Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Monday, May 30, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller

[I somehow accidentally disabled comments on this post. Oops. Reopened. Sorry.]

* Rep. David Harris (R-Arlington Heights) switched from “Present” to “Yes” today and the House overrode Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of Mayor Emanuel’s police and fire pension bill with 72 votes. Background on that bill and the nasty fight between the governor and the mayor is here.

Rep. Harris said during debate that it was difficult to vote against his governor (who was adamantly opposed to the legislation) but he felt it was the right thing to do. He said stretching out pension payments, as this bill does, isn’t good policy, but it’s not an uncommon practice and is a “reasonable” action.

* This is the first time the House has overridden the governor since the heroin legislation. But the governor backed off his opposition to that bill under pressure from Republicans. This time, the governor did not back off.

…Adding… Rep. Harris wasn’t the only Republican to vote for the bill today. Rep. McSweeney switched to “Yes” and Rep. McAuliffe was a “Yes” last year and this year. Roll call is here.

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Statehouse flooded with education funding bills

Monday, May 30, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Tribune…

Senate Democrats pushed through two new bills to fund local school districts. Both are aimed at propping up funding for poorer districts. One would center around so-called “evidence based models” that would distribute money based on studies that show bilingual education students benefit from higher spending, and all students perform better in classrooms that are smaller in size.

The other would freeze the current school funding formula for three years, instead sending low-income districts an extra $700 million. It was billed as a bailout for Chicago Public School, as the bill also contained a provision to pick up $205 million in Chicago teacher pension costs, and would allow for the city to raise property taxes to the tune of $175 million. Neither plan is expected to advance in the House.

There are actually four education bills out there and Jessica Handy with Stand for Children posted a brief bit on all of them. Click here to read it.

…Adding… Yet another bill has been introduced. Click here.

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*** UPDATED x2 - Rep. Bradley responds *** Murphy: Madigan has “personal vendetta against the Governor that holds all of Illinois hostage”

Monday, May 30, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Earlier this afternoon, I updated last night’s post about how some Republicans attempted to get into the House Democrats’ briefing on the various working groups.

Press release…

Statement from Sen. Matt Murphy (R-Palatine) regarding denial of entry into House briefing:

“As long time participants of the working group process, Rep. Brady and I were disappointed we were not allowed to ensure the presentation is factual. We are concerned this may not be an informational briefing, but rather a meeting designed to blow up the working group process. The truth is Democrat rank-and-file members have been willing to compromise on worker’s compensation, collective bargaining and pension reform.

I still believe there is time for a grand compromise to get a balanced budget and reforms before adjourning tomorrow night. I hope rank-and-file legislators will stand with us and not fall victim to the Speaker’s ongoing personal vendetta against the Governor that holds all of Illinois hostage.”

Yeah, everything’s just fine and dandy these days.

*** UPDATE 1 *** From the ILGOP…

“It is becoming clear that Mike Madigan’s personal dislike of the Governor is the only reason we can’t achieve compromise in Springfield. If Madigan was interested in finding a solution to this crisis before tomorrow night’s deadline, he would set aside his feelings towards the Governor and allow Republicans to attend these meetings, so that both sides can work together to reach a compromise before it is too late. If not, it’s finally time for rank-and file-Democrats to reject a leader who is intent on dragging down the state because of his bizarre obsession. Republicans remain committed to working across the aisle to reform the state and balance the budget. Democrats should join them instead of mindlessly carrying through Mike Madigan’s vendetta.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Steven Yaffe

*** UPDATE 2 *** Press release…

Good afternoon. Below is a statement from state Rep. John Bradley in response to earlier comments made by state Sen. Matt Murphy relative to informational meetings held among House Democrats on the ongoing working groups at the Capitol.

Rep. Bradley Responds to Rhetoric on Working Group Meetings

“We continue hearing from the governor and his allies suggesting a desire to work together with Democrats, but Senator Murphy’s negative rhetoric makes that much more difficult.

“The purpose of the informational meetings on the working groups, which I helped conduct, was to brief House Democrats on the status of the working groups and that we continue to meet and work toward points of compromise. Any claims to the contrary only serve to further undermine the bipartisan process that Democrats fully endorse, and suggest that Republican legislators and the governor have no real interest in compromise. And for legislators of one party to try to interject themselves into the meetings among legislators of the other party as a media stunt is unprecedented.

“House Democrats will continue to attend the working groups, and we will continue to work toward compromise on the governor’s issues where possible. The only opposition House Democrats may have is opposition to damaging attacks on the financial security, wages and standard of living of middle-class families.”

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A look ahead

Monday, May 30, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Tribune…

In the end, Senate Democrats may try to advance the short-term budget Cullerton backs, a salve to his members who feel too much of the budget is being dictated by Madigan. But the speaker already has deemed it to be a nonstarter in the House.

That leaves Madigan’s ultimate dare — the bet that despite their distaste, Senate Democrats will realize they are left with no other choice but to pass the House Democratic budget plan as the last viable option, even with the Rauner administration’s veto threat.

Rep. Elaine Nekritz of Evanston was one of a few House Democrats who voted against Madigan’s budget plan, saying she thought there was still time to develop a comprehensive balanced budget. But, she said, “If that bill came up May 31st, I might feel differently about it.”

That was written a couple of days ago, but I think it’s probably the best look forward out there.

* Meanwhile, the Illinois Policy Institute agrees with the governor’s vow to veto the entire Madigan budget if it reaches his desk…

Not only does the bill present Rauner with a record deficit, Madigan’s budget only appropriates – or directly allocates – $14 billion of the total $40 billion it’s estimated to spend.

The remaining $26 billion, which includes items such as pension payments and debt service, will instead be on autopilot, determined by court orders, consent decrees and continuing appropriations. That’s how Illinois was able to function in fiscal year 2016 without a budget.

Rauner is unable to veto a large majority of that spending. In other words, much of the budget is untouchable.

Yep.

Plus, a line item veto would give too much opportunity for House and Senate Republicans to break ranks and vote to override line items that directly benefit their districts.

* And I’m sure we’ll be seeing more Rauner statements like this one pretty soon…

[Gov. Rauner] also asked Democrats to break from longtime House Speaker Michael Madigan.

“The speaker is perfectly fine having deficit spending and borrowing. He’s perfectly fine crushing the economy, crushing our taxpayers. He’s been fine with it, and we need his members to say: ‘No, Mr. Speaker, no more,’” Rauner said.

…Adding… This is something I told subscribers about yesterday morning…

There is another important deadline on Tuesday. That’s when lawmakers will find out whether local party organizations will field candidates to oppose them in the fall if no challenger filed for nomination in the March 15 primary election. Lawmakers may feel freed up to take controversial votes if they know they don’t have an opponent.

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*** UPDATED x2 *** War of words escalates between Rauner, Emanuel

Monday, May 30, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Gov. Rauner was asked yesterday about the sharp criticism from Mayor Emanuel over the governor’s veto of a bill to change the pension payment ramp to put off higher payments into the future, which Rauner claims would cost the city billions of dollars more in the long run. Rauner had been open to the bill, but only if it was coupled with some of his economic and fiscal reforms. Those obviously haven’t come to fruition…

That didn’t stop Rauner from flatly describing the bill as “terrible policy” Sunday when he met with reporters. He also said it is “false,” “wrong” and “misleading” to suggest the bill would have saved Chicago $843 million over five years. Rather, he said Emanuel would have been allowed to “skip” payments and borrow from the pension funds.

“What Chicago has been doing for decades, and it’s the reason they’re so financially — they’re on the verge of bankruptcy as a city and as a school district — is because they’ve been borrowing to fund operations. And that’s what the mayor is doing by delaying these pension payments. He hasn’t done any real reforms.”

Rauner then added: “If the mayor wants to get upset that he can’t borrow more to fund operations, what he ought to be doing is being down here in Springfield, advocating for reforms for his city.”

Emanuel spokesman Adam Collins called it “kind of a bizarre comment.”

“Mayor Emanuel has passed more significant legislation in Springfield over the past year and a half than the governor has,” Collins said in an email. “Whatever spin the governor wants to put on it, the fact is he has been hypocritical on police and fire pensions. He was literally for the plan before he was against it.”

*** UPDATE 1 *** The bill fell far short of a super majority in the House, so Charles is right…

IL Senate overrides @GovRauner veto of Chicago police/fire pension bill. Tougher vote expected in House.

— Charles Thomas (@CThomasABC7) May 30, 2016

*** UPDATE 2 *** Press releases…

Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 President Dean Angelo and Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2 President Tom Ryan issued the following statement after the Illinois state Senate voted to override Governor Rauner’s veto of Senate Bill 777.

“On behalf of thousands of active and retired Fire Fighters and Police Officers, and on behalf of the millions of Chicago taxpayers, we wish to thank the members of the state Senate for overriding Governor Rauner’s veto. Senate Bill 777 reflects months of negotiation between our Fire and Police unions and the city of Chicago, through which we came together on an agreement to solve a decades-old pension problem, an excellent example of local control at it’s best.”

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Illinois’ connection to Memorial Day

Monday, May 30, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From the Decatur Herald & Review…

The mystic chords of memory that swelled into the chorus of remembrance we call Memorial Day had its first notes sounded in Decatur.

It all began with the Grand Army of the Republic, which called for the creation of Decoration Day in 1868, a commemoration that would eventually morph into the Memorial Day we honor today. So the GAR gave us Memorial Day, and a march back through history shows Decatur gave us the GAR.

The veterans organization for Union soldiers who served in the Civil War was actually the brainchild of Maj. Benjamin F. Stephenson, who lived in Springfield. His idea was to create something that could pool resources and help the “hungry and poor” widows and orphans left behind by his fellow soldiers killed in the war. He also thought it would be jolly to have something to promote “worthy comradeship” between the survivors who had lived to go home again. […]

With growth came publicity, and with publicity came political firepower and influence, which was being felt as early as 1868. That’s when the GAR’s second commander in chief, Maj. General John A. Logan, issued something called “General Order No. 11,” establishing May 30 as Decoration Day to honor Union veterans’ graves, and it wasn’t long before a grateful nation also snapped to attention and took notice of what the GAR was doing.

…Adding… A view of General Logan’s grave this morning…

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*** LIVE *** Session Coverage

Monday, May 30, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Today’s live coverage post is sponsored by URENCO USA. The Senate convenes at 9, the House convenes at 1. Watch the fireworks in real time with ScribbleLive…

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