53 Comments - Anonymous - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 10:25 am: Well, yeah. Governors come and go, but Madigan keeps getting re-elected … so there’s that. - Tom Joad - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 10:26 am: That’s baloney. Once the Dems had the majority in both houses in 2003 we got out of session on time. - Ahoy! - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 10:26 am: It’s too bad, I think Lisa would probably make a decent government some day, but when this is all said and done, that name is going to be tarnished for a long, long time. - Wordslinger - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 10:26 am: Who, other than those whose summer schedules are directly impacted, is supposed to care whether or not the GA is in overtime session? Does not change my summer fun one little bit. - Anonymous - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 10:26 am: Well, yeah. Governors come and go, but Madigan gets re-elected … so there that. - Anonymous - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 10:27 am: Oops, sorry about the double post. Updates coming slowly. - JS Mill - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 10:31 am: Nice to see Chapin taking a break from his anti-Common Core blathering! - too obvious - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 10:33 am: Madigan is an effective leader of the Democrats who successfully advances their agenda and wins all the time. Until the GOP finds people who understand that reality and are capable of more than just whining, they will remain a super-minority. That’s Springfield in a nutshell. You’re welcome. - Downstate - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 10:35 am: This would have been so much easier with Governor Quinn. We could have simply passed and signed a $3 billion deficit and called it a day. Chapin notes that we’ve been doing it the “Madigan Way” for so long - maybe it’s time to acknowledge that he could be wrong. - walker - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 10:38 am: Sen. Chapin Rose has a point. To a point. Why do we wait longer to clearly define differences, are later to seriously negotiate, and need more pressure to reach agreements, — than the other states who finish on time? Not sure it’s Madigan personally, but it is the rules and understandings by which we operate in the legislature. They need an overhaul. That reform would be the greatest “turnaround” of all. (The current rules in the House were crafted by Republicans, but Madigan lives and dies by them.) - Downstate - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 10:45 am: I’m asking this question naively……. When was the last time a Democrat legislator voted against Madigan? Were there any consequences? - Arizona Bob - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 10:46 am: It’s pretty clear that Madigan has no interest in solving this state’s problems. His only concern appears to be how to keep ever increasing cash flowing to get into the pockets of his campaign worker and contributor pockets, and of course keeping the Cook county Assessors office incompetently assessing commercial property to line his law firms pockets to correct these “mistakes”. What an Banshee! I’d love to see a book written on how Illinois got into this sorry state, and who made the decisions that drove it there. Of course Speaker Madigan would need to figure prominently in that tale. - walker - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 10:48 am: Downstate: simple answer: almost every vote in a session will find one or more Dem members voting opposite from Madigan (when he votes). That’s why this “supermajority” talk has its limits. - ??? - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 10:50 am: walker - I agree. As a former legislative staffer, I always thought that if they worked as hard all session as they seem to be capable of doing in the last few days of session (when push comes to shove), so much more could be accomplished each session. - VanillaMan - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 10:50 am: Uh - Mr. Rose? You’ve been in the GA since 2003. “Once again, it looks like [Chapin Rose] is going to [be a part of] another round of long overtime summer sessions under his third or fourth governor now. What’s the common denominator in all of this? [Chapin Rose].” Anyone who has been around as long as you have, can be foisted on that same petard, sir. - walker - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 10:51 am: Downstate: Oh, Sorry if you meant voted against Madigan as Speaker? Then don’t know but think it was Hoffman back in Blago days. Nekritz voted against Madigan’s House rules, and was rewarded with a leadership position the next year. - Quizzical - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 10:51 am: Sen. Rose has been in the legislature for a high percentage of overtime sessions under different governors. Maybe he’s the problem. - Enviro - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 10:57 am: == What’s the common denominator in all of this? == The Republicans and Democrats can’t agree on a way to pay for the state programs they both know we need. - Mama - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 10:57 am: Would someone please give Sen. Chapin Rose a glass of wine or beer. He needs to chill. - VanillaMan - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 10:58 am: His only concern appears to be how to keep ever increasing cash flowing to get into the pockets of his campaign worker and contributor pockets, and of course keeping the Cook county Assessors office incompetently assessing commercial property to line his law firms pockets to correct these “mistakes”. Sounds like someone didn’t get their morning Margarita, eh? - Anonin' - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 10:58 am: Yep ChumpyChapin has a points Overtime with BlinkyJim over a huge corporate tax Overtime with Blagoof over too many issues to count Overtime with GovPeace over crushin’ middle class families. Guessin’ ole Chumpy does have a point. - walker - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 10:59 am: AB: It’s clear you haven’t the first clue about Madigan’s interests in helping Illinois, or his personal values. You’re right, though, that any book on the last fifty years of Illinois government, good and bad, would feature Madigan in a big way. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 11:03 am: (Sigh) I though My Party was done blaming Madigan because Rauner would be his foil. I guess for $20 million blaming Madigan is part of that Mushroom Leverage Package(?) BTW, Governors own things, they always have, always will… - Wordslinger - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 11:06 am: AB, judging from your post earlier today when you were sharing your “expertise” on Teamsters history, I’m guessing you’ll wait for the movie. - Demoralized - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 11:10 am: ==I’d love to see a book written on how Illinois got into this sorry state, and who made the decisions that drove it there.== That would be a long list I’m sure. - Arizona Bob - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 11:30 am: @walker, feel free to defend the way Madigan has used his political muscle to avoid the sad state of Illinois today, where he did the right thing for the people of Illinois when it would result in a loss of some of his political power. I expect that will be a VERRRRY short post. - Arsenal - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 11:31 am: ==We could have simply passed and signed a $3 billion deficit and called it a day.== Or kept the revenue increases that Quinn campaigned on and Governor-Elect Rauner asked to expire. - Juvenal - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 11:35 am: === What’s the common denominator in all of this? === Serious financial problems. Sorry Chapin, you are a nice guy, but stop whining about not having the summer off. - A guy - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 12:12 pm: Ars, seriously…you think they honored his request? That would be the first, last and only time. If they truly thought this was in the best interest, why didn’t these heroes act heroically? Because it wasn’t in their political interest. All those unions, state workers and everyone else be darned…that’s all they ever thought about. Disingenuous at best. Even if they passed it; I’ll willing to guess, we’d still be in a similar position to where we are. If you don’t think so, say why. - Wordslinger - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 12:16 pm: Guy, you make no sense. Rauner did make a request. Public record. It was honored. Also public record. Today’s position would be quite different in that there would be much more revenue. Is that a heavy lift for you? - nona - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 12:38 pm: Did Chapin really want Blago to have his way with the budget??? If Madigan is to blame for every overtime, after all, then Blago must have been in the right. Right Chapin? - Cheswick - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 12:39 pm: Riiiiight, Chapin, and you and your party have nothing to do with it. - Cheswick - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 12:41 pm: Riiiiight, Chapin, and you and your party have nothing to do with it. Who are you trying to kid? - A guy - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 1:18 pm: Sling, he makes public requests every day on the record. If it was such great policy to extend the tax, why didn’t they do it? (no need to answer, I know) Had they done so….we’d be in less of a leaky boat than we are now, but it would still be a very, very leaky vote and I’d guess we’d still be headed to overtime. But keep defending it, it becomes you. Rose is right. Hope it’s not to deep for you. I can’t imagine it is. That would leave only “stubborn” as an excuse. That works. - Bill White - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 1:26 pm: Why does the Illinois legislature need an overtime summer session? General Assembly passes a $36 billion budget, Governor Rauner line item vetoes it down to $32 billion and the General Assembly reconvenes as scheduled in the autumn. Seems simple enough. What am I missing? - Wordslinger - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 1:37 pm: Guy, you still make no sense. The governor got something he asked for (no one gets everything) and you still play the victim. If he had been turned down, I imagine you’d do the same thing. At least you’re consistent in that one area. During the campaign, Madigan and Cullerton were on record that the tax should be extended. That’s basically where they are today. Rauner campaigned on rolling back taxes. He won. He’s getting the chance to make it work with current revenue, but has yet to say how we would do that, as his proposal is about $3 billion short, as is Madigan’s plan. That’s the situation on this planet, I guess it’s different on yours. - Arsenal - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 2:11 pm: ==Ars, seriously…you think they honored his request?== I mean, they absolutely did, it’s a fact. ==That would be the first, last and only time.== Well, of course it was the first, it was the first request he made of them. It wasn’t the last, they’ve at least approved his cabinet, and therefore, not the only. == If they truly thought this was in the best interest, why didn’t these heroes act heroically?== Now you’re changing the subject, I’m not talking about any heroes, I’m talking about the GA. ==Because it wasn’t in their political interest.== If they had a Governor or Governor-Elect that was publicly supportive, it would have been in their interest. ==All those unions, state workers and everyone else be darned…that’s all they ever thought about. Disingenuous at best.== I’m sorry that you expect politicians to not be politicians, but that doesn’t change the facts of the matter. ==Even if they passed it; I’ll willing to guess, we’d still be in a similar position to where we are.== If you think so, say why. - Downstate - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 2:28 pm: Bill White, I think you nailed it, but maybe with another step. Madigan/Cullerton pass a budget. Rauner vetos it. Madigan/Cullerton override the veto. Rauner simply funds the items that he wants to within the budget. - Filmmaker Professor - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 2:42 pm: Thanks VanillaMan. You beat me to it. - Skeptic - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 2:44 pm: “Rauner campaigned on rolling back taxes. He won” Repeat with me. Elections have consequences. - A guy - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 2:52 pm: Ars, lot of hang time on that punt. It landed on the planet I’m on. lol. I always expect politicians to be politicians. Right now, they’re not doing politically wise things. They can all use a few days at home. That’s where the most important lobbying goes on. - Juvenal - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 2:54 pm: Skeptic - Actually, Rauner campaigned on replacing the income tax with a service tax, closure of corporate loopholes, and some smaller new revenue ideas. - Bill White - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 3:00 pm: “Rauner campaigned on rolling back taxes. He won.” Fair enough. Now the Governor can choose what to cut from the budget. Why is that a problem? - Montrose - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 3:08 pm: Wordslinger *Who, other than those whose summer schedules are directly impacted, is supposed to care whether or not the GA is in overtime session? Does not change my summer fun one little bit.* I am guessing this is an oversight on your part, but the who that is suppose to care are the hundreds of organizations that do the state’s work through grants and contracts that don’t know if they have to lay off staff, if they have to shut a program down, if they can keep their doors open. They care a lot about whether there is a settled budget as they try to manage their business and cashflow and, for many, serve the needs of the most vulnerable folks in Illinois. They care a lot. - Arsenal - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 3:24 pm: ==Ars, lot of hang time on that punt.== Yeah, I’m a lot better at football than I am at your silly little Shift-the-Burden-of-Persuasion game. - A guy - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 3:34 pm: Ars, keep telling yourself whatever makes sense to you. This Governor will never be in your wheel house. He’s there because more people think something different than what you think. He knows it. And deep down inside, you know it. Everyone misses the old days, but soon enough, few want to relive them. The burden is where it belongs. The shifting (much of it by your faves) is how we got here. - walker - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 3:41 pm: AB: To answer your question top of mind, without even trying to think of more: Madigan pushed pension reform directly in the face of political support from unions, and he pushed thru a tax increase which is never popular with voters. Both cost him politically, though his opponents have mostly blown their chances to capitalize on the latter. Not defending him or these choices, but he is simply not the two-dimensional icon some love to curse. - walker - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 3:44 pm: Sorry =”have mostly blown their chances to capitalize on the former”= not the “latter.” - Arsenal - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 3:59 pm: ==Ars, keep telling yourself whatever makes sense to you.== What have I said that doesn’t make sense to you? I can explain if it’ll help. == This Governor will never be in your wheel house.== So? ==He’s there because more people think something different than what you think.== Yes, and that something they thought was, “Nothing can be worse than Pat Quinn.” They were wrong. ==And deep down inside, you know it.== It’s not deep down inside. I just said it. But it’s flattering that you spend any amount of time trying to figure out what I “know” “deep down inside”. ==Everyone misses the old days== I don’t. ==The burden is where it belongs. The shifting (much of it by your faves) is how we got here.== That’s not what I was talking about with “burden shifting” at all. “Burden shifting” refers to how you didn’t explain your assertion (”The increases income tax wouldn’t help”) but insisted that anyone who disagreed with it had to explain why. ==(much of it by your faves) == Who do you think “my faves” are? What else do you think “I know” “deep down inside”? I know it’s easier arguing if you can just assign positions to me rather than respond to my actual ones, but fiction is more compelling when it’s specific. - Huh? - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 8:15 pm: == What’s the common denominator in all of this? == It was summer. The sun rose/set. The sky was blue/cloudy. It was hot/cold. Babies were born. People died. Life happened. - Black Ivy - Thursday, May 28, 15 @ 9:29 pm: Preach, Chapin, preach! It seems to me the common denominator is a jealous wife, disruptor, and all-around angry leprechaun. Governor Rauner, remain above the fray. Your average Illinoisian needs your leadership. - A guy - Friday, May 29, 15 @ 8:42 am: ===(”The increases income tax wouldn’t help”) but insisted that anyone who disagreed with it had to explain why.=== Ars, you’re a good egg, but the only portion of the most recent blather I’m going to respond to is above. I never said the tax increase “wouldn’t help”. Naturally more money would lessen some pain. What I said was that we’d still be in the situation we’re in with an overtime session and gulf between two ideologies. Rauner wants structural reform. The temporary tax extension would not have dealt with any of that. So, we’d still be largely where we are. Your thesis on “anybody but Quinn” may be comforting, but it’s not accurate. Surely some people voted that way, but I can assure you I didn’t. Rauner’s election was as much a repudiation of the Majority as it was Quinn. I can’t vote to dis-elect Madigan or Cullerton. Only the people in their own districts can. And they won’t. So, we’re all stuck with them until we can change the balance. I know the GOP didn’t pick up a single seat in the House and only 1 in the Senate, but there were alot of uncomfortable races that could foreshadow a change at the next crack, with better strategy and management on the GOP side. And money. That’s been taken care of. Rauner’s not there solely because people were sick of Pat Quinn. They’re sick of a lot more than that. I hope you continue to believe that’s all it was. It will make life easier on precinct captains like me. - Wordslinger - Friday, May 29, 15 @ 8:53 am: Rauner’s there because he got 50.8 percent of the vote against Quinn in a non-presidential year, with no coattails. He did not campaign to build public support for his current legislative agenda — “not a priority” — because he obviously thought it would sink him. After the election, he ran around the state trying to drum up grassroots support with indifferent results, at best. That’s the “mandate,” for his reactionary agenda, in a nutshell. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.