Past-due bill report
Monday, Aug 19, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the comptroller’s office…
Our oldest regular voucher for FY 14 is 5 July 2013, those vouchers are 32 working days in arrears.
Our oldest regular voucher for FY 13 is 26 July 2013, those vouchers are 16 working days in arrears.
Our oldest medical voucher is 11 July 2013, those vouchers are 28 working days in arrears.
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A good preview
Monday, Aug 19, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Dan Balz writes about the upcoming Democratic gubernatorial primary…
When I asked him how he sized up his opponent, Quinn said: “He’s not a reformer. Never has been. He’s not a progressive. Never has been. He’s not an organizer of grass-roots campaigns. Never has been. When you run in Illinois as a Democrat, you’d better be a progressive, you’d better be a reformer and you’d better know how to interact with everyday people. I’ve been doing that for the last 40 years.” […]
Quinn, [Daley] says, is “a nice guy” but a weak leader who has failed repeatedly to solve the state’s budgetary problems, even though Democrats control the legislature in Springfield. “A state like ours, any state, needs a strong governor. And if there’s anything that most people, I think, would say, it’s that Pat is not a strong governor,” Daley said from his office on the 25th floor of the JPMorgan Chase building.
Daley served as a senior executive at JPMorgan Chase before and after his time in the Obama White House. Quinn has seized on that experience to attack him. When I asked Quinn how he would respond to criticism that his state has such a high jobless rate, his reply offered a taste of the rough campaign ahead.
“Did this come from a banker who was with an institution that wrecked the American economy? Ran it into a ditch, as President Obama said?” he said. “An institution that has engaged in improper mortgage practices found by the attorney general, caused hardship, ruined the housing industry. People are going to judge who’s on their side when it comes to jobs, and we’ll see how they judge.”
He’s right that Quinn isn’t a strong leader.
But Daley still has an office in the JPMorgan Chase building? Really? Sheesh.
This nasty back and forth could create a clear opening for a third candidate. It’s why Quinn doesn’t want Sen. Raoul in the race. I doubt he’ll be able to attack Raoul like he’s been doing to Daley - not without creating a backlash, anyway. And Daley may think he wants Raoul in the mix, but how many Quinn-hating Democrats are gonna be enthusiastic about voting for a bankster with a name like Daley if there’s a viable alternative? To some, this looks to be shaping up as another CM-B 1992. I’m not so sure yet, but there are some resemblances.
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Quick thoughts on a massive bill signing dump
Monday, Aug 19, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Gov. Pat Quinn took action on dozens of bills this past Friday. Here’s just one of them…
Bill No.: HB 3139
An Act Concerning: Transportation
Allows motorists to use an electronic form of proof of insurance and changes online requirements for insurance companies.
Action: Vetoed
I loved that bill because I almost always forget to put my updated insurance card in my car.
So why did he veto it? His explanation…
The language in this bill is duplicative of language in Senate Bill 1775, which is still under consideration.
Could it be because HB 3139 was originally sponsored by indicted state Rep. Derrick Smith and SB 1775 is sponsored by Sen. Bill Haine?
* Quinn also signed HB 49…
Makes it a Class 3 felony to sell, purchase, install, transfer, possess, use, or access any automated sales suppression device, zapper, or phantom-ware in Illinois.
Quinn has signed several bills sponsored by Rep. Jack Franks, but I don’t remember a public ceremony for any of them. No mystery there. Franks has often slammed Quinn in public. From Franks’ press release…
Legislation introduced by state Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, cracking down on high-tech sales tax avoidance will be signed into law this afternoon. Franks’ measure takes aim at curtailing the falsification of electronic cash register records to lower a business’ tax liability.
“The notion that billions in sales tax revenue is being lost due to businesses cooking their books is unconscionable,” Franks said. “Even though it was already illegal to cheat on taxes, ‘tax-zappers’ created an easy way for an unscrupulous few to cheat that is very hard to track.”
House Bill 49 bans the possession or sale of computer software, known as a ‘tax-zapper,’ that allows a business to underreport taxable income by doctoring transaction records. By inserting a flash drive into an electronic register, the zapper alters receipts, thereby artificially lowering the business’ tax liability.
Sounds like a good bill.
* Quinn used his amendatory veto powers on this one…
Bill No.: HB 2454
An Act Concerning: Local Government
Restricts content of advisory referenda for township governments.
Action: Amendatory Vetoed
From his veto message…
However, this legislation simultaneously silences the voices of the citizens by limiting the topics which may be the subject of advisory referenda. By restricting the public policy issues which may be raised via referenda to those “directly related to the business of the township,” this bill undercuts the democratic process. While the business of the township is no doubt important, other issues are of equal or greater importance to the citizens, such as health care and the minimum wage. Our citizens must be able to weigh in and address those issues as well.
Government belongs to the people. We must do all we can to ensure they have the opportunity to make their voices heard on these important issues.
* This bill had bipartisan support…
Bill No.: HB 131
An Act Concerning: Reports of Stun Gun and Taser Use by Law Enforcement Officers.
Requires training for law enforcement officers who use tasers and stun guns.
Action: Signed
Effective: Jan. 1, 2014
* Another victims rights law is on the books…
Bill No.: HB 827
An Act Concerning: Criminal Law
Requires Office of the State’s Attorney to inform the victim’s family members of their right to present an impact statement at sentencing.
Action: Signed
Effective: Jan. 1, 2014
* This didn’t get much press…
Bill No.: HB 1063
An Act Concerning: Criminal Law
Removes statute of limitations for criminal actions against alleged perpetrators where victims of sexual offenses were under the age of 18 at the time of the offense.
Action: Signed
Effective: Jan. 1, 2014
* Interesting concept…
Bill No.: HB 1199
An Act Concerning: Transportation
Prohibits a person or entity from using an electronic tracking device, such as a GPS tracker, to determine the location or movement of another person.
Action: Signed
Effective: Jan. 1, 2014
* Pension reform, anyone?…
Bill No.: HB 1375
An Act Concerning: Public Employee Retirement Benefits
Increases survivor’s annuity to provide parity for surviving children of a deceased firefighter.
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately
* Right under the media’s RTA radar screen…
Bill No.: HB 1389
An Act Concerning: Local Government
Extends the RTA’s authority to issue bonds to 2016.
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately
* Probably a good idea, but will there be unexpected consequences?…
Bill No.: HB 1443
An Act Concerning: Criminal Law
Creates the criminal penalty for a school official’s failure to report to law enforcement after knowingly observing hazing.
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately
* This concept began as a bill to abolish DCEO…
Bill No.: HB 1544
An Act Concerning: State Government
Creates the Illinois Business Development Council and requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to develop a strategic economic development plan.
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately
* Expungement…
Bill No.: HB 1548
An Act Concerning: Criminal Law
Allows persons convicted of Class 3 or Class 4 felonies to apply for expungement with the Prisoner Review Board after they have served a tour of military duty.
Action: Signed
* Hooray!!!…
Bill No.: HB 1573
An Act Concerning: Liquor
Doubles the amount of beer a holder of a craft brewer’s license can produce to 930,000 gallons from 465,000.
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately
* Some animal activists are gonna be upset…
Bill No.: HB 1652
An Act Concerning: Wildlife
Prohibits the use of a drone to interfere with hunting.
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately
* This was becoming a problem in some areas…
Bill No.: HB 2520
An Act Concerning: Gaming
Adds poker runs to list of events considered charitable games.
Action: Signed
* This bill makes sure that corporate charter schools pay into the pension fund…
Bill No.: HB 2583
An Act Concerning: Public Employee Benefits
Makes changes and reforms to Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund.
Action: Signed
From the Pension Impact Note…
According to the Chicago Teacher Pension Fund, there have been several instances of charter schools submitting required contributions late or not at all, and the pension fund believes that HB 2583 will provide for better enforcement of required pension contributions. HB 2583 should have a slight positive impact on the pension fund.
* Good idea…
Bill No.: HB 2590
An Act Concerning: Civil Law
Allows employers to seek orders of protection for an employee who has previously been a victim of unlawful violence.
Action: Signed
* I didn’t even know this was a problem…
Bill No.: HB 2640
An Act Concerning: Civil Law
Allows victims of human trafficking who are involuntarily tattooed to apply for assistance from the Crime Victims Compensation Fund for tattoo removal.
Action: Signed
* This could have a major impact…
Bill No.: HB 2695
An Act Concerning: Transportation
Requires that, by Jan. 1, 2016, 25 percent of all state-purchased vehicles be alternative fuel cars and requires the construction of charging stations for these vehicles.
Action: Signed
* Just one more complication for candidates that may have been cleared up…
Bill No.: HB 2716
An Act Concerning: Local Government
Prohibits the nomination of a political party candidate if the township clerk is not properly notified of the caucus time and location.
Action: Signed
* I haven’t seen any coverage of this at all…
Bill No.: HB 2753
An Act Concerning: Energy
Authorizes the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to lease lands on the bed of Lake Michigan for offshore wind energy development and to create and implement a regulatory program.
Action: Signed
* Hmmm…
Bill No.: HB 2787
An Act Concerning: Children
Establishes procedures for the review of unfounded reports to Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and provides new rights to children in review process.
Action: Signed
* Some subscribers will be interested in this one…
Bill No.: HB 2943
An Act Concerning: Government
Closes loopholes in the Lobbyist Registration Act.
Action: Signed
Effective: Jan. 1, 2014
From the synopsis…
Requires a registrant whose client is another registrant to disclose the name and address of the ultimate beneficiary of the registrant’s services. Requires a registrant whose client is another registrant to include in expenditure reports the name and address of the ultimate beneficiary of the expenditure.
* This will help with transparency…
Bill No.: HB 2947
An Act Concerning: State Government
Requires certain data to be included in the Governor’s introduced budget.
Action: Signed
Effective: Jan. 1, 2014
The bill is here.
* Taggers beware…
Bill No.: HB 3043
An Act Concerning: Criminal Law
Increases the penalties for criminal defacement of property.
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately
* Common sense…
Bill No.: HB 3128
An Act Concerning: Civil Law
Allows the termination of parental rights of the father of the child if the mother conceives the child as a result of rape.
Action: Signed
Effective: Jan. 1, 2014
* Butts….
Bill No.: HB 3243
An Act Concerning: Safety
Defines discarded or unused cigarettes as “litter.”
Action: Signed
Effective: Jan. 1, 2014
* Pass on the right…
Bill No.: HB 3367
An Act Concerning: Transportation
Clarifies the law to provide that bicyclists have authority to pass on the right side of a vehicle.
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately
* Good idea…
Bill No.: SB 2182
An Act Concerning: Local Government
Amends Comptroller’s tax incremental financing reporting to include school districts and to expand municipal reporting requirements.
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately.
The full list is here.
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*** UPDATED x1 *** Question of the day
Monday, Aug 19, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
*** UPDATE *** He signed the bill into law.
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* Action is expected today, so let’s get started on the voting…
Gov. Pat Quinn is due to make a decision on a law that would increase the state speed limit.
The legislation would raise the speed limit on rural interstates in Illinois from 65 to 70 mph starting in January. Eight counties in the congested Chicago area would be allowed to keep their limits lower.
However, the Illinois State Police and Quinn’s transportation chief are opposed, saying current speed limits should be enforced more strictly. The governor hasn’t indicated which way he’ll go.
Thirty other states have higher speed limits than Illinois. The bill is here.
* The Question: Should Gov. Quinn sign this bill? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
survey tools
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In other slating news…
Monday, Aug 19, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* You may not have noticed, but the Cook County Democrats slated Mike Frerichs for state treasurer last week…
Down ballot, Frerichs, in his seventh year as a state lawmaker, found his anticipated endorsement challenged by Ervin, a West Side alderman. Frerichs narrowly got the backing of a subcommittee charged to recommend candidates to the full panel of slatemakers, though many African-American committeemen, including Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, initially backed Ervin.
“I feel confident that the Democratic Party is going to present a slate that has ethnic, gender, racial and geographical diversity,” said Frerichs, who noted the contenders for governor have yet to pick their running mates under a new state law that requires them to run as a team in the March 2014 primary.
* And Mark Brown looked at judicial slating…
What’s especially strange is that the partisan pandering is expected even though most would tell you the selections have been made in advance.
“By the time they come here, the cake has been sliced,” said one Northwest Side committeeman. Practically proving the point, neither Ald. Ed Burke (14th) nor House Speaker Mike Madigan, the most powerful voices in picking judges, were even in attendance, although their imprint was evident.
Earlier, as candidates for Appellate Court justice were making their cases, one committeeman sidled up to complain: “It’s all pre-determined.”
When I pressed him for the pre-determined picks, he got skittish. But another laid it out.
“Freddrenna Lyle, David Ellis, John Simon,” he predicted and was proven correct soon afterward.
Lyle has been a judge for less than two years, but she is the former 6th Ward alderman and still popular with her City Council colleagues, many of whom are committeemen.
Ellis hasn’t been a judge at all, but for many years he was the chief legal counsel to Speaker Madigan, the state party chairman. In that capacity, Ellis prosecuted Gov. Rod Blagojevich at his impeachment trial. Madigan’s support made Ellis a shoo-in. Ellis also is a very successful writer of mystery and suspense novels, which he said he expects to continue in his spare time.
Although already serving as an appointed justice, Simon was a somewhat less obvious selection, only in that for many years he was a favored recipient of Republican pinstripe patronage legal work. His father, Seymour Simon, was the Democratic state Supreme Court justice who won the everlasting appreciation of the state GOP by siding with Gov. Jim Thompson in his 1982 recount battle with Democrat Adlai Stevenson III.
* Frerichs, by the way, provided a lot of red meat at the fairgrounds last week…
“He’s that guy standing on his head,” Frerichs said, referring to commercials in which Rauner at first appears upside-down, saying he’ll put things right in Illinois.
“I think a little too much blood has rushed to his head if he thinks that the people of the state of Illinois are going to elect a Scott Walker clone who’s going to try to make this a right-to-work state,” Frerichs said.
Walker is the Republican governor of Wisconsin, and Rauner has said local governments should be able to implement right-to-work laws that would allow people to refuse to join union bargaining units or pay dues at their workplaces.
Frerichs used the “fabulously wealthy” Rauner as an example when recalling one of his grandfather’s sayings: “If you want to live like a Republican, you’ve got to vote for Democrats.”
Rauner spokesman Mike Schrimpf responded later that such talk is “not surprising coming from a leading member of the Democrats’ tax hike caucus. Bruce is focused on economic policies that actually encourage job creation so Illinois will no longer have the highest unemployment rate in the Midwest.”
* And from Frerichs’ Facebook page, a photo with a Lincoln impersonator…
Caption?
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Two gun bills signed into law
Monday, Aug 19, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Gov. Pat Quinn signed two new gun-related bills into law over the weekend…
Starting immediately, gun owners whose weapons are lost or stolen will have 72 hours to notify police. And beginning Jan. 1, individual gun owners will have to contact the Illinois State Police before selling a weapon or transferring ownership to ensure that the purchaser is allowed to have a gun.
Quinn said the legislation closes a loophole in the state’s gun laws, which previously required gun show merchants and licensed firearms dealers — but not private sellers — to check that the customer had a valid firearm owner’s identification card. Under the new law, private sellers must contact state police, who will then search records and determine the prospective buyer’s eligibility.
According to the governor’s office, Illinois joins seven other states and the District of Columbia in requiring gun owners report missing firearms to law enforcement.
* These seem like common sense laws. But Quinn’s bill signing took place just 7 miles from the Indiana border. Will the new background check law drive even more sales to the Hoosier State?…
“It’s really important that we have a federal” measure that would monitor guns nationwide, Quinn said, “but you’ve got to start somewhere.”
Your thoughts? Notice I wrote “your thoughts.” Try very hard to avoid bumper sticker slogans in comments.
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Two mobile phone bills signed into law
Monday, Aug 19, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The summary…
House Bill 1247 prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle on any road in Illinois while using a mobile phone or other electronic communication device. The bill makes exceptions for hands-free devices, including those with headsets that can initiate a call using a single button or a voice command. The new law takes effect January 1, 2014.
“When people get behind the wheel, they have a responsibility to themselves and to others to drive safely,” State Representative John D’Amico (D-Chicago), a co-sponsor of the bill, said. “When motorists are on the phone, they are not giving their full attention to the most important task they have. This law will help reduce traffic accidents and make Illinois roads safer.”
House Bill 2585 increases the penalties that can be imposed on drivers whose use of an electronic device while driving causes an accident. If the accident causes great bodily harm, the driver can be sentenced to up to 1 year in prison, and a fatal accident can result in a prison sentence of 1 to 3 years. Current law only allows these drivers to be charged with traffic violations. The new law takes effect January 1, 2014.
“Distracted driving is not only dangerous—it’s deadly,” Governor Quinn said in a press release. “Too many Illinois families have suffered because of accidents that could have been prevented. Anyone driving a car should be careful, responsive, and alert behind the wheel. These new laws will save lives.”
* More…
Drivers involved in injury-causing accidents could face up to a year in prison
“If somebody was in a school zone talking on a cell phone and they ran someone over, and if they hurt them severely or killed them, they’d get written up for a $200 ticket. That’s it,” said state Rep. Natalie Manley (D-Joliet), the bill’s chief House sponsor.
“We’ve seen more horrific things by people distracted by video devices or cell phones, and the penalties on the books for those crimes are no more than a petty offense. It’s like their tail lights are out,” she said. “The main goal is public safety, and at the end of the day that’s what we really want.”
* But…
Despite the growing push to require drivers to put their phones on speaker or use a headset, researchers at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety have found little difference between drivers who use hand-held cell phones and those who use hands-free devices.
Rather, researchers contend that all cell phone use is equally distracting once a conversation starts, noting that accident rates did not change in other states that have implemented bans on hand-held phones behind the wheel.
Discuss.
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Dillard lashes out at Gidwitz
Monday, Aug 19, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sen. Kirk Dillard sounds a bit peevish about the defection of Ron Gidwitz to Bruce Rauner’s campaign. Gidwitz was Dillard’s campaign chairman in 2010…
“(Gidwitz) is a Chicago multimillionaire with strong ties to city hall, like Mr. Rauner, the billionaire that he’s for. So it’s not a surprise and they are both social moderates,” Dillard said. […]
Dillard adds that he’s learned from his mistakes of his 2010 campaign for governor. The Hinsdale Republican says he started that campaign too late.
Dillard has moved hard to the right since losing that ‘10 primary to Bill Brady and it shows in that quote. But his campaign committees have filed just three A-1’s this month for a total of only $18,500. He’s been hurt by the defection and, once again, he waited too long to start working.
* The AP looks at the rich people lining up behind Rauner…
Rauner is a billionaire who — at least financially speaking — doesn’t need the help, and money doesn’t always decide Illinois primary races. But if the pattern holds, it could make it difficult for his opponents — state Sens. Bill Brady and Kirk Dillard and Treasurer Dan Rutherford — to fight back with television advertising, mailers or fly-around events, particularly in crucial weeks before the March primary election.
“That’s going to be their problem, I believe,” said Ron Gidwitz, a former Illinois Republican party chairman and gubernatorial candidate who’s serving as Rauner’s finance chairman. […]
“There’s a certain time in which (known candidates) have to say ‘I’ve tried often enough, it’s time to step back,’” said Elizabeth Christie, a retired executive and one of the biggest donors to the state GOP who gave $20,000 to Brady’s 2010 bid and is now a chairwoman of Rauner’s campaign. “I believe a lot of donors are saying it’s time … and I think you’re seeing that in the numbers.” […]
Rauner’s numbers were boosted by a who’s who of GOP donors — including at least half of more than a dozen individuals who regularly help bankroll GOP campaigns in Illinois, according to an Associated Press review of campaign finance data. The group includes Citadel CEO Ken Griffin and hedge fund manager Anne Dias Griffin — who gave a combined $450,000 to Brady’s failed 2010 gubernatorial bid — and a trio of contributors who accounted for almost one-fifth of the money Dillard received during that year’s primary.
* And the Sun-Times wrote about a subscribers-only poll last week, so here it is…
The field of Republican candidates for the governorship still has no clear-cut frontrunner, though Brady is in the lead, according to a Capitol Fax poll of 1,102 likely Republican primary voters released this week. […]
Brady had 21 percent of those surveyed, compared to 17 percent for Rutherford, 14 percent for Rauner and 10 percent for Dillard.
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*** UPDATED x1 *** “A bit of an insult”
Monday, Aug 19, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Without offering up any actual evidence, other than black people will likely vote for Sen. Kwame Raoul instead of Gov. Pat Quinn if Raoul runs for governor and the lack of a finished product from Raoul’s pension reform committee, Laura Washington writes…
Now the consultants and operatives are whispering in Raoul’s ear, and telling him what he wants to hear.
You can do it! They urge: You are a black legislator who occupies the state Senate seat once held by Barack Obama. You are respected by Chicago’s black leadership and progressive activists. You’re a WTTW regular, gee whiz!
You are smooth and suave, you’ve got a 1,000-watt smile, they coo. You can raise bucks and show off your policy resume, they wheedle. You can drum up enthusiasm among black voters in Cook County and downstate. Geez, you even have a funny name. Look where that got Obama?
Where will it get Raoul?
Two words: stalking horse. […]
Raoul can’t win, but he could be a spoiler.
That’s the role Bill Daley and Co. are praying he’ll play.
* Sneed piles on…
The Kwame corner. . .
The big question: Will State Sen. Kwame Raoul, who replaced now-President Barack Obama in the state senate, run for governor in the Dem primary and split the vote by siphoning off the African-American and Hispanic votes?
◆ Here’s the deal: If Raoul does run, it’s because he got the green light from his boss, powerful Senate President John Cullerton, who is no fan of Gov. Pat Quinn.
* First of all, as subscribers already know, the polling shows that Democrats aren’t just hungry for another candidate to run, they’re practically starving for it. From an August 12th, Capitol Fax/We Ask America poll of 1,536 likely Democratic primary voters…
Currently, two Democrats have declared their candidacy for governor: Former White House Chief of Staff William Daley and current governor Pat Quinn. We’d like to know whether or not you’re satisfied with your choices, or if you’d prefer additional choices on the ballot.
Satisfied 43.25%
Not satisfied 47.50%
Not sure 9.25%
So, a strong majority is either dissatisfied with their choices or aren’t sure. The voters clearly want somebody else.
*** UPDATE *** I forgot to mention that the poll found 57 percent of African-American Democrats were dissatisfied with their choices and another 12 percent were unsure. Just 31 percent were satisfied with their current choices. Whites were split 45-45.
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* Also, both columnists may have forgotten that Cook County ain’t everything. Quinn is despised in Downstate and Daley isn’t trusted there. A Downstate running mate for Raoul as well as assistance from his fellow state Senators could help him put together the plurality needed to win.
And it’s not just Downstaters. Sen. Daniel Biss brought Raoul into his Evanston-based district for a forum earlier this month…
Raoul said the governor has the “luxury” to act “ignorant of the negotiations that took place in the months prior to the amendatory veto and come in and say, ‘If I had a chance to partake in it, I would have done this.’”
“Well you did have a chance to partake in it, and you did partake in it, and those things fell,” Raoul noted.
He’ll be getting that sort of help from lots of his colleagues all over the state should he decide to run.
* Next, what does a stalking horse look like? A good example would be Roland Burris, 2002. He received one big contribution, hardly campaigned at all, and siphoned enough black votes away from Paul Vallas to allow Rod Blagojevich to win. If Raoul runs a non-credible race, then, yeah, he’s little more than a stalking horse. So far, at least, he doesn’t appear to be doing so from this vantage point.
In any event, don’t you think you’d have to look at the campaign he puts together before you decide he’s essentially just shilling for Daley? C’mon.
* Raoul’s response…
Raoul said he was offended that Sun-Times columnist Laura Washington suggested his running for governor would help challenger Bill Daley, by undermining Quinn’s support among black voters.
“The notion that I would be characterized as a spoiler — it’s a bit of an insult,” he said.
* And, yes, Cullerton is working hard for Raoul, but it’s not up to him to give Raoul a final “green light.”
* By the way, Raoul also told the Sun-Times that he would be deciding on a run in the next ten days…
“I give myself 10 days or so to make up my mind,” Raoul said. “This is something that’s spiraling out of my control. I don’t think it does the party or the state any good to let it linger very long.” […]
Raoul’s remarks came at a South Side park where Quinn signed a new gun-safety law that Raoul sponsored. At a news conference, the governor said Raoul did more than anyone to win the measure’s approval.
When asked in an interview to rate Quinn’s record in office, Raoul replied, “I think the governor came into office under very challenging circumstances . . . He shouldn’t get all the credit. He shouldn’t get all the blame.”
* And, finally, a trip down memory lane. Washington once wrote this about then Senate President Emil Jones’ remarks regarding another Hyde Park Democrat…
African-American leadership, Jones says, must get past “the crabs in a barrel syndrome. Every time one of us pulls up, we want to pull him down.”
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Serious problems ahead
Monday, Aug 19, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
I had heard that Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner’s longtime personal and business connections to Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel were “killer” issues among GOP primary voters, so I decided to commission a poll.
The question I settled on is pretty mild in comparison to what could be used in a TV ad, so the response may turn out to be even worse than the Capitol Fax/We Ask America poll shows, if that’s possible.
“Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for a candidate for governor if you found out he was a friend and political ally to Chicago Democratic Mayor Rahm Emanuel?” 1,102 likely Republican primary voters were asked on August 13th.
A truly astounding 83 percent of Republicans said they’d be less likely to support that candidate. Any time you see a “less likely” response above 80 percent, you can pretty much figure that the target is toast. But maybe not in this case.
The Rauner people have long known that this was a real problem for their guy, which is just one reason why they’ve been spending so much money this summer - almost $2 million on TV and radio ads through the first week of August, according to one calculation.
And the ties go deeper than the question reveals. Rauner helped Emanuel get his start in business, advising him to become an investment banker after leaving Bill Clinton’s White House and then retaining his firm. Their relationship made Emanuel a wealthy man, so the advertising possibilities are juicy, to say the least.
The problem is that nobody has yet laid a glove on the man. The other candidates either don’t have the money to go up on TV (Kirk Dillard and Bill Brady), or they’re husbanding their resources for the home stretch (Dan Rutherford).
There’s also a timing question that’s been debated by at least some campaigns. Attack Rauner too soon and he could have time to recover. He has the resources and infrastructure to weather a storm over a long haul. Attack him too late and it might not have enough of an impact, or the other candidates themselves might already be too damaged to do him any harm or may even be out of the race. Opposition research is starting to circulate behind the scenes, and let’s just say that some of it ain’t good at all.
And nobody needs an opposition research firm to figure out where state Sen. Kirk Dillard’s main weakness is in the governor’s race.
Rauner has attempted to make this a “change” election in order to avoid the usual Republican primary habit of picking the guy who appears to be owed the next turn at the wheel. Dillard has been in Illinois politics forever, which will work against him if Rauner succeeds in changing the tone. But the state Senator and former Jim Edgar chief of staff also has another well-known problem that looks to be just as much of a killer issue as Rauner’s Rahm situation.
Dillard often worked with Barack Obama in the Illinois Senate and he cut a now infamous TV ad for his former colleague during the 2008 presidential primary season.
“Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for a candidate if he had appeared in a TV commercial for Barack Obama before he was elected president?” the likely Republican primary voters were asked in the poll.
The “less likely” response was an astounding 82 percent.
“Dillard faced thousands of gross rating points driving the Obama TV ad message against him in 2010 and lost by only 193 votes,” pollster Gregg Durham said last week. “Nothing is impossible in Illinois politics.”
That’s true, but the Obama ad tanked Dillard’s 2010 primary campaign, which he barely lost to state Sen. Bill Brady. This year, he has lagged badly in fundraising and in the polls.
Dillard has two things in his favor.
The first is traditional Republican thinking. Dillard narrowly lost the 2010 primary and would’ve likely done better than Bill Brady in the fall campaign against Pat Quinn, so it could be “his turn.”
The second is Jim Edgar, a former governor who is still quite popular among Republicans. Dillard can barely open his mouth without mentioning Edgar and the former governor will likely appear in ads.
Whether any of that is enough to overcome the Obama ad problem is now the biggest question for Dillard.
Bill Brady’s vote for drivers licenses for illegal aliens and Dan Rutherford’s vote for civil unions will also be tested soon.
Discuss.
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