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Today’s quotable

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Illinois

* Speaker Madigan is this year’s grand marshal for the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade. From his parade committee bio…

Speaker Michael J. Madigan has throughout his time in the Legislature pursued a mandate to implement policies that benefit the working people of Illinois. A Democrat, Madigan is the longest serving speaker in state history, having held the position continuously since 1983, except for the years 1995-1996.

Madigan has worked to build bipartisan consensus on difficult issues and is keenly conscious of his responsibility to ensure equitable treatment for all regions of the state. During his time leading the House, he has worked with governors and legislators to shape policies that have fundamentally altered the state’s course for the better. Madigan has been a driving force behind laws to: expand health care access, improve education funding and standards, increase wages and benefits, strengthen civil rights, reduce crime, preserve the environment, strengthen the state’s economy, build critical transportation infrastructure, reform government ethics and election campaign practices, and protect consumers. Above all, he has endeavored to make government’s daily workings and the legislative process more transparent and accountable to the citizens of the state.

Anybody want to rewrite that?

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 9:22 am

Comments

Sounds like an obit

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 9:28 am
” increase wages and benefits “*

Except for the phony minimum wage increase referendum that passed in the last election…

Comment by Mouthy Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 9:29 am
No obit. Maybe a SuperHero taking a lap.

Comment by cdog Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 9:29 am
Mike to float “Ramming speed. Ahead full.” Rauner to self, “Where’s that Turnaround?”

Comment by Ipso Facto Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 9:48 am
Well, Brown will tell you that one of the reasons he went to work for Madigan is that the Trib told him they’d never hire him.

Comment by Marty Funkhouser Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 9:58 am
During the time that Michael J. Madigan has been speaker, Illinois has added 1.5 million jobs to its economy, according to the latest figures from the Rauner administration.

Comment by Juvenal Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:03 am
Just got my invite to march see you there!

Comment by Rabid Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:04 am
Nobody is addressing Rich’s question, so I’ll make a try: Just add one sentence- “And most importantly, Rauner and Blagoevich hate him.”

Comment by downstate commissioner Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:13 am
Madigan has worked to build partisan compliance on difficult issues and is keenly conscious of his responsibility to equitably ignore all regions of the state. During his time herding the House, he has fought governors and legislators to shape policies that have fundamentally altered the state’s legislative boundaries for his own benefit.

Comment by NIU Grad Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:23 am
Barf.

Comment by Sometimes You Just Have To Barf Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:35 am
Excellent mushroom farmer. Maybe it’s what is driving Rauner to cut Ag spending.

Comment by illinois manufacturer Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:38 am
“60″

Comment by long time Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 10:38 am
Will give up his pot of gold, but only if you can find him and grab onto his coat tails.

Comment by walker Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 11:04 am
I guess when you write your own bio it comes out a little biased.

I would add a few words

“During his time leading the House, he has worked with governors and legislators to shape policies the state’s course for the better.” (At the expense of the next generation which is on the hook for over 100 billion in unfunded pension obligations).

“Above all he has endeavors to make government’s daily workings and legislative process more transparent and accountable to the citizens of the state. “(Never mind the voters overwhelmingly favor term limits and redistricting and have the least confidence in state government of any state in the union.)

The people of Illinois would like to choose their legislators instead of the other way around.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 11:17 am
“Above all, he has endeavored to make government’s daily workings and the legislative process more transparent and accountable to the citizens of the state.”

So Madigan opposes term limits or fair redistricting maps because such measures obviously do not promote transparency or accountability for the citizens of the state.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 11:24 am
“A Democrat and Irish Boss, Madigan is the longest serving speaker in state history, having held the position continuously since 1983, except for the years 1995-1996 when he was undergoing leprechaun training.”

Comment by burbanite Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 11:37 am
=== So Madigan opposes term limits or fair redistricting maps because such measures obviously do not promote transparency or accountability for the citizens of the state. ===

Term Limits simply mean that I potentially don’t get a chance to vote for the person that I think should represent me. That’s a non-starter.

As for “fair” redistricting, well, fair to who?

Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 12:24 pm
Speaker Michael J. Madigan has throughout his time in the Legislature pursued a mandate to implement policies that will enrich himself and fellow Democratic politicians at the expense of other taxpayers. Even though he has been in power for decades and Rauner has only been in office for a year, the decline of Illinois as a financially viable entity is still the fault of the Governor, just because.

Comment by tberry Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 12:25 pm
Full of himself!!!

Comment by Union Man Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 12:26 pm
“Speaker Michael J. Madigan has, throughout his time in the Legislature, pursued and perfected a horticulture and zoologist management style, unmatched in America. Madigan’s style of growing priceless mushrooms, and, simultaneously, raising ducklings he treats as his very own, is uniquely charming and folksy and all Michael J. Madigan.

While Madigan is the longest serving speaker in Illinois history, it’s his time away from the legislature that truly defines his greatness. With a lifestyle of no cell phones or electronic tethers, Madigan has become a connoisseur of fine Italian food, an strong advocate of the proper harvesting of tree grown fruit, and still a world trend setter in the fashon of proper khaki wearing. While all these pursuits are noble, it’s Madigan’s quest for physical fitness and wiley elusiveness, when pursued by a Chicago newsman, that completes the Renaissance Man we know today.”

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 12:35 pm
This year’s theme. “Short guy for the long run”.

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 4:30 pm
Wouldn’t it simply have been easier to say, “No other single person is more responsible for the shape Illinois is in today than Michael Madigan”.
So if you think we’re doing swell, he’s a hero. If not, he’s not. I’m one of the latter.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 5:52 pm