* Today is my first Sun-Times column since before the Christmas break, so I thought I would write about our Golden Horseshoe Awards. Comments were closed when the final awards were announced and the full list was published, so this will give you a chance to do so now…
Every year, commenters at my website (CapitolFax.com) vote on something we call the “Golden Horseshoe Awards.” I started the contest as a tongue-in-cheek lark, so I jokingly named it after Springfield’s most infamous culinary offering.
People took the contest seriously, though, and, unfortunately, the name stuck; just like the Horseshoe’s ingredients (cheese sauce, french fries, meat, toast) stick to your arteries. So now I run what some think is a prestigious annual awards contest which has a completely goofy name. Oh, well. There are worse things in life.
I decided to go with the “best of” the Illinois Statehouse rather than do a “worst of” because we always hear about the worst of state government. Besides, there’d be too many nominations to wade through.
So we have categories like the best “do gooder” lobbyist, which was awarded to Jeremy Schroeder of the Illinois Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. Secretary of State Jesse White won best statewide officeholder. Overall, we had 32 categories, way more than when I started the thing.
To me, anyway, the most interesting results were for best state legislators. Whether Republican or Democrat, they all shared some specific traits. They are all effective lawmakers, of course. They know how to pass bills. But they also make it a point to work with members on the other side of the political fence, which is more like a mini Berlin Wall in these times of extreme partisan divides.
The debilitating and paralyzing hyperpartisanship that has long infected the U.S. Congress has seeped into Springfield over the past few years, so I was happy to see that none of my readers nominated the Statehouse’s worst offenders.
Sen. John Millner got the prize for best Republican state senator. The suburban Carol Stream resident is retiring at the end of this term, and he was clearly a sentimental favorite. There’s no doubt that Millner is a conservative, but he has a long history of working with Democrats. As a result, he’s been one of the more effective legislators on his side of the aisle. He’s also a gem of a human being.
Sen. John Sullivan was voted best Democratic state senator. Sullivan is from Rushville, a little town in “Forgottonia,” otherwise known as Western Illinois. His conservatism often puts him more in line with his Republican colleagues (a zero percent rating from Planned Parenthood, endorsed by the NRA), and he regularly works with the other side. Sullivan hasn’t convinced any Republicans to vote for his plan to float bonds to pay off past-due state bills, and the GOP will undoubtedly use that legislation against him this November. But his struggle to find a tiny bit of bipartisan consensus impressed my commenters, and impressed me as well.
Rep. Skip Saviano was a no-brainer choice for best Republican state representative. The man is a bill-passing machine. Saviano had a falling-out with House Speaker Michael Madigan, but it hasn’t really slowed him down. Some people use the term “Republicrat” as an insult. But for Saviano, it’s a badge of honor. As a result, he’s one of the best-liked legislators in the building.
Representatives John Bradley and Frank Mautino tied for best Democratic state representative. Both men are known for working honestly with the other side. Bradley’s almost Herculean bipartisan efforts passed the hugely controversial corporate tax cut package this past fall. Mautino was able to find a bipartisan solution to Gov. Quinn’s veto of regional school superintendent salaries and put together a complicated agreement on unemployment insurance reform. Both men are work horses, not show horses. Actually, all the winners are. We need more like them.
- Cincinnatus - Friday, Jan 13, 12 @ 9:15 am:
Nice column, Rich. Unfortunately, bi-partisanship is now on George Carlin’s list…
- just sayin' - Friday, Jan 13, 12 @ 9:29 am:
I respect the work and analysis that went into this, even if I disagree with some of the specific winners. It’s also good interactive blog material.
But given how horribly IL government is run, query whether anyone there deserves a victory lap or praise.
Unless of course Horseshoe refers to (which I’m assuming is the case), that Springfield food concoction that oozes in fat and carbs and unhealthyness. You want one, it seems like a good idea at the time, but then you feel really bad about yourself afterwards.
On that level I totally get it.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 13, 12 @ 9:44 am:
I imagine some Chicago media consumers are surprised that there are more than four legislators in the GA.
- mark walker - Friday, Jan 13, 12 @ 10:39 am:
Nice column Rich.
I just wish you had room to throw in the legislator runners-up in one line, since they include some great people.
OK. You’re the better writer.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jan 13, 12 @ 10:47 am:
===I just wish you had room===
The original version had a lot more winners in it. But I only get 600 words.
===But given how horribly IL government is run, query whether anyone there deserves a victory lap or praise.===
That’s a ridiculous comment. In every organization, no matter how bad, there are glimmers of hope. This perverse love for hating all that is Illinois needs to end.
- Way South of the Border - Friday, Jan 13, 12 @ 10:59 am:
The award’s prestige has moved beyond the Springfield bubble. For someone with fresh ears or eyes, “Golden Horseshoe” sounds like a shiny bit ‘o luck. Or glimmer of hope, as you say. Be at peace with the name, it is fine.
- just sayin' - Friday, Jan 13, 12 @ 11:51 am:
“That’s a ridiculous comment. In every organization, no matter how bad, there are glimmers of hope.”
Well reasonable minds can disagree. But I would suggest many of these people ARE the problem, regularly helping clog the arteries of IL government or helping only particular interests at the expense of all. Horseshoe. Again, perfect.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 13, 12 @ 12:16 pm:
just sayin’
While you state “many of these people ARE the problem…” the fact remains there are reslly good people in government, and there are some of those people that outshine all the good ones. Objectively, you would be hard pressed to find many people who wouldn’t have most, if not all of these winners on their list of the “Best of the Best”.
While I mock and rail on some, I don’t think I am a “Debbie Downer”, because I have to believe that there are some great people trying to do good things. Not all can be all bad. The legislative winners, and all nominated, try to do their best.
Satire and Mocking and even disagreement doesn’t mean everything leads to doom.
Also,
Since this post is dedicated to the GH Awards, I wanted to thank everyone who nominated me and for Rich considering me an Honorable Mention.
This “place” is every bar, every restaurant, and every political event, in Illinois EVERY day. While we all go to those different places from each other, we ALL seem to find out way here to read about everyone and everything else that is going on.
So thanks Rich for having the ultimate “Political Hangout in Illinois”, and thanks for the nod. Appreciate it.
- Just a Citizen - Friday, Jan 13, 12 @ 2:09 pm:
Congratulations to all of the winners and runner-ups. Jobs well done.
- MC - Friday, Jan 13, 12 @ 2:15 pm:
rich, out of the 4 winners for legislators awards who is the best?
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, Jan 13, 12 @ 2:19 pm:
I have to agree with Willy: The list of Republicans I like is much longer than the list of those I don’t.
And frankly, its hard to blame our elected representatives for Illinois’ fiscal health when for a decade or more polling shows that voters dont want taxes raised but they do want spending to go up on almost every budget item. That’s pretty much what we did.
Where I do fault leaders is for trying to sell the voters Magic Beans to get us out of this mess. Instead of levelling with voters about the tough choices, we tell the the budget can be balanced through wishful thinking.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jan 13, 12 @ 2:23 pm:
MC, the contest is over and the readers have spoken. I don’t wanna go beyond that.