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*** UPDATED x1 - Kifowit still in *** Rep. Williams: Vote makes it clear that “House Democratic Caucus is ready for a change in leadership”

Sunday, Jan 10, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Background is here if you somehow need it. Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago)…

Today’s vote makes clear the House Democratic Caucus is ready for a change in leadership. I want to thank Representative Kathy Willis and Representative Stephanie Kifowit in joining me on this journey to elect Illinois’ first woman Speaker. I am grateful for the support of so many of my colleagues and will continue to work to earn the support of the rest and unify the caucus.

*** UPDATE *** Some folks I’ve talked to tonight misread that press release and wrongly assumed that Kifowit was supporting Williams. Here’s Rep. Kifowit…

I am still in the race.

…Adding… Rep. Williams…

I’m sorry if my statement was misinterpreted…Rep. Kifowit remains a strong contender as we both continue to make the case for new leadership in the Illinois House.

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Speaker election update (password updated)

Sunday, Jan 10, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller

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House Speaker election updates - Madigan is 9 votes short of 60, opposition grows from 19 to 22

Sunday, Jan 10, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller

* 6:56 pm: According to three sources, Rep. Kathy Willis has dropped out of the race for Speaker.

This post will be updated.

* 7:12 pm: Hearing Rep. Willis has endorsed Rep. Ann Williams for Speaker.

* 7:18 pm: Not only do they bar reporters from the floor, have Illinois State Police troopers escort credentialed journalists to and from the restroom, but they are repeatedly yelling at grown adults tonight for telling reporters what’s going on in a caucus meeting about the future of this state. The HDem leadership attitude on display this week is really a bit much.

* 7:33 pm: Haven’t confirmed this yet, but nice job by Maxwell…

First ballot — 51 votes for Madigan, 18 votes for Rep Ann Williams, 3 for Rep Stephanie Kifowit. 60 is the magic number.

— Mark Maxwell (@MarkMaxwellTV) January 11, 2021

Hearing 1 Present.

I’ve been trying to tell folks that Madigan is more than 6 votes short.

* I’m hearing the same…

Also told that @RepKellyCassidy voted present.

— Hannah Meisel (@hannahmeisel) January 11, 2021

* Confirmed…

Why vote Present? “We’re not there yet,” says @RepKellyCassidy #twoll

— Newsradio WTAX (@WTAX) January 11, 2021

They’re done for the night, by the way.

* 8:17 pm: Of those who hadn’t pledged one way or the other, Suzanne Ness, Denyse Wang Stoneback and Michelle Mussman all voted for someone other than MJM. Ness and Stoneback were with Rep. Ann Williams, Mussman was with Rep. Stephanie Kifowit. More tomorrow.

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*** UPDATED x1 *** Fireworks before vote on House Speaker

Sunday, Jan 10, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Rep. Stava-Murray told me yesterday that she had prepared a line of questioning for Speaker Madigan today that would be tough…

Rep. Anne Stava Murray just broadsided Speaker Madigan for his Catholic faith, according to House Dem sources. She apparently felt his religious beliefs were an obstacle to passing a more progressive agenda. One member says she made Madigan a “martyr.” No voting yet.

— Mark Maxwell (@MarkMaxwellTV) January 10, 2021

I’m also Catholic. I was speaking about the influence the church has with him on issues over the decades.

— Rep Stava-Murray (@RepStava_Murray) January 10, 2021

It was in reference to the addition of the tax rebate program to the education funding formula, which drains money from our general revenue funds.

— Rep Stava-Murray (@RepStava_Murray) January 10, 2021

My much bigger criticism was that he hasn’t been a strong leader on undoing systemic racism for the past several decades.

— Rep Stava-Murray (@RepStava_Murray) January 10, 2021

"Never heard him so hot," a member said of MJM during the back and forth with ASM https://t.co/swdVYz6WLi

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) January 10, 2021

“Everyone’s yelling at her,” I was told. “She just said ‘very angry questions were being asked of the other three yesterday and nobody yelled at them.’” Decent point. Even so, she apparently didn’t exactly rally the caucus to her side.

*** UPDATE *** WCIA’s Mark Maxwell had this react from Rep. Mary Flowers…

“That was so out of place for her to put that on the Speaker,” Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago) told reporters Sunday night. “And I’m not making any excuses for him. But he didn’t bring racism into Springfield, where the worst race riot has been years ago.”

“Before the speaker was born, we had systemic racism,” Flowers said. “We had 400 years of slavery, so we won’t go there. And I think everybody [has] a little bias in them. But everyone is trying to evolve to do the right thing.”

If Stava-Murray’s attack was designed to weaken Madigan’s alliance with the Black Caucus, Flowers’ comments show it may have only strengthened it. The legislature is in the middle of a thorny debate about police reform measures, and several members, including Flowers, value Madigan’s experience as a negotiator who can muster the votes to pass difficult legislation.

“He’s a hard working man,” Flowers said. “Negotiating with various entities across this state is heavy lifting, and I would not want to be driving with an inexperienced driver that may run this state further off the track.”

* Hannah Meisel caught up to another Black Caucus member…

Stava-Murray’s heated exchange with the Speaker didn’t sit well with Black Caucus members in the room.

“The Black Caucus is fully capable of advocating for itself and Black issues,” State Rep. André Thapedi (D-Chicago) told NPR Illiinois. “We don’t need anyone to do that for us.”

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Protected: *** UPDATED x1 *** SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Updates to both the afternoon and morning editions

Sunday, Jan 10, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Protected: *** UPDATED x2 *** SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Rift between Black Caucus and organized labor (password updated)

Sunday, Jan 10, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller

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*** UPDATED x1 *** Bailey collapses on House floor

Sunday, Jan 10, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) appears to have had some sort of medical emergency. Live video from BlueRoomStream.com showed Bailey lying on his back on the floor for several minutes. He eventually stood up and was placed in a gurnee by paramedics and wheeled out of the House chambers at the BOS Center.

…Adding… Photo…

…Adding… House GOP Leader Jim Durkin said Bailey has been experiencing some “gastrointestinal issues over the past few days” and likely passed out because he hadn’t yet eaten today.

Leader Durkin said Bailey “hit his head,” but said he believes Bailey will “be fine.” He asked for prayers for a quick recovery so Bailey can rejoin the chamber.

I’m told by a witness that Bailey hit his head “hard,” but was coherent within seconds of going down.

*** UPDATE *** From Rep. Bailey…

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*** UPDATED x6 - Lake County Democratic Women, Northwest/North NOW, McHenry NOW, Resistor SisterHood, Democratic Women of McDonough County, Illinois Handmaids, Peoria NOW, Indivisible Oak Park, Friends Who March, Indivisible Illinois, Chicago NOW, Women’s March Chicago, Illinois NOW join call *** Women’s groups urge vote for woman as new House Speaker - All 19 MJM opponents say they are still together

Sunday, Jan 10, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Illinois Democratic Women, We Will, Vote Mama and She Votes…

Open Letter to the House Democratic Caucus

We are writing today to strongly encourage the House Democratic Caucus to choose a woman as their new leader when they convene to vote for the Speaker of the House of the 102nd General Assembly. As statewide women’s organizations, we’ve watched with pride and gratification as the declared candidates to the current Speaker, Michael Madigan, have all come from the House Democratic Women’s Caucus, which in the past several years has taken the lead on legislation important to us such as the Clean Energy Jobs Act, Equal Rights Amendment Ratification, and Reproductive Health Act, as well as initiatives on minimum wage, education, and mental health.

While we appreciate the leadership the current Speaker has provided, we believe it is time for a change, and choosing a strong female leader is the change that is needed. We’ve also watched with some concern arguments that are being made that Speaker Madigan is the only one running who can hold the caucus together, pass important legislation, and help re-elect his members. This suggests that the female candidates that have announced do not share these same qualities. We do not believe that to be true. Further, we find that sexist school of thought to be one that has permeated the legislature in Springfield for decades. Changing that culture is another reason why it is important that a woman should be chosen to lead.

All the female candidates that have declared their intention to run for Speaker of the House have done so in an environment that has been hostile to a change in leadership; this alone gives credence to their courage and fortitude. Illinois is on the precipice of a great transition as we work to come out of a global pandemic and restore jobs to working families and revive an economy that has been ravaged by Covid-19. We recognize strong leadership is needed to meet these challenges and many pressing issues, especially the much-needed criminal justice reform being championed by the House Black Caucus. We believe that all the women who have announced their candidacy are up to this challenge and strongly urge the House Democratic caucus to elect one of them as their new Speaker.

* Meanwhile…

Today, 19 Illinois House Democrats in opposition to Michael Madigan’s re-election as Speaker of the House released the following statement:

“After meeting the past two days in Springfield, and having had the opportunity to participate in multiple candidate forums in the Speaker’s election, our position has not changed. We will not be supporting Michael J. Madigan for Speaker of the Illinois House at any stage of the voting process. It is time for new Democratic leadership in the Illinois House.”

*** UPDATE 1 *** Illinois NOW has joined the call to elect a woman Speaker. Click here for the revised press release.

*** UPDATE 2 *** Women’s March Chicago has now signed the letter. Click here.

*** UPDATE 3 *** Indivisible Illinois and Chicago NOW have also joined the letter.

*** UPDATE 4 *** More signatories…

Illinois Handmaids
Peoria NOW
Indivisible Oak Park
Friends Who March

*** UPDATE 5 *** The Democratic Women of McDonough County has added its name to the list and released this statement…

The Democratic Women of McDonough County, a 501(c)4 non-profit, firmly supports the call for Illinois to have our First Woman Speaker named. It’s time for Democrats to show allyship to women and send a strong message of solidarity with womens rights and interests, which are the interests of all our communities. Representation matters.

*** UPDATE 6 *** More…

Lake County Democratic Women
Northwest/North NOW
McHenry NOW
Resistor SisterHood