Local News
2-4-6-8, Strategic or Politic?
State Senate Democratic Primary challenger Jim Madigan criticized incumbent Senator Heather Steans’ introduction of a civil unions bill, known as 2-4-6-8 saying Steans’ introduction of the civil union bill was “johnny-come-lately” politicking.
Jim Madigan, Democratic challenger for 7th State Senate District
First reported by Tom Mannis of the Chicago News Bench and Phil Reese of the Bilerico Project, Madigan charged, “She’s not introduced a civil union bill the entire time,” she was in office. Madigan charges that because she has an openly gay primary opponent she introduced a marriage equality bill that has “no chance of passage.”
But LBGT activists are supporting both the bill and Steans. The Equality Illinois Political Action Committee endorsed Steans in the primary election over her gay opponent, Madigan. EIPAC Director Rick Garcia said EIPAC was founded to support legislators who support gay rights. Steans has “supported every piece of gay of legislation we’ve asked her to support. It is as simple as that,” Garcia said.
It is her attempt to “make a last minute grab for LBGT voters,” Madigan charges. Noting the bill number, SB2468, he said, “she’s good on showboat and cutesy but not on results and hard work.”
Garcia said the timing of the bill’s introduction didn’t bother him. Garcia said “I can only guess the Senator’s motives.” EIPAC supports SB2468 as well as a house bill introduced by Illinois Representative Greg Harris, he said. “I’m glad we have two versions of the bill to work with,” Garcia said.
Madigan, talking about gay rights and Steans representation of the district, said Steans has not shown a capacity to “advance the ball” in the Senate. By not putting a bill on the table, he charges, other senators are not being made to go on record about gay rights.
Incumbent Heather Steans, 7th State Senate District
Garcia said Steans was behind all the LBGT legislation. “This race is a win/win situation for us,” he said. “Jim is the first guy I call with legal questions. He’s bright, he’s really good,” Garcia said. But he said the group does not fixate on a candidate’s sexual orientation when making endorsements.
Matthew Zaradich, 27, of Uptown, a member of Join the Impact Chicago, said “SB2468 is a great progressive bill.”
“There needs to be a strategy to get it passed, Zaradich said. “It will have a lot of opponents and this is a really terrible time: everything is political before a primary.”
“There are real LBGT families in Illinois who cannot visit partners dying in the hospital; don’t have rights to protect their children. And they don’t receive the same tax benefits as every other American,” Zaradich said. “It’s important for Illinois to stand up and pass this progressive bill.”
“I don’t think there’s a problem with the bill, but with the strategy for getting it passed,” Madigan said.
Steans has to have the courage to move it, to work with the Downstate senators to get them onboard and protect all Illinois families, Zaradich said. “I think Heather has the best interest of LBGT families at heart. But you can’t just introduce it… she must show the courage of her convictions… The people of Illinois demand equal rights.”
The Steans Chicago campaign office was contacted over three days, as well as her legislative offices in Springfield and Chicago. The CenterSquareLedger received no reply to its calls or email messages.
The Steans campaign office is at 5539 N. Broadway and the Madigan campaign office is at 4802 N. Broadway.
