* Democrat Anne Stava-Murray defeated Republican Rep. David Olsen. As we’ve discussed before, she’s also fiercely anti-Madigan. From her Facebook page…
Legislators are deciding THIS WEEK on whether or not to commit to vote for Madigan as speaker.
I have committed to voting “nay,” a campaign promise I will keep.
Some other reps are currently considering speaking out against bullying and voting “Nay” to Madigan and community support could help them commit sooner.
Contrary to popular belief, YOU can do something about this!! Here are three things to do:
1) Sign & Share this Change dot org petition: https://chn.ge/2RMrxEo
2) Call your newly elected State Rep and make the ask: that both parties (R)s and (D)s nominate TWO candidates for Speaker.
Not sure who to call? PM me your address and I will send you the number to call.
3) While you’re on the phone with your rep, ask them to commit to voting “NAY” on Madigan and his rules as he’d want them
* The Representative-elect is going to be quite something to watch. Take a look at her Daily Herald candidate questionnaire. She’s up on the issues better than some incumbents I know. For instance…
Property taxes in Illinois are absurdly high.
To fix property taxes, we need to fix the largest driver of cost within property taxes: public education funding.
Anyone who talks about property taxes in isolation — like when my opponent sponsored political posturing legislation to eliminate them completely — misses the larger point of how broken our state’s system of education funding has been.
The cost burden for public education has been taken on at the local level for far too long. This has a negative impact on both property taxes and consistency of quality of Illinois public schools. Some Illinois public schools haven’t been able to afford basics like clean water or bus service that allows children to physically access the education that’s being paid for. Overcrowded classrooms can burn out educators who want to help and make a difference, but lack the basic resources to do so.
While the 2017 funding formula begins to work on overcoming these problems, successfully accomplishing the goals it sets out requires additional sources of revenue, as outlined in the prior question- with the main increase being realized through regulation and taxation of adult usage (21+) of marijuana.
Only when we correctly fund pensions and education will we see real property tax relief.
- NIU Grad - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 9:43 am:
How the Speaker handles this might be the greatest test of if Springfield is changing.
Doubtful.
- RNUG - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 9:51 am:
Be interesting to see how many substantial bills make it to the floor as opposed to getting bottled up in committee. D’s have a rare opportunity to advance this State. But they are going to have to.figure out how to.do it in a fiscally responsible manner. That will, I think, be MJM’s contribution; he tends center / right on fiscal issues.
- Retired Educator - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 9:51 am:
Well, we know the first one who is going to get a primary opponent in 2020.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 9:53 am:
“The cost burden for public education has been taken on at the local level for far too long.”
Looks like Stava-Murray could be for a progressive income tax.
- wondering - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 9:53 am:
Impressive…..the fact of the matter is Madigan has overseen the cost of education shifted from the state to the local property tax. No denying that. And, yes, it is time for him to leave. You need not be a Republican, and I am not,to see this lady is on to something. Go gracefully,Mike
- Fire Stan Bowman - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 9:54 am:
Any chance Kelly Cassidy does the same?
- Perrid - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 9:56 am:
I get the feeling that Mary Jane and increased gambling are going to be the next “Sell the Thompson Center” line item in the next several budgets. *eyeroll*
- Actual Red - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 9:59 am:
I’d like to see Madigan go, and I’m impressed with Stava-Murray’s guts and apparent grasp of the issues. I’m not holding my breath, though.
- Just a guy - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 9:59 am:
This sounds a lot like the argument Dawn Clark Netsch made when she ran for governor in 1994 and got shellacked by Jim Edgar. Stava-Murray has a big hill to climb.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 10:00 am:
Good on her. Nothing wrong with bringing the heat to leadership.
- Thomas Paine - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 10:12 am:
That’s some serious rewriting of history, @wondering.
I thought it was Pate Philip that killed the the property tax relief in 1997, not Madigan.
I thought it was Blagojevich who took an income tax increase off the table from 2003-2008, not Madigan.
I thought it was Tom Cross and the GOP who refused to put a single vote on a tax hike from 2009-2017, not Madigan and the Democrats.
I thought it was Madigan who championed a millionaire tax while Scott “I will never vote for Madigan for Speaker” Drury and Ken “Payday” Dunkin joined the GOP in defeating it.
Thanks for setting us straight.
- AlfondoGonz - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 10:13 am:
I’m torn between admiring her pluck, and rolling my eyes at the grandstanding.
Madigan will be Speaker. So it is written, so it shall be.
My comment has no intonations about the merits of that reality.
- The Dude Abides - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 10:15 am:
It would be nice if the House Democrats had a new leader. The only way that happens is if the Speaker decides that on his own.
- Harry Potter - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 10:18 am:
She’s a freshman. Madigan should just treat her like every other freshman. No special treatment, not anything that could possibly be considered retribution.
Let her ask for staff though before you assign someone to her.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 10:22 am:
Madigan was stunningly victorious last Tuesday. Rauner and Republicans went after him with all their might. Now they lay in a heap because we reject what’s behind the Madigan attack smokescreen, the anti-unionism, anti-healthcare expansion, tax cuts for billionaires (and ironically raising taxes on the wealthy through limiting SALT deductions to hurt blue states), Trump, etc.
- W.S. Wolcott - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 10:22 am:
I believe this will be the speaker’s swan song. At 76 one starts thinking about legacy. Time to use these last 2 years to be about Illinois and not about keeping a majority. Rauner lost - to him. He won. There is nothing left to gain from politics, only policy.
- Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 10:36 am:
No desk clock for Anne.
- wondering - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 10:52 am:
Thomas Paine: I did not say he was not abetted, nor did I say he acted unilaterally. Considering his length of tenure and position I don’t think it is unfair to recognize his oversight of the grand scheme of funding shift. His,at a minimum, is a failure to respond and acquiescence. That is being charitable. No matter his fellow characters of the past, time for him to go.
- Smalls - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 10:52 am:
Kudos to her for doing what is right for the state. Madigan is the most powerful leader in a state that is near the bottom of almost every financial category possible. Hopefully she can get a few others to vote along with her to start that change. Obviously he will get re-elected, but maybe others will feel they can come forward now to oppose him and reduce his power.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 10:54 am:
This would be a good two years for Madigan to wrap up his career.
- wondering - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 11:05 am:
An addendum, Thomas Paine…..I will be eternally grateful for the Speaker’s service, and his style of service, through the Rauner years. I have to think both he and Cullerton should give us a clean slate.
- Henry Francis - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 11:05 am:
It will be interesting to see if this gains momentum. And how supportive JB is (tacitly or otherwise). She doesn’t need to fear MJM primarying her if she has JB’s bucks.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 11:22 am:
Super majority in both legislatures. JB at governors helm. Timing is eveything and this is not the time for this. So, congratulations Mrs. Murray, you just found the sidelines early in your career.
- low level - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 11:24 am:
Exactly what Dawn Clark Netsch and then Edgar’s Ikenberry commission said.
“Madigan fueled the shift”
No in fact Madigan had his majority leader sponsor the plan that would have shifted the burden of school funding away from property taxes. Bill Black did as well.
- low level - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 11:35 am:
Prop tax shift - education.
SB 645
Debate 5-29-97
Now that i remember, it was incredible that Madigan and Edgar got 6 Repubs to vote for it as it was branded a “tax hike”
As for a challenge or no vote, yes by all means. Have at it. At least be educated on why are at this point.
- potato - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 11:49 am:
The GOP caucuses are pretty much clones of each other, and the Senate Dems are now mostly progressives. The House Democrats are unlike any other caucus because of the size and their range of ideology. Realistically, who besides Madigan could keep the caucus together?
- anon - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 11:49 am:
Plus how does voting no on Madigan help her community? It’s a self-serving vote. You can’t govern based on campaign promises. She will likely learn that during what may be a short stint in government.
- A guy - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 12:14 pm:
She won’t likely need more than one torch. The Million Dollar Babies have a debt to pay.
I predict they pay it.
- Jake From Elwood - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 12:18 pm:
We will find out in short order what she is made of. I believe she will stick to her campaign promise and face the inevitable consequences rather than be shown to be a hypocrite. I admire her stance in not taking the Madigan bucks like so many of her future colleagues who dine almost exclusively at the Madigan trough. (just like those who are beholden to Rauner).
She will probably have no one else to vote for however.
I do appreciate some independence. Just don’t become Scott Drury 2.0.
- City Zen - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 1:03 pm:
“Anyone who talks about property taxes in isolation…”
The same can be said for state income taxes. Raising the income tax but only offering a fractional reduction in the property tax doesn’t make anyone’s home more affordable than it is today.
- Streamwood Retiree - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 1:07 pm:
=with the main increase being realized through regulation and taxation of adult usage (21+) of marijuana.=
Will the majority of suburban households smoke enough marijuana for the MaryJane taxes to replace thousands of dollars per household in property taxes? if so, the populace will be so high that they don’t care about schools, taxes or anything else. Income tax is the only tax that can replace property tax. And not just shoveling out money to the various school districts. Illinois needs a state school system responsible to the Governor, not dozens of local districts that voters don’t even turn out to elect.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 1:13 pm:
The only thing missing from Stava-Murray’s post was “as a former federal prosecutor…”
- bob - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 1:57 pm:
Only when we correctly fund pensions and education will we see real property tax relief……….agreed but nobody has come up with a solution..just the battle cry…
- Moe Berg - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 3:24 pm:
Too early to tell, but perhaps she’ll be the Jeanne Ives of the left. Left or right, holier than thou isn’t a good look. See Ives or “No Clock” Scott. They won’t be missed.
- walker - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 3:44 pm:
Kudos for doing her homework, and then answering the DH questionnaire without smoke.
- Thomas Paine - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 4:27 pm:
“abetted”, @wondering?
So now your explanation is that while Chicago Democrats and downstate lawmakers were working to pass a tax hike in 1997 that would have dramatically hiked education funding and provided property tax relief…Madigan was in cahoots with Pat Philip?
How about we take Jim Edgar and OW at their word: Governor’s own. And the governor is more powerful than the Speaker.
There was no way that legislators could have passed a tax hike over Blago’s objection, and I agree with Dan Proft its likely the only reason they passed a tax hike over Rauner’s “objection” is because the fix was in. Rauner did a quick veto and made no effort to stop the override himself because he’d cut a deal to let the hike happen.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 4:41 pm:
–Super majority in both legislatures. –
Meh, we’ve seen those don’t necessarily exist, in reality.
- justacitizen - Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 7:48 pm:
Because Madigan-lol
- NorthsideNoMore - Wednesday, Nov 14, 18 @ 4:25 am:
Speaker has what 73 other calls to make ? wonder if he gets around to her lol.
- Rabid - Wednesday, Nov 14, 18 @ 6:42 am:
Sign the pledge, fire madigan. Where have I heard that before
- Jerry - Wednesday, Nov 14, 18 @ 8:31 am:
She’s not wrong on the property tax issue.