http://capitolfaxcom.disqus.com/NoneenTue, 31 Jul 2007 09:35:35 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/30/this-just-in-43/#comment-18112466<p>As Betty Crocker once said, "Make No Small Pans."</p><p>What is wrong with another one month Budget? The revenue keeps rolling in, all last year's earmarks are bought and paid for. This year's slush should be only 10/12 of last years.</p><p>I know nobody gets a raise (not enough yeast, sorry Betty).</p><p>School Boards are screaming because all the sweetheart contracts they negotiated don't have State money behind them. They have operated without fiscal discipline for so long and teh teachers have them over a barrel.</p><p>I see that the charter schools that are successful are taking less money per pupil from the Districts in which they operate than the general per pupil expenditures in that District.</p><p>Does that give anybody ideas?</p><p>Legislators -- do not worry about NEA and AFSCME wrath. Who else are they going to support?</p><p>Let's go with another one month budget.</p>Truthful JamesTue, 31 Jul 2007 09:35:35 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/30/this-just-in-43/#comment-18112465<p>I am fed up with this session and it's disgusting. I heard things from non-essential staff being furloughed on Wednesday and some reports saying by Monday with no state budget. The things about the union saying that noone gave 30 days notice and employees deemed nonessential would still be paid. If this is the case then why have people sit at home that you will eventually have to pay and why have some media report that Wednesday state employees would be furloughed and some media saying Monday is furlough day. This ABSOLUTELY makes no sense. Sit down and get a budget. Do the lawmakers no that there is an impending teacher's strike in Chicago and all this BS is contributing to negotitation trouble...I've also read that other school superintendents won't open their doors until they know what type of money they are getting (and they don't have to worry about teacher negotiations). Everyone MUST comprimise, Blago, Jones, Madigan, Senators, Reps and the people of Illinois.</p>Another State EmployeeTue, 31 Jul 2007 00:40:41 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/30/this-just-in-43/#comment-18112464<p>What a surprise city union contracts expired on 30 jun so the city is broke now. Dalet stroger blago there all the same</p>FED UPMon, 30 Jul 2007 20:50:52 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/30/this-just-in-43/#comment-18112463<p>I just read on the Tribune that Blago is "OK with the leaders meeting without him." Well duh, duh, and duh. He better be because they are going to meet without him whether he likes it or not. The Tribune article is laughable. Is anyone paying attention to what comes out of Blago's mouth these days. Can you spell d-e-l-u-s-i-o-n-a-l?</p>Little EgyptMon, 30 Jul 2007 18:25:17 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/30/this-just-in-43/#comment-18112462<p>My bad, 217 million is substantial. Regrets</p>Thomas PaineMon, 30 Jul 2007 18:21:56 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/30/this-just-in-43/#comment-18112461<p>What percentage of the City budget does 21 million make up? Isn't the budget about 5.5 billion? It seems the term "whopping" is quite an exaggertaion.</p>Thomas PaineMon, 30 Jul 2007 18:20:54 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/30/this-just-in-43/#comment-18112455<p>Rich, Are the leaders meeting right now?</p>office bound todayMon, 30 Jul 2007 17:08:07 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/30/this-just-in-43/#comment-18112454<p>Agreed. AFSCME memos are out. There are many union issues with a shutdown. Notifications need to be made and haven't been. AFSCME employees will be at their desks. Paychecks may be late as in 1991 (AFSCME memo misspelled Edgar's name, BTW) but workers will still work. If not, then the workers will get sent home but still paid.</p><p>In the words of Samuel Beckett: I can't go on I must go on I'll go on</p>MaloneMon, 30 Jul 2007 16:27:25 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/30/this-just-in-43/#comment-18112453<p>Another thought that I was going to add as well. In '91, there were fiscal problems that needed to be fixed. This year, it's not fiscal problems as much big new programs and funding sources instead of addressing current funding problems, a manufactured issue if you will.</p>Retired State EmployeeMon, 30 Jul 2007 15:14:32 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/30/this-just-in-43/#comment-18112452<p>Having lived through the 1991 overtime session, someone will have to explain to me why "government shutdown" is on everyone's lips. Who started this and why does it get such big play in the media? Although the appropriations bill was late in '91, everyone kept working and got paid. Why is this time different?</p>Retired State EmployeeMon, 30 Jul 2007 15:11:49 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/30/this-just-in-43/#comment-18112451<p>The City’s awash in red ink,<br>As corruption continues to stink. <br>Will we only get clean<br>Of this greedy Machine,<br>When the “City That Works” starts to sink?</p>LimerickMon, 30 Jul 2007 14:57:57 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/30/this-just-in-43/#comment-18112450<p>Will there be an opportunity for public comments at the hearing?</p>SquideshiMon, 30 Jul 2007 14:56:07 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/30/this-just-in-43/#comment-18112449<p>here's how it goes 1)win election 2) give forthright reading of budget situation 3) propose cuts---lay-offs etc. 4) propose some tax increases 5) work with guys in your party who control legislative body 6) pass budget 7)govern competently 8) get re-elected----or there is rod's way</p>publiusMon, 30 Jul 2007 14:50:45 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/30/this-just-in-43/#comment-18112448<p>Fill in the blank: Mayor Daley should be ( ) for pulling this budget stunt yet again.</p>fedup demMon, 30 Jul 2007 14:44:35 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/30/this-just-in-43/#comment-18112447<p>It is standard Daley practice to postpone bad budget news until after an election, to schedule contract expirations after his election, and to hike taxes in the first year after his reelection. No news here, it seems to be a very effective strategy for the Mayor.</p><p>This same strategy would have worked for the Governor and the legislature this year too. That's's why I consider this legislative session a squandered political opportunity to improve the state's fiscal situation.</p>Captain AmericaMon, 30 Jul 2007 14:36:24 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/30/this-just-in-43/#comment-18112446<p>The Committee of the Whole meeting on August 8 is supposed to address fiscal and academic accountability.</p>GA WatcherMon, 30 Jul 2007 14:33:19 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/30/this-just-in-43/#comment-18112445<p>The I wonder if this implies another 1 month budget...we must save the butter cow!</p><p>side note, typo in the 11:44 section, I beleive Emil ones is missing his J. Feel free to del this sentence :)</p>GhostMon, 30 Jul 2007 14:03:46 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/30/this-just-in-43/#comment-18112444<p>I am sure that it was just a message from Madigan that if the leaders don't get serious about a 12 month budget, they will be here next week.</p><p>At this point, Madigan does not want to be here next week. Now that Blagojevich is out of the discussion (a fact which has been widely reported) the only ones to blame for stalemate is the legislature. If they don't finish by Friday, Blago can really start putting the pressure on them about how they cut him out of the process and still can't get a deal done. I am sure he will say that is because of Madigan and the Republicans who were the problem all along. He can also say that while he supported another temporary budget, the legislature and especially Madigan did not, and that is why he now has to shut down non essential government services. The longer this goes on now, the better the Governor looks, so I can't believe that Madigan, the Republicans, or Emil for that matter, have any interest in dragging this out past Friday.</p>JadedMon, 30 Jul 2007 14:02:51 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/30/this-just-in-43/#comment-18112443<p>What has 354 legs but can't move? The Illinois General Assembly.</p>BlueByrdMon, 30 Jul 2007 13:19:06 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/30/this-just-in-43/#comment-18112442<p>And, Levois, the timing indicates that as of last Thursday, Madigan thought we'd still be in session come August 8th.</p>Rich MillerMon, 30 Jul 2007 13:03:48 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/30/this-just-in-43/#comment-18112441<p>That's all the detail provided so far.</p>Rich MillerMon, 30 Jul 2007 12:59:42 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/30/this-just-in-43/#comment-18112440<p>To discuss what about education? Need the details.</p>game planMon, 30 Jul 2007 12:57:59 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/30/this-just-in-43/#comment-18112439<p>There have been a lot of committees of the whole convened this year.</p>LevoisMon, 30 Jul 2007 12:49:26 -0000