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Cracks might be forming in Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s decades-long hold on House Democrats, as backbenchers continue to cook under the heat of the state’s incessant budget impasse.
Those fissures appeared suddenly Monday in Rock Island, as a pair of House Democrats championed legislation that would impose limits on how long a lawmaker can hold a legislative leadership post.
* The legislation in question…
Provides that no person may serve more than 8 consecutive years in any of the following leadership roles: Speaker of the House of Representatives, President of the Senate, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, and Minority Leader of the Senate. Provides that the limitations imposed by the amendatory Act apply to service beginning on and after January 11, 2017.
According to the article, Democratic Reps. Pat Verschoore and Mike Smiddy now support that bill, although they haven’t yet signed on as co-sponsors.
* Back to the story…
“I think sometimes — I don’t think, I know — that the top guy can amass a lot of power,” Verschoore told business leaders at a Quad-Cities Chamber of Commerce luncheon. […]
Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale, is fighting for his political life. Smiddy, like Madigan, is a vocal critic of Rauner’s “Turnaround Agenda.” Yet he, too, joined those supporting the ouster of leadership every eight years, a direct assault on Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton.
“I agree, we need term limits for leadership,” Smiddy said. […]
But it was the candor of Verschoore and Smiddy that raised eyebrows. Madigan not only runs the House and determines a bill’s survival. He’s also head of the state Democratic Party, an organization Smiddy will rely on to beat back a tough challenge by Republican Savanna Mayor Tony McCombie for the District 71 seat. […]
Frustration with the Madigan/Rauner standoff has stewed for months. And distancing oneself from Madigan might behoove any non-Chicago Democrat looking to keep a job. But Verschoore has no reason to pander. And, now, Smiddy is on the record stating unequivocally that leadership should be regularly cleansed.
* The very simple explanation for Verschoore is that he’s still furious at Madigan for not backing his preferred replacement in the recent primary (his nephew Jeff Jacobs). Not to mention that Madigan’s not-so-secret support for the eventual primary winner, Mike Halpin, funded slams on Verschoore himself via negative direct mail and TV ads.
Madigan definitely has some trouble with Verschoore, but it’s not like the guy’s gonna walk over to Rauner. The man bleeds Democratic union blood.
And Smiddy is a Tier One target, so supporting this bill is kind of a no-brainer and isn’t nearly as consequential as saying he won’t vote for Madigan for Speaker come January. Smiddy also got himself elected without help from Madigan in 2012, so he has been more independent-minded, although he had to be bailed out in 2014.
* Madigan only “requires” two votes from his membership: Reelection as Speaker and the House rules. Other than that, they can do pretty much whatever they want, unless they’re a target and then they’re given constant “advice” on how their votes will impact the folks back home and, by extension, their own reelections.
The author of the above piece is the paper’s editorial page editor. And those folks throughout the state are almost uniformly anti-Madigan. I’m not saying there’s no grumbling about Madigan in the ranks. There most certainly is, and for good reason. I’m just saying here that an open revolt is unlikely at this moment, and it’s mainly because of who’s leading the opposition (which is pretty much always the case, but is especially true now).
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 8:59 am
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===I’m just saying here that an open revolt is unlikely at this moment, and it’s mainly because of who’s leading the opposition (which is pretty much always the case, but is especially true now).===
That really is the most important nuance these Editorial Boards fail to understand when it comes to Democrats, Madigan, and Rauner.
Further, it’s not being labeled a next “Ken Dunkin” it’s literally the Dem legislators for any and many reasons, that can be given Alphabetically or Chronologically, you won’t see HDem members in a “revolt”.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 9:10 am
It takes one to have an idea and just maybe a few more will get on board to remove the great and powerful OZ.
Comment by Nieva Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 9:15 am
These bills to cap the number of terms someone can serve as speaker have been around for years and have been introduced and co-sponsored by many Democrats, including targets who are being closely managed by Madigan’s staff. Of course, the bills are never called.
Nothing to see here.
Comment by RTR Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 9:16 am
I think the Governor was right that there are a number of independent minded legislators who do a fair amount of grumbling about the Speaker.
The Governor’s problem is that a lot of those members tend to be more progressive and more labor friendly than the Speaker. Oops.
Comment by Juice Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 9:25 am
—-Madigan only “requires” two votes from his membership: Reelection as Speaker and the House rules. —-
Correct me if I’m wrong, but giving people money/support to win an election in return for votes is felony. So if requires was not in quotes then he would be behind bars instead of holding the speaker gavel..
Comment by A Modest Proposal Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 9:29 am
Will Davis and Robert Pritchard had some interesting, bipartisan comments yesterday on the importance of the rank-and-file stepping up as well.
Comment by No Use For A Name Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 9:32 am
A Modest Proposal - And Rauner’s campaign expenditures as they relate to McCann and Dunkin had nothing to do with their votes (or lack thereof)? Wait - I gave a donation to a candidate based on the fact that I expected them to vote pro-labor and pro-choice (because they indicated that was their ideology). Should I be in jail?
Comment by DownStateGrl Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 9:35 am
“Correct me if I’m wrong…”
Consider yourself corrected.
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 10:27 am
–Cracks might be forming in Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s decades-long hold on House Democrats, as backbenchers continue to cook under the heat of the state’s incessant budget impasse.–
Then again, they might not be.
“Might” stories, like “what if” or “?” stories, aren’t real journalism. They’re click-bait devices to advance a provocative point-of-view disguised as journalism.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 10:29 am
I don’t see this as a threat to Madigan at all. How many people really think he’ll still be Speaker twelve years from now? At age 84 o 85? While I’m no fan, in all fairness, he’s operated within the existing system. At this point, while it might be seen as a reflection on the length of his tenure, it really won’t likely affect him if it were to be passed and signed into law.
I’ve always said that the only way to “clean up” the system was term-limited leadership positions. Too much concentrated power in the hands of too few individuals arguably effectively takes away the voices of over 100 other districts. I’m frankly surprised it’s coming from rank-and-file Democrats, but I hope they’re successful.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 10:51 am
I’m seriously wondering why Madigan wouldn’t let this bill pass? As Anon said right above me, Madigan is not going to be the Speaker in 12 years. Why not through the voters who care about this a bone?
Comment by Nick K Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 11:08 am
meant to say “throw the voters…”
Comment by Nick K Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 11:09 am
DownStateGrl
You expect that they act a certain way, not “require”them to vote a certain way in return for your money.
Comment by A Modest Proposal Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 10:39 pm