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* Mike Riopell…
But [Rep. David Harris, an Arlington Heights Republican] says Rauner’s address showed there is room for compromise.
“We don’t need everything on the list,” he said. “He did not mention redistricting, he did not mention term limits. It can be argued that those things may not have a direct impact on the budget.”
OK, but that still leaves local government collective bargaining “reform” (which will have to be drastically toned down because Rauner’s proposal might actually be worse than his abandoned “right to work” demand since it takes just about all bargaining powers away from unions, but union members still have to pay dues), tort reform (despite all the screaming about venue shopping, I can see at least some value for having a centralized place to file things like asbestos suits so people aren’t running all over the country), and workers’ comp reform (ain’t gonna happen the way Rauner wants, but there are alternative ideas, like number 5 on this list).
It’s doable if the governor and the Democrats are willing to sit down and work things out.
* Related…
* Illinois’ economy slips but also shows a little move up: A report out today does a pretty good job detailing the weakness of the economy in Illinois and, to a slightly lesser extent, other Great Lakes states over the past couple of decades. But in what the study sponsor says is somewhat of a fluke, it also shows Illinois’ economic competitiveness improving a bit between 2012 and 2014… The good news: The state’s overall competitiveness climbed from 46th in 2012 to 39th in 2014. Why the bump up if we’re headed to Hades in a handbasket? “Overwhelmingly because of the overall economic recovery here” from the subprime recession, says chamber foundation Chairman Doug Whitley. “We have so many large and diversified companies here.”
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Feb 19, 16 @ 11:11 am
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I kinda doubt that Rauner meant to take his most popular reforms off the list.
Comment by Arsenal Friday, Feb 19, 16 @ 11:21 am
The last time Rauner extended an olive branch or proposed a truce, on child care funding, Madigan attempted to scuttle the compromise.
There is another opening. Let’s see how Madigan responds to this one.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Feb 19, 16 @ 11:23 am
That study from the Illinois Chamber is worthless. Someone should ask the chamber why they outsourced their study to a school in Michigan? Do we not have nine state universities that could do that study? It is a study on economic competitiveness, and they chose to invest in another state.
Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Friday, Feb 19, 16 @ 11:26 am
-It’s doable if the governor and the Democrats are willing to sit down and work things out.–
There in lies the rub. Both sides but especially the governor have to want to work it out.
Comment by Mason born Friday, Feb 19, 16 @ 11:27 am
“He did not mention redistricting, he did not mention term limits. It can be argued that those things may not have a direct impact on the budget.”
I don’t see it as an opening so much as a sign that Rauner is negotiating against himself. It’s of little consequence anyway. He would have much better luck dropping his collective bargaining “reform” and negotiating the rest.
But that’s obvious.
Comment by Politix Friday, Feb 19, 16 @ 11:37 am
===The state’s overall competitiveness climbed from 46th in 2012 to 39th in 2014===
You mean the 66% tax hike actually helped?!?
Comment by thechampaignlife Friday, Feb 19, 16 @ 1:34 pm
No.
Comment by Keyrock Friday, Feb 19, 16 @ 1:45 pm
Rich -
Please, as a public service, please stop pointing out opportunities for common ground.
Goldberg is using it as a to-do list: “Hey, we missed a spot! Somebody call Harris, and insert a line in the Governor’s next speech reiterating that redistricting is critical to turning Illinois around.”
The sooner we all accept that Gridlock is a feature, not a bug of the Rauner administration, and act accordingly, the better.
Every time someone points out a light at the end of the tunnel, some Rauner fawner is charged with snuffing it out.
Comment by Juvenal Friday, Feb 19, 16 @ 2:54 pm