* I told subscribers about this floor speech early this morning, but I thought you might appreciate the full quote. Rep. Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport) during floor debate last night on the redistricting bill…
To the bill. You know, I understand why my colleagues talk about independent maps. I really do. When we see lawmaker lobbyists we all scratch our heads when we run for for election we say there’s no way you can go the General Assembly vote on a bill and they get paid on the side. So we run for office and we say, yeah, we want an independent map, we want a fair process. I’ve seen members on the other side of the aisle scratch your head, if we had the face mask off it would be a lot better.
But they’re wondering, how the hell do we get tampons in male bathrooms? How does that happen? That’s because you don’t have an independent map.
Sex education today just passed with 60 votes. It’s like a mini HBO porno. How does that happen? It’s because you don’t have independent maps. You need a little balance. Voting booths in county jails. How does that happen? How does that happen? You need to have an independent map, you need to have a fair map. You can’t let politicians, this is what happens when you let politicians pick their voters. They get to vote in county jail. How about for illegal immigrants, the right to vote for their college trustees? That’s legal in Illinois as well.
* Related…
* Excerpts from Illinois House leaders during debate on legislative redistricting bill
- charles in charge - Saturday, May 29, 21 @ 11:52 am:
While the “tampons” comment is obviously idiotic, it is even more telling that Rep. Chesney believes that people merely accused of a crime–who are entitled to the presumption of innocence–should be denied the right to vote, and proclaims from the rafters that if Republicans were in charge, pretrial detainees would be disenfranchised. Absolutely disgusting.
- Incandenza - Saturday, May 29, 21 @ 11:56 am:
This is just psychotic. He thinks people pre-trial don’t have a right to vote?! He thinks sex education is an HBO porno? Imagine the hell hole this state would be if Republicans were able to get power over the GA
- Dotnonymous - Saturday, May 29, 21 @ 12:07 pm:
Believing sex education is akin to “porn” is the reason for sex education.
- Proud Papa Bear - Saturday, May 29, 21 @ 12:08 pm:
The sad kicker is that because we don’t yet have comprehensive and inclusive sex ed in Illinois, many LGBTQ+ kids are in fact currently getting their education from porn.
- Pot calling kettle - Saturday, May 29, 21 @ 12:11 pm:
He forgot to add: “Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together - MASS HYSTERIA!”
==He thinks sex education is an HBO porno?==
If Republicans have their way, kids will have to go to HBO for sex ed because there will be little, if any, useful, fact-based information provided on the topic in school.
- Ace Laredo - Saturday, May 29, 21 @ 12:11 pm:
“Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?”
- Moe Berg - Saturday, May 29, 21 @ 12:12 pm:
Imbecilic and incoherent ramblings from a Republican representative speaking under the gaze of Abraham Lincoln’s portrait.
- very old soil - Saturday, May 29, 21 @ 12:12 pm:
Rep. Chesney is always an embarrassment.
- thisjustinagain - Saturday, May 29, 21 @ 12:23 pm:
His train of thought derailed, caught fire, and exploded. And that’s while parked in the station. Maybe way too much caffeine during the session??
- anon2 - Saturday, May 29, 21 @ 12:34 pm:
== You need to have an independent map, you need to have a fair map. ==
I wonder how Chesney defines a fair, independent map? If it were really nonpartisan, Democrats would still win based upon demography. There would still be more districts for minorities. Downstate would still lose districts because they’ve lost population. I suspect what he means is a GQP gerrymandered map to maximize Republican districts far greater than their percentage of the statewide vote.
- SouthSide Markie - Saturday, May 29, 21 @ 12:36 pm:
Here is the part that is scary. There were enough people in his district who agree with those imbecilic rants to get him elected.
- DuPage Saint - Saturday, May 29, 21 @ 12:43 pm:
I think he was just saying he believes in no cash bail so people,presumed innocent, can go home and then go vote at their precinct. /s
- TheInvisibleMan - Saturday, May 29, 21 @ 12:49 pm:
Has he tried not caring about it?
We have baby changing tables in mens bathrooms too. Men don’t have babies, so this must also be because of not having an independent map.
I can’t imagine living a life where this matters at all, much less is attempted to be used in a derogatory manner to prove some sort of point about… maps.
- sladay - Saturday, May 29, 21 @ 1:10 pm:
Man my rep is always an embarrassment.
- Occasional Quipper - Saturday, May 29, 21 @ 1:15 pm:
==His train of thought derailed, caught fire, and exploded. And that’s while parked in the station.==
That sums it up perfectly. Thanks for the chuckle.
- Anonanonsir - Saturday, May 29, 21 @ 2:02 pm:
Maybe he was trying to make the point — with typical Illinois GOP clarity — that partisan maps create highly partisan districts with highly partisan legislators.
Of course it’s true on both sides, and Rep. Chesney could be considered a classic example.
- Oswego Willy - Saturday, May 29, 21 @ 2:04 pm:
Chalk this up to “conspiracy theorists” thinking.
It’s not smart, and misses the point entirely
Old and angry… “represent”.
- @misterjayem - Saturday, May 29, 21 @ 3:25 pm:
“It’s like a mini HBO porno.”
What is the reason the former Republican House floor leader stepped down, Alex?
– MrJM
- CMZ - Saturday, May 29, 21 @ 3:29 pm:
I mean…I kind of get what he’s saying but he could’ve picked a better issue than tampons in the men’s room. As someone who tends to vote Republican it’s pretty embarrassing to see them get so upset over the pettiest little thing. So someone identify as male and needs a tampon in the men’s room? WHO CARES?!
- Huh? - Saturday, May 29, 21 @ 3:49 pm:
The convoluted thought process to go from maps, masks, tampons, porn, and back to map, then segue to immigrants voting in jail is astounding.
- Nova - Saturday, May 29, 21 @ 3:51 pm:
Chesney’s obsession with products that address a bodily function is just weird.
- Suburban Mom - Saturday, May 29, 21 @ 4:12 pm:
Doesn’t Chesney know you can stuff a tampon in a bullet hole or nosebleed to temporarily stop the bleeding? It’s VERY manly (for toxic values of manly).
- Blue Girl in Red County - Saturday, May 29, 21 @ 5:45 pm:
Suburban Mom - you are so right! In fact, Kotex was first produced to treat wounds in WW I. Mary nurses found that they had another handy use. After the war, Kimberly-Clark had a lot of supplies left over and repurposed them to market to women. Because of the stigma (which apparently some legislators still carry), some of the first vending machines were used to sell Kotex so that 1920s women didn’t have to deal with a male clerk when making their purchase
- Anonymous - Monday, May 31, 21 @ 12:59 pm:
Trust me, not all of his constituents are as crazy as him. He will have competition in the future. He does not represent us all. Just his supporters. He’s a mini “former guy”.