Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

What’s covered by the court case?

Posted in:

Illinois

* If you click here and scroll down to the last page, you’ll see a long list of consent decrees covered yesterday under Cook County Judge Dianne Larsen’s ruling that bars the state from paying employees, but allows it to pay other bills.

There’s a whole lot of stuff on there, from the Child Care Assistance Program to a program for adults with developmental disabilities, to the Department on Aging’s Community Care Program.

Greg Hinz wanted to know just how big this was, and whether the one-month “essentials” budget was really needed…

[Speaker Madigan’s spokesman Steve Brown] acknowledged that there is some overlap between the essentials budget and programs that already are protected under the consent decrees Judge Larsen mentioned. But how many?

According to Judith Gethner, executive director of Illinois Partners, a trade group for social-services providers, perhaps only a third or so of her members are covered and will get paid on time. Some clearly are not covered, she said, such as after-school programs. The state “still needs” either a full or a short-term budget, she said.

* Also, check this out…

Gethner also told me that another cut announced by Rauner—an increase in eligibility standards for some senior and disabled programs—will require federal approval. But paperwork seeking permission hasn’t even been filed yet.

That particular cut was announced during one of the governor’s two rounds of $400 million budget slashes - which Rauner never actually put into line item vetoes.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jul 8, 15 @ 9:21 am

Comments

Geez, doesn’t anybody know how to run a proper ALEC/Koch program around here? Isn’t that what superstars are for?

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jul 8, 15 @ 9:24 am
===But paperwork seeking permission hasn’t even been filed yet.===

Politics first, governing second, owning their own decisions, last.

Rauner’s “governing” … style.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 8, 15 @ 9:24 am
Was wondering when the “Rauner owns this” post would happen.

Comment by anon Wednesday, Jul 8, 15 @ 9:26 am
Job isn’t finished till the paperwork is done (insert proper Ziggy image here)

Comment by Not quite a majority Wednesday, Jul 8, 15 @ 9:35 am
Make no mistake….the desire to kick this to the court of claims is a delay tactic. State employees wait years to get paid very small amounts on expense reports. The court of claims idea is just a team Madigan delay tactic.

The 70,000 State employees along with their families and friends will remember this come the next election

Comment by Just a lawyer Wednesday, Jul 8, 15 @ 9:39 am
When it comes to governing, it seems that, for Rauner, wanting was much better than having. Now, he is expending all his effort avoiding the job he was elected to do, and unfortunately he isn’t alone. I’ve never seen such a widespread exercise in procrastination since the so called pension reform. Now, we are left with interpreting a court decision, and figuring out if the legislature should even bother with an “essentials” budget? I’m not sure that’s the kind of leadership voters were looking for, when they voted for Rauner. In private industry, results matter, in state government, results mater too.

Comment by AC Wednesday, Jul 8, 15 @ 9:40 am
===will remember this come the next election ===

In 2018?

Doubtful.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jul 8, 15 @ 9:41 am
Rauner Robots vs Lisa Lions
From what I am reading this morning, putting all my chips on the Lisa Lions!

Comment by cdog Wednesday, Jul 8, 15 @ 9:41 am
===will remember this come the next election ===

This crisis now is more about what type of governor Rauner is and will be over the next 3 1/2 years than any election.

Rauner, right now, governs like Quinn, and plays politics like Blago, with $60 million propping up Rauner unlike Quinn or Blago.

The difference for Rauner, today, is literally the monies Blago never had, and the subservient party Quinn never enjoyed.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 8, 15 @ 9:50 am
=== The 70,000 State employees along with their families and friends will remember this come the next election ===

Sure, they’ll vote for a Rauner purchased GOP candidate who would love to join the Gov in his mission to destroy unions and decrease their salaries and benefits. This is small potatoes compared to the number of problems these families will face because of Rauner.

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Jul 8, 15 @ 9:51 am
I guess it’s some back-door progress toward an annual budget.

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Jul 8, 15 @ 9:51 am
Yesterday’s order says the State has to pay for “operations of the judicial branch.” Would that include court reporters?

Comment by Chillin Wednesday, Jul 8, 15 @ 9:55 am
The state is required to submit the proposed eligibility changes for public comment before filing proposed state plan changes with the feds. Five sets of proposed changes were published in the Illinois Register on June 19, with comments due July 18. The more restrictive eligibility requirements would result in tens of thousands of elderly and younger disabled people losing home care services and supportive housing, and an unknown number of people (thousands, nobody knows how many) living in nursing homes being evicted without any home care services.

Illinois has acknowledged that, because of commitments it made in order to get extra Medicaid money, it can’t do this before October 1. If the feds give permission, that is when they plan to start.

Comment by wendy Wednesday, Jul 8, 15 @ 9:56 am
===The difference for Rauner, today, is literally the monies Blago never had, and the subservient party Quinn never enjoyed.===

Absolutely true. Couldn’t have said it any better.

Comment by CrazyHorse Wednesday, Jul 8, 15 @ 10:37 am
You would think with all Gov. Rauner’s overpaid staff-he would have at least one attorney that specializes in Illinois Constitutional law?? Rauner puts forth all these plans-but most require major changes in Illinois law. Which is a time consuming process. Why can’t he just come up with a balanced budget for our legislatures to vote on?? And save the agenda items for later!

Comment by chiagr Wednesday, Jul 8, 15 @ 10:53 am
Let’s hope all these legal niceties soon become moot.

Comment by walker Wednesday, Jul 8, 15 @ 10:57 am
== Why can’t he just come up with a balanced budget for our legislatures to vote on?? ==

Because being competent doesn’t get you national headlines or reward your political supporters …

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Jul 8, 15 @ 10:58 am
== You would think with all Gov. Rauner’s overpaid staff-he would have at least one attorney that specializes in Illinois Constitutional law?? ==

He only knows bankruptcy lawyers.

/s ?

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Jul 8, 15 @ 10:59 am
Speaking of picking up the phone, I wonder if Rauner is blinking. @statehousechick posted an editorial begging the Speaker to come over to the Governor’s office.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jul 8, 15 @ 11:05 am
===The more restrictive eligibility requirements would result in tens of thousands of elderly and younger disabled people losing home care services and supportive housing, and an unknown number of people (thousands, nobody knows how many) living in nursing homes being evicted without any home care services.===

Where is the “compassion” which was promised by Gov. Rauner? The lives of frail and vulnerable citizens are at risk because of his proposed cuts. Why isn’t the Gov. concerned about what will happen when his cuts are enacted? Oh right, silly me…the effected citizens carry no political clout.

Comment by Former Hoosier Wednesday, Jul 8, 15 @ 11:09 am
==Speaking of picking up the phone, I wonder if Rauner is blinking. @statehousechick posted an editorial begging the Speaker to come over to the Governor’s office.==

Wow! Talk about not just picking up the phone!

Editorials before governing.

Comment by walker Wednesday, Jul 8, 15 @ 11:09 am
Also from @TribTowerChick;

@StatehouseChick - #GreeceIlliRico. Say it w/me phonetically: Grease-Illi-Rico. Greece. IL. Puerto Rico. Means “bankrupt.”

Illinois, as a state can’t go bankrupt.

The thing about @TribTowerChick is she is so willing, for her every two-week thank you notes to get groceries, to be a shill for things like promoting that Illinois is bankrupt, that the years and years of actually following state government would usually make a credible person think twice about tweets like that.

When you’re a sellout like @TribTowerChick, calling yourself @StatehouseChick is mocking her own integrity, for thank you notes.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 8, 15 @ 11:14 am
==- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 8, 15 @ 9:24 am:==

Couldn’t have said it better.

Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, Jul 8, 15 @ 1:09 pm