Pro-GLBT 7th District candidates debate; Steans no-shows

Pro-GLBT 7th District candidates debate; Steans no-shows
By Amy Wooten
Copyright by The Chicago Free Press
December 10, 2009
http://www.chicagofreepress.com/node/4141


While openly gay Democratic candidate Jim Madigan and Republican candidate Adam Robinson didn’t agree on many points during a debate hosted by Loyola College Democrats and Republicans Nov. 25, the two foes ironically agreed on one crucial point for GLBT voters: obtaining equal rights for gay and lesbian couples in Illinois.

The two candidates, who are vying to replace 7th District Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago), drew a small crowd at Loyola University Chicago’s Rogers Park campus.

Incumbent Steans was a no-show for the debate, to the dismay of several members of the public. According to Steans supporters who were present for the event, the senator opted to instead attend a CTA meeting, which her opponents called a “photo-op.”

During the debate, Robinson and Madigan disagreed on several topics, such as how to handle the state’s budget in order to avoid future crises. The Republican supports slashing taxes in hopes of making the area more desirable to businesses while Madigan wants to avoid any drastic and “irresponsible” measures, such as cutting or eliminating taxes, until new and stable sources of revenue are found. The state has to be responsible, Madigan said, and ensure that nothing is done that will decrease the state’s revenue and force lawmakers to make even deeper cuts to areas such as social services.

“I think we need a middle ground,” Madigan said.

But Robinson countered that threatening doomsday scenarios as a result of tax cuts is “disingenuous.” “No one is proposing we throw people in the streets,” he said, adding that he supports selectively and responsibly cutting taxes.

To the surprise of many, both candidates support equal rights for gay and lesbian Illinoisans. Robinson called himself “a Republican that supports marriage equality,” and called full marriage equality for gays and lesbians a “fundamental right.” Madigan applauded Robinson for his support, which he called brave.

Robinson went as far as to call civil unions inadequate, to the surprise of many present.

“I think civil unions may be a step, but it’s a half step,” Robinson said, receiving much applause.

Madigan, the former executive director of Equality Illinois, took a less strident attitude towards obtaining marriage equality. As opposed to Robinson, he doesn’t feel that civil unions legislation is meaningless. Instead, he views it as a natural next step until more support is garnered for full marriage equality.

“The reality is…not enough people (in the state legislature) think like Adam (Robinson),” Madigan said.

Madigan believes that the GLBT community and its allies could spend energy trying to obtain more rights for gay and lesbian couples, even if they aren’t totally ideal, instead of fighting over what to call that legislation. “Our community spins its wheels and fights internally” over the issue when it could be working to pursue any progress. “We aren’t there yet,” Madigan said. “The votes aren’t there yet.”

Both Madigan and Robinson accused Steans of being disingenuous in her support of GLBT rights. Madigan said that Steans’ introduction of a marriage equality bill in the Senate (SB2468) so close to the end of the legislative session was “irresponsible” and a political move. Madigan added that her bill doesn’t have any co-sponsors to date beyond Senate President Emil Jones because her colleagues view it as “political showmanship.”

Steans filed the Equal Marriage Act in October. “If she was so hell bent on helping the gay and lesbian people of this district, why couldn’t she introduce a bill the past two years?” Madigan asked. He also accused Steans of only caring about the gay community once she discovered an openly gay candidate would be running against her.

“Once there was a gay candidate,” Madigan said, “her focus was the gay community.”

However, during her short time in office, Steans has supported bills that attempt to provide GLBT Illinoisans more rights, such as the Senate version of a civil union bill (SB2436) introduced last session. She was a chief co-sponsor of that bill.

Both candidates also agreed on the need for campaign finance reform. Robinson and Madigan have very little funds compared to Steans, who is wealthy and has been able to make substantial donations over the years to key political figures.

“They make it really hard for regular folks to run for office,” Robinson said.