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Ken Dunkin roundup

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The Democratic state lawmaker who thwarted House Speaker Michael Madigan’s plan to overrule Gov. Bruce Rauner on two crucial votes this week said he hopes his action helps bring more compromises in Springfield.

Rep. Ken Dunkin (D-Chicago) admitted he hasn’t spoken to Madigan in a while.

“I miss the speaker. He should call more often,” he said.

* A letter to the Sun-Times’ editor written by somebody from Gurnee…

With no budget, and the Hatfields and McCoys of Springfield in full attack mode, a politician finally has the guts to stand up to the almighty House Speaker and do the unthinkable: risk his political future by making a bi-partisan gesture to end the gridlock.

What does Rep. Ken Dunkin get for his efforts? A Democratic colleague throws his nameplate across the House floor to the side of the Republicans. And the president of a powerful union attacked him for using people as pawns.

Someone actually has the guts to stand up for what is right, to end the unfathomable gridlock we are in, to stand up to the most powerful man in Illinois saying “I don’t work for Madigan”, and this is what he gets? When you can’t get any respect for doing the right thing from your own party, nor from the media, nor the very people you are working for, something is wrong to the very core of our government. No wonder this state is so messed up. Here’s a slogan I would rally behind: Dunkin for Speaker.

But alas there is something else too broken to fix. The most powerful man in the state is still elected by a handful of residents. The speaker position should be a statewide elected position. The power of that office extends across the state from Antioch to Jacksonville; why shouldn’t all of our residents have a say in who wields the sword?

* Eric Zorn’s two cents…

The only thing that’s clear is that this rogue legislator has, in effect, for no obvious good reason, called Madigan out. And that if Madigan, who also serves as the state’s Democratic Party chairman, can’t respond to this insult by backing a successful challenge to Dunkin in the March primary, he’s in bigger trouble than he thinks.

* Dispatch-Argus editorial…

Instead of embracing the governor’s efforts, they called bills designed to embarrass him and his Republican legislative supporters. Fortunately, the bills fell one vote short In the House. That was thanks to Rep. Ken Dunkin, D-Chicago, who reportedly still is feeling the heat for his efforts to find common ground with Gov. Rauner.

But rather than damn his actions, his colleagues and their constituents should be following his lead. As Rep. Dunkin said last week, “Leaders are not talking with each other. They haven’t talked since May, as I understand it. That’s insane. And so they want to vilify me, for what?”

To win the political finger-pointing game, of course.

The crucial question is: Is it working?

With the governor’s wise moves and the majority’s cynical response, our hope is that legislative leaders may have lost the crucial public relations battle that obviously is playing the leading role in when and how a deal is reached and what it will contain.

* Listen to Dunkin interviewed on WVON by clicking here. However, be forewarned, there’s a bad word near the end.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 3:48 pm

Comments

” Rep. Ken Dunkin, Raunerite-Chicago”

Better.

To the Post,

Rauner will use as much monetary influence as possible to protect The Century Club President Ken Dunkin

Wait for the Tribune to endorse Ken Dunkin in March. That’s what the Editorial Board does at the Tribune; prop up the props of Bruce Rauner.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 3:57 pm
Rauner extended an olive branch before the vote. Madigan chose to set that olive branch on fire, and then blamed Dunkin for his own choices.
Dunkin did not cause this gov breakdown, and he will not be the one to solve it. Only Rauner and Madigan, the ones causing this, can do that.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 4:00 pm
If the Speaker was directly elected by residents, wouldn’t the behind-the-scenes power of the position just shift to the Majority Leader? I.e. since a popularly elected Speaker wouldn’t be directly accountable to his or her colleagues. Maybe the US Senate is a parallel: the popularly elected Vice President of the United States formally runs the chamber, but the Majority Leader has most of the power.

Comment by Forgottonia Republic Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 4:06 pm
“I miss the speaker. He should call more often.”

Jeez.

A word of advice, Ken: send your least favorite kid out to start the car.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 4:09 pm
===The speaker position should be a statewide elected position. The power of that office extends across the state from Antioch to Jacksonville; why shouldn’t all of our residents have a say in who wields the sword?===

Ugh. We in Illinois don’t have it set up that way.

Recruit 12 more Raunerite Democrats, get to 60, then “Fire Madigan”.

Win seats, it’s like people forget Speaker Daniels.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 4:13 pm
The speaker is elected by the other representatives, as is the majority leader and the minority leader. What part of representative government is unclear? Does everyone want a state-wide New England meeting?

Comment by JackD Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 4:16 pm
A better idea would be to change House rules so that no one could hold the Speakership for no longer than say, 10 years. Currently the one who has the power to change the rule is Madigan..lol

Comment by The Dude Abides Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 4:18 pm
The CST editorial board also understands
http://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/7/71/1089976/editorial-unbending-governor-tries-compromise-gets-slapped

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 4:18 pm
Oh ” - Anonymous - ”

Wasn’t it the Sun-Tines that swore off endorsing any candidates until they decided to endorse, you guessed it, Bruce Rauner? lol.

Don’t sell this idea the Editorial Boards are looking at things… “clearly”

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 4:21 pm
Mr. Sinclair (Gurnee) has clearly taken to the “Because Madigan” rhetoric. I’m sure he’s not alone.

Comment by thunderspirit Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 4:21 pm
Oswego billy actually mjm using a fake nam eto post hatred towards dunkin?

Comment by bobby brown Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 4:22 pm
==With no budget, and the Hatfields and McCoys of Springfield in full attack mode, a politician finally has the guts to stand up to the almighty House Speaker and do the unthinkable: risk his political future by making a bi-partisan gesture to end the gridlock.==

The same could be said about Rauner if anyone in the RGA had “the guts”.

Comment by Gruntled University Employee Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 4:28 pm
Can anyone ask Mr. Dunkin , if his beloved film tax credits in any way helped sponsor that award winning film”Return of the Killer Piñata?”(yes, I saw the trailer).

Comment by Blue dog dem Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 4:28 pm
Dunkin coordinated with and provided cover for the House Republicans. That makes him a hero?

Comment by Wensicia Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 4:45 pm
it’s so odd, outside of this blog, i only get a low hum of anger at dunkin just sort of hanging in the ether. Granted, I’m downstate. But the editorials and news articles all seem to be running with this theme.

Poor Governor just wanted to play nice, and mean old Madigan just didn’t want to, say brave Ken Dunkin rode in to save the day, how dare you get mad at him.

I’ll also say a shocking number of these local news articles don’t even have their facts in order about the process. One of them here in my neighborhood said it was the MFT bill that Dunkin foiled

Comment by Johnny Pyle Driver Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 4:46 pm
The only people that will buy this PR garbage is the uninformed. Holy cow!

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 4:46 pm
Just guessing that the bad word at the end of the interview is…
Compromise.

Comment by Anon2U Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 4:49 pm
In an interview last night on WBBM radio, Toni Preckwinkle said in passing that Ken Dunkin’s actions were “incomprehensible.” A diplomatic way
of saying “Ken Dunkin, WT….”

Comment by Bystander Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 4:58 pm
Regretably, a lot of uninformed people in this State.

Comment by burbanite Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 4:59 pm
I’m all for going against your party in the name of compromise, but this is Ken Dunkin we’re talking about. The media outside of Springfield haven’t seen him in action, so I’ll excuse their ignorance. But I’ll also remind them that besides Deb Mell, Dunkin was the last legislator to stand by Blagojevich. Nuff said.
Start printing the bumper stickers for the Dem primary now: “Last with Blago, first with Rauner”

Comment by Freddy J Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 5:06 pm
Freddy J — exactly correct. This is the same legislator who likes to be called “Mr. Chairman” and whose single legislative accomplishment has been the Film Credits legislation.

Well, give credit where credit is due. Dunkin made his deal, got his tax credit checks going out and Rauner peeled him off. Dunkin got what he always wanted. He’s a playa now. He always has been amenable to a “buy out” and Rauner bought him out.

Comment by low level Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 5:27 pm
“Last with Blago. First with Rauner”

Ouch.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 5:43 pm
===“Last with Blago. First with Rauner”===

Restaurant-Quality.

Great stuff

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 6:02 pm
Sounds like he said, “Bump that”

Comment by STOP BEING A CRANK Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 7:24 pm
Bruce Rauner and the media he controls…

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 7:25 pm
==This is the same legislator who likes to be called “Mr. Chairman” and whose single legislative accomplishment has been the Film Credits legislation.==

What’s wrong with referring to the chairman of a committee as “Mr. Chairman”. And, let’s not try to diminish the value of the film tax credit. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent in Illinois as a result of the passage of that legislatision. There aren’t been other legislators who can claim to have stimulated the economy in that way.

Comment by STOP BEING A CRANK Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 7:29 pm
Dunkin is unapologetically holding his ground, and as frustrating as it may be for those who oppose the Governor, he is (intentionally or otherwise) fostering movement beyond the current impasse (where one must be humiliated and lose). I think Rich was right to focus on positives last week. Heck, Madigan should have taken credit for Rauner’s movement and just…moved on. In any event we just have to find a way to be positive and move forward, instead of looking for ways to utterly destroy the other side. Win-wins please.

Comment by Anon Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 8:26 pm
==- STOP BEING A CRANK - Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 7:29 pm:==

According to Ken Dunkin’s political patron there film tax credit has done nothing seeing that according to said person we have no job growth.

Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 9:15 pm
How did Richard J. Daley begin his political career? By running for a vacant seat as a Representative in the Illinois General Assembly as a “Republican.” Ironically, Daley sought the vacancy caused by the death of David Shanahan, who served many terms as the Speaker of the House.
Once in Springfield, Daley crossed the aisle and joined the Democratic majority.

Dunkin has one precedent to cite for breaking ranks with his party.

Comment by Ahem! Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 10:11 pm
One must appreciate the legislative process. Each member is freely elected to exercise their right to ‘represent’ approximately 40,000+ people. Time will tell if those constituents feel well represented.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 10:58 pm
I’d strip him of his committee chair, pull out all the stops beating him in the primary, move his floor desk over to the republican side, move his office to the Republican wing at the Stratton, and then I’d roll up my sleeves and get tough. Hey, but that’s just me…

Comment by Mouthy Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 11:36 pm
Isn’t Durkin really acting in a “bi-partisan” manner?

Comment by Downstate Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 8:00 am
== Isn’t Durkin really acting in a “bi-partisan” manner?==

Do you mean DuNkin? I don’t think Minority Leader Durkin can be accused of bipartisanship.

Comment by nona Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 8:21 am
—Do you mean DuNkin—
Thanks. You are correct.

Comment by Downstate Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 8:37 am
As others have commented the 6th legislative district is 100 blocks long and 4 blocks wide.
From Gage Park to the Near North Side it is
economically and racially probably the single
most diverse district in the state. If a creditable opposition emerges will the ability
to organize all these factions be enough to
embarrass the Tribune and waste a whole lot
of money for Representative Dunkin?

Comment by Illinoisvoter Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 9:09 am