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MJM responds to critics

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Illinois

* From the Illinois Policy Institute’s news service…

Asked Tuesday what responsibility he bears for previous downgrades over the years that lead to the [Fitch downgrade to] BBB+ rating, Madigan said he wants to remain focused on solutions.

“If you wish to be a critic of me then you would blame everything that’s happened in the state for the last several years on me. Some do that, some people do that. I don’t choose to be so negative. I choose to look at the problems we are looking at today–work to be reasonable, work to be moderate, work not to be extreme, bring people together and work toward a solution to the problems.”

Governor Bruce Rauner’s office said the Fitch report points to Illinois’ economy lagging behind other states and the major structural challenges facing the Land of Lincoln. Rauner said the legislature continues to protect the failed status quo. The Governor’s office also pointed to statements back in August where the Governor said he doesn’t work for the credit rating agencies, he works for the people.

Those are nice words from Madigan, but they ain’t getting us anywhere.

* Eric Zorn is joining the Tribune editorial board’s call for a new Rauner budget…

Rauner has yet to “prepare and submit” a balanced budget proposal, as the state constitution requires. The budget outline he released back in February relied on $2.2 billion in future savings from a change in pension law that would require a constitutional amendment to enact, and on $3.6 billion in spending cuts that Democrats contend would violate the law or existing contracts.

Instead Rauner has harped on the Democrats for submitting appropriations requests totaling some $3 billion to $4 billion more than anticipated revenue and for refusing to use their supermajority to try to pass tax increases to pay for the spending they want.

Just meeting in the middle on the spending dispute was always going to be hard enough without the paralyzing complication of Rauner’s attacks on unions.

To preserve any chance of winning, in the future, he needs to throw in now, not double down on what’s looking more and more like a losing hand.

Put forth a realistic budget, make the Democrats do the same and hammer out the differences. Live to play another hand.

Rauner can’t “make the Democrats do” anything right now. And he’s not going to introduce a realistic, balanced budget. He doesn’t want to wear the jacket for the cuts, which are usually far more controversial (to people who actually vote) than the tax hikes.

* The Speaker would be wise to heed his own advice. Start being a whole lot more reasonable on workers’ comp and some other biz items, for instance, and pressure will most definitely build on the other side to cut a deal.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 9:28 am

Comments

Word of the day: kakistocracy

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 9:33 am
“If you wish to be a critic of me then you would blame everything that’s happened in the state for the last several years on me.”

There’s some logic for ‘ya.

Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 9:34 am
==Start being a whole lot more reasonable on workers’ comp and some other biz items, for instance, and pressure will most definitely build on the other side to cut a deal.==

I think that’s especially true because MJM has already said nice things about some of those items. Don’t see how it would be any kind of departure now.

Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 9:34 am
== To preserve any chance of winning, in the future, he needs to throw in now, not double down on what’s looking more and more like a losing hand. ==

Based on the “right where they want them” post, Rauner is going to be doubling down …

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 9:41 am
== Start being a whole lot more reasonable on workers’ comp and some other biz items ==

Months ago there were deals that could have gotten done on the table … if Rauner was willing to drop his “poison pills”.

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 9:43 am
Budget first.

You reward hostage-taking, more hostages will be taken.

We’re not talking pork-barrel projects here; real people are bring damaged in service of a political agenda.

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 9:44 am
Word,
If Madigan doesn’t offer compromises on Work Comp. and other items now, what is his incentive to do so after a budget is passed?

Comment by Downstate Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 9:49 am
==If Madigan doesn’t offer compromises on Work Comp. and other items now, what is his incentive to do so after a budget is passed?==

He won’t have a crazy man saying “Whack the unions, then I’ll let you raise taxes.”

That has a way of making you more charitable.

Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 9:52 am
==If you wish to be a critic of me then you would blame everything that’s happened in the state for the last several years on me.==

What? This is so insincere and false that it defies logic.

Saying that you played a role, perhaps even a crucial role, in the mistakes that have gotten us here is not ==blaming everything== on you. This was a team effort.

Never thought I would see Madigan play the victim card.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 9:53 am
=== Start being a whole lot more reasonable on workers’ comp and some other biz items, for instance, and pressure will most definitely build on the other side to cut a deal. ===

First thought was this is a great idea. Then started thinking through the process. To do it right would mean Madigan bringing business, unions and other affected together to discuss workable changes. Rauner would not accept this process because he wants to drive. Rauner also doesn’t like to bring all folks to the table. Business groups would be fearful of angering Rauner by agreeing to less than Rauner’s line in the sand.

Sigh!

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 9:57 am
Why do you indulge the idea that this could be solved by workers comp? This is about union busting, period.

Comment by Daniel Plainview Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 9:58 am
Did Speaker Madigan call for a vote on bringing Illinois more to the middle of the pack on workers comp?

Comment by Jimmy0 Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 9:58 am
If you watch the press conference, you will see that Madigan’s comments were in response to a reporter’s question.
Madigan also was asked how he thought things would go if he and Rauner were locked in a room for 24 hours. Madigan said he would be cordial and would do his best to have a productive outcome.
That perspective is missing here.
Rauner, call Madigan and set up a meeting.

Comment by Austin Blvd Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 10:00 am
When has MJM ever responded in this way in the press? Seems like he’s feeling the pressure and feels he needs to defend himself. Not the Speaker of old.

Comment by Lincoln Lad Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 10:01 am
==“If you wish to be a critic of me then you would blame everything that’s happened in the state for the last several years on me. Some do that, some people do that. I don’t choose to be so negative.==

Sounds like accepting responsibility for problems created by your decisions is “so negative.” What about all the pension payments that should have been made over the past 30 years but weren’t?

Oh. Sorry. Actions don’t have consequences. That would be negative.

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 10:03 am
Re: “hostage taking” - if this was a GOP supermajority and a Dem governor was tying some non-budget item like civil rights or a fair map to the budget, do you think we’d be hearing this vitriol? Doubt it. This is about Rauner’s specific policies, not that he’s using his leverage on the budget for the rest of his agenda. Does anyone really think that the voters care about the purity of the budget negotiations and would tell Dems “don’t you dare negotiate a single non-budgetary item with the man we elected governor, not even the ones we favor 60-15%”?

Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 10:04 am
Madigan has gone out of his way to not incite Rauner. When a reporter asked him why he thinks Rauner has not set up more meetings, Madigan responded that he is not sure. Maybe it is “scheduling.”

Comment by Austin Blvd Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 10:04 am
Eric Zorn is the only member of the Tribune staff that tells the truth. I don’t know how the Trib bosses allow him to continue to collect paychecks, but he is the only writer on the staff that doesn’t seem to swallow all the Rauner BS on a daily basis.

Comment by Big Joe Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 10:05 am
- Jimmy0 - Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 9:58 am:

Did Speaker Madigan call for a vote on bringing Illinois more to the middle of the pack on workers comp?

That would help our ever shrinking manufacturing base. Why would a manufacturer stay in IL when they could move to IN or WI and pay much less in worker’s comp insurance?

Comment by Tone Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 10:06 am
=== When has MJM ever responded in this way in the press? Seems like he’s feeling the pressure and feels he needs to defend himself. Not the Speaker of old. ===

Seems like the Speaker is intelligent enough to adapt to the times. He’s adapted before and will do so again. That’s why he’s been a leader for so long. Of course the less skilled will sit around and whine about it and push for things like leadership term limits.

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 10:07 am
P.S. It’s - Illinois Policy Institute’s ~~news service~~ propaganda arm…

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 10:10 am
Downstate: There are dozens of things that the GOPers could trade with the Dems for movement on contentious issues. The death penalty, civil unions, gun legislation, tort reform, EDGE credits, capital bills, workers’ comp, and on and on, have all been subject to dealing and movement by both sides, without the whole budget itself being held hostage by one side. The budget is not Rauner’s only trading piece, but it is the most damaging to the entire state to be played in the way he has.

And a RNUG pointed out, the deals seemed ripe for the closing on workers’ comp, (and on the tax freeze), months ago, but for the anti-union demands laid on top of them.

Comment by walker Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 10:12 am
“He (Rauner) doesn’t want to wear the jacket for the cuts”

Nobody wants to own cuts or tax hikes because each party want to blame the other for them. And nobody is willing to do either or both in a bi-partisan manner. It’s all about the next election.

Comment by a drop in Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 10:15 am
lake county democrat, use Goggle and see how many of the same folks criticizing Rauner also criticized (understatement) Blago and Quinn. That’s why we’re in the Blago/Quinn/Rauner years of state government dysfunction.

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 10:34 am
Whenever the Speaker has a Blue Room press conference, I want to have my own drinking game. Yesterday, though, I would not have been intoxicated. He used “extreme” only once or twice.

Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 10:39 am
Funny the IPI “reporter” forgot to mention Fitch Rating report made no suggestion that any of Rauner’s anti worker schemes really help improve IL economy or improve recover.

BTW just checked again at the index division and a few other spots. Not one MJM signature on bills skipping pension payments, union contracts, pension investments — none, zip zero nada.

Comment by Anonin' Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 10:46 am
= Budget first. You reward hostage-taking, more hostages will be taken. =

This!

I first typed “Word.” but realized that would be a pun. But yes, this is spot on.

Comment by Bill White Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 10:52 am
@Anonin’

Full INN “story” did include Madigan’s statement about the “turnaround” agenda not being in Fitch’s report.

“Both the Governor and the leading Democrat in the General Assembly say statements associated with a recent downgrade back them up on their staunch stance in the ongoing budget impasse. Fitch downgraded Illinois to BBB+ from A- Monday. Speaker Michael Madigan said that the downgrade agrees with his views. In a statement Madigan said quote “nowhere in Fitch’s statement does it suggest the state needs to follow the Governor’s agenda by weakening collective bargaining rights, reducing workers’ wages and hurting the middle class.” … and continue with “clipped” story seen above.

Comment by Sonny Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 10:59 am
– our ever shrinking manufacturing base.–

Gee, Tone, you need to take your informed insight to the National Association of Manufacturers.

Those crazy goofs over there have Illinois manufacturing output growing from $80 billion in 2008 to $101 billion in 2013, a higher growth rate than either Indiana or Wisconsin.

Give them a call and straighten them out with your learnin’.

Or give this a think: if you have to lie to make a point, what then, is the point?

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 10:59 am
MJM’s entire vocabulary has shrunk. Or could shrink to three words- reasonable -moderate and extreme

Comment by Sue Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 11:03 am
Double down. Rauner thinks he’s “winning” whatever that means to him.

Comment by Wensicia Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 11:08 am
I support a Prevailing Wage for the Wealthy based on the average American salary of 50k!

This what Bruce means by Prevailing Wage, right? It’s applicable to him!

Comment by Jack Stephens Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 11:29 am
==Those crazy goofs over there have Illinois manufacturing output growing from $80 billion in 2008 to $101 billion in 2013==

That’s great news, but does that imply a growing workforce or a more efficient one? Because the monthly BLS #’s have shown IL losing manufacturing jobs this year.

Comment by nixit71 Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 11:43 am
Downstate, MJM and the dems would have no incentive to negotiate after the fact, nor would they.

The premise to negotiate after they agree on a budget is just out there in fantasy land.

Comment by anon Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 11:55 am
Didn’t Charlie Sheen use that “winning” phrase back when he left the show Three and a Half Men? How did that who debacle work out for him?

Comment by Stones Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 11:59 am
==losing manufacturing jobs this year.==

I can’t understand why! Nothing says “Welcome to Illinois” more than a failing infrastructure and no budget!

Comment by HangingOn Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 12:05 pm
=== Did Speaker Madigan call for a vote on bringing Illinois more to the middle of the pack on workers comp? ===

Yes.

http://www.sj-r.com/article/20150603/NEWS/150609788

Illinois work comp rates are the lowest they have been in decades, perhaps ever. The problem is that dozens of states have caved into U.S. Chamber-backed demands to strip their state laws of basic worker protections.

It is not going to happen in Illinois.

Let me repeat that in case Rich Miller missed it:

It is not going to happen in Illinois.

So, with all due respect, instead of arguing that Democrats need to “do something” on worker’s comp, someone please finds something that is a good idea and would actually satisfy Rauner’s thirst for union and trial lawyer blood.

Because make no mistake, it is all about quenching Rauner’s thirst.

Comment by Juvenal Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 12:18 pm
==I can’t understand why! Nothing says “Welcome to Illinois” more than a failing infrastructure and no budget!==

What did the welcome sign say in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014? “Welcome to Illinois. Come for the debt, stay for the gridlock.”?

Comment by nixit71 Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 12:41 pm
==The premise to negotiate after they agree on a budget is just out there in fantasy land.==

Bingo.

If not now, then almost certainly never.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 12:42 pm
==Illinois work comp rates are the lowest they have been in decades, perhaps ever.==

It needs to happen. We are still on the ==extreme== end of things. ==With a median rate index of 2.35 per $100 of payroll, Illinois has the seventh highest average workers’ comp premium rate of all U.S. states, according to the 2014 Oregon Workers’ Compensation Premium Ranking Study.==

http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/midwest/2015/10/01/382851.htm

Comment by Formerly Known As... Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 1:01 pm
This time I agree with Zorn. The Governor should submit a budget. It should appropriate existing revenue. And, where not guaranteed by court order, all other expenditures proposed by the G.A. should be cut across the board by the percentage calculated to place the equation in balance. It’s mathematics. Those who are shorted won’t be happy but there will be budget.

Comment by Keyser Soze Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 1:24 pm
===Illinois has the seventh highest average workers’ comp premium rate of all U.S. states===

We’re (thankfully) a high wage state, especially relative to our neighbors. I think you need to factor that into your analysis of WC costs. As long as we remain a high wage state, we’ll remain near the top for WC costs.

And I, for one, am fine with that.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 1:54 pm
So FKA, Anon, these tactics are acceptable to you. Fine.

What’s the ROI? Not silly slogans and talking points, but big-kid economic and fiscal analysis, with charts and graphs and such.

Oir is it okay to willfully inflict this sort of damage on a hunch?

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 2:12 pm
@47th Ward, not that high.

Illinois Worker’s Comp costs 27% more than the national average, but our wages are only 5.6% higher than the national average

Comment by Tone Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 2:24 pm
“Governor said he doesn’t work for the credit rating agencies, he works for the people.”

He works for the people? Since when? He must be referring to the wealthy people. We all know he is not working for the poor or middle class people.

Comment by Mama Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 4:26 pm
who? is eric zorn. did not know he was an expert
on budgets or on anything else.

Comment by bullet Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 5:59 pm
Bullet-

Where are the numbers that show that Rauner’s reforms would lead to any increased revenue? Please show us.

Comment by Southern Illinois Hoopdee Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 6:28 pm
==Start being a whole lot more reasonable on workers’ comp and some other biz items==

A commenter mentioned this link last week and it’s worth a listen. It’s about employers “opting out” of workers’ comp in Texas and Oklahoma. Part 2 of the report is of particular interest.
http://www.npr.org/2015/10/14/448544926/texas-oklahoma-permit-companies-to-dump-worker-compensation-plans

For one thing, it reminds us again why Rauner loves Texas. It also helps to clarify why Rauner has paired workers’ comp reform with tort reform. If companies “opt out” of workers’ comp, they have more legal risk in case of workplace injury. Hence tort reform to reduce that risk.

A few months ago there was a chart on this site showing workers’ comp costs for Illinois and surrounding states. Indiana was an outlier with much lower costs. Illinois was somewhat higher than the other states, but I think the difference was only about 40 cents per $100 of salary. It’s hard to see significant savings unless workers’ comp is cut dramatically.

So far in the budget stalemate MJM has shown an inclination to support private-sector workers. Perhaps he realizes that Illinois Dems and the public-sector unions are viewed skeptically by those in the private sector. AFSCME talks a good game about supporting the middle class, but many view it as only lip service. If MJM agrees to reduce private-sector worker protections, the skepticism will only grow.

Yes, some small changes may be desirable for workers’ comp and tort law, if only to provide Rauner with some sort of win and to make Democrats appear somewhat reasonable. But anything more than modest tweaks will further convince private-sector workers that Illinois Dems are primarily concerned only with protecting those in the public sector.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 6:28 pm
We need to reduce expenses before worrying about “revenue”.

Comment by Tone Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 7:27 pm
Workers comp is 27% higher than the national average. Higher than every single state we share borders with. And people wonder why manufacturing continues to hemmorage jobs here..

Comment by Tone Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 7:29 pm
“AFSCME talks a good game about supporting the middle class, but many view it as only lip service.”

They do a good job in part by supporting politicians who don’t want to enact RTW or otherwise erode labor rights. Income distribution now favors the wealthy at historically-high levels.

We often hear about private sector workers complaining that they have to pay taxes for public sector worker wages/benefits/job security that they themselves don’t get.

Why don’t they get them, and how does decimating public unions, which would greatly reduce the unions’ ability to support pro-labor politicians, help them? Who will put the money where the mouth is to support greater economic strength for the so-called middle class?

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 7:46 pm
Tone, I wonder why you babble on about things you clearly know nothing about.

Illinois has more manufacturing jobs than every state but California and Texas.

Illinois manufacturing workers make much more than those in neighboring states.

If you want to talk China or Mexico, that’s another story. But Illinois is a-ok on manufacturing competiveness within the United States, based on facts.

Doesn’t your mom let you use the Internet for research? It’s really easy.

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 8:36 pm