Illinois State House & Senate Majority Leaders determine the fate of a bill before assigned to a Committee: The rest is a political shell game and, sadly, this type of political gamesmanship plays across the Country
Commentary by Daniel T. Zanoza, Executive Director
The following column is not meant to be condescending in any way. It took this writer many years to understand how state majority and minority legislative leaders provide themselves with political cover while advancing or killing popular or unpopular legislation.
During the run up to the 2008 presidential election, then-Senator Barack Obama came under wide criticism for his vote on a controversial abortion bill. In no way, in what I am about to say excuses Obama's actions. In brief, then-Democratic Senate Majority Leader Emil Jones assigned proposed legislation regarding a series of bills commonly referred to as the "Born-Alive Infants Protection Act" to a Committee which Obama chaired in the Illinois Senate. In essence, the legislation--if passed--would have protected babies who survived abortions. The issue first came to light in the late 1990's after it was revealed such infants were being left to die without medical care after botched abortions at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Later, it was also learned such procedures were taking place at other medical facilities across the U.S.
The bill was very important to pro-life leaders, pro-family activists and members of the general public who, by a vast majority, saw the abortion practice as not only immoral, but inhumane. However, the Democratic Party (which was in control of the Illinois General Assembly at the time) was beholding to one of its prime constituencies--the pro-abortion movement. The defeat of this series of bills was seen as a priority by those on the Left who wanted the issue to disappear. Hence, political gamesmanship of the most sinister form gave Illinois residents a lesson in how politics is played. It was a perfect illustration of the inside game which can present a false image of a legislator. Such tactics are meant to deceive the public through the use of smoke and mirrors.
Recently, just retired Senate Majority Leader Emil Jones (D-Chicago) had the daunting political task of making the born-alive protection bills disappear. However, to the layman, Jones' task may have seemed impossible, but in reality, it was accomplished by the use of tactics that have become a hallmark of state politics, not only in Illinois, but across the nation.
At the time, Barack Obama was the Chair of a low-ranking Committee. Emil Jones assigned the bills to Obama's Committee where they ended up languishing until their doom. For a quick refresher course, state legislation must make it out of assigned Committees before coming to the full House or Senate for an up or down vote. Hence, the easiest way to kill a bill is to make sure the legislation never comes out of its assigned Committee.
During the 2008 presidential campaign, Obama took considerable criticism from the pro-life community for being the Chair of the legislative body which doomed the born-alive infants protection act. However, from the beginning, the die was cast. Emil Jones had given Obama an edict that these bills should never come to the Senate floor. And though Obama would face political heat for his actions some time in his career, there would be a pay-off to this politician who ended up on the political fast track for his willingness to fall on his political sword for the sake of the Party. The reward? Obama was paid back for his loyalty over this issue, plus many others and the rest is history in Illinois and U.S. politics.
The life of legislation can also be impacted in reverse by political leaders. More recently, Mike Madigan, the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, created a new political body called the "Youth and Family Committee". This Committee is headed by an openly "gay" member of the Illinois House, Greg Harris (D-Chicago) with the blessings of Mike Madigan. This Committee has been assigned HB 0178, a bill whose purpose is to legalize homosexual "marriage". Harris is also the sponsor of this legislation titled the "Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act". http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/96/HB/PDF/09600HB0178lv.pdf
For more information on HB 0178 and its impact if passed read: "Same-Sex Marriage Bill in Youth & Family Committee!" by David Smith, Executive Director, Illinois Family Institute: http://www.illinoisfamily.org/news/contentview.asp?c=34252
"Madigan’s move to appoint a 'gay' man to the Youth and Family Committee is a slap in the face to every Illinois citizen who hold to traditional views of marriage and family," said Smith. "Of the 72 other Democrats in the House, Madigan somehow thinks that Rep. Harris is the best qualified to chair the committee that will oversee important legislation pertaining to children, family and marriage? Madigan should immediately replace Harris with another, better qualified member of the House."
I couldn't agree with Mr. Smith more. Now, of course, what Rep. Harris does in privacy is his business--as long as he is not harming others, although there are some who certainly will disagree with my opinion. But Harris and the homosexual movement have a different goal in mind which such legislation. Their primary agenda is to get sanctification and tacit approval from the American people and, subsequently private behavior, through the manipulation of law. This is something that goes beyond the pale.
Indeed, putting Harris in charge of the life or death of such a law is akin to putting the fox in charge of the henhouse. And make no mistake. This is the reason Mike Madigan appointed Harris not only Chairman of the agenda-driven "Youth and Family Committee", Madigan also gave Harris control over the life and death of this bill and legislation that will come down the pike in the near future.
Some might look at Harris as the villain in this scenario. However, responsibility lies solely with the Illinois Speaker of the House regarding HB 0178 that would legalize homosexual "marriage" and circumvent standing DOMA (Defense Of Marriage Act) laws which already exist with the strongest support of Illinois residents.
Like Emil Jones' skillful manipulation in the defeat of the born-alive infants protection bills, Speaker Madigan has used a time-tested political ploy meant to insulate himself from public criticism. For years, Madigan has successfully deceived his district's constituency and Illinois voters in general into believing he is a champion of the pro-life cause and a keeper of pro-family values as a legislator. In reality, nothing can be further from the truth. Though many Illinois residents believe bills either pass or fail at the whim of an entire legislative body, this is a myth that, in part, has been perpetuated by the liberal media and made very real by the politicians who play the most important role in the process.
For example, if a very popular anti-abortion bill demands action by the public, Madigan can easily publicly give the impression of his support for a bill. Yet with a simple assignment, Madigan can and has doomed vital pro-life and pro-family legislation where such bills have died on the vine. Madigan can then claim he did his part in bringing a piece of legislation to the Illinois House--while also being provided with a built-in excuse which gives him political cover.
Sadly, this is a sophisticated tactic which many average voters do not know exists. It's a bit of inside political gamesmanship meant "for their eyes only". Unfortunately, many in the mainstream media have been complicit in this shell game where credit or blame for a bill's passage or failure is pre-ordained.
"During the many years that the Illinois pro-life/pro-family movement has struggled with legislation to squeak through even the most fundamental rights and protections in our present 'culture of death,' the all-powerful political hand of Mike Madigan was always there to see to it that not much happened," said Arlene Sawicki, a veteran political activist in Illinois and a member of many influential pro-family organizations. "Here is a man who has had an all-Catholic school education -- St. Adrian Grammar School, St. Ignatius College Prep, Notre Dame University and Loyola University Law School -- and yet has become increasingly unmoored from that spark of conscience that distinguishes good laws from bad, good principles from ruinous ones."
Sawicki added, "Madigan, who bears his own share of blame for what has become the international disgrace of Illinois politics, now caps it off with an egregious move to all who have basic common sense, establishing a Committee for Youth and Family, led by an openly 'gay' Chairman, whose first assignment is to un-do the timeless, universally-accepted definition of traditional marriage! It is my hope that the people of Illinois will finally see through all the Democratic Party's subterfuge and recognize the fact that Madigan and his radical political cronies are lining up to destroy DOMA and end the institution of traditional marriage. Thirty states have passed amendments upholding natural marriage -- even in liberal California! This is not a time to remain apathetic and silent."
Illinois, being a state which is essentially controlled by one-party government, may be worse than others. My experience with the state's politics does not provide me the political acumen to say this is the modus operandi of every state in the Union. Indeed, I hope there are states where the political process is honest and transparent. However, this is not the case in Illinois and with Mike Madigan's latest political payback to the homosexual lobby currently pending in the Illinois House, for once, the Speaker--who has made himself king--may have bitten off more than he can chew.
For contact info to share your thoughts on HB 0178 with your legislator and/or Speaker Mike Madigan go to: http://www.illinoisfamily.org/news/contentview.asp?c=34252.
Anyone wishing to receive RFFM.org e-mails should contact: Dan@rffm.org
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Yes, this is how things work in the one party system in the Kingdom of Daley. Once in a while, some Bole Weavel Democrats from southern Illinois jump ship, but most of the time, Chicago rules.
Posted by: Charlie | February 15, 2009 at 08:24 PM