Defending Dad

One of the proposals which has the greatest potential to break the logjam in Springfield is the one I campaigned on for governor in 2002:

Term Limits for Legislative Leaders

Needless to say, legislative leaders think this is horrible idea.

New Republican Senate Leader Christine Radogno told the Chicago Tribune “she would not support term limits for legislative leaders.

“House Majority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) declined to take a position…”

Some with long memories will remember that he said he would serve no more than ten years when campaigning to replace Lee Daniels in 2002.

That promise went by the wayside last year.

Newly elected Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) “wants to read the report before taking any position, spokeswoman Rikeesha Phelon said.”

And Lisa Madigan surely is speaking for her father when she says,

“That’s something that I’m skeptical of. You don’t necessarily want to put into place a situation where it’s staff and lobbyists and special interests who control a lot of government. There’s no harm in having some institutional knowledge. Voters always have the ability to make sure that someone’s not re-elected.”

She has a point, but there’s nothing saying the term-limited leaders couldn’t remain in office in order to offer their expertise.


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