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Rauner again targets ag education funding for elimination

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* Gov. Rauner has repeatedly called agriculture “the backbone of our economy” in Illinois. From just last week…

At the 2016 Illinois Pork Expo in Springfield Feb. 16, Gov. Bruce Rauner praised the state’s pork producers for being “business builders.”

* And, of course, he has said time and time again that education funding was his highest priority, even without the money to pay for it. From yesterday…

Rauner told reporters that other parts of the state’s budget are important, but none more so than schools.

“No matter what, we should make sure our schools open and they have more money. No matter what else,” he said.

Also from yesterday…

[Rauner] also repeated three pieces of advice his grandparents gave him — work hard, get a good education, and give back to the community.

* But…

Zero. That’s the funding amount Governor Bruce Rauner has proposed for agriculture education.

More than 1,000 FFA members were at the statehouse Tuesday meeting with legislators and fighting for funding. Without that funding, Ag education leaders say, important programs will be eliminated.

Some of our state’s future farmers, engineers, biologists, and more have been put on a path towards agriculture by what they’ve learned in school. [..]

In recent years, state funding has been whittled down to just $1.8 million from the board of education’s recommended $3 million.

Now Governor Rauner wants to eliminate funding altogether.

This is the second year in a row that Rauner has proposed killing off that program.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 9:40 am

Comments

Dear IEA,

Maybe partner up with Ag somehow and make the message about Agriculture, Education, and “the rural Illinois way of life” is being “Zeroed Out” by Gov. Bruce Rauner.

It’s bigger than one program, people just don’t know that yet.

With respect,

OW

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 9:45 am
=== … agriculture “the backbone of our economy” in Illinois … ===

From the man who has no backbone to tell people to their face that he doesn’t care about their priorities.

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 9:47 am
Halbrook is catching some heat down our way in Shelby county. Says he is a farmer and for farming. Most know him as a fence builder. I guess he counts digging holes as farming. A farming group has since come out and denounced Halbrook as being a farmer and for farmers. Should be interesting race.

Comment by sparky791 Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 9:49 am
Because only government can be the source of agricultural education.

Comment by Bloom Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 9:50 am
Governin is hard. Talkn is easy. Lets stick to talkn - Bruce Rauner

Comment by Abe the Babe Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 9:50 am
Actions speak louder than words.

Comment by RetiredStateEmployee Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 9:51 am
Also hearing some malicious attack ads out against Acklin today from Proft group. Anyone seen them?

Comment by sparky791 Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 9:51 am
- Bloom -

https://www.ffa.org/about/what-is-ffa/ffa-history

Read. Learn. Get back to all of us.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 9:52 am
And people are supposed to trust this man’s word? Absolutely nothing will get done for the next 3 years.
“The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively” - Bob Marley

Comment by CharlieKratos Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 9:52 am
==Because only government can be the source of agricultural education.==

Are you dense? The point is that the Governor talks up agriculture and education in general and then proposes eliminating funding for agricultural education.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 9:52 am
We spend how much a year on grade school,high school and college sports in this state, and we can’t spend $3 mil on this?

Comment by Blue dog dem Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 9:52 am
To paraphrase 1.4%, we can’t afford a education until the TA is passed to promote a business friendly economy.

I wonder where 1.4% thinks the next generation of farmers is going to come from?

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 9:55 am
He says one thing to the press and general public in sound bites they eat it up. Then crushes whatever he wants.
He doesn’t care.
He never will.

Comment by DuPage Bard Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 9:57 am
Don’t bother with him, he is closed minded.
Go after his supporters.

Ask Durkin and Radogno why their governor is destroying ag education. Ask all the GOP legislators in ag country why their governor is destroying ag education, while singing its praises.

Go after Rauner’s supporters. Sniping at Rauner is a waste of time. Trying to reason with him is a waste of time.

Go after Rauner supporters. Minimize his damage that way.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 9:58 am
===Anyone seen them? ===

Subscribe.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 9:58 am
Does Droppi G even know which state he governs?

Comment by Ryan Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 9:58 am
Several ag officials are telling people behind the scenes that the Gov says it was a mistake and he has no plan to eliminate ag ed funding.

Comment by m Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:01 am
===Gov says it was a mistake===

2 years in a row. lol

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:03 am
Say one thing, do another. It will take the Mother of All MOU’s to get a budget deal done.

Comment by SAP Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:04 am
===Several ag officials are telling people behind the scenes that the Gov says it was a mistake and he has no plan to eliminate ag ed funding.===

lol, lots of mistakes are going on…

Lots.

Two years in a row? What incompetence…

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:04 am
=== Several ag officials are telling people behind the scenes that the Gov says it was a mistake and he has no plan to eliminate ag ed funding. ===

Get that in writing!

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:04 am
- SAP -

… and a Stenographer…

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:05 am
And we are still gonna fund the duquoin fair, but no $ for ag Ed. Whatever….

Comment by Saluki Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:05 am
It seems everything the Governor says is a mistake.

Comment by We Never Learn Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:06 am
Want to learn more about Ag Ed in Illinois- go to
http://www.agriculturaleducation.org/

There is a WEALTH of information, contacts, and reports here.

Here’s a sample-

http://www.agriculturaleducation.org/Ag-Ed%20Programs/Reports

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:06 am
The Rauner we have come to know and disrespect. And about all we can do is come on here and complain.
However, maybe now he will have finally revealed himself to the Farm Bureau, many of whose members still think that Rauner has good ideas.
It is NOT a smart idea downstate to get Farm Bureu members mad at you.
(Oh, I definitely am not a member of Farm Bureau.)

Comment by downstate commissioner Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:06 am
at OW @ 10:04

lol, lots of mistakes are going on…

Reminds me of this….

https://youtu.be/aK9OgXRDXxs

Comment by We Never Learn Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:08 am
This is not the first time this line item in the budget has been zeroed out. Other administrations have done so as well, and the ag ed community has had to roll out again and again to show why these programs are so important to our state. But never as a result of no state budget!

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:09 am
I’m sure the downstate GOPers will cry foul in 3…2…1…

I mean they cried bloody murder when Quinn tried to cut 100k from an Ag convention budget. Surely their love for all things agriculture hasn’t changed.

Comment by Abe the Babe Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:09 am
If the Governor’s proposed budget was passed and GSA was fully funded, wouldn’t local school boards have the option of using some of those funds for Ag education? Locals should welcome the flexibility to spend the funds how they feel is best for their school.

Comment by More Courage Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:11 am
I’m detecting a pattern here. He says one thing and then does another. Hmmm. Isn’t it about time everyone caught on to this? Perhaps we should ponder following the “legislature approval first” recall process?

Comment by Chucktownian Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:17 am
Bruce,

Where were YOU before “Big Agra” bought up all the farms. The only jobs downstate are in Prisons…with Union workers. Theres no money in farming anymore….unless your big.

And once the schools are closed we’ll have to open up more prisons. And need to raise taxes for that.

Comment by Jack Stephens Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:22 am
- We Never Learn -

Cicci is one of my favorite “side characters”. Limited screen time, but made it all count.

Any talk of the “R” word, again, I can’t be more opposed to that idea, and today I’d work against some move. Thank goodness the bar is so high, it’s impossible for Rauner to face such scrutiny for his own decisions.

Elections have consequences, March 15th, “Vote Accordingly”.

Then, go after the GOP GA to teach the governor how to govern.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:23 am
“Several ag officials are telling people behind the scenes that the Gov says it was a mistake and he has no plan to eliminate ag ed funding.”

I hope someone tells Caprice Williams about that. She could probably use a laugh.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:25 am
Because who needs food? We’ll just eat the children of the poor.

(Hat tip: Jonathan Swift)

Comment by JoanP Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:26 am
Blue dog prediction.November 9, goodbye LGDF.

Comment by blue dog dem Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:26 am
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 9:58 am:

===Anyone seen them? ===

Subscribe.

Do you give scholarships? Or MAP Grants;)

Comment by sparky791 Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:27 am
Farmer - Do you know where your dinner comes from?

1.4% - Yes, cook brings it to the table.

Farmer - Do you know where cook buys the ingredients for your dinner?

1.4% - Don’t know, don’t care. She just brings it to me.

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:29 am
“Several ag officials are telling people behind the scenes that the Gov says it was a mistake and he has no plan to eliminate ag ed funding.”

Uh-huh. The mistake was that people figured it out.

Comment by northsider (the original) Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:30 am
Why does Illinois government need to fund ag education? Why not the ag industry? The truth is more ag education in Illinois will happen outside of this government program — even if it had $3 million, $6 million, $9 million or more — via the private sector yet this blog leaves the impression that ag education will cease without public cash! We need to get away from equating politicians spending other people’s money with valuing an activity.

Comment by Bloom Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:36 am
Jack Stephens- Untrue that there is not money to be made in farming. You need to realize that all farming in Illinois is not thousands of acres of corn and soybeans!

http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2012/Online_Resources/Specialty_Crops/SCROPS.pdf

https://www.agr.state.il.us/specialty-crop-grant-money

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:36 am
- Bloom -

I don’t think you read from the link I provided.

Please don’t be a victim to the blog, try adding to the discussion.

Being a victim here usually doesn’t end well.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:38 am
Dear Rich,
Enjoy the Perch. Thanks!
CK

Comment by Beaner Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:40 am
Bloom: “The truth is more ag education in Illinois will happen outside of this government program…”

*****
Please, list of us those programs and how they are made available to high school and college students. You might really be surprised at the connections back to Ag Ed funding.

Read this report, then get back to posting-

http://www.agriculturaleducation.org/images/editor/2015%20IL%20Ag%20Ed%20Annual%20Report%20LoRes.pdf

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:41 am
Bloom,why does Illinois have to subsidize the NFL.we spend a heck of a lot more on sports than ag ed. How about this,sales tax on ag equipment.I am sure John Deere and CAT might balk,but who cares.

Comment by blue dog dem Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:42 am
With Rauner in office makes me wish we had a Parliamentary form of state government. The GA could issue a vote of No Confidence and another election held for Gov and the ILGA.

Comment by Union Man Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:44 am
@Bloom- you are correct, Ag Ed, particularly in high schools, will barely notice the impact of this funding loss. Schools get a fairly small amount of money directly from this funding line item. if we asked, our local ag people would fill in the gap. They already contribute so much to our programs, far more than the state, as it is.

That is not the point. Out of one side of his flannel shirt wearing mouth he talks up the importance of education and agriculture. It is critical, job producers, crucial for our future, yada yada.

Then he cuts it out completely.

His words are meaningless, he panders to his audience and that is it.

He is bowling for “kids” today, tomorrow he will have the bowling alley torn down.

This is your governor. Please keep up.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:45 am
What’s for lunch today, governor? Seed corn souffle?

Geez, this guy is just pounding the stuff out of Downstate. Man on a mission. And what a mission.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:47 am
Downstate Comm - “It is NOT a smart idea downstate to get Farm Bureu members mad at you.” The Farm Bureau in Christian County thinks he is great and has had him as their guest speaker at events. They think he is doing a wonderful job supporting ag (because he says so.)

Comment by Tough Guy Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:47 am
*Hat tip to Willy* On point as usual.

One time is a mistake - two is a policy decision. Ag classes are a major program in many of our rural schools. Zeroing them out will affect not just farmers, but livestock, business, and just plain leadership opportunities for kids. This isn’t a mistake - It’s by choice.

Comment by RunBikeSwim Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:48 am
Tough Guy - The lesson to be learned is trust but verify. After listening, we need to see the actions and his actions aren’t matching the words. He says he likes the Ag industry - but he isn’t doing much (other than campaigning).

Comment by RunBikeSwim Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:51 am
I still don’t get it. The Gov is supposed to be republican, right? GOP legislators support him at every turn, no matter the issue, and of course they are all solidly republican - according to them. I understand that their voters don’t get too worried about things like demolishing CPS and the other damage caused in Chicago and E Stl. But they go along with him killing off a large part of their constituents support base? Colleges, unionized prison employees, now ag education funding?

Comment by Lester Holt's Mustache Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:51 am
JS Mills- this funding might assists your ag ed program on many, many levels, and other districts might not be able to make up the shortfall. The grants alone that are managed through this line item can help purchase much needed texts, supplies, etc. that are usually lined out at the local levels. I just don’t want the SuperStars to read more into your point than they should. They would assume that double-talk is OK if the funds aren’t needed anyway or could be made up for at the local level. When this line item was started, it actually helped save some Ag Ed programs from closure/cutbacks. We really don’t need to go back to the late 1980’s again for Ag Ed!

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:56 am
=== Why does Illinois government need to fund ag education? Why not the ag industry? ===

A lovely pipe dream, but education has been a government function in Illinois since passage of the Free School Act of 1825. In the real world, the ag industry has other priorities.

Comment by olddog Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:57 am
So, the Carhart-wearin Governor of the state with the best Agricultural Program of any university on the planet, wants to defund agriculture education? The word “hogwash” takes on new, prescient meaning.

Kentucky is dealing with the same hypocrisy:

http://www.courier-journal.com/story/opinion/2016/03/02/matt-erwin-bevin-higher-ed-plan-shuns-thinkers/81150888/

Comment by Springfieldish Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:59 am
Remember a couple of weeks ago when the governor proposed to fully fund K-12 education and everyone was screaming bloody murder about how unconscionable it was? “How will we EVER pay for this!! We must live within our means!!” Funny how quickly that changes.

Comment by Jack Kemp Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:59 am
RunBikeSwim - Agee with you 100%. Why he isn’t being taken to task on this is beyond me. I guess he figures the ag community doesn’t have anywhere else to go.

Comment by Tough Guy Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:59 am
At what point are the large media outlets going to seriously question Gov. Rauner about the multiple inconsistencies between what he says and what he does? He says- agriculture is the backbone of IL. economy…he says educational funding is critical…but he proposes eliminating all funding for agricultural education.

Comment by Former Hoosier Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 11:00 am
Thanks - RunBikeSwim -. Appreciate it.

If it’s framed as a big ole fib from the Governor, ok.

If it’s framed as a tool beyond education or school, or farming, but about “Ag in Illinois”, that will have some more teeth and bring more into the foray.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 11:05 am
Bloom=== Why does Illinois government need to fund ag education? Why not the ag industry? ===

Do you mean:
=== Why does Illinois government need to fund education?==

That’s the trajectory your thought line follows.

Comment by northsider (the original) Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 11:05 am
==At what point are the large media outlets going to seriously question Gov. Rauner about the multiple inconsistencies between what he says and what he does?==

Thats not going to happen, not as long as Friends of Bruce own said media outlets.

Comment by Lester Holt's Mustache Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 11:07 am
When do we get rid of this guy?

Comment by rocky Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 11:10 am
Governor do as I say not as I do.

Comment by burbanite Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 11:13 am
Maybe the Gov can post another twitter picture with FFA students like he did during this identical moment last year. That will show the world how much he supports their Ag Ed program.

Comment by Johnnie F. Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 11:13 am
Kemp - “Remember a couple of weeks ago when the governor proposed to fully fund K-12 education and everyone was screaming bloody murder about how unconscionable it was? “How will we EVER pay for this!! We must live within our means!!” Funny how quickly that changes.”

Actually, Jack, I don’t remember anyone saying what you put in quotation marks. Care to enlighten us with a source?

Comment by Springfieldish Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 11:13 am
- rocky -

In 2018, you can “vote accordingly”, like Labor did in 2014 against Quinn… but I digress.

Elections.

Elections have consequences.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 11:13 am
“Because only government can be the source of agricultural education.”

“Why does Illinois government need to fund ag education? Why not the ag industry?”

Something that benefits the common good is not only a legitimate government function, it’s a necessary government function. Especially when it’s vital to a region’s or a state’s economy.

This is why we also spend public money on roads, so that necessary supplies — seed, feed, fuel, for example — can be transported to the farm, and so that product — harvested crops, animals ready for slaughter — can be transported to the market.

As necessary as it is to use public funds on roads to keep everything moving, it’s even more necessary to use public funds for ag education: so that as much product as possible can be squeezed out of the raw materials used in production.

Does this help?

Comment by Nick Name Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 11:17 am
Why does Illinois government need to fund ag education? Why not the ag industry?

I’ll come at it a different way. Imagine that you would like the ag industry to fund ag education. Imagine that you just want them to help, if they could. Let’s go with your idea.

Now - is this how you’d do it? You would defend a governor who seems to take no steps to find a new funding mechanism for ag education before zeroing out all state funding? Is that how you handle things like this? At your house, or at your business? You just cut it off and let it fend for itself? What is that, tough love? Out of desperation, there would be found a brilliant solution? Is that how you think this should be handled?

If you did, you wouldn’t be very smart, would you? You would never let those children and schools dependent upon state funding, so without, if you thought you could get the ag industry to pitch in in part, or in full. You wouldn’t say you didn’t accidentally zero out the funding and leave it at that. You wouldn’t do it TWO YEARS in a row!

You see, what you are proposing is what a good conservative and creative governor would do. Fund an important part of our state’s heritage and education while finding new ways to keep it going without state funding.

You would do it that way, right? As a matter of fact, all governors would do it that way. For almost 200 years, that is how governor handled these kinds of things.

So - why are you defending Rauner on this? What he is doing is being a bad governor. You are defending his bad governing by throwing out a scenario that can help - but isn’t in place. It is time you realize that the problem is not the money.

The problem is Bruce Rauner. He isn’t shaking up Springfield. He isn’t reforming government. He is neglecting it and then covering up his negligence with happy talk, lies and spite. You, and his other supporters are letting him do it too.

Stop it. It is time that we all, liberal and conservative, Democrat and Republican, start demanding that Bruce Rauner stop making a bad situation worse with his bad governing.

He has been in office over a year and he has done nothing to help anyone. No one is getting ahead in Illinois with this governor. No plans. No help. No governing. It is time that you and other Rauner supporters start demanding some accountability from Bruce Rauner.

Then tell your GOP leaders what you want too. Rauner won’t listen. Talk to your GOP friends. They never wanted what Rauner is giving us and it is time we find a work around for his foolish administration - don’t you agree?

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 11:20 am
* Gov. Rauner has repeatedly called motorcycle riders “the backbone of our economy” in Illinois.

There, fixed it. Now it all makes sense.

Comment by Skeptic Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 11:21 am
=== Why does Illinois government need to fund ag education? Why not the ag industry? ===

It’s always helpful when the Raunerbots forget the approved spin and reveal the true mind-set.

TS knows what I’m talking about.

Yes, why, indeed, would the State of Illinois support agriculture education? That’s a real brain-teaser.

Check the governor’s rhetoric. He doesn’t believe any of it, or mean it, but he’s got the reasons down.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 11:21 am
Springfieldish,

Sure.

https://capitolfax.com/2016/02/17/rauner-to-propose-hiking-early-childhood-k-12-spending/

Particularly the comments from “Mason born” @ 10:59. But the rest of the comments really share the general tenor here. If the Governor so much as thinks about it, it MUST be wrong.

Comment by Jack Kemp Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 11:23 am
Some history-

Agricultural Education has a solid track record. More than 70 percent of agriculture’s graduating seniors enter postsecondary education.

It’s working. The program has experienced a steady increase in the number of students in high school agricultural/horticultural education programs and FFA. 89 percent of students are non-farm students, 38 percent are female, and 8 percent are minority.

It serves more and more student high school graduation needs. 78 percent of the departments allow agriculture courses to fulfill high school graduation requirements in academic areas of science, consumer education, math, language arts, and social studies.

An average $1824 in state incentive funding is awarded to local programs to purchase state-of-the-art equipment and curriculum materials. Incentive funding has saved many agricultural programs from extinction as well.

Online curriculum with more than 1200 agricultural lesson plans have been developed and are provided free of charge to Illinois agricultural teachers. The material, which is based upon Illinois Learning, Occupational Skill and Workplace Skill Standards, is now being used in 42 other states and the curriculum has been adopted in its entirety in 14 states.

http://www.agriculturaleducation.org/Ag-Ed%20Advocacy/Why-Ag%20Ed

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 11:23 am
Rauner did this? I thought all the damage in the state was caused by Madigan?

Comment by AnonymousOne Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 11:30 am
I am pretty sure Ruaners carharrt jacket supports ag ed funding, I am just no so sure about Rauner himself.

Comment by sparky791 Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 11:32 am
Comon’ people, can’t you see the light? By denying the Ag students a path to higher education, he’s simply giving them the ‘right to work’ faster than they anticipated. Maybe it’s more ‘forced into the workplace unprepared, but whatever’.

RTW baby…

Comment by How Ironic Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 11:35 am
As I did before as I will do again.

Comment by Rocky Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 11:43 am
=…and a Stenographer…== Maybe anyone who speaks to the Governor needs to be outfitted with a body camera.

Comment by SAP Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 11:44 am
the fact that it is apparently impossible is ruining my Lent. Because now I start each day hoping and almost praying for the biological demise of our Governor. And I know that is wrong. I wish I could hope for less sinful options. But I have been convinced they are not possible. So I guess I will again wake up tomorrow hoping for the only way out I can see. You leave me no options.

Comment by Groundhog Day Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 11:51 am
Since he proposes that ed funding increase, where is that Ag money going?

Mind you, this is the same governor that has tried to use the downstate v. Chicago wedge pretty heavily lately. Maybe that $3 million is part of the CPS bailout. /s

@Anon221- clearly you are passionate about Ag ed. I appreciate that.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 11:58 am
Some perspective…
If a Democrat governor were to cut Ag education, the kids, their parents and farm groups would be screaming bloody murder about the cuts and “not recognizing our way of life.”
But with a Republican governor, they don’t complain as loudly because, as the Farm Bureau has stated, some cuts are necessary.
Well then, those cuts are more ok.

Comment by Austin Blvd Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 12:00 pm
FWIW, the last time I saw BVR on the Harley, there was an FFA pin on his biker dude vest.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 12:00 pm
===If a Democrat governor were to cut Ag education===

Quinn did cut it.

Don’t be a partisan victim.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 12:08 pm
Candidate Rauner-

http://brucerauner.com/rauner-rolls-out-agriculture-coalition-and-key-supporters-from-the-agricultural-community-across-illinois/

Question- how do the members of that Coalition feel now???

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 12:09 pm
I interpreted the objections to the k-12 funding differently than you did Mr. Kemp. The Governor is proposing, INCREASED funding for k-12 with no new revenue source to pay for it. Oh and funds have been taken from special ed and moved to regular ed for some of his “increases” in education funding. Despite his repeated protestations to doing anything without a new revenue source ie. the billions of dollars we have to trust will be realized by gutting collective bargaining.

I objected that day b/c it needs to be an all or nothing deal. No budget no k-12. My kids friends can’t return to college, tens of thousands may not have a college to return to. But, the legislature is supposed to approve increased k-12 with “no games”. Seriously!

Listen to his press conference on Education from earlier this week, listen to the whole thing objectively. He has no credibility at all.

Comment by burbanite Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 12:12 pm
=Quinn did cut it=
He didn’t eliminate it.

Comment by Austin Blvd Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 12:17 pm
=Quinn did cut it.=

He killed us on transportation too. He wanted to eliminate the funding stream. As it is we are getting:

50% of 80% of 70% of 100% of our entitlement (literally).

Still, I would rather have that than what higher ed is getting.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 12:49 pm
Sorry if this sounds callous, but this $1.8M line item basically funded a grant giving organization that gave $1,800 to high school that offered agriculture classes. There are 777 high schools in IHSA. Giving them all $1,800 would only cost $1.4M.

Comment by Chicagonk Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 1:01 pm
==If the Governor so much as thinks about it, it MUST be wrong.==

Are you done playing the victim yet? I’;m really getting tired of this victim nonsense by some of you. Grow up already. It’s pathetic.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 1:07 pm
Chicagonk- Please do your homework. This line item is much more than that. I posted plenty of research links for you. Don’t try to “least denominate” this.

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 1:11 pm
Jack Kemp: First, items within quotation marks are generally things people actually said, not your spin on it.

Second, while I respect many commentators here, I’m not buying either quoting their hyperbole, or hyperbolizing their comments and then putting them in quotation marks. What you put it quotation marks wasn’t in the substance of the actual post.

Third and perhaps most importantly, the funding itself wasn’t really the issue, it was the lack of parity in the distribution of those funds and the various tricks used by the governor to claim he ‘fully’ funded education.

Your’s appears to be a straw-man game. Not gonna play. Wouldn’t be prudent.

Comment by Springfieldish Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 1:21 pm
Gallatin County has under 5 thousand people in it. Ag is the largest business in the county. The school is the largest employer. We depend on funding for our largest employers. Send us your money Chicago and we will send you food. Until then I guess you can eat concrete.

Comment by Nieva Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 1:27 pm
Agriculture isn’t farming, it is a business. So, instead of Ag classes, the students need to take business classes!/s

Comment by G'Kar Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 1:32 pm
U of I extension programs (4H) can’t be far behind.

Comment by Blue dog dem Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 1:48 pm
==Several ag officials are telling people behind the scenes that the Gov says it was a mistake and he has no plan to eliminate ag ed funding.==

Did they actually hear that from Old Yellow Stain himself, or just from good sources?

Comment by Whatever Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 2:02 pm
This is just standard operating procedure for Rauner. Falsehoods, empty promises, pompous speeches without substance, and indifference towards anyone outside his echo chamber or wine club.

Comment by TD Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 3:24 pm
If you’re going to take a stance as Governor, then take it and defend it. Have some courage in your leadership.

Comment by TD Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 3:26 pm
Raymond Poe can explain why Ag Education is important for rural high school students. The question is: Will Rauner listen to his advice?

Comment by Mama Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 3:32 pm
Mama- Yes he could, but will he? Will he just sit there and repeat the “no money” mantra? Helplessness seems to run rampant in R bloodlines these days.

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 3:34 pm
“FWIW, the last time I saw BVR on the Harley, there was an FFA pin on his biker dude vest. ”

AA, if I was a member of the FFA, I would ask for the pin back.

Comment by Mama Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 3:37 pm
Mama 3:37–good one!

@Blue dog dem - Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 1:48 pm:

U of I extension programs (4H) can’t be far behind. ———-

Part of the money for Extension comes from the Feds. Rauner can’t muck that up as badly as he can Ag Education in general, but I’m sure he’ll try.

I was down home last month, on a weekday, to do some personal business. Stopped at the local extension office, and it turns out the new secretary is one of my favorite folks from high school. She and I had a very sad discussion of how declining rural populations and year-round club sports have decimated character-building youth programs like 4-H and Scouts. When I was growing up, we had about 12 4-H clubs in our county. Now down to 6, and concerns that one club may fold soon…

Comment by Lynn S. Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 11:46 pm
I have a fondness for FFA having grown up in Oklahoma. You can feel the pride from those kids as they wear their jackets. The FFA group at my kids HS is great. I wish there was something I could do besides raise awareness and take down Kay in the fall.

Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Mar 3, 16 @ 7:22 am
Honeybear- my first post didn’t go through.

The Illinois FFA Foundation is one way to support FFA in Illinois. $10 or $20 adds up. You can do this through your local FFA Chapter or online:

http://www.illinoisffafoundation.org/

Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Mar 3, 16 @ 8:28 am
Actually they are having a breakfast I think next weekend. I’ll try to make it. I can contribute then. Thanks Anon 221. I still feel it’s important to fund this via a budget. Budgets show priorities of an administration. I also know that the arts are going to get zeroed out.

Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Mar 3, 16 @ 8:49 am
Honeybear- Thanks for your support of the Blue and Gold:)

Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Mar 3, 16 @ 8:54 am