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* Last night and then earlier this morning, I asked most of the Democratic gubernatorial campaigns for their response to the Senate’s passage of a budget that includes new revenues.
Here’s Galia Slayen at the JB Pritzker campaign…
“It’s been 693 days without a state budget. Our state’s finances are in shambles and working families across Illinois are paying the price. Rauner’s pet projects and stalling tactics aren’t going to get our state the relief it so desperately needs. It’s past time for Bruce Rauner to stop playing politics and figure out how to govern.”
Not exactly an answer to my question. The Pritzker campaign is also running “interactive digital banners highlighting the 693-day budget crisis that Bruce Rauner created”…
* Sen. Daniel Biss voted for the bills, and his state office sent this out after the vote…
“It’s time to stop the dangerous, unproductive, two-year staring contest in Springfield.
“A budget is a statement of priorities, and while this one is far from perfect, it reflects some core priorities – health care for the poor, P-12 schools, higher education, an increase in the tax credit for low-income workers and vital services for those who need our help. It offers some short-term stability by making different choices and calling on everyone to share the burden of cleaning up Gov. Bruce Rauner’s failures.
“But long-term solutions to our fiscal problems will require bigger reform to create a fair tax system. We must repeal our constitution’s unjust and unusual flat tax provision; we must finally require millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share; and we must eliminate the current carried interest tax loophole that allows the super wealthy to evade state taxes.
“That’s why I am pleased that today we made progress toward establishing each of these policies and building the fair economy that is our only hope for long-term economic health.
“These are the kinds of honest solutions that taxpayers want lawmakers to find the courage to pursue. Until we do that, we will continue to fight budget battles like these – battles that result in winners and lowers – over and over again.”
* I’ll let you know if I hear from the other campaigns. Ameya Pawar’s Twitter feed was silent on the topic, as was Bob Daiber’s and Chris Kennedy’s except for this response today to Gov. Rauner’s demand for a property tax freeze…
Our property tax system is broken.
Public schools lose out.
We don't need a freeze. We need to fix it. - CGKhttps://t.co/xfj0J7UGom— Chris Kennedy (@KennedyforIL) May 24, 2017
How about telling us what the “fix” would be? Say what you want about Rauner, but at least he has an idea.
Such an odd campaign.
…Adding… By the way, the Kennedy tweet links to a story that’s partially about JB Pritzker’s new online ad.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Ameya Pawar…
I applaud my friend Sen. Biss for his efforts on the carried interest bill and the public servants in the Illinois Senate for putting the most vulnerable, our public schools, our social service agencies, and the future of Illinois ahead of politics.
We now have confirmation - something we knew all along - that Governor Rauner and the Senate Republicans he controls never wanted a budget. Social services are collapsing and people are dying because of Governor Rauner’s failed leadership and the Senate Republicans are now complicit. They should be ashamed of themselves.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Kennedy campaign…
It’s a sad day when, after almost two years of stalemate and stubbornness from a failed governor, we appear no closer to resolving a budget crisis that’s holding the entire state hostage. Chris Kennedy believes taxes and cuts alone are not enough to solve our problems. Illinois needs fundamental change from top to bottom to restore the promise of this state, including an overhaul of the corruptible property tax system that we rely on to fund our public schools.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 10:30 am
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Apparently this budget has $3 billion in cuts? That’s what a commenter told me yesterday. So why aren’t the Dems running around telling people how responsible they are? Why are they running around hiding from their own message? Answer the question. Tell the voters you made the hard choice because Rauner is in hiding. “Our budget makes tough decisions on cuts and revenues.”
Comment by JohnnyPyleDriver Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 10:39 am
The fix is increasing the State’s share of education funding from 20 % to the national average of 45 %. Freezing property taxes while maintaining inequitable education funding will only starve lical governments, which is what Rauner really wants.
Comment by DHS Jim Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 10:44 am
Where have you been J.B. Pritzker for the last nineteen years? Surely, your forceful leadership and flamboyant personality could have spared us this ordeal.
Of course, you did not completely drop out after running for Congress. You were busy writing large checks to Blagojevich. Own it.
Comment by Welcome Back Kotter Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 10:45 am
Kennedy should cut his considerable losses and quit. Make it a Kennedy first.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 10:48 am
JohnnyPyleDriver makes an excellent point. The Democrats are attempting to get a budget passed that is based on Rauner’s own spending plan. Public Radio mentioned this, but the Illinois Democratic Party seems silent on this critical point. Taking a balanced approach to revenue and cuts while respecting the governor’s priorities is something a successful party would be emphasizing. Instead, Illinois Democrats are presuming everyone is a policy nerd, and not stating the obvious.
Comment by AC Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 10:49 am
Seeing these responses is about as interesting as watching a skater practice Figure 8’s. Oy.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 10:51 am
Kudos to Biss for taking a hard vote that will probably come back to haunt him.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 10:51 am
Yeah Kennedy camp seems to be dying on the vine… love the partial promotion of his biggest opponent in a tweet signed by the Kennedy himself
Comment by Lol Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 11:56 am
Kudos to the Kennedy campaign. Only took them 20 hours to come out with a statement. Is anyone home over there?
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 12:08 pm
@Anonymous - He’s on his way to Hollywood for a fundraiser, so he’s probably in call time non stop and didn’t have time for the measly press corps
Comment by Lol Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 12:21 pm
No matter what Sen. Daniel Biss says he voted for billions in budget cuts including $405 million in Medicaid cuts. A bill that would have given Governor Rauner the power to determine how the Medicaid cuts were made failed in the Senate after Republicans didn’t support it and a number of Democrats voted against it. So if the House actually passed SB 6, the Democrats would be required apparently to help determine where the $405 million in cuts would go down.
Comment by Rod Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 12:23 pm
When one looks beyond the obvious advocacy/propaganda by some of the commenters here on this thread and actually reads the responses from the candidates it is pretty clear that in a weak competition JB’s was the weakest.
Comment by Responsa Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 12:25 pm
Has the local state reps for Springfield had any comments on the senate bills?
Comment by Adults in the room Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 12:28 pm
I’m nit-picking here but it really bugs me that Kennedy’s statements always sound like he’s referring to himself in the third person. The other candidates say “I”.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 2:10 pm
So does this thing actually balance?
Comment by JohnnyPyleDriver Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 3:04 pm
Well RICH it looks like most of these Dem Gov candidates can duck ????? just like BR. Nothing new hear.
Comment by scott aster Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 3:55 pm
If there is ANYTHING to learn for all these campaigns, they need to start attacking Rauner 1,000 times more, and kinda layoff each other until State Fair.
That’s my takeaway.
They need to go after Bruce Rauner and his failures.
Rauner has the time and Crew to take them all out, ask Dillard, Brady, Rutherford… and then Quinn.
Yep. That’s what I learned.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 6:00 pm
Pawar is a class act. When was the last time we saw a pat on the back to another candidate?
Comment by The lady on the left Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 7:01 pm