Question of the day
Tuesday, Jul 9, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Amanda Vinicky…
At least one of those ideas, I’m told, is to call out the National Guard. You may recall that Rod Blagojevich offered to do that several years ago.
* The Question: Should Gov. Pat Quinn call out the National Guard to patrol the most violent Chicago neighborhoods? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
survey tools
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The expectations game
Tuesday, Jul 9, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* As subscribers already know, I have a much different take on this topic…
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s campaign reported Monday taking in nearly $530,000 in new contributions, according to campaign records. Add another $100k since April 1 and the fund-raising surge puts Lisa Madigan in striking distance of $5 million in total cash-on-hand when the reporting period ends. The total outpaces two other Democratic gubernatorial potential candidates: Gov. Pat Quinn and William Daley, however Quinn held his own in larger donations over the last few weeks. […]
Insiders have said the attorney general was working to close out the second period in commanding fashion, hoping to reach $5 million. The filing deadline for the second period is July 15th.
The newest campaign disclosures include a $52,600 boost from DRIVE Teamsters Political Action Committee, another $10,600 from SEIU and tens of thousands more from teachers unions and other employee unions.
Lisa Madigan would have to do little more than sign her name to be reelected once again as Illinois Attorney General. So if not for a gubernatorial campaign, where will the $5 million go?
She was outraised this past quarter by Gov. Quinn, Bill Daley and Bruce Rauner. She raised a lot less money in the second quarter than she raised in the first quarter. The spin out of her campaign yesterday was that she reached her $5 million goal, but that wasn’t a quarter of somebody gearing up extremely hard for a major statewide race. Her first quarter was. I don’t know if this means she’s not running or just didn’t put in enough time and effort, but either way, she didn’t beat expectations.
* And, eventually, she’s gonna have to talk about this stuff…
Attorney General Lisa Madigan- still undecided about running for Governor- would not divulge her positions on concealed carry or pension reform.
“We’ll see what’s happening in Springfield. This is now in the hands of the Legislature,” said Madigan.
I get why she’s trying to avoid answering questions, but she can’t continue this for much longer if she wants to run for governor.
* Meanwhile, there has been no talk outside of this one Tribune article about a Downstate Democrat running for governor. I’m not even sure who it would be…
“Right now, (Downstate Democrats) see the choices and it’s two Chicago guys,” said state Rep. Brandon Phelps, the Harrisburg Democrat who helped negotiate the legislature’s compromise bill from the gun-owner rights perspective. “I think there might be some other people who will get into this race.” […]
As for a potential Downstate Democratic contender for governor who has the credibility and gravitas to run, Phelps said he believes some possible candidates are waiting to see if Madigan enters the contest. “A lot of us (Downstate Democrats) will get together. I think there’s some people looking at horses to ride,” he said.
Can you think of anybody?
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A complete farce
Tuesday, Jul 9, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Gov. Pat Quinn again threatened unspecified “consequences” if the General Assembly doesn’t approve pension reform today…
“It’s time for them to do their job. If they don’t do their job by tomorrow, there will be consequences,” said Gov. Pat Quinn. […]
“They’ve refused to act. We’re not going to take it any longer,” said Gov. Quinn.
We’ve already discussed what one of those consequences might be.
* Meanwhile, yesterday’s testimony by Quinn budget director Jerry Stermer was a complete farce…
During the hearing, members of both parties were stymied by Quinn’s budget chief, Jerry Stermer, who would only offer vague answers when asked about what new plan the governor was prepared to offer up. Stermer also wouldn’t say why the governor rebuffed the committee’s invitation to personally testify at Monday’s meeting.
“Part of the difficulty in our discussion today is you’re answering in a lot of generalities. If the governor were here, it would be difficult for him to just answer in generalities,” state Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago), the committee’s chairman, told Stermer.
“So I’m just curious, where is the governor? What’s more important for him today? He was invited to be here,” Raoul said.
Stermer responded that in the letter Raoul sent the administration seeking testimony before the committee, he invited either “the governor or his designee” to appear.
“My letter was to him, so I assume he declined,” Raoul pressed.
“He sent his designee, as requested,” Stermer shot back.
More…
Stermer would not get specific about what sort of plan the governor would like the see come out of the committee process. “The governor’s proposal has been and continues to be: We need a comprehensive solution that stabilizes these systems and enables the systems to actually pay the pensions of the people who have earned them, will erase the unfunded ability, get to 100 percent funding and end the squeeze on the major obligations of state government,” he said. He parroted these components as a response to questions from the committee so many times that his repetition eventually drew laughter from the public audience.
Sheesh.
* An extremely important point…
Publicly, Quinn said he wants lawmakers to act on pension reform by July 9. He’s warned of consequences if the deadline isn’t met, but hasn’t specified what those consequences are.
Raoul, though, said Quinn’s office asked pension actuaries to analyze savings on some reform ideas and was told the numbers wouldn’t be available until July 12 at the earliest, three days after the deadline he set for lawmakers to act.
The governor’s people have been negotiating behind the scenes and have come up with their own reform outline (subscribe for more info). which they submitted for actuarial review late last month. And even though the analysis of their own plan won’t be finished until July 12th, Quinn is still sticking to his “consequences” line.
It’s a total spin job, but most of the media hasn’t yet challenged Quinn on it.
More…
Raoul said the group is getting two different messages from Quinn: the sound bites for the media and their own interactions with Stermer. Quinn’s office made some suggestions that actuaries are also working on. The estimates on Quinn’s proposals will not be complete until July 12.
“The reason that I invited the governor was because there was a bit of an inconsistency as to what was being said from his office publicly and the work that Mr. Stermer, the representative of his office, was doing privately. So you want to know which is which. Am I wasting my time with Mr. Stermer and having these discussions? Should I be listening to … Brooke Anderson? Who’s telling the truth here? The only person who could resolve that — you know, the buck stops at the governor.”
* Related…
* Quinn budget chief scolds pension panel, gets payment in kind
* Pension committee hears higher ed testimony
* Lawmakers continue hunt for pension crisis fix
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*** UPDATE *** Twitters…
*** UPDATE 2 *** No vote in Senate Exec. Caucuses will now meet to discuss what to do about the amendment, or any amendment. Then a vote on the override.
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* Quinn’s legislative office has been making calls, but they haven’t succeeded in stopping an override of the concealed carry bill yet. If this is gonna be a “showdown,” then the governor will lose the battle…
“There will be a showdown in Springfield,” Quinn told the crowd gathered in Chicago for a bill signing on anti-gang legislation. Afterward he told reporters that lawmakers should examine his changes carefully.
“I don’t think they should override common sense. I don’t think they should compromise with public safety,” he said.
The political war, however, is already “won,” in Cook County, at least. The governor’s AV was a purely political document. It got him just what he wanted: Tons of publicity portraying him as an anti-gun, crime-fighting white knight.
* This is crud…
“The legislature thinks that bill that they put on my desk is acceptable– having guns in bars. I don’t. I think the people of Illinois agree with me,” Gov. Quinn said.
Taverns make more than half their revenues off of liquor, so concealed carry was already prohibited in the original bill. The media really needs to do some basic fact checking here.
* A somewhat incomplete quote…
“I was in five parades on the fourth of July. I didn’t hear one person complain about what I did,” says Governor Pat Quinn while speaking to a Chicago crowd. “I heard many people agree with what I did for common-sense gun safety laws.”
Those parades were all in the Chicago area. But here’s something else he said…
“I’ve been all across, uh, talking to a lot of people since last Tuesday, and the people of Illinois understand common sense.”
He couldn’t say he’s been all across Illinois, so he stopped himself short. Listen to his full presser…
* Another quote…
“I would say to legislators tomorrow, ‘Do not genuflect before the National Rifle Association.’ They do not understand public safety in the Land of Lincoln.”
Quinn also said it was “total baloney” that he wasn’t involved with the concealed carry bill. As far as doing the hard work of crafting a bill, he definitely was not involved. Quinn didn’t want any sort of ownership of this legislation, so that’s why he stayed out of the negotiations and issued an AV.
* But…
Senate President John Cullerton said issues raised by Quinn’s changes were worth discussing and could come up again down the road.
“Even though the Senate president will be supporting the override so that we don’t waste any time getting reasonable regulations on the books, he did think that there are a lot of issues raised in the amendatory veto that are worth further discussion,” Cullerton spokeswoman Rikeesha Phelon said.
That’s why you should keep an eye on the Senate Exec Committee today.
* The other side…
“Here’s the deal, we have a compromised bill and both sides of the aisle, both chambers have agreed to this. We’ve got a lot of votes in both chambers, I don’t think anybody wants to go back on their word, on the compromise,” explains bill sponsor Representative Brandon Phelps.
Phelps says lawmakers will attempt to override the governor’s changes in a special session on Tuesday, and he and other downstate lawmakers are confident they can do it.
“I imagine, based upon the votes that took place previously on the concealed carry legislation, that it will be overridden tomorrow, and that southern Illinois will lead the way,” says Representative John Bradley.
If lawmakers are successful in the override vote, the law would give State Police 180 days to implement the new program. Once that time is up, FOID card holders can apply for the $150 dollar, 5-year permit. State Police would be required to issue that permit within 90 days.
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* After the Supreme Court’s DOMA ruling, state Rep. Monique Davis (D-Chicago) said she was much more inclined to vote for the gay marriage bill. No more…
But the South Side lawmaker made a clear retreat from that stance Monday, the day a new automated phone call campaign against the issue was announced. The calls into several minority-majority House districts feature the voice of the Rev. James Meeks, pastor of Salem Baptist Church and a former South Side state senator opposed to same-sex marriage.
“My statement [late last month] was that we really don’t want to deny certain people their rights to Social Security or pension benefits because some states have marriage equality and others do not. However, I, Monique Davis, have no intention of voting for the bill,” she told the Chicago Sun-Times.
“I really wish them the very best,” she said, referring to advocates for the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act. “They have 70 people they can go to and drum up some more votes.”
* She’s not the only one being targeted by the new round of robocalls…
Other legislators being targeted in the new wave of phone calls are Rep. Will Davis (D-Homewood), Rep. Andre Thapedi (D-Chicago), Rep. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago), Rep. Rita Mayfield (D-Waukegan), Rep. Esther Golar (D-Chicago) and Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth (D-Peoria), said Sean Howard, a spokesman for the African American Clergy Coalition.
Howard said the 60-second phone call featuring Meeks cost “multiple thousands of dollars” and was underwritten by Family PAC, a conservative Republican political-action committee led by activist Paul Caprio.
* Meanwhile, pro gay marriage forces are running ads on black-oriented radio stations featuring President and Mrs. Obama. Listen…
* Script…
VO1: You know what? It’s not fair that in some states, gay couples can get married and have all the rights that go along with it – but not in Illinois.
VO2: Not in Illinois? That’s not fair.
VO1: Nope. And that means gay couples don’t get treated equally when it comes to taxes, Social Security, or Medicare. Listen to what President Obama had to say about it:
President Barack Obama: Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law. For if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well.
VO2: So our President’s out there for marriage equality?
VO1: And Michelle, too. Here’s what she said:
First Lady Michelle Obama: In a country where we teach our children that everyone is equal under the law, discriminating against same-sex couples just isn’t right. So, it’s as simple as that.
Announcer: Join President and Mrs. Obama and folks across our community who believe in fairness. Tell your legislators to pass the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act.
Paid for by Illinois Unites for Marriage.
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Bill Daley coming to Springfield
Tuesday, Jul 9, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the Twitters…
Daley plans to speak to reporters at 10:30 11 o’clock (he changed the time). He’s criticized Quinn for failing to get involved in the concealed carry negotiations, and has expressed outrage over the failure to pass pension reform. So, he’ll have plenty to talk about.
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* Festivities are expected to begin at 3 o’clock. Click here or here for audio and video.
* Tribune…
Pension negotiators acknowledged last week that the deadline would be blown, saying more time was needed to crunch numbers and find a consensus. Quinn on Monday warned there would be “consequences” for their lack of action but wouldn’t say specifically what they might be.
Quinn brushed aside suggestions that their dismissal of his time frame represented a lack of respect for his office.
“I don’t feel any kind of disrespect, I have the respect of the people of Illinois,” Quinn said.
Yeah, about 30 percent or so of the people, if the polls are right.
* ScribbleLive…
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Question of the day
Monday, Jul 8, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* CBS2…
There was more to this 4th of July than celebrating the country’s independence. For candidates looking ahead to the governor’s race next year, it also was a chance to get out and meet voters. […]
There’s pomp, there’s the parades, and of course no parade is complete without a few politicians shaking hands and meeting their constituents.
“It’s important that we never forget what a blessing democracy is,” Quinn said at the Arlington Heights parade.
Quinn wasn’t the only 2014 gubernatorial hopeful meeting and greeting folks this summer holiday. His Democratic opponent, campaign trail neophyte Bill Daley, did the same, getting a jump on the sort of politicking that traditionally gets underway on Labor Day.
* The Question: What did you do while blog comments were closed here?
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Today’s quote
Monday, Jul 8, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times…
Glenn Keefer, managing partner of Keefer’s Restaurant at 20 W. Kinzie in the River North neighborhood, said a provision in the current law for restaurants to post signs that guns are unwelcome won’t work.
The existing bill’s language, which Quinn said comes straight from the National Rifle Association-endorsed concealed carry law in Texas, allows concealed-carry weapons in bars and restaurants whose alcohol sales are less than 50 percent of their gross receipts. The existing bill lets those restaurants put up signs saying guns are unwelcome, while establishments with greater than 50-percent alcohol sales are required to post such signs.
“After more than 40 years in the bar and restaurant business, I can tell you that signs do not work,” Keefer said, noting that he took down his own restaurant’s sign asking men to take off their hats while dining because it was ignored.
Umm, OK. A sign asking people to remove their hats, without the force of any sort of law, is ignored. No surprise. The concealed carry law would have penalties attached to it, so it would be ignored at a permit-holder’s peril. Big difference.
Keefer’s, by the way, is one of Gov. Pat Quinn’s favorite restaurants. As subscribers know, Quinn had the restaurant opened for a breakfast meeting recently, the timing of which just “happened” to coincide with a Lisa Madigan fundraiser across the street.
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* Rematch…
Bobby Schilling wants his old job back. Monday he’s sent to make an announcement.
Schilling’s office tells CBS 4 that the former Illinois congressman will announce today that he will run again in 2014.
The republican Schilling was unseated by Democrat Cheri Bustos in 2012.
* More…
His campaign is likely to place a heavy focus on economic issues, son and campaign manager Terry Schilling said during the holiday weekend.
“We’re putting together a plan right now on addressing mostly the rising prices and stagnant wages, because those are what’s really hurting the middle class right now,” he said.
Terry Schilling identified that focus as one of the shortfalls of the 2012 race.
“We didn’t talk enough about how the Republican policies helped the middle class,” he said, stressing that as a small-business owner and head of a large family - Bobby Schilling has 10 children - the candidate recognized the economic pinch many people are still facing.
“Bobby Schilling is the one with a large family who actually goes grocery shopping and has to pay bills,” he said. “When people aren’t getting raises and their wages are stagnant, he’s the one who’s feeling it.”
* How he’s using that issue so far against Bustos…
Schilling said Illinois families need a representative who understands the plight of the middle class and that incumbent Congresswoman Bustos has been absent on that front.
“The middle class is getting crushed by rising prices, stagnant wages and a government that has forgotten about them,” said Schilling. “Not only are our groceries and gas prices going up, but our health care premiums in Illinois are estimated to rise at least 61% because of Obamacare. Incumbent Congresswoman Bustos has proven during her time in Washington that she doesn’t understand or feel the pain of middle class families. We need a true representative fighting for us in Washington and incumbent Congresswoman Cheri Bustos has refused to act.”
* These “missing in action” and “refused to act” lines will continue to show up. For instance…
“We’ve got such a lack of leadership right now, that our incumbent Congresswoman refused to even support a budget,” said Schilling. “Supporting a budget or presenting your own is your basic duty while being a member of Congress. If you can’t support a budget to get our country back on the right track, then you didn’t go to Washington for anything but self-promotion.”
The idea here is to run a populist, working-class conservative campaign. But the new district ain’t what it used to be and Bustos is no pushover.
*** UPDATE *** DCCC…
Bobby Schilling’s Wrong Priorities Hurt the Middle Class Families That Sent Him Packing
Ex-Congressman Bobby Schilling is set today to announce that he wants his seat back in Congress, hoping middle class voters will forget his record of protecting tax breaks for the ultra wealthy and companies that ship jobs overseas while voting to end the Medicare guarantee. Voters also won’t forget who Schilling was really serving in Congress after recent reports show he’s already been raising special interest money.
“Illinois middle class families are not going to re-elect ex-Congressman Schilling after he sold them out and voted for tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas,” said Brandon Lorenz of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Whether it’s his votes to encourage outsourcing or his support for raising Medicare costs on Illinois seniors to give tax cuts to the wealthy, ex- Congressman Schilling has a record of hurting middle class families in order to protect his corporate special interest backers.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** From the Bustos campaign…
“Congresswoman Bustos is focused on job creation, protecting Medicare and Social Security, and serving the people of Illinois’ 17th Congressional District, not an election that is over a year away.”
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20-40 hindsight
Monday, Jul 8, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* AP…
Retiring Chicago Alderman Dick Mell reflected Friday on his decades as a player in the city’s old-school machine politics and said one of his only regrets is aiding the rise of son-in-law and former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, now in prison for corruption.
Mell helped Blagojevich make it to Congress in 1996 and later the governor’s mansion, but the two men subsequently had a public falling out that Mell said left a “terrible schism” between himself and his daughter. He said he wished he had done things differently.
With the benefit of hindsight, “I think that he would have probably stayed a state representative,” Mell said of his son-in-law.
Why even go that far? In hindsight, he should’ve been kept out of politics altogether.
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The hoopla has commenced in earnest
Monday, Jul 8, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From a July 5th press release…
Governor Pat Quinn today visited the popular area surrounding Chicago’s Wrigley Field to discuss the importance of common-sense gun laws in Illinois, especially when it comes to concealed carry. Earlier this week Governor Quinn issued an amendatory veto of House Bill 183, legislation that would allow and regulate the carrying of concealed handguns in public places, to address several serious safety problems. One of the governor’s critical changes to ensure public safety is to prohibit concealed weapons from public areas such as taverns and restaurants where alcohol is served.
“Guns and alcohol are a toxic mix,” Governor Quinn said. “Public safety should never be negotiated away or compromised, and I will never support a flawed concealed carry bill that puts public safety at risk. The common-sense changes I outlined this week make this a better law and I encourage people to visit KeepIllinoisSafe.org, contact their state legislators and urge them to support these important changes.”
The Wrigleyville locale was a nice touch. Pretty much everybody knows that the neighborhood’s perpetual drunken street fest is a nightmare.
But the original bill banned concealed carry in taverns, or any place where booze was at least half of revenues. Quinn merely expanded it to include places like restaurants.
* Also, check out this language from the AV…
A person shall not carry a concealed firearm onto the private real property of another without prior permission from the property owner. A property owner shall indicate permission to carry concealed firearms by posting a sign at the entrance of a building, premises, or real property, except this posting is not required if the property is a private residence
The bill as passed said business owners could post signs banning guns. Quinn reversed the polarity.
* From a July 7th press release…
Governor Pat Quinn today joined local residents for a community walk on the south side of Chicago to discuss the importance of common-sense gun laws in Illinois, especially when it comes to concealed carry. Earlier this week Governor Quinn issued an amendatory veto of House Bill 183, legislation that would allow and regulate the carrying of concealed handguns in public places, to address several serious safety problems. The changes address several serious safety problems with the legislation and will make communities safer across the state.
“The people of Illinois deserve common-sense gun policies that keep them safe,” Governor Quinn said. “No one needs to carry more than one gun and 10 rounds of ammunition for self-protection. As we continue to fight the gun violence that plagues many communities, the common-sense changes I made last week are crucial to public safety.”
Trained and licensed concealed carriers aren’t the problem. It’s the untrained, unlicensed illegal gun owners who are the real problem. This is just rhetoric. Eric Zorn…
Look, someone planning a massacre in a public place isn’t going to be deterred by such a limit — probably isn’t going to go through the trouble of getting a permit — and the whole idea of CCW is that it arms good guys. And whether you like that idea or not, it’s going to be the law. So why disarm good guys?
* And Quinn’s rejection of a provision that gives municipalities ten days from the law’s effective date to enact assault weapons bans is apparently just symbolic, since few locals are actually moving ahead with their bans…
As Illinois prepares to become the last state in the country to allow the concealed carry of firearms, few of its communities appear concerned that the window allowing them to ban assault-style weapons will rapidly begin closing next week.
Despite encouragement from Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon — and on the verge of almost-certain enactment next week of a law allowing residents to carry concealed weapons — only four communities have adopted semi-automatic gun restrictions out of more than two dozen taking them up.
According to interviews and information from gun-rights groups such as the Illinois State Rifle Association, 14 communities have rejected or decided not to act on proposed bans. Ten have yet to vote or have delayed consideration.
All of them are in the Chicago metropolitan area. Those adopting bans — Highland Park, North Chicago, Melrose Park, and Skokie — join eight other cities, also near Chicago, that already regulate possession or sale and transfer of illegal weapons, according to research compiled by the Illinois House Democrats’ staff.
* Bill Daley’s mouthpiece makes a valid point…
“The governor didn’t do his job during the legislative session,” said Pete Giangreco, spokesman for former White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley, a gun-control advocate who is challenging Quinn for the Democratic nomination for governor next year. “You can’t fix that by having a well-rehearsed press conference.”
* From that well-rehearsed press conference…
It was an event that had all the trappings of a campaign rally. Quinn supporters, including children, lined up around him with placards denouncing gun violence. Some held photos of murdered loved ones. Quinn announced a website in support of his actions — “KeepIllinoisSafe.org” — laying out his case against the original bill and providing information for people to contact their legislators.
“My job is to fight for the 13 million people of Illinois every day,” Quinn said, to fervent applause from those gathered with him. “I don’t believe the National Rifle Association is an authority on public safety.” […]
Quinn, meanwhile, has alleged it’s not he who is playing politics with the gun issue, but the supporters of the original bill — people he alleged are “mouthpieces for the NRA.”
“The General Assembly … should put aside politics and focus on people and their safety,” Quinn said last week.
One of the main supporters of the original bill was House Speaker Michael Madigan. I seriously doubt he’s a mouthpiece for the NRA.
* Finke…
For a while there, it seemed like Rod Blagojevich had come back as governor.
But no, it was just Gov. Pat Quinn doing his best Blago impression last week with concealed carry.
As a governor, when you act on a controversial, high-profile bill like concealed carry and want to make some political points at the same time, you do it at a public ceremony. And that’s what Quinn did. The news media were summoned to an event in Chicago. The place was packed with people. There were law enforcement people. There were people from gun-control organizations. There were family members of gun-violence victims. And, of course, there were the children. That was a common Blagojevich technique, to use children as props in his public events.
Then there was Quinn’s action on the bill itself. He didn’t use his amendatory veto powers to do a nip and tuck on concealed carry. He extensively rewrote the bill with stuff that wasn’t agreed to by negotiators during weeks of discussions. That was also something out of the Blagojevich playbook.
Word.
But keep in mind that RRB won two statewide elections.
* Related…
* Chicago Gun Violence Deadly Over Long Holiday Weekend Ahead Of Concealed Carry Deadline
* Rep. Phelps: Quinn playing politics with guns: “The governor’s acting like the mayor (of Chicago),” Phelps said. “He represents 102 counties. He can’t just pick one out.”
* Editorial: Quinn’s gamble on guns: If Quinn doesn’t line up the votes to support him, but he peels off enough votes to defeat an override of his veto, Tuesday will bring no new law … and possibly chaos. Illinois could be left without a law prohibiting or regulating the concealed carry of weapons… That would be an all-around, and potentially dangerous, failure of leadership.
* Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn’s Last Minute Changes to Concealed-Carry Bill Has Gun-Advocates Up in Arms
* Will Co. concealed carry proponents criticize Quinn
* Is the Right to Bear Arms Plural?
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“Consequences”
Monday, Jul 8, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I told subscribers almost two weeks ago that Gov. Quinn was considering this veto. From the Tribune editorial board…
Illinois legislators’ lackadaisical approach to pension reform stands in sharp contrast to Gov. Pat Quinn’s urgency. The legislators’ latest slow-pokery, a conference committee, has met all of once and then mostly to lower expectations. The governor, having given the General Assembly a July 9 deadline to pass reforms, noted that the committee waited eight days to convene in public when its members should have been working “round the clock” to get a bill on his desk.
With that in mind, a curious turn of events has us … curious: If legislators blow his deadline, which at this writing looks likely, will Quinn hold them to a pay-for-performance standard? That is, will he veto their salaries — and block their pay, effective immediately?
Imagine their outrage if he did. Wouldn’t that be sweet.
Imagine their instinct to override his veto before their next scheduled payday.
When Quinn threatens “consequences” if the General Assembly doesn’t approve a pension reform bill tomorrow, I think that’s what he may mean. It could also be something else. Subscribers know more.
* Meanwhile…
Gov. Pat Quinn says he won’t testify before a bipartisan pension panel Monday, but will send aides instead.
The committee tasked with finding a solution to the nearly $100 billion problem invited Quinn to their Springfield meeting. But Quinn said Sunday that lawmakers know where he stands. […]
Chairman state Sen. Kwame Raoul sent Quinn a letter Friday, which was obtained by The Associated Press. Raoul says actuarial analysis on proposals, including ideas submitted by Quinn’s office, will take time. […]
His office hasn’t discussed the submitted proposals, saying they’re not new ideas.
Actually, as subscribers know, some of them are new ideas. Demanding action without knowing how much that action will save the state isn’t exactly responsible. But this is campaign season, so here we go…
Brooke Anderson, a spokeswoman for Quinn, dismissed Raoul’s statement as an excuse. She said lawmakers have been working on the issue for years and have all the information they need to present a plan. “We’ve been providing estimates, working with the actuaries and having these discussions for two years now. The people of Illinois are tired of these excuses and the lack of urgency,” she said. “The governor’s deadline stands. This is an emergency.” Anderson declined to provide details about what the governor’s plans to do if the committee fails to meet the deadline.
Is she on the campaign payroll yet? Just sayin…
* This is one of the things the conference committee is looking at…
The… measure, supported by university presidents, would require workers to pitch in an additional 2 percent of their paychecks toward their pensions, which would be phased in over four years. It would also tie annual cost-of-living increases to one-half the rate of inflation instead of the current compounded 3 percent yearly increase.
As is, the plan would apply only to university and community college workers, but lawmakers want to see what impact the proposal would have if applied to workers in three other retirement systems that cover teachers, state employees and lawmakers. They agreed to ask state pension finance experts to crunch the numbers on potential cost savings for the plan, a process that could take several weeks.
Sen. Kwame Raoul, the Chicago Democrat who chairs the committee, said the plan could act as a new framework for legislators to build on as they seek a deal that is not only financially sound, but politically viable.
“It’s not as easy as flipping a switch and this thing is over and we have a consensus,” Raoul said. “Having a plan that solves the problem is only half of the charge. We have to come up with a plan that passes the General Assembly.”
The conference committee meets again today at 3. We’ll have a live blog. Watch for fireworks.
* And check out what the governor told reporters yesterday…
Oh, yeah. It’s most definitely on.
* Related…
* Hybrid Pension Plans Attracting More States, Cities
* Illinois revenue up 6.7 pct in fiscal 2013: Sales taxes were up a tepid 1.8 percent, or $129 million, in fiscal 2013, while federal funding, including Medicaid reimbursements, jumped by $472 million, according to the commission.
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Pretty darned cool
Monday, Jul 8, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* One of my vacation highlights was when my niece Reagan Miller presented me with one of her paintings…
The photo quality isn’t great because I used my iPhone, but I absolutely love this thing and thought I’d share. It’s going up on my office wall this week.
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* From last week…
On Monday, [Bill Daley] proposed a ban on fundraising for state officeholders, lawmakers and their challengers while the legislature is in session.
Daley, who was also commerce secretary in the Clinton administration, said a current law barring lawmakers from holding fundraisers in Springfield on the days that the legislature meets “is a joke,” since many legislators hold campaign events the night before the General Assembly convenes.
Daley said state elected officials and their challengers should not solicit, accept or receive contributions during the entire regular legislative session, which typically runs from January through May, as well as during veto and special sessions. He would make an exception for a 120-day period prior to primary and general elections.
There were tons of Monday night fundraisers this year. It may have been a record.
And while some lobbyists already impose their own fundraising bans during the latter part of the spring session, most don’t. So, this is a valid idea from Daley.
Your thoughts?
* Meanwhile, Eric Zorn writes an open letter to Mayor Michael Bloomberg, expressing his doubts about Bloomberg’s publicly stated reasons for endorsing Bill Daley…
You announced a while back your plan to offer significant financial backing to primary challengers of incumbent Democrats whom you consider overly friendly with the National Rifle Association.
Fair enough. It’s a free country, particularly when it comes to the political speech of extremely wealthy people like yourself.
Yet incumbent Democrat Pat Quinn, whatever else his flaws, is an outspoken proponent of gun control who frequently lashes out at the NRA. […]
I’m guessing you have your reasons for interjecting yourself into our gubernatorial contest — a personal fondness for Bill Daley or his brother Richard, a former fellow big-city mayor, perhaps; an admiration for Bill’s strong business background — but I know Daley’s comparative bona fides on gun control can’t be among them.
And as for helping him, with this video you’ve accomplished little more than handing the Quinn campaign a nice line of attack: The people of Illinois don’t need the soda-nanny mayor of New York City telling them who should be their governor.
Meh. I doubt Quinn wants to get into a hissing match with Bloomberg. Also, a better line of attack would be that Bloomberg endorsed Rod Blagojevich. Then again, Quinn was RRB’s running mate. Twice.
* Speaking of Daley…
Ex-Vice-President Al Gore is among top Democrats backing Bill Daley’s bid for Illinois governor with cash.
Daley, who has so far raised $716,100 for his campaign, snagged on June 28 a $5,300 check from Gore.
In addition to the ex-veep, other national Democratic power brokers have also sent cash to Daley, including: ex-Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, ex-New York City Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, attorney Vernon Jordan, ex-Clinton White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles, Carter Eskew, Chief Strategist for the Gore 2000 presidential campaign, and his wife, Faith Eskew, ex-Clinton Deputy Treasury Secretary Roger Altman. They have all donated $5,300 to Daley’s campaign.
In Chicago, Daley, who has contributed $100,000 to his own campaign picked up a $5,300 check from his brother, ex-Mayor Richard Daley.
Other Chicago financial heavy-hitters supporting the ex-U.S. Commerce Secretary include: Lew and Susan Manilow, attorney Steve Pearlman, Ben Pritzker, Jason Pritzker, J.B. and M.K. Pritzker, Marian Pritzker, Matthew Pritzker, Gig Pritzker-Pucker and Michael Pucker, attorney and ex-Alderman Bill Singer, Lou and Marjorie Susman, and Allstate honcho Tom Wilson who have each donated $5,300 to Daley.
* Related…
* Bloomberg’s big bet: As they belted out “Purple Rain,” I spied William Daley, both the son and brother of legendary former longtime Chicago mayors, conversing with onetime Chase colleague Dimon. Daley just announced he’s running for Illinois governor and is doing so with the unabashed endorsement of Bloomberg.
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* My weekly syndicated newspaper column ran last week, but we were closed last week so you didn’t get to see it…
Back in early February, not a single person mentioned Bruce Rauner in a Paul Simon Public Policy Institute poll of who likely Republican primary election voters liked as a candidate for governor.
Other polls since then have shown Rauner, a retired financier, drawing support in the low single digits in his bid for governor.
But Rauner has been dumping money into downstate TV, the Fox News Channel in the Chicago area and Chicago and downstate radio. As a result, he appears to be moving some numbers.
A Capitol Fax/We Ask America poll taken June 20 of 1,310 likely Republican gubernatorial primary voters found Rauner at 12 percent. The poll was taken almost two weeks after Rauner began running ads.
Twelve percent was enough for third place. It’s tough at this point to gauge just where Rauner’s ceiling is. He could zoom way up like the unknown wealthy candidate Jack Ryan did in the 2004 Republican U.S. Senate primary, taking over first place in January and never relinquishing it.
Or Rauner could top out like Ron Gidwitz did in the 2006 Republican gubernatorial primary. Like Rauner, Gidwitz started running TV ads in July 2005 and spent millions, but after an early rise he stopped moving and ended up at just 11 percent.
Rauner’s “angry outsider” and anti-union messages may play well with the GOP base, but he also has pro-choice leanings, won’t say where he stands on gay marriage and has close ties to Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel — none of which will be loved by conservative Republicans. If any of his competitors exploit those weaknesses, Rauner’s rise could be stopped in its tracks.
Also, just 700,000 to 800,000 people tend to vote in GOP primaries, so the party’s old guard tends to have a significant say in the outcome. And, right now, the old guard is mostly with state Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale).
But the poll has Dillard just barely in last place of the four gubernatorial candidates tested. However, pollster Gregg Durham cautioned against reading too much into the results.
“There isn’t a single result in here that I would consider as a trend, indication of strength or hint of weakness,” Durham said after he conducted the poll. “It’s just too early.”
And with the poll’s margin of error of +/- 2.8 percent, it’s impossible to say for sure that Dillard is in fourth place.
The poll has Treasurer Dan Rutherford ahead with 22 percent, state Sen. Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) second with 18 percent, Rauner at 12 percent and Dillard with 11 percent. A significant 38 percent said they were undecided.
Rutherford has carefully built a statewide campaign infrastructure for the past two decades, culminating in 2010 with his election as state treasurer. Brady is on his third race for governor, and his name recognition is still pretty strong after his 2010 loss to Gov. Pat Quinn. Dillard has been a state party fixture for years and lost to Brady by less than 200 votes in the 2010 Republican primary.
Except for Rauner, it’s difficult to tell at this point how the candidates are doing with their fundraising. Most candidates in both parties are taking advantage of an obscure but important state law that allows them to hold off reporting contributions until after they deposit the checks.
Until they start spending money in a big way and need that cash immediately, we won’t be able to track most candidate fundraising between quarterly finance reports. Rauner needs access to his cash because he’s spending so much.
Dillard is reportedly telling people that he’s on track to raise $200,000 to $300,000 this quarter, while Rutherford apparently plans to report $1 million in the bank at the end of the quarter. But beyond that, we really don’t know what’s going on.
Also, Rauner has been careful not to go above the $250,000 quarterly ceiling for self-funding of a campaign, which would break the contribution caps for all candidates running for governor.
State law is a bit vague on whether a busted cap in one primary election would apply to the other. The executive director of the Illinois State Board of Elections told me last month that his interpretation of the law is that if a candidate in one party busts the cap, then candidates in all parties for that particular office are no longer constrained by the cap.
The poll, by the way, had Rutherford ahead in downstate counties and in suburban Cook County, while Brady led in the suburban collar counties and Chicago.
Subscribers have full crosstabs.
*** UPDATE *** From a press release…
Republican candidate for governor Bruce Rauner announced today that his campaign raised more than $915,000 in the second quarter fundraising period, bringing his total campaign fundraising to more than $2.2 million.
* Related…
* Rauner, Daley raise big money in 2nd quarter
* Governor candidate Rauner stops in Peru
* Cook County health foundation snags gift from Rauner
* Nunda Township GOP to host governor candidate
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