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Speaker Welch sat down with former Speaker Brown

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Illinois

House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch rose so quickly to the top of the General Assembly that he found himself learning on the job and seeking out mentors as he tried to guide his caucus through a historic legislative year.

Welch spoke to former House Speaker Michael Madigan on three different occasions during the legislative session, and he turned to another veteran politician for insight, too: Willie Brown, who served as speaker of the California Assembly for 15 years. He and Welch are part of a very small club of Black legislators to serve as speaker. Brown says just six in the nation’s history.

Welch first sought out Brown when he was trying to rally votes to become Illinois speaker in January. “He gave me some advice and encouragement and said when you get this done come out and we’ll talk,” Welch told Playbook Thursday.

Earlier this week, Welch took him up on the offer and met Brown at his San Francisco office. “An opportunity to sit down with Willie Brown in his town? I couldn’t turn that down,” he told Playbook.

Welch had also talked to Brown by phone during the legislative session “to run a few scenarios by him for his advice.” The subject each time was related to member management issues. “It’s the hardest part of the job,” Welch says.

Brown definitely knows member management. When his chamber lost the majority in the 1994 Republican landslide, he eventually convinced two Republicans to side with Democrats.

There was a time here when the Illinois House was divided 60-58 and I joked back then that I was praying every night for the Democrats to lose one seat just to see what Madigan would do in case of a tie. Could he do what Brown did? Alas, we never got the chance to see.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Nov 19, 21 @ 9:55 am

Comments

After Virginia’s 1997 elections and quite a few shenanigans, there ended up being a tied House there.

http://www.virginiaplaces.org/government/housedelegate5050.html

https://uncommonwealth.virginiamemory.com/blog/2018/01/08/objection-mr-chairman-the-opening-session-of-the-1998-house-of-delegates/

Comment by Shield Friday, Nov 19, 21 @ 10:03 am
Oh, at first I thought you meant Steve Brown.

Comment by Keyrock Friday, Nov 19, 21 @ 10:05 am
Could he do what Brown did?

Beyond all doubt he could have.

He had lots of plums to dish out, and unlike Lee “I can barely win even when I draw the maps” Daniels, MM could protect his members.

Comment by Fav Human Friday, Nov 19, 21 @ 10:13 am
100% certain Madigan could have flipped two Republicans. Remember he made Saviano and McAuliffe committee chairs? I always figured he held that in his pocket in case he ever needed them to vote for him for Speaker.

Comment by low level Friday, Nov 19, 21 @ 10:39 am
=== Remember he made Saviano and McAuliffe committee chairs?===

Jim Durkin, (yep, *that* Jim Durkin) was a committee chair for Mike Madigan too.

Just sayin’

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Nov 19, 21 @ 10:41 am
In early 1997 worked with a relative of Mike McAuliffe. Asked him what the plan was if it had been 59-59. The reply was Daniels would’ve nominated Ralph Capparelli and all GOP members would vote for him. Sure Madigan would have planned for that contingency. [Sarcasm font on] 118-0 vote for Ralph?

Comment by Anyone Remember Friday, Nov 19, 21 @ 10:49 am
== when the Illinois House was divided 60-58 and I joked back then that I was praying every night for the Democrats to lose one seat just to see what Madigan would do ==

imp

Comment by bored now Friday, Nov 19, 21 @ 10:53 am
I have to think Saviano would have become an Independent Republican and vote for Madigan just to torment Daniels.

Comment by ArchPundit Friday, Nov 19, 21 @ 11:06 am
===Independent Republican===

In context to the time, the Northwest Side Truce was far more in play, including Jim Durkin.

Capparelli, DeLeo, Roger and Michael McAuliffe, Saviano, even at times Jim Durkin, even Dan Cronin was kinda flittering about…

“It was before Apalachin… and before the Northwest Side decided to take on each other and start a war.”

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Nov 19, 21 @ 11:12 am
Who would’ve Lee Daniels even targeted in a 59-59 scenario? Susan Garrett? He loathed Jack Franks for several reasons.

MJM had multiple legitimate options.

Comment by Oldtimer Friday, Nov 19, 21 @ 11:27 am
Cap as Speaker…. then it seems you really would have had MJM calling the shots.

Comment by low level Friday, Nov 19, 21 @ 11:45 am
==just to see what Madigan would do in case of a tie. Could he do what Brown did? Alas, we never got the chance to see.==

His first step would have probably been to meet with Steve Brown and other lieutenants for a strategy planning lunch at Saputo’s.

Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Friday, Nov 19, 21 @ 3:09 pm