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Take the win and let’s move on

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According to lawmakers of both parties familiar with talks, much of the underlying bill before Rauner’s rewrite would remain intact.

* Sun-Times…

A separate GOP source with knowledge of the negotiations said that Chicago got nearly everything it sought in exchange for nothing leaders had not already conceded.

And the final package includes none of the collective bargaining changes Rauner wanted.

Rauner appears to have caved under pressure from the House GOP caucus to avoid another disaster like the budget override, the GOP source said.

So, the governor got rolled, but still took a win.

* Eric Zorn might learn from the governor. Zorn penned a column late yesterday which blasted the tax credit proposal for private school tuition programs…

In a statement issued Thursday, Illinois Education Association President Kathi Griffin said, “In an age where accountability means everything — where standards are being implemented to ensure students are being taught what they need to succeed in life — why would Illinois take public money and give it to private schools that have no accountability?”

Why?

Because too many lawmakers, including some Democrats, have either given up on the idea of public education, are secretly fond of the idea that taxpayers should support religious indoctrination or are under the delusion that competition for scarce resources will magically make public schools better.

* This is Eric last month on SB1…

But neither joy nor heartbreak have evidently altered the governor’s enthusiasm for brinkmanship. He’s now threatening to veto key elements of an education funding bill — a bill that gave him 90 percent of what he wanted, according to his education chief — because he feels it’s too generous to the teetering Chicago Public Schools. […]

Yes, crisis creates opportunity. That’s no special trick. All disasters do. Crisis also creates suffering, which those seeking to exploit it should never forget.

It’s a $75 million tax credit. That’s pocket change in the broad scheme of education funding. Take the overall win.

* And the same goes for the IEA. Remember its radio ad from August 14th?…

It’s called SB1. Gov. Rauner’s team said he supports 90 percent of SB1. But then he vetoed it.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 10:34 am

Comments

I’d still like to see an MOU with Rauner’s signature on it before it goes to the floors for debate. That would help immensely to provide cover to get to 71 and 36.

Comment by Anon221 Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 10:38 am
===I’d still like to see an MOU with Rauner’s signature===

If he flip-flops, he’ll get rolled again and it’ll be epic. Take a breath.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 10:40 am
Give Rauner the ability to withdraw with some dignity and end this chaos. $75M is oogats.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 10:41 am
I look forward to hearing Proft’s take on this compromise. I’m sure it will be colorful.

Comment by anon2 Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 10:44 am
I think Zorn has good points on the merits and the case against it needs to be made but I concur on your larger point. So while I disagree with Zorn I’m glad he wrote it, if that makes sense.

Comment by whetstone Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 10:45 am
But isn’t it more than just a $75 million? It’s opening a door. When you have the Catholic Church AND the GOP behind it, isn’t it likely that figure will rise in the future? I’m no fan of CPS but the reform I want to see is public school choice.

Comment by lake county democrat Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 10:47 am
“If he flip-flops, he’ll get rolled again and it’ll be epic. Take a breath.”

Have taken several:) Just wonder if Rauner fully understands, at last, what the consequences will be if he tries his SOP in what is probably the most critical juncture of his term.

Comment by Anon221 Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 10:48 am
===It’s opening a door===

Slippery slope arguments are so tiring. Don’t legalize marijuana because heroin! Don’t mandate seatbelt usage because fascism!

This is reportedly a pilot program. It’ll have to be renewed on its own merits.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 10:53 am
Realistically, the teachers’ unions have to object to the backdoor voucher program - but that is a long way from trying to kill the deal or going after yes votes because of it.

These unions get dinged a lot for not being politically realistic, but the correct play here is to grouse about the back door vouchers, chalk it up to having a right wing Governor and get out of the way. Since I haven’t seen any Karen Lewis press conferences today, it looks like that is what they are doing.

Comment by Century Club Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 10:57 am
Slippery slope arguments are so tiring. Don’t legalize marijuana because heroin!”

YEP!

Comment by Ron Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 10:59 am
Wordslinger- off topic but you are a regular, primo commentor, question: In the last few days, I’ve gotten Yiddish, Viking, and Soprano from you. Who is that masked man?

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 10:59 am
==But isn’t it more than just a $75 million? It’s opening a door.==

Fiscal situation creates massive pressure to reduce spending and tax subsidies. I doubt this program will increase in size very quickly.

Comment by PhD Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 11:00 am
===I look forward to hearing Proft’s take on this compromise. I’m sure it will be colorful===

It was. He’s giddy. The $75 million is a win. He’s taking it.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 11:02 am
Eh, let everyone dance, even if they don’t hear the music. We need Zorn and the teachers unions to complain (correctly) about vouchers so that Proft and his ilk can say, “LOL, U LIBS TRIGGERED?” and thus, lay off Rauner long enough for him to sign the bill.

Not saying Zorn and the teachers’ unions. Aren’t being sincere, just that their complaints are ultimately useful in getting this done.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 11:03 am
So is it a credit for making a donation to a scholarship or is it a credit for folks who send their kid to Catholic school? Or both?

Comment by DuPage Bard Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 11:04 am
Willy is right https://twitter.com/DanProft/status/900862580025163778

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 11:04 am
Classic tradeoff between our current Illinois political leaders:

Madigan settles on massive dollars and operational movement, and Rauner gets a small-dollar, high-potential, ideological symbol.

Consistent with both Madigan’s historical role, and the items on Rauner’s TA.

Comment by walker Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 11:07 am
“religious indoctrination” Pretty strong phrase Rich.

Comment by Liberty Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 11:11 am
I hit return before I finished. Given the strains between the Roman Catholics and their church, indoctrination seems out place,.

Comment by Liberty Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 11:13 am
===Pretty strong phrase Rich===

Um, can you read? Take up your complaint with Zorn. He wrote it, I didn’t.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 11:14 am
===Realistically, the teachers’ unions have to object to the backdoor voucher program - but that is a long way from trying to kill the deal or going after yes votes because of it. ====

I agree. In the big scheme this amounts to about one and half percent of all IEA teachers salaries if my estimates are anywhere near correct (100,000 members times $50 grand avg. salary equals $5 billion. $75 mil is 1.5% ). And I’m probably guessing low on the number of teachers and pay so it could be a smaller percentage.

Comment by Been There Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 11:15 am
If the votes are there, take the win?

There is ZERO accountability for school districts in SB 1 as is.

With the hold harmless, no school district loses even one dollar (even if huge numbers of students use the new vouchers).

The history of vouchers (okay, tax credits) is the same in every State: they start small and then just grow.

Sneaky way around the Illinois Constitution with its prohibition of using public funds for private schools.

Comment by winners and losers Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 11:16 am
== secretly fond of the idea that taxpayers should support religious indoctrination ==

I think its pretty clear that most Catholic and other church affiliated schools are not the parochial schools of yore that involved serious religious studies. Now, they attract parents by offering safety, academic discipline, and requiring golden rule type behaviors from all students or they are gone. I don’t want to be too specific or make the school identifiable but a Lutheran school in the near south suburbs ably serves students of all religious backgrounds and races and has a waiting list because it provides these important aspects of education along with solid classroom curriculum. Parents will always try to do the best for their kids and provide them the strongest foundation that they can afford. Often, parents do not believe that is found in the public school system although they wish it was.

Comment by Responsa Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 11:18 am
Take the damned win.

Comment by Lt Guv Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 11:18 am
So slippery slope arguments are never true? I think each has to be evaluated on its merits, tiring or not. There’s evidence to refute the “no legal pot because of heroin.” When it comes to government pilot programs/local government units/etc., I’d wager that for each 10 that launched and then grew (especially that started out at $75 million), there’s only 1 that shrunk or was cancelled.

Comment by lake county democrat Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 11:22 am
My tax dollars goung to fund private religious school endowments is not a win for me.

Rauner held every Illinois public school hostage to get a tax break for wealthy people to invest money they probably already would donate to a private institution.

I am also curious if this will be a double tax break that they can deduct on their state taxes and then deduct as a charitable donation on fed taxes.

Downstate public schools were held hostage to bail out not just the CPS but also the Chicago archdiocese. Or if their community benefits it is to help out a local private school recruit away the best athletes at the local public school.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 11:33 am
Another couple questions- will the Church be required to pay taxes since it’s now receiving tax dollars? Do Catholic schools now have to run mandated ESL classes and do they have to have integration for the kids with special needs? Will the Church be doing IEP’s? What about “scholarships” for sports recruiting called “choice”?

Comment by DuPage Bard Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 11:35 am
Responsa–I have subbed in Catholic schools and there is still a strong religion component in the schools. You are citing one school only and granted it is Lutheran; however, I doubt that lack of religious instruction you cite is typical. People may have a perception that it has lessened but I doubt it.

As a product of Catholic schools and also a retired public school educator, I await the language in this bill. I support public education but also support those who want to send their children to schools that provide religious instruction. The use of public funds for the latter purpose is a concern.

Comment by Nearly Normal Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 11:36 am
The Gov, Proft, et all hate when Illinois wins.

Comment by We'll See Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 11:42 am
Bad public policy isn’t a win. No matter how much we all want this to be over. This will be an issue for many voters. This does nothing to help Dem activists get fired up for elections. It’s an unnecessary loss.

Comment by nowin Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 11:50 am
==if this will be a double tax break that they can deduct on their state taxes and then deduct as a charitable donation on fed taxes.==

Yes, credit on state tax return and 35% deduction on Federal return is the typical setup in other states for this type of program. Wealthy tax payers actually make a bit of money by donating.

Comment by PhD Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 11:50 am
You folks do realize that many people who elect to send their kids to private schools are very, very middle class–don’t you? The reference to wealthy people in this thread is amusing. Many families sacrifice to send kids to private grade and high schools.

Comment by Piece of Work Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 11:59 am
Thank you PhD. More clarification on why this particular provision could get Rauner on board.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 12:02 pm
It’s wealthy folks who are likely to donate in order to enjoy the generous tax credit and federal tax deduction..

Comment by anon2 Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 12:11 pm
Most wealthy people donate to a wide variety of charities. If they have attended private schools and become successful, they would likely donate to those schools.

If private schools didn’t exist, those kids would attend public schools and then what—-Parents already pay real estate taxes that support public schools. Schools wouldn’t get much more revenue yet the costs would really go up.

But, let’s bark about a small tax credit. Sheesh

Comment by Piece of Work Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 12:24 pm
===Willy is right https://twitter.com/DanProft/status/900862580025163778

Dude, I knew that and he blocked me

Seriously, I think this kind of tax credit is bad public policy for all of the reasons Eric lists, but the overall bill is good and the formula change is worth it alone.

The issue to me with this kind of thing is that tax credits should be pretty limited and we shouldn’t be doing them for donations–deductions are sufficient. In this case, people could even make a profit with the federal deduction on top of the tax credit.

All that said, we should allow the credits to be available to the public school foundations as well. Something to work for in the future, but pass the bill now.

Comment by ArchPundit Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 1:02 pm
==the reform I want to see is public school choice.

What would that look like? A kid in, say, Waukegan could enroll at Warren just because they want to? There’s already ‘choice’ within school districts, but schools can say no if/when they don’t have the capacity.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 1:03 pm
==But, let’s bark about a small tax credit. Sheesh==

Why is $75 million tax credit for donations to private schools small while $200 million excess block grant is a CPS ‘bailout’ that must receive Governor’s AV?

Comment by PhD Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 1:05 pm
==You folks do realize that many people who elect to send their kids to private schools are very, very middle class–don’t you? The reference to wealthy people in this thread is amusing.==

Then why isn’t the $75 million going to the parents that you speak of? Are you suggesting that these “very, very middle class” people you speak of have enough extra cash to also donate money, or are you simply trying to deflect? This is taxpayer money that will be going to folks wealthy enough to be able to donate to a private school scholarship, not to parents who are paying both property taxes and private school tuition. Unless their child happens to be lucky enough to receive one of the scholarship offers, these parents you speak of get bupkis.

Comment by Lester Holt's Mustache Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 1:29 pm
===What would that look like? A kid in, say, Waukegan could enroll at Warren just because they want t

Actually, Minnesota does exactly this. If there is room, you can enroll in any public school you want. The challenge is you have to have transportation and most places don’t want to provide that.

Comment by ArchPundit Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 1:35 pm