* House Speaker Chris Welch and Senate President Don Harmon sat down with Crain’s Chicago Business’ Greg Hinz this morning.
Let’s start with the CTU’s demand for $1.1 billion from the state…
Speaker Welch: I think there’s 800 school districts across the state that say we owe them more money. Anyone disagree with that?
Honestly, we have to do a job that represents all of the districts across the state. And, you know, what we’ve done under our leadership is every year we’ve increased the EBF funding $350 million we’re well over a billion dollars in funding since it into effect. We can do better when it comes to funding our schools. As a product of public schools, coming from a local school board. I believe the state can always do better, but we also have to be realistic about that.
Greg Hinz: So does that mean that maybe number 350 and that will be it?
Welch: We’ll see. […]
President Harmon: I owe the bank a fair amount of money on my mortgage, but they’re not getting more than the monthly payment that’s due this month.
* On the mass transit fiscal cliff…
President Harmon: I have expressed to several audiences, I’m relatively agnostic on governance. Leave it exactly the way it is, start from scratch with a brand new governing body, I don’t think that matters nearly as much as service matters. The people that I represent are asking the questions about the service, and we need to focus on the transit system of 2050 and not try to rebuild the one from 1975.
At a minimum. We need to make sure the three branches can coordinate so that you can leave your house and get to school or work without having to cross this barrier between Metra and Pace and CTA. They should work together.
Whether there’s more money, or the same money, the old governing board, the new governing board; what we need to really need to focus on is what does that service look like? As you pointed out, commuting today looks very different than it looked when I was a kid. It’s not a hub and spoke with everybody going to the Loop. We have to reinvent this system so you can get from where you are to where you’re going.
Greg Hinz: That sounds like you do not consider consolidation to be a necessity.
Harmon: Coordination is a necessity. Better service is a necessity. Clean fast trains and busses is a necessity. […]
Speaker Welch: One thing that I know we all agree on, it’s important that we talk about reforms first. What do those reforms look like? We don’t know yet, but it’s important that we talk about reforms before you can get to the other question.
Hinz: Are you of the belief that, assuming you get the reform, that the transit agencies need more money? And if so, where do you get it?
Welch: Well, clearly, they’re operating out of a deficit, but what that number looks like? We don’t know without reforms.
Harmon: I’ve explained this to many people in my office. There’s one puzzle on my desk, all the pieces are scattered around. It includes the state budget. It includes transit. It includes proposals from different sides on pension funding. We can’t solve one without solving all of them, and so what we’re trying to do right now is assemble all those pieces without losing any on the floor, and make sure all the corners fit.
Rich has been telling subscribers about the coordination aspect of transit reform.
* Yep, we’re still talking about the Bears…
Greg Hinz: Another group that has its hand out, there’s a lot of those in Springfield, is that impoverished family, the McCaskey’s who would like the state to contribute billions of dollars for a new stadium in Chicago. Or if that doesn’t work, maybe a lot of road money and some other money for a new stadium in Arlington Heights. Mr. Speaker, let’s start with you on that. These ideas did not appear to have moved very far or picked up a lot of support. Any chance that’s going to change?
Welch: No. let me say this: I don’t know anyone who wants us to give millionaires a tax-funded stadium. That was the case last year, and that’s the case right now.
You know, people are talking about groceries and rent, things of that nature, and for us to give billionaires taxpayer money to fund a stadium would be the last thing voters want us to do. I wore a red tie today because it’s the holiday season. I would love for the McCaskeys to give us two Christmas presents, a winning football team and in privately funded stadium, probably on the Michael Reese site.
Invest in a Black neighborhood that’s long been under invested, like Bronzeville, because I just think publicly funding a stadium makes no sense in this economy.
Hinz: Should the state? Let’s say the McCaskeys have an epiphany and they change their mind and said, ‘Ok, Bronezville won’t raise the capital for the stadium itself,’ should the state contribute money for infrastructure?
Welch: Well, I mean, the state has infrastructure dollars, and that’s a conversation that we could have. That’s a different conversation, but the conversation has, right now, focused on ISFA dollars and I think that’s a misplaced conversation.
* Chicago’s budget…
Greg Hinz: One other party with his hand out in Springfield that I want to talk about is Mayor Johnson, who has been presiding over a, let’s call it, a very messy budget process. He clearly would like some help from Springfield to prop up his budget. Have you had conversations with the mayor? What’s he want? What are you prepared to do? What’s on the table?
President Harmon: I’ve known the mayor for an awful long time. I like him. A great deal of great affection for him. I want him to succeed. I want to see-
Hinz: He worked for you at one point, didn’t he?
Harmon: He worked for me, early on in my time in the Senate, that said, I’m not involved in governing the city, and I have no basis on which to comment as to what’s going on over there. […]
Greg Hinz: Has [Mayor Johnson] given you a wish list.
Both Harmon and Welch: No.
Hinz: No communication at all?
President Harmon: We are committed to the success of the city. At this point the city hasn’t asked for anything in specific, and anything the city asks for we have to put through the filter of how do we how are we equitably dividing state resources and all the municipalities in the state.
Hinz: Hard to give you something if you haven’t asked for it.
Discuss.
…Adding… National Association of Social Workers…
- ChicagoBars - Tuesday, Dec 10, 24 @ 11:50 am:
Has Chicago City Hall named/identified a new Statehouse IGA team yet? I thought most (all) of current team was moving on before end of year?
- 0.0 - Tuesday, Dec 10, 24 @ 11:53 am:
“Has Chicago City Hall named/identified a new Statehouse IGA team yet?”
There are currently three lobbying firms registered to represent the City of Chicago in Springfield.
- Dirty Red - Tuesday, Dec 10, 24 @ 11:54 am:
= …the conversation has, right now, focused on ISFA dollars and I think that’s a misplaced conversation. =
The Bears have produced stadium renderings and Arlington property tax agreements, but not a solution for the outstanding debt that is clearly a top issue for their target investors. Coupled with the phantom capital they have for their proposed lakefront project, these are still not serious conversations.
= Greg Hinz: Has [Mayor Johnson] given you a wish list.
Both Harmon and Welch: No. =
What about a peace circle?
- Just Me 2 - Tuesday, Dec 10, 24 @ 12:08 pm:
As long as the appointing authorities for the service providers are the same people as the “oversight” agency there won’t be the coordination that the public wants. The appointing authorities (ie Mayor) will resist giving up power so they purposely appoint “oversight” officials who do nothing.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Dec 10, 24 @ 12:12 pm:
===The appointing authorities (ie Mayor) will resist===
This mayor likely has no pull
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Dec 10, 24 @ 12:23 pm:
==President Harmon: I owe the bank a fair amount of money on my mortgage, but they’re not getting more than the monthly payment that’s due this month.==
That is a hilarious statement. Basically CTU go pound sand.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Dec 10, 24 @ 12:25 pm:
=but not a solution for the outstanding debt that is clearly a top issue for their target investors.=
Spoiler alert… they have a solution. They want you and me to pay the tab.
- Decatur Deliberations - Tuesday, Dec 10, 24 @ 12:28 pm:
I deeply hope that these two will fight tooth and nail to get public transportation between Carbondale and Murphysboro started up.
- Homebody - Tuesday, Dec 10, 24 @ 12:29 pm:
I have to say I’ve been broadly happy with the state-level Dem leadership the past few years, even the ones I’ve never been in a position to vote for.
- Dirty Red - Tuesday, Dec 10, 24 @ 12:29 pm:
= They want you and me to pay the tab. =
Oh, we will. The ISFA debt not being their problem in the “negotiations” is good news for the Arlington Heights team expressing this week a desire for the Staleys to quit playing games. Fumbling the chance to develop Arlington Park would be, well, very Bears.
- Change Agent - Tuesday, Dec 10, 24 @ 12:33 pm:
It was a good discussion. But Greg Hinz should have asked the question that was by far the most upvoted in the event app: What can social service providers expect in the upcoming fiscal year? The sector still hasn’t fully recovered from the budget impasse, and people’s needs are likely to skyrocket because of the choices we can expect to come from DC. The people of Illinois are going to need the social service sector more than ever.
- Incandenza - Tuesday, Dec 10, 24 @ 12:39 pm:
== The people that I represent are asking the questions about the service, and we need to focus on the transit system of 2050 and not try to rebuild the one from 1975. ==
This gives me hope. This shows President Harmon is a real statesman and leader.
- Loyal Virus - Tuesday, Dec 10, 24 @ 12:40 pm:
-Change Agent - spot on. No one has any true sense of what the next 4 years holds but we can presume it is going to hit many people hard & we need to shore up all entities that serve the community - mental health included.
- 44 - Tuesday, Dec 10, 24 @ 12:55 pm:
Interesting that BJ and Harmon go so far back. Lets hope BJ’s “word” on select enrollment schools holds.
- btowntruth from forgottonia - Tuesday, Dec 10, 24 @ 12:55 pm:
“that impoverished family, the McCaskey’s…”
Love it.
Hinz with the restaurant quality snark.
- Just Me 2 - Tuesday, Dec 10, 24 @ 1:06 pm:
Rich - I don’t think you understood my post. The Mayor’s appointments to the RTA will do what the Mayor’s Office/CDOT/CTA wants, which is nothing.
As long as any appointment authority, included but not limited to the Mayor, controls the service providers and has veto authority over any RTA action, then there will be no reforms.
- Two Left Feet - Tuesday, Dec 10, 24 @ 1:10 pm:
Hinz: Hard to give you something if you haven’t asked for it.
Mayor’s office doesn’t have the capacity to negotiate with Springfield and City Council/CTU/CPS’ School Board and Super/IL AG/etc. The trip overseas helped with the tailoring at the newly remodeled office. /s/
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Tuesday, Dec 10, 24 @ 1:14 pm:
Sounds like the transit agencies should make an integrated payment system for CTA, Metra, and PACE if they want to keep their fiefdoms. I doubt they will, but that would be smart.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Dec 10, 24 @ 1:23 pm:
===As long as any appointment authority, included but not limited to the Mayor, controls the service providers===
The latest push is not about controlling the service providers but in making sure they’re coordinated. Big difference. Think Verkehrsverbund.
- Frank - Tuesday, Dec 10, 24 @ 1:25 pm:
That entire Q and A was a disaster for the mayor — the Bears stadium stuff included. If there is no ISFA funding for either the Soldier Field site or Michael Reese, as Welch indicates, Arlington Park will look a lot better to the Bears. Brandon will get the lions share of the blame for “losing” the Bears, particularly given how far out on a limb he went for the Soldier Field re-do.
- low level - Tuesday, Dec 10, 24 @ 1:55 pm:
Not a weird statement at all, Kyle. It’s right on point, actually.
- ChicagoBars - Tuesday, Dec 10, 24 @ 2:23 pm:
“There are currently three lobbying firms registered to represent the City of Chicago in Springfield.”
Yes but since time immemorial they have also had City payroll staff to handle Springfield. Having a few contract lobbyists plus a deputy mayor maybe drive down to Springfield once in awhile to make their case isn’t going to cut it for City needs this next year.
- supplied_demand - Tuesday, Dec 10, 24 @ 2:30 pm:
I emailed my state representative about the transportation funding cliff. She told me that there is a planned trip to Germany in early-2025 for some lawmakers to view the integration between S-Bahn and U-Bahn networks.
This type of system should be the goal. They have integrated stations, schedules, and payment systems between urban and suburban systems. If you support this, please contact your reps.
- 0.0 - Tuesday, Dec 10, 24 @ 3:57 pm:
“Yes but since time immemorial they have also had City payroll staff to handle Springfield. Having a few contract lobbyists plus a deputy mayor maybe drive down to Springfield once in awhile to make their case isn’t going to cut it for City needs this next year.”
I was just answering your question. Whether this team is enough to get anything done for the City is a different story. In any event, I don’t expect a lot of success stories for the City of Chicago in Springfield next year.
- low level - Tuesday, Dec 10, 24 @ 4:06 pm:
==I have to say I’ve been broadly happy with the state-level Dem leadership the past few years==
10000000% yes. Couldnt be more satisfied w President Harmon and Speaker Welch
- Give Us Barabbas - Tuesday, Dec 10, 24 @ 9:48 pm:
Da Bears can’t read a defense or the room.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Dec 10, 24 @ 10:07 pm:
Give Us Barabbas, that was restaurant quality.
- Candy and Nuts - Tuesday, Dec 10, 24 @ 11:42 pm:
I think both Welch’s quote and Harmon’s quote perfectly demonstrate who each are:
Welch spoke a lot yet said very little while Harmon spoke very little yet said a lot.
- Just Me 2 - Wednesday, Dec 11, 24 @ 8:35 am:
Rich - the Mayor of Chicago, and the county chairmen of the collars, hate coordination because it takes away their power to control CTA and Metra services. They are not going to appoint people to the RTA board that do that.