Question of the day
Monday, Jun 6, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Press release…
State Rep. Dan Beiser (D-Alton) issued the following statement after political operatives tied to Gov. Bruce Rauner and Beiser’s opponent in the November election, Mike Babcock, launched misleading negative political attack ads criticizing Beiser’s recent effort to stand up for working families and support additional state resources for area schools.
“It’s really disheartening that Governor Rauner and his political allies are already trying to mislead voters about the toxic political environment they’ve created in Springfield. While I maintain my pledge to work with Democrats and Republicans to find a compromise to move Illinois forward, Governor Rauner, and his political recruit, Mike Babcock, are continuing their assault on working families, the frail elderly, breast cancer patients, sexual assault victims, disabled children and small businesses.
“To be clear, the education plan I supported brings millions of additional dollars to area schools so our students can have the education they deserve, while the Rauner-Babcock plan funnels our hard-earned tax dollars to the reckless politicians of Chicago and wealthy Chicago suburban school districts.
“Governor Rauner has held our state hostage for over a year in an attempt to pass his dangerous political agenda, which harms working families by attacking the good, well-paying jobs of our community. Now Rauner has recruited Mike Babcock to lead this assault right here in our area and stab his own neighbors in their backs.
“The Rauner-Babcock team’s misleading distortions of the truth at a time when they should share my focus on compromise and moving Illinois forward highlights their belief that politics come before the people of our area. I won’t be bullied into making shortsighted decisions that will hurt workers, move good jobs from our area and harm the elderly.
“I’ll continue to work with all parties to find a compromise and get our state moving in the right direction again, and I won’t let wealthy politicians and their political henchmen destroy our area and our jobs to help their big business allies.”
* Babcock response…
Days ago and with only minutes to read the bill, State Representative Dan Beiser voted for Speaker Mike Madigan’s 500-page, out-of-balance budget, not once but twice. Madigan’s budget, over $7 billion in the hole, is not only the largest spending plan in Illinois history, but is also the largest unbalanced budget in state history.
The Madigan-Beiser plan would increase Illinois’ debt by $7 billion and require a massive $1,000 tax hike on every working Illinois family to balance.
Additionally, the Madigan-Beiser budget included a $700 million bailout for Chicago Public Schools – our valuable tax dollars that will be dumped into a failed system run by Chicago machine politicians and bureaucrats.
“Dan Beiser is part of the problem in Springfield,” said Mike Babcock, candidate for State Representative in the 111th House District. “Year after year, politicians like Beiser go to Springfield and vote with Mike Madigan and his anti-taxpayer agenda. Then, when they return home to their districts, they pat themselves on the back and talk about all of the great things they’ve done.
“Any notion that I’m ‘assaulting’ cancer patients or the less fortunate in our community is insulting. Nearly 10 years ago, my mom lost her fight against cancer, and that’s why my family has donated our time and money to cancer organizations. Non-profit and service-based organizations are an invaluable part of our community and that is exactly why I’m running for office – we need citizen-leaders who put our communities first and serve the people, not themselves.
“Enough is enough. Dan Beiser won’t be putting our community to work with Mike Madigan’s status quo – IOUs, record tax hikes, and massive bailouts for the city of Chicago. It’s time the career politicians in Springfield live within their means, pass a balanced budget, and enact pro-growth reforms to get our economy moving forward again. Together, we can once again make Illinois a land of freedom and opportunity.”
* The Question: Which one has the better campaign message? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
survey service
- One hand //ing - Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 12:44 pm:
Beiser. His messages shows how Rauner’s actions speak louder than words. The Repub counter is just Fire Madigan 7.0.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 12:46 pm:
Governors always own, it’s by far the best message…
However, Rauner and the Superstars are, by miles, delivering their message at a much better clip, and using this time to cement their inferior message as THE message that should be the narrative.
Until Democrats, Social Service Groups including their advocates and Clients, and ALL of Labor understabd and message “Governors Own, Vote Accordingly” (See “Pat Quinn failed… “), they will have the best message, but Rauner will continue to win the messaging.
August 1st, the three have until August 1st to get everyone singing off the same page.
- Honeybear - Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 12:48 pm:
I voted Beiser. The Babcock message is pure perfidy given that revenue is a must. And to Mr. Babcock, your owner IS destroying cancer services in the state regardless of your personal connection to it or your donations.
Behaviors not Attitudes.
- Precinct Captain - Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 12:49 pm:
I voted Beiser, but I really think it’s a push. These are good messages for two different, even distinct, audiences.
- illini97 - Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 12:50 pm:
How many versions of Fire Madigan X.0 do we need? We get it, you don’t like Mike Madigan, but you’re not running in his district, now are you?
Closer to home, Alton is getting crushed by the “starve the beast” strategies for human services. One message at least acknowledges it is occurring. And it’s not the Fire Madigan one.
- Reality Check - Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 12:50 pm:
Both sides parade a litany of poll-tested evils. Nobody wants big cuts to their districts or attacks on average working people (Beiser message) nor do they want big debt (challenger message).
But Mike Madigan has never and will never be on the ballot in this or 116 other House districts. Blaming him is a failed strategy from the past.
Blaming Rauner is already working. His numbers are in the toilet and his two biggest political proxies, Ken Dunkin and Bryce Benton, were drubbed and forgotten, respectively.
Also, the challenger makes a cardinal mistake in repeating Beiser’s message (”Any notion that I’m assaulting cancer patients or the less fortunate in our community…”). When you’re explaining, you’re losing. He not only burns Beiser’s message in but sounds whiny and defensive in trying to rebut it.
- Walker - Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 1:00 pm:
Babcock. Sorry to say, but calls for fairness get trumped by specific pointed attacks every time.
- 47th Ward - Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 1:04 pm:
Ask me again in November.
For now I voted for Babcock, simply because with Rauner’s millions, he should be able to hammer his message home and beat Heiser over the head for the next several months.
Money talks, even if what it says doesn’t make any sense.
- illini - Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 1:14 pm:
Willy is point on - “However, Rauner and the Superstars are, by miles, delivering their message at a much better clip, and using this time to cement their inferior message as THE message that should be the narrative.”
And Reality Check is also correct - “But Mike Madigan has never and will never be on the ballot in this or 116 other House districts. Blaming him is a failed strategy from the past.”
Both to a point I made earlier on another thread earlier today.
- PalumbrasWay - Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 1:14 pm:
Babcock. The voter wants a “throw the bums out” / “change election” as long as there is economic under performance. Time is not on the side of incumbents in IL. Babcock’s message is closer to this theme, but could be better written.
- lake county democrat - Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 1:18 pm:
I couldn’t pick a winner - both sounded like the same tired talking points.
- MOON - Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 1:22 pm:
It has always been my opinion that voters are more focused on local matters/issues in legislative contest as opposed to State wide matters/issues.
If the local legislature is responsive to his constituents concerns and does not “put his foot in his mouth” he has a good chance of being re-elected.
Having said that I can see the Dems loosing the super majority in the house but still have a comfortable majority. Something Madigan would probably welcome.
Money only goes so far in a local legislative contest.
- PalumbrasWay - Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 1:24 pm:
Babcock. Simply because voters want change. Incumbents will have an uphill fight in 2016.
- Illinois Bob - Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 1:25 pm:
Babcock, obviously. He identifies the real problem with governance in Springfield, Madigan lackies who support massive overspending and irresponsible budgeting by the Chicago Dem machine over the last couple of decades.
Voters rarely understand nuance. Budgeting to spend $7 billion more than you have in a state close to insolvency with horrendous bond ratings is something they can follow, and use to reject Beiser.
- WIUOblivion - Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 1:25 pm:
Voted Beiser — slightly more positive tone, appears to be more forward looking. Babcock falls back on being insulted (hey dude, it’s Illinois politics — get ready for a lot more of that) and sounds defensive. AMF (all Madigan’s fault) — one trick pony act that will have voters plugging their ears by November (not that it won’t be effective in some corners).
- Big R. Ph - Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 1:33 pm:
How can Beiser blame Babcock for anything in Springfield when he hasn’t been elected?
Beiser is a lacky. Time for him to go
- One hand //ing - Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 1:38 pm:
===Voters rarely understand nuance===
And yet you’re betting on voters suddenly realizing that they don’t like the guy from their home town who has ably served them, just because a vote for him may be a vote for some boogeyman 350 miles away, who does not honestly affect their lives at all? Step away from the Kool Aid. You’ve had enough.
- Earnest - Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 1:47 pm:
I voted Babcock. Frustration with the status quo when running against an opponent who has actually taken votes may resonate with more voters. Babcock should try to get permission to run away from Rauner on the social service issues. His ties to Rauner may hurt him more than Beiser’s ties to Madigan. That said, I don’t think highly of either message.
- Jocko - Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 2:03 pm:
==Non-profit and service-based organizations are an invaluable part of our community==
…so long as they don’t ask to be reimbursed.
- Delimma - Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 2:11 pm:
If $7 Billion is $1000 per taxpayer, how much is the current backlog of unpaid bills? Certainly seems higher.
- Annonin' - Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 2:21 pm:
We voted Beiser, the other guy is just doin’ the BigBrain mumbo jumbo — which includes one large mistake. Ya’all can’t have a deficit and a tax hike with the same budget…BigBrain forgot to tell his rentals. Better think it through next time. This dude should have stayed undercover, I the closet, etc for awahile before leapin’ into action. Perhaps we should ship JasonForIL down to coach
- AC - Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 2:22 pm:
Choose Beiser, the “Madigan-Beiser plan” is deceptive and I’ll bet it’s called the “Madigan-$Representative_Variable plan elsewhere.
- John Reynolds - Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 2:27 pm:
Still waiting for the Governor’s Constitutionally Mandated Balanced Budget.
- PalumbrasWay - Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 2:29 pm:
> If $7 Billion is $1000 per taxpayer, how much is the current backlog of unpaid bills? Certainly seems higher.
It’s not the right way to think about it. That $7 B Madigan budget is a hole that will occur ad infinitum. The state’s current backlog is about $10 B, but that money would have been spent anyway. The extra interest at ~6% is 600 M for one year. Conversely, the $7 B Madigan budget deficit (one year of deficit spend) is the equivalent of adding $116.7 billion in debt to the state’s balance sheet at the same interest rate if it is perpetuated. As you can see it is more than 10x the difference in magnitude.
- illini - Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 2:34 pm:
== Perhaps we should ship JasonForIL down to coach == He lives close, but I think he is in Kays district. I’m sure he would welcome being appreciated and consulted for his sage advise.
- Illinois Bob - Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 3:00 pm:
@one hand
=And yet you’re betting on voters suddenly realizing that they don’t like the guy from their home town who has ably served them=
Whether they “like” him or not won’t be the issue if Babcock properly messages the problems he’s causing.
Beiser just supported spending $7 billion more than the state has, with even worse consequences when you consider the current bill backlog. to support his overspending, they’ll be stuck with a huge tax increase or plunging the state even more deeply in crushing, extremely expensive debt.
I think that few outside public employees will see that as “serving them well” in their community.
- Markus - Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 5:11 pm:
==Beiser just supported spending $7 billion more than the state has..==
Beiser’s party proposed real numbers associated with a desired spending level. Babcock’s party has yet to present any real numbers; smoke and mirrors “reforms” balanced with magic beans is all we have seen to date from Republican leaders.
Show us all where you are going to make the cuts or get reasonable and serious about specific areas of revenue and cuts to balance this budget. Ideology may get people elected (probably not) but it will never transform into mathematics that can be applied to a budget line.