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Fahner blasts Poe

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* The Civic Committee’s Ty Fahner has come out from under a rock to blast the possible election of Rep. Raymond Poe as House GOP Leader…

“Poe’s selection as leader would be another reason why employers large and small would think it prudent for those companies and shareholders to look for a less hostile business climate,” said Mr. Fahner, noting that Mr. Poe favors only the relatively modest plan that was bargained with state unions by Senate President John Cullerton, rather than the much deeper cuts that Mr. Cross has supported.

Then came the knife. “Any member who supports Poe can expect little or no financial support (from business) going forward given the critical need for meaningful pension reform and Poe’s public opposition to it.”

Subtle. As is another comment from Mr. Fahner: “Poe has taken a very substantial amount of money from all of the public employee unions. . . .I guess his leadership would not be overly concerned with the interests of the roughly 95 percent of the people in Illinois who are not public employees.”

Discuss.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 12:41 pm

Comments

Ty should take heed of the old saying “Don’t go away mad just go away!” Ty lost ALL creditability with I really did not contact the Rating Agencies comments after the utube video surfaced.

It’s hard to take the car keys away from your grandfather but in Ty’s case it’s time to take the microphone and soap box away from him. No one cares what Ty thinks anymore.

Comment by Rollo Tomasi Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 12:48 pm
Think Poe’s the Clear Choice for the 99 % who are not self aggrandizing 1 % ers.

Comment by x ace Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 12:55 pm
So Greg Hinz was able to connect with Fahner and was happy to print his threats without making him answer questions about his potentially illegal attempt to influence Illinois bond ratings and cost Illinois taxpayers millions? I guess the people at Crains know where their bread is buttered and can’t risk putting the business community under the same hot lights the rest of the political establishment gets.

Comment by The Captain Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 12:57 pm
Seems to me Ty and others in the biz comunity would be much more effective if they did this behind the scenes. Why call out Poe in public? Plenty of other GOP caucus members have taken $ from public employee unions, why make that an issue? This could create a backlash.

Comment by Frank Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 12:59 pm
Here’s what Ty really said. I believe that the burden of solving the state pension problem should fall entirely on the public employees that work for the state. I also believe that it’s counterproductive to concern ourselves with whether or not the solution is legal or ethical. Anyone who supports a candidate for GOP leader that disagrees with me on that will not receive no financial support from our group.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 1:01 pm
–Mr. Fahner has been fully invested for at least a couple of years on the stalled fight to reform the state’s financially hemorrhaging pension funds…–

How are the funds “hemorrhagging?” Are they taking huge investment losses year after year? I don’t think so.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 1:02 pm
Rollo Tomasi - Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 12:48 pm

But are Ty’s opinions incorrect? I don’t know, and would like to be enlightened, please.

Comment by Bill Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 1:02 pm
==Why call out Poe in public?==

Perhaps no one will listen in private.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 1:04 pm
As a lawyer, my opinion is the Illinois constitution clearly protects the pensions, PERIOD!

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 1:08 pm
Seriously?

He just had to deliver that message through the media?

Comment by Keep Calm and Carry On Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 1:08 pm
–“Any member who supports Poe can expect little or no financial support (from business) going forward given the critical need for meaningful pension reform and Poe’s public opposition to it.”–

House GOP caucus, are you going to take that very public expression of contempt from the state’s Bond Counsel?

If you’re a House GOP member, you have to vote for Poe now, don’t you, to maintain a sense of pride?

How can you let a bunch of Gold Coast and North Shore millionaires, most of whose corporations pay little or no state income tax but are always at the trough for handouts, push you around like that?

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 1:12 pm
Please tell me why anyone cares what Ty Fahner thinks? Is Ty afraid he will not be able to control Poe because he is not from Chicago? Raymond Poe will make a great leader!

Comment by Mama Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 1:14 pm
Fahner wasn’t calling Poe out as much as he was saying “Durkin is business’ choice for Leader”. The message was directed at the Republicans lining up with Poe, and from what I understand, there are fewer and fewer. For what is worth, Poe should fold his tent and throw support to Durkin. The caucus should avoid public spats.

Comment by Nosmo King Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 1:15 pm
Wordslinger, you are such a smart person and smart poster, I just don’t understand how you continue to diminish the problem these pension funds are facing. The math isn’t trickery on this. On another topic I related what I’m hearing in multiple middle class precincts; that is, the general tax paying public is viewing the unions as being greedy and unreasonable on Pension Reform. Their friends who are teachers, are preaching a non-stop party line. Problem is, people are and have been struggling to make their bills. They believe securing gold-plated pensions (their words,not mine) for public workers isn’t the same priority as offering them some much needed relief. I know a lot of public employees participate in this blog and continue to reassure themselves here, but the reality is different. The Senators and Reps are hearing it every day. The Pension fund won’t meet its obligations. Every aspect of it needs reform. Taxes have already been raised significantly. Now, there’s little choice but more employee participation, higher age to retire and slowing down the growth of benefits. There needs to be a balanced approach to dealing with all of it.

Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 1:18 pm
So what is all this about the pension funds hemhoraging in the first place??
My understanding of the $5,000,000 per day increase in debt is simply the difference between what the funds would be earning in investement income if fully invested versus the amount they make now.
Well, to me that sounds like the difference in the 2007 Zillow value of a $150,000 home purchased in 2001 versus the Zillow value of a $200,000 home in 2001 in 2007.
It’s all a figure on paper only, and after the crash in 2010 or so it was all meaningless!!

So why all the press about losing $5,000,000 per day. To me that all looks like horsehooey–a pretty much meaningless figure on paper of imaginary money.
Please somebody explain to me if I am wrong in how I look at this.

Comment by train111 Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 1:18 pm
I don’t know if Ty gets this, but a majority of the GOP caucus did not support the Madigan pension bill. So, this heavy-handed assualt on probably will work against Durkin.

Comment by Raising Kane Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 1:21 pm
Well, I never paid much mind to “good-ole-boy” Raymond Poe. But his stature just went way up in my view. Anyone who rasies so much ire in the likes of Fahner is a guy I can get behind. What must really rile Fahner is the notion that there is still a Republican he hasn’t been able to buy.

Comment by Skirmisher Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 1:25 pm
@Raising Kane

I disagree. While the pension crisis is relevant to the big picture of who should be the next leader, it’s not the only issue. The Republican Caucus needs business support to compete in the general elections. With Poe, business sits on their checkbooks. With Durkin, the Republicans can be at least viable.

Comment by Nosmo King Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 1:26 pm
=== Ty Fahner has come out from under a rock … ===

Couldn’t have said it better.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 1:27 pm
“Along with the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago I am sponsoring Illinois House Bill 149….” Tom Cross. April 11, 2011

I guess Ty Fahner will now have to find someone else to sponsor his bills with.

By the way, why did the Commercial Club of Chicago get to sponsor or co-sponsor bills in the first place?

Comment by Joe M Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 1:29 pm
I get what your saying Nosmo but Ty should have framed that better. He is the one that made this all about pensions. And, if it’s all about pensions then saying Poe is disqualified, implies that all those who support the Cullerton plan are disqualified as well. He would have been a lot better off using your rationale…which makes a lot of sense.

Comment by Raising Kane Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 1:30 pm
A guy, the pension funds have been in “crisis” since the 1940s, yet have never missed a payment.

You make your annual contributions, you get historic growth and it’s not so much a crisis.

You spend a lot of time relating “what you’re hearing in middle-class precincts” that are the Usual Talking Points of Ty and the Tribbies.

Whatever. I speak for myself, no one else.

And I’m in the private sector.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 1:34 pm
Durkin is lucky that the state workers who are dominating this thread aren’t the ones voting for leader! Take pensions out of the debate and the Republicans in the house stand with Durkin because business b leaders appear to be with Durkin.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 1:37 pm
Fahner should have been disgraced by Rich Miller’s recent revelations.

However, the MSM went to great pains to not print the story. As always, it is not only what you say, it is what you don’t say. And by media’s not saying anything Fahner can still strut around with impunity.

Comment by Federalist Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 1:55 pm
I’d like the list of large business contributors over the last six years compared to how many of them allow Ty Fahner to speak for them or veto their donations. Mu suspicion is there are precious few actual business donors who let Ty Fahner decide who they will support.

Would be a good data dump question. Maybe some reporter bored in late August / early September can get a handle on who the business contributors actually are in our state.

Comment by Dan Johnson Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 1:55 pm
Reminds me of the scene from the movie “Used Cars” when the guy said “Used to be, when you bought a politician, the [S.O.B] stayed bought.”

Hoping Durkin had no knowledge of this ultimatium gauntlet. Jim’s a good guy and so is Ray. Sometimes things are better left unsaid. This is one of those times. Can you imagine if Speaker Madigan had made such a pronouncement? Me either.

Comment by woodchuck Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 2:08 pm
==There needs to be a balanced approach to dealing with all of it.==

I agree, if by “balanced approach,” you mean the state stiffing all of its creditors, not just its retirees and current employees. That would include bondholders, bond counsel who bleed off some very good profits from each issuance, investment companies who charge pretty hefty fees to make investments for the retirement funds, and contractors who buld the roads, none of whom have a greater legal or moral claim to being paid than retirees and current employees who have already performed the services entitling them to pensions.

Comment by Anon. Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 2:08 pm
“gold-plated pensions,” A guy?
Wow, I never heard $32,000-$34,000 a year described as “gold-plated” before. After all, that’s what the average yearly pension is for Illinois public employees, according to multiple sources. The problem, as has been spelled out here many, many, many times, is that political leaders of both parties decided a couple decades ago to “put off” making the state’s annual contributions to the plan until, well, I don’t know, they won the lottery or discovered vast oil fields under Lake Michigan or something. Big business owners who got all kinds of tax breaks because of trickery like that don’t want to hear it, but it’s the truth. Now the bill is due. Deal with that.

Comment by OldSmoky2 Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 2:17 pm
Word, I don’t care much what Ty or the Tribbies say. Don’t spend much time listening to either. I wouldn’t know what they said this time if I weren’t on this site. I’m a private sector person too. I’ve been hearing this in precincts for the past couple of years. I’m hearing it a lot more now and louder. I disagree that the pensions have been in crisis since the 1940s. Not willing to spend the time arguing about it. People are living a lot longer and the ratio to retirees/active workers is far different than 75 years ago. The system never assumed payments of 45+ years after retirement. I believe the members can do a lot to save and help themselves here. I wouldn’t trust anyone else to do it for me; public or private. If this bubble bursts, it’ll be like no other. I trust we agree on that friend.

Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 2:21 pm
Old Smoky, I wrote that those weren’t my words, but what I’m hearing. I for one would be supportive of leaving retirees mostly alone on any changes. Compounding COLAs would be gone though. The system becomes a problem when currently working public workers with much higher salaries than their predecessors who have retired already begin to retire in big numbers. I think retirees have been mostly ignored in this whole process. Once you quit paying dues, they quit thinking about you at all.

Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 2:32 pm
So…why is anyone paying attention to this man? Ty Fahner has already determined to work against the State of Illinois with his deceit in the bond markets, this seems to be more of his usual regressive rhetoric. Raymond Poe has been a stand-up guy as long as I’ve known him, and remarkably free of the strange thought patterns that plague my Republican friends.

Comment by Lancer Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 2:32 pm
A guy, I really have no idea what you’re talking about.

Just how many retirees are drawing pension payments for “45+ years after retirement?” That’s a strain on the system?

The record shows that the state’s historic underfunding of pension contributions dates to the 1940s. That’s not a matter of faith, it’s a fact. Yet no payments have been missed.

And what “bubble” are you talking about?

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 2:36 pm
“Old Smoky, I wrote that those weren’t my words, but what I’m hearing.”

The Monique Davis approach. Classic.

Comment by Rahm'sMiddleFinger Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 2:42 pm
Does anyone else think this Ty threat makes the Chicago business community sound like a cartel and Ty some wannabe mafia kingpin?

Attention Springfield capos, the word from the boss is this: Bust unions… OR ELSE

Comment by hisgirlfriday Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 2:46 pm
Fahner is a bag of wind who could care less about state employees WHO provide vital services to his 95%. He wants us to hear what he wants us to hear and doesn’t care about the damage to workers.

Comment by Observer Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 2:59 pm
Fahner is a bag of wind who could care less about state employees WHO provide vital services to his 95%. He wants us to hear what he wants us to hear and doesn’t care about the damage to workers and retirees.

Comment by Observer Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 2:59 pm
=== Wordslinger, you are such a smart person and smart poster ===

Finally, something Guy says that I can agree with.

=== I just don’t understand how you continue to diminish the problem these pension funds ===

You don’t understand his position because instead of reviewing all the facts regarding the issue you’ve chosen to buy the limited information supplied by Ty and his ilk.

To the post, Ty can threaten the caucus again but his earlier didn’t seem to result in a majority them supporting SB 1.

Durkin’s promise of money may help him get elected leader, but I don’t see it changing the positions of downstate members on draconian pension reduction. Then we’ll see what the new leader does - expel the non-complying members; support opponents using Ty money.

Before they vote, downstate members will need to ask themselves a question, will Durkin’s money be used to help them when they vote the needs of their constituents and oppose pension reduction?

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 3:13 pm
Raymond Poe would be a disaster for the Republican party, as its leader. He is joined at the hip to the public employee unions and would look for an easy fix to the pension mess. Real leadership and tough decisions are needed.
Public employees have good pay and terrific benefits, including paid holidays, sick leave, and personal days off. Add these in to the pension and health care and you have a nice salary and benefit package. If these jobs are so bad financially, why are so many people always looking to get a government job or become a teacher? Very few public employees every leave the public sector for the private sector, unless its at the upper level of management.

Comment by Downstater Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 3:30 pm
To the Post,

Ty Faner is now … Blackmailing(?) the HGOP, just like Ty and the “Boys” didn’t …did not … lobby for the credit rate to fall?

===“Any member who supports Poe can expect little or no financial support (from business) going forward given the critical need for meaningful pension reform and Poe’s public opposition to it.”===

this is two-fold;

You MUST make sure you, as a member of the HGOP, support Ty Fahner and his Dopes, or you will not get money … which some might say … is exrotrtion…

and second …

You must NOT support Poe, period.

For a … Man … whjo didn’t manipulate the Illinois Bond rating… who “misspoke” … and recanted all that “insider mumbo-jumbo”, that Ty Fahner knows how to Extort, to Manipulate, to “control to process” to his…Ty Fahner’s approval … all the while claiming Ty Fahner has the “best interest of Illinois in mind, even as Ty Fahner is destroying the Bond Rating, destroying to Process of replacing “Two-Putt”, and destroying any opportunity for the Reagan Rule of 80% because of … Must.

Take on Ty, HGOP … don’t worry, give Ty Fahner a day or two, his story changes when the heat arrives.

Dope!

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 3:31 pm
=when they vote the needs of their constituents=

Don’t you mean the “needs of SOME of their constituents”?

Comment by Knome Sane Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 3:33 pm
Oswego Willy,

It’s not too late to run for Governor. In fact, it’s still too early to start circulating petitions.

Comment by Bill White Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 3:34 pm
Bill White….why don’t we draft Willy to run for Cross’s house seat? A star could be born!

Comment by Raising Kane Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 3:39 pm
The pension issue will never be politically decided in any meaningful way at the state level. The politics are too toxic.
The state pols will not do anything meaningful until a court rules on the impact of state laws and constitutional language protecting gov emplyee pensions. Even then, the rulings may only impact local government pensions for local units that opt for ch 9 bankruptcy.
Maybe a couple of municipal bankruptcies would galvanize the state pols.
What we most likely will see is a gradual erosion of services, particularly to the most vulnerable. I suspect that Mayor Emmanuel is okay with this plan because it may “cleanse” a lot of troubled Chicago neighborhoods and hasten his vision of a richer, wealthier, gentrified Chicago.
Until we see some seminal rulings out of the San Bernadino or Detroit Bankruptcies, I suspect things will just plod along, with debt downgrade after debt down grade, school closing after school closing, etc.

Comment by Cook County Commoner Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 3:40 pm
Norse, glad I could toss out something for you to agree with. It is what motivates me to live. lol

Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 3:41 pm
@Raising Kane

Who will run for Cross’s house seat? Any contenders yet?

Comment by Bill White Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 3:43 pm
Kane, Don’t be diverting my candidate for Governor to a rep seat. We need Willy at the top.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 3:55 pm
That right there is why NOW every vote should go to Poe and I really didn’t care one way or another until this. Ty should go back under his rock

Comment by Former Merit Comp Slave Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 4:00 pm
Let me start by saying that Raymond and Jim are both very good people, we would be well off with more like them in the GA. I doubt if either of them are even remotely involved with Fahner’s, antics. Having said that, did Ty Fahner JUST OFFER CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO LEGISLATOR’S WHO VOTE ONE WAY RATHER THAN ANOTHER (caps very intentional) in the leader’s race? I went back and re-read several times. Fahner is a former AG and former assistant USA, and that statement in close enough to a bribe offer to almost make me wish for Pat Collins back. Jesus! No nuances, no wink-of-the -eye, just paain old say it out loud quid pro quo. He needs to be put on meds and sent somewhere to recover. If Ryan or Cellini were quoted saying anything close to that their sentences would have doubled. Surely he mis-spoke again.

Comment by steve schnorf Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 4:05 pm
Thank you, Steve Schnorf.

Hey, if you can get away with working to tank the state’s credit rating while taking a couple million to be the state’s bond counsel, I guess you think you can get away with anything.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 4:11 pm
Look, whichever office …

Governor … or state Rep … will not take away from my golf the most …

Sorry, I digressed …

To the Post,

- steve schnorf -

I can not agree more, and I am very concerned at the extortion, not in the legal tender aspect, but in the “in your face, we run you” ideal that Ty Fahner and his ilk have no problem saying … out loud … and very proud … about the Mushrooms in the HGOP.

Is it birbery or extortion?

If you are doing something under duress, extortion? Doing it for da money, bribery?

Yikes, Ty Fahner can’t make up his mind what ethical standard he wants to corrupt!

- Norseman -,

Keep your eye on the Prize …

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 4:17 pm
Downstater, == He is joined at the hip to the public employee unions and would look for an easy fix to the pension mess.==

No, its people like Madigan, The Tribune, Ty Fahner, and many others who are looking for an easy fix to the pension problem. And their easy fix is to sock it to the teachers and state employees and see if they can get away with it — rather than dealing with the hard task of following the Constitution and paying the pension contributions that the state owes.

All Illinois taxpayers benefited from the ultra-low 3% tax rate Illinois had for 20 years, despite the fact that over 30 other states have higher rates than even Illinois’ current 5% rate. Real leaders would deal with coming up with the revenue to pay the State’s bills rather than taking the easy way out of trying to ignore contracts and get by with socking it to State employees and teachers.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 4:21 pm
Ty doesn’t speak for the folks who actually make political contribution decisions at these companies.

Perhaps, he “misspoke” — He simply meant to be heard as a pundit reading the mood of the business community in general. In which case, he’s wrong to closely link this contest between Durkin and Poe as significant to perceptions of the business climate in Illinois. It’s just not that important.

Comment by walkinfool Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 5:42 pm
Mr. Willy I was chicagoland caddy of year 1970 can still see far I’m all in !!! to the post notice how the ILL GOP is predictably imploding already? wow

Comment by railrat Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 5:47 pm
What utter BS.

There are thousands of highly competent entrepreneurs just waiting for those companies to leave and create an opening so they can step in to meet the demand.

I therefore suggest some states for business leaders to relocate to here, along with information about per-capita income taxes,
but a note of warning about per capita numbers-most states have graduated taxes that demand the rich pay a higher percentage than the average middle class workers:

Consider states with big urban commercial and cultural centers:

Illinois: $2,287
New York: $3,491 (52% higher)
California: $3,096 (35% higher)
Massachusetts: $3,353 (47% higher)

Comparison with regional agricultural states :

Indiana $2,288 (Gary is providing tax breaks)
Wisconsin $2,687 (17% higher)
Iowa $2,363 (3.3% higher)
Minnesota $3,546 (55% higher)

Other alternates:
Hawaii $3,533 (55% higher)
Texas $1,682 (you get what you pay for here)
Wyoming $4,333 (89% higher)
Vermont $4,291 (88% higher)

One more to consider if you long to shoot & skin moose:
Alaska $7,662 (235% higher)

Once you retire, or if you want to hire the geriatric crowd, consider these:

Florida $1,708 (25% less)
Arizona $1,673 (27% less)
Unfortunately, your air conditioning bills will more than make up for those savings.

And in case your wives want leave Chicago to move to Kentucky or equal, heres a complete list:
http://cgfa.ilga.gov/Upload/2012ILNationalRankings.pdf

Comment by Cod Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 5:50 pm
“cod” please provide the list of “thousands” ?!!

Comment by railrat Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 5:56 pm
steve schnorf @ 4:05 pm:

Wait, is this the same Steve Schnorf that was Governor Edgar’s budget director back in the day, and is now a financial consultant, as described in this bio?

http://www.wsscapital.com/team/stephen-schnorf

Comment by Cod Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 6:01 pm
- railrat -

Please, no formalities necessary, just don’t call me Bill, only my Mom calls me Bill.

Caddying is a great summer job, and I wish more kids would look to caddy. You learn alot, and not just about golf.

To the Post,

Something else to consider. As Ty is speaking, and in the tone and tenor as he is, will this be something that Ty Fahner will regret saying?

My point? Will Ty want to be seen in this light … again … as his reputation seems to be crumbling before all of us? - steve schnorf - posted it well, asking if Ty was on meds, and such, because, with just an honest eye, Ty Fahner is being seen as someone willing to skirt perceived ethical violations, bordering …but I don’t want to get too far ahead.

Will Ty honestly regret these quotes, and see this as “too far”… honestly?

If the answer is “No”, is the Civic Committee willing for these quotes, exactly as they are, to be their position in the selection of the Minority Leader of the Illinois General Assembly, given the “Bond” statements Ty Fahner tried to walk back, but is possibly unwilling to walk THESE back?

Big question, if you were to ask me.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 6:03 pm
What if Todd threatened any Republican who voted for the only current member of the GOP caucus who voted NO on concealed carry last year? The Tribsters would blow a gasket taking the gun lobby to task for its hamhanded bully tactics.

If any other special interest issued such a threat in order to dictate the next GOP House leader, it would be called what it is: A bully tactic. Let’s see if it works.

Comment by reformer Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 6:21 pm
Sheesh, a House GOPer just can’t win.
First, Quinn wipes out their pay because there’s no pension reform.
Now, if they vote Poe, Ty is going to veto their campaign checks.
They just can’t win.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 9:43 pm
Michelle homers again!

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 10:10 pm
- Michelle Flaherty -

lol

It’s tough being a Mushroom!

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 11:41 pm
Times like these I really miss Bill Black.

Reality Check:

1) most Republicans don’t need the support of the Civic Committee.

2) Fahners boys, at best, are gonna split their support between Madigan and the next Republican. More likely, House Democrats will get the bulk of the dough.

3) Pension reform may be Ty’s top issue, but his members have a much broader agenda, and they will write a check to whomever will vote for their tax breaks, etc.

Comment by Juvenal Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 8:18 am
I guess his leadership would not be overly concerned with the interests of the roughly 95 percent of the people in Illinois who are not public employees”

Instead, Fahner wants a leadership that is concerned with the interests of the roughly .01% of the people in Illinois who are the multi-millionaire members of his Committee.

Comment by Chi Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 8:28 am
Just glad that ty is no longer a AG.

Comment by one for all Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 12:08 pm