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“We wait”

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Illinois

* Yep, that’s pretty much right…

“What happens next is we all go home, listen to our constituents and wait for the other side to blink,” said Republican state Sen. Jason Barickman of Bloomington.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:14 am

Comments

I’m sure glad playing with people’s lives is just as easy as a game of chicken! Thanks

Comment by Bushwacker Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:17 am
That’s what will happen, but it’s not what should happen.

Hey Jason, instead of waiting for someone to blink, file some bills, man.

Comment by Get a Job! Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:20 am
Madigan and Rauner are who they are. I don’t expect them to change. The real shame is that there is not an actual statesman in Springfield that has the brains and the cahonies to draft a viable solution, toss it on the table, and stand up and defend it.

I have never been a fan of term limits because I believe governing is hard, and there needs to be experienced folks on the job. But one wonders how much worse it would be if we just fired everyone top to bottom and started over. Well, we could end up with a bunch of people just drawing a paycheck that sit around and do nothing and have no solutions to even discuss.

Comment by the Patriot Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:22 am
Back to square one.

Rauner should submit a balanced budget like he should have done in the first place, before all of his tv ads, finger pointing, and insults.

Comment by too obvious Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:23 am
Oh boy.

Comment by A guy Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:23 am
Is ‘tick tock’ apropos here or are we past that and now is just the gnashing of teeth time?

Comment by Nick Danger Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:25 am
Or, here’s a thought, try compromise.

Comment by Crispy Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:25 am
Well, when you create a crisis to gain leverage, you’re not planning on being the one that is going to blink first…

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:25 am
So far a do-nothing General Assembly in June and July. Oh wait, there was posturing, strategizing, and they passed a bobcat hunting bill. Sorry, my bad.

Comment by Motambe Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:26 am
Dear state Sen. Jason Barickman,

Rauner has no leverage where waiting helps.

We all will wait, that is absolutely true, but a governor who needs revenue, in his own unbalanced budget, he can’t leverage his Agenda first, when the threat is just no budget.

It’s not about the budget, but leveraging the budget, as a shell for all hostages, for an Agenda, and nothing else.

You, state Sen. Jason Barickman, you are waiting for Rauner to release the hostages…

… by the way, you’re a pawn too, state Sen. Barickman. That’s why you have to wait… too. Congratulations.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:27 am
I don’t think Madigan has eyelids.

Comment by CrazyHorse Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:29 am
We need Judy Baar Topinka to do her own version of A Christmas Carol.

Comment by Aldyth Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:31 am
C’mon, folks. If political power in Springfield was based on wise decision making from competently and fairly implementing policy in the best interest of the state of Illinois citizens, most of the GA and none of the leadership would be there. If political “clout” wasn’t filling Madigan and Cullerton’s pockets through their law firms and other personal interests, they wouldn’t be wasting their time in the GA.

Illinois is all about power politics and cashing in on clout, which is a good part of why Illinois government is so dysfunctional, corrupt and destroying the state.

I seriously think Rauner is trying to change that culture, which is why so many “invested” in political payback for their livelihood on this board hate him so much.

I think eventually Rauner will cave because he actually cares about the best interests of the Illinois citizens, unlike most of the GA leadership.

Comment by Arizona Bob Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:34 am
Well played, Crazy Horse…well played.

Comment by Old Shepherd Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:35 am
Sure would have been nice when the Givernor submitted the Constitutionally mandated budget if it were balanced.

Instead we have the histrionics of his Union Busting Agenda inappropriately named “Right to Work”.

Whenever your ready to be a leader Bruce, please do
so!

Comment by Jack Stephens Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:36 am
I think eventually Rauner will cave because he has no other choice.

It’s his budget and his duty as Governor to legally enact a balanced budget.

Comment by Anonymous Redux Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:39 am
How much suffering will it take, for the repubs to finally tell rauner his agenda aint gonna happen? I guess its ok to just “wait” while thousands of vulnerable folks take the hit. Every few days, a few thousand more. And no one is even talking. Outrageous.

Comment by Langhorne Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:43 am
It’s not like we can’t wait the Governor out. I would hope most of us have been contributing to deferred comp. if money is tight people can borrow their own money. Sometimes taking a principled stand is costly but well worth the sacrifice. We may have to wait for pay checks. We may have to strike. The most vulnerable citizens of this State may have to improvise for a time. Non-profits as well. However if we don’t stand up to the extreme now there will be compounding hardship. Keep the faith… We still have a powerful allies in the GA and luckily they control both chambers.

Comment by Triple fat Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:44 am
===We may have to strike.===

Rauner wants an angry labor strike. You don’t give that to him. At all. That would be a horrible miscalculation and mistake…

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:46 am
You guys may be reading just a bit too much into this. What I see is that the strategy being played out doesn’t involve rank and file legislators on either side. It’s about two actors with 4 or 5 supporting actors. Everyone else, just like us, is the audience.

Comment by A guy Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:48 am
“What happens next is we all go home, listen to our constituents”…tell us to stop playing games and get something done.

Comment by Stu Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:49 am
==I think eventually Rauner will cave because he actually cares about the best interests of the Illinois citizens, unlike most of the GA leadership.==

Thanks for the laugh!

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:50 am
MJM is quite comfortable waiting in the “land of moderation” where reasonable people reside to try and solve the number one problem facing the state of Illinois…the budget deficit. People in the “land of moderation”, do not like the diversion of the non budget items standing in the way of a balanced approach to solving the budget deficit….a combination of cuts and revenue. Rauner is welcome in the “land of moderation”, but first he needs to stop acting in the extreme.

At the beginning of this whole budget battle, MJM staked out the winning narrative. Rauner gave us an unbalanced buget so we sent him one that outlined our spending priorities and we stand ready to work with Rauner on raising the revenue. He also has painted the “turn around agenda” as an extreme position that is a diversion from the number one issue facing the state of Illinois…the budget deficit. Moderation, reasonable, not in the extreme…that leaves Rauner as the wild man holding those most vulnerable hostile while the moderate and reasonable MJM is trying to focus on the most important issue and who has not name called but pledges daily to work cooperative and professionally with Rauner.

Comment by Facts are Stubborn Things Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:52 am
There is a great opportunity for a State Representative or State Senator to set up to the plate and present their own original plan to get us out of this mess. It would take courage, because the leadership would certainly not be pleased, but ultimately I think the people would rally behind a person that got off the dogmatic talking points and speak in a reasonable manner.

I know it is probably not this simple, but why can’t a half and half plan work? Fund half the budget shortfall with cuts and half with revenue.

Comment by John A Logan Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:52 am
Rauner does care about Illinois. Why else would he sign up for the job? Illinois needs drastic reform but change will not happen without new leadership in the GA.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:53 am
@ Wensicia - Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:50 am:

==I think eventually Rauner will cave because he actually cares about the best interests of the Illinois citizens, unlike most of the GA leadership.==

Wow, now that is a great spin..Rauner may use it.

Comment by Facts are Stubborn Things Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:54 am
Bob … =Illinois is all about power politics and cashing in on clout, which is a good part of why Illinois government is so dysfunctional, corrupt and destroying the state.

I seriously think Rauner is trying to change that culture, which is why so many “invested” in political payback for their livelihood on this board hate him so much.=

The only thing that Rauner is tryng to change is WHO is cashing in on the clout. It has nothing to do with goodness!

Comment by forwhatitsworth Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:56 am
==MJM is quite comfortable waiting in the “land of moderation”==

Of course, what is the known as the “Land of Moderation” to MJM is, to the average person known as the “Land of Make Believe”

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:56 am
There is a one-month budget on the governor’s desk. As insufficient as it is, it would at least avert a lot of pain and would pay state workers. A lot of pain is on the horizon and fast-approaching. The difference between sufficient or decent finances and mounting debt and hardship is only a missing paycheck or two away for thousands of state workers–not to mention recipients of state funding and services.

Rauner should not hold workers and the state hostage. He should sign the bill and give many in the state some vital breathing room. Until the right budget deal is there, it’s not there (h/t Yogi Berra).

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:58 am
===Facts are Stubborn Things - Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:52 am:

MJM is quite comfortable waiting in the “land of moderation” where reasonable people reside to try and solve the number one problem facing the state of Illinois…the budget deficit. People in the “land of moderation”, do not like the diversion of the non budget items standing in the way of a balanced approach to solving the budget deficit….a combination of cuts and revenue. Rauner is welcome in the “land of moderation”, but first he needs to stop acting in the extreme====

If you really think this, you might be in the Land of Disney, not the Land of Moderation. The only guy calling MJM moderate is MJM.

I’m willin’ to bet he’s not as patient as you think.

Comment by A guy Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:58 am
Willy, perhaps Rauner feels he can wait because the job and services losses mostly hit the Democratic base. What would make Rauner cave? Only a massive backlash from the collapse, but he’s got enough money and assistance from the editorial boards that it seems like he can lay enough of the blame at Madigan’s feet to ride out the backlash until Madigan is forced him to deal.

Comment by Century Club Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:59 am
TO, the governor is not ready to deal with the budget yet. He has other priorities.

What’s curious about that is he remains in the bunker and is not out selling his non-budget agenda to try and build public support for it.

His TV spot didn’t even mention his legislative agenda. It just sold image — his, good; the other guy’s, bad. No call to action.

So what’s the leverage now? Holding Catholic Charities, Lutheran Social Services and every other social service agency in the state hostage for ransom?

He’s already blinked too many times. He can’t sell that he’s willing to take the heat for that.

Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:59 am
OW - I like your posts but I respectfully disagree with you on the strike issue. Right now we are working without a contract. Most of the time terms of the old contract stay in place -but not this time, because the Governor unilaterally changed our contract to not include step raises and semi-automatic promotions. As I see it we gave up some hard earned benefits… We know what he wants to do to our other benefits. What are we supposed to do when he declares an impasse? Stomp our feet and spit? I think we should strike.

Comment by Triple fat Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 10:01 am
@ Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:56 am:

=Of course, what is the known as the “Land of Moderation” to MJM is, to the average person known as the “Land of Make Believe”=

I think insisting on an extreme agenda of non budget items in the face of democratic super majorities in both houses of the legislature is living in the “land of make believe”. MJM is correct, that the budget will be solved in moderation with a combination of cuts and revenue. The “turn around agenda” will have to be done over many years with changes in the legislature. Rauner could have cut the Dems budget to balance with his line item veto if he was serious about the fact that we can cut our way out of this. The reality is that Illinois has had a structural deficit for many years which is at the root of why we built up a 100 B pension deficit. The pension funds were used to provide state services without a proper taxing system to pay for them.

Comment by Facts are Stubborn Things Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 10:03 am
“because he actually cares about the best interests of the Illinois citizens” That means by your argument that his Turnaround Agenda *isn’t* what’s in the best interests of Illinois citizens. So what’s he fighting for?

Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 10:03 am
How about being proactive and doing something? I can’t imagine very many constituents are happy about this impasse. At best, they are indifferent.

Comment by ihpsdm Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 10:06 am
===Fund half the budget shortfall with cuts and half with revenue. ===

For the kabillionth time, this standoff has absolutely positively (negatively) zero to do with the budget. They haven’t even started negotiating the budget.

It’s about the Turnaround Agenda.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 10:07 am
- Century Club -,

With respect.

“Who’s” agencies won’t be providing services? “Who” will have to answer for their Administration not funding essential programs, no matter what Rauner thinks is “essential”… “Who”, when people wonder, “who” will face protesters clamoring?

To your question,

===Willy, perhaps Rauner feels he can wait because the job and services losses mostly hit the Democratic base. ===

I guess we learned a great deal then;

Bruce Rauner is only Governor to those he feels are HIS base, and everyone not a Bruce Rauner supporter… good luck?

I thought the governor was governor of all?

That’s why it will backfire, because Rauner has failed to learn the #1 thing Candidate Rauner hit Quinn with over and over;

Governors always own.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 10:07 am
@A guy - Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:58 am:

=
If you really think this, you might be in the Land of Disney, not the Land of Moderation. The only guy calling MJM moderate is MJM.

I’m willin’ to bet he’s not as patient as you think. =

Time will tell, but I think the reality is that the “turn around agenda” is going no where and at some point the budget must be passed. MJM can point to the fact that Rauner wanted a budget he could have used his line item veto to shape the Dems budget into balance. If Rauner does not want to cut the budget that much then MJM has made it clear that he wants to increase revenue. The dems can continue to pass temp budget month at a time and let Rauner veto. Rauner owns this and he has way overplayed his hand.

Comment by Facts are Stubborn Things Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 10:08 am
How can a lockout be forced? I get how Rauner to manipulate to force a strike, but what are the levers to force a lockout? I don’t want a strike either. It would be disasterous especially if we end up not getting paid at the end of the month. (Speaking of that when is Madigans appeal being heard from the St.Clair decision)

Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 10:09 am
- Triple Fat -,

You’ll lose.

Good luck with the strike. It won’t turn out well, you’ll strengthen Rauner, and worse, strengthen Rauner’s resolve.

Do what you must, I guess…

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 10:10 am
I want to explain again, perhaps in a slightly different way why MJM has staked out the winning turf in this battle with Rauner. There does not have to be a passing of a “turn around agenda” — that is for a different time and will be done to some extent over many elections cycles. The budget on the other hand must be passed. The Dems have staked out their spending priorities by sending Rauner a unbalanced budget and have stated clearly they are ready to work with Rauner to raise the revenue needed to bring that into balance. Rauner will have to drop the “turn around agenda” because it is not essential and the budget is.

Comment by Facts are Stubborn Things Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 10:19 am
Triple fat: I (as a fellow union member) fully agree with OW’s assessment. We need to be quiet and stately. Remember, he’s playing the narrative that we’re overpaid and lazy and our pension is too generous. Whether that’s right or wrong isn’t the issue, we don’t need to help him with it.

Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 10:19 am
I’d say Madigan is a conservative Irish Catholic Democrat from the Southwest Side and always has been.

If the governor’s non-budget agenda is “moderate,” he should have no problem selling it and building public demand for it.

Those planned statehouse rallies for his agenda must be huge, they’re taking so long to pull off.

Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 10:20 am
Facts are,

Before this ends, I would guess some elements of the Turnaround agenda will wind up on paper. You’re correct in stating time will tell. Oddly, I think that’s what Sen. Barickman is even saying.

Comment by A guy Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 10:23 am
The reality is we end up eventualy with a budget passed that is going to be very close to the one the Dems sent Rauner only balanced with increased revenue and some more cuts around the edges. The turn around agenda is going no further then what has been passed in the house so far. Rauner has really over played his hand because he does not have leverage to pass the turn around agenda — his leverage is the budget and it must get passed with or without the turn around agenda. He is bluffing but I am not sure he realizes it.

Comment by Facts are Stubborn Things Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 10:25 am
If the Illinois Supreme Court rules that the comptroller may continue to pay state workers even without a budget (which I doubt), the only people who will be hurt are those who are dependent upon various state services. This could be a huge game changer.

Comment by Retired Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 10:25 am
@A guy - Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 10:23 am:

=Facts are,

Before this ends, I would guess some elements of the Turnaround agenda will wind up on paper. You’re correct in stating time will tell. Oddly, I think that’s what Sen. Barickman is even saying.=

Yes, that may be true because the house has passed a workers comp bill. I think the Sen. thinks MJM and dems will blink and I don’t think so. Ruaner will have to blink because the budget must be passed and the “turn around agenda” does not. The house has held 10 votes on property tax freezes and no republicans have voted yes and they passed a workers comp bill. They also passed a bill to privatize an agency per Rauners request. The house can point to meeting Rauner half way on his agenda and they simply don’t agree with other parts of it. RAuner position is give me what I want or I won’t give you a budget.

Comment by Facts are Stubborn Things Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 10:30 am
Willy, so when the impass is declared and he institutes his final offer of no union rights to bargain about wages and benefits. When every state employee is faced with a massive wage reduction… Yes salaries are not cut but gosh darn your contribution to your health care just cut your wages considerably. When he re-estblishes political affiliations determining who gets a raise. AFSME and we should throw up our hands, pat ourselves on the back and say we tried? Not me brother! We Walk!

Comment by Triple fat Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 10:33 am
Luck be with you, - Triple Fat -.

Elections have consequences, 40% of those in Union households voted for Rauner. Rauner won. A strike isn’t going to move Rauner, it will only make his own arguments against the Unions “stronger”

It’s just my thoughts on the move. Godspeed.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 10:37 am
I’d play for a lockout, no rallies, no demonstrations, just a spokesperson, daily, at a podium, stating, “We all want to work, but the governor has locked us out, hurting not only the Union(s), but Illinois, and her citizens.”

That would drive Rauner bonkers.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 10:42 am
== so when the impass is declared and he institutes his final offer of no union rights to bargain about wages and benefits. When every state employee is faced with a massive wage reduction… Yes salaries are not cut but gosh darn your contribution to your health care just cut your wages considerably. When he re-estblishes political affiliations determining who gets a raise. AFSME and we should throw up our hands, pat ourselves on the back and say we tried? Not me brother! We Walk! ==

The blunt truth is, when the 1% attacks started, AFSCME and the other unions sat on the sidelines too long. When Rauner started his political campaign, the unions were too slow to react. That failure to act had a cost that is now coming due.

This time, people like you want to react too fast. In the case of public unions, you don’t go on strike when public sentiment is against you. You wait until the other side overplays its hand. Even if / when Rauner takes those steps, the unions need to stay on the job for a period of time while educating the public about how bad it is for the public. Once the unions have the upper hand in the narrative, then, and only then, can the union go out on strike with a reasonable chance of winning.

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 10:46 am
@Willy 10:42
I see what you’re saying but what if instead of a lockout he just simply implements his wishes? Can he do that?

Comment by TRH Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 10:51 am
Democrat unreasonable unwillingness to comprimise will end in the finincial equilivent of a lock out. Between Lisa Madigan’s litigation and Mike Madigan’s unwillingness to comprimise, democrats will have caused a finincial lockout. And people will remember democrat recalcatrance at the ballot box. Change IS comming.

Comment by Ordinary citizen Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 10:52 am
===And people will remember democrat recalcatrance at the ballot box. Change IS comming.===

So is winter…

The election is 16 months away, breathing through your mouth is unbecoming

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 10:56 am
- TRH -,

The only thing I absolutely know, in the political, in the optics, a strike is a losing move, a move that in the long term might hurt even more, if that’s possible.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:01 am
== And people will remember democrat recalcatrance at the ballot box. ==

Why? The Illinois Governor is one of the most powerful in the nation, with both line item and amendatory veto powers. If this was just about the budget and spending priorities, Rauner could have taken the budget that was passed and reshaped it. He knows how to do that; he managed it with education spending. He didn’t, so he is responsible for the results.

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:02 am
Oswego Willy, I think you misunderstand the collective bargaining process. There are a few options available:
1. The ideal: Negotiate until both sides agree.
However, in the case of impasse, the options narrow:
2. Lockout, initiated by the employer
3. Take the deal that’s currently on the table
4. Strike, initiated by the union
What Triple Fat is pointing to is if Rauner decides he won’t lock the employees out, and still has language on the table that cripples the union’s ability to bargain, the union is unable to force a lockout as you suggest, the members are unlikely to want the deal on the table, and the union is left with one option: strike.
Unless SB1229 is in effect, in which interest arbitration would be an option, and a work stoppage could be avoided.

Comment by DriXander Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:02 am
- DriXander -,

If you strike, you lose.

Elections have consequences. With 40% of voters from Union households casting ballots for Rauner, it may not be me who didn’t understand, or doesn’t understand now…

With respect.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:09 am
This is not about the budget numbers. The GA and Rauner are already very close on the actual budget, and both have compromised already on the budget. This is about the Turnaround Agenda items, period.

The elected representatives in the GA have offered compromises on two of the eight Turnaround items, are probably willing on one or two of the others, and completely unwilling to move on the remainder. At every turn, Governor Rauner’s response has been “not nearly enough.” When some agreement on the Turnaround Agenda items is finally reached, the budget itself will be quickly resolved.

Sorry Rich, kabillion-plus-one accurate comments and reporting don’t get very far. The public, and even average lazy reporters, believe that this is an impasse about the budget.

Comment by walker Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:10 am
I see both sides to the lockout/strike perils. What I’m wondering is honestly HOW LONG do we continue business as usual if the Supreme’s rule against paying employees absent a budget and Agencies have no approps for operations? Currently my Agency is operating normally despite the political chaos and the workforce is present AND productive albeit stressed…

Comment by Agency Volunteer Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:18 am
Agree with OW, strike in not in the cards. 60 days for SB 1229 (forced arbitration if sides cannot agree) is Aug. 3. If he vetos, will GA override? Major point in time for Unions.

Comment by Rufus Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:31 am
This was QOTD the other day, and readers nailed it.

As I said, its like an episode of House. The current treatment of the patient isn’t working, so their must be something wrong with the diagnosis.

So, we wait for something to change - new symptoms if you will - and then each of the players in this game pursues a course of action based on new evidence.

Or, as John Dewey wrote in his 1927 classic, The Public and Its Problems:

“Indirect, extensive, enduring and serious consequences of conjoint and interacting behavior call a public into existence having a common interest in controlling these consequences.”

In other words, things just haven’t gotten bad enough yet.

Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:40 am
Spot on Walk.

Comment by A guy Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:52 am
We wait for bad publicity to derail Rauners image. For example, Brother James Court, a residential facility for developmentally disabled men, had workers miss work because they couldn’t pay up front child care costs since they couldn’t get subsidies.

We wait for people to be hurt by the result of his policy changes and no budget . It will happen and there will be an outcry. No idea how long it will take

I say no strike. Let him lock us out.

Comment by Thoughts Matter Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:56 am
Dear Chapin Rose,
Dear Bill Mitchell,

Why did you vote “present” instead of yes or no on the turnaround agenda?
Why should you be allowed to return to office after the next election?

Comment by LeadingInDecatur Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 12:10 pm
Rufus is right it ALL goes down AUG 3.

Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 4:00 pm
=I think eventually Rauner will cave because he actually cares about the best interests of the Illinois citizens, unlike most of the GA leadership.=

Not even in your wildest dreams. If he was legit and wanted to change politics as usual, he would have my support. Democratic control has done nothing for me personally or professionally.

Instead, Rauner and his clan are tired of running the state (or trying to run the state) by proxy through traditions political campaign contributions and the clout they buy. He/they want to go direct. With few details, a hatred for unions, and a ton of money they bought a constitutional office and a political party. To them, they got it on the cheap. It already paid one dividend- income and corporate tax rates rolled back.

They don’t care about services, public Ed, or anything else but that which effects the bottom line. They will only do what is necessary to retain power. They will prey on the sense of republican/conservative victim hood to leverage power over that element without cost. They will invest enough to try to gain support from enough of the rest to keep the wheels turning in their favor.

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 4:40 pm
“- JS Mill - Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 4:40 pm:”

I am a social conservative who voted against Rauner and for Quinn.

It is not social conservatives that are the problem; It is country club republicans.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 8:04 pm
=It is not social conservatives that are the problem; It is country club republicans.=

I don’t think Rauner is “political” in the sense of believing in a “party”, he and his ilk believe in money. I was in no way laying blame or disparaging social conservativism. Me, I am a socially progressive, and center-right fiscally. Rauner is none of those. Money.

Unions are a problem because they “cost” Management/ownership money. They are not interested in beating them at the negotiating table, they want to outlaw them. I enjoy the challenge of negotiations. For baron Von Ivy League, it is too much. Buy the legislature and ban them. Understanding labor history, I knownthere is an important role played by labor. I don’t like the outcomes sometimes but that is part of the process. These days the oligarchs would rather outlaw them and not create any kind of social life line for people. That costs too much money.

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 9:06 pm