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* Herald & Review editorial…
The state’s lame-duck legislative session in the Bank of Springfield Center opened Friday with unacceptable restrictions on media members. […]
The restrictions have nothing to do with security. They are in theory pandemic-related. But just as other professionals have been forced to adapt their work efforts to protect the safety of themselves and others, reporters have figured out social distancing, wearing masks while conducting interviews and regular sanitization of equipment used.
Limited access hampered the coverage of sessions in May 2020 as well, to the benefit of no one. In addition, the May sessions allowed for outdoor interviews. Those interviews will be less available in January’s cold.
The main floor of the Bank Of Springfield Center is 40,000 square feet, more than enough room for both legislators and credentialed media. Socially safe seating is essentially already used in the House. The media members’ letter also details ways in which communication and reporters could be allowed to do their jobs without danger or disruption.
When asked, the governor’s office could only provide IDPH guidance that was issued for legislative committee hearings last year. The House has yet to reveal its session guidance source. Another pic of the cavernous space…
Looks like there juuuust might be enough space… https://t.co/Bdn7VtpDak pic.twitter.com/1YKYXuRHJq
— Hannah Meisel (@hannahmeisel) January 8, 2021
Also, the security argument is just totally ridiculous and absolutely insulting to credentialed members of the news media. And to add insult to injury, reporters who need to use the restroom must be escorted from and back to the mezzanine by Illinois State Police troopers.
Wouldn’t letting them on the floor allow for less oversight?
* Also, seeing pics like this of Eastern Bloc Reps. Chris Miller and Brad Halbrook on the convention center floor makes me wonder why the House Speaker is so worried about us…
Reporters ain’t the problem here. (You can caption that pic in comments if you want.)
…Adding… Rep. Miller (no relation) was just called out on the floor for not wearing his mask.
* On to Mark Brown’s latest column…
It’s been two months now since it became apparent Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan would face the strongest challenge ever posed to his leadership, yet no obvious front-runner to replace him has emerged.
If Madigan indeed is to be replaced, that should start to change as House members return to Springfield this weekend to wrap up the business of the outgoing Legislature and get organized for the new one.
Democrats were scheduled to meet privately Saturday for their first (mask-covered) face-to-face discussion about who should lead them.
It’s hard to imagine them making headway quickly.
Until Madigan is ready to step aside — there’s not even a hint of that at this stage — most of the leading potential alternatives are staying on the sidelines.
That last line is right. Nothing can really happen unless and until Speaker Madigan decides to step aside.
* I filled in subscribers today about yesterday’s caucus, but Mark Maxwell has some more…
Undeterred by his opposition, Madigan methodically maneuvered through the process and continued to persistently persuade his colleagues to support him. In a Friday night candidates’ forum organized by downstate and moderate Democrats, Madigan offered to relax his grip on political power if members let him stay in his role.
According to members who listened to Madigan’s pitch Friday night, he also offered them more input and control in interviewing and hiring their own staffers, and pledged a more collaborative style of leadership.
His challengers, Reps. Kifowit, Ann Williams (D-Chicago), and Kathleen Willis (D-Addison), offered a variety of changes in the House rules and in the way members could move their bills through committees, and laid out their strategies to raise campaign funds in ways that benefit more members.
Willis, the chair of the House Democratic Caucus, highlighted her experience on Madigan’s leadership team, though the Speaker noted it pales in comparison with his own.
He’s been promising a lot of things.
*** UPDATE *** I told subscribers about this earlier today…
Madigan opposes secret balloting in the election of Illinois House speaker within the House Democratic caucus. A member asked about it during a closed caucus meeting yesterday, and Madigan said he believed it should be an open vote, according to a source who heard the exchange.
— Dave McKinney (@davemckinney) January 9, 2021
posted by Rich Miller
Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 1:28 pm
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“According to members who listened to Madigan’s pitch Friday night, he also offered them more input and control in interviewing and hiring their own staffers, and pledged a more collaborative style of leadership.”
Step into my parlor said the spider to the fly.
Comment by Jo Jo Monkeyboy Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 1:44 pm
The old friends with benefits
Comment by Rabid Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 1:54 pm
Wasn’t Miller at the Super Spreader event in DC, the insurrection?
And now Miller is on the floor of the convention center, maskless?
That’s an interesting way to go about the people’s business.
Comment by Oswego Willy Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 2:02 pm
GOP pols just can’t help but show contempt for public health measures. Thousands are dying and they see not wearing a mask as a badge of honor. Miller’s wife’s caucus colleagues were shown laughing at a Dem member after refusing masks she was passing out masks during the siege. What made these people so sick?
Comment by Norseman Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 2:13 pm
One must never underestimate Madigan’s…pitch.
Comment by Dotnonymous Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 2:13 pm
When I think of MJM trying to court favor and 60 votes, and saying “all the right things, to all the right people”, it reminds me of axiom to persuading the locked in;
“You changed my mind, you didn’t change my vote”
Gotta show me at least 6 of the 19 flipping. That’s a lot of honey to salve over a pointed letter of unity.
Comment by Oswego Willy Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 2:20 pm
A more collaborative style of leadership? Ok
Comment by rules Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 3:03 pm
To the update: of course a machine guy wants to avoid secret ballots. No surprise there.
Comment by Just Me 2 Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 3:56 pm
Madigan will soon be 79 years old. He has been in the GA for 50 years. You would think he would have a clue that it is time to go.
Comment by George Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 4:10 pm
Absolutely should be an open vote.
Comment by ;) Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 4:15 pm
A secret vote leads to people being untruthful. What’s wrong with an open vote? It allows constituents to take a closer look at where their legislators stand on issues of importance.
Comment by Take a Closer Look Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 5:58 pm
The caucus should vote on whether it is secret or not
Comment by rules Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 7:46 pm