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* And then some is right…
So far early returns, Speaker Madigan regains supermajority and then some with Terra Costa Howard (Breen), Diane Pappas (Winger), Karina Villa (Fortner seat/Khouri), Walker (Corrigan-David Harris seat).
— Kristen McQueary (@StatehouseChick) November 7, 2018
Subscribers know more. House results are here.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 3:20 am
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It’s time to try for the progressive income tax again and change the tax structure for school funding, so that the state pays a bigger share, and Pritzker, Rauner and other super high income people pay more (assuming the Rauner’s stay in Illinois).
On a different note, if I may, when I retired for the night just a few hours ago, I thought Scott Walker would win. It appears now that he lost.
Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 5:30 am
That worked really well for him when we had no budget for 2 years. Supermajority could have passed the budget, and overidden a gubernatorial veto, without a single Repblican vote. Why fight so hard for the power if you’re not going to use it?
Comment by Anonymous33 Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 5:32 am
So Durkin doubled down on “stop Madigan” - and it failed again. Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results…
That said, these are JB’s coattails. He’s in the driver’s seat.
Comment by low level Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 5:34 am
I anxiously await details on the progressive income tax.
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 5:36 am
“Why fight so hard for the power if you’re not going to use it?”
Madigan couldn’t use it, with the likes of Franks, Drury and Dunkin. It’s the same excuse Rauner made for not passing budgets. Having a House supermajority works when 71 vote the same way.
Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 5:37 am
OK its all on the Dems now. Start paying the bills boys and girls and get us out of this mess. GL navigating and balancing that taxpayers can’t afford more taxes but that the unions control you. Whatever you decide be decisive, put a plan in place, and give us some time to judge how it goes. It will take 5-10 years minimum to change the course in Illinois, which leaves you a year to get started.
Comment by 44th Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 5:41 am
Obviously Madigan had a role in firing Quenville.
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 5:54 am
It’s not going to matter if I vote in my district in the future.
Comment by Betaboy Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 5:59 am
Irut
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 6:15 am
After the 14th mail piece and 30th commercial from EVERY Republican candidate blaming Mike Madigan for EVERY problem in Illinois, a voter starts to understand the message that Republicans have absolutely nothing to offer the State except more Trump and Rauner divisiveness. It actually started to become laughable the last few weeks of the campaign. My conclusion, voters are smart.
Comment by Anon* Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 6:18 am
Total ownership. No excuses now.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 6:47 am
Get your checkbooks ready. Here comes the avalanche of taxes.
Comment by Matt K. Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 6:52 am
Looks like the “Because Madigan” fell on deaf ears. And yes taxes are going up, not sure how anyone else thinks bills are going to get paid.
Comment by njt16 Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 7:01 am
I know MJM even in twilight is gonna keep passing the buck on state finances, but we better at least start bringing in marijuana tax revenue after this.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 7:11 am
Madigan let Rauner rant and rave about him, knowing that governors own, and that Rauner never accepting blame for his extreme agenda, would bring him down. That’s exactly what happened. Mike, congratulations on remaining above the republican-manufactured fray. Your newly formed supermajority is testimony to citizens rejection of Trump and Republican attacks on women and immigrants, as well as your hard work.
Mike, JB refused to criticize you, knowing he had to work with you and John to get good things done for Illinois. Help him understand what’s doable. Then work to get the 60/30 needed to enact the doable into law. You’re speaker of the house, a post that you have been repeatedly elected to, because you know how to get things done (for lawmakers) and at the same time keep them electable. The disconnect, I think, is that what is sometimes good for lawmakers isn’t best for the state and its citizens.
JB,
Help Mike focus more on Illinois first and not just party first. You’re a proven innovator and leader. Lead. But remember that the best leaders do a lot of following too. Listen to what the public is saying, and use that to build consensus in the legislature.
That is all. Carry on. And Good luck.
PublicServant
Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 7:11 am
The legal weed will help pay for some things.
Looks like the “Because Madigan” fell on deaf ears. And yes taxes are going up, not sure how anyone else thinks bills are going to get paid.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 7:12 am
After 4 years of a wealthy governor and ipi and chi trib pounding away at Madigan daily, the Velvet hammer has a super majority and Rauner is off to Italy or motorcycle camp or wherever. I’ve got great appreciation for how Madigan played his part as a tactician. I don’t think that he has much in the way of vision for the state. let’s hope jb does. it’s all on the Dems now.
Comment by hexagon Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 7:16 am
-Here come the avalanche of taxes-
Here comes the stability of state government with annual budgets that business, credit rating agencies, and bond markets state is the real driver of an economy.
Comment by efudd Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 7:24 am
The French call it “the politics of misery.” Though painful, the only way the state GOP was/is ever going to gain real power in this state was by dumping Rauner and making the Democrats own the results of decades of bipartisan can-kicking. For sure, they’ll try to deflect blame to Rauner and the budget impasse, but it won’t go far. As I think I read somewhere, Governor’s with supermajority legislatures own.
Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 7:37 am
Oh boy…
===Supermajority could have passed the budget, and overidden a gubernatorial veto, without a single Repblican vote.===
No. Rauner had Dunkin, Drury, and Franks. Good try.
===Total ownership. No excuses now.===
How soon we forget. Rauner held Quinn accountable while having the GA. Candidate Rauner won. There were no excuses, and Quinn paid a price.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 7:47 am
While I agree, it sure is funny reading how all the Rauner supporters are already placing responsibility on JB while refusing to say Rauner was responsible for anything.
Comment by Generic Drone Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 7:50 am
What sis the latest on the Helene Miller-Walsh race? Last I read it was separated by one vote.
It will be interesting to see how Mike and JB work together. I imagine that Illinois Republicans (the very few that remain in office) will be shut out of most things.
Comment by JakeCP Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 7:57 am
Maybe being the party of No isn’t really working that well for the Raunerites. I know Willy anxiously awaits the return of of the Republican party to the realm of common sense conservatism and collaboration where possible.
Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 8:03 am
BDD…don’t hold your breath for the entire time. It will take a while, if it ever happens.
Comment by JIbba Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 8:09 am
Who woulda thunk “because Madigan …” would ricochet and have a quite different meaning today than it did 24 hours ago.
Madigan wins. Rauner loses. And JB has quite the mess to clean up.
Comment by Bobby T Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 8:09 am
Get ready. By 2021, Illinois taxpayers making as little as 65K could be paying a state income tax of 6%.
Comment by Steve Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 8:14 am
Rauner paid the price. He thought he would be winning a 2nd term until he realized voters are holding him and his enablers accountable. I look forward to JB and dems to bring real progress to Illinois after 4 years of Rauner misery.
Comment by Real Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 8:14 am
This needs to be MJM’s last term. Very hard for me to say, but it is what it is.
There is plenty of talent to take the gavel, no one need worry.
Comment by labour Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 8:18 am
In fact, this would be the perfect time. On top. Of course i wont hold my breath but just sayin’
Comment by labour Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 8:21 am
“Get ready. By 2021, Illinois taxpayers making as little as 65K could be paying a state income tax of 6%.”
Did you find some tax madlib that has the income and tax rate blank so you could make up any numbers you want? That’s fun. Lemme try.
Get ready. By 2021, Illinois taxpayers making as little as $5k could be paying a state income tax of 27%.
Comment by Montrose Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 8:23 am
Hopefully the Rauner years taught the ILP something.
1. Work with the ILGOP and force them to be relevant. Don’t let them run away. Long term stability solutions require bi-partisanship.
2. Do not squander this opportunity for leadership with in fighting or a mad shopping spree. Bite the bullet and fix the revenue/debt problem without finding new programs to spend on.
Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 8:40 am
==Get ready. By 2021, Illinois taxpayers making as little as 65K could be paying a state income tax of 6%.==
So, exactly like places like… Georgia.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 8:41 am
Heard from outside Mike Madigans office during “Alone Time”, “heh-heh”.
Comment by Matts Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 8:43 am
How quickly we forget that the only governor who actually made the pension payments was the somewhat competent Quinn. Quinn made a dent, while Rauner added years of pain to that problem by his demands for complete compliance to his will, followed by tantrums and a willingness to scorch the earth in the process.
It’s all on the Democrats to get the financial disaster back on track towards dealing with that ticking time bomb. Time for saner minds to talk, plan, and implement.
Comment by Aldyth Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 8:48 am
Those who can will leave the state, rather then pay the bill.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 8:59 am
Obviously #StopMadigan was actually #GOPfail
Comment by Pepsi Not Coke Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 9:04 am
==those who can will leave the state==
Uh, no. Have u seen downtown Chicago lately? Cant build buildings fast enough. Cranes everywhere. Maybe its just me but I’ll take cultural institutions and diversity over Indiana.
Comment by low level Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 9:11 am
===Total ownership. No excuses now.===
How soon we forget. Rauner held Quinn accountable while having the GA. Candidate Rauner won. There were no excuses, and Quinn paid a price.
——————-
Need we also not forget Blago’s last two years despite the Dems’ GA supermajority.
Comment by Leatherneck Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 9:14 am
Governing matters. I look forward to a signed budget before the 4th of July.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 9:18 am
Congrats to the winners. JB has an opportunity to enact his plan, and with the election over, we will finally learn what that plan is.
Once he takes office JB deserves a grace period to get his bearings. Thereafter it’s on him to deliver. I hope he’s up to the task.
Comment by SSL Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 9:28 am
Ah yes, Aldyth. Time for a little introspection. Many here, very knowledgible folk, denounced Quinn as an incompetent Bozo. The self question is: Was I wrong, at long last, after 4 years of Rauner, was I wrong about Quinn? Would we have been better off with Quinn? I know the answer.
Comment by wondering Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 9:28 am
JB has the money to limit Madigan if need be, which Quinn never could do. Reps may not need to be as beholden to Madigan as they were in the past. I think JBs last million plus campaign spending could have been a message that there is a new boss in the state.
Comment by Reserved Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 9:30 am
Legal Weed. Let’s Roll. Literally. Revenue from legal weed should come in first. then figure out your income tax measure. there will be such good feelings, again, literally, for legal weed.
Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 9:37 am
Looks like Katrina finally got her storm. Now she can start telling us how destructive it was.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 9:38 am
Madigan’s supermajority may let JB keep his promise to not sign a gerrymandered redistricting map: he can veto it and Madigan can just override.
Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 9:43 am
someone fix Kristen a big cup of coffee. sure she has a big headache today.
Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 9:44 am
So, Proft was 0-6? Rich, can you get him on the record commenting as to his success, or lack thereof?
Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 9:46 am
==EVERY Republican candidate blaming Mike Madigan for EVERY problem in Illinois, a voter starts to understand the message that Republicans have absolutely nothing to offer the State except more Trump and Rauner==
Trump and Rauner had NOTHING in common. Absolutely nothing.
Comment by CrazyHorse Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 9:47 am
Interesting to note…all Republicans in the house who voted for the tax increase and still ran(one got primaried) won last night.
Comment by Person 8 Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 9:48 am
“…Get ready. By 2021, Illinois taxpayers making as little as $5k could be paying a state income tax of 27%”
Love the snark but I’m expecting someone to put this quote in a tweet and claim Montrose is really JB.
Comment by a drop in Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 9:49 am
==So, exactly like places like… Georgia.==
Which also have property taxes one-thirds of what we pay. You have to see beyond the tax silos.
Comment by City Zen Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 9:52 am
“Get ready.” Fear mongering. The 2018 Republican play book.
Comment by Skeptic Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 9:53 am
Durkin and Brady can start planning their 2020 campaign to regain seats. I have a good slogan for them: “because Madigan.”
The most ridiculous prediction before the election was Rauner’s claim that the GOP would pick up nine House seats and oust the Speaker.
Comment by anon2 Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 9:58 am
Katrina’s “plan” is for GOPies to unite ( whack jobs and moderates). That should be fun. JB and Ds ought to give a chance to GOPies to support something — maybe capitol. Hard to predict
Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 10:03 am
This coffee sure tastes good this morning. Bruce Rauner, Scott Walker, and Erica Harold dismissed. It’s just too bad Avery Bourne and Rodney Davis didn’t make this list too. Sip, Sip.
Comment by Kayak Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 10:05 am
=Which also have property taxes one-thirds of what we pay. You have to see beyond the tax silos.=
Yes we have an overly burdensome property tax system due largely to the state’s inability to adequately fund education. And when we attempt to address that at a state level there’s all kinds of whining about raising the income tax rate. Quite the vicious circle we find ourselves in.
Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 10:07 am
Dems need to put up or shut up on progressive income tax.
Raunerism ahs put the ILGOP dangerously close to Whig levels of irrelevance.
Comment by ChicagoVinny Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 10:08 am
I’m going to enjoy watching all the democrats here (and I think most of you are) explain how JB and the democrats aren’t at fault for whatever mess we are headed into. Let’s see how well tax and spend works.
Comment by Hysteria Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 10:10 am
Well, Hysteria, we already know how well it works to not tax enough. See economic disaster of Kansas, or Illinois after the previous tax rollback. Let’s tax enough to pay our bills like California and Minnesota, since those places seem to be doing well. Then you can be hysterical if it doesn’t.
Comment by Jibba Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 10:30 am
I guess “because Rauner and Trump” was a little more compelling than “because Madigan.”
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 10:31 am
Rauner Madiganized himself by not rising above his hatreds. Voters wanted results, and Rauner sunk himself by the needless wars he started. It’s so beautifully ironic.
Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 10:31 am
“Total ownership. No excuses now.”
That is the kind of wrongheaded thinking that got us into this mess.
“Governors own,” but you do not govern successfully by making the fixation of blame your primary objective.
Yes, Republicans are in the minority, but they still hold public office, they still bear some responsibility, and they should not abdicate all responsibility or refuse to work with Democrats just because they are hoping by doing so they can make Pritzker fail.
Senator DeWitte and Senator-elect Gillespie both need to represent not just the people who elected them, but also the people who voted against them. The 48% who voted against Senator DeWitte don’t want him to be an automatic No vote on every idea Democrats offer, and I am betting that alot of the folks who voted for him share that view.
By the same token, the 48% who voted against Gillespie do not want their Senator to vote to cram everything through the Senate just because Democrats are in the majority so they can. And I bet alot of their Democratic neighbors share the same view.
Purple districts, folks. A lot of purple districts, and we need a lot more purple thinking.
Comment by Radical Trolling Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 10:33 am
I hope JB takes a long look at bringing in some revenue from sports gambling and slots/table games at the race tracks in IL. That is an untapped source that so far has been ignored by previous administrations.
Comment by Big Joe Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 10:41 am
Looking forward to seeing cannabis reform under JB:
More licenses to grow
More licenses to sell
Restorative justice for non-violent offenders
See also:
An actual physician appointed to oversee IDPH
All “pending conditions” added as qualifying conditions to the MCPP
But reforming cannabis laws in Illinois is just one issue. Looking forward to seeing how JB governs with a super majority and a great deal of goodwill post-Rauner.
Comment by Earnest Not Borgnine Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 10:45 am
Madigan isn’t always comfortable with a supermajority. But if he is intent on legacy polishing one final act, he has the levers to do so.
This may actually be a dangerous time for the State unions. JB isn’t necessarily beholden to them, so he may be open for some incremental changes. And MJM while MJM has been the Union’s friend the last four years against Rauner, he hasn’t slwaysbern the Union’s friend; it’s been mostly an uneasy alliance. So he could be in favor of a bit of wing clipping also; maybe not the first year but look for something in the second year on both pensions and benefits or wages.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 10:46 am
=Having a House supermajority works when 71 vote the same way.=
Having a House supermajority is only relevant when you have a governor vetoing your bills. That’s not likely to happen with Pritzker.
Comment by Colin O'Scopy Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 11:14 am
This may actually be a dangerous time for the State unions. JB isn’t necessarily beholden to them,
-Stratton is a strong fighter for Unions. I doubt she would allow JB to do anything like that. Many in the dem legislature wouldn’t go for it either.
Comment by Real Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 12:07 pm
==Need we also not forget Blago’s last two years despite the Dems’ GA supermajority.==
Can’t forget something that never existed. House Dems had supers 1991-1993 and 2013-2017. Life before and after RRB.
Comment by John Deere Green Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 12:11 pm
There isn’t enough money for all the needs coming up. The unions will have to take less than they would hope for. For example, keeping pensions paid, insurance costs low, reducing outsourcing, and rebuilding staff levels would be really helpful for staff and retiree morale, and would be union friendly. Perhaps minimal raises for the first contract would help accomplish those goals.
Comment by Jibba Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 12:15 pm
Has anyone done a wellness check on Kat and Kass? I’m sure they’ll be ruminating on the end of life as we know it in no time.
Comment by John Deere Green Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 12:16 pm
Somewhere Eric Greitens and Scott Walker and muttering “thanks Madigan” to themselves. Three out of four Republican Governors who made that commercial are involuntary former Governors now.
Lol.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 12:41 pm
Oh Jibba, if only. The unions aren’t giving up jack. Remember they almost prevented Rauner from winning the primary in 2014, and were one Ken Durkin flip away from preventing a governor from taking a hardline in negotiations without risking an arbitrator upending him/her and imposing a solution (something editorial boards united in condemning at the time). They’ve got the state constitution in their corner and JB’s “soak the rich” promise to shove in his face. What is gerrymandering for if you can’t use it? Oh, the Dems may suffer a few losses here and there, but does anyone see this state flipping red? This is why I said the gov race was fast death vs. slow death - Rauner was the former, Madigan is the latter.
Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 1:02 pm
==Need we also not forget Blago’s last two years despite the Dems’ GA supermajority.==
How about we remember instead how Speaker Madigan dealt with the $12 billion gross receipts tax pushed by Blago and Senate President Emil Jones?
Comment by Whatever Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 1:11 pm
LCD…time will tell, but rabidly anti-union rants are just as predictably boring as rabidly pro-union rants. The majority of us occupy the middle ground, seeing unions as important checks on the 1%, but able to see excesses in them that should be avoided. Purple politics, as Rich says, and compromise is possible here, too.
Comment by Jibba Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 1:51 pm
I’m afraid the allure of leading the House with a supermajority and a Dem gov will keep Madigan from retiring. I thought that Madigan knows his time has come to pass the torch along and would only have stayed if Rauner won. I guess I’ll put the tinfoil hat back in the closet.
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 2:17 pm
@Colin O’Scopy, a super majority also comes into play for constitutional amendments, i.e graduated income taxes. Or pensions, though that is incredibly unlikely, and I bet the Dems would get some bipartisan action on such an amendment.
Comment by Perrid Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 2:39 pm
Peace on earth, or at least in Illinois and Wisconsin. Good will to all. It’s going to take a while to adjust to educators not being regularly attached by governors. What a refreshing change.
Comment by James Knell Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 2:54 pm
==seeing unions as important checks on the 1%==
That leaves 87% as important checks on the 12%.
Comment by City Zen Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 4:04 pm
Gawd, I hope this is an end to Madigan, Madigan, Madigan. Mikey did a good and patient job over the last 4. JB is the new sheriff in town and has the bucks to get the G.A on his side. MJM is already on his side.
Comment by wondering Wednesday, Nov 7, 18 @ 4:07 pm