Not a good week for the governor’s legacy
Thursday, Dec 4, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* AP…
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan says he plans to adjourn his chamber on Wednesday and not call lawmakers back before the new governor is seated.
The Chicago Democrat told the Associated Press on Wednesday that the House has “finished our work for this session.”
That would mean lawmakers will not address major legislation such as a minimum wage hike and the state’s financial problems before Republican Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner and a new General Assembly are sworn in in mid-January.
* Tribune…
In gaveling an end to the session Wednesday, House Speaker Michael Madigan ensured plenty of opportunities for the Democratic-led legislature to spar with Republican Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner next year.
Lawmakers did nothing to extend the 2011 income tax hike, which means Illinois residents will get a big tax cut come Jan. 1, when the personal rate rolls back from 5 percent to 3.75 percent, even as state finances will take a $4 billion a year hit.
A statewide minimum wage increase fell flat in the House. Senate Democrats passed their own version of a wage hike, and departing Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn said “it isn’t over” and indicated he would use his fading power to ask House lawmakers to reconvene and urge them to pass it. A Madigan aide said a special session would be futile.
* SJ-R…
Sen. Kimberly Lightford, D-Maywood, principal sponsor of the minimum wage bill, said she was told by Gov. Pat Quinn that a special session could be called to give the House a chance to vote on increasing the minimum wage.
“I know for sure that our governor is looking to call a special session for the House to return and take up the measure,” Lightford said following the Senate vote. “He straightforward said that he would not allow the House to not vote for a minimum wage increase before the end of the year. He said before Christmas.” […]
However, a spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, said there is no indication a special session will be called.
“It’s been said to us they (the Quinn administration) are not contemplating a special session,” spokesman Steve Brown said.
* Kurt Erickson…
An 11th-hour bid to establish a state-based health insurance exchange fell short Wednesday when the Illinois House adjourned for the remainder of the year without bringing up the matter for a vote.
Against the backdrop of a federal deadline to take action and the looming end of single-party control of state government, the sponsor of the measure said she couldn’t round up enough votes to get the measure to outgoing Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn’s desk.
* AP…
Illinois lawmakers have overturned the governor’s veto of legislation aimed at increasing the speed limit to 70 mph on the state’s toll highways.
The House voted 100-11 Wednesday to override Gov. Pat Quinn’s veto of the legislation sponsored by Republican state Sen. Jim Oberweis. A bill passed in 2013 increased the speed limit to 70 miles on interstates, but kept the limit lower in urban areas. Oberweis’ bill allows the state Tollway Authority to establish higher limits in urban areas.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 9:59 am:
Perspective?
Sen. Jim Oberweis’ legacy of his 1st General Assembly ended better than Pat Quinn’s overall ending legacy.
Ouch.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 9:59 am:
Legacy in a nutshell “Pfffftt”
- Rowdy Yates - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 10:01 am:
This shows us that the truckers union still has considerable clout down in Springfield.
- Emanuel Can't - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 10:04 am:
Pity poor Pat. History will be more kind to him than his contemporaries are.
- walker - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 10:15 am:
To the victors go the spoils.
- AlabamaShake - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 10:17 am:
Quinn’s legacy includes some minor things like:
Civil unions
Marriage equality
Abolishing the death penalty
Medicaid reform
Passed balanced budgets
Workers comp reform
Making full pension payments
etc…
That ain’t a bad legacy.
- AC - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 10:20 am:
It’s worse for referendums than it is for Quinn. None of the minimum wage proposals resembled what was on the ballot that closely.
- I'm Strapped - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 10:20 am:
One thing about Mike Madigan, you can’t say he isn’t “In your Face”..politically speaking of course!
- Jeeves the Cat - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 10:21 am:
- ensured plenty of opportunities for the Democratic-led legislature to treat the incoming Republican Governor next year with the same deference and respect they’ve shown the outgoing Democratic Governor for the last six years.
- CircularFiringSquad - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 10:22 am:
Actually the governor will also be able to OK more elections reforms and a new program akin to Social Security that will allow workers employed where BizWiz’ refuse pensions plans to create retirement savings. Not too shabby
- Been There - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 10:22 am:
===which means Illinois residents will get a big tax cut come Jan. 1, when the personal rate rolls back from 5 percent to 3.75 percent,===
I guess “big” is relative. It means a lot to the state. And probably the bunch of screaming tea baggers. But to most people 1.25% isn’t that big a deal. A min wage earner picks up what? 8 cents and hour? Those making more it obviously adds up, but per paycheck, not so much.
- anon - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 10:23 am:
Another addition to the Quinn legacy is casino gambling at going on 5,000 locations thanks to his video poker bill.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 10:28 am:
===Quinn legacy is casino gambling at going on 5,000 locations===
Oh, please. There were more machines in more places before the law was passed. And they were illegally paying out to winners.
- A guy... - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 10:33 am:
Machine Wash; Hang Dry.
His most ardent supporters will provide a legacy later on for him. He was their guy. While we agree on precious little, he’s a very good guy. He did his best, which was never up to the job he fell into. He’ll find himself soon enough. Oddly, upon reflection, one of the nicest things you can say is: This job didn’t change him.
For better or worse.
- Cuddly - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 10:51 am:
Guy: After your shellacking yesterday here on CapFax, I guess we’ll sit back and watch if the job changes you…
- Norseman - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 10:57 am:
=== Passed balanced budgets ===
LOL
Sure, we all know these things wouldn’t have been passed by the General Assembly without Quinn’s leadership. Cough! Cough!
- Mokenavince - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 11:01 am:
Madigan and the House did the right thing. Let’s hope we can really get a Workers Comp bill that can compete with surrounding states.
Quinns did his best for a guy who got his job by default. I know he got re-elected but I would not grade him as a leader or deep thinker.
With Rauner and Madigan let the games begin.
We can do better.
- Been There - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 11:04 am:
===Oh, please. There were more machines in more places before the law was passed. And they were illegally paying out to winners.===
Especially in Chicago
- A guy... - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 11:12 am:
=== Cuddly - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 10:51 am:
Guy: After your shellacking yesterday here on CapFax, I guess we’ll sit back and watch if the job changes you…====
(not too) Cuddly, Shellacking?? I’m just a member of the minority here who presents another perspective than the “often” prevailing wisdom. Without the handful who provide this service, what would you do? Sit around telling each other how cool and smart you are? #notfeelingshellackedprobablybecauseofallegedarroganceIguess.
- AlabamaShake - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 11:18 am:
**Sure, we all know these things wouldn’t have been passed by the General Assembly without Quinn’s leadership. Cough! Cough!**
It works both ways… if Quinn gets blamed for no min wage hike rather than the HDEMs that refused to vote for a hugely popular issues, then Quinn also gets to get credit for everything that he signed.
And, yes, Quinn definitely did play a roll on some/all of those things.
- Very Fed Up - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 11:22 am:
If Quinn had some sort of concern over minimum wage workers he should of just gotten it done instead of saving to use as a campaign issue for years only to claim someone “else” is against it.
- A guy... - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 11:25 am:
VFU, it goes for more than Quinn. That one belongs to the entire super majority that bled all over themselves assuring the people they’d get it done.
- Cuddly - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 11:27 am:
Guy: Slow down there fella. Your venom, I mean, BP is rising. The trouble is, you’re not in the minority…you WON (@50.7%)…as you rather redundantly declared to us again yesterday. We want plans, answers and solutions. We tire of the grandstanding and chest-pounding, when what we need is some sober dialogue. Yes, without the handful who provide this service, I would certainly know a lot less about the arrogance, disdain and paternalism that Brucie (”I know what’s in your best interest, [so shut up]”) evidently feels towards interested political observers and taxpaying citizens. Chill, fella.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 11:31 am:
(Sigh)
- A Guy -,
No, it doesn’t speak to the super-majority. It speaks to the idea, Quinn won’t get it, even by his own party. They assured voters if they won, they’d get it done, “your guy” doesn’t want ANYTHING done until he’s sworn in.
In his own words, - A Guy -, he asked.
It’s about denying Quinn, even at the behest of Rauner.
Unless you have another made up theory…
- A guy... - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 11:46 am:
Cuddles, there’s one thing you gotta be for that sober dialogue you’re wanting. Do your part here man. lol. BP’s 120/80. All good.
- Keyser Soze - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 12:08 pm:
A special session would be swell.
- Precinct Captain - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 12:14 pm:
I’d love it if Quinn called a special session for Christmas. A lot of minimum wage workers are working on Christmas, why not our legislators?
- Wensicia - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 12:18 pm:
Quinn blew his own chances of re-election by trying to get pension reform and trim the budget in ways unpopular with his base. Yeah, he was a lousy communicator, even with members of his own party. I still think he deserves credit for his social accomplishments and integrity during his time in office. At least he didn’t shame Illinois like his predecessors.
- Cuddly - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 12:21 pm:
Guy: As the WINNER (and advertised savior), that’s your job to provide the goods. I’m (and I think many of us here are) ready and willing to provide constructive criticism. Glad your health is good!
- Hit or Miss - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 12:28 pm:
===Quinn’s legacy includes some minor things like:
… Making full pension payments===
I think that making full payments on your bills is a good thing to do. In fact I think that it is the minimum one should do. It is only by comparison to the record of some of his predecessors who failed to make full payments that Quinn looks good.
- Livin' the Life - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 12:37 pm:
What does Quinn have to lose by calling a special session for later this month on the minimum wage bill? At least that way he could force the House members–especially those in the super majority–to put their votes wear their mouths are and see if they will actually vote for the bill many of them said they supported during the campaign. Even if it then fails in the House, perhaps Quinn puts MJM in the awkward position of explaining why he couldn’t/wouldn’t round up enough votes to get it passed despite overwhelming public support. At least this way many of us could see how many of these “Democratic” house members are really just tools of the business lobbyists.
Or Quinn could just sit back, sob in his milk, let the time for calling the special session expire, and let MJM be seen as disrespecting him one last time as he heads out the door.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 12:40 pm:
===he could force ===
He can’t force anything.
- Newsclown - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 1:14 pm:
Cowards, the lot of ‘em. I almost wish Quinn DOES call a special session just to mess with their holiday travel plans, Blago-style. And he just might, in the sore-loser mood he’s probably in right now. What I would give for a legislature that wasn’t an ouroboros of self-absorbed, solipsistic wannabe “bosses” all playing useless power games while the state suffers.
- Filmmaker Professor - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 1:30 pm:
He is leaving the Governor’s office and not heading to jail. That may seem like a small thing now, but it wasn’t 6 years ago. He did bring some integrity back to the Governor’s office. Also, making the full pension payments was no small accomplishment. It certainly didn’t help him politically. I agree that history will look upon him kindly.
- Millie K. - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 2:05 pm:
Integrity….what a joke…..don’t think we have heard the end of the IDOT hiring scandal the Neighborhood Recovery scandal…..
He might just be joining his friends in jail.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 2:09 pm:
“One man scorned and covered with scars still strove with his last ounce of courage to reach the unreachable stars; and the world will be better for this.”
- Don Quixote
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 2:09 pm:
What’s important here is the new incoming administration. You want to train them well. I’m glad nothing much happened during lame duck.
Taking the issues before the new Republican governor instead of Quinn will build the needed bipartisanship we need. Roll Rauner. School him. It is better to get this stuff passed with input from both sides.
Give and take. This is what Illinois needs now. I’m confident that Mr. Speaker and Cullerton will be able to find the votes from their veto - proof caucuses to meet any unreasonable demands from Mr. Rauner.
It’s important for the new guys to learn their own limits dealing with issues they are not in control of. Madigan is not playing his aces. He wants the new governor to personally see them.
Mr. Quinn didn’t appreciate this kind of gamesmanship anyway. Time for the new guy!
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 2:33 pm:
Vanilliman:
It remains to be seen. I too have high hopes for Governor-elect Rauner’s pragmatism.
Or, he could turn out to be another Don Quixote tilting at different windmills.
- Wordslinger - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 3:46 pm:
I thnk Madigan is looking forward to some Republicans making tough votes. Been a while. And he will insist.
As far as Quinn’s legacy, gay marriage and death penalty abolition will keep him in the history books. The minimun wage has been around since 1938 and has been increased many times (did the economy collapse every time that happened?).
And seriously, Millie, how much crack do you have to smoke to think that Quinn’s in danger of prison on NRI or IDOT?
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 4:15 pm:
Wordslinger:
Every future hall-of-famer wants to end their career swinging for the fences, not taking a called third strike, or even a walk.
Okay, Baylor probably would have been thrilled to be hit by a pitch on his final at bat.
Ted Williams is the most famous, Oscar Teveras the most recent. Sadly.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 4:24 pm:
- YDD -,
Teddy Ball Game’s last AB…
Or Williams playing in the final two games of his .406 season going 6-8, when he could have sat and gotten his .400 BA?
Teddy Ball Game.