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This one’s on Rauner

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Illinois government will keep the lights on Wednesday even if it can’t immediately pay the electric bill.

State police will stay on the roads. State parks will stay open for the July 4 holiday. Gambling regulators will keep working, allowing casinos to stay open. […]

Rauner’s administration will keep state workers on the job.

* The SJ-R editorializes about the pending closure of the Illinois State Museum…

Preserving the Illinois’ history and sharing it with the people of this state has been a priority for Illinois leaders for generations. The museum’s value is immeasurable.

But today, Illinois’ elected leaders are so entrenched they can’t come to an agreement on a new budget, and the Illinois State Museum is in the cross hairs. The budget expires Tuesday, and there’s still no signal that Rauner and lawmakers are on the brink of a deal.

Closing a museum is complicated business. It’s impossible to simply lock the doors and walk away. The accreditation the Illinois State Museum has had for 40 years could be revoked if it closes. Donations of money and artifacts will be affected. Collections will have to be returned to rightful owners. Research will come to a halt. The museum could go into legal default on federal grants and contracts. Private collection donors could sue the museum for failing to live up to its promises. Local tourism would take a hit.

All of this upheaval just to save the state of Illinois $4.8 million a year in operating costs for a facility that generates an estimated $33 million in visitor spending throughout the state each year, based on Illinois Office of Tourism minimum estimates of visitor spending.

For 138 years, the Illinois State Museum has been a priority for the state, through wars, economic downturns and tough times. If leaders choose to close the museum, Illinois will invalidate decades of valuable and meaningful research and preservation work, as well as people’s interest in the state’s history and culture.

This isn’t about the budget year expiring, it’s about Gov. Rauner declaring that the museum will be closed without a new budget. It wouldn’t be closing tomorrow had it not been for Rauner’s order.

* Also this…

On Tuesday, the doors to the Illinois Smart Energy Design Assistance Center in Champaign will close, putting several dozen employees out of work, at least temporarily.

Across campus, a million-dollar project to improve the nation’s power grid is on hold.

And a pile of solar panels, designed to make the University of Illinois’ new high-tech Electrical and Computer Engineering Building consume zero net energy, sits in storage.

Those are some of the early casualties of the ongoing budget standoff in Springfield.

Gov. Bruce Rauner, who has called for deep spending cuts, placed a freeze on a number of state grants and programs until a fiscal 2016 budget agreement is in place.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 9:13 am

Comments

Petty. Try to look tough on the “small” things when you’ve already demonstrated that you can’t take the heat on the big stuff.

Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 9:32 am
“Gov. Bruce Rauner, who has called for deep spending cuts, placed a freeze on a number of state grants and programs until a fiscal 2016 budget agreement is in place.”

Actually this is false TeamBungle has called for votes on ideas that will help make Il look more like West Indiana and then votes to raise taxes.
Closing the State Museum seem to be highlight of the Administration to date

Comment by Anonin' Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 9:34 am
==But today, Illinois’ elected leaders are so entrenched==

That reminds me of a commenter here.

==Both Sides Now==

Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 9:35 am
Is there anything in the past 6 months that Rauner can point to without, without mind you, having the caveat of;

The democrats, the past, Pat Quinn… even GOP Governors…

…they all must own before the sitting governor?

Rauner caved on $26 million, wait until it dawns on Rauner that his choices, no matter the finger pointing, falls on the current governor.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 9:36 am
The dems should have considered the ramifications as they drove the state off the cliff!!

Comment by anon Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 9:45 am
===The dems should have considered the ramifications as they drove the state off the cliff!!===

Thank you so much.

“Who” is choosing these ramifications? “Who”? These ramifications, how they’re chosen, where, how much, “who” is choosing?

You can’t “cheer” Rauner (ramifications), - anon -, without Rauner infliciting chosen ramifications.

So, thanks. Thanks for reinforcing The Rauner Cuts.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 9:50 am
Rauner owns this, he is no longer a candidate or an outsider, he is a sitting governor, he has been since January. Regardless of who is to blame, I’d still like to lock Rauner and Madigan in a room, where Barry Manilow’s This One’s For You plays on an endless loop, and only let both of them out when they’ve reached an agreement.

Comment by AC Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 9:55 am
Well said Word!

Comment by Norseman Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 10:02 am
“Rauner’s administration will keep state workers on the job.”

I would bet that will start seeing the Blue Flu spread through the state at the end of July when the pay checks don’t come through.

Comment by Rusty618 Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 10:17 am
I was at the museum this weekend. There were parents bringing their kids in for maybe one last look. The Illinois artisans shelves in the gift shop were mostly empty. What a shame.

From the editorial:
===All of this upheaval just to save the state of Illinois $4.8 million a year in operating costs for a facility that generates an estimated $33 million in visitor spending throughout the state each year, based on Illinois Office of Tourism minimum estimates of visitor spending. ===

That’s lost revenue, lost forever from local businesses and denied by a pro-business Governor.

Collections are being returned. Forensic services lost. And all for a very small drop in the budget. Again, all I can conclude is the Governor really doesn’t understand how interconnected his Agencies are to other agencies, to federal grants and to basic services.

Comment by Sangamo Sam Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 10:19 am
Looks like I may be cancelling the trip with the kids to Springfield this summer…How many like me will cost the state how much????

Comment by burbanite Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 10:39 am
==This isn’t about the budget year expiring, it’s about Gov. Rauner declaring that the museum will be closed without a new budget==

This is key. Good on Rich for pointing it out.

If the museum was willing to stay open, an exception could have been made allowing them to stay open. If the museum has never been closed in 138 years, as it seems from the SJ-R editorial, then it should remain open.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 10:44 am
Again, the dems should have been thinking ahead(a strange concept, I know) Did anyone think the gravy train could continue???

Sheesh, things are bad, really bad. Welcome to reality.

Comment by anon Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 10:44 am
What part of “For the people” doesn’t Rauner get?!

Comment by BMAN Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 10:46 am
- anon -,

Rauner is choosing. Remember that.

It’s not the Dems, heck it’s not even the GOP GA.

It’s Rauner’s to own. This is a Rauner Cut, chosen by Rauner.

I’m glad you cheer. Thank you.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 10:46 am
Rauner owns the cuts, Madigan owns the unfunded pension liabilities and corruption in state statutes and budgeting that create featherbedding and overspending without commensurate benefit to the people of Illinois.

In short, Madigan owns the problems, Rauner owns the solutions, not matter how painful they might necessarily be.

When a child is obese due to poor eating choices given to the child by a parent, when a step parent comes into the picture and puts the kids on a diet and creates an exercise and weight loss program, they’ll be the “bad guy” until the children are old enough to understand that what the step parent did was necessary and done out of caring and love.

Folks like OW give a pass to those who “made the kids obese”, and castigates the one who makes the tough actions to solve the problems for the greater, long term good.

Will the power of the governor be enough to win this battle? I guess we’ll see. But what the government posters here want, to hurt those outside the Illinois government so that THEY SERVE THE GOVERNMENT’S NEEDS, surely isn’t in the best interest of the people.

The choice here is whether Illinois wants the government to serve the people, or the people to serve the government. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out.

Comment by Arizona Bob Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 10:50 am
Gosh, who would have thought that “Shake up Springfield” meant blowing as many holes in the local economy there as possible?

Comment by OldSmoky2 Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 10:51 am
Anon 10::44, what are you talking about?

Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 10:52 am
@Arizona Bob,

Love the overly simplistic ‘obese kid’ analogy. Maybe you can next trot out the tired old ’sitting around the kitchen table’ budget talking point, and throw in some good old fashioned ‘belt tightening’.

Tell me exactly how Rauner cutting off Autistic funding helps? While he INCREASES FREE motorcycle training classes (which are not free to the taxpayers btw).

I think that 115F heat has gotten to you. Stay inside, and away from the keyboard for a while.

Comment by How Ironic Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 10:55 am
===Folks like OW give a pass to those who “made the kids obese”, and castigates the one who makes the tough actions to solve the problems for the greater, long term good.===

Oh - Arizona Bob -,

Rauner isn’t owning anything. Rauner announced the Good Friday Massacre cuts on Good Friday to NOT own the cuts.

Further, every response that allegedly claims “owning” is pawned off on history.

Why not say, “I choose this. It’s happening. I’m Governor.”

Nope.

Rauner refuses to take responsibility. At all. Not one once of ownership.

It’s thise that blame the problems on the Quinn Pension or the Edgar Pension Ramp, named after… the governors owning decisions.

Rauner is afraid of the job he has.

That’s reality.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 10:56 am
==But what the government posters here want, to hurt those outside the Illinois government”

What a load of bull. This isn’t an us vs. them proposition Bob.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 11:04 am
We get it OW, we’ve gotten it for a long time, you have great disdain for Rauner. AB gives a perfect analogy.

And, I don’t think for a nanosecond that Rauner is afraid of his job.

Comment by anon Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 11:06 am
This cut, and most others previously announced, were chosen more to send a political message, than to represent rational fiscal choice.

Too bad this one, like some others, might be hard to reverse when we reach an agreement on spending.

Comment by walker Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 11:08 am
===And, I don’t think for a nanosecond that Rauner is afraid of his job.===

… Says the person failing to recognize the reinstatement of the Good Friday Massacre cuts, because the heat was too much, the heat of owning the Rauner Cuts.

- anon -, please do better.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 11:09 am
On 6/26 we got notice that the Epilepsy Resource Center in Springfield will suspend all services starting on July 1. They are under grant funding which got cut. For most people, this move means nothing. Got someone in your family who has seizures? Suddenly that cut has a personal aspect. Where is the next place to go? Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago. Hey, the cuts are just the state operating as a business. Isn’t that what people wanted?

Comment by zatoichi Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 11:14 am
Yes cuts need to be made. But they need to be smart. To build on AZ Bob’s thoughts….an obese kid needs to go on a diet. That said it is not smart to not feed the kid at all….Rauner is looking at the obese kid, says I did not cause your obesity, so to solve your problem you don’t get to eat at all until you lose weight.

Comment by illinifan Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 11:23 am
AB,

One problem with your diet analogy is the stepfather (Rauner) is attempting to put the child (IL) on a starvation diet and claiming it’s healthy. When he cuts programs that save $$ long term or bring in more $$ (economically or otherwise), those changes are fiscally unhealthy.

Comment by Kurt in Springfield Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 11:29 am
OK, deep breath, folks. Rauner isn’t talking about bulldozing the museum. The SJ-R editorial is severely overwrought and legally flat wrong. No collections will be returned, no donors will sue. Temporarily closing the doors to save money while a budget solution is figured out is NOT the end of the museum, much less the world. Being childish and acting as if it is happens to be the attitude that got us in this situation in the first place.

Comment by Reality Ron Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 11:34 am
===Temporarily closing the doors to save money while a budget solution is figured out is NOT the end of the museum===

This isn’t a temporary closure.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 11:35 am
—
This isn’t a temporary closure.
—

It’s closed for good? As in “never to open its doors again?”

Wow — I didn’t realize that. I assumed it was temporary.

What a devastating loss. This is something that Rauner will be responsible for moving forward.

Comment by Frenchie Mendoza Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 11:39 am
Rauner looks just like MJM wants him to…Like his predecessor, Pat Quinn. One difference is that Bruce still owns the Republican Caucus, but he should, because he purchased it fair and square. For a man with a reputation for making wise investments, Bruce Rauner was in check before he was sworn in, just like Pat Quinn.

Comment by Masters of the Obvious Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 11:48 am
I’m doing fine OW. It is disingenuous for you to state the guy is afraid of his job. Quite the contrary, something has to be done, and every move he makes is severely criticized by you.

Clearly you want to be in the car(maybe even the driver) as it goes off the cliff. Then you will blame Rauner that he didn’t care enough about you to make sure you got out of the vehicle.

Comment by anon Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 11:49 am
There is more meaning housed in the paleontology collection than in many of the bone heads in the elected branches of government. How Rauner could have picked that State Museum as a non essential line item was just a bone headed move. Someone organize a protest march in Spring Patch to save the museum and I’ll get my bones there.

Comment by vole Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 11:50 am
- anon -,

I have no idea what you said, but you said it.

Rauner’s Good Friday Massacre cuts rescinded, because Rauner can’t own the job. Rauner has no budget, a Vetoed Budget, and Rauner is required to have a budget. Read the Illinois Constitution.

It’s cute, really, the car thingy. You can’t refute, but golly, there’s a metaphor for a hollow idea that you have… nothing to say.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 11:56 am
@Rich Miller,

I’ve read every piece on this issue, including the Gov’s releases, and nowhere does it say that the closures are permanent. In fact, the NBC Chicago story on June 2 specifically says that “the five state museums will be closed temporarily”. If you have inside information about the closure being permanent, your loyal subscribers would love a full story on that! Otherwise, this all just plays into the hysteria …

Comment by Reality Ron Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 12:17 pm
“The Department will begin the process to suspend operations and close the five state museums to visitors.”

Nowhere does it say temporary.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 12:20 pm
OW, you are very testy because your Cubbies are now 11 1/2 out.

Comment by anon Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 12:31 pm
===OW, you are very testy because your Cubbies are now 11 1/2 out.===

There’s that too, and dropping their last 5…

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 12:33 pm
The Cubs are what we thought they were. Next year folks.

Comment by Norseman Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 12:37 pm
What will happen next year?

Comment by anon Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 12:40 pm
So anyway, did you hear about the kid whose parents thought she was overweight because it cost more to feed her today than it did twelve years ago?

They didn’t weigh her, but decided because it was costing them more than it did years ago, it must be because she was getting fat.

How is that obese kid analogy AZ Bob?

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 1:05 pm
vole: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-the-Illinois-State-Museum/917517601639564

Comment by Skeptic Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 1:08 pm
amen vanilla

Comment by alas Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 1:14 pm
@Kurt

=AB,

One problem with your diet analogy is the stepfather (Rauner) is attempting to put the child (IL) on a starvation diet and claiming it’s healthy. When he cuts programs that save $$ long term or bring in more $$ (economically or otherwise), those changes are fiscally unhealthy.=

Ummmm…. Kurt, I believe the “Rauner Cuts” are about cutting about $3 billion (conservatively) from a $36 billion budget. It’s less than 10% overall. Cutting the calories for an obese person by 10% won’t cause “starvation” if the right calories are cut.

Maybe the “starches and refined sugars” will be cut big time, but protein and vitamins remain intact.

One trap we need to avoid is confusing the general purpose of a spending bucket with need for funding by an efficient system maximizing service delivery.

For example, UIUC only spends about 40% of its budget on instruction according to its budget. While I support higher ed, I have no problem cutting a lot of that 60% other spending and overhead and administrative bloat. There’s plenty of money in the budget to support that 40% for instruction. That other 60% certainly DESERVES to be cut some, so cutting state funding may be appropriate.

The problem is that the other 60% is where the patronage and pork is, so the politically driven administration would rather raise tuition and punish families and students than cut into the political spending.

That also may be the case for the autistic and home care programs, I really don’t know. That’s why I wish that Rauner’s team would be more specific about what activities should be cut with the reduced funding. He’s got his people in charge now, so he should know where the savings can be realized while minimizing the problems for the sick and poor.

Comment by Arizona Bob Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 1:44 pm
@VM

=So anyway, did you hear about the kid whose parents thought she was overweight because it cost more to feed her today than it did twelve years ago?

They didn’t weigh her, but decided because it was costing them more than it did years ago, it must be because she was getting fat.

How is that obese kid analogy AZ Bob?=

Actually, I never heard about a parent thinking their kid was obese because they’re spending more money on food.

To come to that conclusion, the parent would have to be blind and unable to touch their child and see if there’s a weight problem.

I think you’ve just enhanced the analogy, VM. The people who created this budget imbalance MUST be blind and out of touch with the problems, as are those who refuse to economize and get spending in order. They assume that they need to spend more rather than more wisely.

You can do two things to reduce fat and obesity; cut calories and lose weight by attrition gradually and get healthier, and/or exercise to build muscle and burn away the fat, kinda like building business to increase revenue and operating smarter and more efficiently to get stronger while you get slimmer.

I guess it’s a choice between choosing Jilian Michaels or Honey Boo Boo’s Mom’s approach to weight control.

Seems you prefer the “Boo Boo” approach. Why am I not surprised that would be a government worker’s preference?LOL

Comment by Arizona Bob Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 1:55 pm
@Arizona Bob,

Your analogy falls flat when it comes to comparing real world examples to your ‘obese child’.

For example, how many days can we cut kids off their ventilators? Maybe 20% of the time? Maybe mom or dad can stand by, and unplug it only a few times a day…you know just enough to save on expense, but not kill the kid.

Or how about Autism education for children? How much can those kids afford to lose Bob?

What about LIHEAP? Should we just let the old folks freeze 3 days a month? That’s about 10% of the month?

Simple analogies are for simple people. These are not simple problems.

Comment by How Ironic Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 2:02 pm
==So anyway, did you hear about the kid whose parents thought she was overweight because it cost more to feed her today than it did twelve years ago?==

The income tax rate just 5 years ago was 3.00%. Today it is 3.75%.

She is being fed 25% more than she used to. That may not be enough, but it is still much more than she was being fed before.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 2:04 pm
I was at the State Museum over the weekend with a neighbor. It’s always been a lovely spot to spend the afternoon, and it was truly sad to see the empty galleries. It will be a big loss to the community when it closes.

Comment by Crafty Girl Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 2:17 pm
==Why am I not surprised that would be a government worker’s preference?==

Why the disdain for government workers Bob? That’s pretty pathetic.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 2:43 pm
==Kurt, I believe the “Rauner Cuts” are about cutting about $3 billion (conservatively) from a $36 billion budget. It’s less than 10% overall.==

You don’t cut that amount of money without cutting the good stuff Bob. I’ll educate you on the state budget sometime. I’ll guide you through it line by line and explain the nuances to you.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 2:44 pm
@ Demoralized,

“I’ll educate you on the state budget sometime. I’ll guide you through it line by line and explain the nuances to you.”

Don’t bother. He’s got a shuffle board game to attend to. Of course, times are tough so he’s playing with a cue that’s 10% shorter, and a Disc that’s had 15% hacked off one side.

That wasn’t so hard was it? Why can’t they do budgets like shuffle board?

Comment by How Ironic Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 3:05 pm
@Dem
=Why the disdain for government workers Bob? That’s pretty pathetic.=

Actually, Dem, you’re vitriol and intolerance for anything critical of government has grown it big time since I’ve been reading Rich’s blog. My personal experience is that State service workers in Springfield are highly professional and customer centered. My experience in Cook county and Chicago pretty much is the opposite of that experience. Look, if you’re going to go after those who take the best interests of the people rather than the best interests of the government, don’t be surprised if they bite back. You set the tone. I only play the notes.

Comment by Arizona Bob Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 3:52 pm
==intolerance for anything critical of government==

No, Bob. Not intolerance of anything critical of government. Just intolerance of your goofy views. I’ve got plenty of criticism for government. I just don’t happen to think elimination of unions and getting rid of the prevailing wage is the answer to the world’s problems and I don’t think attacking anything to do with government as being corrupt is anything close to reality.

==if you’re going to go after those who take the best interests of the people ==

Who’s done that? Because I certainly haven’t.

==I only play the notes.==

You’re terribly off key.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 4:01 pm
@ironic

Well you’re posts certainly are as simple as they are ridiculous, Ironic.

You obviously don’t turn off a kids ventilator 20% of the time. you cut 10% of the administrative overhead and salaries, let the workers keep the money stolen from them for union dues, and perhaps reduce the number of those who shouldn’t be in the program to start with.

Autism? I’ve had family members who were well served by early intervention. I’ve also seen cases where the “extra support” they got did virtually nothing to improve their condition or quality of life. they were only there to collect a paycheck.

I’ve also seen cases where kids are carted “literally” to school every day, and they can’t speak or communicate. They sit there while three “educator assistants” just talked with each other about shopping and what they doing that evening. I know some ridiculous Federal rules make overstaffing for these functions mandatory at times, but my guess is that some of the layers of bureaucracy could be cut to save money for useful purposes serving the kids and their families. It’s the job of the managers to figure out where the cuts will do the least damage.

Comment by Arizona Bob Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 4:06 pm
==since I’ve been reading Rich’s blog==

And since I’ve been reading your posts here I’ve noticed one thing: you spout the same talking points over and over and over. I can quote them verbatim probably you’ve said them so many times but I’ll just provide a brief summary. 1. Education unions are bad; 2. Teachers shouldn’t be able to strike; 3. Prevailing wage is bad; 4. teachers make too much money; 5. administrators make too much money. You keep talking and talking about these same points until you probably can no longer breathe. You submit them as the answer to all of the worlds problems. Problem is, Bob, nobody is buying your snake oil. If that angers you so be it. As long as you continue to post your nonsense I’ll be here to push back. Read it, don’t read it. Reply, don’t reply. I don’t care. I’ll continue to read your rantings. Heck, sometimes I even agree with you, though I’m sure it’s a statistically insignificant amount of time.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 4:08 pm
AB,

You missed my point. For example, cutting home health care programs moves people into nursing homes which cost the state more (unhealthy cut). Cutting programs for the mentally ill incurs more costs in treating those people in the hospitals or prisons. To have long term fiscal health, choices should be made to determine both the short term and long term costs and savings to budget cuts. Closing the museums incurs a loss of economic activity in tourism $$ which reduces state revenues. Now whether or not the loss is less than the cost, I don’t know. But even if that were true, the savings is far less than just the cost of keeping the museums open to visitors. It is never as simple as this program is currently costing x amount of dollars, let’s cut it.

Comment by KurtInSpringfield Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 4:11 pm
@ Arizona Bob,

You should trademark your ’solutions’. “Simple Solutions for Simple People” ™

Where the only world that exists has problems can be distilled down to obese kids, or the family budget!

Comment by How Ironic Monday, Jun 29, 15 @ 6:42 pm