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* This all or nothing gambit obviously won’t work legislatively, but it’s probably a good political move for Gov. Quinn, who can point the finger of blame at others…
With less than a month until lawmakers are set to leave for the summer, Quinn says he is not willing to compromise on his reform commission’s six part plan.
The Governor says “we have to get all” reforms pitched by the group of statehouse outsiders.
That would include campaign contribution caps, term limits for legislative leaders, a new way to draw the state’s political map, and even recall for voters. […]
The Governor is now saying he’s the “quarterback” and he’ll have to soon “call some plays.” But it is his all or nothing approach that may eventually doom his reform agenda.
This is now all about politics and public perception because Quinn obviously knows he can’t possibly pass the commission’s complete agenda.
* And speaking of politics….
DuPage County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom made it official Tuesday — he’s eyeing a run for governor in 2010.
The Naperville Republican has put an exploratory committee together, and said he will be ready to announce his intentions by mid-summer. The committee is the first step towards a long-rumored Schillerstrom campaign.
More…
Schillerstrom said he had cut taxes in seven of the past 10 years in DuPage County and said his executive experience should play to voters statewide. Still, Schillerstrom’s tenure has not been without controversy on various fronts. Last year, state GOP Chairman Andy McKenna publicly criticized Schillerstrom for pushing Springfield for higher local taxes and the county later benefited as an offshoot of a sales tax increase for the Regional Transportation Authority.
That didn’t stop Schillerstrom from criticizing Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn’s state budget plan calling for an increase in income taxes, offset for some by higher personal deductions. “He essentially passed on the tough decisions to the hard-working men and women of Illinois and that’s the wrong thing to do in a recessionary period like this,” he said.
DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett takes a swing…
Birkett said Schillerstrom’s potential run for the office would not be a factor in his decision, and said running a statewide campaign might be more than Schillerstrom is ready for. Birkett has won two state primaries, one for attorney general in 2002 and one for lieutenant governor in 2006, but lost both general elections. […]
“I understand Illinois, I appreciate Illinois, and I look forward to discussing and arguing with Joe Birkett and other candidates about what we can do,” [Schillerstrom] said.
More…
[Schillerstrom] noted that because of the work needed to clean up the state’s financial health, “It is not beyond the realm of possibility that the next governor may be a one-term governor.”
Viewed as a social moderate, Schillerstrom acknowledged that the battle within the GOP among conservatives and moderates has hurt the party and said his exploration of a run for governor is based in part on whether rank-and-file Republicans understand “we don’t want to waste all of our assets—whether they’re emotional, financial or issue driven—in a primary” that helps a Democrat to win.
His campaign website is here.
* Tom Roeser claims that Mark Kirk will run for reelection…
U. S. Rep. Mark Kirk, preferred by GOP ticket-planners to run for either governor or senator, will decline both jobs in order to seek reelection to his House seat, I have been told on what I believe is excellent authority. The reason is not political but personal. His decision will likely be spun as acknowledgment that no Republican can win either race… a conclusion the liberal media will quickly buy and propagate: but the true reason lies not in politics but with other concerns.
* Related…
* An Illinois Kennedy Could Run for U.S. Senate
* Britt: State treasurer uses Bright Start funds to buy vehicle
* Jan Schakowsky, a Progressive’s Progressive, Gears Up Her 2010 Bid for Obama’s Senate Seat
* Give your Illinois legislators an earful on ethics reform
* We can’t afford not to pay for ethics reform
* Quinn’s plan to move primary to June is touchy politically
* Editorial: Legislature must act to push primary back for the 2010 elections
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 10:37 am
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From VanillaPedia:
Pat Quinn - Illinois Reform Commission
The Quinn Reform Commission was a group of Reform-minded Illinoians caught up in the “Post-Blagojevich fever” of the late 2000s. After their report became politically paralyzed in the General Assembly in the summer of 2009, some of them resorted to cannibalism.
The nucleus of the party consisted of Patrick Collins, an Illinois governor, Patrick Quinn, and several newspapers in Springfield and Chicago, Illinois, plus fellow Commissioners, about 33 people in all, in an “we have to get all” reform report. They set out for the Promise Land in a 100-Day Report, released in Chicago, Illinois, on April 28, 2009, and held press conferences.
They endured great hardships while crossing the Madigan Rapids and the Desert of Political Reality, finally taking a “shortcut”, recommended by then-governor, Patrick Quinn. Unfortunately, it had taken them over three weeks longer than the customary route of compromise. They met further setbacks and delays while threatening the Democratically-controlled State House to no avail.
Demoralized and low on supplies, about three quarters of them camped out near Lake Michigan, (now called Lake Obama), while the Commissioners and a few others camped about six miles (ten kilometers) away, in the Sangamon River Valley.
They slaughtered their remaining supporters, but there was not enough of them to feed so many for long. By the end of the summer of 2009, all that remained of the Illinois Reform Commission were the dried bones of it’s supporters that had been picked apart by elected representatives and senators. A throne was crafted out of these dried hides and bones for Michael J. Madigan.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 11:02 am
Kirk is the GOP’s best chance. Hope Roeser’s wrong
Comment by Sam Adams Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 11:07 am
Schillerstrom perfected pay-to-play in DuPage County. I’m sure his friends like Mike Vondra, John Glennon, John Wyma and Victor Reyes will be thrilled at the prospect of having a new gravy-train in the Governor’s mansion. With George Ryan in jail and Blago on his way….Schillerstrom must seem like the ghost of Christmas past…
Comment by Wheaton503 Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 11:08 am
Dear Buzzflash, it is not Pres Obama’s senate seat. It now is being held by Burris, henceforth, it is the Burris Senate Seat.
Comment by Wumpus Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 11:10 am
I think I have a horse in the race for Gov…finally.
Comment by scoot Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 11:38 am
Politically, Quinn’s going all-in as a reformer. What does he have to lose? He can’t compete financially. He’ll run as the White Knight, unsullied by dirty money.
Do you ever get the feeling Tom Roeser is like one of those characters in the old spy novels, a deep-mole placed at a young age to sabotage from within? Why else would he be involved in elective politics — an exercise in coalition-building and addition?
He couldn’t vote for Kirk for governor or senator against the likely Dem candidates? That’s not exactly party-building. To him, the GOP is not a party — more like a small, sullen coffee-klatch of like-minded zealots.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 11:48 am
Prediction: Roeser is wrong..again.
Comment by scoot Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 1:53 pm
There’s been zero accountability within the party for McKenna’s poor performance as state party chairman. 5 years now, we lose a congressional seat in every election, aren’t competitive against bozos (with apologies to the clown because he was legit)like alexi, and haven’t answered the question of what exactly a 21st century Illinois Republican stands for.
They elect Republican senators in Maine, Republican governors in Hawaii and Rhode Island and North Carolina and Indiana, which were until Obama safe Republican in presidential elections had Dem majority congressional delegations.
FAIL.
Comment by Shore Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 1:53 pm
Roeser is actually probably right. Kirk has some personal issues that would be easy targets in the Primary and the General…if he stays put, they still may arise but will do far less damage in a district he’s proven time and again he can win.
Comment by Nice Suit Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 3:27 pm
No offence to the particular Kennedy: Enough already. Do you understand the “magic” of the name is way, way past? Same goes for Bushies/
Comment by You Go Boy Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 3:39 pm
I am happy to see an Executive finally jump into the gov race.
Comment by Bikin Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 4:39 pm
The Roeser article about Kirk is odd–everybody has personal issues. I hope Kirk isn’t scared off by Roeser and his ilk.
Comment by Skeptical Cynic Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 8:22 pm
Kirk has worked hard for this oppurtunity to run statewide. His presence in the media has increased as of late and he is the perfect candidate for the US Senate seat held by Burris. I highly doubt what Roeser is talking about has any truth to it, the guy is wacky.
Comment by scoot Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 8:37 pm
Re: Quinn: “This is now all about politics and public perception because Quinn obviously knows he can’t possibly pass the commission’s complete agenda.”
Agreed, but risky because of the many ways it can be interpreted; not all are good.
—————
Re: Campaign Strategies: “personal issues that would be easy targets in the Primary and the General”
Anyone who has ever left the house and interacted with another human being will become a target if they eventually run for office. That’s what OR is for.
The good news is that voters are becoming a little less susceptible to those tactics each time one is pulled–especially when times are tough and they’re extremely sensitive to the fact that great leaders are a necessity.
———–
Re: Kirk:
He’s a win/win either way. If he decides to serve in a higher office either now or later, I’d bet real $ he’d be able to make it so and succeed in his new Office. If he stays where he’s at, his Constituents, his Party, and the State overall continue to benefit from another term.
———–
Re: Schillerstrom: “…run for governor is based in part on whether rank-and-file Republicans understand ‘we don’t want to waste all of our assets…in a primary’ that helps a Democrat to win.”
Great statement.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 9:30 pm
Forgot one.
Re: Kennedy. I wasn’t sure at first, but You Go Boy’s right. There will always be a group who want to hang out, but the glimmer overall has faded and this is the wrong State.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 9:48 pm
Just saying, there’s been a lot of chatter around lately about Kirk…no denying he’s got a great shot at the Senate seat. As long as he stay’s in the 10th he’s employed-and has some clout. He sits on Appropriations, so he’s got a great committee. In the Senate, he’s deeper in the Minority, lower in seniority, etc. If he runs for Senate and loses, he gives up a ton.
Comment by Nice Suit Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 10:07 pm