It should come as no surprise that he didn’t know. Every single thing that’s been revealed has gotten the same response. Not knowing is foundational and fundamental to the entire design of the organization. pic.twitter.com/xZHieesLrD
If Madigan won’t resign, it is time for his own caucus to take him out of power. If he didn’t know, he should have. There has been so much good accomplished since Governor Pritzker took over. Do not let this man take the ship down with his ego.
The Illinois Democratic party is looking for a big item to be approved on the 2020 ballot : the progressive income tax . Is Mike Madigan and Mike McClain a burden on the road progressive income taxes that should concern Illinois elected representatives that want a progressive income tax?
=== Is Mike Madigan and Mike McClain a burden on the road progressive income taxes that should concern Illinois elected representatives that want a progressive income tax?==
The far right campaigns are working on those ads against the progressive income tax. And their central message is going to be - “Do you want to give this man more power?” If he is still the Speaker in November, it may single-handedly doom the progressive income tax. And don’t take that for my stance on the issue, just reading the tea leaves.
Not knowing what your organization is doing may or may not absolve him of legal culpability but certainly doesn’t absolve him of moral culpability. The person in charge always takes the fall along with the underling(s) who committed the acts when they’re egregious enough.
=== “Do you want to give this man more power?” If he is still the Speaker in November, it may single-handedly doom the progressive income tax.===
… and yet Rauner tried that to salvage himself, and he lost by 16 points and Dems are at their strongest elected levels ever during Madigan being Speaker.
=== If he didn’t know, he should have===
So you want the members to get rid of the all powerful Oz because he actually wasn’t all powerful and didn’t know what was happening under the then Governor’s administration?
The last 24 hours were worth more than $5 million in negative ads against the progressive income tax. Words are the means meaning and for those who’ll listen the annunciation of the truth. The truth is something is very wrong in the state Illinois and those who run the political system.
===So you want the members to get rid of the all powerful Oz because he actually wasn’t all powerful and didn’t know what was happening under the then Governor’s administration?===
McClain was Madigan’s guy. Madigan gave him the power he had and he is responsible for the actions of his guy. The buck stops here. This e-mail has now added ghost employees and a potential rape cover-up to the scandals plaguing Madigan. Time’s up Mike.
My read of that email is that the highest of high in the PQ administration, this Forest guy, and McClain himself have some actual knowledge of the facts behind the alleged rape coverup. While MJM and McClain are/were very close, it is entirely possible the McClain did not share with his elected official friend that he was going to blackmail the Governor’s office (via email subject to FOIA) so he can help his friend from his hometown keep his patronage job. I know it’s not as self serving a theory for some, but can we can we see a little outrage towards the folks that, ya know, actually have some knowledge about this disgusting correspondence.
- Upon Further Review - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 2:58 pm:
Well stated Rep. Cassidy.
The all knowing Oz runs a tight ship for 40 years, Tim Mapes and Mike McClain the key figures inside and outside of the ropes, and Oz knows nothing? Joe Paterno didn’t know anything either . . . . .
McClain’s loose lips (electronically), Mapes thrown under the bus, and his entire Caucus has shifted to the left away from him (and privately despise the power he lords over them through his minions) Drip, drip, drip . . . .
The new enforcer? Governor Pritzker. Can’t be intimidated by the Speaker . . . . .the house of cards is wobbly.
- Robert the Bruce - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:00 pm:
I hope other progressive representatives will follow Cassidy’s lead.
@Been There
This is Madigan’s guy. The self-proclaimed gatekeeper. This guy was given power by Madigan to do this. How many of these same Democrats have called Republicans cowards for not standing up to Rauner or Trump. This is no longer raids on allies. This is an e-mail talking about ghost employees and a Rape cover-up. Times up Mike.
@Been There
This is Madigan’s guy. This is the self-proclaimed gatekeeper. This is a man who derived his power from Madigan. Who’s interest do you think he was working for? Pat Quinns? No, it was for “Our Friend”. This just adds to the scandals. Time’s up Mike.
I get the plausible deniability Madigan motif. It’s worked well for him for a long while. But no more. At this point he needs to sit down with his key players and ask “what else do I not know that I need to know because it is going to hit the fan?” It has gotten to the stage that “I didn’t know” simply is no longer a viable public position for him.
=== The buck stops here===
I’m not arguing that statement. But what you said and kind of what Rep Cassidy alludes to is that he should have.
I’m not buying that. But if you want to make the argument he is responsible for his minions then that is a different and way harder point to defend.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:19 pm:
Madigan, like Da Mare according to Royko, may be someone who’s successful at remaining “above it” while others have done wrongdoings. He claims he knew nothing about the allegations until they came out. Is he known to be a liar? Does he not deserve the benefit of doubt until evidence shows otherwise?
I personally prefer that Madigan retires so that legislators like Cassidy can get a chance to lead. He’s on top, politically, so leave while you’re ahead. Too many clouds and scandals.
As far as Madigan and the progressive tax, can’t certain people get it through their noggins that the vast majority of Illinoisans will pay the same or a lower state income tax? *They will be giving less of their money to “corrupt” politicians.* Here is a county by county map demonstrating that, from AFSCME.
=== At this point he needs to sit down with his key players and ask “what else do I not know that I need to know because it is going to hit the fan?” It has gotten to the stage that “I didn’t know” simply is no longer a viable public position for him.===
It’s a little late and has been since at least May to have had that conversation with McClain. Just saying.
I wonder how much the Feds enjoyed reading that email acknowledging ghost payrollers. Who knows what else they have on McClain, given his habit of documenting incriminating things in emails. Now if only there was someone they wanted McClain to flip on, that would be interesting.
== The last 24 hours were worth more than $5 million in negative ads against the progressive income tax.==
LOLOLOL hilarious! You think people won’t want the ultra rich to pay more in taxes because of the rape coverup? One has zero to do with the other. Zero.
=Is Mike Madigan and Mike McClain a burden on the road progressive income taxes that should concern Illinois elected representatives that want a progressive income tax?=
I’m not sure how this becomes a burden particularly when the option will be framed as a choice between an increased tax for some vs. an increased tax for all.
The counter arguments to the progressive tax are we don’t need to do anything (laughable on its face). We can cut simply cut spending (show your math). Or save the millionaires.
Did I miss where the email said it was a copied Madigan? Or, that the email said that Madigan asked me to contact you? Or, that Madigan knows about it?
Yes, Madigan operates a slimy organization. But it’s a stretch that he knows everything about what his cronies in that organization do.
He should have opted to resign once Rauner was defeated. I still think he should resign. But until he’s linked to this issue, I would not add it to my list of myriad reasons for him to depart.
Hello and welcome to House Dems, brought to you by Laborers and Hot 97. Using your touch-tone keypad, please enter the first three letters of the allegation.
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If there’s serious dirt on the governor’s administration and his very top guy has that info, he likely knows it.
- Let me put it this way - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:42 pm:
The taxes going up on everyone argument, if the prog tax fails, is dumb. The flat tax cannot go up much more with the highest property taxes in the nation, and plenty of other taxes very high as well. If the prog tax fails, then all your pensions are in serious danger soon.
As the Sun-Times ed board noted back in August, even a paragon of virtue, who won’t grant the benefit of the doubt to others until proven otherwise, can have her own shortcomings:
“It’s disappointing to see state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, wave off concerns about her spouse taking a key job in the cannabis industry just after Cassidy led the effort to make recreational pot legal in Illinois.
“When we heard the news that a cannabis company, Revolution Enterprises, recently hired Kelly’s spouse, Candace Gingrich, as vice president and head of business development for Revolution’s expanding Florida operations, it felt like the same old insider’s game. Revolution undoubtedly will profit from Illinois’ new law.
“No private company with a ban on nepotism would let this one pass.
“Cassidy was a credible advocate for the legalization of marijuana in Illinois. But no more. She should remove herself entirely from legislating on the issue.
“If her constituents are feeling let down, so are we.”
Its entirely possible that he does “know” but its quite likely that there’s no evidence/proof that he knows. I think that’s the point Cassiday is making here.
If there’s serious dirt on the governor’s administration and his very top guy has that info, he likely knows it.
Rich, of course he knows, whether he heard from the players directly or indirectly, he knew.
But the question really should be, can anyone prove that he knew?
Like it or not, that is the reality of it all. Until there is evidence that he knew anything besides his name and date of birth, he will make anyone who asks prove that he did.
MJM knows what “he’s not supposed to know”.
The entire organization has been taught to know what he’s not supposed to know.
If he’s not supposed to know it, he doesn’t.
It’s an art and a science. He’s probably telling the truth.
It’s just not the whole truth.
If there’s serious dirt on the governor’s administration and his very top guy has that info, he likely knows it.
Thanks Rich—well said. And in the court of public opinion you don’t necessarily have to prove precisely that which Rich stated if it is believed by the broader community. Proof is one think lasting stain is another.
==The taxes going up on everyone argument, if the prog tax fails, is dumb. The flat tax cannot go up much more with the highest property taxes in the nation, and plenty of other taxes very high as well. If the prog tax fails, then all your pensions are in serious danger soon.==
This is a smart exchange. The everyone-will-pay is actually an anti-amendment argument, too. As in, “You’d be a fool to think that lawmakers won’t move past ‘the 3 percent as rapidly as they can. The alleged $3B a year won’t be enough to cover all the spending proposed. As in CT and other states that switched to graduated and repeatedly raised rates, the ruling politicians are coming for you, too.”
So maybe it’s a dud argument that falls away. We’ll see.
=== The taxes going up on everyone argument, if the prog tax fails, is dumb.===
It’s the closing argument, as it’s the truth, insofar, taxes will need to rise, a progressive income tax will keep taxes the same for 97% of those filing.
=== The flat tax cannot go up much more===
They can. 60/30, 71/36 signature. Can’t claim “we can’t raise taxes” to pay pensions. Won’t fly.
=== If the prog tax fails, then all your pensions are in serious danger soon.===
That pesky constitution disagrees, the pensions will be paid, and if the progressive tax fails, iltgey will be paid by a higher flat tax.
For someone who talks about due process and justice for all it is remarkable how quickly Cassidy will throw stones and lob quippy one liners when convenient for her.
Norseman -
Always thought that with Rauner having been beaten, Madigan settles final scores with 2020 Census remap (looking at you Rodney Davis), and doesn’t run in 2022. Your mileage may vary.
Wow, more from Kelly Cassidy. Wake me up when she pledges not to vote for MJM for Speaker. If not, donate her hot air to the homeless, it’s cold out there.
@Old Illini
I could see some Republicans not huge fans of Trump staying home, but I think both sides will be very fired up to vote for or against Trump. Turnout in most of the state should be pretty high.
== As far as Madigan and the progressive tax, can’t certain people get it through their noggins that the vast majority of Illinoisans will pay the same or a lower state income tax? ==
Several years ago I was at an educational event in Springfield with parents of gifted students and their kids. The Quinn administration had two people at the event and the first questions were about how the lottery was supposed to go to education and what happened to that.
People are always going to think that they are being misled when it comes taxes, because traditionally they have been misled about taxes.
Randomly Selected, Yep- I always remember being lectured by insiders in the mid aughts that Kelly Cassidy is an example of someone who “plays ball” with Madigan and she should be admired for it, as opposed to that dastardly Scott Drury. Sheesh. I always considered Rep. Cassidy part of “the organization” she now derides. She had Issues Staffers and always voted for the Speaker, after all.
According to you or the ILSC? Because the court has ruled on pensions but at no point in time have they weighed in on what the flat tax could or should be. That remains the job of the legislature. Now if they raise the flat tax to a point where people literally can’t pay anymore there might a police powers argument to be heard by the court. But to suggest that if the progressive tax referendum fails that pensions will be in serious danger soon is in your words, “dumb”.
- RNUG - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 2:36 pm:
Plausible deniability … maybe
- MetroEast Bluedog - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 2:38 pm:
If Madigan won’t resign, it is time for his own caucus to take him out of power. If he didn’t know, he should have. There has been so much good accomplished since Governor Pritzker took over. Do not let this man take the ship down with his ego.
- Steve - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 2:42 pm:
The Illinois Democratic party is looking for a big item to be approved on the 2020 ballot : the progressive income tax . Is Mike Madigan and Mike McClain a burden on the road progressive income taxes that should concern Illinois elected representatives that want a progressive income tax?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 2:43 pm:
The family has a lotta buffers.
It’s not funny, but…
- Chicago Cynic - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 2:43 pm:
Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt - it’s a Himself religion.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 2:44 pm:
=== Is Mike Madigan and Mike McClain a burden on the road progressive income taxes that should concern Illinois elected representatives that want a progressive income tax?==
With what money will this be funded with?
They’re already $5 million behind.
Maybe another Madigan movie will do the trick.
- Smalls - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 2:45 pm:
The far right campaigns are working on those ads against the progressive income tax. And their central message is going to be - “Do you want to give this man more power?” If he is still the Speaker in November, it may single-handedly doom the progressive income tax. And don’t take that for my stance on the issue, just reading the tea leaves.
- Cubs in '16 - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 2:45 pm:
Not knowing what your organization is doing may or may not absolve him of legal culpability but certainly doesn’t absolve him of moral culpability. The person in charge always takes the fall along with the underling(s) who committed the acts when they’re egregious enough.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 2:48 pm:
=== “Do you want to give this man more power?” If he is still the Speaker in November, it may single-handedly doom the progressive income tax.===
… and yet Rauner tried that to salvage himself, and he lost by 16 points and Dems are at their strongest elected levels ever during Madigan being Speaker.
Oh… it’s a presidential year too.
- Charlie Brown - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 2:49 pm:
Let she who is without firewalls cast the first stone.
- Been There - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 2:49 pm:
=== If he didn’t know, he should have===
So you want the members to get rid of the all powerful Oz because he actually wasn’t all powerful and didn’t know what was happening under the then Governor’s administration?
- Steve - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 2:54 pm:
-With what money will this be funded with?
They’re already $5 million behind.
Maybe another Madigan movie will do the trick.-
The last 24 hours were worth more than $5 million in negative ads against the progressive income tax. Words are the means meaning and for those who’ll listen the annunciation of the truth. The truth is something is very wrong in the state Illinois and those who run the political system.
- MetroEast Bluedog - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 2:56 pm:
===So you want the members to get rid of the all powerful Oz because he actually wasn’t all powerful and didn’t know what was happening under the then Governor’s administration?===
McClain was Madigan’s guy. Madigan gave him the power he had and he is responsible for the actions of his guy. The buck stops here. This e-mail has now added ghost employees and a potential rape cover-up to the scandals plaguing Madigan. Time’s up Mike.
- Centennial - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 2:57 pm:
My read of that email is that the highest of high in the PQ administration, this Forest guy, and McClain himself have some actual knowledge of the facts behind the alleged rape coverup. While MJM and McClain are/were very close, it is entirely possible the McClain did not share with his elected official friend that he was going to blackmail the Governor’s office (via email subject to FOIA) so he can help his friend from his hometown keep his patronage job. I know it’s not as self serving a theory for some, but can we can we see a little outrage towards the folks that, ya know, actually have some knowledge about this disgusting correspondence.
- Upon Further Review - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 2:58 pm:
Well stated Rep. Cassidy.
The all knowing Oz runs a tight ship for 40 years, Tim Mapes and Mike McClain the key figures inside and outside of the ropes, and Oz knows nothing? Joe Paterno didn’t know anything either . . . . .
McClain’s loose lips (electronically), Mapes thrown under the bus, and his entire Caucus has shifted to the left away from him (and privately despise the power he lords over them through his minions) Drip, drip, drip . . . .
The new enforcer? Governor Pritzker. Can’t be intimidated by the Speaker . . . . .the house of cards is wobbly.
- Robert the Bruce - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:00 pm:
I hope other progressive representatives will follow Cassidy’s lead.
- MetroEast Bluedog - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:01 pm:
@Been There
This is Madigan’s guy. The self-proclaimed gatekeeper. This guy was given power by Madigan to do this. How many of these same Democrats have called Republicans cowards for not standing up to Rauner or Trump. This is no longer raids on allies. This is an e-mail talking about ghost employees and a Rape cover-up. Times up Mike.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:03 pm:
=== The last 24 hours were worth more than $5 million in negative ads against the progressive income tax.===
That’s doubtful. You have polling numbers to prove this?
=== Words are the means meaning and for those who’ll listen the annunciation of the truth.===
Yeah, about that, Pritzker spent $300K a day for 430 days.
You think money to message isn’t going to matter here? You’re delusional.
=== The truth is something is very wrong in the state Illinois and those who run the political system.===
Are you sure you’re Bruce Rauner?
Back to the post,
The Sgt. Schultz aspect will only continue to fly if two things stay constant;
No indictments pertaining to these vile and seedy issues, including the coverup.
If it’s shown beyond a doubt, evidence based, by a prosecutor, the the Speaker knowingly was complicit.
House hearings on this won’t answer either issue.
- Upon Further Review - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:04 pm:
=Let she who is without firewalls cast the first stone=
She has never feared the Speaker. When Mapes attempted to intimidate and bully her . . . .the Chief of Staff went bye-bye.
It is the wrong era for yesteryear tactics. Cassidy the perfect clarion call for a new day.
The intestinal fortitude of a single voice is how these things start . . . . .good on you Rep. Cassidy.
- Phenomynous - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:05 pm:
“With what money will this be funded with?“
Passing a constitutional amendment to raise taxes will take more votes and support then beating Rauner at the ballot box.
- Montrose - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:08 pm:
Is it possible that Madigan didn’t know about this specific email? Sure.
Is it possible Madigan didn’t know that one of his closest confidants was engaged in activities like those revealed in the email? Nope.
- Metroeast Bluedog - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:10 pm:
@Been There
This is Madigan’s guy. This is the self-proclaimed gatekeeper. This is a man who derived his power from Madigan. Who’s interest do you think he was working for? Pat Quinns? No, it was for “Our Friend”. This just adds to the scandals. Time’s up Mike.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:10 pm:
=== Passing a constitutional amendment to raise taxes will take more votes and support then beating Rauner at the ballot box.===
It’s an uphill climb, to say the least.
Explain it.
Again, to the post,
“Not knowing is foundational and fundamental to the entire design of the organization.”
To that directly;
There is an inherit plausible deniability to leadership in politics.
The rub here is;
How far should that go, including to criminality of others, or…
The manner others go about their business in the organization.
Both fall upon the leader to find a balance to keep things from getting off the rails, or worse ethically and/or criminally wrong.
We’re gonna see where all this falls.
- Responsa - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:15 pm:
I get the plausible deniability Madigan motif. It’s worked well for him for a long while. But no more. At this point he needs to sit down with his key players and ask “what else do I not know that I need to know because it is going to hit the fan?” It has gotten to the stage that “I didn’t know” simply is no longer a viable public position for him.
- Pick a Name - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:18 pm:
3…..2…..1 the state of Illinois dems are imploding and 2019/2020 will be historically bad.
- Been There - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:19 pm:
=== The buck stops here===
I’m not arguing that statement. But what you said and kind of what Rep Cassidy alludes to is that he should have.
I’m not buying that. But if you want to make the argument he is responsible for his minions then that is a different and way harder point to defend.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:19 pm:
Madigan, like Da Mare according to Royko, may be someone who’s successful at remaining “above it” while others have done wrongdoings. He claims he knew nothing about the allegations until they came out. Is he known to be a liar? Does he not deserve the benefit of doubt until evidence shows otherwise?
I personally prefer that Madigan retires so that legislators like Cassidy can get a chance to lead. He’s on top, politically, so leave while you’re ahead. Too many clouds and scandals.
As far as Madigan and the progressive tax, can’t certain people get it through their noggins that the vast majority of Illinoisans will pay the same or a lower state income tax? *They will be giving less of their money to “corrupt” politicians.* Here is a county by county map demonstrating that, from AFSCME.
https://m.afscme31.org/illinois-needs-fair-tax-reform
- Sue - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:20 pm:
There is always hope the Federales have something and Madigan ends up like Burke. Probably just wishful thinking
- Been There - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:21 pm:
=== At this point he needs to sit down with his key players and ask “what else do I not know that I need to know because it is going to hit the fan?” It has gotten to the stage that “I didn’t know” simply is no longer a viable public position for him.===
It’s a little late and has been since at least May to have had that conversation with McClain. Just saying.
- SSL - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:21 pm:
I wonder how much the Feds enjoyed reading that email acknowledging ghost payrollers. Who knows what else they have on McClain, given his habit of documenting incriminating things in emails. Now if only there was someone they wanted McClain to flip on, that would be interesting.
- Can - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:22 pm:
== The last 24 hours were worth more than $5 million in negative ads against the progressive income tax.==
LOLOLOL hilarious! You think people won’t want the ultra rich to pay more in taxes because of the rape coverup? One has zero to do with the other. Zero.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:24 pm:
=== state of Illinois dems are imploding and 2019/2020 will be historically bad.===
It’s a presidential year. The President will not do well in Illinois.
Historically bad would be both chambers, in super-majorities, becoming minority caucuses.
That’s not happening. I believe the Illinois Senate, again, can’t flip even with all Raunerites winning.
- Flat Bed Ford - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:24 pm:
My admiration for Cassidy just went up. Not keen on her politics but she sure is right on this.
- Pundent - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:25 pm:
=Is Mike Madigan and Mike McClain a burden on the road progressive income taxes that should concern Illinois elected representatives that want a progressive income tax?=
I’m not sure how this becomes a burden particularly when the option will be framed as a choice between an increased tax for some vs. an increased tax for all.
The counter arguments to the progressive tax are we don’t need to do anything (laughable on its face). We can cut simply cut spending (show your math). Or save the millionaires.
- Al Briteback - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:28 pm:
=Plausible deniability … maybe=
More like “culpable deniability”.
- From the 'Dale to HP - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:32 pm:
To be fair, Rep. Cassidy could also be describing IPI.
- Norseman - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:35 pm:
Did I miss where the email said it was a copied Madigan? Or, that the email said that Madigan asked me to contact you? Or, that Madigan knows about it?
Yes, Madigan operates a slimy organization. But it’s a stretch that he knows everything about what his cronies in that organization do.
He should have opted to resign once Rauner was defeated. I still think he should resign. But until he’s linked to this issue, I would not add it to my list of myriad reasons for him to depart.
- City Zen - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:37 pm:
Hello and welcome to House Dems, brought to you by Laborers and Hot 97. Using your touch-tone keypad, please enter the first three letters of the allegation.
You’ve selected, Ghost Payrollers? If that’s correct, press one.
Why don’t you just tell me what’s going on here?
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:40 pm:
===But it’s a stretch that he knows everything===
If there’s serious dirt on the governor’s administration and his very top guy has that info, he likely knows it.
- Let me put it this way - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:42 pm:
The taxes going up on everyone argument, if the prog tax fails, is dumb. The flat tax cannot go up much more with the highest property taxes in the nation, and plenty of other taxes very high as well. If the prog tax fails, then all your pensions are in serious danger soon.
- Anony - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:47 pm:
Has Illinois reached the point where a Rep. Cassidy or someone else with her credibility in the majority asks for a new speaker election?
- Moe Berg - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:49 pm:
As the Sun-Times ed board noted back in August, even a paragon of virtue, who won’t grant the benefit of the doubt to others until proven otherwise, can have her own shortcomings:
“It’s disappointing to see state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, wave off concerns about her spouse taking a key job in the cannabis industry just after Cassidy led the effort to make recreational pot legal in Illinois.
“When we heard the news that a cannabis company, Revolution Enterprises, recently hired Kelly’s spouse, Candace Gingrich, as vice president and head of business development for Revolution’s expanding Florida operations, it felt like the same old insider’s game. Revolution undoubtedly will profit from Illinois’ new law.
“No private company with a ban on nepotism would let this one pass.
“Cassidy was a credible advocate for the legalization of marijuana in Illinois. But no more. She should remove herself entirely from legislating on the issue.
“If her constituents are feeling let down, so are we.”
- Pundent - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:49 pm:
=But it’s a stretch that he knows everything=
Its entirely possible that he does “know” but its quite likely that there’s no evidence/proof that he knows. I think that’s the point Cassiday is making here.
- SOIL M - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:59 pm:
If there’s serious dirt on the governor’s administration and his very top guy has that info, he likely knows it.
Rich, of course he knows, whether he heard from the players directly or indirectly, he knew.
But the question really should be, can anyone prove that he knew?
Like it or not, that is the reality of it all. Until there is evidence that he knew anything besides his name and date of birth, he will make anyone who asks prove that he did.
- Billy Sunday - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 4:02 pm:
A crack within the HD caucus? It takes leadership and courage to speak up…thanks, Rep. Cassidy.
- A Guy - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 4:03 pm:
MJM knows what “he’s not supposed to know”.
The entire organization has been taught to know what he’s not supposed to know.
If he’s not supposed to know it, he doesn’t.
It’s an art and a science. He’s probably telling the truth.
It’s just not the whole truth.
- Big Red - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 4:08 pm:
If there’s serious dirt on the governor’s administration and his very top guy has that info, he likely knows it.
Thanks Rich—well said. And in the court of public opinion you don’t necessarily have to prove precisely that which Rich stated if it is believed by the broader community. Proof is one think lasting stain is another.
- Moody's Blues - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 4:12 pm:
==The taxes going up on everyone argument, if the prog tax fails, is dumb. The flat tax cannot go up much more with the highest property taxes in the nation, and plenty of other taxes very high as well. If the prog tax fails, then all your pensions are in serious danger soon.==
This is a smart exchange. The everyone-will-pay is actually an anti-amendment argument, too. As in, “You’d be a fool to think that lawmakers won’t move past ‘the 3 percent as rapidly as they can. The alleged $3B a year won’t be enough to cover all the spending proposed. As in CT and other states that switched to graduated and repeatedly raised rates, the ruling politicians are coming for you, too.”
So maybe it’s a dud argument that falls away. We’ll see.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 4:17 pm:
=== The taxes going up on everyone argument, if the prog tax fails, is dumb.===
It’s the closing argument, as it’s the truth, insofar, taxes will need to rise, a progressive income tax will keep taxes the same for 97% of those filing.
=== The flat tax cannot go up much more===
They can. 60/30, 71/36 signature. Can’t claim “we can’t raise taxes” to pay pensions. Won’t fly.
=== If the prog tax fails, then all your pensions are in serious danger soon.===
That pesky constitution disagrees, the pensions will be paid, and if the progressive tax fails, iltgey will be paid by a higher flat tax.
- fluffery - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 4:23 pm:
For someone who talks about due process and justice for all it is remarkable how quickly Cassidy will throw stones and lob quippy one liners when convenient for her.
- Anyone Remember - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 4:25 pm:
Norseman -
Always thought that with Rauner having been beaten, Madigan settles final scores with 2020 Census remap (looking at you Rodney Davis), and doesn’t run in 2022. Your mileage may vary.
- Old Illini - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 4:29 pm:
Regarding the 2020 election, I’m wondering how many Illinois voters stay home given that the Electoral Votes are locked up in this blue blue state.
- Randomly Selected - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 4:32 pm:
Wow, more from Kelly Cassidy. Wake me up when she pledges not to vote for MJM for Speaker. If not, donate her hot air to the homeless, it’s cold out there.
- MetroEast Bluedog - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 4:50 pm:
@Old Illini
I could see some Republicans not huge fans of Trump staying home, but I think both sides will be very fired up to vote for or against Trump. Turnout in most of the state should be pretty high.
- OneMan - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 6:46 pm:
== As far as Madigan and the progressive tax, can’t certain people get it through their noggins that the vast majority of Illinoisans will pay the same or a lower state income tax? ==
Several years ago I was at an educational event in Springfield with parents of gifted students and their kids. The Quinn administration had two people at the event and the first questions were about how the lottery was supposed to go to education and what happened to that.
People are always going to think that they are being misled when it comes taxes, because traditionally they have been misled about taxes.
- Lake Effect - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 7:22 pm:
Randomly Selected, Yep- I always remember being lectured by insiders in the mid aughts that Kelly Cassidy is an example of someone who “plays ball” with Madigan and she should be admired for it, as opposed to that dastardly Scott Drury. Sheesh. I always considered Rep. Cassidy part of “the organization” she now derides. She had Issues Staffers and always voted for the Speaker, after all.
- Norseman - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 7:26 pm:
Anyone Remember, your remap point is well taken. End with another decade shaping map. JB is in a trick box on that one.
- Pundent - Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 7:45 pm:
=The flat tax cannot go up much more=
According to you or the ILSC? Because the court has ruled on pensions but at no point in time have they weighed in on what the flat tax could or should be. That remains the job of the legislature. Now if they raise the flat tax to a point where people literally can’t pay anymore there might a police powers argument to be heard by the court. But to suggest that if the progressive tax referendum fails that pensions will be in serious danger soon is in your words, “dumb”.
- DougChicago - Friday, Jan 10, 20 @ 6:19 am:
Dear Representative Cassidy: You are part of the organization.