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*** UPDATE *** Live-blogging ain’t easy so mistakes are common. The SJ-R has corrected its story to read…
Radogno added that Quinn won’t have meetings of all four legislative leaders because Madigan would not attend. Cross would not confirm this. Quinn has said he meets weekly with Cullerton and Madigan. [emphasis added to show the change]
That’s a lot different.
* The SJ-R editorial board met with Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno and House GOP Leader Tom Cross this morning. Thanks to an alert commenter, we have this strange little snippet…
Radogno added that Speaker Madigan will not even talk to Gov. Pat Quinn.Cross would not confirm this. Quinn has said he meets weekly with Cullerton and Madigan.
Madigan was meeting with Quinn about the budget as Radogno was saying that. He also met with Quinn last week to talk about Quinn’s proposed tax hikes, among other things.
More from Cross…
Cross’s main complaint was that Madigan does not allow votes on as much legislation as Cross would like – particularly legislation that would allow Illinoisans to vote in a primary election without having to declare a party preference.
“To bottle stuff up and let one guy have all this power to not let an idea get voted on and discussed is ridiculous,” Cross said.
Almost every day, the House Repubs have asked that bills be let out of Rules Committee, even though the passage deadline expired weeks ago and some of the bills were only just recently introduced. The Dems routinely refuse, the Repubs demand a roll call, the Dems vote with their party and the Republican political organization then blasts robocalls into targeted districts. It’s quite a fun little game, but it means almost nothing, except politically.
* Here’s an example of that game from yesterday…
Legislative Republicans want to change the Illinois Constitution to give them some say in any decision to increase taxes.
But that and other GOP-sponsored plans are bottled up in the General Assembly so Republicans, who hold scant power in state government, roared in a protest that included a fleeting expletive and walked off the House floor Wednesday to protest their treatment at the hands of Democrats. […]
“If he wants have more opportunities on the floor of the Illinois House,” [Majority Leader Currie] said, “he better do a better job of electing Republicans.”
* The Repub “protest” even featured tea bags…
* Meanwhile, I think this problem may be resolved…
About $1 billion worth of mass transit improvements recently approved under the state’s mini-capital bill may be in jeopardy, but Chicago-area transit agencies are not yet shelving projects, officials said Wednesday.
Gov. Pat Quinn put a freeze on the transit projects — but not on road and bridge repairs — by holding back on the bonding necessary to finance the transit piece, said state Sen. Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago), chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee.
Sandoval had some unkind words for the governor, however…
“We had a major signing ceremony for the mini-capital bill a few weeks ago with the governor — and now he’s doing a head fake,” Sandoval said, adding that Senate Democrats agreed to support the mini-capital bill based in part on the transit element. “This tells me Gov. Quinn still has his running mate’s playbook that he has dusted off the shelf.”
Ouch.
And…
The Senate president also put Quinn on notice Wednesday. Any backpedaling on the mini-capital bill will “breed some distrust as we move forward” on longer-term capital-funding legislation and passage of a new state budget, said Rikeesha Phelon, spokeswoman for Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago).
That would be a warning shot across the bow, if it wasn’t already clear to you.
* And speaking of the capital plan, organized labor and construction groups are plunking down big bucks to run this TV ad across the state…
Rate it?
* Related…
* Taxpayer Unrest Growing Against Quinn Tax Hike Plans (Press Release)
* Ill. House GOP call for bills to face debate
* Republicans and taxes: somehow don’t recall Rep. Black pushing this more-votes-for-tax-hike plan when he was co-sponsoring Republican Gov. Jim Edgar’s tax increase to fund schools back in the late 1990s.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 30, 09 @ 11:17 am
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The ad is fine, not particularly compelling, and of course makes no mention of what they really want which is some revenue source for the capital bill. Consequently I don’t think it will be remotely effective other than in sending the message that they’re willing to spend $$. I rate it a 4 on a 1 to 10 scale.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Thursday, Apr 30, 09 @ 11:29 am
Please, please, please Republicans, stop with the teabags!
Comment by Anon, Good Nurse, Anon Thursday, Apr 30, 09 @ 11:35 am
So, seriously, does Cross really think the Republicans have a chance at the Gov office by speaking falsehoods to editorial boards and playing games during session? I realize I’m just one little voter but I don’t think I’m ready to toss the soap out with the bath water yet, or so to say.
Comment by Princess Thursday, Apr 30, 09 @ 11:40 am
I am totally in favor of a capital plan, but that TV commercial SUCKS!
“Transit systems need improvement,” but they are showing a guy standing on what I believe is the CTA Chicago Ave. El Platform which was just rebuilt and renovated 2 years ago.
The visuals hardly match the talking points. As a TV viewer it didn’t motivate me to pick up the phone.
If they are trying to show the leaders that they have money to spend as you suggested Rich, I think they know that already.
Comment by Hon. Cranial Lamb Thursday, Apr 30, 09 @ 11:40 am
Those decent people who attended the Tea Party demonstrations had to put up with enough of the tasteless gay jokes from people like liberal CNN reporters who tried to tie tea bags to you know what’ing.
Now here go the House Repubicans with about the most graphic reminder possible.
Is there anything Tom Cross can’t glom-onto and ruin?
I thought those giant red foam “We’re #1″ hands they brought on the floor last year were cheezy. But this is a new low.
Mark this one Exhibit A as to why the IL GOP will lose more ground next year.
Comment by just sayin Thursday, Apr 30, 09 @ 11:50 am
“Radogno added that Speaker Madigan will not even talk to Gov. Pat Quinn.”
Whoa.
I thought Madigan not speaking with the governor’s office when Blago has governor was all Blago’s fault. Now Madigan isn’t speaking with Governor Quinn?
My, my…I guess Blago still keeps causing problem after problem…
Comment by Johnny USA Thursday, Apr 30, 09 @ 12:05 pm
The Republican Party is stuck in the 1980s with Ronald Reagan, hence they were the last ones to figure out the tea bag reference. Illinois Republicans are even more out of touch than their national party.
Illinois Republicans are living in 1880.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 30, 09 @ 12:12 pm
===Now Madigan isn’t speaking with Governor Quinn?===
Did you bother to read beyond that quote?
Are you daft?
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Apr 30, 09 @ 12:19 pm
Some Democrat oughta walk over to the hapless GOP side with a cup of hot water, do some dunks, and enjoy a nice cup of tea.
A parting “at least you guys are good for something” would be an appropriate snark to walk away on.
Comment by for a laugh Thursday, Apr 30, 09 @ 1:37 pm
If the House Republicans put in a bill dropping the income tax from 3% to 1%, how is it to be handled? No one wants such an absurd bill to pass, but no one wants to go on record opposing it.
There needs to be an Elephant’s Graveyard (sic) for such uncomfortable proposals. Either the Rules Committee or referral to subcommittees that never meet.
Comment by Capitol View Thursday, Apr 30, 09 @ 2:26 pm
Strong ad. It effectively delivers the message.
Comment by phocion Thursday, Apr 30, 09 @ 2:44 pm
That update makes a lot of difference to what was actually said-tough part is few may go back to read corrections. I’d hate to have to report the instant reports we get, being I can barely type without boo-boos.
Okay, the majority leaders and the Governor are meeting/talking it’s just the minority leaders being left out at this point. But should not the majority leaders be coming to some form of agreements/negotiations together as they appear to be doing prior to a free for all with the more detailed items discussed with all present? I would think so.
Comment by Princess Thursday, Apr 30, 09 @ 3:00 pm
What an embarrassment the HRO group has become.
HRO and Tom Cross have had their voices heard.
It’s called a vote…HRO and Tom Cross have voted in favor of several tax increases during the last 6 years. That’s about as loud as you can get!
Tom Cross, HRO and the Illinois Policy Institute have lost all credibility playing this partisan cry baby game. It reeks of political gamesmanship with no purpose other than to get some press.
News flash Mr. Cros…Bills and ideas are routinely stifled in the General Assembly. That’s the luxury of majority rules. The GOP played by these rules for the years they were in power. You didn’t see the GOP entertain “reform agendas” then - so why expect the DEMS to do this now…
Hint - stand tall on principles and you’ll have credibility…maybe then you’ll be taken seriously!
Comment by RU Kidding Me? Thursday, Apr 30, 09 @ 5:33 pm
Labor has to spend money on TV to persuade a Democratically controlled state government for funds to leverage federal money for public works in a recession? Are you kidding me?
Who exactly are they trying to move with this spot? Is there really a question of the need, on any level?
If a big capital bill doesn’t move this spring, in this economic environment, then a lot of people should reconsider what they stand for. And everyone else should take note.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 30, 09 @ 6:00 pm
I’m a Republican and a taxpayer, and have been both for a long time. I don’t know Mr Hughes, but I have a hard time having a lot of sympathy for an attorney living in Hinsdale having to pay an additional 1 1/2% in state income tax.
Comment by steve schnorf Thursday, Apr 30, 09 @ 8:27 pm
Ad’s a little to grim and depressing. Probably not a motivator to pick up the phone.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 1, 09 @ 1:02 am