* House Speaker Michael Madigan was a guest on “The Ben Joravsky Show” radio program yesterday, which is odd in and of itself. The anti-machine Chicago Reader columnist ain’t exactly a member of the Madigan wing of the Democratic Party. But making this even more interesting, Madigan appeared on the show with Peter Janko, who was the lone vote against Madigan’s bid for party chairman yesterday.
Everyone appeared to get along fine, partly because Madigan kept the focus on defeating Gov. Rauner. Madigan was also asked what he would say to Alaina Hampton if he could. It’s definitely worth a listen…
I doubt we’ll ever see Rauner and Ives appear together on Dan Proft’s radio show. Just sayin…
* Related…
* Re-elected party boss, Madigan looks to future: ‘I’m a very young 76 years old’: Speaking on the “The Ben Joravsky Show” on WCPT-AM shortly after the meeting, Madigan extolled his longevity. I’m a very young 76 years old,” Madigan said. “So long as I can continue to do a good job, I’m going to continue to do it.”
* Madigan gets another term as Illinois Democratic chairman despite sexual harassment complaints on his watch: “So I would like to second your nomination, but I will say in seconding your nomination it’s not a secret that change needs to happen, and we need to be more transparent as an organization,” [US Rep. Robin Kelly of Matteson] said. “We need to be more inclusive as an organization, and we need to make sure that we are respecting every man and woman that has anything to do with this organization, in and out.”
* Madigan Elected For 6th Term As Democratic Party Chairman: Madigan said he’s aware of the changes needed to curtail sexual harassment within the party, as well as issues of unity within the party. “Others have said it very, very well. Now it’s the time for Democrats to come together. Now it’s the time to come together so we can elect J.B. Pritzker as the governor of the state Illinois, and make the changes in state government that need to be made so that all Illinoisans can move forward.”
* Madigan re-elected as head of Democrat Party in Illinois: Scott Drury was the only Democratic state Representative not to vote for Madigan as speaker and called for his resignation on the House floor after allegations of sexual harassment in his ward became public. “It is time to call on Speaker Madigan to step down as the leader of the House because he is not worthy of that position,” he said in February. Neither Biss nor Drury would respond to calls about Madigan’s election.
* Michael Madigan wins re-election as Democratic Party leader: Madigan, at the meeting, said that all staff and volunteers of the party and related committees will have mandatory sexual harassment training. “I think that we’ve done a good amount of work” on the issue, Madigan told reporters, “but there’s more to be done.” He said “step number one is to respect other people, treat other people the way you want to be treated.”
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Apr 24, 18 @ 9:48 am:
What a chatterbox, the young fella coming out of his shell.
He made all the right noises and hustled to hold onto this gig. No matter the vocation or avocation, there are just some folks who never want to quit and do something else, or nothing at all.
- Anotheretiree - Tuesday, Apr 24, 18 @ 10:00 am:
I think it was Rich?, who passed along the word is, that Madigan will leave the House “carried out feet first”
- Bigtwich - Tuesday, Apr 24, 18 @ 10:03 am:
“the word is, that Madigan will leave the House “carried out feet first” ”
Nobody will be able to complain about his pension.
- Roman - Tuesday, Apr 24, 18 @ 10:18 am:
Ben Joravsky has actually been pretty complimentary toward Madigan in his show, giving him credit for blocking Rauner.
- Ole' Nelson - Tuesday, Apr 24, 18 @ 10:53 am:
Although I am not the biggest Madigan fan that ever lived, I can’t help but notice the difference between the speaker and the governor. It is obvious that, like his policies and tactics or not, Madigan is pretty genuine and honest for a politician, whereas Rauner is neither.
- NeverPoliticallyCorrect - Tuesday, Apr 24, 18 @ 11:15 am:
Yep, Madigan is our version of Putin. The system is for his and his cronies benefit.
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Apr 24, 18 @ 11:21 am:
Now that Madigan and the Ds have put sexual harassment training and policies in place for just about every moment in life perhaps it is time for the GOPies to offer a fuller view of their efforts —call the it the JA/Hultgren/CyberSandy Code of Conduct.
It should be illuminating
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Apr 24, 18 @ 11:45 am:
==Yep, Madigan is our version of Putin. The system is for his and his cronies benefit. ==
Only if “hisncronies” are the folks who vote for his members. If you look at what passes the House, it’s a set of bills that Madigan thinks the voters will like. My biggest complaint about Madigan is that there is not a lot of leadership in the sense of getting out in front of an issue and leading the people to where they need to be. Madigan’s approach is to figure out where the voters are on an issue and meet them there. The budget mess that has built up over the years is based on the fact that voters like low taxes and lots of services. Votes to raise taxes have only come when the state gets to the point where the services are about to be sliced to the point where the voters will respond negatively. That’s why they won’t raises taxes to pay off pension debt, but they will raise taxes to fund schools, parks, roads, etc. (but only just barely).
If anyone is trying to force an agenda (in a Putinesque way) that will only benefit a small number of cronies, it’s Rauner. Rauner cannot get full support from his caucus because they understand that their voters will reject the results. Madigan almost always wins because he panders to the voters so effectively.
- NoGifts - Tuesday, Apr 24, 18 @ 12:09 pm:
Listening from the outside, the more I hear from Mike Madigan the more I like and respect him.
- anonymous - Tuesday, Apr 24, 18 @ 1:39 pm:
== I doubt we’ll ever see Rauner and Ives appear together on Dan Proft’s radio show ==
It’s dead last in the ratings. Why should they?
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Apr 24, 18 @ 1:42 pm:
===It’s dead last in the ratings===
Betting that would boost those ratings in a hurry. lol
- Ron - Tuesday, Apr 24, 18 @ 6:01 pm:
Ben, should not write about TIF. At least the Chicago variety. He has no colue as to how they work.
- Scoot - Tuesday, Apr 24, 18 @ 7:11 pm:
He’s Longshanks from Braveheart. Will die on the throne…
- justacitizen - Tuesday, Apr 24, 18 @ 8:24 pm:
===Listening from the outside, the more I hear from Mike Madigan the more I like and respect him.===
If you heard the inside information, you might not like and respect him as much.
- DMAN - Wednesday, Apr 25, 18 @ 8:26 am:
Mike Madigan a LEGEND in his own mind.