CapitolFax.com - Latest Comments in The blame game

Re: The blame game

Bill — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:13:51 -0000

LOL
That's pretty funny, Vannie.

Re: The blame game

VanillaMan — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 09:17:59 -0000

Who do you think will â€œwinâ€ this blame game battle?

The GOP.

Re: The blame game

Lynn S — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:35:15 -0000

Sorry, SouthernGirl, I fail to see how Quinn has strengthened his political position by hosing social service providers and clients.

I was willing to give him a chance, but not after he pulled this crappy stunt out of the Blago playbook. Not only is it bad politics, it's not even original!!

Hoping Quinn will face opposition in the Dem primary...doubting it will come to pass, unless Obama admin can be convinced to throw him a fat ambassadorship or cabinet-level post. (and wouldn't it be delightful to be a fly on Blago's wall if such came to pass?? How many arteries would Milorad blow if such irony came to pass??)

Re: The blame game

SouthernGirl — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:04:37 -0000

Quinn bills himself as a protector of human services, friend of the poor -- and yet strengthens his political position by offering them up on the chopping block.

How screwed up is that?

He refuses to reassure the nonprofits who contract with the state to provide services that they will be paid if they continue to provide services after July 1st. Regardless of his inability to veto -- why not negotiate in good faith? Same goes for Mr. Madigan.

People who need services, medicines, treatment aren't getting them.

I wish these two men at the top of the power pyramid could try and walk a mile in the shoes of some of the people we've discharged from services. They wouldn't last a day.

Re: The blame game

grategul — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:39:29 -0000

My Question Is

Where are all the Good Voters
Who Voted Gov. Rod into office Twice ????

Are They standing behind him or what ????

Where are all the Reps etc.

Including JAY HOFFMAN

Who got people JOBS and Wasted Taxpayers
Monies

Robbed money from YOU

and spent Foolish

Are They Hiding and ashamed for their ACTIONS

Remember this VOTERS !!!!!

You were taking advantage of for Sure !!!!

Re: The blame game

Bill — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:32:54 -0000

lol
2:39 is a phony although he does make some good points with no spelling or grammar errors.

Re: The blame game

Rich Miller — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:28:05 -0000

Are you sure Bill?

Re: The blame game

Bill — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:22:30 -0000

The above "Bill" is an imposter. I am the one and only Bill. Get a new name.

Re: The blame game

Anonymous — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:28:40 -0000

I certainly hope so -- they richly deserve it.

Re: The blame game

steve schnorf — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:00:48 -0000

I think many legislators believe they can escape serious blame at home for what's happening. I believe they are wrong.

This isn't a prison closing in some other part of the state, or some state employees being laid off somewhere. This is your local mental health center, domestic violence shelter, the day programs for developmentally disabled that your neighbor's son goes to, subsidized child care for working poor people right there in your own home town, the community care workers who keep your elderly mom from having to go into a nursing home. I think there is going to be Hell to pay, and there should be.

I think ordinary people aren't going to be the least bit interested in the blame game. I believe their thinking will be more along the lines of "we send you to Springfield, we don't ask much of you, we re-elect you whenever you run, we don't bug you about your salary going up,and you are letting this crap happen right here." I think there's going to be more heat than most members can take.

Re: The blame game

Irish — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:45:12 -0000

sorry ....their interests...

Re: The blame game

Irish — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:43:10 -0000

Amen AA

I disagree that Lisa has a lock on any office she wants. I think MJM is hurting his image by not leading. The budget mess has put him in the position of having to make a decision. The decision of either being an astute politician and doing what is necessary to protect his members and ensuring his party retains their strength, or being a leader and doing what is necessary to fix the budget mess. He is going to opt to do both but wait until November to do so, no matter who that hurts now. That will tarnish his image and I think some of that rubs off on Lisa. I also agree with Rich in that she is hurting herself by not taking a stand on the most important issue facing the State at this time. She can't take the position that her office does not deal with the budget so she is staying out of it. She was vocal when Blago's budget affected her office so she doesn't get a walk on it now. So she will play the same game and the Madigan name could come to mean those who wait to protect their interets instead of those who act for the public good.

Re: The blame game

Anonymous45 — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:42:40 -0000

AA: Just to set the record straight, CMS will experience lay offs and a $10 million budget cut according to the Daily Herald...everyone take a deep breath...Legaleagle: a very heavy millstone...

Re: The blame game

Legaleagle — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:36:12 -0000

Saying that Lisa is a lock for any office reminds me of Cub fans who said that their team was a lock for the Division! Her dad will be a millstone around her neck in 2010.

Re: The blame game

Cassandra — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:10:37 -0000

Backing off of the two tier pension plan and greater employee and health contributions benefits
benefits government employees and their unions.

Backing off of the corporate increase benefits corporations.

Backing off of the increased exemptions benefits
government coffers but not taxpayers, especially lower and middle class taxpayers on whose behalf Quinn seems unwilliing to compromise. In fact, if his tax increase goes through as proposed, it is this average income group that will bear its greatest burden. The social service contract agencies will be fully funded.

Re: The blame game

Arthur Andersen — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:07:57 -0000

The people of Illinois are the losers. We must share our pain at the ballot box next year by sending the Lite Guv to a well-earned retirement.

As long as Filan is drawing a check, fumigating Jeff Mark is not impressive, Pat.

And about the $1 billion in cuts-how could it make sense to you to cut millions of dollars and hundreds of jobs everywhere from DCFS to the State Police, yet leave CMS untouched-no cuts, no layoffs?

Re: The blame game

Balance — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:58:10 -0000

Bill,

Your memory banks seem to be failing you.

Quinn had no opportunity to veto earlier, as, even though appropriation bills were passed at the end of May, they were not sent to him until the end of June.

Also, Quinn has attempted many compromises including backing off of such as the two-tier pension plan, greater employee pension and health contributions, increased exemptions, and corporate increase at same rate as individual.

He was just not willing to compromise down to the level of 50% for social services.

A valid criticism would be if you think he should have taken 50% rather than zero.

Re: The blame game

Bill — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:39:23 -0000

The loser in all of this are the people, including children, who need state supported services. If Governor Quinn had immediately vetoed the budget bill instead of waiting until the last minute, then possibly a compromise could have been reached.

Instead he played high stakes to get all of his income tax increase approved, he lost and lost big. Because of the pending budget shut down, many social service agencies are not taking on new clients. For example right now siting in hospitals are children who could be home, but since the agencies will not fund new home services we get children who could be home stuck in hospitals. This goes on and on with various programs.

Quinn is acting as if he has all the time in the world be get a budget together, he does not. It is very likely that his veto will be over ridden. Really this is a mess.

Re: The blame game

Cassandra — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:19:41 -0000

If the Republicans (more than a few and including the leaders) vote for a tax increase, that will make it much harder for them to complain about Dem sponsored tax increases during next year's campaigns. No doubt that is one reason why Madigan is so anxious to have at least a few of them on board, preferably including the leaders. If Lisa doesn't run, the Republicans have a decent shot at the governor's chair. On the other hand, if Lisa does run, he wants her to have plenty of government money to throw around when she takes office. So he really needs them to sign on.

The Repubs should be motivated to get some significant tradeoffs in exchange for their support for an increase, since such support could cost them so much in 2010. But are they tough enough to hold out against all the Quinn & Co. caterwauling. Not sure. That's why I wouldn't include Cross or Radogno in the potential Repub candiate group, however personally appealing each may be.

Re: The blame game

Louis G. Atsaves — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:03:48 -0000

"Who do you think will â€œwinâ€ this blame game battle?"

Republicans in Springfield. Locked out. Marginalized. Kept on a jar on a shelf and not allowed any input.

Then suddenly, they became important when Democrats failed in a basic function of government, to prepare and pass a balanced budget.

The public is not buying the "it's the Republicans' fault too!" argument so far. How much longer are the Springfield Democrats going to try to ride that dead horse?

Re: The blame game

Bill — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:56:03 -0000

kj is right. Lisa can just say the word and have any office in Illlinois she wants (except speaker, of course). Just look at the response to the Republican candidate question above. Which of those mopes have a chance against her? None. No matter what happens, Lisa wins, Quinn loses, and the Speaker goes on to fight and obstruct another day.

Re: The blame game

kj — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:27:42 -0000

that's easy, Lisa wins of course

Re: The blame game

CircularFiringSquad — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:26:22 -0000

Actually Madigan prefers placing common sense solutions in place to solve problems. Currently he is trying to maximize revenues to offset the Wall Street disaster and keep programs in tact.

The Trib's confirmation that Madigan and Cullerton have nearly seven decades of services and no note of any wrong doing was a refreshing bit of honest reporting

Re: The blame game

Brennan — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:16:15 -0000

Who wins? He who never loses of course.

Michael Madigan.

Actually, I don't know how much value Madigan places on winning. I think it is just get what I want and sell it like I'm losing.

Re: The blame game

Anonymous45 — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:45:03 -0000

I see nothing new in Quinn's attendance at military funerals...he has been doing that a long time...I do agree that he should not use them as an opportunity to politick...I fail to see any scenario by which Quinn could have gotten the legislature (especially the House) to sign on to a tax increase whilst Madigan was intent on making him look bad...if Pat changes his position, he is a flip flopper...maybe he is just more willing to compromise than are other legislative leaders...
I don't see how any of this gridlock is attribtable to any single person....it is a perfect cluster* of years of lazy, entrenched leadership, a recession that won't quit, and lack of political courage...