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It doesn’t look like we’re any closer

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* After Chicago State University’s leadership told workers to turn in their keys in the runup to layoffs, Gov. Rauner was quoted as saying this…

“It should never happen. There’s really no excuse for it. I believe that the supermajority in the Legislature is using Chicago State University and many other service providers in Illinois as leverage to try to force a massive tax hike. I believe that’s what’s going on, and that’s wrong,” Rauner said.

The school eventually backtracked, but here’s the House Dem response…

“The governor is ignoring the fact that the reason the higher education disaster is occurring is because he vetoed that appropriations bill. He claimed to be in support of education, and yet he left them high and dry. And that’s devastating,” Brown said.

* I think both sides are at fault, but it’s important to look at some recent history here. From almost exactly one year ago…

Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner kicked off a campaign-style statewide tour Monday by indicating he’ll try to “leverage” the state’s money woes into securing a series of pro-business changes from a General Assembly controlled by Democrats likely to fiercely oppose them… “Crisis creates opportunity. Crisis creates leverage to change … and we’ve got to use that leverage of the crisis to force structural change,” said Rauner,

* Meanwhile, there’s more…

“Why can’t we meet today? What’s the reason? There’s no reason. It’s game-playing on their side. They’re trying to force a tax hike, and they’re playing games right now,” a clearly exasperated Rauner said during an event to promote a revamp of the state’s information technology systems.

Madigan spokesman Steve Brown responded by blaming Rauner for the budget impasse, noting that it was the governor who vetoed the spending plan lawmakers sent him last year.

“Now he wants to pretend that this is something that Democrats did,” Brown said.

Rauner said he vetoed the budget because it was billions out of balance. He added that he’s willing to meet with Madigan whenever: “I’ve told him I’ll meet in Springfield, Chicago, any time, any day of the week. I hope we can get together soon.”

Asked if Madigan is willing to meet with the governor, Brown said: “I haven’t asked the speaker that so I wouldn’t know.”

Maybe Brown should ask the Speaker about it. Just sayin…

* Bernie…

“I’ve been traveling the nation, lookin’ for companies to come,” Republican Rauner said last week at the AutoZone distribution center in Danville. “I’ve got dozens of ’em ready to come. They said, ‘Governor, can you change the regulations and get the government so it stops running these deficits and is actually workin’ for the people of this state? If you could do that, I’ll come.’”

He then mentioned how General Electric recently announced it was moving its corporate headquarters from Fairfield, Connecticut, to Boston. He said part of the negotiations he had with the firm to try to bring it to Illinois involved him asking for more time because “getting the supermajority, the Chicago machine, to do anything is really hard.” […]

“He seems to be talking about recruiting trips,” said Madigan spokesman STEVE BROWN, of the governor’s Danville comments. “I’m not aware of any of those, are you? That sounds like another instance of the governor and his imaginary friends at work.” […]

“I would suspect that GE’s decision-making process had more to do with fallout from the governor vetoing university budgets,” Patterson said, as officials could see “Governor Rauner slashing and eliminating higher education funding, resulting in university layoffs and program closings.”

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 9:20 am

Comments

Words–gov is outraged, tax increase, reform, blah, blah

Actions–no meetings, no compromise, devastation. Winning

Comment by Langhorne Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 9:28 am
===“He seems to be talking about recruiting trips,” said Madigan spokesman STEVE BROWN, of the governor’s Danville comments. “I’m not aware of any of those, are you? That sounds like another instance of the governor and his imaginary friends at work.” […]===

Hi, ck-

Any word on all these recruitin’ trips? Also, if the Governor wants to meet with the Speaker, how can he fit it in his schedule with all this recruitin’ goin’ on?

You’d think that cracker-jack press shop would tout all this recruitin’. That’s right, maybe rattling off The ACME Madeup Corporation might be as ridiculous as Madeupville, Illinois voting to support the Turnaround Agenda.

The Governor, himself, says he’s doin’ this. So… where’s he been?

Thanks!
ow

…

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 9:29 am
Does Rauner have a private jet at the airport? A helicopter pad at the mansion?

“I’ve been travelin’ the nation…”

Oh my, smh….

Comment by cdog Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 9:33 am
“Not that I’d give you today,” he said. “Boards of companies make decisions that impact people’s lives. They don’t want to have it run through the media every day, every week. That’s not the way the world works.”

Another quote for the “This guy has no self-awareness” scrapbook. Tell us more about how the world works, Bruce. Do Governors ever make decisions that impact people’s lives?

Once again he’s the rich kid at camp talking about his imaginary girlfriend and clamming up when you ask her name.

Comment by LizPhairTax Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 9:34 am
“Massive tax hike.”

OK, how about a smaller tax hike? Does the Governor agree with some level of tax hike?

Of course, this type of discussion would require the Governor to get serious. Not gonna happen.

Comment by Sir Reel Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 9:37 am
Get together and at least work out an agreement for higher ed and social services. I know this sounds naïve, and rauner poison pills are a tough hindrance to work through, but at his point, work through it. Real damage is being done.

Comment by James the Intolerant Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 9:38 am
Rauner’s (supposed) travels-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov4epAJRPMw

Comment by Anon221 Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 9:40 am
Bernie also said, very directly and accurately, “It’s also true that part of the multibillion-dollar hole in the state budget is a result of the temporary income tax level of 5 percent on individuals falling back to 3.75 percent in January 2015 — as Rauner wanted.”

Mr. Madigan, can you bang this drum a few hundred times please. Hello? Is there anybody listening? Just nod if you can hear me…. (we need emoticons! Ha!)

Comment by cdog Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 9:42 am
So is tinfoil hat Brown saying that the Governor should have passed the $4 billion deficit budget?

Comment by Ahoy! Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 9:50 am
The temporary tax increase fell to 3.75% in January 2015 before Rauner was sworn in because that the way the law the legislature passed was written. The tax increase could have been passed before Rauner took office but as usual The legislature failed to appropriate enough money to run the state. The Governor has said he would raise taxes if he can get some reforms. Apparently the democrats don’t think Illinois needs any reforms

Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 9:50 am
So, where is the Governor’s budget? The one with revenues matching expenses and not based upon future savings or Constitutionally outlawed changes to pensions?

Comment by illini97 Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 9:51 am
The GOP howled about the session break on social media and in the newspapers, saying that the lawmakers should be working on the budget. Is anyone in the media going to ask the GOP about their budget plan now that they are back?

Comment by out of touch Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 9:51 am
== So, where is the Governor’s budget? The one with revenues matching expenses and not based upon future savings or Constitutionally outlawed changes to pensions? ==

And slicing employee / retiree health insurance to zero (TRS) or in half (SERS).

Comment by RNUG Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 9:58 am
=== So is tinfoil hat Brown saying that the Governor should have passed the $4 billion deficit budget? ===

Right now that $4 billion deficit is looking pretty good compared to the Rauner unbalanced impasse spending that’s about doubled the deficit.

Comment by Norseman Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 9:58 am
As long as Rauner insists on some of the non budget items that are at the core of the democrats, we will not have a budget. I believe it is time for the Dems to call a major news conference and ask Rauner to let the hostages go and set down with us and work on the number one problem facing the state of Illinois….a budget.

Comment by Facts are Stubborn Things Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 10:00 am
Ahoy - Perhaps Brown is only highlighting the obvious option which would have been for Rauner to veto funding for those areas of government that he deems unnecessary. Or alternatively maybe he’s punctuating that part of the constitution that requires the govern to submit a budget. Rauner can’t be a victim to his own inaction can he?

Comment by pundent Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 10:01 am
===So is tinfoil hat Brown saying that the Governor should have passed the $4 billion deficit budget?===

- Ahoy! -

That live of thinking only works if Gov. Rauner’s own budget, and not Rauner’s sham budget(s) is shown to balance without the need of new revenues.

Rauner never has been able to do that.

Unless Rauner produces a budget, balanced, without revenue, and increasing education funding than Rauner can claim only Dems with revenue.

Otherwise, Rauner is disingenuous, yet again.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 10:03 am
===So is tinfoil hat Brown saying that the Governor should have passed the $4 billion deficit budget?===

Passed it, or line-item/amendatory vetoed the budget…but since he vetoed it, he owns it.

Comment by PublicServant Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 10:04 am
First we have Rauner claiming a number of Dem legislators wanting to side with him. Now we have dozens of businesses chomping at the bit to move to IL the minute the TA is approved.

Deception or imaginary friends?

Comment by Norseman Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 10:05 am
There was never any serious possibility GE would move from New England–they just used Illinois to leverage what they could out of CT or MA.

It’s called “negotiating.” Maybe Rauner needs to read Trump’s book (giggle).

Comment by Harry Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 10:06 am
“I’ve been traveling the nation, lookin’ for companies to come,…”

So what is the excuse for not getting the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency? They shouldn’t have any problems with how the State is being run.

Comment by Huh? Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 10:15 am
“I’ve been traveling the nation, lookin’ for companies to come,” Republican Rauner said last week at the AutoZone distribution center in Danville. “I’ve got dozens of ’em ready to come. They said, ‘Governor, can you change the regulations and get the government so it stops running these deficits and is actually workin’ for the people of this state? If you could do that, I’ll come.’”

Perfidy plain and simple just like the ILBEDC. This non-FOIA so-called economic development corporation will simply facilitate the economic strip mining of our state. DCEO may have been entirely worthless at attracting business or helping our commerce environment but at least they were bound by statute and law and FOIA compliant. The ILBEDC will simply be a giant vacuum of state revenues going straight to Multi nationals in the form of tax incentives. Look at that Tire company Rauner was at and lauded. You know they are only there because of the enterprise zone and they DON’T PAY A PENNY IN UTILITY TAXES because of that. THAT IS MONEY BEING STRIPMINED OUT OF THAT LOCAL COMMUNITY. This is what Rauner is about with this. Is creating the ILBEDC even legal? How can he do this without the Legislature? No Rauner is not a business man. He is a venture capitalist and he is stripping our state down of it’s sellable assets. The ILBEDC is the tool of this aim.

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 10:16 am
If Rauner has been traveling the nation wouldn’t his schedule show booked time out of the state? Unless he is batting 1.000, to get dozens ready to move, he would have to talk to dozens more who are satisfied where they are. That’s a lot of dozens to meet with.

Comment by zatoichi Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 10:16 am
Governor Rauner and the imaginary friends he controls.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 10:19 am
#1. Rauner does not want a budget.

Comment by tobor Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 10:21 am
Oh, I forgot to mention that former DCEO Director Schultz is a Venture Capitalist as well. Not a business man, a venture capitalists. Business people produce a product or service. God bless them. Venture capitals buy it, break it up, sell it off, and walk away. They are the carrion foul of the economic world. See what Rauner is doing?

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 10:23 am
I think the loss of moving the intelligence agency from Missouri was also related to Illinois’ higher education problems.

Unfortunately, the governor needs some new imaginary friends for some better advice. Perhaps on one of his imaginary trips he could visit Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends and adopt a few new advisors.

Comment by A Jack Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 10:36 am
“Crisis creates opportunity. Crisis creates leverage to change … and we’ve got to use that leverage of the crisis to force structural change,” said Rauner,

How can that be considered an ethical statement for any governor, at any time, for any state?

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 10:43 am
Anon221 that cracked me up.

To the post, BVR continues to be a disaster. Dozens lined up. No one believes him!

Comment by Mongo Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 10:43 am
The above was me on a new machine.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 10:43 am
== “I’ve told him I’ll meet in Springfield, Chicago, any time, any day of the week. I hope we can get together soon.”==

I wish Rauner would stick with this message. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Don’t overplay your hand by talking about a fictional supermajority. Stop warning about a massive tax hike. Stop calling people corrupt. Stop misrepresenting meetings or phone calls. Don’t say Madigan is playing games (Even though of course he & Brown are).

“I’m hoping to hear back from Speaker Madigan today about my invitation to meet to discuss reform and budget” - that’s it. Please.

Put the ball in Madigan’s court.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 10:44 am
Guessin’ Brown thinks the budget was no more or less out of balance during the moments he signed the $$ for K-12 than when he signed the demo order for higher ed.
BTW Tinfoil reserved for Trumpsters like the BigBrains and $uper$tars

Comment by Annonn'' Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 11:00 am
Only in Illinois can you find a governor who vetoes a -$4 billion budget in order to go $7-10 billion more in debt because of it. At this point we are in a free fall with no parachute. I can only assume this is exactly what the governor is trying to do…drive the state totally into the ground and then rebuild in his own image. It’ll get much worse I’m afraid. Perhaps it is time for a federal takeover in the name of public safety??

Comment by Menard guy Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 11:02 am
I’m not sure that it’s a really good selling point when the Governor of the state is out there every day telling everyone how bad the state is.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 11:13 am
“I would suspect that GE’s decision-making process had more to do with fallout from the governor vetoing university budgets,”

Um, yeah, no. GE stated what their decision making process involved, and that ain’t it.

And, anyway, GE-HQ is about 1000x more interested in MBAs from NU or UC than Western IL grads. Not that that makes any difference in how rotten the situation is for IL colleges, but that “suspicion” isn’t grounded in reality.

Comment by Chris Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 11:13 am
I hope the governor can get General Motors or General Mills or G E or GM. There seems to be lots of missing Gs in his world

Comment by DuPage Saint Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 11:25 am
–“I’ve been traveling the nation, lookin’ for companies to come,” Republican Rauner said last week at the AutoZone distribution center in Danville. “I’ve got dozens of ’em ready to come. They said, ‘Governor, can you change the regulations and get the government so it stops running these deficits and is actually workin’ for the people of this state? If you could do that, I’ll come.’”–

Check out Charlie Hustle here.

“Dozens of ‘em ready to come.” That’s at least 24. Is it 36, 48, 60, more?

Do you know how much work that is lining up dozens of corporations, getting “‘em ready to come?” Multiple visits and discussions with each and every one of them?

And those are just the hits. There must have been some misses, right? The number of contacts must be in the hundreds.

And all on the down-low, traveling the nation, hundreds of meetings, with no one catching a whiff of it.

Governor Double-Ought Spy they should call him.

Two questions come to mind when the governor lets loose with these regular, preposterous whoppers:

Does the governor believe these things he’s saying are true? And how do you deal with someone who makes up crazy stories like this?

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 11:53 am
Isn’t anybody in what’s left of traditional journalism going to try to fact-check him on this?

Comment by Ray del Camino Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 12:19 pm
== I can only assume this is exactly what the governor is trying to do…drive the state totally into the ground and then rebuild in his own image. ==

I have to even speculate about this, but I’m beginning to believe in conspiracy theories. This is Rauner’s (and the 1.4%) plan to truly bankrupt a State in order to manipulate a public outcry and get the Federal Law against bankruptcy changed. Then they can have 50 States to play their bust-out game with, making billions while they finish destroying the middle class.

Comment by RNUG Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 12:55 pm
Hats off to Bernie for a reporter finally quoting the Governor correctly…droppin’ G’s… speakin’ the way all us regular folk from entitled suburbs speak.

Comment by A Parent Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 1:27 pm
Honeybear at 10:23AM - “Venture capitals buy it, break it up, sell it off, and walk away. They are the carrion foul of the economic world. See what Rauner is doing?”

Honeybear, you hit the nail on the head.

Comment by Mama Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 7:39 pm