* Finke on Gov. Rauner’s tour of Illinois last week…
Rauner’s been going around the state saying the General Assembly should vote during the veto session to put the proposed amendment before voters. The next opportunity for that is 2018, when Rauner presumably will be running for re-election.
In the meantime, the term-limits idea is fertile ground for Republican lawmakers to issue press releases showing their support. Well, at least those who haven’t already blown through whatever limits would be in place.
But that’s the whole point. Because of the courts, Rauner said, it will be up to the legislature to put the term-limits proposal before voters. However, the Democrats who control the General Assembly have shown no inclination to do that. (And don’t think there aren’t some Republican lawmakers perfectly happy that the Democrats will do the dirty work and keep the issue bottled up).
So Republican candidates have an issue they can try to exploit during the fall elections, one that polls well with voters of both parties. But it also looks like one of those issues any candidate in a competitive race can endorse while knowing full well they’ll likely never have to vote on it. […]
Rauner’s call to pass a term-limits amendment this fall was questioned by some because it will be another two years before voters can do anything with it. So what’s the rush?
There is no rush, but the issue polls well and the governor doesn’t. So, by attaching himself to a popular proposal he likely hopes that its overwhelming popularity will rub off on him.
Gov. Rauner also firmly believes in term limits, so this is a no-brainer.
* On to Bernie’s column…
[Former Gov. Jim Edgar] says he agrees with Rauner on the need for reform in the way legislative districts are drawn. But he’s not a fan of another Rauner-pushed issue: term limits.
Edgar said that “maybe you can make an argument” to term-limit governors, but there is “pretty good turnover” of state lawmakers.
Edgar opined that Rauner’s push for term limits is “all geared toward” Madigan.
“And even if they get to term limits, he (Madigan) still has 10 more years,” Edgar said, noting that would put Madigan in his mid-80s.
And even then, he and some of his House members could conceivably trade places with John Cullerton and some Democratic Senators and then Madigan could serve as the Senate President well into his 90s.
The bottom line here is that if you think you can be rid of Madigan with term limits, you’re flat-out wrong.
* But, hey, it’s a great campaign issue…
What: Suburban GOP lawmakers and State Senate/House candidates hold press conference to discuss the need for term limits and other political reforms. Lawmakers and candidates will be available for questions following the press conference.
Who:
Sen. Michael Connelly (SD 21)
Seth Lewis (SD 23)
Sen. Dan McConchie (SD 26)
Mike Amrozowicz (SD 31)
Rep. Jeanne Ives (HD 42)
Rep. Christine Winger (HD 45)
Heidi Holan (HD 46)
Michelle Smith (HD 49)
Nick Sauer (HD 51)
Rep. David Harris (HD 53)
Dawn Abernathy (HD 59)
Rod Drobinski (HD 62)
Allen Skillicorn (HD 66)
Rep. Mark Batinick (HD 97)
When: Monday August 01, 11:30 am
Where: 808 E. Nerge Road Roselle, IL (Schaumburg Township Republican Organization)
* Related…
* Governor calls for redistricting and term limits: “This isn’t a democracy, this is a rigged system. And we’ve got people in office for 20 years, 30, years, 40 years and a lot of corruption and cronyism.”
* Mapping a way to term limits in Illinois: Term limits have been an uphill battle for years. But despite being muzzled again and again, Illinoisans should take heart in knowing they’ve shone a spotlight squarely on those who have rigged Illinois’ political system in favor of the powerful.
* Rauner to entrenched pols: ‘Work for a few years and then go back to the real world’
* Editorial: Gov. Rauner speaks Greek to lawmakers
* Rauner renews term limits push
* Rauner brings term limits discussion to El Paso farm
- Michelle Flaherty - Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 10:41 am:
Where’s Rep. Sandack?
Oh.
- My New Handle - Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 10:41 am:
Will Repubs, or Dems for that matrer, with 8 years or more served under their belts not run for re-election, or drop out of their races to show their true support for term limits? Not likely.
- Norseman - Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 10:53 am:
No better place for Rauner to spread it than an El Paso farm.
- vibes - Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 11:00 am:
RE: “[Madigan] and some of his House members could conceivably trade places with John Cullerton and some Democratic Senators and then Madigan could serve as the Senate President well into his 90s.”
Holy smokes — no wonder the pension ramp goes out so far.
- LTSW - Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 11:04 am:
Back before the 1970 constitution, county treasurers and sheriffs could not succeed themselves. In my county the sheriff and treasurer just traded offices every 2 years. Same thing would happen with leadership positions. There is enough turnover with the rank and file, but the leader’s money keeps them all in line. IMHO we had a more independent legislature before the cutback amendment.
- Sir Reel - Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 11:17 am:
Term limits, redistricting, whatever. Anything to distract voters from the budget.
If every one of Rauner’s TA proposals were enacted, do you think he would find something else to avoid making the difficult decisions on cuts and new revenues?
- Ahoy! - Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 11:24 am:
I’m very supportive of fair maps and indifferent on term limits (although if it were on a ballot and my options were yes or no, I would vote for it). But I don’t understand why it makes sense to term limit a governor but not the legislature. Is it because the legislature dilutes a single person’s power? That’s one of those conflicting opinions people have that I have just not understood yet.
Unrelated, we also need equal ballot access for independents and other parties. How we can have one set of rules for Republicans & Democrats and then rules for everyone else is beyond me. That & fair maps, to me, is much more important than term limits
- atsuishin - Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 12:55 pm:
Would the IL constitution allow voters to eliminate one of the legislative bodies? Would this be “procedural and structural?” Maybe illinois can go unicameral. Its too late now but maybe 2018?
- Mama - Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 2:46 pm:
In other words, Rauner wants to control the elections.
- zatoichi - Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 3:05 pm:
Term limits implies there are people willing to step forward, yet didn’t the recent review show 40%+ of GA member are going into the November election with no opposition. In my area neither the State Rep or Senator have anyone going against them. Apparently these are not high in demand jobs.
- anon - Monday, Aug 1, 16 @ 4:32 pm:
I see the term limits press conference is in Schaumburg. I wonder what the Republicans in village government think of term limits? The mayor has held village office since the early 1970s. Two Republican trustees each have more than two decades of service.
- Hottot - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 6:05 am:
Rauner supports term limits only when he benefits. If he doesn’t, why did he endorse John Shimkus for Congress?