>>> FORMER HOUSE MEMBERS BACK IN
SPRINGFIELD FOR AN EXTENDED
SUMMER OT SESSION.
IT IS PART OF A GOOD FAITH
SESSION TO MEET SOME OF THE
GOVERNOR'S WISHES.
IT QUICKLY ESCALATED INTO A WAR
OF WORDS WITH CHARGES OF SEXISM
AND SMOKESCREENS AND HYPOCRACY
FLYING ACROSS THE AISLE SHUTS
HAS THE LATEST.
>> IT STARTED INNOCENTLY ENOUGH,
DEMOCRATS POSED A BILL AT
REFORMING WORKERS' COMPENSATION
IN ILLINOIS.
ONE.
PRO-BUSINESS ITEMS THAT THE
GOVERNOR ASKED FOR BEFORE
AGREEING TO NEW TAX REVENUE.
THEY SAID THEIR BILL WOULD
STRENGTHEN STANDARDS OF PROVING
THAT A WORK ACTIVITY ACTUALLY
CAUSED THE INJURY THAT A WORKER
IS MAKING CLAIMS ON.
AND SET UP A TASK FORCE TO LOOK
AT RATES OVERALL BUT REPUBLICANS
SAID THIS IS NOT WHAT THE
GOVERNOR CALLED FOR AND THEY
SAID THEY BELIEVED THE WHOLE
EXERCISE TODAY WAS PHONY.
>> IF WE ARE LOOKING FOR A
PATHWAY TO FINISH OUR WORK AND
GET A GOOD BALANCED BUDGET AND
GOOD REFORMS IN ILLINOIS, THIS
IS NOT WAIT TO DO IT.
THERE IS THOUGH COMPROMISE.
THERE NOISE REAL PROCESS HERE.
THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO TRY AND
EMBARRASS THE GOVERNOR AND
EMBARRASS REPUBLICANS AND SAY WE
ARE DOING IT, A TURN-AROUND
AGENDA.
THIS IS NOT THE INITIATIVE OF
THE GOVERNOR.
>> THE GOVERNOR DID SAY I'M
SURPRISED AT THE SPEAKER, IGNORE
COMPROMISE REFORM AND INSTEAD
VOTED TO PROTECT THEIR SPECIAL
INTEREST ALLIES.
BUT DEMOCRATS SAY THAT RAUNER'S
APPROACH AT WORKPLACE INJURY
COMPENSATION WOULD HURT INJURED
WORKERS IN THE WALLET.
>> WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT INJURED
WORKERS SHOULD HAVE BENEFITS
REDUCED FOR A LEGITIMATE CLAIM.
WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT.
AND UNFORTUNATELY THE RESULT OF
MANY OF THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS
WOULD BE THAT WOULD IN FACT
OCCUR.
>> PARIS, A LOT MAY BE POLITICAL
THEATER BUT SO MUCH COMES DOWN
TO WHAT HAPPENS BETWEEN THE
GOVERNOR AND LEADERSHIP.
ANY PROGRESS BETWEEN SPEAKER
MICHAEL MADIGAN AND THE
GOVERNOR?
>> BEHIND THE SCENES GAME.
SO IMPORTANT, MAD BEGAN SAYS THE
TWO MET TODAY, HE MAINTAINS THEY
ARE CORDIAL AND SHAKE HANDS AND
NO ANIMOSITY OR TOXICITY,
DESPITE, IF THE TWO SIDES FAIL
TOING A ROE A BUDGET BEFORE JULY
FIRES THE STATE FACES A PROSPECT
OF A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AND
MADIGAN SAYS THAT WILL PUT THE
GOVERNOR AT A DISADVANTAGE.
>> I EXPLAINED TO THE GOVERNOR
THAT HE IS IN CHARGE OF THE
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
COME JULY ONE, HE WILL BE
EXPECTED TO MANAGE THE EXECUTIVE
DEPARTMENT AND HE WILL NOT HAVE
WANTED TO SPENT MONEY ON THOSE
AGENCIES UNLESS WE FINALIZE THIS
WORK ON THE CURRENT SPENDING
PLAN, AND THE WORK ON THE
ELIMINATION OF THE DEFICIT.
I'M PREPARED TO WORK WITH THE
GOVERNOR IN NEGOTIATING ON WHAT
ELEMENTS WOULD BE ON A TAX BILL.
MADIGAN SAYS THE WAY TO
COMPROMISE IS MORE TAX REVENUE
TO FILL THE GAP.
>> THERE WAS ANGER OVER THE
GOVERNOR'S EDUCATION SECRETARY
AND HER PAY.
>> DEMOCRATS CALLED A HEARING
THIS MORNING TO QUESTION THE
RAUNER ADMINISTRATION ON WHERE
HER $250,000 SALARY IS COMING
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
SERVICES.
REMEMBER THAT IS THE AGENCY THAT
THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED TO CUT
THINGS LIKE CHILD CARE
ASSISTANCE EARLY INTERVENTION
AND OTHER SOCIAL PROGRAMS.
A LOT OF CRITICISM AND TO THE
ANGER OF DEMOCRATS, RAUNER'S
STAFFER RICHARD GOLDBERG SAID
THE HEARING WAS A SEXIST ATTEMPT
TO UNDERMINE A FEMALE CABINET
MEMBER.
>> I AM TROUBLED BY A HEARING
TARGETED A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL
WOMAN IN OUR ADMINISTRATION,
WHEN THE MALE STAFF OF THE
DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP MAKESES AS
MUCH OR MORE IN COMPENSATION.
>> TO TALK ABOUT SEXISM FROM A
POLITICAL PARTY THAT OFTEN BASKS
IN IT IS BEYOND EMBARRASSING.
>> THE QUOTE OF THE DAY CAME
WHEN A REPUBLICAN TOOK THE M, C
AND ASKED, WHY ARE WE HERE?
TO LEVEL CHARGES LIKE THIS,
DOESN'T SEEM LIKE ANY PROGRESS
IS BEING MADE BY THE SENATE AND
HUSBAND WILL BE BACK IN A
SECTION SESSION NEXT TUESDAY.