NKC Occasional Update

January 9, 2015

Dear Friends:

The 114th Congress is in session! It may not be the Congress we wanted, but it's the Congress we've got and we wish them well.

Senator Durbin Sworn in for Fourth Term as U.S. Senator

Ever wonder how the Senate inauguration actually works? As you can watch in the video, above, the official oath of office is taken on the Senate floor. But the big fun happens in the Old Senate Chamber where Vice President Joe Biden presides over swearings-in specifically staged for the benefit of the elected officials, their families and friends. While the 114th Congress won't agree on much, they have to agree that nobody does this with the warmth and wit of our Veep! Even the White House was sufficiently amused that they issued a special edition of Being Biden, their audio history of the Vice President. You can also watch a video of Biden clips from the day (and catch a brief glimpse of Dick Durbin being sworn in with Loretta at his side at the 1:23 mark).

Senator Dick Durbin was escorted down the Senate aisle by Senator Mark Kirk and Senator Carl Levin. Later, Senator Durbin issued this statement:

"I am honored that the people of Illinois have given me the opportunity to continue representing their interests in Washington.  During my time in the Senate, I have worked to create good-paying jobs, promote Illinois businesses and ensure that our state is receiving its fair share of federal funding," said Durbin.

 

"As the reins of power in the Senate change hands today for the first time in eight years, my focus on protecting these investments has sharpened.   We can, and we must, come together and work across the aisle in order to meet America's biggest challenges.  As a member of the Senate Democratic leadership, I will make certain that when negotiations are taking place and decisions are being made Illinoisans will have a seat at the table and a voice in the halls of power."

The Democratic Leadership of the Senate (credit: Sen. Reid's Office)

With Senator Harry Reid sidelined by broken bones in his face and three broken ribs as a result of a battle with an exercise machine that he clearly lost, Senator Durbin filled in for Reid during the opening proceedings and will continue in that role until Leader Reid's doctors allow him to return.

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Women in the Senate

Senator Boxer at her Women Making History Chicago 2004 Reception at the Ann Nathan Gallery

On Thursday, Senator Barbara Boxer announced she would not be running for re-election in 2015 using a youtube video with her grandson. Click here to watch.

For me it is the end of an era. Since her election to the US House of Representatives in 1982, Senator Boxer has been one of my political heroines. I followed her march to the Senate in 1991 during the Anita Hill-Clarence Thomas hearings to ensure that the all-male Senate Judiciary Committee gave the matter the gravitas it deserved, and then cheered her election to the US Senate in 1992. She is a champion for many of the causes I care about, and I love her feisty manner. 

In 2004, she honored a group of women in Chicago for their commitment to social change including Mavis Leno, Gila Bronner, Loretta Durbin, Valerie Jarrett, Joint Action Committee, and Smita Shah. Pictured above are the women of JAC who were early supporters of Senator Boxer.

Senator Patty Murray

Another success from 1992, the Year of the Woman, is Senator Patty Murray. She turned a negative into a positive by proudly adopting the sobriquet "mom in tennis shoes." She now serves as Secretary of the Democratic Conference, one of the top leadership positions for our party. Among her many achievements in the Senate was brokering a budget deal with Rep. Paul Ryan. She's up for re-election in 2016, so stay tuned for her visits to Chicago.

Want to read more about the talented women who have served our country in the U.S. Senate? Check out Politico's Liz Mundy's feature, The Secret History of Women in the Senate, here!

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The Most Important Story You Didn't See This Week

MN Gov Mark Dayton and WI Gov Scott Walker (Credit: LaCrosse Tribune)

The LaCrosse Tribune ran a brief editorial this week comparing and contrasting the opposing paths taken by the Governors of Minnesota and Wisconsin that should be required reading for incoming Governor Bruce Rauner. They note that both governors were elected in 2010, and both inherited huge deficits and overwhelming budget problems. 

Republican Governor Walker in Wisconsin opted to slash funding of public education, reduce tax credits to the poorest citizens of Wisconsin, and gave his rich buddies nearly $2 billion in income and real estate tax cuts. Wisconsin refused Federal money under the ACA, costing it over $200 million over two years.

Meanwhile, Democratic Governor Dayton raised taxes on the richest Minnesotans and increased the tobacco tax. Later, after righting the ship, he reduced taxes by $500 million, splitting the cuts between middle class taxpayers and businesses. Minnesota took Federal ACA funds and created its own marketplace that brought coverage to thousands of residents.

How did it turn out? The editorial notes that "Forbes ranks Minnesota as the ninth best state for business, No. 7 in economic climate and No. 2 in quality of life. Wisconsin is ranked 32nd, 27 and 17 on the same measures. The cost of doing business in Minnesota is 0.2 percent below the national average. Wisconsin is 1.7 percent above the average. The median household income in Minnesota is about $60,000. It's just below $52,000 in Wisconsin."

Today, Wisconsin faces a $2 billion deficit, while Minnesota is enjoying a $1.2 billion surplus.

But they saved the best for last. They cite a study by Menzie Chinn, a University of Wisconsin economist, who found that states with the highest ALEC ratings had lower economic growth than states with "poor" ALEC ratings. LA Times business writer Michael Hiltzik sums it up this way:  "[T]he problem is that pro-business policies don't really contribute to economic growth. The just make the rich richer, which is not the same thing at all."

We sure hope Governor-elect Rauner gets the memo!

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Remembering Governor Mario Cuomo

Mario Cuomo's 1984 Convention Speech

 

America lost a shining beacon of hope and Progressives lost a true spiritual leader when Governor Mario M. Cuomo died last week at the age of 82. He may be best remembered for the keynote address he gave to the 1984 Democratic Convention where he delivered a forceful and moving response to President Ronald Reagan. Please take 7 minutes to watch the speech, above. You'll be glad you did. Our favorite snippet was this:

"The Republicans believe that the wagon train will not make it to the frontier unless some of the old, some of the young, some of the weak are left behind by the side of the trail. The strong, the strong they tell us, will inherit the land.

We Democrats believe something else.  We believe that we can make it all the way with the whole family intact, and we have more than once."

 

Earlier in the speech he traced a direct line from Herbert Hoover to "trickle down" to "supply side" economics. It's all the same, he warned us, and he was right.

 

Rest in peace to the man who didn't run for president most likely because he preferred to sleep in his own bed each night and to wake up each morning to his wife and family. May his memory be a blessing to our nation and to us all.

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SCENE ON THE HILL

NRDC's Henry Henderson with Rocker Joe Walsh at the reception in honor of Senator Peters of Michigan.

Joe Walsh with Doug Dougherty of Springfield at the Durbin-Franken party in Washington, DC.

Abe Lincoln looks on as NK congratulates Senator Durbin on 6 more years!

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ON OUR RADAR SCREEN

PPIA 2015 Roe VS Wade Event 

Shake off winter at one of the hottest events of the year, Planned Parenthood Illinois Action's annual Roe vs. Wade event on Thursday, January 22nd at City Winery. This year, the Dr. Marvin Rosner Lifetime Achievement Award is being presented to Representative Barbara Flynn Curie, while the Richard J. Phelan Profile in Courage Award is being presented to Laura Tucker. If you need any more proof that this is an event that you simply cannot miss, note that Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky has announced that she will fly in for it even though the House will be in session! Buy your tickets here. See you there!

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UofC Institute of Politics Winter Speakers Series

Governor Martin O'Malley on progressive politics.  Mitch Daniels on affordability of higher education. The Reverend Jesse Jackson on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The editors-in-chief of BuzzFeed, Gawker and Vice on the news industry. David Axelrod on his forthcoming book.  These are just some of the highlights of the University of Chicago Institute of Politics Winter Speakers Series. Almost all of their events are open to the public. Check it out today!

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STAFF PICK(S) OF THE WEEK

Snarky State Mottos

In keeping with our trend of staff picks that are heavy on sarcasm and light on political correctness, check out this list from Distractify, "50 Americans Summarize Their Home State In One Perfectly Sarcastic Sentence." 

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Consider this a public service announcement to those who are stuck inside due to the frigid temperatures. HuffPo published the comprehensive list of when your favorite TV shows resume their seasons. You're welcome.

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Team NKC is looking for interns! Know of a great college student who wants to gain some firsthand experience in the world of political fundraising and earn college credit? Contact  Caryn Pavlak for more details.

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A shout out to our head writer, Art Friedson. Be sure to send the NKC Occasional Update to your friends who can sign up here.