Senator Meeks To Chicago Aldermen: 'Don't Come See Me, I Ain't Got No Money'
Illinois Sen. James Meeks told visiting Chicago aldermen not to come see him while they were in Springfield Wednesday, saying to the Windy City lawmakers there was nothing he could do for them or their wards.
"While I have this opportunity to speak to all of them at one time," Meeks said from the Senate floor, "don't come see me. I ain't got no money, I ain't got no influence. There's nothing I can do to help your Ward. Even my own aldermen, don't come see me."
Two Chicago aldermen, Freddrenna Lyle (6th) and Carrie Austin (34th), organized the trip to Springfield for five other aldermen and almost 40 constituents ostensibly to show supporters around the state capital but in reality to make their presence felt at a time when tough budget decisions are being made.
Meeks spokeswoman Jessica Dixon said the senator's comments caused a stir as they were piped over the loudspeaker in the senate president's press office.
"I work in an office of all press people," Dixon said, "and when he said that it was like someone threw a bomb into our office. Though I am his press secretary I can't prevent him from saying stupid things. The only way to prevent him from saying that would have been to attack him and put my hands over his mouth."
Dixon said Meeks was speaking out of frustration with how slowly the budget process was moving.
"He's just upset," Dixon said. "There's a lot of tension down here right now, and the senator is frustrated."
His comments were not meant to rebuff the aldermen, Dixon said.
"No, he was not saying back off. It was him being frustrated with his colleagues and making an off color joke about it."
Ald. Lyle told the Huffington Post that she and her party took the comment for what it was: a joke.
"We were laughing in the gallery," Lyle said. "He was what we call 'cracking' on the Republicans -- getting a dig in against them for holding up the budget. It wasn't, 'Don't come see me.'"
According to Dixon, none of the aldermen had come by Meeks' office Wednesday but Lyle said Meeks did speak with the group during lunch.
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Huffington Post | Tim Taliaferro
Posted: 05-27-09 09:39 PM