Everyone focuses on Mike Madigan as the chokepoint where Democrats can stymie Bruce Rauner. But don’t forget Cullerton and his 39-member supermajority. He is just as potent as Madigan for potentially hamstringing the new governor on any budget cuts or labor-unfriendly initiatives that Rauner might push at the statehouse.
![](/wp-content/archive/Chicago-Magazine/March-2015/Power-100/John-Cullerton/37-cullerton.jpg)