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When “significant progress” means “no progress”

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* Gov. Bruce Rauner was asked yesterday if there’s been any movement toward wrapping up this overtime session…

“There has been some significant progress.”

Really?

That would be news to me.

He went on to say…

“It’s a difficult situation for me to describe in detail, which leader, and which issue, which members of the General Assembly are for reform, which aren’t. It would be, it would hurt the process for me to publicly discuss the personal positions.”

Wow. That would be huge news.

* But…

None of the state’s top leaders in Springfield are using marijuana, as far as we know. But they do seem to inhabit alternate realities.

Top Democrats claim there hasn’t been any serious bargaining over a new state budget since May. The old one expired in June. [..]

“What we need right now is leadership from the governor. What we need now is a focus on math in order to resolve our issues,” [Senate President John Cullerton’s spokesperson Rikeesha Phelon said].

She said there’s been no serious negotiation since Rauner vetoed the Democrats’ unbalanced budget, and the state Government has operated without one for 10 weeks.

So, not only has there been no significant progress, there’s been no progress at all.

But that’s by far the best lede I’ve seen all summer, so we have that going for us.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 10:24 am

Comments

Rauner just can’t tell the truth.

It’s not in his nature.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 10:30 am
I know most Democrats think it wrong to link the state budget to non-budget items. What those folks don’t realize is that for the population that voted for Rauner, they believe that all of Springfield is broken. Everything at the State Capitol is connected to each other, you can’t separate them into nice little packages.

It’s all related to each other, and its all broken, and its all a mess, and it has been for over a decade. And if you want to “fix Springfield” the most obvious place to blow things up and put it back together is with the state budget.

(And I would also argue forcefully that a conversation on the state’s business climate is directly related to the state budget too.)

Comment by Just Me Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 10:30 am
Well, Rauner said he’s been talking to Dunkin “on a regular basis.” Though “not in the past two weeks.” LOL

Seriously, there could well be various positions being floated by individual Dems on some of the Turnaround items, and not on others. Is that what he means as progress? How much and to what end?

Clearly there’s been no movement on the budget itself — but that is not what the Governor would count as “progress.”

Comment by walker Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 10:36 am
What a goofy thing to say.

I’m curious as to whether the governor comes up with these whoppers on his own or they are a result of what the superstars are telling him?

Along those lines, just how engaged is the governor in his job, and does he have anyone around him willing to tell him things he does not want to hear?

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 10:38 am
Maybe he acquired more Raunerites, and once he collects a whole set he will get control of a state as a prize. Wonder if he’ll start governing then?

Comment by AC Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 10:40 am
Definitive news, hot off the press: the end of the session is one week closer than it was at this time a week ago. That’s significant progress, no?

Comment by UIC Guy Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 10:41 am
Maybe he was talking about republican leaders and members LOL

Comment by cb Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 10:44 am
===So we have that going for us.===

Which is nice.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 10:44 am
Just Me, that’s quite a collection of catch phrases you have there.

How’s about you fill us in on the ROI for the current manufactured fiscal crisis — the runaway deficit, the social service layoffs, the shutdowns, etc.

There are real numbers and people attached to those. What are your projections, in real numbers, for the return on this course of action?

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 10:45 am
haven’t we seen this movie before?

Comment by bored now Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 10:46 am
But he gets to ride his motorcycle every weekend.

Comment by Nick Name Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 10:47 am
Please, someone explain to Rauner that Goldberg’s snarky and disrespectful letters telling Dems to come to the negotiations table doesn’t constitute actual negotiations or progress. Sheesh.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 10:47 am
Norseman … you would think somebody would take him up on the offer to negotiate. You can negotiate with yourself.

Comment by cb Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 10:49 am
Just Me, and your rambling comment relates to this post about Rauner making up another lie to cover his political posterior how?

Comment by Norseman Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 10:49 am
Change is never easy and the truth is lacking among all parties. To blame just one is ignorant.

Comment by William Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 10:54 am
===Change is never easy and the truth is lacking among all parties. To blame just one is ignorant.===

Whaa?

Either they met, or they didn’t.

Either they’ve talked or they haven’t.

Are you that person that says “yeah, but… they’re doing it too” when caught fibbing? lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 10:57 am
“There are no constraints on the human mind, no walls around the human spirit, no barriers to our progress except those we ourselves erect.”

Ronald Reagan

Comment by Boone's is Back Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 10:57 am
Yeah. You’re right William. It is the hostages fault, not the hostage taker.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 10:58 am
I fail to see how the media cannot grasp the fact that reforms, which encompass economic impact, are in fact not budget related. If the state has more businesses and more citizens gainfully employed the size of the tax base increases and the state collects more revenue without a tax increase. Or if the state has more businesses and more citizens are gainfully employed, the market value of real estate increases which increases the property tax base resulting in more local taxes collected without a property tax increase. Additionally, how on earth can the democrats continue to spout that and people actually believe that horse malarkey?

Finally, if the democrats get a budget and tax increase, which is what they want more than anything, more cash, what incentive do they have to negotiate on any reforms? Not saying the governor has been totally straight about this either. Why not sit down and break the budget into three or four pieces, then negotiate the budget piece and one of the governor’s reform ideas together. For example the budget could be broken down into medicaid spending, social service spending, operating costs and a tax increase. The governor could negotiate on tort reform, collective bargaining, property tax freeze and workers comp. Tie each one to a portion of the budget and get to work.

Comment by Trouble Understanding Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:01 am
===I fail to see how the media cannot grasp the fact that reforms, which encompass economic impact, are in fact not budget related===

And I fail to see how that has anything whatsoever to do with this particular post.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:02 am
cb, I assume you meant “You can’t negotiate with yourself.” That is true. It’s also not negotiations when the parties won’t change positions the other side will not accept. That’s impasse, which is where we’re at now.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:05 am
Maybe the Governor’s “progress” is all the compromisin’ he’s been doin’. Come on, take it easy on the guy. He’s been paid millions of dollars to shuffle other people’s money around and lay other people off. This compromisin is hard work.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:05 am
Maybe the Governor means that he has gotten out his checkbook again has actually convinced some lukewarm Republican members of the GA to go along with his turnaround agenda a little more strongly.

Comment by Joe M Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:05 am
From what I have seen in business, telling the truth is not always the first resort. It seems that often when heads are going to roll people are patted on the back and told everything is fine right up to the point the axe swings.
If I understand things right. In Rauners last line of work, being up front with the people affected by his company’s moves was not a highly regarded action.
Tell em what they want to hear right up to the point it does not matter.

Comment by Bemused Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:07 am
- Trouble Understanding -

When Rauner gets 60 and 30 or 71 and 36 right now…

Get back to us.

Thanks.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:10 am
Norseman.. an impasse is temporary as there is always a middle ground unless one has a veto proof majority … oh wait that is gone now… at least for now.. so maybe now there is a middle ground.

Comment by cb Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:11 am
Our governor has been elected and has nothing but time to wait. He certainly is not hurt the way those not receiving services are, so what’s the problem? He doesn’t have to answer to his constituents (most don’t anyway, it seems, they just do whatever they want). He will wait patiently to get what he wants.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:13 am
- cb -

===When Rauner gets 60 and 30 or 71 and 36 right now…

Get back to us.

Thanks.===

Thanks.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:14 am
There are “attitudes” and “behaviors”. The Governor is lacking in behaviors. His attitudes are elaborate and reflect a self created reality. Who knows what he is alluding too. But he “believes” it with all his heart. It’s just not connected to the real and now. It is disassociative.

Comment by Honeybear Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:14 am
=== an impasse is temporary as there is always a middle ground unless one has a veto proof majority … oh wait that is gone now… at least for now.. so maybe now there is a middle ground. ===

cb, we’re seeing your theory being tested right now. I hope it’s temporary, because the longer the impasse lasts the more hurt will be inflicted on innocent people and the harder it will take to reverse the damage.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:17 am
- Oswego Willy .. all I am saying this that maybe the Dems might have to negotiate instead of trying to override bills

Comment by cb Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:17 am
The GA’s best option right now is to adjourn until the Governor presents the GAwith a balanced budget.

Meanwhile do periodic press releases about the growing state shortfall and that it will likely result in a massive retroactive tax increase.

Let the Governor sweat it out alone with the press for a while
and let the public pressure build.

Comment by A Jack Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:20 am
=== .. all I am saying this that maybe the Dems might have to negotiate instead of trying to override bills===

Nope.

Rauner needs. Rauner needs 60 and 30, but right now it’s 71 and 36.

Governors need. When Rauner is ready to cobble his 71 and 36, then he’ll stop with the made up progress and start seeing the math.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:22 am
Norseman, YES! Bingo! I totally agree that a theory is being tested. Whose theory it is I don’t know but I’ve been feeling that for a long time. We left the tried and true methods of political combat long ago. It is asymetrical from here on out.

Comment by Honeybear Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:22 am
– I fail to see how the media cannot grasp how reforms, which encompass economic impact, are in fact not budget related.–

I fail to see how you did not realize your first sentence is in exact opposition to everything you wrote after it.

One too many negatives, cousin.

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:23 am
Oswego Willy .. with that kinda of thought process we are in for a very long and expensive non-budget year.. Instead maybe they should negotiate instead of just counting heads

Comment by cb Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:26 am
“What those folks don’t realize is that for the population that voted for Rauner, they believe that all of Springfield is broken.”
Why do people call the State “Springfield”? The ‘State’ is spread from one end of IL to the other end.

Comment by Mama Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:26 am
Maybe Rauner is referring to the over-ride of SB1229, where three D-Reps did not vote with Madigan.

Comment by Mama Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:28 am
===..with that kinda of thought process we are in for a very long and expensive non-budget year.. Instead maybe they should negotiate instead of just counting heads===

Um, you negotiate to what can garner the votes to pass.

You do know how this all works, right?

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:28 am
Illinois is not Indiana.

You’re welcome.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:31 am
==Um, you negotiate to what can garner the votes to pass.==
Kinda hard to do this when one side wont even come to the table to negitiate

Comment by cb Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:33 am
“None of the state’s top leaders are using marijuana….”

I fully support members of the
GA and Rauner taking a fact finding trip to Denver.

Comment by Kasich Walker, Jr. Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:33 am
===Kinda hard to do this when one side wont even come to the table to negitiate===

According to Rauner, they’re meetin’ all the time, lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:35 am
The budget specifies the service level and operation of the State government. Rauner’s Turnaround Agenda impacts the economics of the State. The first is administrative in nature and the second is policy oriented. The budget should implement policy.

Rauner has said he is not going to administer this State and its services until the GA agrees to change policies that impact the economics of the State.

The confusion on progress may be that Rauner isn’t talking about the budget - his focus and caring is on his turnaround agenda, not the budget. There was progress (from his perspective) when the GA failed to over ride his veto on the AFSCME bill.

Comment by archimedes Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:39 am
- Oswego Willy very nicely said, lol

Comment by cb Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:47 am
“It’s a difficult situation for me to describe in detail, which leader, and which issue, which members of the General Assembly are for reform, which aren’t. It would be, it would hurt the process for me to publicly discuss the personal positions.”

This makes very little sense in the context of the facts:

1) They leaders haven’t met in weeks, maybe months.

2) The possibility that he might “hurt the process” never stopped him from saying anything before.

Either he regrets shooting his mouth off or he’s still pretending things are happening behind the scenes.

My money’s on the latter.

Comment by Politix Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:47 am
They can’t even agree if there has been progress or not…

Priceless!

Comment by Stones Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:59 am
“So, I want all your English research papers from your groups turned in by the end of today. Yes, Bruce?

“We don’t have it, but we’re workin’ on it.”

“Working on it? What do you mean, Mr. Rauner?”

“It’s a difficult situation for me to describe in detail…”

“How about you try. You’ve had all semester, all of you. Who’s the leader of your group, what issues are preventing you guys from turning this paper in?

“Leader? Which issue? Which members of the group? Mr. Smith we all want to complete the paper. I mean some are for tuning it in, some aren’t. It would be, it would hurt the process for me to publicly discuss the personal positions.”

————————

Rauner had to be a gem in school…

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 12:12 pm
– Rauner’s Turnaround Agenda impacts the economics of the state.–

Please, professor, continue.

Start with term limits, then redistricting, then prevailing wage for public projects, then collective bargaining for public employees…..

Lay down the religion….. I mean, the economics, on those.

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 12:12 pm
Rauner is a money man; he is a deal maker.
Therefore…..

Some things will not be done in the light of day, and if the light is shined on them we will see them as being very dark.

Comment by cdog Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 12:12 pm
Three cheers for Willie’s classroom!!!

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 12:40 pm
Actually I don’t find the statements contradictory:

A. Rauner views progress as moving towards getting his demands.

B. I think Rauner viewed SB1229 as a me or MJM kind of stand. So those three dem non-yes votes show movement towards him in his mind.

C. I suspect he has someback channel communications going to attempt to pick of more D’s to his side. Most likely offering the usual favors + campaign cash.

D. If I am right the last thing he wants to do is even hint to MJM or Cullerton that he is courting defectots in their caucus.

Of course if I’m right and in 73 days he’s only picked off tgree (again in his mind) this thing won’t be done till’17.

Comment by Mason born Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 12:43 pm
===I suspect he has someback channel communications going to attempt to pick of more D’s to his side.===

You do realize how many Democrats he needs to pick up in both chambers to pass anything at all, right?

Try to stay inside the bounds of reality here, man.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 12:47 pm
Negotiations require compromise. Some in the Gov’s camp equate compromise with surrender, so until they realize that compromise is not a loss, we are getting no where. Never before has this Gov held a position where he had to compromise, while the GA absolutely understands the concept. How do you get a meeting of the minds when one of the minds thinks you all gotta meet at his place?

Comment by burbanite Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 12:53 pm
Word - no intent to preach. Just pointing out that Rauner isn’t focused on the ministerial or executive administration of the State government (contrary to his job description).

He is focused on changing policy to impact economics - the factors that determine the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. At least, that is the goal on the surface.

I am not as adept at reading the political tea leaves as you guys - but seems to me that Rauner has created a crisis (from the start - insisting that there be no lame duck income tax bill) deliberately to give himself leverage to pass policy changes that would increase power in the traditional republican base by decreasing the power (unions and democratic machine) of the traditional democratic base.

Compromise can be found in policy change that is true economic reform - but gridlock in policy change that is designed to shift the power meter.

Comment by archimedes Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 12:56 pm
===Never before has this Gov held a position where he had to compromise===

Um, remember the FY15 deal?

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 12:56 pm
Rich

Oh I’m aware hence my last comment that it will be ‘17 before he could get there at this route.

I don’t think he sees it that way. The narcissism is strong with this one.

Personally I think he’s full of it and needs to accept that the turnaround is doa and his “strategy” is an unmitigated disaster. The sooner he decides to find a “win” and end the charade the better his and the states chances to find success the rest of his term. But I am not a narcissistic millionair.

Comment by Mason born Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 1:03 pm
Archimedes, key words there are “goals on the surface.”

They’re selling the Turnaround Agenda as economics, but it’s strictly politics, efforts to remove unions from the political sphere.

The shallowness of the subterfuge was revealed, again, yesterday when the governor said term limits would have a direct impact on the state budget.

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 1:04 pm
Word-Here is my take on the logic. Please note that this analysis does not mean that I accept all the premises.
Term limits and redistricting are methods to make elections more competitive. The current system of long-term gerrymandered legislators fosters a spoils form if government. Favored providers get contracts and then help the legislator.
Prevailing wage is used to stifle price competition. The result is higher costs for public projects.
Unions use their market power to force up wages. They also make it difficult to select and promote workers based on performance. They sometimes lock in obsolete practices or overstating.
Public sector unions are particularly dangerous as they operate in sectors that have been made monopolies by government fiat.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 1:07 pm
Overstaffing not overstating

Comment by Last Bull Moose Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 1:15 pm
I didn’t see the FY 15 deal as a compromise as much as a procrastination. “Additionally, as I mentioned before, this action taken fills big holes. The FY15 solution means working parents will still be able to afford child care for their children, court reporters will still have jobs to go to everyday, our hard-working correctional officers will still be paid for the important services they render to our state, and the most vulnerable of our citizens will still receive the care and services they need.” Brian Stewart State Rep. March 15, 2015 Journal Standard. Guess they changed their minds on how important these programs are.

Comment by burbanite Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 1:20 pm
“Unions use their market power to force up wages” Yay! That is kind of the point.

Comment by burbanite Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 1:35 pm
==They also make it difficult to select and promote workers based on performance.==

The governor could be selecting and promoting workers based on performance right now with merit comp, without any union interference, and by doing so start turning his agencies around. Can you name me one instance where he has done so in any state agency under his control? If he isn’t doing it now with people under his control, what makes you think he will do it with currently unionized state employees or that he wants this for private sector employers? I think he wants only to destroy the unions’ political power and lower wages/benefits for everyone below the board of directors level.

Comment by Anon. Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 1:49 pm
This is curious to me. The automatic position here is to believe the Senate President’s spokesperson (an obvious partisan) over the Governor himself? It’s a free country, but that seems odd to me. Perhaps the leaders and the Governor don’t share everything with even their top staff? Just sayin’.

Comment by Anon Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 1:50 pm
Rauner loves Illinois. His love leads him to protect us from the collective bargaining of Illinoisans and on to paying private enterprise for services now provided by state employees and organized workers.

This is all about love.

Comment by Kasich Walker, Jr. Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 1:51 pm
burbanite-Yes, that is the point. When end markets are highly competitive, unions have to control most of the industry labor supply to have market power. Hard to do in the global marketplace.
High point of U.S. labor power was when there were many regulated industries (trucking, telecom,power ) and oligopolies (GM with 60 percent market share ). Those areas are competitive now.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 1:52 pm
==The automatic position here is to believe the Senate President’s spokesperson (an obvious partisan) over the Governor himself?==

Read that statement again and then tell me what’s wrong with it.

Here’s a hint: I think the Governor might be a bit self serving in his analysis as well.

Saying the Senate President’s spokesperson in partisan and then presumably insinuating that the Governor isn’t is a bit odd to me.

Comment by Demoralized Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 2:00 pm
LBM, believe me, I can follow the spin.

But in truth I think it’s about political power and not economics.

The economics are too obtuse, and ignore far too many and more powerful factors.

Show me an economics course on state policies as a driving force.

If they’re selling this willfully disastrous strategy on the basis of economics, they need to tell us what the payoff will be in real numbers: growth, jobs, etc.

You don’t cause this kind of chaos for the sake of bong-session abstract chin-wags.

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 2:08 pm
Anon - Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 1:50 pm, there are a couple of easy reasons that people don’t believe Rauner. 1) Rauner has a history of credibility problems. 2) There has been no evidence detected by journalists and seasoned political observers that anything is happening.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 2:32 pm
Can’t believe rauner hasn’t picked anyone to run against JCII in the 116th.

Comment by Blue dog dem Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 2:56 pm
Sorry, but I strongly disagree with the assumption that smoking weed means you occupy an alternate reality. It just means you prefer to occupy this one while smoking weed.

Comment by filmmaker Professor Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 3:17 pm
Alternate to what?

Comment by Kasich Walker, Jr. Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 3:59 pm
===it would hurt the process===

Is that the same “process” that brought us the super secret working groups?

Comment by Langhorne Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 4:06 pm

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