* ILGOP…
Today, the Illinois Republican Party launched the 2018 Madigan Retirement Plan. The initiative will specifically target members of the Illinois House and Senate who empower their political boss, Mike Madigan. Through the 2018 Madigan Retirement Plan, the Illinois Republican Party will also offer unprecedented support to local GOP organizations by providing innovative grassroots tools, enhanced digital and data integration, and targeted support for local Republican candidates in an effort to defeat Democrats at every level who empower their party leader, Mike Madigan.
The longest serving House speaker in United States history, Mike Madigan was first elected to the Illinois House in 1970 and rose to the speakership in 1983. In 1998, Madigan was elected Chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois. At the end of his current term in the House, Madigan will have been a member of the Illinois General Assembly for 48 years, speaker of the House for 34 years, and chairman of the Democratic Party for 21 years.
Today, the Illinois Republican Party received a $4,450,000 contribution from Governor Rauner’s campaign to launch the 2018 Madigan Retirement Plan. In total, the Illinois Republican Party has received $6.6 million from Governor Rauner’s campaign this year.
Below is a statement from Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider on the 2018 Madigan Retirement Plan:
“Four decades in power is long enough, and with Governor Rauner’s support, Illinois Republicans can ensure 2018 is Mike Madigan’s last year as Speaker. Governor Rauner has shown time and time again that he is committed to revitalizing the Republican Party in the state of Illinois. Thanks to Gov. Rauner’s unprecedented commitment, we are now closer than ever to retiring Speaker Mike Madigan once and for all.”
* But…
Looks like a data entry mistake.
…Adding… It was two checks…
* Meanwhile, a DuPage County Board member running for retiring GOP Rep. Mike Fortner’s seat launched on Rauner today…
Tonia Khouri, candidate for State Representative in the 49th District releases the following statement:
I consider myself a free-market conservative and pro-life.
Being a loyal Republican for 30 years makes this decision difficult and sad. However, I cannot in good conscience support our current governor, Bruce Rauner. He has made decisions that financially hurt our state like the Chicago school “bailout” and the expensive “sanctuary state” bill. However, the final straw was allowing taxpayer-funded abortions on demand. The financial and moral consequences of HB40 will haunt this state for years to come.
If we continue down this path, not only will Illinois be financially bankrupt, it will be morally bankrupt as well.
Therefore, I stand in unity with conservatives, with pro-lifers, and those who feel betrayed by our governor’s recent actions and will not be supporting Bruce Rauner for Governor.
It’s not too late to save our state - we just need the right people in Springfield to do it.
She faces Nick Zito in the primary.
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Wednesday, Oct 11, 17 @ 3:54 pm:
$4.45 million is a nice way to say “come to (sugar) daddy”.
- Slender Stu from Cass Co. - Wednesday, Oct 11, 17 @ 3:55 pm:
What is a Nick Zito?
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Oct 11, 17 @ 3:59 pm:
Slender, if you subscribed, you’d know.
- Mr. Suburbs - Wednesday, Oct 11, 17 @ 4:00 pm:
Tonia Khouri was always a bad candidate. Was in 2016 and now she has let Proft get to her thinking she needs to “rally” the base. No one cares Tonia…no one cares.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Oct 11, 17 @ 4:01 pm:
The data entry error is correct. It may take $450 million to get this pariah in his own party renominated and reelected.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 11, 17 @ 4:02 pm:
List of accomplishments for the people of Illinois? Anyone, anyone??
- Honeybadger - Wednesday, Oct 11, 17 @ 4:10 pm:
Certainly don’t see chairman Schneider turning the money away or any other Republican telling Ronald a pound salt with his money
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Wednesday, Oct 11, 17 @ 4:12 pm:
“Downstate Rep. X took thousands of dollars from Governor Rauner, right after he enabled publicly funded abortions”.
- Michelle Flaherty - Wednesday, Oct 11, 17 @ 4:16 pm:
The Rauner folks have never been particularly good with the numbers.
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Wednesday, Oct 11, 17 @ 4:19 pm:
Good thing Rauner hasn’t been in charge of our budget. That would be a complete disas…oh, oh yeah.
- The Captain - Wednesday, Oct 11, 17 @ 4:19 pm:
$4.45 million? So basically not quite one 2016 MacAuliffe race. The price of poker has gone way up, the House Republicans shouldn’t be offended that Rauner is trying to buy them they should be offended that he thinks it’s so cheap.
- Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Oct 11, 17 @ 4:20 pm:
If Rauner just gave Madigan the money directly, he would retire.
- We'll See - Wednesday, Oct 11, 17 @ 4:20 pm:
So the Gov is giving $4,450,000 towards one man’s retirement — I knew those public pensions were generous but that’s nuts.
- Huh? - Wednesday, Oct 11, 17 @ 4:22 pm:
So where are the republican’ts going to find a quality candidate to run against Madigan?
- Winnin' - Wednesday, Oct 11, 17 @ 4:22 pm:
The snake oil salesman force-peddles his elixir.
Take it or else.
- A guy - Wednesday, Oct 11, 17 @ 4:28 pm:
Kind of an in-house money transfer to support candidates in districts he cares more about himself in than their prospects. It’s transparent in a variety of ways. /s
- SameolG - Wednesday, Oct 11, 17 @ 4:40 pm:
Just in time for Veto session. Ah politics, can’t you just smell the bands of cash in the morning?
- Rogue Roni - Wednesday, Oct 11, 17 @ 4:43 pm:
I wonder if these pro-life “republicans” will take the blood money
- Dude Abides - Wednesday, Oct 11, 17 @ 5:19 pm:
As has been said many times on here, the Republican Party no longer exists in Illinois. It was bought by a wealthy man who leads the party that has made Illinois a sanctuary state and a taxpayer supported abortion state. I have no sympathy for those who allowed themselves to be bought. The likely end result is that the Democrats will capture the Governor’s office in 2019, at which time the spigot of money will be shut off.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 11, 17 @ 5:28 pm:
Wow, definitely no Republicans on this thread today. The other perspective: Illinois ranks last for states in some key financial ratings. Democrats resisted change. People still want change. Madigan is not an agent of change or bringing financial stability to our State.
- Roadrager - Wednesday, Oct 11, 17 @ 6:03 pm:
So Tonia Khouri’s Oberweising her way down the ballot until she finds someplace to slide in, huh? Can’t wait for her pandering to a green “T.”
- Cash Beardsley - Wednesday, Oct 11, 17 @ 6:12 pm:
Cong. Bill Foster embarrassed Tonia in 2016. She had a decent amount of financing behind her but it did her no good. Campaign was pretty inept. Here’s hoping she loses.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Oct 11, 17 @ 6:30 pm:
Watching grassroot support for a politician is so invigorating. Small donors using their coins and rumpled dollar bills - totalling almost four and a half million?
Obviously a man of the people, right?
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 11, 17 @ 7:01 pm:
Interesting to see if any of the outraged accept Rauner money/spending on their behalf.
You know, because of principles.
Perhaps Rep. Ives, Rep. Breen can keep a lookout for that sort of thing.
And Proft, too. He certainly won’t be accepting any money from Rauner or the ILGOP.
Right?
- Blue dog dem - Wednesday, Oct 11, 17 @ 7:30 pm:
Is a Republican who accepts money from Rauner any different than a Dem accepting money thru MJM?
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 11, 17 @ 7:35 pm:
–Is a Republican who accepts money from Rauner any different than a Dem accepting money thru MJM?–
Try to follow the conversation in context. The outraged are those like Ives, Breen and Proft in regards to HB40.
- Just Me - Wednesday, Oct 11, 17 @ 8:00 pm:
Here is what is so confusing to me: Mike Madigan has spent his entire life protecting the institution of the General Assembly. Doesn’t he understand that by staying in it so long he is now endangering the thing he loves so much?
He is now the poster child for reform to the General Assembly.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 11, 17 @ 8:33 pm:
In my post, I said Rauner but it came up as Ronald. That is what I get for talking into my phone, while waiting for new tires at the car dealer.
- Rabid - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 7:39 am:
another fire madigan campaign. The only person between us and junk status, the money changers nightmare. anyone that upsets Rauner is a hero
- Been there, done that - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 9:14 am:
Battle of the wallets? Rauner’s $4.5 million to the ILGOP and Uihlein’s $2 million to Proft’s Liberty PAC. Will they be working together or against each other? Who will take Rauner’s blood money (through ILGOP and HRO/RSSCC), who will take Proft’s allegiance money, and who will be supported by their constituents? Popping the popcorn and watching to see how this unfolds during the primary.