* SJ-R…
Gov. Bruce Rauner on Friday issued an ultimatum in his battle with the General Assembly over school funding, demanding that legislative leaders send Senate Bill 1 to his desk by noon Monday. Rauner said that if legislative leaders do not do that, he will call a special session immediately.
More…
“There is no legitimate reason for Speaker Madigan to be sitting on the school funding bill,” he said.
Rauner acknowledged that the bill in question is a Senate measure, but accused Senate President John Cullerton of acting on orders from Madigan.
“This is the cynical manipulation of this process,” Rauner said. ”(Cullerton) has told my Senate colleagues that Speaker Madigan has ordered him to sit on the bill. .. He takes his orders from Speaker Madigan.”
So, we’re back to the Cullerton is Madigan’s puppet line, eh?
* More headlines from the ILGOP…
Governor Bruce Rauner slammed Mike Madigan’s Democrats in a downstate tour this week, highlighting how Madigan’s Chicago pension bailout will take state education dollars away from downstate schools.
Mike Madigan is holding schoolchildren hostage – he’s having his allies in the Senate hold SB1 from reaching the Governor’s desk in a ploy to force a $500 million taxpayer funded bailout of Chicago schools with no promise of financial reform.
But Governor Rauner is bringing Madigan’s scheme to light.
Check out these headlines from Rauner’s tour:
The Southern: Rauner: Amendatory veto of K-12 funding bill would help Southern Illinois schools
Gov. Bruce Rauner said Thursday that his plan to change the language of a key K-12 funding bill would funnel more money into downstate schools and avoid an unfair “bailout” of Chicago Public Schools.
During an interview with The Southern’s editorial board, Rauner called for the General Assembly to send him the Evidence-Based Funding for Student Success Act, also known as SB1, which passed both chambers of the legislature on May 31 and has been held from the governor’s desk ever since.
Fox St. Louis: Gov. Rauner threatens to veto Illinois school funding bill over Chicago pensions
“What’s happening is our school funding for this year, August and September, that bill to fund that is being held up Speaker Madigan,” Rauner said.
…“They’re sitting on it, holding it until August to force a crisis to force taxpayers of Illinois to fund a bailout of Chicago pensions,” he said.
KFVS: IL Gov. Rauner sits down one-on-one to discuss school funding bill
“Release the bill, don’t sit on it, don’t wait until August to create a crisis,” Gov. Rauner said. “Send it to my desk and I will amendatory veto it and take out the bad pension payment part that’s going to cost tax payers money, and schools will open on time with more money.”
KSDK: GOV. RAUNER STOPS IN METRO EAST TO PUSH FOR VETO
Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner stopped in the Metro East Thursday to talk about schools possibly shutting down because they can’t get state funding. The Governor was in Edwardsville trying to garner support for his plan.
Here’s the issue: Funding has been approved by the Democratic-led Legislature to fund public schools, but the Republican Governor said it unfairly gives millions of dollars to Chicago Schools.
* In other news, Sen. Andy Manar called out an ILGOP staffer on Twitter last night…
* Stuff is really heating up…
Heh.
- J IL - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 10:26 am:
Probably necessary at this point. Also, if you’re going to do a special session anyway then mine as well just push Cullerton’s consideration model for the pension reform and see if it sticks.
- Undiscovered country - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 10:26 am:
So if the GOV veto’s out all funding for CPS’s failing schools then we’d have even MORE money for our downstate schools right? Why half measures Gov, veto out ALL Chicago funding until they elect a new mayor to run a decent school district. I want MORE than my fair share and only you can promise it to me. /s
- Demoralized - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 10:27 am:
He’s really scorching the earth. The guy expects anyone to work with him now?
And, he’s criticizing the Democrats for “holding schools hostage” at the same time he’s demanding they send him a bill he has indicated he is going to AV. “Send me the bill so I can kill it!”
His term has been a bad roller coaster ride thus far. The next 18 months aren’t going to be any better.
- Curl of the Burl - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 10:28 am:
Andy is still salty that Avery Bourne smoked his pal Mike Mathis. He is turning into a VERY petty elected official.
- Arsenal - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 10:28 am:
…I don’t understand what a special session is supposed to do? The GA passed a bill. Rauner, stinging from his budget defeat, says he’ll veto it, but send it to him anyway. The GA says wait a minute (because why send him something he’s just going to veto?). A special session will resolve this…how?
- Ducky LaMoore - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 10:29 am:
Make him call it. And get to work on it and a progressive tax amendment.
- d.p.gumby - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 10:30 am:
Curl–Brucie is willing to sacrifice all Chicago students for his own political agenda and you call Andy petty! Illinois is descending into the world of Trumptopia.
- northsider (the original) - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 10:32 am:
Imaginary conversations with the Speaker 8 years ago. Imaginary conversations with “Senate colleagues” this week.
What’s next, a six-foot rabbit as body-man’s replacement?
- 47th Ward - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 10:33 am:
It’s been almost three years and Governor Rauner still can’t grasp the whole “separation of powers” thing. Maybe the great bidnessman should be about the business of reading the IL Constitution.
Or maybe instead of issuing ultimatums, he can threaten to hold his breath until he turns blue. That might be as effective as calling a special session. Lord knows it will be cheaper.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 10:33 am:
===What’s next, a six-foot rabbit as body-man’s replacement?===
Harvey would never leave Elwood’s side.
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 10:34 am:
Rauner is back at being Blagojevich.
- ILPundit - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 10:34 am:
Can’t wait to see the scope of the special session proclamation. Will he actually identify legislation for action this time?
- Baloneymous - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 10:37 am:
At what point can we all agree that Rauner has “jumped the Blago?” Are we there yet?
- Roman - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 10:39 am:
I’m getting whiplash trying to keep up with Rauner’s lies. Nobody, literally nobody, believe John Cullerton said that to a Senate Republican.
Every time he opens his mouth he offers another “somebody-told-me” whopper.
This is becoming pathological.
- Blue dog dem - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 10:39 am:
Hardball at its finest.
OW. Salernos on the Fox. Very nice. Great view. Never been to St. Charles. Nice.
- winners and losers - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 10:40 am:
This is setting very bad precedents:
(1) Pass a budget bill based NOT on current law, but on what you WANT THE LAW TO BE.
(2) Do not follow the constitutional process, but hold a bill indefinitely unless and until the Governor agrees to sign it.
(3) Threaten a special session when that will do nothing to move SB 1 out of the Senate (and will waste more money on a special session).
Forget Rauner, Madigan, Cullerton and Manar.
What precedents does this set for Illinois with other Governors and other Leaders?
- Real - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 10:42 am:
I got a feeling this too will backfire on Rauner. He will be defeated again and I hope if he calls a special session they use it to there advantage to put Rauner on the spot.
- Michelle Flaherty - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 10:44 am:
Just wondering, is Rauner’s classroom funding veto going to take out all the tax increase dollars or is he planning on spending Mike Madigan’s permanent 32 percent tax hike?
#ExileInRaunerville
- Precinct Captain - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 10:46 am:
This guy is quickly turning into Blago.
- ILPundir - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 10:47 am:
WHEREAS the Governor of the state of Illinois has repeatedly stated his intent to veto SB 1, and;
WHEREAS the Governor has repeatedly demanded that Speaker Madigan send SB 1 to the Governor so that he can execute that veto, and;
WHEREAS SB 1 is not currently in the House of Representatives, and Speaker Madigan has no authority to send said legislation, and;
WHEREAS, the Governor of the state of Illinois remains utterly clueless as to the concept of the Constitutional separation of powers, or the rules and procedures of the Illinois General Assembly, and;
WHEREAS the Governor has effectively purged his staff of any and all staff that could provide experienced advice on veto procedure and the roles of the legislative and executive branches, and;
WHEREAS the last time the Governor called for special sessions, it worked out really great for him;
THEREFORE be it resolved that Governor Bruce V. Rauner hereby calls the Illinois General Assembly into session on August 1, 2017 for the purpose of acting on a veto not yet performed, on legislation the governor has not yet received, because the Governor couldn’t come up with any better ideas.
- Robert J Hironimus-Wendt - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 10:50 am:
In all reality, SB1 should be sent to the Governor. That is proper protocol, regardless of anyone’s political intent. Send it forward.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 10:51 am:
===That is proper protocol, regardless of anyone’s political intent. Send it forward.===
Are you saying holding the bill is against the actual rules?
How so? Explain.
- Team Warwick - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 10:53 am:
Please call a special session anyway because we need a state Capital Budget. There are lots of regular work things that happen because they are paid from the capital budget and not the operations budget. I dont think they have explained completely to him or it would be on his radar for sure. We do more than build roads with a capitol budget, we do some important statutory tasks that are paid from specific accounts that are only accessed by capitol budgry appropriation. We cant access the money that is just sitting there waiting since 2015. Its ridiculous really. Its not GRF money and its not even controversial just boring maintenance but its paid from the capital budget.
- A Jack - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 10:53 am:
It sounds like Rauner is getting “emotional” again. That is likely why the Senate put a hold in it in the first place. When Rauner gets “emotional,” objective reasoning goes out the window.
He has to call a special session anyway if he is going to suggest changes, since those have to be either approved or overridden. Otherwise the bill would sit until the fall veto session and that would be after schools are scheduled to open.
- Robert J Hironimus-Wendt - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 10:53 am:
No, not saying that at all. I am simply saying that the bill is finished business in the legislature, and should be sent to the Governor. This is how Parliamentary Procedure is supposed to work.
- Annonin' - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 10:54 am:
Maybe special session include Committee of Whole with a big chair for GovJunk so he tell us all he knows about ed funding.
- Norseman - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 10:54 am:
Jennifer, you’re wasting your time talking to the GOP caucus about collaboration. They’re not allowed to collaborate or compromise per directive by Rauner. If they don’t walk the line, they’ll lose the goose that lays the golden eggs.
It’s looking to me that funding reform is going to die.
- El Conquistador - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 10:55 am:
Another manufactured showdown… this guy is a drama queen. He needs to just do his job.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 10:56 am:
(Sigh)
===Are you saying holding the bill is against the actual rules?===
===No, not saying that at all===
===This is how Parliamentary Procedure is supposed to work.===
I don’t think you have the first clue to what you’re saying.
It doesn’t break the rules, “but”… “suppose to”
Ugh.
- Redbirds - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 10:57 am:
Once again Michelle Flaherty gets it. When is someone going to ask any of the House or Senate members showing up at these press conferences whether or not they voted for the budget/revenue that’s providing these “huge” gains for their hometown districts? At least Jimenez has the street cred today.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 11:00 am:
So Rauner is barnstorming the state against SB1, something his peeps said is 90% of what he wanted.
Yet he didn’t put a 60-day brick on and do the same for the tax increase bill, something he allegedly was 100% against.
Curious math and misapplication of power.
- Robert J Hironimus-Wendt - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 11:04 am:
Ad hominem, OW? Actually, I am exceeding familiar with Robert’s Rules of Order, and do have a clue what I am saying.
The fact is, the legislature passed a bill. It did so knowing it would be rejected by the Governor. Holding the bill is simply playing to the least common denominator, and racing to the bottom. If legislators wish to participate in this race to the bottom with the Governor, that is an option. But the reason we have separate branches is to allow each branch to check each other. Knowing a veto is coming does not justify using the rules to impede the process. It is certainly an option. But it does violate the spirit and intent of Parliamentary Procedure.
- Pelonski - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 11:05 am:
“This is how Parliamentary Procedure is supposed to work.” - In democracy, yes, but this is Illinois, where democracy takes a back seat to the politics.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 11:07 am:
===In democracy, yes, but this is Illinois, where democracy takes a back seat to the politics.===
What parliamentary procedure is being broken?
- Jane A. - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 11:08 am:
So when are the folks “downstate,” i.e. everywhere outside of Chicago, or at a stretch Cook County, going to realize just how much in contempt the governor and the “Raunerites” hold them? I wonder, does he make jokes with his 1% friends and the dark money crowd about how gullible the rubes are, that they should believe his costumes and his false claims as he works to exploit the big-city/small-city-and-town divide? And, naively, why does the ILGOP go along? What they must think of their fellow Republicans.
Admittedly off topic: Perhaps the ideal Democratic candidate for guv would be from someplace like Bloomington-Normal. In that fairy tale world, there might be a chance for the idea of working for Illinois as a whole in bi-partisan manner to come to the fore.
- winners and losers - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 11:08 am:
OW - According to Senate rules, the Senate can hold SB 1 indefinitely.
But that has not been past practice.
Please see my posting at 10:40AM
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 11:13 am:
===According to Senate rules, the Senate can hold SB 1 indefinitely.===
I don’t think it’s me you need to… educate…
===But that has not been past practice.===
But it’s not usurping any power or breaking any rules…
- A Jack - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 11:20 am:
They will need a special session anyway to either approve his recommendations (if he is allowed to make them) or to override his veto.
If a special session isn’t called, the bill will sit until fall veto which is kind of late for school openings.
They may need a special session anyway if they reconsider the vote or withdraw the motion, unless that motion can be withdrawn outside of a GA session.
- Just Me - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 11:20 am:
Neither side on this issue has clean hands, but using a procedural motion to halt the official deliverance of a bill through the Constitutional process does seem like a cowardly move.
You passed the bill; now own it.
- RNUG - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 11:24 am:
== “Release the bill, don’t sit on it, don’t wait until August to create a crisis,” ==
… says the man who believes crisis creates opportunity for change.
- RNUG - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 11:25 am:
Calling the GA back into Springfield in August does not win friends or positively influence people.
- Pius - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 11:29 am:
===This is how Parliamentary Procedure is supposed to work.===
Roberts Rules only apply when an assembly (House or Senate) is in session.
- A Jack - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 11:33 am:
Cowardly? I am sure this action was driven by Rauner’s “emotional” veto of the CPS bill last year. They gave him time to consider that CPS bill as well and thought they had a deal.
The Senate was hoping Rauner would get control of his emotions. Although the last few weeks would seem to indicate otherwise.
- Arsenal - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 11:36 am:
==but using a procedural motion to halt the official deliverance of a bill through the Constitutional process does seem like a cowardly move.==
When the Gov has said he’ll immediately veto it? How so?
- CEA - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 11:38 am:
@ILPundit
===WHEREAS the last time the Governor called for special sessions, it worked out really great for him;===
Thanks for that. I needed a laugh this morning!
- Anonymous - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 11:39 am:
One hopes everybody is weighing ability to deliver and not just ability to promise
A bird in the hand, right?
- Anonymous - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 11:45 am:
===Gov. Bruce Rauner said Thursday that his plan to change the language of a key K-12 funding bill would funnel more money into downstate schools and avoid an unfair “bailout” of Chicago Public Schools===
This is pure fantasy. No one believes that, and language doesn’t provide that, a reduction in funding for CPS is going to result in additional revenues for other school districts. In the old days they had a name for proclamations such as this - it was called a lie.
- Huh? - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 11:46 am:
“Harvey would never leave Elwood’s side.”
“Harvey” is a great Jimmy Stewart movie.
- cdog - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 11:53 am:
I fail to see how the word “hostage” is inappropriate.
All the belly-aching yesterday, about that word being used to describe the “stall,” does not diminish the fact that the signed SB1 is still sitting in the Legislature.
If the responsible goal is to open schools on time, and respecting the political realities of getting votes, it’s probably time to deliver the bill to the Gov. amen?
Maybe the Senate needs to quit “stalling;” it makes you look like hostage-takers.
I’d prefer the Democrats leave the schools of Illinois out of their game plan of getting a double-play, tax increase and CPS pension bonus.
- Michelle Flaherty - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 12:13 pm:
You don’t need a special session to override a veto or consider proposed changes. You just need a session day. Might seem “special” because of the timing but you don’t need a “Special Session”, which is a specific thing under the constitution.
- Robert J Hironimus-Wendt - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 12:21 pm:
My post at 11:04 was delayed for some reason, but now appears. It addresses the role of parliamentary procedure.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 12:24 pm:
===It did so knowing it would be rejected by the Governor. Holding the bill is simply playing to the least common denominator, and racing to the bottom.===
Opinion. Yep. Not based in the rules.
That opinion has nothing to do with the reality. Good try thou.
===Knowing a veto is coming does not justify using the rules to impede the process. ===
It’s within the rules.
- Huh? - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 12:51 pm:
“using the rules to impede the process.”
Or speed up the process. Using the “rules” to suit a purpose is the whole point of the process.
The process that I see is that the brick will remain until some time next month when the schools are to open. The brick comes off, SB1 gets sent to 1.4%. 1.4% vetoes the bill and sends it back. The GA sits on its hands just long enough for 1.4% to get blamed for schools not opening in time. The GA comes back and overrides the veto.
- walker - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 1:09 pm:
As usual, Cullerton sounds like the adult. If we don’t want to play timing games aiming for maximum embarrassment and blame for the other side, then hold a meeting to clarify who would settle for what? No reason to think that will happen, though.
- DuPage Bard - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 1:20 pm:
The Governor can AV the bill but if the GA isn’t in session there is no way to either override or accept the veto.
So it really doesn’t matter what he does at this point, except signing, if he wants the schools to open on time.
- RNUG - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 1:59 pm:
Actually, I think both -Huh- and -Dupage Bard- are close.
My scenario is they hold the bill.until the bill must be signed that day if the schools are to open.
Rauner is counting on the GA to override almost immediately; I don’t see that happening. What I see is letting it sit until Rauner agrees to sign a new bill on the GA’s terms … which might be less to his liking than the current bill.
I just don’t understand why he won’t take a 90% win, declare victory, and move on.
High stakes game but, at this point, no other path forward except a continued GOP rebellion supplying the need override votes.
- Arthur Andersen - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 2:53 pm:
RNUG, I’m outta the wheelhouse here bit is there “a day the schools are to open?” Doesn’t it vary widely, including year-round schools? Don’t know, but do know we’re about to be in a mess.
- walker - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 3:47 pm:
If Governor Rauner calls a session, to try to force the legislators to come to an agreement, will he publicly commit to support the agreement negotiated by his Republican legislators, and not pull the rug out from under them at the last minute?
No? Then what is Rauner talking about?
- Dome Gnome - Friday, Jul 21, 17 @ 3:55 pm:
I’m just an ordinary citizen, but it’s been my observation that the thought of schools not opening is the only GR spending matter that makes this governor squirm. He doesn’t mind it when a homeless shelter closes or women can’t get breast cancer screening, but this Captain of Industry wants working parents to show up to work on time and he certainly doesn’t want a crisis like that to stick to him. If I didn’t care so much about public education, I might enjoy watching Rauner shift around in his seat.