Illinois State Representative Mike Bost (R. Murphysboro) took exception to a bill introduced by Democrats on Tuesday, and expressed his displeasure with well-reasoned arguments and compelling logic. And by that I mean he had a meltdown. The bill was on pension reform, but that wasn’t the issue that made Mike see red, it was the way it was introduced. He doesn’t like the rules that allow bills to be introduced and voted on right away, “These damn bills that come out here all the damn time, come out here at the last second!” Bost said. “I’ve got to figure out how to vote for my people!”
Yes. His people. In a stunning bit of hyperbole, Bost also quoted Moses, “Let my people GO!” he entreated in a tear-choked voice. But that wasn’t even the best part. In his frustration, Rep. Bost threw the offending bill in the air, and punched at it, as it came down. His spastic flailing was reminiscent of Napolean Dynamite in its impotent anger. Parts of his impassioned speech are lost due to him knocking into the microphone stand with his body, but you get the general idea that he doesn’t think the rules are fair, even going so far as to invoke the Constitution.
Here’s the video:
Wow! Pretty statesman-like, no?
Of course no story like this would be complete if there wasn’t some kind of kicker, that made the whole thing even more ridiculous, right? So here goes: The rules that Bost finds so unendurable and unfair were for the most part introduced by Republicans, and voted for by Bost himself, back in 1995, back when they held the majority in the Illinois House.
I smell a remix!