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House Democrats explain their changing votes

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Illinois

* Rep. Sue Scherer (D-Decatur) complained last month about the potential for a “huge tax hike” and said she couldn’t in good conscience vote for such an increase “on the backs of the hard-working families in my district.” Rep. Scherer voted against the tax hike on 3rd Reading. Her district just barely went Democratic at the top of the ticket last year and Gov. Rauner won it by about 6 points. She’s always voted like a target, until today, when she voted “Yes” on the override…

“When the budget package went to Governor Rauner’s desk, I sincerely hoped and believed that he would finally see the need to come back to the table, and negotiate an end to the crisis he created,” Scherer said in a statement. “I hoped he would see an opportunity to build off of the $3 billion in spending cuts we identified in our budget. But the governor’s total veto and his refusal to negotiate left me with an unfortunate choice: override his veto and support a deal I didn’t fully agree with, or follow the governor over a cliff, bringing millions of Illinois families down with us. … It became clear this week that the governor would not make the tough decisions needed to end his crisis, so I did.”

* Rauner won Rep. Mike Halpin’s (D-Rock Island) district by a hair three years ago. The freshman was one of a handful of House Democrats who initially voted for the tax hike bill on 3rd Reading the other day and then switched to “No” just before the roll call was closed. He switched to “Yes” today because four Republicans flipped. His explanation to a local paper…

After the vote, Halpin said he had heard from constituents since Sunday, including representatives from area universities, and decided that it was time to get a budget approved.

“I decided that having any budget, even if not perfect, was better than no budget at all,” Halpin said.

He added he was worried about rating agencies downgrading the state’s credit rating, as well as the effect of an extended impasse on schools and human service agencies.

Nothing yet from Rep. Natalie Manley (D-Joliet). Rauner barely won that district. Also nothing from Rep. Rita Mayfield (D-Waukegan), who represents a hugely Democratic district.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 6:17 pm

Comments

Thankfully Pritzker, and his skeletons, will be the Dem Nominee. A awful candidate, why the Dems do not go for Hyannis Port West, I do not know?

Comment by Chris W Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 6:23 pm
I often wonder why we pontificate about these votes, if somehow it would be a surprise. This is all planned out well in advance.

Comment by LibertyvilleNick Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 6:24 pm
Could be Nick. At least 4 Dems had to vote yes and lost cover.

Rauner probably knew it all along, and was smart to make it Madigan’s albatross

Comment by Chris W Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 6:30 pm
Halpin is a good example of changing his vote. Sue Scherer is not. She walked herself into a corner, there was no reason to say that about the tax hike a couple weeks ago. The “Madigan controls the house argument” just received their perfect gift in Sue Scherer

Comment by Almost The Weekend Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 6:31 pm
These explanations are even less convincing than the ones from their GOP counterparts.

Comment by anon2 Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 6:32 pm
Chris W

I usually get these things wrong. I thought for sure Bill Daley would get the nod last time. Still hope for Kennedy

Comment by LibertyvilleNick Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 6:35 pm
Kennedy is too moderate for IL Dem Base, Nick.

After today I cannot see any of the Rauner voters of 2014, backing more tax raises by Pritzker

Comment by Chris W Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 6:39 pm
I love the phrase taxes on the backs of the hard working people.

We had a referendum asking about a millionaire tax that passed.

What about taxing the not so hard working?

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 6:39 pm
–Thankfully Pritzker, and his skeletons, will be the Dem Nominee. A awful candidate, why the Dems do not go for Hyannis Port West, I do not know? –

What was your first language, before you started day drinking?

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 6:44 pm
People, stay on topic. There are other threads to discuss statewide candidates. Go there. Not here. Thanks.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 6:50 pm
–Word, I was drinking on election Night 2016, did Pritzker’s money help Hillary? –

You should probably taper off. It’s July now.

Clinton: 3.1M, 56%
Trump: 2.1M, 39%

Unless you think Rauner is runnin’ for governor of Mississippi. That would explain a lot.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 6:52 pm
Rauner won by 5% in 2014? After Quinn’s tax hike ?

What is new here? What voter in 2014 who voted for Rauner, votes for Pritzker?

Comment by Chris W Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 6:56 pm
Mayfield’s seat is pretty safe. I don’t understand why she voted against the tax increase before today’s vote.

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 6:57 pm
===What voter in 2014 who voted for Rauner, votes for Pritzker?===

Labor.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 6:58 pm
Candidate Rauner pledged to reduce the tax rate to 3% within four years. Now that it’s clear that won’t happen, will voters believe his promise next time? Once burned, twice shy.

Comment by anon2 Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 7:00 pm
I’m pretty shocked. Politically, it would have been way more beneficial for the Dems to not put more votes on and let Rauner and the GOP take the blame.

They definitely deserve credit for putting the state before what’s best for Democrats in 2018.

Comment by Evanstonian Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 7:00 pm
=== I don’t understand why she voted against===

She has a pretty good record with biz lobbyists I think.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 7:01 pm
Wensicia

I like to think Mayfield cares about the people of Waukegan.

Comment by LibertyvilleNick Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 7:15 pm
I’ve also been wondering about Mayfield’s vote. It seems a mistake.

Comment by Dome Gnome Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 7:16 pm
Mayfield owes her seat to Terry Link. She had to have gotten permission.

Comment by LibertyvilleNick Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 7:17 pm
Don’t want to hear it……

Comment by gstritzel Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 7:18 pm
==I like to think Mayfield cares about the people of Waukegan.==

I think she does, as she is a former school board member. But, you can’t support spending, including the millions our district and community college is owed, let alone the MAP grants, without new revenue.

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 7:20 pm
Wensicia

Like I said in my first post, this is all planned. It’s not like she woke up and had some revelation. Personal promises are made and things are traded. No one in Springfield is kept up at night with guaranteed pensions about the Praire State. I think Quinn is collecting on 4???

Comment by LibertyvilleNick Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 7:22 pm
I often think these conflicts are staged. Rauner, Emmanuel and Madigan were close 3 years ago personally. I like politicians that put it on the line. At least Rauner won’t take a salary and it repairing the mansion on his own dime.

Comment by LibertyvilleNick Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 7:29 pm
I think the Republicans that changed their vote did it to make sure that vulnerable Dems would have to fall on their sword too. Politics until the end.

Comment by Chicagonk Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 7:35 pm
Meh, none of this will matter in November 2018. The ridiculousness of Donald Trump and all Republicans who “follow” him will be all that anyone talks about.

And while Illinois Republicans are far removed from the disaster that is Donald Trump, you can expect the House Democrats to successfully burn a different image in the voters’ minds.

Comment by Just Me Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 7:45 pm
Chris W keeps asking who voted for Rauner in 2014 that won’t vote for Rauner in 2018. I’m one of those people. I was initially angered by Quinn’s “attacks” on our pensions. I thought Rauner, not knowing much about him, was in the mold of Edgar or Thompson. Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice…

Comment by Lamont Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 7:47 pm
Trump won, deal with it

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 8:01 pm
Why are you all kidding yourselves? They changed their votes because Mad Mike told them to. They most likely had the Dems lined up vote for vote for any Republicans that switched. And don’t worry about poor widdle Sue Scheer. If she loses her seat in the next election Mad Mike will have a nice six figure state job for her.

Comment by Really Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 8:19 pm
any representative or Senator that voted for the appropriation bill and then said no to the tax increase is nothing more than a panderer. Neil Anderson is a perfect example in the 36th district and is now going after Halpin. Halpin showed him the difference between a legislator unwilling to expose the most vulnerable and a legislator unwilling to ever truly put his constituents first.

Comment by red raider Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 8:24 pm
And the Profiles in Courage Award goes to DeKalb area state rep Bob Pritchard for running out of the country to avoid a vote that might distress either his leader or many of his constituents who work for or depend on NIU for a living.

Comment by Altgeld's Ghost Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 8:37 pm
Something needed to be done to stop the bleeding, so I don’t see why legislators need to explain their override vote. What they should explain is what their next plan is to tackle the actual issues like our mounting debt, although I can see them coasting until after 2018.

Comment by Clark Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 8:40 pm
Finally the poor will start paying their fair share.

Comment by So long dental plan Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 9:25 pm
Hey Really…not unlike Munger?

Comment by Mongo Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 9:26 pm
Any intelligent adult knew there would be a tax increase, even Rauner said it…just he wanted to crush unions first.

Comment by union Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:53 pm
So, does or does she not have a problem? She made the correct choice. But what about …..

Comment by PENSIONS ARE OFF LIMITS Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 11:10 pm
Props to “‘Wordslinger”
Endless musings can’t be ignored.

Comment by PENSIONS ARE OFF LIMITS Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 11:15 pm
“Rauner, Emmanuel and Madigan were close 3 years ago”

- Governor Junk

Comment by PENSIONS ARE OFF LIMITS Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 11:18 pm
What a pitiful response from Scherer…

She couldn’t in good conscience vote for a tax increase… But hoped the governor would have signed it?

How is that an acceptable response for any political issue? What kind of conscience is that?

Comment by Anon Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 12:05 am
Someone said this two days ago. The godfather knows how to count. Too bad this chess game is killing the rest of us.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 7:23 am
I was anonymous at 7:23. Sorry.

Comment by pool boy Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 7:27 am
Libertyville Nick,

If you knew what you are talking about, you would be dangerous.

Comment by Anti Libertyville Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 8:43 am
Anti Libertyville

Awe. Insults. The lowest form of discourse. I wonder if Rich can track IP addresses to see how many sock puppets are on here.

Comment by LibertyvilleNick Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 8:46 am
===and it repairing the mansion on his own dime.===

That’s not true at all.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 8:49 am
Oswego-

The Trib says they Rauner contributed $1M. Guess its a lie?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-bruce-rauner-fairgrounds-move-met-20170418-story.html

Comment by LibertyvilleNick Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 8:52 am
And yet no one worries that there is nothing that improves the business climate.

The Dems have chosen the path to continuous incremental tax increases. It has already been pointed out that the tax increase was not enough for long term stability. The only solution is to grow the portion of the economy that actually produces things. Hard to do when the population is declining. The remaining residents have to produce more and more just to stay even, much less get ahead.

Comment by plutocrat03 Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 8:54 am
===The Trib says they Rauner contributed $1M. Guess its a lie?===

It’s a foundation.

The Rauners donated a million dollars.

The Rauners are NOT covering the entire cost of the renovation on “their own dime”

Your cite…

===by raising private money. Bever said in an email that $14 million has been raised and pledged to date, with $1 million coming from the Rauners themselves.===

If you can’t be honest to facts…

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 8:56 am
Oswego

The fact is he donated money

Comment by LibertyvilleNick Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 9:01 am
By the way, no one needs to continue to punch back like the president. You can win the blog wars for the day

Comment by LibertyvilleNick Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 9:02 am
===The fact is he donated money===

===…repairing the mansion on his own dime.===

Not even close to the same.

Factually wrong, actually.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 9:03 am
Oswego

You win. You’re amazing and the best at everything. (He still donated a million dollars)

Comment by LibertyvilleNick Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 9:05 am
- LibertyvilleNick -

===(He still donated a million dollars)===

Yeah, that’s $13 million light on repairing the mansion on his own dime.

“Yeah, but… ”

Kudos to the Rauners, said so a few times, the exaggeration isn’t needed.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 9:08 am
Oswego

You win (still donated a million dollars)

Comment by LibertyvilleNick Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 9:13 am
Oswego

I’ve been on here for a few years and you’re very Trumpish, always counter punching, trying to win. According to you I went from lying to exaggerating. If you want to win, start your own blog and sock puppet all day. I play by the rules of the site. Will you? Be polite. I dont want a 2 x 4 in the face

Comment by LibertyvilleNick Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 9:19 am
- LibertyvilleNick -

Your victimhood is noted, since I said or did no such thing to you.

Good luck.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 9:25 am
and you win.

Comment by LibertyvilleNick Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 9:28 am
===What voter in 2014 who voted for Rauner, votes for Pritzker?===

Labor.

A lesson learned about voting to teach a lesson.

– MrJM

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 9:36 am
I am not surprised that Rauner’s supporters have given up on our state. They’ve been repeatedly told that other places are not only better, but cheaper and more fun. Rauner has not praised our state, all its citizens, its governments or its schools - just the opposite. Rauner equates differing tax policies in physically violent terms. He equates needy citizens and those who serve them as parasites. He equates our schools and those who teach them as failures. He equates our largest city and most productive region in terrible negative terms. Rauner does this without providing solutions that fit us and our needs, but fits his instead.

Naturally, his followers are catatonic. Naturally, they believe the worse will come. Rauner told them that they were struck across their foreheads. He told them that they were assaulted. Naturally, they will hear him and be angry. That’s the only way a failure like Bruce Rauner stands a chance of being reelected.

Rauner is a very bad governor. He disrespects what he governs. Good governors don’t act like Bruce Rauner. Rauner has to be gone by 2019, or Illinois will continue to be mistreated by our state’s most powerful office holder.

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 10:19 am
===What voter in 2014 who voted for Rauner, votes for Pritzker?===
Women who now know what “not having a social agenda” actually means.

Comment by northsider (the original) Friday, Jul 7, 17 @ 12:39 pm