Rauner talks education, criminal justice as protesters chant ‘Budget first’

Governor Bruce Rauner delivered his second address Wednesday afternoon, but seven months without a budget is not what many people expected.

Focusing on his “turn-around agenda”, Rauner plans to bring higher paying jobs to the state by making IL more appealing to businesses.

“Really, there’s going to be a lot of pressure on Governor Rauner and legislators to figure something out”, says Greenberger.

“I was glad to hear (Rauner) say it”, said Rep. Elgie Sims, a Chicago Democrat on the commission.

The school leaders we spoke with say their districts have been underfunded for years, and that’s the main thing they want state leaders to fix.

Cullerton had warned that a pension reform measure previously passed by the Legislature was unconstitutional because it reduced retirement benefits.

The Illinois Supreme Court previous year threw out a 2013 pension reform effort, saying it violated the pension protection clause of the state constitution that says membership in a public pension system is a contractual relationship, “the benefits of which shall not be diminished or impaired”. For instance, an employee who wants to keep the 3 percent, compounded cost-of-living raises payable in retirement would have to accept a lower pensionable salary. “So a key element in the success of these programs is the absence of the current advocacy of the governor’s program”. He’ll also repeat calls for fixing Illinois’ pension crisis and reducing the number of inmates in state prisons. “I think the whole room noticed the attention he gave to that”, said Sen. “Manar, supported by the Senate president, did exactly that”. He called me. He said he was going to have a press conference and he was supporting the concept [of consideration].

MILLER: And I want him to say that he understands that if he continues down this road, he’ll continue to dismantle the social service infrastructure of our state. But the first-term Republican governor has insisted he will forge ahead with his agenda to overhaul the IL political machine as a condition to any budget he ultimately signs.

Rauner’s speech is scheduled for noon, before a joint session of the General Assembly. “If each of us commits to serious negotiation based on mutual respect for our co-equal branches of government, there’s not a doubt in my mind we can come together to pass a balanced budget alongside reforms”. We have a growing deficit. Before he moves forward on a budget, he demands lawmakers prioritize his pro-business “Turnaround” agenda, which would drastically weaken the state’s labor movement.

“The state of our state is just desperate at this point”, said Dan Lesser, a director at the Shriver Center, an advocate for the poor.

Frese said IL residents, service agencies and higher education all need a spending plan.

Home healthcare and child care have been particularly harmed by this governor, both by unilateral administrative rule; through the budget process; and at the bargaining table.

“Change is hard, but, by working together, we can make it a reality”.

Numerous organizations protesting were part of the Responsible Budget Coalition, which spoke at the Capitol about the effects the gridlock has had on social service providers facing staff and program cuts without payment from the state. “We must break from the politics of the past and do what is right for the long-term future of our state”.

Despite what his administration characterizes as an emphasis on bipartisanship, Rauner pushed for local government control, term limits and redistricting reform – all issues Democrats have rejected.