70 Comments - Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:18 pm: He could have bought a front page ad on the Tribune for less. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:20 pm: Dear Labor, all Labor… Rauner wants you eliminated. Learn from your 2014 mistakes. Rauner wants NO quarter for those not pushing his anti-labor agenda. If you give passes to those “Yellow” buttons that turned on you, all of Labor, when it mattered most. Get your members, all members to… Vote. Accordingly. - Ducky LaMoore - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:24 pm: After all of Dan Proft’s previous electoral successes, how could the governor say no…? - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:24 pm: Thank God he outsourced his legislative campaigning to Proft. I was worried he was going to hire a talented media professional with a record of winning elections instead. - Keyrock - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:26 pm: I hope the Trib editorial board has the decency to realize it’s been punked. But I doubt it. - AlabamaShake - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:27 pm: This is perfect for the Dems… with Profts pathetic electoral record, the Dems are sitting around cheering that Proft is going waste the money in ways that only Proft can. - wordslinger - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:29 pm: Nice of the Tribbie’s to provide the room for the consummation of this relationship. But, geez, $1.8 million for that? Proft would work a lot harder for a whole lot less for a guy like Larry Dominick. - OneMan - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:31 pm: facepalm… - Marty Funkhouser - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:31 pm: I wouldn’t dismiss Proft. Plus, $1.8 million is pocket change to Rauner and Zell. It’s like me giving $5 to a homeless person. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:34 pm: ===I dunno. He’s put a permanent fear into Sandack.=== Rich wins today… To that, I can’t recall seeing a candidate win, on the issues, in his/her district, and be on the right side of history… and then… fold their tent to their opponent afterwards… so easily, so readily, and oh so completely… Sandack beat Uihline, but you’d never know it, lol - My button is broke... - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:35 pm: Why 1,818,000 and not just 1,800,000 or 1,850,000 even? - G'Kar - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:35 pm: I’m assuming that the 1818(000) is their cute way of saying “look! Illinois became a state in 1818! We are going to spend this money to save Illinois!”/s - Pete - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:35 pm: “Even more important than a fiscal-year budget…” “If that requires losing an election, so be it.” Contrast that with Edgar’s statement endorsing Rodney Davis. This is not your father’s Illinois Republican Party. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:36 pm: Button, either something is relevant about 1818 (the year Illinois became a state), or it’s a specific budget thing. - VanillaMan - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:37 pm: It is like watching a flea circus get fed. - Just saying... - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:37 pm: Sandack beat Proft…I doubt fear of Proft is an issue. Sandack has been up Rauner’s rear since day one - nothing to do with Proft. Money is nice, and some can be paid off, but unless or until there’s a remap…the best Rauner and the other con men he hires will accomplish are small net gains forcing Republicans to eventually vote for tax increases and once they do that the gig will be up. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:41 pm: ===I doubt fear of Proft is an issue. Sandack has been up Rauner’s rear since day one - nothing to do with Proft.=== “Who”… “Who” is one of Rauner’s biggest donors/allies? “Who” Rauner happy - Uihlein happy. “Simple” - Kristen McQueary - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:42 pm: ===nothing to do with Proft=== So, genius, how do you reconcile that with today’s joint action? - nona - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:44 pm: What’s significant is that Proft is now a part of the GOP establishment and his views are now mainstream. Proft didn’t change, the GOP did. So did the Tribune. - Almost the Weekend - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:44 pm: AFSCME if this doesn’t wake you up. Nothing will - Ducky LaMoore - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:47 pm: I just realized something, this election season is going to be absolutely awesome. Win or lose, state and national. Now if the Sox would only sign Cespedes, we could have about the best year ever. - DuPage Bard - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:48 pm: That money is to just get campaign offices up and running. Every race can be competitive. Proft is sitting with $4 mill now and there will be plenty more where that came from. Uihlein, Zell, Griffin and Rauner will each kick another $3-4 mill. That’s $12-16 million minimum that will be given to Proft and his cast of campaign puppets. This may not just be pickups of a few seats this could be the wholesale buying of Illinois General Assembly. - Bill White - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:52 pm: == This may not just be pickups of a few seats this could be the wholesale buying of Illinois General Assembly. == The IL GOP may need $16 million just to stay even in the General Assembly if Donald Trump headlines the GOP ticket. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:54 pm: ===This may not just be pickups of a few seats this could be the wholesale buying of Illinois General Assembly.=== Never, ever forget; That was Rod Blagojevich’s dream. Rauner is a Raunerite. Profit is “leading” the charge of the Raunerites, the Tribune and Kristen McQueary will try to write the narrative, Rauner will try to destroy Illinois to save it… … with “Fire Madigan, 2.0″ as the false premise. Rod Blagojevich was sure ahead of his time. The monies to follow the Blago Blueprint is staggering. - Captain Obvious - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:57 pm: Memo to Dan Proft: You are aware that Governor Scott Walker did not act alone. Wisconsin voters also put Republican majorities into the state legislature. Rauner is not in the same position. - wordslinger - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:58 pm: Proft’s been a busy guy. Back in September, according to ISBE, he payed himself back $120K in “loans” he had made to his 2010 gubernatorial campaign. Of course, the money to pay himself back was made possible by a $500K contribution Uiehlein made to his gubernatorial campaign fund nearly 11 months after Proft finished sixth behind Adam A in the 2010 GOP primary. It must be a load off for Proft to finally make good on that outstanding debt to Proft. One thing’s for sure — it sure is swell to have men like Zell, Rauner and Uiehlein who like to throw money at you. - Not Rich - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:59 pm: Oh boy..2 rich white guys are buying the State of Illinois, God help us..this is how revolutions start.. LOL - Mouthy - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:59 pm: Is there a message in the numbers. Maybe. I remember a story a number of years back of chairman of the Appropriations committee that tried to get a speeding ticket fixed. He failed. So he cut funding to one of the State Police funds by a million dollars plus the cost of the ticket. Note: I was told the story and don’t know if it is fact or not.. “If that involves a siege on Springfield like Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker confronted in Madison, so be it.” he said from the comfort of his suite in Chicago.. - Just saying... - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 3:00 pm: —So, genius, how do you reconcile that with today’s joint action?— Point is that Sandack beat Proft…he didn’t fear him - despised him yes fear no. Sandack, like most in the GOP ranks clearly fear Rauner and his money…Proft is now one of the tools that Rauner/Uihlein/Zell etc…will be utilizing to try to get some victories in swing districts. At the end of the election day, the GA is will still be controlled by the DEMS and Rauner will eventually have to increase taxes. I’ll bet that all that money could’ve helped those social service organizations that are crumbling more than the what ever rate of return the Rauner clans investment will see in Proft this cycle. - Not Rich - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 3:03 pm: Proft vs. Cousineau etal…mmmmmmm The morning of November 9th will be very interesting….. - Buzzie - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 3:04 pm: The ball is in the unions’ court. - Demoralized - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 3:19 pm: ==If that involves a siege on Springfield== I think we’re already there. I’m not sure what else you call what is going on right now. Sure seems like a siege to me. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 3:31 pm: “- Not Rich - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:59 pm: Oh boy..2 rich white guys are buying the State of Illinois, God help us..this is how revolutions start.. LOL” Knock off the racism. It doesn’t matter that they are white. - Boss Tweed - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 3:32 pm: “Rauner has essentially just outsourced a huge chunk of his legislative campaign agenda to Proft.” Which, I mean, great idea, of course, but it’s not like there isn’t plenty more where that came from. I’ve always assumed the $20 million is a floor, not a ceiling. - Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 3:39 pm: Wtih Proft fully engaged and Rauner embracing him 100%, we know compromise is coming any second now…any…second…now… - tominchicago - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 3:45 pm: By outsourcing to Proft, it’s almost like Rauner want to give Madigan and Cullerton the GA. Has Proft ever won anything other than the eternal gratitude of Larry Dominick? - Team Sleep - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 3:48 pm: What happened to my comment? - Sam Weinberg - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 3:49 pm: My only question is why a principal of PTR Truck Center in West Chicago (I’m assuming he’s behind the donation, given his past minor support of Republican politics) decided to give $500 to became the third (and only other) contributor to Turnaround Illinois. Very “coalition of the willing” circa 2003 if you ask me. - Tommy Boy - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 3:50 pm: So will Durkin start inviting Proft to House GOP caucuses? - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 3:51 pm: ===To put this in further perspective, Proft now has more than twice as much money stockpiled than Durkin and Radogno comboned.=== So… Proft has more control given to HIM then the Raunerite Caucuses being held hostage by Rauner himself… at the tune twice the level also than both Raunerite Caucuses have… … and still… no one wants the GOP GA caucuses to be autonomous… or believe their autonomy is important? Hil… larious! - Blue dog dem - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 3:57 pm: Was down in the 58th senate district over the weekend. The RAUN Man is giving Shiela Simon a fighting chance without her campaign having to spend hardly anything. A state university, couple of JUCOS, couple of prisons. Six months ago I had her losing by a bunch. Like love, there is some things money can’t buy. - @MisterJayEm - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 3:57 pm: “It doesn’t matter that they are white.” Well, of course it doesn’t. What has race ever had to do with politics? – MrJM - wordslinger - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 3:57 pm: –To put this in further perspective, Proft now has more than twice as much money stockpiled than Durkin and Radogno combined.– Thank you, sir, may I have another! Still, given the relatively small amount (by Rauner standards), and the beneficiary, is it safe to say this particular contribution is to reward/punish candidates in the handful of contested GOP primaries? - Sam Weinberg - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 3:58 pm: OK, I lied. I have a second question for those that are smarter than myself: Turnaround Illinois PAC gave $1.5 million to “Turnaround Illinois Inc.” — a 501(c)(4) — to pay for his summer advertisements. http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/rauner-new-tv-ad-turnaround-illinois-madigan-307572531.html I understand that 501(c)(4)s can do @40% political activity. What I don’t understand is why Rauner would set up his Independent Expenditure PAC and then have it give $1.5 million or so to a 501(c)(4) to run those ads? Why not just have his PAC pay for and run the ads? What’s the benefit of this structure (given the possible legal implications)? - @MisterJayEm - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 4:03 pm: “Why not just have his PAC pay for and run the ads?” PACs must disclose their donors while 501(c)(4)s do not. – MrJM - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 4:04 pm: ===So will Durkin start inviting Proft to House GOP caucuses?=== It won’t be long before Proft will have to invite Durkin. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 4:06 pm: ===…reward/punish candidates in the handful of contested GOP primaries?=== McCann comes immediately to mind. Rauner would “prefer” the Caucuses not be seen “disciplining” a sitting member for siding with unions, for example. Rauner has enough to worry about with unions with Lincolnshire being the hometown of his biggest appointment facing re-election. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 4:07 pm: I also think it makes Caucus leadership, in the Primaries irrelevant. Rauner will go after whoever he waves, using whatever tactics he desires… and holding $20 million over the heads of the Caucuses if they complain. Tragically comical. - Anon2U - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 4:10 pm: Durkin and Radogno’s caucus campaign people can now be seen updating resumes. Talk about being pushed into irrelevance. - Sam Weinberg - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 4:19 pm: - @MisterJayEm - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 4:03 pm: “Why not just have his PAC pay for and run the ads?” PACs must disclose their donors while 501(c)(4)s do not. – MrJM — Absolutely, that’s the usual reason. Except here the Illinois Turnaround PAC disclosed its $1.5 million donation, so nothing was hidden. http://tinyurl.com/jve36rh - Team Sleep - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 4:20 pm: Willy - good assumption/prediction on the McCann race. Mr. Proft will likely be giving Bryce Benton some serious cash. But - to your other point - the Senate GOP does NOT involve itself in primaries. They stayed out of McCann’s primary in 2012, they are staying out of McCann’s primary now, they are staying out of the Schrimpf-Langenstein tiff and they were prepared to stay out of the Mike A vs. Blake Hudson affair if Blake had stayed on the ballot. So they are essentially allowing other people to do their dirty work for them, which gives Mr. Proft and the Governor’s staff an “in”. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 4:21 pm: ===Durkin and Radogno’s caucus campaign people can now be seen updating resumes. Talk about being pushed into irrelevance.=== Actually, more monies means more work. Radogno and Durkin will farm out Crews to be on Proft’s payrolls, saving cash, and more hires will be needed to disguise the fact the discipline (and a reward to Dunkin?) will be doled out by Rauner. If anything, Proft needed to only clarify his own “take” of this financial windfall. Raunerite monies to cure ills, hide Caucus discipline, hire more Crew, get Proft more cash… and TV and Radio will be more than willing to take the cash as well. Rauner isn’t selling, Rauner is buying… The GOP GA Leadership is now marginalized, but… - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 4:39 pm: ===…the Senate GOP does NOT involve itself in primaries.=== Yep, you clarified the point. Proft is the Bad Guy, while the Caucuses can feign… “Feign-ness” - wordslinger - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 4:43 pm: –I hope the Trib editorial board has the decency to realize it’s been punked. But I doubt it– No worries. The Tribbies are on the team. Given the employment security there, they have to make sure their outs are in order. - DuPage Bard - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 4:57 pm: Like Proft or not, respect him or don’t, underestimate at your own peril. This is a big deal for the GOP. They need to run hard with it. The Unions and others better be ready because this isn’t a hail mary at the end of the game, this is getting a whole new offense to go into the season. This should also keep the entire GOP caucus in line until 2018. - Norseman - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 5:17 pm: To the update, you can’t effectively maintain absolute control if you give them the money in advance. - Facts are Stubborn Things - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 5:22 pm: Yes, this state will turn around on a dime if we can only destroy AFSCME. snark - southsider - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 5:27 pm: Proft has a terrible track record election-wise. I doubt the Rs will pick up any seats in the House at least; any chance of gaining seats in light of the numerous and varied terrible votes taken at Rauner’s behest is only likely to happen with a unified caucus all working off the same page. And people wonder why the Speaker always comes out ahead?!? - Anon2U - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 5:30 pm: OW @ 4:21, HRO didn’t win a thing last cycle. You remember the one where Rauner won? Senate GOP can at least claim one victory. Current HRO staffers should be looking over their shoulder now as results matter. Anyone recall the last time HRO gained a seat? - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 5:41 pm: - Anon2U -, I believe in the recruiting and that setting the table to be successful. Both Caucuses have good candidates to try to make a run. Running as a Raunerite in some districts won’t work, and in sure both Caucuses know that too. It will be up to those political Crews to realize the cookie cutter Raunerite isn’t the best way, and Proft himself sees, if you read his quotes, loses may come before wins. I’d share a desk with either of those Crews. It’s the races that are run with the right recruited candidate(s) that will bear fruit. I can safely say neither GOP GA shop is looking to me in any way, and who knows, Proft with the hand he has with these candidates and those Crews… Honestly, Rauner probably will be more detrimental than a few people in the Shop working on races. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 6:24 pm: Other than getting contributions, Proft doesn’t seem to be able to do anything with the money. In the cost benefit analysis, he’s completely ineffective. Not really sure why Rauner would bother other than to appease Uihlein. - ArchPundit - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 6:50 pm: ===–To put this in further perspective, Proft now has more than twice as much money stockpiled than Durkin and Radogno combined I remember saying that Alan Keyes would never be the nominee for the Republicans in 2004. My reasoning being that God could not love me that much. Proft with a huge bank account for nuttiness really tells me how much more God loves me than I could ever understand. - Langhorne - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 7:05 pm: No matter how you cut it, to me this means rauner trusts proft and his take no prisoners attitude, more than he trusts radogno and durkin, to play hardball and get results. Results to rauner means inflicting damage, wins are an incidental plus. - RNUG - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 9:32 pm: Interesting story out of Chicago tonight about trying to let CPS take bankruptcy, sometime Rauner knows a lot about. http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2016/01/19/sources-lawmakers-introduce-legislation-allowing-bankruptcy-oversight-city-and-cps - RNUG - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 9:38 pm: Once again, it looks like a GOP plan to take over CPS financial will have a poison pill included: bankruptcy. - Danny Boy - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 12:08 am: Is this the same Dan P who was a Rutan exempt State of Illinois Employee? Dan had enough political juice to be appointed to a position instead of like every other rank and file employee, hired upon their work experience and education. Dan was one of those people who was given a position. - Observer - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 12:57 am: Dan Proft, appears to have been carrying out other people’s garbage for some time. Despite Proft’s on air appearance as Mr. Clean, he tied his political wagon, to the mob influenced, crime infested city of Cicero. Yea Cicero. Circa, 2002 when Democratic Mayor Ciambrone decided not to run for reelection in 2002, Deluca was elected. Proft was Republican Mayor DeLuca’s Chief of Staff. Proft, as Deluca’s Chief of Staff, what some may call, the position as a hatchet guy, terminated Stacie Foster, Chicago Height’s Health Care Co-oridinator. The termination resulted in Mr. Clean being named as a defendant in federal litigation, cause number: 1:04-cv-05220, filed under 42 USC 1983 freedom of association. Imagine that, Proft being sued under the 1983 freedom of association act. At the time Danny boy may not have had his high priced Lake Shore Drive Address, but you can see what carrying out other’s people trash buys? Yea, Proft’s on air persona is that of a real reformer he is. I imagine, sometime after this, Proft wound up as an appointed State Employee. Appointment, some may is, is another word for political patronage. See 90% of the state employee’s must qualify for a position by education and work experience. Proft was a political insider, given a job because of his political affiliation. Something he neglects to say on air. At least in my opinion, Proft on air persona just doesn’t sound right. Wonder what else the boy may be hiding? - Tinsel Town - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 1:02 am: Interesting you bring up Proft’s state employment, the 1979 & 1983 Shakman decree largely eliminate patronage employment, but Proft apparently had sufficient juice to be appointed to a State job, some may say not because of his qualifications, but, as an exempt employee, because of his political juice. Interesting he doesn’t talk about this on the radio. - Observer - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 1:12 am: Is Proft the reformer he claims to be? In another federal filing 1:05-cv-02421 Proft, as Cicero Mayor DeLuca’s Chief of Staff fired another woman (protected class?) and appeared to replace her with a Bloom Township Assessor’s, Republican Party member’s son. Was Proft and/or his then boss might saying only Republicans would be the best qualified candidates? - Observer - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 1:34 am: federal filing 1:05-cv-02421 appears to be a refiling of the same case, my apologies to Mr (Clean) Proft. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.