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* UPDATED x1 - GOPs participated as well * HDems move to shield social service contracts from immediate cancellation

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As Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner continued his vague calls for compromise Monday, House Democrats approved a measure to require his administration to give 30 days’ notice before it could cancel contracts with service providers who care for the vulnerable.

The bill is designed to prevent a repeat of an April 2015 move in which Rauner tried to save money by abruptly canceling contracts with social service agencies. Opponents at the Capitol dubbed it the “Good Friday Massacre.” Rauner later restored the funding amid intense blowback. […]

“This doesn’t say that you can’t cancel a contract if there’s no money for it; it just says the person with a contract is deserving of notice,” said sponsoring Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, D-Chicago. “I think it’s unconscionable to say to human service providers without one day notice we’re just going to cancel you. What this does is give them 30 days so at least they know how to respond to that fiscal problem.”

Republicans shot back that the focus should instead be on crafting a full spending plan so agencies don’t have to choose which services get paid and which go without as cash flow remains tight.

* Tom Corfman on the legislation…

Not to be suspicious, but does it seem like the Democrats are preparing for more budget deadlock instead of the “grand compromise” the governor so devoutly seeks?

It sure could be seen that way. After all, it’s been more than a year since those ignominious cuts.

*** UPDATE *** If you look at the roll call, you’ll see that at least four Republicans also voted for the bill: Batinick, David Harris, Moffitt, Pritchard.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, May 24, 16 @ 9:51 am

Comments

Why wouldn’t they prepare for buget deadlock? The Gov and minority leaders just paraded out and proclaimed that a budget agreement can’t be reached without major aspects of Rauner’s personal agenda.

Comment by GOP Extremist Tuesday, May 24, 16 @ 10:00 am
==Opponents at the Capitol dubbed it the “Good Friday Massacre.”==

I thought @Oswego Willy ordained it the =Good Friday Massacre=? How about some credit where credit is due?

It would be great to see a Capfax handle appear in print =As @MrJM wrote= =The prominent commenter @wordslinger on Capfax mentioned= =According to @Annonin’=

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, May 24, 16 @ 10:03 am
“the governor so devoutly seeks?”

Really? Try “amorphously seeks” or perhaps, “circuitously seeks.”

Comment by Springfieldish Tuesday, May 24, 16 @ 10:04 am
“does it seem like the Democrats are preparing for more budget deadlock instead of the ‘grand compromise’ the governor so devoutly seeks?”

To my eyes, it looks like the Democrats are treating someone who has previously abruptly canceled social service agencies’ contracts as if he were someone who has previously abruptly canceled social service agencies’ contracts.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Tuesday, May 24, 16 @ 10:04 am
===I thought @Oswego Willy ordained it the =Good Friday Massacre=? How about some credit where credit is due?===

While I appreciate you looking out for me,… I’m sure I borrowed it from Rich Miller and ran with it… and ran with it.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 24, 16 @ 10:13 am
Fact checking note. The initial vehicle was HB4616 filed on Feb 1st. It was a shell so work could be done to attempt to make this a nonpartisan/bipartisan in advance of filing. In fact, drafting in the works on this bill in September and it took so long in order to prevent the legislature from overstepping separation of powers doctrine. Legislators and providers just want to know if services have to be reduced/eliminated due to funding. In normal times, the legislature appropriates and the Governor enacts said appropriations. Shouldn’t the legislature be notified that they haven’t appropriated enough funds in advance if they are tasked with appropriating funds? Shouldn’t they have time to remedy the situation if they wanted to so people don’t lose services one day and get them back a few weeks later? I realize legislators may not have to research and present the underlying factual intent for pursuing legislation before saying it’s political, but I wish reporting on such initiatives would.

Comment by Truth and Fiction Tuesday, May 24, 16 @ 10:22 am
‘Republicans shot back that the focus should instead be on crafting a full spending plan so agencies don’t have to choose which services get paid and which go without as cash flow remains tight.’

In full Church Lady voice: Let me see here. What could be missing? What could solve the problem? Could it be……the Governor’s balanced budget?! Nah, too easy.

Comment by zatoichi Tuesday, May 24, 16 @ 10:24 am
Don’t all contracts already have termination terms defined within the contract itself? Seems odd that additional laws would be required.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, May 24, 16 @ 10:41 am
I have to agree with previous commenters that, when the minority leader and Governor proclaim that nothing happens until the Turnaround Agenda is passed, then it’s smart to prepare for long term gridlock as best as one can.

The Governor can’t get the votes. That’s ballgame. Drop it already.

Comment by illini97 Tuesday, May 24, 16 @ 10:56 am
Anon, you would think that is true, but the facts are as Mr. JM notes: the Governor has already asserted his right to cancel contracts with mere hours notice. Recall with the Good Friday Massacre, the instructions from the administration were to cease operations immediately, with no ability to bill for expenses beyond 5 p.m. THAT DAY. That is completely and patently ridiculous, and a supposed expert business man should know it.

Comment by Pawn Tuesday, May 24, 16 @ 11:08 am
And just to add, I am truly astonished that this is being framed as a partisan thing. It seems to make good business sense — why would we want to make our contracting environment less stable than it already is? Lots of republicans get that too.

Comment by Pawn Tuesday, May 24, 16 @ 11:20 am
== instead of the “grand compromise” the governor so devoutly seeks? ==

Right now, I don’t believe the Governor knows the meaning of the word compromise.

Comment by RNUG Tuesday, May 24, 16 @ 12:56 pm
I’m not sure what this is trying to accomplish other than grandstanding. Notice is already provided.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, May 24, 16 @ 1:04 pm
==I’m not sure what this is trying to accomplish other than grandstanding. Notice is already provided.==

True enough but it’s at least a little encouraging some GOP members agree that Notice should now be measured in a reasonable period of days rather than mere Seconds.

Comment by Markus Tuesday, May 24, 16 @ 1:19 pm
Yes the Good Friday massacre that Senatot Cullerton admitted to having advance warning about

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, May 24, 16 @ 9:51 pm
Please ask “Candy Crush Cloonen” what she thinks about it.

Comment by Lisa C. Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 7:01 am