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Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The WTTW debate between Joe Walsh and Tammy Duckworth begins at 7 o’clock tonight…

…Adding… Here’s the station’s CoverItLive thingy…

Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Here’s a really good ad from Democratic congressional candidate Brad Schneider. Not your usual political stuff, for sure…

Your thoughts?

…Adding… In case you were wondering, that’s an Adelstein Liston spot.

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Crosstabs and some afternoon updates

Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

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*** UPDATED with poll *** Question of the day

Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* You may have heard that Newsweek is dumping its print edition and going fully digital…

It is important that we underscore what this digital transition means and, as importantly, what it does not. We are transitioning Newsweek, not saying goodbye to it. We remain committed to Newsweek and to the journalism that it represents. This decision is not about the quality of the brand or the journalism—that is as powerful as ever. It is about the challenging economics of print publishing and distribution.

* Andrew Sullivan…

Until a couple of years ago, I also read physical books on paper, and then shifted to cheaper, easier, lighter tablet versions. Then it became a hassle to get the physical NYT delivered in Provincetown so I tried a summer of reading it on a tablet. I now read almost everything on my iPad. And as I ramble down the aisle of Amtrak’s Acela, I see so many reading from tablets or laptops, with the few newspapers and physical magazines seeming almost quaint, like some giant brick of a mobile phone from the 1980s. Almost no one under 30 is reading them. One day, we’ll see movies with people reading magazines and newspapers on paper and chuckle. Part of me has come to see physical magazines and newspapers as, at this point, absurd. They are like Wile E Coyote suspended three feet over a cliff for a few seconds. They’re still there; but there’s nothing underneath; and the plunge is vast and steep.

I can’t remember the last time I bought a newsprint edition of a newspaper. I subscribe to the New Yorker, but read it online.

* The Question: How often do you read the newsprint edition of newspapers? Explain.

*** UPDATE *** Let’s add a poll…

Online Surveys & Market Research

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*** UPDATED x6 - Audio of presser *** After GOP attacks and tracker confrontation, Gill says he’ll address DCCC money today

Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

*** UPDATE 1 - 1:41 pm *** He’s never explained this before, but Dr. Gill just claimed during his press conference today that the money for the ad comes from a special grassroots DCCC fund that doesn’t take corporate money and accepts contributions only up to $100 online. But Gill hasn’t yet provided the name of the fund. I’m checking with the DCCC now to see what he’s talking about.

*** UPDATE 2 - 1:46 pm *** What a stupid press conference that was. They didn’t even have the name of the alleged “grassroots” fund to share with reporters. They claimed donors came from online, but didn’t know where the website was. Ridiculous.

*** UPDATE 3 - 1:47 pm *** From the DCCC…

The funds raised for the DCCC 441ad ad in partnership with the Gill campaign come from funds raised by our online/grassroots donors, not PAC/lobbyist/corporate.

This is from our online fundraising. Like when you get an email solicit from us.

Except, of course, a lobbyist or banker would get the same e-mail solicitation and could’ve also contributed. Odds are against that, but it could happen.

*** UPDATE 4 - 2:06 pm *** This may seem a bit trivial, but it’s important. Gill claims he will never take “one penny” from corporations, Wall Street, lobbyists or whatever. So if more than a penny ends up in his fund via this DCCC website, then his ad is a lie. It may seem trivial, but he’s the one who set the bar, not me, not Rodney Davis, not anyone else. It was Gill.

Also, Gill said he’d be the one explaining the DCCC money, but then left early and handed over the presser to an aide without even saying he was leaving. Not cool at all.

*** UPDATE 5 - 2:11 pm *** The FEC website explains 441(a)(d) money…

These general election expenditures, known as “coordinated expenditures”, are limited under the election law. The national committees of each political party have a set amount they may spend on behalf of each U.S. House and Senate candidate. State party committees may spend equal amounts or may transfer their limits to the national committees, effectively doubling the national committees’ expenditure limits in those states or districts.

Coordinated expenditures are made in addition to direct contributions. They are allowed only with regard to the general election, and do not count as either contributions to candidates or as expenditures made by candidates. Party committees may work with candidates’ campaigns to determine how the money should be spent, but the campaigns do not receive the funds, the expenditures are reported directly by the party committees on special schedules on their financial disclosure reports.

*** UPDATE 6 - 2:58 pm *** The Illinois Review has posted raw audio of the presser. It takes a couple minutest to get started…

Click to listen

[ *** End Of Updates *** ]

* As I told you yesterday, Democratic congressional candidate David Gill has made a big deal about not taking a dime from corporations or Wall Street banks. His latest ad which touts that stance, however, is partially paid for by the DCCC, which does take corporate and Wall St. cash.

Gill debated Republican Rodney Davis last night. After the debate, legendary Champaign News Gazette political reporter Tom Kacich asked Gill about his latest TV ad. Gill looked completely stumped and had to huddle with his DCCC strategist before providing what turned out to be a non-response. Watch the video…

How the heck could Gill have been so horribly unprepared to answer a question like that when the NRCC and the state GOP both blasted him on this very issue yesterday? There’s just no excuse for that.

* But then that same DCCC strategist whom Gill huddled with apparently decided that the Republican video tracker should be blocked from taping the presser. Things got a little ugly…

Ugh.

There are worse things you can do to a tracker. For example, check out how Congresswoman Judy Biggert’s people recently harrassed a Democratic tracker...

But, still. C’mon, people. Deal with it.

* The heat is apparently now intense enough that Gill plans to talk about his DCCC money today. From a media advisory…

David Gill to Address Questions Regarding DCCC in Conference Call Today

WHAT: Dr. David Gill, the Democratic nominee in the 13th congressional district, will make a statement and take questions regarding the DCCC and his campaign.

WHEN:
TODAY
October 18, 2012
1:30 PM-1:45 PM

I’ll let you know what happens.

* Meanwhile, this is a very partisan, but pretty funny story about last night’s debate between Davis and Gill. The piece captures one aspect of the debate far better than any of the other stories I’ve read…

Rodney Davis started the debate by saying his top issue is cutting the national debt. His plan for doing so is to cut taxes. Seriously. He wants to reduce revenue to bring down the debt. He doesn’t believe in that arithmetic thing Bill Clinton was talking about.

Later in the debate a student question raised the obvious. Are spending cuts alone, without a tax increase, enough to deal with the debt, and what specifically would you cut from the budget?

Davis again repeated the magical debt-reducing tax cut theory that worked so well for George W. Bush. He didn’t name any specific spending cuts he would support. He told the university audience that his unspecified spending cuts would free up more money to spend on student financial aid for college.

In a single debate, Davis claimed that everyone will get tax cuts, that tax cuts will reduce the deficit, that only things you don’t like will be cut from the budget, and all the spending you do like will still be increased. Also, everyone gets a unicorn that [exhales glitter via its posterior].

* And Davis is running a new radio ad featuring former Gov. Jim Edgar. Listen…

Click to download

* Related…

* Gill lauds Obama, claims lead over Davis in 13th: A poll released today shows Dr. Gill with a commanding 6 point lead over his Republican opponent, political insider Rodney Davis. “Rodney is using the very same deceitful sales routine, one he probably picked up from the decade he spent running the political campaigns of Tea Party Congressman John Shimkus,” said Dr. Gill’s press secretary Lucy Stein, “but the voters in the 13th District aren’t buying it.”

* Bernard Schoenburg: Schakowsky backs Gill in Congressional race

* 13th District spending tops $4 million: The biggest spender so far is the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which has put $1.2 million into the race against Davis. But most of the money spent has come from superPACs aiming to defeat Gill. Among them: the American Action Network, $325,101; the National Republican Congressional Committee, $804,061; the New Prosperity Foundation, $139,255; and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, $500,000. Some of the groups say they have reserved hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of additional airtime, although they have not committed to spend it.

* Gill vs. Davis debate brings heat to campus

* Rivals don’t pull punches in 13th district debate

* Interview: Rodney Davis,Taylorville Republican Congressional Candidate

* Three seek nod from 13th Congressional District

* NFIB Endorses Rodney Davis in 13th District Race

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Quote of the day

Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From a press release…

Yesterday, Senate Candidate John Bambenek joined a dozen other citizens in filing a lawsuit challenging the validity of the state constitutional amendment on the ballot commonly known as Amendment 49 (HJRCA49). The Amendment purports to require a 3/5ths vote for any pension benefit increase. The grounds for the suit are that the form of the question on the ballot and the amendment itself is deceptive, inaccurate and incomprehensible.

“The state constitution is a crucial document protecting citizens from the government. It should not be amendment lightly and certainly not using deceptive and false means by politicians. The ‘notice’ language on the top of the question is simply factually wrong, misleading to the voters and with the amendment text itself not on the ballot, voters will have no idea what they are actually voting for,” said Bambenek.

The notice language, codified in statute reads as follows:

Notice The Failure To Vote This Ballot May Be The Equivalent Of A Negative Vote, Because A Convention Shall Be Called Or The Amendment Shall Become Effective If Approved By Either Three-Fifths Of Those Voting On The Question Or A Majority Of Those Voting In The Election.

“Why is there a mention of a constitutional convention for this amendment? It’s factually wrong and misleading to use scary language to manipulate voters,” said Bambenek.

There are also differing interpretations of what the amendment will actually legally do. According to Professor John Kindt’s op-ed in the Champaign News-Gazette, this amendment would override the pension guarantee clause in the state constitution. Others disagree but there is no real consensus on what the actual amendment does. The amendment is poorly written and incomprehensible to even the experts, much less everyday voters.

* So far, it’s just boiler plate stuff. But then…

“This amendment was written by the Dark Sith Lord Michael Madigan himself with some of the smartest people in the state and they couldn’t write something people could understand? I get that Madigan and his Chicago friends want to stick it to us, but could they do us the courtesy of doing it in a way we can understand? This ballot question and the amendment itself are incomprehensible gibberish,” explained Bambenek.

Heh.

“Dark Sith Lord Michael Madigan himself.”

Nice touch.

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America’s natural gas producers are committed to protecting America’s air, land, and water

Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 - Posted by Advertising Department

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Outside money dwarfing candidate spending

Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Congressional candidates in tight races have reported their fundraising totals this week. The media has dutifully and accurately reported the activity. For instance…

Quarterly fundraising documents show a tight race for the Metro East congressional district where two candidates are battling to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello.

Democrat Bill Enyart, of Belleville, raised $423,280 in the most recent quarter, while his opponent Republican Jason Plummer, of O’Fallon, Ill., raised $427,622. […]

Over the course of a year, Plummer has raised more than Enyart, taking in about $970,000. Enyart has raised about $643,000, although he first entered the race in June because another Democratic candidate dropped out.

* But that quarterly money - and even the year to date cash - pales in comparison to the outside spending so far…

ENYART, WILLIAM L JR (D)
Office Sought: IL-12 (House)

* 2012 election cycle outside spending summary

* Independent expenditures made supporting this candidate: $368,485.84
* Independent expenditures made opposing this candidate: $2,522,241.39

And…

PLUMMER, JASON (R)
Office Sought: IL-12 (House)

* 2012 election cycle outside spending summary

* Independent expenditures made supporting this candidate: $30,534.53
* Independent expenditures made opposing this candidate: $980,861.78

As you can see, Enyart is getting hammered a whole lot by more by the independent expenditures than Plummer.

These cash numbers are similar in other congressional races. The outsiders are flooding districts with cash and dwarfing the money raised by candidates. Thank goodness for groups like the Sunlight Foundation, which is helping us track the moolah.

* Meanwhile, the Labor Tribune reports that one of Jason Plummer’s companies used a non-union contractor on a development in Godfrey…

Jason Plummer, the Republican candidate for Congress in the 12th District of Southern Illinois, is well known in the labor community for his anti-union attitudes. Plummer purchased Monticello Plaza here last year through his development company, Midwest Asset Group. When Electricians Local 649 in Alton found out that Plummer had hired Perfection Electric, a nonunion contractor paying less than area standard wages to do the electrical work on a building in the plaza, they put a rat outside the building along with four union electricians to greet plaza customers and drivers along Highway 67. The highway runs between the plaza and Lewis and Clark Community College and a lot of drivers were honking their approval of the rat after it went up on a sunny morning last week.

“We want voters to know that these are the kinds of jobs Plummer is promoting.” said Alan Rubenstein, business manager with Local 649. “ One of the electricians in there is making $12 an hour. Another is making $17. Plummer makes his money with blue collar people who are paid low wages and no benefits.”

Photo from the picket…

* Related…

* Final 12th Congressional debate slated for Friday

* Plummer leads 12th Congressional District fundraising

* Tight Race To Replace Costello In Illinois’ 12th District

* UMWA gives endorsement to Enyart

* Metro-east “First Responders” are set to rally for Enyart, the Dems’ 12th District U.S. House nominee

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GOP wants Dem candidates to appear publicly with Madigan

Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From a press release…

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady is offering to host “Meet Mike Madigan” sessions with voters for any Illinois Democratic candidates - if the candidate will appear publicly with Illinois House Speaker/Illinois Democratic Party Chairman/Father of the Illinois Attorney General Mike Madigan in their local district.

“If Democratic candidates take Mike Madigan’s campaign money, the least they can do is offer voters in their community an opportunity to meet with Mike Madigan,” said Brady. “With a 16% public approval rating, I’m sure voters have lots of things they’d like to ask – or tell - Madigan – if they had the chance.”

“Mike Madigan’s name is not on the ballot in most of the state, but the names of his enablers – his fellow Illinois Democrats who elect him Speaker and State Party Chairman – are on the ballot,” said Brady. “A vote for any Illinois Democrat is a vote for Mike Madigan, so all Illinois voters should have the opportunity to meet Mike Madigan before they cast their vote.”

“For those residents unable to attend the ‘Meet Mike Madigan’ sessions, we’ll take a photograph of Madigan alongside their local Democratic candidate and mail it to them – as well as to the local news media - along with information about Mike Madigan’s record,” Brady said.

Brady said that he would cater the “Meet Mike Madigan” sessions with sandwiches from the nearest Jimmy John’s.

“I know Jimmy John’s corporate office is leaving Illinois because of the 67% tax hike that Mike Madigan helped pass, but they still make tasty sandwiches faster than you can say ‘walking conflict of interest’ or ‘Fire Madigan,’” Brady said.

Kass’ column today was essentially a rewrite of the GOP press release.

Discuss.

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HB 5440 Will Close the Education Gap for Illinois Students

Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Illinois is facing a crisis in education funding and the currently proposed state budget would leave a $200 million shortfall for Illinois schools, exacerbating an ongoing trend of school underfunding in our state. In fact, a 2010 research report conducted by the National Education Association found that Illinois ranks last among U.S. states in percentage of revenue for public K-12 schools from state governments. Further, the Education Law Center gave Illinois a “D” on its 2010 School Funding Fairness National Report Card.

Fortunately, the Illinois Senate identified a solution to bring more funding to our schools and protect Illinois students. In June, the Senate passed an amendment to HB 5440 that generates $75 million in revenue for the state’s education fund. This new revenue would directly support students by providing general state aid for local schools, early childhood education, and the Monetary Assistance Program for Illinois college students.

HB 5440 will fill a significant portion of the education gap, helping avert large budget cuts that would impact Illinois students and educators.

We urge members of the House to vote YES on HB 5440 and close the education gap for Illinois students.

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Caption contest!

Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Mayor Emanuel welcomed Tony Blair to Chicago last week…

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

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