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Beware the hot mic

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Illinois

By Hannah Meisel

* I was in the House press box yesterday when Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago) took a point of personal privilege to apologize to Grant Wehrli (R-Naperville) for “extremely inappropriate, intemperate language,” she had used earlier. The other reporters and I asked each other what had happened earlier, but no one knew.

Turns out, a hot mic had caught Currie calling Wehrli an “idiot” off mic during debate on SB427, which would allow the governor or mayor to appoint members the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Board for three terms instead of two terms. The rationale behind the bill, Currie said, is to not impose an arbitrary limit on the time someone could serve “if that individual is making major contributions to the success of this enterprise.”

Wehrli, and most Republicans who stood up against the bill pointed to the bigger movement (championed by Gov. Rauner) to implement term limits, while the bill would extend the amount of time someone could serve in a public role. Plus, Rauner has already vetoed a version of this bill…

Wehrli: Leader, in your opening remarks, you mention that this is somebody is making a major contribution to the board. Can you define what a “major” contribution is, as opposed to a minor contribution?

Currie: A major contribution would be in the eye of the governor or the eye of the mayor. All this bill does is to say either the governor or the mayor has the opportunity to appoint someone to a third term. And I don’t understand why the governor would veto that bill. He doesn’t have to exercise the authority if this bill were to become law. He doesn’t need to appoint someone to a third term. But why he would deny that opportunity to the Mayor and to any future governor makes zero sense to me.”

Wehrli: So when you’re saying major contribution, you’re talking about work product and not financial contributions in some way, is that correct?

Currie: What I said is it depends on what the mayor or the governor wants to do. This is permissive. This doesn’t require them to use my standard, your standard or anybody else’s standard. It just says that they have that opportunity.

After a two-second pause, Currie added, “idiot” off-mic.

Wehrli’s face on video doesn’t show that he reacted to the “idiot” comment. Debate went on and the bill ended up passing with 62 votes.

* About an hour later, Currie apologized…

“I certainly hope that Rep. Wehrli will accept this apology in the manner in which I offer it, which is to say with deep sincerity,” Currie said. “And I hope that you will still be my friend.”

Wehrli replied that he “warmly” accepted it, adding that he looks “forward to continuing our work collaboratively on solutions for the great state of Illinois.”

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, May 24, 18 @ 11:13 am

Comments

Is that the standard in public discourse that requires an apology?

What do these guys have to do? Self-flagellation at the brass rail?

“…Madigan, whom Rauner characterized as “a unified force of bad, of evil” for the Democrats who control the General Assembly.–

–“As a party united now, we have a lot of work to do — pulling together to fight, take back our beloved Illinois, and get rid of Mike Madigan and the evil Democrats that infect Chicago, Cook County and the rest of the state,” (Mark) Shaw said.–

https://capitolfax.com/2018/03/16/rauner-calls-madigan-a-unified-force-of-bad-of-evil/

https://capitolfax.com/2018/05/21/ives-demands-resignations-after-gop-unity-vote/

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, May 24, 18 @ 11:25 am
I’m really surprised this doesn’t happen more often. When it gets late in session and toward the end of a long day in committee or doing Thirds on the floor, people get testy.

Comment by Give Me A Break Thursday, May 24, 18 @ 11:34 am
Mrs. Currie was not wrong.

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, May 24, 18 @ 11:35 am
oh how the filter seems to fade with age… That was a spectacular moment of hilarity. But good on her for owning it and apologizing.

Comment by Iggy Thursday, May 24, 18 @ 11:58 am
I think it shows a level of class on the part of Rep. Currie that is often lacking in Springfield and DC. A minor slip of the tongue was quickly followed by an apology instead of doubling down. We need more like Rep. Currie, maybe a few folks learned something…

Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, May 24, 18 @ 12:04 pm
Good for BFC to admit it and apologize. Look at what happens when people talk to each other and simply apologize when they make a mistake or say something foolish. No need for press pops or public flogging. If only civility was the order of the day every day.

Comment by Befuddled Thursday, May 24, 18 @ 12:08 pm
yes, J Mill. She was. He is good dude

Comment by yo Thursday, May 24, 18 @ 12:43 pm
==- JS Mill - Thursday, May 24, 18 @ 11:35 am:

Mrs. Currie was not wrong.==

She thought she was and immediately rectified the situation. Like a classy and decent person would.
Support her for the right thing.

Comment by A guy Thursday, May 24, 18 @ 3:07 pm
=She thought she was and immediately rectified the situation. Like a classy and decent person would.
Support her for the right thing.=

She wasn’t wrong. I stand by that. Wherli is a classless troll who’s only claim to fame is twitter trolling.

He got what he deserved.

If anything she might feel remorse for going down to his level.

=yes, J Mill. She was. He is good dude=

All evidence to the contrary (see twitter)

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, May 24, 18 @ 4:30 pm
Good on Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, very good on Rep. Wehrli for accepting immediately.

That’s how it should be.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, May 24, 18 @ 4:32 pm