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Are they really “very close” on a grand bargain?

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Illinois

* Finke on the status of the Senate’s grand bargain and the House’s stopgap budget…

Recently, Rauner has been making appearances around the state repeating that he believes a deal is once again close.

“We’re negotiating in the Senate right now. Democrats and Republicans are coming together,” Rauner said last week. “We’re very close. We could get it done in the next couple of weeks.”

Sources from both parties said that while individual senators may discuss issues connected with the bargain, they weren’t aware of formal negotiations taking place. […]

Even though an overall state budget is still unresolved, the House has moved a bill that authorizes more than $800 million for higher education and human services. The bill would still have to be approved by the Senate before it could go to Rauner. […]

However, Rauner and a number of Republicans believe passage of a stopgap measure will take pressure off of lawmakers to come up with a full budget.

* Mary Ann Ahern on the stopgap…

The Illinois General Assembly - unable to reach a budget deal in more than two years - will make one more try this week.

As legislators return to Springfield on Monday following a two-week recess, the Illinois Senate is expected to amend the stopgap budget and send it back to the House, but there’s no clear indication that a deal has been reached.

Subscribers know more details, but think about this for a second: If the Senate Democrats really believed they were making any significant progress with the governor on their long-sought grand bargain, would they be advancing a stopgap bill that could upset the apple cart?

Nope.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Apr 24, 17 @ 9:52 am

Comments

It will never be closer that it was March 1st, when the governor killed it.

Comment by Roman Monday, Apr 24, 17 @ 9:55 am
I’ve consistently heard this from many Republicans in the Capitol. The “governor lies”.. here is another example of that.

Comment by Wow Monday, Apr 24, 17 @ 10:08 am
When Rauner repeats the same campaign talking points for months, on his “fact-finding” tours, why would any reporter take any of his statements as new information? If any group of legislators are slogging toward some agreement, I doubt Rauner is keeping close track of it.

Comment by walker Monday, Apr 24, 17 @ 10:12 am
This governor’s proclamations have to be taken for what they’re worth. You must ask yourself what is his motivation for saying what he says. In my opinion he does not communicate for the purpose of truth. He says things he thinks people want to hear, to obfuscate, or to counter something negative that was said about him. In this case, Rauner is probably countering the message that he killed the Grand Bargain by making it appear it’s very much alive.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Monday, Apr 24, 17 @ 10:31 am
Can he not stop himself from telling whoppers? serious question.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 24, 17 @ 10:37 am
I hope “perfidy” doesn’t become a banned word. It’s so accurate.

Comment by Keyrock Monday, Apr 24, 17 @ 10:44 am
Are we talking Alpha Centauri close or Pluto close? Either way it is going to take years to reach either.

Comment by Huh? Monday, Apr 24, 17 @ 11:03 am
Truth is secondary to the righteous message Rauner is communicating to create a better Illinois. Please keep up… …snark

Comment by Jimmy H Monday, Apr 24, 17 @ 11:09 am
Even many of my Republican friends who are more understanding of this failed agenda and some details of the “Grand Bargain” are becoming very tired of the innocuous messaging from BVR that is being quoted in local media.

Comment by illini Monday, Apr 24, 17 @ 11:51 am
Words–constant unchanged messaging
Deeds–He is not interested in a budget or bargain, just damage. He has never worked to get 30 and 60.

Comment by Langhorne Monday, Apr 24, 17 @ 12:02 pm
Are we beyond the point the state can go retroactive to Jan 1 on any tax hike?

Comment by City Zen Monday, Apr 24, 17 @ 12:35 pm
“Are we beyond the point the state can go retroactive to Jan 1 on any tax hike?”

I sure hope so.

Comment by Ron Monday, Apr 24, 17 @ 1:14 pm
== Are we beyond the point the state can go retroactive to Jan 1 on any tax hike? ==

I’ve heard some people in State government who should know say it needs to be decided one way or the other by the end of April.

Comment by RNUG Monday, Apr 24, 17 @ 1:19 pm
===it needs to be decided one way or the other by the end of April===

Minnesota passed its tax hike on May 31st and made it retroactive to the beginning of the year. Just sayin…

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 24, 17 @ 1:23 pm
It’s easy to say it’s close because then you don’t really have to say what’s on the menu. BTW my personal thought is everything is on the menu and it’s all going to get cooked!

Comment by DuPage Bard Monday, Apr 24, 17 @ 1:48 pm
Can you imagine trying to negotiate with this guy?

Comment by Facts are stubborn things Monday, Apr 24, 17 @ 10:06 pm
If the tax hike is approved and does go retroactive, the Dems had better have some good succinct messaging with full support from ALL those being hurt and decimated by Rauner’s Spinning Around Agenda as to WHY this is necessary. Because, folks, it is necessary and Rauner should not be allowed to use a tax hike as a sledge hammer or duct tape or any of the other pristine tools that were shown hanging in his “workshop” non-campaign commercial.

Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Apr 25, 17 @ 8:20 am