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Today’s quotable

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* From, who else, but Emily Miller of Voices for Illinois Children…

Miller says she is disappointed with the finger pointing that has gone on for the last 10 months but in some ways, it’s fitting. “Both sides blame the other side, and maybe they’re right to do that because they’re both to blame,” she says. “One of the most devastating things about this crisis is that it was absolutely preventable, and everyone knew it was coming. And now that we’re here, nobody seems to want to take responsibility for it.”

Yep.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 12:38 pm

Comments

Four sentences to say it all. That’s everything, right there.

Comment by illini97 Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 12:41 pm
=== “One of the most devastating things about this crisis is that it was absolutely preventable, and everyone knew it was coming. And now that we’re here, nobody seems to want to take responsibility for it.”===

Tragically true.

No one heeded the warning signs, but used the warning signs to dig in deeper, both sides relishing to possibility of inflicting pain on the other, while hurting those who need not be hurt.

Emily is the gold standard for those in her field of such a special form of advocacy. Period.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 12:48 pm
Perhaps Emily can offer up which Rauner reforms she would like Democrats to enact.

Comment by Austin Blvd Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 12:49 pm
Come on, the gov has — as he said during his first cabinet meeting — repeatedly taken the slings and arrows. He’s got everyone’s back.

So why worry? If Rauner says it, you know it’s true. He’s a businessman.

Comment by Formerly Known as Frenchie M Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 12:52 pm
==Perhaps Emily can offer up which Rauner reforms she would like Democrats to enact.==

I am sure they all would fit into the category of “meeting the Governor half way” - as determined by the Speaker.

“Preventable” means why couldn’t he have just given into Madigan last May?

Comment by Lomez Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 12:55 pm
==“One of the most devastating things about this crisis is that it was absolutely preventable,==

“crisis creates leverage”

don’t know if this avoidable as it was intentional

Comment by working stiff Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 1:04 pm
“Preventable”…
Madigan, Cullerton and the Democrats offered up a budget last spring, which Rauner vetoed.
Both offered up various versions of reforms with actual VOTES, because Rauner’s position was “all or nothing.”
The Illinois Policy Institute, which backs Rauner and to which Rauner has contributed heavily, says a budget impasse is a victory for taxpayers.
Now Rauner is criticizing Democrat senators for trying to find education fairly.
Rauner seriously underestimated his capabilities to “win” in a Deocratic process.
Now Democrats should just serve as his shills like the GOP has done?
Rauner is clearly winning the race to the bottom.

Comment by Austin Blvd Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 1:08 pm
If “squeezing the beast” for the “necessary shakeout” was the goal all along, then it wasn’t preventable, as the governor’s vetoes could not be overridden.

And since the governor has never presented a reasonable or rational ROI for his agenda, it certainly hasn’t been justifiable by any economic or fiscal measures.

There are actions and there are words, and the actions have spoken much more powerfully.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 1:09 pm
Someone hand Emily Miller a mirror.

The boards of nonprofit organizations demanding more funding are packed with millionaires and corporate leaders demanding lower taxes.

Comment by Juvenal Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 1:09 pm
Breaking News from the Little Birdie Reporting Service.

Little Birdie was there during a brief conversation between Gov. Rauner and Speaker Madigan regarding a recent quote from Emily Miller, Voices for Illinois Children. Following is a transcript of their conversation:

Gov. Rauner: “Mike, what do you think of Emily’s recent complaint that ‘nobody seems to want to take responsibility for’ the crisis.”

Speaker Madigan: “I certainly want to address Emily’s concern. I can say Bruce is - you first.“

Comment by Norseman Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 1:09 pm
Little Birdie Correction. Madigan’s last sentence should have read. All I can say Bruce is - you first.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 1:13 pm
Rauner vetoed the budget, then refused to even discuss a budget without tying it to unrelated “turnaround agenda” items. Then an override vote that would have helped the social services was thwarted by one ex-democrat turning himself over to the big-money group. I think it is very clear who is to blame, 99% Rauner, (and that number is probably a little low).

Comment by DuPage Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 1:16 pm
Feel like I should jump in and give the context here, for the folks who may not read the story. We were discussing the tax rates stepping down and that no steps were taken to prepare for it, despite lots of warnings. Plenty of people have their different definitions for “preventable” right now (that’s part of the point of the story.) But in this case, that’s what we were talking about during the interview. It wasn’t in reference to the current standoff.

Comment by Jamey Dunn Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 1:18 pm
Apparently 2 out of 5 union household didn’t see it coming when they voted for Rauner in 14.

Comment by DHSJim Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 1:37 pm
Jamey Dunn-
Bruce went public before the 14 veto session threatening that the Democrats were going to pass a veto session tax increase.
He specifically asked Madigan and Cullerton to hold off on such a vote and to give him a chance to fix the budget his way. They said “OK.”
Everyone is still waiting for Bruce’s grand plan.
Hint: it is to “starve the beast” and, as IPI now says, an impasse is a victory for taxpayers.
If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck…

Comment by Austin Blvd Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 1:39 pm
If Rauner had not sought permission of the courts to operate government illegally (without appropriation authority) there would be even fewer survivors.

This he knows, because the courts have given him room to maintain his impasse.

Comment by Austin Blvd Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 1:43 pm
@Austin Blvd That’s all in the story. Not here to argue political points, obviously. Just wanted to make clear the context of the quote, since I’m the one that had the conversation with her. Thought having the context might be helpful to the discussion.

Comment by Jamey Dunn Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 1:46 pm
Admittedly got a little wound up here, Jamey, and certainly did not want to denigrate your fine work here.
Perhaps a significant point to remember is that Gov. Pat Quinn proposed a permanent solution of maintaining the then-existing tax rates.
He had the courage to do so during an election year.
Then, as today, not all Democrsts were on board and the GOP continued to sit on their hands as they do today.
Everything was avoidable.
And additional pain is avoidable.
But alas, “crisis creates opportunity.”
Thanks for you excellent reporting.

Comment by Austin Blvd Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 1:59 pm
Emily Miller - please run for governor in 2018.

Comment by Mama Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 3:10 pm