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* Comptroller Mendoza went off on Gov. Rauner during an appearance on Rick Pearson’s WGN radio show yesterday…
“We are now going into a third year without that balanced budget proposal. He hasn’t done it once. He hasn’t done it twice. As a result of that, my office is responsible for having to pay $11.2 billion in bill backlogs. That’s how bad of a situation we’re in. We’ve had six downgrades to our credit since Gov. Rauner has taken office,” Mendoza said.
“Our state has never been worse off financially, yet this governor’s personal finances have more than tripled since he was sworn in,” she said, noting his adjusted gross income for 2015 was $188 million compared with $58.5 million in 2014. “You have to acknowledge there is a massive disconnect between the reality that he’s living in and the reality of your average person in the state of Illinois.”
* And here she is responding to the governor’s contention that she should continue paying state workers without a court order or a legal appropriation…
“It’s really clear. I would be in violation of the law if I continued to pay, and, you know, the governor, I think, has a habit of not paying attention to the state constitution,” she said. “He basically went out of his way to put this on me to somehow deflect to me and to ask me, basically demand, that I break the law. And that’s not going to happen. I mean, like, he’s not above the law. I’m not above the law. The law is the law.”
She said Rauner was trying to posture that, “Oh, Comptroller Mendoza, it’s her fault that the state’s goes into crisis or it’s the attorney general’s fault.
“It’s like, enough of the blame game, enough of the deflection. Take some responsibility. Lead this state. You’re now going into your third year. You’re not a rookie to this anymore. You can’t call yourself an outsider. It’s as insider as you get, and it’s time for him to do his job,” she said.
One of the governor’s worst habits is he loves to tell people how to do their jobs. The comptroller should pay a certain type of bill without an appropriation, the attorney general should drop her legal motion, newspaper headline writers should write more favorable headlines, AFSCME should help him implement his last and final offer, the House Speaker should pass his legislation, etc., etc., etc.
He does all of this to deflect blame from himself and he’s mostly gotten away with it, mainly because Speaker Madigan is so fabulously unpopular.
* Remember when he spent a small fortune on TV ads attacking Madigan after the 2015 spring session failed to produce a budget? Part of that was certainly designed to degrade the Madigan brand and make Democrats nervous. But it was mainly about blaming Madigan before that failure was hung around his own neck.
* Click here for the raw audio.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 10:57 am
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===Take some responsibility. Lead this state. You’re now going into your third year. You’re not a rookie to this anymore. You can’t call yourself an outsider. It’s as insider as you get, and it’s time for him to do his job===
Well, somebody had to say it. The truth might sting a little, but it’s still the truth.
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 11:02 am
Very good messaging from Mendoza but dropping the “like” would make it more palatable.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 11:03 am
Bravo to Mendoza. Spot on. It’s good to see her articulating a straightforward message voters can understand. More please.
Comment by Moe Berg Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 11:03 am
===Take some responsibility. Lead this state. You’re now going into your third year. You’re not a rookie to this anymore. You can’t call yourself an outsider. It’s as insider as you get, and it’s time for him to do his job===
But, but, but . . .
Michael Madigan won’t let me.
Comment by Hamlet's Ghost Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 11:04 am
Trump and Rauner: all good things I deserve massive credit. All bad things are somebody else’s fault. 8 year olds running things. Sad
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 11:07 am
Too bad the rest of the Democrat party and AFSCME can’t be as clear and on message.
Comment by RNUG Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 11:07 am
–And here she is responding to the governor’s contention that she should continue paying state workers without a court order or a legal appropriation…–
Give that one a think: the governor of Illinois advocating that billions of taxpayer money be spent without any legal authority whatsoever.
That has more than a whiff of wannabe-dictator about it. What else would you call a chief executive who proposes such actions in a republican, shared-powers democracy?
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 11:08 am
A message might be as strong as it’s messenger. The Speaker has tried to make these points, but his image is so degraded, it’s not effective. Other surrogates have been less than successful as well. Why is Clerk Medoza making the case that AG Madigan should be making?
Frerichs looks pretty smart taking a pass on this one.
Comment by A guy Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 11:09 am
I hope this gets picked up state wide. Now if she would just pay the legislators her message would be even more powerful.
Comment by don the legend Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 11:11 am
===Why is Clerk Medoza making the case that AG Madigan should be making?===
She is…in court.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 11:14 am
You go girl
Comment by Barrington Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 11:20 am
Worked for the other side long long time ago, but ever since Mendoza first came to the House, I have been impressed with her spunk and will to call it like it is, while maintaining her integrity at the same time.
Comment by FormerStaffer Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 11:20 am
Let me see if I can remember this correctly -
When BVR took the oath as our Governor, Illinois had a backlog of unpaid bill totaling $5 Billion and most bills were being paid within 30 days.
Today our state has a projected backlog that will soon approach $15 Billion and some vendors and insurance companies have to wait over 600 days to get paid.
Yet our Governor has no responsibility for what is and has been going for the past 2 years?
He is indeed living in an alternate reality !!!!
Comment by illini Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 11:21 am
Q: Why is Clerk Medoza (sic) making the case that AG Madigan should be making?
A: What Cubs in ‘16 said. And, Mendoza is the one being pressured by the Governor to break the law.
Comment by Hamlet's Ghost Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 11:21 am
I have a new favorite statewide officeholder. Sorry Mike.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 11:24 am
The governor is the Victim-in-Chief.
Comment by Ted Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 11:30 am
The Madigan deflection could be neutered if the speaker would announce his retirement, effective on Governor Rauner’s last day in office. We’re essentially in 2018 campaign mode already so do us all a favor Mr. Speaker, take one for the team. The Senate president could do the same for real effect.
Comment by Markus Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 11:33 am
Moe Berg believes the comptroller is an adult now.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 11:36 am
Rauner sounds very Trumpian.
Comment by Flynn's mom Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 11:37 am
>Too bad the rest of the Democrat party and AFSCME can’t be as clear and on message.
Gosh, yes.
Comment by Earnest Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 11:38 am
Mendoza is spot on, and seems to be the only one with the nerve to tell it like is and has been for the whole time BVR has been in office. Goes back to when he insisted that the lame duck legislature go along with his wishes to not extend the 5% tax increase that was allowing us to pay down the backlog of bills. He was going to take the arrows. Yeah, right.
Comment by Big Joe Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 11:39 am
Bruce, the Teflon Governor.
Comment by No Longer A Lurker Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 11:51 am
I’m not sure how good Mendoza will be as Comptroller, but she is, without question, the first Illinois Democrat who seems to have a handle on how to frame a message in this entire budget debacle.
She sounds serious, she sounds angry, and she sounds unintimidated. It beats the stone silence we hear from the House, or the uninspired blather from the Senate.
Comment by ILPundit Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 12:10 pm
The Legislature will not give the Governor the authority to cut the budget to make it balance. They only want him to propose a tax increase and don’t want to cut anything.
I don’t think Mendoza could have sounded any more partisan if she tried. Once again hanging the dysfunction on the Governor 100 percent and deflecting from all of the unbalanced budgets with pension holidays she voted for during her 10 years in the General Assembly.
Both sides agree cuts and revenues are necessary, but only the Senate has moved forward with a proposal.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 12:18 pm
===but she is, without question, the first Illinois Democrat who seems to have a handle on how to frame a message in this entire budget debacle.===
And thy name is Abdon. And you’re correct.
Comment by A guy Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 12:19 pm
“Former Madigan staffer Rich Miller should stick to first-hand scoops only instead of reporting on what others report.” -Bruce Rauner, in about 25 minutes.
Comment by AlfondoGonz Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 12:21 pm
–The Legislature will not give the Governor the authority to cut the budget to make it balance.–
LOL, the Constitution already gave the governor the power to line-item or reduce, Mr. Roboto. And no one can make a governor spend an appropriation if the money ain’t there — except a judge.
Plus, as the governor has told us, spending could not actually be brought into balance with current revenues due to consent decrees and court orders.
So, you’re like double-secret-probation inane here.
But thanks for playing. Here’s a lifetime supply of Rice-A-Roni as a parting gift.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 12:26 pm
Heavy on the anger, sarcasm and finger pointing towards the Governor. Non existent on solutions, or any sense of her party’s responsibility for the current budget situation and how we got here and for blaming the leaders on her side for not helping solve the crisis
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 12:27 pm
The Governor cannot line item veto the budget into balance Wordslinger. There are consent decrees and statues that prohibit this. You know most vetoes could be overridden with a simple majority vote but continue with the fake news and insults
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 12:31 pm
And it’s Comptroller Mendoza. Respect deserved.
Comment by Sense of a Goose Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 12:44 pm
Coming from a woman who helped put us in this mess. So Suzanne how many unbalanced budgets did you vote for?
Comment by Inspector Gadget Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 12:45 pm
===Coming from a woman who helped put us in this mess===
C’mon. Does that mean the governor can’t say anything, either?
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 12:46 pm
This is the message that’s needs to be repeated by all Democrats, loud and often, as the governor continues to sink this state into more debt and declining credit ratings.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 12:58 pm
== Inspector Gadget - Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 12:45 pm:
“So Suzanne how many unbalanced budgets did you vote for?” ==
So governor, how many balanced budgets did you submit??
Fixed it for ya.
Comment by sal-says Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 12:59 pm
==The Governor cannot line item veto the budget into balance Wordslinger. There are consent decrees and statues that prohibit this.==
You shoulda thoughta this before you said it was the big mean legislature that wasn’t letting poor widdle Governor cut his way to a balanced budget.
Comment by Arsenal Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 1:28 pm
–The Governor cannot line item veto the budget into balance Wordslinger. There are consent decrees and statues that prohibit this.–
Correct. That’s exactly what I wrote in my third sentence. I guess you didn’t make it that far before thoughtfully responding.
Given that, your original complaint that “the Legislature will not give the Governor the authority to cut the budget to make it balance” is complete nonsense. It’s not possible with current revenues, consent decrees and court orders.
Quite an argument that you’re having with yourself.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 1:35 pm
===- Sense of a Goose - Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 12:44 pm:
And it’s Comptroller Mendoza. Respect deserved.===
Mea Culpa. Honest mistake. No disrespect intended.
Comment by A guy Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 1:41 pm
===The Legislature will not give the Governor the authority to cut the budget to make it balance. They only want him to propose a tax increase and don’t want to cut anything===
The constitution gives the Governor the responsibility to form a budget.
Why any governor wouldn’t wavt to craft their own budget is mind boggling.
Your deflection and ignorance is noted.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 2:01 pm
The nonsense you are forgetting is that only the legislature can change the underlying statute that spends the money so your comment that the Governor can line item the budget to balance in completely false. He needs the GA to let him cut spending as I said in my original post where you called me and Roboto and offered me some rice a Roni.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 3:01 pm
Lucky Pierre ==The nonsense you are forgetting is that only the legislature can change the underlying statute that spends the money. . .==
The appropriation IS the statute that spends the money. All of the statutes requiring spending are contingent on there being an appropriation to spend it, and nothing is getting paid without appropriations, court order or consent decrees. We’re still spending more than we bring in, which means that we have to raise more revenue or go back to court to get out of the orders or consent decrees. Which the governor is very upset that the AG is doing right now.
Comment by Whatever Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 3:39 pm
Score another touchdown for Team Mendoza. Wow.
Comment by Shytown Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 3:54 pm
Miss Mendoza and many others fail to mention only a grand bargain will solve this mess. Not the Governor line item vetoing it to balance and proposing the revenue on his own
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 4:17 pm
Mic drop……bounce….
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 4:21 pm
Because some folks don’t seem to know this exists:
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs5.asp?ActID=186&ChapterID=4
OK, ladies and gentlemen, Here is the appropriate section of the Illinois Compiled Statutes regarding Executive Officers and the budget. Pay particular attention to this section:
“The Governor shall not propose expenditures and the General Assembly shall not enact appropriations that exceed the resources estimated to be available, as provided in this Section. Appropriations may be adjusted during the fiscal year by means of one or more supplemental appropriation bills if any State agency either fails to meet or exceeds the goals set forth in Section 50-25 of this Law.”
By any measurable standard, Governor Rauner is failing to live up to the requirements of this statute. Yes, I know this is a Captain Obvious remark - but apparently, it isn’t so obvious to some. It’s time to deal in facts, not spin.
Comment by Mr. Smith Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 4:21 pm
Comptroller Mendoza is my new hero.
Comment by tobias846 Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 4:44 pm
The General Assembly has certainly enacted appropriations that have exceeded the resources to be available for decades or else we would not have over 100 billion in unfunded pensions
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 5:10 pm
===The General Assembly has certainly enacted appropriations that have exceeded the resources to be available for decades or else we would not have over 100 billion in unfunded pensions===
Rauner has yet to have a budget to worry about that. LOL.
Rauner owns no budget, the constitution says its so
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 5:15 pm
Should the legislature follow the constitution as well
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 5:24 pm
When the governor submits his budget, get back to us.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 5:29 pm
Ok we will just ignore the 12 years of unbalanced budgets under democratic legislatures and governors
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 5:32 pm
===Ok we will just ignore the 12 years of unbalanced budgets under democratic legislatures and governors===
That has not, at any time, prevented Rauner from doing his constitutional duty to submit a budget.
But, you already know that.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 5:34 pm
No you are missing he point the Governor needs the legislature to change the statutes that dictate the spending
He cannot line item to balance
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 5:39 pm
===No you are missing he point…===
No, you’re deflecting like the governor. Rauner could submit the IPI budget, why won’t he?
Governors propose. That’s the ball game.
===…the Governor needs the legislature to change the statutes that dictate the spending===
Nope. Propose. That’s what the Constitution says, not what gig want it to say, above, lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 5:42 pm
“… not what you want it to say”
Also, change the law? How hard is it to propose a budget? Say this is worth “this” and move on.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 5:45 pm
== He cannot line item to balance ==
Sure, Rauner can remove any proposed appropriations he wants to from a passed budget before he signs it … but then (a) he owns it and (b) the GA must concur with it. He just can’t automatically move those funds somewhere else; if he takes them out he loses them, If he leaves them in, statutorily he is limited to shuffling 10% around. He can recommend to the GA that the removed funds be shifted to another location he specifies, but, again, the GA has to concur before it becomes a legal budget.
== the Governor needs the legislature to change the statutes that dictate the spending ==
If, by your comment, you are suggesting the GA just give Rauner a pile of money to play with and put no designations as to where it gets spent, that will NEVER happen with this Governor; there is zero trust I don’t think MOU’s would be acceptable at this point.
Comment by RNUG Monday, Feb 6, 17 @ 9:22 pm