>> NOW, ON TO THE STATE BUDGET
IMPASSE.
JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THE
LATEST IS HOUSE REPUBLICAN
LEADER JIM DURKIN OF WESTERN
SPRINGS.
AND "CHICAGO TONIGHT" EXTENDED
AN INVITATION TO HOUSE SPEAKER
MIKE MADIGAN AND THE OFFICE
RESPONDED THEY WOULD KEEP IT IN
MIND.
>> JIM WELCOME TO "CHICAGO
TONIGHT."
GLAD YOU ARE HERE.
GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THE
PROGRESS OF THE WORKING GROUPS
WORKING TO COME UP WITH A
BUDGET?
>> WELL, I THINK THEY ARE MAKING
PROGRESS THERE WAS A MEETING
GROUP THAT DEALS WITH THE BUDGET
AND THE STOPGAP BUDGET REQUEST
WE ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH BY
THE END OF JUNE AND WE HAVE
GROUPS DEALING WITH REFORMS THAT
THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN ASKING FOR
FOR THE PAST YEAR-AND-A-HALF
REGARDING WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION
AND PROPERTY TAX REFORM AND
CONSOLIDATION MANDATE RELIEF WE
WILL FIND OUT SOON.
WE ARE SCHEDULED TO GO BACK INTO
SESSION NEXT WEEK AND I WILL
KNOW IF WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS ON
THE STOPGAP BUDGET TO GIVE
BREATHING ROOM TO PEOPLE WHO
RELY UPON STATE SERVICES WHICH
WILL GO THROUGH THE END OF THE
CALENDAR YEAR AND GIVE US TIME
TO NEGOTIATE AND PUT AN END TO
THE I AM PAPAS AND HAVE --
IMPASSE AND HAVE A FULL YEAR.
>> THERE'S TWO STOPGAP MEASURES
SORT OF IN THE --
OUT THERE AS WORKING ENTITIES.
WHICH ONE WHICH IS THE ONE THAT
YOU THINK HAS THE BEST CHANCE?
RIGHT NOW THE GOVERNOR HAS ONE
ON HIS OFFICE --
>> HUMAN SERVICES BILL ON HIS
DESK.
BUT I THINK THAT THAT BILL CAN
BE MOOTED OUT IF WE NEGOTIATE IN
A HONEST FASHION OVER THE NEXT
WEEK-AND-A-HALF WHICH WE CAN DO.
THINGS CAN MOVE QUICKLY IN
SPRINGFIELD IF PEOPLE ARE
WILLING TO DO IT.
THAT IS WHAT OUR BUDGET GROUP IS
DOING.
WE ARE WORKING ON APPROXIMATELY
$27 BILLION STOPGAP, HALF A YEAR
APPROPRIATION TO FUND VITAL
SERVICES, HIGHER ED, HUMAN
SERVICES, STATE OPERATIONS WHICH
ARE VERY, VERY CONCERNING WITH
OUR STATE PRISONS WHICH WE ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT VENDORS NOT
SUPPLYING ELECTRICITY, WATER,
FOOD.
BUT WE HAVE A GROUP THAT IS
NEGOTIATING ON A K-12 BILL
PASSED FOR THE FULL YEAR AND
THAT IS SOMETHING WHICH I HAVE
INTRODUCED ON BEHALF OF THE
GOVERNOR WHICH WILL FULLY FUND
EDUCATION AT 100% FOR THE FIRST
TIME IN FIVE YEARS.
OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS IT'S
PRORATED DOWN TO 90%.
THERE IS A LOT OF MOVING PARTS
BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A
PATHWAY TO GET THIS DONE.
IF THERE IS A WILLINGNESS ON
BEHALF OF THE DEMOCRATIC
LEADERSHIP TO PUT ASIDE WHATEVER
DIFFERENCES THEY MAY HAVE WITH
THE GOVERNOR AND GET TO WORK.
THE RANK-AND-FILE MEMBERS ARE
GETTING WRESTLESS.
WE HAVE BEEN OPEN FOR
NEGOTIATIONS FOR A LONGTIME AND
THE RANK-AND-FILE ON THE
DEMOCRATIC SIDE THEY WANT
RESOLUTIONS.
>> THE FLIP SIDE WOULD BE THAT
ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE THEY
MIGHT SAY SOCIAL SERVICE
AGENCIES ARE BEING DECIMATED AND
UNIVERSITIES MADE PAINFUL CUTS
AND THE FUTURE OF COLLEGE
STUDENTS ARE AT RISK IS IT WORTH
IT FOR THE TURN AROUND AGENDA?
>> I WILL SAY THIS...
WE DO HAVE A PROBLEM BECAUSE
LAST MAY THE DEMOCRATS IN THE
HOUSE AND THE SENATE PASSED A
BUDGET THAT WAS $4 BILLION OUT
OF BALANCE.
AND THEY CLAIM THEY ARE GOING TO
PROVIDE SERVICES TO ALL THE
DIFFERENT AGENCIES IN THE STATE
OF ILLINOIS.
THOSE ARE FALSE PROMISES BECAUSE
THEY GO IN THE BACK OF THE LINE
WITH THE COMPTROLLER AND THE $7
BILLION OF UNPAID BILLS.
IF WE HAVE MONEY THAT CAN FUND
THE PROGRAMS, WE WOULD NOT HAVE
THE CRISIS.
BUT LAST YEAR THEY DID NOT
NEGOTIATE WITH US.
IT IS A REPEAT OF RIGHT NOW.
AND HOPEFULLY WE DON'T HAVE THE
SAME RESULT.
WORKING GROUPS THAT WORKED A
YEAR AGO ON IMPORTANT ISSUES
WHICH THE GOVERNOR CAMPAIGNED ON
AND EVERYBODY IN ILLINOIS KNOWS
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE GOVERNOR
BUT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ILLINOIS,
TOO.
WE ARE TRYING TO AVOID THAT
RIGHT NOW.
I WAS DISAPPOINTED IN THE HOUSE
WHEN THEY PASSED A $7 BILLION
UNBALANCED BUDGET BUT I GIVE
CREDIT FOR THE DEMOCRATS FOR
REFUSING TO PASS THAT BILL.
YOU HAVE TO PASS A BALANCED
BUDGET THAT IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO.
>> LET ME ASK YOU THIS...
DO YOUR CONSTITUENTS COMPLAIN
MORE ABOUT THE IMPASSE'S IMPACT
ON SOCIAL SERVICES OR THE LACK
OF MOVEMENT ON THE GOVERNOR'S
TURN AROUND AGENDA?
REFORM AND DEALING WITH UNIONS?
>> IT'S REGIONAL FROM MY FOLKS
IT'S FAILURE OF THE DEMOCRATS TO
WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR TO BRING
PRO BUSINESS AND PRO GROWTH
MEASURES TO THE STATE OF
ILLINOIS.
>> THE.
>> THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE HEARING?
>> AND THEY ARE TELLING ME HOLD
STRONG BECAUSE THEY HAVE SEEN
WHAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE DONE TO
THE STATE BUDGET FOR THE PAST
MANY YEARS AND THEY ARE TIRED OF
IT.
THEY WANT US TO CHANGE THE
DIRECTION OF ILLINOIS AND MAKE
ILLINOIS A BETTER STATE.
WE ARE STILL LAGGING BEHIND IN
SO MANY CATEGORIES THROUGHOUT
THE NATION ON JOB GROWTH AND ALL
THE OTHER MEASURES THAT PEOPLE
LOOK AT IN THE PRODUCTION OF A
STATE.
>> BACK TO THE ISSUE OF THE
WORKING GROUPS.
PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE WINDOW
DRESSING AND WHAT IT WILL COME
DOWN TO IS THE GOVERNOR AND THE
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS COMING UP
WITH A DEAL.
HOW DO YOU REACT TO THAT POINT
OF VIEW?
>> I AM NOT TO BELIEVE THAT IS
THE CASE.
BUT I THINK THE WORKING GROUPS
ARE MAKING PROGRESS.
I TALK TO THEM ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND I HAVE MEMBERS DESEGREGATION
ANIES AND I BELIEVE THERE'S
AREAS WHICH THEY ARE FINDING
COMPROMISE IN PLACES THEY CAN
AGREE UPON.
>> BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE
WORKING GROUPS IT WILL BE THE
FOUR OF YOU.
>> THE SPEAKER STATED HE WILL
PUT IT IN THE HANDS OF THE MEN
AND WOMEN IN THE WORKING GROUPS
AND WE HAVE TO SIGN OFF ON IT
BUT I BELIEVE WE NEED TO GIVE
DEFERENCE TO THE MEN AND WOMEN
WHO PUT THE TIME AND EFFORT TO
FIND AREAS WHERE WE CAN AGREE.
AREAS WE CAN AGREE.
WE KNOW WHAT THE PRIORITY IS FOR
THE DEMOCRATS.
THEY WANT ADDITIONAL SPENDING
WITH THAT REQUIRES ADDITIONAL
REVENUE WHICH MEANS A TAX
INCREASE.
LET ME BE CLEAR THE GOVERNOR
SAID HE WILL SIGN A TAX
INCREASE.
I NEED TO KNOW WHERE THE
SACRIFICE IS FOR THE DEMOCRATS
ON PRIORITIES FOR REPUBLICANS.
WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING ILLINOIS
A MORE PRODUCTIVE STATE AND
BETTER BUSINESS CLIMATE.
BUT THIS IS WHAT THE WORKING
GROUPS ARE TRYING TO WORKOUT.
THAT IS WHERE WE ARE AT.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK AS YOU SEE
WHERE THE WORKING GROUPS ARE
GOING AND AS YOU FACTOR IN THE
DIFFERENT PRIORITIES THAT THE
LEADERSHIP HAS, WHAT DO YOU
THINK A BUDGET DEAL WOULD WINDUP
LOOKING LIKE?
GENERAL PARAMETERS?
>> THE BUDGET DEAL WILL HAVE
ADDITIONAL REVENUE AND MORE
SPENDING.
WE REALIZE THERE HAS TO BE
ADDITIONAL SPENDING TO MEET THE
OBLIGATIONS OF THE STATE FOR THE
UNDERSERVED AND SENIOR
POPULATION AND FOR NECESSARY
STATE SERVICES AND ALSO FOR OUR
BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.
BUT I ALSO DO BELIEVE THAT IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE BUSINESS
REFORMS.
REFORMS AT ILLINOIS GOVERNMENT
REGARDING REFORMS AT LOCAL LEVEL
WITH CONSOLIDATION AND
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING REFORM AND
WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION REFORM WE
ARE LOSING BUSINESSES BECAUSE OF
THE COMPENSATION RATES THAT THE
MANUFACTURERS ARE PAYING IN
ILLINOIS.
I'VE HEARD IT FROM 100 OF THE
C.E.O.S WE CANNOT OPERATE IN
ILLINOIS.
EVERY OTHER STATE THE RATES ARE
CONSIDERABLY LESS AND IT CUTS
INTO OUR ABILITY TO GROW IN
ILLINOIS AND IT AFFECTS THE
MIDDLE CLASS.
TO INCREASE EMPLOYMENT INSIDE
THE PLANTS.
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT SOME
DEMOCRATS ARE WILLING TO MAKE
ACCOMMODATIONS ON WORKMENS' COMP
BUT THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
ASPECT THAT CAN BE A THIRD RAIL
FOR SO MANY.
>> I BELIEVE THEY ARE MAKING
PROGRESS IN THAT AREA.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET --
I BELIEVE WE ARE.
AND THAT IS BASED ON MY
CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR
DESIGNEES.
AND THE DEMOCRATS ARE WILLING TO
WORK WITH US ON CERTAIN AREAS
WITHIN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.
TIME WILL TELL.
WE HAVE TO GET THIS WRAPPED UP
BY THE END OF JUNE OUR FISCAL
YEAR CLOSES AT THE END OF JUNE.
IF WE DO NOT HAVE A STOPGAP OR
FULL BUDGET I BELIEVE THAT THE
CONSEQUENCES WILL BE VERY, VERY,
VERY DRASTIC ON THE STATE OF
ILLINOIS.
IT WOULD BE UNFORTUNATE FOR US
TO GO INTO ANOTHER YEAR WITHOUT
A BUDGET BUT A BALANCED BUDGET.
>> AND THE MAYOR WAS ON OUR SHOW
AND HE SAID THAT THE GOVERNOR IS
OBSESSED WITH THE HOUSE SPEAKER
AND HE SHOULD GET MOBY DICK AS
SUMMER READING.
IS THE GOVERNOR OBSESSED WITH
MICHAEL MADIGAN?
>> I DON'T BELIEVE SO.
I THINK THE GOVERNOR IS OBSESSED
WITH THE BAD GOVERNMENT OF
ILLINOIS OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS.
THE GOVERNOR RAN ON ONE REASON.
HE WANTED TO FIX SPRINGFIELD.
A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK IT IS A
PERSONAL MATTER BETWEEN THE
GOVERNOR AND THE SPEAKER AND
ALSO THE MAYOR.
I DO NOT BELIEVE SO.
THE GOVERNOR HAS NOT CHANGED
SINCE HE STARTED CAMPAIGNING AND
SINCE HE BECAME HE WAS SWORN
INTO OFFICE.
THAT IS ALL GREAT FOR POLITICS
AND PEOPLE TO WHISPER OUTSIDE
THE HOUSE CHAMBER BUT I BELIEVE
THE GOVERNOR IS COMMITTED TO
CHANGING ILLINOIS AND NOT
ALLOWING THE DEMOCRAT LEADERSHIP
TO DO END AROUNDS ON HIM BUT
ALSO THE GOVERNOR IS DEMANDING
WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER AND BE
ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE EACH OTHER'S
PRIORITIES AND THAT IS WHAT HE
IS STATING.
HE MAY BE ROUGH BUT HE IS ALSO A
TOUGH GUY.
AND HE IS NOT GOING TO BE PUSHED
AROUND AND HE'S FOCUSED ON WHAT
IS IMPORTANT FOR THE STATE OF
ILLINOIS AND I AGREE WITH HIM.
>> AND YET, IF YOU LOOK AT HOUSE
SPEAKER MADIGAN HOW MANY
GOVERNORS HAS HE BEEN THROUGH?
IS THE GOVERNOR BEING
OUTMANEUVERED IN TERMS OF
OPERATING WITHIN THE LEGISLATIVE
SYSTEM POLITICALLY.
SOME PEOPLE THINK HE IS?
>> I DISAGREE AND THAT IS SPIN
THAT WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW.
BUT I DO KNOW THAT THE
DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP AND THE
RANK-AND-FILE MEMBERS ARE
FRUSTRATED THEY HAVE NOT BEEN
ABLE TO GET CART BLANCH OUT OF
THE TWO GOVERNORS IN THE PAST.
THEY BELIEVE THEY OWN THE
CAPITOL AND THEY HAVE A NEW
SHERIFF IN TOWN WITH A
REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR WHO FEELS
STRONG AND COMMITTED TOWARDS
WHAT HE RAN ON AND WHAT HE
BELIEVES IS THE FUTURE FOR
ILLINOIS.
THEY ARE FRUSTRATED WITH THAT
THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO
GET THE GOVERNOR OR THE
REPUBLICANS TO CAPITULATE TO
THEIR DEMANDS.
WE STOPPED 70 VETO OVERRIDES AND
BAD BILLS REGARDING COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING ISSUES AND THAT HAS
BEEN STOPPED IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
THEY DO NOT HAVE THEIR WAY.
THEY HAVE NOT --
IT'S NOT THE SAME PATH WHICH
THEY HAVE HAD FOR YEARS BEFORE.
>> GOVERNOR EDGAR WAS ON THE
SHOW AND HE SAID THAT DEALING
WITH MICHAEL MADIGAN IS NOT
NECESSARILY EASY BUT PART OF THE
JOB.
IS THE GOVERNOR DOING HIS JOB?
>> I THINK THEY DO CONVERSE.
I THINK EVERYBODY CAN TALK MORE
AND MEET MORE BUT THE GOVERNOR
IS DOING THIS JOB ON MANAGING
THE STATE UNDER DIFFICULT
CIRCUMSTANCES.
THE GOVERNOR WENT IN WITH GOOD
FAITH AND WAS NOT REWARDED WITH
THAT BY THE DEMOCRATS PASSING
THE BUDGET $4 BILLION OUT OF
BALANCE AND DID WORSE THIS YEAR
WITH THE $7 BILLION UNBALANCED
BUDGET.
THAT IS NOT GOOD FAITH.
IT IS A TWO-WAY STREET.
SO THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP
NEEDS TO BE MORE UP FRONT AND
OBLIGING TO THE NEEDS AND ALSO
THE PRIORITIES OF THE REPUBLICAN
GOVERNOR AND ALSO THE REPUBLICAN
CAUCUS.
>> SWITCHING GEARS I WILL ASK A
QUESTION THAT REPUBLICANS ARE
BEING ASKED.
ARE YOU GOING TO VOTE FOR DONALD
TRUMP?
>> I WILL CONSIDER THE VOTING
FOR A REPUBLICAN AFTER THE
NOMINATION IS SET AND CLEAR.
NO ONE HAS BEEN NOMINATED YET.
I WILL WAIT UNTIL THERE IS A
NOMINEE.
>> ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT
NOMINEE MIGHT NOT BE DONALD
TRUMP?
>> I AM NOT SAYING THAT HE IS
THE PRESUMPTIVE NOMINEE BUT A
LOT OF THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN
THE WORLD.
I'M MORE INTERESTED ON HELPING
MY COLLEAGUES GET ELECTED AND
PICK UP SEATS IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
I'M RAISING MONEY THROUGHOUT THE
STATE ALONG WITH MY FUNCTIONS.
SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M
THINKING ABOUT BUT I WILL WAIT