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A new day in Illinois, but we ain’t out of the woods yet

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* The Emil Jones Era is finally over…

Sen. John Cullerton won the Senate presidency late Wednesday, while Senate Republicans broke a historic glass ceiling by tabbing Sen. Christine Radogno to be their Statehouse leader.

Backed by Mayor Daley, Cullerton (D-Chicago), 60, drew unanimous backing to succeed retiring Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) after defeating two rivals for the post.

During an earlier vote Wednesday, Cullerton was up against Sen. James Clayborne (D-Belleville) and Sen. Terry Link (D-Vernon Hills). In that vote, Cullerton had 20 votes, Clayborne 13 and Link 3.

* This, of course, is a big reason why Jones’ toxic era is finished…

Jones has been criticized for siding too often with unpopular Gov. Rod Blagojevich and feuding with House Speaker Michael Madigan. The 60-year-old Cullerton is seen as likely to keep his distance from the governor and improve relations with Madigan.

* As well as this…

[Cullerton] offered to be a bridge between his fellow Chicagoans, Madigan and Blagojevich, saying “we are going to try to bring those two guys together.”

While trying to break the gridlock that has characterized the Madigan-Blagojevich relationship, Cullerton said his top legislative priority would be passing the stalled proposal for a statewide construction program. […]

[Sen. Lou Viverito] and others said the resolution was a sign the caucus would be more cohesive than it was under Jones, whose strong support of Blagojevich sometimes put him at odds with his deputies and rank-and-file senators. Viverito said Cullerton will be better at reaching out throughout the state.

* But this is another reason…

Cullerton, 60, defeated James Clayborne of Belleville on the second ballot, lawmakers said as they left a two-hour meeting behind closed doors. The first vote was 20-13, with three other votes going to Sen. Terry Link of Waukegan.

Rather than risk a bitter, protracted fight, Cullerton’s rivals agreed to make the second vote unanimous.

Clayborne is widely expected to be named majority leader, the No. 2 Democratic position, partly as a reward for dropping the leadership fight and partly because he lives downstate.

Rewarding enemies with prized appointments to top jobs was not exactly a hallmark of Jones’ philosophy.

* And for the first time in Illinois history, a legislative caucus elected a woman as its leader…

Also Wednesday night, Republican senators made history by choosing the first woman to lead a legislative caucus at the Illinois Statehouse. Sen. Christine Radogno of Lemont was the choice to succeed Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson of Greenville, who is relinquishing his leadership post because of a stroke.

* Her election did not come without controversy…

A 12-year veteran of the Senate, Radogno beat out Sen. Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale, who going into the vote appeared to be her main competitor. Dillard did not endear himself to his party when he praised Barack Obama in an Obama campaign commercial during this year’s primary election. But some conservative activists still considered him more palatable than Radogno.

Family PAC, a major campaign donor to conservative candidates throughout the years, made thousands of automated phone calls to constituents of five senators - all conservatives, most in solidly Republican districts - in an attempt to persuade them to not vote for Radogno.

One of the organization’s leaders, Paul Caprio, sent a letter to Senate Republicans opposing Radogno’s candidacy. Other social-conservative groups did the same.

To vote for Radogno is “to spit at the pro-family movement,” Caprio said hours before her selection. “She is the extreme left-wing maverick of the caucus.”

* The biggest test for both new leaders, of course, is whether they can break the gridlock…

Despite even more bad budget news Wednesday, state lawmakers appear to be in no rush to give Gov. Rod Blagojevich extraordinary powers to curtail spending. […]

On Tuesday, Blagojevich asked lawmakers to give him authority to hold back as much as 8 percent of general-fund spending for his own agencies, schools, higher education and even money allocated to local governments. The governor also called for the state to borrow money in the short term to pay down old bills and to ask the federal government for $1 billion a year for the next three years to help Illinois through the recession.

Several lawmakers Wednesday balked at the idea of fast-tracking Blagojevich’s ideas. […]

“There’s no way the General Assembly is going to give him that kind of authority,” said Rep. Mark Beaubien, R-Barrington Hills. “I don’t think they feel he would exercise it appropriately.”

* Related…

* DCFS cuts jobs, not workload

* DCFS must answer for baby’s death

* Keep your sights on 2011

* Editorial: Work together to fix latest state budget hole

* State lawmakers need to OK plan to fix roads, put people back to work

* Big crowd descends on Illinois Statehouse for Pontiac prison rally

* Britt: Cartoon on Gov. Rod Blagojevich and power

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Nov 20, 08 @ 9:49 am

Comments

SO Caprio and Dillard lost! Two of the biggest blowhards on the right side of the aisle in IL lost in one vote? Oh happy day. I am doing a jig. I am not too familiar with CR, but defeatign those two egomaniacs gives her a plus in my book

Comment by Wumpus Thursday, Nov 20, 08 @ 10:09 am
We will see what sort of “out reach” Radogno does.

Since she won a primary against an incumbent, she can’t complain if a lot of Rs get primary opponents, can she?

Comment by Pat collins Thursday, Nov 20, 08 @ 10:17 am
This giant of our state economy cannot turn on as dime but these changes offer hope that we can and will do better. A bit of the poison has been removed and now there is realistic hope. Hope alone won’t get us there….we need a change at the top, sooner than later.

Comment by Justice Thursday, Nov 20, 08 @ 10:18 am
Hopefully this will make things better.

Not thrilled with the Radogno pick, she is a RINO at best, but whatever, republicans have no identity anyway so no reason to find one now.

Comment by Speaking At Will Thursday, Nov 20, 08 @ 10:31 am
In Radogno, the GOP caucus just picked a leader who is pro-abortion, pro-illegal immigration, pro-tax, pro-gambling expansion, pro-teacher’s union, and pro-special rights for homosexuals (i.e., believes being gay should be a protected class under the law, on the same plain as being black or hispanic).

The GOP might as well have named Barack Obama!

The GOP caucus might as well turn off the lights, go home and save the taxpayers a lot of money. Why should we have to pay for a weak carbon copy of the Dem caucus?

What’s the point?

Comment by GOP'er Thursday, Nov 20, 08 @ 10:41 am
Heh, will the Governor be all alone now? Can he be forced to listen to reason?

Comment by Levois Thursday, Nov 20, 08 @ 10:45 am
I’m a little surprised that everything went so smoothly and quickly. I’m hopeful that it’s a sign the GA is ready to get to work.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Nov 20, 08 @ 10:48 am
I don’t know if there are enough caseworkers at DCFS or not–that would seem to be a function of real caseloads, which means you need real, honest data. I notice that the local ACLU has reserved judgment until they run their own numbers. That is the right approach. I wouldn’t believe Blago’s figures, but I wouldn’t believe AFSCME’s either.
We certainly shouldn’t be paying for caseworkers we don’t need.

We also need more information about the proportion of laid off direct service employees vs. management. DCFS, like DHS, is a noted Blago pork farm. Their management structure involves a lot of extra management (8-9 offices scattered about Cook County alone, each with its own full management crew, often in duplicate). Yet all we hear about is frontline layoffs. Management reductions should follow frontline reductions. But that means laying off some connected porkers, no doubt.

Even if there are no layoffs…this could all be a political game after all…the guv’s office should
take a close look at the Marco Oceguedo disaster and impose some management accountability, even if this involves some discomfort for the agency’s politically well connected Director. There have been a string of similar tragedies since our Blago (and Patti)”reformed” DCFS back in early 2003. Maybe those reforms need some reform.

Comment by Cassandra Thursday, Nov 20, 08 @ 10:50 am
Family PAC was against Radogno? But she won anyway? Another sign that the Republican “base” is changing. IMHO, the extreme right has become the ridiculous right, out of touch with those who are now becoming the mainstream Republicans. Until the GOP understands this major shift, they may well be in the minority for some time to come.

Comment by Deep South Thursday, Nov 20, 08 @ 10:59 am
Republican state senators should have chosen Senator Larry Bomke, of the 50th District, which includes most of the Springfield area, or Sen. J. Bradley Burzynski, of the 35th Dist., which includes De Kalb Co. and part of the Rockford area. Both of them are pro-life, pro-gun rights, pro-tax cuts, and pro-spending cuts.

Comment by Phil Collins Thursday, Nov 20, 08 @ 11:35 am
I think Radogno should be a bit more respectful to Dems who stuck their neck out on ethics reform in the waning days of the last regular session…she wasn’t exactly truthful or laudatory when she spoke out on the floor the day the bill passed…

As for her ascensio to Senate R leadership, in large part she was at the right place at an opportune time for herself…let’s see if she can work in a bipartisan manner in order to give her caucus a some relavancy in the the new GA…

Comment by Anonymous45 Thursday, Nov 20, 08 @ 11:42 am
sorry for the typo…that’s ascension, and strike the second the, last sentence…can’t type!

Comment by Anonymous45 Thursday, Nov 20, 08 @ 11:44 am
Good choices!

Let’s GO people!

Illinois is burning down faster than California! We are two years behind this disaster and no one has the right to waste any more time!

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Nov 20, 08 @ 11:50 am
Another Defeat for Redonkulas Paul Caprio and Family pac

Bwah, Bwah, Bwah

How Effective are you guys anymore?

Comment by I'm just saying Thursday, Nov 20, 08 @ 11:57 am
VMan, what’s your first order of business? Shutting down the Chicago public schools like you suggested on the other thread? What would you have who you called “crackhead failures” do all day?

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Nov 20, 08 @ 11:57 am
Cassandra “Yet all we hear about is frontline layoffs. Management reductions should follow frontline reductions. But that means laying off some connected porkers, no doubt.”—

I keep trying to tell ya where the cuts are made. DCFS brought in like 6 new deputy directors in like a year, 4 very recently. But if you’d like to keep thinking that common sense prevails in the department, go right ahead. 170 plus of investigations did not meet timeline guides. Heh. Not bad, just 1 % , but these are children and possibly children’s lives we’re talking about here. Not to mention the large amount of already being paid overtime in overworked, tired, stressed frontliners in HS that might be missing red flags now that if fresh and alert might be caught.

Comment by Princess Thursday, Nov 20, 08 @ 12:12 pm
Congrats to Sen. Radagno…and for the GOP to pick a woman to lead the Senate. She is exactly what the party needs to help move forward.

Comment by scoot Thursday, Nov 20, 08 @ 1:12 pm
Let’s find out Senator by Senator how they voted.
We know Lauzen was for Dillard. How about the others?

Comment by Accountability Thursday, Nov 20, 08 @ 1:57 pm
Radgogno won because of her personality and Dillard lost because of his personality. Frank Watson was a very talented and intelligent conservative leader. Dillard did not enjoy a sufficient level of trust within the caucus did be selected as the GOP leader. The caucus does not fear betrayal or self-dealing by Radogno.

Comment by Fortunato Thursday, Nov 20, 08 @ 2:09 pm
I am pleased that the Senate Deomcrats were able to resolve their leadership situation amicably and expeditiously ,and mildly optimistic that the Senate and House will be able to regain some capacity to compromise and govern by working around Pinocchio as much as practically posssible.

I am also pleased that my predictions finally tunred out to be correct - Cullerton’s ascension to the Senate Presidency.

I’ll now have to retire my slogan pertaining the to the fundamental necessity of ending the regime of Godfather Jones. It wasn’t racism Senator Jones, it was reformism!

I hope I con;’t have to resuurect this slogan - i.e., by opposing the selection of Godfather Jones as the next U.S. Senator.

Governor Pinocchio, you can oo better than Senator Jones! Try merit/qualifications for a change rather than political expediency. You might even get some positive PR if you picked a really outstanding successor.

Comment by Captain America Thursday, Nov 20, 08 @ 2:26 pm
==VMan, what’s your first order of business? Shutting down the Chicago public schools like you suggested on the other thread? What would you have who you called “crackhead failures” do all day? ==

I posted this earlier in the week. Shutting down Chicago’s schools is redundant since they seem to be doing that all by themselves. As to what would I recommend the crackhead failures wrecking Chicago schools do all day is start looking for new work.

You seem to be quite comfortable throwing generations of young Chicagoans into the CPS cesspool, using them as guinea pigs for the latest educational fad, and extorting more money in some belief that perhaps money will solve this problem.

I am unwilling to do that. Give these parents the money we waste on bad education, and give them the option to find better schools. Perhaps we can entice them to remain in Chicago if they can find a way to educate their children outside the CPS.

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Nov 20, 08 @ 2:47 pm
Radogno is a better pick than Dillard. Why? She has a great - and optimistic - personality. She is budget hawk who knows the state budget in and out. She actually is nice to people - unlike a lot of politicians I’ve met.

To all of her detractors, let’s be real: we need a viable foil to Blago and Co. Forget the social issues for right now and focus on offering some viable alternatives.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Nov 20, 08 @ 2:48 pm
Well said Team Sleep. For the next year, the issues Illinois voters are going to be focused on are all budgetary.

Comment by Fortunato Thursday, Nov 20, 08 @ 3:05 pm
VMan, no success stories in Chicago Public Schools? My that’s quite a broad brush you have. Life’s pretty simple for you. Once you hate something, you don’t have to deal with it.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Nov 20, 08 @ 3:23 pm
Anyone who calls Radogno an extreme left wing maverick shows they are willing too lie, not exactly reassuring in terms of considering their advice.

Comment by steve schnorf Thursday, Nov 20, 08 @ 4:10 pm
Quicker and tidier than expected. And the selections offer some hope. Now - are the legislative leaders of both parties willing to work together to deal with the catastrophe in the executive branch? I would like to see them meet and get to some basic agreements, then meet with Blago and make it clear there can’t be any more of the sort of thing he typically does. If he won’t work with a bi-partisan legislature to solve the state’s problems, then it’s time for impeachment.

Comment by Excessively rabid Thursday, Nov 20, 08 @ 4:24 pm
Congrats to Christine Radogno. The Republicans pick a woman to lead them in a chamber before the Dems do. who would have thought that? leadership teams have to progress to three women in the Senate Dems, and the next state dem ticket better have more than one woman on it.

Comment by Amy Thursday, Nov 20, 08 @ 5:19 pm
I second Excessively Rabid’s thoughts. Maybe rationality will have a seat at the table for the next two years.

Comment by Quizzical Thursday, Nov 20, 08 @ 9:13 pm
I agree with Speaking at Will’s statement,”Not thrilled with the Radogno pick, she is a RINO at best, but whatever, republicans have no identity anyway so no reason to find one now.” I would add, who cares about the Cullerton pick? The democrats have demonstrated they can’t govern this state for the past six years, why would you think it would be any different now?

Comment by Holdingontomywallet Thursday, Nov 20, 08 @ 9:19 pm