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Question of the day

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* Alan J. Ortbals, president and publisher of the Illinois Business Journal, writes about the state government impasse…

For the good of the state and its nearly 13 million people, Rauner should put this fight off for another time and negotiate a balanced budget with the legislature. We’re not as far from solvency as many people think. This is fixable.

The Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, an independent, bi-partisan Illinois think tank has put forward a clear and simple plan that would correct our fiscal path in a few years. […]

I understand that the governor believes that adoption of his Turnaround Agenda is necessary to make Illinois competitive again. Others disagree. So, let’s let the voters decide.

In 2018 Rauner and much of the legislature will be up for election. I think the Republicans should make that election a referendum on his Agenda. Like Newt Gingrich did with his Contract With America in 1994, have all the Republican candidates sign it and run on it. If they can convince the majority of Illinoisans that the Agenda is crucial to our future, they’ll not only return Rauner to office but give him the majority he needs in the legislature to pass it. If he continues on his current path, he’ll not only do great damage to the state but he will be held responsible for it by the voters.

Governor, a good general not only picks his battles, he also picks the time and place. This isn’t it. Put this fight off to 2018 and, in the meantime, get Illinois moving again.

It’s worth reading the whole thing.

* The Question: Agree or disagree? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.

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posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 2:49 pm

Comments

Well stated. The only problem is that Rauner has to swallow his ego and start governing. So far, he has shown no evidence of that quality in his makeup. Sad, but true.

Comment by Big Joe Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 2:55 pm
I don’t know enough to say I agree with The Center for Tax and Budget Accountability’s plan, but I absolutely agree with the notion to make 2018 a referendum on Rauner and his agenda. C’mon Governor, if your agenda is all that, you’ll easily win, right? What are you afraid of?

Comment by Northsider Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 2:56 pm
If the only thing that counts is the settlement, then surely Mr. Ortbals would be willing to replace all mentions of “Gov. Rauner” with “Speaker Madigan.” The Speaker should concede now on the Turnaround Agenda, then all Democrats pledge to reverse it in 2018. The voters decide!

Comment by gopower Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 2:57 pm
If the goal of the refusing to have a budget for Illinois is truly the implementation of the Turnaround Agenda, then the advice makes sense. When one way of getting what you want doesn’t work after 18 months of trying, it’s time to try something else. But I think the carnage is the goal and not the TA.

Comment by CCP Hostage Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 2:58 pm
Voted yes. We need a budget. We need to live within a budget.

Comment by Matt Vernau Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 3:00 pm
No.
“I think the Republicans should make that election a referendum on his Agenda.”
This site is filled with campaign ads every day. Does any one of them ever actually outline the actual plans and desires of the candidates? No.
So I’m not sure how you make 2018 a referendum on an actual plan or set of ideas when no one in this state ever campaigns on that kind of stuff.
It would just be the same lies and bs. When no one campaigns on reality, you can’t expect voters to make a real choice.

Comment by m Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 3:03 pm
Rauner didn’t lay out his agenda until after he was elected. To the extent he had a mandate from the voters, that mandate was to be Not Pat Quinn. It was not to wage war on collective bargaining. That came out of left field.

And precisely because he lacks a mandate for the Turnaround Agenda, the Democrats are being rewarded for opposing it. Put it on the ballot and let’s have the debate.

Of course, had he bothered, he could have put the TA into bill form and gotten Durkin to sponsor it, but for some reason, that still hasn’t happened.

Oh wait, I think I know the reason why he didn’t choose that route…

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 3:04 pm
There’s no way I can disagree with the need for a stable, balanced budget for the state. It’s the single best thing we can do for the state economy.

>>I understand that the governor believes that adoption of his Turnaround Agenda is necessary to make Illinois competitive again.

I disagree with the premise here. Rauner’s intention is to destroy higher education, human services, and dig the budget hole deeper to increase his leverage. He has picked this battle and he is winning it. I think he would rather see things keep getting worse for the next two years use that as a campaign issue. I don’t mean that as hyperbole.

Comment by Earnest Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 3:08 pm
I voted No. It seems that there is always another election to stop compromise. Democrats won’t budge and both sides just use it to raise money from their constituents. Sad situation that won’t change.

Comment by blogman Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 3:10 pm
Wait. There’s this: ” … The Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, an independent, bi-partisan Illinois think tank …” Independent and Bi-Partisan? Really? Because that would be great, right?

Exactly who are the Republicans amid the clear and unmistakable union proponents listed here?

http://www.ctbaonline.org/about/board-members

So much for independent and bi-partisan. And so much for the source of this post.

Comment by Deft Wing Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 3:10 pm
Sounds like the Voice of Sweet Reason.

Which is why Rauner’s not listening.

Comment by Aldyth Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 3:13 pm
Voted Yes…

“Why?”

===In 2018 Rauner and much of the legislature will be up for election. I think the Republicans should make that election a referendum on his Agenda. Like Newt Gingrich did with his Contract With America in 1994, have all the Republican candidates sign it and run on it. If they can convince the majority of Illinoisans that the Agenda is crucial to our future, they’ll not only return Rauner to office but give him the majority he needs in the legislature to pass it.===

It will the battle between Raunerites and Republicans.

Rauner took over the GOP under the nothing Rauner wants now.

Ok, run on it, Governor.

Rauner doesn’t want to “Kasiched”, learning the Raunerite Labir demands will be soundly defeated(?)

I voted “Yes” because Rauner desperately would be “No”

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 3:14 pm
If you presume that Rauner is right in demanding reforms for a state budget, then it makes no sense to say but off those demands until 2018 so that you can get a budget now. All that will happen is in 2018 you’ll have to ask the Governor to wait until 2020.

It would make sense to ask the Governor to stop making the demands at all, then it would to delay them.

Comment by Not It Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 3:15 pm
“The Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, an independent, bi-partisan Illinois think tank…”
C’mon, Rich, you are *WAY* too smart and savvy to let that blatant lie stand. I mean, it’s like claiming that the CTU is a neutral party in labor disputes. Rauner is a twit, but spare me the hypocrisy.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 3:18 pm
No. Elections have consequences… beyond waiting until the next election.

Comment by Robert the 1st Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 3:22 pm
Voted yes. If Rauner’s agenda is a good idea now then it will still be a good idea in 2018. If Rauner’s agenda is a bad idea now, then it will still be a bad idea in 2018. In the meantime, we need a budget.

Comment by Joe M Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 4:00 pm
If Rauner refuses to negotiate a budget without reforms before 2018, and the stalemate continues, the election WILL be a referendum on his agenda for all of the ILGOP running for office. It’s inevitable.

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 4:08 pm
Voted yes, but unfortunately, what makes us think the Governor would run on his Turnaround Agenda in 2018, when he didn’t in 2014. Even in this year’s election, his candidates are running against Mike Madigan vs. for the Turnaround Agenda.

Comment by GA Watcher Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 4:14 pm
It just seems so obvious.

Comment by burbanite Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 4:17 pm
Voted yes for a balanced budget.

I also think, as Democrats look forward to 2018, they should propose their own reforms, and start calling them “reforms”.

Reform really only means change, and all legislation proposes change; legislators are change agents by definition.

However, despite the nature and impact of any particular proposed change, the word “reform” has a positive connotation to the ears of the voters, especially when compared to “status quo”.

The Democrats would be wise to start proposing their own competing reforms, and stop ceding to the Republicans all the goodwill among the voters that comes from calling oneself a “reformer”.

Comment by James Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 4:21 pm
I agree. Besides, if the balanced budget is passed, Rauner can take credit for it as well. If it includes revenue, which it’s going to have to, he may have to take some heat for that. Or they can just pass the usual budget, and keep kicking the can. But I’ll bet he can figure out how to make that sound good. To him, at least.

Comment by Archiesmom Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 4:29 pm
Voters have already spoken on the turnaround agenda. Rauner ran on it in 2014 and he won. Time for Democrats to get over it and deal with it. Or use their super majority to enact their spending plan without reforms suggested by the governor. If Madigan was a powerful as he is purported to be then he would do just that. Funny how they all talk tough about how taxes need to be raised and spending needs to be cut (like any of them really believe the latter) while none of them have the intestinal fortitude to do either.

Comment by Captain Obious Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 4:55 pm
===Rauner ran on it in 2014===

He did?

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 5:00 pm
===Rauner ran on it in 2014===

If Rauner did, why was I so surprised when the Decatur PowerPoint rolled out?

I missed all that Labor stuff I guess…

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 5:06 pm
We don’t have to wait until 2018 for a referendum on the Rauner agenda. The Munger-Mendoza race is becoming a referendum on Gov. Rauner and Speaker Madigan.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 5:23 pm
Voted yes. Rauner did not run on his turnaround agenda in 2014. I voted for him, but would not have if I had known how his intransigence on issues that have nothing to do with the economy or state government would turn out, I would have held my nose and voted for Quinn. Let him run honestly on his positions if he thinks they’re that important.

Comment by Whatever Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 5:59 pm
To refresh my memory I googled “Rauner campaign promises” and found references to all of the items on the turnaround agenda on his campaign website. He even threatened to fire state workers and shut down the government according to news articles from the time of the campaign. So yeah, he ran on that agenda and won. In order to get any of those agenda items implemented, he has no choice but to use the leverage he has on the budget. Unless this election dramatically changes the balance of power, both sides seem determined to bunker down and run out the clock till 2018 in the hope they can blame the mess on the other guy. Such awesome leadership!

Comment by Captain Obvious Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 9:00 pm
Of course Rauner ran on his Turnaround Agenda. Illinois voters elected Rauner to be the counterweight to Speaker Madigan.

12 years of total control of state government was soundly rejected.

Democrats have proven they can’t agree on a budget that cuts spending and raises taxes even among themselves.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 11:51 pm
How is the governing going Governor? Or are you just going to post pictures of pretty fall foliage all day

Comment by Longsummer Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 7:48 am
Governor Rauner first mentioned Turnaround Illinois at his State-of-the-State on February 4, 2015, three months after his election: http://www.nwherald.com/2015/02/04/bruce-rauner-unveils-broad-agenda-in-illinois-state-of-state-address/ajpnhxu/

Comment by GA Watcher Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 9:43 am