Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Mendoza transition team responds to the Sun-Times’ Madigan conspiracy theory

Posted in:

Illinois

The thinking is that House Speaker Mike Madigan is killing time until newly elected state comptroller Susana Mendoza, a fellow Democrat and Madigan team player, comes on board and stops paying state workers, if she can get that by the courts. This would precipitate such a crisis that Rauner would be forced to abandon his last preconditions for a budget deal — a property tax freeze and legislative term limits. A competing theory says Rauner is prepared to ride this impasse straight into the 2018 elections.

* Gov. Rauner didn’t respond to that last sentence, but told reporters today that the editorial “troubles” him and “has me concerned”…

“What we don’t want is a crisis where the government is shut down. And our state employees are hard working, unlike the legislators… I’d ask Comptroller Mendoza to please stand firm like Comptroller Munger did.”

Raw audio…

Click to listen

* So, I reached out to Comptroller-elect Mendoza’s transition team. “She hasn’t talked to the Speaker about this,” I was told by an exasperated staffer, who noted that the CS-T didn’t check in first.

“They’ll look at every court case and get up to speed,” the transition official said. The staff “need some time to understand these things and develop their own legal opinions… You just can’t make decisions like this in the dark.” Until then, all options need to be on the table, I was told.

With that being said, I’m told this is not an option Mendoza wants to pursue.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 4:01 pm

Comments

I’d bet a container of Guacamole that Rauner is really concerned about many things Mendoza may or may not do.

Seeing that Mendoza still thinks her oath is a complete joke and withholding pay, in any way, from legislators is fine, Mendoza already is showing she lacks, at best.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 4:04 pm
Did the Gov just say Legislators are not hard working people?! I’m sure those same Legislators that he needs to work with will appreciate that.

Comment by Springfield Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 4:08 pm
Did someone spike the S-T editorial board water cooler with Trib goofy sauce?

Mendoza is not dumb enough to stop pay for employees.

Maybe it’s time for someone to file a taxpayer lawsuit to stop employee pay. With apologies to my still working friends, this may be the only way we can force a budget.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 4:09 pm
This question was posed to Mendoza at the BGA event on Wednesday evening. I was in the audience and felt that she left that door wide open. This is probably the origin of the rumor.

Comment by Dome Gnome Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 4:14 pm
===our state employees are hard working===

Heh. This guy is like an emotionally abusive ex.

Comment by Anon Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 4:15 pm
I was at same event as Dome and she gave same answer she did today: said she has to get into office on Monday and look at all of the court orders before she makes any decisions.

Comment by Thinking Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 4:22 pm
–* Gov. Rauner didn’t respond to that last sentence, but told reporters today that the editorial “troubles” him and “has me concerned”…–

And did any of those reporters follow up as to whether the governor is troubled or concerned about Catholic Charities, Lutheran Social Services, medical providers, et. al., not getting paid?

What’s the difference? They’re all supposed to be paid to do a job, right?

I kid. Illinois reporters don’t do follow-up questions. That’s how you can go two years without a reasonable answer as to the fiscal and economic benefits of the turnaround agenda.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 4:23 pm
Yes, someone should sue to stop the payroll. Just get this over with already.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 4:24 pm
==- Springfield - Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 4:08 pm:==

I don’t see the governor driving Ubers for a check. Just constantly whining. Whining and whining and whining.

Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 4:26 pm
It’s important to remember that, for obvious political reasons, Lisa Madigan decided not to appeal that 2015 St. Clair County judge’s order to keep paying employees, even in the absence of an appropriation. I have little doubt that order would have been thrown out by the Appelate Court, if they were asked (see AFSCME v. Netsch, 1991.)

Is the Illinois Attorney General the only person with legal standing to pursue such a case? Or does any Illinois resident have legal standing.

Like it or not, a complete government shut down is the only thing that will end this standoff. Time to rip the band-aid off.

Comment by Roman Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 4:26 pm
Better to drain the swamp slowly rather than all at once - keep’em at work but with no contact till 2018

Comment by Lech W Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 4:33 pm
Rauner doesn’t want state government shut down? Then why is he forcing state workers out on strike?

Comment by Jeff Park Mom Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 4:33 pm
“…if she can get that by the courts.”

It already got by the courts, in 1991.

http://www.rebootillinois.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/afscme-v-netsch.pdf

Comment by Retiree Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 4:36 pm