* Press release…
Emerging from the first legislative leaders meeting in months, Illinois Senate President John Cullerton said his fellow leaders recognize the urgency of reaching a budget deal and that Sunday’s meeting should fuel new optimism that it will happen soon.
Asked by reporters if the people of Illinois should be more or less optimistic after the meeting, the Senate President replied: “I would say more.”
When asked why he felt that way, he said, “Because we couldn’t even get a meeting a couple days ago.”
Indeed, Sunday’s afternoon meeting of the Republican and Democratic leaders from the Senate and House was the first of its kind this year. Governor Bruce Rauner pulled the plug on budget meetings with the legislative leaders back in December, arguing that he didn’t think Democrats were serious about a budget deal.
Just weeks later, the Senate leaders unveiled a sweeping set of financial and governmental reforms dubbed the Grand Bargain in an effort to shake loose a state budget after a nearly two-year impasse. The Senate Democrats went on to pass a balanced budget plan. Even the House Republican leader has acknowledged that the Senate has “done their work.”
Senate President Cullerton told reporters Sunday that the meeting was civil and he would be briefing Senate Democrats on developments in advance of another leaders meeting being scheduled.
Asked if the governor would attend future leaders meetings, Cullerton said: “That’s up to the governor. He’s the one that calls those meetings.”
The Senate President again noted that the Illinois Senate had already approved all the issues the governor cited in convening Special Sessions of the General Assembly.
* But…
- RNUG - Sunday, Jun 25, 17 @ 4:10 pm:
Cullerton is optimistic, Durkin is pulling back on the reins. So which is it, really?
- Roman - Sunday, Jun 25, 17 @ 4:13 pm:
Not an unfair demand by Durkin. Everyone except the Speaker has at least kinda/sorta showed their hand.
The Speaker could end some suspense by saying something like “I support the Senate budget, but it does not have 71 votes.”
- Nick - Sunday, Jun 25, 17 @ 4:14 pm:
The Republicans want a House budget? When does Rauner come up with his budget plans?
- Rabid - Sunday, Jun 25, 17 @ 4:25 pm:
Don’t tell me durkin just told mike to go get his shine box
- JS Mill - Sunday, Jun 25, 17 @ 4:36 pm:
No problem Durkie. Just share the governors revenue proposal.
You know, the other half of the budget he forgot.
Alternatively they could both swap proposals at the same time.
- Annonin' - Sunday, Jun 25, 17 @ 4:42 pm:
Durkie has not taken 4th position on single issue in less than 72 hours—checkin’ with Guiness on whether this is new world record
- zatoichi - Sunday, Jun 25, 17 @ 5:55 pm:
Perhaps Durkin should pull the House Rep budget from his back pocket.
- DuPage Dave - Sunday, Jun 25, 17 @ 7:24 pm:
So good to hear that people are talking, but what they are saying ain’t encouragin’….
- Ducky LaMoore - Sunday, Jun 25, 17 @ 7:26 pm:
Durkin is by far the worst of the 4 leaders. Hey Durk, try working for yourself instead of the guy that bought you.
- Lucky Pierre - Sunday, Jun 25, 17 @ 7:46 pm:
Why is this such an unreasonable demand given the Speaker’s history of dropping a budget without any input or debate from House Republicans or the Supermajority Democratic Senate that was 7 billion out of balance last year?
- Oswego Willy - Sunday, Jun 25, 17 @ 7:52 pm:
===Why is this such an unreasonable demand given the Speaker’s history of dropping a budget without any input or debate from House Republicans or the Supermajority Democratic Senate that was 7 billion out of balance last year===
The stopgap Rauner actually signed was more out of balance than any budget of that time.
Keep up.
- simple simon - Sunday, Jun 25, 17 @ 8:13 pm:
LP and the others…does it not seem hypocritical to you that Durkin won’t meet unless Madigan releases a budget, but Durkin has not presented one himself? At least Madigan is not refusing to meet despite Durkin’s failure to present a budget! Your partisan is showing…
- Oswego Willy - Sunday, Jun 25, 17 @ 8:22 pm:
===Durkin has not presented one himself?===
Rauner presented his budget.
Senators unveiled it.
It’s beginning in the House.
The beef? Rauner has a Dem revenue bill in mind, with Dem sponsors, for Rauner’s budget.
That’s it.
- Lucky Pierre - Sunday, Jun 25, 17 @ 8:23 pm:
Why was the stop gap budget Rauner signed higher?
Because it contained more money for CPS at the request of the Speaker and you now criticize the Governor. Are you trying not to peddle that the Governor wanted the increase?
Keep up Simon, the House Republicans and Governor Rauner have indicated they would sign off on a 4 year tax increase coupled with a property tax freeze
- The_Equalizer - Sunday, Jun 25, 17 @ 8:28 pm:
Durkin is just hot air. Until Rauner and Madigan get it together this is all wasted time and money.
I’m willing to bet even money we wait until the gubernatorial election to get a budget.
- Oswego Willy - Sunday, Jun 25, 17 @ 8:30 pm:
===Why was the stop gap budget Rauner signed higher?===
LOL!
Why does it matter, you complained about the Senate being irresponsible and here is Rauner signing a stopgap even more out of whack.
Bud, you lose on the facts continually.
===Because it contained more money for CPS at the request of the Speaker and you now criticize the Governor.===
You should be so upset with the governor fit doing that. Why aren’t you? lol
===Are you trying not to peddle that the Governor wanted the increase?===
Rauner’s emotional veto IS the argument there. Rauner wanted to hurt Chicago students. Mission accomplished.
===…the House Republicans and Governor Rauner have indicated they would sign off on a 4 year tax increase coupled with a property tax freeze===
With the Democrats’ revenue bill, with Democrats as sponsors.
- Lucky Pierre - isn’t known for peddling in complete honesty of argument.
- Simple Simon - Sunday, Jun 25, 17 @ 8:33 pm:
Wishful thinking, LP. They “indicate” about a lot of things. I’ll believe it when I hear Rauner say he needs additional revenue, or see any House or Senate GOPer introduce the bill with revenue, and at least half of them vote yes. Will not hold my breath. And I should keep up? Hee hee.
- Hamlet's Ghost - Sunday, Jun 25, 17 @ 10:03 pm:
@LP If Rauner and the IL GOP will “sign off” on a tax increase, Durkin should file the bill and add co-sponsors.
Then, the negotiation can be about how many green lights each party supplies.
Anything less is simply not credible and is a waste of time.
- Rabid - Sunday, Jun 25, 17 @ 10:45 pm:
And here I thought that unity thing came without preconditions, stop hiding in the shadows govenor
- Glengarry - Sunday, Jun 25, 17 @ 11:22 pm:
When my 7 year old son told me he’d make a better governor than Rauner, I chuckled and then sadly admitted he was correct. That says it all.
- Mama - Monday, Jun 26, 17 @ 12:10 am:
Rep. Durkin needs to share the governor’s spending & revenue proposal. He needs to tell the House Dems what the governor will sign.
- Mama - Monday, Jun 26, 17 @ 12:13 am:
Rep. Durkin appears to be playing Rauner’s political “got ya” games.
- Rabid - Monday, Jun 26, 17 @ 7:25 am:
Whatching the Rauner mean, direct communication, it’s his budget session game plan, right down to the madigan tax hike
- Rabid - Monday, Jun 26, 17 @ 7:33 am:
Rauner means reform, is Rauner being mean