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The blame game

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Illinois

* From the Illinois Policy Institute’s news service…

During his latest Facebook Live event, Gov. Bruce Rauner said the only way to get an agreement on ending the budget impasse is for both sides to come to an agreement.

Rauner said stopgap budgets are the wrong approach because it just kicks the can farther down the road.

“We’ve been kicking the can in Illinois, not paying our pensions, not paying our bills, for decades, and it’s created the mess that we’re in.”

Illinois’ backlog of unpaid bills is over $10 billion, the unfunded pension liability is nearly $130 billion, and deficit spending is more than $5 billion this year alone.

The answer, Rauner said, is controlling government spending and passing reforms, such as a property tax freeze and workers’ comp reforms to grow the economy.

“We’ve been flat economic growth on jobs for years; meanwhile, our government spending has been on a rocketship,” Rauner said. “That, by definition, always results in unbalanced budgets and deficit spending for the long term, and we’ve got to change that.”

* Illinois Public Radio…

David Tewksbury, who studies political communications at the University of Illinois, says politicians are always trying to shape the narrative.

“Whoever frames what this issue is about is the one who’s probably going to win it, at least as far as the public opinion is concerned,” Tewksbury says.

Rauner wants voters to think the budget impasse is the fault of Democrats fighting to hold onto power, while Democrats say Rauner is trying to force radical changes on Illinois.

* Ted Slowik at the Southtown…

Help me out. I watched Gov. Bruce Rauner’s 30-minute Facebook Live event Tuesday on the state of the budget impasse, and I didn’t get it. To me, it seemed like a waste of time.

The event was billed as an opportunity for citizens to directly ask the governor questions about the budget. Rauner read printouts of questions apparently screened from queries submitted in advance.

I heard a lot of blaming and little substance about how the Republican governor would work with Democratic legislators to solve the state’s problems. […]

We roll along, not so merrily, toward an inevitable tax increase to raise revenues. Democrats and Republicans alike seem most concerned not with balancing the budget but with making it appear the other side is chiefly responsible for the tax increase. So, voters know who to blame in 2018. […]

I don’t understand the governor’s demands that a property tax freeze and term limits are needed for a budget deal, and his Facebook chats aren’t providing much insight. It seems to me that the best way to achieve a budget deal would be if the governor fulfilled his constitutional duty to present a budget proposal.

* Dan Petrella…

Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said Rauner shouldn’t expect such a proposal anytime soon. He noted that it’s the executive branch that actually spends the state’s money.

“The logic would dictate that the people who are going to spend the money should tell everyone how they’re going to spend it and how much,” Brown said.

Cullerton spokesman John Patterson said the Senate president continues to be disappointed that the meetings were called off.

“We’re hopeful that the governor will come back to the table and we can resume negotiations,” Patterson said.

While the leaders aren’t currently meeting, groups of rank-and-file lawmakers have resumed discussions on areas of the governor’s policy agenda, including workers’ compensation, an issue Rauner addressed on Facebook. Although Republican leaders publicly criticized restarting the so-called “working groups,” members of both parties and both chambers are participating.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:30 am

Comments

{{“We’re hopeful that the governor will come back to the table and we can resume negotiations,” Patterson said.}}

Good luck, ask ASFCME how that was going….

Comment by Dee Lay Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:34 am
“Gov. Bruce Rauner said the only way to get an agreement on ending the budget impasse is for both sides to come to an agreement.”

That would be true, except for the fact that Rauner’s idea of “both sides coming to an agreement” is “the other side has to give up everything and I have to give up nothing.”

Comment by JoanP Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:36 am
“We’ve been flat economic growth on jobs for years…”- Rauner from the Facebookiethingee yesterday.

Meanwhile in Rockford… “Chuck Sweeny: Gov. Bruce Rauner, we missed you at the Rockford airport”:

Chuck even wrote a great “speech” for Rauner, too, and he nailed Rauner’s delivery style!

http://www.journalstandard.com/news/20161214/chuck-sweeny-gov-bruce-rauner-we-missed-you-at-rockford-airport

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:37 am
===During his latest Facebook Live event, Gov. Bruce Rauner said the only way to get an agreement on ending the budget impasse is for both sides to come to an agreement.===

There is just something about that statement that has me in uncontrollable giggles. So, for us to reach an agreement both sides need to come to an agreement. Cool. Awesome. It is pure genius.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:40 am
=“the other side has to give up everything and I have to give up nothing.”=
You could tag that on Madigan just as easily.

And that’s the problem. Both have painted everything the other side wants as “extreme” or “unacceptable status quo.”

Rauner could give on contract negotiations, Madigan could give on a workers comp, etc., but neither side has shown any willingness to do that.

Comment by m Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:42 am
===…workers comp, etc.,…===

What exactly IS “etc”?

Be specific.

Thanks.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:45 am
Is this the same BigBrain who told us on Nov. 9 to put the election behind us and then launched into an unenedin’ F* all Ds rampage? is is possible this guy is even nuttier than Blagoof? Perhaps someone could call Stu Levine — a man whod knows both well — an ask.

Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:49 am
I’ve got to agree with Steve Briwn. The Governor spends the money AND is constitutionally required to propose the budget. A different post suggests union style protests by the legislators. We need every Democratic(and the ethical Republican ones) to state both what Steve Brown said and what the Constutution says

… In front of cameras, in letters to the editor of every newspaper distributed in their district, in the Wall Street Journal, at every public appearance.

Comment by Thoughts Matter Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:51 am
@m

Well… one side is willing to work on a budget without preconditions, and one side isn’t. Which sounds extreme?

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:52 am
“We’ve been kicking the can in Illinois, not paying our bills, not paying our pensions, for decades

until Quinn did, then I was elected Governor and we resumed not paying.

Never let facts get in the way of your storytale.

Comment by Sir Reel Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:55 am
Oh - m -

Preconditions never promote good faith.

Especially since none can get 60/30

lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:57 am
==And that’s the problem. Both have painted everything the other side wants as “extreme” or “unacceptable status quo.”==

Not really; Madigan has said nice things about Workers’ Compensation reform, for example, even invoking the possibility of a causation standard. And Rauner has been meely-mouthed about revenue, which at least indicates he’s open to it.

The problem is that Rauner wants to negotiate all issues under the auspices of the budget, while Madigan does not. Perhaps Madigan does not because he simply doesn’t want to negotiate those issues at all, but tying them to the budget really does create unnecessary complications and pain.

It’s not that either side is unwilling to give, it’s that one side insists that the give-and-take process occur in such a way as to maximize chaos.

Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:59 am
The only way this might end would be for the news reporters to only ask one question and only write one story: Governor, why won’t you submit a balanced budget?

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 11:01 am
“…only way to get an agreement on ending the budget impasse is for both sides to come to an agreement.”

This sounds like a Yogi Berra quote.

Comment by Saluki Matt Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 11:15 am
RNUG: Bingo.

Comment by GA Watcher Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 11:15 am
===The only way this might end would be for the news reporters to only ask one question and only write one story: Governor, why won’t you submit a balanced budget?===

That’s just not possible.

In 2 years, the Press, (sorry), some I greatly respect, just live the “Madigan v. Rauner” story and the drivel Rauner wins with daily.

Why?

The Democrats purposely refuse to actively engage in the daily processes of making messaging a priority.

Why should the press do the Dems work for them?

Rauner wins… by first showing up and participating.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 11:19 am
Oswego Willy is right. Dem strategy seems to be hoping the press will do the Dems job for them. They leave a vacuum with no real message that means anything to the average person or helps them understand what’s going on. So, Rauner can merrily continue to paint the Dems as defenders of a status quo that we know everyone in IL hates.
It makes no sense.

Comment by Moe Berg Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 11:47 am
To the people of the state of Illinois,

Please do what is necessary in two years. Vote out governor Bruce Rauner. The guy is terrible.

Comment by Christian County Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 11:56 am
A pox on both the Governor and Speaker. Real people are being harmed by their political games. Perhaps the best way to solve this problem is to lock Madigan, Rauner,and the other legislative leaders in a room, guarded by the State Police and not let them out until they have an agreement.

Comment by Johnny C. Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 12:06 pm
Those are vastly different messages coming out of the House and Senate by their spokespeople.

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 12:18 pm
Contrary to Rauner’s nonsense, the state has not always kicked the can down the road. Under Governor Pat Quinn we were paying the pension bills, cutting down the outstanding bills, and moving towards a normal billing cycle. The fact is that Bruce Rauner’s inability to govern and negotiate in good faith has caused our to state to reverse this progress.

Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 12:26 pm
=Perhaps Madigan does not because he simply doesn’t want to negotiate those issues at all=

That’s why Rauner wants them tied to something. If they aren’t, then Madigan doesn’t negotiate them.

Regardless of how you feel about that strategy, that’s the “why” behind it. It’s very simple.

Rauner wants a victory on at least part of his agenda, or he won’t sign a budget or tax hike, regardless of what that causes. Madigan wants none of those things that Rauner wants, regardless of how popular some of them may be among the citizens of the state, so he says no to the whole process.

Cullerton is standing in the middle trying to find a path forward for a deal, or is at least doing a good job of making it look like he’s doing that.

That’s the entire impasse.

Rauner doesn’t want chaos and destruction. He wanted to threaten chaos and destruction. Dems didn’t think he would go through with it, Rauner didn’t think dems would let it happen. Both sides were wrong.

Comment by m Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 12:45 pm
===That’s why Rauner wants them tied to something. If they aren’t, then Madigan doesn’t negotiate them.===

Then Rauner is solely responsible, under that argument, for the impasse, and the purposeful hurting of the people of Illinois.

Also that means Rauner can’t find 60 and 30 without holding hostage the whole state. Thanks!

===Madigan wants none of those things that Rauner wants, regardless of how popular some of them may be among the citizens of the state, so he says no to the whole process.===

Rauner puts 60 and 30 on the stairs, then Rauner can get his wins here. Why won’t he?

===Rauner doesn’t want chaos and destruction===

LOL!

I can pull the 2012 quote for ya that makes that look silly…

===Dems didn’t think he would go through with it, Rauner didn’t think dems would let it happen. Both sides were wrong===

That’s about the whole ball game, right there.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 1:42 pm
12/14/2016

https://www.illinois.gov/cms/agency/media/radio/SitePages/AudioArchive.aspx

RAW AUDIO: Off-topic Q & A w/Governor Bruce Rauner.

Go to the 4:50 mark (about) when Rauner is “fact checked” by a reporter. We.Need.More.Of.This!

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 2:09 pm