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* UPDATED x2 - Madigan a no-show * Check back at 2 o’clock for leaders’ meeting deets

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It’s Thursday, Dec. 17, the day Gov. Bruce Rauner will host a third meeting in as many weeks with legislative leaders regarding the budget impasse.

The 2 p.m. meeting will be held at the governor’s office in the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago. Democratic Senate President John Cullerton and Republican House and Senate leaders Jim Durkin and Christine Radogno are confirmed attendees, according to their offices. A spokesman for Democratic Speaker Michael Madigan did not return a call asking whether the House leader would be there.

The spate of meetings started after pressure from good government groups who criticized a lack of progress on a spending plan as the state is in its sixth month without a complete budget. Before the meetings began on Dec. 1, Rauner and the four leaders hadn’t been in the same room since May.

The closed-door gathering isn’t expected to bring about an agreement any time soon, however.

Madigan’s spokesman told me yesterday that as far as he knew the Speaker would attend.

I’ll post a ScribbleLive thingy here if warranted.

*** UPDATE *** Well, that does it then…

Speaker Madigan spokesman Steve Brown says speaker wasn't able to make the governors meeting today.

— Tina Sfondeles (@TinaSfon) December 17, 2015

*** UPDATE 2 *** It should be noted that Madigan’s daughter just had a baby. I assume that played into this absence.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 8:53 am

Comments

Hmm.

Two o’clock. After lunch, before dinner.

Probably cookies and coffee would be best, water…

Now, I’ve been known to be a pastry kinda guy, but I digress.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 8:59 am
I hope they stop here to read this new VanillaMan plea set as a Christmas pop standard. I’ve been waiting for the day when I can post it - and I hope that the mood of the season will help set the mood for a conductive and positive meeting!

I’m Dreaming of a Functional Government - Irving Berlin, humbly enhanced by VanillaMan

Our government is frozen, it’s the worst we’ve seen
The Governor believes Turnaround is not extreme
Thanks to judges, civil servants get pay
Thanks to judges, we survive another day
He says he’s a petulant rascal and soon
We will happily sing his pro-business tune

But it’s December the 24th
And our state is irreversibly off course …

I’m dreaming of a functioning government,
just like the ones we used to know
When a governor listened, infrastructures christened
and we weren’t hostages in this show

I’m dreaming of a functioning government,
Without the bullying and threats
May we all stop this dysfunctioning regrets
Before we all face injunctioning requests

I’m dreaming of a competent governor,
just like those Old Jims long ago
When they worked with the Assembly
and compromised so reasonably
And everyone went along with the flow

I’m dreaming of a compromising Speaker,
just like back home in Chicago
When he kept our state together
while governors perp walked whether
They were a Ryan or Blago

I’m dreaming of a bright future,
for our glorious and prosperous state
May it once again be merry and bright,
and survive all this political hate.

I’m dreaming of state reimbursements,
that makes Moody’s and Fitch glow
May our leaders remove their heads out from below,
Hug one another and eat crow.

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 9:04 am
They’ll probably hammer out a budget agreement by 2:30. Snark? Not snark? You decide.

Comment by Disco is on Life Support Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 9:06 am
OW- How about a Christmas Kringle and mulled apple cider? Then they can open their Secret Santa gifts:)

Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 9:08 am
- Anon221 -, you’ve really caught the spirit of the thing. Very good suggestions, I hope these enough time to pull that off.

- VanillaMan -,

You are in rare form, even for you, and that’s really saying something. Well played, sir.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 9:11 am
VMan you have outdone yourself with that one. Well played Sir.

Comment by Give Me A Break Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 9:12 am
VMan, brilliant. And bipartisan.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 9:16 am
One wonders if Higher Education funding will be part of the discussion. Classes begin in about a month.

Comment by Beaner Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 9:23 am
VanillaMan - Very good and too the point. I wish I had your incredible talent to come up with these parodies so quickly. It would take me a week to even come close to putting words to a tune - and even if I could I would be ashamed to submit it.

Comment by illini Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 9:28 am
Bet no one touches the pastries or coffee. Remember that coughing into the bosses coffee carafe trick? Bah Humbug.

Comment by justacitizen Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 9:44 am
The only question in my mind is which attendee gets stuck with the fruitcake?

Comment by Stones Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 9:54 am
The first one to bail out on these regular meetings is going to take a lot of heat for walking away.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 10:04 am
Anon221, Make mine a Kringla. Happy Holidays folks.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 10:04 am
Over the decade and then some, as a regular blogger, I believe I’ve covered over a hundred parodies.

I have many I never post. Rich has language restrictions and I love filthy drinking songs. Then there are some I write that cover issues that die too quickly to post.

My biggest regret was waiting too soon for my “Tie a Yellow Ribbon” version of Blagojevich leaving for jail. He left at an odd time.

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 10:14 am
Terrific Vanilla!

Comment by Belle Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 10:14 am
We need to get somebody to record that song today so I can post it.

Anybody have the ability and talent to do that?

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 10:17 am
Norseman- Thanks for the recipe! I’ll definitely try it out:)

Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 10:24 am
Rich- Is there enough time to hire or get some volunteer carolers to go to the JRTC and perform VMan’s tune for our great leaders??

Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 10:26 am
Will they first have picture in front of the Christmas tree? Oh….right.

Comment by Harvest76 Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 10:41 am
===Will they first have picture in front of the Christmas tree? Oh….right.===

What are you saying - Harvest76 -?

Use your words…

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 11:02 am
OW- Harvest was referring to this:

http://chicago.suntimes.com/news-chicago/7/71/1174949/sneed-10

Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 11:08 am
Since these are behind closed doors, and in a period most elected are not doing much of anything legislatively — they will be talking something of substance. This is a hopeful sign. Better than no meeting.

Comment by walker Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 11:09 am
- Anon221 -,

Thanks. What a difference a cite can make or a reference…

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 11:34 am
Sorry OW, I thought some might be able to use context clues. Next time I’ll try to use my words to avoid condescension.

Comment by Harvest76 Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 12:30 pm
There is nothing to fear. St Bruce and the Child-Emperor Mike are hard at work!

Comment by Formerly Known As... Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 1:51 pm
I’d say the Blame Madigan crowd is right this time.

Comment by Keyrock Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 2:51 pm
==Madigan’s spokesman told me yesterday that as far as he knew the Speaker would attend.==

Something pressing must have come up today to cancel at the last minute. Right? What suddenly caused him to cancel?

The first meeting was delayed 2 weeks as a courtesy to the Speaker. He should have had the same courtesy for them unless there was an emergency.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 2:53 pm
So did the meeting carry on without him? Surely there can be a discussion without him there.

Comment by Harvest76 Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 2:59 pm
@walker’s comment nailed it. These meetings were the start of progress.

Now, one of the main parties no-shows day of the meeting? Was it also a no-call, no-show? They can’t even make it through 3 meetings or show one another simple courtesy?

Emergencies happen. But if there was no emergency, then the Child-Emperor Madigan rudely strikes again.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 3:16 pm
Until anyonr knows why the Speaker didn’t attend…

Remember when The Owl tweeted all his “baloney” the last time, only to find out Speaker Madigan’s father in law passed?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 3:18 pm
The Madigan no-show will be the headline tomorrow.

Comment by Louis G Atsaves Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 3:18 pm
==Surely there can be a discussion without him there.==

After the discussion and agreement the others had on the child care cuts, when Madigan then ran his own bill regardless of the ==agreement==, there may not be much point to any discussion without the presence of both Rauner and Madigan.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 3:20 pm
- Louis G Atsaves -

I hope it’s nothing personal and serious that Madigan wasn’t there…

I could look up those Tweets that The Owl had, until it was learned Speaker Madigan has a family matter.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 3:23 pm
If I were the President I would be incensed.

Comment by Just Me Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 3:35 pm
==Until anyonr knows why the Speaker didn’t attend…==

Well said. From the sound of Mr Brown’s claim of a ==scheduling conflict== it sounds like all is good re health and family.

This must be quite an unexpected ==scheduling conflict== to suddenly take priority over the budget meeting without giving the basic courtesy of prior notice to participants and media. Maybe the President or First Lady dropped by his office unannounced.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 3:44 pm
Dear Mike:

Exactly. Why bother?

Comment by sal-says Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 3:50 pm
–This must be quite an unexpected ==scheduling conflict== to suddenly take priority over the budget meeting….–

They were going to talk about the budget?

When did the governor drop his pre-conditions for that?

What a development! The governor is on record that nothing substantive will happen until after January 1 at the earliest when vote requirements drop, more likely after the March primary.

But he was ready to deal today. What a bombshell!

FKA, you’re doing a great job with the Miss Manners routine. Wouldn’t want to admit gauchery into the refined world of Illinois politics.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 3:51 pm
Did any of you on this blog ACTUALLY think any of these meetings are for anything but show?? All sides too firmly entrenched, and nobody is in a mood to deal.

Comment by Wow Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 3:52 pm
His daughter just had a baby boy. Reason enough.

Comment by Speakerfan Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 3:55 pm
Hope floats, quickly flushed.

Comment by walker Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 4:00 pm
= Until anyonr knows why the Speaker didn’t attend… =

His grandson was born yesterday.

Comment by Dirty Red Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 4:07 pm
“Until anyonr knows why the Speaker didn’t attend…” He was too busy writing legislation to raise the income tax to 15%.

Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 4:13 pm
To UpdateX2,

- FKA -

Bud, always wait.

OW

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 4:15 pm
===- Louis G Atsaves - Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 3:18 pm

The Madigan no-show will be the headline tomorrow.===

“Speaker Madigan A Grandfather”

Something like that, - Louis G Atsaves -, or…

Always wait… always.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 4:17 pm
Madigan and the grandchild’s birth he controls.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 4:19 pm
==FKA, you’re doing a great job with the Miss Manners routine.==

lol, that’s not a routine. It’s just expecting someone show basic professional and personal courtesy like an adult rather than a child.

Particularly after these people were courteous enough to delay the first meeting by two weeks instead of just a few days so he could focus on his family.

==The governor is on record that nothing substantive will happen until after January 1==

They had finally started meeting again, beginning to thaw the Springfield freeze, which is progress. Meeting in person or even a cancel in advance is better than a disrespectful no-show.

January 1 is also the truth, as explained here previously. Were you expecting anyone to vote for higher taxes or service cuts during petition season? You know better than that.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 4:22 pm
To UpdateX2,

@Oswego Willy - my comments are perfectly clear. If the baby was just born in the last 24 hours, to me that is an ==emergency== on par with the President or First Lady dropping by unannounced.

Possibly more important. Who would not understand that? It’s a simple and happy reason to call them and tell them you are skipping the meeting, much better than any ==scheduling conflict==.

I am glad he or someone on his staff notified the others he would not be attending rather than pulling a childish no-call, no-show for any reason. And his reason for not attending is even happier.

Congratulations Mr Speaker and family!

Comment by Formerly Known As... Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 4:28 pm
i don’t care if his grandson was born yesterday - not reason enough to miss the meeting (unless there are medical complications with the mother or child)

Comment by Zoe Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 4:34 pm
–I’d like to change my comment, above to:
I’d say the Congratulate Madigan! crowd is right about this one.

Comment by Keyrock Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 4:38 pm
“not reason enough to miss the meeting” Right because work always comes before family. Uh huh.

Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 4:38 pm
===i don’t care if his grandson was born yesterday - not reason enough to miss the meeting (unless there are medical complications with the mother or child)===

… said no one with a heart, ever.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 4:39 pm
“not reason enough to miss the meeting” Right because work always comes before family. Uh huh.

AND

… said no one with a heart, ever.

————————————————-

given the position the State is in without a budget, and the angst caused to service providers and citizens alike, i think taking a few hours out of the day to meet really isn’t too much to ask.

i’d be very understanding if we were in june/july/august but not at this point in time

Comment by Zoe Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 5:17 pm
- Zoe -,

Nothing is going yo be done until January and “60/30″.

Session, for both chambers, is over until January

Family comes first too.

Your righteous indignation is noted with a callous heart.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 5:22 pm
VM & OW win today’s best post award.

Comment by Mama Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 5:27 pm
Rich @ 10:17 ( sorry for being so late on this ), but my niece is an award winning videographer and could put it on the internet, but she has no experience ( as far as I know ) mixing/blending vocals etc. and dealing with some of the other background details. Not certain how her employment allows her to travel, but if VanillaMan ever gets to O’Fallon, I’m relatively certain I could help cut a deal.

Comment by illini Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 5:48 pm
Rich didn’t you used to play some? Pull the old axe from under the bed.

Comment by walker Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 6:42 pm
congrats to the Madigan family! Nothing was going to be accomplished at this meeting - last weeks only accomplished a mention about pensions. Nothing will be accomplished as long as the Turnaround Agenda is the 800 lb gorilla in the room. A baby 24 hours old to see before it leaves the hospital rates as a reason to skip the meeting.

Comment by Thoughts Matter Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 6:56 pm
Geez, I hope nothing as mundane as the birth of a grandchild kept Madigan from witnessing the governor’s epic sales pitch on the spectacular projected fiscal and economic returns of his political agenda, what with all the cool graphics and charts and such.

I figured Rauner has been waiting for a pre-Christmas release of his rationale, like the new “Star Wars” movie, for boffo box office.

Why else would he wait so long to justify the damage of his hostage strategy?

Because when you promise “short-term pain for big long-term gain,” you’re really obligated to sell that claim with something more than a smile and shoeshine.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 9:54 pm
So, how long before the press acknowledges why Madigan was not present. Only innuendos at 9 and 10 that no one was sure why he missed the meeting. And Rauner, who expressed sympathy to the Madigan family when the Speaker’s father-in-law passed away… Where’s the congrats on the new grandchild? Morning spin will be interesting. Enough wool gathering was done today, to be sure.

Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 10:38 pm
Why wouldn’t the spokescritter say just say “birth of grandchild” or “family situation “? “Scheduling conflict” sounds a bit odd. Perhaps just an unforced error by MJM’s people, but the choice of words gave an opening to the other side to paint him as petulant.

Comment by Junior Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 10:59 pm
===Why wouldn’t the spokescritter say just say “birth of grandchild” or “family situation “? “Scheduling conflict” sounds a bit odd. Perhaps just an unforced error by MJM’s people, but the choice of words gave an opening to the other side to paint him as petulant.===

… or it’s a test of trust.

Look at - Louis G Atsaves -, look what he commented here.

The Owl?

@RonSandack - Meeting. Schmeeting.

A person’s character is best seen when they have a chance to show it unexpectedly.

Rauner didn’t comment. Neither did Cullerton. Not good, not bad, nothing.

Brown left the door wide open. - Louis G Atsaves - and The Owl, it was about how the points would be tallied, or making snark seem like a real hoot.

Once a bell is rung, it’s rung.

I learned a lot today, actually.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 17, 15 @ 11:08 pm
It is now Friday, December 18th. As expected the headlines from the major media outlets all were along the lines of “Madigan Misses Meeting” or “Madigan No Shows Meeting.” If a dope like me can call that, something is definitely wrong here.

Sorry Willy and other apologists of the 2015 Madigan slow walk through the budget process this year. Go check out those headlines and articles yourselves.

Several articles quote spokesman Brown and his “scheduling conflict” line. The AP indicates the governor’s office was notified, but not when. Brown is quoted as being unsure when the notification that the Speaker would fail to attend actually occurred.

Congratulations to the Madigan family on their addition of a grandson. Interestingly enough, the birth of that little child was not mentioned in any of the stories I read so far about the meeting this morning. Why?

Comment by Louis G Atsaves Friday, Dec 18, 15 @ 6:23 am
Oh - Louis G Atsaves -

Did Rauner say anything? No.

Did Cullerton say anything? No.

The Owl? “Meeting. Schmeeting.” That Sandack, always classy.

So these headlines, that Madigan was a no-show, like I said, it seems like a test. Brown didn’t give up anything, because it’s not his place to, and the week behind Chirstmas, nothing is happening until after January 1st, Rauber has repeatedly said so.

===Interestingly enough, the birth of that little child was not mentioned in any of the stories I read so far about the meeting this morning. Why?===

Sometimes family privacy is worth more than scoring points, and that’s that.

Like I said, I learned a lot. You and The Owl showed me a lot too.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Dec 18, 15 @ 7:44 am
===Sorry Willy and other apologists of the 2015 Madigan slow walk through the budget process this year. Go check out those headlines and articles yourselves.===

“Slow walk”, LOL.

“Short term pain, for big long term gain.” - Bruce Rauner.

“@RonSandack: I’m frustrated 2, but taking steps towards reforming IL more important than short term budget stalemate.” - The Owl.

The slow walk by Rauner to inflict pain is Rauner’s. Bruce and The Owl even said so, - Louis G Atsaves -.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Dec 18, 15 @ 7:59 am

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