Tempers Flare As Democrats Continue To Reject Rauner's Agenda
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Tensions were still running high in Springfield on Thursday, as Democratic lawmakers rejected more of Gov. Bruce Rauner's so-called "turnaround agenda."
On Wednesday, an Illinois Senate committee voted down the governor's proposed changes to workers' compensation laws, and on Thursday the Judiciary Committee debated Rauner's plan to overhaul the state's civil court system – specifically, lawsuits seeking financial damages.
Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Champaign) ridiculed Democrats who complained the measure was hammered out in a closed-door working group, and committee chair Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) responded.
"Was there a suggestion by the majority party that they had some better forum of sitting down together, and trying to find areas for which we all might agree upon?" Barickman asked.
"Yes, there was, Senator Barickman. I was in that working group, and I suggested – having worked on workers' comp four years ago – I suggested having the manufacturers in the room; the Illinois Chamber of Commerce; maybe Caterpillar, one of our major manufacturers. They were parties of interest," Raoul responded.
Those parties were shut out of working groups created to negotiate compromises on Rauner's agenda.
Democrats have argued most of the changes Rauner is seeking would benefit corporations at the expense of the middle and working class.
Votes against Rauner's agenda have come as Democrats have begun passing measures to craft a $36.3 billion budget for the fiscal year starting July 1, even though Democrats acknowledge the spending plan exceeds projected revenues by more than $3 billion.
That would leave Rauner with the responsibility for either making billions of dollars in cuts to social service programs, approve a tax increase, or veto the budget outright, leaving the state without a spending plan for next year.
Rauner and Republican lawmakers have said they won't negotiate compromises on the budget unless Democrats make concessions on Rauner's pro-business agenda.