Not a bad idea at all
Monday, Nov 3, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the good ideas that are probably going nowhere department…
As you’re aware, the governor has crisscrossed the state during the closing weeks of the election doling out pork barrel projects, ranging from roads to new buildings for universities.
It’s a time-worn campaign tactic that shows off the power of incumbency.
One state lawmaker wants to put it to an end.
Under legislation introduced Tuesday by state Rep. Anthony DeLuca, D-Chicago Heights, no executive branch constitutional officer or member of the General Assembly would be allowed to make public announcements of any state grant or state-funded project of any kind within 60 days before a general election.
It’s weird that Rauner didn’t really use the quotes from a state employee who acknowledged he was hoping to announce projects before election day. Quinn handed out tons of pork after that quote, but Rauner sent out only a couple of early press releases and never followed up after Friday’s big spending binge by Quinn.
DeLuca’s bill, by the way, is here.
- very old soil - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 11:51 am:
Maybe a good idea, but pretty easy to get around.
- circularfiringsquad - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 11:52 am:
Mitt has huge crowd at Pasfield House for last chance rally….not Must not be giving out free food like the did earlier in this debacle
- From the 'Dale to HP - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 11:52 am:
What about emergencies? Say a bridge needs to be replaced ASAP, can work start but the public official can’t say anything about it?
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 11:52 am:
===It’s weird that Rauner didn’t really use the quotes from a state employee who acknowledged he was hoping to announce projects before election day.===
Rauner is chasing himself, the focus is off Quinn…or it’s malpractice.
Or both.
To the Post,
While sound governmentally, it’s too far negative politically.
“Good politics is good government, good government is good politics”
Can’t do any of that without ribbons cut, that coincide with the calendar.
- circularfiringsquad - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 11:53 am:
surprised Capt Fax does not has live blabber line going to capture crowd comments….maybe Capt snoozin’
- Ghost - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 11:57 am:
So it’s ok to fund projects…. And of course the media has a right to know and report these events. So this would do what? Require a friendly reporter to plant announcements? Seems like feel good stuff like an ethics statute that allows gifts from lobbyists so that elected officials can get free lunches etc.
Or procurement rules that add cost and layers of employees but do nothing….
- Carl Nyberg - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 12:00 pm:
Why should members of Illinois General Assembly not be covered by this restriction?
- Anonymous - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 12:00 pm:
All candidates should be quarantined for 60 days prior to an election. It would save us all a lot of headache.
- chi - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 12:01 pm:
That’s a separation of powers issue, I’d think. Legislature can’t tell the Executive branch what it can and can’t say.
- A guy... - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 12:01 pm:
Pretty good policy bill there Rep. DeLuca. They could still tout it in appearances and mailers, just not show up with the fat oversized checks. This would definitely offer some relief to some of the recipients who feel the need to learn a new dog trick when the guy with the hoops and biscuits shows up.
- whetstone - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 12:04 pm:
I dunno. I get the intent, but I get the sense that earmarks panic has been bad for infrastructure in the U.S.
- walker - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 12:04 pm:
Way to get in the news, Tony!
6000 plus bills every session, 200 worth even talking about.
- circularfiringsquad - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 12:05 pm:
Huge crowd — nearing double digits….forgot to intro Rosenthal —- but he was stading behind Rich Bauer….Brady whipping up the crowd…staggering
- Not Rich - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 12:06 pm:
Is Circular joking?? Is Uncle Brucie really having a rally on election eve in Springfield at the Pasfield House?? If he is energizing those voters this race is OVER..
- circularfiringsquad - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 12:06 pm:
Now Cong Schock as SRO crowd rushes stage…pandemonium
- facts are stubborn things - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 12:09 pm:
Some communities might not get a well deserved and needed project if it wasn’t for elections. Leave it alone — as is.
- Langhorne - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 12:10 pm:
So brucie thinks there’s gold (votes) to be mined among state employees? Huh?
Go to the suburbs and leave us alone
- circularfiringsquad - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 12:19 pm:
Now BLinkyJim after Slip&Sue and Princess Di. Blinky forgot to move to the center of the stage so he has the Stratton in the back….nice framing
Now Mitt with a Carhart
- circularfiringsquad - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 12:24 pm:
Blinky only one with Suit…Rally over Traffic will be stalled all over downtown as crowd clears
- Precinct Captain - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 12:24 pm:
Is DeLuca serious, or is he just trying to get his own name in the news? The Heights ain’t a bastion of good government.
- VanillaMan - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 12:25 pm:
I disapprove of this idea.
Quinn wouldn’t be hustling if it wasn’t his reelection tomorrow.
If this was law, Quinn would have done even less than he’s done since 2009!
- Very Fed Up - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 12:25 pm:
File this in the too good to be true for this state category along with term limits and anti-gerrymandering. Madigan will get wind of it and find a way to crush it.
- Cheryl44 - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 12:30 pm:
I agree with Facts. Leave it alone.
- circularfiringsquad - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 12:31 pm:
Blinky now in gang bang trying to fumble through post game…Mitt long gone….trying to explain his primary lines….not working too well
- circularfiringsquad - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 12:33 pm:
Notice Bernie is talking about “crowd” Mitt rally like there was more than 15 people very funny
- circularfiringsquad - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 12:33 pm:
BTW Bernie predicted PQ win tomorrow
- Wordslinger - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 12:36 pm:
Meh, solution in seach of a problem.
So would an opponent be barred from kicking an incumbent in the teeth the last two months for not coming through on projects?
- Stuff Happens - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 1:11 pm:
The PR issue didn’t stick with the Harold Washington ad, so why try running with it again?
Besides, Rauner doesn’t want to campaign for Quinn by pointing out successes. Or at least, he shouldn’t. The UI Labs “you stole my idea and made it your success” makes me wonder.
- Stuff Happens - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 1:13 pm:
So the PACs could still run ads and issue press releases announcing successes instead?
- Nearly Normal - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 1:23 pm:
From wjbc.com–
BLOOMINGTON - Former Illinois Republican Governor Jim Edgar joined Republican candidate for Governor Bruce Rauner at a campaign event near the Central Illinois Regional Airport Monday morning. Edgar said he doesn’t campaign very often.
“A few years ago Illinois was one of the greatest states in the Union,” said Edgar. “Things were going well. But, we’ve now had 12 years of the Blagojevich and Quinn administrations. We’ve had one party rule it has not worked. It’s time for a change.”
Rauner continued the message.
“Some of you guys have seen the bologna political ads that Pat Quinn has been running,” said Rauner. “All the false viscous attacks, ridiculous attacks, Which most of you have seen the one where he comes and puts his face on television and he says ‘you know me.’ And I say Pat Quinn, yes we know you, yes we know you Pat Quinn, and we know you put brutally high taxes on the families of Illinois.”
Rauner brought his wife and children to the campaign stop in Bloomington.
- The KQ - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 1:45 pm:
My experience with the previous administration is that they would hold announcements, contract awards, etc., in order to release them into the news cycle when they would gain the most advantage from it. One thing people might not consider is the items being released just prior to election may have been ready to go for some time and held. I have no knowledge that this is happening today, but it has before.
- Will Caskey - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 2:05 pm:
Don’t think that passes constitutional muster. As candidates they can talk about anything they please. I guess one could restrict disbursement 60 days prior to the gen but that won’t stop people from announcing things to come right after the election anyway.
- Demoralized - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 2:35 pm:
So nothing can go out 60 days before an election? Because it’s kind of hard for something to happen without some sort of news coverage. Does that mean a bunch of “no comments” from elected officials during this time?
This is dumb. Dumb, dumb, dumb. This is about as dumb as those who want to prevent anything from happening in the GA after an election and before the new GA is sworn in.
Did I mention this is dumb?
- sal-says - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 3:08 pm:
Pleeze. Since the dawn of incumbents. What’ll they think of next? Campaign spending limits? No negative ads? Fact-only based campaigns?
- Skeptic - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 4:01 pm:
Anonymous @12:00– Why stop at 60 days?
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