Because… Madigan!
Thursday, Jul 19, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller
* La Salle NewsTribune…
Gov. Bruce Rauner has a new strategy for getting reelected this fall: Ask sitting lawmakers to sign a pledge agreeing to term-limits pledge and to getting rid of Mike Madigan.
The Republican governor appeared Wednesday in Ottawa for a campaign stop in which he and two House Republicans, Jerry Long of Streator and Tom Demmer of Rochelle, together signed “The People’s Pledge.”
The pledge is a two-pronged, non-binding resolution. First, to push a referendum for voters to impose term limits (suggested cap: eight years in office. Secondly, lawmakers must “vote for someone — anyone — other than Speaker Michael Madigan for Speaker of the House.”
“Don’t talk about it, don’t give it lip service, don’t pretend — sign it,” Rauner said, adding later, “Anyone who won’t sign this pledge isn’t working for their constituents.” […]
“The governor and I have not always seen eye-to-eye on everything,” Long said as Rauner nodded agreeably. “This particular issue we stand solid on.”
Once again, with feeling: “Madigan, taxes, corruption, toilets. Lather, rinse, repeat.”
* Ottawa Times…
Mike Barkau, of Ottawa, asked Long prior to the signing how he planned to “stop” Madigan and Rauner said the signing of the petition was the best way to do so.
Barkau explained to The Times after the meeting that he’s dealing with a “monster” property tax issue and voted for Long in 2016 because he wanted to tip the scales and see Madigan’s term in office end.
Barkau said he remains confident it can be done.
“I’m hoping we can keep chipping away at it,” Barkau said. “I’d like to see it move a little faster but as long as we keep chipping away.”
A bit of background on Mr. Barkau is here.
* Dan Proft’s SE Illinois News…
Republican candidate Patrick Windhorst recently joined Gov. Bruce Rauner and other state representatives in seeking the removal of House Speaker Mike Madigan by putting term limits on the ballot.
Windhorst, running against state Rep. Natalie Phelps-Finnie (D-Elizabethtown) in the 118th House District, recently joined Rauner and fellow GOP Reps. Dave Severin (R-Benton) and Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) in inking “The People’s Pledge” that vows to oust Madigan from power and to put the issue of term limits on the ballot.
“For far too long, Illinoisans have been forced to suffer the consequences of Speaker Madigan’s endless pursuit of consolidated power,” Windhorst wrote on Facebook. “By signing The People’s Pledge I am standing with the vast majority of Illinoisans, Democrats and Republicans, who know Illinois’ future has no room for entrenched special interests.”
* Republic-Times…
“Politicians like Mike Madigan run for office year after year, accumulating more power and personally enriching themselves off public service,” David Friess of Red Bud said. “Madigan himself has been in power since 1971. That’s 47 years in office and that’s wrong.”
Rauner also expressed support for the pledge. […]
Rep. Jerry Costello II (D-Smithton) said he does not plan to sign the pledge.
“I do not sign pledges of any sort,” he said. “I believe this whole pledge gimmick is designed to distract from the record.”
- Cheryl44 - Thursday, Jul 19, 18 @ 1:01 pm:
Gilded, not guilded.
- Cheryl44 - Thursday, Jul 19, 18 @ 1:02 pm:
Well that went to the wrong place.
- Sir Reel - Thursday, Jul 19, 18 @ 1:23 pm:
Rauner et al are upset because Madigan consolidates power.
They want their turn to consolidate power.
- BigDoggie - Thursday, Jul 19, 18 @ 1:37 pm:
Unfortunately for all of us Illinois residents, endless complaining about people endlessly complaining about Madigan does not make Madigan any less worthy of complaining about.
- PublicServant - Thursday, Jul 19, 18 @ 1:38 pm:
===“Don’t talk about it, don’t give it lip service, don’t pretend — sign it,” Rauner said, adding later, “Anyone who won’t sign this pledge isn’t working for their constituents.”===
No Bruce, people who don’t sign your little litmus test here, aren’t working for you. They actually believe that people ought to be able to elect their own representatives without outsiders limiting their choices. In addition, they believe that term-limiting politicians just allows the rich to bribe them with jobs they’ll need once they are required to leave office. So, Captain Ahab, you stick your petition where the sun don’t shine, but thanks for asking.
- BlueDogDem - Thursday, Jul 19, 18 @ 1:41 pm:
Atta boy Jerry.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 19, 18 @ 1:49 pm:
From the Ottawa Times linked above. Rauner speaking;
===“It’s a simple question. ‘Yes or no, have you signed the pledge?’ And if they tell you no, then they’re working for Mike Madigan. They’re working for the Chicago machine,”===
Working for Mike Madigan.
Doesn’t make Rauner any more likable. Nope. Doesn’t help Rauner.
Rauner has been hammering and shaking Madigan, coming in 4 years… Rauner is underwater “everywhere”… Rauner needs to build himself now, be a choice. He’s not a choice, he’s an incumbent that voters disapprove of his record.
Same ole, same ole… nothing new to move voters.
- anon2 - Thursday, Jul 19, 18 @ 1:54 pm:
What if a Democratic candidate supports submitting a term limits amendment to voters, but not immediately implementing the amendment before it is ratified? I don’t suppose that would satisfy Rauner/Proft. Presumably the amendment would kick in only eight years after ratification, which means Madigan could constitutionally remain through 2026.
- Captain Ed Smith - Thursday, Jul 19, 18 @ 2:11 pm:
The pledge needs to come from our citizens to remove the most destructive governor in our countries history. Governor Junk has done more damage in one term than any other politician.
- Duopoly - Thursday, Jul 19, 18 @ 2:43 pm:
==Rep. Jerry Costello II (D-Smithton) said he does not plan to sign the pledge.
“I do not sign pledges of any sort,” he said. “I believe this whole pledge gimmick is designed to distract from the record.”==
I tend to agree with JC. Legislators can’t even keep their oath of office to follow and uphold the Constitution. (For example, see SB1 willful violation of pension clause.)
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 19, 18 @ 2:45 pm:
>“The governor and I have not always seen eye-to-eye on everything,” Long said as Rauner nodded agreeably.
…but I’ve never failed to vote exactly the way he told me to. /s
- Earnest - Thursday, Jul 19, 18 @ 2:45 pm:
Sorry, 2:45 was me.
- Rabid - Thursday, Jul 19, 18 @ 2:48 pm:
The freedom of speach governor wants to limit madigans freedom of speach
- The Dude Abides - Thursday, Jul 19, 18 @ 3:32 pm:
Our lame duck Governor’s phony election year gimmick is being ignored by Democrats. Poor Rauner hasn’t earned much political capital during the past 3 and a half years and as a result when he speaks it’s just noise to most voters.
- Annonin' - Thursday, Jul 19, 18 @ 3:34 pm:
“Yup sign the pledge and I can cover my next child abuse,vets or insider deal scandal,” GovJunk
- Rabid - Thursday, Jul 19, 18 @ 4:33 pm:
Has the GOP candidate from the third congressional district pledged his support for Rauner’s brainchild
- Steve - Thursday, Jul 19, 18 @ 9:05 pm:
Barkau explained to The Times after the meeting that he’s dealing with a “monster” property tax issue… Barkau, according to the LaSalle County Treasurer, does not own any property let alone one with a “monster” tax issue.
- Rabid - Friday, Jul 20, 18 @ 3:27 am:
Is the offer open to third party candidates, or just democrats. Will GOP office holders with over eight years just resign and be replaced