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* No surprise here…
Rauner's budget director just told #SenExec that the governor has no official budget cutting plan. #DoTheJob
— IL Senate Democrats (@ILSenDems) March 15, 2017
Dems press Rauner budget guru Scott Harry for what he'd cut. Harry: "list does not exist," Gov-preferred budget counts on longterm savings
— Amanda Vinicky (@AmandaVinicky) March 15, 2017
Which is something, since a pending bill would give the governor virtually unlimited authority to cut on his own.
— IL Senate Democrats (@ILSenDems) March 15, 2017
This is the same person, by the way, who insisted to the media last month that the governor’s proposed budget was balanced.
…Adding… Press release…
The Rauner Administration today released the below statement following the Senate Executive Committee voting down legislation to give Governor Rauner the authority to cut spending and balance the budget:
“Governor Rauner has said from the beginning that if the legislature is unwilling to fulfill its constitutional obligation to pass a balanced budget, he is prepared to balance the budget on his own. We are deeply disappointed that the Senate majority voted down a bill to give the governor the ability to make spending cuts and balance the budget. If Senate Democrats are unwilling to let the governor balance the budget on his own, they have no alternative but to work with him to achieve a bipartisan balanced budget that makes structural changes to our broken system.”
The Unbalanced Budget Response Act, introduced as part of the governor’s Fiscal Year 2018 budget, would provide the executive branch authority to reduce government spending in all areas except K-12 General State Aid, early childhood education and debt service. If the General Assembly enacted the governor’s introduced appropriations bills with the Unbalanced Budget Response Act, he would be able to balance the budget on his own. The governor’s preferred path remains working together with the General Assembly on a comprehensive approach to getting Illinois back on track.
…Adding More… SDems…
For more than a week, Senate committees asked Gov. Bruce Rauner’s agencies to identify potential budget cuts to help close a $5 billion gap in the governor’s state budget. So far, they’ve been unable to come up with any.
That experience is among the reasons Democrats on Wednesday voted down a plan to give the governor unilateral power to cut whatever he wants to fill the gap in his budget. Another reason would be the Senate’s own efforts to create a grand bargain budget deal to restore financial stability.
In response to the rejection of his blind budget cutting authority, Gov. Rauner issued a press release criticizing Democrats for not working with him.
Illinois Senate Democrats took issue with that:“The governor had the chance to balance the budget on his own. We even set aside a day for him to unveil it to the public. He had that chance last month, last year and the year before that. He’s failed at every chance. So, I’m not sure who he’s talking to anymore when he demands that someone needs to balance his budget,” said Senate Assistant Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford, a Maywood Democrat.
“If this is working with us on the budget, let me know when he starts working against us,” said Senate Assistant Majority Leader Terry Link, a Vernon Hills Democrat.
“Maybe the governor missed a memo. His own budget director has told us time and again that the governor’s budget is balanced. I don’t know what the governor’s getting so worked up about. He should go talk to his own budget director to be reassured of just how balanced his budget is,” said Senate Majority Leader James F. Clayborne, a Belleville Democrat.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 2:23 pm
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Help me understand this.
The Governor refuses to sign any budget items, refuses to offer a budget, all because of cuts he wants and items that will supposedly save the state money ,all without details.
And yet his budget director has no answer to what cuts, exactly, he would make.
Maybe we have a revenue problem that is greater than our spending problem?
Maybe “turnaround” is about effective governing?
Comment by Blue Bayou Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 2:29 pm
Anytime the Raunerites would like to engage themselves in governing in Illinois, please let us know.
Comment by Tough Guy Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 2:31 pm
It absolutely is a balanced budget.
Comment by The Machine Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 2:34 pm
Somebody better ask the real GOMB director Steve Yaffe.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 2:35 pm
The Sen. Dems should have asked him to leave and not come back until he has something to actually discuss.
Comment by Dee Lay Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 2:37 pm
Good Grief.
Comment by Saluki Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 2:38 pm
Perhaps this speaks to why Tim Nuding left. He has too much credibility to be a part of this nonsense from the administration.
Comment by Magic Dragon Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 2:39 pm
The Rauner game plan.
Same as it ever was.
Have Democrats own the cuts, propose budgets that require the Dems to do and own those cuts as theirs.
Understand Revenue is required, but treat revenue as a concession, a “want” Democrats want, not him, not Raunerites.
Require Turnaround Agenda items, using that Revenue “give” in the public as a “give”, using the Dem Tax Hike as bad, while also saying the “revenue” was never his idea.
Do nothing, using this game plan to…
Stall out a budget to to destroy social services by not being “able to” pay contracts (See 2012 quote)
Refuse to pay for Higher Ed, allowing the collapse of one or more state universities.
Make it Demicrats fault for the destruction - budget “impasse”… but it’s never been an impasse but an orchestrated squeeze.
…
Finally… any deal that looks close, use the $20 million, the $50 million, Ken Dunkin, Scott Drury… double cross Leader Radogno… to keep the destruction… manageable… and the collateral damage (Leader Radogno’s reputation and leadership) a price Rauner is willing to pay.
… and Diana Rauner, Uihlein, and Griffin… paid to make this possible for Bruce…
… as his own Budget Director continues to the orchestration, and the Dems have no message to show this in the sunshine.
That’s heartless, Bruce Rauner.
It’s a business decision, says Diana Rauner.
Here endeth the Lesson.
OW
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 2:41 pm
So, if I understand this correctly the governor expects the Democratic caucus to vote for a tax increase and determine spending cuts?
Why do we need a governor or the Republican Party? They can just stay home and then come campaign time rip the Democratic caucus.
Sheesh!!
Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 2:44 pm
Guessin’ it is becomin’ clear how no one can give BigBrain any new toys or increase his allowance.
Can’t wwait for the Tribbies to do an editorial on this one
Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 2:45 pm
Rauner killed the GRAND BARGAIN because it didn’t have enough cuts. They can’t recommend any new cuts. But they killed the deal because it doesn’t have enough of the cuts they want but can’t name.
Republicans can’t govern.
Comment by The Captain Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 2:49 pm
=== This is the same person, by the way, who insisted to the media last month that the governor’s proposed budget was balanced. ===
Even as he insisted the budget was balanced, Scott Harry told a Senate committee on Feb. 16 that failing to approve the governor’s desired statutory changes would leave the budget more than $7 billion out of balance:
“The maintenance, auto-pilot budget, if there were no changes in law, would have a deficit of $7.2 billion.”
Comment by Louis Capricious Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 2:49 pm
So what have they been doing? Wasn’t one of the deputy governor’s on this?!
It’s looking more clear this is really about shutting the whole thing down and picking up the pieces later.
Comment by P. Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 2:49 pm
He said again today that the governor’s budget is balanced.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 2:50 pm
My next question to the director is “Does the Governor have an “unofficial” budget cutting plan?”
What plans does he have?
It is very important that we firmly establish that Rauner has no other plans for Illinois citizens than to bankrupt our state and let the wolves, buzzards and vermin feast upon our collective carcass.
Since his first day in office, Bruce Rauner has been deliberately euthanizing our state, like a gubernatorial Dr. Kervorkian.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 2:51 pm
Rauner is incredibly consistent in who he is, what he does and what he says. I don’t see him needing to change until there’s some kind of organized, effectively-messaging opposition party out there.
Comment by Earnest Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 2:52 pm
At least Kevorkian helped people who wanted to die.
Comment by Blue Bayou Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 2:54 pm
===It absolutely is a balanced budget.===
To quote Bill Clinton, “It depends upon what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is.”
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 2:56 pm
CK reports that GA’s freshwater condenser is down.
Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 3:00 pm
Since this circus already has jugglers and clowns, all we need now is wild animals. What a mess.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 3:01 pm
If these people actually intended to govern, Sergeant Schultz was more competent than this bunch.
If I had voted for Rauner to use his claimed financial expertise to fix things, I would be totally PO’d.
If, as I suspect, the goal is to ruin everything possible, then the administration is right on track.
IF we had an independent GOP, this Governor would have been shown the door a year ago. Now the only hope is for either the Comptroller or the Federal government to uncover enough serious malfeasance that GA will be forced to act … but I don’t hold out much hope for that.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 3:09 pm
Hmm guess that is why he vetoed the first budget in whole instead of line itemi vetos. Just think he could have balanced the budget himself and been the hero but now he is the zero
Comment by Compromise requires two sides Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 3:11 pm
This is starting to remind me of the Seinfeld episode where Kramer was test driving a car and wanted to see how long he could drive it with the gas needle at (or below) empty. It became a exercise in seeing how far past the line one could go. The further they went, the more exciting it became. Like they had achieved something, gone further than anyone had before.
That has to be what Bruce and the Frat boys are doing, right? Seeing how long they can go without doing any part of their job. (Actually that sounds like something George would do)
Only this is real life. With serious consequences.
Comment by Henry Francis Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 3:14 pm
As a lifelong Illinoian and a lifelong Republican, I say Rauner is in embarrassment and needs to be defeated in the Republican primary next March. We can/will do better!
Comment by William j Kelly Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 3:29 pm
Me thinks the Governor’s Office is trying to see if they can push his approval rating down to Blago levels.
Comment by GA Watcher Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 3:30 pm
== Rauner is in embarrassment and needs to be defeated in the Republican primary next March. ==
Too bad ballots don’t have a “none of the above” box.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 3:32 pm
===“Governor Rauner has said from the beginning that if the legislature is unwilling to fulfill its constitutional obligation to pass a balanced budget, he is prepared to balance the budget on his own.===
Yeah, I’m gonna stop ya right there.
Article VIII, Section 2, (a) requires Rauner to submit a balanced budget.
That has ZERO to do with whatever Rauner thinks he’s being forced to do or not.
Again, Rauner stalling, knowing full well, they (Rauner’s Crew) will win the day again.
Continuing…
===We are deeply disappointed that the Senate majority voted down a bill to give the governor the ability to make spending cuts and balance the budget.===
Article VIII, Section 2, (a). Again, no one is stopping, not one person is stopping Rauner from doing as the Constitution requires. Rauner, again, winning the messaging.
Now, here’s the “rub” I made comment earlier…
===…they have no alternative but to work with him to achieve a bipartisan balanced budget that makes structural changes to our broken system.”===
Rauner will now stall the budget talks, blaming Dems for going back to “Square One”… and this is the “fun” part, Rauner gets to hold the budget hostage for TA points, force the Dems to wear the jacket for “wanting” a tax, a Dem Tax Rauner doesn’t want, but Rauner will “give” that tax for Dems… once Dems vote against their base.
Same as it ever was. Same… as it has been. Two years.
The rest? Easy.
Rauner taking it to Dems in a messaging that Rauner’s Crew knows 1) Rauner’s Crew will own and control against the Dems, 2) Rauner’s Crew knows is a blatent slight of hand to continue the destruction of the state of Illinois.
Heartless Rauner… wins again.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 3:36 pm
As a decades long Republican, I’d be very happy to vote for someone running against Rauner in the primary.
Comment by logic not emotion Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 3:43 pm
Is there any way to remove him from office before the end of his term?
Comment by Teach Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 3:45 pm
The solution requires 60 and 40. Don’t think there are enough Senate Republicans that value their oath and will vote to convict.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 3:50 pm
OW Look to the Metro East. My Gavabutu is coming up. Skyhook in reverse.
Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 3:55 pm
As a supporter I find this troubling if true. Governor Rauner needs to look at his job title and remove the last two letters. Yea that’s the job description right there
Comment by Sue Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 3:57 pm
The message from Rauner to the Dems is this — give me my TA items and I will let you get the blame for a tax increase or hand me the budget and I will cut huge dollars from your core constituencies. In the mean time I will demonize the speaker of the house — why totally controlling the republicans so we don’t get a grand bargain. gosh why don’t we have a budget solution? snark
Comment by facts are stubborn things Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 3:57 pm
- Honeybear -, all the best. It’s going to take a heavy lift everywhere.
Rauner isn’t going anywhere.
No Raunerite is going to look to do anything against Rauner anytime soon… for any reason.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 4:02 pm
gov. Rauner, how dare you destroy this state in the name of reforming it! You have no right to cause such harm and hurt so many people why digging us deeper and deeper into debt. Governing is hard work and it involves compromise. The best way to get a deal is not to demonize the speaker while trying to destroy AFSCME. We need a budget of cuts and revenue so this state can operate properly which does create a better business environment. The gov. has to understand two numbers…30 and 60.
Comment by facts are stbubborn things Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 4:03 pm
The C team is now in charge…
Comment by El Conquistador Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 4:05 pm
Dear Scott
Heckuva job. Evidence? Ha!
Sincerely
Kelly Conway
Comment by Dr X Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 6:09 pm
===As a supporter I find this troubling if true. Governor Rauner needs to look at his job title and remove the last two letters. Yea that’s the job description right there==
Dear Governor, when you’ve lost Sue, you’re in deep trouble.
GUE
Comment by Gruntled University Employee Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 6:14 pm
Rauner’s superstars lose their superpowers whenever they’re exposed to mathematics. Mathematics is Rauner’s kryptonite.
Comment by AC Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 6:16 pm
Toast i say.
Comment by Blue dog dem Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 7:59 pm
The Wells Center contract was their first cut.
Comment by Citizen A Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 8:06 pm
“We say things. We can’t back them up with facts or data or even rational analysis, but we say things and expect the citizenry to simply buy it because of the source. I mean, we’re in power so we’re spot-on correct, no?”
Comment by Tom Servo Wednesday, Mar 15, 17 @ 9:38 pm
The Speaker also says cuts and revenue are required but he won’t propose any cuts or revenue either
More political theater and hypocrisy
Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Mar 16, 17 @ 6:27 am
Lucky,
The Governor has spent tens of millions of his own dollars to demonize Madigan, why on earth would the Speaker do Rauner’s constitutionally mandated job for him???
Comment by Gruntled University Employee Thursday, Mar 16, 17 @ 6:45 am
“If Senate Democrats are unwilling to let the governor balance the budget on his own…”
He’s had two years, how many does he need?
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Thursday, Mar 16, 17 @ 7:16 am
==The Speaker also says cuts and revenue are required but he won’t propose any cuts or revenue either ==
How many times have the Governor and his minions quoted the Speaker on raising the income tax rate back to 5% and starting from there? And the Speaker (ok, the house he controls 100%) did pass a budget 2 years ago.
Comment by Whatever Thursday, Mar 16, 17 @ 8:24 am