* Apparently, I’m told, the governor is saying this to people and word got back to Madigan…
House Speaker Michael J. Madigan issued the following statement Monday:
“Contrary to reports, I have received no requests from Governor Rauner for further meetings on the budget or to work towards reducing the spending levels contained within the budget. The bipartisan budget enacted in July, despite the governor’s refusal to negotiate, included nearly $3 billion in cuts to government bureaucracy. Even as Republicans and Democrats came together to make cuts and enact a budget based on the governor’s own revenue projections, Governor Rauner refused to participate in the process despite our repeated requests. As was true then, I remain ready to work with the governor to make further adjustments to the budget.
“I believe Representative Greg Harris’ budget working group, who was largely responsible for crafting the budget we passed, is best equipped to continue discussion on the budget. Therefore, I have directed Representatives Harris, Carol Ammons, Kelly Burke, Kelly Cassidy, Fred Crespo, Will Davis, Robyn Gabel, Will Guzzardi, Lisa Hernandez, Elaine Nekritz, Elgie Sims and Mike Zalewski to work with the governor’s budget office and our House and Senate colleagues.”
…Adding… Before you start firing off on Rauner in comments, the governor hasn’t said this in public that I can find and the Madigan people can’t point to anything the governor has said in public.
- Norseman - Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 11:29 am:
Rauner is telling fairy tales again.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 11:29 am:
Must’ve been that meeting where Madigan said his goal was to get Drury out of the House.
Never has one governor covered more subjects in phony made-up meetings that Bruce Rauner.
- BuckinIrish - Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 11:33 am:
It’s getting really tough to watch Rauner continue to make up these meetings, and yet there hasn’t been any real blow back yet. Kind of makes me want Madigan to start making up Rauner meetings with ridiculous stories behind them.
- Langhorne - Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 11:34 am:
==$3 bil in cuts to govt bureaucracy==
Sounds almost painless. I didnt know we had that much fluffy overhead. Or maybe its WFA (waste, fraud, abuse).
Poor choice of words.
- Because I said so.... - Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 11:37 am:
It is sad when you can’t believe anything your governor or president says.
- Curl of the Burl - Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 11:43 am:
So what is the point of Madigan’s statement, then? To rub salt in a wound? A preemptive strike? Come on.
- DeseDemDose - Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 11:56 am:
The reason Speaker Madigan puts statements out there is not always apparent to us laymen blowing hot air on blogs for entertainment. Speaker Madigan is a calm tactician whose moves are usually three steps ahead of the players.
- Anonymous - Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 12:53 pm:
==Before you start firing off on Rauner in comments, the governor hasn’t said this in public that I can find and the Madigan people can’t point to anything the governor has said in public.==
I’d check out Capitol Fax as a potential source of the “report.” You never know what the dude who runs that might say. /s