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* Press release…
What: GOP lawmakers and State Senate/House candidates hold press conference to discuss the need for term limits and other political reforms. Lawmakers and candidates will be available for questions following the press conference.
Who: House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (HD 82)
Sen. Sue Rezin (SD 38)
Rep. David Welter (HD 75)
Jerry Long (HD 76)
Lindsay Parkhurst (HD 79)When: Tuesday, August 02, 11:30 AM
Where: Peak Fitness
1010 S Ridge Rd
Minooka, IL 60447
* From Leader Durkin’s official bio…
Years served: January 1995-January 2003, January 2006 - Present
This issue is rapidly jumping the shark.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 12:58 pm
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You beat me to the punch, Rich. I hope someone will ask Durkin if he is stepping down immediately, since he has clearly outlived his usefulness and cannot possibly be a responsible and responsive representative of his district and the state, after having served well beyond an arbitrary and meaningless time limit.
Comment by South of Sherman Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 1:01 pm
I’d respect elected officials who call for term limits a lot more if they would term limit themselves.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 1:04 pm
All this is, for me…
“Rauner wants what Rauner wants. Get. On. Board.”
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 1:04 pm
Is this a Monty Python skit?
Comment by Saluki Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 1:04 pm
I agree. If he really believes in term limits then why doesn’t he resign instead of running for reelection. If a person really believes in term limits then why do they reelect office holders over and over again? Term limits seem to be for your person and not mine.
Comment by I wonder Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 1:07 pm
Hmm. So John Anthony’s seat might be in play.
Comment by crazybleedingheart Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 1:11 pm
Lemme guess, the downstate event will have Congressman Shimkus introduce the state legislators?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 1:13 pm
Next up, Republican Rep. Avery Borne demands all appointed representatives must be at least 35 years old.
Comment by AlfondoGonz Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 1:15 pm
If the roles were reversed and Durkin was Speaker for as long as Madigan would he hold the same position regarding term limits?
The GOP is pushing term limits because they cannot match Madigan’s hard work and ability to win elections, therefore they need to change the rules.
Comment by MOON Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 1:19 pm
I give Durkin a pass on this one. He was not in office Jan of 2003 to Jan of 2006. He stepped away and then came back. I would call that a healthy pause and I bet if most other legislators did this they would never come back.
Comment by Big Muddy Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 1:21 pm
Willy beat me to it!!!!!
Comment by illini Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 1:24 pm
For Durkin that is going to be a weird press conference. What’s he going to say? “look, I’ve been here way too long. I’m not even a real person anymore; just an artifice of special interests and party politics. I want to stop myself but I just can’t, and nobody can beat me. This bill is my way out. Please, please let me go.”
Comment by anon123 Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 1:26 pm
BIG
Durkin didn’t step away, he was sent to the “showers” as a result of his loss to Durbin for the US Senate seat.
His 3 years absence was due to the fact he had to wait for an open seat he could run for.
Comment by MOON Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 1:26 pm
==I would call that a healthy pause==
Healthy pause my foot. He decided to run against Durbin for Senate in 2002 so he had to give up seat. When Lyons resigned he was right back.
Comment by Jake Brigance Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 1:27 pm
Muddy, he ran for US Senate, lost, moved to a new House district with a vacancy and returned to office as fast as he could. David Harris, ok, but Durkin?
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 1:30 pm
To be fair I would give Hoffman the same pass. Regardless of why someone took a few years/terms off I look at that as a reset on tenure.
Comment by Big Muddy Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 1:32 pm
So a couple years off resets all of the evils that accumulate by serving for too long? MAGIC!
Comment by South of Sherman Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 1:35 pm
Is Durkin going to announce his resignation?
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 1:39 pm
Jim Durkin has been in office 18 years and now all of a sudden he wants to call for term limits? How about term limiting yourself first and not be a hypocrite? The voters know how to term limit. E don’t need Rauners gimmicks.
Comment by Jay Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 1:48 pm
As a reference point to Durkin:
Madigan has been in since 1971 45 years
Currie since 1979 37 years
Lang since 1987 29 years
Jimmy isn’t the problem.
Comment by Big Muddy Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 1:57 pm
Can he explain how him going away will balance the budget?
Comment by Rabid Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 2:12 pm
=Jimmy isn’t the problem.=
Is that what he told you at the family barbecue?
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 2:27 pm
And of course the shiny poster for term limits is right across the miississippi where several newbie leaders have been sent home for bangin’ more than their drums.
Comment by Annonin' Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 3:21 pm
https://capitolfax.com/2014/06/27/this-just-in-283/
Pandering for pandering’s sake? Isn’t this part of the reason people hate politicians? Unconstitutional then, what has changed?
Comment by Sense of a Goose Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 4:02 pm
Oh come on. Why would one side give up all their institutional knowledge and seniority to the other side of the aisle? This isn’t difficult to understand. It’s not hard to understand supporting term-limits while being a well-tenured rep.
Comment by Shemp Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 4:40 pm
They are really talking about Madigan. What Rauner wants is Madigan. The issue is Madigan.
They would have a lot more credibility with me if they just talked about limits for constitutional officers and legislative leadership posts - not for all members. Most voters willingly concede that it takes time to get stuff done and if you are constantly throwing your own legislators out - you can expect a lot more of nothing.
Despite what The Raunerites say and some voters believe, we are lucky to have very smart, experienced and dedicated legislators in Springfield. If they want Madigan - make it about leadership. Getting rid of effective members for the sake of “change” does not help. It will likely make things worse and make new members more beholden to lobbyists and wealthy candidates for Governor.
Things can get worse people, really they can.
Comment by siriusly Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 5:37 pm
With all the real problems we have this is total poll driven bull.
More influence of staff and lobbyists. Less institutional knowledge among legislators.
Nah, dont talk about budget, social svs, higher ed.
Comment by Langhorne Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 10:27 pm
The voters of each district can vote for a new representative every 2 years in the House and every 4 years in the Senate-that is what I call term limits.
Comment by HRC2016 Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 12:20 pm
Term limits are elections and as a little insurance, how about don’t run for office again. We don’t have to prescribe how long you serve, if you don’t like it don’t run. Or run now Jim, to the door. Start the commitment to term limits NOW.
Comment by Mad Brown Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 1:22 pm