* The Sun-Times on the failed House child care assistance program vote…
House Democrats were just one vote short — voting 70-35 on Senate Bill 570. It needed 71 votes to pass. Rep. Ken Dunkin, D-Chicago, didn’t vote — showing some tension between House Democrats and the administration.
“‘Come on, Ken!’” House Democrats screamed as Dunkin did not vote on two key bills favored by Democrats. […]
“Let me be clear that no one bears more responsibility today for the defeat of this legislation, which protects our children and child care and home care in Illinois than Rep. Ken Dunkin himself,” Jaquie Algee, vice president of SEIU Healthcare Illinois said at a press conference organized by House Speaker Michael Madigan.
Algee said Dunkin broke a promise to his constituents — pulling out a photo of Dunkin holding a child at an event several weeks ago. The picture has the words “I promised” written on it.
“You know, Mr. Dunkin has now missed three votes where he apparently supported the governor’s position,” House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) said at a news conference later.
Asked if he’ll support Dunkin’s re-election, Madigan says it’s something he’ll have to consider.
Oof.
* PR consultant Maze Jackson, who is a Dunkin friend, defended his buddy on Facebook…
WHAT BLACK PEOPLE REALLY NEED TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN SPRINGFIELD..
Political gamesmanship at it’s finest. So one day prior to this vote the Governor agrees to restore the funding to childcare. Some say he was pressured by moderate Republicans, which I would buy if any of Republicans had voted for the bill, but they did not. The Governor released a statement that said he made the decision after consulting with Ken Dunkin. Democrats remain furious with Dunkin for missing a union vote on SB1229 in September, and so even though he (along with other members of the Black Caucus) negotiated a deal to restore the funding AND DID IT, SOMEBODY felt the need to call a vote that essentially said “I know we made a deal, but we don’t trust you so we are going to do THE SAME THING THAT GOT US HERE BEFORE.”
So when the results were the same, people got all up in arms, calling Dunkin a traitor, vilifying him in the press…al the while failing to mention…THE CUTS TO CHILDCARE WERE RESTORED. So…where is that story? Springfield insiders playing inside baseball, calling bills and votes for political mailers and campaign commercials, but here is a newsflash for those of you caught up in the Springfield bubble…When the checks start rolling in the hood, none of those people who get those check will care about these bills.
BLACK PEOPLE…If the goal was to restore funding for childcare, and that funding was restored, as yourself…HOW COME THEY ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT? Was it really about the kids, because I sure have not heard anybody talking about them. As I said before, hate on Dunkin if you want, but he exercised his leverage to get concessions from the Governor, no vote required. In this stalemate, who has delivered ANYTHING but rhetoric? Oh and the restoration of the funding levels for childcare? Do you think that happened because the Governor all of a sudden woke up and had a change of heart? Nope…he was leveraged by Dunkin on behalf of Black folks, and they want you to be mad? But WHY though? […]
The Senate with bulletproof supermajority that can pass anything it wants agrees to hold the bill in good faith…The House has an imaginary supermajority, spends the last two months disrespecting the lone swing vote, and decides to run the bill even after an agreement to restore funding was made? Why?
Black folks are more scared of people outside of their community than inside. That stated, insiders know that the solidarity among Democrats is cracking. While they won’t say it publicly, several legislators have noted to me that The Speaker is so focused on beating Rauner that he is willing to take the entire state down to do it…
I think we saw an example of that with yesterday’s vote!
“I credit representative Dunkin for not participating in it. He wants to get things done. He saw that they were great strides made by the administration,” said House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R).
A simmering Democratic caucus boiled over after Dunkin spoke up in the House Dem-only meeting, poking at state Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth for pushing SB570 after Rauner had agreed to reverse cuts he made to health care. Booth said she wanted to preserve the program and prevent Rauner or future governors from using kids as political pawns.
– Two members of the Black Caucus “tried to beat Dunkin back into submission,” but he wouldn’t give in.
– “It was like an Amish shunning with more verbal abuse,” said one state lawmaker. “It was cathartic for some folks. He poked the Bear. The Bear was 70 other members of his caucus.”
– At one point during an intense, emotional floor debate, state Rep. Jaime Andrade stripped Dunkin’s nameplate from the front of his seat, walked it over to the Republican side of the chamber then threw it down, saying: “He’s all yours now.”
When people focus on Madigan’s anger at Dunkin, they’re ignoring something even more important, which is the House Democratic Caucus’ anger at their member.
And that anger is a big reason why the House Democrats wanted floor votes yesterday. They wanted to put Dunkin on the spot as much or more than they wanted to send a message to Rauner…
House Democrats on Tuesday opted to poke Rauner in the eye by bringing those very bills, already doomed in the Senate, to the floor for debates that delved into an exercise in the absurd. Sure, the governor had hammered out a deal with Senate Democrats. Sure, that deal ended the unnecessary — and in the case of the CCAP, economically devastating — emergency rules Rauner adopted when facing a state without a budget on July 1.
But, the Republican governor isn’t to be trusted, Democrats squealed. Both party-line votes fell one member short of passage, which included support from Reps. John Bradley, D-Marion, and Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg.
“Let’s move past all of this Democrat-Republican crap, because that’s what this is,” shouted sponsor of the suddenly gratuitous CCAP bill, Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria.
If there ever is an example of what IllinoisGO is/was designed to do to the Democratic Party for the Raunerite Ideal, Ken Dunkin is that example.
IllinoisGO will be ensuring Ken Dunkin wins next November, and look to Ken Dunkin to NOT vote for Madigan for Speaker.
I dunno if I was a HDem member I’d be… comfortable… with Ken Dunkin “sitting in” on any strategy-type caucusing during a session day. How can HDems trust Ken Dunkin.
Ken Dunkin can be your “friend”, you can “like” him, heck, you could say Ken Dunkin treats me well, personally… but you can NOT trust Ken Dunkin. That’s real.
Incredible watching Dunkin look those people in the eyes and tell them they should be celebrating a victory, as if it’s meaningless that Gov. Rauner remains in position should he so choose to continue to use their children as leverage for his “turnaround agenda.”
Yesterday’s vote was a raw power play by Madigan to strip the Governor of executive authority. Yes, because Madigan. Because Madigan has lost his perspective that the Governor wants to deal. Because Madigan wants to show everyone who the real boss is. Because Madigan isn’t interested in compromise, just winning at any cost. The House Dems should save their ire against Dunkin, and instead look down the road a bit. Because Madigan is leading them away from a deal with no clear end in sight.
- Former Hoosier - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 9:24 am:
Gov. Rauner found the weakest link- Dunkin- to partner with. Dunkin, of course, is a willing participant in this whole process. How are his constituents responding to his recent actions? In my book, he’s certainly not representing their best interests. I wonder how long it will take for us to see what Dunkin gets in return for aligning himself with the Gov.?
The Speaker is taking votes for political reasons, and settling a score with Dunkin. The cuts to childcare were restored. Move onto settling a budget already and stop playing games.
I don’t care if Dunkin is given ‘credit’ for it or not, it doesn’t matter to me. I’m happy for the result, and think the rest is garbage.
Maze gives the game away when he says he doesn’t believe reports that moderate Repubs convinced Rauner to restore the cute. Maze would believe it “if any of Republicans had voted for the bill, but they did not.”
But then he argues Dunkin was the difference maker, even though he didn’t vote for the bill.
Sell it somewhere else, Maze. Dunkin gets zero credit for pushing the Governor. All he had to do was push the green button to have a permanently positive effect on the children. But he sold out, and it looks like you were part of the deal.
Hey Mike! Time to find a credible primary challenger, eh? Maybe if you stopped feverishly trying to foil the governor (he doesn’t need your help) you can keep your caucus in order and move into campaign season focused on growing your majority.
Fredo: I’m your older brother, Mike, and I was stepped over!
Michael: That’s the way Pop wanted it.
Fredo: It ain’t the way I wanted it! I can handle things! I’m smart! Not like everybody says… like dumb… I’m smart and I want respect!
Be interesting to ask Mr. White if he supports Dunkin.
- What Maze Needs to Understand - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 9:42 am:
I don’t think Maze understands the community he supposedly speaks for, and quite frankly I am tired of this man trying to “educate” us about what is really going on. Stop with your self-serving, pandering defense.
The child care provider community (majority women of color) SUPPORTED THE BILL because it would have provided some peace of mind (even if short term) that the Governor could not file any more emergency rule changes in the future. So Maze, we ARE THINKING ABOUT THE CHILDREN, all we want to do is do our job. We want to go back and focus on teaching, we want to go back and focus on improving the quality of our programs. We are tired of Rauner, Madigan, and now Dunkin using children, child care, and providers as pawns in their political game.
So Maze - stop speaking for us, stop trying to get us to see your myopic point of view, drop the “black people need to see.”
Where is the accountability? All I ever hear about is finding ways to measure work success—proof that you are doing your job! Pronto too! His constituents need to call him out! Voting him out is too distant. Hold him accountable. Make him explain why.
Rauner won his retreat, using Ken Dunkin, who refused to vote, even for his own legislation, as a life raft…
… for items Rauner purposefully used as hostages from the beginning.
The political move was Caucus Politics played beautifully to engineer a retreat to be seen as a “victory”.
Nothing more.
- AlabamaShake - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 10:04 am:
First, Maze seems to not be aware that there were TWO bills that Dunkin didn’t vote on, not one.
But second, Maze also doesn’t aware that the Child Care cuts were not completely restored. They were partially restored, with zero longterm commitment to not make future cuts. And the home care cuts were rescinded, for now, but again, with zero longterm commitment to not make cuts.
Maze can shill all he wants for Ken Dunkin, but we all know that Dunkin has now completely sold out Rauner.
-OW-
Never said to give credit to Dunkin. That the Speaker wants to settle a score with him - that is no surprise. If the House Dems want to hate him, that’s up to them.
The fact that the cuts were restored matters. Completing a budget matters. Do the work of the State, it matters. Now is not the time to settle scores, the olive branch and obstinance will return quickly, and only be more hardened.
Agree completely with the above. Maze’s rambling notwithstanding, the word is out in the district and in the African American community that Dunkin is a sellout.
lets be honest here folks. Dunkin lost campaign financial support and boots on the ground support when he stayed in new york. His only option after that was to sell him self to rauner so he could get support from their. the Dems pushed him to rauner and Dunkin went, hat in hand and price tag on head to sell himself so he could run again. But how many other politicans would do the same? other then Sam it seems like the entire gop caucas has done the same thing as dunkin…. rauner says he opposes special interests buying govt…. but he has clearly bought himself some gov as well. terms limits are not the problem, its the money. we need to go to public funded elections with caps on what can be spent.
@Phocion - it was a power play as well as an attempt to ==beat Dunkin back into submission==.
That makes another failed Madigan power play, on both counts.
He is running quite a losing streak. And with every ==loss==, he digs his heels in deeper and focuses more on re establishing control than compromising on anything.
Dunkin should run for re-election, as a Republican. He’s a Rauner tool now and will continue to defy his caucus to support him. He has deserted the people who elected him. Don’t hide behind your race to get votes. It’s not a black or white issue, it’s are you red or blue?
Ken Dunkin talks tough, when talking about Madigan , I would like to know what is stopping Madigan from seeing what Dunkin is made of by stripping him from his seat on committees he’s a part of?
==Madigan violated one of his cardinal rules yesterday, for the first time in memory, when he refused to say he would support Dunkin for reelection.==
Go ask Al Ronan or Myron Kulas who Madigan supported.
=== He saw that they were great strides made by the administration,” said House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R) ===
Spit take
- Chicago Cynic - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 11:03 am:
The race baiting of Maze is about as bad as we’ve seen around here in a long time. This isn’t Roland Burris and it’s not Gus Savage, but it’s close. Trouble for Maze and Ken is that it’s going to be harder to pull off when the people who are maddest at Dunkin are also black. He can be beaten but it’s going to take a smart disciplined candidate with a very large wallet. Raunder and Illinois Go are going to make sure Ken has all the resources he might need. So think about a 7 figure budget if you expect to take him out. The childcare advocates should put ever effort into finding every single constituent of Ken who lost services and getting their story told.
As to Ken, I’ve known him for decades and have considered him a friend. I’ve lost all respect for the man. I know he came from a very difficult background but there’s simply no excuse for the kind of putting himself and his ego above constituents. He has no shame and apparently has no conscience.
And no, the cuts were not fully restored and won’t be for quite some time now - at least until we get a budget which won’t be for a long long time.
===…Adios to the myth Speaker Madigan ==only requires two votes==. …===
- FKA -
Respectfully,
It’s not the votes, it’s Dunkin and his relationship with the Caucus, and Dunkin’s dishonesty.
It’s not about the color of the button pushed (or no button pushed!), but the blatant disregard Dunkin has for the Caucus, not Madigan.
You know that.
The anger by the Caucus isn’t Madigan driven, it driven by Dunkin’s dishonesty.
You know that too.
With respect, as always.
- horse w/ no name - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 11:54 am:
The tortured logic of Maze would be the most amusing part of my day if it wasn’t attached to real life problems.
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 12:20 pm:
@OW - good comment. @Ghost 10:21 is also relevant to this, imho.
I can’t help considering how Speaker Madigan endorsed and backed Derrick Smith without batting an eye, but immediately abandoned Ken Dunkin after the override vote. Dunkin supposedly told Madigan in advance he would not be present, which can’t be verified, but regardless Dunkin has been a pariah since Madigan ran the bill even after he knew he was short on the count that day.
There is dishonesty and loyalty involved, but it also looks like the difference in treatment boils down to one Democrat who is willing to ==listen== and one Democrat who is not.
I don’t know how the Democrats trust Dunkin now, but I also doubt things ever had to go this far. The GOP hasn’t kicked out the elected Tea Partiers, yet they ==buck== leadership quite frequently.
Still thinking on all this, and it is as always written with respect.
Dunkin now has to continually look over his shoulder. Why should Rauner support and, in the future, trust someone who threw his current leadership under the bus?
===I can’t help considering how Speaker Madigan endorsed and backed Derrick Smith without batting an eye, but immediately abandoned Ken Dunkin after the override vote.===
What the one rule?
Don’t lie to the Speaker. Dunkin may have broke that(?)
===Dunkin has been a pariah since Madigan ran the bill even after he knew he was short on the count that day.===
“Proportional Response” for lying? Dunno.
===There is dishonesty and loyalty involved, but it also looks like the difference in treatment boils down to one Democrat who is willing to ==listen== and one Democrat who is not.===
Could be a simple as the Dunkin lies were too much, and when you lie to 70 people that are herded like cats and they seem to all think the worse about you, more might be afoot then even Derrick Smith had against him.
===I don’t know how the Democrats trust Dunkin now, but I also doubt things ever had to go this far.===
That’s why Caucus is “private”… until it’s not. Has Dunkin rallied 70 Dems?
Dunkin’ wont be ostracized by the House Dem caucus any more than the caucus ostracizes Jack Franks when he goes off the reservation.
Of interest is that everyone now knows who Dunkin’s master is. Jack Franks is his own master. Only difference.
===Vote as a caucus on disciplinary action. strip him of his chairmanship and all committee assignments? Let the caucus decide.===
Agreed. Perfect. Exactly.
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 3:02 pm:
==Dunkin may have broke that(?)==
He could have broken that, or he could have been truthful. Some years ago, I would have assumed Dunkin was the one misleading us.
Today it is difficult to say, since Madigan and crew were also proven to be only semi-honest themselves during all that. Even that morning they were working votes and saying the numbers would be there while knowing that Dunkin was in New York.
For now, Speaker Madigan has multiple fires to put out in his caucus. This sort of disarray is not normal in the Speaker’s House, and the Nov 18 show is approaching with Rauner looking more ==reasonable== every day.
Wait…is all of this outrage because they restored funding for childcare? I completely understand why everyone is so mad that those children got help. Exactly because the kids are pawns in a political game, and I’m not confused about Rauner’s intentions, but what I find laughable is the concept that the vote yesterday was held to help the kids…The vote yesterday is one more example of the pain and suffering of Black folks being leveraged against them by Democrats and Republicans! I get it, you’re mad that a solution for THE PEOPLE not THE POLITICIANS was arrived at without the stamp of approval. No mention of the victory for kids, just the players. NEWS FLASH: When those check start arriving in the hood, how many of those people will be upset because KD didn’t vote for 570? Only the ones who read CapitolFax…
And FYI I am not KD’s PR Consultant…and regardless of what Dunkin’s motivations are, please tell me WHO was going to get childcare back? The people who refuse to talk? I’ll wait…
Ken Dunkin sold his voting key to Bruce Rauner. I can’t help he did that. If no one but his… Peers… believe that Ken Dunkin’s word is… worthless… unless you have a checkbook…
I can’t help that.
But, not to fear.
Only those at Capitol Fax will care.
Your post, I guess, is undercut by your own argument.
Dunkin didn’t get the children back. Rauner gave in because he was going to lose his power to take hostages in the future. The next time Rauner cuts these programs, remember Dunkin enabled him.
I admit I had a hard time accepting that Dunkin had flipped, but now its obvious. He has his own little machine in his bizarrely drawn district and with massive money from Rauner he could possibly retain his seat running as an independent. I have no doubt he going to run against the white master Madigan and call all who challenge him Uncle Tom.
- Chicago Cynic - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 4:08 pm:
“And FYI I am not KD’s PR Consultant…and regardless of what Dunkin’s motivations are, please tell me WHO was going to get childcare back? The people who refuse to talk? I’ll wait…”
Geez Maze, man up and acknowledge who you are. Saying “I am not KD’s PR Consultant” is pretty dumb when you use the exact same language and TYPING STYLE. How dumb do you think we all are? Oh, right, dumb enough to buy your fantasy version of reality.
The deal got done because David Harris and other moderate GOPers threatened the gov that they would not support the gov on the vote. The clumsy attempt to give Ken cover by the gov was just proof that Ken had nothing to do with it.
The attempt to paint Ken as a measured voice who pressured the governor into capitulation is simply not credible to anyone who knows Ken, has had experience with Ken, watched Ken and the governor side by side at Esther’s funeral and understands anything about how politics works in this state.
- Chicago Cynic - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 4:12 pm:
“Dunkin supposedly told Madigan in advance he would not be present, which can’t be verified”
FKA, this is completely bogus. Ken told at least five different members that he would be there. Why do you think Esther got up from her death bed to come vote? She was told that he would be there. He deliberately misled them, just like he misled the childcare advocates who he promised he would support the bill. Give me a break.
- Daniel Plainview - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 4:35 pm:
- And FYI I am not KD’s PR Consultant… -
Oh Maze, for the right price you’d call yourself anything you were asked.
What Dunkin did was enable Rauner to preserve some of what Rauner had done to poor people…increased co-pays at a minimum. Seems like Rauner played Dunkin.
After watching Dunkin’s interview on Chicago Tonight with Carol Marin, it’s obvious he is way
out of his league with Madigan and Rauner. His 15 minutes of fame, or is it infamy, will be done soon.
- Maze, the non-KD PR - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 10:15 pm:
First of all Maze, there is NO child care funding that was restored.
Only reason home child care providers are getting paid for is because of the court case, and providers being unionized; and centers are getting paid because of federal funding.
The only thing governor agreed to was increase the eligibility, the same one he cut down in July.
So stop blabbering about how Dunkin saved child care funding. He did not.
You know who did? The parents and providers who kept pushing their legislators to do something about it. The same parents and providers that Dunkin promised he would vote for 570.
That’s so funny I don’t know how to respond. Ken Dunkin is runnin game. Those checks go to him not to the hood. Nothing goes to the hood. That’s why ground game is going to his “hood” to let people know how he sold them down the river.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 9:11 am:
Madigan violated one of his cardinal rules yesterday, for the first time in memory, when he refused to say he would support Dunkin for reelection.
I do not recall the last time that happened, if ever.
- @MisterJayEm - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 9:12 am:
Has a primary opponent for Mr. Dunkin been identified?
– MrJM
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 9:13 am:
Andade’s behavior yesterday was beyond childish.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 9:13 am:
If there ever is an example of what IllinoisGO is/was designed to do to the Democratic Party for the Raunerite Ideal, Ken Dunkin is that example.
IllinoisGO will be ensuring Ken Dunkin wins next November, and look to Ken Dunkin to NOT vote for Madigan for Speaker.
I dunno if I was a HDem member I’d be… comfortable… with Ken Dunkin “sitting in” on any strategy-type caucusing during a session day. How can HDems trust Ken Dunkin.
Ken Dunkin can be your “friend”, you can “like” him, heck, you could say Ken Dunkin treats me well, personally… but you can NOT trust Ken Dunkin. That’s real.
- slow down - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 9:15 am:
Incredible watching Dunkin look those people in the eyes and tell them they should be celebrating a victory, as if it’s meaningless that Gov. Rauner remains in position should he so choose to continue to use their children as leverage for his “turnaround agenda.”
- phocion - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 9:23 am:
Yesterday’s vote was a raw power play by Madigan to strip the Governor of executive authority. Yes, because Madigan. Because Madigan has lost his perspective that the Governor wants to deal. Because Madigan wants to show everyone who the real boss is. Because Madigan isn’t interested in compromise, just winning at any cost. The House Dems should save their ire against Dunkin, and instead look down the road a bit. Because Madigan is leading them away from a deal with no clear end in sight.
- Former Hoosier - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 9:24 am:
Gov. Rauner found the weakest link- Dunkin- to partner with. Dunkin, of course, is a willing participant in this whole process. How are his constituents responding to his recent actions? In my book, he’s certainly not representing their best interests. I wonder how long it will take for us to see what Dunkin gets in return for aligning himself with the Gov.?
- Lincoln Lad - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 9:24 am:
The Speaker is taking votes for political reasons, and settling a score with Dunkin. The cuts to childcare were restored. Move onto settling a budget already and stop playing games.
I don’t care if Dunkin is given ‘credit’ for it or not, it doesn’t matter to me. I’m happy for the result, and think the rest is garbage.
- chi - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 9:25 am:
Maze gives the game away when he says he doesn’t believe reports that moderate Repubs convinced Rauner to restore the cute. Maze would believe it “if any of Republicans had voted for the bill, but they did not.”
But then he argues Dunkin was the difference maker, even though he didn’t vote for the bill.
Sell it somewhere else, Maze. Dunkin gets zero credit for pushing the Governor. All he had to do was push the green button to have a permanently positive effect on the children. But he sold out, and it looks like you were part of the deal.
- Lincoln Lad - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 9:26 am:
-phocion-
I agree, and I hope at least some of the House Dems are thinking about that today.
- Archiesmom - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 9:28 am:
“What Black people really need to understand?” I’m sure Jehan and Toi feel educated now.
- Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 9:29 am:
Hey Mike! Time to find a credible primary challenger, eh? Maybe if you stopped feverishly trying to foil the governor (he doesn’t need your help) you can keep your caucus in order and move into campaign season focused on growing your majority.
- Anonin' - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 9:29 am:
It seems odd until one recalls The SuperStars had Stu Levine on the payroll for quite sometime and thought all was A-OK
- Willie Stark - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 9:30 am:
Ken Dunkin is Fredo.
Fredo: I’m your older brother, Mike, and I was stepped over!
Michael: That’s the way Pop wanted it.
Fredo: It ain’t the way I wanted it! I can handle things! I’m smart! Not like everybody says… like dumb… I’m smart and I want respect!
- Kippax Blue - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 9:37 am:
Be interesting to ask Mr. White if he supports Dunkin.
- What Maze Needs to Understand - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 9:42 am:
I don’t think Maze understands the community he supposedly speaks for, and quite frankly I am tired of this man trying to “educate” us about what is really going on. Stop with your self-serving, pandering defense.
The child care provider community (majority women of color) SUPPORTED THE BILL because it would have provided some peace of mind (even if short term) that the Governor could not file any more emergency rule changes in the future. So Maze, we ARE THINKING ABOUT THE CHILDREN, all we want to do is do our job. We want to go back and focus on teaching, we want to go back and focus on improving the quality of our programs. We are tired of Rauner, Madigan, and now Dunkin using children, child care, and providers as pawns in their political game.
So Maze - stop speaking for us, stop trying to get us to see your myopic point of view, drop the “black people need to see.”
- illinoised - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 9:43 am:
I have a hard time believing that Dunkin’s chumminess with the governor is altruistic.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 9:44 am:
- phocion - and - Lincoln Lad -,
Oh yeah, all those HDems, they see Ken Dunkin as the hero to Madigan.
The HDem Caucus itself will let Dunkin feel their ire without Madigan telling them to be upset, LOL.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 9:44 am:
Where is the accountability? All I ever hear about is finding ways to measure work success—proof that you are doing your job! Pronto too! His constituents need to call him out! Voting him out is too distant. Hold him accountable. Make him explain why.
- Anon2U - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 9:54 am:
Phoion @ 9:23 is correct. It’s the House dems that now need to self-reflect on what the end game really is. All except Madigan, he has no reflection.
Rauner won yesterday. House Repubs won yesterday. They both handled that win professionally.
Are those rays of sunlight peeking over the distant horizon I see?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 10:00 am:
Rauner won his retreat, using Ken Dunkin, who refused to vote, even for his own legislation, as a life raft…
… for items Rauner purposefully used as hostages from the beginning.
The political move was Caucus Politics played beautifully to engineer a retreat to be seen as a “victory”.
Nothing more.
- AlabamaShake - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 10:04 am:
First, Maze seems to not be aware that there were TWO bills that Dunkin didn’t vote on, not one.
But second, Maze also doesn’t aware that the Child Care cuts were not completely restored. They were partially restored, with zero longterm commitment to not make future cuts. And the home care cuts were rescinded, for now, but again, with zero longterm commitment to not make cuts.
Maze can shill all he wants for Ken Dunkin, but we all know that Dunkin has now completely sold out Rauner.
- Lincoln Lad - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 10:05 am:
-OW-
Never said to give credit to Dunkin. That the Speaker wants to settle a score with him - that is no surprise. If the House Dems want to hate him, that’s up to them.
The fact that the cuts were restored matters. Completing a budget matters. Do the work of the State, it matters. Now is not the time to settle scores, the olive branch and obstinance will return quickly, and only be more hardened.
- Lincoln Lad - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 10:07 am:
…Olive branch was extended…
Sorry
- low level - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 10:20 am:
Agree completely with the above. Maze’s rambling notwithstanding, the word is out in the district and in the African American community that Dunkin is a sellout.
- Ghost - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 10:21 am:
lets be honest here folks. Dunkin lost campaign financial support and boots on the ground support when he stayed in new york. His only option after that was to sell him self to rauner so he could get support from their. the Dems pushed him to rauner and Dunkin went, hat in hand and price tag on head to sell himself so he could run again. But how many other politicans would do the same? other then Sam it seems like the entire gop caucas has done the same thing as dunkin…. rauner says he opposes special interests buying govt…. but he has clearly bought himself some gov as well. terms limits are not the problem, its the money. we need to go to public funded elections with caps on what can be spent.
- walker - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 10:32 am:
Sometimes the caucus members drive Madigan, not the other way around. Same is probably true for Durkin.
Has the Hoffman Doghouse been refurbished?
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 10:33 am:
@Phocion - it was a power play as well as an attempt to ==beat Dunkin back into submission==.
That makes another failed Madigan power play, on both counts.
He is running quite a losing streak. And with every ==loss==, he digs his heels in deeper and focuses more on re establishing control than compromising on anything.
- Wensicia - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 10:43 am:
Dunkin should run for re-election, as a Republican. He’s a Rauner tool now and will continue to defy his caucus to support him. He has deserted the people who elected him. Don’t hide behind your race to get votes. It’s not a black or white issue, it’s are you red or blue?
- NOTFUNNY - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 10:46 am:
==Madigan violated one of his cardinal rules yesterday, for the first time in memory, when he refused to say he would support Dunkin for reelection.==
Your memory is bad. Speaker supported Dunkin’s opponent in 2010.
- collins 9900 - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 10:51 am:
Ken Dunkin talks tough, when talking about Madigan , I would like to know what is stopping Madigan from seeing what Dunkin is made of by stripping him from his seat on committees he’s a part of?
- walker - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 10:51 am:
Don’t know Maze. Do know he’s clueless on how this Rauner reversal and subsequent House vote came about.
As to whether it’s an OK outcome for this issue? Probably yes. And that’s what matters.
Tragic that it took so long that some damage can’t be repaired Rauner could have acted sooner, without losing much.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 10:57 am:
=Speaker supported Dunkin’s opponent in 2010. =
This is demonstrably false. Check the D-2s from 2010, lots of in-kind from Friends of MJM
- Pawnee - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 10:57 am:
Phocion at 9:23am:
Bingo
- I love Al - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 10:57 am:
==Madigan violated one of his cardinal rules yesterday, for the first time in memory, when he refused to say he would support Dunkin for reelection.==
Go ask Al Ronan or Myron Kulas who Madigan supported.
- Me too - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 11:00 am:
Maze Jackson is a lightweight wanna be Jesse. He’s very close to Rauner. Don’t forget that fact when you read his dripple.
- Daniel Plainview - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 11:00 am:
- When the checks start rolling -
Pretty much sums up Maze and Dunkin’s focus.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 11:03 am:
=== He saw that they were great strides made by the administration,” said House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R) ===
Spit take
- Chicago Cynic - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 11:03 am:
The race baiting of Maze is about as bad as we’ve seen around here in a long time. This isn’t Roland Burris and it’s not Gus Savage, but it’s close. Trouble for Maze and Ken is that it’s going to be harder to pull off when the people who are maddest at Dunkin are also black. He can be beaten but it’s going to take a smart disciplined candidate with a very large wallet. Raunder and Illinois Go are going to make sure Ken has all the resources he might need. So think about a 7 figure budget if you expect to take him out. The childcare advocates should put ever effort into finding every single constituent of Ken who lost services and getting their story told.
As to Ken, I’ve known him for decades and have considered him a friend. I’ve lost all respect for the man. I know he came from a very difficult background but there’s simply no excuse for the kind of putting himself and his ego above constituents. He has no shame and apparently has no conscience.
And no, the cuts were not fully restored and won’t be for quite some time now - at least until we get a budget which won’t be for a long long time.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 11:22 am:
- Norseman -
===Spit take===
All good comedies have a “spit take”… or is it bad comedies… I know it’s in a comedy.
Well done - Norseman -, perfect.
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 11:35 am:
Adios to the myth Speaker Madigan ==only requires two votes==.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 11:41 am:
===…Adios to the myth Speaker Madigan ==only requires two votes==. …===
- FKA -
Respectfully,
It’s not the votes, it’s Dunkin and his relationship with the Caucus, and Dunkin’s dishonesty.
It’s not about the color of the button pushed (or no button pushed!), but the blatant disregard Dunkin has for the Caucus, not Madigan.
You know that.
The anger by the Caucus isn’t Madigan driven, it driven by Dunkin’s dishonesty.
You know that too.
With respect, as always.
- horse w/ no name - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 11:54 am:
The tortured logic of Maze would be the most amusing part of my day if it wasn’t attached to real life problems.
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 12:20 pm:
@OW - good comment. @Ghost 10:21 is also relevant to this, imho.
I can’t help considering how Speaker Madigan endorsed and backed Derrick Smith without batting an eye, but immediately abandoned Ken Dunkin after the override vote. Dunkin supposedly told Madigan in advance he would not be present, which can’t be verified, but regardless Dunkin has been a pariah since Madigan ran the bill even after he knew he was short on the count that day.
There is dishonesty and loyalty involved, but it also looks like the difference in treatment boils down to one Democrat who is willing to ==listen== and one Democrat who is not.
I don’t know how the Democrats trust Dunkin now, but I also doubt things ever had to go this far. The GOP hasn’t kicked out the elected Tea Partiers, yet they ==buck== leadership quite frequently.
Still thinking on all this, and it is as always written with respect.
- Buzzie - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 12:20 pm:
Dunkin now has to continually look over his shoulder. Why should Rauner support and, in the future, trust someone who threw his current leadership under the bus?
- Politix - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 1:05 pm:
So thankful to see the ladies in the video pushing back on Dunkin’s double talk and lies.
And if Maze truly is a “pr consultant,” he should be fired. He did dunkin no favors. They both look like clowns now.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 1:07 pm:
===I can’t help considering how Speaker Madigan endorsed and backed Derrick Smith without batting an eye, but immediately abandoned Ken Dunkin after the override vote.===
What the one rule?
Don’t lie to the Speaker. Dunkin may have broke that(?)
===Dunkin has been a pariah since Madigan ran the bill even after he knew he was short on the count that day.===
“Proportional Response” for lying? Dunno.
===There is dishonesty and loyalty involved, but it also looks like the difference in treatment boils down to one Democrat who is willing to ==listen== and one Democrat who is not.===
Could be a simple as the Dunkin lies were too much, and when you lie to 70 people that are herded like cats and they seem to all think the worse about you, more might be afoot then even Derrick Smith had against him.
===I don’t know how the Democrats trust Dunkin now, but I also doubt things ever had to go this far.===
That’s why Caucus is “private”… until it’s not. Has Dunkin rallied 70 Dems?
Always appreciate your take - FKA -
- Wordslinger - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 1:42 pm:
If retreating from his strategy of hostage taking is a victory for the governor, I hope he keeps winning.
- workerbee - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 2:18 pm:
It’s insulting to watch Dunkin mansplaining to these providers about “the way things work down here…” puhleeze representative. do tell.
- Austin Blvd - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 2:20 pm:
Dunkin’ wont be ostracized by the House Dem caucus any more than the caucus ostracizes Jack Franks when he goes off the reservation.
Of interest is that everyone now knows who Dunkin’s master is. Jack Franks is his own master. Only difference.
- Michelle Flaherty - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 2:24 pm:
The only thing more foolish than relying on Ken Dunkin is Ken Dunkin.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 2:33 pm:
Beating Ken Dunkin would be doing him a favor. Run someone against him, but don’t spend a dime, at least not u till the last week.
Vote as a caucus on disciplinary action. strip him of his chairmanship and all committee assignments? Let the caucus decide.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 2:39 pm:
===Vote as a caucus on disciplinary action. strip him of his chairmanship and all committee assignments? Let the caucus decide.===
Agreed. Perfect. Exactly.
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 3:02 pm:
==Dunkin may have broke that(?)==
He could have broken that, or he could have been truthful. Some years ago, I would have assumed Dunkin was the one misleading us.
Today it is difficult to say, since Madigan and crew were also proven to be only semi-honest themselves during all that. Even that morning they were working votes and saying the numbers would be there while knowing that Dunkin was in New York.
For now, Speaker Madigan has multiple fires to put out in his caucus. This sort of disarray is not normal in the Speaker’s House, and the Nov 18 show is approaching with Rauner looking more ==reasonable== every day.
Likewise, @OW
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 3:07 pm:
===Rauner looking more ==reasonable== every day.===
… because Rauner retreated from being unreasonable from jump street? Um, ok.
If the reports are true that the Speaker’s Office was literally waiting for the “train to reach the station”… who lied to who?
Sounds like an Owl question(?)
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 3:17 pm:
Wait…is all of this outrage because they restored funding for childcare? I completely understand why everyone is so mad that those children got help. Exactly because the kids are pawns in a political game, and I’m not confused about Rauner’s intentions, but what I find laughable is the concept that the vote yesterday was held to help the kids…The vote yesterday is one more example of the pain and suffering of Black folks being leveraged against them by Democrats and Republicans! I get it, you’re mad that a solution for THE PEOPLE not THE POLITICIANS was arrived at without the stamp of approval. No mention of the victory for kids, just the players. NEWS FLASH: When those check start arriving in the hood, how many of those people will be upset because KD didn’t vote for 570? Only the ones who read CapitolFax…
And FYI I am not KD’s PR Consultant…and regardless of what Dunkin’s motivations are, please tell me WHO was going to get childcare back? The people who refuse to talk? I’ll wait…
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 3:23 pm:
===Only the ones who read CapitolFax…===
Then… Why even comment? LOL
Ken Dunkin sold his voting key to Bruce Rauner. I can’t help he did that. If no one but his… Peers… believe that Ken Dunkin’s word is… worthless… unless you have a checkbook…
I can’t help that.
But, not to fear.
Only those at Capitol Fax will care.
Your post, I guess, is undercut by your own argument.
That’s fun.
- Wensicia - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 3:35 pm:
Dunkin didn’t get the children back. Rauner gave in because he was going to lose his power to take hostages in the future. The next time Rauner cuts these programs, remember Dunkin enabled him.
- DunkinDoNUTS - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 3:44 pm:
Dunkin did what Dunkin had to do - no more - no less. Welcome to year 1 of the hammer and shake era.
- Rod - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 3:58 pm:
I admit I had a hard time accepting that Dunkin had flipped, but now its obvious. He has his own little machine in his bizarrely drawn district and with massive money from Rauner he could possibly retain his seat running as an independent. I have no doubt he going to run against the white master Madigan and call all who challenge him Uncle Tom.
- Chicago Cynic - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 4:08 pm:
“And FYI I am not KD’s PR Consultant…and regardless of what Dunkin’s motivations are, please tell me WHO was going to get childcare back? The people who refuse to talk? I’ll wait…”
Geez Maze, man up and acknowledge who you are. Saying “I am not KD’s PR Consultant” is pretty dumb when you use the exact same language and TYPING STYLE. How dumb do you think we all are? Oh, right, dumb enough to buy your fantasy version of reality.
The deal got done because David Harris and other moderate GOPers threatened the gov that they would not support the gov on the vote. The clumsy attempt to give Ken cover by the gov was just proof that Ken had nothing to do with it.
The attempt to paint Ken as a measured voice who pressured the governor into capitulation is simply not credible to anyone who knows Ken, has had experience with Ken, watched Ken and the governor side by side at Esther’s funeral and understands anything about how politics works in this state.
- Chicago Cynic - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 4:12 pm:
“Dunkin supposedly told Madigan in advance he would not be present, which can’t be verified”
FKA, this is completely bogus. Ken told at least five different members that he would be there. Why do you think Esther got up from her death bed to come vote? She was told that he would be there. He deliberately misled them, just like he misled the childcare advocates who he promised he would support the bill. Give me a break.
- Daniel Plainview - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 4:35 pm:
- And FYI I am not KD’s PR Consultant… -
Oh Maze, for the right price you’d call yourself anything you were asked.
- Independent retiree/lawyer/journalist - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 6:17 pm:
What Dunkin did was enable Rauner to preserve some of what Rauner had done to poor people…increased co-pays at a minimum. Seems like Rauner played Dunkin.
- Wensicia - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 7:17 pm:
Dunkin on Chicago Tonight: I’m a hero!
- Woodstock willy - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 7:20 pm:
After watching Dunkin’s interview on Chicago Tonight with Carol Marin, it’s obvious he is way
out of his league with Madigan and Rauner. His 15 minutes of fame, or is it infamy, will be done soon.
- Maze, the non-KD PR - Wednesday, Nov 11, 15 @ 10:15 pm:
First of all Maze, there is NO child care funding that was restored.
Only reason home child care providers are getting paid for is because of the court case, and providers being unionized; and centers are getting paid because of federal funding.
The only thing governor agreed to was increase the eligibility, the same one he cut down in July.
So stop blabbering about how Dunkin saved child care funding. He did not.
You know who did? The parents and providers who kept pushing their legislators to do something about it. The same parents and providers that Dunkin promised he would vote for 570.
So just stop.
- Honeybear - Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 6:55 am:
-When those check start arriving in the hood-
That’s so funny I don’t know how to respond. Ken Dunkin is runnin game. Those checks go to him not to the hood. Nothing goes to the hood. That’s why ground game is going to his “hood” to let people know how he sold them down the river.
- Anon221 - Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 8:19 am:
At Sun Times interview- What did you get question is at about 27:00.