* Fourth quarter D-2 reports…
* Friends of Michael J Madigan: $5,311,802.27 (raised) $11,461,542.39 (cash on hand)
* Democratic Party of Illinois: $1,587,029.21 (raised) $2,168,795.55 (cash on hand)
* 13th Ward Democratic Org: $656,385.00 (raised) $2,429,574.30 (cash on hand)
* Democratic Majority: $983,936.71 (raised) $5,000,569.15 (cash on hand)
That’s more than 10 times what House Republican Leader Jim Durkin has at his disposal.
* Meanwhile, here’s the Tribune…
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan spent more than $445,000 in legal fees from his political war chest during the closing months of 2019, according to a filing with the state board of elections.
The spending is to cover the cost of a $275,000 settlement with a former campaign worker, ongoing civil cases and routine staff training, according to a Madigan spokeswoman. […]
The bulk of the rest of the money, including $139,209 to the Chicago office of Hinshaw & Culbertson and $6,500 to attorney Michael Kasper, cover costs tied to four civil cases, Boyce said. Those include the Hampton case, a case brought by Jason Gonzales, who challenged Madigan’s 2016 campaign tactics, and two cases arising from David Krupa’s 2019 challenge to Madigan’s hand-picked Ald. Marty Quinn (13th), Boyce said.
- Not Again - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 9:16 am:
At Hinshaw’s hourly rate he will need every penny.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 9:25 am:
Solely to the politics of this all;
Tim Baldermann’s letter of withdrawing from the 37th House race, Facebook. In part;
=== I do not have the personal finances and resources necessary to sustain these all-too expensive campaigns. Additionally, the House Republican Organization doesn’t have the funding to finance this campaign in a general election.===
On December 20th, when Baldermann wrote that, think how discouraged one must be, knowing the Raunerites who sold their souls to a man, and his wife, for $50 million of “No $&@#% problems” cash… is utterly broke, and *needs* candidates that can self fund, and can’t have a primary winner who can’t fund their general election campaign.
The fallout of Raunerism isn’t that Madigan has $21 million. Heck, that $21 million might be earmarked for much more than mailers and cable buys, but there’s no getting around HRaunerites, selling out, are indeed a shell of themselves, and thinking that continuing Raunerite thinking will bring back RaunerBucks, but it will only make 44 House seats a dream come an election of two.
Are we the party of Rauner and Ken Dunkin, or are we the party that recognizes “but Madigan” has failed and imploded and now leaves the caucuses so broke that they can’t choose the best candidates but only the best self funded candidates.
But, please, let’s go on and on and rail on Madigan, politically, because we can’t even *allow* State House primaries… because we’re so broke and bereft of anything smart, 51st state thinkers are embraced.
The money gap is a scary reality of the Rauner’s end game of imploding a party once it became useless to them.
- Ok - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 9:27 am:
That’s some scratch
- Robert the Bruce - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 9:29 am:
More than half is in Friends of Michael J Madigan, so dreams of replacing him with another party leader would still leave him with a fair bit of control over the money.
- efudd - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 9:29 am:
“ten times more”
Gotta love the free market.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 9:33 am:
Trial lawyers and unions certainly know how to reward their friends and enablers
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 9:42 am:
===and two cases arising from David Krupa’s 2019 challenge to Madigan’s hand-picked Ald. Marty Quinn===
If we are using an adjective to describe Quinn, then we need an adjective to describe Krupa. I was thinking “admitted sexual assaulter” or how about “known stalker.”
- JS Mill - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 9:48 am:
All Rauner did was make Madigan more powerful and gave him a bigger majority.
The ILGOP deserves this.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 9:50 am:
=Trial lawyers and unions certainly know how to reward their friends and enablers=
Ken Griffin and Dick Uliehn certainly know how to reward their friends and enablers. Just ask Proft.
- NorthsideNoMore - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 9:55 am:
I wonder what was the spending disparity between house and senate caucuses was pre BR?
- efudd - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 9:59 am:
LP,
See Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission
- A Guy - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 10:04 am:
This number is so mind-boggling, it’s beyond comprehension anymore.
- Steve - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 10:07 am:
$21 million is a lot of money. But, a world where there can be wealthy self funding candidates it’s probably not as important as it used to be . It’s amazing that a post on Mike Madigan has some people obsessing about a one term Governor who’s a relic of the past.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 10:13 am:
=== - A Guy - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 10:04 am
This number is so mind-boggling, it’s beyond comprehension anymore.===
LOL
Let’s look at - A Guy -, December 22, 2016, Rauner donating $50 million to himself…
=== - A guy - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 2:52 pm
If you don’t want a dufus at the Black Jack table, up the ante…
Pink chips or go home now.===
How is $21 million raised “mind boggling” to ya?
- Rutro - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 10:20 am:
Your union dues at work. What’s really funny is he will turn on labor and the PI lawyers the second it becomes in his interest, where would they go, the Republicans?
- Chris - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 10:20 am:
“At Hinshaw’s hourly rate”
Their typical ‘rack rate’ for corporate clients is less than half of Dan Webb’s, or Bartlit Beck, or Kirkland & Ellis. $140,000 could be nearly full-time work for a quarter, or it could be a tough week for one guy.
But they all may give huge discounts for ‘high profile’ or politically advantageous clients.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 10:26 am:
===obsessing about a one term Governor who’s a relic ===
Oh, take a breath already.
The GOP over-relied on Rauner and his pals and it’s still being felt today.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 10:29 am:
Madigan was very instrumental and helpful in protecting unions from the union-despising former governor and his allies. Good or bad as he is, he’s proven that when push comes to shove, he will do his part in protecting many thousands of workers.
The ILGOP represents a shrinking and aging base. Because it has alienated workers and so many others, where will the grassroots energy and support come from? Who if any super-rich right winger wants to spend a lot of money on this party?
- Back to the Future - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 10:31 am:
I appreciate the money issue.
Often you can view political folks as “victims” or “competitors”.
The fact is that a person campaigning with 10 to 30 of his or her friends can pull out a win in a lot of races for public office.
In Chicago a lot of aldermanic races were won by hard working candidates and their supporters.
- City Zen - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 10:31 am:
This legislation was sponsored by IBEW, IUOE, and LiUNA.
And people like you.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 10:32 am:
===… obsessing about a one term Governor who’s a relic of the past.===
No.
I’m pondering why a party that was, arguably, funded by less than 6 or so people are discouraging folks from running because selling out to those 6 or so folks who have now left… it left the HRaunerites in this case at 1/10th of what HDems and Madigan controller committees have.
Makes you wonder how the HGOP will find $10 million or more after March.
- Huh? - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 10:35 am:
Wonder how much he gets to keep when he retires.
- Steve - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 10:53 am:
-Oh, take a breath already.-
There’s not too many people commenting here on a regular basis who talk about Bruce Rauner because he just isn’t that important of a topic anymore. But, if talking about him helps you more power to you.
- Montrose - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 11:05 am:
“$6,500 to attorney Michael Kasper”
It’s nice to see Kasper getting some work from Madigan. /s
- Pundent - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 11:08 am:
=There’s not too many people commenting here on a regular basis who talk about Bruce Rauner because he just isn’t that important of a topic anymore.=
Bruce Rauner left the party, and the House Republican Leader in a weakened state. Mike Madgian in turn used that as an opportunity to strengthen his position and influence. Democrats hold majorities in the House and Senate and every statewide office. Couple that with what’s happening in Washington and it’s going to be a long time before the state GOP recovers from the impact of the “relic.”
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 11:23 am:
Speaking of super-rich ILGOP/Rauner funders, Griffin didn’t appear at Trump’s trade deal ceremony, prompting Trump to ask, “Where the h*ll is he?” Lol. Good for Griffin, for skipping out on this dumpster fire who’s done lots of damage to the ILGOP.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-trump-calls-out-ken-griffin-20200116-irdz2xo2jffwrli5wlxrkedc4e-story.html
- Sue - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 11:24 am:
he Is going to need a lot of money for legal fees. Too bad the donors will see their money lavished on expensive criminal defense lawyers
- thechampaignlife - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 11:44 am:
Those contributors risk big public shaming that they enable the toxic culture.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 12:21 pm:
=This legislation was sponsored by IBEW, IUOE, and LiUNA.
And people like you.=
Yeah because GOP contributors never want anything, ever. LOL
- City Zen - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 12:48 pm:
==Yeah because GOP contributors never want anything, ever.==
If you’re going to schedule lectures in Whataboutism during the lunch hour, can you at least provide lunch?
- efudd - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 1:33 pm:
Of all the things Madigan has been accused of, laziness ain’t one of them.
Meanwhile, one billionaire snaps shut his checkbook and the ILGOP is broke.
Who out-hustled who?
Sue, what has he been arrested and charged with?
That tunnel on the rock is just painted there.
- Lake Effect - Thursday, Jan 16, 20 @ 6:44 pm:
As a Cubs fan, it’s sad that the Ricketts family has realized that buying the Illinois Republican party in the ’20s will be cheaper than fielding a consistent pennant winning baseball team on the North Side