Rauner makes some budget promises
Wednesday, Jan 3, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The governor made some New Year’s resolutions. Here’s one of the tweets…
OK, first, notice that he didn’t actually say he would introduce a truly balanced budget. He put that off on the General Assembly. But he did say he’d introduce a plan to repeal the tax hike, so I’ll be interested to see what he does since he has yet to introduce a balanced budget himself.
* Meanwhile…
Three state employees are assuming new roles in the Rauner Administration in the new year, the governor announced today.
Gov. Bruce Rauner has named Hans Zigmund the new director of the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget. Zigmund will succeed Scott Harry on Jan. 15, 2018. Harry is taking a position with the Illinois State Board of Education. Andrew Perkins will advance to deputy chief of staff for Legislative Affairs, succeeding former state legislator Darlene Senger, who is pursuing other public service. And Rachel Bold assumes the role of press secretary on the governor’s communications team.
Zigmund joined state government in 2006 as a staff economist in the Illinois Department of Revenue. Since then, he has served in positions of increasing responsibility, including chief economist. He also was associate director of the Office of Management and Budget from 2011 to 2013, and has been director of economic policy in the governor’s office since August.
Rauner said he wishes Harry and Senger well in their new ventures, and is confident that Zigmund will hit the ground running. […]
Perkins, who most recently served as the governor’s Senate liaison, now will lead a team that interacts with members of the General Assembly to advance the governor’s agenda.
“Darlene did a tremendous job in Legislative Affairs,” Rauner said. “We are fortunate to have another dedicated public servant in Andrew.”
Perkins began his career as a policy analyst for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. He spent more than two years as an appropriations analyst for the Illinois Senate Republican staff, and returned to DCEO as deputy director of Legislative Affairs before joining the governor’s office in 2016. […]
Bold, formerly with the Senate Republican staff, joined the governor’s communications team in November. The new press secretary is a Springfield resident. She earned her bachelor of arts in communications and international studies from Monmouth College.
The new budget director was IDOR’s chief economist when it published that ridiculous “dynamic scoring” of the proposed graduated tax in 2016.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 10:42 am:
Since he’s been in the public eye, Rauner has said lots of things. As observers across the political spectrum have discovered through experience, his words — and his word — are meaningless.
Watch what he does.
- Hamlet's Ghost - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 10:43 am:
#fakepatquinn “Hey, this is my idea!”
== No balanced budget = no pay for legislators.
Imitation or flattery?
- Nick Name - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 10:45 am:
===Roll back Madigan’s tax hike, pass a balanced budget…===
Ok, Gov. Gaslight, how will you balance the budget with less revenue? Will you own your cuts? Show your math.
- Maximus - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 10:45 am:
He reminds me more and more of Trump. He cant roll back the tax hike AND balance the budget unless he has some master plan for creating a whole bunch of new revenue. Even with the tax hike I doubt we will have a properly balanced budget.
- PJ - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 10:46 am:
Wait, he’s back on the “no pay for legislators” horse? He knows he doesn’t own the comptroller anymore, right?
- City Zen - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 10:47 am:
How about passing a truly balanced budget, including full pension and bond payments, BEFORE a tax rollback? Let’s see what we can do with 5% first without the traditional smoke and mirrors.
- Nick Name - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 10:48 am:
Isn’t legislative pay an ongoing appropriation, Gov. Gaslight? So tell us how you plan to woo Comptroller Mendoza into not issuing paychecks to legislators. This should be good.
- Ole' Nelson - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 10:48 am:
There is no substance to the Governor’s words. He simply says what he believes will benefit him most at the moment. I am continually embarrassed for him. If you want a balanced budget without the new revenue levels, you need to be willing to make the tough cuts. He is not, and as such, again and again shows himself to be a phony.
- Hamlet's Ghost - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 10:48 am:
Rauner isn’t saying “he” will balance the budget;
Rauner is saying that if Madigan doesn’t balance the budget Rauner will stomp his feet, hold his breath, call Madigan names and demand that the General Assembly go without a paycheck.
What more can Rauner do? After all, he’s not the guy in charge.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 10:51 am:
Rauner continues to espouse alternative facts to achieve his alternative reality. Can’t expect anything else from the worse governor in the country.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 10:52 am:
Balanced budget while rolling back the tax hike. Good luck with that. He couldn’t do it before. What makes him think he can do it this time?
And no pay for legislators? Are we really going there again?
- Skeptic - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 10:55 am:
“What makes him think he can do it this time?” Because he’ll get redistricting passed, and those DOZENS of companies that are lining up to move to Illinois will finally move to Illinois. Or maybe a unicorn will poop gold pellets, I’m not sure. It seems just about as likely.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 10:56 am:
Does the man have a death wish for the state? Does he understand how money works and how you have to pay bills with it?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 10:57 am:
That list is as phony as Rauner is.
The legislator pay gambit worked for Munger… then again, Mendoza, for me, really damaged her own credibility at that time by making it part of her campaign too.
Mendoza got lucky with Labor and Dems staying with her two years ago, but has shown to be a great stewart as Comprtoller.
I hope that Crew and Mendoza realize how phony that pay thingy is.
Rauner has yet to sign a full year budget.
Rauner has vetoed his agencies budgets.
Rauner told us his wants for a second term… Janus, RTW Zones, destroy AF-Scammy… and if none of that can happen, hurt thd most vulnerable yet again.
This tweet is like a costume Rauner wears… its worn out and looks worse the more it’s seen.
- SAP - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 10:58 am:
we have a president who found a way to simultaneously increase taxes and balloon the deficit. Surely Governor Rauner can find a way to balance an already way out of whack budget with less revenue
- Sigh - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 11:02 am:
—We will introduce a plan to repeal the Madigan tax hike and require the budget to be truly balanced.— OK, first, notice that he didn’t actually say he would introduce a truly balanced budget. He put that off on the General Assembly. But he did say he’d introduce a plan to repeal the tax hike, so I’ll be interested to see what he does since he has yet to introduce a balanced budget himself.—
He an introduce anything, but the key is passing a bill. Since he doesn’t have the votes, this allows him to stay with his because Mike Madigan platform. {sigh} Can he attemp to govern in the final year of this term, it would be nice to see some leadership.
- Gooner - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 11:04 am:
The “no pay for legislators” line is just getting boring now.
We’ve heard it too many times. It just tells us that he’s not to be taken seriously.
Governor Rauner needs to start playing the role of the adult.
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 11:04 am:
Why did Mendoza go along with the no budget no pay for legislators?
Because most Illinois residents don’t believe the GA is doing it’s job and why Illinois residents have the least faith in their state government of any state in America.
That is why bipartisan majorities support term limits and redistricting in overwhelming numbers
The leaders of the Senate and House are both less popular than Governor Rauner
- Chris P. Bacon - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 11:06 am:
The guy’s never even submitted a balanced budget, not even close. This despite the fact the Illinois Constitution clearly places that duty on the GOVERNOR. The man has no shame.
- Molly Maguire - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 11:09 am:
Rauner feeds more raw meat into the grinder… Good luck folks.
- Asking for a friend - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 11:11 am:
How much of the “budget proposal” would be going to legal fees trying to destroy unions??
- Grand Avenue - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 11:11 am:
“former state legislator Darlene Senger, who is pursuing other public service”
Is he not allowed to say that she’s running for Comptroller?
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 11:13 am:
=Roll back Madigan’s tax hike, pass a balanced budget: We will introduce a plan to repeal the Madigan tax hike and require the budget to be truly balanced. No balanced budget = no pay for legislators. They need to earn their paycheck before taking more from yours.-
His plan would have to include not making the pension DEBT payments. That is the only way to have any shot at balancing the budget on 3%. Good luck.
- Happy Retiree - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 11:19 am:
By stating that he’s “not in charge” several weeks ago, and the subsequent backlash, didn’t he effectively render himself a lame-duck? Hasn’t he sort of ceded his authority as people are now looking to the election for a candidate who will “take charge”?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 11:21 am:
===Why did Mendoza go along with the no budget no pay for legislators?
Because most Illinois residents don’t believe the GA is doing it’s job and why Illinois residents have the least faith in their state government of any state in America.===
Still illegal… lol
===That is why bipartisan majorities support term limits and redistricting in overwhelming numbers===
Why can’t Rauner get 60 and 30 or 71 and 36, in actual, to vote for it?
That’s right, Rauner isn’t in charge, lol
===The leaders of the Senate and House are both less popular than Governor Rauner===
They aren’t running against Rauner, the worst Republican governor in America… so there’s that.
- DuPage - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 11:21 am:
George Washington=”Can not tell a lie”.
Rauner=”Can not tell the truth”.
- Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 11:23 am:
You think that was a basket of lies, just wait til he starts tweeting about his Grandpa.
- Nick Name - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 11:24 am:
===I hope that Crew and Mendoza realize how phony that pay thingy is===
Every time he so much as glances in her direction, she whacks him with a 2X4. Let’s see if she issues a press release today in response to this.
- Michelle Flaherty - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 11:25 am:
“The leaders of the Senate and House are both less popular than Governor Rauner”
Lucky Pierre slammin Brady and Durkin.
Ouch.
- DuPage Bard - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 11:32 am:
The no pay deal is a good hook, but Munger still lost on it. Plus he’s advocating violating the Constitution.
Pro 2nd Amendment folks should worry that if he’ll break this piece of the Constitution what’s next. He obviously doesn’t care about Pro-Life and he’s willing to go against them on immigration. Is his next hook to follow the Northshore cocktail set and get the guns?
I think if any Gov candidate is looking they could put even an outline budget together to release after his address and look more like a leader than he does.
Be interesting to see if he even tries? There is no $4.5 billion Cullerton/Radogno Hail Mary this year to put in the charts.
- Gramsci - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 11:34 am:
I’d like to point out that the new appointees are total lightweights. They may seem competent and experienced but the appointments show a few cards. 1) Rauner doesn’t care about agency function. He never has and never will. Agencies just need to stay out of his way and fulfill minimum requirements. 2) Zigmund is there purely to provide “ridiculous dynamic scoring” to both budget and the upcoming push for progressive income tax. Zigmund, a self styled Austrian school economist, only excels at obfuscation. Unlike Nuding, Who could get stuff done, Zigmund writes theoretical white papers and pontificates.
3) Perkins is a nice guy but has no idea what he’s doing. I don’t know a thing about Bold but she seems a bit green.
The point is that government function takes another hit. And it shows Rauner knows he’s not going to win a second term.
- Rabid - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 11:37 am:
“We will”, I guess when your not in charge you can’t say “I will”
- Grand Avenue - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 11:37 am:
===The leaders of the Senate and House are both less popular than Governor Rauner===
Rauner knows this, which is why every other word coming out of his campaign is Madigan.
He’s gonna spend a lot of money building up Madigan’s negative name ID and then spend even more trying to hang Madigan around the neck of the nominee.
It’s Rauner’s only path of winning & it’s honestly not that great a message to stake you’re re-election on.
- WTIA - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 11:45 am:
Perkins went from “managing” shy of 15% of GA members to being Bruce’s LD overnight…what could go wrong? I’m sure Brady and Durkin are thrilled.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 11:47 am:
==Why did Mendoza go along with the no budget no pay for legislators?==
Who cares. It doesn’t make it right.
==The leaders of the Senate and House are both less popular than Governor Rauner==
Lol. You keep using that goofy talking point, but then again that’s the only thing the Governor has going for him. He doesn’t have anything else to run on. The Governor’s disapproval rating is more than 60%.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 11:47 am:
==Rauner doesn’t care about agency function.==
This is true, but nuts. He actually appointed some interesting people to his cabinet at first, and agency function is a massive lever with relatively few legislative strings attached. He could’ve pursued any number of priorities through agency action. But, of course, he only really had 2 priorities: 1) whack the unions; 2) prove he’s TUFFER than Madigan.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 11:49 am:
Oh, and LP, maybe you want to comment on the Governor’s “plan” to roll back the tax rate and balance the budget. I suspect you don’t because you know he’s full of it.
- Pundent - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 11:50 am:
=Why did Mendoza go along with the no budget no pay for legislators?=
Simple. She was wrong. As was Quinn, Munger, and now Rauner. Just because an idea is popular doesn’t make it right.
I’ve yet to see anything remotely reflecting cogent public policy conveyed in a “tweet”.
- Grand Avenue - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 11:59 am:
People probably see that no budget no pay is a gimmick.
If people were truly outraged about legislators getting paid when there is no budget, then Silvana Tabares and Chris Welch would have opponents - they were both plaintiffs on the successful lawsuit.
- Nothin's easy... - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 12:07 pm:
The governor’s position to not submit a balanced budget defines him and his governorship. He won’t because he knows it’s hard. He does not have the leadership skills nor the courage to comply with his constitutional responsibility. He likes to be governor and ride around the state spewing lies even conflicting his messages from one stop to the next as if no one will catch on. He’s a coward. Soon, he will learn you can’t breath under water.
- Sigh - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 12:20 pm:
Gramsci - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 11:34 am you made great points. I think this is why the Professor in the other blog post thinks anyone with a pulse can beat Rauner. When leaders surround themselves with those who write “theoretical white papers and pontificates” vs politically savvy people, the leader usually doesn’t succeed.
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 12:20 pm:
“The Governor’s disapproval rating is more than 60%.”
Check Rod Blagoevich’s approval circa 2005 and explain how he won reelection by 10 points with slightly under 50% of the vote.
- Jocko - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 12:26 pm:
==We will introduce a plan to repeal the Madigan tax hike..==
Does Bruce have a mouse in his pocket? If his talking points get any staler, he can make some bruschetta or a brown betty
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 12:32 pm:
===explain how he won reelection by 10 points===
The biggest national Democratic wave since 1964.
- Langhorne - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 12:38 pm:
Same playbook. All message all the time. Facts are irrelevant.
Look at the buzzwords:
–roll back madigan tax increase
–repeal madigan tax increase
–pass truly balanced budget
–no balanced budget, no pay
He is trying to make the case that its the GA responsible for crafting the budget, not him. No pay (got it, senger?) A lot of the public believes it. Expect the same handful of magic beans to cover the gap. And his favorite kicker–if the GA cant make the cuts, abrogate your responsibility and authorize me to cut anything i want. Groundhog day.
Words–deeds
- Langhorne - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 12:42 pm:
The usual magic beans are in the other tweets.
Mr persistent
- Michelle Flaherty - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 12:49 pm:
“Check Rod Blagoevich’s approval circa 2005 and explain how he won reelection …”
So your argument is that Rauner is the Republican’s Blagojevich?
OK, if you say so.
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 1:03 pm:
Could not read every comment, but did GovJunk promise not to spend $ from tax hike or just repeal it going forward?
- Collect Call from Rod - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 1:13 pm:
Michelle Flaherty- Team Rauner must have found the Blago playbook during the remodel of the mansion. I’m almost certain they yelled this is bleeping golden.
Obviously the chapter on Governing by Press Release has been updated to Govering by Social Media.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 1:14 pm:
- Annonin‘ -
I wondered that aloud yesterday…
Rauner going to sign a budget with that tax increase balancing that budget?
Rauner is a governor… that can’t sign a budget… as it will ruin his chances for re-election.
How. Warped. Is. That?
- btowntruthfromforgottonia - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 1:18 pm:
He hasn’t proposed anything close to a balanced budget since he got elected.
Why is he saying anything about it now?
- Norseman - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 1:46 pm:
=== Why did Mendoza go along with the no budget no pay for legislators? ===
This is not what Munger or Mendoza did. They put them in the long, long, long que to get paid. There is a difference. I still disagree with it, but it wasn’t overturned by the courts.
If I recall correctly, both were advocating proposals to implement no budget, no pay. Pandering to the angry voters is a bipartisan activity.
- Former Hillrod - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 1:46 pm:
@ collect call from Rod
Ummm When did Blago ever live in the Governor’s Mansion?
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 2:13 pm:
–He hasn’t proposed anything close to a balanced budget since he got elected.
Why is he saying anything about it now?–
Rauner claims he proposed a balanced budget all three times. Katrina of Troncsylvania wrote that he did, too.
They can’t possibly believe that; the goal is that enough of some of the people, all of the time, will.
AKA, lying.
- Trapped in the 'burbs - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 4:12 pm:
He wants to throw things out that defy reality, refuse to answer questions or agree to do anything with legislators. No vision, no leadership and probably no clue about how to actually accomplish anything. It seems like he doesn’t understand how the legislative process works. I would vote for Governor William J. Le Petomane over Rauner.
- RealityCheck - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 5:34 pm:
Governor Rauner is absolutely correct when he says he isn’t in charge. It is the Democrats and RINO’s in Springfield are in charge, that’s the reality of it. For those that don’t understand how basic government works please go back and take a Civics 101 course and learn the process. When the Democrats won’t even allow his proposals to be voted on the floor what is he suppose to do? Why would Democrats votes for the same Speaker of the House, Madigan for 35 plus years and then blame Governor Rauner for not producing results? It is comical and insulting to blame Governor Rauner when 100% of the blame lies with the Democrats who completely control Springfield.
- Jocko - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 5:43 pm:
==Democrats won’t even allow his proposals to be voted on…==
Ask Sens. Radogno (Grand Bargain) and Barickman (SB1) about Rauner’s proposals
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 6:18 pm:
===…RINO’s in Springfield…===
Aw, you’re missing your whole point, lol
In no way is Rauner a Republican. Rauner is a Raunerite.
As a Raunerite, by definition, Rauner is a R _ _ _.
But, I’m sure it felt good to type.
When Rauner gets 60 and 30 like every governor since 1971, then Rauner can blame, as you do, “Madigan”
Until then, your comment is an excuse for Rauner’s failure, not a case that Rauner is right.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 6:25 pm:
– It is the Democrats and RINO’s in Springfield are in charge, that’s the reality of it. For those that don’t understand how basic government works please go back and take a Civics 101 course and learn the process. –
For legislation, had something to do with 60 and 30, right? And super-majorities for overrides?
Is that the way you remember it, professor?
But being responsible and accountable for managing the executive branch — who’s in charge of that? Not the governor? I don’t remember it that way.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 7:02 pm:
==Governor Rauner is absolutely correct when he says he isn’t in charge==
Then why be Governor if all he wants to do is whine about not being in charge? How does another term change that belief?
==For those that don’t understand how basic government works please go back and take a Civics 101 course and learn the process.==
I think you better take your own advice because you clearly don’t understand it or you wouldn’t make the ridiculous statements you’re making.
==won’t even allow his proposals to be voted on the floor what is he suppose to do==
Try something different. It’s called governing. Pouting because you can’t get what you want isn’t governing.
==It is comical and insulting to blame Governor Rauner==
No, what’s comical and insulting are those that believe the Governor isn’t responsible for anything.