* Press release…
The Illinois AFL-CIO is comprised of more than 1,500 affiliated unions representing nearly 900,000 workers in Illinois. Union members and their families can be found from Antioch to Cairo and from Danville to Quincy. They work in thousands of occupations, including electricians, laborers, teachers, first responders, health care workers, transit workers and more.
Although we are many, the bedrock principle of the labor movement is solidarity: We are stronger together.
The value of this conviction has been proven time and again throughout the years. All that we have achieved for working families—including higher wages, better benefits, expanded protections and more opportunities for all to thrive—was gained through unity. All the challenges we have overcome—Bruce Rauner’s Turnaround Agenda, cuts to wages and health care, assaults on retirement security and even on our fundamental right to bargain collectively—were defeated when we stood as one.
The foes of working families have a different approach. They thrive on discord. Because they know that our power rests in remaining united, they want to divide and turn us against each other.
In this election we maintained pro-worker supermajorities in the Illinois Senate and House, elected a pro-worker President of the United States, defended the U.S. House majority and may yet win a majority in the U.S. Senate. Moreover, we helped to elect growing numbers of women and people of color at both the national and state level who will amplify the voices of those too long marginalized in the halls of power. We did all this, despite our opponents’ millions of dollars of attacks, by standing together.
These victories present a moment of opportunity, but we know the hard work that lies ahead to protect and build upon our progress. The deep pain of the coronavirus pandemic compounds and complicates the policy choices we will face.
At such a critical juncture, we cannot allow political infighting to distract from the task at hand: To build back better for the working people of Illinois and all the United States. Now is the time for unity, not division. Through all the challenges and threats that working families in Illinois have faced over the past years, Speaker Michael Madigan has been a firm ally in defense of our rights, our economic security, and the well-being of our families and our communities. That’s why the Illinois AFL-CIO strongly supports Michael Madigan’s continued leadership as Illinois House Speaker and Chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois.
Not unexpected, but your thoughts?
*** UPDATE *** From today’s Q&A with the governor…
Q: Have you or will you encourage House Democrats to vote against Speaker Madigan for speaker? If reelected, isn’t he a major distraction to your agenda in the spring?
A: That’s a decision that members of the House will make in January. They’ll be taking a vote on speaker and that’s their business.
…Adding… Press release…
Illinois House Republican caucus members held a Zoom press conference on Tuesday to demand their Democrat counterparts in the House stand up and speak out against the continued reign of long-time House Speaker Mike Madigan. The Republicans agree with top Democrats that Speaker Madigan’s time in leadership is up.
“When people think of Illinois, they think of corruption. This culture developed over decades while Mike Madigan ruled as Speaker of the House,” said State Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield). “The General Assembly simply cannot function with him as Speaker. Every decision, every vote, every committee hearing is stained with mistrust. If last Tuesday taught us anything, it is that Illinoisans have lost all trust and faith in their government. Trust in state government does not improve until we have a new Speaker of the House. Mike Madigan must go.”
State Rep. and Assistant Minority Leader Avery Bourne argued that continued silence by members of the Democrat party is a tacit endorsement of continued corruption.
“It’s time for House Democrats to show some political courage and leadership,” said State Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Morrisonville). “House Republicans are united against Mike Madigan as Speaker, and as of today eight House Democrats have stated publicly that they too will not support him. If five additional Democrats are willing to say enough is enough and it’s time for a change, Mike Madigan’s days as Speaker of the House are over. I’m calling on Illinoisans to contact their representatives and ask that they vote no on Mike Madigan serving as Speaker of the House. Silence in this case, is an endorsement of a continuation of the culture of corruption Mike Madigan has overseen.”
Rep. Mike Marron says his short time in Springfield has illuminated the number one problem facing the state.
“When the entire State’s legislative priorities are dependent on gaining favor from one single individual, in this case Mike Madigan, we’ve got a problem,” Marron said. “This democracy that we all love and fight for and rely on is constantly thwarted because Mike Madigan has consolidated so much power that he can single handedly decide if important legislation moves forward. He’s been in state government since before I was born! Dick Durbin, Tammy Duckworth, and JB Pritzker have all called his leadership at the top of their party problematic. I don’t care about whether it’s a problem for Democrats politically. Mike Madigan’s continued leadership of the House of Representatives needs to end as soon as possible so a democratic process can be restored and followed.”
- don the legend - Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 2:16 pm:
==our economic security, and the well-being of our families and our communities.==
With the financial shape of the State I’m not sure about this part.
- Fav Human - Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 2:18 pm:
At least a few chips are being called in…
- me - Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 2:19 pm:
Bravo. JB wouldn’t be Governor if it weren’t for Madigan lining up labor support for him. Durbin couldn’t even get his protege Congresswoman elected this cycle. Democrats may not like the man’s image, but some of us sure like his results.
- Anyone Remember - Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 2:19 pm:
They remember who stood by their side when Rauner expanded his crusade from “Af-scammy” to “Right to Work” … .
- City Zen - Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 2:19 pm:
“defended the U.S. House majority”
Um, you guys were on offense.
- Hmm - Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 2:20 pm:
I’m disappointed there aren’t any coal mine references in this release.
- See Eye Oh - Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 2:21 pm:
No comment from labor on Madigan’s involvement in the ComEd bribery scheme? That scandal is why Democrats are saying they won’t vote for him again for Speaker. Not because of some rotuine “political infighting”.
- Ducky LaMoore - Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 2:23 pm:
Why have unions been in decline for forty plus years? Because they are the last ones to know anything, this is just more evidence of that.
- Strange Days - Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 2:24 pm:
I didn’t expect It.
No one is ever super-eager to get in the middle of an inter-party fight.
Especially one that involves the Governor, two US Senators, and some alderman that claims to be a proxy for the mayor.
It reminds me of the old Dylan tune, “With God on Our Side.” If you believe you are fighting for the heart and soul of the Democratic Party in Illinois, and you are standing on the opposite side of the battlefield of the AFL-CIO, with Ken Griffin on your left and Kristen McQueary on your right, you really need to question whether you are fighting for the the right side.
- City Zen - Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 2:25 pm:
“we helped to elect growing numbers of women and people of color at both the national and state level”
And yet no women in leadership on the Chicago & Cook County Building & Construction Trades Council, something that is completely in their control.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 2:30 pm:
- don the legend -, thanks for your kind words yesterday.
To the post,
Rich has said often, it’s as true as the first time to today, politics is a protection racket.
Where Madigan and Labor haven’t always been ALL in concert, what makes this all unexpected, this labor rallying to Madigan, it’s like so many have forgotten the Rauner years. It’s comically “goldfish like”, this forgetting how tight, and how important it was for both Labor and Madigan unite.
Even for legislators already opposed to Madigan, (in the Dem caucus, this is all a HDem and Dem thing), it can’t be denied how Labor and Madigan decided, then cemented themselves together to defeat Rauner.
While it coulda been “the enemy of my enemy” it’s now “our most trusted ally” for each.
While the simple snark is “ask how it worked of Pat Quinn”, the Raunerites not quite turned away from Rauner leaders or thinking… Labor ain’t gonna embrace that, but might look at Durkin and McConchie with a more piercing and selected eye, it’s still Madigan they trust, because Madigan is a man of his word, and Labor rewards those true to them.
I don’t suggest it… but Pritzker can buyout Labor… but after President Lightford never happened, I doubly don’t suggest buying any party or either caucus… and inserting thoughts outside what’s already said most recently… let it stay there.
The shame, for me?
That’s the simplest to all this. Once Rauner chased off pro-labor Republicans, what a difference it coulda been for Labor the “GOP” even leveraging Madigan if there were cracks with MJM and Labor, and a GOP in the wings. What a shame… while a family fight all the same.
- Cool Papa Bell - Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 2:41 pm:
Learned long ago in a leadership class.
When on a board you are always behind your “guy” until you aren’t.
- Collinsville Kevin - Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 2:55 pm:
Pitiful.
- 100 miles west - Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 2:58 pm:
City Zen this point all day long
- Huh? - Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 3:01 pm:
Labor is sending the message - “keep your hands off our guy.”
- Centennial - Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 3:02 pm:
I’m with Oswego on this. Labor drew a line. If they stick to their guns, some Dems may need new friends.
- west wing - Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 3:13 pm:
So now Madigan will take organized labor over the cliff with him? As a Democrat, I find that troubling. The AFL-CIO is positioning itself to be irrelevant with this blind allegiance, but it’s not surprising.
- Moe Berg - Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 3:14 pm:
From the Republican release: “Democrat counterparts.”
Could a Republican please explain why it’s so important to always use this petty insult?
So many Republicans like to *talk* about the importance of civility, but civility starts with calling people and organizations by their correct names and the names by which they want to be called.
It’s Democratic Party. Democratic Caucus. Etc.
As a gesture of good faith, could you even manage that?
- Bemidji - Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 3:18 pm:
Any word from self-proclaimed progressives like Greg Harris or Will Gizzard on how they’ll vote?
- K3 - Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 3:22 pm:
This is going to be like when the dog catches the car. What does the IL GOP do when they finally don’t have Madigan to rail against? And to think, it was just starting to work.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 3:24 pm:
To the Raunerite press release;
What, no Demmer quote? That’s… interesting. Isn’t Drmmer suppose to be leading the charge to discipline Madigan?
I guess Wehrli… “won’t see him no more”… no need to loop him in. Wehrli’s gone, couldn’t save him, “that’s that”
Instead of making it a partisan yelling into the wind, talk about not grasping how to make this all bipartisan.
=== “House Republicans are united against Mike Madigan as Speaker, and as of today eight House Democrats have stated publicly that they too will not support him. If five additional Democrats are willing to say enough is enough and it’s time for a change, Mike Madigan’s days as Speaker of the House are over. I’m calling on Illinoisans to contact their representatives and ask that they vote no on Mike Madigan serving as Speaker of the House. Silence in this case, is an endorsement of a continuation of the culture of corruption Mike Madigan has overseen.”===
It’s actually pathetic, the goal of the exercise is to get the 8 and 5+ other to JOIN y’all, not have folks you need to move this get angry phone calls.
Do y’all think before you speak or does the “angry” just stop any rational thoughts to politics and you can’t help it?
It’s not a wonder they’re still a super-minority. Can’t even count or build to count to cobble 60.
Whew.
- Fav Human - Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 3:33 pm:
Democrat counterparts.”
Could a Republican please explain why it’s so important to always use this petty insult?
Interestingly enough, the CTA press release of yesterday or a day ago also used “Democrat” in the same way.
Is it an insult, or a sign of lazy English usage?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 3:37 pm:
=== Is it an insult, or a sign of lazy English usage?===
“Yes”
Ignorance has many definitions.
Also, have any of the Raunerites screaming in the wind even reached out to the eight already committed not to vote for Madigan?
If so, how did that go?
If none of the grandstanders today reached out to the eight, what are we really talking about?
You’re a super minority, uninterested in trying to make change with the numbers against you, with no real attempt to reach across the aisle here to be part of a solution… you wasted everyone’s time, including you own. Congratulations.
- Moe Berg - Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 3:47 pm:
@ Fav Human: What Oswego Willy said.
Lazy/uninformed in the case of the CTA.
Intentional in the case of the House GOP.
Hendrik Hertzberg wrote a New Yorker article in 2006, “The ‘IC’ Factor” that explains why they do it.
There’s a Wikipedia entry devoted to it as well.
It’s a small thing, to be sure, but a telling one.
And, to personalize it, imagine your name was John, but another individual insisted on calling you Joe even though he knew it wasn’t your name.
Where do you go with someone - or a party - that won’t even extend the most basic level of respect to use your proper name?
- Anyone Remember - Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 3:50 pm:
At last the GOP reason for term limits becomes evident - by and large, the Minority wasn’t around the last time they were in the Majority, so they don’t have to answer for their party’s “problems” … . Rep. Bourne, shall I take your silence as tacit endorsement of Jim Thompson’s unconstitutional patronage system, Bill Cellini’s outrageous leases, George Ryan’s crimes?
- depressed in politics - Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 4:28 pm:
If the HGOP were serious, they pledge all of their caucus votes, not for Durkin, but for any other Democrat other than MJM. Channeling my inner OW, its about 60. Make that public commitment and it’ll raise an eyebrow of interest. No bargains or negotiations over rules or committee chairmanships or shared power, just anybody but Mike.