Madigan reports raising $4.5 million in 16 days
Thursday, Sep 27, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Last night, Speaker Madigan’s personal campaign fund reported an $835,200 contribution from the Washington, DC-based International Union of Operating Engineers.
Since September 10th, Madigan has reported raising over $4.5 million for that one fund. Madigan busted the contribution caps on his campaign fund back in mid-August.
Madigan hosted a Chicago fundraiser two nights ago, so more is coming.
* Speaking of campaign money…
The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform was founded two decades ago by the late Democratic U.S. Sen. Paul Simon and former Republican Lt. Gov. Bob Kustra to address what it calls the “corrosive role of money in politics.”
“Today we are recommitting to our original mission, and are spreading our wings to expand our reach across more communities, tackle new (and oftentimes) thorny issues and collaborate with a diverse group of partners. And we will continue to be ever-vigilant about these three words: Transparency, Accountability & Integrity,” the advocacy group told supporters in an email.
But they’ll be doing it under a new banner: Reform for Illinois. The group said it will remain nonpartisan and not take sides in elections. […]
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee reported another round of ad buys to back Sean Casten’s bid against Republican U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam. The latest filing brings the DCCC’s spending in the west and northwest suburban race to more than $1.1 million total. This batch includes nearly $10,000 for Facebook ads and more than $12,000 with Hulu.
* Related…
* Bill Daley gives $500,000 to his Chicago mayoral campaign: When Daley ran for governor five years ago, he quickly raised $1 million before abandoning that Democratic primary bid. This time, the former U.S. commerce secretary and White House chief of staff became the first candidate to formally enter the race after Emanuel’s departure.
- Fax Machine - Thursday, Sep 27, 18 @ 9:30 am:
Self funding JB means Dem donors can spend more try to get back to 71 in the House.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 27, 18 @ 9:31 am:
===Since September 10th, Madigan has reported raising over $4.5 million for that one fund. Madigan busted the contribution caps on his campaign fund back in mid-August.===
Madigan is not going be left “penniless” against the “next” Rich Person willing to own *either* party or *any* caucus by the pen or EFT.
Madigan is also flexing muscle. Showing the who… and the whom … are aligned with Democrats, who the allies are.
If we’ve learned anything in campaign finance, money is free speech, so by compiling monies and groups and a total that makes clear it’s not token cash… this is possibly the new era of Illinois, “after Rauner”… not after Rauner leaves the stage, but after Rauner set the table… that independent and autonomous caucuses are the best defense against millionaires and billionaires.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Sep 27, 18 @ 9:37 am:
–Self funding JB means Dem donors can spend more try to get back to 71 in the House.–
That was the game plan, to take away Rauner’s one-and-only advantage.
Kennedy or Biss would be getting beaten like rented mules right now with negative spots, without the means to fight back.
- City Zen - Thursday, Sep 27, 18 @ 9:43 am:
All these corporations taking over Illinois politics.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 27, 18 @ 9:45 am:
===Self funding JB means Dem donors can spend more try to get back to 71 in the House.===
Agreed… but raising these monies now, it also allows HDems, especially Madigan, to use those monies raised for them, and make it about them… some autonomy too.
For now.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Sep 27, 18 @ 9:52 am:
==Kennedy or Biss would be getting beaten like rented mules right now with negative spots, without the means to fight back.==
I know we’ll never know, but I just don’t agree. Rauner defeated himself immediately after his inauguration by backstabbing his voters whom he promised he’d focus on economics, not a social agenda of anti-union, anti-life, anti-budget, anti-working class policies. Decatur was Rauner’s Ford’s Theater just weeks into his four year long chaos administration.
Rauner’s freshness date expired February 2015 but he hasn’t yet been thrown out. Bruce stunk up our government like curdled milk spilled in an August dumpster.
Biss and Kennedy would have beating Rauner - heck - Rauner circa 2014 would be beating Rauner. I suspect this incumbent to get only 25% in November.
A rented mule would beat him.
- Occam - Thursday, Sep 27, 18 @ 9:57 am:
When IUOE and AFSCME make huge donations like this, they expect a return on their investment. That means JB/Madigan will spend money the State doesn’t have on projects to benefit the donors or they’ll have to take it out of the pockets of the remaining residents of this State in the form of higher taxes (or both).
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 27, 18 @ 10:22 am:
==All these corporations taking over Illinois politics==
Did this comment arrive in a time machine from the 1970’s?
- JS Mill - Thursday, Sep 27, 18 @ 10:49 am:
=When IUOE and AFSCME make huge donations like this, they expect a return on their investment. That means JB/Madigan will spend money the State doesn’t have on projects to benefit the donors or they’ll have to take it out of the pockets of the remaining residents of this State in the form of higher taxes (or both).=
Wow, just wow. So when big corporations or gazillionaires donate to the GOP it is purely for altruism? Rauner wasn’t looking for an ROI?
How do they get all of those tax breaks? FUNDING. And the “average taxpayer” pays for their corporate handouts. People like AFSCME members.
You are either patently dishonest or incredibly *banned word*. You are probably the only person you have convinced of such drivel.
- SaulGoodman - Thursday, Sep 27, 18 @ 10:59 am:
** they expect a return on their investment**
What return on investment does Rauner expect? Ken Griffin (contributed millions)? Uihlein (millions)? Or Duchossois (at least $250)? Or Byron Trott ($100k)? Mansueto ($200k)?
You ok with all those contributions, that, according to you, must expect a return on their investment?
- wordslinger - Thursday, Sep 27, 18 @ 11:13 am:
–When IUOE and AFSCME make huge donations like this, they expect a return on their investment.–
Yes. The defeat of Rauner and those like him who wish to destroy independent unions.
For crying out loud, to date, Rauner has spent well north of $100 million of his own dough, with the only clear purpose being the destruction of unions. Weird retirement hobby, but a fact.
Did you expect them to just take it?
- Ole' Nelson - Thursday, Sep 27, 18 @ 11:14 am:
they expect a return on their investment
Same could be said of the Raunerbucks going to the R’s in the GA.
We have the best government money can buy.
- Steve - Thursday, Sep 27, 18 @ 11:14 am:
Mike Madigan is the man. He will be Speaker in Illinois for as long as he wants.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Sep 27, 18 @ 11:27 am:
=Mike Madigan is the man. He will be Speaker in Illinois for as long as he wants.=
Rauner strengthened Madigan, he did not weaken him. MJM was the one and only person that was willing to with stand the onslaught so everyone ran for cover behind him.
This is one of politics worst calculations and will go down in histiry as such.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Sep 27, 18 @ 11:27 am:
history not histiry. Sheesh.
- Dupage Bard - Thursday, Sep 27, 18 @ 1:16 pm:
If Madigan bulks up the war chest it leaves him in a much better position than Durkin and Radogno were.
Making sure JB doesn’t become the next Rauner- I don’t want any f%$#*@g problems.
- City Zen - Thursday, Sep 27, 18 @ 1:30 pm:
== So when big corporations or gazillionaires donate to the GOP it is purely for altruism?==
So you admit IUOE and AFSCME are big corporations?
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Sep 27, 18 @ 1:35 pm:
Destroy unions?
You guys need a new talking point and realize that our neighboring states are growing private sector union jobs as well as non union jobs much faster than Illinois is. That is good for the middle class.
Democrats say they are for the “middle class”. What they mean by that is their public sector union benefactors.
They frequently work against the interests of the rest of the middle class by raising taxes on them and their employers.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 27, 18 @ 3:02 pm:
==You guys need a new talking point==
Lol. The Luckybot complaining about talking points. That’s rich.
You cannot possibly so dense as to even attempt to suggest that the Governor is not anti-union.
You’re a riot.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 27, 18 @ 5:55 pm:
==that independent and autonomous caucuses are the best defense against millionaires and billionaires== OW makes Madigan seem so noble.
Madigan does have approval ratings that resemble Rauner.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 27, 18 @ 6:04 pm:
===OW makes Madigan seem so noble.
Madigan does have approval ratings that resemble Rauner.===
In the 22nd District, Madigan is running unopposed.
Autonomous and independent legislative caucuses to the executive is the comparison, attempting to not be as vulnerable as the H and SGOP was with Rauner… so there’s that too.
Anything else?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 27, 18 @ 7:22 pm:
Give up Mr.Rauner your wasting time and money game over
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 27, 18 @ 9:29 pm:
==In the 22nd District, Madigan is running unopposed.== We all understand how MM is elected. Obviously his scope and focus go beyond his district.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 27, 18 @ 9:34 pm:
===Obviously his scope and focus go beyond his district.===
… and yet it’s Madigan winning in his district that allows that scope and focus to continue.
Madigan will be returning, all things being equal, to Springfield in January… Rauner… we don’t know.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 27, 18 @ 11:00 pm:
Sort of… Madigan is actually elected as speaker by representatives, including mine. The votes for that position are outside of his district. Anyway, I earlier felt like the Madigan influence might be on the decline somewhat because of the money JB exerts. Looks like I am wrong.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 27, 18 @ 11:18 pm:
===Madigan is actually elected as speaker by representatives, including mine.===
I, too, understand the process.
“Because House Rules”?