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Rauner, legislators create “Star Chambers”

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Illinois

During his campaign for governor, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner said he wanted to oversee the most transparent administration in history.

But three months into his term, Rauner’s team won’t reveal who is involved in a series of high-level talks about some of the governor’s most prized pet issues, ranging from his controversial plan to allow local right-to-work laws to an overhaul of state spending.

“They are private meetings,” Rauner spokeswoman Catherine Kelly said Thursday. “They are private discussions that we’re keeping confidential to protect the process.” […]

Kelly also wouldn’t answer questions about who is involved in each group, when they are meeting and what subjects are being discussed.

“We’re only saying what the governor has said. That’s all I can give you right now,” Kelly said. “We’re just not talking about them right now. We’re just not commenting on them.”

I was told by the House Speaker’s office yesterday that all info was being kept secret at the behest of the governor’s office.

Look, private negotiations are held all the time at the Statehouse. But this goes well beyond that. This is, instead, a huge, all-encompassing shadow legislative committee structure, with a top secret membership list, meeting in undisclosed places at undisclosed times and with participants who must pledge to keep all proceedings confidential. They even reportedly have a code name for the super-top secret working group charged with examining new revenue options: “Vegas.”

That means people impacted by any potential changes won’t have any input. While some would say it keeps lobbyists out of the process, I would say it means politicians are writing new laws in a vacuum. That’s not only a dangerous precedent, it’s also stupid. They’re not all-knowing gods.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 1, 15 @ 9:43 am

Comments

You’d have to keep a pretty extensive database to keep track of Rauner’s lies, outright lies, and lies of omission.

Comment by Aldyth Friday, May 1, 15 @ 9:47 am
Transparency? Ha, what a joke! The most hypocritical person in Illinois governmental history.

Comment by NewWestSuburbanGOP'er Friday, May 1, 15 @ 9:49 am
A czar and his oligarchs

Comment by Wow Friday, May 1, 15 @ 9:51 am
Nobody really believed that transparency thing, did they? Wonder if we’ll see something passed and signed in the middle of the night.

Comment by Mouthy Friday, May 1, 15 @ 9:52 am
Meh. I have my doubts that anything is actually going on. All this does is give credence to Rauner like he is actually doing something… even something productive. Which, as we know, is not what he does.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, May 1, 15 @ 9:54 am
Welp, Rauner is bringing the Board Room mentality to Illinois Government.

The “transparency” thing was a buzz word, it was never a policy, given corporate structures and CEO stylings.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 1, 15 @ 9:55 am
“What they don’t know won’t hurt ‘em.”

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Friday, May 1, 15 @ 9:57 am
Once this term is over it will be interesting to look back and see what (if anything) is accomplished given all the rhetoric. As has been pointed out by OW and others countless times operating in a vacuum doesn’t work in State Government. At the end of the day, this Governor is going to have to learn the art of compromise if he is to accomplish anything substantive. It’s early and he deserves some time but so far the bark doesn’t match the bite.

Comment by Stones Friday, May 1, 15 @ 9:58 am
The sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach just got worse.

Comment by State employee Friday, May 1, 15 @ 9:58 am
Vegas. That’s cute. What happens here stays here. Whoever is writing the code names is a superstar and could be making way more in the private sector.

Comment by LizPhairTax Friday, May 1, 15 @ 9:58 am
I wasn’t smart enough to first bring this up, but it holds true. This Governor came from a world of private equity, where strategy and deal making is held in close confidence until it benefits you to do otherwise. Got news for the Guv though, you’re not in Kansas anymore.

Comment by Chicago Hack Friday, May 1, 15 @ 9:58 am
Ego-tripping. Pretending he was elected president and has a need for “code names” and “top secret” ways and means.

To Rauner’s advantage, the next time he burns legislators by renegeging on agreements, fewer people wil have first-hand knowledge of it.

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, May 1, 15 @ 9:58 am
I guess this does not violate any open meetings acts requirements…however it certainly is disappointing.

Comment by John A Logan Friday, May 1, 15 @ 10:00 am
When you combine this post with the first post today (”Democratic” groups raises millions more), it makes you wonder if it isn’t time to Occupy Illinois.

Perhaps my tinfoil hat is on too tight for a Friday, but come on, this is getting crazy.

Comment by Roamin' Numeral Friday, May 1, 15 @ 10:00 am
Capt Fax
We all know that open meetin’s are all part of the corrupt bargains tat have strangled IL and thwarted the effort to become West Indiana.
Please throttle all that negativity. Guessin’ all will change when TeamBVR starts the negative TV assault …3-2-1!
Meanwhile focus on the Derby — thinkin’ 6-8-17, but may go with 16,17,20 due to TeamBVR
Or the Vegas Brawl or the Bears draft picks

Comment by Anonin' Friday, May 1, 15 @ 10:00 am
This is how we do things in private industry. Everyone will know everything soon. See how transparent that is? ; /
Trust me.

Comment by Joe Isuzu Friday, May 1, 15 @ 10:01 am
Vegas - casino money.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 1, 15 @ 10:01 am
Rich, you are assuming the legislators are actually writing anything. It could be they are just listening to what Raunerbots are trying to sell.

Comment by Democrowhat Friday, May 1, 15 @ 10:03 am
Legislators are not all-knowing gods, indeed. That’s why nothing infuriates me more than watching committees railroad bills straight to the floor on partisan roll call, without ever hearing a peep from the witnesses. Bad policy gets jammed through all the time by the not-so-all-knowing gods, right out in public - with plenty of those affected sitting right there waiting to testify, who never get heard - and yet approximately squat is said about it.

These bills will have to, at the very least, ultimately go through that same process. So what’s the difference?

Comment by Sheila Simon's Banjo Friday, May 1, 15 @ 10:05 am
Vegas — where who folds first is the real game.

Comment by Cheswick Friday, May 1, 15 @ 10:05 am
Rauner’s idea of transparency is giving us an inaccurate and outdated list of Rutan exempt government employees. Meanwhile legislation that affects the lives of people is being negotiated in secret. These people will have no opportunity to see how their lives will change until it’s too late.

Yes, behind the door negotiations is a staple of the legislative process. However, most of the time the negotiations revolve around proposed legislation and budget plans that have been in the public forum at some point during the process. What we have here is a governor’s ENTIRE legislative package being discussed in secret with the only public information comes from a PowerPoint slideshow and the whitepaper that accompanies it.

If this is the transparency we get with the Turnaround governor, I want to go back to the old ways. At least we had more details in advance on how we were going to be affected.

Comment by Norseman Friday, May 1, 15 @ 10:05 am
“Look, private negotiations are held all the time at the Statehouse. But this goes well beyond that. This is, instead, a huge, all-encompassing shadow legislative committee structure, with a top secret membership list, meeting in undisclosed places at undisclosed times and with participants who must pledge to keep all proceedings confidential.’

That comment says it all!!!

Comment by Federalist Friday, May 1, 15 @ 10:06 am
The Transparency Era will begin once the new group in charge gets everything they want - not until then.

Comment by Anon Friday, May 1, 15 @ 10:07 am
Considering the effect it may have on the people of this state, they should have named it the Manhattan Project II, not Vegas.

Comment by Wensicia Friday, May 1, 15 @ 10:12 am
They are certainly transparent about their desire for secrecy, so we got that going for us.

Comment by 100 Miles West Friday, May 1, 15 @ 10:13 am
If Rauner was a Democrat, Illinois Policy Institute would be loudly protesting this process.

Comment by Bluefish Friday, May 1, 15 @ 10:13 am
Transparency only applies to everyone but the governor and his peeps.

Comment by Mama Friday, May 1, 15 @ 10:14 am
@John A Logan: Really, though, how does it not violate the Open Meetings Act, at least in spirit? The law covers “legislative, executive, administrative, or advisory bodies of the state.” The Superstar Cloak-and-Dagger Committee appears to be an advisory committee by any other name. This really does seem to be a step beyond “business as usual.” Very bad.

Comment by Crispy Friday, May 1, 15 @ 10:14 am
I guess I am in the minority and don’t think this is that big of a deal. I’m confident that things will leak. The Dems are not going to make a work comp deal without input from the trial lawyers and the unions. Similar on other issues. Maybe as time goes on, I’ll change my mind, but this doesn’t seem too different as compared to how pension reform was handled, except the broader scope.

Comment by Salty Friday, May 1, 15 @ 10:15 am
The governor’s job is like a poke game to Rauner.

Comment by Mama Friday, May 1, 15 @ 10:15 am
Shameless exaggeration of the Erickson article. Read it. Nothing remotely approaching something worthy of “star chamber” and nothing improper in any of this. Just more of Rich’s anti-Rauner campaign.

Comment by Anon Friday, May 1, 15 @ 10:16 am
I wonder what legislators think will happen to them if they break their “pledge” to remain silent about even if they’re meeting, and what general topics the committees are discussing?

Not being invited to some bill signing?

Losing access to any future decision-making?

Comment by walker Friday, May 1, 15 @ 10:17 am
Rauner’s got a long way to go until he is Obama transparent.

Comment by Anon2U Friday, May 1, 15 @ 10:22 am
I guess I missed the part where it said whatever decisions come out of these meetings won’t be reviewed by the public and legislators, and will just automatically become law.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 1, 15 @ 10:31 am
The more people who know, the harder secrets are to keep, so I’m assuming the working groups are relatively small in order to enforce the confidentiality. But eventually what they’re working on will have to be presented in caucus meetings, and funny things start to happen when members get involved.

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Friday, May 1, 15 @ 10:38 am
Bluefish @10:13 nailed it…

Comment by Finally Out (and now very glad to be) Friday, May 1, 15 @ 10:40 am
Shaking up Springfield (behind closed doors)oh yeah I remember that commercial.

Comment by Obamas Puppy Friday, May 1, 15 @ 10:40 am
This is one of the differences between the public sector and the private sector.

Comment by Just Me Friday, May 1, 15 @ 10:42 am
Twinkle Twinkle - Jane Taylor, enhanced by VanillaMan

Twinkle Twinkle little Vegas
Your existence is outrageous
Up above and out of reach
You dictate our lives and then you preach
We won’t believe a word you say
When you govern in this way.

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, May 1, 15 @ 11:13 am
I suspect the legislative leaders love this just as much as Rauner. They are all cut from the same cloth.

Comment by Skirmisher Friday, May 1, 15 @ 11:20 am
The BGA screaming is so distracting.

Comment by walker Friday, May 1, 15 @ 11:23 am
Seriously, did anyone really believe Rauner would be transparent? When was the last time anyone knew of a venture capitalist who was transparent? Gordon Gecko? Carl Icahn? Kaj-Erik Relander? Michael Milken? I think I have some more reliably predictive words than transparent: cloudy, opaque, dark, questionable, unclear, vague, unintelligible.

Comment by Skeptical Friday, May 1, 15 @ 11:23 am
“They are private discussions that we’re keeping confidential to protect the process.”

protect the process? they are circumventing the process laid out in the legislative article. it is shameful. bills will have to be passed eventually, but we deserve and have a right to see the starting point, and adjustments along the way.

Comment by Langhorne Friday, May 1, 15 @ 11:24 am
=If Rauner was a Democrat, Illinois Policy Institute would be loudly protesting this process.==

THIS. 1,000x this!

Comment by Politix Friday, May 1, 15 @ 11:27 am
=== I guess I missed the part where it said whatever decisions come out of these meetings won’t be reviewed by the public and legislators, and will just automatically become law. ===

Don’t be stupid. If Rauner wanted transparency, he would have released the so-called legislative proposals that were done weeks ago - according to Rauner. You’re either a shill or someone totally ignorant of how things work in Springfield.

Comment by Norseman Friday, May 1, 15 @ 11:30 am
Just keep saying it, 60 and 30. All of the secret working groups still require the votes in the end to accomplish anything.

Comment by relocated Friday, May 1, 15 @ 11:33 am
– The BGA screaming is so distracting.–

LOL, Andy knows who pays the rent.

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, May 1, 15 @ 11:40 am
So this is worse than an empty shell bill that gets filed then is amended with real legislation and voted on just before the end of a legislative session. That’s ok because it was Quinn doing it with Madigan & Cullerton.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 1, 15 @ 11:43 am
They have task force and committees for things they really don’t want to do, like fund education appropriately. They have secret meetings for things they plan to do but would face opposition if they let people know in advance of their plans. They then craft legislation that gets passed seemingly overnight and is on the Gov’s desk before the rest of us have any idea of what happened.

Comment by Nobody Friday, May 1, 15 @ 11:49 am
=== Now I understand the shortage of tin foil at HyVee ===

Then stopped buying the stuff and let ordinary people get some.

P.S. If you want a serious discourse, get a nickname.

Comment by Norseman Friday, May 1, 15 @ 12:09 pm
Maybe a “Modern Illuminati” with ties to Vegas will control a casino in Chicago???

This lack of transparency by government will eventually result in lack of trust by voters.

Comment by Enviro Friday, May 1, 15 @ 12:40 pm
Eventually?

Comment by AnonymousOne Friday, May 1, 15 @ 1:17 pm
It reminds me of the secret “Energy Task Force” that Cheney chaired right after Bush took office. The FOIAs are still unfulfilled, almost 15 years later, but the price of gas sure shot through the roof.
There is a reason things are done in secret, and it usually ain’t good.

Comment by cdog Friday, May 1, 15 @ 1:41 pm
Bills created and their content discussed behind closed doors make me nervous.

Comment by Joe M Friday, May 1, 15 @ 1:47 pm
Well if the working groups can come to agreements we can expect what ever comes out of them in the form of draft bills to pass both chambers with the speed of lightening before opposition can mobilize or people can digest the bills.

Isn’t this the way its done? I give you this change to workman’s comp and you give me this much additional revenue to be appropriated to this or that. I give you this or that tort reform and you give us this much more revenue. Its a pretty ugly thought, but very possible.

Better to have a government shut down and a dragged out battle royal in the open than that. But I suspect most legislators would rather not experience that. In the end a deal will be made.

Comment by Rod Friday, May 1, 15 @ 2:03 pm
Rod, we’re talking about an unprecedented scope of secrecy here by a governor who professes a desire for transparency.

What we have here is a governor’s ENTIRE legislative initiative being negotiated by secret committees, in secret meetings with secret proposals that have NEVER been shared with the public.

The only thing transparent about Rauner is that he’s not trustworthy.

Comment by Norseman Friday, May 1, 15 @ 2:28 pm
Jason Turner has been the Shadow Secretary of DHS since Feb. Expect a lot of “welfare to work” stuff magically appearing. Bassi is a patsy.

Comment by Honeybear Friday, May 1, 15 @ 2:39 pm
Further proof that our democratic republic is on the outs. We are evolving. There is a hint of totalitarian mixed with corporate fascism. And a dash of plutocracy. Not good for “we the people’. Not funny either!

Comment by real one Friday, May 1, 15 @ 3:23 pm
Take the tin foil hat off, put it down and take a deep breath. Unless someone never reported the major constitutional change of bills having to go through committees in both chambers and be voted on on the floor of each chamber, this is really a non-story. The four tops have always met privately, and, despite some “thow them a bone” soundbites here and there, no real information is ever released until the process is over. When there’s a bill filed, heard in committee and begins moving through the process, there will likely be very few - if any - real secrets. For a group used to this process in Illinois, there sure is a lot of Chicken Little infecting this place these days. Good grief.

Comment by Amuzing Myself Friday, May 1, 15 @ 3:58 pm
Amuzing, you are amusing. Thanks for the Friday afternoon laugh. Do you have another humorous story to take us into the weekend?

Comment by Norseman Friday, May 1, 15 @ 4:11 pm