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* Gov. Bruce Rauner talked about the FY 2015 budget yesterday…
“We’re out of money,” he said in Springfield during a talk to YMCA representatives from around the state. “I didn’t create this budget, but we’re out of money. We’re not funding our day care. It’s outrageous. We should have fixed this a month ago, but the political process, dragging their feet and pushing — it’s sausage being made.”
Yes, this should have been fixed a month ago, but managing the legislative sausage process isn’t like managing a business. There’s a whole lot of give and take. And there was too much take and not enough give for most of that time.
* Senate President John Cullerton responded…
“It’s not true,” Cullerton said of suggestions the [Senate] Democrats are blocking progress. “If that were the case, I’m sure the House would have passed the bill over to us already.” […]
Staff members for each of the four legislative leaders and in Rauner’s office have been meeting to work out a compromise. Sen. Matt Murphy, R-Palatine, said negotiators made a lot of progress Monday and that the Rauner administration had backed off its initial position that it wanted fairly extensive authority to shift around money.
Senate Democrats said they want more detail from Rauner about what he intends to do, especially in light of his budget proposal for the fiscal year that begins July 1, which included extensive cuts to many human services programs.
“It’s very hard — it’s very complicated because we’re talking about his proposals, cutting a lot of programs,” Cullerton said of the negotiations. “I think maybe the administration thinks that since they’re new, ‘Here’s a proposal, just vote on it.’ We have to get votes for it, and that’s difficult.”
Let’s take those paragraphs one by one.
1) The House doesn’t want to advance legislation unless there’s an agreement, and there’s no agreement. But Cullerton does have a point.
2) Legislative approp staff has never before had the authority to sign off on any agreements, or even make them. They’ve cut legislators who chair approp committees completely out of the process.
3) This has been a long-standing demand by the SDems.
4) See above three points.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:10 am
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The Governor thinks his rhetoric is going to help how? He needs to realize he ain’t the CEO anymore. He can’t say jump and get the reply of “how high.” The Governor better get better at this or this is going to be a long 4 years.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:17 am
Nothing like electing someone to the highest office in the state only to have them learn about how to do it day by day.
Comment by AnonymousOne Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:21 am
“Legislative approp staff has never before had the authority to sign off on any agreements, or even make them.” Of course, these legislative staff are employed by the leaders. Unlike legislators, they have no power to challenge leadership directives.
Legislative leadership has used the advent of the Rauner administration as their latest opportunity to strengthen the centralization of authority in the General Assembly which has proceeded relentlessly since the approval of the legislative cutback amendment in 1980.
Comment by Quiet Sage Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:23 am
There will be no progress until Governor Rauner comes to the realization that he leads only one of three coequal branches of state government. Dealing with a board of directors hadn’t prepared him for dealing with Cullerton and Madigan, because no progress can be made with them until he learns the art of compromise. “Governing is hard” indeed.
Comment by AC Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:23 am
You have to have a plan for it to be advanced to a vote, Bruce. “Just give me the keys to the hen house”, said the big bad Wolf of Wall Street. Not. Gonna. Happen. Oh, by the way, you can huff and puff all you want, but sitting down at the table is where the real work gets done. Quit flappin’ your lips, and get to work!
Comment by PublicServant Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:23 am
There are two remedies to this. 1) The Senate Dems introduce legislation above and beyond SB 274. 2) The Senate GOP actually puts together a budget bill that includes all of Governor Rauner’s wishes. It seems like the House Dems have no interest in starting this process, and I know that Leader Durkin put the kibosh on possible legislation. Mexican standoff, anyone?!
Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:23 am
What? You mean governing and running for election aren’t the same thing? Well, color me shocked.
Comment by Jakita Wagner Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:29 am
===“It’s very hard — it’s very complicated because we’re talking about his proposals, cutting a lot of programs,” Cullerton said of the negotiations. “I think maybe the administration thinks that since they’re new, ‘Here’s a proposal, just vote on it.’ We have to get votes for it, and that’s difficult.”===
You need 30, you need 60. That’s the ball game.
Cullerton is being… kind… by phrasing that statement as he did.
You don’t get to 30, Governor, at the snap of your finger, and you don’t get to 60 by slapping together a bunch of words, assign a bill number to it, and that means it “A-Ok”.
Rauner, with zero governmental experience, lacks the cache and the institutional knowledge, himself, to arbitrarily get proposals to bills, in March mind you, on fast tracks, especially if they are controversial and lack complete concesus, and get those bills to quick and “easy” passage.
No way.
It’s the Press Shop and the Legislative staffers responsibility in the Rauner Administration to “teach” Rauner what the Executive in Illinois government shoujd be doing to curry favor, before Rauner is “taught” a lesson from both Cullerton and MJM.
It’s like watching Rauner, as if he were a child riding a two-wheel bike for the very first time;
Pride, frustration, even seeded anger at the idea that, “this looks easy, why can’t I just DO it?”
Eventually, you learn to ride the two-wheeler, but after bumps and bruises, including thise of the ego.
Rauner still has lots to learn in workibg with ALL four Caucuses, and the caucuses within the caucuses too.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:29 am
If Rauner has 60/30 for his ideas, whatever they are, I suspect Madigan and Cullerton would oblige him with a vote.
If he doesn’t, he needs to compromise. What’s the mystery?
Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:31 am
Hey Bruce!! Just reinstate the state income tax back to 5% and, with some cuts we will be OK for now. That is what you wanted the Dems to do during the lame duck session. Now you do it, and own it. You can still say that the previous regime should have done that before you took over.
Comment by Big Joe Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:31 am
And yet the Speaker has remained very quiet. The programs that are running out of money are programs that are nearer and dearer to one side here. With super majorities in both chambers, there’s not a lot of leverage around. When you have a little, you can’t afford to waste it. As long as work goes on with this year’s budget, it’s still their problem.
Rich always professed that the Governor has authority and often criticized PQ for acting so helpless.
You may not like it, but he’s using some of that authority to establish some new parameters. The moment this mess is over, it’s right on to the next year’s budget and even more messiness. There’s a lot less leverage there; i.e. a Veto with a good chance of being overturned. He’s doing what he’s gotta do here. It’s not pretty, but it’s prettier than the problem.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:33 am
If the Governor really wanted to get things moving, wouldn’t one of the GOP members file a bill? To date NOTHING has been filed.
Comment by duh Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:33 am
Once rauner showed he was willing, almost eager, to cut anything regardless of hardship inflicted, the chance of trusting him with broad discretionary authority to sweep was gone. The GA has to be specific on every financial element of the plan.
Comment by Langhorne Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:34 am
It’s called Checks and Balances Gov. You’ve been checked by the balance of the government. Now, you must learn how to deal with it…hopefully for all the rest of us, somewhat effectively.
Comment by I B Strapped Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:37 am
“You can’t always get what you want but sometimes you get what you need”.
-Mick Jagger
Comment by Stones Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:38 am
I forgot who said if here, might have been - RNUG - or - Norseman -, but the irony was delicious, and I can see a path here for it, when trust is just not seen by the GA towards Rauner;
Memorandum of Understanding.
We’re less than 60 days in, and will trust be based on MOUs?
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:39 am
=== The Governor thinks his rhetoric is going to help how? ===
He’s used to buying what he wants. He doesn’t suffer disagreement despite his false rhetoric to the cabinet. This will make for a very disastrous session.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:39 am
There was talk before the election that Rauner will run the state like a business. That’s the thing, you can’t run the state like a business. They are separate entities and have to be managed differently. Rauner is off to a slow start. I think we’d be in a better place right now if Dillard had won the GOP primary. He is more moderate and had a great understanding of how to get a bill written and passed into law.
Comment by The Dude Abides Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:39 am
Politics is sausage making?
I resent the implication that sausage making is a dirty, smelly business. Where else can you get a flavorful tasty ingredient for a delicious meal?
Politics? Now that is a stinky business along the lines of sewage treatment.
Comment by Huh? Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:40 am
I understand the crisis here, and don’t want to minimize it, but…
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:40 am
Head Scratch; some of you good folks seem to think that having a new Governor means he just does things the same way that it’s always been done. No new thoughts, just a player change.
With new dynamics, doesn’t everyone need to go to school to work through the process? Or is it only one guy who needs to learn the Ways of Springfield and get his butt on the bandwagon? Everyone else proceed with regular business.
He won the race. Things have changed. There’s going to be a different approach. There will be give and take, but I don’t see the other guys just rolling over and ceding anything. He’s not there to be the next in a line of punching bags. This hasn’t been co-equal in quite a while. That’s perhaps why it may be less recognizable.
He’ll adjust as he goes along. But so will they.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:41 am
Guy, I don’t understand your references to super-majorities, vetoes and leverage. The idea is to get to 60/30, isn’t it?
Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:41 am
A guy - the timex watch won one race for 1/3 of the government. And so far it has been give me want I want without any here is something for you.
Comment by Huh? Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:45 am
Norse, we’ve got some disastrous problems, don’t we? Were the last sessions any less disastrous?
Comment by A guy Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:45 am
Guy, not one thing has changed;
You need 30 votes in the Illinois Senate to pass a bill.
You need 60 votes in the Illinois House to pass a bill.
Rauner can smile, back slap, be unwavering, be combative, but it’s 30, and its 60.
Ball game.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:46 am
=== You may not like it, but he’s using some of that authority to establish some new parameters. ===
The problem with FY 15 is that he’s not been providing information on those parameters. It’s trust me with super powers to change things.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:46 am
If only there were an apprenticeship program that would eliminate this painful and dangerous on the job training that everyone in Illinois is being subjected to right now. If only Governor Rauner had contact with a prior Republican governor, maybe he could learn from their experiences and wouldn’t be experiencing this frustration, bordering on a tantrum, right now.
Comment by AC Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:46 am
Lack of action? While you’ve been running around the state pushing “empowerment”, the grown-ups were going about the business of running the state.
Did you think ONE meeting at Saputo’s was all that was needed to govern Illinois?
Comment by Jocko Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:47 am
=== Wordslinger - Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:41 am:
Guy, I don’t understand your references to super-majorities, vetoes and leverage. The idea is to get to 60/30, isn’t it?===
Sure it is Sling. With this fiscal year’s budget, I think we get there. Next one? That’s already a problem. Should he get a bill he doesn’t like, he could veto it. Should that happen, it’s not 60 and 30 anymore.
He needs his caucus AND the electorate to help him get things done. He knows it. He’s acting like it.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:48 am
If the timex watch really wanted to govern, he wouldn’t be running all over the state bleating about right to work.
Why isn’t he in Springfield trying to find a way to make a deal to solve the problem?
Comment by Huh? Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:48 am
A Guy just because Rauner won doesn’t mean that the Legislative branch becomes disposable. We didn’t vote to eliminate that branch. As Oswego Willy keeps reminding everyone, it takes 30 and 60 votes. What is Rauner doing to get those votes other than demanding that Dems capitulate to him?
Comment by Concerned Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:51 am
The same voters that elected Rauner Governor elected these 177 people to the General Assembly, I’m not sure the 2nd floor fully comprehends that.
Comment by The Captain Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:51 am
===Should he get a bill he doesn’t like, he could veto it. Should that happen, it’s not 60 and 30 anymore.===
So Rauner is going to be passive to what the GA says might be the budget?
Nope. It’s Rauner’s.
MJM and Cullerton won’t put ONE Dem vote on a proposal that Rauner will veto pertaining to revenues or cuts. All those votes will be structured.
Is thus where your a naïf again?
===He needs his caucus AND the electorate to help him get things done. He knows it. He’s acting like it.===
“He needs his Raunerite-bought and bullied Caucus AND the electorate to help him get things done. He knows it. He’s acting like it.”
No one is coming to Rauner willingly.
How do I know?
You don’t bully those already with you.
If this is the Rauner legislative plan, it will go well into Summer.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:55 am
Governor Rauner needs to take personal responsibility for his failure to produce an effective resolution to the current fiscal year crisis. He needs to be judged based on results, not based on effort or intentions. I don’t care that he has experienced outrage, or how he feels at this point. Complaining about the difficulties associated with the political process in Illinois is like complaining about the weather in Illinois, and almost as effective. It’s time for the Governor to pull himself up by his bootstraps and effectively lead the state.
Comment by AC Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:57 am
Weird, I must have done something wrong to be cut off before. Let me try again…
I don’t want to minimize the crisis, but less than 2 months for a brand new governor doesn’t seem like a crazy delay in getting something this big and complicated done.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:57 am
Mr. Huh, and Concerned, I’m not arguing that the Legislative branch is disposable, any more than I believe you are not arguing the Executive Branch is disposable. I would suggest to you that for at least 6 years, we’ve seen budgets that are “strictly” Legislative Branch creations, with little or no Executive involvement.
Willy posits “nothing has changed” and goes on to reiterate his 60/30 discussion. 60/30 has not changed. It can’t. But to say “nothing’s changed”, hmmm, that is surely not true. By everyone’s consensus, 33% of power has changed.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:57 am
This is great stuff,
Most productive move of the week?
We pick Senate ‘OPies vote “present” in the approp. committee —- provin’ they are transitionin’ to full involvement.
Should be just a “matter of days” before all this is worked out.
Comment by Anonin' Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:58 am
Guy, take off the partisan blinders for one second and see that you’re guy has to be more engaged rather than scream his tea party agenda across the state. His $20 million isn’t going to cuckold everyone into doing what he wants. He’s no longer a bully err I mean a CEO. He needs to govern. Big difference.
Comment by Jorge Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:01 am
===But to say “nothing’s changed”, hmmm, that is surely not true. By everyone’s consensus, 33% of power has changed.===
“Bruce is different.” doesn’t factor into needing 60 and 30.
Rauner has yet to accept that the General Assembly doesn’t work for him, but a co-equal partner. Maybe that HAS changed, that the Executive, by owning Caucuses, refuses to see it co-equal partner, the Legislative.
So that’s changed. The Executive sees governing not as a partnership. Ok.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:03 am
I’m going to make a macro for this:
“He’ll sit here, and he’ll say, ‘Do this! Do that!’ And nothing will happen. Poor Ike—it won’t be a bit like the Army. He’ll find it very frustrating.”
Substitute Hedge Fund instead of army.
Comment by ArchPundit Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:03 am
=== Norseman - Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:46 am:
=== You may not like it, but he’s using some of that authority to establish some new parameters. ===
The problem with FY 15 is that he’s not been providing information on those parameters. It’s trust me with super powers to change things.===
Norse, I think both of us, him, and everyone else knows he won’t get super powers. The real question is how much he will get. And there’s plenty that will go into that formula.
If this goes ‘well into the Summer’ 138 members will be passing petitions against this backdrop. That could be a very unpleasant process. For all of them.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:03 am
AC hits the nail on the head. Ultimately, if Rauner can’t work with the legislature, it will blow back on him. Perhaps on MJM/Cullerton, too, but that’s cold comfort. The state didn’t vote Pat Quinn out because they disagreed with him on the issues; they voted him out because they had the (fair) perception that he couldn’t manage the job. If Rauner ends up with the same perception, that’s bad news, regardless if it’s ultimately MJM’s “fault”.
And maybe that’s not fair…but maybe it is. Voters had a chance to throw out the legislative leadership, or at least significantly weaken its power. They chose to keep it.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:05 am
=== Jorge - Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:01 am:
Guy, take off the partisan blinders for one second and see that you’re guy has to be more engaged rather than scream his tea party agenda across the state====
Lo Siento Jorge…”you lost me at Tea Party”.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:05 am
Willy–small disagreement. The Lege has more power and isn’t coequal. Among other things, it can override the Governor. It’s hard to do because of there are many Lege members compared to one exec. The executives greatest power is the power to persuade.
Rauner doesn’t seem to get that.
Comment by ArchPundit Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:06 am
The new governor seems to be something of a Reginald Van Dough, Jr.
Comment by CharlieKratos Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:07 am
===If this goes ‘well into the Summer’ 138 members will be passing petitions against this backdrop. That could be a very unpleasant process. For all of them.===
You are under this delusion that Dems will be hurt for standing up for cuts to cancer screening and the closing of orphanages.
The Dems will slow play this until they decide they won’t.
The harshest cuts, the deepest cuts, they will have GOP sponsors, and depending how strident Rauner is, that will decide how many Dem votes will wear the jacket.
Plus, “The Rauner Cuts”, will be signed…. by Gov. Rauner.
Rauner owns this. He won. It’s the gig.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:08 am
“With new dynamics, doesn’t everyone need to go to school to work through the process?”
Not necessarily; the voters essentially told MJM and Cullerton, “Keep on keepin’ on.” I’m not sure I see why they need to give up on the things that are important to them and that won elections for them just because some other guy won a race they weren’t even competing in.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:09 am
OW is also spot on; Rauner won’t “share blame” for the budget *he* proposed and signed. After all, it was the governor who signed the last disastrous budget that was sent home, not the legislators.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:11 am
- ArchPundit -,
Point taken.
But…why override? The longer Rauner is handcuffed, or hard-headed (reader’s choice) the better deal the Dems can work, and more GOP votes demanded to inflict more damage to the ILGOP GA.
Now, a GOP governor would worry about that. But when you tell menbers not to have a (blank) problem, Rauner thinks very little of GOP GA members now, just wait until June.
Your point is taken, and well made.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:13 am
-====But…why override? The longer Rauner is handcuffed, or hard-headed (reader’s choice) the better deal the Dems can work, and more GOP votes demanded to inflict more damage to the ILGOP GA.
Totally agree there.
Comment by ArchPundit Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:16 am
Hit return to quickly–Rauner doesn’t get the persuasion piece and that his ability to do so is harder the longer this goes and the more his cuts receive press coverage.
Comment by ArchPundit Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:17 am
=== Norse, I think both of us, him, and everyone else knows he won’t get super powers. The real question is how much he will get. And there’s plenty that will go into that formula. ===
A Guy, now tell Rauner this. He’s the one going around like a bull in a china shop demanding his solutions and making threats. He said that he’s willing to shut down government to get his way. We’ll see how that works out for him.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:19 am
We’ll see.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:20 am
I have to admit that, and it kills me to do it, but A Guy has a point about the leverage Rauner has now. Critical programs are out of money. If The dems want Rauner to own the cuts, they need to give him the power to make them the way he wants to in order for him to sign a bill…otherwise, either the dems pass bills overriding his veto, or the programs that are out of money remain that way.
Comment by PublicServant Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:21 am
- Should that happen, it’s not 60 and 30 anymore. -
Do you somehow believe that gives Rauner more leverage?
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:24 am
== it’s sausage being made.”==
An interesting turn on the weasel phrase, “Mistakes were made.”
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:25 am
Guy, you might be sorry, but you don’t have a leg to stand until Bruce gets some dirt on the Carharrt.
Comment by Jorge Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:26 am
Pub Serv, take 2 aspirin. The pain will go away in a few weeks. lol.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:29 am
===…otherwise, either the dems pass bills overriding his veto, or the programs that are out of money remain that way.===
Two things;
The Dems in both chambers will not override. Why? The goal is to have Rauner and his Owls “own” all this, budget, cuts, everything. Overriding, the Dems own it.
Nothing that can’t get 30 and 60 will be brought to votes, and those structured votes will only be made when Rauner says he won’t veto it.
As an aside to the two; the only reason MJM or Cullerton vote on any of this stuff that may “fail” to get majorities would be to embarrass Rauner, and teach a lesson, you guessed it, you need 30 and you need 60, and we’ll hang bad votes and bad bills, even fails bills on the GOP.
Not much learning early on.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:31 am
Jorge, I don’t know if you don’t know much about Bruce Rauner, OR you don’t know much about the Tea Party. Mentioning them together sort of helps one conclude that “you just don’t know much”.
Dirt on the Carhartt. A metaphor. I get it.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:31 am
===Not much learning early on.===
By Rauner of the politics of Caucus Governing.
Just to clarify…
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:32 am
==Legislative approp staff has never before had the authority to sign off on any agreements, or even make them. They’ve cut legislators who chair approp committees completely out of the process. ==
This is still remarkable. The members we should be relying on and stepping up at a moment like this have been generally sidelined in both parties.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:38 am
Willy, What if the Speaker doesn’t buy into your theory and really believes that some meaningful cost reductions need to be considered and works closely with Rauner on a revenue bill?
In the whole “who needs who?” game, MJM may choose a different dance partner for the betterment of everyone.
That might blow a hole in your theory. Maybe.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:39 am
Well, Guy, it’s not happening yet…
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:43 am
===illy, What if the Speaker doesn’t buy into your theory and really believes that some meaningful cost reductions need to be considered and works closely with Rauner on a revenue bill?===
Are you saying that Gov. Rauner is being less than honest? I mean, Rauner has said continually it’s not a revenue issue.
So if you’re saying…Gov. Rauner… Is being less than truthful, that isn’t blowing a hole in my theory, it means I, along with many people, was being duped, believing that Rauner says what he means…
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:43 am
What we have here is a new governor without any idea how the government works, and just frankly doesn’t like how it works.
Since he first announced, this man has been saying he wants to shake up Springfield. He has made it clear that he has no respect for how government operates. Well, perhaps if he had a clue how government works, he would have a better idea what he would have needed to do as governor. The fact that he has had two years to figure out what any college freshman would have been taught in a community college political science and Illinois government class - and didn’t - is an amazing situation.
Who is on this man’s staff? Who was on this man’s campaign? Did they educate this man on how government worked? If they did, did he listen? Does this new governor have a problem comprehending basic governance? What is the matter with Bruce Rauner?
He is worth literally hundreds of millions of dollars, but he has not bought one clue regarding how this government works. Bruce Rauner is exposing himself as a historical illiterate. The ignorance he is showing publically would be an embarrassment for an incoming freshman legislator.
Bruce Rauner is failing as a governor.
We need Big or Little Jim to do an intervention on this man - NOW.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:43 am
From the ScribbleLive feed: Sen. Kotowski said governor’s budget requires changes in statues. Gov. Budget Dir. Nuding says, “There is no Plan B” and the governor expects the statutory changes to pass. That’s compromise for you, folks. That reinforces the idea the governor does not have much respect for the legislative process.
Comment by Demise Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:44 am
=== Formerly Known As… - Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:38 am:
==Legislative approp staff has never before had the authority to sign off on any agreements, or even make them. They’ve cut legislators who chair approp committees completely out of the process. ==
FKA, it sounds like it’s “all high level staff” at the moment on all sides. My guess is that this is to get through an entire process more efficiently and present a more complete picture of the proposal. I’m not sure how unusual that might be.
Clearly, these staff folks know their members and their positions. It’s hard to imagine that they aren’t talking to them at all.
I’m sure members will weigh in as soon as this part of the process is completed. They’ll be commenting on a more comprehensive plan rather than every minute detail.
With everyone in so big of a hurry, it would seem this type of process would yield more accelerated returns. The debate will come. No doubt.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:45 am
==some of you good folks seem to think that having a new Governor means he just does things the same way that it’s always been done==
I don’t think that. And I also don’t think (or at least I hope) that the Governor isn’t as ignorant of the process as he seems to be. But I do think that he will have to accept that some of the processes will be done as they always have been done. The GA is still controlled by the same folks. You can’t act like a CEO and expect that everyone will just bow to you and say “whatever you want.” I don’t think the Governor is making very good decisions in how he is approaching some of this stuff and I don’t know how anyone can argue that he is. I think he will get past the rhetoric and get something done. I just wish it would happen sooner rather than later.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:47 am
==Are you saying that Gov. Rauner is being less than honest? I mean, Rauner has said continually it’s not a revenue issue.
And if Rauner does concede, the Speaker will make sure that Rauner is out there conceding the point very publicly.
Comment by ArchPundit Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:47 am
WIlly, let the record show that I did not call you “..illy”.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:47 am
It’s a good thing Rauner owns so many second homes.
He needs some place to store all of his excuses for why he is so ineffective.
Can’t even get one Republican to file his budget.
Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:48 am
===They’ll be commenting on a more comprehensive plan rather than every minute detail.===
In politics, that’s called “Wishful. Thinking.”
Especially if revenue, according to Gov. Rauner, is off the table.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:48 am
- A Guy -
So noted.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:49 am
Guy, most of the stuff you post on here leads one to assume the same about you.
Comment by Jorge Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:55 am
Well stated Demo. I think we can agree that each side can’t resist (or won’t!) trying to “sand down” the other a bit.
People lose me when they call any of these guys “idiots” or “stupid”. None of these leaders are. The whole Capitol is a big bully pulpit, and everyone’s gotta show that they’re not going to let anyone kick sand in their faces.
Parameters are set by everyone. What is does do, is put the “middle of the field” somewhere different than where it used to be.
The system is designed to find middle ground. It just hasn’t been anywhere near the middle for a long time. I’d posit that even MJM has been uncomfortable with how far things have moved from his sweet spot. He’s shrewd. If things can move closer to where he wants them and he doesn’t need to own the blame, hey that works.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:55 am
=== Jorge - Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:55 am:
Guy, most of the stuff you post on here leads one to assume the same about you.====
You should have lunch with Sling. Pick a table for 2 in the corner and trade compliments about how smart you are. Let him buy.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:57 am
Gee, Guy, your kindness is as overwhelming as your Baghdad Bruce shilling is credible.
Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 11:00 am
C’mon Sling. I set up a lunch date for you. It was a peace offering. Baghdad Bruce is a little over the top, isn’t it?
How bout I buy dessert and send over some of that cannoli or tiramisu?
You’re a smart dude. I care what you think until you get personal and nasty. Not my game man. On a serious note, I think we’d pound each other silly but still like each other. We better not meet. That would be tragic. At least for this blog.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 11:06 am
A Guy 10:45 - well said. I may be missing a time that never existed, when leadership hammered out general agreements directly themselves in a smoky back room before handing the minutea over to staffers. It certainly seems more expedient in this case to have the ==experts== iron out most of the details before handing it over to members for review.
So much for the argument term limits would place too much power in the hands of staffers lol.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 11:07 am
===Parameters are set by everyone. What is does do, is put the “middle of the field” somewhere different than where it used to be.===
Unless you leverage $20 million to take the real moving of anything, and make it artificial support based on fear and/or co-opting.
You can try to spin this 10 ways to Sunday; Rauner’s tact is dictating the dead end paths, and not focused on 30 and 60, but focused on “my way or the highway”, and if 60 and 30 choose “highway”, nothing will get done, even stuff Rauner doesn’t want.
It will lead to Overtime.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 11:17 am
You can’t make sausage with a sledge hammer to any degree of success. I thought this guy was supposed to be smart.
Comment by LIberty Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 11:23 am
Everyone give the Governor a break. After all aiming to be Vice President or what the heck, President of America, he needs things done quickly.
Comment by Elvis Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 11:30 am
After all the chest beating,fence watching and other blah blah blah. It is the people of the State who are hurt. They really do not care about the people,small business or any social program. Watch Com-ed get the increase. The time to talk was months ago. Poor poor use of our dollars. Poor leadership in ALL parties
Comment by real one Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 11:32 am
Let’s not comingle the 2015 immediate need to fund agencies who are running out of money right now, with the negotiations and re-creation of the 2016 budget. The best processes to solve them differ.
One should be solved by senior staff and leadership and handed off in a complete bill for a vote, while the other will involve approp committees, leaders, negotiation for votes, the whole magilla.
Comment by walker Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 11:43 am
==What we have here is a new governor without any idea how the government works, and just frankly doesn’t like how it works.==
What did people expect? We elected a multimillionaire business man. He knows how to acquire wealth. Not the same as running government. His background clearly colors his approach.
1) He has hired people to do the dirty work for him. He seems to be hands-off in negotiations.
2) He looks to cut services he does not use and therefore does not value such as day care, workers comp, parks, roads, state police, higher ed, local government. (Think about how his nursing homes were operated.)
3) He sees the residents of the state as potential employees and works to keep their wages low by reducing union representation and forcing those who receive financial aid for college to stay in Illinois for five years (SB 1712).
4) He seeks to keep more money in his own pocket by keeping income, corporate, and property taxes low.
5) He does not plan to compromise on anything. He expects to lay out a plan and have it accepted by his “employees” who he can hire and fire at will. This includes members of the GA on both sides of the aisle. (He already has $113,000/each if he spends an equal amount on each GA member.)
His approach is not surprising. Disturbing, but not surprising.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 12:18 pm
Has anyone heard how the mansion rehab is coming along? That was a big issue too.
Comment by Otis Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 12:43 pm
The only way forward to pay the state’s bills is to raise the state income tax back to 5% until the end of this fiscal year. This will buy us some time. We can’t wait for the progressive income tax that we really need or even the surtax on income over one million to solve the revenue problem.
“Politics is perhaps the only profession for which no preparation is thought necessary.”
~ Robert Louis Stevenson
Comment by Enviro Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 1:40 pm
With Quinn we had a Governor who thought the ‘business’ of government was to promote government and with Rauner we have a Governor who thinks ‘government’ is business.
Hope someday we can elect a Governor who can see the importance and limitations of business and government and put them in their proper perspective.
Comment by Federalist Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 1:48 pm
Every mope watching IL politics has seen the consistent failure of guys in the Gov’s mansion who won’t do what the job requires: learn the sh*t that must be learned and understood, set the priorities with smart staffers, hold - and set a constructive tone in - actual face to face negotiations over a series of sessions on the top priorities, develop trust, not be afraid to get dusty in the process, and set milestones for staff to handle and resolve the nitty gritty. Rinse & repeat.
Rauner is a sad sack, a full-of-himself blowhard who hasn’t been paying attention or comprehending how to do better than his predecessors.
Comment by zonz Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 2:24 pm
@A Guy
Little Rod had a majority and couldn’t get anything done. Rauner Doesn’t have a majority, and even if he did, I doubt that the result would be different. We don’t govern by decree, like a corporation or business. We govern by coming to an agreement. Or to use that ugly word, we reach a COMPROMISE.
Comment by Old Sarge Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 2:32 pm
Poor Bruce Rauner. . . He was a rich privileged child in a rich priviled family in a rich privileged town, and then he invested his money to become a super-rich privileged tycoon. And now, for the first time in his life, he actually has to collaborate with others. Problem is, he’s been spoiled since he was a kid — never really learned how to “play well with others.”
Comment by ChiTownSeven Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 3:06 pm
==You can’t make sausage with a sledge hammer to any degree of success.== When your only tool is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a nail.
Comment by SAP Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 3:24 pm
In the words of a former governor, “Sometimes we are forced to live in a democracy”.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 3:55 pm
=== Old Sarge - Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 2:32 pm:
@A Guy
Little Rod had a majority and couldn’t get anything done. ====
Surely you jest Sarge. It’s going to take decades to undo all he got done.
Being an “Old” Sarge, I was thinkin’ you must of taken a lot of free bus and train rides to name one. There are many. You must have been napping.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 4:30 pm
“You’re a smart dude. I care what you think until you get personal and nasty. Not my game man.”
You’re a hypocrite guy. Just like your boy you ardently defend. No wonder you can’t form a cognizant rebuttal without belittling someone.
Comment by Jorge Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 5:23 pm
–Being an “Old” Sarge, I was thinkin you must of taken a lot of free bus and train rides to name one. There are many. You must have been napping.–
Guy….
You realize that’s gibberish?
It does not communicate anything in context, or on its own.
It makes no sense.
Nap, Snickers, beer, bong — whatever it takes, take it now.
Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 5:31 pm
@ Wordslinger;
I actually came in late, and didn’t realize just how many post Guy had put on this topic. I think that he will be very busy defending his man the way things are going. Consensus and compromise are the hallmark of democracy, and the governor just doesn’t seem to get it!
Comment by Old Sarge Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 7:17 pm
You guys stay up late. Sarge spoke of Blago and what he couldn’t get done. I disagreed. He did plenty. Including giving seniors free rides on RTA across the board. Is that gibberish.
BTW Sling. I choose Snickers.
Comment by A guy Friday, Mar 6, 15 @ 8:30 am