63 Comments - thunderspirit - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 12:54 pm: On the agenda: changing the official Illinois state motto to “Because Madigan!” - Give Me A Break - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 12:54 pm: Agenda Item One: Can we talk Miller into paying for the end of session bash if we promise to pass a budget and leave town by May 31? Agenda Item Two: Why does Rich insist on being called Admiral when driving his party pontoon around Lake Springpatch. - Retired Educator - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 12:55 pm: 1st topic–Can’t we all just get along? 2nd Topic–Can we keep the upcoming campaigns cordial? 3rd topic–Can we all agree on a tax reduction being a good idea? 4th–When I say “this is the truth” will you believe me? 5th–These meeting are great, right? - Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 12:57 pm: Topic one: When do you want to Veto the budget? Topic two: How many days will the governor be campaigning during session days? - Aldyth - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 12:58 pm: Techniques for salting ones food with the tears of your enemies. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 1:00 pm: Topic one: the cost of Slip and Sue’s insurance premiums to be in state buildings Topic two: How many $&@-#% problems will the governor allow from his caucuses this spring - Contract Disputin' - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 1:00 pm: –Now that we’ve cleared up all of the confusion, let’s meet on the back porch of the “Governor’s Mansion”. – Care for some tap water? Or I can offer some bottles I brought back from Quincy. – Can Jeanne and Ira sit in next time? - Rich Miller - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 1:01 pm: Hopefully, somebody can explain this… Rauner proposes that lawmakers send him a pension overhaul bill that “once pension reform is approved by our courts, getting a billion dollar income tax cut.” “I believe that if we would truly balance our budget and bring more government efficiency and pension reform, we will have the money to pay interest on bonded debt, and bonding is an appropriate way to pay for infrastructure.” - Lucky Pierre - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 1:07 pm: Senator Cullerton’s bi partisan pension overhaul bill passed the Super majority Democratic Senate before being stiff armed by the “cooperative and professional” Speaker who admits the pensions are unsustainable. The Speaker’s intransigence on pensions for political reasons is the biggest reasons we have a budget crisis across all levels of Illinois government. - brooker - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 1:08 pm: ==- Rich Miller - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 1:01 pm: Hopefully, somebody can explain this… Rauner proposes that lawmakers send him a pension overhaul bill that “once pension reform is approved by our courts, getting a billion dollar income tax cut.” “I believe that if we would truly balance our budget and bring more government efficiency and pension reform, we will have the money to pay interest on bonded debt, and bonding is an appropriate way to pay for infrastructure.”== Logically or with snark? Because there’s no logical explanation for his inability to understand how the law or government works. Now if there’s snark, well, then the pixies that will fly the pension reform bill into his office for his signature will then scatter magic fairy dust on the rating agencies and Illinois will move from near junk to AAA+ faster than Jeanne Ives can insult minorities, gays, transgenders, or pretty much anyone else who isn’t white and from the suburbs. - Quizzical - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 1:09 pm: The availabliity and process for buying a villa in Italy. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 1:10 pm: Appreciate the bold adds, Rich… it helps to go at this clean(?) The tax cut is a gimmick, as is getting the pension bill that could be constitutional and save money, the way Rauner wants it. Opt out isn’t real. To the direct, “tax cut” to “pay for infrastructure” shell game… If Rauner knows he can’t get the pensions where he wants, his hope is no one will question the cut AND the infrastructure payments… … knowing it won’t come to seeing that money in any form from that line of origination. - Retired Educator - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 1:10 pm: Rich; I can explain. It is total spit in the wind. He says what he thinks people want to hear. It is just bluster, with nothing behind it but words. He knows his silly idea is going nowhere but he will keep saying it till November. - Ducky LaMoore - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 1:11 pm: ===Hopefully, somebody can explain this…=== Sure. Bruce is going to say a lot of things, he hopes somewhere in his thoughtless word salads that you hear what you want to hear. - PlayK8 - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 1:14 pm: Rauner will offer 100 billion dollars in imaginary pension savings in return for the soul of democrat party and the decrepit machine it road in on. - Flynn's Mom - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 1:15 pm: Topic one: The weather in Italy in January Topic two: Can everyone try to be nicer in regard to Diana and how she oversteps her bounds? It’s getting really uncomfortable sleeping in the trash can van. We only need this until we leave for Italy next January. - Jocko - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 1:15 pm: Topic 1: In the event of MJM being unable (or unwilling) to fulfill his responsibilities as speaker, who can I blame in January 2019? Topic 2: How to generate 8 Billion in revenue using little (to no) political or financial capital - 47th Ward - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 1:18 pm: The ways in which Mike Madigan is like Al Capone. How friendship and talkin’ don’t beat corrupt leaders like Mike Madigan. How Illinois can elect more reformers. - Demoralized - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 1:18 pm: Topic 1: List of things that aren’t my fault Topic 2: Let’s talk about topic 1 And LP - some of you need to get it through you thick skulls that you can’t change current pensions no matter how much you stomp your feet. The Supreme Court was pretty crystal clear. Comprehension among some of you isn’t a strong suit. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 1:18 pm: ===Senator Cullerton’s bi partisan pension overhaul bill passed the Super majority Democratic Senate before being stiff armed by the “cooperative and professional” Speaker who admits the pensions are unsustainable.=== There are not 60 or 71 for the Bill. You know this. Why you keep up the same trolling ignorance… Rauner has 60 or 71… put them on the stairs. Embarrass Madigan. You can’t, Rauner can’t. You’re tiring to honesty. ===The Speaker’s intransigence on pensions for political reasons is the biggest reasons we have a budget crisis across all levels of Illinois government.=== … and Thompson, Edgar, Ryan, Pate, Lee… Lots of blame. Lots. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 1:20 pm: Topic one: The hours Rauner spends working on “Dad’s Home State” Topic two: How Rauner likes being in SAG to be on “Dad’s Home State” - It’s not madigan - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 1:21 pm: Does anyone have the estimated annual benefits to SERS for next 30 years? Not the total but each year. - Pot calling kettle - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 1:25 pm: ===The Speaker’s intransigence on pensions for political reasons is the biggest reasons we have a budget crisis across all levels of Illinois government.=== What about for legal reasons: 1) The Illinois Constitution and 2) To meet a minimum standard that allows the State to opt out of Social Security. - Pot calling kettle - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 1:29 pm: To the post: 1) How long do we need to stay in here to make it look like we at least tried? 2) Various sports topics (Loyola, Blackhawks, Cubs, White Sox, Bears, Bulls…) 3) Are we done yet? 4) Favorite Netflix series… 5) How about now? Can we go? 6) How about this crazy weather? 7) What do we tell the press? - Pot calling kettle - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 1:31 pm: ===Does anyone have the estimated annual benefits to SERS for next 30 years? Not the total but each year. === I know we’re supposed to list topics for the leaders to discuss, but I think you’re taking the snark way too far with this one. - Thoughts Matter - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 1:31 pm: ==LP - some of you need to get it through you thick skulls that you can’t change current pensions no matter how much you stomp your feet. The Supreme Court was pretty crystal clear. Comprehension among some of you isn’t a strong suit.== Even if they could, there will not be a tax cut. The state is too far down the rabbit hole of debt for it. Especially if we just start spending the supposed savings on other expenses. So, Rich. There is no explaining the comment you put in bold. For meeting topics - what do you think of my pretty renovated Governors mansion? Can you help me get the city to build tbat pretty park our front AND keep undesirables, like protestors, off of it? - Robert the Bruce - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 1:32 pm: Agenda Item 1) Celebrate our incredible progress in working together. I invited you to a meeting, you each accepted. Better than past year’s efforts. Wow. Agenda Item 2) Let’s hop on my Harley and head to an apple orchard to celebrate. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 1:34 pm: Topic one: As a white make, would the governor like a few staffing do-overs Topic two: The Puzo Papers, why didn’t the governor learn anything from them. - Lucky Pierre - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 1:35 pm: No votes for the bill because it hasn’t been called in the House How can you vote for a bill that has not been called? No discussion, no debate, no counter proposal from the “cooperative” Speaker Elected Democrats who understand math like Toni Preckwinklebelieve pension reform is essential. Do you think the pension ramp will solve itself? Love to hear the explanation from House members who are opposed to this when it passed the Senate with a supermajority. Where does JB stand? The silence is deafening - West Sider - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 1:45 pm: “This election is abt the people uniting….” Abt is a high end appliance place on the North Shore- he must have bought another house. Maybe his exit strategy? - Al - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 1:48 pm: Topic 1) Rauner will propose $5 billion in New taxes on waitress tips, waste hauling, and lawn maintenance, snow removal, and trial lawyer services to pay for the 40% increase in the cost of Healthcare, due to Superstar Management by the Best Team in America and those Cost Savings Managed Care Organization contracts…which rather than saving $200 or $300 million are actually gonna cost $4 or $5 Billion More Each Year. This multibillion in New “savings” (cough costs), will have to be addressed. You just cant paper over $4.5 billion. - A guy - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 1:48 pm: Topic 1: When’s our next meeting? That was a really stumblin’ point last time. - A Jack - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 1:49 pm: 1) Does this tie make me look fat? 2) Was that real catfish that they were serving in the cafeteria? 3) Can anyone tell me how this budget thingy is supposed to work? - NeverPoliticallyCorrect - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 1:55 pm: On pension reform, we could change the system going forward but that isn’t going to happen with the crew in the GA right now. On Rauner, these kinds of statements serve no one’s interests. He just doesn’t seem to learn, which would be ok if he was “winnin” but all he keeps “doin” is “losin”. - Demoralized - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 1:57 pm: ==On pension reform, we could change the system going forward == They can do that anytime they want. Ever heard of Tier II? - zatoichi - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 2:03 pm: Popcorn - should it be cheese or caramel or a mix? Girl scout cookies - Since girls can now join the boy scouts will there be boy scout cookies? “This election is abt the people”…Can the Abt Electronics sue for defamation? - Demoralized - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 2:04 pm: ==No votes for the bill == Why waste time on a bill that has absolutely no chance of ever becoming law? - JoanP - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 2:05 pm: 1) Who took my “g”s? 2) Milan or Florence? - Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 2:06 pm: ===No votes for the bill because it hasn’t been called in the House How can you vote for a bill that has not been called?=== If Rauner had 60/71… show them… embarrass the Speaker. Your typical drivel ignores the governing and politics in it. ===Love to hear the explanation from House members who are opposed to this when it passed the Senate with a supermajority.=== That’s a political question, not a 60/71 question. You are quite terrible at this “Lucky Pierre”. Others were better. - JoanP - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 2:12 pm: @ Retired Educator: =4th–When I say “this is the truth” will you believe me?= During a discussion a few years ago about how inaccuracies in a speech affected the speaker’s credibility, someone defended her on the grounds that “she has a right to speak her own truth”. Someone else agreed that there were inaccuracies, but “who are we to judge?” Made me nuts. - Michelle Flaherty - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 2:13 pm: First order of business is a status report from Leader Durkin on how many votes he’s rounded up for SB 16 in the House. He is the sponsor of SB 16 - pension reform - in the House. Radogno put 16 votes on that in the Senate with zero help from Rauner. House Republicans? You’ve got at least 30 votes for this, right? - VanillaMan - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 2:16 pm: Everyone attending needs to bring bread, cereal and seeds to feed Brucie, our lame duck. - 47th Ward - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 2:19 pm: Cullterton: The Speaker says he’ll come in a separate car. He says for you two to go on ahead. Rauner: Hell, he can’t do that; that screws up all my arrangements. Cullerton: Well, that’s what he said. I can’t go with you either, Governor. Rauner: Tell Mike it was only business, I always liked him. Cullerton: He understands that. Rauner: Can you get me off the hook, John? For old times’ sake? Cullerton: Can’t do it, Brucey. - 47th Ward - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 2:24 pm: 1. Subs or pizza? 2. Thin or pan? 3. Sausage or pepperoni? 4. Squares or triangles? 5. Coke or Pepsi? - Lt Guv - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 2:29 pm: LP, try staying on topic to the thread. - Lucky Pierre - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 2:30 pm: Why waste time on a bill that has absolutely no chance of ever becoming law? Do you watch the proceedings in the GA ever? How many sham votes on bills that have absolutely no chance of becoming law but are run for strictly political reasons to broadcast in deceptive ads are there in a typical session? - Demoralized - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 2:36 pm: ==How many sham votes== So you agree. It’s a sham vote. Maybe that couuld be a topic at the meeting: How many shame votes should we hold this seesion. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 2:41 pm: Topic one: How many sham votes will it take to prove Rauner doesn’t have 60 Topic two: Will Slip and Sue be in charge if there is a budget worth signing? - Henry Francis - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 2:45 pm: What does a guy have to do to protect our phoney baloney jobs? - Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 2:49 pm: ===broadcast in deceptive ads=== “Jeanne Ives is Mike Madigan’s favorite Republican” Anything else today, “Lucky Pierre”? - A Jack - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 2:58 pm: Topic one: Bruce’s costume for the next fiscal year. He would like to stay with the Brando theme. In years past he has dressed up like Brando in the “Wild Ones” and “Missouri Breaks.” Maybe something from the “Godfather?” - Henry Francis - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 3:13 pm: 1. Governor’s Mansion Rehab - almost complete. 2. 12 month budget - let’s get it completed. 3. Anything else we can get ready for Governor Pritzker? - Earnest - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 3:15 pm: I was going to suggest they play “Truth or Dare” but it would be way to predictable. - Norseman - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 3:21 pm: Throw dice on who would be in charge for the meeting. - Dance Band on the Titanic - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 3:27 pm: Plans for a state memorial to honor Dale Carnegie. - JoanP - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 3:52 pm: @A Jack - As long as it’s not Stanley Kowalski. I really don’t want to see him showing up for meetings in a t-shirt. - TominChicago - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 3:57 pm: When did Fullerton’s pension bill pass in the Senate? IIRC, the bill that was a part of the grand bargain only got like 20 yeahs and the Republicans were complaining that it was being called for a vote. - TominChicago - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 3:58 pm: When did Fullerton’s pension bill pass in the Senate? IIRC, the bill that was a part of the grand bargain only got like 20 yeahs and the Republicans were complaining that it was being called for a vote. - TominChicago - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 3:58 pm: Err. Cullerton’s bill - Roadiepig - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 4:12 pm: Has anyone else noticed the blatant hypocrisy of the Raunerites, complaining about the lack of details about Pritzker’s tax plans? I seem to remember back when their guy was running for office in 2014 , he always had a “great plan” for any issue ,that he was going to show us “ when it’s ready”, (or something along that line)? Pot meet kettle. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 4:17 pm: - Roadiepig - Good to see you, miss you, bud. ===Has anyone else noticed the blatant hypocrisy of the Raunerites, complaining about the lack of details about Pritzker’s tax plans?=== They count on no one paying attention. They may think hypocrisy can’t happen if no one is paying attention. Those Raunerites… - bear3 - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 4:51 pm: Can we get a rating agency plan for selling a pension payment bond that if adopted would set this issue for completion? Fact Are easier to deal with then with political supposition as a baseto start with for this session. - Arthur Andersen - Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 5:10 pm: bear3, in response to your question, no. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.