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* Let’s circle back to the Sun-Times interview of Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago)…
Cassidy’s courage in taking on the state’s most powerful Democrat prompted another Madigan staffer, Sherri Garrett, to seek her out to share her own allegations of “bullying and repeated harassment” by Mapes, who ultimately resigned from his positions as chief of staff to the speaker and executive director of the Illinois Democratic Party [last year]. […]
“My relationship with the speaker this year has been quite positive. We started the session off with a really good conversation about what had happened between us and what we wanted to do differently moving forward,” Cassidy said. “And I think we both stuck to the plan through this session in terms of a more communicative direct discussion.”
But has the #MeToo movement, which has led to the resignations of several in the Madigan world, changed the speaker?
“I don’t know what to place that on, the changes in the way the House was run this year. Could it be his direct reaction to that? Could it be just the difference between Mapes’ leadership style and Jessica’s [Basham, his current chief of staff] leadership style? Is it a combination of the two? I don’t know because I try really hard to not spend time in anyone’s head but my own.”
“I can’t really say which I think it is, certainly some combination of those things probably had an impact on it. But things were different. Things were definitely different in the House this year,” Cassidy said.
Thoughts?
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jul 3, 19 @ 9:56 am
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This seems insightful.
Not sure how
but this seems important to note.
Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jul 3, 19 @ 10:05 am
Probably a combination of what Cassidy mentioned, as well as a realization that the best way to protect the majority has changed. Pressures outside the house have evolved dramatically this session.
The Governor is a Democrat willing to work with the GA, both chambers have super-majorities, and the state is going from a blue-wave midterm to a high-voltage presidential election. At this point, Madigan accumulates political capital by letting progressives like Cassidy lead the charge on the governor’s agenda and national issues like the RHA, while giving his members wins wherever he can.
Sure, he could strong-arm and tightly regulate the caucus if he wanted, but why bother when this way keeps everyone happy and doesn’t open many seats up to additional attacks. Having a super-majority makes a world of difference when you can release the endangered incumbents on important votes.
Plus, there is the realization that outside of #MeToo, the world is changing and it’s harder and harder to run a machine with no one asking questions.
Comment by OutOfState Wednesday, Jul 3, 19 @ 10:18 am
Does she still think Madigan got her fired from her side job with Cook County? That allegation got a lot of attention last year and it sparked a legislative inspector general investigation with seemingly no outcome (or maybe a finding that’s being kept confidential.)
It was interesting how the brick got lifted on her abortion bill. That was likely because of the backlash that was developing due to the restrictive Red State laws that were being enacted. But if the brick wasn’t lifted another public Madigan-Cassidy war could have developed this year. I’m sure the speaker wanted to avoid that. Sometimes letting bygones be bygones works out for everyone.
Comment by TNT Wednesday, Jul 3, 19 @ 11:16 am
While it is certainly Madigan’s job to know how the people he employs deal with their subordinates, he wouldn’t be the first leader employ people that act one way to their superiors and a completely different way to their subordinates.
Comment by Chicagonk Wednesday, Jul 3, 19 @ 11:29 am
Toxic Masculinity must not be tolerated. Madigan must suppress his and other male members assertive ways in lieu of a more pensive and cautious approach. Also, schools must teach our young male children how to suppress their testosterone and adopt more of the mannerisms and attitudes
of young girls. I look forward to a future where there are no differences between a male a female. Quite frankly I think we need to remove these words from our dictionary: female, male, woman, man, boy, and girl.
Comment by Optimist Wednesday, Jul 3, 19 @ 12:20 pm
Madigan manages with a more open style than ten years ago. He always listened extremely well, but now signals to reps that he heard them. The caucus has always had the power to move his position, but now he openly acknowledges it when he moves. He clearly responded to the expressions of power by our new woman reps, where before we waited to see the impact, when Nekritz or Feigenholz made a strong move. Kelly is right — behavior, not psyche, is what counts.
Comment by walker Wednesday, Jul 3, 19 @ 12:38 pm
Yes Madigan has changed. As a fellow hipster, I’m sure he wanted to show Cassidy his enormous back tattoo of Josef Stalin.
Comment by John-on-the-spot Wednesday, Jul 3, 19 @ 1:06 pm
“I don’t know because I try really hard to not spend time in anyone’s head but my own.”
Great advice.
Comment by Left Leaner Wednesday, Jul 3, 19 @ 1:54 pm
“Thoughts?”
Did Oz change when the curtain fell away?
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Jul 3, 19 @ 2:07 pm
He’s always changed, not with the times, but slightly behind them. Not too slow, but slow enough for the clouds to clear.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Jul 3, 19 @ 2:14 pm
Madigan will “change” as much as he has to in order to survive and hold on to the Speaker’s seat.
Comment by Shytown Wednesday, Jul 3, 19 @ 2:32 pm
“I don’t know because I try really hard to not spend time in anyone’s head but my own.”
I’m sure she does, Not sure I’d want to follow her there.
Comment by G.W.F. Hegel Wednesday, Jul 3, 19 @ 4:04 pm
Madigan proves Darwin’s theory: It’s not the strongest who survive, but the ones with the ability to adapt and adjust to the changing environment in which they find themselves.
Comment by Bourbon Street Wednesday, Jul 3, 19 @ 4:16 pm