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“It’s a first”

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Illinois

Pritzker has dispatched invites to Senate President John Cullerton; House Speaker Michael Madigan; House Minority Leader Jim Durkin and Senate Minority Leader Bill Brady — and their wives Pam, Shirley, Celeste and Nancy — to wine and dine at Pritzker’s Astor Street mansion.

“It’s a first,” said one of the invitees, who asked not to be identified. […]

“Certainly, Gov. Bruce Rauner never entertained us this way for dinner,” the source said.

And what do you bring as a party gift?

“A bottle of wine … or a plunger,” said the source, jokingly referring to the campaign imbroglio over the controversial removal of toilets at the home, which lowered Pritzker’s property taxes.

That’s a fine way to repay the guy for the invite.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 9:37 am

Comments

Hardee Har Har. Have some class.

Comment by Molly Maguire Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 9:42 am
It doesn’t make sense… If there is no toilet, there need not be a plunger.

Comment by Ok Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 9:43 am
What a dumb joke. The toilets were removed from the house that he does not live in.

Comment by Real Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 9:48 am
An “invitee” is quoted, but Durkin and Brady are too smart to insert themselves here.

More likely a Rauner staffer heard about the invite and called a reporter to offer a less than helpful comment.

Comment by Scott Fawell's Cellmate Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 9:49 am
It is kinda funny, but no need to do the Republicans job for them. Let’s try and let this die already.

Comment by Perrid Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 9:49 am
Only one of the invitees is an aspiring comedian.

Comment by HCMcB Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 9:58 am
===More likely a Rauner staffer heard about the invite and called a reporter===

If Michael says she talked to an invitee, Michael talked to an invitee. Period.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 9:59 am
If JB gets offended by a joke related to him taking advantage of the taxpayers, he’s in the wrong business.

Comment by Not It Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:01 am
Rule One in Comedy: If you’re going to be funny, be funny. Invitee muffs opportunity.

Comment by Matts Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:03 am
Reeelax. We need more harmless humor these days. Everyone so uptight. Great move by Guv to be and I hope this dinner creates a long term productive dialogue between all of them.

Comment by 19th ward guy Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:07 am
Compare this to 4 years ago, when the then newly-elected governor chose to launch a broadside media campaign vilifying the very people with whom he’d have to negotiate all of the major issues. The fact that Pritzker has 2 back pockets filled with democratic supermajorities and still seeks minority inclusion in a collegial gesture speaks volumes.

Comment by unspun Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:14 am
== If Michael says she talked to an invitee, Michael talked to an invitee. Period. ==

Wishful thinking on my part that it was something other than it is.

Comment by Scott Fawell's Cellmate Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:14 am
Let’s remember, Raunerites stood in front of that house to politic.

It’s a big deal, when someone decides your home is a political issue, and you then invite them into your home, as a guest.

The current governor wanted to meet to tell others he didn’t want “any $&@#% problems”.

Pritzker, invites those into his home in hopes of a working relationship, bipartisan, for a better Illinois.

This is something that should be celebrated.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:17 am
Hopefully, the spirit of the season will last longer after this party than the one the Burkes threw for the Rauners, Madigans and Cullertons back in 2014.

That turned into an immediate and prolonged Festivus Airing of the Grievances.

https://capitolfax.com/2015/07/15/justice-burke-says-shes-surprised-and-devastated-by-statehouse-rancor/

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:19 am
Take the plunger, own the joke, enjoy dinner and then solve a problem or 30.

Comment by Midstate Indy Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:26 am
Once again JB demonstrates he just might be ready for the job.

Comment by We'll See Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:27 am
Good move by Pritzker. Let’s hope we can start moving the ball right away.

Comment by Generic Drone Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:30 am
It doesn’t speak well of me, but my first thought was also a toilet joke. It’s great to see Pritzker trying to build good working relationships with the legislative leaders. Illinois’ challenges in terms of both expenses and revenues are immense. Dealing with them will require difficult decisions and easily provide room for disagreement. One thing that will help would be if the attendees can demonstrate their ability to be discreet following the occasion.

Comment by Earnest Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:34 am
Get over yourselves. Show up. Act like a guest. Get a seat at the table. Repeat.

As a party, if being big mouth hardliners is working keep doing it. If that isn’t working, perhaps we should try something else.

How hard is this stuff?

Comment by Winderweezle Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:35 am
I think it would be perfectly appropriate to gift the incoming Governor with a bottle of one of Illinois fine locally produced wines or spirits.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:37 am
Who cares about the joke, I just want to be a fly on the wall at that dinner.

Comment by SSL Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:49 am
===I think it would be perfectly appropriate to gift the incoming Governor with a bottle of one of Illinois fine locally produced wines or spirits.===

The outgoing governor was a frequent visitor to Danenberger Family Vineyards outside of Springfield. It’s excellent wine. Invitees thinking of bringing wine as a party gift for the incoming governor should order it from here.

Comment by Nick Name Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:51 am
The party gift comment was classless.

My perception is that unlike Rauner it will not matter as JB reaches out. A legitimate outreach will not prevent clashes on the big issues where party dogma will prevail, it will hopefully lessen the acrimony that has been the rule under Rauner. It will also help with the smaller issues.

Good step JB. Keep it up. To the GOP leaders, respond in kind and lose the attitude.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 11:02 am
Tasteless commentary is not appropriate for dinner invitations.

Comment by Wensicia Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 11:18 am
The comment was meant in jest but was classless.

JB is reaching out, and unlike Rauner he doesnt have to reach out to pass anything. Dems have supermajorities in both legislative chambers and the Gov is STILL reaching out to the ILGOP.

If Durkin and Brady want to spout lines from an IPI cartoon, I guess they can do that. They dont really need to govern since the other party can.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 11:36 am
This is just a great move by a guy who knows how to work with disparate people.

And don’t worry about him taking this comment from one of the three tops (zero chance Madigan said this) personally. JB has a great sense of humor. He’s not going to get his nose bent out of shape.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 11:41 am
The source was “an invitee” - it doesn’t necessarily have to be any of the legislative leaders. Maybe one of the wives was feeling cheeky?

Comment by lollinois Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 11:53 am
This is a great gesture from JB. I would also like to be a fly on the wall during that dinner.

Comment by JakeCP Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 12:58 pm
I have never met Pritzker so I do not know what he is really like, but from what I have seen on TV he seems like he can take a joke and keep on moving forward.

Pritzker seems to understand how to try and work across the aisle. That is a good thing.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 1:06 pm
So far so good for Pritzger. So far he’s been the anti-Rauner when it comes playing nice with others.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 1:29 pm
“It doesn’t speak well of me, but my first thought was also a toilet joke.”

The space between thought and speech is where wisdom resides.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 2:22 pm
=The space between thought and speech is where wisdom resides.=

Thanks for the great comment @misterjayem.

Can we get that inscribed somewhere in the Capitol Building?

Comment by Bourbon Street Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 2:29 pm
Wasted opportunity to just have a sit down. You could say it at the party to the select few there that you were thinking it but to spread it over the newswire shows lack of self awareness.

You were offered a seat at the table for your input not your humor. If you really feel the necessity to make jokes rather then govern you’ll have that time soon enough once the Conservative party totally annihilates the base.

Please figure out how to govern and cut deals because there is no other option now. Truthfully I don’t want to listen to another whole campaign cycle of “because Madigan” It just got the Dems 74 and 40 respectively.

Comment by Dupage Bard Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 3:43 pm
Joking aside. I think it’s a good idea. Why not try and sit down and break bread.

Comment by JDuc Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 6:50 pm
What do you bring as a party gift?

A subscription to Capitol Fax would make a nice gift for the governor elect. If he is already a member, bring ‘Illinois produced’ beer and wine from your area of the state.

Comment by Mama Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 7:37 pm
I am repeatedly surprised at how much I needed these positive signs in Illinois politics. Hearing Pritzker give a hopeful speech about the future of IL makes me happier than it should. This invite, which doesn’t include me, also makes me personally happier than it should. Please let everyone accept. Let’s get off to a good start and get some work done. stat.

Comment by me Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 9:05 pm
I’m not seeing much Christmas spirit here. Taxes too high, roads and bridges in bad shape,didn’t get a dinner invite from JB, believing future grandchildren will be still be paying high taxes because retirees living too long….
Perhaps those that are out of sorts need to be visited by the ghosts of Past, Present and Yet to
come with the hope that all may find peace and joy in the coming year.

Comment by cc Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 1:35 am
–The space between thought and speech is where wisdom resides.

– MrJM–

That MrJM sure can hit.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 10:30 am