THE ILLINOIZE: Guest hosted by John Shimkus...Bailey campaign distances from supporter charged in insurrection..."Rape in Champaign" e-mail resurfaces...ComEd rate hike...Rodney Davis, the troll?
December 2, 2021
Good morning.
Our guest host today is former Congressman John Shimkus. Congressman Shimkus represented the Metro East and southern Illinois (and some of central Illinois) in Congress from 1997-2021. He served in the Army and was in the Army reserve until 2008. Since leaving Congress, he has moved into the world of teaching as a Lecturer in Political Science at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville. Thanks to the Congressman for offering his thoughts.
Let’s get to it.
I was recently asked to do a presentation sponsored by Lutheran Older Adults. It was held at beautiful Pere Marquette State Park north of Grafton, Illinois. The title of the presentation was: “Do we really hate each other?”
“No,” I began, most of us really do like each other. I continued with a clip of the annual Congressional Baseball Game. Even though Democrats and Republicans compete on different teams, you really get the impression that members on both sides really like each other. You see it in the pre- and post-game activities. During the game, you see it in the good-natured exchanges as our old bodies try to relive the glory days of our youth. It’s a bipartisan tradition both sides enjoy.
Even though we have different ideological positions, members of Congress share many things in common. We all had to get elected, and most of us did so, at one time or another, through competitive and hard campaigns. If it is not a competitive race in the general then it is a competitive race in a primary. Campaigns are no fun. They are grueling, months-long challenges for the candidate and his or her family.
I am always careful to describe how hard members work because most people would never believe me. Travelling back and forth to DC is exhausting. Some members spend all day on a plane or planes traveling to and from the nation’s capital. Just imagine jet lag every week. Our days in DC easily run from 8 AM until 10 PM. We are away from home in DC, and as members who represent large geographical areas, many times even away from home when we’re in our districts. That means anniversaries missed, sporting events missed, and school events missed are all realities members share. Yes, we volunteered, but that doesn’t make it any easier. Whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, this experience is the same. This draws us close.
There is a saying I like: “All politics stop at the shoreline.” What does this mean? This means that when members of Congress travel internationally on congressional business, we are one team representing one country. I was fortunate to be a delegate to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. This is where we meet with Parliamentarians from NATO ally countries and countries seeking membership. Regardless of who is in the majority, we travel as a bipartisan delegation. During the Iraq campaign in 2003, the delegation sat respectfully when our allies berated us about the war. Many of my Democrat colleagues did not pile on, even though they disagreed with the war and probably would have liked to echo much of what our European colleagues had to say. It was a long day and one I will remember.
If we share similar experiences, what drives us apart? I believe there are two causes for the current climate: redistricting (gerrymandering) and the nationalization of issues with the advent of cable and social media.
When I was elected in 1996, the district I ran in had been drawn in 1992. It brought a central Illinois district into the Metro East. Then, the redistricting of 2002 took that district and drew it to the Indiana border. Finally, in 2021, the district became mostly an eastern Illinois district running from Danville to Metropolis. I guess you can say I know redistricting and gerrymandering well.
Since leaving Congress, I have been teaching part time at SIUE. I have used an exercise in both my classes and retreats. The purpose is to show how partisans can easily carve up a state for their political advantage. Assume fifty-four circles equals one state. These circles represent equal populations. I randomly place an R or a D in the circle to represent a partisan lean. I used a shuffled deck of cards with red representing Republican and black representing Democrat. I had students or attendees draw one of three maps: a Democrat, Republican, or competitive map. Given time, a 7-2 map of either party could be drawn. A competitive map could go 4-5 either way.
Why is this important? Partisan maps leave out the middle. The extremes dominate the primaries and candidates get pushed in that direction. The louder you are, the more you appeal to the extremes and, hopefully, ward off a future primary. The calming voice of compromise gets shouted down in this kind of environment.
On a side note, I try to remind people that if it were not for compromises, we would not have our current constitution.
The other major cause of our toxic political environment is that all politics have been nationalized. Ask the local municipal candidate and they will tell you that they have been asked about Obamacare, immigration, and January 6 when they are just running to provide safe drinking water, sewers, safe roads, police, and fire protection in a local community.
My observation is this began in 1994 when Newt Gingrich nationalized the congressional election with his “Contract with America.” That campaign helped Republicans gain control of Congress for the first time in over forty years. Now, with the expansion of cable and social media, it is the norm, not the exception. As I write this, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is exhorting their members to push the Bipartisan Infrastructure package and now, the “Build Back Better” social spending bill as the savior to our country. Three blocks away, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) is also behind closed doors exhorting their members to cry calamity. The truth is somewhere in between. Those within those teams who do not agree are ostracized, if not by leadership, by individual members if they fail to tow the party line.
I do not claim to be “holier than thou.” I have been in my share of partisan brawls—winning some and losing others. Disagreement over important things leads to lively debates that, to be honest, don’t always catch members at their best. That’s why I love the idea of agreeing to disagree without being disagreeable. Always trying to keep that in mind is why I believe I have friends on both sides of the aisle.
When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, he said, “to love the Lord your God with all your heart and your soul, and the second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is not a lot of loving of our neighbor as ourselves in our respective political organizations and across the aisle.
Most of us do like each other. We must recognize the things that unite us and those things that pull us apart. The country doesn’t want us acting like we hate each other.
And I don’t believe most of us really do.
To reach Congressman Shimkus, send us an e-mail at news@theillinoize.com.
While our schedule is a little turned around while Patrick tries to get some sleep in between feedings and diaper changes, we hope you’ve seen the value of your subscription to The Illinoize. We’re continuing to break stories and talk about important issues nobody else is willing to touch. Will you join us? It’s only $7.99 for a month and $75 per year.
A subscription also makes a great stocking stuffer. Or virtual gift. Or virtual stocking gift. Just drop us a note at patrick@theillinoize.com to discuss gifting a subscription.
BAILEY CAMPAIGN DISTANCES FROM MAN CHARGED IN JAN. 6 RIOT
A Chicago man, described by some sources as a “point man” for GOP gubernatorial hopeful Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) in the city and suburbs has been charged for his alleged role in the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
62-year-old Lawrence Ligas was arrested Wednesday. More on the criminal aspect from the Sun-Times:
Larry Ligas, 62, was arrested in Chicago Wednesday morning. He is charged with entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.
A 12-page criminal complaint alleges that Ligas spent eight minutes wandering around the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on Jan. 6, and that a tipster reached out to tell the feds Ligas had been quoted by name in a National Public Radio article about the breach.
“We’re not moving on… We are not Republicans. We are the MAGA party. We are patriots,” Ligas is quoted as saying. He also said he was a Democrat before then-President Donald Trump “earned” his vote, according to the article.
A federal magistrate judge ordered his release on his own recognizance during a court hearing Wednesday.
Ligas has been connected with Bailey’s campaign, appearing with the southern Illinois lawmaker at events in Chicago. Ligas was listed as a contact for a recent fundraiser for Bailey, and has posed for numerous pictures with the candidate.
It does not appear, according to campaign finance records, that Ligas is a paid member of Bailey’s campaign staff. The campaign issued a statement saying they “do not condone” illegal activities, but failed to condemn Ligas or confirm the campaign was breaking ties with the longtime Logan Square activist.
“We're shocked by this news and we do not condone any illegal activities. He has never been a member of our campaign staff,” the statement read. “We support law and order and trust the court system to ensure anyone breaking the law is held accountable for their actions."
Bailey is considered by many to be the frontrunner of the current GOP field for governor, and state Democrats were quick to jump on him.
“When it comes to the traitors of January 6, there must be no equivocation: Darren Bailey must immediately denounce Mr. Ligas and revoke any and all association with him at once,” Democratic Party of Illinois Executive Director Abby Witt said in a statement. “The governor’s office is no place for associates of traitors to this great nation.”
One Republican operative openly mused to The Illinoize Wednesday having a participant in the January 6 pro-Trump riots could potentially help Bailey downstate.
SUBJECT OF PRITZKER AIDE “RAPE E-MAIL” DENIES KNOWLEDGE
This is one of the strangest political stories of recent years. And it’s back. More from the great John O’Connor of the AP:
The ex-campaign worker for Gov. J.B. Pritzker who is at the center of an email in which a one-time Statehouse lobbyist alleged government coverups of a rape and illegal state hiring says he’s completely unaware of the purported incidents that have dogged him since the email became public last year.
Forrest Ashby, a longtime state employee who worked on the Democratic governor’s 2018 campaign, told the Associated Press he never got a direct answer when he confronted the author of the 2012 email, Michael McClain — an ex-lobbyist now under federal indictment in an alleged bribery scheme that tarnished his confidante, former House Speaker Michael Madigan.
In response to Ashby’s 2012 request for help in difficulties he faced in his state job, McClain sought leniency for Ashby from top aides to then-Gov. Pat Quinn, explaining that Ashby was “loyal to the administration” because he has “kept his mouth shut” on so-called ghost payrolling, “the rape in Champaign and other items,” according to the email.
COVID HOSPITALIZATIONS HIGHEST IN 10 MONTHS
Even before the likely fervor over a new COVID-19 variant hits Illinois, the state is reporting a dramatic increase in COVID-related hospitalizations.
More from the Daily Herald:
IDPH officials are reporting 2,458 COVID-19 patients are being treated in hospitals statewide, 470 of whom are in intensive care.
The last time there were so many patients hospitalized was Feb. 2, IDPH records show.
Officials said colder weather means more time spent indoors for many, increasing the likelihood of being exposed and infected.
Hospitalizations have been climbing rapidly in the suburbs over the past week, according to IDPH figures.
For the record, data is pretty strong that the COVID-19 vaccine dramatically decreases chances of hospitalizations from COVID. Flu-like symptoms are typically the worst reaction to a breakthrough case.
PROBABLY NOT A TIER ONE GOP RECRUIT
Republicans would surely like to find a stronger candidate against Rep. Dave Vella (D-Rockford) next year. From the Rockford Register-Star:
A Belvidere Republican who thinks schools should leave sex ed to parents and teach students more respect for the founding fathers of the United States wants to represent the 68th District in the Illinois General Assembly.
A former Marine, retired disabled truck driver and former children's behavioral health counselor, Keith Brodhacker, 51, describes himself as deeply conservative. Although he said he is a newcomer, Brodhacker says his politics are a mix of Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump.
Hmm.
ICC GIVES COMED $100 MILLION RATE INCREASE
This certainly won’t be popular, especially for Republicans who just gave the ComEd parent company, Exelon, a giant bailout for nuclear generation and the ongoing bribery case against the company. More from Crain’s Chicago Business:
Today’s action by the Illinois Commerce Commission gives the green light to a $46 million increase via the annual formula rate process that has been a source of intense controversy. The ability to set electricity delivery rates via an annual formula that took away most of the commission’s previous authority was at the heart of the bribery scheme to which ComEd admitted last year.
Late last month, the commission approved a separate $56 million rate hike to fund ComEd’s energy-efficiency programs. Another law, enacted in 2016, that was part of ComEd’s bribery scheme gave the utility the ability for the first time to profit on what it spends to promote energy efficiency. That essentially increases ComEd’s rates by $50 million or so annually.
The $100 million in total rate hikes will increase the average household bill by about 45 cents a month, ComEd said in a release.
DAVIS TROLLS LIGHTFOOT, DEMS
For anyone who knows “Hot Rod,” this is right on brand. From the great Lynn Sweet of the Sun-Times:
Mayor Lori Lightfoot is in DC through Friday, kicking off her visit on Tuesday night with a dinner Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., hosted for the delegation in his Capitol office, and – to my surprise – since usually only Democrats show up at this sort of thing – in walked GOP Rep. Rodney Davis.
After a group photo, Davis didn’t stick around for the dinner because, he told me, he was hosting a fundraiser for his congressional re-election campaign. Before he left, Davis made a bold political prediction.
Not so fast on that 14-3 outcome Democrats are claiming they will have, Davis told me.
“I’ll be happy to say very loudly here, we are going to compete in a lot more districts then what the Democrats in Springfield who drew this map thought we would,” he said.
I asked Davis if he had GOP recruits. “Working on that every day,” he replied.
Of course, he says it with reporters in the room, and the chair of the State Democratic Party, Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-Matteson), in attendance too.
BEFORE WE GO…