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* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
You don’t have to read past the first sentence of Tim Mapes’ statement last week to see one of the core problems with the way he ran the Illinois House Democratic operation. Mapes was responding to an investigative report commissioned by House Speaker Michael Madigan to get to the bottom of allegations of sexual harassment and bullying in his Statehouse operation.
”For over forty years,” Mapes wrote in his response, “I had the privilege of serving in the Illinois State Legislature.”
Um, no.
Mapes worked “for” the Legislature, he didn’t serve “in” it. But he always seemed to behave as if he was one of the most important people in all of the General Assembly.
Mapes managed to accumulate just about every power possible: Madigan’s chief of staff, executive director of Madigan’s Democratic Party of Illinois and House Clerk. That meant every single person in Speaker Madigan’s world - from legislators, to lobbyists, to campaign workers, to committee clerks to legislative secretaries - had to answer to him and only to him. He was the indispensable one, until Madigan told him to quit over sexual harassment allegations.
”(T)he recent criticisms made against me do not truly appreciate the size of the responsibility of my position,” Mapes also claimed in his statement. “The daily needs of my position required constant attention in order to ensure the successful operation of our government,” he wrote, passive-aggressively blaming Speaker Madigan for allowing him to attain so much power.
On that point, however, he wasn’t wrong. Mapes made all of Madigan’s trains run on time. Meticulous to a fault, he made Madigan’s life easier, even meeting with lobbyists on their legislation — at least some of whom once worked for Mapes on staff and were expected to raise money from clients and run important legislative campaigns.
Madigan allowed Mapes to take a firm helm of all the various parts of his machine. Mapes eventually became more important than the people who were actually elected to office, and not just in his own mind. This was all by design.
The investigative report claimed Mapes’ efficiency was a “product of the fear he engendered.” But he couldn’t have done any of that without Madigan’s assent.
Notably, nowhere in the report does anyone claim that Madigan was present during Mapes’ threats or outbursts. Indeed, most people I’ve talked to on this topic believe Madigan would’ve put a stop to Mapes’ behavior if he had seen what was really going on.
But that’s still on Madigan. Did he not want to know what was happening?
Let’s go back to the report: “Multiple workers described having been physically intimidated by perceived superiors. These situations varied from a perceived superior yelling in someone’s face to grabbing or pushing someone.”
Mapes himself is accused of various forms of abuse, from throwing a pencil at a worker who had forgotten to bring one to a meeting, to “regularly” threatening to fire people, to an allegation that he “angrily grabbed a staffer because he thought — mistakenly — that the staffer was in the wrong place.”
Mapes apparently kept his methods a secret from his boss. But the big boss is always ultimately responsible. And Madigan has been forced to clean up the mess he ultimately made for over a year now. He has a new chief of staff, a new state party executive director and a new House Clerk, and, most importantly, they’re all different people.
It’s a good start, but more needs to be done.
For decades, all four caucuses have offered the same basic career ladder to select employees: Work immensely hard during session, then bust your hump during campaigns, then eventually supervise campaigns, then become a lobbyist and oversee multiple campaigns every cycle. It’s basically the foundation of the contract lobbying system in Springfield.
The House report focuses solely on the House Democratic operation, but it notes a big potential problem with this system: “Workers said that the lines between the political and state sides can blur because their bosses are sometimes … lobbyists or other people who do not work for the Speaker’s Office.”
According to the report, “Some workers said that people who do not work for the Speaker’s Office will sometimes continue to direct them as if the Speaker’s Office workers were still subordinates.”
That’s a real problem if lobbyists with clients paying them to pass or kill legislation are ordering around state legislative staffers as if they are subordinates. It’s one thing to do that on a campaign. It’s quite another when those staffers are on government time.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 8:59 am
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Nailed it. Illuminating and nauseating at the same time.
Comment by Sayitaintso Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 9:14 am
===”For over forty years,” Mapes wrote in his response, “I had the privilege of serving in the Illinois State Legislature.”
Um, no.
Mapes worked “for” the Legislature, he didn’t serve “in” it. But he always seemed to behave as if he was one of the most important people in all of the General Assembly.===
Wow.
The total lack of self awareness, and guessing this was edited, that only speaks to the tone deaf understanding of who and what Mapes was, and his own interpretation of a role he thought he had.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 9:22 am
The sad thing is that many women who had to interact with Mapes were treated the way they were. How many women had to quit because they felt there was no accountability ? How many careers were destroyed?
Comment by Steve Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 9:31 am
It just depends on what you mean by the word “in”. I think Mapes honestly thought the word applied to him because he had more power than any elected legislator except Madigan. How he got that position was irrelevant, to him. In his mind, he was the entire middle layer of a 3 level org chart with only the speaker above him and everyone else below him.
Comment by Occasional Quipper Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 9:34 am
I find it difficult to believe that Madigan was completely clueless about Mapes’ behavior. Madigan isn’t that clueless, and he had to ask himself how was Mapes’ making the trains run on time so well.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 9:41 am
“But that’s still on Madigan.”
When I was in ROTC, the primary lesson for all cadets was: A leader is responsible for everything his unit does or does not do.
If that was a reasonable standard for a 21-year old butter bar — and it was — it is certainly a reasonable standard for the longest-serving leader of any legislative body in the history of the United States.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 9:47 am
MJM is a aging king losing control of he empire he built. His empire flourished when issues could be kept behind closed doors or fixed with a phone call and a job offer. MJM is at a loss in the fast moving and leaky world of Social Media.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 9:53 am
===is a aging king===
Is that you John Kass?
===flourished===
Electorally measured, Madigan has not been this powerful with 74 Democratic seats.
One reason I really-really try not to comment on this topic (like 2A, Abortion… ) is that the subject matter and rationale turns into this meme of whatever is typed to reinforce an already held political view, to reinforce some overall political thought.
===It just depends on what you mean by the word “in”.===
No.
===“I had the privilege of serving in the Illinois State Legislature.”===
No.
Those elected serve IN the legislature. Period. End of discussion.
===“I had the privilege of serving in the Illinois State Legislature.”===
It’s not rudimentary English snobbiness. You can work for the legislature, those voting switches as members of the body serve IN the legislature.
With respect.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:07 am
I’m genuinely curious. If Madigan fell on his sword, accepted responsibility for what took place under his leadership, and stepped down as Speaker, who would follow him? The current Majority leader seems to be very, very well thought of. What would the process for replacing the Speaker look like?
Comment by Mr. Smith Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:21 am
Rich,
You kind of hit the nail on the head. If you worked your tail off you got promoted. But what you’re missing, is you got promoted and you got respect. I was a woman on the speakers staff, me and countless other women never had issues with Mapes - because we worked hard. His door was open to us, even after we left staff. Mapes had little patience for people that didn’t do their jobs, weren’t hard working, or worse made excuses for their shortcomings. But, he was this way with people regardless of their gender.
Comment by Minion Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:22 am
===more need to be done.===
The rank and file need to take back their caucus.
Comment by Just Me 2 Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:27 am
@JustMe2 - Exactly, although I think that there are a lot of representatives that don’t mind showing up when the session starts and going through the motions.
Comment by Chicagonk Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:39 am
Mr/Ms OW
2 points on “in”
1. How many folks in and around SPI refer to the GA being in as part of their regular schedule, as in “are we in on Friday”
2. Clerk of the House is a position approved by the full House.
Mr/Ms Minion hit a few other points out of the park.
Comment by Annonin' Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:48 am
I worked for the GA for 30 years. During a presentation, someone asked me if i was powerful. I said no, but occasionally i might have influence.
You know you are a lifer when you find yourself referring to the “institution”.
Comment by Langhorne Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:50 am
===Clerk of the House is a position approved by the full House.===
Point taken.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:53 am
== - Steve - Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 9:31 am:
The sad thing is that many women who had to interact with Mapes were treated the way they were. How many women had to quit because they felt there was no accountability ? How many careers were destroyed? ==
It wasn’t a gender thing so please spare us of making it one. He was an equal opportunity a$$ if you weren’t doing your job.
Minion at 10:22 said it best. Mapes would not accept those who made excuses for their shortcomings or failed to admit their mistakes. Yet, his response to the report exhibits the kind of behavior he never tolerated.
Comment by dupped Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 11:18 am
=== I said no, but occasionally i might have influence. ===
A staffer who doesn’t influence, in the broadest sense of the word, is not effectively doing his/her job. That doesn’t mean that a staffer should dictate to a lawmaker, but to provide correct, trustworthy and well reasoned information to help a lawmaker make a decision.
Comment by Norseman Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 11:28 am
Staff power/influence—
Partisan staff are supposed to provide info to help members advance their bills. But some bills are…..wacko. I used to make the best case for the sponsor in my analysis, then use the phrase, “opponents are likely to argue that……” and politely unload, to warn other members.
Comment by Langhorne Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 11:48 am
Mike Madigan: While his opponents play checkers, his CoS abuses people on a three dimensional level.
Comment by The Rabbit Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 11:49 am
Being a proud and perpetual bully, harassing employees sexually and otherwise is abominable. The Speaker OWNS this . . . . .any other interpretation given the Speakers strangle hold on the process is laughable.
Comment by All In Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 12:06 pm
== Those elected serve IN the legislature. Period. End of discussion. ==
I couldn’t agree more. The point that I was feebly trying to make was that Mapes’ definition of “in” was different from the rest of us.
Comment by Occasional Quipper Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 12:18 pm
=== The point that I was feebly trying to make was that Mapes’ definition of “in” was different from the rest of us.===
Yep.
If - Annonin’ - wants
===Clerk of the House is a position approved by the full House.===
I’ll concede the point that Mapes was to work for the Legislature in that capacity as “in”
Then I guess - Anonnin’ - must be conceding the point that Speaker Madigan appointed Mapes… and Madigan then put Mapes up for this position time and again…
Interesting way to try to work out that “in” or “for” thing… allowing the Speaker even more responsibility with Mapes.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 12:28 pm
Hallelujah
Comment by Shytown Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 3:29 pm
The House Clerk, Assistant Clerk, and Parliamentarian are all appointed officers of the legislature. They are in the General Assembly pension system. By any reasonable definition, the Clerk is a part of the House.
As chief of staff, Mapes worked for Madigan, and so yes, Madigan ought to hold himself accountable for Mapes.
Whether Madigan ought to be punished for Mapes’s behavior is a political question, not a legal one, and a difficult one to answer in the age of Donald Trump.
@Minion: “had little patience” is a nice way of sugarcoating bullying. Let’s not. It is okay to be impatient, it is not okay to throw things at your employees, yell at them, belittle or humiliate them. That does not make Mapes an ogre or mean he is going to hell, nor erase the positive things he did or his positive impact. But if we cannot acknowledge what he did wrong we cannot expect the culture to change. I mean, Madigan says it was unacceptable, and he would not say that unless he thought it was true, so trust his judgment. After all, it is his staff.
Comment by Juvenal Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 3:49 pm
===The House Clerk, Assistant Clerk, and Parliamentarian are all appointed officers of the legislature.===
Aren’t their duties, as defined to aid and support the legislature?
Their duties are defined… for folks actually IN the legislature to do their duties?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 4:01 pm
I do not ever recall an actual roll call vote on the Clerk of the House having been called. It has usually been done by motion for unanimous consent hasn’t it? Lou Lang would make the motion if he was in the chair.
Comment by Rod Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 4:08 pm
===I do not ever recall an actual roll call vote on the Clerk of the House having been called.===
So… legislators can vote on a Clerk, but the Clerk-Designate, if not a legislator (who is to say it can’t be?) can’t vote for themselves or others?
Sounds like a pretty important distinction, for in and out I mean.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 4:19 pm
=== I do not ever recall an actual roll call vote on the Clerk of the House having been called. ===
Had you actually bothered to look, you would have seen that the vote for officers was one of 3 organizational resolutions adopted by the members on a voice vote.
http://www.ilga.gov/house/journals/100/2017/HJ100001R.pdf
Comment by Norseman Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 4:41 pm
== - Juvenal - Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 3:49 pm:
The House Clerk, Assistant Clerk, and Parliamentarian are all appointed officers of the legislature. They are in the General Assembly pension system. By any reasonable definition, the Clerk is a part of the House. ==
That’s not correct.
The Clerk and the Assistant Clerk are elected by the House at inauguration. (See House Rules 6 and 7 “The House shall elect a clerk…”) Both are eligible for the General Assembly Retirement System. The parliamentarian is appointed by the Speaker. (See Rule 4(c)(22). That person is a state employee and eligible for the State Employee Retirement System.
Comment by correction Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 4:42 pm
Rich Nice column….so how was the state fair down yonder.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 4:50 pm
@Juvenal I stand by what I said. I worked for him for over 10 years and never saw him throw something at someone, or yell or belittle and humiliate. Was he stern, have a high bar for expectations and not accept excuses. Absolutely. Could he be short and curt. Absolutely. But considering the sheer number of employees he had to oversee during his tenure I’m certain more than anhandful would not be comfortable with his curtness. I’m not questioning if what people said happened, happened. If people said it did, it did, but let’s not make this seem like it was an everyday occurrence.
Comment by Minion Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 6:00 pm
===never saw him throw something at someone===
So? It happened. To two people.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:41 pm
The ethically challenged Madigan knew damn well what was going on, you can’t have someone around you for that long and not know how they run things.
Comment by Arock Tuesday, Aug 27, 19 @ 9:10 am