* Tribune…
Offering rare public comment on state politics, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke said Tuesday it was “regrettable” that Gov. Bruce Rauner characterized the high court as untrustworthy and part of a “corrupt system” in remarks earlier this year.
“Well, I think it’s regrettable if he said that,” Burke said after a speech at the City Club of Chicago.
“I just have to tell you that my colleagues are outstanding legal educators. They’ve been in the law for their whole lives,” she said. “They’re good people. Honest, moral, ethical. And I can unequivocally say that isn’t true.”
* Sneed has much more…
Not only did Burke criticize Gov. Bruce Rauner for accusing the high court of being part of a “corrupt system,” but later told Sneed: “[Rauner] should not be demonizing people.”
“He won. He should be magnanimous. He should be sitting down with people like [former] Governors [Jim] Thompson, [Jim] Edgar and [George] Ryan did to work things out, not saying bad things about people. What good does that do?” added Burke, who rarely strays into the political fray.
Burke told Sneed she and her husband, Ald. Ed Burke (14th), tossed a Christmas party for Rauner and his wife last year at their home to serve as an “opportunity for collegiality and working together.”
State House Speaker Mike Madigan, State Senate President John Cullerton and their wives were invited.
“It was really historical,” she added.
“What I observed then is not what I am seeing now,” she said.
“Everyone was having a good time and singing Christmas carols at the piano. It really looked like everyone was going to be able to work together.
“I am surprised at what has happened. Devastated by it. Why try and demonize Mike Madigan when you are trying to work with someone? What good does it do? It’s not going to improve relationships. It only makes people tighten up more.”
Whew.
- Stones - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:18 am:
Very interesting and telling remarks by Justice Burke.
- AnonymousOne - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:22 am:
When people are up to no good, they project no good onto everyone around them and assume everyone else operates like them. Rauner might not be capable of believing in integrity, honesty, forthrightness and those with ethics. It’s a shame this is our leader, elected to work with others to benefit the people of this state.
- Dean Keaton - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:23 am:
I would love to see the video of Justice Burke, Ald Burke, Speaker Madigan, and President Cullerton singing X-Mas carols.
- Wordslinger - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:24 am:
From Lance Trover:
“Gov. Rauner attended the Christmas party in good faith. But the eggnog was corrupt. The cookies were a sham. And Madigan controlled the caroling.”
- Wow - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:25 am:
The Gov blew an opportunity to actually Govern .. But I’m starting to think that was never his plan
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:26 am:
Cannoli for Justice Burke.
Do NOT tell me she doesn’t “get it”, understand the players, the “whats and whys”, and most importantly, don’t tell me she doesn’t know what was truly lost.
Good grab, great Post. Period.
- Anonin' - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:27 am:
Justice Burke meet TeamBungle and the Bobblehead
they have a power point and a set of insults talking points and no ability to look up and see they have some wins.
Perhaps learning time is needed
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:28 am:
Justice Burke should run for office if she wants to have a say in how the other two branches make decidions
- Streator Curmudgeon - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:29 am:
It looks like the Governor’s concept of “shakin’ up Springfield” is refusing to participate in the give-and-take that’s always been part of politics everywhere.
If the current impasse has come down to who’s going to blink first, it’s going to be a very long four years.
- CB - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:29 am:
While I will agree that the Gov should not have called them “all” corrupt but we need to consider the source… coming from one of the top Democrat Power Families in Illinois
- downstate commissioner - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:29 am:
Well said. Unfortunately, “Rauner”
- x ace - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:30 am:
Grand Slam by Wordslinger
- Norseman - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:30 am:
Burke touched on the sad part of the Rauner story. He’s your best bud when he’s talking to you, but then he’ll accuse you of being a crook to the press. I get amused watching those around the town stories of Rauner glad handing at the bar or at the market. The people he’s trying to ingratiate himself to are the same ones he’s accused of being overpaid, underworked and corrupt.
- The Equalizer - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:32 am:
Of course, a corrupt person would say that!
/snarkitysnark
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:34 am:
=== Everyone was having a good time and singing Christmas carols at the piano. It really looked like everyone was going to be able to work together. ===
If there was a video of that, it would be priceless
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:35 am:
Wait…
Mike Madigan was singing Christmas carols?
I’d love to hear that.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:35 am:
Raurner seems to be of the same stripe as Walker and Trump.
Damn convention and civilities, do whatever it takes -whatever- to get to be president. Becoming more despicable each with passing day
- walker - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:35 am:
How refreshingly idealistic. Singing carols together just wasn’t quite enough.
The traditional, mostly Irish, political machine always rested on personal and family relationships. Outsiders thought it must be more about money or power, but those were not the core. Warmth, earned loyalty, personal commitment were the currency.
Almost gone now.
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:35 am:
Maybe she can talk to Ed Bruke about the ==rancor== in Chicago? Since her husband helped create it and all.
Oh wait. That wouldn’t be much of a ==surprise== now, would it?
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:35 am:
+1 Wordslinger
- Buster - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:35 am:
Burke’s Xmas Party…the singing of carols….chestnuts roasting AND NOW THIS!
For some reason, I’m reminded of Gen. Custer’s last words, “Gee, they seemed fine at the dance last night.”
- From the 'Dale to HP - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:40 am:
Question is why was Rauner elected? Was it because of his platform? Or was it because the state was sick of Quinn’s inability to get things done (whether that’s true or not is another topic)?
If Rauner was elected because of his platform, he has every right to dig his heels in and uses the only leverage he has.
If Rauner was elected because people were sick of Pat Quinn? Then he should have made a budget deal six weeks ago.
- Former Hoosier - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:42 am:
Justice Burke, a well respected jurist, generally stays out of the fray. I thank her for saying what needs to be said and for defending her fellow justices. Enough with the loose lips Gov. We get it- you’re impulsive…talk first, think later (if ever). You continue to loose any credibility you had by making sweeping and inaccurate accusations.
- The Colossus of Roads - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:45 am:
“not saying bad things about people. What good does that do?”
Agree 100%. If we all did this the world would be a much better place.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:45 am:
Justice Burke is a wonderful person and an excellent politician. I see she refused to comment on merit selection. She didn’t want to share her view, which is that she prefers the current system, where her husband picks the judges.
- Snucka - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:46 am:
==Justice Burke should run for office if she wants to have a say in how the other two branches make decidions==
Should Governor Rauner run for the Supreme Court if he wants to comment on their integrity?
I really don’t think that citizens should be quiet about how they think government should operate - Justice Burke included.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:46 am:
The last thing Rauner wants to do is govern. His Plan A is to flip Illinois government from citizen-based ethics, to market-based profitability. He believes he knows best for everyone. If you don’t agree with him, then you are corrupted by the status quo.
Burke helped derail Rauner’s Plan A by demanding that it follow our constitution. Rauner has no Plan B.
Consequently, we have a governor who doesn’t know, and doesn’t care to govern. He has a staff filled with youngsters with an aggressive agenda without respect for the process needed to get it done. His Turnaround Plan won’t turnaround a government. It might flip over a nursing home, or a corporation with low productivity which needs to file bankruptcy, but not a government.
Rauner needs more than a Plan A. With its failure, he is like a push lawn mower with a Lamborghini engine in it. Loud and useless.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:47 am:
From the ‘Dale to HP - Rauner’s platform today is not the platform that got him elected.
- Wensicia - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:51 am:
The Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde act is getting old.
There’s only one person responsible, one person who caused even Supreme Court Justice Burke to speak out. There’s only one person who can stop this circus. Rauner needs to get to work, prove he’s competent to the office he holds, not the anti-union obsession he’s portraying.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:53 am:
Funny how all of her comments put this at the feet of Rauner…
- Cold - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:57 am:
I think the tone of the Supreme Court pension opinion also can be fairly read as a rebuke to the demonizing of public employees who after all are the very same people who staff the court system.
- Langhorne - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 11:01 am:
Madigan wasnt singing. He was playing the triangle.
Meanwhile, in another part of the forest….are they actually meeting and negotiating on the AFSCME contract, or are they blowing it off for the month? Rauner counted on hundreds of millions in healthcare savings in his “budget”.
- olddog - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 11:05 am:
@ CB 10:29 a.m.
=== … we need to consider the source … coming from one of the top Democrat Power Families in Illinois. ===
You do realize, don’t you, that when you use “Democrat” as an adjective, you sound like you’re:
1. Functionally subliterate; or
2. A partisan hack.
When you can’t, or won’t, distinguish between the parts of speech, you inadvertently give credence to Justice Burke’s complaint.
- Justice Torch - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 11:11 am:
BRAVA! for Justice Burke. The character of all of the justices is beyond reproach. They are all wonderful people. Rauner should have never used the word “corrupt” in the same sentence with the justices.
- @MisterJayEm - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 11:11 am:
“Mike Madigan was singing Christmas carols? I’d love to hear that.”
No audio or video recordings have survived, but there is an artist’s rendition of the event.
– MrJM
- Centennial - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 11:11 am:
Well, I think we found our grown up.
- Nick Name - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 11:12 am:
“Funny how all of her comments put this at the feet of Rauner…”
Whose feet should they be put at? Rauner is the only one calling everyone else a crook.
- thunderspirit - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 11:14 am:
Hats off to MrJM. My best chuckle of the day.
- Bogey Golfer - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 11:15 am:
Wasn’t her husband part of the Council Wars group that “demonized” Harold Washington 30 years ago?
- Juvenal - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 11:15 am:
I think budget negotiations would go more smoothly if Mrs. Rauner attended.
- CB - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 11:16 am:
Olddog… I know it is a noun but using democratic seems I would be giving credence to the use of the word “democratic” as it refers to the party of that name. And no I am not a hack, just someone who has been around a long time in politics and frustrated with the current cast of characters that believe Springfield and for that much Chicago (where is was a resident for over 25 years) is their own personal playground.
- BigDaddy - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 11:19 am:
She is just another democratic political hack.
The state is beyond broken, the back room deals aren’t going to cut it anymore. It is time for something different. Is Rauners approach the right one, maybe not, but I know that the Madigan / Cullerton approach hasn’t worked at all.
- Michael Westen - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 11:19 am:
“Justice Burke should run for office if she wants to have a say in how the other two branches make decidions”
Um, she did run for office and got elected to a co-equal branch of “the other two branches.” Some like to forget that.
- lake county democrat - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 11:21 am:
It’s easy for Judge Burke and the Madigan genuflectors to criticize Rauner on his comments about the judiciary. Let’s see them personally attack Sandra Day O’Connor, who pretty much told the Illinois judiciary the same thing several years ago. “When you enter one of these courtrooms, the last thing you want to worry about is whether the judge is more accountable to a campaign contributor or an ideological group than to the law.”
- lake county democrat - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 11:23 am:
Michael, that’s exactly the problem.
- From the 'Dale to HP - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 11:24 am:
Anonymous@10:47: True, very true. Which means Rauner should have cut a deal eight weeks ago instead of six.
Rauner’s only out might be to take on Kirk at this point.
- Illinoisvoter - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 11:25 am:
Maybe F Scott was right. The rich are different.
They don’t understand trust. And they always
think they can control the narrative.
- A guy - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 11:26 am:
Tales from Tea Time. Kinda sweet if it didn’t make you gack. Nothing but highbrow politics in that household.
- Bulldog58 - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 11:26 am:
OneMan - This is at the feet of Rauner. He owns this. It doesn’t matter where and with who the blame really belongs…Rauner is Governor, Rauner owns this. Madigan understands this. Cullerton understands this. Rauner just hasn’t received the message yet (or maybe he doesn’t care).
- dupage dan - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 11:41 am:
=== - Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:35 am: Raurner seems to be of the same stripe as Walker and Trump ===
Trump I will give you but not Walker. Walker did come in with a specific agenda, known to the voters who elected him. Walker did present bills for consideration to a majority GOP general assembly. The democrats left the state to prevent the votes going thru. As we know, the changes were made and Walker remains governor after having won 3 elections for the office in 4 years.
A major difference between Walker and Rauner is, as has been said, Rauner has no experience at governing - and it shows. Walker understands the legislative process and knows how to get things done. Whether you agree with him or not he is a seasoned politician and has succeeded in making major changes in a blue state as a republican.
Rauner is taking a different tack. Maybe he thought his scorched earth strategy would be more effective if he appeared more congenial earlier. Or maybe he is trying to not care. There doesn’t seem to be a clear strategy with a path.
- Kooky in Kalifornia - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 11:46 am:
Justice Burke did her part with a 9-0 decision on Pension Debt. Time for the state to get serious about paying the State Debt. Amortize the debt, raise taxes flatly until we can amend to enact a graduated tax. We have a service economy, time to tax services. 3% for a haircut and let the Barber keep 1% for collecting. Tax all pensions, public and private at a special low rate with means testing. Social Security your only income equals no tax. More than that and slowly face a rising tax rate. WE ALL have free loaded for decades because our elected officials didn’t have the kihones to tell the truth, raise taxes and then face us at the polls. Time to join together to address problems as loyal Illinoisans and Americans. It is who we are supposed to be.
- Liberty - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 11:58 am:
Rauner was fine at Burkes event until he discovered the waiters were members of the United Food Workers.
- TROOPER - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 12:11 pm:
===Justice Burke did her part with a 9-0 decision on Pension Debt.===
Illinois has 7 justices for future reference. I knew what you meant though:)
- Tact - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 12:12 pm:
Unlike CEO statements in the boardroom or executive meetings, statements made by a Governor more often have impacts beyond the intended audience and will probably be remembered a lot longer.
- Wordslinger - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 12:13 pm:
DD, Walker didn’t campaign his first go-round on his anti-union agenda. It was a surprise when he took office. You can google the Milwaukee Journal from back in the day on that.
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 12:20 pm:
You have to laugh about this. Ed Burke is Chicago’s longest serving and most powerful alderman. The City Councils version of Mike Madigan in charge of the Commitee on Finance.
The city’s and State’s finances are in terrible shape. Odd how Rauner is to blame for the impasse and not the leaders in office since the 1970’s
- PublicServant - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 12:31 pm:
===Odd how Rauner is to blame for the impasse and not the leaders in office since the 1970’s===
Maybe it’s because this impasse only started after Rauner took office…that’d be my guess, at least.
- Kooky in Kalifornia - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 12:32 pm:
Thank you Trooper! I was thinking how Earl Warren relentlessly worked for a 9-0 decision in the Brown case to be perfectly clear about desegregating schools. (Of course bigots still were not impressed). Of course there are only 7 Supremes in Illinois and they were very clear! ( Ooops! The Governor wasn’t impressed by the court ruling either!)
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 12:44 pm:
“corrupt system”
Yet Rauner sees nothing “corrupt” about giving Republican legislators huge sums of money during session.
Whole lotta projection, whole lotta projection goin’ on.
“[Rauner] should not be demonizing people.”
Demonizing people is the lifeblood Rauner/tea party agenda.
- @MisterJayEm - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 12:50 pm:
•Justice O’Connor said the Illinois judiciary should always be on guard against corruption or the appearance of corruption.
•Bruce Rauner said the Illinois judiciary is corrupt.
I’m sure you can understand the difference.
– MrJM
- Broken window - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 12:52 pm:
Was it an ugly sweater party?
- Mama - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 12:54 pm:
++- dupage dan - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 11:41 am: ++ The people of Wisconsin feel Walker’s policies ruined Wisconsin. He is NO hero!
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 12:54 pm:
What was needed was mistletoe.
- foster brooks - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 1:17 pm:
Who’s having the party this year?
- Under Further Review - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 1:18 pm:
Justice Burke have you ever visited Madison County, Illinois? The courts there have developed a reputation for corruption.
- Facts are Stubborn Things - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 1:20 pm:
She is operating reasonably and in moderation, not in the Rauner extreme.
- Wordslinger - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 1:27 pm:
UFR, how’s about St. Clair County?
You know, that county where the governor went shopping with the unions for a judge so he could spend money without approved approps?
- A guy - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 1:58 pm:
All kinds of “judge shopping” going on, all the way around.
- Anon - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 2:02 pm:
==”He should be sitting down with people like [former] Governors [Jim] Thompson, [Jim] Edgar and [George] Ryan did to work things out”==
From 1977 to 2002 — approximately the tenures of Thompson, Edgar and Ryan — the average starting pension for a TRS educator with 30-34 years of service increased by nearly 480%.
If this rate of increase had continued, the average starting pension for an educator with 30-34 years of service retiring in the current fiscal year would be approx. $140,000, and would of course increase 3% per year.
Quinn and Blagojevich were more fiscally prudent and so the pensions increased by a lesser amount.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 2:15 pm:
==the average starting pension for an educator with 30-34 years of service retiring in the current fiscal year would be approx. $140,000==
You are full of it. I’m sure a lot of teachers would love to have a starting pension of $140K. What hole did you pull those numbers out of?
- anon - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 2:18 pm:
Checked an inflation calculator and the average annual rate of inflation from 1977 to 2002 was 4.54% Average rate of inflation from 2003 to 2014 was 2.33%. Hard to see how anyone could attribute a slower increase in salaries to “fiscal prudence” when the inflation rate was halved.
- forwhatitsworth - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 2:47 pm:
I don’t think the Burkes are big donors like some of Rauner’s other friends, therefore their Christmas Party hospitality means NOTHING!
- the old man - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 2:56 pm:
So let’s move a piano into the House Chambers, breakout the Christmas punch and see if we can get this thing settled. With all due respect Justice, the Court gets things done because it can order it done, not so with the executive and legislative branches–that is today’s Civics lesson.
- Michael Westen - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 3:14 pm:
Old Man, Thompson and Edgar seemed to get things done with Madigan. Then again they didn’t have the delusion that they were elected dictator.
- Anon - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 3:38 pm:
anon, the difference in inflation is a valid point. Still, from 1977 to 2002 the starting pension mentioned increased 7.3% per year, considerably faster than inflation. Given your numbers, inflation over the period was up 203%while the starting pension was up 479%.
Since 2002 the starting pension increase has been 2.3% per year, or about the rate of inflation (data from the most recent TRS annual report).
So it’s reasonable to conclude that in this area there was more profligacy during the terms of Thompson, Edgar and Ryan that during the terms of Quinn and Blagojevich.
- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 3:47 pm:
Demoralized, I can’t believe those figures are anywhere close to correct. A “480 percent” growth in initial pensions would mean an annual increase of nearly 20 percent per year, every year. Pensions doubling in five years? No way.
The inference of “fiscal prudence” by Dumb and Dumber leading to slower growth in starting teacher pensions is false on its face. Teacher pension levels are based on teacher salaries, which are set by local school boards, not the State.
Although an “anti-spiking” law was passed along with Tier 2, neither has likely had a material impact on initial average pensions.
And, that’s all the troll feeding I’m up for today.
- Let'sMovetoTexas - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 4:05 pm:
Did the Justice talk about a certain midnight appointment to the Illinois Supreme Court, the moment Justice McMorrow resigned, without any public notice or input whatever? Arranged in advance by a certain Chicago Alderman perhaps?
Ratified by 4 Chicago Supreme Court Justices? So let’s talk about a ‘corrupt system’ that also produced Greylord and Gambat!
- gopower - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 4:35 pm:
In part II of the Sneed scoop, Justice Burke explains that her husband, Chicago Ald. Ed Burke, is an ethical man, that his stewardship of the City Council Finance Committee has ensured the city’s fiscal future. Oh and that he has been a profound voice for racial healing.
She will also explain that she has no idea why the city always plows her street first every winter.
- dupage dan - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 6:26 pm:
=== - Mama - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 12:54 pm:
++- dupage dan - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 11:41 am: ++ The people of Wisconsin feel Walker’s policies ruined Wisconsin. He is NO hero! ===
The people of Wisconsin elected Walker 3 times in 4 years with comfortable margins for that office. Not done in a state in U.S. history. Sounds like the people like him a lot. Or don’t you understand how elections work.
word, I wouldn’t put much stock in what the JS says about Walker. To call that paper hyper partisan would be an understatement. Walker talked much about how he was going to change things re gov’t unions. He didn’t spell it out - but, then, what politician does. Considering the body politic in Wisconsin, I would say he was pretty open. And the voters there seem to agree with him. See above
- Driving Results - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 9:15 pm:
The Burke family is on their third generation at the public trough. Justice Burke is neither surprised nor devastated by any of this. The Burkes will be fine. They and the Madigans are the most direct beneficiaries of the corrupt system Rauner accurately described.
They feast at the trough. The apologists o’plenty who comment here eat their scraps.
What is surprising and devastating is that there are writers and columnists who will actually do pieces that portray the Madigans and Burkes as sympathetic figures while so many real but unconnected people have suffered under the system they created.
If Ann Burke says Rauner is doing things differently that is good confirmation that he is doing the right thing.
- Yobogoya - Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 3:48 am:
magnanimous- that’s that thing that Obama is not.
- dupage dan - Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 12:11 pm:
I apologize for the redundant post to word @ 6:26 pm yesterday. I accessed the blog thru my phone and didn’t see my 2:28 pm post from the same day.