Reader comments closed for the weekend
Friday, Sep 12, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Gonna see these guys tonight at the Phases of the Moon Festival. I’ll post some stuff here over the weekend from the venue. I had planned on getting there Wednesday, but problems with my camper and the unreal busy work pace kept me in Springfield. Leaving momentarily, though. If you’re going, look me up…
Comments Off  
|
|
Comments Off
|
Davis ad responds to Callis ad
Friday, Sep 12, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the Rodney Davis campaign…
.S. Rep. Rodney Davis’ (R-Ill.) campaign today released a new ad to point out the dishonest campaign being run by his opponent.
The ad, titled “Bull”, takes on some of the blatantly false claims made by Davis’ opponent in her latest ad.
“Negative ads are one thing, but ads that flat-out lie are another and are the calling card of a desperate campaign,” said Campaign Manager Tim Butler. “You’d think that our opponent’s campaign would be spending more time talking their own candidate, but so far they’ve shown no interest in discussing the issues facing our county, so lies and deceit are their only way forward.”
* The ad…
* Script…
I’m Rodney Davis and I approve this message.
VO: Ann Callis is running a dishonest campaign.
Attacking Rodney Davis with claims that fact-checkers have called “smarmy.” (Washington Post, 5/5/14)
The truth.
Rodney Davis voted to ban first class air travel and to stop Members of Congress from receiving taxpayer-funded health care for life. (Roll Call Vote #177, 4/10/14)
Rodney Davis has never flown first class on the taxpayers’ dime.
So the next time you see an ad from Ann Callis, remember, it’s…
Clip from Callis ad: “..a load of bull.”
That’s a pretty good ad, except I kinda jumped a little when it claims Davis voted to “ban first class travel.” I rarely fly first class, but I don’t want it banned.
/snark
The Callis ad in question is here.
11 Comments
|
Question of the day
Friday, Sep 12, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Your one word summation of the Illinois governor’s race so far? One word only, please. And it has to be a real word. No profanity in any language.
125 Comments
|
* Earlier today, when I posted the story about how Bruce Rauner’s campaign has a security guy with a troubled past, the commenter “Formerly Known As…” wrote this…
If background checks have not yet been completed on every Quinn campaign staffers and vendors, they are about to.
Better buckle up as the downward spiral rages on.
* Well, buckle up, campers. From the Rauner campaign…
QUINN EMPLOYS FELON WITH 2nd DEGREE MURDER CONVICTION
In June Of 1996, Kendall Moore And Another Man Beat Damenion Burnett To Death With A Baseball Bat. “A McDonough County judge refused Friday to reduce the bonds for two men charged with beating another man to death with a baseball bat last June. Darrell Mitchell, 22, of Robbins and Kendall Moore, 22, of Chicago are charged with first-degree murder for the death of Damenion Burnett, 21, of Chicago. Police reports state Burnett was beaten by two men, one armed with a baseball bat, about 1:15 a.m. June 15 in the 700 block of Linden Lane. He died in a Peoria hospital two days later. (A. Rahim Owens, “Judge Won’t Reduce Bond In Beating Case,” State Journal-Register, 1/4/97)
Moore And Burnett Got Into A Bar Fight In Macomb Illinois In The Late Hours Of June 14, 1996. “Damenion Burnett died as a result of blunt trauma to the head. Charges of first degree murder, armed violence, aggravated battery and mob action were brought against defendant and Darrell Mitchell, who were tried jointly. Testimony at trial centered around two fights in Macomb, Illinois, on the night of June 14 and early morning hours of June 15, 1996. The State’s evidence established that defendant, Mitchell, Steve Tinch and several college friends were having drinks at the Regulator Bar around midnight, June 14. Defendant and his companions belonged to a social fraternity known as the Omega Psi Phi fraternity (Q-dogs), which was affiliated with the Zeta Phi Beta sorority (Zetas). Members of both groups were in the bar, as well as other non-affiliated friends from the neighborhood. Eileen Tarjan and her boyfriend, Damenion Burnett, were not Zetas or Q-dogs but socialized with them. As the bar was closing, a Zeta accused Tarjan of burning her with a cigarette. The confrontation between the two women erupted into a fight which spilled out into the street. Defendant and Mitchell entered the melee, along with Burnett and his friends, Mike Hawkins and Delrico Nelson. The fight ended abruptly and the crowd dispersed when Hawkins fired two shots into the air from a nine-millimeter semi-automatic gun.” (People v. Moore, No. 4-97-0759, Opinion, 12/4/98)
Moore Followed Burnett To His Girlfriend’s Apartment And Beat Him With A Baseball Bat. “Hawkins’ gun was handed to Nelson as they drove away from the bar. Nelson next met Burnett at the apartment in Villa Westbrook where Tarjan and Burnett stayed. Defendant, Mitchell and Tinch went to Mitchell’s apartment in Villa Westbrook, one floor above Tarjan’s. Defendant took a baseball bat into Tarjan’s apartment and banged it on a stereo speaker. He was asked to leave, and he did. Burnett and Nelson started to fight with Tinch. Nelson retreated, and the confrontation between Tinch and Burnett moved outside, where Mitchell and defendant joined in. Tarjan testified that she saw defendant and another man fighting with Burnett. She said that Burnett was unarmed and was trying to stand while the two men beat him. She could not see if a weapon was used in the fight, but she saw Nelson fire a couple of shots into the air and the grass before she left the scene with a friend. On cross-examination, Tarjan admitted that she had lied to the police when she told them she neither saw nor heard any shooting outside her apartment. Nelson testified that he stood outside the apartment building and watched the fight. He said defendant went to his truck and returned with a bat to fight with Tinch and Mitchell against Burnett. He saw defendant club Burnett in the head. After Burnett fell, defendant struck again while Mitchell kicked and stomped on Burnett. Nelson yelled, “Stop!” and fired two shots into the ground and another into the air. Other witnesses heard between four and eight shots. Nelson said the fight was still in progress when he heard police sirens. He dropped the gun and ran from the scene.” (People v. Moore, No. 4-97-0759, Opinion, 12/4/98)
Burnett Was Declared Brain Dead A Day Later – He Suffered A Fractured Skull, Both Sides Of His Jaw Were Broken And His Liver Was Lacerated. “Burnett was declared brain dead on June 17, 1996. In addition to a fractured skull, both sides of his jaw were broken and his liver was lacerated.” (People v. Moore, No. 4-97-0759, Opinion, 12/4/98)
Kendall Moore, Of 835 Maple Rd, Flossmoor IL Appears On Taxpayers For Quinn’s Payroll. (Illinois Board of Elections, Accessed 9/12/14)
And away we go…
*** UPDATE *** The Quinn campaign sent over Moore’s bio from his WVON page…
Kendall Moore’s career in TV and radio dates back to the 1980s when he was one of the youngest DJs to mix records at a major radio station. Moore developed and honed his on-air personality on 89.3 WIUS College Radio for Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois. Moore became popular due to his quick wit, mannish style and ability to recognize new talent; he was a force to reckon with on the college radio circuit.
Moore’s commitment to informing and helping people lead him to work of the City of Chicago’s Department of Health. During his time with DOH, Moore assisted in the development and implementation of a city-wide program which provided re-entry services to former and recently released inmates. Becoming aware and sensitive to the struggles of people reentering society, Moore became a national and international orator, speaking on the hardships that follow incarceration and what is needed to once again become a productive member of society.
This power and real conversation took Moore throughout the United States, including Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia; The National Minority AIDS Council located in Washington, D.C.; Centerforce in Oakland, California, a nonprofit organization with the mission of improving the lives and communities of incarcerated people; and Rikers Island Correctional Facility in Queens, New York. His international engagement repertoire includes many countries, but Moore spent considerable time in South Africa, speaking about real life, real crime and the realities of American life for criminals.
Moore’s broadcasting resume includes serving as a host on Chicago’s CAN TV, and remains a popular and in demand host and speaker. Moore’s goal is to be the voice of the next generation of WVON politicians, community activists, entrepreneurs and entertainers.
Looks like he’s rehabilitated himself and then some. I’ve asked the Rauner campaign what they plan to do about their own guy. I’ll let you know.
66 Comments
|
* North Riverside is filing suit to get out of its firefighters contract. From a press release…
Mayor Hubert Hermanek, Jr. of west suburban North Riverside, after yesterday announcing an impasse after six “good faith” negotiating sessions with Firefighters Union Local 2714, instructed the village’s attorneys to file suit today in Cook County Circuit Court asking that court to affirm North Riverside’s right to legally terminate the firefighters’ contract, which expired on April 30, 2014.
North Riverside, with a population of 6,672 in 2,827 households, derives most of its revenue from sales tax, thanks in large part to North Riverside Park Mall. However, the village is facing a proposed fiscal year 2014-2015 operating budget deficit of $1.9 million, with $1.8 million of this deficit being a direct result of the Village’s growing annual public pension obligation. All of this and more is evidence that supports the Village’s inability to sustain salary and benefits of over $200,000 per fireman and $230,000 per Lt. anymore.
Contracting firefighter services from Paramedic Services of Illinois (PSI), which has provided paramedic services to North Riverside for the past 28 years, would save the village more than $700,000 annually and vastly reduce the adverse impact of future pension obligations imposed by the state. All PSI paramedics are certified as firefighters, as well.
* From a September 10th press release…
The Village has presented multiple compromise proposals to the union, including a progressive privatization plan based on an 11-year contract, during which 10 of our 14 current firefighters would reach retirement age and 25+ years of service. As they retired or with any attrition, firefighters would be replaced with firefighters/paramedics from PSI-the private company that has provided paramedic services to North Riverside for 28 years. As a result, by the end of this 11-year contract, Village fire and emergency protection services would be almost fully privatized, maintaining safe and reliable service, while achieving the cost-savings the Village must have to remain solvent.
The union rejected this innovative proposal, which would have reduced our future public pension obligations over time and stabilized North Riverside’s finances, while allowing nearly 90 percent of our current firefighters to eventually retire with their full, earned public pensions.
* The village’s attorney also sent along this link…
San Bernardino can cancel a union contract with its firefighters, a federal judge said in a preliminary ruling that may make it easier for the insolvent California city to cut debt and exit bankruptcy.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Meredith Jury in Riverside, California, said today that she will give the firefighters’ lawyer a chance to question a key city witness before making her final ruling.
“It is very unlikely they are going to convince me” that the contract is not a burden on the city’s recovery, Jury said while making her initial ruling.
* Meanwhile…
Voters in Hinsdale Township High School District 86 will have the chance in November to weigh in on an advisory ballot question related to teacher pensions.
The board voted 4-3 Monday to place the following question on the Nov. 4 ballot: “Shall the Board of Education of Hinsdale Township High School District 86 continue to offer eligible teachers the opportunity to earn six percent (6 percent) salary increases in each of four (4) school years prior to retirement?”
Discuss.
31 Comments
|
DCFS changes policy on “unsafe sleep deaths”
Friday, Sep 12, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* As the Tribune reports today on the front page, this change of policy “will likely lead to a drop in reported maltreatment fatalities”…
Hoping to better investigate such deaths [which occur when a parent falls asleep with a child or other unsafe sleeping conditions] statewide, DCFS in recent years began counting unsafe sleep deaths as neglect in cases where investigators could prove the adult caregiver was aware of the potential danger. Amid criticism over the increased child death tallies and disagreement on whether sleep-related deaths constitute neglect, DCFS now will investigate such cases only if suspicious circumstances are found. Those include physical injuries to the child, the caregivers’ admitted alcohol or drug use, a lack of supervision or prior agency involvement. […]
Child welfare officials in Indiana say they investigate all sudden and unexplained deaths. But Michigan, similar to Illinois’ new stance, does not count such sleep-related deaths as negligence unless a secondary factor becomes evident.
In a recent report on unsafe sleep fatalities, Illinois DCFS Inspector General Denise Kane said it is “ill-advised” to indicate that a parent is responsible for child neglect until lawmakers officially recognize it as negligent or medical experts agree on how unsafe the practice of co-sleeping with a baby really is. […]
The ACLU’s Wolf and child advocates such as SIDS of Illinois agree with Kane, especially in light of repeated state budget cuts when DCFS has limited resources.
“Yes, it’s negligence, but I don’t think that’s what the public thinks abuse is all about,” Wolf said. “We ought to reserve the category of abuse and neglect for the really horrible things that endanger kids.”
A Tribune review of several infant deaths involving co-sleeping in 2013 and 2014 highlighted the troubling conditions that sometimes exist in those homes. Records reviewed by the newspaper revealed instances where more than one child over time had died in the same family after being left in an unsafe sleep condition. In those cases, DCFS officials say, the agency still would investigate even under the new policy.
It sounds like we need more public awareness of this problem.
17 Comments
|
|
Comments Off
|
* There’s more to this Northwest Herald story than first meets the eye…
The criminal record of the former campaign manager for McHenry County Sheriff candidate Bill Prim casts a pall on what he would do if elected, Prim’s challenger alleged Thursday.
Independent candidate Jim Harrison released police, court and witness records from two fights at two Iowa bars in one night in 2001 involving one-time campaign manager Matt McNamara. He grabbed one man by the throat in the first fight and punched two women in the second, dragging a third by the hair, according to documents Harrison mailed to Chicago-area media. […]
In the first, McNamara grabbed a patron by the throat, slammed him against a wall and threatened his life. Witness reports state McNamara was not provoked, appeared intoxicated and thanked people for separating them because he would have “killed that kid.”
McNamara and his companion went to another bar and got into another fight with a male patron, according to reports. Witness reports stated that McNamara punched two women in the face, and grabbed a third by her hair and dragged her through the parking lot.
The story goes on to say “McNamara, who lives in Huntley, is president of Liberty Elite Services, which specializes in executive protection.”
* The Quinn campaign notes this little nugget…
According to the State Board of Elections, the Rauner campaign has paid Matt McNamara’s Liberty Elite Services $2,400 ($1,200 Q1, $1,200 Q2) for “Security Consulting.”
Oy.
…Adding… The Quinn campaign also sent over this photo of what they claim is McNamara doing security for Rauner at an event the day before the March primary. “He has personally staffed Rauner all over Illinois,” they say…
…Adding More… That photo was a screen cap from this apparent tracker video…
*** UPDATE *** Statement from Rauner Spokesperson Mike Schrimpf…
Bruce met Matt McNamara on the campaign trail and learned that he had provided security for a number of high-profile individuals, including a presidential candidate in 2012 which involved clearance from multiple federal law enforcement agencies, and he had also worked for a number of local law enforcement agencies over the last two decades. While Liberty Elite Services has been used in the past, they will not be used for future events.
Background:https://www.linkedin.com/pub/matthew-w-mcnamara/19/5a2/7b
That’s a pretty impressive bio.
35 Comments
|
Finally, some good news
Friday, Sep 12, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Greg Hinz reports on a new study by United Van Lines…
According to the latest study of the four-month period of May through August, not only did considerably more people move to the Chicago area than away, but Chicago was the most popular locale for moves in the nation, trailed by Washington, Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, Dallas, Phoenix and New York.
Chicago ranked sixth on the move-out list but the spread was wide, with 65.2 percent of those involved in any Chicago move coming in rather than leaving. That’s almost the exact opposite of the split a year ago, when 63 percent were moving out of the Chicago area. […]
[Michael Stoll, an economist and chair of the Department of Public Policy at the University of California at Los Angeles, who speaks about the study for United] underlined that two other cities whose industry breakdown resembles Chicago’s — Boston and New York — also had a relatively strong showing in the latest study. That suggests that sectors such as finance, professional businesses and technology, in which Chicago has a strong or growing presence, suddenly are doing well.
So does the fact that the move-ins included disproportionately high numbers of millennials, aged 25 to 35, and people with an annual income of at least $150,000 a year.
Greg reports this is the highest move-in rate since 2006.
* Look, we all know that this state and Chicago still have major problems. But it burns me to no end when people claim we’re in a “death spiral,” as if we’re all just trapped, helpless victims who have no initiative to turn things around. And it also greatly bothers me that some folks take such great joy in pointing out this or that negative report. I still run them, but I don’t have to revel in our troubles.
During the 1980s when so many of my friends and family fled south, I stayed here. I’d lived in another state and in Europe, but I wanted to make my stand in my home state. The only time I’ve ever regretted my decision has been during the winter (particularly in the winter of 1993, when I was flat broke and freezing). But while it’s nice to visit (especially during cold spells), you couldn’t pay me enough to live in the south. I prefer it here.
25 Comments
|
|
Comments Off
|
A couple of reasonable ideas
Friday, Sep 12, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* This sounds like a pretty reasonable idea from Sheila Simon…
Simon said that like her opponent she sees value in consolidation of the comptroller and treasurer’s offices. However, she said, there’s no reason to wait to start saving money, and advocates for combining some functions of the two offices.
That would simply take an intergovernmental agreement, she said. She likened it to how she currently shares certain functions with the governor’s office in her role as lieutenant governor.
“There’s no reason why the treasurer and the comptroller can’t do the same,” she said.
She may very well be right. Perhaps we should ask the two treasurer candidates how they feel about bypassing the constitutional issue by using intergovernmental agreements. As long as Speaker Madigan is running the House, consolidation ain’t gonna happen.
* And I’m pretty sure she’s right about this…
On the area of government consolidation, Simon acknowledged that Illinois is flush with local government entities but said consolidation is sometimes, but not always, the answer. She said intergovernmental agreements to share resources are also an effective way to save money.
Without a doubt, some consolidation can save taxpayers some money, but the services will still need to be provided.
* Meanwhile, this is behind a subscriber firewall, but nobody else has covered it so I thought you might wanna know. From the Illinois Observer…
Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka handed a no-bid contract to a former Republican Party chairman this year.
Topinka’s office paid Patrick Brady and his new lobbyist firm, Next Generation Public Affairs, $40,000 from March to June 2014 to liaison with Illinois law enforcement agencies, according to documents secured through a Freedom of Information Act request by Lt. Governor Sheila Simon’s comptroller campaign.
Brady is to form “strategic partnerships with municipal, county and state law enforcement agencies,” the contract states.
“Steering a huge no-bid contract to a Republican lobbyist who helped you get elected is exactly the type of back-scratching politics that Illinois cannot afford,” said Dave Mellet, Simon’s campaign manager.
Huge? Not so much. And I don’t think Brady played much of a role in JBT’s last election, but a hit is a hit.
13 Comments
|
* From the Cheri Bustos campaign…
New TV Ad Features Local WWII Veteran Bustos Helped Cut Through Government Red Tape
Granddaughter of World War II Veteran: “We turned to Cheri Bustos. Once Cheri got involved, things were done like that.”
Today, Cheri Bustos for Congress launched “Pension,” the campaign’s second television ad. The ad highlights the story of World War II veteran William Thomas of Fenton, Ill. and his granddaughter, Kate Delaney, a Navy veteran also from Fenton, who turned to Cheri for help when the VA erroneously declared William deceased, which put his pension at risk. Within a month of turning to Cheri for help, William had his pension and peace of mind back.
* The ad…
* Script…
Kate VO: It makes me proud to think about my family’s service.
I served in the Navy.
William VO: And I served during World War Two.
Kate Sync: One day, grandpa told me he got a letter from the VA. They thought he had died, and he wouldn’t be receiving his pension.
William Sync: Well, I was kind of flabbergasted. I didn’t even go to my own funeral.
Kate Sync: So we turned to Cheri Bustos. Once Cheri got involved, things were done [snaps] like that. Within a month, he had his pension back. Cheri Bustos cares about veterans.
Bustos VO: I’m Cheri Bustos and I approve this message.
It’s a pretty darned good ad. But it just made me think of Bobby Schilling’s demand that Bustos keep her promise of giving up ten percent of her congressional salary by donating the money to a veterans’ group.
*** UPDATE *** From the Schilling campaign…
“Cheri Bustos voted to cut veterans benefits by $6 billion by voting for the Ryan-Murray budget in 2013. Six. Billion. Dollars. She can run commercials wrapping herself in the American flag all she wants, but veterans haven’t forgotten her heartless vote that cut benefits to veterans and their families by $6 billion.”
Going off on Paul Ryan? Interesting.
21 Comments
|
Vampire capitalism or unlocking value?
Friday, Sep 12, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From avowed Bruce Rauner foe Doug Ibendahl…
Cherrydale Farms is a Pennsylvania-based company which survived the Great Depression and two World Wars. But it couldn’t survive Bruce Rauner.
Less than five years after Rauner and his investment group took control of Cherrydale Farms, the century old family business was in bankruptcy.
Cherrydale Farms was founded in 1907 by Esther Cherry who began selling hand-made candies and other items to her neighbors. In the 1930’s the company discovered a new distribution channel for its candies and related products when it began working directly with schools and charity groups and offered its services as a fundraising vehicle. The family’s decision helped the company weather the Depression and the fundraising specialty soon became the core of Cherrydale’s business model.
By 1986 the company had annual sales of $15 million and a new candy making plant was opened in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania. Annual sales would eventually approach $100 million.
Then in 1994 the Cherry family sold a majority stake in their company to Rauner’s private equity firm, then known as Golder, Thoma, Cressey, Rauner, Inc. – now simply GTCR, LLC.
As part of the take-over, Rauner put himself on the Board of Directors of Cherrydale Farms.
Catastrophe followed.
* From the Lehigh Valley Morning Call…
Cherrydale was a successful business, with sales growing from $4 million to $100 million, until 1994. That’s when it sold a majority stake in the business to an investment group made up of Golder, Thoma, Cressey, Rauner Inc. of Chicago and Jackson National Life Insurance Co.
Then in March of this year — just five years later — Cherrydale filed for bankruptcy protection. […]
Cherry, who grew up working in the Cherrydale plant but cut ties to the company in 1997, declined to say specifically what went wrong.
“It’s something that never, ever, should have happened,” said Cherry, who called rescuing Cherrydale the “biggest emotional issue of my life.”
“It was just disastrous,” he said. “There will be no mistake again of that nature; I can guarantee that.”
Despite continuing strong sales, Cherrydale was $50 million to $100 million in debt, according to bankruptcy filings on March 15. “Different people operate companies in different ways,” Cherry said. “This company was very close to liquidation.”
Asked about the previous managers at the company, he said, “They will not be with the company, clearly. There’s no question about it. The old management team is back.”
* I asked a friend of mine who’s in the finance biz for his opinion. Here’s his e-mail…
At first blush, it looks like GTCR acquired the majority stake through a leveraged buyout: a little private equity and a lot of debt structured in such a way that Cherrydale’s cash flow and assets collateralized the debt. Pretty common in private equity. That’s how Zell got the Trib: put up a little money, have the target assume most of the risk (in the Trib’s case, the employees ESOP).
Some LBOs are also straight bustouts. Targets are usually in some trouble. Say GTCR got control of the company putting up a little cash and borrowing more based on the company’s assets: They run up lines of credit, stiff vendors, sell assets, all the while paying themselves sweet salaries and consulting fees and the investors — also themselves — dividends.
When it all falls apart, they file bankruptcy and walk away.
It’s what Mitt called “unlocking value” in a company, lol, and what Newt and Rick Perry called “vampire capitalism.”
Discuss.
55 Comments
|
* From a press release…
Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced that Rock Island County Sheriff Jeffrey Boyd resigned and pled guilty [yesterday] to attempted official misconduct based on attempted cyberstalking.
Boyd, 48, of Rock Island, pled guilty before Judge Jeffrey O’Connor earlier today to one count of attempted official misconduct based on attempted cyberstalking. As part of his guilty plea, Boyd resigned and has withdrawn his re-election candidacy in the November election. He has also forfeited the pension he earned during his term as Rock Island County Sheriff.
Madigan alleged Boyd used his position as sheriff to intimidate and threaten a woman he met at a Rock Island gym. Boyd pursued the woman, who is an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, over repeated text messages. After the victim asked Boyd to stop and leave her alone, Boyd continued to pursue the woman, attempting to use his position in public office and as a law enforcement officer to intimidate and harass the victim. In June, Madigan said Boyd went further, leveling a threat against the victim in an anonymous text message, putting the victim in fear for her safety.
“Mr. Boyd was elected by the people of Rock Island County to serve as its top law enforcement officer, but unfortunately he attempted to use his position to intimidate and stalk his victim,” Madigan said. “My office sought his resignation and criminal conviction to ensure he can no longer abuse the power that the people of Rock Island County entrusted in him.”
Under today’s agreed sentence, Boyd is forbidden from contacting the victim.
Madigan’s Public Integrity Bureau prosecuted the case based on a referral from the Illinois State Police, which investigated the case.
Wow.
* The sheriff will actually resign today, and he doesn’t seem all that contrite…
“But I still believe in my heart of hearts I have not committed a crime,” he said during a news conference Thursday in front of the Rock Island County Justice Center, which he has overseen as sheriff since 2010. As part of his plea, he also must forfeit the pension he has earned in his four years as sheriff. […]
“There’s no public information to support any threats (were made),” he said. “I challenge that. It’s not accurate.”
Lang and Boyd also disputed Madigan’s characterization of the plea being based on attempted cyberstalking. County records also include cyberstalking as part of the charge, but Boyd said the record needs to be corrected. He also bristled at the suggestion that his case is similar to that of former State’s Attorney Jeff Terronez, who resigned in a 2011 scandal involving a minor.
“We’re here over Jeff Boyd’s legal problems,” he said, his wife, Ann Boyd, standing at his side. She is employed as director of advertising sales for the Quad-City Times.
* As noted in the story, the local state’s attorney resigned a few years ago after a sex scandal involving a minor. Both the former state’s attorney and the sheriff are Democrats.
I’m not attempting to make light of this crime by dragging politics into the story, but there are three important campaigns going on right now which include all or part of Rock Island County: Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, state Sen. Mike Jacobs and state Rep. Mike Smiddy. All three incumbents are Democrats. This latest scandal won’t be good for the local party at all. And if any of those races end up being close, this stunning resignation, coming so soon after another one, could be a factor there.
14 Comments
|
* I asked the Rauner campaign if it had a transcript of the Tribune debate and if they would please pull out the back and forth over the IDOT hiring scandal. Check it out…
MODERATOR:…we are going to get budget questions but i want to talk about IDOT which we’re both going back and forth on. the outgoing Secretary says that a lot of the requests for staff assistants, the vast majority came from the governor’s office, is she telling the truth?
QUINN: The answer is recommendations were made but she was expected to follow the rules, and she told the inspector general the she did not know the Rutan rules, she said that and she is no longer working there
RAUNER: But you knew ‘em or you wouldn’t have recommended them, ’cause you knew the rules and you recommended ‘em.
QUINN: Anybody who is recommended from our office for a Rutan exempt position, the director is expected to follow the rules. If they don’t follow the rules, they have to be held accountable, i have a new director there. Now, after the inspector general who I appointed who is independent, and I gave him the jurisdiction over all this hiring issue, he made recommendations to our office, we’ve carried out every single one and gone beyond that. we’ve set up a merit board at the Department of Transportation, we’ve told all directors in all departments - they must review all exempt positions.
MODERATOR: This is all reactive to the inspector general’s report, so this has been going on. It took the inspector general and a whistle blower to bring this to your attention, why didn’t you know what was going on and how many of those recommendations came specifically from you and do you really expect your own secretary to not obey her boss?
QUINN: No, i expect her to follow the rules that I set down from the very beginning of this administration regarding hiring, and also the law. A matter of fact, I gave the inspector general authority to make sure that was carried out, and when that wasn’t carried out there was accountability. That is why the Secretary is no longer working there. I have a new Secretary who understands the rules, she’s going through reform she has an outstanding record of reform.
MODERATOR: The old secretary says she was taking orders from the governor’s office, who in your office was giving the orders?
QUINN: She wasn’t taking orders. If there were recommendations for positions, she was expected to understand there are exempt position and non exempt positions. You cannot put people from anywhere into non exempt positions, they’ve got to go through the proper personnel.
MODERATOR: Who was making the recommendations from your office?
QUINN: I don’t, they’re probably people on my staff that recommended folks
MODERATOR: I’d think that’s the first thing you’d want to know…
QUINN: Well the people on my staff said…
MODERATOR: whoever it was would be gone.
QUINN: Well the people who were involved in this are no longer working for the state, if that’s what you’re asking.
MODERATOR: Who are they? Who in your office was…
QUINN: You have the chief of staff, you have other people who are, deputy chief of staff and people like that
MODERATOR: They were the ones passing recommendations to IDOT, Mr. Lavin, who else?
QUINN: Sean O’Shea was one of the deputy chiefs of staff, yes
RAUNER: These are holdovers from the Blagovich administration, Pat Quinn got his start in politics doing patronage for Dan Walker who went to jail, he’s part of this system, it’s everywhere in state government and he’s part of it
Discuss.
63 Comments
|
* The NFIB vigorously opposes Rauner’s service tax proposal and it “adamantly, adamantly” opposes an increase in the minimum wage, which Rauner also used to believe, but says he no longer does. Even so, the NFIB really had no other place to go in this race…
The National Federation of Independent Business, the nation’s and Illinois’ leading small-business association, has endorsed Bruce Rauner for governor. NFIB announced the endorsement at a Rauner campaign event at FlagSource, an NFIB member business in Batavia.
“Bruce Rauner is clearly the best choice for small business,” said Kim Clarke Maisch, state director of NFIB/Illinois. “Bruce Rauner comes from the business community. He understands that government mandates and high taxes make it even harder for small, family businesses to grow and create jobs.
“We need a governor who sees the big picture, who understands what it takes to keep people working and to make Illinois competitive again and build a strong economy,” she said. “We need Bruce Rauner.”
Before endorsing, NFIB carefully vetted both candidates for governor, their positions on key issues and performed a statewide poll of the NFIB/Illinois membership. The endorsement comes from the NFIB/Illinois SAFE (Save America’s Free Enterprise) Trust, the political action committee for NFIB/Illinois’ membership.
Today’s endorsement puts the considerable grassroots support of the state’s small businesses behind the governor’s campaign. Small business owners and their employees vote in high numbers and are known for recruiting friends, family members and acquaintances to vote.
NFIB will encourage its 11,000 dues-paying members in Illinois to help turn out the influential small business voting bloc on Election Day.
Discuss.
*** UPDATE *** Here’s the Rauner campaign video of the endorsement…
* From an accompanying press release…
Illinois gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner today called on Governor Pat Quinn to quit stalling investigations into his administration and release all documents related to both NRI and illegal patronage hiring.
“Pat Quinn continues breaking promises and refuses to come clean with the people of Illinois,” Rauner said at the NFIB endorsement press conference in Batavia. “After promising the people he would fully cooperate with the investigations, we learned just yesterday that he’s refusing to disclose emails to the Legislative Audit Commission regarding NRI.”
Yesterday, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that Governor Quinn is refusing to disclose emails regarding NRI, prompting the co-chair of the Legislative Audit Commission to request Attorney General Lisa Madigan to enforce the subpoenas.
“That’s not the sign of someone fully cooperating,” Rauner said. “What is this governor hiding and who is he protecting?”
26 Comments
|
* This Sun-Times story is attracting some national attention…
Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., is invoking first lady Michelle Obama as a possible 2016 opponent in a recent fundraising appeal, citing the “press and rumor mills” as his source — even though she has shown no interest in running for elected office.
It’s even doubtful President Barack Obama and the first family will immediately return to Chicago after leaving the White House, since youngest daughter Sasha will still be in high school here in January 2017, when a new president is sworn in.
Kirk’s fundraising ploy comes as the notion of Michelle Obama running for a Senate seat from Illinois surfaces occasionally — as it did in June — triggering Michelle Obama, the president White House Senior Adviser and friend Valerie Jarrett to shoot it down in interviews during the summer.
But in the world of political fundraising, denials about running for office don’t count for much because folks deny interest in running all the time and then they go and do it. Kirk’s letter uses the fundraising rule that it’s more effective to ask for money if there is someone big going after you.
* WSJ…
“I’m not one to believe rumors or engage in political gossip,” Kirk says in the letter, “but when it comes to defending the Illinois Senate seat that I’m honored to hold, I take all potential threats seriously.”
Kirk asked for donors to contribute anywhere from $25 to $1,000.
Heh.
It’s probably a smart move as far as fundraising goes. It made me chuckle, anyway.
* CNN…
While the “rumor mill” has been active for some time, Obama has explicitly said she has no plans for elected office.
Asked by ABC’s Robin Roberts whether her next move will be political, Obama said, “No, it will not be political,” and went on to say her next role will be “mission-based” and “service-focused.”
White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, a close friend of the Obamas, flat out rejected the suggestion that Obama would ever run for political office.
“No. I’m absolutely 100 percent positive that will never happen,” Jarrett said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” in June.
Other outlets ran stories as well, but I think you get the drift.
24 Comments
|
|
Comments Off
|
|
Comments Off
|
Illinois Review, other media win appeal
Thursday, Sep 11, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the Thomas More Society…
Yesterday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit issued its decision to dismiss the appeal brought by Satkar Hospitality Inc. against Illinois Review, a conservative news blog. In 2011, Satkar sued Illinois Review for defamation. The U.S. District Court dismissed the lawsuit, but Satkar appealed the decision, and in May, 2013, Thomas More Society brought oral arguments in defense of Illinois Review before the Seventh Circuit.
“We’re very pleased that this blatant attempt to silence aggressive political reporting has been finally rejected by the courts,” said Peter Breen, Thomas More Society vice president and senior counsel. “Illinois Review has a First Amendment right to speak out on controversial issues, and frivolous lawsuits should not be permitted to shut down their free speech.”
In April, 2009, Illinois Review published documents of public record showing that former Illinois State Rep. Paul Froehlich sought campaign contributions from individuals who won property tax relief with his assistance. After the story ran, the Cook County Board of Review reversed the tax breaks. Satkar Hospitality, Inc., was one of the companies that Illinois Review reported as having donated to Froehlich’s campaign and later winning a property-tax appeal.
Satkar then sued Illinois Review, along with its editor, Fran Eaton, and publisher, Dennis LaComb, for defamation. After extensive briefing, the District Court dismissed the lawsuit against Illinois Review, Eaton, and LaComb on the basis of the Illinois Citizen Participation Act, which protects those engaged in First Amendment-protected speech from frivolous lawsuits. Satkar filed a late notice of appeal, with permission of the District Court.
Yesterday, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit rejected the appeal and ended the case, holding that Satkar had no good reason to file a late appeal and should not have been given permission to do so by the District Court.
Satkar Hospitality, Inc., and co-plaintiffs Sharad K. Dani, and Harish Dani, had also sued the Cook County Board of Review, Fox Television Stations, Inc., Fox Chicago News, News Corp., and Fox Television Holdings, Inc., along with multiple individuals from those entities.
“We have laws in this country that protect journalists and affirm the public’s ‘right to know’,” Breen added. “Our courts don’t want to waste time or taxpayer money on whiplash action that is thrown as a cover-up for practices of questionable legality.”
The decision is here. Good job by the lawyers, and good on the IR folks for standing their ground.
And, by the way, that Illinois Citizen Participation Act is a great thing.
…Adding… I probably shouldn’t have said the law was “great.” I’d like to see punitive damage awards here. Frivolous, SLAPP lawsuits are in essence libelous. There should be much steeper penalties for this stuff.
13 Comments
|
YouGov poll has Rauner ahead by 3 points
Thursday, Sep 11, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* An online poll from YouGov conducted for the New York Times and CBS News has Bruce Rauner leading Gov. Pat Quinn 44-41. Without “leaners” it’s a 41-37 Rauner lead.
Quinn is getting 77 percent of Democrats compared to Rauner’s 84 percent of Republicans. Independents go Rauner’s way 55-26, which ain’t good at all for the guv.
Just 66 percent of African-Americans (who tend to break late) say they’re with Quinn, compared to 14 percent who are with (12 percent) or leaning toward Rauner. That’s good news for Rauner, of course.
I dunno about these YouGov polls, but the NYT seems to dig them, so there you go.
23 Comments
|
Quinn one for eight
Thursday, Sep 11, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times…
Thursday afternoon, Gov. Pat Quinn attended practice for the WNBA’s Chicago Sky.
While there, he participated in a short shootaround, where he tried to show off his basketball skills. It didn’t go very well.
* Video…
…Adding… He does make a couple in a row on a Facebook video, however.
25 Comments
|
Question of the day
Thursday, Sep 11, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Doug Finke reports that two state lawmakers want police to wear “body cams”…
Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, and Sen. William Haine, D-Alton, said that developments in Ferguson, Missouri, have given new impetus to the legislation that Gordon-Booth said has been in the works for months.
Under the bill, people convicted of criminal or traffic offenses would pay an extra $6 surcharge.
The estimated $4 million to $6 million a year the surcharge would raise would be split between grants for police cameras and funding for the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board.
* AP…
Sen. Bill Haine, an Alton Democrat who also is sponsoring the bill, said the legislation will “remove controversies and remove doubt on what’s going on with a lawful arrest.”
Several law enforcement groups attended the news conference in support of the bill, including the Illinois Sherriff’s Association, the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police and the Illinois State’s Attorneys Association. So did the NAACP.
Brian Towne, president of the state’s attorney’s association, said the bill would help in the review of evidence in issuing charges and in avoiding frivolous lawsuits.
…Adding… Our good friends at BlueRoomStream.com have posted the video from today’s presser here.
* The Question: Do you support this concept? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
online survey
49 Comments
|
* Sen. Jason Barickman sent a letter yesterday to the attorney general requesting that a Legislative Audit Commission subpoena be enforced against a potential witness…
Dear Attorney General Madigan,
It is with appreciation that we begin the next phase of your representation of the Legislative Audit Commission and its audit of the Neighborhood Recovery Initiative (NRI.)
I appreciate your staff’s research, professionalism and participation in multiple, lengthy conference calls with Representative Mautino and myself, and our Chief Counsels. Your assistance has already been helpful to our efforts to fulfill our statutory obligation under the Legislative Audit Commission Act and ensure the timely production of documents related to the NRI audit, especially in light of our upcoming hearing(s).
As you are aware, the Legislative Audit Commission unanimously approved using subpoena powers, as provided by law, to obtain information related to the NRI audit. In accordance with a specific request from the United States Attorney investigating the program, the Commission has delayed hearing from individual witnesses until October 8, 2014.
However, the U.S. Attorney specifically did not request any delay in information gathering and we have proceeded appropriately.
As of today, Dr. Toni Irving has not complied with the subpoena issued by the Legislative Audit Commission and served upon her attorney John King on June 27, 2014. Despite a show of significant patience by the Legislative Audit Commission, only a small portion of the information requested of Dr. Irving has been produced, and broad-based claims of attorney-client privilege claims have been raised by the Office of the Governor through Dr. Irving’s attorney.
I would like to begin the process of enforcing the subpoena and respectfully request that your office immediately take the necessary steps to compel enforcement of the subpoena in a court of law. It is critical that the court consider this action in an expeditious manner, so as to ensure the LAC an opportunity to review any documents prior to our scheduled October 8, 2014 hearing. Further, this enforcement action is necessary to preserve the integrity of the LAC’s subpoena request and in support of the legal obligation’s LAC members have in reviewing the NRI audit. It is worth noting that our initial subpoena was issued well over two months ago. While we have made multiple and reasonable accommodations of Ms. Irving’s continued request of more time to comply with our subpoena as it relates to her production of documents, there are legitimate concerns that any further delays will significantly jeopardize the LAC’s ability to fulfill our legal obligation to review the NRI audit.
In order to assist you and to expedite this process, Jane Stricklin, Executive Director of the LAC, and the Chief Counsels for the four caucuses are preparing to deliver you a detailed timeline of the facts leading up to this request. A summarized timeline is as follows:
· On May 6, 2014, the LAC adopted a motion to utilize subpoena powers by a vote of 10 -1.
· On June 23, 2014, the subcommittee created by the May 6 motion, by unanimous vote, agreed to issue subpoenas to compel testimony and production of documents by the following individuals: Ms. Barbara Shaw, Dr. Toni Irving, Mr. Jack Lavin, Mr. Malcolm Weems, Mr. Warren Ribley, Mr. Andy Ross, and Mr. William (“Billy”) Ocasio.
· On July 16, 2014, the LAC convened a hearing where the subpoenaed individuals were to testify and produce documents. Due to a request from the US Attorneys’ Office, no testimony was taken. As to production of documents, all of the subpoenaed individuals except for Dr. Toni Irving and Barbara Shaw, either provided documents in his/her possession or written confirmation that he/she has no documents in his/her possession within a few days after the hearing. The attorneys for Dr. Irving and Barbara Shaw indicated that they needed some time to properly respond to the subpoena and were given 21 days to comply. Barbara Shaw’s attorney provided the subpoenaed documents on August 8, 2014. Dr. Irving’s attorney, Jon King, indicated that Dr. Irving is in possession of over 100,000 emails from her time in state service that would need to be reviewed for responsiveness.
· On August 6, 2014, Dr. Irving’s attorney, Jon King, requested an extension of time. After a conference call with the Co-Chairs of the LAC, Mr. King agreed to provide a letter of explanation of the steps taken with regard to reviewing the emails. As a result of this conversation, the time frame for compliance was extended to August 29, 2014.
· On August 14, 2014, attorney Jon King provided the letter of explanation requested in the August 6, 2014 conference call. That letter summarized that Ms. Irving had 107,892 emails and attachments. Of those, Mr. King believes at least 7,366 were potentially responsive, although as many as 1,394 may be protected by attorney-client privilege claims being made by the Office of the Governor.
· On August 27, 2014, Mr. King communicated that he would need additional time and requested an extension until September 9, 2014. That request was discussed in a conference call with Mr. King and the Co-Chairs on August 28, 2014. Mr. King was admonished that he needed to produce at least some documents immediately and that the Co-Chairs did not agree to any further extensions.
· On September 2, 2014, 177 documents were received by the LAC.
· On September 9, 2014, Mr. King sent a communication to Ms. Stricklin indicating that roughly 2,000 emails had been reviewed and that approximately 951 emails were responsive to the subpoena and were immediately being transmitted to the LAC. We have confidence that those emails have been (or will be promptly) received by the LAC.
Throughout the process, Mr. King has indicated that he has been communicating with Mr. John Schomberg, counsel for the Governor, who is asserting attorney-client privilege on a subset of these documents. It is my understanding that Ms. Stricklin and the Chief Counsels will coordinate any efforts with you to solicit unknown information related to these attorney-client privilege claims.
From the communications we have already had with your staff, it is my understanding that no further action must be taken by the LAC to initiate this enforcement action. In fact, the May 6, 2014, subpoena motion specifically authorized the Commission to “summon and compel” the “production of documents”. Further, Ms. Irving’s subpoena instructed her as follows: “You are commanded also to bring all relevant documents in your possession or control…” to the hearings held on July 16, 2014 and July 17, 2014, or be subjected “to punishment as provided by the Illinois Constitution and Section 4 of the Legislative Audit Commission Act”. Regardless, if necessary, I will request a special meeting of the LAC to consider whether to enforce the subpoena. Ms. Stricklin has informed us that such a meeting could be convened on 24 hours’ notice.
Our next hearing is scheduled for October 8, 2014. Obtaining non-privileged documents promptly is crucial to our ability to prepare for this hearing. Therefore, we need to expeditiously take the steps necessary to obtain these documents from Dr. Irving and to resolve any claims of privilege by the Governor’s Office.
Your immediate assistance in this process is requested.
Very Truly Yours,
Jason A. Barickman
State Senator
Co-Chairman, Legislative Audit Commission
20 Comments
|
* I’ve been asking the Rauner campaign the past few days for a copy of this ad, which is being targeted to suburban women on cable TV. They never sent it.
Illinois Review recorded it off a TV, and the conservatives over there ain’t happy with Rauner for so openly “being pro-abortion and pro-gay marriage”…
The ad, airing on [cable] television only, is titled “Why Are You Voting for Bruce Rauner for Governor.” It opens with Marjorie Shapiro, who is identified in other videos on the Rauner website as a “pro-choice independent.”
Shapiro states:
“Bruce doesn’t have a social agenda. He’s pro-choice and will leave the marriage equality law alone.”
Rauner has been recorded on several occasions saying he’s personally pro-life, but believes in a “woman’s right to choose.” He has also been quoted as saying he would repeal the same-sex marriage law if he were governor. The conflicting statements, coupled with the ambiguous and situational definition of “no social agenda” has many conservative Republicans questioning their support for Rauner.
* Watch…
* Script…
Male announcer: Why are you voting for Bruce Rauner for governor?
Caucasian woman: Bruce doesn’t have a social agenda. He’s pro-choice and he’ll leave the marriage equality law alone.
African-American woman: Bruce will fight for good schools for all of our children, no matter where they live, no matter what the power brokers say.
Latina: We need a clean break from the Blagojevich-Quinn machine.
African-American woman: It’s time for a change.
Female announcer: Bruce Rauner, shake up Springfield, bring back Illinois.
It’s actually a pretty well crafted ad, but, needless to say, it ain’t gonna be running in Downstate markets.
73 Comments
|
* An e-mail from Rep. Dave McSweeney…
I just filed House Resolution 1267 (attached below) with 34 total sponsors. The resolution strongly opposes the local pension cost shift. The proposal has broad bipartisan support and is supported by the IEA. You can contact Will Lovett from the IEA if you want to get a comment from them.
The sponsors believe that a cost shift is unfair and would result in a massive increase in property taxes and damaging cuts to education.
Last year, Speaker Madigan made it clear that the pension cost shift is a top priority. Some of us have heard rumblings that the cost shift could come back as part of a modified education formula (eg, SB 16) comprehensive bill. Also, if SB 1 is declared unconstitutional, I believe that it’s likely that the Speaker will push the cost shift again.
We just began discussions on this effort last Friday afternoon and expect to get a meaningful number of additional members to go on record against the cost shift by signing on to the resolution.
Below is the current sponsorship team.
McSweeney (Chief Sponsor)
Lead Co-sponsors - Kay, Hoffman, Rosenthal, and Costello
Co-sponsors - Franks, Sullivan, Phelps, Hatcher, Brauer, Moffitt, Meier, Poe, Tryon, Cabello, Davidsmeyer, Hays, Mitchell, Reis, Halbrook, Sosnowski, Tracy, Bost, Hammond, Brown, Harms, Reboletti, Sandack, Wheeler, Verschoore, Demmer, McAuliffe, Pritchard, Cavaletto
* The “therefore, be it resolved” line…
(W)e state our belief that an educational pension cost shift is financially wrong and would only serve to shift pension burdens from the State to the status of an unfunded mandate
Discuss.
44 Comments
|
I find this difficult to believe
Thursday, Sep 11, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* For the past ten days or so, the DCCC has been trying to get reporters to write about the fact that the NRCC hasn’t yet reserved any TV time in the 10th Congressional District on behalf of their candidate Bob Dold.
The following is a backgrounder from a Dem operative that I received on September 5th, after the DCCC finally convinced WaPo to slip this factoid into a story. The e-mail has been reformatted to match this blog’s posting style…
* Washington Post: The 10 most vulnerable members of the House…
9. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.): Schneider faces former congressman Bob Dold (R), whom he defeated in an extremely tight 2012 race (51-49). It’s expensive to buy air time in this suburban Chicago district. The NRCC has not yet reserved advertising time here, but it says it still intends to spend money.
* What the NRCC said in May about what they were going to reserve…
IL-10: $800,000 (Chicago broadcast and cable) Brad Schneider
* Boehner in August…
U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, predicted Monday that come November, Illinois Republicans will have the most successful year they’ve had in the Land of Lincoln in more than two decades.
* NRCC last week…
AP: “Prill singled out the Dold-Schneider race as a “huge pickup opportunity” for Republicans. Dold lost to Schneider in the independent-leaning district by about one percentage point in 2012.”
* What they have actually reserved…
* After growing weary of this line of pursuit, I eventually reached out to Katie Prill at the NRCC. Here’s her response…
Hey Rich -
You are about the 10th reporter who has reached out about this. I am guessing [redacted staff name because it’s incorrect] is still pushing this ridiculous story.
Anyway, our ad buy is coming. The DCCC doesn’t even go up here until the end of October. We will be playing in this race and a buy will be placed soon.
Our executive director was Mark Kirks’ chief when he was in this district so obviously this race and our investment here is top priority. Are you planning on posting on this or just curious?
The Dems are trying to make something out of nothing. Kind of like Brad’s “small business career.”
Katie
* Indeed, the DCCC isn’t planning to go up until October 21st…
Illinois’ 10th District: $800,000 on Chicago broadcast and cable from Oct. 21 to Oct. 27 to defend Democratic Rep. Brad Schneider.
So, I let it drop.
* Yesterday, the same Dem operative sent me another e-mail…
Saw you posted about the new poll out in IL-10 showing Brad leading Bob Dold by 5 points. A few additional points.
· The NRCC said in May it would place an $800,000 ad reservation for Mr. Dold, but the Washington Post reported Friday they have not followed through.
· As was reported in the article you cited, outside groups have already spent some $1.6 million on TV for Mr. Dold, and have not moved the needle.
· Now, there signs another outside group is getting cold feet about Mr Dold. Just recently the Congressional Leadership Fund previously said that it would spend on behalf of Mr. Dold, but their newly released spending plans, do not list Dold at all.
* I sent the operative Ms. Prill’s e-mail. His response…
The longer they wait the harder it is to buy in Chicago.
That’s true, too, particularly with the governor’s race we’re having.
But I just can’t believe that the national Republicans are gonna take a pass on this race. Schneider won by a mere 3,326 votes two years ago during a huge Democratic wave. There isn’t going to be a Democratic wave this year.
In other words, I’m posting this to get the DCCC off my back.
11 Comments
|
Today’s number: 9 percent
Thursday, Sep 11, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Ugh…
Only 9 percent of chief financial officers surveyed in Chicago say they plan to add new jobs to their companies in the next 6 months, according to a report released Thursday by staffing firm Robert Half.
That means most — 79 percent of area finance executives surveyed — will only be adding staff to fill vacated positions, according to the firm’s “Chicago Professional Employment Forecast” report.
This market for new jobs falls short of cities such as Houston, where 24 percent of CFOs said their companies planned to fill new positions over the next half year. In Denver, 19 percent of CFOs said they have plans to create new jobs over the fall and into the winter months of 2015. Other cities, such as Salt Lake City, Ut. Des Moines, Ia., and the San Francisco Bay area also reported plans to ramp up job creation by more than 10 percent.
15 Comments
|
Nothing, nothing, nothing… huh?
Thursday, Sep 11, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Rauner hasn’t wanted many debates, so no surprise here…
Republican Bruce Rauner’s campaign said Wednesday that the candidate for governor would not accept an invitation from The State Journal-Register and WICS-TV Channel 20 for a live debate in Springfield with Gov. Pat Quinn.
Quinn’s campaign had said last week that the Democratic governor would participate if Rauner agreed to take part.
* No way were the firefighters gonna sit this one out or be with Rauner…
Gov. Pat Quinn [this week] visited a downtown fire station to receive the endorsement of the Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois, which has 15,000 members across the state, including 5,000 in Chicago.
Union President Pat Devaney said it was an “easy” choice between Quinn and Rauner, saying it’s clear the Democratic governor would fight for working people while Rauner takes stances that would hurt them, such as previous statements that he would support eliminating the minimum wage.
* The only surprise about this is that the state police commanders had never endorsed in a governor’s race before…
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner announced today that he received the endorsement of the Illinois State Police Command Officers Association (ISPCOA).
“I have tremendous admiration for every member of our state police force. They are heroes who are willing to risk their safety for all of us, and they deserve the best in return,” Rauner said. “I’m humbled and grateful to have the support of the State Police’s top leaders with the endorsement of Illinois’ Police Command Officers.”
“Our Association strongly supports your effort to establish term limits for elected leaders in our state and sincerely appreciates your support of law enforcement and public safety,” ISCPOA President James Alexander wrote in the endorsement letter. “We enthusiastically support your candidacy.”
* But check out this headline…
Could State Rep. Jeanne Ives be the first IL female Governor? Watch Rep. Ives w/Berkowitz on Cable/Web and you decide
Watch…
40 Comments
|
* You would think that US Sen. Rob Portman, the vice chairman for finance of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, would have at least passing knowledge of a race involving the Senate’s second highest ranking Democrat…
Portman was asked whether the committee would give Oberweis financial help or other assistance in his race. He also was asked to gauge Oberweis’ chances.
He said: “I don’t know what the NRSC decision will be there. I have been told that that (Illinois) race has closed somewhat. It’s a single-digit race based on some polling, but I just don’t know enough about it.”
Does he expect the committee to help Oberweis?
“I don’t know,” Portman replied. “I mean, frankly the playing field (for Republicans) is already very broad. I don’t think people would have been expected to be talking about Minnesota and New Hampshire and Virginia and Oregon, and we are, so the playing field is already quite broad.”
Thoughts?
26 Comments
|
Rauner, Quinn both refuse to take the bait
Thursday, Sep 11, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Bruce Rauner refused to throw Jim Bruner under the bus yesterday. As you’ll recall, a union-backed group tried to claim earlier yesterday - without proof - that Bruner was somehow involved in pay to play with Bill Cellini. But it was a major stretch, and to his credit, Rauner refused to back off…
Rauner and Christie later Wednesday appeared at the Brickhouse Grill & Pub in downtown Springfield. Asked about Bruner’s involvement in the Republican Governors Association event, Rauner said, “I don’t know the facts of what you’re describing. We have come from several fundraisers here in Springfield, and (I) was honored to have Jim Bruner be part-leader of that process.”
* Also yesterday. Rauner demanded that Gov. Pat Quinn order his staff not to have any contact with Jack Lavin, who hasn’t been accused of any wrongdoing and made it through the Blagojevich administration untainted by that train wreck. Quinn refused to take the bait…
Quinn’s campaign said the governor has no reason to distance himself or his administration from Lavin.
“There is no disassociation necessary,” Quinn campaign spokeswoman Izabela Miltko said. “Mr. Lavin has not worked for the state for more than a year.
“And we don’t agree with Mr. Rauner’s ‘demonizing’ approach when it comes to campaigning. Whether it’s teachers, public employees or former state workers who have not been accused of any wrongdoing, Rauner will bully and smear anyone in his way,” she said.
Good for both candidates.
7 Comments
|
* The Democratic Governors Association is touting a new poll showing Gov. Quinn actually leading Bruce Rauner. Here’s the polling memo from Global Strategy Group, which handled the polling for NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio’s campaign…
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn Leads in Re-election Race
Bruce Rauner’s lack of appeal to Democratic and Independent voters sinks his prospects
Incumbent Pat Quinn leads Republican challenger Bruce Rauner in the race for Illinois Governor, according to a recent statewide survey of likely voters conducted by Global Strategy Group. Democratic voters are consolidating behind Quinn and forming increasingly negative views of Rauner, severely limiting the Republican’s chances of victory in the Democratic-leaning state.
Key findings include:
• Quinn has taken the lead over Rauner. Quinn leads the race with 43% of the vote compared to 40% for Rauner and 5% for Libertarian Chad Grimm.
• Rauner’s popularity is sinking. Rauner is 13 points better known now (72% familiar) than in June (59%), but his favorability has held steady while his negative ratings have shot up by 13 points (34% fav/26% unfav to 33% fav/39% unfav). Rauner has become an unpalatable choice for the state’s Democrats and an increasingly divisive figure among Independents over the course of the campaign. As he has become better known, Rauner’s negative ratings have increased by 20 points among Democrats (16% fav/43% unfav to 9% fav/63% unfav) and by 13 among Independents (35% fav/21% unfav to 35% fav/34% unfav) with no increase in his positive ratings.
• Democratic support for Quinn leaves Rauner with no clear path to victory. In an electorate where nearly half of voters (48%) identify as Democrats and just over one-third are self-described Republicans (35%), Quinn has strong odds of holding on to the seat as long as he can consolidate his party’s voters. Quinn enjoys the support of 81% of Democrats, matching Republican consolidation behind Rauner (83%). Self-described conservatives are the only ideological segment of the electorate that afford Rauner an advantage in the race, while Quinn leads among moderate voters (40% Quinn/37% Rauner) and by a double-digit margin among non-conservative Independents (42% Quinn/31% Rauner).
The bottom line is this: The more Democratic and Independent voters hear about Bruce Rauner, the less appealing he becomes to them. Rauner’s sinking popularity among these voters demonstrates that advertising from Democratic groups is successfully defining Rauner negatively and making Rauner’s uphill task to overcome the state’s Democratic lean all the more difficult. Pat Quinn’s position has been strengthened significantly two months out from the election as Rauner has become an unappealing choice to all but the furthest-right voters in the electorate and Democrats are consolidating solidly behind Quinn.
That’s a large number for self-identified Democrats, but not outside the realm of possibility (Rasmussen had it at 44 in July, as did 2010 exit polling). This is a “D” state. Also, keep in mind that “non-conservative Independents” is a much smaller group than conservative independents.
* Democratic-sponsored polls have lately shown this to be a much closer race than all other polls done in Illinois. For instance…
Sneed hears that Gov. Pat Quinn just received his latest internal poll, which has the gubernatorial election locked in a virtual tie.
The poll of 600 people, taken by Quinn’s pollster Mark Mellman of the Mellman Group from July 27 to 29, shows Quinn at 38 percent, GOP candidate Bruce Rauner at 39 percent and 23 percent of voters undecided. The poll’s margin of error is plus or minus 5 percentage points.
…Adding… Assuming for the moment that these two polls are within reasonable distance of accuracy, then it truly repudiates Rauner’s summertime strategy of spending little money on TV and not responding to either the union-backed ads or Quinn’s ads.
If Rauner ends up losing this race, his post-primary “go light” strategy will be to blame. Most figured he’d spend a fortune early on in an attempt to bury Quinn with a double-digit lead by Labor Day and dry up the governor’s money heading into the fall. That didn’t happen. And whatever poll you choose to believe now, the race has undoubtedly tightened to single digits. That one’s on Rauner.
80 Comments
|
|
Comments Off
|
|
Comments Off
|
DCCC poll: Schneider up by 5
Wednesday, Sep 10, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Despite spending by outside interests approaching $1.6 million in the 10th CD, freshman Democrat Brad Schneider is still apparently leading former Congressman Bob Dold. Lynn Sweet shares details…
An automated poll by the Democratic House political operation shows Rep. Brad Schneider D-Ill., ahead of former Rep. Bob Dold Ill., by five points.The survey of the north suburban 10th congressional district in Illinois was conducted in-house by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and found 11 percent undecided. […]
In the head-to-head, Schneider was outpacing Dold by 47 percent to 42 per cent.
From a DCCC polling memo…
“Schneider performs especially well among women voters, where he leads by 7 points (47% to 40%) and maintains especially strong personal favorabilities (+20 net positive, 38% favorable, 18% unfavorable). By comparison, women voters’ opinions of Dold are almost evenly divided (36% favorable, 31% unfavorable, 33% unsure).”
The DCCC is doing in-house automated polls, eh? Interesting.
18 Comments
|
The race to the bottom accelerates
Wednesday, Sep 10, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Oh, for goodness sake…
Pay to Play Insiders Reward One of Their Own: Rauner
Rauner receives campaign cash at fundraiser hosted by man who voted with convicted fixer Stu Levine to give Rauner’s firm $50 million in state pension business
This morning, billionaire gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner was the beneficiary of a campaign fundraiser hosted by Jim Bruner, who along with convicted political fixer Stu Levine voted to give Rauner’s GTCR $50 million in state pension business in 2003. The fundraiser was held at the Sangamon County Republican Headquarters, the location where convicted felon William Cellini endorsed Rauner in April.
Um, wait. Is the Illinois Freedom PAC actually claiming that Jim Bruner was in on the alleged scam?
* We continue…
Rauner was joined at the fundraiser by scandal plagued New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who is under fire for allegedly mixing public pension business with political fundraising.
“Bruce Rauner is the clear choice of pay-to-play insiders because he’s one of them,” said Neal Waltmire. “Rauner won’t shake up Springfield, he’ll shake down taxpayers.”
So, again, are they saying that Bruner was in on the scam? Let’s continue to find out…
According to federal prosecutors, there was an “illegal deal” involving Stu Levine, William Cellini, and then-Governor George Ryan to re-appoint Bruner to the Teachers Retirement System (TRS).
Actually, according to the US Attorney’s office: “The government notes that it does not have evidence that Bruner was aware of the deal that Cellini struck with Governor Ryan on Bruner’s behalf.” And Bruner forcefully denied any such knowledge.
* Back to the press release…
Bruner became chair of the TRS board and helped approved the deal for Rauner’s firm. Bruner also later donated $10,000 to Ryan’s legal defense fund. Ryan, Levine, and Cellini were eventually convicted on corruption charges.
Man, is that ever a stretch.
* This is truly getting ridiculous. First we have Rauner demanding that the governor sever all ties to somebody whose e-mails were subpoenaed (and who made it through the entire Blagojevich administration without suffering so much as a single, solitary scratch), and now this.
Do you know who else hosted that fundraiser? Jim Edgar. Yeah, man, that was a really corrupt little crowd.
…Adding… From commenter Arthur Andersen…
The President of the IEA made the motion to approve the TRS money for GTCR in 2003 and voted for the motion.
Quinnsters, is she corrupt, too? #SitUpStraight
31 Comments
|
* Press release…
Illinois gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner today called on Governor Pat Quinn to direct his staff and agencies to cease communications with Quinn’s former chief of staff and lobbyist Jack Lavin.
“Jack Lavin is the poster boy for cronyism and corruption in Pat Quinn’s administration,” Rauner said.
“Governor Quinn should direct his staff and agency directors to cease communication with Lavin and urge legislators to do the same.”
Just today it was reported that Lavin is a lobbyist for a medical marijuana company that is part of a selection process that is neither open nor transparent. Lavin is now at the center of the criminal investigation into Quinn’s NRI slush fund but yesterday Quinn named him as the key player in the illegal hiring scandal at IDOT as well. Despite his central role in two ongoing investigations, Lavin is allowed to continue making money off his political connections and ties to Quinn.
“He is Pat Quinn’s best friend, and Quinn not only kept him on after Blagojevich went to jail, he gave Lavin a promotion and made him his chief of staff,” Rauner added. “Pat Quinn should do everything in his power to keep his closest associate away from taxpayer money. Cleaning up Springfield begins with sending the message that if you are involved in patronage or under federal investigation, you can’t profit off your connections, even when your best friend is the governor.”
Lavin previously worked for Tony Rezko, and it was Rezko who got Lavin his job with Blagojevich.
Thoughts?
34 Comments
|
Caption contest!
Wednesday, Sep 10, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Chris Christie is in Springfield today campaigning for Bruce Rauner…
…Adding… Cullerton has his own caption via press release…
CULLERTON OFFERS TO CHAUFFEUR GOV. CHRISTIE IN EFFORT TO AVOID PARTISAN TRAFFIC JAMS
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Senate President John J. Cullerton offered Wednesday to drive New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie around during his visit here in hopes of avoiding any partisan traffic jams like the ones Christie’s top aides created back in the Garden State a year ago.
“Governor Christie, of all people, knows how bad and unexpected traffic can be. I want to make sure he gets around safely and isn’t subjected to any politically motivated traffic shenanigans during his visit,” Cullerton said.
Cullerton, a Democrat representing part of Chicago, was also in Springfield on Wednesday working with staff on ways Illinois can continue to make its full pension payment and not short the retirement funds like the governor of New Jersey proposed while also keeping Illinois’ income taxes lower than New Jersey’s.
“I’m hoping we can learn from New Jersey’s mistakes,” Cullerton said.
64 Comments
|
New Quinn TV ad lampoons Rauner’s van
Wednesday, Sep 10, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Have a look…
…Adding… Script…
Bruce Rauner: “Had this thing twenty years”
Voiceover: So what’s Billionaire Bruce Rauner been up to for the last 20 years?
He raked in millions outsourcing jobs to China and Mexico.
He stashed millions in the Cayman Islands, perhaps to avoid paying U.S. taxes
Now we find out he spent $140,000 to join an elite wine club.
Does all that wine fit in the van?
So the next time Bruce Rauner tells you he’s just a regular guy…
maybe, not so much.
38 Comments
|
* From the 46:07 mark of yesterday’s debate…
QUINN: I want to say one thing. When he was at this Editorial Board, he has given money, I know, he says, to schools and education—including Payton, Walter Payton. Last time he was before this Editorial Board, he lied to you. He lied to you. The Inspector General of the Chicago Public Schools determined that his daughter did not qualify. Was not on a principal’s list. He told a falsehood. As he has today, one falsehood after another, his whole operation is based on deception, includes his education budget. You cannot have excellent schools if you cut the budget of Illinois, the state budget, for education, in half. That’s savage cuts that will hurt people who don’t have a lot of money like Mr. Rauner and who aren’t getting a million dollar tax cut because of these policies that he’s advocating.
QUESTION: Did you lie to us?
RAUNER: No. We went through the process, we followed it appropriately. It’s just like hundreds—
QUINN: [Interrupting] That’s not what the Inspector General said.
RAUNER: Just as hundreds of other families did.
Really? He did nothing different than “hundreds of families”?
* Here’s part of a long exchange with the Tribune editorial board before the primary which the governor referenced yesterday…
Rauner: At no time did we ask for a special treatment, or special deal, or special favor for our daughter. We got her name on the list just like hundreds of other families got their children’s name on the list for this Principal’s list.
Tribune: Why did you mention your daughter to Duncan?
Rauner: Oh we talk about getting his advice on what’s the process, I heard about the principal’s list, what do you do, how does it work?
* From a June 26, 2014 AP story…
Rauner has said that his daughter’s attendance record was marred by illness and hurt her overall admission score, which was the reason for the rejection. He said the family appealed through a principals’ discretionary process.
However, [outgoing Chicago Public Schools Inspector James Sullivan] told The Associated Press on Thursday that Rauner didn’t use the formalized principals’ process. CPS policy says that principals of selective high schools can use discretion for up to 5 percent of incoming freshmen.
Sullivan said Rauner contacted then-CEO Arne Duncan’s office, had at least two conversations with a chief aide, and the admission status was changed after the aide called the principal.
“She’s a very bright kid. She was close and just didn’t make it,” Sullivan said of the initial rejection.
So, he didn’t do what “hundreds of other families” did. At all.
It’s amazing to me that the edit board didn’t fully call him out on this.
* Let’s refresh ourselves on how this tale has evolved. Bernie’s column from Feb. 19, 2014…
It had been back on Sept. 3, when I spoke with Rauner by phone, that I asked about this controversy. He told me then what a good student his daughter was, and how only illness had caused her to be denied regular admission. But, he said, there was at the time a special “principal’s list” then available in such cases, and she was admitted through that process.
And when I asked in September, he said “I did not” talk to [Chicago schools CEO Arne Duncan] about it.
After his round of TV interviews in January, I asked Rauner spokesman Mike Schrimpf about the discrepancy. Schrimpf told me Rauner and his wife, Dianna, both spoke often with Duncan, and one of them had asked about the process.
* From a January 13, 2014 CBS2 story…
Rauner admits making a call to former Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan to see how he could get his daughter into Payton, despite what he calls a middle school attendance record marred by illness. He says principals have some discretion in admitting a small percentage of students, and parents have a right to make an appeal like he did.
“There’s nothing to apologize for that, there’s nothing wrong with it, and I would do it again and again,” he tells CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine in a one-on-one interview.
46 Comments
|
* Gov. Pat Quinn tried to simplify the fairly complicated Lason Inc. story during the debate yesterday…
[Quinn said] Rauner should be held responsible for whatever has gone wrong at businesses affiliated with his former investment firm. “You have to be accountable,” Quinn said. “You just can’t run out the door, collect the money, and leave vulnerable people suffering because of your neglect.”
* From a January 20, 2014 Tribune story…
A few months after praising its performance [as a great example of how his venture capital firm built businesses], Rauner resigned from its board of directors just as the company’s high-flying stock began to crater. Lason imploded amid allegations by investors and criminal investigators that top executives cooked the books to boost the company’s value.
Neither Rauner nor his partners at the venture firm GTCR were accused of any wrongdoing. The firm netted at least $32 million from its investment by selling almost all of its stock before the earnings scandal became public. However, records show, other investors and lenders lost about $285 million as a result of the systematic accounting fraud, and three top executives went to prison.
Mike Schrimpf, a spokesman for the first-time candidate, said Rauner and GTCR had cooperated with authorities years ago in the criminal investigation of Lason. Neither Schrimpf nor Rauner would discuss in detail the nature of Rauner’s interactions with investigators or what he did at Lason.
“I don’t know, that was a long time ago,” Rauner said Thursday in a brief encounter with a Tribune reporter. “Sounds like the stuff you want to ask about is stuff that Mike’s told you about, and I probably don’t have that much to add.”
* Lason Inc. was indeed a disastrous fraud. But, as noted above, Rauner got himself off the board and profitably cashed his firm out of the company just before it crashed and burned. Here is a timeline distributed by the Quinn campaign…
1995: GTCRauner buys 54 percent of Lason a record management services for the Big Three American automakers, for $10 million. With Rauner at the helm. Lason3nitiates a spree of acquisitions of more than 60 competitors. (SEC Filing, 1996)
1996: Just months after he was fined $200,000 by the Securities and Exchange Commission, in a case involving insider trading, William Rauwerdink is hand-picked by Bruce Rauner as Lason’s Chief Financial Officer. [Chicago Tribune 1/20/2014]
1997: Under Rauner’s oversight, Rauwerdink initiates “Tailwind,” an accounting fraud scheme so vast it would be compared to Enron. As part of the fraud, financial data from newly-acquired companies would be used to vastly inflate earnings by up to 65 percent. [SEC Release, March, 2008]
1999: Rauner is still serving on the executive committee of Lason, alongside two of the three executives who eventually were convicted. That committee was responsible for its accounting policies, including Tailwind. [Chicago Tribune 1/20/2014]
August 1999: Rauner praises Lason, and is quoted in The Wall Street Transcript, saying, “We spend a lot of time living with our companies on a week-to-week basis, understanding what’s going on, and being in the flow of information, so we can be helpful and knowledgeable about the operation.” Of Lason, Rauner says: “They represent the essence of what many of our companies do.” [The Wall Street Transcript,8/09/1999]
October 1999: Lason fabricates $13 million in earnings in a press release. [Chicago Tribune 1/20/2014]
Nov. 12, 1999: Rauner abruptly departs the Lason board, 6 months before Rauner’s term is set to expire. [Chicago Tribune 1/20/2014]
Dec. 17, 1999: Lason finally acknowledges that earnings were off, after a precipitous stock drop that was blamed on “unfounded rumors.” The reality: it was fraud. [SEC Release, March, 2008]
2001: Lason files for bankruptcy. [SEC Archives, 2002]
2003: Three Lason executives, including Rauwerdink, are federally charged with the crimes. [SEC, 5/13/2003]
2007: Rauwerdink is sentenced to four years and is ordered to pay $285 million in restitution. [Crain’s Detroit Business6/07/2007] In sentencing Rauwerdink, a federal judge said that “greed and avarice” prevailed at Lason “at the expense of Lason’s shareholder’s, banks, employees and customers.” [CFO, 6/11/2007]
Primary 2014: Rauner deflects questions about Lason and his culpability in the massive fraud, saying, “I don’t know. That was a long time ago.” [Chicago Tribune 1/20/2014]
* Rauner said before he ran for governor that his firm’s chief strategy was finding the right CEO before moving into a new industry. They usually wouldn’t make the move if their preferred candidate wouldn’t agree to do it. And Rauner served on that company’s executive committee. This is as close to a “Rauner’s personal fingerprints” story as we may get.
But finding a way to make it easy to understand and turn it into an effective slam is quite another matter. We’ll see if the Quinnsters are up to the task.
27 Comments
|
Question of the day
Wednesday, Sep 10, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Tribune editorialized on yesterday’s Tribune editorial board appearance by the two gubernatorial candidates…
Our hunch is that incumbent Quinn sees challenger Rauner as the smug kid who grew up to be a robber baron. Quinn swung early and hard at Rauner, so much so that he looked gassed and slumped into his chair. An aide repeatedly advised him to sit up straight; she got intermittent obedience. What did rouse Quinn was his desire to have the last words, often focused on Rauner’s alleged “deception.” Watch the video, at chicagotribune.com/tribgov, and keep track of how many times Quinn looks as if he just wants to take a whack at Rauner. […]
Our companion hunch is that Rauner sees Quinn as an undisciplined payroller who couldn’t manage a pop stand. Watch Rauner sit as erect as an admiral addressing members of Congress and judge for yourself: Is he rigorous or rigid? Rauner, too, likes to have the last words, often wrapping Quinn in “cronyism, patronage and corruption.” As for wanting to take a whack at Quinn — keep track of how many times an unflinching Rauner looks dismissively toward Quinn, as if he wouldn’t go to the trouble of making it physical.
* The Question: Who won yesterday’s debate? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
web surveys
38 Comments
|
Rate Dick Durbin’s first TV ad
Wednesday, Sep 10, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the Dick Durbin campaign…
Senator Durbin’s re-election campaign has its first commercial on the air and it’s a touching testimonial of how Sen. Durbin has delivered for the people of Illinois.
The ad, entitled Captain Simone, tells the story of just one of over 17 thousand families who are caring for our wounded warriors thanks to the assistance of the Veterans Affairs’ Family Caregiver Program. The Family Caregiver Program was created by a Durbin-authored provision in the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009, which was enacted May 5, 2010. This program, which is helping families across the nation, provides technical, financial, and practical support to the caregivers of those injured in the line of duty.
The ad, that will run in the Chicago and Springfield markets, can be viewed at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugdwmRETIcs&feature=youtu.be
“We’re proud to go up with a strong, positive ad that tells the story of how Sen. Durbin has delivered for the people of Illinois – specifically our veterans,” said Anna Valencia who serves as the Campaign Manager for Senator Durbin’s re-election effort.
* The ad is definitely a tear-jerker…
* Script…
Andrea Simone: “I was actually watching the news that day, and I heard a report about the Taliban claiming responsibility for the helicopter getting shot down in Afghanistan. My husband and his gunner were the only survivors. Tony suffered a severe traumatic brain injury. There’s really not much about our life that is the same.
“Senator Durbin passed a law that provided me with the resources and the training, so that I am able to take care of Tony at home. I believe that for Dick Durbin it’s not about politics’ he cares for veterans and their families.
“I believe it’s absolutely a blessing that I am able to take care of Tony in our home with our children where he feels loved. And um, that has meant the world to us.”
Senator Durbin: I’m Dick Durbin, and I’m proud to approve this message.
45 Comments
|
A different sort of “out of touch”
Wednesday, Sep 10, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From Illinois Leaks…
With all the class warfare going in with the Governor’s race and millions being spent on attacking success (as if that’s a bad thing), I thought it would be interesting to see what kind of success the current governor has had in the private sector.
Turns out- Quinn’s private sector success is… ZERO! That’s pretty scary.
* The blogger took a look at the governor’s economic disclosure reports (which can be viewed here) and found…
* Governor Quinn claimed no business ownership in any entity doing business in the State of Illinois in excess of $5,000 or dividends in excess of $1,200
* Claimed he has no business ties to professional organizations in which he was an officer, director, associate, partner or proprietor or served in any advisory capacity which derived in excess of $1,200 during the previous year […]
* Claimed he had no capital gain of $5,000 or more in the past year […]
* Claimed he has no ties to any business entity that did business in Illinois that earned income in excess of $1,200 […]
Having absolutely no private sector experience, the contrast for governor is stark. From humble beginnings, Rauner is highly successful. Gov. Quinn has no concept of wealth creation, job creation or the fundamental principles of how capitalism has made America into the greatest nation in the history of the world.
It’s definitely an interesting twist on the current debate.
…Adding… Quinn does have some private sector business. He ran a property tax law firm for several years in between government stints.
91 Comments
|
This needs to be changed
Wednesday, Sep 10, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Oh, this is not good…
It’s unclear if Illinois officials will release complete information about companies seeking to grow or sell medical marijuana in Illinois because the state law that legalized medical marijuana exempts prospective companies’ applications from open records laws. […]
The lack of transparency will make it difficult to determine whether state regulators will show favoritism for companies with strong political connections, former state Sen. Susan Garrett, who oversees the Chicago-based Campaign for Political Reform, told the Springfield bureau of Lee Enterprises newspapers. Nobody should be denied this information, she said.
“There should be reason to prevent the public from having access to these applicants,” Garrett said. “If this process is clout-driven, taxpayers have the right to see it.”
Lobbyists and former government officials have already begun to team up to compete for the 22 growing center licenses or 60 dispensary licenses.
* I can see why companies might want to protect trade secrets or whatever, but as Kurt Erickson points out, the politically connected are all over this thing…
Lobbyists and former top government officials have joined forces to compete for the 22 growing center licenses or 60 dispensary licenses.
Some companies have approached former lawmakers about sitting on their boards of directors as a way to curry favor with local and state regulators.
Gov. Pat Quinn’s former chief of staff, Jack Lavin, lists a medical marijuana company as one of his lobbying clients.
* From the Rauner campaign…
1) Lavin, Quinn’s long-time friend and former Deputy Treasurer, was a Tony Rezko associate who leveraged his Rezko ties to enter Rod Blagojevich’s cabinet. After Blagojevich’s impeachment, Quinn promoted him to be his chief of staff.
2) Lavin is the same ex-Quinn Chief of Staff whose emails were recently subpoenaed by a federal grand jury in connection with the ongoing federal criminal probe of Pat Quinn’s Neighborhood Recovery Initiative. […]
Key Questions for Pat Quinn
1) Why is Jack Lavin allowed to lobby the governor and state agencies that control our tax dollars?
2) Why is Jack Lavin allowed to lobby the General Assembly where our tax dollars are appropriated?
3) Why is Jack Lavin allowed to lobby the state for state contracts and franchises?
4) If Pat Quinn was serious about dumping his best friend and state lobbyist, wouldn’t he issue a statewide order not to communicate with him?
30 Comments
|
Anti-fracker dirty tricks?
Wednesday, Sep 10, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Several landowners in Johnson County who had oil and gas leases received a letter recently which appeared to terminate their leases with Woolsey Energy Corp…
“We are writing to inform you that the Oil and Gas Lease you have signed with our company, Woolsey Energy Corp., has been terminated” the letter to the oil and gas leaseholder began. “We offer our sincere apologies for this severance of our business relationship.”
The letter, which can be read here, is a fake. But it looks real at first. It has the company’s letterhead and the hoaxters even used an official-looking envelope.
But the reasons given for terminating the leases are pretty obviously not from an oil and gas company perspective. It cites the potential for fracking-induced earthquakes, possible contamination of water supplies and even birth defects.
* The energy company’s owner was not amused…
The company was alerted to the letter after receiving a copy from one of the mineral owners, he said.
“It is outrageous and very disturbing that whoever sent the letter would be using this tactic,” Sooter said.
* And the leading anti-fracking group in the region denies responsibility…
“I have no knowledge of anyone even loosely affiliated with SAFE doing something like that,” [Annette McMichael of Southern Illinoisans Against Fracturing Our Environment] said. “We absolutely condemn the letters. Any deceitful tactic is harmful to the movement.”
* Meanwhile, fracking proponents are holding a press conference today…
COALITION FOR HYDRAULIC FRACTURING SAYS PROPOSED RULES FAIL TO MATCH CAREFULLY NEGOTIATED LEGISLATION
WHO: Mark Denzler, vice president and COO, Illinois Manufacturers’ Association
Brad Richards, executive VP, Illinois Oil and Gas Association
Jason Keller, legislative director, AFL-CIO
Tom Wolf, executive director, Energy Council, Illinois Chamber of Commerce
WHAT: Conference call with reporters and members of the GROW-IL coalition to detail their concerns with the hydraulic fracturing rules drafted by the IDNR. GROW-IL is asking the state’s JCAR committee to direct IDNR to redraft the rules guided by statute.
Ain’t nobody happy.
10 Comments
|
* From yesterday’s Tribune debate…
Tribune - Why should people, if you are being so vague on so many issues, not assume maybe there’s another agenda there?
Rauner - I’ve been crystal clear on my agenda, crystal clear.
Tribune - Where are you on the Illinana Expressway?
Rauner - That’s one project out of many we need to do.
Tribune - Where are you on same-sex marriage?
Rauner - It’s the law. I’m comfortable with the law. I do not support advocating a change in the law.
Tribune - Two key issues you wouldn’t tell us a position on.
* Despite saying he’s now “comfortable” with the gay marriage law and doesn’t support changing it, Equality Illinois today blasted away…
Bruce Rauner again refuses to change his position on the new Illinois marriage equality law, trying to gloss over his stated preference to veto it, prompting the Chicago Tribune Editorial Page Editor R. Bruce Dold to tell him it is one of the “key issues you wouldn’t tell us a position on.”
Rauner, the Republican nominee for governor, appeared before the editorial board in a debate with his opponent, Gov. Pat Quinn, who campaigned for the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act and signed it into law last year.
Sitting beside Rauner was the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, Evelyn Sanguinetti, an avowed opponent of the freedom to marry, who said she and Rauner are “like-minded” on issues. Stating that his agenda is “crystal clear,” Bruce Rauner refused to take back his position expressed as recently as June that he would be open to repealing the marriage equality law.
“Bruce Rauner is again trying to have it both ways, acknowledging that the freedom to marry is now the law in Illinois but not taking back his well-established and repeated opposition to it or explaining why he chose an apparently “like-minded” running mate who ardently opposes it,” said Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois, the state’s oldest and largest advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Illinoisans.
“Once again he refused the opportunity to take back his opposition to the right of loving same-sex couples to be recognized equally under the marriage laws of Illinois and give their families the same access to the rights and benefits of marriage,” Cherkasov said. “That’s not the leadership that Illinoisans deserve.”
Tuesdays exchange on the marriage issue began when the Tribune’s Dold challenged Rauner why he would not answer directly on another issue, whether the Illiana Expressway should be built
Fair hit or not?
71 Comments
|
|
Comments Off
|
|
Comments Off
|
|
Support CapitolFax.com
Visit our advertisers...
...............
...............
...............
...............
|
   
|
Hosted by MCS |
SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax |
Advertise Here |
Mobile Version |
Contact Rich Miller
|
