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Leader Brady: “We’re looking to find common ground”

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Illinois

Illinois Senate Minority Leader Bill Brady knows his back is to the wall in the Senate.

There are 40 Democratic senators. Brady is one of only 19 Republican senators.

“But that doesn’t mean we can’t get things done,” Brady said Monday during a stop at Morton Industries.

“This state has liberal financial tendencies,” he said. “We (Republican lawmakers) can be the voice of fiscal responsibility. Government has to spend money, but it needs to be efficient, effective spending, and spending that people can afford.

“We can either be disruptive or find common ground with the Democrats. We’re looking to find common ground.”

Brady did talk about areas of sharp disagreement, including the minimum wage law. But when you’re that outnumbered you basically have two choices: 1) Scream your opposition and likely change nothing; or 2) Sit at the table and try to change bills a little more to your liking. The Republicans (particularly in the House) got more accomplished in the General Assembly this year than they did in four years partnering with a brick-throwing GOP governor.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 10:35 am

Comments

Bost chose option 1, and it got him elected to Congress.

Comment by NIref Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 10:39 am
“But that doesn’t mean we can’t get things done”

Well, by all means, proceed.

Comment by efudd Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 10:40 am
Leader Brady shows his vision of being a junior partner in government.

Comment by Steve Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 10:41 am
NIref-

Living in Bost’s district I can tell you his antics played like a symphony. Representative Present knew exactly what he was doing.

Comment by efudd Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 10:42 am
Brady continues to morph from being a Rauner cheerleader to a real legislative leader who wants his caucus to accomplish something, instead of doing nothing but being the party of No and anti Chicago at every turn.

Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 10:43 am
This is great and very welcomed. Live and work within reality. Use whatever leverage is available to make deals, like Leader Durkin did with Pritzker. People screamed that at the former governor, who didn’t care to work with opponents. He scorned compromise offers. The former governor disliked opponents so much that he caused massive statewide damage. Hatred should not be a governing philosophy.

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 10:46 am
The thing about Raunerism and embracing this idea that you have the choices of obstruction (with folks like Dunkin helping) or yelling that “everyone” is corrupt, there wasn’t much room to seem inclusive or to taking wins. Legislative leaders learn quickly that the perfect can’t be the enemy of the good.

Raunerism was based on bad, so the good was an enemy, always.

To Leader Brady, I’ve always been a fan of his idealism of looking for common ground and be willing to be seen as someone doing so. The Eastern Bloc has yet to infiltrate the SGOP caucus, I feel, in large part that Leader Brady is seen as a visionary of ALL Illinois is important, and not feeding into both tribalism and regionalism the Eastern Bloc thirsts for in its politics.

It’s easier, far easier, for me to see where Leader Brady wants to go, as he’s not deferral to those folks screaming to be separated from those who “aren’t us” and my hope is I can be excited by his leadership and building of not only the Senate GOP caucus, Post-Raunerism, but aid in building a party that can be a choice for voters no matter their residence in Illinois

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 11:00 am
“Common Ground” wonderin’ what NoTaxBill is suggesting. JB did a bunch of giveaways and the end of session. Nothing left. Perhaps he could serve up a lists

Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 11:01 am
Good on Leader Brady, both for trying to find ways to get things done and making the areas of strong disagreement clear.

Comment by Earnest Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 11:05 am
==“We can either be disruptive or find common ground with the Democrats. We’re looking to find common ground.”==

That is great to hear, but I get the feeling this quote is going to wind up in a Proft-funded primary attack ad at some point.

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 11:05 am
===Proft-funded primary===

Proft seems to have about 9 nickels, 4 dimes, a quarter, and 14 pennies at the moment.

Also, how did that primary against Durkin roll?

It’s all good, your worry would be more so in the past, I hope.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 11:08 am
===a Proft-funded primary attack ad===

His committees currently have no money.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 11:09 am
That’s right, just compromise instead of fighting for the right thing. I guess the Union in 1860 should have done a little less screaming and a little more Kansas/Missouri Compromising.

Comment by Chris Widger Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 11:21 am
===I guess the Union in 1860===

You’ve just completely jumped the shark comparing legislative differences of opinion to the US Civil War.

Bye.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 11:34 am
===I guess the Union in 1860===

The Eastern Bloc members are in the House.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 11:48 am
“That’s right, just compromise instead of fighting for the right thing.”

This is zealotry that Raunerites displayed, blind to outcomes. They caused so much damage to Illinois that could have been averted or greatly minimized if they compromised. Rauner’s 2018 election blowout couldn’t have been more warranted.

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 11:58 am
How quaint: a real GOP’r talking about being the ‘voice of fiscal responsibility’.

1990 called — and wants their talking points back.

Comment by Emma T. Calhoun Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 12:18 pm
==This state has liberal financial tendencies==

Our last Republican governor had a $4.6 billion dollar line item that read “working together on
grand bargain”

Comment by Jocko Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 12:21 pm
Thank you Senator Brady. Without out your skillful negotiations, those darn Dems would have quadrupled the gas tax and raised trailer plates to $500.

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 12:23 pm
===a Proft-funded primary attack ad===

==His committees currently have no money.==

“Currently” being the operative term there. Hopefully I’m wrong, but Proft has proven himself more than able when it comes to acquiring funds from wealthy right-wingers for his shady political organization. I’m hesitant to believe he won’t be able to do it again, and soon.

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 1:06 pm
Who is in the Eastern Bloc in the house?

Comment by Not a Billionaire Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 1:23 pm
===Who is in the Eastern Bloc in the house?===

Google “Magnificent Seven” on this blog.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 1:29 pm
=== I guess the Union in 1860 should have done a little less screaming and a little more Kansas/Missouri Compromising.===

Actually, Lincoln was all about compromising in 1860/61. Read his first inaugural address and you’ll find he told the south they could maintain slavery. But nice try at deflection.

Comment by someonehastosayit Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 1:43 pm