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Find. Another. Way.

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* Eric Zorn has penned a follow-up to his column that rated Gov. Rauner as an epic failure. As you’ll recall, Zorn was hammered by Tribune commenters who accused him of being in Speaker Madigan’s back pocket, among other things.

So, he has a new column that rates Madigan. For “fiscal stewardship,” Zorn gives Madigan “the same F grade I gave Rauner.” He bases this on Madigan’s pension sweetening for special interests and for kicking the can down the road on paying for those pensions. He faults Madigan for not fixing structural revenue problems, like a flat income tax and a too-narrow sales tax. Zorn also complains that Madigan hasn’t fixed the school aid formula and blasts Madigan for allowing the income tax hike to partially expire on schedule.

* Zorn continues…

Though he’s not as all-powerful as his critics believe, Madigan’s been powerful enough for long enough to have kept us from being a deadbeat state in the grips of Squeezy the Pension Python.

For political acumen, I’d give Madigan a solid B.

As chairman of the state Democratic Party and éminence grise of the General Assembly he’s built and maintained strong majorities in both chambers, in part by insulating his foot soldiers from having to take the tough votes necessary to run a responsible government. Under Democratic and, with the exception of Rauner, Republican governors he’s protected his flanks while cutting deals that compromise with the opposition and, occasionally, his own party’s principles.

I’d give him an A for political leadership, but he’s paid the price for having a public demeanor so icy and charmless that you’d think he was auditioning to be a Bond villain. Not being outwardly likable is a liability when you’re in a high-stakes PR war with a faux-folksy governor who drops his g’s and wears a cheap watch.

* Rep. Sandack begs to differ…

Meh. Giving Madigan same "F" 4 financial mess but "B" & "A" for how he maintains power to create mess is curious. https://t.co/hQpRyTvyRC

— Ron Sandack (@RonSandack) April 15, 2016

Ron makes a good point.

* Frankly, this whole thing is silly. Believing the governor is a failure doesn’t mean that you support Madigan. And believing Madigan is a fiscal failure, but giving him good marks for winning elections and jamming through an unconstitutional pension reform is more than a little odd.

And, yes, I fully agree that Madigan has passed plenty of bills over the years which were opposed by unions, trial lawyers and other staunch supporters. The problem is he won’t do it now.

Madigan has his reasons. He’s under intense pressure from a kabillionaire governor to raise taxes after whacking unions, trial lawyers, etc. Madigan will then be “rewarded” when Rauner and his pals spend their kabillions against Madigan’s candidates, who will be badly hobbled for raising taxes in an election year defined by voter anger and will have to fight off Rauner’s money without their prime contributors, who will be furious at what happened to them. That’s insane. Nobody in their right mind would ever agree to that.

* That’s why Madigan, who supposedly has the political acumen and leadership to make things happen, needs to help this inexperienced governor find another way to resolve this crisis on behalf of the state he has represented for so many years.

/rant

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 11:19 am

Comments

Thank you, Rich, seriously, for the rant.

===Madigan has his reasons. He’s under intense pressure from a kabillionaire governor to raise taxes after whacking unions, trial lawyers, etc. Madigan will then be “rewarded” when Rauner and his pals spend their kabillions against Madigan’s candidates, who will be badly hobbled for raising taxes in an election year defined by voter anger and will have to fight off Rauner’s money without their prime contributors, who will be furious at what happened to them. That’s insane. Nobody in their right mind would ever agree to that.===

This is where the real world politics at play is seen when the dorm room blinds are opened, and the door and windows open for “fresh air”…

The only thing I would add, very humbly, is that Rauner’s minority hold in the General Assembly also forces Madigan to defend from his majority strength, and the minority stake in both chambers choosing to be pawns puts pressure on Madigan to stay “strong” instead of looking to help Rauner cobble 60 in the House.

===* That’s why Madigan, who supposedly has the political acumen and leadership to make things happen, needs to help this inexperienced governor find another way to resolve this crisis on behalf of the state he has represented for so many years.===

It’s co-equal, with different roles as equal, and Rauner needs to allow Madigan to help him find 60 and 30, and Madigan has to show Rauner exactly what will get 60 and 30 and allow “victory” to be compromise.

Big asks…

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 11:29 am
Amen…

Also Zorn’s thought process is a bit like saying after visiting a dictatorship…

He is a terrible leader, but the trains run on time.

Comment by OneMan Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 11:29 am
I hate to phrase it this way but, if neither will compromise, then one has to go … ASAP.

There is no way to remove Madigan from his seat; the best you can do is try to remove him from his leadership position … which ain’t going to happen because the D’s won’t abandon him.

There is a way to remove Rauner, recall, but that is also darn near impossible under the rules as long as the GOP sticks with him.

So what it comes down to is which party will turn on their leader first. From a simple math perspective, you only need a handful of GOP house members to defect.

Comment by RNUG Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 11:30 am
Rauner’s way or the highway. That has become pretty clear. Massive Republican losses might change things in Nov. Great summary.

Comment by Liberty Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 11:31 am
==Believing the governor is a failure doesn’t mean that you support Madigan.==

I wish everyone understood this.

Comment by AC Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 11:32 am
What bills opposed by unions, trial lawyers, and other staunch supporters should he allow to be passed now?

Comment by JackD Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 11:34 am
- That’s why Madigan, who supposedly has the political acumen and leadership to make things happen, needs to help this inexperienced governor find another way to resolve this crisis on behalf of the state he has represented for so many years.

Even if Madigan wanted to throw the Governor a bone, Rauner is too unpredictable, too unstable and too demanding for Madigan to attempt any sort of compromise.

Comment by Chicago 20 Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 11:37 am
I am not condoning the way Rauner has be doing things for the last 10 months, but I am giving him kudos for butting heads with Madigan. Madigan has been in control for far too long. Something has needed done in this state for many years, but previous governors have always turned tail and gave into Madigan. What I don’t understand how everyone consistently pegs Rauner as the bad seed; I mean I don’t agree with the tactics, but something has to change. I say again, Madigan has been running this state for 30 years, why doesn’t anyone see that. No I am not a Rauner fan, nor am I Madigan fan, quite the opposite. I feel that both of them need to be locked in a rubber room and lashed with a wet noodle until they both get down off of their power struggle missions and do what is right for ALL the people in Illinois, create a balanced budget, make reforms and start to road to a better place.

Comment by Digity Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 11:38 am
As far as removal, if Madigan is no longer speaker, the Dems won’t suddenly turn on the unions and if Rauner is no longer governor, we’re stuck with Slip-n-Sue, who would still likely be controlled by Rauner. Removal of either doesn’t do much other than change the target of “Because…”.

Comment by CharlieKratos Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 11:39 am
==I hate to phrase it this way but, if neither will compromise, then one has to go … ASAP.==

A thought experiment: Imagine two parallel worlds to ours, both in which the Speaker and the Governor were combined into a single role called a “Speakervenor”, in one Madigan was the Speakervenor, and in the other Rauner holds the title. Otherwise imagine everything is exactly the same as it in currently in Illinois in these two worlds parallel to ours. Do you think things would be significantly different between the world where Rauner is a Speakervenor and the one we live in now?

Comment by AC Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 11:48 am
=== … needs to help this inexperienced governor find another way to resolve this crisis … ===

This inexperienced governor believes he always wins. This inexperienced governor came in with the belief that he could get what he wanted by shutting down the state. This inexperienced governor started his relationship with the Dem legislative leaders by lying about talking to them on election night. Upon taking office, this inexperienced governor went on a campaign-like trash Dem tour of the state. This inexperienced governor galvanized all labor against him by advocating RTW as a major element of his initial asks. This inexperienced governor has surrounded himself with Washington-style political wunderkinds more interested in OODA loops than in governing.

After this inexperienced governor begins to realize the seeds he’s sown and adopts a more conciliatory approach, I don’t see Madigan helping the inexperienced governor save face.

Durkin and Radogno should have helped guide this inexperienced governor like I believe Topinka would have. I still see the legislative GOP as a hope for educating our inexperienced governor. It has taken them awhile to get the $ signs out of their eyes with the pummeling their members are getting. Hopefully, they will push hard on educating the inexperienced governor. If not, it will take the rebellion of individual GOP solons to help us out.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 11:49 am
= Removal of either doesn’t do much other than change the target of “Because…”. ==

Good point CharlieKratos. I should have finished the thought. We are partially in this because Madigan does not have a functioning supermajority due to a couple of D desertions. A handful of GOP house members could change that IF they were willing to desert Rauner. Right now, that is the only way out the has a remote mathematical chance of working. Unfortunately, political considerations will mostly likely prevent that from happening.

Comment by RNUG Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 11:52 am
–..needs to help this inexperienced governor find another way…–

I wish inexperience was the issue with the governor. But I think things are proceeding pretty much to his plan.

He just hasn’t been very forthcoming about the plan, except for the occasional candid slip-up by him or his peeps.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 11:53 am
RNUG, that’s why we need the uni communities to wake up and push hard against their GOP solons. Vote accordingly needs to be the mantra in every uni bar, restaurant, store and realtor’s office.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 11:59 am
“…but giving him good marks for winning elections and jamming through an unconstitutional pension reform is more than a little odd.”
Not odd at all. His primary MO is keeping a House Dem majority, his acumen in regaining that majority in the 1990s after losing it for 2 years with Republican map should be recognized because that acumen is essential in figuring out who Madigan is. As for the unconstitutionality of the pension legislation, it would not be unconstitutional if there had been no law suit. Or rather, its constitutionality would be moot without the lawsuit. I bet if pressed in courts, there are a bunch of laws on the books that would not pass constitutional muster (I have no data on that, just a hunch from having watched how legislation gets introduced and enacted.)

Comment by My New Handle Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 12:03 pm
“* That’s why Madigan, who supposedly has the political acumen and leadership to make things happen, needs to help this inexperienced governor find another way to resolve this crisis on behalf of the state he has represented for so many years. ”

Didn’t Rauner say crisis is what he wanted? This IS his way. Ever deepening crisis until he gets what he wants. The only way out is as RNUG says, “…a handful of GOP house members to defect. “

Comment by Jimmy H Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 12:03 pm
===Vote accordingly needs to be the mantra in every uni bar, restaurant, store and realtor’s office.===

- Norseman -

It’s been my hope.

It’s not the students, and although they are getting hurt, they’d families too…

… my take and premise has been “simple”, it’s the towns.

It’s the towns, it’s the towns.

For Labor, its “simple”, for higher ed, it’s simple too.

For the towns, man, it’s devastation. It’s economic ruin, it’s complex. It’s complex, but the message is simple, “Vote Accordingly”

The ‘tings’ we coulda done - Norseman…

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 12:05 pm
I don’t think there’s another way for Madigan to be found with Rauner…he’s accomplishing what he set out to do and any compromise from Madigan would likely cause him to just move the bar. Zorn, we need a column on the House Republicans.

Comment by Earnest Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 12:08 pm
Norseman: The difference between JBT and Leaders Radogno and Durkin is that JBT wouldn’t be beholding to or threatened by the Governor. That’s what being the most popular statewide Republican official afforded her. She would have stood up to him. The current GOP Leaders are deathly afraid of incurring his wrath. He’s their golden goose, not only in terms of what he can do for their respective caucuses, but also in terms of their future aspirations.

Comment by GA Watcher Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 12:17 pm
==For the towns, man, it’s devastation.==
Edwardsville, are you paying attention? Your republican Rep. Dwight Kay might listen. He won with 59% in 2014…but just 50.3% in 2012. Apply pressure.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 12:18 pm
- Norseman - Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 11:59 am:
And Oswego Willy champion of “vote accordingly”. Absolutely!

Higher Ed failing will wake people up, a much different outcome than Social Services;
a sad reality.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 12:22 pm
Sorry, this was me- Anonymous - Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 12:22 pm:

Comment by Jimmy H Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 12:24 pm
What, in the opinion of all you political observers, would Judy Barr Topinka have been able to do to change Rauner’s approach, given his apparent belief in his approach?

Comment by JackD Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 12:24 pm
What’s more than silly is people who approach these questions with the idea that Madigan’s got to go. They respond to criticism of Rauner with, “but how else do you get rid of Madigan?” Zorn is still wrong to frame current issues as struggles between Rauner and Madigan, but many of his commenters to not dwell in reality.

Comment by Elo Kiddies Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 12:28 pm
Rauner has some good ideas w/ property tax, sales tax and even workers comp. BUT he lets his good ideas get washed out by his ginormous union vendetta. during the elction he said he would get unions who didnt support him, and now we have trumpesque vendetta against union wiping out some good ideas and potential fro reform. ironicaly Madigan is probably closer to rauner on some of those other things and would be a stron ally. If only Rauner would dump his union hating vendetta he could work with madigan and get some of his more functional ideas to go.

Comment by Ghost Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 12:33 pm
Well said Rich!

Comment by SKI Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 12:43 pm
If Rauner refuses advice from his own side, Edgar, how can Madigan possibly help him? He’s set on what he wants and how he will accomplish his goals. He refuses any other way.

Comment by Wensicia Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 1:03 pm
“As you’ll recall, Zorn was hammered by Tribune commenters ” - you misspelled GOP comment drones. Zorn’s original column was right on the money, and he shouldn’t have engaged the “both sides do it” game just to show he’s not a Madigan puppet.

Comment by Bryan Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 1:04 pm
@11:38 “Madigan has been in control for far too long.” What part of the democratic process should be ignored to correct this? Term limits are always favored by those in the minority. When in the majority not so much. Working within the system has worked for centuries. Perhaps get the votes necessary to accomplish something and stop whining?

Comment by W. N. Bilbo Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 1:30 pm
“If Rauner refuses advice from his own side, Edgar, how can Madigan possibly help him?”

Wensicia’s rhetorical question shows the wisdom in Wordslinger’s theory that Illinois’ budget crisis is Rauner’s plan for Illinois.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 1:35 pm
- @MisterJayEm -

It’s hard to argue it’s not “the feature, not the bug” this Rauner governing tact.

That’s why I’ve tried to get the legislators under Rauner’s cash to look at things.

Rauner’s actions and choices and “refusal” to see them causing purposeful pain is obvious.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 1:42 pm
===That’s why Madigan, who supposedly has the political acumen and leadership to make things happen, needs to help this inexperienced governor find another way to resolve this crisis on behalf of the state he has represented for so many years.===

Lets not forget that, on a weekly basis last Summer, the Speaker publicly went to the press room and, in his own way, tried to illuminate a path forward. In nearly every press conference, and in numbingly repetitive detail, he put a half-billion in Medicaid cuts on the table, showed willingness to pass a local property tax freeze, moved legislation to give the Governor a new DCEO, and even said that, short of causation, workers compensation reform was on the table. And he did this all while he largely shrugged off repeated attacks on his character by Rauner and his team of superstars that were delivered both from the Gubernatorial bully pulpit, and through paid media.

Lets also not forget that Pres. Cullerton has also tried to “help this inexperienced governor” on multiple occasions. Who can forget his agreement to help Rauner tackle person reform (pre ILSCourt ruling), only to watch Rauner blow that up on the launch pad in his rush to the microphones to try to use the olive branch as a cudgel against the Speaker?

Now, I have no love lost for the Speaker myself. But we are a year and a half into this administration, and if WE’VE learned anything about this Governor, its that HE doesn’t learn, period. That is no one’s failing but Rauner’s. And to suggest that, after everything that has happened to date, Madigan and/or Cullerton have the capacity to help illuminate the way out of this crisis defies simple logic.

There are only two people that can help Rauner out of this mess: Jim Durkin and Christine Radogno. To date, the only thing that has ever made Rauner move on an issue has been the fear of GOP caucus defections. It’s the obvious tool to break the deadlock, and no one can use it other than those two leaders.

Let’s stop the unicorn hunting, and get serious. Please.

/rant

Comment by PatQuinnsBrain Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 1:56 pm
=== tried to illuminate a path forward===

You gotta be kidding me.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 1:59 pm
Who cares what Eric Zorn thinks? He has no particular qualifications to make such a judgment.
Many people have some actual experience in government and politics; their appraisal has much more weight.

Comment by Formerpol Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 2:02 pm
Rich, you keep saying stuff like this: “And, yes, I fully agree that Madigan has passed plenty of bills over the years which were opposed by unions, trial lawyers and other staunch supporters. The problem is he won’t do it now.” But you ignore the question, “Why not?” And the obvious answer is that Rauner and his proposals are existential threats to unions and other allies. And Madigan learns from his mistakes (rather than doubling down on mistakes, like Rauner is doing). The art of negotiating a compromise is predicated on an appreciation of the real limits and boundaries that each party actually has. Madigan has been doing this all his life and he knows how to do it. Rauner, not at all.

Comment by formerpro Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 2:02 pm
===But you ignore the question, “Why not?”===

Um, what?

===Madigan has his reasons. He’s under intense pressure from a kabillionaire governor to raise taxes after whacking unions, trial lawyers, etc. Madigan will then be “rewarded” when Rauner and his pals spend their kabillions against Madigan’s candidates, who will be badly hobbled for raising taxes in an election year defined by voter anger and will have to fight off Rauner’s money without their prime contributors, who will be furious at what happened to them. That’s insane. Nobody in their right mind would ever agree to that. ===

Try reading.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 2:05 pm
–Madigan has been in control for far too long. Something has needed done in this state for many years, but previous governors have always turned tail and gave into Madigan.–

That’s the legend in some circles, and I’m sure there have been times that Madigan would have you believe that, just as Rauner would have you believe that now.

But it doesn’t hold up to scrutiny. I doubt if Big Jim, Edgar or Ryan would agree with that. Quinn and Madigan worked together on the tax increase. Blago, well, only one was left standing in that fight.

The House Speaker’s office under Madigan is highly influential, but the power doesn’t approach that of the governor’s office:

Letting contracts; awarding grants; running the agencies; hiring for big-pay jobs; deciding what payments are submitted when to the comptroller; and a powerful array of veto options.

The key in the present willful crisis remains GOP GA members. They moved Rauner once on local government funding. They have the power to do it again.

In fact, it wouldn’t take that many of them, acting in concert, to broker the whole deal.

They’ve probably never had that kind of power before in their lives, and they probably never will again.

Opportunity is knocking.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 2:13 pm
“previous governors have always turned tail and gave into Madigan.”

Call Jim Edgar and try telling him that.

Comment by perry noya Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 2:19 pm
My taxes went down this year. Where is the pain for me? State workers are being paid where is the pain for them? University professors are being paid where is the pain for them; on another post today they said they are moving on to other states. Social services are being stopped in some cases and not in others the pain is focused on a few of the 12,000,000 people of Illinois.Is there enough pain to cause movement? What positive reason do either Madigan or Rauner have for creating a budget with massive deficits or cuts or a tax increase that either of them could be blamed for in an election year? What conceivable other way is there that would be mutually beneficial for both of them?

Comment by Simple Mind Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 2:19 pm
@Wordslinger

Word. Jim Durkin has the ability to lead a new generation of Crazy-8s, but it requires the willingness to break from the Governor.

Comment by PatQuinnsBrain Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 2:44 pm
Good piece by Zorn, probably one of the few mass media reporters to criticize both sides not just one.

I completely buy the distinction between being a good fiscal steward and a good at winning politics. They are in many ways completely separate disciplines.

Comment by The Way I See It Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 3:28 pm
Well said, Rich. Zorn’s logic is interesting, to say the least. Both sides need to cooperate and give to fix our issues, but to call the guy who’s been here 15 months and has the temerity to say “no more” a failure while the guy who contributed to creating the hole we are in over the past 3-4 decades gets a relative pass is astounding.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 3:33 pm
I have always believed that Madigan gave old Bruce his wish and let the temp tax increase expire knowing full well what Bruce had in mind for Illinois. The reason he did so was that Bruce would ruin Republicans chances of ever gaining control of Illinois. It was easy to see what a glorified Fred Sanford who got rich buying and selling other people’s junk would and do once he came into office with a lowered tax rate and therefore even less money.
This will be Madigans ultimate legacy, to have let the Repubblican party have enough rope to hang itself and never gain control of Illinois.
Bruce was bound to try the failed Vietnam strategy of burning down a village to save it.

Comment by Seriously Friday, Apr 15, 16 @ 4:11 pm