27 Comments - John Bambenek - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 3:40 pm: What good is a recall amendment that wouldn’t even have been successful in getting rid of Blagojevich? - RJW - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 3:41 pm: Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve (George Bernard Shaw). Amen. - Louis Howe - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 3:48 pm: Quinn should stop trading political capital for bogus reforms. Stick with money and budget issues. - Anonymous45 - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 3:54 pm: Cullerton is just taking away the careers of his caucus with provisions like this…fine, let it go Governor and let the people speak at the ballot box next time their Senators are up for a vote…this is not getting the work of the people done Mr. President…. - shore - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 3:54 pm: Perhaps this is another topic for another day, but just wondering what grades Rich would give the top leaders in this mess for those of us who don’t live down there and don’t work in the play by play. Not looking for a 200 word talk radio bit, but a clear one letter, no nonsense grade. - Josh - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 3:58 pm: soo, did at any point Cullerton speak to the issues represented by the thousands of individuals at the Capital today, or was it ignored? - collar observer - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 3:59 pm: I agree Gov - don’t give into the demands from the GA - remember the demands of the people - - My Opinion - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 4:10 pm: Josh- It was obviously not ignored. The Senate represented the thouseands here in May by passing HB 750-a tax increase that fends off the shutting down of social service agencies. It is up to Madigan. The question should be, Did Michael Madigan hear what people are saying, or did he ignore the hundreds of thousands of people in the State that will be negatively impacted by the budget cuts. My guess is he did not, or they would be voting on a tax increase today. - Macbeth - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 4:23 pm: My guess is the Madigan cares very little for what the “people” think. I suspect Madigan — like Blagojevich before him — is looking for what will give him the most political leverage (which usually means ignoring the so-called “people”). - Will County Woman - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 4:33 pm: - Anonymous45 - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 3:54 pm: Cullerton is just taking away the careers of his caucus with provisions like this…fine, let it go Governor and let the people speak at the ballot box next time their Senators are up for a vote…this is not getting the work of the people done Mr. President…. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Do most people in Illinois even know who their state legislators are or care to know? What’s up with you people and this Oh, come election time, the people will XYZ!!!! Please the legislative leaders in Illinois stopped listening to the “people” a long time ago. And, when legislators get behind the closed doors with their leaders, what the constituents want matters less. - ivoted4judy - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 4:34 pm: good for Cullerton.Show a little testicular strength there new leader…Recall?? We dont need no stinkin recall.. - Felix - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 4:49 pm: Mike Madigan is not ignoring the will of the people. He is acting consistent with the desires of the vast majority of the people in this State who are opposed to an income tax increase in a recession and who in 2010 will vote against a legislator who votes in favor of an income tax increase - RJW - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 4:52 pm: Felix: Leadership isn’t simply about following the “will of the people.” Leaders are elected to make hard decisions. - GA Watcher - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 4:56 pm: Anyone hear about Dan Hynes issuing a statement today on the Governor’s tax/budget plan? The only thing I’ve heard is that Hynes suggests the Governor start over. - Will County Woman - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 5:06 pm: @ GA Watcher - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 4:56 pm: no. hadn’t heard. but he should start over/do again. work with both chambers and especially REPUBLICANS, come to the table with substantive cuts (and reforms) and then propose a temporary tax increase, and his budget will pass so fast that his head will spin and he’ll wish he had done all of that in the first place. @felix, mike madigan voted for Quinn’s budget last month. - RJW - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 5:07 pm: GA Watcher: Look at the Crains feed on the side. - Pelon - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 5:21 pm: “Mike Madigan is not ignoring the will of the people. He is acting consistent with the desires of the vast majority of the people in this State who are opposed to an income tax increase in a recession and who in 2010 will vote against a legislator who votes in favor of an income tax increase” I can’t speak to Mike Madigan’s actions, but the House as a whole is clearly listening to the people. The polling clearly shows that people do not want a tax increase. If “the will of the people” is the basis of your argument for a tax increase, you are on pretty shaky ground. - Felix - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 5:21 pm: Most voters probably couldn’t care less as to how a legislator votes on the budget. What voters do care about and what will motivate them to vote for or against a legislator is whether the legislator votes to increase the income tax. - Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 5:23 pm: Extortion in the name of ethics reform - Only in Illinois! And now maybe those who doubt reformers when we tell you HB7 is bogus reform that only protects incumbents will listen. - Macbeth - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 5:23 pm: I hear (and see) many, many people *at the Statehouse* asking for a tax increase. What, these “people” don’t count? - Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 5:29 pm: Ok, maybe not extortion - just strong arm political tactics. Pat, we’ll give you a watered down meaningless recall right that only applies to you if you sign our incumbent protection act. Good grief. - Will County Woman - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 5:37 pm: felix, both of my state legislators are democrats. I know that Steans voted for the tax increase that passed the senate. I did not vote her last year, and if I am still in her district in 2012, I still will not vote her. my state rep (Osterman) I think voted for the gov.’s tax increase. I think I recall seeing his name on the yeas. I have not voted for him since living in his district, and I don’t expect to ever vote for him. I did not call rodogno or cross to tell them to oppose or support the tax increase, though I have worked with many of the social service providers who are upset about the looming cuts. I do want these two leaders and their members to stand firm and vote NO TAX INCREASE (no taxation without reform/budget cut representation first). I don’t care that madigan did not lean on his members to pass the budget on may 31st. - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 5:45 pm: Are they planning to do anything while down there on our dime other than speechifying? I actually contemplated coming today for a little fireside chat with a particular legislator, but I decided to pass due to other more pressing issues. Now I am glad I didn’t make the trip. It seems as though there may be more hot air inside the Capitol building thamn there is outside of it. - Pat - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 6:52 pm: Madigan, Quinn, Cullerton, whoever. Not addressing the budget (whether taxes or whatever source) may prove costly to them. Doing nothing will result in this state walking down a tragic path. The legislature doesn’t seem to grasp how bad things really are because if they grasped it, there would be more ideas on how to solve the mess. - PalosParkBob - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 8:05 pm: The most dangerous place to be on a busy highway is the middle of the road. Make up your mind, Madigan, and choose a direction! - wordslinger - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 10:38 pm: People hear taxes are going up, and they think about the two big gorillas, fed withholding and FICA. State taxes are chicken feed in comparison. - VanillaMan - Wednesday, Jun 24, 09 @ 8:51 am: This could have been done in an efficient, professional way, months ago. These people are ridiculous. 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