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Because… Madigan!

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Gov. Bruce Rauner said pressure from Illinois House Democrats is responsible for the Senate’s failure to pass a “grand bargain” that would end the state’s historic budget impasse.

Speaking Friday on WBEZ’s Morning Shift, Rauner claimed Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) was “under relentless pressure” from Democratic “lieutenants” in the House and politically-aligned special interest groups. Rauner did not offer any specific evidence that House Democrats directly lobbied to kill the budget proposals.

“I’ve been told that several — I won’t name names right here on this program — but several of the Senate Democrats have decided, boy, it’s not worth the pressure they’re getting,” Rauner told Morning Shift host Tony Sarabia. “They’re pulling back off the grand bargain and not wanting to negotiate anymore.”

A spokesman for Cullerton said House Democrats had nothing to do with “all but one of the Republican votes for the budget deal disappearing overnight,” referring to Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont), who supported the grand bargain.

A spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) accused Rauner of putting the grand bargain on life support by telling Republican senators to not support the plan.

To be clear, there was definitely some harsh push-back from Madigan-allied groups in the Senate. But the real problem in that chamber wasn’t with Democratic votes. It was because Rauner pushed Republicans off the grand bargain.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 3:56 pm

Comments

Amazing. The Gov. And the truth have no connection at all. When will this all end?

Comment by Tired teacher Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 3:59 pm
“Leader Radogno, care to comment on the Governor’s thoughts to the blowing up of the Senate Grand Bargain?”

I’ll just leave this here, thanks.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:03 pm
“I’ve been told that several — I won’t name names right here on this program…”

LOL, there he goes again!

Comment by Cubs in '16 Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:04 pm
I actually kind of like the idea that Bruce Rauner fully funds the Republican Party and yet he still thinks that Mike Madigan controls the Republican votes in the Senate. Sure it’s totally bonkers but its the kind of entertaining totally bonkers that we’ve just not had enough of lately.

Comment by The Captain Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:04 pm
Because….Perfidy!

Comment by Honeybear Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:05 pm
“I’ve been told that several — I won’t name names right here on this program — but several of the Senate Democrats have decided, boy, it’s not worth the pressure they’re getting.”

Bruce is listening to second-hand stories from unnamed rumormongers about unnamed senators?

Shades of his goofy marijuana policy.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:07 pm
The only way Rauner can believe this is if he has serious truth issues beyond trying to destroy Illinois.

My goodness, he has to know all that he’s saying isn’t true? Right?

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:08 pm
>Gov. Bruce Rauner said pressure from Illinois House Democrats is responsible for the Senate’s failure to pass a “grand bargain”

If the media can’t call him out on such profound dishonesty they should just re-brand themselves as PR firms.

Comment by Earnest Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:11 pm
You know, if all the names he won’t name actually supported Rauner, his bills could find 71 and 36 with no problems.

It’s clear Rauner and the Superstars* have a real problem with basic math … they can’t count as high as 60 and they can’t put numbers on a budget sheet.

Comment by RNUG Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:11 pm
“I won’t name names right here on this program…”

K, where will you name them? How about charades to give us a shot at guessing them?

Comment by Cubs in '16 Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:17 pm
Madigan and the Senate Republicans he controls…

Comment by Patrick Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:17 pm
The real tragedy is that Rauner will spend enough money spreading this lie that he’ll convince people it’s true.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:18 pm
— “If the media can’t call him out on such profound dishonesty they should just re-brand themselves as PR firms.” —

And maybe they could get on the campaign payroll as well - just to keep it honest. After all, they are really doing his heavy lifting and are probably better at their messaging than the Superstars.

Comment by illini Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:19 pm
The Illinois media is weak and lazy. Rauner knows it, so why would he even get within shouting distance of the truth. He never gets called out.

Comment by My New Handle Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:27 pm
As commenters here on Rich’s Blog require more accountability to each other, and police each other’s comments better than media types do with Bruce Rauner.

How scary is that?

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:28 pm
Rauner must be terrible at the game of Clue

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:32 pm
@Willy - so very true about those of us who follow here.

Except some of us know who the true trolls are and often refrain from engaging them, yet we do enjoy their feeble attempts to sound informed.

Comment by illini Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:37 pm
The guy whos trying to fix it - its his fault, eh boys?
About 25 of you regulars sit around in a circle, and, uh, think of witty smart things to say?
Nothings changed.

Comment by wahed Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:39 pm
Another day of Raunocchio speak.

Comment by jimk849 Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:41 pm
Jiminy Christmas, golly-gee-willickers, boy-oh-boy, that city slicker sure can pile up the manure when talking to those he thinks are hicks.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:41 pm
==The guy whos trying to fix it”

Aw, he’s trying. That’s nice. That’s more important than the fact that he’s failing, right?

Halfway through his term. Take the “but he’s trying!” talk to David Eckstein’s HoF case. It’s too late for trying. We need results. Rauner’s failed to produce them.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:46 pm
If Rainer is right we can expect all kinds of Senate Republican votes for the plan after the break, right.

Comment by Flyer Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:47 pm
Look’s like the “Morning Shift” became the blame shift.

@ wahed : what do you mean by “fix it”?
If it’s perception that Rauner is improving the the state, you’re winning with the general public (at least downstate).
If it’s about numbers, please provide the ROI for the billions in extra debt and other damage caused by the “fix”.

Comment by Number 26 Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:48 pm
If you are planting a garden, now is the time to get Rauner there…..what he is shoveling should make some great fertilizer!

Comment by Been there, done that Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:51 pm
==If it’s perception that Rauner is improving the the state, you’re winning with the general public (at least downstate).==

Not sure that’s so; his numbers have been pretty grisly downstate, and my anecdotal experience matches it. Now, most people down here will still vote for him over whatever Gay Pinko Chicago Abortionist the Democrats nominate, but that doesn’t mean they think he’s fixing things.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:52 pm
- wahed -

I’m sure that felt good. I’m happy for you.

- illini -

Pretty soon, the Rauner self parody will just be comic relief by the Raunerbots

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:59 pm
OK, it’s pretty clear that Rauner’s statement appears false and ridiculous, under ordinary ways of thinking. Rauner personally harpooned the Senate Grand Bargain, directly against his own Republican members.

Let’s charitably assume he is neither deliberately lying nor a fool. How might this statement seem true and pertinent to his way of thinking:

If Rauner has not changed his opinion since his original campaign, he still distrusts both houses of the Legislature, and still sees them as incapable of any solutions– then the only “Grand Bargain” possible is between him and the Legislature. Regardless of who produced it, Rauner sees the bi-partisan deal structured in the Senate as only the first step in negotiating a true “Grand Bargain.” It is a proposal to be countered by him. Nothing more.

What Rauner then is complaining about above, is that the Senators are now refusing to revisit their own bargain, and treat it as simply a first proposal in a multi-step negotiation controlled by the Governor. In that context, Rauner’s statements can be seen as true to him.

Comment by walker Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 5:04 pm
Seems like Rauner has trouble with names. First Trump, now IL Dems. Might want to see your doctor about these “memory lapses” .

Comment by Anon221 Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 5:05 pm
—”I’ve been told that several - I won’t name names right here on this program - but several of the Senate Democrats have decided, boy, it’s not worth the pressure they’re getting —

If I didn’t read “Rauner” before I read that excerpt, I would have sworn Trump was talking about the Illinois budget.

Rauner doesn’t want any association with Trump, but loves him some Trumpisms.

Comment by Chump Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 5:14 pm
@Walker - I do try to be charitable and am often willing to give a person a chance to prove themselves. Well worded and thoughtful post.

That being said - I think there are many of us who were hopeful initially even though we did not vote for him.

Yet his actions these past 2 years have totally destroyed any credibility he perhaps once had to the point where he has nothing to offer except to play the blame game and portray himself as the victim. His words and actions have fairly well defined him.

Comment by illini Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 5:22 pm
“The guy whos trying to fix it…”

“A wise man proportions his belief to the evidence.” — David Hume (1748)

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 5:51 pm