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* Sun-Times…
Another new PAC that has ties to gubernatorial candidate and millionaire businessman Bruce Rauner emerged this week. Since Monday, Rauner, Jack Roeser and Richard Uihlein — all wealthy businessmen — have dumped $94,000 into the Reform PAC, according to a state campaign filing. Roeser is one of the most influential Republicans in the state.
“What they want to reform is anyone’s guess, but it’s an interesting gathering of people,” David Morrison, Deputy Director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform said in a post on Tuesday.
This is the second committee with ties to Rauner that’s outside of the candidate’s straight-up election committee.
* Actually, the explanation is pretty simple. From the PAC’s Board of Elections’ page…
Purpose: To support Illinois Republican House candidates in the general election
* Freshman Rep. Dave McSweeney has been heavily involved in the PAC. From an August 24th e-mail…
I’ve helped raised $100,700 for a newly formed PAC called Reform PAC. The purpose of the PAC is help GOP State House candidates. The PAC will have minimal administrative expenses and will only invest in top tier winnable races. We’re confident that the PAC can quickly raise an additional $90,000 so that the total raised in the short run will be over $200,000. […]
The reason that I helped raised money for this effort is that we want to increase the number of GOP House members. In an off-year election, we should be successful if we unite and all GOP House members focus on raising money and continuing to recruit good candidates.
With the House Republican Organization’s finances in complete disarray, this is actually a good thing that Rauner and the others are doing. Not everything has to be a whack.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 10:14 am
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How convenient that Civic Committee member Bruce Rauner has set up a House GOP PAC to facilitate the civic committees bribery of the House GOP that Ty talked about yesterday.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 10:18 am
===has set up a House GOP PAC===
Can you read?
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 10:19 am
Say what you want, Rauner is demonstrating a steep learning curve.
Comment by Keep Calm and Carry On Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 10:23 am
This is good, as long as the purported goal is to elect GOP House members.
My Party needs the Cash, and My Party needs more seats in the IL House.
How this will play out come next June or so, I don’t know yet.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 10:24 am
Apparently not Rich. The way I read your post is Rauner has set up a PAC to support the House GOP that he is calling “Reform PAC.” What did I miss?
Comment by hisgirlfriday Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 10:27 am
===What did I miss? ===
The e-mail from Rep. Dave McSweeney which provides the real explanation. Rauner is just a contributor.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 10:33 am
Oh, but the strings that will come attached to those funds . . . .
Comment by LincolnLounger Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 10:42 am
Rich FWIW I read David McSweeneys email and couldn’t tell from that he set it up and not Rauner based on that email either. Not that I doubt you, especially because a trip to the google does show the same person set up both this Reform PAC and Daves old congressional PAC, but just glad it was further clarified.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 10:43 am
This is the first smart move by either party. PAC’s and Super PACs are part of the future and whichever party in this state is best able to create them and use them effectively will win seats.
Madigan will oppose this because he opposes anyone having any say in the state party. So the first score of the cycle goes to the GOP.
Comment by Spliff Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 10:49 am
I’m confused. Isn’t the purpose of a PAC to support people or committees that are in alignment with your values and positions?
HisgirlFriday likens this to bribery (yes, Ty Fahner was a fool to word it that way) but honestly, is it any different from corporate PACs supporting candidates that supports them back?
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 10:57 am
Wow. So Rauner is doubling-down on his close association with Jack Roeser, the state’s leading opponent to gay rights (some would say leading homophobe). Yet on the other hand, Rauner won’t even take a position on same-sex marriage. Clearly money can’t buy good political sense.
Comment by too obvious Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:13 am
My understanding is this is a McSweeney enterprise. Good move by him to step up when the traditional entity (HRO) is flailing.
Comment by JoeD Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:23 am
I guess the question will become whether Reform PAC transfers into funds controlled by the new House GOP leader or they pick and choose candidates to support on their own.
A challenge to the new leader, whomever it will be.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:32 am
This is why McSweeney is showing up on my Facebook feed as a sponsered suggestion…
Comment by Highland, Il Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:39 am
If potential GOP candidates have to pass the Roeser litmus test on social issues, then Republicans aren’t likely to regain the suburban House seats they’ve been hemorrhaging during the Cross years.
Comment by reformer Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:49 am
Rich is right that this is the first measure any GOPer has seen that begins to address the fact that being a Super Minority is a problem no matter who’s governor. There’s got to be a place where good candidates can go. We currently don’t have a GOP leader in the legislature where this kind of funding is normally managed. No dis to Cross or Radogno, but their efforts have not created a competitive financial situation and neither show any potential to do so. Jury still out on next house leader, but this party can’t afford to wait.
Comment by A guy... Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:56 am
Its a good thing for those members and candidates that will tow the anti-union line. Its a bad thing for downstate House GOPers who support union backed pension reform. McSweeney has demonstrated that he will take political opponents in his own party to hell and back. Beware south of Rt. 72 fellas.
Comment by So. ILL Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 12:48 pm
“…The PAC…will only invest in top tier winnable races….”
In other words, it’s not a PAC with a focus on winning a GOP majority. It’s only interested in winning GOP IOU’s.
Comment by Brendan Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 1:26 pm
Brendan, I think you completely misinterpreted that sentence. The idea is to put money into winnable races. What’s the problem?
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 1:31 pm
Let’s see, the last cycle some of these same players (including Rauner and Griffin) lost 18 out of 19 races primarily due to seriously flawed handpicked candidates and a total lack of understanding on how to run campaigns.
Now Rauner is running for Governor and is already being accused of unethical behavior in coordinating his campaign messages with his own PAC’S.
Adding to the STINK - his campaign investors are pooling additional resources to enhance Rauner’s campaign by forming their own individual PAC’s.
Looks as if the insane (money folks) are about to run the asylum.
Geez…money begets money, money corrupts the system, the “reformers” are the corrupter’s.
Give them credit…they might pull it off - Yikes!
Comment by Only in Illinois! Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 2:04 pm
==What’s the problem? ==
Nothing until the candidates and staff on HGOP races suddenly have two masters… This was a nearly serious problem last cycle with the Proft $. Should be interesting.
Comment by Then again... Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 4:17 pm
==With the House Republican Organization’s finances in complete disarray…==
Another reason for Cross to move on.
Comment by DanL60 Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 5:07 pm