More Finger-pointing, Little Progress At Statehouse
From the Bloomington Pantagraph
Illinois lawmakers spent a hot day in the Capitol on Tuesday debating the merits of freezing Illinois property taxes.
But, their actions did little to thaw the frosty relations between Democrats and Gov. Bruce Rauner, leaving the prospects of getting a new budget for the state in limbo.
With the clock ticking down on the state's fiscal year without a new budget in place, Rauner and his Republican allies said the Democrat-led maneuver was just more of the same political theater that has dominated the governor's first six months in office.
Before the discussions even began, Rauner spokesman Lance Trover turned to social media to label the hearings a "sham" and the reform efforts "phony" on Twitter.
Rauner joined in later during a news conference at the Executive Mansion.
"That's a waste of time," the governor said of a Senate hearing on property taxes.
Since taking office in January as the first Republican chief executive in 12 years, Rauner has butted heads with House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton, the two Chicago Democrats who preside over the General Assembly.
Rauner's anti-union positions and attempts to change state laws to favor business development have been rejected by Democrats, who say his proposals would hurt the middle class through a reduction in wages or other changes.
Hoping to pressure Democratic lawmakers into action, the governor earlier announced $400 million in budget cuts, including closing the Hardin County prison work camp, two unnamed juvenile prisons and state museums.
But that has not brought the two sides closer to a resolution.
Cullerton and Rauner met behind closed doors Tuesday. Neither side reported any significant progress.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Bloomington Pantagraph
Illinois lawmakers spent a hot day in the Capitol on Tuesday debating the merits of freezing Illinois property taxes.
But, their actions did little to thaw the frosty relations between Democrats and Gov. Bruce Rauner, leaving the prospects of getting a new budget for the state in limbo.
With the clock ticking down on the state's fiscal year without a new budget in place, Rauner and his Republican allies said the Democrat-led maneuver was just more of the same political theater that has dominated the governor's first six months in office.
Before the discussions even began, Rauner spokesman Lance Trover turned to social media to label the hearings a "sham" and the reform efforts "phony" on Twitter.
Rauner joined in later during a news conference at the Executive Mansion.
"That's a waste of time," the governor said of a Senate hearing on property taxes.
Since taking office in January as the first Republican chief executive in 12 years, Rauner has butted heads with House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton, the two Chicago Democrats who preside over the General Assembly.
Rauner's anti-union positions and attempts to change state laws to favor business development have been rejected by Democrats, who say his proposals would hurt the middle class through a reduction in wages or other changes.
Hoping to pressure Democratic lawmakers into action, the governor earlier announced $400 million in budget cuts, including closing the Hardin County prison work camp, two unnamed juvenile prisons and state museums.
But that has not brought the two sides closer to a resolution.
Cullerton and Rauner met behind closed doors Tuesday. Neither side reported any significant progress.
Read more in our daily News Update...