* Q&A today with Gov. JB Pritzker…
Q: Republicans are talking [at a press conference today] about campaign finances and Madigan … They’re essentially saying [Democrats] shouldn’t take Madigan’s campaign money. Do you plan on making a similar type of pledge? And do you plan on not giving campaign funds to funds that Madigan controls?
A: Yes, I will continue to not take money from others for my campaign [extended laughter]. And, and, and [speaking over laughter] and I will [cross talk] support, yeah, I have and I will, you can look and see. I support candidates, state Senators, state House members and others who are running and I will continue to do that.
Q: But will you be giving funds to Madigan campaign funds that he controls?
A: That’s not something I intend to do.
- Frank talks - Monday, Aug 3, 20 @ 12:59 pm:
He doesn’t need to. Labor unions took care of that already.
Be really interesting to see if the GOP had the courage to call out trade unions and their alliance with the Speaker?
- RNUG - Monday, Aug 3, 20 @ 1:04 pm:
Nuanced move in a long term play.
- NotRich - Monday, Aug 3, 20 @ 1:06 pm:
be real interested in seeing if he gives to House D’s this cycle directly..
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Aug 3, 20 @ 1:07 pm:
This *can* work, on the political, but Pritzker will be required (to the political realities) to ensure all statehouse Dems, even if they’ve (the legislator{s}) not been full allies of the administration.
The second it can be framed as a “Rauner-like” way to control intra-party politics, that won’t help in any way in the Madigan-like climate.
- walker - Monday, Aug 3, 20 @ 1:18 pm:
We have learned, I think, the dangers of any party being financially dependent on a very wealthy office-holder.
- RNUG - Monday, Aug 3, 20 @ 1:23 pm:
== We have learned, I think, the dangers of any party being financially dependent on a very wealthy office-holder. ==
Or any single person with a stranglehold on a party’s fundraising.
- walker - Monday, Aug 3, 20 @ 1:44 pm:
@RNUG
Well said.
- Tawk - Monday, Aug 3, 20 @ 2:01 pm:
How do you trust a guy to be speaker if you can’t trust him to run your political money?
- Wylie Coyote - Monday, Aug 3, 20 @ 2:02 pm:
Will we ever see another “Evening at the Lake” at Island Bay Yacht Club?
- Socially DIstant watcher - Monday, Aug 3, 20 @ 2:40 pm:
Does DPI count as a Madigan PAC? Parties get better postage rates, so not using the party for mailers may increase costs.
- Altgelds Ghost - Monday, Aug 3, 20 @ 3:00 pm:
What about the eight-figure check JB gave MJM after the 2018 election?
What’s he doing about that?
- Rich Miller - Monday, Aug 3, 20 @ 3:26 pm:
===What’s he doing about that? ===
You got a time machine?
- radio flyer - Monday, Aug 3, 20 @ 4:03 pm:
Didn’t Pritzker already give $10 million???
- Nagidam - Monday, Aug 3, 20 @ 4:16 pm:
So we will see a new PAC set up to help Dem GA members funded by the Governor. Only shortcoming is they don’t get the sweet postage rates. The question I would have is Madigan’s political staffers still calling the shots but the money is not coming from DPI. Simple to wash the money that would have gone through DPI otherwise.
- low level - Monday, Aug 3, 20 @ 4:30 pm:
I’ve wondered the same, Nagidam. The governor shouldn’t be hesitant. If he’s funding, he should have his own people directing the spending, not DPI. There are plenty of people around the state who may have worked for DPI in the past or whom have experience w legislative campaigns statewide.