Madigan, Cullerton Continue to Stall
When will they debate, vote on compromise budget and reform plan?
It’s day three, and all signs point to another day of stalling from Mike Madigan and John Cullerton.
With the eyes of the state on them, Madigan and Cullerton have so far let down the public, choosing to hold sham hearings and barely show up.
Madigan’s House convened special session for just minutes yesterday, while Cullerton’s Senate adjourned in 10.
Instead of working on a budget, Madigan’s House voted on a series of “trivial matters”, and rehashed a well-worn workers compensation debate.
And in the Senate, lawmakers barely showed up.
The Chicago Tribune editorial board called it a “sorry little spectacle”.
It’s time Madigan and Cullerton get to work and hold votes on a detailed compromise budget and reform plan.
Otherwise, Madigan and Cullerton will continue to receive headlines like these:
Chicago Tribune: Editorial: Madigan and the Do-Littles
Here’s the remarkable part: Madigan’s Democratic members — all of whom, unless they retire to Pensionville, have to ask voters to re-elect them next year — don’t seem to mind.
You would think if they genuinely were frustrated by the lack of a state budget, as they ceaselessly pretend, they would protest. You would think these lawmakers, whose role as public servants is to put the interests of the state ahead of their own and their party’s, would confront Madigan for snubbing every budget proposal out there, including the one from their Senate colleagues. You’d think they would be staging a coup, determined to put a stop to the nonsense and the inaction that threatens their political futures and, more important, Illinois’ future.
They’re not. No urgency. They go along with the silliness and the cynicism. They went along, again, on Thursday.
… What a sorry little spectacle in Springfield.
WMAY: Day Two of Special Session Convenes and Adjourns Quickly
Another day… another legislative special session convened and adjourned in just minutes.
WSIL: Instead of budget, Illinois lawmakers vote on trivial matters
Instead of voting on a budget, lawmakers in the Illinois House renamed a road, talked about the importance of the upcoming bicentennial and designated June as “Immigrant Heritage Month.”
The series of votes on resolutions, which are ceremonial, caused tempers to flare.
During a debate on a resolution, which called for Congress not to cut funding to Planned Parenthood, State Rep. Peter Breen, R-Lombard, stood up and shared his frustration.
“We are 700 days without a budget. What the hell are we doing voting on these resolutions? Why are we not doing the budget?” Breen yelled, before sitting down so the resolution votes could continue.
The Illinois Senate seemed even less productive than the House.
Fewer than 20 of the 59 state senators even bothered to show up to the chamber on Thursday.
The Senate adjourned after just 10 minutes.
WRSP: Tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars spent, Illinois no closer to a budget
Lawmakers again, not voting on any budget bills.
The House spent 45 minutes taking action on non-budgetary items.
The Senate didn’t take any action at all.
NBC Chicago: Stalling Special Session Costs Tax Payers $40K Per Day
In the state Senate less than two dozen showed up at the noon start. They welcomed interns to the floor and a few moments later the Senate adjourned…
- Blue Bayou - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 9:28 am:
Are they really comparing $40K a day to the backlog of bills and the penalties the state is paying for not having a budget?
How is that even news?
The one thing Rauner has demonstrated he can do is manipulate the state media into parroting a narrative that fails to get to the root of the problem.
- Me Again - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 9:28 am:
If the Republicans were really interested in working on real-world compromises, they wouldn’t be going to war like this.
Citizens of this great state, call your representatives and tell that you expect them to work this out! All will have to sacrifice some, but all will benefit also.
- Biker - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 9:29 am:
It would honestly be inspiring if any candidate for Guv, Repub, Dem, Wrestler, just camped out in Springfield and inserted themselves into the negotiations.
- Captain Ed Smith - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 9:29 am:
Governor needs to shut down the PR machine until end of special session. This does not help negotiations or promote compromise. The “Party of No”, that hasn’t voted for much of anything in past 12 years is being hypocritical. July 1 have at it if there is no progress.
- Me Again - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 9:30 am:
Rauner is a lost cause. He should be overridden.
- say what - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 9:34 am:
Per 720 am radio the governor released a video this morning acting as if he has done all in his power but the legislature is playing games. Is that true and how does that help.
- Joe M - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 9:35 am:
Since both the Senate Democrat’s budget - and the GOP budget plans rely on pension cut savings that will be challenged in court — and state worker health insurance cuts that are in the courts - and neither plan does much to pay down the backlog of bills - the House is probably wise not to be voting on either budget. Hopefully the House is working on more realistic budget and revenue plans. The Civic Federation seemed much more realistic in their budget proposal.
- Truth Teller - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 9:36 am:
The Senate passed a budget, why would they keep coming to a session? Gov should put away this attack mentality if he ever wants the other party to pay attention. Governing requires some honesty in the relationship if bipartisan results are desired.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 9:38 am:
Until Rauner puts his name to a Republican-sponsored revenue bill, like Rauner out his name to the other budget bills… and puts roughly 30 or so HGOP members “Green” on that Rauner revenue bill too… we will continue to see these round ups, unhelpful round ups, until June 30th.
- Jocko - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 9:40 am:
The ILGOP reminds me of the Fonz having to admit he was wrong (to hilarious effect). In this updated version, the word is “revenue”.
- Deft Wing - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 9:44 am:
The Senate isn’t even pretending — Cullerton isn’t doing a thing and won’t. Madigan’s House is in full pretense mode — busywork for his minions.
The war continues and won’t end until after the next election.
- Ducky LaMoore - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 10:00 am:
Why is there no pressure on Rauner to personally pay for a special session when he said it was a possibility?!
http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Rauner-Might-Pay-for-Special-Legislative-Session-to-Reach-Budget-Deal-377461251.html
- Henry Francis - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 10:00 am:
Blue Bayou - $40K a day is an ENORMOUS amount of taxpayers’ dollars. It is way more than what Mendoza spent on her SUV and we all remember how outrageous that was.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 10:10 am:
Me Again: calling your representatives and complaing is a waste of time. I know. They pass the buck of blame - the only one thing they do well. They “understand the frustration” , and, poor babies, they’re frustrated TOO. Sickening
- Mark Sullivan - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 10:30 am:
Speaker Madigan’s has a strange interpretation of what working cooperatively and professionally on solving the budget deficit means
- Winnin' - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 10:31 am:
How insincere is it that House Minority Durkin’ meets with Madigan and the ILGOP views it as a non-event.
- Annonin' - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 10:43 am:
What no big headline on the big Durkie meetin’ He called a presser to announce it.
- Chicago 20 - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 11:22 am:
- “I pledge to work on a bipartisan basis to drive results and get things done.
– Bruce Rauner’s Inaugural Address
What a farce.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 11:23 am:
This is where Madigan loses all credibility in my opinion. Illinois is in a crisis and he cannot be bothered enough to convene his chamber. The same thing happened during the regular legislative session when the House was in recess so often rather than working around the clock.
Madigan does not care and he is willing to play obstructionist indefinitely if it helps with the 2018 gubernatorial election.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 11:27 am:
===This is where Madigan loses all credibility in my opinion.===
… as you read from a partisan update from the party of a governor wanting unity and cooperation.
It’s like saying “good on Rauner for running those negative ads!”… while standing behind a podium ignoring the partisan rhetoric found in the tv ads running that day.
Something to… consider.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 11:31 am:
@Oswego Willy:
Incorrect again, sir.
The fact is that the House had an awfully light work schedule during the Regular session, which Rich Miller even noted on Capitol Fax. That is not crisis management or leadership in my estimation.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 11:38 am:
===The fact is that the House had an awfully light work schedule during the Regular session, which Rich Miller even noted on Capitol Fax.===
This is Special Session now. Rauner couldn’t find 60 and 30, and now Rauner wants his budget bills passed and Dems to vote 67 “Green” for a revenue bill.
Where do you see daylight?
Also, unless you pick a name now, I won’t respond further. I started, you have your retort, I responded, so pick a name of you’d like to continue. It makes it easier to follow. Thank you.
- btowntruthfromforgottonia - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 1:22 pm:
Anonymous:
I see you have called the office of Hammond too.
- Glass half full - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 1:57 pm:
What is Rep Soto possibly thinking? Maybe
Nobody would see her at Cook County skating? What’s next, I ignored my responsibilities in Springfield, VOTE FOR ME? Representative, fire whoever’s advising you right now.
- Mama - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 4:55 pm:
Illinois is in a crisis and Rauner cannot be bothered enough to convene a meeting with the 4 leaders.