Today, Biss for Illinois released a new television ad, “Difference.” In the ad, Daniel Biss explains why, as a middle-class public school parent, he understands the stakes of this election in a way his wealthy opponents never will.
“They’ve never had to struggle to afford healthcare or pay off a student loan, so how can we ever expect the billionaires to make Illinois work for the middle class?” says Biss in the ad. “I’m Daniel Biss, and as a former teacher with kids in public schools, I’ll fight for fair taxes, fully funded schools, and healthcare for all because I understand the stakes in a way my wealthy opponents never will. That’s the difference: for me, it’s personal.”
The attorney general should be your lawyer. No conflicts of interests. My opponent Kwame Raoul has taken thousands from big utilities, banks and even red light camera operators. He’s counting on them to win. Me? I’m counting on you.
It’s important that my focus, my focus is on defeating Madigan and Pritzker. A hundred percent, that’s where I spend all my time and my attention. […]
My time is a hundred percent, all of my message, all of my time, my attention is focused on Madigan and Pritzker.
Madigan has officially taken up permanent residence in the governor’s head. Also, that doesn’t leave much time for governing. Just sayin…
* Meanwhile, we have a bit of snarkiness from the Rauner campaign…
Serious Questions for Tonight
After months full of campaign platitudes and liberal pipe dreams, tonight is the final debate for Democratic governor candidates to address voters before Tuesday’s primary election.
However, there are still some important questions the candidates need to answer before voters cast their ballots on Tuesday:
* In which of the three states is Bob “Three State” Marshall watching tonight’s debate?
* Where did JB Pritzker put all those toilets?
* When will Chris Kennedy break his silence on the CNN documentary about his family?
* Is Daniel Biss really just waiting for Dick Durbin to retire?
But seriously, how can JB Pritzker advocate raising taxes on hardworking Illinois families while he himself dodges taxes using offshore trusts?
But seriously, Rauner won’t even debate his own primary opponent. /s
Quinn started the interview, then all of a sudden there’s silence. And then he started talking to someone else. “Can I just come in to… Yeah.” Then he stuttered a bit, collected himself and carried on with the interview.
He hit just about every point in his age-old arsenal of references. Gold Star families, veterans (at least three times), jobs, the Citizens Utility Board, whistle-blowers, Abraham Lincoln, “Early to bed, early to rise, work like hell and organize,” term limits, utility companies, “six days to the election but twelve if you don’t sleep” (twice) and how he’s a “fighter for the people.”
Asked who he supported for governor, Quinn said, “They’re all loving sons of loving mothers.”
I think the only Quinn cliche the former governor missed was the Mighty Mississippi River.
* After a governor vetoes a bill and returns it to the originating chamber, the Illinois Constitution requires that chamber to immediately journalize the veto and then take a vote within 15 calendar days.
But the Senate didn’t journalize Rauner’s Tuesday veto of the gun dealer licensing bill yesterday or today. A Senate Democratic spokesperson told me that Rauner didn’t officially return the bill until after the Senate had adjourned, even though the veto message is dated yesterday.
The Senate canceled tomorrow’s session and won’t return until April 10th, so proponents have some time to figure out what to do (and spring break won’t be interrupted).
*** UPDATE 1 *** The governor’s office disagrees…
Rich,
We filed it the same way we filed the vetoes for their out of balance budget and permanent 33% tax increase last summer. Those vetoes were both on the Senate floor within hours of being filed.
Rachel Bold
Press Secretary
Office of Governor Bruce Rauner
Uh-oh. I’m not sure what happens now. I guess the governor could take the Senate to court, which happened with Rod Blagojevich (in his case, it was the House).
*** UPDATE 2 *** Hmm…
The plot thickens: Sen. Harmon says the governor's office was supposed to file the veto paperwork with the Senate, since it was in session, and not the Secretary of State's office, which is where it's filed when the Senate is not in session.
The governor’s office claims, however, that the bill was sent to the Senate.
[ *** End Of Updates *** ]
* Anyway, from the Senate Democrats…
Senate Democrats took the lead in advancing comprehensive gun safety legislation Wednesday. Illinois Senate President John J. Cullerton issued the following statement.
“This was an important step forward. Yes, there’s more to do. But today we saw lawmakers come together and support commonsense gun laws. It is my hope that this unity can continue and our efforts will make a difference.”
On Wednesday, the Illinois Senate approved three gun safety proposals, all of which Senate President Cullerton supported.
Here’s a summary of those proposals and their status:
House Bill 1465 - Prohibits the sale or transfer of an assault weapon, .50 caliber rifle or large capacity magazine to an individual under the age of 21.
Status: Senate approved 33-22. Returns to Illinois House for final action on changes.
House Bill 1467 - Ban on bump stocks and trigger cranks. Also restores local governments’ ability to enact local regulations and restrictions regarding assault weapons.
Status: Senate approved 37-16. Returns to Illinois House for final action on changes.
House Bill 1468 - Increases the waiting period to receive an assault weapon after purchase to 72 hours from 24 hours. (Note: This mirrors the existing waiting period for handguns)
Status: Senate approved 43-15, clears the way for it to go to the governor.
* Meanwhile, from the Ives campaign…
Conservative reform gubernatorial candidate Jeanne Ives issued the following statement today on the Chicago Public Schools walkout and the complaint filed by the Chicago Republican Party with the CPS Inspector General:
“Public resources shouldn’t be used for politics. The Chicago Public Schools are behaving like Illinois’ Political Ruling Class by using the taxpayer’s money improperly–and don’t forget Gov. Rauner just committed the entire state to a massive $17 billion bailout of CPS. I’m all for civic education. I’m all for youth participation. I’m not for children being used as tools of political propaganda by Rahm Emanuel, the Chicago Teachers’ Union and Chicago Democrat politicians.
“The Chicago Republican Party and its Chairman, who is the parent of a CPS student, are right to lodge a complaint with the CPS Inspector General. Chicago Democrat politicians like Rahm are wrong to exploit children in advance of their political ends.”
* Sen. Bill Haine (D-Alton) was at a press conference yesterday to discuss the need for action at the state’s veterans’ home in Quincy. This slightly edited audio (it’s, for instance, two comments put together) is from the Senate Democrats. Have a listen…
* You really should listen, but if you can’t because of work or whatever, here’s the transcript…
We’ve been on a political treadmill on this for years and now we have a governor running for election, desperate to win the primary, and I attribute that to the fact that we don’t have a resolution to what seems to be the problem, which is in the pipes! And we have more Legionnaire’s diseases.
The Governor, of course, God love him, went to the home and spent seven days there. So what? Does he have a[n] impaired immune system? Does he have emphysema? Does he have a cancer which would cause a further impaired immune system? The answer is, of course, no!
So, what does it prove going to the home for seven days? What it proves is that he’s somehow empathetic. Empathy doesn’t get it, ladies and gentlemen. It’s a study and the implementation of executive orders. Get the pipes done, is my opinion. We owe these people a great deal, and for us to be on this political treadmill, while there’s no resolution.
There are photo ops, but no resolution. And the Governor drank some water, he said. So what? It’s time for him to get past the primary and get this job done for veterans. The people of Illinois are tired of hearing about it and I think it’s a tremendous dereliction of duty to ignore it any longer with further commissions, further studies, photo ops, whatever it is. Let’s just get it done. He’s the Executive. We are the Legislative Branch. If he needs the money, we’ll get it. Do it.
—–
I’m at a loss to understand why the Governor would not be responsible. The Governor is the Chief Executive Officer of the state. [He] appoints all these officials. Part of the commentary – you referred to it as vitriol – is to try shake him to the point where he acts to bring people in to get it done. It’s three years, the Chairman said, the Senator said. Part of our effort is to get it done.
I know it’s difficult running for office and chewing gum at the same time, but this man was elected the Chief Executive Officer of Illinois. In the old days, it was called the chief magistrate, and it’s up to him to get it done.
And, I’ll give you one example. What’s that phrase, “Where your treasure is, that’s where your heart is”? Drive by the Governor’s Mansion and see how that’s being done. When he came into office that was a wreck. A wreck! Look at it now, it’s being finished, rebuilt. In three years! What’s the difference between the Governor’s Mansion and a home for veterans who risked their lives for the United States and for Illinois? What’s the difference, Governor? There is none! The priority should be the Quincy Veterans Home, not the Governor’s Mansion, for God’s sake.
On the heels of an internal poll showing Pat Quinn’s numbers plummeting and Scott Drury’s rising, Scott Drury’s campaign for Attorney General has begun airing a new statewide campaign ad. Titled “Clean Up Illinois” – which mirrors Drury’s campaign tagline, the ad highlights Drury’s strong work on core Democratic issues such as ending gun violence, women’s healthcare rights and criminal justice reform. The ad also highlights Drury’s experience fighting against and prosecuting public corruption, a strong contrast with Pat Quinn whose history and actions show he will be pushed around by Mike Madigan and not fight corruption.
“With six days left before the election, there is only one non-machine candidate with the resources and momentum needed to win the Democratic primary for Attorney General – that’s Scott Drury,” said Fabio Fernandez, from Drury’s campaign. “The only way to avoid four years of the scandal and dysfunction that follows Pat Quinn is to elect Drury – a true reformer committed to ending the State’s culture of corruption.”
Drury’s campaign intends to spend up to $1 million running the new ad on broadcast and cable television.
Scott Drury – Democrat for Attorney General. He’s taken on the NRA, protected a woman’s right to choose and reformed Illinois’ criminal justice system.
So why is Mike Madigan attacking him?
Madigan prefers Pat Quinn – someone he can push around and won’t stop corruption.
Drury is different – a former federal prosecutor who has locked up corrupt public officials. He represents a beacon of hope for those sick of Illinois’ culture of corruption.
Democrat Scott Drury – to clean up Illinois.
* This is the only info Drury would release on his poll today…
· Compared to Friends of Scott Drury’s baseline survey (conducted six weeks ago), only Pat Quinn, Kwame Raoul and Scott Drury have shown statistically significant movement.
· Since the baseline survey, Quinn’s support has dropped by almost 20 percentage points. Raoul has gained 9 points. Drury has gained 5 points.
· Drury has double digit support downstate and in the collar counties.
· Raoul has run more than two times as many ads as other candidates.
· Drury’s increased support can be attributed to his unique message among a crowded field of candidates and the publicity from the unsuccessful challenge to his candidacy.
· 1/3 of the electorate is undecided. If Quinn’s soft support is included, the percentage is higher.
· Undecided voters clearly do not like Quinn, given that they likely know him. Similarly, given Raoul’s advertising investment, undecided voters clearly are not sold on him.
· Given Drury’s growth – despite a limited ad spend – if Drury invests heavily in the last 8 days of the election, he can earn the votes of enough undecided voters and soft Quinn supporters to obtain the necessary plurality to win.
· Nancy Rotering and Jesse Ruiz have shown no growth over the last six weeks, despite heavy investments in advertising.
The Illinois Bicentennial Commission today released its first video commercial promoting the state’s 200th birthday. The :30 second spot is the center point of a statewide multimedia campaign named after the theme of the yearlong celebration: BORN, BUILT & GROWN in Illinois.
The campaign, which will run from now until the 200th birthday party on December 3, 2018, will showcase Illinois’ influence on the worlds of music, sports, agriculture, literature, commerce, history, technology and innovation, transportation, art and architecture, among others.
The content for the effort is pre-produced and being distributed statewide for carriage on television, radio, digital and social media. The messages can be run as public service announcements by media outlets or packaged by outlets for sponsorship by local advertisers. The Illinois Broadcasters Association is the distributor.
“We’re delighted with this creativity and the opportunity it now provides our association’s members in seeking local sponsorships,” remarked Dennis Lyle, president and CEO, Illinois Broadcasters Association.
The content was produced by Chicago-based AnswersMedia and paid for with private funds.
The Bicentennial program incorporates material supplied by Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Illinois Association of Museums, Illinois Department of Agriculture, and the Illinois State Museum.
* Zorn writes about Gov. Rauner’s TV ads claiming that his GOP primary opponent Rep Jeanne Ives is somehow in league with Speaker Madigan…
Rauner’s commercials contain “the biggest lies since Rod Blagojevich told us he was for good government and he would always do what was right,” said a social media post by Terry Martin, executive director of the Illinois Channel, a Springfield-based TV outlet that covers state politics.
“The governor is in full Pinocchio mode,” wrote Crain’s columnist Greg Hinz, calling one particular spot “the most inaccurate ad” of this campaign season.
Syndicated conservative columnist Scott Reeder wrote that Rauner’s central accusation, that Ives is a “lackey” of Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan, “is a lie, wrapped in a prevarication, enveloped with deception, packaged in falsehood and bound up with a fabrication.”
Opinion editor Jim Slusher of the Daily Herald called that same claim “utterly laughable” and “perhaps the most ludicrous of the accusations being posited this campaign cycle.”
“Hyperbole and exaggeration are commonplace in political ads, but this … struck us as not just over the top but over the moon,” wrote PolitiFact Illinois in an extended examination of the gobs of mud Rauner is hurling at Ives. They “turn credibility and rational argument inside out. That is why we give them our lowest possible credibility rating, Pants on Fire!”
Reporters asked the governor twice about the Ives ads today. You can click here to listen to his responses, which were lacking in honesty, to say the least. But he’s sticking to the script and nobody, but nobody will ever get him off of it.
The truth is, Ives has been so anti-Madigan in the House that it has hurt her ability to get anything done. Her opposition to him is almost comical. Nobody, and I mean nobody who knows even a smidgen about the General Assembly would ever say Ives is “Madigan’s favorite Republican,” as one of Rauner’s ads claims. They’d strap you in a straight-jacket and haul you off if you tried. She’s been battling Madigan since before Rauner first ran for governor.
* But, as I’ve said many times before, this stuff works. The only way out for Ives is if she can foster a backlash, and I don’t see that happening at the moment. I could be wrong, but people don’t pay a lot of attention to state politics and she doesn’t have the money to counter the Rauner attacks. She tried to get a little nuanced in that Tribune debate (chiding Rauner for his Madigan obsession, for instance) and it’s come back to haunt her. Ives never used to do nuance and she never shoulda started. Plus, like I say, voters don’t do nuance.
Along these lines, I don’t care how much Chris Kennedy and Daniel Biss try to distance themselves from MJM during the primary. If either one of them wins then Rauner will do the exact same thing to them that he’s doing to Rep. Ives now. Think he can’t? Sheesh, man. Look at what he’s doing to one of the most avowed Madigan-haters ever!
I’m not saying they shouldn’t be trying to distance themselves. They have their reasons and Madigan is unpopular with Democratic primary voters. I’m just saying it won’t do a lick of good come March 21. This hit is coming if Democrats nominate Winnie the Pooh.
Late yesterday, tens of thousands of Illinois caregivers for people with disabilities received the good news they’ve waited seven months for: Governor Rauner’s move to withhold a $.48-cent raise that the General Assembly approved in last summer’s budget deal was illegal.
Rauner had refused to release the increase to Personal Assistants, who have not seen a raise since December of 2014 with the overwhelming majority earning only $13 an hour. The $0.48-cent raise was supposed to have gone into effect on August 5, 2017 per state law:
*P.A. 100-0023, Article 30, Section 30-20: “Within 30 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, the hourly wage paid to personal assistants and individual maintenance home health workers [in the DHS Home Services Program] shall be increased by $0.48 per hour”
The Cook County Circuit Court’s ruling orders that the State implement the $.48-cent raise for all hours worked since August 5, 2017 by March 21, 2018.
SEIU says this case involves 28,000 caregivers. The annual cost of giving all those caregivers 48-cent an hour raises is about $28 million per 8-hour shift.
The state had asked that the case be dismissed and plaintiffs had asked for a ruling of summary judgment. The plaintiffs prevailed and the state then moved for reconsideration. That motion was denied. The order is here.
Illinois legislators and county fair officials gathered at the Statehouse to showcase the positive economic benefit county fairs bring to the state and urge the Governor to release $1.4 million in funding that was appropriated as part of the FY18, which passed last year.
According to a University of Illinois Extension Department of Community and Economic Development study, county fairs bring $170 million annually to the state’s economy and support 1000 non-fair related jobs. Jersey County Fair Treasurer Tom Moore says the county fair is still a hit in this part of the state.
The $1.4 million would be split between more than 100 fairgrounds.
“It’s a small amount of money in the world of state government, but it’s a big amount of money to county fairs and it’s going to go to nearly every county across the state,” Iroquois County Fair president Marvin Perzee said. “And we encourage the governor to look at that area.”
Marvin Perzee runs one of the best county fairs in the entire state, by the way.
The state legislature had initially pledged more than $10 million to help county fair officials maintain fairgrounds and buildings. But Governor Bruce Rauner’s administration held back some of that money in an effort to cut costs.
Margaret Vaughn directs the Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs. She said the governor’s decision sent the wrong message to the state’s rural communities.
“People forget up north that Illinois is primarily an agricultural state, and since the beginning of the last century the State of Illinois has recognized the importance of this, to keep these fairs going, ” Vaughn said.
The Rauner administration says holding back some of the funding was a “tough decision to make.” Rauner has argued the budget lawmakers approved over his veto spends more than it takes in.
Pritzker is also running a digital ad that contends Kennedy doesn’t support legalization of marijuana. […]
Kennedy has long said he wants more studies on how to legalize marijuana. On Monday he said he would want a state program run by a “broker like the University of Illinois,” not “in the hands of paid lobbyists working for corporate titans, private equity sharks or hedge fund investors.”
Kennedy said he didn’t believe it was a personal attack to go after the Pritzker family.
“I think it goes to somebody’s character and he’s demonstrating his character,” Kennedy said, adding his policy positions are listed on his campaign website.
* If you go to Kennedy’s campaign website you get this…
Chris Kennedy believes that we should legalize marijuana and broaden access to medical marijuana.
So, depending on how you feel about Kennedy, he’s either suddenly seen the light in the past ten days, or he’s flip-flopped to score political points and fend off Pritzker’s online spot…
Either way, they ought to update their Google ad…
That’s not helping.
* This latest Kennedy shift is one of many on this topic. We have been tracking Kennedy’s marijuana positions for a long time. From March 29, 2017…
Chris supports decriminalizing marijuana in Illinois. He believes we should not be prosecuting and crowding our jails over simple possession of marijuana. He is reviewing studies done on the effects of legalization in other states before determining if legalization would be right for Illinois.
“I don’t know whether it’ll get legalized, I don’t know if it’ll get taxed. I mean, I think betting our future that all of that occurs and that somehow that’s gonna cure our budget problem. I think we need thoughtful, real, concrete that operate without … without relying on something that has, you know, tenuous, um possibilities. Sorry. I’ll tell you the truth.”
I’m a big believer in science and the medical profession. I would take my cues from them. I do think we should understand what the long-term outcomes are in places like Colorado before we embrace, say … embrace massive change like legalization of marijuana. But if the studies indicate that we have no worse outcome, then I would follow the science on that. But, you know, we haven’t figured out what to do with the massive opioid epidemic that’s hollowing out our communities, that’s destroying the lives of young people and for which we have no clear answer. There’s no protocol. Every town doesn’t handle this the same way. Every family doesn’t handle it the same way. We have very few beds in Illinois to deal with the opioid crisis or a methodology to put people on the path to recovery, and I think before we introduce yet another drug into the lives of our young people and, I guess the full population as well, we ought to understand what we’re getting ourselves into.
I think it is dangerous to embrace a public health hazard simply because you want revenue.
That’s what I think. And that’s what makes, and I’m not aiming that at anybody. I’m cautious because we haven’t studied this issue thoroughly because the Republicans in the Congress in the House and the Senate have prevented the federal government from doing so. We have great research institutions in Illinois, nothing is going to happen under Gov. Rauner. We should challenge a place like Northern or U of I, UIC to study the effects, make an informed decision, defer to the scientists and the doctors and don’t let politicians make scientific decisions.
* So, he’s gone from favoring decriminalization (which we already had at the time) while putting the legalization issue under review; to saying we should be wary of the “massive change” of legalization; to warning against the dangers of embracing the “public health hazard” of pot; to cautiously putting legalization’s fate into the hands of “reputable scientists and medical professionals” to his latest plan of just letting the U of I run the whole show.
What’s that old saying? When a politician changes his position to one you oppose, he’s a flip-flopper. When he shifts your direction, he’s a statesman.
Do the math. I'm not saying @DanielBiss is not an honest candidate. He is an honest candidate. But if he were not in the race, @KennedyforIL would swamp @JBPritzker. JB knows this. I'm sure Durbin does too.
* The first problem with this conspiracy theory is that Pritzker is thwacking Biss with that retirement income tax ad. Yes, he’s attacking Kennedy, too, but Biss is still in there.
Also, didn’t Mary Schmich just write a Tribune column complaining about how Pritzker was constantly sending out negative mailers against Daniel Biss? Why, yes, she did.
Also, too, if Biss is part of some sort of grand scheme, he’s sure not talking like it…
Primary push has @DanielBiss campaign in Champaign for second time in one week. He responds to @GovRauner’s vow to “blow [@JBPritzker] up and take him down” in November. Biss says “JB Pritzker is Bruce Rauner’s dream.” pic.twitter.com/SR5CoNXdLt
* But just to be on the safe side, I asked the Biss campaign if the candidate was part of a grand conspiracy with Pritzker…
Better question, is this some Kennedy-Kass conspiracy? Or is this just a part of the Kennedy-Rauner partnership?
Then again, if Biss was involved with a nefarious plot like this, he’d undoubtedly deny it. Hmm.
I asked Pritzker’s spokesperson about this and she just laughed. But, it could have been an evil laugh to disguise her inside knowledge. I just don’t know.
* However, Pritzker is most definitely focusing more on Kennedy than Biss…
.@JBPritzker running 4 negative ads in the final week of the election, mostly against @KennedyforIL. Not a sign of confidence.
I counted only three. The one attacking Kennedy and Biss on the retirement income tax, one on marijuana (which we’ll get to in a bit) and one about how Kennedy had raised tuition at the the U of I.
Chris Kennedy: Making college affordable is critical to the success not only to the next generation, but of our entire economy.
Announcer: But what’s Chris Kennedy’s record?
Clip of a Mark Maxwell WCIA TV report: Our review of his time at the University of Illinois shows that he raised tuition several times while African-American enrollment dropped off steadily.
Announcer: That’s right. Kennedy’s five votes to raise tuition caused African-American enrollment to drop 17 percent. Chris Kennedy. Shouldn’t we judge him by his record?
I think what’s going on here is they’re worried that the undecideds will break toward the Kennedy name. There’s also lots of speculation out in the ether that some independent-minded Republicans might opt out of the GOP primary over disgust with both Rauner and Ives and vote for the clear anti-Madigan candidate in the Democratic primary, which would be Kennedy.
…Adding… Good point in comments…
Cook County Independent-minded Republicans might be tempted to pull a Dem ballot to vote against Berrios & Preckwinkle as well.
A Chicago Tribune investigation found several offshore shell companies created between 2008 and 2011 — long after Abram “A. N.” Pritzker’s 1986 death — that are either wholly owned by J.B. Pritzker, his brother and business partner Anthony Pritzker, or list other close associates as controlling executives. […]
One of Pritzker’s offshore companies, Moreau Capital Holdings Ltd., is part of a venture that plans to buy city-owned land along the Chicago River to launch duck boat tours downtown. Pritzker is the sole owner of Moreau Capital Holdings, which was created in Nassau, Bahamas, in January 2011, according to records. […]
In late 2016, Seadog Ventures Inc. entered into an agreement with the city of Chicago to buy a vacant lot along the Chicago River near the Cermak Road bridge. Seadog, a tour boat company, is a subsidiary of Entertainment Cruises Holdings LLC, which is owned by J.B. and Anthony Pritzker. […]
The filing shows that the Pritzker brothers hold nearly 19 percent of the company in two corporations with addresses in the Bahamas — Moreau Capital Holdings Ltd. and Aman 2 Capital Holdings Ltd.
J.B. Pritzker owns all of the stock in Moreau Capital Holdings, according to the city filing. His brother owns all of the stock of Aman 2 Capital Holdings. […]
In all, 11 of the 18 companies on the list sent to the Bahamian registrar — including Moreau, Aman 1 and Aman 2 — share names similar to Pritzker family trusts that hold Hyatt Hotels Corp. stock, according to filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission… It is unclear why shell companies were created with similar names to the offshore Pritzker trusts that held Hyatt stock.
J.B. Pritzker’s philanthropy is largely derived from assets long protected from taxation in two of those offshore accounts, the Moreau Trust and the Cheyenne Trust. Since 2006, those trusts, which while registered in the Bahamas also have mailing addresses in South Dakota, transferred $97 million in cash to his Pritzker Family Foundation, records show.
Moreau Trust and Moreau Capital Holdings Ltd. (which partly owns that duckboat thingy) are different and it’s not clear how money flows between them.
* So, I asked the campaign a simple question: Do all the disbursements from this particular offshore entity go to charity? The answer from his spokesperson Galia Slayen…
Throughout this campaign, JB has been transparent about his finances and today’s article only confirms what he has always said. First, generations ago there were trusts set up offshore by JB’s family and JB does not manage or oversee them. Second, as the Tribune details, any distributions made from those trusts are directed to charity and JB has never received a personal disbursement from any trust located offshore. Finally, JB’s statement of economic interest lists assets held not only by JB personally, but also trusts and the Pritzker Family Foundation.
Thanks for clearing that up! /s
* Gov. Rauner’s campaign…
“JB Pritzker wants to raise taxes on hardworking Illinois families but will dodge taxes himself. The Chicago Tribune’s report shows that JB Pritzker cannot be trusted. He will game the system for his own benefit and leave hardworking Illinoisans footing the bill.” - Governor Bruce Rauner
* Sen. Daniel Biss’ campaign…
“Today’s report proves that JB Pritzker is disqualified to serve as governor,” said Daniel Biss. “After years of scamming the system out of much needed revenue and repeatedly lying to the voters of Illinois, it’s clear now why JB Pritzker refused to release his full tax returns. This greedy and repeated manipulation shows that JB believes he’s accountable to no one, including the voters of Illinois. These repeated lies means he lacks the credibility to govern.
“These revelations also include Chris Kennedy’s ownership of offshore funds, and raises serious doubt about his own financial holdings. At a minimum, Chris must immediately release his full tax returns to prove to Illinois votes he isn’t also avoiding paying his fair share in taxes.
“While Illinois families have been nickeled and dimed, JB Pritzker has been lying and cheating. He is choosing to play the same billionaire games as Donald Trump and Bruce Rauner, which allows him to live under a different set of rules than the rest of us. Illinois can’t afford another billionaire businessman who’s scammed the system for his benefit, and who doesn’t respect voters enough to be honest with them. The Democratic Party must set an example about the need for full transparency to restore trust in our government.”
* Chris Kennedy…
JB Pritzker thinks the rules don’t apply to him because he is a billionaire. He rigs the property tax system for his own benefit. He tries to engage in pay to play politics with corrupt former Governor Rod Blagojevich while insulting African American leaders. And now, we find out he lied to the voters about moving his billions offshore to dodge taxes. He has proven himself to be a serial tax cheat.
JB Pritzker’s true character has been on full display in this campaign. His character is one of lying, cheating and using his money to try to buy an election. The voters of Illinois won’t stand for it next Tuesday.
His campaign refused to answer questions about this latest revelation. JB ran away from reporters asking legitimate questions about his finances. Tonight at our final debate, he needs to give voters a full explanation on why he lied to them last December about setting up offshore accounts to avoid paying taxes on his billions of dollars that he is now using to try to buy their votes.
* Pritzker campaign…
Chris Kennedy touts his experience on corporate boards, but a closer look reveals his “experience” actually entails cashing in while hiking executive pay at a company that sent jobs overseas.
In September, Kennedy sold nearly 30,000 shares of Interface stock the same day he contributed $250,000 to his campaign. While Kennedy received over $1.18 million from his time on Interface’s board, he repeatedly voted to hike executive pay while the company laid off workers, shuttered plants, and sent jobs overseas. Kennedy also served on the board of a second company, Knoll Inc., where he voted to hike executive pay despite the objections of shareholders.
“While he touts his experience on corporate boards, Chris Kennedy cashed in after hiking executive pay for a company that shuttered plants and sent jobs overseas,” said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. “From the University of Illinois to for-profit businesses, Kennedy has put compensation for top executives and his own bottom line above students and working families.”
State Sen. Sam McCann on Tuesday said he’s endorsing challenger Jonas Petty of Pittsfield over incumbent Rep. C.D. David Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, in the Republican primary in the 100th House District. […]
“What I have a problem with is, ever since Governor Rauner came to power, Representative Davidsmeyer is one of those people who just totally went along with him,” McCann said. “I’m trying to figure out why the people of the 100th District should send C.D. Davidsmeyer back here just to be a rubber stamp for the Rauner administration.”
Davidsmeyer did vote with Democrats to pass a budget including a tax increase last summer, but then said talks with constituents convinced him that was the wrong vote, and he backed Rauner in opposing an override. Enough Republicans stayed with Democrats to enact that budget over the governor’s objection.
“I think that underscores the fact that once he did finally stand up to the governor, he eventually backed down,” McCann said of Davidsmeyer’s change of heart.
Davidsmeyer is one of McCann’s two state Reps. He had $147K in the bank at the end of last year and has reported raising $21,500 since then.
Gov. Bruce Rauner today announced he has appointed Susan Haling as Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor. Haling has more than six years of experience in the Office of the Inspector General (OEIG).
“A dedicated public servant for many years, Susan’s investigatory expertise makes her an ideal fit to lead the OEIG,” Gov. Rauner said. “She has demonstrated strong leadership and management experience, and I am confident she will be an asset to state employees and the public in this role.”
Haling previously served as the First Assistant Inspector General, where she supervised more than 70 employees in Chicago and Springfield, and managed more than 100 active investigations. She is also a former Assistant U.S. Attorney with more than nine years of experience in the Criminal Division of the Northern District of Illinois.
“I have been in public service my entire legal career and am humbled by this opportunity to serve the people of Illinois as the EIG,” Haling said.
Haling will succeed Maggie Hickey, who is pursuing an opportunity in the private sector.
“Susan Haling is an outstanding attorney, former prosecutor, and extremely knowledgeable about the Office of Executive Inspector General,” Hickey said. “The OEIG is in excellent hands. Susan has a wealth of experience and the utmost integrity. Having had the opportunity to work with her at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the OEIG, I have full confidence in her ability to lead independent and robust investigations.”
Haling earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Notre Dame and a Juris Doctorate from DePaul University College of Law. Her husband, Theodore “TJ” Hengesbach, is the Inspector General of the Illinois Toll Highway. The OEIG does not have any statutory authority to direct the Toll Highway IG in its operations or investigations. As in the past, and consistent with general OEIG practice, Haling would be screened from any matters involving the Toll Highway Authority should any come to the OEIG.
* Click here for background. From a press release…
Conservative reform gubernatorial candidate Jeanne Ives today called on Governor Rauner to release all emails from his office that include both his political campaign staff and his state office state after an ethics complaint against Gov. Rauner was filed by the Edgar County Watchdogs to the Office of the Executive Inspector General yesterday.
In the complaint, they cite a series of official emails leaked to their office which logically lead to the conclusion that Governor Rauner had given his campaign staff control over policy making decisions and communications from his official state government office, treating his political and state staffs as “one big team.”
The complaint states, “activities and circumstances outlined above appear to be clear evidence of violation of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, 5 ILCS 430 5-15 (a)-(c). They appear to reveal a governor who violated this law as he was gearing up for his re-election campaign…”
“The Edgar County Watchdogs have produced emails that suggest the Rauners were telling their state employees to do the bidding of his political consultants,” said Ives. “That’s illegal. Two governors have been sent to jail for, in part, erasing the lines between what belongs to the taxpayers and what belongs to their political operations. We should know before March 20 if Rauner is in danger of being the next governor to spend more time in prison than in office.”
* I shared this graphic (minus the extraneous editorial comments) with subscribers yesterday…
Looking at these early turnout numbers it appears that #ILRepublicans are not engaged. Has 3 years of Bruce Rauner hurt the party this much? pic.twitter.com/6DmBPC8H4W
