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Report: Rauner considers budget deal “balanced”

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If all goes well, the Illinois General Assembly is in a position to pass a budget on Wednesday that Republicans — with Gov. Bruce Rauner’s approval — say is balanced. […]

And a budget summary from Senate Republicans, given a stamp of approval by Rauner’s office, calls the budget “balanced.” That summary touts that it contains no tax increases — a key talking point for both his administration and his re-election campaign. […]

Revenue changes include using a $200 million fund balance from a Refund Fund to offset costs, as well as using $66 million from “higher than expected state investment returns.” The Senate GOP summary also concludes that the sale of the Thompson Center would bring in $300 million. That inclusion has been a point of contention for years, and was also in Rauner’s budget proposal last year. […]

It also includes $500 million for a proposed Discovery Partners’ Institute through the University of Illinois — a project both Rauner and Mayor Rahm Emanuel have touted as a significant addition to the state’s educational landscape.

Money would be included to help build a new Quincy veterans’ home, although the number is not specified in the document.

…Adding… There’s some confusion in comments. Anticipated proceeds from the Thompson Center sale were previously booked as end-of-year surplus cash. They weren’t appropriated. Likely gonna be the same this year. We’ll see.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 12:24 pm

Comments

Wait, so they keep “spending” the Thompson Center “windfall” every year?

Comment by Grand Avenue Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 12:27 pm
Well … that’s as balanced as any State budget in recent memory.

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 12:30 pm
Rauner will sign a budget that 100% requires the 32% tax increase to balance.

Rauner, with his signature, will completely validate, not only the tax increase, but also validate the spending of that 32% tax increase to balance a budget he couldn’t sign without that revenue.

The Superstars could probably handle this, the BTIA(tm) they will sink Rauner with poor spin of this reality.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 12:31 pm
Who wants the JRTC so bad the State keeps trying to sell it every year? /s

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 12:32 pm
===Rauner will sign a budget that 100% requires the 32% tax increase to balance.

Rauner, with his signature, will completely validate, not only the tax increase, but also validate the spending of that 32% tax increase to balance a budget he couldn’t sign without that revenue.===

I hope the Pritzker crew realizes what a gold mine this is for campaign ads.

Comment by Nick Name Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 12:34 pm
All that budget crisis damage, for nothing. Focus on budget stuff only and leave out nonbudget items. Show political skills and try to pass those on their own.

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 12:34 pm
==Rauner will sign a budget that 100% requires the 32% tax increase to balance.

Rauner, with his signature, will completely validate, not only the tax increase, but also validate the spending of that 32% tax increase to balance a budget he couldn’t sign without that revenue.==

OW, Do you think JB will leave this alone or can he show Rauner’s hypocrisy?

Comment by don the legend Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 12:36 pm
===Wait, so they keep “spending” the Thompson Center “windfall” every year? ===

No. The money was booked as end of year surplus.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 12:37 pm
I’ll believe it when he signs it.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 12:38 pm
Rep. David McSweeney…

“@1980reagan - The new IL budget will likely include the revenues derived from the 32% increase in your income tax rate. A vote for this budget is a yes vote for the 2017 massive tax hike and taxpayer funding for abortions. I’m a hell no on this terrible budget @illinoispolicy”

Maybe this explains the magic trick Mr. Breen wanted, ignoring that HB40 passage, with a maneuver to sidestep HB40s passage… then there’s the 32% tax increase Rauner will now validate….

(Sigh, deep breath, release)

We, Illinois, need a budget.

Rauner’s own political peril is far different than the 12+ million who live in Illinois.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 12:38 pm
And Democrats will validate that the permanent 32% tax increase with zero reforms will not solve Illinois problems as they promised.

One year later, after saying there was much work to do to fix Illinois, a they are back at the trough promising further tax increases in the future with zero reforms

Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 12:38 pm
===I hope the Pritzker crew realizes what a gold mine this is for campaign ads.===

You’d think a savvy and financially flush crew would have a whole narrative in the can, ready for a rollout, once the signature happens.

I can think of 3 myself, instances that would highlight Rauner’s hypocrisy, but that’s just me.

===Do you think JB will leave this alone or can he show Rauner’s hypocrisy?===

Different question.

I think they leave it alone until Rauner goes around touting his signature.

Then… then, after the signature is dry, and the rhetoric is all wet to Rauner’s former position… I’d think they’d pounce. I would.

They won’t be asking me.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 12:43 pm
===And Democrats will validate that the permanent 32% tax increase with zero reforms will not solve Illinois problems as they promised.===

LOL

Rauner will have caved, yet again, validating the 32% tax increase.

You’re not helping. I’d get reprogrammed.

The governor choosing to sign, that’s Rauner solely validating the tax increase.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 12:45 pm
Are they handing out Ambien like candy at the Statehouse?

Comment by Anonimity Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 12:52 pm
As you well know but conveniently ignore, Governor Rauner supported more revenue, with reforms of our business and government attached, because he said just raising taxes won’t solve the problems in the state.

One year later, it is obvious that the tax increase did not solve the problems in the state or help to reduce the nation leading outmigration.

Democrats only answer is a progressive tax which fell ten votes short yesterday. What is their plan b?

There is much work to be done remember?

Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 12:59 pm
===…with reforms…===

Bruce Rauner failed.

No reforms, nothing.

Rauner will cave, validate and justify the 32% tax increase, got no reforms, according to you and he, and probably Mr. Wehrli’s twitter, so Rauner held hostage a whole state for taxpayer-funded abortions and validating a tax increase Rauner needs to make his signature on a budget seem as though he’s signing a balanced fiscal plan?

LOL

Wanna try again, or “we good”?

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 1:15 pm
According to “Lucky Pierre”…

Rauner must be a “Democrat” governor.

Rauner will sign for taxpayer-funded abortions, validating a 32% tax increase, with no reforms, spending every dime.

You’d think Bruce Rauner was a Democrat governor, maybe conservatives are right to abandon Rauner(?)

lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 1:21 pm
Democrats failed to even agree to their own reforms, like the bipartisan Cullerton pension bill and now claim there is “much work to be done” on the second to last day of session.

The “moderate” Speaker with the 25% lifetime conservative rating was at 6% in 2016 and claimed to be “reasonable and moderate”

Again counting your chickens before the eggs are even laid Willy.

What are Democrats running on besides a progressive income tax which has bipartisan opposition?

Rauner’s positions like term limits, fair maps, workers comp reform, property tax reform all are popular with bipartisan majorities

Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 1:26 pm
You can’t spell “Revenue changes include using a $200 million fund balance from a Refund Fund to offset costs” without fun, fun, FUN‼

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 1:35 pm
Did I miss a resolution to the $1.1B supplemental approp. the Rauner crew said they need to get through June?

Didn’t corrections alone need another $450M this year?

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 1:42 pm
===What are Democrats running on besides a progressive income tax which has bipartisan opposition?===

…

Bruce Rauner failed.

Rauner polling at 26% approval, 60% disapproval, rated the worst Republican governor in America, signed legislation, arguably, the most liberal state abortion bill ever signed…

===Rauner’s positions like term limits, fair maps, workers comp reform, property tax reform all are popular with bipartisan majorities===

… and yet 34 points under water, validating the 32% tax increase he can no longer say isn’t needed.

===The “moderate” Speaker===

… who is running unopposed. And while Pritzker is he, himself, under water, leads Rauner by double digits… think of it… Pritzker is under water… leading by double digits.

Rauber will sign a budget that requires that 32% tax increase, validating that tax increase as only a governor can do.

Like I told ya… with all that I wrote above, I’d be more focused on the 26% approval. Rauber seems unlikable, trailing another who is under water. Whew.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 1:44 pm
=Rauner’s positions like term limits, fair maps, workers comp reform, property tax reform all are popular with bipartisan majorities=

And yet for a guy with such popular ideas he can only muster a 26% approval rating. I’d like to see where he’d be with “unpopular” ideas.

Comment by Pundent Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 1:48 pm
In political stunt to praise himself on the “balanced budget” the governor abandons his three year, my way or the highway” approach to the budget, racking up billions in unpaid bills, mis-managing life and death crisises, all in hopes that the people will forget those first 3 failed years, we the people will pay for long after he is gone.

Comment by Publius Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 1:52 pm
==One year later, it is obvious that the tax increase did not solve the problems in the state or help to reduce the nation leading outmigration.==

How can you possibly make this claim? We don’t have any census data more recent than 2016. If anything, the 2016 data shows us that letting the income tax relapse in 2015 didn’t stop the out-migration.

Comment by supplied_demand Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 1:56 pm
Running against someone does not work out too well usually, you have to be for something, this is not a Seinfeld episode.

Putting all of your eggs in a single poll and backing a flawed, Madigan rubber stamp, candidate who is promising new “progressive spending programs” in a state with 130 billion in debt, all financed by a progressive tax that went down in flames yesterday. What could go wrong?

Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 1:56 pm
==As you well know but conveniently ignore, Governor Rauner supported more revenue, with reforms of our business and government attached==

Well, he didn’t get those reforms, so is he gonna support this budget and it’s added revenue?

Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 2:03 pm
==Rauner’s positions like term limits, fair maps, workers comp reform, property tax reform all are popular with bipartisan majorities==

And yet, Rauner himself is unpopular with bipartisan majorities.

Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 2:04 pm
“One year later, it is obvious that the tax increase did not solve the problems …” Three years later there’s still no evidence that gutting unions, starving higher education and giving tax breaks to the wealthy would solve the problems.

Comment by Skeptic Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 2:09 pm
When the state legislature and voters rejected the Turnaround Agenda, Rauner didn’t back off and find another plan that could have been implemented. He instead doubled down.

Rauner’s issues are of Rauner’s making. Period. EOD.

Comment by Southern Illinois Hoopdee Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 2:15 pm
===Running against someone does not work out too well usually, you have to be for something===

… Pat. Quinn. Failed.

Rauber is validating the 32% tax increase. That’s what a signature does. Rauner supports the 32% tax increase, otherwise the budget wouldn’t balance.

What else ya got?

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 2:20 pm
Rauner declaring the budget balanced, with or without his signature, validates that the tax increase was needed to balance the budget. He’s proposed ZERO, ZILCH, NADA in the way of a balanced budget without these revenues. Until he does, he has zero credibility in his attacks.

Comment by Anon0091 Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 2:57 pm
==One year later, it is obvious that the tax increase did not solve the problems==

What was the bill backlog before? And after? It helped with that problem.

==Running against someone does not work out too well usually==

What in the heck is Rauner doing? You may want to let him in on that advice.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 3:32 pm
==Running against someone does not work out too well usually==

LP, you really are overdo at the shop. You’re misfiring all over. Did Rauner not get the extended warranty or something? Because…. Madigan?

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 4:39 pm