most about all of this is that I’m not entirely sure Rauner’s word salad excuses aren’t going to work in the end. I hope they don’t, but I don’t know anymore.
- Dandy Edward - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 3:59 pm:
All the Democrats want to do is raise taxes. Why defend Mike Madigan and John Cullerton ? Mike and John plus all the Democratic and Republican Governors before Rauner got us into this mess. If we do what John and Mike want we will be looking at another tax increase in two years (2017 and 2019). Without true reform there will be no end to this.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 4:02 pm:
==All the Democrats want to do is raise taxes.==
Can we please stop this narrative? A tax increase has been in everyone’s plans at a nearly identical amount.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 4:04 pm:
===Without true reform there will be no end to this.===
1.4%, $500+ million = Rauner’s Agenda.
Not much of a return you’re asking for, given that state universities are crumbling, social services are closing, and Labor is melding against Rauner…
The hole in the budget and the backlog of bills are both over $500+ million, and Rauner’s own budget director seen no cuts.
So, you want Rauner to stay strong? LOL!
For what, continued distraction with minuscule return, a return tabulated by Rauner’s Crew, and… your taxes are going up anyway?
I’m guessing… blissfully unaware…
- wordslinger - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 4:08 pm:
–Without true reform there will be no end to this.–
Please, put on your big boy pants and ’splain the “true reform” and and how it will put an “end to this.”
Remember, big boy pants. Like you were going to the bank for a loan, and you have to show something more than shallow talking points. Like the big kids do.
- Keyrock - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 4:23 pm:
Like you’d gone to Harvard Business School.
No, wait, you’ll have to do better than that.
- Edward Hadnott - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 4:40 pm:
Governor you stated many times that you will meet in the middle. If not now, when?
- Chicago 20 - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 4:53 pm:
It’s amazing how Rauner never achieves anything but still feels the need to criticize anyone who tries to pass a budget.
- peon - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 7:27 pm:
The word salad contains the one truth he has never grasped - the legislature is co-equal.
Your power in the legislature is controlled by the number of representatives of your party, not perseverance in presenting demands.
This rigidity comes from being a CEO, and being unable to learn the art of politics. There are many ways to move an agenda legislatively - he just doesn’t seem to know any of them.
- justacitizen - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 9:27 pm:
I still don’t understand why CF bloggers want a budget without structural changes that continue IL on the downhill spiral. A property tax freeze and term limits compromise by Dems seems reasonable to get a budget passed.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 9:41 pm:
===A property tax freeze===
Ask Democratic and Republican municipal leaders why they both are against some of these “proposed” freeze options floated.
===and term limits===
There are no monetary or budgetary advantages with or without term limits. If you like, we can discuss the last business group and their own take on Rauner’s alleged reforms, like term limits, and how business sees their need… versus a budget.
===seems reasonable to get a budget passed.===
Then where are the 60 and 30?
That’s right…
Rauner?
===…we’ve had people who’ve controlled our system, and who’ve controlled our General Assembly, and who’ve controlled our Democratic Party, they’ve been in power for 35 years.===
Hmm. Not to friendly of a want to compromise there… Seems likes lots of blaming and attacking…
- Rabid - Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 8:03 am:
The volunteer property tax appeal govenor thinks bigly
- Rabid - Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 8:24 am:
Volunteer govenor dabbles in local real estate issues