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*** UPDATED x5 - “No” *** Yet another Rauner compromise

Tuesday, Nov 10, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Subscribers were told about this earlier today…

Gov. Bruce Rauner is compromising over the state’s budget mess, indicating he’s OK with Democrats’ legislation to disburse tax dollars already collected to local governments and lottery winners.

A memo Tuesday from a Rauner staffer to lawmakers says the Republican now supports the legislation and even suggested adding money, such as for road salt with winter around the corner.

The plan includes $1.9 billion collected in motor fuel tax for cities, wireless phone tax for 911 services and lottery dollars to pay winners. Rauner and Democrats have feuded over a spending plan since the fiscal year began July 1.

* From the memo…

From: Richard Goldberg, Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative Affairs
To: Members of the General Assembly
Date: November 10, 2015
Re: HB 4305: Another Opportunity for Compromise

While we continue to urge legislative leaders to enact a complete balanced budget rather than taking a piece - meal approach, Governor Rauner is comfortable with HB 4305 proceeding as an effort to build on the compromises announced yesterday regarding Unemployment Insurance, Child Care Assistance Program and DON Score. In addition, to further strengthen the progress made over the last few days, legislators can – and should - fund the public safety and critical services currently excluded from HB 4305, including salt for snow - covered roads, funds for veterans in state - run homes and debt service payments that would ensure Illinois avoids a debt default. While adding these line items will not help balance the budget, doing so will ensure important services paid for by “Other State Funds” are funded while negotiations continue on how to reform state government and balance our “General Revenue Fund” budget.

That is not your usual Goldberg memo.

Once again, Rauner was facing a floor defeat so he abruptly changed course. He can be moved. Moderate House Republicans demanded a resolution and they’re the big winners here. The pressure is working. Take advantage of it.

Now would be a good time to make some reasonable counter-proposals on the Turnaround Agenda.

…Adding… And I mostly agree again with the Tribune editorial board…

We do know that until the Democrats negotiate with Rauner on a new budget, say what new tax revenue they want to collect and compromise on parts of his economic agenda, there will be more fights over spending cuts. The damages caused under prior management have left Illinois vulnerable to job losses and ruined state finances. Springfield has a growing pile of unpaid bills and a looming pension payment that the state comptroller says her office cannot make.

Our question post-Monday: Wouldn’t it be easier for all sides to negotiate in good faith on these bigger issues instead of embracing stalemate? We’re looking at you, House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Monday’s three developments do show that compromise is possible.

Not to jinx this, but: More agreements, please.

Say what you want about their ridiculously over the top screaming editorials of the past year, that one was fairly reasonable.

…Adding More… From comments…

Come on Rich just because the hostage taker sends you pics that the hostage is still a live does not mean you start to legitimize his demands. Creating a crisis and then attempt to frame his change as a compromise is a trick you are falling for hook line and sinker.

This is a common refrain in comments today. It’s been a long war. People refuse to get beyond the past. The only way this war’s ever gonna end is if people start looking at the future. This shouldn’t be allowed to last forever.

*** UPDATE 1 *** AP…

A spokesman says Illinois House Democrats will not immediately consider Gov. Bruce Rauner’s suggested changes to legislation that would send collected tax dollars to cities and lottery winners. […]

Steve Brown is spokesman for House Democrats. He says Rep. Martin Moylan might add some money to the bill for police training and other purposes but not Rauner’s ideas until they’re evaluated.

The only reason to do it this way is to force the Republicans to vote “No” on the bill.

That ain’t cool.

*** UPDATE 2 *** The Rauner folks ought to file an amendment to Moylan’s bill…

Moylan said he plans to ask for a vote on his $1.9 billion plan today but hadn’t heard from Rauner’s staff about changes in the weeks preceding a possible vote.

“If he wants to propose something, he needs to file a bill,” Moylan said.

*** UPDATE 3 *** I’m told that the governor’s office gave Speaker Madigan the language last week at the Speaker’s request.

*** UPDATE 4 *** The governor’s brick is off, regardless of whether the Democrats add the requested amendment, I’m told.

*** UPDATE 5 *** I’ve seen some pretty solid evidence that the governor’s budget office did, indeed, deliver the Speaker’s staff some appropriations language on November 8th.

109 Comments

*** UPDATED x1 *** Let’s get it done already!

Tuesday, Nov 10, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Sophia Tareen with the AP…

The governor announced an agreement with labor and business groups on proposed unemployment insurance changes. He also said the administration would ease restrictions on who qualifies for state-subsidized child care and drop plans to curb which elderly and disabled Illinoisans can get state-funded services, two issues that were heavily protested by advocacy groups.

“You’re seeing lots of legislative movement and compromise,” Rauner spokesman Mike Schrimpf said. “All of these issues … took serious and lengthy negotiations with multiple parties.”

However, it’s unclear which moves will stick in a Democratic-controlled Legislature that’s been at odds with Rauner for months over a spending plan. Rauner wants pro-business reforms and other changes aimed at curbing union power before a budget for the fiscal year that began July 1. Democrats want him to sign off on new taxes, among other things.

Senate President John Cullerton’s spokeswoman Rikeesha Phelon said the chamber was “hopeful” the moves were a sign the administration was ready to resolve “larger budget issues.” But House Speaker Michael Madigan’s spokesman Steve Brown was unconvinced, saying some unemployment insurance ideas had already been settled and legislation restoring funding to the child care assistance program was likely to emerge today.

How about not looking a gift horse in the mouth and start working on some freaking solutions?

This impasse needs to end. I really don’t care what motivated Rauner yesterday. He moved off the dime. That’s encouraging no matter what the haters believe.

*** UPDATE *** Mark Brown is not wrong…

Faced with the prospect of an embarrassing legislative defeat, Gov. Bruce Rauner caved in Monday and promised to undo his indefensible crippling of the state’s child care assistance program.

The governor called it a “compromise,” although it was closer to a full retreat. He was clearly the one who gave up the most. […]

The counter-argument is that Rauner only showed an ability to work with legislators when he was on the verge of a vote that could have been seen as a stinging rebuke. Rauner was particularly upset by the prospect of taking away his emergency rule-making authority over the program, limiting his power to govern.

Obviously there is a political element to going ahead with a vote. Madigan may be eager to prove he can still put all 71 Democrats on a bill when necessary to thwart the governor, having come up short in a key September vote.

All true. Every word.

But he’s on the move. Why stop the momentum? Capitalize on the victories and push him harder on everything else.

This ain’t brain surgery.

48 Comments

*** UPDATED x1 *** Oops

Tuesday, Nov 10, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Remember this story from October 1st?…

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider, who is remaining neutral, tells POLITICO that while potential delegates for Bush, Kasich and Rubio have called the state’s GOP HQ raising their hands for those campaigns. “I can’t tell you we know right now, who to contact if someone wants to be a Trump delegate … I’m not sure the Trump campaign understands the complexity of having delegates in every congressional district.” Petitions start circulating Oct. 3 and candidates have until January to get them in.

Mitt Romney “basically sealed the nomination in Illinois last time,” Brady, then GOP chair, contends. Rick Santorum, who was leading polls at the time, didn’t make it on the ballot in more conservative Illinois districts that would have supported him, Brady says.

‘REAL CONTENDERS’ UP AND RUNNING: In some states, getting on the ballot is a breeze. “Not in Illinois — probably because somebody is making money off the petition printing contract,” Brady said. “It is a brutal process here. Anybody who’s a real contender has to have an operation up and running now.”

QUOTABLE: “He asked all the usual suspects. They all turned him down.” — Pat Brady on Trump’s attempt to drop roots in Illinois.

You would think that a bunch of guys who backed another wealthy man (Bruce Rauner) for governor would’ve been a bit less smug about a rich outsider.

* From last night…

“Ladies and gentlemen, the holder of the largest event ever at the Prairie Capitol Convention center, and the next President of the United States … Donald Trump!” an announced yelled, as Trump — in a bright red tie and neatly pressed suit came on stage. Twisted Sister’s rock anthem “We’re Not Gonna Take It” played. Trump began his seemingly off-the-cuff speech before a convention record of more than 10,000 people boasting about his highly-rated turn hosting Saturday Night Life, and getting in some digs at his competition. But he soon transitioned into more political, and international affairs.

The largest event ever.

Who’s the “real contender” now? I mean, do you think Bush or Kasich could fill that room?

Like Rauner, Trump doesn’t need the establishment.

Not saying he’s gonna win the nomination, mind you. I have my hands full with Illinois, so I don’t follow national politics closely enough to make that call.

Just sayin…

*** UPDATE *** From Trump’s Illinois director Kent Gray…

We signed up thousands of new volunteers and supporters. Our petition passers that worked the crowd prior to the event really knocked it out of the park.

53 Comments

*** UPDATED x1 - CTU responds *** That was a practice strike vote?

Tuesday, Nov 10, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Sun-Times…

If a strike vote were held tomorrow, the Chicago Teachers Union would likely walk off the job, the union reported Monday in preliminary results of a practice strike vote taken late last week.

About 97 percent of members voting — with 95 percent participation among the 27,000 CTU members casting ballots in the mock vote last Thursday — said to strike.

“We are very pleased and not at all surprised by what we’ve learned,” CTU spokeswoman Stephanie Gadlin said in an email Monday. She called the poll an “internal union exercise” that was “designed to test the CTU’s organizational bandwidth.” She added that final analysis was still being prepared.

* Um, OK, but Sharon Schmidt over at Substance News published the CTU’s actual “Yes or No” questions…

The Chicago Teachers Union and the Board of Education are in ongoing negotiations over our next contract and remain far apart on many issues.

Indicate your choice by putting an X in the appropriate box.

1) In negotiations, Board of Education negotiators demand that CTU members agree to pay cuts, increased health care charges, elimination of minimum staffing levels and contract changes which will remove hundreds of CPS employees from our schools to help balance the Board’s budget. CTU’s Bargaining Team categorically rejects these proposals.

Do you agree with the bargaining team?

2) The Mayor and Board of Ed refuse to stand up to corporations like Bank of America and to super rich individuals like Bruce Rauner who underfund our schools by refusing to pay their fair share in taxes. Should CTU highlight the real cause of CPS budget challenges by organizing boycotts, corporate campaigns and legislative efforts to retrieve that money?

3) Forrest Claypool, Rahm’s hand-picked CEO, has earned a reputation as a privatizer and an anti-union manager at the Chicago Park District and the Chicago Transit Authority. He supports school vouchers, charter school expansion, and has made massive cuts to special education and is threatening 5,000 layoffs. Do you support a vote of no-confidence in Forrest Claypool as CEO of the Chicago Public Schools?

4) CTU’s demands include: A librarian, nurse, art, music, and PE teacher in every school, expansion of Early Childhood programs, funded homeless and restorative justice coordinators, strengthening of special education, grievable class size limits, a minimum wage of $15 an hours for all Board employees, limitations on paperwork, improvements to the evaluation system, protection for paraprofessionals, and an expansion of the Grow Your Own program which supports community members who become teachers.

Do you support these demands which will strengthen our schools and provide better programming to meet the needs of all students?

A scanned version of the document is here.

Anybody ever seen a push poll that blatant?

Also, where’s the strike question?

And in case you haven’t heard of Substance News, click here to see its front page. It is most definitely not on the side of management.

*** UPDATE *** The CTU responds…

CTU Vice President Jesse Sharkey said the polling strategy was the same one used in the runup to the 2012 teachers’ strike.

“In a nutshell, our legal counsel advised us to stay away from the word ’strike’ in the practice poll, which is why we called it a ‘practice,’ ” Sharkey said.

“The law keeps us from asking questions twice, so what we do is we ask a series of questions that cover the four corners of our bargaining proposals,” he said. “Really what we’re saying is we’re trying to stake out the four corners of our bargaining positions and check the sentiment of that in our schools.”

Not buying it.

53 Comments

*** LIVE OVERTIME SESSION COVERAGE ***

Tuesday, Nov 10, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* It’s gonna be a busy day campers. So keep a close eye on this post, sponsored by The Health Care Council of Illinois and enabled by ScribbleLive…