Crocodile tears flow at Governor's Mansion

The Illinois Governor's Mansion was awash with crocodile tears shed by Governor Rauner after a Cook County judge denied placement of a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would move legislative redistricting from the legislature to an independent body. Rauner promoted the move as a non-budgetary plank in his 'turnaround' agenda that has held up a state budget for nineteen months now. During this time critical social services have been cut, tossing many of Illinois' most needy from the social safety net into to a poorer life. Low income students have lost tuition grants forcing many into a shaky job market without a proper education. State vendors must wait longer for payment, driving some to drink if not bankruptcy. Yet, Governor Rauner continues the delusional charade that independent redistricting and other turnaround items will solve all the problems affecting Illinois' needy and forgotten.

Better crocodile tears flow from the governor than the blood that keeps dripping from the body politic due to the most heartless cuts in state services I've seen in my 60 years following Illinois governance. The Democratic super majority in the legislature is the bulwark keeping us from full implementation of Rauner's 'reverse Robin Hood' policies designed to enhance his rich base at everyone else's expense. Just a week ago the governor had a chance to enhance democracy here but his veto of automatic motor voter registration didn't fit into his 2018 re-election plans. That veto, and his unconscionable holding hostage of the budget process for a heartless agenda, makes his tears no more real than Crying Barbie's.