* From the ILGOP…

Extra! Extra! Boss Madigan Democrats Get Morning Delivery
Madigan’s Post-It Note Commands, Metra Scandal Top the Headlines

With three days left until Decision Day, Boss Madigan Democrats will receive envelopes from the Illinois Republican Party containing information they may wish to consider before supporting Madigan for a 17th term as Speaker.

The envelope will contain the Chicago Tribune’s scathing report and editorial about Boss Madigan’s use of post-it notes to inappropriately direct hiring decisions at Metra through “ward-style patronage”.

As a reminder, the Chicago Tribune reported that,

“A secret report put together by the legislature’s watchdog in the wake of last summer’s Metra scandal offers new insight into how Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan navigates the intersection of public business and ward-style patronage through his Southwest Side office and Illinois Capitol suite.

The analysis by then-Inspector General Thomas Homer — based on interviews with Madigan’s political allies, government officials and the speaker himself — presents those methods in an unflattering fashion.

The report contains an account of Metra’s chairwoman entering Madigan’s Capitol office to talk about state issues and leaving with a yellow Post-it note bearing names of two workers the speaker wanted to see promoted. In another meeting, a Metra lobbyist who was a longtime Madigan aide was spotted leaving the speaker’s office with two resumes. Another time, Madigan simply called the cellphone of one of his “better” precinct captains to tell him about a state job, according to the report.”

The envelope also contains a warning from Boss Madigan himself, in true post-it note patronage boss fashion.

Today’s delivery is part of the Illinois Republican Party’s countdown to Wednesday’s election for Speaker.

Now, Democrats have no excuse for being in the dark about Madigan’s ethical problems.

Will they still support him?

* Some sample packages…

But, remember, the governor has nothing whatsoever to do with influencing a chamber’s leadership election, except for the fact that he’s funding just about every dime of state party spending. But, still… no involvement whatsoever!

…Adding… As noted in comments, it’s a bit ironic that the party is talking about patronage hiring after Friday’s SJ-R story. Just sayin…

       

48 Comments - Flynn's mom - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 10:49 am: comical! - The Captain - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 10:51 am: The Illinois Republican Party is sending you content from the Chicago Tribune editorial board, but I repeat myself. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 10:52 am: McClain said it perfectly in his interview with Bernie… To paraphrase, the lack of civility. This will not help in the governing, and how can you make a reasonable case Rauner wants governing to occur. Can’t. - Arsenal - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 10:56 am: Even under the “audience of one” framework that explains most of this Boss Madigan stuff, this is a silly waste of resources. But I suppose ILGOP has plenty of those… - Anon221 - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 10:58 am: “But, remember, the governor has nothing whatsoever to do with influencing a chamber’s leadership election, except for the fact that he’s funding just about every dime of state party spending.” Hmmmm… Rauner is starting to sound and act a bit Putinish. - Anonymous - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 10:58 am: I get that the election is this week, but doing this stuff in the midst of the “grand compromise?” Really? - Liberty - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 11:00 am: Childish - Not It - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 11:00 am: And don’t forget RTA too http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20110225/BLOGS02/302259993/rta-hires-house-speaker-madigans-son-in-law-for-lobbying-job - 47th Ward - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 11:02 am: Patronage? 1981 called. It wants its scandal back. - Nick Name - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 11:02 am: “I get that the election is this week, but doing this stuff in the midst of the “grand compromise?” Really?” I truly think that Rauner doesn’t want any deal at all. I also believe that, were the Dems to cave into every one of his turnaround agenda demands, Rauner would simply move the goalposts - and blame Madigan. - 47th Ward - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 11:03 am: Do me this favor. I won’t forget it. Ask your friends in the neighborhood about me. They’ll tell you I know how to return a favor. - wordslinger - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 11:08 am: I bet Arts and Crafts Day was a blast. Ray Rayner would be proud. Kayo for everyone! This all building up to appearances by Chelveston and Cuddly Duddly. - 47th Ward - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 11:09 am: It’s almost comical. For many rank and file HDems, Madigan’s ability to land preferred candidates on a public payroll is precisely why they support him. In a weird and twisted way, this ILGOP “attack” may end up helping Madigan. Lol. - Deft Wing - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 11:09 am: The righteous indignation from the new victim class continues. Pft. Look, Rauner raised Madigan’s ante when it comes to the non-stop campaigning and total war meme. That’s what having real money does. Sorry you are just now noticing the push-back. But by all means, complain all you want about it and whine some more if it helps you cope. The fight for the State is a blood-fight and ain’t settling until the next election … maybe. - Lt Guv - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 11:17 am: There are plenty of things to attack MJM on. This one is just whiny and childish. - Arsenal - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 11:19 am: ==The righteous indignation from the new victim class continues. Pft. Look, Rauner raised Madigan’s ante when it comes to the non-stop campaigning and total war meme.== Clearly, Rauner’s critics should stop whining so that you have more room to whine. - Saluki - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 11:21 am: As I said the other day, I believe Rauner when he says he is not involved. It’s only money. - Try-4-Truth - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 11:21 am: ====The fight for the State is a blood-fight and ain’t settling until the next election === The fact that you view it this way is the problem. This is not a war. It’s about self government. This “blood-fight” is the problem. And so are you for describing it like that. - ZC - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 11:26 am: Talked with a state GOP campaign worker last autumn. He said in his circle they referred to him as “Uncle Brucie.” - Oswego Willy - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 11:27 am: ===But by all means, complain all you want about it and whine some more if it helps you cope=== I guess I missed all the other budgets held hostage for an agenda and the years and years of no budget period… and the nearly $800 million in lost funding to University of Illinois… and social services being stiffed for actually signing contracts in good faith… … No. Not the same. Not the ante raised. It’s a new game, but about governing at all. - WSJ Paywall - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 11:30 am: Will the packets include other memorable Tribune content, like a column from an editorial board member dreaming of hurricane hitting Chicago? - wordslinger - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 11:32 am: – blood fight– Sounds exciting. Is that the new Marvel movie? This shouldn’t be about kids games. - Anonymous - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 11:36 am: My New Year’s resolution is to never read the Chicago Tribune. - WhatsNext - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 11:39 am: Every day there is something new for Gov Rauner to focus on other than his job to Govern. I wonder what his next distraction will be once the DEMS elect MJM again as speaker. You would think that sometime even Gov Rauner would get tired of spending his own money in his endless pursuit against MJM. As I have said from the beginning… how on earth do you plan to negotiate with someone that you continually bad mouth on a daily basis. It just doesn’t make sense. - JS Mill - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 11:40 am: = blood fight= It sure is. Spot on. Just not in the militaristic metaphorical sense that so many love to butch up and draw upon. Just ask people that have lost mental health services, or health care support services. Blood has been spilled as a result. So much for a sense of cooperation and compromise eh governor? - Wylie Coyote - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 11:58 am: I’m amused by so many comments today. Is it just because Republicans now playing the MJM game of 24/7/365 politics? No Dem decision has ever been made without considering the political angle. That is all. - Rod - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 11:58 am: I have no doubt hand addressing each envelope will impress the Democrat members of the House, it’s a nice touch. - Arsenal - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 12:06 pm: == Is it just because Republicans now playing the MJM game of 24/7/365 politics?== So this is today’s talking point, huh? What’s the point in beating Madigan if you’re just gonna keep doing everything he does? - Oswego Willy - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 12:08 pm: ===Is it just because Republicans now playing the MJM game of 24/7/365 politics?=== I guess that also means… Rauner is now within the MJM status quo? Confusing. lol - facts are stubborn things - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 12:09 pm: The risk for Rauner is that all this attacking MJM is only going to cause MJM to tank any buget deals and get to the 2018 election. MJM only has to win his district and Rauner will own this and must win state wide. Rauner needs to back off MJM and allow MJM room (if it is not too late) to allow a budget solution. - Annonin' - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 12:23 pm: Word is BigBrain has some senate GOPie staffers doin’ the hand outs….probably not a long term career builder. - Keyrock - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 12:23 pm: Extra! Extra! Here’s some news from 2014. And Blago! - doedoa - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 12:23 pm: Madigan must stay while Rauner is in office. He will fight the GOP agenda. Rauner needs to be stopped. Unions need to be saved and we already have term limits - they are called elections and Rauner will be able to understand that in 2018. - Signal and Noise - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 12:26 pm: All of this is fair game. It’s petty as it gets, but fair game. What’s pathetic is Rauner pretending he can or should be seen as separate from this nonsense. Sorry Bruce, can’t just hang a Gone Governin’ sign on the door and expect us to believe this isn’t you. - Scooteriffic! - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 12:27 pm: Seriously? This is what the GOP comes back with a few days after the news broke that Rauner hired 22 or 23 of Leslie Mungers staff and gave some of them raises? Wow! - northsider (the original) - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 12:29 pm: Is this where they got the idea for the Munger 23? - Ebenezer - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 12:30 pm: Rauner will keep hammering the MJM drum as long as it works for him. After the mid-terms, I think he has concluded its working for him. It’s easier to paint MJM as responsible for the mess and generate outrage, than it is to build support for a solution. Madigan seems unable/unwilling to change the conversation. Is he still a net asset to the state party as a whole? - Virgil Solozzo - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 12:31 pm: “Blood is a big expense…” - Trapped in the 'burbs - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 12:44 pm: Is Rauner’s pursuit of MJM more like Moby Dick or Old Man and the Sea? - Sigh - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 1:16 pm: Didn’t the Governor’s office recently hire employees from former Comptroller Munger’s office before the election? Were any of those jobs posted, so the public could apply? Wonder where the Mark Kirk people are going to land? Didn’t Rauner just promote some of his staff into some big agency jobs? And I thought I read in the blog comments a few months ago that the mother-in-law of a republican legislator landed in an exempt position in one of the Governor’s agencies. Things that make you go hmm. - Inspector Gadget - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 1:39 pm: _Sigh_ Well where do you think all those new Mendoza hires came from? She cleared out a lot of people from Mungers staff and brought in new people without posting for the public to apply. She even fired people on the Christmas Holiday. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year your fired nice huh? - Ironic? Hardly. - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 2:35 pm: There’s a huge difference between putting someone on your own payroll and manipulating an agency you don’t control to hire your hacks. - Magic carpet ride - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 3:24 pm: When will this bite rauner in the butt? - Oswego Willy - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 3:26 pm: ===When will this bite rauner in the butt?=== It won’t. Anyone honestly concerned about 60 and 30 wouldn’t do this. The only way it bites back is if Rauner wins unconditionally and still can’t govern. Since that appears to be impossible, it won’t bite back. Then there’s the $50 million… - Chicago Barb - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 4:15 pm: So what if the Dems elect a new Speaker. Does Rauner really believe the Dems will vote for union busting, etc. even if there is a new Speaker? - Sigh - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 4:39 pm: The difference is, didn’t Rauner campaign on not hiring hacks and he was going to shake things up?? Sounds like his administration is business as usual. In regards to Mendoza- if the people that she fired were in exempt positions, did they really think they were going to stay on? Rauner sent out emails the Friday (night) before he was sworn in telling people they were no longer needed. Yes, the 1st round of Rauner fires stayed on payroll for a couple weeks. - Inspector Gadget - Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 8:00 pm: _Sigh_ I can tell you for a fact that JBT kept a decent amount of Hynes people and even some in management positions. Mendoza claims that JBT was a good friend and mentor, she even wore JBT’s dress to be sworn in and her bible was used to take the oath. It all sounds good to the media but when the day was over she went about firing people right and left. Even Rauner as you stated paid them for a couple weeks and some even stayed on longer. The E.D. at the tollway Christie Lafluer got six months till they moved on. Mendoza blew the whole story about looting the office and now looks bad again on how and when she started firing people. let me tell you 50 Million and Nov 2018 will come pretty fast…. - Rabid - Tuesday, Jan 10, 17 @ 5:56 am: Munger must write small to get 23 names on a post-it note Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.