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A fundraiser Tuesday night for the Illinois Environmental Council felt more like a reunion of authors of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. The law passed last year to overhaul Illinois’ energy policy and put the state on a path to 100 percent clean energy by 2045.

Gov. JB Pritzker, who signed the 900-plus-page legislation into law, headlined the event, and his deputy governor, Christian Mitchell, was among those honored. Mitchell was a key negotiator in the bill’s passage. […]

There was drama: Jen Walling, executive director of the Environmental Council, drew a standing ovation for her work on the legislation. She also addressed recent headlines in which she said she felt bullied by state Sen. Michael Hastings, who also had been involved in writing the environmental legislation. Without saying Hasting’s name, Walling said he “threatened, screamed and abused his power” while the legislation was being written. And she thanked those in the room who she said “had my back.”

Bully-pulpit: A Hastings spokesman had responded to Walling’s claims, calling her “the bully.” The exchange prompted a number of guests at last night’s fundraiser to wear buttons with a picture of Walling and the word “Bully.”

I was also at the event and gave subscribers my take (along with a stupid typo that I fixed in the online version). I snagged one of the buttons…

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 28, 22 @ 9:35 am

Comments

NOT!

Comment by Hmmmm Wednesday, Sep 28, 22 @ 9:38 am
Bully for her.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Sep 28, 22 @ 9:38 am
So it was “traumatic” and yet they’re are making light of it with buttons? What a fraud. Imagine the outrage if an actual victim, of actual harassment, had to be reminded of the trauma with buttons at a public awards dinner. Real victims don’t act this way. You know who does though, politicians and snake oil salesmen.

Comment by ;) Wednesday, Sep 28, 22 @ 9:44 am
Yes Ray Hannania is a fraud. Thanks for saying that.

Comment by P Wednesday, Sep 28, 22 @ 9:46 am
This is what I call a redirect….

Comment by Levois J Wednesday, Sep 28, 22 @ 9:56 am
===Real victims don’t act this way===

lol

They weren’t attempting to make light of his bullying, but the fact that the man was claiming she was the real bully. So, go crawl back under your rock.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 28, 22 @ 9:58 am
“Real victims don’t act this way.”

Always nice to see the victim police checking in.

– MrJM

Comment by MisterJayEm Wednesday, Sep 28, 22 @ 10:02 am
She doesn’t look a bit like Teddy Roosevelt.

Bully (banned punctuation mark)

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Wednesday, Sep 28, 22 @ 10:05 am
“Imagine the outrage”

Imagine thinking it was your purview to sit on the other side of a computer screen from where real world events are happening and decide who fits in the category of “real victim.”

Comment by Larry Bowa Jr. Wednesday, Sep 28, 22 @ 10:06 am
“I am Sam Cahnman’s worst nightmare.”

Comment by AcademicUnionStateEmployee Wednesday, Sep 28, 22 @ 10:06 am
A future Power Point screenshot from former Senator Mike Hastings’ and Ray Hanania’s Master Class presentation titled: “Poor Strategic Decisions During Crisis Management.”

Comment by Tony T. Wednesday, Sep 28, 22 @ 10:31 am
Hasting pudding award

Comment by Rabid Wednesday, Sep 28, 22 @ 10:35 am
This is an appropriate, humorous response to the prattle of Hastings.

However, it’s an inside joke that is hard to explain to casual viewers. Owning up a negative term like that has huge risk of backfire. I can’t imagine many political consultants want their candidate pictured next to negative terms like bully, demagogue, tyrant, harasser, or racist - no matter how ironic the twist is.

Comment by Shark Sandwich Wednesday, Sep 28, 22 @ 10:39 am
Republicans have slid so far down the rhetorical slope:

“No U”

I’m trying to figure out if I should feel sorry for Hastings because he is a grown man, or just laugh at him.

Nobody is going to be afraid of him anymore, either way.

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Wednesday, Sep 28, 22 @ 10:43 am
Warning: This button might be turned into a dart board at the CWLP employee break room

Comment by AcademicUnionStateEmployee Wednesday, Sep 28, 22 @ 10:46 am
A room full of legislators standing up for a female advocate and saying a big expletive to one of their colleagues is pretty priceless. In an election season no less.

Can’t imagine the Senate President keeping Hastings in his committee roles, even if he doesn’t step down.

Comment by Ok Wednesday, Sep 28, 22 @ 11:18 am
Watching a room full of people stand in applause supporting Jen was hugely gratifying. No doubt at this point that there are many Senate Dem members who share the view that Hasting’s days of unprofessional work ethic are over.

Comment by StealYourFace Wednesday, Sep 28, 22 @ 11:25 am
Given her nickname “The Republican Whisperer” it’s not surprising to see Jen Walling publicly attack a Democratic Senator. If she can’t handle the “give and take”of the Illinois Capitol, I suggest she get a new job. Fact is, the Illinois Senate Energy Committee
doesn’t evolve around high paid lobbyist who don’t get exactly what they want.

Comment by reducerent Wednesday, Sep 28, 22 @ 1:41 pm
Teddy Roosevelt endorsement.

Comment by Big Rocker Wednesday, Sep 28, 22 @ 1:48 pm
Sorry Streator Curmudgeon. Did not read the comments before commenting

Comment by Big Rocker Wednesday, Sep 28, 22 @ 1:51 pm
reducerent, you’re not helping your guy.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 28, 22 @ 1:51 pm
Oh right the hallowed “Illinois Senate Energy Committee” revolves around protecting a replacement level elected official with legal and temperament problems

Comment by P. Wednesday, Sep 28, 22 @ 2:15 pm
Hmmm…Bully. (Sarcastic comment follows):
Caption: “But fashionably dressed. That doesn’t make it right. Call xxx-xxx-xxxx now if you need help.”
Paid for by Ray Hannania.

And yes, Theordore J. Roosevelt actually said “Bully” and wrote it in letters:
https://www.shapell.org/manuscript/theodore-roosevelt-bully-for-you/

Comment by thisjustinagain Wednesday, Sep 28, 22 @ 4:26 pm