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Rauner again blasts Dems for holding schools “hostage”

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Illinois

In the state budget impasse, Gov. Bruce Rauner was campaigning for reform Monday in the suburbs.

Still no deal and Rauner is now claiming the Democrats are holding the state school budget hostage.

“They’re screaming and saying it’s got to change this year and it can’t go further and they’ve threatened to hold up school funding and school opening in the fall for a new school funding formula,” Rauner said. “That’s wrong. Our schools should not be held hostage. We’ve got to put more money in the schools while we continue to work on a bi-partisan basis to come up with a school funding formula change.”

He’s not just claiming it now, he’s been saying it for months, ever since Senate President John Cullerton tipped his hand in January that two can play the hostage game.

* From the governor’s press release yesterday…

“Since day one, I have been committed to building a world-class education system in Illinois that ensures every child goes to a high-quality school and can go on to a high-paying career. Fully funding our schools is a step closer to making that a reality.”

Apparently, they can finish high school and get a “high-paying career” without state funding for higher education, the House Democrats note…

Steve Brown, spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan, criticized Rauner for pushing for K-12 funding while the state still hasn’t fully funded colleges and universities for the current year.

“I don’t know when it became in vogue to separate,” Brown said. “It strikes me if you’re going to improve the prosperity of the state, I think the whole education network needs to be up, running, funded.”

* And the HDems continue to walk back Cullerton’s threat to hold the K-12 approp up until the funding process is reformed…

Not in Madigan’s playbook: But a high-level Democrat close to House Speaker Mike Madigan tells Illinois Playbook the speaker has no desire or intention of delaying school openings in the fall. The discussion over a funding formula overhaul timed for this session has largely played out in the Illinois Senate. The source says Madigan believes the strategy of attempting to leverage school openings in order to pass a full state budget is a losing gambit, saying it could be viewed as placing the interest of children on equal footing with even the most mundane of spending.

* From a March 1st news story…

“We can’t let school funding be held hostage for the political games that are going on in our state legislature,” Rauner said. “We can’t allow Rockford schools, which are much better run, to be held hostage to the problems in Chicago.”

Steve Brown, a spokesman for Madigan, called Rauner’s claims “irrational” and that there is no basis for what the governor is saying. Brown attributed the hard stance to Cullerton, but said the Senate president made the statement in broad terms — that the entire state school funding system needs to be overhauled.

“We are concerned about how critical the Governor is of the Chicago Public Schools,” said Brown in a phone interview. “But we are going to work with him to help all students and better fund all schools.”

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:03 am

Comments

The only way Rauner will not exploit the Cullerton Mistake any further is when both chambers pass a K-12 Approp (maybe even Higher Ed and MAP funding, but I digress…) and force, yet again, the GOP GA to be “Red” and leave a Governor, this Governor, Governor Rauner, with “choices”.

Of course, the Manar Plan or other funding formulas attached to K-12 funding also… leaves choices… for GOP GA members, and a Governor.

Rauner is going to continue to hammer and shake this Cullerton Mistske, but the real mistake is thinking the GOP GA won’t have to vote on Ed Approps, or that Rauner will have decisions to make… and decisions to own.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:09 am
====The source says Madigan believes the strategy of attempting to leverage school openings in order to pass a full state budget is a losing gambit, saying it could be viewed as placing the interest of children on equal footing with even the most mundane of spending.===

The source…is correct.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:11 am
Each side of this battle knows the identity of the others side’s most favored spending items; and has used, or threatened to use, that knowledge to its own advantage. As has been the case from the beginning, what will be the thing that causes one side to blink?

Comment by Anony Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:12 am
Hey, - A Guy -,

@RonSandack: I’m frustrated 2, but taking steps towards reforming IL more important than short term budget stalemate. - Ron Sandack 9/28/15

I’m sure you disapprove of Bruce Rauner and his hostage taking too.

It’s a yes or no, ridiculous bluster isn’t needed, thanks.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:18 am
Cullerton’s way of trying to force the state to bail out CPS!

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:19 am
===Cullerton’s way of trying to force the state to bail out CPS!===

Isn’t Rauner’s want… to take over CPS… a bailout too?

Rauner wants local control, except when Rauner doesn’t?

The best thing to “happen” to the governor was the ruling that the state CAN’T take over CPS. Wether Rauner knows that or not remains to be seen.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:22 am
If only a K-12 appropriation for FY 17 is submitted, apart from an entire FY 17 Budget, then there is the possibility that the ILGOP will not vote red (or at least enough of them in the House to pass the bill), AND Rauner will sign it then sit back and let the rest of the budget fall apart once again.

If you start off piecemeal, you can be assured some of those still kept away from the table last year, will be left hungry again in 2017.

Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:23 am
Read the last paragraph in the Chicago Tribune story of today.

Rauner would be “uncomfortable” taking money from one school district to give it to another one, but he wanted to “study” the Manar plan.

Anything can happen in a Grand Compromise, even passing a Manar plan that may make the situation worse than it now is - yes, that is possible.

Can any one of you explain in detail the Manar bill?

Comment by winners and losers Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:26 am
== Rauner will sign it then sit back and let the rest of the budget fall apart once again. ==

But who is going to extend the State services on credit a second year without payments?

Comment by RNUG Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:27 am
Reforming Illinois is way more important than social services or education funding.
Rauner will be a hero when he turns this state around!

Comment by Soon You'll See Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:28 am
+++Apparently, they can finish high school and get a “high-paying career” without state funding for higher education, the House Democrats note… +++

I really wish my son had taken up my uncle’s offer to help get him into the welders program after high school. He’d have been way better off than he is now (both financially and general satisfaction-wise).

Comment by titan Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:29 am
===“Since day one, I have been committed to building a world-class education system in Illinois that ensures every child goes to a high-quality school and can go on to a high-paying career. Fully funding our schools is a step closer to making that a reality.”===

This is an odd statement since Rauner hasn’t really proposed anything which would change K-12 education in Illinois. So the status quo isn’t good enough but he’s not going to propose to change the status quo?

Comment by From the 'Dale to HP Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:30 am
Interesting good cop / bad cop dynamic been going one recently. Depending on the topic, Cullerton and Madigan seem to be taking turns playing the bad cop.

Comment by RNUG Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:30 am
winners and losers, the cliff notes of Manar’s plan: take special ed money from the suburbs and redistribute it to CPS and downstate.

Comment by From the 'Dale to HP Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:32 am
===Reforming Illinois is way more important than social services or education funding.===

Tell that to Luthern Social Services, Catholic Charities, Eastern Illinois University, Chicago State University, the State Museum, IMSA, MAP students…

The damage Bruce Rauner purposely has imposed on Illinois, some of it is irreversible. That’s not good. Rauner didn’t run on bankrupting social services, closing Eastern, Chicago State, one of the SIU campuses, denying students MAP… You gleefully want “others” hurt… for the dog whistle “taxpayers”. How sad are you?

See you in Church.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:33 am
RNUG- “But who is going to extend the State services on credit a second year without payments?”

****
How many have taken that hard line to date? Not many, or at least it’s not getting reported in the media. If no vendors kick up much of a fuss before the General Election, why should Rauner even care about those pesky bills?

Check out Langfelder’s response to the SJ-R on the bills owed CWLP-

http://www.sj-r.com/article/20160508/NEWS/160509601/?Start=2

Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:35 am
Deja Vu all over again?

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:36 am
-Norseman-

More like some Instant Karma?

Comment by RNUG Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:38 am
Some of the people you won’t see in Church this Sunday are those who have left our State because of our dysfunctional government that drives businesses that employ middle class families out of this state. All of this predates Rauner .Reasonable compromises are possible but not by those who only blame one side like you

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:38 am
Rauner would like to defund CPS the way he’s decimated higher education, but he doesn’t have the power to separate Chicago from other school districts. He’s also surprised ISBE claims CPS isn’t bad enough to warrant state intervention. He says he doesn’t get this. Understatement of the week.

Comment by Wensicia Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:39 am
===Some of the people you won’t see in Church this Sunday are those who have left our State because of our dysfunctional government that… ===

That’s YOUR pivot for destroying people’s lives and services to the most needy?

See YOU in Church.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:40 am
>The source says Madigan believes the strategy of attempting to leverage school openings in order to pass a full state budget is a losing gambit

Depends on whether one’s goal is political victor or getting things done for vendors, human services and higher education.

Comment by Earnest Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:42 am
===All of this predates Rauner .Reasonable compromises are possible but not by those who only blame one side like you===

Representative?

@RonSandack: I’m frustrated 2, but taking steps towards reforming IL more important than short term budget stalemate. - Ron Sandack 9/28/15

Maybe you need to ask Ron Sandack “who” wants a stalemate… for reforms.

You can’t take a stand, then not be held responsible for that stand.

You are tiring - Lucky Pierre -

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:43 am
Willy there are many people who would like to work but can’t find a decent job. Can you pray for them too?

Do you accept the terrible policies Illinois has had for years have anything to do with that?

Also pray for a compromise. Rigid ideologues who don’t compromise on anything are the problem.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:45 am
Trying again to post-

RNUG - “But who is going to extend the State services on credit a second year without payments?”

******
I honestly don’t think Rauner cares if bills get paid or not. His agenda is more important than pesky electric or water bills. Until the vendors themselves take the hard line (or harder line), it’s just a tiny ripple on the pond. Problem is, the pond is being drained dry. We’ve already seen that with the social service providers and the State’s response to them- no pay, or “can’t you get by with private funds???”.

Langfelder’s response to the State’s non-payment of CWLP bills will be typical until after the General Election and most businesses approach their end-of-year bookkeeping.

http://www.sj-r.com/article/20160508/NEWS/160509601/?Start=2

Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:47 am
===Do you accept the terrible policies Illinois has had for years have anything to do with that?===

Read this, get back to us…

https://capitolfax.com/2016/05/02/naive-cynicism-and-illinois/

===Willy there are many people who would like to work but can’t find a decent job. Can you pray for them too?===

A 1.4%, $500+ million “Turnaround Agenda” will NOT create jobs, otherwise Rauner would’ve sent the updated figures as fast as the figures were sent to discredit the Manar Plan. Plus, decimating Unions isn’t a job created. Again, Rauner would’ve sent the figures tar followed…

“Union workers make too much!”

You know this, stop being a victim to a false premise that you don’t.

Maybe you should pray out of work people don’t “Vote Accordingly”…

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:51 am
I would also think that Mooody’s, et. al., is watching the FY 17 budget process closely. If piecemeal happens again this year, I can’t imagine the bond-ratings are going to be too favorable.

Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:51 am
====The source says Madigan believes the strategy of attempting to leverage school openings in order to pass a full state budget is a losing gambit, saying it could be viewed as placing the interest of children on equal footing with even the most mundane of spending.===

It is a loser. Even a vampire capitalist like Rauner who made a fortune stiffing folks what they’re owed for the work they’ve done knows that.

But “mundane” stuff? Such as state-contracted services with the likes of Catholic Charities and Lutheran Social Services plus higher ed?

In Raunerworld, I guess the important thing is that our kids finish high school so they can go away to college to states where reactionary dilettantes don’t get their kicks in retirement by tuning up seniors, the sick, rape victims, homeless children, the poor, etc.

After all that back-slapping two weeks ago on the monumental accomplishment of funding higher ed at nearly 30% of the FY15 level, where’s the money for social services?

House Republicans, have you discovered the room yet where the governor keeps them in jars?

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:52 am
== Langfelder’s response to the State’s non-payment of CWLP bills will be typical … ==

Langfelder is in a unique position; a lot of his voters / CWLP owners are also State employees. Cutting off the utilities and forcing a shutdown would be more harmful to those voters than the utility bills continuing to go unpaid.

And when it comes to vendors, I was thinking more about things like hard goods (supplies for prisons, gas for cars, postage for SOS, etc.) and soft goods like equipment, building and software leasing. In the long run, those items are more likely to lead to a shutdown.

But I could see a certain electricity supplier deciding to cut off service if they don’t get “their” bailout bill passed.

Comment by RNUG Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 10:20 am
=Can any one of you explain in detail the Manar bill? =

Read the bill and then look at the numbers ISBE put out last week (since those are all we have and Manar’s promised numbers never materialized).

The “factors” are the key. There are several double dips for CPS.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 10:27 am
I have read the Manar Amendments, several times, and read and listened to explanations of it.

It is based on estimated weighting factors, averages of other factors, taking Nationwide averages for some factors, and presto we have one very complex formula (which no one here can completely explain).

Manar cannot explain in detail his own plan.

Comment by winners and losers Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 10:36 am
Today, Manar falsely claims:
“It would pay greater attention to factors such as special education and bilingual needs and the percentage of local students living in poverty. These factors tend to either drive up local costs or hinder student achievement. The current system does little to address these issues. Under the new classroom funding plan, the state would target these areas.”

In fact, the Manar bill would cut special education by almost 1/3, eliminate the State law directing $9,000 for each special ed teacher, and instead put in place a Formula Special Education Block Grant which could be spent for ANY purpose.

Comment by winners and losers Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 11:16 am
@winners and losers-

There is a reason that explaining the Manar bill’s factors is so difficult; they are generally made up.

Good evidence of this can be found in his repeated manipulations of the weightings and out right changes to the formula. This is happening to drive a preconceived outcome (votes).

So, I think you are on it with some of your statements. I think your statement on Manar’s false claims are accurate.

I will not defend the current formula, but I think it can be workable. Underfunding and not keeping up with inflation are tow issues, and the poverty grant is a big issue as well.

Manar is just flat wrong when he says the current formula does nothing for poverty. If a person can read they can discover this for themselves.The other piece of the puzzle is the federal dollars that these districts get.

You aren’t wrong, you are figuring it out.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 11:44 am
What a bunch of bunk from Rauner. Let’s just slash funding for low-income districts all over the state and call it a day. I guess his notion of a “reform agenda” doesn’t include school funding.

Comment by Chicago Schooler Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 12:15 pm
Rauner’s school funding plan is also his gov’t consolidation plan. If you keep cutting downstate schools, eventually those schools and communities go away. He’s just trying to speed up the eventually part of it.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 1:42 pm
I find it hard to take seriously criticism from a guy on holding things hostage when that guy has been doing that very same thing for the last year.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 2:30 pm
==Reasonable compromises are possible but not by those who only blame one side like you==

LOL! Have you been paying the slightest bit of attention the last year. We’ve had a year of volleys back and forth by people only blaming one side.

==All of this predates Rauner==

This victim mentality has got to stop. Rauner is the Governor now. He is knee deep in this mess. HE IS NOT THE VICTIM.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 2:37 pm
When a magician does a trick for way too long you start to see through it.

Comment by Dale Cooper Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 4:03 pm
Demoralized Illinois terrible business environment and fiscal dysfunction of state government does pre date Rauner, despite what you and other defenders of the status quo think.

The fact that he has been unable to fix our dysfunctional state government and terrible business environment might have something to do with the just say no to every reform caucus in Springfield.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 5:10 pm
===despite what you and other defenders of the status quo think.===

Read. THIS…

https://capitolfax.com/2016/05/02/naive-cynicism-and-illinois/

===The fact that he has been unable to fix our dysfunctional state government and terrible business environment might have something to do with the just say no to every reform caucus in Springfield.===

Or…

@RonSandack: I’m frustrated 2, but taking steps towards reforming IL more important than short term budget stalemate. - Ron Sandack 9/28/15

You are one programmed Raunerbot

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 5:42 pm
Lucky Pierre @ 9:45 am ==Also pray for a compromise. Rigid ideologues who don’t compromise on anything are the problem.==

I’ve heard Madigan called a lot of things, but “rigid ideologue” isn’t one of them. Not even close. There is only one rigid ideologue gumming up the works in this impasse.

Comment by Whatever Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 7:39 pm
===I’ve heard Madigan called a lot of things, but “rigid ideologue” isn’t one of them.===

You only need to see Conceal Carry and SSM as good examples of pragmatism versus rigid ideologue… if the vote is ripe, and timed correctly too.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 10:27 pm
==Rigid ideologues who don’t compromise on anything are the problem.==

Madigan is a rigid ideologue, but only with respect to one issue: his personal power. Anything else is secondary.

==Conceal Carry== Wasn’t Illinois the last state to pass conceal carry, and that was only as a result of a federal court order requiring the state to do so? Respectfully, how is that an example of proactive compromise rather than rigid resistance for decades?

Comment by Formerly Known As... Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 3:37 am