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* House Speaker Michael Madigan after session adjourned Friday evening…
“As usual, this has been a difficult session; maybe a very difficult session.
“Over the last few years, nothing seems to be simple; nothing seems to be easy. It’s just one difficult, complicated issue after another.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 11:21 am
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Self inflicted, I must say.
Comment by Knome Sane Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 11:24 am
You would never guess that the Democrats have a supermajority from this quote.
Comment by Upon Further Review Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 11:24 am
Another sign that Cullerton is gaining ground in who is the most influential leader in Springfield.
Comment by Almost the Weekend Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 11:27 am
“It’s all about serving the people.” nyuk-nyuk
Comment by bwana63 Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 11:27 am
That’s as close as I’ve ever seen to him admitting the session didn’t go how he wanted it to. Though it is also reminiscent of the Will Farrell impression of George Bush being president…”It’s hard. It’s really hard.”
Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 11:32 am
The more difficult it gets, the less you actually accomplish?
Cop out.
Comment by Wensicia Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 11:33 am
Yeah, who wouldn’t have thought you couldn’t push through a tax increase in the runup to a tough election?
Comment by tberry Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 11:33 am
Simple left the station long ago Mr. Speaker. You’re the one who engineered the train.
Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 11:37 am
Since Blago left, Edgar’s 1995 pension ramp-up law has eviscerated the State financially. That has spilled into everything.
Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 11:38 am
I think the phrase “Hoisted by your own petard” fits.
Comment by PolPal56 Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 11:42 am
AR - so, are you saying it was Edgar’s fault? Not the pension holiday RB used to hide the problems? Who passed the pension ramp? Edgar? He passed legislation? right, I get it.
Comment by dupage dan Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 11:42 am
And that’s the way it is and you will like it!
Comment by BIG R. Ph. Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 11:46 am
We need Terrence Goggin now more than ever.
Comment by Jose Abreu's next homer Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 11:49 am
Well when the adults in Springfield seem to not be able to figure it out anymore, that is the sign we are truly screwed.
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 12:06 pm
@Dupage Dan - The SEC described the law as the “primary driver” behind a breathtaking $57 billion increase in unfunded pension liabilities between 1995 and 2010. And Edgar, Madigan, Bill Brady, Kurt Dillard, and Dan Rutherford were all promoting it. So were the business groups. The unions said nary a word, because the state was already skipping payments, and this was the only option on the table. So, yeah, it was Edgar’s fault, among others. He pushed it, and signed it. As Willy says, he should “own” it. Then the pension holiday bills started in earnest in 2005. With those spineless laws, the state created the “crisis” that it hopes to solve by ignoring it’s own and the US Constitutions.
Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 12:09 pm
==Simple left the station long ago Mr. Speaker. You’re the one who engineered the train.==
Yes, I remember when Madigan was simultaneously Senate President & Governor all those years! It was amazing, particularly the part of him being state Dem chair and a GOP Senate leader & governor!
Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 12:12 pm
MJM is a difficult situation.
Comment by Union Man Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 12:16 pm
To MJM—You’ll be fine.
Comment by anon Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 12:21 pm
Sounds like you are admitting defeat Mr. Speaker. The reality?
The reality is that you’ve been top of the heap politically for so long, you don’t have any excuses for what happened.
Everything that has been collapsing has been showing signs of collapse for over a decade. I remember distinctly how difficult it has been to pass a budget ever since 2004. It has been a decade, Mr. Speaker.
What is the surprise, and why are you of all people surprised?
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 12:23 pm
Perhaps the most difficult task was spending nearly five months working to make it look like the Senate President came out a winner. Exhausting but well worth. Tried to do it several time for EJjr, but he outfoxed Madigan several times.
Just kidding….maybe
pop quiz…the name of the guy who took the GOPies over for the Rosemont lobo?
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 12:30 pm
Today’s General Assembly faces the consequences of yesterday’s General Assemblies unwillingness to deal with problems. Funny how the problems get worse as this dance goes on.
California found itself in a somewhat similar situation and under Jerry Brown’s leadership dug itself out. Serious cuts coupled with serious new revenue.
We’ll see if Illinois gets serious about its largely self inflicted situation.
Comment by Sir Reel Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 12:37 pm
What would make things easier? Electing even more members of the same party?
If you can’t herd the cats as Speaker and Party Chairman with supermajorities in both chambers and control of the mansion, the problem is not a lack of cats in the house.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 12:41 pm
==== Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 12:12 pm:
==Simple left the station long ago Mr. Speaker. You’re the one who engineered the train.==
Yes, I remember when Madigan was simultaneously Senate President & Governor all those years! It was amazing, particularly the part of him being state Dem chair and a GOP Senate leader & governor!====
In your snide effort to get a candy apple, you’ve missed the point that he’s been more powerful than all of those people combined over these years. Chew slowly.
Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 12:50 pm
==Since Blago left, Edgar’s 1995 pension ramp-up law has eviscerated the State financially. That has spilled into everything.==
During Blago’s term everyone saw it was coming, and instead of fixing it just compounded the problem. If only we could’ve had some mechanism for those in power the last decade + to fix it.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 12:54 pm
===the problem is not a lack of cats in the house. ===
The problem is the type of cats he recruits.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 12:57 pm
***Over the last few years, nothing seems to be simple; ***
Guess things are simple when you create the problems, but solving those problems you created is hard.
Comment by Person 8 Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 1:14 pm
““Over the last few years, nothing seems to be simple; nothing seems to be easy.”
That years-long search for “simple” and “easy” solutions to our state’s problems was a tragic waste of precious time.
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM (@MisterJayEm) Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 1:15 pm
In all my years of paying attention to the Speaker’s course/actions, I’ve never seen as many signs of weakness occuring in such a short window. He is in legacy preserving mode and has shown signs that the public criticism has gotten to him.
Cullerton may have gained some ground on the influence chart, but let’s not kid ourselves, Madigan still calls the shots. Cullerton still gets his hat handed to him on all the major isses. Given Madigan’s current state of mind, I am not optimistic that Illinois will strengthen it’s financial status anytime soon.
Comment by Pepe Silvio Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 1:18 pm
It’s your job. It’s supposed to be difficult.
Comment by Cheryl44 Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 1:32 pm
==And Edgar, Madigan, Bill Brady, Kurt Dillard, and Dan Rutherford were all promoting it. So were the business groups. The unions said nary a word, because the state was already skipping payments, and this was the only option on the table. So, yeah, it was Edgar’s fault, among others. He pushed it, and signed it. As Willy says, he should “own” it. Then the pension holiday bills started in earnest in 2005. With those spineless laws, the state created the “crisis” that it hopes to solve by ignoring it’s own and the US Constitutions.==
And how far behind in contributions would we be if no schedule had ever been enacted?
Comment by Anon. Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 1:42 pm
===And how far behind in contributions would we be if no schedule had ever been enacted?===
First, no schedule is better than a sham payment schedule that actually allows the state to continue to “borrow” in the short run, while making the problem worse in the long run.
Second, the actuaries, each year, provided an eminently doable, predictable contribution. That’s all the “schedule” that should have been required.
Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 2:21 pm
When Madigan retires, and he will, who will we have to hate then? And how long will it be before people start lamenting his absence as speaker when issues like SSM, concealed carry, etc. don’t come close to being called for a vote?
Comment by efudd Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 2:46 pm
–“Over the last few years, nothing seems to be simple; nothing seems to be easy. It’s just one difficult, complicated issue after another.–
Yes, that’s what happens when you don’t really deal with issues and do the minimum required to skim by from one budget crisis to another.
Comment by Ahoy! Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 3:26 pm
“Nobody told me work was going to be…work!”
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 5:15 pm
Does Madigan have an heir apparent in the House like Harmon is for Cullerton in the Senate? Isn’t it time to start grooming one, because if Madigan retires without a clear successor, the House will devolve into anarchy, not unlike Yugoslavia after Tito dies.
Comment by When I'm in the Thompson Center I eat at Arby's Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 6:42 pm
=Does Madigan have an heir apparent in the House like Harmon is for Cullerton in the Senate? Isn’t it time to start grooming one, because if Madigan retires without a clear successor, the House will devolve into anarchy, not unlike Yugoslavia after Tito dies.=
That is an excellent question, and also what about the Democratic Party of Illinois? One could argue John Bradley, but then you see the article today about the House on both sides of the coal debate. It is a mess now and won’t clear up any time soon. Battle of Chicago v. Central and Downstate for leadership in the House.
Not to mention Lisa Madigan… some people say her step father stepping will be the time she runs. But the way the state is heading I don’t think anybody with the name Madigan will be able to win again in Illinois.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 6:48 pm
Apologies previous post was mine
Comment by Almost the Weekend Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 6:49 pm