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* Dan Mihalopoulos at WBEZ…
Embattled Illinois State Sen. Michael Hastings, D-Frankfort, is set to lose his powerful legislative committee chairmanship in the new session of the General Assembly next year, Senate President Don Harmon told WBEZ.
Harmon’s move comes after Hastings was accused of physical abuse by his ex-wife, according to police and divorce-court records.
Hastings has denied the accusations, which became public last summer, and went on to win a narrow reelection race in his south suburban district earlier this month.
But Harmon said he would not re-appoint Hastings as chairman of the influential Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee or choose him to lead any other legislative committee when the new session starts in January. […]
“The voters are one thing – the Senate and the Senate Democratic Caucus is something else,” Harmon said. “I think that Sen. Hastings’s road to rehabilitation within the caucus is likely to be long and rocky. I think he’s lost the trust of a significant number of members of the caucus.”
One veteran Democratic state senator, Mattie Hunter of Chicago, expressed support for Hastings, saying the voters’ will must be respected.
Go read the rest for more.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 28, 22 @ 1:52 pm
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Hopefully they’ll ostracize him from the conference so he won’t hold anymore power in senate. This type of behavior should not be acceptable no matter what the voters think. His reign as senator has caused constant suffering
Comment by Democrat4Democracy Monday, Nov 28, 22 @ 2:05 pm
Hammer down. Thanks, President Harmon. And for those commenters who relentlessly whine about Harmon’s leadership of his caucus, this is how it’s done. He can’t refuse to seat Hastings but he sure as hell can and did take his gavel away. Good riddance.
Comment by New Day Monday, Nov 28, 22 @ 2:10 pm
How many Democrats had already voted by mail for Senator Hastings before the allegations became as well known to the public as they were known by election day? Probably more than 939 voters of the 82,678 total voters in the 19th District.
Comment by October Surprise Monday, Nov 28, 22 @ 2:11 pm
Lot of shakeups with Senate committee chairs
Comment by The Real Downstate Monday, Nov 28, 22 @ 2:13 pm
Good - Shouldn’t have been reelected in the first place and voters in the 19th district should do some soul searching if they cast a vote for him.
Comment by Chicagonk Monday, Nov 28, 22 @ 2:14 pm
===He can’t refuse to seat Hastings===
Really?
To the post,
The House has The Arroyo Rule, there seems to be more of a holding accountable in the House, the Senate, forgettable in these past months, has this very passive way to look at members and while this move is strong, theres no desire to make moves that are bold to the chamber.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 28, 22 @ 2:17 pm
===How many Democrats had already voted by mail===
Democracy isn’t on any timetable of virtue,
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 28, 22 @ 2:18 pm
- Over It -
Your… crass… description kinda explains where you sit on this than maybe more than anything.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 28, 22 @ 2:21 pm
===He can’t refuse to seat Hastings===
This is correct.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Nov 28, 22 @ 2:23 pm
===This is correct.===
Thank you.
Discussion to “not seating” should be halted. Other measures like taking chairmanships are the tools.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 28, 22 @ 2:26 pm
Don’t forget, committee chairs receive stipends, so this hits Hastings in the wallet. Good for Harmon and the caucus. It’s an important step for accountability.
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Nov 28, 22 @ 2:38 pm
This reminds me of the Seinfeld episode when George fakes a handicap, gets caught and Play Now can’t fire him. He keeps showing up and everyone hates him.
Comment by So_Ill Monday, Nov 28, 22 @ 2:39 pm
=Don’t forget, committee chairs receive stipends, so this hits Hastings in the wallet.=
Right. But as the Senate already paid over $100k to settle a lawsuit for Hasting, he has already been paid his fair share directly or indirectly.
Comment by Politistage Monday, Nov 28, 22 @ 3:24 pm
Hastings should realize his political career is over. There will be no rehabilitation, people won’t forget, the party will slate someone against him, etc. Scraping by in this past election was a question of timing, it doesn’t say anything implying a political future.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Monday, Nov 28, 22 @ 5:21 pm
Sure, innocent until proven guilty. But there can be a higher standard for public officials. Senator Al Franken resigned for much less. But I guess that’s how we know the difference between honorable and not. The letter from his sister-not-his-wife-he-swears is enough to show us exactly who he is.
Comment by Not Your Gramma Monday, Nov 28, 22 @ 6:53 pm
===saying the voters’ will must be respected===
Good thing we didn’t have this standard back when Blago was removed from office.
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Nov 28, 22 @ 7:45 pm
@South Side Sam: This ain’t a criminal matter. Maybe you knew that.
Comment by Socially DIstant Watcher Monday, Nov 28, 22 @ 8:55 pm
Yeah you may be right. I mean it’s not as if Hastings pulled toilets out of the house to defraud the tax payers. Now THAT might be considered criminal
Comment by South Side Sam Tuesday, Nov 29, 22 @ 6:29 am
@Not Your Gramma Franken’s a great example … of railing out a public official based on allegations only to have the dust settle and things be not what they seem. Just sayin.
Comment by misfire Tuesday, Nov 29, 22 @ 6:38 am