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Senate Democratic plan called “cruel hoax on those it is purportedly designed to help”

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Illinois

Meanwhile, the political games continued at the Capitol, with Senate Democrats on Wednesday giving initial approval to legislation that would free up nearly $4 billion for everything from higher education to rape crisis centers. Rauner has threatened to veto the measure, saying there’s no money to pay for it, an argument his budget office repeated in a memo to lawmakers.

* SJ-R…

It largely mirrors a bill approved by the House earlier this month. However, the Senate said it added some things, like the library grants and Amtrak expenses, that were excluded from the House version.

“It does not come with additional revenue,” said Sen. Heather Steans, D-Chicago, the committee chair.

Instead, the bill provides agencies with authority to spend money in certain areas that they do not now have. […]

Senate Democrats said most of the programs are not covered by the various court orders that have helped keep 90 percent of state spending going out the door. They said the state has already entered into contracts with organizations to provide the services, but has no way to pay them because a budget has not been approved.

* From the governor’s budget director…

To: Members of the Illinois Senate
From: Tim Nuding, Director, Governor’s Office of Management and Budget Date: March 16, 2016
Re: Senate Bill 2059

The Governor’s Office of Management and Budget opposes Senate Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2059 because it represents yet another proposal to spend billions of dollars without any way to pay for it. The bill appropriates approximately $3.9 billion, of which $3.1 billion is appropriated from General Funds.

The spending identified in this bill is not affordable because the legislature has already spent all available funds on other priorities. Furthermore, there are no corresponding proposals to reform government programs, to reduce other spending or to free up resources to fund this bill within existing resources.
Today, the Comptroller’s Office reports a backlog of bills totaling $7.6 billion, with over 50,000 unpaid vouchers on hand. Vendors who have already provided services to the state continue to wait months to get paid.

Regrettably, Senate Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2059 is another in a long line of political documents that make promises that knowingly cannot be kept. For these reasons this bill could be viewed as a political document designed to generate roll calls for political purposes.

Voting for this bill adds to the state’s debt, causes those who are already waiting for state payments to wait even longer and potentially jeopardizes payments to the pension systems and General State Aid payments for school districts.
Unfortunately, this bill is a cruel hoax on those it is purportedly designed to help.

Reasonable proposals exist in the legislature that would free up resources to afford much of this spending, including procurement reforms and pension reforms as well as proposals to allow the Governor to reduce spending in other areas to make this spending affordable.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 10:52 am

Comments

===Voting for this bill adds to the state’s debt, causes those who are already waiting for state payments to wait even longer and potentially jeopardizes payments to the pension systems and General State Aid payments for school districts.===

As opposed to driving the state’s debt, as Rauner, personally, has by continually holding the budget hostage?

Is the Rauner Crew willfully ignorant or hoping people are blissfully unaware?

This is pathetic.

Governors own, here’s another clear example.

===Voting for this bill adds to the state’s debt, causes those who are already waiting for state payments to wait even longer and potentially jeopardizes payments to the pension systems and General State Aid payments for school districts.===

I still can’t believe the lack of Raunerite … “self-awareness”

I’m still stunned.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 10:57 am
This is one if you’re keeping score at home. Nine more for the over.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 10:59 am
One thing you can say about Rauner and the GOP GA: their plan is not a hoax.

They’re taking the wrecking ball to higher ed and social services. Thousands are losings their jobs, providers are going out of business, programs are being shut down, citizens are being shut out.

That’s all very real.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 11:00 am
which bill frees up 4 billion today, and not some blurry face future in another foscal year? why does the tribune not ask this question…. rauners own budget was 4bil short

Comment by Ghost Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 11:09 am
Nuding- “Vendors who have already provided services to the state continue to wait months to get paid.”
That’s right, and that INCLUDES those vendors that have SIGNED contracts for services rendered that don’t have a Court Order, Consent Decree, or Continuing Appropriation that the Executive Branch can hide behind. Those 3 C’s are “in line” to be paid- right??? Just “can’t do it” for the other 10%???
“Regrettably, Senate Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2059 is another in a long line of political documents that make promises that knowingly cannot be kept.”
On “promises” not kept… OK, just void out all the current and future contracts that the State has signed to vendors not covered by the 3 C’s. Problem solved… right??? Stop making excuses. You’ve got the power to void the contracts, why don’t you use it! Show us all how you will save the State millions or billions by REFUSING to honor those contracts. You’re doing it already to the 10%. Now why not make it official??? (Note to post- snark and sarcasm strongly implied)

Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 11:09 am
How much could we have saved if the Governor did not tank our and Chicago’s credit rating?

We could save billions to fund it if the legislation includes a gag order on the Governor. There.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20160206/ISSUE05/302069994/youve-got-to-know-when-to-fold-em-bruce

Comment by burbanite Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 11:10 am
>including procurement reforms and pension reforms

Procurement and pension reforms will fund all of this–why didn’t I think of that? /snark

>as well as proposals to allow the Governor to reduce spending in other areas to make this spending affordable

what areas are left in which to reduce spending and where will these reductions be?

Comment by Earnest Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 11:12 am
Earnst- “what areas are left in which to reduce spending and where will these reductions be? ”

***
Rauner wants complete power to SWEEP any and all Special funds he can possible get his hands on- many of which would not be paid back.

http://ledger.illinoiscomptroller.com/index.cfm/find-illinois-financial-standing/fund-descriptions1/

Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 11:17 am
What do you mean we are out of money I still have checks in my checkbook?

Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 11:39 am
Since republicans love to use the “kitchen table” discussion for public budgeting, lets say that not spending any money while you’re in huge debt is like the family that stopped paying all bills until they all got new jobs. Being in debt does not mean you need to drastically cut spending until you get a solution that is far off and not likely to happen. All that does is make your family, and your credit rating, suffer.

Again, these analogies rarely make any sense because the state is not a family and never will be. But somehow suspending logic seems like an appropriate response to the Raunerites.

Comment by Abe the Babe Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 11:43 am
==What do you mean we are out of money I still have checks in my checkbook?==

Yes, lets stop paying the rent, grocery bill, and day care because we are in debt. You do what you can until you figure out a long-term solution. You don’t suspend everything until you get magic beans to pay your debt.

Comment by Abe the Babe Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 11:48 am
- Lucky Pierre -

Rauner’s own debt passed on to Illinois may eclipse $10 billion dollars, and Rauner requires and needs a revenue increase.

That’s… “Requires”…

I also assume - Lucky Pierre - you’re disappointed in Ken Dunkin losing?

Right? Exactly right.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 11:50 am
So the Rauner administration is concerned about a bill that increases debt? That’s funny, since taking office they are responsible for running up debt at a faster rate that we’ve ever seen before. The pension reform idea is more nonsense from the administration as their plan will be thrown out by the court again, it’s just more kicking the can down the road. There is no leadership but more games by an administration that is intentionally destroying our higher education and social service programs in this state.

Comment by The Dude Abides Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 12:15 pm
“What do you mean we should learn how a government functions I still have juvenile analogies?”

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 12:35 pm
MrJM- “…I still have juvenile analogies…”

Definition: a chronic, persistent disease afflicting members of the SuperStar and Vulture Caps class

Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 12:41 pm
How was the K12 budget any less a “cruel hoax” ?

Nuding loses credibility with every one of these public memos designed to bolster losing arguments made by Rauner. I almost feel bad for him.

Comment by Handle Bar Mustache Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 1:11 pm
Rose argues that the approp bill is not worth passing because Higher Ed bills would just be added to the back of the line. False promise, he says.

Hello, they’re not even in the line now. Does the GOP want to tell higher ed that you don’t deserve to be part of the line?

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 1:20 pm
Murphy’s harangue that Dems should use their super-majority to pass a budget and money is just as big a hoax as they complain about the approp.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 1:36 pm
Righter has a minor point on the Senate approp will delay help as viewed by his constituents. But the funny thing is that his colleagues are saying its a wasted effort.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 1:39 pm
LOL, the bills touted as money by GOP is not added money. Steans appropriately called their bluff.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 1:44 pm
Coach. Do this budget and then perhaps Rauner will allow you to negotiate ways to pay for all needs!!!

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 1:45 pm
Murphy and rest of GOP would be smiling ear to ear if the Democrats decide to own the tax increase.

Comment by The Dude Abides Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 2:17 pm
- The Dude Abides -

The play isn’t to override.

The play is keep having the GOP have bad votes until Rauner compromises.

That’s what’s at play here.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 2:39 pm
Norse,
The approach seems to be to extend the line instead of propose a way to reduce the line. Why not a proposal to reduce the line I wonder?

Comment by Athens Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 2:58 pm
Well the line stands as is by court order, so unless you know of a way to get around the courts, everything will “increase” the line. Not to mention, much of this “increase” is already destined for the line as contracts are signed and worst case the court of claims awaits. As for higher ed, do you really want to stiff them? Are you okay with SIU, Western, Eastern and ISU going under? Do you think that will help the area economies? Do you think having fewer higher education institutions will be seen as a plus or a negative by businesses looking to relocate? Do you think that will translate to a more educated populace over the next couple decades or a less educated one? Please explain, and show your work, how letting universities go under to save several hundred million dollars helps us. If we are ten billion in the hole, and we save 700 million we still have to make up 9.3 billion, and we have more people unemployed, more university towns becoming ghost towns, students moving away to go to school, never to return to pay taxes… Not to mention it is downright embarrassing. Even with all of the crazy stuff in the past, jailed governors, etc., I still was proud of my state. I feel like it is a joke now. It amazes me that no one is paying attention. We have set the house on fire to save on the heating bill.

Comment by Me Too Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 3:14 pm
=== The approach seems to be to extend the line instead of propose a way to reduce the line. Why not a proposal to reduce the line I wonder? ===

Athens, my first point is that it’s important to get these high priorities into the line for them to be considered. Second, neither party can get a proposal enacted that will reduce the line or throw people/things out of the line. While the Dems want to negotiate, Rauner won’t until he gets agreement on killing the unions.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 3:58 pm
“what areas are left in which to reduce spending and where will these reductions be?”

He plans to get the money from the state workers backs!

Comment by Mama Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 9:16 pm