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*** 3:08 pm *** OK, let’s start a new thread. To refresh your memories, the governor said today that he’s willing to provide another temporary bailout for mass transit in case a permanent solution isn’t found by Sunday; the RTA’s executive director said he won’t accept another temporary bailout; and Comptroller Dan Hynes says the governor has only given the RTA/CTA $37 million out of the promised $91 million temporary bailout.
Clear? OK. Now, onto our next update…
Downstate Senate Democrats are holding a press conference as I write this to say they won’t vote for a transit bailout bill until a capital projects bill is passed. They say that even though they realize transit is important, capital projects are as or even more important, particularly to them.
Also, RTA Chairman Jim Reilly just called. Reilly said that the RTA has “completed all the paperwork” for both parts of the temporary bailout proposal originally promised by Gov. Blagojevich, but that the governor’s office has not yet sent the RTA all their promised cash.. So, any leftover money that hasn’t yet been disbursed yet would not be “new” money.
Asked about his exective director’s comment about not taking another temporary money infusion, Reilly said, “I can’t imagine our agreeing to anything further, but it’s hard to comment until we actually get a proposal from the governor. ” The longer this gets delayed, he said, the more drastic the cuts or the fare increases have to be.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 3:09 pm
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Downstate Senate Democrats are holding a press conference as I write this to say they won’t vote for a transit bailout bill until a capital projects bill is passed. They say that even though they realize transit is important, capital projects are as or even more important, particularly to them.
Right, we couldn’t possibly work on both of them simultaneously, I guess they’re too dumb to walk and chew gum at the same time, too.
Opportunistic jerks. SB572 doesn’t raise taxes downstate, and it even tosses them a little cash, and they STILL won’t vote for it? Help us Blago, you’re our only hope…
Comment by Kuz Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 3:20 pm
Yeah, that’s what I suspected. Thanks for doing the digging, Rich. It didn’t make any political sense the other way around.
Of course, I don’t think they should HAVE to ask. They were promised the cash. But that’s just me….
I don’t know if my former Senator is one of those ‘downstate democrats’, but if so, he disappoints me. I understand the position, but you got the votes you needed on electricity, sir.
Heh, maybe that’s why I voted Republican when he was last up for re-election.
Comment by the commuter once known as So Ill Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 3:22 pm
Did Reilly happen to mention anything about things like cutting RTA salaries or making the RTA more efficient?
That might be a good first step.
Comment by Skeeter Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 3:22 pm
It’s a mess!!! I don’t think they’ll work this out by the 4th. The way things are going RTA agencies will be force to raise fares and cut service. It seems almost like a domino effect, especially with the legislative session as it is now.
Comment by Levois Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 3:24 pm
Let me get this straight, Governor Blagojevich holds a media conference today at noon, basically saying he doesn’t have a plan for mass transit funding, then boards his state plane and to fly Springfield. The old saying about the monkey and the football comes mind when observing the Blagojevich juggernaut.
Comment by Fanfare for an idiot Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 3:33 pm
With the BIMP language surfacing, it looks more and more like the deal is done. Gaming, capital, mass transit, and project funding being restored all seem to be on the table. If I were Blagojevich, I would make sure it gets done with republican votes. I wouldnt wait for next session and hope that Madigan releases the mushrooms to vote for the plan. Keep Cross and Watson involced and make sure that a consensus package is passed. That will be good for everybody.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 3:35 pm
Hey Kuz I think they would argue that they are in a crisis too and since all of the Democratic leadership is from north of I-80 if they don’t do this now they are never going to be able to do it.
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 3:37 pm
…in caucus?
Comment by Are they still... Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 3:37 pm
What does BIMP mean?
Comment by Anonymous Lawyer Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 3:40 pm
Gee, these guys are voted in to represent their constituents and by golly, they are actually doing that.
Comment by Wumpus Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 3:41 pm
Commuter has got a good point. The So. IL caucus already held the budget hostage (rightly so) for utility relief. How many times do they get to pull this stunt? I think they should sit down and vote.
Enough with the bravado, solve the problems one at a time people!
Comment by Napoleon has left the building Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 3:43 pm
How many times do they get to pull this stunt?
How many times does a football team run off tackle right when they get 10 years the first time they do it?
They do it until the other side shows that they can stop it.
Comment by Pat collins Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 3:53 pm
So guv has not released a chunk of the millions from the last short term fix. Well, it is the Holiday season and guv has figured out how to regift cash. Twice the mileage out of one PR stunt, pretty efficient.
Comment by A Citizen Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 3:53 pm
…Management by Crisis, which creates an unpredictable and chaotic work environment.
Comment by You are all witnessing.... Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 3:56 pm
How exactly would the help Skeeter? Easier said than done.
Comment by Lucas Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 4:00 pm
What was that…? Over $90 million smackeroos to bail ‘em out for the short-term?
Comment by wow....! Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 4:01 pm
=== With the BIMP language surfacing, it looks more and more like the deal is done.===
In Madigan’s mind, yes.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 4:02 pm
BIMP is the budget implentation.
Comment by Anon 1 Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 4:02 pm
Typing error. BIMP is the budget implementation.
Comment by Anon 1 Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 4:04 pm
My impression is that neither Reilly nor Schlickman speak for the entire RTA Board. I know that the last few RTA Board meetings have been contentious, with divided votes on key issues.
Comment by Legaleagle Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 4:08 pm
If Huberman and Reilly’s folks managed their way through the last crisis on less than HALF the short term fix cash they are pretty good managers in a crisis. If guv had “Kept his Word” and remitted All of the promised funds we would not be “in crisis” now, in fact they should be good for several more months, if given the promised funds. Guv’s not a chess player but he does run a shell game and a three card Monty setup.
Comment by A Citizen Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 4:09 pm
Are they going to get anywhere? While I can understand Southern Dems wanting some agreement being sure they get a some cut of CP, CP isn’t going anywhere until Madigan gets his Gaming Board overhaul and until Transit passes BIMP isn’t happening, Transit does not get pass promised funding but is expected to agree to take new promise of additional funding blah blah blah—- Chicago transit people I’d be starting to really worry
Comment by Princeville Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 4:09 pm
Wumpus –
Not quite. Because bad transit in Chicago = less business in Chicago = less money for the state = fewer necessary projects downstate.
I know, everyone downstate hates Chicago. Necessary evil, though, so don’t hold workers hostage because you didn’t get a new school (no matter how badly it is actually needed).
Comment by the commuter once known as So Ill Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 4:10 pm
Bring it on downstate democrats. It is about time downstaters stand up to the Chicago hacks and say “we want our piece of the action now.”
Comment by blagoman Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 4:12 pm
Downstate got the electricity deal and Cook Co. got the assessment freeze. So, let’s not get too all riled up here.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 4:14 pm
To my fellow Illinoians from Northern Illinois. We realise that the transit bill does not raise taxes downstate. However, do you realise that the Governor has cut more funding from downstate programs than similar programs upstate? Do you realise that Emil Jones held us hostage too? In addition to that slap, our energy bills went up more than yours and we don’t have the large wages down here.
Comment by Downstate is in IL Too Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 4:15 pm
What is the percentage the state funds supplement represents of the total RTA CTA etc. annual budget? Since they managed to stretch their operations out to the present with less than half the bailout money the other sources must be significant. The balance should be sufficient for quite some time therefor there would appear to be NO crisis.
Comment by A Citizen Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 4:20 pm
Rich, if the BIMP indicates that it might be done in Madigan’s mind, couldnt that mean that he knows that he doesnt have the votes for the hamos bill, thus the deal (gaming, capital, bimp, and budget restorations)? If Ive read this blog correctly for the past 5 years, it would seem that Madigan, the smartest politician in the world, wouldnt move the bimp unless there was a deal where he could get some of the budget cuts restored. In order for the gov to agree, there must be gaming and capital, which the other leaders support.
thats how I read it.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 4:21 pm
Whatever. The downstate Dems didn’t do this on their own. They were put up to it by Emil’s staff, becaus Emil is also for Capital and Transit in one big package.
Emils problem is that his constiuents want transit and don’t care as much about capital. So he sends out his downstate caucus member to stand up and say screw you until we get ours (which is exactly the message Emil and Blago want to send to Madigan). Couple this press conference with Watson’s “I ain’t for no stinkin tax increase” statement the other day, and it is Emil’s way of saying there is not as much support for the stand alone Hamo’s bill in my chamber as the Speaker thinks there is. More political gamesmanship by our disfunctional democratic majority.
Comment by Jaded Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 4:22 pm
Now, “Downstate is IL too’ no holding grudges, our leaders do enough of that. I’m one up on the pity party than you though, they threatened my family’s paycheck back in July/August, I wasn’t going to have a check to pay my electric bill.
Comment by Princeville Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 4:23 pm
If i were the RTA/CTA guy, i’d shut the whole gosh-darn system down for a few days. every bus, train, and people mover would be parked, and maybe i’d get them washed for good measure! Talk ’bout sending a message….
The legislature would come back with a truckload of money at that point. D-day is upon us, but i’d take it even farther then there proposing.
My too scents…
Comment by pickles!! Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 4:28 pm
It’s going to be an interesting rush hour on 11/5
if all this bluster is for naught…It might actually be the best scenario for a long term public transit fix and “throw the bums out” mentality in northern IL at the voting booth in February ‘08
we shall see…
Comment by Loop Lady Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 4:31 pm
I didn’t mean to start a downstate/Chicago war. I’m just disappointed in my guy, that’s all.
Well, my ex-guy. Jury’s still out on my current rep/sen, at least one of them.
Comment by the commuter once known as So Ill Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 4:41 pm
The disbursement, or lack thereof, of the initial RTA bailout money is interesting. So this is how Blago comes up with “NEW” money. He just never spends what he initially should. Hey that’s a slick game Elvis is playing. It’s getting old, but it’s slick.
Comment by Litle Egypt Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 4:53 pm
This isn’t leadership. This is pure policy insanity.
As a downtown resident who does not own a car and rides public transportation at least twice a day, I don’t want the “doomsday” cuts to become necessary, but I don’t fault Reilly for his stance. Enough temporary “fixes.” These temporary “fixes” are going to cost money in the long run as it cuts into next years funding.
Looking at the picture of the board from the earlier vote, it is clear that moderate suburban Republicans are going to have to provide the votes to put this over the top. I hope they recognize that their constituents rely on mass transit as much as city residents do to get to work and earn a living.
Blago ought to stop insulting us with his “fixes”. I will gladly pay more in fares, but we need a permanent solution, not this garbage that the Governor keeps giving us.
Comment by some former legislative intern Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 4:54 pm
Intern-
The problem is, moderate suburban republican legislators’ constituents are mostly not like you. They use public transportation for maybe 5% of their trips and most of them own cars. The threat of Metra fare hikes, and increased congestion on the expressways into Chicago that some of them drive, are the 2 primary motivational factors that might flip a vote or 2. And they will need to hear that from their constituents.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 6:26 pm
We are seeing what we all knew to be true — Madigan doesnt have the votes for his beloved tax increase. Now can he accept that (as everybody told the gov to accept the defeatof the grt) and move on to something we can all agree on? Or will he insist on raising taxes?
Comment by Anon Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 6:29 pm
- Anon -
The smart money is staying with Madagin and not going to the dark side of the failed grt loser! Get with the program Anon er Blags - that’s the real solution.
Comment by A Citizen Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 6:47 pm
A great big sigh of desperation.
Even Cross’s plan (which Blago seems to have endorsed in his press release) still involves new revenue — although from gambling, although fees were also mentioned.
Comment by pc Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 6:55 pm
Can anyone blame the legislators for demanding that their top priority is addressed at the same time Chicago’s is?
Chicago is the giant sucking sound of State money going into their coffers, leaving little for the collar counties and even less for the land south of I-80.
There are capital needs in Lake County that have been on the list for more than 20 years and there is never any state $$ to get the work done. However when King Richard curls his pinkey the money gets a ‘flowin.
In this disfunctional case, I applaud thos wacky legislators because if they don’t get theirs now under this kind of pressure, then they will never git anything
Comment by plutocrat03 Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 7:07 pm
Fitz’s magnifying glass hovering menacingly over the guv’s office seems to have disabled the ability of that group to function effectively, if at all. Yet the state somehow survives. We could certainly do better but I think it will take a real leader, not just a sharpie showman. PR splashes shouldn’t be confused with leadership.
Comment by A Citizen Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 7:27 pm
Anecdotal observations: was gone to DC for past week & talked with folks from all over.
1) It looks like I didn’t miss anything as IL govt is still stuck in the mud
2) Again saw tons of State Troopers all over IN, PA, WV, MD, VA and OH but none in IL
3) Roads were clean, wide and smooth until I hit IL 80, 94, 294 and 90 in IL… where it was bumpy with areas of construction or in need of it.
4) Most states allowed big rigs [truck tractor-semi trailers] to run 65 with triple trailers or twin 50′ long boxes…. until IL where none are permitted.
5) I88 and I90 [west of Chicago] were the most congested and in need of extra lanes.
6) When people asked me where I was from, almost EVERYone from this country asked or remarked about the corruption and mess in our state govt. Interestingly, most believed that Chicago was our capitol and assumed that the fights were between the Governor who takes bribes and gives all IL money to Chicago vs the rest of the state.
As I read what I missed here past week, realize that they’re all too close and looking at the tree bark but missing the forest fire raging bearing down on all of us. Everyone else can see it except….
Comment by North of I-80 Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 7:40 pm
- North of I-80 -
And yet, you came back! Welcome home. We didn’t want you to miss out on anything. Now we can proceed with . . . ?
Comment by A Citizen Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 8:11 pm
I wonder if Mike Madigan has some candidates waiting to file nominating petitions Monday against some of these Downstate yahoos if they don’t come on board.
Comment by Randall Sherman Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 9:01 pm
so disappointed in Tom Cross
Comment by Lotta Liaison Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 11:18 pm
Rod Blagojevich/Tom Cross
Comment by 2010 Tcket Friday, Nov 2, 07 @ 7:20 am
Sounds more and more like Tom Cross has been offered and taken a slice Blagojevich’s corrupt pie.
Comment by Morning Star Friday, Nov 2, 07 @ 7:22 am
Okay, here is how it SHOULD be:
1) Restore the budget VETO’s and pass the BIMP.
2) Fund RTA/CTA/METRA with the tax increase.
3) Increase gambling and use it to fund capital and healthcare.
Oh so simple……….
Comment by Healthcare Worker Friday, Nov 2, 07 @ 8:23 am