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* Among other things, today’s letter from Gov. Rauner’s chief of staff Richard Goldberg to House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie was just debated on the House floor…
May 24, 2017
Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie
300 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706Dear Leader Currie:
As you know, last week I privately offered to meet with you one-on-one in response to your public request for a meeting. At that time, you refused to meet with me in an initial one-on-one meeting.
I write today to renew my offer. If you are sincere about your willingness to support changes to our broken system – like real and lasting property tax relief – you should have no reason to refuse to meet.
In recent weeks, Governor Rauner and key Illinois business leaders invited Speaker Madigan to come to a meeting to discuss these issues. Unfortunately, the Speaker refused to meet. Now you claim publicly that you want to meet to discuss the budget and reforms, but privately refuse to meet with me one-on-one.
We have a few days left in the regular session. If you are sincere about reaching a balanced budget agreement, I look forward to meeting with you.
Very respectfully,
Richard A. Goldberg
Chief of Staff
Office of the Governor
* Madigan’s spokesman Steve Brown told me this afternoon that instead of meeting with Rauner and the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club, Madigan just decided to meet one-on-one with the governor last month. “There was really no purpose involving them,” Brown said of the Civic Committee. “We had their report,” which was recently released to the public.
During today’s floor debate, it was revealed that Leader Currie told Goldberg that while she wouldn’t meet with him alone, she offered instead to bring along the other negotiators appointed by Speaker Madigan earlier this month. Goldberg flatly refused her offer.
“I don’t know what they’re afraid of,” Brown said of the governor’s staff. “Why don’t they want to have a meeting?”
I was told earlier today that Goldberg wanted to gauge how sincere this effort was by first meeting one-on-one with Currie. And, indeed, bringing a bunch of people to a meeting is a classic way of slowing down a process - a tactic Madigan has used many times in the past.
But here we are, with a week to go before the scheduled adjournment, and they can’t even agree on a simple thing like a sit-down.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 2:43 pm
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Though this is a small excerpt, you can tell both sides truly do not like and have no respect for one another. I’d say this is beyond repair. If Rauner wins in 2018, in 2019 we will be assessing the damage of falling off the cliff, not walking towards it.
Comment by Almost the Weekend Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 2:47 pm
We’re playing a game called “Which Side Probably Isn’t Actually Sincere Here” and whoever started this game set the difficulty level to “easy”.
Comment by The Captain Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 2:49 pm
IF Rauner win in 2018 we will not have a budget until 2023.
Comment by J IL Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 2:52 pm
Safety in numbers, and as many witnesses you need.
Comment by Red Rider Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 2:55 pm
How about they both resign and we try to bring in some adults?
Comment by Ahoy! Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 2:55 pm
===And, indeed, bringing a bunch of people to a meeting is a classic way of slowing down a process ===
While you are probably correct in this statement and when I use to negotiate we would bring in a bunch of people to the table. But on the other hand she should never agree to go to a meeting without at least one other person on her side.
Comment by Been There Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 3:01 pm
===I was told earlier today that Goldberg wanted to gauge how sincere this effort was by first meeting one-on-one with Currie.===
Really? He needs a one-on-one to decide whether to meet with more than one Democrat? Lol. That’s kind of weak, don’t you think?
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 3:04 pm
Always bring a prover.
Comment by northsider (the original) Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 3:05 pm
I guess everything in Goldberg’s view is a sham.
Comment by Henry Francis Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 3:05 pm
I suggested before, and I suggest now.
A stenographer.
Goldberg is still my favorite. It’s not even close.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 3:07 pm
Goldberg invited BFC, and only BFC. She wanted to invite others to a meeting that she was invited to. He said no. Goldberg is in the right.
Comment by phocion Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 3:08 pm
Why is a chief of staff negotiating the budget in the first place? And one-on-one? Ugh.
There is light at the end of this tunnel; unfortunately, it’s quite likely at the front end of a train. Double ugh.
Comment by Pat Matummy Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 3:09 pm
- And, indeed, bringing a bunch of people to a meeting is a classic way of slowing down a process -
And a real CoS handles that situation instead of whining like a 3 year old.
Comment by Daniel Plainview Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 3:11 pm
Let’s count the list of things Barb Curry and Rich Goldberg alone in a room together are capable of and authorized to solve -
….
Anyone come up with one yet?
Comment by PJ Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 3:12 pm
===and authorized to solve===
Rauner won’t make a move without Goldberg. Period.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 3:16 pm
Given the robo calls his boss is paying for, I understand why Goldberg doesn’t want to meet with more than one HDEM at a time, lol. Awkward.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 3:17 pm
Code for we don’t want to compromise with you, we only want to raise taxes and you aint getting property tax freezes, workers comp reforms, or anything. Got it???
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 3:17 pm
Can meet Road.
CLANK!
Comment by WhoKnew Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 3:19 pm
She refused his meeting offer, the rest is just noise. who cares what they may/may not have been able to achieve. Leaders are supposed to lead not weakly duck a meeting. This one is on the Leader Currie.
Comment by Texas Red Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 3:23 pm
Property taxes are local! is the governor offering how to pay for local government needs that will be unable to raise revenue if the state freezes their revenue stream. Does he propose a tax swap. Raise income tax to pay for schools and local governments and then we lower property taxes
Local governments are elected if people are tired of high property taxes then talk to your school boards and library board and fire districts and city hall.
The GOP has proven they cannot manage, sometime you have to do unpopular things because that is the right thing to do
Comment by Adults in the room Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 3:23 pm
They could have agreed to meet, but agreeing on the size and shape of the table would have take 9 months.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 3:29 pm
So Goldberg wanted to meet to determine if a meeting was worthwhile.
Talk about a dysfunctional waste of time. Seriously, just meet, what does anyone have to lose at this point?
Comment by Get a Job!! Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 3:43 pm
Good word choice 10 you/your 5 me/I,he is a persistent rascal ain’t he
Comment by Rabid Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 3:43 pm
If BFC agrees to meet with Goldberg one-on-one she runs the risk of being snarked to death.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 3:44 pm
==Leaders are supposed to lead ==
I agree with you. I’m not sure we’d be in the position we are in now if we had a leader who actually led.
Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 3:44 pm
“I want to meet, but one-to-one.”
“I accept the meeting, but would like to bring others.”
“I accept more people, but limit it to you and one other person.”
“I would counter with two other people.”
“One other and we set a time and date for the larger meeting now.”
“deal”
See how it could have actually moved forward if they actually wanted it to move forward?
Comment by Montrose Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 3:45 pm
Leader Currie has actual reasons not to meet one on one, mostly the fact that the details of the meeting can then be “misconstrued” at will. Where’s Goldberg doesn’t want a larger group because it would be a waste of his time? Yeah, I know who is being more obstructionist here.
Comment by Perrid Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 3:45 pm
Currie is not much of a warrior is she? That’s a pretty cowardly approach.
At least they could have commiserated with each other about their overlords. /s
Comment by cdog Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 3:47 pm
BFC has every right to ask for someone else to be in the room with her. It’s not like these are scrupulous people. They take everything and twist it, so no, she should not be meeting alone with Goldberg of all people.
Also, I don’t think they come to the table with the same or equal bargaining power. While Rauner is dependent on Goldberg, I’d argue that BFC doesn’t have the same ability to sway, so what’s the point?
I applaud her for being cautious and not falling for this poorly laid trap. We’re too close to the end of session for people to be talking through their surrogates. The one-on-ones should be happening by the Governor and Speaker.
Comment by Gimme a break Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 3:47 pm
I take issue with the comment from “Adults in the room,” “…is the governor offering how to pay for local government needs that will be unable to raise revenue if the state freezes their revenue stream.”
The rest of the entire nation gets by with less than 2/3s the taxing bodies and much less property tax cash flow.
Illinois’ experiment to be the blue state mecca of tax and spend is failing; nothing is being accomplished for anybody. Good job, folks.
Cudos to Goldberg to go public with this. The folks need to know that Team Madigan are up to their same old tricks.
Comment by cdog Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 3:58 pm
Demoralized, I agree with you, MJM needed to be a leader and he has completely abdicated his responsibility.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 4:01 pm
–Rauner won’t make a move without Goldberg. Period.–
So he gets credit for the Village People ensembles?
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 4:19 pm
“is the governor offering how to pay for local government needs that will be unable to raise revenue if the state freezes their revenue stream.”
Local governments have beens successfully passing sales tax referendums all over the place lately. I can think of five just in the Sauk Valley in the past couple of years.
I’m not saying I like it, nor am I recommending it…just pointing out that a property tax freeze doesn’t end the options. It just raises the bar needed to convince voters that more money is truly needed.
Comment by Liandro Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 4:28 pm
–I was told earlier today that Goldberg wanted to gauge how sincere this effort was by first meeting one-on-one with Currie.–
Honestly sincere. Very important to Frat Boy Goldberg. You gotta be. Oh baby.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIJkGUBy77U
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 4:50 pm
Geez Word, put a warning up before leaving a link like that. Good Lord, where did you find that…whatever that was.
I’m trying, but I can’t unsee that.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 4:55 pm
47, unlike some, Ann Margret’s parents thought New Trier was good enough.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 4:58 pm
47, I’m surprised you’ve never seen that. Classic.
How about this one? Because, in this crisis, you’ve gotta be sincere. Honestly sincere. It’s gotta be right.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLTgWHWWAhA
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 5:06 pm
Once again, Richard Goldberg does not seem to know his place.
Goldberg might be chief of staff, but he is still staff. No one elected him, no one will remember him when he is gone.
If Rauner wanted a meeting with Madigan, and Madigan countered by having Mapes say he would be happy to meet the governor, to “gauge his seriousness,” Republicans would be outraged and rightly so.
End of the day, Rauner is refusing to meet with lawmakers.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 5:14 pm
Somehow my life felt complete without having seen that. Now I’ve seen it twice.
Seriously, put a trigger warning on it next time pal. Wow. I need a loofah for my brain.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 5:14 pm
so we have to be more concerned with what Goldberg thinks and wants before our Governor can act or decide for himself. great this helps.
Comment by baloneymous Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 5:34 pm
Goldie you have become insignificant, no one cares you can lip sync the turnaround agenda anymore
Comment by Rabid Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 5:57 pm
Word, that wasn’t filmed in Kenilworth was it?
Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 6:01 pm
Why would the fair maiden have a one on one meeting with the prince of darkness? He could claim she sold her soul, it’s the glowing orb, right here in this crystal jar. /s
Comment by Huh? Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 6:23 pm
Ahh, and how many votes did Goldberg receive to demand a one on one with Leader Currie?
Comment by Just Sayin ... Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 7:05 pm
I bet both you guys played that part in your high school musical. AA?
Professor Harold Hill, of course.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 8:22 pm
Wordslinger, as I am reading this, Bye Bye Birdie is playing on TCM!
Comment by G'Kar Thursday, May 25, 17 @ 12:17 am
Pushing elected officials out of the way. Private citizen goldberg hijacking negotiations,OODA
Comment by Rabid Thursday, May 25, 17 @ 7:11 am