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* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
To many Statehouse types, some of last week’s news out of Washington, DC felt eerily familiar.
Last Monday night, the White House announced a sweeping new policy that would’ve at least temporarily defunded trillions of dollars of government spending on everything from the National School Lunch Program, to Head Start, to cancer and sleep disorders research, and on and on through 50 small-print pages.
So, some Illinoisans rightly pointed out that former Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner also tried crashing government spending by defunding vital social services and other programs.
But what the White House attempted last week differed from Rauner’s misrule in a very big way: Rauner thought he could use massive funding cuts resulting from a budget impasse as “leverage” (his word) to force Democrats to break their ties with labor unions.
The Trump administration offered no such “grand bargain.” Instead, they ordered the complete funding cut-off of some two thousand government grants and programs until they could be assured that none of them conflicted with their ideological demands, including, “diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility,” “gender ideology,” etc., all with the end result of “ending ‘wokeness’ and the weaponization of government,” according to a memo issued by the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget Matthew Vaeth. The examination process had no stated end date, so some or even most of those programs could’ve been suspended indefinitely.
As we learned during the Rauner years, providers typically have very little cash on hand, and that’s mostly by design. The federal government, for instance, doesn’t just hand out a year’s worth of funding to some small social service group. The providers get their money in small bites, often around payroll dates. So, even a two-week funding halt could seriously harm many of these organizations.
The president didn’t actually need to halt a dime of funding to examine these programs for ideological conformance, of course. He could’ve just, you know, had his people look at them, which gives you a big clue that this action was much more than just some limited “anti-woke” ideological policing (along with the mysterious and highly suspect cut-off of certain states’ access to the Medicaid computer portal).
Opponents of the order rightly pointed out that Congress long ago passed a law protecting its strong constitutional appropriations powers by mandating the executive to spend the money it appropriates, with very limited exceptions. And, by late afternoon a federal judge paused the cuts until a temporary restraining order hearing could be held on Monday.
Again, the Rauner specter re-emerges. The courts back then forced the state of Illinois to pay its employees and fund certain vital programs even without a budget. So, the state limped along for two years while non-Medicaid human service providers, contractors and others slowly died on the vine. The horror (state funding for things like a program to help teenage rape survivors was eliminated) finally ended 793 days after it began, when Republicans joined Democrats to increase taxes and pass a budget over Rauner’s vetoes.
The White House withdrew the order, but then the White House press secretary insisted that the cuts would still happen even without the directive. Another lawsuit, filed by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and several colleagues from across the country, began to move forward.
That process came to a head on Friday when a federal judge issued a sweeping temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration from doing anything that could reduce spending already approved by Congress. Judge John J. McConnell even quoted a ruling that Trump-appointed US Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh handed down when he was a circuit court judge, “even the President does not have unilateral authority to refuse to spend the funds.”
The state could similarly be in for years of court fights over this current federal spending battle, and likely more in the future, while, as under Rauner, the institutions and people down below try to survive.
There’s no way that this state government can adequately plan for what might happen next because nobody knows what will happen next. I mean, who could’ve predicted perhaps the most aggressive challenge ever to the US Congress’ constitutional appropriations powers would be launched last week?
Really the only thing the state can do now is to be even more prudent with its budgeting. President Trump wants to cut programs that deviate from his ideology. If he can convince Congress to go along, a judge won’t be able to step in. He could also try another way to get around the court’s mandate (and the US Constitution).
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Feb 3, 25 @ 8:34 am
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What Trump is going to find out - just as Rauner did - is that Red States depend heavily on those federal funds.
Within Blue States, rural red counties depend heavily on those federal funds.
CPS will take a big hit if the US Dept. of Education is eliminated.
But what will schools in Schuyler county do?
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Feb 3, 25 @ 9:01 am
Looks like they are trying to halt lots of funding still but having DOGE do it such as currently halting all payments to contractors which really feels like Rauner.
Comment by dtownresident Monday, Feb 3, 25 @ 9:03 am
It’s remarkable the GOP members of Congress support the emasculation of the congressional power of the purse.
Comment by anon2 Monday, Feb 3, 25 @ 9:07 am
“He could also try another way to get around the court’s mandate (and the US Constitution).”
Ignore them. As I stated last week, what’s to stop someone who believes they are above the law, righteous in his cause, and has loyal yes people in positions of power (including all three branches of government). This is the possible beginning of an authoritarian takeover of our country.
Comment by Steve Polite Monday, Feb 3, 25 @ 9:23 am
The deja-vu was palpable and remains a threat with a fleeting heartbeat, just waiting for a jolt from somewhere sinister…
Comment by CentralILCentrist Monday, Feb 3, 25 @ 9:34 am
Normally, I would say great article Rich. While the quality of writing was still its fine self, the news is far from great. Not only are we talking appropriations, but we’re also seeing massive breaches in security around Treasury systems and personnel databases by Musk employees with questionable legitimacy.
With respect to Rich’s admonishment:
=== be even more prudent with its budgeting ===
I wholeheartedly agree, with one exception. They need to beef up the litigation section of the AG’s Office.
Comment by Norseman Monday, Feb 3, 25 @ 9:35 am
==be even more prudent with its budgeting==
Full stop. Not sure how prudent they have been to date, but certainly the time is now. Less TDS, more at-home responsibility.
Comment by DougChicago Monday, Feb 3, 25 @ 9:55 am
Bruce “No Budget” Rauner became Governor to manipulate the Illinois municipal bond market. Millions were made and no one will ever write about this. It was pretty shameful when City of Chicago and Chicago Public Schools were issuing bonds he deliberately made statements no one should buy them because they are bankrupt.
Comment by Jim Siegel in Chicago Monday, Feb 3, 25 @ 10:00 am
There is no doubt in my mind that they are going for a blitzkrieg destabilization of the entire country. The crisis to follow is being sown today.
Comment by White Roses Monday, Feb 3, 25 @ 10:05 am
I think what is different from Rauner is Musk and his young adult charges illegally taking over government systems, including the treasury payments system. Musk is running his Twitter playbook on the US government.
Trump from his interview today doesn’t seem to have a clue what Musk is doing. This seems like a much more serious problem.
Wired has the best coverage of what Musk is doing.
Comment by ChicagoVinny Monday, Feb 3, 25 @ 10:25 am
Trump, to Rauner: hold my beer.
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Feb 3, 25 @ 10:42 am
What is sad is the number of people who will be hurt. I have no doubt Congress will make significant changes to programs as that is their goal for supporting Trump. A segment of Trumps supporters will continue to praise what he is doing as this is the level of disruption they sought. In the meantime the rest of us are along for the wild ride and hope when the ride ends we can pick up the pieces.
Comment by illinifan Monday, Feb 3, 25 @ 11:13 am
Why am I not surprised that the worst president in US history would imitate the worst governor in IL history?
Comment by Big Dipper Monday, Feb 3, 25 @ 11:58 am
On the one hand you could say this is a calculated reign of terror being executed by smart, methodical ideologues. On the other it could be the floundering acts of a bunch of ignorant, stupid morons. I don’t know which is worse.
Comment by Sir Reel Monday, Feb 3, 25 @ 12:40 pm
Can’t help but think part of using an axe instead of a scalpel is to appease the US House’s version of the “Eastern Bloc” (Chip Roy et. al.) so they won’t reject Trump’s spending proposals for Homeland Security.
Comment by Anyone Remember Monday, Feb 3, 25 @ 12:49 pm
The admission fee for Adult Entertainment Clubs and Casinos should be increased from $3 to $15. Rather than only the first $25,000 going to Battered women’s shelters the entire feed should go to the State’s General Revenue Fund.
Comment by Julie in Glen Carbon Monday, Feb 3, 25 @ 1:55 pm
===Rather than only the first $25,000 going to Battered women’s shelters the entire fee===
Great idea, Julie. Defund women’s shelters. That’ll surely get 60-30-1
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Feb 3, 25 @ 1:56 pm
So Musk just claimed to delete the entire Direct File program that Illinois was just added to that has software to aid the electronic filing of returns.
Comment by Big Dipper Monday, Feb 3, 25 @ 2:14 pm
===So Musk just claimed to===
He claims a lot of things. He’s also amazingly clueless about even very basic government operations.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Feb 3, 25 @ 2:16 pm
—So Musk just claimed to delete the entire Direct File program
I have no idea what that even means. People from that department have indicated everything is working normal as of about an hour ago according to reports so I don’t think Musk knows what that means either.
Comment by ArchPundit Monday, Feb 3, 25 @ 2:33 pm
Capt Fax. This was very good stuff, but you have not given nearly enough attention to the decision by Discovery Partners to abandon this Rezko land aka Related Midwest 78 and stiff IL tax payers nearly $40 million (and counting). This was a GovJunk boondoggle from Day 1. We spit put coffee when he proclaimed the project would give UofI a real place in Chicago when they have a whole campus about a mile away. Perhaps someone could drop an FOI on UofI for a report on the land so we might learn how much contamination remains.
This was better than GovJunk always forgettin’ that his staff leased the Bloomington auto plan to Rivian
Comment by Annonin' Monday, Feb 3, 25 @ 2:55 pm
If Madigan had not been such a megolomaniac and agreed to some of Rauaner’s sensible reforms, the budget standoff would have been avoided. Not to mention the stint in Oxford, Wisconsin.
Comment by Spa Day Monday, Feb 3, 25 @ 2:57 pm
===agreed to some of Rauaner’s sensible reform===
lol
He wanted a right to work law.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Feb 3, 25 @ 3:02 pm
==Rauaner’s sensible reforms==
Rauner wanted to tear down state government. Period. Nothing sensible about that.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Feb 3, 25 @ 3:32 pm
He wanted a right to work law…
Oh. Big deal. You mean like the 26 or 27 other states with more robust economies than Illinois?
Comment by Spa Day Monday, Feb 3, 25 @ 3:43 pm
Wonderful. We’ve got anther LP grade troll to deal with now. Go troll somewhere else.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Feb 3, 25 @ 3:52 pm
Whatever happened to LP?
Comment by Big Dipper Monday, Feb 3, 25 @ 4:42 pm
Having a vague recollection of Trump on campaign last year, wondering what all the fuss against woke was about. He didn’t even know what woke was. Someone asked the same thing the other day, what the heck is woke, even? It’s a modern buzzword for traditional hatred of any disadvantaged group who strives for equality. There is no imminent threat to America from woke, the funding crisis is manufactured for political reasons (nooo, lol).
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Feb 3, 25 @ 6:02 pm
===”I mean, who could’ve predicted perhaps the most aggressive challenge ever to the US Congress’ constitutional appropriations powers would be launched last week?”===
I mean, it is Chapter 2 of Project 2025… so it couldn’t really have been a surprise to anyone.
Comment by Glock21 Tuesday, Feb 4, 25 @ 10:53 am