It goes without saying that Mike Madigan isn’t a fan of term limits. Their absence is the reason he’s been in office since 1971 and has been the Speaker for all but two of the last 35 years.
JB Pritzker claims to be a supporter of term limits, but not if it upsets Mike Madigan. Just check out what he said during the NBC debate back in January: “I am not in favor of term for limits for everybody in the legislature.”
Pritzker knows all too well that he needs the support of Madigan and his Chicago political machine to get elected. That’s why he doesn’t support term limits.
* I watched their attached video and they left out something that’s pretty important. See if you can spot it…
Pritzker: I’m in favor of independent maps so you’ll have more competitive elections. I’m in favor of legislative leader term limits so that we don’t have people serving in office for tens and tens of years.
Carol Marin: On this you agree with Gov. Rauner?
Pritzker: I am not in favor of term limits for everybody in the Legislature. I think leaders should, leadership should turn over because I want competitive elections. I think if you like your legislator you should be able to reelect them, but it should be in a competitive election.
It goes without saying that Speaker Madigan ain’t no fan of legislative leader term limits.
To be fair, that comment is true if you replace “26%” with any percentage that is a politician’s base and replace the names accordingly. Once you decide you don’t want someone, no ad will convince you. Illinois’s only chance of being a place that can provide a decent future for my future children is if it completely breaks down in 5-10 years, so in that sense, I can’t lose this election.
This is part of why their standard playbook is going to be harder to execute against Pritzker. He favors term limits for leaders. He favors independent maps. He favors campaign finance reform. And he’s spent a heck of a lot of money over the past decade in support of various reform efforts. He also doesn’t need Madigan’s money.
Simply put, the caricature doesn’t work very well with Pritzker.
- lake county democrat - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 11:30 am:
Actually I think the distinction is trivial. 85% of the state wants term limits for all of them, not just the party leaders. The “limit the leadership” is an artificial construct designed to protect the legislators and give pols a way to sound like they aren’t bucking the masses.
The better question to ask these candidates is “Given the consistent overwhelming support for term limits shown in polls, do the Voters deserve to vote on term limits?” Not “What’s your opinion?” If the answer to that is “no, they can make their voices “heard” through electing the governor, even though there’s legions of other issues and generally “one issue voting” is considered a bad thing,” let them go on record with that.
Speaker Madigan can say with a straight face that a party that does not listen to the will of the voters will go away but then opposes every single bipartisan reform of state government.
He publicly admits he is not a change person, even though Illinois leads the nation in distrust of state government.
All elected democrats step in line and almost unanimously reelect him to lead the party.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 10:11 am:
I’m sure a correction will be forthcoming.
Rauner prides himself on honesty.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 10:13 am:
This plays to the 26% Rauner already has.
Pritzker is also already under water.
This is another piece designed to keep the feeble 26%.
“What will be different in a Rauner second term?”
By nearly every measure, Illinois is worse off since Rauner became governor.
So… yeah, it’s outta context, typical Raunerite bland, “dont talk about the successes, we have none” deflection.
The 26% will be pleased.
LOL
- DuPage - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 10:13 am:
Term limits are decided by voters, in elections. If an incumbent loses, his term has been limited.
- Chris Widger - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 10:16 am:
To be fair, that comment is true if you replace “26%” with any percentage that is a politician’s base and replace the names accordingly. Once you decide you don’t want someone, no ad will convince you. Illinois’s only chance of being a place that can provide a decent future for my future children is if it completely breaks down in 5-10 years, so in that sense, I can’t lose this election.
- @misterjayem - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 10:16 am:
“Bruce Rauner doesn’t suffer for the possession of dignity, self-respect or honor.” — Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton)
Looks like Bruce doesn’t intend to suffer during the general election campaign either.
– MrJM
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 10:19 am:
That rascal.
- don the legend - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 10:29 am:
Bruce Rauner lies.
Bruce Rauner’s campaign lies.
Therefore Bruce Rauner = Bruce Rauner’s campaign.
That’s what I remember from high school geometry.
- Anon0091 - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 10:30 am:
This is part of why their standard playbook is going to be harder to execute against Pritzker. He favors term limits for leaders. He favors independent maps. He favors campaign finance reform. And he’s spent a heck of a lot of money over the past decade in support of various reform efforts. He also doesn’t need Madigan’s money.
Simply put, the caricature doesn’t work very well with Pritzker.
- City Zen - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 10:56 am:
== I think if you like your legislator you should be able to reelect them…==
You can. They can run for state senate, US House, US Senate, County Commissioner, AG, Water Reclamation, hometown mayor, local school board…
- JS Mill - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 11:08 am:
Rauner isn’t in favor of the truth.
@CZ- elections are their own form of term limits.
- lake county democrat - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 11:30 am:
Actually I think the distinction is trivial. 85% of the state wants term limits for all of them, not just the party leaders. The “limit the leadership” is an artificial construct designed to protect the legislators and give pols a way to sound like they aren’t bucking the masses.
The better question to ask these candidates is “Given the consistent overwhelming support for term limits shown in polls, do the Voters deserve to vote on term limits?” Not “What’s your opinion?” If the answer to that is “no, they can make their voices “heard” through electing the governor, even though there’s legions of other issues and generally “one issue voting” is considered a bad thing,” let them go on record with that.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 11:39 am:
Speaker Madigan can say with a straight face that a party that does not listen to the will of the voters will go away but then opposes every single bipartisan reform of state government.
He publicly admits he is not a change person, even though Illinois leads the nation in distrust of state government.
All elected democrats step in line and almost unanimously reelect him to lead the party.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 3:33 pm:
==elections are their own form of term limits.==
Exactly.
If you want to change the way maps are drawn that’s fine. Make the races more competitive.
When it comes to term limits, though, we already have them.