Cullerton’s speech, lightly annotated
Thursday, Jan 12, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From Senate President John Cullerton’s inauguration speech yesterday as prepared for delivery…
The state needs a budget. Period.
This has become nearly as ridiculous as it is frustrating. People – real people in the real world — are fed up. And they blame all of us.
I’m prepared to do something about this, and so is Leader Radogno. We have made it clear that the Senate will offer solutions and leadership. Today, we are filing more than a dozen proposals containing the contents of our budget and reform plan. The intent is to quickly pass them in this new session.
It is my hope that the Illinois House and you, Mr. Governor, will join us.
From Cullerton’s office…
The Senate Assignments Committee assigned the components of the so-called “grand bargain” plan to the following committees. This was done to position them for public input and committee hearings later this month.
Senate Appropriations 1: SB 4, 6
Executive Committee: SB 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
Gaming Committee: SB 7
Local Government Committee: SB 3
Revenue Committee: SB 9
* Back to Cullerton…
Believe me, I recognize that this is not an easy task. But it’s time for the Senate to step up and provide leadership.
We’ve done this before.
Eight years ago today, the Illinois Senate ushered in a new era when Senator Radogno and I were first elected to lead our caucuses.
Many of you may have forgotten, or perhaps were lucky enough to have never known the personal political wars that had consumed this chamber and much of state government at the time.
A governor by the name of Blagojevich presided over that 2009 inauguration ceremony. And right after we got the gavel away from him, we – the Illinois Senate– began an impeachment trial that would remove him from office.
So we’ve seen some pretty bad times. And we’ve gotten through them by working together.
That was the promise Leader Radogno and I made eight years ago. And together … we have worked. We’ve made historic changes in Illinois.
Look, I’ll be the first to complain that we – the Senate - don’t get the credit or attention we deserve.
That could be because we tend to cooperate rather than tear each other apart.
Too often, if there’s no conflict, there’s no coverage.
And as if to prove his point, there were just four reporters in the Senate press box yesterday.
* Back to the speech…
Unfortunately, we find ourselves seemingly mired in a new campaign season before the old one ended. While we call for bipartisanship and compromise, political attack dogs snipe at every development.
There’s plenty of time and issues to campaign on … when it’s campaign season. How about we try governing for a bit? That’s what the people sent us here to do.
Those lines were heartily applauded, but it didn’t stop the blatant campaigning.
* Back to Cullerton…
Frankly, I think the state’s been shaken up enough. Let’s make Illinois great again.
I think we’ve made it clear that the Senate’s not afraid to take tough votes to solve problems and move this state forward.
So let’s get to it.
More like this, please.
* Raw audio of the speech…
* Related…
* Bernard Schoenburg: Talk of cooperation, governing in Illinois Senate
* ‘Optimism in the Air’ - Fowler sworn in as 59th District senator
* Senate adopts leadership term limits
* Ill. Senate files backup bill for city worker pensions
