* Press release…
There’s no need for expensive special sessions, and Gov. Rauner should simply convene a meeting to end the secrecy regarding whatever classroom funding changes he has in mind, Illinois Senate President John J. Cullerton said in a statement released Friday.
Here is the full statement from Senate President John Cullerton.
“Education advocates and school leaders across our state support Senate Bill 1. They know what it does. What no one knows is what Gov. Rauner’s plan would do. So, rather than expensive special sessions and conflict-driving vetoes, let’s have a meeting so we can see what the governor’s plan is. It can be as simple as that. I would encourage the governor to convene a leaders meeting rather than a special session.”
I dunno. Maybe a special session will work better. It would give rank and file legislators in both parties time together to figure out how to move forward because the leaders clearly can’t work together. That’s what happened during the budget special session, after all.
Your thoughts?
- Not Rich - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 12:13 pm:
Rauner has told his Republican Leaders NOT to engage with the D’s UNTIL they have sent him SB 1..
- Pelonski - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 12:16 pm:
“Rauner has told his Republican Leaders NOT to engage with the D’s UNTIL they have sent him SB 1..”
And there in lies the problem; a total lack of independence from the Governor by the Republicans in the General Assembly.
- Michelle Flaherty - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 12:17 pm:
Rauner hasn’t had a leaders meeting since December. Things are finally starting to work. Why break the streak now?
- Ginhouse Tommy - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 12:19 pm:
A special session shows that Rauner is in charge. While I think that Sen. Cullerton makes a valid, sensible point, I can see Rich’s point too. It appears that Rauner is determined to veto the bill no matter what even if it didn’t have a pension bailout for CPS. To me anyway it seems like he just wants to make people sweat and worry. He’s that way.
- Real - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 12:20 pm:
How can the leaders work together when Rauner has not met with them on this issue? He is working with IPI instead.
- Pundent - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 12:20 pm:
At this point I don’t know if it even matters. The well has been poisoned and I don’t see either approach producing any results.
- No easy fixes - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 12:22 pm:
Agree Rich, looks like the rank and file will have to push this through- too many egos in the Leaders Meetings….and one more rather LARGE EGO added with Senator Brady.
- Anon221 - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 12:30 pm:
Instead of a special session or even a leaders meeting at this point, Team Rauner IPI needs to stop showing us the “money” and show us the math (all caps and an exclamation point). Rauner appears not even to know how his formula works, how is a leaders meeting going to improve his math skills?
- A Jack - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 12:35 pm:
They may walk out of the leader’s meeting thinking they have a deal only to be presented with an emotional veto decision.
- Michelle Flaherty - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 12:41 pm:
Anon221, it might be that the leaders prefer to embarrass him in private rather than let him continue to embarrass himself in public.
- Lamont - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 12:42 pm:
I’m not sure how denying the CPS block grant puts more money in other districts hands. How does the new formula work? Is there a set amount set aside for education, and then is it divided up among the school district? Or does the new formula dictate a certain amount per pupil and the funding total is decided upon afterwards?
- Grand Avenue - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 12:43 pm:
Pre purge, this would have been a great argument for Rauner to tour the state on or release ads about - release the bill, Democrats, stop holding kids hostage.
After the purge, no one knows what they’re doing, nothing matters. It’s Governor Nihilism.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 12:44 pm:
Have a leaders meeting, but make sure Proft invites Rauner
- RNUG - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 12:44 pm:
Skip both. Rauner needs to clearly and publicly lay out what changes he wants. Or have his House and Senate floor leaders do so. Then the 4 Tops can meet and see if they can agree. If not, then and only then, do you go to the expense of calling a special session.
- Ginohuse Tommy - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 12:46 pm:
Anon221 If his math added up it would be a first. I guess Ivy League schools don’t teach math. Like I stated Bruce wants a show It’s all smoke screen.
- illinoised - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 12:47 pm:
I am not sure Rauner qualifies to attend a leaders meeting.
- RNUG - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 12:51 pm:
The other thing is there has to be one leader designated by Rauner that can accept a compromise, because they aren’t going to give him everything he asks for. The Governor has zero leverage or credibility at this point.
- Gruntled University Employee - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 12:56 pm:
===The Governor has zero leverage or credibility at this point. ===
RNUG, this is true but he still has his ego and if history has shown us anything about him, that’s all he needs.
- Anon221 - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 1:05 pm:
Michelle Flaherty- I honestly don’t think he familiar with the concept of embarrassment. He goes straight from telling whoppers to pointing fingers in the same breath. Hate to see him play a game of Twister. It would look like an F3 tornado had hit afterward
- cdog - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 1:10 pm:
It seems the most direct way to “compromise” would be to start with the AV? Then, work on just that section to get the votes.
(Leader meetings don’t have the best track record and it doesn’t seem there would be enough votes to put the GOP plan into play.)
Either way, legislators are going to have to come back before school starts.
Why wait…. (I know why, just playn’.)
- SouthSideBubba - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 1:13 pm:
So Gov. Chaos calls the Special Session - all the Reps and Senators show up - and then he tells them he called them back to ….. do what exactly??
“Stand in the corner until you come to your senses” /s
- winners and losers - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 1:15 pm:
A Leaders meeting? A special session before SB 1 is sent to the Governor?
Send SB 1 to the Governor. He has stated he will immediately issue an amendatory veto.
Then the Illinois General Assembly needs to return to Springfield to
(1) accept the changes to SB 1 recommended by the Governor, or
(2) override the changes, or
(3) pass new budget language (put on a shell bill that can pass both Houses in one day) for K-12 education based on CURRENT law, or
(4) pass a new, revised compromise SB 1.
- VanillaMan - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 1:16 pm:
You show your governing creds by joining Cullerton.
You show your commitment to bipartisanship by joining Cullerton.
You establish your connections to Cullerton.
You show Illinois citizens that their governor can work with their senate leader.
You show everyone that you respect the opportunity to get work done.
- Ginhouse Tommy - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 1:17 pm:
RNUG I think your 12:44 is on the money. It makes sense, would save time and accomplish a lot with little drama. Good stuff as usual.
- Redraider - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 1:18 pm:
The Governor is in full blown campaign mode. Just like the special session it is all about setting up attack ads. The special session will result once again in veto overrides with some Republican help and then he and what’s left of IPI will run attack ads on how ” your representative supported a Chicago bailout ” Ridiculous
- winners and losers - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 1:22 pm:
KADNER (Chicago Sun-Times): Nobody willing to fall on their sword for Illinois school kids
ift.tt/2tnsVS9
- Gooner - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 1:28 pm:
Sen. Cullerton assumes that GOP leadership would be in a position to negotiate.
As we’ve seen from the experience of Radogno and Anderson, that’s not the case.
Current GOP leadership will repeat the Governor’s lines.
If any progress is going to be made, it will involve the full House and Senate with a number of GOP members going against the leadership.
The Governor is never going to agree to anything, so meetings that just involve the leaders are a waste of time.
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 1:30 pm:
What could the Governor possibly want in exchange for the extra CPS money?
The statewide pension reform that was promised a year ago.
It has passed the Senate and is sitting in the House gathering dust.
- Arock - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 1:31 pm:
Send him the bill and you will see what changes he makes, seems kind of simple. Then maybe there can be some action before the 11th hour and people will know what actually got passed. Anybody seen any of those preliminary reforms that Madigan said would be happening after the budget passed? Might help with the state credit ratings if some reforms were actually in the works.
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 1:34 pm:
The Speaker can show his creds by joining Cullerton and passing pension reform.
The Governor will sign it, crisis averted through the bipartisanship that was promised.
- Capitol View - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 1:37 pm:
What the guv needs is a facesaving way of signing the contents of SB 1. So pass another bill with a statement of philosophy on the responsibility of state government funding elementary and secondary education in the most fair manner possible.
- Deft Wing - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 1:39 pm:
I like the part in School House Rock where the bill passes both Chambers but then is held in a mini-prison of sorts by the bills’ sponsors while those sponsors simultaneously tell the public the Governor’s veto is unfair … despite the lack of veto.
Cullerton’s lack of candor is stunning even by Chicago-Democrat standards; which are almost immeasurably low.
And all the while the band played on.
- Mean Gene - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 1:41 pm:
==Might help with the state credit ratings if some reforms were actually in the works.==
Put this line to bed, please.
“Moody’s put Illinois under review for a downgrade earlier this month, after the state entered its third fiscal year without a budget.”
The potential junk status came from a historic 3rd year of a state not having a budget. Moody’s and other investors care very little about term limits.
- Been There - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 1:48 pm:
I say have a leaders meeting while at the same time Steve Anderson, Greg Harris, Donny Trotter and somebody from the senate repubs (Ryder?) meet separately.
- cdog - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 1:53 pm:
So little to do, so much time….from Moody’s…
Factors that Could Lead to an Upgrade
Implementation of a realistic plan to provide long-term funding for pension obligations
Progress in reducing payment backlog and adoption of legal framework to prevent renewed build-up of unpaid bills
Enactment of recurring fiscal measures that support expectation of sustainable, structural balance
Factors that Could Lead to a Downgrade
Structural imbalance that leads to renewed build-up of unpaid bills following issuance of debt to pay down backlog
Efforts to obtain near-term fiscal relief by reducing pension contributions
Political paralysis that results in failure to provide for timely payment of subject-to-appropriation debt
Difficulty managing the impacts of an economic downturn, a reduction in federal Medicaid funding or other unexpected adverse event
“Political paralysis” is another way to describe holding on to SB1 until the last minute to affect a partisan plan.
It’s bad politics, bad government. We’ve really had enough of that from both sides.
- Norseman - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 2:22 pm:
I’m torn. The member to member communications worked during the last special session because of the impending cliff. However, the retribution will make such a prospect less likely.
I also don’t see a leaders meeting with Rauner will work. The chemistry is too explosive.
We may simply end up with a dead funding reform bill and a quick follow-up bill to ensure schools open.
- Team Warwick - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 2:41 pm:
Weasel meeting. We have to have special session anyway to complete other parts of the states budget, like a full legit capital budget. They keep pawning off partial oprrations budget efforts on the public as “finally we have a state budget” and its only a partial budget. Not mission accomplished, more like “we just started on it”.