* AP…
The Illinois House wrapped up its two-year session Tuesday with legislation to help the incoming governor, with House Speaker Michael Madigan praising lawmakers for persevering in an “epic struggle” over state spending with outgoing Gov. Bruce Rauner. […]
The two-year session saw Madigan, who’s held the gavel for all but two years since 1983, become the longest-serving state House speaker in U.S. history during a critical period.
The Republican Rauner’s insistence on approval of his conservative agenda in exchange for an annual budget deal had left Illinois without a spending plan for two years. Madigan lured enough Republicans in July 2017 to approve an income-tax increase to fund an annual budget over Rauner’s vetoes, ending what Madigan on Tuesday called “an epic struggle.”
“You deserve credit for what you do day-in and day-out, but you know that from time to time, the issues become more significant on one day than they were on a prior day or they may be on a future day,” Madigan said. “And that’s exactly what happened in that struggle between the Legislature and the executive department.”
* Raw video…
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Jan 8, 19 @ 3:40 pm:
GovJunk looked like he was pealing from some sun burn on the noggin.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Jan 8, 19 @ 3:44 pm:
It wasn’t an epic struggle. I was an epic rout against a willfully ignorant doofus.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Jan 8, 19 @ 3:48 pm:
–“You deserve credit for what you do day-in and day-out, but you know that from time to time, the issues become more significant on one day than they were on a prior day or they may be on a future day,” Madigan said.–
Thanks for clearing that up.
Apples in that word salad?
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 8, 19 @ 3:52 pm:
Now there is a fitting eulogy to Bruce Rauner’s political career.
- IllinoisBoi - Tuesday, Jan 8, 19 @ 4:15 pm:
And so it goes. Poo too weet.
- Stones - Tuesday, Jan 8, 19 @ 4:15 pm:
Rauner trying to match political skills with Madigan was not a good strategy (and I’m being kind).
- A guy - Tuesday, Jan 8, 19 @ 4:25 pm:
Epic…I think that’s one way to let us know Legalized Marijuana Bill is coming. That word is synonymous with weed. Dude.
- northsider (the original) - Tuesday, Jan 8, 19 @ 4:26 pm:
He’s still standing, and because he is, so are the rest of us.
No matter how much I disagree with his way of doing things, I appreciate & respect that he got us through the Rauner nightmare. The personal insults, threats, ads, attacks, and lies every single day for four years. Too much.
Thank you Mr. Speaker.
- Chicagonk - Tuesday, Jan 8, 19 @ 4:35 pm:
@northsider - Madigan won, but Illinois would have been a lot better off if he was able to develop a working relationship with Rauner. Neither Madigan nor Rauner deserve any plaudits for how the handled the past 4 years.
- DeseDemDose - Tuesday, Jan 8, 19 @ 4:51 pm:
Speaker Madigan. Stand Tall.
- Can - Tuesday, Jan 8, 19 @ 4:54 pm:
@Chicagonk, no one could have developed a working relationship with Rauner. Rauner went on a crusade from day 1. There was no dealing with him.
- Bobby T - Tuesday, Jan 8, 19 @ 4:59 pm:
Madigan is, indeed, the rock.
Rauner? See ya.
- Cheryl44 - Tuesday, Jan 8, 19 @ 5:00 pm:
I think we’re pretty lucky Madigan was there to defend the state from Rauner.
- Steve - Tuesday, Jan 8, 19 @ 5:52 pm:
And with that Bruce Rauner becomes a relic of the past.
- Alice - Tuesday, Jan 8, 19 @ 6:15 pm:
I would like to credit governor Rauner with making Speaker Madigan likeable. It seemed an impossible task when he started but boy, Republicans these days are up to impossible tasks.
I think the president is taking Rauner’s advice these days. So possibly by the time he finishes we may designate Mike Madigan a god.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 8, 19 @ 6:38 pm:
When will Madigan just go away?
- Southwest Sider - Tuesday, Jan 8, 19 @ 7:01 pm:
Not exactly a victory lap. Epic struggle, but budget and pension shortfalls remain a mess.
- Ole' Nelson - Tuesday, Jan 8, 19 @ 7:01 pm:
“Illinois would have been a lot better off if he was able to develop a working relationship with Rauner.”
Chicagonk, At what point was that even an option? Rauner came in for the jugular from the start. A working relationship was never an option. You don’t develop a working relationship with a hostage-taker. You deescalate the situation by removing their power (see Madigan’s actions for the last 4 years).
- Justacitizen - Tuesday, Jan 8, 19 @ 7:36 pm:
Epic struggle because he had to sit back and be an obstructionist for four years. He immediately rewards taxpayers with a raise for state department directors. Will these “unfunded” raises have to wait until other backlogged bills are paid? Oh, I forgot. The raises are personal services that will be paid ahead of all the backlogs on time semi-monthy. No more epic struggles .
- SSL - Tuesday, Jan 8, 19 @ 8:12 pm:
I don’t believe all polls, but I don’t think Rauner made Madigan “likeable”. Mikey’s ratings are lower than a snake’s belly, and with the upcoming tax increases he’ll be delivering it isn’t likely they’re going to improve much.
Congratulations Speaker, you won. Now stand and deliver, like you’ve never done before.
- Fixer - Tuesday, Jan 8, 19 @ 8:59 pm:
Justacitizen, first, its personnel not personal. Second, yell that to state employees who are still waiting on court ordered, ALJ ordered, and Labor Board ordered pay raises and back pay. 4 years we’ve been waiting while Gov. Gaslight has been spinning and stalling.
- Fixer - Tuesday, Jan 8, 19 @ 9:00 pm:
Tell. Sorry, mobile keyboards are kinda small.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 8, 19 @ 9:35 pm:
MJM all the way
- Ole' Nelson - Tuesday, Jan 8, 19 @ 10:08 pm:
it isn’t likely they’re going to improve much
How about in his district? Which by the way is the only “poll” that counts for him.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 8:25 am:
Constantly attacking someone with approval numbers in the toilet (Madigan) and losing shows just how bad this governor is. Gov. Baker, a Republican in a deep blue state, crushed the Democrat by a whopping 33 points.
Rauner Madiganized himself, and Madigan just stood out of the way and let him do it, rather than constantly engage in the attacks. Don’t interfere with an enemy or opponent who is self-destructing.
It very much serves the anti-tax union haters right. It’s a beautiful twist of fate and a great example of justice in a life that is often unfair.
- Mod Dem - Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 8:58 am:
At some point does this man who controls what laws are passed ever take any responsibility for the fiscal mess we are in.
- justacitizen - Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 1:48 pm:
===Justacitizen, first, its personnel not personal.===
The purpose of an appropriation (budget line) is generally specified in terms of “Common
Objects.” Appropriations (budget lines) may also be enacted functionally or programmatically.
Common objects of appropriations are:
Personal Services; Retirement; Social Security; Group Insurance; Contractual Services; Travel; Commodities; Printing; Equipment; Electronic Data
Processing; Telecommunications; Operation of Automotive; Equipment; Awards and Grants; Permanent Improvements; Transportation and
Related Construction; Debt Service; Refunds