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From unions to business reforms, Gov. Bruce Rauner is re-affirming his promise to do what needs to be done to shake up Springfield and fix the state’s budget mess. […]

“It’s all about taking power away from the special interests in Springfield and empowering local voters,” Rauner says. “Voters should decide what gets collectively bargained inside their governments.”

The governor also has not budged on his demand for pro-business reforms before signing any bill to raise the Illinois minimum wage or taxes to help resolve the state’s budget deficit. […]

Rauner, after 91 days in office, claims to have good relations with Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton:

“We’ve become friends,” says Rauner. “I like them very much.”

* Flannery…

“Our recommended Turnaround Agenda is already in bill form. It’s ready to go,” Rauner said. […]

However, Springfield’s most powerful legislator said the governor won’t give him the specific details either.

“Those bills haven’t been filed. So, you don’t know — I’m not being nasty. But nobody knows what he’s talking about until we see the bills as filed,” said Mike Madigan.

FOX 32: He says he’s already drafted the language.

“But they haven’t been given to us and they haven’t been filed,” Madigan added,

* WGN…

A spokesperson for House Speaker Madigan says, “I wouldn’t characterize the speaker as being on board with this plan. … I’ve seen no specifics, no legislation. When there are actual details, we will see what happens.”

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 9:49 am

Comments

In before this somehow becomes Cullerton’s fault!

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 9:53 am
Gov. Rauner channeling his inner - A Guy -, speaking for Speaker Madigan.

Sooner or later, and sooner is coming quicker and quicker, speaking for MJM and betraying the trust of the Four Tops will backfire.

I’ve seen this movie before.

Governor, the word “friends”, I don’t think it means what you think it means, lol.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 9:53 am
“Details? We ain’t got no details. We don’t need no details. I don’t have to show you any stinkin’ details!”

Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 9:55 am
===A spokesperson for House Speaker Madigan says, “I wouldn’t characterize the speaker as being on board with this plan. … I’ve seen no specifics, no legislation. When there are actual details, we will see what happens.”===

Fair enough. Time will tell.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 9:56 am
=== Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 9:53 am:

Gov. Rauner channeling his inner - A Guy -, speaking for Speaker Madigan.===

Dude you flatter me. Do you have an inner- A Guy?

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 9:57 am
The Governor might actually want to work on governing instead of telling us what he’s going to do. If you have the language then freaking show everyone. Enough with all of the theatrics of his “tours.” Time to work now Governor.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 9:57 am
Bruce the Messiah has converted the poster boys of “100 Years of Corruption” so they’re now friends?

Is there anything he can’t do?

Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 9:58 am
I think it was a typo, because if you read it as “fiends” it makes sense.

Comment by AC Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 9:58 am
I guess if I chose to listen to voices that pretend to tell me about a reality that doesn’t exist, but since I don’t, no, I guess only you and the Governor have that…talent(?)

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 9:59 am
I didn’t run for Governor, and (and I’m sure this is a relief to all of you) I have no plans to, but if I were, and my platform was to Shake Up Springfield, somewhere in that two year campaign, I would have drawn up at least one bill already written and ready to plop on the Speaker’s desk the day after inauguration. “Here, now let’s talk.” And yet we’re still waiting for the details he promised in 2014. I dunno….

Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 10:00 am
The devil is always in the details. The good thing about a republican governor is that it makes the republican GA a player….everyone has skin in the game — each can take credit and blame. Remember everything has to play out in a political context. Example, MJM wants solutions, but those solutions have to play out allowing him to keep a majority. This political reality plays out on and on and on………can the stars line up? I think they actually may after much noise and compromise.

Comment by facts are stubborn things Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 10:01 am
The only people Brucie is empowering is Brucie.

Comment by D.P.Gumby Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 10:02 am
Can’t wait - now all the “special” interests will move to the local level.

Comment by Dr X Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 10:05 am
“Voters should decide what gets collectively bargained inside their governments.” This sounds so crazy to me. where does he get this phrase and what does he really mean? You can’t put all the voters at the table just like you can’t put all the union mmebers at the table. Voters elect officials who then go to work to get things like this done.

Comment by Makandadawg Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 10:09 am
“We’ve become friends,” says Rauner. “I like them very much.”

He sounds like Lennie Small in Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men “We’ve become friends,” says Lennie. “I like George very much.”

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 10:12 am
Rich likes him, and they disagree on a lot. Is it impossible to believe the Gov, Speaker and Sen Pres are friends who like each other? I know you think it’s cute to allude to “voices” and “pretend” to refute another perspective, but let me ask you; is that a smart approach? If so, I’ve sure “made up” a lot of things that have turned out to be true. I’ve been wrong on occasion, but I didn’t come upon those wrongs dishonestly. Things just turn out different sometimes. I’m still hopeful going forward.

Pessimism really doesn’t have any reward.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 10:16 am
Who you talking to, Guy? Do they talk back?

Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 10:18 am
“Voters should decide what gets collectively bargained inside their governments.”

Isn’t that the reason we elect people as alderpersons, trustees, mayors and presidents? Why not just have town halls and let all the people vote on it?

Really, why is Governor Rauner just going around the state (wasting taxpayer dollars) trying to break the unions? Why isn’t he trying to work with the legislature and get things done?

Comment by NewWestSuburbanGOP'er Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 10:19 am
===I know you think it’s cute to allude to “voices” and “pretend” to refute another perspective, but let me ask you; is that a smart approach? ===

What does this mean again?

===ive, but let me ask you; is that a smart approach? If so, I’ve sure “made up” a lot of things that have turned out to be true.===

Hmm. I dunno about that…

Did you say that less than 60 days as Governor, Rauner would have his biggest compromise be seen as a betrayal of trust?

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 10:22 am
Someone is playing the “keep your friends close and your enemies closer” game! Perhaps both Rauner and Madigan/Cullerton are playing that game.

Comment by Concerned Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 10:24 am
Boys, let’s make this about the topic at hand and not ourselves, please.

Thankyou kindly.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 10:24 am
===Is it impossible to believe the Gov, Speaker and Sen Pres are friends who like each other?===

Is it important that they ARE friends?

MJM and Cullerton would like a partner they can trust. Rauner hasn’t proved, so far, to be a trusting partner…

…but boy, Rauner loves to talk about his friend MJM, lol.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 10:25 am
Latest report from the Little Birdie News Service:

Little Birdie heard this from the last Senate GOP Caucus meeting.

Leader Radogno: “Okay, we’ve got Rauner’s proposals from Indy. I’ll sponsor the workmen’s comp amendment. Who wants to sponsor the RTW amendment.”

Caucus: (Silence)

Leader Radogno: “C’mon guys, someone has to sponsor it or Rauner will have an ‘f&@$ing problem’ with us.”

Caucus: (Continued Silence)

Leader Radogno: “Alright, let’s move on to the ethics amendment, sponsors?”

Caucus: (More Silence)

Leader Radogno: “We have to do something”

Caucus: “Why doesn’t the House GOP members sponsor it?”

Leader Radogno: “Durkin told me that his caucus doesn’t want to touch it with a 10 foot pole.”

Caucus: “Figures.” (Back to silence)

Leader Radogno: “Okay, we’ll postpone the discussion until next caucus meeting.”

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 10:26 am
Rich, I hear your voice. And it’s real to me. Back to business. Sorry.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 10:27 am
““Voters should decide what gets collectively bargained inside their governments.””

I thought it was pretty clear that rights can’t be taken away just because of a majority vote.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 10:40 am
==Rich Miller - Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 10:24 am:

Boys, let’s make this about the topic at hand and not ourselves, please.==

Yes. THIS. Thanks, Rich.

Comment by ??? Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 10:44 am
Maybe Jason hasn’t quite figured out how to get to LRB yet?

Comment by Juice Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 11:06 am
I am not sure the governor understand what a “special interest” really is, or he is lying.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 11:07 am
“Is it impossible to believe the Gov, Speaker and Sen Pres are friends who like each other?”

Yes. Yes it is impossible to believe.

Comment by Soccermom Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 11:19 am
“Rich likes him, and they disagree on a lot. Is it impossible to believe the Gov, Speaker and Sen Pres are friends who like each other?”

You think Rich would like him if Rauner had publicly trash-talked about Rich like he’s trash-talked about everyone else in Springfield? I feel confident in guessing that Rich has a little more self-respect than that.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 11:30 am
===You think Rich would like him if Rauner had===

Let’s not give the governor any ideas.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 11:34 am
Just because MJM is nice to you, it does not mean he trusts you.

Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 12:31 pm
Turn it around Mr.JM. Rich hosts a site where the Governor repeatedly gets trashed day in day out from dawn until beyond dusk. And the Governor still likes him. Oscar may have something to do with it.

I’ve seen Governors and Leaders who mortally hate each other here. If they’re friends at all, it’s probably better. We’ll see.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 12:55 pm
=== RNUG - Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 12:31 pm:

Just because MJM is nice to you, it does not mean he trusts you.===

So very true. It could mean the exact opposite. Most of us will never have the opportunity to just sit one on one with him to hash something out. The Governor does. MJM has treated that office with more reverence than many of it’s occupants.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 1:54 pm
RNUG: LOL

Read your comment as ==”just because MrJM is nice to you, it does not mean he trusts you”==

Some days only MrJM makes sense from nonsense.

Comment by walker Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 3:09 pm
If I could adopt Governor Rauner’s Turnaround Agenda and issue a Resolution as a body of one, I would. Bringing local governments and municipalities on board is wise!

Comment by Black Ivy Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 3:11 pm
Black Ivy

Go ahead. Nobody’s stopping you. Write a letter to the editor that gushes with support for this nonsense.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 3:14 pm
===If I could adopt Governor Rauner’s Turnaround Agenda and issue a Resolution as a body of one, I would. Bringing local governments and municipalities on board is wise!===

What you suggest is democracy.

You voted for Rauner, so sleep well, Rauner is doing your bidding.

At least your vote holds more weight then these Dopey resolutions do, lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 3:14 pm