Question of the day
Tuesday, Feb 16, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times…
The Emanuel administration agreed to pay $4.5 million to the family of a woman killed in 2012 by an off-duty Chicago cop even though city lawyers didn’t interview the officer or other witnesses under oath — an unusual move in such wrongful death cases.
Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez’s office, meanwhile, waited months to gather key evidence in the shooting, including the ownership history of the officer’s unregistered gun and blood tests on a cell phone and knife found at the scene, records show.
Those details — revealed in emails released by Alvarez’s office after a public-records request by the Chicago Sun-Times — raise new questions about how city lawyers and county prosecutors handle controversial police shootings like Detective Dante Servin’s killing of 22-year-old Rekia Boyd.
* Which leads us to this development…
Civil rights attorneys are seeking the appointment of a special prosecutor to take over the case of Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke, charged in the shooting death of Laquan McDonald, alleging that Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez is too conflicted to handle it.
A petition, filed in Cook County court Tuesday morning, also calls for the special prosecutor to investigate any possible police cover-up of the shooting.
Attorneys want a judge to rule that Alvarez is disqualified from prosecuting the case “because she is so aligned with the Fraternal Order of Police,” said Sheila Bedi, a clinical associate law professor at Northwestern University Law School and an attorney at the MacArthur Justice Center. Bedi contended that Alvarez is part of the code of silence among police officers and can’t handle the case fairly.
* Response…
But Alvarez disagreed, saying in a statement that it was “more than a little coincidental” that the petition was brought so close to the election by supporters of her opponent.
Alvarez denied she has any conflict of interest and said her office has been working hand in hand with federal authorities for more than a year to build a “meticulous case” against Van Dyke.
She also defended her record on charging police, saying she has brought charges against 96 law enforcement officers in her seven years in office.
“This case is no different — Jason Van Dyke should be prosecuted by experienced Cook County state’s attorneys using the resources gathered during the thorough joint investigation with federal authorities, Alvarez said. “It is clear that there is no legal conflict in this case, and prosecution will proceed to hold Jason Van Dyke accountable for the murder of Laquan McDonald.”
* The Question: Should the Laquan McDonald case be handed over to a special prosecutor? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
surveys
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Which programs are the most vulnerable?
Tuesday, Feb 16, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Fiscal Futures Project at the U of I takes a look at how the state manages the rest of the fiscal year…
THE BOTTOM LINE
Comparing all-funds sustainable revenue for FY15 ($65.6 billion from Table 1) to all-funds spending in FY15 ($69.8 from Table 2), the reference year of FY15 had a structural deficit of $4.2 billion. Projected total sustainable revenue for FY16 (Table 1) is $63.7 billion, but the “benchmark” amount needed to achieve prior year spending levels is $70.3 billion—a deficit of $6.6 billion. An enormous deficit to start was made much worse by the scheduled drop in income tax rates and the scheduled increase in pension payments.
In other words, it will take more than a handshake, a vote and a signature to restore spending in FY16 to FY15 levels. There is a $6.6 billion deficit to deal with. Already over seven months into FY16, it is hard to imagine any new sources of sustainable revenue that could be adopted and cover a gap of this magnitude. That leaves either non-sustainable sources, i.e., some form of borrowing that shifts the burden—with interest—of paying for FY16 spending to Illinois taxpayers in future years or huge cuts to FY16 spending relative to FY15 levels.
The distribution of cuts necessary to get through FY16 across different agencies and programs will be very uneven.
First in line to be paid with the limited resources available are those already paid in the first six months of FY16.
Second in line—and mostly the same group— are those with spending authority from annual FY16 appropriations, continuing appropriations, consent decrees or court orders.
Last in line—and on the chopping block— are those with authority to pay only labor costs. A rough indication of the favored and vulnerable groups is given by the column in Table 2 that shows mid-FY16 spending as a percent of FY15 levels. Agencies with the lowest percentage already paid are, in general, most vulnerable.
The chart…
Discuss.
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Full slate law struck down
Tuesday, Feb 16, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I haven’t yet seen a full published opinion, but this is from Ballot Access News…
On February 12, U.S. District Court Judge Andrea R. Wood issued a one-page order, granting the Illinois Libertarian Party’s motion for summary judgment that the Illinois full-slate law is unconstitutional. The decision will be issued later. The minute entry says, “For the reasons stated in the Memorandum Opinion and Order to follow, Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment is granted and Defendants’ motion for summary judgment is denied.”
The full-slate law was passed in 1931. It was probably passed to thwart the Communist Party, which had a very popular activist named Claude Lightfoot, a leader of Chicago’s African-American community. He received 33,337 votes for State Representative in 1932, not enough to win, but a strong showing. At the time Illinois used cumulative voting for State House elections. Each district elected three candidates. Each party was permitted to run either one, two, or three candidates. Voters each had three votes, and they could give one vote to each of three candidates, or they could accumulate their votes to give two votes to one person and one to another; or they could give all three votes to a single candidate. Illinois had been using this system since 1870.
* WUIS…
The lawsuit dates back to 2012, when Libertarian Party candidates challenged a trio of state election requirements, including the full slate law.
“If the Libertarian party, or the Green Party, or the Constitution Party, or any other new party would want to run for governor, they would also have to find a qualified candidates for Attorney General, and a candidate for Secretary of State, Comptroller, etc.,” Libertarian Party Chair Lex Green explains. […]
“So we just asked that we be put on equal footing with the Democrats and the Republicans,” Green says.
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Today’s quotable
Tuesday, Feb 16, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Somehow, I don’t think it actually happened this way…
But the amusing part was when Rauner said he told AFSCME he wanted to implement a four-year wage freeze but with salary increases based on “productivity and saving taxpayers’ money,” and then re-enacted the conversation.
“I said, ‘I’ll give you more pay but I’ll give you 5 cents for every dollar you save taxpayers,’” Rauner recounted.
“And the employees said, ‘Yeah, we love that.’ But the union bosses go, ‘No, no, no. We don’t do that. We do seniority. We don’t do incentive pay. We don’t do merit pay.’
“And I said, ‘Yes we do. We’re doing it now.’
“And they said, ‘No we’re not.’
“And I said, ‘Yes we are.’
“And they said, ‘Well, if you demand that, we’re going to strike.’
“So I said, ‘Well, I hope you don’t. I don’t want you to strike. But if you do we’re going to beat you. We’re going to keep the government running.
“And they said, ‘Whoa, no governor’s ever said that to us before. Every governor in Illinois history has always given us what we wanted, of both political parties.’ That’s a fact. That’s a tragic fact.
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Krishnamoorthi’s poll shows big lead
Tuesday, Feb 16, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From a Raja Krishnamoorthi press release…
A live poll of 400 likely Democratic voters taken February 9-11 by GBA Strategies asked 8th District voters in the northwest Chicago suburbs which candidate they would vote for if the election were held today.
Krishnamoorthi had the support of 41 percent of voters with State Sen. Mike Noland at 27 percent and Villa Park President Deb Bullwinkel with 5 percent. Undecided voters accounted for 26 percent of the poll. The margin of error was +/- 4.9 percentage points.
“The primary election is a month away and we have a long way to go,” Raja said. “But I’m encouraged that voters are responding to our message of protecting Social Security and Medicare, fighting for sane gun laws and standing up for policies to help struggling working families.”
* Lynn Sweet was given the results…
On the presidential front, the survey found 52 percent for Clinton, the former Secretary of State raised in nearby Park Ridge and 40 percent for Sanders, an indication that the Vermont senator is doing well enough to potentially pick up some delegates. […]
Other findings: most people, 29 percent, who have heard of Krishnamoorthi said it was through mail, handouts or flyers; only 2 percent have seen his website; only 4 percent knew about the Durbin endorsement and only 3 percent knew he went to Harvard and Princeton.
* PPP had different results, but its poll was from a month ago, Jan. 13-14…
According to the poll, Noland received 22 percent of votes, Krishnamoorthi received 17 percent and Deb Bullwinkel received 11 percent. Fifty percent of voters were unsure who they would vote for.
A lot of Raja mail has dropped since then.
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Umm… Boys?
Tuesday, Feb 16, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I didn’t realize these leaks were so common…
On February 6, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that a nuclear power plant about 40 miles from Manhattan had leaked one of the most potent radioactive carcinogens into the groundwater. The groundwater in that area flows to the Hudson River just 25 miles north of New York City.
“Yesterday I learned that radioactive tritium-contaminated water leaked,” the governor said in an official statement. “The company reported alarming levels of radioactivity at three monitoring wells, with one well’s radioactivity increasing nearly 65,000 percent.”
Alarmingly, the leak is not the first for this plant in recent years. In fact, such leaks are relatively common among U.S. nuclear power plants.
* So, this concerns me…
The La Salle County Board has postponed a June training exercise on nuclear safety because the state won’t release the funding — $16,000 locally and $650,000 statewide. This is money Exelon pays to the state designated for this purpose, and the county has to meet a number of planning standards for Exelon to maintain its operating license at the local plant.
The money is being held hostage, plain and simple, in the budget battle between Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Chicago Democrats who control the Legislature. If Exelon had been allowed to just pay county emergency management agencies directly, there would be no issue. But the money went through Springfield and there it sits until someone with power realizes what’s at stake if the funds aren’t released.
There’s no way this is good government. Fix it fast, please.
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What happens to the Friedrichs case?
Tuesday, Feb 16, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* LA Times…
The anti-union lawsuit known as Friedrichs vs. California Teachers Assn. is widely viewed as one of the leading casualties of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s death.
What’s less well-known is how the anti-union plaintiffs connived to fast-track the case through the federal judiciary in order to get it before the court while it still harbored a conservative majority. Their method was to encourage the lower courts to rule against them, so they could file a quick appeal. But Scalia’s passing is likely to leave a 4-4 deadlock over the case, so the last ruling, in which the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled for the teachers union, remains in force. […]
Abood as a precedent has withstood previous attacks, but the conservative Supreme Court majority had begun to signal that it was primed to overturn Abood, notably in cases in 2012 and 2014. Friedrichs was the stiffest test yet.
Plainly aware that Abood was hanging by a thread, the Center for Individual Rights strived to speed the Friedrichs case through the lower court after it was filed in 2013. It did so by conceding in both federal court in Santa Ana and at the 9th Circuit that both would be bound by the Abood precedent; therefore, it asked both courts to simply rule in the teacher union’s favor so it could promptly carry the appeal to the Supreme Court. Both lower courts did so. […]
The implications of Scalia’s death for Friedrichs are a bit uncertain. Some experts say the appellate ruling in favor of the union would be effectively affirmed by an evenly divided court. Others believe the court will ask for re-argument of the same case next term, presumably after it gets back up to full nine-member strength by the appointment and confirmation of successor to Scalia.
It would only be affirmed for the 9th Circuit “as if the Supreme Court had never heard the case.” And the losing side could probably come back next term either way, unless the President gets someone onto the court before the end of this term or a Democrat wins the White House.
* Unions appear to realize the temporary nature of their “victory”…
In a statement Sunday, Joshua Pechthalt, president of the California Federation of Teachers said that Scalia’s death “is likely to result in a delay of the Friedrichs case but it’s not certain and I think the public sector unions and the education unions have to continue the organizing we have been doing with the assumption nothing has changed.”
* In These Times…
Last week, in a little-noticed case called D’Agostino v. Baker, the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation lost at the First Circuit in their attempt to argue that the First Amendment does not allow exclusive representation of home healthcare workers. This case sought to expand the Harris holding by arguing that the First Amendment prohibits home healthcare unions not only from collecting fees from workers who don’t want to pay, but also from bargaining on behalf of any worker who doesn’t opt to be a member.
Former Supreme Court Justice David Souter wrote the decision for the First Circuit in D’Agnostino, relying heavily on Abood and its progeny. If history is any indication, National Right to Work was planning on appealing this case to the Supreme Court. The case provided a glimpse of what the likely post-Friedrichs plan of attack would have been: After you win on the dues front, go after membership. […]
Therefore, unlike other cases on the Court’s docket, if Friedrichs goes away quietly, it will stay gone until there is another conservative majority.
And that could be next year or even further into the future if the GOP loses the presidential race.
* Riopell writes about the Rauner angle…
A U.S. Supreme Court case that could affect Gov. Bruce Rauner’s move to do away with union’s so-called “fair share” payments is among those thrown into question by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.
Rauner signed an executive order last year saying state workers who don’t want to join their union don’t have to pay fees — typically less than union dues — to help with bargaining costs.
But while that move is tied up in court, the U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing a California case on the same issue that unions have characterized as a possible threat to their future. […]
Rauner and Illinois aren’t parties to the case, but the governor filed a brief on the plaintiff’s side, arguing the fees shouldn’t be required.
By the way, last Friday West Virginia became the 26th state to approve a so-called “right to work” law, in this case, over the governor’s veto.
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Preserving Illinois’ Nuclear Plants is Crucial
Tuesday, Feb 16, 2016 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
A bipartisan effort to help preserve our state’s nuclear plants is not about Exelon, it is about the future of Illinois. It is about what’s best for Illinois consumers, our workers, our economy, our environment, and the reliability of our electric system.
Without the adoption of energy policy reform legislation, several of Illinois’ nuclear plants are at risk of closing, which would be catastrophic to the state. According to a report issued by the State of Illinois, the state faces:
• $1.8 billion every year in lost economic activity
• Nearly 8,000 jobs lost, many of which are highly skilled, good paying jobs
• Up to $500 million annually in higher energy costs statewide, according to a PJM analysis
• $1.1 billion per year due to increases in carbon and other pollutants
• Hundreds of millions of dollars to construct new transmission lines
The risk is real for many of our communities in Illinois. We do not want to see the same devastating impacts that communities in Vermont and Wisconsin have already experienced and that communities in Massachusetts and New York will experience as a result of the anticipated closing of nuclear energy plants.
We know the importance of the state’s nuclear power plants firsthand as they are the lifeblood of our communities. They support our schools, public works, police and fire departments, and numerous community programs and interests. We are tired of some shadowy organization called the BEST Coalition telling us what’s best for our communities.
Learn the facts at www.NuclearPowersIllinois.com
Signed:
Nancy Norton Ammer, CEO, Grundy Economic Development Council
Tara Barney, CEO, Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce
Marian Brisard, Executive Director, Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce
Roger Cyrulik, Mayor of Clinton, Ill.
James Homa, Village President of Braceville, Ill.
Ron Jacobs, Superintendent, Riverdale School District
Terry Kernc, Mayor of Diamond, Ill.
Dick Kopczick, Mayor of Morris, Ill.
Deanna Mershon, Executive Director, Byron Chamber of Commerce
Chris Millard, Mayor of Byron, Ill.
Dean Moyer, Mayor of Cordova, Ill.
Larry Russell, Mayor of Fulton, Ill.
David Spicer, Mayor of Seneca, Ill.
James Trager, Mayor of Marseilles, Ill.
Christina Van Yperen, Executive Director, Grundy County Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Jim Vehrs, Mayor of Braidwood, Ill.
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Uh-oh
Tuesday, Feb 16, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Finke…
State Sen. Sam McCann has billed his campaign fund for thousands of dollars in mileage reimbursements, including more than $38,000 in just the last year.
At the federal mileage reimbursement rate of 57.5 cents per mile, it would mean McCann, a Republican from Plainview, drove more than 66,000 miles on public business in the last year alone.
In addition, campaign finance records show that McCann has received thousands of dollars in reimbursements for what the campaign labeled as “grouped expenditures.” […]
Since he took office in 2011, McCann claims he has put more than 500,000 miles on his vehicles traveling the district. McCann said in his early years in office he often paid expenses out of pocket without taking a reimbursement from his campaign fund
Go read the whole thing.
* This is actually a recycled story from August of 2015. Note the change of the starting point…
In the last year, McCann’s disclosed “mileage” reimbursement and the “grouped expenditures” total $59,019. If that entire amount were for mileage, that would equal 102,641 miles driven in the last year alone.
McCann acknowledged to The Insider that the “grouped expenditures” were payments to him and that “some” was for mileage, but declined identify how much or to explain why the earlier reimbursement payments were cloaked in anonymity.
“In those grouped reports, some was for mileage, but not all,” McCann wrote in an e-mail. “I started running in 2009. In those six years, I have accumulated over 300,000 miles. I just started reimbursing myself for mileage.”
Indeed, in previous campaign filing periods between 7/1/2-9/30/12 and 4/1/4-6/30/14 McCann disclosed no similar mileage reimbursements or “grouped expenditures.” In past filings, McCann disclosed only minimal car expenses. In the first quarter of 2013, 1/1/13-3/31/13, for example, he reported only $510.61 in gas receipts.
Still, at the assumed rate of McCann’s current mileage reimbursement implied in the campaign finance reports, it suggests that approximately one-third of those 300,000 miles driven over the last 9 years were accumulated within the last year. Odd. Without a more detailed public accounting of the $59,019 in reimbursements, the payments will likely beg more questions.
He needs to answer these questions. Now.
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Pot, meet kettle
Tuesday, Feb 16, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* AP…
At first blush, it may have seemed like a rare moment of bipartisanship at the Illinois Capitol: Democratic President Barack Obama called for changes to a process for drawing political maps that too often favors one party, bringing Republican lawmakers to their feet.
“In America, politicians should not pick their voters; voters should pick their politicians,” Obama said during last week’s speech in Springfield, echoing comments from his final State of the Union address.
But Illinois’ redistricting process is shaping up to be one of the biggest battles of 2016, as a bipartisan group of supporters and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner push to put a measure on the November ballot and opponents, including some top Democrats, argue it would “devastate the voices of minority communities.”
* Not mentioned in that story is the 2001 remap process. The Democrats won the right to draw the new legislative district map and Senate President Emil Jones took away Gold Coast and lakefront precincts from Sen. John Culleron and gave them to state Sen. Barack Obama. The idea was to help Obama run for higher office by putting a bunch of rich people in his new district.
In other words, Obama very deliberately “picked” his voters to advance his own career.
I’m not saying Obama is wrong to push for remap reform. After all, he has first hand experience with what remapping can do to or for somebody. I’m just sayin…
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Today: 2nd Annual “Cocktails with Capitol Fax”
Tuesday, Feb 16, 2016 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
TrackBill CEO, Steve Marciniak, and his team will be in Springfield today to show off the latest features of their legislative tracking platform.
Together with Rich Miller, we’ll be hosting a happy hour reception at the Sangamo Club, 227 E Adams St, today from 3:30 to 6:30pm. We’ll have a computer set up, so you can see first-hand how TrackBill can work for you.
Stop by for cocktails and light appetizers, and feel free to bring a friend!
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What a coinkydink
Tuesday, Feb 16, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the Chicago Crusader…
Doubts about Dunkin still linger. On Feb. 5–one day after Stratton made news by bagging several high-profile endorsements from angry Black leaders—Dunkin held a packed meeting in the conference room of the Chicago Defender’s office for members of the Black Press, including the Chicago Crusader. Accompanying Dunkin was Cory Jobe, director of the Illinois Office of Tourism and another official.
Dunkin, who chairs the Illinois House Tourism and Convention Committee, promised to funnel more state dollars for advertisements in Black newspapers, but when it came to details, Dunkin and Jobe were unable to give specifics about how much a piece of the pie was available and how Chicago’s Black Press could reap state tourism dollars. Perhaps, the biggest problem—as one press member pointed out—there is no money available because of the budget impasse.
To some, the spotty presentation and unanswered questions were an insult to a media that has often struggled for equality in obtaining advertising dollars.
With Dunkin’s image tanking in the media and elections just over a month away, some Blacks are left wondering if this was another desperate attempt by the veteran politician to buy favorable press coverage in the Black community. After all, when was the last time Dunkin held a press conference to try to steer tourism dollars to the Black media?
This is not a new phenomenon, nor is it confined to a specific region or demographic. But it usually isn’t reported so openly.
Yes, this doesn’t look all that savory. But, frankly, if black-owned newspapers aren’t receiving their fair share of advertising dollars, then this is a good thing. The big boys downtown shouldn’t get it all. Spread it around.
Then again, if there’s no state appropriations to allow this money to be spent, then the meeting got pretty close to the line.
* So, the meeting was February 5th at the Chicago Defender’s office? Hmm. From the Chicago Defender on February 5th…
Despite being at odds with Mike Madigan, State Representative, Ken Dunkin’s campaign has received the largest political contribution in the state’s history. Dunkin who bucked the Democratic machine and cut a deal with Governor Rauner to restore budget cuts to Child Care, Disability and the Determination of Needs score has been on a roll ever since. Regardless of the machine’s attempt to villainize him and depict him as a defector, he continues to get things done for his constituents despite the stranglehold in Springfield.
That just looks so in the tank bad, particularly with the newly revealed context.
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Kirk is right on this one
Tuesday, Feb 16, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From US Sen. Mark Kirk…
Antonin Scalia was a giant in the history of American jurisprudence. His legacy and contribution to our nation will long endure. The political debate erupting about prospective nominees to fill the vacancy is unseemly, let us take the time to honor his life before the inevitable debate erupts.
* Tribune…
Contacted by the Tribune, Kirk’s campaign pointed to a statement the senator issued Monday that avoided taking a stand on the question of Scalia’s successor and described the political maneuvering as “unseemly” at this time.
Kirk’s statement called Scalia a “giant in the history of American jurisprudence” and said the public should “take the time to honor his life before the inevitable debate erupts.”
But the debate has already erupted, and Kirk is a key target of politicking on both sides. He already faces the difficult task of winning a second term as a Republican in a state that in recent presidential election years has sided with Democrats.
* The react…
February 14, 2016
Statement by Bernard Cherkasov, CEO, Equality Illinois
Equality Illinois offers condolences to the family of Justice Scalia and to his colleagues on the United States Supreme Court.
With the Court’s work too important to go without a ninth member, President Obama should promptly nominate a successor. We trust that Sen. Dick Durbin and Sen. Mark Kirk will give the nominee due consideration and decide whether to confirm based on the best interests of the people of Illinois and the United States.
Already, the Senate Majority Leader, Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell, and several of Sen. Kirk’s Republican colleagues have called for a delay of nearly a year until the new president can nominate Justice Scalia’s successor. This is an abuse of power and contrary to the United States Constitution and American history. We hope Sen. Kirk accepts that it is President Obama’s constitutional authority and responsibility to fill the vacancy.
Sen. Kirk will be under tremendous pressure from his colleagues to automatically reject the President’s nominee. Yet, Sen. Kirk has demonstrated a thoughtful willingness to work in a bipartisan manner on important issues, including the Equality Act to prohibit discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans and his support for marriage equality. This is the Mark Kirk that we hope will be part of the confirmation process for President Obama’s nominee to the Supreme Court.
* Tammy Duckworth…
“I am deeply disappointed in Senator McConnell’s pronouncement that the Senate will refuse to perform its Constitutional role of advice and consent regarding any Supreme Court nominee President Obama rightfully and dutifully sends its way. Three years ago, and for more than 20 years before that as an Army officer, I swore and continue to abide by an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. I take that oath seriously. It does not cease to apply in an election year, nor does it cease to exist for the benefit of a political party that lost the last Presidential election and wishes to impose a procedural do-over.
“Senator Mark Kirk must immediately level with the people of Illinois, and let us know whether he supports the Constitution, or if he’ll be a rubber stamp for Mitch McConnell’s obstructionist and unconstitutional gambit.” — Tammy Duckworth
* Andrea Zopp…
“Senator Kirk needs to fulfill his constitutional duty. This is not the time to ‘non-comment.’ It is time to take a position. That’s why we have the gridlock we have in Washington and that’s why we desperately need change.”
“I have been studying, interpreting, and advocating for people under the law for decades,” said Zopp who after graduating from Harvard Law, clerked for a judge, and was a prosecutor for over 13 years. “No one in this primary has experience that comes close. If the Senate Republicans get their way and obstruct the President’s appointment, we need a Senator who knows the law and can advocate for a well-deserved candidate. I am the only one in this race that can be that Senator.”
* Kirk, however, is not alone…
Senate Republicans are going all in behind Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s strategy of spurning a replacement for Justice Antonin Scalia until next year. Sens. Rob Portman of Ohio and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania became the latest incumbents from states that President Barack Obama has won to throw in with their leader to bar a new Supreme Court justice, joining Sens. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire. Mavericks like John McCain are in the same boat, as are senators with no reelection considerations at all, like Sen. Dan Coats of Indiana. Meanwhile, of course, Democrats are predicting that the GOP will lose the Senate over this.
Story Continued Below
Two polite dissenters: Two of the most moderate Senate Republicans are criticizing both parties on the SCOTUS politicking. Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois joined Sen. Susan Collins in this position on Monday, with Kirk releasing a statement saying: “The political debate erupting about prospective nominees to fill the vacancy is unseemly, let us take the time to honor his life before the inevitable debate erupts.”
My own opinion is that Kirk is right. It is horribly unseemly that such a fight would break out moments after Justice Scalia’s death was announced. There’s no need to rush here, even if the media and the Democrats are jumping up and down demanding statements.
Take a breath already.
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Not working, not winning
Tuesday, Feb 16, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
President Barack Obama seemed to admit almost right from the start of his address to the Illinois General Assembly last week about the need for a more civil politics that he probably wouldn’t sway his audience, which has been bickering amongst itself for over a year.
Obama talked about his first Illinois Senate speech, after which Republican Senate President Pate Philip “sauntered” over to his desk, slapped him on the back and said, “Kid, that was a pretty good speech. In fact, I think you changed a lot of minds. But you didn’t change any votes.”
Frankly, after months without any progress in Springfield, I’d settle for a few changed minds. But I’m not even sure a single mind was changed. Instead, the speech gave people on both entrenched sides just enough ammo to bolster their cases against the other.
Predictably, Obama weighted the argument in favor of his own policy views, bringing up his support for union collective bargaining, which Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner has repeatedly attacked.
But he threw just enough bones at the Republicans to allow them to issue statements like the one from GOP state Rep. Barb Wheeler: “The President reiterated what the Governor and others have said before, without compromise we cannot govern.”
It might come as a shock to Democrats, but the vast majority of Republicans truly believe that Rauner has tried to compromise and the Democrats are refusing to budge. So, the President’s words were music to their ears.
Obama said he believed many Republicans “share” many of his values, adding, “And where I’ve got an opportunity to find some common ground, that doesn’t make me a sellout to my own party.”
At that moment, Rep. Ken Dunkin, D-Chicago, jumped from his seat and yelled “Heck yeah!” Dunkin has portrayed himself as diligently working to move things forward by cooperating with Gov. Rauner. But he’s been thrashed by his fellow Democrats for being a “sellout” to the wealthy Republican governor by suddenly flip-flopping on issues and voting against his party’s values, including union rights.
“Well, we’ll talk later, Dunkin, you just sit down,” Obama said to uproarious applause. “One thing I’ve learned is folks don’t change.”
The line was a devastating slash at Dunkin, who Obama dealt with when he was still in the General Assembly.
Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass quickly tweeted: “So #Obama tells #Illinois pols about need for compromise, then rips Rep. Dunkin, D, who dared go against Boss Madigan. That’s #thechicagoway.”
But Kass did Dunkin no favors. Rep. Dunkin is fighting for his political life in a Chicago Democratic primary against a union-backed candidate. Call me crazy, but I don’t think his majority African-American constituency will be happy that their state legislator was publicly humiliated by the nation’s first black President.
Word is the Democrats warned the White House that Dunkin would attempt to insert himself into the visit, and they were quite satisfied with the result. They may have also warned the President that Dunkin’s 1990s arrest record was about to become an issue in his primary race.
Even so, House Speaker Michael Madigan made a significant mistake last week. Obama has often called former Senate President Emil Jones his political “godfather.” Jones mentored Obama, gave him important assignments and drew a district for him that meandered up Chicago’s wealthy Gold Coast to allow the ambitious young pol to raise campaign cash from the elite. No Emil Jones, no President Obama. The President gave Jones a couple of shout-outs during his speech and said he misses him.
But Jones and Madigan fought bitterly for years. Indeed, if you go back and look at what Senate Black Caucus members were saying about Madigan during that fight, you’d see they said many of the same harsh things about Madigan as Gov. Rauner says today.
Madigan relegated Jones to the gallery while inviting former legislators of far less stature onto the House floor. Madigan’s snub was deeply resented by many and brought back a lot of very bad memories.
If Rauner had done a better job of understanding his job, he’d be able to build on this anger at Madigan. But making statements about how tax money is being thrown down the “toilet” at the majority black Chicago State University, and cozying up to Dunkin (who just last week called his fellow legislators “monkeys”) and pushing social service agencies into bankruptcy has so damaged his relationships that he probably can’t take much advantage.
“We’re winning,” Rauner told a Downstate audience hours after Obama’s “unity” speech. No, he’s not. Nobody is.
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