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* Gov. Pat Quinn’s spokesperson Annie Thompson reacting to criticism from Springfield’s Republican state Representatives about discontinuing the $1 million state subsidy to the National High School Finals Rodeo, which means the event will not be held in Springfield this year…

“Republicans keep calling on the governor’s office to make cuts, but when those cuts affect their communities, they want no part of it.”

* The Question: Fair or unfair retort? Explain.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 1:48 pm

Comments

comment is fair, because all cuts have consequences

of course, this type of politics isn’t supposed to be the Pat Quinn people voted for.

oh, propose cutting human service programs again for the third year in a row! brilliant! those programs are great scapegoats!

Comment by Leroy Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 1:51 pm
Perfectly fair. Every government program has a constituency, and people need to understand that just because they want something, it’s not necessarily a state priority.

Comment by lakeview Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 1:53 pm
If the state could politically get away with raising the income tax even to six percent, and canceling Blago’s Medicaid expansion and ensuring a balanced budget by July, then maybe expenditures like these could survive. Yes, it’s an economic negative to the state to lose this. But the state’s about tapped out on borrowing capacity, and under the circumstances I think it’s going to be up to the city of Springfield to bail it out or lose it. That’s the reality of massive budget deficits, folks, and neither Springfield nor federal Republicans have shown the slightest seriousness in addressing this.

Comment by Angry Chicagoan Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 1:55 pm
Absolutely fair. But it’s not just Republicans. Everyone supports budget cuts, provided the cuts affect someone who isn’t them. The Republicans just enable this delusion.

Comment by HiFi Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 1:56 pm
fair.

Because it is the perfect illustration of something that seems like a good idea that is also something while a ‘nice to have’ is not a ‘have to have’, we need to feed seniors, we don’t need to subsidize teenage calf roping.

Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 1:57 pm
Fair enough, but unnecessarily nasty and flip. Makes it sound as if it was done for spite. Not a good way to build support for a way forward that will involve pain all around.

Comment by Excessively Rabid Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 1:57 pm
Fair. These reps have opposed any measure that would help the State’s fiscal condition: revenue increase, pension reform, and debt restructuring come to mind. For them to then complain about a relatively minor cut is absurd.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 1:58 pm
Depends… is Quinn going to make equivalent cuts to areas represented by Democrats in the General Assembly too?

Comment by John Bambenek Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 2:03 pm
Fair. Welcome to the cuts.

Comment by Way Way Down Here Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 2:03 pm
It’s a bad move. It’s not like Springfield is a shoo-in for this in years to come, it’s only something that comes here every couple of years or so.

I would say it is a fair retort against the cuts-for-thee-but-not-for-me strawman, but these guys are trying all avenues. This in particular gives them an out on the hippocrite charge:

“The duo issued a news release Friday calling the cancellation a “crisis” and suggesting that private money should be raised to keep the event going.”

Comment by Returning Dog Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 2:03 pm
Excessively Rabid maybe on to something. If there was one GOP state legislator that could have and should have voted for the income tax increase, it was Rep. Poe. He put the interests of his party over his district. Consequences of the new spending cap to areas with lots of state government and lots of republicans representing them, will be interesting to follow.

Comment by anon Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 2:03 pm
This is why a percentage cut across the board is reasonable. Cut everyone else but don’t cut me. I could hear this coming months ago.

Comment by Hickory Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 2:08 pm
Cuts are fair if they are across the board for both Democrat and Republican districts. Republicans are gun-shy because back in the Blagoyevich administration decisions were made based solely on the politics of the district.

Comment by in Paris Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 2:13 pm
Fair.
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

Comment by NIref Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 2:14 pm
Fair. And I like rodeos.

Comment by Ray del Camino Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 2:18 pm
Know one likes to see cuts that hurt their community. Of-course it didn’t help that the very next day the headline in springfield was that a pretty well connected local engineering firm was getting a $4.3 million contract to do an inventory of the state’s highway billboards, a task whose immediate necessity was not well explained. The obvious question was why that project should have had priority over state spending for the rodeo that undeniably creates an awful lot of revenue. It is the inconsistency of this administration’s priorities that is so maddening.

Comment by Skirmisher Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 2:22 pm
It’s a fair retort. We need to look at every item in the budget, small and large. If it doesn’t make sense - cut it. If it disproportionately affects Republican areas - so be it. THAT said, the Democrats need to accept similar cuts in “their” areas, too.

Comment by Ghost of John Brown Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 2:23 pm
To John Bambenek’s point: when you look at the cuts to social services, it’s pretty clear that Democratic areas are getting hard hit. Free rides to seniors, on the chopping block, disproportionately benefit Chicagoans. Everyone’s getting hurt.

Comment by lakeview Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 2:23 pm
Fair If the State fairs are not going to make a profit shut them down. I see some racing has already been cut. We need to stop all the extravagant things and run the state. In the future maybe we can get back on our feet.

Comment by BOB Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 2:24 pm
Couldn’t be more fair.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 2:25 pm
Fair. Cuts are painful. Cuts are necessary.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 2:28 pm
more than fair. shouldn’t the preponderance of cuts be in republican areas, since they are the ones arguing for deep and painful cuts? seems to me that it would be easy to cut the budget deficit simply by removing all the government services and funding in those republican districts that made budget cuts central to their (re)elections. especially since i’m pretty sure they meant budget cuts in chicago and other heavily democratic areas. what’s good for the goose and all…

Comment by bored now Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 2:38 pm
Fair. It’s a rodeo (which are quite fun, but not exactly essential state services).

This is the kind of event that the Springfield tourism poohbahs need to be hustling for sponsorhip dollars; Wrangler, Levi, Ford, Chevy, Justin, Coke, etc. They put bowling, poker and pool on the million ESPN channels. Goodness knows they’re always looking for programming.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 2:41 pm
It’s an echo chamber in here, but I think everyone realizes that this is fair. Everything is getting cut, if not this year, it was cut last year or the year before. And, there are more cuts to come.

With respect the the appearance of fairness (”it needs to be balanced with a cut to to something that impacts Democrats”). Please. Just because it’s in a district labeled D or R does not mean it doesn’t have wide-ranging impact. Do all cuts need to be announced in clusters with the percentage of Republican’s and Democrats impacted highlighted?

Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 2:45 pm
Perfectly fair and reasonable.

As for Bambanek:

Depends… is Quinn going to make equivalent cuts to areas represented by Democrats in the General Assembly too?

As Rich often says, ignorance isn’t appreciated around here.

You are clearly unaware (or, more likely, pretending that you are unaware, which is even worse) of the cuts, especially to human services, that Quinn has implemented, which have disproportionately impacted “areas represented by Democrats in the General Assembly.”

Comment by dave Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 2:45 pm
Republicans upset because the state cut the funding for a Rodeo. As Rich is fond of saying, “is there no one left here that can play this game?”

Absolutely its a fair retort. You can’t scream for budget cuts and then get upset when your personal pet project gets the axe. I am sure the kids got something out of the Rodeo, but we have bigger problems here. It would be like the bar patrons on the Titanic complaining there are no ice buckets left for the wine. Hello, we are using those to bail out the boat!

Comment by Living in Oklahoma Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 2:49 pm
Fair doesn’t make it the right thing to say…..The tone and tenor of her comment leds me to believe that it was done in spite and in retribution (no vote on the income tax).
Her comment is one of the many reasons that the political process in Springfield has become unduly partisan. To make a decision on such a high profile event without communicating with the Rep.’s & Senator from this area was meant to embarrass them (if this event was in the Speaker’s district do you think they would have alerted him oftheir decision before publicaly announcing it?)
At some point in the next 4 years the Gov. may need their votes on something and again from the tone & tenor of this type of comment, why would they even consider helping the Gov. ?
The situation could have been handled much differently and both parties could have come out ok, something like using sugar instead of vinegar?

Comment by Are Ya Kiddin" Me? Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 2:57 pm
Word is right…have the corporations that benefit from this constituency underwrite the event and pay the State for the use of the Fairgrounds for the event. Springfield still benefits from increased tax revenue…better yet, let the Republicans ask one the corporations they are so chummy with to sponsor this event…but I’m sure they’d rather just complain about Quinn and the cuts he must make than actually do anything constructive about this (or anything else)…hypocrites…

Comment by Loop Lady Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 2:58 pm
Too mild. I would have said that they whined for months about the budget but have never come up with a plan. When you have no plan, your role is to sit quietly and let adults do the work. Not to be overly partisan, but the GOP had completely dropped the ball. How can they be taken seriously given the lack of serious budget cutting proposals?

Comment by Jasper Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 3:03 pm
Fair cut. Unfair and regrettably worded comment by Annie. Had she used the word “people” instead of “Republicans”, her statement would have been both meaningful and honest– and much more professional.

Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 3:05 pm
Fair retort. However, it was not handled properly. Gov/Ag should have had discussions about privatly funding the rodeo and communicating that option before announcing that it simply had beeb cut.

Comment by Soccertease Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 3:06 pm
Fair or unfair? It is politics. The appropriate question should be is this good leadership?

How does the Dept of Ag become the lead agency regarding Economic Development decisions?

How did Ag come the nice round number of $1,000,000 figure? I don’t believe it. Many of the cost are fixed expenses they are paying already.

What effort was made by Gov Quinn to work w locals to try to work something our prior to the press notification?

IF Quinn had dismissed only 10 of the Blago hacks on the layoff off list who earn $65,000 ($100K w fringes) this week; could the $1 Million savings be directed to pay for this event in 2012?

What efforts were made by Depts of AG or DCEO to find local sponsorship of this event?

Poor leadership I say.

This is an expenditure that generates jobs and income. It’s not a million dollar grant to a defunct day care in an abandoned church in Chicago. This is a money maker! sheesh

Comment by Larry Mullholland Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 3:06 pm
Look at it this way, the rodeo won’t be returning in 2012, the same year roughly 3,100 kids lose their health care under the new Medicaid reform.

And which is a priority for the Springfield GOPers?

In the infamous words of the awesome move The Legend of Billie Jean: Fair is fair.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 3:21 pm
Fair: The City of Springfield should put up the money if they want the rodeo.

Comment by Palatine Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 3:35 pm
Cuts are necessary, but all departments need to weigh the economic and tax impact of each program or expenditure being removed.

$1 million in funding for the rodeo, brings an estimated $8 million into the central Illinois Economy. Considering the current sales tax rates, not only would the state recoup 40%-50% of their outlay, but local government would also benefit from sales tax revenues.

Comment by JB Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 3:42 pm
Fair: unfortunate but necessary. The department of Agriculture doesn’t have the money for this - end of story.

Comment by always anonymous Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 3:47 pm
Cuts in human services affect only Democrats or Democratic controlled areas of the state?

Really?

And those suddenly proposing an across the board cut as being fair were pretty silent when Brady was making that proposal last year and getting heaps of ridicule in response.

Fair comment in general, but Democrats squawk when their pet projects get cut too. Be fair across the board!

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 3:49 pm
Fair because it should be on the table. Unfair because Quinn and company appear to be protecting an awful lot of other easy expenses to cut (Afscme contract, staff raises, legislative scholarships etc)

Comment by Shemp Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 3:52 pm
Fair. You can’t complain about the tax hikes, saying the budget could be balanced by across the board cuts, then complain when cuts hit your favorite organization.

Comment by Wensicia Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 3:53 pm
Louis, maybe I missed it. Who is now proposing an across the board cut?

Comment by Jasper Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 3:54 pm
Fair. Poe and his GOP buddies talk about cuts, well here is a cut. And, they talk about giveaways, well the rodeo paid nothing to rent the fairgrounds. Now they will say that Springfield made tons of money off it and they are right, Springfield makes the money. Not the Department of AG who picks up the $1Mil. tab to host this.

Comment by Give Me A Break Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 3:56 pm
Jasper, check out the other comments on this thread. Quinn has also off and on expressed the across the board cuts as policy, but at lesser percentages than Brady.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 3:58 pm
Fair.

Comment by Aldyth Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 4:03 pm
Two out of 40 comments said “across the board.” So no, people here as a a group still are not buying Brady’s plan. As for Quinn? Possible, but I never heard him make that proposal.
Your defense of Brady is interesting though. If only he had a real plan, he might be gov now.

Comment by Jasper Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 4:06 pm
Excellent Quinn comment…He needs to do more of this shaming…

Comment by Louis Howe Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 4:11 pm
He shouldn’t have said it, but it’s fair. I mean, come on. The downstate folks want everything cut that would might have some benefit to the state’s economic engine - namely northeastern Illinois. Every program can be defended.

Yes, the rodeo is nice. And it creates a few jobs. But it generates almost nothing in terms of growth or jobs. It doesn’t provide a social safety net to those who really need it. It doesn’t educate children. It doesn’t heal the sick.

Yes, there are plenty of pork programs that deserve to be trimmed, too. It’s just that this one got the ax and has the luxury of having the local Springfield press hollering about it. Pat Quinn is the Governor of all of Illinois. He’ll make tough choices that affect other areas. Heck, he already has to the tune of many millions more than the rodeo cut.

Comment by phocion Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 4:15 pm
Seems like a fair retort. DHS is apparently looking at $100M in cuts to childcare or total cuts of $400M (10% of total budget). Denials and changes will surely come when the screaming starts. Is a Brady-type 10% haircut coming across the board or are human services the primary ‘lucky ones’…..again? State AFSCME members are getting how many salary bumps this year? The rodeo is dust on the floor by comparison.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 4:17 pm
it might be a tad unfair if any of the votes to raise the income tax had come from legislators representing Springfield. But Springfield-area legislators insisted no tax hike was needed. All we needed to do is cut, cut, cut.

Comment by reformer Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 4:23 pm
Normally would be a fair remark, but I think the decision was poorly thought out. It would appear that the revenue lost for the state is far, far greater than the cost to have the rodeo here.

Was this a wise decision. I think not. So, to resond the way the gov did was pretty typical of him…ready, fire, aim!

Comment by Justice Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 4:35 pm
Fair and apt. Republicans refuse to vote to increase revenue and insist on cuts to balance the budget. This is the exact type of non-essential state funded event that should be cut in the current environment.

The Republicans deserve the comment because they have offered no program to balance the budget. Only Topinka offered specifics and she has no vote in the legislature.

To paraphrase an old saying- Don’t cut you, don’t cut me- cut that man behind the tree.

Comment by DuPage Dave Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 4:46 pm
Absolutely fair. The Repubs in Springfield do nothing but promote bad news and negativity. Completely worthless crew. No one is more disappointed with Republican lawmakers than the Republican voters in this state.

Comment by just sayin' Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 4:52 pm
Fair
And every one should get used to hearing that line. As much as the Gov does not want to that guy cutting stuff he has to. How much does AG have left paid by the GRF I would think by now not much so maybe not so much from AG but all other GRF funded agencies should get used to it.

Comment by Anon3 Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 4:53 pm
More than fair — and I grew up on the back of a horse.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 4:57 pm
Fair cause. It shows. How dumb Billboards and his cronies are. Explains why. They areTHE minority

Comment by circularfiringsquad Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 5:03 pm
unfair. Annie Thompson forgets that PQ is supposed to be governor of the whole state, not just the four counties who voted for him.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 5:04 pm
Would people please stop calling Chicago the state’s economic engine? I know some folks think all that corn is just there for decoration, but jeez. You don’t need an office building to produce billions in products.

Comment by Excessively Rabid Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 5:04 pm
If the state were to have a cost benefit analysis done and this is a net loss, then of course it’s fair. If it would have made the state money, then it’s dumb.

For example, I was only able to work 71 days last year because of furloughs. But I was working on resolving a problem that would result in millions of dollars recovered from federal match. So less than $1k was saved and possibly millions delayed, or worse, lost. Now there should be some permanent employees working on the problem, but I checked about a month ago and no one has worked on it since I left.

The state can be very penny wise and pound foolish.

Comment by RetiredStateEmployee Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 5:06 pm
quinn *is* the governor of the whole state. but it would be more fair to everyone if we cut back on programs, agencies and funding in republican areas, given their strong support of cutbacks in those areas. this isn’t rocket science. they asked for it, they want it, why not spare the rest of the state and give it to them?

Comment by bored now Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 5:28 pm
@Louis G. Atsaves- Who said that human services cuts only impacted Democrats?

Comment by dave Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 5:29 pm
If the economic benefits are such a slam dunk, than the Springfield Convention and Tourism Bureau and its members (hotels, restaurants, etc), private sponsors and perhaps IBOT (not Ag) should be able to put together a package.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 5:32 pm
I’ve been a republican all of my adult life. This kind of hypocritical NIMBY is embarassing. Give me a break…..let’s cut anything but my high school rodeo. These 2 reps should be ashamed of themselves.

Comment by downhereforyears Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 5:54 pm
Fair. The administration is giving the Republican caucuses the very thing for which they’ve been demanding. (not requesting, demanding) Perhaps the most fair public retort I’ve ever seen.

Comment by Hawkeye Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 5:58 pm
It would be nice if Quinn could actually say such things himself!

Comment by D.P. Gumby Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 6:11 pm
UNFAIR. It wouldn’t have taken five minutes for the Governor’s legislative office to call the local legislators to let them know what was about to happen. Every administration up to RRB did that and embarrassment and consternation was avoided. Even with a couple of days notice, efforts to privately underwrite the event in in whole or partially could have been pursued. No, this was just another poorly handled situation that might save the Dept. of Ag $1 million (if that’s what it actually costs, versus booking $1 million savings) but will cost central Illinois many millions more in lost local revenue…Good job gang.

Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 6:29 pm
Fair, but Quinn’s ag department dropped the ball in giving Springfield mayor’s office some notice of the problem and impending decision.

The ag department should not have been saddled (pardon the pun) with this expense anyhow: this is a tourism/entertainment thing, and if someone was going to invest staste dollars to bring it, it should have been the Tourism office of DCEO. That agency has been in groundhog mode since the Director got into trouble. When are they going to take a position on funding the rodeo? If Springfield thinks it brings in eight million, then the city should “invest” the million up front. Thing is, everybody makes up these multiplier numbers, hard to prove hosting the rodeo is a net positive in terms of money. It might add prestige and marketing buzz, but at a cost. With Davlin recently gone and an election coming up, it is the worst time to ask the Springfield mayor and council to do anything very bold.

Comment by Gregor Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 7:18 pm
So very fair. Thank you Bored Now. Been saying that for a long time. In a fiscal crisis there is no room for the NIMBY crowd.

Comment by anon Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 7:46 pm
Fair enough. Works both ways.
A million here, a million there…pretty soon you’re talking real money.

Comment by JustaJoe Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 8:49 pm
Fair and highlights the hypocrisy of many who serve in the GA

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 8:52 pm
Have the City of Springfield advance the $1 million to host the event, and then have the state ebate back to the city any monies they receive in sales tax revenue etc. on a dollar for dollar basis, and the City can eat the difference.

Comment by Quinn T. Sential Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 8:53 pm
Fair. But if Quinn were a real leader he would put forth cuts that do not impact critical services but enjoy political support from one side or the other.

Comment by Eugene Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 9:24 pm
Absolutely fair comment. Republicans squawking about a measly $1 million cut. That’s a drop in the bucket of what needs to be cut. Just the latest demonstration of how unserious the Republicans in Springfield are. All talk, but they want no action. Thank goodness Bill Brady didn’t win. We would really have a nightmare on our hands.

Comment by too obvious Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 9:31 pm
Fair.Get private sponsors.It’s not that much but let’s see how the Gov. reacts when it comes to big bucks.We need leadership.

Comment by mokenavince Wednesday, Feb 2, 11 @ 10:31 pm
What a bunch of short sited partisan haters on this post.

SO everyone is comfortable effectively screwing the state and local economy of over $8,000,000 in revenue because the officials in the area happen to choose to be republican? I point out that the $8 mil is only the first time the money is spent locally.

We own a business that benefits from this event.

We pay local vendors for our products. We then sell the product and pay taxes on the sales of those products. We pay employees taxable wages to provide our products to the rodeo visitors.

Those employees pay a tax on the wages received and then later spend their wages in the local economy. In good year we even pay taxes on the income generated. Get my point here?

My vendors and my employees who get paid more money as a result of this event don’t really give a sh(*&^t which party the local legislators claim. In fact, I would geuss they could not name them, but yet they will suffer as a result of Quinn’s decision to screw downstate employees and businesses.

What’s Next? DNR going to cancel the shooting festival in Sparta? Fishing tourney in Chicago? DCEO going to cancel the money given to the movie producers? Those agencies have spent far more that $1 million for those events!!

What say you Gov. Quinn? I thought he was above the political games. Promised us for 30 years to be better and different and now we know. Shameful.

Completely unfair to those who have no control but have the most to lose.

Comment by SPI EMPLOYER Wednesday, Feb 9, 11 @ 4:18 pm