* Apparently, the ad they bought here is just part of the strategy. According to our pals at Comcast, the group pushing the remap reform constitutional amendment just bought $209,350 in cable and satellite for its new TV ad. All but $16,489 (which was placed in Champaign) was spent on Chicago TV.
All the ads were purchased for CNN, Fox News and MSNBC.
I’ll try to get the Independent Maps folks to send it to me and post it here today if possible.
*** UPDATE *** Here it is. Rate it…
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Question of the day
Thursday, Jul 7, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Gov. Rauner today in Champaign…
“I underestimated how much most of the standard media just doesn’t care about this and doesn’t understand and won’t send our message out. We’ve been too slow in creating our own media channels through social media and other outlets. We’re doing that now.”
This from a guy whose Twitter feed is jam packed with pics of him at restaurants. Like just today, for instance…
* Also, “other outlets”? I wonder if he’s referring to outlets like this one.
* Also, too, getting his message out is not our job. Although as Wordslinger regularly points out in comments, the media mainly focuses on the personality conflict between Rauner and Madigan, or Rauner and Emanuel, or Rauner and whoever else he happens to be teeing off on whatever day it might be. They’re definitely getting that message out.
Anyway…
* The Question: What new and inventive ways do you think the governor will use to get his message out?
Snark is heavily encouraged, of course.
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* From AFSCME Council 31’s Facebook page earlier today…
IMPASSE UPDATE: The Illinois Labor Relations Board is holding a special meeting in Chicago TODAY at 1pm. The board is considering Gov. Rauner’s unprecedented request to bypass the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge who heard the case in which Rauner seeks approval for his refusal to negotiate a new contract with the union and a green light to impose his own terms on state employees.
* A text from the union’s spokesman Anders Lindall a few minutes ago…
The board voted unanimously to reject the administration’s request.
Updates are assured.
Also, I’m guessing this means that Rauner doesn’t have an iron grip on the ILRB after all.
*** UPDATE 1 *** From Jason Barclay, General Counsel to Governor Rauner…
“While we are disappointed in the result, we voluntarily agreed to these impasse proceedings with AFSCME and will continue to respect and follow the Labor Board’s decisions throughout. This will hopefully also put an end to the reprehensible attacks that AFSCME has made against the independence and integrity of the administrative law judge and the Board.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** From AFSCME…
The Illinois Labor Relations Board voted unanimously today to deny the Rauner Administration’s motion to bypass a recommended decision from the Administrative Law Judge who presided over hearings into the Unfair Labor Practice charges filed by Rauner and by AFSCME. This means that the board will now follow its established procedures of awaiting a recommended decision from the judge before making its final ruling. The Administration is asking the Board to affirm its refusal to negotiate with the union and to allow it to impose its own terms on state employees, while the union is asking the board to direct the parties to return to bargaining.
In response to the Labor Board decision, AFSCME Executive Director Roberta Lynch issued the following statement:
“We’re very pleased with the Labor Board’ s ruling. It maintains a process designed to allow for full consideration of the complex issues in this case.
“However, if the Rauner Administration is truly concerned about a timely resolution of this dispute, it should not have squandered the past six months by refusing to meet with the union bargaining committee. We have been and remain ready to return to the bargaining table, to do the hard work of compromise, and to reach an agreement that is fair to all.”
…Adding… AFSCME has at least twice claimed that the ILRB was too cozy with Rauner. For instance…
However, on the final day of the hearing, the Rauner Administration moved to bypass the judge entirely and have the case go directly to the Labor Board. As an indication of its excessive deference to the Administration, the board immediately called a Special Meeting for July 7 to consider this motion.
And…
FACT: Rauner appointed a majority of members of the Labor Board. There have been few disputes that have reached the Board since he took office, but in a recent case regarding an issue related to contract negotiations, the Board hastily rushed a decision and completely upheld the Administration’s position. Moreover, while Rauner says he will respect the decision of his Labor Board, he makes no mention of the Appellate Court which has review of any Labor Board decision and which is not appointed by him but elected by the voters.
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Today’s number: 1 out of 7
Thursday, Jul 7, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Dusty Rhodes…
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission sent a survey to nearly 100,000 students who received MAP grants last fall. More than 10,000 responded, and most took time to answer the open-ended questions about how they were coping with the state’s failure to fund the promised financial aid. One in seven said they might not return to school this fall, or would have “extreme difficulty” doing so. If that same percentage holds true for all MAP students, it would mean 18,000 current students might not re-enroll next fall.
Some said they had no choice but to drop out. “I don’t have the funds to attend school anymore,” one student wrote. “I’m 5 classes from completing my degree.”
The survey was taken before the state legislature agreed late last week to reimburse colleges for the spring’s MAP grants. But there’s still no MAP appropriation for the upcoming school year.
* Related…
* SIU will cover MAP grants for students this fall, but layoffs, other cuts underway
* Mark Brown: State grants no reassurance to low-income college students
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* WaPo…
Donald Trump’s private meeting Thursday with Senate Republicans – designed to foster greater party unity ahead of the national convention in Cleveland — grew combative as the presumptive presidential nominee admonished three senators who have been critical of his candidacy and predicted they would lose their reelection bids, according to two Republican officials with direct knowledge of the exchanges. […]
Trump also called out Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), who withdrew his endorsement of Trump last month citing the business mogul’s racially-based attacks on a federal judge, and said he did not approve of the senator’s action, said the officials.
Characterizing Kirk as a loser, Trump vowed that he would carry Illinois in the general election even though the state traditionally has been solidly Democratic in presidential contests. Kirk did not attend the meeting with Trump.
Unreal.
But it’s good for Kirk if you believe a spat with Trump will help.
…Adding… Sen. Kirk’s response…
“As I stated last month, I have come to the conclusion that Donald Trump lacks the judgment and temperament to lead our military and our nation.”
*** UPDATE *** AP…
Asked about them later, Kirk told The Associated Press: “I’ve run for election six times in Illinois. Really tough races for the Congress and for the Senate and won every race. Otherwise I wouldn’t be here.”
On why Trump would say Kirk would lose: “I guess the bully side of him. We haven’t seen a personality like his too much in the Midwest. Eastern, privileged, wealthy bully. Our bullies are made of better stuff in Illinois. We’re much more practical and polite.”
Kirk joked that he’s not on Trump’s Christmas card list anymore.
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* And speaking of the presidential race, here’s the Democratic Party of Illinois…
This morning, Republican Mark Kirk took a peculiar detour from his partisan attack on Secretary Clinton by once again stating his intention to write in disgraced former CIA Director David Petraeus for President. Petraeus resigned in disgrace, had his security clearance revoked, hid classified material in his attic, and plead guilty to intentionally sharing classified information with his biographer, who was also his mistress. Kirk made the comments on a radio interview with WGN. In response, Democratic Party of Illinois spokesperson Sean Savett released the following statement:
“Is Mark Kirk serious with this? Immediately after leveling a partisan attack on Secretary Clinton, he encouraged others to join him in voting for an individual who isn’t running for President and did something the FBI said was ‘far worse’ by lying to investigators and knowingly leaking classified information, for which he plead guilty. It’s one thing for Kirk to reverse himself on supporting Donald Trump, the toxic presumptive Republican nominee who had Kirk’s support right up until his Illinois poll numbers went south — that’s just politics, and Kirk is nothing if not a typical politician. But to encourage others to throw away their votes on the disgraced former CIA director who isn’t seeking the office is absurd, and yet another reason it’s hard to take Mark Kirk seriously anymore.”
Here’s an abridged transcript of what Kirk said this morning. To listen to his full comments about Secretary Clinton and David Petraeus, click here.
COCHRAN: I share your concerns about Trump every day with people. And then I look at the alternative choice and I never thought I’d be in a position to even consider voting for Hillary Clinton. And yet here we are with those being our two main choices. I don’t know what to say to people when they say every day, ‘Well, what are we supposed to do?’
KIRK: Cochran, I got a way out for you. I’m gonna, I’m gonna write in Petraeus when I vote. And I encourage you too. I want to see Petraeus get a lot of votes so that just shows that there are thinking people out there that are really concerned about the security of the United States. Thinking that someone who has an outstanding potential as Commander-in-Chief and can be, should be, our new leader. With these two choices that you almost think it’s Tweedle-Dee Dumb and Tweedle-Dee bad.
Write-in votes aren’t counted in Illinois if the candidate isn’t registered in each county. It’s a complete waste of effort and Kirk undoubtedly knows it.
* On the Petraeus front, here’s FBI Director James Comey today…
But Petraeus clearly did show evidence of intentionally violating the law, Comey said.
Not only was Petraeus caught on tape telling his mistress and biographer that there was “code word stuff” in the “highly classified” material he slipped to her, the retired general also lied about a cache of classified material he had hidden in his attic, Comey said, comprising obstruction of justice and further evidence that he “knew what he was doing was a violation of the law.”
“We found [the classified materials] in a search warrant hidden under the insulation in his attic, and then he lied to us about it during the investigation.”
“That is the perfect illustration of the kind of cases that get prosecuted,” Comey said. “In my mind, it illustrates perfectly the distinction between this case.”
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* Let’s return to Chris Kaergard’s interview of Gov. Rauner…
We’re doing big things and good things. For example, we’ve already transformed much of state government, but people don’t know it. We’ve cut more than $800 million out of wasteful spending inside state government already. Huge transformation.
* I asked for a list of that $800 million in “wasteful spending” and here’s what the governor’s office sent. Click the pic if you need a larger image…
DHS programs, child care, job training, transit assistance for people with disabilities, cop cars and cop equipment, and a delayed opening of a residence for veterans (construction of which, by the way, has started again, so is that wasteful?).
All waste…
The Psychiatric Leadership Capacity Grant provides funding to community mental health centers in Illinois to help cover the cost of employing a psychiatrist. The money goes to most of the roughly 140 mental health centers in the state. Often, mental health centers do not have a full-time psychiatrist on staff but bring one in for a few days each week or month to meet with patients and prescribe medication. […]
“There was no explanation or notice from DHS and certainly no suggestion about how community mental health folks should proceed without that funding,” says David Cole, director of the Moultrie County Counseling Center in Sullivan. He says his center gets about $37,000 annually for psychiatric service. “It’s a big cut. The entire line was just crossed out.”
Man, this guy is really something.
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
In an interview with reporter Chris Kaergard yesterday, Gov. Bruce Rauner said, “We’ve cut more than $800 million out of wasteful spending inside state government already.” When asked by The Capitol Fax’s Rich Miller to provide evidence of these cuts, the Rauner Administration responded with this document that details cuts to child care, healthcare, recycling programs, veterans housing, transportation funding for the disabled, state police funding, and other critical services provided by the state.
Illinois Working Together Campaign Director Jake Lewis released the following statement regarding Governor Rauner’s “wasteful spending” cuts:
“It is absolutely shameful that Governor Rauner would label child care, healthcare, recycling, transportation for the disabled, veterans housing and state police programs as ‘wasteful’. The very idea that Rauner could think of these programs as ‘wasteful’ clearly demonstrates his utter heartlessness when it comes to Illinois’ neediest. Not only does the governor not care about the most vulnerable in Illinois, he views programs to support them as ‘wasteful’.
“Unfortunately, these callous comments are also completely unsurprising. In addition to his harmful cuts to children, veterans, and public safety, Governor Rauner created a devastating budget impasse that has caused untold damage to Illinois’ families, seniors, and economy. But in Governor Rauner’s world, a million Illinoisans losing access to critical services is just cutting ‘waste’. Meanwhile, the state racks up hundreds of millions of dollars in interest fees on its late bills due to the Rauner impasse. It may take years for the state to recover from the damage Rauner has caused.”
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* Hannah Hilyard with WMBD interviewed the governor…
HILYARD: Would you say you’re proud of this stop- gap budget or are you disheartened it had to get to this point?”
RAUNER: Some of each of that. the reality is that it shows that the fact getting a stop-gap budget took so long, it shows how broken the system is. And plus, it’s only a six-month spending plan and it’s still not truly in balance. I can’t find a year when we’ve had a balanced budget in Illinois. this is our problem. We don’t have financial discipline or responsibility. We have been a one party state for 30 years. Speaker Madigan has controlled the majority and the General Assembly and controlled the spending, the deficits, the debt, the unfunded pensions for 30 years, and they’ve taken us into a crisis
HILYARD: A lot of finger pointing happening in the last, really two months and even here today. Do you take any responsibility for this stalemate up until last week?
RAUNER: Well, all of us have a job to do, we have a job to deliver results for the people of Illinois. you know, I’ve come in. I’m new in the job at 18 months. We’ve had a system that’s been broken for a long time. I’m trying my best to change it. We’ve got to change. We can’t just go with the status quo. There’s a lot on the line for November. The people of Illinois will be able to decide, do we want a continuation of the status quo, deficits, job loses, or are we going to get reform? [Emphasis added.]
The man knows how to stay on message. And he knows that if he talks long enough (there was a whole other paragraph after the one above), reporters will usually move on to something else because of time constraints. And she did.
* From WQAD…
“We stopped Speaker Madigan’s super majority from passing a $7 billion, out of balance, budget,” he said. “That was huge. We’re spending much less than what’s in that budget. That’s a big deal.”
The only reason they’re spending much less than Madigan’s budget is that he signed a mainly six-month stopgap budget, vs. MJM’s full-year budget. But, hey, all Madigan, all the time.
* The Whig…
“I think it’s going to be a time for the people of Illinois to decide — do they want to support the status quo or do they want to support reform? I honestly hope they support reformers,” Rauner said.
“If Speaker Madigan gets more power and a greater supermajority, the odds of reform go way down and the chance of a much bigger tax hike without reforms go up.”
Rauner said two-thirds of candidates for the Illinois Legislature this fall are running unopposed. He sees that as proof that term limits and legislative mapping reforms are needed.
* Register Star…
“We were able to stop Madigan’s supermajority’s $7 billion out-of-balance budget that passed the House; that would have been a disaster. We’ve kind of flattened off the cost curve on everything except pensions.
That’s an interesting way to describe “squeeze the beast.”
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* Bernie…
U.S. Rep. BILL FOSTER, D-Naperville, was apparently involved in an effort that could have changed the look of this year’s race in the 13th Congressional District.
But as it stands, U.S. Rep. RODNEY DAVIS, R-Taylorville, will still be facing Democrat MARK WICKLUND of Decatur on the Nov. 8 ballot in the district that includes part of Springfield. And the status of the independent candidate, Dr. DAVID GILL of Bloomington, is up in the air as his petitions have been challenged. Wicklund is one of those who filed an objection to the petitions this week.
Wicklund told me on Wednesday that he had received calls urging him to remove himself as the Democratic candidate, allowing Gill to be named to the spot.
Wicklund said one call came from Foster. Gill said Foster also called him.
Foster is a supporter of HILLARY CLINTON for president, but Gill said Foster “had had some talks with the BERNIE SANDERS campaign,” and “they just felt like the Democrats could have a much more effective campaign with me on board. I said I would give it some thought.”
You really should read the whole thing. It’s like the Keystone Kops.
Rodney Davis is a very hard worker, but it has amazed me that the DCCC and the state party did not find a viable candidate in that district, which has a ton of college campuses and leans “D” in presidential years.
Then again, I don’t know why I’ve been so amazed. It’s not like the DCCC has a great track record here, and the state party concerns itself with only one House of Representatives, and that one ain’t in DC.
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What would Rauner have done differently?
Thursday, Jul 7, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Chris Kaergard interviewed Gov. Rauner this week…
Q: It’s been a contentious last 18 months — and we’ve touched on this a couple times before on your past visits — but looking back on everything that’s happened, are there things that you can think of that perhaps you would’ve done differently or approached differently in that time to help you do your job better going forward?
A: Well, the one thing I probably, all of us should’ve done a better job of, I think, is communicate with you and others in the media as well as directly to the voters to get people to really understand what’s at stake and what’s going on. It’s hard to message, there’s a lot of complex issues. Your average person in Illinois doesn’t really even know what worker’s comp is. The average person doesn’t know really what’s going on in the pension system. They know their taxes are too high, they know we’ve got a deficit. But getting that message out and helping the people of Illinois really understand what’s going on, that’s hard. We probably should’ve done more of that, and come up with more creative ways to do it. We’ll try to get it better.
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* Tribune…
Labor unions are coming up big in Democrat Susana Mendoza’s bid for state comptroller against Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s hand-picked candidate.
Mendoza, the Chicago city clerk, this week reported $320,200 in campaign contributions from June 30, with more than $244,000 coming from unions. Leading the way by maxing out at $53,900 each were D.C.-based political funds of the Laborers’ union and the International Union of Operating Engineers. A Chicago Federation of Labor fund gave $15,000, and a south central Illinois laborers’ fund gave $10,000. […]
[Comptroller Leslie Munger], of Lincolnshire, so far has reported raising $82,600 from April through June. She started April with about $225,000 on hand. That’s likely to put her well behind Mendoza, who started the second quarter with $1.1 million on hand and has reported collecting $332,700 since then. It’s a low-profile contest, so both candidates are going to need to build up name recognition with voters. The comptroller’s office controls the state’s checkbook.
Rauner, of course, can make that financial disadvantage go away for Munger in a flash, given his propensity for writing large personal checks to his campaign fund and Illinois GOP accounts.
Yes, Rauner and his buddies most certainly can. And since everything they do is about Speaker Madigan (who may be even more unpopular in Illinois than Donald Trump), I would expect to see photos like this appearing in advertisements…
* And you gotta wonder whether they already have this robocall audio file…
* Meanwhile…
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* AP…
The president of a Chicago-area university says passage of a stopgap Illinois budget has enabled her to do what she’s intended to do for a while, and that is retire.
A statement from Northeastern Illinois University says school president Sharon Hahs plans to retire on Sept. 30 after nearly a decade in the post.
Wednesday’s statement says Hahs delayed those plans as Illinois’ budget crisis worsened. But it says the stopgap budget last week restored stability. […]
The statement says Hahs will recommend that a national search for a permanent new president at the 10,000-student school be postponed until Illinois has at least one full regular budget cycle.
* They missed the real news. Here’s the e-mail she sent, with emphasis added…
TO: University Community
FROM: Sharon Hahs, President
DATE: July 6, 2016
RE: Retirement announcement
I want to share with you my decision to retire on September 30th of this year. It has been my joy and my honor to serve as President of Northeastern Illinois University for nearly a decade. Originally, I had intended to move toward retirement many months ago; Billy and I began making plans. That planning was put aside, however—delayed by the budget crisis. At this point, the University is stable, we have strong leadership, we have demonstrated our resilience, and we have stopgap funding.
In the coming academic year, Northeastern will have its site visit from the Higher Learning Commission for our 10-year reaffirmation of accreditation. In early spring, we will also be going public with our first fundraising campaign, Transforming Lives. It is best for Northeastern to have new leadership in place well ahead of these events. Now is a good time for that transition.
Given the fiscal realities and the reputational damage to the state of Illinois at this time, I have recommended to the Board of Trustees that a national search for president be postponed until Illinois has at least one full regular budget cycle. It is my sincere belief that a national search is not viable at this time. Further, I am recommending to the Board that Provost Richard Helldobler serve as Interim President. He has many significant accomplishments at Northeastern and is deeply committed to our University, our students, and our faculty and staff.
The Board of Trustees will be scheduling a special meeting to address this transition in the next two or three weeks.
Together we have accomplished a great deal over this last decade. I am confident that with continued hard work, the future is bright for Northeastern. Please know that I truly cherish our University and the people who make Northeastern the special place that it is today. I will always keep you in my thoughts and in my heart.
Thank you.
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