* The Belleville News-Democrat lauded the comptroller for her accomplishes in a recent editorial, but also called her a “political lapdog”…
Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza pushes hard to get Illinois leaders to face fiscal reality, but it’s too bad that so much of what she says starts with “blame Rauner.” […]
Here’s Mendoza’s problem: Everything gets couched in those “blame Rauner” terms. That debt period is the governor’s tenure in Springfield. The hidden governor’s employee bill and interest accounting comes as Mendoza pushes J.B. Pritzker to replace Rauner.
Illinois’ fiscal meltdown should be blamed on more than the last guy to arrive at the blast furnace. Analysts gave us a near junk bond rating because Illinois failed to change spending patterns or address the $130 billion pension deficit as others did after the recession hit.
So “hurrah” for Mendoza the fiscal watchdog. “Boo” for Mendoza the political lapdog.
Plenty of blame and finger pointing is deserved by everyone in that capitol rotunda. Single-mindedly placing blame on the slightly experienced billionaire we’ve got does little to convince anyone that the new inexperienced billionaire would do any better.
* Mendoza’s response via a BND op-ed…
I really wish you would pay closer attention to what I say during my frequent visits to your Editorial Board. At no time did I ever “blame Rauner” for the entirety of “Illinois fiscal meltdown” as you misrepresented in your editorial.
I have told you on multiple occasions that Rauner walked into a mess and deserved no blame for the $5 billion backlog of bills he inherited. What he does own is more than tripling that backlog by deficit-spending more than any other governor in state history.
I did not “blame Rauner” alone for the bad practice of hiding staffers on other agency payrolls to mask the size of his staff and budget. My exact words to you were: “It’s something that every single Governor as far back as we can tell has done. So it’s not unique to Governor Rauner … In all fairness, Governor Quinn was a chronic offender. It’s not okay if Quinn does it. It’s not okay if Blagojevich did it. It’s not okay if Ryan did it. And it’s still not okay that Bruce Rauner does it. But it’s not just a Bruce Rauner thing.” […]
You are upset with me for reporting that Governor Rauner ran up more late payment interest penalties in 2½ years than all the Republican and Democratic governors and legislatures did in the previous 18 years combined. I say if the shoe fits, Gov. Rauner can wear it.
You say the governor is the “last guy to arrive at the blast furnace” of the state’s fiscal meltdown. That may be, but he then shoveled more than $1 billion dollars into that furnace in late payment interest penalties. And that number continues to grow. I showed on my report the actual numbers of late payment interest penalties that each of his Republican and Democratic predecessors ran up. I admit there are no clean hands here.
- Big Joe - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 9:28 am:
I gotta admit that Mendoza knows her stuff. And Rauner’s ineffectiveness these last 3 and a half years as governor can’t be ignored. At least she presented facts to back up her statements. That is usually absent whenever we hear any statements from Rauner. Very similar to our man in Washington, who said that if you say something enough times, the people will believe it. It doesn’t matter if it’s true or not.
- wordslinger - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 9:32 am:
–I have told you on multiple occasions that Rauner walked into a mess and deserved no blame for the $5 billion backlog of bills he inherited. What he does own is more than tripling that backlog by deficit-spending more than any other governor in state history.–
True, and communicated in two simple sentences with tiny words that any junior high student could understand.
So to those who truly don’t get it (and aren’t just disingenuous Raunerbots), what’s confusing you? I’m not sure it can be dumbed down any further.
- Red Ranger - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 9:36 am:
There are plenty of political lap dogs in Springfield, but the Comptroller certainly isn’t one of them. I know saying things like that makes people feel good, but I wonder if they have any clue how it damages their credibility on future statements; such an empty statement that completely ignores her background and path to her current office.
- Demoralized - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 9:37 am:
I think Mendoza sums it up pretty well. The Governor isn’t totally to blame. But he is to blame for the things that have occurred while he has been in office.
- HCMcB - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 9:42 am:
Her opponents seek to diminish Comptroller Mendoza by calling her a lapdog because they know she’s a pit bull.
- Pundent - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 9:44 am:
=Single-mindedly placing blame on the slightly experienced billionaire we’ve got does little to convince anyone that the new inexperienced billionaire would do any better.=
I would agree if this was unintentional. But casting this as a rookie mistake as the BND wants to do completely ignores the deliberate nature of Rauner’s actions. The backlog didn’t explode because Rauner lacked awareness, it occurred because he purposely held the state and its vendors hostage and would have been more than happy in continuing to do so but for the actions of the legislators.
- No One - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 9:44 am:
She forgot herself from her days in the House.
- slow down - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 9:48 am:
That Rauner still thinks he can for reelection as the change agent tells you what he thinks about the media’s ability to hold him responsible for his tenure. Good for Mendoza in refusing to let an otherwise lazy editorial board play into Rauner’s hands.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 9:50 am:
What Rauner didn’t count on with Mendoza, and why lazy editorial boards continually try to paint Mendoza as they do, is that Mendoza learned from Rauner (figuratively) by pressing first a narrative of truth Rauner wants hidden, and her refusal to let things like this editorial go without challenging it.
What Abdon, and that whole Crew, has done is shape with Mendoza herself the persona that is her; she’s not letting up, she won’t be marginalized, and you better take her seriously. In this instance, this simplicity is a stern retort;
===I did not “blame Rauner” alone for the bad practice of hiding staffers on other agency payrolls to mask the size of his staff and budget. My exact words to you were: “It’s something that every single Governor as far back as we can tell has done. So it’s not unique to Governor Rauner … In all fairness, Governor Quinn was a chronic offender. It’s not okay if Quinn does it. It’s not okay if Blagojevich did it. It’s not okay if Ryan did it. And it’s still not okay that Bruce Rauner does it. But it’s not just a Bruce Rauner thing.” […]
You are upset with me for reporting that Governor Rauner ran up more late payment interest penalties in 2½ years than all the Republican and Democratic governors and legislatures did in the previous 18 years combined. I say if the shoe fits, Gov. Rauner can wear it.===
Two paragraphs that call out the editorial board, clarify her OWN thoughts that others want to reshape, and saying “tuff” if you don’t like me calling it as I see it, with a factual numeric understanding of the now.
Solid work, defending and still charging thru.
I do think both the stark and glaring differences between a “Wingman” that Munger was, and the way Mendoza and her Comms Shop go about their business makes what Mendoza does even greater than a normal change of officeholders.
Munger losing… I bet Rauner would give up those seats he “won” in 2016 to have Munger back, maybe even lose a seat or three if he had to… and Mendoza and her Crew won’t let up for a second, just ask the BND.
- Anonymous - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 9:57 am:
Mendoza is a real pain in the neck. To Rauner and his lapdogs. They hate it when their cheap digs gets tossed back in their face - with facts, no less. Must really irritate them. Good.
- Jocko - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 9:58 am:
If I reading this correctly, Susana needs to get the legislature to face fiscal reality but not hurt the executive’s “fee-fees”.
- Long Time R - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 10:06 am:
Again people forget Mendoza played a big part in all these problems facing us today. She voted lock stock and barrel for all those tax increases. And if people want to say that Munger was nothing but Rauner’s had picked puppy well Mendoza is the same for Madigan
- Demoralized - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 10:09 am:
==Again people forget Mendoza played a big part in all these problems facing us today==
Why is it so difficult for some of you to acknowledge that the Governor shares some of the blame now? You all do a lot of “but, but, but” and can’t seem to acknowledge reality.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 10:09 am:
===Again people forget Mendoza played a big part in all these problems facing us today. She voted lock stock and barrel for all those tax increases. And if people want to say that Munger was nothing but Rauner’s had picked puppy well Mendoza is the same for Madigan===
Hmm…
===You are upset with me for reporting that Governor Rauner ran up more late payment interest penalties in 2½ years than all the Republican and Democratic governors and legislatures did in the previous 18 years combined. I say if the shoe fits, Gov. Rauner can wear it.===
You forgot to address that.
- Shelby Thomas Weems - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 10:09 am:
Just a daily reminder that if Mendoza would’ve hopped in the gov’s race she would’ve likely won the primary and certainly have trounced Rauner.
Nothing else to add.
- City Zen - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 10:23 am:
The term “lapdog” is derogatory and tone deaf, even more so with the emergence of the #MeToo movement. Time to pick another word.
- 618 - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 10:37 am:
The BND Editorial Board is completely out of touch and inept. They misrepresent facts, lie, and treat their readership like crap. It’s no wonder the word on the street is that McClatchy is going to pull the plug on that operation….
The Editorial Board should be strung and quartered for the way they treat their enployees as well.
- A guy - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 11:01 am:
Wasn’t Leslie Munger a “Lap Dog” too?
Political Jargon. Adds up to nothing. Much ado.
- wondering - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 11:07 am:
Nice job, OW. To add: Big difference between being a legislative team player and a state wide office holder. She transtioned well.
- RIJ - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 11:09 am:
I am loving me some Mendoza. I loved JBT, too. What is it with the Comptroller? Is it the people the position attracts?
- wordslinger - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 11:15 am:
–Wasn’t Leslie Munger a “Lap Dog” too?–
No, Munger called herself Rauner’s “wingman” (which is kind of weird, given the general understanding of that phrase outside of combat pilots).
Mendoza did not describe herself as a “lapdog.”
- dbk - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 11:15 am:
I understand, after a year+ of reading this blog religiously, the desire to go after anybody connected with MJM.
But realistically, who serving in the IL House today isn’t connected with MJM? According to your own daily litany, he’s the most powerful politician in the state - more powerful than the gov, although the IL Constitution might beg to differ.
But again, realistically, how old is Mendoza? (45) How old is Madigan? (75) She may have started out as his … protege, maybe? … but she’s sailing under her own steam now, and it’s likely she’s got plenty of steam to keep sailing for a long time.
She tells it like it is, in words of one syllable or at most, two. She doesn’t obfuscate. She doesn’t prevaricate. She doesn’t pretend the state’s problems aren’t longstanding, and she doesn’t pretend they can be solved in a single election cycle. That’s tough to say and stay popular - but she’s doing it.
What is it about her current behavior as Comptroller that her naysayers don’t like? You don’t have to like her personally to admire her as a politician and as a strict, no-nonsense overseer of the state’s disbursements.
OK, so BVR and the BND don’t like her - she tells truths they don’t want to hear. But that’s their problem.
If you think this tough, tell-it-like-it-is, hardworking, gifted politician is bad for your state, well, maybe you’d feel better in Indiana, or Wisconsin, or Iowa, or Missouri after all.
She’ll be a great governor one day if the stars align correctly.
- Norseman - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 11:19 am:
Bravo to Mendoza. She and her staff are showing how its done.
Thumbs down to the BND editorial board. Typical shallow research and analysis.
- 44th - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 11:32 am:
Her response was good, but of course didn’t go far enough as it did not mention the legislature’s role in this mess.
- Rabid - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 11:59 am:
Woman sits in mans lap, does pritzker too
- jim - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 12:36 pm:
a more accurate headline would have read
“Mendoza slams editorial board for calling her a ‘lapdog’”
- Rich Miller - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 12:37 pm:
jim, the headline is accurate.
- James - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 2:05 pm:
She’s a fighter. She’s well positioned to do damage, and she’s got truth on her side. She communicates the truth simply, in words everyone understands. And, as she says, the truth hurts. This is solid political leadership at the highest level.
- Yesterday’s Chairman - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 3:57 pm:
The News-Dem has become a partisan, right-wing rag that glorifies in sensationalism because actual journalism is “no fun”. Just go to their website a few times and scan the headlines; you’ll get a good feel for Southern Illinois’ version of the New York Post.
- sharkette - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 5:33 pm:
The comptrollers office, pays bills the date they get them. They do not pay them by the vendors date.
This has racked up millions in interest payments dues, that have not been paid as the legislators made more laws to not pay them until 12/of 18 last year,,,and there is NO oversight to the Comptrollers office.
So DOR’s bill form last month are paid this week, and the State Police’s and DOC’s who are years old, she does not pay..
Fact check please
- sharkette - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 5:35 pm:
She does not tell the truth at all.
- sharkette - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 5:40 pm:
We all are paying all that extra interest, years worth because OOC uses the date they enter an invoice not the vendor invoices bill date. AND the OOC only pays bills in order of when received.
Not by aging order.
Pretty sad for an accountant to not know basic accounting.
- sharkette - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 5:43 pm:
As a vendor of the state, for 16 years,,,
the FACT is folks that this practice started when Mendoza swooped 100M in funds- specifically technology funds and has refused to pay them.. Since Dec of 2016..
racking up MILLIONS all by herself..
Is the fact folks
- wordslinger - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 6:08 pm:
–the FACT is folks that this practice started when Mendoza swooped 100M in funds- specifically technology funds and has refused to pay them.. –
Was that not to repay what Munger raided from GRF for the IT patronage army on her way out the door?
You IT boys, you’re entitled to your dedicated fund and GRF?
- Almost the Weekend - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 7:05 pm:
It will be interested to see the line Mendoza walks if her and Pritzker win. She has painted herself into a corner and it’s hard to believe Pritzker won’t have any issues
- wordslinger - Monday, May 7, 18 @ 10:43 pm:
– She has painted herself into a corner …–
On what, and how?
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, May 8, 18 @ 7:12 am:
swooped?