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* The Black Caucus held a press conference after the governor’s State of the State address yesterday. Here’s Politico…
An angered legislative Black Caucus on Wednesday laid into Rauner’s address, saying the governor failed to address issues affecting their communities — and blamed his fixation on a turnaround agenda for holding up a budget and exacerbating issues in their neighborhoods.
State Sen. Patricia Van Pelt on Rauner discussing finding common solutions: “Well, let me tell you a solution: after school programs, that’s a solution. Jobs for youth, that’s a solution. Training for people coming out of prison, that’s a solution,” “I’m asking the governor to take the leadership in executing these things that the senate and the house have brought forth up to his door. We want action, not more disappointment.”
State Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch, D-Westchester: “He had a softball thrown so big and he swung and missed … I can’t tell you how disappointed I am. Our state is in need of change. We need to lift up Illinois, and all the governor has talked about is his turnaround agenda that has brought us down. Shame on Bruce Rauner. We need to bring back MAP funding. .. we need to bring a budget to this state. In 200 years we’ve only had two years where we haven’t had a budget and it’s been under this governor’s leadership. He missed the boat.”
* Tribune…
“I thought overall it was just an incredibly tone-deaf speech. It’s tough to hear the governor cry crocodile tears when I would argue he has blood on his hands with all the anti-violence programs he’s cut since he was here,” said Rep. Christian Mitchell, D-Chicago.
“Cuts to mental health, cuts to Medicaid, look at the savage cuts to higher education, which leads to more kids at home without the prospect of a job or future, then maybe turning to drugs and crime,” he said.
* CBS 2…
Rauner also mentioned the state’s increased highway patrols in the Chicago area. 26th District Representative Christian Mitchell wasn’t buying it.
“It sounds like crying crocodile tears, because he’s got blood on his hands, you’ve got anti violence programs that you canceled, the funding of which you cut off,” he said.
* Sun-Times…
The state’s Legislative Black Caucus said the governor missed some key pieces in his address, including funding help for higher education, senior services and non-profits that support mental health issues and people with disabilities.
“Action requires investments and we know that our programs need to be funded and yet there wasn’t really real solutions discussed. I don’t know that he really created the real picture of the state of the state,” State Sen. Kimberly Lightford, D-Chicago, said. “There’s a lot of dire needs and a number of areas and they’re not just in the city of Chicago. They’re in North Chicago. They’re in Waukegan. They’re in East St. Louis. There’s dire needs all over this state.”
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 9:54 am
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Rauner really squandered an opportunity to make some inroads with this community.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 10:00 am
Would have likely been the same response no matter what he said.
Comment by Saluki Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 10:01 am
Legislative Black Caucus should focus on inter- healing. Meaning they should work with minority business owners and the private sector to come up with ideas to help their community. Government can only help so much. New leadership within would also help.
Comment by Rocky Rosi Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 10:04 am
The Gov could always make a quick contribution to Rev. Brooks to smooth things over.
Comment by PublicServant Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 10:04 am
It’s been awhile since anyone called attention to the damage Rauner achieved with his wedge issues. Why aren’t they asking him to task doing nothing about violence in Chicago? He stated, falsely, that it’s “not a state issue.”
Comment by Politix Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 10:07 am
==Legislative Black Caucus should focus on inter- healing. Meaning they should work with minority business owners and the private sector to come up with ideas to help their community. Government can only help so much. New leadership within would also help.==
I don’t think asking a *legislative* caucus to focus on something besides legislative solutions is a real good faith suggestion…
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 10:08 am
*Why aren’t they taking him to task for doing nothing about violence in Chicago?
Comment by Politix Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 10:08 am
Finally they get serious I’m proud of them. Giles,Morrow, Jones, Younge, and a couple of others would be very proud
Comment by Austinman Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 10:20 am
So when do people finally come around to the idea that, “Hey, maybe he has some good ideas. Maybe he has some bad ideas. But Rauner is not the person to implement either.”
At this point, it’s clear that no matter what happens — and how loudly the GOP complains and whines — Rauner is not going to deliver.
Comment by Bobby Catalpa Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 10:21 am
Bruce Rauner alone has led devastating cuts to proven anti-violence programs, after school programs, and youth initiatives.
Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 10:22 am
Yawn - The Black Caucus solution to everything is to throw more money at the problem. I’m not denying that the problems in their communities are real and need to be addressed, but I think they need to be more creative with potential solutions.
Comment by Chicagonk Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 10:24 am
Crocodiles only cry when they devour their victims out of sympathy
Comment by Rabid Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 10:25 am
===Would have likely been the same response no matter what he said.===
It ain’t about words. It’s about actions.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 10:25 am
Wow, yet again I acutely feel my learner status.
I’m admittedly so paranoid that I thought for sure the black caucus was going over to Rauner behind the scenes.
I’m not grown. I’m sorry I doubted. I don’t know who or what to believe or think anymore.
I thought for sure that there was a something going on
Black Caucus forgive me
Feeling assaulted on all sides I am lashing out blindly
Thank you for your unambiguous statement
Excellent job
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 10:26 am
==So when do people finally come around to the idea that, “Hey, maybe he has some good ideas. Maybe he has some bad ideas. But Rauner is not the person to implement either.”==
Something I’ve been saying for a few months now. Even if you like the Turnaround Agenda, Rauner just can’t get it passed.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 10:26 am
–Would have likely been the same response no matter what he said.–
They raised specific issues and cuts that were not addressed. So, if Rauner had addressed those specific issues and cuts, I doubt it.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 10:34 am
–Why aren’t they taking him to task for doing nothing about violence in Chicago?–
Why aren’t you reading the post?
“Blood on his hands” is a clue.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 10:38 am
Chicagonk. I kinda agree with you! Why throw money at something when it doesn’t work
Like throwing money at large corporations with EDGE incentives. The Tribune itself showed it doesn’t work for bringing in jobs. It’s corporate welfare. AND Madigan likes it!
On the other hand violence prevention programs work AND Madigan doesn’t want to pay for them. Stick it to Madigan and fully fund them!
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 10:38 am
I look forward to seeing the Black Caucus offer up some solutions, which this whiny press conference failed to do.
Just once I would like to see a House Democrat say, “Things were fine before Rauner, let’s just do another tax increase and go home.”
Comment by Not It Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 10:38 am
—
Something I’ve been saying for a few months now. Even if you like the Turnaround Agenda, Rauner just can’t get it passed.
—
What’s missing in all this hyper-partisanship is pragmatism. Why not just stick Rauner in the background — keep him in the dark — and use him as a funding source? Let him control his party — threaten members, control strings, whatever he needs to do — but why not be pragmatic and get someone else who can work both sides?
Most savvy business people get the sense that when something isn’t working, they need to change tactics.
“Persistence” — or whatever Rauner calls it (because he’s obviously proud of it)– isn’t a pragmatic trait. It’s a dogmatic trait. And how can any kind of dogmatism work in a world of compromise politics?
(Posted twice — first didn’t take.)
Comment by Bobby Catalpa Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 10:44 am
– On the other hand violence prevention programs work –
Not including the Neighborhood Recovery Initiative, apparently.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 10:44 am
==I’m admittedly so paranoid that I thought for sure the black caucus was going over to Rauner behind the scenes.==
They could’ve with just a little more work on his part. And it would’ve been justified.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 10:48 am
State Sen. Patricia Van Pelt says “.. Jobs for youth, that’s a solution….”
Rep. Lou Lang says we need to increase in the minimum wage.
How does raising the cost of hiring a youth, especially one who has never held a job, help the youth get a job?
Comment by CapnCrunch Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 10:56 am
There is a lot to be angry about with all the cuts stemming from Rauner’s refusal to drop anti-union demands. African-Americans have benefited tremendously from good-paying government jobs and public employee unions. To have to suffer through lack of funding for schools and social services –especially anti-violence programs–because the governor won’t drop his demands just piles pain on top of pain for the legislators’ constituents.
Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 11:05 am
I think that the Black Caucus should demand that any EDGE tax credit renewal provides incentives for jobs in high poverty areas. We should also provide incentives for the building trades unions to train and recruit from high poverty areas in the state.
Comment by Chicagonk Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 11:35 am
Stumbled across a couple of Mother Jones items.
One titled: ‘Why Even Have a Country in the First Place?’ which is a long, but good read for folks who visit this blog. Applicable for our State as the USA.
Second is: Calif Gov SOTS titled: ‘Jerry Brown Blasts Trump’s “Alternate Universe of Non-Facts”. Sort of the ‘vision thing’.
So, that pushed into reading Rauner SOTS. Ughh. Dry, campaign speech with laundry list of mostly minor accomps, with virtually no actual leadership displayed. Nothing about HIS role in our longv forsaken budget. Wow compared to Brown’s!
Comment by sal-says Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 11:39 am
Ooooops. ‘Applicable for our State as well as for the USA.’
Comment by sal-says Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 11:41 am
One minor correction to the statements made yesterday. Illinois did not have a budget for its first 100 years. The budget process was introduced by Governor Lowden after he took office in 1917.
Comment by muon Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 11:45 am
==Why not just stick Rauner in the background — keep him in the dark — and use him as a funding source? Let him control his party — threaten members, control strings, whatever he needs to do — but why not be pragmatic and get someone else who can work both sides?==
Well, ’cause Rauner doesn’t *want* to be in the corner. He wants to be Governor, and he wants a big confrontation with Madigan and the unions, and the Republican Party was in the winderness in 2013, so who could tell him “no”?
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 12:24 pm
Always how to spend more money. Never how to pay for it. That’s how we got here. Not going to be how we get out of it.
Comment by LessAnon? Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 2:17 pm
Steering state work to minority contractors apparently not working out for the Governor.
Comment by Bored Chairman Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 2:17 pm