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A straight uphill climb

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Illinois

* From the Illinois Policy Institute’s news service…

The Illinois Senate has begun the process to pass what leaders call a grand budget compromise, but is facing opposition from nearly all sides.

Senate President John Cullerton and Minority Leader Christine Radogno presented 13 bills that they hope will break the years-long budget stalemate. One of the proposed bills made changes to the workers’ compensation laws in the state. It drew opposition from both business organizations and workers rights groups alike. Radogno said the bill, like the others, is a middle-of-the-road approach.

“At the end of the day not everyone is going to love this,” Ragodno said.

That’s an understatement.

* But Radogno is completely determined to get this done…

“We have generally utilized the ideas that have come from our members, from the working groups, from stakeholders,” Radogno said during Tuesday’s committee meeting. “I think while we certainly would like to get something done, we are both very humble and willing to accept further additions, refinements and so on.”

“This is a huge package with many, many moving parts and I can’t stress enough how much we are interested in constructive feedback to make this thing work,” she added.

* And even Sen. Bill Brady, no fan of tax hikes, is pushing forward…

Meanwhile, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, a close ally of Rauner, is opposing the entire package because of the way all the pieces are linked together, President Todd Maisch said.

While there are some positive aspects, Maisch said, “Our assessment is the package on the whole is very much a net negative for the business community.”

One concern for the Chamber of Commerce is the proposed business opportunity tax, which would range from $225 annually for businesses with Illinois payrolls of less than $100,000 to $15,000 for businesses with payrolls of $1.5 million or more.

State Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, said it’s important to continue having these discussions to arrive at an agreement that everyone can live with.

“This is still fluid,” Brady said. “It’s still our hope that … we will get to a point where the business community believes there’s more benefit than negative.”

* Sen. Nybo is another one to watch…

But the strike-fast-and-heavy approach has yet to materialize. Republicans balked at a quick vote to send a statement earlier this month; Tuesday, there were jitters on both sides. Hutchinson defended her measure, which drew 112 separate notices of interest-group opposition to the Revenue Committee, against criticism that it’s “rushed.” And Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) whose support for cost-saving changes to the workers’ compensation system is crucial, complained about making difficult decisions while Rauner has lawmakers “under the gun.”

“It’s not so much that the administration has us under the gun as that we have no budget,” replied Sen. Chris Nybo (R-Elmhurst), the committee’s ranking Republican. “We owe more than we spend and businesses are leaving in droves. That’s the gun that I see were under.”

* Tribune…

Cullerton and others tried to paint the widespread opposition as a good thing, saying all sides must sacrifice to get a fair agreement.

“These individuals are special interests. They don’t have the obligation that we have of trying to pass a budget,” Cullerton said. “We’re not offended by that. It just proves that what we’re putting together is a true compromise.”

That argument fell flat for many lawmakers who worried about casting votes for major tax increases with no guarantee they would erase the state’s persistent money woes, saying changes designed to ease the pain by spurring job growth don’t go far enough.

Some pointed to a provision that tied the various proposals together. The idea being that if one piece of the puzzle failed, none of the bills could become law. But some have interpreted that to mean that even if they don’t vote for a tax increase, they would be cast as enablers should they choose to support other measures. Radogno said that line of thinking was “a huge stretch.”

Cullerton and Radogno are both right, of course. But heavy opposition from all sides is never easy to overcome. And while it is a huge stretch to tie members to all the bills with even a single vote for one of them, we’ve all seen much larger stretches used in campaigns.

* From a pal…

Anyone from either party expecting a ticker tape parade for voting to get us out of this mess needs to get their head out of their posterior. There will not be any celebrations with business leaders or union leaders. If that is their standard, there won’t be a deal.

Agreed.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 9:45 am

Comments

Yeah, no one deserves a parade here, but hopefully if and when this gets done people remember who finally stepped up and did something versus those who sat back and fiddled while Rome burned.

Also kudos to Rich for the use of the term “beastly freak” in today’s Fax.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 9:57 am
===There will not be any celebrations with business leaders or union leaders.===

If both sides are unhappy, that’s usually a sign of a good compromise.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 10:00 am
Strong props to Cullerton and especially to Radogno for tap-dancing on the third rail here. Proud of them for putting statesmanship above politics.

Comment by SAP Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 10:02 am
Time to do something even if some of it is wrong.

Comment by Nieva Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 10:05 am
I certainly will remember which body decided to make an actual effort. Outside special interest groups need to decide whether they want to be a part of the eventual solution, or whether they want to be another reason why Illinois is in the mess it is.

Comment by Chicagonk Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 10:05 am
–Meanwhile, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, a close ally of Rauner, is opposing the entire package because of the way all the pieces are linked together, President Todd Maisch said.–

Now that’s sober, adult leadership from an alleged responsible state institution.

Maybe you should have put even more Chamber money into Ken Dunkin’s campaign, Todd. He’d know what to do.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 10:07 am
Yeah, quite the uphill climb. And while Cullerton & Radogno try to cobble together less offensive alternatives to get a deal out of their chamber (only), Madigan canceled Thursday’s session.

Don’t hold your breath.

Comment by Deft Wing Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 10:08 am
We already had an increase in taxes to the 5% and nothing good came from it. I understand the fear from those that argue against it because there is nothing showing how we are going to help dig out of this mounting debt.

I believe that most people would be okay with the 5% tax if (and only if) it was designed in a way that ALL of the revenue generated from the tax increase went directly to paying the backlog of bills. At least that is how I would want it structured if I was in the Gov’s shoes.

The leaders have already shown time and time again that putting extra money into the general resource fund doesn’t get spent anywhere useful and is robbed for special interest needs/projects.

Comment by OpenYourEyes Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 10:11 am
Rauner’s still gotta decide if his attack dogs are helping or hurting.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 10:15 am
===Anyone from either party expecting a ticker tape parade for voting to get us out of this mess needs to get their head out of their posterior.===

It’s really hard to undo decades of expectations set by misrepresenting or lying about the fiscal condition of the state. Bryant’s campaign in 2014 promising to refuse to raise any taxes while simultaneously reopening Tamm’s correctional facility is the kind of example of the absolute lack of respect our elected officials have for our body politic to assume that we should be sold fictions rather than have it given to us frank.

===union leaders.===

I actually think that labor would find themselves with very little gripe over what’s been discussed with the public so far.

A lot of folks benefit from a budget, reliable revenues, reliable payments for work completed, and a capital plan.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 10:15 am
–..Madigan canceled Thursday’s session.–

Is that your experience, session days equate with accomplishment? For what, hot air to fill balloons?

Cullerton and Radogno’s whole opening gambit was crafted out-of-session.

Pretending that deals are crafted in committees or on the floors is just silly.

Floor “debate” is for delusional “actors” who like to hear themselves talk.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 10:21 am
The uphill climb has been made steeper by Rauner’s #TaxHikeMike and related strategies that have undermined his own caucus and falsely claimed that we could balance the state budget without sufficient revenue.

Comment by Pawn Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 10:21 am
@OpenYourEyes, while the 5% tax was in place, Illinois made its pension payments in full and on time, and the bills backlog went down to around $4 billion from a high of more than twice that. If that is your definition of “nothing good” I’d like to see your dictionary.

Why would you think that a problem that was literally decades in the making (read your McKinney-Crain’s history!) would be completely reversed in just a few years? Remember the analysis recently done by the University of Illinois that noted that even with a very stringent package of revenues and cuts, it would take us at least 10 years to dig out of this mess? You need to adjust your expectations to reality.

Comment by Pawn Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 10:26 am
They’re still talking. Hope springs eternal.

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 10:32 am
== That’s an understatement. ==

Unfortunately, every day that goes by with no solution makes every solution worse.

And the number of groups, special interests and taxpayers that are impacted increases.

Just bite the bullet & get it done! It will never get any easier.

Comment by sal-says Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 10:41 am
Rich - I propose a new “Golden Horseshoe Profile in Courage” award, and nominate Senators Cullerton and Radogno as the first recipients. They are showing the leadership that Illinois needs right now at personal risk to themselves.

Comment by Old Shepherd Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 10:45 am
echoing 47th, Randongo, Cullerton etc i agree with thenold saw, a good deal isnone where no side is happy.

I still think the GA should be required to vote on the spending in Union contratcs like NY does.

Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 11:01 am
Cullerton has become the poster boy for tone deaf politicians. “Special interests” that include teachers, janitors, businesses, doctors, lawyers, etc. All special in your eyes I just see them as citizens.

Comment by Obamas Puppy Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 11:29 am
I am certain this is not perfect; however, like most here, I appreciate the effort and hope our state can move forward with a budget and stop the insanity we have now.

Comment by Patty T Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 11:40 am
=== Unfortunately, every day that goes by with no solution makes every solution worse. ===

True that.

=== I propose a new “Golden Horseshoe Profile in Courage” award, and nominate Senators Cullerton and Radogno as the first recipients. They are showing the leadership that Illinois needs right now at personal risk to themselves. ===

I second the motion!

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 11:51 am