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Disowning the pain

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Domestic-violence organizations also are facing severe funding issues. It is considered one of the “non-critical” social services on the chopping block under Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposed budget cuts.

* Alton Telegraph…

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposed budget cuts would drop funding to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to a level last received in 1986. SIUE faces $19.6 million in cutbacks. That scenario would have devastating effects.

* Joliet Herald-News: “Will, Grundy officials weigh in on Rauner’s budget”…

Also on the chopping block is a program that provides funding for low-income renters and homeowners who can’t afford to pay their energy bill.

Catholic Charities, which serves Grundy, Will and other counties in the region, said they often refer clients to the Will County Center for Community Concerns, which administers the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

“There’s quite a few,” said Pam Terrell, community services division director. “It’s a resource that’s very much needed in our area.”

Worst-case scenario, she said, people will be evicted from their homes and wind up in homeless shelters if they can’t pay the electricity bill.

“I hate to see something like this happen. People who require this program are likely already behind in bills. If this program is all of the sudden not there, you have people living paycheck-to-paycheck who could become homeless,” she said.

For the most part, governors own budget decisions.

Here’s a new Facebook page, for instance…

Another…

* But there are those who are hoping to spread the blame. And they do have a point…

We get letters over the Internet machine aimed at persuading Gov. Bruce Rauner to not be such a meanie and to stop making budget cuts that will damage poor people, children, road contractors, universities and, well, just about everybody who relies on the state’s tax receipts for one thing or another.

One I read came from Kris Kieper, head of the YWCA Rockford. The YWCA is administering the state-funded day care assistance program. The letter explains that the governor intends to increase co-pays for parents, freeze intakes, create waiting lists and begin background checks for day care providers based on the clients they serve, to save money. […]

Outrage should be directed to people like former Gov. Pat Quinn, who went on a $405 million spending spree AFTER he was defeated in the Nov. 4 general election. Quinn doled out grants like crazy, putting our state deeper in debt.

Pleas for mercy should go to Democrats who control the General Assembly; they have passed two unbalanced budgets in a row.

Chuck’s not wrong, although I wouldn’t completely absolve Rauner here. It’s just that for many voters (and reporters) that’s a bit too complicated. Hence the Rauner plan to spend big money on TV if this thing goes to war and the government starts to really shut down. He’s gonna have to redirect that anger at the Democrats.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 11:24 am

Comments

Let us not forget those whose actions placed the current governor and legislature in the position to make these difficult decisions. The current group is not required to continue the financial missteps of their predecessors, especially if their bosses (voters) aren’t willing to go along.

Comment by chicon Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 11:31 am
Outrage should be directed toward Pat Quinn …. to what end?

Comment by The Way I See It Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 11:32 am
If there are other places that could be cut and Rauner chooses these or revenue could be raised, why blame Quinn? And what the heck is the “internet machine” anyway?

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 11:33 am
I thought the Gov was willing to ‘take the arrows’? What’s this ‘redirect that anger’ bit about?

He can redirect all he wants. The gov owns the budget and all the pain he’s planning on doling out.

Remember, he’s the one that asked the legislature to NOT pass the tax increase prior to coming on board.

He didn’t want the revenue, now he can deal with the pain of the cuts. Can’t have it both ways Rauner.

Comment by How Ironic Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 11:35 am
I think Chuck missed this line about the $400 million: “Most of the grants had been in the planning stages for months, even years.” Oops. Can’t let reality get in the way of an agenda.

Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 11:36 am
The fact that the Tribune has gone out if it’s way a couple times to purposefully blame Madigan and Cullerton for the Rauner Cuts speaks to the desperation that this governor is in trying to take away the truth of governors own their decisions, and in this case, Rauner owning his cuts.

Now, those like @StatehouseChick writing how protesters are aiming their frustration not at the man who made the cuts, the Rauner Cuts, but those protesting need to focus on Madigan and Cullerton speaks more about what people are willing to give up in their credibility to keep Rauner’s own narrative going.

I look forward to following, what’s going on, my mind unblocked, but if those oh so desperate to be a lever for Rauner, instead of recognizing today’s reality feel the need to ignore what they know is true, they won’t be a favorite of mine.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 11:37 am
The Way - it is likely that the way out of this mess involves both parties angering their own voters. When/if that happens, it seems fair to remember that the current pain comes more from previous actors that those required to clean up the mess.

Comment by chicon Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 11:37 am
A huge chunk of those Quinn grants were Federal LIHEAP funds. Sure, the Melrose Park and Rosemont grants appear to be boneheaded and obnoxious, but that was a fairly small piece of of the $400 million.

Comment by Juice Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 11:40 am
The battle will be Democrats saying they fully funded your sacred cow program and Rauner telling people that there is not enough money to pay for it…. Rauner has the tougher side of that fight…. We jilled your sacred cow because it was not responsible spending may be true…. But its a hard sell.

My theory, and sinplistic generalization as there is a lot more going on: Rauner seems like he is trying to manipulate the deme into a tax increase without his support. Complain about the lack of funding for the out of whack budget, etc etc. then reluctantly sign off on the budget with a tax increase because he is the better man, while saying he still opposes it and if people are mad they need to vote madigan out of office.

Should be “interesting” times…..

Comment by Lahkonysm Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 11:40 am
Chuck’s delusions go deeper: “They [Democrats] left Rauner without the money to fund the fiscal 2015 and 2016 budgets they passed.” Chuck, it was Rauner who called on the tax hike to expire. It is Rauner who wants it all the way down to 3% again.

Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 11:41 am
It will be painful for everybody to try to undo what Michael Madigan and past governors have done to this state. There is no easy way out.

Comment by Peoria Guy Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 11:41 am
@PC
=I think Chuck missed this line about the $400 million: “Most of the grants had been in the planning stages for months, even years.” Oops. Can’t let reality get in the way of an agenda.=

Yep. You know, PC, patronage and cronyism is rarely a spur of the moment thing. It’s developed over time to reward those who deliver politically, and punish those who don’t.

I guess a Dem Precinct Captain wouldn’t know about things like patronage and cronyism, so your ignorance in these matters is certainly excusable(heavy sarc).

Gotta give you props for having the chutzpah to post something like this, though!

Comment by Arizona Bob Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 11:45 am
You really love throwing little jabs at other reporters, don’t you, Rich?

Superiority complex? Don’t think you’re entitled to it.

Comment by Hank Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 11:49 am
==- Arizona Bob - Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 11:45 am:==

It is telling that facts are considered “chutzpah” in your mind.

Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 11:50 am
Rent seeking is what the economists call it. Feeding at the tax trough. They whine if a cut to an INCREASE in the budget is proposed. We will need ear protection as they finally find that trough is empty.

Comment by anon Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 11:52 am
How do you choose the ==best== finger to sever?

There is no easy way out of a mess that has been compounding for decades.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 11:53 am
Captain - I would use the word credibility instead. When you fault the other side for using the available tools to accomplish their goals, while admiring your side for using its available tools, you lose credibility in my book because it shows you are a biased partisan.

Comment by chicon Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 11:59 am
Yup, the GA passed an irresponsible budget in 2015 because they didn’t step up and vote for revenue to actually support the spending needed to sustain services for families and communities.

And yup, they did it again– a bad move they can only make up for stepping up this time around and implementing the tax reform IL needs to bring us into this century.

But before the Governor mounted his shockingly tall horse, he should have remembered that he has yet to say, out loud or in writing, what his “real” (as opposed to “phony”) budget would like.

Why hasn’t be proposed a spending plan based on the real amount of revenue available? My guess is he knows there’s a difference between shaking it up, which he was elected to do, and ending it entirely, which he was not elected to do.

To create a spending plan based on current revenue would be to essentially eliminate meaningful discretionary spending. Services for our most vulnerable citizens would be funded at such dismal levels that Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” starts to look appealing.

So I’m with the Gov’s folks on some of this- passing spending without revenue to back it up is bad. But let’s be solution oriented. Get some numbers on a page, and let’s start talking.

Comment by Emily Miller Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 12:00 pm
What exactly is an “Internet machine”

Comment by UISer Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 12:02 pm
Let’s not forget that Rauner didn’t cut a penny of the corporate welfare payouts after he took office.

Rauner doesn’t have money for the disabled, the elderly, the sickly or the poor but he can raise millions for TV to place the blame elsewhere.

Brutal.

Comment by Chicago 20 Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 12:02 pm
The Sun-Times top ten list is the problem with this whole line, picked up by Chuck and the Register-Star. At least $135 million of the spending spree is federal LIHEAP, Weatherization, etc., those grants go out before winter hits. There are plenty of things like the Rosemnont skywalk, and the cinescape grant that should be examined. But lumping in heating assistance with the junk is just lazy reporting.

Comment by 100 Miles West Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 12:02 pm
- Hank - Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 11:49 am:

You really love throwing little jabs at other reporters, don’t you, Rich?

Superiority complex? Don’t think you’re entitled to it.

Hank, wow, you must be (I need to think of a word that won’t get me banned)…. ill-informed(?)

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 12:03 pm
So, as granny can’t pay her power bill and will be looking at disconnection in the spring, we’ll just tell her to blame Quinn? That’ll keep her warm at night.

Comment by Aldyth Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 12:20 pm
==Let’s not forget that Rauner didn’t cut a penny of the corporate welfare payouts after he took office.==

Isn’t that in the proposed cuts he just announced?

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 12:31 pm
One would hope that a Governor with a business background and his team of superstars would dig into the budget and State programs to find out which programs are effective and efficient. Unfortunately we have a Governor who’s too busy pursuing his agenda and making political points to do that type of unglamorous work.

If you campaign that you’re going to run government like a business, at least do something businesslike.

Comment by Sir Reel Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 12:33 pm
Rich has repeatedly gotten in little jabs at reporters, especially in Chicago, for supposedly not asking the tough questions during Rauner’s campaign or since he took office.

As a reporter, I have many problems with his unwarranted smack talk.

1-He has said Chicago media gave Rauner a pass on his vague budget plans. We did not, we asked about it at every opportunity. Rauner simply didn’t answer. I can’t force the guy to reveal what he either doesn’t want to reveal or simply doesn’t have. Seems Rich wants to believe Springfield press would’ve done better, but they got the same non-answers. What good comes from playing up silly Springfield vs Chicago rivalry?

2. Why is it my job as a reporter to talk about who “wears” the budget cuts? The answer is that it’s not. Rauner and legislators all have their hands in the budgeting process.

Comment by Hank Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 12:37 pm
- Hank - Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 12:37 pm:

Rich has repeatedly gotten in little jabs at reporters, especially in Chicago, for supposedly not asking the tough questions during Rauner’s campaign or since he took office.

As a reporter, I have many problems with his unwarranted smack talk.

1-He has said Chicago media gave Rauner a pass on his vague budget plans. We did not, we asked about it at every opportunity. Rauner simply didn’t answer. I can’t force the guy to reveal what he either doesn’t want to reveal or simply doesn’t have. Seems Rich wants to believe Springfield press would’ve done better, but they got the same non-answers. What good comes from playing up silly Springfield vs Chicago rivalry?

2. Why is it my job as a reporter to talk about who “wears” the budget cuts? The answer is that it’s not. Rauner and legislators all have their hands in the budgeting process.

Sooooo… you are saying “Rauner didn’t answer my questions, so I don’t have to report that he has no plan”? Where did you go to journalism school? Remind me not to send my kids there.

Here’s an idea, do some journalism. Find some answers. Dig a little deeper. I find Rich’s investigative reporting and his analysis to be informative and right on target. Can you say the same thing about your “Reporting”?

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 12:43 pm
- Hank -,

Governors own things. Always have, always will;

The Edgar Ramp is a fine example.

Denying Rauner owns his cuts is disingenuous at least, malpractice at most, and if reporters sell the idea that the blame is Madigan’s and Culkerton’s for the Good Friday Massacre cuts and not Rauner choosing, that’s being a shill no matter the occupation.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 12:43 pm
=== Why is it my job as a reporter to talk about who “wears” the budget cuts?===

lol

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 12:45 pm
Blaming the past is counter-productive. After all it’s the Republicans’ fault we even have a personal income tax. Ogilvie, in 1969 for Illinois and Lincoln, in 1862 for the U.S.

Rather, let us move forward instead of blaming all the politicians for the last 197 years for Illinois’ fiscal problems.

Comment by A Jack Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 12:46 pm
@PC
=It is telling that facts are considered “chutzpah” in your mind.=

It takes even more chutzpah to present your opinions as facts…..

Comment by Arizona Bob Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 12:50 pm
@Hank,

Do you by chance do the investigative reporting for the Trib Editorial Board?

Comment by How Ironic Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 12:55 pm
A Jack. Ignoring the past without acknowledging that previous politicians utterly failed their responsibilities will result in much anger being directed at current politicians of both parties when/if a responsible budget is passed.

Context is needed so that the public understands why cuts are necessary. That context is that politicians of both parties passed more stuff than the people paying could or would pay for.

Comment by chicon Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 1:01 pm
Arsenal -

Nope.
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/7/71/513207/rauners-100-million-corporate-tax-breaks-drawing-fire

Comment by Chicago 20 Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 1:08 pm
Hank, CapFax was recently named one of the top five state level political blogs in the country. I find the reporting and opinions here to be far more accurate than nearly all print rags as well as online news sources for Illinois political news.

If a politician such as, say, a governor, repeatedly refuses to answer questions whose responses are vital to the citizens of the state, that refusal should be reported just as incessantly as the questions are refused. The citizens should really understand that the politician is not doing his or her job.

And Rauner is not doing his job.

Comment by PolPal56 Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 1:16 pm
===named one of the top five state level political blogs in the country===

Thanks, but that would be news to me. Do you have a link? I’m sure my mom would love it.

lol

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 1:23 pm
==It takes even more chutzpah to present your opinions as facts…..==

You do it all the time, Bob. Of course arrogant know-it-alls rarely realize they are doing it.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 1:25 pm
Hank:

Reporters who whine are unbecoming.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 1:26 pm
It doesn’t matter how many times you try and do the two-step. Nobody can dance their way out of owning up to some culpability on the cuts. Everyone’s hands are dirty.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 1:28 pm
Did I miss something? Has Rauner proposed an actual budget, as he is required to do by the Constitution? If not, when will the press get on him for not doing it?

Comment by dzipio Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 1:29 pm
==1-He has said Chicago media gave Rauner a pass on his vague budget plans. We did not, we asked about it at every opportunity. Rauner simply didn’t answer. I can’t force the guy to reveal what he either doesn’t want to reveal or simply doesn’t have.==

You could have done a better job pointing this repetative non-answering technique out to your readers/viewers/listeners before the election. But hey, I don’t blame you Chicago guys for not raising a stink over the incomplete (and often shady) parts of candidate Rauner’s resume. Dave McKinney did it, and look what happened to him.

Comment by Lester Holt's Mustache Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 1:31 pm
Rich:

Top 5 political reporters in Illinois, according to The Fix at WaPo.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/01/27/the-fixs-2015-list-of-best-state-political-reporters/

Y’all are in alpha order, otherwise I’m sure your name would be on top.

Comment by yinn Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 1:32 pm
The next post I’m expecting from you, PC, is, “I’m made of rubber, you’re made of glue, everything you say bounces off me and sticks to you!NYAAA NYAAAA”

Grow up and get topical.

Comment by Arizona Bob Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 1:37 pm
Thanks, yinn, that must be the information I’m thinking of…

WaPo appreciates Rich - CapFax turns up regularly in their “best of…” lists

I appreciate Rich and CapFax, too.

Comment by PolPal56 Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 1:47 pm
Those who can - do.
Those who can’t - blame others.

Bottom line - Rauner can’t.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 1:58 pm
=== He’s gonna have to redirect that anger at the Democrats. ===

It will be extremely difficult to convince the public that Democrats somehow blocked a tax increase and pushed to cut social service programs.

Comment by Juvenal Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 2:56 pm
@Emily, I am glad you are with the Gov, but I wish the Gov were with the residents of Illinois. As you know, he only will raise revenue if he gets his Turn Back agenda passed and, with that agenda, all bets are off and too many Illinoisans - not the Gov and certainly not his pals, will be losers. I generally am not a Madigan fan, but I think he has played his hand well and I support him. If the Gov doesn’t want to raise revenue, which the GA is happy to do as part of budget negotiations, not Turn Back negotiations, then let the Gov make the cuts. As he has said in the past, he is the baddest enemy anyone can have. Given his apparent behavior thus far and in the private sector, he doesn’t care too much about who his enemies are.

Comment by Anon Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 3:30 pm
==You could have done a better job pointing this repetative non-answering technique out to your readers/viewers/listeners before the election. But hey, I don’t blame you Chicago guys for not raising a stink over the incomplete (and often shady) parts of candidate Rauner’s resume.====

I did, as did all of my colleagues. I don’t think the result of the election is somehow proof that we needed to do a “better” job.

To clarify, I quite like Rich and everything he offers. His digs at the Chicago media serve no purpose, and he doesn’t seem to back them up with examples.

Again, I ask: how would the Springfield press corps have done ANY better? Or is it just sour grapes that the candidates spent more time up here last year?

Comment by Hank Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 3:52 pm
===His digs at the Chicago media serve no purpose, and he doesn’t seem to back them up with examples. ===

He writes, without providing any links.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 3:56 pm
Thanks Chicago 20, my mistake- I think he said some of the tax incentives will be cancelled, though.

Announcing these cuts was a strategic mistake; “The Dems won’t pass a balanced budget!” is a simple message that people WANT to receive. Shoulda just sold it, ’cause “Rauner just wants to cut everything!” is a simple message people WANT to receive, too.

Hardly a fatal mistake, though.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 4:01 pm
My only beef with reporters: They will report in almost every state budget story, that Madigan’s proposed budget is over $3 Billion short, but rarely couple that with the equally obvious known fact that Rauner’s proposed budget remains over $2 Billion short.

Or in short, “Madigan hasn’t presented a balanced budget, and neither has Rauner.”

That would better inform the public.

Comment by walker Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 4:29 pm
- Hank -,

When it mattered most, Rauner never got questioned on anything that was enlightening.

Rauner stayed in the bunker.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 4:41 pm
@ “Hank” –

I’ve stayed out of this, partly because I don’t want to feed the trolls, but at 11:49 a.m. in response to Rich’s post quoting Chuck Sweeney of the Rockford Register-Star, you wrote: “You really love throwing little jabs at other reporters, don’t you, Rich?”

But if you’re really a reporter, it looks like you’re pretty new at the job. So here are a couple of suggestions that might help you out:

– Sweeney is the political editor of the Register-Star, not a reporter, and Rich was quoting a political column. There’s a difference. Please try to learn what it is, and you’ll have more credibility.

– What Rich actually said was, “Chuck’s not wrong, although I wouldn’t completely absolve Rauner here.” That doesn’t sound to me like “throwing little jabs at other reporters.” It sounds like being even-handed and objective.

Your other assertions, about “digs at the Chicago media,” etc., are so vague I can’t track them down to comment on them. If you’re really a reporter, you’ll learn to be specific as you get more experience. It’s part of the job.

And you’ll learn about even-handedness and objectivity, too. If you want to see what they look like in practice, you’re in the right place. Read Capitol Fax. Try lurking for a while until you get a better feel for what goes on here. You’re not off to a very good start in your new career as a reporter, but if you keep your mouth shut and your eyes open, like my old city editor used to say, you’ll learn.

Unless, of course, you’re blinded by a partisan political agenda.

Comment by olddog Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 4:44 pm
==- Arizona Bob - Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 12:50 pm:==

My “opinion” is a fact printed in the Sun-Times grant story. Wise up or shut up. It’s telling you can’t provide a fact for anything you are saying. You can only engage in ad hominem attacks. Is it because you are intellectually bankrupt?

Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 5:19 pm
If the Governor wants to do his part about fixing the budget mess, why doesn’t he just give the State back all of those exorbitant administrative fees that he collected over the years from TRS. Makes more sense than trying to buy elections

Comment by like um... Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 5:53 pm
The cuts in both the Dems and Rauner’s proposed budgets are due to less revenue because of the rollback in income tax rates on Jan. 1.

Furthermore, both the Dems and Rauner’s proposed budgets will need to be cut by at least $3 billion more — nearly 10% — if no new revenues are passed.

Not. Hard. To. Understand.

Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 5:54 pm
Or maybe he could donate all that money he paid Stuart Levine while he was a Trustee of the TRS Pension Board. Or maybe he could stop shielding his money in questionable offshore investments. Or maybe, just maybe quit messing with working people and own up to the fact that new revenue is needed.

Comment by like um... Monday, Jun 8, 15 @ 6:00 pm