This just in…
Thursday, Jul 17, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* 5:43 pm - The Illinois Supreme Court has denied a motion to take up a direct appeal of Cook County Circuit Court Judge Mary Mikva’s ruling that kicked Bruce Rauner’s term limits constitutional amendment off the ballot. The order is brief and to the point…
Motion by intervenor-appellant for direct appeal to this Court pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 302(b). Motion Denied
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Today’s numbers: 193 and 7.1
Thursday, Jul 17, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Harold Meyerson…
Median compensation in manufacturing is a third again higher than it is in the United States — yet, counter to the wage-cutting conventional wisdom in American boardrooms and economics classrooms, Germany is No. 1 in trade and the United States is No. 193.
* From IDES…
The Illinois unemployment rate fell in June for the fourth consecutive month to reach 7.1 percent while employers created 6,000 jobs, according to preliminary data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The data is seasonally adjusted.
The combined April-June reduction of 1.3 points in the unemployment rate is the largest three-month drop since this data series began in 1976. The last time the rate was lower was October 2008 when it was 7.0 percent.
“Today’s numbers remind us that as our economy improves, more still needs to be done.” IDES Director Jay Rowell said. “We need to continue to create job-training opportunities for the unemployed and underemployed so they can share in our growing economy.”
The significant drop in the unemployment rate so far this year reflects Illinois’ historical role of following the nation into and out of economic cycles. This pattern generally is expected to continue until global demand lifts Illinois’ manufacturing sector, which in turn would help housing and the construction industry.
The unemployment rate also is in line with other economic indicators. First time jobless claims have been trending lower for the past four years and in June were 6 percent lower than one year ago. First time claims in June also were at the lowest monthly level since 2007. Numbers from the independent Conference Board’s Help Wanted OnLine Survey show Illinois employers in June advertised for more than 212,800 jobs (203,500 seasonally adjusted) and 86 percent sought full-time work.
Employers added +250,900 private sector jobs since job creation returned to Illinois. Leading sectors are Professional and Business Services (+107,900, +13.8 percent); Education and Health Services (+59,100, +7.2 percent); Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+44,700, +4.0 percent); and Leisure and Hospitality (+34,600, +6.8 percent). Government continues to lead job loss (-22,100, -2.6 percent.)
In June, the number of unemployed individuals fell -30,600 (-6.2 percent) to 461,700. Total unemployed has fallen -291,800 (-38.7 percent) since the rate peaked at 11.4 percent.
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Question of the day
Thursday, Jul 17, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Aside from the fact that Bruce Rauner’s new plan to tax services won’t come anywhere close to replacing the income tax hike revenues and won’t allow him to justify freezing property taxes, do you generally support or oppose a tax on services? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
survey solutions
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Rauner plan react
Thursday, Jul 17, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the Democratic Governors Association…
Today, Republican billionaire Bruce Rauner again attempted to claim the mantle of job creator. The truth is Rauner has made his fortune by perfecting the art of massive layoffs and shipping jobs overseas.
Incredibly, in today’s pamphlet, he directly cites India and the Philippines as places where he wants to make Illinois more competitive. This is rich, since these are places where he himself has established companies to snatch American jobs, drives down wages and maximize profits.
Billionaire Bruce says he’s going to “travel the world” to work on jobs. Maybe while he’s over in China, the Philippines and India, he can say hello to some of his workers.
* From the IMA…
The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) announced its endorsement of Bruce Rauner for governor at a press conference today with the candidate at Quality Float Works, Inc., a family-owned and operated manufacturing company. The IMA undertook a rigorous endorsement process that included candidate questionnaires, a survey of member companies, and individual interviews with both candidates. The IMA became the first statewide business organization to endorse in the race for governor and has donated $250,000 to Rauner’s gubernatorial campaign.
In their endorsement, the IMA pointed to the continued economic struggles the state is facing along with the hostile business climate towards job creators. Illinois manufacturers employ 570,000 workers directly and contribute the single largest share of the gross state product. Yet, the state’s poor economic conditions have resulted in nearly 130,000 manufacturing jobs disappearing - more than 47,000 of these jobs have been lost in the last few years.
“Illinois is closing one day at a time with a quiet exodus of businesses leaving the state. We cannot afford a hostile business climate coupled with a tax and spend policy that crushes investment across our state. While you cannot blame the current administration for all the problems facing Illinois, it’s time that Illinois has a governor who is fully committed to creating a pro-growth economic strategy. We are proud to support Bruce Rauner who is the right kind of leader to turn our economic ship around and put people back to work,” said Greg Baise, president and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association.
The IMA also applauded Rauner’s ambitious plan to grow jobs in Illinois. This includes a reduction in income tax rates, freezing property taxes and modernizing the sales tax structure so that we have a broad-based tax system. “In particular, Bruce’s call for a permanent extension of the Research & Development tax credit is critical because innovation is the lifeblood of manufacturing,” Baise added. “His commitment to reduce the high cost of workers’ compensation and bring long awaited tort reform - two issues that plague Illinois employers, particularly those in the manufacturing - are long overdue.”
Finally, Baise referenced the current limbo with hydraulic fracturing as a perfect example of the challenges facing business and state government. “More than a year ago, business leaders, labor unions and environmental organizations stood together and announced a comprehensive deal for hydraulic fracturing. This innovative technology will create tens of thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in new tax revenue. It has the strongest environmental safeguards in the nation and will reduce our reliance on foreign sources of energy. Today, a full 13 months after the measure was signed into law, the State has refused to issue the final rules. They have all kinds of excuses, but at the end of the day, they have failed to get the job done.”
I’ll add more as I receive them.
* Durkin and Radogno…
This afternoon, the leaders of the Republican caucuses in the Illinois House and Senate released the following statements in support of Bruce Rauner’s Jobs and Growth Agenda:
Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont):
“The contrast in this election has never been more clear. Bruce Rauner wants to lower your income taxes while Pat Quinn wants to raise them 67%. Bruce Rauner wants to freeze your property taxes while Pat Quinn lets them rise. There’s only one candidate who has a vision to create jobs and turn Illinois into a growth economy, and that’s Bruce Rauner.”
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs):
“Middle-class families across Illinois are struggling under the Quinn-Madigan policies of higher income taxes, higher property taxes, and burdensome regulations. Bruce Rauner’s plan offers the citizens of Illinois a new direction of lower taxes, high-paying jobs and real opportunities for growth.”
* Quinn campaign…
Below is the statement of Quinn for Illinois Communications Director Brooke Anderson following the unveiling today of the Rauner Tax by Republican nominee for governor Bruce Rauner. Rauner’s proposal emerged today after 500 days of hiding his budget from voters, over a period where he repeatedly reneged on promises for details and solutions:
“After 500 days of keeping voters in the dark about his plans to deal with the state’s structural challenges, we now have clarity on exactly where billionaire Republican Bruce Rauner wants to take Illinois: into a ditch.
“Not only did Rauner today propose a regressive tax that pushes the burden onto the middle class to preserve tax breaks for the very rich, the Rauner Tax doesn’t even remotely add up.
“Under Rauner’s policies, Illinois would face a nearly $10 billion budget hole next fiscal year, which would cause radical cuts to education, public safety and health care services. Even according to his own pamphlet, the Rauner Tax adds up to just $577 million.
“Only someone who uses elite accounting methods to avoid taxes himself would propose a tax hike on services that hurts small businesses, hits working families the hardest and doesn’t solve the problem at the same time. Only someone with nine homes would propose taxing trailer parks.
“Bruce Rauner believes that if Rauner succeeds, Illinois succeeds. But history shows that is a failed ideology and just like his proposal to cut the minimum wage, the Rauner Tax is designed to help himself.”
* Rauner react to Quinn react…
In 2009, Quinn Supported A Tax Hike Plan Passed By Senate Democrats That Would Have Applied The State Sales Tax To “Dozens Of Services.” “Democrats warned of severe cuts in education and health-care funding without a tax increase, but couldn’t muster the votes in the House for a two-year, 50 percent increase in the personal income tax. The House likewise balked at the prospect of considering a Senate-backed plan to raise the income tax 67 percent and apply the state sales tax to dozens of services. Republicans, the minority in both chambers, opposed all tax-increase plans and blamed Democrats for a new round of dysfunction made infamous during the tenure of ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
With lawmakers facing the need to revisit the budget talks in coming months, post-session voting requirements will give the GOP a seat at the bargaining table. Rookie Gov. Pat Quinn, who supported both failed tax plans, said he would call legislative leaders together Monday to work on putting together a better budget than one that is ‘hopelessly out of balance.’” (Rick Pearson and Ray Long, “Tax Hike Defeated; Budget Gap Remains,” Chicago Tribune, 6/1/09)
· Quinn Testified In Favor Of The Senate Tax Hike Plan Before An Illinois House Committee. “The Senate Democrats’ 2009 income tax increase bill also included a provision extending the state’s sales tax to services, such as haircuts, that are not taxed now. Quinn testified for the bill before a House committee.” (Chris Wetterich, “Quinn, Brady Far Apart On Taxes,” The State Journal-Register, 10/3/10)
The Tax Plan Quinn Supported Taxed The Following Services (not an exhaustive list):
(5) Dry cleaning and laundry, except coin-operated (81232).
(18) Taxi and Limousine services (4853)
(12) Coin operated video games and pinball machines (71312)
(20) Motion picture theaters, except drive-in theaters (512131)
(30) Laundry and dry cleaning services, coin-operated (81231).
(37) Circuses and fairs — admission and games (7113).
(38) Cable and other program distribution (5175).
(39) Rental of video tapes for home viewing (53223).
* From the union-backed Illinois Freedom PAC…
Today, Billionaire GOP candidate Bruce Rauner held a press conference to propose 30 new regressive taxes. It comes on the heels of a bevy of news that Rauner and Rauner financed companies avoided taxes and overbilled taxpayers.
· Rauner used loopholes now under scrutiny by the IRS to slash his tax obligation. He avoided contributing a single penny to Social Security and Medicare for two straight years, in 2010 and 2011, but says he’s open to taxing retirement income including Social Security.
· Rauner was a director of HealthRev, which failed to pay $81,000 in Illinois taxes. The company also made thousands in contributions to Cook County officials after it received a multi-million dollar government contract.
· American Habilitations Services - a Rauner financed firm linked to deaths, assaults, and legal action - was cited by the state of Florida for overbilling taxpayers.
· The firm Rauner ran for 31 years, GTCR, failed to pay nearly $13,000 in unemployment taxes in 2005.
· Rauner’s current company, R8, failed to pay the state’s business license fee.
“It’s crystal clear: Billionaire Bruce Rauner wants middle class families to pay more, while he pays less,” said Neal Waltmire, Communications Director for Illinois Freedom PAC. “He already pays a lower tax rate than millions of Illinois’ middle class families, but apparently exploiting the status quo is not good enough for him.”
* From Brooke…
They are wrong about the Governor’s position. He opposes a tax on services as he stated unequivocally and spelled out, in his Budget Address this year.
“I won’t institute any new, unfair taxes on everyday services that working people rely on. It hurts working families the most to tax basic services like going to the Laundromat…like taking your child to daycare…like visiting the barber shop…or taking your dog to the vet.
We should not create a new and unfair tax burden on everyday families and the small businesses that serve them.”
http://www2.illinois.gov/gov/Documents/Budget/FY15%20Budget%20Address.pdf
* The Rauner folks point out that laundromats, daycare, barbershops and vet care - all mentioned by Quinn in his speech - are not covered by Rauner’s proposal.
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* The full plan is here. My initial take is it looks both fairly specific and pretty darned gutsy, which are both rarities from Bruce Rauner.
However - and this is a huge “however” - Rauner’s own data shows that a wide service tax would only raise $577 million a year. That’s barely a drop in the bucket. You can’t noticeably cut the income tax and expect to freeze property taxes on a mere half bil in new revenues…
* From a recent Paul Simon Institute poll…
8. Do you favor or oppose a proposal to make permanent the recently passed temporary state income tax increase?
Strongly favor 11.8%
Favor 16.8%
Oppose 19.0%
Strongly oppose 44.3%
Other/Don’t know 8.0%
9. Do you favor or oppose expanding the sales tax to cover services like dry cleaning or haircuts, which are not currently taxed?
Strongly favor 16.3%
Favor 21.0%
Oppose 16.0%
Strongly oppose 43.5%
Other/Don’t know 3.2%
So, the opposition to a service tax is pretty nearly as strong as opposition to extending the income tax hike.
…Adding… Rauner’s plan exempts those particular services. And they must’ve tested this other stuff. We’ll see.
* Also, he wants to tax radio and TV advertising. Yikes. That takes some stones, man.
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Are the grownups asserting themselves?
Thursday, Jul 17, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* After initially casting petulant aspersions on the US Department of Justice’s request to delay testimony by subpoenaed witnesses before the Legislative Audit Commission, today’s editorial says the Commission should abide by the request…
Lawmakers have little choice now but to abide by the U.S. attorney’s request that they don’t conduct interviews. If they pursue this, their subjects are just going to refuse. Federal prosecutors have not, though, tried to curb the lawmakers’ investigation of documents related to the Neighborhood Recovery Initiative.
* Now, let’s look back at this excerpt of a June 4th Trib editorial…
Quinn wants Rauner to issue an austere budget plan so Quinn’s plan isn’t the only politically perilous one on voters’ radar.
Rauner plainly sees no reason to oblige for now. He’s surely relishing last week’s projection by the political numbers geeks at FiveThirtyEight.com: Early polling suggests that Quinn has a 25 percent chance of winning — and a 75 percent chance of losing — on Nov. 4. Of all the states with elections for governor this year, only Pennsylvania now has a higher likelihood than Illinois of switching parties.
Rauner will have to get more specific about his spending priorities. Voters aren’t paying much attention in June to an election to be held in November. But come fall, if Rauner doesn’t get into the dirty details, he’s going to invite comparisons to 1968 and Richard Nixon’s so-called secret plan to get the nation out of the Vietnam War.
* From an editorial this week…
At arguably the worst moment in Illinois’ two centuries of statehood, Quinn has signed a fictional state budget for the current fiscal year; Rauner offers no prospective budget at all, only talking points. Both of them are failing the people of Illinois.
Ask yourself: What, other than stern platitudes, has Quinn told you he would do differently to revive Illinois, its government and its nationally high unemployment rate? Instead, Quinn’s campaign is focused on shrill attacks on his opponent rather than a case for giving Quinn yet another chance to … do what else?
And ask yourself: What has Rauner told you he will do to broadly reconfigure state government, its financial obligations and the retirement systems that strangle its spending on other priorities? Rauner’s campaign so far has been a thin gruel of “Elect me — I’ll think of something” and “The failed incumbent is too weak to manhandle the other Democrats who run this state.”
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Rate the new Quinn video
Thursday, Jul 17, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Keep in mind, this isn’t a TV ad, it’s a YouTube video…
* The accompanying press release…
Quinn for Illinois launched a new Web video today highlighting Republican billionaire Bruce Rauner’s leadership style and record of mismanagement after a recent report brought to light that residents with developmental disabilities at long-term care facilities he owned were subjected to abuse, neglect and “deplorable” conditions.
Rather than take responsibility for the tragic results at the Rauner homes and explain what went wrong and what he did about it, he instead placed blame for drownings, deadly attacks and rapes on the backs of his “management team.” In video footage, Rauner says what happened at his American Habilitation Services was not just bad for the residents it was also: “a bad investment for us.”
Rauner has refused to detail what and when he knew of the “deplorable” conditions, or what he has done to remedy them.
The video includes reaction from state Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) - a leading advocate for protecting the most vulnerable - who summed up Rauner’s M.O. earlier this week:
“With Rauner, in his case, both with nursing homes and his organization that dealt with people with disabilities, the profits seemed to come first, the people seemed to come second.”
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Money reports
Thursday, Jul 17, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Pearson…
Democratic comptroller nominee Sheila Simon, currently the state’s lieutenant governor, reported more than $510,000 left as she takes on incumbent Republican Judy Baar Topinka.
Simon reported raising more than $181,000 in the three-month reporting period. Topinka’s report had not been filed late Tuesday, but she entered the quarter with more than $1.1 million.
Topinka eventually reported raising $148K with $1.26 million on hand.
* Riopell…
In the 11th Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, a Naperville Democrat, raised $350,000 in the second three months of the year and reported having $1.4 million in the bank at the end of June.
Challenger Darlene Senger, a Naperville Republican state legislator, raised about $193,000 and had about $150,000 on hand in the same time period. […]
The biggest political money in the suburbs is in the 10th District, where Democratic U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider of Deerfield reported last week having $1.9 million on hand and Republican challenger Bob Dold of Kenilworth said he had $1.65 million.
* Timmons…
U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-East Moline, raised more than $481,000 in the second quarter as she continued to build a strong fundraising lead over Republican Bobby Schilling ahead of the Nov. 4 election.
Mr. Schilling raised about $236,000 in the second quarter and had $500,000 in cash at the end of June compared to the $1.4 million available to Rep. Bustos, according to campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission,
Rep. Bustos has now raised more than $1.9 million in the 2014 election cycle while Mr. Schilling has raised $654,000. The Colona Republican is running to reclaim the 17th Congressional District seat he lost in 2012 to Rep. Bustos.
* Finke…
Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, had more than 60 times the cash on hand at the end of June as his opponent, Republican Linda Little of Decatur, based on just-filed campaign disclosure reports. […]
Manar, a former chief of staff to Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, was by far the most prolific fundraiser among Springfield-area candidates. Manar reported raising nearly $205,000 during the three-month period while spending more than $31,000. Combined with money already in his campaign account, Manar had more than $578,000 available at the end of June.
Little, meanwhile, raised a little more than $9,000 during the period and spent about $4,100. Along with money already raised, Little had just less than $9,000 in her fund on June 30. Little’s biggest contributor was Lake Forest businessman Richard Uihlein, who is a frequent contributor to Republican candidates. Little also reported receiving campaign staff assistance from the Republican State Senate Campaign Committee.
Manar collected at least $93,000 in the last quarter from organized labor. The Illinois Education Association and the Laborers’ union each contributed $16,000, while the Service Employees International Union Healthcare Illinois and the Associated Firefighters each contributed $10,000.
Manar is supposed to be a Tier One target, but you would never know it by the money that Little’s raising and spending.
…Adding… More Timmons…
[Rep. Mike Smiddy] raised more than $104,000 in the second quarter of this year, according to the latest filing at the Illinois State Board of Elections. He had $105,000 in cash at the end of June compared to the $18,000 available to his Republican opponent, Jim Wozniak.
Mr. Wozniak, an assistant state’s attorney with Rock Island County, raised a little more than $20,000 in between April 1 and June 30. […]
[Sen. Mike Jacobs] has established a $110,000 fundraising lead over Republican opponent Neil Anderson, a Moline firefighter.
Sen. Jacobs raised $51,000 between April 1 and June 30, including $10,000 from the Associated Firefighters of Illinois Political Action Committee. He also received $5,000 from Southern Wine and Spirits of America Inc., of Florida, and $2,500 from MidAmerican Energy Co.
Mr. Anderson had $63,000 in cash at the end of the quarter compared to Sen. Jacobs’ balance of $173,000.
* And from the Mike Bost campaign…
The Bost for Congress campaign today released the following statement from campaign spokesman Ron Deedrick in reaction to the news that Mike Bost raised more money than incumbent Congressman Bill Enyart. The information is according to the latest reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.
“Thanks to support from voters across the 12th District, Mike Bost succeeded in out-raising Congressman Bill Enyart by almost $30,000 over the second quarter. Bill Enyart is trailing in the polls and trailing in fundraising, it’s clear that Mike Bost has the momentum in this critical race,” Deedrick said. “Bost has constantly out raised Congressman Enyart for the last 4 months since the primary election. In May the campaign released an internal poll showing Bost leading by 6 points.”
Enyart raised $250,588, spent $128,117 and had $677,498 on hand. Bost raised $283,407, spent $136,360 and had $347,665 on hand.
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Text of Rod Blagojevich’s appeal
Thursday, Jul 17, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Emphasis added…
In McCutcheon v. Federal Election Com’n, 134 S. Ct. 1434 (2014), the Court struck down a law restricting aggregate limits on political (campaign) contributions. First, the Court noted that political contributions are protected speech under the First Amendment. McCutcheon, 134 S. Ct. at 1444, 1448. To restrict protected speech, the government must have a compelling interest. Id., at 1444. The government does have a compelling interest in “preventing quid pro quo corruption or its appearance …..” Id., at 1445.
The McCutcheon Court further explained that the government’s interest “in preventing the appearance of corruption is equally confined to the appearance of quid pro quo corruption, the Government may not seek to limit the appearance of mere influence or access.” Id., at 1451 (citation omitted). “The line between quid pro quo corruption and general influence may seem vague at times, but the distinction must be respected in order to safeguard basic First Amendment rights. In addition, [i]n drawing that line, the First Amendment requires us to err on the side of protecting political speech rather than suppressing it.” Id., 1451 (citations and internal quotation marks omitted).
Blagojevich’s conviction is based in large part on his attempts to solicit campaign contributions. In this appeal, he argues that the lower court’s instructions to the jury on this issue “omitted the quid pro quo requirement that the government prove that Blagojevich’s requests for campaign contributions were made in return for an ‘explicit promise or undertaking’ to perform or not perform an official act.” Def. Brief, p.50. Instead, Blagojevich’s jury was told to convict on the lower standard that he attempted to obtain a campaign contribution “knowing or believing that it would be given to him in return for the taking, withholding, or other influencing of specific official action.” Def. Brief, at p. 51.
The McCutcheon decision thus supports Blagojevich’s position that, where a criminal prosecution is based upon attempts to solicit campaign contributions, the government must prove a quid pro quo or explicit promise.
* Let’s go to the AP for some context…
Blagojevich’s attorneys filed their appeal one year ago, and the sides held oral arguments before a three-judge panel in Chicago in December. Going more than six months without a decision on an appeal is unusual, though it is impossible to say if the lengthy consideration bodes well for Blagojevich or for prosecutors.
Prosecutors are likely to file a response to Wednesday’s defense filing, though they aren’t required to. A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago, Randall Samborn, declined any comment.
The panel’s hard-hitting questions for a Blagojevich prosecutor during oral arguments raised defense hopes that some convictions could be thrown out. The questions’ focus: Exactly where is the line between legal and illegal political wheeling and dealing? And did Blagojevich cross it?
At one point, Judge Frank Easterbrook noted how exceptional the prosecution of Blagojevich was. He even compared Blagojevich’s bid to land a Cabinet seat to how President Dwight Eisenhower named Earl Warren to the U.S. Supreme Court after Warren offered Eisenhower key political support during the 1952 campaign.
* From that earlier hearing…
With some passion behind his remarks, [former chief judge of the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, the conservative Frank Easterbrook] asked if there was “any criminal conviction in U.S. history” other than Blagojevich’s in which a politician was convicted for trying to trade one job for another.
“I’m aware of none,” responded the government’s Debra Bonamici.
Her answer seemed to hang in the air for a bit as courtroom observers took that in.
Easterbrook described how in the run-up to the 1952 presidential election, then-California Gov. Earl Warren offered to use his post to “deliver California” for Eisenhower in return for a seat on the Supreme Court. It was a deal that Eisenhower eventually honored.
“If I understand your position, Earl Warren should have gone to prison, Dwight Eisenhower should have gone to prison,” Easterbrook implored. “Can that possibly be right?”
Her eventual answer was nuanced, including explaining the allegations included Blagojevich’s attempt to have a 501c (4) set up for him to head if he appointed Valerie Jarrett to the U.S. Senate.
* At the time, Wordslinger was befuddled by this turn of events…
“If I understand your position, Earl Warren should have gone to prison, Dwight Eisenhower should have gone to prison,” Easterbrook implored. “Can that possibly be right?”–
That’s nonsense. Show me, in any written history, that Warren made such an “offer” and that Eisenhower agreed to “honor” it.
As it was, 77 of the 90-member California delegation voted for Warren at the convention, so Warren hardly “delivered” the state to Ike.
How the U.S. attorney could let that fiction slide just shows how unprepared the office was.
The facts:
In 1952, Gov. Warren ran as a favorite son, and thought he had the 90-vote California delegation sewn up. In truth, Sen. Nixon spent the train ride from Sacramento to Chicago picking off a handful of Warren delegates for Ike.
Because of this, in part, Ike’s biggest backers, Gov. Dewey and Gen. Clay, recommended him for VP. Nixon was also considered an attractive VP candidate for his youth, war service and for being from the booming West. In addition, he served as a bridge between the right-wing isolationists (for the Hiss case) and the moderate East Coast internationalists (for his support of NATO).
After Ike was elected president, he nominated Warren for solicitor general, with the idea of appointing him to the next open Supreme Court seat, which he did.
But that was to keep Warren from being a primary rival in 1956 and to placate the liberal wing of the GOP, just as Lincoln did with Salmon Chase and the Radical Republicans in 1864.
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* Today’s live video link is here. I’ll be posting news story excerpts in the feed below so you can discuss this goofy mess…
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Another step forward on medical marijuana
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times…
On Tuesday, lawmakers who make up the obscure but powerful Joint Committee on Administrative Rules had no objections to the rules that will be used to implement the Illinois Medical Cannabis Pilot Program.
That means the medical marijuana program in Illinois can officially be put to use, and the process to begin registering patients, dispensers and growers can begin.
* But there’s a catch. More than one, actually. Oh, well There’s always a catch in Illinois…
State regulators must choose which businesses will get licenses to grow and sell pot, and must set up a laboratory and procedures to test the drug for safety. And then there’s the matter of figuring out how to start growing a crop that has been illegal for decades.
Bryan Willmer, an owner of Grand Prairie Farms in Frankfort who hopes to open a dispensary and cultivation centers in Will, Kankakee and Champaign counties, said entrepreneurs are hoping state officials will specify how to get seeds.
“I guess they should fall from the sky,” he joked.
State officials said Tuesday they will try to clarify that issue. In addition, the Illinois Department of Agriculture is converting one of its labs into a testing center, where pot can be checked for potency, mold and pesticides so consumers know what they are getting, said Bob Morgan, coordinator of the state program.
But first — hopefully within 30 days, he said — regulators will draw up criteria that will be used to score business applications to decide who will be awarded licenses to grow and sell medical marijuana. The state intends to approve up to 21 cultivation centers and 60 retail stores spread around Illinois, based on issues like security, patient education and expertise in growing crops, Morgan said.
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Caption contest!
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Rep. Ron Sandack physically illustrates a story to Rep. Fred Crespo during a recess at today’s Legislative Audit Commission hearing…
It was all in fun, of course. But the gloves did figuratively come off this morning.
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Blagojevich lawyers file new appeal claim
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* AP…
Jurors convicted the Democrat on multiple corruption counts, including that he tried to swap an appointment to President Barack Obama’s old Senate seat for campaign money or a job.
Wednesday’s two-page filing with the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refers to an April Supreme Court decision striking down laws that restrict aggregate limits on campaign contributions.
Defense lawyers say that ruling also indicated the solicitation of contributions was corruption only when a politician gave a clear promise to take some official action in exchange for the donation. They say Blagojevich never made such promises.
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* The Sun-Times noticed that when Republican Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka appeared with Gov. Pat Quinn at a bill signing ceremony, she whispered something about her son to the governor. Her mic was hot, though, and it picked up part of their conversation…
Topinka: “…get my son to SIU? He loves to teach.”
Quinn: “Oh really?”
Topinka: “Yeah. He’s got the qualifications too.”
Quinn: “I know him, too.”
Topinka: “SIU. SIU. SIU.”
Topinka then slaps Quinn on the shoulder with a broad smile.
* The video…
The governor’s spokesperson said Quinn “couldn’t make out what she was talking about.” It was “loud” the spokesperson said. Um, no, it wasn’t loud. Listen to the video.
* JBT’s spokesperson…
Topinka’s office said the comptroller is looking to have her son “closer to home.”
“The comptroller recalls mentioning that her son just completed 20 years of service in the military, that he has multiple degrees, including his J.D., and is interested in returning to Illinois, preferably Southern Illinois,” said spokesman Brad Hahn. “It was no different than a million other conversations she’s had about her son in the last few months. Like any mom and grandma, she would like to have her family closer to home.”
I called Hahn myself. I asked him over and over whether Topinka had asked the governor to help her son get a job at SIU. He gave the same response about how Topinka “recalls mentioning” blah, bah, blah.
Finally, I asked him if Topinka also recalled asking the governor about helping her son get a job. “Not specifically,” I was told.
Yeah. OK.
* Look, I’ve known JBT for decades. She loves her son. She’s incredibly proud of him. She talks about him all the time. And she’d do just about anything to have him closer to her.
*** UPDATE *** Topinka’s Brad Hahn just called back. Here are three direct quotes…
She talked about wanting to get her son back to Illinois.
She was not asking for a job.
She did not ask him for a job.
I’ve known Brad forever. He’s always been straight with me, so it’s weird that he was so evasive before. All he had to do was tell the Sun-Times and myself what he said in our second conversation and it’s end of story.
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Top ten donors to Rauner and Quinn
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Reboot took a look at the top ten contributors to Bruce Rauner and Gov. Pat Quinn…
While most of Rauner’s biggest contributions come from individuals, nine of Quinn’s 10 biggest donations come from organizations such as unions and political action committees.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Rauner raised more money during the second quarter period, but Quinn did spend as much, and so had more money available as of June 30.
To create an apples-to-apples comparison, these rankings are for donations made to both candidates after March 5, 2013, when Rauner first began collecting donations for his Republican primary race. Quinn has campaign donations on record dating back more than 20 years, but those are from earlier races.
The state’s campaign donation limits don’t apply in the governor’s race because Rauner in November crossed the $250,000 mark for self-funding. State law limits campaign donations to $5,300 from individuals; $10,500 from corporations, unions or associations, and $52,600 from a candidate political committee or political action committee. But those limits don’t apply if one of the candidates in a race provides $250,000 of his or her own money.
* The lists…
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Campaign TV ad buyers love crime shows
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From NBC Chicago…
There’s a reason why your primetime “Law & Order: SVU” binges are being interrupted with an increasing number of negative political commercials.
As it happens, politicians’ campaigns and the special interests that back them are intentionally programming their gloomiest, most attack-y ads during gritty procedural crime dramas that air in primetime, according to new research from The Cook Political Report’s Elizabeth Wilner.
Almost 77 percent of political spots that aired during police, mystery and suspense series were negative in tone, followed by 71 percent of entertainment magazine programs.
Political media buyers know that “if you are watching between the hours of 7 and 11, you already are tuning in for some sort of violence or character assassination,” Wilner told USA Today in an interview, adding: “You are primed … for drama anyway.”
* From the Cook Political Report story…
- Early morning (5am-8:59am) is by far the most popular “daypart”—i.e., time of day—for airing political ads overall, accounting for 24% of all spot occurrences covered in the study. A gap of 8,000 spots separates early morning (34,576) from the next most preferred daypart, daytime (9am-3:59pm; 26,608).
- Local news remains by far the preferred programming genre for airing political ads overall, claiming 43% of all spots included in the study and seeing nearly three times as many spots as the next most preferred genre, talk shows (61,039 to 21,054).
- Crime shows, followed by entertainment magazine shows, see the highest shares of negative ads out of all spots aired within those genres (76.5% and 70.7%, respectively).
The study was conducted of general election advertising in key Senate, House and governor races rated as “toss-up” by the Cook Political Report as of July 14.
Per Harley’s dataviz, 70.5% of all spot occurrences—or individual airings of TV ads—during primetime programming (8pm-10:59pm) were either totally negative or contrast, followed by prime access (7-7:59pm) at 68.1%. By comparison, 65.1% of all spot occurrences during early morning programming and 63.4% of spots airing during late fringe (11:30pm-4:59am) were negative or contrast.
* Local news shows have always been a desired political advertising vehicle and some DC TV outlets accommodated campaigns in 2012. From the Washington Post…
Faced with an unprecedented flood of commercials for candidates and causes, Washington’s TV stations have had to get creative to fit them all in. Some are trimming their regular programming to squeeze in a few more ads, and some are adding more news at other hours.
WTTG (Channel 5), the District’s Fox affiliate, for example, began bumping daily reruns of “The Simpsons” on Monday to add an extra half-hour to its 6 p.m. newscast. The expanded “News Edge” program will focus on political news — the kind of programming political advertisers demand most.
WJLA (Channel 7), the area’s ABC affiliate, has temporarily added two weekend newscasts to its schedule for the same reason. On Saturday, the station preempted network programming and aired a two-hour movie in prime time in order to create more local ad slots. The station has occasionally shaved time from some of its weekday programming to accommodate an extra political ad or two, said Bill Lord, WJLA’s general manager.
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* From the union-backed Illinois Freedom PAC…
*** UPDATE *** I’m told that the buy is about a million dollars over three weeks. It’s tough to get a handle on the number of ratings points though since an independent expenditure like this doesn’t get a candidate discount. Either way, it’s a fairly strong buy, so it’s on.
* Script…
Should billionaires like Bruce Rauner get to play by a different set of rules?
In 2012, Rauner made 53 million dollars, but paid a lower tax rate than many of us.
And Rauner used a loophole to pay zero, nothing into Social Security and Medicare for two straight years.
Now Rauner says he’s open to taxing our Social Security and retirement income…making it harder for Illinois families to get by.
Bruce Rauner pays less but wants us to pay more?
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* Rauner has already responded via a fundraising e-mail…
Today Pat Quinn and Mike Madigan’s special interest allies launched a new round of negative ads against us.
I’m not surprised the machine is fighting back. Are you?
These folks will say anything to protect Pat Quinn and his broken promises. They want you to forget Quinn’s promises to create jobs (we lead the Midwest in job losses), avoid raising taxes on the middle class (Quinn now supports a permanent 67% tax hike on all Illinoisans), invest in our schools (Quinn cut education spending $500 million), pass term limits (opposes our term limits proposal), and clean up state government after Blago (Quinn’s administration is now under federal investigation).
Will you help me fight back TODAY with an urgent contribution of $1,000, $500, $250, $100, $50, or $25?
Pat Quinn announced yesterday he has $12 million sitting in his campaign account - fueled by the Democrat Governors Association and his special interest allies.
Now today, the same group that spent millions unsuccessfully trying to defeat us in the primary is up with a new attack ad.
Make no mistake: Quinn-Madigan are playing for keeps. They will pull out all the stops because they know we will end the machine that has run Illinois into the ground.
Can you contribute now? Any amount helps, $100, $50, $25, $10, even $5. Every penny will be used to counterattack this latest offensive.
Illinois is run by lobbyists, for special interests, and the career politicians in charge let it happen. We can end all that – can you help take on the machine today with a contribution?
Thank you for all you’re doing. I’ll keep fighting to shake up the system – please fight with me.
Bruce Rauner
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A serious allegation against the Tribune
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From Sunday’s Tribune story “Clout for Teachers”…
Michael Jacoby, executive director of the Illinois Association of School Business Officials, is critical of narrowly drawn bills. “I don’t think it’s good public policy to run bills to support one person’s issue,” he said.
* As I told you Monday, there are serious questions about pretty much all of that Tribune story. Jacoby was the only Illinois “critic” quoted in the story, and I’d heard through the grapevine that he may have been quoted out of context, so I reached out to him.
The above line in the Tribune story referenced a bill pushed by Rep. Tom Cross…
Cross earlier pushed legislation to help a donor, Karl Karantonis, of Naperville, who wanted a license to be a chief school business official. ISBE said Karantonis didn’t qualify because he had a master’s of public administration rather than the required master’s in business administration, finance or accounting.
But a bill filed in February 2011 inserted language so that someone with a master’s degree in public administration could qualify. Former state Rep. Ron Stephens, a lawmaker on Cross’ leadership team, said he filed the measure after Cross talked to him about Karantonis.
As we’ve already discussed, Karantonis was hardly a major donor. And the bill was actually a darned good idea.
* It turns out that IASBO’s Jacoby agrees with me, and he says he told that to the Tribune. Here’s what he texted me yesterday…
After the quote I also said, but if the issue has legitimate impact on a larger group of people, then it is justified.
In fact, we supported the addition of an MPA degree to the CSBO endorsement because it would open the door to other highly qualified candidates.
Oy.
Look, I’ve made more than my share of mistakes. But in all my years, I have never once hacked somebody’s quote like that to make it fit into my own personal perspective. I wouldn’t be in business very long if word got around that I couldn’t be trusted. Campaigns, on the other hand, do that all the time. But reporters are supposed to call out people who pull this sort of crud, not engage in it themselves.
There were so many easily documented problems with Sunday’s story to begin with. But now, we have a quoted source claiming that evidence was essentially fabricated.
“Civilians” were dragged through the mud by the largest newspaper in the state for simply pointing out some very real problems with current state laws. And now it turns out that the only quoted “critic” says he isn’t actually a critic.
Something needs to be done about this.
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* Illinois Public Radio…
Gov. Pat Quinn’s administration has released thousands of emails to a panel of lawmakers investigating his troubled anti-violence program.
Senate Republican spokeswoman Patty Schuh says members of the Legislative Audit Commission received an estimated 2,000 emails linked to the Neighborhood Recovery Initiative on Friday and are currently reviewing their contents.
Schuh says the emails came at the request of the bipartisan commission. They’re expected to be discussed during hearings about the $54.5 million program scheduled Wednesday and Thursday in Chicago.
The commission is also expected to discuss a federal request to suspend interviews of those connected to the program for 90 days.
* Tribune…
It’s unclear if any of the seven aides who have been subpoenaed will actually testify today, or if they do, whether they will take the fifth. They include Barbara Shaw, former head of the anti-violence program; Jack Lavin, Quinn’s former chief of staff; Toni Irving, former deputy chief of staff; Malcom Weems, former head of the Department of Central Management Services; Billy Ocasio, a former senior advisor; Warren Ribley, former head of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity; and Andrew Ross, Quinn’s former chief operating officer.
* Our good friends at BlueRoomStream.com will be broadcasting the hearing live. Click here to watch. I’ll also put together a ScribbleLive feed around the 10 o’clock start time.
*** UPDATE *** As promised…
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