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Release some hostages, please

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Illinois

* From the synopsis of HB4305…

Makes appropriations to the Department of Transportation from the Motor Fuel Tax Fund for specified payments to local governments. Makes appropriations to the Illinois Gaming Board from the State Gaming Fund for distributions to local governments for admissions and wager tax, including prior year costs. Makes appropriations to the Department of the Lottery from the State Lottery Fund for payment of prizes to holders of winning lottery tickets or shares, including prizes related to Multi-State Lottery games, and payment of promotional or incentive prizes associated with the sale of lottery tickets. Makes appropriations from the Wireless Service Emergency Fund and the Statewide 9-1-1 Fund to the Department of State Police for the Statewide 911 Administrator Program and for costs pursuant to the Emergency Telephone System Act, respectively. Makes appropriations from the Wireless Service Emergency Fund to the Illinois Commerce Commission for specified emergency telecommunications purposes. Effective immediately.

Those are all special funds. Not a GRF dollar in there.

You’d think this would be a bipartisan effort. So far, it’s not. The Democrats need to do a better job of bringing the Republicans in, and the Republicans need to get on board this or a similar bill.

* From a press release…

State Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, is calling on legislative leaders to hold a vote on a measure he is backing to restore funding for the state lottery and release funds promised to local cities and villages in order to prevent massive property tax increases as a result of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s budget veto.

“Continuing to sell lottery tickets with no plan to pay winners short of saying ‘we’ll owe you’ is not only another embarrassment for Illinois, it’s a threat to the state’s overall financial health,” Franks said. “The lottery funds a number of important services and generates economic activity in every corner of our state, and that will all disappear if the lottery looks more like a shell game than an honest wager.”

Working to correct a situation that has generated numerous national media stories and a lawsuit against the state brought by lottery winners, Franks is calling on legislative leaders to hold a vote on House Bill 4305 when the House meets on Tuesday, Oct. 20. The legislation provides appropriation authority necessary to allow the lottery to continue paying prizewinners. Lottery winnings are paid from a dedicated State Lottery Fund, funded through ticket sales, but the governor’s veto of the state budget negated the lottery’s authority to pay the prizes owed.

The Franks-backed measure would also release dollars that municipalities receive from gaming operations and other funds collected by the state that, by law, must be shared with local governments to help repair roads, maintain public safety and provide essential services to the elderly. While the state continues to collect these funds, the governor’s veto of the state budget is preventing them from being distributed as promised. Franks is fighting to release these funds before local governments are forced to raise taxes and eliminate essential services.

“Our towns and villages build their annual budgets in part on the promise that the state will share these funds, and when the state fails to keep that promise, taxpayers are going to pay the price in the form of higher taxes,”Franks said. “Muddling through a budget crisis is no excuse for Illinois to break promises. We need to pass this bill immediately and to protect our taxpayers and the integrity of our state.”

Lots of hyperbole in that release, of course. But, in the end, he’s not wrong.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 10:19 am

Comments

I’m not opposed to it, and understand the notion of separate funds.

But I find it sad that working poor with kids in daycare continue to be the biggest loser in the impasse. Lottery winners will get their money; workers in closed museums get paid…

Comment by Robert the Bruce Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 10:24 am
Seems like even Repubs will have a difficult time voting no or present on this. But just wait….another sham bill. Sooner or later this is gonna create some grief for individual GA Repubs.

Comment by sal-says Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 10:26 am
“The Democrats need to do a better job of bringing the Republicans in…”

(I’ve got a splitting headache this morning, so this might be a very stupid question, but) What exactly would this look like?

I’m not suggesting that the Dems are doing a great job or anything, but if “let’s maybe not have the entire state go completely down the drain right away” isn’t a big enough carrot for Republican legislators, what carrot should (or could) the Dems use?

I’ll take my answer off the air…

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 10:29 am
Unfortunately, releasing a hostage eliminates another pressure point.

Comment by Huh? Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 10:31 am
“Our towns and villages build their annual budgets in part on the promise that the state will share these funds, and when the state fails to keep that promise, taxpayers are going to pay the price in the form of higher taxes,”- Franks said

The “State” is not a conscious entity able to make decisions or keep legal “promises”…that is Governor Rauners job…He is the Decider.

Comment by Otto Didact Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 10:36 am
—
Unfortunately, releasing a hostage eliminates another pressure point.
—

Right. But since no pressure is being felt — it seems pointless to worry about pressure.

This is all about outlawing collective bargaining in the public sector. It has absolutely nothing — nothing — to do with anything else.

Comment by Frenchie Mendoza Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 10:38 am
MrJM — Seems to me the problem is that $20M carrot that’s dangling over the R’s heads, or better said, wrapped around their necks.

Comment by Skeptic Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 10:40 am
Leaks on a sinking ship. MFT is needed for snow and ice removal for local agencies. Rauner team needs to figure this out before it is too late.

Comment by pool boy Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 10:41 am
Retiring House GOPers, maybe?

Perhaps the governor, Sen. Radogno or Rep. Durkin could explain the conservative GOP philosophy of continuing to collect taxes yet refusing to apply them for tneir intended purposes.

Or running a crooked numbers game, where you sell tickets for prizes that you know you have no ability to pay.

Reality does not match the traditional rhetoric,

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 10:41 am
“Passing this bill could lead to an unconstitutional unbalanced budget,” Goldberg

Comment by Norseman Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 10:44 am
Franks is right to get HB4305 bill passed. I’m not a lawyer, but even I know what Lottery has been doing is illegal, & it needs to be fixed sooner than later. IL can not afford anymore unwinnable lawsuits.

Comment by Mama Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 10:46 am
===What exactly would this look like?===

Beat me to it.

Though I would add that each of those Republican legislators also exist in a district that has localities that rely on those funds for their budgeting and capital maintenance.

To me, this seems like it should be a pretty decent carrot in of itself to such an extent that I would expect the Governor’s office to sign off on it.

Comment by Anon Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 10:47 am
This is absolutely a bill that should be supported by both sides of the aisle, and I think it will be, as long as this bill stays exactly how it is currently written.

Comment by Downstate GOP Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 10:47 am
==“Passing this bill could lead to an unconstitutional unbalanced budget,” Goldberg==

Please explain how this bill is unconstitutional.

Comment by Mama Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 10:49 am
==MFT is needed for snow and ice removal for local agencies. Rauner team needs to figure this out before it is too late. ==
You think Rauner cares? LOL! The man only cares about busting the unions!

Comment by Mama Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 10:54 am
Rauner wants theses items to be hostages. Why? If he cared, staff would have prepared a comprehensive bill to address these and similar situations.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 10:54 am
Wordslinger nails it. Retiring GOP house members could be the key to break the logjam.

Comment by dr. reason a. goodwin Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 10:54 am
Mama, it was snark. I thought it was obvious enough that I didn’t note it. My bad.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 10:56 am
== MFT is needed for snow and ice removal for local agencies. Rauner team needs to figure this out before it is too late. ==

They know it already.

They’re counting on public outcry from that not happening to put pressure on the GA and State Senate that will allow them to get their Turnaround Agenda passed in exchange for a budget.

Comment by thunderspirit Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 10:57 am
===Mama, it was snark. I thought it was obvious enough that I didn’t note it. My bad.===

I immediately went to the Twitters to check on that quote. I thought it was snark, but you never ever really know with that crew.

To the post;

Mike, don’t mess with this bill’s language. GA, pass it. Governor, sign it.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 10:58 am
I’m with Frenchie. What does it matter? First it was July, then RNUG’s October, now December when filing ends, January when it’s 60-30, or March when community colleges and a couple of Pub Univs close.
We wait while the “Present” legislators develop enough moxie to Bless Our State.

Comment by Concerned Citizenrily Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 10:59 am
=== I immediately went to the Twitters to check on that quote. I thought it was snark, but you never ever really know with that crew. ===

Ducky, they’ve used similar phrases to oppose approp bills before.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 11:01 am
Franks wants everyone in the GA to be a team player when it comes to his proposals. Too bad he is seen as self-serving among his colleagues.
Thus, his colleagues are forced to discern: “Is this good for the state or just good for Jack?”

Comment by Austin Blvd Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 11:01 am
I don’t know which amazes me more, the Democrats continued efforts to fund the executive branch, or Rauner’s efforts to resist anything that would provide more resources to the organization he is responsible for managing. It’s like watching a wild animal resisting attempts at being rescued.

Comment by AC Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 11:03 am
==“Our towns and villages build their annual budgets in part on the promise that the state will share these funds, and when the state fails to keep that promise, taxpayers are going to pay the price in the form of higher taxes,” Franks said.== The GOP should be able to get behind this bill to prevent taxes from going up in their hometowns.

Comment by Mama Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 11:04 am
The notion that retiring GOP members can be looked upon to break any impasse is somewhat muted by the fact they would all like appointments to administration posts.

Comment by Austin Blvd Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 11:06 am
+1 Austin Blvd
+1 AC

Comment by Concerned Citizenrily Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 11:06 am
Rich this comment by you: “The Democrats need to do a better job of bringing the Republicans in, and the Republicans need to get on board this or a similar bill,” leaves out the key player in all of this the Governor. If it is Governor Rauner’s general strategy to force Democrats to yield to his demands on anti-labor provisions why in the world would he want lottery winners to get their money? Why would he give the green light to Jim Durkin to release his members to vote up House Bill 4305? I do not think Democrats can organize a revolt of Republicans against the extreme agenda of the Governor, that has to come within that party.

Politically I also do not see the logic from the Governor’s perspective to in anyway reduce the crisis if his objective is what he has stated repeatedly as reducing the power of public sector unions in Illinois. Just for the record I do not agree with the Governor that containing public sector unions will be the key to fixing the fiscal situation of our state. There are numerous components to this mess to be addressed.

Comment by Rod Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 11:06 am
This is really all abut busting public employee unions at any cost. That is first on the agenda for Rauner, then go after all unions. Using the budget as a hostage in any way he can to effect his is all he cares about.

But how about Madigan? Missing In Action! What is his Machiavellian goal? Real question, any thoughts.

Comment by Federalist Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 11:06 am
As an aside, Jack Franks somehow tries to turn loyalty to know one into a badge of honor.

Comment by Former state employee Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 11:08 am
Sorry. Should have typed “no one”

Comment by Former state employee Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 11:08 am
Good point pool boy. After the 1979 blizzard fiasco in Chicago, the blame did not go to the City Council, but Mayor Bilandic. Similar to OW’s comment, chief executives own.

Comment by DeKalb Guy Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 11:12 am
Federalist: ironically, that’s a refreshing new question!

Comment by Concerned Citizenrily Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 11:12 am
Ah HB4305 is actually Marty Moylan’s bill…sorry Jack

Comment by Anonin' Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 11:14 am
Democrats shouldn’t need to “bring in” GA Republicans to act in the interest of common sense for their constituents on things like making sure 911 still works and against the pointless life-threatening destruction of Hurricane Rauner.

The Katrina column wasn’t hyperbole. These people are cool with Illinois citizens dying so long as it helps them bust unions.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 11:16 am
Federalist: More soberly, I think Madigan’s scheme is to play Rauner’s chosen game (hostage-taking) better than Rauner. Of course, this means the State and her People lose severely in the short-term. That’s why it’s Machiavellian. But, it’s also that because he knows it’s the winning hand…when it all plays out.

Comment by Concerned Citizenrily Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 11:20 am
==1979 blizzard fiasco in Chicago==

Rauner is old enough to remember why Jane Byrne was elected. Opposing this bill could be a disaster for the state and his political career.

Comment by AC Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 11:20 am
Yeah. Pay the lottery winners but continue to pro-rate General State Aid to schools, which disproportionately impacts the poorest children( that has been going on for the last 5 years) …I guess you can see Illinois’ priorities here.

Comment by nobody Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 11:23 am
===Yeah. Pay the lottery winners but continue to pro-rate General State Aid to schools, which disproportionately impacts the poorest children( that has been going on for the last 5 years) …I guess you can see Illinois’ priorities here.===

You have two choices. Pay somebody or pay nobody. When you are a hostage, do you want some of the hostages released even though it might not be you? You let me know when the hostage taker is ready to release the right hostages.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 11:25 am
Republicans can’t vote without permission from the governor.

Comment by Wensicia Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 11:30 am
Is anyone else having flashbacks to Nightline in the 70s on the Iranian hostage crisis.

I agree with those who can’t picture what could possibly bring Republicans in, other than capitulation to Rauner’s agenda.

Comment by Earnest Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 11:30 am
Question: Is Illinois contributing it’s share of prize money for the multi-state games like Mega Millions and Powerball? I haven’t heard anything about it so far, and that seems like it could be a real problem if they’re not. It has the potential of dragging other states into Illinois’ mess.

Comment by Moby Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 11:38 am
Just don’t get how Rauner thinks continuing to apply serious financial pressure on individuals and local governments across the state, will lead to pressure on Dem legislators to agree to his Agenda. Wouldn’t it just as likely rebound on him?

Comment by walker Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 11:39 am
Madigan could win by doing the right thing. In other words, the opposite of Rauner. Stop with the chess game when you have the power to knock the board over and win that way.

Not strategy. Blunt force.

Comment by Southern Illinois Hoopdee Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 11:44 am
State LIHEAP not GRF either… Sad it isn’t included

Comment by kimaye Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 11:45 am
@Concerned Citizenrily - Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 11:20 am:

Federalist: More soberly, I think Madigan’s scheme is to play Rauner’s chosen game (hostage-taking) better than Rauner. Of course, this means the State and her People lose severely in the short-term. That’s why it’s Machiavellian. But, it’s also that because he knows it’s the winning hand…when it all plays out.

Somewhat like a political “Rope a Dope” strategy?

Comment by Federalist Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 11:46 am
Chicago needs this money appropriated to make certain bond payments.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 12:03 pm
AC what if the Governor was honest about having little concern about his own reelection? He has three years to go before that is even an issue. Governor Rauner also is not a career politician, his income and status is not dependent on being elected.

For many members of the Republican caucus in the Assembly the issue is different. But for the present they are following the marching orders of the Governor.

Comment by Rod Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 12:11 pm
“If it is Governor Rauner’s general strategy to force Democrats to yield to his demands on anti-labor provisions why in the world would he want lottery winners to get their money? Why would he give the green light to Jim Durkin to release his members to vote up House Bill 4305? I do not think Democrats can organize a revolt of Republicans against the extreme agenda of the Governor, that has to come within that party.”

Yes. That is precisely what is wrong with the Dems need to compromise point. You can’t compromise without willing partners. At this point Republicans need to understand that this has moved beyond partisan politics and its a separation of powers issue. The General Assembly needs to make the Executive understand the limits of his power. Until Republicans get that, we will continue to have this ridiculousness. They need to stand up to their guy.

Comment by sideline watcher Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 12:27 pm
“Stop with the chess game when you have the power to knock the board over and win that way.”

You mean like when the House overturned all those vetoes? Snark intended. Madigan doesn’t have the votes. There are some Democrats who campaigned on rolling back that income tax. Matter of fact, all of Madigan’s targets took that stance. Remember Drury, Cloonen, Yingling, Franks, etc.

Comment by sideline watcher Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 12:31 pm
This is what I mentioned previously, and clearly the word is getting to each and every member to grow a pair and represent your district - take the hard vote, and do what your job is. Freeze warning tonight, and snow further north will provide a little incentive to distribute much needed funds, since several small communities I’ve talked to are planning bridge loans just to buy salt…and boy are they steaming mad about it.

Comment by Captain Illini Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 12:36 pm
This bill needs passed; but a bunch of others do too. We need leaders who will put together a budget plan and push it. I’m continuing to hear “fire them all” bantered about when discussing the budget situation and I anticipate that perspective will grow as the impasse drags on.

Comment by logic not emotion Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 1:46 pm
The governor could have used his veto powers to fund these items months ago.

Why would he do it now?

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 5:02 pm