By Steve Rhodes
“House Speaker Michael Madigan forged ahead Wednesday on a plan to limit campaign donations – with a big exception for the dollars he and other leaders dole out to ensure lawmakers’ election and reward loyalty,” the Tribune reports.
“The move by the veteran leader would serve the dual purposes of putting his Democrats on record in support of a major ethics reform while simultaneously preserving his power as the state’s longest-serving House speaker and chairman of the state Democratic Party. Political party donations would also be unlimited under the plan.”
This has got to end. Michael Madigan is a menace. He must be destroyed.
*
“Critics said the proposal could actually strengthen the hand of Madigan and other power brokers in the legislature, making individual lawmakers more reliant on their leaders for campaign cash because of the first-ever restrictions it would impose on donations from most other key players in the political process.”
Seriously. Getting rid of Michael Madigan is of far more import than, say, rolling back Cook County’s sales tax increase. Michael Madigan is a one of the biggest wrenches in democracy in Illinois history. It’s time to relieve him of his duties.
*
“Madigan’s proposal, approved on a party-line vote of Democrats in a House committee, launched the legislature’s annual two-week fall session on a contentious note. It is the latest twist in a long-running struggle to rein in a pay-to-play political culture that gained new importance after lawmakers removed disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich after his December arrest on federal corruption charges.”
A party-line vote of Democrats. Of which Madigan is the state chairman. In the Land of Obama.
Democrats, only you can heal thyselves.
*
“The proposal also would allow Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton, both Chicago Democrats, as well as Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno of Lemont and House GOP Leader Tom Cross of Oswego, to transfer unlimited sums of money from their special leadership campaign bank accounts to individual legislators or candidates in highly competitive races. Since Madigan also serves as state Democratic chairman, he also could devote unlimited party campaign resources to hard-fought contests.”
There is only one answer to the funding shenanigans plauging our politics: Publicly-funded campaigns. This isn’t a private enterprise. It’s the public’s business.
*
“During a hearing of the Madigan-controlled House Executive Committee, Rep. Ed Sullivan, R-Mundelein, asked the House speaker to explain the ‘reason we went backward’ on leadership donation limits. Sullivan said it appears that leaders who donate large amounts to lawmakers’ campaigns control how those legislators vote.
“‘If you want to deal on appearances, go ahead, do what you want to do,’ Madigan replied sharply. ‘That’s what you’ll do anyhow’.”
Okay. It appears that you, sir, are a deceitful and manipulative parasite sucking on the public body for no reason other than feeding your ego by maintaining power with which you do next to nothing of benefit to the people of the state who pay your salary. In the ballpark?
*
Commenter franzibonzi: “The sad part of this is that while Madigan screws up the whole state, only the people in his district get to vote on him. From what I see, they have foolishly given him lifetime employment. Word is they won’t vote him out because their govt jobs depend on him.”
Yes, that’s the tricky part. But the state does get to vote for or against his daughter . . . maybe we hold her job hostage in exchange for her father’s move into a quiet retirement or the private sector.
*
Here’s where the evil enablers live.
Facebook Feed
John Kuczaj doesn’t understand why people insist on anthropomorphizing Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh.
Our Ugliest Building
The James R. Thompson Center vs. the Harold Washington Library.
Roland Burris: Suddenly Relevant
Emerges as key health-care vote.
Madigan vs. Bean
Consumers vs. banks.
Other Public Options . . .
. . . we’d like to see. Including The Parking Meter Public Option.
Letter From Michigan
“First observation about Ford Field: Detroit oriented the traffic flow as if they did not expect people to show up,” Eric Emery writes in Over/Under.
Illumination
The Old Post Office became a sphinx.
On The Kennedy
–
The Beachwood Tip Line: Like five-way chili.
Posted on October 15, 2009