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 If there was a linchpin to the Republican plan for taking on Illinois House
Speaker Mike Madigan, it was term limits.
Term limits were more than just a symbolic attack on Madigan’s power and
prestige. They were a direct assault on the Madigan machine and the speaker’s
influence.
Term limits were meant to strike at the heart of Illinois’ cronyism, corruption
and political self-aggrandizement.
They were a way to change how the political class in Springfield does business.
Term limits were to play a key part in the ultimate shake-up of Springfield.
Gov. Bruce Rauner included term limits for all Springfield lawmakers as one of
his core reforms during his campaign for governor.
“We will never give up. We will never give up this battle,” Rauner said of term
limits.
And the public wanted them, too. Nearly 4 of 5 Illinoisans surveyed support term
limits, according to a 2012 Paul Simon Public Policy Institute poll.
Gone
Today, term limits are nowhere to be found in any of the “compromise” deals
swirling around Springfield.
In fact, virtually every reform Rauner and legislative Republicans once sought
is gone or watered-down to the point of uselessness.
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Collective bargaining reforms: Gone.
Lowering income tax rates to 3 percent: Gone.
Stand-alone 401(k)-style plans for new state workers: Gone.
And term limits? Gone.
When Rauner and Republicans stated their reform goals back in 2014, they called
for term limits on all lawmakers. Less than three years later, term limits were
only being pursued for legislative leaders.
Now term limits are gone altogether.
What was once at the heart of Rauner and Republicans’ reform proposals is no
longer a part of negotiations.
In their desperation for a deal, Republicans have rolled over.
They started out with a plan to strip Madigan of power, but the speaker managed
to strip theirs instead.
Nothing remains of the reforms that could have weakened the Springfield
political machine.
If they vote for a compromise plan – a punishing tax hike plan devoid of reforms
– Republicans will be signing off on Illinois’ continuing slide toward
bankruptcy.
And in dropping term limits as a demand, Republicans are showing they are
willing to let Illinois’ corrupt, complacent and morally bankrupt political
culture continue.
It’s a betrayal of the people of Illinois.
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