Will enough members show up today?
Thursday, Jul 6, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The difference between the past few days and today is that House members were told that nothing would happen and they could go home if they wanted and await further news. Because of that advice, however, not enough showed up for a quorum and they couldn’t approve the Senate’s adjournment resolution, so they’re technically stuck in session looking like mopes…
Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan has set this afternoon for a showdown vote with Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner over the tax hike and spending plan that could end a budget stalemate that’s lasted more than two years.
Even before the governor said he would work to prevent an override, a key question remains: Will enough lawmakers show up for the vote?
When Madigan’s House voted to approve the tax hike, 15 Republicans joined Democrats to help get the budget legislation just over the 71-vote threshold required to pass such legislation after May. That’s the same threshold needed to override a veto.
In recent days, though, low attendance at the statehouse has made it impossible for lawmakers to complete any business at all, much less a veto override. On Wednesday, just 59 of the chamber’s 118 lawmakers were on hand at the Capitol. That was up by five from Tuesday.
* SJ-R…
But the House, which had approved the fiscal blueprint Sunday night with veto-proof majorities, has failed to summon enough members the last two days to take action. Fewer than 60 of the House’s 118 members answered quorum calls on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Deputy Majority Leader Lou Lang, a Skokie Democrat, mentioned some members who were dealing with deaths of relatives or friends.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 11:41 am:
Let it fail. Then Rauner will have to ask for the tax increase.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 11:45 am:
The sausage isn’t making it into the sausage casings anymore in the legislative sausage making process.
- Too Much to Handle - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 11:46 am:
=== Let it fail. Then Rauner will have to ask for the tax increase. ===
That’s very shortsighted. They need this to pass now to end the stalemate. If you think Rauner is going to ask for a tax increase or anything that can be viewed as solving this budget crisis, you are sorely mistaken.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 11:46 am:
Sounds like a failure of the Speaker to me. Maybe he should spend less time grandstanding and more doing his job.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 11:48 am:
Is 72 enough for a quorum? If you aren’t one of the 72, I can see why going to Springfield might not be so appealing today.
- JoeMaddon - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 11:49 am:
I especially liked how Grant Werhli attacked people for not being in Springfield, when he wasn’t on the attendance roll call either.
- Montrose - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 11:52 am:
Say what you will about Madigan, he knows how to count. There won’t be an attendance issue today.
- ash - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 11:52 am:
Anonymous, please pick a name. As for anonymous #2@ 11;46. Madigan has had budgets with everyone but Rauner. The state has had budgets with over twenty Republican governors, a little under twenty Democrats, and two independents. The only time in our history we haven’t had a budget is with Rauner. Please wake up and stop playing the, “but Madigan” game. It is old and it is ignorant.
- Franklin Delano Bluth - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 11:55 am:
Anonymous @ 11:41… Come on man (or woman) have some courage to do the right thing. I know Rauner isn’t arguing in good faith, I know this move may not be advantageous for Democrats in 2018 — but it’s so much bigger than that.
This state can’t afford this to continue, Democrats and the select few Republicans willing to step up to the Gov need to end this madness TODAY. Let Rauner run against the “tax increase” and let the Dems run against his ability to do his job.
Stop playing chess with the people and institutions of Illinois and do the right thing.
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 11:55 am:
I’m sure some of them have legitimate reasons for being absent, and some don’t. Let’s hear them.
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 11:55 am:
If 67 Democrats show up, just need four republicans out of the fifteen. This should get done.
- Not Rich - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 11:57 am:
Its not how many..its who shows up..
- Lake Wolf - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 12:03 pm:
So alot of people dont show up so they aren’t on the spot. Maybe we will have the first state with a GA who deserted
- Southern Guy - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 12:04 pm:
I’ll say it again, I predict that whether it’s attendance issues, angry voters, presure from the Governor, pressure from Republican leadship, pressure from anti-tax groups. the lack of desire from the Speaker to override, this veto will NOT be overridden.
- JoeMaddon - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 12:11 pm:
**If 67 Democrats show up, just need four republicans out of the fifteen. This should get done.**
All 67 Dems are not voting for the overrides.
- Because I said so.... - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 12:12 pm:
I have also heard some members are trying to deal with serious personal issues, deaths etc.
- Gman - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 12:12 pm:
Lake Wolf,
I believe that honor goes to the WI Assembly during the first term of Mr Walker. The Dems fled the state to avoid a quorum.
Gman
- Curl of the Burl - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 12:14 pm:
360 - no flipping way. Do you really think that a Katie Stuart or Sue Scherer or Sam Yingling is going to vote for the override after voting no on the initial bill?
The House should - emphasis on should - have amended and taken on SB 9 during session. I cannot fathom why Madigan waited until this past weekend. Well…yes I can…but still…
- Jake - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 12:17 pm:
There is no legitimate reason for not showing up for this vote.
- Todd - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 12:21 pm:
Where is bill black when you need him
- JoeMaddon - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 12:26 pm:
**The House should - emphasis on should - have amended and taken on SB 9 during session**
It wouldn’t have mattered. You still would need 71 votes to override the veto.
- Dandy Edward - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 12:27 pm:
The only reason Madigan got a budget with all the other Dem. and Rep. Governor is because they were willing to play his game. Raune will not play Mike game as he said he is responsible to the voters.
- Allen D - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 12:29 pm:
I think there may be a few that have taken it pretty hard by their constituents while at home and may either change their vote to no or just not show under the guise of family issues…. either way the VETO has a strong chance of standing.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 12:29 pm:
It was said on the news just now that one of the Republicans who voted for the tax hike left for Russia, but they didn’t say the legislator’s name.
“If 67 Democrats show up, just need four republicans out of the fifteen.”
Based on the tax hike vote, I don’t think all Democrats will vote for the override. Let’s see what Madigan can do as a leader, to get the necessary votes, if it’s even possible.
If he doesn’t have the votes, the override should not proceed, in my opinion. U.S. Congressional Republicans postponed or didn’t call votes on ACA repeal/replacement until they were reasonably confident they had the votes, in the House. There were two delays, one in the House and now one in the Senate.
- Just Sayin' - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 12:30 pm:
===There is no legitimate reason for not showing up for this vote.===
Sure there are many legitimate reasons (death of a family member, in hospital, etc), but the real question if there isn’t a quorum again is whether or not those who are absent have such a legitimate excuse.
- NATTY BOY - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 12:34 pm:
How many bought and paid for legislators are at the US Open, I wonder?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 12:36 pm:
===Where is bill black when you need him===
Maybe we can see him next inauguration.
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 12:39 pm:
I do stand corrected on my previous math. But I do believe this gets done today.
- Chicagonk - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 12:44 pm:
Practically I don’t care how it happens, I just want to see an override today. Politically, I would be pretty frustrated if I were one of the 15 Republican reps that have to watch 10 Dems vote against the override even though we all know that Madigan can whip those votes if they are needed.
- Rumor has it - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 12:54 pm:
Anyone else hearing there won’t be a quorum?
- Curl of the Burl - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 1:05 pm:
Joe - but maybe then that could have actually given both sides a little extra time to hash out some differences. I know - that thinking may be pollyannaish - but they never even tried. At least the Senate got all three bills through with more than a week to spare.
- Jake - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 1:12 pm:
A few years ago Naoml jakobsson left her son’s death bed to cast the deciding vote for marriage equality bill. Sometimes there are moments in public service that trump personal considerations.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 1:21 pm:
@11:52 Failing to see why a made up anonymous name any better.
- Jon Zahm - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 2:04 pm:
Bob Pritchard is off to Russia
Is Christine Winger in town? Where has she been?
- JoanP - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 2:53 pm:
@Anonymous 1:21: “Failing to see why a made up anonymous name any better. ”
Because, as Rich says, “It makes following the posts easier for everyone”. If multiple people are posting as “anonymous”, it’s tough to figure out which posts belong to which poster.
- RNUG - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 3:25 pm:
== even though we all know that Madigan can whip those votes if they are needed. ==
I wouldn’t bet on it. The Speaker only demands 2 votes … and this isn’t one of them.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 3:26 pm:
===I wouldn’t bet on it. The Speaker only demands 2 votes … and this isn’t one of them.===
Yep. The fallacy is that Madigan Dems ds this, that, or the next thing.
It’s two votes. Only two.
- Little Leroy - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 4:28 pm:
When you say “only demands 2 votes,” what exactly does that mean? The Speaker can demand votes on certain types of legislation according to the Constitution or House rules?
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 7:52 pm:
Whatever happened to Southern Guy?
- RNUG - Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 12:56 am:
== When you say “only demands 2 votes,” what exactly does that mean? ==
It is common knowledge / political wisdom that Madigan will support your reelection campaign with both money and staff volunteers if you provide 2 votes:
(1) vote for him to be Speaker
(2) vote to approve his version of the House Rules.