Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Biz leaders want private talks

Posted in:

Illinois

* I’ve been hearing this week that some folks are talking behind the scenes of having the four leaders and the governor make some statements on November 18th, then convene a private meeting and talk to reporters afterward.

So, this letter may be an attempt to give the leaders some political cover…

Dear Leaders:

As you know, business and labor this week announced an agreement on unemployment insurance reform. This agreement took months of negotiations behind the scenes with the good offices and direct participation provided by the Department of Employment Security, the Governor’s Office, and representatives of the four legislative caucuses.

In the end, we reached an agreement without fanfare or media spectacle. It’s a lesson that we hope can be applied to the upcoming meeting between the Governor and the four leaders on November 18th.

If our state is to move forward - with structural economic reforms and a balanced budget - we need this meeting and many more after it to be sincere and constructive. Frank and unfiltered discussion between principles is essential to the success of any good-faith negotiation. While the spectacle of a publicly broadcast meeting may be appealing to some, we believe that such an event could become pure political theater — counterproductive to progress and a sure way to keep this impasse going.

On behalf of the employers our various organizations represent, we urge all parties to conduct a private, frank discussion that fosters dialogue and builds confidence in a process to end this months-long impasse by enacting economic reforms alongside a balanced budget.

Sincerely,

Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA)
Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA)
National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB)
Illinois Chamber of Commerce
Technology & Manufacturing Association (TMA)

Thoughts?

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 2:37 pm

Comments

Losers, if it’s in public.

Would have been better if the AFL-CIO had signed on. They were at least half of why an agreed approach to insurance was reached.

But, they’re right that the public meeting only works as a prod for other out-of-sight meetings.

Comment by walker Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 2:42 pm
Smart move out of Baise to try and facilitate the process. Class act.

Comment by Not Again Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 2:42 pm
They are right. You can’t negotiate in public and anybody that thinks you can is naive.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 2:43 pm
Ah yes, the Illinois business lobby, and proud we are of all of them.

I duly note their concern. However, I think by now the people of Illinois deserve to learn exactly where each of these leaders and the Governor stand on why, for the first time ever perhaps, Illinois has no budget and is on course to building a staggering deficit. Give each of them 30 minutes to outline their view of the problem and their plan to fix it.

After the 18th they can work it out in secret, but for now, and for just one time, the taxpayers deserve to hear directly from the idiots in charge who’ve brought us to the point of national laughingstock and financial calamity.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 2:44 pm
The giant Business leaders are represented among the Civies. They’re more who Rauner listens to. What does Ty say?

Comment by walker Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 2:44 pm
They aren’t wrong.

The business leaders should have asked for ticket sales and television rights to the ==show== this will be if held in public.

None of them will compromise much of anything in front of the public. Just pandering and snark for the audience.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 2:44 pm
Based on some previous weeks’ threads, hasn’t there been a bi-partisan, bicameral group already meeting behind the scenes on the budget. Have they been successful in anyway in producing some positive work on the budget that these five could take to the meeting on the 18th? Or, are they basically being ignored?

Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 2:46 pm
The unemployment negotiations bore fruit because they used the agreed bill process, which forces a give and take and all parties to move to the center.

Comment by unspun Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 2:49 pm
There’s zero reason why they can’t reach agreement before Nov. 18 and announce victory then. These issues have been on the table for months. There is nothing new to talk about. This announcement from the biz types is the clearest signal yet to Rauner: Get cracking.

Comment by If They Were Smart Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 2:49 pm
The Governor is using these guys as cover so he doesn’t have to talk in public about serious matters. Must have left the “man card” in his carhardt.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 2:52 pm
Speaking of the November 18 meeting…where is the Gov’s agenda proposal? Is this business group letter the substitute that is supposed to change the subject? It’s been 3 weeks. No agenda yet? C’mon.

Comment by unspun Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 2:55 pm
I agree that an actual agreement is hammered out in private. But there’s just something about this suggestion — and that it comes from groups representing businesses and no one else — that bothers me.

If, as he claims, Rauner wants to “shake up Springfield,” then a suggestion that business be taken up in private seems to undermine the message that Rauner wants to change things. These are the same groups who get what they want when they fly under the radar, but this budget fight is really too big to hide from the public.

I think the more realistic expectation is that there will be further discussions, some in private, but that there has to be a transparent and open meeting first.

The poor good government groups must be tired of everyone hijacking their proposal and changing it beyond recognition.

Comment by the Other Anonymous Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 2:57 pm
i have mixed emptions on this. i agree w/ 47 that we should make it public to see everyones position… BUT i also agree with the Gov that purting cameras in will not get a deal done so much as create moments of theater.

if the had been meeting in public open meetings act style for years, then sure keep it open….. but these are always closed meetings with, hopefully, a little blunt talk.

I think i prefer the leaders feeling free to speak more bluntly or hypothetically without audience when trying to hammer out a deal; just like a court proceeding is public, but settlment negotiations, even when overseen by the court, are kept private until an agreement is reached

Comment by Ghost Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 2:59 pm
What if Madigan and Cullerton play it straight at the public meeting. What if they come prepared to delve into the details of the budget, no showmanship. Rauner doesn’t want this meeting to happen. That would be 70+ years of experience on the dem side versus 10 months on the Republican side. Not counting Durkin or Radogno, because I’m not sure they would be given permission to talk.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 3:00 pm
oops i meant to work the word puerile into my reply…. its such a good, under appreciated word….. cameras will lead to puerile discussions….

Comment by Ghost Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 3:01 pm
Then Rauner’s deputy chief of staff, Rich Goldberg, interjected, “I know Governor Rauner is not from Springfield. I’m not from Springfield. A lot of us are not from Springfield. The culture in Springfield has to change. That lobbyists, it’s status quo for them to help write your legislation, Governor Rauner wants to get the lobbyists out of government.”

Later, Goldberg added, “To accept the status quo of special interests and lobbyists writing legislation is something that we reject and it is really the reason why …”

Senate Judiciary Committee 5/28/15

Comment by unspun Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 3:03 pm
On one hand, more might get done behind closed doors. On the other hand, I wonder if the anti-Madigan media will concede that it was Madigan who called for the meeting to be public…which, of course, the media wants!

Comment by Independent retiree/lawyer/journalist Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 3:06 pm
Sounds like cover for the Governor. Is a real negotiation going to be done in public? No, but the hope is that it will force the Governor to actually explain to the public what he wants in order to reach a deal. For the most part, the general public has no clue. Once the Governor actually explains what he wants, the public can decide whether or not they support him.

Comment by Pelonski Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 3:07 pm
I can’t help but remember that making the ideal the enemy of the good enough has gotten us where we are today.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 3:08 pm
Notable that the signers point out the benefits of having business and labor organizations together in the discussions about workers compensation, but that no labor organization participated in writing the letter itself.

So the labor people don’t agree, or these business organizations didn’t talk to them??

Comment by DuPage Dave Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 3:11 pm
Hey guess what mind your own Business the die has been cast for transparency

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 3:14 pm
There wouldn’t be so much emphasis on trying to get this particular leaders meeting perfect if they simply had more leaders meetings.

Comment by The Captain Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 3:14 pm
They have all the time in the world for private meetings. Private meetings have been happening all year long. It would be interesting for a change to have one meeting, completely public, with a good couple hours of unfiltered discussion for all of the state to see.

Comment by dunno Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 3:14 pm
A simple and public, “I’m sorry I put you through this,” and no adding the BUTs of the TurnAround Reforms onto it, would go a long way to building that trust the Rauner has damaged. And it shouldn’t come from ck or Trover or Goldberg. That, IMO, would go a long way in these days leading up to the meeting. Friday is tomorrow… Rauner needs to leave some checked baggage at the station, too.

Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 3:22 pm
Unless the “good government” groups are willing to say that caucus meetings should be open to the public, and/or the General Assembly should follow the Open Meetings Act, then they should drop their insistence for an open leaders meeting.

And I would point out that Susan Garrett has always wanted open government, but yet she still participated in those closed door caucus meetings, which seems oddly inconsistent to me.

Comment by Not it Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 3:23 pm
Baise and Karr are both a rare breed: business leaders who understand the process and have solid, professional relationships with the top players on both sides and measure their words carefully. They work extremely well together (I think Karr started out as one of Baise’s legislative guys if memory serves me right) and their names don’t pop up until there is a path that shows promise.

Watch and see. This letter has some significance.

Comment by Down the Middle Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 3:26 pm
If it was such a great process for UI than why not use it for workers comp as it was for many, many years.

My guess is they would not like THAT.

Comment by The anti-trib Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 3:27 pm
My money is on the biz folks serving as shills for Rauner. Rauner’s staff hasn’t come up with a comfortable agenda for the boss so the idea is to use this as the basis for going dark.

Rauner’s placed himself in this position. Instead of turning down the goo goo request with a counter to convene sooner leaders meetings, he thumped his chest and took over the goo goo meeting. The goo goos and media need to maintain the pressure for the public meeting on the 18th.

Will this produce an agreement? No. Nobody expected it to do so. The meeting was to be the impetus to force discussions on the budget.

Anyone else have any ideas to force movement?

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 3:33 pm
Down the middle - would concur with your assessment of Rob Karr and Greg Baise. They are good folks, as is Mark Denzler.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 3:34 pm
47th ward Well said. Own it and Fix it and move on.

Comment by the Cardinal Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 3:35 pm
Will Ken Dunkin be there?

Comment by jt Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 3:37 pm
Reality?

Rauner hasn’t responded to Susan Garrett and Co., because Rauner’s Crew is still holding out to have the Goo-Goos cancel this meeting.

This Biz letter IS Rauner’s response to Susan Garrett.

“I want my meeting the way I want my meeting, or please cancel my meeting”

Governors should never have two special interest groups “discuss” what a functionaling governor should do without needing anyone involved from the beginning.

Rauner has yet learned how to be his own Governor and own the job he won.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 3:38 pm
If you want to see something get done it’s a no brainer. if you want pomp and circumstance without any substance go with the public meeting.

Comment by Ahoy! Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 3:45 pm
- 360 Degree TurnAround: Agreed. Assume that Denzler is considered Heir Apparent; he certainly has earned it. But I don’t think Baise is exactly at the end of his road. And I get a real kick out of the comment about the biz guys being “shills” for Rauner. Maybe some are, but Baise/Denzler & Karr? Puh-leeze.

Comment by Down the Middle Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 3:45 pm
I don’t know, maybe I’m wrong, but I see this thing winding down now. It wasn’t fun while it lasted, but I think the movement is to get it done.

This is just the latest move that convinces me of that.

Comment by Try-4-Truth Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 3:47 pm
Quick! Someone ask the Speaker if he’d be willing to wear a wire. (Just would love to see what kind of reaction that would get.)

Comment by Juice Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 3:49 pm
What they’re saying, they’re saying out loud for all to hear and see. They deserve credit for that.

Comment by A guy Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 3:55 pm
== Biz leaders want private talks. ==

Geez. Who doesn’t? Maybe big money (other than raunner) can move the ball. Good for them. Lord knows, raunner hasn’t listened to Edgar, Thompson & many others.

Comment by sal-says Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 3:59 pm
==Quick! Someone ask the Speaker if he’d be willing to wear a wire. (Just would love to see what kind of reaction that would get.)==

Why a wire? Couldn’t he just call someone on his cell phone and “forget” to hang up before putting it back in his pocket?

Comment by Anon. Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 4:04 pm
I can’t believe Todd Maisch was a part of this letter. Wasn’t he the one urging the Governor to “keep it up” a couple of weeks ago? Very conflicting.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 4:05 pm
=== What they’re saying, they’re saying out loud for all to hear and see. They deserve credit for that. ===

We’ll give them a state IOU.

The goo goos get a bigger IOU because they got things moving on a meeting sooner.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 4:06 pm
===Wasn’t he the one urging the Governor to “keep it up” a couple of weeks ago? Very conflicting.===

It was “Hang In There”.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 4:09 pm
Rauner has yet learned how to be his own Governor and own the job he bought and paid for.

There, fixed it for ya Willie.

Comment by Gruntled University Employee Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 4:11 pm
===There, fixed it for ya Willie.===

“Willy”

There, fixed it for ya - Gruntled University Employee -…

(Tips cap)

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 4:13 pm
OW - you are correct.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 4:14 pm
Touché

Comment by Gruntled University Employee Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 4:16 pm
The biz boys are trying to give Rauner cover. If he went on state wide television making his non budgetary demands it would glaringly obvious to the public that there is nothing to compromise. He would be an embarrassment to himself and his supporters. His is an untenable situation and they know it.

Comment by ottawa otter Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 4:16 pm
You are the master, I am but the apprentice.

Comment by Gruntled University Employee Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 4:17 pm
- Gruntled University Employee - ,

I couldn’t spell apprentice or master without auto-correct, so it’s all good. No worries. OW

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 4:20 pm
- ottawa otter - Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 4:16 pm:
I concur. Governor Transparency might get a question on HB 4223.

Comment by Beaner Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 4:23 pm
Rauner gets the the Business community to do his dirty work for him. Cowardly IMO..

Comment by Mouthy Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 4:27 pm
Business as usual, pun intended.

Comment by illinoised Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 4:28 pm
…..economic reforms alongside a BALANCED budget. These words, balanced budget , my how much turmoil is the state going to go thru to get there.

Comment by Blue dog dem Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 4:43 pm
“Biz leaders want private talks” = “Rauner wants private talks.” We can all smell Rauner’s fear of transparency. Let’s open it up. Wide open.

Comment by Dome Gnome Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 4:58 pm
Nice of the bidness lobby to try to spare Bruce the indignity of reading off a sheet of paper for the whole world to see.

Still, I guess I’d consider this progress. For a long time I thought this administration wasn’t even embarrassed by their incompetence, nice to see that they are at least a little.

Comment by Daniel Plainview Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 5:05 pm
I am with OW at 3:38 he is dead on about this. Why didn’t they send this letter weeks ago, and what is preventing the Gov. from having a private mtg. tomorrow? The Gov. himself said in his letter taking control of the meeting, “We are happy to host the meeting in the governor’s office in either Springfield or Chicago and will coordinate with your office on the most appropriate media access (fully open, pooled press, streamed online, etc.). ” This led me naively to believe that he was going to allow media access.

Comment by burbanite Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 5:14 pm
This kind of private meeting would have happened when Thompson was in charge; or Edgar; shoot, maybe even with Quinn. The business group is right that no deal will be struck in public, but this governor has so badly managed the game that the public meeting is a must to hold his feet to the fire. It may also prod MM to make some moves as well. What a mess.

Comment by Tired Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 5:16 pm
I agree wuth dunno 3:14pm. Its ge peoples money after all. Why are they hiding?

Comment by internal angel Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 5:31 pm
There will be a public meeting.

If the governor wants to avoid a public meeting, he should try to reach a budget deal in the next six days.

According to Jim Edgar, he met EVERY DAY with Madigan during the impasse of 1991.

Private meeting do bear fruit, but a public debate is the only
Thing that is gonna lead to a shift.

Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 5:58 pm
Come on — they only want private talks because the union busting stuff is so unseemly.

Rauner is doing no one any favors. I know we’re supposed to look ahead, not behind. But if Madigan caves now — next year is 100% worse.

Mike — don’t give in. If there’s no budget this year, there’s no budget.

Comment by Macbeth Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 6:21 pm
“Hang in there Mike.” Macbeth is right, I wish he wasn’t but he is.

Comment by burbanite Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 7:02 pm
What’s the beef here? The governor has assured us, for months, repeatedly, that private negotiations are ongoing and progress is being made.

Is that not the case?

These biz lobbyists are just doing a CYA to hopefully keep their members off their backs through the holidays.

Their members are owed tens of millions of dollars from the state for services already rendered.

Talk about a War on Christmas.

Glad to see the chamber on board. Because, with them, you know it’s all about the governor’s pursuit of “fiscal sanity,” basic competence,” and “business partnership.”

Todd, now that you’ve signed this letter with the rest of the crew, don’t you find it strange that you were the only one to sign that goofy one the superstars gave you in response to the Crains editorial?

You got played, cousin. If you can’t spot the chump the first time the deal goes round, you’re it.

Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 7:05 pm
Make it public! Needs to be tightly controlled by organizers, away from any participants ‘home’, with controlled debate timed statement and response. Organizer can address question or response to any participant so all must be able to respond rather than Gov dominating.

Only Gov Bruce uses significant ‘theater’ and total afraid of the general Citizen interaction.

For success the process must be entirely out of the hands of the 5 participants. The only thing participants need is time, place, duration and topic (which was defined in initial letter).

Comment by IL17Progressive Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 7:46 pm
I’m sorry, but the salutation– “Dear Leaders” — kills me.

Is this Illinois government or some tripped-out cult?

Is that like a formal thing now? Like the old Politburo?

Could it least be “Dear Fearless Leaders,” like
“Rocky and Bullwinkle,” to give it some class?

Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 8:17 pm
this is pretty funny. talk about yell’er. this facade can’t last much longer from the superstars can it?

Comment by kimaye Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 8:32 pm
Rauner doesn’t want a public meeting and the business leaders are just providing cover for him. Truth be told, the business leaders don’t want a public meeting either. They don’t want many of those uninformed citizens out there to know what some of those “needed structural reforms” really are and what middle class workers across the state stand to lose if they are implemented. It’s much better to cut a private deal, get it passed quickly and by time working people find out what’s going on it will be too late.

Comment by The Dude Abides Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 8:44 pm
Dude, I think the obtuse, so-called “needed structural reforms” are done for now.

There might be a face-saving out, but nothing like the union-busting agenda that the governor engineered the FY16 fiscal disaster to “leverage.”

I don’t think the governor flipped all of a sudden now for any other reason than enough House Republicans were ready to walk because of the dire situation caused by the hostage strategy.

And these are just baby steps. The heavy lifting still needs to come. It’s going to hurt a lot. And that was obvious and foreseeable back on inauguration day.

Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:57 pm
Business doesn’t want the meeting public, Rauner doesn’t want the meeting public because the phrase Right to Work may come out. They’ve tapped dance around the phrase since he got into office- common sense business reform, empowerment zones, structural reform etc.
They’ve said everything but Right to Work.

Comment by DuPage Bard Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 10:50 pm
I also read it as cover for Rauner to avoid communicating specifics on his agenda to the public and also for him to control the agenda as he wishes. Disappointing.

Comment by Earnest Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 7:56 am
If no budget agreement by November 18, the public meeting needs to occur. Citizens deserve to hear more than campaign slogans and canned comments from the governor. Let’s hear some explaining.

Comment by illinoised Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 8:24 am