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“It’s outrageous that House Democrats are willing to put prison workers and public safety at risk just to avoid crossing Mike Madigan”

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Illinois

* From the Illinois Republican Party…

House Democrats today rejected a common-sense proposal pushed by Republican legislators to add funding for critical state correctional facilities to SB2038, a stopgap funding bill aimed at helping social services providers.

“House Democrats today chose to put Mike Madigan’s political war ahead of public safety and what is good for their own districts,” said Illinois GOP spokesman Steven Yaffe. “They rejected a reasonable Republican amendment that would have provided critical emergency funding for state correctional institutions. It’s outrageous that House Democrats are willing to put prison workers and public safety at risk just to avoid crossing Mike Madigan.”

SB2038, the $700 million social service stopgap bill passed the House today, does not fund critical Department of Corrections facilities. Without any amendments, this bill lacks funding for facilities in the following districts.

The administration has been pushing this idea for weeks, but the HDems have so far resisted.

Sigh.

On the other hand, Rauner did veto their approp bill last year.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 2:53 pm

Comments

If the IL GOP would like to have the DOC funded, they should ask the guy that just gave them $5 million why he vetoed DOC’s funding.

Comment by out of touch Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 2:56 pm
Why did the governor veto their funding in the first place, and why did Rauner wait 10 months to send DOC funds to operate?

Comment by Mama Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 3:00 pm
Yet they — the GOP — is more than willing — eager, you might say — to allow AFSCME to strike and … um, put prison workers and public safety at risk.

Yeah, makes a lot of sense. All this is is whining from the GOP because they didn’t get what they wanted. They don’t care about prison workers and public safety. They care about elections and Rauner’s money.

Cynical? You bet. We’ll see what the GOP say when Rauner forces a strike. “Gosh, he tried to negotiate, but all those nurses and bad public workers didn’t listen. Go, Bruce. Go!”

Comment by Formerly Known as Frenchie M Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 3:06 pm
was this before or after Rauner said he hoped the dems would add soending to the agreed education bill and monkey with the good faith agreement…

i cant keep Rauners hypocrisy straight, is it ok to tack on spending to agreements over a specific thing or not?

Comment by Ghost Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 3:08 pm
Please present a balanced budget as the constitution requires and meets the state’s needs.

House Democrats…avoid crossing Mike Madigan.
Republicans…avoid crossing Bruce Rauner.
Is there a difference?

Comment by zatoichi Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 3:10 pm
Yeah……that statement by the ILGOP will help the budget talks move right along…..

Comment by btowntruth Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 3:17 pm
The back to back posts here are causing me to refresh my memory about how World War I finally ended. It is apparent that both sides are still very much stuck in political trenches unable to advance their positions and popularity more than a few feet forward but at the same dug in so deep and secure in their current position that there is no risk of total defeat any time soon.

wonder what state instituions will be left standing on armistice day 2018.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 3:22 pm
Smart move to try to split off the corrections folks. They are in large part the 2 of 5 union households who voted for Rauner.

Comment by Honeybear Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 3:23 pm
===On the other hand, Rauner did veto their approp bill last year.===

From a purely political stance, the salary for prison workers and public safety employees becomes an issue if the court does in fact decide that the state does not have to pay state employees. It’s a lot harder to tell prison guards to go home than it is for the employees of other state agencies.

In terms of best budget practices, an entire budget for FY 2016 needs to be passed. Letting the sharpest pressure points get passed makes it easier to avoid appropriating funds for the rest of the state’s programs that may not be seen as critical.

Comment by Anon Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 3:24 pm
–On the other hand, Rauner did veto their approp bill last year.–

You mean the budget that was $4 billion out of whack? Surely they can’t be made about that veto, what the heck did they expect?

Comment by Ahoy! Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 3:26 pm
===You mean the budget that was $4 billion out of whack?===

Woulda been better than the hole we’re in now, genius.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 3:26 pm
Its outrageous that limited government Republican state legislator called Chicago schools “Adult Employement Centers” when the exact same thing can be said for at least half of the prisons downstate. Release all non-violent offenders and end this Republican Government Stimulus Program immediately!

Comment by Stanley Motss Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 3:31 pm
I forget — on Thursday’s, is it “I’m shocked - shocked! - to learn that there is gambling going on at Rick’s” or is it “I didn’t get a ‘harrumph’ outta that guy”? Either way, we’ve seen this movie lots of times.

Comment by Whatever Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 3:33 pm
“Its outrageous that House and Senate Republicans are willing to put Illinois colleges and universities - the towns and cities they reside in - and programs for the most vulnerable, at risk, to avoid crossing Governor Rauner”

Comment by Joe M Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 3:35 pm
Maybe better to work on the budget than these stopgap measures. Or has one side given up on the idea of a budget?

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 3:37 pm
Ahoy:
Tell us about the balanced budgets Governor Meep Meep has sent to the General Assembly.

Comment by btowntruth Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 3:38 pm
Correct me if I’m wrong, but it is my understanding that the court has already decided that the state does not have to pay state employees when there is no approved appropriation for paying their salaries.

Comment by Mama Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 3:49 pm
–Woulda been better than the hole we’re in now, genius.–

ok, how would it have been better?

Comment by Ahoy! Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 3:56 pm
So Rauner’s state-side operation goes all bipartisany while he dumps money into the ILGOP to ramp up partisan attacks?

Great end of session strategy

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 3:58 pm
“- Stanley Motss - Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 3:31 pm:

Its outrageous that limited government Republican state legislator called Chicago schools “Adult Employement Centers” when the exact same thing can be said for at least half of the prisons downstate. Release all non-violent offenders and end this Republican Government Stimulus Program immediately!”

I have to agree. Though those prisons should be filled with all the violent offenders that are routinely released in our joke of a state.

Comment by Tone Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 3:59 pm
“It’s outrageous that House Republicans have been willing to put the elderly, disabled, college kids, poor, those with mental health problems, state workers etc. at risk just to avoid crossing Bruce Rauner” See how easy it is to see it the other way?

Comment by burbanite Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 3:59 pm
“Footnote 23: AFSCME is forever banned from organizing in the State of Illinois and must immediately disband all locals.”

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 4:01 pm
== how would it have been better?==

How in the world is no budget better than the alternative?

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 4:04 pm
== House Democrats…avoid crossing Mike Madigan.
Republicans…avoid crossing Bruce Rauner.
Is there a difference? ==

There is a chance one of them will forgive your transgressions.

Comment by RNUG Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 4:08 pm
Well so far, ahoy!, we’re about 8 billion more in the hole due to lack of a budget and court-ordered spending than we were when big brain took office, and we’re not funding universities and social services, so there’s that.

Comment by PublicServant Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 4:11 pm
== ok, how would it have been better? ==

$4B reasons, more or less

Comment by RNUG Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 4:11 pm
Which one RNUG?

Comment by burbanite Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 4:14 pm
After Rauner vetos this bill maybe they won’t feel so outraged.

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 4:19 pm
== Which one RNUG? ==

One of them requires JUST two specific votes.

The other requires EVERY vote be to their liking.

Comment by RNUG Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 4:24 pm
@tone:
Barely enough violent offenders to fill one or two of the Downstate Adult Employment Centers.
for it.

IDOC info is all a matter of public record. You can even look at the pictures of the guests at the Adult Employment Centers too, if you look.

Comment by Stanley Motss Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 4:26 pm
Just keep blaming Madigan. Hasn’t worked so far and doubt very much it will work this time either.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 4:34 pm
I forget — on Thursday’s, is it “I’m shocked - shocked! - to learn that there is gambling going on at Rick’s” or is it “I didn’t get a ‘harrumph’ outta that guy”?

“Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here! This is the War Room!”

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 4:49 pm
A Michelle sighting. I’ve missed her pithy and humorous comments of late.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 5:04 pm
I don’t like to be disrespectful Ahoy!, but you’ve invited it. As many others have commented, the $4 billion that wouldn’t have been spent should that budget have been enacted. This ain’t tough stuff.

Comment by Lt. Guv. Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 5:53 pm
Gotcha RNUG! tks!

Comment by burbanite Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 6:05 pm
I don’t see the big deal, GOP, if the state cant support feeding 50,000 people three squares a day, you can just solicit private donations, right? A few rubber chicken events and everything’s all good. Right?

Comment by crazybleedingheart Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 6:13 pm
Did Yaffe notice Madigan got 111 votes on this one?
And then they could be invited to the next VSI steering committee meetin’

Comment by Annonin' Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 6:27 pm
–ok, how would it have been better?–

It would have been much less. That would be better, correct?

The budget deficit would have been at least 50% smaller while still appropriating money for higher ed and social services.

Without any money for higher ed and social services, the comptroller has estimated the current budget deficit is still at $6.2 billion.

Add higher ed and social services in, and it’s billions more.

This just in — 4 is less than 6.2.

It’s so dreary, the bankruptcy of the Raunerbot thoughtsicles. Week after week, month after month. You’ve got no game.

4 will always be less than 6.2. I blame Madigan.

When you throw thousands of Illinois citizens out of work for willfully failing to pay bills for contracted services, it would be swell to present a rational, data-filled explanation of how your “agenda” makes that worthwhile.

Like you did with the school funding and graduated income tax proposals. Chock-full-o-numbers.

The Turnaround Agenda? Crickets and catch phrases.

But the price for it is very real and quantifiable.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 7:57 pm
–“Every day of the budget impasse is a victory for taxpayers,” (John) Tillman said.–

And that’s the alleged brains of the outfit, right?

http://herald-review.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/group-advocates-for-state-government-accountability/article_4463be4c-304a-5492-886f-81cc0d4ace8c.html

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 8:04 pm
did the governor not say this bill was wrong when it was up for vote

Comment by 13th Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 8:30 pm
==vetoed DOC’s funding==

Paid for with magic beans?

Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, May 13, 16 @ 2:00 am
+++==vetoed DOC’s funding==

Paid for with magic beans?+++

Again FKA, presenting a balanced budget by the governor is required constitutionally, and would be the starting point necessary to move things along.

I mean, do you really think “magic beans” are our only option here? Please tell me you don’t believe that, do you?

Comment by PublicServant Friday, May 13, 16 @ 6:10 am
==“Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here! This is the War Room!”

– MrJM==

I’m dreading the day the quote will be, “The Premier loves surprises.”

Comment by Whatever Friday, May 13, 16 @ 8:54 am