* Buried down deep in this otherwise non-news story is this prediction from state Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston)…
She predicted that Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan will run for governor, and as part of the run, her stepfather, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, will step down.
I don’t think Rep. Hamos knows the final decision. I asked Madigan about that once several months ago. I mentioned to him that lots of people believed he should step aside if his daughter ran for governor. His response was unprintable, but definitely on the negative side.
Also, MJM isn’t Lisa’s stepfather. She’s adopted. He’s her father.
* Meanwhile, I told subscribers about this yesterday afternoon…
The Illinois House of Representatives has canceled half of an upcoming veto session.
Word of the change came Tuesday in a memo from House Speaker Michael Madigan that didn’t give an explanation.
Madigan’s spokesman, Steve Brown, says lawmakers already addressed business that would’ve been handled in the November session. He says they’ve returned repeatedly to Springfield since the spring session ended in May.
House members will still return from Nov. 19-21. The Nov. 12-14 session was dropped.
Cindy Davidsmeyer, spokeswoman for Senate President Emil Jones, says the Senate also could alter its schedule, but that hasn’t been decided.
* And the governor’s office wasn’t pleased with the announcement…
“We are disappointed by this announcement because there are real issues out there that are still unresolved, including autism,” said spokesman Brian Williamsen.
Blagojevich supports a plan that would require insurers to provide coverage for autism treatment.
* Somewhat related…
* Springfield haunted house mural of Madigan, Blagojevich removed
* SJ-R Opinion: Governor must stop games with site closures
* Inmate transfers from Pontiac don’t make sense
* Pontiac battle playing out in the courts
LIVE session coverage...
- HooRay! - Wednesday, Oct 15, 08 @ 12:07 pm:
Blago’s office wasn’t pleased with the announcement of Lisa Madigan running for Governor of Illinois.
Finally, an individual with integrity to lead our state!
- jimbo - Wednesday, Oct 15, 08 @ 12:14 pm:
Bring on Lisa! It is time for someone who can govern with integrity & skill.
- Loop Lady - Wednesday, Oct 15, 08 @ 12:28 pm:
for all intents and purposes, Mike Madigan is her father-GO Lisa!
Where will Hynes land if she goes for it?
If Barack wins, I think there will be a sucking sound of IL beauracrats skeetering out the door heading to DC come January if not before…
makes me ponder the political landscape in IL a year from now….hmmmm…
- archpundit - Wednesday, Oct 15, 08 @ 12:41 pm:
It’s not intents and purposes. It’s his daughter. Period. Thanks to Rich for pointing out one of my pet peeves.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 15, 08 @ 12:51 pm:
I think he would step aside.
From my observations over the years, the only thing Madigan loves more than power is his family — and he loves power a lot.
I just don’t see how it could work. Even with governors he’s gotten along with relatively well, like Thompson and Ryan, Madigan’s modus operandi with them has always been highly confrontational. Don’t see how he could do it with Lisa. Also, she’d always be in his shadow while he’s there.
He plays his cards close to the vest, but at the opportune time, he’d step down. The only question is at what moment the move would maximize value for Lisa.
- Secret Square - Wednesday, Oct 15, 08 @ 12:56 pm:
The haunted house murals were pretty funny and it’s a shame they won’t be seen.
An even scarier picture would have been Blago taking the oath of office for a third term(with his fingers crossed behind his back)
- I like Mike but... - Wednesday, Oct 15, 08 @ 1:08 pm:
I like both Madigans and would likely vote for Lisa for Governor, but only if Mike stepped down from the Speakership. Having the relatives in those two jobs at the same time is too “ooky” for me.
Relax Mike, you could model what Putin did; run plays from the sidelines, and still have a lot of influence. You have to have thought this thru to the endgame before now. I think I’m not the only voter who would have this objection, and it would be probably my only objection to her Gubernatorial candidacy. For one door to open, another must close. There can only be one.
On the bright side, there are no other Blagojevich relatives running for anything in Illinois.
- 2ConfusedCrew - Wednesday, Oct 15, 08 @ 1:09 pm:
Did someone manage to stick both feet in her mouth with one sentence?
Looks like a big yup!
Most prefer Mdigan stay on to help with the full decontamination that will be needed after the Blagoat experience ends.
BTW who sold Blagoat the green lane scam?
- Loop Lady - Wednesday, Oct 15, 08 @ 1:15 pm:
hey archpundit-we agree! chill buddy..
- rolypoly - Wednesday, Oct 15, 08 @ 2:02 pm:
julie hamos and her predictions….
- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Oct 15, 08 @ 2:12 pm:
Larry, we may disagree on a bunch of political things but old AA is with you 100% on this one. No hair-splitting needed. Father. Period.
I even agree for once with 2confused. Illinois is going to need every able hand on deck post-Blago.
- anon - Wednesday, Oct 15, 08 @ 2:44 pm:
I am not crazy about Mike Madigan, but no doubt Illinois would be well served by Lisa Madigan. She is not as conservative as I would like her to be but I like her because I think she is honest. No doubt this is what Illinois sorely needs and she definitely fills that void. It doesn’t hurt that she is not stupid either.
- siriusly - Wednesday, Oct 15, 08 @ 3:27 pm:
while Speaker Madigan does exercise a bit much control over his caucus I hardly think that means he has to resign I’d Lisa runs. she would be a great governor - is there something wrong with a speaker supporting the Governor’s agenda? at least Madigan would not be supporting her to get jobs for his family (Emil) - I think this is a bogus argument as long as the House Dems vote for him he should stay speaker - Governor Lisa or not. If the caucus doesn’t like it they can vote for Hoffman or Lang….
- Angry Chicagoan - Wednesday, Oct 15, 08 @ 7:42 pm:
Well, at least with the way the Democratic field is shaping up, we will have no grossly unqualified candidate like Blago in 2002. Wm. Daley, Lisa Madigan, Hynes are all almost certain to do a far better job. I like the idea of Madigan because I think she’d be more politically effective than the other two at pushing reform the state needs; I don’t think Hynes can roll the legislature and I don’t think Daley fully appreciates what’s needed. But of course the election is a long way away and I’m ready to be proved wrong.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 16, 08 @ 11:52 am:
While mandates for insuring anything are nice, they’re also expensive. Are customers at least permitted to opt out of coverage they don’t want or can afford? Or are we trying to make more people un/under insured?
What people really need is very basic health insurance (an inexpensive $1M high deductible plan that protects from bankruptcy) like the cheap un/under insured motorist plans.
Premiums should be assisted as needed, but should only discriminate based on things individuals can control, like their weight and exercise, not the uncontrollable such as genetics.