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More green shoots?

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Illinois

* Legislative Republicans hold a whole lot of cards, particularly in the House. Every time they’ve risen up and demanded something, the governor has eventually been forced to oblige them. The dynamic has been the Republicans privately threaten to vote with the Democrats, rank and file Democrats embrace them and then the governor works out a deal, sometimes with the cooperation of Speaker Madigan (local government funding, etc.) and sometimes without (child care funding). Is it happening again with the universities? We’ll see…

Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, said ending the impasse is “going to take continued pressure from rank-and-file legislators to the governor, to the speaker and the other leaders.”

“There is so much depending on us bringing this to a resolution,” he said, adding just because lawmakers haven’t been in Springfield doesn’t mean they haven’t been working behind the scenes.

For example, Brady, who serves on two House higher education committees, said he’s been working with Rep. Kelly Burke, D-Evergreen Park, on a compromise to fund higher education.

“Rank and file continue to push, and they’re going to have to push harder,” he said.

Yep. They are. Lots harder.

* Meanwhile, it’s hard to disagree with this House Republican…

State-owned vehicles should be pulled from the road until there’s an appropriation to pay to self-insure them, state Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forysth, said Friday.

Mitchell said that one of his constituents was involved in a collision with a state-owned automobile and has been unable to get paid for the damage.

“It was the state vehicle’s fault and we can’t pay out,” Mitchell said. “He said he’s out thousands of dollars. He’s not a happy person.”

Because of the state budget deadlock between Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Democratic-controlled Legislature, no money has been appropriated to pay out settlements for vehicle repairs or replacements, Mitchell said.

“In essence we’re driving uninsured cars, and that makes people mad because the state requires, correctly, that they have insurance. But we, in essence, don’t,” Mitchell said. “Now, the state will say we do have insurance but we just can’t pay out. So I think we should just ground the fleet until we can pay out.”

* Related…

* Late payments cost state over $900 million the last six years: The figures from Comptroller Leslie Munger’s office do not include any outlays for the current fiscal year where the state has been operating without a budget since July 1.

* Illinois late license plate fees growing without reminders: Thanks to the cash-strapped state’s decision to stop mailing renewal reminders, Illinois motorists have paid nearly $5 million this year for failing to renew vehicle license plates on time, more than double the amount collected in the same three-month span last year. Fines reached $1.9 million in March alone, according to the latest figures provided to The Associated Press on Friday by the secretary of state’s office. In March 2015, the state collected just more than $818,000 in fines.

* The Illinois House returns to action Monday with a long list of legislation slated for committee hearings - but none about the unsettled budget that should have taken effect last July: Bills up for consideration include regulation of daily fantasy sports betting and easing access to police video under the Freedom of Information Act. There is a bill requiring warning labels on medicinal marijuana to provide buyers information about side effects of marijuana use. Other legislation would criminalize cyberbullying by parents, ban drone flights when they could potentially deliver prison contraband.

* Iles Park Place leases total $1.2 million a year: The state of Illinois has agreed to leases totaling nearly $1.2 million annually to relocate approximately 290 workers to the Iles Park Place development in Springfield. Costs range from $7 to $12.50 per square foot, per year.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 12:12 pm

Comments

== Late payments cost state over $900 million the last six years ==

Yep. And to eliminate that by getting current on payments will cost about $6B - $7B … plus whatever is being held in the agencies and not yet forwarded to the Comptroller’s Office.

Comment by RNUG Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 12:22 pm
Dear Raunerites that have Chaleston, Carbondale, Edwardsville, Bloomington-Normal, Urbana-Champaign, DeKalb…

… Macomb…

You’ve voted against the town’s economic engine… It’s on you, any and all of you, to help the town’s in your districts.

You all have refused to help college towns.

Your districts are watching you. If you want Eastern closed, I’d you want Western to be discredited, if you want to choose with Southern campus should remain… keep “votin’ with Rauner”

Don’t worry, we’re all watching.

If you feel these towns deserve this treatment by Rauner, “vote accordingly”…

Who knows, these towns might “vote accordingly” too… you know, with ALL that time on their hands after boarding up university buildings, closing businesses, leveling student apartments too expensive to keep up…

Keep voting with Rauner. You are letting your constituents’ towns and businesses down. Congratulations.

Will you decide to break? “Who” among you will?

I’m watching… along with these towns too.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 12:22 pm
I agree the state vehicles should be parked until we start paying claims. I don’t however think that people who own cars should get a pass on late fees because they can’t remember when their plates expire without getting a license plate renewal reminder. Personal responsibility.

Comment by Thoughts Matter Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 12:25 pm
Oh, and Raunerites… Voting against the college towns in your districts…

Remember, it’s all part of the plan… Eastern… Chicago State… Western…

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

All… part of the plan.

Do not… Do not tell me it’s not.

Right? Exactly right.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 12:28 pm
University Administration is making a mistake by not talking about “exploring the possibility to cancel, cut, or reduce the 2016-2017 calendar.”

Comment by Anon Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 12:38 pm
== Late payments cost state over $900 million the last six years ==

Pulled my one trailer out yesterday and noticed it was due the end of the month. Picked up the sticker today.

Comment by RNUG Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 12:41 pm
This was posted in another thread but it is just as appropriate, or more so, here:

Rauner is never ever going to move. The only slim hope the state’s citizens have is if all, repeat, ALL the GOP legislators decide to collectively rebel against Rauner. It’s going to have to be 100% participation, or nearly so, in order to make it clear they won’t tolerate any retaliation by the Governor.

I’ll bet on the 2018 general election first …

Comment by RNUG Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 12:44 pm
What about the $20,000,000.00 Rauner has to persuade his caucus. That may make it hard for some HGOP members to vote against the gov. We all saw it with McCann and Dunkin.

Comment by Magic carpet ride Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 12:57 pm
===What about the $20,000,000.00 Rauner has to persuade his caucus. That may make it hard for some HGOP members to vote against the gov. We all saw it with McCann and Dunkin.===

Yes, we saw large amounts of money being spent, but the outcome was consistent: Money can’t help you if you vote against your constituents (Dunkin), and money can’t unseat you if you vote for your constituents (McCann).

Comment by PublicServant Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 1:04 pm
-I’m watching… along with these towns too.-

Labor is watching and organizing. Voting to override Rauners veto of HB580 would be a perfect start to a better relationship. I can’t speak for other locals but we are organizing those folks near SIUE. If HB 580 fails to be overridden the blame will be focused locally. OR the praise of courage will be focused as well. How motivated activists are really depends on how Reps vote. I’ve personally talked to 52 people about being active in the SIUE district. Great buy in right now given ILRB decision is coming out soon. Only a vote to override HB580 would take the wind out of the sails. 52 people may not seem like a lot but anyone who has worked on a campaign knows that 52 highly motivated people makes an decisive force.

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 1:12 pm
–“Rank and file continue to push, and they’re going to have to push harder,” he said.–

It’s April 4, 2016. What are you waiting for? Get on with it, already.

–“In essence we’re driving uninsured cars, …–

How is that even possible? You try that and it’s a minimum $500 fine if you’re caught.

Seriously, is the governor’s motorcade operating this way, all those vehicles uninsured, tooling around the state every day?

How can he allow that, given his oath and his Constitutional responsibilities to see that the law is faithfully executed?

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 1:12 pm
The state would save a ton of money by instituting work-from-home for positions where that would be feasible. This is 2016. There’s no good reason to not telecommute where possible.

Comment by CharlieKratos Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 1:13 pm
On the insurance angle…the state actually uses the driver in that the driver must have a minimum level of car insurance, and signs a document confirming the amount and company his/her insurance is through. I wonder if anyone has ever done an audit of state workers driving cars to see if they really have insurance at all…but I digress…

The irony is once the insured driver gets into the car and an accident occurs the state self-insures the vehicle and driver so it should just take a small tweak in legislation to treat self insurance payments as continuing appropriations rather than rely upon annual appropriations, in MHO.

Comment by Captain Illini Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 1:19 pm
The Prompt Payment Act is paying above investment market return rates so I’m wondering, is anyone out there buying up chunks of that $900 million debt? And who stands to benefit if someone is?

Comment by Wallinger Dickus Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 1:20 pm
Sure park all the State rides right as construction season is starting up. Contractors would go nuts. No State inspectors, means nothing can be built.

Comment by Huh? Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 1:40 pm
Pity the poor folks who get written up by the State Police for not having insurance.

They could pull the classic Gomer Pyle move on Barney Fife and make a “Citizen’s Arrest.”

Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 1:41 pm
Huh?
This would be a logical consequence of the budget impasse. The more real it is, the more difficult it becomes for rank and file to maintain their voting purity. I’m all for it.

Comment by Pawn Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 2:03 pm
If a state employee causes a serious accident while driving a state vehicle, what happens when the person hit personally sues the state driver because there is no paid up insurance? On the other side if the insuance is bad does that mean all the state inspectors, auditors, DHS/Public health reviewers, state cops, and endless stream of state workers who need to travel for any reason simplt stay home? Some friends who work for the state are being told to use their personal credit cards and car for travel. Not going over well.

Comment by zatoichi Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 2:12 pm
==personally sues the state driver ==

I think state employees are indemnified.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 2:23 pm
Dunkin and McCann could be the first small holes in the Rauner dam holding the Republicans back.

Comment by Facts are Stubborn Things Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 2:38 pm
A state employee cannot be named personally in a suit for auto accident if:

1, he is operating a state vehicle or personal vehicle authorized for state business and is authorized to operate said vehicle.

2, he is operating said vehicle on state logged time.

3. he is operating said vehicle in the manner and route designated for the job at hand.

a state employee can be named if he violates and of the proper uses of the state vehicle.

Comment by Allen D Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 2:41 pm
Many people where I work travel regularly. Many of them carry hundreds of dollars of travel expenses on personal CC’s and have carried this debt for months. They also routinely deal with Hotels refusing state vouchers and gas stations who refuse to take the state fleet card(gas Card). This and the insurance issue is more than enough to halt travel and park the state vehicles!

Comment by DigDug Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 2:56 pm
Durkin’s remark says it all:

“Durkin: We’re not going to just give our votes away for nothing.”

Comment by Mama Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 6:15 pm
–“Durkin: We’re not going to just give our votes away for nothing.”–

LOL, baby, you’ve been giving it away for nothing for more than a year now.

How’s that feel?

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 6:20 pm
IL GOP votes won’t be given away for nothing. The way the Governor is playing his hand, they will be given away in exchange for political survival in more than a few districts.

Comment by peon Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 7:25 pm
==
- CharlieKratos - Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 1:13 pm:

The state would save a ton of money by instituting work-from-home for positions where that would be feasible. This is 2016. There’s no good reason to not telecommute where possible.==

CharlieKratos, The state worker can not telecommute when he is auditing the school’s books. A caseworker can not telecommute when verifying a child abuse case, etc., etc…

Comment by Mama Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 8:35 pm
==Huh? - Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 1:40 pm: “Sure park all the State rides right as construction season is starting up. Contractors would go nuts. No State inspectors, means nothing can be built.”

Does the state own all of the road construction vehicles/equipment?

Comment by Mama Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 8:40 pm
== Does the state own all of the road construction vehicles/equipment? ==

While the state owns some of the equipment used for repairs like the dump trucks used for plowing and hot patch, most of the actual construction is done by contractors.

Comment by RNUG Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 10:30 pm
“…easing access to police video under the Freedom of Information Act.” Clicked on the link and there is no concrete info. in the article re. this.

Anyone know the bill number and sponsor for the police vid bill mentioned here?

Comment by Payback Tuesday, Apr 5, 16 @ 12:28 am
What I thought as I read the comments from the good Republican Rep. Mitchell in last weekend’s paper:

What is the likelihood the complaining constituent voted for Bruce Rauner, whose budgetary veto led to the uninsured vehicle and the unsettled claim? How many votes has Rep. Mitchell made that followed the line laid down by the Gover-not?

Not saying the accident was a good thing, but our “bidnisman” governor is the one who created this situation.

Like Oswego Willy likes to say: “Governors own”, and Rep. Mitchell and BVR need to publicly acknowledge their roles in the constituent’s current difficulties.

Comment by Lynn S. Tuesday, Apr 5, 16 @ 2:36 am
Rich, I know you were out of state last week, but I’m surprised you aren’t covering the two dental practices that say they are going out of business thanks to the state not paying claims. One was here in Champaign.

Comment by Lynn S. Tuesday, Apr 5, 16 @ 2:38 am