* It’s been a while, but Speaker Madigan talked to reporters for a few minutes after his caucus meeting ended today. There wasn’t much to it, but thanks to Greg Bishop for posting…
The speaker said budget talks are continuing, but said that the plan House Democrats are reviewing and the “compromise” plan Republicans favor are “not too far apart.”
“We have been working for several weeks through the [State Rep.] Greg Harris budget team. They have an outline of a spending plan. They’ve engaged with Republicans. They’ve engaged with the Senate Democrats. They’ll engage with anyone who wants to engage with them to fashion a spending plan that would be good for all Illinoisans,” Madigan said.
Asked about the lack of trust amid the historic budget impasse, Madigan pointed the finger elsewhere.
“People that have worked with me know that my word is good. There’s no problem with trusting me. If there’s some problem with trust around this building, it may be with somebody else,” Madigan said.
Harris, who was appointed lead budget negotiator by Madigan last year, said Democrats are working to incorporate the best parts of each plan.
It sounds to me like Madigan wants to pass a budget.
He doesn’t sound like someone who wants to negotiate anything else before a balanced budget is passed.
If that’s still not clear enough, I think what Madigan is saying is, whenever Governor Rauner wants to drop his pre-conditions, Madigan is ready to talk taxes and spending cuts.
Madigan is many things, but he’s also pretty direct and never more so than in this example.
You were expectin’ These questions have been asked an answered for 2.5 years. The others have been cashin’ their rental checks and movin’ the goal posts
===“People that have worked with me know that my work is good. There’s no problem with trusting me. If there’s some problem with trust around this building, it may be with somebody else,” Madigan said.===
Neither of these jokers has enough votes to do anything on their own. And, they haven’t for 2.5 yrs.
They need to quit playing footsies and make a deal that has some skin in it from both sides.
Engage Madigan, cut a deal. Go for the tax swap!
- Three-Finger Brown - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 3:32 pm:
“It sounds to me like Madigan wants to pass a budget”
I guess I’d have an easier time believing this if his caucus actually came up with some legislation, instead of scheduling more public hearings. Politically, he can run out the clock on Rauner, and it looks like that’s what he’s doing.
Madigan has always been a tough guy to work with. I’m sure Edgar, Ryan, Blago and Quinn would all tell you that. But in the end, he always seemed to get something done. What is the difference here? What has changed? I highly doubt a septuagenarian politician who has been doing this forever has changed the way he works.
Who are these Republicans and Senate Democrats that the House Dem’s have “engaged” with? No one seems to speak about any level of engagement with HOuse D’s.
To 47th Ward the Senate Democrats passed an appropriation bill SB 6 it contained $3.7 billion in cuts. The bill was not called in the House and it wasn’t only because the House Republicans were not on board with it, it was also because many House Democrats want more revenue and not as deep cuts.
The Republican budget proposal contains $5 billion in spending reductions and adjustments to balance the budget (House and Senate Republican Plan to End the Impasse-press release June 14). So being close is at least $1.3 billion apart and probably a lot more because there were objections to Cullerton’s SB 6 cuts being too deep.
So yes Speaker Madigan wants to pass a budget, but one that probably cuts less than either of the two ones out there right now. I agree with him by the way on that. The only way to do that is to increase revenue which means taxes, fees, etc which Rauner opposes. Unless its done by creative deficit spending by delaying paying something like pensions obligations, but Rauner opposes that creative solution too and I agree with the Governor on that.
===That is ancient history - since Rauner’s election, MJM has retreated to his caucus.===
Let’s look at what I said…
“Madigan has made a career where his word (or work in that framing) is good and bankable. Chronicled often.”
While Madigan has retreated, Rauner’s continued barrage and ads during session, before this Special Session, the websites, the mailers… How could anyone trust some who continually attacks them even when being candid?
I stand by my response…
“Madigan has made a career where his word (or work in that framing) is good and bankable. Chronicled often.”
If Rauner wit is like to keep his word, not blow up deals, not continually run ads against the people he needs to compromise with, I’d suspect a different atmosphere would be felt under the Dome.
But didn’t the Governor also say he wouldn’t sign any revenue increase without certain reforms? Rauner wants a property tax freeze and more changes to worker’s compensation before he will even discuss revenue or spending. That’s the hold up. If Rauner said he would sign SB9 tomorrow, I suspect Madigan would call it for a vote.
5 out of 6 governors from both sides of the political spectrum agree - Madigan is trustworthy. The sixth governor uses MJM as an excuse prop for his campaign ads.
Radagno’s misplaced trust of Rauner was a huge miscalculation on her part. She needs to realize the limitations of her power, and cut a deal. She will gain much more in the long run from being courageous and maintaining her personal integrity. The opposite, towing GovJunk’s junk, is not a good place.
OW, I sincerely hope that all the individuals who are in Springfield representating the good people back in their home districts, will start standing tall and strong, not allowing the “Overlords” to lead them down dark alleys. Two and a half years is too long to put faith into a broken, destructive, abusive relationship with their bosses. A tiny revolution may be in order, on both sides of the aisle. Ha!
Glad weather is decent for you, and hope all is well in all ways.
===I sincerely hope that all the individuals who are in Springfield representating the good people back in their home districts, will start standing tall and strong===
Me too. Gotta get this done, need a budget and both sides need to pull on the same side of the rope.
===A tiny revolution may be in order, on both sides of the aisle===
When 107 members decide to flex, anything is possible(?)
Or it could be the Leader and Senate President promised to pass statewide pension reform before the end of last year as a condition of the stop gap that would allow extra funding for CPS.
Do you dispute they promised this as was reported by every media outlet?
Or it could be that the Senate had negotiated a bargain that the Governor then killed. You want to talk about trust? Let’s talk about trust. Trust isn’t a commodity that’s in supply these days.
===Or it could be the Leader and Senate President promised to pass statewide pension reform before the end of last year as a condition of the stop gap that would allow extra funding for CPS.===
Only a governor can veto. That’s how vetoes work.
===Do you dispute they promised this as was reported by every media outlet===
How do you explain Rauner saying he did it emotionally. That doesn’t sound like someone clear he did it without reservation or meeting his own deadline.
Also, for the Nth, time, if you believe that, then cheer Rauner hurting Chicago students and be done with it.
Rauner’s trust is the only one in question. The rest is your typical drivel. You are willfully ignorant, repeating the same refuted things, knowing full well the answers.
In budget negotiations and politics, trust is everything. Period. Full stop.
Rauner blew up the CPS pension fund deal by vetoing it before the deadline to pass the other bill. Rauner admitted he did it emotionally. That is not the way to earn trust … and it must be easier when you have no track record (or a negative track record in the private sector).
The impasse is because Madigan.foes not trust Rauner to follow through on promises. MOU’s will not overcome that.
Rauner has shown Madigan that the Governor can’t be trusted. Short of citizens on the Capitol lawn with boiling caldrons of tar, and pitch forks and rails, the only way this gets resolved is if Rauner calls for a tax increase, puts most or all the IGOP votes on it, and signs it BEFORE the Legislature sends the budget bills to Rauner. THAT is the price that must be paid by Rauner for not keeping his word.
To Madigan, HIS word is his bond. In the case of the Governor, his name is Junk …
== Except they agreed to pass pension reform and did not but still expected the extra money ==
Rauner vetoed it before the time to pass the other bill expired. When there is no trust, the person who isn’t trusted has to make the first move and sign the bill. Rauner proved he couldn’t be trusted by vetoing it.
How Is it helping current Chicago public school students and future Chicago taxpayers by pushing unaffordable pension debt into the future instead of solving the problem today?
===How Is it helping current Chicago public school students and future Chicago taxpayers by pushing unaffordable pension debt into the future instead of solving the problem today?===
Rauner vetoed the $215 million.
Rauner did it.
You trying to justify it and then not cheering it as you want consequences is your continued dishonesty, along with this line of questions.
Lucky
Just curious. How do you propose the pension issue should be Legally solved.?
- Former Hillrod - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 7:21 pm:
@ Nick
Don’t waste your energy typing questions to the Lucky one, he won’t or can’t, as I believe, give you an honest answer. All we will get is some dumb question about something else unrelated to the topic.
My 2 cents: Madigan can be trusted to do what he says he will do. Rauner cannot.
Doublespeak from a politician is accepted to a certain extent by most people: outright lying is not.
Madigan has a long track record of passing budgets into law. Rauner, not so much.
Madigan keeps his mouth shut in public and cuts you to pieces in private. Rauner smiles at you and shakes your hand in person then cuts your reputation to pieces in public.
I’m no fan of Madigan but I trust his motivations much more than Rauner’s.
Or it could be the Leader and Senate President promised to pass statewide pension reform before the end of last year as a condition of the stop gap that would allow extra funding for CPS. Do you dispute they promised this ==
Did you ever hear Madigan say he made this agreement? I didn’t and there are no accounts that say he did. Even Cullerton said it was a deal HE made with Rauner.
Pass the bipartisan Cullerton pension bill in the House that has already passed the supermajority Democratic Senate and would be signed by the Governor tomorrow
Suppose to trust the guy that continually kicked the can down the road and holds a lot of the responsibility for the fact that the interest on the pension debt (that was not paid under his leadership) is one fourth of the annual budget. His word was that the past budgets were balanced when he knew they weren’t.
- Texas Red - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 3:10 pm:
Emphasis on, There wasn’t much to it . MJM …
“we now have an outline of a spending plan” Oh joy !
- hot chocolate - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 3:11 pm:
He’s gonna cut a deal.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 3:12 pm:
Madigan made mistakes in the past, but he is in the right now, and Rauner is the problem.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 3:13 pm:
It sounds to me like Madigan wants to pass a budget.
He doesn’t sound like someone who wants to negotiate anything else before a balanced budget is passed.
If that’s still not clear enough, I think what Madigan is saying is, whenever Governor Rauner wants to drop his pre-conditions, Madigan is ready to talk taxes and spending cuts.
Madigan is many things, but he’s also pretty direct and never more so than in this example.
- Deft Wing - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 3:13 pm:
Never disappoints with this disclosures & veracity. /s
He’s in it to beat Rauner … at any cost.
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 3:13 pm:
You were expectin’ These questions have been asked an answered for 2.5 years. The others have been cashin’ their rental checks and movin’ the goal posts
- John Rawlss - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 3:18 pm:
Ha. Notice how he refuses to say “reform”. More BS from the Boss
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 3:22 pm:
===“People that have worked with me know that my work is good. There’s no problem with trusting me. If there’s some problem with trust around this building, it may be with somebody else,” Madigan said.===
When it comes to trust, where is Madigan wrong?
- Team Warwick - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 3:24 pm:
Speaker Madigan has described himself accurately
- Lech W - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 3:24 pm:
love the wordsmithing …”People that have worked with me know that my work is good”. The problem is he only works with people that agree with him.
- northsider (the original) - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 3:26 pm:
====People that have worked with me know that my work is good. There’s no problem with trusting me.====
I think he said word, not work. It makes more sense in that context.
- cdog - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 3:28 pm:
Engaged? We will see.
(I counted 8 uses of “engage.”)
Neither of these jokers has enough votes to do anything on their own. And, they haven’t for 2.5 yrs.
They need to quit playing footsies and make a deal that has some skin in it from both sides.
Engage Madigan, cut a deal. Go for the tax swap!
- Three-Finger Brown - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 3:32 pm:
“It sounds to me like Madigan wants to pass a budget”
I guess I’d have an easier time believing this if his caucus actually came up with some legislation, instead of scheduling more public hearings. Politically, he can run out the clock on Rauner, and it looks like that’s what he’s doing.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 3:32 pm:
===The problem is he only works with people that agree with him.===
Explain… Thompson, Edgar, Ryan, Pate….
Hmm.
Madigan has made a career where his word (or work in that framing) is good and bankable. Chronicled often.
- Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 3:32 pm:
Madigan has always been a tough guy to work with. I’m sure Edgar, Ryan, Blago and Quinn would all tell you that. But in the end, he always seemed to get something done. What is the difference here? What has changed? I highly doubt a septuagenarian politician who has been doing this forever has changed the way he works.
- Texas Red - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 3:38 pm:
OW
“Explain… Thompson, Edgar, Ryan, Pate….”
That is ancient history - since Rauner’s election, MJM has retreated to his caucus.
- OurMagician - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 3:39 pm:
Who are these Republicans and Senate Democrats that the House Dem’s have “engaged” with? No one seems to speak about any level of engagement with HOuse D’s.
- rod - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 3:42 pm:
To 47th Ward the Senate Democrats passed an appropriation bill SB 6 it contained $3.7 billion in cuts. The bill was not called in the House and it wasn’t only because the House Republicans were not on board with it, it was also because many House Democrats want more revenue and not as deep cuts.
The Republican budget proposal contains $5 billion in spending reductions and adjustments to balance the budget (House and Senate Republican Plan to End the Impasse-press release June 14). So being close is at least $1.3 billion apart and probably a lot more because there were objections to Cullerton’s SB 6 cuts being too deep.
So yes Speaker Madigan wants to pass a budget, but one that probably cuts less than either of the two ones out there right now. I agree with him by the way on that. The only way to do that is to increase revenue which means taxes, fees, etc which Rauner opposes. Unless its done by creative deficit spending by delaying paying something like pensions obligations, but Rauner opposes that creative solution too and I agree with the Governor on that.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 3:49 pm:
===That is ancient history - since Rauner’s election, MJM has retreated to his caucus.===
Let’s look at what I said…
“Madigan has made a career where his word (or work in that framing) is good and bankable. Chronicled often.”
While Madigan has retreated, Rauner’s continued barrage and ads during session, before this Special Session, the websites, the mailers… How could anyone trust some who continually attacks them even when being candid?
I stand by my response…
“Madigan has made a career where his word (or work in that framing) is good and bankable. Chronicled often.”
If Rauner wit is like to keep his word, not blow up deals, not continually run ads against the people he needs to compromise with, I’d suspect a different atmosphere would be felt under the Dome.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 3:52 pm:
Michael Madigan working “cooperatively and professionally” on bipartisan compromise for the first time since 1971.
- cdog - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 3:53 pm:
“…many House Democrats want more revenue and not as deep cuts.”
Do they realize they don’t have the votes to achieve that?
I know five yr olds that can make a better deal on a playground by acknowledging the truthful limitations of a situation.
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 3:54 pm:
Except the Speaker did not keep his word on passing bipartisan pension reform so CPS can get their extra funding
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 3:55 pm:
Thanks Rod,
But didn’t the Governor also say he wouldn’t sign any revenue increase without certain reforms? Rauner wants a property tax freeze and more changes to worker’s compensation before he will even discuss revenue or spending. That’s the hold up. If Rauner said he would sign SB9 tomorrow, I suspect Madigan would call it for a vote.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 3:55 pm:
5 out of 6 governors from both sides of the political spectrum agree - Madigan is trustworthy. The sixth governor uses MJM as an excuse prop for his campaign ads.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 3:56 pm:
Lucky:
You have an uncanny ability to make comments that have absolutely nothing to do with anything anyone has said.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 3:58 pm:
===Except the Speaker did not keep his word on passing bipartisan pension reform so CPS can get their extra funding===
Are we revisiting “this” again.
Either you cheer Rauner purposely hurt Chicago students with doing what only a governor can do…
… or you recognize Rauner emotionally hurt Chicago students and keeps trying to make good where Chance called Rauner out to #DoYourJob.
Those are the choices, for the 3,758th time.
You know this. Rauner vetoed. Rauner chose to do it. It was emotional choice according to Rauner. That’s it.
- cdog - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 3:59 pm:
“How could anyone trust some who continually attacks them even when being candid?”
Trust is irrelevent, OW. Cut a deal, write it up, make a joint statement that puts all on record, execute.
Complaining about lack of trust is a type of victim card to me. So because Rauner is off his rocker, we will never get a budget?
:)
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 4:01 pm:
===Trust is irrelevent, OW===
Tell that to Leader Radogno.
“Questions?”
:)
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 4:02 pm:
==Trust is irrelevent==
Not to a man who operates like a mob boss. Trust is everything.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 4:03 pm:
===Complaining about lack of trust is a type of victim card to me. So because Rauner is off his rocker, we will never get a budget?===
Ask President Cullerton AND Leader Radogno on that one.
Hope you’re well, OW
- cdog - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 4:09 pm:
doin’ fine, stayin’ out of the heat today.
Radagno’s misplaced trust of Rauner was a huge miscalculation on her part. She needs to realize the limitations of her power, and cut a deal. She will gain much more in the long run from being courageous and maintaining her personal integrity. The opposite, towing GovJunk’s junk, is not a good place.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 4:14 pm:
===Radogno’s misplaced trust of Rauner was a huge miscalculation on her part.===
But…
===Trust is irrelevent, OW===
However, this is true…
===She (Radogno) will gain much more in the long run from being courageous and maintaining her personal integrity.===
That’s very true… but if Rauner wins in 2018…
It’s cool out here in Oswego, windows open, nice breeze too.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 4:19 pm:
That’s the most optimistic I’ve heard him in the last couple of years.
- cdog - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 4:24 pm:
OW, I sincerely hope that all the individuals who are in Springfield representating the good people back in their home districts, will start standing tall and strong, not allowing the “Overlords” to lead them down dark alleys. Two and a half years is too long to put faith into a broken, destructive, abusive relationship with their bosses. A tiny revolution may be in order, on both sides of the aisle. Ha!
Glad weather is decent for you, and hope all is well in all ways.
- And...... - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 4:27 pm:
I am disappointed that Dave Dahl did not have his signature beach shirt on.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 4:28 pm:
===I sincerely hope that all the individuals who are in Springfield representating the good people back in their home districts, will start standing tall and strong===
Me too. Gotta get this done, need a budget and both sides need to pull on the same side of the rope.
===A tiny revolution may be in order, on both sides of the aisle===
When 107 members decide to flex, anything is possible(?)
===hope all is well in all ways.
===
Sincerely, same to ya!
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 4:40 pm:
Or it could be the Leader and Senate President promised to pass statewide pension reform before the end of last year as a condition of the stop gap that would allow extra funding for CPS.
Do you dispute they promised this as was reported by every media outlet?
Did they keep their word?
Why is he trustworthy again?
- Pelonski - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 4:42 pm:
As he said himself, this is what he has been saying for the last 2.5 years. I didn’t hear anything to get excited about.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 4:47 pm:
==Or it could be==
Or it could be that the Senate had negotiated a bargain that the Governor then killed. You want to talk about trust? Let’s talk about trust. Trust isn’t a commodity that’s in supply these days.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 4:49 pm:
===Or it could be the Leader and Senate President promised to pass statewide pension reform before the end of last year as a condition of the stop gap that would allow extra funding for CPS.===
Only a governor can veto. That’s how vetoes work.
===Do you dispute they promised this as was reported by every media outlet===
How do you explain Rauner saying he did it emotionally. That doesn’t sound like someone clear he did it without reservation or meeting his own deadline.
Also, for the Nth, time, if you believe that, then cheer Rauner hurting Chicago students and be done with it.
Rauner’s trust is the only one in question. The rest is your typical drivel. You are willfully ignorant, repeating the same refuted things, knowing full well the answers.
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 5:03 pm:
Except they agreed to pass pension reform and did not but still expected the extra money
So I guess a deal is not a deal if your fingers are crossed behind your back
That is a typical Madigan deal, heads I win tails you lose
- Rabid - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 5:06 pm:
Come on he’s just taking a victory lap waving the checkered flag over that gonzales lawsuit
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 5:11 pm:
===That is a typical Madigan deal, heads I win tails you lose===
Hmm. I thought it was a Cullerton deal(?)
So you do cheer, that’s the ONLY way keeping this up makes sense.
“Good on the governor, using his veto to purposely hurt Chicago students. That’ll show em!”
Rauner called it an emotional response.
The governor seems to undercut your argument, like he did 5,374 other times.
- A modest proposal - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 5:25 pm:
Did he see his shadow when he poked his head out of his office?
- RNUG - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 5:31 pm:
== “…many House Democrats want more revenue and not as deep cuts.”
Do they realize they don’t have the votes to achieve that? ==
Rauner doesn’t have the votes for his vision either. And Rauner needs a budget more than Madigan does.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 5:34 pm:
If a budget simply means increased taxes without reform and massive spending cuts. I say let the state go down in flames.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 5:36 pm:
–And Rauner needs a budget more than Madigan does.–
Not if he can lay off responsibility for the lack of a budget on Madigan in the minds of enough people, all of the time.
That certainly has been the clear, consistent and constant message from the Rauner inhouse/outhouse propaganda machine forever, across all platforms.
Madigan’s rebuttal has been largely non-existent, for some unfathomable reason.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 5:38 pm:
===I say let the state go down in flames===
… which is why ya don’t respond to ” - Anonymous - ”
Yikes, man.
- RNUG - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 5:42 pm:
In budget negotiations and politics, trust is everything. Period. Full stop.
Rauner blew up the CPS pension fund deal by vetoing it before the deadline to pass the other bill. Rauner admitted he did it emotionally. That is not the way to earn trust … and it must be easier when you have no track record (or a negative track record in the private sector).
The impasse is because Madigan.foes not trust Rauner to follow through on promises. MOU’s will not overcome that.
Rauner has shown Madigan that the Governor can’t be trusted. Short of citizens on the Capitol lawn with boiling caldrons of tar, and pitch forks and rails, the only way this gets resolved is if Rauner calls for a tax increase, puts most or all the IGOP votes on it, and signs it BEFORE the Legislature sends the budget bills to Rauner. THAT is the price that must be paid by Rauner for not keeping his word.
To Madigan, HIS word is his bond. In the case of the Governor, his name is Junk …
- RNUG - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 5:46 pm:
== Except they agreed to pass pension reform and did not but still expected the extra money ==
Rauner vetoed it before the time to pass the other bill expired. When there is no trust, the person who isn’t trusted has to make the first move and sign the bill. Rauner proved he couldn’t be trusted by vetoing it.
- RNUG - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 5:50 pm:
== If a budget simply means increased taxes without reform and massive spending cuts. I say let the state go down in flames. ==
There is between $1.5B -$2B of phony cuts / savings in both budget bills.
Almost none of the reforms have any effect of State budget or spending. The main problem is lack of revenue, pure and simple.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 5:51 pm:
Harpo Marx was more talkative than the Speaker.
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 5:56 pm:
How Is it helping current Chicago public school students and future Chicago taxpayers by pushing unaffordable pension debt into the future instead of solving the problem today?
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 5:58 pm:
CPS is 90% minority. Very few people in Illinois government care about CPS.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 5:59 pm:
===How Is it helping current Chicago public school students and future Chicago taxpayers by pushing unaffordable pension debt into the future instead of solving the problem today?===
Rauner vetoed the $215 million.
Rauner did it.
You trying to justify it and then not cheering it as you want consequences is your continued dishonesty, along with this line of questions.
Only a governor can veto. Only.
- 37B - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 6:16 pm:
Ah Anonymous. Brave Anonymous.
- PublicServant - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 6:17 pm:
“There are none so blind as those who will not see”…or its corollary …as those who are paid not to see.
- Nick - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 7:04 pm:
Lucky
Just curious. How do you propose the pension issue should be Legally solved.?
- Former Hillrod - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 7:21 pm:
@ Nick
Don’t waste your energy typing questions to the Lucky one, he won’t or can’t, as I believe, give you an honest answer. All we will get is some dumb question about something else unrelated to the topic.
- downstate commissioner - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 7:43 pm:
My 2 cents: Madigan can be trusted to do what he says he will do. Rauner cannot.
Doublespeak from a politician is accepted to a certain extent by most people: outright lying is not.
- DuPage Dave - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 8:04 pm:
Madigan has a long track record of passing budgets into law. Rauner, not so much.
Madigan keeps his mouth shut in public and cuts you to pieces in private. Rauner smiles at you and shakes your hand in person then cuts your reputation to pieces in public.
I’m no fan of Madigan but I trust his motivations much more than Rauner’s.
- Whatthewhat - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 8:19 pm:
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 4:40 pm:
Or it could be the Leader and Senate President promised to pass statewide pension reform before the end of last year as a condition of the stop gap that would allow extra funding for CPS. Do you dispute they promised this ==
Did you ever hear Madigan say he made this agreement? I didn’t and there are no accounts that say he did. Even Cullerton said it was a deal HE made with Rauner.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 9:55 pm:
=Notice how he refuses to say “reform”.=
Yeah, because “reform” is so meaningful these days. For Rauner “reforms” mean decreasing incomes of hard working middle class taxpayers.
Lucky- Tell me again why the governor has never presented a balanced budget?
- Nick - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 10:44 pm:
Only asked because I know Lucky doesn’t have an answer
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Jun 22, 17 @ 12:33 am:
Pass the bipartisan Cullerton pension bill in the House that has already passed the supermajority Democratic Senate and would be signed by the Governor tomorrow
- Anon - Thursday, Jun 22, 17 @ 5:24 am:
I used to like Greg Bishop and have listened to him for many years.
But as soon as he started working for Rauner’s news he lost his objectivity and became just like everyone else.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 22, 17 @ 7:35 am:
- Lucky Pierre -
Here’s the jist of that Pension thingy you think you know how it should go.
http://bit.ly/2txmtbG
It also includes the $215 million.
“Why?”
lol
- Arock - Thursday, Jun 22, 17 @ 8:35 am:
Suppose to trust the guy that continually kicked the can down the road and holds a lot of the responsibility for the fact that the interest on the pension debt (that was not paid under his leadership) is one fourth of the annual budget. His word was that the past budgets were balanced when he knew they weren’t.