Munger and Mendoza face off in hostile debate
Friday, Aug 26, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Yesterday’s Chicago Tribune editorial board debate between the four candidates for Illinois comptroller was quite spirited.
But check out this claim by Chicago City Clerk Susana Mendoza about appointed incumbent Leslie Munger…
“Her campaign chairman is the actual mayor who passed Right to Work legislation, the only piece of Right to Work legislation in the entire state of Illinois to pass, and it happens to be in her own home town. One of the central issues of Gov. Rauner’s Turnaround Agenda. She’s not fought against the Turnaround Agenda. She’s championed the Turnaround Agenda.”
Munger claimed the allegation was “false” and said her campaign manager did no such thing.
Um, this wasn’t about the manager, it was about the chairman. And Mendoza was right about that and repeated it several times.
* In an attempt to show her independence, Mendoza claimed that she “helped chair” the House’s Blagojevich impeachment committee. While she helped sponsor the resolution, she merely served as an “alternate member” of the actual committee.
* And then there was this…
Munger said she also heard from the governor over her decision to delay paychecks for lawmakers, saying Rauner argued nobody should get paid during the budget impasse.
Wait. I thought Gov. Rauner was solidly in favor of paying state workers during the impasse. Somebody isn’t telling the truth.
* Another attempt by Munger to demonstrate her independence…
At the top of the list was Munger’s refusal to follow the governor’s orders to withhold so-called “fair share” fees from unions, as he instructed in an executive order shortly after taking office in 2015. Those are the fees government workers must pay to unions to cover the cost of collective bargaining even if an employee chooses not to join a union. After consulting with Democratic Attorney General Lisa Madigan, the speaker’s daughter, Munger said withholding the fees would violate federal law.
* The Mendoza response…
“I believe she has not stood up to Gov. Rauner,” said Mendoza, a former state lawmaker who’s in her second term as city clerk. “The one time she mentioned was about two weeks into her job, and I feel like it was a big surprise even to the governor.”
If it was such a big surprise to the governor, then wouldn’t that support Munger’s claim?
* And they’re both sticking with their parties on the impasse…
“We cannot get to a balanced budget without a growing economy,” Munger said of Rauner’s so-called turnaround agenda. “I think you have to do it.”
Asked if Democrats should bend in their opposition, Mendoza said they would not give in to Rauner’s proposals that would “sacrifice the hardworking men and women in this state.”
* Related…
* RAW VIDEO: Comptroller debate
* Comptroller hopefuls argue independence from Madigan, Rauner
- walker - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 11:05 am:
Mendoza’s claims that Munger is for the TA, for RTW, and Rauner’s ally — all provide positive reasons for the Trib board to endorse Munger
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 11:06 am:
“Dear Lincolnshire, Illinois
You’re not helping. Honest.
Signed
Fake Munger Crew”
Of all the towns, townships, and counties in ALL of Illinois, the hometown of Rauner’s self-proclaimed “Wingman” is now saddled with her hometown as the Right to Work Zone case study?
Geez, Louise, what s compete disaster.
No one thought this was “bad”? Not one person thought “Labor already is upset with Rauner, maybe having Rauner’s appointed Comproller’s hometown as the case study might be too much in an election year.”
Munger also made clear her support of the Turnaround Agenda and the Labor prong to it.
I guess my question is “Where is that seperation again?”
Yikes, Munger Crew….
Do. Better.
- illini97 - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 11:09 am:
So, the wingman is now claiming not to be a wingman? For real?
Heck, there’s more separation between Goose and Maverick than between Munger and Rauner.
- jbt fan - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 11:13 am:
Mendoza’s long, pro-Madigan voting record (in a time where Madigan approval rating is lower than Rauner’s) and her admitting to passing multiple unbalanced budgets will come to bite her.
- Just Me - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 11:29 am:
I seem to remember the Governor saying during a press conference that he didn’t think legislators should be paid until there was a budget, which to me is different than saying state employees should still be paid for doing their work.
- Come on man! - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 11:42 am:
I watched the first 20 minutes or so yesterday. Mendoza was poised and understood that she was on camera. Munger, not so much. Her disposition was very dismissive when anyone other than ed board was speaking.
- Give Me A Break - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 11:43 am:
Well jbt fan, I’m sure you will agree Munger being the hand picked choice of Rauner will come to bite her.
- VanillaMan - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:02 pm:
According to the 2010 US Census, Munger’s hometown is 91.5% whie, 6.1% Asian, 2% Hispanic, 1.2% other, .9% African American, .01% Native American - so, you see, few residents in Munger’s hometown of Lincolnshire could possibly relate to the real world.
This is a place that makes Tooele Utah look like Detroit.
People in Munger’s hometown don’t work for money, they have money. The nannies, the cooks, the gardeners, who do the work in Lincolnshire, live elsewhere. Residents in Munger’s hometown don’t know what unions do.
It’s easy for folks living in Lincolnshire to pass Rauner’s TA. They’re just glad it didn’t require then to drive a domestic vehicle, or stand in the check out line at Walmart.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:04 pm:
===makes Tooele Utah look like Detroit===
Take it easy on Tooele, please. I went to high school there for two years.
- jbt fan - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:06 pm:
-Give Me A Break
Yea but it won’t hurt as bad if they link Mendoza & Madigan enough together.
- hisgirlfriday - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:11 pm:
As little as Trump has to do with the job of Illinois state comptroller, I can’t help but feel like his weight on the ticket will be weigh more on the outcome of this one than anyone’s feelings about these women’s ties to Madigan or Rauner.
- Ron - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:12 pm:
- VanillaMan - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:02 pm:
According to the 2010 US Census, Munger’s hometown is 91.5% whie, 6.1% Asian, 2% Hispanic, 1.2% other, .9% African American, .01% Native American - so, you see, few residents in Munger’s hometown of Lincolnshire could possibly relate to the real world.
This is a place that makes Tooele Utah look like Detroit.
People in Munger’s hometown don’t work for money, they have money. The nannies, the cooks, the gardeners, who do the work in Lincolnshire, live elsewhere. Residents in Munger’s hometown don’t know what unions do.
It’s easy for folks living in Lincolnshire to pass Rauner’s TA. They’re just glad it didn’t require then to drive a domestic vehicle, or stand in the check out line at Walmart.
What a crock. The people of Lincolnshire don’t work? It’s an average boring suburb.
- Cubs in '16 - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:22 pm:
“At the top of the list was Munger’s refusal to follow the governor’s orders to withhold so-called “fair share” fees from unions, as he instructed in an executive order shortly after taking office in 2015. Those are the fees government workers must pay to unions to cover the cost of collective bargaining even if an employee chooses not to join a union. After consulting with Democratic Attorney General Lisa Madigan, the speaker’s daughter, Munger said withholding the fees would violate federal law.”
If refusing to break the law is all Munger can point to as evidence she’s “independent” she may as well stop pretending.
- Springfieldish - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:33 pm:
“Take it easy on Tooele, please. I went to high school there for two years”
Forget Tooele, take it easy on Detroit! I lived there in the prime and home of Gordie Howe, my sister, brother and both parents were born there, and we’re all damn proud of it. It’s sad how easily patriotic people forget The Arsenal of Democracy.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:34 pm:
===Forget Tooele===
I can’t. For far more reasons than I can go into here.
lol
- Ghost - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:40 pm:
side note, not much about the green party and libertarian party candidate….
not sure i understand the point of no chance canidates…. cant people just stay home if they want to not vote? why waste time going to a polling place to toss away your vote.
I guess i can ask Kirk that too once he decides which meaningless gesture he wants to make to not actually do anything useful in a major race.
- allknowingmasterofracoondom - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:46 pm:
=Wait. I thought Gov. Rauner was solidly in favor of paying state workers during the impasse. Somebody isn’t telling the truth.=
Rich, are you saying state workers are the same as elected state lawmakers?
Pretty thin argument for accusing someone of lying.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:49 pm:
===Rich, are you saying state workers are the same as elected state lawmakers?==
No, I’m not. Where the heck did you pull that one out of? Wait, don’t answer!
I’m merely pointing out that the governor claims he wants state workers to be paid. Munger is saying he doesn’t. Somebody’s not telling the truth here.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:50 pm:
- allknowingmasterofracoondom -
Actually, the state constitution guarantees the elected state lawmakers get paid.
In plain language.
So, you could say not paying legislators could be breaking the oath… to uphold the constitution.
Maybe… Hmm.
- allknowingmasterofracoondom - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:51 pm:
Vanilla Man - “People in Munger’s hometown don’t work for money, they have money.”
Insulting to say the least. Feeding the flames of class warfare. I know dozens of people who live there and work their butts off for their money. You are the one that is out of touch dude.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:52 pm:
===Feeding the flames of class warfare===
A blog commenter vs. a town council which passed what sure looks like an illegal right to work ordinance. Gee, I wonder which one is the greater offender?
- Ron - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 1:17 pm:
Lol, thanks for pointing out another abomination in the state Constitution!
- Amalia - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 1:27 pm:
really wishing that it was just the two of them in this discussion.
- HangingOn - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 1:49 pm:
==It’s an average boring suburb.==
Lincolnshire: The median income for a household in the village was $134,259
For Illinois places ranked by per capita income 2007-2011 it ranks #13.
Wish my town was that “boring”.
- Anti-m - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 2:02 pm:
===- Amalia - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 1:27 pm:===
===really wishing that it was just the two of them in this discussion.===
Amalia, I was really wishing the Libertarian candidate (Clair Ball) was a Democrat or Republican!
- VanillaMan - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 2:03 pm:
So, what do you think there are more of in Munger’s hometown - union members or non-whites?
- VanillaMan - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 2:09 pm:
We also know that the town council passed the ordinance knowing it was of questionable constitutionality but promised pro-Bono legal defense by Friends of Rauner.
Lincolnshire deliberately overrode their own common sense.
They see union members as folks who wash their dirty sheets, mow their yards, and cost too much.
- Albany Park Patriot - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 3:40 pm:
Why would you make someone your chairman if you don’t agree with them or don’t want to associate with their views? This Lincolnshire lady stands pretty clearly with the effort to end the right to bargain collectively. This is a pretty bright line. Munger can’t have it both ways.
- Anonymous - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 4:00 pm:
–“We cannot get to a balanced budget without a growing economy,” Munger said of Rauner’s so-called turnaround agenda. “I think you have to do it.”–
Perhaps she could show the math on the projected economic and fiscal growth that the enacted agenda would produce. In context.
- Amalia - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 4:27 pm:
@Anti M, yes, but those other two options are non starters. just like in the presidential race.