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Not this week

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Illinois

* This is just an upbeat way of saying, as I told subscribers earlier today, that no Fiscal Year 15 solution will likely be found this week…

Gov. Bruce Rauner said Wednesday that a plan to fix this year’s state budget could be introduced in the next few days. […]

A child care program for low-income parents needs $300 million to make it through the end of the year. The Illinois Department of Corrections says it will begin running out of money to pay guards in mid-April. And, funds to pay court reporters are running dry, potentially resulting in a stoppage of court activity.

Although Senate Democrats said the school cuts are a “sticking point,” Rauner said he thinks the stalemate may be nearing an end.

“We’ve been very close to a resolution for about five weeks,” Rauner said. “I’m hopeful in the coming few days we’re actually going to have a bill introduced.”

The House and Senate are both leaving town tomorrow, so unless a solution is found today or early morning at the latest, nothing will be done until next week. But it might be helpful if the governor was at the Statehouse today instead of heading up north to bash unions for the umpteenth time this week…

Daily Public Schedule: Wednesday, March 18, 2015

What: Governor Discusses Turnaround Agenda with Illinois Chamber of Commerce & Springfield Area Chambers of Commerce
Where: Hoogland Center for the Arts – Club Room
420 S. 6th St., Springfield
Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Time: 10:30 a.m.

What: Governor Attends National Ag Day in Illinois
Where: Brandt Consolidated
2935 South Koke Mill Road, Springfield
Date: Wednesday March 18, 2015
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Note: No Additional Media Availability.

What: Governor Discusses Turnaround Agenda with National Federation of Independent Business
Where: Kegel Harley-Davidson
7125 Harrison Ave., Rockford
Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Time: 3:45 p.m.

What: Governor Attends African-American Contractors Association Reception
Where: South Shore Cultural Center
7059 South Shore Dr., Chicago
Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Time: 6:45 p.m.
Note: No Additional Media Availability.

* And since next week is the last week of legislative activity before the two-week spring break, there will be no more mulligans.

As we’ve all seen many times before, legislators work best when their backs are against a wall. But this is the same governor who promised during the campaign that he’d be attending committee hearings and haunting the House and Senate floors. He also told the Chamber this morning that he had dinner every night with up to a dozen legislators during session days. That obviously won’t happen tonight.

Constant speechifyin’ on session days ain’t governin’.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:48 pm

Comments

“As we’ve all seen many times before, legislators work best when their backs are against a wall.”

“Best” is certainly a relative term there.

Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:51 pm
If State Court staff/reporters run out of money by mid-April, then maybe this will delay the State SC decision on pension reform, which the GA wanted the Court to expedite. You get what you pay for.

Comment by NIUprof Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:53 pm
Move along nothing to see here. This thing wont get done until the 9th hour.

Comment by BlameBruceRauner Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:00 pm
As we’ve seen, governin’ doesn’t seem to be in his playbook. He has an agenda and he is staying spot on in his attempt to get that accomplished.

“No Additional Media Availability” seems to be common with Rauner. Wouldn’t want any reporters to ask something off script.

Comment by Finally Out (and now very glad to be) Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:02 pm
–”We’ve been very close to a resolution for about five weeks…”

Is that a gag?

Who’s the closer in this equation? Mariano Rivera?

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:04 pm
So, will he be coming “home” tonight and sleeping at the Mansion- another one if his “promises”?

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:07 pm
Real world. my business budget is shot to he$$ Time to take two weeks off!! Yipee!

Comment by real one Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:13 pm
I think this demonstrates why he wanted to be governor. He wants to give speeches about his opinions. If he wasn’t governor, no one would want to hear him speak or come to hear him speak. Now he gets the audience he craves. The governin’ part is just goin’ to be a nuisance.

Comment by Filmmaker Professor Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:13 pm
We now know he wanted the title, not the job.

Comment by Wensicia Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:17 pm
FP, I think there’s a lot to that.

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:29 pm
== He also told the Chamber this morning that he had dinner every night with up to a dozen legislators during session days. ==

Aside from the fact I think he probably had dinner one time with a dozen legislators, but now it’s just him and Sandack, I wonder if the Chamber was impressed.

Comment by Cheswick Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:39 pm
He continues to waste taxpayers money power tripping around the state spewing his anti-union middle class agenda instead of doing his job. Maybe when his popularity ratings hit single digits he’ll get it but I doubt it.

Comment by XDNR Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:46 pm
Not this month, either.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:54 pm
Maybe when he’s at the South Shore Cultural Center tonight, he could patch up some of those columns: http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150317/south-shore/south-shore-cultural-center-loses-25m-restoration-work-from-state-cuts

Comment by Lottie O'Neill Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 3:02 pm
> Constant speechifyin’ on session days ain’t governin’

Comment by The Unknown Poster Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 3:11 pm
finishing my point.

Maybe the guv learned his governin’ skills from the president. Doesn’t he sort of do the same type of thing?

Comment by The Unknown Poster Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 3:13 pm
Rich- Wednesday is not tomorrow.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 3:34 pm
“If the Governor was serious, he would be in Springfield”

Didn’t Rauner promise to attend committee hearings, be in the “chaym-birs…twistin’ arms”…

I don’t remenber session days described as;

“Givin’ speeches, bashin’ Unions”

Rauner has no clue HOW to BE a governor.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 3:37 pm
Daily multiple speeches around the state / evening dinners in Springfield with some legislators.

His scheduling looks backwards.

Does he have any effective floor leaders?

Comment by walker Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 3:39 pm
===Does he have any effective floor leaders?===

Ron Sandack.

Rauner owns him. Sandack will say anything to keep the governor happy, and…

Oh,

“Leaders”?

I dunno about “leaders”…

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 3:42 pm
Drivin? Or flyin, to cover that schedule?

Waiting for Act II, and the package of “floor bills”.

Comment by Langhorne Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 3:48 pm
Willy, Really. Listen closely to what you’re not hearing. That just might be where most of the communicating is taking place. When things settle down a little, maybe he’ll check in with you and get your take on things and calm your worries about the caucuses.

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:05 pm
- A Guy -,

I’m not the only one worried for the Caucuses;

The members of the GOP Caucuses are worried too.

They are.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:09 pm
OW. I agree. I think the other caucus is worried too. They all better be. Their sham budget is coming home to roost and hurting people.

Hell, I hope every elected official in Springfield is worried. I just don’t want you to throw a rod. I’m coming to rely on you. lol/s (all in good fun friend)

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:26 pm
===I think the other caucus is worried too. They all better be. Their sham budget is coming home to roost and hurting people.===

LOL. No they’re not.

They hold the coveted 23 votes in both chambers Rauner needs.

It’s 30. It’s 60. It’s Rauner’s.

Why do you think the Dems are slow playing all this? Because they can. It hurts Rauner. It means more GOP votes, if not all to forge a deal.

It’s Rauner’s. He just doesn’t think it is. That’s the tragic comedy of it all.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:35 pm
Is it me or is he speaking to ” Special Interests” every day?

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:40 pm
===Why do you think the Dems are slow playing all this?===
Unless I’m even more daft than what you think I am, 1 caucus, in one chamber is slow playing, as is their wont and their pattern, is slow playing it. That game could get greasy soon enough.

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:52 pm
===Unless I’m even more daft than what you think I am, 1 caucus, in one chamber is slow playing, as is their wont and their pattern, is slow playing it.===

At the cost of all the HGOP green lights…

A very high price. Very high.

If you go “all in” than why not let the HGOP self-destruct.

There’s a lil “Good Cop/Bad Cop” going on too. Because they can. Just a hint.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:56 pm
Gee, Guy, if only there was a governor to take the lead and get them all in a room together until it was hashed out.

Some GOPers have been out of it for so long that the thought making any decision or taking any responsibility for anything just absolutely terrifies them.

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 6:22 pm
At least he isn’t in Chicago giving speeches about how bad the General Assembly is like the previous two governors.

Comment by Just Me Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 6:42 pm
Looks to me that Rauner is overpaying the wrong people.

Comment by Jasper Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 6:53 pm
Can we get “a deal is imminent” countdown clock going?

Comment by waffle fries Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 7:22 pm
Speaking of schedules, did Gov. Rauner attend the special gala St. Pat’s Tuesday night Illinois Supreme Court oral arguments after he and members of the GA were specially invited by the Chief Justice or is that a ridiculous question? Inquiring minds want to know.

Comment by Hawkeye in Illinois Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 8:30 pm
Hawkeye- yes, the governor and Sen. Cullerton were front and center - literally. If you go to the ISC website, you can see them. It is People v. Richardson. I couldn’t tell if Speaker Madigan was present.

Comment by Demise Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 10:06 pm
Thank you for the info, Demise

Comment by Hawkeye in Illinois Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 10:58 pm