* The same Illinois legislator who wanted the state government to regulate blog comments has a new idea: Ban Google Glass while driving…
Google’s new computerized glasses aren’t on sale to the general public yet, but the devices already have lawmakers in Illinois and several other states concerned that they’ll become the latest deadly distraction for drivers.
Illinois state Sen. Ira Silverstein filed legislation Tuesday to bar motorists from using the Google Glass devices, which allow wearers to search the Internet, make phone calls and check email.
“It’s just another way people will be distracted,” the Chicago Democrat told the Springfield bureau of Lee Enterprises newspapers. “People’s attention to the road should not be interrupted.”
* But…
At the moment, the only Illinois law that would regulate Google Glass usage in cars is related to operating a motor vehicle while watching a video monitor. That law forbids drivers from watching entertainment, like movies and television shows, on a video display while driving.
However, the display can show the driver information about the automobile’s performance, GPS-enabled directions within mapping software and the feed from a rear-mounted camera.
Hypothetically, Google Glass could display any of this information while driving and potentially enhance the driving experience. As a potential solution to appease lawmakers, Google could create some form of driving mode for Google Glass that locks out other distracting applications from use while operating a vehicle. However, it would likely be up to the driver to activate this mode before entering the vehicle.
* And…
However, one application being promoted by [Google] appears to promote the wearing of the glasses while driving.
The company has developed a system in which wearers can direct the glasses to translate road signs into different languages, suggesting that a motorist driving in a foreign country could wear them and still find their way around.
I always have to keep telling myself, this is just a bill. It isn’t a law.
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Question of the day
Tuesday, Feb 11, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Mark Brown writes Dan Rutherford’s political obituary…
Rutherford’s entire political future rests on him being able to successfully rebut the allegations of a now former employee who contends the treasurer sexually harassed him and forced him to do political work on state time.
While Rutherford was forceful and assured in his strenuous denials, much more so than in his unusual pre-emptive strike 10 days earlier, I’m afraid he will continue to find that such accusations are more easily made than laid to rest. […]
Before his campaign was sidetracked by Michalowski’s allegations, Rutherford was telling reporters he was in the best position to challenge Rauner’s frontrunner status, an argument he repeated Monday.
Fair or not, it doesn’t look that way from here.
* Yepsen also weighs in…
David Yepsen with the Paul Simon Institute says Rutherford was viewed as the alternative to businessman Bruce Rauner in a four man Republican governor’s race.
“This could be motivated by all kinds of things. Politics, money, personal spite; It doesn’t matter. It’s a very damaging charge,” Yepsen said.
He says the political damage may be too much to overcome.
“It’s such a stain, such a black eye that there’s not really time to get it laundered out before the election,” conceded Yepsen.
* The Tribune editorial board isn’t so sure…
There is little that the rest of us can do right now other than step back, draw deep breaths, and see where the evidence leads us. That’s not so hard:
Illinois voters are steely veterans of political scandals, public corruption and lurid allegations variously true and false. Republican primary voters have some time to wait for more information before deciding whether they’ll nominate Rutherford for governor.
* Greg Hinz also looks at the future…
Is [Rutherford’s response] enough to put Mr. Rutherford back on the political high ground, the innocent guy who fought back? Probably not — especially if the charges that he coerced aides to perform political chores turn out to have merit. But I can’t say that for sure.
Nor is it likely that either of the other two Republicans in the race, state Sens. Kirk Dillard and Bill Brady, will gain from the carnage, though a Rutherford exit or effective exit could allow Mr. Brady, who lives in Bloomington, to consolidate the downstate vote. Both are too far back and have too little money to fight with to make up much ground, I suspect. Unless, that is, Mr. Rutherford can roll out more proof that Mr. Rauner is behind it all.
It’s going to take a few days for all this to settle.
* Understatement of the week…
Northern Illinois University Political Science Chair Matt Streb says the lawsuit will be a big distraction from the Chenoa Republican’s main message.
* The Question: How would you describe Dan Rutherford’s campaign troubles right now? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
panel management
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Sun-Times remains on the low road
Tuesday, Feb 11, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* At least Ben was up front about it…
ABC7 Reporter Ben Bradley: “The elephant in the room. Are you gay?”
Rutherford: “No. Next question.”
Rutherford points out his accuser Ed Michalowski never filed a formal complaint about inappropriate sexual advances, or any other wrong doing, until now, weeks before an election. But yes, Rutherford says, the two did share a hotel room with his male subordinate Ed Michalowski on at least two occasions.
“This is something you do in small business, in the NFL, NHL. It’s something you do to save resources,” said Rutherford.
* But, once again, the Sun-Times sticks solely with the innuendo…
In the midst of defending against sexual harassment allegations by one male employee, state Treasurer Dan Rutherford acknowledged that he had shared a hotel room with a different male employee on state time — “to save resources.” […]
Another reporter queried Rutherford: “But I don’t share a hotel room with my boss.”
This is the second time in a week that the Sun-Times has tried to get cutesy with the Rutherford story. It’s beneath them.
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Site update
Tuesday, Feb 11, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* We’ve had some site response issues recently, particularly yesterday. I apologize for that. My web hosting service sent me this e-mail today…
Last night we upgraded your site to use to MariaDB instead of MySQL. It looks like your site is performing well but I would imagine you are not getting the same load on the site. We will keep monitoring load to see if this helps.
Keep your fingers crossed.
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An examination of the he said/he said
Tuesday, Feb 11, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I thought Treasurer Dan Rutherford’s performance at yesterday’s press conference was pretty good. But not all of his claims totally hold up.
For instance, this is from Rutherford’s press release…
Michalowski claims that he was harassed at “an overnight retreat” at the Treasurer’s home in Chenoa on April 2, 2011. However, a travel voucher submitted and signed by Michalowski for the date of April 2, 2011 shows he traveled home from Pontiac (not Chenoa) at 2 in the afternoon. Most importantly, contrary to his claim that he planned to stay the night and that he was harassed in the evening, the voucher indicates Michalowski returned to his residence in Chicago by 4 in the afternoon that day. An email written by Michalowski to another co-worker confirms that he traveled to Pontiac and returned home the same day.
* But…
In an interview with the Tribune, Michalowski acknowledged what the travel voucher showed but said he filled it out inaccurately at the time because he was embarrassed about what happened and Rutherford told him not to expense an overnight trip because they were going to be discussing politics.
Not expensing an overnight trip because of campaign work is common practice in government.
* Then again, some of the claims made by the accuser just seem bizarre. This is from Ed Michalowski’s lawsuit…
The stress and anxiety suffered by Plaintiff from Defendants’ conduct has manifested itself physically.
In November 2012, Plaintiff was admitted to the hospital with severe headaches. After numerous hospitalizations and tests, Plaintiff was diagnosed with leakage of cerebral spinal fluid in the brain for which he has undergone four blood patches and one occipital nerve block as a result of Defendants’ conduct.
Plaintiff has missed time from work for these hospitalizations throughout 2013 as a result of Defendants’ conduct.
Plaintiff has incurred over $100,000.00 in medical bills related to these hospital stays as a result of Defendants’ conduct.
Really? Dan Rutherford caused “leakage of cerebral spinal fluid”? I really find that hard to believe without any solid evidence.
* Back to Rutherford’s press release…
Michalowski has never suffered any demotion or decrease in salary, which was substantial; his $99,000 annual salary placed him among the six highest salaries at the treasurer’s office. He was never promised any promotion or position. The text messages produced to our office by Michalowski show continual civility, camaraderie, appreciation, and support from the treasurer and other co-workers for Michalowski and from Michalowski to the treasurer and other co-workers. This is true both pre- and post- the alleged harassment.
* But…
Michalowski also claims he was promoted twice – first from deputy director to director of community affairs and later to director of the merged community affairs and marketing departments – with no pay increase. His lawsuit claims his salary stayed the same throughout his tenure at the treasurer’s office.
Rutherford is pretty cheap, so that might explain it.
* Timing is also an issue. From Rutherford’s press release…
The alleged incidents of harassment started in 2011 and 2012, well beyond the statutes of limitations provided under state law and federal law for Equal Employment Opportunity claims. Only today does Michalowski raise incidents occurring in 2013 as a way to make these allegations seem timely. Like the timing of the claims, this is very convenient for Michalowski.
Likewise, the political activity is alleged to have primarily occurred in 2011 and 2012. Michalowski, like every Illinois State Treasurer’s Office employee, receives Ethics Training annually, and employees are instructed to report any allegations of prohibited political activity or other misconduct to the Office of Executive Inspector General. However, there is a one-year statute of limitations for the Office of Executive Inspector General to open investigations. These allegations were never reported to the Executive Inspector General at the tim
Sometimes, victims of these sorts of things just don’t act or speak up right away. It happens.
* And there’s the money angle…
Public records show that Michalowski is in the midst of an on-going bankruptcy proceeding in which Michalowski is delinquent in making payments as of May 2013, with a hearing scheduled on the delinquency for January 23, 2014—the date his attorney first contacted the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office. His home was foreclosed upon in April 2013. In October 2013, Michalowski filed for divorce.
Lots of people have had financial troubles, particularly those who go through divorces. That doesn’t make them dishonest.
* Finally, this allegation may have looked salacious at first…
On July 24, 2011, Treasurer’s Office employee and Rutherford political Chief of Staff Curt Conrad texted Plaintiff the following: “The treasurer specifically asked that you wear a tank top. Totally your decision if you want to ignore. I am just a messenger.”
* Rutherford’s response…
Details such as a July 24, 2011 text from a staffer that the treasurer asked that Michalowski wear a “tank top” are deliberately taken out of context. Michalowski provided to the treasurer’s office what he claims to be the entire string of texts, which shows that Michalowski was engaging in light-hearted conversation with the staffer about appropriate dress.
* The full exchange…
Curt: No coat and tie required tomorrow. Business casual fine.
Ed: What about my toupee, should I bring my business casual one?
Curt: The treasurer specifically asked that you wear a tank top. Totally your decision if you want to ignore. I am just a messenger.
Ed: OK. Sounds like a plan.
This is clearly all a joke. They don’t call Conrad “Monkey” for nothing.
However, there is most definitely a noticeable undercurrent here. Yes, this was in fun, but you don’t need a compass to know that the joke points in a definite direction.
* And this more than implies that Michalowski has a witness…
In December 2013, Rutherford allegedly went over to Michalowski at an office party, rubbed his shoulders and said to him, “You need a full body massage.”
“That was creepy,” said another person who witnessed what happened, according to the lawsuit.
* Related…
* Dan Rutherford: ‘I’m going to continue on’
* Rutherford fires back at allegations of sexual harassment, political pressure
* Rutherford denies sex harassment charges: ‘This thing smells of politics’
* Rutherford Responds to Sexual Harassment Suit
* Former employee alleges Illinois treasurer sexually harassed him
* Rutherford denies sexual harassment, political coercion allegations in lawsuit filed by ex-employee
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Today’s quotables
Tuesday, Feb 11, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From last night’s gubernatorial candidates forum that Bruce Rauner skipped…
The candidates were allowed the opportunity to ask one another questions and Dillard began by saying he regretted having to ask this of the state treasurer.
“Are there any more allegations of sexual harassment coming at you from anyone else?” Dillard said.
The question seemed to hang in the air as the crowd numbering in the hundreds booed and grumbled.
Appearing taken aback by the question, Rutherford offered a long pause, staring right at Dillard at first.
“Sen. Dillard, I believe that was inappropriate,” Rutherford responded and the room erupted in applause.
Dillard later defended his question, saying he wanted to make sure that whoever wins the Republican nomination would not be derailed in a contest against Democratic incumbent Gov. Pat Quinn.
Like it or not, that was a fair question by Dillard.
Nobody in the GOP wants to see a repeat of the Jack Ryan insanity. The possibility that the state party might have to look for a replacement gubernatorial candidate is scaring the daylights outta some folks.
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A closer look at that new Tribune poll
Tuesday, Feb 11, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The new Tribune poll shows pretty much what my polling has shown since last year, but with one big difference…
The survey showed Rauner at 40 percent support, more than his top two rivals combined. State Sen. Bill Brady pulled 20 percent and Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford was at 13 percent. State Sen. Kirk Dillard had 11 percent.
Notice Treasurer Rutherford’s numbers?
All previous polling has shown Brady and Rutherford within a point or twoish of each other, even back when Rauner was trailing the pack. Rutherford trailing Brady by seven points in this new poll is not good news whatsoever.
The new Tribune poll appears to show some real damage to Rutherford. The Trib’s poll was taken Wednesday through Sunday, which means the pollster was in the field after the allegations against Rutherford surfaced.
Then again, Rauner’s two-to one lead (which We Ask America has been showing for quite a while now), is the real problem for those who don’t want to see Rauner nominated.
* The poll shows that huge numbers of voters have no opinion of or haven’t heard of three of the four candidates.
61 percent don’t have an opinion of Dillard or haven’t heard of him (49 and 12, respectively), 58 percent don’t have an opinion or never heard of Rutherford (49 and 9) and 45 percent don’t have an opinion or never heard of Brady (42 and 3).
Time definitely fades memories. And even statewide officeholders on a lower rung aren’t that well known to voters.
Rauner, however, has been running ads since last summer. He has a 48 percent favorable rating, just a 10 percent unfavorable rating, 28 percent had no opinion of him and 14 percent never heard of him, the poll found.
* Another question…
Bruce Rauner says his personal wealth makes him independent of special interests. His opponents say he is trying to buy the Republican nomination for governor. Who do you side with….Rauner or his Opponents?
The results…
* Side with Rauner 54 percent
* Side with opponents 20 percent
* Don’t know 26 percent
* More…
Dillard had complained that he was denied the Republican nomination last time because the crowded field split up his home base of support in Republican-rich DuPage County. But the poll found Rauner leading in the six-county area, which holds the bulk of the GOP primary vote, 43 percent to 18 percent for Brady. Dillard had support of 15 percent of voters in the area, while Rutherford had 11.
At the same time, Brady and Rutherford were expected to look to Downstate for a core base. While the contest tightens outside the Chicago area, the poll found that Rauner led Downstate with 35 percent to 23 percent for Brady. The poll found Rutherford had 15 percent and Dillard had 6 percent among Downstate Republicans, with 20 percent undecided.
Rauner’s opponents also have sought to attack his ideology by noting his relationship with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, former Mayor Richard M. Daley and other Democrats nationally. But among voters who call themselves conservatives, Rauner leads with 42 percent compared with 19 percent for Brady.
If there is an area for weakness for Rauner, it is a slight gap between men and women. Republican men prefer Rauner 44 percent to 19 percent for Brady, while GOP women backed Rauner 35 percent to 22 percent for Brady.
* Methodology…
This Chicago Tribune/WGN-TV poll is based on a sample of 600 confirmed registered voters in Illinois likely to vote in the March 18th Republican primary. The potential margin of error for a sample of 600 is +/- 4% at the 95% level of confidence. Interviewing was conducted by phone with live interviewers from Wednesday - Friday evenings and Saturday daytime, February 5-8.
Registered voters are screened to determine voting likelihood - registered to vote where they now live, absolutely or fairly sure will vote, and voted in one of last two GOP state primary elections. Illinois is one of the states that do not have party registration. Self-described party identification is a variable.
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* Labor unions funding a new campaign committee, Illinois Freedom PAC, have unveiled their first TV ad. Subscribers know more about the buy’s cost and reach and flight length, but this is basically a statewide buy and backed by big bucks. Rate it…
* Script…
Bruce Rauner says he’d shake up Springfield.
Hmm.
News reports tie Rauner to Stu Levine. Remember him? He’s the Blagojevich crony now in prison.
Levin testified that a company financed by Rauner’s firm gave him $1 million to get state contracts by “whatever means,” including payoffs.
At the same time, Levine voted to help Rauner’s firm get $50 million in state pension funds.
Trust Bruce Rauner to shake up Springfield? He’s tied to people who shook it down.
* The new committee describes itself on its website thusly…
Illinois Freedom is dedicated to educating Illinois families about the important issues at stake in this election.
* The accompanying press release…
Illinois Freedom PAC launched a new television ad today holding gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner accountable for his insider ties to Stuart Levine, a Blagojevich crony now in prison. The ad and the facts can be viewed at www.IllinoisFreedom.com.
“Bruce Rauner says he is an outsider who can shake up Springfield, but nothing could be further from the truth,” says Michael Murray, spokesman for Illinois Freedom. “A company co-owned by Rauner’s firm paid Blagojevich crony Stuart Levine $25,000 a month at the same time that Levine, who sat on the Illinois Teacher Retirement System board, voted to give Rauner’s firm tens of millions of dollars in state pension funds. Bruce Rauner isn’t who he says he is. As a businessman he made a fortune using his Springfield ties; just think what he’d do as governor.”
Representing hundreds of thousands of working families in Illinois, Illinois Freedom is dedicated to educating Illinois voters about the important issues at stake in this election. The ad is supported by an initial weeklong buy worth more than $1 million in the Chicago, Champaign, Peoria, and Rockford media markets as well as online.
Check the facts:
• In 1981, Bruce Rauner helped found the private equity firm GTCR. Rauner worked at GTCR for more than 30 years before retiring as the firm’s chairman in 2012 as he prepared to run for governor. [Chicago Tribune, 10.19.12[articles.chicagotribune.com]]
• Rauner’s firm GTCR had an ownership stake in a company called CompBenefits Corp., that retained Stuart Levine who has been called a “notorious political fixer, federal felon and corrupt Springfield insider who helped bring down Rod Blagojevich.” [Crain’s, 3.11.13[chicagobusiness.com]]
• According to Levine, the company paid him $25,000 per month to get city and state contracts by whatever means necessary, including payoffs. Levine even admitted to paying a bribe to get a $15 million city contract for the company. [Crain’s, 3.11.13[chicagobusiness.com] & Sun-Times, 8.25.05[blogs.suntimes.com]]
• At the same time Levine was being paid by the company that Rauner’s firm partially owned, he voted to award Rauner’s firm $50 million from the state teachers pension fund. [Sun-Times, 1.14.14][parkridge.suntimes.com]
• In January 2014, Greg Hinz, a columnist for Crain’s wrote, “I’d like to report that Mr. Rauner and his campaign have forthrightly answered the questions [about his relationship with Stuart Levine]. But I still can’t… How can Mr. Rauner be trusted to clean up corrupt Springfield when he won’t fully explain how and why Mr. Levine made $25,000 a month trying to get government business for a company owned in part by Mr. Rauner?” [Crain’s. 1.15.14[chicagobusiness.com]]
I’ll post the Rauner campaign’s response as soon as I get it. Check back soon.
…Adding… Here’s the Rauner campaign’s response…
Fact Check: New Attack Ad Gets It Wrong
- - Chicago Tribune Analysis Finds No Real Link Between Rauner, Levine - -
Supporters of Pat Quinn launched advertisements today in attempt to hijack the Republican primary and defeat Bruce Rauner. The ads are based on a de-bunked theory that tries to connect Bruce to Stuart Levine.
“This ad is irresponsible and shortchanges the truth in a desperate attempt to smear Bruce Rauner,” said Chip Englander, campaign manager for Bruce Rauner. “Pat Quinn’s special interest allies will say anything to try to stop Bruce, even peddling allegations that have been debunked by the media and they know aren’t true.”
Fact Sheet:
“[A] closer look at the available details suggests any such connection is tenuous at best.” – Chicago Tribune, 1/31/14
“[R]ecords cast doubt on any strong link between GOP candidate, convicted power broker.” – Chicago Tribune, 1/31/14
Bruce Rauner never hired Stuart Levine
Records show Rauner’s firm, GTCR Golder Rauner, took its ownership stake in CompDent in 1999 — three years after CompDent’s arrangement with Levine was inked.” - Chicago Tribune, 1/31/14
2003 Vote to Invest in GTCR was Unanimous
“Roll call resulted in affirmative voice votes from Trustees Bruner, Cleveland, Glennon, Klickna, Leggett, Levine, O’Neill, Phalen, Schmidt, and Schiller. Motion CARRIED.” (Illinois Teacher Retirement System, “Board of Trustee Minutes,”http://trs.illinois.gov/subsections/trustees/2003minutes/5_23_03.pdf, 5/23/03)
TRS Investments in GTCR Have Performed Exceptionally Well
Average rate of return by GTCR funds invested in by TRS is 25%.
o Fund VII: 26%
o Fund VIII: 24%
(Lynne Marek, www.chicagobusiness.com, 4/8/13)
Attack Fueled by Pat Quinn’s Special Interest Allies With Links to Levine
2003 TRS Motion to Invest Was Made by Cinda Klickna, President of the Illinois Education Association (IEA)
“On a motion by Cinda Klickna, seconded by Sharon Leggett, it was resolved: To allocate $50 million in GTCR Fund VIII, L.P., subject to satisfactory completion of contract and fee negotiations. Source of funds shall be the TRS Cash Flow account. - Illinois Teacher Retirement System, “Board of Trustee Minutes,” http://trs.illinois.gov/subsections/trustees/2003minutes/5_23_03.pdf, 5/23/03
IEA Directly Linked to “Illinois Freedom PAC”
Jean Luft is listed as chairman and treasurer of the “Illinois Freedom PAC.” – Illinois State Board of Elections, Accessed 2/10/14
Jean Luft is also President of the District 65 Educators’ Council, an affiliate of the Illinois Education Association. – District 65 Educators’ Council Website, Accessed 2/10/14
*** UPDATE *** The response to Rauner’s response…
Like I said before, you can’t trust Bruce Rauner. Levine said he was paid to secure contracts by whatever means necessary and Rauner wants us to believe that Levine changing his vote to give Rauner’s company $50 mil was just a coincidence?
Mr. Rauner just can’t be trusted. He says he’s an outsider but he’s tied to corrupt insiders like Levine. He gushed about how involved he was with ALL his companies but now pretends he knew nothing about one of the highest paid employees of one of those companies. He can’t have it both ways — that’s an insult to the intelligence of Illinois voters.
JUNE 17, 1999: GTCR And TA Funds Completed Its LBO Of CompDent. “CompDent Corporation (Nasdaq: CPDN), a leader in providing total dental benefits, announced today that it has completed its merger with the newly formed company, TAGTCR Acquisition, Inc., which was organized at the direction of Golder, Thoma, Cressey, Rauner, Inc. (”GTCR”) and TA Associates, Inc. (”TA”). Under the terms of the merger, CompDent was recapitalized and each outstanding share of CompDent’s common stock, other than certain shares held by management and other investors, was converted into the right to receive $15.00 in cash, and the existing funded indebtedness of CompDent was refinanced. The merger became effective June 17, 1999.” [CompDent Press Release, 6/18/99]
· AUGUST 9, 1999: Rauner: “We Spend A Lot Of Time Living With Our Companies On A Week-To-Week Basis, Understanding What’s Going On, And Being In The Flow Of Information, So We Can Be Helpful And Knowledgeable About The Operation.” Rauner said in an interview with The Wall Street Transcript, “We spend a lot of time living with our companies on a week-to-week basis, understanding what’s going on, and being in the flow of information, so we can be helpful and knowledgeable about the operation.” [Rauner Interview, The Wall Street Transcript, 8/9/99]
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