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Madigan being Madigan, as Rauner shies away

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* Doug Finke has a good story about Speaker Madigan’s new plan to set up the Lincoln Library and Museum as its own state agency…

The House State Government Administration Committee is scheduled to consider Madigan’s plan to make the presidential library and museum its own state agency. The latest version is proposed as an amendment to Senate Bill 218, which the Senate could approve quickly if it first passes the House.

“I think it’s up in the air right now,” said committee chairman Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo. “When we had our hearing up in Chicago, I wanted to give the interested parties an opportunity to get together and try to come up with some solutions to the structure. My suggestion to the speaker is to hear what these guys have been working on as opposed to necessarily moving a bill at this point. But he may have a different perspective.”

Franks didn’t even know about Madigan’s new bill when I called him over a week ago. That’s Madigan’s way.

* But “Madigan’s way” is more than a little premature. There’s a review board in place and it will make recommendations by January 15th. The board is being assisted by Brent Glass, the former director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History.

Passing legislation just because it’s Madigan’s bill (and because he wants to save the hide of the current advisory board’s executive director, who just happens to be the significant other of his 13th Ward district office landlord) before that review board has had a chance to weigh in would be a huge mistake…

“There are a lot of smart people looking at this issue and trying to figure out the best way to operate the library and museum so it pursues its mission as well as possible,” said Chris Wills, spokesman for the Historic Preservation Agency. “It won’t help anybody to rush and pass legislation before these people have a chance to offer their advice.”

* But this is interesting…

Rauner’s staff did not respond to a question about his position on making the library and museum a separate department.

I got a no comment when I asked them about this ten days ago.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 17, 14 @ 10:19 am

Comments

doubt rauner cares much. M’s bill is probably one he could support because it makes sense.

Comment by jim Monday, Nov 17, 14 @ 10:23 am
Well, if Rauner can’t find a way to have conflicting opinions, then he will have none at all.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Monday, Nov 17, 14 @ 10:39 am
It’s going to take Team Rauner some time before they begin caring about the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, or even having a rough understanding of what it is and what it’s supposed to do. In the meantime, Madigan will likely be able to do as he pleases.

Checks and balances work best when each branch has a similarly strong grasp of the role and history of government agencies.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Nov 17, 14 @ 10:48 am
==The state also retained the services of Brent Glass, director emeritus of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History, to assist with the review panel’s work. He is being paid $25,000 with funds generated by the museum gift shop and restaurant.==

Can we at least get our $25,000 worth of work product out of the director emeritus of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History before we try to rush another bill through?

Comment by Roamin' Numeral Monday, Nov 17, 14 @ 10:48 am
It will be done Madigan’s Way.

Comment by Mokenavince Monday, Nov 17, 14 @ 10:49 am
Rauner wise not to pick an unnecessary fight with Madigan?

Or hypocritical since this is would seem to be something in Springfield that needs to be shaken up?

I’d say both.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Monday, Nov 17, 14 @ 10:58 am
Making a new state agency will have minimal costs, both now and into the future? And will inherently be more competent than the current structure? My experience tells me that both of those things are unlikely to be true. Maybe one or the other, but I’m especially skeptical about the first one.

Comment by liandro Monday, Nov 17, 14 @ 11:13 am
Don’t forget that the expert’s hiring was by IDHP’s own review committee that does not include representatives from the Lincoln Library’s Board. That review committee has always smelled of a set-up to preserve the status quo!

Comment by D.P.Gumby Monday, Nov 17, 14 @ 11:13 am
I should say: “unlikely to be true simultaneously*

Comment by liandro Monday, Nov 17, 14 @ 11:14 am
Why should Rauner care? The new legislation gives him all 11 appointments to the new board, with Senate confirmation. You can look it up! He won’t exactly be cut out of having a big say. Stay tuned: there’s more to the story, and wouldn’t be so confident that the ALPLM executive director (not the advisory board chair) is the “significant other” of the Speaker’s landlord. Just because they attend events together doesn’t make them romantically involved at this point in their lives (of course, it’s a better “story” to imply otherwise).

Comment by Willie Stark Monday, Nov 17, 14 @ 11:27 am
Let’s give Madigan what he wants but let’s go all the way. No governing board. A budget commensurate with IHPA’s meager level of funding. And lots of unqualified do nothing political appointees as senior management. Be careful what you wish for.

Comment by Sir Reel Monday, Nov 17, 14 @ 12:08 pm
Rauner has so many bigger fish to fry. Presuming Madigan can get Cullerton and the Senate on board, and why would he be fast tracking this if he did not or could not, this is all but a done deal. If Mackevich is as problematic as her foes say, she’ll soon be a done deal, too. This advisory board is not populated by fools. They’ll send her packing soon enough if she founders.

FWIW, Rauner in his silence has done the exact same thing Quinn did on ALPLM, which was say nothing and take no position. The difference is, Quinn was in office and Rauner is not. It’s acceptable for Rauner, having so much else on his plate, to not be up to speed on ALPLM,and so not stake out a position, in a way that it was not acceptable for Quinn. There’s no upside for Rauner taking a position, and he might just generate some good will among legislative leadership if he gets out of the way on this thing and lets Madigan and Cullerton handle it.

Comment by Not OW Monday, Nov 17, 14 @ 12:09 pm
I agree with those who don’t think Rauner will care. Anyone remember the original funding for the library included a research budget that was supposed to be managed by UIS? UIS actually got the money and then lost it.

Comment by Liberty Monday, Nov 17, 14 @ 12:48 pm
Rauner should take a position against needlessly expanding government. Even if the Speaker wants to.

Comment by North Madiganistan Monday, Nov 17, 14 @ 1:10 pm
== But “Madigan’s way” is more than a little premature. ==

It is. Even after he initially tried sliding this through committee during Memorial Day weekend with less than a week to go in session. Apparently he hoped it would be drowned out by other news, such as the budget, during a holiday weekend.

Now we get more of the same. For someone who talks about valuing Governors willing to negotiate and compromise, he displays very few of those same traits here.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Nov 17, 14 @ 1:26 pm
The current decision maker at the Library knows politics, but doesn’t know anything about management. Her political solution to her managerial problems won’t help the Library, nor herself. Madigan won’t be able to help her save herself, from herself.

She needs to retire before she destroys the Library completely with this political move.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Nov 17, 14 @ 2:19 pm