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Get ready to rumble in December

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Mendoza’s victory Tuesday gave Madigan bragging rights in that contest, but opinions vary about how much Mendoza’s election will actually change the political atmosphere in Illinois. […]

Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, R-Lemont, downplayed the idea that Democrats will now control the comptroller’s office along with the offices of attorney general, secretary of state and treasurer.

“I don’t see that as being a big issue,” she said. “Those offices are more custodial than anything and have limitations based in law on what they can and cannot do. I don’t see that as a big factor.” […]

The comptroller’s office pays the state’s bills, which for years now has been a juggling act because there isn’t enough revenue to cover all of the expenses. A great deal of state spending is dictated by court orders, consent decrees or existing state laws that dictate which bills must be paid. However, the comptroller still has latitude. One of Munger’s most popular decisions was to announced that state lawmakers would have to wait in line to get paid as many businesses and agencies already must wait.

“I don’t think the actual behavior is going to be that much different than Munger because of how constraining the fiscal situation is,” Redfield said. “But I think she can be much more vocal and be shining the light about the problems the lack of a budget is causing and shine the light more in the governor’s direction. She can have an impact on public opinion and perception.”

Sorry, but one Republican saying something doesn’t make it true.

And, for crying out loud, didn’t anybody pay attention to the campaign? Mendoza clearly positioned herself as a bulwark against Raunerism.

As we’ve discussed before, the comptroller’s office is not just “custodial.” The office has an enormous amount of leverage because it can decide who gets paid when. Gov. Rauner’s partnership with Munger has allowed him to put out numerous potentially embarrassing fiscal fires for almost two years. Those partnership days are over.

And Redfield is right that the office also has a significant, credible public megaphone. Mendoza can highlight issues in a way that puts pressure on Rauner. Munger has reserved most of her harshest comments for the Democratic-controlled General Assembly.

* Also, by the way, this is from the statute which created this year’s special comptroller’s election…

In the case of a special election pursuant to this Section, the appointed officer shall serve until the election results are certified and the person elected at the special election is qualified.

The State Board of Elections plans to meet on December 5th at 9 o’clock in the morning to certify the election and issue its proclamation. So, Mendoza will take over when that work is completed.

* Related…

* Emanuel hints he’s inclined to pick Latino to replace Mendoza as city clerk

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 9:43 am

Comments

How does this change impact the statewide financial system?

Comment by Ex Slave spsa Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 9:48 am
Here’s hoping Mendoza’s election brings us closer to a budget resolution.

But I still think and will warning the AFSCME members who post here of the very real chance the new Trump SCOTUS appointee will join with the other Republican justices to overturn Abood and any leverage you have now will be even less then.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 9:49 am
–The office has an enormous amount of leverage because it can decide who gets paid when. –

Kind of a big deal in most circles.

Those in the office also have a good idea on when governors are holding back bills for payment to make the bottom line look better.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 9:50 am
“I don’t see that as being a big issue,” she said. “Those offices are more custodial than anything and have limitations based in law on what they can and cannot do. I don’t see that as a big factor.”
****
Senator, if this was just a custodial office, why was so much money spent on the election for this office? I hope Mendoza does take the spotlight out from under the “bushel basket”. And, the votes taken in both the House and the Senate will be watched and compared to those stories that are spotlighted. Lame duck session or not, the re-instated Raunerites will be on record, and there is no upcoming election to hide behind anymore.

Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 9:52 am
““I don’t see that as being a big issue,” she said. “Those offices are more custodial than anything and have limitations based in law on what they can and cannot do. I don’t see that as a big factor.” […]”

Sooooooo….limitations like following the Illinois Constitution and paying legislators?

Comment by Romeo Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 9:52 am
Did Senator Radogno just dismiss every Constitutional office, with the exception of the Governor, as irrelevant?

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 9:58 am
===being a big issue,” she said. “Those offices are more custodial than anything and have limitations based in law on what they can and cannot do. I don’t see that as a big factor.”===

The statewide referendum on Rauner failed.

While Mendoza underperformed in any way you’d like to measure, Rauner losing on a macro level, even in a POTUS universe with a +4 micro win in House seats is still ridiculously huge.

You now have Rauner… his LG… and 73 GA seats…

… and the Democrats holding 4 statewide Illinois offices, both US Senate seats and 104 GA seats.

Rauner needs significant Democratic legislative help, and both statewide fiscal officers now available to frame “Rauner failings” with petitions in September 2017 not too far away.

The significance of Mendoza is Democrats and Labor and a POTUS voting universe staving off Raunerism’s valiant push to keep in place a critical component to managing Rauner’s purposeful pain plan.

Leader Durkin is the most important actor, outside Rauner, bar none, on the GOP side. Durkin alone could make possible significant victories and realistic agreements that could allow both sides to find easy victories, but also allow important governing to take place.

Durkin is frankly the key to give Rauner his realities, and allow Madigan to get his bridging without going beyond what could be unacceptable to get to 60 in the House.

This IS the ball game. It’s everything. Rauner’s Crew would be best served in allowing Durkin to find paths and cobble victories that having Rauner blow up possible avenues with ridiculous rhetoric and unneeded politicking for no greater use than to inflame Democratic angst and fuel Madigan distain.

Does Rauner want to govern?

If Durkin takes a significant leadership position, the answer may be yes.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 9:59 am
==But I still think and will warning the AFSCME members who post here of the very real chance the new Trump SCOTUS appointee will join with the other Republican justices to overturn Abood and any leverage you have now will be even less then.==

Not if they do it right, and hold that the unions do not have to represent those who elect out. When the next union contract says that the employer has to pay union members at least as much as nonunion employees in the same job and give union members preference for promotions, and the nonunion employees have to be laid off first, those who want to be free riders may change their minds.

Comment by Whatever Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 9:59 am
This was a huge race with massive implications. People who pooh-poohed its importance are going to quickly learn how wrong they were. Any lawsuit or legal action is going to cause more strain/strife.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 10:01 am
I think she will plays games with it more than Munger did. In my opinion, Munger did as good a balancing act as anyone and hope she will pop up again.

Comment by retired guy Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 10:06 am
The “custodial” comment comes from a Senate Minority Leader who once aspired to be one of those custodians.

Comment by GA Watcher Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 10:06 am
I give it until the last week of January that legislators will start getting paid again. With or without a budget, do you think Mendoza will tell MJM no when he tells her to start prioritizing the paychecks?

Comment by just a matter of time... Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 10:11 am
Come on, Rahm! Be a leader! How about selecting someone for the position of City Clerk because he or she might actually be well qualified?

Will the ethnic pandering never stop? Mendoza was a Latina, so her replacement has to be from the same background? It is 2016, but nothing has changed.

Decades ago, the position of City Clerk was deemed to be reserved for Polish politicians. Pick anyone, but make a good pick.

Comment by Rerun Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 10:13 am
Radogno is a good legislative leader, but a lousy spokesperson.

They’re missing Matt Murphy big time.

Comment by walker Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 10:23 am
This may create more problems for the Dems than advantages. Right now, Rauner “owns” the payment priorities. That won’t be the case any longer. When a Madigan campaign contributing vendor or contractor gets paid ahead of disabled service providers, Mendoza will own it, NOT Rauner. When non-union social service providers go bankrupt while Madigan union contractors get paid promptly, Mendoza and Madigan will own it.

With great power comes great responsibility.

Of course, none of this will make any difference to the remaining Illinois voters who pay taxes. This is Illinois, and Dems are “held harmless”.

Comment by Illinois Bob Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 10:28 am
The Comptroller is the state’s chief fiscal officer in charge of paying bills, financial accounting and reporting including local government reporting. The office though seems to lack of real authority over agencies under the governor and university and pension systems that thwart the Comptroller’s ability to exercise its fiscal authority (as questioned by the first commenter in this thread).

Comment by justacitizen Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 10:30 am
==The office though seems to lack of real authority==

And you base that belief on what?

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 10:40 am
So Wingman will be free to get Gidwitz to have her name Ambassador to Tan in the Box on 1-20-17
TTFN

Comment by Annonin' Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 10:51 am
it is not insignificant that Susana knows how to compete hard from her days playing soccer for the college team. play to win, know how to compete, learn how to lose and move on. but always keep practicing and playing. She’s super upbeat even in the face of difficulty. what a great addition to the work statewide.

Comment by Amalia Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 10:52 am
==The office though seems to lack of real authority==

And you base that belief on what?

Worked there 20 yrs for one thing. The office generally has to pay bills first-in, first-out with “hardship” exceptions otherwise gets exposed for playing politics.

Comment by justacitizen Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 11:12 am
I wonder what Judy Baar Topinka would have to say about the Comptroller’s office being “custodial”?

Comment by Aldyth Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 11:18 am
=and hope she will pop up again.=

She would actually have to win an election.

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 11:53 am
I’ve never been much impressed by Radogno, but with Sandack off in Anthony Weiner land, I guess someone has to fill the role of issuing inane comments. I would love to hear her analysis of how the AG position is custodial.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 12:06 pm
–But I still think and will warning the AFSCME members who post here of the very real chance the new Trump SCOTUS appointee will join with the other Republican justices to overturn Abood and any leverage you have now will be even less then.–

I agree. Abood and a lot of Labor law is about to be overturned.

But I disagree on the consequences of that.

I truly believe and work every day with the faith that the coming adversities will bring about the second coming of labor.

I know, I know, I can sense the eye rolling right now. But the success that Trump has had harnessing the economically agreed has shown the way.
With Trump it is truly smoke and mirrors on how he will help economically. Sorry folks the gains will go to the top.

The more it goes to the top the more people will realize that local unions, not Labor, has fought hard for them all the time.

Why not Labor with an L? Because Labor sold out to the neoliberal policies that brought about this age long ago. Unionism will renew itself with a purge of leadership and protect and meet the needs of the working class again.

Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 1:53 pm
Honeybear, Not sure your right on a Trump appointee and labor. Trump won a majority of midwest votes from union members… Trump and Rauner are not clones…

http://www.autonews.com/article/20161109/OEM02/161109818/labor-union-anger-fueled-trump-in-midwest

Comment by Liberty Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 4:45 pm