Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » We desperately need some unifying doers

Friday, Jan 13, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Back to McQueary….

Rep. Scott Drury, a Democrat from Highwood on his third term in the House, was the only member who pushed back against the steamroll of Madigan’s nomination for speaker. Surely it was uncomfortable proclaiming a vote of “present” during the roll call. But Drury has shown a willingness to carve his own path in Springfield — and has in turn been ostracized. One blog described him as “obnoxious” and “goofy.” He has been mocked for boasting about his background as a federal prosecutor, a qualification that sure beats the somebody-somebody-sent credential that’s typical under the dome.

Is Drury well-liked? Who cares? If you’re not the occasional outcast in Springfield, then you’re not doing your job.

Yeah, OK.

He’s not an “occasional” outcast. He’s one of those folks who can actually cost you votes on your bill when he rises to speak in support. Anyone who spends any time in the chamber would know this.

* More…

But public service isn’t about being submissive. Taxpayers, especially given the direction of this broken state, deserve urgency and boldness. They deserve independent thought.

What they “deserve” right now is the willingness and the ability to forge a reasonable compromise to end this two-year stalemate nightmare. They “deserve” people who can work together and not grandstand. 177 legislators running around boasting about how superior and independent they are ain’t gonna get it done.

* Voters “deserve” an attitude like the one expressed by Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno on Monday. From her inaugural address as prepared for delivery…

The groundwork we laid earlier this week can jumpstart this General Assembly –
• We have a tremendous opportunity to begin moving Illinois past the fiscal impasse that has hovered over this Capitol for far too long.

Collectively – and I do mean collectively – because it will take all of us –
• Senators, our closest advisors, and our staffs – who I can’t say enough about.
• Our staffs work tirelessly on our behalf – and I can’t tell you how appreciative we are.

So collectively – we have the power of a solution
• We have packaged the state budget with the necessary revenue – and the structural reforms to grow jobs and give taxpayers get a better value by re-balancing government with the needs of those paying the bills.

I hope all of you will support us in getting the job done.

In other words, we need people who can find a way to work together.

* I, for one, strongly believe that Speaker Madigan should join this effort and help heal these gaping wounds, not continue to make them worse. Senate President Cullerton did not negotiate a bad deal with Leader Radogno. So, build on it, don’t trash it for the sake of preventing this governor from being reelected.

But Drury’s futile gesture on Wednesday didn’t move Madigan a millimeter in that direction because the gentleman has no support whatsoever from his fellow rank and file Democrats. Drury is not the sort of person we desperately need to help forge a compromise that legislators can get behind. His vote was just another in a long list of meaningless gestures.

It takes all kinds to make a General Assembly. There’s definitely a place for people like Drury. His heart is in the right place. It’s his execution that sorely lacks.

34 Comments

- Not Rich - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 11:45 am:
Drury has every right to vote how he thinks serves his district best. His personality, which he can’t change, just doesn’t allow him to play nice in the sandbox.. I doubt he will face retribution, he will just be isolated a little bit more than he is now..

- Precinct Captain - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 11:50 am:
Drury is a lot like Rauner, a grandstanding smart alec with no practical solutions to offer. Instead, their main offering is trying to build a cult of personality around their supposed genius.

- Annonin' - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 11:57 am:
Wonder when folks stop passin’ along Katrina’s Kommentary? Senseless mumbo jumbo by an entity that has largely become another Rauner/PROFT/IPI fake news outlet.
Not sure stepping into an empty closet can be viewed as a road less travel or “carving your own path.
But it helps take up space on a slow Friday

- Arsenal - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 11:58 am:
If you believe that Madigan is the sole problem (I’m not sold on that), then you need to contend with the fact that the voters just gave him a fresh set of downs. So what do you do now? Well, you find ways to encourage him to agree with your agenda. Singling out one state rep who also doesn’t agree with your agenda to grandstand against Madigan isn’t going to do the trick.

Although it’s probably going to be hard to ever get Madigan on board when your agenda is largely just a personal vendetta against him.

- Illinois O'Malley - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 12:02 pm:
It appears Katrina trolls capfax for stories…

- Tominchicago - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 12:04 pm:
God this is getting ridiculous. Can somebody tell Hurricane Kristen that Madigan is not the only thing standing in the way of her Ayn Rand-ish nirvana in Illinois. Drury may be the only Dem who would support Rauner’s turnaround agenda.
the democrats will not gut union rights like she wants even if Madigan is gone.

- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 12:07 pm:
===It appears Katrina trolls capfax for stories…===

As a commentator, “State House Chick” was a better than average reporter.

Shills use half truths that others makes cases that are real. Kristen McQueary is exactly that, and the IPI, whom she’s been a guest speaker for, appreciates her blinders.

To Drury,

It’s not imperative that you be liked in the GA, but it’s critical that you’re respected.

Drury lacks in both. That’s on Drury and no one else.

- lake county democrat - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 12:22 pm:
–He’s not an “occasional” outcast. He’s one of those folks who can actually cost you votes on your bill when he rises to speak in support.–

Which is shameful on anyone who would change their vote for such a thing. Why? Because he touts his “former prosecutorness”?

Get over yourselves. Those spit-in-the-face-of-the-voters Madigan toadies who couldn’t pass real reform even in the shadow of Blago’s departure shouldn’t be uttering a word about respect.

- Just Observing - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 12:30 pm:
Sometimes when you are a member of a legislative body — be it park board, village board, or the state legislature — and you hold a different political philosophy or take principled positions that fly in the face of the status quo, you are quickly ostracized and labeled as difficult and a quack. And sometimes, its hard for those type of elected officials to soften their approach or play ball on some things in order to get other things moved along. I’m not saying that is the case with Scott Drury, but it could be… I just don’t know enough about his personality. But, I also think some people are unduly harsh with him on this blog.

- Michael Westen - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 12:37 pm:
At least McQueary didn’t wish a hurricane to hit the capitol again. Progress?

- Anonymous - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 12:45 pm:
McQueary: Democrat bucks Madigan? He’s a hero! Republican bucks Rauner? Traitor! Bring on the primary opponent now!

Utterly dishonest person there.

- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 12:49 pm:
–Those spit-in-the-face-of-the-voters Madigan toadies who couldn’t pass real reform even in the shadow of Blago’s departure shouldn’t be uttering a word about respect.–

Strange they get re-elected after spitting in the face of voters.

- lake county democrat - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 12:53 pm:
Which do you think would produce a better budget/laws for Illinois.

One produced by Drury (alone or with the other unpopular outsiders) or the worst-of-both-worlds compromises we got from the Combine and will likely get in large part now?

You know who else was despised by the establishment? Peter Fitzgerald. No matter how solid a conservative he was, the party regulars loathed him. Whether they ‘respected’ him or not, they sure didn’t cooperate with him much. He gave us Patrick Fitzgerald - pretty good legacy.

- Rich Miller - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 12:54 pm:
===One produced by Drury (alone or with the other unpopular outsiders)===

Bombthrowers don’t do what you just suggested. So your question is moot.

- lake county democrat - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 12:55 pm:
@Wordslinger - remove the immense barriers to serious primary challenges and undo gerrymandering (let alone dirty tricks like running ethnic name dupe candidates on the ballot) and then if they keep getting reelected you can talk.

- Rich Miller - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 12:56 pm:
===remove the immense barriers to serious primary challenges===

What would those be?

- lake county democrat - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 1:00 pm:
I dunno -seems like at the federal level gadflies frequently put up “no hope” alternatives for major legislation. Didn’t Rand Paul (someone I don’t like but is kind of similarly “fringe”) just propose a health care plan the other day? Now if he/they was seriously invited to (I don’t know exactly what “seriously” means -say a sustained invitation by all the major state newspapers) and didn’t respond, yes I’d join the critics.

- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 1:01 pm:
–One produced by Drury (alone or with the other unpopular outsiders) or the worst-of-both-worlds compromises we got from the Combine and will likely get in large part now?–

Ay yes, the budget-writing Combine.

Is Rauner in The Combine? He dropped millions on politicians of both parties over the years.

Is this “impasse” really just a struggle for control of The Combine?

- 10th ward - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 1:02 pm:
Wait!! Scott Drury was a federal prosecutor?? Huh? Maybe he has a nickname from college?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYodLUtySHk

- oldman - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 1:10 pm:
I believe that the performance of McQueary and the entire tribune editorial board has been disgraceful throughout the whole budget fiasco.

- lake county democrat - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 1:16 pm:
The incumbent starts out way ahead: name recognition, backing of businesses or unions it has done favors for, and (for the state senate) $125,000 of direct funding from the party (to one or more). I don’t think there’s any ban on the party spending even more indirectly, and they are far better positioned to direct other contributions to the incumbent.

A intra-party reform individual might turn to individuals, but he/she has less of a base for appeals, and as I understand individual contributions are capped at $10,000. So yes, I think there are immense barriers for reformers trying to contest within the party. You only see insiders ousted when they have competing big pocket special interests behind them (like that Barios race).

- Obamas Puppy - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 1:16 pm:
Well beside being unconstitutional, bad for workers and forming the basis for the re-elect Brucey campaign the plan is great!!! Love the editorial judgements Rich.

- lake county democrat - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 1:17 pm:
@wordslinger - as you’ve told me in the past (admittedly with good reason), read for comprehension. I’m saying both groups produced bad budgets, not that Rauner is part of a new Combine.

- Moe Berg - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 1:21 pm:
When it comes to the Trib, what is its value proposition? If I pay for a subscription, I am financing the salaries of people like McQueary who, never mind the “opinion” part, gets FACTUAL matters wrong. So, if the ownership tolerates her getting FACTS wrong on a subject I know something about, it makes me wonder what they let go from other writers on subjects about which I’m less familiar. The whole enterprise is compromised and it’s hard to justify spending hard-earned money for lies. One would be less informed about the true state of affairs from reading her than if one had read nothing at all.

- Rich Miller - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 1:21 pm:
===name recognition===

LOL

How are you gonna eliminate that, genius?

Also, what are you gonna do about campaign contributions in this day and age?

- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 1:21 pm:
–I’m saying both groups produced bad budgets, not that Rauner is part of a new Combine.–

I’m trying to follow.

Is the “old” Combine still around? If so, who are the top dogs? Was/is Rauner part of the old Combine, what with all those millions he spread around to politicians?

If the Combine is dead, was there a historical milestone that marked its passing?

- Rich Miller - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 1:27 pm:
===Didn’t Rand Paul===

Yeah… so?

I would love nothing more than if the firebreathers actually proposed their own, comprehensive budget and reform package. Most all of them are content to complain and vote “No” because that’s the easy way out. They shouldn’t be rewarded for that. Neither should the backbenchers, by the way.

- justacitizen - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 1:32 pm:
I thought McQueary’s piece was spot on. I find it appalling too as a taxpayer that legislators are “honored” when MM returns phone calls or “listens” to their concerns. Sounds more like peasants bowing to the king or a dictator than someone representing the taxpayers.

- slow down - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 1:36 pm:
I believe these two things to both be true: McQueary and the Trib editorial board are a disgrace, and Drury did a good thing by not voting for Madigan.

- lake county democrat - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 1:36 pm:
For starters, I’m not going to magnify it with lopsided party contributions combined with no public funding and low caps for individuals. But Rich, you’ve strayed from the point: Word is saying that the reelection rates reflect voter support. I’m saying voters rarely have a choice other than the broad Democrat vs. Republican choice, which gerrymandering in-turn guarantees a given outcome. You seem to agree if you are saying the barriers to reformer primary challenges can’t even be meaningfully lowered.

- lake county democrat - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 1:42 pm:
@wordslinger:

The old Combine didn’t necessarily die, but it’s not in power. Rauner controls the GOP and he has different priorities than Edgar/Ryan/Pate/Daniels. Could it come back? Of course - had the unions been successful in getting Kirk Dillard we’d probably have it now.

- Chicago_Downstater - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 1:50 pm:
@Not Rich

“His personality, which he can’t change, just doesn’t allow him to play nice in the sandbox”

I was under the impression that personality was one of the things a person could improve upon.

I agree Drury has every right to vote for his district’s interests. But one of these days Drury’s personality is probably gonna hurt his constituents.

Think of it like this: When his constituents really need a bill to help out the district, he better hope his not playing nice in the sandbox doesn’t lose them key votes.

- James Knell - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 2:20 pm:
I’ve been wondering about Drury for awhile. I appreciate hearing the observations of Rich and some of the usual commentators. Thanks!

- Anon - Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 2:47 pm:
=== If you’re not the occasional outcast in Springfield, then you’re not doing your job.===

By this standard, retired Rep. Dunkin must have really been doing his job.

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