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Lather, rinse, repeat

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Illinois

While both Lang and Mapes’ resignation shows Madigan is taking swift action in response to the claims, some still questioned the tactic. State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, who criticized Madigan’s response to harassment allegations in February and last month detailed allegations of retaliation from Mapes and a key Democratic Madigan ally, said the response is nothing new.

“This is the lather, rinse, repeat that I talked about in February. We now need the real change that follows,” Cassidy said. “We need to see what leadership looks like. When he keeps saying he’s committed to make change and bringing an end to this culture, it goes beyond firing people. Because we’ve seen this before and here we are again.”

Cassidy said Madigan’s response of forcing people out is “the same play.”

“I think in each case he hopes it goes away,” Cassidy said. “It’s not that simple.”

* Tribune editorial…

Within hours, Madigan asked for Mapes’ resignation. Here’s part of a statement Madigan released:

“I intend to appoint an individual with extensive experience conducting investigations to review all operations of the House of Representatives, including but not limited to the Clerk’s Office where Ms. Garrett works.”

Notice anything? “I intend to appoint …”

Madigan continues to press his thumb into the process of investigating complaints of harassment in his own operation. It’s a pattern of control we and others repeatedly have called out. This situation requires an outside investigation. Outside. Madigan can’t be appointing, permitting or supervising. When will the speaker get it?

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 10:06 am

Comments

I “intend to appoint” someone to investigate and then I will work to direct my lawyers to ask a judge to dismiss any charges filed against my organization

Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 10:09 am
Madigan thinking the problem is an individual (or in his case, a series of individuals) and not systemic is the most old white guy thing I’ve ever seen.

The fact that so many Illinois Dems are still beholden to the man is insane. He’s reviled by the voters, so who benefits from keeping him around?

Comment by Evanstonian Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 10:13 am
No snark: Rep. Cassidy doesn’t clearly state what an effective resolution to this issue would be. Whatever the expected resolution may be, call for it and pursue it. Continued ambiguity perpetuates a solutionless problem.

Comment by Midstate Indy Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 10:15 am
Speaker Cassidy would be an acceptable solution.

Comment by Flat Bed Ford Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 10:18 am
the frustration is mounting. Madigan will never retire or give up his power. The only hope for real change is for someone in his party to challenge him for the role of speaker.

Maybe when JB wins he will have built up enough political capital to push Madigan out and install someone of a more progressive ilk.

Love or hate madigan at the end of the day real progressives must understand the only time their agenda is allowed to be voted for is when that specific item will stick it to a republican Governor.

Madigan doesn’t always need to win, but he does want his opponents to lose.

Comment by Iggy Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 10:18 am
Of course he is reluctant to have anyone independent and outside review his operations. The office by its nature is highly partisan. Not saying it’s right, but I’m sure that has a lot to do with it.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 10:19 am
Soon Robert Mueller will be available.

Comment by blue dog dem Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 10:22 am
== Madigan will never retire or give up his power ==

He will … but only on his own timing and terms.

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 10:23 am
Hey- why do you Dems all scream about Trump trying to manage his investigation when the Leader of your State party is doing exactly the same thing?

Comment by Sue Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 10:28 am
Midstate Indy +1

== No snark: Rep. Cassidy doesn’t clearly state what an effective resolution to this issue would be. Whatever the expected resolution may be, call for it and pursue it. Continued ambiguity perpetuates a solutionless problem ==

Rep. Cassidy is a leader on this issue and she needs to propose a detailed solution.

Comment by Scott Fawell's Cellmate Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 10:31 am
Sue: maybe a little difference between appointing people to investigate sexual harassment by subordinates (which I vocally disagree with) and trying to terminate a criminal investigation into you, your family, and your associates that’s already produced a half dozen or more guilty pleas and federal indictments.

Comment by PJ Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 10:32 am
Sue, if you can’t see the difference between simply appointing an investigator (and, all the people heading up the Russia investigation were either appointed by Trump or people who had been appointed by Trump, btw) and openly opining about firing said investigator for then actually doing their job, I don’t know what to tell you.

Comment by Juice Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 10:32 am
===why do you Dems all scream about Trump trying to manage his investigation when the Leader of your State party is doing exactly the same thing?===

Lol Sue. Put the bong down and go to work.

Trump isn’t trying to “manage” anything. He’s obstructing an on-going investigation. If you think it’s the same thing, or even comparable, you are blinded by something. It could be dope, could be booze, or it could be partisan victim hood syndrome.

Or all three.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 10:33 am
Sue, we can be angry about both

Comment by 100 miles west Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 10:34 am
Sexual harrassment is a social issue, not a partisan/political issue. I have never known Madigan to advocate for any social issue unless there was political gain. I think sees the problem as politically addressable and fixable. And he is afraid of actually standing for something besides keeping Dem control of the House,

Comment by My New Handle Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 10:40 am
Sue, your question to Democrats s in the comments section of a post in which a Democrat (Cassidy) is sharply criticizing the leader of her state party.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 10:40 am
Seems like a Catch-22.

If Madigan did not investigate, folks would be criticizing him for that.

When he does investigate, people complain.

Independent observers seem to agree that the Inspector General handled the Silverstein case properly. Yet neither Cassidy, nor Lang’s accuser, nor Mapes’ accuser took their case to the LIG.

it is fair to ask why?

I suspect it is because we will see most of the accusations tossed when the independent investigation is done. The case against Lang started coming apart even before the ink was dry.

I also think it is because, in most private sector cases, the outcome for the things they are actually culpable for would have been far less severe than the fates of Quinn, Decremer and Mapes.

As Rich Noted and the Tribune reported, many grumbled about Mapes’ condescending and abrasive style. But as we all know in the real world, those are not really fireable offenses.

So, instead of availing themselves of a process that works, folks are being tried in the press to get the result that they want, which is part of the process in politics. But I think it is important to understand that is what is going on here, and decide whether we think that is a healthy thing.

Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 10:41 am
Rich, what’s to the rumor Proft is peddling that Rauner will withdraw and be replaced by McConnaughay? I call b.s.

Comment by Colin O'Scopy Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 10:42 am
=== We need to see what leadership looks like. ===

That sounds a lot like Cassidy demanding Lang’s job.

Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 10:42 am
I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about Madigan. either he demonstrates that he has a heart/found a heart/truly understands what is going on and makes changes that really mean something , or I think it is time for him to retire. He’s a very smart person, except for looking the other way while bullies of all sorts are in action. he swoops in after their work, acts all calm and smart. I don’t treasure the idea of an Illinois legislature without such a smart person even if I don’t always agree with him. but if he does not show something bigger, time for someone else to take the chair. and that goes for the party too.

Comment by Amalia Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 10:47 am
I agree he shouldn’t be trusted with the investigation at this point, but having internal investigations into non-criminal conduct, which this likely was, is very normal, certainly in the private sector. I get this is the public sector but the idea itself is not that crazy. What are they suggesting for an independent party? A new office that is funded with a continuing appropriation legislators have no control over and is appointed for life? Carte blanche to do anything, with no oversight from anyone? Maybe some people want that, but it seems like a lot of authority to put into one office.

Comment by Perrid Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 10:48 am
There are only two people in the state that want MJM to remain in office: MJM and Bruce Rauner.

Comment by Downstate Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 10:56 am
Rauner needs to go, then Madigan too. Finish cleaning up the mess.

Comment by Generic Drone Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 10:58 am
So, here is the real conversation- who is the next speaker. Watch as the House splits into factions- the MJM heir apparent v. the progressives choice. With Lang and Flynn-Currie out of the running (or does LL live to fight again?) Who ranks on seniority? Mary Flowers, Dan Burke, Sara Feigenholz, and further down the list, Greg Harris.

I guarantee these conversations are being had. MJM would rather pass the torch to his chosen than be beaten.

I am on my 4th bag of popcorn.

Comment by Grasshopper Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 10:59 am
==I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about Madigan. ==

Isn’t that supposed to be Lucky Pierre’s line?

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 11:03 am
Grasshopper, Dan Burke lost his primary.

Comment by Juice Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 11:04 am
What a dumb statement: when will the Speaker get it? He gets it totally and has a personal defense posture. Rep. Kelly Cassidy needs to file a formal complaint with the Illinois Office of the Legislative Inspector General charging collusion between Mapes and Speaker Madigan in her own situation. I have not read that she has done so and can’t believe if she had done so she would have not made it public. Her own independence as a legislator and her judgement over legislation before her is at issue. Attempting to exert political influence with Sheriff Dart’s office which employed her was an ethical violation, but clearly linking it back to Speaker Madigan would have to be proven somehow. Now that Makes has been removed the investigation over Mapes is effectively moot, Madigan’s request for an investigation (letter posted by Rich) in the Cassidy issue did not include an investigation of himself from my reading of it.

For Mapes to lean on Cassidy over a bill would be more or less normal politics, but the issue really relates to her outside employment. Rep Cassidy keeps talking to the media about leadership and the culture of Springfield, but in her case there are real issues relating to inappropriate behavior by the Speaker through Mapes over a bill.

Given that when Denise Rotheimer accused Sen. Ira Silverstein of sexual harassment in October Inspector General Julie Porter ruled that Silverstein didn’t harass Rotheimer but said he acted with “conduct unbecoming of a legislator”. Its pretty clear that Porter has a pretty formalized vision of sexual harassment and that issue needs to be clarified for her by the legislature. But at this point Cassidy needs to do more than argue her case in the media.

Comment by Rod Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 11:09 am
Mary Flowers voted against the ERA. Nope.

Comment by Amalia Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 11:09 am
Juice, thanks. Completely forgot about that!

Comment by Grasshopper Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 11:10 am
Another example that it is past time for JB to push Madigan out the door. Demand the resignation already. If he refuses, demand the $1 million back, offer to fund house dems and back Cassidy or literally anyone else for speaker. Its not going to get any better, and the Pritzker team knows it.

C’mon Pritzker team, time to “Think Big”

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 11:10 am
Many here want MJM out, myself included.

What I have not read is any outrage from The likes of LP and Sue over the appointment of Dunkin by Rauner and Dunkins refusal to step down. Rauner has created the new status quo of repeatedly appointing questionable characters to some pretty Cush jobs. He definitely had to know about Dunkins issues before he appointed him.

What gives?

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 11:40 am
Well, Kelly Cassify is correct, that individual removals, and specific case investigations, is not enough. And that strong Leadership is one key to changing cultural values and expectations.

To take her comments as transactional and ambitious, is part of the problem in our political culture. I think she gets it, in a way many commenters do not.

Comment by walker Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 11:45 am
=Rauner has created the new status quo of repeatedly appointing questionable characters to some pretty Cush jobs.=

Are you new to Illinois? That’s been the status quo for a long time.

Comment by m Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 12:13 pm
-No snark: Rep. Cassidy doesn’t clearly state what an effective resolution to this issue would be. Whatever the expected resolution may be, call for it and pursue it. Continued ambiguity perpetuates a solutionless problem.-

TRUTH

Comment by Hail Mary Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 1:06 pm
–Madigan can’t be appointing, permitting or supervising. When will the speaker get it?–

Never. He will never understand that.

Comment by Ahoy! Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 1:25 pm
Like Madigan or not, he has demaded resignations from top people for things which happened in the past. Immediate resignations and from people that had been w him for years. Mapes came to work and was gone that day.

Comment by low level Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 2:17 pm
=Are you new to Illinois? That’s been the status quo for a long time.=

Oh, well then that makes it ok? Sheesh, you really are drinking the cool aid.

I remember a campaign heavily predicated on shaking up Springfield and changing the corrupt culture and being transparent.

I guess he really meant just doing the same old same olf and @m is cool with that.

So you must be “old” Illinois.

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 4:47 pm
(Tips cap to - JS Mill -)

===… the only time their agenda is allowed to be voted for is when that specific item will stick it to a republican Governor.===

Explain SSM and conceal carry, both worked by the Dem Caucus for roll calls…

Stick to the argument, the trying to marry too much misses what this is all about.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 5:20 pm