IIllinois grabbed national attention, for nearly two years, with the absence of a state budget, and the contentious, and very public, squabbles with Speaker of the House Michael Madigan, and the defunding of child care, by Gov. Bruce Rauner, and his refusal to sign an increase in the minimum wage; and these were just some of the issues that emboldened over 44 women’s organizations to hold a forum Saturday, at the Methodist Temple, to address the issues that affect women statewide, before the March primary.
Galvanized in part, by the sexual abuse and harassment news stories, and headlines of celebrity misbehavior, such as Harvey Weinstein, and Charlie Rose, the revelations caused many women to rally in support of those who told their stories.
“The issue of sexual harassment has been part of our agenda since it was created in 2014,” said Chicago Women Taken Action Alliance co-convener Marilyn Katz. She also noted that the forum asked candidates not only to“propose remedies” but to “look at the underlying economic and social issues that place women in vulnerable positions. It’s really not about sex but about power,” and “we are as – if not more concerned with ensuring women have the equalizing power that is ultimately protection.”
While Gov. Rauner and his challenger State Rep. Jeanne Ives were invited, they declined, but accepting were Democratic candidates J.B. Pritzker, Christopher Kennedy, Daniel Biss and Tio Hardiman.
Moderated by local NBC Chicago’s Mary Ann Ahern and SEIU Healthcare’s Jaquie Algee, the candidates staked their positions, and experience with women’s issues, and policies that were important to them. Among the groups represented were Affinity, Chicago National Organization for Women, Community Renewal Society, Enlace Chicago, and the National Council of Jewish Women Chicago North Shore.
Fresh off the starting block, in his opening statement, was J.B. Pritzker,, endorsed by Sen. Dick Durbin, and Rep. Tammy Duckworth, who gave his strong and personal history of supporting women, and their right to choose reproductive decisions.
Not to be outdone was Tio Hardiman who also told of his ongoing support for women and his steadfast belief in women’s ability to lead with his choice of running mate Patricia Avery, former head of the NAACP in Champaign-Urbana, Ill.
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| Tio Hardiman |
Chris Kennedy, scion of the storied political family, and son of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, gave the trajectory of his arrival from Boston to Chicago, “31 years ago to live in Decatur,” to learn about the food industry, and to tackle “the anti hunger program in 1986.”
Pritzker countered that this was “really a question of power,” and the need to “address economic hardship for women ... they need to take power.” To enthusiastic applause he emphasized that for men, like him, “we believe in you.”
Helping define himself, even more than the only African American candidate, Hardiman claimed “a proven track record of empowering women,” so that they can “not be afraid of losing their jobs, “ to help secure that power.
Kennedy emphasized that during his tenure of heading the Merchandise Mart that supporting women in leadership positions were “a proven part of my track record. At most, one-half of the vice-presidents, were all women.”
Daniel Biss noted that he “wanted to say thank you to all the women who have spoken out, “and if elected [governor] a majority of my cabinet would be women.”
Probably one of the more lasting issues affecting women, in Illinois, as well as the country are reproductive rights, or more specifically, continued federal support for a women’s right to choose, and “codifying the basic principles of Roe v. Wade, in consultation with her healthcare provider, without government intrusion,” a question that all four answered on their candidate survey, in the affirmative.
Kennedy commented that It’s sad to say that we have to fight this, especially on the state level.” Taking another tack, Biss commented that “We need universal health care access, and [the solution] is single-payer to give full access to women’s healthcare, plus mental health.”
Segueing into that Pritzker noted that the best way to “protect women is with the law and pass the ERA; something that I know because I marched with my mother [in support] in the 1970s, and I’ve been standing on this issue for many years.”
With many women working in low-paying jobs, fast food restaurants, and other low paying positions, often heading single parent households, or supporting a low-earning wage earner, the increase to a $15 minimum wage has been a front burner issue for many groups, but Rauner refused to sign this much needed bill and the candidates were impassioned by the need for it to become law.
Kennedy said “You can work fulltime and still be in poverty,” and furthermore, this is an issue “connected to the promise of our country.”
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| JFK in 1963 signing Equal Pay act |
Biss, continuing that theme endorsed Kennedy’s view but added that there is a need “to build a cost of living adjustment into the wage increase,” and change the tipping wage to be more equitable in light of their purchases.
Pritzker continuing in the same vein, said “We need higher wages in the amount that will provide equal pay for equal work,” a long sought after goal for generations of women. Expanding this further, he also noted that the issue “has to have some investment jobs in forgotten neighborhoods.”
Next up was the issue of paid family medical leave, something that many Western Europeans have but has been a point of contention for many in this country, but which Biss notes “should be a reality,” and not having it is just “short of barbaric.”
Of all of the issues, this one garnered the most garnered the most enthusiastic applause from the audience and Ahern had to ask those to save the applause, so that the candidates could be heard, especially when Kennedy said, “this is easy to implement,” and “we can change the paradigm.”
Closely connected to wage parity, is paid child care, something that was cut by Rauner and that sent many families scrambling for replacements to keep their jobs; and Kennedy feels that a $20.00 per child credit could help, not only with this issue, but help stem the tide of out migration from Illinois.
Pritzker feels that it is “unconscionable” to have it and that its absence creates a vacuum.
Close on the heels of this discussion came questions related to immigration and that would strengthen family units and also increase the economic support to families. And, as Pritzker remarked, that “Illinois should be a welcoming state.”
Kennedy emphatically feels that we need to “create a path to citizenship, for those that are vulnerable to ICE raids.”
Rauner has been adamant since he took office that the state needs to adopt his so-called “Turnaround Agenda” that includes, a right to work provision, where those working in a union shop are not compelled to pay union dues.
Pritzker who has the endorsement of the AFL-CIO dubbed it “the right to work for less money,” and Kennedy labelled it “not only a disaster, but a distraction” by the governor, presumably to mask his inadequacies, that even the GOP house organ, the National Review, which gave him the title of the worst Republican governor in the nation.
In a not unsurprising list of agreements the candidates agreed on much they felt was onerous: the Republican Tax Reform bill that Biss called “a scam,” to Kennedy saying that it is “bad for Illinois as well as the country.”
All were in favor of limiting charter schools, such as Kennedy, and Biss who called for a moratorium on them, with Pritzker deploring the closing of four schools in low-income Englewood, and while noting, “they deserve a new high school, this is not the way to do it [by closing schools].
There was divergence on legalization of marijuana with Pritzker saying “legalize it and tax it, the $750 million [in potential taxes] could ensure safety and quality.”
Hardiman demurred saying he did not want “people to say that Tio Hardiman said it was okay to smoke pot, and that it is the gateway for hard core drug use,” something that most epidemiologists, and medical researchers have denied.
Kennedy seemed more cautious than on his website and cited a conversation that he had with Colorado’s Gov. Hickenlooper about packaging that might lure young children and that “the THC count is higher than seen previously.”
Biss on the other hand spoke of the unequal sentencing with black and white offenders, even with the new ticketing guidelines, smacked of “racial injustice.”
While the nature of a forum is not a debate, and with much that was agreed on, it seemed as if the near 90 minute presentation towards a large crowd, over 1,000 might draw to a peaceful and collegial conclusion. Expected not seen, when unexpectedly, in an offhand remark about Speaker of the House Michael Madigan, and that Pritzker was his favored candidate, to which he replied, “That’s hypocrisy, if you want to see the man that voted for Madigan, look at the end of the table!”
Update: Monday Dec.12, 2017
"During and for an hour after the conclusion of the
event, a non-scientific straw poll was conducted to determine whom,
after hearing the candidates, attendees and others would vote for if the
election were held that day. They were asked to choose among the four
candidates at the forum, though they could also select “none of the
above” (that option received .4 per cent of the vote).
The straw poll taken between 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. on
Saturday garnered 554 votes, with Daniel Biss receiving 256 votes or
46%; JB Pritzker receiving 161 votes or 29 %; Chris Kennedy receiving
129 or 23% of the vote and Tio Hardiman trailing with 4 votes or .7
percent. Four people chose ‘none of the above’.", in a statement from Katz
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