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* No votes today on the grand bargain…
The Senate has adjourned.
— ILSenateGOP (@ILSenateGOP) March 2, 2017
* The Question: Do you think the Senate can get back on track? Explain.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 12:47 pm
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I have to believe so, because the alternative is unimaginable.
Comment by Not It Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 12:49 pm
Absolutely
Comment by Annonin' Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 12:52 pm
Perfect.
Comment by El Conquistador Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 12:54 pm
I think the Senate’s last, final offer is on the table. Now it’s up to the Governor.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 12:55 pm
If they continue with the criminal tax increase on the working poor and middle classes, I hope not.
Comment by blue dog dem Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 12:55 pm
Not unlike 2 things happen:
1. The GA GOP grow a spine to buck 1.4%. Or
2. 1.4% has a come to Jesus moment and realises he needs the deal to pass.
Comment by Huh? Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 12:56 pm
Only if the guv comes to his senses and allows the Republicans to do their job. Not a bet I would take….
Comment by Steward As Well.... Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 12:56 pm
I see you Rich you sly dog. It’s a trick question; “Back on track” implies they were “on track” in the first place, which I’m not convinced of.
Actual answer: no. The answer is no. Thanks, Bruce.
Comment by AlfondoGonz Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 12:56 pm
= = Do you think the Senate can get back on track? Explain. = =
What I think is irrelevant.
It’s all up to Governor Rauner, now.
Comment by Hamlet's Ghost Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 12:57 pm
No. I’d love to believe that Radogno’s defiance of Rauner is the crack in the dam that leads to a flood but I’ve got fifty million reasons not to. This thing doesn’t get settled until Rauner wants it settled.
Comment by Gruntled University Employee Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 12:57 pm
If Radogno can overcome Daddy Raunerbucks and convince her caucus that they need to do what’s right for their constituents instead of the threat of not getting re-elected, then Yes. If not, then I hope all the Rauner bucks in the world won’t save those Republicans from the voters in 2018.
Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 12:59 pm
Nope. Rauner’s credibility, with all but a handful of Republican legislators, is shot, and even so, they cannot move forward without him.
Sorry to say the next big decision is in the House, whether to pass some cockamamie cluster patch, to keep part of state govt limping along.
Comment by walker Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 12:59 pm
Don’t believe Senate was ‘off-track’. Radogno was involved throughout.
Failed IL Governor is the only one off-track & had no problem pushing Radogno under de bus!
Dearest Non-Governor Raunner: Do Your Job.
Comment by sal-says Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:00 pm
This is but one way the Senate compromise can get done abc it’s only about 12% snark.
Enough with the “buffers”
Rauner. Cullerton.
That’s the list.
Cullerton needs 10 GOP votes.
Rauner needs wins, Rauner needs an actual budgetary package.
The two, and only the two, (maybe a “witness” for each, due to trust issues) should meet, blank notepads, and finally get to a brass tax, “we are going to get these 12 bills” and formulate the compromise.
Rauner, using Proft and IPI as tools…
Rauner will use what is at his disposal to get his 10 GOP votes.
Cullerton, with his Rauner-signed notepad to show his caucus and with a needed compromise in hand, delivers 19 (and himself) votes.
What is terribly awful is that Rauner first went around Radogno, then seemingly double-crossed Radogno, and this actually, and unceremoniously undercuts Radogno.
Radogno has deserved better.
Sadly, it’s come down to Cullerton… and Rauner… and notepads.
That’s the ball game.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:01 pm
No. Always bet on nothing. That bet seems to be gaining odds in vegas…
Comment by Boone's is back Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:10 pm
===Do you think the Senate can get back on track?===
What track? There is track left?
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:11 pm
This is the part of the movie where Tom (Hagen) Cullerton has a conversation with Jack (BVR) Woltz. He knows the Grand Bargain is perfect for the state and will make him a star…but he’s going to run Illinois out of the business.
Comment by Jocko Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:12 pm
No.
I’m convinced that Rauner doesn’t particularly care if Illinois has a budget or not. He simply wants a win out of this situation and a temporary property tax freeze isn’t enough of of a win for him.
Comment by tobias846 Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:12 pm
No, and I have to wonder if there will be a deal made again this year for K-12 education funding outside of a budget.
Comment by Fairness and Fairness Only Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:13 pm
No, not at all
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:15 pm
No.. Gov’s plan is to spend $100 million blaming Madigan and hoping the jacket doesn’t end up being a perfect fit..
Comment by Wow Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:18 pm
Power. It can come in the form of nuclear blasts, or in a governors slow shake of the head, saying “nope”.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:20 pm
Nope. What’s the urgency now for them to?
Even if they did, it wouldn’t survive the house.
We wont see a budget until 2019.
Comment by IL-6 voter Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:21 pm
Although he avoids him, Rauner is Trumpian.
Disrupt is a favorite word now in business, and Rauner thinks he can get his way only if he disrupts.
Both Rauner and Trump must have the IMAGE of winning.
I agree with those that say the Senate was never on track as you cannot package 12 bills together and violate the Illinois Constitution.
Comment by winners and losers Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:21 pm
No. In addition to everything already said, Cullerton’s pension reforms are not going to get approved.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:23 pm
No. We’ve now seen that the Senate GOP can’t act without Rauner permission. Radogno gave it her best effort, but fell short.
The only way a deal will now get done is if the courts cutoff state worker pay.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:26 pm
Not meeting is a political loss for both sides.
So, they’ll keep trying.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:31 pm
It’s getting too late in the year to pass an income tax increase that is retroactive back to January.
Comment by A Jack Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:32 pm
Not until we get closer to the election.
Comment by Rogue Roni Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:33 pm
No.
Because the Governor just showed everyone who is in charge of the GOP at the Statehouse.
Spoiler alert:It isn’t Radogno or Durkin.
Comment by btowntruth from forgottonia Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:34 pm
I’ve been saying for months that this is 100% on the governor and you’ll know he’s serious when IPI backs off or softens its tone. Instead, he engages in happy talk in the budget address and lets Tillman rip the crap out of Senate Rs and the grand bargain.
Until then, he clearly wants this to fail for reasons I find unfathomable and unconscionable. I truly don’t know how Rauner lives with himself after pulling a two-faced stunt like this.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:35 pm
=== income tax increase that is retroactive back to January===
Minnesota’s tax hike was passed on May 31st and was retroactive back to 1/1.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:36 pm
No. Rauner demonstrated his complete control over Republican Senators as he has consistently over Republicans in the House. I find it difficult to see any evidence of his willingness to compromise. His focus seems to be on winning the messaging campaign for the 2018 elections.
Plus, this: if there were a trust issue between Cullerton, Madigan and Rauner before, how is that created with the Democratic Leaders seeing how Rauner treated his Republican Senate Leader? I can’t see anything happening. Rauner could come to an agreement with Madigan and Cullerton and put Republican votes on it, but he could then veto what he wishes and pull the Republican votes off the override.
Comment by Earnest Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:36 pm
Willy is right. It’s a waste of time for Cullerton to negotiate with Radogno. Rauner is the de facto leader of the Senate Republicans (House GOP caucus, too.) He’s the only one who can structure a roll call.
But Bruce has demonstrated no ability to work a deal. So sadly, I think this is dead.
Comment by Roman Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:38 pm
I have come to believe that Rauner does not desire a budget during his first term. He arrived in his space ship awith the sole intent of destroying versus building.
Comment by illinoised Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:39 pm
Nope. Why bother? This has always been a Rauner/Madigan problem and it is more clear than ever that neither is ready or willing to move. Why tick off your allies and expose your partisan flank for a dead deal.
Comment by Signal and Noise Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:41 pm
Still too hard to know. A few days apart will either bring them closer or further apart. We’ll know next week and won’t have to guess.
There’s no educated guess on this. That would require logic.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:42 pm
Slightly off topic, but i hope democrats are taking note of what happens when you elect a independently wealthy, self funder to the office of governor. two things are unprecedented here: first, we’ve never gone this long without a budget; second, illinois has never elected a person with the wealth of bruce rainier before. my point here is that democrats better consider this when it comes time to choose their candidate for governor in 2018. they have their own billionaire named pritzker. i think it would be foolish to get behind him and suffer the same consequences that the often flaccid, often threatened ilinois republicans have suffered since rauner’s election.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:43 pm
Unless some senators are willing to sacrifice their seats for a deal, I don’t know how anything is supposed to happen.
Comment by In 630 Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:45 pm
It is DOA as preordained by the Dem’s. They cancelled the votes and all we have is a Cullerton’s word that Rauner is at fault. Now they have cover and can try to make BVR wear the jacket.
Comment by Lech W Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:46 pm
Nope, the ball bounces back to a match between Rauner and Madigan now. All eyes will soon be upon House actions. The Senate will fall into the background. They had their chance and didn’t produce.
Comment by Joe M Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:47 pm
===…Cullerton’s word that Rauner is at fault…===
…and yet, there aren’t enough GOP votes for a bargain to pass.
Cullerton “controls” the SGOP?
Hmm.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:48 pm
It makes sense he wants to torpedo only so that he can set up the perfect sin eater for the destruction of the state. Here’s the play.
1 torpedo the Grand bargain
2 force a strike by implementation
3 blame Madigans Union AFSCME
For all state destruction that has been hidden but yo be revealed as AFSCME s fault.
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:49 pm
No, Proft gave us the blueprint for Rauners reelection campaign. The Dems are obstructing and he’s standing up to the Madigan and the Chicago machine.
Comment by GOP Extremist Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:50 pm
Magic 8 ball says: Outlook not so good
There’s no hope for a deal until Rauner wants a deal. Get ready for credit downgrades, a growing backlog of bills, and more false hope that a deal can be reached.
Comment by AC Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:52 pm
Honestly, I really don’t know.
All of my experience dealing in this world is with rules that don’t exist anymore. 10 years ago, I’d know the rules, heck I’d know what game is being played. Now, I don’t even know how to keep score. This is uncharted territory. Old political norms really don’t apply anymore.
Comment by Try-4-Truth Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:54 pm
Why does everyone seem to think Rauner is trying to kill the grand bargain? Weren’t you all watching his budget address? When he went “off-script”? And personally thanked Cullerton and Radogno for all their hard work on the grand bargain?
Comment by Henry Francis Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:55 pm
Nope. Rauner would rather spend millions blaming everyone else for not coming up with a deal. Through his (in)action, I’ve come to agree with others here that there won’t be any budget this term.
You can’t even call this failed leadership because that would imply that he at least tried and failed. He hasn’t even tried.
Comment by flippy Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:56 pm
No. The so called gov has never wanted a budget - never has, never will. The future - strike, a few public universities close, K-12 won’t open on schedule next year.
Comment by Skeptical Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:58 pm
===Weren’t you all watching his budget address? When he went “off-script”? And personally thanked Cullerton and Radogno for all their hard work on the grand bargain?===
We can judge him by what he says, or by what he does. I prefer the latter.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:59 pm
Nope, by the time anything else starts to gel, the 2018 campaign will be in full swing. No reason to get started and then let Rauner claim Dem’s are dragging their feet on HIS budget. Dem’s have the high ground now if they are smart enough to message it correctly. The AG may yet shut down the State and solve the problem. If not, I’m torn on whether K-12 gets added to the hostage list for FY 2018 since it is more likely counter productive for Dems. Maybe the IDOT construction season would be a better hostage to get parties to the table? With the new amendment there is the opportunity to legislate that all things IDOT related and referenced in the amendment need to be paid exclusively from transportation taxes. No GRF funds could be used, including for IDOT salaries.
Comment by Markus Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 1:59 pm
I agree Rich that they could do a retroactive tax increase, but there is going to be a lot of unhappy voters when they get that next paycheck with several months of taxes taken out.
Minnesota does have a graduated income tax, so that may have made their retroactive tax increase easier to swallow.
Comment by A Jack Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 2:04 pm
47 (and anyone else) - my post was snark.
Comment by Henry Francis Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 2:04 pm
I don’t think anything will be done until suprem court shuts it down with no budget no pay! Closed the doors turn of the lights now one gets a ck that will fix it.
Comment by So tired of political hacks Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 2:06 pm
Adding- I still think the Speaker should announce his retirement, effective on Bruce Rauner’s last day in office. He could provide no greater service to the people of Illinois than to get Boss Madigan out of the 2018 election rhetoric. It took Madigan 30 years to outlive his usefulness to the State. It took Rauner less than 2.
Comment by Markus Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 2:09 pm
Well played HF. Some of the commenters here have ruined my snark detector.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 2:10 pm
I don’t think Henry Francis is a subscriber. Because what was in those materials completely matched texts that I had from the Senate yesterday.
Comment by Archiesmom Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 2:13 pm
As to what Markus said, if Speaker Madigan said he wouldn’t run for Speaker again if there was a Democrat governor… what are the turnout numbers for THAT election?
Comment by EVanstonian Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 2:14 pm
Remember the good old days when the state had only 3.5 billion in unpaid bills, small businesses received thier checks in 60 days higher education, social services, state employee’s were not villains. Yeah June 2015 what a time. I long for the days of those dems mismanagement.
Comment by So tired of political hacks Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 2:27 pm
@1:43 - Not defending Prizker, but about the only thing billionaires have in common are lots and lots of zeros. Personality, temperament and political leanings can still vary a lot.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 2:31 pm
I see no way forward until the Governor leads. If Rauner submits a balanced budget with the tax legislation he would sign, there is a chance. But I don’t see Rauner doing that.
I think Cullerton should go to the mattresses; no position requiring Senate confirmation moves forward, start investigations of DOIT contracts, any agency Director with a whiff of scandal, the contracts with providers that are in court. With all the maneuvering to keep money flowing without appropriation, some laws were probably broken.
Cullerton needs to create his own leverage. Then tell Rauner it is his move.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 2:36 pm
It’s lost on me why our “leaders” and “representatives” even want their jobs. They don’t do anything–at least nothing constructive. Rauner and Madigan have no reason to care about the damage they’re doing with their chess game. Cullerton and Radogno seem to be trying to come up with a solution only to have their chicken-#@!* colleagues not take a tough vote. Partisan this partisan that. I’d like a bunch of them to quit and get real jobs–they’re not doing the ones they have now.
I’m so sick of this. At least I can look forward to what Chance has to say tomorrow.
Comment by Lefty Lefty Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 2:36 pm
About as much chance as Rauner returning to the bargaining table with AFSCME. He made it very clear what his intentions were on both fronts while he was campaigning.
Comment by Former Merit Comp Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 2:37 pm
Unless it’s on his terms I don’t think the Governor wants a budget at all. He definitely doesn’t want to see a document that doesn’t possess his professed “reforms” or with his veto pen he’ll look like the bad guy again.
Illinois continues to be the laughingstock of the country. A friend of mine even brought it up in the context of a Wall Street Journal article to me the other day. Pathetic!
Comment by Stones Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 2:40 pm
No
Why?
The bipartisan bridge needed to get back on track was burnt down by Rauner & his crew.
Comment by Mama Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 2:41 pm
@Lefty Leftr
Amen
Comment by So tired of political hacks Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 2:43 pm
They can, if they choose to is a different question.
Comment by Ahoy! Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 2:55 pm
I did not always believe this, but I have become convinced that Rauner sees no benefit in resolving this stalemate. He is less Trunpian that Bannonesque, concluding that the only way he can achieve his goal of a stripped down, conservative Government is to blow it up and start over. He has convinced himself that it’s for our own good, even it means short term pain for many of Illinois’s most vulnerable citizens.
Comment by orzo Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 3:08 pm
===I think the Senate’s last, final offer is on the table===
Let’s declare an impasse and impose it, see how he likes it!
Comment by Da Bears Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 3:09 pm
No
Comment by Obamas Puppy Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 3:37 pm
No, the Senate cannot get “it” back on track. Each one of the 12 or 13 bills was incredibly complex in and of itself and as of the “it” package, nearly incomprehensible and indigestible. For example, what was supposed to be low hanging fruit, workers compensation reform, now seems to be a sticking point and Senators seem to be actually trying to keep count on a balance sheet, “I got 2 things; but you got 3 and that is not fair.” How does one even define a “got” anymore? Compromise does not mean the same thing as a balance sheet of “gots.” If by “it”, in get “it” on track you mean a budget, then maybe the focus should be on the two things that make up a budget, revenue and spending. There are probably enough “gots” to go around just there.
Comment by The Real Just Me Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 3:38 pm
I wish I thought so, but no.
Comment by dr. reason a, goodwin Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 3:44 pm
Not a prayer
Comment by Chicago Barb Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 4:02 pm
The IL Senate is on track. They are waiting for the Governor to realize that the Senate’s best compromise is on the table.
Comment by Enviro Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 4:04 pm
No. Rauner will not let the politicians he controls vote on a balanced budget.
Comment by Michael Westen Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 4:49 pm
A permanent income tax increase coupled with a perm at property tax freeze with more state money for education would pass in a heartbeat
Governor Edgar and Dawn Clark Netsch both ran on this and I wish they passed it 20 years ago
Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 5:00 pm
No. Credit to Radogno and Cullerton for trying.
Stopgaps and partial patches until Jan 2019. We deserve so much better.
Comment by peon Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 6:28 pm
Up to the Governor.
Comment by DuPage Bard Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 7:43 pm
=== Governor Edgar and Dawn Clark Netsch both ran on this and I wish they passed it 20 years ago ===
Netch ran on it in ‘94, and Edgar attacked her as a tax hiker. In ‘97, Edgar had his “Netch lite” proposal, which passed the House, only to be killed by Pate.
As far as billionaires in the governor’s mansion, Mark Dayton in Minnesota has balanced the budget by raising taxes on the wealthy.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 8:29 pm
They were rolling right along, then Rauner threw the switch on them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnOKIkhwPuA
Comment by DuPage Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 9:43 pm
The Senate? On track? Skip.
Comment by PENSIONS ARE OFF LIMITS Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 10:18 pm
No. Rauner!!!!
Comment by downstate commissioner Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 10:34 pm
It’s lost on me why our “leaders” and “representatives” even want their jobs. They don’t do anything–at least nothing constructive.
You got a small part of it in that they don’t do anything. The rest is it is a part time job with great pay (much better than the tax payers), great health care, pension, all the extra perks, etc. No reason to leave as the voters keep electing them in because “my guy/gal” is not the problem it is that “guy/gal”. Term limits might solve some of this.
Comment by ejpp Thursday, Mar 2, 17 @ 11:11 pm
Citizens need to pressure their Republican State Senators to balance the Gov’s election money. They might remind them that the candidates he opposed who voted the way their constituents wanted still won, despite his money.
Comment by Pandora Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 5:04 am
=short term for many of Illinois’s most vulnerable citizens=
Seriously? It inflicts long term, and in some cases, terminal pain for our most vulnerable citizens. Rauner’s actions indicate he is fine with sacrificing low income citizens for the benefit of high income citizens.
Comment by illinoised Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 7:24 am
And without significant increases in state funding for local schools – above and beyond anything envisioned in the Senate plan – a property tax freeze will squeeze schools across the state.
“Will it allow the state to start paying down its backlog of bills? Yes,” said Bobby Otter of the CTBA.
“Will it allow the state to fund K-12 education the way it needs to? No.”
Rauner’s fantasy ‘grand bargain’ is a deal breaker for schools, Chicago Reporter.
Comment by winners and losers Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 9:00 am