Since the state will now be using an ‘evidence based’ funding model, i am relieved that we have finally put to bed any and all issues associated with paying for K-12. Now that this issue is settled, onto more pressing things like getting Oreo production back to Chicago.
Lots of “true colors came shining through” in the last couple of days. And I am talking about the hypocrisy kind, not the skin color kind or the “beautiful” kind like in the song.
I hope that all the private schools that take the $75 million public welfare from this bill will enjoy all the regulations that will come with it soon.
Democrats did nothing while they held the House and Senate and under Blago and Quinn. Now they are complaining about a compromise?
A bit late.
The Democratic votes against from those who were in office while Quinn was Governor were not based on principle. Those votes were an insult to voters. Suddenly they care deeply about school funding?
I lost a lot of respect for certain people yesterday.
- winners and losers - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 2:39 pm:
Phoniest comment: Manar (after saying last week he would accept anything to get the bill passed): “Last night I was undecided on my position on this bill.”
And then he said he drove by children today on his way to Springfield: “Is this bill going to help those children I say this morning?”
Credit where it is due, this is a huge fix for education funding that has stymied both parties for decades. Easily the single biggest substantive policy achievement in Illinois since pre-Edgar.
Politically, the Governor now has a big, big, big win he can claim. But to use it also undermines his desired anti-Madigan message. We be interesting to see how this plays
I would have preferred Rauner sign this today, instead of turning tomorrow into what may amount to a campaign stunt for himself. He’s going to try and take a win he really does not deserve.
To all the GA members who voted for the bill or for their principles, the 75 mil did not help make this an easy vote. Thank you for the reasoned and thoughtful debates. Here’s to fine-tuning an historic bill in future debates:)
I am glad it is resolved, and I appreciate that compromise was a part of the process. I am somewhat disappointed however the leaders were so uncertain as to introduce a secondary amendment to an alternative bill, in the event they could not get the first amendment approved, and could not override the veto. The disappointment comes from the fact that we are too far from civility and lacking in a shared understanding of the commonwealth and the common good. But perhaps we are turning the page now.
More thoughts. I wonder how many school districts throughout the state will have reduced property tax burdens as a result of this historic,epic,evangelical bill.
Win-win for Chicago. I can’t believe Rauner held out just to give Emanuel a little something extra in the form of the private school tax credit. It’s really mind boggling that he gave up everything and got next to nothing in return.
I’m glad this will help CPS at the expense of taxpayers like me, but it’s worth it if they address the pension ticking time bomb. I am happy to pay a bit more if it is spent wisely (a big if, I know).
Seriously, Rauner touted his negotiation skills too, didn’t he? In addition to being a great evaluator of talent, lol. Heck of a job, Raunie. Can’t wait to see what happens next.
- Gruntled University Employee - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 2:48 pm:
I never thought I’d say this but I’m less concerned about how it got done than I am that it got done.
I’m still at a loss as to Rauner raising objections about a Chicago bailout, property tax freezes, then in the end agreeing to a bill that spends far more, with less tax resources, likely forcing property tax increases. Winning?
I’m thankful it passed and glad that JB is already saying he will end the voucher system when he becomes Gov so its a short term issue with me to fix a potentially huge problem.
I’ve edited myself about 4 times trying to write this, so let’s see how far I get now…
If you’re cheering thode who voted “Red” or angered… frustrated… put off… by this bipartisan legislation that will save School Funding… you’re doing it wrong.
Now, the politicos, the “pols”, the partisan operatives that need the negative as part of their own personas, for me, they don’t count.
This was never designed to get 177-0.
That’s the deal. It’s designed to get… “73 and 38″… which is what it got.
If you claim you understand the politics within the governing and you see this passage as “frustrating, angering” then I dunno what you think you understand.
That’s not snark, that’s you coming to a realization your interpretation of compromise in this instances isn’t working.
Schools needed a win. Illinois needed a win. This is that win.
Rauner needed a win. He got it. Good for him. Rauner will sigh a significant, bipartisan, funding bill for education. Don’t dismiss that, embrace that it’s good. Rauner should now do a tour, this time, a victory lap.
Durkin and Brady needed a win. The overrides, that wasn’t too great. This allows Republicans to be partners in governing, wins included, compromises included too.
The “Chicago Bailout” garbage now looks so small-minded. This win can allow Republicans to build on their successes.
Madigan and Cullerton needed a win. Both showed their
proficiencies, Madigan with a walking around the barn for the sake of member management and process. Cullerton cut to the quick, got to his business, no need to drag it out, no tools to drag it out either.
Durkin was the hero I hoped he would’ve been 30+ months ago. It’s taken long enough.
Rauner figured out what took 3 Chiefs of Staff, 2 purges (1 of which still might be over) and one bill that shoulda been what has been going on from this Administration… Incremental Wins.
Congratulations to ALL. Campaigns are hard, governing is difficult. This is governing. This is what has been missing. Recognize that, embrace that, use this reintroduction again to understand 60 and 30. Really understand… wins.
We should all take these wins, and embrace the real, the funding of schools, and the actual, actual governing happened.
I’m not happy with it all, I’m really happy with the package as a whole… and that’s governing.
So, let’s use this as a template. Let’s govern Illinois for a change. That means all of you.
What is the over/under on a CPS bankruptcy? I will take the under on 2 years. Vouchers are historic for this state and the few children who are able to escape the disaster that is CPS will have much brighter futures. The real question is why would anyone stay in IL when taxes continue to go up with zero benefits in return. Every dime of the approved CPS property tax is going straight to corrupt union pensions. While the average citzen loses thousands more a year some big union fat cat is enjoying his $100,000 plus a year vacation since he was 50 all because he substituted for a day. Good luck IL you are going to need it.
Not sure. All that time and effort (and tax dollars) that went into it, and this is the best they could do? Illinois proves once again that nobody does dysfunctional better (worse?) than we do.
Many readers of this website will look back at this as mostly smooth compared to what’s coming in the next several years in Illinois. Who wants to vote on the next state income tax hike in Springfield? Who wants to vote on a constitutional change for public pensions in Illinois?
- allknowingmasterofracoondom - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:08 pm:
We are still broke. So get back to work.
- JohnnyPyleDriver - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:08 pm:
==Who wants to vote on a constitutional change for public pensions in Illinois?==
I spend about six months pleading and yelling at CPS staff and sometimes outright weeping with frustration to get my autistic son to a school with adequate staffing levels. It broke my heart to do that to his previous school but his mother and I had to do something: by the end of last year there was no full time teacher for his special ed class and the aide was split between two classrooms.
With SB1 I had barely any hope anything would change. It would be back to hoping Rahm would show a bare shred of human decency and raise funds through the city council.
The compromise bill is just unbelievably good. It gives the district a chance at dragging itself towards stability. It gives parents with kids still in my son’s old class a chance at decent education and therapy, not just the angry white professional with acquaintances in the CPS central office.
I’m not even feeling the relief I’m describing yet, I was so frustrated and angry at the uncertainty.
OW. I appreciate and reape6ct your comments. I get the fact that the state may have neede an equitable solution to a fair distribution of resources. I had hoped throughout this charade that we ended up with a aystem that reduced k-12 dependence on property taxes. This is in my mind the greatest problem this state faces. I dont believe this bill solves that problem. What am i missing?
Sure it is. There’s a small property tax relief component and the ability to use referendums to roll back levies, but, more importantly, decent state school funding should relieve pressure on the property tax.
- independent since Trump - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:19 pm:
Durkin delivered big time in the same week that the self-entitled and promoted ’shadow Governor’ John Tilman and his IPI crew got the boot. All done before the critical Labor Day weekend. Game on 2018!
The proper funding of schools should eleviate the pressures, will school districts use that window… and the referendum aspect does purposely go to property taxes.
I am a recently former Illinois public school parent. My take is that 5he governor deserves no credit, in the sense that much of the waste land that is public education in- especially Chicago - Illinois was created through his advocacy for Charters as a private citizen.
The pension mess has been a mess forever. But Charters and “education reform” have been an ideologically driven disaster.
I should say, I was once a Charter supporter- but that’s before I had to raise a child in the hell they made.
I should day-to-day My child is attending college out of state. That’s Rrauner’s legacy-
Glad that’s over.
They did it the hard way with little to show for the extra effort. Politics really set the inevitable back months.
ILGOP has to be disgusted with their governor. He threw us once again into a complete farce of a legislative process without really getting anything in return. The Governor is irrelevant after his dramatic theatrics. No one is either entertained or enlightened by Mr. Rauner.
A decent accredible ILGOP challenger to Rauner will unravel him in a primary. Rauner is such a failure, he shouldn’t be renominated.
It was in there, it just didn’t get a lot of play.
I think even Dusty Rhodes re-discovered a part or parts of this element in her evaluation of the bill yesterday. As with any 500 plus pager, there will be some “surprises” down the road, but nothing that can’t be worked out.
Rauner needed a face-saving out after the hysterical “Chicago bailout” freak out fell flat and the gross staff incompetence of the “simple majority” on accepting the AV.
The out was the $75M tax credit — a rounding error of a rounding error — with a sunset.
The assistance to parochial schools is critical and ought to have been enacted decades ago. These schools have provided quality education to generations of Illinoisans and saved the taxpayers untold billions of dollars over what it would have cost the public schools to educate the same people;
- Oswego Willy
=== Mike -, explain the legal steps before you decide to set all this “over/under” stuff.===
Please reference Chapter 9 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. For precedent please see the Detroit Bankruptcy case. CPS is fundamentally broke they are using pay day loans just to fund current operations. All this extra money and property tax increases are not going to solve the underlying issues. Bankruptcy is the only option. They will be followed by the City itself and eventually some form for the State. People are packing out in droves Bankruptcy is inevitable and it is going to come sooner rather then later.
Phoniest comment: Manar (after saying last week he would accept anything to get the bill passed): “Last night I was undecided on my position on this bill.”
And then he said he drove by children today on his way to Springfield: “Is this bill going to help those children I say this morning?”
There was nothing phony about it at all. Andy struggled with this like all people who don’t like the idea of public dollars going to private schools. He spent the last 4 years getting his teeth knocked in and was made to submit to years and years of public hearings, subject matter hearings, rounding up superintendents, traveling the state to help his colleagues explain it, all the things that go into actual legislating to build consensus only to have a last minute topic negotiated behind closed doors for a policy he disagrees with in a matter of days. He essentially admitted that he couldn’t let the politics of that get in the way of finishing what he started out to do. A point that was made clear when he looked at those kids on the way to work. And even then, after every lie the Governor and the IPI said about Chicago bailout and every time they didn’t negotiate in good faith, he STILL thanked Jason Barrickman who in my opinion didn’t deserve it the minute he decided to join the Governor’s sick decision to pit regions of the state against each other. That was wrong. Wrong all day long.
Senator Manar has been the recipient of brutal attacks for his work on this and he was still able to rise above this to finish the job. He was honest. And the Senate chamber is better for his service. Period.
Anybody know how many public hearings the school voucher issue received in the General Assembly? Zero.
I find it interesting the Cullerton made mention of this fact in his press conference. It was also stated in House debate.
Both leaders will sign off that all requirements were met for passage. But public statements being made that contradict that. Are they setting up a court case?
While I dont think the Gov’s new b-squad (or maybe even c-squad) has the capacity to pull it off, but could this week be looked upon as the week that Rauner “pivots” to normalcy? AVR, Trust Act, school funding are all accomplishments, even though he really didnt have much to do with them. Maybe get some small wins in the 2018 Session and try to sell voters that the tide is starting to turn in IL? With $150 million you can create a very nice fantasy world.
For all the complaining about how Chicago does well with this bill, you know who comes out the best in the long run? Rural schools. Evidence based models make sure there is a base level of resources as we see the rural exodus continues. It’s stunning to me that so many rural districts are so angry at some amorphous thing that they don’t worry about what is going on in their towns. That exodus is continuing and a bill like this at least provides the resources for those towns and districts to have basic resources to educate the kids of families who do stick around.
This bill is a great bill. The tax credits aren’t my thing and I think Harris’ point was dead on about why it was a bad idea. That said, this bill bring more equitable student aid to districts across the state. It doesn’t fix everything, but it’s a huge improvement.
That Manar, the Leaders and other were able to pull this off with Rauner being all over the place is truly and achievement–Durkin, Cullerton, Madigan and even Bill Brady deserve a lot of credit here. This is government working.
There are no school vouchers in this bill. It’s a tax credit for contributions to a scholarship fund. Two completely different animals.
==Are they setting up a court case?==
What’s the legal issue. if you’re trying to make this an issue about religion, it’s not.
It’s a tax credit for a donation. You get deductions now for charitable contributions, including to churches.
===Senator Manar has been the recipient of brutal attacks for his work on this and he was still able to rise above this to finish the job. He was honest. And the Senate chamber is better for his service. Period.
Amen. He did incredible work selling this bill across the state and keeping stakeholders on board.
Three predictions.
1. Of the 852 school districts in the state, Zero will experience prop tax relief.
2. Of the 97 high school districts in the state,zero will opt for outsourcing drivers ed.
3. Of the 852 school districts in the state, zero will eliminate a PE teacher .
But hey, at least we got a voting chance on the local level. That in its self may be Rauners only win.
- Oswego Willy
===What about state law? === https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_preemption
Judge Steven W. Rhodes ruled in the Detroit case that Federal Bankruptcy law supersedes state law in both that case and ours, the state constitution provision that does not allow any impairment of pension benefits. There is no money for these pensions and the only way to get rid of them is through Bankruptcy. It is going to happen sooner rather then later.
Glad for a new formula, concerned on the long term implications of the credits, but terrified if people think this is the end. Need a few billion more dollars before we’ll actually approach adequacy.
- Private School Admin - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:50 pm:
Excited for the possibilities but personally scared for the impending Chicago property tax hike! As well as all the regulations that come along with this bill. Only 20/550 pages in….
I am concerned about the well-being of our students and teachers across the state of Illinois.
See below From ISBE https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Physical-Education-and-Health.aspx
A state report released in August 2013 calls for new benchmarks and strategies to improve and increase physical education classes, noting the latest neuroscience research linking physical activity with improved academic performance.
The educational Funding Bill is the complete opposite of the state report from the ISBE.
State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch and Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck, director of the Department of Public Health, co-chaired the Illinois Enhance Physical Education (P.E.) Task Force, which developed the 148-page report that has been submitted to Gov. Pat Quinn, the Illinois State General Assembly, and health organizations and community groups interested in turning the tide of childhood obesity and improving health for all students.
The benefits of comprehensive health and physical education include promoting a healthy generation of students who are able to achieve their highest potential, reversing the trend of deteriorating health and physical fitness among youth, and helping to lower the cost of health care in the United States.
How can the ISBE promote Physical Education while the Illinois Government believes it is okay to reduce physical education or allow students the ability not to take a physical education class?
Our job as educators is to teach. This addition to the bill takes away physical education teachers ability to teach and promote lifetime fitness to their students to the best of their ability.
I guess its a good first step. I just see it as the first of many tax increases to pay for bloated pensions that have been neglected for years to line politician and union pockets
- Albany Park Patriot - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:55 pm:
===And exactly what do you mean by “get rid” of pensions?
Even in Detroit, the pensions still exist. I know it’s a dream of some to throw grandma out of her house, but even getting rid of them in a bankruptcy doesn’t make them go away.
- winners and losers - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:56 pm:
==if $350 mil is appropriated, then $50 mil can be used for property tax relief==
Rich, are you saying that $50 million can be used now? What is your source for that? I have not seen that said anywhere.
===allow students the ability not to take a physical education class===
Take a breath. The only kids who can get out of PE are athletes.
Believe it or not, at times in high school I played two sports at once. Practice before school and practice after school, plus PE. The PE seemed a bit much to me.
Reason for court case would be violation of the “three readings requirement” which is outlined in the constitution (Article IV). In the Geja’s Cafe v Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority case in 1992, the parties agreed that the legislature had violated the spirit of three readings rule. Justice James D. Heiple said that “the General Assembly has shown remarkably poor self-discipline in policing itself” and that “ignoring the three readings requirement has become a procedural regularity.” He added that the court refused to abandon the enrolled bill rule in Geja’s Cafe because “the doctrine of separation of powers is more complelling” than enforcing the procedural rule in that case. Ominously, however, he issued a warning: “If the General Assembly continues its poor record of policing itself, we reserve the right to revisit this issue on another day to decide the continued propriety of ignoring this constitutional violation”. The voucher language did not receive three readings or public hearings.
===Believe it or not, at times in high school I played two sports at once. Practice before school and practice after school, plus PE. The PE seemed a bit much to me.
Let me also add to those who are not familiar with other states, Illinois was the only state that required it every day of school from 1-12. Students like Rich or even just students with one sport are fine without it every day.
I like that it is required at such a level (it also keeps Social Studies from being the coach dumping ground), but Illinois is far, far ahead of other states in the requirement.
- Demoralized
Illinois and Chicago specifically are much worse then Detroit currently. Read my comments again I said some form for the state which was acknowledging that currently states can’t go Bankrupt. However when you can’t pay your bills, have no ability to borrow, and have eroding tax base what other options do you have. The unprecedented time will call for some sort of bankruptcy type reorganization. As for the Pensions they will have to be reduced in some form as decided by Federal Bankruptcy Judge. Perks like retirement at 50 and over $100,000 a year payouts are going to have to be altered.
- Oswego Willy
As I just said when they are no longer able to borrow or increase taxes there will be no other choice. I am glad I moved to WI two years ago and my kids are receiving an excellent education funded by state vouchers at half the cost of what it cost to educate a child in public school.
==The only kids who can get out of PE are athletes.==
When I was in school 25 years ago we could opt out if we played sports. Throwing up every day running my rear end off in football was plenty of “PE” for me.
Here’s a more interesting question that probably could be asked in several ways, but here goes. Would Rauner have done better or worse on the final bill had he not purged his old staff in July? I have an opinion but will wait for others before weighing in.
Is there anyone who is happy with what the Democrats got and the Private School tax credits. I went to public schools but I do see the need for private (especially Catholic) schools as an alternative. I’m just wondering if anyone else likes the bill without any caveats
===…I said some form for the state which was acknowledging that currently states can’t go Bankrupt. However when you can’t pay your bills, have no ability to borrow, and have eroding tax base what other options do you have.===
===I find it incredibly distasteful when someone advocates taking pensions away from people
Even Detroit didn’t do that. People still get a pension, it is just reduced with no COL. Even then they made a mistake of moving to FICA so there is no money going in to the system making payments over time even harder.
1. It does not address the root cause of the education funding issue and that is the over-reliance on the property tax system. It simply takes $350 million and puts a band-aid on schools with a few possible crumbs of property tax relief.
2. This does little to nothing to drive efficiencies. Why do we have 867 school districts including a few towns were 3-4 elementary districts feed into 1 high school district.
3. Chicago is the BIG winner with nearly a half billion in new money (pension pick up, majority of money through evidence based system, and increased levy).
4. The tax credit is a crumb to allow Rauner/GOP to claim victory. It is NOT a voucher or tuition tax credit as many have claimed.
5. Taxpayers will be on the hooks for billions in new education money over the next decade and lawmakers will be forced to raise taxes again.
6. Downstate schools got little to no mandate relief. They should have received the same relief that Chicago got in the 90s.
I don’t like the credit provisions and the lack of transparency regarding TIF Task Force, but it’s a compromise. I’ve been whining about the need for these folks to compromise for years so it would incredibly hypocritical of me to be critical now.
I missed this yesterday. But my thoughts. Phelps is useless. Couldn’t muster a vote. I get it he’s in a tough district, but at least Costello had enough guts to dig his own grave.
P.S. I can’t help but think that the folks would have come to an agreement sooner if Rauner participated sooner. IMHO, he still would have been a roadblock if it hadn’t been for his self-inflicted meltdown over the last month.
1) Governor outmaneuvered again.
2) Temporary pilot quasi-voucher program was the price of moving forward with major reform. Can be undone in future.
3) Best Team In America total fail - Ds and Chicago got more than SB1.
The process used for this bill is the way it is supposed to work. The state would have been much better off if this process had been used for the budget and other things for the past 2 1/2 years. It’s called governing. Hopefully the Governor embraces this process and we can move forward in similar fashion on other bills (ahem, the next budget). I’m not holding my breath, though.
You get serious kudos for taking on the School Funding issue and traveling the state, at times I’m sure when the discussion seemed to face more obstacles that solutions, more adversaries than allies.
You deserve to bask in a bipartisan success you helped to bring from a traveling tour to a bill that will be signed changing many things how Illinois looks and funds it K-12 schools
steve. I am sure the next governor will horse trade them for that progressive income tax. ( heavy snark intended. By the way, what’s the difference between snark and sarcasm?)
This overall school reform bill is the only strong issue to date for Rauner to run on. It’s not like he’s flush with accomplishments.
The tax credit is small potatoes, either way. It’s not going to change any votes. The only danger is if parents start calling up wondering how they get their “vouchers.” They will be sorely disappointed.
Rauner’s lucky that Dems were willing to give him the out. He based his AV on a mistaken belief in a “simple majority.” That fiasco put him in a dangerous no-man’s land, as a super-majority is a heavy lift and no sure thing.
He had to jettison the “Chicago bailout” nonsense just to avoid a full-blown school-funding crisis that would have been a direct result of his actions.
Private school admin, just wait until you read the part where you have to give state tests to those students in exchange for scholarships. That should be fun.
And with the ability to reduce PE to 3 days a week, I’ll bet we will see some PE positions eliminated.
While I’m vehemently opposed to tax credits for private school scholarships, I’m glad they finally got a bill passed so that schools can stay open. It should be fun watching Rauner bend himself into a pretzel trying to explain how the funding for Chicago in this bill is GOOD as opposed to the funding in SB1, which was BAD.
How is this not in substance a voucher? Money gets funneled through a tax credit to those parents who contribute to a “scholarship fund”which magically benefits their own children. Thanks to the tax credit, those parents are effectively relieved of their civic obligation to pay for public education at the same rate as everyone else. For example, the vast majority of citizens who do not have school age children. Not buying that laundering the voucher money through this system is any different than taxpayer support of religious schools.
As a trade unionist, I am in awe at how CTU gets to be against stuff that brings in hundreds of millions for its members jobs, salaries and pension — and still remain politically “pure” by opposing the compromise bills, opposing the elected officials involved in the compromise. Works until it don’t.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:30 pm:
My hope is that this brings more bipartisanship and cooperation.
I also hope Rauner learns his lesson and works with his opponents instead of demonizing them. I hope Rauner finally chooses to accept that governing is hard, and it’s often best to move incrementally instead of trying to hit grand slams. Make contact with the ball and move runners over instead of trying to go yard each time and strike out. A string of singles and doubles equals runs.
In other words, do the doable.
“bloated pensions that have been neglected for years to line politician and union pockets”
Lol, you should have told that to Rauner such a long time ago, before he got into his decades-long public employee pension business. No one government employee lines his or her pockets at the public trough quite like Rauner does.
===The House used a Senate bill that was already on 2nd Reading. The Senate concurred. Ain’t gonna be no violation found there.===
==It was an amendment to a bill.
And where have you been? Under a rock. New to the legislative process? ==
I understand the process very well. Many of the cases brought under the “three readings rule” were brought as a result of conference committees. Which you don’t see many of any more (Demoralized, the last time it was utilized was under the large pension bill, SB 1, in 2013). Because you would see new language added at the last minute. Those bills that went to conference committee also received three readings in each chamber.
And to the post: I would have taken the deal and voted for it. Of the available alternatives that could pass, does the most good for the most people. “Governing.”
I can’t wait to see if Rauner donates the full $1,333,333.00 to get the maximum credit of 1 mill and what school/subgroup/individuals he specifies. Also, how do I become a scholarship granting organization, 5% will do?
I’m happy there’s a school bill. I like the evidence-based funding aspect a LOT. (Props to Senator Manar.) I don’t like the $75M going to private & charter schools, but I can live with it. And I’m glad that my son’s teachers, wonderful people all, can think about the upcoming school year without wondering if they’re going to finish.
And, of course, I’m wondering where the next CPS crisis will come from. Or can we maybe go 12 months without one?
By decoupling a school district’s educational resources from the size of the property tax base, the new funding formula is a necessary first step towards the income tax/property tax swap advocated by Jim Edgar and Dawn Clark Netsch in the early 1990s.
My senator has put out a statement saying schools in his district will get about twice what they would have under the Democrat’s plan. One of us is confused.
It has the good, the bad and the ugly (Rauner’s theatrics). I’m satisfied the reform enacted is good for Illinois’ school districts and glad this hostage holding episode is over.
Do we still live in a blue state? It sure doesn’t seem like it.
I’m frankly not comfortable with the Catholic Church guiding our education policy. At some point we’ll have to have a collective come-to-jesus over what it means to separate church and state.
We are flunking a basic test of society.
- Ducking for Cover - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 5:30 pm:
The ability for communities to vote by referenda to refund tax $ in Districts that have reserves has just guaranteed that every superintendent in such a situation will spend it down this year to avoid having their budget cut. Oh the law of unintended consequences.
It was important for Illinois to avoid another embarrassing catastrophe that would get national play. The state should use this as a building block and a process to address the very serious fiscal problems we face. We need to attract new businesses and residents to our state. In all likelihood it is too late for my generation to realize the dream of a solvent Illinois, but perhaps future generations will experience something better.
LL. As one frequent commentator says, changing the states constitution is difficult and takes time. I am afraid the only recourse this state has is to keep raising income tax levels. I hate to be pesimistic, but I am a realist. We are in big trouble and I don’t hold out much hope it is salvageable
- Last Bull Moose - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 6:11 pm:
The Constitutional requirement is that there be no established religion. The framers knew what that meant. They had seen established religion up close.
The current “separation of church and state ” doctrine goes far beyond that language.
Beyond “compromise” … 1. Apparently “Continental Illinois Bank & Trust v. Zagel (1979)” means an Amendatory Veto can do anything; and (2) Speaker Madigan may be a good “Orchestrator” but he is not a “Dictator” …
==As for the Pensions they will have to be reduced in some form ==
So you are advocating to penalize people who have played by the rules that were established before they were hired, paid into the pension system and are planning for a retirement? Who by no fault of their own belong to a pension system that was willfully underfunded by their employer.
Have you ever considered that one of the root causes of the pension problem is that the State has failed to pay all its share of the pension payment to the retirement systems? While the teachers and State employees have their share of the pension deducted from their pay checks.
To borrow a banned term from Mr. Miller - Bite me.
==As for the Pensions they will have to be reduced in some form ==
Some people just can’t kick that crack pipe, even with unambiguous federal and state Constitution language backed by unanimous Supreme Court decisions.
Keep smoking if you like, but don’t kid yourself that you’re actually participating in solving any problems. You’re just in a crack-high dream world.
I’m glad to see this bill passed. Also I’m hoping (to quote Churchill) that this is the end of the beginning with Rauner. He came into office convinced he was so much smarter than everyone else that by sheer force of intellect he could get the results he wanted. I’m sure his self-esteem is still quite high but if we are lucky he has come to realize that other people have a lot to offer in running the state.
He still has a chance to demonstrate leadership. If he stops worrying about getting re-elected and focuses on leading the state where it needs to go, it could be good for everyone. Let’s hope.
“Lol, you should have told that to Rauner such a long time ago, before he got into his decades-long public employee pension business. No one government employee lines his or her pockets at the public trough quite like Rauner does.”
Ooh you really got me there seeing as Rauner is in fact a politician
===Ooh you really got me there seeing as Rauner is in fact a politician===
- Mike -
Rauner made many millions of his hundreds of millions off pensions.
You may want to sit out a few plays..
- TinyDancer(FKASue) - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 6:40 pm:
Evidence-Based School Funding: Good
School Vouchers Masquerading as Private Scholarship Fund: Bad
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 6:42 pm:
==I can’t help but think that the folks would have come to an agreement sooner if Rauner participated sooner.==
and
==This overall school reform bill is the only strong issue to date for Rauner to run on. ==
Except that Rauner’s “participation” was to stay out of the room and then not pull votes off of the agreed bill. It’s the latest sad example of how bad Rauner truly is at being Governor. Folks can love or hate Madigan, Cullerton, Durkin, and/or Brady, but this shows they know how to govern. I am most impressed with Brady, he stepped up to the plate and did what was right for the state and his caucus. As the newest leader, this was a big test.
So you are saying that the pension funds are completely broke? There’s no more money for the next pension check to be deposited into retiree’s accounts?
You know that is not true. So stop spreading fake news.
Confused about his PE thing………every time I pick up something to read there’s something about Childhood Obesity at epidemic levels!!! OMG! So, I guess we in ILlinois need to stop screaming about that since we don’t care about physical activity in the school day. Parents…….it’s up to you now!
Secondly, my children, in DuPage county had the most excellent PE/Health experience. THey are lifetime movers and understand why physical activity is important for the mind as well as the body. They are fit and as adults, understand that value. To say nothing about the outstanding nutritional and substance abuse education they received. We absolutely marvel at how they will never drink and drive—-not even a little. Uber /cab or designated driver. All of our kids’ friends have been indoctrinated with this important lesson. Gee……what is the value of that? Parents can give advice until blue in the face. Have peers and teachers over the years instilling those lessons……..they work!
I get that there is no solution to the pension issue. Of course there should be, as private companies were forced to deal with that issue, and did so many years ago. But the courts have decided otherwise. Please don’t misunderstand me, any amounts owed must be paid, but to allow employees to continue to earn those pensions going forward is not reasonable. When you have tax after tax increased to address the ever increasing imbalance, you have a large group of very disenfranchised people, and a percentage of them will opt out of Illinois. The only option at that point is to raise the taxes further on the remaining residents
Go ahead and trumpet loudly that nothing can be done, but know that Illinois doesn’t offer a whole heck of a lot of benefits for people to stay here and pay so a select few can enjoy a generous pension. It will get ugly for this state. Ironically, I wonder how many of those well paid pensioners will stick around to help Illinois out of the mess.
Nike Turnschuhe Damen Grau
Take advantage of the increased death reward option if it’s offered by your insurance firm. This life insurance gain enables the policyholder to get a substantial amount of the death benefit of the plan, with regards to a terminal sickness. This could permit the covered by insurance to work with this help to include stuff like medical costs, experimental therapies, a vacation, home improvements or medical personnel.
In relation to working with stress, you should consider obtaining a dog. This is significant due to the fact not simply have animals been recognized to decrease your tension levels but the time which you invest nurturing and looking after your furry friend will assist you to consider your thoughts away from anything that is certainly triggering your worries.
Yes a few people may receive a “generous” benefit. Most won’t. Most will receive a modest benefit in lieu of social security and a 401K. Generous benefits didn’t cause this problem irresponsible funding did. In short we spent the money on things we wanted at the moment with no regard for these long term obligations. We compounded the problem by keeping tax rates lower than they needed to be for a long, long time. To know throw pensioners under the bus ignores the fact that this was a self-inflicted wound.
I find it ironic(?) That I haven’t heard or read one peep about the potential property tax referendums in this bill. From either a Dem or Repub. I didn’t even know it existed Til I was guided back for a re-read. I must admit it has me a bit confused. I know we have someone out there who can put it in a way an old codger can understand.
It’s done. The original legislation was much better, but with the ethically challenged folks that serve in Springfield they couldn’t help themselves and stuffed this bill full of garbage. The tax credit was unnecessary and Chicago got more thAn twice as much money as it deserved.
4 percent raised great points. In multiple ways this was a missed opportunity to make more substantive changes. I don’t blame Sen. Manar who was steadfast. Rather I blame the lack of real collaboration early in the process due primarily to Gov. Rauner’s lack of interest to sincerely participate.
I wasn’t happy about the path to get there, but the bill got passed. I wasn’t happy my State Senator voted against it, but at least he had some reasons I can respect. The bill ain’t perfect, but it does change the playing field.
So now we move forward. Maybe the next Governor can sell a specific dedicated State income tax increase swap for a fixed percentage reduction in the school portion of property taxes. After all, this bill will require more revenue in the future to keep the promises made, so instead of a small income tax, go for a big one and sell the swap.
=== … was always told the AV was for “technical errors” - do you disagree? ===
I can’t speak to what you were told.
Since Thompson, Madigan has waged a war on AVs he believed exceeded his interpretation of what was allowed under the Illinois Constitution. I can’t recall any expansive AVs being approved by the House since Madigan’s assumption of the Speakership. I’m sure Rich will chime in if my memory is faulty.
Acceptance of Rauner’s AV was never considered a possibility by keen observers of the GA. Thus, back to my question as to what is your point.
–The adults finally showed up…. maybe crazy can take a little time off–
Before they disappear again, could sb tell the gov that pitting Chicago against downstate is a bit trite? Ditto, “It’s Madigan’s fault.” Maybe “we’re in this together?” Thks.
I feel proud of IL legislature right now. It’s going to take years to get full equity, but at least we’re on the road.
The agreement is very good. In long term, poor districts receive more resouces. CPS pensions are funded like other pensions. The price of agreement is a modest tax credit program that can easily be eliminated later. The most important additional feature is CPS ability to raise more property tax to fund pensions. It gives Chicago a tool dig CPS out of the financial ditch that was created by pension underfunding.
Norseman, “Free Rides for Seniors” is the most recent answer to your question.
- NorthsideNoMore - Wednesday, Aug 30, 17 @ 9:16 am:
Good Bill compromise is always the best way to get things done in the dome. Everyone has some ownership in this thing. Bet there will be more than a few folks dismayed about what they think the vouchure things is or isn’t.Winners in this are schools districts seeking stable predicatble funding which should equte to less reliance on property taxes. By the way this doesn’t work without the passage of the Budget. So a Thanks to the House GOP members that did the right thing in July.
- Grandpa - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 2:23 pm:
I guess I am like many legislators, I am glad to see movement in a somewhat positive direction (not crazy about the $75M)but glad we are moving on.
- Ghost - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 2:24 pm:
You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have.
- Waffle Fries - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 2:25 pm:
Compromise is integral to governing.
- PublicServant - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 2:25 pm:
Everybody has something to like and dislike about the bill, so I suppose it’s a good compromise.
- We'll See - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 2:28 pm:
The adults finally showed up…. maybe crazy can take a little time off.
- Ed Observer - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 2:28 pm:
Well said, Waffle Fries. This is not just a huge day for our schools, I think it is a huge day for moving the state forward.
- Huh? - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 2:29 pm:
Budget crisis resolved for now. Education funding crisis resolved for now. What is the next crisis that 1.4% is going to drive the State in too?
- Blue dog dem - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 2:30 pm:
Since the state will now be using an ‘evidence based’ funding model, i am relieved that we have finally put to bed any and all issues associated with paying for K-12. Now that this issue is settled, onto more pressing things like getting Oreo production back to Chicago.
- Responsa - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 2:31 pm:
Lots of “true colors came shining through” in the last couple of days. And I am talking about the hypocrisy kind, not the skin color kind or the “beautiful” kind like in the song.
That said, I’m glad it’s done.
- Historic - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 2:31 pm:
Historic
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 2:34 pm:
I hope that all the private schools that take the $75 million public welfare from this bill will enjoy all the regulations that will come with it soon.
- Texas Red - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 2:37 pm:
The tax credit is a step in the right direction.
- Gooner - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 2:38 pm:
Democrats did nothing while they held the House and Senate and under Blago and Quinn. Now they are complaining about a compromise?
A bit late.
The Democratic votes against from those who were in office while Quinn was Governor were not based on principle. Those votes were an insult to voters. Suddenly they care deeply about school funding?
I lost a lot of respect for certain people yesterday.
- winners and losers - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 2:39 pm:
Phoniest comment: Manar (after saying last week he would accept anything to get the bill passed): “Last night I was undecided on my position on this bill.”
And then he said he drove by children today on his way to Springfield: “Is this bill going to help those children I say this morning?”
- ILPundit - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 2:41 pm:
Credit where it is due, this is a huge fix for education funding that has stymied both parties for decades. Easily the single biggest substantive policy achievement in Illinois since pre-Edgar.
Politically, the Governor now has a big, big, big win he can claim. But to use it also undermines his desired anti-Madigan message. We be interesting to see how this plays
- Anon221 - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 2:43 pm:
I would have preferred Rauner sign this today, instead of turning tomorrow into what may amount to a campaign stunt for himself. He’s going to try and take a win he really does not deserve.
To all the GA members who voted for the bill or for their principles, the 75 mil did not help make this an easy vote. Thank you for the reasoned and thoughtful debates. Here’s to fine-tuning an historic bill in future debates:)
- H-W - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 2:46 pm:
I am glad it is resolved, and I appreciate that compromise was a part of the process. I am somewhat disappointed however the leaders were so uncertain as to introduce a secondary amendment to an alternative bill, in the event they could not get the first amendment approved, and could not override the veto. The disappointment comes from the fact that we are too far from civility and lacking in a shared understanding of the commonwealth and the common good. But perhaps we are turning the page now.
- Blue dog dem - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 2:47 pm:
More thoughts. I wonder how many school districts throughout the state will have reduced property tax burdens as a result of this historic,epic,evangelical bill.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 2:48 pm:
Win-win for Chicago. I can’t believe Rauner held out just to give Emanuel a little something extra in the form of the private school tax credit. It’s really mind boggling that he gave up everything and got next to nothing in return.
I’m glad this will help CPS at the expense of taxpayers like me, but it’s worth it if they address the pension ticking time bomb. I am happy to pay a bit more if it is spent wisely (a big if, I know).
Seriously, Rauner touted his negotiation skills too, didn’t he? In addition to being a great evaluator of talent, lol. Heck of a job, Raunie. Can’t wait to see what happens next.
- Gruntled University Employee - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 2:48 pm:
I never thought I’d say this but I’m less concerned about how it got done than I am that it got done.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 2:50 pm:
I’m still at a loss as to Rauner raising objections about a Chicago bailout, property tax freezes, then in the end agreeing to a bill that spends far more, with less tax resources, likely forcing property tax increases. Winning?
- Seats - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 2:54 pm:
I’m thankful it passed and glad that JB is already saying he will end the voucher system when he becomes Gov so its a short term issue with me to fix a potentially huge problem.
- A guy - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 2:58 pm:
It’s done. That’s saying something with this whole crew.
- Amalia - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 2:58 pm:
tax credit is a step in the wrong direction.
- Cheryl44 - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 2:58 pm:
I don’t want to support private schools with my tax money. But I’ll live.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 2:59 pm:
To the Post,
I’ve edited myself about 4 times trying to write this, so let’s see how far I get now…
If you’re cheering thode who voted “Red” or angered… frustrated… put off… by this bipartisan legislation that will save School Funding… you’re doing it wrong.
Now, the politicos, the “pols”, the partisan operatives that need the negative as part of their own personas, for me, they don’t count.
This was never designed to get 177-0.
That’s the deal. It’s designed to get… “73 and 38″… which is what it got.
If you claim you understand the politics within the governing and you see this passage as “frustrating, angering” then I dunno what you think you understand.
That’s not snark, that’s you coming to a realization your interpretation of compromise in this instances isn’t working.
Schools needed a win. Illinois needed a win. This is that win.
Rauner needed a win. He got it. Good for him. Rauner will sigh a significant, bipartisan, funding bill for education. Don’t dismiss that, embrace that it’s good. Rauner should now do a tour, this time, a victory lap.
Durkin and Brady needed a win. The overrides, that wasn’t too great. This allows Republicans to be partners in governing, wins included, compromises included too.
The “Chicago Bailout” garbage now looks so small-minded. This win can allow Republicans to build on their successes.
Madigan and Cullerton needed a win. Both showed their
proficiencies, Madigan with a walking around the barn for the sake of member management and process. Cullerton cut to the quick, got to his business, no need to drag it out, no tools to drag it out either.
Durkin was the hero I hoped he would’ve been 30+ months ago. It’s taken long enough.
Rauner figured out what took 3 Chiefs of Staff, 2 purges (1 of which still might be over) and one bill that shoulda been what has been going on from this Administration… Incremental Wins.
Congratulations to ALL. Campaigns are hard, governing is difficult. This is governing. This is what has been missing. Recognize that, embrace that, use this reintroduction again to understand 60 and 30. Really understand… wins.
We should all take these wins, and embrace the real, the funding of schools, and the actual, actual governing happened.
I’m not happy with it all, I’m really happy with the package as a whole… and that’s governing.
So, let’s use this as a template. Let’s govern Illinois for a change. That means all of you.
OW
- DuPage Saint - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:00 pm:
Depressed. Now Rich will probably take some well deserved time off and I will miss all the interesting comments
- JohnnyPyleDriver - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:00 pm:
So glad it passed despite the ridiculous tax credits. Gaining more and more respect for Andy Manar every day.
- Mike - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:05 pm:
What is the over/under on a CPS bankruptcy? I will take the under on 2 years. Vouchers are historic for this state and the few children who are able to escape the disaster that is CPS will have much brighter futures. The real question is why would anyone stay in IL when taxes continue to go up with zero benefits in return. Every dime of the approved CPS property tax is going straight to corrupt union pensions. While the average citzen loses thousands more a year some big union fat cat is enjoying his $100,000 plus a year vacation since he was 50 all because he substituted for a day. Good luck IL you are going to need it.
- Tequila Mockingbird - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:07 pm:
Not sure. All that time and effort (and tax dollars) that went into it, and this is the best they could do? Illinois proves once again that nobody does dysfunctional better (worse?) than we do.
- Steve - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:08 pm:
Many readers of this website will look back at this as mostly smooth compared to what’s coming in the next several years in Illinois. Who wants to vote on the next state income tax hike in Springfield? Who wants to vote on a constitutional change for public pensions in Illinois?
- allknowingmasterofracoondom - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:08 pm:
We are still broke. So get back to work.
- JohnnyPyleDriver - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:08 pm:
==Who wants to vote on a constitutional change for public pensions in Illinois?==
lol
- Will Caskey - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:10 pm:
I spend about six months pleading and yelling at CPS staff and sometimes outright weeping with frustration to get my autistic son to a school with adequate staffing levels. It broke my heart to do that to his previous school but his mother and I had to do something: by the end of last year there was no full time teacher for his special ed class and the aide was split between two classrooms.
With SB1 I had barely any hope anything would change. It would be back to hoping Rahm would show a bare shred of human decency and raise funds through the city council.
The compromise bill is just unbelievably good. It gives the district a chance at dragging itself towards stability. It gives parents with kids still in my son’s old class a chance at decent education and therapy, not just the angry white professional with acquaintances in the CPS central office.
I’m not even feeling the relief I’m describing yet, I was so frustrated and angry at the uncertainty.
- Aderuce - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:10 pm:
Does this mean we can all go back to life without crisis?
- Blue dog dem - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:10 pm:
OW. I appreciate and reape6ct your comments. I get the fact that the state may have neede an equitable solution to a fair distribution of resources. I had hoped throughout this charade that we ended up with a aystem that reduced k-12 dependence on property taxes. This is in my mind the greatest problem this state faces. I dont believe this bill solves that problem. What am i missing?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:10 pm:
===What is the over/under on a CPS bankruptcy===
- Mike -, explain the legal steps before you decide to set all this “over/under” stuff.
I’ll wait.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:13 pm:
===I had hoped throughout this charade that we ended up with a aystem that reduced k-12 dependence on property taxes.===
That wasn’t part of the package.
It’s just that simple.
It wasn’t part of the package.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:15 pm:
===It wasn’t part of the package. ===
Sure it is. There’s a small property tax relief component and the ability to use referendums to roll back levies, but, more importantly, decent state school funding should relieve pressure on the property tax.
- independent since Trump - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:19 pm:
Durkin delivered big time in the same week that the self-entitled and promoted ’shadow Governor’ John Tilman and his IPI crew got the boot. All done before the critical Labor Day weekend. Game on 2018!
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:23 pm:
===Sure it is.===
I approached it as…
“Property Tax Freeze”
The proper funding of schools should eleviate the pressures, will school districts use that window… and the referendum aspect does purposely go to property taxes.
I went extreme.
- West Sider - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:23 pm:
I am a recently former Illinois public school parent. My take is that 5he governor deserves no credit, in the sense that much of the waste land that is public education in- especially Chicago - Illinois was created through his advocacy for Charters as a private citizen.
The pension mess has been a mess forever. But Charters and “education reform” have been an ideologically driven disaster.
I should say, I was once a Charter supporter- but that’s before I had to raise a child in the hell they made.
I should day-to-day My child is attending college out of state. That’s Rrauner’s legacy-
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:23 pm:
Glad that’s over.
They did it the hard way with little to show for the extra effort. Politics really set the inevitable back months.
ILGOP has to be disgusted with their governor. He threw us once again into a complete farce of a legislative process without really getting anything in return. The Governor is irrelevant after his dramatic theatrics. No one is either entertained or enlightened by Mr. Rauner.
A decent accredible ILGOP challenger to Rauner will unravel him in a primary. Rauner is such a failure, he shouldn’t be renominated.
- Anon221 - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:23 pm:
“That wasn’t part of the package.”
It was in there, it just didn’t get a lot of play.
I think even Dusty Rhodes re-discovered a part or parts of this element in her evaluation of the bill yesterday. As with any 500 plus pager, there will be some “surprises” down the road, but nothing that can’t be worked out.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:25 pm:
Rauner needed a face-saving out after the hysterical “Chicago bailout” freak out fell flat and the gross staff incompetence of the “simple majority” on accepting the AV.
The out was the $75M tax credit — a rounding error of a rounding error — with a sunset.
A small price to save the larger bill.
- Retired Educator - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:26 pm:
The assistance to parochial schools is critical and ought to have been enacted decades ago. These schools have provided quality education to generations of Illinoisans and saved the taxpayers untold billions of dollars over what it would have cost the public schools to educate the same people;
- Mike - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:27 pm:
- Oswego Willy
=== Mike -, explain the legal steps before you decide to set all this “over/under” stuff.===
Please reference Chapter 9 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. For precedent please see the Detroit Bankruptcy case. CPS is fundamentally broke they are using pay day loans just to fund current operations. All this extra money and property tax increases are not going to solve the underlying issues. Bankruptcy is the only option. They will be followed by the City itself and eventually some form for the State. People are packing out in droves Bankruptcy is inevitable and it is going to come sooner rather then later.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:33 pm:
- Mike -
What about state law?
- winners and losers - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:34 pm:
==There’s a small property tax relief component==
Only if money is specifically appropriated for it, and ZERO was appropriated.
- Sideline Watcher - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:35 pm:
Phoniest comment: Manar (after saying last week he would accept anything to get the bill passed): “Last night I was undecided on my position on this bill.”
And then he said he drove by children today on his way to Springfield: “Is this bill going to help those children I say this morning?”
There was nothing phony about it at all. Andy struggled with this like all people who don’t like the idea of public dollars going to private schools. He spent the last 4 years getting his teeth knocked in and was made to submit to years and years of public hearings, subject matter hearings, rounding up superintendents, traveling the state to help his colleagues explain it, all the things that go into actual legislating to build consensus only to have a last minute topic negotiated behind closed doors for a policy he disagrees with in a matter of days. He essentially admitted that he couldn’t let the politics of that get in the way of finishing what he started out to do. A point that was made clear when he looked at those kids on the way to work. And even then, after every lie the Governor and the IPI said about Chicago bailout and every time they didn’t negotiate in good faith, he STILL thanked Jason Barrickman who in my opinion didn’t deserve it the minute he decided to join the Governor’s sick decision to pit regions of the state against each other. That was wrong. Wrong all day long.
Senator Manar has been the recipient of brutal attacks for his work on this and he was still able to rise above this to finish the job. He was honest. And the Senate chamber is better for his service. Period.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:36 pm:
“Ghost” gets my vote. Lets have some WC reform.
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:37 pm:
Anybody know how many public hearings the school voucher issue received in the General Assembly? Zero.
I find it interesting the Cullerton made mention of this fact in his press conference. It was also stated in House debate.
Both leaders will sign off that all requirements were met for passage. But public statements being made that contradict that. Are they setting up a court case?
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:38 pm:
===and ZERO was appropriated. ===
The way I read it, if $350 mil is appropriated, then $50 mil can be used for property tax relief.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:39 pm:
===Are they setting up a court case? ===
LOL
For what?
- Ducky LaMoore - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:40 pm:
To quote Spiro Agnew… “It doesn’t excite me to the extent that I would go out and beat the drums for it.”
- Red Ranger - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:41 pm:
While I dont think the Gov’s new b-squad (or maybe even c-squad) has the capacity to pull it off, but could this week be looked upon as the week that Rauner “pivots” to normalcy? AVR, Trust Act, school funding are all accomplishments, even though he really didnt have much to do with them. Maybe get some small wins in the 2018 Session and try to sell voters that the tide is starting to turn in IL? With $150 million you can create a very nice fantasy world.
- ArchPundit - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:43 pm:
For all the complaining about how Chicago does well with this bill, you know who comes out the best in the long run? Rural schools. Evidence based models make sure there is a base level of resources as we see the rural exodus continues. It’s stunning to me that so many rural districts are so angry at some amorphous thing that they don’t worry about what is going on in their towns. That exodus is continuing and a bill like this at least provides the resources for those towns and districts to have basic resources to educate the kids of families who do stick around.
This bill is a great bill. The tax credits aren’t my thing and I think Harris’ point was dead on about why it was a bad idea. That said, this bill bring more equitable student aid to districts across the state. It doesn’t fix everything, but it’s a huge improvement.
That Manar, the Leaders and other were able to pull this off with Rauner being all over the place is truly and achievement–Durkin, Cullerton, Madigan and even Bill Brady deserve a lot of credit here. This is government working.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:45 pm:
==school voucher issue==
*sigh*
There are no school vouchers in this bill. It’s a tax credit for contributions to a scholarship fund. Two completely different animals.
==Are they setting up a court case?==
What’s the legal issue. if you’re trying to make this an issue about religion, it’s not.
It’s a tax credit for a donation. You get deductions now for charitable contributions, including to churches.
- ArchPundit - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:45 pm:
===Senator Manar has been the recipient of brutal attacks for his work on this and he was still able to rise above this to finish the job. He was honest. And the Senate chamber is better for his service. Period.
Amen. He did incredible work selling this bill across the state and keeping stakeholders on board.
- blue dog dem - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:47 pm:
Three predictions.
1. Of the 852 school districts in the state, Zero will experience prop tax relief.
2. Of the 97 high school districts in the state,zero will opt for outsourcing drivers ed.
3. Of the 852 school districts in the state, zero will eliminate a PE teacher .
But hey, at least we got a voting chance on the local level. That in its self may be Rauners only win.
- Mike - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:47 pm:
- Oswego Willy
===What about state law? ===
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_preemption
Judge Steven W. Rhodes ruled in the Detroit case that Federal Bankruptcy law supersedes state law in both that case and ours, the state constitution provision that does not allow any impairment of pension benefits. There is no money for these pensions and the only way to get rid of them is through Bankruptcy. It is going to happen sooner rather then later.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:47 pm:
===could this week be looked upon as the week that Rauner “pivots” to normalcy?===
Let’s wait a while before we start making predictions. He has a lot to prove yet.
- BackSlapped - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:48 pm:
Glad for a new formula, concerned on the long term implications of the credits, but terrified if people think this is the end. Need a few billion more dollars before we’ll actually approach adequacy.
- Private School Admin - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:50 pm:
Excited for the possibilities but personally scared for the impending Chicago property tax hike! As well as all the regulations that come along with this bill. Only 20/550 pages in….
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:50 pm:
Mike:
Illinois isn’t Detroit. And, states can’t declare bankruptcy. Two pretty basic facts that you might want to be aware of.
And exactly what do you mean by “get rid” of pensions? Like, stiff the pensioners completely?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:52 pm:
- Mike -
When did CPS itself test the legality of their own case?
I must’ve missed it.
Who would have to declare CPS bankrupt? How does that work?
The board appointed by a Chicago mayor?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:54 pm:
- Demoralized -
===And exactly what do you mean by “get rid” of pensions? Like, stiff the pensioners completely?===
I was going to get to that. It’s been a hoot so far.
- Susan Nicholas - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:54 pm:
I am concerned about the well-being of our students and teachers across the state of Illinois.
See below From ISBE
https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Physical-Education-and-Health.aspx
A state report released in August 2013 calls for new benchmarks and strategies to improve and increase physical education classes, noting the latest neuroscience research linking physical activity with improved academic performance.
The educational Funding Bill is the complete opposite of the state report from the ISBE.
State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch and Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck, director of the Department of Public Health, co-chaired the Illinois Enhance Physical Education (P.E.) Task Force, which developed the 148-page report that has been submitted to Gov. Pat Quinn, the Illinois State General Assembly, and health organizations and community groups interested in turning the tide of childhood obesity and improving health for all students.
The benefits of comprehensive health and physical education include promoting a healthy generation of students who are able to achieve their highest potential, reversing the trend of deteriorating health and physical fitness among youth, and helping to lower the cost of health care in the United States.
How can the ISBE promote Physical Education while the Illinois Government believes it is okay to reduce physical education or allow students the ability not to take a physical education class?
Our job as educators is to teach. This addition to the bill takes away physical education teachers ability to teach and promote lifetime fitness to their students to the best of their ability.
- Mike - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:55 pm:
I guess its a good first step. I just see it as the first of many tax increases to pay for bloated pensions that have been neglected for years to line politician and union pockets
- Albany Park Patriot - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:55 pm:
Governing by crisis is dumb.
- ArchPundit - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:56 pm:
===And exactly what do you mean by “get rid” of pensions?
Even in Detroit, the pensions still exist. I know it’s a dream of some to throw grandma out of her house, but even getting rid of them in a bankruptcy doesn’t make them go away.
- winners and losers - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:56 pm:
==if $350 mil is appropriated, then $50 mil can be used for property tax relief==
Rich, are you saying that $50 million can be used now? What is your source for that? I have not seen that said anywhere.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:57 pm:
===allow students the ability not to take a physical education class===
Take a breath. The only kids who can get out of PE are athletes.
Believe it or not, at times in high school I played two sports at once. Practice before school and practice after school, plus PE. The PE seemed a bit much to me.
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:57 pm:
Reason for court case would be violation of the “three readings requirement” which is outlined in the constitution (Article IV). In the Geja’s Cafe v Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority case in 1992, the parties agreed that the legislature had violated the spirit of three readings rule. Justice James D. Heiple said that “the General Assembly has shown remarkably poor self-discipline in policing itself” and that “ignoring the three readings requirement has become a procedural regularity.” He added that the court refused to abandon the enrolled bill rule in Geja’s Cafe because “the doctrine of separation of powers is more complelling” than enforcing the procedural rule in that case. Ominously, however, he issued a warning: “If the General Assembly continues its poor record of policing itself, we reserve the right to revisit this issue on another day to decide the continued propriety of ignoring this constitutional violation”. The voucher language did not receive three readings or public hearings.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 3:58 pm:
===What is your source for that?===
Try reading the bill.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:01 pm:
===violation of the “three readings requirement”===
The House used a Senate bill that was already on 2nd Reading. The Senate concurred. Ain’t gonna be no violation found there.
- ArchPundit - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:01 pm:
===Believe it or not, at times in high school I played two sports at once. Practice before school and practice after school, plus PE. The PE seemed a bit much to me.
Let me also add to those who are not familiar with other states, Illinois was the only state that required it every day of school from 1-12. Students like Rich or even just students with one sport are fine without it every day.
I like that it is required at such a level (it also keeps Social Studies from being the coach dumping ground), but Illinois is far, far ahead of other states in the requirement.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:02 pm:
==voucher language==
Ugh. Can we please stop. These aren’t vouchers.
== did not receive three readings or public hearings.==
It was an amendment to a bill.
And where have you been? Under a rock. New to the legislative process?
- winners and losers - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:03 pm:
==Senator Manar has been the recipient of brutal attacks for his work on this==
==He spent the last 4 years getting his teeth knocked in and was made to submit to years and years of public hearings==
Come on. Manar was lauded all over Illinois. Had to “submit” to hearings? He loved it.
==He did incredible work selling this bill across the state and keeping stakeholders on board==
Absolutely true.
- Mike - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:04 pm:
- Demoralized
Illinois and Chicago specifically are much worse then Detroit currently. Read my comments again I said some form for the state which was acknowledging that currently states can’t go Bankrupt. However when you can’t pay your bills, have no ability to borrow, and have eroding tax base what other options do you have. The unprecedented time will call for some sort of bankruptcy type reorganization. As for the Pensions they will have to be reduced in some form as decided by Federal Bankruptcy Judge. Perks like retirement at 50 and over $100,000 a year payouts are going to have to be altered.
- Oswego Willy
As I just said when they are no longer able to borrow or increase taxes there will be no other choice. I am glad I moved to WI two years ago and my kids are receiving an excellent education funded by state vouchers at half the cost of what it cost to educate a child in public school.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:05 pm:
==The only kids who can get out of PE are athletes.==
When I was in school 25 years ago we could opt out if we played sports. Throwing up every day running my rear end off in football was plenty of “PE” for me.
- ArchPundit - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:05 pm:
===Perks like retirement at 50 and over $100,000 a year payouts are going to have to be altered.
And going forward those have been reformed. You understand that, right?
- whiplash - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:05 pm:
Here’s a more interesting question that probably could be asked in several ways, but here goes. Would Rauner have done better or worse on the final bill had he not purged his old staff in July? I have an opinion but will wait for others before weighing in.
- BuckinIrish - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:07 pm:
Is there anyone who is happy with what the Democrats got and the Private School tax credits. I went to public schools but I do see the need for private (especially Catholic) schools as an alternative. I’m just wondering if anyone else likes the bill without any caveats
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:08 pm:
===As I just said when they are no longer able to borrow or increase taxes there will be no other choice===
Nah.
See, who is going to pull this trigger? The school board appointed by a Chicago mayor?
And with that, with state law, this ===when they are no longer able to borrow or increase taxes there will be no other choice===
… Chicago property taxes, for example, aren’t like any example.
So, you lack a mechanism, you lack the “can’t raise taxes” thingy, cause they actually could… and pesky state law.
===I am glad I moved to WI two years ago===
lol. Then see to your own fiscal houses…
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:09 pm:
==As for the Pensions they will have to be reduced in some form ==
You’re a heckuva guy Mike. Taking away people’s pensions.
== over $100,000 a year payouts==
You’re purposely taking outliers and acting as if it’s the norm. That number is well above any average pension.
I find it incredibly distasteful when someone advocates taking pensions away from people.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:10 pm:
This is… Interesting…
===…I said some form for the state which was acknowledging that currently states can’t go Bankrupt. However when you can’t pay your bills, have no ability to borrow, and have eroding tax base what other options do you have.===
States can’t go bankrupt, “but”…
That’s your argument? Oh boy.
- ArchPundit - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:11 pm:
===I find it incredibly distasteful when someone advocates taking pensions away from people
Even Detroit didn’t do that. People still get a pension, it is just reduced with no COL. Even then they made a mistake of moving to FICA so there is no money going in to the system making payments over time even harder.
- 4 percent - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:11 pm:
This is a failure to fix the education problem.
1. It does not address the root cause of the education funding issue and that is the over-reliance on the property tax system. It simply takes $350 million and puts a band-aid on schools with a few possible crumbs of property tax relief.
2. This does little to nothing to drive efficiencies. Why do we have 867 school districts including a few towns were 3-4 elementary districts feed into 1 high school district.
3. Chicago is the BIG winner with nearly a half billion in new money (pension pick up, majority of money through evidence based system, and increased levy).
4. The tax credit is a crumb to allow Rauner/GOP to claim victory. It is NOT a voucher or tuition tax credit as many have claimed.
5. Taxpayers will be on the hooks for billions in new education money over the next decade and lawmakers will be forced to raise taxes again.
6. Downstate schools got little to no mandate relief. They should have received the same relief that Chicago got in the 90s.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:12 pm:
I don’t like the credit provisions and the lack of transparency regarding TIF Task Force, but it’s a compromise. I’ve been whining about the need for these folks to compromise for years so it would incredibly hypocritical of me to be critical now.
- blue dog dem - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:13 pm:
I missed this yesterday. But my thoughts. Phelps is useless. Couldn’t muster a vote. I get it he’s in a tough district, but at least Costello had enough guts to dig his own grave.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:15 pm:
P.S. I can’t help but think that the folks would have come to an agreement sooner if Rauner participated sooner. IMHO, he still would have been a roadblock if it hadn’t been for his self-inflicted meltdown over the last month.
- City Zen - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:16 pm:
==Throwing up every day running my rear end off in football was plenty of “PE” for me.==
Did you score 4 touchdowns in a single game?
- Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:16 pm:
1) Governor outmaneuvered again.
2) Temporary pilot quasi-voucher program was the price of moving forward with major reform. Can be undone in future.
3) Best Team In America total fail - Ds and Chicago got more than SB1.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:17 pm:
Back to the topic . . .
The process used for this bill is the way it is supposed to work. The state would have been much better off if this process had been used for the budget and other things for the past 2 1/2 years. It’s called governing. Hopefully the Governor embraces this process and we can move forward in similar fashion on other bills (ahem, the next budget). I’m not holding my breath, though.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:17 pm:
To Sen. Manar,
You get serious kudos for taking on the School Funding issue and traveling the state, at times I’m sure when the discussion seemed to face more obstacles that solutions, more adversaries than allies.
You deserve to bask in a bipartisan success you helped to bring from a traveling tour to a bill that will be signed changing many things how Illinois looks and funds it K-12 schools
OW
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:18 pm:
City:
No. I was a lineman. Which made daily running drills that much more ridiculous. lol
- Steve - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:18 pm:
Anyone’s guess on whether the tax credits for education will be shot down when they expire in 5 years???
- blue dog dem - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:24 pm:
steve. I am sure the next governor will horse trade them for that progressive income tax. ( heavy snark intended. By the way, what’s the difference between snark and sarcasm?)
- Scott - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:26 pm:
Actually, the Charter Schools in Chicago has decimated the private schools - so that is why the Cardinal is a happy camper.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:26 pm:
This overall school reform bill is the only strong issue to date for Rauner to run on. It’s not like he’s flush with accomplishments.
The tax credit is small potatoes, either way. It’s not going to change any votes. The only danger is if parents start calling up wondering how they get their “vouchers.” They will be sorely disappointed.
Rauner’s lucky that Dems were willing to give him the out. He based his AV on a mistaken belief in a “simple majority.” That fiasco put him in a dangerous no-man’s land, as a super-majority is a heavy lift and no sure thing.
He had to jettison the “Chicago bailout” nonsense just to avoid a full-blown school-funding crisis that would have been a direct result of his actions.
- Disgusted Downstate - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:27 pm:
Private school admin, just wait until you read the part where you have to give state tests to those students in exchange for scholarships. That should be fun.
And with the ability to reduce PE to 3 days a week, I’ll bet we will see some PE positions eliminated.
While I’m vehemently opposed to tax credits for private school scholarships, I’m glad they finally got a bill passed so that schools can stay open. It should be fun watching Rauner bend himself into a pretzel trying to explain how the funding for Chicago in this bill is GOOD as opposed to the funding in SB1, which was BAD.
- Anon - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:28 pm:
How is this not in substance a voucher? Money gets funneled through a tax credit to those parents who contribute to a “scholarship fund”which magically benefits their own children. Thanks to the tax credit, those parents are effectively relieved of their civic obligation to pay for public education at the same rate as everyone else. For example, the vast majority of citizens who do not have school age children. Not buying that laundering the voucher money through this system is any different than taxpayer support of religious schools.
- Steve - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:29 pm:
- blue dog dem -
You are on to something… I take what you said with no snark.
- Molly Maguire - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:29 pm:
As a trade unionist, I am in awe at how CTU gets to be against stuff that brings in hundreds of millions for its members jobs, salaries and pension — and still remain politically “pure” by opposing the compromise bills, opposing the elected officials involved in the compromise. Works until it don’t.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:30 pm:
My hope is that this brings more bipartisanship and cooperation.
I also hope Rauner learns his lesson and works with his opponents instead of demonizing them. I hope Rauner finally chooses to accept that governing is hard, and it’s often best to move incrementally instead of trying to hit grand slams. Make contact with the ball and move runners over instead of trying to go yard each time and strike out. A string of singles and doubles equals runs.
In other words, do the doable.
“bloated pensions that have been neglected for years to line politician and union pockets”
Lol, you should have told that to Rauner such a long time ago, before he got into his decades-long public employee pension business. No one government employee lines his or her pockets at the public trough quite like Rauner does.
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:35 pm:
===The House used a Senate bill that was already on 2nd Reading. The Senate concurred. Ain’t gonna be no violation found there.===
==It was an amendment to a bill.
And where have you been? Under a rock. New to the legislative process? ==
I understand the process very well. Many of the cases brought under the “three readings rule” were brought as a result of conference committees. Which you don’t see many of any more (Demoralized, the last time it was utilized was under the large pension bill, SB 1, in 2013). Because you would see new language added at the last minute. Those bills that went to conference committee also received three readings in each chamber.
- Molly Maguire - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:35 pm:
And to the post: I would have taken the deal and voted for it. Of the available alternatives that could pass, does the most good for the most people. “Governing.”
- Shake - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:38 pm:
Things Get Done When Rauner Stays On The Sidelines Out Of The Way..
- Aldemuvs - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:45 pm:
I can’t wait to see if Rauner donates the full $1,333,333.00 to get the maximum credit of 1 mill and what school/subgroup/individuals he specifies. Also, how do I become a scholarship granting organization, 5% will do?
- CPS Parent - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:45 pm:
I’m happy there’s a school bill. I like the evidence-based funding aspect a LOT. (Props to Senator Manar.) I don’t like the $75M going to private & charter schools, but I can live with it. And I’m glad that my son’s teachers, wonderful people all, can think about the upcoming school year without wondering if they’re going to finish.
And, of course, I’m wondering where the next CPS crisis will come from. Or can we maybe go 12 months without one?
- Quiet Sage - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:47 pm:
By decoupling a school district’s educational resources from the size of the property tax base, the new funding formula is a necessary first step towards the income tax/property tax swap advocated by Jim Edgar and Dawn Clark Netsch in the early 1990s.
- whetstone - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:50 pm:
I can’t put it any better than Ghost.
- Disgusted Downstate - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:51 pm:
My senator has put out a statement saying schools in his district will get about twice what they would have under the Democrat’s plan. One of us is confused.
- lugnut fan - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:59 pm:
===Would Rauner have done better or worse on the final bill had he not purged his old staff in July?===
Better.
- Wensicia - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 5:02 pm:
It has the good, the bad and the ugly (Rauner’s theatrics). I’m satisfied the reform enacted is good for Illinois’ school districts and glad this hostage holding episode is over.
- Scott - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 5:04 pm:
Aldemuvs: you won’t know who donates to the private 501c3 Private Foundation Scholarship Organization. There is no disclosure for 501c3 organizations.
- Dome Gnome - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 5:19 pm:
Do we still live in a blue state? It sure doesn’t seem like it.
I’m frankly not comfortable with the Catholic Church guiding our education policy. At some point we’ll have to have a collective come-to-jesus over what it means to separate church and state.
We are flunking a basic test of society.
- Ducking for Cover - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 5:30 pm:
The ability for communities to vote by referenda to refund tax $ in Districts that have reserves has just guaranteed that every superintendent in such a situation will spend it down this year to avoid having their budget cut. Oh the law of unintended consequences.
- Louie Louie - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 5:34 pm:
It was important for Illinois to avoid another embarrassing catastrophe that would get national play. The state should use this as a building block and a process to address the very serious fiscal problems we face. We need to attract new businesses and residents to our state. In all likelihood it is too late for my generation to realize the dream of a solvent Illinois, but perhaps future generations will experience something better.
- blue dog dem - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 6:03 pm:
LL. As one frequent commentator says, changing the states constitution is difficult and takes time. I am afraid the only recourse this state has is to keep raising income tax levels. I hate to be pesimistic, but I am a realist. We are in big trouble and I don’t hold out much hope it is salvageable
- Last Bull Moose - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 6:11 pm:
The Constitutional requirement is that there be no established religion. The framers knew what that meant. They had seen established religion up close.
The current “separation of church and state ” doctrine goes far beyond that language.
- Smitty Irving - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 6:16 pm:
Beyond “compromise” … 1. Apparently “Continental Illinois Bank & Trust v. Zagel (1979)” means an Amendatory Veto can do anything; and (2) Speaker Madigan may be a good “Orchestrator” but he is not a “Dictator” …
- Huh? - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 6:18 pm:
==As for the Pensions they will have to be reduced in some form ==
So you are advocating to penalize people who have played by the rules that were established before they were hired, paid into the pension system and are planning for a retirement? Who by no fault of their own belong to a pension system that was willfully underfunded by their employer.
Have you ever considered that one of the root causes of the pension problem is that the State has failed to pay all its share of the pension payment to the retirement systems? While the teachers and State employees have their share of the pension deducted from their pay checks.
To borrow a banned term from Mr. Miller - Bite me.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 6:26 pm:
==As for the Pensions they will have to be reduced in some form ==
Some people just can’t kick that crack pipe, even with unambiguous federal and state Constitution language backed by unanimous Supreme Court decisions.
Keep smoking if you like, but don’t kid yourself that you’re actually participating in solving any problems. You’re just in a crack-high dream world.
- DuPage Dave - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 6:30 pm:
I’m glad to see this bill passed. Also I’m hoping (to quote Churchill) that this is the end of the beginning with Rauner. He came into office convinced he was so much smarter than everyone else that by sheer force of intellect he could get the results he wanted. I’m sure his self-esteem is still quite high but if we are lucky he has come to realize that other people have a lot to offer in running the state.
He still has a chance to demonstrate leadership. If he stops worrying about getting re-elected and focuses on leading the state where it needs to go, it could be good for everyone. Let’s hope.
- Mike - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 6:31 pm:
“Lol, you should have told that to Rauner such a long time ago, before he got into his decades-long public employee pension business. No one government employee lines his or her pockets at the public trough quite like Rauner does.”
Ooh you really got me there seeing as Rauner is in fact a politician
- DuPage Dave - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 6:31 pm:
Also- Amen to Wordslinger on the pension issue. Some folks need an intervention…
- Cadillac - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 6:34 pm:
=== - wordslinger - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 4:26 pm:
This overall school reform bill is the only strong issue to date for Rauner to run on. ===
It will start tomorrow.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 6:37 pm:
===Ooh you really got me there seeing as Rauner is in fact a politician===
- Mike -
Rauner made many millions of his hundreds of millions off pensions.
You may want to sit out a few plays..
- TinyDancer(FKASue) - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 6:40 pm:
Evidence-Based School Funding: Good
School Vouchers Masquerading as Private Scholarship Fund: Bad
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 6:42 pm:
==I can’t help but think that the folks would have come to an agreement sooner if Rauner participated sooner.==
and
==This overall school reform bill is the only strong issue to date for Rauner to run on. ==
Except that Rauner’s “participation” was to stay out of the room and then not pull votes off of the agreed bill. It’s the latest sad example of how bad Rauner truly is at being Governor. Folks can love or hate Madigan, Cullerton, Durkin, and/or Brady, but this shows they know how to govern. I am most impressed with Brady, he stepped up to the plate and did what was right for the state and his caucus. As the newest leader, this was a big test.
- Huh? - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 6:49 pm:
” There is no money for these pensions”
So you are saying that the pension funds are completely broke? There’s no more money for the next pension check to be deposited into retiree’s accounts?
You know that is not true. So stop spreading fake news.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 6:54 pm:
Confused about his PE thing………every time I pick up something to read there’s something about Childhood Obesity at epidemic levels!!! OMG! So, I guess we in ILlinois need to stop screaming about that since we don’t care about physical activity in the school day. Parents…….it’s up to you now!
Secondly, my children, in DuPage county had the most excellent PE/Health experience. THey are lifetime movers and understand why physical activity is important for the mind as well as the body. They are fit and as adults, understand that value. To say nothing about the outstanding nutritional and substance abuse education they received. We absolutely marvel at how they will never drink and drive—-not even a little. Uber /cab or designated driver. All of our kids’ friends have been indoctrinated with this important lesson. Gee……what is the value of that? Parents can give advice until blue in the face. Have peers and teachers over the years instilling those lessons……..they work!
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 6:56 pm:
–Except that Rauner’s “participation” was to stay out of the room and then not pull votes off of the agreed bill.–
Meh, he says he’ll sign it immediately.
If he wanted, he could gum up the works: he could sit on it, or veto it, or AV it.
If he doesn’t, it’s his, too. That’s life in the Big Chair. You’re responsible and should be held accountable for what you do or don’t do.
There’s plenty that Rauner did or didn’t do that he can be whacked for.
- Louie Louie - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 6:58 pm:
I get that there is no solution to the pension issue. Of course there should be, as private companies were forced to deal with that issue, and did so many years ago. But the courts have decided otherwise. Please don’t misunderstand me, any amounts owed must be paid, but to allow employees to continue to earn those pensions going forward is not reasonable. When you have tax after tax increased to address the ever increasing imbalance, you have a large group of very disenfranchised people, and a percentage of them will opt out of Illinois. The only option at that point is to raise the taxes further on the remaining residents
Go ahead and trumpet loudly that nothing can be done, but know that Illinois doesn’t offer a whole heck of a lot of benefits for people to stay here and pay so a select few can enjoy a generous pension. It will get ugly for this state. Ironically, I wonder how many of those well paid pensioners will stick around to help Illinois out of the mess.
- BrianTrock - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 7:23 pm:
Nike Turnschuhe Damen Grau
Take advantage of the increased death reward option if it’s offered by your insurance firm. This life insurance gain enables the policyholder to get a substantial amount of the death benefit of the plan, with regards to a terminal sickness. This could permit the covered by insurance to work with this help to include stuff like medical costs, experimental therapies, a vacation, home improvements or medical personnel.
https://www.simply-concrete.de/images/sim2/17547-ralph-lauren-schuhe-leder.jpg
In relation to working with stress, you should consider obtaining a dog. This is significant due to the fact not simply have animals been recognized to decrease your tension levels but the time which you invest nurturing and looking after your furry friend will assist you to consider your thoughts away from anything that is certainly triggering your worries.
https://www.atelier-blume.de/images/bge-aschaffenburg/2761-nike-huarache-gold-damen.jpg
- Pundent - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 7:25 pm:
Louie,
Yes a few people may receive a “generous” benefit. Most won’t. Most will receive a modest benefit in lieu of social security and a 401K. Generous benefits didn’t cause this problem irresponsible funding did. In short we spent the money on things we wanted at the moment with no regard for these long term obligations. We compounded the problem by keeping tax rates lower than they needed to be for a long, long time. To know throw pensioners under the bus ignores the fact that this was a self-inflicted wound.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 7:29 pm:
People, this thread ain’t about pensions. Move along or I’m gonna ban some of you. Stop feeding the trolls.
- blue dog dem - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 7:45 pm:
I find it ironic(?) That I haven’t heard or read one peep about the potential property tax referendums in this bill. From either a Dem or Repub. I didn’t even know it existed Til I was guided back for a re-read. I must admit it has me a bit confused. I know we have someone out there who can put it in a way an old codger can understand.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 7:57 pm:
What’s your point Smitty? Nice court cite, but what does that have to do with the compromise approved today.
- Smitty Irving - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 8:02 pm:
SB 1 means an Amendatory Veto can do anything, not just correct errors ….
- Really - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 8:19 pm:
It’s done. The original legislation was much better, but with the ethically challenged folks that serve in Springfield they couldn’t help themselves and stuffed this bill full of garbage. The tax credit was unnecessary and Chicago got more thAn twice as much money as it deserved.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 8:22 pm:
Smitty, SB 1 died due to the failure to override. That doesn’t say anything to your point about scope of AV.
- blue dog dem - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 8:22 pm:
You know what they say about drinking buddies. My question . Was it hashed out over a Merlot or a Cab?
- over taxed - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 8:33 pm:
Boones Farm. Its a funding issue
- peon - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 9:13 pm:
Functional legislating is to be applauded. Why do we accept that this is so difficult for our state politicians ?
- Smitty Irving - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 9:46 pm:
Norseman - was always told the AV was for “technical errors” - do you disagree?
- Res Melius - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 9:52 pm:
4 percent raised great points. In multiple ways this was a missed opportunity to make more substantive changes. I don’t blame Sen. Manar who was steadfast. Rather I blame the lack of real collaboration early in the process due primarily to Gov. Rauner’s lack of interest to sincerely participate.
- Highland IL - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 10:37 pm:
Rauner speaking at Breese Mater Dei Catholic High School tomorrow afternoon.
- RNUG - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 10:54 pm:
I wasn’t happy about the path to get there, but the bill got passed. I wasn’t happy my State Senator voted against it, but at least he had some reasons I can respect. The bill ain’t perfect, but it does change the playing field.
So now we move forward. Maybe the next Governor can sell a specific dedicated State income tax increase swap for a fixed percentage reduction in the school portion of property taxes. After all, this bill will require more revenue in the future to keep the promises made, so instead of a small income tax, go for a big one and sell the swap.
Maybe I’ll live long enough to see that happen …
- Norseman - Tuesday, Aug 29, 17 @ 11:08 pm:
=== … was always told the AV was for “technical errors” - do you disagree? ===
I can’t speak to what you were told.
Since Thompson, Madigan has waged a war on AVs he believed exceeded his interpretation of what was allowed under the Illinois Constitution. I can’t recall any expansive AVs being approved by the House since Madigan’s assumption of the Speakership. I’m sure Rich will chime in if my memory is faulty.
Acceptance of Rauner’s AV was never considered a possibility by keen observers of the GA. Thus, back to my question as to what is your point.
- dbk - Wednesday, Aug 30, 17 @ 12:55 am:
–The adults finally showed up…. maybe crazy can take a little time off–
Before they disappear again, could sb tell the gov that pitting Chicago against downstate is a bit trite? Ditto, “It’s Madigan’s fault.” Maybe “we’re in this together?” Thks.
I feel proud of IL legislature right now. It’s going to take years to get full equity, but at least we’re on the road.
- PhD - Wednesday, Aug 30, 17 @ 7:49 am:
The agreement is very good. In long term, poor districts receive more resouces. CPS pensions are funded like other pensions. The price of agreement is a modest tax credit program that can easily be eliminated later. The most important additional feature is CPS ability to raise more property tax to fund pensions. It gives Chicago a tool dig CPS out of the financial ditch that was created by pension underfunding.
- Medicare Advantage plans 2018 - Wednesday, Aug 30, 17 @ 8:46 am:
It’s not my first time to pay a quick visit this website, i
am visiting this site dailly and get pleasant data from here every day.
- @MisterJayEm - Wednesday, Aug 30, 17 @ 9:08 am:
Compromise solutions are, necessarily, compromised. But they are also solutions.
Most adults understand this.
– MrJM
- Juice - Wednesday, Aug 30, 17 @ 9:14 am:
Norseman, “Free Rides for Seniors” is the most recent answer to your question.
- NorthsideNoMore - Wednesday, Aug 30, 17 @ 9:16 am:
Good Bill compromise is always the best way to get things done in the dome. Everyone has some ownership in this thing. Bet there will be more than a few folks dismayed about what they think the vouchure things is or isn’t.Winners in this are schools districts seeking stable predicatble funding which should equte to less reliance on property taxes. By the way this doesn’t work without the passage of the Budget. So a Thanks to the House GOP members that did the right thing in July.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Aug 30, 17 @ 9:40 am:
Juice- 👍🏼