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McCann threatens to sue after staff services yanked

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* Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady claims Sen. Sam McCann resigned from the SGOP caucus the day he announced his gubernatorial candidacy. McCann flatly denies he did that, so now we get this…

State Sen. Sam McCann, R-Plainview, who last week announced he’s running a third-party campaign for governor, said Thursday that he is being denied regular services provided by Senate staff, and he may file a lawsuit to fight that denial on his constituents’ behalf.

“It’s totally unconstitutional,” McCann said. “I think the taxpayers need to know that … currently, in the 50th District, you are enduring taxation without representation.”

McCann said that services he’s talking about range from use of staff photographers to communications, to help in writing bills and coordinating their movement through committees.

“I had a group of Girl Scouts here this morning,” McCann said, but a staff photographer would not take a picture.

It appears that McCann’s legislative website has been taken offline as well.

…Adding… It should probably be pointed out that McCann still has access to his district office allotment.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 9:40 am

Comments

What does “being denied regular services provided by Senate staff” mean, was his legislative assistant, communications staffer etc all pulled or is he just not getting stuff from the caucus like bill analysis?

Also I’m curious, in modern history has the House or Senate ever had an elected official that was not a dem or republican? If so how did they operate at the Capitol?

Comment by ItsMillerTime Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 9:47 am
I retract my first question, apologies for my lack of reading comprehension

Comment by ItsMillerTime Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 9:48 am
If they’re going to deny him staff services than they need to give him his proportional share of the staff budget to hire his own.

Comment by Just Me Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 9:49 am
The Republican dysfunction reaches new heights every day. A minority party in Illinois for another decade is assured. CIRCULAR FIRING SQUAD !! Ready .. aim… FIRE!!

Comment by Wow Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 9:50 am
Dear Senator Brady,
Please keep it up. You’re making Sam a hero! He might even get second place now!
Sincerely,
Pritzker Voters

Comment by Can Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 9:50 am
This is one reason I think there needs to be more non-partisan staff positions.

Comment by BeeBee Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 9:52 am
Sometimes ignoring someone is better than creating a new opportunity for earned media every week by doing something that literally falls into his campaign’s narrative that you didn’t have to do.

I don’t care how ugly my shoes are. I’m not going to shoot myself in the foot.

Comment by Anon Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 9:52 am
Welcome to the world of politics Mr. McCann

Comment by Generic Drone Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 9:53 am
Well, he left the Republican Party. Maybe he should sue the Senate Democrats while he’s at it. It’s lonely to be on your own island, Sam.

Comment by phocion Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 9:53 am
This is how the Raunerites roll. You are either with them, or there will be a $@#$% problem.

Comment by Retired Educator Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 9:53 am
Not the first time this has happened. I know a former legislator who, after losing an election, had everything pulled by the party caucus. Computers, staff, everything. Wouldn’t return phone calls. The folks in that office - the lame duck and one loyal staffer used their own computers and phones (one land line was kindly left for the office) to try and do district business for two months. Real constituent service.

Comment by Archiesmom Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 9:55 am
How conservative of Mr. McCann to complain about not being provided a taxpayer funded photographer. Some fiscal watch dog he is! MAGA!

Comment by LOL Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 9:55 am
While McCann’s lawsuit will no doubt look frivolous to many people, I basically repeat what I said yesterday: everyday the McCann/Rauner conflict is in the news is a good day for JB Pritzker.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 10:00 am
Decisions have consequences.

But, to the politics, and after how McCann treated Leader Radogno, I can get behind this… but here’s why I’m not.

They could give McCann bill analysis, thru the fiscal note and changes in statute angles, not the caucus positions…

They could make sure McCann has able secretarial assistance for his Springfield shop, allowing services like a photo or printing, or whatever…

Doing things like this… they could fuel McCann and Conservatives with “Raunerites are willing to punish constituents if it makes sense to Raunerite politics”

Why highlight McCann’s fight, as a conservative, a pro labor, pro-life conservative, against Raunerites?

No caucus meetings, no “slanted” analysis given… no access to the caucus leaders…

But a picture? Impede actual legislative work? They don’t need McCann’s votes in other things? Make McCann a poster child and tool for conservatives to continue to go after Rauner?

It was a picture.

Think big picture.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 10:02 am
=== “It’s totally unconstitutional,” … ===

Do you have a cite for the constitutional provision violated, Sam?

This highlights a problem with funding most of legislative support functions by party. Independents are dependent upon one of the caucuses to provide staff support. If Sam wasn’t a duck formerly of a minority, he’d have more leverage to “encourage” a caucus to provide services to him. Sue if you want, but short of the GOP kicking you out of a Capitol office I doubt it will get him anything other than a high legal bill.

Sam still has an office allowance. He can use it to help with basics. As for bills, use LRB to draft bills - staff depends on them for the most part anyway. As for help with bills, try something unusual - try and understand and steward your own legislation through the process.

Sam, save yourself some money and use this as a PR blurb for accusing Rauner’s allies from trying to silence you.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 10:06 am
Helpful of the Raunerites to make a martyr out of McCann, depriving him of taxpayer-funded goodies that they take for themselves. Helps keep him in the public eye as he gears up his petition drive.

Curious that they just didn’t ignore him until he showed whether or not he really has the goods.

Virtually everyone over the age of 10 now walks around with a camera in their pocket. Do taxpayers really need to pay for photographers to promote politicians and feed their egos?

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 10:07 am
… allies of trying to silence you…

Comment by Norseman Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 10:09 am
=== Also I’m curious, in modern history has the House or Senate ever had an elected official that was not a dem or republican? If so how did they operate at the Capitol? ===

Rev. Sen. James Meeks

=== Welcome to the world of politics Mr. McCann ===

Legislative services should not be tied to politics. I think you know that, though.

Comment by Just Observing Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 10:16 am
Rauner did call brady a rascal

Comment by Rabid Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 10:17 am
Q: Unconstitutional? A: Most unlikely

Q: Banned word stupid? A: Absolutely

Comment by Hamlet's Ghost Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 10:18 am
A “House” move, not something I would expect out of the upper chamber. Rock, Pate, JC would never allow such shenanigans.

Comment by Captain Ed Smith Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 10:28 am
As just observing mentioned, Rev Sen Meeks was elected as an independent, but caucused with the Democrats and was pretty closely aligned with Senate President Jones.

Comment by Juice Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 10:31 am
Sounds like a trick Madigan would pull. Are we sure that McCann is Madigan’s stooge?

Comment by Whatever Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 10:37 am
Phocon, that’s his point, he says he didn’t leave yet, just stated he was going to leave. The argument being that he is still a part of the caucus and should have access to caucus resources. Kinda like putting in notice at work and your boss takes away your computer while still expecting you to work.( I get that Sam still has an office and everything, I just picked a resource)

Comment by Perrid Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 10:40 am
===== Welcome to the world of politics Mr. McCann ===

Look at all the raunerites, giggling. Y’all spent days clutching your pearls when Scott Drury didn’t get a commemorative clock from Madigan, but actively hampering McCanns ability to do his job as an elected official is a good idea? The hypocrisy here is discomforting, as is the joy taken in slighting central Illinois taxpayers just so your boys in the GA can stick it to McCann. It’s just two of the many, many reasons the majority of Illinoisans refuse to vote for your party. Existing as a minority or super-minority party must be a lot more fun than it looks.

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 11:44 am
This side show will continue until sine die ….So why should he get GOP staff analysis if he is not GOPer( by choice)? He should still get his photog service committee and LA assitance but not the caucus positions. By the way maybe the staff photog was otherwise occupied or off and seat of his pants Sam didnt schedule appropriately ?

Comment by NorthsideNoMore Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 12:10 pm
Wow, McCann sounds like a bug whiner. Typical of conservatives.

Comment by Ron Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 12:24 pm
Poetic justice won’t be achieved until McCann chooses Drury as his running mate.

Comment by Dome Gnome Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 12:38 pm
To Lester Holts Mustache. Perhaps I gave the impression that I agreed with Rauners move. I do not. Just a little sarcastic polk at politics the Illinois way.

Comment by Generic Drone Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 3:27 pm
The right’s Scott Drury. Only this time, Sam will beat them. He won’t win the election, but he will beat them.

Comment by Politix Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 3:37 pm