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Magic 8-Ball: Outlook not so good

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Illinois

* Bob Reed on Donald Trump’s $1 trillion capital plan and the Illinois Safe Roads Amendment and what that all means…

There is even some cautious, if overly hopeful, talk that sometime next year Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan could put aside their differences and craft a multiyear capital spending bill.

Don’t laugh.

Yes, that’s a pretty tall order since both men have failed to reach a budget deal for over two years. Still, others say a rapprochement is possible.

Jim Reilly, an experienced political hand who’s now a senior fellow at the Metropolitan Planning Council, envisions a capital bill emerging if and when a state budget accord is reached.

That’s particularly true if the budget deal calls for higher taxes and lawmakers are scrambling to explain a rate hike to their tax-averse constituents, he adds.

“Historically, the legislature has also done a capital bill so legislators can say they voted for an increase but, ‘look, I also got you a new highway or a bus route or whatever,’” said Reilly.

Unless there’s a truce, and a real honest to goodness truce at that, I wouldn’t hold my breath. Capital bills give governors enormous leverage. They can dangle projects over members’ heads to get them to vote the way they want. Anyone think that Speaker Madigan is ready to hand those powers over to Gov. Rauner? Yeah, maybe - maybe - he could somehow draft legislation to lock in spending, but Rauner would still have to sign it.

Also, too, the governor himself just said that Madigan is backing away from a tax hike for now.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 12:30 pm

Comments

Plus, now Mr. Trump says that the trillion dollar package actually isn’t “core” priority. http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/307424-trump-says-infrastructure-not-core-part-of-his-agenda bait and switch.

Comment by NoGifts Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 1:05 pm
Trump’s plan was dependent on other people’s money. OMP requires someway of being paid back with a healthy profit.

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 1:32 pm
Capital bills are good, when there is not to much bid rigging and graft, but a budget for the whole state is what is really needed.

An agreement just on a capital bill is all frosting and no cake.

Comment by Federalist Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 1:41 pm
Forget a capital bill.

If these guys ever do a real budget together, their next job will be trying to work together to rebuild this state’s health services infrastructure when D.C. Republicans wreak havoc with whatever they get Trump to sign after January.

At the very least, good luck to anyone on Medicaid and anyone who purchases health insurance as an individual.

In the worst case scenario, queue the “Get your Government hands off my Medicare” freakout next mid-term.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 1:44 pm
Voting for a capital bill provides no cover with the public, for voting for a tax increase. None.

Comment by walker Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 3:50 pm