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My favorite Mike Lawrence story is from the days when he was Gov. Jim Edgar’s spokesman.
I’m pretty harried because of Internet access problems last night and a surreal difficulty getting anyone to talk about Gordon Maag’s new ad this morning, so I’ll tell you right now I won’t get this story completely right.
Anyway, the way I remember it, Edgar was in favor of a certain “revenue enhancement” that looked an awful lot like a tax increase. This was Edgar’s first term, remember, when he said he would only sign a tax hike if it received a three-fifths majority in both chambers. The budget was in dire straits and Edgar needed the money in a big way.
So, we asked Lawrence, the spokesman, why his boss’ non-tax increase idea looked so much like a tax increase. Lawrence said, and I’m paraphrasing here, “I think it’s a tax increase. The governor and I disagree.”
Well, that killed the guv’s plan right then and there, but Lawrence was not fired, or even publicly reprimanded. The respect I had for him that day has never waned. Imagine that - a press secretary who told the truth.
Lawrence deserved this job, and I’m happy that he got it.
CARBONDALE, Ill. - - Veteran newsman, press secretary and respected political analyst Mike Lawrence is the new director of Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Public Policy Institute. Provost and Vice Chancellor John M. Dunn announced the appointment today (Tuesday, Oct. 5).Lawrence’s appointment, which is subject to ratification by the SIU Board of Trustees, became effective Oct. 1.
Lawrence has been serving as the Institute’s interim director since December when founder and former U.S. Sen. Paul Simon died. Lawrence joined the Institute as associate director in 1997.
Lawrence was chosen from among four finalists who were selected from a pool of 17 applicants in a national search. [Snip]
“The Institute is never going to be the same without Paul Simon, but I am confident that we can achieve what he would want the Institute to accomplish,” said Lawrence. “I am committed to building on what he achieved here, and I also am committed to remaining faithful to his vision of the Institute.” [Snip]
Before his work at the University, Lawrence was press secretary and senior policy adviser to former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar for more than six years. Prior to that, he was press secretary to Edgar for more than three years while Edgar was Illinois’ secretary of state. He previously headed news bureaus in the Illinois State House, first for the Quad-City Times and later for Lee Enterprises and the Chicago Sun-Times, and held top editing posts at the Quad-City Times. He got his start covering government news for the Galesburg Register-Mail.
Lawrence attended Knox College, where he also received an honorary doctor of laws degree in 1998.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 14, 04 @ 2:13 am
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