* Politifact looks at the governor’s contention that SB 1 is a Chicago “bailout”. Go read the whole thing, but here’s the conclusion…
Attempting to parse a political buzzword like “bailout” might be impossible if not for the clear direction provided by Rauner’s own Illinois Education Funding Reform Commission. It called for an “evidence-based” school funding formula but also recommended a “hold harmless” provision that would ensure no district received less this year than last.
By that dictate alone, CPS should not be in line this year for a cut in the size of its block grant. What’s more, SB1 does do away with the CPS block grant starting with the 2018-19 school year, poking a major hole in Rauner’s “bailout” claim.
The bill’s Chicago pension component can’t be called a “bailout” or even a perk because it only gives CPS what every other school district already has. And Rauner clearly had sought previously to bargain CPS pension help for other, statewide pension reforms. He got a major one in the budget lawmakers enacted July 6.
Numbers are sure to fly fast and furious as Rauner and lawmakers duke this out in Springfield in the days ahead, but we find Rauner’s generalization that SB 1 is a “bailout” for Chicago schools to be False.
Your own thoughts?
…Adding… The Rockford Register-Star backs the bill and very gently scolds the governor…
Although we question the pension portion for Chicago, it’s not enough of a concern to diminish our support for the bill. Also, we’re a bit tired of Chicago, a world-class city that still attracts corporate headquarters, being cast as an evil entity. We want Chicago schoolchildren to succeed as much as we want students in other areas of the state to succeed and we think a new funding formula can help make that happen.
SB1 is the best shot Illinois has at reworking a financing system that has created huge disparities among school districts and does not help educate children. It’s a bill that has been revised several times since Sen. Andy Manar first proposed it a few years ago.
A study by The Education Trust in 2015 showed that Illinois school districts with the greatest number of students living in poverty received nearly 20 percent less state and local money than affluent districts. Your ZIP code should not determine the quality of education your child receives.
SB1 would give state money to the students and schools who need it most. That’s how schools should be funded.
*** UPDATE *** When confronted with the BGA/Politifact claim that his characterization of SB1 as a Chicago “bailout” is false, Rauner said “the math is very clear.”
The governor went on to point out that Springfield “loses half a million dollars” under the Democratic plan compared to his. Decatur, he said, “loses $1.6 million.” He called SB1 a “diversion of money” from the rest of the state to Chicago and even said his AV was “an improvement” for CPS school children.
Later, he referred back to the Politifact issue and called it “false spin,” and repeated himself. “That’s false,” he said. “We need the truth to be told to the people of Illinois, not political spin.”
- Blue dog dem - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 9:21 am:
I love the term ‘evidence based’. It sure has a good sound to it.
- Will Caskey - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 9:25 am:
Presenting structural reforms, such as a tax swap for education funding, when what one really wants is to just cut education funding, will never stop in Illinois no matter how tedious it gets.
Personally I say just cut CPS loose from PTELL and let downstate bankrupt itself out of the continued delusion that they aren’t a net sponge on state funding.
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 9:31 am:
I can’t believe that they found one of Rauner’s claims “false”. This is outrageous.
- Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 9:33 am:
Major pension reform? I don’t even think the Democrats called it that. Clearly passing the Cullerton bill in the House would be a major pension reform.
Enacting Tier 3 for future hires is a minor change, as those workers are not even hired yet.
The immediate savings are very small and this reform did nothing to current workers.
- ChicagoVinny - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 9:35 am:
A problem with fact-checkers is they often repeat the false claim in the headline or the graphic, so even though they find this claim ‘false’ they still amplify the message.
- Dome Gnome - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 9:35 am:
The “hold harmless” provision has always been a vital part of education funding reform, but Rauner’s Obscurers continually and purposely confuse voters. I keep waiting for citizens to realize that their envy is not only unfounded, but is being instigated by devious people utilizing fake facts. Kudos to BGA for attempting to set the record straight.
- Put the fun in unfunded - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 9:35 am:
They say CPS should not have its block grant reduced (despite declines in enrollment) due to hold harmless, then they say the block grant is going away. Which is it?
- Buzz Fugazi - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 9:38 am:
Can’t we all just eat our baloney sandwiches and allow First Citizen Rauner to wheel and deal his public-private partnerships?
- slow down - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 9:43 am:
So basically Rauner is banging that anti-Chicago drum around the state, which we all know has a racial component to it, all based on the false claim that the bill is a give away or hand out to the heavily minority Chicago school system. It’s truly disgraceful.
- Elliott Ness - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 9:46 am:
Imagine, a pro-Chicago group or groups try to make false a claim of the Chicago bailout. Of course, they would say it is false, beware of the story
- Free Set of Steak Knives - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 9:48 am:
=== Rauner is banging that anti-Chicago drum around the state, which we all know has a racial component to it ===
It seems editorial boards and others across the state have been eager to call Rauner out on it.
I find that heartening.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 9:50 am:
===The bill’s Chicago pension component can’t be called a “bailout” or even a perk because it only gives CPS what every other school district already has. And Rauner clearly had sought previously to bargain CPS pension help for other, statewide pension reforms. He got a major one in the budget lawmakers enacted July 6.===
The ignoring of these points is the ignoring for an agenda of anger and Sprite towards CPS and CTU to purposely hurt Chicago school students.
For the RaunerS who clouted their denied, Winnetka-lining daughter over a worthy Chicago student speaks volumes to the RaunerS lack of character and lacking to care for “every child”… until their child can be clouted to hurt another.
- Lucky Pierre -
You should tell the governor to just veto the whole SB1 and let the override fail. That’ll “teach” everyone.
What the delay? Doesn’t Rauner want to hurt CPS? Why wait? lol
- Ugh - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 9:55 am:
Huge fumble out of the gate. $200M+ block grant funding sticks around in perpetuity. CPS gets to hide unfunded liability in applying for state aid. PTELL/TIF subsidies stick around. Another example of no one understanding what’s in this thing. Hope they do better next time.
- Anon - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 9:56 am:
Slow Down, maybe “slow down” on the racism accusations? The Chicago drum is being beat because Chicago is notoriously known for corruption and mismanagement of public funds and it’s an easy drum to beat. That’s it.
- Chairman McBroom - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 10:00 am:
Few things -
1) The analysis focused quite a bit on how SB1 deals with CPS pension costs, but failed to mention how the legislation reduces CPS’s local capacity target by over $500 million (and that figure ramps up in future years) to deal with CPS’s legacy pension costs. Debate over whether the state should assume that obligation aside, seems like a big piece to leave out.
2) The discussion surrounding the block grant fails to mention how the block grant doesn’t go away. Rather, $200 million of the original $250 million is baked into the base funding minimum of the new formula. Additionally, CPS gets to apply for their mandated categoricals outside of the formula AND they still get to keep most of the original block grant which funded those categoricals, essentially reimbursing those categoricals twice. No other school district has a deal like that.
3) Finally, the analysis didn’t even bother to consult any groups or individuals who are opposed to SB1 (such as the Gov’s office or either GOP caucus) to provide a quote, some background, or justification for use of the “bailout” term, when in fact, there’s more supporting evidence than just the block grant or pickup of “normal” CPS pension costs. Many other factors where the new school funding regime tilts benefits/funding towards CPS and away from other school districts (the House Amendments pushing CPS from Tier 2 to Tier 1 comes to mind).
Overall, seems like a fairly lazy analysis from the BGA propped up by two groups that don’t have a reputation for being non-partisan. In fact, those groups have been pushing for SB1 quite a bit. I don’t take this alleged fact-check seriously.
- slow down - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 10:01 am:
anon, I’m not the first to make the observation and I didn’t leap quickly in doing so.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 10:03 am:
==and this reform did nothing to current workers==
Because you can’t. The quicker some of you accept that and move on the better off we’ll all be because we’ll stop wasting time. Tier II made changes for future workers. The pension changes in the most recent legislation also affects future workers. Those are the changes you can make. If you want to do voluntary choices for current workers that allow them to keep what they have then move those bills. But, any attempt to reduce the pensions of current workers isn’t going to fly. Period.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 10:07 am:
==this reform did nothing to current workers==
How very telling; no pension reform is valid unless it “does something to current workers”.
They must be punished for having the temerity to take a job with a good retirement plan.
- Mike Cirrincione - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 10:12 am:
“Bailout” is a Republican Party Marketing Slogan like:
- “Right to Work”
- “Sanctity of Marriage”
- “Pro-Life”
- “Weapons of Mass Destruction”
- “Repeal and Replace”
- “Religious Freedom”
Easy to digest words dreamed up somewhere to target the base.
Its obvious that Governor Bruce Rauner lacks any original ideas with which to govern.
Worst. Governor. Ever.
- Blue dog dem - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 10:15 am:
Similar to Pro-choice. Progressive.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 10:23 am:
The $221 million for Chicago teachers’ pensions is barely a drop in the bucket compared with the debt that the state incurred under Rauner. It’s almost comical that Rauner supporters strain a gnat over the CPS pension funding but swallow a camel over the purposeful fiscal damage, in the billions, to which Rauner generously contributed.
“Also, we’re a bit tired of Chicago, a world-class city that still attracts corporate headquarters, being cast as an evil entity.”
Exactly. Rauner needs a riled up GOP base for the election. Based on his record, all he has now is pitting people against each other.
- C Ball - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 10:33 am:
If the GA had given CPS the 20%-30% of the amount it gave to TRS — as it stated it intended to do in 1995 — then CTPF would have received $6.8 to $10.3 billion over the 1995-2017 period. That’s far more than the block grant overage.
- City Zen - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 10:38 am:
More regressive than a bailout, especially considering CPS’s yearly enrollment declines.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 10:38 am:
RE: Chicago being painted as an evil entity.
Um, some need to accept that Chicago is a huge economic engine that drives the economy in this state.
ILlinois without Chicago could be Arkansas.
- NorthsideNoMore - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 10:43 am:
Some might interpret portions of SB1 to be promoting mediocrity at best in underperforming districts that need restructuring not just throwing more cash at them. There is a whole lot of school districts out side of chicago that need restructured as well and taking thier funding to fix decades of poor financial practices at CP wont help solve thier problems. Sending CPS additional future funds that might be available is essentially a cut to subirban and down state districts.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 11:26 am:
===…and even said his AV was “an improvement” for CPS school children.===
That’s Rauner “owning” the AV.
Thanks, Governor. Appreciate it.
- Mockingjay - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 11:33 am:
CPS hasn’t contributed to their pensions in ten years, while other systems have. How can this not be a CPS bailout??
- Huhwut - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 11:36 am:
- which we all know has a racial component to it, all based on the false claim that the bill is a give away or hand out to theheavily minority Chicago school system. It’s truly disgraceful. -
There you have it ladies and gentlemen. Of course someone has to pull out the race card. All downstaters and Republicans are just a bunch of racist hicks right. I find your comment to be truly disgraceful.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 11:39 am:
===There you have it ladies and gentlemen. Of course someone has to pull out the race card. All downstaters and Republicans are just a bunch of racist hicks right. I find your comment to be truly disgraceful.===
But you didn’t say the racial element didn’t exist.
So, there’s that…
- Huhwut - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 11:42 am:
And there is OW with his typical criticism based on semantics/ad hominem.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 11:45 am:
===with his typical criticism based on…===
Swing two, and a miss.
You still didn’t say the racial element didn’t exist.
- Juice - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 12:14 pm:
Mockingjay, that 10 year period of CPS not making any pension contributions ended over 10 years ago.
Time to figure out what to do today instead of simply rehashing the past. (Plus other systems haven’t, the state makes the contributions on their behalf.)
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 12:19 pm:
What percent of revenue does Chicago bring into the state? Chicago alone has 20% of state children attending their schools.
As far as pension reform, when will everyone realize that we have to bite the bullet - you cannot diminish workers benefits.
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 12:22 pm:
Speakin’of code words/dog whistles you left out “local control”
- Ash - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 12:25 pm:
Rather rich for the governor, who has surrounded himself with spin doctors from the IPI, to call anything false spin.
- Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 12:52 pm:
Did anyone ask Brucey if he knows where his numbers came from yet? I bet he still doesn’t know.
- Lester Holt's Mustache - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 1:19 pm:
Suggestion for Gov and his new Ayn Rand superstars: yelling “Fake News!” when someone points out your numbers are off isn’t going to help stop those Trump/Rauner comparisons
- btowntruthfromforgottonia - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 2:16 pm:
“..All downstaters and Republicans are just a bunch of racist hicks right..”
============================================
I am a downstater.
Are all downstaters racist hicks?Absolutely not.
Are some of them racist?Yep.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 2:17 pm:
===All downstaters and Republicans are just a bunch of racist hicks right.===
Take a breath, snowflake.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 2:50 pm:
If there is going to be talk of false spin, maybe someone should inform the GOP that the block grant was of their own making.
Kerry Lester has the history.
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20170731/chicago-schools-grant-criticized-by-rauner-was-put-in-place-by-gop-in-1990s–
- Boone's is Back - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 4:40 pm:
Right… because everyone knows that the BGA is in the bag for the Chicago machine….
- GA Watcher - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 4:46 pm:
And here I thought the IPI and BGA were birds of feather.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 7:18 pm:
–Later, he referred back to the Politifact issue and called it “false spin,” and repeated himself. “That’s false,” he said.–
He also said “simple majority” twice, too.
I think I’ve identified the problem: You have to close your eyes, and say it three times while clicking the ruby red slippers to make it happen.
I’m sure BTIA is on it now.
- PublicServant - Wednesday, Aug 2, 17 @ 5:44 am:
===The bill’s Chicago pension component can’t be called a “bailout” or even a perk because it only gives CPS what every other school district already has.===
The governor knows this is true, but the TA calls for the ultimate goal of pushing down state costs to the locals, then allowing them to declare bankruptcy. The assumption of the normal cost of Chicago teacher pensions by the state is the exact opposite of what Rauner wants, because it helps to relieve pressure on his hoped-for CPS bankruptcy. I realize it’s a long haul to get to allow a CPS bankruptcy, but, well, ideological zealots never give up. Right Christina?