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* The Daily Herald goes off on state Sen. Bill Brady for missing so many votes and then vowing not to take expense reimbursement and per diem checks. “He doesn’t deserve the money,” the editorial board exclaims, adding that Brady has “shirked his duty.” The conclusion…
It might be a nightmare for campaign schedulers, but candidates ought to be in Springfield or Washington, D.C., when votes are taken and travel when they can.
We strongly disagree with Brady’s campaign spokeswoman, Patty Schuh, who told our reporter Timothy Magaw that casting votes are only part of Brady’s job as a senator.
“In order to run a credible campaign for governor, you have to be on the trail,” she said.
We’re more in line with Paul Green, a political science professor at Roosevelt University, who said: “You get elected to vote on issues. There are only 59 senators who can vote. There are a lot of people who can give speeches.”
It’s the votes, not the speeches, that should help voters distinguish between the candidates.
Only a few of those votes were close, and no matter what the DH claims speeches are quite important to campaigns. I get the point about him not being around, but I don’t think that we should only be looking at his votes. They are very important, no doubt, but what he says about what he intends to do if elected is also important.
* The Democratic Governors Association has posted a new Internet video about Brady’s missed votes. Rate it…
*** UPDATE *** Eagle-eyed John Patterson spots a boo-boo by the video’s producer…
That’s not the Senate in the ad. That’s the House.
So as the ad zeroes in on what’s supposedly an empty Brady chair, it’s showing the wrong chamber in the Illinois Capitol.
Hilarious.
[ *** End of Update *** ]
* In other news, I’ve been hearing about this poll for quite a while now…
The other day we received a robo-call from a polling organization. The recording was designed to receive only answers of “yes” or “no.”
It was obvious that the questions were geared to elicit answers that would favor Bill Brady, Republican candidate for governor.
The questions were quite loaded, including…
The most insidious wording was in the question about “don’t ask, don’t tell” in the military. It was, almost word for word, “Do you agree that we should force men in the military to integrate people with homosexual tendencies in their barracks and in their bunks?” […]
The poll asked, more than once, whom we supported, Bill Brady or Pat Quinn, often after statements such as “Pat Quinn wants to raise your taxes.”
The columnists don’t appear to understand that this is almost undoubtedly a campaign pollster, or possibly (since it seems to be going on for weeks) even a very broad canvass “push.”
* Related…
* New GOP TV ad blasts Quinn, Blagojevich
* Brady, Quinn exchange jabs
* Quinn criticizes Brady over missed votes
* Campaign no excuse to neglect duty
* Brady: Quinn to blame for lower bond rating
* Political Signs Protected Under Freedom of Speech: Governor Pat Quinn says he’s trying to protect freedom of speech across the state. That’s why this week he signed a new law that prevents communities from restricting political signs on private property.
* Quinn tours tornado sites, declares 4 counties disaster areas
* In Dwight, Quinn declares 4 counties disaster areas
* Quinn Says Funds Are Available to Storm Victims
* Weather service: 15 tornadoes touched down in Ill.
* Illinois inmates help with tornado cleanup
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 10:42 am
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Does Bill Brady think Mark Kirk should be investigated for violating the DOD’s DADT?
Does Brady feel strongly enough about his anti-gay bigotry that he’d support a political ally be discharged for being gay?
Or is discriminating against gays and lesbians only fun if they are anonymous people Brady can demonize with no personal or political costs?
Comment by Carl Nyberg Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 10:46 am
the daily herald can write that editorial when they show us the one they wrote attacking barack obama for running for president for 2 years while he was supposed to be our senator and what salary he gave back to us.
Comment by shore Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 10:50 am
“Missed votes” while running for higher office is the perennial story of the lazy journalist. Who cares? There’s only a handful of big votes down there every session.
The Daily Herald should wade through the Quinn’s proposed budget books and show us where to cut. My guess is the Daily Heralds’ editorial board doesn’t have a clue as to what’s in the budget or where to find it.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 10:54 am
Voters have repeatedly shown that they will not penalize an office holder for missing most votes.
If the Daily Herald feels that this is an issue that should be considered by voters November, then they will need to explain better than this.
Perhaps it is because voters understand that a governor or a president doesn’t vote in a legislature, and that campaigning requires time away from the legislature - whatever seems to be the reason voters have accepted this seems to demonstrate a higher level of wisdom than being demonstrated by The Daily Herald staff of editorialists.
And I think Dr. Green was enjoying one of his moments of snark when he said this. He likes to do that regularly, as I recall from personal experiences. He’s quite the snarky entertainer.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 10:57 am
Both sides have a point but Brady’s missed votes won’t matter in November. Too bad legislators can’t vote by videoconference hookup. This is the 21st century, although our Illinois state government—and many other state governments as well–so doesn’t get the concept of intelligent use of technology. It would be much harder to dodge tricy votes, too, since you could presumably even vote from bed if you had the “flu.” Only the ICU would be an excuse.
Comment by cassandra Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 11:03 am
The point is well taken – legislators are paid to legislate, which means they should be there for votes. (Although I would note that it’s a bit unseemly for the DH to tell the people of Bloomington how they should feel). It’s fair game for Quinn, but let’s not pretend that it isn’t also in his own interests to shame his opponent into staying in Springfield while he bounces around the state on the taxpayers dime attending events that, despite being “official state business,” are nonetheless helpful to his own campaign. I’m disappointed that so few of those who have expressed outrage over Brady’s attendance record have put it into context by examining Quinn’s balance of governing vs. campaigning.
Comment by grand old partisan Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 11:05 am
Votes vs speeches?
It’s priorities–performing the job you have or chasing after the one you want.
Comment by David Ormsby Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 11:08 am
I have a question - what was so important in the middle of the week for Brady to be doing?
Comment by George Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 11:09 am
The fact is that he wasn’t there, and thats definitely fair game. You don’t become a legislator to only vote when your party is the majority. I bet if he could have voted to help his business interests he would have been there.
Comment by Small Town Liberal Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 11:14 am
The RGA funds TV spots and the DGA produces Internet videos. Guess which is more effective in reaching voters?
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 11:17 am
Let me correct this:
[Brady] should wade through the Quinn’s proposed budget books and show us where to cut. My guess is [Brady] doesn’t have a clue as to what’s in the budget or where to find it.
Comment by dave Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 11:22 am
The most famous speech given in the last decade was written in a Springfield hotel room. In the summer of 2004 while Barack Obama was a statewide US Senate candidate he spent the majority in the summer holed up in Springfield making votes during the first, of what would be several, overtime in hell summer sessions during the Blagjoevich administration. So Brady is going to keep getting pounded for something he could have managed better.
And the part that makes no sense is there were days when Brady only made a vote or two all day, meaning he was in Springfield just not on the floor. Why bother going to Springfield if you’re still going to open yourself up to all this stuff?
Comment by Screwball Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 11:22 am
I agree with shore about where is the Daily Herald’s editorial about then U.S. Senator Barack Obama’s missed votes while campaigning. Where is the editorial about Obama’s present votes while serving in the Illinois Senate - we paid him but he could not decide if he was a for or against a bill. Where are the statements from Quinn concerning Barack’s lack of representation as a Illinois and U.S. Senator.
Comment by Let's Be Fair Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 11:33 am
The “poll” sounds very much like the push poll being done by the Illinois Family Institute.
The Better Government Association should be looking into it.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 11:35 am
seeing as how the msm in illinois reads this HEAVILY, perhaps a daily herald editorial writer could enlighten us on why only when a goper runs for office do they know have this lightbulb go off in their heads. Surely the us senate and the state of illinois could have used obama in the senate a lot more from 06-09 than brady’s district needs brady and it’s not like obama needed the cash…
we’re waiting.
Comment by shore Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 11:35 am
You guys that want to keep re-fighting the ‘08 election should read the whole editorial. It talks about Obama in context.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 11:38 am
And shore, you’re facts are wrong again, even if it made any sense to talk about 2008 here. “what salary he gave back to us” … Brady’s not giving any salary back. He’s paying back his per diem that’s intended for meals and lodging while in Springfield - a whopping $3500 bucks. He’s keeping his entire salary.
Comment by ShadyBillBrady Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 11:44 am
@shore:
Um, you’re comparing apples to oranges.
1. The State Senate is only in session, on average, three days a week. Brady missed votes nearly half those days.
2. Brady’s hometown is 60 miles from the state capitol. Obama’s former home is 700 miles from the nation’s capitol.
3. You can work in Springfield and campaign in Peoria, Rock Island, Rockford, Chicago, Decatur, Danville, Champaign, Charleston, Quincy, Belleville, or Carbondale on the same day. You cannot work in Washington, D.C. and hit the presidential campaign trail on the same day.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 11:44 am
The Pavlovian Obama haters heard a bell, apparently.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 11:46 am
@Rich -
In a “normal” budget year, I might agree with you that campaigning for Governor is just as important as doing your job as State Senator.
However:
1) Brady had an opportunity to demonstrate leadership on the budget — instead of just making speeches about it — and took a pass;
2) While campaigning, Brady did little to lay out anything substantive on the budget, and what little he did say — 10% across-the-board cuts — he later denied.
3) I can’t claim to be plugged in to the Brady campaign, but based on the paucity of campaign coverage, I’ll bet that Brady wasn’t missing votes in the Senate because he was making speeches, but rather because he was making fundraising calls from his office in Bloomington. It would’ve been much smarter to have his fundraising consultant travel to Springfield and make calls with him before and after session instead of missing all those votes.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 11:50 am
I’m anxious to see the DHs list of all leggies and their voting histories. I wonder how mine did?
Comment by Joe from Joliet Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 11:50 am
I think the point is Quinn’s statement now about missed votes when no one ever heard him comment in prior years. Also why was Quinn silent when Governor Blagojevich was in Chicago attending sporting events etc. when key votes were being cast in the Illinois General Assembly?
Comment by Let's Be Fair Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 11:53 am
YDD, I think you’re pretty much right on track. Although I think more often than not the campaign fundraising and meetings were being done in Chicago and not Bloomington, which is why it was even harder to get back to Springfield.
Those of us supposedly being represented by Bill Brady certainly do deserve more. And those who want to make the Obama argument here, despite the huge geographical and schedule differences, the numbers I’ve seen show Obama STILL voted more often than Brady.
Comment by ShadyBillBrady Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 11:58 am
The campaign meetings were mostly in Springfield, from what I know. That’s where the campaign manager is.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 12:00 pm
I’m not refighting the campaign which is why I am not going point by point to refute your earlier points, but it raises eyebrows when you make this an issue 2 years after obama.
Ultimately we have the best check on this that anyone could want which is the ballot box in november where I am sure governor quinn will have at his option the ability to have raised by then the issue of brady’s missed vote and his team can decide the cost benefit of their decision.
the daily herald can in the future add in a paragraph when it writes this stuff “to be fair, we did not raise this issue in 2008 with senator obama, but in hindsight we think we should have”.
Comment by shore Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 12:06 pm
Very possible Rich … and if so, makes it even more intriguing that he didn’t make it to vote, doesn’t it?
Campaign manager may be in Springfield. But the Campaign fundraiser isn’t, from what I understand. And we know on at least one of the days in question he was in Chicago.
Comment by ShadyBillBrady Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 12:06 pm
===but it raises eyebrows when you make this an issue 2 years after obama. ===
Why? We went over that issue here time and time again two years ago.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 12:09 pm
- Ultimately we have the best check on this that anyone could want which is the ballot box in november where I am sure governor quinn will have at his option the ability to have raised by then the issue of brady’s missed vote and his team can decide the cost benefit of their decision. -
What?
Comment by Small Town Liberal Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 12:13 pm
I’m not at issue with you. I’m at issue with the dailyherald. This is not defcon 4, I’m not refighting the 08 campaign, or attacking latte liberals in the lamestream media. I was referring to the piece not this blog.
What I am saying is that if they are going to write this, they should apply it to alexi for the days he’s missed from treasurer’s office, hamos’s days missed from running for congress and whatever other offices she wanted to run for first
They should also note whether they wrote the same thing about obama in 2008 that he should return money to the us treasury for days he wasn’t in dc.
They are picking on one guy and one party in one instance for a common practice. If they are singling out one, they should single out all the others.
This is not an attack on you, or anything else, just a quest for fairness.
What I am saying is
Comment by shore Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 12:18 pm
Rich I agree that you need to campaign, but tell voters they he recieved 100% of his salray, on which he paid no taxes, but only showed up for work less then half the time, and that will resonate.
How many other people have jobs where they get paid without showing up for work a majority of the time?
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 12:28 pm
Here’s an idea:
go tell your boss you won’t be in this afternoon because you’re trying to get a job somewhere else, but you still expect to be paid for this afternoon.
See how that goes over.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 12:40 pm
I guess none of Brady’s business interests were receiving votes during those days he was missing.
Schuh’s excuse is silly. Even if Brady had to make speeches, that doesn’t excuse being absent more times than he was present.
Comment by jonbtuba Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 12:47 pm
This per diem thing is no doubt abused all the time by other lawmakers, but that doesn’t make it right. The simple fact is, if you’re not incurring expenses because you aren’t on the job, then there are no expenses to reimburse. OF COURSE you therefore are entitled to no per diem. Unless you have legitimate business expenses to be reimbursed for, then any such payments received would be taxable income. And we know how Brady feels about paying taxes.
This is typical of Bill Brady. He wants a pat on the back for doing what the law already requires (although given the votes he makes to profit himself, maybe this is progress in Bill’s case).
A more serious question would be, when is he going to dock his state salary for all the days he missed? That’s what any business would do, if that is one somehow avoided being fired.
Comment by just sayin' Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 1:21 pm
I don’t understand the back and forth on the Brady v. Obama/Brady like Obama/ Brady is Obama issue. The overlying issue is a simple one. If Quinn can make Brady’s absence an issue that resonates with voters, then he should pursue it until he is blue in the face. Brady’s absence is a fact as was Obama’s. The underlying issue? Brady may lack the political wherewithal to overcome the issue as raised. Let’s see how he responds.
And about Plummer’s taxes…I have a sneaky suspicion that he has never worked a day in his life. Alexi haters…your turn…GO!
Comment by GetOverIt Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 1:24 pm
So the ad “embellishes” by focusing on the House and a House Chair that SENATOR Brady sits in? Is THAT what you are trying to tell us?
Whatta campaign season this is shaping up to be!
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 1:26 pm
Louis, I’m not sure it “embellishes” … perhaps it just “misrepresented it wrong” to borrow from Mark Kirk.
Comment by ShadyBillBrady Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 1:35 pm
Louis,
The ad shows video of the Illinois House. Bill Brady is in the Illinois Senate. Those are two different chambers on opposite ends of the Capitol. It’d be like showing a picture of the Attorney General’s office and wondering why Quinn’s not there that day.
The mistake is then furthered by putting audio from the Senate over footage from the House.
In summary:
Wrong seat
Wrong chamber
Wrong audio
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 1:44 pm
in comparing the video with a seating chart, it appears tha the “seat” in question is that of Rep. Mark Beaubien. Also, it uses actual Senate audio (thank you Hollywood Hendon) which is prohibited unless granted by express written permission of the General Assembly. Apparently the DGA doesn’t mind breaking the law in addition to being inaccurate.
Comment by in the know Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 1:46 pm
Does a Senator have to be in Springfield to be eligible for a per diem?
Comment by BigTwich Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 1:49 pm
I think you guys are missing the point. It’s about wrong seat, wrong chamber, wrong audio….
The point is that Senator Brady wasn’t doing his job. The people elected him and he didn’t bother to show up or vote. The average voter has no idea about the wrong stock footage used.
Comment by The Shadow Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 2:00 pm
SORRY forgot a word - don’t want my point to be misinterpreted.
It’s NOT about wrong seat, wrong chamber, wrong audio…
Comment by The Shadow Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 2:02 pm
BigTwitch, the answer is yes, a senator must be in Springfield to collect per diem. Senate Rule 4-1(a) says: “Members shall be entitled to per diem expense riembursements only on those regular, veto, and special session days that they are in attendance at the Senate.”
Comment by TwoFeetThick Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 2:04 pm
Sorry, BigTwich…
Comment by TwoFeetThick Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 2:05 pm
Shadow, I understand what the point is, the execution is horrific.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 2:05 pm
You’re right about that, Shadow.
Just like in other ads where a picture or video of a candidate speaking is used, but the footage is not from the time the quoted statement is from … it’s about the effect.
For example … this one, also from the RGA (http://www.vimeo.com/12249326) … is that video footage of Quinn actually from 2006 when he made the statement about his interaction with Blago? Doubt it, or they would have actually used the video of him saying it.
Comment by ShadyBillBrady Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 2:06 pm
In the know,
It’s video and still photography that requires the Senate’s consent. People audio tape every minute of session without getting consent.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 2:12 pm
Shady, maybe they will now state that they “misremembered” that they showed the wrong chair in the wrong chamber that Senator Brady does NOT sit in (and yes, Michelle, I figured it out)!
That’s why I like “embellishment” better.
So when Quinn says he “always” was a reformer (except during the Blagojevich years when he saw nothing amiss and was one of his biggest cheerleaders) was he “embellishing,” or “misremembering” or “misrepresenting?”
All these new terms we have to learn and use correctly. It gets very confusing! Let’s get to the “truthiness” of it all, shall we?
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 2:20 pm
“Missed votes” isn’t the budget missing and no where near balanced, kinda a bigger story isn’t it, where’s Quinn?
Comment by Really? Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 2:34 pm
Really? - Grammar aside, maybe Bill Brady could answer your question with his plan to balance the budget. Oh wait, I misremembered wrong, he doesn’t have any kind of plan for that.
Comment by Small Town Liberal Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 3:01 pm
Small Town: Remember Brady wanted a 10% cut across the board. Quinn ridiculed across the board cuts as not solving anything. Quinn then later favored 5% across the board cuts as an option!
At least that is how I remember it, or misremember it if I am off just a little bit in the precision contests these days.
Like I said earlier, it’s gonna be one long election season!
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 4:31 pm
===Quinn ridiculed across the board cuts as not solving anything. Quinn then later favored 5% across the board cuts as an option!===
That’s just the start; Quinn has been given emergency power to cut even further will he cut say another 5%, do the math?
Brady’s in the minority, so where is Quinn he’s currently governor his job is the one that really matters has he been campaigning, has he offered to give back any pay?
Comment by Yeahright Tuesday, Jun 8, 10 @ 11:05 pm