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Pot, meet kettle

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* We’ll get back to the rest of this Tribune article a bit later this morning about the Senate’s “grand bargain” plan, but I wanted to highlight the end of it first…

Both chambers would have to agree on any budget plans before they’d reach Rauner’s desk. The division in strategy between the chambers already has raised some doubts.

“My experience has been, all the past budget plans we have passed have been in a bipartisan fashion, with all four caucuses and the governor engaged. Until we do that, based on what I’ve seen so far, nothing is going to happen,” said Rep. Fred Crespo, a Democrat from Hoffman Estates who serves on a House appropriations committee. “We can’t divide it this way, it just doesn’t work.”

That’s kinda rich coming from a guy in a caucus which as recently as last May attempted to unilaterally ram through a partisan budget that went nowhere in the Senate.

The House Democrats are infamous for their “take it or leave it” budget plans, often sending a package across the building and then adjourning.

* Yes, Crespo’s right that everyone will eventually have to be “engaged.” As I’ve already said, the Senate’s proposal should be seen as a bipartisan counter-offer to the governor. If it passes (and that’s still an “if”), the House can then put its own stamp (partisan or bipartisan) on the proposal or come up with its own counter-offer or just do nothing and everything collapses.

But don’t talk to us about “dividing” it this way. After what happened last year, the House Democrats have no room to criticize.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 18, 17 @ 9:09 am

Comments

If all you ever say is it can’t be done, then it won’t be done.

At least the Senate is trying to come up with workable solutions. Either help or shut up at this point.

Comment by Chicago_Downstater Wednesday, Jan 18, 17 @ 9:14 am
-Chicago_Downstater, you are absolutely right.

Comment by NeverPoliticallyCorrect Wednesday, Jan 18, 17 @ 9:22 am
The Rauner 2/15 budget proposal should prove interesting to say the least. Revenue? Doubt it.

Comment by oldman Wednesday, Jan 18, 17 @ 9:30 am
Um…isn’t Crespo an approp committee chair?! If my memory serves me correct he was/is, so his impact on budgeting and budget negotiations is far greater than someone who just “serves” on a committee.

I may disagree with Greg Harris on a lot of issues but I appreciate his willingness to step forward and take one for the team. Mr. Crespo’s stance/statement isn’t helping.

Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Jan 18, 17 @ 9:30 am
Yes the House certainly hit it’s nadir last session

Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Jan 18, 17 @ 9:38 am
–That’s kinda rich coming from a guy in a caucus which as recently as last May attempted to unilaterally ram through a partisan budget that went nowhere in the Senate.–

Meaningless act, as all parties knew.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 18, 17 @ 9:39 am
If you are not reading Dale Bowman in the Sun Times sports pages, you should do so. He writes about outdoors issues. And he has an especially good grasp on policy issues that affect the outdoors…and other things….when it comes to state government. Dale is a great writer,often compares issues from the outdoors to White Sox matters for fun, and takes in photos from the public….buck of the week, wild of the week. But right now, consult him on state fiscal policy. He’s worth putting in the dialogue stream.

http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/throwing-away-the-key-locking-down-the-slide-in-the-idnr/

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 18, 17 @ 9:42 am
Yes it was certainly a meaningless legislative session with zero accomplished because they were concerned with reelection than compromise

Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Jan 18, 17 @ 9:44 am
Why aren’t the Dems shouting that Rauner blasted their most recent 7 Billion dollar stopgap, then turned around and spent 8 Billion?

Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Jan 18, 17 @ 9:44 am
Where is the Governors budget proposal?

Comment by tobor Wednesday, Jan 18, 17 @ 9:44 am
Word - meaningless?! Not so much considering that it gave the HRO and ILGOP a massive amount of campaign fodder that essentially went unanswered.

Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Jan 18, 17 @ 9:46 am
The only way Rauner will seemingly engage in a real budget discussion is if bicameral, bipartisan agreement can be reached so the passive Rauner, unwilling to put pencil to paper to budget his own agenda and agencies, can have his Turnaround Agenda as the real accomplishment.

So, if Mr. Crespo is concerned or feels the need to not be part of a solution, he’s succeeding to be seen that way.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jan 18, 17 @ 9:56 am
===Meaningless act, as all parties knew===

Disagree. MJM wanted that bill passed in the Senate. Bet on it.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jan 18, 17 @ 9:57 am
–Word - meaningless?! Not so much considering that it gave the HRO and ILGOP a massive amount of campaign fodder that essentially went unanswered.–Word - meaningless?! Not so much considering that it gave the HRO and ILGOP a massive amount of campaign fodder that essentially went unanswered.–

Meaningless in the sense, like many acts by legislatures and executives, that there was no possibility or expectation that it would become law.

The meaningful act came a couple months later, when the governor and a bipartisan GA majority agreed upon an FY17 budget now estimated to have a $13 billion deficit.

There’s always a lot of Bad Opera in Springfield, and everyone gets into the act. But it’s sturm und drang, signifying nothing, and a distraction from when things get real.

The wildly out-of-balance budget that was passed and signed is what’s real.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 18, 17 @ 10:00 am
More and more I’m convinced this Senate effort is not about passing a bill that becomes law. Rather, it’s about divorcing Cullerton and Radogno from the Rauner/Madigan mess. Cullerton has been overshadowed by Madigan; Radogno has been practically relegated to spectator status because of Rauner’s money and influence in her caucus. If they can somehow get the package out of their chamber they can wash their hands, walk away from the children who occupy the other corners of the Capitol, and say “we did our job.”

Though, it’s awfully hard to put votes on a tax increase, pension reform, and collective bargaining changes just to make a point. But maybe enough rank-and-file senators are as fed up as Cullerton and Radogno.

Comment by Telly Wednesday, Jan 18, 17 @ 10:05 am
Word - yes but for once the HRO turned the tables and used something AGAINST the House Dems. Forever and a day it was the opposite: Speaker Madigan making the House GOP members take bad votes and then using those votes in mailers against the current officials and candidates. Instead it was the HRO putting the House Dems on the defensive. And yes - we know that the stopgap budget was worse. But…as Rich always reminds us…”when you’re explainin’ you’re losin’.”

Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Jan 18, 17 @ 10:07 am
Crespo was around for the entire Quinn administration when nearly all budgets were passed without any GOP votes or input. Completely disingenuous statement by him.

Comment by Red Ranger Wednesday, Jan 18, 17 @ 10:09 am
–Disagree. MJM wanted that bill passed in the Senate. Bet on it.–

In the full knowledge that it would be vetoed and could not be overridden. Still meaningless.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 18, 17 @ 10:16 am
===In the full knowledge that it would be vetoed and could not be overridden===

Nope. That was back when he was still believing in the rogue House Republican myth.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jan 18, 17 @ 10:26 am
anon at 9:42 am was my post. so many computer glitches at my house. Dale Bowman is worth a look!

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Jan 18, 17 @ 10:29 am
–Nope. That was back when he was still believing in the rogue House Republican myth.–

Really? A bit late in the game to forget how to count, don’t you think?

I just assume it was a dreary little “we passed a budget, the other guys didn’t” game.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 18, 17 @ 10:39 am
**More and more I’m convinced this Senate effort is not about passing a bill that becomes law. Rather, it’s about divorcing Cullerton and Radogno from the Rauner/Madigan mess.**

It took you this long to figure this out?

Comment by JoeMaddon Wednesday, Jan 18, 17 @ 10:57 am
=Crespo was around for the entire Quinn administration when nearly all budgets were passed without any GOP votes or input. Completely disingenuous statement by him.=

My first reaction to the quote as well. Dems ran budget bills through morning committees, r’s never even saw much less analyzed them, sent them to floor in the afternoon for roll call votes. Been a long time since this state had a bipartisan budget.(not counting stopgaps)

Comment by m Wednesday, Jan 18, 17 @ 11:30 am
“After what happened last year, the House Democrats have no room to criticize.”

What did the Dems do last year?

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 18, 17 @ 12:21 pm
==Dems ran budget bills through morning committees, r’s never even saw much less analyzed them, sent them to floor in the afternoon for roll call votes. Been a long time since this state had a bipartisan budget.(not counting stopgaps)==

THIS. This is why OW get’s the eye roll every time he claims “governors own” Maybe true in the early 90’s but in this social media, instant information age people see right through that now. Plenty of blame for everyone, governor’s included, but it ain’t just him that got us here folks.

Comment by Big Muddy Wednesday, Jan 18, 17 @ 12:22 pm
===Maybe true in the early 90’s but in this social media, instant information age people see right through that now. Plenty of blame for everyone, governor’s included, but it ain’t just him that got us here folks.===

- Big Muddy -

Governors own. They always do.

What governor allows any legislature to dictate what the weight of dollars agencies should have.

If you are the belief the legislature should create and pass a budget, less the Executive, you aren’t talking about Illinois’ constitutional demands. You are touting a CEO requiring middle managers ignore the constitution, and that CEO is removed from every offshoot from the main business.

As to your “social media” thingy and it appears I know “nothing” bout that…

I guess the whole “Vertical Integration” thingy and explaining to the credit of the Raunerites, they have owned the messaging.

However, until Rauner runs, HE runs, we won’t know how much he owns.

I do think it’s not “accidental” Rauner is upside-down in his numbers and Governors own.

Maybe you do… LOL!

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jan 18, 17 @ 12:32 pm
never let the perfect become the enemy of the good.

Comment by facts are stubborn things Wednesday, Jan 18, 17 @ 1:13 pm
The fact that all of the budget deal bills will be run through the Senate executive committee does not exactly indicate a deep deliberative discussion will be had on these bills.

For example the CPS pension payment bill, SB 5, should really require the eventual consolidation of TRS with CTPF at some point if the State is going to fund both. One Board, and one set of pension fund officials, with separate accounts for TRS and CTPF funds.

Having duplicate administrative staff is simply absurd and costly. Ultimately running all these bills through the executive committee with few or no amendments will lead to even more problems in the House.

Comment by Rod Wednesday, Jan 18, 17 @ 2:19 pm