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Radogno tears into Democratic candidates

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* Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno writing in the Tribune…

Illinois is a few months away from a new fiscal year, yet we have failed to pass a full calendar-year budget for nearly two years. Not only are we working to fix two years of inaction, we’re working to fix several decades of failed choices and broken promises.

It’s going to take a lot of hard work, soul searching and truth telling from everyone involved. That includes Republicans and Democrats in elected office and those running to hold elected office. Voters shouldn’t give anyone a free pass.

* And then she goes on to criticize the Democratic gubernatorial candidates…

Their standard messaging goes something like this: We can’t afford any cuts. We need to increase spending. Let’s just tax the millionaires and billionaires, make them pay their fair share and call it a day. We can talk about reforms later.

* She details some of her complaints and ends with this…

We need more than just sound bites from Democratic candidates for governor. We need an honest evaluation of our problems and concrete solutions to those problems.

The crisis we face today didn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of decades of poor decision-making and partisan games. We know both sides got us here. But we also know both sides must get us out.

So, Democratic candidates for governor, stop the partisan rhetoric, step up and put forth real ideas. The people you wish to serve deserve an honest and thoughtful solution to the problems facing Illinois.

I’d say the same for the governor, too, but that’s just me.

They’re in the arena now, so it’s more than fair to ask what their specific plans are.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 3:45 pm

Comments

do her statements say “somebody get this guy out of my way”?

Comment by working stiff Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 3:50 pm
—Their standard messaging goes something like this: We can’t afford any cuts. We need to increase spending. Let’s just tax the millionaires and billionaires, make them pay their fair share and call it a day. We can talk about reforms later.–

A lie all the way around. Nobody is proposing to “just tax the millionaires and billionaires, make them pay their fair share” or even “tax the millionaires and billionaires more than the average $60,000/year family.” The Democrats aren’t proposing to “just” do this. The Republicans aren’t offering to do this in exchange for Rauner’s complete Turnaround Agenda. We have a flat income tax, remember?

In a better world, the Democrats *would* be demanding a progressive tax, and the Republicans would be demanding things like meaningful pension reform going forward, spending cuts, and political reform (which in this state happens to inure to their benefit, at least in the short term).

Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 3:52 pm
Not sure what she said here rises to the level of “tearing into them”. She’s the Leader of her party in one chamber and undoubtedly taking a partisan approach politically, as she should. Heck, she might be doing them a favor by asking.

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 3:53 pm
I think the correct political answer is to say that “I support Leader Radogno’s work towards a grand bargain” and just call it a day.

Comment by Juice Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 3:55 pm
=She’s the Leader of her party in one chamber=

Honestly, I am not sure that is true based on the whole Grand Bargain fiasco.

If it were true we might have a budget. of course it would have to make it through the house, which is a completely different story.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 3:59 pm
I believe the psychological term for this is transference. You can’t go really go after the person you’re dependent on, so you transfer your feelings onto someone else.

You’re right. Eventually these candidates owe the voters plans. But the person you are angriest at and who you should be taking it out on is the guy who torpedoed your grand bargain. How about some straight talk in public on that one?

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 4:01 pm
It s 100 percent true that the Speaker says cuts and revenues are necessary yet he will not propose any cuts and only wants to tax the millionaires and billionaires.

Ameya Pawar, Daniel Biss, JB Pritker and Chris Kennedyare also in denial about fixing pensions. They don’t propose any cuts.

Do they disagree with the Speaker that cuts are necessary? Do they agree pensions are unsustainable?

The Speaker know his plan requires a change in the constitution but he does not propose that.

They are being dishonest with the voters by saying the 17 billionaires will solve all of our problems if they just pay their fair share.

When will the media ask the hard questions instead of playing patty cake with them?

Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 4:04 pm
I guess to some extent that qualifies as “tearing into”, I guess, but what she said is absolutely accurate.

The Dems in the GA & and any Dem successful in replacing Rauner (if it happens) will have to deal with reality … someday. But none appear to be ready just yet to deal with the fact that Illinois is a financial train-wreck in dire need of restructuring and reforms … not just additional revenues from “millionaires and billionaires.”

Comment by Deft Wing Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 4:16 pm
>We need more than just sound bites from Democratic candidates for governor. We need an honest evaluation of our problems and concrete solutions to those problems.

Awesome. Doubly awesome: she has walked her talk with her work in the senate.

Comment by Earnest Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 4:17 pm
They should each endorse the Senate Grand Bargain, aka, her idea, and pledge to sign it into law on Day One.

Heh.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 4:18 pm
===It s 100 percent true that the Speaker says cuts and revenues are necessary yet he will not propose any cuts ===

I’m sorry LP, I missed the part where the alleged Governor proposed his cuts. Can you point to that for me?

Thanks!

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 4:19 pm
===Ameya Pawar, Daniel Biss, JB Pritker and Chris Kennedyare also in denial about fixing pensions. They don’t propose any cuts.

Do they disagree with the Speaker that cuts are necessary? Do they agree pensions are unsustainable?===

LP, did you leave your approved talking points somewhere? Or are you admitting that tying the goober candidates to Madigan is subterfuge?

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 4:20 pm
===The Speaker know his plan requires a change in the constitution but he does not propose that.===

LP, the Speaker, at last check, has 67 votes in the Chamber…or 66 if you count Dreary…can you please identify the Republicans that will support this in defiance of the Governor since it needs 71?

Thanks!

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 4:22 pm
===When will the media ask the hard questions instead of playing patty cake with them? ===

LP, thank you for your interest in the press! Please ask the same question about your fearless leader. I’m in dissonance with Rich on this one - if Rauner doesn’t have to answer, neither do they.

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 4:23 pm
OK, no more picking on LP, s/he’s not worth it.

To the post: so do we think Rauner bought her off with money or threats? I guess the A-1s will tell us!

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 4:26 pm
She has been there for years and is thus partially responsible for the mess. She needs to notice the plank in her own eye.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 4:26 pm
=== Can you point to that for me?===

Well, he did propose cutting higher ed funding 30 percent or so in 2015.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 4:28 pm
>They should each endorse the Senate Grand Bargain, aka, her idea, and pledge to sign it into law on Day One.

That gave me a smile. “I don’t like a lot of things in this plan, but I want to work in a bipartisan manner and the first thing we have to do is stop the bleeding. Then we’ll move on to fight for making Illinois better.” Pie in the sky, I know, but a fun thought.

Comment by Earnest Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 4:29 pm
Rich - touché!

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 4:29 pm
he also wants to cut health insurance for state employees and pensions too. Are you paying attention?

Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 4:30 pm
If the Speaker’s plan for revenue can’t pass his own chamber maybe he should submit a new one

That is what we elect leaders to do, solve problems not hide under their desks and refuse to talk to the press

Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 4:32 pm
== the Republicans would be demanding things like meaningful pension reform going forward, ==

-Lake county-, could you define that term for me? I’d like to know what is better than Tier 2?

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 4:33 pm
==That is what we elect leaders to do, solve problems==

LOL!!! You better mention that to the Governor.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 4:34 pm
I have not heard one Dem candidate for Governor ever say what Radogno claims are their “talking points.”

Still, she has every right to be frustrated with inaction on both sides.

Comment by walker Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 4:34 pm
===he also wants to cut health insurance for state employees and pensions too. Are you paying attention? ===

Not technically accurate. He wants to increase premiums and cost-sharing for employees, which will reduce state costs. For pensions, please see RNUG’s comments.

Now then, can you point to the specific cuts he’s suggesting, or not? I seem to recall a parade of agency directors going before Approps committees a few weeks ago, and not one - not a single one - could identify a single, specific cut.

For a “governor” who ran a campaign that decried the waste and fraud in government, has he found none? Is he complicit with it? Is he so incompetent that it’s happening and his people can’t discover? That’s about the breadth of your options. Choose wisely.

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 4:40 pm
Governor Rauner Owns All This..

Comment by Shake Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 4:42 pm
– I’d say the same for the governor, too, but that’s just me.–

Yeah, you could say the same for him. I think Radogno is trying to show she’s still on the team after the governor and the Superstars humiliated her.

The chronic whining about “several decades of bad choices” is way old when you’re not getting the job done in the here and now.

What was your expectation when it was your turn? All the problems had been solved? That would be nice, but, oh well….

Anyone, anywhere, in any year in history could whine about “several decades of bad choices.”

Unless you’ve got a Wayback Machine and a line to Mr. Peabody, just get on with it, already.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 4:48 pm
Christine needs to worry about the negativity in her own party.

Comment by Valvino Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 4:51 pm
Has Radogno weighed in on the fiscal responsibility of Rauner hiring Munger and her 30 patronage cronies? We’re either cash strapped or we aren’t.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 4:52 pm
RNUG - I can’t vouch for this analysis (link below), but it sounds like Tier 2, as painful as it is, doesn’t do the job. Again, speaking on behalf of that average family making $60K a year, if their taxes are going up (and I’d be fine with 5.25 if enough of the things I mentioned are “coming back”), the pension situation has to be fixed. I’d prefer it fixed with greater tax revenues from the rich, but that apparently is not an option.

http://www.wirepoints.com/the-tier-2-pension-mess-in-illinois-wp-original/

Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 4:55 pm
Tier 2 is just the latest version of passing the sins f the parents onto the children.

Instead of asking the current workers to step up and be part of the solution the unions politicians just finish the future workers and taxpayers.

the only solution is a constitutional amendment that allows future benefits for tier one to be reduced

Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 5:07 pm
RNUG, that’s easy. Tier 1 is much better!

I don’t think the people talking about “meaningful pension reform” have a clue about what the problem is, let alone the solution.

Unconstitutional “Tier 3″ is not the solution. I wish I could tell you of a conversation I had not too long ago with a very high ranking State official who totally misunderstood that concept.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 5:11 pm
===the only solution is a constitutional amendment that allows future benefits for tier one to be reduced===

Then what is taking so long? Why hasn’t Governor Rauner proposed this? Why didn’t he mention it on his noncampaign campaign tour?

Tick-tock LP. It’s been two years, Constitutional Amendments take time. How long are we supposed to wait for the Governor to do his job?

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 5:11 pm
===Instead of asking the current workers to step up and be part of the solution===

They did.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 5:11 pm
Arthur Anderson - the solution is basically the same solution California used to solve it’s budget crisis, though somewhat more weighted on the middle class here because Illinois isn’t so spectacular that our rich folk will pay almost anything to stay here. For those with other plans, I’m still asking for specific suggestions on what that $60K family should be cutting out of their budget.

Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 5:20 pm
We forget the context of the great recession - how many private sector employees experienced extended unemployment followed by wage/benefit cuts? How many have lost jobs to tech disruption?

Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 5:24 pm
== the only solution is a constitutional amendment that allows future benefits for tier one to be reduced ==

Anybody buying this failed Contract Law 101. It is a contract and you can’t unilaterally change it for either the retired or still working. The State has to man up and pay the debt … in English, that’s what the IL SC said.

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 5:41 pm
-AA-

LOL! You’re having fun with my shorthand …

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 5:42 pm
Yeah, the Senator is still on the team even though she was humiliated and disrespected by BVR!

Many of us had hopes for the Grand Bargain and appreciated and applauded your diligent work - but what happened.

Sorry, I forgot - listening to our Governor on radio these last two days he is still under the impression that the bargaining is ongoing and that a compromise in going to be announced within a week or two.

Am I missing something?

Comment by illini Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 5:42 pm
== the Republicans would be demanding things like meaningful pension reform going forward, ==

-Making contributions on time and in full would be a meaningful reform, in my eyes.

Comment by PENSIONS ARE OFF LIMITS Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 5:48 pm
Illini, surprised Senator Radogno is crooning the same old story, same old song and dance after BVR put her through the ringer. Sigh….

Comment by DeseDemDose Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 6:23 pm
@LCD- Not sure if you meant to infer that the same wage/benefit cuts that the private sector experienced did not happen in the public sector or not.

Just an FYI- they did. Wages were frozen and benefits were reduced in many school districts. In some places wages were reduced. In addition many thousands lost their jobs and others never found them and left education. Not sure about other sectors but that did happen.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 7:06 pm
Glad to know she is back seated at the right hand of the Rauner to receive her prayers, pardon me, orders.
Sorry was feeling in an Easter mood.

Comment by DuPage Bard Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 7:29 pm
Lucky, if and when a constitutional amendment on tier 1 pensions ever makes it to a ballot, then rest assured the flat tax and millionaire surcharge will be there as well.

Comment by Redraider Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 7:40 pm
Or is this simply a media opportunity to get her back in “good graces” to make possible a yet to be created ( title with no real responsibility ) position within the Governors office?

Comment by illini Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 7:43 pm
Then why don’t any of these cowards propose that?

The Speaker says the pensions are unsustainable, the Senate President and Governor agree.

Rank and file lawmakers are reluctant to stop the gravy train

Future benefits can be cut with a constitutional amendment that is undeniable RNUG

Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 9:20 pm
== Future benefits can be cut with a constitutional amendment that is undeniable RNUG ==

No they can’t … unless you also revoke both State and Federal Contract Law. And the IL SC has already said the pension deal is what you signed on for at time of hiring.

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 9:27 pm
== Future benefits can be cut with a constitutional amendment that is undeniable RNUG ==

Adding …

SECTION 5. PENSION AND RETIREMENT RIGHTS
Membership in any pension or retirement system of the State, any unit of local government or school district, or any agency or instrumentality thereof, shall be an enforceable contractual relationship, the benefits of which shall not be diminished or impaired.
(Source: Illinois Constitution.)

Everybody concentrates on this part: “the benefits of which shall not be diminished or impaired.” and the courts have been crystal clear it means exactly what it says.

But they tend to ignore this part: “shall be an enforceable contractual relationship” because the courts haven’t had to go to basic contract law.

And messing with Contract Law isn’t going to happen … because consist contract law is the basis of capitalism. A seller has to know that a buyer is obligated to pay for delivered services; a valid contract ensures that. And, at least in New York, Illinois and Arizona, pensions are explicitly defined as contracts.

And the only person trying to negate any contracts is Bruce Rauner, but that should not be a surprise given his track record of using bankruptcy court to negate contracts. Only problem is, this time, the law is not on Rauner’s side … and it still won’t be even IF you remove the entire Pension Clause because the pensions DID have contractual status when entered into by the State.

For the pensions in Illinois you only have two legal choices: (a) modify the pension contract using valid contractual methods aka voluntary consideration {which the Cullerton / Rauner proposal isn’t} or (b) Pay Up!

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 9:49 pm
The only person trying to negate contracts is Bruce Rauner?

The Cullerton consideration model negates contracts too.

Sorry RNUG you are not a Supreme Court Justice and as a pension recipient you clearly have dog in this fight

Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 10:35 pm
== Sorry RNUG you are not a Supreme Court Justice and as a pension recipient you clearly have dog in this fight ==

No, I’m not … but, to date, I also have a 100% accurate track record predicting on how the courts have ended up ruling.

Which is a heck of a lot better than your track record with citing facts.

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 10:40 pm
I wonder if Christine ever gets tired of lying to herself?

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 7:20 am
Radogno going rouge abandoning the turnaround for input from private citizens that she can use

Comment by Rabid Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 7:46 am
LP:

You said:

==Future benefits can be cut with a constitutional amendment that is undeniable RNUG==

And then you said:

==Sorry RNUG you are not a Supreme Court Justice ==

So apparently you are a Supreme Court justice.

LOL. You really need to try and stick to a consistent argument. You’ve failed multiple times at that concept.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 7:49 am
RNUG - for the record, I’ve never spoke about changing the benefits for current workers and both predicted and supported the ILSC rulings on attempts to do so. But if the “Tier 2″ plan within the 2010 law wasn’t enough to solve the pension crisis as that analysis stated, it surely won’t solve it on it’s own. A plan that will requires either progressive taxation or draconian hits to future benefits - discussing any other options requires more direct discussion of what happens to that average 60K/year family I keep mentioning (let alone where we might find money for NEW programs to address things like the violence in Chicago). As for what happens to those state workers if they are hit with those cuts - well, I suspect they’d start pushing for progressive taxation themselves, but apart from that let’s see how many of them leave before we start asking that average 60K family I keep referencing to suffer immense financial pain (or alternatively, how me might be able to preserve some of those benefits by reducing positions.

Comment by lake county democrat Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 8:01 am
JS Mill - thanks for the response - I dunno though - CPS teachers not only kept their salaries and benefits, they got raises during the Great Recession (and the school thing, not state workers but a fair illustration, is complicated by the whole funding thing). Overall I think civil service workers enjoyed far more job security and wage protection than the private sector during the Great Recession - if there’s a study for state workers showing that isn’t true I’ll reconsider my proposal.

Just to be clear: I’m not pushing for draconian cuts (i.e., beyond Tier 2) - I’m pushing for the Democrats to offer more Turnaround Agenda items, particularly the political reform ones, in exchange for a constitutional referendum on progressive taxation (and maybe a hike to 5.25%).

Comment by lake county democrat Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 8:07 am
==if the “Tier 2″ plan within the 2010 law wasn’t enough to solve the pension crisis ==

It will in the future. And that’s the best that can be done.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 8:10 am
I’d like everyone to meet our next and newest Deputy Governor Christine Radogno. She will be replaced in the Senate Leadership by my FB Live superfan groupie Karen McConaughy.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 8:50 am
=We need more than just sound bites from Democratic candidates for governor.=

Agreed. But she then goes on to attribute fairly detailed “standard messaging” to the Democrats and says nobody is talking about “reforms” (the meaning of which changes daily). Pot meet kettle.

Comment by Pundent Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 8:55 am
Cullerton’s consideration does not violate contract law. It offers current employees the choice, to voluntarily trade one thing for another.

Whenever the governor speaks of Cullerton’s plan, though, he ignores the voluntary trading part and focuses on the choosing part. But “take option A or B” is not Cullerton’s plan, and it’s not consistent with Supreme Court rulings.

Get it through your heads: you cannot avoid paying incurred pension costs. Claiming that as a proposed cut is not real. Even if you want it really bad, even if you think it polls well, you can’t have it. Some things are truly off the table.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 9:30 am
-lake county-

The reason I went into all that detail was to address the misunderstanding that Tier 2 “fixed” the Tier 1 underfunding.

As I (and others) have previously mentioned, Tier 2 DOES “solve” the pension problem by:

(a) stopping the bleeding by no longer adding “expensive” new Tier 1 members

(b) slightly offsetting the current Tier 1 pension debt

(c) eventually having a pension system that is fully paid for by the employees but it will take 40 - 50 years to reach that point

In the meantime, the, if you will, “transition cost” to get to that “free” (from the State perspective) system is:

(d) continuing to make the “normal” pension cost contribution

(e) continuing to make the Edgar / Blago modified pension debt “ramp” payments

What is killing the State budget is not the “normal” cost of the pensions, it is paying off the pension debt that was allowed to accumulate. The last numbers I saw breaking it all down says the State will be paying as much as 25% of the total State budget towards pensions. Every loves to quote that 25% number when.tslking about how big a disaster it is. What most people don’t do is break it down. The split is around 8% for the normal cost and 17% for the accumulated debt. In other words, 2/3’s of the annual payment is to make up for the missed payments; that is the math problem.

Since it has to be paid, the solution is primary revenue. One point that I do agree with Rauner on is we need to grow business in this State, which would increase all types of tax revenue, thus lowering the overall percentage the pension debt is in relation to the total budget. Some of the problems I have with Rauner is he keeps talking the State down, scaring business away, and he keeps doing a lot of the same “business as usual” practices as previous administrations; things like tax breaks and incentives to just existing connected big businesses, contracts to connected companies, and hiring lots of drastically overpaid political patronage hacks more interested in resume stamping than doing a competent job.

Ironically, Rauner had an opportunity to actually do the State some good. Things like criminal justice reform, streamlining the education department, rooting out what waste / fraud / abuse that remained in the systems, etc. He’s even managed to do a bit of that in the corners of State government where he appointed competent people and left them alone to do their jobs.

But Rauner failed at the basic job of getting a budget so his director’s could do their jobs of running the State. Judging by his actions, he decided no budget was better a better way to “squeeze the beast”. All of this … not paying venders, laying people off, destroying institutions … has actually resulted in reduced revenue, but not really reduced expenses since the State didn’t stop the services, they just stopped paying for the services and ran a tab.

This was a long way around to your $60K family budget. Before the temporary tax hike expired, that family was paying about $750 “extra” in income tax (0.125 * $60,000) to keep the State afloat / more or less current on payments and slowly paying down the backlog. Now the accumulated debt, according to various sources, will require jumping the flat income tax rate to 4.99% PLUS new service sales taxes that will roughly equal another 0.5% if they were included in the income tax.

That is Rauner’s record … Is it worth all the pain inflicted?

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 11:34 am
RNUG - thanks for the response - deserves more study and thoughtful response than I can give at moment but will reference back to it in the future.

Comment by lake county democrat Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 12:26 pm
- lake county democrat -

You’re welcome. I do notice that, since I typed it on my phone where it is hard to review, I did leave out a zero in the formula; should have read 0.0125 * $60,000 = $750 or 1.25% of $60,000.

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 3:44 pm