* WCIA TV…
[Senator Dale Righter, R-Mattoon] characterized the $15 minimum wage law as “economic loss” for his district and for the rest of the state. He also criticized several portions of Pritzker’s budget proposal, including a plan to legalize recreational marijuana.
Since the downstate Republican opposes nearly all of Pritzker’s budget proposals, Righter was asked if that conflict might complicate his ability to barter for capital projects in his district.
Righter says he was not in closed door negotiations about infrastructure projects in a capital spending plan, but the Senator claimed Pritzker administration staffers “have been quoted as saying, ‘You know what, if you don’t vote for some of these policies or if you don’t vote for the tax increases to fund this, then by golly, you can look forward to getting nothing in your district.’”
“I hope that’s just bluster,” Righter said. “I hope that’s just talk and it’s not actually the attitude of the administration. In the end, past administrations or elected officials who have taken that attitude, things wind up usually not working out well for them.”
I’ve never seen any quotes like that in public, nor have I heard any threats being delivered through private channels. Plus, that’s not how every other capital plan has been crafted, so I reached out to the governor’s office.
* Jordan Abudayyeh…
As the governor has said repeatedly, he is committed to passing a capital bill because our state is in dire need of better infrastructure. The governor won’t play political games with Illinois’ future, and he hopes all lawmakers come to the negotiating table in good faith to pass a statewide capital bill.
- TheInvisibleMan - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 9:27 am:
===if you don’t vote for the tax increases to fund this, then by golly, you can look forward to getting nothing in your district.===
Well if you don’t vote for the revenue to enable the spending, then you don’t get the spending. Seems fairly obvious. But I guess not giving downstate free money is now a threat, which just goes to show how dependent they have become on govt funding just to survive.
- anon2 - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 9:28 am:
It reminds me of the story of “The Little Red Hen.” The barnyard animals didn’t want to help make the bread, but they were all lined up to help eat it. So the Hon. Senator will vote against the revenue to pay for capital projects, but still wants his fair share of the spending. That wouldn’t sound fair to the Little Red Hen.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 9:29 am:
–“I hope that’s just bluster,” Righter said.–
Righter can surely take comfort in his knowledge that the “quotes” he’s making up aren’t true.
“By golly?” That’s a Rauner-quality fictional quote.
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 9:39 am:
“By golly?” That’s a Rauner-quality fictional quote.
I know right? That’s what I was thinking.
Please Uncle Richter, tell me about the companies lined up to come into Illinois once labor is destroyed. Will there be big ones and little ones? Will all come with “jobs” and give us the great “business environment”? Tell me Uncle Richter just like Grandpa Brucey used too.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 9:44 am:
=have been quoted as saying, ‘You know what, if you don’t vote for some of these policies or if you don’t vote for the tax increases to fund this, then by golly, you can look forward to getting nothing in your district.’”=
Word said it first but I don’t think it hurts to point out again that this sounds like a Rauner sized whopper to me.
I find it suspect that the governor’s stuff uses the phrase “by golly”, just doesn’t seem to fit.
- cover - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 10:20 am:
Maybe those staffers saw that picture on CapFax last week of the guy wearing the T-shirt about dirt roads, and figured that’s what they should give him and his kind.
- anon2 - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 10:25 am:
It would be instructive to hear someone make the case that legislators who vote against funding capital projects should get the same share of projects in their districts as legislators who vote to pay for it.
- Jocko - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 10:31 am:
Does JB have a Gomer Pyle impersonator on staff?
Since he disagrees with the budget proposal, what fresh ideas does Dale have for generating revenue?
- Norseman - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 10:33 am:
To get a capital bill, the GOP caucus will need to provide it’s share of votes. They can’t expect the Dems to do all the politically risky votes while the GOP enjoys the fruits.
- Not a Billionaire - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 10:42 am:
I think it was just implied in the past….It was said clearly to the group that wanted 34 in the Peoria hearing by Sen Sandovol.
I am surprised they didn’t ask the group from Iowa to pay for it. I have heard that quietly from IDOT.
- Morningstar - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 11:32 am:
There was a time when Senator Righter did a better of being non-partisan. I find this report of his alleged remarks very disappointing and hope that he can remember how to play nice with others.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 11:35 am:
===report of his alleged remarks===
There’s no alleged about it. There’s video. Click the link for crying out loud.
- DuPage Saint - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 12:27 pm:
He should be cut off. Want to get along go along.
- anon2 - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 2:19 pm:
=== They (the GOP caucus) can’t expect the Dems to do all the politically risky votes while the GOP enjoys the fruits. ===
That’s exactly what Sen. Righter expects. I suspect he’s not the only one who will vote NO on raising the revenue and then vote YES on spending it. All while accusing Democrats of being fiscally irresponsible.
- FrankiB - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 4:36 pm:
At the Elgin Capital Hearing, Senator Sandoval asked some of the panels whether people who don’t support revenue creation should benefit from the revenue that is created (i.e. be included in the Capital budget).
- leonardm - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 6:27 pm:
my number 1 reason for thinking about moving out of the state of Illinois righter is my senator and bailey is my rep
- Harvest76 - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 8:37 pm:
I sure hope Righter gets some of that capital bill money. His district’s Buggy Whip factory depends on freshly graveled roads every few years.
- Union Thug Gramma - Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 8:59 am:
Considering southern and central Illinois already get $2.81 for every $1.00 of income tax sent to Springfield, I must say, they really need to manage their “money” cuz Chicago and the collar counties are really tired of this type of whining…we’re Cinderella, before the fairy godmother shows up and they’re the step-sisters that get everything and still want more.