* Gov. Rauner was asked by reporters several times today about the details of his threatened amendatory veto of SB 1. “We need it on my desk and you will see,” he said to one reporter.
“We can’t have any rational discussions until that bill’s on my desk,” he told another who asked about leaders meetings. “There’s nothing really to discuss without that bill being on my desk.”
And then he said this…
“If they would actually deal with the reality and have the truth come, I could, you could read my amendatory veto and you’ll see what I do. They don’t want the truth. They don’t want an open debate. They don’t want this to be out in public. Because the truth is so bad for their position.”
Um, SB 1 is out there for everyone to see. The governor’s plan is the only secret here. There can be no public debate until we see his plan, and I don’t see what the harm would be in making it public. Perhaps I’m wrong. What do you think?
*** UPDATE 1 *** From the DGA…
In a bizarre press conference today, Governor Bruce Rauner repeatedly dodged direct questions about his plans for SB1. In addition, Rauner called for Democrats to send him SB1 so that he could amendatory veto the legislation, but refused to spell out what his changes will actually entail.
Perhaps Rauner’s reluctance to talk to address the specifics of SB1 has to do with his general campaign of misinformation regarding the school funding formula. Greg Hinz of Chicago Crain’s writes that Rauner has “decided to demonize part of his electorate, Chicago, in a way I haven’t seen in this state’s politics for many decades” and he’s “cherry-picking” numbers to do it. Hinz continues:
“Rauner, for instance, while wailing about those fat-cat Chicago teachers and their big pensions, is promoting a website that shows how much other districts would get under his school funding plan. The trouble is in the fine print: The site purports to redistribute money that would come not from pension funding but from phased-out block grants. Apparently taking away money from impoverished kids in Chicago isn’t as popular as whacking teacher pensions.”
Worse, Friday Rauner admitted the state’s school board of education was not even involved in the math behind Rauner’s planned veto, and instead the work was done by unnamed administration people. Dusty Rhodes of NPR Illinois writes:
“He hasn’t shown the work behind his calculations, and said he didn’t know whether the Illinois State Board of Education had been involved in the creation of the spreadsheet. ISBE, which is headed by Rauner appointees, traditionally models funding proposals using their in-depth database. Full models of other proposals, including SB1, sponsored by Sen. Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) and SB1124, sponsored by Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) are available at isbe.net.”
It sure seems like Governor Rauner’s concerned about the policy here.
“Bruce Rauner’s actions these past two weeks showed a governor more concerned about his reelection than about making sure schools open on time,” said DGA Illinois Communications Director Sam Salustro. “Rauner has pursued a campaign of misinformation designed to divide one state against the other, and today Rauner’s cynical strategy was exposed when he refused to address direct questions about his plans for SB1. Illinois families have seen this failed style of leadership when Bruce Rauner dragged the state through a two-year budget impasse that drove jobs and people from the state.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** ILGOP…
ILGOP Releases Digital Ads
Ads Highlight Mike Madigan’s Chicago Bailout, Attempt to Hold Schoolchildren Hostage
Mike Madigan’s attempt to hold schoolchildren hostage for a $500 million Chicago bailout is everything wrong with Illinois politics.
Madigan is willing to put politics ahead of the interests of Illinois children. He’s willing to take money from children across the state to bailout his friends in Chicago with no promise of reform. It’s just plain wrong.
That’s why today, the Illinois Republican Party is releasing digital ads calling out Mike Madigan for his scheme to force through a taxpayer funded Chicago bailout.
The ads…
- ILGOV2018 - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 11:34 am:
I was thinking the same thing. If there are parts you don’t like about it, tell us and let the leaders hash it out, right?
Sounds too much like Trump with his I will let you know next week, I will release my taxes after the election. My friend Jim said….. etc, etc, etc….
- Signal and Noise - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 11:39 am:
Given the entire staff shake up, I wouldn’t be shocked if they don’t really have a plan yet.
- ilga.gov - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 11:40 am:
Agree. Governor, go to ilga.gov and type SB1 in the search box. The whole thing is there for you to read, in the open and public. Your proposal, on the other hand, is not.
- Real - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 11:40 am:
I say the GA override this guy soon after his veto like the Senate did for the budget.
- Anon - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 11:40 am:
I think Rauner is being unreasonable. Why not have a discussion about the 10% you don’t like and see if you can work something out? Seems like he loves to lurch from one crisis to another.
- 47th Ward - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 11:44 am:
The Governor doesn’t prepare meaningful budget proposals. The Governor doesn’t offer his Turnaround Agenda in bill form. The Governor won’t detail what is in his AV until he issues it. The Governor has spent almost three years refusing to do his job.
Why do you think that is? Lol.
- Henry Francis - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 11:45 am:
This all seems like an attempt to make him - the Governor - look like he has some power here.
He has looked so completely ineffective and powerless over the last 2 1/2 years.
- Nick Name - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 11:45 am:
What I think is, he has no plan, and his real intention is a veto. This is not how normal people act.
- old pol - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 11:45 am:
Rauner is not being unreasonable. Until he act’s the final AV is not settled on. Just like any legislation that’s being considered; the language is known to all when the bill is filled, not before. The GA had its turn - now its his. Send him the bill.
- Ducky LaMoore - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 11:47 am:
I seriously doubt the governor’s capacity to have a ‘rational discussion’ whether the bill is on his desk or not.
- wordslinger - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 11:47 am:
–“If they would actually deal with the reality and have the truth come, I could, you could read my amendatory veto and you’ll see what I do. They don’t want the truth. They don’t want an open debate. They don’t want this to be out in public. Because the truth is so bad for their position.”–
I guess the governor didn’t get any rest over the weekend. Still punch-drunk babbling.
- Undiscovered country - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 11:47 am:
“The Truth shall set us free”….not until January of 2019.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 11:53 am:
The last time Rauner gave details…
… we got 1.4% growth or $500+ million with the “Turnaround Agenda”
That still hasn’t been all that great of a reveal.
So… we won’t get anything from Rauner.
Rauner hires people now designed to fix messaging, not policy.
That should tell you all you need to know why we won’t get to see the AV language.
- Retired Educator - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 11:54 am:
The Governor wants to rule by intimidation. It simply does not work in the public sector. He might have been able to bully his way through business deals, but that tactic is not rational when you are dealing with elected officials. They answer to their constituents not an irrational individual looking to get his way.
- SAP - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 12:00 pm:
Reminds me of when Congressional Democrats said we’d have to pass the Affordable Care Act so we could see what’s in it.
- Roman - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 12:01 pm:
To the update:
Hey, look at the bright side. At least Rauner didn’t use this press conference to attribute any new made-up statements to Cullerton or Madigan. That’s real progress.
- Northsider - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 12:02 pm:
This is a good question from Hinz (emphasis added):
“But by the ‘own mess’ standard, the state’s Teachers’ Retirement System, which will get $4.56 billion from taxpayers next year, was even more mismanaged. It has only 39.8 percent of the assets needed to pay expected liabilities compared to the city fund’s 52.4 percent. So why can’t downstate and the suburbs dig themselves out of their hole?“
- Generic Drone - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 12:02 pm:
Irony=Rauners/ plan. Why bother to start now?
- JohnnyPyleDriver - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 12:03 pm:
==Reminds me of when Congressional Democrats said we’d have to pass the Affordable Care Act so we could see what’s in it.==
….away from the fog of controversy.” Odd how you guys always leave out that portion. Almost like you’re intentionally taking that comment out of context.
The pretty big difference between that comment and this situation is that when Nancy Pelosi said that, you or anybody else interested in learning about the bill could have simply pulled it up on line and read it. The debates over that bill were extensive and public.
Everything about Rauner’s coming SB1 veto exists in his head, and there only
- A guy - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 12:04 pm:
==Perhaps I’m wrong. What do you think?===
I wouldn’t go so far as to say you’re wrong. But I would argue that the larger points of his intended AV are out there and not so secret.
- winners and losers - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 12:07 pm:
==I don’t see what the harm would be in making it public==
I hate to seem to be defending Rauner on almost anything (and in fact I am not).
I am defending the constitutional process.
A bill has passed the House and Senate, and in an unusual procedure is being held indefinitely.
Senate rules allow that to happen, BUT the intention of the Motion to Reconsider is NOT to reconsider but to try to get Rauner to sign the bill.
This is a bad process.
This sets bad precedence.
This makes a dysfunctional State government even more dysfunctional.
Legislative Action, then action by the Governor, then if needed, further action by the legislature.
- Joe M - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 12:08 pm:
==“He hasn’t shown the work behind his calculations….=
That has been the story of his reforms, his turnaround agenda, and his governorship.
- Arock - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 12:12 pm:
What does it matter if he wouldn’t give the details? The GA is not going to act on it until he either vetoes it or does an AV so just give him the bill and let’s get it all settled so the schools know what to expect.
- Muscular - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 12:19 pm:
Rauner could argue that he cannot discuss his amended veto until he receives an official copy of the bill so he is certain of its contents. He is showing weakness as a leader by announcing he will veto the bill before he vetoes it. He is now demanding John Cullerton transmit the bill to him. This is childish. The Republican override votes will be harvested when schools are about to close because of a lack of state funds. Will Bruce Rauner ever turn into a principled Republican? Chicago has half a billion dollars in cash sitting around in unused TIF funds. Rather than decry the excess taxation of Chicago properties caused by TIF, Rauner blames Cullerton and Madigan.
- GA Watcher - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 12:20 pm:
It’s 12:20 as I write this. Haven’t seen the proclamation for the next special session yet.
- Earnest - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 12:26 pm:
>”We can’t have any rational discussions until that bill’s on my desk”
Finally, he’s got a new precondition other than the TA.
- Roman - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 12:33 pm:
- winners and losers - I get your point, but Rauner is not pursuing a constitutional process as much as he is guided by his beloved messaging process.
It’s not uncommon for a governor to announce that he doesn’t like parts of a bill before it hits his desk. Usually, the governor would then enter into some sort discussions with the sponsors/leaders to reach an agreement on trailer bill, or an entirely new bill, or even the language of an AV in order to avoid an override.
That’s the way individuals who are interested in governing would normally behave — and I think it’s the kind of conduct Cullerton is trying to encourage.
Rauner has followed a similarly sensible governing/legislative path before with the motor-voter bill and Lou Lang’s omnibus heroin legislation.
But as the staffing purge demonstrated, messaging now means much more than governing to Bruce Rauner.
- Anon221 - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 12:45 pm:
There was a good analysis on The 21st on what could happen if Rauner AVs, and if I’m not summarizing this correctly call me out with corrections, please.
Senate sends SB1, Rauner AVs, not enough votes to override on 3/5ths = equivalent of a full veto, and No Money to schools because of the brick in the budget bills.
Senate sends SB1, Rauner AVs, GA must then concur with AV with simple majority, simple majority fails, see final equation result above.
So, if either of these scenarios takes place, what is Plan C? In my view, time is running out, and it is going to take the bipartisan 3/5ths vote on an override of an AV to get schools open and staying open for the entire school year. Otherwise the votes aren’t there for either party, and I really think Rauner is betting on that so the bill dies.
- The Captain - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 1:05 pm:
You have to give Rauner credit, he stayed true to his word, the bill is not on his desk and he hasn’t said anything rational about it yet.
- Anonymous - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 1:15 pm:
I found the bill it on GA web page. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/100/SB/PDF/10000SB0001ham002.pdf So you can read it
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 1:16 pm:
Meh.
The Raunerite State Party will need to deal with…
“Rauner vetoed that”…
… until June 2018.
Vetoes are governors. They haunt governors too.
- ilga.gov - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 1:45 pm:
Muscular @ 12:19 pm
The “official” copy of the bill is what is online at ilga.gov for the whole world to see. They can’t slip in some secret language. The bill passed both chambers of the GA. So not a valid argument for the governor.
- Nick Name - Monday, Jul 24, 17 @ 1:51 pm:
To Update 2: dear ILGOP, it’s a senate bill.