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Radogno rips into the Democratic leaders

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Illinois

“There was a dramatic change in tone today,” said Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno following a short meeting between Rauner and the four leaders Friday morning. “The Democrat leaders essentially pulled the plug on negotiations. They want to push the balanced budget reforms off until the fall, after the election.”

* WGN finished the above Radogno quote…

“It’s clear their priority is political and not for the good of the state.”

* Leader Durkin agreed…

After today’s meeting, House Republican Leader Jim Durkin told reporters that Democrats are motivated more by politics than reaching a deal.

“It’s clear that they want to push things off until after the election,” Durkin said.

* Sfondeles…

“Today, the Senate president characterized this oh, not as waving the white flag, not as giving up but rather a time out,” Radogno said. “Well we should have had a time out in April. There’s nothing that’s changed. I believe they’ve purposely slow walked this to create a crisis.”

Prior to Friday’s meeting, Madigan had always been characterized as the leader most unwilling to compromise in leader meetings with the governor.

But Radogno dubbed that behavior “good cop, bad cop.”

* Team Tribune…

Republicans insist the working groups have been making progress and that the lawmakers involved are becoming frustrated with Madigan and Cullerton.

“What I think is happening is that the rank-and-file Democrats are getting ahead of the entrenched leadership that they have, and the leaders now want to pull that back,” Radogno said.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 27, 16 @ 1:35 pm

Comments

If you can’t cut a deal with Cullerton, there probably isn’t a deal to be had.

Comment by RNUG Friday, May 27, 16 @ 1:41 pm
Slow walk vs Rauner’s crash and burn….

February 2015. Let’s not forget when the game of “Stratego” began with Rauner, at least on the budget front.

Madigan’s budget bill is a shake up on delays and vetoes and “that’s not enough” reformation litanies. The Republicans can continue to be Rauner’s frontline troops- but they need to realize, he considers ALL of them expendable.

Comment by Anon221 Friday, May 27, 16 @ 1:42 pm
don’t know how that meeting actually went, but, for the first time, I’m seeing Madigan in a harsher light. that’s hard for me as a Democrat to say, but that’s the vibe I’m getting from the last couple of weeks of actions. perhaps they want a time out to get off that image so they can pivot to the election.

Comment by Amalia Friday, May 27, 16 @ 1:47 pm
Oh yes, because Radogno and the SGOP are sooooo ready to take action today.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Friday, May 27, 16 @ 1:47 pm
Which side is already running robocalls on the budget? The pure above-politics side? Just checking.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Friday, May 27, 16 @ 1:47 pm
Let’s be clear Durkie and SqueezeTheBeast have been misinformed or …., but the BigBrain practice of raising new issues — aka retiree healthcare — make it hard to nail anythin’ down.

Comment by Annonin' Friday, May 27, 16 @ 1:50 pm
This is what Madigan wants. Do not give in.

He is not prepared to compromise and does not want any sort of =negotiated deal=. He just lost 8 Dems on his money tree budget.

He realizes the negotiations were making progress without him and were out of his control. He ran that surprise budget 5 days prior to the end of session because he wants to create chaos before everyone reaches an agreement without him.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, May 27, 16 @ 1:51 pm
If Radogno and Durkin really want a budget they could just tell Rauner to use the line item veto. But he doesn’t want to wear the jacket for cuts. So they are engaging in the same empty rhetoric that they assign to the Democrats. Either side could unilaterally solve this. Neither one will and just blames the other as if we are dim.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 27, 16 @ 1:52 pm
A “time out” on negotiations is called on May 27th? Negotiations basically died the day Speaker Madigan rammed through his 500 pages of appropriations with little or no notice on a rush vote two days ago.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Friday, May 27, 16 @ 1:52 pm
Smoke and mirrors, Leader Radogno…..the Governor appears no more interested in a balanced budget. A compromise seems out of reach at this point. Maybe November will soften positions, but until then, the suffering continues.

Comment by Ole' Nelson Friday, May 27, 16 @ 1:53 pm
Christine,

Have you asked Republican Governor Bruce Rauner when he is going to submit his Constitutionally Mandated Balanced Budget?

Its your responsibility to follow up on this. Why havent you done so?

Have a good Holiday weekend,
Michael J Cirrincione

Comment by Mike Cirrincione Friday, May 27, 16 @ 2:00 pm
=== “It’s clear their priority is political and not for the good of the state.” ===

If the GOP put the good of the state as its priority, would they demand the TA instead of agreeing to a budget? Take the plank out of your own eye first, Senator.

Comment by anon Friday, May 27, 16 @ 2:08 pm
A new demand … aka retiree health benefits … on May 27th? How did you expect the Dems to react? Reps seemed to have everything covered with press conferences. Why would you add another demand today? Yeah … all Madigan again. Please!!! Radgano is still trying to shake some more down.

Comment by BBG Watch Friday, May 27, 16 @ 2:11 pm
==I believe they’ve purposely slow walked this to create a crisis.”==

I believe they’ve purposely slow walked this to prolong the crisis that the GOP created.

There, fixed it for ya’ Squeezy.

Comment by Gruntled University Employee Friday, May 27, 16 @ 2:11 pm
From what I saw today the only hard line demands of anyone were 7 GOP members telling the Governor to negotiate with AFSCME?

Comment by DuPage Bard Friday, May 27, 16 @ 2:13 pm
Hey Gruntled…
Your correction requires correction.
Both sides have a share of the blame in this nightmare.
Have a nice weekend.

Comment by Jake From Elwood Friday, May 27, 16 @ 2:17 pm
No budget until November. Then we may get a lame duck budget or we wait until January 2017. Who picked 18-20 months for a budget? What a crock.

Comment by pool boy Friday, May 27, 16 @ 2:19 pm
Pish posh, Christine.

You’ve had so many opportunities to intercede for the “good of the state” but you repeatedly failed beneath the weight of the political expediency of billions of dollars of campaign funds for your caucus dangling above your head. You’re so far gone, Senator, that you wouldn’t know “the good of the state” from a ham sandwich. Your descent into the deep partisan trenches began long before Rauner, back when you wouldn’t even participate in cost savings measures for the administration of your own Senate.

Now you offer outrage? Fancy that.

Comment by Springfieldish Friday, May 27, 16 @ 2:21 pm
Let’s see, didn’t Radogno say not that long ago that the impasse was beneficial because it allowed them to “squeeze the beast”. Didn’t Rauner say that “crisis creates opportunity”. Now they are accusing the Democrats of doing these same things and are angry about it. That doesn’t mean that this absolves the behavior of Democrats but aren’t they taking a page out of the Rauner playbook? Does Radogno’s recent eagerness of reaching a deal mean that she now thinks that the beast has been squeezed enough? Maybe she is motivated by her belief that the Governor’s approval ratings will continue to drop and harm her party if the impasse continues. You have to wonder because a couple months ago she was in no hurry to end this stalemate and actually seemed to embrace it.

Comment by The Dude Abides Friday, May 27, 16 @ 2:27 pm
Our state will get better the day after never with Madigan and Cullerton riding herd over our Senators and House members.

And it will never get better as long as Madigan controls the state,

Comment by mokenavince Friday, May 27, 16 @ 2:33 pm
BBG - watch-,what was the new demand for retiree health care? I can’t find specifics anywhere, other than removing it as a collective bargaining issue.

Comment by Oldman Friday, May 27, 16 @ 2:40 pm
Excuse me, who created the budget crisis after saying we need to shut this thing down?

Comment by Wensicia Friday, May 27, 16 @ 2:44 pm
===And it will never get better as long as Madigan controls the state,===

Someone started Memorial Day early.

Please, your victimhood isn’t compelling.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 27, 16 @ 2:44 pm
Senator Radogno continues her fight for Illinois’ soul. Trouble is, you can’t really get the soul out until the body’s dead.

Comment by Earnest Friday, May 27, 16 @ 2:52 pm
The budget impasse was created and prolonged by Rauner and GA Republicans. Now that Rauner is tanking in the polls and GA members (such as Norine Hammond who has WIU in her district) are catching heat from constituents, they suddenly desire a compromise. Their sudden concern is politically motivated. They wanted the impasse, so let them wallow in it until November electronic tons are over. A number of them can then cast lame duck votes. Karma.

Comment by Illinoised Friday, May 27, 16 @ 2:53 pm
Senator Squeeze The Beast and Rep. Durkin would certainly not do anything for political purposes. /S

Comment by Norseman Friday, May 27, 16 @ 3:06 pm
Does anyone really understand what is going to happen without an FY16 budget! Business are going to close placing a lot of people out of work.
Then when all those business have to eat what is owed them, the ones still in business won’t be back July 1

Comment by Just Because Friday, May 27, 16 @ 3:12 pm
when you use words like reforms, but wont say what you really mean, then you are playing politics Wrongdango

Comment by Ghost Friday, May 27, 16 @ 3:17 pm
Earnest +1

Comment by Anon221 Friday, May 27, 16 @ 3:23 pm
What I see is that the GOP is completely unprepared to negotiate on the budget, they are only focused on Rauner’s turn around agenda items.

Madigan held his budget until two days ago when it was clear that the Governor’s budget wasn’t close to being ready for a vote.

Rauner doesn’t want to govern and doesn’t care about the consequences.

Comment by Chicago 20 Friday, May 27, 16 @ 3:23 pm
==Constitutionally Mandated Balanced Budget==

Funny that should be mentioned.

The GA has not done passed a balanced budget in 4 years. Democratic or Republican governor, tax increase or no tax increase, it makes no difference to them. They have not done their job for 4 straight years. Anyone who thinks Rauner alone is responsible for this dysfunction is not paying attention.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, May 27, 16 @ 3:51 pm
The Dems know that it is always the Governor who gets the blame, they’re more than happy to make a mess and let everyone assume it is Rauner’s fault.

Comment by Not It Friday, May 27, 16 @ 3:52 pm
Just Because- what exactly do you think has been happening to businesses ( and social service providers are businesses) since the great Rauner Contract Freeze and Budget Veto of 2015??? It isn’t a trickle down effect. It has turned into a tsunami that people are starting to realize they cannot outrun.

Comment by Anon221 Friday, May 27, 16 @ 3:55 pm
==to prolong the crisis==

14 years straight of deficits is not =prolonged= enough?

Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, May 27, 16 @ 4:42 pm