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They’re getting closer to a budget

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Illinois

* I told subscribers about this less than $100 million gap yesterday…

After canceling session Saturday and Sunday, legislative leaders continued to craft the budget. Democratic state Sen. Heather Steans, who’s been involved in crafting the budget, said Monday that the four caucus leaders are close. She said she couldn’t predict whether Gov. Bruce Rauner would sign it.

“I’m hoping that this is a budget that he will in fact be able to support,” Steans said. “I would never want to suggest or really think that I know what’s going on in his mind, and what not, but I certainly know that with our Republican colleagues, we’ve been doing this jointly with them, and I think that we have something that they can support.” […]

Sources said last week the two sides were off by several hundred million dollars. By Monday, that figure was less than $100 million.

One budget scenario last week had them $300-400 million apart or so. They’ve since closed most of that gap.

But it ain’t over ’til it’s over.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 9:56 am

Comments

Rauner starts making new demands in three….two….one…

Comment by Montrose Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 10:00 am
Rauner does not respect the hard work of others. I predict a veto, and an override. He will never agree to a budget, it is not in his playbook.

Comment by Retired Educator Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 10:02 am
The most critical element in this will be passing a bipartisan budget with clear veto-proof majorities.

Rauner needs to decide.

Is Rauner a complete and utter failure… or is Rauner resigned to the absolute mathematical fact his signed budget happened with the required 32% tax increase, and wouldn’t be possible without that revenue.

Veto-proof majorities, large bipartisan majorities will “guarantee” a budget to save Illinois from Bruce Rauner or Rauner can resign to the absolute fact he was wrong on the 32% tax, a tax now legitimized by Rauner’s own signature and bipartisan vote totals to get to that signature.

It’s all up to Rauner.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 10:04 am
–less than $100 million gap–

So about .2 of 1% of expected revenues?

That’s like if you were divvying up $1,000, and couldn’t agree on two bucks.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 10:04 am
“It ain’t over until it’s over”- correct. But even if a budget deal is cut, what is agreed upon will not be balanced.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 10:14 am
There’s no circumstance where Rauner will ever — ever — sign a budget.

He simply doesn’t care that it’s the most important part of his job.

Comment by Macbeth Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 10:15 am
I hope Rauner doesn’t blow things up again when or if Democrats don’t let him remove health insurance from collective bargaining and unilaterally whack state workers. Will this be the local government collective bargaining stripping and repeal of prevailing wage budget hostage of today? I hope not.

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 10:22 am
$100 M apart based on what?

Are they using the COGFA $37.8 billion revenue estimate that includes the sale of the Thompson Center?

Comment by Phil King Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 10:24 am
I think we all kind of feel that the budgeteers negotiating was never going to be the problem. But I still hold that Rauner is nuts if he vetoes a budget with no tax increases.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 10:24 am
It will be interesting to see if non bargained health care raises for state workers and unconstitutional pension savings is revisited to get close the budget figure they seek.

Comment by Steward As Well.... Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 10:27 am
Wait, I thought Madigan was the all powerful guy who controls state government?

Why are we talking about this Rauner guy?

Comment by Henry Francis Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 10:30 am
“Closing the gap” generally means looking for some smoke and mirrors gimmicks, never actual savings. Did they lose their creative juices at the $1.0 million mark?

Comment by Skirmisher Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 11:20 am
===Why are we talking about this Rauner guy?===

Because he has been Madigan’s biggest helper in his goal of bankrupting Illinois. Duh

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 11:21 am
Let’s assume that a budget is passed with a clear veto proof majority - and if the mood around the dome at this moment in time is any indication, it will. And, let’s assume Rauner vetoes it. And, let’s assume it is overridden… all of this feels possible.

The message, I think, is to JB Pritzker, not Rauner. That message is that Illinois can and will operate without a governor if we need to.

JB should note that, even though illinois has a system with strong executive powers, successful governors are collaborative and engaged. Bruce Rauner, Pat Quinn and Rod Blagojevich all have the common trait of being neither collaborative or engaged.

Rauner walked into his term with immense opportunities to champion a lot of progress. He has blown it - every single time. And, of course, there’s still the chance to roll that Harley up to the circle drive and light the whole thing up.

Comment by Carhartt Union Negotiating Team Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 11:26 am
So much for transparency in Springfield.

If past is prologue, Legislators will have to “pass the budget” to find out “what is in the budget” and then leave town quickly before the dust settles so they can feign ignorance that the budget was actually not balanced.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 11:58 am
===If past is prologue, Legislators will have to “pass the budget” to find out “what is in the budget” and then leave town quickly before the dust settles so they can feign ignorance that the budget was actually not balanced.===

What are you going to do when Rauner signs that budget, validating the 32% tax increase AND calling the budget balanced?

I’d get that reprogramming done now.

Oh…

Rauner vetoes the budget, and a bipartisan legislature overrides those vetoes… Rauner will be an utter failure, having never signed a full fiscal year budget his entire term.

You should follow Rauner’s lead and not say too much, the options for the governor and your programming aren’t too desirable.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 12:09 pm
Rauner should veto. He’s not getting the votes of commenters in here with or without passing the budget, so why fight for the votes of people who think passing budgets equals stability? There’s something noble about taking a principled stand when the odds are hopelessly against the Governor.

Comment by Chris Widger Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 12:27 pm
===There’s something noble about taking a principled stand when the odds are hopelessly against the Governor===

He tried that for over two years. It wasn’t ennobling. Just the opposite.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 12:31 pm
===so why fight for the votes of people who think passing budgets equals stability?===

We actually have higher standards than that. Signing a budget would be just step one of stability. So I guess I have to ask, if the GA passes a budget that Jim Durkin and Bill Brady says is balanced, what is the possible benefit to the state of Illinois or to Rauner politically to veto said budget?

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 12:35 pm
===what is the possible benefit to the state of Illinois or to Rauner politically to veto said budget?===

Not much.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 12:38 pm
–There’s something noble about taking a principled stand when the odds are hopelessly against the Governor.–

Yeah, every day is St. Crispin’s Day in Raunerland.

But what’s the principled stand and what’s noble about it?

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 12:38 pm
===He’s not getting the votes of commenters in here with or without passing the budget, so why fight for the votes of people who think passing budgets equals stability?===

With 26% approval, it’s not just commenters “here” who disapprove of Rauner. Voters disapprove of Rauner at a 60% clip, so if you’re fine with Rauner being an utter budgetary failure as governor, the polling says you may not be in line with the voters yourself.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 12:42 pm
What if Rauner came to the conclusion that he can’t win in November. What if he just said, ‘to hell with it’, and threw it all up in the air and just started going a bit crazy…….no, wait, he’s already done all that..

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 12:53 pm
St. Crispens day- lol- nice one Word
Fill the gap with our Koch funded dead
Chris Widger needs to come down to East St. Louis and see first hand what principled stands by Rauner have wrought.
Privilege has insulated you Mr Widger
Otherwise you would have
Never said that that.
Principled stand like Gallipoli.

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 1:21 pm
==people who think passing budgets equals stability==

It’s a heckuva lot more stability than no budget.

==There’s something noble about taking a principled stand ==

There’s nothing noble about his inability to govern the last 3 years.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 1:22 pm
==There’s something noble about taking a principled stand ==

Yeah, my favorite was when he took a stand against giving money to those kids with Autism on Autism Day.

Comment by HangingOn Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 1:30 pm
=Yeah, my favorite was when he took a stand against giving money to those kids with Autism on Autism Day.=

That one is going to leave a mark. Nicely played sir or madam.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 1:45 pm