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More shenanigans!

Saturday, Mar 17, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

[Comments have been opened on this post.]

* Deputy House Majority Leader Lou Lang on Facebook

Friends, In politics, all that matters is your word. So, let’s be clear. A new campaign brochure authored and mailed by Senator Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago) claiming that I have endorsed him in his primary election is: False.

As a Member of the Illinois Legislative Ethics Commission, which oversaw the investigation of Senator Silverstein related to a sexual harassment complaint, I had pledged to the Niles Township Democrats and informed all parties involved in the 8th State Senate district Democratic primary, including Senator Silverstein, that I would remain neutral. Senator Silverstein’s mail piece compromised that neutrality. Now I am no longer neutral.

Today, I endorse Ram Villivalam for the Illinois State Senate as I believe he possesses the integrity becoming of a legislator.

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Saturday campaign money report

Saturday, Mar 17, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

[Comments have been opened on this post.]

* Remember this story from last week?

Democratic governor candidate Chris Kennedy on Friday accused rival J.B. Pritzker of “buying off” elected officials, including local African-American leaders as part of an “apology tour” over 2008 remarks about potential black successors to Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate seat. […]

Kennedy’s comments came as Pritzker, a billionaire heir to the Hyatt Hotels fortune, has given more than $700,000 to local Democratic organizations and the campaign accounts of officials across the state, State Board of Elections records showed.

* Well, Pritzker is a piker when compared to the other side. Here’s a report today from the Illinois Review

Quid Pro Quo? Rauner Gives $1.5M to 41 County GOP Orgs Through ILGOP

In an political strategy unprecedented in the Illinois Republican Party, thousands of dollars were transferred from the Illinois Republican Party to county organizations in the last three months leading up to the March 20th IL GOP primary.

State Board of Elections records show that 41 county GOP organizations received gifts from the IL GOP from $5000 to $25,000. Never before has the IL GOP had the resources to distribute funds in such a manner.

Where did the unprecedented party funding come from? County leaders tell Illinois Review they were asked to fill out applications, and checks were sent their ways - no requests or expectations voiced in the process.

Most of the state party’s money comes from Gov. Rauner.

* Pritzker’s money was again an issue today

Prior to hitting the parade route along Columbus Drive, Democratic governor candidate J.B. Pritzker defended putting another $6.3 million of his fortune into his campaign, a move he disclosed Friday night. It brought the record-setting, self-funding total of the billionaire heir to the Hyatt Hotel fortune to $69.5 million.

Pritzker tried to make light of the latest cash infusion. “We simply are trying to make sure that we’re paying the bills in the campaign, and we’re very excited about the opportunity to simply get our message out,” he said.

Rival Chris Kennedy did some quick math and said the large sum “means he’s spending, I guess, $2 million a day to try to buy this election. And we have to decide whether we want to send a message from Illinois to the rest of the country, the rest of the world, that a democracy can be bought.” […]

“I was sort of confused about where the other half-million was,” Biss said. “I was hoping that J.B. would get to $70 million during the course of the campaign. It’s only, only 69.5. What a cheapskate.”

Heh.

* Not sure who paid for this…



* Daily Herald

Kennedy’s donors include real estate developers, attorneys and family members. In 2018, top contributors include former Commerce Secretary Bill Daley with $100,000, Habitat Company CEO Daniel Levin with more than $200,000, and attorney Robert Berner of Baker McKenzie with $250,000.

Biss garnered the most donations under $25 — a total of 70, according to a report for the last quarter of 2017. He also received hefty handouts from a potpourri of wealthy Democrats and attorneys.

Those include Chicago lawyers Gary Elden with $200,000 and Leonard Goodman with $150,000, California software entrepreneur Steve Silberstein with $150,000, Evanston investment banker Charles Lewis with $250,000, and Chicago philanthropist Gail Waller with $300,000.

Compared to Kennedy with more than 258 individual donations and Biss with over 245 this year, Pritzker’s financial disclosures look a little lonely — his only other benefactor is the Illinois Education Association with $14,700.

That IEA contribution were in-kinds for campaign staff.

Kennedy filed A-1’s totaling $705,861 on Wednesday and $17,000 on Thursday.

* Back to Gov. Rauner’s money

When asked at a debate this month to name the top five donors to her attorney general campaign, Republican Erika Harold said she couldn’t identify them.

“Obviously I have received support from the party, and I am very proud to receive support of the party,” she said, adding she “couldn’t say an exact amount.”

There was one precise figure, though, that Harold offered: $305,000 she received a day earlier from Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, leading the moderator to ask her whether she could be independent from the governor. […]

“The semblance of impropriety seems to be there, looking at being beholden to the governor,” said Grasso, who is self-funding his campaign.

Harold has reported raising $461K since the start of the year, which she began with $162K. Grasso has raised $366K, mostly from himself. He started the year with $25K.

* Rep. Jeanne Ives’ campaign reported two contributions this week totaling $250,000 from Vincent Kolber, who owns Residco. Kolber has contributed $660,000 to Ives’ campaign since November 15th.

* In other campaign finance news

The controversial soda pop tax that was repealed last year by the Cook County Board amid a public backlash has spawned two fierce Democratic primary election contests fueled by $1.8 million in campaign cash.

Union-backed challengers Brandon Johnson and Bridget Degnen are taking on tax-opposing Commissioners Richard Boykin and John Fritchey, contending layoffs triggered by the pop tax repeal have diminished vital county services. Both cite finding new ways to raise more government revenue as priorities. […]

Campaign contributions to all four candidates this election cycle come to nearly $1.4 million, even though it’s not unheard of to win a County Board seat for $100,000 or less. And political action committees have poured another $442,000 in independent expenditures into the race. Most of the money comes from public employee unions that opposed the repeal of the pop tax and business interests that successfully fought to eliminate it.

* And the Trib gets around to covering House Republican Leader Jim Durkin’s primary

At a recent fundraising event in southwest suburban Homer Glen, Illinois House Republican leader Jim Durkin acknowledged that leading the minority party in a chamber controlled by Democratic Speaker Michael Madigan wasn’t easy.

“I like to think my job is threefold,” said Durkin, a 20-year veteran lawmaker from Western Springs. “I’ve got to work on policy. I’ve got to raise money. But I’m also an unlicensed psychiatrist at times in Springfield.”

Psychiatry isn’t necessary to diagnose an Illinois Republican Party facing deep ideological divides, however. In some respects, the GOP split mirrors the one on the Democratic side — insurgents from a far wing of the party pushing against the establishment.

Tuesday’s election already was unusual, as a sitting governor faces a potentially difficult primary challenge. But rarer still is the year when a longtime legislative leader also faces a well-moneyed challenge in his home district.

So far, Dan Proft’s Liberty Principles PAC has disclosed $1,229,373.72 in independent expenditures against Durkin and for his opponent Mickey Straub. The Illinois Network of Charter Schools’ PAC has disclosed spending about $46K against Straub since March 5th.

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*** UPDATED x2 *** Shenanigans!

Saturday, Mar 17, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

[Comments have been opened on this post.]

* Interesting…


I was told by a very reliable source today that Lipinski’s own polling has him up by 5 points. We shall soon see.

* Rep. Jeanne Ives’ campaign claims she has put that radio ad I told you about yesterday on TV

* She’s also whacking the governor with a Google ad…

* Meanwhile

A mailer sent out by the Cook County GOP aggravated already growing divisions in the party over “official” endorsements. A sample ballot Republican voters received reflected endorsements made personally by Cook County GOP Chairman Sean Morrison in February and an endorsement session held later.

Several township committeemen are concerned that the sample ballots sent out by the Cook County GOP contain a note that declares the sample ballot as the only “official” sample ballot for the county, and that any others were to be ignored. Wheeling Township Committeeman Ruth O’Connell said that left down ballot candidates with no endorsements. Wheeling also endorsed Jeanne Ives to be the IL GOP gubernatorial nominee over Bruce Rauner - the “official” Cook County GOP pick.

“That mailer undermines my authority as Wheeling Township GOP Committeeman,” O’Connell told Illinois Review.

Chairman Morrison said his ballot focused only on the top six offices, and left local race picks to local committeemen.

* The objectionable language

* I think we may have a new “Pants on Fire” award for Gov. Bruce Rauner, who said this in Champaign yesterday

“Polls are pretty irrelevant. I don’t pay any attention to them,” [Rauner] said with a laugh.

Laughing at a question is almost always one of his “tells.”

* As a Downstater, I’m kinda starting to get offended by these tweets, and so, apparently is the Belleville News-Democrat…



There are five counties in the Metro East: Clinton, Jersey, Madison, St. Clair and Monroe, with a total of 630,000 residents, according to the 2010 US Census. It’s an important part of the state. Plus, according to the News-Democrat and my own checking, this trip was planned in advance. It wasn’t some hastily arranged foray to avoid questions from the Chicago media about a Tribune story that appears to have some factual issues.

Rod Blagojevich won with Downstate votes. Pritzker is trying to do the same thing. The trip most certainly has the benefit of being out of the state’s largest media market during a particularly difficult time, but he was just in the second-largest market and now he’s back in Chicago today with two items on his schedule.

* The Illinois Network of Charter Schools’ PAC is getting downright nasty in the super-crowded Democratic primary to replace retiring House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie. Click the pic for a larger view

They should leave that stuff to candidates.

* Pretty good video from Biss…



* But the constant whining about money in Biss’ press releases is getting a bit stale…

JB Pritzker and Chris Kennedy reach new levels of absurdity with latest cash dumps

JB Pritzker has now spent $70 million in his attempt to buy the Democratic primary. Yet despite spending more than Donald Trump in his 2016 primary, and now more than Bruce Rauner in his 2014 general election, Pritzker has failed to move out of the 30’s in polls taken over the last 10 months. Chris Kennedy has also dumped another $500,000 into his campaign this week, bringing his total to over $2 million.

* And now, this

It’s not a shenanigan, it’s just a really bad ad.

*** UPDATE 1 *** Another one…



*** UPDATE 1 *** Technically, not a true shenanigan, but close enough…


* More…

* Bernal: Madigan behind Yednock campaign: The La Salle County Board member, who is running for state representative, said party leaders asked whether she supports Chicago’s Michael Madigan, the longtime House speaker and chairman of the state Democratic Party. She said she couldn’t make that promise. “I had never met him and don’t know him, but I certainly would not promise to agree on everything he wanted. They asked me the question three times, and I gave them the same answer,” said Bernal, a registered nurse. “They said they would look for someone to face me in the primary. I feel they wanted me to support the speaker on everything.”

* Slowik: High turnout of fired-up voters expected for Tuesday’s primary election: I’ll be watching to see how many write-in votes Mateusz “Mat” Tomkowiak picks up in his challenge to Madigan’s seat on the state central committee representing the 3rd District. I expect Madigan to prevail, but Tomkowiak’s numbers could be another sign of how many voters are dissatisfied with the direction of the party.

* Madigan backs Dem central committee incumbent in 13th: Friends of Michael J. Madigan has given help in the form of fliers and robocalls valued at more than $40,000 to incumbent Jayne Mazzotti of Taylorville. She was a Democratic National Convention delegate for former President Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 and for Hillary Clinton in 2016. Her challenger in Tuesday’s primary, when Democratic voters will elect one man and one woman from each congressional district to be on the state central committee, is Pamella Gronemeyer, a pathologist from Glen Carbon who was a Bernie Sanders supporter and served on the platform committee of the 2016 Democratic National Convention.

* Dems meddle against Illinois governor ahead of GOP primary

* Rauner seeks re-election, but right-wing rival Ives seeks a ‘reckoning’: History could be on Rauner’s side. If he loses on Tuesday, Rauner will be the first Illinois governor seeking re-election to lose a primary in 42 years — and the first GOP governor in 90 years.

* Flaps, flubs and funds — Dem gov primary flush with all of it: For businessman Chris Kennedy — who raised more than $6 million for his campaign — there were immediate expectations. When will the Kennedy family sweep in? Why haven’t they given more money? Why isn’t he on TV? Is he really running this time?

* Governor candidates make final push for votes ahead of primary: Chris Kennedy shook hands at the 95th Street Red Line station, and is bringing in reinforcements this weekend. “So, I’ve relatives coming in from all across the United States to Chicago and they’ll fan out across the state of Illinois. A lot of them have been here through summer and fall, so they’re reacquainting the friendships they’ve made earlier in the campaign,” Kennedy said.

* Jim Nowlan: Let’s get rid of all the political consultants: Recently, on the same day, I received five over-size, glossy political postcards from Gov. Bruce Rauner. The cards told the most outrageous, bald-faced lies about an opponent that I have ever read. As I digested the messages, I became sick to my stomach.

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Tribune drops bombshell on Biss running mate

Saturday, Mar 17, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

[Comments have been opened on this post.]

* Depending on how you look at things, the Tribune is being unsportsmanlike by dropping a bombshell a few days before an election, Speaker Madigan is getting some payback a few days before an election, or the Daniel Biss campaign is trying to cover up and flat-out deny legit allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation a few days before an election

A former staffer for State Rep. Litesa Wallace — the running mate of Democratic governor candidate Daniel Biss — says Wallace ignored her sexual harassment complaint involving a community leader and then retaliated against her for making the accusation.

The woman’s complaint closely resembles one of nine recently disclosed by House Speaker Michael Madigan, who has come under fire for his handling of sexual harassment allegations in both the legislature and his own political organization.

Madigan did not release names involved with the cases, but the Tribune learned of Wallace’s dispute with her former aide following an open records request for documents related to pay issues and harassment accusations.

Informed of the staffer’s allegations, a Biss-Wallace campaign spokesman denied any wrongdoing on the representative’s part and blamed Madigan for turning the dispute into a political issue by mischaracterizing it on his list. Madigan’s allies are backing one of Biss’ rivals, J.B. Pritzker.

* The Tribune filed a FOIA on February 27th, hours after Madigan released a list of nine resolved staff cases involving harassment. This one is the only identified case involving payment of state funds, so it was FOIA-able

“A staffer accused a legislator of harassment, retaliation, and failure to pay wages. The matter was resolved through counsel.”

The Tribune received the info on Wednesday. Go read the whole thing and decide for yourself.

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