My own guess is that Brady is doing much better in his gubernatorial race than his Republican teammate Kirk in the Senate race because of the dissatisfaction of conservatives with Kirk.
I’ve seen this speculation before among conservatives, so I’m not trying to single out Byrne here. But the argument doesn’t really hold up if you look deeper into the polls. Byrne was referring to the most recent Rasmussen polling, so let’s look at the pollster’s crosstabs, with leaners, among conservatives…
It’s 75 percent of conservatives for Brady without leaners and 69 percent for Kirk. Little to no difference in the split.
Public Policy Polling’s latest crosstabs for conservatives…
Brady 70%
Kirk: 66%
Again, Kirk is doing slightly worse than Brady, but not all that much. It certainly doesn’t explain the huge difference in their respective races with their Democratic opponents. As you already know, Rasmussen has the leads at 13% for Brady and 4% for Kirk (both totals include leaners). PPP had Brady winning by 9 and Giannoulias ahead by 2.
* So, why is there such a difference between the head-to-heads? Well, for one, Quinn is a bumbling incumbent in an anti-incumbent year who ran twice with Rod Blagojevich, has a $13 billion deficit and 10+ percent unemployment rate and is encumbered with a 63 percent job disapproval rating. The Senate seat is open, so neither men are defined as incumbents and Kirk has been damaged as much so far by his own problems as Giannoulias has. Brady is still mostly an unknown quantity, and people don’t seem to care because Quinn is so bad.
* The crosstabs on party and gender are kinda all over the place. Rasmussen has Brady getting far more Republican support than Kirk, but PPP has it almost the same. Rasmussen also has Brady getting much more support from women than Kirk, but, again, PPP has it much closer.
Your thoughts?
…Adding… The Sun-Times has now posted a story about the latest Rasmussen poll, which was released yesterday.
* Democratic Congressman Bill Foster’s new TV ad features his children and even his ex-wife. Rate it…
* Rudy Giuliani gets the quote of the day for his whack at Alexi Giannoulias: “The only experience this guy has with crime seems to be that his bank was loaning money to criminals.” Listen…
* When in doubt, attack the messenger. Republican congressional candidate Bobby Schilling, who owns a pizzeria, says he knows more than the Congressional Budget Office when it comes to returning federal income tax levels to the Bill Clinton era…
Schilling says he doesn’t think extending the tax cuts will cost the treasury at all.
He says the tax cuts will stimulate enough revenues to pay for themselves.
“The CBO, I don’t believe to be credible,” he said.
Yep, and the earth is flat.
And Schilling’s opponent, incumbent Democrat Phil Hare, doesn’t want to use that tax cash to pay down the nation’s budget deficit…
U.S. Rep. Phil Hare, D-Ill., says now is not the time to extend tax breaks for the wealthy, who he says have “done real well” over the past 10 years. That $700 billion, he says, would be better devoted to building new roads, bridges and railroads.
With the Republican Party tacking right and the Democratic Party hanging a left, the two men running for the 16th House District present a refreshing change of pace. U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo of Egan and Freeport Mayor George Gaulrapp, the Democratic challenger, discussed issues for an hour and a half Monday at the Editorial Board. Sparks did not fly, and the men seem to like each other.
That niceness could be because Gaulrapp has no chance whatsoever of winning.
Thomas Fitzgerald, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois, informed his colleagues Monday that he has Parkinson’s Disease and will leave the court Oct. 25.
On Fitzgerald’s recommendation, the other justices voted to appoint Appellate Justice Mary Jane Theis to replace him for a two-year term beginning Oct. 26.
“I don’t not want to do anything to hurt the court or the people it serves,” Fitzgerald said Monday through a spokesman. “Right now I am fully capable of discharging my duties. I don’t know how long it will be true.”
Fitzgerald, 69, was a former prosecutor and the longtime presiding judge of the Cook County Circuit Court’s Criminal Division at 26th and California before being elected to the state’s high court 10 years ago. As chief justice, he presided over Gov. Blagojevich’s impeachment trial in the state legislature.
Best wishes to Justice Fitzgerald, who served his state well.
* The Question: Should state supreme court justices be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate (like the federal system) rather than elected? Explain.
* It’s already almost impossible to convince even people who understand these things that the state’s new capital spending is affordable in light of the state’s crushing budget deficit. Gov. Pat Quinn isn’t helping matters much with stuff like this…
Despite the budget deficits in Illinois, Governor Pat Quinn is optimistic that if Missouri doesn’t find a way to help build a new stadium for the St. Louis Rams in the next decade, his state could become a player.
Teachers are being laid off by the thousands, crucial social service organizations aren’t being paid, but we’re gonna help some millionaire sports owners from across the river (OK, the new, unapproved to date owner is from Illinois, but the team is still across the river) build an expensive new stadium that’ll be used 8 times a year? Great. Wonderful idea, governor. Keep up the good work. You’re not undercutting your position whatsoever.
If fairness and competitive advantage for border communities were the only factors on which to judge Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady’s call for ending the state sales tax on gasoline, it would be easy to say, “Go for it!” But there is another factor — a more compelling factor, at this point — and that’s revenue. […]
Brady argues that the revenue lost by eliminating the sales tax on gasoline would be made up by travelers buying other items in the convenience stores that are part of many of today’s gas stations. That might be true in communities near bordering states — we emphasize the “might” — but it would make little difference in other parts of the state.
Brady has formed a border commission run by his lt. governor nominee Jason Plummer. Border issues are legitimate grounds for debate because we have such long borders and we abut several metropolitan areas across the lines. But this idea was tried under George Ryan and pretty much universally denounced as a failure…
A six-month break on sales taxes on gasoline in 2001 did not trigger an increase in other sales, according to a study by the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability.
One reason is pay at the pump, which is even more prevalent now.
* In other news, the Gaming Board apparently screwed up and now video gaming has been postponed for another four months because of it…
Bar patrons hoping to gamble on video gaming machines in Illinois may have to wait until next summer for the opportunity. […]
This August, the Illinois Gaming Board bidded a contract to a company, Scientific Games International, to help develop a communications system for video gaming.
Earlier this month, the board retracted that contract and will redo the bidding process at a date to be determined.
The gaming board bid out the system at the end of last year, and awarded it to Scientific Games International in May, sealing the deal with a contract estimated at about $90 million in August. Yet competing Greek-based Intralot complained its bid was actually lower after filing a Freedom of Information Act request later that month and looking the final bids over.
The gaming board issued a release over the weekend confirming “miscalculations were made, due, in part, to assumptions made by the gaming board and by vendors that were not uniform and not verified.” Parts of the bid that were actually included in the Intralot offer were re-added by mistake and applied to its total cost.
O’Shea said the new bidding process would proceed from scratch, and “it would be open to anyone,” not just those two companies.
Great. Just great. Nice job, Gaming Board.
* Related and a roundup…
* Why do most cigarette smokers tolerate massive state tax increases?
* State, U.S. invest in broadband through La Salle County
* Quinn no longer coming to Central groundbreaking: But according to the governor’s published schedule released last night, he will be in Chicago at 1:30 p.m. to announce a capital project at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
* Governor Quinn Breaks Ground on $26 Million Project to Redevelop Brownfield Site in East Peoria
Street Extension to Create Jobs, Stimulate Local Economy
*** UPDATE 1 *** The editor of the American Spectator, Bob Tyrrell, says he wants to run for mayor. He wouldn’t be your usual Chicago candidate. One of his favorite people is apparently Conrad Black, the guy who stripped the Chicago Sun-Times of its cash and wound up in prison, where he wrote columns for Tyrrell’s magazine.
Meanwhile, a little closer to reality, but not much, Ald. Bob Fioretti has begun collecting petition signatures.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Rasmussen polled Emanuel and Daley statewide…
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds that just 40% of Likely Voters in President Obama’s home state have a favorable opinion of the man he chose as his White House chief of staff. Forty-six percent (46%) view Emanuel unfavorably, as he considers leaving his job in Washington, DC to run for mayor of Chicago. These findings include 19% who share a Very Favorable opinion of him and 32% who have a Very Unfavorable one. […]
Sixty-five percent (65%) of Democrats in Illinois view Emanuel positively, while 77% of Republicans and 53% of voters not affiliated with either party have a negative impression of him. […]
As for the man he is reportedly interested in replacing, longtime Chicago Democratic Mayor Richard Daley is viewed favorably by 50% of Illinois voters and unfavorably by 41%. This includes 23% who have a Very Favorable impression and 22% with a Very Unfavorable one.
State Senator Kwame Raoul, who represents President Barack Obama‘s old legislative district, said Tuesday he is going against the grain and opting not to run for mayor, in part because he doesn’t think he could raise the money needed for a competitive bid. Raoul said last week that he was considering entering the race.
“I have been getting a lot of requests to run from people, and it is extremely flattering and I am thinking about it,” Hoffman told the Chicago News Cooperative. “But the main thing is whether it is the right time for us. We have a little boy at home who just turned three and having just come off this [U.S. Senate] campaign, there are lots of other things to think about in terms of the race, but things I have been focusing on are personal.” […]
Hoffman said he has not put a deadline on his decision but said he would have to make one “soon.”
The Chicago City Council could be in for its biggest turnover in decades — with as many as 20 seats changing hands — thanks to a surge in voter turnout tied to the wide-open mayoral race, alderman and political observers warned Monday.
Why? Just keep reading the story…
Chicago has had 50 aldermen since 1923. Since that time, the biggest Council turnover occurred in 1931, when 24 new aldermen were swept into office, along with a new mayor and city clerk.
Washington was accompanied by 15 new aldermen. In 1991, there were 13 new aldermen. Four years ago, there were five.
Retirements alone will bring in several new aldermen, but 20 new ones? I know lots of people are talking about a huge turnover, but that would be tough to do. Even with a coordinated campaign by labor unions, there was only a fraction of that turnover four years ago. Still, there is a good reason why so many aldermen are nervous about this upcoming mayor’s race. They mostly suck at what they do, and voters know it.
As pastor of one of the South Side’s largest congregations, Rev. Meeks believes homosexuality is morally wrong. He says that teaching comes from the Christian Bible and the revealed Word of God. He opposes abortion for the same reason. […]
In a telephone interview, Meeks at first declined to answer questions about his long-standing opposition to abortion and gay rights. “I don’t want to get into divisive issues, or talk about hypotheticals,” he said.
Meeks said abortion is not an issue that would normally be addressed by either the Mayor of Chicago or the City Council. City officials, though, would deal with certain gay rights issues, including how police would treat “hate crimes,” whether to register civil unions and what rights to grant city employees with same-sex partners.
“Now, if I were sitting around bored with nothing to do, that stuff might come up,” Meeks said. “But I expect to be so busy with schools, crime and budget problems during my first term that I wouldn’t have any time.”
The openly-gay State Rep. Harris (D-Chicago) said he was not impressed. “Oh, great. So, our right to basic equality would depend on his whim? That is not acceptable.”
If Meeks makes it into the runoff, the city’s decades-old black/liberal alliance, which pretty much broke during the John/Todd Stroger campaigns and was only temporarily repaired by Barack Obama, will be endangered yet again.
Also, as Progress Illinois notes, the city council does occasionally dip its toes into the abortion issue, like when it passed the abortion clinic bubble zone ordinance.
* A blast from the past reemerges. Carol Moseley-Braun wants to be mayor…
Braun, who now owns an organic food company, is currently interested in hearing from the community and believes she needs at least two million dollars in support to run an effective campaign, according to sources. On Sunday, political operative Billy Paige held a meeting with supporters to gauge the feasibility of a campaign.
Braun is already supported by political activist Gloria Steinem.
“I think people are prepared to support the most qualified person, without regard to race and gender,” she told me. “My qualifications should win the day.
“Just to show you how things work in life, last month I started having conversations with the people who wanted to buy into the company, and in the middle of that Daley announces.
“I am positioned perfectly to do this. Who would have thought it?”
Braun has already signed up former Channel 5 reporter Renee Ferguson as her spokesperson.
Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas said Monday she is thinking about running for mayor.
“Yes, I am considering it,” said Pappas, joining the growing field of might-be candidates in the wake of Mayor Daley’s announcement last week that he won’t seek another term. “I’ve got great countywide, citywide numbers.”
On Monday, I found Kathy Posner, a Chicago civic leader, who was called by Emanuel’s pollster on Saturday.
She told me the 20-minute survey asked about Emanuel; Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd); David Hoffman, the former city inspector general who lost a Democratic Senate primary bid; Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart and state Sen. James Meeks.
Posner said there was a query about Daley’s job rating and what city issues are important: jobs, police, etc.
After running through some positives about Emanuel — his congressional career, his work as Obama’s chief of staff — Emanuel tested some potential negatives: his onetime friendship with former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and how Emanuel made millions as an investment banker with City Hall connections. There was also a question about Emanuel and convicted political fixer Tony Rezko.
But don’t forget: It’s going to be dangerous to be the front-runner in this race.
Just look at how quickly various forces went on the attack against Emanuel. There was muttering about Dart at last week’s City Council meeting, too, but it was more restrained.
If the other contenders gang up on Dart, there’s still no telling who could slide to the front.
This has to be one of the most hard hitting ads Hotline On Call has seen so far this cycle: Rep. Debbie Halvorson (D-IL) is up with a new ad that attacks Iraq war vet Adam Kinzinger (R) for supporting free trade agreements.
The ad features a series of heartfelt testimonials from people who lost their jobs. “It’s real hard to explain to my wife why I was losing my job,” says one. “You get cut off at the knees.”
In the final testimonial, the speaker levels a direct attack at Kinzinger as the screen goes black.
“Young man, you have no idea what you’re doing,” he says.
This is a Halvorson ad, but the DCCC has reportedly reduced its ad buy for the Chicago area.
…Adding… The NRCC responds…
“This ad is a farce: it’s the policies of Washington Democrats like Debbie Halvorson that have been forcing jobs overseas with higher taxes and job-killing mandates. Unlike career politician Debbie Halvorson, Adam Kinzinger is committed to putting an end to the Democrats’ agenda so that we can finally create jobs and grow the economy.” — Tom Erickson, NRCC spokesman
* Roundup…
* IL-10: Bob Dold’s Amateur Hour on Channel 64.81.157.18 slated for cancelation Nov. 2: A 10-second investigation into what else user 64.81.157.18 has done at Wikipedia reveals that the same Dold for Congress computer has also repeatedly fouled up Dan Seals’ Wikipedia article with juvenile acts like surreptitiously changing his party affiliation from Democratic to Green, etc. as far back as July of this year.
The top essay score is 12. Illinois students scored an average 7.9, down slightly from 8 in 2009, but highest in the country.
Still, with results from all parts of the writing test combined, Illinois’ average writing score slid to 577, from 583 in 2009.
Likewise, Illinois’ average reading score dipped to 585, from 588 in 2009; and the average math score dropped to 600, from 604 in 2009. Each test is graded on a scale from 200 to 800 points.
Mary Fergus, a spokeswoman for the Illinois State Board of Education, noted that fewer than 6 percent of the state’s students take the SAT.
This year’s more than 6,100 Catholic high school seniors in Cook and Lake counties averaged a score of 22.8 on the 36-point ACT, up 0.1 percentage point from 2009, the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Catholic School office disclosed Monday.
Meanwhile, nearly 25,000 Chicago public school seniors averaged a score of 17.3 — up 0.3 percentage points from the previous year.
Two other measures are aimed in part at Joe Berrios, a county tax appeals commissioner and Democratic county assessor nominee. He faces a challenge from Commissioner Forrest Claypool, a Chicago Democrat running as an independent.
“I have no problem identifying Mr. Berrios as someone who has conflicts of interest that are currently legal,” Simpson, a former Chicago alderman, said, adding later, “I do support Mr. Claypool in the assessor’s race.”
That got an immediate response from Chicago Democratic commissioners loyal to Berrios, who is also chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party.
“All of this is political,” said Commissioner Deborah Sims. “It’s not fair.”
“This is not a democracy,” added Commissioner Joseph Mario Moreno. “It’s a hypocrisy.”
Mayor Daley wants to give the Chicago City Colleges a $1.8 million subsidy to purchase the Harold Washington Cultural Center in Bronzeville, a move former Ald. Dorothy Tillman (3rd) calls “totally illegal” and “political harassment.”
The influx of tax-increment-financing (TIF) funds would pave the way for City Colleges to purchase the center’s foreclosed mortgage, take the 1,000-seat auditorium at 47th and King Drive out of the hands of a non-profit run by Tillman’s daughter and turn it into an education and performing arts center.
If Mayor Daley had chosen to seek a seventh term — and once again drawn only nominal opposition — the Feb. 22 turn-out could have been under 42 percent, as it has been in the last four mayoral elections.
That’s down from over 60 percent 1989 and 47.8 percent in 1991.
But, with a wide-open mayoral seat for the first time in 64 years attracting interest from scores of candidates, turnout could double the 33 percent that went to the polls four years ago.
Insiders say changing the appointment process of a replacement state’s attorney is a reach because state election code outlines that process. The law calls for the chairman to make a recommendation to the board. If the board and chairman can’t agree, the chief judge can make an appointment until the issue is resolved by the board and chairman, said current State’s Attorney Joseph Birkett.
“I’ve got some mixed emotions here,” Zaranti said after winning the appointment. “For me, this is not time to celebrate. This is not something I’m prepared to do. It’s with great honor and with a heavy heart I accept this opportunity.”
Zaranti, who was elected to the council in 2007, previously served two terms as a park district commissioner. He said he was excited to “continue the work (Lopez) started.”
Finance director KathyCarr said the amount fluctuates each year and the 2011 contribution is adding to a projected $1.3 million deficit Moline staffers now are working to reduce and eliminate for 2011.
A total of $2.67 million is recommended to be levied for firefighter pensions and $2.28 million for police pensions. That is only the city’s contribution for 2011.
* Visitation will be 2-8 pm Wednesday at Blackburn-Giegerich-Sonntag Funeral Home, 1500 Black Road, Joliet, and from 4-8 pm Friday at Gent Funeral Home, 2409 State St. Alton. Mass is at 10 am Saturday at Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church, 717 State St., Alton.
While recuperating from a recent surgery, Matt Ryan recalled his days as campaign manager for one-time candidate for governor Paul Vallas, when he learned that Vallas had gone to Haiti to work on earthquake relief efforts.
“He went to Haiti? I couldn’t get him to fly to Carbondale,” Mr. Ryan said with a laugh, recalling the former candidate’s fear of flying and his narrow loss after being massively outspent by Rod Blagojevich in the 2002 Democratic primary.
Matthew Edward Ryan, 53, who most recently was chief of staff to Will County Executive Larry Walsh, died today at RML Specialty Hospital in Hinsdale of complications from cancer.
In his storied career Mr. Ryan aggressively promoted his clients and helped shape Illinois politics at the municipal, county, state and federal levels. When the workday ended he shifted from political operative to storyteller, whose laughter belied the endless detail of running campaigns and managing politicians’ agendas.
The Bolingbrook Sun also has a story. You can continue commenting on our open post here.
O, all the comrades e’er I had,
They’re sorry for my going away.
And all the sweethearts e’er I had,
They’d wished me one more day to stay.
But since it falls unto my lot,
That I should rise and you should not,
I gently rise and softly call,
Goodnight and joy be with you all.
Cohen talked to The Associated Press Monday but refused to answer most questions about incidents such as accusations of violence from a former girlfriend and an order of protection sought by his wife when they were divorcing.
Cohen did call the order of protection a “sneaky” maneuver that is often used in divorces to disrupt a man’s life.
Cohen says he has “never, ever, touched, hurt or abused a woman.”
Divorce proceedings can often be chock full of lies on both sides. Many of us have seen it happen. But Cohen’s ex-wife was asked specifically earlier this year by Phil Ponce about her allegations that Cohen attempted to rape her and that she was afraid at the time for her physical well-being. “At the time that was an accurate statement,” she said. Watch it…
Take her word for it that he’s a changed man. That’s not an easy thing to do. Not everyone can do it. I give him credit for that. But it seems pretty darned clear to me that she said he did what she alleged during the early stages of the divorce proceedings. And if we believe her most recent comments, then Cohen is not telling the truth now.
In an interview Monday with The Associated Press, Cohen said Illinois should eliminate unneeded social programs, but he couldn’t name any. He said the state should do away with special funds but couldn’t provide any examples.
His candidacy is wholly unserious. We’ve given Bill Brady plenty of grief for not specifying his cuts, but he has at least put some thought into this race. Cohen has not, except for the political angle. He has no answers for real questions.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Three of the people who provide testimonials in that Cohen radio ad are Raymond Hancock, Jason Kyle and Peggy Bong. From the State Board of Elections website…
Democrat Alexi Giannoulias hopes to make China an issue in his race for U.S. Senate, a strategy he set into motion Sunday by accusing Republican opponent Mark Kirk of backing policies that benefit China while hurting American workers.
Giannoulias said Kirk, a five-term congressman, has consistently cast votes against cracking down on unfair trade practices by China and backed huge corporations that transfer jobs overseas.
“When you hear Congressman Kirk talk about job creation, he’s talking about jobs he created in China,” Giannoulias said at a news conference.
The Kirk campaign responded by accusing Giannoulias of “wanting to start a trade war” with one of the biggest customers for Illinois companies. Kirk spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski said that would endanger thousands of Illinois jobs and $2.5 billion in exports. […]
President Bill Clinton granted “most favored nation” status, for instance, while opponents of the currency and trade bill included Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi, now speaker of House.
On other issues, however, Kirk had few allies. He was one of just 15 members of Congress in 2005 to oppose a presidential review if American oil company Unocal reached a sales agreement with a Chinese oil company.
Also, as always, I’m really not interested in DC talking points or Econ 101, which has destroyed more college minds than all the illegal drugs in the world combined.
* Roundup…
* China getting attention in U.S. Senate race in Ill.
* We’ve seen some pretty divergent poll results lately. The Tribune had the governor’s race as a five-point game. But Rasmussen has published its latest gubernatorial poll, and they’re looking at a total blowout. Earlier Rasmussen results are in parentheses…
Brady earns support from 93% of Republicans, while just 66% of Democrats favor Quinn. Whitney captures four percent (4%) of Democrats and eight percent (8%) of voters not affiliated with either party. Brady leads Quinn by better than two-to-one among unaffiliateds.
Brady is viewed favorably by 56% of Illinois voters and unfavorably by 35%.
For Quinn, favorables are 43% and unfavorables are 53%.
Twenty-five percent (25%) have a favorable opinion of Whitney, an attorney and frequent candidate, while 32% regard him unfavorably. But 44% don’t know enough about the Green Party candidate to venture any opinion of him.
Fifty-one percent (51%) of all voters in the state say they have voted for an independent candidate in past elections, while 41% have not. Still, 43% say they are less likely to vote for an independent in this election. Twenty-seven percent (27%) say they are more likely to pull the trigger for an independent on Election Day, and another 25% say the likelihood is about the same as in past elections.
Just 35% approve of the job being done by Quinn, who took over as governor last year after Rod Blogojevich’s impeachment. Sixty-three percent (63%) disapprove of Quinn’s job performance.
After listening to Cohen, I think he’s actually running somewhere to the right of Republican nominee Bill Brady, which means he could steal away GOP votes, too, assuming voters have any idea who he is — beyond the helpful image of the guy who holds job fairs.
Unlike Brady or Quinn, Cohen has taken the Illinois Taxpayer Protection Pledge, a strict no-tax-increase promise demanded by Jim Tobin’s Tax Accountability group. Cohen is expecting the conservative group’s endorsement.
“Brady still wants to tax people, I don’t care what he says in his commercials,” said Cohen, who argues that the key to reviving Illinois’ economy is to cut taxes and ease regulations on business.
Most of Cohen’s rhetoric sounds like it’s right out of the old Republican playbook.
Maybe so, but he’s spending much of his time courting minority voters. You can follow some of his movements on Twitter to see for yourself. Also, he’s involving himself in the 17th Ward campaign on behalf of a challenger.
* Even Green Party nominee Rich Whitney is trying to appear conservative these days. From a recent op-ed…
Let’s be candid. If you identify yourself as a conservative, your first inclination will probably be to vote for Republican candidate Bill Brady in the Illinois governor’s race. I understand that. He covers some of the basic conservative talking points: cutting spending, holding the line on taxes, “pro-life,” pro-Second Amendment, pro-business.
That’s the rhetoric. Now let’s look at the substance of his positions and see how they compare with my own.
* Sometimes, you just gotta wonder what the Illinois State Board of Elections is thinking. As I told you several days ago, they don’t post a handful of campaign reports by nonprofit groups, which means a million dollars in cash is sitting out there with no easy way to find it. Why? Because they couldn’t figure out how to code their website without costing a fortune, which seems a bit odd.
[State Sen. Larry Bomke] laments a change in procedure at the State Board of Elections. Bomke for years has filed campaign finance reports that list every contribution. But with new software being used at the board for electronic filing of campaign reports, there will no longer be a way to itemize donations of $150 or less, which don’t legally have to be listed separately.
Bomke said he thinks the change oddly comes at a time when “the general public is expecting fuller disclosures.”
Campaigns do continue to keep records of all donations, and Bomke said he will make his database of all contributors — including those who give small amounts — available to interested media.
* In other government news, the State Journal-Register makes some good points about the private bidding war to operate the Illinois Lottery…
The idea of handing operations of the lottery over to its biggest contractors, as would be the case with Northstar, strikes us as analogous to General Dynamics and Raytheon assuming operations of the U.S. Department of Defense. The lottery needs an operator that can drive hard bargains with its contractors. We can’t conceive of any way an operator controlled by the biggest lottery vendors can ever accomplish this. Even with promises of firewalls between the contractor and operator sides, the very appearance should make it a non-starter.
Northstar’s main selling point is that it knows the lottery business. That’s true, but the state started this process to break with the lottery business as has been practiced here for the last 26 years.
Camelot’s experience in and record with running lotteries elsewhere make it attractive. Illinois wants growth, but we also want responsible growth. That was a significant component of Camelot’s presentation.
Also, the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Women’s Business Development Center, the Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council, Chatham Business Association and the Chicago Urban League are all in support of Camelot.
Some Will County officials think the governor is about to drop the proposed Peotone airport into Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.’s lap.
Then it would be controlled by Chicago politicians. Will County would be out of luck.
Gov. Pat Quinn will make the move — they say — during his bid for re-election. It could happen this month or maybe next. Because if Jackson controlled it, new jobs would be created for people who live on the South Side of Chicago. And that might mean votes for Quinn.
It’s not as clearcut as the article makes it sound, but there is a real political danger here for Democrats in Will County if the governor doesn’t take their positions into consideration. Will County is already a hotbed of anti-government activity. Quinn could gin that up even more if he’s not careful.
* And the University of Illinois is reimbursing its Urbana chancellor for nights he stays in his Chicago condo, and the foundation even helped furnished it…
The University of Illinois Foundation also authorized $25,000 in Herman’s discretionary funds to help furnish the condo, according to spokesman Don Kojich. Herman indicated that he frequently used the condo to entertain donors and alumni, and “we thought this was a good use,” Kojich said.
Herman could not be reached for comment.
The university reimbursed Herman for 75 percent of the standard lodging rate for Chicago hotels, the amount allowed under state law in such cases, according to UI records.
In 2008, for example, Herman received a total of $4,837 for overnight stays in Chicago, ranging from about $110 to $121 a night, records show.
Previously, he was reimbursed for his hotel costs, which were actually more expensive for the campus, said Robin Kaler, associate chancellor for public affairs. Herman’s last reimbursement for a Chicago hotel stay totaled about $203, she said.
* It’s a challenge when you have a statewide syndicated column and want to write about the Chicago mayor’s race, but I went ahead anyway this week…
Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley’s stunning decision to step down at the end of this term has at least temporarily sucked almost all the oxygen out of Illinois politics and focused just about everyone’s attention on an extremely rare open seat contest.
There hasn’t been an open seat race for mayor since 1947, when Ed Kelly stepped aside so the Machine could endorse reformer Martin Kennelly. Richard J. Daley defeated Kennelly in the 1955 primary, and the rest is history. This upcoming open seat race is just about the rarest Illinois political event most of us have seen in our lifetimes.
Since this race is so unique, one of the big worries of state Democrats is that groups allied with them could decide to husband their resources in anticipation of an all-out Chicago war next February. The mayor’s race will cost a fortune, and several aldermanic seats look to be in contention. Most of the same big groups who play statewide will also be extremely interested in holding sway over Chicago.
Some top union officials consulted last week said they had no plans at all to alter their November budgets, with one even saying that his union would borrow money if it needed the cash to compete in the mayor’s race.
However, if Gov. Pat Quinn can’t get his act together and make this battle with Republican Bill Brady a reasonably close contest, then there may be no reason to toss money down the drain with him. Better to save the cash for the city contest.
White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel was perhaps the most prominently featured potential candidate in last week’s speculation. The former congressman and Clinton White House official has long been a Daley favorite.
Emanuel reportedly won’t announce a decision until after the Nov. 2 election. That means he and the rest of the White House could be hugely damaged by the national (and Illinois) election results, so we’ll have to see how this plays out.
An Emanuel run might mean more White House focus on his home state. That could be helpful to Illinois Democrats, particularly Quinn and U.S. Senate nominee Alexi Giannoulias. If those two do poorly in Chicago and the White House wasn’t perceived as being “all in,” Emanuel will start out with a significant local handicap. Add to that any blame he gets for the party’s national losses and he’ll be seriously damaged goods - and his opponents will undoubtedly use that against him.
Attorney General Lisa Madigan has long been thought of as a potential mayoral contender, but she seems satisfied right where she is, at least for now. Madigan passed on an opportunity for U.S. Senate and governor last year, saying she thoroughly enjoyed her job. Madigan is the most popular politician in Illinois and would enjoy union support that might not coalesce behind Emanuel, who is not known for being a pro-union member of President Barack Obama’s administration.
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, a former state legislator, last week signaled his openness to a run. Dart is a popular, capable politician who enjoys a strong base of support. He’s greatly expanded that base by protecting homeowners facing foreclosure, crusading against online prostitution advertising and being featured in a national cable series about Cook County Jail.
Comptroller Dan Hynes reportedly was approached by unions months ago about preparing for a run, but many don’t expect Hynes to jump in after losing his second statewide primary race. State Sen. James Meeks has talked about higher office for years, but never has pulled the trigger.
There are just too many more names to delve into right now. Keep in mind that this is a nonpartisan primary with a runoff if no candidate receives at least 50 percent plus one. The contest will be who can get into that runoff, which means that a whole host of folks could think they might make it.
The business community will undoubtedly be more than a bit freaked out about losing the stability and friendship of Daley, so expect them to back a candidate. The runoff calculation and the current national mood means that even some Republicans are musing about their chances at making the final cut. Millionaire Ron Gidwitz was just one of the names mentioned last week. Gidwitz is chairing Bill Brady’s gubernatorial campaign.
* Chicago black leaders meet to discuss mayoral race: The Rev. Jesse Jackson and other black religious and political leaders from across Chicago have met to discuss the city’s upcoming mayoral race. Jackson says the leaders met Saturday to start coming up with criteria they think candidates should meet.
* I told you back in July that our good friend Matt Ryan was very sick. The former chief of staff for Will County Executive Larry Walsh passed away early this morning. His family and many, many friends are just heartbroken. I’ll post arrangements when they come in.
Health care, the energy sector and finance and accounting are the hottest areas for jobs, according to John Challenger of employment experts Challenger, Gray and Christmas. Though government data doesn’t yet reflect recent layoffs for teachers, education also remains a relatively secure profession, Challenger said, if only because “there’s always going to be children to educate.”
But workers in the housing industry face a longer wait to rebound, he said. The average Chicago area real estate broker has taken a 43 percent pay cut and now earns less than government program eligibility interviewers, whose pay they easily doubled five years ago; real estate appraisers are down 26 percent, and construction workers make 27 percent less.
Now that Mayor Daley has announced he won’t seek a seventh term in the February election, the TIF issue is ripe for debate. Several aldermen who have expressed interest in a mayoral run support tapping the TIF reserves.
A top officer with the Service Employees International Union, which is expected to be active in raising money and volunteers for a candidate, said business interests will do everything they can to keep TIF subsidies.
A bank is foreclosing on two law-office buildings owned by Edward R. Vrdolyak, but lawyers for the former Chicago alderman say it isn’t a case of the man known as “Fast Eddie” being slow in paying up.
Bianchi, of Crystal Lake, and administrative manager Joyce Synek, 62, of Woodstock, are both charged in the 26-count indictment, made public Friday. The felony charges carry a potential five-year prison term.
In February 2009, Bianchi’s former secretary, Amy Dalby, was charged with stealing documents from Bianchi’s office and handing them to a political opponent. Her attorney then sought a special prosecutor to look into her claims that she did political work for Bianchi during office hours at his behest.
In May 2009, Dalby pleaded guilty and was sentenced to probation. Last September, retired McHenry County Judge Henry Tonigan III was appointed as a special prosecutor to look into Dalby’s claims.
The idea to re-reverse the river, and undo one of the Chicago’s true engineering marvels has been floated by environmentalists and some state politicians who say restoring the flow to its natural order would help naturally clean the river and the lake, and even help the Asian carp situation.
Crain’s reported that executives with New York-based Vornado have been dropping hints along Wall Street and among potential buyers of its interest in selling the Mart division, citing sources and securities analysts. Those clues have already yielded one $1.25-billion bid for the Mart that collapsed last month by New York real estate investor Charles Cohen, CEO of Cohen Brothers Realty Corp., Crain’s reported.
Mr. Kennedy did not dispute any facts in the Crain’s story, but he said the headline of the online version of the story overstated the case because Vornado is not actively looking for buyers.
About $29 million in federal funding has been earmarked to pay for the next step in improving the Union Pacific Northwest line and three other commuter rail projects. But unless the state can match those funds dollar for dollar, Metra will lose access to the money.
Chicago Metropolis 2020, organized by the Commercial Club of Chicago, has released a new study that says the region is losing jobs and money because the state has failed to adequately invest in public transportation.
Specifically, the study calls for doubling the Illinois motor fuel tax from 19 cents to 38 cents per gallon, which some people would claim is not a tax.
It also calls for consolidation of the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace and the elimination of 1,403 township governments into “more cost-effective county transportation departments.”
Late-night negotiations Sunday did not produce a contract, and the Danville teachers’ union has gone on strike.
A one-line message atop the school district’s website on Monday says, “School is closed due to a teachers strike.”
Negotiators for the school district and Danville Education Association met late into the night on Sunday in the hopes of reaching a tentative deal and averting a strike. By 10:30, they had been bargaining with the help of a federal mediator for seven hours with only a few small breaks to eat or stretch their legs.
