20 Comments - Unionman - Monday, Dec 16, 19 @ 12:35 pm: House: Former Rep. McAuliffe. Held his ground as a Republican in Chicago. Always put his district first. Got out before it completely burned him out or it went to his head. Senate: Soon to be former President Cullerton. Captained the ship. - NIU Grad - Monday, Dec 16, 19 @ 12:36 pm: Is this restricted to members (current or former) or staff as well? - John Amdor - Monday, Dec 16, 19 @ 1:23 pm: Senate: I’ll go with outgoing Sen. Pat McGuire who announced his retirement. Sen. McGuire is a guy is focused on the nuts and bolts of state government, working diligently to identify, examine, and solve problems. He does that with a gracious wit and a kind heart. For House, I go with Rep. Margo McDermed. A Republican who looks in good faith for ways to get to yes and tells you what she thinks in direct terms. Her work on getting a big bipartisan capital bill done is to be commended. - A Guy - Monday, Dec 16, 19 @ 1:59 pm: Lifetime service for the House? Hard not to recognize Rep. Barbara Flynn Curie. She tried to be even handed and courteous at all times. When she was forced to bite her tongue…she didn’t hide it. We would agree on very little, but we’d be agreeable doing so. I know this for a fact, as we did just that. Lifetime in the Senate. Matt Murphy. For many of the same reasons. He was a gentleman in the Senate for his entire time. I agree with him more often that Rep. Curry, but the get together would be cordial either way. - MakePoliticsCoolAgain - Monday, Dec 16, 19 @ 2:47 pm: * Lifetime service award - House - Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie. Her leadership and presence has been missed in the chamber and throughout Springfield since her retirement. * Lifetime service award - Senate - Senate President John Cullerton. Sen. Cullerton was able to keep the lines of communication open with all chambers and negotiate bipartisan deals to keep the state afloat throughout the Rauner years. Madigan might have been renting free space in the heads of Raunerites, but Cullerton actually made sure the rent got paid. - Rich Hill - Monday, Dec 16, 19 @ 3:21 pm: I will go with a couple recent departures from the legislature. Barbara Flynn Currie represented both her district and her caucus with great thought, compassion, and humor. I hope she’s writing her memoirs. Toi Hutchison had a very productive decade in the Senate and is now working to make sure some of her last legislation is successfully enacted. Illinois is in a better place because of her, and I look forward to seeing what she will achieve in the years ahead. - Rich Miller - Monday, Dec 16, 19 @ 3:25 pm: If we don’t get more nominations, there will be no award. Toi is a good choice. Several others have also retired. Jerry Costello, for one. John Mulroe. Some have said they’re not running again, like Dale Righter (who received a bunch of noms for best Senator). C’mon people, you’re lighting up the other posts. A little focus, please. - phenom_Anon - Monday, Dec 16, 19 @ 3:27 pm: Hard not to recognize the retiring Senate President here, especially when IMHO he has been exactly the type of legislative leader that we need, always ready to make the best deal possible to help both sides. The biggest tarnish to his legacy is that all too often his efforts were for naught when his colleague in the House would knock it off the rails in that chamber. But…. Senate debates will never be the same after Dale Righter is gone. He could briefly look over a bill and then immediately tear it apart from top to bottom, and he could make anyone, on any side of the issue, reconsider their plan to vote. He is so fast and so smooth and could verbally destroy your bill while maintaining the utmost respect for you and the institution of the Senate to the point that many of his “victims” would smile and get a kick out of the verbal barrage. Absolutely a one-of-a-kind debater. Will be missed by all. Plus there’s that one really tough vote he took… Over in the House, it’s hard to look at anyone other than Barbara Flynn Currie, an institution, a leader, and someone that could serve up a glare that would scare anyone. Took some tough votes and made some unpopular motions, because she could, and because someone needed to. - phenom_Anon - Monday, Dec 16, 19 @ 3:28 pm: =If we don’t get more nominations= I tried, but it won’t show up. Maybe others are having the same issue. - Paperclips - Monday, Dec 16, 19 @ 3:29 pm: Senate - It is a hard year to choose just one nominee. First - John Mulroe: a statesman, gentlemen and kick-ass legislator. One of the last of his kind - a person who exemplifies honesty, dignity and an all around great guy. His presence is solely missed! Great karaoke partner to many. Second - John Cullerton: A bipartisan leader who has always been willing to role up his sleeves and work with everyone. The next Senate President will have big shoes to fill - his jokes, policies and demeanor is definitely one of a kind. House - Mike McAuliffe: Always had a smile on his face. Treated staff, lobbyists and members with respect. A real joy to be around. - phenom_Anon - Monday, Dec 16, 19 @ 3:32 pm: Maybe I need to split mine up. In the House, it’s hard to look at anyone other than Barbara Flynn Currie, an institution, a leader, and someone that could serve up a glare that would scare anyone. Took some tough votes and made some unpopular motions, because she could, and because someone needed to. - phenom_Anon - Monday, Dec 16, 19 @ 3:33 pm: Senate debates will never be the same after Dale Righter is gone. He could briefly look over a bill and then immediately tear it apart from top to bottom, and he could make anyone, on any side of the issue, reconsider their plan to vote. He is so fast and so smooth and could verbally destroy your bill while maintaining the utmost respect for you and the institution of the Senate to the point that many of his “victims” would smile and get a kick out of the verbal barrage. Absolutely a one-of-a-kind debater. Will be missed by all. Plus there’s that one really tough vote he took… - pheonom_Anon - Monday, Dec 16, 19 @ 3:34 pm: My Senate nomination finally showed up. Let me try my House pick for the third time. Over in the House, it’s hard to look at anyone other than Barbara Flynn Currie, an institution, a leader, and someone that could serve up a glare that would scare anyone. Took some tough votes and made some unpopular motions, because she could, and because someone needed to. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Dec 16, 19 @ 3:34 pm: Lifetime service award - Senate Many times legislators are faced with decisions that seem easy, but they may be alone. It’s tough to be the lone voice when all those around you are telling you not to do what you feel is right. Some in their whole careers don’t find that type of time, and it’s those votes that make a career. Sen. Dale Righter, leaving the chamber, has as a lasting legacy, after a stellar career, to be a lone vote when that vote wasn’t needed. Standing up and saying “enough” with his switch, that’s where you see a career hallmarked with service above the politics. The void he leaves is one of a free thinker and a member realizing serving Illinois is a greater calling than the politics of optics, and I’ll always be grateful for that. I nominate Sen Dale Righter for the lifetime service award - Senate. Righter made the right decisions for the right reasons, and that needs to be celebrated as he leaves. - phenom_Anon - Monday, Dec 16, 19 @ 3:35 pm: I give up, it won’t take my BFC nomination. So there it is, make up your own reason I guess. - phenom_Anon - Monday, Dec 16, 19 @ 3:40 pm: Now my original post showed up… sorry for the duplicates. - (name withheld) - Monday, Dec 16, 19 @ 3:51 pm: Rich, if you would, walk me down the path where Dale Righter doesn’t win the lifetime service award in the Senate. House: BFC. She’s the RBG of the Illinois House. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Dec 16, 19 @ 3:54 pm: Lifetime service award - House When you look at diversity in a chamber, geography is a major way to show it. When a region of this state needs an ally in any caucus, it’s those legislators that represent that region that try to be a voice to not only the caucus members, but to the body by standing up and forcing all to realize that the local isn’t something that should be forgotten. Chicago lost its lone Republican House member. He represented not only the Northwest Side, but made a career of also being thoughtful to Chicago, while serving his district’s suburbs, and being true to the party’s ideals too… within the Reagan Rule, putting him at odds with some, but rarely at odds with his district. Serving 23 years, very few members mirror their district like he had. His departure ended an era too of cooperation and understanding among pols in his region that a truce among them all was far better than squabbling and wasting time they all can use for bigger things. I nominate Rep. Michael P. McAuliffe for the lifetime service award - House. Rep. McAuliffe was a fine example of a member who excelled in constituent service and working his district in the off years, being accessible, and taking nothing for granted. He did it with a smile, good humor, and a friendly disposition, and being the last, he should be the model to get more district centric members that also can be strong enough to do what’s best for all Illinois. - NotMe - Monday, Dec 16, 19 @ 4:53 pm: House - Nobody can argue with BFC for this one. The chamber isn’t the same without her. Senate - With respect to the folks nominating Richter and citing his contribution to Senate debate, you have a point. But we can’t overlook the massive hole Toi Hutchinson’s departure will leave in debates. Couple that with her masterful management of challenging multi-year projects and going out on a truly high note and Toi gets my nod. - Facts - Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 7:23 am: Former Rep McAuliffe deserves this. His history in the House is fascinating if you take a long view. He was one of the few republicans who got along really well with Madigan until the relationship soured. I believe he served as a chair of a committee at one point. For years he was known as one of the most bipartisan members, often helping newer Democrats learn how to deal with the republican caucus. Add to the equation that he’s passed some great bills, helped mentor dozens of GOP members, and was lucky enough to marry an amazing wife. Former Rep Mulroe was such a valuable member of the senate and I think his departure has left its mark. He was a pragmatic, thoughtful legislator who spent time learning issues and working with members, staff, and lobbyist. He didn’t approach issues with the old “what’s in it for me” but rather “what can we do together.” My 2 cents on BFC: Those nominating BFC are correct that she deserves a lifetime award, but she left last year whereas there are many great nominees from this year. BFC is an institution and deserves a monument in her honor. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.