* A recent piece in Illinois Issues is getting some attention…
Charlie Wheeler III, a longtime observer of Illinois politics and head of the Public Affairs Reporting program at the University of Illinois at Springfield, has a plan that could at least get the two sides talking. In a column in the Illinois Times, Wheeler rolled out how Rauner, House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton could actually accomplish some things together. Wheeler recommends the two sides use an “agreed bill” process, in which all parties compromise and write the legislation together. This process has been used in the past, often with success and acceptable results for both sides of a dispute.
Wheeler’s explanation is lengthy, but here are the highlights of his compromise ideas.
Workers compensation: In a true compromise, tighten the definition of workplace injuries, which Rauner wants, and place more scrutiny on insurance companies, which would please Democrats.
Tort reform: Give Democrats a choice between stricter rules on where to file personal injury lawsuits, restricting “pain and suffering” awards, or sponsoring a constitutional amendment to determine if voters wanted to limit certain damages.
Property tax freeze: Enact a freeze, but only if Rauner drops demands that would severely restrict collective bargaining and eliminate a prevailing wage requirement. Wheeler didn’t mention this one, but we’d add, pave the way for voters to decide a way to reduce the number of local governments.
Redistricting and term limits: On both issues, turn to citizen groups to get the amendments on the ballot through the petition process. Rauner, who supports both issues, could use his bully pulpit to support the issues, but would remove them from his legislative agenda.
Andy Shaw also pointed to Wheeler’s piece as a possible model. Charlie’s piece can be read in full by clicking here.
I’ve supported most of these ideas in the past, particularly an agreed bill process on workers’ comp and dropping the anti-union stuff from the property tax freeze. And as we found out yet again last year, Illinoisans can’t legally put a term limits constitutional amendment on the ballot.
The problem isn’t with the ideas, the problem is the complete lack of will to talk about the ideas.
Once Speaker Madigan decides he’s willing to talk about workers’ comp reforms that don’t include “causation,” then the talks can bear some fruit, but not until he’s willing. Same goes for everything else, on both sides. There just is no will right now to move anything forward.
* The only thing that ever dependably moves these guys to act is a crisis, and despite the long impasse we just haven’t seen one yet that’s urgent enough to generate some will. And instead of talking about the budget for the last few weeks, all the leaders and members did was griped about the AFSCME bill. Speaker Madigan has long chastised the governor for focusing too much on non-budget issues, but what did he do for weeks? I mean, you’d never know there was a budget problem to listen to Madigan et al.
So, Rep. Dunkin wasn’t wrong when he said…
Meantime, on Wednesday eight people were killed in Chicago. The schools are $480 million short. And this is the most salient thing we can talk about in Springfield?
*** UPDATE *** Like I said. No will…
