Bruce Rauner’s legacy will be this – Republican lawmakers, seeing no benefit in continuing Rauner’s two-year budget crisis, broke with the Governor and cut a bipartisan budget deal with Democrats. Rauner’s refusal to compromise drove away members of his own party.
Below are quotes from the 10 House Republicans who voted for the budget revenue and to override Rauner’s veto. Their words show they were concerned their party, led by Rauner, had no plan. They confirmed that everyone knew more revenue was needed and that passing a budget was the fiscally responsible action to take. And they warned what would happen if they did not act.
Through their words, we see Rauner’s refusal to compromise and his failed leadership.
Quotes from the ‘10’
There was no other plan…
GOP Floor Leader Steven Andersson: “For those of you who say there’s a better option, do you have the votes? No. You do not have the votes!”
The budget needed revenue…
Sara Wojcicki Jimenez, R-Leland Grove: “Today’s budget responsibly reduces spending by more than $3 billion…there has been no legitimate proposal introduced this spring by the Governor, Republicans or Democrats that didn’t include a need for more revenue to balance the budget.”
Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth: “There will have to be new revenue and spending cuts. You’d have to lie to people to say anything else.”
Mike Fortner, R-West Chicago: “Increasing the income tax has never been my preferred option…[but] my balance point was reached. This was a real balanced budget, there were real reductions in spending levels, and sufficient reforms to move forward.”
…and letting the impasse linger would lead to higher taxes later
Norine Hammond, R-Macomb: “If we do not pass the budget package, that backlog would total $24 billion and the tax increase included in the budget package would have to be even larger, depending on the timing — 5.5 percent to 8 percent if the state ever wanted to see a balanced budget, or a day in which bills are paid on time, for that matter.”
The budget was balanced and a compromise…
Mike Unes, R-East Peoria: “Until the House passed a balanced budget last week, we were spending $39B annually. The current budget will immediately cut that spending by $3B, initiating the slow, difficult and essential process of digging our way out of this hole that has been decades in the making.”
Norine Hammond, R-Macomb: “Certainly Republicans didn’t get everything they wanted in that budget and Democrats didn’t either.”
Allowing more debt to pile on was wrong…
Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth: “We shouldn’t put things on our credit card and say it’s OK. It’s not OK. Illinois is in the worst shape it’s ever been in.”
Sara Wojcicki Jimenez, R-Leland Grove: “For me, one of the fundamental principles for Republicans is to have a balanced budget and to pay our bills.”
Chad Hays, R-Catlin: “I told somebody yesterday, I’ve been to a lot of Republican events over the years, but I’ve never been to one where the crowd, in terms of philosophy, said, you know how we handle paying our bills? We stiff the vendor. That’s not very Republican.”
The lack of action would have ruined Illinois’ finances…
David Harris, R-Arlington Heights: “You are an astute, capable businessman. You understand what the numbers are here. You understand the implications of junk-bond status. Is that what we want for the fifth-largest state in the union?”
David Harris, R-Arlington Heights: “Without a budget the bond rating agencies would have rated us as junk. We would be the first state ever rated as junk. It just starts a death spiral. I’m tired of playing chicken with the fifth-largest state in the union and seeing who blinks first.”
David Harris, R-Arlington Heights: “It’s time to stop playing chicken with the fifth largest state in the Union…I was not elected as a state legislator to help preside over the financial destruction of this great state.”
And most importantly, it was about the district…
Sara Wojcicki Jimenez, R-Leland Grove: “But I think at the end of the day for our community, the fact that the impasse…for now is over will bring certainty and relief to a lot of people who live here.”
Reginald Phillips, R-Charleston: “First of all, if I decide to press my button to override the governor, it doesn’t make me any less a conservative Republican than the rest of the people that stand in here. It makes a person decide he has to vote for his district. He has to think about all the people in his district to the best of his ability.”
Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro: “I hope you will help me bring my university back.”
- @MisterJayEm - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 9:32 am:
Not the last time we’ll see those quotes.
Not by a long shot.
– MrJM
- Team Warwick - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 9:36 am:
Thank you to all the lawmakers who did the right thing.
I’m heartened to see your courage and determination to represent your voters. Representative government can work for Illinois as it should. Again, thank you for your hard work and effort in unusual circumstances.
- Arsenal - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 9:37 am:
Phillips’ quote is hilarious defensive.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 9:37 am:
Dear DGA,
You are not helping with the governing, and if anything, you are highlighting what Rauner will try to spin that some “caved” to the “massive tax hike”
This isn’t all that great.
The politics demand these quotes, but…
…the issue is that after 3 fiscal years, Bruce Rauner continues to lack a budget signed by him, and the funding of the state of Illinois, be it agencies to state universities have yet to recieve funding from a signed Rauner budget.
Ignoring the “caving to a massive tax increase” is tone deaf to the blunting needed to the Rauner messaging.
It’s a “B-”
- Anon - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 9:39 am:
I was in line at the DMV on Wednesday. It was busy, but moving along. Two dudes next to me were talking. One said “un-effing believable. This place is a mess and these state employees are getting fat on our tax dollars.” The other said “and now our taxes have gone up. For what?” I supported the budget bill and the increased revenue. I support a progressive income tax, and a transfer of public school funding from property taxes to income taxes. I believe the progressive tax could allow for property tax reductions throughout the state, while providing better and more stable school funding. I don’t understand why we allow the few to portray greater taxes levied on the most wealthy as a death knell for the state. Illinois has so much to offer. I just don’t believe that people will flee the state if the wealthiest pay a 7% tax rate rather than a 4.95%. The amount to each high value individual would be diminous, but the benefit to the state would be enormous! I wish the republicans would work with democrats and make this critical shift in tax policy. We’ve seen I-partisanship over the past week, so we now know that it’s possible. Let’s use this momentum to make the changes necessary to allow Illinois to prosper and its children to flourish!
- Anonymous - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 9:39 am:
Still happy, Bruce? Listen to these folks. I’m sure you will call the override defeat as a ’strategic advance to the rear’, but your failure as Goveror can’t be spun.
- Anon - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 9:44 am:
I hit send before finishing my thought. Democrats and republicans need to agree on some facts, get on the same page, and stop talking about how bad Illinois is! We need to reestablish trust in government. We need people to believe that their tax dollars are being spent wisely. They need to see results. We need to stop turning people against people, and we need to stop demonizing state employees! Our leaders need to be more responsible in their public comments, and realize that their heated rhetoric only enraged people and, potentially, incites violence. Please lead and tone down the rhetoric!
- Life Offers More...in Sycamore - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 9:44 am:
Rep Pritchard’s silence on the issue is deafening…
- Original Rambler - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 9:46 am:
Out of all the Republicans who decided to put State before party, the Jimenez vote surprised me the most. Thought she would be a wingman all the way. Going in the other direction, I thought McAuliffe would flip and didn’t.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 9:56 am:
There were two choices and only two. We could let the state government collapse, or we could try to save it. Reasonable people took the second course.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 9:56 am:
The AP photo of Madigan thanking Steve Andersson for his vote will ensure a new State Representative in that Kane County district.
- yinn - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 10:00 am:
==Rep Pritchard’s silence on the issue is deafening…==
Rep Pritchard spoke to it several days ago. http://tinyurl.com/y9ljubbq
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 10:03 am:
===The AP photo of Madigan thanking Steve Andersson for his vote will ensure a new State Representative in that Kane County district.===
A Republican governor would have the incumbent Republicans’ backs, thanking them for saving Ilinois.
Only a Raunerite sees the continued destruction of Illinois as critical to leverage an agenda, no matter the pain it causes.
Raunerites are gonna Raunerite.
I’m with Rep. Andersson. All day. Every day.
- Curl of the Burl - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 10:03 am:
Not to be petty but Steve Andersson should have respectfully declined to shake Speaker Madigan’s hand. What a dumb move on his part.
These are not swing districts. Sure - some lean a little more “D” than others - but in general these districts/areas are all solidly Republican and have been forever and a day. Some of these Republicans who voted for the increase could be taken out even without Rauner and/or ILGOP cash. Some of this “bipartisanship” may be VERY short-lived.
- the Patriot - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 10:03 am:
Careful what you wish for…the DGA is 18 months from this being their problem.
DGA-since it looks more likely you will get IL back, what exactly is your plan to fix the state and deal with Madigan in a way Ryan, Blagojevich, Quinn, and Rauner could not?
7%?
- Sue - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 10:04 am:
What is different today then when the Temp tax was the touted cure all. What’s different is the State is worse off, people have moved, the Supreme Court invalidated pension reforms, the tax is per men’s team until it is raised as hinted by Cullerton and CPS is bankrupt. The one most important constant is Madigan is ruling the roost
- Pelonski - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 10:05 am:
Sara Wojcicki Jimenez, R-Leland Grove: “Today’s budget responsibly reduces spending by more than $3 billion…there has been no legitimate proposal introduced this spring by the Governor, Republicans or Democrats that didn’t include a need for more revenue to balance the budget.”
That pretty much explains everything.
- Oldengrey - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 10:07 am:
=Rep Pritchard’s silence on the issue is deafening…=
As I understand it, Rep Pritchard is out of the country, so I’ll cut him some slack. Voted FOR the budget and as it turned out his vote wasn’t required for the override.
- Real - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 10:07 am:
I think a great way for democrats and republicans that voted on this tax hike and budget package is to unite together and pass an amendment to the constitution that allows for a progressive tax to be implemented. By doing this they could lower the tax rate on the poor and middle-class while raising it on higher earners like Bruce. This would also help them keep there seats in the 2018 elections.
- A guy - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 10:07 am:
The immediate reaction and the reaction after some period of reflection are often quite different. After an event like yesterday, it’ll take some time to see where everyone goes moving forward.
Aside from the politics of all of this, there is a state to continue to fix where we all live. Agree or disagree with these votes, it’s what we do going forward that will matter now.
- hexagon - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 10:13 am:
I totally agree with Anon.
It’s high time someone, especially in elected office, actually show pride in the state. We need to build on strengths, its location, water supply, educational institutions and cultural capital… not emulate Indiana.
- Joe M - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 10:18 am:
Rauner had ample opportunity to prepare and submit a budget as the Illinois Constitution requires him to do. Instead he choose to continue campaigning.
- Julius A - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 10:22 am:
A real long shot, but one can dream. If the Gov does not care a bit about his legacy, we will see what we’ve been seeing/hearing. Is he capable of facing the fact he can’t get everything he wants, even if he pays a lot of dough for it? Maybe find a meeting point?
- Ray Batman - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 10:27 am:
I was very happy to see that Bill Mitchell voted to pass the budget and supported the override.
- Sue - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 10:47 am:
Real - you apparently don’t know what it takes to amend the constitution but it’s not the legislature passing a bill
- Real - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 11:05 am:
Sue-
You’re free to explain the process I’m all ears.
- Mockingjay - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 11:07 am:
Look back to 2011 and see what happened with the last tax increase
- Redraider - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 11:44 am:
Here is what happened: The backlog on bills went from around 12 billion down to 4.6 billion. The past due bills went from 18 to 24 months to under 60 days and most importantly vendors were again chomping at the bit to do business in Illinois. All while still making the full pension payments. To argue that the previous tax increase didn’t help is a false narrative and only being pushed for political gain.
- RNUG - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 12:10 pm:
== to unite together and pass an amendment to the constitution that allows for a progressive tax to be implemented. ==
== Real - you apparently don’t know what it takes to amend the constitution but it’s not the legislature passing a bill ==
We’ll, actually, the GA drafting and approving an amendment to be submitted for public vote is the first step.
And it would be a good move for a couple of reasons. (1) it is needed tax policy for this State to reform the tax code and (2) it would be another issue Rauner and the 1.4% would have to spend money to fight against this election cycle.
Anything you do that makes your opponent spend more money fighting your message is usually a good political move.
- Sue - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 12:11 pm:
Real- it’s called a constitutional amendment. First legislature has to get if on a ballot then if goes to the ballot. It takes yeard
- Thanks - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 12:58 pm:
Thanks Terri Bryant for doing the right thing for your constituents. You’re a decent person, and my vote is with you.
- redleg - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 1:19 pm:
Bill Mitchell made the tough choice but it was the right one and he made the correct comment about more revenue and spending cuts.
Good job Bill. You’ll have my vote again.
- Blue dog dem - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 3:06 pm:
My dearest Terri Bryant. Your university is dying much to its own doing.