The Northwest Herald is pretty much a cheerleader for Democratic State Rep. Jack Franks.
Sunday, however, an article put the spotlight on what may be the most important vote in Franks’ legislative career.
Jack Franks will be an unhappy minion this week as he waits to see if a Republican will vote for the AFSCME bill’s override, thus allowing him to vote “No” and continue to look like he’s not a Mike Madigan minion.
The Illinois Senate easily overrode Governor Bruce Rauner’s veto on a union-inspired bill that would give an arbitrator the authority to craft a contract if Rauner and the union (AFSCME, in this case, the Teamsters already having agreed to a four-year contract without raises).
If no Republicans vote for the override, then House Speaker Mike Madigan will need the votes of all 71 Democrats for the veto override attempt to succeed.
And, guess who the 71st vote might have to be.
That’s right.
Jack Franks.
Usually, the only vote House Speaker Mike Madigan demands is one to elect him Speaker at the beginning of each two-year session.
The Northwest Herald is not only spotlighting Franks’ potential role in an article, but also turning up the heat in an editorial:
Why should Franks be submissive to the paper?
If he doesn’t, he may lose the biggest ally that he has in McHenry County.
To be a Michael Madigan minion or not.
That is the question.
And the Northwest Herald is not all Franks has to worry about.
So far, Franks has made nice-nice to Governor Bruce Rauner enough that local Republicans don’t think Rauner will target Franks for defeat.
Being the deciding vote to take away one of the Governor’s biggest powers might change Rauner’s position on staying out of Franks’ re-election campaign in 2016 (assuming Franks is not running for McHenry County Board Chairman, which may or may not be a valid assumption).
If Franks votes in Rauner’s favor it would likely be because he has decided to run for County Board Chair and no longer needs to bow to the MM.
If he votes in MM’s favor, I would expect to see the money roll in for any solid Republican candidate to take his place.
It would likely take close to a quarter million dollars to get adequate name recognition to defeat Franks.
In 2014, Jack waited to see how Scott Drury (D-Highwood) was going to vote on Madigan’s “millionaire tax” proposal before he committed.
Drury announced he would not support it, so Jack’s “me too” no vote didn’t kill the bill.
He was also the last person to vote on the 2013 pension bill (I was in the chamber and watched the vote).
Jack didn’t vote until he knew that his vote wouldn’t affect the outcome.
I’m sure Jack’s waiting to see if Drury or any GOP member show signs of going wobbly.
Buying elections isn’t cheap!
Half a mill is more like it.
The spineless Frank may just abstain ………..
he’s a stain on McHenryCounty!