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* Not sure yet if this is true, but the word is definitely going around, so heads up…
#IL House Dems plan on running a bill next week to pay state employees: source. That should screw w/ @GovRauner's message. #twill
— IL Leadership League (@IllinoisLeader) January 31, 2017
Yeah, it will most definitely mess with the governor’s messaging if it happens. How can Team Rauner say King Madigan is trying to shut down the government via his daughter’s legal motion in St. Clair County if the House puts this one on the big board?
Not to mention that the Illinois Policy Institute has already proposed doing the exact same thing.
On the other hand, how do lots of House members vote for this bill if it doesn’t include money for social service programs, higher education, etc.? And what does the Senate do? They’ve got their own proposal, after all.
So, possibly more positioning, but probably little actual progress - which is pretty much par for the course in the Illinois House.
*** UPDATE *** And away we go…
Democratic members of House leadership received an email from Speaker Mike Madigan’s office Wednesday morning telling them to expect a bill that would appropriate funds for tens of thousands of employees. It could be voted on next week. […]
With such a bill, however, comes an interesting set of questions for lawmakers with various priorities, including those who would question paying state workers before paying social service providers or funding MAP grants for needy students. That likely means additional items are added to the bill. The proposed legislation would not negate the court battle, which could prove to take months, but would act as a stopgap, giving the Illinois Comptroller authority to pay certain bills on time.
*** UPDATE 2 *** The House Republicans are out with their own proposal…
- State Representative Avery Bourne (R-Raymond) filed House Bill 1787 today that would make state workers’ salary payments a continuing appropriation, guaranteeing payment during a budget impasse. This measure would keep workers paid and prevent a government shutdown.
This has become a particularly urgent issue due to Attorney General Lisa Madigan filing a motion in court to end payment to state employees beginning February 28th, 2017. In response, there has been talk of a similar bill that would provide for a short term appropriation for state worker salaries. However, a stop gap appropriation would be a temporary fix and would leave state worker pay vulnerable to future attacks. This proposal is a long-term solution to the problem of state worker pay being held hostage in a larger political fight.
“This legislation will prevent state worker pay from being used as a political pawn. Families across Illinois rely on the vital services provided by our state agencies. Before I arrived in the General Assembly, legislators chose to make their pay a continuing appropriation which guaranteed their pay with or without a budget. However, those legislators did not afford those protections to state employees. This legislation will keep state worker pay out of the political games that are too often played in Springfield.”
If enacted, this legislation would be effective immediately. Bourne previously co-sponsored similar legislation in the 99th General Assembly that was not allowed a committee hearing. Representative Bourne and her colleagues are calling on the House of Representatives to take up this issue as soon as they return to the Capitol next week.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 10:13 am
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===On the other hand, how do lots of House members vote for this bill if it doesn’t include money for social service programs, higher education, etc.?===
House members are voting to continue to pay our state police officers, our corrections employees, our health inspectors, our public health lab technicians, our bank inspectors, and other public servants that help protect us, our economy, and our environment.
Comment by Anon Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 10:16 am
No one saw that coming. /snark. Slap another band-aid on it and keep everything the way it is.
Comment by A Non Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 10:16 am
It may be political posturing, but the bill will be in the hopper when they need it on Feb 28.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 10:18 am
Maybe an appropriation for state employees with the amount solely based on the current contract…..oh wait…..there is no contract! Your move governor…..
Comment by Hopeful Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 10:24 am
===but the bill will be in the hopper when they need it on Feb 28.===
If the bill exists, this is the insurance policy that HDems have to save face, but it’s difficult to game out, besides messing with Rauner, IPI, Raunerites, when it goes on the board and “Red” or “Green” become real to the Members.
Maybe this is the leverage, with the AG’s legal move, that saves Social Services and Higher Ed for a left-handed “Grand Bargain” that masquerades as a stop gap, full funding, employee-paying gumbo soup that has lots for “everyone”, o TA items, and still not fully doing what is constitutionally mandated(?)
Baseball trades are less complicated.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 10:26 am
This bill needs held until Rauner reaches a deal with AFSCME.
Comment by Consideration Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 10:26 am
Despite what I see and read here, I’m guessing some State Employees have had different kinds of discussions elsewhere that portend they are not all that welcoming of missing paychecks.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 10:26 am
=Baseball trades are less complicated.=
My head hurt after reading your post. But, Wow! I see that as very plausible if not Byzantine.
Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 10:28 am
Rootin’ Tootin’ wild aim politician gunslingers who can’t find the barn much less hit the broadside of it. The Doomsday Clock ticks on apace - Illinois should have an Adios-a-Meter to tally the decrease in population weekly.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 10:28 am
Does the GA really want to continue the stalemate and consequently still not get paid? They finally have some leverage and they want to throw it away?
Comment by A Jack Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 10:33 am
==Despite what I see and read here, I’m guessing some State Employees have had different kinds of discussions elsewhere that portend they are not all that welcoming of missing paychecks.==
No one welcomes missed paychecks, but we’ll know soon enough how many of the strike-eligible prioritize that over the other things at play here.
Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 10:34 am
Unless perhaps it is not a simple appropriation, but has some arbitration language thrown in to prevent a strike.
Comment by A Jack Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 10:37 am
I think arbitration language would have to be in a separate bill. The bills would have to be sequenced so the Governor signs the arbitration bill before getting an appropriation bill. Fat chance of that.
Tying the bills together so that both a and b must become law or both die would be challenged in court under the single subject provision. Not sure how the Grand Bargain survives that challenge.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 10:45 am
The GA could pass this bill and send it to 1.4%. The question is what he will do. Does the bill sit for 60 days, signed immediately or vetoed.
Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 10:46 am
My question is what excuse Rauner will have to provide to explain his veto of such law if passed? I’m sure it will sound something like “I had to do this to save state employees”. Our Hero /s
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 10:47 am
Rauner will veto this (assuming it makes its way to his desk).
And he’ll say he had no choice.
And he’ll blame Madigan.
And he’ll apologize to state workers and say the state needs reforms.
We know the script for these things, why do we keep repeating the movie? It’s the same thing. Over and over and over.
I already know exactly what Rauner’s email to state employees will say.
Comment by Bobby Catalpa Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 10:52 am
Who’s to say such an approp bill wouldn’t include other items such as MAP grants, Higher Ed, etc? It could be separated into amendments forcing votes for parts and against the whole, for example.
Comment by c'mon, man Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 10:54 am
Bobby Catalpa–tomorrow is Groundhog Day after all😊
Comment by Gr8dane Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 11:00 am
As others have stated, Gov. Rauner’s “Sargeant Schultz” bit has grown old. Can Madigan or Cullerton please direct people’s attention to Rauner’s (in)actions which will run counter to anything he’ll likely say?
Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 11:20 am
==Baseball trades are less complicated.==
. . . and a pension reform to be named later.
Comment by Whatever Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 11:23 am
“LOL this will really screw with his messaging.” -everything everyone has done in Springfield for the past two years.
Comment by Will Caskey Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 11:36 am
“LOL this will really mess with his messaging.” -everyone in Springfield for the past two years.
Comment by Will Caskey Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 11:37 am
Of course this could also be interpreted as a sign that the Dem’s are not unified and working at cross purposes. But of course I doubt many folks here will see it that way.
Comment by Texas Red Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 11:41 am
==Despite what I see and read here, I’m guessing some State Employees have had different kinds of discussions elsewhere that portend they are not all that welcoming of missing paychecks.==
they’ve had 2 years to put money aside. rauner campaigned on getting a shutdown
Comment by working stiff Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 11:49 am
who the heck is the Illinois Leadership League? A quick google search turns up nothing but a twitter account with a few followers.
Comment by Pawn Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 12:08 pm
Look around, 4 business closing this week . The end is near!
Comment by Joe blow Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 12:50 pm
So Lisa Madigan hands the legislature the leverage they need to get a full budget passed, and her dad wants to slap on a band-aid and go back to the no-budget status quo. I wonder if this will shut up the people who have been accusing the Madigans of collusion.
I’ve always suspected that Mike Madigan’s goal is to prolong the impasse until the 2018 elections. This seems to confirm that.
Comment by tobias846 Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 2:52 pm
===- State Representative Avery Bourne (R-Raymond) filed House Bill 1787 today that would make state workers’ salary payments a continuing appropriation, guaranteeing payment during a budget impasse.===
Interesting.
It’s like releasing the state worker hostages to destroy Labor Social Servives and Higher Ed and… making sure AFSCME could face the paycheck threat during a shutdown.
That Avery Borne, she cares for state workers, lol.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 3:12 pm
Wasn’t the Governor just complaining about all that is required to be paid without a budget, or…
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 3:13 pm
===”Before I arrived in the General Assembly, legislators chose to make their pay a continuing appropriation which guaranteed their pay with or without a budget. However, those legislators did not afford those protections to state employees. This legislation will keep state worker pay out of the political games that are too often played in Springfield.”===
Cause, you know, that continuing appropriation worked out so well for the legislators continuing to receive their pay in a timely manner…. /s
Comment by Unicorn Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 3:22 pm
Yeah…
Legislator pay is a continued appropriation, is it not?
So… how does Rep. Bourne reconcile that?
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 3:25 pm
Rep. Bourne’s bill only provides a continuing appropriation until June 30, 2017. So that isn’t exactly a long term solution. Not much different than a clean approp bill through the end of the FY.
Comment by My button is broke... Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 3:36 pm
OW - can you further explain what you mean by: making sure AFSCME could face the paycheck threat during a shutdown.
Comment by Seats Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 4:24 pm
===…making sure AFSCME could face the paycheck threat during a shutdown===
The letter written to AFSCME members about voting for a strike and what it means…
Long time out of work, no pay while on strike, possibly having full in workers take those jobs.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 4:36 pm
If state employees are paid, we are back to square one with the budget and the hostages should now know exactly where we stand with all parties who could be working on a full budget.
Comment by CCP Hostage Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 5:15 pm
==Legislator pay is a continued appropriation, is it not?
So… how does Rep. Bourne reconcile that?==
Legislative pay is mandated by the constitution. You can’t cut it.
BTW, as I read the bill, the continuing appropriation would automatically allow the back pay that the SC said couldn’t be paid until appropriated.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 8:22 pm
===Legislative pay is mandated by the constitution. You can’t cut it.===
… and yet, that pay was first stopped by Quinn, withheld by Munger, and… well, I dunno what Mendoza is actually “doing” while waiting on the courts.
I was being a tad… snarky…
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 9:03 pm
A Jack @ 10:33
The il GOP is bought and paid for. They don’t care about their measley paychecks silly!
Comment by Property of IDOC Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 10:02 pm
I’m willing to bet that if a continuing appropriation for state employee pay happens, we will not have a full budget until Rauner is out of office.
The pile of unpaid bills will grow until it reaches the moon, social services will collapse, state universities will be mere shells of their former selves … but hey, we’re paying our employees! WOOT!
Comment by tobias846 Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 4:45 pm