*** LIVE COVERAGE *** NRI hearing
Thursday, Oct 9, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Quinnsters successfully buried a story in a bunch of other stuff….
The Legislative Audit Commission hearing had been delayed since July at the request of federal prosecutors looking into the Quinn grant program. In a sign the probe continues, the Quinn administration acknowledged a new grand jury subpoena of emails and other records from a former top Quinn aide.
The federal request set a deadline of Nov. 4 — the same day Quinn asks voters to re-elect him as governor against Republican Bruce Rauner. The challenger has been using the legislative and federal probes into the program to try to chip away at what traditionally has been one of Quinn’s strengths, a reputation for integrity. […]
[Former DCEO Director Warren Ribley’s] emails and documents are being sought by federal prosecutors in the latest subpoena that Quinn officials released Wednesday. The request, dated Sept. 26, also seeks emails of Jack Cutrone, the current head of the Illinois Criminal Justice Authority. Ribley said he had not seen the new subpoena.
* Live video of the 9 o’clock hearings will be available at the GA’s main page. Subscribers have access to our own exclusive live video here. And here’s the ScribbleLive thingy…
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 5:55 am:
I tried posting this yesterday, but it apparently didn’t take. I’ll try again.
Scott Walker won his recall election amidst a criminal investigation that netted a few of his staff, who were convicted of campaigning on public time while Walker was Milwaukee County Executive. This was part of the John Doe investigation.
One of Walker’s staff was convicted and sentenced for embezzling funds that were supposed to go to veterans’ families.
Maybe some of my recollections are hazy, so my facts may be a little out of order, but it did happen.
This is not necessarily to excuse anything the Quinn administration did, or to compare the two administrations or the two states, but what drove the voters in Wisconsin to elect Walker in the recall, even though his previous administration had massive ethical and legal problems?
Walker may well again win reelection. He apparently is still dealing with a John Doe investigation, in regards to allegedly coordinating with outside groups like Club for Growth.
What gives? How do people who are against Quinn and for Walker and Rauner explain this?
- OneMan - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 7:53 am:
Well, in part that is easy. This isn’t the reason I am not voting for Quinn. The biggie for me is simply when he withheld legislative pay, besides for being grossly unconstitutional demonstrated a complete lack of respect for the separation of powers.
As for NRI, more than corruption to me it illustrates how it seems government will just toss money at a problem without really thinking anything out or trying to figure out what really works.
- Angry Republican - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 8:13 am:
On a positive note for Vallas fans the probability of him rising to governor has gone up.
- Macbeth - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 8:20 am:
—
On a positive note for Vallas fans the probability of him rising to governor has gone up.
—
And your reason for this is … what?
- chi - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 8:24 am:
=what gives?=
Many people want their favored policies implemented. They are willing to overlook a whole lot in the way of ethics violations if it means the stuff they want gets done, and especially if the other candidate favors contrary policies.
For instance, if you told me that my choices were 1) Quinn gets elected, keeps the state from going right-to-work, but will get convicted in three years on corruption charges stemming from this NRI stuff; and 2) Rauner wins, Illinois eventually goes right-to-work, but Rauner is never convicted of anything and history will say he was clean as a whistle.
I choose #1 every time, without a second thought. Cause in my mind #1 will benefit more and hurt less people.
- Leprechaun - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 9:09 am:
chi - now that is some real smart rationalization, let’s re- elect a guy and who cares if he goes to jail.
And while the rest of the country laughs and wonders in bewilderment on how we continue to elect criminals , your happy because we still are a right to work state.
Sorry but glad with that attitude your not running for office!!!!
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 9:09 am:
Someone text the people in the room the cameras are on, the mics are hot…
Please? For their own good.
- Try-4-Truth - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 9:16 am:
Ok, I’m done. Why are people in here talking about Quinn GOING TO JAIL????? I’m quite frankly, sick of it. Please, for the love of all that is fair and right, stop.
There might be a time to talk about that, that time is not now. Was the program mismanaged? Maybe. Criminally so? I doubt it. So please, just stop.
- chi - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 9:17 am:
ha- that’s the reaction I was expecting. But I’m not worried about what the rest of the country thinks, I’m worried about the welfare of the people of Illinois.
And despite how that last sentence sounded, don’t worry, you won’t be seeing me on a ballot:)
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 9:21 am:
Lavin framing it about “people, violence, terrible Chicago nicknames….the national guard, state police”.
That lump sum budget, yikes…
- F.G. - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 9:23 am:
No doubt, this program was screwed up and Quinn should be held accountable. But I have a question for Ron Sandack, Dave Ries and the other legislators who are whirling like a dervish over this matter: Have you ever sat down with your campaign team (maybe the people developing your mail or walk card,) and directed them to highlight a grant you got for a library, school or park in your district or to repave a road? If so, you’ve done nothing different that what your accusing Jack Lavin and the Guv’s people of doing.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 9:26 am:
Oberweis begins as Inquisitor.
Tread lightly, Oberweis.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 9:29 am:
Welp, that was quick Senator…
Lavin’s resume…pack a lunch, long day ahead…
Resume, yikes.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 9:31 am:
I found the House Republican’s statement interesting. Essentially what it said was that we are mad because we didn’t get the answers that we wanted to hear so those answers must be wrong.
- West Side the Best Side - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 9:32 am:
Oberweis’ comment about how many more kids could have been saved seems to concede that at least some kids were saved because of the program.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 9:35 am:
===I found the House Republican’s statement interesting. Essentially what it said was that we are mad because we didn’t get the answers that we wanted to hear so those answers must be wrong.===
Yep, if I could add…
“Essentially what it said was that we are mad because we didn’t get the answers that we wanted to hear so those answers must be wrong. We want our ‘gotcha’ for Rauner”
Optics, and what you say, how you say it matters.
It appeared they can’t help themselves…
- Cassandra - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 9:35 am:
Let’s hope Barbara Shaw is now off the legislative hook after what was overall a stellar performance yesterday. There are lots and lots of sleazy folks associated with Illinois state government, but she clearly isn’t one of them. As a result of her association with the Quinn admin,
her long career as an advocate for victims of violence is coming to an end rather unpleasantly. The lesson: if you are a prominent expert or advocate thinking about joining the Quinn admin, think carefully about the implications, because politics really is a rough trade, especially Democratic politics in this state with its long long history of corruption.
- Skeptic - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 9:35 am:
Leprechaun: He said he’s glad that Illinois is *not* a Right-to-Work state, and would vote for Quinn to keep it that way. And frankly I agree with him. I suspect that if the shoe were on the other foot (Dick Cheney and Halliburton comes to mind) you would feel similarly.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 9:37 am:
“Was there one particular person…”
The parliament of owls begin;
“Who”
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 9:47 am:
“Who” isn’t going to work…optics of a witch hunt, not a fact finding hearing.
Let the facts take you there, this leading every chain of questioning with “who” constantly gives the witnesses the pivot.
Use the report.
- Birdseed - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 9:47 am:
=== - Try-4-Truth - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 9:16 am:
Was the program mismanaged? Maybe. ===
You’re still wrestling with that thought?
- Demoralized - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 9:49 am:
Other than the “bombshell” that there were discussions about NRI with the campaign staff, can somebody tell me what additional information we have learned that wasn’t already presented in the audit report?
- Just saying... - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 10:05 am:
So far this is turning into what all have suspected a GOP witch hunt. I have yet to hear anything that even comes close to corruption.
Maybe a DEM can start to make the argument that Rauner and the millions of dollars he has funneled to the GOP – including legislators – is the real reason these hearings are taking place.
Rauner and his $$$ is corrupting the system worse than it already is…Now that would make good theater which is all that this is turning out to be. Just saying…
- 100 Miles West - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 10:06 am:
Demoralized, What everyone has learned in the past two days is that the people on the audit commission don’t understand auditing, or how state money is dispersed, or what the internal and legal controls are within state agencies when handling money and grants, and how those controls can and can’t be manipulated. I hope some elected reps and sens have learned that the General Assembly has been derelict in its duty to appropriate the state’s tax dollars in a non-lump-sum way. Ok, I feel better now.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 10:07 am:
Wow.
“I only recall AA ministers calling it emergency” - Rep. Sandack.
“Natural disaster”
Sandack love the “who “
- walker - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 10:09 am:
Well, I thought going in that if anyone was going to take the 5th it would be Shaw, and then Lavin. They really must not think there’s much here to avoid talking about.
Ribley? You gotta be kidding me.
They must have to cross all t’s ad dot all i’s. We’ll see if that’s a waste of time.
- Macbeth - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 10:09 am:
—
The lesson: if you are a prominent expert or advocate thinking about joining the Quinn admin, think carefully about the implications, …
—
Fortunately, many smart, thoughtful people have chosen to ignore your so-called “lesson”.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 10:21 am:
Sandack is “trying” but he won’t get agreement from Lavin.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 10:22 am:
“Show the cameras” - Sandack.
Is it a show, or a hearing?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 10:26 am:
Sandack gets called out - interrupting.
Sandack asks for answers to questions, not long winded side responses.
- anon - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 10:29 am:
Hey, Sandack, i you don’t want long winded responses, don’t ask long winded questions.
- Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 10:43 am:
==The biggie for me is simply when he withheld legislative pay, besides for being grossly unconstitutional demonstrated a complete lack of respect for the separation of powers.==
Rauner has promised to follow exactly this kind of track, only more so.
I suppose that if Rauner gets elected we can expect more hearings investigating his payments to Republican candidates and their subsequent actions as well as his violations of the constitution (per his promises).
The most disturbing aspect of these hearings is that they set a precedent. Instead of letting the Feds do their job, the Republicans want to do their own digging. As amateurs, they are doing a very poor job exposing anything other than their own incompetence. However, the next time the Dems want to have some hearings to try to air some Republican dirty laundry, they will point to this circus as an example of their authority to do so.
- Try-4-Truth - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 10:46 am:
Whatever, Birdseed. You missed my point entirely. Thank you for that.
- Bill F. - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 10:52 am:
“We’ve got a month still…”
And there it is.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 10:53 am:
“Who?”
You’re not going to get Lavin to say Quinn…
- Hotel Ibiza - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 10:53 am:
Nothing is going to come this Quinn and Cronies investigation from the Illinois Smoke & Mirrors panel. Quinn will be re-elected and Illinois will continue its downward spiral. More and more Illinois residents will continue to relocate to other states.
- MrJM - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 10:58 am:
“now that is some real smart rationalization, let’s re- elect a guy and who cares if he goes to jail.”
Re-elect the guy who has better policies regardless of whether he eventually winds-up in the clink?
Without hesitation.
– MrJM
- Skeptic - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 11:07 am:
Hotel Ibiza: That’s called a “false dichotomy” argument. “Quinn is bad therefore Rauner must be good.” Nothing in your statement gives any reason why Illinois wouldn’t be worse off under Rauner.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 11:08 am:
Sen. Raoul - “badgering”, ” not out for a witch hunt”,
Yikes.
If it gets testy, how is this helping My Party or Rauner?
Should have stayed on the Audit…
- Hotel Ibiza - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 11:14 am:
The Illinois exodus started shortly after Blagojevich took office and has steadily increased to date. Not sure who your talking too, but keep drinking that Koolaide.
- Skeptic - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 11:20 am:
Hotel Ibiza: I think you’re the one drinking the Koolaid. You still haven’t said why even more people wouldn’t leave Illinois under a Rauner administration.
- foster brooks - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 11:27 am:
One man what do you think rauner is going to do? He’ll take the constitution and crumple it up and toss it over his shoulder
- Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 11:34 am:
Hotel, the official headcounters have IL pop at all-time high.
http://ilikeillinois.com/index.php/economy/61-growth/106-illinois-population-at-all-time-high-growth-pushes-resident-count-near-13-million
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 11:35 am:
To the defense of my 308 friend, - OneMan -,
One very specific reason I won’t vote for Quinn is described by - OneMan -.
=== The biggie for me is simply when he withheld legislative pay, besides for being grossly unconstitutional demonstrated a complete lack of respect for the separation of powers.===
While I can’t vote for Rauner, to focus as to why I won’t be for Quinn is really spoken to here.
Much respect, - OneMan -, you are on that, and very correct.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 11:38 am:
Sandack gets hammered and shook for taking pot shot at Ocasio while he isn’t there.
Sandack, making friends, influencing colleagues. Getting personal, not rhetorical, Rep. Sandack.
Also the “Who”….unless you have the “who”, then say it, stop asking.
- Skeptic - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 11:39 am:
Hotel: And to add to what Anonymous @11:34 said, it looks like they’re not moving to Indiana.
http://www.ibrc.indiana.edu/ibr/2012/spring/article1.html
- PublicServant - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 11:39 am:
That’s all well and good Willy, but if Rauner wins by 1 vote, whatcha gonna do?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 11:44 am:
===That’s all well and good Willy, but if Rauner wins by 1 vote, whatcha gonna do?===
Call the winner “Governor” and be at peace with the fact that Rauner and Quinn had to earn my specific vote, didn’t, and their Crews got what they needed to win.
By under voting, it’s up to THEM to get their Pluses to win, I help neither, even by a protest of the other.
I would be more upset with myself if I cast a protest vote for the eventual winner and it goes bad. I made the bad possible, based on the negative.
I won’t vote for the Blago of the GOP
- Alternate Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 11:45 am:
Has anyone else noticed that Rep. Sandack has begun to live tweet the hearing?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 11:46 am:
Barickman - “teaching” colleagues.
Yikes.
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 11:51 am:
Iris Martinez has been a consistent voice for investment in her community. The only rub is that she wants to pick the firms that do the investing.
- Hotel Ibiza - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 12:38 pm:
Pop at all-time high of what? I sure the numbers are skewed like everything else in this state.
And who said anything about Rauner?
Good luck with Quinn and those rose colored glasses.
- Mason born - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 12:39 pm:
Willy
–be at peace with the fact that Rauner and Quinn had to earn my specific vote, didn’t, and their Crews got what they needed to win.–
Willy honest Question any chance fo a Grimm vote?
I ask because I am toying with it myself. I fear that undervoting will be seen by both camps as success at suppressing the other guys pluses. When what i want both PARTIES in this state to realize is they need to develop better candidates and valid choices and both of these two don’t deserve to be dogcatcher.
- Hotel Ibiza - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 12:41 pm:
Oh I forgot, hopefully Rahm will deliver Chicago & Cook county to Rauner. They have big plans for Illinois.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 12:56 pm:
===Willy honest Question any chance fo a Grimm vote?===
Here is the rub for me, specifically.
You give me a solid GOP candidate, not a “token” opponent, not a “throw in” opponent, the GOP candidate will get my vote.
So, in theory, I should be a Rauner “Plus”. Any vote, be it for “myself” because - Norseman - has done a fine job, but any vote against Rauner, in any way helps Quinn.
By taking me out of the pool, the universe, of voters, it makes Rauner find 1 to make “me” up, and I in no way make it easier for Quinn to pick me off.
“I’m off the playing field, find your own Pluses”
Grimm helps Quinn, a Quinn vote helps Quinn, they both hurt Rauner. Quinn isn’t getting my help.
Hope that helps(?) - OW
- Skeptic - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 1:08 pm:
“And who said anything about Rauner?” You did. Enjoy your Koolaid.
- Mason born - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 1:10 pm:
Willy
Works. Also i see your point Quinn will take any Grimm vote as a win. (besides whether it helps or not) You know maybe i shouldn’t be surprised at how crappy our options are.
Situation normal IL Citizens lose.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 1:10 pm:
“Oh I forgot, hopefully Rahm will deliver Chicago & Cook county to Rauner. They have big plans for Illinois.”
We can see why Rauner dropped 17 points in two months.
So far no bombshells from Quinnghazi, I see.
- Hearing Loss - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 1:13 pm:
The GOP wants us to take these hearings seriously while Sandack gets to sit there and make fun of the witnesses on Twitter?
Ron Sandack @RonSandack · 2h 2 hours ago
So while I’m dealing w/ another person w/ selective memory & cute commentary/campaign speeches, I hear Metra’s Board wants an 11% increase!
Ron Sandack @RonSandack · 16h 16 hours ago
But, not for a lack of trying. RT @RayLong: #NRI-tis Weems was asked if money went out b4 elex? Not that he knows of
Ron Sandack retweeted
David Ormsby @DavidOrmsby · 20h 20 hours ago
.@RonSandack Q: Mr. Ocasio do you know where you are? A: No. #nri #twill
- Skeptic - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 1:16 pm:
“They [Rauner and Emanual] have big plans for Illinois” So, Mayor of Chicago is a state-wide office now? Who knew?
- Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 1:24 pm:
The discussion between @Oswego Willy and @Mason born above is part of what keeps people coming back. Thoughtful comments by both.
For the first time in recent memory, none of the choices available in a major race feel like a very ==good== choice. At least for the moment.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 1:30 pm:
- Mason born -,
Glad I could (gulp) help. There aren’t good options. Much respect, good luck.
- FKA -, can’t beat this place to make you think and learn. I am constantly learning, thanks to great people that share so I can learn. Much respect to you as well.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 1:32 pm:
Sen. Brady is doing better than yesterday…
- Skeptic - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 1:38 pm:
“There aren’t good options.” Methinks Oswego Willy is being too modest.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 2:01 pm:
- Skeptic -, order your yard sign now!
You “methinks” snark is priceless and ageless.
- dupage dan - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 3:07 pm:
=== As for NRI, more than corruption to me it illustrates how it seems government will just toss money at a problem without really thinking anything out or trying to figure out what really works ===
That’s the biggie for me. Yes, a complete lack of respect for the rule of law is a major piece. Coupled with a wanton, reckless waste of MY hard earned money is another, equally disturbing reason why Quinn will NOT get my vote. Plenty of reasons why Rauner won’t get it either. I feel dirty now - I can’t feel good about not voting. There it is.
- dupage dan - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 3:13 pm:
=== As for NRI, more than corruption to me it illustrates how it seems government will just toss money at a problem without really thinking anything out or trying to figure out what really works ===
That’s the biggie for me. Yes, a complete lack of respect for the rule of law is a major piece. Coupled with a wanton, reckless waste of MY hard earned money is another, equally disturbing reason why Quinn will NOT get my vote. Plenty of reasons why Rauner won’t get it either. I feel dirty now - I can’t feel good about not voting, but I can’t vote for either of these jamokes. Quinn the hack and Rauner, the GOP Blagojevich.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 3:18 pm:
So…. vote-buying?
Wasn’t evidence of that what we were supposed to get out of this dog-and-pony show?
Somebody call John Kass to testify. He wrote Sunday that Quinn dropped $55 million of taxpayer funds before the 2010 election to buy votes.
So he must have the real skinny. Because, obviously, the Trib thinks he’s the best that they have.
- dupage dan - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 3:20 pm:
Sorry for the “double post”. The page wouldn’t load right so I changed it up enough to repost. The page went black. Had to reboot and try to read. I won’t do this again.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 3:45 pm:
Since they are tweeting odds and ends in this thread, here is some nice Illinois pension news that could buoy our spirits a bit during these tense times, if we let it.
This is from an article linked in Cap Fax’s news feeds:
“Ratings reaction
Illinois, led by Governor Pat Quinn, a Democrat running for re-election, made 84 percent of full contributions in 2013, better than the 80.7 percent average, according to a report from Loop Capital Markets. By contrast, New Jersey made 28 percent of the actuarially required payment, the worst in the nation.”
http://www.lifehealthpro.com/2014/10/09/state-pension-gaps-shrink-for-first-time-since-07
Rauner was grabbing RGA campaign cash from Mr. Fiscal Responsibility himself. Perhaps he’ll get some pension funding pointers also.
- plummerzHelper - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 4:20 pm:
Barickman seems almost like he is being ‘used’ or is a tool of the Rauner campaign.
- Mason born - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 5:03 pm:
Willy,
As i’ve told you before i’m a true independent i don’t care what party best candidate gets my vote. (with the exception that i’m a realist and the Libertarians ain’t winning. Shame cause he may be the best man on ballot)
I really think Both parties would be better with a stronger Republican party. Quinn is far from the best Dems could put forward. However he will sneak this one through because for two elections in a row we have had trully gawd awful candidates opposing him. Dems don’t have to select for strong candidates when R’s select losers who fail this badly.
I meen come on Quinn can’t seem to beat 40% in favorability, stuck public employee unions (his blindside tackles) in the back by signing SB1, been governor over a horid economy, and yet he is leading. Sad.
- Norseman - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 6:10 pm:
=== That’s all well and good Willy, but if Rauner wins by 1 vote, whatcha gonna do? ===
For my part I’d tell Willy that I’m sorry the campaign failed because I couldn’t convince good commenters like Public Servant and One Man to vote for him.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 6:30 pm:
- Mason born -,
It’s just disappointing that “no option” is considered an option. I want My Party to succeed, but this election may not give My Party that opportunity.
- Norseman -,
You couldn’t fail me, Bud. Sometimes it’s the candidate, and looking at my situation, it’s more on me, than it could ever be on you. That’s the straight dope. - OW