65 Comments - MSIX - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 9:53 am: You could replace Madigan’s name with Rauner and it would be just as true. - MSIX - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 9:54 am: Except for the part about re-election as speaker. - Ole' Nelson - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 9:54 am: To the Daily Herald: Yawn….How many times has Speaker Madigan failed to fund universities and social services prior to the last two years? What has changed? You conveniently leave that change out of your blame game. - A Modest Proposal - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 9:55 am: Daily Herald is right. On the national side the Republicans have been blasted for holding up President Obama’s agenda, so Madigan so be blasted for holding up Rauner’s agenda. - Illinois O'Malley - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 9:58 am: @Modest, be nice if part of Rauner’s agenda included a balanced budget… - c'mon, man - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 9:58 am: Was it Madigan that campaigned on the notion of “shutting things down for a while”? No, that was Rauner. Rauner has moved the goalposts yet again (away from compromise) in recent discussions within the working groups, all while unleashing political attacks against the other side, 4 weeks post-election. He vetoed CPS funding as a knee jerk reaction to a misconstrued comment made by Cullerton, then attacked Cullerton in public by calling him a liar. This is not the behavior of someone that really wants a deal. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 9:59 am: Exactly. Madigan is the state level equivalence to national GOP Congress- block everything and do nothing - Robert the Bruce - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:00 am: DH is right that Madigan seems happy enough to let universities and social services twist in the wind. But to absolve Rauner of responsibility for feeling the same way is beyond ridiculous. - Tony - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:00 am: ” union-style protest” wow - zatoichi - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:00 am: Do any of these editorials ever talk about the Governor’s required first step of presenting a budget? The editorial from Danville earlier this week was the only one I recall seeing. The rest just seem to gloss over this minor item. - Saluki - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:01 am: Abolish the House. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:02 am: ===We’d like to fill it now with a union-style protest of 177 rank-and-file lawmakers from both parties marching on Springfield with signs and pitchforks and no per diems, demanding something supportable to vote on. We’d like to see a rebellion by resolute suburban Democrats refusing, however quixotically, to support Madigan’s re-election as speaker.=== Ok. Fair. “Now what?” What new Democratic Speaker is going to “fold” on Labor and on Term Limits, and support, today, unconstitutional language for Pension “Reform”… and this “New” Speaker… what makes any Dem think “BossMadigan.Com” tactics are isolated to Madigan. Rauner himself told Dems to “Grow Up” The lunacy of this Editorial is that it succumbs to the mass mob mentality and does nothing to quell it. What this also does is exaserbate the political divides and leaves no answer to “then what?” Just because it’s popular, doesn’t make it workable or functional. The Daily Herald spoke for the “Get off my lawn” crowd and the “throw the bum out” too crowd. Ok. Fine. “Now what?” If it were easy, it’d be done already. If it were reasonable, it’d be proven to be so already too. Get those pitchforks and torches on the stairs, with Rauner. Show us. Don’t talk. Show us all. - Skeptic - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:04 am: “block everything and do nothing” Not exactly. Nationally, the GOP is “whatever it is, I’m against it.” Madigan is saying “budget before ‘reforms’” while Rauner insists on “Reforms before budget.” To the post: My thoughts? Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it. - A Jack - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:05 am: I have yet to receive my union-issue pitchfork. Does it come in green? - El Conquistador - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:05 am: Rauner and his unrelated “TA” demands are what is causing the budget impasse. These newspaper mopes obviously don’t read either. Keep reading only Gov press releases boys… - Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:07 am: ===Madigan is the state level equivalence to national GOP Congress- block everything and do nothing=== Nevermind that a lot of criminal justice reform has gotten done in Illinois while the US Senate refuses to confirm any judges. Uh… if item #1 on the list was a balanced budget, the governor would have had one long ago. To pretend otherwise, is beyond partisanship. I can’t wait to see what everyone’s big idea is when Madigan is gone. - JohnnyPyleDriver - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:08 am: what a sloppy comparison to the national scene. On the national scene, the GOP holds the debt limit hostage to unrelated demands. On the state scene, Rauner holds the budget hostage to unrelated demands. - RNUG - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:08 am: Repeat after me: “Where is the Governor’s balanced budget?” Don’t see the rank and file rebelling at this time. And if they do, I expect it would mostly being the R’s abandoning Rauner because of public outrage. Seriously, unless there is some progress we don’t know about going on in back rooms, the only way this gets resolved is if the public outrage reaches a high level. Hasn’t happened yet and won’t until the K-12 schools close or someone gets killed that can be clearly blamed on no budget. - Handle Bar Mustache - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:09 am: Play this out a bit. If Madigan stepped away, would his likely successor change the dynamic? Not substantially. Rauner remains fixated on holding a reasonable budget hostage to “reforms” that Democrats reject. - The Captain - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:10 am: Democratic House Speaker Mike Madigan seems happy enough to let universities and social services twist in the wind if a budget can’t be reached by Dec. 31. Imagine that. Rauner’s stated goal is to let universities and social services twist in the wind to get the leverage needed to pass his worker weakening agenda. Imagine that. - Dee Lay - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:12 am: That’s cute. You think Speaker Lou Lang will be any better for your TA? How about Speaker Flynn Currie or Speaker Al Riley? Of that’s right, same stuff, new day. Illinois: OODA Looping Into Oblivion - Arsenal - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:13 am: OK, here’s the thing: perform a magic trick that makes Mike Madigan disappear tomorrow. Poof! He’s gone! Now the House needs a new Speaker. The Dems have the majority, so it’ll be one of them. So, by all means, ID the House Dem that will bring his or her caucus over on eliminating the prevailing wage, on term limits, on RTW, on pension reform, on tort reform. ID the Dem who’s willing to slap around the unions and the trial lawyers. Until then, understand the limited utility of getting rid of Mike Madigan. Frankly, getting rid of him would probably be a blow to Rauner’s agenda. - Fixer - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:14 am: The Daily Herald suggesting Rauner not follow his constitutional obligation? Color me shocked. - Rogue Roni - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:16 am: Oh Daily Herald… The legislative branch passes legislation, not the executive. If the republicans want to pass laws they either need to make a deal with the Dems or try and win some elections. Maybe the editorial staff should brush up on your high school civics - Anon221 - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:16 am: DH, I’ve read the Danville Commercial News, and you sir, are not the Danville Commercial News. One paper had a thoughtful, insightful, and teachable editorial for it’s readers. The other pandered to the populous with a preposterous approach. Hopefully you can figure out which one of these descriptions applies to your editorial board. - Rabid - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:17 am: Yep there’s a new sheriff in town to rial up the town folk and dispense vigilante justice - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:17 am: Dear Daily Herald Editorial Board, Bruce Rauner, September, 2012 “In Illinois there’s been a long-time history of what I would call social service, social justice, a bigger role for government in a safety net than in many other states. … What’s interesting, I think there’s a wedge issue here. … We cannot afford — we will crush our economy if we try to spend money on both high-cost, inefficient, bureaucratic, heavily unionized government and a social safety net to help the disadvantaged, the weak and the poor, which many of us would like to be able to do. We can’t afford both. … We have to make a choice. I think we can drive a wedge issue in the Democratic Party on that topic and bring the folks who say, ‘You know what? For our tax dollars, I’d rather help the disadvantaged, the handicapped, the elderly, the children in poverty. I’d rather have my tax dollars going to that than the SEIU or Af-scammy (AFSCME), who are out there for their own interests.” Please, keep up. Aw, you’re welcome. Oswego Willy - Magic carpet ride - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:19 am: Madigan will be our next speaker without much commotion imho. It looks as though madigan is letting rauner write his resume for the next election. Higher utility rates. Destruction to social services Destroy all labor Eventually higher taxes Backlog of unpaid bills Uncertainty for Af-scammy Higher education hurt Madigan isnt going to let rauner set precede in budget negotiations(labor jargon) - Lincoln Clay - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:20 am: Dee lay gets it. Say the speaker retires tomorrow - nothing about this impass would change. Even if the entirety of House leadership were to retire tomorrow, we would still have this impass. Are edit board members not smart enough to realize this? They (and many of the commenters here on this blog) talk as if Madigan were operating against the wishes of his members, and he is the only roadblock present in the legislature. - Arock - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:21 am: As far as the budget when was the last time any Governor of Illinois followed the Constitutional obligation of presenting a balanced budget? - wordslinger - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:33 am: Have you noticed how some Illinois editorial writers and pundits now just mimic the style and plumb the shallow depths of talk-radio and cable screamers? Like the world needs more of that in public discourse. - Michelle Flaherty - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:36 am: I demand the Daily Herald re-open its Springfield bureau so it’s readers — and opinion writers — can be informed. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:36 am: Will the Daily Herald say the same thing when Lou Lang is Speaker? - Annonin' - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:44 am: Show of hands Should the Daily herald give credit for stealin’s this junior high journalism idea from the Peoria paper who advocated that readers skip votin’ for legislators altogether. If the edit board read their own paper they might note Madigan and Ds have voted to fund universities and social services, sent a Work Comp reform bill to the Senate and balked at BigBrain’s campaign to F* injured workers. Oh,keep in mind the DH is not staffing their State House bureau so their level of uninformed writin’ should skyrocket - Honeybear - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:47 am: “Union style protest” that’s fine but I hate to tell you Locals are moving away from that. Now it’s planning radical acts of service, food drives, etc, prayer groups, support groups, basically public service but not being paid. Riotous mobs are so 20th century. Now we’re planning media outreach , social media penetration, and image management. The Springfield rally of 10,000 has its uses. Now it’s the Keep Illinois Working campaign. Raunerites need to watch their assumptions. Getting cocky will bite you - Now What? - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:47 am: Ah…nostalgia and lost relevance. Great high school sports coverage though, DH. Keep up the great work. - Augie - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:48 am: Its funny how they still say Madigan is holding up the process when in fact it is Rauners anti union agenda. As has been pointed out here numerous times Madigan dose not have to put much pressure on his Dems to not vote against labor and a few Repubs are not very exited to vote against labor either. Drop the agenda and get a budget. - Norseman - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:52 am: Michelle shoots and scores. Critical thinking is obviously not a prerequisite for editorial writers. - walker - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:53 am: Surprising that some editorial writer was swayed by the recent burlesque performances in Springfield over the last two weeks. The writer should talk to an informed DH reporter who can take him or her through what’s actually been happening. Even more distressing is just to jump on the current GOP campaign messaging. - northsider (the original) - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:56 am: Daily Herald is trying to out-tronc tronc. - duckblind - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:58 am: To me the proof I in the pudding the GOP machine is attacking everyone Democratic even as stated the one Rauner said supports his TA. So the House should take a page out of past Governors (tax increase early then voters forget by next election)and pass a budget that with a return to previous tax increase. Then they have the high ground that Rauner vetoed what he wanted. - Norseman - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 11:03 am: walker, the Dems need to do a much better job with messaging. Of course to effectively do that the two caucuses also need to do a better job of working on that message. Right now Rauner acts; Cullerton reacts with one response and Madigan reacts with another. I hate to say this and didn’t think I’d be saying this, but if the Dems don’t get their act together against this monetary and public relations onslaught they might end up losing a chamber in a few years. - Deft Wing - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 11:23 am: Yes, every anonymous commenter here has it right and the Daily Herald and almost every other editorial board in the State (save like two) have it all wrong. That’s basically the “argument” here. So, you all have that. Which is nice. The Daily Herald, however, hears from suburban Democrats, directly, and hears from its readers. These suburban Democrats regularly tell their constituents — the DH’s readers — at constituents/readers’ door steps and at town halls that Madigan’s a problem for Illinois; that he’s amassed too much power, been around far too long and has major culpability for the myriad of fiscal problems Illinois has attained … while Madigan’s been around! So yeah, the Daily Herlad and other Op-Ed boards have an opinion about suburban Dems’ votes as to Speaker, especially in comparison to the things these suburban Dems say about Madigan “off the record.” Now, back to regular blaming of Rauner for the mess that is Illinois because of his awful two years in leadership and back to regular ignoring of the over 40 years of Madigan’s votes, legislation, actions and track-record. But here’s the thing no one here can bring themselves admit, much less say (here or otherwise), - Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 11:30 am: The Democrats problem isn’t messaging it is the fact they have no message. They are a lot like Seinfeld- a show about nothing - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 11:32 am: - Deft Wing - Madigan leaves, “now what?” Popular also doesn’t mean wise. - Lucky Pierre - The message is the 2012 quote and Rauner purposely destroying Illinois over Labor. Labor has polled better on its own than Rauner’s own numbers. - NeverPoliticallyCorrect - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 11:40 am: As someone who actually runs a not for profit that hasn’t had an increase in contracts in 8 years+ and yet the state keeping piling more work in our contract and thus resulting in us being unable to retain or attract staff I am sick to death of apologists for Madigan and what’s he’s done for social services. He has allowed us to slowly strangle. He has let over 18,000 people wait for services in the DD sector and he has allowed the state to continue to run inefficient and unneeded state hospitals. Yes, it’s his fault for what he has refused to do for years before Rauner and for his unprincipled and anti-democratic stand since then. We have representative government with distributed power. If you don’t have the votes then you compromise if you are an adult. Obviously he is only a petulant bully at this point. And if the Democratic caucus keeps him as speaker they are endorsing his attitude. Does this state truly have to blow up before Madigan puts this state first. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 11:50 am: - NeverPoliticallyCorrect - If you indeed run a non-profit and don’t understand the 2012 quote and don’t see Madigan as helpful over Rauner… Yikes. This is why Rauner knows he can destroy you. This is a bit embarrassing, actually. - Deft Wing - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 12:03 pm: To the “now what” crowd (i.e. issue avoiders — the post was about the DH holding elected officials accountable for their actions — and consistent with their words). There is no other Dem House member as obstinate as Madigan (because they can’t be so intractable). The result? A new Dem House leader with some semblance of earnestness which means there’d be a chance at a deal. In sum, things can’t be worse without Madigan. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 12:08 pm: ===(i.e. issue avoiders — the post was about the DH holding elected officials accountable for their actions — and consistent with their words).=== Nah. It’s a real question. You can answer. No one is stopping you… ===There is no other Dem House member as obstinate as Madigan (because they can’t be so intractable).=== No, that’s not the issue. The issue is Rauner wants Democrats to vote to eliminate Labor and then vote to raise taxes for Rauner. Can you find a Democrat that will, after Madigan, agree to those terms? LOL! ===The result? A new Dem House leader with some semblance of earnestness which means there’d be a chance at a deal. In sum, things can’t be worse without Madigan.=== There is no 60 or 30 for Rauner’s Turnaround Agenda. Your ignorance would sound credible if Democrats shared the stairs with Rauner to show 60 and 30. Your deflecting to Madigan versus what Democrats will not support, Madigan or not, IS why “now what?” makes your argument silly. - Jocko - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 12:20 pm: ==Mike Madigan seems happy enough to let universities and social services twist in the wind.== With all that red meat, DH should host Christmas Dinner for the homeless. - Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 12:22 pm: “Not substantially. Rauner remains fixated on holding a reasonable budget hostage to “reforms” that Democrats reject.” I saw Rep. Welch last night on “Chicago Tonight” with other legislators. He said Democrats are not going to a attack their union supporters to do Rauner’s work. He also mentioned that Rauner made $188 million last year, so it’s easy for him to demand that legislators not get paid. It was good that the $188 million was mentioned. That is a key political factor. That’s something that should be central to political messaging–the sacrifices forced on over a million Illinoisans by people who make this much money. - Deft Wing - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 12:24 pm: –”The issue is Rauner wants Democrats to vote to eliminate Labor and then vote to raise taxes for Rauner.”– Could you be more of a caricature of a passive-aggressive troll? The post is about the Daily Herald’s Op-Ed demanding elected House Dems do what many say but never do– vote for other than Madigan as the Dems’ Speaker. The DH wants change and makes its case for it. I point this out, so you, naturally, divert and say “if Madigan’s gone, then what?.” I respond to your nonsense (all my fault) with “it can’t get worse with Madigan gone” (it can’t), which you can’t refute. So you then further divert by going on (and on and on) about your latest conspiracy machinations about Rauner’s “real” intent. Oh, and you do your typical insulting thing along the way. Yep. You are officially a caricature of yourself now. Well done. - walker - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 12:30 pm: Deft Wing: Omniscient on suburban doorsteps with Dem reps, at DH editorial board meetings, as well as within the Springfield Dem caucus? You might be generally right about political trends. But to argue that this editorial writer was influenced by off the record discussions with multiple Dem reps, who reported to them what they heard while canvassing — well that’s just fantastic scenario building. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 12:30 pm: ===Could you be more of a caricature of a passive-aggressive troll?=== House passes property tax relief, less the Labor demands, Rauner calls it a sham. Rauner wants labor decimated. Rauner calls on the #TaxHikeMike, but then will allow a tax hike… for Rauner demands… even though all paying attention realize revenue isn’t a give. Am I going too fast for you? LOL. ===The post is about the Daily Herald’s Op-Ed demanding elected House Dems do what many say but never do– vote for other than Madigan as the Dems’ Speaker. The DH wants change and makes its case for it.=== “Then what?” You break it you bought it”… Asking for an action and not realizing its effect is childishly ignorant to realities. ===I point this out, so you, naturally, divert and say “if Madigan’s gone, then what?.” I respond to your nonsense (all my fault) with “it can’t get worse with Madigan gone” (it can’t), which you can’t refute. So you then further divert by going on (and on and on) about your latest conspiracy machinations about Rauner’s “real” intent. Oh, and you do your typical insulting thing along the way.=== And yet… you can’t refute “now what?” I know, you have no answer. It’s ok. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 12:34 pm: ===”it can’t get worse with Madigan gone” (it can’t),=== What Democrat will vote to eliminate Labor and then vote for a tax increase? Take your time, I’ll wait. ===which you can’t refute.=== Name the Democrat, then you have your point. You can’t. ===So you then further divert by going on (and on and on) about your latest conspiracy machinations about Rauner’s “real” intent.=== If you watch what’s happening, and understand the 2012 quote, it’s not conspiracy, Rauner IS doing the 2012 quote, lol. Willfully ignorant to reality. ===Oh, and you do your typical insulting thing along the way.== When you continues to think people are fools, and try to defend complete foolishness… … just sayin’ - Enviro - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 12:38 pm: Rauner is holding the budget hostage to help his wealthy friends and corporations. Madigan is resisting the turnaround agenda because it will hurt middleclass workers. By holding the budget hostage the governor is hurting the people in need of state services. - Deft Wing - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 12:44 pm: –”Omniscient on suburban doorsteps with Dem reps, at DH editorial board meetings, as well as within the Springfield Dem caucus?”– Walker, you know what YOU told people when asked the Madigan question. So … just stop. Besides, Google Anna Moeller’s mishap about Madigan (it’s only a mistake because it happened on the record). The DH Op-Ed speaks for itself. My guess is, you’ve sat for those interviews, call Slusher and ask him about their process. The case to end Madigan’s extend and fiscally imprudent “leadership” and vice grip on Springfield is pretty easy to see … for anyone but the regular audience here (for a multitude of self-serving reasons). Last, I’ve never suggested being privy to the wackiness that is the House Dem Caucus. I have only conveyed that someday a majority of that Caucus will cease suspending their common sense; be it out of loyalty or political survival. - JohnnyPyleDriver - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 1:14 pm: “Now what” is an absolutely appropriate question because if you don’t have an answer for it, it begs the question why you’re so obsessed with Madigan. If you get rid of Madigan tomorrow, and then we find ourselves right back in the same spot on Friday, what on earth did you accomplish with all those barrels of cash? - JohnnyPyleDriver - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 1:15 pm: And to the comment that “it can’t get worse,” anything that lengthens the impasse and doesn’t solve it makes it worse. Every day we don’t have a budget is a bigger hole we’ve dug with bigger interest payments on the other side. This isn’t a static, binary thing. We don’t simply lack a budget today, lack a budget tomorrow. We have a huge problem today and a bigger one tomorrow and a bigger one yet the day after that - hockey fan - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 1:26 pm: I am betting that the Daily Herald gets its wish and one or two house Democrats will vote against the Speaker. What then Governor? Will you pass a budget ? Will you introduce a budget? No time for governing - I must spend my time attacking Pritzker!! - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 1:28 pm: ===The case to end Madigan’s extend and fiscally imprudent “leadership” and vice grip on Springfield is pretty easy to see … for anyone but the regular audience here (for a multitude of self-serving reasons).=== This is only real if Rauner has 60 and 30 and is denying the 60 and 30. Otherwise your strawman lacks any substance of truth when it comes to Rauner and the Turnaround Agenda. No one is being held up by Madigan unless there’s 60 votes that Rauner actually has and shows. - JohnnyPyleDriver - Nicely framed. - burbanite - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 3:13 pm: I think the Dems should have a different speaker, just to take the wind out of Rauner and his bossmadigan.com. No Dem is going to support Rauner’s “reforms”. Lou Lang sounds good. - Michelle Flaherty - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 4:00 pm: The irony is the Daily Herald won’t have anyone in Springfield to cover the actual vote for House Speaker. Think about that for a minute. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 6:23 pm: The Daily Herald has been clueless for years. - Keepin' Track - Thursday, Dec 15, 16 @ 10:15 am: Is the Daily Herald still publishing? Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.