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Education funding reform talks resume tomorrow

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* Subscribers have my take on this. So, I’ll leave it at that. Background is here. And here’s Tina Sfondeles at the Sun-Times…

Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan canceled a Wednesday House session — and a planned override of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of a school funding measure — “in light of progress” made during lengthy leaders’ meetings about school funding reform.

Leaders met for more than five hours in Madigan’s office on Tuesday. The speaker last week said he’d call for an override of Rauner’s school funding reform veto. The Illinois Senate last week voted to override the veto. […]

Last week, Madigan – on a day intended to celebrate Rauner at the Illinois State Fair — vowed to keep fighting for the measure and held a test vote of Rauner’s amendatory veto. That was intended to be a public showing of the lack of support for his changes.

The speaker last week urged “reasonable Republicans” to join Democrats in overriding the veto “as they did on the budget making.”

* Finke…

Durkin said it would be up to Madigan to decide whether to go ahead with an override vote in the House Wednesday. Brady, however, said it would be a gesture of good faith on Madigan’s part to delay the vote.

Later Tuesday evening, Madigan did just that.

* Tribune…

It’s likely the veteran speaker didn’t have the votes to override Rauner on Wednesday anyway. Not only would Madigan probably have to put all 67 House Democrats on the override, but he would need at least four Republicans to break ranks with their governor. The minimum to override is 71. So far, no House Republicans have publicly said they’re willing to do so on the schools bill.

* Politico has some details, but keep in mind that some of this might be wishful thinking by the Democrats and the whole situation is very fluid at the moment…

Scholarships — On the table to bring Republicans on board SB1 in the House: $75 million in private school scholarships. Under serious discussion is a 75-cent-on the dollar credit to families choosing private schools, with a five-year sunset on the program. That reflects the desires of Cardinal Blase Cupich and other advocates of the program, sources tell POLITICO.

SB1 — the funding boost for Chicago that Gov. Bruce Rauner detests, remains intact; SB1 itself changes very little, except for Democrats open to adding unfunded mandate and property tax relief.

Negotiations continue, but time is running out. Democrats don’t have the numbers alone to override Rauner’s amendatory veto, but believe eight Republicans are leaning heavily toward an override — even without the scholarships. That’s after various degrees of pressure for SB1, including support from superintendents statewide. Democrats point to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s education proposal, which didn’t get a single “yes” vote last week. Every day another member announces he or she won’t seek reelection, leaving behind a potential for more brazen voting. Add tanking poll numbers and ongoing turmoil in Rauner’s office and you have a governor holding a weak hand. The worst-case scenario for Republicans is for another override to happen and they have nothing to show for it.

* Meanwhile, the governor’s campaign has a new video…

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 10:22 am

Comments

To me it sounds like the republicans are only cooperating in talks only so they can prevent an override. So the republicans are doing everything they can do to say progress is being made only so that no republicans will vote for an override.

Comment by Real Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 10:31 am
My best guess is the override votes are there but the Speaker is willing to give comprise a chance to provide some cover forthe embattled GOP members. He is after all the master of divide and conquer.

Comment by We'll See Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 10:41 am
There are two paths forward on this: one is an agreement that is blessed by Rauner and has several Republican votes on it. (And a bunch of Dems jumping off because of the scholarship program and mandate relief.)

The other path would be to pass a version of the original senate bill that can get a handful of Republican votes because it removes some of the CPS benefits.

I’m betting on the latter because I still don’t think Rauner can get to “yes.”

Comment by Roman Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 10:43 am
==$75 million in private school scholarships. … reflects the desires of Cardinal Blase Cupich==

At least we know who’s running things around here now.

Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 10:44 am
===My best guess is the override votes are there===

I’m not convinced. However, I think when and if any and all plausible alternatives to an override are exhausted, and the only means to get money to schools is to override the governor, then the votes will be there.

Magic 8-ball says: ask again later.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 10:51 am
Need to remember that Rauner issued a lot of vetoes last friday. Once the House comes in session, they have to read those vetoes into the record, starting 15 day clock. While I know that the subject matter at hand is school funding, there are other variables in play.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 10:52 am
If the GOP signs off on the $75 million and the result is that no funding is cut from public schools, it would be difficult to oppose.

As much as we would love to support private schools, the reality is that private schools are far better for many students.

This would give students options, without denying funding to public schools. It seems like a nice compromise.

Comment by Gooner Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 10:53 am
===75-cent-on the dollar credit to families choosing private schools,===

Doesn’t make sense. We already have a 25 cent on the dollar credit up to $750 (used to be $500) - although this now does not include high earners.

Comment by Dublin Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 10:53 am
Rauner’s Bold Vision is all sizzle and no steak.

Bruce’s ad forgot to mention that his AV1 modifications (SB 1947) received ZERO votes in the House.

Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 10:53 am
The Speaker wants to appear reasonable during these negotiations. If, or should I say when, the Governor rejects the ‘compromise’, the Speaker will ask reasonable Republicans to vote for the override because compromise with the Governor is a hopeless task. This path is very similar to the budget override.

Comment by PragmaticR Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 10:54 am
(Sigh)

There were only 59 Dems “green” in the House.

McAuliffe was the lone GOP “green”

Until someone shows me 11 more “green”, it’s like ordering pizza in the dorm speculation.

Find me the 11 and then… make the argument.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 10:56 am
“A Bold Vision.” Then why can’t he see the racist IPI cartoon?

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 10:58 am
That crowd behind Rauner in the video looks a whole lot different than the state’s demographics as a whole. But being a white male and all, I guess the governor doesn’t know anyone else but people like him.

Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 11:34 am
So are they negotiating the bailout of private schools that Rauner added in his Amendatory Veto?

I don’t hear the cries from downstate that he wants to bailout collar county private schools. Isn’t this just one more “Tax cut” for the wealthy

Comment by Publius Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 11:35 am
==reflects the desires of Cardinal Blase Cupich==

genuflect, genuflect, genuflect….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3f72CTDe4-0

Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 11:42 am
Publius - not that I’m a huge fan of “dollar-for-dollar” credits but there are plenty of private downstate schools. Springfield alone has three private high schools and several more private K-8 schools. Alton and Belleville have premier private high schools (Alton Marquette and Althoff Cathoic, respectively) that draw students from all over the Metro East. This isn’t just a “collar county” issue.

Comment by Curl of the Burl Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 11:43 am
===That crowd behind Rauner in the video looks a whole lot different than the state’s demographics as a whole.===
How many are candidates for the upcoming primaries? I see one from my area.

Comment by Highland IL Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 11:47 am
Funding for the State Fair?

“Rauner vetoed that”

How delicious, Rauner with that Ad at the State Fair, something Rauner vetoed the funding for in this next budget.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 11:50 am
So what was once $100 M is now $75 M. Should be $0.00. We the people should not fund private education. If the market mechanisms are not working in the private sector, it should fail - at least, that is what conservatives usually say.

The 75 cents on a dollar tuition tax credit should be a deal breaker regardless of where people stand. TAKING TAX REVENUES AWAY from the treasury is unjustifiable when we are $14 B in debt, and need to find $250 B in revenues to pay back to the retirement funds we have shortchanged for decades.

Comment by H-W Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:21 pm
H W, how about some spending cuts and pension elimination for all future employees? Wage freezes for state workers?

Comment by Ron Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:29 pm
Well. since state employees are not eligible for Social Security don’t think that will work…. Plus would be impossible to recruit talented young faculty to our Universities.

Comment by illdoc Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:37 pm
==how about some spending cuts==

They just did that.

==pension elimination for all future employees==

Here we go again. And what would it be replaced with? 401k with state match? No state contribution towards any retirement? And, as has been said, since some aren’t eligible for Social Security I think you’re opening a can of worms by eliminating retirement.

==Wage freezes for state workers==

That’s mostly happening right now too. Now, if your advocating no raises ever again, that’s a different story. And it’s ridiculous.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:41 pm
Nice campaign video. More of the same rhetoric. He’s not accomplished any of that in the time he’s been in office so I don’t know why anyone would think more time in office will change things. I don’t see the dynamics changing in the General Assembly. May be a few more Republican seats but no takeover by the Republicans. And, yet, here we are. Still harping on term limits and his other “Turnaround Agenda” items. He doesn’t learn and he doesn’t know how to govern.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:44 pm
H-W. I feel thr same way about the tax give away programs of EDGE and Intersect Illinois.

Comment by blue dog dem Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:44 pm
==Plus would be impossible to recruit talented young faculty to our Universities.==

If it were 1980, I’d agree with you, but young faculty types typically don’t stick around at one school for very long anymore. They prefer retirement benefits that will follow them from school to school.

Comment by City Zen Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 1:30 pm
Who receives the scholarship? If the same student population that would otherwise attend private school receives the scholarships, then it is difficult to understand the public interest being supported by this type of tax subsidy.

Comment by PhD Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 1:48 pm
===then it is difficult to understand the public interest being supported by this type of tax subsidy.===

Google “Big Shoulders Fund” PhD.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 2:08 pm
==Big Shoulders Fund==

54% of scholarships to students living below the poverty line certainly appears to be an attempt to change the student population.

If the tax credit under consideration is similarly focused, then it is much more likely to serve the public interest. Unfortunately, I suspect that the law will not be sufficiently restrictive.

Comment by PhD Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 2:29 pm
How is $75 million for private schools, going to help our public schools? Isn’t public school funding what this bill is supposed to be all about?

Comment by Joe M Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 3:07 pm
Wouldn’t this apply?

ARTICLE VIII, SECTION 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

(a) Public funds, property or credit shall be used only for public purposes.
- Illinois Constitution

Comment by Joe M Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 3:10 pm
and this also from Section VIII

SECTION 3. PUBLIC FUNDS FOR SECTARIAN PURPOSES FORBIDDEN
Neither the General Assembly nor any county, city, town, township, school district, or other public corporation, shall ever make any appropriation or pay from any public fund
whatever, anything in aid of any church or sectarian purpose,or to help support or sustain any school, academy, seminary, college, university, or other literary or scientific
institution, controlled by any church or sectarian
denomination whatever; nor shall any grant or donation of land, money, or other personal property ever be made by the State, or any such public corporation, to any church, or for
any sectarian purpose.
(Source: Illinois Constitution.)

Comment by Joe M Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 3:13 pm
Ron @ 12:29 - Not sure where you have been, but my wages have not only be frozen for several years, but were actually cut 4% two years ago. As to pensions, I agree with the idea of a new plan for new employees, but I do not agree with eliminating pensions from those who have paid into the system. Indeed, I would go so far as to suggest we state employees should not be drawing on our pensions until we are of retirement age (e.g., 65, 67) of disabled, as I think early retirement is a big part of the problem. But I sense you were being snarky?

Comment by H-W Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 3:19 pm
==How is $75 million for private schools, going to help our public schools?==

It is the price for Republican cooperation with respect to SB1. I must admit that $75 million per year in tax credits for scholarships to be used by disadvantaged children to attend private school does not sound that horrible. If the legal challenges block implementation of this program even better.

Comment by PhD Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 6:35 pm
That was the Make Illinois Great Again crew?

Comment by Shanna Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 11:24 pm