Veto Override Could Mean War – or a Way Out
I think on August 19 a new and brief window of opportunity opened that might finally help wrap up this long and drawn-out state-legislative overtime session. But that window will only be open for 15...
View ArticleBoth Parties Running Out the Clock with Illinois Finances
The Illinois fiscal crisis is only going to get worse, and the solution is becoming more difficult by the day. As you probably know, the General Assembly and the governor have not yet agreed on a full...
View ArticleFailed Overrides Might Teach Democrats a Lesson
There was a reason why state Representative Esther Golar (D-Chicago) showed up late for session last Wednesday: She’s been quite ill. Golar was brought into the Statehouse on Wednesday afternoon via...
View ArticleCycle of Futility Continues with State Budget
Illinois Comptroller Leslie Munger said last week that state government’s backlog of unpaid bills will hit $8.5 billion by the end of December, up from about $6 billion right now. That’s a...
View ArticleSurvey, Speech Make Negotiations Harder
A poll and a speech might have hardened positions even further on both sides of the highly partisan and bitter state-government impasse. The speech, by Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich, you likely...
View ArticleDelayed Session Illustrates Do-Nothing Status Quo
The Illinois Senate had been scheduled to return to Springfield on October 6 after not being in session since September 9. But last week, the Senate President postponed session until October 20. The...
View ArticleWhat We Have Here Is a Failure to Negotiate
Last year, gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner pledged to "crack down on waste" in government in order to save taxpayers over $140 million. He also vowed to cut $500 million from the Illinois...
View ArticleThompson Center Sale Just One More Sideshow
Last week, Governor Bruce Rauner said that he had spoken with both Senate President John Cullerton and House Speaker Michael Madigan about his proposed sale of the state's Thompson Center building in...
View ArticleGovernor’s Strategy Finally Seems to Be Backfiring
Governor Bruce Rauner took it on the chin for several days in a row this month. The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute’s recent poll of southern Illinoisans showed Rauner’s approval rating absolutely...
View ArticleReturn Doesn’t Justify the Pain on the Turnaround Agenda
For months now, Governor Bruce Rauner has said he won’t negotiate a state budget unless his “Turnaround Agenda” demands are met. In the meantime, he has slashed funding for the child-care-assistance...
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