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Governing ain’t easy

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Illinois

* Last year, candidate Bruce Rauner’s “Bring Back Blueprint” promised $500 million in savings by reforming CMS.

But Gov. Rauner’s proposed budget contains a $22 million, 97 percent increase for CMS’ operational, grants and awards lines.

* Meanwhile, here’s candidate Bruce Rauner last October…

“(W)hat I am advocating and always have and always will is we’ve got to restructure Medicaid in Illinois. It is filled with waste and fraud.”

Also from last October…

“The waste and fraud under our Medicaid program is out of control.”

That same “Bring Back Blueprint” mentioned above claimed Rauner would save $250 million by implementing Medicaid verification reform.

His proposed budget produces nowhere near those savings…

Rauner proposes saving $75 million by being more aggressive in determining eligibility and by adding new efforts to “detect and prevent fraudulent and abusive billing practices by providers,” according to the budget document.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 1:49 pm

Comments

Shouldn’t this be addressed to Cullerton and Madigan? After all, the ball is in their court and we will want details and specifics on how they intend to fix the massive financial crisis they helped create.

Ooops, wrong blog!

Comment by qcexaminer Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 1:51 pm
“We both said a lot of things we want to take back…”

The only thing that is ironic about Rauner’s hypocrisy is that its under the idea that Rauner is going to do things different.

Well, that was fun.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 1:53 pm
A lot of squeezing, but no “restructure” in sight.

When will Rauner actually start changing government, beyond just cutting from the same structure?

Comment by walker Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 1:56 pm
Politicians will say anything to get elected. What one says does not have to be true as long as the voters buy it.

Comment by Mama Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 1:59 pm
===Shouldn’t this be addressed to Cullerton and Madigan?===

Why? Those were Rauner’s claims and proposals, not theirs. Your guy won. Deal with it. Professional victimhood is so unattractive.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 2:02 pm
The Governor is foundering…..

Comment by IB Strapped Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 2:04 pm
Don’t you mean that “Governin’ ain’t easy”? I can’t stand that G droppin’. Ugh.

Comment by lil enchilada Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 2:04 pm
“Governing ain’t easy”

But how can we know when Rauner refuses to even try?

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 2:06 pm
The figures may be way off, but the intent is not. There is provider abuse that must be vigorously addressed. Ensuring integrity in this, and every program, is in and of itself a worthy endeavor.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 2:08 pm
Governor Rauner makes it look so effortless.

Comment by MikeMacD Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 2:11 pm
The blame creeping moves forward. Rauner is governor less than a month and it’s all on him now. Madigan, et al, are just bystanders, apparently. They bear no responsibility for the mess - Rauner now must be perfectly clear about his plans and intentions while Madigan can continue the obfuscation.

I am no fan of Rauner. I think his proposals are bunk. I believe he knew that with every proposal and utterance and proclamation.

How is that different from Madigan - who pursued a pension reduction plan he HAD to have known was unconstitutional on its face? He had to have known it would not help and pursuing it is a monumental waste of time.

I know you, Rich, have not excused Madigan - I am not accusing you of that. Rauner has a lot of work to do to get to a real budget, not a farcical one. But previous administrations and assemblies have had ample opportunity to address these issues and have not. BAU can’t continue.

I would love to see an adult take charge but that ain’t happening. We have what we have.

Sigh

Comment by dupage dan Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 2:14 pm
“Governing ain’t easy”

Sure it is for Governor Ernest T. Bass.

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 2:16 pm
“BAU can’t continue.”

“Rauner’s proposed budget contains a $22 million, 97 percent, increase for CMS’ operational, grants and awards lines.”

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 2:19 pm
@MrJM- Sir… You are on FIRE today!!

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 2:22 pm
@dupage dan

Quinn supported a higher income tax, made serious cuts, and tried to find a constitutional compromise on pensions - all difficult choices politically. that’s what i want from all of our representatives. Rauner misled and Madigan is always too careful not to push his people too far on votes. that’s how we got into this mess. it is the fault of uninformed and uninterested electorate.

Comment by wjmaggos Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 2:22 pm
Hey, we’re like one big happy family, right?

Comment by Joe Isuzu Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 2:23 pm
Is it me or when Rauner cannot provide specifics about expenditures he blames it on waste and fraud?

Comment by Cable Line Beer Gardener Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 2:25 pm
==- dupage dan - Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 2:14 pm:==

Where is the obfuscation in the Speaker saying he supported keeping the income tax rate at 5%? Where is the obfuscation in the Speaker saying yesterday he supports the millionaire education surcharge, which over 63% of the people supported in an advisory referendum?

https://capitolfax.com/2014/03/26/madigan-cullerton-say-they-back-making-tax-hike-permanent-by-end-of-may/

Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 2:32 pm
As long as Rahm and Rauner’s wallstreet friends are ok I guess that is all that matters. It would sure mess things up for rauner if Rahm is forced into a run off.

Comment by William j Kelly Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 2:32 pm
wjmaggos, I don’t disagree with your assessment, but Quinn and the GA didn’t get anywhere near the structural issues that are the main issues. And his demagoguing on the unions (of which I am a member) didn’t help any. We get the gov’t we deserve.

Comment by dupage dan Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 2:33 pm
Rauner’s campaign numbers came from IPI. His budget from professionals who had to at least add and subtract. That’s why they’re different.

Comment by walker Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 2:38 pm
walker took the words…though his were much kinder…out of my mouth! Spewing IPI, AFP idealistic and often inaccurate talking points is not governing. Yet Rauner funds these groups… Some things really don’t change do they now…?

Comment by Just saying... Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 2:46 pm
Just pass my budget, kids.
We’ll make it add up down the road.
Trust me ; )

Comment by Joe Isuzu Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 2:54 pm
I guess governing IS a lot harder than business!

Comment by crazybleedingheart Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 2:57 pm
Did he say which CMS? Could have been the Fed’s CMS. Yes, that’s the ticket it was their CMS. (s/)

C’MON MAN! You didn’t really believe his rhetoric did you. If so, I’ve got a beautiful bridge to sell you. Let Rich know you’re interested and he’ll get you in touch with me. (Rich, I’ll give you a cut.)

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 3:02 pm
Still waiting to hear about how much the state plane is going for on Craigslist and why the budget for the Executive Air Fleet stayed so flat.

I certainly didn’t care about the state plane use before I had to look at his ugly van every time I turned on the TV. But he’s been a tweetin’ and a grinnin’ with the puppies, so I know he’s good on transportation.

Why’d he forget to downsize the state planes in the budget??

“Children on ventilators? STRIKETHROUGH
Orphans? STRIKETHROUGH
Plane I made a campaign issue? WE’LL SEE HOW THINGS SHAKE OUT, I MEAN UP”

Comment by crazybleedingheart Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 3:15 pm
Poor Bruce…

You can buy fancy houses, you can buy big businesses and you can even buy elected office, but you just can’t buy people’s respect: https://twitter.com/rap30/status/568514157646995456

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 3:15 pm
lol, he wuz rahmed

Comment by crazybleedingheart Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 3:18 pm
- MrJM -

“But…but…I’m the governor…”

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 3:18 pm
I believe there was an Executive Order signed the other day forcing reporters who use the headline “Governing Ain’t Easy” to drop the g and to begin keeping a count of their use of the headline, as in…

Governin’ Ain’t Easy #3417

(/snark)

Comment by Ghostbusters Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 3:34 pm
You want to start fixing stuff. Ok, here’s a few - but here’s the deal. To make this work, it’s ALL or NONE. Shared sacrifice.

01 No more local government financial incentive programs (TIF’s; SSA’s; Industrial Abatements; Enterprise Zones). Period. No new/term expansion of the above special tax districts. Existing get to finish (bonds) under existing rules, but nobody else gets inside the tent.

Level the playing field, gets rid of all the fancy high priced consultants & crony capitalists, and bluntly, the expenses of running these programs is unreal. If everybody realized how much time & money got wasted on the intricacies of running these programs, they would freak.

02 Get rid of CMS. Period. Gone. Those people are totally inept & incompetent. And that’s on their good days. These are the folks who chase nickels down the street while bucket loads of $100 bills go blowing by.

03 Asbestos legislation & rules. Biggest scam in this state, and one that this state spends serious coin on that needs to be spent elsewhere.

The universities and other state facilities spend mega $$$$ on dealing with asbestos every single day. When you really start taking a hard look, it just gets nuts. You want to give units of local government and businesses a break, there’s a way.

04 Keep the proposed higher Education cuts in place. You can’t cut the fat until after you cut through all the bloat that exists.

05 Get rid of all the state revenue sharing programs with local governments. Cold turkey.

06 Pass the legislation enabling units of local government to file for federal bankruptcy.

07 Pass all the governor’s recommended social services cuts. All of them, for a five (5) year period. Yeah, I know, cold and heartless.

08 Restore the temporary state income tax back to what it was for a maximum term of five (5) years.

09 Every single dime of extra money goes to two areas:
(a) Pay off the outstanding backlog of bills.
(b) Pay down our pension indebtedness to where all the state pension funds are funded at or above the 80% level.

10 NO new programs, or program expansions. At the State level. Nothing. And that includes unfunded mandates to local governments.

There’s a Top 10 list for you……

Note to Self: DOA……

Comment by Judgment Day Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 3:42 pm
Judgment Day: Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about!

All of the above. No tradeoffs. We can talk about next steps after all that is done.

Comment by walker Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 4:52 pm
DD, who are you blaming for Rauner not proposing as governor what he said he would as candidate? Is there someone else in that equation?

Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 4:53 pm
I’m hoping Rich or one of the knowledgeable regular commenters can provide a report on what the previous “get rid of ineligibles on Medicaid” project achieved. The last I’d heard the results were modest. Does anyone have any data?

Comment by DuPage Dave Thursday, Feb 19, 15 @ 9:49 pm