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* I told subscribers about this last Friday, both in the morning and then in an afternoon update about the agreement to pull the spots on Tuesday. There was a huge fight with Chicago labor leaders over Cullerton’s spots…
Within 10 days of running, three ads for Democratic women running for the Illinois State Senate - in which they called for term limits for House Speaker Michael Madigan - have been pulled from airwaves.
It was an unusual step for the candidates, criticizing a member of their own party by name ahead of a general election, particularly one who leads a different chamber of the legislature. Though Madigan is leader of the Illinois House, Democratic insiders admit that his power impacts the Senate as well. […]
But days after the ads began to air on cable television, sources said the Chicago Federation of Labor intervened, threatening to withhold nearly $5 million in campaign cash for Senate Democrats if the ads were not taken down. A spokesman for the Chicago Federation of Labor did not immediately respond to request for comment.
A spokesman for the Illinois Senate Democratic Victory Fund said Thursday that the ads were the candidates’ introductory ads and they had new ads up and running beginning Tuesday.
The ads are still online, however. Click here for one of them.
* The ads also mention how the Senate Democratic candidates back a “no budget, no pay” law for legislators. As I’ve already told you, the House Democrats are also pushing the concept in some of their mailers. Rep. Mark Batinick was the original sponsor of a bill to prevent lawmakers from being paid without a budget, and his Democratic opponent has been using the issue to bolster her own campaign. So, Batinick wants an immediate special session to deal with the issue…
State Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) today called on the General Assembly to immediately return to Springfield to approve “No Budget, No Pay” legislation that he has been championing since 2015. Democratic legislative candidates and officeholders are now claiming to support this Bill that Leadership suppressed.
“The silence from legislative Democrats on ‘No Budget, No Pay’ during the state’s budget impasse was embarrassing,” said Rep. Batinick. “Now that Democrats on the ballot across the state are voicing their support for the idea through political mail pieces, TV and radio ads, let’s put the issue to bed. I’m calling on the Speaker and the Senate President to call the legislature into session immediately. Let’s see who truly supports this important form of taxpayer protection and who is using this to simply get elected only to turn their backs on Illinois families once in office.”
At the start of the budget crisis in July of 2015, Rep. Batinick became Chief Co-Sponsor of “No Budget No Pay” legislation — HB 4253. This legislation simply states that if there is no state budget in place, legislators won’t get paid.
Batinick also started the website www.NoBudgetNoPayIL.com to collect petition signatures on the concept and signed on to a letter to the comptroller outlining a legal argument on why the comptroller could withhold legislator pay without legislation.
“To use ‘No Budget, No Pay’ as nothing more than a political tool to get elected is disgusting and dishonest,” said Rep. Batinick. “Illinois families deserve better. Let’s go back to Springfield and put the votes on the board. Time to see who is willing to stand for taxpayers and who is in this for themselves - before the November election.”
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 1:28 pm
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I continue my complete opposition of “No Budget, No Pay”.
It’s ridiculous, it’s right now unconstitutional, and this idea of withholding pay if legislators for ANY outcome deemed completed… is ridiculous to the idea that the reason it wants to be used is to add hostage taking of a General Assembly to an arbitrary outcome.
Nope. Sorry. No.
When Munger said it… I was no… Mendoza… still no… when Pat Quinn… still no…
No. It’s gimmicky leading to nothing.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 1:38 pm
How about “unbalanced budget, unbalanced pay”?
“Why is my paycheck off $86.50?”
“The Thompson Center hasn’t sold yet.”
Comment by City Zen Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 1:39 pm
And there folks, in a nutshell, is the problem with Illinois.
Comment by Pick a Name Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 1:40 pm
I’m pretty sure this wouldn’t pass Constitutional muster.
Besides, this is nothing more than a gimmick.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 1:45 pm
Be more fun no budget no representatives. If cannot pass budget everyone gets together and has to resign. Include Governors who don’t propose a balanced budget. And even better the Speaker of House is exempt
Comment by DuPage Saint Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 1:54 pm
So spend thousands of dollars for a special session because Mark Batnik is upset that Dems are using Republican strategy against them?
There’s your next mail piece Mark- when real problems are going on Mark Batnick wants to waste hundreds of thousands of dollars calling special sessions for items other than the incredible backlog of bills, the mounting pension debt, real property tax freezes or redistricting reform?
Tell Mark Batnik his wasted money on pet projects aren’t good for Illinois.
Giving the enemy ammo is never a good idea.
Comment by DuPage Bard Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 1:56 pm
I would think “no budget, no pay” for legislators has huge potential for abuse.
Comment by Nick Name Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 2:07 pm
===I would think “no budget, no pay” for legislators has huge potential for abuse.===
Yep.
Will one branch of government dictate to the other it’s constitutional duties being fulfilled? Will the courts, yearly, need to certify, as all sides request withholding pay?
Governors vetoes budgets… do those vetoes trigger “no pay”… while the governor *may* get paid?
Huh? What?
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 2:10 pm
Cullerton looks weak. Very weak. He should have let the ads run their point levels. Madigan once again outsmarted him. While Cullerton thinks he has the Senate President election wrapped up, he better watch out. You know what they say about payback.
Comment by Howdy Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 2:26 pm
“Giving the enemy ammo is never a good idea.”
He’s from plainfield. You would be amazed at how often politicians in that ares do exactly what you just said to themselves on an incredibly regular basis.
For some real laughs, follow their local politics. It will make Batinick look like the sane one.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 2:55 pm
I don’t understand. Does CFL not want Dems to pick up seats in the senate? They must have not been clued in that this was purely a stunt.
Comment by TopHatMonocle Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 3:15 pm
How about “No budget, continue appropriations at the previous fiscal year’s level”. I no that’s not as flashy but…
Comment by a drop in Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 3:15 pm
===Yep.
Will one branch of government dictate to the other it’s constitutional duties being fulfilled? Will the courts, yearly, need to certify, as all sides request withholding pay?
Governors vetoes budgets… do those vetoes trigger “no pay”… while the governor *may* get paid?
Huh? What?===
Exactly.
Comment by Nick Name Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 3:23 pm
No Budget - No Pay just pushes us further down the path of limiting the ability of anyone who isn’t independently wealthy from holding office in IL.
Comment by Nick Name Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 4:15 pm
–And there folks, in a nutshell, is the problem with Illinois.–
Look, someone found “the problem” in a nutshell.
I bet you do that a lot, find the problems in nutshells. Beats critical thinking.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 5:36 pm
Howdy is totally right. The commercials were a very amateurish political move.
Whoever suggested the commercials were a good idea to Cullerton should be let go.
Comment by Singing Elmo Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 5:43 pm
Why would a Democrat run anti-Madigan ads if there is going to be this “huge” blue wave? I can’t understand what they had to gain by parroting the Republican talking points.
Either they are worried about something in the Senate or they got some really bad advice.
The Senate Democrats just handed the Republicans a great present. This is going to be the gift that keeps on giving for years. I’m sure the Republicans will use this flip-flop for years to come.
Comment by 13th Street Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 8:22 pm
–The Senate Democrats just handed the Republicans a great present. This is going to be the gift that keeps on giving for years. I’m sure the Republicans will use this flip-flop for years to come.–
Uh huh. What’s your over/under on seats that will flip this year and in the years to come from this “great present?”
Or are you just in it for the participation trophies and pudding cups?
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 8:32 pm