* After saying earlier today: “I look forward to having Lisa Madigan as attorney general when I’m the governor,” GOP gubernatorial candidate Kirk Dillard is now trying to walk back an obvious blunder on his first official day on the campaign trail…
Earlier today, I was asked about the attorney general and what my reaction is to her allegedly running for re-election. While I have a great deal of respect for her, we haven’t heard anything official about her status. Right now we’re focusing on the leadership of Illinois and returning pride to the people of this great state. And I will be backing the entire GOP ticket to accomplish that.
* And announced GOP attorney general candidate Joe Birkett has a new blog post entitled “Welcome to the race, Lisa“…
Lisa Madigan’s announcement does not change my plans. I look forward to offering Illinois voters new leadership in a state that desperately needs it.
* Democratic state Rep. Julie Hamos was planning to run for attorney general. She just put out this statement…
Following the news of Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s decision to run for reelection, State Representative Julie Hamos released this statement:
“Lisa Madigan has been a strong Attorney General and an excellent leader for the state of Illinois. I was pleased to learn that she will continue to provide excellent leadership to our state in these difficult times.
“Over the past few months I have met with Democratic and community leaders and heard the concerns of voters across Illinois. In the coming days I plan to revisit those supporters and ask for their best ideas on how I can work for the people of Illinois. I look forward to hearing their ideas and input as I discuss my next steps with my family.”
Still waiting on one from Rep. Jack Franks, another Dem looking at AG. I’ll post it here if and/or when it arrives.
I’ve talked about my job in some detail today because I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately. Over the past few months, I’ve thought about how I can best continue to serve the people of Illinois.
The progress we have made and the work that can still be done have been foremost on my mind.
I’ve also talked with my husband about what’s best for our daughters.
As I have done so, I have been truly privileged to have the advice and generous support of many people around this state.
What it comes down to – and I hope you can hear in my voice – is that I am still passionate about my work.
So today, I am announcing that I will seek a 3rd term as Illinois Attorney General.
I understand that some people may be surprised by my decision, because there has been speculation about whether I might run for Governor or for the U.S. Senate. I can’t express how honored I am that others would consider me for either of these positions.
But I know that for now, the best way for me to continue serving the people of Illinois is to continue doing the job that I love … and there is plenty to do.
I promise those of you looking for leaders who will restore honesty and integrity to Illinois government, I will continue to fight for you.
“Comptroller Hynes believes that today’s decision by Lisa Madigan is a clear reflection of the passion she holds for her job as Attorney General and her unwavering commitment to the state. Like the Attorney General, Comptroller Hynes plans on continuing his service of leadership on ethics reform and fiscal matters to the people of Illinois. He will discuss his options with his family and make a decision within the next few weeks.”
What do you think Hynes will do now?
…Adding… Hynes told me weeks ago that there was no way on God’s Green Earth that he would run for a record-breaking fourth term as comptroller. We’ll see.
* By the way, I called Gov. Quinn’s campaign office about a half an hour ago. They weren’t issuing a statement, but said they might later today. I’ll let you know.
My own prediction is that Quinn’s statement will read something like: “Put it on the booooaaarrrrd!!! Yes!!!!”
…Adding… Here’s a visual aide re: Quinn…
Just sayin…
*** UPDATE *** From Alexi Giannoulias…
“In my experiences working with Lisa Madigan and the Attorney General’s office, I know her to be a talented, dedicated, and principled public servant who has always put the interests of the state first. Her decision to seek re-election ensures that the people of Illinois will have a strong advocate on their side. Our offices have worked very well together in the past and I look forward to continuing that relationship as we both focus on helping Illinois families get through these extremely difficult economic times.”
* State Sen. Kirk Dillard is on a scheduled fly-around today to announce his bid for the GOP gubernatorial nomination. The Tribune quoted Dillard this morning as all but endorsing Lisa Madigan for reelection…
“She’s been a good attorney general and if she wants to stay there, that’s fine,” Dillard said. “With Lisa Madigan out of the race, it clearly makes this at least an even, if not a Republican-tilting field. Personally, I’m glad she’s not going to be my opponent in the general election. I believe my chances are better with Pat Quinn or someone else than Lisa Madigan. I look forward to having Lisa Madigan as attorney general when I’m the governor.”
Announced GOP candidate Dan Proft had this to say via press release…
I wonder what DuPage County State’s Attorney and recently announced GOP Attorney General candidate Joe Birkett thinks of Sen. Dillard’s endorsement of Lisa Madigan’s re-election.
Sen. Dillard is also incorrect on substance when it comes to AG Madigan. When AG Madigan ran in 2002 she vilified former AG Jim Ryan for not doing enough to root out public corruption under Gov. George Ryan. The same standard she applied to Jim Ryan should now be applied to her. So I will ask a question Sen. Dillard clearly did not and would not ask: Which corrupt public officials has Lisa Madigan brought to justice over the last six years while Gov. Rod Blagojevich was taking pay-to-play politics in Illinois to new lows?
It is a sorry state of affairs when someone seeking to be the Republican Party’s standard bearer for Governor is disinterested in holding Lisa Madigan and the rest of the Chicago Democrats accountable for what has occurred on their watch. This is the kind of go-along-to-get-along politics that has debilitated the Republican Party in Illinois.
And, as nice a guy as he is, Sen. Dillard goes down this road over and over again—on taxes, on spending, on debt, and on the future of the Republican Party in Illinois.
Let me differentiate myself again from Sen. Dillard: I will be endorsing and supporting the Republican nominee for Attorney General come the general election.
Strange that Proft didn’t mention Dillard’s Obama TV ad, which fits the pattern that Proft lays out here.
* No surprise. Former Rod Blagojevich chief of staff John Harris has pled guilty to a single count. Read the plea by clicking here.
This is what he pled to…
Count Four charges defendant with participating in a scheme to commit wire fraud, including through the deprivation of honest services, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1343 and 1346. […]
It was part of the scheme that beginning in or about October 2008, and continuing until on or about December 9, 2008, Rod Blagojevich (“Blagojevich”), with the assistance of Defendant and others, sought to obtain financial benefits for Blagojevich and his wife, in return for the exercise of his duty under Illinois law to appoint a United States Senator to fill the vacancy created by the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States.
At times Defendant assisted Blagojevich’s efforts to carry out the scheme by suggesting means by which Blagojevich could secure personal benefits for himself in exchange for appointing a United States Senator, conducting factual research relating to the scheme at Blagojevich’s direction, and counseling Blagojevich on carrying out the scheme.
At other times, Defendant expressed opposition to Blagojevich’s efforts to enrich himself through his appointment of a United States Senator, and/or did not follow instructions from Blagojevich to assist in those efforts.
More…
Defendant understood that Blagojevich’s personal financial circumstances and security were a significant consideration for Blagojevich in his analysis of whom he should name to the Senate seat.
There’s not much new on the alleged third party offer to raise $1.5 million for Blagojevich’s campaign funds to secure the appointment of Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. to Obama’s vacant US Senate seat…
Although Blagojevich was previously not willing to consider Senate Candidate A, Defendant believed that Blagojevich was now seriously considering Senate Candidate A because of the offer of campaign funds.
* The G believes Harris when he says he never relayed a specific threat to the Tribune…
Further, in November and December 2008, in response to Chicago Tribune editorials that had been critical of Blagojevich, Blagojevich directed Defendant to tell Tribune Financial Advisor that Blagojevich was going to withhold state financial support that would benefit the Tribune Company, unless the Tribune Owner fired people on the editorial board.
In order to appease Blagojevich, Defendant told Blagojevich that he would and did relay this threat to Tribune Financial Advisor. Although Defendant did have a conversation with Tribune Financial Advisor about the negative editorials regarding Blagojevich, Defendant did not relay the threats as directed by Blagojevich.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Natasha Korecki at the Sun-Times quotes Harris’ attorney as saying his client will have a “significant impact” in the feds’ case against Blagojevich…
“Working for Gov. Blagojevich for the most honest people, was an extraordinarily difficult thing to do,” Ekl said after his client pleaded guilty to one wire fraud count today. “I think John Harris ties a lot of incidents together. He will come across before a jury as absolutely 100 percent honest, because he is. I think his testimony will have a significant impact in the government’s case against the former governor.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** From the Harris plea, this person seems fairly familiar…
…Blagojevich also pressed Defendant to have an “off campus” discussion with Senate Candidate D. Defendant knew that this was a reference to Blagojevich’s prior directive to Defendant to ask Senate Candidate D for Senate Candidate D’s remaining campaign funds in exchange for appointing Senate Candidate D to the U.S. Senate Seat.
Sometime in the summer of 2008, Blagojevich told Defendant that if he appointed Senate Candidate D to the vacant Senate seat, he would want and expect Senate Candidate D to give Blagojevich some or all of Senate Candidate D’s campaign funds. Blagojevich raised this topic, which was often referred to as “the off-campus discussion” with Senate Candidate D, in several phone calls with Defendant. Defendant believed that Blagojevich was again raising this issue because Blagojevich believed that a deal with representatives of President-elect Obama involving Senate Candidate B was no longer a possibility.
In response to Blagojevich’s directives to him, on November 12, 2008, Defendant met with Senate Candidate D in his Springfield office. During the meeting, Defendant had a discussion with Senate Candidate D about his plans for his campaign funds that could not be converted to personal use. Defendant did not directly tell Senate Candidate D that Blagojevich was going to ask Senate Candidate D for his campaign funds.
Based on what Defendant did say, however, Defendant believed that Senate Candidate D was on notice that, in relation to the Senate seat, Blagojevich was going to talk with Senate Candidate D about Senate Candidate D’s campaign funds.
Hat tip to a commenter. Senate Candidate D has not yet been positively identified, so let’s keep the speculation to a minimum, please.
* I’ve spent the past hour or so calling around to Chicago TV and radio stations to see if anyone was going to broadcast Lisa Madigan’s speech live. ABC7 may have the speech on its website. Check it at 2 o’clock. CLTV plans to put the raw video on its site shortly after the announcement. Madigan’s campaign will release her full text shortly after her speech ends, which I’ll post here. They also plan to upload video late this afternoon.
Just hours after Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan took herself out of the running for the seat held by Sen. Roland Burris (D), Rep. Mark Kirk (R) has begun telling influential folks in Washington that he will make the race.
Kirk is widely regarded as the strongest candidate Republicans can field given his proven ability to win votes in a Democratic leaning district and his fundraising prowess. ]…]
National Republicans seem likely to line up behind Kirk although Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna is in Washington today meeting with people about a possible candidacy, according to a D.C. source familiar with the visit.
* 1:01 pm - Confirmed that he’s calling around and telling people he’s in.
*** UPDATE - 1:55 pm *** Remember this from yesterday? I wonder how McKenna’s DC meeting went today? Probably not well…
The head of the Illinois Republican Party is making a move to run for the U.S. Senate.
Andy McKenna Jr. is due in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday to meet with the National Republican Senatorial Committee and with GOP members of the state’s congressional delegation. Key among the latter is North Shore Congressman Mark Kirk, who so far has not heeded pleas by party leaders to run, creating a political vacuum.
Poor timing on McKenna’s part. But several top Republicans were convinced as of yesterday that LMadigan was running for Senate, which would’ve kept Kirk out.
Meanwhile, the National Republican Senatorial Committee has sent out a blast e-mail that includes highly favorable snippets from today’s Kirk coverage. Many are taking that as a message to McKenna to get the heck out.
DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett plans to run for Illinois attorney general in 2010 - even if incumbent Lisa Madigan seeks a third term…. Birkett… said the attorney general position is his best fit, regardless of whom he faces on Election Day.
* The Question: Now that Madigan has decided to run for reelection, do you think Birkett drops out of the race or stays in? If he drops out, what does he run for? And how does he explain himself?
10:45 am - Lisa Madigan to announce she will run for re-electionrun for re-election as Attorney General, rather than seek the Governorship or a Senate seat.
Madigan has a 2 p.m. political news conference scheduled at a Chicago hotel.
Madigan’s decision stunned Illinois politicians, who saw her being groomed by her father, powerful Democrat Michael Madigan, for top statewide office in a state where he has been the longest-running speaker of the House.
Democrats in Washington, including her former state Senate seatmate, President Barack Obama, courted her for a U.S. Senate bid for the seat he once held.
“She loves her job as attorney general, that’s the first reason,” said Mary Morrissey, Madigan’s political director told me. “Every day she can make a difference.” […]
The immediate political questions:
*Does Chris Kennedy, the Merchandise Mart mogul and Kennedy clan member move ahead with his planned Senate bid?
*Does Comptroller Dan Hynes run for another term or challenge Quinn?
*Over on the GOP side, everyone is waiting for Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) to announce his plans–for senate, governor or another term in the House.
I picked a heckuva day to take the morning off. Oops. Back on the case now. Many thanks to Wonkish.com for picking up the ball and running with it.
* The Democratic leader reviews are in, and they’re brutal…
“Last week, the governor criticized the General Assembly for not spending enough money,” said Rikeesha Phelon, spokeswoman for Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago. “This week, he is criticizing us for spending too much money.”
Phelon said the spending in the bill Quinn vetoed was what the governor wanted when he laid out his proposed budget in March.
“He was for it before he was against it,” Phelon said in a statement.
You can almost taste the hostility.
Speaker Madigan’s spokesman Steve Brown also had a stock response for reporters, calling the governor’s veto “his biggest flip-flop yet”…
“Whatever happened to the tax increase? That appears to be gone,” Brown said of Quinn’s failure to continue his push for a tax hike Tuesday. “This (budget bill) is based on his numbers. It can’t possibly be out of balance.”
Cullerton spokeswoman Rikeesha Phelon said the governor’s veto came as a surprise and was not mentioned during a meeting between Quinn and the Senate president earlier in the day. Phelon questioned why Quinn didn’t instead use his amendatory veto powers to alter the budget bill instead of rejecting it outright, and said the decision will add further tension to negotiations.
“If we just had to deal with the budget gap in these meetings, that would be one thing.Now we have to maneuver around his credibility gap,” Phelon said.
“It appears that he’s bent on causing some chaos, when this legislation was designed to avoid even the threat of any kind of a government service disruption.”
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn is now laying out his proposed billion dollars in cuts to state government, but isn’t actually cutting anything.
The Governor has instead vetoed another piece of the state budget, and is telling lawmakers they have to chose what will get cut… his veto simply sends the budget proposal back to Springfield for what’s expected to be a quick override vote in the Illinois House.
“The governor entirely avoided discussing the human costs of the proposed cuts,” said AFSCME spokesman Anders Lindall. “I heard no acknowledgment from Pat Quinn that 1,000 layoffs in the Department of Corrections will make prisons less safe.”
The union, human services workers and others affected by the proposed budget cuts have been among Quinn’s top allies in his quest for a state income tax hike to address a projected $9 billion deficit.
As Gov. Pat Quinn ponders releasing prison inmates as a budget-cutting move, he’s taking a huge political gamble that has the potential to sink any chance of him being elected back to the governor’s office. […]
Suburban lawmakers expressed concern with the idea saying it could exacerbate crime and overburden already overwhelmed parole agents.
“It’s a huge mistake,” said state Rep. Dennis Reboletti, an Elmhurst Republican and former prosecutor in Will County.
One of the programs targeted for budget cuts is Illinois Cares Rx, which serves low-income senior citizens and people with disabilities. Gov. Pat Quinn has proposed cutting the program by $40 million, or 25 percent.
* Next year isn’t looking so hot, either, by the way…
…Rep. Franco Coladipietro, a Blooomingdale Republican, said the governor and the General Assembly need to address initiatives that affect not just this year’s budget, but budgets several years down the road. He cited job growth, as well as more significant ethics and public employee pension reforms. “Passing a tax increase right now with making no changes to the structural budget process in Illinois only puts us in a position where we’ll be in the same exact position three years from now,” he said. “And it doesn’t change anything.”
