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* From a Tribune editorial…
There are costs and benefits of re-electing incumbents vs. sending newcomers. If re-electing an incumbent in your district means continuing to empower Madigan, think twice. If it means giving Madigan a supermajority that can ram through budgets that spend beyond Illinois’ means, think thrice. If it means letting Madigan override gubernatorial vetoes to curry favor with special interest groups, think some more. If it means helping Madigan block reforms that even his own Democratic members support, think about sending a new representative to the Illinois House.
Voters have indicated they want term limits, in part to oust politicians such as Madigan. We don’t have term limits in Illinois because he won’t allow the issue to come to a vote.
So if you’re among those who want to oust him as speaker, there is only one way to do it. You have to end the relationship with lawmakers such as Deb Conroy of Villa Park and Michelle Mussman of Schaumburg and Sam Yingling of Grayslake who have strong and capable Republicans running against them.
Breaking up is hard to do. But prolonging and enduring the dismal status quo of Illinois government is harder.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 10:47 am
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Gosh. I guess term limits are the one and only solution to this conundrum. And if term limits become law, then deep pockets Republicans can pour money into races to elect more Republicans. Got it.
Comment by Sir Reel Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 10:54 am
The “status quo” is an FY17 budget with an $8 billion deficit, reneging on state contracts, tossing thousands out of work and gutting social services and higher ed.
The new sheriff in town engineered that mess.That’s his plan, in action.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 10:56 am
The other alternative to rejecting Madigan, is empowering Rauner. Unfortunately, the Governor has already shown us what his priorities are.
I wish the Trib would do a better job at showing both sides in this case.
One isn’t necessarily better than the other one.
Comment by Meh Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 10:58 am
I love this gem from the editorial. “A vote for a Democratic House member is a vote for keeping Madigan’s dominion over Illinois.”
So I’m supposed to line up behind 25 year olds shouting “Reform!” that are bankrolled by Bruce?
Comment by Jocko Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 11:00 am
The mighty Tribune..,
“Because… Madigan”
How sad.
The Tribune is making the case for the Proxy War.
If you think vetoing Higher Ed funding speaks to Rauner wanting state universities closed - Vote Accordingly
If you think vetoing the funding social services because in 2012 Rauner said leverage to destroy labor is more important then helping those must needy… is wrong - Vote Accordingly
If you know Rauner has personally donated, just him, $60 million for an agenda that includes destroying collective bargaining, prevailing wage, lowering workers’ salaries, and Rauner only telling Illinois all this by PowerPoint in Decatur… isn’t being honest to the people of Illinois - Vote Accordingly
The Tribune Editorial board supports Bruce Rauner and his 2012 quote that destroying the state may have to occur by dividing Democrats by their hearts or their friends in Labor.
Whew.
Speaks volumes to those like @StatehouseChick, who can tweet one day how she’s in Haiti, you know for the needy, but wants a hurricane to destroy thousands of lives… “because… Madigan”
Vote Accordingly.
It’s the Rauners, Griffin, and Uihlein… and not Illinois.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 11:01 am
Seems to me we have potential term limits each time there’s an election.
If the Tronc-bune wants to come out in favor of laws that help reduce incumbent advantage, I’m interested. One of which would be to limit the amount of cash required to run for office, for which I’m *sure* the Tronc-bune is fully in support.
Comment by thunderspirit Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 11:01 am
What the Tribune fails to understand is that its not just about Madigan - its about Rauner as well. Rauner’s unpopularity due to his assault on unions and working families will likely negate any negative impact that Madigan may have on democratic incumbents.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 11:04 am
Amen.
Comment by A guy Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 11:04 am
So I am required to vote out of office a capable representative in order to try and decrease the power of Michael Madigan. Gee, thanks, Tribune.
Comment by Archiesmom Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 11:05 am
so, basically the Trib just endorsed every republican running for the State house.. reason number 21 why I haven’t purchased a Tribune in over 11 years..elitists in their crumbling ivory tower
Comment by Not Rich Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 11:05 am
Shorter Trib:
“Down dooby do down down. Comma comma down do be down.”
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 11:06 am
And the Tribbies must be so proud that their man Severin has adopted an old time GOPie tradition of using taxpayer funded services to help hold down campaign costs. In the unlikely event he gets elected he could arrive for swearin’ in have already violated House Rules.
Reminds us a little of former Speaker Lee Daniels who beat his COS to the G to avoid jail.
A proud moment for the Tribbies and GOPies
Comment by Annonin' Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 11:06 am
So many typos in the editorial and so little time to correct it. Where is an editor when you need one.
Comment by Huh? Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 11:09 am
Wrong. This year it’s all about Trump and people staying home.
Comment by Moby Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 11:17 am
Seems to me we have potential term limits each time there’s an election.
If the Tronc-bune wants to come out in favor of laws that help reduce incumbent advantage, I’m interested. One of which would be to limit the amount of cash required to run for office, for which I’m *sure* the Tronc-bune is fully in support. (Based on their editorial page post-Citizens United, though, probably not.)
Comment by thunderspirit Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 11:19 am
Breaking up can actually be pretty easy. At least it was when I broke up with the Tribune.
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 11:22 am
Do you think these “capable representatives” should have demanded their leadership in the House and Senate agree on a budget to the Governor that had the balanced approach containing revenues and cuts they say are necessary? Or are we just supposed to reelect them because they oppose Rauner at every turn and can’t even agree among themselves?
This is why the no budget no pay proposal is so effective. The last year in Springfield has been an embarrassment.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 11:29 am
I dont think the Governors 46 million dollars he’s thrown into the election is a solution.
Comment by Brian Anderson Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 11:30 am
@Annonin’ - Wow that spin is dizzying. Do you have an issue with the taxpayer funded coronation in the video? All it’s missing is Bradley placing the crown on his majesty’s head.
Comment by John Rawls Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 11:35 am
The Guv is snapchattin’ outside of Wrigley this morning.
Blago had has jogging in Ravenswood to avoid governing.
Bruce is like a teenager always on the social media to avoid governin.
Comment by Henry Francis Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 11:37 am
The Trib has been running against MM since forever and it is all uphill because of the “rigged” map…so they are wasting ink again. Trib keeps endorsing Dems and then comes up with this ed.
Comment by scott aster Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 11:40 am
But is the Trib the puppet and Rauner the puppet master or is it the other way around?
Comment by D.A.Lang Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 11:41 am
==If it means helping Madigan block reforms that even his own Democratic members support, think about sending a new representative to the Illinois House.==
So I’m supposed to vote for a Republican who opposes a specific reform rather than a Democrat who supports it?
Comment by Whatever Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 11:41 am
“reforms that even his own Democratic members support…”
“We don’t have term limits in Illinois because he won’t allow the issue to come to a vote.”
Examples of the great myth of the current standoff — that rank-and-file Dems are just dying to cut a deal with Rauner but are being held back by Madigan. Anyone saying this is either lying or has no idea what they are talking about.
Comment by Anon 4 Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 11:49 am
Another good reason to not buy the Trib.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 11:51 am
Making a pitch to the voters of Villa Park, Schaumburg and Grayslake without tying the Republican candidates to Trump? Big mistake!!1!
I heard Trump was actually quite popular at suburban front doors!!
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 11:56 am
Until the House changes its administrative rules, voting for a Democratic house rep is the same as voting for Madigan.
Comment by Chicagonk Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 12:07 pm
We need more Mike Madigan’s in Illinois….not less. This guy’s accomplishments far outweigh his areas of opportunity!
Comment by crazytalk Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 12:35 pm
The Tribune is all about looking out for the one percent and their own special interest group.
Comment by Enviro Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 12:35 pm
The Tribune wants us to elect people who will help Rauner attack middle class workers and retirees.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 12:40 pm
Mr/Ms Rawls the taxpayer funded video is not available for campaign ads…the same event even showed Durkie limpin’ up claim his victory. It does save on campaign spending
Comment by Anonin' Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 12:44 pm
No more gray, it’s binary. One or the other. Stasis or change. Progress or insolvency. Growth or decline. Madigan’s captured. Rauner’s emphatic. Without Rauner, no choice. With Rauner, possibility.
We’ll see what $46 million buys anymore. Lots of media — who knows about results? With Madigan, we’re through. If Rauner disrupts, then who knows what will happen. It is certain that the pain of returning from where we are to anything resembling a going concern will test everyone’s mettle.
If i had a dime for every time a Democrat has pulled me aside to say, “Look, I believe in a two-party system. We need a much better Republican party…” then, i would have several hundred dollars. That makes it funny to watch the anonymous posters, above, wail and gnash their teeth over the Rauner Republican party.
What kind of GOP did my Democrat friends envision, supine?
Thank God for Rauner. He is spending about one G450 on all of this, a G550 if you throw in his Gubernatorial bid. Unlike 99.99 percent of the Springfield Sleazebags who have funded Madigan’s Mess, he is not doing this to get a janitorial contract at CMS. Good for him, and here’s to his success for all of us, including the most bitter of the attackers who will pipe up.
Cheers, c
Comment by Chris Robling Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 12:48 pm
Empowering special interests like college students, the developmentally disabled, corrections workers, rape victims, drug addicts. Those special interests? The trib makes me sick. If you really want to end the “status quo,” give the dems a real supermajority. Giving the GOP three more house seats actually engrains the “status quo” way worse than virtually any alternative.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 12:49 pm
From tronc. The rag that endorsed a throw-away-vote for their ‘Aleppo moment’ Prez candidate! Pleeze.
Comment by sal-says Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 1:01 pm
===…to watch the anonymous posters, above, wail and gnash their teeth over the Rauner Republican party===
If your argument revolves around the anonymity or non-anonymity of commenters here, you don’t have much of an argument. Actually, it’s embarrassing that you allegedly point “them” out, and do so without retort. Yea you.
===Thank God for Rauner.===
Bruce Rauner is a man, not a Savior.
What are you so gleeful about, an actual downstate state university writing a letter that it has plans to stay open “for the whole year”, of the continued deterioration of social services.
Crain’s says it best…
“By nearly every measure, the state is worse off since Rauner took office,”
And you are “thanking” a deity?
===…he is not doing this to get a janitorial contract at CMS.===
Nope. Bruce Rauner IS doing this to end collective bargaining, prevailing wage, and reduce the income of working people in Labor, some of whom have been big supporters of the Illinois Party. Don’t let the alleged one hand know, what Rauner is actually doing to this state.
===Good for him, and here’s to his success for all of us…===
Ruining social services, and pitting labor against “taxpayers” (shhh, workers in labor are taxpayers too…) for an agenda so good, Rauner unveiled it… after he won.
I’ll leave you to your worship of false idols?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 1:24 pm
“… Illinois Republican Party…”
Apologies
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 1:25 pm
===We need a much better Republican party…===
I’ve said that myself, on this very blog, from time to time. But as far as I’m concerned, Rauner isn’t getting it done. Not even close.
===What kind of GOP did my Democrat friends envision, supine?===
Thompson, Edgar, Ryan, Kirk Dillard, even Pate Philip and Steve Rauschenberger would be preferable. A GOP that can think and use its brain, a GOP that understands the role of government and doesn’t exist to tear down government.
It’s not a binary choice. You don’t have to vote for Trump or Clinton. Feel the Johnson!
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 1:53 pm
All of the Trib’s points here about Madigan are valid except that they’re coming from a Rauner backed agenda and I’ll pick Madigan over Rauner any day.
Comment by DHSJim Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 2:04 pm
===Thompson, Edgar, Ryan, Kirk Dillard, even Pate Philip and Steve Rauschenberger would be preferable. A GOP that can think and use its brain, a GOP that understands the role of government and doesn’t exist to tear down government===
This, but it is a binary choice and it’s between Republicans, like Jim Edgar, or Raunerites. Some incredible Republicans are being held hostage by Rauner. Maybe after November these Republicans can teach Rauner about governing.
That’s my hope, and I work to those ends. Rauner a stranger, we let into our house. Can Republicans get him out.
Lemmings that thank a deity aren’t helping, lol.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 2:18 pm
“If Rauner disrupts, then who knows what will happen.”
who knows what will happen
Can we presume that this is the same ‘logic’ that informs Mr. Robling’s support for Donald Trump?
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 2:25 pm
So what should the “much better Republican party” do? I guess they should totally capitulate to the Speaker.
Raise taxes, ramp the pensions again, don’t reform property taxes, workers comp etc. and continue to let democratic interests like unions and trial lawyers totally dominate state politics?
We did that under Quinn and he was soundly rejected.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 2:28 pm
I’d prefer governing to destruction, with no quantifiable improvements in sight.
Rauner has missed many opportunities to move forward rather than backward, even if one supports most of his TA goals. That’s the Rauner tragedy - his short term tactics undercut his own stated objectives. Any strategic success seems farther away.
Wrong guy for the party.
Comment by walker Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 2:46 pm
Quinn was defeated by a man who hid his agenda. Quinn’s biggest single mistake was continuing to work on pensions after he got Tier 2 in place. Had he declared victory and moved on, he would have done better.
We must either raise taxes or break the State. Judicially required payments exceed our revenue.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 2:50 pm
I know this is an insane idea.
There is absolutely no way a Democrat will not be Speaker this next GA. It just isn’t going to happen, even if the 5 they warn against lose. So why not give people a viable option for speaker. There are plenty of capable reps who they have endorsed. Try making that case whom ever that person they see fit.
Comment by Come on man! Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 3:36 pm
@47th Ward, “Feel the Johnson!” NOPE or you risk “the GROPE”
Comment by Amalia Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 3:46 pm
===So what should the “much better Republican party” do? I guess they should totally capitulate to the Speaker.===
Raunerism. All or nothing, lol
===Raise taxes,… ===
The Rauner Tax will make everyone’s head spin.
It’s up to Rauner to find 60 and 30… lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 4:47 pm
All this money and they’re going to lose. Heh heh.
Comment by Chucktownian Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 9:03 am