Who will wear the sash? Who will really run Illinois?
The November elections in Illinois aren’t about some Democratic revenge fantasy, punishing President Donald Trump for putting Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court.
And the November elections in Illinois aren’t really about some Republican revenge fantasy to punish Gov. Bruce Rauner for betraying his conservative base by signing that bill on taxpayer-funded abortion.
The November elections in Illinois — only weeks away now — are about two things:
■ Your taxes.
■ And the power of House Speaker Michael Madigan, the Southwest Side state Democratic boss, the longest ruling House speaker in American history, who has become incredibly wealthy in his tax reduction legal practice while also presiding over the fiscal collapse of Illinois.
Boss Madigan’s butler, J.B. “Toilets” Pritzker, thinks if he’s elected in November he’ll actually be the real governor. He may have the title of governor. But all J.B. will have is a sash to wear at ceremonial events.
J.B purchased that Gold Coast mansion next to his own mansion and ripped out the toilets in the new place to make it uninhabitable, thereby getting a $330,000 property tax break.
It’s bad enough that a billionaire would use a cheap toilet tax dodge and stick it to other taxpayers who have to make up the difference.
But what I can’t get over is that he let his wife take the fall for it, rather than stand up and take the blame himself. Boss Madigan wouldn’t let his wife, Shirley, take the fall. Most men wouldn’t. But “Toilets” did. And Madigan files that weakness away in that aging yet still supple brain of his.
If elected governor in November, J.B. will wear his sash and carry silver trays of sliced apples to Boss Madigan and wait to be told when to propose his whopping tax increase, which he just can’t tell you taxpayers about now, because he’s not ready.
What it tells you is that this election, like the last, is all about Boss Madigan.
And whether you can see Kentucky or Missouri from your front porch, or whether you’re able to see the lights of Milwaukee, there is one political truth in Illinois:
Any vote you cast for any Democratic state representative is not a vote for that Democratic state representative. It is a vote for Boss Madigan. It doesn’t matter if your Democratic state rep is some slobbering loser or a good, intelligent, capable public servant
Because when the new legislature takes the oath of office in January, there will be a voice vote for speaker. And Democratic state reps — from party hacks to those suburban “independents” who talk about good government yet avoid using his name — will vote Madigan in as boss.
They know that if they don’t, he will isolate then crush them. Their bills will die in committee. Their friends will turn their backs. Everyone in politics knows this. Do you know this?
Each year, I hear voters complain about Madigan’s district. They think he draws his power from Southwest Siders who cash a government paycheck. But there’s more to this.
Madigan uses union political money — drawn from public (government) unions whose salaries and pensions are paid for by taxpayers — to elect his Democratic majority in November. And when it’s time, Boss Madigan snaps his fingers in Springfield, and they kneel on the carpets in abject fealty.
Democratic state representatives wouldn’t dare to say no to him.
Only you can say no to Boss Madigan.
If you vote for a Democrat for state rep in November, no matter where you live in Illinois, you’re kissing Madigan’s hand. You might as well sit in his lap and ask for a bedtime story.
And then you may watch Boss Madigan leading “Toilets” by the hand. And right after the election, you might watch Madigan’s protégé, the charismatic State Comptroller Susana Mendoza, make her move to take the mayor’s office in Chicago.
Now, did you really think this election is about sending a message to Trump?
Oh, please, Illinois. For once, please get real.
Boss Madigan works in other ways too. The so-called conservative gubernatorial candidate, Sam McCann, is doing his own lifting for Madigan.
McCann, funded by pro-Madigan unions, is making ad buys in the hopes of taking out conservative Republican pro-life legislators like state Rep. Tom Morrison of Palatine and others. That’s just what Madigan wants.
Clearly, what McCann is doing is despicable. McCann is trying to portray Morrison as some squishy RINO moderate, but Morrison is as conservative as they come.
So I wouldn’t be surprised if, after the election, Madigan gets McCann a nice state job with a state pension bump. Perhaps McCann can slice Boss Madigan’s apples and squeeze lemon on them so they don’t brown. Sam? Don’t forget. Madigan likes his apples crisp and clean.
I said at the top of this column that Rauner has betrayed his base. He’s broken the Republican Party. He signed House Bill 40 providing for taxpayer-funded abortions. He’s caved in other ways, too, and I’ve blasted him for it, repeatedly.
But consider the alternative: “Toilets” Pritzker wearing a governor’s sash. A whopping tax increase on the backs of middle-class voters. And Boss Madigan reaching for the mayor’s office, munching on some crisp Sam McCann sliced apples.
And smiling that bloodless smile, master of all he surveys.