A telling pause?
Tuesday, Aug 2, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Kerry Lester was the lone reporter at this presser yesterday…
Within the last week, a top member of Illinois House Republican leadership abruptly resigned from the legislature and Gov. Bruce Rauner signed into law a birth control bill many of his fellow GOP members opposed.
But suburban House and Senate Republicans presented a unified front Monday at Schaumburg Township Republican offices as they called for the passage of a term limits proposal that, while politically popular, is unlikely to pass the Democratic-controlled General Assembly.
Republicans state Sen. Michael Connelly of Wheaton and Dan McConchie of Hawthorn Woods joined state representatives Jeannie Ives of Wheaton, Mark Batinick of Plainfield and Christine Winger of Wood Dale, along with a number of Republicans challenging sitting Democratic lawmakers, for the midday news conference where party staffers far outnumbered members of the media.
Flanked by large poster showing former President Richard Nixon and House Speaker Michael Madigan side by side, Gurnee Republican Mike Amrozowicz, who is challenging Democratic Sen. Melinda Bush of Grayslake Nov. 8, pointed out that Nixon had yet to be impeached, the Sears Tower was still under construction and gas was 36 cents a gallon when Madigan, a Chicago Democrat, was first elected to the state House in 1971.
* The Nixon-Madigan poster…
* But check out the long, pregnant pause when Lester asked the Republicans if the governor was “not listening to the Republican caucus in the House and Senate” after signing that controversial “Right of Conscience” bill on Friday. “Well, he certainly didn’t listen to us on that vote,” said Rep. Jeannie Ives after several seconds of awkward silence…
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 10:07 am:
Another masterstroke —- of junior hi campaign stunts. Do this rubes not know most GOPies think Tricky Dick is still the best?
And just wait til Stu gets his “release”
- City Zen - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 10:09 am:
Only Madigan could go to Schaumburg.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 10:11 am:
The buyer is the one to call the shots, not the people who’ve been purchased. Live with it Rauner caucuses.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 10:11 am:
1) Kerry Lester is great. I go out of my way to read her.
2) Lester’s Twitter…
@KerryLester -Entirely surrounded by staffers and lawmakers at this ILGOP presser. No other reporters I can see.
Nicely done you guys.
3) When Rauner continues to sign things to embarrass you, why are y’all not fightin’ for autonomy?
Yeah, we all know why. Right? Exactly right.
- Saluki - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 10:15 am:
“Rich Man does the dancing, while the poor man plays in the band.”
- Doofman - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 10:16 am:
“Pregnant pause”? Oh the puns….
- Shark Sandwich - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 10:18 am:
That pause was so pregnant the parents had a name picked out..
- Not Rich - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 10:19 am:
Madigan’s constituents have had over 20 elections to get rid of him (term limit him), and they have chosen not to do that.. every 2 years people in the House put themselves up for a limit on their service..I don’t want some right winger from McHenry County telling me I can’t choose my Rep..
- The_Equalizer - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 10:31 am:
If Durkin, et. al. want to show their belief in Term Limits, then resign en masse. If Rauner believed in Term Limits, he would use his money and power to force Durkin et. al. out and bring in this new blood he prizes so much. But…no, won’t happen. This is all political posturing. I’m pretty confident the R’s in the GA have no desire to see Term Limits enacted.
- Anon221 - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 10:34 am:
Is Ives the new Sandack???
- Dee Lay - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 10:37 am:
Six seconds of silence says a lot more then one would imagine.
- phocion - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 10:39 am:
==I don’t want some right winger from McHenry County telling me I can’t choose my Rep..==
And I don’t want some Chicago Machine boss telling me which bills will be called and which won’t be.
See how that works, Not Rich? But if constituents want to re-elect someone, I’m for it. The problem is that there are no term limits on leadership posts - posts that have become far too powerful and deprive the legislative branch of what should be its deliberative autonomy. That’s where the focus should be.
- Huh? - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 10:41 am:
“Well, he certainly didn’t listen to us on that vote,”
Snort, chuckle, chuckle,
When did 1.4% ever listen to anybody?
- A Jack - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 10:42 am:
They should compromise and only term limit the Governor to two terms max. I thought Jim Thompson served way too many terms. Where were the GA Republicans then?
As far as term limits for GA members are concerned, I think Ken Dunkin’s primary addresses that issue completely
- ChicagoVinny - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 10:43 am:
I remember when nationally the GOP made a lot of noise in ‘94 about term limits, and then once they were in power in the House and Senate, they conveniently forgot about them.
- Gruntled University Employee - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 10:43 am:
== Nixon had yet to be impeached, the Sears Tower was still under construction and gas was 36 cents a gallon when Madigan, a Chicago Democrat, was first elected to the state House in 1971. ==
And Godzilla used to be a little bitty lizard, what’s your point?
- Not Rich - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 10:49 am:
“Phocian”: Get 60 and you too can control the House agenda..and please don’t reply whining about the map.. just win baby..
- PlayK8 - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 11:09 am:
phocion nails it. Term limits for leadership is the real problem.
- Last Bull Moose - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 11:15 am:
How bad is it when Nixon looks good?
I agree with OW on the value of an independent caucus. I don’t see it on either side of the aisle anytime soon.
- Hamlet's Ghost - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 11:24 am:
== phocion nails it. Term limits for leadership is the real problem. ==
Do you really think anything would be different if Madigan, Currie, Feigenholtz and Lang rotated as Speaker of the IL House every 4-6 years?
- Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 11:26 am:
Mike Madigan and the telling pauses of Rauner allies he controls!
- @MisterJayEm - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 11:28 am:
“Check out the long, pregnant pause when Lester asked the Republicans if the governor was ‘not listening to the Republican caucus in the House and Senate’ after signing that controversial ‘Right of Conscience’ bill on Friday.”
According to Ron Ziegler, Miss Rose Mary Woods has claimed responsibility for the gap in that recording.
– MrJM
- Big Muddy - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 11:31 am:
Can someone at College of DuPage do something wrong please? We need Ives distracted and occupied as she obviously has too much free time on her hands lately.
And to this “Do you really think anything would be different if Madigan, Currie, Feigenholtz and Lang rotated as Speaker of the IL House every 4-6 years?”
That answer is most certainly YES.
- HRC2016 - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 11:44 am:
I think it would be great if Rep Ives took over for Sandack as the floor leader/cheerleader. Want to see how Durkin deals with her.
- MOON - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 11:44 am:
BIG …11:31 AM
Can you expand upon your conclusion?
- Hamlet's Ghost - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 11:45 am:
@BigMuddy
Nope. I believe there is more consensus among IL Democratic leadership than the IL GOP wishes to believe.
But it’s all academic - - term limits on leadership positions simply won’t happen except during the equivalent on dorm room bull sessions.
- Big Muddy - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 11:54 am:
MOON,
Sure. Ever see Wizard of Oz? No one dare cross the evil witch out of fear. Didn’t matter numbers, weapons, etc. No one, even Lang or Currie strike the same fear/power as Madigan. They just don’t have the moxy that Madigan does. Therefore things would be different. At this point in Illinois governing different is a definite upgrade.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 12:03 pm:
If Rauner wanted to show the many Democrats that agree with him, Rauner would name them and share a podium with them and have IllinoisGo fund them.
IllinoisGo folded… Rauner has yet to name or stand with the numerous Democrats he claims support the ending of prevailing wage and collective bargaining isn’t because of Madigan, or Currie, or even Lang.
Democrats are not supporting the Turnaround Agenda because as Democrats, the TA Fundamentals are counter to Democratic Party beliefs.
Not Madigan beliefs, not Currie or Lang beliefs.
Defeating Madigan will not bring a watershed of Democrats to the Turnaround Agenda.
Not understanding this is why “Fire Madigan” failures continue over and over.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 12:06 pm:
“Rauner has yet to name or stand with the numerous Democrats he claims support the ending of prevailing wage and collective bargaining, that isn’t because of Madigan, or Currie, or even Lang.”
Apologies
- Ghost - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 12:13 pm:
Wasn’t the GOP complaining frea about Madigan running bills that wont pass just for political reasons to count votes? but isnt that what tje GOP is doing here?
Sothe GOP is now ok with wasteing time on bills that wont pass just to make political statements…. they have a new platform…. its ok for us, just not madigan
- MOON - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 12:31 pm:
BIG
I have seen the Wizard of Oz and I thought it was Rauner.
- DuPage Bard - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 12:31 pm:
Governing is forming coalitions. The Gov keeps talking about Dems who support him yet never shares a stage with them or even names them. One Rep showed up at an event where the Gov was and has been slammed by the GOP for being there?
If you can’t get people on your side, and you throw the people on your side under the bus, how do you expect to accomplish your goals?
- walker - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 12:32 pm:
Lester’s good in a lot of ways, but she “owns” the suburban GOP beat, through her hard work and excellence. That’s at the center of GOP power in IL. Between her and Riopell in S’field, DH has the strongest team among the papers.
- MOON - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 12:32 pm:
BIG
Rauner lacks moxy but boes have money
- MOON - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 12:34 pm:
BIG
Does have money
- DuPage Bard - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 12:34 pm:
Sorry OW very similar to your post….just read.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 12:40 pm:
- DuPage Bard -
It’s all good, if anything, it’s symbolic how glaring some things that the governor claims resonate with many people and are seen merely as stagecraft and showmanship in words, but lack the substance behind the claims. No worries.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 1:50 pm:
Dear Representative Ives -
What makes you think that 1.4% cares about how you vote or what you say. For that matter, what makes you think that 1.4% is going to listen to ANYBODY in the GOP caucus?
All 1.4% wants you to do is what he tells you to do, without question or thoughts of “Is this for the good of the people in my District”?
History has shown that 1.4% is going to sign what ever legislation he wants, no matter how his raunerite caucus has voted. In case you have forgotten, there was that small matter of the FY 2016 K-12 education funding that you and your fellow GOP caucus members voted against. 1.4% was gleeful as he signed it. Where was your press conference with the quote of the day - “Well, he certainly didn’t listen to us on that vote.”
By the way, thank you for the laugh. I needed it after the last few days of your best friend and candidate for President, the Donald.
Sincerely,
Huh?
- anon - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 2:32 pm:
One question I wish Lester would’ve asked at the Schaumburg presser: There are active members of the local Republican organization who have served more than two decades on the Schaumburg Village Board. Should they also be subject to term limits, or are term limits only appropriate for state elected officials?