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Rauner said he will continue to press his “turnaround agenda” this year and plans to announce some new proposals shortly. They will include initiatives for education reform and purchasing reform, he said.

“Hopefully, they will be more quickly adopted, but we’ll see,” he said.

…Adding… He previewed some of his education reforms last fall…

Throughout the conversation, he expressed disappointment surrounding the need to address the Illinois fiscal crisis before turning to education agenda items such as opportunity scholarships, course choice access, lifting the charter school cap, and Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) for students with special needs. Rauner also predicted that the strength of the teachers unions throughout Illinois will set the stage for a political battle when these items emerge next year.

“I wish I was pounding right now on education bills in the legislature. I can’t do everything at once, I’m pretty good but I’m not that good,” he joked.

Hat tip to a commenter.

* Riopell…

Rauner suggested changes in how the state funds schools could be part of a budget deal. Previously, House Republican Leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs said that would have to be put off, but Democratic Senate President John Cullerton has said the effort should continue.

“If he says … let’s have the funding formula be part of our grand bargain now, that’s fine,” Rauner said. […]

Suburban mayors who fear their share of income taxes will be slashed to cover the state’s deficit in a final budget deal will have to keep watching.

“I don’t want to speculate about what the final budget numbers would look like,” Rauner said. “We’ve talked about certain reductions at certain levels from (the local share). My preference is not to have to do that.”

“As part of a grand bargain, I’m not going to sit here today and say what will or won’t be in any final (budget),” he said.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 9:38 am

Comments

The Governor had previously stated that passing the Turnaround Agenda was a prerequisite to even beginning talks on the budget. I can’t tell if that is still the case. When he talks about a “grand bargain” you could potentially interpret that he’s backed off, but I can’t tell.

Comment by The Captain Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 9:47 am
is he going to toss in new “reforms” that are more palatable so he can claim victory on the Turnaround Agenda and we can have a budget? Is that why we’re adding new reforms when we can’t even agree to the previous ones?

Comment by Johnny Pyle Driver Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 9:51 am
The Governor and leaders can’t even agree that the sky is blue. How does Governor Rauner expect to strike a grand bargain?

Please focus on a some common sense reforms both sides can accept and then move on from there.

Comment by Stones Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 9:53 am
“Turnaround Agenda” means busting unions.

There is no such thing as “Right to Work”.

If you believe in “right to work” then you also believe that all of the food at the local national burger place is all healthy for you too.

Comment by Jack Stephens Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 10:04 am
The Governor had previously stated that passing the Turnaround Agenda was a prerequisite to even beginning talks on the budget. I can’t tell if that is still the case. When he talks about a “grand bargain” you could potentially interpret that he’s backed off, but I can’t tell.

Have the superstars decided that “grand bargain” is the phrase that pays for 2016? The latest in the long line of words — transparency, negotiation, good faith, compassionate, social agenda, etc. — completely divorced from their plain meaning?

There is no point trying to parse Bruce Rauner’s language when the words he uses are nothing more than duplicitous, rhetorical placeholders.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 10:18 am
More hostages to throw into the mix.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 10:19 am
‘Grand Bargains’ require trust … trust that people will keep their word.

Right now I can’t see a deal getting done even if there is a box car full of MOU’s.

Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 10:25 am
MrJM: You forgot “Phoney” and “Sham”

Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 10:43 am
My preference is not to have to do that—then insert item he knows is likely to be included: grabbing local income tax share, not funding higher ed, wiping out social services, raising the income tax, taxing retirement income, expanding sales tax base.

Comment by Langhorne Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 10:51 am
To the addition. Are “opportunity scholarships” the new code for vouchers?

And I have never understood his obsession with raising the cap on charter schools. We are nowhere near the existing cap. The closest would be CPS, and I found it hard to believe that they’re going to be pushing another massive expansion given their fiscal situation.

Comment by Juice Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 10:53 am
Ten bucks says the legislature does not hand Rauner an increase in education funding next fiscal year.

Comment by Austin Blvd Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 11:18 am
“I wish I was pounding right now on education bills in the legislature. I can’t do everything at once, I’m pretty good but I’m not that good,” he joked.

Once again we are seeing Rauner try to sound cool and coming off like - uh, a guy who couldn’t buy cool if it came in a six pack, but is going to keep on “tryin’”.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 11:25 am
2014 analysis of candidate Rauner’s Better Blueprint (just for review- lot is coming true…) http://www.thearcofil.org/arc-and-the-center-for-tax-and-budget-accountability-analysis-on-candidate-rauners-blueprint/

****
Some homework for the supes as the State of the State and Budget addresses near…

Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 12:05 pm
Aren’t charter schools run by private businesses? Money in their pockets plus get to teach the kids anything but critical thinking skills. Influencing future voters. Win-win for ALEC types.

Comment by cailleach Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 1:01 pm
==Rauner also predicted that the strength of the teachers unions throughout Illinois will set the stage for a political battle==

One way or the other every thing this guy does is about unions and how to get at them.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 3:59 pm
== “I can’t do everything at once, I’m pretty good but I’m not that good,” he joked.” ==

“I can’t do anything at once, I’m pretty good in my own mind, but I’m not that good,” he finally realized. No joke.”

There, Brucie: Fixed it for you.

Comment by sal-says Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 7:14 am