* From the ILGOP…
“Mike Madigan is trying to hold schoolchildren hostage to get a $500 million bailout for Chicago, just like he held the budget hostage for years to pass his 32% tax hike. It’s a desperate ploy to direct more taxpayer dollars to Chicago by using children as pawns. It’s sick, but that’s the Madigan way.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Steven Yaffe
Democrats in the General Assembly are holding the future of Illinois schoolchildren hostage by “deliberately refusing” to send Governor Rauner any bill to fund education and ensure that schools open.
The News-Gazette editorial board blasted Madigan’s Democrats earlier this week, writing that, “They’ve been holding the school funding formula legislation in the Senate since May 31 — more than six weeks — deliberately refusing to send Senate Bill 1 for action to Gov. Rauner.”
“Democrats need to get the bill to Rauner’s desk as soon as possible.”
The Dispatch Argus editorial board highlighted how Madigan booby trapped his 32% tax hike budget in order to force a bailout.
“Among the devilish details in the 583-page Illinois budget we outlined Wednesday lurks a potentially dangerous phrase requiring school funding to be given out via an evidence-based system…. Senate Bill 1, which creates a needs-based funding method, was approved by the Illinois General Assembly in May. But it has never been sent to Gov. Bruce Rauner. Leaders reportedly are holding it while they seek ways to avoid a veto of the bill over what the GOP leader called a pension bailout for Chicago schools.”
“Critics believe Democratic leaders’ real motivation is to tar Gov. Rauner with slamming closed the schoolhouse doors.”
It’s time for Mike Madigan and his fellow politicians to stop holding children hostage and agree to bipartisan education funding that does not take money from students across the state to bailout Chicago.
As we’ve already discussed, that very same “devilish detail” was also inserted into a bill that Gov. Rauner himself supported. So, spare me.
* Even so, the editorial had a very reasoned conclusion…
Whatever you think of the final 2017 budget, a deal wouldn’t have happened if House Speaker Michael Madigan’s Democratic members had not demanded it. And it would not have survived an initial vote or gubernatorial veto if some Republican lawmakers had not defied the governor and voted for it. Just as in the successful 2015 stop-gap budget campaign waged by voters and their state lawmakers, our leaders were given an offer they could not refuse. And they didn’t.
So let’s make them listen again. Demand that your lawmakers tell their leaders — Gov. Rauner, Speaker Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton — to seek and find common ground between Senate Bill 1, which lawmakers approved, and the GOP bill Gov. Rauner favors. Somewhere in the middle is a deal that answers the needs of all of the state’s students — in Chicago and downstate.
Yep.
* And here’s the News-Gazette’s conclusion…
Given today’s data of July 19, Illinois is already on the brink of a problem, one that is wholly unnecessary.
There’s no reason Gov. Rauner and Democrats could not have worked out their differences, or still can’t, to reach a compromise.
Instead, Democrats seem intent on repeating their decisive win on the budget battle with one on the school funding formula. Rauner is equally intent on not letting that happen. K-12 kids represent the collateral damage if this battle-of-wills plays itself out to its ultimate conclusion.
- Blue Bayou - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 12:21 pm:
ILGOP really emptying out the old file cabinets this week.
Maybe they lost their lease?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 12:25 pm:
===As we’ve already discussed, that very same “devilish detail” was also inserted into a bill that Gov. Rauner himself supported. So, spare me.===
Here’s the rub.
Rauner wants the hostages.
Rauner wants to blame Madigan.
Rauner had the identical language.
The ILRaunerite State Party is just dishonest in its logic. It’s not the politics, it’s just dishonesty.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 12:25 pm:
Sure gives support to the idea that politicians only care about their own agenda and do not care about the people.
- former southerner - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 12:29 pm:
The only thing that would surprise most of us now is if Governor Pinocchio or his franchised dealer network formerly known as the IL-GOP would issue an honest release.
Apparently Bruce really liked the Joe Isuzu ad series and modeled his life upon his hero.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 12:31 pm:
Rauner was on KMOX Radio, St. Louis, which reaches all throughout southern Illinois. He made it very clear that we should all contact our legislators, particularly Costello and Stewart and tell them to stand up for southern Illinois schools, and not send money to bail out Chicago. He was very convincing.
- Free Set of Steak Knives - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 12:33 pm:
Negotiating Myths
“the prevailing myth in procurement today — that everything has to be a compromise and each negotiation ends with both parties splitting the deal in question down the middle. However, the end result of splitting the pie as such is actually a ‘lose-lose’ because neither party gets what they want.”
also helpful, from Harvard:
“Positive negotiation relationships are important not because they engender warm, fuzzy feelings, but because they engender trust – a vital means of securing desired actions from others.”
“People tend to respond to others’ actions with similar actions, research in the social sciences has found. If others cooperate with us and treat us with respect, we tend to respond in kind.
If they seem guarded and competitive, we are likely to behave that way ourselves. What’s more, such exchanges can spiral into vicious cycles (those characterized by contention and suspicion) or virtuous cycles (those in which cooperation and goodwill prevail), according to negotiation expert Keith Allred.”
- The Good Lieutenant - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 12:34 pm:
There will be only losers if schools don’t open.
- winners and losers - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 12:36 pm:
This action alert was received by parents and teachers of special education students:
Governor Rauner has repeatedly and consistently stated he will issue an amendatory veto of Senate Bill 1.
You can urge the Governor to -
CHANGE the special ed part of SB 1 to restore
Special Education Personnel Reimbursement for ALL of Illinois (Chicago does NOT now have it which is the reason Chicago can reduce its number of special ed teachers and lose ZERO State funds - SB 1 as now written would allow every other school district in Illinois to do that).
The recommended change to SB 1 would provide NEW money through the Tiers so the wealthy districts will continue to get $9,000 per special ed teacher per year, and the poorer Tier I districts
(including Chicago) and Tier II districts would eventually get $20,000 or more for each special ed teacher (and other specialized personnel).
[list of contacts for the office of the Governor]
- Ole' Nelson - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 12:37 pm:
“He was very convincing.”
Undoubtedly he was, but it seems is if more people are coming to realize that he is so convincing because he is just a good actor. The words coming out of his mouth are not to be trusted, and I think more people are becoming aware of that.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 12:39 pm:
I can’t comprehend how any governor sees the schools not opening as a victory for them.
That’s some warped thinking.
Then again, Diana and Bruce Rauner clouted their denied, Winnetka-living daughter over a worthy Chicago child, so it’s not that much of s stretch to think the RaunerS care little about K-12 students.
It’s when “no one” is watching that you see one’s character.
The clouting of their denied Winnetka-living daughter over a worthy Chicago student speaks to that.
This might make Bruce even happier, well beyond the 20 years Diana says.
- A Jack - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 12:41 pm:
The ILGOP didn’t get the Radical Candor memo yet. Otherwise they would have said hurry up and send Rauner the bill so that the Governor can hold Chicago students hostage.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 12:44 pm:
==I can’t comprehend how any governor sees the schools not opening as a victory for them.==
Pffft, sure, “public” schools. But who cares about them?
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 12:48 pm:
i can’t comprehend how Democrats runs ads urging the Governor to sign a bill that has not been sent to him.
How exactly is this not a hostage situation? Waiting until the 11th hour for maximum leverage and maximum collateral damage.
No concern whatsoever for Students, Parents, Teachers, Administrators just a game of politics and gamesmanship.
One of the Speaker’s trademarks for decades that a majority of legislators endorse given their vote for the Speaker.
- Captain Ed Smith - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 12:50 pm:
There are many but the most glaring problem this govern has is he does not offer input, advise or suggestions. He does not govern. This bill impacts one of the largest school districts in the country in a city that is the economic engine of the Midwest and Rauner wants to play games because the mayor has not done enough to help him defeat Mike Madigan.
- Annonin' - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 12:51 pm:
So the legis should negotiate against themseleves to appease GovJunk. That makes less sense than normal for those papers
- PJ - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 12:51 pm:
What people don’t understand about SB1 is that right now, the Democratic stakeholders literally don’t know who to negotiate with.
The Senate lost Radogno. Purvis is AWOL, having not bothered to talk to Manar in months. And the Governor’s office just lost its entire policy staff. I get wanting to compromise, but first it would be great to learn with whom the compromise is supposed to be made.
- Captain Ed Smith - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 12:55 pm:
Governor not govern.
Let me put this another way. A republican governor has to minimize their losses in the city to get elected. Thompson, Edgar and Ryan all did it. Rauner did it his first term to a “tired” Pat Quinn. Rauner will get destroyed in the city in 18.
- Juice - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 12:55 pm:
The motion to reconsider was filed by Senator Trotter.
Anyone want to ask the Senator to go on record with his thoughts on Madigan? My guess is the response would not be suitable for a family publication.
- Arock - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 12:56 pm:
If it is truly a reform on the way schools are funded let it pass or fail on its own merit, no reason to insert extra funding for a certain entity. Pass a clean Evidence-Based School Funding bill.
- Jmi o - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 1:06 pm:
SB1 is a compromise. It already reflects views of both parties.
This Supposed reasoned additional deal is pure bullying by Rauner and company. SB1 already is compromise. Expecting Dems to bargain further is inappropriate.
Rauner needs to act like an adult Within the democratic process. majority rules. Dems are the majority!
Get over yourself Bruce. democracy said NO to your idea.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 1:07 pm:
I recall in 2015 tough-talkin’ Rauner muscled every single GOP legislator to vote against the K-12 approp.
But when it was his turn to step up, his knees buckled and he signed the bill.
I doubt that I’m the only one who remembers that.
From what I’ve read here, the schools most in danger of not opening or closing early are in Rauner’s Downstate base.
Do you think those parents will be understanding when Rauner explains their kids arent in school because 90% isn’t good enough for him?
Seriously, what cards does he think he’s holding?
- Illinois O'Malley - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 1:11 pm:
@Arock, how do you not understand SB1 results in CPS getting the state pension contribution like every other school district in the state? If you can’t comprehend this then maybe a new SB1 should put a 100% pension cost shift on each district to make it ‘clean’
- Mike K - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 1:20 pm:
So the GOP accuses the SB1 proponents of wanting to help not only downstate kids but Chicago kids too? Seems to me this is a “ploy” to help all kids by making the system more fair across the board.
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 1:23 pm:
===no reason to insert extra funding for a certain entity.===
Line. Item. Veto.
See Illinois Constitution, ” The Governor may reduce or veto any item of
appropriations in a bill presented to him. Portions of a bill
not reduced or vetoed shall become law.”
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 1:24 pm:
===Pass a clean Evidence-Based School Funding bill.===
Since the same language is used, I’m sure you’re calling on all parties to do so.
===How exactly is this not a hostage situation? Waiting until the 11th hour for maximum leverage and maximum collateral damage.===
Why the hurry? The goal is signature so schools can open and remain open.
You’d think the governor would want compromise or a way to get something signed. The hurry to Veto, maybe an emotional Veto, makes no sense. You’d think after all the “emotional” things the RaunerS have done, taking pause might help Gov. Rauner.
===No concern whatsoever for Students, Parents, Teachers, Administrators just a game of politics and gamesmanship.===
The legislature passed the bill. Passing it for schools. The goal is to get schools open. That’s what this bill is attempting.
Only a veto can put the pressure on schools.
Can’t take back a veto. The emotional veto Rauner had proved that.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 1:29 pm:
===Line. Item. Veto. ===
Sigh.
This is not an approp bill.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 1:44 pm:
If the Governor wants this bill sent to him so he can veto it, why doesn’t he ask AG Madigan to enforce Article IV, section 9(a)of the IL Constitution, which reads: “Every bill passed by the General Assembly shall be presented to the Governor within 30 calendar days after its
passage. The foregoing requirement shall be judicially enforceable. If the Governor approves the bill, he shall sign it and it shall become law.” It’s been well over 30 days since the passage of SB 1. The legal process is simple. It would force the AG to take on Speaker Madigan. I think it would be very interesting.
- A Jack - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 1:58 pm:
Speaker Madigan doesn’t have a hold on the bill, the Senate does.
- NoUseForAName - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 2:43 pm:
to Anon at 1:44:
SB1 hasn’t been passed by the General Assembly. The motion to reconsider is a legislative procedural order allowed for in the rules governing that body. Until that motion has been dealt with, the bill hasn’t been fully passed by the GA.
Nice try though.
- Sue - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 3:26 pm:
Why would anyone talk to Manar who is constantly spewing out venom and misstatements. All Rauner wants to do is excise the CPS pension money which if it isn’t a bailout extending on for multiple years - then what is it. Chicago spent down its pension fund by not contributing into it for a dozen years. What the Dems recognize is that the same R’s who voted to support the budget won’t be there to support the CPS pension bailout. The delay in sending Rauner the bill is proof positive
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 3:31 pm:
- Sue -
What is the objection Rauner has?
What language is that objection found?
Why are people confused?
- Fred - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 3:52 pm:
-Oswego Willy-
There is a rumor that you are a Madigan employee. After reading dozens of your posts, it makes total sense. Save the propaganda for the people in your district. Nobody else is buying it
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 3:57 pm:
===This is not an approp bill.===
My bad. I thought the line item veto would still apply. Well, shoot. Sorry.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 3:58 pm:
===There is a rumor that you are a Madigan employee.===
Meh,
I’m from one of the finest families in the Midwest, Old Sport. Ah, sadly, all dead now. When I first made my appearance here it was just after the war, I’m a man of fine breeding. A war hero, with many medals, oh and an Oxford man. You know Oxford?
Don’t believe all ya hear… Old Sport.
- Mama - Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 4:57 pm:
Purvis has been AWOL since she got the job. She didn’t take the job to improve public schools. Rauner & Purvis both want school vouchers for private schools in IL. The education community knows the school voucher system does not work. Rauner & Purvis’s main goal is to get rid of public education in IL.
winners and losers, Rauner doesn’t care about students whom need special education services.