State Rep. Mark Batinick correctly assessed how Democrats in charge of the Illinois House control ordinary members.

Told to Capitol News Illinois:

As a freshman lawmaker watching the budget impasse unfold, Batinick said he observed that “so much of Springfield was theater,” and he would watch then-House Speaker Michael Madigan keep everyone busy, “acting like all these things were getting done.” [Emphasis added.]

There are so many unneeded committees.

That’s for two reasons–to give more members more money than the flat salary and to have members rushing from committee to committee, leaving little time to think or confer with colleagues.

And, I don’t just blame Madigan.

Republican Lee Daniels did the same thing and worse.

He allowed fillibusters by letting members yield time to a speaker who would drone on and on into the night.

One midnight I got so tired I walked into the office of Daniels’ Chief of Staff Mike Tristano and told him I was leaving.

“You can’t do that,” he replied.

“Watch me,” I said.

That was before I knew I had sleep apnia. I just knew I needed at least eight hours of sleep and the House was scheduled to come back in session at 9 the next morning.