* I told subscribers about this earlier in the week…
With a late-March surge of fund-raising, Gov. Pat Quinn’s campaign chest amassed more than $550,000 in the first three months of 2013, narrowing the substantial lead in funds of potential 2014 Democratic gubernatorial challenger Attorney General Lisa Madigan.
Quinn, who had just more than $1 million in campaign funds - a relatively scant sum for a mid-term governor - by the end of 2012, received more than $490,000 in contributions on three consecutive days in the last week of March, according to Illinois State Board of Elections data.
“It shows that Gov. Pat Quinn has a lot of support and will continue to have a lot of support as he gears up for re-election,” a Quinn campaign spokesperson said. “The governor will continue to make money as needed.”
* And despite dire predictions from the commentariat about how Quinn was alienating organized labor, unions were among his largest contributors…
* SEIU Illinois Council PAC Fund: $25,000
* Painters Dist. Council #14: $17,600
* Illinois Laborers’ Legislative Committee: $15,000.00
* I.U.O.E Local 150 Federal Political Action Committee: $10,500.00
* Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois PAC Fund: $10,000.00
* Teamsters Local Union No. 727: $20,000.00
* Chicago Fire Fighters Union Local 2: $7,500.00
* Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters PAC: $5,000.00
* IBEW Local 701 Politcal Action Committee: $5,000.00
* Plumbers & Pipefitters Union Local 149 COPE: $5,000.00
* Teamster Local 330 PAC Fund: $5,000.00
* Teamsters Local Union No. 26: $5,000.00
* Teamsters Local Union No. 627: $5,000.00
* Teamsters Local Union No. 700: $5,000.00
* Teamsters Local Union No. 731: $5,000.00
* Teamsters Local Union No. 916: $5,000.00
* Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #7: $3,000.00
* Construction and General Laborers’ District Council of Chicago & Vicin: $2,600.00
* Local No.150 - I. U. O. E. Local Area PAC: $2,600.00
* United Transportation Union PAC: $2,500.00
* Cook County Teachers Union: $1,000.00
* Sheet Metal Workers’ Int. Assn. Local Union No. 73: $1,000.00
That’s a total of more than $163,000.
Unions didn’t give him all of his money, however. CME Group, which got a huge tax break from Quinn, gave the governor’s campaign $10,500 last month.
He also got a bunch of cash from ambulance companies, which is somewhat curious that he’d target that service industry.
- RNUG Fan - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 9:01 am:
If your union gives to your abusers They need to hear from you
Most are trades here but I see SEIU
Who is the Cook County Teachers Union?
- PublicServant - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 9:10 am:
As long as Quinn is the only declared Democrat in the race, the unions are hedging their bets. We’ll see what happens when other democrats jump into the primary.
- quincy - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 9:18 am:
Good old Teamsters pulling out $50.000 for a men who whats to cut our retirement cola. I called my teamsters Reps a raised hell got told he’s the best men for the Job. Come on little Lady stop him now. GO LISA I have a yard sign waiting to put up. Lets don’t foget the repuplicans that want to cut us old and still want our money to get back in office.
- RNUG Fan - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 9:23 am:
If they want to hedge their bets give something to Rauner(or more seriously Dillard or whoever) then. I am getting a bunch of its going to be a bad week in Springfield next week blah blah.
Its going to be a bad week because you keep giving your lunch money to the bully
BTW I exclude AFSCME from this at least do far I am not in AFSCME I am in SEIU and I regret it
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 9:25 am:
Thses monies, today, let me know that Republicans as a party are probably NOT on the Unions radar.
Further,
What this also “tells” me is that the Unions are not going to look at the Republican “generic” Nominee, specifically for governor, too closely, and the Unions are hedging their bets to the “known” Dem that will probably run, and look to support the Dem Nominee come November 2014.
$163K as a total is not something to look at too, too, lightly, but should be seen as a signal to an overall agenda, both in Party and in Office.
- OneMan - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 9:26 am:
Well people chase ambulances because that is where the money is…
Also interesting to see the service from my hometown now appears go by the name Bud’s
- LincolnLounger - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 9:27 am:
“The governor will continue to make money as needed.”
MAKE money? Wow.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 9:28 am:
===If they want to hedge their bets give something to Rauner===
Rauner wants to shut down the state and renegotiate, and even look at crashing the pension system if you read what he says.
I am sure you meant that as snark, all I am doing is shedding some light, as you are, to the hedging.
- RNUG Fan - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 9:28 am:
Good for you quincy . But I am not ready to there yet though.
I envy the GOP groups They take out Richard Lugar and we cant stand up to some nobody state rep .
Yes GOP lost in IN but you cant win until you realize your interest is not the same as some state political party
- Cassiopeia - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 9:30 am:
These are small ball amounts and were the minimum that the lobbyists for the unions came up with when the Governor’s fundraisers asked them.
These are the amounts you give to an incumbent with 21+ months left in office. These are not indicative of support for re-election.
- RNUG Fan - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 9:34 am:
Yes OW it was snark on Rauner but not on the republicans in general. It was republicans who really didn’t vote for cuts at least in the house.
The unions should spend NOTHING on the general. It should ALL go to primary 40 house democrats
The unions will bombard their members to call their legislator next week. (see SEIU 73 facebook page today)
DONT do it call your union leaders instead!
- Empty Chair - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 9:49 am:
Anyone who thinks a win against Quinn will be easy (general or primary) should take this as the warning shot across the bow. I still don’t get the argument that Lisa will just “roll through” a primary. The power of incumbency and the political skills of Pat Quinn are similarly significant.
I wonder if the prospect of a potentially painful/damaging campaign will finally scare Lisa off.
- Cassiopeia - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 10:00 am:
“the political skills of Pat Quinn are similarly significant.”
Duh…what are you smoking in the Governor’s Office Mr. Empty Chair?
- Empty Chair - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 10:07 am:
Please. The guy has been elected to statewide office. Twice. Once when he had a 29% approval rating and the economy was in the tank. The Gov has his flaws, but he’s been an influential political figure for decades without a family legacy behind him.
But please, tell me again how aloof he is and that he’s incapable of winning in 2014. You can copy and paste it from your comments on this blog 2+ years ago.
- soccermom - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 10:10 am:
Actually, Empty, PQ has been elected to statewide office four times.
- Pelon - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 10:11 am:
It doesn’t surprise me at all that he would target the ambulance companies. They get a lot of money from medicaid for transporting and caring for patients. They are also affected by state staffing requirements, toll charges, and numerous other things dictated by the legislature and the Governor’s agencies.
- WizzardOfOzzie - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 10:13 am:
Pat Quinn took down a primary challenger who was well known and started with a 3 million dollar advantage, despite the early prison release debacle. He then went on to beat the Republican candidate in a year where Democrats lost… everywhere.
He is also the hardest working candidate I’ve ever met. During campaign season, he is everywhere.
Is he a significant underdog to the best liked politician in the State, sure. But it’s not smart to dismiss him.
- Small Town Liberal - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 10:16 am:
Don’t worry about Cassi, EC, I’m pretty sure the Governor didn’t respond to her Christmas wish list or something.
Good for the Governor, and good for those who support him.
- wordslinger - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 10:22 am:
Challenging an incumbent in your own party is no easy decision. This certainly doesn’t make it any easier.
- Stones - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 10:31 am:
In Vegas they call that “hedging your bets”
- Arthur Andersen - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 11:11 am:
The ambulance guys have been at the back of the Medicaid payment line and are bleeding red ink, pardon the expression. Think they are trying to move up the line-curious to see if this will work.
- Small Town Liberal - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 11:20 am:
- Think they are trying to move up the line -
The Governor has proposed closing loopholes to pay down the debt, they might appreciate that.
- slow down - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 11:26 am:
After all these years, it’s interesting to me how there are still so many that underestimate Pat Quinn. The man is battle tested. He’s a survivor. He may not win another term, but it’s not going to beasy beating him.
- regular democrat - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 11:30 am:
interesting to see the 23rd ward reg dem org give such a large amount of money. 13th and 23rd usually in lockstep really jumped out at me Wouldnt think 23rd ward wants to p–s off you know who in 13.
- Snucka - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 11:32 am:
Governor Quinn raised $250,000+ in the first quarter of 2009. This year the total was $550,000+. I don’t see how that is anything but a positive sign for him politically, especially with a very strong challenger mulling a primary run.
- Norseman - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 11:35 am:
What this tells me is that it’s still good to be the King. People will still offer up their money in hope of convincing the King to spare them from future harm.
- Small Town Liberal - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 12:03 pm:
- in hope of convincing the King to spare them from future harm. -
My goodness, is there anything I can personally do to ease your suffering? Seriously, if it’s that bad I feel compelled to help.
- Norseman - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 12:11 pm:
===- in hope of convincing the King to spare them from future harm. -
My goodness, is there anything I can personally do to ease your suffering? Seriously, if it’s that bad I feel compelled to help.===
You could help a lot of people, STL. Convince your boss not to run for re-election. Illinois needs some competent leadership. We’re not getting that now.
- Skeptic Tank - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 12:13 pm:
===I still don’t get the argument that Lisa will just “roll through” a primary. The power of incumbency and the political skills of Pat Quinn are similarly significant.
I wonder if the prospect of a potentially painful/damaging campaign will finally scare Lisa off.==
I’d wager $2 on Lisa vs your $1 on Quinn (were that sort of thing legal).
- All The Facts - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 12:45 pm:
You’re missing the big picture. The Cook County College Teachers Union may have given $1,000 to Quinn, but they also gave $25,000 to Lisa Madigan.
- RNUG Fan - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 1:06 pm:
Who is the Cook County College Teachers Union?
I am not after the trades. They have to do what they have to do just like the contractors and now the ambulance companies. Its the publics I am ticked off at Is Cook County a private of some sort?
The firefighters are essentially colobbying with the local govs. But by FAR the biggest donors are the Teachers and SEIU. That is what ticks me off.
But the state public unions must also make it clear they may not be backing the same people the trades and locals do
- Sue - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 1:39 pm:
what a shock- the Unions are Quinn’s lifeline- anyone wonder why the State leads the nation in unemployment- deficits and continuing real estate price declines
- wordslinger - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 1:49 pm:
–what a shock- the Unions are Quinn’s lifeline- anyone wonder why the State leads the nation in unemployment- deficits and continuing real estate price declines–
You’re on to something here, Sue. You and Oliver Stone should collaborate on the screenplay.
- Happy Returns - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 2:38 pm:
” You and Oliver Stone should collaborate on the screenplay….”
‘See here, how the union guy hands him the check in the envelope, and then his hand waves back, and to the left…
back, and to the left…back, and to the left…’
- Joe Bidenopolous - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 2:41 pm:
“…target the ambulance companies. They get a lot of money from medicaid for transporting and caring for patients…”
Lest we forget, there’s been a move afoot to slash ambulance spending on Medicaid in general, and a concurrent move to rebalance Medicaid transportation to alternative means.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Friday, Apr 5, 13 @ 2:42 pm:
errr…a move afoot to slash Medicaid spending *for* ambulance service, that is…