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Rauner doesn’t escape this time

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* Tribune

What was supposed to be an information session about breast cancer awareness turned into an opportunity to bash Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner after women’s health advocates accused him of ignoring cuts to screening programs caused by the budget impasse.

Before Rauner even began taking questions in his latest Facebook Live chat Wednesday, critics announced they would have a dueling online event to highlight the damage they say has been caused by a lack of state funding. They even took issue with the way Rauner solicited inquiries, which featured a photo of his dog Stella wearing a pink ribbon and declaring, “Stella is doing her part to raise awareness and we are, too.”

“Frankly, I find that insulting. Illinois women need access to lifesaving screening services, not photographs of family pets,” said Beulah Brent, board president of Sisters Working It Out, a Chicago-based group focused on outreach in African-American communities where breast cancer mortality rates are high.

The exchange underscores the tricky political position Rauner finds himself in as the state enters a 17th month without a complete budget. While neither the GOP governor nor Democrats who control the General Assembly have budged enough to reach an agreement, Rauner has taken the brunt of the blame from social service groups that rely on tax dollars.

OK, wait. Stella is a fine dog and she’s Oscar’s friend. Let’s not bash her. And I really don’t see a problem with using her to advertise what was supposed to be an uncontroversial Facebook event. It was a decent bit of spin, though.

Anyway, what the governor just doesn’t seem to always comprehend is that while he might personally support the fight against breast cancer (or whatever other causes he contributes money to), he’s also the governor and that means he takes the heat for the cuts to those programs. And I’ll bet he gave far more money to campaigns the past few years than he gave to charity - which clearly demonstrates that he believes that government is, indeed, at the center of all this.

* More

The solution is a comprehensive, balanced state budget, Rauner said.

“To do that, we need reforms to grow our economy because we can’t have government spending … growing way faster than the pace of growth for our economy,” he said. “It’s unsustainable.” […]

The Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force also took to Facebook on Wednesday with a video response to the governor’s event.

“While it’s important for us to … balance the budget, it’s important for us to do reform, all of these things, a balanced budget should not come at the cost of a woman’s life,” said Teena Francois-Blue, associate director of community initiatives and research for the task force.

In 2014, the deficit was falling.

What changed? A partially expired income tax hike and no real state budget.

Yes, there would still be problems if the Democrats hadn’t allowed the tax hike to expire. The economy was growing in 2014, but we obviously needed (and still need) far more growth to sustain spending. The tax hike didn’t totally solve the state’s fiscal problems, but it did make those problems far more manageable. Today’s problems are far less manageable without that revenue and without a real budget.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 11:47 am

Comments

  1. >Today’s problems are far less manageable without that revenue and without a real budget.

    That’s a little thing we like to call leverage, achieved skillfully and intentionally.

    Comment by Earnest Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 11:53 am

  2. == It was a decent bit of spin, though. ==

    Stella may a fine dog & a pal. But, no. Uncool & condescending. Like Ruiner has a clue & cares.

    Comment by sal-says Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 11:55 am

  3. “Anyway, what the governor just doesn’t seem to always comprehend is that while he might personally support the fight against breast cancer (or whatever other causes he contributes money to), he’s also the governor and that means he takes the heat for the cuts to those programs”

    As one of our favorite posters on the Cap Fax Blog would say, Governors Own.

    Comment by Give Me A Break Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 12:00 pm

  4. Rauner’s line item of ZERO in 2016 for the screening programs is part of his legacy. It’s there in black and white, and will be forever. His decision. No amount of ck spin will change that.

    Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 12:02 pm

  5. “Rauner has taken the brunt of the blame from social service groups that rely on tax dollars.”
    Duh …wonder how that happened Vinny it might have had somethin’ to do with wantin’ all the
    1%er stuff before you would talk budget

    Comment by Annonin' Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 12:03 pm

  6. “To do that, we need reforms to grow our economy…”

    Blah, blah, blah, harrumph, harrumph. Two years later, still not even attempting to give an economic growth projection for his “reforms.” It’s like a cult — facts or reason not necessary, when the cult leader makes an assertion.

    In reality, he’s using pretend-economics to fool some of the people, all of the time, that he’s not sabotaging core state responsibilities in pursuit of a strictly political agenda.

    Curiously, the budget is a factor when cutting $10 million to $15 million a year in life-saving cancer screenings, but not when it comes to awarding millions in bonuses and hundreds of millions to Fortune 500 corporations in tax credits.

    Perhaps the governor could be asked, pretty please, by someone in the press as to how he landed on those priorities.

    Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 12:07 pm

  7. Sorry, breast cancer survivors. The governor’s gotta get his agenda before you get yours.

    Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 12:11 pm

  8. I have never heard it framed that way that the state government spending cannot grow faster than out economy because that is unsustainable.

    A growing economy will provide increasing tax revenues even if the tax rate stays the same. We all know the rates are going up, but what are the economic development plans from the Democrats to help grow our private sector economy?

    Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 12:15 pm

  9. LP- At least the Dems aren’t doing this…

    “Meanwhile, Republican Rauner has spent much of his time in office highlighting how bad Illinois’ business climate is, as that makes his case for change.”

    http://tinyurl.com/hrg8lfj

    Remember, Crain’s agrees with Bernie on this, too.

    If Rauner is determined to go around Madigan and the rest of the GA because Rauner is the CEO of Illinois, then Rauner needs to prove that Intersect Illinois and all the rest of the Executive Orders he has issued for economic development are working. Where are his numbers and plans???

    Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 12:26 pm

  10. LP, do you have the secret growth projections of the reforms? Can you show the work?

    If you’re going to make an economics argument, you need to back it up with the tools of economic scholarship.

    But you never have, and obviously, can’t. It’s a grift.

    But perhaps you can explain how the governor prioritized corporate tax credits and bonuses over cancer screenings.

    Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 12:28 pm

  11. How many women are suffering immensely because of Bruce Rauner?

    Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 12:30 pm

  12. pardon, 12:28 was me.

    Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 12:30 pm

  13. LP: the Guv specifically mentioned redistricting and W/c costs as necessary to grown the economy. Can you explain with real numbers how those will improve the economy enough so the government can afford to fund cancer screenings (and the hundreds of other services that have not been funded)?

    The Guv has had 2 years to explain and convince the state that his plan is the path to take. He hasn’t been successful yet. How will he succeed? (So the state can move forward)

    Comment by Henry Francis Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 12:32 pm

  14. == If Rauner is determined to go around Madigan and the rest of the GA … ==

    60 & 30

    Until you can add up to those numbers, you’re not going around anyone.

    Comment by RNUG Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 12:40 pm

  15. RNUG- I was referring more to the EO’s he’s using to establish entities like Intersect Illinois.

    Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 12:42 pm

  16. =“To do that, we need reforms to grow our economy because we can’t have government spending … growing way faster than the pace of growth for our economy,” he said.=

    Translation = we can’t take care of the needy until we take care of the wealthy.

    Comment by Pundent Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 12:45 pm

  17. I agree with Word. Rauner is holding up a budget for some reforms with little evidence that they’ll grow the State’s economy.

    The best he can do is point to other states that have some version of them and, according to him, and a growing economy.

    Just a more polished version of Trump’s unsubstantiated claims.

    Comment by Sir Reel Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 12:48 pm

  18. My memory may be a bit hazy with age but, didn’t the Governor ask the GA to let the tax hike expire because he had a plan to replace those revenues without additional taxation ?

    Comment by Tired of the Circus Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 12:51 pm

  19. Intersect Illinois has been crushing it. Not burdened with union work force or FOIA, they have been laser focus on growin’ jobs. But don’t take my word for it, go straight to the horse’s mouth.

    http://intersectillinois.org/news/

    Keep in mind the Guv kicked this off 10 months ago. (I don’t even know if OW’s favorite Wooden quote does this justice).

    Comment by Henry Francis Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 12:54 pm

  20. Henry Francis- Is that picture of Proft’s print shop ;)

    Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 1:02 pm

  21. “The solution is a comprehensive, balanced state budget, Rauner said.”

    Well then, Governor Who Does Not Govern, propose a comprehensive, balanced state budget — as the state constitution requires but you have repeatedly refused to do.

    Comment by IllinoisBoi Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 1:26 pm

  22. For all of you naysayers who don’t think we need any reforms to grow Illinois just watch Greg Baise’s City Club speech and tell me where he has it wrong.

    Illinois is chasing away high wage manufacturing jobs (over 70K a year) and now raising the minimum wage in Cook County to $13 an hour which is not competitive with neighboring counties or states

    Rauner is not insisting on all of the items on his Turnaround Agenda- he would settle for 2 or 3.

    Do you really believe business will expand here with out some reforms? Property Tax, Workers Comp, term limits, redistricting are all popular with bipartisan majorities, but not with Democrat special interest groups.

    The middle class would benefit from more business expansion in Illinois

    Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 1:29 pm

  23. ==For all of you naysayers who don’t think we need any reforms==

    Stop it already. Nobody has ever said that. Not supporting the Governor’s “reforms” does not translate into not supporting reforms.

    And, oh wise one, how does term limits or redistricting relate at all to the budget? They don’t.

    You, like the Governor, don’t seem to grasp the concept of getting done what is politically feasible to get done. Instead of working towards something you prefer to huff and puff and stomp your feet and complain. Rauner has been Governor for two years. No, he did not create all of our problems, but he most certainly shares the responsibility for the budget mess we find ourselves in now. He’s accomplished nothing because he prefers to complain about not getting his way rather than actually working on something that might be accomplished.

    So whine and complain all you want. But, you aren’t accomplishing anything by doing so. What was that refrain? Do the doable. Neither you nor the Governor have figured that out yet.

    Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 1:36 pm

  24. LP, I’m familiar with your little band of Strawmen and unsupported buzz words. But you forgot, again, to make your economics argument with crazy things like data and assumptions that can be put to the test, like real economists do.

    And I think businesses usually expand when they are able to sell more goods and services in the marketplace, not due to some Marxist theories on central government control of “the economy.”

    You also forgot to tell us how cancer screenings don’t rate without things like term limits, but corporate tax credits and employee bonuses do.

    How did you Bots arrive at those priorities?

    Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 1:41 pm

  25. LP: no one is suggesting that we don’t need any reforms. What we are saying is the Guv refuses to explain how his proposed reforms will improve the economy. With actual numbers. Why hasn’t he?

    Comment by Henry Francis Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 1:41 pm

  26. Sorry, breast cancer survivors. Lucky Pierre says we have to watch Greg Baise’s speech and answer his questions before the state will pay for your treatment.

    Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 1:41 pm

  27. Who is not aware of breast cancer at this point? What person that is not already aware of breast cancer is going to see a dog wearing a pink ribbon and suddenly discover breast cancer exists.

    Rauner is obviously not the lone offender on this but this story is just another reminder how much the breast cancer awareness movement grates.

    It’s just gross how much money for that charitable cause gets sucked up by PR and marketing and pink dye rather than actual research and treatment.

    Comment by hisgirlfriday Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 1:57 pm

  28. USA Today reports in an article today that Illinois Y-T-D tax revenue projections for 2nd quarter of 2016 are down between 5 and 32 percent compared to same period in 2015: http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2016/10/26/how-states-budget-woes-hurting-your-budget-and-broader-economy/92767826/

    Comment by GA Watcher Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 2:15 pm

  29. It is not a knock on Stella. It is a criticism of the Governor saying that his dog is “doing her part to raise awareness, and we are doing ours.” Tying a ribbon on a dog’s neck does nothing to help women who don’t have access to screening and early treatment.

    Comment by Soccermom Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 2:23 pm

  30. - Lucky Pierre -

    Willfully ignorant or blissfully unaware.

    Pick one… please.

    It’s about Rauner’s leverage.

    I’m so pleased to see that Rauner is getting “called” on his utter phoniness.

    That’s great.

    The rest, Bruce and Diana Rauner have spent nearly $46 million to hurt people or get Bruce’s way. It’s encouraging to see and read this.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 2:32 pm

  31. OW your lack of concern for all unemployed or underemployed Illinois residents who have been hurt by our terrible business environment is duly noted

    Who is leveraging the budget until after the election?

    Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 2:47 pm

  32. - Lucky Pierre -

    Rauner wanted, requested, and signed the stopgap.

    What else you got?

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 2:48 pm

  33. LP- “Who is leveraging the budget until after the election? ”

    On this topic, based on the chart from yesterday, I would say Rauner. In fact, as had been posted many, many times before, he chooses this (social service wedges) as a leverage tool. Oh, and there’s that pesky Constitutional duty Rauner has yet to fulfill…

    Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 2:51 pm

  34. ===…your lack of concern for all unemployed or underemployed Illinois residents who have been hurt by our terrible business environment is duly noted.===

    Oh - LP -,

    Rauner said, and says “only” or “with”…

    Rauner is also holding those under and unemployed workers hostage.

    It’s like you’re logic refuses to see how the hostage taking works. Rauner won’t, until “this”… Even at Rauner’s heartless, he still requires… Capiche?

    I think willfully ignorant.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 2:51 pm

  35. ==Who is leveraging the budget until after the election?==

    All of them. If you think the Governor isn’t part of that game then you are a hopeless Raunerite.

    Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 2:53 pm

  36. “your lack of concern for all unemployed or underemployed Illinois residents who have been hurt by our terrible business environment is duly noted”

    But your hyperbolic note has no basis.

    Whether taking shots at other commenters or making claims about the state’s economy, if you wish to make an assertion, please cite the basis for your assertion.

    Or folks might presume you ain’t got nothin’.

    – MrJM

    Comment by @MisterJayEm Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 2:54 pm

  37. ==your lack of concern for all unemployed or underemployed Illinois residents==

    And you really need to stop with this sort of stuff. Again, not agreeing with the Governor’s reforms doesn’t mean we don’t think there needs to be reform. You’re absolutist view of the world is just plain silly.

    Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 2:54 pm

  38. Senaator Cullerton after he could not reach an agreement on the budget with the leader of the Democratic Party Speaker Madigan proposed the stop gap to hold us over until after the election. That was a real profile in courage.

    Your logic requires Rauner to reach a budget agreement with the Democrats who can’t agree among themselves.

    How do you think that is possible? Agree with Cullerton to the exclusion of Madigan or vice versa? Still don’t get why everyone blames Rauner exclusively for the impasse. That seems willfully ignorant.

    Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 3:11 pm

  39. ==the leader of the Democratic Party Speaker Madigan proposed the stop gap==

    The Governor also pushed the stop-gap “solution” at the end and signed it.

    ==Your logic requires Rauner to reach a budget agreement==

    Our logic requires the Governor to stop demanding things he’s never going to get and work on something he can get. He can get a budget agreement. He just refuses to talk about it unless he gets his “reforms.” Want to know what I consider a reform? Passing a budget. Let’s start with that.

    ==Still don’t get why everyone blames Rauner exclusively for the impasse==

    Sigh. Again with this argument. The argument is against those who think he has no part in the impasse.

    Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 3:20 pm

  40. ===Still don’t get why everyone blames Rauner exclusively for the impasse.===

    Rauner, September 18, 2012…

    “In Illinois there’s been a long-time history of what I would call social service, social justice, a bigger role for government in the safety net than in many other states,” Rauner said at a tax policy conference sponsored by the George W. Bush Institute. “I think we can drive a wedge issue in the Democratic Party on that topic and bring the folks who say, ‘You know what? For our tax dollars, I’d rather help the disadvantaged, the handicapped, the elderly, the children in poverty. I’d rather have my tax dollars going to that than the SEIU or Af-scammy, who are out there for their own interests.’”

    What else ya got?

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 3:23 pm

  41. @LP I think it’s easy to blame the Governor more is expected out of that office than of the GA. It’s the only only position that’s accountable to everyone. I do support Rauner efforts to fix our state, though this has broken down to a proxy war between other races.
    And as to how term limits and redistricting affect the budget, they don’t directly. However, those reforms might inspire some more confidence in our government, which can lead to more support for increased revenue. I think there is a concern that taxes will go up and there will be no long term changes to spending or our economic climate.

    Comment by ste_with_av_en Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 3:23 pm

  42. Please explain how Rauner can get his budget agreement.

    You are missing the part about the Democrats not agreeing on a budget between the House and the Senate.

    That has absolutely nothing to do with Rauner and is 100 percent on them. Of course they did not identify any of the needed cuts, reforms and revenues that are so desperately needed.

    I guess they think those are all on Rauner too.

    Do you really think that if Rauner agreed to a budget back in January we would have all these reforms passed by the Democrats even though they have never proposed them?

    That is willfully ignorant.

    Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 3:38 pm

  43. ==Please explain how Rauner can get his budget agreement.==

    For starters he can drop his insistence that his “reform” agenda be passed first.

    ==That has absolutely nothing to do with Rauner and is 100 percent on them==

    You can’t be serious. Are you that much of a Raunerite that you can’t see the bigger picture?

    ==Do you really think that if Rauner agreed to a budget back in January we would have all these reforms passed by the Democrats even though they have never proposed them?==

    I have no idea. I do know that we would have a budget though. Again, let’s start with that.

    Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 3:42 pm

  44. == even though they have never proposed them==

    Oh, and by the way, some things have been proposed and passed. He wanted property taxes frozen. They gave that to him. But, because it didn’t include the ability to throw unions to the side he said no. He’s not going to get that. So instead of getting something he’d rather get nothing and continue to argue for something he is NEVER going to get.

    You get what you can get and move on to the next battle. You and he need to learn that concept.

    Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 3:45 pm

  45. ===Please explain how Rauner can get his budget agreement.===

    60 and 30… That’s how governors do that.

    ===That has absolutely nothing to do with Rauner and is 100 percent on them.===

    Nope. Governors own the budget. Same as it ever was. All governors.

    No governor, honestly, would let the legislative dictate the executive agency budgets.

    It’s like you’re in a fantasy or you think we are all ignorant. Can’t be both.

    ===I guess they think those are all on Rauner too===

    Rauner never proposed a budget. Why would any governor allow a legislature to pick the executive cuts?

    ===Do you really think that if Rauner agreed to a budget back in January we would have all these reforms passed by the Democrats even though they have never proposed them?===

    “Reforms” are not a mandated budgetary term.

    It’s a want, not a requirement of a budget.

    Thus the hostage-taking, thus Rauner purposely doing this himself, thus Rauner refusing to have cuts…

    Bruce and Diana Rauner, now, are spending $46 million to continue to hurt social services, like Rauner said he would in 2012.

    Governors own. Diana Rauner thinks it’s a good business decision. The quote in 2012 is what is actually happening.

    I fed you. Good luck.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 3:48 pm

  46. Rauner’ s and the other Republican contributors are spending their money to tilt the balance of power away from Super Majority Democrat so there can be more compromise and moderation. Democrats used to have the field to themselves and it is more equal.

    And what are the Democrats spending their millions on OW?

    The interests of trial lawyers and government unions.

    How exactly are they helping the middle class worker who works in manufacturing or any number of businesses in Illinois?

    Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 3:56 pm

  47. == to tilt the balance of power away from Super Majority Democrat ==

    They don’t have an effective super majority now. That’s not what is holding up compromise.

    ==How exactly are they helping the middle class worker who works in manufacturing or any number of businesses in Illinois?==

    How does a lack of a state budget help that? Or term limits? Or redistricting?

    There should be one priority right now and that is a budget. Get that done. Then move on. You’d rather continue to get nothing done and whine about reforms than get something done.

    Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 4:05 pm

  48. ===Democrats spending their millions on OW?

    The interests of trial lawyers and government unions.===

    Bruce Rauner, Diana Rauner, Richard Uihlein, and Ken Griffin.

    Four people dedicated to destroy labor by trying to destroy social services.

    That’s… four… people.

    Labor represents thousands.

    ===How exactly are they helping the middle class worker who works in manufacturing or any number of businesses in Illinois?===

    They aren’t telling union members that they make too much money and can’t collect every bargain. Since when is losing wages and ending collective bargaining helping families? lol.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 4:08 pm

  49. “That has absolutely nothing to do with Rauner and is 100 percent on them.”

    It’s a bit early in the day to be hitting the sauce, isn’t it?

    Comment by Nick Name Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 4:27 pm

  50. We should all cut the Guv some slack. He spent his afternoon handing out candy to gradeschoolers trick or treating. And he didn’t require one reform. #workingovernor

    Comment by Henry Francis Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 4:28 pm

  51. I agree OW That Democrats are all in for organized union labor which in 2015 was 15% of Illinois workers or just about 850,000 people. Nationally union membership is just less that 15 million workers so Illinois is one of their last strongholds.

    My point is that Democrats are not doing enough to help the other 85 percent of workerst because they are resisting doing anything would offend trial lawyers and help the business community

    Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 4:32 pm

  52. ===… because they are resisting doing anything would offend trial lawyers and help the business community.===

    By ignoring the 2012 quote, your ridiculousness makes sense.

    Not one person says Illinois doesn’t need reforms. The 2012 quote is Rauner defining the playing field.

    Democrats won’t succumb to turning on core principles so Rauner can destroy labor.

    You phony “lack of understanding” isn’t fooling anyone.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 4:52 pm

  53. = Rauner’ s and the other Republican contributors are spending their money to tilt the balance of power away from Super Majority Democrat so there can be more compromise and moderation. =

    Compromise and moderation. Lol that’s a good one. It’s crystal clear at this point that those two words are not in Rauner’s vocabulary.

    Comment by CF Reader Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 5:01 pm

  54. Laugh all you want how did 12 years of total control of State Government with zero compromise or moderation work out ?

    Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 5:23 pm

  55. =your lack of concern for all unemployed or underemployed Illinois residents=

    Paying the $10 to $14 billion in unpaid bills might get some folks back to work.
    Might be a good place to start for Mr. “Grow Jobs”.

    Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 5:53 pm

  56. If the budget process were leverage, we would have the Turnaround Agenda by now. We don’t. QED.

    Yes, you can hurt the State and its people this way (e.g. breast cancer screenings), but you can’t pass laws you don’t have the votes for this way.

    Comment by peon Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 6:05 pm

  57. Lucky - to paraphrase, by every measure the state is worse since rauner became gov.

    To answer you. BIlls got paid. hasn’t the backlog about doubled? Was the backlog getting caught up before him? Thats just the bills currently in line. HOw many contracts has his people sign that will nees to just get in line?

    While not perfect those years of dem control was better than 2 of rauner. Thats not counting how much damage will occur when employees are forced on strike.

    Feel free to tell us how this is better….

    Comment by Union thug Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 8:50 pm

  58. Rauner remains a complete and utter disappointment.

    Comment by Johnny's in the Basement Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 9:43 pm

  59. –Please explain how Rauner can get his budget agreement.–

    Reload the word-salad-shooter and tell us more about Rauner’s “budget agreement,” whatever that means.

    Start with: total revenues and expenditures in the two budgets that the governor proposed. Then, not their imbalance, in those numbers, proposed solely by the governor and no one else.

    You know that’s a thing, correct? Big books and everything with numbers?

    Supplement your Stepford Wife rhetoric with some real numbers.

    Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 11:18 pm

  60. @Lucky:

    I’m still waiting on all of the good fortune to fall on me with Reaganomics. Going on 40 plus years.

    Rauner’s Turnaround Agenda is an abject failure, like the War on Drugs.

    Comment by Dan Sziniski Friday, Oct 28, 16 @ 9:00 am

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