Question of the day
Wednesday, Jan 7, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Oops. I forgot to post a question today. Sorry about that. It’s awful late, so let’s go with a tried and true subject matter…
* The Question: Caption?
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* From Steve Brown…
FYI
Another special proclamation has been prepared allowing the special election applying to all appropriate constitutional offices.
Speaker Madigan stated he will support the legislation on Thursday
The new proclamation, issued by Madigan and Senate President Cullerton, is here.
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* The study panel examining governance of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and its parent agency, the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency was released today. From a press release…
The report concludes that establishing ALPLM as a separate agency is unlikely to solve the complex problems that led to the introduction of the pending legislation. Rather, separation of the ALPLM from the IHPA would weaken both organizations and “would result in a significant lost opportunity for the state,” depriving it of important synergies between the ALPLM and the other historical sites, memorials and programs that exist under the IHPA.
Instead, the report urges integration of ALPLM into a reorganized IHPA, to achieve “a better balance between the political culture that created ALPLM, the bureaucratic culture that has managed ALPLM for the past decade, and a museum and research library culture that must assume a higher profile in the [institution’s] future.”
The author of the report, Dr. Brent Glass, director emeritus of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, argues that changes in the current governing structure of both IHPA and ALPLM could provide Illinois “a nationally recognized public history agency with the resources—human, physical, and cultural—commensurate with its rich and varied heritage.”
The report’s conclusions and recommendations were unanimously endorsed by the study panel at its meeting on December 22. Co-chairs of the panel, Donna Sack of the Association of Midwest Museums, and Bernard Reilly, of the Center for Research Libraries, expressed confidence that the report will shed new light on the complex issues surrounding ALPLM governance and operations and their hope that it proves useful to state legislators in considering the pending legislation.
The full report is here. I’ve been sick all day, so I’ll get to it eventually. Let the rest of us know what you find. Thanks.
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DCFS to get 8th director in three years
Wednesday, Jan 7, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Tribune…
The acting director of the Department of Children and Family Services told a packed legislative hearing Wednesday morning that she is leaving the troubled agency Jan. 19.
Bobbie Gregg announced her departure at a Chicago hearing investigating conditions at the state’s roughly 50 residential treatment facilities, which were the focus of the Tribune’s recent “Harsh Treatment” investigation. […]
Lance Trover, a spokesman for Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner, said in an email that Rauner “is committed to a transformation at the Department of Children and Family Services and will work closely with the General Assembly to ensure we protect our most vulnerable residents.”
Gregg said she is DCFS’ seventh director in the past three years.
From what I’ve been hearing, Gregg thought until very recently that she’d be asked to stay on at DCFS.
Administration and oversight apparently aren’t her only shortcomings. Add “foresight” to the list.
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Tuition freezes and budget math
Wednesday, Jan 7, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From a U of I press release with emphasis added…
In-state freshmen at the University of Illinois would see no increase in base tuition next fall for the first time in more than two decades under a proposal that will be reviewed Monday by the Board of Trustees’ Audit, Budget, Finance and Facilities Committee. […]
Officials said the University hopes to hold future tuition increases to the rate of inflation or below, but cautioned that significant reductions in state funding and other factors could lead to larger increases.
* The Tribune explains how the university will cover the costs, with emphasis added…
The university will forgo about $2.6 million in tuition revenue by not instituting another 1.7 percent increase this year, Pierre said.
However, he said, the university expects about $25 million in additional tuition revenue during the 2015-16 school year in part because of increased enrollment in some programs and higher graduate student tuition. Also, under the four-year guaranteed tuition plan, some lower-paying students will be graduating, and new students — even with the freeze — will be paying more than those they replace.
Pierre warned that this could be a one-time freeze, especially as the state’s public colleges and universities are facing threats of funding cuts after the state income tax rate dropped Jan. 1.
“Certainly any changes in state support might have consequences on tuition rates for next year,” he said.
* Keep that $2.6 million figure in mind when reading this, with emphasis added…
The University of Illinois is preparing for a possible 20 percent cut in its state appropriation.
Last week, the university was asked to submit a report to the Illinois Office of Management and Budget and the Illinois Board of Higher Education on how such a reduction would affect its operations for the next fiscal year starting July 1, 2015.
A 20 percent cut in the UI’s approximately $670 million state appropriation would amount to about $134 million.
The tuition freeze’s $2.6 million cost amounts to 0.39 percent of the system’s $670 million state approp. Any hit to its budget beyond that, and either the freeze could be imperiled or tuition will have to rise even higher in the very near future.
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Shine a light
Wednesday, Jan 7, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* USA Today…
The election may be over, but the fundraising hasn’t stopped for some of the nation’s governors, whose allies are busy collecting more money from donors to help underwrite their inaugural bashes.
In some cases, the donations exceed what their supporters could contribute to their campaigns.
In Illinois, sponsors who give $25,000 to the committee raising funds for Republican Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner’s inaugural events get four VIP tickets to his Jan. 12 swearing-in, along with entry to two dinners, a reception and concert featuring country star Toby Keith and blues legend Buddy Guy, according to the committee’s website.
State law limits candidates accepting more than $10,500 from a corporation or union or $5,300 from an individual.
* Finke…
Rauner, who is not using taxpayer money to pay for his inaugural activities over the coming week in Springfield, will release information about who is paying for it when the time is right, spokesman Mike Schrimpf said Tuesday.
“We already committed to releasing the donors and will release the relevant information at the appropriate time,” he said in an emailed response to questions.
Schrimpf did not answer questions about the total estimated cost of the inaugural events. […]
Although Rauner has promised to disclose contributors, that isn’t enough for some critics of privately funding inaugural events. David Melton, executive director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, said it still leads to the perception that someone or something is buying access.
“I’m not questioning the good faith of anyone involved about this idea of privately funding inaugurations, whether it’s for the governor, the president or anyone else,” Melton said. “But I think it’s a mistake because it undermines the position that they hold and leads to misperceptions about where their chief loyalties lie.”
* Meanwhile, Mark Brown looks at Rauner’s pledge to shift his assets into a blind trust…
Rauner’s most obvious and serious potential conflicts involve his holdings in GTCR, the private-equity company he ran before entering the governor’s race, and the firm’s work investing state pension funds. I honestly don’t know what he can do to alleviate that conflict.
Many of Rauner’s investments are complex and probably can’t be undone by any trustee, which means he will keep them for many years.
That’s why Robert Walker, a former chief counsel to both the U.S. Senate and House ethics committees and now a lawyer at Wiley Rein LLP, says blind trusts are of limited value in the short term.
After all, Rauner will know exactly what he put in the trust, and what actions might benefit those investments.
“It’s a good gesture initially if there are strict provisions applied and followed. It’s not a panacea for potential conflicts of interest,” Walker said.
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Economist: Rauner’s pension plan doesn’t add up
Wednesday, Jan 7, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Tribune shines some belated light on Bruce Rauner’s 401(K) proposal for public employees…
In his successful campaign, Rauner spoke generally about wanting to shift public employees from receiving a defined pension benefit into becoming members of a defined contribution plan similar to a 401(k)-style system.
Rauner has said public workers should be able to keep the benefits they have already accrued, but, moving forward, go into a defined contribution system. He also has said public safety workers should stay in the current system. And, with 80 percent of public employees not eligible to receive Social Security, Rauner has said he favors some unspecified plan to create a retirement safety net.
But it’s unclear whether Rauner’s concept is constitutional, as he maintains, or how it would address the current unfunded pension liability since payments would go into a new retirement system rather than address the shortfalls in the current system.
“Not only does it not solve the problem, but it makes it worse in the near term,” [Richard Dye, an economist on the faculty of the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois] said. “Whatever the solution is will cost something, and I don’t know how it would be implemented. It’s hard to add (Rauner’s concept) up as a fiscal benefit for the state.”
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* From an e-mail to supporters…
Over the Christmas Holiday, more than 300 letters, notes, and emails of grassroots support flowed to the Rauner Team regarding my application for Illinois Comptroller.
THANK YOU!
Governor-elect Bruce Rauner decided to appoint North Shore businesswoman Leslie Munger as the next Illinois Comptroller. It’s a good pick which I support and respect.
Here’s what I texted her yesterday morning…
Hi Leslie, Congratulations on Comptroller appt. I personally wish you much success! Time to Shake up Springfield. Again, Best Wishes and Congratulations- Adam Andrzejewski
Thank you for your outpouring of support. The Rauner team described it as a “flood.”
I especially appreciated these supportive notes, because you took time out of your Christmas Holiday. Volunteer Susan Petty, founder of Turning Point USA Charlie Kirk, and IL Tea Party Denise Cattoni and many others did much to organize support.
Our teams at For The Good of Illinois and OpenTheBooks.com work extremely hard to protect taxpayers and fight spending abuse. Your support further steeled our spine for the long road ahead.
Thank you to U.S. Senator Tom Coburn who sent a supportive email to Bruce Rauner. As Dr. Coburn leaves the Senate, we will work hard to carry his legacy of transparency and aggressive spending oversight.
Thank you to Solidarity founder, Nobel Laureate, and Polish President Lech Walesa for his 2010 endorsement and continued friendship. The possible appointment was a leading story in the largest Polish weekly newspaper, Wprost- here.
Thank you to Deroy Murdock at National Review who wrote an incredible biography piece, Let Andrzejewski Open The Books in Illinois.
Thank you to Michael Flynn at Breitbart for his early piece- IL Governor-elect Faces First Test of Leadership.
Thank you to the ten elected members of the General Assembly who backed my application, members of the GOP State Central Committee, GOP County Chairman, leaders of center-right persuading organizations, pro-family organizations, prominent business people across Illinois, donors and of course… regular people across our state.
From the bottom of my heart, I deeply appreciate all of you. Thank you. All of you put your good name next to mine. It’s a charge that I will not forget.
It’s good news that Rauner picked from the deep well of Illinois business talent and not from politics. All of us have high hopes. We wish Bruce Rauner and his team the best!
Now, let’s get back to work. All of us have a lot of work to do.
For The Good of Illinois.
ADAM ANDRZEJEWSKI
Founder & Chairman, For The Good of Illinois
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Special elections bill filed
Tuesday, Jan 6, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Subscribers were told about this earlier today…
Legislation is being considered that would establish a 2016 special election to replace late Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka.
The bill was filed Tuesday would apply to statewide vacancies of 28 months or more. It’s expected to be considered during Thursday’s special session in Springfield.
* From one of the pertinent sections …
In accordance with Section 7 of Article V of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, if the Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, or Treasurer fails to qualify, or if his or her office becomes vacant, the Governor shall fill the office by appointment. If there are 28 months or less remaining in the term at the time of the vacancy or failure to qualify, the appointed officer shall serve for the remainder of the term.
If there are more than 28 months remaining in the term at the time of the vacancy or failure to qualify, the office shall be filled by a special election to be held at the next general election. In the case of a special election pursuant to this Section, the appointed officer shall serve until the election results are certified and the person elected at the special election is qualified.
The legislation also covers deaths near election days.
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Classy coming in, classy going out
Tuesday, Jan 6, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* IO…
Governor-elect Bruce Rauner has begun the process of cleaning house, sending dismissal notices to top Quinn Administration officials.
Governor Pat Quinn’s chief of staff, Ryan Croke, alerted cabinet directors, deputy directors and top lawyers in an e-mail on Monday evening that employment status letters would start to flow and that “some will be notified that they will not be retained.”
* I’ve heard about several of these letters so far. But, kudos to Rauner’s chief legal counsel for setting a very classy tone…
* And speaking of classy, Gov. Quinn today told his City Club audience about how he used his father as his role model for governance. Many of us have heard this story before, but not with such emotion…
Thanks to Commissioner John Fritchey for the video.
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Things are looking up
Tuesday, Jan 6, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Crain’s takes a look at the Chicago region’s immediate economic future and pronounces it bright…
The Chicago Purchasing Managers Index, a closely watched indicator of industrial demand, averaged 62.5 over the three months ended in November. Anything above 50 signals a growing manufacturing base. “That’s really strong,” Kavcic says. […]
In 2014, Commonwealth Edison expected to see a 1.5 percent increase in household electricity consumption, not including the effects of its energy-efficiency programs, according to the utility’s projections late in the year. That’s the highest growth in usage since the recession. In 2013, the rate was just 0.7 percent. […]
Estimates of the region’s gross metropolitan product growth range between 2.3 percent and 3.4 percent. The same figure for 2014 is expected to come in at anywhere from 1.7 to 2.6 percent, depending on the source. […]
One reason [for why the region has lagged in the recent past] is that business and professional services—accountants, lawyers, consultants, advertisers, etc.—are such an important component of the local economy now. And those sectors tend to rebound later than others in a recovery. “This is where the professional services businesses really kind of kick in for Chicago,” he says. “Because we service so much of the surrounding Midwest area, it’s become the economic engine. That’s sort of the bellwether.”
Indeed, professional services jobs increased 2.6 percent in September over the same time in 2013, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That was the highest year-to-year jump of any category other than construction. Meanwhile, unemployment in the Chicago area fell sharply during the same period, to 6.1 percent from 8.4 percent. […]
Even commercial bankers—a group that, to date, has been pretty sour on the region’s economic performance—are coming around. “All of our customers are projecting very good years,” says Edward Wehmer, CEO of Wintrust Financial in Rosemont, the second-largest locally based bank holding company, with $19 billion in assets. “Wage inflation is going to start to kick in. Consumers are starting to feel better.”
* Also, the U of I’s “Flash Index” was at 106.5 in December. It’s been above 100 - the dividing line between growth and decline - for the past two years, and hasn’t been this consistently high since 2007.
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* Check out the wording in this press release…
The following statement is from Treasurer-elect Mike Frerichs regarding the announced appointment of Leslie Munger to the office of Comptroller:
“I called Leslie Munger last night to congratulate her, and I thank Governor-elect Rauner for selecting someone committed to eliminating the comptroller’s office.
Shortly before her passing, Judy Baar Topinka told me she was looking forward to working with me to combine the comptroller’s office with the state treasurer’s office. I am committed to keeping my promise to her to do just that.
I hope we can eliminate the comptroller’s office at the next election in 2016. By eliminating the comptroller’s office immediately at the next election, rather than waiting until 2018, we can save the taxpayers an additional $24 million.
I hope to meet soon with both Governor-elect Rauner and Leslie Munger to discuss eliminating the comptroller’s office sooner rather than later. In the meantime, I am confident that we can work together to eliminate as many redundancies as quickly as possible.”
Notice, he doesn’t say the two offices should be combined and a new person elected to fill that office. Instead, he wants the comptroller’s office eliminated so that he can then take over its duties.
Interesting twist.
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In search of a legacy
Tuesday, Jan 6, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Erickson…
In one of his final acts as governor, Democrat Pat Quinn could make one last push to raise Illinois’ minimum wage.
Although his aides remain tight-lipped about the prospect Monday, the outgoing governor could use his waning authority to call on lawmakers to act on the minimum wage when members of the House and Senate return Thursday for a special legislative session.
That doesn’t mean lawmakers actually will listen to Quinn, who leaves office Monday morning.
That wouldn’t surprise me at all. He’s trying hard to seal his legacy.
For instance…
Outgoing Gov. Pat Quinn has issued two executive orders he says are aimed at making the state more welcoming to immigrants.
Quinn on Monday ordered the Governor’s Office on New Americans to appoint a liaison in each state agency to help immigrants benefit from President Barack Obama’s recent executive action. The action curbs deportation and gives work permits to some immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally.
Quinn also says Illinois’ 10 existing Welcoming Centers should assist people applying for the federal action, and state agencies must provide information on how to obtain necessary records.
* The governor also sat down with the Tribune for an exit briefing…
The populist Democrat, who hands the reins of power to Republican Bruce Rauner on Monday, listed no regrets.
“I think you put your whole body and soul into every issue,” Quinn said when asked if he’d have done anything differently. “Some you win. Some you don’t win. Life goes on.” […]
Quinn said his biggest accomplishment as governor was guiding Illinois through the “dire straits” he inherited when he moved up from lieutenant governor six years ago. He took over after former Gov. Rod Blagojevich was impeached and removed, with Illinois a late-night TV punch line. The state’s economy reeled from the Great Recession. […]
“I know, as long as I have breath to breathe, I’ll be organizing some cause,” Quinn said. “I was disappointed that the progressive approach to government, for a while, won’t be in Springfield in the governor’s office.
“The progressive approach means you’ve got to tell people the unvarnished truth, even if it’s hard,” said Quinn, barely masking his criticism of Rauner, whose plans for state government so far have been short on specifics. “It’s better to tell people what they need to know, not what politicians want them to hear.
* And check out this Quinn press release from this morning…
As 2015 gets started, Governor Pat Quinn today highlighted Illinois’ strong economic recovery. In 2014, the state’s economy significantly improved, with unemployment down and job creation up across Illinois.
“When I took office on January 29, 2009, the Illinois economy was in a deep recession. Today, our economy is significantly stronger,” Governor Quinn said. “Our work to make the tough decisions, invest in a 21st century transportation infrastructure and responsibly cut the cost of doing business in our state is getting the job done. This past year saw historic drops in our unemployment rate as more men and women are getting back to work across the state.”
Today the Illinois unemployment rate stands at 6.4 percent - its lowest level since June 2008. In November 2014, unemployment rates fell in every region of Illinois for the eighth consecutive month to a six or seven year low. Illinois has led the nation for five straight months with the sharpest over-the-year drop in the unemployment rate.
Since the start of 2014, 166,000 more people across Illinois are back on the job. Employers have added 298,700 private sector jobs since February 2010.
When Governor Quinn took office, he inherited a financial crisis and the worst recession since the Great Depression. Since then, he has driven economic growth by putting the state on more solid financial footing, cutting state spending by billions of dollars and achieving historic reforms to pensions and Medicaid. These tough actions have won praise from all three credit agencies and helped stabilize the state’s finances.
It goes on like that for several more paragraphs.
* I’m assuming he’ll make some sort of announcement at his City Club address today…
Outgoing Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is set to give one of his final public speeches as governor when he addresses business and civic leaders during an afternoon luncheon. The Democrat is scheduled to speak Tuesday at the City Club of Chicago.
Quinn has previously used the venue to float new ideas tied to the state budget or pension crisis.
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Today’s number: 1.4 million
Tuesday, Jan 6, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Tribune…
Illinois has shifted about 1.4 million of its Medicaid recipients into managed care, falling just short of a Jan. 1 goal to move more than 1.5 million into the alternative system of delivering health care. […]
A state law passed in 2011 required 50 percent of the state’s Medicaid population, which has grown to about 3.1 million people, to be enrolled in a managed care plan by the start of 2015. Nearly all of the 1.4 million people who have moved to managed care have made the switch in the past year, with nearly half of them switching in the past two months, according to enrollment totals posted on the Department of Healthcare and Family Services website.
Officials plan to enroll an additional 800,000 people in managed care by spring, for a total of about 2.2 million enrollees, said Jim Parker, acting administrator of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services’ Division of Medical Programs. The state has focused its efforts on the most densely populated counties, where there are more hospitals, doctors and specialists than in rural areas, Parker said. […]
Rep. Patti Bellock, a Hinsdale Republican who helped craft the bill, said she is satisfied with the department’s progress.
* Related…
* Top Medicaid official in Illinois to resign: The director of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services plans to resign Jan. 9 as part of the transition to Republican Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner’s administration. Julie Hamos, 65, oversees the largest state agency and has responsibility for the $18 billion Medicaid program, which pays medical expenses of the poor and disabled, including the cost of more than half the state’s childbirths.
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A crack appears
Tuesday, Jan 6, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* This is not the response that Brown gave me when I talked to him yesterday…
[Gov. Pat Quinn] has said Rauner’s appointment should not remain in office for the full four-year term, arguing that voters should get to elect a new comptroller during a special election to be held at the same time as the next statewide election, in 2016.
Quinn has called lawmakers back to the Capitol on Thursday to vote on a special election. It’s unclear if the Democrat-controlled General Assembly will go along with the idea. While Senate President John Cullerton supports a special election and is drafting legislation on the issue, powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan has argued that Quinn and Rauner should come to an agreement without the help of lawmakers.
A spokesman for Madigan on Monday said it’s too soon to say if the matter will be called for a vote or if the speaker will back the proposal.
“That’ll be dependent on how the bill is prepared,” spokesman Steve Brown said.
So, he’s no longer saying that this is purely an “executive department” decision. A door has clearly been opened, even if only a little.
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Today’s quotable
Tuesday, Jan 6, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* AP…
After telling voters during the campaign he had a plan to simultaneously lower taxes and increase spending for education, [Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner] now says the state’s finances are far worse than he was led to believe. It could be a way to give himself some wiggle room while pinning blame for unkept promises on the Democrats who preceded him. […]
“Gov. Rauner needs to keep his commitments to voters,” [former state Sen. Kirk Dillard] said. “And if he can’t deliver on all of them, he needs to make it clear that it’s the Democrats that are preventing him from doing so.”
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* From a press release…
Governor-elect Bruce Rauner announced today that he will appoint Leslie Geissler Munger of Lincolnshire to fill the vacancy in the Comptroller’s office that will occur on Monday, January 12. Both also strongly endorsed “Judy’s Amendment,” which would merge the Comptroller’s and Treasurer’s offices, an idea long advocated for by Judy Baar Topinka.
“I am deeply honored to become Illinois’ next Comptroller and humbly look forward to serving all the people of Illinois,” Munger said. “I’ll be a guardian of their money and a watchdog for Illinois’ finances. Our state is in terrible financial shape, and I’ll do everything I can to help turn things around.”
“I’m not interested in a political career; only on doing what is best for the state we all love and want to make great again,” Munger added. “With that in mind, I will relentlessly advocate that the General Assembly put a Constitutional amendment on the 2016 ballot to merge the Comptroller’s office with the Treasurer’s office. That’s what Judy wanted, and the people deserve the opportunity to vote on it. I would look forward to helping eliminate the very office to which I was appointed.”
A career businesswoman with an undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois and an M.B.A. from Northwestern, Munger made her first run for state office last year, falling short of defeating an incumbent state representative by just 1349 votes in the Democrat-leaning 59th district. A full bio is below.
“No one can ever replace Judy Baar Topinkia, but Leslie is the perfect candidate to continue building on Judy’s legacy,” Gov.-elect Rauner said. “Leslie has always been laser focused on fiscal and economic issues, and as Comptroller, she will do everything within her power to help fix our state’s broken finances.”
“A first step towards delivering greater efficiency and reform for Illinois taxpayers is to merge the offices of Comptroller and Treasurer,” Rauner continued. “That is something that Leslie and I both support and believe should be the legislature’s focus in the days and weeks ahead. Rather than a special election for a short-term appointment, next year’s ballot should include a Constitutional amendment to merge the offices. That would be a long-term answer that will result in greater value for taxpayers. It would pass, and when it does, Leslie would be able to immediately begin work on winding down and merging the offices. That’s the right path to take and in the best interest of Illinoisans.”
Munger lost to Rep. Carol Sente, who blasted Munger for being a tea partier. Munger, however, denied the claims.
Nancy Kimme will reportedly stay on as chief of staff.
*** UPDATE *** Not surprisingly, House Republican Leader Jim Durkin approves…
“Leslie Munger is a smart choice for Illinois Comptroller. I witnessed first-hand her work ethic and became friends with her immediately. Leslie is honest, driven and dedicated to improving Illinois. She brings to the office 25 years of business experience in the private sector that will serve the taxpayers well. While no one can take the place of Judy Baar Topinka, I know Leslie Munger will do a great job as Comptroller and leading the charge to merge the two offices of Comptroller and Treasurer. Judy Baar Topinka would be proud of this appointment.”
* Also, from the Tribune…
Aides for Rauner said Munger was traveling out of state and could not be reached for comment Monday but said she will join Rauner on a statewide tour Saturday.
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* One of Mayor Emanuel’s opponents is about to write a big check…
[Mayoral hopeful] Willie Wilson tells Chief Correspondent Jay Levine that he’s about to write a seven-figure check to begin running a series of his own TV commercials.
Wilson’s initial outlay of $125,000 will be followed by $1 million check next week, for a series of campaign commercials that the former McDonalds restaurant-operator-turned-medical-supplier plans to start airing next week. Wilson shared two of them with CBS 2 on Friday. […]
The mayor has been running TV spots for weeks, spending at a rate of $500,000 a week to boost his re-election efforts.
With just about $100,000 in his campaign account, Fioretti’s fundraising is trailing Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia’s total of nearly $1 million and Wilson’s $1.3 million, if he follows through with those contributions. Still, all three combined don’t approach the nearly $10 million the mayor could have by the middle of the month.
Wilson deposited the check in his campaign bank account today.
* But, wait a second… Wasn’t hizzoner’s campaign boasting before Christmas how they’d easily knock Wilson off the ballot? Well, after initially challenging Wilson’s own petition signature, Emanuel’s vaunted campaign quietly dropped its efforts on Christmas Eve…
Wilson, who is black, has alleged that racism motivated Emanuel’s challenge of his petitions.
Emanuel denied that, but Wilson’s lawyer, Frank Avila Jr., said last week that Emanuel fears going up against “a strong African-American candidate.”
Avila said Wilson had collected far more than the 12,500 valid signatures needed to appear on the mayoral ballot.
“I’m very happy, excited and elated that this fraudulent, racist, unconstitutional and false objection has been dropped,” Avila said. “It showed how scared Rahm Emanuel is of Dr. Willie Wilson.”
* Meanwhile…
Usually when a family member runs for political office, it’s all hands on board. However, the son of Willie Wilson, a candidate for Chicago mayor, said he’s not supporting his dad because his dad barely supported him.
“I did not believe it. I did not believe it,” said Wilson’s son Mario Shannon.
Mario, 28, said he was stunned when he turned on the news recently and saw his father, Doctor Wilson, running for mayor of Chicago.
“If he can’t take care of someone, how could he run for mayor of Chicago? And I thought I would let the world know he is not the guy you all think he is,” Mario said.
* But another son defended his dad…
Terrell Wilson told FOX 32 that Willie has been a good father to him, especially after he became an adult and wanted to join his multi-millionaire father in business.
“I’m heading up the Youth, the youth side of the campaign,” Terrell said.
However…
Terrell said there were times in his life when he, too, was estranged from his father, who worked long hours and was often away from home. Terrell said he and two older brothers joined a criminal street gang as teenagers. In the mid-1990s, he said then 20-year old Omar Wilson was murdered in a gang-related dispute.
And…
Terrell said that at the age of 27, he re-established a closer connection with his father. He said he ran a factory in Tennessee for his father, with more than 100 employees, closing it down when it became uncompetitive. He said he’s made more than a dozen trips to China, helping his father move production to factories in that country.
FOX 32: It was cheaper to produce it over in China?
“Absolutely, Terrell added
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* Bill Roberts has resigned his job as legislative inspector general…
“I accepted the position on an acting basis so I could see if it was something I wanted to do on a more permanent basis,” Roberts wrote in an email to Illinois Times. “For a variety of personal reasons I determined that it was not a job in which I wished to continue.”
Roberts took the job after Thomas Homer, the previous inspector general, left the post last spring. Before leaving, Homer called on lawmakers to approve tougher ethics measures, including provisions for stronger penalties for violations of ethics rules. Homer was the legislature’s first-ever inspector general and investigated more than 160 complaints, but just four reports of his investigations were made public during his ten-year tenure, and no legislator was fined for any violation of ethics rules. A commission of legislators decides what, if any, punishment should be meted out for violations of ethics rules. That same commission decides whether the inspector general can conduct an investigation in alleged violations and whether reports on investigations should be made public. […]
Last summer, the Better Government Association published a report noting that Roberts, a former U.S. attorney and Sangamon County state’s attorney who was once counsel to former Gov. Jim Edgar and now heads the law firm of Hinshaw Culbertson, has ties to lawmakers he was tasked with overseeing. Roberts once represented House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, and his law firm has collected nearly $2 million for legal work for state agencies in recent years. In addition, Hinshaw Culbertson has made campaign contributions to several legislators. Roberts served as counsel to House Republicans during impeachment proceedings against former Gov. Rod Blagojevich in 2009.
Roberts, a former US Attorney, is perhaps the most respected lawyer in Springfield. He only took the job after all four legislative leaders asked him to do so. He was never happy in the spot and was rightly irked by the BGA’s story.
* By the way, here’s the latest from the BGA…
Government transparency is woefully inadequate in many public agencies — including the Illinois Department of Transportation, or IDOT, which over the past few years has been anything but forthcoming as we sought answers on potentially illegal patronage hiring.
Now IDOT is facing questions about a transparency matter of a different kind: Tinted windows on state vehicles.
Over the past few months, the Better Government Association has spotted IDOT trucks with darkened passenger- and driver-side windows, making it tough to see inside, and raising questions about motivations of the occupants.
Out of fairness, we should say we haven’t found anyone goofing off, but we did find that one of the IDOT trucks was apparently illegally tinted, and at least one more vehicle was tinted without the agency’s permission.
No tax money was used to tint the windows. Employees apparently did it on their own…
An IDOT spokesman told us the two trucks we discovered with tinted glass are assigned to supervisors, and they’re on call for emergencies – such as accidents and weather problems.
The IDOT spokesman, Guy Tridgell, said the workers, not the taxpayers, paid for the window tinting.
“It looks like a small, unknown number elected to get some tinting done on their own. We understand this was primarily for security reasons” – protecting tools inside from theft – “and protection from sunlight during the summer,” Tridgell told us via email.
* It’s not clear whether the group’s new mascot was involved in the months-long Tintgate probe…
The BGA has a new mascot? It’s elementary, my dear Watson!
At the BGA’s Annual Luncheon on Oct. 14, the BGA introduced Watson the Watchdog — our new “watchdog in chief” — to a crowd of nearly 1,000 supporters. It’s safe to say Watson stole the show and won the hearts of the crowd barking on command and shaking paws with BGA board member Jose Padilla.
The BGA is proud to partner with PAWS Chicago, the largest no-kill shelter in the Midwest, for this important addition to our organization.
Watson is an underdog who survived the streets of Chicago and escaped euthanasia, and the BGA is fighting for the underdogs across Illinois.
“The underdogs in our society are the most susceptible prey to government corruption, fraud, waste and abuse. They’re the ones that suffer the most when programs intended for them don’t deliver on the promises made,” Padilla said on stage. “These are the kind of individuals who can’t afford to have their tax dollars wasted, can’t afford to have their government programs disappoint them.”
These days Watson is learning new tricks everyday with the help of dedicated trainers at PAWS Chicago. You’ll see Watson making the rounds sniffing out waste and fraud in government and putting corrupt public officials in the doghouse.
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Question of the day
Monday, Jan 5, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Illinois Review…
As soon as Governor-Elect Bruce Rauner is sworn in on January 12th, he will be making an unexpected crucial appointment - who will fill the shoes of the late Judy Baar-Topinka as State Comptroller. One of those names now circulating is State Rep. Jil Tracy, whose term will end when the new General Assembly convenes.
Former candidate for governor Adam Andrzejewski confirmed to Illinois Review earlier this week that he’s applied for the appointment, and now Quincy radio station WGEM is reporting that Tracy, who ran for lieutenant governor with Republican Senator Kirk Dillard, is willing to take the job on, too.
WGEM says Tracy told them she hasn’t “sought the position, but would be honored to serve as comptroller.”
Another name being mentioned for the job is Topinka’s longtime chief of staff Nancy Kimme, who was heavily involved in Rauner’s successful campaign for governor.
AA had a super-hostile relationship with Topinka, so I just don’t see that happening. And from what I’ve been told, Kimme doesn’t want the job.
* The Question: Who do you think Rauner should appoint as the next comptroller? Let’s leave aside the two year/four year argument for now, please. And make sure to explain your answer. Thanks!
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Remembering Judy
Monday, Jan 5, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Neil Steinberg returned from vacation to find an early December note from the late Judy Baar Topinka. It was a kind note, filled with praise for one of his columns. Steinberg, like just about all of us in the media, received these little notes from JBT on a regular basis…
For the record, it wasn’t a particularly good column, never mind wonderful. But if you were puzzled by the outpouring of general sadness at the passing of Judy Baar last month, I think that note explains a lot, and perhaps gives us all a few tips about living our own lives in the coming year.
What does it show?
1. Make an effort. Judy put herself out. She went to the trouble. There is no part of the comptroller’s job that involves greasing reporters’ massive egos and, indeed, her note wasn’t done with the idea of a quid pro quo, of tilling the soil for good coverage. Her kindness would curdle if it were followed up by her rattling the cup for publicity. But she didn’t. She was just being nice.
2. Be nice. When people have a complaint, you sure hear from them. And sometimes I want to say, “You’ve never said a word, for years, about ever liking anything, and now something bothers you and I’m supposed to listen to you grouse?” Being nice is planting the seeds that flower later. I guarantee you, had Judy Baar been irked by something, I’d have snapped to attention, because that wasn’t her way.
3. Be interested. My column started by talking about books and ended by talking about Kardashian’s butt. Judy moved the focus into the age of Elizabeth I. There’s something refreshing about that. The range of interesting things is boundless, unless we blinder ourselves. Look around.
There are more conclusions I could draw, but that’s enough.
One of the things I said about Topinka during her memorial service is that we should all think about the attribute we most admired about JBT and then emulate it. We’ll never have another Judy Baar on this planet. They most definitely broke the mold. But we can sorta keep her alive by individually adopting some of her best attributes as our own.
* And that brings me to my own “beyond the grave” story. Shortly after JBT died, her top staff members began clearing out their offices, figuring they’d all be out of jobs within days.
One of those staffers found a gift for me from Topinka stuck in the back of a desk drawer that she’d forgotten to give me. It had been in that desk drawer for close to four years. She presented me with the gift after Topinka’s memorial service. It was the closest I came to crying since Topinka had died.
The gift was a couple of tschotskes that Judy had probably picked up at a yard sale: the “Miller Family Crest”…
* If they had been given to me right away as ordered, I probably would’ve chuckled, rolled my eyes and tossed them into my big pile of political stuff that my descendants will have to sort through after I’m gone.
But now, they’ll take up a prominent place in my office. I plan to have them both framed, with one going to my daughter, who has known Judy since she was a small child.
* So, again, think about the attribute you admired most about JBT, then try your best to emulate it. We’d be a much better place if we all did so.
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Today’s quotable
Monday, Jan 5, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the Tribune’s budget story…
As a candidate, Rauner spoke mostly in general terms of his desire for lower taxes and higher school spending, though he did not reconcile the two or explain how he intended to accomplish both. He added another wrinkle in mid-December, telling an audience in Springfield that he had no intention of making significant cuts in the Medicaid program providing health care to the poor.
But education and Medicaid together comprise the two biggest items in the state budget, accounting for well over half the spending in the already stretched general funds that pay for day-to-day expenses.
“That dog won’t hunt,” said Ralph Martire, executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, a union-backed research center in Chicago. “He can’t maintain or enhance the spending he claims he will maintain or enhance with the tax policy he proposes. One of those two has to give.” […]
[Former Gov. Jim Edgar] said Rauner’s most pressing task is reconciling the state to the impact of Thursday’s income tax cut, which is expected to slice $2 billion from state revenues over the next six months. If left intact, the income tax cut could cost the state more than $4 billion in revenue over an entire budget year.
“Doomsday’s coming, we do not have a printing press,” Edgar said. “I was talking to some people to see if there’s any smoke and mirrors left and I don’t think there are. They’ve used them all.”
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Rosemary Mulligan
Monday, Jan 5, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I was on vacation when former Rep. Rosemary Mulligan passed away. Here’s a react roundup. House GOP Leader Jim Durkin…
“I am very sorry to learn about the death of my former colleague, Rosemary Mulligan. Rosemary was a fierce advocate of women’s health issues and protector of our most vulnerable citizens. Rosemary took the time to really understand the state budget and she was never afraid to ask the tough questions on behalf of Illinois taxpayers. She was a passionate fighter for her district and all families in Illinois during her 20 years as a legislator. She will be missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to her to family during this difficult time.”
* Gov. Pat Quinn…
“Rosemary Mulligan was an inspiring leader who was never afraid to reach across the aisle to get the job done. Today we mourn her loss.
“As a member of the House, Rosemary was a true public servant who fought for the people of Illinois. She was a respected voice on a wide range of issues from human services to early childhood education, victims’ rights and transportation.
“Rosemary was an energetic bridge-builder who made Illinois a better place. She will be greatly missed.”
* Governor-elect Bruce Rauner…
“Diana and I offer our heartfelt condolences on the passing of former State Representative Rosemary Mulligan. Rosemary was a tireless advocate for her district, a defender of the taxpayer and a champion for Illinois women. She was a true public servant whose legacy will continue to guide us for years to come.”
* Personal PAC’s Terry Cosgrove…
25 years ago this complete stranger called me and said she was going to run in the Republican primary against the leading right-wing Republican in the Illinois House (Penny Pullen) and was going to beat her—Rosemary asked for Personal PAC’s help and the rest is history. I admired Rosemary because she was absolutely fearless in the defense of women’s rights, LGBT people, children and the less fortunate, telling everyone and anyone exactly what she thought, often times very colorfully. Her personal generosity, passion and spirit is rare in today’s politic. She also had a wicked sense of humor and did not suffer fools very easily. As many of us know, Rosemary had a very tough last few years.
Illinois is a much better place because of Rosemary Mulligan and I was always honored to call her my friend and hero.
Rest In Peace Rosemary.
* Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois…
“Rosemary Mulligan was a traditional Republican who believed deeply in individual rights and dignity, and as such she unapologetically championed equal rights for LGBT individuals in Illinois.
“During the debate on civil unions, Rep. Mulligan was in frail health but drove all the way to Springfield to cast a decisive vote in favor of equal rights for same-sex couples. She will be terribly missed.”
* Illinois GOP Chairman Tim Schneider…
“From her tireless service in the Illinois Legislature, to her dedication to women’s rights and the disabled, to her lifetime of work making our state and country a better place, Rep. Mulligan will be truly missed.
“On behalf of the Illinois Republican Party, our prayers and condolences are with her family and loved ones today.”
* Sun-Times…
[Stephen Granzyk] described his older sister as “sort of being on the margin of a new generation.” Mulligan left college to marry and have children, becoming involved in local politics later in life.
“She really was a self-made woman. Had she been born five or 10 years later she might have gone to school, gotten a law degree and gone even further,” he said.
Mulligan defeated GOP Rep. Penny Pullen in a 1992 primary race so close that a recount was called.
In subsequent elections, House Democrats spent considerably to defeat her. But Mulligan fiercely held on to her seat cycle after cycle, once purchasing another home across town in Des Plaines after Democratic mapmakers drew her residence outside of legislative boundaries.
* Daily Herald…
In a discussion about a senior-living program in 2007, Mulligan accidentally called then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich a “blithering idiot” in a microphone she had meant to cover with her hand.
She both apologized for saying it and stood by the idea.
“It was my fault. I shouldn’t have said it,” Mulligan said.
“Do I think he’s a blithering idiot? Yeah. Do I think he knows anything about the budget? No,” she said.
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Rauner’s $20 million “tip of the iceberg”
Monday, Jan 5, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Greg Hinz…
Days before he takes office, Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner has created a special $20 million war chest to push his agenda against what is likely to be strong opposition in Springfield—and lots more money is on the way. […]
“There are a lot of legislators who he is going to be asking to make a lot of tough decisions,” said one Rauner insider who asked not to be named. “The intent is to build a large and effective political operation in order to pursue his agenda.”
Some of the money may be donated directly to legislators’ campaign committees and other funds spent on their behalf. TV ads, polling and other activity on behalf of Rauner policies also is expected, the insider said. And the war chest only is “the first in a series,” part of a “multipronged effort” in which other funding vehicles will be formed, the source said. “This is the tip of the iceberg.”
* Rauner kicked in $10 million and two of his buds contributed the rest…
Citadel CEO Ken Griffin, who previously had contributed $4.9 million, gave another $8 million on Dec. 30. Richard Uihlein, CEO of Uline Corporation and a major donor to Republican candidates, added $2 million on the same day.
* AP…
Transition team spokesman Chip Englander said Rauner wanted to change and improve Illinois.
“In order to do that, he recognizes that he has to amass the resources to support reformers and compete with the special interest protectors of the status quo in multiple forums over multiple years,” Englander said in a statement.
* The Tribune explains it as a way to “buttress lawmakers who follow the new chief executive’s as-yet unstated agenda after he takes office in mid-January”…
The willingness of Rauner and his allies to use their wealth to push an agenda could give the incoming governor added leverage with GOP lawmakers not used to taking difficult votes while Democrats have held one-party control of Springfield for the last dozen years.
“It’s got to help give Republicans some backbone for the tough votes they’ll have to take,” said David Yepsen, who runs the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. […]
“I think it can also be a shot across the bow that he’s not someone to be trifled with. He’s got the formal powers of governor, the informal powers of persuasion and he can shove money into a primary if a legislator doesn’t behave,” he said.
Rauner will need Democrats, who retain strong majorities in the House and Senate, to advance any of his agenda items. But it’s unclear whether he would use his money to back Democrats if they vote his way.
* Back to Hinz…
In flexing his personal financial muscle after an election, Rauner appears to be following in the steps of former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The latter effectively self-financed his campaigns for mayor, but also opened his wallet to allies and would-be allies after taking office, and recently has funneled tens of millions into anti-gun and other causes.
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* AP…
A spokeswoman for Illinois’ Senate President says legislation is being prepared to establish a 2016 special election to replace late state Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka.
Democratic Senate President John Cullerton’s spokeswoman Rikeesha Phelon says he and Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan’s office have had “very productive conversations in drafting this bill.”
Phelon says the legislation could be considered during a legislative special session Jan. 8.
* Finke is a wee bit skeptical…
House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, initially indicated that he didn’t want to get involved in the whole debate about whether or not to hold an election in 2016. Now there’s word he’s working on a bill with the Senate to hold an election. Maybe he did the political calculus and decided it wasn’t such a bad idea.
Then again, you can never tell what Madigan’s really thinking. He could “work” on an election bill and then decide not to push it very hard, which could end up dooming it.
Regardless, the special session next week will be Quinn’s last hurrah with the legislature. We’ll see if lawmakers finally do something Quinn wants.
* Erickson looks at the history…
If Madigan sticks by his call for an executive-level agreement — and one doesn’t happen — Illinoisans could be in for a rerun of a Madigan-Blagojevich showdown from 10 years ago.
In June 2004, after Blagojevich scheduled a special session on the state’s budget problems, Madigan convened the House and then adjourned 23 minutes later.
Lawmakers that day listened to an opening prayer, recited the Pledge of Allegiance, heard a few scheduling-related remarks and then were done for the day.
In later years, similar special session showdowns between the duo mirrored that template. In 2007, Blagojevich even went to court hoping to force Madigan to conduct business when the governor dictated.
The alliances from those days also seem eerily similar. In 2004, Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, backed Blagojevich. This time around, Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, is in Quinn’s corner when it comes to scheduling a special election.
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Good morning!
Monday, Jan 5, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Words to live by…
Now if you see me drinkin’ bad red wine
Don’t worry ’bout this man that you love
Don’t you think it’s sometimes wise not to grow up?
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