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* Sun-Times…
[House Republican Leader Jim Durkin] said his members are “not interested in doing a repeat of 2011, a tax increase that was thrust upon Illinoisans with no strings attached that did not pay one bill.” [Emphasis added.]
* Brian Mackey debunks…
The bill payment cycle was down to under 30 days when Rauner took office - that’s a “normal” cycle. Now, it’s something like 6 months.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, May 29, 17 @ 11:00 am
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I will completely believe Leader Durkin’s position if Leader Durkin can explain how, and what monies, bills were paid to get the 30-Day cycle possible and also explain why the backlog now is so bad outside the lack of a budget that even the governor’s own budget lacks enough revenue to balance.
Math.
When math fails your argument, you now make politics the math of the phony(?)
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 29, 17 @ 11:04 am
It would be bad if you let those pesky facts get in the way of a good political narrative.
Comment by Xavier Woods Monday, May 29, 17 @ 11:04 am
All I can think of is Honeybear’s favorite word: Perfidy!
Comment by Norseman Monday, May 29, 17 @ 11:06 am
The ease with which Rauner and Durkin are willing to spout obvious falsehoods is truly disturbing.
Comment by Moe Berg Monday, May 29, 17 @ 11:17 am
As to the ease of telling, shall we say “alternative facts” from Rauner and Durkin…. When you’re buying drinks for the house all night long, those imbibing tend not to think to the future hangover coming in the morning. Durkin needs to walk away from the bar, get his caucus into cabs, and dry out so they can think a bit clearer for their constituents.
Comment by Anon221 Monday, May 29, 17 @ 11:24 am
This is what’s odd, you can’t balance the budget without a tax increase and three days from now you can’t pass a tax increase without Republican votes. Yet in an effort to sabotage the current proposal(s) both Rauner and Durkin are aggressively messaging against the elements that will be necessary and that will require their signature/votes in the not too distant future. Political expediency isn’t free, it’s just a deferred payment.
Comment by The Captain Monday, May 29, 17 @ 11:26 am
Any explanation why Durkie tried to issue a gag order on House caucus developments Sunday nite.?
Comment by Annonin' Monday, May 29, 17 @ 11:30 am
Anyone can say anything–true or false–and for those that choose to believe what they hear…….
We were in fact paying bills. For those who choose to believe otherwise, would they prefer
that we collect zero tax dollars and -POOF-
Comment by AnonymousOne Monday, May 29, 17 @ 11:41 am
oops, hit send too early
POOF our debts would disappear? TO hear some speak of a tax increase, it’s the increased tax revenue that is causing the debt.
Can’t figure these people out.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, May 29, 17 @ 11:42 am
I had a Republican Senator scream at me when I pointed out these very facts that Brian Mackey presents above. I still don’t know if he was mad because I knew the facts or if it was because I had the nerve to use the math on the issue.
Comment by CCP Hostage Monday, May 29, 17 @ 12:14 pm
Again, this is why its impossible to negotiate with them. And they keep getting away with it.
Comment by Sideline watcher Monday, May 29, 17 @ 12:20 pm
Things will never get better until Republicans like Durkin stop this and govern for the betterment of the state; instead of grubbing for Rauner. We are in the worse shape possible and Durkin is spouting nonsense Rainerisms.
Comment by Tired Teacher Monday, May 29, 17 @ 12:29 pm
Durkin knows that he’s lying. It’s just more bad faith.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 29, 17 @ 12:36 pm
Annon221: well put.
Comment by Moe Berg Monday, May 29, 17 @ 12:41 pm
Really Wordslinger Durkin is lying despite the fact the unfunded pension debt went from 80 billion in 2008 to 130 billion in 2013?
Obviously our unpaid bills went up not down
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, May 29, 17 @ 1:11 pm
===Obviously our unpaid bills went up not down ===
Oh, please. They followed the law on pension contributions. First time that happened in decades and all you want to do is complain.
Don’t dishonor this American holiday with your dishonest spin.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, May 29, 17 @ 1:13 pm
Political parties have always stretched the truth, but the extent to which it is now occurring from the GOP at both the State and Federal level is truly disturbing.
Comment by Pelonski Monday, May 29, 17 @ 1:17 pm
Except they have been trying to pass Senator Cullerton’s pension bill for over two years and now Speaker Madigan will not even discuss the issue with Leader Durkin
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, May 29, 17 @ 1:29 pm
Lucky, that has what to do with the period that the tax hike was fully in effect?
Again, stop the Memorial Day spin. It’s particularly inappropriate today.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, May 29, 17 @ 1:30 pm
But calling Leader Durkin a liar is ok when he points out the fact that total debt went up and our pension problem is still not fixed is ok?
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, May 29, 17 @ 1:42 pm
===when he points out the fact that total debt went up and our pension problem is still not fixed is ok? ===
What Durkin said was the tax hike “did not pay one bill.” His statement was clearly false. Period.
You’re now back in timeout.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, May 29, 17 @ 1:45 pm
I’m grateful that KellyAnne Conway came up with the phrase “alternative facts” because it’s exactly what we’re dealing with from the like of Rauner, Durkin and those singing of the GOP songsheet like LP. There are actual facts and they have been detailed extensively by Civic Fed, Civic Committee, Brian Mackey, Rich, etc.
More tax revenue enabled us to pay our pension payments in full. That took cash that would otherwise have gone to lower the bill backlog further. But our obligations had to be paid. It’s just that simple.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, May 29, 17 @ 2:09 pm
== More tax revenue enabled us to pay our pension payments in full. ==
It would be more accurate to say it allowed us to make the pension payments according to the revised Edgar Ramp schedule.
The State won’t be making actuarially full pension payments for quite a few years yet.
Comment by RNUG Monday, May 29, 17 @ 5:28 pm
LP, I assume Durkin is well-informed on the issue and intelligent.
Based on that, I could come to no other conclusion as to his statement.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 29, 17 @ 7:39 pm
Also, the pension debt went up in large part because the market crashed, so pension assets went down and the rate of return diminished. That’s entirely different from bills not getting paid.
Comment by Keyrock Monday, May 29, 17 @ 9:13 pm