Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Unclear on the concept

Posted in:

Illinois

* While I do agree with some of the recent Tribune editorial blasting the House’s massively out of balance appropriations bill, this is just plain wrong…

Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale, voted a cowardly “present.”

The bill included money for state employee back pay. You’ll recall that a recent Illinois Supreme Court decision about this very issue declared that state workers can’t be paid without an appropriation, so the House appropriated the money. Smiddy, a former Department of Corrections employee, told me he’s owed about $5,000. He voted “Present” because he had a conflict of interest. That’s how you’re supposed to vote when you have a direct conflict.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, May 30, 16 @ 10:03 am

Comments

“Another” clear example of “simple and easy” rationales, answers, solutions, interpretations…

Are never easy OR simple to solve… or explain…

Unless you *Cough* Tribune Edit Board *Cough* choose to just be… easy or simple

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 30, 16 @ 10:06 am
Come on, he didnt vote for a $39b budget because he would get $5,000 from it? Give me a break. This isn’t a real conflict of interest, this is an excuse to vote present, and that is truly cowardly.

Comment by John Rawls Monday, May 30, 16 @ 10:10 am
What would be s good rationale to vote for something with a conflict of interest?

- John Rawls -, with your rationale, doing the right thing IS cowardly?

Yikes.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 30, 16 @ 10:14 am
Not to mention, exactly how many times has the ENTIRE HOUSE GOP CAUCUS

Comment by Louis Capricious Monday, May 30, 16 @ 10:14 am
… voted present over the last year.

Comment by Louis Capricious Monday, May 30, 16 @ 10:15 am
John Rawls,

It’s a classic conflict of interest. Rep. Smiddy did the right thing. Relax.

Comment by Joey Bats Monday, May 30, 16 @ 10:15 am
Rep Smiddy did the right thing. It doesn’t matter if it was an insignificant amount. He still would have voted to compensate himself.

Comment by Louis G Atsaves Monday, May 30, 16 @ 10:16 am
But Smiddy and others vote in 2014 to make legislative pay a continuing aprop - would seem to be a much greater conflict of interest there, but Smiddy had no problem with it

At least be consistent

Comment by John Rawls Monday, May 30, 16 @ 10:18 am
Where were such Tribune editorials when the GOP has been casting an abundance of “present” votes.

Comment by Joe M Monday, May 30, 16 @ 10:20 am
- John Rawls -

So you agree with Pat Quinn to stop the constitutionally mandated payment of legislators?

That’s fun.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 30, 16 @ 10:24 am
Yeah why not

They obviously don’t deserve to be paid this time around

Comment by John Rawls Monday, May 30, 16 @ 10:27 am
- John Rawls -

If you haven’t guessed, this post and title is referring to you, you’re unclear on these concepts.

Sorry.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 30, 16 @ 10:41 am
John Rawls-

I’m sure if he voted yes and the Trib uncovered that he would improperly gain $5,000, you’d say “So what? What’s a measly 5k?”

Comment by AlfondoGonz Monday, May 30, 16 @ 10:45 am
Smiddy is not the problem here…its just the opposite. There are too many people working for the Illinois not for the good of the State but rather to enrich or promote themselves.

Comment by Ratso Rizzo Monday, May 30, 16 @ 11:09 am
Cowardly ethics? I can’t wait to read the Trib’s Trump endorsement. Should be a doozy.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Monday, May 30, 16 @ 11:12 am
This is another example of why Katrina & Tribbies influence no one any more. Quite a fall.

Comment by Annonin' Monday, May 30, 16 @ 11:31 am
In the Trib’s view the only brave legislators are those who vote in lockstep with Rauner.

Comment by Truthteller Monday, May 30, 16 @ 11:37 am
Meh. Had he announced his “conflict’ prior to the vote perhaps that would add some credence to his explanation.

Funny, he never had a conflict with SB1229 or HB580. Hmm.

Comment by Georg Sande Monday, May 30, 16 @ 11:51 am
===he never had a conflict with SB1229 or HB580===

Please describe how that would be a conflict.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, May 30, 16 @ 11:54 am
His present vote means he wanted to vote YES but couldn’t. He is allowed to vote no…

Comment by Anonymous Monday, May 30, 16 @ 12:22 pm
===means he wanted to vote YES but couldn’t===

lol

Try again.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, May 30, 16 @ 12:23 pm
“Candy Crush Cloonen” voted yes for this out of balance budget.

Comment by WHAT? Monday, May 30, 16 @ 12:37 pm
Reasoning with the Trib editorial board is like arguing with a rock.

Comment by DuPage Dave Monday, May 30, 16 @ 12:48 pm
- WHAT? -

Ron “Hawk Harrelson” Sandack keeps up and tweets better about the Sox than about floor debate and votes when are both happening simultaneously…

What’s your point?

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 30, 16 @ 1:09 pm
Smiddy did the right thing.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, May 30, 16 @ 2:57 pm
John Rawls please go back to having a “bat-like horror of the limelight”. Spill your filth on IPI’s website.

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, May 31, 16 @ 7:33 am