* Things got so busy that I forgot to post my syndicated weekly newspaper column. Here you go…
Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno was the first ever female leader of a state legislative caucus in Illinois. That alone puts her in the history books.
But she’s also a decent human being, something that often seems in short supply around the Statehouse.
The fact that several Senate Democrats showed up for her press conference last week to announce she was resigning and then took turns hugging her after it was over demonstrated the deep well of respect and admiration she had built in the building. She even got a hug from House Speaker Michael Madigan after she told her fellow legislative leaders she was resigning in two days. Madigan isn’t the hugging type, at least not at work.
Legislative leaders, even minority leaders, have big offices, large staffs and, usually, egos to match. But Radogno was genuinely surprised at how many reporters showed up for her resignation press conference.
Her retirement was huge news because she has sparred behind the scenes with Gov. Bruce Rauner all year and reporters figured that had something to do with it. Rauner, a fellow Republican, repeatedly derailed Radogno’s efforts to devise a “grand bargain” with Senate President John Cullerton that was supposed to end the stalemate Rauner created by refusing to negotiate or even present a balanced budget. Tellingly, Radogno did not mention Rauner in her resignation letter, but she denied to reporters that her differences with the governor had anything to do with her leaving.
Gov. Rauner always treated Radogno and her Senate Republican caucus with a heavy hand. Just weeks after he was sworn into office in 2015, he met with Radogno’s Republican Senators in a back room at Springfield’s Saputo’s restaurant and delivered a couple of stern warnings.
Rauner reportedly referenced the $20 million sitting in his campaign fund at the time and said he wanted to be their partner in the upcoming session and would support those who supported him.
And then the hammer came down. Multiple credible sources told me the governor informed the Senate Republicans he would ask for their votes on 10 issues and that he absolutely needed all of their votes on all 10 items. Not five, not seven. Ten. And if anyone in the room didn’t vote for all 10, then they’d have a “(expletive that begins with an ‘F’ and ends with an ‘ing’) problem” with him.
The governor also warned his audience not to leak anything about the meeting to me. Anyone who talked, he said, would have a “(same expletive as above) problem” with him.
The Statehouse tradition is that a governor can try to influence legislators, but can’t try to control them, particularly against the wishes of their own chamber leaders. But Rauner showed right away that he wasn’t concerned with such niceties. And when Radogno started working with Cullerton, Rauner wouldn’t allow any legislation to pass without his blessing. And he didn’t bless much.
Because of Rauner, the grand bargain turned into something it was never intended to be. It was sparked last December after yet another horrible meeting with Rauner and the equally intransigent House Speaker Michael Madigan. Their idea was to find a way to get things moving after a year and a half of total governmental and legislative impasse. Radogno and Cullerton wanted to come up with a Senate-centric, bipartisan solution to Fiscal Year 2017 (which just ended on June 30th), work out some stuff on the governor’s non-budget issues like a property tax freeze and workers’ compensation reform and launch it all over to the House as a way of putting pressure on Madigan.
But the governor figured that Speaker Madigan would drastically water down anything that emerged from the Senate and he wanted the Senate to come up with a solution for Fiscal Year 2018 as well. It was simply too high of a bar. In the end, the Senate Democrats just weren’t willing to go along with the governor’s non-budget and budget demands.
The Senate Republicans elected Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, to replace Radogno. Brady ran against Rauner in the 2014 Republican gubernatorial primary, but he and the governor are fairly close. The governor probably won’t have many [expletive deleted] problems from Brady, but he has a new role now, so we’ll see.
Radogno and Cullerton had their fights, but they did their utmost to remain civil. Brady is a very likable fellow, so we’ll see how this new relationship works out.
I had an off the record dinner with Radogno after she announced her resignation. We hugged when it was over. I’m really going to miss her because she is truly one of a kind.
- A guy - Wednesday, Jul 5, 17 @ 9:41 am:
History will treat her appropriately well. Thank you for being among the first to record it.
- Langhorne - Wednesday, Jul 5, 17 @ 9:41 am:
Class act. Glad she is getting out while she can still enjoy other pursuits.
Rauner may be surprised its more difficult than expected to force his will. But that just convinces him further that his outlook is right. He has learned nothing about people or the process.
- Gruntled University Employee - Wednesday, Jul 5, 17 @ 9:42 am:
Senator Radogno,
Although I rarely agreed with your position on anything I want to thank you for your service to this State, you will be missed.
- Gruntled University Employee - Wednesday, Jul 5, 17 @ 9:45 am:
===The governor also warned his audience not to leak anything about the meeting to me.===
At the risk of being labeled a “butt kisser”, I honestly believe that this blog and it’s contributors have an influence on how the sausage gets made under the dome.
- Leave a Light on George - Wednesday, Jul 5, 17 @ 9:49 am:
Ya know if Governor Rauner had any meaningful accomplishments or experience in governing before his present position his attitude might be tolerable. After all he inherited a mess not of his own making. But he doesn’t have any accomplishments yet to his credit and time on the job doesn’t equate to experience.
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Jul 5, 17 @ 9:52 am:
That dinner report from 2015 really sums up the double life of Rauner. He’s all smiles and costumes in front of the cameras (when he’s not playing Man All Alone in his darkened office), but as we’ve seen over the years, push him too far and the smile turns into a hard line and “Last Question” is usually called. Radogno stood up to him and I’m sure that chaffed him to no end. Thanks to her and to Rich for helping keep the politics at the Statehouse under the sun’s light.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Jul 5, 17 @ 9:54 am:
I listened to WGN on the way to work this morning. Pat Brady was a guest and the entire conversation was about how Madigan was to blame for literally everything.
What I am getting at is Madigan is half of the problem. Rauner is the other half. I think Radogno and Cullertom were,by working together, putting pressure on them. I think that will be lost now. Cullerton seemed to be his own person as did Radgno. Brady will not be and neither is Durkin.
One voice of reason in Cullerton will be very lonely. I didn’t realize how much we needed Radigno and how much we will miss her until now.
- Anotheretiree - Wednesday, Jul 5, 17 @ 9:56 am:
Sad she is gone. I hope the Republicans who defied Rauner get crossover support in their primaries (ala Sam Maccann)..What I really want to know is,did he drop the G in private…F-ing, or F-in problem ?
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Jul 5, 17 @ 9:59 am:
==Insiders know full well she was Cullerton’s useful dupe for years and years.==
Why? Because she had the audacity to want to compromise?
- Robert the Bruce - Wednesday, Jul 5, 17 @ 10:08 am:
I understand reasonable people becoming frustrated with unreasonable people, but for the sake of the state, I wish she had stayed on for one more month.
- Chris Nybo - Wednesday, Jul 5, 17 @ 10:10 am:
Rich, I’m glad you posted this. I no longer get to work with one of the most honest, trustworthy, and loyal persons I’ve ever known. No way to say it better: I’m just sad.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Wednesday, Jul 5, 17 @ 10:28 am:
–And if anyone in the room didn’t vote for all 10, then they’d have a “(expletive that begins with an ‘F’ and ends with an ‘ing’) problem” with him.–
Threatening is not good. Threatening and using the F-word is bullying.
The Governor is not the Boss of the Legislature or even Republican legislators. Acting like a dictator is not only immature but insulting.
When people of good will, good temperament and good manners like Mrs. Radogno resign, we all lose, including the Governor.
Good tribute to her, Rich.
- The Real Just Me - Wednesday, Jul 5, 17 @ 10:38 am:
Cullerton’s dupe? No way. Leader Radogno got the Senate President with a super majority to agree that non-budget turn around agenda items should be and could be discussed as a necessary pre-condition to any budget. Governor Rauner has never convinced any Democrat to do that. You may disagree with how she did that, perhaps by compromising too much, but she and she alone did that.
- OurMagician - Wednesday, Jul 5, 17 @ 10:38 am:
=He’s all smiles and costumes in front of the cameras (when he’s not playing Man All Alone in his darkened office), but as we’ve seen over the years, push him too far and the smile turns into a hard line and “Last Question” is usually called. Radogno stood up to him and I’m sure that chaffed him to no end.=
He’s a big businessman, smiles and hugs and backslaps in front of the public and the definition of unlikeable away from it. There’s an act they all play. Sen. Brady’s business is run the same way, the difference is he has a brother to play the part of the heavy behind closed doors and Billy can maintain a persona in private as well since he has an electorate to face.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 5, 17 @ 10:38 am:
To the Post,
For me, Ive made clear my feelings towards Leader Radogno, and how much I respected her especially these last few months.
If I could, I’d like to revisit just a small part of my comment.
===The one thing I always did was respect that Leader Radogno had challenges working against her. Although these seen and unseen challenges existed, the last 6 months, working with President Cullerton, going to Editorial Boards with President Cullerton, and both she and “John” had each other’s backs, and saw where the light existed where others only wanted to embrace the darkness or division.===
“Although these seen and unseen challenges existed, the last 6 months, working… ”
Leader Radogno rarely got a fair shake from the Governor.
From above..,
===Rauner reportedly referenced the $20 million sitting in his campaign fund at the time and said he wanted to be their partner in the upcoming session and would support those who supported him.
And then the hammer came down. Multiple credible sources told me the governor informed the Senate Republicans he would ask for their votes on 10 issues and that he absolutely needed all of their votes on all 10 items. Not five, not seven. Ten. And if anyone in the room didn’t vote for all 10, then they’d have a “(expletive that begins with an ‘F’ and ends with an ‘ing’) problem” with him.===
How can anyone work within the Caucus rules and even the “hands off” rules Rich points out when it comes to governors and the Caucuses.
This is the most telling how Leader Radogno got undercut…
===The governor also warned his audience not to leak anything about the meeting to me. Anyone who talked, he said, would have a “(same expletive as above) problem” with him.===
Why is that the most telling?
You don’t hide or keep secret the idea of your governing unless it will, at the very minimum, be frowned upon by observers.
Great column, Rich.
You cover all bases here.
It’s important to really delve deep why the “Grand Bargains” failed, and it was never within the last weeks of its completion, but a continual undercutting of one of the finest Senate leaders, and one of the finest people to sit in that Body.
The full story, is the truest story to how wonderful Leader Radogno was in her role in the Senate, and being someone who cared about Illinois.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Jul 5, 17 @ 10:43 am:
Rich, you’re 2 for 2 on good columns this week. Radogno deserves plaudits for her efforts at forging a compromise. As Rich has mentioned, Rauner’s big mistake was undercutting Radogno’s efforts. He should be kicking himself now, but his ego won’t allow it.
- Carpentersville Christy - Wednesday, Jul 5, 17 @ 10:45 am:
Most Republicans that I spoke to thought she was weak sauce. I don’t know if this is true but they said she was a social worker who accidently ended up in a position “over her head.” They thought she felt successful beyond her abilities so she never rocked the boat.
I wish her well in retirement.
- downstate commissioner - Wednesday, Jul 5, 17 @ 10:58 am:
Think the R’s have lost their voice of reason in the senate. Brady is a likeable fellow (so is Rauner, I am told), but is hardcore partisan Republican… While I don’t consider him a “Raunercrat”, his own mission is very conservative and anti-democrat…
- Lynn S. - Wednesday, Jul 5, 17 @ 11:02 am:
This is a really good send-off. Thank you for writing it, Rich!
And to the now retired Senator Radogno: best wishes to you and your family! May you have a great and productive retirement!
- Curl of the Burl - Wednesday, Jul 5, 17 @ 11:31 am:
Christy - what? I would have added the exclamation point after the question mark but I would prefer not to get my comment stuck in the queue.
How do you accidentally “end up” in a position over your head? This is not like Tim Robbins in “The Hudsucker Proxy”. I would hope/assume that all people who run for the State House or State know what they are getting themselves into. She was not appointed, either. She ran in a primary and beat an incumbent. And how many social workers do you know that are Republicans? Of all the ones I know - including a few family members - Christine is the only Republican social worker I have ever known.
- Workin' - Wednesday, Jul 5, 17 @ 11:34 am:
Now we know why 90% is not good enough. He needs “10 of 10″.
Now that we have seen Rauner’s Godfather scene at Saputo’s, what message will he send to Sen. Righter (and Anderson, Fowler, and McCann, for that matter)? And to Reps. Andersson, Harris, et al.?
Dead fish? A horse’s head?
Will it be wrapped in a printout of Capitol Fax? (There must be somebody who still prints it on that shiny fax paper.) The tronc editorial page?
Can’t wait for the next scene.
- 10th Ward - Wednesday, Jul 5, 17 @ 12:21 pm:
If Rauner doesn’t get opponents for those who crossed him, his clout/fear/strength will diminish. BVR has to come out BIG if he doesn’t, he will get more insubordinate GOP members. I dont agree with his approach, but c’mon how else is a man who is used to getting his way react to all of this???
- PublicServant - Wednesday, Jul 5, 17 @ 12:24 pm:
Wish I was a fly on the wall when you and Senator Radogno were meeting…a slightly overweight, greying, frustrated fly, but a fly none the less.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jul 5, 17 @ 12:41 pm:
Sen. Radogno gave it an honest good-faith effort on a bipartisan compromise in the Senate. For that, thank you.
But going forward, let’s not forget the two-faced back-stabbers in her party who sabotaged her effort. They’re still there, and we know who they are.
They’re conspicuous by their absence in her farewell letter.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jul 5, 17 @ 12:56 pm:
What Wordslinger said.
Also, what I’ll miss most about her is her quintessential Chicago accent. It is thick, and nasally and authentic, and if she wants a second career, she should get into voice-over work. Seriously, I know she’s from Lemont, but to hear her speak is to hear Chicago, in all of its mangled language beauty. It’s like Joan Cusack but without the pretension.
I’m going to miss that.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 5, 17 @ 1:02 pm:
As for the “weak sauce” comment, that’s just plain silly. Radogno beat two incumbent Republicans;the first in 96 and the second after redistricting in 02. She survived at least two targeted races and ran statewide. Radogno also beat Kirk Dillard for leader, Kyle McCarter for leader, and Dale Righter after an ugly coup attempt right after her daughter died. Not a “weakling” I would want to face. Loud and obnoxious does not equal strong
- Stewed Prunes - Wednesday, Jul 5, 17 @ 1:31 pm:
Phil Kadner had a contrary view of Christine Radogno. He recalled her vote helped to kill a “tax swap” proposal from Governor Edgar to increase the income tax while reducing property taxes. The idea (quite similar to the plan of Dawn Clark Netsch) was to increase state funding of schools and reducing the reliance upon property taxes to fund education. Read it for yourself:
http://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/20-years-of-political-failure-in-illinois/
Radogno voted no and the proposal narrowly failed.
This may have helped put Illinois further down the road that has led us to this 2017 impasse crisis.
- Try-4-Truth - Wednesday, Jul 5, 17 @ 3:01 pm:
For what it’s worth, the Comptroller has this column on her Facebook page.