What is Democratic House Speaker Mike Madigan thinking? Why in the world would he allow a vote on a critical labor union bill when he knew it would fail? And how could he not know how all his members would vote?
Madigan is known for being a strategic master. He's kept his grip on the Illinois House for more than 30 years because of it. And yet, he knew he didn't have the 71 votes he needed to override Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's veto of a bill pushed by American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 that would ban a strike or a lockout of state workers if one side or the other declares an impasse. Still, Madigan allowed Senate Bill 1229 to be called.
He knew it would fail because one of his members, state Rep. Ken Dunkin of Chicago, was in New York. He said afterward he believed other Democrats would have been persuaded to vote with AFSCME if Dunkin were present. State Reps. Jack Franks of Marengo and Scott Drury of Highwood dispute that. Franks voted "present" and Drury voted not to override because he opposed the union giving up its right to strike. And Drury said last week neither Madigan nor his staff knew how he'd vote.
That just doesn't sound like masterful Madigan. It was a rare, high-profile defeat for Madigan and a win for Rauner, but perhaps it's not that simple?
Madigan thinks and strategizes ahead. In allowing this public loss, Madigan still can turn to the union and say he did all he could. He can say the Democrats and their union backers still are in the epic battle of their lives against Rauner, a Republican with never-before-seen resources to wage election warfare. And in so doing, Madigan secures maybe even more money, manpower and loyalty from AFSCME and other public unions.
Calling the vote when he knew all Republicans had pledged to back Rauner also gives Madigan and Democrats campaign fodder because there are a few Republicans in Central Illinois who have strong union membership in their districts. Those Republicans just endangered their political futures for Rauner.
Madigan cares most about maintaining his majority and defeating Republicans.
Is that really all that's going on here? Read the rest at Reboot Illinois.
Madigan's loss in this round, especially with his super-majority of House Democrats, could be a major wake-up call for him and his allies. Capitol Fax's Rich Miller took a look at the lineup of Democrats who weren't present at the union arbitration veto override vote, Democrats who voted against the party line and one Democrat who wanted to be there so badly she arrived in a wheelchair. Read the column at Reboot Illinois.
NEXT ARTICLE: Editorial: Let Rauner do what he was elected to do
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