Good stuff from the Sun-Times editorial board today:

In the House, a more modest temporary income tax increase failed, garnering only 42 of 70 Democratic votes. [House Speaker Michael] Madigan voted for it but did little else to get it passed. Historically, Madigan has been a fiscally conservative guy, so to an extent his recalcitrance on a tax increase fits. And House members tend to be more cautious than senators because they face voters more often.

But none of that fully explains Madigan's obstinacy. It's not unreasonable to suspect he has his own agenda -- one that has more to do with holding on to power or his daughter's political future than with what's best for Illinois.

Madigan may be worried about preserving his Democratic majority -- a tax increase vote could hurt a few legislators come election time. But what's the point of having a legislative majority if you don't use it to get things done?

Majority for the sake of majority -- that's what we're apparently seeing in the Illinois House these days.  What's the point, indeed.