"... You might have the majority but you sure as hell can't lead." Republican Illinois state Rep. Bill Mitchell directed that blistering comment at House Democrats last week -- about gun control, high unemployment, high debt and a high deficit.

"You raised the taxes in this state and yet our debt is $2 billion higher," he said.

Add to his list the fight over control of the Southern Illinois University system. Illinois is facing major issues, but Gov. Pat Quinn is micromanaging board of trustees appointees, using as a litmus test their choice for board chairman. That's an issue for board members, not Quinn.

Democrat Rep. Jay Hoffman has resurrected his idea of separating the Edwardsville and Carbondale campuses, even though we've not heard school leaders ask for that to happen. Six years ago when Hoffman introduced a similar bill, leaders at SIU said keeping the two as one made fiscal sense, and that should drive any change.

Democrats in Springfield can't lead, and Illinois residents and taxpayers are suffering because of it.