Ill. Democrats step into GOP split over leadership

The Chicago Tribune ^ | May 7 2009 | Christofer Wills

[chicagolady]

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Party interests blurred and twisted at the state Capitol Wednesday as Democrats, led by a former Republican, teamed up with disgruntled GOP members to change the way they choose their leaders.

Top Republicans oppose the change, even threatening to sue over it.

What's at stake is whether rank-and-file Republicans will get to vote on who serves on the party's central committee, the governing board for the party in Illinois.

Right now, Republican leaders in wards, townships and precincts across the state choose the central committee. Some Republican activists say that system produces a central committee that's out of touch with voters.

They want to switch to the same system Democrats use, where one man and one woman in each congressional district is elected to serve on the central committee.

"One person, one vote is a tradition in this country, and that's all Republican voters are asking for," said Sen. Chris Lauzen, an Aurora Republican who, with help from Democrats, won senate approval for the legislation.

Most top Republicans hate the idea.

Opponents say Democrats support the measure just to punish Republicans for linking them to former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and point out their flip-flops on holding a special election to fill Barack Obama's Senate seat.

"We think it's a bit comical that instead of passing real reform in the past 100 days, they're playing around with party rules," said Andrew McKenna, chairman of the Illinois Republican Party.

The House Executive Committee approved the change Wednesday in a 7-4 party-line vote -- with Democrats supporting it and Republicans opposing it. The measure now goes to the House floor and, if it passes there, the governor's desk.

[spintreebob]

Dem Madigan may see SB600 that shifts power from GOP combine to GOP voters it just as a bargaining chip.

To the GOP combine/Cross/Savianno it must be stopped.

So what if Madigan tells Cross/Savianno

“Make my tax hike bi-partisan so it can’t be used against Lisa and this thing you hate even more than a tax hike will never come to a vote.”

Is that the way the game is played?

[PhilCollins]

I agree that the IL GOP SCC needs to be cleaned out. We need to ensure that one conservative runs, in each district. In 2006, in my district (10th), there were two conservative candidates (Ray True and Ruth O’Connell) and a RINO, Tolbert Chisum. The conservative vote split, helping the RINO win.