115 Comments - ILPundit - Tuesday, Sep 8, 15 @ 9:29 pm: Kenny might want to google the name Gary LaPaille. That’s the last time I can remember the Speaker essentially saying someone is dead to him so clearly and unambiguously. - Norseman - Tuesday, Sep 8, 15 @ 9:31 pm: Is this what they call beating a dead horse override? Interesting bit about calling the override at AFSCME’s request. If so they must have been trying to test GOP lock. - Norseman - Tuesday, Sep 8, 15 @ 9:34 pm: Gary learned the hard way not to try and overshadow your mentor. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Sep 8, 15 @ 9:38 pm: Drury went out of his way on Chicago Tonight this evening to say that he never, ever said he was a yes on SB 1229. Seems like MJM is calling him out. - Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Sep 8, 15 @ 9:41 pm: Watching Ken on Chicago Tonight. Can’t wait to see him explain the child care vote. - Anon2U - Tuesday, Sep 8, 15 @ 9:43 pm: Are Drury and Dunkin just a sign of things to come? Madigan seems to have lost some control both with his members and with his normally media disaplined self. A media release six days after the fact? Strange days indeed. - Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Sep 8, 15 @ 9:48 pm: What a bogus answer on the child care issue Ken. Pathetic. “There were 117 other members there. I wasn’t there.” Just pathetic. - MurMan - Tuesday, Sep 8, 15 @ 9:52 pm: I’m glad that Madigan called out Drury as well. Dunkin’s shameful absence and disgusting attempts to defend the neglect of his duties have dominated the conversation. Drury’s No vote should not be forgotten. The Speaker certainly will not forget it. - sss - Tuesday, Sep 8, 15 @ 9:56 pm: Who will be passing petitions in his district? - Truthteller - Tuesday, Sep 8, 15 @ 9:59 pm: He misses the fact that a couple of Republicans did not vote. Republicans and Democrats are starting to hear from thousands of their citizens that support of the Union Bosses and their stranglehold on our government is over and will not be tolerated. Let the era of Freedom in Illinois government workers begin. - Not it - Tuesday, Sep 8, 15 @ 10:00 pm: Well, I believe the failure to override the governor’s veto of Senate Bill 1229 will be used by the governor as part of his ongoing effort to save middle-class taxpayers. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 8, 15 @ 10:00 pm: If you take on the Speaker, true or not, in the eyes and mind of the Speaker, (see Hassert, Saviano, La Paille), that’s not a good way to find yourself. Drury since he arrived wanted to “teach”, same as Ives. I never had Ives “lasting” longer than Drury, but Ives is only “teaching”, not sticking her finger in the eye of House Leaders - MurMan - Tuesday, Sep 8, 15 @ 10:01 pm: @truthteller Lol. Where can I get one of those tinfoil hats? - Casual observer - Tuesday, Sep 8, 15 @ 10:03 pm: “Let the era of Freedom in Illinois government workers begin.” Huh? - Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Sep 8, 15 @ 10:08 pm: “The Era of Freedom in Illinois Government Workers.” I felt a lotta things over the years, but enslaved was never one of them. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 8, 15 @ 10:11 pm: - Norseman -, I could see this vote as a testing by Madigan to the Rauner vote lock. Heck, it will come in handy to remind the governor of his unyielding control when the raising of revenues need 47 GOP “green” “Governor, clearly you can deliver the HGOP Caucus, I mean, I remember the SB1229 override” Once it was clear he didn’t have his 71, Madigan got the HGOP to vote on it anyway for a “record” on Labor and to make Durkin’s threat real and in play, and a tool to ensure Rauner delivers on his tax votes with GOP green lights. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Sep 8, 15 @ 10:13 pm: back under the bridge trolls - MurMan - Tuesday, Sep 8, 15 @ 10:16 pm: ===back under the bridge trolls=== Very funny. But, pot meet kettle - anon - Tuesday, Sep 8, 15 @ 10:30 pm: A press release several days after the fact does seem strange. Wouldn’t be shocked if Drury’s numbers actually go up in that conservative district. And Dunkin’s constituents won’t hold it against him. Sad day for Labor and rough sailing ahead. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 8, 15 @ 10:39 pm: ===Wouldn’t be shocked if Drury’s numbers actually go up in that conservative district.=== Would not be the 1st time Madigan had one of his members run afoul or seem “independent” of himself, but the tone seems just too pointed and is too early for that type of pivot or embellishment - Rollo Tamasi - Tuesday, Sep 8, 15 @ 10:39 pm: The present vote to me represents being a COWARD. Then he blew off the Chicago Tonight show. Look for Mr. PRESENT to be called out more in the next weeks. With a yes or now vote at least you take a stand. - walker - Tuesday, Sep 8, 15 @ 10:51 pm: Madigan doesn’t seem to handle defeat as well as victory. Why do this publicly except to send messages to those he cannot speak with one-on-one? Who’s the audience for this message? Agree that finally calling the vote after knowing his own caucus was short, could only be a test/ set up for Republicans. - Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Sep 8, 15 @ 11:38 pm: ==A media release six days after the fact? Strange days indeed.== After shooting himself in the foot on the GA pay increase and then picking a fight he lost on the override… - Jorge - Tuesday, Sep 8, 15 @ 11:59 pm: Da Speaker didn’t shoot himself in the foot. AFSCME did. FKA, when you post it’s worse than Japanese karoake. #1886 - Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 12:00 am: Maybe now he will stop trying to force such ==extreme== legislation. - Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 12:02 am: @Jorge - AFSCME had nothing to do with the Speaker shooting himself in the foot on the GA pay increase. That was all him, and it never should have happened. - Jorge - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 12:04 am: FKA, the pay increase is already forgotten unlike your #1886 nonsense. - Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 12:07 am: And if that post was ==worse than Japanese karaoke== to you, that is only because you apparently don’t speak the same political language as most commenters here. As @Oswego Willy says ==Try to keep up.== Maybe you should try paying attention instead of insulting others. - Jorge - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 12:11 am: Oh I do speak the lingo. You belittled the death of my grandfather. I made a joke about a popular, yet unfortunate stereotype. For that I apologize. You have not done so. - Quiet Sage - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 12:39 am: Of the two, Madigan may be even more angry at Drury for publicly challenging Madigan’s analysis of the vote. - Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 12:54 am: @Jorge - I do not know what you are talking about. I have no problems with anyone here, except apparently you. I had one disagreement some years ago over a difference of opinion with a frequent commenter here, someone who already had my respect at the time and earned more after. We are even better ==friends== now and have mutual respect. Sorry to hear about the loss of your grandfather and anything else you may be going through. Good luck. - Shanks - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 12:59 am: Dunkin is a State Representative….that is his job, with great responsibility…in the midst of the biggest budget fight in Illinois…and the guy is in NY…no excuse… ” Let the era of Freedom in Illinois government workers begin. ” Really would like to know what your definition of freedom is? - DuPage Bard - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 1:20 am: Who cares, they keep avoiding the real issue…. the budget done yet? - Anonymous - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 5:27 am: A well played act, they want it and be able to say they don’t. - Sue - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 6:38 am: Based on this nonsense, I think there is good reason to believe that Hillary Clinton and MM are using the same PR firm. Mike give it up- you lost but now you are looking like the Loserbyou have become - Anonymous - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 6:43 am: And so we have it. It appears Rauner the Bruce has triumphed. All power is centralized. A best and final offer can be served. A budget can be AV’d into balance. All it takes now is the courage to carry through. It’s hard to lead. Ask JRT, JE and GR. It’s lonely at the top. Let the shaking begin! - thoughts matter - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 6:53 am: I seriously doubt Madigan has shot himself in the foot. Rather, he now has tangible proof to refute the governor’s claims about Madigans’ tight fisted control over his party. And, he can throw the point back at Rauner. Madigan plays the long game, folks. Madigan could have gone even further in this memo and mentioned the legislator that went out of her way to be there while battling illness. I hope her constituents value her commitment to service. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 7:23 am: Perhaps telling Madigan and labor he was for the bill the whole time and then flipping to no at the last minute was Drury’s game all along. His explanation certainly seems well concocted. Have we spoken to his experts yet, and we’re any of them the same folks who advised Tom Cross he could sue the General Assembly for an unbalanced budget? As for why Franks isn’t in the line of fire, the answer is pretty simple: Madigan thinks the other two broke their promise. - Arizona Bob - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 7:28 am: I still haven’t heard exactly what Dunkin’s strategy and goals are here. I’d love to hear how he wanted this to play out, but unless Rich figures it out (and is willing to talk), we’ll probably never know. Madigan’s power seems to have been based on two things; money and campaign organization. For the first time in a long time, the GOP (read Rauner) can make up what he takes away there. Madigan’s organization in much of Chicago just isn’t the juggernaut it used to be. He’s actually had to resort to bringing in union goon “ringers” from Michigan to campaign in Illinois, and clear patronage hiring (outside of public education) has really been cut down as far as being a “hammer”. He’s not even that strong in his own backyard. I remember back in 2010 Kelly Burke beat the union hack he backed on the 36th rep district with a big family but not much money or organization. Of course she kissed his ring after she beat his guy and has pretty much been a stooge for him in the House, but just beating his guy in an adjoining district would’ve been unheard of 10 years ago. The guy’s still got a lot of sting, but the chinks in his armor are getting bigger and bigger…. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 7:29 am: ===…we’re any of them the same folks who advised Tom Cross he could sue the General Assembly for an unbalanced budget?=== - YDD -, Your guy won. Maybe a lil grace, considering you went around the barn to connect the two? I need to pay attention to Treasurer Freeichs more… hmm. ===As for why Franks isn’t in the line of fire, the answer is pretty simple: Madigan thinks the other two broke their promise.=== This. It’s one thing to be undecided, it’s another thing NOT to keep your word, according to the Speaker. The breaking of your word is a far greater sin. - BigBen - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 8:02 am: Wah, Mike. Back room goons are fading away. Legislators are feeling more free to vote their conscience. This is just the beginning. Both sides had better get used to it. - Cassandra - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 8:02 am: It’s over. 1229, that is. And if he’s so concerned about the middle class, why doesn’t Madigan do more to make the income tax truly progressive in Illinois. The Democrats want to put through an income tax increase which will have a far greater impact on middle class taxpayers than on the wealthy (the wealthy including Mr. Madigan himself). Chicagoans-that would be on top of Mayor Rahm’s property tax increase and Ms. Preckwinkle’s sales tax increase. And Lawrence Msall says that property tax increase isn’t nearly enough. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 8:04 am: - BigBen - Think you forgot Durkin threatening the HGOP and not one HGOP member flipped. That make Durkin a goon, because Durkin strong-armed his 47. Do you read what you type or are you just blinded by Rauner and shiny objects? - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 8:07 am: - Cassandra -, You do know Rauner needs revenue, right? You know that. You also know 67 GOP lights in the General Assembly will be green for a tax increase, and… Rauner will sign it. I mean, you are aware of this… right? - Wordslinger - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 8:14 am: From tne statement, Madigan is simply pointing out that Dunkin and Drury are untrustworthy liars. Not big news, not shocking, just a statement of fact. It’s not like he rubbed it in, going into detail as to the vast empty spaces between their ears. - JS Mill - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 8:32 am: = Legislators are feeling more free to vote their conscience.= To which legislators are you referring? Because it isn’t the GOP. They were threatened with being thrown out of the caucus. So…..nice GOP narrative killer huh. - Cassandra - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 8:35 am: Yes, OW, I know it. I know both parties have informally agreed to a tax increase. And I see the middle class is going to be giving up a nice chunk of cash-proportionately far more than the wealthy.So much for income equality in Illinois. I do wonder if Chicagoans have realized just how big a chunk of cash they’ll be giving up in total-income, property, sales. - burbanite - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 8:41 am: Chicago is out of assets to long term lease, they can no longer kick the can down the road. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 8:45 am: - Cassandra -, Chicago can ask Gov. Rauner all about his tax increase, like the Quinn income tax increase. I’m sure you remember that… - pool boy - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 8:59 am: What a cry baby. It is always easier to blame others than yourself. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 9:04 am: - pool boy - It’s putting on notice that Dunkin and Drury lied. The very last thing you want for your reputation as a legislator is that you don’t keep your word. You don’t say it about a member of your own caucus unless they lied to the group. It’s not a crybaby moment but should be a moment of pause to both men and their reputations far beyond SB1229. They know if they lied. They also know if they lied abd to whom. - Quiet Sage - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 9:09 am: ==A media release six days after the fact? Strange days indeed.== Madigan is now speaking with a cool, rather than hot, head. The delay in the response indicates the severity of the blow Madigan feels he has received, and the care he is taking in responding. - Team Sleep - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 9:20 am: Willy - did you read Rich’s report last week that noted there was no “caucus position” within the House GOP? If we are to take Speaker Madigan at his word when he talks, then we must extrend the same courtesy to Leader Durkin. While that does not 100% explain the votes cast by Raymond Poe and Terri Bryant, it also means that a nice little “leak” found its way into the press at a very coincidental time. - A guy - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 9:21 am: In so many words…the Speaker is accusing his own members of lying. That’s off the grid for him. Interesting that he spared Franks by name. Very odd indeed. - Slippin' Jimmy - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 9:21 am: OW @ 8:04-Coffee snorting time! lol - VanillaMan - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 9:22 am: 1229 was a chance to slap down a demagogue and give Illinois a second chance to reach a compromise. Dunkin and Drury backstabbed their Speaker and now everyone is going to watch Rauner continue his reign of errors. - Wensicia - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 9:24 am: I do not believe either man when they said this had nothing to do with Rauner or his influence. - Team Sleep - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 9:29 am: Guy - in my mind, Jack Franks is to Mike Madigan what Ron Paul was to Denny Hastert or what Joe Lieberman was to Harry Reid. He is his own man and, to quote Bruce Hornsby, that’s just the way it is. - Tournaround Agenda - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 9:30 am: Hell hath no fury like a Speaker scorned. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 9:33 am: - Team Sleep - I also remember the Durkin Directive; Vote as I say on SB1229 or Gov. Rauner, um, er, I will primary you. - A Guy -, How is it off the grid? - Formerpol - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 9:35 am: Oh my! The Great and Powerful Speaker is angry! All genuflect and seek his mercy! Why do so many Illinoisans put up with him? He certainly hasn’t brought good governance to the state. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 9:39 am: - Formerpol - Did Rod? Did Quinn? Madigan is Speaker. He is the leader of one 1/2 of 1/3 of state government. Do you have a point? - VanillaMan - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 9:39 am: “I believe the failure to override the governor’s veto of Senate Bill 1229 will be used by the governor as part of his ongoing effort to bring down wages and the standard of living for middle-class families.” Consider what the governor has used to justify the last eight months of ghastly decisions harming Illinois, this is an understatement. 1229 was important. Rauner does not learn an important lesson with this failed override. If anyone in Illinois needed to learn something about his job - it was Rauner, and Drury and Dunkin wrecked that chance. Worse, Rauner will be emboldened to believe he can continue with his destruction without being stopped. Mr. “hit ‘em early and hit ‘em hard” will cause more wreckage. Rauner isn’t shaking up Illinois, he is destroying it. - Arizona Bob - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 9:42 am: @vanilla =1229 was a chance to slap down a demagogue and give Illinois a second chance to reach a compromise= Actually, that’s what happened, Vanilla. the demagogue Madigan got slapped down and now perhaps he’ll realize he might actually have to compromise, rather than dictate, to make progress on this budget mess in Illinois and perhaps retrain the giveaway train he’s had for public unions in Illinois for the last few decades… - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 9:43 am: ===there was no “caucus position” within the House GOP=== Yes, there most certainly was a position and I never wrote what you said I wrote. - Tired of the same old same - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 9:44 am: I see cracks in Madigan’S democrat super majority. Change is comming and its way over due. - Arizona Bob - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 9:47 am: @OW =Madigan is Speaker. He is the leader of one 1/2 of 1/3 of state government.= Gee, OW I guess controlling the purse strings of the Democratic Party in Illinois has no bearing on Madigan’s power, as well as being the “fixer” for anyone wanting favors from the GA. C/mon, OW. You know better than that “he’s only the speaker” garbage. - Formerpol - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 9:48 am: My point was obvious to anyone of even moderate comprehension. The state’s movers and shakers should show some backbone and dump Madigan. Perhaps he has dirt on a lot of them. - JS Mill - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 9:51 am: = there was no “caucus position” within the House GOP= Is that what you really believe? I understand what you are saying about taking the speaker at his word, you are right, you cannot have it both ways. I don’t think you can ignore the GOP voting record these days though. The hypocrisy of their narrative with regard to the speaker is that they are doing the same thing that they are accusing the speaker and democratic legislators of doing. I think that part is obvious. Have no illusions, MJM does his best to get the outcomes he wants. His public shaming of two of his caucus members (I am assuming he is not talking about Franks, I could be wrong) is the most public he has been in some time about his thoughts on any member. I think he is sending some pretty clear messages, I think he is attempting to get people in line but with him the obvious is not always what it seems to be. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 9:56 am: - Arizona Bob - According to the state constitution, the Speaker and Senate President make up 1/3 of state government, with the state legislature as a whole making up that 1/3, divided into two Chambers. Is that… garbage? I think SB1 proved the Judical is independent, and as independent as it was before the ruling on SB1 too. Governors are independent too. Vetoes, and choices cleary show that. I know you think things hide under your bed, they don’t. - Demoralized - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 9:57 am: ==I see cracks in Madigan’S democrat super majority== Well, considering he’s never truly had a super majority (see Jack Franks) I’m not sure that the “cracks” are any different than before. - MurMan - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 10:11 am: ===Change is comming and its way over due.=== Do us a favor and hold your breath until it gets here - Team Sleep - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 10:14 am: Rich - sorry, and you are correct. But you did note that there would be no expulsion or determined punishment against any HGOP member who voted to override the Governor. - Team Sleep - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 10:23 am: In my mind, a primary shouldn’t be viewed as a punishment. After all, anyone who registers paperwork and collects enough VALID signatures can run for office. And given the current political climate on both sides of the aisle - especially when couple with everything that’s happened since last November - it would be very short-sighted for any official to never expect a primary now or in the future. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 10:25 am: - Team Sleep - With respect, The primary opponent would be chosen and supported against them by their own caucus. That’s the rub, that’s the leverage, that’s the stick, not the carrot. - BigBen - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 10:26 am: Oswego. I don’t need my opinion validated by you. You talk too much on here anyway. - Wordslinger - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 10:27 am: TS, Durkin said there would be “consequences” for apostates. Seriously, dude, what’s your point here? Rauner went hardball on this bill and he won. He didn’t win with a smile and a shoeshine. He’s the governor and the GOP bank. You get sideways with him at your own peril. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 10:28 am: - BigBen - I wouldn’t call my response a validation, more like a mocking ending with a chuckle. Making it about me won’t make your comment better. - TBone - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 10:28 am: **Kenny might want to google the name Gary LaPaille.** Really? Comparing the Speaker’s relationship with LaPaille to his relationship with Dunkin doesn’t make any sense. - BigBen - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 10:38 am: Oswego. And still you talk. And talk and talk. And make clever comments. And make more. As if you are the moderator of the forum. And you try to humiliate me. Or “mock me” as you say. And I am not humiliated. I guess I am mocked. Waiting for next clever comeback. - TBone - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 10:40 am: **The primary opponent would be chosen and supported against them by their own caucus.** Anyone who thinks the Speaker is going to ANY resources taking out his own members is having a very tough time understanding what’s going on in Illinois right now. - Arizona Bob - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 10:47 am: @OW =According to the state constitution, the Speaker and Senate President make up 1/3 of state government, with the state legislature as a whole making up that 1/3, divided into two Chambers. Is that… garbage= So is it your point that the only political power in Illinois is that vested by the constitution. The constitution doesn’t specifically address patronage hiring in schools and “exempt” positions established by the judiciary, it doesn’t address using campaign cash and “understandings” for lobbying jobs and consulting contracts for “favors” granted while in elected office, and it doesn’t address vindictive leadership punishing those who meet their constitutional responsibilities but don’t sell out to their leadership. Apparently you think that these POLITICAL, not constitutional, issues somehow limit the Speakers power. You know better. Be careful looking beneath your bed, OW. You might find reality staring back at you…. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 10:54 am: - BigBen -, when you have something to say, say it. I’m still waiting. - AB -, ===The constitution doesn’t specifically address patronage hiring in schools === I keep making the mistake in engaging you thoughtfully. I just won’t anymore. - Wordslinger - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 11:03 am: – Be careful looking beneath your bed, OW. You might find reality staring back at you.– LOL, huh? What is that supposed to mean? - Aflsciome - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 11:05 am: Rabble rabble rabble rabble rabble.if people think rauner is bad on talking points the dems really need to drop this “middle class” stuff - anonlurker - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 11:17 am: Question: Can the present vote be used as a placeholder and subject to change later during voting? Still trying to figure out Franks vote, since the Speaker said that “every” member indicated they would vote ‘yes’. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 11:27 am: ===Still trying to figure out Franks vote, since the Speaker said that “every” member indicated they would vote ‘yes’.=== I’m in the camp that Franks would be “71″ and ONLY “71″ if the other 70 were green. The manner all this has been shaking out, including the singling out of Dunkin and Drury make me believe this is the case. Once Dunkin was a no-show, Franks was free of his word. Actually, the way the Speaker is describing his nose-counting and pointed anger seems to indicate that too. - BigBen - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 11:30 am: Oswego you are so funny. I have been making my point all morning. YOU TALK TOO MUCH. We know your opinion on every subject every time and then rinse, repeat. I made a point early and BOOM, you ridiculed me. Well, good for you. You are smarter than me on Capitol Fax. Well done. - A guy - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 11:31 am: ==- A Guy -, How is it off the grid?=== Willy, it’s not every day that this Speaker has sent out a press release accusing his own members of lying. It’s not ambiguous. Is that not an oddity? - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 11:35 am: - A Guy -, I just wanted to understand clearly. - BigBen -, I won’t feed you anymore. I’ll stay off your lawn too, k? - BigBen - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 11:40 am: Oswego - This is your domain - not mine. Just leave me alone when I try to make one damn point a week - which was worth probing - not ridiculing. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 11:46 am: BigBen, your comments are often inane and juvenile. Up your game or go. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 11:47 am: === Just leave me alone when I try to make one … point a week - which was worth probing=== Sure, I’ll leave your points alone, what was the point you’ve been trying to make? ===Oswego you are so funny. I have been making my point all morning. YOU TALK TOO MUCH.=== Your point was about me? No. Your point was back rooms, and ignoring Durkin demanding the HGOP do what he says or else. How is that independence OR not being a goon? You think on that. I’m done with ya, good luck. - anonlurker - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 11:48 am: OW, Got it. Thanks. - MurMan - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 11:51 am: Will does post a lot, but to be fair, BigBen, your comment: ===Wah, Mike. Back room goons are fading away. Legislators are feeling more free to vote their conscience. This is just the beginning. Both sides had better get used to it.=== Was pretty ignorant. GOP wasn’t free to vote their conscience. Also doubt this is the start of some flood of Democraric defectors in the House. IMHO, you can bash anyone you would like, but your position should be based in reality and supported by facts. If you want to post simply because you like bashing Madigan then why not just post in the trib’s comment section and stop wasting our time. - MurMan - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 11:51 am: Rich said it much better then I - Aflsciome - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 11:52 am: @bigben, do you ever find it funny that oswego willy only comments to stir the pot and seems to have copious amounts of free time to comment on capfax? his politics are slightly ambiguous as to where he stands but he seems more informed than your average commenter. Who would want to 1. stir the pot to get people interested in threads, 2. has free time to post on cap fax, 3. is more informed than average people on here. Who would gain the most from increased web traffic to this site? - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 11:56 am: - Aflsciome -, Great. Now I’m a conspiracy. If you make tin foil hats dedicated to me, I’ll sign them & auction them off to pay for the $8.5 Billion the state is in the hole, but I doubt they’d worth the tin of it were just recycled - MurMan - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 11:57 am: ===Who would gain the most from increased web traffic to this site?=== Are you implying that Rich and OW are the same person. Lol - anonlurker - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 12:02 pm: Aflsciome. I can’t believe that you hit “Say It!” Bizarre. - Louis G. Atsaves - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 12:03 pm: Almost a week later and Madigan is still fuming. Rightfully so or not, depending on your political leanings. Can you imagine if all sides had more constructively used their energies by putting on their Big Boy Pants and negotiating a balanced budget that would have passed Illinois Constitutional muster? But then again, this is Illinois. Things don’t work that way. - MurMan - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 12:05 pm: I had no idea Rich makes so much money off of the huge traffic that comes to the site to read OW’s comments… But now that I think about it, it makes perfect sense - phocion - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 12:07 pm: I’ve never seen Rich and Willy in the same room at the same time. - nona - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 12:35 pm: As freshmen, legislators learn they are only as good as their word. Unless Carrigan and Madigan are making it up, D & D gave their word and then went back on it. Shame on them. - Enviro - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 12:39 pm: The ball is now in the governor’s court. Let him prove that he and his staff can negotiate in good faith. - Arizona Bob - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 12:43 pm: @OW =I keep making the mistake in engaging you thoughtfully. I just won’t anymore.= Then you’re record will remain perfect. You have yet to make a logical, thoughtful argument to me, so now that record will remain unscathed… I guess if dismissive, trivial, and condescending putdowns is what you substitute for thoughtful argument, I can easily live without it. Unlike you, I have an open mind to new ideas. You ought to try having one, and actually proposing ways to find solutions, sometimes. It will make your posts so much more interesting… - Arizona Bob - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 1:03 pm: @OW, sorry for the vitriol and sarc in that previous post. You obviously are far more knowledgeable than me in the people and political processes that drive this dysfunctional state. I guess my frustration with you is that you’re not a problem solver, a manager, or a planner. If you were, your posts would be incredibly valuable considering your other talents. I look at things objectively and look for solutions and what needs to be reformed rather than just whining about what others do. Those feeding at the taxpayer trough post THEIR solutions ad nauseum here, including Rich. That’s good. We need to look at all perspectives to find answers. I guess that puts us at odds most of the time. That’s ok. I’ll keep reading your posts and perhaps learn something more about the way the people and processes work in your Illinois and party. I hope some of what you read in my posts will get you thinking and perhaps get you to actually look at things from a logical rather than a totally political perspective that has failed Illinoisans so miserably. Are my ideas sometimes unworkable or politically impossible? SURE. I understand that. But the way the brainstorming quality improvement process works is to get a lot of ideas out there, then winnow away and find the best ideas and develop them. Don’t like my ideas and suggestions? Fine. Come up and post about a better one! - Mama - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 1:06 pm: “Worse, Rauner will be emboldened to believe he can continue with his destruction without being stopped. Mr. “hit ‘em early and hit ‘em hard” will cause more wreckage. Rauner isn’t shaking up Illinois, he is destroying it.” VM, any ideas on how can we stop this train-wreck before people start losing their job, home, etc.? - Anonymous Redux - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 1:19 pm: any ideas on how can we stop this train-wreck before people start losing their job, home, etc.? - Mama Hope for Democracy to break out? - Anonymous - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 1:20 pm: So, now Arizona Bob is actually BigBen?? Weird day. - The Colossus of Roads - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 1:45 pm: When a strong willed individual doesn’t get his way he tells everyone it is someone else’s fault. When Rauner does this he is pompous, when Madigan does this it is a teachable moment. Amazing, simply amazing. - Honeybear - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 2:48 pm: -Unlike you, I have an open mind to new ideas.- I have to say I do not experience you as open. I experience you as quite the opposite. Now, I get the frustration with OW. I can’t get him to engage on certain things (constant chirping not to Strike, and his newest not to fear AFSCME) and yet while I don’t always agree with him, I trust him and his opinion. I know that I would be well served to factor in whatever he says into my thoughts. My critique of you is that you have no capacity to be self critical or to learn from others. Say what you will of me, hyperbolic, hysterical, etc, but I think most on this blog would respect me (or politely ignore me, or delete my stupid posts) because I’m trying to learn, trying to grow, trying to find my way. You on the otherhand believe that you know the way, have the correct opinion AND scorn anyone who doesn’t share it. OW strongly believes he is correct. But he’s never scorned me. There’s the difference right there. - A guy - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 2:57 pm: === phocion - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 12:07 pm: I’ve never seen Rich and Willy in the same room at the same time.==== If you’re over 21, you’re allowed into such rooms. lol - anon - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 3:12 pm: At the end of the day, Dunkin will lose no support with his constituents and in Drury’s conservative district he will gain supporters. The Speaker needs to be careful with Dunkin. You never know what repercussions could unknowingly occur in reprimanding him further other than the very public press release. Very sad Dunkin could not even show up to vote. A lot of changes in the House next year. The Governor’s money and the national conservative furor are going to mean something. You can feel it. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 3:24 pm: - AB -, With respect, I stated numerous times; The Topinka income tax solution was my first thought foe to fix this. Second, get a budget without poison pills, or required agenda points that have no support. I agree with Cullerton to start the whole process over, from the dirt, and cobble a budget and votes together, and even “evenly” share the eventual tax increase that Rauner will sign. These are pragmatic ideas, so the current Administration and Sandack call that “retreat”… while the Owl and Rauner can’t get a budget passed or even slam-dunk Turnaround Agenda items to votes. Save this, print this, but this constant thing you have about my solutions is ending. All the above, I’ve elaborated on. - Honeybear -, never confuse your own personal plight to that of what I might say about Unions or AFSCME or my rationale. While your involvement should be commended, and I respect it, the last two campaign cycles and individual union members and how choosing to vote is hurting the collective is the issue. If you strike, Rauner is a martr of Scott Walker renown. I explained my thoughts what needs to be done “next”, it’s up to the Labor Movement as a whole to get the singles to buy in. Rauner is betting against Labor, so is the smart money. I appreciate your passion, your hard work, your family story, your complete story, and I respect it. My thoughts are very macro to your micro, and that’s not even remotely a criticism, it’s actually a compliment to how involved you actually are, and how passonately you care. It’s up to Illinois Labor to be impactful, not one local, or one industry’s Union. It’s at that critical mass. As always I wish you personally good luck, and thanks for your very kind words. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.