December 16, 2020
Dear Members and Members-Elect:
On Tuesday, Governor Pritzker outlined a first round of proposed adjustments intended to begin addressing a budget shortfall. We all understand the state’s delicate financial situation, which has been exacerbated by a number of factors – foremost among these is the COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying economic downturn. And while it remains critical that our federal leaders step up and deliver relief to the states, we also know tough choices ahead will be required by the General Assembly.
The work ahead of us will require strong legislative leadership. The Illinois House Democratic Caucus is one of the most diverse caucuses in the country; we must respect the unique priorities of our individual communities also while understanding our obligation to all of those in need.
We cannot ask our most vulnerable residents to bear the burden of this global pandemic. My goal remains protecting critical services like the Community Care Program, the Child Care Assistance Program, breast cancer screenings, domestic violence shelters, and other lifesaving services, while also meeting the new needs of emergency health care responders, essential workers, and families struggling because of these unprecedented times.
Among the difficult decisions ahead will be finding a balance between cost savings and new revenues. I hope our Republican colleagues choose to be willing participants instead of partisan obstructionists and come prepared to offer real proposals that are void of political theatre.
With this in mind, I plan to establish an advisory group to our budget working group which will review the governor’s recently proposed cuts and help advise our team on how future budget making decisions will affect various constituencies. If you would like to participate on this advisory group please send Jessica Basham an email at *****.gov.
I look forward to working with each of you to address the unprecedented challenges of this pandemic and help our state emerge stronger.
With kindest personal regards, I remain
Sincerely yours,
MICHAEL J. MADIGAN
Speaker of the House
- Lincoln Lad - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 1:33 pm:
While the Fair Tax was horribly messaged, what did come out as a result is the public’s desire for no tax increases of any kind. Pursuit of a revenue increase through taxing should be a complete non-starter at this time.
- Sonos - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 1:34 pm:
I think it would be hilarious if the 19 public no votes are the only ones who want to be a part of this process…what would Madigan do?
- Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 1:34 pm:
What say the 19?
- Responsa - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 1:35 pm:
Ah, I see we’re going to have a food fight played out in the media. Get your protective plastic aprons and hoodies ready, campers.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 1:36 pm:
=== What say the 19?===
They are “no” to Madigan.
The rest is up in the air.
You know, closing a prison, closing DNR facilities… those aren’t hurting the most vulnerable.
- Mr. Hand - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 1:38 pm:
==With kindest personal regards, I remain
Sincerely yours,
MICHAEL J. MADIGAN
Speaker of the House===
Does he always use this closing? I find some irony in the I remain bit.
- What Do We Do Next - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 1:42 pm:
“delicate financial situation”
WHAAAAT?
No, MJM, it’s DIRE, not delicate
- Platitudinus - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 1:43 pm:
Let the deficit spending begin!
Same as it ever was.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 1:43 pm:
Tl;dr - any spending cuts passed by the house will target non-Chicago state employees and downstate facilities. Have fun explaining those job losses to your constituents, suckers
- Responsa - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 1:43 pm:
In history books and from the musical 1776 many of us know that General George Washington always ended his letters with the valediction “Your humble and obedient servant: G Washington”
Heaven help me but I always think of that whenever I see Madigan’s valediction:
With kindest personal regards, I remain
Sincerely yours,
MICHAEL J. MADIGAN
- Centennial - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 1:44 pm:
Letter is on point. He came to play and continues to wisely engage.
Ps. Mr. Hand, you must be new here. Welcome!
- Springfield Truthteller - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 1:50 pm:
When Mike Madigan says calls the GOP ” partisan obstructionists ” it’s as if the GOP has control over his chamber. Someone needs to put down the crack pipe.
- Earnest - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 2:00 pm:
foremost among these is the COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying economic downturn
I like the cause framing here, with the lack of referencing the fair tax or pension debt payments that can let opponents of federal support call aid a bailout. Perhaps his best argument for continuing as Speaker is that he’d be willing to own the very unpopular things they’re going to have to do. What new Speaker wants the politics of cuts plus revenue as a first impression.
- Thomas Paine - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 2:02 pm:
The 19 are either going to be with Pritzker and support his cuts or they are not. Each will have to make her or his own decision,
The cuts to DNR grants likely will impact many suburban districts, not just Downstate communities that have state parks.
https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/news/Pages/Governor-Pritzker-Announces-$28.9-Million-in-Grants-for-89-Local-Park-Projects-Throughout-Illinois.aspx
It’s unclear whether any of the 19 are willing to say No to both Madigan and Pritzker, which pretty much leaves them on their own at this point.
- PClown - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 2:02 pm:
Mr. Hand. I was dissecting that salutation as well. It was the best part of the letter.
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 2:02 pm:
Mike Madigan has completely forgotten the partisan obstruction and political theatre he presided over for 4 years.
I sure another advisory panel will come up with all the answers like it did on property tax reform
- Dotnonymous - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 2:07 pm:
Remain is the secret word.
- Frank talks - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 2:08 pm:
Does this sound like the Speaker just laid out another marker for a challenger to have to hurdle?
Won’t cut the things the Governor says to cut, community care, childcare etc etc and he’ll stand with frontline union workers and union first responders.
Madigan is a pro at making Governors crazy and getting factions on his side.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 2:13 pm:
===I was dissecting that salutation as well===
He’s been using it for decades. Move along.
- Rabbit - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 2:15 pm:
Ugh. More of this?
Didn’t we see this song and dance at the Statehouse Theater with the “Illinois property tax relief task force”?
How will this show be different?
Once Bitten, Twice Shy.
*I hope our Republican colleagues choose to be willing participants instead of partisan obstructionists and come prepared to offer real proposals that are void of political theatre.*
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 2:16 pm:
=== Does this sound like the Speaker just laid out another marker for a challenger to have to hurdle?===
The goal of the exercise is Madigan getting 60
Did this letter peel off any of the 19 that are denying him 60?
Doubtful to… probably no.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 2:18 pm:
=== Mike Madigan has completely forgotten the partisan obstruction and political theatre he presided over for 4 years.===
Explain the “Perfect 10” and the “Brave 15”
:)
- Anon y mouse - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 2:19 pm:
This public airing of grievances is timely as Festivus is soon upon us. Can’t wait for the feats of strength…unless the Feds shut it all down prematurely.
- SadKasperisgone - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 2:22 pm:
Does the hiring freeze impact all of the state agencies?
- WH Mess - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 2:25 pm:
In re the Honorable Speaker’s salutation and comments from Messrs. Hand, Miller, et alia:
Yes he’s been using it for 3 or 4 decades but it has been ironic for most of the last two, as we staffers always chuckled at the implicit reminder of his power. To wit: “No matter how much my sphynx-like approach drives you batty, I am where I am.”
For tea leaves, I am watching many of the women members of the ILBC, and also the Honorable John R. Lausch, Jr.
- Roman - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 2:26 pm:
Doesn’t Madigan risk splitting his loyalists with all this tax increase talk?
The core of his support comes from the Black Caucus and a loosely knit group of moderates and downstaters. One group is traditionally okay with a tax increase, the other is not.
Madigan has moved many of the mods and downstaters to vote for a tax increase in the past, but “stick with me and you can vote for a tax increase” is hardly an appealing message to that crew.
Some proposals in the Black Caucus equity agenda could disturb the same fault lines among the Madigan loyalists.
- Fav Human - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 2:31 pm:
Does this sound like the Speaker just laid out another marker for a challenger to have to hurdle?
Sure does.
And it’s also Exhibit “A” for “Why you need me more than ever, now”.
I am quite certain MJM is very willing to let there be vote after vote ad infinitum come January, until he loses or wins.
And all the while there will be stories about how this delay is harming the most vulnerable, whom MJM has vowed to protect.
- Former ISBE emp - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 2:31 pm:
Does the hiring freeze impact all of the state agencies?
The Illinois State Board of Education has been on a hiring binge for months in anticipation of a freeze. Getting pretty top heavy.
- Telly - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 2:36 pm:
“…establish an advisory group to our budget working group…”
Now that’s Kafkaesque. What’s next, a subcommittee of the advisory group to the working group?
- Nagidam - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 2:42 pm:
===And while it remains critical that our federal leaders step up and deliver relief to the states,…===
Speaker Madigan kicking the can down the road to January 5th.
- Unconventionalwisdom - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 2:49 pm:
I have commented upon the need for Republicans to submit a budget rather than just whine.
But for Madigan to call Republicans ‘obstructionists’ when DEMS control both House and Senate is silly talk and makes him look ridiculous.
In the final analysis it seems that Pritzker will have to make the hard decisions and face the results. Of course, that is the reason the Governor is paid the ‘big bucks’
- SpiDem - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 2:50 pm:
Regarding Madigan’s salutation at the end of the letter: I have a vague memory of someone in the Rauner administration (Goldberg?) using it in a letter to legislators as an explicit tweak aimed at the Speaker. Does anyone else remember that?
- SAP - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 2:51 pm:
==While the Fair Tax was horribly messaged, what did come out as a result is the public’s desire for no tax increases of any kind. Pursuit of a revenue increase through taxing should be a complete non-starter at this time.== Actually, the Fair Tax was a repudiation of a very specific tax increase, namely on the highest 3% income bracket. If the vote on the Fair Tax shows us anything, it is that Illinois residents overwhelmingly favor an across the board tax increase on all income levels.
- SNOWMAN61 - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 2:52 pm:
Regarding the IDNR grants mentioned above, the funding is from the OSLAD program that receives dedicated funding from a percentage of the state’s Real Estate Transfer Tax. This brings up an issue about sweeping the dedicated funds that have happen before. There are many dedicated funds (I think over 900)that receives funding from user fees/registrations fees or a tax on the sale/transaction. Any fund that is financed by user fees should not be swept to help the budget as they are financed by the users not tax payers.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 2:54 pm:
=== If the vote on the Fair Tax shows us anything, it is that Illinois residents overwhelmingly favor an across the board tax increase on all income levels.===
That’s not remotely accurate.
It showed folks were worried about an upcoming Frerichs Tax, taxing retirement income, an unknown to the taxing of it passed, and trusting to the process of taxing.
Those were the points of the messaging.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 2:55 pm:
- SNOWMAN61 -
Close DNR facilities, problem solved.
Amirite?
- striketoo - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 2:56 pm:
The can kicker in chief is surprised to find that the can is way down the road.
- Tingley - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 2:58 pm:
The Governor needs to claw back excessive MCO profits. Until then, no middle class worker should lose a job and no needy resident should face a hardship as a result of an unnecessary cut.
- ANON - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 3:01 pm:
wait until he puts the gov’s cuts on the board–we will see if the 19 are ready to follow the 2nd floor’s lead.
- Responsa - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 3:04 pm:
Rich may wish to nuke this from the thread, but it is driving me crazy. lol. Salutations are at the beginning of correspondence and how you say hello. Valedictions are at the end of messages and how you say farewell. We are talking about Madigan’s valediction here. I’m not trying to be snarky or to embarrass anybody–just hoping to be helpful.
https://getproofed.com/writing-tips/writing-an-email-salutation-and-valediction/
- snowman61 - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 3:07 pm:
OW - Yes you can close the DNR, but recreation is not just about the DNR. Many Forest Preserves, Conversation Districts and Park Districts etc will still provide many other opportunities of recreation that is funded by the Grants provided by user fees. Note that when the DNR reopens, it can continue providing grants with monies collected by user fees and not given to the General Fund while the IDNR office is closed. A percentage of the user fees collected are provided to the IDNR to administrate the grant programs.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 3:09 pm:
- snowman61 -
It’s all good.
I’m going to be most interested how the governor and the legislature handles agencies like DNR with the budgetary crunch.
Thanks for dropping the knowledge.
OW
- JB13 - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 3:20 pm:
Ain’t no sycophants like MJM sycophants.
“Now what will The 19 do?”
“Time for the Republicans to acknowledge the mess they made, and step up and lead.”
Listen to yourselves. Democrats won the elections. Elections have consequences, and not just for the losers.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 3:23 pm:
=== Listen to yourselves. Democrats won the elections. Elections have consequences, and not just for the losers.===
Ok, then take it to the losers.
If I were “downstate”, with that thinking, I’d brace myself for deep, hurtful cuts… painful ones too.
Why Raunerites don’t want to be part in the process… but they’ll whine and wail when those facilities close.
- Mirror, Mirror - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 3:23 pm:
* He’s been using it for decades. Move along.*
Such an arrogant tool.
- snowman61 - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 3:40 pm:
Yes, OW, it will be interesting how the DNR will be handled. I think it will be hit hard by cuts since it is not a core service as MJM wishes to protect.
As people will realize, not voting for fair tax will result in some cuts of service as well as IMHO a tax increase in the future.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 3:43 pm:
I find MJM’s letter very interesting. Has he now broken with Pritzker? Is that what he is telegraphing? While it is many degrees short of how he messaged Rauner, Quinn, and Blago it has just a tinge of that vibe.
Rural Illinois has been outright hostile to the governor and metro Chicago. The secession talk, even going so far as non-binding ballot questions, have not been subtle. I think MJM’s character lends itself to be far more politically vindictive than Pritzker. I don’t think MJM would have any qualms about punishing/making cuts in the rural areas alone.
Pritzker is much more of a governor for the whole state regardless of the petty attacks. I think we have seen that even he can get frustrated and lash out lately.
And maybe he is right to make them pay. It would be in keeping with national GOP politics. The GOP does not have the moral high ground even given the transgressions of MJM.
The pearl clutching on the part of the right is pretty laughable when you look at the totality of the comments and attacks from the right on Pritzker, he has never come within 10 miles of the comments of the ILGOP and the eastern bloc. I assume that makes them feel safe from retribution.
But now MJM has laid down a marker. The ILGOP should be worried in my estimation. MJM never forgets. And some of the caucus may be even more vengeful if they capture the power or the speaker.
Food for thought.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 3:47 pm:
“tough choices”
Reminds of DPI’s neoliberal period around 10 years ago with Quinn, when pension reform was enacted more than once and it was hard to tell the difference between Democrats and Civic Committee types on this issue.
The ILGOP: “Well, since we’re a super-minority we don’t have to do any hard work and could just keep collecting those government paychecks and benefits. Yippee.”
Revenue must be on the table, to try to avert the harshest cuts. Ending or reducing corporate tax breaks should be on the table. Corporations got a 40% federal tax cut, so they should be okay with paying more. Imagine the outrage if state employees got a 40% raise.
If the state income tax is raised, oh well, so many had a chance to avoid this but chose not to.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 3:48 pm:
=== As people will realize, not voting for fair tax will result in some cuts of service as well as IMHO a tax increase in the future.===
You… are not wrong.
Be well.
- Jibba - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 3:50 pm:
===panel will come up with all the answers like it did on property tax reform===
Big difference here is that cuts or tax increases WILL happen. Property tax relief didn’t really need to happen at all, and wasn’t even strictly a GA issue.
- City Zen - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 3:53 pm:
==any spending cuts passed by the house will target non-Chicago state employees and downstate facilities==
cc: AFSCME, IFT
- California Guy - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 4:02 pm:
Madigan must live in a different world. Cuts are happening. The State is in the gutter and Madigan is throwing his hands up like someone else is responsible.
- Charlie Wheeler - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 4:52 pm:
Point of Information
DNR’s FY21 appropriation is $1,362.48 (in millions) per COGFA’s FY21 budget summary. Of that total, $40.28 is general funds, $663.30 is special state funds, $512.17 is bond financed funds, $118.39 is federal trust funds, and $28.34 state trust funds. Unspent portions of general funds and special state funds can be reallocated/swept to close the deficit. Bond and federal/state trust funds likely cannot be diverted to other uses.
Charlie Wheeler
- Mad Hatter - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 4:54 pm:
As a lifelong downstate taxpayer and one of the ignorants that voted no on the “Fair/Pritzker” thinking that the push back on the continuing insanity of ….pass a temporary ….or soon to be permanent tax increase which will get state budget righted and bill backlog paid up…..has reached a breaking point that will play out over the next election cycles……as shown in the rejection of the ”
Fair/Pritzker” tax……people are ready for an intervention…ready for some pain to get beyond….promises that the next tax increase is the solution to the states systemic spending problems.
Be safe all
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 4:57 pm:
- Charlie Wheeler -
A fan. Always been. Always will be.
In case you haven’t figured it out.
Thanks for continually clarifying and doing the “blocking and tackling” to the needed context.
OW
- Jed - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 5:24 pm:
==If the vote on the Fair Tax shows us anything, it is that Illinois residents overwhelmingly favor an across the board tax increase on all income levels.== Maybe the legislature should put that question on the ballot just to confirm your interpretation, they could add it right after one about whether or not voters support municipal bankruptcies.
- SAP - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 5:26 pm:
==That’s not remotely accurate.
It showed folks were worried about an upcoming Frerichs Tax, taxing retirement income, an unknown to the taxing of it passed, and trusting to the process of taxing.
Those were the points of the messaging.==
I know, the snark sounded obvious in my head. Shoulda tagged as such.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 5:29 pm:
- SAP -
My apologies too, as I should look harder to the snark.
:)
- Southern Belle - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 6:02 pm:
Interesting that MJM sent this only to the Democratic members of the House. Apparently, he expects to Republicans to offer ideas for how to cut a budget they had no part in developing or passing all while they are not invited to the table again. Oh wait no that is how MJM leads. Business as usual under the Madigan regime.
- Essential State Employee - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 6:05 pm:
Once the Governor’s announced cuts (and the ones yet to come) get implemented, how much longer before we start seeing the “Pritzker Sucks” signs at AFSCME and other union members’ homes? Or perhaps a green version of the sign from AFSCME?
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 6:13 pm:
===Interesting that MJM sent this only to the Democratic members of the House.===
I didn’t read that. Where did you read that?
===Apparently, he expects to Republicans to offer ideas for how to cut a budget they had no part in developing or passing all while they are not invited to the table again.===
Why did they run for office then? Did they expect to do nothing?
- Essential State Employee - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 6:15 pm:
==Unspent portions of general funds and special state funds can be reallocated/swept to close the deficit. Bond and federal/state trust funds likely cannot be diverted to other uses.Unspent portions of general funds and special state funds can be reallocated/swept to close the deficit. Bond and federal/state trust funds likely cannot be diverted to other uses.==
Didn’t Blago, Filan, and Co. attempt to pull that stunt for at least the FY04 budget (and several others during Blago’s administration).
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 6:26 pm:
It’s gonna be an interesting 2021.
- Huh? - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 7:04 pm:
“With kindest personal regards, I remain
Sincerely yours,”
OMG. Shades of 1975 high school senior English class and learning how to write formal letters.
- H-W - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 9:13 pm:
From NPR: =Dan McConchie, said the cash crunch was Pritzker’s fault for ignoring spending reforms Republicans have proposed and counting on the progressive tax proposal that voters rejected in November.=
Could someone list, or Rich report, these proposals so we can discuss them again? I think they need to be on the table again, not rhetoric devices.
- Jibba - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 10:08 pm:
Here’s one, somewhat lacking in imagination.
===Durkin said. “The governor asked me what was my plan, I said, ‘governor we need to go back, I’d like for you to go back to 2019 where you issued a statement that you were asking for six-and-a-half percent cuts across the board from your agencies.”===