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Voices for Illinois Children to legislators: Compromise is not “weakness”

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* OK, so we’ve heard from House Speaker Michael Madigan and House Republican Leader Jim Durkin. I thought you’d also like to hear from social service advocates, who lobbied hard for the higher education “stopgap” bill in order to open a door for another stopgap for their programs. Here’s Emily Miller…

Hi Rich,

Since last week’s bi-partisan agreement to provide emergency cash to higher education, a narrative of regret and finger-pointing has emerged from officials who are afraid the move displays political weakness. On the contrary, reaching a bi-partisan agreement on the merits of a budget related issue shows promise.

To be clear, the agreement was a far cry from a solution. The emergency cash infusion to higher education will run out by the end of the summer, and the ongoing damage to human service providers who got left out of this deal entirely will continue to mount. We’re still on track to have upwards of $10 billion in unpaid bills by the end of the fiscal year in June. We still have no realistic plan to pay FY16’s unpaid bills, let alone an entire FY17 budget for the year that begins July 1.

But in this toxic political environment, the ability of rank and file members to sit across from each other and agree on something is a welcome change. The ability of leaders to stop themselves from tanking the deal shows progress.

Still, this crisis will continue to worsen without the revenue necessary to perform all of the most basic functions of state government, including K-12 education, higher education and human services.

Eventually lawmakers and leaders are going to run out of pots of emergency money to throw at crises, and they’ll have to admit to each other that the ability of our state to pass balanced budgets in the long-term requires new revenue. But the agreement reached last week proves that rank-and-file lawmakers have what it takes to reach past the political rhetoric that has dominated budget talks over the last year and really hear each other.

If elected officials keep talking and listening to each other, they’ll be able to negotiate a responsible budget that invests in children, families and communities across Illinois.

Emily Miller
Policy and Advocacy Director
Voices for Illinois Children

I couldn’t agree more.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 8:45 am

Comments

She’s not really saying anything groundbreaking here. Was the same sentiment conveyed by most under the dome last week.

Comment by Jackie Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 8:49 am
===conveyed by most under the dome last week. ===

That was last week. This is this week.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 8:54 am
It is very simple. When the anti-union requirements drop, legislation happens. It’s that simple. I don’t know why they need to keep this up since Rauner will now have his labor war with AFSCME. He has his sin-eater. He doesn’t have to punish the poor, elderly, disabled, addicted, homeless, abused, or anybody else.

Drop the gloves Governor Rauner. Leave those others alone. Mano e mano with AFSCME only. We’ll drop our gloves and have it out. But just us. Do a budget. Make the deals. You can focus entirely on us. And yes, you will most certainly win. You can pin all sins upon us. Yep, we did it. The public union ruined everything. We caused all the damage. Force us out on strike. Break our union. Privatize our jobs. I’m sure all will work out in the end.

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 9:00 am
After seeing the destruction of social services caused by the failure of both sides to compromise, Ms Miller could be justified in being angry at nearly everything coming from Springfield. Many would be.

That makes her objectivity and inclusive approach all the more impressive. Well said, Ms Miller, and gracias for provding a dose of common sense after the Speaker’s ==war, and only war== comments yesterday.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 9:08 am
Compromise is not a weakness. Betting on the come, without a side deal as a hedge, might be. Best wishes to all.

Comment by walker Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 9:10 am
–That was last week. This is this week.–

Last week was fine as a baby step, considering the willful FUBAR of the previous year. But that’s all it was.

Higher ed is still on life support, social services are still dying in the street every day and the state is still a chronic deadbeat, with a backlog of unpaid bills at the end of this fiscal year that will be more than double than what it was in January 2015.

So, the 24-hour rule on “victory” celebrations is long expired. Get back to some real work, this week.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 9:11 am
She’s encouraging movement from the momentum of last week. Good for her. Maybe she could serve as an example here.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 9:11 am
===Eventually lawmakers and leaders are going to run out of pots of emergency money to throw at crises, and they’ll have to admit to each other that the ability of our state to pass balanced budgets in the long-term requires new revenue. But the agreement reached last week proves that rank-and-file lawmakers have what it takes to reach past the political rhetoric that has dominated budget talks over the last year and really hear each other.===

Ball game.

Rauner’s refusal to provide a balanced budget that can “work” with a zero increase in taxes would require Rauner owning deep and significant cuts in services, cuts that Rauner would all but eliminate many social service programs (although many programs and workers and private groups have disappeared, but… I digress).

Rauner won’t AV a budget either, owning those AVs and deep cuts as a Rauner choice. Otherwise, the FY2016 Approp would’ve been amended and not outright vetoed.

“Why rehash this?”

Read the grab I took above. It’s the reality Rauner refuses to believe, and the “passive-passenger” style of governing Rauner hopes will bring leverage to Agenda items he wants passed.

Rauner is purposeful in refusing to see reality, and uses an alleged “give” that isn’t a “give” at all, but a required need, revenue, Rauner is hoping he can leverage, when he already knows isn’t a realistic leverage pressure point.

What Ms. Miller is saying rings true to the political, the governmental, and the actual.

It’s going to come down to 60 cobbled House members and 30 Senate members to be as honest as they can to save Illinois from the hostage-takers.

Reality? It might take 71 and 36 to leverage both Madigan and Rauner. Madigan to call these bills, and Rauner to realize even Ken Dunkin won’t stop this 71 vote total.

It’s this “simple”…

A “give” of a required need is not a give at all. Decisions deferred are decisions to hold harm. Math is math is math… is math. Governors own vetoes and governors fund their agencies and their priorities.

It will come down to 71 and 36, and heaven help Madigan or Rauner who derails those willing to compromise, for they are not losing by compromising, those compromising are governing.

Keep up the good work, Ms. Miller.

OW

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 9:12 am
==the ability of our state to pass balanced budgets in the long-term requires new revenue==

This bears repeating. Math requires it. Cuts can reduce the amount of new revenues required, but will not be sufficient to eliminate the need for new revenues. The longer we put this off, the more revenue we will need. Having a realistic short and long term plan would provide everyone in Illinois some certainty and that would help our business climate. Now is the time to get it done.

Comment by AC Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 9:15 am
“Eventually lawmakers and leaders are going to run out of pots of emergency money to throw at crises,” An Indisputable Fact

“and they’ll have to admit to each other that the ability of our state to pass balanced budgets in the long-term requires new revenue.” Nope, that’s when “structural reforms” re-enter the rhetoric.

“But the agreement reached last week proves that rank-and-file lawmakers have what it takes to reach past the political rhetoric that has dominated budget talks over the last year and really hear each other.” Nope, it just shows they will only release enough pressure on themselves to keep from being blamed for an explosion that affects someone other than those living in poverty. They still have no spine for the heavy lifting.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 9:16 am
Sorry, Anonymous @ 9:16 was me.

Comment by Markus Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 9:17 am
# They still have no spine for the heavy lifting. #

Exactly. And to be clear the heavy lifting requires either (a) more revenue or (b) a willingness to take personal ownership for the cuts needed to balance the budget.

Comment by Hamlet's Ghost Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 9:21 am
===Exactly. And to be clear the heavy lifting requires either (a) more revenue or (b) a willingness to take personal ownership for the cuts needed to balance the budget.===

- Hamlet’s Ghost - complety gets what’s at play here. Well said.

The - @MisterJayEm - rule on ” - Anonymous - ” is one of the better rules. Here’s exactly why…

===Nope, that’s when “structural reforms” re-enter the rhetoric.===

Are you paying attention to the last week or so, or…

Pathetic.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 9:25 am
All of the problems boil down to:

1. Lack of revenue due to Rauner demanding the income tax not be continued at 5%. He stated he could eliminate enough waste and corruption to balance the budget at the reduced tax rate. The lack of revenue is Rauner’s doing.

2. Rauner demands his Turnaround Agenda be passed as part of a budget deal, although they are unrelated to the budget.

3. GOP members of the house and senate are afraid to vote against Rauner because of his threats.

Comment by DuPage Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 9:25 am
She is right. But, like most leaders and advocates, political and non, on this issue, Ms. Miller does not address the who pays part of the revenue issue. True, she doesn’t have to. But, shouldn’t somebody?

What proportion of the increased revenues will come from which kinds of taxes–progressive? retiree? service? other? Who will bear the greatest burden of the increase-the wealthy, the middle class, a combo of the working and middle class?

I’m leaving out other questions, like what proportion of the increase will be assigned to the Illinois corruption tax, what kinds of cuts and reforms did/will the Rauner admin actually make, as promised (not much so far on that one),
and so on.

But that’s a digression. Let’s just stick to who pays. Who pays? Retirees? Middle and working classes? The wealthy? Still waiting.

Comment by Cassandra Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 9:26 am
This stuff makes this Republican feel like voting a straight D ticket going forward

Comment by cgo75 Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 9:30 am
“Still, this crisis will continue to worsen without the revenue necessary to perform all of the most basic functions of state government, including K-12 education, higher education and human services.”

The R members are in lock step with Rauner. The only reason this Higher Ed. bill happened is because there is a funding source. Without a funding source, R members will toe-the-line and repeat the mantra, “there’s no money”. R members will not vote for a tax increase, which leaves us with no money. If R members have a better idea for funding now, because funding is needed now, then speak up. Human Services, higher ed., and K-12 cannot wait for theoretical structural reforms.

Comment by Jimmy H Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 9:32 am
—…after the Speaker’s ==war, and only war== comments yesterday.–

Huh?

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 9:36 am
All of the problems boil down to:

1. A decline in population of taxpayers and business over the past 25 years due to our dysfunctional government.

2. Democrats passing a temporary tax increase but no reforms of our business environment and then letting it expire before the Governor was inaugurated so they could share the blame for the inevitable tax increase with him.
3 the Turnaround agenda is most certainly related to the budget. Workers comp for municipal employees is a line item in the budget.
4 Democratic members are afraid to cross the speaker - see Dunkin Ken.

Obviously sarcasm both sides are to blame

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 9:37 am
Did my comment aggreing with Emily Miller violate the commenting policy, or was it not posted due some sort of technical issue? How would I know the difference?

Comment by AC Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 9:39 am
–The only reason this Higher Ed. bill happened is because there is a funding source. –

That’s just spin. Claiming you have coffee cans of money buried in the back yard when you’re already running a $6.2 billion deficit wouldn’t fool a fifth-grader.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 9:42 am
I was encouraged about the way rank and file legislators took the reins on the education funding package. It me just be a blip rather than the start of a trend, but I have my fingers crossed that we’ll see more of the same.

Comment by SAP Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 9:43 am
===Nope, that’s when “structural reforms” re-enter the rhetoric.===
Are you paying attention to the last week or so, or…
Pathetic.

History will determine to whom the statement applies. For now, I’m leaving my rose colored glasses off. IMO, the last week or so is nothing but a calculated pressure relief valve. “Structural Reforms” have to make a come back or this whole battle was pointless. I hope your right though, OW, but I’m betting your eating crow sooner rather than later.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 9:47 am
=== If elected officials keep talking and listening to each other, they’ll be able to negotiate a responsible budget that invests in children, families and communities across Illinois. ===

I so wish this would happen. I implore our elected officials to make this happen. I fear, however, that human nature - or more specifically political nature - will not let this happen. Last week’s compromise was enabled because there was a “found” small pot of money to enable the politicians to deal with an emergent problem. As Emily points out, we “are going to run out of pots of emergency money.” Rauner and the GOP leadership demand the decimation of unions as a precondition for negotiating a “Dem” tax hike.

What I fear will happen is that a inadequate FY 16/17 budget will finally get cobbled together with smoke and mirrors after several more hostage derived crises. We can hope that the general election will send a message to enough of our political leaders to start addressing the revenue problems next year.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 9:50 am
My cynicism light just came on…. While I totally agree with the sentiment, the reality is; until the governor decides to do his job, or the GA decides (particularly the GOP in the GA or an unbelievably massive yet unsustainable D super majority after the election) to do the governor’s job for him, we are stuck in neutral. And it is bad for everyone. I unfortunately think that the beatings will continue regardless of morale.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 9:51 am
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 9:12 am:
“Reality? It might take 71 and 36 to leverage both Madigan and Rauner. Madigan to call these bills, and Rauner to realize even Ken Dunkin won’t stop this 71 vote total.”

It is 71 and 36. The prime hostage taker, Rauner has to agree for 60 and 30 to work. At 60 and 30 it would be very bad for those on the receiving end of Rauner’s poison.

Comment by Jimmy H Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 9:52 am
- Jimmy H -

Two points…

If it gets to 60 and GOP votes are on it in the House, can Rauner veto a bill hurting GOP members working in a bipartisan manner?

I addressed that I felt 71 and 36 is far more “logical” but I have to believe Rauner doesn’t want vetoes overridden that save hostages. That’s where Dunkin was vital. Vetoes now will sting Rauner if compromise is at 71 or even 60. Can’t be the person blowing up bipartisan movement.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 9:59 am
===Structural Reforms” have to make a come back or this whole battle was pointless. I hope your right though, OW, but I’m betting your eating crow sooner rather than later.===

Nope.

No way Democrats will vote to decimate unions and then have the reward be voting for a revenue increase.

That will NOT happen. So…

===2. Democrats passing a temporary tax increase but no reforms of our business environment and then letting it expire before the Governor was inaugurated so they could share the blame for the inevitable tax increase with him.===

You keep forgetting Rauner pleading for the GA to let the income tax to expire.

Rauner pleaded and demanded the tax increase sunset.

The Dems obliged. It’s on Rauner now.

It’s arguably one of the biggest mistakes Rauner made owning the sunseting by asking for it when Democrats were going to let it sunset in their own and Rauner, with no demand for it to sunset, could’ve blamed Madigan and Cullerton all day.

- Lucky Pierre -, do you think the things you comment are true or you hope they sneak by, knowing they lack fact, lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 10:08 am
Last week’s bi-partisan agreement to provide emergency cash to higher education. A win for Rauner.

Comment by tobor Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 10:11 am
So Rauner can get the General Assembly to do whatever he says by demanding it? OW do you should be a goalie, nothing slips by you that challenges the status quo.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 10:16 am
“We’re still on track to have upwards of $10 billion in unpaid bills by the end of the fiscal year in June. We still have no realistic plan to pay FY16’s unpaid bills, let alone an entire FY17 budget for the year that begins July 1.”

$32 billion in revenue cannot cover $37 billion in expenses.

What on earth was Rauner thinking? He is supposed to be a numbers guy. Make the cuts, Big Brains. What? Too hard to do? Maybe impossible? (The dems sent Rauner a budget with significant, but fair and reasonable cuts.)

Some of us have figured out what his goal is, basically financial chaos, higher ed chaos, social service chaos.

Until the ILGOP, and all relevant players, decide they no longer want to be A TOOL used by the .01%, for the fake 1.4% ROI, ….

Comment by cdog Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 10:21 am
===So Rauner can get the General Assembly to do whatever he says by demanding it?===

You know, it’s 60/30, structured roll calls and clean signatures.

You know that. You aren’t fooling anyone.

===… that challenges the status quo.===

How thrilling, either you are with Rauner, or you’re not.

Do I need to point out, again, where I responded to you on the passable reforms that can lead to compromise or are you going to pretend to be the babe in the woods… yet again.

Why keep proving your own willful ignorance? I don’t know how that helps your arguments…

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 10:27 am
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 9:59 am:
“If it gets to 60 and GOP votes are on it in the House, can Rauner veto a bill hurting GOP members working in a bipartisan manner?”
I think it would depend on how many GOP votes there are and what the legislation is.
“Can’t be the person blowing up bipartisan movement.” I hope you are correct.

Comment by Jimmy H Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 10:31 am
I like Emily a lot and I am glad Rich posts her comments. It’s now probably too late for some DHS service providers, without payments for what is owed money going forward is meaningless because their lines of credit are maxed out.

I believe that this is a calculated strategy on the part of Rauner’s DHS director Dimas to weed out providers and move to a payment for only results strategy. In this approach human services vendors would only be paid for client outcomes based on a DHS matrix. In order to survive not for profit providers would have to increase their pool of clients in order to statistically generate revenue, smaller agencies would likely lack the capacity to compete in the state vendor market place.

Comment by Rod Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 10:53 am
–1. A decline in population of taxpayers and business over the past 25 years due to our dysfunctional government.–

Step 1 in your Grand Unifying Theory has no basis in reality, as 30 seconds on the google would inform you.

I’m sure the rest of it is top notch, though.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 11:00 am
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 9:42 am:
“That’s just spin. Claiming you have coffee cans of money buried in the back yard when you’re already running a $6.2 billion deficit wouldn’t fool a fifth-grader.”

So there should be no appropriations until the $6.2 billion deficit is paid? That’s what R members are saying. The only reason the GOP supported this bill is because of the funding from an education fund. Moving forward will be difficult if the R’s maintain the no money, no taxes mantra. Allowing lives to be ruined and extensive loss of infrastructure because of short term debt is short sighted.

Comment by Jimmy H Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 11:01 am
I’m all for the status quo ante of having a budget, paying our bills, and reducing our unpaid bill backlog. I’m not for the status quo of the last 15 months of no budget, not paying our bills, and more than doubling the unpaid bill backlog. So you Raunerbots need to be more clear as to which time period you’re referring to, because the status quo ante is looking pretty good compared to Rauner’s status quo.

Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 11:08 am
It is hard to compromise with those who don’t accept that politicians running up over 100 billion dollars in unfunded liabilities hurts our state’s competitiveness. Use the google Wordslinger if Illinois had just added jobs at an average rate instead of lost them over the past 15 years we would have revenue even at the old tax rates to fund what they are fighting about now.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 11:23 am
LP, for discussion purposes, let’s say you are correct.

What now? What’s the fix? What’s the big compromise that is going to close the gap between Rauner spending $37b with only $32b in revenue?

(please don’t say growth because that is funny-money and can’t be counted for years. Hint–think abouthow your own check book works.)

Are you ok with FY19 finishing with a $25billion backlog, as described by GOMB in January?

Comment by cdog Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 11:42 am
Bottom line for me… Emily is correct that legislators deserve encouragement to build on the bi-partisan agreement last week.

Comment by Jimmy H Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 11:47 am
Cdog of course you know Rauner and many Republicans support revenue if certain Turnaround agenda items are voted on. Some may even pass. I am sure most of the displaced Mitsubishi workers would love to work in a non union BMW plant if a deal magically appeared for this area. Of course this will never happen because of a lack of flexibility and pragmatism from our elected officials.

Holding out for union jobs that won’t magically appear at the expense of good non union jobs that might is very shortsighted .

Letting local governments determine what is best for their area is good government. They have to answer to the voters who will punish them if they buck the will of the people. It is impossible to gerrymander a city council of mayors race.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 12:03 pm
===Cdog of course you know Rauner and many Republicans support revenue if certain Turnaround agenda items are voted on.===

Ugh. Revenue is required. Revenue is not a “give” Rauner can give because Rauner requires revenue.

===I am sure most of the displaced Mitsubishi workers would love to work in a non union BMW plant if a deal magically appeared for this area. Of course this will never happen because of a lack of flexibility and pragmatism from our elected officials.===

LOL, Mitsubishi closed the B-N plant not because of work or labor issues, and workers that can have a product people will buy make Labor issues inconsequential to a decision on management. Try again.

===Letting local governments determine what is best for their area is good government.===

Then why is Rauber trying to take over CPS, lol.

Put a think on that..,

===It is impossible to gerrymander a city council…===

Really? There was a whole Chicago Ward Map fight in court all about it.

What else you got? lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 12:15 pm
I never said the plant closed because it was a union plant Willy. It may have something to do with the fact it is vacant.

Enterprise zones are a creative way to address high unemployment in certain areas. What is the proposal from the Democrats? Zip zero nada.

Reforming our State is required too, only the Republicans see this as mandatory and that is very sad.

What is your solution for CPS? Have the state send them an extra billion dollars 3/4 of which will cover the pension deficit and have the teachers continue their 2 percent contribution?

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 12:29 pm
I’ll say it again — for the next mass demonstration about the budget in Springfield, everyone bring half a loaf of bread and drop off dozens of them at the Governor’s Office and more to legislative leaders — settle for half a loaf, folks, and start governing rather than pontificating!

Comment by Capitol View Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 12:32 pm
===What is your solution for CPS? Have the state send them an extra billion dollars 3/4 of which will cover the pension deficit and have the teachers continue their 2 percent contribution?===

You favor local control, so…

===Enterprise zones are a creative way to address high unemployment in certain areas.===

RTW zones? Can’t get that passed, don’t think it would pass muster either…

===I never said the plant closed because it was a union plant Willy. It may have something to do with the fact it is vacant.===

Nope. Labor was not the reason it closed, nor would Labor be an issue with a product that sold. Otherwise Mitsubishi would still be there.

===Reforming our State is required too, only the Republicans see this as mandatory and that is very sad.===

Rich, again, laid out possible solutions, you even connected on them. Rauner wants Labor decimated first, last, always.

Then, after destroying Labor, Rauner will agree that he needs revenue to blame Democrats who Rauner will require, after destroying Labor, to vote to raise revenue Rauner requires.

Stop pretending this is all new to you.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 12:37 pm
LP, you are using words that you apparently don’t understand what they mean.

–1. A decline in population of taxpayers and business over the past 25 years due to our dysfunctional government.–

So, 25 years of decline. Feel free to show your work. Here’s mine:

The Illinois labor force and employment were on a steady rise until the Great Recession, then crashed, and have now inched up to just about pre-recession historic highs.

Illinois Labor Force:
1995: 6.15 million
2008 Pre-Recession Peak: 6.7 million
Post-recession Low: 6.5 million
Current: 6.645 million

Illinois Employment:
1995: 5.85 million
2008 Pre-Recession High: 6.35 million
Post-recession Low: 5.85 million
Current: 6.2 million

Links to charts below.

By the way, if you’re one of the Cultists that believe governors and the General Assembly determine economic destiny in a global economy than check out those Blago years: He, Madigan and Emil Jones must have been OS - Original Superstars.

Note the dips in 2000-2001, largely attributed nationally to the NASDAQ crash and the 9/11 attacks.

http://data.bls.gov/pdq/SurveyOutputServlet

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 12:39 pm
-Enterprise zones are a creative way to address high unemployment in certain areas.-

Yes except that there is NO accountability to make sure the jobs actually materialize. AND the utility tax incentive robs the local community and the state of badly needed revenue. Now if there were accountability and transparency I and a few more “smart” incentives I would be totally in favor of them. But as they are now they are simply a tax avoidance strategy for companies that should be paying revenue into the coffers. We as a state should target the small to mid sized companies with Enterprize Zones.

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 12:44 pm
I’m wondering since Rauner has his labor war if he’ll ease up on the Turnaround Agenda? It will be entirely instructive if he does. My gut tells me that he only really cared about forcing AFSCME out on strike to create his sin-eater. With that work underway with the ILRB will the hostages be released?

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 12:48 pm
Oh, I forgot to ask. Is there a live feed today Rich? I’m assuming not since it’s not up.

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 12:49 pm
Your Charts don’t link . Go back to the leaders meeting where it was said unchallenged we have fewer jobs than 16 years ago. I am not a cultist and we are in a regional as well as global economy. Legislatures and Governors have a lot to do with the well being of a state’s economic destiny. To argue otherwise is ridiculous.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 12:52 pm
===It will come down to 71 and 36, and heaven help Madigan or Rauner who derails those willing to compromise, for they are not losing by compromising, those compromising are governing.===

+100

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 1:02 pm
–Your Charts don’t link . Go back to the leaders meeting where it was said unchallenged we have fewer jobs than 16 years ago. –

LOL, no, I think I’ll stick with the Bureau of Labor statistics rather than some nonsensical, fact-free spin.

Let’s try harder to get your learn on:

google “Illinois labor force by decade graphic”

Hit the second link, “Bureau of Labor statistics data”

See the charts? At the top, change the 2006 in the “From” year to whatever you want and hit “go.” It goes back to 1987.

You can get accurate data if you choose. If you don’t want it, that’s a choice as well.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 1:04 pm
LP,
please understand that your argument (along with Rauner/ILGOP) which concludes that enacted TA items will close the gap between $37billion in spending and $32billion in revenue is ridiculous.

Hopefully those that get this basic math, care about Illinois’ financial future/higher ed/social services will continue to compromise and have enough courage to address this difference between revenue and expenses.

Comment by cdog Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 1:12 pm
in the past ten years we have lost 115,000 manufacturing jobs.
Indiana has picked up 90,000
Illinois has not had one net new job since 1999

Since the recession we have recovered 16 percent of our jobs.

Neighboring Indiana has recovered 70 %, Wisconsin 78%.

Rauner supports new revenue as long as reforms are enacted. Without reform our economy will not grow fast enough. 41 states restrict prevailing wage in some way.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 1:22 pm
“Letting local governments determine what is best for their area is good government. They have to answer to the voters who will punish them if they buck the will of the people. It is impossible to gerrymander a city council of mayors race.”

This is bad government from the standpoint of workers, or indeed, of Illinois as a state. All workers deserve fair treatment and decent pay, no matter if they work in Kankakee or Chicago or Centralia.

Also, Rauner is only trying to bust the unions because they are the only workers who can say “no” to big business at this point.

Comment by Bryan Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 1:26 pm
===Rauner supports new revenue as long as reforms are enacted.===

Again, for the 4,275th time…

A “give” of something you actually need and is required is NOT a “give”

You willful ignorance of this talking point is blatent to distract the real fact revenue is required.

You know it, and yet you continue to pretend revenue is a “give”.

No one is buying it.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 1:28 pm
Not willfully ignorant but I acknowledge revenue alone will not solve the problem. If it did Quinn would still be Governor and the speaker the rest of the GA would be popular.

They are not.

What the other side does not acknowledge is that reform must accompany revenue. There is no reform yet and no revenue. If revenue precedes reform it will never come.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 1:39 pm
“What the other side does not acknowledge is that reform must accompany revenue. There is no reform yet and no revenue. If revenue precedes reform it will never come.”

None of the “reforms” Rauner is holding the state hostage for will in and of themselves generate revenue. They are non-budgetary issues, and should have no business being included in a discussion of budgets.

Comment by Bryan Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 1:42 pm
===What the other side does not acknowledge is that reform must accompany revenue.===

The 4,276th time now…

A “give” of something you actually need and is required is NOT a “give”.

===There is no reform yet and no revenue. If revenue precedes reform it will never come.===

Then the budget being held hostage is Rauner destroying Higher Ed, Social Services, ruining the missions of state agencies, and putting state workers in harms way, like state police or prison workers.

===If it did Quinn would still be Governor and the speaker the rest of the GA would be popular.===

“Pat Quinn failed…”

“Bruce Rauner destroyed… ” … because not understanding a “give” can’t be a “reward” when the “give” is required, like it or not.

“Capiche?”

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 1:45 pm
–Since the recession we have recovered 16 percent of our jobs.–

Is that all part of a mantra or something that you chant at the rituals?

You’re just making stuff up, out of nowhere. Twice now, on this thread alone, I’ve provided you with BLS information that show your claims to be lunacy.

Yet you choose to keep making them.

Thirds the charm, from the BLS.

–Since the recession we have recovered 16 percent of our jobs.–

Illinois Employment

2008 Pre-Recession High: 6.35 million
Post-recession Low: 5.85 million
Current: 6.2 million

I’m not going to bother to chase down your other stuff, because you are clearly immune to facts or reason.

You’ll say anything, in service of what, I don’t know.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 1:55 pm
Lucky:

You’re doing a good job arguing the Governor’s case, but what you (and he) don’t realize is that you have to have enough support in the GA to get things passed. The union stuff? Isn’t going to happen. Prevailing wage? Isn’t going to happen. So move on from those things and focus on the other things which are apparently at least being discussed (Workers Comp, Property Taxes, Redistricting).

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 1:57 pm
Those “reforms” of which you speak would (by the Governors own estimate) only effect state revenues by 1.4%. All the pain. All the destruction. All the layoffs. All the college dreams for 1.4% So no we do not need to do all that for 1.4%. Not only that that number was BS anyway. The Turnaround Agenda is mostly about destroying labor. It never has been about economics. It’s about the TOTAL MYTH of supply side economics. See Kansas and Louisianna

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 2:02 pm
Around the idea of local control.

Wasnt it the brainiac STATE guv’mint in North Carolina that decided to remove local control of who can use the bathroom?

Comment by Jack Stephens Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 3:36 pm
Was there some compromise somewhere by Republicans that I missed?

With all due respect to Voices, I agree with Senator Radogno that no one should be congratulating themselves about last week’s vote.

Not allowing the entire state’s higher Ed system to collapse isn’t something you put on your resume.

Candidate Rauner referred to fund sweeps as a “budget gimmick,” and the best gimmick they could come up with didn’t even keep the lights on for more than a few months.

Did it lay a foundation for future agreement? Probably not.

Democrats didn’t agree to any spending cuts. Republicans didn’t agree to any new revenue. Because the plan didn’t call for any new revenue, Rauner didn’t even have to compromise on his turn around agenda.

That is one less trick we will have in out bag when the human services solution is needed though. Think the downstate republicans will be jumping on board that revenue plan?

Me neither.

So, if there is going to be more money for human services, looks like it may be tied to more money for prisons. Rep Mayfield must be thrilled.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 5:11 pm
==”We’re still on track to have upwards of $10 billion in unpaid bills by the end of the fiscal year in June. We still have no realistic plan to pay FY16’s unpaid bills, let alone an entire FY17 budget for the year that begins July 1.”==

I believe Ms. Miller is saying there is no way they (social services) will be able to recover & will have to close no matter what happens with the FY17 budget.

Comment by Mama Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 6:46 pm
Some will argue that compromise is a weakness. I think Madigan is one of those.

Comment by justacitizen Tuesday, Apr 26, 16 @ 10:50 pm
“We’re still on track to have upwards of $10 billion in unpaid bills by the end of the fiscal year in June. We still have no realistic plan to pay FY16’s unpaid bills,…”

That, in a nutshell, is the problem.

How do you run any organization where you can spend over $10 billion dollars without any authorization? Because thats what it means to not have a budget - it means there was no authorization to spend the money.

If we ran our government like its supposed to the legislators would have a real incentive to come to a budget agreement - because when they didn’t it would become immediately apparent, instead of becoming political theater where everything continues as it was and they shirk their responsibility for passing a budget.

Comment by Concerned2000 Wednesday, Apr 27, 16 @ 6:10 am