I have just returned from some time off and it seems that little has changed. More on my
thoughts later this morning.
Interesting story from today’s Chicago Tribune which summarizes where we are today in
the state budget tragedy.
Tony
What’s next in Illinois budget battle?
With Rauner and Madigan unwilling to deal, state doesn’t have full authority to spend and
has no clear path forward
By Monique Garcia Chicago Tribune
SPRINGFIELD — After seven months, the legislative sausage-making process to put
in place a new state budget has hit a wall: The governor proposed a spending plan and
lawmakerspassed one, but the governor vetoed it and lawmakers failed to override him.
The result is that Illinois enters its fourth week without full authority to spend money, and
there’s no clear path through the political logjam that threatens to shut down parts of state
government.
At this point, it has historically been up to the governor and legislative leaders to hash out
a deal in private. While the occasional talks are taking place, signs are that they’ve been
less than productive and don’t appear likely to bring about a quick agreement.
“I don’t necessarily presume that there will be some kind of deal put together between the
governor and legislative leaders,” powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan said last
week.
For now, Madigan has indicated he’ll keep sending Gov. Bruce Rauner piecemeal budgets
to try to prop up critical social service programs, while Rauner maintains he won’t sign
them into law.
In a statement, Rauner spokesman Lance Trover said: “Rather than passing one-month,
out-of-balance budgets that hurt social service providers and the most vulnerable,
Speaker Madigan and the politicians he controls should compromise with Gov. Rauner on
passing a truly balanced budget along with much-needed reforms that will turn our state
around.”
The political enmity between Rauner and Madigan remains a major stumbling block. Rauner
has aired TV ads to try to blame Madigan as the source of the state’s problems, while the
speaker repeatedly counters that the governor is “extreme” for connecting the budget-
making process to approval of his agenda to help businesses and curb union power.
It’s difficult to see peace talks progressing when two of the state’s biggest politicians are
still firing at each other. Frustration among many lawmakers is evident.
“We need a reset. We’re back to square zero, we’re back to square negative two,” said Sen.
Daniel Biss, D-Evanston. “It’s an outrage, it’s an embarrassment.”
Part of the impasse is that not enough pressure has built up to force Democrats and
Republicans to reach a deal. Rauner signed the education budget, so schools will have
money to open on time this fall. The law is set up to keep pension checks and lawmaker
salaries flowing, and judges have ordered that workers should get paid and the state’s
child welfare department must be funded.
Many social service agencies that care for the disabled, elderly and addicted are still
getting money because the state is so far behind in paying its bills, but that spending
authority will run out in the coming weeks as the comptroller gets around to making
good on vouchers dated July 1 and beyond.
One immediate pressure point evaporated Friday when the Illinois Supreme Court opted
not to quickly hear Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s appeal of a pair of legal cases on
whether state workers can be paid in full absent a budget. Rauner has assured employees
they will get paid during the impasse, and so far he’s found help in keeping that promise
from the courts. A speedy court ruling that turned off the paycheck spigot would have hurt
Rauner’s leverage.
Another factor in the stalemate is that there’s not much of a template of how to proceed.
Illinois has had divided control of government before, but the legislature and governor
eventually were able to compromise.
The most recent parallel to the current impasse is 2007, when then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich
was locked in a fight with fellow Democrats over his desire for a major increase in
education spending and a massive expansion of state-subsidized health care. Speaker
Madigan favored a smaller budget.
That year, the governor and lawmakers agreed to a one-month budget before Madigan
teamed with then-Senate President Emil Jones Jr. to send Blagojevich a full-year budget
that he eventually signed Aug. 23. Blagojevich used his veto powers to cut $500 million
from that plan. The House overturned that veto, but the effort was blocked in the Senate.
This time around, however, Rauner has vetoed much of the budget lawmakers sent him,
but Democrats were unable to stick together to override him and put a spending plan on
the books.
On its face, the two sides aren’t terribly far apart on the budget. Both agree there need to
be cuts. Democrats say a tax hike is necessary, and Rauner hasn’t shut the door on the
idea. It’s how to get there that’s the problem.
Rauner says he won’t even consider raising taxes unless lawmakers also go along with his
wide-ranging agenda, which includes freezing local property taxes, enacting term limits,
curbing collective bargaining rights, reducing what businesses must pay injured workers
and limiting awards in civil lawsuits.
Democrats are fundamentally opposed to many of those ideas, saying they will diminish the
middle class at the benefit of corporate bosses. They’ve accused Rauner of hijacking the
process to push ideas that have nothing to do with the budget, while the governor contends
his plans are critical to putting the state on more sound financial footing.
“We’re stuck, and here’s the issue. I believe the math problem of the budget is not that
difficult to solve,” said Senate Republican leader Christine Radogno of Lemont. “Where
we’re stuck is that we absolutely have to have some reforms in order for this state to get on,
and more importantly, stay on, a path to prosperity.”
It’s now become a case of which side will flinch first. As Rauner continues to pitch his
stance as positioning Illinois for a better economic future, Democrats have focused on the
human toll of the fight. They’ve held hearing after hearing featuring testimony from those
with the most to lose, namely people who rely on social service groups that receive the bulk
of their funding from the state.
Most will be able to stay afloat for a few more weeks because the state is still paying for
services they provided in the last budget year. But once those payments become current
and the comptroller can no longer cut checks, groups that provide everything from home
care for seniors to autism therapy for children could lay off workers, cut services or close
completely.
Democrats say they’re focused on piecemeal budget bills to keep those groups afloat,
though that approach also could put Rauner in a political trick bag in which he must choose
to approve or reject funding for sensitive programs.
A spokeswoman for Senate President John Culler-ton, D-Chicago, agreed a budget
resolution doesn’t appear to be in the “near term” but said it’s time for all sides to get back
to the bargaining table instead of focusing on political theater.
“The Senate president is at a place where he thinks we need to recognize that we’ve
dialed back the clock to January or February, and it’s time to get a credible budget plan
on the table,” spokeswoman Rikeesha Phelon said. But as the last several months have
proved, that’s easier said than done.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Sen. Toi Hutchinson, D-Olympia Fields. “It’s two
different worldviews.” mcgarcia@tribpub.com
Tony Paulauski Executive Director
The Arc of Illinois
20901 S. LaGrange Rd. Suite 209
Frankfort, IL 60423
815-464-1832 (OFFICE)
815-464-1832 (CELL)
Tony@thearcofil.org
