* Unless my usual Friday afternoon nap lasts too long, I’ll be at Bar None tonight for Tom Irwin and His Hayburners. This is a “happy hour” show which starts at 7 o’clock. Check it out if you can. The Hayburners are musicians from the New Goat Ensemble, the Spoonbenders and NIL8 - all legendary Springfield-area bands.
* This song has been in my head ever since I put up that Joe Walsh post earlier today…
Well he’s tellin’ us this
And he’s tellin’ us that
Changes it every day
Says it doesn’t matter
Quinn for Illinois Statement on GOP Gubernatorial Nominee Bill Brady
The Republican nominee is from the extreme right wing of the party and far from the mainstream of Illinois voters. In his legislative career, Senator Bill Brady has voted against the Family Medical Leave Act, equal pay for men and women, and raising the minimum wage. He has also proposed repealing anti-discrimination laws, would ban all abortions — even for victims of rape and incest — and even voted against a bill funding mammograms and pap tests.
These and other extreme positions reflect Mr. Brady’s misguided priorities, especially at a time when we need to rebuild our economy and prepare our workers for the jobs of the future. He may represent the extreme fringe of the right-wing, but he certainly does not represent the people of Illinois.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Brady got some rather pointed advice this afternoon from the president of the IMA: Move to the suburbs…
Mr. Brady needs to focus on issue like taxes — Mr. Quinn is proposing a big hike in the state income tax — and needs to “buy a house in the western suburbs and learn the culture of metropolitan Chicago,” said Greg Baise, president of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Assn.
Mr. Brady must learn that local property taxes are high in part because a disproportionate share of state education aid goes to other portions of the state, and he needs to understand that local motorists need alternatives to clogged highways and gridlock, Mr. Baise said.
Literally living here for a while “would give him a better feel for what’s on in the mind of people who haven’t voted Republican in the last few election cycles but might.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** The Quinn people are apparently using a big-time jobs announcement to help drown out the official Brady win. That’s the only reason I can figure for dropping something this juicy on a Friday afternoon. From a press release…
Governor Pat Quinn US House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) and Congressman Dan Lipinski (D-IL) to highlight federal funding for the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program’s Englewood Flyover in Chicago. The project received $133 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program to build a rail flyover in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood that will significantly reduce rail congestion.
The project will create nearly 1,500 Illinois jobs.
A former adviser to ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich has withdrawn his application to be the state’s Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor.
Bob Arya withdrew his application Thursday. In a letter to Democratic party officials, he says he’s throwing his support behind State Rep. Arthur Turner.
Arya had no chance at all, and supporting Turner means zip to anyone other than Arya. This LG search is really getting outta hand.
In a flip-flop from a month ago when he questioned the need of the Illinois lieutenant governor’s post, state Sen. Dave Koehler submitted his application for the job Thursday.
Koehler, D-Peoria, who is completing his first, four-year term, said he was encouraged by colleagues to apply, but that he does not plan to campaign or lobby for the spot. Another factor in his last-minute decision is his belief that someone from downstate should provide “geographic balance” to the statewide Democratic ticket weighted with Chicago-area candidates.
* From a press release…
Raja (RAH-jah) Krishnamoorthi (krish-nah-MOOR-thee) today submitted his application to the Illinois Democratic State Central Committee to be considered as the party’s Lieutenant Governor nominee.
“I am a Democrat because the Democratic Party has never settled for the status quo,” Krishnamoorthi wrote in his application. “The Democratic Party has always believed that government can be a force for good and that no one should be left behind.”
Krishnamoorthi emphasized his unique appeal as a Lieutenant Governor nominee with a strong electoral performance in the 2010 Democratic primary for Comptroller in the two key battlegrounds for the November general election: the Chicago suburbs and Downstate.
Krishnamoorthi, who garnered roughly 384,000 votes statewide but lost the Democratic nomination for Comptroller by less than 1% of the votes cast, won 22 out of the 30 Cook County suburban townships with a 52-41% margin of victory.
He swept all of the Chicago collar counties (DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane, Kendall, McHenry) by a total of 60-33%.
The Democratic Party hasn’t updated its website yet (12:40 pm), so Raja’s application isn’t available. But you might want to scroll through it anyway to see if there’s anything interesting.
State Sen. Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) is the Republican nominee for governor.
Brady ended up topping state Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale) by 193 votes, according to final results of the Feb. 2 primary certified this morning by the Illinois Board of Elections.
Dillard has scheduled a news conference for 1:30 p.m. at which he is expected to concede the race to Brady.
Brady has scheduled a news conference for an hour after Dillard’s.
Brady ended up with 155,527 votes, to 155,334 for Dillard, according to the final, official count.
Earlier, unofficial totals had Brady ahead by 250 votes.
He is also planning to greet voters in downtown Chicago at 5:30 p.m. Friday evening.
On Monday, Brady has scheduled an eight-stop statewide fly-around to formally kick-off his general election campaign. Included are stops in the Quad-Cities and Marion.
He will wind up the day in Bloomington, at the same hotel where he and his supporters watched election returns on Feb. 2.
* 11:38 am - The Democratic Governor’s Association is already out with a Welcome Wagon press release…
Will Brady’s Frantic “Moderate Makeover” Now Come to an End?
Washington, D.C. – With the Illinois State Board of Elections certifying Bill Brady’s victory in the February Republican primary today, will his frantic attempts to whitewash his record finally come to an end?
While Illinois voters have been waiting to find out who won the GOP nod, Brady has been using the time to quietly scour his legislative record and purge it of some of his most bizarre proposals. First, Brady removed his name from legislation he sponsored that would allow the mass killing of cats and dogs in gas chambers. Then Brady removed himself as the sponsor of a bill that would allow some employers to discriminate on the basis of religion, sexual orientation or gender identity. For observers who’ve relished the Brady whitewash, that might not be all – Brady has countless other outside-the-mainstream positions he can reverse, such as his opposition to abortion even in the case of rape, incest and the health of the mother.
“I understand why Bill Brady wants to run from his right-wing record,” said Nathan Daschle, executive director of the Democratic Governors Association. “Mass animal gassing and denying human rights aren’t exactly high on the list of voter concerns right now. Unfortunately for Brady, no one in Illinois knew who he was before they heard about his ludicrous proposals.”
Daschle added, “Maybe now that he feels he’s moderated his position on mass animal euthanasia, Brady will feel free to join the debate on the issues voters most care about: jobs, growing the middle class and investing in Illinois’ future.”
* 12:06 pm - I shoulda mentioned this earlier, but several people close to Dillard say he will definitely concede today. Not a surprise, but thought you should know.
* 12:57 pm - The county-by-county results are now posted at the State Board of Elections’ website. Keep this on the down-low, but I’m hearing the SBE is unveiling a new site soon.
Gov. Pat Quinn says there’s a “Grand Canyon” of difference between him and Republican Bill Brady. […]
The Democratic governor says he’s looking forward to a good contest with Brady before the November election. He says he hopes the two meet in lots of debates around the state.
In a statement issued by Dillard’s campaign prior to a Chicago news conference, the Hinsdale lawmaker said “it was a “close” race but that he “will help Sen. Brady in any way I can to ensure the Republican Party wins back the governor’s office in November.”
* 1:50 pm - From a press release…
State Senator Kirk Dillard today threw his support behind State Senator Bill Brady in the race for Governor, saying it was “close,” but that Brady had won the Illinois Republican Primary. “I will help Senator Brady in any way I can to ensure the Republican Party wins back the Governor’s office in November,” Dillard said.
Dillard had waited until the Illinois State Board of Elections had reported the final totals in the February 2 Primary election had been counted before conceding because of the narrow margin of Brady’s lead. “It was a hard-fought race, and it was close: less than .0002 of a percent,” said Dillard. “But it is now clear to me that my friend and colleague Bill Brady has won the Illinois Republican Primary for Governor.”
Dillard went on to stress why he will aggressively campaign on Brady’s behalf. “As I’ve said countless times during the campaign, Illinois is a state in crisis. Pat Quinn cannot lead, and shows no urgency in putting people back to work.”
The State Senator from Hinsdale also thanked former Governor Jim Edgar for his support and the hundreds of volunteers and thousands of supporters who backed his campaign during these last seven months. “I call on my supporters and the supporters of the other Republican candidates to join me in supporting Senator Bill Brady,” Dillard said.
Dillard also said he would continue to work hard as a state senator for the people of his district and all of Illinois. “I will continue to fight for the Republican principles of Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan. I will continue to fight for a balanced budget and new jobs. And I will continue to fight for a state government that works for the people, not the politicians.”
* 2:30 pm - From a press release…
STATEMENT FROM RNC CHAIRMAN MICHAEL STEELE ON ILLINOIS GOP GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY
WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement today on Illinois’ Republican gubernatorial primary:
“I extend my sincere congratulations to our Illinois Republican gubernatorial candidate, state Senator Bill Brady. Both he and state Senator Kirk Dillard ran great, positive campaigns focused on the GOP principles of fiscal responsibility and controlling government spending, and I commend them both. Together with Senate candidate Mark Kirk, state Senator Brady will help lead the strongest Illinois Republican ticket in years. These candidates have put the Republican Party in an excellent position to compete in November talking about the issues that matter the most to Illinoisans. After Governor Quinn and Illinois Democrats mismanaged everything from the state’s economy to ending the culture of corruption, voters are ready for a new brand of leadership. With our alternative solutions for job creation and economic growth centered around lower taxes and less regulation, I am confident Republican candidates will prevail this fall.”
It addresses questions about his family’s failing Broadway Bank. And it says that while Broadway Bank did loan money to people like Tony Rezko, a lot of other banks did too.
* The US House passed a relatively tiny stimulus bill yesterday, and GOP Rep. Mark Kirk voted against it. That vote prompted a predictable back and forth…
The bill would offer companies a one-year exemption from paying the 6.2% Social Security tax for each new worker they hire that had been out of work for at least two months. It also would expand investment write-offs for small business, transfer cash into the government’s depleted highway-building fund and offer subsidies to local governments to issue construction bonds.
Mr. Kirk, a Republican, said the $18 billion bill is defective because there is no assurance the Social Security fund ever will be reimbursed.
“The American people need jobs — not gimmicks,” he said in a press release. “Very few small businesses will spend $40,000 creating one new job just to get a $1,000 tax credit in return.”
Mr. Giannoulias, a Democrat, wasn’t available for comment himself, but the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee put out a statement on his behalf ripping Mr. Kirk’s “stunning” vote against the alleged interests of 725,000 unemployed Illinois residents.
Bill Brady has a somewhat similar tax break for job creation, so it’ll be fun to see the Kirk quote used in that context.
The head of the state agency that regulates banks said today he will recuse himself from matters involving the struggling family bank of U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias because he once worked as a campaign aide to Giannoulias.
Brent E. Adams, secretary of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, worked for one month as a policy adviser on Giannoulias’ campaign for state treasurer in 2006, said department spokeswoman Susan Hofer. The department is working with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in deciding whether Giannoulias’ struggling family bank should be taken over by federal banking authorities.
While Adams doesn’t believe his stint with Giannoulias’ campaign causes a conflict of interest he will not be involved in any decisions regarding the bank, Hofer said. Adams received $500 from Giannoulias’ campaign fund for his work. […]
A Giannoulias spokeswoman said the state treasurer was never asked to help Adams get his state job and never advocated on Adams’ behalf.
Some community banks are struggling in this economic downturn. This week, U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias said his family bank is one of them.
It is on a federal watchlist of problem banks along with many others.
The Independent Community Bankers Association told ABC 7 Thursday that virtually all of the group’s member banks are under some stress because of falling real estate values. But he acknowledged the Giannoulias family-owned bank apparently is among those facing the most dire circumstances.
Despite hearing the name Broadway Bank in news reports, many long-time customers have not considered moving their accounts. Restaurant owner Jake Moody, a 30-year customer, likes the personal service there.
* Tom Cross held a press conference yesterday to discuss the budget negotiations…
The top House Republican leader Thursday shoved the possibility of an income-tax increase this spring further into the legislative deep freeze, accusing ruling Democrats of burying GOP efforts to “fundamentally change” the state’s spending practices.
House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) embraced a series of budgetary reforms put forth by the Illinois Policy Institute, a conservative think tank, including requiring a supermajority for tax hikes, providing a weeklong review of a budget before a vote and making it harder for legislative leaders to deny floor votes by bottling up bills.
“We’re not going to have any discussion about revenue until we look at all these approaches that I’ve talked about,” Cross said.
The agenda is less specific on how it would cut state spending, which it notes has risen 39% over the past decade compared to a 6.8% increase in the state’s population.
A press release says only that the group favors “common-sense reforms,” and formation of a special panel that would review all state rules and regulations with an eye toward eliminating those that retard job growth.
This idea of comparing budget increases to population increases is a bit goofy. First, inflation has risen 25.8 percent since 2000. Also, do they not know about rampant health care cost inflation? That’s a huge portion of the state budget. Energy prices? Etc.? Also, revenues for this fiscal year are about equal to FY 2006. Things are bad, to say the least.
Notice that they didn’t use IPI’s “Piglet Book” in the presser. Perhaps because the group attacked some of Cross’ favored ideas.
* Not that anybody else is making much magic. The Senate Democrats continued hearings on their “Brady budget” bill yesterday. The Senate approved a bill to borrow $250 million to pay bills and shore up Medicaid. The Senate Dems unveiled an ad hoc economic development program.
* Could this help? Illinois Review points to an op-ed by Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels about the state’s success using Health Savings Accounts, or HSA’s…
In Indiana’s HSA, the state deposits $2,750 per year into an account controlled by the employee, out of which he pays all his health bills. Indiana covers the premium for the plan. The intent is that participants will become more cost-conscious and careful about overpayment or overutilization.
Unused funds in the account—to date some $30 million or about $2,000 per employee and growing fast—are the worker’s permanent property. For the very small number of employees (about 6% last year) who use their entire account balance, the state shares further health costs up to an out-of-pocket maximum of $8,000, after which the employee is completely protected.
The HSA option has proven highly popular. This year, over 70% of our 30,000 Indiana state workers chose it, by far the highest in public-sector America. Due to the rejection of these plans by government unions, the average use of HSAs in the public sector across the country is just 2%.
What we, and independent health-care experts at Mercer Consulting, have found is that individually owned and directed health-care coverage has a startlingly positive effect on costs for both employees and the state.
I don’t know much about health savings accounts, but it appears to be working across our eastern border.
* Related and a roundup…
* Illinois could get $500 million in federal education money - State is one of 16 finalists in Race for the Top competition
* The NRCC has thrown Republican congressional candidate Joe Walsh right under the bus…
National Republican Party fundraisers aren’t putting much stock in Joe Walsh’s campaign to unseat incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean in the suburban 8th District, a spokesman said Thursday.
The races for the 10th District, 11th District and 14th District seats are the most competitive in the state, National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Tom Erickson said, and are getting the most attention from the party. […]
“We’re really focused on the seats where we see the clearest paths to victory,” Erickson said. “It’s no secret these are the most competitive (races).” […]
“In the primary, we had really liked Dirk Beveridge or Maria Rodriguez,” Erickson said, referring to two of the five candidates Walsh defeated Feb. 2. “Those are the two candidates who we thought really had the potential to make this a very competitive race.”
Bean’s seat is certainly a stretch for the GOP, but I thought she might be vulnerable to populist attacks that she’s been way too cozy with the financial services industry. She’s repeatedly back-stopped their attempts to kill off reform.
Still, I’ve never really seen the NRCC do that to a candidate before. It certainly looks like a not so subtle hint to get out of the race.
As you already know, the Daily Herald reported earlier this week about how Walsh’s condo was foreclosed upon and his subsequent eviction. Walsh’s over the top diatribe [fixed link] against the paper didn’t do himself many favors, either.
While many other Democrats are rushing to dump campaign cash given by under-fire U.S. Rep. Charlie Rangel, Melissa Bean isn’t.
The Barrington Democrat says she won’t donate to charity the $28,000 she received between 2005 and 2007 from the New York congressman or from committees associated with him.
The money was given before Rangel was under investigation for ethics abuses, Bean spokesman Jonathan Lipman pointed out. Plus, he says, the money has already been spent.
* Meanwhile, GOP Congressman Peter Roskam is doing Internet advertising on behalf of a “tele-town hall.” The kicker is that he’s using taxpayer money to buy the ads. Check out a screen cap…
If you can’t read the fine print, it says: “Paid for by Official Funds Authorized by the House of Representatives.”
Strange that he would use taxpayer funds to advertise a meeting about “out of control spending.”
Even stranger, the ad in question was placed by Google on Talking Points Memo, a liberal website.
* Campaign roundup…
* New Lake Co. GOP leader may reflect growing conservative movement: A member of the conservative Republican Assembly of Lake County, Cook brings a different dynamic to the leadership, observers say. RALC Chairman Raymond True said Cook will be in better touch with the conservative members of the party.
* Stroger hires campaign worker as deputy chief of staff: Carla Oglesby replaces Pamela Munizzi, who recently retired. Oglesby, who was a managing partner of CGC Communications, will be paid $116,000 a year in her new post. “I was deeply impressed by Ms. Oglesby’s work on the political side in the run-up to the” Feb. 2 Democratic primary, Stroger said in a statement.
* Sneed: Sneed hears voter turnout for the recent governor’s primary was the lowest in Illinois history.
* Code Red: NRCC Launches Targeted Calls Against Bill Foster
* Toftoy gets term as Kendall GOP leader: When the dust cleared, it was Kenny the Coroner — Ken Toftoy, the Kendall County coroner — who bested Sawmill Dan — Dan Nicholson, owner of Sawmill Pizza and Ristorante in downtown Yorkville — for a two-year term as chairman of the Kendall County Republican Committee.
* Former politician now brokers real estate deals: Lee Daniels, who used to negotiate the state’s multibillion-dollar budget as the Republican leader in the Illinois House, now chases buyers for small commercial buildings in the suburbs.
* I’m running the question early because the State Board of Elections will release their final vote tally today in the GOP governor’s race. And Sen. Kirk Dillard has a 1:30 pm press conference scheduled. From Crain’s…
Mr. Dillard has been saying he won’t go on to the next step — a partial recount — unless the certified total shows him within about 100 votes. He’d asked only that everyone wait until all the votes were counted and the totals double-checked.
Something could change at the last second, but insiders say there is no sign of that.
* The Question: Considering the problems Sen. Bill Brady has had on the campaign trail during the past month, do you think Dillard should ask for a recount even if the spread is more than 100 votes, but his advisers say he still has a legit shot at winning?
A plea to non-Republicans: Try to remain intellectually honest here.
As he warmed up Thursday for his expected acceptance of the Republican governor nomination, state Sen. Bill Brady took a swing at Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn and hit nothing but air.
The story, of course, was about Brady’s botched press conference yesterday over the Quinn administration’s super-controversial early release program that I told you about yesterday. More…
The trouble is, state prison officials later pointed out, the inmate wasn’t among those the Quinn administration released early because he wasn’t eligible.
Brady hadn’t fully checked available public records, including an online list the Quinn administration posted detailing which inmates were let out early after getting sped-up “good time” off their prison sentences. When told there is such a list, Brady offered a short response: “There is?”
The gaffe is the latest controversy for Brady, who likely will be certified Friday by state elections officials as the winner in Feb. 2 primary.
“There is?” That’s my favorite line from the presser.
* Sun-Times hed: “Brady misfires on governor - Republican can’t back claim that Quinn freed murder suspect from prison early.” From the story…
State law allowed [recently accused murderer Jonathon Phillips] to knock off one day from his six-year carjacking sentence for every day of good behavior. He served 27 months in the Western Illinois Correctional Center and received an additional 60 days off his sentence for “meritorious good time” and 196 days of credit for time in the Cook County Jail awaiting trial on the 2007 carjacking charge, Smith said.
“We were told by legal opinion that he likely was [released early],” Brady said.
Asked what he meant by the term “legal opinion,” Brady said, “It means we consulted people with a law degree.”
“We consulted people with a law degree.” My second favorite line.
Phillips was sentenced to six years for vehicular hijacking in Cook County. The law requires him to serve at least three. He was released early after receiving 60 days good-conduct credit, which the Corrections director may grant to most inmates, in October 2007, Smith said.
Brady questioned whether Phillips was eligible for meritorious good time because of his crime.
State law indicates the credit does not apply when a judge finds that the victim of vehicular hijacking suffered great bodily harm. Such felons must serve 85 percent of their sentences, which Brady suggested should have applied to Phillips.
But the Cook County state’s attorney’s office told the AP in January there was no finding of great bodily harm in Phillips’ case.
The law is worded in a way that could be read to deny meritorious good time for everyone convicted of vehicular hijacking. But criminal defense lawyers contacted earlier by the AP generally said the law appears to have been properly applied in Phillips’ case.
Here’s some inside info for you. Word’s been going around for months about this Jonathon Phillips case. I’ve looked into it, the AP examined it, the Hynes campaign took a long look (after being approached by the murder victim’s mother) and Brady’s people have known about it as well. Everybody but Brady came up empty. Well, actually, Brady came up empty as well, he just didn’t think he did.
…Adding… Some folks I talked to yesterday pointed out that Quinn could now use those “Brady swings, misses” headlines in his own defense when Brady’s early release ads start airing.
* Related…
* Brady’s attempt to link Quinn, murder suspect falls short
* Brady links Quinn prison-release policy to local murder
* Capitol Fax video: Sen. Brady demands Quinn publicize names of prisoners released
* Capitol Fax video: Brady continues to jab Quinn for early prisoner release
* Rates jump on some health plans for individuals in Illinois
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois, the state’s largest health plan, increased the base rate on one of its HMO plans by 20% last summer, according to the Illinois Division of Insurance.
UnitedHealthcare of Illinois, the No. 2 carrier locally, raised base rates on its HMO plan by 13% in December, the state’s data show.
* School funding a ‘huge crisis,’ state school superintendent warns
Daley rejected the notion that creating two inspectors general — one to police the executive branch, the other to bird-dog aldermen — would create another level of bureaucracy taxpayers can ill afford.
“You know what? There’d be 50,000 people applying for these jobs,” Daley said. “I mean, there’s so many people out of work. If you were ever to open employment, there’d be 50,000. These are good-paying jobs. Everybody would like to not work and get two hours’ pay.
That means the new treasurer and county clerk still will make $93,116, and the new sheriff will make $110,923. The new county board members will each get $23,000.
Laborers’ pay starts at $18.68 an hour and will rise to $19.24 on June 1, 2011. The foremen and water operators start at $23.59 an hour and rise to $24.31 by the third year. Top pay for the most experienced laborers in 2011 will be $26.73 an hour; for foremen and water plant operators, $32.40.
The Federal Communication Commission is requiring all law enforcement departments to use split-band frequencies that will allow for both UHF and VHF frequencies. Currently, the Galesburg Police Department uses UHF only, while the Galesburg Fire Department and Knox County Sheriff’s Department use VHF.
Thanks to Mayor Larry Morrissey’s State of the City speech tonight, we were able to do a by-the-numbers approach to problems and opportunities facing Rockford. And we were glad he didn’t forget to count the city’s blessings,
* Proposed bill will expand fire safety requirements in nursing homes
