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State mental health director scolds Cullerton

Wednesday, Jul 26, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller

* An odd press release during a very odd time…

Illinois Director of Mental Health’s Statement on Leader Cullerton’s Comments

SPRINGFIELD – Director Diana Knaebe of the Illinois Division of Mental Health today issued the following statement after Leader Cullerton’s press conference:

“The Illinois Division of Mental Health works every day to reduce the stigma attached to mental illness. For a political leader to perpetuate this stigma to score political points is completely inappropriate and we respectfully request that our leaders stop doing so.”

The background is here in case you somehow missed it.

I get what she’s saying, but Cullerton didn’t say that the governor was mentally ill. He said he had concerns about the governor’s “mental state,” specifically citing Rauner’s anger. The governor himself once cited his own emotions as reason for vetoing a bill that’s directly related to this very topic.

…Adding… A different perspective in comments…

Cullerton was plainly trying to insult Rauner by deriding his “mental state.” That insult only works if having mental issues is something perceived as bad. That’s where Knabe is coming from, and that’s why Cullerton is in the wrong, full stop.

67 Comments

*** UPDATED x1 - “That didn’t happen” *** Rauner makes another claim about Cullerton’s subserviance to Madigan

Wednesday, Jul 26, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From the governor’s second press conference of the day, held in the governor’s ceremonial office, speaking about pension reform…

I was going to appear with you in this room with President Cullerton to announce that he and I together were going to do his plan. He got a phone call from the Speaker on the way to that press conference and then he didn’t show up. The Speaker said, ‘You’re not gonna do an agreement with the governor for pension reform.’ And that died.

I’ve asked Cullerton’s press secretary for a rebuttal. Speaker Madigan would only say this is part of the “world of Bruce Rauner,” when he was asked about it today.

*** UPDATE *** John Patterson…

Do you know what bill or when this press conference was allegedly supposed to occur?

The Senate passed the consideration model. It is something the Senate President and the governor agree on. It’s in the House.

The Senate also passed and helped enact all the other pension system changes the governor wanted.

As to the Speaker call: No. That didn’t happen.

The Senate President doesn’t recall ever being invited to a Rauner pension news conference.

* Raw audio files from today’s press conferences…

* Governor Bruce Rauner signs HB 643, freezing legislative per diems, plus Q & A

* Sen. President John Cullerton discusses special session and school funding reform bill

* Governor Bruce Rauner holds media availability after special session. Audio also includes Sen. GOP Leader Bill Brady and House GOP Leader Jim Durkin

* House Speaker Mike Madigan discusses special session and the education funding reform bill

52 Comments

Cullerton says he hasn’t released SB 1 “because of the mental state of the governor”

Wednesday, Jul 26, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Senate President John Cullerton said this to reporters today about Gov. Rauner’s threats to issue an amendatory veto on SB 1…

I’m afraid he’s acting out of anger. You know he has had a bad month. I mean, we’ve overridden him I think four times in a row, half his staff was either fired or quit. And I just wanted to have a meeting with him so we could talk rationally about what’s in the bill.

* When asked later why he hadn’t yet sent SB 1 to the governor’s desk, Cullerton told reporters this…

It’s because of the mental state of the governor. It’s been the fact, as I said, he’s really had a bad month.

Whew, man. I haven’t heard talk like that since the Blagojevich days.

…Adding… As a couple of commenters have rightly pointed out, Cullerton has been holding SB 1 for almost two months, so he did have an opportunity to release the bill during a “good” month for the governor.

40 Comments

*** UPDATED x1 - Cullerton contradicts Rauner, says he plans to send SB 1 to him Monday *** Rauner again blames Madigan, ridicules Cullerton

Wednesday, Jul 26, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Gov. Rauner spoke to reporters today about SB 1…

Let me be crystal clear. The Senators have been clear with our team that they are under specific orders from Speaker Madigan to hold the bill… You guys are all smart. You’ve been around Illinois politics for a while. You know how this goes. Speaker Madigan has directed the Senators to hold the bill.

* He also said this…

President Cullerton called me about an hour ago. I called him back. His specific request was, he said ‘Governor, you know, um, I’d like to meet with ‘ya on Monday in Chicago to talk about school funding.’

Really? Are you kidding me? Monday? In Chicago? When we’ve called a special session, when it’s the duty of the legislature to pass a funding bill and get it done so our schools can open on time? You’ve got to be kidding me.

The governor then claimed: “Our children are being held hostage by these politicians.” And he repeatedly refused yet again to provide any details of his own plan.

I’ve asked the Senate President’s office for a response. I’ll post it if and/or when I get it.

*** UPDATE *** Hmm…

#BREAKING Senate President Cullerton says he told the governor he would send him the bill Monday if he won't meet with him.

— Rachel DrozeTV (@RachelDrozeTV) July 26, 2017

President Cullerton: "If you don't want to meet before Monday, I promise I'll send the bill. The Governor said absolutely not."

— BlueRoomStream (@BlueRoomStream) July 26, 2017

President Cullerton says he will send #SB1 to @GovRauner on Monday whether he meets with him or not.

— Michon Lindstrom (@MichonLindstrom) July 26, 2017

Gov calls a leaders' meeting (as Cullerton asked for) a sham, but he calls special session with no legislation to take up.

— IL Senate Democrats (@ILSenDems) July 26, 2017

48 Comments

*** LIVE *** Special session coverage

Wednesday, Jul 26, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The big question this morning is how many legislators show up…

"I'm not sure if we'll have a quorum, we'll probably have a quorum," Deputy Majority Leader Lou Lang told me this am of session headcount

— Kerry Lester (@kerrylester) July 26, 2017

* Follow along with ScribbleLive…

3 Comments

I… just don’t get it

Wednesday, Jul 26, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Perhaps you can help explain this campaign logo to me?…

…Adding… We may have a winner…

It might be a B that was rotated around the center. If you look at the right half the top part is slightly smaller than the bottom, and if you look at the B in Biss it follows the same style. Kinda weak but best I have.

Kinda makes sense.

…Adding More… Hmm…

Agree with Perrid but a little more…notice you can see the bold I and the proportional S curves…so the logo actually can spell his whole name…

83 Comments

Rauner to sign bill to prevent legislative pay, reimbursement hike

Wednesday, Jul 26, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From the governor’s public schedule…

What: Gov. Rauner signs HB 643, freezing legislative per diems
Where: Governor’s Office – Illinois State Capitol
Date: Wednesday, July 26, 2017
Time: 11:30 a.m.

What: Gov. Rauner addresses media
Who: Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady, House Republican Leader Jim Durkin
Where: Governor’s Office – Illinois State Capitol
Date: Wednesday, July 26, 2017
Time: 15 minutes after adjournment of General Assembly

We discussed HB 643 on Monday. From the synopsis…

Amends the General Assembly Compensation Act. Establishes the fiscal year 2018 mileage reimbursement rate and allowance for lodging and meals. Amends the Compensation Review Act. Prohibits cost-of-living adjustments for or during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017 for State government legislative and executive elected officers and appointees in positions for which the Compensation Review Board previously recommended or determined compensation. Effective immediately.

So, by signing that bill today, he will prevent the cost of the special session from rising. Notice, however, that the two top legislative sponsors (both Democrats) aren’t on the schedule.

…Adding… SJ-R…

Lawmakers will continue to collect $111 in daily expense money because they were called into special session by Rauner to deal with school funding. However, without the bill signed by Rauner, that amount would have automatically increased to $142 a day.

“The special sessions the governor has demanded are expensive, costing taxpayers upwards of $48,000 each day,” said Sen. Melinda Bush, D-Grayslake, in a statement. “I am pleased that the governor signed my measure to prevent his special sessions from becoming even more expensive.”

Bush was the lead Senate sponsor of House Bill 643 to freeze the rates. Neither Bush nor the lead House sponsor, also a Democrat, were at the bill signing ceremony in Rauner’s office attended by numerous Republican lawmakers.

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