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* UPDATED x1 * Let’s get it done already!

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* Sophia Tareen with the AP…

The governor announced an agreement with labor and business groups on proposed unemployment insurance changes. He also said the administration would ease restrictions on who qualifies for state-subsidized child care and drop plans to curb which elderly and disabled Illinoisans can get state-funded services, two issues that were heavily protested by advocacy groups.

“You’re seeing lots of legislative movement and compromise,” Rauner spokesman Mike Schrimpf said. “All of these issues … took serious and lengthy negotiations with multiple parties.”

However, it’s unclear which moves will stick in a Democratic-controlled Legislature that’s been at odds with Rauner for months over a spending plan. Rauner wants pro-business reforms and other changes aimed at curbing union power before a budget for the fiscal year that began July 1. Democrats want him to sign off on new taxes, among other things.

Senate President John Cullerton’s spokeswoman Rikeesha Phelon said the chamber was “hopeful” the moves were a sign the administration was ready to resolve “larger budget issues.” But House Speaker Michael Madigan’s spokesman Steve Brown was unconvinced, saying some unemployment insurance ideas had already been settled and legislation restoring funding to the child care assistance program was likely to emerge today.

How about not looking a gift horse in the mouth and start working on some freaking solutions?

This impasse needs to end. I really don’t care what motivated Rauner yesterday. He moved off the dime. That’s encouraging no matter what the haters believe.

*** UPDATE *** Mark Brown is not wrong…

Faced with the prospect of an embarrassing legislative defeat, Gov. Bruce Rauner caved in Monday and promised to undo his indefensible crippling of the state’s child care assistance program.

The governor called it a “compromise,” although it was closer to a full retreat. He was clearly the one who gave up the most. […]

The counter-argument is that Rauner only showed an ability to work with legislators when he was on the verge of a vote that could have been seen as a stinging rebuke. Rauner was particularly upset by the prospect of taking away his emergency rule-making authority over the program, limiting his power to govern.

Obviously there is a political element to going ahead with a vote. Madigan may be eager to prove he can still put all 71 Democrats on a bill when necessary to thwart the governor, having come up short in a key September vote.

All true. Every word.

But he’s on the move. Why stop the momentum? Capitalize on the victories and push him harder on everything else.

This ain’t brain surgery.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:00 am

Comments

More like this, please.

Governors own the good that happens too. That’s how it “all” works.

The “doable”. Everyone needs to rally around the “doable”.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:04 am
These should be clean, clear, no-brainers. Get it done.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:05 am
This is about Rauner trying to do a few things to claim he has gotten something because he knows Illinois must eventual have a budget. Child care was just undoing an absurd move and well the unemployment insurance was what it was….low hanging fruit but at least we are picking it…good. Will have to see what else the dems are willing to give a hostage taker (rauner) in order to get a budget deal done that dems don’t relish doing either but know it must be done.

Comment by Facts are Stubborn Things Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:14 am
Here’s my wishful thinking for the day: that this will lead to a budget deal and reasonable successor contracts with unions. We can all use less conflict.

I hope that in a few weeks or very soon, Rauner won’t still be stickin’ with his anti-union demands.

Illinois is a great state with some major problems. We have to ditch the narrative that this is a terrible state and work on fixing the problems or managing them.

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:16 am
Important point to keep in mind is that Rauner has yet to put a balance budget on the table….would be a solid move. Dems put a budget out of balance on the table detailing their spending priorities and saying we need about 4B. in revenue let’s figure it out. Rauner so far has wanted to gut unions as a part of his turn around agenda and that is not going to happen so we will see. I think Rauner is going to have to put his efforts into a business friendly tax plan and cutting spending where possible to spur growth and wait to fight other fights until and if there are not 71 dems in the house.

Comment by Facts are Stubborn Things Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:18 am
What you hope for Grandson and all your fellow dems is that Rauner will just roll over and give you everything you want. That is your version of negotiating.

Comment by anon Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:19 am
Oh - anon -, “Hang In There” is so last week!

Just think, if Rauner gets a budget he can sign and a contract with AFSCME (the only two things I asked of the newly minted governor in January), what can people complain about?

The “doable” is very much in play now, keep on those thoughts, and Rauner can get a great deal done, with great deals too.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:23 am
pressure points are building….my dentist wants his contracted (network) rate up front for work and have me wait for the insurance. The insurance must be paid direct to the dentist and then you have to count on the dentist to forward on to you. I am paying my premium each month and have contracted, as part of my retirement, this health care benefit…..hummmm. I appreciate the dentist cash flow issue and have agreed, so now I am in a sense another vendor waiting on dead beat Illinois to make good it’s promises. Rauner has a responsibility to set down with the legislature and hammer out a budget and wait until the math is better for these “turn around agenda” items.

Comment by Facts are Stubborn Things Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:23 am
Agree with Grandson. Let the bargaining finally begin.

Comment by Big Joe Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:23 am
anon:

I think the point is giving up on what isn’t doable. That is what he should give up on. Right now (no matter his motivation) he’s getting the doable done. He needs to continue that. And the Dems need to accept it.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:24 am
Push Him Harder on EVERYTHING ELSE. You got it Rich.

Comment by Big Joe Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:25 am
“Capitalize on the victories and push him harder on everything else.”

Rich, sort of shows your side of the issues, Push the Gov. harder but certainly no compromise from Madigan,

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:26 am
Geez, the governor sure has been willing to push Republicans to put nasty votes on the record, only to flip when the heat gets personal.

Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:28 am
We also need to know exactly how much these budget deals are going to cost us. Neither party is talking about that. Will this be a middle-of-the night, last minute tax increase? How much? How retroactive? Income tax only? Corporate loopholes?(heh)? Sales taxes? Who will pay, in other words. Sure, we can make decent guesses if we’ve been following the news. But should we let our political masters get away with avoiding the issue completely.

Comment by Cassandra Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:30 am
Rich, they’re not looking a gift horse in the mouth. They should call the bill and attempt an override today, so the “gift horse” cannot ever again, leverage the poorest and most vulnerable Illinois residents to pass an otherwise unpassable ideological agenda were it not for them in the first place.

Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:31 am
“Push him ON EVERYTHING” and things revert to gridlock. Now there is the spirit of compromise. Unbelievable.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:31 am
===Unbelievable===

Sandack? Is that you?

lol

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:34 am
Governors dont own. Tax payers and citizens OWN. If the RAUN Man just would have listened to me initially,and raised income taxes 3/4%, and reduced budgetary spending 5% unilaterally,he could have saved himself this embarrassment , and not put so many people thru all this pain.just goes to show you that all billuonaires arenr that smart.

Comment by blue dog dem Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:36 am
- blue dog dem -

Rauner’s own actions yesterday point to the fact governors own.

Gov. Edgar says so too, so there’s that.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:39 am
Rauner need to hold the line, Madigan and the GA need to be the ones to give in.

Comment by Allen D Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:40 am
Oh - Allen D -,

“Hang In There” is passé.

Compromise is the order of the day, especially facing defeats.

Embrace these turns. We need government to work, not “Hang In There”.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:43 am
Mark Brown’s story was posted yesterday. Natasha Korecki’s story was posted today.

Rauner managed to peel off Dunkin, and a few hours ago Madigan’s queen looked to be in “check”.

Unless Madigan peeled off a Republican or Mark Brown is talking about a different bill, how was Rauner facing “retreat” and a “stinging rebuke” on a bill Madigan did not have the votes for?

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:44 am
” - Anonymous - ”

Rauner retreated from his wants. Things reverted back to from Rauner’s demands and hostages were released… while facing a defeat.

Either keep up, or change from ” - Anonymous - “, to ” - Helpless Troll - ”

lol.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:48 am
Reality: The gov was going to get rolled on a couple of issues so he decided to do a tactical retreat. Meanwhile, negotiations between business and labor finally came to fruition on an issue despite complications caused by Rauner’s war on unions. Rauner, as governors like to do, takes credit.

Raunerite Universe: Rauner stuck it to Madigan again. So he ought to continue his crusade against unions using the remaining hostages.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:54 am
” - Oswego Willy - ”

You are saying Madigan had the votes? That has not been reported anywhere. The only thing reported is that Rauner peeled off Dunkin again.

If Madigan had the votes, this is the first win for Madigan, or what you and Mark Brown would call a “retreat”. If Madigan did not have the votes, this is a compromise by Rauner. Did Madigan have the votes to counter Rauner peeling off Dunkin or not?

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:57 am
First,

- Norseman -,

===Rauner, as governors like to do, takes credit.===

Exactly. Governors own good too!

” - Anonymous - ”

This will be the last I respond to you until you get a name. You want dialog, then choose a whole bunch of letters and pick one.

To ” - Anonymous - ”

=== Did Madigan have the votes to counter Rauner peeling off Dunkin or not?===

By peeling off Dunkin and making a hasty retreat as to not find out if Madigan has votes tucked in the House Raunerite Caucus, it’s a retreat to a position Rauner moved from. Rauner would not like to find out how close it is, Rauner wants no vote, and let the retreat be THE move.

Again, if you can’t or “unwilling” to see the politics at play, I can’t help you. The crying former GOP House members could still vote for an override, but they’re most likely going to be “Yellow”, like The Owl.

Rauner always wins, Bruce Rauner told me so. This retreat with Dunkin as the life raft is #Winning before facing defeat(?)

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 11:08 am
In the Neighborhood….did you hear?

You know, that guy down the street? Ya, the one in the big house that quit paying for garbage pick up, quit mowing his yard, quit supervising his kids, and kept playing that same song over and over again too loudly…ya, him.

Well I guess it was all because he wanted that other guy across the street in the duplex to burn down his duplex…that’s some weird stuff.

Well anyway, did you hear? The guy in the big house finally started acting right and paying his bills, watching his kids, yada yada, and figured out the guy in the duplex wasn’t burning down anything.

So glad the guy in the big house seems to …..

I will be hopeful for the Neighborhood.

Comment by cdog Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 11:11 am
We need governing. We need the “doable”. We need rational politics to find the common ground.

Yesterday was important in that.

Rauner learned (or finally used) a strong Caucus Politics play. It helped people.

We need more of that.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 11:16 am
“What you hope for Grandson and all your fellow dems is that Rauner will just roll over and give you everything you want. That is your version of negotiating.”

So Rauner should hang onto unattainable budget demands? How’s that good for the state? It’s time for the far right pipe dreams to end and time to get deals that can be had.

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 11:24 am
This name will have to do for now, Oswego Willy.

I can, and am “willing” who see the politics at play. In fact, I formed some of my opinion based off your earlier comments in another post, where you praised the Rauner crew for their mastery of the politics on this.

“This is watching politics played well, the Rauner Crew should enjoy it, as much as I enjoy watching politics played well.

It was.”

As Rich mentioned in comments, the Democrats may not have much confidence in Dunkin but they were not expecting him to move on this. Dunkin even has a picture on Facebook with supporters of the bill thanking him. It appears Mark Brown was not expecting Dunkin to flip as of 5 PM yesterday either, even though the letter from Rauner was a big clue.

First this was “politics played well” by the Rauner crew, then this was all a “retreat” by the Rauner crew.

Rauner had the votes while Madigan did not. This fits a well played “compromise” more than a “retreat”.

Comment by From Oswego with Love Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 11:39 am
===First this was “politics played well” by the Rauner crew, then this was all a “retreat” by the Rauner crew.===

Sometimes politics very well played is understanding and knowing to retreat, while using the best routes and mechanisms to have the retreat a calculated “success”

Your nickname is disappointing, but not as disappointing as not understanding the “why”. With a nickname choice as you chose, hoping you could see the “why” might be too much to ask of you.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 11:44 am
==Madigan may be eager to prove he can still put all 71 Democrats on a bill when necessary to thwart the governor== If Madigan doesn’t have Dunkin, but runs the bill anyway, he looks a donkey (the bad kind with a small “d”). (Side note: No “g” at the end of Dunkin. Coincidence? I think not.)

Comment by SAP Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 11:52 am
So, what will the quid pro quo be for all of this “compromising” the Gov. is doing (no snark…honest question)?

Comment by Former Hoosier Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 12:01 pm
==Did Madigan have the votes to counter Rauner peeling off Dunkin or not?==

If he didn’t- or, more to the point, if Rauner thought he didn’t- Rauner had very little impetus to back off the cuts.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 12:45 pm
==But he’s on the move. Why stop the momentum? Capitalize on the victories and push him harder on everything else.==

LOL. About as close as you can get to “Let’s Go Dems! Let’s Go Dems!”

Not surprised.

Comment by Shoe Searer Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 1:07 pm
- Shoe Searer -,

So compromise isn’t a “Raunerite” thing.

That’s fun.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 1:09 pm
“This ain’t brain surgery.” Are you sure?
A budget deal appears to be brain surgery for some folks. Otherwise, it would not have taken so long to reach this point.

Comment by Mama Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 1:32 pm
“Sometimes politics very well played is understanding and knowing to retreat, while using the best routes and mechanisms to have the retreat a calculated “success”” / And sometimes politics very well played is understanding when to compromise or be the adult in the room. With the public meeting approaching, these successful agreements support the conclusion that Rauner is not unreasonable and chose compromise over adding fuel to the war.

Your comments are a contradiction, and that contradiction is being twisted like a pretzel to twist that “compromise” into a negative “retreat” for some reason. Mark Brown wrote his “retreat” story before Dunkin flipping became public, so he has an excuse. You do not. Rauner had the votes, Madigan did not, and Rauner chose to be an adult by lowering the pressure on everyone.

Comment by From Oswego with Love Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 2:32 pm
===…Rauner chose to be an adult by lowering the pressure on everyone.===

So Rauner retreated..while using the best routes and mechanisms to have the retreat a calculated “success”.

Trying to make it seem like Rauner didn’t is embarrassing for your argument.

Thanks.

Your childish handle isn’t helpinv your case either.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 2:37 pm
=== Your comments are a contradiction, and that contradiction is being twisted like a pretzel to twist that “compromise” into a negative “retreat” for some reason. Mark Brown wrote his “retreat” story before Dunkin flipping became public, so he has an excuse. You do not. Rauner had the votes, Madigan did not, and Rauner chose to be an adult by lowering the pressure on everyone. ===

Oswego w/L, I know Oswego. The people from Oswego are smart. Oswego w/L, you’re not from Oswego. Get a new name.

C’mon man, open your eyes. Dunkin was only able to flip on the bill vote because of the Rauner’s tactical retreat on the rule. Rauner gets credit for a good tactical move, but not for becoming an adult.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 2:46 pm
Oh, and, let’s be clear…

Tooling back a demand, back to where it was, that’s a retreat.

There wasn’t even a “half-way”

Worrying people needlessly to cool the temperatures?

That makes no sense, unless you’re retreating a lost position.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 2:47 pm
How Dunkin has flipped still has me baffelled? Anyone else confused about this?

Comment by Dunkin Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 3:09 pm
Your disappointment at my nickname is unexpected, as it was inspired by the pleasant nature of your frequent comments.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/nastiness-threatens-online-reader-comments-053929979.html

Comment by From Oswego with Love Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 3:15 pm
You’re a troll now.

Good luck

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 3:18 pm
Norseman,

Maybe calling Bruce an “adult” is going too far. Thank you for the reasonable and intelligent comment.

Comment by From Oswego with Love Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 3:19 pm
I am not the one quick to use nasty comments and insults, and I cannot be the first one here to ever bring it up.

Good luck as well.

Comment by From Oswego with Love Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 3:32 pm
No matter the details or immediate outcome, it is simply a good sign that Rauner is finally in there working the legislative process toward potential agreements.

A key part of the Governor’s job.

Comment by walker Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 4:00 pm
==So compromise isn’t a “Raunerite” thing.==

“Raunerite” really stings coming from our resident “Republican”.

“To the post,”

Rich had literally just finished agreeing with Mark Brown how this compromise was basically a Rauner cave / win for Madigan. And then followed with encouragement to Dems to keep him on the ropes.

Just want to know where the goalposts are. It’s a retreat when we want to bash Rauner, but a compromise when we don’t want to get called out for cheerleading the Dems. OK.

Comment by Shoe Searer Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 4:34 pm