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* The Southern Illinoisan’s editorial board appears to be having an identity crisis.
This is from an October 30th editorial blasting former Gov. Jim Edgar for publicly advising Gov. Bruce Rauner to focus on a “doable” solution to the impasse…
But Illinois can’t continue running up massive debts and spending billions more than it brings in. Taxpayers need relief. Union power must be brought under control. Widespread inefficiency throughout state government must be streamlined.
Reimagining what’s “doable” will cause strife throughout Illinois in the short term. Any paradigm shift causes a tremor or two.
Edgar’s shot at his fellow Republican shows, yet again, just how pervasive the dogma that brought Illinois to its knees is within the old guard.
Rauner has no choice but ignore what Edgar considers “doable.” He’s instead operating with “what must be done.”
* Fast-forward to today and they’re no longer all-in on the impasse. They want local Republican state Rep. Terri Bryant to vote for the child care funding bill, regardless of the impact on the state’s fiscal position…
We’ve supported much of Rauner’s controversial “Turn Around Agenda.” Worker’s Compensation Insurance is too costly to businesses in Illinois. A freeze on property taxes would force constantly expanding local governments to right-size. But Rauner’s CCAP cuts, essentially locking out 90 percent of would-be participants, would drive single mothers out of the workforce. It would expand the welfare rolls. It would, ultimately, cost Illinois more than it saves. […]
(W)hen asked Thursday whether she’ll support the bill already approved by the Senate, Bryant tap-danced around an answer.
“If the state doesn’t have the money, how genuine is it to cast a vote to fund it?” Bryant queried, leaving us with the sense that she’s leaning against the Democratic legislation. […]
Growing pains are required. Illinois cannot continue to trod on as it has for decades, amassing debt and pumping cash into a failing pension system. We get it, governor.
But gutting CCAP is a master class in counterproductivity. Terri Bryant should do all she can to assure Illinois’s women get a fair shake.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 10:27 am
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These guys don’t know if they’re coming or going. Been that way since the current regime came on board. Keeps one on their toes.
Comment by Deep South Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 10:29 am
===But Rauner’s CCAP cuts,…===
Governors own, they always do.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 10:31 am
“A freeze on property taxes would force constantly expanding local governments to right-size.”
Which local governments have been “constantly expanding” since the Great Recession? Quite a few have significantly shrunk over the past 7 years.
Comment by Dance Band on the Titanic Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 10:35 am
A better approach — at least one that’s become obvious — is for the Southern Illinoisan to focus their efforts at convincing those single mothers concerned about CCAP funding to hang in there.
They need to repeatedly point out that despite short-term concerns and difficulties, “We’re winning.”
Comment by Frenchie Mendoza Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 10:35 am
Unlike other Lee newspapers, the Southern MAY be awakening from its slumber.
Comment by Austin Blvd Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 10:35 am
=A freeze on property taxes would force constantly expanding local governments to right-size.=
Because the state is constantly expanding local government responsibilities while shrinking statutory funding.
Comment by JS Mill Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 10:35 am
I love the failing Pension system line.
Boys, we’ve been there and tried that…that dog won’t hunt anymore.
The pensions are not, nor ever were failing. The state’s borrowing from them to keep taxes low is the strategy that’s failed here.
People need to get it through their thick skulls that the ISC has said pay it back, and that, my fellow taxpayers and citizens is our only option.
Comment by PublicServant Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 10:39 am
Just about did a spit take all over my laptop reading that load this morning. The problem they want funded is exactly what they supported in the election. They were all in for both Rauner and Bryant. Austin Blvd-don’t hold your breath that they are waking up from anything.
Comment by Just a Guy Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 10:41 am
Translation: In a show of good faith, release these hostages.
Comment by Wensicia Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 10:44 am
Dear editorial writers, if you’re in for a penny, you’re in for a pound.
Comment by Norseman Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 10:46 am
“If the state doesn’t have the money, how genuine is it to cast a vote to fund it?” Bryant queried…
Didn’t she vote for the DON score bill? Seems principles only go as far as the Governor’s brick.
Comment by late to the party Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 10:49 am
It’s better than if the editorial board dug their heels in.
Man, do we ever need a tax increase. And the longer we wait, the higher it must be.
Comment by Roamin' Numeral Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 10:49 am
Could Rauner’s freeze be having the opposite effect than it intended? Instead of fracturing the Dem base, it’s unifying it.
On top of that, people are starting to see the value of state-funded programs. Once they see what Illinois is like without these services, enough people might be more amenable to the reinstatement of the income tax (not happy, very few people are ever happy about a tax increase).
Comment by Served Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 10:49 am
If would be fair of the Southern to ask why Rauner is trying to balance the budget on the backs of working mothers when he has said that “waste, fraud and abuse are endemic throughout the state.” Why is he going after working mothers if savings from eliminating waste, fraud and abuse are so readily available?
Comment by The Captain Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 10:49 am
Except Rauner’s CCAP cuts have nothing to do with the budget impasse. Which doesn’t stop him from trying to conflate the two.
As Rich pointed out earlier this week, Rauner can’t substantiate any actual fiscal impact from passing SB 570. And every legit study suggests the cuts cost the state jobs and revenue in both the short and long term.
Comment by ChinaTown Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 10:53 am
omelets are not made without breaking a few eggs.
François de Charette
Comment by Allen D Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 11:01 am
This is typical of all hypocrites. CCAP,prisons,work camps. Everybody has a special interest. Everybody else should cut theirs, but mine is sacred. Oh! And by the way, my taxes are too high. And yes, the RAUN Man falls into this category.
Comment by Blue dog dem Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 11:01 am
A major characteristic of the Raunerite personality seems to be schizophrenic - from top to bottom!
Comment by forwhatitsworth Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 11:02 am
Looks like the editorial editor’s secretary stopped coming to work.
Comment by jerry 101 Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 11:06 am
Blue dog dem +1
Comment by Earnest Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 11:07 am
==cannot continue to trod on==
Looks as if we’ve already cut education in basic grammar and literacy about as far as we can, so we’ve got that going for us.
Comment by UIC Guy Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 11:10 am
- Allen D - makes Rauner’s own heartlessness seem “meh”.
- Allen D -, I bet you’re a joy, lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 11:10 am
The MEDIA needs to dig into what portion of these numbers are just FEDERAL PASS THROUGH. 50% is what has been published in the past.
LEGISLATORS, don’t fall for the manipulations with out real facts.
SUGGESTION. Pass SB570 as its written and get some people to work, and kid’s in safe and smart environments. THEN, tweak the program for the economics at hand via additional legislation. (Maybe 185% FPL is too high? There are many tweaks known by CCAP geeks that are worth a listen.)
BUILD CONSENSUS.
Comment by cdog Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 11:10 am
@forwhatitsworth
More like Mussolini. That’s what Rauner and IPI are doing to newspaper editorial boards- they pretty much bankroll them. You go our way, things will be so much better, but only at the expense of pretending what child care should be- stigmatizing those who use it!
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 11:14 am
@cdog 11:10 =BUILD CONSENSUS=
Rauner has done just the opposite.
Comment by DuPage Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 11:24 am
The Southern Illinoisian must have a large number of local advertisers who are suddenly losing staff who no longer have day care.
Comment by zatoichi Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 11:29 am
The problem with picking and choosing which hostages should be released is that you inevitably will contradict yourself.
Why release child care funds? Because it will cause harm to the individuals relying on it and it will cost the state more.
Ok, doesn’t that logic apply to mental health funding? higher education? autism funding?
Or is that pain “worth it” when child care assistance pain isn’t?
How about no hostages? How about Republicans start winning more elections and then they can impose their agenda on Illinois instead of shoe horning it down our throats to mix metaphors.
Comment by Abe the Babe Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 11:33 am
OW
I am the best friend you could ever wish to have, and I mean that sincerely, without any joke or snark.
Comment by Allen D Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 11:46 am
Allen D, I believe the context of the de Charette egg-breaking quote may have been a genocide. Ignorant me didn’t know who he was, so I tried the google.
To the post: an editorial board who has been with Rauner is breaking with him here. I’m hoping R legislators will too.
Comment by Robert the Bruce Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 11:58 am
Bryant may need a tutorial on her vote switches. I’m not sure she has voted this year.
Comment by 360 Degree Turnaround Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 11:58 am
Autumn Phillips, who has been editor of The Southern for exactly a year, has been a breath of fresh air. It is a much better paper since her arrival. Unfortunately, she does not have sole control of the editorial page–that right belongs to Jon Alexander, the editorial page editor who does not report to Autumn but to the publisher, John Pfeifer. Alexander seems to go with whatever pops into his head without much thought given too it. Unfortunately, The Southern just announced yesterday that Autumn Phillips will be leaving to be editor of Lee Enterprises paper in the Quad Cities. I hate to see her go. I hope the direction she has launched the paper on will continue.
Comment by Red eft Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 12:06 pm
Her comment about the state not having any money is true. Madigan has said there would be cuts and revenue- a balanced approach. How much in cuts and how much in revenue? No one knows because the budget he submitted was 4 billion short IN MAY!
How short is it now? What would they cut now? No one knows because he won’t say. But as OW says it is all Rauner’s fault and the GA is blameless.
I think the citizens of Illinois feel there is plenty of blame to go around
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 12:07 pm
360 - c’mon man. Is this kind of baseless drivel going to be left up for the masses to read? It benefits the overall narrative so I would guess sadly, probably so.
Comment by hot chocolate Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 12:08 pm
With the rapidly approaching holiday season, there is no chance for anything until January. Very unfortunate.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 12:13 pm
Newspapers are a business. If the general public wants to get their attention they should organize boycotts of the newspapers’ advertisers.
Comment by Buzzie Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 12:25 pm
Bryant: “What to do, what to do.”
Goldberg, Durkin & Rauner: “YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO!@$&/!”
Comment by Solid Dwight Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 12:38 pm
- Robert the Bruce “the de Charette egg-breaking quote may have been a genocide”
It was, however, the quote has taken on a new meaning throughout the years that is true, to paraphrase you can’t fix anything without breaking it down and building it back into something new and better.
Comment by Allen D Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 12:39 pm
omelets are not made without breaking a few eggs.
Rauner has made it clear that he believes that government has already broken too many eggs and has made it his stand to not request more of them.
This is because he decided that breakfast for us means more sausage - not more eggs. Rauner doesn’t want egg contributions - he wants some of us to be turned into sausage.
Breakfast to a chicken is a contribution in the form of an egg, however, breakfast to a pig is a sacrifice in the form of bacon or sausage.
Rauner doesn’t want more eggs. He wants to slaughter and is demanding that many of us need to become sausage. That is what he means by sacrifice.
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 1:35 pm
you can lead a donkey to water but you can’t make him drink.
Comment by Allen D Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 1:38 pm
@Lucky Pierre
The Governor submitted an unbalanced budget also so apparently he can’t say what balance of revenues and spending cuts there should be either.
Nobody is absolving Mike Madigan of anything. People are simply pointing out that the Governor also has skin in this game. So you and the Governor need stop playing the freaking victim already.
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 2:03 pm
==you can’t fix anything without breaking it down and building it back into something new and better==
That’s nice. Of course the Governor can’t do that by himself. He and everyone else have to work within current realities. You know, focus on what is actually doable? One day the “reformers” will stop acting like babies and recognize that fact.
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 2:05 pm
“Lucky Pierre - Jim Edgar… Lucky Pierre - Jim
Edgar…”
I’ll go with Jim Edgar.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 2:25 pm
I always thought the “omelet” metaphor was from Dzerinsky, head of the Cheka, justifying the Red Terror.
He was known to take some hostages in his day. It’s good to have role models, I guess.
The original edit was incoherent, as it somehow posits you’re going to get “tax relief” and an end to “deficit spending” at the same time.
They have math classes at SIU, right?
Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 3:21 pm