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* The Sun-Times has some news about Comptroller Susana Mendoza’s court win earlier this week on whether she had discretion over which accounts to use to pay some state workers …
The governor said he didn’t agree with the ruling but would “honor” it. But later Wednesday afternoon, his administration appealed the court order. Mendoza’s office, however, says the state’s Department of Central Management Services re-submitted vouchers for 578 employees affected by the dispute, and they’d get paychecks on Friday. The comptroller’s office says the vouchers were submitted during a “brief window” between the governor saying he’d abide by the ruling and the appeal.
“We submitted the payroll per her request but are appealing because we are going to continue fighting Comptroller Mendoza’s push to cripple state government operations — part of the coordinated effort to shut down state government,” Rauner spokeswoman Eleni Demertzis said in a statement.
The governor said Mendoza is working to “deplete those funds” to create a crisis by forcing a shutdown to get a “stopgap budget” or to get a tax hike without structural changes.
* Meanwhile, Kristen McQueary has a beef with Mendoza’s claim to be an independent voice…
It takes a certain level of audacity to kick political opponents in the teeth the night they lose an election.
But that’s what Democratic Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza did on Nov. 8, 2016, and her aggressive, in-your-face approach hasn’t calmed in the months since. She ran promising to be an independent comptroller. But in less than four months, she has become in Springfield the most intensely partisan critic of Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. She demands no such accountability of her fellow Democrats who have held majorities in the General Assembly for 15 years.
Mendoza beat Republican Leslie Munger, who was appointed to complete the term of the late Judy Baar Topinka. Traditionally a low-profile office, the comptroller is the state’s bookkeeper. The Illinois Constitution assigns the comptroller two primary duties: take in the bills and pay them.
Mendoza is no circumspect bookkeeper.
Since election night, she has blamed Rauner for all of state government’s dysfunction.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 9:49 am
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“Mendoza said she would be the independent voice. Wouldn’t that involve being a steward for both sides?”
That’s pretty rich coming from Kristen McQueary.
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 9:55 am
Maybe it’s because he came st her with everything he had and she still won. Plus, he can’t treat her the way he did Sam McCann.
That’s the story Kristen missed on Women’s Day. Susanna showed up for work.
Comment by Winnin' Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 9:56 am
McQueary’s position is that criticism of the governor is inherently partisan, and unless you’re blaming Madigan, you lack independence. Okay.
Comment by slow down Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 9:57 am
Mendoza is doing her job. Now if the governor would do his job, we would have a budget.
Comment by DuPage Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 9:58 am
“Crisis creates opportunity. Crisis creates leverage to change” - Rauner, Mar 9, 2017
“This is an attempt to create a crisis and force a tax hike without any changes to our system…” - Rauner, Apr 6, 2017
Apparently - creating a crisis is only okay if he does it. “I can create a crisis, but you can’t” is another way of saying this.
Comment by Name Withheld Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 10:04 am
That “StatehouseChick”, in an Opinion piece, she tries to parse out the politics and the governing, forgetting the many times Munger herself, in releases and in front of microphones and behind podiums making clear her “choosing sides” governmentally for actions occurring in real time.
Do we need to be reminded the “structural reforms” refrain that Munger herself parroted when asked questions about what “needs to be done”?
That’s not someone “above” it, that’s someone “in” it, choosing sides and avenues, not a “stewart of the state” calling “balls and strikes”.
That’s a “Wingman” tailoring messaging of a governmental problem and making sure that “structural reforms”, an immeasurable for an office that deals in actual numbers, is also included in the governmental assessments.
As to the Election Nite story…
It’s a story, not an indictment. The only thing clear was Mendoza’ Crew used the Guacamole and owned why they wanted that… to be sent.
Seinfeld used Onion Dip. Making it Guacamole wasn’t an accident, but a choice to change it. Wonder why?
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 10:07 am
“unmeasurable” - apologies.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 10:09 am
I don’t recall McQueary criticizing Munger for being a minion of the governor. Apparently lack of independence is only a flaw in Democrats.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 10:14 am
==Rauner, Apr 6, 2017==
*eye popping emoji*
Tell us more about the world of tomorrow!
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 10:18 am
Hurricane Kristen’s concern troll routine for Democratic office-holders is getting old. She doesn’t actually care if Mendoza has any credibility. Don’t front.
Moreover, all of her “concern” seems to be based on Mendoza not being as quiet and unassuming as some previous Comptrollers.
That’s a point in Mendoza’s favor.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 10:25 am
Madigandoza is so screechingly partisan, it makes my head hurt. She is part of the problem that put us in this mess. Its ok to buy a new car, fire employees and ignore the holdovers. She claims to want to be like JBT, Judy never fired anyone when she came in. Grow up Susana. Act like an adult for a change.
Comment by anonymous retiree Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 10:29 am
Are Rauner’s lawyer being paid by him or by taxpayers? I hope by him, otherwise he is wasting taxpayer dollars on this appeal. Of course Rauner is wasting taxpayer money by the Comptroller and A.G. defending against this appeal.
Somehow this reminds me of the Blagojevich video game lawsuit which failed miserably too. He hid those lawsuit costs in agency budgets.
Comment by A Jack Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 10:30 am
===Madigandoza===
Oh boy.
Are you still claiming to be retired? Didn’t Rich ask about your status?
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 10:32 am
Leslie Munger did not vote for 10 unbalanced budget like Susana Mendoza did during her years in the General Assembly.
She then claimed the budgets were balanced except for the pension payments which are now 25% of the budget.
As they famous quote from the Princess bride “you keep using that word, I don’t think you know what it means”
Blaming Rauner for his unbalanced budgets while excusing the 13 previous unbalanced budgets is like throwing boulders out the front door of a glass house.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 10:32 am
===Since election night, she has blamed Rauner for all of state government’s dysfunction.===
Not quite. I think she’s fairly blamed the lack of a budget and the dysfunction created by the lack of a budget on Bruce Rauner.
Yes Kristin, Rauner didn’t drive the car into the ditch. But it’s been two years now and he hasn’t yet put the car back on the road. In some ways, he’s pushed it in a little further. Now that he’s in charge of driving the car, rather than straighten it out, he’s blaming all of the other drivers who put us in the ditch.
So no, he didn’t cause every problem Illinois has. But he hasn’t done much to make things better either.
Fail.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 10:34 am
===Blaming Rauner for his unbalanced budgets while excusing the 13 previous unbalanced budgets is like throwing boulders out the front door of a glass house===
… and yet Rauner proposed 3 grossly unbalanced, status quo budgets all on his own.
Why are you angry at Rauner fur being part of the status quo?
You have no argument.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 10:35 am
This is getting crazy. First Rauner wants to pay state employees without an appropriation, now he wants to stop payment of employees because of the use of funds targeted for other purposes. The tangled web that’s weaved…
“It takes a certain level of audacity to kick political opponents in the teeth the night they lose an election.”
What did Hurricane Kristina say when Rauner kicked unions in the teeth on the first day of contract negotiations with AFSCME, when he issued an EO and filed a lawsuit to end fair share fees?
Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 10:35 am
Rauner spends more taxpayer money on lawyers to help him sustain the impasse.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 10:35 am
Go away, Hurricane McQueary. Did you forget that you were the one “wishing for a hurricane” and echoing Rauner’s crisis language? What an independent voice you were then, and now! You have no credibility on this topic whatsoever.
Comment by pawn Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 10:35 am
==Madigandoza is so screechingly partisan==
Let’s just bask in the glow of someone using “Madigandoza” and “screeching” complaining about someone else’s partisanship.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 10:37 am
==But it’s been two years now and he hasn’t yet put the car back on the road.==
Instead, he’s smashed the windows, boosted the radio, and said we can’t do anything until we tear out the transmission.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 10:39 am
==Blaming Rauner for his unbalanced budgets while excusing the 13 previous unbalanced budgets is like throwing boulders out the front door of a glass house.==
For a short woman, Mendoza’s strength in this metaphor is impressive.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 10:41 am
Mendoza clearly is on campaign mode. She won by only 5 points far off the numbers Duckworth and HRC got. Rauner will not make the same mistake twice. Every time Mendoza goes off on a tirade it only helps Munger with getting more money from Rainer next time around. I say 8-10 million coming after Mendoza next time.
Comment by Black Jack McGunn Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 10:44 am
==while excusing the 13 previous unbalanced budgets==
I understand the appeal of this argument; were it successful, it would disqualify almost anyone in public life from attacking Bruce Rauner’s failure to even submit a balanced budget, let alone pass one.
But it doesn’t change the fact that Rauner has failed to even submit a balanced budget, let alone pass one. In that, he’s been captured by the Springfield status quo. He shares its failures.
Is Mendoza an imperfect messenger to convey this? Probably! The next perfect messenger I see will be the first. But that doesn’t change the fact that Rauner failed even submit a balanced budget, let alone pass one.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 10:46 am
I will take a Madigandoza over a Raunerovich any day.
Mendoza is doing her job, while Rauner is having a hissy fit because of all his losses this week.
And it’s obvious how voters feel about Munger, who has never won an election.
Comment by A Jack Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 10:52 am
Of course he did. What a sore loser.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 11:00 am
Hurricane Kristen. Does anyone take her seriously?
Comment by P. Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 11:03 am
It goes to the 5th district appellate which we lost. That’s why he put it to St. Clair. 5th will give him what he wants.
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 11:03 am
Mendoza claimed during the campaign that with her legislative experience, she could and would work with both sides to get things done in Springfield.
Comment by Harry Zimm Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 11:04 am
Honeybear - are you saying he expected to lose at St. Clair but going them presents himself with an easier appeals court?
I was curious why he filed the issue at St Clair to begin with.
Comment by Seats Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 11:07 am
===Mendoza claimed during the campaign that with her legislative experience, she could and would work with both sides to get things done in Springfield.===
Work with… or blindly go along?
There’s no budget by which the Office of Comptroller is working within to do the job. It’s court orders and continuing appropriations.
Munger went along with Rauner, following the law.
Mendoza is not going along, following the law.
Rauner doesn’t like how Mendoza is following the law.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 11:09 am
“Yes Kristin, Rauner didn’t drive the car into the ditch. But it’s been two years now and he hasn’t yet put the car back on the road. In some ways, he’s pushed it in a little further. Now that he’s in charge of driving the car, rather than straighten it out, he’s blaming all of the other drivers who put us in the ditch.”
All Democrats want to do is get the car back on the same road that leads into the ditch.
The “car” has deferred a lot of maintenance and Rauner wants to fix the car, make it less expensive to drive and take it down a different road.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 11:09 am
===and Rauner wants to fix the car, make it less expensive to drive and take it down a different road.===
Any time he wants to start doing his job, fine with me.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 11:14 am
===Rauner wants to fix the car, make it less expensive to drive and take it down a different road.===
… with 3 grossly unbalanced, phony, status quo budgets.
You have no case with those budgets Rauner proposed… those status quo, phony budgets, lol.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 11:14 am
I am pretty sure that Rauner made the same campaign promise to work with both sides. And I am definitely certain that he hasn’t. If Rauner had worked with the Democrat majority in the GA to pass a budget, the Comptroller would have nothing to talk about.
Comment by A Jack Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 11:16 am
==All Democrats want to do is get the car back on the same road that leads into the ditch.==
You are having an adventure with metaphors today!
The idea that “Rauner wants to fix the car” needs to be preceded by “I hope”, because it’s certainly not backed up by either his proposals or his action. Let’s get back to the land of the literal- the deficit has exploded since he took over, and he’s never actually articulated the cuts necessary to eliminate it. All he’s done is throw out a bunch of ideas to cut people’s pay and three unbalanced budgets.
Rauner wants you to believe that he wants to “fix the car”, but he’s never actually picked up a wrench.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 11:25 am
Why does everyone use the 15 year benchmark for unbalanced budgets? The budgets under Edgar weren’t balanced, to make them appear balanced Edgar would only budget 6 months of Medicaid payments to nursing homes, which left the homes holding a 1.3 billion dollar bag
Comment by Pyrman Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 11:28 am
This is rather entertaining. Isn’t there a phrase for this….a p…ing contest?
Comment by Flynn's mom Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 11:30 am
Seats - exactly. That’s why our loss of the 5th appellate was so devastating. That loss is on my local. It’s on me. I failed to protect that court. We got Stuart over the line but I failed to protect 2 judges.
A big learning for me the past three years is that the courts are not impartial. They are most definitely partisan in my opinion. I don’t think it’s good but that’s where I see us.
Let us hope I’m wrong with the 4th appellate and the Afscme appeal.
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 11:45 am
Anonymous retiree @10:29am. Are you J.T.? Because you only see theu blinders.
Comment by Generic Drone Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 11:55 am
I am inclined to agree with McQueary’s assessment.
Mendoza’s campaign ads were designed to depict her as an “independent” and a “taxpayer watchdog.” Tellingly, the ads failed to mention her long career as an elected official from Chicago and her alliance with Madigan.
Since being elected, Mendoza’s constant public statements read and sound as if she has been reciting from cue cards prepared by the Speaker.
Comment by No Susana! Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 12:02 pm
“All Democrats want to do is get the car back on the same road that leads into the ditch.” The Democrats (and the taxpayers who support them) want to drive in a car, not a burned-out shell stripped for parts.
Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 12:07 pm
==as if she has been reciting from cue cards prepared by the Speaker==
You guys’ paranoia about Mike Madigan is hilarious. I bet he also bribed the kitchen to overcook your steak and owns the car that cut you off in traffic the other day.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 12:11 pm
===Since being elected, Mendoza’s constant public statements read and sound as if she has been reciting from cue cards prepared by the Speaker.===
I’m sure Abdon did “some” editing…
Ugh. Where is Mendoza wrong? I’ll have that argument.
Stating ignorance about cue cards and Madigan isn’t making an argument.
Do better.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 12:11 pm
===I say 8-10 million coming after Mendoza next time.===
… at the Trump midterms, with either the Rauner Cuts and Rauner Tax in place or 4 whole years of no budgets for Rauner, and possibly Eastern Illinois and Chicago State, one or both, closed, and Rauner today, upside down in his own polling…
Better make that $20 million, lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 12:19 pm
==Better make that $20 million==
I mean, I think Mendoza is vulnerable, but you gotta have a candidate, And Munger taking that job with Rauner kinda renders her the wrong one.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 12:21 pm
Voting for a democrat for comptroller was a kick in the teeth, I did have my steel toe boots on that day
Comment by Rabid Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 12:28 pm
Munger is forever unclean because of her wingman status with Rauner. She won’t beat Mendoza in 2018.
Comment by Ratso Rizzo Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 12:35 pm
Defending Bruce Rauner by saying “Mendoza clearly is on campaign mode” is some Tribune-level chutzpah.
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 12:39 pm
“Since election night, she has blamed Rauner for all of state government’s dysfunction.”
The governor has blamed Madigan for what seems like his entire term and has given millions of dollars to fund the vicious attacks……Wait, I’m sorry I forgot. The governor doesn’t do politics. He’s too busy workin’ his behind around the clock for the taxpayers. Take a nap, governor, you’ve earned it.
Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 12:47 pm
Anyway, Rauner has no case. The fund in question is unappropriated taxpayer money. Rauner has no legal right to spend it on just anything he thinks is appropriate.
If Rauner had asked for a legal appropriation as was suggested by the Comptroller then he might have a basis for his suit.
Comment by A Jack Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 12:52 pm
I don’t understand how Rauner could win in the court. If this money is not to be spent on salaries now, how could it be used for salaries during a shutdown. Would he be able to use the very funds he is contesting by winning in the court?
Comment by exspsa Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 1:08 pm
Why would Rauner appeal if he won’t win? It seems like the loses are public relations hits at the very least
Comment by Seats Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 1:18 pm
Why would Rauner appeal, unless he’s confident of a win?
He has been playing for delay by every available means, for months now.
Comment by walker Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 1:52 pm
How’d that song begin “Oh, Susana, don’t you cry for me…”
GO, Susana!!!
Comment by downstate commissioner Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 1:55 pm
She is not releasing payables, from funds, with cash, and all appropriations and vouchers to pay vendors,, for into ..the 3rd month now…
Comment by a vendor Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 2:49 pm
She’s playing mjm politics on the vendors backs,,, with lies lies and more lies
Comment by sharkette Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 2:50 pm
Shes also highly unprofessional,, screeching and pointing fingers gets no one anywhere, she needs job training for her position, BIG TIME, wasting tax payers dollars and to go school for basic courtesy and manners too
Comment by sharkette Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 2:53 pm
It’s hard to take complaints of “professionalism” seriously with that many typos.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 3:01 pm
‘It’s hard to take complaints of “professionalism” seriously with that many typos.’
Verily.
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 3:12 pm
I would like to think I can milk a metaphor with the best of them. As the ceiling, plaster, lathe boards, joists and trusses come tumbling down upon us I hear the faint murmurs from deep under the debris, “but the Democrats let the roof leak”.
Comment by wondering Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 3:17 pm
It’s a factual, not a contemplative statement
Comment by sharkette Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 3:22 pm
Factual sharkette? Jeez alternatively factual maybe.
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 3:48 pm
I think she’s doing a fabulous job sticking it to Rauner. Very effectively. Rauner is only effective in fiscally destroying the state. And look into the mirror about screeching girlfriend
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 3:51 pm
Isn’t this the same guy that trashed AFSCME for wasting tax payer dollars for appealing the labor board decision??
Comment by Guess agai Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 4:09 pm
You can always count on Kristen to be independent.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 4:15 pm
That Trib editorial didn’t contain a single original thought as far as I could tell.
Undoubtedly, the Trib was upset at how god-awful of a week Rauner was having and figured they’d try and knock Mendoza down to salvage something.
Comment by Franklin Delano Bluth Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 4:31 pm
==It’s a factual, not a contemplative statement==
Indeed, it appears you didn’t contemplate it at all.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 5:50 pm
Rauner has no interest in fixing Illinois from its current state. Rauner wants to wreck and sink the ship so his “fixes” can be extreme.
Comment by Nikolas Name Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 6:44 pm
And then, there is this: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/employee-health-fund-tapped-illinois-officials-salary-46028789
Comment by Usually silent observer Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 7:09 pm
- Usually silent observer -
That story might have legs …
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Mar 9, 17 @ 10:09 pm
The constant caterwauling had to be hiding something
Comment by Rabid Friday, Mar 10, 17 @ 7:17 am