* Sen. Daniel Biss has so far reported almost $200,000 in contributions for the month of June. There are probably more coming because of statutory reporting deadline delays. But half of that money, $100,000 came from one source, the Senate Democratic Victory Fund. It’s the largest contribution Biss has ever reported receiving since he first ran for the Illinois House.
Steve Campbell at SDVF explains…
Today, the Illinois Senate Democratic Victory Fund transferred $100,000 to State Senator Daniel Biss. Senator Biss made a $100,000 donation to SDVF last November immediately following the 2016 election.
As an organization, SDVF does not make endorsements in statewide primaries. We are committed to electing Democratic state senators and standing up to Bruce Rauner’s destructive agenda. We look forward to working with Democratic candidates and campaigns to achieve these goals.
Hmm.
* Meanwhile, Chris Kennedy sent out a fundraising e-mail yesterday before the contribution deadline entitled “Our mission is more powerful than their money”…
When people get hurt, we change the rules. Just as we’ve changed the rules of football or hockey to prevent people from getting hurt, so too must we change the rules of our broken political system because it’s hurting the people of Illinois.
We all know that the property tax system in Illinois is hurting people, but still our government has done nothing to fix this. Why? Because the system has been corrupted by the connected and the insiders. They don’t want to change this system because it benefits them, regardless of whether it hurts the middle-class and those most vulnerable in Illinois.
That’s why I need you with me. Taking on the political establishment will be tough, and they have lots of ways to fight back. But I’m not afraid of them or their money.
Please make a $5 contribution before our midnight fundraising deadline to show the establishment that we are ready for this fight.
Your contribution will give us the resources we need to compete but more importantly, it will help show the establishment that there is a groundswell of support, made up of thousands of people, ready to stop insiders from abusing the system for their own gain.
I know that our mission is more powerful than their money and our beliefs are stronger than their billions. With your support, we can show the establishment that we are ready for radical change.
* From the Pawar campaign…
Ameya Pawar, 47th Ward alderman and Democratic candidate for Illinois governor, today released a new digital spot highlighting the Chicago’s Paid Sick Leave Ordinance which goes into effect July 1, 2017.
Starting Saturday, nearly half a million workers across the Chicago will earn the right to paid sick leave. Nearly a quarter million workers in the Chicago will get a raise because of the increase in the minimum wage.
“It has been my honor as the co-chairman of the Chicago Working Families Task Force to pass paid sick leave, raise the minimum wage, combat wage theft, making sure we don’t procure uniforms from sweatshops. This is what it means to be a Progressive - getting things done, working with groups and making progress for all people.” - Ameya Pawar
* And the JB Pritzker campaign whacked Gov. Rauner yesterday…
Today, a U.S. judge ordered Illinois to pay Medicaid providers an additional $586 million a month to ensure health care continues for millions of Illinoisans. In response, JB Pritzker released the following statement:
“We are at the point where the courts are having to do Bruce Rauner’s job for him to ensure 3 million Illinoisans are still able to receive health care,” said JB Pritzker. “With over $14 billion in unpaid bills, Illinois is broke and essential services are at risk. Whether Illinois can continue to provide health care or educate our children is entirely unclear under Bruce Rauner’s failed leadership. This is unprecedented, the people Bruce Rauner is supposed to represent are suffering, and the damage this will do to our state will take years to remedy. Illinois must pass a budget and then come together to clean up Bruce Rauner’s mess.”
===We all know that the property tax system in Illinois is hurting people, but still our government has done nothing to fix this. Why? Because the system has been corrupted by the connected and the insiders. They don’t want to change this system because it benefits them, regardless of whether it hurts the middle-class and those most vulnerable in Illinois.===
Kennedy should just run for Cook County Assessor and be done with it.
“Please tell me that you have something more, Kennedy Crew. This election is about the people of Illimois and their lives. Please tell me you candidacy hasn’t pinned its hopes to a property tax bill.”
Hard to begrudge Biss getting $100,000 returned to him after Pritzker’s $14 million self-donation.
Kennedy’s messaging is just so off and confused, and it’s not compelling at all. The whole “Vote for me pretty much only because I’m a Kennedy but btw I’m taking on the political establishment” thing gives me whiplash, but he doesn’t have much else to work with.
Nice statement from Pawar. He’s great at consistently sounding like a nice guy.
It’s been a non-issue due to his dark horse status, but I do wonder if/when Pawar’s earlier Rahm loyalist years will be brought up. After all, he wasn’t a member of the Progressive Caucus
Mr. Kennedy, residential assessments in Chicago and Cook County are assessed at a far lower rate then the rest of the state. As a candidate, will you pledge to raise the residential assessments in Cook to be at 33%, the same level the rest of the state? Will you level the playing field of the TAX RATES between Chicago-Cook County and the collar counties? A street renovation project tax in Elgin was announced a few years ago, and a Elgin official explained it would cost a homeowner in Kane County about $1200, and similar homeowners on the Cook County side about $800. Many similar and identical houses were built in Elgin by the same builders and are within a few hundred feet of each other. The houses are just assessed and taxed differently by which side of the line they are on. You keep saying the property tax system is unfair, you got that right! When you figure out how to equalize both the assessments AND the tax rates between Cook and the Collar Counties, you let us all know. We are waiting for your proposals. Until then, please quit parroting Rauner.
Pawar is a lightweight. Why is anyone taking him seriously? Weakest candidate by far. Not prepared for office, which shouldn’t be a problem as he will not be elected.
- Veil of Ignorance
I think this video is about preempting that a little. People ask him why he isn’t a member of the Progressive Caucus (his answer sometime is just that he couldn’t stand Bob Fioretti).
Highlighting that he was front and center on some progressive ordinances (plus the O’Hare union/Fight for $15 issue) is a second answer. Sort of like, “I am not a member of the progressive caucus, but I’ve been with them when it counts.”
- Oswego Willy - Saturday, Jul 1, 17 @ 11:38 am:
===We all know that the property tax system in Illinois is hurting people, but still our government has done nothing to fix this. Why? Because the system has been corrupted by the connected and the insiders. They don’t want to change this system because it benefits them, regardless of whether it hurts the middle-class and those most vulnerable in Illinois.===
Kennedy should just run for Cook County Assessor and be done with it.
“Please tell me that you have something more, Kennedy Crew. This election is about the people of Illimois and their lives. Please tell me you candidacy hasn’t pinned its hopes to a property tax bill.”
- Periwinkle - Saturday, Jul 1, 17 @ 12:08 pm:
Hard to begrudge Biss getting $100,000 returned to him after Pritzker’s $14 million self-donation.
Kennedy’s messaging is just so off and confused, and it’s not compelling at all. The whole “Vote for me pretty much only because I’m a Kennedy but btw I’m taking on the political establishment” thing gives me whiplash, but he doesn’t have much else to work with.
Nice statement from Pawar. He’s great at consistently sounding like a nice guy.
- Veil of Ignorance - Saturday, Jul 1, 17 @ 2:59 pm:
It’s been a non-issue due to his dark horse status, but I do wonder if/when Pawar’s earlier Rahm loyalist years will be brought up. After all, he wasn’t a member of the Progressive Caucus
- DuPage - Saturday, Jul 1, 17 @ 3:49 pm:
Mr. Kennedy, residential assessments in Chicago and Cook County are assessed at a far lower rate then the rest of the state. As a candidate, will you pledge to raise the residential assessments in Cook to be at 33%, the same level the rest of the state? Will you level the playing field of the TAX RATES between Chicago-Cook County and the collar counties? A street renovation project tax in Elgin was announced a few years ago, and a Elgin official explained it would cost a homeowner in Kane County about $1200, and similar homeowners on the Cook County side about $800. Many similar and identical houses were built in Elgin by the same builders and are within a few hundred feet of each other. The houses are just assessed and taxed differently by which side of the line they are on. You keep saying the property tax system is unfair, you got that right! When you figure out how to equalize both the assessments AND the tax rates between Cook and the Collar Counties, you let us all know. We are waiting for your proposals. Until then, please quit parroting Rauner.
- Responsa - Saturday, Jul 1, 17 @ 6:18 pm:
Excellent positive Pawar video. The music they used is especially appealing.
- CatAttack - Sunday, Jul 2, 17 @ 8:09 am:
These Pawar videos are really good. Loved his Pride one too.
- Southwestsider - Sunday, Jul 2, 17 @ 8:24 am:
Pawar is a lightweight. Why is anyone taking him seriously? Weakest candidate by far. Not prepared for office, which shouldn’t be a problem as he will not be elected.
- Liberal Elite - Sunday, Jul 2, 17 @ 9:45 am:
- Veil of Ignorance
I think this video is about preempting that a little. People ask him why he isn’t a member of the Progressive Caucus (his answer sometime is just that he couldn’t stand Bob Fioretti).
Highlighting that he was front and center on some progressive ordinances (plus the O’Hare union/Fight for $15 issue) is a second answer. Sort of like, “I am not a member of the progressive caucus, but I’ve been with them when it counts.”