* The DGA sent out a press release this afternoon with a partial transcript of Gov. Rauner’s chat today with the Crain’s Chicago Business editorial board. The DGA’s emphasis was on something else that we will get to eventually, but check out this exchange…
Question: “[inaudible] Is there a message there, though, that budget stalemates going two years without a budget is not a good idea?”
Rauner: “It’s a terrible idea.”
Question: “So you’re promising there will not be another stalemate like that?”
Rauner: “Haha, you know what? Speaker Madigan has already indicated, he’s already told members of his caucus that he would love to see another budget stalemate this year. The speaker thrives on that sort of disagreement. That sort of disruption. This is his goal. He views that as politically advantageous for him. That’s a fact. He would love to see that stalemate. I don’t want to see a stalemate. I want more economic growth and truly balanced budgets.”
Question: “Well are you willing to make the kinds of concessions that would be needed to avoid a stalemate. You say you want to repeal this tax, he doesn’t want to repeal this tax.”
Rauner: “So, I was overridden last summer in a massive tax increase with no reforms and a still out of balance budget. Still, even after a massive tax hike, there is still deficit spending, our unpaid bills are still climbing. As they have for years and years and years. This system is broken, Mike Madigan has rigged it to be this way. He’s been in power for 35 years. And he’s run the system for his political benefit rather than what’s good for the people of Illinois. And this is what we need to unite together to change. I believe a new speaker, someone who’s there for the right reasons, not to get rich from high property taxes, which is what Mike Madigan does. Someone who’s there for the right reasons, we can work on a bipartisan basis to get balanced budgets. I know there are Democrats in the General Assembly who’ve I’ve met with who’ve said, “Governor, you’re right. We’d like to work with you but we’re scared….”
Question: “Alright, but if you don’t get a new speaker, are you willing to make the kinds of concessions on repealing the tax, whatever, to avoid another one of these budget stalemates?”
Rauner: “I will negotiate in good faith, make compromise, find common ground in every way that I possibly can. And I’ve done that so far.” [Emphasis added.]
Um, he’s “done that so far”? That might be news to former Senate GOP Leader Christine Radogno and the House Republicans who voted to override his budget and tax vetoes, but whatever. Then again, he did say “in every way that I possibly can,” so maybe that’s his out.
* Anyway, I sent a quick text message to 15 House Democrats asking them if they’d heard Madigan say he’d love to see another budget stalemate this year. I’ve heard back from 13 so far and they all said a version of “No.”
Here’s a few of the texted replies I’ve received so far. I talked to one on the phone because she was driving. Some texts, as you will see, are ever so slightly edited…
F— no. What a liar… You guys have to call him out on that s—.
Nope! We haven’t even discussed the budget yet. We have had two caucus meetings and they have focused on the hospital assessment and sb444. He’s making s— up again
He’s lying
No. Nothing like it
Absolutely not.
Uh no!! And all the members are wanting a budget as far as I know. What a weirdo.
No - we just talked about the Hospital Assessment in Caucus. I’ll check around. The consensus we have is he wouldn’t do that in an election year. [And then several minutes later] Called a few folks I trust and it’s a negative on that statement that I could find. I’ve never heard the speaker say that. Honestly, a budget impasse makes the rank and file look bad as well
He has not said that to me or in caucus. That would not be well received and I do not believe he would say that.
…Adding… Steve Brown says Madigan hasn’t said what the governor claimed. Also, too…
- Duh - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 2:35 pm:
Yep that would be really good for the dems
- Northsider - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 2:36 pm:
No one on the editorial board asked him, “How do you know that?”
Unbelievable. Do better.
- Christopher - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 2:38 pm:
Not only do I wish reporters would ask Rauner follow-up questions, I wish someone would challenge him to not use Madigan in his response.
- Jocko - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 2:38 pm:
==Speaker Madigan has already indicated==
Does Bruce have “people on the inside”?..or have the two of them simply grown closer after the election night phone call.
- @misterjayem - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 2:38 pm:
Rauner 2018: What a weirdo.
– MrJM
- anon2 - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 2:40 pm:
It’s not the first time Rauner has falsely attributed words to the Speaker.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 2:40 pm:
The chuckle before he says it is a glaring tell that he’s lying. I’d love to play poker with this fish
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 2:43 pm:
This reminds me of how much I like that Police song, “Voices inside my head.”
I hope that triggers ear worms for all of you. You’re welcome.
Jump.
Jump.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 2:45 pm:
Bruce Rauner…
Lacks honesty, integrity, ethics, morals.
Same as 2014, same as 2018.
Anyone… please… riddle me this.
If Madigan is so bent on wanting a stalemate, why did Rauner time after time stop overrides to break the stalemates…
If Madigan is so bent on wanting a stalemate, why did Madigan push and work with Rep. Andersson to get a budget deal resolved…
Rauner is a phony. Know that.
- Sigh - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 2:46 pm:
Can we pass legislation that would tax the use of the word Madigan? Think of all the new revenue we could have!!
Since most republicans do not like the Madigan’s and blame them for everything, I’ll let them call this a sin tax.
- Laughable - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 2:46 pm:
This is absurd. The governor has been the impediment to a functioning government since day one. He admitted as such again today. Anything short of his full agenda is “phony stability.”
Who blew up the Steans/Althoff/McConnaughay/Nekritz working group? Who squashed the rank-and-file deadline efforts with infographics and the staircase presser? Who is so devoid of knowledge about the mechanics of state government that he’s utterly incapable of enumerating what an acceptable compromise would actually look like?
- Skeptic - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 2:50 pm:
“Speaker Madigan has already indicated on the phone call I made on Election night to him and dozens of companies itching to move to Illinois if we only had term limits that…”
- Omay - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 2:50 pm:
Sounds like someone is full of shaving cream.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 2:53 pm:
Dear Gov. Rauner,
Either you think you need more Democrats like Ken Dunkin, praise him for standing up to Madigan… or Madigan told Dunkin to continually work against overrides to succeeed in a plan to continued grid lock.
Can’t be both
- GA Watcher - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 2:57 pm:
I get it now. Governor Rauner is confusing Speaker Madigan with President Trump: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/02/06/trump-says-hed-love-to-see-shutdown-if-dems-wont-back-immigration-changes.html
- Henry Francis - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 2:58 pm:
Seriously? What kind of weirdo lies about stuff like that? All the time?
That it goes unchallenged is pathetic.
Question: Madigan has been speaker forever? Right? During that period, how many budget stalemates has Illinois had?
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 2:58 pm:
26% approval
- Fixer - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:00 pm:
47th Ward- that’s evil, and I’m now humming this. Thanks.
To the post- when I said the other day I’d like to see Mark Maxwell do some more stories on Rauner that were as in depth as the Pritzker piece he did, this is the kind of stuff I was talking about. Rauner lies constantly, glaringly, and is hardly ever called on it by reporters. It’s frustrating to watch and read about this because it’s blatantly done.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:04 pm:
Why would you believe anything Rauner claims Madigan said?
- Norseman - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:06 pm:
I hope they had paper towels available to clean up the collective spit take from all the editorial board interviewers when Rauner told that whopper.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:11 pm:
In a short time, Rauner has built one of the most amazing spy networks in history. They’re everywhere; they hear everything.
- dbk - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:12 pm:
The guv just isn’t a homo politicus. I’m pretty much convinced he doesn’t get the point of politics at all. The Speaker, faults and all, is the ultimate exemplar of the master politician.
Rauner will not get what he wants, and therefore, it seems preferable for “what’s good for the people of Illinois” that he not continue in an office for which he is unsuited by temperament, training, and talent.
- Retired Educator - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:12 pm:
Rauner’s lies have become such a part of his dialogue that he no longer can separate truth, and falsehoods. If this guy wins again, I am positive absolutely nothing will change. 26% is way to high for the Governor.
- walker - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:12 pm:
Drury and Dunkin spilling the beans?
- wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:15 pm:
–Still, even after a massive tax hike, there is still deficit spending, our unpaid bills are still climbing. –
That is an insane lie. Like, throw a net over him. The backlog of bills has been cut by $8 billion.
Check out the Red Mountain of Rauner’s tenure.
https://illinoiscomptroller.gov/
- New Slang - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:18 pm:
Dude. More posts like this! Rich got Dem House members triggered…
- Retired Educator - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:21 pm:
Wordslinger; he is right. The IDOC spent over a billion dollars that was not appropriated. I assume he authorized the money being spent. So we are behind in part due to his and the IDOC Directors ineptitude.
- ArchPundit - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:22 pm:
I’d respect him a bit more if when called on this he just says, “Sounds like something Madigan would say, right?”
- Skeptic - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:23 pm:
“Speaker Madigan has already indicated … that Af-scammy will be on strike Sept. 1, 2016.”
- wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:24 pm:
RE, I’m aware of the unappropriated deficit spending by Rauner in FY17. The tax increase went into effect in FY18.
And as the link I provided shows, the backlog of bills is not increasing, but has been cut by $8 billion.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:29 pm:
Put him out of our misery next month.
Maybe he’ll stop talking.
- don the legend - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:32 pm:
I love it when RE or anyone for that matter finds one thing Rauner said that might have a scintilla of truth and uses it for a weak defense against lie after lie after lie.
They sound like a grandma who says their delinquent grandson has a sweet voice.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:57 pm:
What’s even more psycho about all this is that what he’s accusing Madigan of was actually Rauner’s strategy to “leverage” his agenda.
What weirdo projection.
- Nick Name - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 4:02 pm:
===“Haha, you know what?===
Gawd I hate that tic.
- Precinct Captain - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 4:07 pm:
The governor is unwell.
- JoanP - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 4:10 pm:
Rauner lied? Oh, I can’t believe that. /snark/
- Huh? - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 4:23 pm:
“That’s a fact”
1.4% wouldn’t know a truthful fact if it bit him in the leg. Everything he says is suspect.
- Product of the '60;s - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 4:33 pm:
Chrisophers response (2:38) is right on, wishing repoters would follow up. Been wishing for that since he took office. That’s why I like all of Isves’ commercials so far….she’s calling him out and as it’s all over on radio/tv people are for the first time really hearing someone come back at Rauner.
- Chris Widger - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 4:39 pm:
==Rauner should apologize to the Speaker.-==
==He’s unfit to occupy the Governor’s office.==
Nah, you gotta pick a lane. You can get one of the above statements, but not both.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 5:10 pm:
It’s hard to continually think of things to say in response to the Governor’s habitual tall tales.
- Morty - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 5:36 pm:
Did Madigan really say that or did Rauner’s Imaginary Madigan say it?
I’m thinking it was his Imaginary Madigan…
- Morty - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 5:39 pm:
Let’s face the facts- the man’s not well
- DuPage Dave - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 6:06 pm:
I think Madigan made those remarks in the imaginary election night phone call…
- Chicago 20 - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 6:24 pm:
What’s really unbelievable that Rauner makes a completely absurd statement during an interview with Crain’s Editorial board and absolutely no one from Crain’s has the journalistic integrity to ask Rauner a follow up question.
How far Crain’s has fallen.
- XDNR - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 6:44 pm:
The man has been a hypocritical BS artist from the get-go. His walls of support are caving in around him so in desperation he does what he knows best - lie. And the lame media continues to enable him.
- CharlieKratos - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 7:15 pm:
GOP:
Gaslight
Obstruct
Project
- Kleetes - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 7:58 pm:
I left the state do to Madigan and his ridiculous spending machine. So glad I am out. But when IL defaults I am sure I will have to pay anyway. Hi hun. Dems broke IL.