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Newly appointed Rep. Phelps Finnie attempts to answer the “Madigan question”

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Illinois

Natalie Phelps Finnie became the first woman to represent Illinois’ 118th district Wednesday, when Democrats appointed her to replace her cousin, Brandon Phelps, who resigned from office last week.

She does have a political pedigree. Her father, David Phelps, served in Springfield and as United States Congressman. […]

When asked if she would support Mike Madigan as speaker of the house, Phelps Finnie described herself as undecided, with tough decisions ahead of her.

“I’m about the people of southern Illinois and anyone who knows me knows that I’m very stubborn, and I’m certainly no one’s yes man,” she said. “I can tell you that for sure.”

Thoughts?

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 9:22 am

Comments

Patches O’Houlihan would be proud.
Dodgeball.

Comment by Oh Boy Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 9:28 am
ahhh…youthful exuberance.

Comment by Julian's Melange Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 9:28 am
Nepotism got her this job, who cares what she thinks. Another case of the people of S. Illinois being told what to do by an entitled political class. Resign now and call for a special election

Comment by Dr X Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 9:28 am
Good response.

Comment by Scott Cross for President Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 9:30 am
Just go kiss the ring and get it over with.

Comment by Arock Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 9:31 am
Seems like the deflector shields are quite operational, because that was not an answer, stubborn people can vote for the speaker. Maybe she is still deciding, or maybe she plans on voteing yes and knows saying yes will her crucified so she deflected. I doubt she wants to be buddy’s with Drury so I’m going with the later.

Comment by Epic Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 9:31 am
===call for a special election===

No such thing for House slots.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 9:32 am
Is ‘political pedigree’ another way of describing ‘nepotism’? They couldn’t find any other ‘qualified’ person in the 118th District who wasn’t the cousin of the previous Representative or daughter of another politician? Curious.

Comment by Horst Cabal Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 9:32 am
When the time comes, she can say she will support the speaker candidate who was instrumental in passing veto-proof “will issue” (not “may issue”) conceal-carry legislation with no home-rule exceptions.

I hear that was popular in her neck of the woods.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 9:32 am
She was born into the game and knows how to play it with a professional response.

Odds she votes against Madigan? I’d offer 10:1.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 9:33 am
I didn’t know that the committeemen and County Chairmen in the District who selected her were an “entitled political class.”

Guess I’m much more important than I ever hoped I would be.

Comment by illini Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 9:35 am
She isn’t going to vote against Madigan, who are we kidding…

Comment by OneMan Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 9:35 am
I know the number of Democrat votes has shrunk a lot in Southern Illinois recently, but I didn’t realize it was so bad that the Phelps family were the only Democrats left

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 9:38 am
I cant say from bad to worse. The nepotism stinks to high heaven.

Comment by Blue dog dem Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 9:38 am
Not a bad response. Frankly, better than most of the GOV candidates have done.

I’m interested to see an RN in the legislature. I like it when people from different careers get involved.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 9:43 am
In a district that’s already guaranteed to be a tough race, why would they hand Republicans an appearance of nepotism to use? Doesn’t seem like a very smart move

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 9:48 am
Sign of the times. No one was willing to take this seat.

The reality is in a seat the incumbent was not likely to win, the number of people who can afford to leave their job and take on that task are far and few between.

I don’t like the nepotism, but I prefer to direct my frustration at those who always want to direct blame, but not put their name on the ballot.

She stepped up and has a year to show what she is made of. At least she has the guts to try.

Comment by the Patriot Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 9:49 am
That seems like a dumb question to me. Is there someone else running against Madigan for speaker? Who is she supposed to vote for? write in?

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 9:53 am
===No one was willing to take this seat===

lol

Don’t bet money on that.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 9:58 am
Democrats should ask new republican appointees to address whether they will support the continued destruction of our state by Rauner and what is left of the superstars.

Comment by Captain Ed Smith Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 10:00 am
Madigan’s staff will be helping her with a response. They know that district is changing and it will be a tough reelection campaign. So they have to address the Madigan negatives in that area.

Here’s my tin-foil hat prediction. If Rauner goes down in flames, Madigan will resign. Madigan will not retire so long as the destructive Rauner is still governor. I’m not saying Madigan’s continued service if Rauner is reelected is out altruism, I’d put his motive more like this:

He tasks me. He tasks me; and I shall have him. I’ll chase him ’round the moons of Nibia and ’round the Antares maelstrom and ’round Perdition’s flames before I give him up.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 10:10 am
The old family heirloom, political office.

Comment by Saluki Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 10:11 am
“If elected and if we remain the majority party, I will wait and see who my choices are for the speaker and then make my choice.”

Comment by don the legend Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 10:13 am
It’s as “good” as can be said, but I’d turn the tables a bit…

“If be more worried if Bruce Rauner was re-elected governor and continues his destruction of Illinois.”

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 10:42 am
@Oh Boy…hilarious!! You dodge a wrench you can…dodge a question about the Speaker. I hope she gets a challenge in the primary, but it probably won’t matter. Will it be odd to see her cousin lobby her once he sets out his “shingle”? Brandon didn’t resign just to have eye surgery..he wants to make $$$$

Comment by 10th ward Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 10:50 am
I don’t understand why Democratic legislators make this so hard. Follow the example of the late Terry Deering, who famously took the call from the Madigan after his upset win decades ago. When asked for his vote for Speaker, Deering replied: “I don’t know, who are the candidates?”

Here’s a primer “I’m focused on this election so I can represent the values of this district. I’m not going to worry about future elections until they happen.”

If pushed, just say “I don’t even know who the candidates will be. But I can tell you who I won’t be voting for, and that’s any candidate for Speaker who spends the next year and a half trying to drag my family name through the mud.”

Comment by ILPundit Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 10:50 am
All downstate Democrats either say they won’t vote for Madigan or tap dance until they get there and then fall in line.

Comment by OurMagician Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 10:56 am
If it wasn’t for the Democrats and the “Brave 15″, “Perfect 10″, and Sen Righter…

… Illinois still wouldn’t have a budget.

So, thank goodness the Dems, and Republicans care more about Illinois than Rauner… but let’s worry about a vote for Speaker, lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 11:00 am
This is a dumb, lazy ask. Dems are going to run Madigan for Speaker, Reps will run whoever their leader is. Who is a Democrat supposed to vote for? Jeez.

Comment by Ray del Camino Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 11:08 am
Just to let everyone know. Old Blue submitted his name…..i cant figure out what all that laughing was about…..maybe i am to friwndly towards the NRA…maybe its my position on the death penalty…maybe its that i am just to old.

Comment by Blue dog dem Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 11:17 am
I can vouch for IlPundit.

Although I didn’t move back to his district until 3 months after his upset win, my neighbor, who was very involved in his campaign, was in the room when he received that phone call from MM. Keep in mind that the ILLDEMS had written off this race and provided absolutely no help of any kind.

Typical of what I would have expected of Terry.

That seems like ancient history now.

Comment by illini Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 11:20 am
Pedigrees and inbreeding do not mix.

Comment by City Zen Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 11:22 am
==If pushed, just say “I don’t even know who the candidates will be.==

Some folks tried that in ‘16. I don’t think it exactly squared the circle.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 11:37 am
“If Rauner goes down in flames, Madigan will resign”

I’ll take that bet. $500 to the charity of your choice?

Comment by Lobo Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 1:04 pm
Not really sure what you find so funny. There are several people in those counties, many with a lot more money, resources, education, and experience. None of them believe this is a winnable seat in 2018.

I guess if I am wrong, the challengers will start lining up to run against her in the primary.

Comment by the Patriot Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 1:49 pm
=== I’ll take that bet. $500 to the charity of your choice? ===

Whoa it’s a little much for a Tin Foil Hat prediction. I’m a retiree so bring it down to $50 to Lutheran Social Services and your on. Now that’s Rauner loses and then Madigan retires. If Rauner wins, all bets are off and the State of IL loses.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 3:01 pm
Everybody knows she will vote for Madigan — they’re just trying to pretend to put some pressure on her.

Her answer is OK. I’d go with “Let’s see who else is running. It certainly won’t be me.”

The next vote against Madigan as Speaker, will not occur until Rauner is out of office, and probably not occur until MJM announces his retirement.

Comment by walker Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 3:40 pm
@Norseman

Deal.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 10:16 am
Sorry Norseman, that’s me above.

Comment by Lobo Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 10:17 am