Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Wednesday, Jun 8, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller

* If you watched the coverage of Senate President Cullerton’s press conference, you know that Cullerton claimed Gov. Rauner’s highly negative press conference “distracted” working group members who were negotiating the budget while Rauner was talking to reporters…

Rep Will Davis was in working group and says Rauner's noon presser wasn't that distracting, but sides still aren't that close to budget deal

— Tony Arnold (@tonyjarnold) June 8, 2016

And Rep Greg Harris says working group did discuss what Rauner was saying at presser that happened while they were meeting, thus distracted

— Tony Arnold (@tonyjarnold) June 8, 2016

…Adding… From Rep. Greg Harris’ Facebook page…

Sigh. Sitting in budget negotiations with my House and Senate colleagues, both Republican and Democrat, trying to find good bipartisan solutions while the Governor holds a press conference down the hall trashing us.

* The Question: Are you at all confident that legislators and the governor can work out any sort of budget deal, temporary or permanent, partial or full, this year? Explain.

56 Comments

*** LIVE COVERAGE *** Senate President Cullerton press conference

Wednesday, Jun 8, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Cullerton’s 2 pm Chicago press conference can be watched by clicking here. Follow along with ScribbleLive…

21 Comments

Madigan responds to Rauner press conference

Wednesday, Jun 8, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From Speaker Madigan’s office…

Rauner Chooses Office Supplies over Life-Saving Services in Temporary Budget
House Democrats committed to compromise, but question Rauner’s refusal to fund vital needs

While Governor Rauner continues his campaign-style tour, laden with personal attacks against those with whom he says he wants to work cooperatively, we remain committed to finding a solution to the state budget crisis, including a temporary budget to ensure schools open on time.

There are very real concerns within our caucus about the governor’s proposal that need to be answered. By not funding many critical programs and services, the governor is putting office supplies ahead of cancer prevention. He refuses to fund grants for college students in financial need, which would kick many students out of school. In his plan, the governor refuses to fund life-saving breast cancer screenings for women and programs for domestic violence and sexual assault victims. The governor’s plan fails to fund programs that provide care to frail elderly residents.

The governor wants to fund many operations of state government, including the state’s vehicle fleet and office supplies instead of providing life-saving services for Illinoisans. We, and the people of Illinois that we serve, have very serious concerns with the governor refusing to fund these programs in his proposal. We are committed to negotiating with the governor to fund these programs within the temporary budget, but many questions remain.

Discuss.

…Adding… Senate President Cullerton is having a press conference today at 2. I’ll probably have a live coverage post, but click here for a live video stream.

20 Comments

*** LIVE COVERAGE *** Gov. Rauner press conference

Wednesday, Jun 8, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The governor’s noon availability can be viewed here and here. Follow along with ScribbleLive…

70 Comments

*** UPDATED x1 - Hillman: It isn’t fixed *** Rauner wasn’t wrong

Wednesday, Jun 8, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller

[UPDATE: CPS has responded to this post. Click here to read it.]

* From yesterday’s coverage of Gov. Rauner’s Bloomington press conference…

Asked about the suburban and Downstate superintendents who yesterday criticized the governor for wanting to put “more money into this worst-in-the-nation K-12 funding system in the same way,” Rauner said, “The vast bulk of the money that they’re advocating for goes to Chicago, not to school districts around the state.”

When asked, specifically, why superintendents in Peoria and other districts are pushing a different funding plan, Rauner said, “Because they get a little bit more. Chicago gets a lot more, unfairly more. Peoria gets a little bit more.”

* From CPS’ spokesperson…

All:

For those of you who have asked for our insight into the Republican education measure that Governor Rauner’s administration pushed today, here you go:
Below, please find a statement from CPS CEO Forrest Claypool addressing the Republicans’ bill.

Attached, please find a chart showing how the school districts that Governor Rauner has visited since May 31 would fare under HB6583.

Statement (Claypool)

“The ongoing display of disdain by this governor toward the poorest students in Illinois is baffling. The Senate and House have both put forward funding proposals that would help students living in poverty across Illinois and increase funding for all districts in the state. Unfortunately, Gov. Rauner seems content to allow Illinois to remain last in the country for education funding by doubling down on a broken funding formula that punishes the poorest students. His budget would even force Chicago schools to make draconian and deeply harmful cuts of 26 percent on average in the fall. Districts throughout the state – including districts on the governor’s recent whistlestop tour – would get significantly less under his plan than under the House proposal, so it’s no wonder that it’s facing so much opposition.”

* Here’s the attached chart. Click the pic for a much larger image…

As you can see, CPS would get $821 more per student with the House Democratic plan. That’s more than any other district on this chart, and it’s much more than most.

* Meanwhile, let’s get back to our discussion of Gale Elementary in Rogers Park. Remember the photo I posted yesterday of the peeling hallway ceiling? CPS sent this e-mail in response…

Rich: like I mentioned last night, CPS is well aware that we have significant maintenance issues in our schools: we have 660 schools and more than $3 billion in deferred maintenance, including at Gale (where we have spent $1.6 million in the past five years).

But the photo that’s up is another case of an issue that is not current. That issue was remedied. Here is the current photo.

Best,
Emily

* The pic…

*** UPDATE *** From Kyle Hillman…

When I spoke to the principal yesterday to confirm she told me it hasn’t been remediated (sealed). I should have asked has it been touched. Regardless, it isn’t fixed - neither are the hundreds of other places throughout the school. But we are getting quite a lot of attention to fix those now.

32 Comments

Here we go again…

Wednesday, Jun 8, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The governor’s public schedule was sent out last night as usual. There were no listed opportunities for reporters to ask questions. But this just arrived…

***Updated***
Daily Public Schedule: Wednesday, June 8, 2016

What: Governor Holds Media Availability on Canceled Session
Where: State Capitol - Governor’s Office
Date: Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Time: 12:00 p.m.

I’ll probably do a live coverage post.

In the meantime, your guesses for what he’ll say? I’m kinda doubting right now that it’s about calling a special session. His people didn’t seem all that open to the idea yesterday. We’ll see.

…Adding… Press releases like these have been landing in my in-box all morning…

Dave Severin Calls on John Bradley to Return to Springfield and Do His Job – Pass a Balanced Budget

Yesterday, Mike Madigan announced that the House will not meet today as scheduled. Dave Severin, candidate for State Representative in the 117th House District, issued the following statement:

“Every day that Illinois goes without a balanced budget and pro-growth reforms, the future looks less and less bright for the families of southern Illinois. It is infuriating that less than a week after Democrats failed to pass a balanced budget, Mike Madigan would cancel tomorrow’s planned session. I ask John Bradley, on behalf of suffering southern Illinoisans, to pick up the phone, call his boss, Mike Madigan, and demand that legislators come back to Springfield and finally end this crisis.”

And…

Jason Kasiar Calls on Brandon Phelps to Return to Springfield and Do His Job – Pass a Balanced Budget

Yesterday, Mike Madigan announced that the House will not meet today as scheduled. Jason Kasiar, candidate for State Representative in the 118th House District, issued the following statement:

“Mike Madigan canceling session tomorrow gives a new meaning to the title “part-time legislators.” Politicians in Springfield have one constitutionally-mandated job – pass a balanced budget. They’ve failed to pass a balanced budget for over a decade, but over the past two years, they failed to pass any budget whatsoever. That’s disgraceful. Brandon Phelps should give his boss, Mike Madigan, a call and demand that legislators return to Springfield. Illinois can wait no longer – we need a balanced budget.”

And…

Mike Babcock Calls on Dan Beiser to Return to Springfield and Do His Job – Pass a Balanced Budget

Yesterday, Mike Madigan announced that the House will not meet today as scheduled. Mike Babcock, candidate for State Representative in the 111th House District, issued the following statement:

“It’s a shame that Mike Madigan decided to cancel session tomorrow. Illinois hasn’t had a balanced budget for years, our unpaid bill backlog is exploding, as is our unfunded pension liability, and Mike Madigan thought it was ok for legislators to stay in their districts? We expect the politicians in Springfield to act as we do – live within their means. I’m calling upon Dan Beiser to stand up to his boss, Mike Madigan, and demand that legislators return to Springfield and finally pass a balanced budget. It’s now or never for Illinois.”

Keep in mind those releases were written as if they were being sent yesterday, but I didn’t get them until this morning.

…Adding… One more…

Lindsay Parkhurst Calls on Kate Cloonen to Return to Springfield and Do Her Job – Pass a Balanced Budget

Yesterday, Mike Madigan announced that the House will not meet today as scheduled. Lindsay Parkhurst, candidate for State Representative in the 79th House District, issued the following statement:

“Just when you think politicians in Springfield could not work any less, they somehow manage to do so. Illinois hasn’t had a balanced budget for years, social service organizations are being shuttered, and schools are at risk of not opening on time. It’s despicable that legislators aren’t working around the clock to pass a balanced budget.

“Mike Madigan canceling session is shameful and symbolic of the stranglehold he has on state government. I ask Kate Cloonen to take a break from Candy Crush and give her boss, Mike Madigan, a call. It is imperative that all legislators return to Springfield and end this crisis once and for all. We need to put Illinois first and stop playing politics with our future.”

Ouch.

31 Comments

« NEWER POSTS