Because… Madigan!
Thursday, Feb 11, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* A Bryce Benton campaign press release…
McCann Awarded with Campaign Cash by Madigan’s Top Special Interest Allies from Chicago
Only 13 donors from 50th Senate District have contributed to McCann since January 2015
On Tuesday, February 9th, State Senator Sam McCann received the maximum contribution of $53,900 from the Chicagoland Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC, a top Chicago ally of Speaker Mike Madigan. In stark contrast, only 13 donors from the 50th Senate District have contributed a total of $13,000 to Senator McCann since January 2015.
Over the past 5 years, the Operators have contributed $643,600 to Speaker Madigan and the committees he controls: 13th Ward Democratic Organization, Democratic Majority, Democratic Party of Illinois, and Friends of Michael J. Madigan.
* OK, forget about the apparently coordinated message with Dan Proft’s Liberty Principles PAC. Take a look at these $50,000 contributions from the Chicagoland Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC on one day in December of 2015 alone…
Illinois House Victory Fund [Purpose: To support Republican candidates for the House of Representatives of the Illinois General Assembly]
JBD Lead Forward PAC [Purpose: To promote Republican candidates throughout Illinois]
House Republican Leadership Committee [Purpose: To promote Republican candidates for the illinois house of representatives]
House Republican Organization [Purpose: To support Republican candidates for the House of Representatives of the Illinois General Assembly]
Citizens for Durkin [ Purpose: To support the candidacy of State Representative James B Durkin in the State of IL]
That’s $250,000 to those groups, plus a bunch to other Republicans.
* Benton also says McCann has only reported 13 donors from within the district since January.
But look at Benton’s A-1 filings. Excluding the $2,000 from the candidate himself, Benton has just three (3) contributors from within the district.
Pretty much all of the money being spent in that district is coming from Liberty Principles PAC. By my rough count, it’s been about $666,000 reported so far. And there’s a long way to go until primary day.
* Benton, by the way, has reported raising just $35,100, since January 1, most of which came from a $25K contribution from Illinois Liberty PAC (not within the district) and a $2K loan from himself.
So, if you’re keeping score, Benton has actually raised just 4.8 percent of the total spent so far. And just 1.2 percent of the total spent has been raised within the district.
If not for Proft, this guy’s fundraising wouldn’t be taken seriously by anyone.
- Ghost - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 3:17 pm:
i was never a fan of McCann, but the ad the other day trying to say he he was corrupt, and becuase he was corrupt he was a friend of Madigan was just bizzarre. It actually has dranw me closer to voting for McCann
- wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 3:20 pm:
–By my rough count, it’s been about $666,000 reported so far.–
Even though it’s Proft, I’m sure that 666 is just a coincidence.
Although, this is a guy who thought it was a good idea to name his business after Francis Urquhart…..
- Tumbleweed lines - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 3:21 pm:
Proft will hammer away all the way through march 15th and if McCann doesn’t return in kind he’ll be toast.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 3:24 pm:
Wow.
Proft is propping up Benton, but c’mon, show us something
- Rollo Tomasi - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 3:26 pm:
Benton is a State Trooper. He is a member of the Trooper’s FOP Lodge#41. Are they endorsing him. Have they given any money? Has the State FOP Lodge endorsed him? Have they given any money? If the people you work with won’t endorse you or support you what does that say?
If Bruce supports you and you lose what then? If all his money comes from outside the district and most of his workers it may turn of the voters in his district.
Benton still has a job come November but what will Dunkin do?
Anyone know of any recent polling in either race?
- Anon221 - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 3:27 pm:
Rich- “If not for Proft, this guy’s fundraising wouldn’t be taken seriously by anyone.”
****
And that, my friends, should be spread far and wide for all the Raunerite candidates. Show some sunlight on this “dark money”!
- Springfield - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 3:30 pm:
Maybe after Proft blows this McCann primary and Dunkin loses then the Gov & Uhlein can finally be done with him.
- Curious Georgina - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 3:33 pm:
I would think the first thing your campaign would do before lobbing a criticism at your opponent is check to make sure you cannot be criticized for that exact same thing. Honestly, is it Amateur Hour?
- Ghost - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 3:35 pm:
Tumbleweed McCan had a tesponse ad i saw after the proft one that was pretty good IMHO.
- RNUG - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 3:38 pm:
Add at least one more donation from his district. It’s peanuts compared to those donations and doesn’t show up in those reports because I made it after that reporting period. I actually had to hunt around a bit on the Internet to find where to mail it; hope they got it.
Suggestion to McCann: get a little more visibility on the web soliciting donations
- One of Three Puppets - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 3:50 pm:
This is hysterical. Good job researching the trail of money Rich.
- D.P.Gumby - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 3:52 pm:
Brucie and the money he controls is turning McCann into a local hero to people who would never support him in Springfield. Depending on the Dem primary list, he may get as much cross-over voting as Dillard did.
- Pacman - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 4:04 pm:
If I remember correctly the FOP endorsed Sam.
- Norseman - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 4:04 pm:
Benton has made himself a joke by allowing Proft to completely take over his campaign.
- JH - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 4:06 pm:
I wrote McCann a check recently and I live in district. It won’t show up because it wasn’t over $1k. I suspect there are many more like that.
- Pacman - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 4:08 pm:
I remembered correctly. The PBPA also endorsed Sam
- C IL - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 4:31 pm:
What a great ad…
“Governor Rauner and his Chicago cronies have spent $___ million to unseat our Senator.
Why?
Because Senator McCann’s constituents asked him to support a bill that Governor Rauner opposed.
Send Rauner a message that he and his money are what’s wrong with Illinois politics.
Vote McCann.”
- morgan - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 4:33 pm:
Two of the donations: Brahler Trucking & Gather Tools both owned by Rich Brahler of Jacksonville. In case anyone doesn’t remember, Brahler was a HUGE supporter of McCann when McCann was first running against (former) Senator Demuzio. Brahler was the force behind the “liberty bells” that popped up in lawns. And Jim Bruner, the other donor, also of Jacksonville, was recently appointed by Gov Rauner to chair the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency Board of Trustees on 10/9/15.
- Annonin' - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 4:33 pm:
Funniest part of this rental is during a recent radio interview he declined to discuss what did for his state check because he did not want to mix state biz and politics. Meanwhile the uncoordinated TV spots has his mug in uniform plastered all over. Guessin Proft not too shady to pander. If Benton is serious he ought to beg PRoft to pull the ads. He won’t
- RNUG - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 4:33 pm:
-JH-
Mine definitely for less than $1K also.
- Sune326 - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 5:04 pm:
Vote McCann!!!
- present - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 5:08 pm:
I will vote for more democrats than I ever have in my life. Esp. Now Topinka passed. 😢 McCann is my man. I love Avery but like Rauner….why in the world would I vote against my interests?
- Tucker - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 5:21 pm:
Want to send some peanuts too but can’t find a site or address either. Where you’d all find the info?
- JH - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 5:31 pm:
Tucker - it’s McCann for Senate, PO Box 334, Carlinville 62626. But obviously it’s a problem that that isn’t more readily accessible.
- Tucker - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 5:59 pm:
Thanks - peanuts against dark money on their way.
- Power House Prowler - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 7:55 pm:
McCann votes to represent his constituents. He voted against the Governor and made the hard choice.
- Amused - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:24 pm:
Mccannforseante.com is the website. Here is the campaign headquarter information: Sam McCann for Senate
Red School Mall 1275 Wabash Avenue Springfield, Illinois 62704 (217) 503-7643