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* From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch…
The longest-serving leader of any state legislative body in American history may not hold that post much longer. Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan faces rebellion by his own Democratic majority for his entanglement in a federal bribery probe of utility giant Commonwealth Edison. Madigan hasn’t been charged and denies wrongdoing, but rank-and-file lawmakers are taking the once-unthinkable stance that he should lose his speakership. He should. This old-time powerbroker has become a distraction to a state that already has enough problems.
The federal government has indicted four former ComEd officials, including lobbyist Michael McClain, an ex-legislator and longtime Madigan confidante. Prosecutors allege the officials conspired to put Madigan associates and interns on ComEd’s payroll and to put a Madigan-chosen candidate on ComEd’s board of directors to curry favor with Madigan on legislation regarding rate increases and other utility issues. The four pleaded not guilty last week. ComEd itself has entered a deferred-prosecution agreement, admitting “wrongful conduct,” paying a $200 million fine and promising to cooperate with the government.
Madigan’s involvement in the case has led to defections by, to date, 19 Democratic lawmakers who say they won’t support his bid to retain his speakership next month. Unless some of them relent — which would be political suicide after publicly vowing to take that stand — Madigan won’t have the required 60 votes to keep his post. […]
Contrary to Republican mythology, Illinois’ worst-in-the nation pension debt and resulting chronic budget crisis is a mess created by both parties over decades. But Madigan has been in a key role for most of it — and now he seeks to maintain that role under the shadow of scandal. House Democrats must not allow that. It’s time to return this hammer to the toolbox.
* Meanwhile, here’s Amanda Vinicky…
Sick of Illinois’ storied history of corruption?
A pair of Republicans say they’ve got a remedy: Create a pathway for voters to initiate the recall of their elected official, midterm. […]
To recall statewide constitutional officers, the auditor general, speaker or senate president, Barickman and Batinick propose requiring signatures from 12% of the voters who cast votes for governor in the prior election in order to initiate the recall process; the question would have to clear 60% in order for an official to be ousted via recall.
It’s unlikely it’ll ever get near that point.
Lawmakers are notoriously reticent to approve measures that could imperil their own political futures.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Dec 9, 20 @ 2:56 am
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Now Madigan can play the “Liberal Elites are after me” card.
Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Dec 9, 20 @ 8:11 am
Of course it’s Barickman, lol
For a whole General Assembly, while aiding Rauner in starving social services… and hurting Higher Education.., while touting his connection to Illinois State…
Barickmam wouldn’t know about doing duty or fulfilling his oath if you drew *him* a map.
Barickman supported a man who wanted destruction to this state, fought in court to let the destruction continue, and voted time after time after time against his district…
… and Barickman wants to set up an “easier” recall?
Pathetic.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 9, 20 @ 8:12 am
OW,
Can the house and senate pass a budget without the governor? I mean can they pass it with a veto-proof majority, thus eliminating the governor’s input?
Comment by Curious Wednesday, Dec 9, 20 @ 8:26 am
They passed the budget without Rauner to end the impasse
Comment by SpiDem Wednesday, Dec 9, 20 @ 8:32 am
=== Can the house and senate pass a budget without the governor? I mean can they pass it with a veto-proof majority, thus eliminating the governor’s input?===
The 99th GA tried, but because of Dunkin, Drury, and Franks, it wasn’t possible
The 100th GA… because of the Brave 15 and Perfect 10, Rauner’s vetoed budget AND the tax increase (Rauner wanted his vetoes overridden, btw) all passed without Rauner, a General Assembly alone.
Barickman fought all these measures to save Illinois, a true phony to governing
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 9, 20 @ 8:38 am
The Speaker of the House and President of the Senate are elected every two years…what is the point of a recall process? For the recall to take place in the first year, you would need to start as soon as the person is elected. And in the second year…they would be recalled at the end of their term.
The logic escapes me.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Dec 9, 20 @ 9:11 am
=== Barickman fought all these measures to save Illinois, a true phony to governing ===
Well he was elected to gum up the works after all. Raunerites don’t believe government does anything more than threaten their wealth and the wealth of their donors, so it makes perfect sense.
Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Dec 9, 20 @ 9:13 am
== Lawmakers are notoriously reticent to approve measures that could imperil their own political futures.==
No. This is just a bad idea. The process is working exactly the way it should. We saw that in the Senate earlier this year and now in the House.
If the voters of a particular district don’t like who that legislator voted for leadership, they can vote for a challenger who pledges not to vote for a certain person.
Comment by low level Wednesday, Dec 9, 20 @ 9:15 am
Yep the Democrats wanted to save the State so bad in 2014 that they waited until after the election to vote on making the the temporary tax increase permanent that failed in the Fall Veto session when it then needed to have a super-majority to pass. They passed a known unconstitutional law on pension reform that they knew would get struck down by the Illinois Supreme Court. But lets keep blaming Rauner for all of Illinois’ problems instead of looking at the party and its main culprit of corruption that it has as its leader and hold them and him responsible.
Comment by Arock Wednesday, Dec 9, 20 @ 9:46 am
===pension reform that they knew would get struck down===
Bruce? Is that you?
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Dec 9, 20 @ 9:51 am
=== But lets keep blaming Rauner…===
… and Thompson, Edgar, Ryan, Pate, Lee….
Everything you think you know… isn’t… or you’re willfully ignorant.
To the post;
=== has led to defections by, to date, 19 Democratic lawmakers who say they won’t support his bid to retain his speakership next month.===
1) I don’t foresee any defections
2) They have yet decided that one voice is bigger than 19 voices.
3) The Black Caucus have waded in, and will continue to be important to process
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 9, 20 @ 9:55 am
@Arock: Amen to that posting.
Comment by Louis G Atsaves Wednesday, Dec 9, 20 @ 10:24 am
Hey look, it’s Jason Barickman.
Has anyone fallen off the face of the Illinois political landscape faster than Jason Barickman? When he voted for marriage equality it was like … oooooohhhhh, look at him. Rising star. He’s the bold new future of the Republican Party in Illinois. Yeah, how’s that worked out for ya? I’d forgotten he was in office until Batnick needed a Senate stunt double. It’s interesting how these guys seem to always have ideas for the other party. Somehow they left out the two minority leader posts?
Comment by Leigh John-Ella Wednesday, Dec 9, 20 @ 10:27 am
=== Amen to that posting.===
- Arock - must be Rauner,
- Louis G Atsaves -, Rauner is gone, your family made out, you don’t need to fawn over Bruce anymore, lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 9, 20 @ 10:28 am
“let’s keep blaming Rauner”
I’ll hold him accountable for the four year catastrophe that was his tenure.
Like I’ll hold all politicians accountable for their actions.
Pretending that a Democratic majority is going anywhere anytime soon, however, is a fool’s errand. Especially with the likes of Bailey, Ives, Oberweis, etc.
Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Wednesday, Dec 9, 20 @ 10:35 am
How much will this cost county governments and the state board of elections? Does Jason Barickman support mandates on local elected officials to conduct new elections to comply with state law. Is Jason Barickman for additional spending, undoubtedly in the tens of millions, in the state & local budgets?
Let’s cut to the chase: he’s running for statewide office.
Comment by Overlord Wednesday, Dec 9, 20 @ 10:36 am
@Oswego Willy: there you go again with the family stuff. Always happens with you when you don’t have any facts to rebut an argument. First you agree that Pritzker’s family should not come under attack, then you attacked Diana Rauner and Rauner’s daughter mercilessly. Now you are back to attacking my family? Pick a lane and stay in it. After you grow up.
Comment by Louis G Atsaves Wednesday, Dec 9, 20 @ 10:59 am
=== the family stuff===
Your family made out well with Rauner, it’s true. Embrace it.
Your clout was Rauner, it’s ok.
This is top shelf gaslighting.. LOL
=== First you agree that Pritzker’s family should not come under attack, then you attacked Diana Rauner and Rauner’s daughter mercilessly.===
Again. You must not understand how clouting works, as you and your family made out, and that’s ok, for you… but unless Rauner’s Daughter clouted… herself… Bruce and Diana clutter their denied, Winnetka living daughter over a worthy Chicago child.
An inspector general also agrees.
Yo don’t like it, it dings your family’s patron.
Pritzker’s daughter neither in that picture nor was her situation predicated on any… facts… not even an inspector general calling out her parents either.
Pound that table, - Louis G Atsaves -…
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 9, 20 @ 11:17 am
Finally. - Louis G Atsaves -, counselor….
What’s the difference between Operation Varsity Blues and Bruce and Diana Rauner clouting their denied, Winnetka-living daughter? Bruce also donated $250K after his daughter was attending…
Did the daughter donate the $250k too?
To bring this back…
How can - Arock -‘s take on the constitutionality of the pension legislation be an “amen”… when you both seemingly miss the point (like Rauner, IPI, Wirepoints) of that pesky constitution and the ILSC, unanimously ruling?
Counselor?
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 9, 20 @ 11:24 am
=The Speaker of the House and President of the Senate are elected every two years…what is the point of a recall process?=
The point is to prevent another MJM. the recall tool would isolate the entire state from the potential of a corrupt leader from relying on strong local/partisan support from destroying the state. Had the 12/60 % tool been available - MJM would have been out years ago.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Wednesday, Dec 9, 20 @ 11:25 am
Yes, what the Democrats and their supporters want (primarily union employees) is for the gravy train to continue for them with everyone in the state paying for it and when the state does eventually run out of money, the Democratically stacked Illinois Supreme Court to prevent it from changing. Spending has to be adjusted to a point where it matches with incoming dollars. This cycle of tax, borrow, spend, rinse, repeat needs to come to an end.
Comment by Really Wednesday, Dec 9, 20 @ 11:29 am
=== what the Democrats and their supporters want (primarily union employees) is for the gravy train to continue for them with everyone in the state paying for it and when the state does eventually run out of money, the Democratically stacked Illinois Supreme Court to prevent it from changing.===
The tin foil needs changing, your “anger” towards unions is again noted.
Oh… states can’t go bankrupt.
Keep up.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 9, 20 @ 11:31 am
Back to the post. Someone please explain a logical, reasonable timeline for removing someone with a two-year term.
I get it that folks don’t like Madigan, but this proposal does not solve the problem of an entrenched Speaker. A better proposal would be an Amendment that limits the terms of Speaker and Senate President.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Dec 9, 20 @ 11:41 am
==Barickman fought all these measures to save Illinois, a true phony to governing==
The same Barickman who folded like a tent when asking Bruce Rauner to negotiate SB1.
https://capitolfax.com/2017/07/27/barickman-claims-rauner-will-negotiate-when-he-gets-sb-1-cautions-on-outcome/
Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Dec 9, 20 @ 1:03 pm
=== The same Barickman who folded like a tent when asking Bruce Rauner to negotiate SB1.===
Well played, lol
As I typed after that ridiculous press release;
=== - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 4:56 pm
Mr. Barickman clarifies his direct quotes.
I’m actually embarrassed for him.
That’s as sad is it gets.
Wonder if Mr. Barickman got a phone call from Gov. Rauner and Raunee said, “take back your exact, quoted words.”
lol.
That press release… “Pathetic on Paper”===
This premise that Barickman is concerned, Barickman is a concerned troll you’d find in social media.
It’s too easy to see how Barickman has tried to not only distance himself from his past, but now it’s too easy to see Barickman all but ignore his own onus, and here talk of recall.
Nothing impressive here.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 9, 20 @ 1:09 pm
==But lets keep blaming Rauner for all of Illinois’ problems ==
==Amen to that posting.==
You two done being victims?
Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Dec 9, 20 @ 1:37 pm
==is for the gravy train to continue==
What gravy train would that be? Paying people what they are owed. You must be from the Rauner school where we just don’t pay anything.
==Spending has to be adjusted to a point where it matches with incoming dollars==
You can cut spending but you’re never going to be able to cut it enough to balance the budget. Revenue increases are also needed. And anyone that denies it is living in a fantasy land.
Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Dec 9, 20 @ 1:40 pm