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Durkin, Radogno escalate war of words

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* Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno and House Republican Leader Jim Durkin held a press conference today. Click here to watch it on BlueRoomStream.com.

* “We are getting down to crunch time,” Leader Radogno told Statehouse reporters. “Unfortunately, with each passing day, it looks more and more like the Democrats are unwilling to seriously engage and negotiate transformational reforms to state government.”

Radogno said Democratic attendance at the governor’s working groups has “become spotty,” adding “things have been slow-walked, things have been taken off the table without any real negotiation whatsoever.”

She claimed the Democrats are “ignoring the problems of this state,” including Chicago’s pension crisis, which includes a “$600 million pension payment that’s due in 40 days.”

The Democrats “want to play politics,” instead of negotiating, she said.

Radogno claimed Democrats took codifying the governor’s executive order on state employee ethics reforms off the table because they feared it was the first step to applying those reforms to the General Assembly.

* Leader Durkin said that Democrats “only appear to be interested in doubling down” on the failed reforms of the past. “They are not participating in good faith,” on the working groups, Durkin alleged, saying “Democrats have made a mockery of the process.”

Durkin said the Democrats are only interested in scoring political points on the House floor so that they can send out mailers and do robocalls into GOP districts. “They’ve ruined the middle class,” Durkin said, mocking the Democrats’ claims that they’re all about protecting the middle class.

* In response to a question about the lack of actual legislation from the governor, Radogno said most of the bills they deal with start with conversations. “It is absolute nonsense that you throw a bill on the table, vote it up or down and then move on. That’s not how it’s done.”

Radogno went on to say that the working group dealing with revenue had made some progress because the Dems are “desperate” for more revenues.

* “The signal I’m getting on the House floor is that it’s over, that they have no desire to participate,” Durkin said about the chance that the spring session would go past May 31st. Radogno said it was solely the Democrats’ choice whether the session went into overtime.

* And asked about the governor’s $400,000 contribution to Republican legislators, Radogno countered that there had been no scrutiny of contributions to the House Speaker during his fundraiser last week. She said the governor’s a Republican so it “makes sense that he supports Republicans,” and said there was “nothing nefarious about it.”

Whew. Here we go, campers…

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 2:27 pm

Comments

Buckle up. I’ts going to get bumpy.

Comment by CharlieKratos Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 2:31 pm
It is tiresome to hear this type of stuff from both parties, year in and year out. Is there ever a day in an Illinois legislator’s life when they aren’t campaigning?

Comment by illinoised Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 2:32 pm
I’m not sure what Durkin is trying to accomplish.

His statements make him sound like he’s weak and whining: “Waah, they won’t play with us.”

Stuff like this does not help his cause.

Comment by Gooner Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 2:34 pm
Blah blah blah–its corrupt politics when they do it, but responsible government when we do it balh blah blah

For God’s sakes grow up–all of you!!!!

Comment by train111 Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 2:34 pm
Welp, the lines are drawn, Durkin and Radogno want the blame on the Dems.

Ok.

Governors own budgets, governors own overtime.

It’s up to Rauner how this goes.

Someone needs to remind My Party;

You want to hang with your Governor, there’s always a price.

Rauner didn’t want a budget, Rauner wanted an Agenda, a faux Agenda, Bill-less, but full of rhetoric.

Of course the Dems are slow-playing. Rauner doesn’t respect the General Assembly.

Ok, good luck with that, Governor.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 2:35 pm
Question that should’ve been asked by reporters at the press conference–Where are the bills Governor Rauner has promised the people? Why haven’t the GOP put forth anything worthwhile?

Comment by NewWestSuburbanGOP'er Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 2:35 pm
==“Democrats have made a mockery of the process.”==

Why don’t they respect the process of these secret meetings with cutesy nicknames?!

What is/are the bill/bills Rodogno and Durkin would like to see passed? When would they like to have the vote?

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 2:36 pm
===Question that should’ve been asked by reporters at the press conference===

It was asked. Learn to read.

===In response to a question about the lack of actual legislation from the governor, Radogno said ===

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 2:38 pm
- NewWestSuburbanGOP’er -;
Didn’t this response try to cover that question?

* In response to a question about the lack of actual legislation from the governor, Radogno said most of the bills they deal with start with conversations. “It is absolute nonsense that you throw a bill on the table, vote it up or down and then move on. That’s not how it’s done.”

Comment by CharlieKratos Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 2:39 pm
Sounds to me like Durkin is accusing Democrats of following his playbook.

I am not disagreeing with his concerns, just noting the irony.

BTW, if you are trying to build bridges and tone down the partisanship, a press conference is usually not the way to do it.

Comment by Juvenal Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 2:39 pm
==Radogno said most of the bills they deal with start with conversations.==

It’s May 19. We need to be passed Step 1 by now.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 2:39 pm
The exterior of Illinois State Capitol deceptively looks like an important place where serious discussions would occur. Until you step inside.

Comment by illinoised Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 2:40 pm
“Dems won’t give us what we want”… “Dems aren’t negotiating for transformational change”

The GOP wants some sort of agreed bill process that results in RTW, term limits, bans on contributions from traditionally democratic constituencies, reductions in work comp benefits and tort reform. And they’re willing to give a 0.5% income tax increase in exchange? An increase that is going to have to happen anyway (along with other revenue)? Fat chance.

Comment by chi Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 2:41 pm
LOL!
We’re the minority party who got bought by Mr. Big Britches in the Mansion, and we’re madder than HECK that the majority party doesn’t want to help us reform them into oblivion! They won’t attend Mr. Big Britches’ Reform meetings. They won’t pass legislation we haven’t proposed! They won’t write legislation they ought to write!

“Ignore that man behind the green curtain! We are not marionettes! There are no strings on me! I have never before seen any of that money with Mr. Big Britches name on it!”

“We are here - here - here - here - here - ’snap’ - here to help raise our st-st-st-st-state! Here-here-here-here-here-here…”

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 2:42 pm
Let us know when you actually come up with “transformational reforms to state government.” So far we have talking points about: right to work empowerment zones; illegal pension changes, workmen’s comp; unemployment insurance; and, tort reform. Not much government transforming here.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 2:43 pm
Sorry Rich was trying to read and take a call at the same time and must have skipped over it. My most humblest apology.

Comment by NewWestSuburbanGOP'er Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 2:44 pm
Of course not a single one of you wants to hold the dems responsible. We are 2 weeks from the deadline and the governor proposed his budget. But what have the dems done? They have purposefully delayed the process and managed to stage political theater on amendments and bills that were hastily put together, just to make the governor look weak. Fine call the republicans Whiney. They are. What else can they do? They have come to the table they have stood by their principals. While I’m typing this what are the democrats doing? They are extensively debating HB306 a bill that is more cut and dry than anything I have ever seen! But it’s more fun to debate and spend hours on this simple bill that should have passed with zero debate. But that would be efficient government, something that we will never have with a democratic majority.

Comment by BillNyeThePoliticsGuy Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 2:44 pm
Interesting that the Republicans are so insistent that engagement take place and work get done, now that there is a wealthy and domineering Republican Governor. For the last ten years or so, the Republicans refused to be engaged and demand that work get done.

Comment by Aldyth Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 2:44 pm
In response to a question about the lack of actual legislation from the governor, Radogno said most of the bills they deal with start with conversations. “It is absolute nonsense that you throw a bill on the table, vote it up or down and then move on. That’s not how it’s done.”

But doesn’t someone have to take the first step and “throw something on the table”? If you have an idea how something should be done, put it on paper and let the discussion process begin. Does the Gov expect the Dems to bring him bills fulfilling his objectives?

Comment by Slick Willy Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 2:46 pm
I’m just sad that the GOP Caucuses have been so co-opted, that seeing avenues to compromise is overshadowed by the talking points of the Owls.

I’d slow play this until Rauner stands down publicly to make a deal.

Rauner will need Dem votes.

That hasn’t changed.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 2:46 pm
===But doesn’t someone have to take the first step and “throw something on the table”? ===

Governors do that.

Always was, always will be.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 2:48 pm
Meh . . .

Moody’s provided the road map.

No later than May 30th, pass a budget based on pension cost shift, cuts to revenue sharing and deferral of pension funding. Adjourn.

If the IL GOP is willing to propose and introduce new revenue sources (i.e. . . . 5% income tax) show up for a post-veto special session, and participate. If not, show up for a June special session and gavel in & gavel out.

Comment by Bill White Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 2:50 pm
= = Governors do that. = =

Except when they don’t . . .

Comment by Bill White Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 2:52 pm
===Radogno went on to say that the working group dealing with revenue had made some progress because the Dems are “desperate” for more revenues.===

I think that is a fundamental misreading of the political situation. She thinks Democrats will vote to allow RTW, enact term limits and reform Workers’ Compensation in exchange for a few Republican votes to hike the income tax rate?

Yes, most Democrats want to have additional resources to avoid the painful cuts of Rauner’s budget. But they aren’t going to go down that road alone and they aren’t going to give up on everything else either.

If Radogno and Durkin really think the Democrats are going to rush to embrace new taxes, they are dead wrong. The only way that happens is if the Dems run their own budge, which right now I’d say is a 50-50 proposition.

And thanks to Rauner, we might get Poe to substitute for Franks on the tax hike vote, which would then be veto-proof.

How do you get to be Leader when you can’t count votes?

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 2:53 pm
We are 2 weeks from the deadline and the governor proposed his budget.

Is that what it was? I thought it was a Dr. Seuss book, “One-Two-Three Make Believe!”

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 2:54 pm
What else can they do?
What do you mean, ELSE?

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 2:55 pm
===we might get Poe to substitute for Franks on the tax hike vote===

Gonna need more than that. Ten or eleven more. Madigan ain’t putting his targets on an override of a tax hike veto. C’mon, man.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 2:57 pm
So the Governor’s finally made it to the table after months of Turnaround campaigning only to find that everyone’s already peaced out. Great job, all.

Comment by Politix Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 2:57 pm
=== “It is absolute nonsense that you throw a bill on the table, vote it up or down and then move on. That’s not how it’s done.” ===

Could have fooled me. 2134 bills were put on the table in the Senate and 4219 bills in the House. Though a good portion were shells, there has been a lot of ideas put in bill form and debated by both chambers. Last GA’s wrong-headed pension reform law was introduced as SB 1 and the focus of debate throughout the session.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 2:57 pm
@BillNye - Gee, you’re as wrong as the real Bill Nye! Proposed a budget??? I can propose that pigs fly, but can they? How about the Gov and his crack staff actually propose real legislation, or in concert with the GOP staff’s that can actually be debated on the floor? How about actually, really sitting down and compromising on legislation that both parties can agree on…the “low hanging fruit” bills that can be accomplished?

I can say watching this Asian theater from year to year always seems to wait until crunch time, sort of like the statement about war…hours of waiting followed by minutes of shear terror.

Comment by Captain Illini Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 2:59 pm
It would be rude to say thy look pretty silly, so I won’t.
In meantime, House Dems have been at the working groups, but I don’t think anyone seriously believes decades of progress by working families will be dismantled in five months over some pages in the power point? Especially when so many county boards and city councils have voted “no”
Maybe someone can explain why these complaints were even launched.

Comment by Steve Brown Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 3:01 pm
This was done to “prop up” the Governor from taking onus to not getting the work done necessary to have a budget to pass by May 31st.

This theatre was about trying to pass the blame.

Rauner owns this and pretending Rauner doesn’t isn’t true.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 3:06 pm
enjoy July in Springfield

Comment by railrat Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 3:08 pm
=== C’mon, man.===

If MJM decides to go it alone, it’ll be all hands on deck. He can’t be expected to hang onto a veto-proof majority forever anyway, even with this map. Further, a veto-proof majority isn’t worth much if you don’t put it to good use.

It is not an ideal situation, but neither is waiting for the HGOPs to figure out what the green buttons are for.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 3:13 pm
I thought Rauner was going to take the arrows. I guess Durkin and Radogno haven’t learned that you can only be used if you allow it. Sad.

Comment by Minnow Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 3:14 pm
I think it’s clear that Democrats aren’t going to cave on the anti-union stuff. Why should they? Rauner, as governor, needs a budget more than anyone.

Rauner caved on $26 million in social service cuts. Yet he’s playing his cards like he’ll slash $6.2 billion across the board.

I’d call that bluff every time.

Radogno and Durkin are going to need a lot more of tneir members to pass the budget after May 31. I can see why they’re worried.

Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 3:15 pm
We’re sick of the majority acting as if it has more votes than us!

Comment by Deep Yogurt Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 3:15 pm
Apparently Radogno and Durkin haven’t spoken with the Gov as he has said repeatedly with confidence that his folks are meetin’ and they’re real close and there’s gonna be an agreement real soon.

Comment by Politix Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 3:17 pm
Rauner’s Cracker Jack Legislative Crew;

Food for thought;

You need 23 Dems, today, you’ll need 40 Dems real soon.

You are letting down the governor.

Attacking the Dems, while it lets off steam, doesn’t get you closer to 60/30 or 71/36 if it’s coming to that.

Someone needs to tell the governor this news. Everyone seems to be ignoring this on the GOP…

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 3:19 pm
Are Radogno and Durkin going to take their ball and go home?

Comment by Wensicia Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 3:20 pm
Franks: “This may have been THE ONLY TIME we are ever going to get to vote on property tax reform and you blew it”

…And who’s fault is that? *cough* Madigan

Comment by Anonymouse Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 3:21 pm
== * And asked about the governor’s $400,000 contribution to Republican legislators, Radogno countered that there had been no scrutiny of contributions to the House Speaker during his fundraiser last week. She said the governor’s a Republican so it “makes sense that he supports Republicans,” and said there was “nothing nefarious about it.” ==

A. Says the politician who received 10 grand.

B. Madigan had a fundraiser where he raised money for his committee.

Like him or not, he did not hold a well-publicized members only meeting wherein he pushed his members to vote the way he wanted them to only to follow that up with $400,000 in significant donations doled out to those same people he was pushing.

Comment by Ghostbusters Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 3:27 pm
Pass a budget, Mike. Pass such a sick budget, gut anything remotely GOP-friendly. No tax increase, and no nothing in GOP land. Do it, Mike. Do it now.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 3:27 pm
Durkin and Radogno don’t have enough Republican votes to pass gas so I can understand why they don’t wasted their time in drafting a bill with any details of Rauner’s bullet point concepts. Did they really think that have any leverage to force a compromise of Rauner’s plan in exchange for some but not even enough revenue? Wow!

Comment by MJG Citizen 4 Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 3:28 pm
Uh, ladies and gentlemen this is your Captain speakin’…now y’all are gonna need to cinch up those seat belts nice ‘n tight, cause we’re headin’ into a bit of moderate chop. Once we’re clear we’ll turn that seat belt sign off again…and will the crew please take their seats and strap in as well and make sure everything is put away and secured. This is gonna be nasty…and as always, thanks for flyin’ with us.

Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 3:31 pm
=== It would be rude to say thy look pretty silly, so I won’t. ===

Now that’s a superstaffer Bruce.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 3:32 pm
I never get these pressers where there are complaints about the “process” and concern expressed about going past May 31.

Who, outside of the people directly involved, is supposed to care?

Among the general public, just how many people do you think are riveted by the drama of process in the GA at the end of May?

This presser had an audience of one, the guy who signs the checks. It was all for him.

Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 3:32 pm
Sorry - there is no go it alone strategy. Geez.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 3:37 pm
Seems like Radogno and Durkin are nervous about the thought of actually having to put some skin in the game. Can’t vote no and present forever folks.

Comment by Tough Guy Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 3:38 pm
= They are extensively debating HB306 a bill that is more cut and dry than anything I have ever seen! But it’s more fun to debate and spend hours on this simple bill that should have passed with zero debate =

The State Board of Education says in its fiscal note that “the legislation may cause the State to lose over $1 billion in federal funds if less than 95% of students participate in State assessments” (see ilga.gov). Isn’t the potential loss of $1 billion in state revenue a legitimate reason to have an extensive debate?

Comment by cover Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 3:40 pm
nothing is going to get done until paychecks don’t go out.

Comment by facts are stubborn things Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 3:49 pm
I sure hope the GOP is planning to ramp up, not down, the pressers and complaint sessions in the media. It is the only way for them to go. “Introduce legislation”? Are you kidding? Madigan was so desperate to gun down Rauner bills that he wrote his own versions and blew those away. No, no, use the summer to build public discussion of the bills in the Fall, THEN let Madigan gun them down to his deep pleasure . . . and detriment, in time.

Comment by Percival Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 3:49 pm
==I never get these pressers where there are complaints about the “process” and concern expressed about going past May 31.

Who, outside of the people directly involved, is supposed to care?==

Amen to that, Word. But, as they are having super secret negotiations, they can’t complain about the substance of their differences.

Comment by Century Club Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 3:50 pm
I keep hearing people use the term “Good Faith” but I wonder if any of the parties act in GOOD FAITH!

Comment by BMAN Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 3:50 pm
=== === It would be rude to say thy look pretty silly, so I won’t. ===

Now that’s a superstaffer Bruce.===

- Norseman -, too true.

The biggest failures for the Rauner Administration, to date;

The Governor’s Executive Legislative Crew and the Press Shop.

The two Crews that could bail him out, but…

… tick tock.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 3:53 pm
The budget speech was in February. It’s May. It’s past time for talk and time for bill form and line items. The GOP attempt at a being Abbott and Costello fails again.

Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 3:58 pm
Maybe, just maybe, Madigan and Rauner have begun to put the working groups and other caucus leaders aside, and will produce a proposed package thru direct negotiation.

Always hopeful. To a fault, probably.

Comment by walker Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 4:13 pm
Welcome to the big top circus under the dome!

Comment by BlameBruceRauner Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 4:18 pm
Let’s “reset” for a moment;

Speaker runs two Turnaround Agenda planks to zero “green” lights.

Rauner, on the eve of the RTW vote, donates $400K to all GOP GA members.

Mailers, in the meantime start with Dems getting hit first, Rauner denies any knowledge…

Madigan also sends mailers, doesn’t deny it.

Groups meet in secret, but GOP Leaders say Dems not participating.

Dems claim they aren’t willing to negotiate decades of work for a 5 month governor and his agenda power point presentation.

No bills are seen as the Governor’s, at least publicly.

Rauner claims being close on all fronts…

… as Radogno and Durkin claim, today, Dems are stalling (slow-walking) the process.

Whew.

Now at 11 days and counting for 60 and 30…

Now at 11 days for the Tournaround Agenda “must be first” thinking.

Now, … at eleven days… and trust is waning and blame is flailing.

“Who” is to blame? “Who?”

Who.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 4:21 pm
Does Rauner demand everyone stay until the transformation is complete? Does MJM regret not supporting Quinn more for re-election? Or is he enjoying himself too much? Will #40892-424 resort to shoe polish to color his hair?

Stay tuned - or not. It won’t make any difference. It’s like soap operas. If you walk away for a year and then watch one episode, you will be caught up.

Comment by dupage dan Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 4:23 pm
NIU stalwart ’splains
Campaign cash …treasurer sez he waffled but decided to keep the cash…hence the double report
only got $8K

Comment by Anonin' Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 4:23 pm
The fact that they are doing a press conference to say that, effectively, Democrats have walked away from the negotiating table, signals the 4th quarter buzzer has already sounded. Is it a shame? Yes. Are both parties to blame? Yes. But I cannot help but think that Rauner brought this upon himself. For someone with a Harvard MBA, you’d expect this guy to know what negotiations are and that working for consensus requires you to understand the needs/wants of the other side… tin ears.

Comment by The Muse Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 4:32 pm
dupage dan: will prisoner #40892-424 continue to use Texas bike gang members as his protectors in prison after Waco, or is PR no longer a concern?

Comment by Rod Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 4:36 pm
How can you have “spotty” attendance and no “good faith” at meetings of working groups that don’t exist? Maybe we’ll get to see an attendance sheet and minutes of these non-existent gatherings?

Comment by Trajan Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 4:38 pm
I am shocked, shocked i tell you, that the “process” has broken down. Didnt see that coming…except from the start.

Repubs are whining the dems arent negotiating in good faith. Well, duh. What was ever really in it for them by caving to rauner? Nothing.

Now we get to retail. Mailers attacking dems are launched. So
The response is swift.

This is clearly not the climate that will give us a workable budget in 11 days. It may be that Rauner will have to admit defeat on his agenda before progress can be made. July?

Comment by Langhorne Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 4:38 pm
Radogno said “governor’s working groups.” Now she has to drink! This could be a fun game over the next two weeks (or maybe months).

Comment by Trajan Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 4:41 pm
So much for “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas”.

Comment by Wensicia Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 4:41 pm
What’s next? Will the Governor put the Democrats on double secret probation?

https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=double+secret+probation+animal+house&ei=UTF-8&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-003

Comment by Trajan Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 4:44 pm
This is so routine the Republican leaders have gone ahead and scheduled the Blue Room for next May 19 to express their outrage.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 4:52 pm
Most bills do in fact start with conversations. Why one just happened to take place last night - in Freeport. Don’t believe me ask ck. Perhaps if she was giving us daily updates on the talks between Durkin, Radogno and the Dems we might feel a bit better about all of this.

Comment by pundent Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 4:57 pm
This has the blessings of the governor to deflect blame from him he paid for this service in advance

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 5:06 pm
I’m glad the Dems have finally stopped participating in the secret ’skull & bones’ meetings, and I hope the GOP legislators gain the the fortitude to tell their Governor, “No” as appropriate. They are being sorely used, and it isn’t pretty to watch.

Comment by Observationingly Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 5:12 pm
=GOP legislators…are being sorely used=

They’d rather be used than ignored. They still can’t expect the D majority to sign on. The Governor wrongly thinks he has a voter mandate for the whole turnaround agenda. The Rs must back way off from where they still are to win compromise.

Comment by James Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 5:39 pm
Last I heard, none of the Governors bills have been introduced yet, nor will he even let anyone, (even press organizations who have filed FOIA suits) know what is in them. If Durkin and Radogno would introduce his bills, then the discussions and “public” negotiations could begin in General Assembly committees.

Comment by Joe M Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 5:43 pm
The gov does not need a budget approved. Why? He does not care if IL government shuts down.

Comment by Mama Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 6:19 pm
I saw Radogno on TV earlier. She said there will be no new revenue until the Democrats accept Rauner’s reforms. I guess there will be no new revenue then unless there are some concessions on both sides. There is no way the Democrats will accept most of Rauner’s reform ideas, which would shrink the middle class in Illinois if enacted. The GOP holds the Governor’s office now and if there is no new revenue a lot of people are going to be hurt and the state credit rating will take a hit and things will go from bad to worse. If this happens the blame will land at the feet of the Governor. I don’t know how that helps the GOP members in the legislature. Radogno better play her cards carefully, she is in no position to make threats right now.

Comment by The Dude Abides Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 6:26 pm
Very interesting discussion to this point. Readers and commentators have made some very good points and the verbiage from the legislators does not seem to help lead to a reasonable resolution.

Comment by illini Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 6:43 pm
Come July 1, some agencies, departments, offices are going to cease to exist. Then the real negotiations start. Just wait and see. This governor was elected by people with no love for the government of the State of Illinois. And he knows it.

Comment by papa2008 Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 6:49 pm
“We can’t talk to you until you agree to our demands” seems like a non-starter in terms of conducting a real negotiation between two parties.

I guess they can’t use the “I’ll bankrupt you with legal fees” line in this context.

Comment by DuPage Dave Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 6:58 pm
So the same people who left the bargaining table 12 years ago are now claiming the Ds aren’t negotiating in good faith?

The audacity.

Maybe Durkin and Radogno can stop by LRB and have an appropriation bill drafted that shows each and every cut they are willing to put their names on? That would move the ball forward.

And why they are at it perhaps the infamous turnaround proposals can get drafted too.

Or did they forget where LRB is in their 12 year timeout?

Comment by Abe the Babe Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 7:16 pm
@papa2008 Rauner was elected by a lot of people who had had it with Pat Quinn and he was the only alternative.

Comment by The Dude Abides Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 7:29 pm
Rauner continues to lose in the courts as well:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-rauner-fair-share-union-lawsuit-met-0520-20150519-story.html

Comment by Wensicia Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 7:38 pm
The work groups are an willful action have Democrats negotiate from minority position. Each workgroup is majority GOP members. Voters elected twice as many Dems as GOP. But Bruce sets up groups with the reverse ratio which he will later proclaim as representing the state. Bruce has said he’ll doing everything to win and that includes all variety of deceit and willfull manipulation.

Comment by IL17Progressive Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 7:45 pm
@papa2008. Bruce received only 0.3% votes over a majority. Bruce’s mega-ego results in his inability to recognize the same voters elected twice as many Dems, the big government people. Dems are acting correctly in refusing every aspect of Bruce’s self-serving agenda as voters gave them that 2 to 1 majorities.

Comment by IL17Progressive Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 8:18 pm
@AbetheBabe -

Radogno has filed the Governor’s budget with all of the cuts included. It just hasn’t moved…

Comment by TotesMcGoats Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 8:22 pm
This standoff reminds me of when the Jehovah’s Witness come to your door to try to get you to change religions. doesn’t happen very often.

Comment by Soccertease Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 8:42 pm
Democrats unanimously vote down a right to work law…political theater.
Republican leaders blame Democrats for everything wrong…political theater.
Call it even and get to work on a budget?

Comment by Finally Out (and now very glad to be) Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 9:19 pm
October, here we come!

Comment by RNUG Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 10:08 pm
They’re telling Mom that Mikey and Johnny are being mean to them, but there is no mom and even if there were a mom, she’d be too bored by the whining to consider their complaints.

Comment by Quizzical Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 11:32 pm
= For someone with a Harvard MBA, you’d expect this guy to know what negotiations are and that working for consensus requires you to understand the needs/wants of the other side… tin ears. =

Harvard MBA’s, like ALL MBA’s around the world only understand on “negotiating technique”, which is: NPV of Future Cash Flow. If + or 0, do the deal. If -, no deal. There is nothing intrinsically “better” about Harvard MBA’s with the exception of their personal opinions of themselves.

Comment by Skeptical Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 8:43 am
==If MJM decides to go it alone, it’ll be all hands on deck. ==

Which is why he won’t decide that.

FWIW, I agree with you, a majority is supposed to be used to accomplish something. But I don’t think MJM agrees.

Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 8:58 am