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*** UPDATED x3 - Steve Brown responds - Mendoza responds - AG Madigan responds *** Rauner blasts Mendoza, judges, AG Madigan

Posted in:

* Gov. Rauner was asked by reporters about Comptroller Mendoza’s court win yesterday over which state fund to use for some employee payroll checks

Comptroller Mendoza takes her orders from Speaker Madigan and they are working together to create a crisis and shut down the government.

I asked the comptroller’s office for a response an hour ago.

…Adding… Tribune

“This is clearly part of a coordinated activity, coordinated pattern between the attorney general, our comptroller and, frankly, our speaker, who coordinates it all, to create a crisis and shut down state government,” Rauner said Wednesday.

* More Rauner

We’ve been able to head off Comptroller Mendoza on a number of things she’s tried to change or funding that she’s tried to cut off. We’ve called her out on it and exposed it and pressure through the press and others have had her back down on a few things she’s tried.

I asked the administration an hour ago for a list of the things they’ve stopped. I’ll let you know if there’s a response.

* More governor

This one is tough, she’s doing it in the court. And we lost in court. Our state judges are, you know, sometimes part of the problem.

* Rauner was asked about that comment today and said

Well, today I’m not going to talk more about our state judicial system. We’ll save that for another day.

OK, but the judge who ordered the state to continue paying all its employees during the impasse, a ruling Rauner supported, is the same guy who just ruled in favor of Mendoza.

* The governor also talked about Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s motion at the Supreme Court to overturn that lower court ruling on paying workers during the impasse

Why did the attorney general do this now, when the Senate was getting close to a grand bargain?

That argument was much better when AG Madigan filed her initial lawsuit in St. Clair County back in January. Today? Not so much. The grand bargain is a train wreck at the moment.

*** UPDATE 1 ***  From Maura Possley at Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office…

The Governor is clearly desperate to shift blame onto anyone but himself. He needs to stop the baseless finger-pointing and do his job.

*** UPDATE 2 *** From Comptroller Mendoza…

The only person who’s goal it is to shut down state government is Governor Bruce Rauner. In March of 2013 HE stated that if he could have a “do-over” and shut down state government, he would.

Today, on International Women’s Day, Gov. Rauner accused me of taking my orders from the boys. There’s only one person that tells me what to do and that’s my mother. And today I honor her by continuing to stand up to him, the biggest bully in the state.

Despite his best efforts to use state employees as political pawns, I beat his attempt to short employee paychecks. They will be paid on time and in full.

I would ask Gov. Rauner to please take off the tinfoil conspiracy theory hat, stop criticizing judges and insulting employees’ intelligence. He should instead focus his energies on fulfilling his constitutional duty to propose a balanced budget for legislators to consider.

*** UPDATE 3 *** Tina Sfondeles

“This is just more delusional babble that seems to be happening with more regularity,” [Madigan spokesman Steve Brown] said. “I don’t know whether that suggests some bigger problems in the Rauner administration or what, but it’s clearly delusional babble.”

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:06 pm

Comments

  1. The next time Bruce Rauner takes responsibility for anything will be the first.

    The Rauner Rule: It is always, always, always someone else’s fault.

    Comment by Reality Check Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:09 pm

  2. This is why I thought Abdon’s initial response was way too long…

    Everyone and their brother knew Rauner was going to come out and just blast Mendoza up and down the “Madigan” meme.

    My thought was… issue a response, a paragraph or two, simple and calling out the Governor.

    Let Rauner lash out…

    Pounce on that lashing out with those factual paragraphs after, making Rauner look unhinged in his response to Mendoza and the ruling.

    It’s not that I thought Abdon went too long for the sake of being long, I felt a great deal of the first release is far better to respond to Rauner’s unhinged rants.

    Hope that clarifies my thoughts. I knew Rauner would “respond”, I just wanted that response available to make my point.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:13 pm

  3. His bad week won’t get any better with remarks like that.

    Think we are finally seeing the REAL Rauner?

    Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:14 pm

  4. Statements like, “Our state judges are, you know, sometimes part of the problem,” demonstrate a fundamentally flawed understanding of democratic governance, and are disturbing. I’m sure its frustrating to have an agenda that is continuously challenged, especially when you’ve alienated the people you need to work with to get things done. But blaming the judges for applying the law seems to ignore the notion of checks and balances that ensure our government does not stray from its duties, purpose, and limits. You don’t like the ruling? Appeal. Perhaps the governor should think about why his off-the-cuff remarks about the judicial branch are themselves part of the problem.

    Comment by SinkingShip Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:15 pm

  5. Our governor is starting to act a lot like Trump. Go against him and he lashes out. Does not bode well for “negotiations”.

    Comment by Archiesmom Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:16 pm

  6. –This one is tough, she’s doing it in the court. And we lost in court. Our state judges are, you know, sometimes part of the problem.–

    This seems like a familiar playbook line. Where have I heard this before?

    Comment by Harvest76 Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:17 pm

  7. So close to a “so-called Judge” comment, so close…

    Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:18 pm

  8. The Govermor continues to be in campaign rhetoric mode. When is he ever going to switch over to leading In a coequal branches of government reality? I’m frustrated with this rudeness, incivility and pointing fingers mentality.

    Comment by Thoughts Matter Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:18 pm

  9. “Our state judges are, you know, sometimes part of the problem.”

    At least he didn’t call them “so-called” judges. Wow.

    Comment by Nick Name Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:19 pm

  10. How on earth can one man be so consistently right while everyone else is always and I mean always wrong. And now he has to fix the judiciary too. How can he manage to go on?
    Oh the humanity!!!!

    Comment by DuPage Saint Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:20 pm

  11. In keeping with Bruce’s disdain for the letter “G” (with a nod to Chance), he’s pretty good at beefin’ with the other branches of government and woofin’ about his own role in the problem.

    Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:21 pm

  12. The REAL Rauner tends to show up when things don’t go his way and he’s pressed to explain why he isn’t “winnin’”. In videos of pressers you can see the change taking place, and it’s usually about the time, “Last Question!” rings out. The paints drying as he sits in his corner and fumes.

    Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:21 pm

  13. Did the governor have an update on who took the strawberries from the officer’s mess?

    Give a good think as to what the governor is saying here: spending money without a legal appropriation is a personal entitlement for him, and a legal challenge seeking Constitutional clarification as to that practice is a sinister conspiracy against him.

    That sound you hear is the governor rolling ball bearings around in his hand.

    Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:21 pm

  14. ==OK, but the judge who ordered the state to continue paying all its employees during the impasse, a ruling Rauner supported, is the same guy who just ruled in favor of Mendoza.==

    It’s so rich how clueless the governor is when he makes his attacks.

    Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:23 pm

  15. I find it interesting how those entering government with only business experience fail to understand the concept of checks and balances. Just because you want thing a certain way does not meant that it automatically happens. There are legislatures and the judiciary in place to make sure the rules are followed. Sorry, guys, that’s their job. And when you continually lose these cases, you ought to be looking at the advice you get.

    Comment by Archiesmom Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:25 pm

  16. Does he even hear himself talk?

    Comment by Theq Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:26 pm

  17. Guess we can cross “teaching moment” off our wish list.

    Comment by Cubs in '16 Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:26 pm

  18. Gov - “Why did the attorney general do this now, when the Senate was getting close to a grand bargain?”

    Well, let’s think about this. Could it have anything to do with the Gov (and his surrogates) blowing up the Grand Bargain last week?

    Comment by titan Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:28 pm

  19. To “This”…

    ===“This is clearly part of a coordinated activity, coordinated pattern between the attorney general, our comptroller and, frankly, our speaker, who coordinates it all, to create a crisis and shut down state government,” Rauner said Wednesday===

    Hope you can prove that Gov. Rauner…

    I’m not worried. Chance will remind his 3+ million followers how Rauner needs to… “Do Your Job”

    Yes, Queeg-like.

    Eerily Queeg-like.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:29 pm

  20. How long til the Governor starts doin’ his own early mornin’ tweetin’ too?

    Comment by hot chocolate Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:30 pm

  21. “Governor, how did you spend International Women’s Day?”

    “Well, I falsely accused two female constitutional officers of the State of Illinois of illegally conspiring to create a constitutional crises. Do I get a prize?”

    Comment by Nick Name Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:32 pm

  22. Did Rauner borrow Trump’s tin hat? Is he trying to create a conspiracy to cover up his flub with Chance?

    Comment by A Jack Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:33 pm

  23. Team Rauner circles the wagons and fires in all directions.

    Now I get it. He’s wants a position in the Trump administration.

    Comment by Stumpy's bunker Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:35 pm

  24. It’s all a vast left wing conspiracy to… get a budget after 2 years and run government legally.

    Rauner is the problem and people are finally catching on. A bit late but perhaps they’ll learning to pay attention and believe populist political rhetoric.

    Comment by El Conquistador Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:36 pm

  25. ==Comptroller Mendoza takes her orders from Speaker Madigan and they are working together to create a crisis and shut down the government. ==

    isn’t rauner the one who stated during the campaign he wanted a crisis to get a shutdown?

    Comment by working stiff Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:38 pm

  26. Paranoia strikes deep
    Into your life it will creep

    Comment by Bigtwich Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:42 pm

  27. Slightly more than halfway through his four year term Rauner has faced very little organized resistance on message from his opposition party and voters have mostly given him the benefit of the doubt, neither is likely to continue throughout the 2nd half of his term and the effects of that pressure (just beginning) is starting to show.

    The candidate who ran on a track record of success now sees excuses everywhere: the Speaker, the AG, the Comptroller, Senate Democrats, the Mayor of Chicago, judges, rappers, etc. That will be politically problematic.

    Comment by The Captain Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:48 pm

  28. Cue normal blame response.

    Willy’s right, Abdon should have saved some of his good response for the follow-up. Hopefully, he’ll whip up some more. Obviously, it’s taking some time.

    Also, I’m hoping the good, but long explanation of this issue from Mendoza’s office indicates that they’re finally getting their act together. If not Rauner will find more ammo to use against her.

    Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:50 pm

  29. His mistrust of judges and paranoia about our states political system is very Trumpian.

    Comment by Flynn's mom Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:51 pm

  30. Rauner’s bargaining position is eroding…rapidly.

    I bet he’s wishing he had worked a little closer and little harder with Radogno on that Grand Bargain now.

    Comment by Chicago_Downstater Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:53 pm

  31. When you’re blaming the refs, you must be losing. Just put the ball in play. Can’t hit a home run every time. Take it one day at a time, focus on the next game.

    Any more baseball cliched apply here?

    Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:53 pm

  32. “It’s all a vast left wing conspiracy to… get a budget after 2 years and run government legally.”

    I guess by Illinois standards it has been legal to legislate with bogus “balanced budgets” the last two decades. Don’t know where the pension debt and unfunded retiree healthcare insurance falls into that equation of a legally run government.

    Comment by Arock Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 1:00 pm

  33. “She’s doing it in the court.”

    He put the matter before the court, she just responded.

    Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 1:01 pm

  34. Right now, Rauner’s own “allies” consist of two caucuses afraid to sneeze without being attacked, Uihlein and Griffin, who invest millions to be Rauner’s pals to partake in the ownership of the shiny toy formally known as Illinois…

    … Diana Rauner, who herself has donated millions to help Bruce destroy the social service safety net… while taking monies from the Pritzkers to keep The Ounce free from her own aiding of the destruction of social services… oh, and then funding the continued slamming of JB Pritzker in the meantime. We know, Mrs. Rauner, it’s a business decision.

    Then there’s Proft and Tillman.

    Every day, they wake up and gleefully see Rauner’s need for Vertucal Integration… and they both get that financial windfall for Rauner’s only real “need”

    Those are the Rauner “allies”(?)

    Now, those “allies” find…

    The Courts
    The Constitution
    Legislative Successes
    Governing

    They are the “foes” of Bruce Rauner and his “allies”

    Strange that you’d want the courts and the constitution as foes, but I’m not a wealthy Raunerite or aided or suppressed by those Raunerite allies… or am I?

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 1:01 pm

  35. “His mistrust of judges and paranoia about our states political system is very Trumpian.”

    Indeed. This is what you get when someone who is used to getting their own way 100% of the time and refuses to compromise at any level or at any step of the way.

    Comment by flippy Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 1:02 pm

  36. These comments really are sounding more and more Trumpian. He just says whatever he needs to say to fit his narrative. He gives no mind to whether it is consistent with the actual facts, or consistent with what he has said in the past. It dois ant really matter because no one remembers anything or holds him accountable.

    Well gotta run, the Guv has a Facebook live thingy with Ricketts to talk about the upcoming season!!

    Priorities.

    Comment by Henry Francis Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 1:09 pm

  37. The only ones he’s not blamin’ are the Russians.

    Comment by NATTY BOY Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 1:12 pm

  38. Help me out. Was it “Crisis creates opportunity?”, Brucie? I know it was something like that.

    Comment by Big Joe Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 1:16 pm

  39. Captain Queegner….
    Aye Aye, Sir!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-95QqBXLG2I

    Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 1:17 pm

  40. So Brucie celebrated International Women’s Day by claiming two Female Statewide Constitutional Officers are just pawns doing Old White Male Madigan’s bidding…

    Comment by d.p.gumby Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 1:18 pm

  41. @NATTY BOY…LOL!!

    Comment by Flynn's mom Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 1:21 pm

  42. I do not understand why Rauner is going to such lengths to distance himself physically from Donald Trump while making the comparisons between their leadership so easy.

    Can anyone explain the strategy of attacking judges to me?

    Comment by Free Set of Steak Knives Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 1:29 pm

  43. So, is the siege of Illinoisingrad broken?

    “Following the state’s encirclement, requests for surrender negotiations shall be denied, since the problem of relocating and feeding the population cannot and should not be solved by us. In this war, we can have no interest in maintaining even a part of this very large urban population.”

    Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 1:31 pm

  44. Blaming judges is Trumpism. You don’t get your way therefore everyone who doesn’t agree is against you and part of the problem. It’s 5th grader mentality and currently it’s in charge of our world.

    Comment by SouthernDawg1 Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 1:32 pm

  45. ==This is clearly part of a coordinated activity, coordinated pattern between the attorney general, our comptroller and, frankly, our speaker, who coordinates it all==

    He coordinates it all? Everything? That comment seems like something from Alex Jones.

    Comment by AC Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 1:37 pm

  46. To the Update…

    ===The Governor is clearly desperate to shift blame onto anyone but himself. He needs to stop the baseless finger-pointing and do his job.===

    Do. His. Job.

    Boy, trying to be “kool” tweeting @ Chance will haunt and haunt… and haunt.

    @FakeGovRauner - I am doing my job. No one realizes how much work it takes to do nothing and blame others for everything #DoYourJob

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 1:41 pm

  47. Chance’s brilliant “Do your job” meme is gonna stick around for a while I see.

    #DoYourJob

    Comment by Bobby Catalpa Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 1:43 pm

  48. So far Rauner has blamed:

    His predecessor
    Democrats generally
    The media
    The courts

    Sounds familiar.

    Comment by Thomas Paine Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 1:49 pm

  49. As has already been stated: “judges are…part of the problem” is a Trumpian statement. Rauner is usually too smart to sound like Trump. Sounded just like him here.

    Comment by The_Equalizer Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 1:50 pm

  50. “Speaker Madigan and the Comptrollers and Judges he controls….or something.”

    Comment by btowntruth from forgottonia Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 1:52 pm

  51. Looks like “do your job” is catching

    Comment by Rogue Roni Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 1:54 pm

  52. Why would any governor pick a fight with the rest of the government and still believe that he is the leader of that government?

    What governor would sabotage state government deliberately, yet believe he could govern?

    What governor believes that he could be successful without any annual budgets?

    What kind of governor spends millions on television ads denouncing the leaders in the state’s other elected positions?

    Rauner has turned daily governing into daily political squabbles. It’s been going on three years! Have we all grown comfortable with the sheer disaster Rauner has inflicted upon Illinois? Finger pointing? There’s no excuse for any goverrnor to turn Kamikazee just to retaliate against his political opponents.

    Rauner wants Illinois to crash. Then he can say that he told us that he was right to blame everyone else for the crash.

    Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 1:55 pm

  53. ==Looks like “do your job” is catching==

    If you watched, Senate Dems especially were trying to make it a thing just before the Budget Address. They certainly lucked out now.

    Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 1:57 pm

  54. To the Mendoza update…

    Well crafted, thoughtful, using today’s significance to frame Rauner’s words, but would’ve like that Crew to have held back earlier and use this time to unload on the Governor.

    Outside that, it was smart, crafted well, and thoughtful.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 2:00 pm

  55. Whack job shows why he is much needed to be put out of a job

    Comment by Rabid Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 2:02 pm

  56. I love the updates.

    Comment by Ok Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 2:03 pm

  57. The problem isn’t Rauner not “doing his job”, it’s the decades of Madigan, Cullerton, and their members like Mendoza failing to do their jobs and running up the debt we’re left with today. Rauner is doing his job to change that, they just want to keep doing the same “job” they’ve “jobbed” the State with every year, which has left us with fewer real “jobs”.

    Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 2:03 pm

  58. Asked Wednesday why he was fighting to ensure state workers get paid during the budget impasse but not on behalf of social service providers who’ve also sued after going months without pay, Rauner said there’s “a difference” between those who work inside government and those paid by the state via contracts.

    “Inside government, the folks are working every day,” Rauner said. “There’s a difference between being inside government and being outside government.”

    http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/

    What!!??!! Please elaborate ck! Starting to sound like a verbal “tweet”.

    Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 2:04 pm

  59. ===Rauner is doing his job to change that…===

    By proposing 3 consecutive, status quo, grossly out of whack budget…

    … all the while refusing to fund Higher Education, the payments to Social Services, refusing to negotiate with the states employees’ largest union…

    Well, if that’s Rauner doing things different… it appears Rauner needs to…

    Do. His. Job.

    … better.

    K? K.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 2:07 pm

  60. “There’s a difference between being inside government and being outside government.”

    Did Yogi Berra just become our Governor?

    Comment by illini97 Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 2:10 pm

  61. Mendoza — rock star response.

    It’s getting good, these responses. It’s about time.

    Comment by Bobby Catalpa Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 2:11 pm

  62. I expect behavior like this out of middle and high school students. Governors? Not so much…

    Comment by Fixer Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 2:12 pm

  63. “This is clearly part of a coordinated activity, coordinated pattern between the attorney general, our comptroller and, frankly, our speaker, who coordinates it all, to create a crisis and shut down state government,” Rauner said

    Oh! …and Obama had my wires tapped!
    ?s

    Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 2:13 pm

  64. ==The problem isn’t Rauner not “doing his job”==

    Of course it is. You all have to drop the Innocent Bystander routine. He is the Governor. He has been for 2 years now. Yes, the state had big problems before he got there. But here’s there now, and he’s not fixing the problems. They are, in fact, getting worse.

    The mistakes made before Rauner don’t change what’s happened since Rauner. They don’t nullify the increased bill backlog, the credit downgrades, the creeping unemployment, the continued population exedous, the charity closures.

    Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 2:13 pm

  65. -Anonymous-

    “The problem isn’t Rauner not “doing his job”, it’s the decades of Madigan, Cullerton, and their members like Mendoza failing to do their jobs and running up the debt we’re left with today. Rauner is doing his job to change that, they just want to keep doing the same “job” they’ve “jobbed” the State with every year, which has left us with fewer real “jobs”.”

    If you could point to the Rauner budgets that balance cuts and revenue increases, along with the Rauner “reforms” and their analysis with respect to return on investment, that would be most helpful.

    There aren’t any.

    #DoYourJob

    Comment by illini97 Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 2:13 pm

  66. =The problem isn’t Rauner not “doing his job”, it’s the decades of Madigan, Cullerton, and their members like Mendoza failing to do their jobs and running up the debt we’re left with today.=

    Only Governors can run up debt, or pay off the debt. A governor’s signature is required to make any state appropriation or revenue the law.

    Comment by My New Handle Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 2:14 pm

  67. Lol, I seriously can’t believe people are still defending Rauner, his problem is that he never understands the Governor Jobs is for all the people of Illinois not just right wing ant top 1 %.
    DoYour Job!!!

    Comment by So tired of political hacks Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 2:21 pm

  68. Good on Madigan and Mendoza for their responses. Rauner has zero room to criticize others and project when he’s created a crisis by insisting on non-budgetary reforms he can’t get, and refusing to work on reforms he could get–all by design.

    Good on the Comptroller also for pointing out the governor’s arrogant disrespect for employees’ intelligence–at least when it comes to unionized state employees. The strike vote shows very clearly that those many employees are not buying his ploy that he cares very much for them, while he’s heck-bent on smashing their union and forcing terrible contract terms on them.

    Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 2:38 pm

  69. Rauner before the election: Elect MW me and I will fix the State’s fiscal problems.

    Rauner after the election: I don’t need to solve them because I inherited them.

    Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 2:40 pm


  70. Rauner after the election: I don’t need to solve them because I inherited them.

    Actually, it’s more like: “I can’t solve them because Madigan won’t let me.”

    Have some cheese with your whine, buddy.

    Comment by Bobby Catalpa Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 2:47 pm

  71. Blistering response from Mendoza.
    Nice Womens Day tie in.

    Comment by btowntruth from forgottonia Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 2:48 pm

  72. ===“I don’t know whether that suggests some bigger problems in the Rauner administration or what…===

    Who said you need one of those tweeter do-hickeys to troll someone.

    Wow.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 2:50 pm

  73. The longer Mendoza continues this public exchange, the more Rauner loses stature.

    Only Rauner can portray Mendoza as equally powerful.

    Comment by walker Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 2:52 pm

  74. The Governor’s signature is not a prerequisite. 60 and 30, remember? And a veto override vote. They just want a name to point the finger when it blows back at them.

    Comment by Ractin Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 2:53 pm

  75. ===The Governor’s signature is not a prerequisite===

    According to Rauner his overall blessing is.

    Otherwise no Raunerite votes to get 60 and 30.

    Keep up, please. “Thanks!”

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 2:59 pm

  76. Err go, they need a name to blame, as I typed. They want Rauner, and he isnt falling for it. Thanks for almost keeping up, mostly.

    Comment by Ractin Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 3:04 pm

  77. ==And a veto override vote.==

    Dems don’t have the votes for a veto override.

    Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 3:06 pm

  78. Way to go Mendoza, my respect for you grows by the minute. Governor Rauner,please do your job.

    Comment by Flynn's mom Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 3:06 pm

  79. Aw - Ratcin -

    Even the Tribune said just recently the GOP, owned and operated by Rauner, blew up the Grand Bargain.

    So… there’s that I guess, lol

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 3:08 pm

  80. Everyone is doing their job except one.

    #DoYourJob, Governor Rauner. Now.

    Comment by flippy Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 3:10 pm

  81. - Flynn’s mom -

    I’d check the QOTD on the recent DHS episode. - OW

    To the post,

    I guess Rauner, instead of learning the levers of the Office of Governor the plan is to publicly strip the gears of the levers and cash in on the insurance money?

    Yeah, government isn’t a ‘78 Caprice Classic.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 3:12 pm

  82. “The problem isn’t Rauner not “doing his job”, it’s the decades of Madigan, Cullerton, and their members like Mendoza failing to do their jobs and running up the debt we’re left with today.”

    The debt is lots of people’s fault, Democrats and Republicans. I accept my share of the blame as well. It’s also Rauner’s fault, for paying a very low state income tax for decades. He’s managed government employee pensions for decades, but he spins it both ways, great for employees and taxpayers when he wants to look good and terrible for taxpayers and financial tumors when he wants to attack his opponents.

    We need to work together to fix the problems and stop with the scapegoating and demonization, but it’s very hard when the governor has so much contempt for certain groups of people.

    Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 3:19 pm

  83. Very nice messaging from Comptroller Mendoza. Well done.

    Comment by Louis Capricious Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 3:21 pm

  84. Sound like Captain Queeg saying, “my strawberries they are after my strawberries” as he churns marbles in his hand over and over.

    Comment by facts are stubborn things Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 4:21 pm

  85. Very nicely done. Is Judy channeling a little? She would be furious. Miss her still.

    Comment by Present Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 6:54 pm

  86. We took a “CHANCE” with rauner and he has failed as governor at every turn. We are tired of billionaires running our country into the ground..

    Comment by Magic carpet ride Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 7:09 pm

  87. I am generally conservative goes with territory but best vote ever in my life was Mendoza. Now is Madigan prevails it means many hard decisions must be made go .,,, Lisa

    Comment by Cleric Dcn Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 7:58 pm

  88. ===We took a “CHANCE” with rauner and he has failed as governor at every turn. We are tired of billionaires running our country into the ground..===

    Rauner is trying to get some balance in a crazy blue state and he isn’t being given a chance.

    Comment by justacitizen Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 9:53 pm

  89. === Rauner is trying to get some balance in a crazy blue state and he isn’t being given a chance. ===

    Rauner has been given 2 years of chances and has failed to get a budget passed.

    Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 10:08 pm

  90. If Rauner had been willing to settle for incremental steps each year instead of all or nothing immediately, he could have accomplished quite a bit. The opportunities to cut deals were there, assuming he really wanted to govern instead of just burning everything down.

    Rauner made the classic rookie politican mistake, he let the perfect get in the way of the doable.

    Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 10:19 pm

  91. RNUG. This guy ,in no uncertain terms, did not want to govern. He wants to trsnsform Illinois into a red state. Its not about money. Never has been. Its national partisan politics at its finest.

    Comment by blue dog dem Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 11:12 pm

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