* From Biss for Illinois campaign manager, Abby Witt, regarding today’s labor union endorsements of JB Pritzker today…
“The fact that these endorsements were given out to a candidate who is only weeks into his public life, who has no voting record on union issues, but does have a family business with a history of anti-union behavior — and without so much as an endorsement questionnaire or interview — tells you all you need to know about these announcements. While this is the way business is done in Springfield, the working men and women of Illinois deserve better.
“Daniel Biss is never going to be the choice of the billionaires or Mike Madigan because our campaign is building a movement of ordinary people ready to take their state back from money and the machine.”
Like I said earlier today, the gloves are coming off.
*** UPDATE *** From Sam Hobert of the Pawar campaign…
Ameya Pawar will always be a steadfast supporter of organized labor and collective bargaining rights and his partnership with labor to pass paid sick leave, raise the minimum wage, and combat wage theft are a reflection of his commitment to labor and working people–endorsements or non-endorsements won’t change that.
- Downstate Dem - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 2:05 pm:
State Party Chair Madigan should be a unifier, not a divider, of his party. That’s the role of a state party chairman.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 2:05 pm:
===Daniel Biss is never going to be the choice of the billionaires or Mike Madigan===
Not helpful, and I know I promised not to attack any of the Democrats, but geez Louise, does Witt remember that PAC Biss ran? The one that raised money from billionaires to support Mike Madigan’s Democratic party? He wanted to be their choice for Comptroller, and then he became their choice for PAC director. And now he’s an outsider?
Wow.
- The Captain - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 2:07 pm:
When they make these comments do they think no one knows how LIFT came about and how it got funded? Just because these things aren’t all in the open doesn’t mean they aren’t known. Team Biss is overreacting and in doing so exposing his flank.
- City Zen - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 2:08 pm:
== but does have a family business with a history of anti-union behavior ==
But which union? Not the ones building the hotels.
- Mr. K - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 2:10 pm:
Meh. This makes me like Biss a little less. A lot less, actually.
The billionaire thing — whether you like it or not — is a fact in these elections. Sure, a grassroots, “I ain’t got no money” candidate might come out of nowhere and do fine. Maybe.
But if I’m a betting man, I’d bet — at least for now — on money. If you lack it — like it or not — you’ve got a significant disadvantage.
Flip it — and, yeah, the “Shucks, I ain’t got no money” is gonna wear as thin Rauner’s Carhartt’s after they come back from the dry cleaners and get yanked out of storage every four years.
Just because you *don’t* have money isn’t a reason to vote for you. Just as just because you *do* isn’t either.
And good god, Biss. Take it easy on the unions. Ride JB hard, whatever you want — pretend like he’s just as out of touch as Rauner — but if you’re gonna come out ahead — “Shucks, I ain’t got no money” — then you’d best find a way to get these unions on your side.
- Franklin Delano Bluth - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 2:10 pm:
Biss is (probably correctly) assuming the majority of his supporters don’t know what LIFT is/who funded it
- Lech W - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 2:11 pm:
==Daniel Biss is never going to be the choice of the billionaires or Mike Madigan…our campaign is building a movement of ordinary people ready to take their state back from money and the machine==
The first real shot of the coming internecine war among and between the Dem’s
- A guy - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 2:11 pm:
He’s not just standing there taking it. Good for him. This statement smarts a little bit. I’d guess there are hotel workers out there with enough hard feelings to get something on tape. I suspect we’ll see that at some point.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 2:12 pm:
The Rauner Crew must be giddy.
Ironically, it will be Biss going after Pritzker, Labor, and Madigan, when a few months ago, it was Biss and LIFT taking it to Rauner.
There shoulda been a truce until State Fair, but now, Rauner is watching, and smiling.
And don’t get me wrong, Biss, et al, they need to find their sweet spots, but at the expense of others?
We’ll see.
- Ahoy! - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 2:14 pm:
It will be interesting to see how Madigan could affect candidates in primaries, if he starts tanking people there watch out!
- Honeybear - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 2:18 pm:
SB1 Biss SB1
Your push to diminish pensions instead of figuring out how to fund and pay them on time was intensional.
Your choice Sen. Biss
Nobody made you champion that
It was your choice
Well you’re seeing 150’s and the trades choice.
Stop whining professor
It’s unbecoming
Oh and a tip, don’t play class war unless you mean
It Sen. Evanston Ivory Tower Math Professor
Folks down here hate know it alls telling them how to think.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 2:19 pm:
Biss thinks he’s gonna be the Jewish Obama. He needs a reality check.
- Mitch Trubisky - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 2:20 pm:
To City Zen:
Hyatt stonewalled the Hotel Employees union on a contract for years before settling.
- City Zen - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 2:20 pm:
==Sen. Evanston Ivory Tower Math Professor==
Is he living or teaching in the ivory tower?
- Ron - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 2:20 pm:
Pensions need to be impaired. They’re killing Illinois.
- City Zen - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 2:24 pm:
Mitch - Yes, but not the unions that just endorsed JB.
- Saluki - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 2:24 pm:
Biss just ran aground
- Surge voter - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 2:25 pm:
Biss is such a hypocrite. Does he think we don’t remember he was anti union before he was pro union and that he is the Madigan guy in this race. Why is he trying to help Rauner?
- Crispy - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 2:27 pm:
Remember Reagan’s Eleventh Commandment? I wish the Democrats would observe a similar rule within their party as well. This kind of carping just makes Biss look bad, and strengthens Rauner’s position. Foolish and disappointing.
- bissisahypocrite - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 2:31 pm:
When they go low, we go high!
- Harry - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 2:37 pm:
That swipe at Madigan is transparently false. This leaves no doubt he is Madigan’s guy, at least for now.
- Been There - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 2:40 pm:
The trade unions are just doing a reality check. They know the gov race will cost millions and they just don’t have the scratch to do that race and keep the flank with the house and senate seats. Those seats are also going to be very expensive this time around.
- Jeeves The Cat - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 2:40 pm:
Flailing is never becoming to any candidate or campaign. People who have access to people with deep pockets taking it to people who have deep pockets themselves just doesn’t seem very well thought out - especially when trying to promote someone as the thoughtful and experienced candidate. A swing and a miss.
- Winnin' - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 2:45 pm:
So, maybe the unions like Biss a whole lot, but they also know, like everyone else, that Biss doesn’t have a prayer in a race where the bilionaires have a bit of an edge.
- T Sowell - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 2:48 pm:
The more that MJM’s name and influence are bandied about in a negative way, the more it helps Rauner !
- George - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 2:49 pm:
You’d think a guy who’s supposed to be as good at math as Biss could count to $3 Billion.
- Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 2:51 pm:
Daniel, maybe you should run for SOS… or maybe reelection. Writing press releases in the tone of the ILGOP isn’t becoming.
- LindsayRose - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 2:52 pm:
I thought the Hyatt hotels were nonunion hotels.
- JoeMaddon - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 2:52 pm:
**[Biss] is the Madigan guy in this race.**
LOL - anyone who thinks Biss is the Madigan in this race is hilarious. Madigan is ACTIVELY supporting JB. To pretend otherwise is silly.
- Keyrock - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 2:55 pm:
I think Biss got played by leadership on SB1, and he knows it. He’s grown since then.
He also learned a lot when Madigan squeezed him out of the comptroller’s race. He’s not the neophyte he used to be.
But I also think he needs to say, straight out, that he was right on the need for fiscal reform (he knew the math), but he was totally wrong on SB1. And then pivot to the graduated income tax and other policy.
- Shake - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 2:57 pm:
Ron. Just Keep Paying Retirees.. Lol.
- Annyong - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 3:00 pm:
I am for the first time thinking that Pawar is going to be the most formidable progressive candidate and Biss will soon become an “Also-ran”
Pawar has been charismatic, funny, and mature on the trail and in his statements. Biss on the other hand is not too good at this running for statewide office thing.
- Mitch Trubisky - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 3:05 pm:
To LindsayRose: Hyatts are union hotels
To Ron: Pension funding was blown off for decades by Assemblies and Govs of both parties
- Anonymous - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 3:10 pm:
=State Party Chair Madigan should be a unifier, not a divider, of his party. That’s the role of a state party chairman.=
The role of a state party chair is to make sure his or her party wins elections. End of story.
- ILPundit - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 3:11 pm:
Anyone who doesn’t think Madigan has chips on every major candidate in the Dem Primary hasn’t been paying attention to the guy for the last few decades.
Whoever wins, he will have provided overt or covert assistance. That includes Biss. This happens every cycle, without fail.
That said, as an undecided voter who will be voting in the Democratic primary, Biss doing the Governor’s dirty work for him makes me far less likely to support him.
- Chi - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 3:11 pm:
Anonymous 3:20 is me
- Just Observing - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 3:13 pm:
It’s gonna be awkward when JB or Kennedy tap Biss to be their Lt. Gov. nominee.
- Roman - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 3:13 pm:
- Been there - is right.
The trades don’t want to fund both Democratic legislative candidates and the Democratic gubernatorial candidate. They’re hoping an early endorsement relieves them of the latter. No doubt, the Speaker twisted their arms on this, but he didn’t have to twist hard.
- Downstate Dem - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 3:28 pm:
anonymous 3:10
I agree with you entirely and you’ve made my point … creating disunity will not help Dems win the governor’s mansion. Period.
- Ron - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 3:43 pm:
Mitch, I undertand that. Gov. Edgar is primary reason Illinois is dying.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 3:45 pm:
Don’t feed the Troll.
To the update,
Sam Hobert,
That’s some good work there.
OW
- Here we go again - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 3:47 pm:
As an early supporter of senator Biss, he and his team, need to be careful about how much they pound on his primary opponents. I am personally upset by this response. Congratulate him on the endorsements, say you’re looking to a healthy debate, and remind the unions that you’re expecting them to work together to defeat Rauner.
- Anon0091 - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 4:03 pm:
“- Here we go again - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 3:47 pm:
As an early supporter of senator Biss, he and his team, need to be careful about how much they pound on his primary opponents. I am personally upset by this response. Congratulate him on the endorsements, say you’re looking to a healthy debate, and remind the unions that you’re expecting them to work together to defeat Rauner.”
THIS ^^^^^ EXACTLY ^^^^^
- wordslinger - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 4:13 pm:
– geez Louise, does Witt remember that PAC Biss ran? –
What she meant to say is that Biss is the choice of billionaires to front a PAC, not be governor.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 4:15 pm:
– Gov. Edgar is primary reason Illinois is dying.–
Are you being an obnoxious thread-hijacking troll, have a head injury and can’t follow the conversation or both?
Those are the good options, by the way.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 4:19 pm:
If J.B. can get an endorsement from the unions with members at the Hyatt Hotels, I will be impressed. Labor management relations have not always been the best at the hotel chain, but there is a contract in place now.
- TKMH - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 4:21 pm:
Biss ought to play up the aw-shucks, wonky, juggling Paul Simon card and lay off the populist stuff. Populists are good at yelling to galvanize an audience - see Trump, Donald or Sanders, Bernie. Biss is the kind of guy who’s never raised his voice, unless it’s been to ask a question at a math conference.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 4:27 pm:
===Daniel Biss is never going to be the choice of the billionaires or Mike Madigan===
That’s true, but it’s not for lack of trying, lol.
- JohnnyPyleDriver - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 4:35 pm:
The one guy willing to whack Madigan in a state that hates Madigan more than the governor is the guy in Madigan’s pocket? There seems to be some mass hysteria going on in this thread.
Good for Biss. He gets another donation from me!
- Moe Berg - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 4:38 pm:
Biss, as usual, hilariously lacking in self-awareness and humility - ironically, qualities the billionaire J.B. appears to possess.
Biss has been happy to take campaign contributions from millionaires and billionaires, just look at the nearly $5,000 catering bill Chris Kennedy picked up for him all the way back in…2015.
But, that was then and now Biss is a bona fide Working Class Hero.
- Chicagonk - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 4:38 pm:
Doesn’t it feel a lot like 2016? Biss complaining isn’t a great look, but it certainly does feel like another Democratic primary will be over before it even started.
- JohnnyPyleDriver - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 4:39 pm:
And I can promise I won’t be voting for Kennedy or Pritzker even against Rauner. Y’all want to make this a race against billionaires, I’m out. And so are lots of people. Dems will lose bigly if they go this route. Oh well. Y’all didn’t want to learn a lesson after what just happened in November, I can’t make ya
- Northsider - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 4:48 pm:
Sen. Biss, this chirping is unbecoming at best, and whiny “aw, why is this happening to me?!” petulance at worst.
You want to be governor? Be JB’s lieutenant governor first.
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 4:49 pm:
Ah, the old “I didn’t need their endorsement anyway, I am of the [vague, unnamed] people!” schtick.
Almost as good as “the only poll that counts is on Election Day!” when you’re down 40 points.
- Anon0091 - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 4:51 pm:
JohnnyPyleDriver, why? Pritzker has money, but he’s also been a huge supporter for Dems, built the Chicago tech community and has been a big advocate for early childhood education for decades. People seem to like him and every who knows him says he’s a super decent human being. So you won’t vote for him ever just because he’s rich? I don’t get it.
- JohnnyPyleDriver - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 4:56 pm:
Just because he’s rich? No, because he has absolutely no qualifications to be governor except for a giant treasure chest. It’s a transparent and cynical ploy by madigan and co that many many people see right through. Because it’s fake. A big reason why Hillary lost, and it will be a big reason Rauner gets a second term. People want authenticity. Not a rich guy who thinks the timing is right to pretend to be a politician. People are sick of this nonsense. It’s small thinking- to beat a billionaire you have to be a billionaire. This isn’t about what’s best for Illinois. It’s about who the big brains in the dem party think can beat Rauner. And they’re wrong anyway. Garbage
- Anonymous - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 5:22 pm:
Dan Biss will not get organized labor.
- Doofman - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 7:40 pm:
40% of union households voted for Rauner, maybe Biss and Pawar realize that ground isn’t nearly as fertile as the progressive, anti-billionaire base of the IL Dem electorate at the moment
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 8:10 pm:
“it will be a big reason Rauner gets a second term. People want authenticity”
LOL! Rauner’s authentic, wearing those working class costumes? You’re joking, right?
“No, because he has absolutely no qualifications to be governor except for a giant treasure chest.”
That’s Rauner right there.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 8:15 pm:
To the post:
I like the Pawar campaign’s response better. It’s not bitter. I don’t think the candidates should go too hard against each other and should focus more on Rauner. Perhaps it won’t mean much in the long run, but I don’t want Democratic candidates doing Rauner’s work for him.
- Anon0091 - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 9:11 pm:
Thanks Grandson for nailing the absurdity of that response. Of course Pritzker is WAY more qualified now (nice how you ignored the parts about building the tech community and early childhood advocacy) than Rauner was or ever will be.
- Anon - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 10:00 pm:
I’m surprised so many commenters are upset with Biss for saying what the same commenters have been saying all along - Pritzker’s wealth, not his competence, is his contribution in this race and the reason Madigan & co are throwing support his way. Think about it - no questionnaire, no history of being pro union, no opportunity for other candidates to make their case, then a ringing endorsement. Pritzker will milk it for all that it’s worth. Other candidates are right to expose the farce.
This was a good, smart response by Biss.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 10:08 pm:
Not a smooth move, Daniel.
You don’t blame the union for not choosing you.
You don’t blame the speaker of the house, who’d prefer not to be anyone’s campaign issue.
You don’t look petulant and desperate.
The Pritzker endorsement changes thjngs, but doesn’t take a thing away from you - unless you let it, by doing things like you just did.
We’ve got an emotional child playing governor now. We had Blagojevich. We don’t want a thin-skinned governor.
Please. Do better.
- Rabid - Thursday, May 4, 17 @ 6:56 am:
Biss needs a union plasterer after a crack like that, Pawar has class
- JohnnyPyleDriver - Thursday, May 4, 17 @ 12:01 pm:
Grandson and anon, you may have missed the point. It has nothing to do with qualifications relative to Rauner. Even it was, Pritzker is barely, if st all, more qualified. It has to do with 2 years of complaining that Rauner didn’t have any experience except a giant war chest, and the turning around and throwing full support behind a similar candidate but with a D next to his name. What argument could he make against Rauner? And yea, Rauner isn’t authentic but he’s sure taking it to the one guy that’s more hated in this state, and who, oh by the way is supporting the other rich unqualified billionaire.