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* As I’ve already told you, Gov. Rauner is holding a press conference in Chicago today [ADDING: click here to follow it on ScribbleLive]. The governor is scheduled to talk about “Developments Regarding Illinois/CPS Pension Deal.”
Press release…
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin today called on Speaker Michael Madigan and the House Democrats to join the House Republicans in passing comprehensive pension reform that would provide significant savings for taxpayers and $215 million to the Chicago Public Schools for a one time pension parity payment.
According to Durkin, the legislation is modeled after legislation introduced in a bipartisan manner in the Senate. Specifically, HB 4027 includes:
• Senate President John Cullerton’s “consideration model” that would require members of TRS, SURS, SERS, GARS, and CTPF to exchange their Tier 1 COLA for the right to have future raises to be counted as pensionable, or keep their COLA and sacrifice future raises as pensionable. This concept previously received union support by the We Are One Coalition
• Provides a one-time normal cost payment to the Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund of $215.2 million for FY 17
• Closes new member participation in GARS
• Offers Tier 1 TRS, SURS, SERS and GARS employees the option to participate in a defined contribution (DC) plan
• Creates a voluntary Tier 3 Hybrid defined benefit/defined contribution plan for new Tier 2 employees under TRS, SURS, and certain SERS members who do not participate in Social Security“With this legislation, we estimate the State of Illinois will realize short-term savings of $2.25 billion dollars from the general funds and a substantial step towards closing the deficit gap. This is a significant step towards achieving a balanced budget but also saving our pension systems.”
“I have secured 25 House Republican co-sponsors for this legislation. With our 26 votes the House Republicans have provided their pro-rata share of support for a structured roll call vote on this important issue. This means we will provide our fair share of votes. The Speaker needs to provide his 34 votes to move this legislation to the Senate. This legislation will earn the Governor’s signature. Speaker Madigan and I have worked in the past on pension reform and I am calling upon him to help secure passage of this legislation. This reform is a major piece of the puzzle for breaking the budget impasse,” said Durkin.
However, Senate President John Cullerton, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and CPS have said they want permanent CPS pension funding in exchange for permanent pension reform. That wasn’t part of the deal with Rauner last year, but it was included in a Senate grand bargain bill that has already passed.
…Adding… Press release…
In response to Governor Bruce Rauner’s misleading press conference this morning, Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) President Dan Montgomery, a high school English teacher, released the following statement:
“Governor Rauner is basing his promise to Chicago school children and taxpayers on alternative facts. The pension bill Rauner demands as a condition for funding education reflects legislation that has already been ruled unconstitutional by our Supreme Court several times. This new bill, which also steals from public workers’ life savings, is likely to face the same fate, and therefore, its savings amount to nothing. For Rauner to say this is ‘good policy’ suggests he doesn’t understand the law or doesn’t care.
In the meantime, we will fall deeper into debt and students of Chicago will be deprived of the future they deserve. It’s time for the Governor to drop the ultimatums and do his job.”
Actually, there are two bills. One is Cullerton’s consideration model. But there’s a second bill which wouldn’t likely be challenged in court, that would do some basic, easy pension stuff and the CPS pension funding language.
…Adding More… From GOP Rep. Dave McSweeney…
I oppose HB 4027 because it includes a $215 million bailout for the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund. I strongly support real pension reform, but oppose spending $215 million to bail out the CPS. We have to stop spending money that we don’t have.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:05 am
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Dear Leader Durkin,
#ChicagoBailout
‘nember that?
That’s why the Senate deal and Grand Compromise makes the most sense.
This only allows Rauner to continue to hurt Illinois in so many other ways, the glaring difference with your thoughtful compromise versus the Senate Grand Bargain are glaring.
I’m all about doing the doable, but…
#ChicagoBailout
… Rauner’s own good faith and the politics of Rauner makes trust difficult to see
With respect, Leader Durkin,
OW
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:12 am
He can’t even provide a majority of the votes for the GOP demand of pension reform?
Solid leadership.
Comment by Juice Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:13 am
26 votes out of 48 members? And this is a GOP issue supposedly? How many votes will he be able to get on a tax increase that has the Governor’s work comp, term limits and everything else he wants?
Comment by My button is broke... Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:16 am
Durkin forgot to offer the “opportunity” for current Tier 1 employees to quit and forgo all claims to the pension they paid into.
Comment by Jocko Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:16 am
26 votes. Durkin is gettin’ close to passin’ something in the Senate.
For the House, that’s pretty pathetic.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:17 am
Durkin, where are you on a state budget? CPS doesnt need a bailout sir, we need something more permanent, like what the Senate was working on. Matter of fact where have you and your caucus been the last 2 years outside of voting present.
Comment by austinman Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:17 am
Also enjoying the blatant transparent attempt to be able to pin the blame back on the Speaker after the Governor twice torched pension reform in the Senate.
Comment by Juice Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:18 am
And of course the big question, is it Constitutional?
Comment by Skeptic Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:19 am
Hmmm.
By chance is this pro-pension reform cover for when the governor vetoes the Chicago muni pension reform bill late this afternoon?
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:28 am
The Dems are afraid of going it alone on these big pension/school funding issues for fear of “wearing the jacket” .Now some GOP members are willing to go on the record to fund CPS and share the pain/blame, and remove the override issue - yet that is not good enough !
Comment by Texas Red Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:28 am
I wonder about Tier 3. Tier 2 is so bad that it barely skates past requiring the members to get social security. If this is worse than Tier 2, the city and state will lose money on it.
Comment by Carhartt Representative Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:28 am
== And of course the big question, is it Constitutional? ==
Parts of it will be, but not the coerced Tier 1 AAI / raise swap … which is where most the projected savings would have come from.
I find this particularly amusing because an IPI email yesterday clearly stated the existing pensions can’t be changed and the existing pension debt has to be paid.
Comment by RNUG Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:36 am
== This concept previously received union support by the We Are One Coalition ==
Irrelevant. Unions can’t negotiate individual pension rights.
Comment by RNUG Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:39 am
OK. Rauner and Durkin want permanent pension reduction in return for a one-year CPS pension payment. Yet the Governor insists upon a permanent property tax freeze in return for a permanent income tax hike. In other words, Rauner wouldn’t take the deal he’s offering on pensions, yet he expects the Speaker to accept it. That’s chutzpa!
Comment by Anon Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:40 am
RNUG, sorry for repetitive post, but at least I gave you credit.
Comment by X-prof Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:41 am
== exchange their Tier 1 COLA ==
They don’t seem to even understand their own bill. An AAI and a COLA are two different items.
Comment by RNUG Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:42 am
Forcing employees to choose an option resulting in a diminishment without being offered an option to keep the level of benefits provided when hired is unconstitutional.
Comment by kitty Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:43 am
Is Rauner going to primary those 22 GOP members who won’t vote for his pension reform bill?
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:44 am
This is an attempt to move the “blame” back to Speaker Madigan. It’s nakedly political.
This is not a real proposal.
Comment by Try-4-Truth Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:50 am
26 votes for a bill in the House is a pretty big deal, in that anything over 18 and you don’t end up in the Century Club when it fails.
Comment by The Captain Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:55 am
Durkie only needs 36 more…check back when ya get there.
Surprised no questions about pay suit or Durbin declarin’ BigBrain missin’in action on repealin’ ObamaCare.
Comment by Annonin' Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:57 am
Rauner’s already vetoed the money for CPS after his feelings got hurt about something and he got all emotional.
If CPS closes early, he wears the jacket. And he can expect to some emotions from Chicago parents coming his way.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:58 am
===Closes new member participation in GARS===
Finally, the state employees will have someone representing them that’s also on Tier 2. Sorta.
26 votes for unconstitutional pension reform. Hurray!
Comment by Anon Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:02 am
Will someone please point out to the governor that roughly half of the GOP house caucus opposes this dog.
Comment by TominChicago Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:04 am
Ending GARS participation for new legislators will no doubt be popular with the public. But over time, with fewer and fewer legislators paying in to the pension fund, then a bigger and bigger tax subsidy for the fund would be necessary for the next generation or so until the current and future GARS retirees and their survivors are gone.
Comment by Anon Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:06 am
How is extra funding for CPS pensions a GOP issue?
Why can’t the Chicago democrats support extra funding for CPS in exchange for statewide pension reform as agreed to by their leaders?
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:07 am
Things Rauner needs to let fresh in his mind…
Voters completely understand a “veto” and can easily see how vetoes do things like purposely hurt Chicago students.
Rauner already admitted he acted emotionally. That emotional response was to hurt Chicago students. Rauber said he acted emotionally, so it’s not a judgement of Rauner’s own action, it’s Rauner being reflective. His words.
Chance didn’t even buy the song and dance. When trying to “explain” the veto, a veto is something people understand how they work, Chance started the #DoYourJob meme.
At some point, governors own. It took a Grammy Award winning artist to finally let that reality sink in, even with 58% disaproval numbers.
Blaming Madigan here, left-handedly by saying Durkin has these votes, that don’t equal 60… and I’ll get to that shortly… is another feeble attempt to seem to be leading with anyone following.
Leading? Put 60 on the stairs, with Leader Durkin and Governor Rauner actually having a “Madigan hostage” situation.
Emotional vetoes are something that governors come to by Chance, but happen to emotional governors taking a chance he/she can fool people that Vetoes aren’t owned by governors.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:07 am
When are they going understand that “do not diminish” means do not diminished. Forced to make a choice between Raises and COLA diminishes our pensions.
Comment by Rufus Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:10 am
===… in exchange for… ===
Oh - Lucky Pierre -, lol
The emotional veto.
Why is this proposal EXACTLY for $215 million? Was it by Chance?
Governors vetoes don’t get the opportunity to be “fixed” with Rauner thinking he (Rauner) has leverage. You actually pretend that.
The veto was a big emotional mistake.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:12 am
Raises are not a constitutional right.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:12 am
Veto was a mistake in your eyes.
You think giving CPS the extra money without the promised pension reform would have been a good idea?
I would like to go car shopping with you sometime.
Mr Car Dealer, i promise to give you $25,000 for this new car.
On second thought, I would just like for you to give me the car but I don’t want to give you anything in return.
I think the car dealer would get “emotional” about telling you he could not accept your offer
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:17 am
LP: “Raises are not a constitutional right.” Nice non-sequitor there. The Constitutional right isn’t “raises”, it’s that any raise counts toward the pension calculation. Because that was the deal when we signed on.
Comment by Skeptic Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:18 am
Lucky
I may be wrong if so Rnug can correct me. Pension is to be determined to by a formula of the final compensation. So requiring employees to either give up their COLA or give up raises being calculated into the final formula is in fact a choice of 2 diminishments & unconstitutional. At least that would be a reasonable interpretation.
Comment by Mason born Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:22 am
I don’t understand how any of them think changing how a worker’s final average earnings is calculated (not counting future pay increases) DOESN’T diminish the pension. I get that raises are not promised, so it seems to me that freezing a workers salary totally might be a constitutional way of lowering the pension costs, but not giving the worker a raise and then refusing to count it for their pension. And of course freezing the worker’s salary would have its own political headaches, i.e. breach of contract for unions that actually have a contract.
Comment by Perrid Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:23 am
If you’re downplaying 26 votes in the Leader’s caucus….Don’t.
Comment by A guy Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:27 am
Skeptic you will forgive me if I am ’skeptical” of your assertion.
Unless you are a Supreme Court Justice that is.
So it is not unconstitutional to deny a raise? the point may be moot anyways, it doesn’t look like there will be too many raises.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:27 am
===Veto was a mistake in your eyes.===
This proposal kinda-sorta admits it’s a mistake that needs to be fixed, lol.
What else ya got…
===You think giving CPS the extra money without the promised pension reform would have been a good idea===
Rich Miller personally talked you through this whole thing. I can grab it if you’d like. You are being willfully ignorant or blissfully unaware, or worse rudely ignoring where our host “helped” you understand how it went down.
Rauner chose to veto. I’m glad you’re embracing the hurting of Chicago students. It appears Rauner feels it was an emotional mistake.
===On second thought, I would just like for you to give me the car but I don’t want to give you anything in return.
I think the car dealer would get “emotional” about telling you he could not accept your offer===
Last chance. Admit you’ve been told about how things went down with this by Rich Miller or I can show you are literally making this up again in the face of what even our host tried to “explain” to you.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:30 am
Anonymous @ 11:27 (Please choose a nickname) I’m not arguing that raises are guaranteed. In fact, I’m arguing quite the opposite. What I’m arguing is that *if I get a raise* then it (according to the ILSC decision) counts toward my pension unless you offer me something of equal or greater value in exchange.
Comment by Skeptic Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:43 am
Yes Willy
please explain the logic of Rauner agreeing to 215 million in extra CPS pension funding without the agreed pension reform
The deal is currently on the table, today
Do you think this is the first time something has been vetoed has been resurrected ?
Democrats have yet to realize they do not have total control of Springfield
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:47 am
Has anyone else noticed….. Not too many tier 1 folks are getting promotions.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:48 am
=Now some GOP members are willing to go on the record to fund CPS and share the pain/blame, and remove the override issue - yet that is not good enough !=
Umm…this is a GOP bill. They should all be green since the GOP wants it passed.
Comment by JS Mill Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:52 am
===please explain the logic of Rauner agreeing to 215 million in extra CPS pension funding without the agreed pension reform===
Rauner did agree, but Rauner vetoed the $215 million emotionally.
It’s not for discussion or debate. Rauner got emotional and chose to purposely veto, and this deal here, it isn’t the same deal.
===Do you think this is the first time something has been vetoed has been resurrected ?===
If you say it isn’t a mistake, why does it need any resurrecting?
Further, had Rauner not emotionally vetoed the $215 million, personally and purposely hurting Chicago students, and cruelly held to what was agreed to with Cullerton, there would be no need for ANY resurrection, and this isn’t a resurrection, this is a new deal. Keep up.
===Democrats have yet to realize they do not have total control of Springfield===
Welp, trying to fix an emotional veto is ALL on Rauner.
Not one Denocrat has the ability to veto $215 million to hurt Chicago students. Rauner chose that.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:53 am
Lucky,
Democrats have been saying that we need to get a balanced budget (which would include more money for CPS).
The Governor is the one saying we need to get extra money for CPS after his encounter with Chance.
Comment by Juice Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:54 am
The deal on the table today is all that matters. The House GOP will help CPS.
Pass the agreed pension reform and CPS gets the $215 million so the kids can finish out the year.
“Those who live in the past are cowards and losers”
- Coach Mike Ditka
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:58 am
==Has anyone else noticed….. Not too many tier 1 folks are getting promotions.
That is what you call cost containment !
Comment by Lech W Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:59 am
Oh great another unconstitutional pension reform bill that will get thrown out. It’s like these people can’t read their own state constitution.
Comment by Chucktownian Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:01 pm
==- JS Mill
The bill may have been introduced by the GOP - but it includes CPS funding and a variation on Dem leader Cullerton’s pension fix !
Comment by Texas Red Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:03 pm
===The deal on the table today is all that matters. The House GOP will help CPS.===
Where’s the 60?
No, it’s not all that matters, this is to deflect that Rauner undercut Radogno on the Grand Bargain, and, by not having 60, this is Rauner pretending he’s doing something, but in actuality, isn’t doing anything at all.
“Never mistake activity for achievement” - John Wooden.
26… is not 60.
Did ANY House Democrat attend, lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:05 pm
Any Tier 1 close to retirement won’t give up the AAI for having raises pensionable. Who has gotten a raise since Rauner and who expects one before they retire?
Comment by ANONIME Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:07 pm
One more nail in the pension reform coffin, once the ISC rules it unconstitutional — if there is any wood left.
Comment by facts are stubborn things Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:10 pm
===“Those who live in the past are cowards and losers”
- Coach Mike Ditka===
Past is Prologue
If you bring up budgets for the past 30 years, I’ll remember you using the Ditka quote.
K? K.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:15 pm
=but it includes CPS funding and a variation on Dem leader Cullerton’s pension fix !=
Dose GOP’ers want it, they are sponsoring it. Just getting a “pro-rata” number is a weak attempt.
Put dem all on it.
The gov., who owns/runs the GOP, wants forever pension diminishment for a one-time payment that he won’t accept on another issue.
He is our chief hypocrite.
Comment by JS Mill Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:16 pm
Maybe someone should ask the Speaker and those voting no if they now feel the pension system is now suddenly sustainable.
That would be a 180 from the Speaker’s previous statements.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:17 pm
“That would be a 180 from the Speaker’s previous statements.”
“Those who live in the past are cowards and losers”
- Coach Mike Ditka
Comment by Juice Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:20 pm
- Lucky Pierre -
The Speaker and every member of the General Assembly didn’t veto to purposely hurt Chicago students. Gov. Rauner purposely hurt Chicago students, “emotionally”
Rauner own it. Ask Chance
Governor Rsuner… #DoYourJob
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:21 pm
=Maybe someone should ask the Speaker and those voting no if they now feel the pension system is now suddenly sustainable.=
Is your phone broken there Mike Ditka Jr.?
Comment by JS Mill Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:23 pm
Juice and JS Mill
if you think the Speaker is a coward and loser who and I am to disagree?
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:29 pm
=if you think the Speaker is a coward and loser who and I am to disagree? =
Whats next for you? Sticking out your tongue?
You are a real wiz at debate.
But nice of you to acknowledge that you cannot support or defend your empty rhetoric.
Comment by JS Mill Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:35 pm
So the debt amount will continue to accrue while this is sent to the courts once again—-for how many years? Will what taxpayers be owing less after it’s shot down? Can we never learn?
Comment by AnonymousOne Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:35 pm
To be clear, Durkin does “have” or deliver any votes, other than his own. Those are Bruce Rauner’s votes. Just ask Christine Radogno.
Comment by Tommy Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:36 pm
===if you think the Speaker is… ===
The Speaker isn’t commenting under - Lucky Pierre - and bringing up the Coach as a talking point.
You did.
Don’t bring up “30 years” or any of that “baloney”. You lost that.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:37 pm
=Democrats have yet to realize they do not have total control of Springfield==
The reverse is also true. You might want to remember that as you continue to incessantly beat the same drum day in and day out.
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:42 pm
Leader Durkin:
The Speaker has 48 votes for CPS funding and 12 for pension reform.
You come up with 12 and 48.
That’s how this works.
Comment by Juvenal Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:45 pm
Bruce sounds more like Trump every day. There is zero support for this among Senate Dems and apparently not very much support even from House Republicans. This just gives Bruce something to say at press conferences for the next couple of weeks to try and distract from the fact that he killed the grand bargain.
Comment by distraction Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:46 pm
Seeing as you don’t want to be a coward and a loser living in the past what are you going to post OW?
I agree with you the Speaker’s 30 years have been full of baloney
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:48 pm
To be clear, this is leader Durkin saying I want to pass a bill and half of my caucus my caucus is green on it, you do the rest.
I do not like to dwell in the past (because, well, you know why) but how has past Durkin rhetoric helped his chances of getting Madigan to do the heavy lifting on a bill the GOP wants and desperately needs for GOP ownership?
Durkin may want to give that one a think as MJM has been known to be a bit stubborn at times.
Comment by JS Mill Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:49 pm
LP:
Stop arguing like a child and grow up. And you may want to try and make an argument that doesn’t read like a Rauner press release.
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:50 pm
===I agree with you the Speaker’s 30 years have been full of baloney===
Making it about me by trying to think you’re speaking as I ha e said won’t distract from today…
Rauner hurt Chicago students, purposely vetoing $215 million and personally submarined Leader Radogno with a Grand Compromise.
Making it about me isn’t taking away what you’d hope, Rauner’s continued stall, like this 26 House votes for something not passable, and the continued destruction of Higher Ed, social services, and Bruce Rauner hurting anyone that he can to leverage destroying unions, and raising taxes but blaming Democrats for both outcomes.
… in the meanwhile, starve the state, social services, higher ed, and let the destruction happen by doing nothing.
You can’t refute these things, so you think you can go after me?
That’s not a winning argument.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:54 pm
=“Those who live in the past are cowards and losers”
- Coach Mike Ditka=
Says the man who spent 32 years living in 1985
Comment by Carhartt Representative Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 1:06 pm
Anyone that thinks this is Constitutional should first read 40 ILCS 5/ Sec 14-103.10 on the definition of Compensation which says all wages are considered compensation. This is the law that is in effect now. Sec 14-103.12 described how compensation is used to calculate Final Average Compensation which is the HIGHEST average 48 months of compensation in the last 10 years. Sec 14-108 tells the calculation of the pension which is 1.67% of final average compensation for each year of service. Since you are forcing a lower final average compensation for those who don’t take make an election, that is clearly a diminishment of what was promised on the first day of employment which is the Supreme Court test.
Comment by A Jack Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 1:14 pm
Do you think Durkin hit send on the wrong news release?
Is he bragging about having 26 or admitting defeat?
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 1:22 pm
in the meanwhile, starve the state, social services, higher ed, and let the destruction happen by doing nothing ABOUT PENSIONS
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 1:30 pm
=by doing nothing ABOUT PENSIONS==
First of all, the pension bill was part of the Grand Bargain - you know, the one the Governor killed.
Second, even if you pass a bill it won’t help the budget right now because you can’t include any savings from it because what is out there will most certainly be challenged.
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 1:34 pm
===in the meanwhile, starve the state, social services, higher ed, and let the destruction happen by doing nothing ABOUT PENSIONS===
If you want to hold the state hostage, that’s a great way to describe to do it.
Rauner vetoed the $215 million “emotionally”, not due to policy.
Rauner said so.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 1:34 pm
=ABOUT PENSIONS=
Where you actually yelling when you typed that?
And, as if you cared about the rest.
The answer, the one that is actually constitutional, is you have to pay the pension debt.
No way to weasel out of that. No matter how much you may want to not make good on your obligations.
The end result is a need for revenue.
Save your”cuts” rant. Not even the governor has a pan for budget cuts.
The only cuts Rauner and the other bazillionaires really wan to say are taxes and middle class compensation.
Comment by JS Mill Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 1:35 pm
–in the meanwhile, starve the state, social services, higher ed, and let the destruction happen by doing nothing ABOUT PENSIONS…–
What an epiphany, after all this time! Your conversion is duly noted!
I take it then, if the deal ever goes down, The Boss is committed to paying social service providers all they’re owed? Restoring higher ed to at least FY 2015 levels?
I mean, he wouldn’t try to make them take a haircut, would he, on the money they’re all owed? That would be bad faith.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 1:35 pm
So Durkin’s members get to go back home and brag about slashing retirement benefits for the teaching profession, people looking to work at the local university or state jobs and the only thing they get out of it in return is a 1-time CPS bailout? No higher ed budget? No school funding plan? No funding for state worker health care?
Nope, they’re willing to sell everyone out so Rauner could solve his Chance the Rapper problem. The gov’s PR problem is the only thing this attempts to solve.
Do the House Republicans miss the super minority that much?
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 1:35 pm
I think the pension reform will be considered unconstitutional. Is there anything stopping the GA from passing a bill forbidding any raises for Tier I employees outside of promotions? They could call it Pension Reform if they like.
Comment by Robert the 1st Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 1:41 pm
Not sure McSweeney is wrong about this trade. Give $215M to CPS in exchange for a pension bill that likely won’t survive legal challenge, or likely won’t produce much in fiscal relief. That’s real money in exchange for a political statement. We come back to the reality that Tier 2 was the substantial “pension reform.”
What I find significant is Durkin following Radogno out of the cave, with potential votes in hand.
Comment by walker Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 1:46 pm
So theyre going to leave “Tier 2″ as-is, a ticking legal time bomb.
Comment by Enough Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 1:52 pm
=Durkin following Radogno out of the cave=
I wish that were true, but I think it is more like Rauner pushing Durkin out of the cave to take the first arrow.
Comment by JS Mill Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 1:52 pm
Anyone able to retire should. At least they will get a raise.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 2:00 pm
The CPS problem is not Rauner’s. He did not create the mess but the usual suspects think it s only up to him to solve it.
He did not negotiate the unaffordable CPS contract- blame Mayor Emmanuel and Forest Claypool for that.
He did not make zero pension contributions for a decade like Arnie Duncan, Mayor Daley and Karen Lewis did
He did not create the funding formula- Chicago democrats who controlled Springfield for 12 years could have changed that
He did not pass a budget with a $215 million dollar hole in it expecting extra state money from a state that has a serious budget deficit and bill backlog. Forest Claypool and CPS board did that.
He did not back out a deal for the pension money, Speaker Madigan and Senator Cullerton did that
The Governor’s base of support is not Chicago.
Expecting him to totally capitulate has not been a winning strategy for House and Senate democrats.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 2:07 pm
–The CPS problem is not Rauner’s.–
I’m pretty sure he is the governor of Illinois, more than two years now. Chicago is in Illinois.
The gig does not come with an a la carte menu. All the problems in the state are now his. I’m certain that was in the job description.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 2:11 pm
- Lucky Pierre -
You neglect a few important points;
Schools closing early? Governor Rauner #DoYourJob
Rauner owns his $215 million veto. Only Rauner can veto. That’s why Chance said #DoYourJob
Rauner needs to “fix” that veto. Rauner’s action tell me so. If Rauner could blame this on CPS, he would. But, he can’t.
===The Governor’s base of support is not Chicago.===
You think Rauner saying Chicago students don’t matter… works? Good luck with that. That’s why Rauner is desperate to get the $215 million back… somehow. Why?
#DoYourJob
===Expecting him to totally capitulate has not been a winning strategy for House and Senate democrats===
Rauner is at 58% disapprove. How’s that working for Rauner? LOL!
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 2:15 pm
===Mayor Emmanuel… Forest Claypool… Arnie Duncan… Mayor Daley===
Let’s take these individually;
Rahm Emaunel - Rauner contributed to Rahm, vacationed with Rahm, even got Rahm started into what Rahm wanted to do after the White House.
Forrest Claypool - As an alleged Republican, financially supported Forrest in his race, voted for Forrest when Rauner lived in Chicago.
“When did Rauner live in Chicago?”
Funny you ask…
Arnie Duncan - the Democrat running CPS that Bruce(?) or Diana(?) called as part of the plan to clout their denied, Winnetka-living daughter. After the clouding, The Rauners donated $250K to Payton Prep.
Mayor Daley - contributor to the Daley campaigns, also worked with Daley on tourism.
Both Rauners think Rahm, Forrest, Arnie, even Mayor Daley… were Superstars.
So… how can Rauner be so upset with them all?
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 2:26 pm
Keep it up OW the leader of the GA and Head of the Democratic party’s disapproval is so high he can’t have a press conference.
I cannot wait to see whoever the Democratic nominee for Governor is dissociate from all of the policies that have caused both the Speaker and Senate President to be more unpopular than Governor Rauner, and Leader Durkin and Radogno.
it will be fascinating to hear whoever the nominee is detail solutions to all of these problems.
The partisan map can win in legislative races but does not apply to statewide races.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 2:29 pm
@OW- To the clouting..why? As in why would the Rauners clout their daughter into Payton Prep versus send her to New Trier?
I have never understood that choice.
Payton Prep is excellent. New Trier is excellent.
New Trier has an national reputation for excellence that Payton Prep has not achieved yet, mainly they just haven’t been around quite long enough.
So what did Payton Prep offer?
Just something I have wondered for a long time.
Way off the point of the thread, sorry.
Comment by JS Mill Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 2:32 pm
===Keep it up OW the leader of the GA and Head of the Democratic party’s disapproval is so high he can’t have a press conference===
Madigan - 61%
Rauner - 58%
===I cannot wait to see whoever the Democratic nominee for Governor is dissociate from all of the policies that have caused both the Speaker and Senate President to be more unpopular than Governor Rauner, and Leader Durkin and Radogno===
How will Rauner distance himself… from himself? lol
===it will be fascinating to hear whoever the nominee is detail solutions to all of these problems===
You have me there, Rauner has left tons of problems.
By nearly every measure, Illinois is worse off since Rauner became governor. Right Crain’s? Exactly right.
===The partisan map can win in legislative races but does not apply to statewide races===
Ask Leslie Munger…
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 2:33 pm
OW you might be the only person in Illinois who thinks Dem turnout will be higher in an off year than in a Presidential year.
Mendoza barely won in a Hillary landslide
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 2:38 pm
- JS Mill -,
I’m guessing it was fashionable for the Rauners to have that clouting happen, as Payton Prep ranked just above New Trier at that time, I believe.
The Rauners wanted the best for their daughter, but Bruce… first says its Diana asking about it, not him, “maybe”, then Bruce said the daughter’s scores were perfect, when in truth, they were not, then there’s the “Principal List” timeline that can’t make sense.
Bruce was truthful, I can line with that.
Blaming Diana, test scores, “Principal’s List”…
Rauner has no respect for Chicago students… until his daughter became one… and the $250K donated after a clouting.
That’s the best I can see it.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 2:39 pm
===Mendoza barely won in a Hillary landslide===
A 4+ point win isn’t barely winning, and Munger outspent her.
You must be the only person thinking a governor at 58% disapproval is in good stead.
There’s a poll out there with Rauner losing to a generic Dem already… Remember? lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 2:41 pm
== Expecting him to totally capitulate has not been a winning strategy for House and Senate democrats ==
Rauner may have been a hard financial negotiator in the business world, but he is apparently one of the worst when it comes to political negotiations.
Let’s revisit that $215M CPS bailout. The GA passed it. The deal said the GA would also pass pension reform; the GA had a bill they were working on. The timeline for Rauner to sign or reject the CPS bailout bill had not elapsed.
Rauner, for whatever reason, vetoed the CPS bailout bill BEFORE he had to. That mistake was Rauner’s, and Rauner’s alone.
Now Rauner is feeling the heat for it. (OW’s rule: Governor’s own their actions.) It was an unforced error by Rauner. Until he did that, the failure would have been on the GA if they didn’t pass pension reform. But Rauner took that playing card off the table; it was a self-inflicted wound.
Now public pressure has Rauner in a deep hole. He wants the Democrats, who he has abused and villianized, to save him while also ticking off the D’s supporters. It doesn’t work that way in the political world; if you NEED something, it will cost you big time. Madigan and Cullerton would be fools to help Rauner without getting a lot for their help.
And Rauner has made this kind of unforced error before; the most obvious one being his call, while Governor-elect, for the GA to let the temporary income tax expire. Once again, all Rauner had to do was keep his mouth shut … and he couldn’t do it.
The only way I see Rauner getting what now will be HIS CPS bailout is if he agrees to something huge, like all or almost all R votes, on the needed income tax increase, and it is passed and signed BEFORE the CPS bill.
This is what you get when you elect a political rookie: unforced errors that come with a high cost to correct.
Comment by RNUG Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 2:44 pm
But you still think he will win reelection unless you changed your mind
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 2:46 pm
===But you still think he will win reelection unless you changed your mind===
Seeing how Rod won, understanding the financial resources and the poor messaging by Dems, it would be, today, difficult to say Rauner would in fact, unequivocally, lose.
An incumbent Illinois governor is difficult to beat
“Pat Quinn failed”… Rauner won.
Skyhook in reverse needs significant and serious political movement by Dems, Labor, and the organizing of field to get a turnout to match Rauner’s dismal polling against an unnamed Dem.
Rauner, as a seated Illinois governor, should be poised for an easier re-elect. Rauner is not.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 2:50 pm
Chicago Democrats don’t need the extra CPS money?
Do you think the rest of the state will punish the Governor for not giving CPS the extra money? Quite the contrary.
Chicago Democrats will feel the wrath of voters for the higher property taxes to fund city pensions and now the shorter year. More money for less service, not a good combo but hey they have labor peace.
Sorry Senator Cullerton telegraphed he would not keep the deal and
Democrats actions since then reinforce that.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 2:55 pm
===Sorry Senator Cullerton telegraphed he would not keep the deal and Democrats actions since then reinforce that===
Based on what? Telepathy?
Rauner owns the veto hurting Chicago students. Rauner himself said he got emotional.
Now you are refuting Gov. Rauner?
Classic.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 3:00 pm
“Sorry Senator Cullerton telegraphed he would not keep the deal and Democrats actions since then reinforce that.”
The Senate President has called pension reform up for a vote…twice. Both times it failed because the Governor pulled GOP votes off the bill.
Then the Governor ran into his little Chance problem.
So I’m pretty sure most voters in Chicago are blaming the Governor, for his premature veto, for killing the grand bargain, for refusing to actually come up with an education funding reform proposal that goes beyond a term paper.
Comment by Juice Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 3:00 pm
==Do you think the rest of the state will punish the Governor==
I think the rest of the state may punish the Governor for not being able to govern. How well he is able to deflect that depends on who the Democrats end up with and whether they can do better than a 3rd grader in their messaging.
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 3:00 pm
“I think the rest of the state may punish the Governor for not being able to govern”
But reward the Democrats for what exactly?
Their great stewardship of the state that caused Pat Quinn to be the second most vulnerable Governor in America?
The Speaker’s role in the decline of the state?
You can’t beat some one with no policies and they have no policies
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 3:06 pm
–”Sorry Senator Cullerton telegraphed he would not keep the deal and Democrats actions since then reinforce that.”
The Senate President has called pension reform up for a vote…twice. Both times it failed because the Governor pulled GOP votes off the bill.–
Don’t confuse him with facts. His programming will fail.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 3:06 pm
==The Speaker’s role in the decline of the state?==
I think the Governor has now had a role in that as well.
==You can’t beat some one with no policies and they have no policies==
No, but you can beat someone who has accomplished absolutely nothing.
If you think playing the victim will get him a second term then go for it. Maybe it will. I don’t know.
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 3:09 pm
Next year’s governor race is going to be the most interesting election in the country.
Comment by Robert the 1st Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 3:22 pm
“You can’t beat some one with no policies and they have no policies”
Governor Rauner did.
Comment by Juice Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 3:27 pm
RNUG at 2:44 p.m. That says a lot. Please LP reread that post and let it sink in.
Comment by don the legend Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 3:32 pm