Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Question of the day

Posted in:

Illinois

Capitol Fax reported this morning that Mike Madigan showered his legislative enablers this week with engraved crystal clocks.

The cost? Nearly 50 grand.

Madigan’s campaign fund reported spending over $46,000 at the end of 2016 at “Sawbridge Studios”, where engraved crystal clocks from Simon Pearce are sold.

What’s worse? The clocks apparently feature the inscription, “The honorable Michael J. Madigan. Longest serving Speaker of a state House of Representatives in United States history.”

House Democrats sold out the people of Illinois and Mike Madigan paid them off with thousands of dollars in expensive clocks while mocking the people of Illinois with gifts as tone deaf as the Chicago agenda he supports.

Now House Democrats and other Madigan cronies can be constantly reminded that they are always on the clock for Mike Madigan.

Man, I hate getting dragged into this stuff, especially since that story was behind a subscribers-only firewall. I’ll be having a chat with those boys and girls.

Sawbridge Studios is in Winnetka, by the way. Madigan sends people on his Christmas gift list a Simon Pearce piece every year. Pearce is an Irish-American, so it’s kinda fitting.

I didn’t look at his campaign committee spending for my story this morning. But I just did and Madigan’s campaign committee has spent a total of $535,127.03 at the place since 2005. In October of 2015, Madigan reported spending $39,312.50 at Sawbridge, and this past November, he spent the identical $39,312.50. He reported spending $7,312.50 on December 20th. So, that $50K number quoted above may not be accurate. We’ll see if MJM demands a retraction.

* The clock…

They have some heft, for sure.

* The Question: Caption?

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 12:47 pm

Comments

My only comment is they got here awfully quick. Especially for a design item. They had to be ordered weeks if not months before the Speaker election.

Comment by stlboy Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 12:51 pm
Time keeps on tickin’ tickin’ tickin into the…..past.

Comment by A guy Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 12:52 pm
There’s the “Doomsday Clock” and there’s the Crystal Mike Madigan Clock . . . or are they the same thing?

Comment by East Central Illinois Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 12:53 pm
What is the limit on cost of gifts a legislator can receive? Is this beyond that limit?

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 12:53 pm
I ordered something similar from Things Remembered.

Comment by Mall Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 12:55 pm
So let us stop talkin’ falsely now
The hour’s getting late

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 12:55 pm
Madigan gives clocks, Rauner hands out checks. I figure it is a wash. And really, who cares? Let’s just get a budget passed before Feb. 28th.

Comment by Big Joe Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 12:55 pm
You got it Big Joe…..So?

Comment by wondering Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 12:57 pm
As a Conservative, I would like to say…

Not my money. Don’t really care what he buys or who he gives it to.

Comment by Springfield Since '77 Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 12:57 pm
I just wonder whether he ordered the engraving before or after the election.

When bowling, at times I turn my back and not watch, knowing I threw a strike.

Comment by Hamlet's Ghost Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 12:58 pm
Nice, but I’ll wait till some hit eBay.

Comment by Pink E Kent Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 12:58 pm
===Mike Madigan paid them off with thousands of dollars in expensive clocks===

Um, $46,000 divided by 66 members comes to about $700 each. More than a t-shirt or a fancy dinner for sure, but hardly a “pay-off.”

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:01 pm
“Boss Madigan’s corruption knows no bounds. It’s been revealed that he uses money to influence craftspeople to procure him with their crafts. Shame, Mike Madigan. Shame.”

Comment by AlfondoGonz Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:01 pm
Just for clarity. This is done with a laser nowadays. Not to take the side of the Speaker, but if the inventory was in, it takes no time at all to buzz a bunch of these through. A day or two, tops. Think…less than 1 minute per clock…

Comment by A guy Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:01 pm
Rich,
Can you please provide me the name of the legislator that took this photo? Thanks!
-Speaker MJM

Comment by DG Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:02 pm
GOP wants to make it crystal clear that they want to clean Madigan’s clocks.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:05 pm
House Democrats are on the clock while House Republicans are on the dime….

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:05 pm
Drury: “Yeah, about what I said yesterday? Nevermind.”

Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:05 pm
If 47th’s math is right, and it’s the tall clock shown here (http://www.sawbridge.com/product.asp?deptid=4002&pfid=SWB00437#.WIuabnK7qic), that engraving much had been very expensive!

Comment by Anon221 Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:08 pm
Love it.

Funny no mention of raunner’s dropping of ‘Bux Baubles’ on the ILgop members! How bout that?

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:08 pm
Rich, consider it free advertisement. If they had not attributed it to you that would be worse.

Comment by Not It Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:09 pm
“The honorable Michael J. Madigan. Longest serving Speaker of a state House of Representatives in United States history.”
…you say that like it’s a bad thing…
–#ILIKEMIKE\s

Comment by LeadingInDecatur Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:09 pm
Pretty tone deaf and Trump like in its arrogance and entitlement. It is certainly time for a new Speaker.

With delayed pay for the past few months I wonder if any of these wind up in a pawn shop

Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:09 pm
“Proudly presiding over Illinois’ financial descent for over 40 years.”

Comment by Deft Wing Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:09 pm
Nice, but given the pace of our government, perhaps a sundial was more appropriate.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:10 pm
Time for a budget

Comment by CCP Hostage Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:10 pm
–Pretty tone deaf and Trump like in its arrogance and entitlement. –

Dazzling Raunerbottics — “I know, let’s tie Madigan to Trump with some incoherent word salad. Bring on the juice boxes and pudding cups!”

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:16 pm
Call me a traditionalist, but I’d go for one of those old-style black cast-iron spheres filled with powder and a lit fuse attached.

Comment by X-prof Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:21 pm
MJM supporting the Illinois economy…

Comment by Illinois O'Malley Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:23 pm
If I was a donor for the State Party or a legislator reliant on those funds, I would be a little salty with how much is spent on self-aggrandizing clocks.

Comment by NIU Grad Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:23 pm
I love it! Why be ashamed? It IS and achievement and he should be proud of it. If he doesn’t mention it, nobody will remember?

Comment by NoGifts Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:32 pm
Wordslinger you can always be counted on the defend the indefensible.

The least popular politician in the state by mile gives his caucus an expensive gift after a session where absolutely nothing was accomplished. He is reelected by everyone except one and gives them all a $700 gift that pays tribute to himself.

Right no ego there, I wonder if he included an iPod full of his speeches too!

Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:33 pm
–Right no ego there, I wonder if he included an iPod full of his speeches too!–

Maybe a tape recorder, though that is an Apple product.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:36 pm
–Wordslinger you can always be counted on the defend the indefensible.–

Read it again; I wasn’t defending anything, I was making fun of you.

Your reading and writing skills make that easy.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:37 pm
Upon closer examination is was revealed that not only did the clocks have an engraving, but when chiming the hour a holographic Madigan would appear to remind them who is in charge.

Comment by oneman Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:39 pm
Relationships are the foundation for a large part of a political person’s power. Relationships are built on the way one treats people who one needs support from. Good for him.

Comment by NoGifts Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:39 pm
Does anybody really know what time it is?

Does anybody really care?

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:45 pm
A box arrives at Rep Drury’s office. He opens it, an inside is an identical clock.

“Wow. I did get one! Maybe it was just late coming from the engraver and I owe the Speaker an apology…”

*looks at inscription*

“Hey. Why does this just say “Soon…” on it?”

Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:45 pm
LP, I doubt that my “dear leader” appreciates my criticism of his game-playing with the minimum wage and millionaire’s tax, or his antideluvian messaging strategy and delivery.

The next time you find any fault with Rauner will be the first.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:46 pm
Like time, legislators and governors all pass, but Mike Madigan always remains.

Comment by CLJ Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:49 pm
Wordslinger. you are a respected voice around here, but you’re off target on this one.

Comment by Saluki Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:49 pm
The next clock is going to say…

“Micheal Madigan leadership until he is good and ready to leave and do you forget it”

“or else”

Comment by OneMan Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:54 pm
“Showering with clocks” sounds dangerous!

Comment by northsider (the original) Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 2:08 pm
Simon Pearce the artist who is from Vermont? if yes, very nice crystal pieces. so my caption would be Made in Vermont.

Comment by Amalia Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 2:11 pm
just checked, yes Vermont (the mill store I once visited is very nice) but also made at a factory in Maryland. so alternative headline, at least it’s made in the USA.

Comment by Amalia Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 2:17 pm
Somebody went and spoiled a perfectly good clock. Where I can get the inscription polished off?

Drury thinking to himself - “I’m glad I didn’t get one of those things. I won’t have to be looking at that inscription.”

Comment by Huh? Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 2:19 pm
Well, it is better than rubber chickens…

Comment by SKI Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 2:20 pm
How do you change the battery on that sucker?

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 2:20 pm
So last century.

Comment by Julian's Melange Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 2:21 pm
Reminds me of when LBJ had the hubris to offer a bust of himself as a gift to Pope. These guys have no shame.

Comment by Texas Red Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 2:23 pm
It’s the opposite of Solar powered…It powers up when there is no sunlight.

Comment by A guy Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 2:32 pm
This watch is very nice, but my wrist is killing me.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 2:34 pm
How the heck do you “pay off” people with an expensive knickknack? Unless you’re planning to sell the clock on eBay, it’s essentially valueless—just another dumb thing that has to be dusted. Legislators’ offices are already full of junk like this.

Comment by tobias846 Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 2:41 pm
Most tone-deaf gift since Mrs. O’Leary had her cow’s foot bronzed.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 2:44 pm
“What is the limit on cost of gifts a legislator can receive? Is this beyond that limit?”

Ask the Republican legislators, all of whom received loads of campaign cash from Gov. Gaslight.

Comment by Nick Name Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 2:46 pm
Let me get this straight. Rauner writes out checks for at least several thousand dollars each to all GOP members of the General Assembly. Now these folks whose members are all bought and paid for by Rauner are complaining about Madigan buying his members clocks. Got it!

Comment by The Dude Abides Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 2:53 pm
Times up!

Comment by Flynn's mom Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 2:58 pm
The Madigan Doomsday Clock.

Comment by Ahoy! Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 3:23 pm
How do you unplug the clock?

Comment by Joe Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 3:25 pm
I order crystal awards with engraving all the time. $8,000 divided by 66 is a little over $120 which sounds about right. If he paid more than that he should go to The Crystal Cave. They do great work.

Comment by Chicago Barb Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 3:27 pm
“Save the clock tower!”

Comment by frisbee Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 3:28 pm
Gawd, that is ugly. Perfect symbol of the Speaker’s ego and run ear though. I assume all the legislators will promptly report this extravagant “gift”?

Comment by Fiona Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 3:33 pm
is it like fawell’s clock at the pier?

Comment by hmmm Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 3:35 pm
Agree it’s not what I was thinking it would look like when I heard about it. Also think it is much like all the discussion about the number of people at Trump’s inauguration - who cares/get over it!

Comment by Way South of I-80 Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 3:37 pm
Rich, Did you get one?

Comment by Carterville Kid Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 4:03 pm
Cart Kid,
He’s busy at the moment.
So.
Bite him.

Comment by A guy Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 4:05 pm
Madigan: This clock is to remind you that when you are here you are on clock - My clock.

Comment by Mama Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 4:06 pm
I say these are trophy exit clocks. I have a feeling he is planning to retire soon (2018 perhaps?). No?

Comment by Mama Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 4:12 pm
Only Mike’s clock is transparent.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 4:14 pm
Thanks for keeping the ILGOP the permanent Moon Party.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 4:32 pm
In 30 years, if there are any left in the capitol, I bet people will think the clocks are pretty cool especially if they still work.

Comment by James Knell Friday, Feb 10, 17 @ 11:42 am