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An evolving statement

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* Gov. Rauner was in Quincy last Thursday around noon…

The governor on Thursday said Chicago’s financial problems will push a budget deal in Springfield.

“I’m cautiously optimistic that we’re going to get (a budget) in the next 60 to 90 days, frankly, if for no other reason than Chicago needs help and I said I’m willing — I’m not going to do a bailout, but I’ll help Chicago solve its own problems by giving them the power to do it, but only if Chicago is helping us get reforms at the state. This is a two-way partnership … and Chicago needs help in December and January, big, big help,” Rauner said during an appearance in Quincy.

* Rauner spoke in Decatur at 11 o’clock Friday morning…

An opening in the state budget stalemate may come in the form of financial problems for the city of Chicago.

Speaking a town hall-style meeting in Decatur, Rauner hinted he may be able to use Chicago’s demands of the General Assembly—including $480 million in pension assistance needed by the beginning of 2016 to avoid large teacher layoffs at Chicago Public Schools—to get Democratic support on some of his own proposals.

“I’m cautiously optimistic because of Chicago’s financial challenges,” Rauner said. “They need some help in December. Maybe in December or January, maybe they’ll be enough incentive to compromise and we’ll be able to get something done, but I don’t know, it could be longer.”

* And the governor spoke in Springfield Friday afternoon at 1 o’clock…

Pressed on Friday whether [his Quincy remarks] meant Emanuel had promised to push his agenda in Springfield, Rauner was more cautious.

“I don’t want to over-commit on the time frame, we should have had a budget in May,” Rauner told reporters gathered in his Capitol office for an announcement on a Springfield high-speed rail issue. “I believe that there’s a lot of pressure, a lot of incentive to get something done given Chicago’s issues, in December. That’s true.

“Will we get it done in December or early January? I hope that it’s before then. But it could well last a lot longer,” he said. […]

“As I’ve said before to the governor, I’m not going to agree to right-to-work, I fundamentally, on principle, don’t agree with that, so I won’t support you,” Emanuel said in Chicago. “Having supported workers’ comp before, in 2011 when we passed the last major reform of workers’ comp, there’s a place I’ll work with you. And I want to see a municipal part of that because, as one of the largest employers in the state, we have a vested interest in reform to workers’ comp.”

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 9:23 am

Comments

Thankfully, even Rahm realizes the status quo is untenable.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 9:27 am
Is Rauner saying that he’s willing to kill the hostages to get his way?

Comment by Aldyth Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 9:32 am
– ….the status quo is untenable.–

You seriously believe all this willful destruction is for changes in workman’s comp?

Tnat might be the face-saving out, but the original plan was Right to Work, and an end to collective bargaining and prevailing wage.

It was a personal union-buster vendetta by Rauner.

You’re right, though, the status quo is untenable. FY16 is an absolute disaster, as a result of a reckless and fatally flawed political strategy by the governor of hostage-taking to force a personal political agenda with no articulated benefits for the state as a whole.

And we haven’t even gotten to the part yet where the governor will have to propose his tax increase, personally, to keep the state from shutting down completely in the spring.

Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 9:40 am
Mid-January.

Tax hike retroactive to Jan 1? Still wondering how much, though. Would Rauner actually go back to 5 percent. Temporary or permanent? How much borrowing? Fund sweeps-how much? Any cuts? Where?

We the people who are funding this drama with a highly un-progressive state income tax need to know. We know already that thanks to both parties, the wealthy in Illinois will come out ok-very ok. Maybe even better than now. But for the rest of us, let’s see some numbers.

Comment by Cassandra Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 9:43 am
Anon: When you finally pick a name and actually read the comments, you’ll find that all of us realize the status quo is untenable.

Comment by Skeptic Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 9:50 am
How is it that the only thing the dems get out of this is a vote on a tax hike? How does that even begin to make sense?

Comment by Frenchie Mendoza Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 9:51 am
Keep spinning.
Keep spinning.
Keep spinning.
Just keep spinning.
Don’t stop yet - no one is believing you.
Just keep spinning.
Spinning…

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 9:54 am
Cassandra, well said.

Wordslinger, you’re right, but that makes Rauner’s strategy weirder given the things he wanted would never get through.

That said, the lack of leverage Rauner now has should make it more imperative to get a progressive tax through. Maybe Rauner gets his property tax relief as part of a compromise.

Comment by Southern Illinois Hoopdee Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 10:00 am
I don’t see a tax hike in mid January unless the Governor begs for one. January is too close to the primaries. And the Governor doesn’t seem like one to beg.

I think the great state of Illinois will survive this, but I doubt Rauner will be able to recover from the damage he is causing the state. Likely he will take a few GA members down with him. But hey, he bought them, so he can destroy them if he wants.

Comment by A Jack Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 10:00 am
-You seriously believe all this willful destruction is for changes in workman’s comp?- Perhaps. I seriously believe it is another good example of how difficult it is to implement any changes or reforms that challenge the status quo in Illinois, even when they are largely considered necessary by many. Consider how difficult it was to implement concealed carry in Illinois for another good example.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 10:03 am
==I think the great state of Illinois will survive this, but I doubt Rauner will be able to recover from the damage he is causing the state.==

Oh, he’ll be ABLE to. Three years is a long time, and “infinity, basically” is a lot of money. Not sure he will, but all he needs to right this ship is right there.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 10:04 am
Right to Work doesn’t do a thing to fix the pension debt.

Just stop!

Comment by Southern Illinois Hoopdee Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 10:04 am
Unfortunately Jack, Rauner is not up until 18, so while I agree that he won’t win reelection, it would be nice for IL to be governed between now and then.

Comment by MurMan Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 10:05 am
Does Rauner think he’ll get a favorable deal out of the GA by getting Rahm to “deliver” the votes of Chicago members? That’s a mistake. I think Karen Lewis controls more votes in Springfield than Rahm does.

Comment by tnt Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 10:05 am
- Steve -

Rauner doesn’t have 60 and 30, or 71 and 36.

Math is Math is Math is Math

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 10:07 am
===I seriously believe it is another good example of how difficult it is to implement any changes or reforms that challenge the status quo in Illinois, even when they are largely considered necessary by many===

Governing ain’t easy. Never has been. It’s made much more difficult when ideologues claim their radical ideas should be mainstream for Illinois.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 10:09 am
I’m kinda thinking the old status-quo, when compared to Rauner’s current status quo, is much preferable. Neither is anywhere near ideal, but the problem is, and always has been a structural revenue deficit. No amount of cuts, or destruction of middle-class wages and benefits is going to fix our regressive tax system except a focus on reforming the lack of adequate revenue.

Comment by PublicServant Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 10:11 am
The fact that Rauner is slightly shifting what he says is a good sign in that everything is not fully scripted for him. He’s struggling to capture just what is and will go on.

If Rauner is starting to back off his general anti-union demands, in favor of more modest deals on workers’ comp, tort reform, and an uncomplicated property tax freeze, then he is beginning to come to his senses. He appears to have been over his head til now.

Comment by walker Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 10:17 am
==even when they are largely considered necessary by many. ==

Wow, what impressive support. However will common sense prevail over the “many” people who believe these bad ideas are “largely necessary”?

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 10:19 am
=even when they are largely considered necessary by many. Consider how difficult it was to implement concealed carry in Illinois for another good example.=

Concealed carry was necessary?

Comment by Appalled Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 10:24 am
Made even harder because there is no such thing as “right to work”.

Bruce is NOT giving anyone a Right to Work. In fact he is taking Rights away.

But low information voters hear “right to work” and think it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Comment by Jack Stephens Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 10:46 am
==If Rauner is starting to back off his general anti-union demands, in favor of more modest deals on workers’ comp, tort reform, and an uncomplicated property tax freeze==

imho, this has been his plan from the beginning. Start by asking for the moon and all that.

It may have been a flawed plan, but a ==plan== nevertheless.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 10:50 am
Your welcome to “concealed carry” as long as you understand that you are a member of the Well-Regulated Militia.

A Militia that is regulated by the Government.

It’s in 2nd Amendment of the Constitution!

Comment by Jack Stephens Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 10:56 am
FKA: If that were Rauner’s plan all along, he could have achieved it three months ago.

More likely he will be forced to give up his RTW and other anti-union planks by clear political realities.

Comment by walker Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 11:07 am
Anon:
Please refresh my memory. Did we shut down government operations, take away childcare subsidies for working parents, etc. to get concealed carry passed?

Comment by Dance Band on the Titanic Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 11:18 am
==imho, this has been his plan from the beginning. Start by asking for the moon and all that.

It may have been a flawed plan, but a ==plan== nevertheless.==

It’s a fine plan, just executed poorly. Madigan invoked the idea of a causation standard for WC right after the State of the State. Coulda had that deal in the spring.

That’s why I’m not sure I buy it, I think he genuinely believes the anti-union stuff is why he took the office.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 11:28 am
@walker - mea culpa. I was indisposed around that time and may have missed some action, but I don’t remember them ever being very close to a compromise on any of those things. The ==sham== (/s) bills and hearings by the GA, and the ==sham== press pops by Rauner, I remember, but never much more.

It is all one big blur at this point, lol.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 11:33 am
Arsenal, so he believes that he won the primaries because of the anti-union stuff, stayed hush-hush about it during the general, and then went full steam ahead once elected because he thought that’s why the GOP elected him?

Comment by CharlieKratos Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 11:52 am
The sense that the Governor is willing to inflict great pain on the populace to achieve his goals is profoundly demoralizing. Every day I try to show the public that people in government service care about them and are working to address their concerns; the Governor’s Office and the Republicans who enable it are making it harder and harder to make that case. Then I go home at night doubting that I will ever receive a pension, and worrying that people throughout the state will suffer as their services are slashed. It all feels so hopeless.

Comment by Young State Worker Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 11:53 am
FKA: no mea culpas needed. I’m guessing as well.

Sometimes a “sham” doesn’t have to remain a sham.

Reportedly two of the many “shams” bills offered were Rauner’s proposals verbatim, minus the anti-union verbiage he wanted included. Key parts of Workers’ comp reforms were floated but nipped in the bud as “not nearly enough.” Certainly they could have been bases from which to build compromise.

Comment by walker Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 11:56 am
==How is it that the only thing the dems get out of this is a vote on a tax hike?==
They’d get (1) social services funded and (2) law change to help Chicago (largely Dems) a bit with its own budget mess.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 11:57 am
===They’d get (1) social services funded and (2) law change to help Chicago (largely Dems) a bit with its own budget mess.===

So the hostsges get released? Wow. So it’s a choice people are suffering, that what you’re saying; people suffer, “but”…

Not the way to run a railroad.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 12:01 pm
” we should have had a budget in May”!!!!

Isn’t it the spend it & pay the bill later attitude that got us in this situation in the first place.

Comment by WhoKnew Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 12:30 pm
“I’m not going to do a bailout, but I’ll help Chicago solve its own problems by giving them the power to do it”

Why do I have a sinking suspicion that the kind of “problem solving” powers he’s willing to give Chicago aren’t quite the ones Chicago has in mind?

Comment by drew Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 12:38 pm
=== another good example of how difficult it is to implement any changes or reforms that challenge the status quo ===

Maybe introducing actual bills might make it a little easier…just sayin.

Comment by PublicServant Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 1:00 pm
He is using the Chicago Public Schools’ teachers livelihood to get Democratic support on some of his own proposals (union busting)?
Does the man have no shame?

Comment by Me Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 1:36 pm
”we should have had a budget in May”
Newsflash to Rauner - you are the reason no budget was passed in May! Hello… you, Rauner, vetoed the budget the Dems gave you!

Comment by Me Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 1:40 pm
==Arsenal, so he believes that he won the primaries because of the anti-union stuff, stayed hush-hush about it during the general, and then went full steam ahead once elected because he thought that’s why the GOP elected him?==

He wants to do the anti-union stuff. Full stop. Had he thought it was an impossibility, he wouldn’t have run in the first place.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 1:51 pm
This just in—”crisis=opportunity”… “Chicago needs help ” aka , paving the way for municipalities to declare bankruptcy. Wasn’t this in the turnaround agenda doctrine, or am I losing it?

Comment by Blue dog dem Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 3:31 pm
This budget will get passed not because of Chicago but because of the vendors stopping service to the state. One big vendor has stated they will no longer supply/accept state gas cards. No gas for state cars including state police cars! Now we have gas at the DOT garages but they are few and far between and most only have diesel. We’ve heard the gas cards are shut off Jan. 1.

Comment by millikin Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 5:26 pm