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LIVE Comptroller Munger press conference coverage

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* From a media alert…

Comptroller Leslie Geissler Munger will hold a Chicago news conference Thursday to discuss her plan for managing state finances as the state enters the new fiscal year July 1 without a budget agreement.

Munger will discuss the budgetary timetable for the weeks ahead and then take questions from the media at the James R. Thompson Center.

SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2015:

WHO: Illinois State Comptroller Leslie Geissler Munger
WHAT: News Conference on State Budget Impasse
WHEN: 1 p.m. Thursday, July 2
WHERE: Blue Room, 15th Floor
James R. Thompson Center
100 W. Randolph St., Chicago, IL

The live video link via our good pals at BlueRoomStream is here.

This post will be updated.

* Let’s do a ScribbleLive thingy…

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 12:44 pm

Comments

This impasse may make or break Comptroller Munger’s political career. Her office is typically a behind-the-scenes office to most voters, but this thrusts her into the spotlight. She will either rise to the occasion, or she won’t. Either way, the voters will notice.

Comment by Old Shepherd Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 12:59 pm
I think the Comptroller would be smart to realize that no one elected her. If she comes across as a Rauner lackey, she will have political issues.

Comment by Try-4-Truth Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:07 pm
This is embarrassing, munger needs a primary opponent.

Comment by William j Kelly Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:11 pm
==I think the Comptroller would be smart to realize that no one elected her. If she comes across as a Rauner lackey, she will have political issues.==

Yeah, trying to pay state workers in full and on time, that’s an electoral loser right there…

Comment by so... Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:11 pm
So @ 1:11

It will be if a court says she violated the Constitution and her oath of office.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:13 pm
==
This is embarrassing, munger needs a primary opponent.==

Say, why doesn’t someone promote themselves the next few years, announce they’re going to run, then back out at the last minute when they would actually have to do real campaigning. Thats a sure fire way to fight corruption

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:19 pm
I give her credit for stepping on the dog-and-pony show by the Rauner comptroller.

Comment by Albany Park Patriot Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:24 pm
That last few minutes almost needed a disclaimer: “I’m Bruce Rauner and I approved this message.”

The rest was pretty straight-forward. She’s in a tough spot and wants a court to give her some cover. I’m sure she’s getting conflicting advice caught as she is between the Governor and the Attorney General. One is her lawyer, the other is her clout. To whom should she listen?

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:25 pm
Just a thought, but a question that could be asked by a judge is why hasn’t the state ever once made an attempt to identify “essential” employees since 2007?

It requires a different way of thinking. It requires a mindset open to the possibility that things could go so wrong. We are optimists.

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:26 pm
The Comptroller believes, in her capacity as Comptroller, that the Governor’s personal “turn-around” agenda is budget related. I think it’s appropriate at this point for the Comptroller’s office to officially request an FY16 budget impact estimate of the agenda from GOMB.

Comment by Emily Miller Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:27 pm
- William J Kelly -

Should I bring up the phony money you paid yourself back with?

To the Post,

This race, Munger v. Dem will be THE most fascinating race, bar none, to me in 2016.

Can Munger ensure her statewide race is not a referendum on Rauner and his Turnaround Agenda?

The JBT Crew Munger inherited, I like their odds. With Rauner’s money, the odds get better.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:28 pm
As Rich pointed out in the feed above, I’m sure a judge will want to know why, in the past 8 years, no attempts have been made to identify “essential” employees under FLSA, since it was obviously an issue then. I know there’s a lot of procrastination in government, but sheesh. 8 years, and they couldn’t get it done?

Comment by ??? Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:28 pm
cms must have some record of which employees are essential and which aren’t; when government closes for extreme weather some employees are required to report while others are not.

Comment by logger Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:28 pm
===but sheesh. 8 years, and they couldn’t get it done? ===

And it happened again in 2009.

I think a judge would be right to ask why this is now her problem.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:30 pm
What does the governor’s “reform agenda” have to do with cutting checks or the budget?

The K-12 approp got signed as is, without a word being changed, although it increased funding from FY15.

What made that Constitutional while the rest of the approps, which could be reduced by the governor to match revenues, were not?

Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:34 pm
“I support the governor’s reform agenda.”

Will that be included in the next Rauner ad?

It sure will be in her opponent’s next year.

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:35 pm
Comptroller Munger comes across as more partisan than a neutral problem-solver. Legislative branch and executive branch both have baggage.

Comment by Yossarian Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:36 pm
Each agency can create a list of essential employees by Monday if told to by the Govs office. If it would be up to legal challenge by the unions is a different story, but the list is easy enough to create and I’d be surprised if it hasn’t already been done unofficially.

Comment by Might be the A Team Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:37 pm
==As Rich pointed out in the feed above, I’m sure a judge will want to know why, in the past 8 years, no attempts have been made to identify “essential” employees under FLSA, since it was obviously an issue then. I know there’s a lot of procrastination in government, but sheesh. 8 years, and they couldn’t get it done?==

Tim Nuding was asked about that during the House’s Committee of the Whole this week. As I recall, his general response was “we wish the previous administration had done this.”

Someone should ask Pat Quinn why it wasn’t done.

Comment by so... Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:37 pm
logger, it’s basically the same employees under FLSA, a weather related shutdown, a strike or lockout scenario. The administration is just using this as an excuse to not actually have to shut things down, because that would mean there are consequences to actions, and that just possibly can’t be true.

Comment by Juice Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:38 pm
Is this the same person?

http://www.rrstar.com/article/20150613/OPINION/150619716/?Start=1

“The Illinois Constitution is very clear that without appropriation authority, I will be unable to carry out the core function of my office and ensure that the state meets its financial obligations.”

“State employees will miss their first paycheck on July 15, and then again on July 31. They will be expected to show up for work with no idea of when they’ll be paid.”

Comment by AC Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:39 pm
===Someone should ask Pat Quinn why it wasn’t done.===

Wonder if that falls on Governors owning things…

Hmm.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:39 pm
In reading a lot of comments here and in news articles, I keep hearing how the Democratic budget was unbalanced. Ok I get it.

That said, can someone provide me the budget bill or bills that the were introduced by the Governor or his party? If there are no alternate budget bills filed by the Governor party, shouldn’t someone be asking republican leadership why that has not happened? Can’t any legislator file a budget bill?

I know some may say this idea is crazy and it’s all about politics and optics but I think this play is needed to get to the finish line. Wish this play happened in February or March.

I Apologize for the post if I missed the alternative budget bills filled.

Comment by Tired Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:40 pm
Tired, they were all filed back in February when the budget was introduced.

Comment by Juice Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:42 pm
Tired, the governor did file a budget bill a long time ago, but it relied on sham assumptions, so it too was out of balance.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:45 pm
Oswego, what phony money? What do you mean by that? All I am saying is the munger message will not play well in a republican primary, she sounds like a loser right now. The republican primary voters want a problem solver not a whiner.

Comment by William j Kelly Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:47 pm
Tired, the governor’s budget was $3 billion out of balance. That’s why Rauner doesn’t talk about it. It relied on magic beans.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:48 pm
Thanks for the info. I will go and find those bills. Sorry about “being late to the game” and missing the bills. I remembered the budget speech but missed the bills. Again thank you.

Comment by Tired Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:48 pm
so-Who’s Pat Quinn?

Comment by efudd Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:51 pm
Essential employees know who they are and if they have to show up or not. Those lists were always kept (it became an issue in many state agencies after the 2006 tornado in Springfield). Every agency has a Strike Plan. To say these things aren’t in place is complete and utter nonsense.

Comment by FIRED! up Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:53 pm
===Just a thought, but a question that could be asked by a judge is why hasn’t the state ever once made an attempt to identify “essential” employees since 2007?===

It goes back way further than 2007. I worked for the State for nearly four decades through budget crises, funding cuts, threatened strikes, layoffs, etc. and “essential employee” was never well defined, in our offices anyway. The definition was never tested because the crisis du jour was always resolved before any employee list took affect. We’ll see if that still holds true.

Comment by Sangamo Sam Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:54 pm
Hmmm … can’t seem to find “invest in better payroll systems” anywhere in that SGOP “Reality Check” budget plan Nuding helped put together a few years ago.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:54 pm
- WJK -

Deposit 10/13 - pay back to yourself 11/25.

You’re a poser. Just stop. Thanks.

Munger will not get a primary challenge, Rauner will see to it, and I’m totally fine with it. Why? Let the voters decide on her, on Munger’s merits.

The JBT Crew, seasoned, they will critical, Rauner’s money, vital. It will be fascinating.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:55 pm
Tired, one of the Governor’s budget bills did make it to the floor, and no one voted for it. Shocker.

Comment by Umm Hello? Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:55 pm
Our agency was told WEEKS ago by GOMB to figure out who were FLSA/essential employees and who weren’t. The idea that it would take 9 to 12 months just ain’t so.

Comment by Purple Taffy Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 1:58 pm
Again — I believe — sincerely — that Rauner will go as long as possible without a budget. So long as state employees are paid, I’m guessing we’ll go into the fall — or beyond — without an actual budget.

So long as Rauner can budget by court order or executive order, he’s off the hook. I say no budget until fall — late fall.

Comment by Frenchie Mendoza Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 2:00 pm
The Attorney General put out guidance on who is considered an “essential employee” under FLSA. Ann Spillane explained during the house committee of the whole and i think she said it took her 2 hours to get through her agency of 1000 employees. I understand it may be cumbersome, but what does it say when the people who are supposed to enforce the law rather say forget it, it’s too difficult to comply with the law.

Comment by WWMJMD Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 2:06 pm
Oswego, you are not making sense, if you are referring to the 100k I can only guess it is because you are jealous. I would like to focus on the future and yes munger will have a primary opponent, I will see to myself. And I’ll be happy to put the 100k towards that effort especially if it helps you keep track of it! Lol.

Comment by William j Kelly Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 2:06 pm
== (Just a thought, but a question that could be asked by a judge is why hasn’t the state ever once made an attempt to identify “essential” employees since 2007?) ==

Agree, although it may be difficult since employees and job duties change.

Comment by WWMJMD Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 2:07 pm
Guaranteed there are already lists of essential employees. Seen them, they were used on weather days, strike plans, etc.

Comment by Former Merit Comp Slave Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 2:08 pm
Just for fun, here’s the DOL’s fact sheet on exempt employees under FLSA. Honestly, I would say you could decide who is exempt or not for 80-90% of state employees right away. Count me in with those who don’t understand why it would take months.

Moreover, it seems to me that since it is pretty simple to determine who is exempt for so many employees, a court could easily limit its order to continue paying full salaries to those positions for which there is a bona fide question about exemptions. Again, this is a much smaller number of employees than 40,000.

In any event, this observation is not an argument to stiff state workers or to pay less than full wages. It’s simply irresponsible to let that happen. And it’s another good reason why Rauner should not have vetoed the approp bills in full. Had he AV’ed everything but the personal services line, he would have protected worker pay — something he says is an important goal.

Comment by the Other Anonymous Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 2:10 pm
Oops, forgot the link to the DOL fact sheet.

http://www.dol.gov/whd/overtime/fs17a_overview.pdf

Comment by the Other Anonymous Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 2:10 pm
Uh, ok.

Pay them in full so we can freezes their salaries, eliminate scheduled raises, require them to pay more for their health care, cut programs that provide care for their elderly and disabled relatives, and decimate their collective bargaining power.

Hurray for the Working Man!

Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 2:19 pm
Each agency has a list of critical employees.

Don’t let anyone tell you differently.

The only reason it may not be up-to-date is that
Rauner’s people are now in some of those positions.

But for the most part, the positions have not changed.

Comment by Ready for the 4th Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 2:21 pm
There have been lists of essential employees created for years, along with strike plans, along with emergency management protocols. It’s done confidentially at the highest level of all agencies. Would it withstand legal scrutiny as to why someone is either on it or not? Probably not in today’s world. Would it enable the State to function? Absolutely it would to a reasonable expectation.

Comment by Might be the A Team Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 2:42 pm
==Each agency has a list of critical employees. ==

Agreed. Every agency has a strike plan that lists essential employees… that they send to the GO.

Comment by Centennial Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 2:42 pm
- WJK -, ugh.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 2:43 pm
=== “I support the governor’s reform agenda.”
by Rich Miller 1:22 PM ===

Not unexpected, but sad. I thought I might be able to vote for her.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 2:52 pm
***
===but sheesh. 8 years, and they couldn’t get it done? ===

And it happened again in 2009.

I think a judge would be right to ask why this is now her problem.
===but sheesh. 8 years, and they couldn’t get it done? ===

And it happened again in 2009.

I think a judge would be right to ask why this is now her problem. ***

If you fix it, then you don’t have an excuse.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 2:59 pm
The term “essential” is not an arbitrary designation. A boss can’t just walk up to an employee and say “I dub the ‘essential’”. There is a process and a requirements tests that must be satisfied.

Comment by Ben Franklin Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 3:17 pm
“I support the governor’s reform agenda.”

I think it’s creepy that every Republican in office is now expected to parrot this line, or else?

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 3:36 pm
== Count me in with those who don’t understand why it would take months. ==

Have we considered incompetence?

/s (maybe)

Comment by sal-says Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 3:44 pm
“I support the governor’s reform agenda.”
Creepy indeed. Inappropriate and irrelevant as well.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Thursday, Jul 2, 15 @ 3:47 pm