Government by (Default)

In Washington last week there was a changing of the guard in the U.S. House. As one Speaker departed and another took his place, simultaneous action occurred to keep the nation from defaulting on its prior obligations and sidetrack the endless, nauseating budget debate that has been going on for years in our nation’s capital. Feel how you will about the process and the outcome, but at the very least a budget framework is in place and our legislators can move onto other matters (such as the TRID grace period passed in the House and pending in the Senate?).

To an extent, change was the catalyst that made something happen in Washington. What will be the catalyst for action in Illinois? For months now our legislature and governor have been at loggerheads over the state budget and that is having real impact on people’s lives and the business climate. The stalemate in Springfield was ushered in by change in the form of the election of pro-business Governor Bruce Rauner, and it is highly unlikely that any of the main combatants will be leaving the scene voluntarily as former Speaker John Boehner did.

So where does that leave us, the taxpayers of Illinois? What action on whose part can bring about a resolution?

Legislative leaders and the governor are scheduled to meet this week for the first time in quite a while. Perhaps further talks will move them closer to a resolution. Until some undetermined pressure point is reached, however, it seems unlikely that an agreement will happen. Fiscal pressure might be the key at some point in time, but in my view pressure bubbling up from below, from those of us who go to the polls every two years, is the most likely change agent that will pave the way for a breakthrough.

For my friends on the Democratic side of the email, that means contacting your legislators and the leadership of both houses to stress the need to compromise and reach agreement soon. For my Republican friends, you’re not off the hook. Contact Gov. Rauner, absolutely, but also make it clear to Republican legislators that they need to help convince the governor that reaching a budget agreement is vital.

Of course, just like in Washington, most parties will not be delighted by many of the details of any budget agreement, but that’s how government in a democracy works. We need to move forward before Illinois becomes even more of a laughingstock nationally.

I urge all to be active, get in your legislator’s ear, and help create momentum to move toward resolution. Until the next round of elections a year from now, our only recourse is to contact legislators and the governor directly to clamor for an agreement. We are the agent for change. 

An easy and effective way to have your voice heard is through the Title Action Network.  You can join TAN in seconds and it costs nothing.  However, through TAN your voice is added to those of other concerned professionals for a strong and clear message to lawmakers, regulators, and policy makers.