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* First, the basics…
Gov. Bruce Rauner will meet with four legislative leaders at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at the state capitol to continue budget negotiations as the state enters its sixth month without a formal budget in place.
The legislative leaders who will meet with the governor include House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago; Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago; House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs; and Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, R-Lemont.
The leaders haven’t met as a group since May.
The governor’s office announced Monday the first hour of the meeting will be streamed live online; each legislative leader will speak for 10 minutes, and then the governor will speak. The Southern previously reported that after the public portion, the meeting will continue in private.
* Watch online…
I’ll put up a live coverage post this afternoon.
* AP…
Expectations are low for the meeting first suggested by good government groups.
* Tribune…
Few expect any kind of breakthrough, with the meeting derided by politicians in both parties as more about show than substance. As Rauner himself said last month, “What human being likes to negotiate in front of a TV camera and make a compromise on TV? People don’t do that.”
* Pantagraph editorial…
Madigan has shown in recent weeks that he’s still more interested in playing political games and putting non-winning proposals up for votes rather than solving real problems.
At the same time, Rauner has placed too much emphasis on anti-union rhetoric and not enough on solving a long list of financial problems the state faces.
The result is the current gridlock, which is unlikely to be solved today.
However, the solution to the stalemate will only occur if the leaders start to communicate. So while expectations for today should be low, we agree with Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington: “A meeting is better than no meeting.’’
* Once again, the Tribune editorial board doesn’t explain what reforms it actually supports. They just back their guy against the other guy…
Rauner has said publicly that he’s willing to talk about a tax hike to bring in more money to balance the budget, but he wants fundamental changes in how Illinois operates. We stand firmly with him on this. An exercise that simply matches some spending cuts and some tax hikes will help Illinois limp through another year.
But that’s not good enough. Just look at that credit rating — the worst in the nation. Moody’s warns that the state’s credit could drop lower.
The five people who can do something about that will be in the same room Tuesday. Expectations are low. Ambitions have to be high.
* Korecki…
Word is, if the governor and four leaders hope to save some face, it may be with an agreement to move a local aid funding bill — containing money for Illinois lottery payouts, roads and other items. It already passed the House, then stalled once House Speaker Mike Madigan’s lieutenants put a hold on it.
Subscribers know more about that particular topic. But keep an eye on it.
Background on the approp bill is here and here.
* From Emily Miller at Voices for Illinois Children…
If this meeting yields payouts for lottery winners and roads (both totally legitimate expenses in the context of an entire budget), but continues the budget stalemate when it comes to social services for children, care for people who suffer from mental illness, meals on wheels for homebound seniors and people with disabilities, infant mortality prevention, early childhood education, services for victims of domestic and sexual violence, breast and cervical cancer screenings, afterschool programs for kids, job training programs, and the entire higher education system, including MAP grants, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle need to start questioning their leaders about where their priorities lie.
It’s time for a new framework for budget talks– a framework built around talking about, wait for it, an actual fully funded year-long budget that invests in vital programs for children, families and communities.
We’ve got to remove non-budget policy agenda items from their current position as a precursor to making any responsible budget decisions.
Discuss.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Dec 1, 15 @ 10:17 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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Emily Miller… With her all day.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Dec 1, 15 @ 10:26 am
@walker, myself and others have been saying it for weeks.
This sounded good when proposed. But without a bipartisan, mutual agenda this is shaping up more like a contentious public debate than a public meeting.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Dec 1, 15 @ 10:29 am
Would be nice if each leader put out a summary for total spending, what cuts they will push for and what tax proposals they support. Also, do they have any proposals to create efficiencies in State And Local governments.
Anything less is a complete waste of time
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Dec 1, 15 @ 10:32 am
The “Brick” will either be used today to build a wall or build a path. Criticize Madigan all day long about placing it, but it may be the best move done for all sides to actually get some momentum going on this mess. The budget, in the meantime, probably won’t get any action until 60/30 in January. HONEST Talk today (hopefully), but no budget (my prediction) will come out of the meeting today.
Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Dec 1, 15 @ 10:34 am
if i was rauner, i would drop the anti union stuff for a property tax freeze, more charter schools, and a requirement that the GA has to vote to approve any pay/benefit packages negotiated by the gov…. that makes the ga accountable and responsible
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Dec 1, 15 @ 10:35 am
Whoever thought this meeting would result in a budget needs to be checked for using a substance. The big hope has been that it would kick-start and focus negotiations.
I’m waiting to see if Rauner moderates his presentation or comes out swinging. The latter would not portend well for the meeting.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Dec 1, 15 @ 10:49 am
And limping through another year is exactly what we are talking about here. Income tax increases (falling most heavily on the middle class), a few cuts for show, fund sweeps, and borrowing-lots of borrowing. No service taxes or closing of corporate loopholes or taxing of retiree income. Too risky. That’s my prediction.
Will our political masters admit this during the meeting. Of course not.
Comment by Cassandra Tuesday, Dec 1, 15 @ 10:53 am
Wonder if they have the agenda yet.
Comment by burbanite Tuesday, Dec 1, 15 @ 11:16 am
“I’m waiting to see if Rauner moderates his presentation or comes out swinging. The latter would not portend well for the meeting.”
Me too. It’s past late to hold onto things that can’t be obtained and continue to wage war. It’s time to lay a foundation for the possible.
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Dec 1, 15 @ 11:27 am
=but he wants fundamental changes in how Illinois operates.=
I agree, and we all should. Let’s start with paying bills and paying them on time.
Aim high!
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Dec 1, 15 @ 12:15 pm
I’m down with Emily Miller and JS Mill. If Rauner wants to be Illinois’ Scott Walker, win some legislative elections like Walker.
Comment by jknell Tuesday, Dec 1, 15 @ 12:48 pm
Moody’s warning about the State’s credit rating is based on the failure to balance the budget, not a failure to enact term limits, right to work, property tax freezes, etc. which will have little impact on the budget deficit. To imply the Governor’s demanded reforms will improve the credit rating is intellectually dishonest.
Comment by Pelonski Tuesday, Dec 1, 15 @ 1:03 pm
===fundamental changes in how Illinois operates===
Specify, what and how much each “fundamental change” will save. Thanks. The public.
Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Dec 1, 15 @ 1:22 pm
The Tribbies are a laugh riot.
They’re with the governor all the way on “fundamental changes in how Illinois operates.”
Yet they can’t articulate what those changes are, how they would fundamentally change anything, or what their benefits would be to make it worth all this destruction.
Seriously, I think they must have found the stash Zell left behind out on his party balcony in the Tower.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Dec 1, 15 @ 2:07 pm
Was the public part of today’s meeting only supposed to last 30 minutes? I thought Rauner and Durkin did very poorly - - today was not suppose to be a campaign speech. Cullerton won the day!
Comment by Mama Tuesday, Dec 1, 15 @ 3:19 pm