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* We’re coming really late to this Kurt Erickson column, but I wanted to make sure you saw this…
Among the more than 2,000 emails turned over to a legislative panel investigating Gov. Pat Quinn’s failed anti-violence program is a confidential note from the governor’s liaison with the Legislature.
In it, Jessica Brushkin shines a spotlight on how individual lawmakers view the governor.
It is not a pretty view.
Let’s take state Rep. Bill Mitchell for example.
Brushkin wrote that the Republican from Forsyth was upset the governor did not invite him or state Rep. Adam Brown, R-Champaign, to events with the governor in Decatur.
At the time the email went out in September 2012, Quinn had just been in Decatur for an event honoring veterans.
* Ah, but there’s more. With many thanks to Kurt, the full e-mail…
From: Bruskin, Jessica
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2012 10:48 AM
To: [Redacted by me]
Subject: Noteworthy information from roll call
Sensitivity: Confidential· Rep. Cabello (Repub) is is supportive of all of our veto action except for assault weapons ban, budget and gaming. He has not made a decision on Leucadia yet.
· Rep. E Jackson - had other concern regarding one particular program that got funded, the Neighborhood Recovery Initiative Program; which was funded $14 million. His concern is why all the funding got sent up to the Chicago area. He wants to know: -Why did none of those dollars come down to the East St. Louis area? -How was the process determined? -What is the process to apply? -Is it to late to apply? -Wanting a list of contacts who in charge of this program? He also spoke about the Safety Recovery Program which funding was cut. Rep. Jackson stated he would like to have someone get back with him regarding these questions before next Wednesday (September 26).
· Rep. Lang - The Gov’s office had better not think they can negotiate a [gaming] compromise without me at the table, or just Link and Cullerton at the table without me, they are wrong and will not succeed.
· Rep. Lyons - Joe is extremely upset with the Governor’s office at this time. He professionally and politely refused to answer any questions about legislation.
· Rep. Mitchell, B - Rep. Bill Mitchell was upset that the Governor did not invite him (nor Rep. Brown) to events the Governor was at in Decatur. He stated he was only agreeing to listen to the Governor’s point of view on these issues because I requested the meeting. He would not have met with anyone else.
· Sen. Delgado - He wants this to be shared with the Governor: he is tired of the Gov blaming legislators for issues and problems in the state. When he bashes legislators, he is trageting ALL of them. If Gov. Quinn has issues with certain legislators he should single them out & not blame allof them. Delgado says he is a Democrat, just like Quinn & that they should work together as a team & team members–don’t bash each other. He said he expects an apology from the Gov and the Gov should understand that they are allies & will get so much more done when they work together. He apologized to the caller for having to go thru her to relay this message, but the Gov and his leadership have not responded to him & his requests to discuss issues.
* One of the staff replies was pretty snarky…
Cabello’s is interesting — he is supportive of all our veto action except for 4 out of 7 of them?
I like Lang’s too, it sounds like something out of The Avengers.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 4, 14 @ 1:47 pm
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All this before the first morning coffee. Wow.
Comment by A guy... Monday, Aug 4, 14 @ 1:51 pm
What a whiny bunch of losers.
Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Aug 4, 14 @ 2:00 pm
Joe Lyons is always a class act.
Comment by LizPhairTax Monday, Aug 4, 14 @ 2:05 pm
Good Lord
Are we in the legislature or pre-school?
My 2 yo gdaughter exhibits more maturity than these guys–and truth be told these guys exhibit a whole lot more maturity than Congress. That’s pretty sad.
Comment by train111 Monday, Aug 4, 14 @ 2:11 pm
After Blago, the bar should be higher for “hurt feelings” between the gov’s office and the GA than these poor examples. There were some real whoppers back then.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Monday, Aug 4, 14 @ 2:14 pm
Quinn’s people still don’t understand how to deal with the Solons.
Comment by Norseman Monday, Aug 4, 14 @ 2:23 pm
and this is a surprise?
Comment by Amalia Monday, Aug 4, 14 @ 2:33 pm
Never in an email…never…in an email.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 4, 14 @ 2:51 pm
==What a whiny bunch of losers. ==
I suppose it might look that way to the Quinn folks. But if the only time the Gov’s people knock on the door is when they want something, they shouldn’t be surprised by this sort of blowback.
The Decatur thing is a perfect example. It costs the Gov nothing to notify those Reps that he will be in the district (or nearby) at what was presumably a non-partisan event for veterans. It benefits both and earns a little goodwill; why not do it?
And, Lang was pointing out a simple truth.
As far as I know, Quinn has no floor leader in the House or Senate. I think that says a lot about how he feels about the GA. Why should anyone be surprised that the feelings are mutual?
Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Aug 4, 14 @ 3:14 pm
I would have thought this was a two way street. How many GA members have met with Quinn or asked him to some local event? Seems petty on both sides. Even if they hate each other they can at least put on a front.
Comment by zatoichi Monday, Aug 4, 14 @ 3:32 pm
If these legislators are offended by how Quinn treats them, wait until they work with Governor Rauner
Comment by K3 Monday, Aug 4, 14 @ 3:33 pm
Is it just me or does Rep. Jackson come off looking pretty good here?
Comment by lake county democrat Monday, Aug 4, 14 @ 3:33 pm
Maybe the author can spell the staffer’s name correctly in his article so at the very least, she will have notoriety connected to her correct last name. Illinois media… nailed it!
Comment by Strategery Monday, Aug 4, 14 @ 4:16 pm
You have to be careful about hurting people’s feelings.
http://vimeo.com/26317618
Comment by Soccermom Monday, Aug 4, 14 @ 4:19 pm
I remember being ‘explained to’ a very long time ago down in Springfield that the reason ‘good’ legislation often failed had little to do with good/bad aspects of legislation, or even partisan politics, but to a considerable extent it was due to interpersonal relationships (or lack of).
———–
“Cabello’s is interesting — he is supportive of all our veto action except for 4 out of 7 of them?”
Tell the genius that when you can get a rep. from the other party to give you 50%+ support for your vetoes, that’s a really good starting point.
Time to shut up and smile, because you have established at least one line of communication, and with the other party. That’s valuable.
Comment by Judgment Day Monday, Aug 4, 14 @ 6:40 pm
Politics is a game of subtraction.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Aug 4, 14 @ 7:49 pm
Good point Judgment Day.
Credit to Bruskin that lawmakers leveled with her.
Again, the hostility is no reflection on the legislative staff.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Aug 4, 14 @ 7:52 pm
Lets talk about idoc and iyc staff assaults instead of this political bs that I see over and over again…..on one hand you have a latin king known by the inmates as poppy director and a governor and legislature who have never set foot,worked or even looked at a prison.
Yet another assault occurred at an iyc…but I’m sure mr.shaer will say its just another isolated incident along with all the others…I have never seen so many inmate assaults on staff and inmate on inmate assaults with my yrs in service..yet they are all isolated incidents…whats it gonna take?
The public only hears what they want to hear I guess…
I’m just wondering when someone will cry foul when an inmate or staff is really gonna be hurt.
Comment by anon Monday, Aug 4, 14 @ 8:37 pm
Anon 8:37-
I am sorry: are you alleging that the IDOC Director is affiliated with the Latin Kings?
If that is what you meant, that is way out of bounds.
YDD
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Aug 4, 14 @ 9:30 pm
anon 8:37 I’ve re-read the post and comments and I’m still not too sure what your comment has to do with the post. What am I missing?
Comment by steve schnorf Monday, Aug 4, 14 @ 9:34 pm
==How many GA members have met with Quinn or asked him to some local event?==
Many ask, but after a certain number of cancellations and “not available”s, many give up.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Aug 4, 14 @ 9:50 pm