Outnumbered 68 to 50 in the Illinois House, Republicans have little chance to pull off legislative coups. Instead they perform as the opposition — airing their own views and making sure Democrats follow the rules. Out in front for the minority is Thomas J. McCracken Jr. (R-81, Downers Grove), the new floor leader who leads the debate and lodges procedural protests.

McCracken sees three roles for the Republican minority:

• "In one sense we bring a positive agenda that is different to a great degree from the Democrats."

• "Secondly we do our best to make sure if the Democrats are going to pass legislation, that everybody knows what it's about."

• "And procedurally I think the minority serves an important function to make sure the rules are followed. . . . The rules make certain that the public is informed, that the public has the opportunity to participate in the system, that a fair hearing is given to all sides of an issue."

McCracken and his fellow Republicans got the chance to play all three roles on the bill to allow Adlai Stevenson's and Edward Vrdolyak's Illinois Solidarity Party to merge with the Democrats. The Solidarity bill had been unopposed in the Senate and on second reading June 2 in the House was open to amendment. Democrats wanted to close out that chapter of their history. They did not want an amendment that would send the bill back to the Senate where tinkering could take place. And they wanted to send the governor a "clean" bill, unadorned by amendments he could use as excuses for a veto.

But Republicans were in no hurry. McCracken offered the party view of the bill: "The fact is that the voters have created a new party and you seek to take it away from them.'' He argued that the Democratic House Election Law Committee had refused to call Republican bills: "We have been denied in the past — specifically in the past House committee hearings — the chance to present our conception of election reform."

And McCracken led the debate as Republicans seized the opportunity to make their points by amending what they characterized as "election reform" to the Solidarity bill. They offered 79 floor amendments that ranged from new filing dates to required notification to the State Board of Elections when vote counting equipment breaks down.

Speaker Michael J. Madigan (D-30, Chicago) presided. He had the votes to defeat the amendments, but the debate and ensuing roll call votes took time. One at a time the Republicans rose to offer their amendments. Occasionally a Democrat acknowledged merit, but opposed amending the Solidarity bill. Rep. Alan J. Greiman (D-l, Skokie) prodded sponsors for what he later called "self-righteous moralizing."

With the amendments going to defeat on party line votes, McCracken cajoled Democrats (he didn't have to rise because nervous energy keeps him on his feet, but occasionally he sits on the arm of his chair): "These are recorded roll call votes, and many of you over there in close districts will probably live to see these votes somewhere in your future."

Rep. Thomas J. McCracken Jr. Photos by Randy Squires/House Republican Press Office

His veiled threat went unheeded. The amendments continued to fall on party line votes. After two hours McCracken signaled the end of the exercise and withdrew the final 28 amendments with the admonition: "We expect our legislation to be fairly called in committee, and to be given a fair vote. . . . We are hoping that you will give us a chance at election reform in the next two weeks by considering the merits of these bills."

A day later on a party line vote Democrats passed and sent to the governor the unamended Solidarity bill. The same day five Republican election bills that had won unanimous Senate approval were called in the Election Law Committee. None drew a Democratic vote and all were held in committee, sparking further protests.

"We passed the one that had to be passed," said Madigan spokesman Steve Brown, who characterized Republican protests as "the usual drill." But the exercise exasperated at least one Democrat. Rep. Grace Mary Stern (D-58, Highland Park) was co-sponsor of one — a bill that would allow fewer election judges in off-year elections. "I'm voting against good bills," Stern said afterwards. She said she had a commitment from Speaker Madigan that election reform would be tackled in June.

Top: Rep. Thomas J. McCracken Jr. (R-81, Downers Grove) testifies for stronger DUI legislation with Secy. of State Jim Edgar. Bottom:McCracken confers in the chamber with Chris Martin, House Republican staffer.

McCracken said later that the election reform amendments had been formulated to exert pressure for committee hearings on Republican election bills and to demonstrate that election reform bills were not being called. "We had to do something dramatic or catchy to make the point. In that regard, the device of the amendments was a successful strategy."

McCracken takes his floor leader's post as seriously as he took the Solidarity amendments. The new job means spending time to familiarize himself with bills on the calendar, deciding whether the Republicans should have a position and whether amendments should be filed. He attends all leadership meetings.

McCracken is 34, a lawyer and starting his third House term. Colleagues from both sides of the aisle, variously describe him as "scholarly," "intense," "meticulous," "sincere," "dull," "a good soldier" and as having a "dry wit." The new post has its cost, he says. One is hustling to take care of district business. Another is time away from his two young children. He now comes to Springfield the night before instead of the morning of a session. McCracken acknowledges that he is not a press-the-flesh politician: "Some days, at the end of the day, I'm anti-social."

McCracken has taken over as floor leader from Sam Vinson, a colorful lawmaker known for his humor and the cigar he chewed, who left for a private sector lobbying position. Comparisons are common and not always flattering to McCracken. Greiman, who has sparred with both from the speaker's chair, calls Vinson an "ingenious maker of deviltry" and the "prince of sophistry." Of the present floor leader Greiman quips, "A Tom McCracken joke book will probably never be a best seller." But Greiman says McCracken learns fast: "He's a quick study so he picks up the issues." And Greiman says he's seen McCracken grow as he has become more comfortable in his post.

McCracken's boss, Minority Leader Lee A. Daniels (R-46, Elmhurst), sees the difference as purely style. After four years as floor leader Vinson was aggressive, he observes, while McCracken after barely four months uses a more deliberate style. Daniels says that McCracken works well on his feet, puts in long hours preparing himself, knows and is committed to legislative process and falls in the mainstream of Republican philosophy. "Tom is doing terrific," he pronounces.

Rep. David Harris (R-53, Arlington Heights) has roomed with McCracken since both came to Springfield in 1983. He says McCracken differs from Vinson in both experience and personality. "Tom is just a more serious guy. He's a more ideologically committed guy."

McCracken calls his predecessor "a super floor leader" and says he is trying to develop the political instincts that Vinson employed. "I think Sam had great political instincts and he combined those with a very engaging style of debate," McCracken says.

McCracken sees both wins and losses in the first five months of the 85th General Assembly. He regrets in early June that suburban residents' complaints about O'Hare Airport have not been addressed and that tort reform has gone undebated. On the other hand, McCracken says Republicans did a good job getting members' bills called before the deadline for House action. He attributes successes to staying with the issues and good staff work. "The victories are maybe sometimes small, but they're meaningful." says McCracken.