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Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner staked his first term on a three-prong strategy to improve Illinois’ economy: loosen the grip held by entrenched politicians, weaken the influence of organized labor and ease regulations on his allies in the business world.
But when push came to shove at the Capitol last week, it was the governor’s “turnaround agenda” that once again landed off to the side, with the needs of Chicago taking center stage and the state’s own financial challenges put off for another day.
The scene that unfolded over three days at the statehouse was a dramatic repeat of a pattern that has emerged the last 18 months as Rauner, a high-powered businessman turned political newcomer, has gone head-to-head with the state’s most seasoned political creature, Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan.
Time after time, Rauner has held firm on his legislative demands, hoping that mounting pressure will send Democrats to the negotiating table. And time after time, Democrats have waited him out until the demands of governing outweigh Rauner’s wish list and he has to strike a short-team deal in the hopes of staying alive politically to fight another day. […]
But it was Rauner who ended up bending the most, as the pressures of having to govern proved stronger than the governor’s willingness to, as he’s put it, “leverage” a crisis in state government to force action on his agenda. The governor railed for months against a CPS “bailout.” But what emerged was a promise of hundreds of millions of dollars in help for the district, and no way for the state to pay for its portion, though Chicago taxpayers will be on the hook for higher property taxes to cover some of the financial fix.
* Tom Kacich was particularly harsh…
There was a lot of talk in Springfield about compromise in the aftermath of last week’s budget deal. That apparently included Gov. Rauner compromising with himself.
In remarks after the six-month budget deal passed the Legislature, the governor at one point said of the spending plan: “This is not a budget. This is not a balanced budget. This is not a solution to our long-term challenges. This is a bridge to reform.”
Not 10 minutes later the governor reiterated his long-held budget and government reform demands: “I’ve been very clear on two things from day one, and those two things aren’t changing … and they will not change. I will not sign off on an unbalanced budget. I’m not going to. And number two, I will not sign off on any new taxes without meaningful structural reform. I’ve been clear on that for the last year and a half and that’s not going to change.” […]
But numerous legislators asserted Thursday that there was more spending than revenue, so we’ll go with that, and point out that as the governor also said, it is an unbalanced budget. Even though he also said he would not sign off on an unbalanced budget.
It’s time for a reset, Gov. Rauner.
Bruce Rauner will have to think fast. Illinois’s stopgap budget, approved Thursday by the General Assembly, covers most state costs only through December. The reprieve is welcome for the hundreds of social service agencies that slashed services over the past year of utter dysfunction. It’s a breather for the rape victims who went without counseling and the college students whose promised state aid served as a regular political football.
But, hopefully, Rauner uses the short respite to rethink his political approach. Campaign promises are easy. Governance amid opposition requires a finesse Rauner has yet to display.
* Tribune editorial…
The job wasn’t well done. It isn’t even done.
Sure, the last-minute stopgap budget deal between House Speaker Michael Madigan, Senate President John Cullerton and Gov. Bruce Rauner helps the state avoid an even bigger and more humiliating emergency — starting a second year of budget stalemate and waiting for schools not to open.
But this six-month deal does precious little to bring Illinois back from the fiscal Walking Dead.
It doesn’t curb chronic overspending.
Doesn’t reform pensions or workers’ comp.
Doesn’t fix a broken educational spending formula.
Instead, it’s a triumph of rock-bottom expectations. For lack of real fixes, some crises — such as the ruinous growth of Illinois’ unfunded pension liabilities — will continue to worsen.
* Related…
* Opponents of State Stopgap Budget Explain Their Votes: For Ives, a no vote was more than a statement vote. “It was the responsible vote,” she said. “If you voted for that budget, get ready, because come January, maybe the end of December, you’re going to also have to feel obligated to vote for a $5 billion-plus tax increase. This budget wasn’t a budget. This budget was a spending plan that we can’t afford. Budgets set priorities and tell you what’s the most important thing you have to fund. All this vote did was set up a tax increase.”
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 11:00 am
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If we were just reading the headlines, we might say, well, they’ve fixed things through December, so that’s not so bad.
But what about this fy. It is so not fixed, I believe. What’s going to happen with all of the bills for fy 16. Perhaps the technical budget folks can enlighten us here. because the media seem to have moved on to fy 17.
Comment by Cassandra Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 11:08 am
“But other than that Land of Lincoln, how did you enjoy the reform?”
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 11:08 am
To Rauner, this was not a budget, it was a “bridge”, and he’s going to use it as much as possible for finger-pointing up to the General election.
http://www.rrstar.com/news/20160705/gov-bruce-rauner-says-democrats-removed-funding-for-rockford-airports-mro
As Rep. Currie stating in the waning moments of debate on the budget vote, the GA may need to have many more specific line items in future budgets to make sure all items are covered and lumped in a general to be figured out and fought over later.
Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 11:11 am
And had he run on what his intentions were, he’d a never won. Instead it was *Quinn bad* and cute TV commercials with his wife meowing how he has not *social agenda*.
As OW says on here constantly….Governors own.
Comment by Doug Simpson Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 11:11 am
should have read- “and NOT lumped in a general line”
Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 11:12 am
“Dear Negative Nellys,
@RonSandack: I’m frustrated 2, but taking steps towards reforming IL more important than short term budget stalemate. - Ron Sandack, 9/28/15
Don’t ‘you’ get it? Gov. Rauner and I want pain. We want destruction, we want collapse. This is Rauner and I winning, and your assessments fail to see our frustration, and why decimating the things Gov. Rauner, and now me too, despises is the governing goal, not your frivolous definitions of what should have happened.
We. Don’t Care.
Signed,
Fake Ron Sandack, speaking for Gov. Rauner and supporting my ridiculous tweet too”
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 11:13 am
Republicans will pick up seats in 2016 and take the majority in 2018. Ron Sandack will be Speaker by 2020
Comment by Grand Avenue Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 11:16 am
These corporate media are obviously fans of “starve the beast”. Here’s a great article about that strategy.
http://www.governmentisgood.com/articles.php?aid=14
Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 11:19 am
===Republicans will pick up seats in 2016 and take the majority in 2018. Ron Sandack will be Speaker by 2020.===
Delicious!
There will be 60 Raunerites in the House in 2020?
If that were to happen, Leader Durkin will step aside and Sandack will be “made” Speaker?
Um, ok… lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 11:19 am
Dear Trib Ed Board,
1) Can you please find or point to the billions in over spending you’d like to cut?
2) Can you please propose a Constitutional pension reform policy?
3) Can you please tell us how the math works with your “fix educational spending” pleas? If the state needs to cut spending but also needs to fix (ie increase) spending on K-12 education, how would this work?
4) Stop whining and propose some realistic, legal policy changes you’d like to see for once.
Thanks,
‘Dale
Comment by From the 'Dale to HP Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 11:24 am
Funny thing though, the Turnaround Agenda Corporate giveaway is in full swing. 215 million is a lot of money to give to corporations in 2015 for not a whole lot of prospective (they aren’t monitored for whether they actually create those jobs) jobs. Additionally in 2015 they only got 23 companies to create more jobs EVEN WHEN THEY GAVE THEM EDGE AGREEMENTS! Only 23! Great job team Rauner. Looks like you’re trying really hard. But hey, you got the ILBEDC up and running. Keep trying on that 501c3 status. Like the Cubs, maybe next year, huh?
http://www.illinois.gov/dceo/AboutDCEO/ReportsRequiredByStatute/Final%20Draft%20of%202015%20EDGE%20Annual%20Report.pdf
Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 11:26 am
So — okay — 18, 19 months in — and how many jobs has Rauner created?
Comment by Formerly Known as Frenchie M Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 11:30 am
Honeybear- Please don’t pick on the Cubbies:) They are doing pretty darn well right now!
http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-embrace-all-star-target-with-mlb-high-7-selections/
Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 11:35 am
Y’all know Rauner is a failure. Fortunately for Rauner, he’s got the money to convince the masses that “down” is “up.”
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 11:36 am
Rauner’s Reformation has been put off; the leverage/crises strategy didn’t work. Will he adapt or continue the same game plan after November? Right now, I’m thinking it will be more of the same. He stumbled, but still thinks he’s successful in everything he does.
Comment by Wensicia Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 11:37 am
Anon221- I am so sorry. Really my bad. It’s a common saying around here and I didn’t even think about it. Honestly I’ve been to even more Cubs games than Cardinals. Plus my elder daughter calls her little sister “cubbie” so I have a fondness there.
Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 11:38 am
Norseman- Well, if you dig a deep enough hole and go through the equator, then, I guess, down would be up at that point. Heck of a way to govern though.
Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 11:40 am
No problem:) Just hoping that commenter Cubs in’16 doesn’t have to change his moniker again!
Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 11:41 am
And not content to get whacked on the SGB he goes back out on the road, like the Travelin’ Willobys, and starts tellin’g stories about stuff that never happen.
Can’t wait for him to ’splain how the schools and colleges got an extra $800+ million cause the legislature told him to ante up.
Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 11:51 am
==18, 19 months in — and how many jobs has Rauner created? ==
Two. Edgar and his debt collection partner.
Comment by Robert the Bruce Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 12:55 pm
Should we count the Superstars who leave in the “jobs lost” numbers for Illinois, or as a net savings of tax dollars???
Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 12:58 pm
Rauner must be laughing himself silly.
He’s gotten away with the willful sabotage of core state responsibilities, including tuning up one million of the state’s most vulnerable, emasculating universities and stiffing contracted vendors of billions in pursuit of a purely political agenda — and all the newspapers do is whack him because he hasn’t “succeeded” yet.
“Succeeded,” at what? Please be specific.
For crying out loud, are they blind? The tactic itself is immoral and illegitimate. And for an agenda that he’s demonstrated has no quantifiable benefits in relation to the severe cost — it’s insane
Don’t worry, he’ll be back doing the same stuff — as long as he can get away with it.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 1:02 pm
Read my lips-No new taxes- Bill Clinton defeats George Bush
I won’t sign an unbalanced budget.-Just did
You can try to explain it all you want but that is the tag line for ‘18 and no matter how many seats you pick up in ‘16 the Dems will slam the that line in every commercial over and over again.
I won’t sign an unbalanced budget…
Comment by DuPage Bard Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 1:20 pm
Well said Word
Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 1:32 pm
An agenda that has no quantifiable benefits Wordslinger?
Apparently you are happy to see the highest unemployment in America. Universities can spend way more on administration than a there peers- no problem
We can have one of the highest workers comp rates in the nation- businesses will just have to pay for the privilege of doing business in Illinois.
If AFSCME want a 29% pay raise and no increase in health care costs- let’s do that too.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 1:33 pm
===Apparently you are happy to see the highest unemployment in America. Universities can spend way more on administration than a there peers- no problem
We can have one of the highest workers comp rates in the nation- businesses will just have to pay for the privilege of doing business in Illinois.===
- Lucky Pierre -
The only quantitative numbers have been 1.4% and $500+ million.
Every single thing you just typed is immeasurable.
Numbers.
Either show numbers or pick another argument.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 1:38 pm
Unfortunately for us, if/when Clinton becomes POTUS, it’ll mean that Rauner will have an easy stroll into 4 more years come 2018.
Comment by CharlieKratos Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 1:40 pm
Biggest tax decrease in Illinois history and what was gained?
Comment by Downstater Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 2:20 pm
OW how is Illinois supposed to pay for our massive unfunded obligations if we don’t somehow attract businesses and the people they will employ here? We need more taxpayers not fewer. The status quo policies you and others advocate have caused our unemployment and outward migration to be the highest in the nation. What do democrats propose for economic development?
Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 2:50 pm
if we don’t somehow attract businesses and the people they will employ here? Like DCEO’s wopping 23 companies? Oh wait, those companies were already here in Illinois and went into the kitty of 215 million given away. So according to the EDGE report for 2015, no companies came here and got incentives to do so. But we gave away 215 million anyway.
Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 2:55 pm
- Lucky Pierre -
Numbers, not words.
Numbers.
Not words.
===The status quo policies you and others advocate…===
I’ve stated, numerous times what my thoughts are, and yet again you say I’m for this “status quo” that is equal to saying if you don’t agree with Rauner 100%, you are a “them” and want no changes.
Why do you continue the caricature? You know, and have been called on it too many times, you are willfully ignorant except to Raunerite talking points. Why?
This babe in the woods ignorance to what you already know is old.
Do better, please.
Do better, and numbers. Give numbers.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 2:56 pm
If AFSCME want a 29% pay raise and no increase in health care costs- let’s do that too.
Totally incorrect. That would be if every employee was at the top of their steps and eligible for the maximum in cola or raise. It’s not even possible. Perfidy
Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 2:57 pm
could the tribune print a line item list of the overspending? or are they just using the mythical canard of overspending to make a fear mongering plea. long gone are the papers use of facts….
Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 3:10 pm
Willy stop he charade that you are a reformer. You are the complete opposite who wants no change in Illinois
Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 3:23 pm
- Lucky Pierre -
Do you want me to pull up where you were called out as to “what reforms” even when you commented on Rich’s list that I agreed were doable and passable?
Your choice…
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 3:24 pm
Honeybear small business creates the majority of the new jobs in America. Our policies here in Illinois are not friendly to small business with all the regulations and high property taxes
Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 3:27 pm
LP- so why does Rauners DCEO or ILBEDC do nothing for small business? Literally nothing.
Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 3:31 pm
Lucky Pierre @ 3:27 ==Honeybear small business creates the majority of the new jobs in America. Our policies here in Illinois are not friendly to small business with all the regulations and high property taxes==
So which under which items of the Turnaround Agenda will which specific regulations (or class of regulations) be eliminated or at least amended so that they are not so burdensome on business? The Turnaround Agenda does not address any regulatory issues, so the Governor must be for the status quo on regulations, right?
Comment by Whatever Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 3:51 pm
Willy nothing is doable or passable with Madigan.
He won’t call any of the bills.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 4:28 pm
- Lucky Pierre -
Conceal Carry… Same Sex Marriage…
Same. Session.
What else ya got?
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 4:33 pm
That was pre Rauner what has happened since he was elected? zippo
Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 4:52 pm
From the ‘Dale to HP
Good questions - every single one.
Comment by Galena Guy Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 4:53 pm
What changed?
Rauner.
“I’ll let you vote for a tax increase after you vote to decimate unions.”
Never going to get 60.
Thought you said “Never” on Madigan passing anything?
Also, the 4 stopgaps, those passed. Hmm.
What else ya got - Lucky Pierre -?
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 4:59 pm
You have a low bar for legislative success Willy. Stop gap was a success? The last budget with Quinn was a success? The entire spring session came and went, no agreement with Senate Democrats on a budget. No fix in the formula for schools, no pension reform, no economic development, no counter proposals to Rauner. Just kick the can and call it a day until after the election. Then we will do it all over again
Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 5:04 pm
“Just kick the can and call it a day until after the election. Then we will do it all over again”
And after all of his posturing and the damage to social services providers, that is exactly what Bruce Rauner did.
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 5:08 pm
===You have a low bar for legislative success Willy.===
So does the governor. Rauner has been touting it all over.
===Stop gap was a success?===
Saved many. You don’t agree? Schools are going to be open, and no turnaround agenda!
===The last budget with Quinn was a success?===
Pat Quinn failed, Bruce Rauner failed? Hmm.
===The entire spring session came and went, no agreement with Senate Democrats on a budget.===
Rauner needed the stopgap to find HIS agencies. How do you like them apples?
===No fix in the formula for schools, no pension reform, no economic development,===
… and yet Rauner touts it as s triumph of cooperation…
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 5:12 pm
-Lucky Pierre-
Please describe the constitutional pension reform that can be passed. Be specific.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 7:49 pm