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Brown softens Cullerton vow on school funding

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Illinois

Rauner said Senate President John Cullerton, House Speaker Mike Madigan and the “Chicago Machine” plan to block additional school funding unless Chicago Public Schools receive a significant increase, a plan that Rauner said is unfair to the rest of the state’s districts.

“We can’t let school funding be held hostage for the political games that are going on in our state legislature,” Rauner said. “We can’t allow Rockford schools, which are much better run, to be held hostage to the problems in Chicago.”

Steve Brown, a spokesman for Madigan, called Rauner’s claims “irrational” and that there is no basis for what the governor is saying. Brown attributed the hard stance to Cullerton, but said the Senate president made the statement in broad terms — that the entire state school funding system needs to be overhauled.

“We are concerned about how critical the Governor is of the Chicago Public Schools,” said Brown in a phone interview. “But we are going to work with him to help all students and better fund all schools.”

Thoughts on this?

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 1:59 pm

Comments

I say no school funding bill for next year until the last budget is passed and signed. Not a thing wrong with insisting on that. It’s what relieved the pressure on Rauner the last time. Don’t make that mistake again. I’d withhold it until the rest of the budget for the next year has been signed as well.

Comment by Chucktownian Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 2:04 pm
===“We can’t let school funding be held hostage for the political games that are going on in our state legislature,” Rauner said. “We can’t allow Rockford schools, which are much better run, to be held hostage to the problems in Chicago.”===

“The Cullerton Mistake”

Never, ever, should’ve given Rauner a “hostage” leverage statement. Ugh.

Brown trying to soften this might work, but now the “Cullerton Hostage” thought process is being rolled out. Can Cullerton and Madigan rebuff it?

Dunno.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 2:05 pm
Madigan covers Cullerton’s flank, puts Rauner back into a box with his own logic trap.

Comment by out of touch Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 2:05 pm
I’ve been in Cullerton’s corner since this idea was first hatched. I’ve disagreed with others who say it’s hostage-taking, but perhaps that’s in the eye of the beholder.

Regardless, Cullerton’s point, as echoed above by Brown, is that we ought to have the full debate about the funding formula and fix any problems there, first, before appropriating a huge increase in state funding for K-12. That’s all he said, and yet Rauner has twisted it to serve his purposes. Fine, that’s politics.

But it sure looks like Cullerton has enough votes in the Senate to do whatever he wants. A smart Governor would stop demonizing him and try to build some bridges. If only we had a smart Governor…

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 2:08 pm
“We are concerned about how critical the Governor is of the Chicago Public Schools,” said Brown in a phone interview. “But we are going to work with him to help all students and better fund all schools.”

Dems working with the governor has not worked for the past year. What makes Brown think they can work with Rauner on school funding (including CPS)?

Comment by Mama Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 2:08 pm
I don’t know why Cullerton said what he did, but it was pretty stupid. I doubt if he could pulled it off even if he really wanted to.

But why get down in the gutter with the governor in the first place?

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 2:10 pm
Rauner actually used the word hostage? If I were the legislature, I’d put a list together of everything/one the Governor is using as hostages- that would be my reply.

Comment by Thoughts Matter Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 2:12 pm
From Cullerton’s speech to the City Club of Chicago- “THEIR TURNAROUND AGENDA IS OUR TURNAROUND AGENDA AND NEEDS TO BE ILLINOIS’ TOP PRIORITY.” (last page)

http://www.illinoissenatedemocrats.com/images/PDFS/2016/City_Club_Speech_2016_prepared_remarks_1-25-16.pdf

Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 2:13 pm
And, the TA Cullerton is talking about is not the Rauner TA! Don’t do a “Proft”. Read it in context.

Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 2:15 pm
Looks like CPS first day of school November 9.

Comment by Blue dog dem Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 2:18 pm
- 47th Ward -

I hear your point, you framed it well there and here today, but Rauner is runnin’ with the hostage takin’ by the Dems, and its for K-12. Unforced error, Rauner is going to Hammer and Shake this ’cause he can.

With great respect.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 2:22 pm
=== “The Cullerton Mistake”

Never, ever, should’ve given Rauner a “hostage” leverage statement. Ugh. ===

Agreed. However, the K-12 bill cannot be allowed to stand alone for the rest of Rauner’s term. To do so allows Rauner to continue to hold the rest hostage. Put Higher Ed, MAP & and Human Services into the bill. Let Rauner veto this bill.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 2:25 pm
===Put Higher Ed, MAP & and Human Services into the bill. Let Rauner veto this bill.===

That’s the play. Let Governor Rauner BE the governor, and either sign or…

Agreed.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 2:27 pm
===but Rauner is runnin’ with the hostage takin’ by the Dems,===

Noted by many observers with nary a trace of irony.

Thanks Willy. Cullerton doesn’t need my defense, and it was an unfortunate rhetorical gift to hand to Rauner. But only one of those two guys can get 30 votes in the Senate for a plan, and it ain’t Bruce Rauner.

Everyday Rauner sticks it to Cullerton is another day the current hostages remain blind-folded, awaiting ransom in the form of an anti-union, anti-middle class agenda.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 2:29 pm
===…it was an unfortunate rhetorical gift to hand to Rauner. But only one of those two guys can get 30 votes in the Senate for a plan, and it ain’t Bruce Rauner.===

Spot on. That’s the reality, quote or no quote.

===Everyday Rauner sticks it to Cullerton is another day the current hostages remain blind-folded, awaiting ransom in the form of an anti-union, anti-middle class agenda.===

Yep. Rauner refuses to see cooperation and that math is math is math.

We’ll solve more problems like this at the golf outing…

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 2:33 pm
Rauner would rather we talk about hostages that Cullerton may try to take later this year instead of the hostages Rauner himself has been holding for almost nine months.

Seriously, sign me up for the golf outing, just promise me that every hole is the beer hole!

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 2:37 pm
===Rauner would rather we talk about hostages that Cullerton may try to take later this year instead of the hostages Rauner himself has been holding for almost nine months.===

The specific wording by Rauner indicates this at all levels of that statement.

===Seriously, sign me up for the golf outing, just promise me that every hole is the beer hole!===

I’m shoring up sponsors as we speak…

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 2:41 pm
To protect my anonymity, I’m bringing my own foursome. Team 47th Ward will be comprised of pudgy, pasty-white, middle-aged Northside Irishmen, each with a sharp wit, a short temper and an unquenchable thirst for both alcohol and political debate. Given such camouflage, it’ll be impossible to guess which one is the real 47th Ward.

See you at the 19th hole!

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 2:49 pm
Bruce could care less about the schools, he only cares about the Union. Well he got his kid to the front of the class and has made millions off the pensions.

Maybe one of these he’ll get an email account but till then message him on his Gov Rauner Facebook page.

Comment by Jack Stephens Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 2:55 pm
Brown explained it exactly the I took it when Cullerton first said it.

I suppose one could argue Cullerton should’ve been more careful with his language knowing this administration’s penchant for twisting words/lying.

Comment by Politix Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 3:02 pm
The fear that k-12 will not have an FY17 appropriation is spreading among district leaders. What to do? It now will become a topic at school board meetings, which could excite some parents. No money for k-12 seems like it will force action, but who knows. I thought colleges closing, or even the specter of that happening would force action.

I am not hopeful.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 3:03 pm
I’ll see you in the clubhouse after the round.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 3:04 pm
To take a page from the US Senate republicans - no budget or school funding considerations until there is a new Governor. The residents of Illinois deserve the right to be heard. It is a fair and reasonable approach. /s

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 3:08 pm
I agree with 47th Ward–I liked Cullerton’s plan and it should be discussed. Also, what message are we sending to Chicago parents? I am one of them who was so thrilled for my son to receive yesterday his acceptance letters to certain good CPS magnet high school programs next year. Then I remembered all this political [bleep]…

Comment by 32nd Ward Roscoe Village Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 3:39 pm
If Cullerton sticks to his guns, could it be that he will divide the Democrats better than Bruce Rauner ever could?

Comment by Dirty Red Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 4:20 pm
Rauner: “I pick the hostages, not Cullerton.”

Comment by Wensicia Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 4:22 pm