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Rep. Andersson to retire

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Illinois

A Republican legislator who was an instrumental leader of the uprising that gave Illinois its first budget in more than two years is leaving state politics, citing an increasingly political and partisan atmosphere in Springfield.

Rep. Steven Andersson, R-Geneva, says he will step down at the end of his term rather than run for re-election in 2018.

“The reality is that this place if very much leadership-driven, and leaders are driven to win. And that means that policy sometimes takes a second place to politics,” Andersson said.

He corrected himself: not sometimes. “Often,” he said. “Too often.”

Andersson was one of a dozen Republicans who joined the General Assembly’s majority Democrats to vote for a budget and income tax increase in July over the objections of Gov. Bruce Rauner.

Shortly thereafter, Andersson was deposed as House Republicans’ floor leader.

* I can’t say this surprises me. Press release…

When our state was on the brink of a financial cliff of such enormity that we would not recover for decades, I came to the same conclusion as many of my colleagues, that the cost of inaction outweighed the cost of compromise.

I, along with a 14 other Republicans, rose up and joined rank and file Democrats in an effort to end the impasse. Due to the partisan infighting, the clock had run out and time was up despite two and a half years of negotiations, there was no viable deal that could be passed in time to save our state from disaster. We could no longer watch while our state burned without a budget for the longest time of any state in U.S. history.

As a result of the vote, we brought the state back from the fiscal edge and passed a balanced budget - the first in decades, while continuing the fight to build on the many reforms we did achieve. These significant reforms include procurement reform, government consolidation initiatives and criminal justice reform. We lived to fight another day and saved the state from financial collapse.

I am proud of the work I have done during my tenure, such as passing legislation giving voters the right to dissolve local governments; being a staunch advocate from the beginning for the future energy jobs bill; insuring children get screened for social emotional learning issues at an early age, making local government and our courts run more efficiently and for honoring our Gold Star Families with their own day each year. Moving forward, I will continue to fight, and I will continue to lead, with the same Republican values I have held to for 40 years. Values entrenched in the notion of living within our means, honoring our commitments, building strong businesses, ensuring equality for all, valuing human life, and delivering a sustainable government. In addition, I will also fight for those who have the least voice: the mentally ill, the developmentally disabled, those afflicted with substance abuse and other issues.

That said, our politics are changing. Even within the time, I have served in Springfield, the temperament of my party has shifted, and the Republican Party values I grew up with seem to be increasingly absent or changing. At this point, I believe that my advocacy will be stronger outside the chamber than within. There are others who are better suited to the current partisan politics of this chamber. At the end of this term I’ll be stepping aside to afford that opportunity to another individual.

I’d like to thank the incredible outpouring of support from both within the district and across the state for my work to bring an end to the budget impasse. It has been truly humbling. It has been an honor to serve the people of 65th district and the realization of a lifelong dream. Thank you.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 9:33 am

Comments

This is called a worthy legacy…

===I, along with a 14 other Republicans, rose up and joined rank and file Democrats in an effort to end the impasse. Due to the partisan infighting, the clock had run out and time was up despite two and a half years of negotiations, there was no viable deal that could be passed in time to save our state from disaster. We could no longer watch while our state burned without a budget for the longest time of any state in U.S. history.===

… and Ms. Wheeler wanted the Illinois to burn down.

I won’t miss Ms. Wheeler.

I, and Illinois will miss Rep. Andersson. Some who cared more about Illinois that appeasing Diana and Bruce Rauner’s destruction.

Thank you, Rep. Andersson.

…

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 9:38 am
Best of luck to you, Rep. Andersson. Thank you for your service and your courage.

Comment by ??? Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 9:38 am
The word “irreplaceable” comes to mind. A real shame that Illinois can’t have nice things.

Comment by Dome Gnome Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 9:39 am
Thank you, Rep. Andersson. I truly admire your courage and moral fortitude. Best of luck to you and your family. YC

Comment by Yiddishcowboy Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 9:39 am
My rep and I am proud of him. He espouses the Republican values I grew up with. So now what? Some bought and paid for junior Raunerite?

Comment by DuPage Saint Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 9:42 am
==There are others who are better suited to the current partisan politics of this chamber.== That line says it all.

Comment by SAP Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 9:44 am
DuPage Saint—

The answer to your question is YES.

Comment by Honeybadger Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 9:44 am
Best of luck to you, Rep. Andersson. Thank you for your service and your courage.

Comment by Honeybadger Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 9:45 am
“and passed a balanced budget” There are those that would disagree, but whatever. Bipartisanship should be the rule, not the exception.

Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 9:46 am
I read about his plans last night. Not a surprise, but this saddens me:
“Even within the time, I have served in Springfield, the temperament of my party has shifted, and the Republican Party values I grew up with seem to be increasingly absent or changing.”

As with Congress, so with the state General Assembly. I used to believe that whichever party was in the majority, they all had the best interests of the nation/state at heart. That organ is in very short supply among Repubs today.

Comment by My New Handle Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 9:48 am
During the budget overrides, Rep. Andersson was a true leader. He stood up to the Raunerite virus that had spread throughout the House Republicans. I only hope that he will also stand with his district and work to convince others who are retiring from the House to vote to override the SB1 AV next week. There are issues that can still be negotiated after the override, but an override is needed, and there are enough House Republicans who can show the true meaning of bipartisanship in the last months of their service to Illinois… not to Rauner.

Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 9:54 am
–… the Republican Party values I grew up with seem to be increasingly absent or shifting.–

Aint that the truth.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 9:56 am
I have known Steve for many years. His thoughtfulness, dedication to good government, and his willingness to compromise when it is in the best interests of the people of the State of Illinois will be greatly missed. Thanks, Steve for your public service!

Comment by Retired SURS Employee Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 9:57 am
===(Republican) values entrenched in the notion of living within our means, honoring our commitments, building strong businesses, ensuring equality for all, valuing human life, and delivering a sustainable government.===

Thank you for your service Rep. Andersson. And thank you for defining what being Republican ’should’ look like; for making that distinction between Republican and Raunerite.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 9:58 am
What a sad but well stated farewll. It is a sad day for Illinois to lose somone of this caliber.

Comment by Ghost Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 10:02 am
>the Republican Party values I grew up with seem to be increasingly absent or changing.

And Illinois is the poorer for it, both in the larger sense and in the practical sense of bills run up with no revenue to pay them over the last couple of years.

Comment by Earnest Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 10:03 am
===–… the Republican Party values I grew up with seem to be increasingly absent or shifting.–===

If only every Republican that believes this would speak up instead of deciding not to run or staying silent thinking that this will just somehow magically blow over. You are giving your party to the wackos by doing this, Rep Andersson.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 10:03 am
I don’t need to add to what Willy so eloquently said. All I’ll add is good luck to you Rep. Andersson.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 10:05 am
All the reps retiring should vote to override the AV, and stick it to him on the way out…just sayin.

Comment by PublicServant Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 10:05 am
We need more people willing to stand up for those core values, and recognize that most progress and forward movement comes with compromise.

Best wishes, Rep. Andersson.

Comment by Fairness and Fairness Only Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 10:05 am
Any murmurs that all of these retirements could affect chances of SB1 override?

Comment by Downstate43 Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 10:09 am
Anyone keeping a tally of how many of the R override votes are retiring?

I believe it is much more than the Republicans who did not vote to override, despite there being many more in the latter camp.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 10:12 am
Rep Anderson and the other Republicans who had the courage to defy Rauner and vote to move Illinois forward performed a great service to the state. When Anderson commented that “Even within the time I have served in Springfield, the temperament of my party has shifted, and the Republican Party values I grew up with seem to be increasingly absent or changing” I totally related to that.
I am an Independent but in the many elections that I have voted in I’ve voted for more Republicans than Democrats. I don’t recognize the party as it has become under Rauner. Jim Durkin punishing Anderson for doing the right thing so that he could pacify his boss was an embarrassment to the American ideal. Until which time that Rauner is gone I won’t be voting for any Republicans. A vote for a Republican has become nothing more than a vote for Rauner, a selfish right wing ideologue.
Thank you for your service Rep Anderson.

Comment by The Dude Abides Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 10:14 am
Like DuPage said…to be replaced by an empty suit in their late 20s/early 30s that does Rauner’s bidding.

My replacement rep. (David Olsen) is nothing to write home about.

Comment by Jocko Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 10:22 am
Thank you for your courage Rep. Andersson. Sad to know you are leaving - as the party I used to identify with continues to corrode. Sadly, you will be replaced by a (probably twenty-something) rubber stamp party loyalist that will put the “party” before the people.

Comment by justthefacts Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 10:27 am
Finally, to the Post,

The “de facto” leader of the House’s “Brave 15″ and the “Perfect 10″ is walking away.

Unlike a member who represents Lake and McHenry counties, Rep. Andersson cares more for Illinois than destruction. Unlike others who felt betrayed that she couldn’t harm Illinois more, Rep. Andersson knew destruction had to stop. Unlike some who vilify caucus members and those across the aisle that had enough, Rep. Andersson knew Illinois needed saving, and that those he shared former values with had lost their way…

===That said, our politics are changing. Even within the time, I have served in Springfield, the temperament of my party has shifted, and the Republican Party values I grew up with seem to be increasingly absent or changing.===

Why losing Rep. Andersson hurts so much and others leaving is such a relief is found right there. Rep. Andersson understands why he’s leaving. Others are leaving, “frustrated” they can’t cause more damage, feeling stifled because good overcame the bad Raunerite destruction.

The legacy of the “Brave 16″, with a Senator willing to stand up for Illinois too, will be two-fold.

The glaring reasons why they saved Illinois… and the fact that those reasons were forced upon Illinois by Illinois’ own governor.

I’ll never be able to thank those who stood up to Raunerism, but this…

===… the Republican Party values I grew up with seem to be increasingly absent or changing.===

… I couldn’t say it better, and it couldn’t hurt more to read.

This retirement by Rep. Andersson will be the measuring stick to GOP retirements.

“Where did you stand when it mattered?”

Rep. Andersson… should have no regrets.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 10:27 am
I guess Andersson decided to retire after putting his career on the line for an override that Rauner secretly wanted. #sarcasm

Comment by Real Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 10:33 am
Yes, Representative Andersson is probably much better than his eventual replacement. Yes, his willingness to vote for the budget override was critical to the state. I only ask why did it take so long? Was it not obvious two years ago that spending cuts and additional revenue were essential? Taking the necessary steps to avoid the crisis would have been more courageous.

Comment by PhD Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 10:46 am
I feel like I am watching a slow moving purge. The worst part is that they are leaving instead of standing and fighting.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 10:53 am
To the R votes in the House on an override and retiring Reps… specifically Reggie Phillips:

“Today, the legislature is embroiled in another stalemate, this time over schools.

While the July budget authorized funding for K-12 education, lawmakers put off an acrimonious debate about how to divvy up that money across the state. Democrats in the Chicago area are seeking what they view as their students’ fair share, while the governor and Republicans accuse them of seeking a bailout because of the district’s poor handling of the pension system.

This time, Phillips said, he is 100 percent behind the governor and has no plans to cross party lines.”

https://tinyurl.com/yajlez9k

Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 11:01 am
==The worst part is that they are leaving instead of standing and fighting.==

I agree.

Implicitly, many reasonable Republicans realize that the Governor’s approach is a disaster, but they do not want to fight against the rightward shift in ideology within the party.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 11:01 am
Anonymous @11:01am was me.

Comment by PhD Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 11:06 am
ILGOP has been on life support for so long, it contracted a serious disease in 2014. While it won the governorship, it didn’t rejuvenate it. Since then, this disease has sapped ILGOP to a point where its only elected office is outsourced to a group of idealogues without experience beyond lobbying and hucksterism.

Today, we see a further erosion of ILGOP governing credibility. Even if citizens return the ILGOP candidate to the Illinois legislature, that individual will not have the connections, knowledge or credible gravitas the retiring ILGOP member had. This will make ILGOP even weaker.

Consequently, there remains a political vacuum that can be filled by future Illinois leaders. These individuals will be able to offer our state a more viable, welcoming and hopeful future. A future that makes possible a balance between wasteful, dead end progressivism and Rauner’s loathful anarchism.

ILGOP is in a state of hospice. In 2018, there will need to be a new beginning for Illinois; a better way of governing that is respectful, inclusive, effective and responsive to all citizens.

I hope that our retired ILGOP governors, senators and representatives will be willing to help us achieve this, post-Rauner/IPI political organization.

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 11:06 am
This is a reason why I don’t want term limits. Replacements for thoughtful independent-minded legislators like Rep Andersson would just be bought and subsidized, like mercenary soldiers, by the deepest pockets in both parties. It would lead to a legislature largely composed of robots, awaiting instructions from their creators.

Comment by James Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 1:32 pm
Agreed, James.

Comment by igotgotgotgotnotime Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 1:46 pm
If the replacements for the Republican legislators that Rauner now sees as enemies, whether by primary or appointment, are from the far right, that will create some new opportunities for Democrats in competitive districts. These departing moderate Republicans represented the expectations of their districts.

Comment by walker Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 1:52 pm
…”the proudest moment here was passing that budget.”….couldn’t he at least recognize the fact that it had to be done on the backs of the working poor and middle classes. Couldnt he have said, I tried every way manageable to find spending cuts, but non were to be found. Couldn’t he say anything?

Comment by blue dog dem Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 2:57 pm