* Bernie…
Kennedy also said he thinks legislative Democrats in Illinois at times seek to almost-pass controversial legislation on issues like guns, so they can say: ”‘Oh, elect us, and we’ll pass this thing the next time.’ And I think that’s just emblematic of the inherent, well, corruption in our government here. We’re more interested in keeping people in power and preserving power rather than actually passing legislation that’s helpful.”
STEVE BROWN, spokesman for House Speaker Mike Madigan, responded later that bills put up for a vote are intended to pass.
“And if somehow he thinks that Mike Madigan or any other legislative leader can muscle members for a preconceived outcome, once again, Mr. Kennedy’s not very well informed,” Brown said. “It seems to be a recurring pattern with this guy.”
They do put plenty of bills on the board that they know won’t pass. Rep. Moylan’s recent bump stock bill is one example. That was pure politics.
- Shelby County Voter - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 9:35 am:
Meanwhile J.B. keeps getting the endorsements of the Springfield people.
- Annonin' - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 9:47 am:
Capt Fax seems to miss the point.
Kennedy wants you to believe the leaders pull votes off to prevent passage. Not the case.
Are there votes to establish a record ? Sure.
Big Dif Capt.
- Chris Widger - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 9:48 am:
I think that’s exactly right, though it’s worth noting in defense of Dems that (1) this is (probably?) how it works in every state and every level of government, and (2) the GOP does and would do the same. The best example of that here is the non-binding referendums that get put on the ballot to drive progressives to the polls.
- Moe Berg - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 9:49 am:
Kennedy discovers politicians are political and sometimes do things for political reasons. That, however, is “corruption” and certainly never goes on in any other legislative body anywhere else in…the world. Talk about draining the meaning of a word.
A candidate and campaign that is badly adrift and that has done nothing to capture the imagination with a vision for what the state should be. Terribly disappointing.
- West Wing - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 9:49 am:
Steve Brown continues to do what he does well - spin on behalf of Springfield and his boss. Kennedy is right on target with his point.
- Spliff - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 9:50 am:
No disrespect to my former boss but how can Kennedy go after the “Culture of Springfield,” the mythical beast like a unicorn or the Yeti, and then stand in ill fitting tux’s with the former Senate Godfather.
- VoteQuimby - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 9:55 am:
Chris Kennedy’s camp continues to lag. It’s time to drop out.
- Baloneymous - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 9:55 am:
Nice to see Kennedy take the Rauner approach to campaiging. Is he hoping to get some Rs to cross over in the Dem primary?
- Under Influenced... - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 9:56 am:
Mr. Kennedy, your agenda is nothing more than words on paper without the help of the lawmakers you criticize. Maybe you should get off the Rauner talking points. Last time I checked, his approval rating is upside down.
- Just Visiting - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 9:56 am:
Steve Brown, what a throwback to the days of yesteryear. Kennedy is right and it’s blatantly obvious that this is what the Speaker does. Brown’s responses have become more than stale. Is this the identical response he gave to the same question in 1984?
- Baloneymous - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 9:58 am:
I guess when no one supports you or even appears to like you, then it’s rather easy to play the outsider. Is that a strategy or just dumb luck?
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 10:07 am:
Mike Madigan muscle legislators? Only the ones who want to get reelected.
Why of course not, legislators are always just voting their district, and the districts all apparently feel no reforms are necessary in Illinois.
- Ghost - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 10:10 am:
A guy with little political or business experience living off inherited political legacy as his only bona fides is complaining about “inherent” problems in the system…..
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 10:10 am:
Well we probably would have a bump stock ban by now if the prior bill wasn’t so loaded up and overbroad, so there is some truth there. Sometimes good politics gets in the way of good government.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 10:13 am:
===little political or business experience===
The guy has lots of biz experience.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 10:16 am:
===Why of course not, legislators are always just voting their district, and the districts all apparently feel no reforms are necessary in Illinois.===
Rauner called votes for reforms that lacked the hurting Labor “shams”
Rauner’s reforms were about ending prevailing wage and collective bargaining. It’s been documented.
Then there’s the phony Raunerites for nearly two season that had state universities in their districts, but refused to fund higher education.
The Post is about “gotcha” bills or mail piece padding that in the end were bills not likely (they didn’t) pass.
Rauner’s phony reform was the hidden reality that it was destroy labor first, but claim it was about reform while doing it.
It’s tiresome, these votes. Exposing Rauner’s intent was tiresome too.
While Kennedy “isn’t wrong”, like Drury, Kennedy seems to have few allies that think enough of him to jump on this practice. The buried lede is Kennedy isn’t leading anything but his thoughts he’s doing right, but can’t get many to follow his lead or support him leading the charge.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 10:18 am:
Kennedy used to sound like he wanted to run for Assessor. Now it sounds like he wants to run for the General Assembly. He should pick a lane.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 10:24 am:
A guy with little business or political experience?
He was Chairman of the University of Illinois Board for 6 years.
“Over the last decade, total university enrollment is up, from 69,948 in 2004 to 78,540, with most of the increase at the Urbana-Champaign campus. In roughly the same period, the school’s endowment—its nest egg for investment—almost doubled to $1.93 billion, while state appropriations dropped to $663 million from $698 million and total income from tuition soared, more than doubling to $1.098 billion from $454 million.”
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20150121/BLOGS02/150129960/kennedy-revived-university-of-illinois-but-at-what-cost
What is JB’s experience in the public sector other than writing huge checks to imprisoned ex Governors and going along to get along with the corrupt status quo?
- Lucky Piere - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 10:29 am:
Still peddling that nonsense that every one of the 44 proposals in the Turnaround agenda was about destroying union labor?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-gov-bruce-rauner-turnaround-agenda-met-20161122-story.html
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 10:30 am:
===than writing huge checks … going along to get along with the corrupt status quo?===
Rauner, an alleged Republican wrote checks to Richard M. Daley and Rahm Emanuel, the mayors of “Bailout Chicago”
Rauner’s public experience, I believe, was being appointed to a board where in public he praised numberous “status quo” politicos…
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 10:32 am:
There are no FBI tapes of Rauner bargaining with imprisoned ones
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 10:33 am:
===Still peddling that nonsense that every one of the 44 proposals in the Turnaround agenda was about destroying union labor?===
Keep up.
The Post is about these votes Kennedy is complaining about, and pointing out Rauner’s “sham” votes that you of or us fair game.
Also, if you want to point out Rauner’s failure of an alleged 44 reforms, I won’t stop you pointing out Rauner failing, I applaud you recognizing Rauner is grossly inept.
Good on you.
- Molly Maguire - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 10:34 am:
Mr. K, how about doing some actual campaigning rather than just throwing out opinions and taking various people to task. If not, then get out of the race.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 10:36 am:
===There are no FBI tapes of Rauner bargaining with imprisoned ones===
Oh… you mean the leaked tapes that never were used in court, never brought questioning, depositions, or anything that anyone thought were worth the time to look at beyond a leak to the press?
Your beef seems to be with the US Attorney, not me.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 10:38 am:
===I think that’s exactly right, though it’s worth noting in defense of Dems that (1) this is (probably?) how it works in every state and every level of government, and (2) the GOP does and would do the same. ===
Chris Widger is both correct and honest. I applaud your post, sir.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 10:46 am:
Kennedy is really distinguishing himself here. The fact is that voters know that the state was not in good shape, predating the budget impasse. Reform is an issue that is not going away. And Kennedy is the Democrat who is leading this charge. Makes JB look very status quo.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 10:47 am:
”‘Oh, elect us, and we’ll pass this thing the next time.’ And I think that’s just emblematic of the inherent, well, corruption in our government here. We’re more interested in keeping people in power and preserving power rather than actually passing legislation that’s helpful.”
Chris is getting a lot of flack because he is flying directly over the target.
Who can argue that is not exactly what is going on in the legislature in Springfield?
How would that apply to the issues a majority of Illinois residents would like addressed?
Pension Reform
Term Limits
Redistricting
Property Tax Reform
Workers Comp
Local Government Consolidation
Tort Reform
Minimum Wage
An Independent Inspector General whose recommendations are not stuffed in a file cabinet for 4 years?
- Phil King - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 10:47 am:
==political or business experience ==
Business experience isn’t worth anything in politics. Nothing. At all.
Trump has business experience. Rauner has business experience. They’re both novices making unforced political errors.
Political experience is helpful, but also not strictly necessary.
All I care about in a candidate is: are they intelligent, do they understand how things work, do they have a realistic plan to fix it? Kennedy has all of those (I say this as a Republican.)
Pritzker is an insiders insider, which is why Madigan and Brown are pushing him. They want a patsy who will keep the corrupt system going, not a reformer like Biss or Kennedy. They’d be almost as bad for Madigan as Rauner is.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 10:49 am:
What would be more effective, if Kennedy feels the need to be Scott Drury, is if Kennedy had at least 2-3 other legislators agreeing with him.
Now, that means these legislators will also be calling out themselves, but…
… if Kennedy had support from legislators, Kennedy could make it about a “better, more thoughtful and honest to process”, and not decide or pick a side, and seem more solution-based, not just a finger pointer.
But, ironically, Kennedy is playing politics with… the playing of politics done in Springfield.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 10:51 am:
===Mike Madigan muscle legislators? Only the ones who want to get reelected.===
Rauner’s last loyal defender, at it again. Perhaps you can provide us with today’s Rauner administration talking points for the 32 Republican house members who have been screaming for a property tax freeze for three years, and yet decided yesterday to vote AGAINST a two-year property tax freeze? Was their vote to block a tax freeze for their constituents “voting their districts”? Or were they muscled by Durkin?
- West Wing - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 11:06 am:
Kennedy speaks for the majority of Illinoisans who want change in Springfield, and the obstacles to change who benefit from the status quo don’t want Kennedy. This kinda boils down to that.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 11:10 am:
If only Kennedy had Blagoevich’s glibness and self confidence he might have a chance.
- Lefthanded Louis - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 11:14 am:
The fact that the tape was leaked doesn’t make it any less of an issue for JB. In fact, it makes it look worse. He’s part of the insider group. Some voters may take a dim view of that, and it may end up in a commercial or two.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 11:17 am:
Wonder why Chris Kennedy can’t convince 2 or 3 legislators to forego their clocks and be exiled to legislative Siberia for crossing the Leader of the Democratic party in Illinois?
- wordslinger - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 11:17 am:
Yeah, they do that in the GA, like Kennedy said.
A variation on that scam is pushing obviously flawed Constitutional amendments to collect voter information.
The amendments — like say, for term limits or redistricting — get tossed, but the political schemer keeps the voter information and can run on the issue again.
Sound like anybody you know?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 11:17 am:
- There are no FBI tapes of Rauner bargaining with imprisoned ones -
He didn’t bargain with Stu, just hired him to score TRS money.
- lake county democrat - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 11:20 am:
Disagree, Senator Biss?
- Anon0091 - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 11:21 am:
“Kennedy speaks for the majority of Illinoisans who want change in Springfield, and the obstacles to change who benefit from the status quo don’t want Kennedy. This kinda boils down to that.”
No. Kennedy speaks in floundering, anti-something word salad. As has been pointed out above, this is really just gibberish. Failing to pass legislation in the way he describes is not about corruption but often about lack of political support or lack of focus or even about the power of entrenched interests to protect themselves, but that’s not what he’s talking about here. In fact, if he had even the slightest clue, maybe he’d focus on lobbyists and campaign contributions and even patronage. But since he doesn’t he just babbles.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 11:21 am:
–Who can argue that is not exactly what is going on in the legislature in Springfield?–
LP, I take it you think Rauner is just an incompetent dolt since his term limits and redistricting constitutional amendments got tossed?
Big Brain Bruce the Businessman didn’t know how to lawyer up to pass judicial muster?
He wasn’t planning on running on those issues again, right?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 11:24 am:
===The fact that the tape was leaked doesn’t make it any less of an issue for JB. In fact, it makes it look worse===
Yeah, it doesn’t. It’s not worse at all. Why?
After trial after trial, witness after witness, depositions, and evidentiary admittance…
… the US Attorney thought nothing of the recordings.
Leaking evidence, that speaks more about that the US Attorney saw nothing in the recording.
===He’s part of the insider group. Some voters may take a dim view of that, and it may end up in a commercial or two===
Oh, it’s gonna be in commercials. Lots of them.
I’d choose radio. Ominous voice-over, hinted inuendo…
But, the rub is… parking this really comes down to the US Attorney.
If the Pritzker Crew wants to wait for the Ad(s) to begin before issuing a release that parks this by stating this leaked tape, while in the US Attorney’s have led to nothing that was ever deemed anything but a conversation, then the seeding that this was… seedy… will be planted.
The tape is the tape… is the tape.
Nothing came of it… except someone leaking it.
- Mayor of Scranton - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 11:45 am:
For years Madigan used Kennedy whenever he needed a political errand done to provide cover for Madigan’s true intentions.
Now Madigan has found himself a new and moneyed rube in JB Pritzker and Kennedy is crying foul from under the bus.
These people all deserve each other.
- Chris Widger - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 12:00 pm:
==Good on you.==
I don’t think you actually think this is good on him
- Anonymous - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 12:06 pm:
===For years Madigan used Kennedy whenever he needed a political errand done to provide cover for Madigan’s true intentions===
Um, what? You…..don’t follow Illinois politics much, I’m guessing? Are you one of the folks Rauner brought over from Indiana, or did you come from Wisconsin with the new campaign director? Thats a comment that only someone who just got here would make.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 12:07 pm:
Sorry, 12:06 was me
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 12:08 pm:
Wordslinger, I guess you are the one person in Illinois who believes we have an independent judiciary in Illinois that is above politics.
It’s not as if a majority of the judges owe their career to the Democratic party in Illinois or anything.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 12:14 pm:
===…we have an independent judiciary in Illinois that is above politics.===
You believe we have a corrupt judicial system?
Is that what you are saying?
That the rule of law is ignored?
That’s an awful large indictment on the credibility of our institution of the judiciary.
It’s utter ignorance like that… that corrupts people to think what you tout… people don’t trust government.
You are personally weakening our system of government by inuendo, no different than those continually saying that elections are corrupt and Trump won the popular vote, as over 3+ million votes are corrupt too.
===It’s not as if a majority of the judges owe their career to the Democratic party in Illinois or anything.===
You are dividing and using hate, things Trumpism uses to destabilize our country.
Wow.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 12:38 pm:
Supreme Court’s Democratic majority sides with Madigan on redistricting. Surprise!
It appears I am not alone in my opinion about the Judiciary in Illinois
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-independent-map-illinois-supreme-court-madigan-edit-20160826-story.html
- wordslinger - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 12:39 pm:
LP, are you saying the Rauner amendments were tossed because of judicial corruption? That’s a serious charge. Please make your case.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 12:41 pm:
Love to but the Tribune Editorial that says exactly the same thing is being held for moderation
- wordslinger - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 12:43 pm:
C’mon LP, you’re a big boy, you can do it yourself. Annotate those decisions. Point out the obvious corruption.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 12:44 pm:
An Editorial is an opinion.
If you have actual facts as you tear down the judicial institution, claiming it’s corrupt, please show those facts.
You are doing and continuing the narrative to weaken our institutions, like Bannon wants, like Trump touts.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 12:49 pm:
Illinois Supreme Court Justice Robert Thomas had some choice words for four colleagues who joined in a ruling that knocked a citizen-driven redistricting amendment off the Nov. 8 ballot:
“The Illinois Constitution is meant to prevent tyranny, not to enshrine it.”
It was a straight party-line vote, Democrats over Republicans. Make of that what you will. Nobody gets elected to the Illinois Supreme Court without partisan money and muscle. And there is no issue more partisan than redistricting.
In nearly half a century, only one voter-driven amendment has made it to the ballot. (Voters approved it.) Citizen initiatives keep trying — collecting hundreds of thousands of signatures, raising and spending millions of dollars — and courts keep swatting them away. Why? Because lawyers have imagined all sorts of hidden prohibitions in the language of the article, and judges have been eager to accept them.
Yes in 50 years only one voter driven ammendment has made it to the ballot.
That is 48 years of incompetent dolts before Rauner apparently who have been unable to navigate the courts in regards to citizen initiatives. Donald Trump was dating cheerleaders back then.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 12:57 pm:
===Because lawyers have imagined all sorts of hidden prohibitions in the language of the article, and judges have been eager to accept them.===
That sounds an awful lot like opinion. I don’t see much fact or direct fact towards corruption.
===It was a straight party-line vote, Democrats over Republicans. Make of that what you will. Nobody gets elected to the Illinois Supreme Court without partisan money and muscle. And there is no issue more partisan than redistricting.===
Hmm… what did I comment earlier?
===You are personally weakening our system of government by inuendo…===
You’re not saying… you’re just saying.
You’re saying that the rule of law isn’t even a “pirate code guideline”… your innuendo there is that corruption is indeed happening, without any proof, to weaken the Court.
Wow.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 1:00 pm:
===Make of that what you will.===
How dangerous a thought, to sow the seeds that institutions are corrupt… via innuendo.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 1:04 pm:
I am personally weakening our system of government by innuendo?
Those are direct quotes from the Tribune Editorial board and an Illinois Supreme Court Justice.
You might want to read up on the subject before you cast such grave aspersions- the headline is Supreme Court’s Democratic majority sides with Madigan on redistricting. Surprise!
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 1:27 pm:
Says the guy who everyday sows the seeds that the Governor is corrupt… via innuendo
Apparently that is not the least bit dangerous
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 1:37 pm:
===Says the guy who everyday sows the seeds that the Governor is corrupt… via innuendo===
Example?
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 1:53 pm:
LOL use the google it’s there every day all day
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 1:56 pm:
- Lucky Pierre -
You cite, get back to me.
Good luck. Again.
To the Post,
Kennedy wants to run as an outsider, a Scott Drury clone with even less charisma than Drury, have at it. Where are the supporters he’s leading on this crusade?