95 Comments - OldIllini - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:45 pm: Glad he didn’t drag it out. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:45 pm: Politically he must be hoping for an override so the state doesn’t collapse but he’s not targeted by conservatives. Otherwise he lost his mind - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:47 pm: They appear to have real lighting issues in his ceremonial office. It looks like he’s in some sort of secret lair. - TrumpsSmallHands - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:48 pm: Why veto the whole package and not just the revenue portion? - Now What? - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:49 pm: Whew! He read that fast. - Captain Illini - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:50 pm: Clearly, this is what the Governor wanted all along. Hopefully, the legislature will complete their full and total diss of this little man and his fantasies…turn around and leave already. - Grand Avenue - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:50 pm: All 3 vetoed http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=9&GAID=14&DocTypeID=SB&LegId=98852&SessionID=91&GA=100 http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=6&GAID=14&DocTypeID=SB&LegId=98849&SessionID=91&GA=100 http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=42&GAID=14&DocTypeID=SB&LegId=98885&SessionID=91&GA=100 - @MisterJayEm - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:50 pm: “Take THAT Catholic Charities! Up yours Lutheran Social Services!” – MrJM - 360 Degree Turnaround - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:51 pm: Somebody should photo shop it with the state crumbling behind him. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:51 pm: ===They appear to have real lighting issues in his ceremonial office. It looks like he’s in some sort of secret lair.=== (Not pictured: Shark tank, behind large picture of Lincoln, containing sharks with lazers strapped to their backs) - TinyDancer(FKASue) - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:52 pm: 32%…. This explains his war on teachers. Tryin’ to keep the true meanin’ of “percent increase” outa the schools. - Union thug - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:52 pm: What no ceremony or press conference. .so unlike this guy - illini - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:53 pm: I’m glad that it is 5 o’clock somewhere - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:53 pm: “Number Two, hand me the ‘Veto’ stamp… with the special ink in the blotter.” - weary - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:54 pm: Stop it TinyDancer… that was put to bed yesterday. Just glad that he’s letting the process move along. - Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:55 pm: Why not use his line item to make it the budget he wants? - SAP - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:55 pm: Woulda have been smarter to AV it to remove the education poison pill. - RNUG - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:55 pm: At least he wasn’t a hypocrite and only veto the revenue bill. - 360 Degree Turnaround - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:55 pm: I thought he was waiting for a balanced budget at that desk? - cdog - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:57 pm: The lighting arrangement in the office is probably mandated protocol from the man who must “focus, Amanda, focus.” ha All distractions must be darkened. He might be on to something…. (eye roll) - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:57 pm: “…And then finally, when there’s nothing left, when you can’t borrow another buck from the bank or buy another case of booze, ya bust the joint out. Ya light a match.” - TibnyDancer(FKASue) - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:57 pm: Caption: “Let’s see….. If we go from 1% to 2%…..that’s a 100% increase. But if we go from 2% to 1%….that’s a 50% decrease.” - From the 'Dale to HP - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:58 pm: While this action isn’t surprising and we’ll have to wait and see how this plays out over the next 24 hours, but one thing that hasn’t been discussed enough is if Rauner might have an open revolt from GOP members in the GA on his hands. We’ll see how this plays out this afternoon and tomorrow, but Rauner might be joining Brownback in the pile of lame duck governors by the COB tomorrow. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:58 pm: The fact that he vetoes all of it screams that he wants it to be overridden really. Otherwise he’s crazy - Augie - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:58 pm: I assume the headlines will now read like this. ” Governor vetoes bipartisian budget deal” Risks putting Illinois credit in junk status, Universities and social services will continue to suffer, many more will feel the heat. I doubt it though. - Gruntled University Employee - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:59 pm: Governor Grass Bowl - Texas Red - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:59 pm: MJM failed to budge, let him reap the wild wind. - Now What? - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:00 pm: “and now off to vacation with Chris Christie” - ZC - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:00 pm: Not a fool. Relying on the Dems to override and save the state from fiscal ruin. Will run in 2018 on his magic beans anti-tax platform, same way he did in 2014. If he strings it out, more danger of a junk downgrade which he doesn’t want - it exposes his position for what it is. - RNUG - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:01 pm: == Why not use his line item to make it the budget he wants? == No need to show his hand yet. If he AV’ed it, he would be showing what he does not value. Rauner can wait until after the overrides. Just because there is a budget doesn’t mean he has to spend all the money. And he has some limited (assuming he follows the law) ability to move some of the money around between programs and agencies. When you know how to use it, the IL Governor’s office really is powerful. - doggonit - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:04 pm: The best outcome for him is an override. Perhaps that’s why he did the veto on a holiday with little fanfare. Doesn’t want to make it a huge deal in the media. If he doesn’t want to be overriden and if he isnt,he’s nuts and illinois is toast. - Archiesmom - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:06 pm: I love the Chicago headlines: Chicago Tribune reports that Rauner vetoes tax hike. The Sun-Times reports as Rauner vetoes budget package. - The Joker - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:11 pm: “It’s not about money, it’s about sending a message.” - RNUG - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:12 pm: I applaud the Senate for taking immediate action. And the GOP members who joined the D’s. But, even with the vote, we don’t know if it was a true GOP uprising or if it was all an act orcestrated by Rauner to position himself for reelection. - Willie - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:12 pm: Probably a cold sore - Gooner - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:13 pm: Love the photo. The Governor sits by himself while the adults are elsewhere trying to solve problems. - Lech w - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:13 pm: Madigan promises protection to his base… and he delivers. - ILPundit - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:13 pm: I really thought it was a nice gesture by Gov. Rauner to give the veto pen to Jeanne Ives. She earned it. - Harry O - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:14 pm: It is dark in the room as he is watching the “I’m against it” segment from the Marx Brothers “Horse Feathers” movie. - P. - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:14 pm: Grover Norquist is doing a guest spot at the Trib copy desk over the holiday. - Nieva - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:15 pm: As a retired state worker I hope this keeps our checks in the mail. As a citizen of Illinois I worry that with no reforms this will acheive nothing but delay the inevitable Detroiting of this state. - Sue - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:19 pm: Nievea just summed up the problem. Everyone wants their state largess to keep flowing even though they know without reforms the future for Illinois is not great - Anonymous - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:22 pm: what’s the house doing? - Anonymous - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:23 pm: Nieva, you are precisely the problem. Basically you are saying I hope I get everything I want but we really need to stick it to other people to stay solvent. I’m sure you would be willing to voluntarily give up your 3% compounded COLA as part of those reforms we so badly need, right? - No Raise - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:23 pm: It seems like no matter how this plays out, our legislators will remember this close-call and will hopefully show more bi-partisan support for the best interests of the state as whole. Obviously, junk-bond status would have been a disaster and I am actually optimistic about things going forward. Certainly some reforms are at play despite the tax hike. - RWP - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:24 pm: Who is missing in the House? - Pelonski - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:24 pm: First off, a pension is not a largess, it is an earned benefit. Second, not everyone agrees that the so called “reforms” pushed by the Governor will benefit the State. In fact, many think they will make things worse. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:24 pm: ===what’s the house doing?=== Maybe waiting out the bond houses to say “the veto was the last straw… Junk” Once that’s on the record, override. Not the way to run a railroad, but… - Carhartt Union Negotiating Team - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:25 pm: Expected, weren’t it? Sigh. I dunno. He’s convinced he’s absolutely right, I suppose. But he sure seems like a very mean and greedy and out-of-touch person. At least from the inside of the bubble. He’ll get the budget and the revenue. And he will spend it. He’s real good at spending, there’s little doubt about that. What he’d better watch for, however, is an added number of lawmakers from his own party who might have renewed interest in how his little spending projects are orchestrated. Whether it’s “business as usual” lease deals or $100 million “modernization” healthcare choice portals, he’s gotta be real cautious about how he goes about his threats behind closed doors. Welcome to the big leagues, Bruce. You bought it, you broke it…and if you don’t own it today, you likely will soon. - GA Watcher - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:25 pm: Nieva & Sue: Which reforms are you talking about? Certainly not the ones proposed by the Governor that Rich reported nearly two years ago produce savings of 1.4 percent. That’s about $510 million given the size of the State’s budget. - My New Handle - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:26 pm: What exactly are these reforms of which speak? Are there any details on how exactly the state and the residents will benefit from said reforms? - Hit or Miss - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:27 pm: Why no AV rather than a full veto? - excusemyignorance - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:29 pm: Are both houses required to override a veto or just the senate? Sorry for my ignorance. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:29 pm: ===Why no AV rather than a full veto?=== Since Day 1, Rauner only chose K-12 as his must. Choosing also means not choosing. Veto it all, no winner or loser for Rauner to be strung with as a choice. - NotChrisChristie - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:31 pm: Even Chris Christie worked with his people. Rauner wanted this so somewhere, someone would make a buck. - My New Handle - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:31 pm: Taxes are a means of taking care of each other. So my conclusion is that Rauner and most of the Repubs see no value in the residents or the state and would rather not take care of their constituents, even with an income tax that would be lower than it was four years ago. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:32 pm: both houses are required, it’s not over yet - Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:33 pm: Right now we have to rise above politics, if possible, to save this state. I so hope the brave Republicans of the House hold strong and finish the job. We are at the edge of the cliff. Please, House members, stay strong and override this. - RNUG - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:33 pm: == As a retired state worker I hope this keeps our checks in the mail. == The actual pension payments are not subject to appropriation. Pensions are paid regardless of the State budget. - cdog - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:33 pm: Cullerton is a good character in the tragedy. He knows how to take care of business. - Nieva - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:35 pm: My new handle. I am referring to reforms in the pensions,CMS, school funding, property taxes,and and all the other things that are making this state toxic to business. Half a billion here and half a billion there and pretty soon you are talking about real money. - Pelonski - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:37 pm: “Why no AV rather than a full veto?” Because the Governor doesn’t want to take the arrows for the cuts a cuts only budget would require. If he is even asked by the press why he didn’t use his line item or AV power, he will come up with some lame excuse about not being able to make cuts without other legislative change. That will be an absurd statement, but like last time, no one will actually challenge him on it. - Nieva - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:38 pm: RNUG. I understand the way pensions are paid. When the payments are not made to the systems eventually the money that is sent to us every month will run out. I might not live to see that but my son who is a teacher sure could. - RNUG - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:38 pm: == Why no AV rather than a full veto? == If Rauner AV’ed it, he would have to show what he values and what he doesn’t. He would alienate whole blocks of voters. This way he thinks he will avoid ownership of the cuts. - My New Handle - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:41 pm: Take up your property taxes with your county board and the taxing districts. Pensions are not touchable, so let that go, it’s a strawman fallacy. If you want more equitable school funding to reduce your property taxes, where does that equitability begin if not state tax dollars? Again so many complaints without real solutions offered. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:43 pm: I wouldn’t take the explanation of “attendance issues” at face value. Madigan needs to decide if he wants to kill Rauner or save the State. - RNUG - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:44 pm: == eventually the money that is sent to us every month will run out. == And then the State will be stuck paying the pensions out of GRF before the other bills. The IL SC didn’t leave any wiggle room in their 1975 decision. - Fixer - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:45 pm: Nieva, please reread the statement from GA Watcher. 1.4% approximately in savings. Not anywhere close to balancing the budget without new revenue. - Piece of Work - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:47 pm: Bruce just said to MJM— checkmate - Pelonski - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:51 pm: Nieva, The BIMP makes extensive changes to the pension code with the intent of reducing our pension liability. - Responsa - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:51 pm: ==Pensions are not touchable== Tell that to the pensioners and families of United States Steel and United Airlines. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:51 pm: ===Bruce just said…— checkmate=== How so? Rauner is going to run as someone who can’t get anything done, allowed a tax increase to happen, has no signed state budgets, and if the override waits until the junk status lists the veto as the reason… … what will Rauner claim as his accomplishments? “Vote for me, I’m grossly inept”? - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:53 pm: ===Tell that to the pensioners and families of United States Steel and United Airlines.=== Did they have constitutional guarantees? - BBG Watch - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:56 pm: Wait until the bond agencies open tomorrow. Checkmate is going to be very dangerous and extremely expensive. All of Illinois loses. - LibertyvilleNick - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:57 pm: I watched some gray political theater with the Comptroller using a child and her mother to illustrate how damamging the cuts in Medicaid are. I would like to see Mendoza offer up her own state funded pensions, medical care and salary to the child she claims she cares so much for - atsuishin - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:59 pm: ==If Rauner AV’ed it, he would have to show what he values and what he doesn’t== Does’t an AV need a majority to accept? perhaps he is trying to avoid this permanent 32% tax increase knows that its easier to whip some of the 15 judas and stop an override than get the majorities of the house and senate to accept amendments. didn’t he promise voters he wouldn’t increase taxes? I seem to remember voting on that. guess democracy is meaningless if it gets in the way of government pension and salaries. - Dr. Drew - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 3:00 pm: Unfortunately the only winner is Rauner, now he can campaign on the fact he tried to save the people of Illinois from the largest permanent tax increase ever. He cares not about republicans who stood with democrats to put an end to the embarrassment that has existed for the last two years. If Madigan wants to have the last laugh, he announces his retirement after the override and removes Rauner’s only talking point, “because of Madigan”. - My New Handle - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 3:06 pm: Responsa @ 2:51 pm The references were to state pensions. I am not in favor of the state becoming the orivate sector. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 3:07 pm: Rauner vetoed payments to social services. Rauner vetoed K-12 funding. Rauner vetoed Higher Education funding. Rauner vetoed funding his agencies, prioroties, agenda… Rauner has yet, less K-12 funding once, to sign anything budgetary or fiscally relevant to a budget of his own creation since being governor. Even the FY2015 Budget Fix agreement had limited overall budget impact due to the two years of… no budgets. A businessman without a budget since becoming governor is Rauner winning? How is that so? - My New Handle - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 3:09 pm: Private sector. - Pelonski - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 3:09 pm: Atsuishin, Yes for an AV, no for a line item veto. If he used his line item powers, the stuff he didn’t reduce would become law, the stuff he reduced in full would require an override, and the stuff he reduced would become law at the lower level unless overridden. He could have eliminated the tax increase and balanced the budget with no additional votes from the General Assembly. - Dutch 3001 - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 3:22 pm: Some photo. I wonder if he told Bob Cratchit and the rest of his staff that the July 4th holiday was a poor excuse for picking a man’s pocket once every 365 days before grudgingly giving them the day off. And to be there all the earlier on the morrow if they wanted to keep their jobs. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 3:22 pm: Quick question… So, this tax increase, next fiscal year… Will Rauner build his 1st budget in four years that he will want passed under the new permanent tax rate? So… if Rauner does… in an election year next year… agree that this new tax increase is needed for his (Rauner’s) budget to work? Something to consider. I remember that too. - From the 'Dale to HP - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 3:27 pm: @Piece of Work, If Rauner’s so smart, then why does he no longer have both bishops, both rooks, both knights, lost his queen, and his King is in check on K-12 funding no matter what happens in the House tomorrow? Ranuer’s chess board is basically three pawns and his king. - (Un) Happy - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 3:28 pm: ===They appear to have real lighting issues in his ceremonial office. It looks like he’s in some sort of secret lair.=== Imagery informs perception, and perception is reality in the public eye. There are people that will see this photo and believe that he’s actually reading the budget and protecting the people. Notice the staging; the lighting and the placing of his veto letters over the other two large stacks of paper implies he’s worked late into the night, he’s wearing suit and tie rather than one of his many costumes to evoke seriousness, sensibility, authority, the faceless man in the background with crossed arms to represent frustration with the bills that were presented, Rauner pulling a rather sad/disappointed facial expression as he uses his veto stamp… He sure has some talented image consultants. Bet this photo gets used in his campaign ads. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 3:34 pm: Will Diana Rauner realize… That it was 16 GOP members (the “Brave 15″ and Sen. Righter) that thought funding social services was important? Bruce didn’t want social services funded. That’s what vetoes say. So, will Diana Rauner say now? “Bruce, thank goodness you vetoed the social service funding. I can’t wait to give Durkin $9 million to beat the Democrats willing to fund social services, unlike you” That’s fun. - TinyDancer(FKASue) - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 3:35 pm: Caption: “Let’s see….we cut taxes over 2 years ago…..gotta just hang in there. Gonna start tricklin’ down any time now.” - Jeep - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 5:09 pm: He’s probably doing his veto thing in the dark because the electric company has cut the power due to a couple years of no payment by the state. - Tough Guy - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 5:25 pm: What really bothers me is these guys (Raunerites) will be the first ones in line for photo ops and glad handing when projects and programs are started and the press is there. I hope they get the door slammed in their face by those organizations. - K3 - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 5:32 pm: This is how history will remember him. A small, cowardly one-term governor - Blue dog dem - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 7:07 pm: How will this play out. I dont know. I live 15 minutes from SIUC. talked to at least 100 people today. I lost track, but darn near unanimous. “There goes Madigan and the Chicago bunch raisin’ our taxes again”. I kid you not. Rauner crew knows the buttons. - RNUG - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 8:32 pm: == … I lost track, but darn near unanimous. “There goes Madigan and the Chicago bunch raisin’ our taxes again”. I kid you not. Rauner crew knows the buttons. == Bet most of them don’t realize just how much SIUC impacts them personally. And I wonder how many think freezing their property tax will change things for the better at State level? If it were still a cash based economy, I would suggest one of the stunts local businesses used to occasionally pull to show their impact on the community, something like paying all in $2 bills or $1 coins or marked cash so the impact of their employee spending was obvious to the local businesses. Maybe the unions could organize a weekend day where everyone wore a certain color to make the point how much SIUC contributes to the local economy. - Blue dog dem - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 8:44 pm: RNUG. SIUC has lost much of its luster down here. I understand completely the infusion of cash that a minor state university brings into a region, but i also understand peoples concerns of quality of lifestyle. Regardless of how you or i feel, Rauner knows the great divide in this state. My fear is that with this pitiful Democratic field that currently exists, the next governors race is a tossup. This despite Rauners track record as a do nothing. - Piece of Work - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 10:34 pm: Dale to the HP, come see me at the end of the day Thursday - Robert the 1st - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 10:47 pm: It seems the governor wants some sort of default. Here we go indeed. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.