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Rauner urged to stop playing politics with term limits

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Illinois

* The Quad City Times editorial board wants Gov. Rauner to focus on remap reform and stop talking so much about term limits…

Now, Illinois’s Independent Maps campaign fights for its very survival in state Supreme Court. Last month, a local court in Chicago struck down the push to force it onto the November ballot, siding with House Speaker Michael Madigan and his Democratic cronies.

And yet, Rauner decides his time is best spent touring districts of at-risk Democrats, spouting off on the perennial GOP fringe talking point — term limits. Not the best use of time or influence, Governor.

No, last week’s stop in Coal Valley wasn’t about empowering voters or loosening the Democratic stranglehold that’s suffocating Illinois. Such a long-view too often appears beyond Illinois’s freshman executive. His goal was to hit the likes of state Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale, where they live. Tie them to Madigan. Accuse them of being part of the problem.

November’s election, not legitimate policy, was Rauner’s goal. It’s a scattershot approach to governance, an all-to-frequent feature of Rauner’s short tenure in office.

One could argue that Rauner’s quest to chip away at bicameral Democratic majorities is a way of affecting change. But, frankly, term limits is an issue best left for the conservative fringe. What’s next, a return to the gold standard? Both have about the same chances of survival.

Rauner has millions, and he’s shown a willingness to spend it against the union-backed Democrats. That’s politics, complete with a whiff of old fish. Yet, that cash could be spent filing brief after brief in support of Independent Maps. It could be ending the election rigging that, for years, has disenfranchised voters and protected those in power.

Ouch.

* Meanwhile, the group opposing the remap proposal filed a brief with the Illinois Supreme Court yesterday. Click here to read it…

The trial court found that the initiative is not “limited to the structural and procedural subjects contained in Article IV” as required by the structural and procedural clause because it would impose new duties and qualifications on officers created outside Article IV and change the jurisdiction of the Illinois Courts. The trial court also found the initiative violates Article III’s free and equal clause because it would force voters to accept each of the myriad policy choices proposed by the initiative in a single proposition.

Intervenor-Defendant-Appellant Support Independent Maps asks this Court to reverse the trial court’s decision. In doing so, Intervenor would have this Court ignore not only the text of the Constitution, but the decisions of this Court that have interpreted these provisions as well. For the reasons that follow, plaintiffs respectfully request this Court affirm the trial court.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 1:52 am

Comments

Agree with this editorial. This Governor should have learned by now that you can win by incremental moves. Rauner seems to want it all, and want it now. I get this approach as a strategy, to knock your opponents back on their heels. But it seems that Rauner is just flailing about without rhyme or reason. His impatience is his undoing, politically. As the old saying goes, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”

Comment by Bored Chairman Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 6:44 am
Reasonable legal arguments can made in support of, or opposition to any initiative. Those that oppose redistricting should make their case. However, there is little doubt that the existing gerrymandered maps are not the intent nor the will of the citizens. The people should be permitted to choose their representatives, not the other way around. Let’s hope the supremes reverse the trial courts decision.

Comment by veritas Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 6:51 am
Rauner continues his brilliance in distracting attention from his deliberate destruction of higher education and social services. We need a Ted Koppel Nightline for this hostage crisis.

Comment by Earnest Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 8:06 am
Rauner seems content to set the stage for someone else to take the reigns. He’s not a statesman, will never be — and, like Trump, basks in the “divider not the uniter” role.

So ILGOP long term strategy seems — at this point, at least - is for Rauner to till the garden, get it ready, and wait for the real governor to come along — banking, of course, that the next guy/gal won’t rip out the garden and start over.

It’s an impotent strategy that has utter disregard for Illinois citizens — the very citizens he claims to be “fighting for”. It’s a back-slapping, insider, frat boy strategy. Drink Old Milwaukee on the roof of the house and make fun of everybody walking to class down below.

Comment by Formerly Known as Frenchie M Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 8:14 am
Kudos to the QC Times for being the ones to FINALLY call him out. Mr. Constant Campaign Tour, in it for himself.

Comment by Politix Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 8:21 am
Playing politics, traveling the state, promoting his agenda and getting local media to report his comments is a lot more fun than GOVERNING.

Comment by illini Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 8:22 am
Yet another call for Rauner to start governing and stop campaigning. And this one from a rag that generally supports him.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 8:52 am
The never ending campaign.

Rauner seems to have but one goal: wrest control of the General Assembly so he can impose his will.

Comment by Sir Reel Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 8:55 am
If there are things that aren’t in accordance with the Illinois Constitution or requirements for a referendum, the judge rightly struck it down. I don’t know why people seem enthusiastic about treating the state constitution lightly and are disappointed when judges don’t share that perspective.

Comment by NoGifts Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 9:12 am
To add to NoGifts: the IL Supreme Court has been very strict on amendments not impacting more than one part of the constitution. I don’t imagine they’ll drop that streak just for Independent Maps, and I’m not sure that they should.

Comment by The Replacement Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 9:28 am
The Quad City Times ran that? I second that ouch.

Interesting demographic over there. Strong organized labor keeps it pretty Democratic, but on other issues the area more mirrors Republican interests.

If the editorial board is accurately reflecting public opinion, then it looks like the Dems might hold on.

I’m guessing Trump’s impulsion and Rauner’s anti-union policies aren’t helping Republicans out there either.

Comment by Chicago_Downstater Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 9:30 am
It’s interesting to watch Rauner’s sustained messaging start to bore to people. He’s tried to hammer Dems by tying them to Madigan, but this Ahab-complex is starting to seem… old. “Oh, Rauner said something about Madigan again? Who cares?” His message seems to be, “Guys, I can’t ‘do’ much with Madigan here, and that’s wrong.” But sound-byte, single-tone politics only insists on division, and I’ve lost interest. I’ve already made up my mind about this November, and the one in two years.

Comment by SinkingShip Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 9:49 am
Paging the Strict Constitutionality crowd.

Comment by Saluki Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 10:04 am
Rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic
seems quite appropriate at this time.

Comment by Term Limits, LIKE ONE! Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 10:08 am
How is an issue overwhelmingly supported by both parties now a “conservative fringe” issue?

Comment by Very fed up Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 10:17 am
That IS harsh and just when BigBrain had awaken to figure out the remap scheme could not help him til January 2023 at the earliest he gets the thump
Not a good week.

Comment by Annnonin' Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 10:37 am
This part of the Rauner “tours” again isn’t reflective of the doable politics or governing and finding support. It’s a tool to continue to divide, that’s the saddest part of all.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 11:13 am
One more time and for the record:

Nearly 80% of voters say they want term limits.
Most of them say they strongly support term limits.

The voters should be allowed to vote on it, no matter what partisan reasons Rauner and the GOP have for pushing them.

Comment by lake county democrat Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 11:53 am
=== Nearly 80% of voters say they want term limits.
===

I’d like to hear what local Republican elected officials think about term limits. Ask GOP towship officials, for instance, some of whom have been in office for decades, whether they support the principle of term limits.

As far as the initiative goes, if the Supreme Court follows its own precedents, then this latest proposal is DOA.

Comment by anon Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 12:25 pm
90% of what Rauner does is playing politics. a change of topic wont change his lack of leadership approach to the job. He is no Jim Thompson…. Quinn and Blago also tended to focus on press announcements and show boating as well. We need to bring back Big Jim.

Comment by Ghost Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 12:29 pm
==The voters should be allowed to vote ==

You’re allowed to vote all the time and you can exercise the right to limit terms at that time.

Comment by Demoralized Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 1:56 pm
If you’re going to play politics, Term Limits is a good tool. Playing isn’t helping governing right now.

Comment by walker Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 2:05 pm
-Rauner seems to want it all, and want it now-
He doesn’t have much time left in office, so he’d better get a move on, or his 4 years will be totally wasted. Is he trying to make another killing off the pension system, cause he ain’t going into higher office? Also, what’s going to happen with the money he’s raising to fix-up the mansion? I don’t think they plan on doing any work until he’s done with his one (and only) term?

Comment by gdubya Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 4:07 pm