Question of the day
Friday, Jul 25, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* How would you rate your own state legislators (House and Senate)? Let’s rate them A through F. Explain.
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Emanuel blames state for phony school budget
Friday, Jul 25, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Mayor Rahm Emanuel explains why he signed off on a school budget that uses 14 months of revenue for twelve months of spending…
He argued that he had no choice when Illinois ranks 50th among 50 states in school funding and Chicago Public Schools has a pension crisis that still has not been solved.
“Chicago taxpayers pay for the pensions of suburban and Downstate teachers and their own teachers. We should be part of that system so Chicago taxpayers are not bearing the burden of pension costs twice,” the mayor said.
“So, the solution to this is working with Springfield to get the resources we need….The state has to be part of the solution on the fiscal side.”
Hmm. Barring more state cash (and there isn’t any), could they fold the city’s school pension fund into TRS?
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AFSCME: Cullerton plan “looks like extortion”
Friday, Jul 25, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* AFSCME has responded to Senate President John Cullerton’s new pension reform idea, which is outlined here. From Council 31…
The latest pension-cutting concept outlined by Senate President John Cullerton looks like extortion—both unconstitutional and blatantly unfair to teachers, police, nurses, caregivers and other public employees.
For years, our union and the We Are One Illinois coalition of which we are a part have stood virtually alone in urging fair and constitutional solutions to the underfunding of Illinois pensions. We demonstrated our commitment last year by working constructively with Senator Cullerton to develop a compromise pension measure.
We also strongly opposed pension-cutting schemes that are clearly unconstitutional, but politicians charged ahead, triggering costly litigation. We will continue to defend the integrity of the Illinois Constitution.
Recently, a near-unanimous bipartisan majority of the state Supreme Court sent a strong signal that the retirement benefits of public employees are inviolable. To suggest that politicians could prevent workers from bargaining for fair wages only if they surrender a protected right is the same kind of thinking that has delayed real solutions to the pension funding problem. It’s long past time for gimmicks.
Public employees earn their modest pensions by teaching kids, caring for the most vulnerable and keeping us safe. They have always paid their share. That’s why it’s so outrageous that the politicians who caused the pension debt—and their corporate allies whose tax loopholes divert billions from the public good—are still seeking ways to force public servants alone to pay the cost.
Discuss.
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BGA sues IHSA over FOIA
Friday, Jul 25, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times…
The not-for-profit group that oversees high school sports in Illinois should be subject to state open-records law because it “performs a governmental function” and generates income “from events involving predominantly public schools,” a lawsuit filed Wednesday by the Better Government Association contends.
The government watchdog group’s case, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, aims to force the Illinois High School Association to disclose details about its sponsorship deals, vendors, pension expenses and other aspects of its $11-million-a-year budget.
IHSA officials have said they aren’t required to comply with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act because the association doesn’t get money directly from taxpayers and membership is voluntary. […]
The BGA lawsuit, however, notes that IHSA lawyers argued in 2005 that the sports governing body “was organized for the purpose of conducting public business” and is a “state actor.” The IHSA attorneys — who made those statements in an appellate court filing in response to a defamation case the association ultimately won — also described Hickman as a “public employee.”
The IHSA’s own words “make clear IHSA is a public body under FOIA,” according to the BGA complaint, filed by the Loevy & Loevy law firm.
The BGA also provides content for the Sun-Times, so this is an interesting development, partially because the lawsuit might end up helping the Sun-Times’ bottom line by exposing real problems with the organization and possibly forcing a shakeup or more. I’ll get to that in a minute, though.
* The IHSA responded to the lawsuit late yesterday…
The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) released documentation from the Illinois Office of the Attorney General on July 24, 2014 confirming that the Association is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
The documentation was provided after a lawsuit was filed in Cook County Circuit Court on July 23, 2014 that seeks to force the IHSA to submit to FOIA requests.
The documentation is a letter from the AG’s office written in 2010 which says IHSA is exempt from state FOIA requirements.
* I’ve been lately sorta watching this developing story from afar. I think excellent arguments can be made that the IHSA should be opened up to FOIA. The institution can stop public school kids from playing sports. It has all sorts of rules and regulations, and leaving it is impossible since the IHSA must approve any games between an IHSA team and a non-IHSA team.
But there is another angle, and one of our better commenters summed it up pretty well back in April…
There’s something in the background that NONE of the parties want to get pushed out front.
IT’S MONEY.
The media folks (in particular broadcasters) are seeing local (high school) sports being the last available ‘cash cow’ where they are not having to fork out serious cash for broadcast rights to other parties, like, but not limited to, IHSA.
They (media/broadcasters) want to make sure those payments for broadcasting rights won’t be happening anytime soon.
Part of the reason this whole issue is coming up is that some different high school athletic conferences are looking for new revenue sources, in light of potential future cutbacks in local/high school sports funding.
You have broadcasting groups who are talking about setting up complete multi-position filming of high school games, and then offering copies of game film for license to college athletics - in effect, acting as ‘advance scouting’ for college athletics.
I just wonder if any of this is going to come out in these so-called ‘hearings’.
That’s real money.
* But it isn’t just traditional broadcasters. Wrapports not only owns the Sun-Times, it also owns High School Cube, which broadcasts live high school sporting events. So far, it’s a free service funded by advertisers. From a 2013 article…
The numbers are staggering. Is this how Ray Kroc, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg got started? Chicago-based HighSchoolCube.com is to high school sports what McDonald’s is to hamburgers, Apple to the personal computer, Microsoft to computer software and Facebook to social networking.
Founded in January 2011 by two Texas entrepreneurs who wanted to own their own company and were passionate about high school space, HighSchoolCube.com provides a streaming platform for high schools to broadcast their live events — sports, band, concerts, plays, graduation. […]
In December 2011, it attracted 80,000 visits to its website. Last month, the number sky-rocketed to 400,000.
And it’s been going up ever since.
Wrapports also has a site called High School Cube News which features stories about high school sports (including the BGA lawsuit story above).
* To be clear, news is news and the IHSA story is most definitely news. I’m not accusing any reporters of any bias by any means. I have yet to see a single “bad” story at the paper about this particular subject.
It’s just that releasing the IHSA’s tight grip on high school sports could conceivably benefit the corporation which owns a newspaper that has been all over this particular story. It’s an angle that really hasn’t been explored.
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* FLOTUS…
“Gov. Quinn has been a great friend and a fantastic partner in our work on military families, she said. “And I’m looking forward to doing more work with you in the years to come, because I’m going to be voting for this man. And we’re going to do everything in our power to make sure he gets over the finish line. He is the guy for this state. ”
Discuss.
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The consequences of budget cuts
Friday, Jul 25, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* April 14, 2011…
The Illinois Medicaid agency recently cut costs by moving numerous medications, including several anti-psychotics, to a non-preferred list. Some mental health advocates are saying the agency’s action will come at a high price for people with chronic conditions such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the state Medicaid agency, maintains a list of preferred and non-preferred prescription drugs for patients, with mostly generics left on the preferred list. Effective April 1, the agency re-categorized a number of medications, including several name brand atypical anti-psychotics, as non-preferred. That means doctors who want to prescribe them to patients on Medicaid will have to obtain prior authorization from the department first.
This may result in people with chronic mental disorders not getting the specific medication they need, said Mark Heyrman, a professor at the University of Chicago law school and the facilitator for the Mental Health Summit, a coalition of mental health advocates and providers. As a result of going untreated, they might end up hospitalized or in jail, he said.
“This is a real risk for people with mental illnesses,” he said.
* August 15, 2012…
In the past two years, Illinois has done just about everything it could to reduce the amount it spends on prescription drugs for mental health. It has placed restrictions on the availability of 17 medications used to treat depression, psychosis and attention-deficit disorder. Doctors now have to explain to Medicaid why the drugs are necessary before a patient can get access to them. Then in July, as part of an effort to cut overall Medicaid spending by $1.6 billion, the state capped the number of prescriptions for Medicaid recipients to four a month, even if they previously were taking a broader cocktail of behavioral medications.
In financial terms, there is no question that it has worked. Last year, the state’s Medicaid mental health drug spending budget was reduced by $112 million. The new cap on prescription drugs is expected to save another $180 million.
Up until 2011, behavioral health drug spending made up about a quarter of Illinois’ Medicaid prescription drug costs. The state spent about $392 million that year on drugs for treating mental health patients. In fiscal 2012, the state spent $280 million on mental health drugs.
But what are the implications for quality of care? Some physicians argue that they are disastrous. “It’s a mess,” says Dr. Daniel Yohanna, a psychiatrist at the University of Chicago Medical Center. “People who were stable on some drugs have been unable to get them. It has created a significant problem.”
* July 22, 2014…
A team of researchers published data Tuesday in the American Journal of Managed Care showing that prior authorization policies in Medicaid programs have significantly higher rates of severe mental illness in their prison populations.
Schizophrenics living in states with prior authorization requirements in Medicaid were 22 percent more likely to be jailed for a non-violent crime than those in states without those restrictions.
“What’s novel in this paper is documenting a link between Medicaid policy and prison populations that’s never previously been looked at,” says Darius Lakdawalla, a professor at University of Southern California and study co-author says. […]
Another paper Lakdawalla has worked on, published this spring, found that states with prior authorization policies tended to see their spending on hospital spending go up faster. The idea here is that patients who didn’t receive anti-psychotic medication may have ended up having to take more trips to the hospital in order to control their symptoms.”In that respect, Lakdawalla says, “It doesn’t seem like you’re getting a lot of bang for the buck in reducing health care costs. There is collateral damage.”
The researchers don’t claim to prove that prior authorization policies cause higher rates of incarceration among the mentally ill. But what Lakdawalla does see in this study is a space for further exploration, of whether these Medicaid policies are having the unintended consequence of driving up incarceration rates of the mentally ill.
“From a policy perspective, this suggests there may be a link between underfunded mental health systems, criminal activity and cost-shifting onto the prison system,” he says. “It’s probably not all about prior authorization, but could be the larger mental health spending picture.”
…Adding… From Rep. Greg Harris…
Your post on the consequences of budget cuts relating to anti-psychotic meds for Medicaid patients and crime/incarceration and mental illness is one of the major reasons that we removed anti-psychotic drugs from the prior authorization list in SB741 that became effective July 1.
I am still working with providers and DHFS on other issues related to what drugs go on the preferred drug list of the formulary such as Concerta and Abilify, and even a quirk in policy that was brought to my attention by Lurie Childrens hospital yesterday that when Medicaid patients turn 19 there is a problem with continuation of ADHD medications.
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* From Illinois Public Radio…
As Gov. Pat Quinn battles a lawsuit accusing his administration of political hiring, the state watchdog charged with investigating ethics violations is asking to get involved.
Confidentiality restrictions prevent the Inspector General from saying what he is or isn’t looking into.
But a letter to the Attorney General tiptoes to the very edge of admitting that there’s some sort of investigation relating to hiring Illinois’ Department of Transportation. In the letter, Inspector General Ricardo Meza says the court has been informed of an inspector general investigation that “may be related to, or overlap with” allegations related to an ongoing court case.
Meza writes in the letter that his office may assist the court with “useful information and perspectives” as it decides on a lawsuit brought by Michael Shakman.
* From Meza’s letter…
Although confidentiality provisions in the Ethics Act prevent the OEIG from directly commenting on or confirming the existence of an ongoing investigation, or on a completed but not yet released OEIG Final Summary report, the OEIG understands that the Court has been informed about the status of an OEIG investigation that may be related to, or overlap with, allegations that have been made in this matter.
The OEIG therefore believes that appearance as amicus curiae may assist the Court with useful information and perspectives that may aid the Court in determining whether any relief should be granted and, if so, what form any such relief should take.
* Sun-Times…
A Madigan spokesman said the attorney general’s office has confirmed with Meza that it will represent him.
A Quinn spokesman indicated the governor’s office would respond to the letter later Thursday afternoon .
Shakman, meanwhile, said he does not view Meza’s request as being “inconsistent with what we’re doing.”
“I read the letter saying the inspector general has statutory duties that include some of the same subject matter we’re dealing with at the federal courthouse and through our request for a federal monotiror so he’d like to have a chance to appear before the court and address what should be done,” Shakman told Early & Often, the Chicago Sun-Times’ online political portal. “That’s fine. Maybe we’ll agree with him. Maybe we won’t.”
There’s no update with the Quinn response. Imagine that.
* From the Illinois Republican Party…
In case you haven’t been following the story, here’s a brief summary:
The Better Government Association found one of the biggest agencies under Gov. Pat Quinn’s control – the Illinois Department of Transportation, or IDOT – has been skirting federal hiring guidelines.
IDOT jobs under Pat Quinn have gone to political insiders over qualified workers.
Michael Shakman is suing for access to documents and a federal hiring monitor to prevent more Quinn patronage.
Pat Quinn refuses to turn over thousands of hiring documents and won’t allow a federal hiring monitor.
Bruce Rauner has called on Quinn to withdraw his motion in federal court and allow a federal hiring monitor at IDOT.
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“Instant responders”
Friday, Jul 25, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Phil Bradley…
Instant Responders
Driving up to Chicago we were the car behind the semi which slammed into a line of stopped cars, killing four people, including a young girl, and injured others. Had we been in front of him rather than behind, i am sure we would be dead.
This leaves images that are hard to shake. Thankfully, first responders arrived in droves, ambulances, seven fire engines, a dozen police cars and two Med-evac heliocopters.
But before all that, another image that, happily, stays as well.
After the crash there was a moment of total stillness and silence.
And then it happened. Suddenly there were guys running to the wreckage. The doors on truck cabs opened and guys jumped down and ran to the wreck. Guys got out of their cars and ran toward the diaster. Guys even stopped on the other side of the highway, climbed the divider fence and ran.
They all ran toward a tangle of cars that might explode and burn, and that was certain to be an horrific thing to see close up.
But all those wonderful guys just ran to it, to see if they could help, because it was the right, human thing to do.
When Sylvia’s Jeep flipped on 55 years ago, the same thing happened. Truckers rushed up and freed them from the vehicle long before anyone else arrived at the scene.
They are everywhere. Guys who take care of their neighbors because it is right. Guys whose first impulse is help because they see a need. The Instant Responders. God Bless them!
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* After snidely whacking the “conservative savants” on his own newspaper’s editorial board, the Tribune’s always thoughtful John McCarron turns to Senate President John Cullerton for answers about how to deal with pension reform going forward…
His idea is to present them with a stark choice as their contracts come due for renewal: Workers could agree to a scaling back of the COLA they’ve been promised in retirement or forgo any pay raises while they’re still working.
“The state constitution,” said Cullerton, “does not guarantee pay raises.”
Cullerton predicts most workers nearing retirement will opt to keep their 3 percent COLA. But enough younger and middle-age workers will choose continued pay raises that will achieve more substantial long-term savings. Current retiree benefits wouldn’t be touched, and since 2011, new “Tier 2″ hires already have had their promised benefits reduced.
That’s actually brilliant. He’s done it again. Whether the state could get the union to agree to such a change without a strike is another story, but it’s probably worth a shot.
* And whether you agree with Cullerton or not, he’s offering up more insight and thought than we’ll ever possibly get from those afore-mentioned “savants,” one of whom throws up her hands in the Tribune today about the future of pension reform and Illinois…
Anyone want to go halvsies on a moving van? Last one out of Illinois, hit the lights.
Whatever.
* From a March, 2014 report by the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability…
As I’ve been telling subscribers, we’re at the top of the Jim Edgar “ramp.” There is another significant bump up next year because the three biggest systems adjusted their ROI percentages after COGFA released its report, but then that’s pretty much it.
And, as is obvious by the chart, most of the pension reform law’s savings occur decades from now.
But the “savants” at the Trib (or anywhere else) will never tell you that. They’d rather just scare you into believing the worst without any actual facts. It’s utterly and despicably shameful. Not to mention that nobody will ever give up a sweet gig at the Mother Ship and move to Hoosierland or the equivalent because pension reform is in peril. The Trib loves its victimhood.
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Here comes teh crazy - for real
Friday, Jul 25, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From Gov. Pat Quinn…
“Like so many Americans, I am deeply concerned about the welfare of the unaccompanied children who cross our nation’s southern border – especially those escaping violence, abuse, abandonment and human trafficking.
“Last week in Washington D.C., I met with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell and let her know that the state of Illinois is prepared to help in whatever way necessary to preserve the well-being of these children. My administration will continue to discuss this important subject with other federal, state and local elected officials.
“I commend the Obama Administration for working with governors across our country toward a solution, and I join the President in calling on Congress to act.
“In times of trouble, we cannot forget that kindness to strangers and trusting in our faith will always help lead us to do the right thing.
“Leaders of conscience must cooperate to protect the vulnerable. Now and always, we have a responsibility to ensure all children are treated with respect, compassion and dignity.”
Bruce Rauner hasn’t yet issued a response. I’ll let you know what he says when I know.
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Today’s quotable
Friday, Jul 25, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Wordslinger…
Here’s what I’ve come to believe: politicians claim so much credit for the good times, some people believe it. So when the bad times come, people blame them for that.
The poster boy is Daley. He was given an enormous amount of credit, locally and nationally, for economic growth that he had nothing to do with.
Meanwhile, he neglected or screwed up some of his core responsibilities, including fiscal stewardship.
Illinois was booming during most of Blago’s one-and-a-half terms. Does anyone believe that he had anything to do with it? The guy who sat around at home all day in his jogging suits, watching cartoons and dreaming up crooked scores?
North Dakota ain’t booming because of the governor there, whoever it is. Texas ain’t booming because of Rick Perry’s policies. If it was, MIssissippi would be booming, too.
It’s important to hold politicians to their core responsibilities of human services — something we neglect to do when we pretend they’re Big Daddies who can make everyone rich.
Don’t believe the hype of governors, or mayors, when they say they are creating jobs. Consumers create jobs, risk-takers create jobs, and the job of politicians is to do their limited-jobs and get out of the way.
Exactamundo.
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Adventures in state-funded stupidity
Friday, Jul 25, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* We’ve gotten so caught up in attempting to find “criminal” behavior in the governor’s botched anti-violence initiative that we’ve tended to ignore how ridiculous some aspects of the program actually were. From the BND…
One component of the program involved training residents of the communities, both parents and youths, to serve as “mentors” to their peers. The individuals were paid to provide mentoring to their peers, but the audit found that time-keeping records in many cases were non-existent or poorly maintained.
The advice given by the mentors also has been questioned. In one instance, a mentor gave advice to a mother about how to deal with a child who violated curfew.
“I told her to tell him that night is the prime time that youth get harassed and killed by the police,” the mentor wrote in his report.
The same mentor gave similar advice to another mother: “We talked about speaking with child about danger of being out on streets late, such as shootings, police brutality, influence of bad things from other peers,” the mentor wrote in his report.
Oy.
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Question of the day
Thursday, Jul 24, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* AP…
More than half the states to hold primary elections so far have seen record-low turnouts, according to a nonpartisan survey of voter rolls released Monday. That perhaps is a sign of widespread apathy within both political parties ahead of November’s midterm elections.
Of the almost 123 million voters who were eligible to cast ballots in primaries, only 18 million have done so, and states with same-day voter registration actually saw their turnout rates drop, according to the Center for the Study of the American Electorate. Despite heavy campaign spending that is poised to make history, 15 of the 25 states that have held statewide primary elections each reported a record low percentage of voters who cast ballots. […]
Nonetheless, Democrats saw a 29 percent decline from 2010’s primaries, the 11th consecutive midterm elections to see a drop in participation.
Republicans posted a 15 percent decline in participation from 2010. But their rate was closer to historical norms after tea party enthusiasm in 2010 led to a turnout spike.
The two parties’ combined participation rate this year is less than half of the most recent high of 32 percent, posted in 1966.
* The Question: Should we abandon traditional partisan primaries and move to an “open” system where the top two vote-getters, regardless of party, advance to November? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
panel management
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Today’s numbers are grim, but slightly hopeful
Thursday, Jul 24, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* According to the Bureau of Labor statistics, in June of 2004, total Illinois employment was 5,932,487. Ten years later, in June of 2014, total Illinois employment was 6,068,068.
That’s a net increase of less than 2.3 percent.
In ten years.
Oy.
* In November of 2006, the last time the state’s unemployment rate reached a low of 4.4 percent, total Illinois employment was 6,306,527, or almost 4 percent higher than where we were in June of this year.
* According to the BLS, the state’s labor force in November of 2006 stood at 6,599,004. The state’s labor force then reached its peak in January of 2008 at 6,725,940. It’s now at 6,529,781 - an astonishing drop of almost 200,000 people.
* One BLS graph shows we are starting to bounce back a bit. Employment…
* But look at the labor force trend…
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One way or the other, the bill has to be paid
Thursday, Jul 24, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Pat Gauen on the bickering between Pat Quinn and Bruce Rauner over the state’s finances…
(I)t’s important to remember that the mess was delivered not by today’s sons but by their political fathers. The problems follow decades of others’ leadership that operated the state on credit while courting votes from happy constituents who suffered neither service decreases nor tax increases.
The recession finally delivered the bill, like a waitress bringing a sizable check to a table of people who ate and drank more than they realized.
They can argue, blaming each other for who ordered what. But when the bickering is done, somebody has to figure out how to pay.
Yep.
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Tax issues are bipartisan because they work
Thursday, Jul 24, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Some Republicans have complained (with some justification) that Bruce Rauner is being excoriated for legally avoiding paying payroll taxes over two years. But this rather draggy, not well produced YouTube ad by Republican Darlene Senger’s campaign uses basically the same issue against her Democratic opponent…
Bill Foster voted to raise our taxes, even though in 2011 he didn’t pay any taxes at all.
The video…
Obviously, Foster did pay some taxes, like sales taxes. But it’s a good political issue to use against somebody and that’s why people do it.
Also, note to the Senger campaign: If you want people to watch your YouTube ads, make them shorter, make them more watchable, give them some snap, for crying out loud. YouTube ads shouldn’t just be a mass dumping ground.
* Meanwhile, Republicans have also complained about Pat Quinn’s demands that Bruce Rauner release his 2013 taxes - which he hasn’t yet filed - and provide much more details about his previous tax returns. As much as the GOP hates to admit it, that attack works as well. Illinois Review…
Former Congressman Bob Dold is polling ahead of freshman incumbent U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider in the north suburban 10th CD, and the Congressional Leadership Fund is taking advantage of Illinois voters’ disgust with corrupt politicians to raise even more questions about re-electing Schneider.
The Congressman refuses to be transparent, the group says, by refusing to open his tax returns for public perusal.
“Illinois voters have seen too many corrupt politicians with a lot to hide, and Illinois 10 residents deserve the truth from Brad Schneider. Brad Schneider may claim he will release just his 2013 return, but hitting the delay button while still hiding his 2011-2012 tax returns tells voters he’s not serious about accountability” spokeswoman for CLF Emily Davis said Thursday.
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Adventures in tracking
Thursday, Jul 24, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* A series of texts from someone on the Pat Quinn campaign…
FYI we just found Rauner’s tracker in the bathroom.
Again
In church where the gov is having event
Lol
…Adding… The Rauner campaign says the Quinnsters are “lying” and point to this Tweet as evidence that their tracker couldn’t even get inside today…
* There won’t be many tracker opportunities for Gov. Quinn’s folks at tomorrow’s Chris Christie events…
Republican Governors Association Chairman Chris Christie will travel to Chicago, IL this Friday to attend events for the RGA, GOP gubernatorial nominee Bruce Rauner, and Florida Gov. Rick Scott.
Friday, July 25
3:00PM: RGA Chairman Chris Christie attends an RGA finance event in Chicago, IL.
Press: CLOSED
4:15PM: RGA Chairman Chris Christie and GOP gubernatorial nominee Bruce Rauner attend a retail stop in Chicago, IL.
Press: OPEN; Availability to follow
For Press interested in attending, contact Lyndsey Walters at xxxx@xxxxx.com
5:00PM: RGA Chairman Chris Christie attends a fundraiser for GOP gubernatorial nominee Bruce Rauner in Chicago, IL.
Press: CLOSED
6:30PM: RGA Chairman Chris Christie attends a fundraiser for Florida Gov. Rick Scott in Chicago, IL.
Press: CLOSED
* Unless, of course, the Quinnsters try to emulate the Michigan Republicans. The Michigan GOP is using trackers who wear eyeglasses that contain a hidden camera in their frames. I kid you not and the GOP freely admits it…
For the third time this year, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mark Schauer is accusing Republicans of attempting to spy on his campaign.
But this time, the suspected political subterfuge involves a high-tech hidden camera and a video memory disk that fell into the hands of Democrats.
And Republicans are defending their campaign snooping.
Schauer’s campaign and Oakland County Democrats recently came into possession of a tiny disk containing raw video footage of a young woman and man who secretly recorded a Schauer campaign fundraiser June 22 at a private home in Bloomfield Hills.
* The Michigan Democrats posted some of the video they found on YouTube…
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* The Executive Mansion isn’t the only state property falling into disrepair. Greg Hinz…
The carpeting is beyond ratty, literally held together by duct tape on almost every floor.
The ceiling leaks and the metal panels are rusted. The walls need repainting, and many are discolored. The covered walkway around the building is filthy, and the planters finally got a few plants just last week, though the dead growth from last season’s roses is still there.
Even the landmark Dubuffet sculpture looks discolored, old and tired.
If you wanted to pick a metaphor for the sad shape of Illinois and its government, you couldn’t do better — really, I should say worse — than to stop by the James R. Thompson Center in the North Loop, the seat of state government in Illinois’ largest city. Though the marble floors sparkle and signs of recent work exist here and there, overall it’s a truly sad sight. […]
“It looks like a scrap heap,” [former Gov. Jim Thompson said]. “It’s terrible, just terrible.” […]
“They still have the same [carpet] we put in when the building opened in 1985,” Mr. Thompson said. “And we did cheap carpeting then to stay within the budget. But it wasn’t supposed to last 30 years.”
“What kind of message does it send,” he continues, when visitors walk into a dump? “What impression do you want people to have of state government?”
Discuss.
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Rauner takes page from Oberweis playbook
Thursday, Jul 24, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Back in 2006, GOP gubernatorial candidate Jim Oberweis faked some newspaper headlines in a couple of TV ads…
Republican governor candidate Jim Oberweis is launching two TV ads that use made-up newspaper headlines to attack front-runner Judy Baar Topinka’s integrity.
The words are displayed as if they appeared on the front pages of the Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the State Journal-Register of Springfield.
But Oberweis campaign manager Joe Wiegand said, “those aren’t headlines.” Instead, he said, the “text is excerpted” from stories that appeared in those publications. A review of the stories did not find the exact words as they were presented in the ads, which are to begin airing Wednesday.
“We are not printing a newspaper,” Wiegand said Tuesday. “We are doing a television advertisement.”
Charles Wheeler, a journalism professor at the University of Illinois at Springfield, called the ads deceitful.
* Bruce Rauner is doing pretty much the same thing with his latest TV ad…
Bruce Rauner debuted his latest attack ad against Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn on Wednesday — a TV spot called “Headlines” that relies in part on independent news stories but features headlines the Republican’s campaign made up and doctored to make them sound more critical. […]
But in two other cases, the Rauner ad makes up headlines that did not appear with the source cited, and in at least three other cases, headlines were shortened to buttress the campaign’s attack on Quinn. Rauner campaign spokesman Mike Schrimpf defended the technique, saying in an e-mail that “due to time and space constraints, the phrases had to be condensed.”
In one case, the ad displays the words “Quinn education cuts lead to teacher layoffs and larger class sizes,” which the Rauner campaign attributes to an April 11 Associated Press report that appeared on the Washington Times web site.
But the actual headline was “Quinn, Rauner spar on education in 1st 2014 event” from a story about a joint appearance by the two candidates before the Illinois Education Association.
The quoted “headline” by the Rauner camp’s ad also does not appear as a phrase in the AP’s news article. Instead, the “headline” paraphrases a Rauner attack on Quinn from the event, not an independent statement of fact from the AP.
* From today’s Quinn presser…
* The ad in question…
Discuss.
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Today’s must-read
Thursday, Jul 24, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Springfield’s top lobbyist, Gov. Pat Quinn, House Speaker Michael Madigan, David Axelrod’s son and many others were all apparently bamboozled by a guy who took advantage of a lucrative federal program to raise millions from overseas investors for a complete turkey of a project. Fortune Magazine…
On Nov. 15, 2012, about 100 people gathered in a parking lot near O’Hare Airport in Chicago for a ceremonial occasion: the demolition of a fleabag motel to make way for what was intended to be a world-changing construction project. Next door to a Hooters restaurant, just off the Kennedy Expressway, was to rise a commercial and environmental wonder—the “World’s First Zero Carbon Platinum LEED-certified and 100% Allergen Free convention center and hotel complex.” Lest anyone doubt its global eco-import, the project’s developer was branding it as a “Kyoto Protocol Centre.” At a projected cost of $913 million, it was to include three connected towers—14, 17, and 19 stories tall—containing five upscale hotels with 995 suites and rooms, four levels of convention space, a green roof with a spa and yoga studio, a miniature golf course, and a 1,720-car “automatic robotic” parking garage. All this would be financed with the help of a government immigration program known as EB-5, which allows wealthy foreigners to obtain U.S. citizenship by sinking $500,000 apiece into a venture that creates American jobs. Spellbound by the sales pitch—which included “guarantees” that the project would deliver visas and juicy returns—nearly 300 eager Chinese investors had anted up a total of $147 million.
Go read the whole thing. Fascinating stuff.
23 Comments
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Fanning the flames
Thursday, Jul 24, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The AP rewrites the Sun-Times story from yesterday…
Emails turned over to a legislative panel have raised questions about the role of politics in Gov. Pat Quinn’s defunct anti-violence program that’s under federal investigation, according to a published report Wednesday.
Exchanges between former Quinn aides appear to show a suburban Chicago mayoral race factored into determining which service providers got money through the 2010 Neighborhood Recovery Initiative, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
Quinn started the approximately $55 million program to help curb neighborhood violence. Earlier this year, state auditors detailed problems with mismanagement and misspending, and top Republicans claimed it was a political slush fund to help Quinn ahead of a close November 2010 election.
Notice how the AP labels the program as “the 2010 Neighborhood Recovery Initiative.”
But hold on a second. The e-mail exchange actually happened in 2011 - which is, of course, after the 2010 election. You have to read further down in the AP story to see a mention of 2011.
* BND…
Just days before the 2010 gubernatorial election, two of Gov. Pat Quinn’s top lieutenants were talking about expanding a controversial anti-crime grant program to East St. Louis. […]
Emails obtained by the News-Democrat show that the former head of the Illinois Violence Prevention Authority, Barbara Shaw, wrote to the head of another state agency about expanding the program to downstate, including East St. Louis.
The email was sent Oct. 25, 2010 — just eight days before the election — to Michelle Saddler, the head of the Illinois Department of Human Services.
“Hi, Michelle. Any further thoughts about taking NRI to Rockford, Decatur and East St. Louis?” Shaw stated in the email. “If we want to do that, it would be great to announce it this week.”
Saddler, as secretary of the Department of Human Services, served on the Violence Prevention Authority’s board.
The expansion never happened. And, as it turned out, those Downstate communities, including ESL, were part of a different anti-violence program. Director Saddler’s response e-mail, if any, and e-mail exchanges leading up to the one Shaw sent weren’t included in the story.
…Adding… The reporter on the ESL story says he couldn’t find any response by Saddler.
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* The Cook County Board approved a non-binding referendum on gun control yesterday…
Democratic board members unanimously supported the gun control measure, which asks if the state should “require universal background checks for firearm transfers and prohibit the sale and transfer of assault weapons, assault weapon attachments and high capacity ammunition magazines?”
Gov. Pat Quinn also has called for a similar law, though legislation has failed to move forward in Springfield. The board’s approval of the ballot question comes as Quinn’s campaign has tried to hit Republican rival Bruce Rauner on the issue. Recently, Quinn’s campaign released a new online video juxtaposing TV news reports on Chicago gun violence with footage of Rauner stating he believes gun owners should be free to use assault weapons for “target practice … on their property as they choose fit.”
Board President Toni Preckwinkle said the ballot measure was a continuation of the board’s attempt to reduce gun violence – not part of a coordinated effort.
* But soon after, Quinn’s government office sent out this release…
“This November, voters in Cook County will have an opportunity to raise their voices at the ballot box on two important issues to keep our streets safer.
“The violence epidemic in Chicago has taken far too many lives.
“While many factors contribute to the wars on our streets, there’s no question that there is a crying need for common-sense gun laws that make our communities safer.
“No child in any community should have to fear for their lives when they step outside.
“Military-style assault weapons have no place on our streets. These weapons – which have the capacity to shoot a large volume of ammunition – have no purpose other than killing. By taking these weapons off our streets, we can help lessen the risk for tragic mass shootings that have destroyed innocent lives across our country.
“Additionally, universal background checks for gun sales will help ensure that guns don’t get in the wrong hands.
“I applaud the Cook County Board for adding these important referendums. With proper gun control regulations and investment in mental health care we can help save lives and improve safety within our communities.”
* And early this morning, Quinn’s campaign office sent out a media advisory…
CHICAGO – Governor Pat Quinn will support the recently approved Cook County referendum questions regarding gun safety and a ban on military-style assault weapons.
WHEN: 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: People’s Church of the Harvest
3570 W. Fifth Avenue
Chicago, 60624
* And Republican board members kept a low profile…
Republicans on the board, including state GOP chairman Com. Tim Schneider, did not oppose the gun control measure. Instead, they requested to be marked as “present” during the vote.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Rauner campaign response…
Pat Quinn’s anti-crime policies have been disastrous for Illinois. He has let numerous violent criminals out of jail early, only to see them commit more crimes. He has turned an anti-violence program into a political slush fund that is now under local and federal investigation. His only answer is a non-binding election year referendum. Pat Quinn is just not serious about dealing with crime in our communities. It’s tragic.
*** UPDATE 2 *** From the Quinn campaign…
Governor Pat Quinn today announced his support for Cook County’s referendum question asking voters this fall whether the state should ban the sale and transfer of military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines. Governor Quinn also denounced Bruce Rauner’s cowardly silence on the issue of gun violence and his support for military-style assault weapons. Rauner has said that people should be able to use military-style assault weapons “as they choose fit.”
Governor Quinn is pushing legislation to ban semi-automatic, military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines.
“There is no place in Illinois for military-style assault weapons,” Governor Quinn said. “These weapons are specifically designed to rapidly fire at human targets and kill, only proliferating the violence epidemic that is plaguing our communities. Bruce Rauner’s strong support for military-style assault weapons is not only out-of-touch, but extremely dangerous to our children, our communities and our policemen who put their life on the line every day to keep us safe.”
Earlier this week, the Quinn for Illinois campaign released a Web video highlighting Rauner’s continued support for the proliferation of semi-automatic, military-style assault weapons in Illinois. The video shows Rauner’s response at a Republican gubernatorial debate earlier this year, where he voiced strong support for assault weapon ownership, and merely shrugged when an incredulous host asked, “When it would make sense to use an assault weapon?”
Watch the video and Rauner’s comments here: http://youtu.be/LwpqXHTHW7U .
Last year, the Governor met with parents who lost children in the Newtown, Conn., tragedy and worked with them to advocate for legislation to ban the sale of high-capacity ammunition magazines in Illinois. The Governor is currently pushing Senate Bill 3659 - the Illinois Public Safety Act - to make Illinois communities safer by banning the delivery or sale of high-capacity ammunition magazines and military-style assault weapons, and requiring background checks for the transfer of guns.
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Teh crazy spreads
Thursday, Jul 24, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Illinois Review…
The Ottawa Times and the Kankakee Daily Journal report that the Ku Klux Klan (yes there is still at least one of them around) has been leaving leaflets in communities in Northern Illinois.
The leaflets have so far been found in the Illinois towns of Streator, New Lenox, Tinley Park and Seneca. It appears only one person is involved in the leaflet campaign.
* But it’s not just northern Illinois. The Klan hit Effingham the weekend before last…
A distribution of Ku Klux Klan recruitment material in Effingham during the weekend resulted in 20 anxious calls to Effingham Police Department.
“The first call to us came at about 9 p.m. on Saturday. It concerned Klan material being left on private property. There were about 20 calls overall about this incident. It was something out of the ordinary for our community and people wanted to make contact with the police department,” said Effingham Police Chief Mike Schutzbach Monday morning.
The group is attempting to take advantage of the rage over the current border problems…
The one-page flier promoted the Klan and sought recruits through what one Klan spokesman called a national “Night Ride.” Dozens or possibly hundreds of them were left on Effingham residential driveways and sidewalks across the city during the weekend.
The material was contained in plastic baggies and weighted down by small gravel rocks. There were no direct threats contained in the material, but a recorded message on the “Loyal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan” hotline advocated “shoot-to-kill” policies along the United States border with Mexico and stated, “If it ain’t white, it ain’t right!”
* From the Ottawa Times…
Robert Jones, a high-ranking official with the Loyal White Knights, told The Daily Journal he believes border patrols should shoot all immigrants attempting to cross illegally. A message on the leaflet’s telephone number says the same.
“It’s supposed to be, protect the border at all costs,” Jones said. “I think it should be a shoot-to-kill policy if it doesn’t stop. They’re not even supposed to be here and they’re destroying America.”
But…
The number of Klan chapters has declined nationally from 221 in 2010 to 163 at the most current tally taken in 2013. While the Loyal White Knights group has grown, their members largely have come from groups which have ceased to exist, Potok said. National membership is between 4,000 and 6,000 members.
“It’s good to let local police know if you get a leaflet,” Potok said. “It’s not a crime, but it helps to keep an eye on where they’re operating.”
My maternal grandfather was from southern Illinois. He used to derisively joke that it was easy to tell who the hooded Klansmen were because everybody recognized their horses.
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