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Unclear on the concept

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Illinois

* Gov. Pat Quinn’s running mate might wanna change his script…

Vallas said that he is “bothered” by a return to the bad budgeting practices, and the lack of a budget alternative from the Rauner campaign. […]

“It bothers me that we’re borrowing again and we seem to be relapsing into the same kinds of practices that got us into this position in the first place,” he added.

Emphasis added because the borrowing he speaks of was in Gov. Quinn’s own budget proposal. From the Civic Federation…

Although the budget recommended by Governor Pat Quinn for FY2015 proposes extending current income tax rates to avoid a massive revenue cliff, it also relies on borrowing $650 million to close a budget gap and pay down a portion of the State’s backlog of unpaid bills.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:35 pm

Comments

Yet another reason Rauner should stay silent now… Unreal.

Comment by Walter Mitty Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:37 pm
“Slip and Sue” - 1
Vallas - 0

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:41 pm
I knew this would happen with Vallas eventually. This is just the beginning. Still scratching my head on Sheila Simon’s decision to bail and Quinn’s choice of Vallas.

Comment by The Prince Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:50 pm
Certainly off script. But Vallas is the sort of guy who will give you his unvarnished take on things, especially if it involves the public interest. By the end of this thing, as many people may be voting for the ticket to support Vallas as Quinn.

Quinn won’t be happy with these comments, and they won’t likely continue, but they are refreshing. Honesty has become such a rare quality in our politicians that we almost don’t know what to do with it when we hear it these days.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:56 pm
This is a potential response for Paul Vallas: “I’m unclear on the concept because I was out helping the children!”

It can also work for Bruce Rauner: “I have no time to come out with a budget plan because I’m out helping the children!” Of course, Rauner already told Diane Ravitch that he doesn’t give a hoot about most kids, so maybe that won’t work for him.

Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:57 pm
A closer look at his time as Chicago’s Budget Director will show he can borrow as much as anyone.

Comment by Bogart Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:01 pm
Quinn has a hard enough time explaining his own statements. Now his people have to try and spin his Lt. Gov’s comments. Vallas is a bad choice. He has his own agenda and is not a team player. There will not be a good outcome once these 2 personalities start clashing.
I agree with Walter Mitty- Rauner don’t say a word and watch these two implode. It’s coming.

Comment by DuPage Bard Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:01 pm
FKA: No one votes for the Lieutenant Governor, which is one saving grace of the situation Quinn is now in.

Comment by The Prince Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:03 pm
Really. Is anyone surprised that he’d go off track?

Comment by Charlatan Heston Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:03 pm
Paying down old debt is a one-time expense and therefore a reasonable use of a one-time revenue source

Comment by steve schnorf Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:06 pm
The Prince - Sheila Simon abandoned Quinn during his weakest moment, which cost her a great deal of respect in the view of many Dems, Reps, and even apolitical types. Quinn looked like a sinking ship beyond salvage.

At the time, Lisa Madigan had opened up huge gap in polling, it looked so certain Madigan would run for Governor that Simon even claimed to have “inside knowledge”, and Simon got out to cut ties with the Governor and then promptly launch her campaign for Attorney General. It got so bad that Simon would not even publicly state whether she would vote to reelect Quinn. Then Lisa Madigan pulled the plug and the rest is history.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:08 pm
===a reasonable use of a one-time revenue source ===

Except this is a loan and it has to be paid back. In two years, mind you.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:08 pm
Also, part of that loan would’ve financed the property tax “rebate” program.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:09 pm
At least he has a position. What does Rauner’s running mate think of the state budget?

Comment by Snucka Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:10 pm
Prince - that is for certain, though this is already proving to be an election in which time tested certainties aren’t so certain. Another way of putting it may be that while people are holding their noses voting for Quinn, Vallas provides them at least a whiff of fresh air. Even so, it was and remains an unusual pick.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:14 pm
==At least he has a position. What does Rauner’s running mate think of the state budget?==

Use borrowing to pay lawsuits?

Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:29 pm
FKA: Agreed on both; I am quite familiar with the Simon decision. She still should have waited until Madigan made it official one way or the other. Hindsight is always 20/20 though. To address your other point: Vallas’ comments will absolutely continue. They always do.

Comment by The Prince Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:33 pm
Someone should check and see if Paul filed as a write-in today. That would make the rest of this make sense. There’s no reason for anyone to stand in the way of these two guys contradicting each other. Just pop some corn and watch.

Comment by A guy... Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:43 pm
A loan is a one-time revenue source, unless you plan to do it again next year. You shouldn’t use it to pay operating expenses (a la Blago on the POBs). The original tax increase foresaw borrowing to pay down old debt and using proceeds of the tax increase to repay the loan.

Comment by steve schnorf Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 3:45 pm
Prince - I misunderstood your earlier comment. We definitely agree in more ways than one. In particular, this == Vallas’ comments will absolutely continue. They always do. == lol. Well said.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 6:16 pm
This is Illinois.

Pat Quinn understands how important it is for a Lt. Governor to be completely disconnected from his running mate. Not only during the campaign, but also right up to the moment of impeachment.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 10:02 am
There is borrowing and then there is “borrowing.” Different kinds of borrowing means different outcomes. Borrowing on a mortgage or a student loan yields (hopefully) different results than borrowing to buy a Mercedes or a vacation/bling you can’t afford. I don’t pretend to understand the details on this, but Vallas is pretty smart and wonky about budgets so I’m going to say, NO he isn’t clashing with Quinn, he’s just trying to fix/save us from bad policies. Enuf with the horserace. Horseracing and establishment resulted in Blagojevich. Hello???

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Comment by http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQwMPG97lhc Thursday, Jun 12, 14 @ 6:13 am