Durkin: “I will stop the rhetoric”
Wednesday, Apr 13, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times…
Prior to the vote [on the Democratic appropriations bill], Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin tried to offer an olive branch, telling legislators he was done with the “heated rhetoric” that is elongating the budget impasse.
“My guess is that what’s going to happen is that the vote will go down party lines. That is not what the public wants anymore. They want us to find solutions in a collaborative manner. I am going to do that. I will stop the rhetoric. I hope that you can as well,” Durkin said. “I think we can slow down with these gotcha votes we’ve been seeing for many, many months so we can get down to the business at hand.”
- Beaner - Wednesday, Apr 13, 16 @ 9:21 am:
Dearest Honorable Durkin,
If you want to be helpful introduce a Revenue Plan. Something in the four billion dollar range.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Apr 13, 16 @ 9:25 am:
===“I think we can slow down with these gotcha votes we’ve been seeing for many, many months so we can get down to the business at hand.”===
Leader, it ain’t you, bud…
You tell the Owl… “Enough”
Help me help you, Leader Durkin, but let’s be clear, you can’t have the Owl tweeting “garbage”, (see Rauner talking points) and also claim that being “off a month” is a travesty.
You know, as well as I do, all that would’ve occurred is more damaging votes for your Caucus.
If you read what I write, exactly as I write it, you know I am desperately begging these Caucuses, your Caucus, to teach and be the leverage to be the player yiu can be by independence.
Be that leader I know you are.
You are calling upon yourself to be that leader, make it real easy for me to follow.
Please.
OW
ps - seriously, you want me to take this seriously, “sit on” Sandack or I’ll know this is bluster, bud. Can’t have it both ways now, it’s too late. - OW
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Apr 13, 16 @ 9:30 am:
We’re waiting for a governor to start saying this. That would really make a difference.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Apr 13, 16 @ 9:33 am:
Willy +1
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Apr 13, 16 @ 9:33 am:
That’s nice. Tell your owner to stop the rhetoric. Tell your caucus members to stop the rhetoric. Tell them to override HB580 and rest in your political survival as McCann has done. And I’ll say this nicely, following your example. Failure to override HB580 will get you on the Labor naughty list next to Dunkin. And you don’t want to be on that list now do you. You know very well that a labor war will be the death of our state. Stop the damage and survive to rebuild after Rauner. Don’t continue to double down.
- illinoised - Wednesday, Apr 13, 16 @ 9:36 am:
If he is sincere, it is a starting point. If he is sincere, prove it and make a public statement to the governor.
- Tinsel Town - Wednesday, Apr 13, 16 @ 9:37 am:
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin tried to offer an olive branch, telling legislators he was done with the “heated rhetoric” that is elongating the budget impasse.
Really? Mr. Durkin, you’ve pounded your chest touting Rauner’s turn around agenda. Only upon the recent primary result, which any individual with a bit of common sense would have known…. Rauner & his politics are toxic.
Rauner has done more harm to the Illinois Republican Party than one can begin to imagine.
The voters are angry… you’ve single handedly destroyed a state….
Had it not been for your running unopposed, your seat very well may be in jeopardy.
- Tinsel Town - Wednesday, Apr 13, 16 @ 9:39 am:
Mr. Durkin…. do the right thing… Resign with Mr. Rauner.
- cdog - Wednesday, Apr 13, 16 @ 9:42 am:
“That is not what the public wants anymore.”
I don’t know about this as it is related to the GOP base.
When reading the comment section of articles, there is a very vocal bunch of GOP voices that have been incited by Rauner’s never-ceasing inflammatory rhetoric.
Good luck with the monster you have created GOP. (that goes for the national party too.)
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Apr 13, 16 @ 9:42 am:
Passing bills with no revenue to pay for them is unconstitutional.
- the old man - Wednesday, Apr 13, 16 @ 9:43 am:
Finally, a statesman in Springfield, if only Madigan and Cullerton would put on their big boy pants and act like grown ups, we could all be happy
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Apr 13, 16 @ 9:45 am:
Ugh…
Leader Durkin, this is what I face…
===Had it not been for your running unopposed, your seat very well may be in jeopardy.===
I know you felt good typing that, but no, no, Durkin’s seat wouldn’t be in jeopardy.
Don’t make statements like that, you look uninformed and foolish.
===Mr. Durkin…. do the right thing… ===
This isn’t a 3rd world Banana Republic. We all need to finally work together, not have anarchy and massive resignations under the guise of pitchforks and torches.
We, I, Illinois needs you, Leader Durkin, to bring the sanity I know you want too.
Show me the road map, “how can I help?!?!?”
(Tips cap to - Norseman -)
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Apr 13, 16 @ 9:46 am:
Golly. What leadership. Bit late D-dog
- crazybleedingheart - Wednesday, Apr 13, 16 @ 9:55 am:
Said mere moments after letting Dwight Kay shriek at Currie.
You could have been useful, but you chose the path of nongovernance.
Not much left to do about that millstone but try to enjoy the ride down, Jim.
- Anon - Wednesday, Apr 13, 16 @ 10:05 am:
Work with Dems. Pass a budget with cuts and revenue. Put all of your republican votes on the revenue. Once passed get to work on work comp and tort reform. If you’re really feeling ambitious maybe include in the revenue proposal a way to increase through income tax so that property tax relief can be offered. But do these policy items superset of the budget. Republicans have misplayed their hand since Rauner won. It’s not too late to do be responsible and to get some reforms out of it.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Apr 13, 16 @ 10:08 am:
Lucky Pierre:
The Governor introduced a budget that also wasn’t balanced. What is your point other than to continue to pelt us with drive by talking points constantly?
- pundent - Wednesday, Apr 13, 16 @ 10:09 am:
Maybe its just because I’ve become weary at how long this has dragged on but I’m hoping that this might be a good sign. It looks like Radogno and Durkin understand what happened in March and have at least shown some effort in moderating their comments in advance of yesterday’s meeting. But then here comes old Bruce with his flame thrower yet again. And comments like this should definitely scare everyone. “You need the legislature if you want to spend more. If you want to spend less, they can’t stop me. They can’t stop me.” Notice that we aren’t talking about Democrats here. Rauner paints the legislature with a very broad brush. At some point you have to have revenue to run government. Rauner knows this. But when that time comes I don’t think Rauner has any qualms about throwing everyone under the bus. He did it with K-12 funding. He’s increasingly making it obvious that this is more about him than anyone else. I think Madigan’s comments yesterday about Rauner’s personal agenda were meant to underscore that.
- Boooooooo - Wednesday, Apr 13, 16 @ 10:15 am:
Here comes Durkin, attempting an Inverse Dunkin. That’s a bold strategy, Cotton, let’s see if it pays off.
- cdog - Wednesday, Apr 13, 16 @ 10:18 am:
“Passing bills with no revenue to pay for them is unconstitutional.”
In Rauner World there is no need for revenue. Magic beans, baby.
Hitting the special funds only goes so far. I guess the Dems aren’t in the mood for the band-aid on a trauma victim. /s
- Earnest - Wednesday, Apr 13, 16 @ 10:24 am:
I like the words, but need to see the actions. Leader Durkin could choose to be the most powerful man in the state right now and achieve steps towards his vision for Illinois. That would strengthen the IL Republican Party more than Rauner’s $20 million. I think people are hungry for that voice to be heard.
- What the What - Wednesday, Apr 13, 16 @ 10:34 am:
That is a great sentiment. However we need someone with power and influence to say it before we have something . . .
- Coach - Wednesday, Apr 13, 16 @ 10:34 am:
Well said Anon! I can honestly say there may be some things we as Democrats could give up also to help business!
- Daniel Plainview - Wednesday, Apr 13, 16 @ 11:08 am:
- these gotcha votes -
They’re only “gotcha” votes if you ignore your constituents and conscience and vote out of fear of Rauner. Pretty easy solution to that.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Apr 13, 16 @ 1:04 pm:
– “That is not what the public wants anymore. They want us to find solutions in a collaborative manner. I am going to do that. I will stop the rhetoric.”–
Show me.
- anon - Wednesday, Apr 13, 16 @ 4:02 pm:
=== “I will stop the rhetoric.”===
Any bets on how long it will take the Hon. Minority Leader to eat his words?
- Southside Markie - Thursday, Apr 14, 16 @ 12:50 am:
I’m a Democrat who loves Jim Durkin. Him saying that he is going to stop the rhetoric is like him saying that he is going to defy his personality. Not going to happen. A little bombastic (in a good way, to the extent that’s possible) is what makes Jim, Jim. He’s passionate about what he belives in, which is why we love him. I agree with Anon. Its only a matter of time before this proclamation implodes and he explodes.