The pro-choice group Personal PAC has filed suit to kill off Illinois’ campaign contribution limits to certain political action committees. If the group succeeds, some candidates may start justifiably quivering.
Currently in Illinois, contributions to state political action committees are capped at $10,000 for individuals and $20,000 for corporations, groups and unions.
Personal PAC’s lawsuit wants those caps wiped out, arguing that the controversial “Citizens United” U.S. Supreme Court case and the “Wisconsin Right to Life” U.S. Appeals Court case mean the caps are unconstitutional. The two rulings declared that spending and contribution limits on federal and state PACs that are engaged in independent expenditures are unconstitutional.
Personal PAC claims it has missed out on $100,000 in contributions since the state caps were put into place last year. Nobody will be holding a tag sale for the group any time soon, however. At the end of December, Personal PAC had more than $1.4 million in the bank. It raised close to $700,000 last year alone, after the contribution caps first kicked in.
Four years ago at this time, the group had $770,000 in the bank after raising $997,000 the previous 12 months. The state’s year-old campaign contribution caps haven’t appeared to hurt the group much, if at all, but it wants more freedom to raise even more cash.
Personal PAC long has been one of Illinois’ top-performing political action committees. It raises and spends tons of money every election cycle and has one of the better track records in Illinois politics.
But because of the new caps, it wants to set up a separate entity to make uncoordinated, independent expenditures on behalf of candidates. That means the group won’t give money directly to candidates but will spend the cash to help them without coordinating with the candidates’ campaigns.
In the past, Personal PAC usually designed its direct mail and radio and TV commercials and reported them as what are called “in kind” contributions to the campaigns it was supporting. The group could coordinate directly with the candidates it supported, but Personal PAC usually tightly controlled its message, regardless of what the candidates wanted it to do.
That independence created some friction over the years. The group is heavily funded by liberal Democrats, but Personal PAC has backed several pro-choice Republicans against Democrats. A few years ago, some Democrats attempted to start a contribution boycott, but the group was just too strong to stop.
Back when the law limiting contributions to groups such as Personal PAC was passed, I wrote that the proposal was a direct shot at the group itself.
Personal PAC can’t set up one of those newfangled, independent-expenditure committees because Illinois law also forbids groups from establishing more than one campaign account at a time. This provision also is aimed at Personal PAC and groups like it. Since the Wisconsin case, which was decided by a Chicago-based federal appeals court, allowed PACs with independent-expenditure committees to raise money without limit, Personal PAC wants the court to stop Illinois from interfering.
It looks like Personal PAC has a pretty good case here.
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that limiting independent expenditures won’t rein in corruption, and the original legal rationale for campaign contribution caps was to stop corruption. So, now it’s Katie bar the door.
If this contribution cap is lifted, Personal PAC and other groups will be free to raise as much money as they can from large contributions. But candidates still will be operating under strict campaign finance limits. Personal PAC and other groups, like labor unions, corporations, etc., will be able to raise and spend money freely to go after candidates who can do neither.
In other words, Illinois’ campaign finance reforms, combined with the U.S. Supreme Court’s logic, have the real potential to transfer power from the political class to the monied class.
If Personal PAC wins, the legislative effort to stifle and limit the group’s voice will have backfired badly on the control-minded politicians.
* The Question: Do you agree with the US Supreme Court that limiting independent expenditures will not rein in corruption? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments please. Thanks.
* AP reporter Chris Wills just Tweeted that Gov. Pat Quinn will propose closing 14 state facilities in his budget address tomorrow. You’ll probably see more stories like this on our live feed today as we gear up for the budget address. Also, check back in the evening because reporters will be given a briefing, and some may update from the room.
The Senate’s not in session today, but the House is and you can watch or listen here. Blackberry users click here, everybody else kick back and watch the show…
* Sun-Times reporter Abdon Pallasch went to House Speaker Michael Madigan’s district and reports that Madigan’s signs are everywhere…
Driving through the 22nd district confirms the outward show of Madigan support. Nearly every lawn on some blocks has the rectangular white signs, positioned perfectly perpendicular to the homes, looking almost in military formation like the tight political organization Madigan runs.
On the 3800 block of West 68th Street, nearly every house has a Madigan sign except two. Those are the homes of Olivia Trejo and Mike Rodriguez, the other two candidates in the Democratic primary with Madigan and Piszczor.
One of the two homes between Trejo’s and Rodriguez’ has a Madigan sign. There are no signs on Trejo’s or Rodriguez’s lawns or windows. No one answered the door at either home, though the television went off at the Rodriguez home after the Sun-Times rang the bell.
Attendees of the DeVry University Job Boot Camp hosted by state Rep. Michael Madigan, D-Chicago (pictured below addressing the crowd at the 13th Ward Office), Alderman Marty Quinn (13th Ward) and state Sen. Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago) learned new ways to improve skills for gaining employment. Topics of the workshop included resume preparation, job interview skill development, job search strategies, social media assistance and professional networking.
“We want to provide people with the tools they need to be prepared for finding good paying jobs,” said Rep. Michael Madigan.
Photo from the event…
Caption?
* So, why is Madigan putting himself through the full program? The man never takes chances and he has a feisty opponent who continues to generate media coverage…
If there are really five candidates in this race for state representative on the Southwest Side, why does only one of them have his own campaign sign on his front lawn?
Candidate Michele Piszczor, 25, says it’s because the only real candidates in the race are herself and Speaker of the House Michael Madigan.
And when Madigan heard she’d be running against him, he drew her neighborhood out of the district, so there’s no point in posting a sign on her lawn — her neighbors can’t vote for her, she said.
“They’re not real candidates,” Piszczor said of the others. “I’m the only legitimate candidate standing up to Mike Madigan,” whom she calls “the most powerful … man in this state.”
* Piszczor sent me this press release over the weekend…
Michele Piszczor, a Hispanic/Polish woman running against Michael Madigan in House District 22 democrat primary race was ambushed at a press conference led by Joshua Hoyt, Chief Strategic Executive of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), on Friday February 10th, 2012 in Chicago. “Mr. Hoyt made several derogatory comments and character assassinations to the media about Jack Roeser, who has not even contributed to my campaign. Hoyt’s group also tried to convince me to donate the few campaign contributions I have received to charity. Hoyt’s group stated that my contributors are ‘dark people’ and ‘spreading hate’ within our community” said Piszczor.
“The ICIRR is attacking people who have a history of providing good jobs to our community”, said Piszczor. ICIRR’s mission is to promote the rights of immigrants and refugees. They provide many free services, which are very temporary. “Some of the people interested in my campaign are people who have great respect for and provide considerable jobs for Hispanics. That is very lasting and empowering for my community” said Piszczor.
Since the video of the press conference has gone viral on the internet Piszczor is getting emails from all over the state. “There are people from all over Illinois - including Republican groups - who are contacting my campaign all of a sudden and want to contribute. Hundreds of Democrats have told me that they can not openly support me and of course that I will not get help from the Democrat Party, since Madigan is the chairman. I believe the anti-Madigan sentiment is rising. Joshua Hoyt’s unscrupulous press conference and obvious pro-Madigan strategy has gotten my campaign rolling full steam ahead,” according to Pizczor.
“For those groups of people, such as Hoyt’s, who think I should donate the contributions I have received in my campaign to charity – I will. However, in order for there to be a level playing field you must get Madigan to donate the 4 million dollars in his campaign chest to charity as well. Madigan goes first. (Hoyt should look at the many contributions Madigan gets from Republicans as well).
Madigan has name recognition, huge amounts of cash, is chairman of the Democrat party and almost NO ONE KNOWS HIM IN THE 22ND DISTRICT. I’m a young Hispanic/Polish female with little money, no name recognition and a huge desire to represent the people of the 22nd district with honor and integrity. There are other so-called candidates in the race. Why didn’t Hoyt get the other candidates to the press conference/ambush? It is because they are fake candidates meant to confuse the voters. It is really pathetic and just another reason why Madigan will go to his deathbed one day with an enormous amount of guilt. With Madigan’s wide-ranging corrupt power and money, why is he (or Hoyt) worried about a little Hispanic/Polish girl anyway?” stated Piszczor.
They may not know him, but they all have his signs in their yards. Just sayin…
* Anyway, Piszczor told me via e-mail this weekend that Jack Roeser will henceforth be backing her campaign. Piszczor reported $5,000 in total contributions yesterday from a Barrington company and a Wheeling CEO.
* Last fall, state Senate candidate Tom Pliura (R-Ellsworth) went a bit off track during a tea party forum…
Pliura said he was “disappointed” to see the passage of a civil-unions law in Illinois earlier this year, saying it “wasn’t necessary” and “wasn’t appropriate.”
The LeRoy physician and attorney said he was “strongly opposed to gay marriage.”
“I don’t think society ought to be condoning that anymore than, quite frankly, if a guy wants to get married with a donkey,” he said. “If you want to have relations with your donkey, that’s fine. Just don’t ask me to say, ‘OK, now that we have a civil union here, my donkey can get health care benefits.’”
And now somebody has posted a mocking video of Pliura’s moment…
Oy.
I called Dr. Pliura today and asked if he would do anything different if he had to do it over again. Pliura said he was talking in the forum about how his late brother was gay and how he was personally opposed to civil unions, but did admit “I probably should have just stopped right there.”
No kidding.
“I’m learning very quickly,” Pliura added. “I’m a newbie to this.”
* This TV ad isn’t so humorous. As subscribers already know, Rep. Randy Ramey was whacked for his DUI…
* Congressman Don Manzullo goes after Congressman Adam Kinzinger on government spending…
…Adding… Congressman Kinzinger also has a TV ad up…
A deeper look into where the responses to this poll came from reveals that Manzullo continues to lead comfortably in the areas he represented prior to the re-map, while young Adam Kinzinger is cleaning up in both his former area and the areas that are new to both candidates. As we always like to point out: a single poll in a given district should never be taken as a prediction of the inevitable. But the internal numbers–especially WHERE the responses came from–point to Kinzinger as the clear leader for now.
* This is a classic media overstatement about a legislative proposal…
Taxing junk food and cigarettes could save Illinois much-needed money, according to the Illinois Hospital Association.
On the line are 19,000 jobs that could be eliminated as Illinois Governor Pat Quinn tries to cut back on Medicaid costs.
“They’ve shown a link between these sugary beverages and obesity and thus diabetes,” said Jeni Tackett, a registered dietician with Trinity-Bettendorf.
Tackett says taxing sodas and energy drinks would force people to think differently about what they’re putting into their bodies.
The hospital association will “vigorously” fight any cuts to Medicaid payments to hospitals, she said. Such payment cuts could result in the closure of struggling hospitals, leaving Illinois with more “health care deserts,” such as in East St. Louis, which already lost its only hospital.
“This is not a haircut; $2 billion is a scalp,” [Illinois Hospital Association chief Maryjane Wurth] said.
Hospitals would pay a tax on outpatient gross revenues, which would generate a $240 million federal match per year. That would result in $480 million a year to Medicaid providers, including hospitals, nursing homes and providers of services for people with developmental disabilities. […]
Q. You also propose increasing revenues for Medicaid by raising cigarette taxes from the current 98 cents a pack, adding a tax on junk food and increasing the sales tax on soft drinks.
The cigarette tax hike would bring in $377 million. All all that up and you’re talking real money. But still not enough to forestall all those cuts. And “tax” is now a four-letter word in Illinois since the income tax was raised. It’s a tough road.
Women’s health advocates fear that waiting lists for a state-funded screening program will grow if Illinois officials cut even more from the program in the next fiscal year.
Waiting lists that have developed in recent months for uninsured women seeking medical tests and examinations through the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program may not be eliminated despite $1.4 million in supplemental grants sent out this week, program director Jean Becker said Friday.
Advocates are concerned that Gov. Pat Quinn, in his fiscal 2013 budget address Wednesday, may propose even deeper cuts for the Breast and Cervical Cancer Program.
“I’m very worried about it,” said Anne Marie Murphy, executive director of the Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force. “The funding for this year’s program was woefully inadequate.”
* Unions may have to choose between salaries, pensions: As Gov. Pat Quinn prepares his budget address for Wednesday, the president of the Illinois Senate says state workers might have to compromise between salary increases and pension benefits… “AFSCME’s at the table. They know that. How can they ask for a pay raise for their salaries when they know all of the extra money the state will be bringing in this year as a result of normal growth will go to pensions?” he said.
* Quinn to call for spending cuts, action on bills: But it’s not clear whether Quinn will present detailed proposals for solving those problems when he speaks Wednesday. Quinn aides said he will “lay out all the options” and “put the options out there.” Anderson did say Quinn is not counting on cutting pension costs in the upcoming budget and that the state will make its full contribution to the retirement systems for government employees.
* Quinn Proposes $50 Million For Illinois Scholarship Program: Governor Quinn says he will close facilities and make cuts to other departments to cover the costs of the educational investments. St. Sen. Mike Jacobs says he wants to know where the cuts will fall, before he gives the governor his support. “If he’s going to make some additional dollars spent toward education, I want to know exactly what he’s going to cut,” said Jacobs.
* Quinn’s budget speech could set stage for ‘ugly year’: “I can’t imagine he’s going to go down the road of closing correctional facilities because we are overcrowded,” said Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield. “I felt that was an empty threat last fall.”
* Governor Pat Quinn to Announce Budget Plan: Senator Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) said, “If the talk is only about making the deep cuts and we never get around to really addressing the core problems, then I think we’re just going to continue to just exist as opposed to flourish like we really should be doing.”
* Illinois Chamber President Doug Whitley gave Gov. Pat Quinn a C to a C+ grade for job creation policies so far. The governor took umbrage…
Quinn responded that he believed the United Auto Workers would give him an A thanks to his role in convincing Chrysler to bring 1,800 jobs to its Belvidere plant.
Point taken, but considering that Illinois is almost always portrayed as the worst state in the entire freaking universe, an average to slightly above average grade from the state Chamber leader is comparatively positive.
To that end, Whitley said that ahead of Gov. Pat Quinn’s budget address Wednesday, the Chamber of Commerce is highlighting five areas where the state needs to focus on making serious improvements. They include restoring fiscal integrity, reducing the cost of doing business, improving education and work force skills, investing in infrastructure and improving confidence in the state’s judiciary.
Thus far on making the necessary improvements, the Chamber’s leader gave Quinn a grade of ‘C,’ mainly because he said the jury is still out on the changes the governor has implemented. Yet he acknowledged Quinn has improved our situation in the last three years.
Whitley took a favorable view of reports that Quinn plans to call for a 9 percent cut in state spending over the coming year.
“I would think that would be significant,” he said. “If that’s what comes through, that would set the right tone.”
Whitley did praise the governor for identifying economic development as a priority, and especially for putting renewed focus on generating more trade between Illinois and the rest of the world. But he says Quinn “gets a really low grade on fiscal policy.”
“The situation is not terribly different in Illinois than the situation in (debt-crippled) Greece,” Whitley said. “We are going to have to do things that aren’t terribly popular — but it’s the only way to turn this state around.”
Granted, cutting the Illinois budget by a similar amount would have a lesser impact on the economy than slashing a federal budget. But it’s still gonna hurt, and it’s a bit unseemly to be so glib about the coming cuts (which we’ll discuss in another post).
