Roskam backs away from Rauner pension idea
Wednesday, Oct 25, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Remember the post on Monday about how Gov. Rauner is pushing a federal proposal that could allow Illinois to void some of its pension costs through some sort of bankruptcy component?…
“We’ve got a bill now, we’re working with Congress. (If) Congress passed a law, we’re lobbying right now, allow states to restructure their pensions, supercede the restrictions that the special interest groups have put on the state,” Rauner said at the Sept. 28 event
* Well, maybe not…
“There’s not a specific proposal - it’s all part of conversations that have taken place in DC for a long time, is my understanding,” said governor’s office spokeswoman Patty Schuh. “The General Assembly is looking for ways to do it - the Attorney General argued for it because of the out-of-whack costs. But as we all know, the Supreme Court stepped in. If it’s necessary for the feds to provide state legislatures like Illinois some flexibility in addressing the costs that are strangling the budget … we’re open.”
We circled back with Congressman Peter Roskam after Rauner told the U.S. Chamber of Commerce he hoped to advance language allowing pension funds to file for bankruptcy reorganization through the tax overhaul that Roskam is helping lead.
That is not looking likely. The congressman’s office tells us that the issue seems better suited for the Judiciary committee and that Roskam is “hyperfocused on tax reform.”
“We’re happy to listen, but honestly the governor’s office has a lot of work to do to build a constituency for this kind of idea,” a Roskam office spokeswoman said.
* And this is from the Illinois Policy Institute’s news service…
But none of Illinois’ Republican congressional delegation would confirm this week that anyone from Rauner’s camp has approached them about a standalone proposal or one that would be tied in with the coming tax reform plan.
Rauner doesn’t have the best relationship with the GOP Congressmen. They strongly rebuked Rauner last month for his signing of a controversial bill allowing for the public funding of abortions.
- Macbeth - Wednesday, Oct 25, 17 @ 10:41 am:
“… honestly the governor’s office has a lot of work to do to build a constituency for this kind of idea.”
—
Um, has this *ever* happened during Rauner’s tenure?
In other words, DOA.
- Jocko - Wednesday, Oct 25, 17 @ 10:41 am:
==But as we all know, the Supreme Court stepped in.==
To paraphrase every Scooby Doo villain, “I would’ve got away with it if it wasn’t for those meddling jurists”
- Anon - Wednesday, Oct 25, 17 @ 10:42 am:
Translation: “we really don’t want hundreds of people protesting at every event and every office because Bruce found out governing is hard.”
- Honeybadger - Wednesday, Oct 25, 17 @ 10:47 am:
There’s not a specific proposal - it’s all part of conversations that have taken place in DC for a long time, is my understanding,” said governor’s office spokeswoman Patty Schuh.
But none of Illinois’ Republican congressional delegation would confirm this week that anyone from Rauner’s camp has approached them about a standalone proposal or one that would be tied in with the coming tax reform plan.
More lies from the Governor. Sheesh.
- King Louis XVI - Wednesday, Oct 25, 17 @ 10:54 am:
–“We’ve got a bill now, we’re working with Congress.–
–There’s not a specific proposal - ,” said governor’s office spokeswoman Patty Schuh.–
Schuh’s doin’ a heck of a job, right? Why doesn’t she add “Don’t Lie” to his daily talking points?
Not Schuh’s fault.
Fabrication is who Rauner is.
- HangingOn - Wednesday, Oct 25, 17 @ 10:55 am:
==restrictions that the special interest groups have put on the state==
I’m still confused by this. Didn’t the people of Illinois have to vote to put the clause in the Constitution? And when did working people become a “special interest group”?
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 25, 17 @ 10:55 am:
– we’ve got a bill now–
Is it possible the governor is lying, dishing up self-serving whoppers he thinks the audience-of-the-moment wants to hear?
Shocking.
So many of Rauner’s lies are easily debunked, but he tells them anyway. Is it just a complete lack of respect for the citizenry or can he not control himself?
- The Magnificent Purple Walnut - Wednesday, Oct 25, 17 @ 11:12 am:
Leave our pensions alone. Period.
- Concerned - Wednesday, Oct 25, 17 @ 11:19 am:
So by “restrictions that the special interests groups have put on the state” he means the Constitution that was adopted by the special interest known as the voters?
- Stones - Wednesday, Oct 25, 17 @ 11:25 am:
If the powers that be focused on living up to their obligations as codified in the Illinois Constitution rather that trying to find an easy way out (that doesn’t exist), Illinois could move forward.
- IllinoisBoi - Wednesday, Oct 25, 17 @ 11:25 am:
The pension debt — how about — amortize and pay it off?
- DuPage Saint - Wednesday, Oct 25, 17 @ 11:26 am:
Rauner is not telling any lies. He had this bankruptcy thingall set to go. It was first on his agenda. He called the republican delegation on the night he was inaugurated right after his phone call to Madigan and Cullerton. His Swedisish great grandparents were in the room and can verify this although they were talking to the African American church congregation at the time
- Macbeth - Wednesday, Oct 25, 17 @ 11:45 am:
—
So many of Rauner’s lies are easily debunked, but he tells them anyway. Is it just a complete lack of respect for the citizenry or can he not control himself?
—
Well, it’s not a lie if he believes what he’s saying.
Remember — rationality, veracity — they’re out the window now. A lie now is more powerful the truth. People don’t care if it’s true. They only care that it’s being said.
Read Lakoff. It’s all about activating the proper metaphorical frames. The GOP excel at this. The Dems don’t.
- RNUG hi - Wednesday, Oct 25, 17 @ 12:03 pm:
I’ll just repeat myself from the other day:
Rauner’s tossing this out there is a desperate move to regain some popularity and / or just red meat for the wealthy businessmen true believers.
- Ed Higher - Wednesday, Oct 25, 17 @ 12:39 pm:
There’s bankruptcy, all right. The moral kind.
- City Zen - Wednesday, Oct 25, 17 @ 1:11 pm:
==Didn’t the people of Illinois have to vote to put the clause in the Constitution?==
The ones born before 1952.
- HangingOn - Wednesday, Oct 25, 17 @ 1:15 pm:
==The ones born before 1952==
Not seeing the point. Only people born before 1952 felt it was wrong to steal money from the pension funds? Or only people born after are deadbeats who want to welch on what they owe?
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 25, 17 @ 1:52 pm:
As each day passes the debt grows while the deadbeats mentioned above try to welch on their obligations. Their obligations are radically higher than before Rauner took office. Should we go for the highest ever record so he can leave office with the highest deadbeat record in history? Or would anyone care to actually address their debt obligations?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 25, 17 @ 2:00 pm:
===Schuh’s doin’ a heck of a job, right? Why doesn’t she add … to his daily talking points?
Not Schuh’s fault.
Fabrication is who Rauner is.===
Yep. But here’s where it’s most noticed.
When Rauner fibs about the obtuse…
Dozens of companies
Legislators tell me
Democratic voters say too
I heard, I read, I saw…
… Rauner gets passes because who can verify all that strawman propping.
A bill, a sponsor, a vote, those things, Rauner “forgets” that things verifiably… will be checked.
When Schuh can speak for Rauner, these errors will stop. Schuh’s career work tells that is so.
This misspeak is Rauner forgetting what can be verified and what is impossible to verify and can be easily and breezily said without fear for Rauner.
It’s really important to have a clear perspective that the IPI Crew that had such horrible Comms was them, on their own, embarrassing Rauner when Rauner needs no help in embarrassing himself.
Rauner talking policy or bills without a net… this is a result we shouldn’t be surprised if happened.
- Educ - Wednesday, Oct 25, 17 @ 2:27 pm:
So strange to see a Republican campaigning to override the freedom of contract and to violate the sanctity of contracts. I wonder how Rauner-the-businessman reacts when people try to weasel out of contracts with him, especially if their complaint is that it’s just “too expensive.”
- Whatever - Wednesday, Oct 25, 17 @ 2:47 pm:
==allow states to restructure their pensions, supercede the restrictions that the special interest groups have put on the state,” Rauner said at the Sept. 28 event==
By “restrictions,” he’s referring to the constitutional provision that says the employees’ pensions are part of their contract with the state. The true restriction is the federal constitution, which prohibits states from reneging on their contracts.
==The General Assembly is looking for ways to do it - the Attorney General argued for it because of the out-of-whack costs.==
To continue with the nit-picking, the AG argued for SB1 because it’s her job to defend the statutes, regardless of whether she agrees with their purpose or their content.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 25, 17 @ 2:58 pm:
Roskam is one of the worst.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 25, 17 @ 3:00 pm:
These “contracts” were a complete joke. You want that “promised” pension? Not a single raise for the rest of your employment.
- Mike Cirrincione - Wednesday, Oct 25, 17 @ 3:09 pm:
Not surprising that Trump Supporter Rosky Roskam said this. Gotta toe the party line.
- Whatever - Wednesday, Oct 25, 17 @ 4:03 pm:
==These “contracts” were a complete joke. You want that “promised” pension? Not a single raise for the rest of your employment. ==
You may not have noticed, but state workers have been going without raises for some time. For merit comp, it’s been a decade. And the contracts aren’t a joke - the state, like everyone else, can’t get what it won’t pay for. From your comment, it seems fairly certain that the state wasn’t offering enough to get you to hire on, so the contract couldn’t have been that outrageously favorable to the workers.
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Oct 25, 17 @ 4:10 pm:
So GovJunk’s secret plan to vaporize the pension debt is jive. Shocked. Actualy schocked it has taken some so long to figure the con out.
- Rabid - Thursday, Oct 26, 17 @ 8:23 am:
the new staff won’t repeat rauners nonsense, fighting for Illinois