* Mark Brown chatted with Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Chad Grimm about Local 150’s pledge to help his campaign…
“I thought it was genuine, and I don’t see it as being a problem,” Grimm told me late Monday on his way to a meeting where he was hoping to learn more about the extent of the union’s help.
After the meeting, Grimm reported he now expects the union’s additional support to come in the form of an independent expenditure campaign that it will control. Grimm said he’s good with that, too.
Rich Miller from CapitolFax reported this week that Local 150 would be spending “six-figures” on behalf of Grimm in a last-second push that most expect will work to the detriment of Rauner. Miller reported the money will be spent on direct mail and robocalls.
Although the Operating Engineers have traditionally supported both Democrats and Republicans in recognition of the mixed leanings of its members, the union has been campaigning determinedly against Rauner for the past year because of his anti-union rhetoric and policies.
* In other news, Illinois isn’t the only state with a minimum wage hike ballot initiative, reports the AP…
In Alaska, Senate candidate Dan Sullivan opposed a federal minimum wage hike during the GOP primary campaign then came out for the state minimum wage measure in his general election race against Democratic Sen. Mark Begich.
Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor and his Republican opponent, Tom Cotton, have both endorsed the state-level ballot measure in Arkansas, but Cotton had previously said the issue should be left for voters to decide.
Democratic officials in Nebraska hope the wage issue makes a difference in the close race between Democrat Brad Ashford and Republican incumbent Lee Terry in an Omaha-based congressional district.
In South Dakota, where Democratic U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson’s retirement created an open seat, Democrat Rick Weiland helped carry signed petitions to the Secretary of State’s office to get the minimum wage issue on the ballot. His GOP opponent, former Gov. Mike Rounds, opposes it.
* Meanwhile, remember this self-made video from the 2010 campaign?…
Well, “Matt the Welder” is back with another self-made ad that he’s posted to Facebook. Click here to see it.
…Adding… I don’t know why I didn’t put this relevant debate snippet in the post. From ABC 7…
Rauner acknowledged his support for “right to work,” or opportunity zones, as he now calls them. And the candidates renewed their now-familiar disagreement on raising the minimum wage.
“We’re going to raise the minimum wage this year, we’re going to get it done,” Quinn said.
“He’s a phony on the minimum wage. He’s playing political football to make it a political issue in the campaign,” countered Rauner.
- RNUG - Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 10:27 am:
I think that ad pretty much sums up how a lot of people feel about this election.
- Illinoise - Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 10:34 am:
Matt the Welder for Governor 2018!
- Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 10:34 am:
Embeddable version of the new Matt ad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyncSxtDh00
- Louis G Atsaves - Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 10:54 am:
So Grimm did a sit down with Local 150 to see what they were up to? Isn’t like asking for “cooperation” between independent PACS and campaigns, which is a no-no?
- Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:07 am:
Both the Matt the Welder ads come from the heart.
The part about Rauner being a guy who == wants to lower the minimum wage but voted against lowering his own state salary == makes no sense at all though. When did Rauner have a state salary or cast a vote on that?
It is factually inaccurate but a good example of people wanting to be heard. More like this, please, but with actual facts instead of making things up. Good job by Matt and a ==Pass== for the effort, though the script alone would get a ==Fail==.
- Wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:11 am:
The right-to-work zones are a bizarre idea. Where did it come from?
Sounds like some anti-union zealot’s pipe dream. How could it be kosher under the 14th amendment?
- THEGUN - Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:13 am:
Sums up how Union Employees feel.
That’s all.
Typical Democrat,nothing more.
Comes from the heart?
I don’t buy that, more like comes from the pocketbook.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:17 am:
===Rauner acknowledged his support for “right to work,” or opportunity zones, as he now calls them.===
If you are a Union, this is Rauner taking on the right to collectively bargain…”in zones”.
Rauner is against collective bargaining. If you’re a teacher, to a brick layer, electrician to a pipe fitter…
Rauner is not your friend. Rauner is telling you so.
- phocion - Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:21 am:
Word, you’re right. The NLRB does not allow for county-by-county right to work zones. It is campaign malpractice to antognize unions (or any group that can hurt you on election day) over something that legally can never come to pass.
- A guy... - Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:21 am:
150 supporting the Libertarian…I suppose that means they’re for Right to Work, no minimum wage, dramatically less government, all those fine principles unions are so willing to get behind. Exposing this charade should be a priority in paid media.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:27 am:
- Exposing this charade should be a priority in paid media. -
I agree. Rauner should do everything he can to remind the GOP base that there’s an anti-choice, strong pro-gun alternative in this race.
- A guy... - Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:33 am:
Yep, those are strong Democratic principles that Labor is constantly out there fighting for.
- Amalia - Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:34 am:
hey Quinn people, blast out that Matt the Welder piece….he knows how to sell the message!!!
- Wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:39 am:
A Guy, great advice. Rauner should definitely spend money raising the Libetarians profile.
- Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:41 am:
==- Formerly Known As… - Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:07 am:==
Re-read and re-watch.
- Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:54 am:
Precinct Captain - do you see my 11:09 post? I noticed the mistake literally 2 minutes after making it. Re-read
- Voice of Reason - Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 12:02 pm:
Man, I love Matt the Welder. That guy needs to run for office. What he lacks in media skills, he makes up for in true, blue collar authenticity.
- AlabamaShake - Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 12:02 pm:
**So Grimm did a sit down with Local 150 to see what they were up to? Isn’t like asking for “cooperation” between independent PACS and campaigns, which is a no-no?**
Umm… no.
- A guy... - Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 12:03 pm:
=== Wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:39 am:
A Guy, great advice. Rauner should definitely spend money raising the Libetarians profile.===
I was thinking more of raising 150s profile, but hey that’s just me.
- Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 12:05 pm:
Unless that comment is stuck in moderation for some reason. I basically called myself a dope and begged forgiveness of == Matt the Welder ==.
Anyhoo, gracias for pointing out the mistake politely @PC.
- walker - Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 2:41 pm:
So Rauner is promising another pipe-dream that is illegal from the get go?
- Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Oct 22, 14 @ 10:10 am:
==- Formerly Known As… - Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:54 am:==
You don’t have a public 11:09 post.