The boy who cried “Wolf”
Wednesday, Aug 22, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* As I’ve already told you, the Illinois Republican Party has demanded a federal investigation based on these allegations in a state GOP press release…
Illinois State Board of Elections records show that on Aug. 17 – the same day as the Special Session – Service Employee International Unions (SEIU) gave $47,000 and another $50,000 to the Democratic Majority (a committee chaired by Madigan to elect Democratic State House members); on Aug. 13 it contributed $50,000 to Cullerton; on Aug. 10, $45,000 to the Senate Democratic Victory Fund, and on Aug. 6, $50,000 to the Democratic Party of Illinois (chaired by Madigan).
The special session dealt with pension reform. The allegation is that Madigan and Cullerton were bought off by SEIU to kill pension reform. Here’s GOP Chairman Pat Brady…
“In fact, Mike Madigan collected $90,000 two hours after he killed the pension reform bill,” said Brady.
That’s a pretty bold statement, to say the least. Is it true? Signs point to “No.”
* The union has claimed that it sent the checks much earlier. I asked for proof earlier today. The union consented to send me electronic copies of the checks, but SEIU officials didn’t want me publishing anything that had any signatures or checking account numbers on it. So, we agreed I could do some screen captures from parts of the checks.
Here is part of one of the checks that the Democratic Majority disclosed as receiving on the special session day. Click the pic for a larger image…
As you can see, the check was written on July 27th - well before the special session day, and four days after SEIU announced its endorsements and approved its campaign contributions.
Indeed, four of the five SEIU checks were written three days before Quinn even announced the special session. And the endorsements were made and contributions approved a week before Quinn called the special session.
SEIU says those four checks were mailed on August 1st.
* Another $50,000 check was cut on July 25th and mailed to the Democratic Majority on July 30th. It was also disclosed as being received by Democratic Majority on the special session day. This check is configured differently, so a screen cap was ruled out by the union. Here’s the date on the check, however…
* So, if the checks were cut on the 25th and 27th and mailed a few days later, why were they reported by Madigan as being received on August 17th? From the Illinois State Board of Elections…
In the case of a contribution made by check or money order, the date of receipt is the date the money is either deposited or the check is cashed and the money becomes available to the committee.
So “received” doesn’t mean the same thing in state campaign law as the state GOP says it means.
* From a statement by SEIU…
FACT: SEIU’s contributions to Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate Majority Leader John Cullerton were made nearly three weeks before the date of the special session. The donations were approved as part of our political endorsement session on July 23rd, and the corresponding checks were cut within the same week and promptly delivered. The claims that the contributions were given on August 17th is false. Moreover, the donations are consistent with our pattern of giving over the past decade.
FACT: Less than 10 percent of SEIU’s 170,000 Illinois members have a pension administered by the state – a fact that Republicans have conspicuously chosen to ignore while contriving a false connection between our recent political donations and the subject of the August 17th special session.
FACT: SEIU’s PACs are supported by small donations from our mostly low-wage members. In giving to our PACs, these workers sacrifice some of their limited resources to gain a collective voice in policy debates that have profound ramifications on their jobs, their families, and their communities. The attacks on their recent donations dishonor the democratic process and belittle the average working families who partake in it through PAC donations.
* SEIU has also produced a timeline, which you can read by clicking here.
* Calling for a federal investigation is about the most serious thing somebody can do in this state. It ought to be done with extreme care and preceded by more than just a cursory glance at the Internet. Obviously, neither of those two things were done in this instance.
The state GOP should either put up or retract. Simple as that. Politics may be a game to some, but screaming for the feds is not a game - or, at least, it shouldn’t be.
…Adding… Related…
* GOP smear efforts against Madigan could be ‘a swing and a miss’: “This is not a new tactic. What’s new here is the environment and the antipathy toward Springfield and the problems that exist. People in Illinois do know who Mike Madigan is. Maybe this is the year that (the tactic) works.”
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Condolences and best wishes
Wednesday, Aug 22, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Doc Davidson has passed away…
Former state Sen. John Davidson, R-Springfield, who served in the Statehouse for 20 years, has died. He was 87. […]
Davidson was chairman of the Sangamon County Board before going to the Senate, where he served from 1973 to 1993. He was a chiropractic physician and a Navy Air Corps veteran of World War II.
Man, he was a true character. Old school. Had his legislative office in the same building as his chiropractic office. He did more for chiropractors in this state than just about anybody. He also got a whole lot of people jobs through his Republican patronage network. Like I said. Old school.
* Meanwhile, I told subscribers about this Monday morning…
Sen. John Sullivan plans to have surgery this week to manage a rare but treatable form of cancer.
“It’s a personal and private issue, and yet because I’m a public official I just thought it was important that I let my constituents know what’s going on,” Sullivan said.
Four years ago Sullivan had a small growth removed from his lower abdomen as an outpatient procedure. Recently, his doctor observed a recurrence.
“I am scheduled to undergo a surgical procedure this week and will be away from my full-time duties for two or three weeks,” Sullivan said.
But I thought these two responses were particularly classy…
State Senate candidate Randy Frese issued the following statement regarding Sen. John Sullivan’s announcement that he’s having cancer surgery.
“My family and I are praying for John and his family as they deal with this difficult time,” Frese said. “I wish him a complete and speedy recovery.”
Frese echoed Sullivan’s commitment to continuing his campaign. “I look forward to news that his treatment was completely successful and his return to work.”
The following statement is from the Quincy Tea Party:
On behalf of its members, the Board of Directors of Quincy Tea Party would like to express our concern and wishes for a quick recovery for Senator John Sullivan as he battles his illness, announced today. We wish him and his family the best, and will be praying for a positive outcome to this challenge. We look forward to seeing Senator Sullivan back out and on the campaign trail, and discussing the issues important to our congressional district.
* Best wishes to the Cardinal…
Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago will work with his doctors to determine a course of treatment after test results showed cancerous cells in his kidney and in a nodule removed from his liver.
The archdiocese made the announcement Aug. 17. The cardinal received the results after undergoing a procedure Aug. 15 at Loyola University Medical Center.
After resting at home over the weekend, Cardinal George went on retreat for a week.
“We have no further information at this time,” the archdiocese said.
* And let’s hope this situation improves…
After visiting Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. at the Mayo Clinic, Rep. Dennis Kucinich told me Tuesday that he made the trip because “it’s about being there for a friend who is obviously in a fragile condition and who needs love and support.”
Jackson is “emotionally fragile,” Kucinich said.
Kucinich, an Ohio Democrat, said he talked for hours with Jackson over last Friday and Saturday morning about diet and nutrition — Kucinich himself is a vegan — and Jackson’s path back to health.
Last week, Jackson (who has been absent from Congress since June 10) was diagnosed with a bipolar disorder and depression. Mayo said in a statement that the condition was connected to bariatric surgery Jackson had in 2004, “specifically a duodenal switch. This type of surgery is increasingly common in the U.S. and can change how the body absorbs food, liquids, vitamins, nutrients and medications.”
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Question of the day
Wednesday, Aug 22, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Not long after a federal court denied former Gov. George Ryan’s appeal and refused to release him from prison, Gov. Pat Quinn was quoted as saying that Ryan should serve out the remainder of his sentence and that Ryan “has to do the time.”
But Ron Jackson looks at a new law signed by Gov. Quinn that allows for early release of state prisoners to argue that Quinn shouldn’t have so harshly judged Ryan…
In order to qualify for early release under the new law, inmates must “successfully complete rehabilitation treatments, which could include substance abuse treatment, adult education, and behavior modification or life skills programs. Inmates may also receive sentence credit for passing the Test of General Educational Development (GED) while in DOC custody.” With the incentive of getting out early, it is hoped that inmates will maintain good behavior in prison, earning a day off their sentence for each good day served.
But what incentive to not re-offend does the felon have once released? They won’t be able to find employment. Their newly enhanced prison skills aren’t transferable to society. Even with a GED, a nonviolent car thief or copper thief has to survive. How long can we reasonably expect their good behavior to continue? Gov. Quinn said the new early release law will make criminals less likely to commit crime in the future. How so, Governor?
I am not advocating that George Ryan be allowed early release just because he is a fellow Kankakeean or because he is old. I am saying that if anyone meets the standards for early release, it is him. He committed a nonviolent offense, is least likely to re-offend, and has a support system in place upon release. Whether you like George Ryan or not, you know on the day after his release he will not be selling drugs, stealing copper, molesting children or assaulting women.
Gov. Quinn knows that, too.
* The Question: Ignoring the state vs. federal issue here, do you agree with Gov. Quinn or Ron Jackson? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
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* Gun rights folks are pointing to this development as evidence of a major shift in Illinois…
McLean County could become an island of concealed carry for gun owners in a state that does not allow weapons to be carried in public, according to new guidelines for prosecuting gun crimes announced Tuesday by State’s Attorney Ron Dozier. […]
“We will no longer use the power and authority of our office to criminalize and punish decent otherwise law-abiding citizens who chose to exercise their rights granted under them by the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves and their families,” said Dozier’s statement. […]
Dozier cited a 2008 case that held citizens — not just the military — have a right to possess guns for personal defense, and a 2010 decision that held states have a right to make their own gun laws.
Dozier said his office will no longer prosecute violations of state laws related to Firearm Owners Identification Cards, unlawful use of weapons and aggravated unlawful use of weapons and other statutes that appear to be in conflict with two other Supreme Court decisions on gun ownership. The use of weapons laws punish people “for merely possessing (not using or threatening to use) a firearm in the wrong place or wrong kind of container,” said Dozier.
* More…
Dozier said his purpose is sending a message to Gov. Pat Quinn and the legislators who, “continue to ignore the U.S. Supreme Court decisions, and who continue to oppose reasonable legislation that would bring Illinois into compliance with the Second Amendment.”
* And Edwards County State’s Attorney Michael Valentine says Dozier’s refusal to try those cases is actually more common in Illinois than most people know…
“I think it does go against the (U.S.) Constitution,” said Valentine of the state’s stance. “I agree and commend Ron for his stance.”
It is a stance, the non prosecution of non-violent firearm violations such as FOID violations, unlawful use of weapons that conflict with federal policy, that Valentine’s office, as well as many in the region, carry out, just not as vocally as Dozier.
“It’s a policy I know several counties in Illinois, including Edwards, now follow,” he said.
Discuss.
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* Gov. Quinn won’t talk about how he intends to “activate” the grassroots on pension reform, leading me to strongly suspect that he made up the “plan” at the spur of the moment Friday when pension reform efforts collapsed…
Gov. Pat Quinn said Tuesday that he’ll wait until next month to debut his so-called grassroots campaign raising awareness about Illinois’ pension problem, a move that comes days after lawmakers failed to come up with a plan to overhaul the massively underfunded system. […]
Quinn, a Chicago Democrat, has vowed to push forward and “activate the public,” but he said Tuesday that he won’t release a plan until the middle of September. He said he wants to wait until several key events have passed: the Republican National Convention next week in Tampa, Fla., the Democratic National Convention the week after in Charlotte, N.C., and the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
He declined to say what his plan will specifically include, aside from hinting that it’ll involve technology and likely social networking.
“I’ll wait to announce our plan … but it will be a good plan. It will involve everyday people. It will use the powerful electronic democracy to wake up legislators that we’re not going to give up on our children. That’s what pension reform is all about,” Quinn said. “I don’t want to be competing with the national conventions when all of America will be watching.”
Quinn has been blaming Republicans for the failure to pass legislation that kills off future legislative pensions and reforms the General Assembly’s pension system. But a whole lot of Quinn’s fellow Democrats voted against that bill, including some of his closest legislative allies, and he ought to be pressed on that topic.
* Raw audio…
* Meanwhile, the governor was confronted by some AFSCME members yesterday in Milan…
About 30 American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees wearing green T-shirts criticizing Gov. Quinn sought a word with him. Many said they will lose their jobs with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services because of the governor’s proposed cuts.
Gov. Quinn talked to the group before leaving for an event in Peoria.
“I thank you for what you’re doing,” he told them. “You’re on the front lines for our children.”
His next sentence, however, was interrupted by DCFS child welfare advocate Terra Fairburn who held up a sheet of paper in front of Gov. Quinn.
“The children are going to suffer,” said Ms. Fairburn. “Here’s my layoff notice.”
Noise grew as the governor said, “I know,” and tried to defend himself, saying the General Assembly cut the DCFS budget by $50 million.
“My budget did not include that,” Gov. Quinn said.
“But you hired the director, sir,” Ms. Fairburn responded. “And the director (Richard Calica) is doing all this stuff, and he doesn’t even know what he’s doing.”
* Photo…
Caption?
* Other stuff…
* Gov. Quinn signs new law expected to combat whooping cough
* Governor Signs Stronger DUI, Social Hosting Laws At Police Chiefs Conference
* Chicago to pay $450,000 to 2 drivers over false DUI charges
* Quinn signs Rezin-sponsored legislation on the EPA into law
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* Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle backed away from her comment that the late President Ronald Reagan deserves a “special place in hell” for his involvement in “making drug use political”…
“I regret my earlier comment regarding former President Ronald Reagan. I have been outspoken on the failure of the War on Drugs to end illegal drug use or sales in this country. However, this is too complicated to lay all of it out on President Reagan’s doorstep and inflammatory language only distracts from the larger issue.”
* Mark Brown talked to her…
The conversation I hoped to have with Preckwinkle was about how even a politician who is normally quite circumspect in her public utterances can get in trouble in the blink of an eye these days where everything is recorded and ready for dissemination on YouTube.
But except for allowing that “usually I’m more careful about my language,” Preckwinkle wasn’t about to oblige me by going off-script, having already done so once in the day, with unpleasant results.
Instead, she took each of my questions and spun them back into some version of her scripted talking points, emphasizing that her “inflammatory language” about Reagan had only served to distract from her larger point — that we can’t continue to treat drug use more as a criminal justice issue than a public health problem.
While Preckwinkle may have an image as a rather bland policy wonk in the style of the teacher she once was, the truth is that she has a sharp tongue on occasion and can be particularly outspoken and blunt about the issues on which she is most passionate — the nation’s long-running war on drugs being right at the top of that list.
* And Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady issued a press release blaming Speaker Madigan…
We all knew that the Chicago Democrat Machine was capable of being the most ruthless and negative campaign operation in the country. President Obama and his political advisors were all trained in Chicago, but remarks made Tuesday by Cook County Board President Democrat Toni Preckwinkle reached a new low.
Preckwinkle, who used to be Obama’s Alderman in the Chicago City Council, remarked at a conference at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign that President Ronald Reagan deserves “a special place in hell.” While she is now trying to backtrack her comments because she didn’t realize there was a reporter in the room, it says a lot that right after she made her comment, the audience gasped, and she asked, “What? You didn’t like that?”
Just like most people, I was shocked when I heard this news, and disappointed that it was said by the elected leader of the largest county in the state that President Reagan was born and raised in. But the more I think I about it, I’m not really surprised she said it.
Comments like this symbolize what Illinois Republicans are up against this fall. The Democrats in Illinois, led by Illinois House Speaker/Illinois Democratic Party Chairman/Father of the Illinois Attorney General Michael J. Madigan, will stop at nothing - including trashing Ronald Reagan - on their quest to divide this country to win the upcoming November elections.
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Extreme hate directed at Quinn
Wednesday, Aug 22, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The governor issued this press release on Sunday…
Governor Pat Quinn today joined the Muslim community to observe the completion of the Holy Month of Ramadan at the Eid-ul-Fitr prayer service in Bridgeview. During the occasion, the governor renounced recent incidences of violence against Muslim places of worship and signed a new law to foster religious tolerance.
“To the more than 400,000 Muslims across our state, ‘Eid Mubarak!’” Governor Quinn said. “Ramadan is a time of fasting, sacrifice and self-reflection. We honor your commitment to your faith and will vigorously protect your right to practice it without fear of intimidation.”
Ramadan is observed during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is considered the holiest month of the year in the Islamic faith. During Ramadan, Muslims fast each day from sunrise to sunset. Ramadan ends with a three-day festival known as “Eid”, which means “the feast of the breaking/to break the fast”.
Following the recent massacre at the Sikh temple near Milwaukee, gunfire at a Morton Grove mosque, a bomb thrown at a Lombard Islamic school and the desecration of a Muslim gravesite at Evergreen Cemetery, Governor Quinn issued a call for respect, tolerance and harmony.
* The reaction on some right-wing blogs was pretty ugly. For instance…
Now we have a governor who claims to be Roman Catholic who is videoed praying with Muslims as they chant, “Allahu Ackbar.” This is the same phraseology shouted by the Ft. Hood terrorist Nadal Hasan when he opened fire on our troops!
The video of the governor praying with Muslims is disgusting and sickening. Political pandering as though what he’s doing means nothing except political expediency, but it does. It means that we are heading for Sharia law in this country unless we have men of conscience and backbone take a stand.
By the way, for you people in Illinois who put him into office. You can remove him in 2014. America would be grateful.
* Some of the comments were even worse on most of those blogs. For instance…
Freedom of speech is a great liberty, isn’t it?
Our Founders thought, however, we would be smart enough to distinguish true enemies of this nation. Islam is an enemy. The governor is an idiot.
And…
There must be money in it for Quinn…… some people will do anything for buck!
Islam is not a “religion” in the true sense. Islam is about TOTAL POWER, it is a political ideology. It is a system which controls every aspect of the lives of those who have the misfortune to be subjected to it. It’s a totalitarian political, economic, military, social and legal system; it masquerades as a religion, like soviet communism. Their goal is incorporating our Country into a global Islamic caliphate. Quinn, Stop pretending that Islam is a religion you dufus!
And…
“These are un-American acts.” Governor, you will probably live long enough to want to eat those words. You will look on those words and realize that those acts just might have been the most patriotically American acts you ever witnessed. The proof is in the pudding, sucking up to Islam will get you absolutely no where with Muslims.
And…
Tolerance does not mean acceptance of evil. Quinn is doomed to hell for taking part in the worship of a false god..he has broken one of the 10 commandments and has disgraced all catholics by his sacriledge! He is a Judas betraying Jesus and the American people!
And…
Ramadan celebrates the commencement of the revelation of the Qur’an. Eid il-Fitur celebrates the end of the month of fasting. By endorsing and joining the festivities, the Governor endorsed everything in the Qur’an including the verses of hatred, execration and perpetual genocidal terrorism.
* A video is making the rounds which claims that Quinn may have inadvertently converted to Islam…
* Quinn also used the occasion to sign a bill into law. Back to his press release…
In addition, he signed Senate Bill 2949, to protect college students who miss a class or exam due to their observance of a religious holiday.
“No student should be disciplined, penalized or fined for observing a sacred day,” Governor Quinn said. “This new law celebrates our nation’s basic principle of ‘freedom of religion, as well as the notion that diversity makes us stronger.”
* From the Chicago Tribune’s comment section…
What the hell is going on here. Obama is a muslim and now the Illinois muslims get special treatment form that idiot Quinn.
* Let’s go back to the press release to see who sponsored the bill Quinn signed…
The new law, sponsored by Sen. Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago) and Rep. Sidney Mathias (R-Arlington Heights), passed both chambers unanimously with the support of the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities (FIICU). The law is effective Jan 1, 2013.
Those are both Jewish legislators.
This was no Muslim bill.
* And some people still complain when I strictly police comments here.
Sheesh.
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