With His Death Penalty Ploy Rauner Uses An Old Trick He Learned From His Enemy Mike Madigan

In April, Republican legislators set their terms for supporting social justice measures, telling Democrats in so many words: If you want our support, you have to give us something in return.

        Rauner’s amendatory veto came on HB 1468, proposed by state rep Jonathan Carroll, a Democrat from Northbrook.  It would require a 72- hour wait before purchasing an assault weapon, a sensible piece of legislation if ever there was one.

        At least, it might give relief from the demons that lead someone to take another person’s life.

     After February’s shooting in Parkland, Florida—where a deranged 19-year-old gunned down 17 high school kids and teachers—Trump tweeted that he wanted to work with state and local leaders “to help secure our schools and tackle the difficult issue of mental health.”

        I’ve been known to give Durkin grief for being a TIF lawyer, so it’s only fair that I give him kudus for voting the right way.

 He signed the bill allowing Medicaid coverage of abortion—and the right-wingers still haven’t forgiven him. Which is why he is now trying to appease them by calling for bringing back the death penalty—and so we come full circle.