One more good reason why we can’t ever do that impasse thing again
Friday, Mar 17, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller * The comptroller’s office issued a report in 2018 about the consequences of the 736-day state budget impasse. This is from their spokesperson at the time…
I found that email yesterday when I was looking for something else. It’s just extraordinary when you look at it that way. Some non-profits, of course, had more than one state grant contract, but that’s still mind-boggling. * I reached out to the comptroller’s spokesperson today to see if she could get me some updated numbers…
That means state grant contracts with nonprofits increased 78 percent by last June over the number of contracts when the Rauner impasse finally ended. And were about 10 percent higher by last June than they were at the impasse’s beginning. I’m assuming the number is even higher this fiscal year. But it does take time to rebuild after wiping out the infrastructure. Discuss.
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- Demoralized - Friday, Mar 17, 23 @ 2:11 pm:
If it hadn’t been for those brave Republicans who finally stood up to him and said “enough” I don’t know how much worse it might have gotten. State government was already on the brink of collapse. As bad as it was at least those Republicans stopped the patient from completely dying.
- Cubs in '16 - Friday, Mar 17, 23 @ 2:16 pm:
The impasse had the effect Rauner and his advisors always intended. It was completely intentional i.e. ‘winning’.
- Dotnonymous - Friday, Mar 17, 23 @ 2:17 pm:
Republican Rauner nearly ruined Illinois.
Pritzker has spent half his time rectifying the wrongs of Rauner.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Friday, Mar 17, 23 @ 2:18 pm:
“Brave Republicans”
Take the rest of the day off.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 17, 23 @ 2:18 pm:
It’s critically important as the Raunerites leave government that those folks thinking “hey, let’s do a warm piece in the news about his great I was”
No. Sorry.
Each and every one of those Republicans in that entire General Assembly purposely hurt social services and these entities that make up the infrastructure to help Illinois’ most needy.
Celebrating these folks that cheered Rauner, ran on hurting all Rauner wanted hurt in their *own* elections… there’s no celebrating those who aided and abetted this destruction.
Once each and every one of these Raunerites leave, then the dirty to social services can begin to wane.
Until then, it should be noted how many current Republican Raunerites still have a voting switch, and given a wrong leader, they will turn in Illinois again and her most vulnerable
- Dotnonymous - Friday, Mar 17, 23 @ 2:20 pm:
One more good reason to never trust Illinois Republicans.
- Suburban Mom - Friday, Mar 17, 23 @ 2:32 pm:
I will never forget Rauner zeroing out autism funding on World Autism Day, and I will never forgive the rest of the IL GOP for not speaking up, at all.
- Demoralized - Friday, Mar 17, 23 @ 2:36 pm:
==Take the rest of the day off.==
That was /s
- Cubs in '16 - Friday, Mar 17, 23 @ 2:38 pm:
===One more good reason to never trust Illinois Republicans.===
Raunerites are not representative of all Republicans. Should we never trust Illinois Democrats because of Blago, Madigan, Dunkin, et al?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 17, 23 @ 2:40 pm:
===Raunerites===
Until the last is eradicated, Illinois should be weary of Raunerites still at switches.
They’ve already showed they don’t care once.
Don’t be fooled again.
- Anon221 - Friday, Mar 17, 23 @ 2:45 pm:
Great news (banned punctuation).
Are some of the contracts ARPA funded? And, if so, is the state making plans to continue funding sources if the grants are multi-year (and producing results per the grant conditions) past what ARPA funds can provide.
Not snark. Serious question. I’ve worked for non-profits in past lives, and know how hard it can be to continue good programs in the money scramble.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 17, 23 @ 2:47 pm:
Never, ever EVER… forget The Owl and his hooting…
“I’m frustrated too, but taking steps to reform Illinois is more important than a short term budget stalemate”
Raunerites wanted, cheered, push, and kept the impasse in place… purposely.
They deserve little kudos once they leave their switches.
- CornAl DoGooder - Friday, Mar 17, 23 @ 2:49 pm:
An excellent point Anon221, separating regular service contracts out from contracts for one-off programs would be a really helpful way to actually measure this recovery. Many nonprofits are still facing significant delays in receiving contracts from agencies due in part to still-recovering agency headcounts and lack of capacity to process contracts, so that breakdown would be telling.
- Medvale School for the Gifted - Friday, Mar 17, 23 @ 2:53 pm:
The Raunerites initiated the strategy to “starve the beast”, proclaimed it “Winnin’”…and Illinois lost.
- Pundent - Friday, Mar 17, 23 @ 3:14 pm:
=Raunerites are not representative of all Republicans.=
I’ve seen and heard nothing to suggest that if given the chance they wouldn’t do it again. So until proven otherwise I believe they are representative.
- Jerry - Friday, Mar 17, 23 @ 3:21 pm:
But, but, Rauner was a businessman! Isnt the gubbamint supposed to be run like a business. What business in the WORLD has any deficit spending! (snark)
- Unionman - Friday, Mar 17, 23 @ 3:56 pm:
I wonder if they could do an analysis of the non-profits that closed because of the impasse. It goes to show you that for non-profits to truly be government partners, they need to be able to operate on their own but at a diminished capacity without the government funding. Too many grantees have far too large of their revenues provided by State/Federal grants and not traditional fundraising.
- Anonymous - Friday, Mar 17, 23 @ 4:29 pm:
“One more good reason to never trust Republicans.”
Based on recent events, fixed it for ya.