Jan. 29--"We should not hold citizens of this state hostage to Mike Madigan's political shenanigans."
Where have you heard that before? Probably not from a Democratic lawmaker who reports to Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. But those words erupted Wednesday from a Chicago legislator who was either bold and sincere or phony and opportunistic.
Rep. Ken Dunkin, a member of Madigan's caucus, brought a sleeping bag, backpack, lunch box, bar of soap and bottle of water to a Springfield news conference, saying he planned to camp out in Madigan's Capitol office until the legislature solved the budget mess. The state has been without a spending plan since July 1.
"This mess is not going to go away," Dunkin told reporters. "You can't just say 'No.' I'm calling on all of my colleagues to get in a room and craft our own budget. Let's lock ourselves in the room, let's bring our soap, our water, take a shower in the speaker's private suite in his private bathroom. I'm ready to stay until we get the job done."
He didn't actually stay overnight. But if he does, maybe he could borrow the speaker's toothbrush?
Dunkin added: "We still have a long way to go in our very own House of Representatives as we wait on Speaker Michael J. Madigan to decide on when he will stop holding the citizens of Illinois hostage to his political shenanigans and actually get business done. Seems everyone wants a solution except for one person. One person."
Dunkin, a 13-year lawmaker representing parts of downtown and the South Side, broke ranks with his leader last fall, failing to show up for a vote that would have empowered union negotiators bargaining with Gov. Bruce Rauner's negotiators. Dunkin deprived Madigan of the 71st vote Madigan needed to override a bill Rauner had vetoed.
That humiliated Madigan, who rarely bungles a roll call. The override failed.
In recent months, Dunkin has been aligning himself more closely with Rauner, a Republican whose policy positions contrast sharply with Dunkin's voting record. Their marriage of convenience is built on their shared distrust and frustration with the speaker. And on their shared interest in re-electing Dunkin.
