 |
| Madigan seems determined to continue ... |
If
that’s the case, we’re in for a significant scrap in coming months – because I
can see massive conflict occurring within state government.
GOV.
BRUCE RAUNER met Thursday with the General Assembly’s leadership, and Illinois
House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, made it clear he’s not about to meekly
cower in the governor’s presence just to get a budget put together.
With
regard to the Illinois government budget being put together for the state’s
2019 fiscal year (which begins July 1), Rauner earlier this week made a point
of talking of the need for the state to have a balanced budget, while also
implying that the problem was the Democratic majorities that run the General
Assembly.
They’re
not doing what Rauner wants of them. They are to blame for any inability of
state officials to put together a budget before the state Legislature’s
scheduled adjournment come the end of May.
Which
led to Madigan issuing his own statement following the Thursday morning session
– one in which he attempted to shift back blame to the governor.
AS
THE ESTEEMED (some sarcasm intended) “Mr. Speaker” said, “If the governor’s
agenda is to push more of his extreme cuts to health care, senior services and
resources for our most at-risk residents, or if he again intends to move the
goalposts and create chaos, he should stay on the sidelines and allow serious
leaders to continue working cooperatively to address the challenges facing our
state.”
Because
I don’t expect Rauner to put himself on the sidelines during budget
negotiations that are taking place in coming weeks between the Democratic and
Republican leadership of the Illinois House of Representatives and the state
Senate.
For
one thing, Republican leadership wouldn’t allow it.
 |
| ... the political brawl Rauner brought on |
They’re
not going to meekly go along with whatever kind of orders Rauner tries to bark
out at them.
RAUNER’S
OWN POPULARITY ratings have dwindled (26 percent approval, and 60 percent
disapproval – the worst of any governor seeking re-election this year, according
to the Morning Consult group’s latest study) to the point where I suspect many
GOP legislators don’t want the governor taking them down to defeat along with
him come the Nov. 6 elections.
While
many Democratic officials counting on the Donald Trump unpopularity factor aren’t
about to do anything to appear to be caving in to Rauner on anything.
Budget
talks are going to be downright ugly – and likely to accomplish little of
anything significant. Because both sides seem to be more interested in
one-upping each other.
If
you think about it, Madigan’s comment about, “if the governor is finally ready
to accept responsibility for the management of this state and be an honest
partner in trying to pass a budget, we welcome him to this process” is about as
snide and sarcastic as Rauner earlier this week saying he was fighting against,
“a corrupt machine of self-dealing, unethical behavior … that benefit a few
against the people.”
WHICH
MAKES IT ironic that Rauner wants us all to think his four-year term as
governor has been about “reform.”
When
the reality is Rauner has behaved in as an obstructionist a manner as any other
official within Illinois government has ever done. Meaning that obstructionism
in the name of partisan politics is very much a part of the “Way things are
done” in Illinois.
 |
| Is Pritzker our 'savior' by default? |
Although
going for so much of the four years of his term without a balanced budget in
place will leave the Rauner Years with quite a legacy – particularly if he insists
on finishing out his time in office without a budget in place for fiscal 2019.
It
will be enough to make all of us eager for Election Day so we can pick a
replacement to live and work in the (newly-renamed) Governor’s Mansion.
-30-
No comments:
Post a Comment