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* I posted the Rauner budget cut post Friday afternoon just before leaving town for the weekend, so I couldn’t follow up. But here’s an important point…

Rauner spokesman Lance Trover said the cuts were “preparations for the out-of-balance Madigan-Cullerton budget.”

Democrats observed that the list identifies programs that are already at risk of losing funding, since state government runs out of spending authority at the end of this month.

“Without a budget, none of that stuff’s getting funding anyway,” said Sen. Heather Steans, D-Chicago.

Steans is right.

* Also, as with his previous freeze of LIHEAP spending, he can’t use almost any of that money being “saved” by this latest round of “cuts” for anything else until he receives permission from the General Assembly or the federal government. For instance…

Suspend funding for agricultural extension and 4-H clubs for premiums at agricultural shows.

Ding the kids all you want, but you can’t spend that premium money on anything else. The same goes for the Tobacco Quitline suspension, etc., etc..

* And then there are the Medicaid cuts…

Department of Healthcare and Family Services

Action Initiated

· Reinstate timely re-determinations of Medicaid eligibility.

· Roll back rates for ambulance services and renal care services to SMART-Act levels.

· Reduce managed care capitation rates.

· Discontinue special Medicaid payments to some hospitals.

· Increase eligibility threshold (Determination of Need Score) to a level more consistent with national eligibility levels.

I’m not so sure that he can do all of these things unilaterally.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 12:19 pm

Comments

Maybe the Governor should have hired “superstars” who actually knew what they were doing? Better yet the Governor should have retained knowledgable directors and deputy directors till his “superstarts” learned the ropes. Rookie mistakes right and left.

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 12:25 pm
Threatening (which means Rauner actually owns these cuts and decisions) with moves you can’t unilaterally make isn’t a good way to be seen as someone with a strong understanding of governmental operations.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 12:26 pm
This is Donna at work?

No wonder she got a pay cut.

Comment by Macbeth Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 12:31 pm
Pretty sure some of what was outlined will require JCAR action before anything changes.

Comment by Give Me A Break Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 12:32 pm
Tell us Gov. You’re instituting cuts in response to the deficit budget voted on by the Dem GA. Does that mean you’re going to accept a deficit budget?

Clearly, this is political posturing. Unfortunately, there will be real victims of this political game.

Comment by Norseman Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 12:43 pm
The tobacco quit line should be the first to go. It’s time for the people of this state to start taking responsibility for their actions. If you smoke and want to quit, put on your big boy or girl pants and quit. It’s bs social programs like this and many, more that take funding away from legitimate social programs.

Comment by Short Bus Rider Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 12:49 pm
===that take funding away from legitimate social programs.===

The Quitline is funded by the tobacco company lawsuit settlement.

There would be no Quitline without that money.

Don’t be a moron.

Thanks.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 12:52 pm
Governor can drive changes in the eligibility threshold, but it would still require amending the programs and submitting those amendments to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Comment by Chicago Hack Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 1:04 pm
Not all that dumb. I think he will assert whatever basis of power to act that he can, right down to vague “emergency power” on ground that he must keep certain core functions going. Then who will act to stop him, speaking practically? It would require court action, so far as I can see. I see a few positives. He gets a crisis atmosphere right at the time of his big ad buy. He looks like the good guy by diverting money to core programs for people who vitally need it (probably very debatable). Anyone who sues looks like greedy bad guys. If the plaintiffs are Democratic politicians, all the better, from a PR standpoint. It all has to be balanced against the fact that those who don’t get their money will be mighty unhappy people and will be saying so, loudly. It strikes me as a risky play, but Rauner has a pretty good track record on his gambles.

Comment by Percival Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 1:11 pm
MacBeth good point. Darth Arduin, the hidden budget Sith could be the originator of these cuts. I imagine she has been behind most of the cuts. Maybe that’s why there have been so many mistakes in the execution of them.

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 1:13 pm
==It’s time for the people of this state to start taking responsibility for their actions. ==

That’s exactly what they do when they call the Quitline.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 1:13 pm
If he actually follows through on any of this it should be a busy summer for attorneys and the courts and Rauner is not going to be the winner.

Comment by Hawkeye in Illinois Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 1:21 pm
Rich,

We already borrowed against the tobacco settlement money. Now with fewer smokers, we got issues.

http://newsarchive.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news-228288.html

Comment by Champaign Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 1:22 pm
The billion in cuts so far are only about two percent in state spending. If democrats won’t accept governmental reforms pushed by Rauner and Illinois conservatives, then Bruce Rauner will make even more cuts. Under Bruce Rauner, Illinois government will be shrinking. It seems that democrats refuse to cooperate in identifying the parts of state government that will be reduced or eliminated, instead complaining loudly about the Governor. Thank goodness we have a seasoned executive as governor familiar with making difficult financial decisions to stabilize an enterprise.

Comment by Muscular Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 1:25 pm
What is being told to us here is that there has been no extra precautions taken for July 1st. Just more talk by a bunch of new administrative types who are clueless about how government operates.

I am not surprised by this.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 1:26 pm
Chicago Hack is correct. Most Medicaid rate changes require federal approval. In fact the rates that are part of the “2015 Fix” are still pending - and could be dis-allowed by the feds later this year. Wonder how big that gap is.

Comment by John Coxtostin Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 1:26 pm
Premiums at county fairs may be a mute point if this goes on until mid August. A lot of county fairs will have come and gone by then.

Comment by ToughGuy Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 1:26 pm
=Not all that dumb. I think he will assert whatever basis of power to act that he can, right down to vague “emergency power” on ground that he must keep certain core functions going.=

No such power exists though. Other than continuing appropriations (debt service/pension) the comptroller cannot and should not approve a voucher without appropriations to support it.

What I don’t understand about all of this……why announce these cuts at all? If the Governor doesn’t intend to sign the bills, there’s no budget to cut. I’m really wondering if he isn’t going to line-item veto portions of this budget instead of doing a complete veto. The fact that he’s picking and choosing makes this all pretty curious.

Comment by Get a Job! Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 1:34 pm
Muscular:

You continuously prove with your comments that you do not understand the state budget. The percentages you use are so far off base that it’s not even funny.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 1:34 pm
===I’m not so sure that he can do all of these things unilaterally.===

Lawsuits! Lawsuits every where!

This would not be the first time that a court had to tell the State of Illinois, in part or in whole, “What do you think you’re doing?”

Comment by Anon Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 1:48 pm
++ Roll back rates for ambulance services and renal care services to SMART-Act levels.++

What are the SMART-ACT levels?

Comment by Mama Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 1:50 pm
===Maybe the Governor should have hired “superstars” who actually knew what they were doing? ===

Time will tell whether he did or didn’t.

Willy, you can call them Rauner cuts all you want. You can scream “own them” until you grow weary and fall asleep. He will be saying otherwise.

His mic is a lot bigger than yours. And he appears to be using it.

Comment by A guy Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 1:51 pm
++· Discontinue special Medicaid payments to some hospitals.++

Can he legally discontinue Medicaid payments to some, but not all hospitals?

Comment by Mama Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 1:54 pm
===
Willy, you can call them Rauner cuts all you want. You can scream “own them” until you grow weary and fall asleep. He will be saying otherwise.

His mic is a lot bigger than yours. And he appears to be using it.===

So you agree they are Rauner’s Cuts, it’s him, using a louder mix to deny the truth?

You should tell that to @StatehouseChick, lol

It’s actually up to the Unions, Ounce of Prevention and other Social Service organizations, along with Democrats to make the case.

Here, your disingenuous idea that they aren’t Rauner’s Cuts, or worse, smugly, you admit it, but because Rauner is louder with his own disingenuous idea, that’s ok.

Rauner won, elections have consequences. If those opposing the Rauner Cuts can’t make the case, that’s on them.

Plus, - A Guy -, the Rauner Crew doesn’t think about me, abd Rauner himself doesn’t read anything I say, let alone his Crew.

I’m not effecting anything. You’re elevating me to the stature of the Governor of Illinois, the executive in Illinois Government. Why? Because I know the Rauner Cuts are his?

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 1:58 pm
“Can he legally discontinue Medicaid payments to some, but not all hospitals?”

Some hospitals with large proportions of Medicaid/poor/uninsured patients, or those that are deemed “critical access” hospitals (e.g. in underserved rural areas) qualify for supplemental Medicaid payments on top of what they receive for the actual services they render. If, as I suspect, it’s these supplemental payments that Rauner is targeting, then yes, it’s possible that they could be discontinued (though there might still be a bunch of legal/regulatory hoops to jump through).

Comment by Secret Square Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 2:06 pm
With these press releases the governor continues to make the case why the income tax should increase.

Comment by Northern pike Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 2:11 pm
==So you agree they are Rauner’s Cuts, it’s him, using a louder mix to deny the truth?===

For the record, NO.

I agree that you view them one way (along with others) and others view them the other way.

Objectively: the GA is required to submit a budget. They have. That makes them their cuts.

Subjectively: Anyone gets to interpret this how they would like. And you have.

Someone will get their point across better than the other.

Comment by A guy Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 2:32 pm
==Objectively: the GA is required to submit a budget. They have. That makes them their cuts.==

That is some Underpants Gnome kinda logic there, but I appreciate the attempt to codify “The spin that benefits my team is Objective Truth, but the spin that benefits your team is just like, your opinion, man.”

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 2:38 pm
===Objectively: the GA is required to submit a budget. They have. That makes them their cuts ===

Nope.

Governors are required to submit a budget. From the Illinois Constitution;

SECTION 2. STATE FINANCE
(a) The Governor shall prepare and submit to the General
Assembly, at a time prescribed by law, a State budget for the
ensuing fiscal year. The budget shall set forth the estimated
balance of funds available for appropriation at the beginning
of the fiscal year, the estimated receipts, and a plan for
expenditures and obligations during the fiscal year of every
department, authority, public corporation and quasi-public
corporation of the State, every State college and university,
and every other public agency created by the State, but not
of units of local government or school districts. The budget
shall also set forth the indebtedness and contingent
liabilities of the State and such other information as may be
required by law. Proposed expenditures shall not exceed funds
estimated to be available for the fiscal year as shown in the
budget.

Either Rauner, personally, can’t fulfill the governmental duties of the Office, or the Rauner Cuts indicate Rauner is willing to be ignorant to the duties, and spend millions to convince people Rauner himself isn’t incompetent.

Honest to goodness, do you know how Illinois government works, or are you just a shill, a gag, a person assigned to either humor us all, or humor Rauner?

Let us all in on the gag, I have a heck of a sense of humor.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 2:39 pm
Guy, the GA has not submitted a budget. The governor is pretending to make cuts from a spending plan that does not exist, many of which he couldn’t do if it did.

Someone needs to tell him he got the gig and can do it for realsies now.

Other than that, you’re spot on.

Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 3:19 pm
Oh, I’m sorry, is there not a document out there that the GA is referring to as a budget? There’s been rampant speculation it’s $3-4B out of whack (I know, just like the other one)

Rauner’s just making it up. Yup. Keep selling that one. You’re always spot on.

Comment by A guy Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 4:24 pm
- A Guy -,

“Who” is required to submit a budget?

lol

The Rauner Cuts, owned by Governor Rauner are based on Rauner needing a scapegoat for not getting a budget, Rauner’s Budget, passed.

That’s all these Rauner Cuts are; a way to deflect the budgetary failure, with mythical cuts, not even owned by the person cutting, over a non-existent budget.

Rauner can start governing at any time, honest, no one is stopping him.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 4:40 pm
I’d vote for you Willy.

Comment by Jorge Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 8:15 pm