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Rooney is a gung-ho team player

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Illinois

* From an interview with Rolling Meadows Mayor Tom Rooney, who will take Sen. Matt Murphy’s spot…

Q: How does it feel to be leaving Rolling Meadows and moving on to the state Senate?

A: Of course it’s difficult to leave something I’ve been doing for a long time. I’m certainly still going to keep my eye on everything. I still live in town and I’m not going anywhere. Now I just get to represent the same people on a higher level. Plus, I’ve wanted to be in a House or Senate chamber since I was 17 years old, so this is a special moment.

Q: How will you work with Gov. Bruce Rauner and the gridlock in Springfield?

A: I’m already feeling that the caucus in the Senate is a great big club of people who want to be unified and charge forward. They’re sending that signal from the governor on down, and it’s a neat feeling. It feels like a tremendous honor to get to be a part of the team.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 11:14 am

Comments

===They’re sending that signal from the governor on down, and it’s a neat feeling.===

Did the Governor offer you any specific advice or encouragement? How involved was he in the selection process? Were you asked to make any commitments about your possible support for some legislative priorities, and if so, which ones?

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 11:24 am
–A: I’m already feeling that the caucus in the Senate is a great big club of people who want to be unified and charge forward.–

If that “great big club of people” were a football team, some of them would have to play both ways.

But they try to look big.

Go to the IL GOP Senate website and click the “Meet Your Senator” header. The caucus is divided into two links “A-K” and “L-Z” (presumably to make it easier, because there are so many of them).

The “A-K” section ends with Sen. Connelly.

http://senategop.state.il.us/

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 11:27 am
===Plus, I’ve wanted to be in a House or Senate chamber since I was 17 years old, so this is a special moment.===

Not unlike Ole Slip and Sue wanting just to be “hired”?

How far will Rooney compromise himself now, given that Rauner has “given” him his dream… a 40-year dream… of being a member of the General Assembly.

Time will tell.

I guess with that quote it’s more important to be a lemming than look out for Illinois or his district?

Interesting way to walk into the Upper Chamber I guess(?)

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 11:27 am
And Lord Rauner placed his hand upon his faithful servant and said:

“Faithful and loyal servant, I anoint thee.

Go forth and do my bidding that thou might

please me.”

“Yes my Lord, I will serve only thee.”

spake Sen. Rooney

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 11:33 am
Guessin’ the edited out the part that went “cities across the state have complained about BigBrain wantin’ to freeze taxes, strip cities of the power to negotiate labor rules and the failure of the state to send out gas tax, video poker and other cash. Did you undergo a lobotomy to dream up your other answers?”

Comment by Annonin' Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 11:37 am
In short, no glimmer of indepedence from the new Senator. He will vote lockstep with his party leaders every bit as much as the most loyal Democrat votes with his leaders.

Comment by anon Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 11:43 am
Tom Rooney is a good person. He was a Republican election volunteer in high school. He has worked as a public school teacher for many years. He was a village trustee before becoming a mayor. I suspect many of the critical comments have been posted by people who have never met the man.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 12:01 pm
So will he be in favor of LGDF being taken when the Gov needs the money for the looming budget fix? How about sweeping MFT funds? Or freezing local property taxes?

Comment by DuPage Bard Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 12:27 pm
Let’s stipulate that Rooney is “a good person.” The questions are whether he has an independent bone in his senatorial body, and whether he demonizes the opposition.

Comment by anon Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 1:08 pm
– suspect many of the critical comments have been posted by people who have never met the man.–

Oh, gosh, I feel so guilty now. NOT!

He’s an owned man now. He serves Lord Rauner.

Rooney made his choice. It doesn’t matter what he

has done in the past now.

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 1:40 pm
This is kind of heartwarming to read:

Plus, I’ve wanted to be in a House or Senate chamber since I was 17 years old, so this is a special moment.

I think most of us who work in politics and government still get a thrill whenever we approach the floor or a big vote is coming up and it is nice to see it in print like that.

Comment by Dan Johnson Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 2:17 pm
Honeybear don’t forget to take your meds. Remember that preaching to the choir on group think message boards doesn’t win elections. Get out there and knock on some doors. In your case to be extra effective knock in support of the opposition. Tell them to vote accordingly.

Comment by HillWilly Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 2:32 pm
Rooney made a compromised choice for the thrill of being called “Senator” and then have Rauner own his voting key.

“Simple”

I’d say he did it for the legislative pay but even I can’t make that joke funny right now, lol.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 3:14 pm
I have known Tom Rooney since he was 15 years old, he as sincere and as honest as they come. Tom is bright, articulate and will be his own person–always has been. The senate will be a better place because of him. I do not care how he got there, I am only interested in what he does there, as should we all.

Comment by the old man Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 3:45 pm
Thanks for the tip. Actually this week is phone bank Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Then the big labor rally on Saturday at the Grizzlies park.

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 3:48 pm
I remember the feigned outraged when a certain bombastic radio host said “I hope he fails” when a certain Illinoisan was inaugurated as president.

Seems as if such responses are possible from both sides of the political aisle. Rooney has not even been sworn in yet and some are condemning him already.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 3:58 pm
===Rooney has not even been sworn in yet and some are condemning him already===

Rooney has not even been sworn in yet and some are already whining about mild criticism.

FIFY

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 4:01 pm
=== I do not care how he got there,…===

That says a great deal. It really does.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 4:21 pm
How he got there is the deal. He was interviewed by Rauner and Tillman.

Comment by DuPage Bard Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 11:52 pm