Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Brady clarifies stand on civil unions

Posted in:

Illinois

* It’s all in the way you ask the questions. This is from Tuesday’s Daily Herald…

Quinn last week said he believed civil unions would be passed into law by the time “Christmas comes around.”

If that happens, Brady said, he would not move to overturn the legislation.

“The legislature would have spoken,” he said. […]

Brady said the “legislative process will determine the state’s agenda on social issues.”

The paper endorsed Brady the same day…

Brady’s personal views veer to the right of our tastes and the well-being of the state, but we take him at his word that he won’t push a social agenda as governor and we call on him to govern from the middle.

* But the Associated Press asked the question a different way. Brady told the DH that he wouldn’t seek to overturn a civil unions law if it was passed, but here’s what he said when asked what he’d do if the legislature passes a civil unions bill after he’s sworn in…

Brady also says he would veto legislation letting gay couples establish civil unions in Illinois.

So much for “the legislature would have spoken” and the “legislative process will determine the state’s agenda on social issues.”

This is no surprise, of course. But the Daily Herald seemed to think the conservative lion had been somehow tamed. Nope.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 4:57 pm

Comments

In other words, we really can’t believe one thing he says.

Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 5:01 pm
Even though it’s used by the Governor, the veto is a part of the legislative process. On the issue of civil unions, the GA can pass a bill that the Governor supports, or pass a bill for which they have the votes to override the Governor’s veto.

Either way, the veto is a part of the “legislative process” and any bill on any issue has to take into account the possibility of a veto.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 5:17 pm
Brady has no significant social agenda. Brady has no significant social agenda. Brady has no significant social agenda.

Keep repeating for 3 more weeks and for Heaven’s sake, don’t ask him what “significant” means.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 5:21 pm
I’m not surprised that this would happen. At least he’s not lying about his own life.

Comment by Publius Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 5:27 pm
But…but….but…a Governor has no impact on social issues……

Comment by D.P. Gumby Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 5:28 pm
Anyone believing he’ll put his far right extremist views aside while governor needs to wake up to reality. I can’t believe any newspaper would take his word that he’ll support civil unions for gays.

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 5:35 pm
Basically what Brady says is that once he’s governor, he’ll keep the status quo, whatever that happens to be at the time.

If the legislature passes the bill & Quinn signs it (i.e. Civil Unions are the law when he’s sworn in), then he won’t work to overturn the law.

If Civil Unions are not the law when he’s sworn in, then he will not work to enact it (i.e. won’t sign a bill if it’s passed by the legislature).

From where I’m sitting, that’s entirely consistent with what he said.

Comment by John Galt Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 5:35 pm
Wow, will be interesting to see if the DH takes Brady to task on this. I would bet Brady told the DH exactly what Brady thought they wanted to hear. He does that.

Comment by just sayin' Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 6:19 pm
No coverage of michelle Obama violating state law and electioneering inside a polling place.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 6:23 pm
Glad they’re focusing on the critical issues. Yep, decide this complicated civil unions issue and the deficit will just go away.

Comment by Park Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 6:34 pm
I wonder “if the general assembly speaks” and passes a tax increase, will he sign it? Just asking.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 6:48 pm
I’m curious when the social issues and the stances of the democrats will become a big deal. I mean, it seems like republican candidates are always having to defend and explain their stances on issues like abortion and gay marriage. When will the democrats face the same scrutiny.

Abortion, at best, is a 50/50 issue in this country with polling over the past few years showing more people are pro-life than pro-choice. As for civil unions/gay marriage, we see how that’s played out in elections throughout the country. And why don’t we go ask the majority of african american voters, the monolithic voting block for dems how they feel on this issue? How would James Meeks vote on the very same issue?

But who cares? On the list of major problems we’re facing right now, abortion and gay marriage don’t even make the top 10.

Comment by Logical Thinker Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 6:55 pm
- Yep, decide this complicated civil unions issue and the deficit will just go away. -

You can’t put off everything else because there is a deficit. Whether it matters to you or not, this issue is huge for the GLBT community, and people deserve an honest answer about it rather than what we consistently get from Brady.

Comment by Small Town Liberal Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 7:07 pm
Park, anytime Brady wants to address the deficit, the floor is his. It’s not like he’s running for governor or something.

Under what definition of “conservative,” do you go peeking in bedroom windows? I miss Barry Goldwater.

Thank God for the kids coming up. Most of them are tolerant and smart as wnips. True libertarians, in the real sense.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 10:54 pm
Why would you vote on this issue. even if it’s important to you. The democrats have controlled every branch of government and they haven’t moved forward on this.

Comment by MidwayGarden Friday, Oct 15, 10 @ 2:37 am
47th Ward: unbelievably funny.

Anonymous @ 6:23 pm:

Comment by bored now Friday, Oct 15, 10 @ 7:03 am
“You can’t put off everything else because there is a deficit.”

Yes you can.

Adults use priority management to determine where best to spend their time. Some want to use the hysterics of the media to determine their priorities, others have a more varied set of inputs, including common sense.

JBP

Comment by John Powers Friday, Oct 15, 10 @ 7:11 am