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* BR (Before Rauner) this sort of hostile language against a chamber’s leader would get a staffer fired. We obviously no longer live in BR…
SIU, EIU, WIU officials next on their budgets, all cutting jobs, programs. Gov says skipping pension pmts could help higher ed.
— IL Senate Democrats (@ILSenDems) March 10, 2016
.@ILSenDems false. Gov waiting for you to file your pension reform bill. Where is it?
— LTrover (@LTrover) March 10, 2016
.@LTrover @ILSenDems Answer: Cullerton implied to me in hearing he can't muster votes inside his caucus. Maybe Madigan won't let him yet.
— Richard Goldberg (@rich_goldberg) March 10, 2016
Whew.
* But Sen. Kwame Raoul did go off on the Prince of Snarkness yesterday in committee…
Oof.
…Adding… Sen. Raoul was apparently responding to Goldberg’s statement about how the last time he appeared before the committee the Senate Democrats were holding “sham” hearings to end negotiations and vote down the Governor’s proposals. Goldberg’s “YouTube” comment refers back to one of those hearings where Raoul again lost his temper. Click here.
* Goldberg said this yesterday at the hearing regarding the pension reform plan…
“We will support any language that the Senate President puts forward”
He qualified it by adding something about if the bill saves money. But, still. That’s a pretty broad invitation for Democratic poison pills.
Any suggestions?
* While we’re somewhat on this topic, here’s a letter from the governor’s education czar…
Dear Superintendents,
Yesterday a letter addressed to me was sent to you by Senate President Cullerton regarding funding Illinois PK-12 schools. Luckily, the letter was also printed in Capitol Fax, so I also had a chance to read it.
To reiterate, Governor Rauner’s proposed budget has three primary goals:
1. End proration of the current funding formula, which disproportionately affects low-income students.
2. Increase early childhood funding by $75,000,000 in order to increase the number of full-day preschool seats available statewide and to ensure continued operation of the current programs.
3. Continue to fund Safe and Alternative Schools.If passed by the General Assembly, Governor Rauner will sign the bill immediately into law, thereby allowing you to begin planning for 2016-2017 school year.
The Governor agrees and has stated repeatedly that the current funding formula is inadequate. Illinois is last in state support for local education and has some of the largest funding disparities in the country on a district-by-district basis. We believe that more money is needed to support our children, especially those who live in poverty. We have pledged to continue to work with supporters of reform to determine how to create a funding formula that better meets the needs of all children.
Given the history of formula change efforts during times of one-party control, such a compromise will likely not be reached quickly in the current climate. President Cullerton and other Democratic lawmakers did not threaten to hold up school funding last year or years prior — only now that Governor Rauner has been in office for one year. During this first year, the Governor has proposed record funding for PK-12 schools in two consecutive budgets and is hoping to end proration for the first time since 2009. Again, I urge you to support his proposal so that schools open on time in the fall while we continue to work together toward bipartisan funding formula reform.
Sincerely,
Beth Purvis
Secretary of Education
Thanks for the free advertising, Beth, but the governor still has to explain how he can support a funding plan that appears to slash Chicago Public Schools by $78 million. C’mon.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:11 am
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Frat Boys will be Frat Boys under Gov. Marmalard, chapter president.
But there’s no adult, productive purpose to it. They’re just twittering themselves for their own amusement.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:17 am
Just produce the numbers and quit the snark. If the numbers bear out that no districts are harmed, the we can all talk as adults.
Comment by Illini97 Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:20 am
==only now that Governor Rauner has been in office for one year==
Always the victim.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:21 am
- * BR (Before Rauner) this sort of hostile language against a chamber’s leader would get a staffer fired. -
It would in the private sector as well, not that these children know anything about that.
Comment by Daniel Plainview Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:25 am
Have the Governor submit the FY17 Budget. ILGA can review, revise, and return to the Governor. Governor can get out his AV pen and go to work. No “clean” piecemeal bill needed. K-12 funding should be part of the budget, not APART from the budget. If K-12 is piecemealed, the rest of the budget will follow because Rauner will pull the same lever and veto the rest of the budget.
Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:26 am
Senator. Raoul. Is. Awesome.
Comment by Macbeth Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:26 am
The prince of snarkness proves once again how to effectively and efficiently move your team further from the goal posts.
Snarkyness = easy
Governing = hard
Comment by Abe the Babe Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:27 am
There are reports that the portion of K-12 funding that covers a portion of retired K-12 teachers medical insurance has been eliminated by the Governor’s plan. Unacceptable.
Comment by DuPage Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:27 am
It is clear from the actions of his Superstars that Rauner does not want a deal. On anything. These are not the words or actions of an administration actively trying to win support of the majority party. Rather, they repeatedly express contempt for the majority party and they are lying about their actual intentions.
Rauner is content to allow the state to collapse. This is his plan and his mission and the Superstars are executing it.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:28 am
HBO - “Dad’s Home State” - Season 2, Episode 21
Bruce visits Eastern Illinois, goes to the “castle”, raises a white flag on the flagpole. Diana narrows her Spring Break trip choices, but won’t tell anyone where they will go. Diana’s New State Employee chooses new driving routes to avoid protesters. Lance tweets insults from snark websites, “ck” organizes talking points by usage for quick reference on the road. Comedy, 64 minutes.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:28 am
Someone is picking on our governor and legislators, this has to stop! /snark
These “people” need to quit trying to zing each other and get to work on something productive. Unfortunately Illinois leads the nation in uncontested elections, so we are not going to vote many out of office.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:29 am
Purvis is walking into a firestorm. Senate Dems–the adults in the room–haven’t played politics with her appointment/salary and have embraced her unlike the House Democrats.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:30 am
There is no slashing of funds to his “funding plan.” He’s just putting more money in. There is a formula in place. Numbers of students go up and down, percentage of low income fluctuates, aid levels change. If Chicago’s numbers are down, they get less money, if they go up, they get more. This isn’t winners and losers, this is the system.
All this talk of winners and losers started with Manar’s plan. Comparing two different formulas that treat districts differently. So regardless of numbers, some districts are treated better or worse compared to a different formula, thus winners and losers. Rauner isn’t proposing changing the formula, he’s just giving it more money.
But under Rich/Madigan/Cullerton logic, even if one formula is in place for two governors, they can declare a governor slashed funding(while giving it more in reality) simply because of yearly fluctuations to individual districts.
Here’s the reality, if CPS loses $78mil with Rauner’s proposal, then they would have lost even more if we didn’t fully fund the formula. SO keep that in mind, Rauner’s proposal means more money for CPS than doing it the same way the dems had been doing it. Rauner isn’t slashing CPS funding, HE IS INCREASING WHAT IT COMPARED TO WHAT IS WOULD HAVE BEEN.
Comment by m Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:31 am
“Bring stakeholders to the table”
Sorry Raoul, Rauner doesn’t like to have stakeholders involved. It’s his way or no way.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:32 am
Dear superstars, please read the book ‘all I needed to know, I learned in kindergarten’ so that you understand basic politeness. Pick up the phone, walk over to someone’s office, driive from Chicago to the Capitol and have a polite conversation. Learn about the nuances and issues. I and millions of other Illinois citizens are adults and expect you to be too.
Comment by Thoughts Matter Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:32 am
===That’s a pretty broad invitation for Democratic poison pills.
Any suggestions?===
The immediate termination of one Richard Goldberg and his permanent barring from being employed by the state of Illinois.
/snark.
Comment by GraduatedCollegeStudent Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:32 am
- Gov says skipping pension pmts could help –
State tried that already - it didn’t help.
Comment by Joe M Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:32 am
should have been “HE IS INCREASING WHAT IT IS COMPARED TO WHAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN”
Comment by m Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:33 am
==Yesterday a letter addressed to me was sent to you by Senate President Cullerton regarding funding Illinois PK-12 schools. Luckily, the letter was also printed in Capitol Fax, so I also had a chance to read it.==
Is mail from Cullerton not getting though? Perhaps you better publish all letters on your site Rich so the Gov’s staff can read them.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:35 am
OW +1 I laughed out loud reading that. If I could add Goldberg goes to the cafeteria at Stratton but has to eat by himself because nobody wants to sit with him.
Comment by Almost the Weekend Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:38 am
My Mom always said, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. What is wrong with these people?
Comment by burbanite Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:38 am
“What can we do … to improve our ability to create jobs …?”
Step 1 would be to negotiate and pass a budget with adequate revenue to run this state. Try it, we’ll all like it.
Comment by X-prof Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:39 am
Dr. Purvis says, “Illinois is last in state support for local education and has some of the largest funding disparities in the country on a district-by-district basis.”
She forgot the next sentence about the Millionaire Tax for Education Support and Property Tax Relief.
You know, where all of us paying more income tax on our income over $1,000,000 so that Dudley Do-Right, aka BVR, can eliminate that local school district from my property tax bill.
Comment by cdog Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:41 am
–President Cullerton and other Democratic lawmakers did not threaten to hold up school funding last year or years prior — only now that Governor Rauner has been in office for one year.–
And in that one year, Gov. Rauner has set a new low for the standard of conduct when it comes to core state responsibilities.
Gangster tactics AKA “leveraging” are the order of the day.
Illinois governors who actually went to prison never used those tactics.
Geez, do these superstars laugh themselves silly when they put this stuff out? No one could be that lacking in self-awareness.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:43 am
What is the youtube video
Goldberg refers to?
Comment by A Parent Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:43 am
Top three things to add to the pension bill:
3. Oscar named official state dog
2. Chains taken off state museum doors so the public can again see the giant beaver skeleton
1. The g’s must be pronounced. Dropping G-s is becomes a class X felony punishable by up to a $1 billion fine per instance.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:47 am
On the K-12 plan and the lack of a district by district breakout so far, the Governor is basically saying “Trust me, I’m from the government and I’m here to help you.” How inspiring.
Comment by ToughGuy Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:47 am
I was listening yesterday and all I could think of when listening to Rich was “WHAT IS THE POINT?”. What is the point of interrupting? What is the point of being antagonistic? This is the Governor’s Director of Legislative Affairs. They clearly have no interest in passing bills, otherwise you wouldn’t take the approach and tone and they do. Every time he opens his mouth the Administration is further away from getting the items they believe are critical to the State’s future.
It’s not as anyone other two dozen people are watching. You’re trying to score political points in Committee hearing? Why? This group of goofballs have brought their DC/NRSC style of governing to IL, and look at the result.
Jan 2019 can’t get here soon enough. Hopefully we’ll still have a State left.
Comment by Rahm'sMiddleFinger Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:48 am
Poison pills
Without putting too much thought into this, one provision would be to change the make up of the boards so that elected members constitute a majority of the boards, and remove provisions naming the Superintendent of Education as the chair of TRS and the chairman of the board of higher Ed as SURS chairman and have both those spots be elected amongst the members of the board.
Also, since the Governor seems so determined to lower contributions just for the sake of lowering contributions, put in place a plan that the contribution with these changes shall be no less than the FY 16 contribution. That would bring about longer term savings and is more fiscally responsible, while denying the Governor the one thing he is only interested in, kicking the can down the road.
Comment by Juice Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:48 am
From the clip- Can we grow ourselves out of the spending deficit if Illinois grows at the national average?
Only if about 20 billion of additional revenue over about 20 years or about a billion a year will do it? While not chump change, it doesn’t solve a multi-billion dollar a year spending shortfall. The clip ended, but did anyone follow up on that point. Big numbers when they are accumulated over decades, aren’t necessarily as significant as they sound when first heard.
Comment by Markus57 Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:49 am
Michelle– great ideas, but the fine for dropping G’s can’t be uniform. The crime should, in general, be subject to a $10 fine. There should be an enhanced penalty of $1 million, however, if the convicted person has either an Ivy League education or net assets of over $100 million. If the convicted person has both aggravating factors (and I mean aggravating in both senses of the word), the penalty should be increased to at least $10 million per violation.
Comment by Keyrock Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:58 am
A Parent, I believe the frat boy was referring to this one –> http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub0js5FhErA
Comment by dominionhinny Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:58 am
Wait. We see Raoul go off … but why? Is it because of this?! “Goldberg said this yesterday at the hearing regarding the pension reform plan…
‘We will support any language that the Senate President puts forward.’”
That can’t be the cause of Raoul’s self-indulgent hectoring, right? Because if it were, we just witnessed an example of the Senator unhinged and engaging in bullying.
Isn’t some context and some balance appropriate here?
Comment by Ottawa Phil Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:58 am
I’m glad you noted that in the old days a staffer would be fired for such disrespect. The Governor doesn’t seem to understand that this stuff directly reflects on him and does nothing to advance a deal.
Comment by Stones Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 12:00 pm
It used to be one side would say something and then you’d get a comment from the other side for balance. This administration has made it a regular practice to hit back again with obnoxious follow up - gotta tell you how wrong you are and reiterate how smart our guy is while getting the last word.
Comment by Politix Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 12:02 pm
The hearing yesterday was fascinating, the exchange between Senator Clayborne And budget director Nuding was the best dialogue about the budget I have seen all year
Please post some of the Rich
Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 12:03 pm
Yoda loops. Keep the legislators on edge. Make them angry so they make mistakes.
This isn’t about getting a deal. This is about total victory or letting it all burn. Which is also a victory.
#winning
Comment by There is power in a union... Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 12:05 pm
Kwame’s response could’ve been applied appropriately in any number of instances this past year.
And yet you picked…that…
Comment by Politix Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 12:06 pm
My last comment was at @Ottowa Phil.
Comment by Politix Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 12:07 pm
For anyone who actually bothered to watch the whole hearing, Goldberg sounded compromising and reasonable while Raoul and others sounded unhinged and unaware of basic facts. Insiders who are used to letting the Democrats get away with staged hearings and lies may find Goldberg upsetting but you don’t like him because you can’t beat him. He’s figured out how to defang your long standing strategies and tactics that used to work against prior administrations. Here’s an idea for Goldberg haters on the blog: cut your losses, stop trying to play a losing game of gotcha hearings, and cut a deal with Rauner before it’s too late. Holding school funding hostage, a Chicago bailout and a looming tax hike doesn’t sound like a winning sword of damacles hanging over Dem targets come November.
Comment by Observer Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 12:14 pm
===Please post some of the===
The entire hearing is at the first link. Don’t be ignorant.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 12:16 pm
If IL had a real governor, he’d send both of his ‘boys’ noted above back to the frat house for a timeout.
Comment by sal-says Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 12:20 pm
Ok not ignorant Rich but as the previous commenter said most people won’t watch the entire hearing. I will summarize briefly-
Senator Clayborne alleges the budget could have been line item vetoed to balance . Budget director Nuding refutes that with a very detailed response worth listening to.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 12:26 pm
===Budget director Nuding refutes that with a very detailed response worth listening to.===
Subscribers have already been told about this several times. I think it was even in my syndicated column once or twice.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 12:27 pm
Whenever an Illinois pol starts a sentence with “The fact of the matter is . . .” I get immediate flashbacks to the Blago impeachment trials. Just sayin’.
Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 12:28 pm
===He’s figured out how to defang your long standing strategies and tactics that used to work against prior administrations.===
Since 1857 the state has provided financial support to its public universities until this year. What’s different this year?
Oh, right. Mutual respect for co-equal branches, a shared belief in doing what best for our state and responsible stewardship of resources, that’s what has been “de-fanged” and defiled by Rauner and the Frat boys.
Here’s tip Observer, no one is trying to “beat” Richard Goldberg. We’re trying to govern. Goldberg is a punk, nothing more.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 12:30 pm
It was so much easier to hold committee meetings when you controlled not just the bills called, but the witnesses too! But that was all BR, right?
Now committee chairpersons formerly accostumed to just having it all their way, hear from cool, calm, consistent & yes, sometimes glib and obnoxious, Administrative witnesses who unflaggingly reply with contrary opinions and … facts!
Thus, Raoul’s temper tantrums and missteps. #MoreToCome
Comment by Georg Sande Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 12:37 pm
Lucky (and I guess Rich), Nuding is only partially right. Debt service and transfers are off the table, that’s correct, but that is also only about $4 billion.
Everything else he could have vetoed and either started to make changes to programs administratively, actually talk to those receiving services from those programs to reduce costs, or force the GA to change statute so that programs live within the approp. (Which Quinn did with Medicaid when he reduction vetoed the approp to force everyone to the table on rates, though I still think that method was crazy, the providers did end up having to get a rate cut.)
The simple reality is the Governor doesn’t want to wear the jacket for cuts, and would much rather be in this muddled area where there is no budget and both sides can point fingers at one another. Because, you know, taking arrows and all.
Comment by Juice Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 12:37 pm
“We’re trying to govern.” Read: Just let us raise taxes and go away.
Comment by Fifth column Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 12:38 pm
===Read: Just let us raise taxes and go away.===
Rauner’s own “budget outline” requires revenue.
That’s “requires”.
Read: Not Optional.
- 47th Ward -, well said, OW
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 12:42 pm
==It was so much easier to hold committee meetings when you controlled not just the bills called, but the witnesses too! ==
Yeah, that’s exactly how it was. You apparently never attended a committee hearing before have you? Otherwise you wouldn’t say such a ridiculous thing.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 12:50 pm
==“We’re trying to govern.” Read: Just let us raise taxes and go away.==
Most problems can be easily solved if you ignore their complexity and the consequences.
Comment by AC Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 12:53 pm
No Fifth, it’s Rauner and the Republicans who will be raising the income tax. The longer you wait, the higher the Rauner tax hike will be.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 12:53 pm
===when you controlled not just the bills called, but the witnesses too!===
Yeah, that’s why Sean Vinck was banned from the floor and committee under Quinn. Right.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 12:56 pm
===when you controlled not just the bills called, but the witnesses too!===
And then there were the times when the budget director refused to testify to approp committees.
Some of you Raunerites need to find a clue.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 1:00 pm
== That’s a pretty broad invitation for Democratic poison pills.
Any suggestions? ==
Millionaire’s surcharge dedicated to the pension funds?
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 1:01 pm
So, the R’s want to generate revenue by increasing jobs.
Don’t public sector jobs count?
Illinois has the smallest number of state workers per capita than any other state in the nation.
Comment by TinyDancer(FKA Sue) Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 1:15 pm
To Observer:
Hi Lance.
Good to see you could take a break from the Twitter machine and join us here at CapitolFax.
Comment by btowntruth Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 1:16 pm
“That’s a pretty broad invitation for Democratic poison pills.
Any suggestions?
The chief executive of the State shall not wear clothes that appear to have been slept in unless he has engaged in around the clock negotiations that result in a balanced budget that is passed by the General Assembly and signed by the Governor. First time infractions shall be considered a petty crime to be punished with a $25 fine. All subsequent infractions will be fine as $1000 increments.
Comment by Huh? Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 1:22 pm
When you don’t have accomplishments and don’t have a real plan to implement, you have to depend upon insults, snark and campaign cash.
That is what we are seeing.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 1:34 pm
–“We’re trying to govern.” Read: Just let us raise taxes and go away.–
The comptroller estimates that by June 30 the backlog of unpaid bills will nearly have tripled since the governor took office to as much as $12 billion.
That’s after cutting billions this year by zeroing out higher ed and refusing to honor state contracts with social service providers.
Fifth Column, what’s your suggestion going forward? Green Stamps?
By the way, Fifth Column, interesting “handle” choice. After Gen. Franco surrounded Madrid with four columns, he boasted he had a “fifth column” of saboteurs inside the city.
Does the shoe fit?
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 1:38 pm
CEO’s dictate, in today’s business climate they are the rock stars and bigger than life. It goes with their out-sized benefits and compensation. Things like “the wall just got 10 feet larger” are common. You rarely see deal making where the two sides are evenly matched, usually it is some kind of leveraged take over where one party is at a distinct disadvantage and that is where you get the bluster of the colossal ego’s. That is Rauner’s career. “I will bury her” was said not because it was a threat, he meant it. That is how the corporate world works. It is also a world where truth is relative to the person who wants it to be true. “Everything is great and Enron stiock is still a good investment” and that was Ken Lay’s truth until it wasn’t. We see it in our governor’s blatant lies and fabrications. Politicians do that too, I am not naive enough to think otherwise but there is a difference.
The problem for Rauner is this isn’t a corporation, power is legislated not vested in a single individual. Not even Madigan can wield power with impunity. His caucus has pushed him back on many occasion. Rauner does not accept this and no one except the so called republicans and one democrat he owns will likely cave to him. For all of the scheming, to be successful in leading government, genuine compromise is a requirement not simply a hurdle. The republicans are not going to assault the wealthy or corporations. Democrats will not hammer the unions. It just is.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 1:40 pm
“When you don’t have accomplishments and don’t have a real plan to implement, you have to depend upon insults, snark and campaign cash” or in the immortal words of someone who I can’t remember, “If you can’t beat them with facts, baffle them with BS.”
Comment by Sketpic Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 1:55 pm
Observer- it’s Damocles, and it’s commonly misused in politics. Try the Google. Be better prepared for your next patronizing insult.
Comment by ArgumentClinic Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 2:22 pm
++- Joe M - Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:32 am:++
“- Gov says skipping pension pmts could help –
State tried that already - it didn’t help.”
This comment says it all! Good one Joe.
Comment by Mama Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 2:26 pm
Perhaps I need to “find a clue,” too. Because I am absolutely clueless as to how anyone could characterize Goldberg’s testimony as disrespectful. It wasn’t even remotely. Kwame’s temper tantrum was totally over the top.
Comment by Jack Kemp Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 2:32 pm
===Because I am absolutely clueless as to how anyone could characterize Goldberg’s testimony as disrespectful===
I, for one, was writing about his tweet, not his testimony. And I also pointed out that Kwame attacked him yesterday.
So, bug off.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 2:33 pm
Am I missing something or can someone explain how the tweets are offensive or somehow over the line? No name calling. No profanity. No insults. Policy focused and response to an attack on their boss. Why isn’t the post about why the Senate Democrats would provoke in the first place. Or just say they’re all fair and within the bounds?
Comment by Trial balloon Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 3:30 pm
===”Cullerton implied to me in hearing he can’t muster votes inside his caucus. Maybe Madigan won’t let him yet.”===
Trial balloon, if you need this explained to you, you’ll never understand what we’re talking about on here. Maybe this blog isn’t for you.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 3:41 pm
@Trial:
Read this: “Cullerton implied to me in hearing he can’t muster votes inside his caucus. Maybe Madigan won’t let him yet.”
After you read it, think carefully about it and then tell us why it’s not an insult.
All of this Twitter stuff is over the line. It has been for a long time. It’s come from all sides. I’d prefer those who are supposed to be governing did something more than let insults and snark fly over Twitter. It needs to stop. Now.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 3:41 pm
Is the tweet from the Illinois Senate Democrats accurate? The Governor never said skipping payments could help higher ed.
Of course the majority of Illinois Senate Democrats in the executive committee have voted for pension holidays before so consistency is not their strong suit.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 3:49 pm
Lucky, the governor said that if the GA approved SB2338, then higher Ed could get funding. That legislation allows the Governor to unilaterally take a pension holiday in 2016 and 2017. So yes, it’s accurate.
Comment by Juice Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 4:54 pm
Juice, by that logic the tweet from Goldberg is also 100% accurate. The anti-Rauner bias displayed by 47th, Willy and others like Juice come through when they only criticize Goldberg and don’t see anything wrong with how Democrats conduct themselves.
Comment by alleyway Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 5:31 pm
===Juice, by that logic the tweet from Goldberg is also 100% accurate.===
How so, use your words.
Is there 60 and 30?
Thanks.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 5:39 pm
There is no pension reform or a legal bill therefore to solve the back debt. The SC has stated quite explicitly to pay the bill. Both parties need to get real with that, so just stop it, please.
Comment by Phoenix Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 5:45 pm
- alleyway -
Why include me in your victimhood.
Be very specific as to why you included me.
Thanks….
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 5:48 pm
Goldberg smooth tactic to implicate construed unsaid
Comment by Rabid Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 9:54 pm
What about funding adult education & GED classes?
Comment by Mama Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 11:49 pm
Your schticky is stuck to your sham wow
Comment by Rabid Friday, Mar 11, 16 @ 7:04 am
After watching the entire hearing, my take-
The governor’s guys have a better understanding of the budget lines than the Dems in the room. Otherwise Nuding never gets away with deflecting the line item veto question for FY 2016 by blaming it on statutory transfers. Nuding implies the uncommitted funding isn’t sufficient to even undertake the exercise. The truth of the matter is that the funding is there. It’s just that the cuts are deep and would require taking the arrows of outrage from the public. The governor has apparently changed his mind about that. The same can be said for the unbalanced FY2017 budget submitted. Easy pickings to set the other side straight if you are prepared for the discussion, easy to be fooled and even ridiculed for bringing up the topic if you’re not.
Comment by Markus57 Friday, Mar 11, 16 @ 10:06 am