State Sen. Kwame Raoul will receive the endorsement of the Service Employees International Union Illinois Council as he seeks the Democratic nomination for attorney general. The union represents roughly 150,000 health care, child care and nursing home workers.
SEIU Healthcare Illinois president Greg Kelley cited Raoul’s legislative record and said the group believes Raoul “will fight for us and our core values of economic, racial and immigrant justice for all, not just the powerful few.”
* Biss always comes off as kinda uptight and stiff, so this could be an interesting event…
* Surprise! Longtime House Democrat in hot primary battle against Chuy Garcia ally to introduce resolution on NRA…
Sneed has learned State Rep. Dan Burke, who introduced the Commander Paul Bauer (gun control) Act this week, plans to introduce a new House resolution next week encouraging members of the General Assembly NOT to accept any further contributions from the National Rifle Association.
“I have never supported the NRA agenda or taken money from them,” he said.
“It’s my way of responding to a question asked by a student who witnessed the gun massacre at a Florida high school that U.S. Senator Marco Rubio failed to answer at a recent town hall meeting,” added Burke.
* Always remember that we live in a bubble. We had a gubernatorial primary debate on Chicago Public Radio. At night. More people read about it or watched clips on TV than listened…
With JB Pritzker leading in the polls, the others were looking for that breakout moment.
Pritzker was ready with attacks Thursday night’s debate as well.
So, who won Thursday night? Kennedy’s performance was more focused but no knock out punch. Pritzker still has the advantage.
A nighttime radio knockout punch would have to negate tens of millions of dollars of advertising spending. That would be one heckuva punch.
Gubernatorial debates don’t usually change the course of an election like presidential debates because half the country watches presidential debates. Few watch or listen to gubernatorial debates.
* While we’re on the topic, Chris Kennedy was bluntly honest when asked by reporters last night about the price of a CTA monthly pass…
The CTA is critically important to Chicago and the region, so maybe he should try it?
* Press release…
4th District Democratic congressional candidate Jesus “Chuy” Garcia released a set of new Spanish language television ads this week.
In “Uno de Nosotros,” Chuy is in conversation with constituents, walking the streets of Humboldt Park, Little Village and Pilsen while 4th District residents voice their reasons for strongly supporting his candidacy.
“Juntos” outlines Chuy’s progressive vision to move the communities of the 4th District forward, and urges voters to elect his team of progressive Democratic candidates, Aaron Ortiz – running for 1st District State Representative – and Alma Anaya – running to fill Garcia’s seat on the Cook County Board of Commissioners.
The 30 second ads, airing on Univision Chicago and Telemundo, can be viewed here:
For nearly two decades, suburban Republicans had a political name brand on the ticket in a North Shore congressional district as Mark Kirk won five straight times and Robert Dold won twice and lost twice.
Now the party is trying to rebuild in the 10th District, a rare swing seat that Democrats have had a tough time winning in non-presidential years.
I dunno. Something tells me this off-year could be different than the last two.
Good for Kennedy. Is this now the requirement for office CTA pass and how much for a gallon of milk?
The “Progressive” middle class guy does not know so I guess he will withdraw.
Just tell me without smoke and mirrors or a progressive income tax that needs a constitutional amendment how are you going to deal with state finances and have every candidate give us a draft budget with how the world is now not how we want it to be
Many who ride the CTA have no idea what a “monthly pass” cost. I’m guessing most who have one have it subsidized by their employer. With the advent of Ventra, it’s no longer common to use one. And the cost is high: you have to ride not only twice every work day but also on weekends to make it cost effective. Asking the price of one ride on the CTA might have made sense: but a lot of folks in Chicago who ride CTA often probably had to go look it up themselves. Dumb question to ask a guy who lives in Evanston who works in Springfield. And I would be shocked if Chris Kennedy rides CTA ever. Maybe he should … but it’s a weird standard.
—-I think I vividly recall Barack Obama’s evening radio debate with Alan Keyes and thinking how the “ummm” machine was on overdrive that night for him.
I was sitting about 4 feet in front of Obama and I noticed it, but then listening to the replay on the way home I was wondering if I was at the debate it was so pronounced. I believe that’s why Rich watches/listens to them on TV/radio.
“However, Southern Illinois is an NRA bastion,” he added. Dan Burke quote from the linked Sneed article.
I get a laugh when I see how legislators are in awe of the all-powerful NRA. If they only knew the history. Since NRA fired contract lobbyist Todd Vandermyde last October, they replaced him with another lobbyist from NRA HQ that covers three states. Which means that Illinois gun owners are right back to where they were for the last forty years: on their own. So what else is new?
NRA & Richard Pearson at ISRA didn’t lift a finger to promote concealed carry before grassroots activists recruited Otis McDonald as lead plaintiff against the Chicago handgun ban. The aging downstate white guys like Pearson thought that having a black man like Otis as a front for their lawsuit would make them look trendy and hip. When the McDonald case came down from the Supreme Court in record time, ISRA & NRA fell all over themselves groveling to police unions in Rep. Brandon Phelps concealed carry bill. The good old boys always revert to what they are: losers who don’t know how to win. The southern IL types constantly get kicked in the teeth by NRA, then send them more money.
NRA doesn’t benefit by really winning anything, just losing a little and more status quo. If NRA passed a good concealed carry law in Illinois, they would go out of business. The lawyers wouldn’t make money, like the 2,000 plus people waiting for their carry licenses because some police agency objected to their application
anonymously.
Not to pile on Biss, but to pile on Biss he’s the same guy who crafted his own proposal to merge the three Chicago transit agencies a few years ago. If he’s not familiar with the fare structure- one of the complexities of the region’s system for a variety of operational and historical reasons, I’m not sure he’s positioning himself as qualified to propose upsetting the current transit structure.
I am sorry but Sneed is a disgrace. Three Dan Burke mentions in the spate of three days (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) just shows you how deeply indebted she is to Ed Burke for her scoops.
She barely works and when she does, she shills for politicians like Burke or trolls for her favorite restaurants, like Gibsons, Spiaggia, etc. Ugh.
- Pot calling kettle - Friday, Mar 2, 18 @ 3:34 pm:
My spouse, who always votes in the D primary but pulled an R ballot in 2014 to vote against Rauner, received a copy of “The Governor You Don’t Know” in the mail today. Jeanne Ives is on the back cover.
If they are sending this to any who have voted in a recent R primary, that’s a big list. Especially since a lot of solid Dems pulled R ballots in 2014.
Also, thanks to Jeanne & Co. for doing ground work for the Dems!
Burke might be surprised how many law abiding gun owners are in his district we will see on 3/20 then again maybe not? its not like he can get a FOID holders mailing list? oh wait this is… oh never mind.
Re: the 10th District. Jeremy Wynes is a Republican lobbyist endorsed by John Bolton and Dr. Shah isn’t a real doctor. There’s a reason this race isn’t even on the radar anymore. The GOP brand is in the toilet and the candidate recruitment shows it.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 2, 18 @ 1:33 pm:
===For his sake, I hope he doesn’t try to dance.===
If you’re the one doing Advance for Biss here… you have to make sure Biss doesn’t dance.
It will go global.
You’ve been warned.
- DuPage Saint - Friday, Mar 2, 18 @ 1:39 pm:
Good for Kennedy. Is this now the requirement for office CTA pass and how much for a gallon of milk?
The “Progressive” middle class guy does not know so I guess he will withdraw.
Just tell me without smoke and mirrors or a progressive income tax that needs a constitutional amendment how are you going to deal with state finances and have every candidate give us a draft budget with how the world is now not how we want it to be
- Ok - Friday, Mar 2, 18 @ 1:43 pm:
I think I vividly recall Barack Obama’s evening radio debate with Alan Keyes and thinking how the “ummm” machine was on overdrive that night for him.
- walker - Friday, Mar 2, 18 @ 1:44 pm:
“”emptying-my-campaign-in-box”"
Hate to picture it. Bet the bulk of it didn’t make it this far.
- One from Chicago - Friday, Mar 2, 18 @ 2:07 pm:
Many who ride the CTA have no idea what a “monthly pass” cost. I’m guessing most who have one have it subsidized by their employer. With the advent of Ventra, it’s no longer common to use one. And the cost is high: you have to ride not only twice every work day but also on weekends to make it cost effective. Asking the price of one ride on the CTA might have made sense: but a lot of folks in Chicago who ride CTA often probably had to go look it up themselves. Dumb question to ask a guy who lives in Evanston who works in Springfield. And I would be shocked if Chris Kennedy rides CTA ever. Maybe he should … but it’s a weird standard.
- ArchPundit - Friday, Mar 2, 18 @ 2:08 pm:
===If you’re the one doing Advance for Biss here… you have to make sure Biss doesn’t dance.
Maybe he can solve some polynomials to the music.
- ArchPundit - Friday, Mar 2, 18 @ 2:11 pm:
—-I think I vividly recall Barack Obama’s evening radio debate with Alan Keyes and thinking how the “ummm” machine was on overdrive that night for him.
I was sitting about 4 feet in front of Obama and I noticed it, but then listening to the replay on the way home I was wondering if I was at the debate it was so pronounced. I believe that’s why Rich watches/listens to them on TV/radio.
- Anonymous - Friday, Mar 2, 18 @ 2:14 pm:
“However, Southern Illinois is an NRA bastion,” he added. Dan Burke quote from the linked Sneed article.
I get a laugh when I see how legislators are in awe of the all-powerful NRA. If they only knew the history. Since NRA fired contract lobbyist Todd Vandermyde last October, they replaced him with another lobbyist from NRA HQ that covers three states. Which means that Illinois gun owners are right back to where they were for the last forty years: on their own. So what else is new?
NRA & Richard Pearson at ISRA didn’t lift a finger to promote concealed carry before grassroots activists recruited Otis McDonald as lead plaintiff against the Chicago handgun ban. The aging downstate white guys like Pearson thought that having a black man like Otis as a front for their lawsuit would make them look trendy and hip. When the McDonald case came down from the Supreme Court in record time, ISRA & NRA fell all over themselves groveling to police unions in Rep. Brandon Phelps concealed carry bill. The good old boys always revert to what they are: losers who don’t know how to win. The southern IL types constantly get kicked in the teeth by NRA, then send them more money.
NRA doesn’t benefit by really winning anything, just losing a little and more status quo. If NRA passed a good concealed carry law in Illinois, they would go out of business. The lawyers wouldn’t make money, like the 2,000 plus people waiting for their carry licenses because some police agency objected to their application
anonymously.
- Just Observing - Friday, Mar 2, 18 @ 2:23 pm:
None of the contenders for the 10th congressional Republican primary stand a chance against Schneider in November.
- Father Ted - Friday, Mar 2, 18 @ 2:35 pm:
Not to pile on Biss, but to pile on Biss he’s the same guy who crafted his own proposal to merge the three Chicago transit agencies a few years ago. If he’s not familiar with the fare structure- one of the complexities of the region’s system for a variety of operational and historical reasons, I’m not sure he’s positioning himself as qualified to propose upsetting the current transit structure.
- Anonymous - Friday, Mar 2, 18 @ 2:45 pm:
=Sneed has learned State Rep. Dan Burke…”
I am sorry but Sneed is a disgrace. Three Dan Burke mentions in the spate of three days (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) just shows you how deeply indebted she is to Ed Burke for her scoops.
She barely works and when she does, she shills for politicians like Burke or trolls for her favorite restaurants, like Gibsons, Spiaggia, etc. Ugh.
- Pot calling kettle - Friday, Mar 2, 18 @ 3:34 pm:
My spouse, who always votes in the D primary but pulled an R ballot in 2014 to vote against Rauner, received a copy of “The Governor You Don’t Know” in the mail today. Jeanne Ives is on the back cover.
If they are sending this to any who have voted in a recent R primary, that’s a big list. Especially since a lot of solid Dems pulled R ballots in 2014.
Also, thanks to Jeanne & Co. for doing ground work for the Dems!
- Ron - Friday, Mar 2, 18 @ 3:45 pm:
CTA is a bargain.
- Honeybadger - Friday, Mar 2, 18 @ 4:21 pm:
I voted “R” one time in my life, against Rauner in 2014. I received the same piece of literature. Somehow, my dogs got ahold of it and then threw up.
- NorthsideNoMore - Friday, Mar 2, 18 @ 4:37 pm:
Burke might be surprised how many law abiding gun owners are in his district we will see on 3/20 then again maybe not? its not like he can get a FOID holders mailing list? oh wait this is… oh never mind.
- Anon2 - Friday, Mar 2, 18 @ 5:34 pm:
Re: the 10th District. Jeremy Wynes is a Republican lobbyist endorsed by John Bolton and Dr. Shah isn’t a real doctor. There’s a reason this race isn’t even on the radar anymore. The GOP brand is in the toilet and the candidate recruitment shows it.
- Anonymous - Friday, Mar 2, 18 @ 5:47 pm:
I think Kennedy will do best in tonight’s debate