Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » 2013

This just in… Lisa Madigan announces reelection bid

Monday, Jul 15, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From a press release…

LISA MADIGAN ANNOUNCES REELECTION BID

Chicago – Lisa Madigan today announced her campaign for reelection as Illinois Attorney General. In seeking her fourth term, Madigan will build on an extraordinary record of accomplishment in protecting consumers, generating critical revenue for the state, safeguarding communities, and fighting for open and accountable government.

Since taking office in 2003, Madigan has established herself as a national leader in protecting consumers. Throughout the home foreclosure crisis that devastated the nation’s economy, Madigan has fought to hold lenders accountable for their financial misconduct and to provide assistance to struggling Illinois families and communities. Her efforts have resulted in over $2 billion in relief for homeowners in Illinois. Madigan also has consistently fought against unfair utility rates, obtaining over $1 billion in relief for electricity consumers.

In a time of fiscal crisis, Madigan’s office has generated over $9 billion for the state. Her work has included partnering with the Department of Revenue to lead a multi-year enforcement initiative that has collected over $82 million from gasoline station owners and operators who have evaded sales taxes.

Madigan has led statewide efforts to curb the manufacture, sale and use of methamphetamine, drafting new laws to address this deadly drug, training law enforcement and prosecutors, and prosecuting meth conspiracy cases. With the rise of synthetic drug use in recent years, Madigan put Illinois at the forefront of this fight by launching a successful initiative to get synthetic drugs out of retail stores and drafting a new law to crack down on sales of these drugs.

As part of her extensive work to protect women and children from sexual assault, Madigan drafted and negotiated a law requiring the testing of DNA evidence collected in sexual assault investigations, making Illinois the first state in the nation with this mandate. Madigan also has drafted laws to require lifetime supervision for the most dangerous sex offenders and to improve the state’s Sex Offender Registry. Additionally, Madigan leads the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and has undertaken a successful initiative to identify, track and apprehend the most prolific child pornography offenders.

As Attorney General, Madigan has created new tools to fight for government transparency and accountability. She created the first-ever Public Access Counselor in the office and worked with open government advocates to spearhead successful legislative efforts to strengthen the state’s sunshine laws. She also has taken criminal and civil actions against government misconduct and fraud, successfully prosecuting public officials and minority contracting fraud.

In her fourth term, Madigan will continue her successful record of advocacy on behalf of the people of Illinois.

Statement from Lisa Madigan on her decision to seek reelection as Attorney General:

“For the last several months, I have considered the best way to continue serving the people of Illinois. Deciding whether to seek reelection or to run for Governor has not been easy. I love my job as Attorney General and continue to be excited about the important work we are doing and what we can do for people and families in the years ahead. I considered running for Governor because of the need for effective management from that office and the frustration so many of us feel about the current lack of progress on critical issues facing Illinois.

Ultimately, however, there has always been another consideration that impacts my decision. I feel strongly that the state would not be well served by having a Governor and Speaker of the House from the same family and have never planned to run for Governor if that would be the case. With Speaker Madigan planning to continue in office, I will not run for Governor.

I have been honored to have so many people across Illinois voice their support for me as I considered this decision. I look forward to continuing to fight for everyone in Illinois as Attorney General.” [Emphasis added.]

Blaming it on the dad. Wow.

…Adding… From late last month…

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan doesn’t believe her father, Speaker of the House Michael Madigan, would have to step down if she makes a run for governor.

Madigan, after serving on a panel Thursday hosted by the influential Emily’s List at Willis Tower, was unequivocal when posed the question now being constantly raised. “He wouldn’t have to. He wouldn’t have to step down,” she retorted to a reporter, emphasizing the move would not be a requirement.

Something obviously changed.

…Adding more… AG Madigan’s people are strongly objecting to the use of the term “blamed.” I’m being told that there is no blame here, she’s just stating the facts as they are. The father won’t step down, so she’s not running.

…Adding even more… The AG finally sent a quick e-mail to her campaign supporters at 7 o’clock tonight. It was basically just the press release.

…More… Bill Daley…

Daley: “Voters now have a clear choice between a proven leader who gets things done and a governor who can’t seem to get anything done.”

160 Comments

Question of the day

Monday, Jul 15, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* We talked about the Speaker Madigan and Metra stories last week.

* The Question: Should all Illinois politicians be legally barred from recommending any sort of employment conditions for anyone?

[For some reason, the poll wasn’t working. So, just answer in comments. Sorry.]

70 Comments

Dillard formally kicks off campaign

Monday, Jul 15, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Sen. Kirk Dillard kicks off his gubernatorial campaign today…

Once again, Dillard, who served as chief of staff to Gov. Jim Edgar, will have Edgar on his side. Dillard’s two-day announcement tour — which does not include a stop in Springfield — does include one Monday afternoon with Edgar at the Governor Oglesby Mansion in Decatur.

Why skip the capital city?

“Decatur is an ancestral home for my wife’s family and is a quintessential downstate large city,” he said, noting it is between Champaign-Urbana and Springfield.

More from Bernie…

Dillard earlier this year talked about how it would be good to have a first family back in the mansion. He has daughters ages 12 and 10, and I asked last week if he expects they would go to school in Springfield if he is elected

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” he said. “If I get elected, we will figure out to what extent the children full-time reside in Springfield.”

* AP…

It’s the second bid for the post for Dillard, of DuPage County, who lost to Brady in the 2010 Republican primary by only 193 votes. But he pins that loss on moderate, suburban votes being split among several candidates from the same area — himself, former GOP Chair Andy McKenna and former Attorney General Jim Ryan.

Dillard said the state Republican Party risks repeating the same mistakes it made in 2010, with a crowded field and, so far, no consensus candidate.

“It is unbelievable that the Republican Party, and to some extent the business community, learned nothing from the 2010 gubernatorial primary, which resulted in a 67 percent income tax (increase) and Democrat domination” through the political redistricting process in 2010 that was controlled by the Democrats, he said.

I think the business community may be learning by coalescing behind Bruce Rauner. We’ll see.

* Announcement press release…

Illinois State Senator Kirk Dillard announces campaign for governor

Two-day state fly-around underscores Dillard’s leadership, record

WHO: State Senator Kirk Dillard, his wife Stephanie, their two daughters, extended family and supporters.

WHAT: Senator Dillard kicks off his 2014 campaign for Illinois Governor

WHEN: Monday and Tuesday, July 15 & 16

Monday’s Schedule

10:15 a.m. 3753 Magnolia, Chicago, IL (Sen. Dillard’s first boyhood home)

1:05 p.m. Quad Cities International Airport, 2200 69th Ave., Moline, IL

4:50 p.m. Governor Oglesby Mansion Inc., 421 W. William St., Decatur, IL (with former Gov. Jim Edgar)

Tuesday’s Schedule

10:00 a.m. Byerly Aviation, 6100 West E. M. Dirksen Pkway, Peoria, IL

12:20 p.m. 17th Street Bar & Grill, North 17th Street, Murphysboro, IL

4:45 p.m. Emery Air, 1 Airport Circle, Rockford, IL 61109

7:15 p.m. Rally with supporters - Trademark Tavern & Tap, 777 E. Butterfield Road, Lombard, IL 60148

WHY: Illinois is a great state, rich in our people and resources. We need strong leadership to renew our faith, re-imagine our possibilities and re-purpose our resolve in returning Illinois to its rightful place as the Capital of the Midwest. Senator Dillard is uniquely qualified to provide that leadership and Make Illinois Work Again.

* Twitters…

No surprise, but it becomes official today. Dillard in the GOP race for gov. What is your advice for him? http://t.co/Zm6pHKBA1D

— Benjamin Yount (@BenYount) July 15, 2013

Your advice?

54 Comments

Show me the names

Monday, Jul 15, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From the Twitters…

Some Democrats downstate want to see more of @GovernorQuinn or will run their own candidate: @AP http://t.co/OamBlBQ4l4 @sophiatareen

— John O'Connor (@APOConnor) July 15, 2013

The link leads to yet another story about more talk of a Downstate Democrat running for governor, without any clue as to who might ultimately be that candidate…

In preliminary discussions, among the potential names mentioned as a 2014 candidate is state Sen. Michael Frerichs, a Champaign Democrat, who’s preparing a bid for state treasurer. Phelps, who raised his profile during the guns debate, said he isn’t interested in higher office right now but didn’t fully rule out the possibility.

Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon, a Carbondale resident who showed she can win statewide support, says she’s seeking higher office, but most likely comptroller or attorney general. Her decision may rest on whether Madigan ultimately decides to run for governor.

State Sen. John Sullivan of Rushville, the assistant Senate majority leader, says he’s been asked about the possibility of a candidacy but wants to stay where he is.

“There’s been a little bit of discussion on that subject,” he said. “The gun issue has heightened that discussion.”

* Until I see a name, this is little more than a Downstate temper tantrum.

Look, petitions start going out in less than two months. A candidate would have to immediately set up a very big campaign network and raise tons of money. Running for governor ain’t easy. It’s a complicated process in a very large state.

* Related…

* Quinn to East St. Louis to announce last phase of bridge work

* Quinn says his organizing skills will lead him to re-election

* Meet Doug Truax, Dick Durbin’s potential 2014 opponent

* Johnson campaign committee changes name: The Urbana Republican’s campaign fund had been called “Friends of Tim Johnson.” Now it is known as “Middle Ground PAC,” and is listed as a leadership political action committee.

16 Comments

Illinois Zimmerman verdict react and etc.

Monday, Jul 15, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From a Bill Daley press release…

“The Zimmerman case underscores my concerns about the new Illinois concealed carry law. Local communities have to have a say in how we keep more people from walking around with guns, creating situations that can easily lead to tragedies like this.”

* From Gov. Pat Quinn’s Sunday appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union”

CROWLEY: Thank you. Governor Quinn let me — I’m going to give you a chance to respond to Governor Perry on trying to get jobs out of Illinois and into Texas. But first, I do want to talk to you about the Zimmerman verdict. You have seen that in your state there are demonstrations in Chicago and perhaps elsewhere. This is also a city that’s no stranger to gun violence. Is there a national implication to this verdict?

QUINN: Well, I think there is. It’s a tragic episode. I agree with Trayvon Martin’s father that his heart is broken. My heart is broken. And our faith is not broken, as Mr. Martin said. It’s important that we really look at this stand your ground law. I don’t think that’s a good law. We don’t have it in Illinois, and we don’t want it. And I think also the idea of individuals with guns that are concealed that are told by the police not to do something, violating that police order, there’s something really wrong when that happens. And I think lots and lots of people across our country feel that way.

CROWLEY: And a lot has been said, though, about the justice system and that it seems to many people sort of innately racially divided from whether someone is charged all the way through the verdict. Do you think that the American justice system is innately racist?

QUINN: Well, I sure hope not. The American way is colorblind. And you know, Dr. King 50 years ago on August 28th of 1963 talked about that goal of all of us to have a colorblind society and if our justice system needs improvement we must together, all of us, Americans, work together to straighten that out.

[Durbin react deleted because I didn’t realize the story was a year old.]

I didn’t see any major local GOP react. I’ll post if/when that happens.

* Stateline…

The case centered around whether Zimmerman acted in self defense and drew national attention to Florida’s law, which allows people to defend themselves with force if they feel threatened in their home, business, car, or a place where they “have a legal right to be.” At least 21 states have a similar law, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

While Zimmerman did not ultimately use the “stand your ground” defense in his case, Sanford police did not arrest him until almost two months after the shooting because of the Florida stand your ground rules that require police to have specific evidence to refute a self defense claim in order to arrest someone claiming self defense.

* From a 2012 study of state “Stand Your Ground” laws cited in that Stateline story…

Despite the implications that these laws may have for public safety, there has been little empirical investigation of their impact on crime and victimization. In this paper, we use monthly data from the U.S. Vital Statistics to examine how Stand Your Ground laws affect homicides and firearm injuries. We identify the impact of these laws by exploiting variation in the effective date of these laws across states over time.

Our results indicate that Stand Your Ground laws are associated with a significant increase in the number of homicides among whites, especially white males. According to our estimates, between 28 and 33 additional white males are killed each month as a result of these laws. We find no consistent evidence to suggest that these laws increase homicides among blacks.

* Eric Zorn…

It’s pretty clear jurors didn’t buy the idea suggested by prosecutors that Zimmerman actively pursued Martin, confronted him, provoked the fight that he was winning at the time the fatal shot was fired and then made up a bunch of lies to justify what he did.

Please take a deep breath before commenting. No drive-by sloganeering. Hold your tempers in check. Thanks.

82 Comments

The people are with him (continued)

Monday, Jul 15, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The rest of my weekly newspaper column…

One of the biggest issues Quinn harped on earlier this month when he used his amendatory veto powers to rewrite the concealed carry bill was that “guns and alcohol don’t mix.” So his veto prohibited all concealed carrying in any restaurant which also served alcohol.

“Do you think trained and licensed Illinois citizens should be able to carry concealed, loaded handguns into restaurants that serve alcohol?” respondents were asked in a Capitol Fax/We Ask America poll taken July 10.

An overwhelming 70 percent said “No.” Just 26 percent said “Yes” and only 4 percent were uncertain.

A whopping 83 percent of Chicagoans were opposed, 77 percent of suburban Cook County residents and 73 percent of collar county residents also were opposed. Support was highest among Downstaters, at 38 percent, but a majority of 55 percent still were opposed.

The General Assembly did not include the ban on carrying in restaurants in a compromise bill that failed to pass last week. The omission was sharply criticized by the governor.

A lobbyist with a gun control group confidently predicted last week that if the proposal got to the House and Senate floors it would pass easily. The poll shows why.

The problem is getting the idea to the floor. Legislative leaders don’t want to substantially alter their agreement on the concealed carry bill before the ink is even dry on the new law. But this appears to be a very powerful issue and pressure will most certainly build to move something next spring.