22 Comments - Generic Drone - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 10:46 am: Since the courts have already ruled that contracts have no real meaning in Illinois, whats the big suprise? - 47th Ward - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 10:48 am: ===“What they’re doing is they’re banking on — in the most cynical way — they’re banking on the fact that we give a damn,” she said, “and we won’t turn our backs on these clients, we won’t shove them out into the streets, that we won’t lay off our employees until it’s impossible for us to do anything else.”=== Amen and bravo. That’s it, in a nutshell. Doesn’t quite fit on a tee shirt or a bumper sticker, but it’s the most accurate take on Governor Rauner’s “strategy” to take hostages. And he’s never been happier, by the way. He says he loves his job. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 10:52 am: === Andrea Durbin, leader of the coalition, said Illinois knows what it’s doing. “What they’re doing is they’re banking on — in the most cynical way — they’re banking on the fact that we give a damn,” she said, “and we won’t turn our backs on these clients, we won’t shove them out into the streets, that we won’t lay off our employees until it’s impossible for us to do anything else.”=== Ms. Durbin is one of my favorite people, someone who can argue the merits and dig deep into the politics and see the angles honestly. Illinois is lucky to have Ms. Durbin, and others we all k ow who fight the fight that needs to be fought, and this… “…they’re banking on the fact that we give a damn,” she said, “and we won’t turn our backs on these clients, we won’t shove them out into the streets, that we won’t lay off our employees until it’s impossible for us to do anything else.” Ms. Durbin said as plainly as possible the “hope” Raunerism has as the RaunerS hold hostage social services as a “business decision” It’s what needs to be said, because ignoring the plan is what the RaunerS hope will continue. - Juvenal - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 10:59 am: === “What they’re doing is they’re banking on — in the most cynical way — they’re banking on the fact that we give a damn,” she said, “and we won’t turn our backs on these clients, we won’t shove them out into the streets, that we won’t lay off our employees until it’s impossible for us to do anything else.” === That’s right, Andrea. Some were telling you to put your foot down in 2015 and 2016. Some advised you to stop blaming equally the Democrats who want to ensure adequate funding for your services and the Governor who was holding you hostage. You didn’t listen. I hope your lawsuit succeeds, although I suspect it won’t. If it fails, I hope you and your members will finally have the sense to hold a joint press conference to announce you are shutting off services as of July 1, and placing the blame squarely on Governor Rauner for killing the Grand Bargain. Repeat it every week if necessary. Then, like Future Farmers of America, you will get your budget. - Anon221 - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 11:04 am: When I heard Andrea’s quote this morning on NPR, I wanted to applaud! To paraphrase a Jo Dee Messina song, her give a d*^# definitely AIN’T broken. Cannot say the same for some members of the executive and legislative branches though, or a spouse. - 47th Ward - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 11:08 am: ===I hope you and your members will finally have the sense to hold a joint press conference to announce you are shutting off services=== As long as they can, they will continue to serve their clients. Because they care so much about this, they will always be vulnerable to another Rauner-style hostage taking. That is the nature of their commitment to their work. That’s why they do what they do. Don’t ask them to play politics. They just want to serve their clients with dignity and respect. That Rauner is cynically taking advantage of that is plain for everyone to see. Andrea Durbin and her colleagues shouldn’t have to play politics to make it clear to anyone paying attention that this is what is happening. - NeverPoliticallyCorrect - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 11:09 am: While I agree that the state has treated social service agencies terribly it doesn’t start with Rauner folks. The Dem haven’t invested in our programs for years. We haven’t had an increase in a decade and thousands wait for services. This is the fault of both parties. I know because I work in the belly of the beast. So if all you do is blame Rauner then you are part of the problem. We must hold them all responsible. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 11:14 am: ===This is the fault of both parties.=== With respect, sincerely. When did Dems sign contracts, unilaterally, with zero intention to make good on them? When did Dems say that the wedge to break… Democrats… was to force a choice between Labor or Social Services. When did “both sides” decide that squeezing the beast to put organizations purposely out of business? With respect, the days of “Both Sides” was over months and months… and months ago. - wordslinger - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 11:29 am: Cynicism is the foundation of the Rauner Machine — his administrators, legislators and inside/outside propagandists. - Name Withheld - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 11:52 am: Chicago Daily Law is saying they PayNow lost http://www.chicagolawbulletin.com/Articles/2017/06/15/providers-6-15-17 - Juvenal - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 12:15 pm: === As long as they can, they will continue to serve their clients….Don’t ask them to play politics. They just want to serve their clients with dignity and respect. === First, they just lost in court again. Secondly, if they aren’t willing to put their foot down, they will not be serving their clients much longer. It’s put your foot down and be willing to stop serving clients for one month, or continue to allow yourselves to be held hostage and soon stop serving your clients forever. Remember, Republicans said they want to “squeeze the Beast.” In the end, it is also a decision about whether you want to continue to serve some of your clients in some fashion - as LSSI is doing - or allow Rauner to drag you down to the bottom of the ocean like the Kraken. Hull House. Remember Jane Addams Hull House? Bad management decisions to continue to provide services for which there is an inadequate revenue stream will destroy these organizations, particularly downstate. And once they fold, it is unlikely that some other organization will step in at some later date. Better to suspend services and hope to resume another day. Finally, it isn’t “playing politics” to try to get a budget passed, nor to pinpoint for the public who is responsible for the lack of a budget. Indeed, trying to spread the blame out evenly so as not to offend anyone is “playing politics” of a different sort. An unwillingness to stand up to the administration for fear of reprisals. Andrea Durbin should do her job, or step aside and let someone else do it. - Andrea Durbin - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 12:19 pm: Juvenal, You don’t know me and you don’t know what I have gone through to try to get relief for the providers and the clients we serve. What I would like to say to you would likely get me banned for life. - Andrea Durbin - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 12:47 pm: Juvenal, please explain to me how suing the Governor twice is not “stand(ing) up to this administration for fear of reprisals.” - Juvenal - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 1:20 pm: Andrea- Filing a lawsuit in St Clair County is not standing up to Governor Rauner in any way that is meaningful. If it were, he would have passed a take hike and fully funded your members budgets when you filed the suit. Instead he pretty much ignored it. This is how you pressure the governor: http://www.ourquadcities.com/news/agriculture-students-upset-about-possible-cuts Notice how FFA placed blame solely on the governor? Notice how they pointed out lawmakers are the good guys? Rauner announced his intentions to use human services as leverage before he even took office. Control over your funding is how he achieves leverage, and he is not going to let you have your money unless you have better leverage over him. It is obvious what he wants. Your leverage is your willingness to say he is a bad guy and this whole thing is his fault, as well as the legislators who are backing him. Sorry if this causes you emotional distress, but it is nothing compared to the prolonged distress suffered by the clients of your members. You have the power to bring their suffering and anxiety to an end. I am also sorry the lawsuit didn’t work out for you. But it was a pretty long shot. - Mama - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 1:36 pm: Who will want to contract with the state of IL after the courts ruled that contracts are worthless? - Mama - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 1:38 pm: Andrea, make sure your peeps vote for the people whom tried to help you. - Helpless and hopeless - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 2:24 pm: Andrea, Wow! You found it more appropriate to go to the courts rather than simply blame people at press conference for this complete and utter breakdown of government. Seems absolutely clear you and your coalition were actually trying to do something…not just talk about doing something. Blaming takes the skills of a toddler and it’s especially silly when no one is listening. Action takes courage. Stand strong. You might be the only adult in the room. - Juvenal - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 3:32 pm: @Hopeless & Helpless: Mobilizing the public to hold Governor Rauner accountable is actually trying to do something. In fact, it is the one thing that seems to terrify Rauner the most. And BTW, filing a lawsuit and mobilizing the public are not mutually exclusive. Even her letter lamenting the failure of the lawsuit appears to fail to mention Rauner by name once. - Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 5:06 pm: How many commenters on this thread run non profits that provide social services? I know Andrea does. The rest of you Monday morning quarterbacks can pound sand. - anon - Friday, Jun 16, 17 @ 1:16 pm: OW - with all due respect - don’t the Dems still have super majorities in GA? if they really cared, they could have made all of Rauner’s tactics moot. Instead, they allow them (tactics) to affect those in need… why? politics… - Oswego Willy - Friday, Jun 16, 17 @ 1:19 pm: ===don’t the Dems still have super majorities in GA?=== Senate, yes, House, no. ===if they really cared, they could have made all of Rauner’s tactics moot. Instead, they allow them (tactics) to affect those in need… why? politics=== With all due respect, Explain Dunkin, Franks, and Drury and the lack of Rauner overrides. Thanks. - A doctor who takes care of forensic patients - Friday, Jun 16, 17 @ 2:58 pm: This hole got dug way before Rauner ever showed up. Illinois bad debt is now over one third of its’ expected revenues. The late fees alone are approaching three percent of the expected revenues. BTW I personally have been victimized by the State’s failure to pay since FY 2016 began. Still the problem is mostly with the dictatorial practices of the Speaker of the House. This is near the end result of generations of Democrat party rule and corruption. The Illinois government is for itself only, individually and collectively. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.