Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

“Bottom line: Grand bargain still alive”

Posted in:

Illinois

* From Senate President John Cullerton’s spokesman John Patterson…

I’ve received several process or technical questions about the status of the “grand bargain” given the defeat of SB 11.

First, if you need it, here’s a statement you can attribute to me, John Patterson, spokesman for Illinois Senate President John Cullerton.

“The overall deal remains under construction.

“Today, we began the process of getting the balanced budget and reform package approved. We took a few important steps forward, and we also learned that more work needs to be done. The Senate President has already talked to the Republican Leader and we’ll see what steps we can take to regain momentum and hopefully deliver a long overdue balanced budget plan.”

OK, now for the process.

From a process standpoint, the proposals that won support today – SBs 3, 8 and 10 — remain in the Senate. The pension reform legislation – the defeated SB 11 – will need to go on a new Senate Bill. Upon winning support for that Senate Bill, the previously approved SBs 3, 8 and 10 could be recalled so we could update the language that links all the proposals together as a grand bargain.

Basically, there are procedural avenues to keep the grand bargain negotiations going.

Bottom line: Grand bargain still alive.

That is your inside baseball process update.

John

More in a bit, but I think this was a good place to start.

By the way, Leader Radogno told reporters yesterday that yesterday’s floor action was just “a temporary little bit of drama.”

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Feb 9, 17 @ 9:06 am

Comments

I’ll keep hope alive, but…

Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Feb 9, 17 @ 9:12 am
Compromise through negotiation is not defeat. It is joining with others in moving the state forward.

Comment by Come Together Thursday, Feb 9, 17 @ 9:17 am
Trust. It’s a matter of trust. I can believe Patterson if Rauner is trustworthy to an end game for Radogno. How Leader Radogno has been treated, absolutely awful.

Sidebar - Patterson continues to be the Spokesperson that’s bringing the most to things. The gap is starting to widen too. Two years is enough of posturing and taking points. Talk about process, talk about end game. There are too few options left, no one is going to “head fake” their way to anything.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 9, 17 @ 9:18 am
I would’ve liked to of heard some of the conversations at last night’s little gathering in Springfield. Wish I could’ve been there.

Comment by Archiesmom Thursday, Feb 9, 17 @ 9:19 am
I thought the senate was representing the people not the party

Comment by Red re-ider Thursday, Feb 9, 17 @ 9:24 am
Maybe? Madigan?http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170208/NEWS02/170209858/michael-madigan-the-man-behind-illinois-fiscal-fiasco

Comment by Arock Thursday, Feb 9, 17 @ 9:25 am
“Alive” - like an ‘82 Cordoba with a dropped transmission.

Comment by hambone Thursday, Feb 9, 17 @ 9:30 am
Glad to hear it. I’d like to see this thing get off the ground.

Comment by PublicServant Thursday, Feb 9, 17 @ 9:30 am
Nothing’s ever dead if the votes are there and the governor will sign off.

–By the way, Leader Radogno told reporters yesterday that yesterday’s floor action was just “a temporary little bit of drama.”–

A temporary respite from the dreary farce of the governor pretending to cheer from the sidelines while his well-funded propaganda payrollers threaten retaliation against any Republicans who play ball.

Consider the strange ridiculousness of the governor’s public self-portrayal: a helpless giant, observing from afar, hoping that it all works out in the end.

Who is supposed to buy that nonsense? In Illinois, the governor is the last word on any deal. No one is going to walk off a cliff unless he’s holding hands with them.

If Rauner wants a deal, it can happen. If he doesn’t, it won’t.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Feb 9, 17 @ 9:38 am
And…of course, the Governor is sending emails (and a video) this morning to state employees about the pay situation/Lisa Madigam filing. Will this drama never end????

Comment by New Slang Thursday, Feb 9, 17 @ 9:40 am
“like an ‘82 Cordoba with a dropped transmission”

But that fine Corinthian leather

Comment by a drop in Thursday, Feb 9, 17 @ 10:03 am
Maybe they should be doing amendments so every senator has a chance to be part of the “grand bargain” in the end.

Comment by Winnin' Thursday, Feb 9, 17 @ 10:17 am
Gov. Rauner, what say you!

Comment by facts are stubborn things Thursday, Feb 9, 17 @ 10:36 am
I thought there was some rule that a law was supposed to only cover one thing at a time. Linking a bunch of different “grand bargain” items might be thrown out by the courts.

Comment by DuPage Thursday, Feb 9, 17 @ 10:59 am
If the Senate GOP stood together to get a deal done and support one another, well that would be very powerful.

Easier said than done. For sure.

That might put the governor in a tough spot that even with all of his money, he might not be able to overcome.

The House, the House is the thing though.

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Feb 9, 17 @ 10:59 am
I think I’ll wait to get my hopes back up, but this is certainly good to hear–especially that Radogno piece.

Comment by Chicago_Downstater Thursday, Feb 9, 17 @ 11:51 am
“The defeated SB 11 – will need to go on a new Senate Bill.”

Does anyone know the NEW Senate Bill number for the pension reform bill?

Comment by Mama Thursday, Feb 9, 17 @ 12:20 pm
So first President Cullerton throws down the gauntlet and inserts in all the grand bargain bill that SB 1-13 all have to be approved in order any one of them to be enacted. But now President Cullerton says he will amend the bills remove failed SB 11 and replace with what ever pension reform bill is cooked up and the magically the “Grand bargain still alive.”

This is getting absurd.

Comment by Rod Thursday, Feb 9, 17 @ 1:30 pm
Rod, your comment made zero sense.

They’ll just amend the other bills with the new pension bill number on the “if and only if” language.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Feb 9, 17 @ 1:33 pm