llinois state Rep. Mike Bost (R) blew a gasket due to his frustration about Gov. Pat Quinn’s (D) plan to overhaul the state pension system and the way the majority controls everything.
I hear ya buddy. My favorite part is how he sits in his chair at the end, spent.
llinois state Rep. Mike Bost (R) was caught on video screaming and throwing papers as he expressed frustration about Gov. Pat Quinn’s (D) plan to overhaul the state pension system.
May 30, 2012 at 8:12 pm
Awesome. My new hero.
May 30, 2012 at 9:32 pm
The only folks who are suprised by late bills being dropped are those who haven't already been bought out… take Obamacare… Stupak had his position triangulated. The Louisiana purchase… and more. Just pick off enough votes and it doesn't matter what everyone thinks… just drop it on 'em and ram it through. This man is a hero. I don't doubt for a minute that the same is taking place in the IL legislature. Madigan has counted his votes and doesn't care about this representative, his positions, improvements to the plan, good politics, the Constitution, or anything else. And thus falls our democratic republic.
May 31, 2012 at 7:01 pm
He definitely nails the source of abuse: the giving of too much power to a single person – after all, power corrupts. It is the current human condition. Doesn't matter if it is in business, union or government leadership – power corrupts. The only difference between the 2 major political parties is which corrupting power influence they are blind to.
He mis-speaks when he calls our form of government a democracy. Our founders turn in their graves at the word – they did NOT want a democracy because all of those they were aware of had spectacular failures after short lives. The original founders would be appalled that we allow the vote to people who don't pay taxes or who are uneducated – seeing that as a recipe for unscrupulous propagandists to manipulate the masses to their detriment.
June 1, 2012 at 2:50 am
I work for an Illinois legislative agency. In our office we often listen to floor sessions on an ancient speaker system we call the "squawk box" or watch them on a live internet stream (www.ilga.gov)
While Rep. Bost's rant was considerably more intense than usual and did catch my attention, I've heard similar rants on the "squawk box" too many times to count. It happens with some regularity.
I have been told by others who've been around the statehouse longer than me, that most of these rants are staged for the benefit of the press gallery and fellow party members. This was probably NOT a surprise to the House GOP caucus, in fact I would bet they put him up to it, as a way of expressing their frustration with the process.
Elaine
June 1, 2012 at 7:19 am
Also, having bills dropped onto the floor for last minute votes is an extremely common occurrence this time of year because the legislative session is supposed to (emphasis on "supposed to") end on May 31.
Although the legislators have five months to work on various bills there is always a huge rush to get stuff passed before the deadline and the last day of session usually runs right up to midnight, if not later.
Ironically, the very pension bill of which Rep. Bost complained wasn't even called for a vote due to even more weird political maneuvering by Speaker Madigan, which would take all day to explain.
Elaine