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* House Republicans have been avoiding taking stands on bill after bill this year. But this is the first time I can remember a newspaper calling a member out on it. From the Southern Illinoisan…

State Rep. Terri Bryant is doing her damnedest to amass the most milquetoast legislative voting record possible. Her middling quest for ambiguity is a disservice to voters and her office alike.

Bryant, R-Murphysboro, yet again refused to pick a side Wednesday night when House Democrats unsuccessfully attempted to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of SB 1229, legislation more concerned with empowering union bosses than serving the state.

The freshman Republican was in the chamber when the override died. She just didn’t cast a vote. Any vote. None. The roll merely registers Bryant as “no vote.”
Strong stand, indeed.

It’s just the most recent addition to a disturbing pattern taking shape since Bryant took office in January.

Put simply, she too often goes AWOL when strident leadership is most required. Right-to-work zones: present. July’s temporary budget: no vote.

Oof.

Go read the whole thing. It’s quite harsh.

And considering all the grief that Rep. Ken Dunkin has taken this week for skipping Wednesday’s session, it’s about time other folks who refused to hit a button right in front of them took a bit of heat as well.

Frankly, I don’t care how a legislator votes, as long as it’s reasonably consistent with their own ideology and/or their districts. But when you skip a vote, you’ve crossed over into unacceptable behavior.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 12:35 pm

Comments

I agree with Rich. You were elected to vote on bills, so vote on them. However, I would also add that putting up bills for a vote simply to create a mail piece in the fall election season equally abuses the process, and there have been plenty of those votes this year too.

Comment by Not it Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 12:41 pm
I was told this once and it pops in my head every so often when I see so many “Yellow” or NVs

“I can explain a yes, I can explain a no, or at least I should be able to if I’m doing my job, but if I put myself in a position that a constituent asks me why no vote on something, I can’t make that ever sound like I resaonsbly know why.”

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 12:46 pm
They’re not wrong. Bryant wasn’t elected to run away from every vote that might displease a powerful interest.

Comment by Tournaround Agenda Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 12:47 pm
The amazing thing is how open these reps are about how they can’t do the right thing because of their district. They should lead, or follow. But not neither.

Comment by State worker Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 12:47 pm
Doesn’t matter your party - Not only Gutless, it’s nonfeasance (great word I learned today) plain and simple. Own your vote. Not voting is gutless. Especially if you are on the floor during the vote. At the end of the day, both sides will gun for you and you will have no friends to support you.

Comment by RunBikeSwim Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 12:50 pm
Senator Neil Anderson, take note!

Comment by Just a guy Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 12:52 pm
=== but if I put myself in a position that a constituent asks me why no vote on something ===

… I tell them the dog ate my key.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 12:54 pm
there should be a loss of per diem for non votes.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 12:55 pm
What? A newspaper is finally calling out the politicians who don’t do their job? Shocker!

Comment by Shanks Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 12:55 pm
They must have loved all the votes a gentleman named President Obama didn’t vote on or only voted “present” on while he was in the legislature. This has been going on for many years by both parties, but they single out this vote for some reason. Maybe the author has ties to labor?

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 12:55 pm
I guess she learned from the master himself, Obama. I recall he voted “present” quite often.

Comment by sloman2001 Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 12:55 pm
- Norseman -,

“You sure you have the right roll call?”

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 12:58 pm
How was President Obama’s voting record as a St. Senator

Comment by Just saying Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 12:59 pm
Jeez, most of the folks voting present this year are GOP so of course someone has to bring up Obama, as if somehow that’s relevant. Those who continue to vote present are no better than the guy who decided to go on vacation at a time when important votes are called. It’s not a full time job to start with. these folks that are voting present aren’t doing their job and honestly they don’t deserve their full salary.

Comment by The Dude Abides Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 12:59 pm
In Illinois, a “present” or “nv” is the same as a “no” vote. They don’t fool anyone paying attention, and you don’t have to fool the people not paying attention.

So I don’t get the point.

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 1:00 pm
Present and no votes are a product of gerrymandering plain and simple. If districts were more competitive, reps couldn’t get away with being spineless.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 1:02 pm
==Her largest victory so far, naming Murphysboro the BBQ capital of Illinois, is the participation trophy of legislative achievement. ==

“Oof” is right.

Comment by T.T. Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 1:02 pm
Oh no, the blame Obama brigade found its way to CapitolFax.

Comment by Tournaround Agenda Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 1:04 pm
Gutless sounds so harsh. In keeping with a kinder, gentler description I refer to the following Synonyms picked up from the Web: abject; faint-hearted; feeble; irresolute; pusillanimous; submissive; weak, and wimpy.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 1:04 pm
=Frankly, I don’t care how a legislator votes, as long as it’s reasonably consistent with their own ideology and/or their districts. But when you skip a vote, you’ve crossed over into unacceptable behavior. =

Regardless of party affiliation they were elected to help govern. They need to do that!

Comment by JS Mill Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 1:05 pm
My guess would be that she desperately wants to keep this legislator job as long as she possibly can and has decided that voting as little as possible is the best way to accomplish this goal. When being “state legislator” in a state renowned for its poor governance is the best job someone can hope to qualify for, this kind of behavior is predictable.

Comment by Cassandra Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 1:14 pm
Well, it should save space on the mailer showcasing her record.

Comment by Wensicia Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 1:15 pm
How else should they object to extremism from the parties? It makes a statement to your party leadership.

Comment by LIberty Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 1:18 pm
For me, the Southern Illinoisan has forfeited the right to lay into any legislator (along with with most other newspaper editorial boards). I am not saying they don’t have a point sometimes. I am saying it would be more valid coming from somebody else.

Comment by BigBen Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 1:19 pm
Hmm…did they read my comments yesterday about this?! HA!

Comment by Team Sleep Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 1:22 pm
Blago’s Mane - I’ve noticed that over the last few months.

Comment by Team Sleep Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 1:22 pm
You all may recall that the Obama “present” votes became an issue when someone with the initials HRC called him out on it. Nice to see so many Hillary supporters out today.
I’d be stunned if there’s anyone on the SI edit board now who was even working at the paper back when Obama was in the Illinois Senate. Heck, there’s probably no one in the top administration at that paper who was there when Obama was in the U.S. Senate.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 1:23 pm
Rep. John D. Anthony take note.

Comment by Tobor Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 1:24 pm
Thanks for sharing, Rich.

Comment by Austin Blvd Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 1:25 pm
Blaho’s Mane:
A left-leaning editor at the SI can’t possibly make up for the rest of the Tea Party and Illinois policy institute-biased editors at the rest of Lee’s newspapers.

Comment by Austin Blvd Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 1:30 pm
The Southern is not far left, they ran an anti-AFSCME editorial within the last couple weeks.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 1:31 pm
This situation is a microcosm of what’s wrong with our state. Absolutely no leadership. Both Democrats and Republicans are to blame. It’s not just Rauner’s fault. We are elected by a bunch of ciwards who can’t take a stabd on anything. This is why we don’t have a budget yet. Majes me want to leave this sinking ship.

Comment by DHSJim Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 1:35 pm
This is a more than fair criticism. Why even show up? I think present votes are pathetic (unless you have a legitimate conflict of interest) but simply not voting? That’s dereliction of duty. Grow a pair and stand for something. Anything.

Comment by Demoralized Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 1:37 pm
- DHSJim -

Bro, relax. The sun will indeed come out tomorrow.

Also, are you calling the electorate a bunch of ciwards, or those they elect a bunch of ciwards?

I’ll disagree. We don’t have a budget yet because each side has taken a stand.

Comment by Under Influenced Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 1:43 pm
A legislator Not Voting (NV)….. Rather than voting Yes or No…..Translates into….a No Vote from me during the next election. Especially When voters in a legislative district overwhelmingly support a piece of legislation…. And their legislator chooses to vote something other than a yes or no. Cowards…fence sitters….indecisive….whatever you want to call them….those type of legislators need to Step down because they no longer represent the people that elected them into office.

Comment by Trickster Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 1:46 pm
This was my favorite quote from the editorial:

“Her largest victory so far, naming Murphysboro the BBQ capital of Illinois, is the participation trophy of legislative achievement.”

BTW, how can the editor be to the left of Bernie Sanders and yet say they disagreed with Bradley and Phelps who voted with AFSCME. Doesn’t seem very left to me.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 1:46 pm
Yeah, like when you vote present 134 times and then become President of the United States. Oh, never mind

Comment by 19 ward guy Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 1:52 pm
It was the IL GOP who made Obama’s presidency possible. Their incompetence in handling the Republican opponent for that Senate Race catapulted him to the White House.

Comment by Oh Yeah Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 1:59 pm
===Yeah, like when you vote present ===

That’s a vote, at least.

Not voting is much worse.

Stick to the topic.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 2:00 pm
@ Tournaround Agenda - Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 1:04 pm: === Oh no, the blame Obama brigade found its way to CapitolFax. ===

We may as well get used to it. It’s what we get get when out-of-state extremists hijack one of Illinois’ political parties.

Comment by olddog Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 2:03 pm
I’m sorry I had to laugh. Seeing Obama mentioned on this thread just reinforces the fact that National Republican politics has come to Illinois. National Republican Politics happens when they turn their back on things that were their own idea if Obama embraces it. Just like childcare on wednesday. It was a Republican created program with a whole lot of present votes from Republican legislators. Still SMH.

I’m with Rich. Not voting, not showing up is worse.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 2:07 pm
A very well written editorial. I cannot remember the number of times legislators simply did not vote to this degree…she has not been the only one. And they complain about the general public voter turnout? The difference is that they get paid to sit there to cast their vote.

Comment by One to the Dome Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 2:15 pm
Or in the words of Rush, “If you choose not to decide you still haven’t made a choice.”

Comment by Skeptic Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 2:16 pm
Well we all know that a nv is code for I don’t want to make anyone upset but I don’t want to make anyone real happy either. Anyone who followed TB through the election would agree that this is exactly how she was a candidate she’s a republican but she doesn’t walk lock step with the governor, she’s a former union member but it’s not like they paid a red cent for her to run. TB is beholden to her voters if they don’t like it they will vote her out. But hey this strategy of being on the fence worked like gold for her in the election, would not be surprised if it works a second time in 16.

Comment by GoldwaterRepublican Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 2:16 pm
Oh no. The blame gerrymandering for everything showed up on this thread as well.

Comment by walker Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 2:26 pm
It seems the “option” of being able to vote ‘present’ may help ease the process to simply NV.

You should vote on all of them, with the lone exception being a disclosed conflict.

Comment by A guy Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 2:33 pm
My grandfather used to tell me that inaction is action.

Choosing to do nothing has consequences. Watching this fiasco makes me think about that all the time.

There is a price to be paid for every day we do nothing.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 2:35 pm
Sorry, that anonymous at 2:35 was me.

Comment by sideline watcher Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 2:36 pm
Some of my friends are for the bill, some of them are against the bill. As for me…I’m with my friends!

Comment by Jaded Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 2:38 pm
Dont agree Rich. Both cowardly things, with the same net result. Didn’t hear anybody spanking it up when the Speaker didn’t vote for months. Undisclosed conflicts of convenience

Comment by 19th ward guy Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 2:40 pm
==Didn’t hear anybody spanking it up when the Speaker didn’t vote for months==

That’s an apples to oranges comparison.

Comment by Demoralized Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 2:46 pm
“Or in the words of Rush, ‘If you choose not to decide you still haven’t made a choice.’”

OUTRAGEOUS! Rush missed 41% of votes in the 113th Congress!!1! FORTY-ONE PERCENT!!! For someone who missed… wait… What? You’re kidding… There’s a band with that name?

Never mind.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 2:47 pm
===Didn’t hear anybody spanking it up when the Speaker didn’t vote for months===

Um, I did. Repeatedly. Nobody else in the media would bite on the story.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 2:55 pm
MrJM: Who? No, Yes.

Comment by Skeptic Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 2:58 pm
Well yeah, but we expect you to always do the right thing.

Comment by A Citizen Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 3:00 pm
The Southern called the IPI “nonpartisan”. Now calling Bryant out for not voting against “entrenched Union bosses”….hmm….

Comment by The Equalizer Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 3:16 pm
==- Anonymous - Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 12:55 pm:==

Try reading the thing you are commenting on. When you do that, you might not come off looking like an ignorant buffoon.

Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 3:21 pm
Beat me to it MrJM.

Maybe Dunkin is a Rush fan.

Comment by Anon Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 3:40 pm
Under influenced,

Both sides don’t have the courage to raise taxes. Hence both are not taking a stand.

Comment by DHSJim Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 3:51 pm