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Yes, there was an uprising and some agreement

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In an editorial published over the weekend, [Reboot Illinois] called on rank-and-file Democrats — meaning those outside the leadership — to defy House Speaker Michael Madigan and strike a deal with Gov. Rauner.

That didn’t happen.

On Tuesday afternoon, Doubek didn’t seem too surprised. She pointed to the very real power Speaker Madigan has over House Democrats, which makes it risky to get on his bad side.

“He provides a lot of the funding for their campaign,” she said. “He provides a lot of the workers who go door-to-door. He gets a lot of that money and manpower from labor unions in the state of Illinois as well as from trial lawyers.”

* Actually, Madigan was rebuked hard, just not in the House…

Several Senate Democrats, including some members of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, were unhappy with the budget blueprint Madigan muscled through the House last week, contending the longtime speaker too often dictates to them what the state budget will be. The bill failed, garnering only 17 “yes” votes and 31 “no” votes — an emphatic rejection of the powerful Madigan, who also chairs the state Democratic Party. […]

Cullerton met behind closed doors with black caucus members Tuesday evening. State Sen. Emil Jones III told reporters the biggest issue was that “we didn’t have a part in that budget. We weren’t a part of the negotiations.”

“Yeah, it may have taken away a pressure point, but we’re going to be here to negotiate all summer, so we’ll get something done,” Jones said.

* More…

The Senate’s refusal to adopt a budget plan bearing the clear imprint of Madigan, the state party chairman, represented a stinging rebuke to the longest-serving statehouse speaker in America and a setback Rauner allies called a “catastrophe” for Democrats.

Within the 39-member Senate Democratic majority, some senators complained they were unable to have input in the House-passed plan, which arrived last week as a take-it-or-leave it proposition, one of Madigan’s legislative hallmarks over the years in his dealings with Illinois’ upper legislative chamber.

“There was a lot of resentment over the way it was passed,” said Senate President John Cullerton.

* And there was some agreement with the governor…

On the Senate floor, Cullerton said working groups would be finding a way to fund education.

Despite the lack of action on budget deadline day, late Tuesday Cullerton told reporters he’s confident he can get a temporary budget — one that could fund the state until January — in a week. He said he was “optimistic” he could work with Rauner and the leaders on passing a temporary budget that will help the state move forward.

“I hope to have a budget. Think about this. A real budget, signed by the governor — an agreement — within a week. That’s more positive than we’ve been up until now,” Cullerton said.

Cullerton said he reached an agreement with Rauner during a Tuesday leaders meeting to pass a budget “that’s not going to be encumbered by things that have kept us from passing a budget until now.”

* Cullerton held a press conference near the end of last night’s session. Raw audio…

…Adding… Tribune…

How [the Senate] voted on Speaker Michael Madigan’s state budget (which failed): The 17 “yes” votes were all Democrats. The 10 “present” votes were all Democrats. And of the 31 “no” votes, 19 were Republicans and 12 were Democrats, including some potential GOP targets.

The roll call is here.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 9:27 am

Comments

Hopefully this is true optimism (Jones and Cullerton) and not too must open trust in Rauner to do the right thing. The Senate Dems may end up catching Rauner’s arrows for him.

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 9:31 am
This may finally be Cullerton’s time. There has never been a time where his counterpart in the house has been this close to the edge. It’s been coming for a decade. Time to run him over. Hopefully he realizes his hand is not only the strongest it’s ever been, but probably the strongest it’s ever going to be. A temporary alliance would do him a lot of good right now. The stars are lined up to be heroic for this state. Carpe Diem John!

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 9:39 am
So now the Governor’s pension plan is the Cullerton plan and the Governor’s budget plan is the Cullerton plan but instead of meeting with Cullerton in the Capitol today the Governor is doing a campaign-style press tour.

The Governor is now almost half way through his term without ever having passed a budget, maybe he should just turn the whole thing over to someone who wants to do the job.

Comment by The Captain Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 9:39 am
“He provides a lot of the funding for their campaign” And Rauner operates how?

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 9:40 am
This would be a good start. Rauner doesn’t get what he wants yet, but he also doesn’t agree to a full budget without more negotiating later. They appear to finally consider doing the grown-up thing - keeping the wheels turning - without completing giving in to the other side. Thank you Senate rank-and-file Dems for a good effort at restoring sanity in the building.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 9:41 am
As always, I sincerely hope that the leaders and governor can come to a budget agreement–without the poison pills. Please let the governor realize where he can make non-budget changes and work on those.

It’s very unrealistic to try to push through an agenda when the other side has insurmountable objection. Obama and Scott Walker could only pass certain legislation with partisan legislatures. Do the things that can be done today and push for change after that.

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 9:42 am
I am strangely optimistic that they can get some form of a stopgap budget done before July. A budget and a half without turnaround items and with GOP votes looks like a win for the Dems.

Comment by SAP Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 9:43 am
===Time to run him over.===

Yikes.

- A Guy -, Rauner tells private conversations (allegedly) he has with Cullerton. Cullerton, while taking it to Madigan yesterday really came back to…

Stop gap… Not done last night… It needs 71 and 36… and Rauner couldn’t get 60 and 30 to agree to that…

In reality, Rauner had a presser demanding a stop gap last night, didn’t get it, and now Cullerton and Madigan, feuding as they are, now will get lots and lots more GOP votes for the stop gap.

===Time to run him over.===

I’ll send you a “Fire Madigan” catalog, lol.

Pathetic.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 9:45 am
So, maybe the SJR should update their headline - at least online?

=Democratic leaders reject Gov. Rauner’s push for six-month budget=

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 9:47 am
We’ll see Willy. The Senate Dems are not the same as the House Dems. They’ve had it. Their leader either joins them or gets bull dozed himself. That might be powerful motivation. But, alas, until then, you know everything.

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 10:04 am
=The Senate Dems are not the same as the House Dems.=

Agreed. But, aren’t they considered much more liberal?

They proposed $900 million additional spending in the K 12 bill. $450 million or more for CPS I am told.

I am not sure people are reading the tea leaves here.

Madigan’s demise has been predicted so many times. It seems to me like the state is now more fractured (governor v. House v. Senate) than a new alliance being created.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 10:11 am
===They’ve had it. Their leader either joins them or gets bull dozed himself. That might be powerful motivation.===

Same coulda been said about Pate when he was trying to herd the gorillas when they disagreed with the Governor back then.

If you mean steamroll Cullerton, member management votes usually help, kinda like last night.

Again, where are we?

No K-12, stopgap after the 60 and 30 deadline passes, Rauner is out campaignin’, and the Raunerites now will need to have many more “Green”.

Now, you, - A Guy -, may want to run over Madigan, the reality is by ZERO getting done, everyone won and lost, and some steam was released.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 10:12 am
==Agreed. But, aren’t they considered much more liberal?==

Ideologically they are. But ironically, they are also much more reasonable and far more practical.

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 11:40 am
===Now, you, - A Guy -, may want to run over Madigan, the reality is by ZERO getting done, everyone won and lost, and some steam was released.===

Me and about 11 million Illinoisans. The empire is threatened. Go outside. Even you might notice.

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 11:42 am
Possible solution: place Rauner and Madigan in a windowless room, close the door, and never open it again. There, fixed it.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 11:43 am
===Me and about 11 million Illinoisans.===

Ugh. Now - A Guy - you speak for 11 million Illinoisans?

Do they know you have trouble with word meanings?

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 11:58 am
This may finally be A guy’s time. He’s been shoveling so much manure here that this might be the time he’s finally right about something.

Just kidding. He’s not right. He’s just trying to convince himself.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 12:48 pm
==Ugh. Now - A Guy - you speak for 11 million Illinoisans?

Do they know you have trouble with word meanings?===

Speak for one. But, I can read a poll. Can you?

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 2:56 pm
===He’s just trying to convince himself.===

Nah, 47. I’m already there. I’ll keep a seat warm for…maybe not.

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 2:57 pm
===Speak for one. But, I can read a poll. Can you?===

Are there 11 million voters? Put a think on that, get back to me.

If you only speak for one, where did you get, from a poll, it’s the representation of… 11 million people?

Confusing.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 4:09 pm