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Looking ahead

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After seeming to indicate Friday that workers’ compensation reform and a property tax freeze were the most important things he wanted to achieve, Rauner on Sunday said all five of the proposals introduced a week ago needed to be addressed. In addition to the property tax freeze and workers’ compensation reform, they include term limits, changes to how political maps are drawn and reforms of civil liability lawsuits. […]

By going past the end of May, the legislature will now need more votes to pass legislation. Instead of 60 votes in the House and 30 in the Senate, bills must now get 71 votes in the House and 36 in the Senate.

The state’s current fiscal year ends June 30, but a critical spending point for the state isn’t reached until about mid-July, when first payrolls must be issued.

Rauner said the administration is making contingency plans, but he would not elaborate.

* Tribune…

Madigan said the wealth of Rauner and his allies to use against Democrats is “a new element of consideration. We’ve thought about it. We’ve planned for it.”

That planning appears to be the decision by Madigan and Cullerton to bring lawmakers back to Springfield in just days, using the floor of the House and Senate to respond to Rauner’s use of the bully pulpit, buttressed by the Republican TV campaign.

* Erickson…

Rauner said his office was making “contingency” plans, but would not confirm whether that meant he was getting ready for a government shutdown or a strike by unionized state workers when their contract expires.

“We are going to prepare for any and all contingencies,” Rauner said.

* More…

Because this is neither a pre-deadline regular session nor a special session called by the speaker and president or the governor, the lawmakers won’t be getting their daily expense payments or mileage reimbursements — a savings of $20,000 on per diem payments alone.

The governor called that savings a little bit of good news in an otherwise stunningly disappointing spring session.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 9:56 am

Comments

I have whiplash from how fast the governor darts between which parts of his agenda are on the table and which are not.

Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 10:06 am
Just take it day by day and hope some adults enter the Capitol.

Comment by Norseman Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 10:32 am
Mixed signals from the governor.

Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 10:47 am
OK, it was a muddle, but did I miss the part about RTW? I know on here it’s been said that the Gov was dropping that, but that it would be on the table if nothing was done by May31. But he didn’t mention it in his ‘five points’. So it’s not going anywhere? Color me confused.

Comment by Not quite a majority Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 10:52 am
First - he blew up his lifeboat, claiming he could walk on water. Then with his boats in tatters, we all saw that he couldn’t even swim. Now, he is telling us that the problem is that the water is too deep as he tries to reassemble the lifeboat he blew up.

…and we thought Blagojevich was bad.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 10:58 am
==First - he blew up his lifeboat, claiming he could walk on water. Then with his boats in tatters, we all saw that he couldn’t even swim. Now, he is telling us that the problem is that the water is too deep as he tries to reassemble the lifeboat he blew up.==

VanillaMan — I am in awe, sir, in awe.

Comment by IllinoisBoi Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 11:26 am
I’m sure the Governor and his people knew that they wouldn’t get squat out of the Democrats this Spring (except for ridicule and arrogance, of course.) I remind all that no one cares about who was leading the Kentucky Derby after the first turn. I suspect that the Governor sees a long race.

Comment by Percival Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 11:30 am
==I’m sure the Governor and his people knew that they wouldn’t get squat out of the Democrats this Spring==

Their speech and actions belie your certitude.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 11:33 am
“Governor and his people knew that they wouldn’t get squat” So the Governor that “never fails” went in knowing he was going to fail?

Comment by Skeptic Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 11:44 am
A rule of political war is “make them act”, as in make them shoot down your reforms, and make them vote fore the unbalanced budgets right up to overriding your vetoes. Make a record. Then use it. This is pretty basic stuff.

Comment by Percival Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 12:11 pm
I think you nailed it Percival. Rauner did his due diligence in putting these needed reforms and policies into the hopper. He did his best to make his case why they should be passed and few, outside those who want to profit as they have from current deficit spending from the Madigan’s and Cullerton’s disagreed. The money was there to take care of a lot of the “vulnerable” folks programs, but that could’ve been taken from some of the more politically parasitic spending like Quinn’s last minute grants.

Many think this “Bambi in the headlights” but it looks more like strategy against overwhelming political power to me. I guess we’ll see.

Comment by Arizona Bob Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 1:28 pm
Percival and AB - And the part where Rauner never presents a bill to advance the issues that he holds near and dear, absolutely brilliant.

Comment by pundent Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 2:43 pm
===”I have whiplash from how fast the governor darts between which parts of his agenda are on the table and which are not.”===

You must be rather frail. Nothing…nothing moved that quickly on this.

Comment by A guy Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 2:44 pm