* Press release…
Today, after 736 days, a bipartisan compromise budget passed into law. With the state on the cusp of junk status, Rauner continued to cling to his crisis with a desperate and reckless veto. But Republican and Democratic members of the General Assembly overrode the failed governor. Illinois now has a budget, but the damage is done and Bruce Rauner’s manufactured crisis will have long term ramifications for Illinois families.
In response to the override vote, JB Pritzker released the following statement:
“Bruce Rauner manufactured a 736-day crisis to force his special interest agenda on our state. Today, Democratic and Republican members of the state legislature came together to say enough is enough, but Bruce Rauner’s damage is already done,” said JB Pritzker. “Rauner led the state to $14.7 billion in unpaid bills, interest on state debt continues to skyrocket, and local governments across the state have been forced to raise taxes to compensate for a lack of state funds. Social services agencies closed, impacting countless families across Illinois, students fled to go to college in other states, and we lost opportunities for job creation. The suffering of Illinois families can’t just be erased. It will take years to clean up the mess of this failed governor’s creating and it’s clear that getting our state back on track can only happen with a new governor next November.”
Let’s take a look at Bruce Rauner’s damage to Illinois:
$14.7 billion dollars in unpaid bills piled up without a spending plan in place.
$2 billion dollars is owed to Medicaid doctors and hospitals.
130,000 students’ MAP grants were jeopardized.
37,508 residents fled the state amid historic fiscal uncertainly.
20,000 workers’ paychecks were put in limbo after IDOT halted road construction.
22 local health departments were forced to reduce services.
5 state universities were downgraded to junk bond status.
Countless social service agencies have drastically cut programs or closed altogether.
While passing a state budget marks an important first step in bringing our state back to fiscal sanity, Bruce Rauner’s damage is done. The wreckage from this over 700-day crisis will take years to address. This is what it looks like when a governor fails and it’s time Bruce Rauner was held accountable for the damage he’s inflicted on the people of Illinois.
* Sen. Daniel Biss…
“I’m glad that because rank and file legislators on both sides of the aisle followed their consciences instead of their leaders, we avoided the catastrophe of yet another year without a budget. Now it’s time to solve our long term problems. We need to build on this collaboration and come together to create real progress by making the rich pay their fair share to fund our schools, protect people’s health care, and get our economy moving.”
I’ll post other gubernatorial candidate reacts here. Otherwise, the rest will be found on our live coverage post.
…Adding… Ameya Pawar…
“Republicans and Democrats in both houses came together this week to pass a responsible budget that protects middle-class families and finally puts Illinois on a steady fiscal path. While Bruce Rauner’s reckless veto made clear he doesn’t care about the future of our state, today’s bi-partisan veto-override proves there are legislators still willing to put Illinois’ hard-working families over reckless partisan politics.”
“This episode is just another reminder that when we elect people like Bruce Rauner, who hate the institutions they seek to represent, they will try to destroy it once in office. That’s what Donald Trump is doing in Washington, D.C. and it’s what Bruce Rauner is doing in Springfield. We need to stop electing people who hate government more than they love their city, their state and their country.”
*** UPDATE *** Chris Kennedy kinda criticizes the tax hike…
“Illinois finally got the balanced budget it needed. Our state had little choice but to carry through with the budget agreement finalized today,” said Kennedy. “It came to us at the 11th hour after the Governor stood on the sidelines for years, shifting the goal post whenever we came close. Now we’ve raised taxes that impact the poor and middle-class without asking more of the wealthy. Rating agencies are still hesitant about our financial health, and our political leaders have done little to restore voters’ faith in our state government. Other states don’t need to threaten the future of their institutions in order to create a balanced budget. It doesn’t have to be this way. We can have a balanced budget. We can honor the contracts of our pensions and we can invest in our economy and see it grow. But, we need to give our state a budget and a government that’s free of corruption, that’s free of self-dealing, that’s free of self-interest. If we do that we can turn this state around,” added Kennedy.
- Frondolet - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 4:57 pm:
Rainer manufactures crisis?
If Democrats wanted a big tax increase with no reforms, why didn’t they just do this two years ago?
- Really - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 4:59 pm:
God help us if Biss gets elected Governor. Those of us with professional jobs won’t be allowed to keep any of the money we make because it will all go to feed the beast that is our state and local governments.
- Ajjacksson - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 5:02 pm:
An increase of $1.20 for every $100 earned is not a big tax increase.
- Brian P - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 5:05 pm:
Pritzker’s statement is highly partisan and doesn’t seem to address the state’s problems in anyway - outside Rauner is the problem. He’s weak. Wonder if Kennedy has a chance?
- Down-State is still Down-state - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 5:12 pm:
If you all were just going to over ride it anyway, why did it take two years? It’s laughable at this point to hang this on Rauner. None of you have put forth a plan to eliminate the out of control pensions. Such great legislators. Pass the largest income tax increase in state history and blame the guy that vetoed it for all of the problems. Classic! I want to come take all your money from your house and blame you for leaving it there! Wow.
==An increase of $1.20 for every $100 earned is not a big tax increase.==
Not a big deal when you’re spending someone else’s money! Give all of your pay to the state then if it’s no big deal. You can pay my==increase of $1.20 for every $100 earned as it is “not a big tax increase.” I’ll pay every penny up to that….and then I’ll wait three years to see if there is a budget!
- Illinois taxpayers lost - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 5:12 pm:
Rauner damage ?? where is money coming from to pay for over $100 Billion pensions ?? ..Just look at Connecticut… LOL a state soda tax ??
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 5:14 pm:
===why did it take two years? ===
Stop cutting and pasting talking points.
They didn’t have any GOP votes to help them override back then. This has always been about GOP votes. Don’t be dense.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 5:18 pm:
Billionaire property tax avoider JP Pritzker should hook his toilets back up and get his extra mansion fully back on the tax rolls and then get his facts straight.
“Let’s take a look at Bruce Rauner’s damage to Illinois:
$14.7 billion dollars in unpaid bills piled up without a spending plan in place.”
Bill backlog was 4.36 billion when Rauner was elected and JP attributes the entire 14.7 billion dollar backlog to Governor Rauner.
“But when the tax increase expired as scheduled on New Year’s Day 2015, the bill backlog remained at $4.36 billion. Growth in the state’s pension obligations had consumed much of the revenue from the tax increase.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matthew-dietrich/a-look-at-illinois-bill-b_b_8148150.html
Let’s take a look at the damage before Rauner was elected
Between fiscal years 2014 and 2015, total government spending in Illinois increased by approximately $10.8 billion—from $58.6 billion in fiscal year 2014 to an estimated $69.4 billion in 2015. This represents a 15.52-percent increase.[1][2][3]
https://ballotpedia.org/Historical_Illinois_budget_and_finance_information
- Fax Machine - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 5:19 pm:
If by 2 years ago Frondolet means the first 2 weeks of January 2015 while Quinn was still Governor and only 60 & 30 was needed, then yes they should have done it 2 years ago, but hindsight is 20/20.
- Fax Machine - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 5:22 pm:
And when I say it, I mean make 5% permanent - but they accomodated the incoming Governor’s wishes which seemed reasonable at the time, but with hindsight was a mistake.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 5:22 pm:
Oh - Lucky Pierre -, lol,
Rauner. Governor.
Never signed a budget. Ever.
How is that winnin’?
- HawaiianEddy - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 5:25 pm:
Go eat another bonbon, JB. God help us if you get elected.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 5:27 pm:
The people of Illinois lost, like we usually do
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 5:30 pm:
Why did he not sign a budget?
Because the Speaker won’t lift a finger to fix this:
According to a report released in September 2015 by the nonprofit Truth in Accounting (TIA), Illinois ranked 3rd worst in the country in “taxpayer burden.” Rather than using per capita state debt, TIA ranked states based on what it called a “taxpayer burden,” a term that reflects “the amount each taxpayer would have to send to their state’s treasury in order for the state to be debt-free.” On the other hand, states that had sufficient resources to pay their bills were said to have a “taxpayer surplus,” which represents the amount that each taxpayer would receive if the state were to disburse its excess funds.
Based on analysis of Illinois’ Comprehensive Annual Financial Report from June 30, 2014 and actuarial reports for the state’s retirement plans, TIA concluded that $157.5 billion in promised retirement benefits were unfunded, but only $39.8 billion of these liabilities were reported on Illinois’ balance sheet. With all of the unfunded retirement benefits included in the total debt, the state had a shortfall of $184.3 billion, or a taxpayer burden of $45,000.[15]
https://ballotpedia.org/Historical_Illinois_budget_and_finance_information
- Norseman - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 5:32 pm:
JB, this and more. Keep reminding folks of the damage Rauner has done to people and institutions. You know Rauner is going to use his money to lie about his record and make believe he wouldn’t raise taxes.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 5:33 pm:
- Lucky Pierre -
Lots of words… Still ZERO budget.
Anything now… roads built, school funding, higher ed…
No Rauner signature.
Rauner has now gone 3 years, no signed budget.
Rauner gets nothing from the saving of Illinois.
The vetoes tell me so.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 5:41 pm:
Rauner held hostage the state, the GA, along with “The Perfect 10″ and Sen. Righter freed the state from Diana and Bruce and their destruction.
Now?
It would be wise for Dems to remind people “Rauner vetoed this” every time the Raunerites and Bruce show up to take the unearned bows that not having signed any budgets as a governor.
Social Services…
Why give Raunerites or Rauner any awards for “advocacy”?
When it mattered, Rauner vetoed you. Raunerites refused to pay you too. Understand that.
Higher Ed, students of Higher Ed…
Learn real quick, who are “The Perfect 10″ and Sen. Righter.
Learn real quick, Rauner vetoed your funding. Raunerites refused to vote for your funding too. Learn.
When it comes down to it, Rauner wanted Illinois to suffer more, Raunerites agreed to that too.
If you’re for destroying…
- Fax Machine - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 5:51 pm:
I hope Pritzker isn’t the nominee - he makes the worst case scenario (Rauner remains Governor & Madigan remains Speaker) most likely.
Rauner’s gonna have some mojo going into this election because of how all this went down and Pritzker’s negatives line up so perfectly with Rauner’s campaign message I just don’t see him beating Rauner.
- Christopher - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 5:55 pm:
Lately I’ve been more impressed with Chris Kennedy’s statements, including the above reaction to the override as well as an article from the Sun-Times today http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/chris-kennedy-ive-seen-the-holy-spirit-at-work-face-to-faith-podcast/
- TinyDancer(FKASue) - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 5:59 pm:
==None of you have put forth a plan to eliminate the out of control pensions. ==
I’m so tired of this “fake news.”
“Eighty percent of this year’s $4.56 billion contribution to TRS, or $3.7 billion, constitutes a payment on the unfunded liability. The actual cost of teacher pensions for the year? $923 million.”
Dick Ingram, executive director, Teachers’ Retirement System
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 6:01 pm:
Tough to sell this budget as perfect Willy
Moody’s most certainly disagrees
Good Luck with that
Your track record on predictions is not great,
With a few reforms down from his opening bid of 50, The Governor could have signed the Rauner tax. I guess he doesn’t own that does he?
Instead, the Speaker, the perfect 10, and the majority of Democrats now own the permanent tax increase and the lack of progress on the “non budget reforms” like property taxes, workers comp, pensions etc.
Why did the Speaker walk away from the reforms at the last minute?
Do you take his word about he serious he is about addressing these issues today?
For most people, increased property and income taxes, with the promise of more to come, affects their personal budgets.
- Sueh - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 6:02 pm:
Hate to criticize a Kennedy but Chris - Illinois isn’t Camelot nor Shangrila. Don’t think you have to chops to step in and to deal with the likes of a Madigan. If you want a progressive income tax you might consider moving because getting a constitutional amendment is a bridge too far. What Illinois definitely doesn’t need is a liberal tax and spend type of guy because we already are spending way beyond the State’s ability to tax
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 6:07 pm:
===Your track record on predictions is not great===
Meh, I stand by them all. So there’s that.
===With a few reforms down from his opening bid of 50, The Governor could have signed the Rauner tax. I guess he doesn’t own that does he?===
Nope.
Doesn’t own a budget either.
What governor never wants to sign a budget? I mean, seriously, what rational governor thinks not having a budget is worth this.
So, Rauner won’t own the tax, but then Rauner gets no budget.
The rest?
Easy.
Rauner needs 60 and 30, 71 and 36 no matter what, “Madigan” or no Madigan.
Your concern about Madigan is noted. Meanwhile, Rauner fails.
- Chicago Cynic - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 6:07 pm:
“Rauner’s gonna have some mojo going into this election because of how all this went down…”
On what planet are you living? The one where Rauner accomplished so much in his first term that he earns another???? As Willy keeps saying, what has he actually accomplished? How has he led?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 6:09 pm:
Most folks live in a government bubble here. Very few people care about funding government agencies. They do acre about their tax bill. Which was just increased significantly.
Madigan has ruined Illinois with help over the decades from both Dem and Rep pols.
- Morty - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 6:22 pm:
LP-For most people, increased property and income taxes, with the promise of more to come, affects their personal budgets.
Most people also send kids to schools, rely on their medical bills to be paid, drive on roads, etc.
What was Governor 1.4%s plan for making that happen?
Another 750 or so days?
The clock ran out. Things needed to be done
- Norseman - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 6:27 pm:
=== Very few people care about funding government agencies ===
Until they need assistance from one of those agencies. Then they complain that it’s not enough or requires too much paperwork to prevent abuse.
There I finished it for you.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 6:35 pm:
For all of the talk about how the Speaker is a political genius playing three dimensional chess while every other rube in Springfield is playing checkers, he certainly is off his game since the Governor was elected.
Maybe he forgot how to work with the other party after being out of practice for 12 years.
He gambled that Governor Quinn would win, despite insuring he would lose because of the failure to work with him and assist in making him a successful Governor.
He lost his temporary tax sunset gamble with no real strategy to get the Governor to own the tax increase. My final offer is nothing Governor. Did he really think that would work? The Governor owns the tax increase without reforms he promised is voters?
Now after two and a half years, he is back where he started, owning a permanent tax increase instead of budging just a bit on reforms he knows deep down are necessary.
Now Moody’s is pushing him where he doesn’t want to go.
Maybe his members will finally realize this all could have been avoided if he took the collaborative Cullerton approach at bipartisan compromise
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 6:40 pm:
- Lucky Pierre -
So much typing, lol
Rauner has no budget.
Rauner has no successes.
This next year, everything this budget does, Rauner vetoed it.
Rauner refused to fund higher ed.
Rauner refused to pay social services.
Rauner refused to pay for K-12
Rauner has nothing for a whole year, starting today, that Rauner can claim as his.
Rauner has nothing for a whole year, thru the March 2018 primary, Raunerites have no budgetary successes.
So there’s that. lol
- so... - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 6:43 pm:
LP: Precisely.
Dems could have had this moment two years ago, with a smaller tax hike and buy-in from the Governor, if they’d been willing to work on some very necessary reforms.
But mean old Governor Rauner hurt the their fee fees and we come to where we are now - a tax increase the Democrats own a huge tax hike and the Governor will be able to run for reelection saying he tried to stop it.
Truly genius ::slow clap::
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 6:49 pm:
Rauner could’ve taken a 2 1/2 year nap—slept thru it all.
He has actually done nothing but let things fall apart.
WHen faced with taking action, he takes a pass.
What is his function other than neglect and destruction
- Anon - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 7:15 pm:
Kennedy clearly hasn’t looked at the states financials if he thinks we can increase spending (I’m sorry….invest), keep up with all the pension payments and simultaneously keep a balanced budget without a massive increase in taxes (like in the 8-10% range at a minimum).
The level of denial that has taken hold among the political class about the reality of our fiscal situation is frightening.
Today will seem like the easiest vote they have ever taken 10-15 years from now compared to the financial choices that are on the horizon, and all of these statements these guys are releasing are all talking about even more spending.
Thank God for Moody’s is about all I can say for being the adult in the room and informing the “courageous” lawmakers that they didn’t even manage to put lipstick on a pig, much less put the state on the road to proper fiscal health.
The denial is still extremely strong, but Moody’s at least changed the conversation from what it would have otherwise been had they not publicly rebuked the legislature for another half measure.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 7:27 pm:
Maybe the press could ask the Democratic candidates for Governor who want to increase spending to pay for things like free college how they will pay for everything we currently owe?
If only the 15 billionaires in Illinois would pay their fair share everything would be great according to Daniel Biss and Ameya Pawar
The least we can do is get the one billionaire running for Governor to reinstall the toilets in his vacant extra mansion on the most expensive street in Chicago so he can start paying his fair share of property taxes.
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 7:41 pm:
To the update — Interesting strategy trashing the vote of the overwhelming majority of your own party’s legislators. Let’s see how that works out.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 7:52 pm:
===Maybe the press could ask the Democratic candidates for Governor who want to increase spending to pay for things like free college how they will pay for everything we currently owe?===
Rauner vetoed a budget, wanting to pay for nothing.
So there’s that, what else ya got.
=== Chicago so he can start paying his fair share of property taxes.===
… Why? So someone like Rauner can send his denied Winnetka-living daughter to a Payton Prep, with all those property tax dollars?
To Kennedy,
Again, about the 4th time for me…
Who is Kemnedy’s base? Alienating elected officials time and again for things someone who runs for Cook County Assesor worries about isn’t building a statewide base or allies…
- Cadillac - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 9:11 pm:
=== - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 5:33 pm:
- Lucky Pierre -
Lots of words… Still ZERO budget.
Anything now… roads built, school funding, higher ed…
No Rauner signature.
Rauner has now gone 3 years, no signed budget.
Rauner gets nothing from the saving of Illinois.
The vetoes tell me so. ===
This from the guy that typed “Governor’s Own” more times than I would like to remember.
Does the “Governor own” this 32% tax rate increase?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 9:16 pm:
- Cadillac -
Keep up.
Rauner owns that he has no budget now.
Nothing until May 2018 is Rauner’s
Rauner owns the vetoes.
Rauner vetoed K-12 funding.
Rauner vetoed higher ed,
Rauner vetoed paying social services.
Nothing, budgetarily, Rauner owns nothing good, and Rauner owns the vetoes that refused to pay for anything.
That’s not too great, a governor not signing any full year budget. Ever.
So, keep up…
- Cadillac - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 9:25 pm:
OW, you said numerous times “Governor’s own” and that this would be the “Rauner Tax” and a ridiculous amount of GOP votes would be put on that. You said he would own it. Want me to dig up all the posts?
That’d be fun -ya know - to “keep up”.
- Prairie Dog - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 9:31 pm:
Geez. All we need now is a Kennedy as Governor. Can we import a couple of Cuomos? Thank goodness Jerry Brown didn’t have kids. Maybe we can get the native born carpetbagging Hillary to move back and run? Is Maxine Waters available?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 9:32 pm:
===you said numerous times “Governor’s own” and that this would be the “Rauner Tax” and a ridiculous amount of GOP votes would be put on that. You said he would own it. Want me to dig up all the posts?===
Oh, there all there.
So what you’re saying is a governor refusing to sign, vetoing the budget and then holding GOP votes to continue the pain of 2 1/2 years, with social services closing, universities on the verge of losing accredidation, no funding for K-12… Rauner still wants GOP votes to stay off a veto to save the state?
That’s a warped way to “prove me wrong”, LOL
“I’ll show you. Rauner wants to be a governor known for being so spiteful to all of Illinois, he continues to govern not as responsible governors do”
That’s showing me?
Maybe you have a warped idea about how this all played out too.
- Cadillac - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 9:37 pm:
So what you’re saying is you were wrong. Again. Thanks for the closure.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 9:43 pm:
===So what you’re saying is you were wrong. Again. Thanks for the closure.===
LOL
You have a warped way of thinking.
Your way of thinking is…
Rauner gets to own the fine China, Rauner is suppose to wash it by hand, take care of it, take ownership of how this China is handled and all Rauner does with it is…
… Rauner takes the China and throws the piece on the ground, shattering it, and Rauner saying “There, now I took care of it”
Yeah. I guess that’s one way to take care of something. lol
- Noonan - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:10 pm:
Pawar is a light-weight.
- Blue dog dem - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 7:45 am:
OW. If you call raising taxes on the working poor and middle class a’budgetery success ‘, that kind of tells it all on who you really are.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 7:56 am:
===If you call raising taxes on the working poor and middle class a’budgetery success ‘,===
… Even Rauner “agreed” to raise income tax.
Either keep up with what’s going on, or decide that you are going to refuse to argue honestly to actual facts.
===that kind of tells it all on who you really are.===
That I am tired of social services closing, I want universities to keep their accredidation, I want the backlog of bills to start to be paid down.
That IS who I am. I’m for acting responsibly after a state being held hostage for 2 1/2 years.
You want to be a continued deadbeat, because an agenda is more important than fiscal realities. So that speaks to you.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 8:04 am:
What seems to pop up over and over again is the resentment that in this state those who have plenty of income to tax skate free while middle and lower income folks are hit hard.
It doesn’t help that the so called Millionaire Tax, which passed, disappeared into thin air.
It’s the wealthy who can dodge their responsibilities and place them on middle and lower income workers. This is a rule of life. Nothing changes is seems.
That’s the main frustration I hear from comments. How will it ever change?
- LibertyvilleNick - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 8:50 am:
Write a check made payable to the People of the State of Illinois not Citizens for Madigan. Put it on the line. At least Bloomberg does.
- RNUG - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 9:00 am:
== It doesn’t help that the so called Millionaire Tax, which passed, disappeared into thin air. ==
That was just a feel good *advisory* question that the public voted on. It was not the Constitutional Amendment that is required to implement such a tax. Most people don’t know the difference.
If they want a Millionaire’s Tax, then the public should be pushing for the GA to put a graduated income tax amendment on the next ballot.