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The blame game continues

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Illinois

* Check out the rhetoric…

Democrats led by House Speaker Mike Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton have said the budget can be balanced with a tax increase, but Rauner wants a property tax freeze, worker compensation reform, terms limits and other business-friendly changes designed to promote job growth.

“It’s devastating to know that he is trying to do this to working families,” Phelps said. “His budget was out of whack, as well. We had to do something so government wouldn’t shut down. I am hoping he doesn’t want government to shut down, because I don’t.”

Rauner spokesman Lance Trover fired back that it was Democrats who have put the state in a fiscal crisis, forcing the governor to take drastic action to balance spending.

“Rep. Phelps continues to empower Speaker Madigan and vote for his unbalanced budgets, which have plunged Illinois into a $10 billion hole,” Trover said in an emailed response. “Gov. Rauner is working to shake up Springfield while protecting the middle class, not the political class of special interests supported by Rep. Phelps and Speaker Madigan.”

Remember when Rod Blagojevich called Phelps’ neighboring Democratic legislator John Bradley a Madigan-loving “wall flower?” Rep. Bradley used it to his advantage. But Blagojevich didn’t put 3,000 gross ratings points a week behind that message.

* And speaking of Madigan and RRB, read this by News-Gazette columnist Jim Dey, which was shared with reporters by the Rauner press office today…

Madigan said that Rauner’s reluctance to do things the Speaker’s way bears a resemblance to the governance style of the now-imprisoned Rod Blagojevich, the former Democratic governor.

But Blago was a Democrat Madigan supported twice (2002 and 2006) for election as governor, while Rauner is a Republican Madigan tried to defeat. And didn’t Madigan serve as an honorary re-election committee co-chairman for Blago in 2006, when it was clear to anyone paying attention that Blago was a serial felon begging to be indicted? […]

Power is divided, so compromise will be required. Madigan is trying to shove his “let’s-compromise-and do-it-my-way” approach down Rauner’s throat. Rauner isn’t swallowing it […]

Those who are happy with the way things are now in Illinois should be pulling for Madigan. Those who think the state has lost its way and must change need to get behind Rauner.

* The Rauner team also sent around this Sun-Times editorial, which asks “Who’s the real middle class champion?” and then answers…

Who is the real champion of the middle class? A Legislature seemingly bent on playing the same old game that has driven Illinois into the ground? Or a governor… who understands that Illinois is in desperate need of more fundamental reform?

If the Legislature does not work with Gov. Rauner, our state is in for nothing but further decline.

That goes both ways, of course, but having lived through the Blagojevich wars, I really don’t want to see another knock-down, drag-out fight.

* The Rauner folks haven’t yet sent out this editorial from the SJ-R, however…

Understandably, Rauner doesn’t want to walk away from his first legislative session looking like a failure. But his leadership skills in a government setting need some work. Months of tough talk, calling lawmakers corrupt and threatening them with his hefty war chest did nothing to help him advance his agenda.

Likewise, Democrats, who hold a super majority in the legislature, should have given serious consideration to at least a few of his proposed reforms long before now. Instead they drew a line in the sand and dug in their heels, even though a majority of voters sent Rauner to Springfield.

Illinoisans now are left to watch both sides volley blame via media interviews and hostile press releases instead of getting in a room together and identifying issues where they can help each other.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 10:36 am

Comments

Hi Rich!

Please let the SJ-R know that Rauner says that it looks like they have a “$%#$%^ problem”.

Best,
ck!

Comment by How Ironic Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 10:39 am
“[Rauner] cuts, such as suspending a program that helps poor people pay for winter heat, would be cruel.”

Even Ferro’s fawning editorial had to acknowledge the cruelty of his “Middle Class Champion”.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 10:40 am
It’s depressing to see how in-the-tank for Rauner the Sun-Times editorial page is. Totally depressing.

Comment by Reo Symes, M.D. Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 10:46 am
The only thing that would be “devastating” to Madigan would be voters being allowed to vote on term limits.

Comment by Very Fed Up Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 10:46 am
If you value your livers, I recommend leaving Lance Trover out of any Raunerbot talking point drinking game.

That kid empties the bag into every paragraph he puts out.

Lance, you can still do your job without sounding like you’re concussed.

Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 10:47 am
Um, working families will be paying increased taxes if Madigan and Cullerton have their way.

Comment by Tone Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 10:47 am
Governor Rauner can use the line item veto to balance spending with revenue without a property tax freeze, worker compensation [de][re]form and terms limits.

The Illinois Constitution explicitly empowers the Governor to decrease appropriations. Therefore, a scenario where the General Assembly passes a budget that spends more than the Governor wants to spend was anticipated, and a solution was provided.

There is no need for all this drama.

Comment by Bill White Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 10:49 am
The blame game is like ____________. It feels good but doesn’t produce anything useful.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 10:49 am
Trover grew up in the 118th district. A war between those two could get ugly and personal.

Comment by Old Shepherd Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 10:50 am
If Rauner really wanted to walk away from his first legislation looking like a winner, then he needed to have been more like our previous governors during their honeymoon periods.

One of the problems with hubris we are seeing from our inexperienced governor is what seems to be his blanket conviction that everything that came before him was wrong and has caused our problems. He is convinced that everyone in government is corrupted and disinterested in the common good. He has criminalized everyone with any governing experience and has set himself up as some kind of hero-martyr who is going to change everything.

To even do what he thinks needs to be done, Rauner would have to use tactics that just don’t work in governments - well, governments here in the US and other democracies.

Rauner thinks unions are so corrupted, they can be just bought off. Legislators are so corrupted they can just be bought off. Citizens are so gullible, he can sell them with enough money.

I understand that he wanted to make a big difference and be a big man, but what Bruce Rauner has utterly failed to do is show any respect, any humility or any ability to listen or compromise publically. He seems to think his supporters want a Stalin, when all it wanted was a governor who could bring in some new ideas to balance our budget and help grow Illinois.

His failure is of his own making. This war was not wanted. Bruce Rauner lacked respect for the other elected officials in Illinois enough to even enjoy a traditional administrative start which would have helped everyone, especially himself.

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 10:50 am
And just when you think all of the purging is done…

We’re gonna get where we’re gonna get. Focus fellas.

Comment by A guy Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 10:50 am
= = Rauner thinks unions are so corrupted, they can be just bought off. Legislators are so corrupted they can just be bought off. Citizens are so gullible, he can sell them with enough money. = =

This is one example of why Rich Miller’s “Guns of August” blog post title was so freakin’ brilliant.

Comment by Bill White Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 10:51 am
Tone, and they’ll be paying higher taxes if the governor gets his way.

I wouldn’t go too far out on a limb on that particular issue.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 10:54 am
The “confusion” on the Blago-Rauner comparison is either willfully ignoring the obvious, or blissfully not wanting to see the obvious;

Rauner is implementing the Blago Plan.

Create a Caucus loyal to the Governor, to the point of delving into both Republican and Democratic Caucuses to reach a 60 and 30 Blago/Rauner Caucus to make the General Assembly loyal to the Governor, not to either party or party beliefs that may run counter to the Governor’s wants.

Rauner has $34 million on hand to try to make this so. Blago had paperwork and a dream.

Read Rauner’s quotes. Understand the rollout of the ILGO PAC and the Turnaround Agenda PAC. Realize the $20 million is to have a “base” of owned members.

It’s the Blago playbook come to life.

Completely breezing by these happenings, and pushing forward the link to Rod and Madigan that not only exists, but is documented, ignores what is happening that Rod wished to happen, and Rauner is actually trying to make happen.

Rauner is acting like Blago, using Blago’s playbook. Rauner is.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 10:54 am
Rauner is implementing the Blago Plan.

Position himself for an Oval Office run.

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 10:57 am
For a man who repeatedly says he’s negotiating in good faith, Rauner sure loves to throw grenades at his negotiating partners.

Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 10:58 am
Please stop saying this - “shake up Springfield.” It’s become tired and just looks like you are being told to put it in every quote from some marketing consultant.

Comment by Wildcat D Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 10:58 am
Well said, VanillaMan!

Comment by spidad60 Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 10:58 am
Didn’t Illinois conduct a poll on all of these questions in November. I guess a lot of you forgot that the election outcome was hardly a close question.. The legislative races were all corrupted because of the Madigan map of districts. But for the G race- the majority of us voiced our disgust with the way things have been run and asked for what we are now watching occur

Comment by Sue Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:00 am
I think the Dems are fine with Rauner making the cuts and owning them. They will scream and yell, but I think they are fine with it deep down. Rauner may actually be fine with making the cuts. This is the start of a long road to where more revenue is politically ok for both sides. Once the state makes the pension payments then the structural deficit will eventually have to be fixed. It was the pension system allowing the structural deficit to go on for so long.

Comment by facts are stubborn things Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:01 am
Oh, do I remember the Wallflower comment. It was on our air, and I was the one to call Bradley’s office for comment right after. The receptionist said, and I quote, “Oh yes. We heard. He’ll call you back in two minutes.”

90 seconds, actually.

Comment by Concerned Observer Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:03 am
VanMan: thanks for your worthwhile and well reasoned perspective. It’s a positive contribution to the dialogue here.

Comment by Willie Stark Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:08 am
Tone, you really don’t see the tax increase that’s coming, and has been coming, since Jan.1?

Math was optional at your school?

Do you think Gov. Rauner wants to preside over schools opening late, K-12 slashed, credit downgrades and managing that chaos for a year?

What do you think all this Bad Opera is for? The governor needs a lot of drama to entertain his donors to show he allegedly “put up a fight,” but most of all, he needs a win before he will sign on the line that is dotted.

Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:09 am
SJ-R + VanillaMan = truth

Comment by Left Leaner Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:12 am
==The legislative races were all corrupted because of the Madigan map of districts.==

This pipe dream must be comforting to many.

Actually, a neutral map would likely change the outcome in three or four districts. It might have other benefits, but not in the makeup of the legislature. We are geographically distributed by party loyalty in ways that make most districts “safe.”

Comment by walker Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:14 am
Yeah, Jim Dey of the News Gazette, a real non-partisan voice. He’s the Tribune editorial board minus the sophistication.

Comment by Filmmaker Professor Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:21 am
=== Rauner thinks … (l)egislators are so corrupted they can just be bought off. ===

He doesn’t merely think this; he essentially proved it with his campaign contributions back in mid-May.

Comment by thunderspirit Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:34 am
Will time make men more wise?

Please don’t destroy these lands.
Don’t make them desert sands.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:36 am
Hello!!! A tax increase hurts working families more than anything that the Governor is trying to do

Comment by Anonymous Retiree Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:53 am
@Anonymous Retiree-

“A tax increase hurts working families more than anything that the Governor is trying to do”

Yeah, because an additional 1-2% out of a paycheck is nothing compared to having your child lose it’s child care.

Or your autistic child no longer receive special needs care at school.

Or your grandmother’s heat/cooling assistance being cut off.

Yeah….I sure hope there is no additional tax to cover that. Those folks will be so much better off w/out it.

Comment by How Ironic Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:31 pm
I’m sorry but I have a lot of difficulty with Rauner’s reform agenda and Republican demands, specifically as they are related to non-budgetary policies during a budget crisis.

Republicans hardly ever vote for the reforms I and many others want. What I and many others hold to be very important was cut and reformed in the recent past, by Democrats and Republicans. Because of this I believe that Republican sacred cows can take a knife or two.

Rauner is back to his vicious attacks. He spent too much time sowing ill will and too much time pushing his union stripping agenda. He had to literally be beaten back in this issue.

Republicans are dissing the state and advancing a false narrative when one of their leaders (Radogno) says Illinois stinks. I take umbrage to this. Though we have a few very big problems, we are very good and great in other ways, and we have a lot of promise and potential.

I hope the leaders can find compromise somewhere. In this spirit, I support the union strike bill, because it would provide a possible avenue away from disaster.

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:35 pm
==A tax increase hurts working families more than anything that the Governor is trying to do==

The Governor is going to raise taxes, he just wants to hurt Mike Madigan first.

You need to understand this: Bruce Rauner and Mike Madigan *agree* on the budget. The only disagreement is that Rauner wants the “Turnaround Agenda” to pass first, and at this point, that has been so whittled down that it’s a pale shadow of what it once was. So it’s really about what everything in Illinois has been about for the last 20 years: who’s stronger, Mike Madigan or the Governor?

Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:44 pm
I get that worker comp reform can be business friendly. But how are term limits? What exactly do they have to do with the middle class?

I could cut Rauner some slack if he would come up with some better business friendly ideas that grow the middle class (versus enrich the already rich).

Too much work I guess.

Comment by Sir Reel Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:59 pm
What are the revenue options being discussed or studied and are any of them new sourced rather than increases to existing? Does anyone have a chart of actual GRF receipts and expenditures for the last 10-15 years?

Comment by Sinequanon Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:20 pm
Those who want to compare Rauner to Blago are engaged in wishful thinking. You hope he’s Blago because that would discount the serious threat he is to the status quo.

For your own good, don’t buy into that easy dismissal.

Don’t dismiss the man as another Blago. That’s too lazy. Too easy. He’s not.

Comment by Miami Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:41 pm
==I guess a lot of you forgot that the election outcome was hardly a close question==

==The legislative races were all corrupted==

So . . . Gov’s election was legitimate and the GA was a corrupt process, ergo, the Governor should get what he wants. You really twisted yourself silly there didn’t you Sue?

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:42 pm
== Um, working families will be paying increased taxes if Madigan and Cullerton have their way. ==

Everyone in the state will be paying increased taxes because there is no legal / responsible way around the need for more revenue. The only question is who is going to be paying those increased taxes …

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:01 pm
== What are the revenue options being discussed or studied and are any of them new sourced rather than increases to existing? ==

See the past six months of this blog for lots of proposals. Google is your friend.

== Does anyone have a chart of actual GRF receipts and expenditures for the last 10-15 years? ==

It’s all on the IL Dept of Revenue web site.

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:03 pm
- Miami -,

Explain to me Rod’s PAC and his goal with that PAC and Rauner’s $20 million, Turnaround PAC, the ILGO PAC, and Rauner explaining, himself, why he wants to get involved in Democratic races.

Please, show your work…

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:06 pm
==Those who want to compare Rauner to Blago are engaged in wishful thinking. You hope he’s Blago because that would discount the serious threat he is to the status quo.==

No one wishes for another Blago, nor does a comparison to Blago “minimize” the Governor. Remember, Blago won reelection…

Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:07 pm
==The legislative races were all corrupted because of the Madigan map of districts.==

MJM and his Crew won 4 of 5… GOP Maps… they faced.

Next…

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:07 pm
A revenue answer is coming. It is.

And all the 67 “green lights” will be on it. They don’t want a $&@#% problem.

All 67, or the Guv might not get his victory(?)

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:10 pm
I’m not discounting Rauner’s ability to heavily damage this state.

But he truly does appear to be a R version of Blago … and I was one of the first, if not the first, to say it here during the campaign.

Right now I think we’re going to be mostly worse off in 4 years if Rauner has his way, except we’ll probably be making the “full” pension payments every year under threat of a court order, having been backed into the corner by yet another pension reduction case (probably Chicago) going to the IL SC and their subsequent ruling. Think it can’t happen? Go read the Superior Court judge’s comments in the most recent ruling in New Jersey (currently on appeal to their SC).

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:10 pm
@VanillaMan has written the best description of Rauner I’ve seen yet. Perfecto.

Comment by Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:30 pm
RNUG nails it as usual, but …

Neither side is straight with the middle class until they acknowledge and address the structural inequity in the IL tax system. Here are effective tax rates (total state and local taxes as a percentage of income) in IL by income group:

• lowest 20 percent: 13.2%
• second 20 percent: 11.8%
• middle 20 percent: 10.8%
• fourth 20 percent: 10.1%
• next 15 percent: 8.7%
• next 4 percent: 7.4%
• top 1 percent: 4.6%

These numbers result from IL’s flat and too-low income tax which results in over-reliance on regressive sales and property taxes. Visit itep dot org for more details.

It’s true that IL is a high-tax state for low and middle-income earners (third heaviest tax in the US on the bottom 20 percent), but it’s a tax haven for the wealthy. It would cost our governor millions to move into any of our neighbor states — that includes Indiana after accounting for county taxes. Incredible as it might seem, we tax the working poor in IL at 2.9 times the rate for the 1 percenters.

Now compare IL with, for example, the graduated income tax in Scott Walker’s Wisconsin: 4% for a single taxpayer w/ income up to $10,910, ranging up to 7.65% for the top bracket. So an Illinois billionaire’s income is taxed at a lower rate than the working poor in Wisconsin.

IL’s budget problems would pretty much be solved if, for example, we adopt the WI income tax structure. This would still leave us with a regressive tax system overall, just not as extreme. There might even be enough revenue for some sales and property tax relief and for starting to pay down the pension debt.

I know, ending the flat income tax requires amending the constitution and neither party leadership wants to talk about this. But what would happen if this gets more play in the press and a few brave politicians start to speak up about it? Maybe middle class workers, union and nonunion and in both the public and private sectors, would figure out which side their bread is really buttered on and unite for change. That would be a powerful coalition. [To Tom K.: The governor does not have your back. Unfortunately, so far, neither does the Dem leadership.]

Comment by X-prof Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:45 pm
A few brave politicians will not speak up about this income disparity because they are paying the 4.6%, not the 13.2%. Given that serving the population of this state doesn’t seem to concern so many of them, why would anyone have the citizens’ best interests at heart?

Comment by AnonymousOne Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 3:25 pm
Didn’t Minnesota do a massive cutback of Welfare for the Wealthy, and isn’t their state growing?

Meanwhile, Scott up north took on the teachers union (but didn’t have guts to take on police and firefighters unions)….and aren’t they moving backwards?

Comment by Jack Stephens Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 3:41 pm
Oswego Willy:

Good work on your part, but let’s be clear, that the only way Rauner can only win in my humble opinion is raise so much money he can use it to bludgeon the Speaker into oblivion. That’s the current bedrock of Republican politics at this point. It’s the only chance the GOP has in Illinois. If they’re really good, they can raise more money and paint themselves as victims. Only in Illinois can they do this.

Comment by Southern Illinois Hoopdee Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 3:55 pm
- Southern Illinois Hoopdee -,

With respect, thanks.

It’s difficult for me to see Rauner fund two PACs to get Raunerite Democrats, and hold hostage the GOP GA, and see where Rauner wants the GOP to grow.

It’s not about making Durkin Speaker, or Radogno President. It is about controlling the legislative processes. That’s nof building a party. With respect.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 4:01 pm
@ OW- That’s a good point. But it’s odd, because frankly, Rauner’s best shot to control the legislative process is through the Republican Party. I don’t think he’s going to get anywhere playing in Dem primaries.

Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 4:51 pm
- Arsenal -, with respect.

It’s really just about the Raunerite Agenda.

The Raunerite Agenda is not… is not about growing the GOP, but growing the Rauner influence in the General Assembly.

If Rauner gets to a point to control 2, 3, 4 Democrats, infiltrating the Democratic Caucuses, that’s real leverage too.

It’s never been about the ILGOP, that was the vessel, the shell corporation to expand from.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 4:55 pm
== @AnonymousOne == I agree that repealing the flat tax won’t be easy, but it’s not quite as bleak as you say. See SB 350 of 2014 to repeal the constitutional flat tax provision. It had Cullerton’s support and more than enough votes to pass the senate. Whether it had enough votes to pass the house was disputed, but it was ultimately blocked by the house leadership.

Comment by X-prof Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 1:05 pm