Tag: Press Release

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ILGOP Releases Digital Video – “Get Back to Work”

Madigan and Cullerton Holding Schoolchildren Hostage

Mike Madigan and John Cullerton are holding school funding hostage by refusing to send Governor Rauner the education funding bill they passed two months ago.

It’s a perversion of the democratic process in order to force through their $500 million Chicago bailout.

Today, the Illinois Republican Party is releasing a digital video highlighting the Madigan machine’s refusal to honor the Illinois Constitution and send the education funding bill to the Governor’s desk.

Watch “Get Back to Work” here.

 

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Downstate/Suburban Dems Taking Orders from Madigan on School Funding – More for Chicago, Less for Their Districts

“non-Chicago Dems… will essentially be voting against their own school districts if they stick with Madigan/Cullerton on the override issue”

“On every policy issue, the Madigan plan has always been more for Chicago, less for the rest of Illinois. So it’s no surprise that downstate and suburban Democrats like Carol Ammons support less money for their own school districts because they’re taking orders from Madigan. It’s time for Democrats to stop the Chicago bailout and support a school funding plan that’s fair for all Illinois schoolchildren.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot

In an email exchange between State Rep. Carol Ammons and News-Gazette Opinion Editor Jim Dey, Ammons, through her silence, revealed a stunning truth on the debate over school funding and Senate Bill 1 – downstate and suburban Democrats are advancing Madigan’s Chicago interests, not their districts’.

Dey asked Ammons, “Do you support holding the legislation as long as possible to pressure the governor to sign the bill? If so, can you elaborate? If he issues an amendatory veto, do you plan to vote to override the bill even if C-U schools would get more money if Rauner’s veto is sustained? If so, can you elaborate?”

Dey then received a non-answer from Ammons’ chief of staff describing her support for SB1 and hope that Governor Rauner signs the bill in it’s current form with a Chicago bailout.

Dey followed up with Ammons’ to get an answer to his original questions, but Ammons’ office did not respond.

Why would Carol Ammons be silent on a plan to increase funding for schools in her legislative district?

The answer is simple, but tragic – to the detriment of schoolchildren in her district and all over Illinois, Democrats like Ammons are taking their orders from Mike Madigan.

More for Chicago, less for the rest of Illinois.

The story is the same for all other downstate and suburban Democrats who supported Senate Bill 1.

It’s time for Democrats to join Governor Rauner and Republican lawmakers and support a school funding plan that’s good for all Illinois school districts, not just Chicago.

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ICYMI: Mr. Madigan, Mr. Cullerton, Wisconsin thanks you for blocking Illinois reforms

“It’s Madigan and Cullerton who’ve set up Illinois to fail in these contests for jobs.”

Yesterday, the Chicago Tribune reported electronics manufacturer Foxconn will build a $10 billion factory in southeast Wisconsin – an investment that’s expected to create up to 13,000 jobs over the next 15 years, the largest economic development project in Wisconsin history.

Illinois was one of several state’s being considered for the historic investment, but as the Chicago Tribune noted, economic development of this magnitude is not occurring in Illinois.

Why?

Because career politicians like Mike Madigan and John Cullerton refuse to change – they are blocking reform to protect the Chicago Machine, at the expense of Illinois families and taxpayers.

From the Chicago Tribune’s editorial:

Early this month, when they hit taxpayers with a 32 percent jump in the individual income tax rate, many legislators broke a promise they had made: No more tax hikes without major reforms to help Illinois’ moribund economy. Don’t worry, said Democrats who pushed the tax hike. We’ll get to those reforms soon enough.

But not soon enough, we now see, to keep electronics giant Foxconn from bypassing Illinois to make a jobs-rich investment in southeast Wisconsin. This is a huge win for Scott Walker, the Republican governor of Wisconsin whom Illinois Democrats loathe. Just as this is an embarrassment for Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton.

Once again, the people of Illinois see how Madigan and Cullerton, with their combined 86 years in Springfield, have left Illinois ill-prepared to compete for 21st-century jobs. Their agenda is about raising taxes, not about delivering those reforms. As we wrote a few days ago, every other state on Foxconn’s short list looked better than Illinois by the basic measures of financial stability and pro-growth economies.

…Cranky Springfield apologists for Madigan and Cullerton will say we’re overreaching, that Gov. Bruce Rauner is somehow to blame for losing Foxconn to Wisconsin. Except Rauner has been pushing exactly the kinds of employer-friendly reforms that Madigan and Cullerton have resisted, often to please their allies who lead labor unions.

It’s Madigan and Cullerton who’ve set up Illinois to fail in these contests for jobs. Madigan and Cullerton who haven’t sent Rauner a no-gimmicks property tax freeze to even slightly offset the extra $5 billion their income tax hike will gouge from companies and workers. Madigan and Cullerton who won’t make major fixes to a workers’ compensation system that drives away employers. Madigan and Cullerton who can’t deliver significant pension reforms to Rauner’s desk. Madigan and Cullerton who can’t bring themselves to slash that costly roster of 7,000 local governments.

Early this month we urged Madigan and Cullerton to run for re-election from their districts if they wish, but to step down from their leadership posts. We asked them to emulate former Senate Republican leader Christine Radogno, who in recently announcing her retirement said, “I’ve really tried hard. It’s time for someone else to take the reins.”

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ICYMI: Get school-funding bill to governor

Dems are playing “a highly distasteful game of chicken… by putting the opening of the school year in jeopardy”

For 57 days, House and Senate Democrats under the thumb of Mike Madigan have been holding Illinois schools hostage.

Why?

Because they want to take money out of downstate and suburban classrooms to bail out of Chicago Public Schools.

Even though the legislation passed on May 31st, Madigan’s Democrats have been holding Senate Bill 1 from reaching Governor Rauner’s desk because they know the governor will block the Chicago bailout. Editorial boards across Illinois have been calling out the Democrats for their hostage-taking.

From The News-Gazette editorial:
Attached to consumer goods are tags that read “Made in ….”

If the impending showdown over school-funding legislation carried a tag, it would read “Made in Springfield.”

…That’s because Democrats have been holding the legislation in the Senate since May 31. After passing legislation, the General Assembly normally sends the bill to the governor’s office for further action.

…So when Gov. Rauner urges legislative Democrats to let the bill go and they ignore him, he’s the one acting to protect parents and schoolchildren from delays in school openings. Why should they be collateral damage to a political brouhaha?

That’s why he called the special legislative session that began Wednesday.

…To highlight their intransigence, Democrats lambasted the idea of any kind of legislative gathering. House Speaker Michael Madigan accused Gov. Rauner of engaging in theatrics. Cullerton, Madigan’s mini-me, professed not to understand the governor’s action and said they should have a meeting to discuss it.

…Majority Democrats in the House and Senate want to force Rauner to accept the Chicago-friendly funding provisions — $400 million-plus in benefits — as the price of getting the rewrite of the state’s school funding formula that he supports. They figure if they can waste sufficient time to threaten the opening of K-12 schools, either Rauner or enough legislative Republicans will cave on the issue.

…So if a special session is what’s needed to redirect legislators’ attention and break the logjam, that’s not a stunt. It’s a tactic, just as the Democrats’ decision to hold S.B. 1 is a tactic.

…Rauner wants the bill now so he can use his amendatory veto power to excise the Chicago-friendly provisions.

…Gov. Rauner is hoping his planned action will be sustained in the Legislature, most particularly the House, where Speaker Madigan lost his super-majority in the last election. Madigan will be looking for four Republicans he can buy off to be able to overturn Rauner’s amendatory veto, the tactic he used to pass his version of the state budget/tax hike plan over the governor’s veto.

So it’s essentially a highly distasteful game of chicken the Democrats are playing by putting the opening of the school year in jeopardy.

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BossMadigan.com Updated– 57 Days Madigan Machine Holding Schools Hostage

ILGOP Releases Madigan Hostage Taking Stopwatch

It’s been over 57 days since Mike Madigan and his machine have taken school funding and the futures of Illinois children hostage for their $500 million Chicago bailout.

Today, the Illinois Republican Party has updated BossMadigan.com with a stopwatch to remind voters just how long the Madigan Machine has taken our children hostage.

On May 31st, SB1 passed the General Assembly. Per the Illinois Constitution, the bill is supposed to head to Governor Rauner’s desk.

But Mike Madigan and John Cullerton are intentionally holding the bill, perverting the legislative process.

It’s a blatant assault on our democracy in order to create pressure for their Chicago bailout.

See the updated BossMadigan page here:

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Pritzker Chooses Madigan Over Schoolchildren

Backs Chicago Bailout in FB Live

“J.B. Pritzker’s support for SB1 in its current form is all about politics, not the children. He knows that a Chicago bailout hurts children across Illinois by redistributing their tax dollars towards a broken pension system without reform, but he doesn’t care. Pritzker is willing to hurt children in order to maintain his good favor with Mike Madigan’s Chicago machine.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Steven Yaffe

In a Facebook live video today, billionaire J.B. Pritzker declared his unequivocal support for SB1 in its current form – a school funding bill that includes a massive taxpayer funded Chicago bailout.

Pritzker knows that funneling 64% of all new education funding towards Chicago is fundamentally unfair, but he’s unwilling to speak up for children across Illinois.

Pritzker knows holding SB1 in the Senate is a perversion of the democratic process. And he knows that Madigan wants the bailout – so he’s playing ball.

It’s just more evidence that Pritzker works for Mike Madigan and his Chicago Machine, not us.

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ICYMI: Madigan Machine “playing a dangerous game with our children’s future”

“The clock is ticking” 

Another day, another editorial board bashing the Chicago Machine for refusing to send SB1 to Governor Rauner’s desk.

John Cullerton, Mike Madigan and their Chicago allies are perverting the legislative process, intentionally preventing SB1 from reaching Governor Rauner’s desk for an expected amendatory veto.

They are holding education funding and Illinois schoolchildren hostage in order to force through a $500 million Chicago bailout.

It’s a direct assault on democratic government.

Yesterday, the State Journal-Register editorial board weighed in, writing that “the Senate has to do what could have been done weeks ago. Send the bill. Start the process of trying to reach a compromise in motion.

The clock is ticking. Anyone who thinks that waiting until August can build the urgency to solve the crisis is playing a dangerous game with our children’s future.”

They’re right. Madigan and Cullerton – send Governor Rauner the bill and drop your demands for a Chicago bailout.

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ILGOP Releases Robocalls

Calls Highlight Mike Madigan, Dem Gov Candidates’ Support for Chicago Bailout 

Today, the Illinois Republican Party released robocalls statewide highlighting Mike Madigan’s hostage-taking.

Mike Madigan and his political allies are trying to hold schoolchildren hostage in order to force through a $500 million Chicago bailout without reform.

This comes after Madigan held state government hostage for years in order to force through his 32% permanent income tax hike.

Now, the Chicago Machine is refusing to release education funding for all Illinois schools unless they get their taxpayer funded bailout.

And while Madigan and his allies work the legislative side, Madigan’s candidates for Governor – J.B. Pritzker, Chris Kennedy and Daniel Biss – support the bailout too.

The Illinois Republican Party is committed to exposing Madigan’s hostage-taking scheme.

Listen to the call here.

Script:
That’s a school bell ringing, but your kids may not hear it this fall if Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan gets his way.

Mike Madigan and his enablers in the state house are threatening to shut down schools unless they get a special $500 million bailout for Chicago public schools.

First, Madigan held the budget hostage to force through a 32% permanent income tax hike with no reforms.

Now, Madigan is holding our school children hostage to get a $500 million bailout for Chicago. 

And Madigan’s candidates for Governor – J.B. Pritzker, Chris Kennedy and Daniel Biss – support the bailout too. 

Now is the time to fight back and stop the Chicago politicians before it’s too late. 

Call your state representative and state senator. Tell them your higher taxes shouldn’t pay for a Chicago bailout. 

Paid for by the Illinois Republican Party.

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ICYMI: Editorial Boards Side with Rauner on SB1

Rauner Efforts to Stop “11th Hour” Chicago Bailout are “Reasonable” 

While Mike Madigan and his allies pervert the legislative process, intentionally preventing SB1 from reaching Governor Rauner’s desk, editorial boards across the state are siding with Rauner and calling out Madigan’s Chicago machine.

The Chicago Tribune editorial board called Rauner’s plan to remove the Chicago pension bailout a “reasonable” change, and blasted John Cullerton for resorting to “pure brinksmanship.”

They write, “The bill has languished in the Senate since May 31. It passed both chambers even after House Democrats inserted last-minute perks for Chicago Public Schools. But Senate President John Cullerton has been holding on to it rather than sending it to Rauner’s desk for the veto the governor has promised. At first, Cullerton said he wanted time for emotions to calm down. But then his tactic became pure brinkmanship.

President Cullerton, release the bill. We won’t be surprised if Rauner then removes from it money Chicago Public Schools would receive for its annual pension costs. He also could veto money folded into the formula that is specific to Chicago, intended to make up for CPS’ loss of some grant funding.

Fine. Those changes are not unreasonable. We have said Chicago should get help with its pension burden if and when lawmakers pass a statewide pension reform bill. That was the deal lawmakers reached a year ago. So far, Democrats who control both chambers have put no pension reform bill on Rauner’s desk.”

The Telegraph editorial board skewered Democrats for an “11th hour” provision inserted into SB1 – the Chicago bailout.

“So of the $778 million set aside for kindergarten through high school public education in the state, Chicago schools — which account for about 19 percent of the state’s students — would get 64 percent of the money.

So much for fairness.”

They continue, “Rauner made the right call. Pension debt is a serious matter and must be dealt with, but it is damaging to all school systems to allow provisions that favor a single district stay in this plan. It should not be included in Senate Bill 1.”

It’s time for Mike Madigan and John Cullerton to do the right thing, release SB1, and drop their demands for a Chicago bailout.

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Cullerton ADMITS Chicago Machine Holding School Funding Hostage

“We slowed down the process”

Senate President John Cullerton admitted yesterday for the first time that Democratic politicians in Springfield are intentionally holding SB1 from reaching Governor Rauner’s desk.

Cullerton told the Chicago Tribune that “We slowed down the process in the Senate in order to let everyone blow off some steam, politically speaking.”

This is a direct admission that the Chicago Machine is holding school funding hostage.

John Cullerton has no right to pervert the legislative process in this way. It’s an affront to democracy.

John Cullerton and Mike Madigan should stop helping try to get their friends in Chicago a $500 million bailout and allow SB1 to reach Governor Rauner’s desk for an amendatory veto.

Anything less is a slap in the face to the voters of Illinois and their confidence in our democratic system.

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