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* From a press release…
Legislation introduced Friday by state Rep. Jack D. Franks, D-Marengo, would place a referendum regarding limiting the terms of Illinois’ legislative leaders on the ballot of the next general election.
“The results of the recent elections demonstrate clearly that Illinois residents and taxpayers are fed up with the immovable status-quo in this state,” Franks said. “Placing term limits on legislative leaders is an idea that I hear regularly from constituents and they deserve the opportunity to make their voices heard directly and specifically on this issue.”
House Bill 257 creates the Legislative Leader Term Limit Referendum Act, which would ask a non-binding, advisory question of Illinoisans voting in the November 1, 2016 general election. Voters would have the opportunity to weigh in on whether the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, the President of the Illinois Senate and both the House and Senate Minority Leaders should be term limited as leaders of the Illinois General Assembly’s two chambers.
“While our state grapples with numerous policy questions which will have implications that ripple long into the future, I believe this debate should be included,” Franks added. “The structures of government upon which we rely are clearly due for an overhaul and the wisdom of our constituents should be a valuable addition to the discussions.”
Rep. Franks, of course, voted for Speaker Madigan’s reelection last week.
* And remember Will Guzzardi? He thumped Rep. Toni Berrios last year in the Democratic primary with an anti-Springfield message. Here’s something I wrote about him last year…
There’s no question that Democrat Will Guzzardi ran a highly effective outsider campaign against state Rep. Toni Berrios (D-Chicago) earlier this year. Guzzardi soundly defeated Rep. Berrios, the daughter of Cook County Democratic Party Chairman Joe Berrios, and along the way told the Chicago Tribune “The monolithic structures of power in Springfield aren’t doing any good for anyone.”
It’s not difficult to discern who he was talking about. The longest serving House Speaker in Illinois history is the very embodiment of a “monolithic structure of power.”
So, there have been some expectations that Guzzardi might not cast his vote for Michael Madigan’s reelection as Speaker next January, he said last week that he hasn’t yet made up his mind.
“That’s something I intend to figure out when the vote comes up,” Guzzardi said.
Well, he figured it out. Guzzardi also voted for Madigan, despite the fact that Madigan’s didn’t do any good for anyone.
Every House Democrat voted for Madigan except Rep. D’Amico, whose mom died last week, which kept him from attending the session.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 12:30 pm
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good for jack. but what are the odds of this getting called for a vote by the speaker, let alone passing? maybe he’d call it for a vote if guaranteed it won’t pass.
Comment by jim Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 12:32 pm
The Guzzardi vote is hilarious. Basically, the unions opposed the person who voted with them, and replaced her with the “independent” who then backed the Speaker.
Yeah, that’s a genuine revolution they’ve got themselves! Nice work!
I have to give Will credit. He’s much smarter than the people who voted for him.
Comment by Gooner Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 12:35 pm
Actions speak loader than words. They both know better than to actually follow up on their campaign rhetoric if they want to have any relevancy in the capitol. Same as it ever was…
Comment by Roadiepig Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 12:36 pm
I’d be surprised if the Speaker allowed this to be called for a vote and even if he did the majority wouldn’t vote for it. Their top priority is keeping their seats once they get elected.
Comment by The Dude Abides Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 12:36 pm
If this gets called for a vote it is because the Speaker is retiring in the near future.
Comment by Phenomynous Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 12:40 pm
Maybe an early move to carve out a little wedge of that $20M everyone’s talking about. Even a populist needs a little shark repellent.
Comment by A guy Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 12:44 pm
Guzzardi and Sandack…
“How To Get In Line Before You Get Run Over”
#IndependentLemmings.
Franks is fun. Of course I’m not a Dem leader in the House, so my take is for comical purposes.
One last point;
Guzzardi is falling in line with his Chamber leader. Sandack is falling in line with the Governor, and the man who financed his primary challenger, who is still a private citizen.
Just saying….
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 12:45 pm
Jack Franks: Profiles in Self-Aggrandizement.
What’s good for Jack is what’s good for Jack.
Comment by Larry the Cable Guy Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 12:47 pm
Whatever it takes for Jack to get his name in the paper in the name of “good government”…
Comment by PJ Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 12:47 pm
It’s easy to talk a big game…
Remember running into a state rep candidate (Dem) who talked about shaking up Springfield and when I asked them if they would then not vote for the speaker they kind of locked-up… It was kind of funny.
Comment by OneMan Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 12:59 pm
It’ll never get out of committee … if it even gets assigned to a committee.
Comment by RNUG Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 1:00 pm
LOL at Guzzardi’s vote.
He made a smart and necessary move, but at a cost to his credibility among some of his voters and supporters.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 1:03 pm
Good to have someone talking about and proposing a bill, even if it doesn’t make it out of committee. The more attention drawn to term limits the better off for everyone. Lots of people aren’t aware this is a possibility and could get them thinking and acting.
Comment by Apocalypse Now Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 1:14 pm
Guzzardi another “progressive” who claims to be independent, just another follower.
Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 1:15 pm
Seems like a waste of space on the ballot. Does anybody think it wouldn’t get a large majority yes vote?
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 1:37 pm
Hilarious. There are principles, and then there is principle, which usually gets divvied up when the meats-a-cookin.’
Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 1:39 pm
But wait, the General Assembly hasn’t acted on all the other non binding advisory referendums yet. We’ll need to number them to keep them straight.
Comment by Sir Reel Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 1:45 pm
Every House Democrat voted for Madigan…
Then they stood and clapped their hands and sang “The Leader Song”, while holding up giant framed photos of Mr. Speaker. Two legislators were seen on their knees in the aisle, waving their arms and crying out as having witnessed miracles they attributed to Mr. Speaker. It was rumored that the large Lincoln statue on the east lawn outside the Capitol was weeping tears of blood and levitating over the statue of Everett Dirksen.
Upon hearing the news of Mr. Speakers election, public schools were closed early in order to better organize midnight torch parades. Jailed politicians were paroled for connubial reunions with spouses.
There were two reports of visions after the election. Mrs. Carol Newbury of Fox Lake showed astonished neighbors her raisin toast which crisped to an exact likeness of Mr. Speaker and Bob Turlett of Danville is a new man after years of unemployment and poverty, won the State Lottery with numbers he claims were whispered into his ear by a vision of Mr. Speaker.
Four couples becoming new parents celebrated the news by naming their newborns after Michael J. Madigan. Skeeter and Timmy McDonald named their newborn twins, “Michael” and “Maddy”. Ken Butterfield adopted four cats and named each after Illinois’ Four Tops.
A state holiday will be declared across the happy state as church bells rang and choirs sang. All of Illinois is expected to celebrate the reelection of Mr. Speaker with bonfires, hayrides and pony rides until the end of the month.
The entire state of Illinois rejoiced at the good news that the longest serving Illinois speaker of the house would continue his reign of goodness and mercy.
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 1:59 pm
- VanillaMan -,
The Speaker and Senate President may be the only friends state employees have for the next 4 years…
Food for thought…
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 2:15 pm
Obviously this is just a ‘fetcher’ bill for a good Tribune editorial, but seriously - how does Franks come to this conclusion? - “The results of the recent elections demonstrate clearly that Illinois residents and taxpayers are fed up with the immovable status-quo in this state.” Virtually every incumbent legislator re-elected, veto-proof majorities for Democrats in both chambers. The only real change is a not very popular Governor loses his re-election. How detached from reality is Franks?
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 2:15 pm
Non-binding advisory only? So we get a lot of attention for a bill that will do what? Get Franks a lot of publicity perhaps?
Stiffen the spines of Dems in the House to vote for someone else? Doubt that will happen.
Comment by Nearly Normal Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 2:17 pm
Did anyone run against Madigan? How is Guzzardi supposed to help move the issues he supports as a freshman who takes a symbolic vote to antagonize the leader of your party? That vote shows he is more practical than people have given him credit for.
Comment by Century Club Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 2:18 pm
- Century Club -
So Guzzardi is a “go along, get along” Democratic Party lemming, doing the Speaker’s bidding, making sure MJM holds a grip on Illinois government..,
Or just a hypocrite, for convenience? lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 2:22 pm
In an ironic turn of events, Guzzardi rationalized his vote for the Speaker by explaining that he is going to need some help passing his bill that eliminates the Illinois sex offender registry .
Comment by Hacksaw Jim Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 2:31 pm
As a constituent of the new Rep. Guzzardi who voted for him this time (Berrios the first time), I’m glad he “figured it out.” A lone, futile, symbolic vote is just that. Me and my neighbors want a rep who will wisely pick his battles and play the long game to get good things done for us — a workhorse, not a show horse.
Comment by 45th Ward Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 2:32 pm
That was snark by the way.
Comment by Hacksaw Jim Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 2:32 pm
==The results of the recent elections demonstrate clearly that Illinois residents and taxpayers are fed up with the immovable status-quo in this state==
==How detached from reality is Franks?==
If we consider Illinois’ historically low voter turnout during the 2014 primary, or the general direction of Illinois voter turnout in recent decades outside of elections where one of our own is on the Presidential ballot, Franks would appear to be very much in touch with reality.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 2:38 pm
What is Toni Berrios doing now?
Comment by Esquivel Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 3:33 pm
Oswego: You should have seen the way the Madigans treated State employees (and Union members) when Lisa first won statewide. Not necessarily friends.
Comment by Esquivel Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 3:40 pm
- Esquivel -,
We’ll see how Rauner treats the Union talks…
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 3:46 pm
Willy: Deal. We will see. But as I learned long ago, no matter who the candidate or what the office is, any similarities between the campaign and the actual governing are purely coincidental.
Comment by Esquivel Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 4:06 pm
- Esquivel -,
Just understand, Rauner is talking sacrifice and head counts and salaries…
It’s not like Rauner will be increasing salaries, head counts, or new hires…
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 23, 15 @ 4:10 pm