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Because… Rauner

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* AP…

Illinois lawmakers adopted a stop-gap budget plan Wednesday and readied to send it to a likely dismissive Gov. Bruce Rauner, one piece of a flurry of state Capitol activity that did little to move the state toward a yearlong spending agreement.

Despite the first-year Republican governor’s well-known opposition, the Senate put up a partisan vote on a $2.3 billion, one-month budget to keep state government functioning; approved 39-0 with 15 voting “present.” Democrats, who have used provisional fiscal plans several times in the past decade, want to keep essential and emergency services available during the budget standoff, but Rauner wants a permanent agreement.

But the day’s bursts of activity provided more heat than light. […]

“We would strongly recommend to the governor that he put politics aside, ignore the advice of his campaign advisers, and sign the bill,” House Speaker Michael Madigan told reporters

There’s no doubt that the governor is using campaign tactics to govern. But he has some legitimate gripes about the way this state is run and the sorry state of our economy.

It would help if the Democrats finally realized that they haven’t exactly created a Heaven on Earth in Illinois.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:05 am

Comments

Yesterday’s floor debate in the Senate proved that both sides not only believe their ideas are right but it also proved that neither side wants to budge.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:08 am
It would also help if Rauner started governing and not campaigning. He was elected without even bothering to put forth is plan and the “plan” he has released doesn’t add up. He made promises to the police and fire about their pensions and now has flip-flopped on this. This may not be the Democrats’ heaven but Rauner isn’t God Almighty either.

Comment by All the answers Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:12 am
It’s really the equivalent of the Speaker saying:
“Just sign it”.
That just won’t work. Not this time. Not with this guy. Not all of the furniture was rearranged down there, but some of it was. Time to take that into account.

Comment by A guy Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:13 am
I am still at a loss. When there is no appropriation there is no way to obligate funds. No funds no contract can be processed by the Comptroller. Bottom line is the non-essential state workers should have been laid off. Not heartless, it is the impetus to get a budget passed. Following the current path we can go for an entire fiscal year without a budget I would imagine. Sort of like the federal governments continuing resolutions. Next the State will print it’s own currency. The legal precedents exist, no one likes them so no one follows them, including those with the authority to uphold the constitution, the AG and the Supreme Court. By the way did the AG pay it’s employees.

Comment by howdy46 Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:15 am
One would think that our astute media and editorial boards would analyze each and every Present or Non-Vote by GOP members.
No one in media land is making the case that GOP members are proposing nothing and acting like “do-nothing dropouts”.
When will this elite group of legislators be held responsible?

Comment by Austin Blvd Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:16 am
The Dems have put a couple of deals on the table; some of the deals were pretty much what Rauner PUBLICLY SAID he wanted. Rauner didn’t take them because the anti-union “poison pills” were removed.

The D’s moved a bit; Rauner didn’t. This mess isn’t going anywhere until Rauner decides to take what he can get (some WC reform, temp Prop tax freeze, and claim victory.

I’m beginning to think I was an optimist when I said October …

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:16 am
===It would help if the Democrats finally realized that they haven’t exactly created a Heaven on Earth in Illinois.===

I’m one of the Democrats that realizes we have many problems in Illinois, chief among them a pension problem that will cost us billions to solve. I’m willing to accept that Democrats played a role in creating the pension debt, but so too did the Republicans along with the global financial collapse of 2007, from which we’re still recovering.

But Democrats also righted the ship and managed to stem the bleeding by paying the full payments under Quinn, raising taxes and still cutting spending. And they did this with absolutely zero help from the Republicans.

And Rauner’s first move after winning the election? Demanding the sunset of the tax hike. Those are the facts. Forgive me if my finger of blame is stuck pointing in one direction.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:16 am
One way to think about Rauner’s strategy timeline is that he doesn’t really consider fiscal year as a milestone on the timeline.
The beginning and end of a fiscal year are meaningless to him.
All that matters to him are winning “at any cost” and November elections.
That is all.

Comment by Austin Blvd Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:20 am
So, what’s the next deadline. The banks aren’t closed and there are no payments due to the IMF, a la the Greek debt crisis, so when do our political masters absolutely have to make the next budget decision. Could we be looking at a series of one month budgets?

Comment by Cassandra Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:23 am
Rauner’s own choices, from becoming Governor-Elect, to today, indicate the Rauner agenda was;

Get income tax back to the lower level.

Turnaround Agenda items, Union busting, RTW resolutions, and proposing a budget as only to have something to hold hostage to get an Agenda passed, first and foremost.

Madigan and Cullerton both are dealmakers.

They both still are.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:24 am
Lots of blame is deserving all the way around the table. However, I would suggest the only way to begin breaking this gridlock is for the Chief Executive (Gov) to decide what he really wants this first session and then plan for his remaining years 2,3 and 4. It is clear he is biting off too much in his first year.

Comment by Just Saying .... Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:25 am
Does anyone have a ballpark as to how much of FY16 is already funded, what with K-12, continuing approps., consent decrees, St. Clair County judge and salaries, etc.?

In other words, what percentage of state government are we getting right now for 100 percent of our taxes?

Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:25 am
===It would help if the Democrats finally realized that they haven’t exactly created a Heaven on Earth in Illinois.===
Have they done all this damage without a single Republican vote?

Comment by tobor Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:29 am
===Have they done all this damage without a single Republican vote? ===

Since ‘09, pretty much, yes.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:30 am
Wonderful. Meanwhile we lowly citizens are stuck between a group that doesn’t understand that you can’t spend what you don’t have and a group that wants to starve government and slash services in exchange for a promise of a ’shining city on a hill’.

Comment by Out Here In The Middle Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:31 am
In Groundhog Day, Bill Murray’s character (Phil) asked the question, “What would you do if you were stuck in one place and every day was exactly the same, and nothing that you did mattered?”. This is the question Governor Rauner needs to ask himself, and unfortunately he isn’t the only one in need of introspection.

Comment by AC Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:32 am
Rich, except for the fact that state revenues dropped by the billions in 2008 and 2009, and the GOP voted for the budgets in 2011, 2012.

Comment by Austin Blvd Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:35 am
=== ===Have they done all this damage without a single Republican vote? ===

Since ‘09, pretty much, yes.===

The silver lining of being “red” lights for 6 years.

Just haven’t packaged it correctly in the micro aspects of House and Senate districts. Big Fail.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:36 am
I’m sorry, but which specific proposals by the governor would make Illinois more “heavenly”?

Comment by Eugene Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:38 am
FYs 12 and 13 were GOP lovefests after the Ds voted for increased revenues in Jan. 2011.
The GOP feasted.
Now they are back to being “do-nothing dropouts” hiding under their desks.
Profiles in courage.

Comment by Austin Blvd Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:39 am
==The Dems have put a couple of deals on the table; some of the deals were pretty much what Rauner PUBLICLY SAID he wanted. Rauner didn’t take them because the anti-union “poison pills” were removed.==

Please provide specific examples of this. The D’s have not made any effort to pass any bills that would give Rauner even the slightest ability to claim credit. Do they have to? No. Should they because the people said they want things to change? Yes.

Comment by phocion Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:40 am
You mean other places get by without a 10.25% sales tax?? You mean they have roads , bridges, and government schools? I’m shocked.

Comment by Steve Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:43 am
===Please provide specific examples of this.===

Jack Franks offered a property tax freeze. The Republicans wouldn’t vote for it because Rauner told them not to.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:47 am
Those places also have a progressive income tax.

Comment by Name Withheld Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:47 am
Also Phocion, try to pay closer attention. This stuff is important and your ignorance distracts us from the conversation.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:48 am
Those who accuse the House GOP of doing nothing should be disqualified from the conversation. Lest we investigate exactly how absurd that proposition is. Some days they have all but begged to get their bills heard. Leadership has been using parliamentary trickery and these long-winded, good-for-nothing committees of the whole to stonewall the minority party.

Yesterday, one might’ve thought there was a moment of clarity when Rep. DeLuca got up and asked of his own party whether they had sat down at the table and tried to hash out a compromise on property tax relief. Bradley’s response, however, illustrated exactly what the problem is here.

He condescended one of his own members by dryly repeating for the umpteenth time that “this is identical to the Governor’s bill.” So, on the question of whether they’re ready to compromise on real* property tax relief that everyone* can get behind, Bradley’s answer is a resounding: “no.”

Who do you suppose is coordinating all of that?

Comment by White Denim Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:48 am
To quote Radogno on Democratic efforts to put Rauner’s language in bill form, “It is absolute nonsense that you throw a bill on the table, vote it up or down and then move on. That’s not how it’s done.”. Now I want to know, how is it done, because I’m not seeing any action that would lead to a resolution.

Comment by AC Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:49 am
==It would help if the Democrats finally realized that they haven’t exactly created a Heaven on Earth in Illinois==

My experience was that most Ds will readily admit this behind closed doors. But even if the diagnosis is agreed to the problem becomes the treatment.

No D (and most Rs) believes that prevailing wage and union busting are ways to treat the illness. As long as that is a Rauner prerequisite then no deal can be made. This isn’t political rocket science.

Comment by Abe the Babe Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:49 am
FYs 12 and 13 were GOP lovefests after the Ds voted for increased revenues in Jan. 2011.
The GOP feasted.
_____________________________________

No one feasted. Revenue went to pay pensions.
We had a backlog of unpaid bills. The plan was
the revenue would be used to eliminate the backlog
and our employers and businesses would get paid.
The mandate was there with the Quinn Election. He carried the tax increase.

I don’t buy the GOP feast. I don’t even buy that the DEMS feasted. I think everyone was and is starving. The only beast that was fed was the pension debt. For better or worse, that is where things are.

Comment by Pete Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:50 am
=== he has some legitimate gripes about the way this state is run and the sorry state of our economy. ===

If his “turnaround agenda” had anything to do with improving how this state is run our our economy, I’d agree with you.

But even a turnip understands that slashing eligibility for child care is bad for our economy.

Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:51 am
BTW, don’t be surprised if he quickly AV’s the one-month budget if the courts block unappropriated pay for state employees.

In fact, I expect the courts will point to that measure as proof there is no need to ignore the constitution’s approp requirement.

Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:53 am
But Democrats also righted the ship and managed to stem the bleeding by paying the full payments under Quinn, raising taxes and still cutting spending. And they did this with absolutely zero help from the Republicans.

And Rauner’s first move after winning the election? Demanding the sunset of the tax hike. Those are the facts. Forgive me if my finger of blame is stuck pointing in one direction

Well, they passed a income tax increase that was able to sunset without a single Republican vote.

Real profile in courage moment there, with a map drawn to their advantage they were too worried about perhaps making a income tax increase permanent and losing the supermajority.

Well I am impressed that Rauner was able to get a lame duck legislature to allow a tax increase to sunset, but that same lame duck legislature decided not to listen to the voters of this state who voted in favor of a minimum wage increase (that was put on the ballot to drive turn out).

So just so I understand, those brave democrats chose to listen to a governor-elect but not the people of Illinois, good and true in the words of the last governor.

Yeah real courage there.

Same brave folks who sent him a budget that would only be considered balanced in Illinois.

But they did it without help from the Republicans, perhaps that was in part when you are the superminority party, just being asked to participate when there is political heat to be taken might not be taken to kindly? Sort of like that friend you only call when it is time to move.

Hey, we have ignored you for a long time, but this going to be unpopular, so why not help?

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:54 am
== Please provide specific examples of this. ==

You’ve been around here; you know the answer. Go look at the bills the Dems ran. Were they exactly what Rauner wanted? No, they had some provisions removed BUT they were pretty much what he SAID he wanted (as opposed to the “poison pills” buried in the bulls the GOP did introduce that were what he apparently REALLY wanted). You never get all you want in the legislative process; you have to settle for what is possible Did the bills pass? Some did without GOP support, some didn’t. Could things have been passed if Rauner didn’t put a brick on them? Yes, some things could have. But the bills with “poison pills” are never going to pass this legislature; Rauner doesn’t own that many votes.

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:54 am
47th Ward at 11:16 AM

Your comment makes complete sense, if you don’t address the fact Blagojevich was in charge from 2002 to 2009,who campaigned on no tax increase.

It would be nice to see Rauner get over the anti-union legislation (besides in AFSCME contract), and pick his battles wiser.

Comment by Almost the Weekend Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 11:59 am
Rich I do think the Speaker for example during one of the more recent pressers admitted at least some responsibility for the fiscal problems of Illinois. Steve Brown has been quoted in Crain’s as having stated “He’s (the Speaker) said any number of times that he accepts responsibility but he’s one piece of the puzzle.”

In the context of the current battle with the Governor I am afraid it simply does not help when Democrats admit that they haven’t exactly created a Heaven on Earth in Illinois. It simply gives the Governor yet another quote to use in an attack commercial. The Governor wants a revolution and to dismantle the welfare state aspects of Illinois to the maximum extent possible. Illinois has not elected another Edgar or Ryan who is willing to nip the welfare state at its fringes, but someone who wants to completely dismantle it.

Comment by Rod Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 12:02 pm
How did Rauner cause the tax hike to expire? Madigans rigged map has it so getting slightly over 50% of votes in the GA gives him supermajorities. At any time he, Cullerton and Quinn could of extended the hike for as long as they wanted or even raised it further.

Comment by Very Fed Up Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 12:08 pm
Hey- this is essentially the same team that gave us the temp tax increase promising it was going to result in paying down the bills and solving the revenue needs?. Well the definition cits continued, the pension funding got worse and Illinois leads the nation in crumbling roads and an overall job deficit since he recession ended. Maybe it is time for a new approach as opposed to thinking doing things in the same way will somehow result in a better outcome

Comment by Sue Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 12:09 pm
If the anti-union poison pills were removed from many of these bills, I suspect a deal could be made in very short order.

I’m surprised no one is saying what the issue boils down to: Rauner wants to eliminate unions, most everybody else doesn’t.

That’s it. Isn’t that essentially the impasse?

Comment by Macbeth Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 12:09 pm
Madigan and Cullerton both are dealmakers.

They both still are. @Oswego willy

One hand washes the other or no deal.

Win/Win is still possible…but the time is passing.

Comment by Anonymous Redux Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 12:10 pm
===someone who wants to completely dismantle it. ====

The governor supports a one percentage point income tax hike.

I don’t think he intends to do what you think he does.

And, again, this fight isn’t about the budget. At all.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 12:10 pm
Sorry. Deficits continued

Comment by Sue Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 12:10 pm
===Hey, we have ignored you for a long time, but this going to be unpopular, so why not help?===

So is this why the Republicans are helping Rauner hold the budget hostage to the anti-worker Turnaround Agenda? How many Republicans in the GA want to vote to end prevailing wage? How many Republican votes can you find for RTW?

You don’t want blame and you don’t want to vote for Rauner’s agenda. You don’t want to vote to diminish pensions or slash government spending. Got it.

Thanks for nothing.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 12:13 pm
=== And, again, this fight isn’t about the budget. At all. ===

Exactly. There is turmoil in those words. Cyclonic turmoil.

Comment by dupage dan Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 12:16 pm
Also, 47th Ward, bite me. Your partisan hackery and misrepresentations of what’s happening in Springfield don’t count as “facts.” Feel free to continue with your Rauner derangement syndrome if you must. Just don’t call me ignorant because I don’t subscribe to your views.

Comment by phocion Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 12:30 pm
We need a BUDGET first and foremost. The TurnSidewaysUpsideDown Agenda doesn’t generate immediate revenue for the state, which will be needed to pay for the increase in Education spending that the Governor signed off on.

Comment by ihpsdm Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 12:31 pm
“- Sue - Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 12:09 pm:

Hey- this is essentially the same team that gave us the temp tax increase promising it was going to result in paying down the bills and solving the revenue needs?. Well the definition cits continued, the pension funding got worse and Illinois leads the nation in crumbling roads and an overall job deficit since he recession ended. Maybe it is time for a new approach as opposed to thinking doing things in the same way will somehow result in a better outcome”

The income tax increase did allow for the backlog of bills to be paid- it also allowed for the pension payments to be made. The reason it wasn’t successful in eliminating those problems is they were not enacted soon enough and were ended prematurely.

You can blame the Democrats for not having the political courage to do the right thing earlier (I do) and not having the fortitude to stick with it once it was done, but let’s also remember that the Republicans wanted the Democrats to own the pain of a tax increase.

They did.

Now they want the Democrats to own the pain of a tax increase AND the elimination of many of the core tenets of their platform.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 12:33 pm
Has anyone floated the idea of taking the expected revenues (under current tax levels), dividing by 12, and passing a scaled back one month budget (repeat as needed) so as to have some ongoing funding for services and such without digging any holes any deeper until a full deal is reached?

Comment by titan Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 12:36 pm
===Just don’t call me ignorant because I don’t subscribe to your views.===

I called you ignorant because you ignored Jack Franks bill, which was discussed here on several occasions.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 12:37 pm
In any negotiation that I’ve been involved in, both sides have a pretty good idea where you’ll end up when it’s all over. In this situation, i don’t think either side have an idea of what the end game is. Pretty frightening.

Comment by Stones Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 12:38 pm
Phocion. Is that you, Goldfarb?

Comment by Austin Blvd Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 12:39 pm
Anon- no argument bills and pensions got paid with the temp tax problem was the Dems continued to spend more money then they said they would. On the pension issue just wait for TRS to announce their June 30 returns for the FY. Based on recent numbers out of Calpers- the TRS numbers may be shockingly bad which will drive up the actuarial required payments for the next FY. No one can honestly say Illinois is in better fiscal condition today then it was pre-recession. Rauner is correct that he needs to improve our growth trajectory. Unfortunately to achieve a better jobs environment he need some of his requested reforms

Comment by Sue Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 12:47 pm
Thank you for the comparison, Austin Blvd, but no. I’m not Goldfarb. And 47th, kindly refer to my original question - did Franks’ bill pull an anti-union poison pill out of a bill that Rauner presented? Kindly keep your own ignorance to yourself.

Comment by phocion Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 12:47 pm
+++ 47th Ward - Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 12:37 pm:

===Just don’t call me ignorant because I don’t subscribe to your views.===

I called you ignorant because you ignored Jack Franks bill, which was discussed here on several occasions.++++

Franks bill wasn’t hard to ignore 47. You know why it didn’t get any traction. Lighten the load a little dude. You are getting carried away. Things are tense, rise above a little.

Comment by A guy Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 12:48 pm
=== No one can honestly say Illinois is in better fiscal condition today then it was pre-recession===

Well, yeah.

Wanna guess why?

A hint: It starts with “income tax rollback”

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 12:48 pm
Richard-the temp tax allowed State to tread water as opposed to drowning- it did nothing to solve the structural deficit nor would continuing the tax at 5 percent. In addition to raising the rate which Rauner has said he is prepared to do-Illinois needs to begin dealing with various significant issues.. One significant change would be to legislatively prohibit all employer pickups in any pension system and then require the employers to pay every dollar of savings into the funds.. Just think of how much money might be available and it would not cost the taxpayers a dime

Comment by Sue Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 12:57 pm
===One significant change would be to legislatively prohibit all employer pickups in any pension system and then require the employers to pay every dollar of savings into the funds.. Just think of how much money might be available and it would not cost the taxpayers a dime===

Ok, how much?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 12:58 pm
=== it did nothing to solve the structural deficit nor would continuing the tax at 5 percent===

It actually kinda did. The bill backlog greatly decreased, which is pretty good evidence of that.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 1:00 pm
Oswego- at least for TRS you can look at their annual statement in terms of the employee contributions. Assume most school districts utilize the employer pick-up. If the employees paid their full contributions and the school boards then paid in what they had been “picking up” my guess is we are talking hundreds of millions of annual additional funding dollars with no taxpayer costs

Comment by Sue Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 1:02 pm
===Assume most school districts utilize the employer pick-up.===

Don’t assume, how much?

===…my guess is… ===

Not your guess. How much?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 1:05 pm
It would help if the Majority party in the GA would recognize how hostile Illinois is to business. Clearly, outside of Chicago, Illinois economy is reeling and not competitive with our neighbors. We have been losing population and businesses at an alarming rate and unemployment is still way too high and the labor participation rate is far too low. Rahm is doing a great job trying to attract tech and other industries to Chicago. I wish the whole state had the same focus

Comment by Shoedoctor Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 1:07 pm
===did Franks’ bill pull an anti-union poison pill out of a bill that Rauner presented?===

Does Rauner want a property tax freeze or not? If not, he should say so and tell us for once, loud and clear, what is it is he actually wants.

Then we’ll see exactly how many HGOPs have the spine to vote for it. Until then, spare me the lectures about how the evil Democratic majority won’t let any Republican bills get to the floor. Your team wouldn’t know what to do if it ever happened.

Go win some elections on Rauner’s real agenda then maybe you won’t have to cry so much about being powerless and I won’t complain that the HGOPs are a bunch of ghostpayrollers who have no business getting paid to do nothing.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 1:11 pm
===what is it is he actually wants===

His bill has been introduced.

I’m supposing that the Democrats don’t want to run it because their members will then be on record as voting against the gov’s property tax freeze.

So would a lot of Republicans, but that’s beside the point.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 1:13 pm
“It would help if the Democrats finally realized that they haven’t exactly created a Heaven on Earth in Illinois.”

True, but you could say the exact same thing about the states that have followed Raunerite supply side policy prescriptions like Kansas, Indiana, Wisconsin. I would argue those states are worse off then IL.

I think Obama’s comparison the other day between Wisconsin & Minnesota was spot on.

Comment by Anon Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 1:13 pm
===His bill has been introduced.===

Was that the 500-page kitchen sink bill?

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 1:15 pm
And after all this argument we are how much closer? Maybe it’s time we just go ahead and start electing new faces. Let’s make it like slots. We pull the lever till we win. Or till we are all broke. Sounds like a plan.

Comment by Strangerthings Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 1:18 pm
The Democrats may not have created heaven on earth. But the Koch Brothers, Rauner, and Ken Griffin could very well create hell on earth for those in need such as the elderly, developmentally disabled, those in need of day care - and a host of other programs that have had their lives made better by the state’s programs.

And Rauner’s turnaround agenda and pension play wold also take many middle class families closer to hell on earth than heaven on earth.

Comment by Joe M Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 1:25 pm
=== It would help if the Majority party in the GA would recognize how hostile Illinois is to business. Clearly, outside of Chicago, Illinois economy is reeling and not competitive with our neighbors. ===

Actually, it isn’t just Chicago that is doing well, it is the entire region, where 2/3 of the state’s residents live.

Which really raises the question, why is the resat of the state doing poorly by comparison?

Hint: it has nothing to do with the workers comp, collective bargaining, and other regulations that apply equally to the Chicago region.

Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 1:25 pm
Getting 71 House Dems to come in in July to pass the temporary budget showed remarkable party unity and strength. I expect that to continue. I don’t expect the Dems to completely contravene their core principles, which took many years to enact into law. As a result, some innocents will suffer, temporarily. That is the Governor’s will, that they suffer.

Comment by James Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 1:32 pm
Sue @ 1:02 pm == One significant change would be to legislatively prohibit all employer pickups in any pension system and then require the employers to pay every dollar of savings into the funds.==

But this would only apply to the “little people” because, according to his contract, the State Board of Education agreed to pay Governor Rauner’s state school Superintendent Tony Smith’s “member” contributions to TRS — 9.4 percent of his earnings.

This is not a good example of shared sacrifice, but what we have learned to expect from the anti-worker turnaround agenda.

Comment by Enviro Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 1:32 pm
47th, I’m glad you acknowledged your own ignorance in your comments directed against me. You may try reading what I actually say first before resorting to ad hominem attacks. I’m disappointed you did keep up the attacks by changing the subject. Nice try, though, pal. Here’s a piece of advice. Try not doubling down on a faulty argument by changing the subject. Best to acknowledge your error and move on. I happen to have plenty of experience in debate and courtroom skills. It would appear that you do not.

Comment by phocion Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 1:38 pm
We had a decent period that ended this January. We had a higher income tax that was paying bills and the pensions. Our unemployment rate dropped substantially during the last period of the income tax increase.

Our unemployment rate has been stuck at 6% for the last four months on record. Why? Because RAUNER AND THE INCOME TAX DECREASE ARE JOB KILLERS!

What I said is ridiculous, which points to the other ridiculous statements about slashing unions and taxes to bring about a better economy and finances.

I am open to helping businesses by considering more workers comp reform, and I don’t mind helping our fellows in the corporate world with tax breaks. I just think that during tough times, the poor, sick and vulnerable and those who support them shouldn’t face the entire brunt. I also think this anti-union stuff has to go. It’s an existential fight for Rauner and those behind front groups like the IPI. I really, really commend unions for standing up and fighting against this.

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 1:38 pm
Hint: it has nothing to do with the workers comp, collective bargaining, and other regulations that apply equally to the Chicago region.
Okay so what you are saying is that it’s the fault of the people who live in the rest of the state? You know that reminds me, I compete forgot that caterpillar just decided to stay in Peoria and that they are investing in a new state of the art headquarters building. Yeah its gotta be something we downstaters are doing wrong, it just couldn’t be the fault of policies that have focused on benefiting business in the northern part of the state at all.

Comment by Strangerthings Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 1:43 pm
“It would help if the Majority party in the GA would recognize how hostile Illinois is to business. Clearly, outside of Chicago, Illinois economy is reeling and not competitive with our neighbors. We have been losing population and businesses at an alarming rate and unemployment is still way too high and the labor participation rate is far too low. Rahm is doing a great job trying to attract tech and other industries to Chicago. I wish the whole state had the same focus”

If, as you say, the Chicago area (2/3rds of the state’s population) and Rahm are having success under current state law, perhaps the problem elsewhere is not current state law.

Comment by Anon Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 1:48 pm
Phocion, here’s what you originally wrote:

“The D’s have not made any effort to pass any bills that would give Rauner even the slightest ability to claim credit.”

Rauner could have taken credit for the Franks bill if he’d let the HGOPs vote for it and then signed it into law. That’s what governors do. My saying so wasn’t changing the subject genius, it was responding to your ignorance, which won’t happen again. You’re not worth wasting my time.

Good day sir.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 1:48 pm
Illinois and the surrounding suburbs are different from the rest of the state. Why would a business locate a new plant outside of the Chicago metro where most of the people in the State and their potential customers live if they can do it cheaper in Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan or Iowa- all of which are friendlier to business. In some case they would be closer to Chicago. Businesses and capital are leaving Cook County because of higher taxes, but Chicago remains the engine of the Midwest inspite of all of our problems

We need an economic development plan for the entire state and we have to recognize that the only way out of this mess is a growing economy. I see no urgency from the Democrats to grow our economy. Even NY runs ads trying to attract business to their state.

Comment by Shoedoctor Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 1:52 pm
Would forcing Rauner’s turn around bills through the legislature this spring have allowed a thorough review of the issues, deliberation, debate, compromise and reconciliation for all the complicated issues the legislation was intended to address? Would it have really served the best interests of the people to have done so? Rauner’s bundle of proposals just seemed to be too much, too fast, and too soon. Why couldn’t this be done in a planned manner over 2 or 3 years instead of the cluster of fiasco “governing” this has become? Rauner hail maryed for the big score when he should have should have been content to reach the 50 yard line. Now he is in his own end zone. And the daily cluster continues.

Comment by vole Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 1:58 pm
===Rauner could have taken credit for the Franks bill if he’d let the HGOPs vote for it and then signed it into law.===

Can it dude. This was a trojan horse bill and everyone on both sides of the aisle knew it. That’s why one side ran it and the other side ignored it. Franks was only too willing to get his name on a tax freeze bill. He knew more than anyone that it wasn’t heading anywhere.

Comment by A guy Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 2:07 pm
@ 1:52 pm: Why would a business locate a new plant outside of the Chicago metro…?

Because by some academic accounts Chicago is now the fifth or sixth most important global city economically, after New York, London, Tokyo, Singapore and perhaps Paris. Chicago is a widely recognized world class city economically and culturally.

Comment by Enviro Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 2:07 pm
==We would strongly recommend to the governor that he put politics aside==

Ironic considering the source.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 2:36 pm
“Because by some academic accounts Chicago is now the fifth or sixth most important global city economically, after New York, London, Tokyo, Singapore and perhaps Paris. Chicago is a widely recognized world class city economically and culturally.”
————–

I’m sure that’s comforting to the 500 or so employees at the General Mills plant in West Chicago that will be losing their jobs in 2017.

Comment by Judgment Day Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 2:57 pm
JD, really? That anecdote trumps the fact of Cnicago’s role in the world economy…..how? There’s never change in a large, dynamic capitalist economy?

Would you rather that government guaranteed lifetime job security at General Mills in West Chicago?

What do they call that kind of system, again?

Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 3:05 pm
Word, those are well paying jobs that are going ‘bye bye’ to the State of Illinois. They are heading elsewhere.

You tout platitudes, but reality does intrude on that. And reality is that there’s 500+ jobs going away. And those were well paying jobs.

What are we going to do - get those workers specific training in “Economics and Culture” so they can fit in our new “world class city”?

You call this an “anecdote”. What this situation really represents is business voting with their feet. And that’s devastating…..

Figure it out….

Comment by Judgment Day Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 3:26 pm
JD, read the story. The company says there’s an oversupply due to changing customer tastes.

Word is right. The government can’t guarantee jobs forever if the market changes.

Hear that, Exelon?

/snark

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 3:28 pm
“JD, read the story. The company says there’s an oversupply due to changing customer tastes.”
————–

Rich, I can tell you there’s more to the story. Know some folks there.

There’s a back story here (story behind the story), but it’s not worth it to them to get caught up in the fights.

This has some real spin off effects (and they are not positive) for Illinois that nobody is paying attention to.

Comment by Judgment Day Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 3:42 pm
“Even NY runs ads trying to attract business to their state.”

New York’s unemployment rate is 5.7%. A year ago it was 6.3%. The New York tax-free enterprise zones commercials have been on TV for a long time. So little growth for so much trickle-down.

Speaking of growing the economy, it’s reported that the state of Washington sold over $257 million in recreational marijuana and reaped $70 million in tax revenue. Washington’s population is estimated at 7 million. Illinois’ population is estimated to be around 13 million.

“You tout platitudes”

Chicagoland is an economic and cultural powerhouse, with room for more growth. If all the pseudo-fearmongering was true, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan would have Chicago’s economic power and diversity, and vice-versa. One or a few cherry-picked incidents of jobs leaving can’t be used alone to support a greater economic theory.

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 3:46 pm
JD, I’ll see your General Mills in West Chicago and raise you the new $250 million Woodward aerospace plant in Rockford, up and humming July 1 after blowing off Wisconsin and South Carolina (Crains, July 13).

You’re playing a silly game, dude, drawing universal conclusions with one-offs. The world doesn’t work that way.

And the “story behind the story” and “nobody is talking about” stuff? Real cloak-and-dagger, lol.

Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 4:00 pm
“You’re playing a silly game, dude, drawing universal conclusions with one-offs. The world doesn’t work that way.”
———–

Word, ever heard of a trend line? Look at the food manufacturing/processing business. For Illinois. Over the last few years, we haven’t been winning in terms of operations or jobs.

And we have business opportunities in food processing and agriculture we haven’t had previously. Those may not be fancy downtown Chicago jobs, but they can pay pretty well.

But when Illinois as a state is taking continual losses in the food processing business, it’s a ‘drip drip drip’ type of situation.

You’re looking at the forest and saying “It’s still green”. I’m looking at the trees in the forest and seeing losses. And they are not just “one off” losses.

And for what some folks are trying to do with agriculture and food processing here in IL, that is anything but helpful.

Comment by Judgment Day Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 4:43 pm
Received a mailer from Turnaround Illinois, Inc. today, complete with grainy pics of my local rep and “Chicago political boss Mike Madigan,” advising me to call my local representative and tell him to “stand up to Madigan to break the cycle of corruption and restore integrity to the legislature by supporting term limits.” Then it goes on to trash the state based on unemployment rates and job losses. Is there ever going to be a point at which the governor stops disparaging the state and starts promoting it?

Comment by Jeanne Dough Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 4:46 pm
I don’t purport to speak for the Governor, the administration, or anyone else, but: Juvenal, slicing child care isn’t part of the turnaround agenda. From the administrations view it is a consequence of not passing the turnaround agenda. Everyone, tho I don’t think they have successfully burned the message in, there is clear logic behind what some of us call the “poison pills” included in the admin’s turnaround bills. Let’s do a simple one. We know that a property tax freeze will cause difficulty for many if not most local governments. The administration knows it too. So they include abolishment of prevailing wage, local control over what can/can’t be bargained, etc in the bill. Those are intended to produce the savings that allow local governments to cope with the freeze. I have no idea if the numbers have even been run, much less whether they add up, but whether you agree with the approach or not there is clear logic, and we are missing it.

The attempts to reduce workers comp costs, unemployment comp costs, implement right to work, etc aren’t I think anything more than what the business guys have told them are the tools that will cause Illinois’ economy and workforce to expand much more rapidly, and we Rs, at least most of us,believe that rising tides lift all ships. Once again, we may disagree with the particular approaches suggested, but I don’t thing we should refuse to see the logic behind them. I don’t want to seem an apologist, but when we assume the basest of motives and allow the discussion to become too laden with our assumptions, we aren’t at our best. In at least some areas we should be offering what we think are better approaches to achieving the desired outcomes, not characterizing the people who made the original proposals. At least that’s how I believe logic should compel us to proceed.

And to the last issue, our insistence that the Governor should unlink the budget from his turnaround agenda, I think his refusal so far is also logical. What other leverage does he have to force movement along the path of his turnaround agenda?

Comment by steve schnorf Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 5:21 pm
Just so we are clear the reason a company might choose to build a plant outside chicago….I don’t know to be closer to their raw materials reduce shipping costs,to reduce how much they pay employees I am sure there are more. Let’s not assume that there is no good reason not to build in or near chicago.

Comment by Strangerthings Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 6:21 pm
Or rather than gutting unions, the governor could reform the General State Aid formula, which is the reason behind why property taxes are so high in the first place. Some of us might say addressing the fundamental problem behind property taxes is clearer logic than creating a new problem (property tax freeze) and offering to strip union bargaining and prevailing wage as a possible solution to save money, when, as you say, the numbers may not support the argument for those hypothetical savings.

Comment by Tournaround Agenda Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 6:28 pm
As far as most of us can tell, a rising tide lifts all yachts, but the boats…the boats are a different story. Will all respect.

Comment by DuPage Grandma Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 6:39 pm
How does reforming the state aid formula reduce the amount of property needed by school districts? Unless you are suggesting we pour hundreds of millions of new state dollars into education (and a case can be made for doing that-see CTBA)then all you do with the formula reform is play a zero sum game. And the state is a little short of hundreds of millions of new dollars!

Comment by steve schnorf Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 7:56 pm
RNUG @ 11:54am
“But the bills with the poison pills are never going to pass this legislature; Rauner doesn’t own that many votes.”… YET!!
& I hope he never does, but I’m not gonna bet my paycheck on it (’cause I may not have one!!).

Comment by Property of IDOC Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 10:18 pm