* A generous $500 contribution from Rep. Dave McSweeney bumped up our fundraising total to $4,804 as of 5:43 this afternoon. Many, many thanks to everyone for helping out the Washington, IL-area tornado victims.
Of course, you can still contribute any time. Click here to give. Thanks!
*** UPDATE 1 *** As of late Saturday morning, our grand total is now up to $5,969! Many, many thanks to Rep. Mike Zalewsi, Allen Skillikorn, Jo Johnson and several others for their generous contributions since yesterday afternoon. Click here to help. Thanks!
Here’s a photo of Oscar at his birthday party last night…
*** UPDATE 2 *** A bigtime donation from Rep. Lou Lang as well as other generous gifts have helped push our grand total so far to $6,679. Thanks to all! Click here to keep it going!
[ *** End Of Updates *** ]
* Oscar the Puppy is loving his birthday haircut, by the way. Here’s a bit of chaotic video I shot at the salon when I picked him up…
He’s such a little cutie.
* Will Cousineau helped choose the winner of today’s caption contest. I’ll be donating $100 to our tornado relief fund in Oswego Willy’s honor…
“We know you are married, but where does ‘Speaker Madigan’s Ward Office’ fall on your ‘Speed Dial’…”
* Rep. Greg Harris generously donated $250 to our tornado relief fund today. Greg’s had a pretty good week, what with his gay marriage bill being signed into law. So, I let him choose our Friday music video. He didn’t disappoint…
Here’s what we call our golden rule
Have faith in you and the things you do
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Wow!
Friday, Nov 22, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Thanks to some incredibly generous donations from people like Mark Glennon, Reps. Greg Harris and Dennis Reboletti, Matt O’Shea and many, many others, as of 3:42 pm we’re just shy of $4000 raised today!
Thanks to everyone from the bottom of my heart for helping us raise money for the tornado victims in Washington, East Peoria and Pekin.
* Unfortunately, I can’t yet share a post-haircut video of Oscar because he’s still at the “salon.”
But here’s an Oscar the Puppy photo collage made by his mommy. Click it for a larger version…
I have never been able to get over how cute that little guy is.
* There’s still plenty of time left in the day. Please, click here and help! Thanks.
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Rate the Oberweis announcement video
Friday, Nov 22, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* State Sen. Jim Oberweis announced his US Senate campaign via YouTube today. He answers a question right off the bat about why he’s running again. He admits to making “mistakes” in his past campaigns. He even says he plans to work across the aisle in the Senate. Oberweis also criticized Sen. Dick Durbin for serving in DC since Michael Jordan was a college sophomore.
Rate it…
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Caption contest!
Friday, Nov 22, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Will Cousineau runs campaigns for House Speaker Michael Madigan. Last night at about 7:30 a friend of his sent me a photo of Cousineau camped out at the State Board of Elections with a big stack of nominating petitions…
I texted Cousineau to see how he was doing. His reply…
Just enjoying a nice evening outdoors.
He said that two years ago he was actually able to get a good night’s sleep and was hoping to do the same this year.
At the time, he said, he and his wife were the only people standing in line.
Campaign work ain’t all glamour and glitz. It’s mostly stuff like that.
* I’m off to the groomer’s for Oscar’s birthday haircut, but I will donate $100 to our tornado victim fundraiser in honor of the funniest commenter.
So, have at it. And don’t forget to donate!
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Our second goal has been reached!
Friday, Nov 22, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I said that I would match your contributions for Washington, IL-area tornado victims up to a thousand dollars, and we’ve already reached that goal. So, I’ve kicked in my match.
As a way of saying thanks, here’s another Oscar the Puppy video. Playing tug of war with his dad…
We started out the day with $415 raised via my Facebook page. So, we need a few hundred dollars more to get donations from this website up to a grand. I’ll post another Oscar the Puppy video when we’ve reached that goal.
Please, click here to donate. Thanks!
* Meanwhile, click here to check out before and after satellite photos of Pekin, East Peoria, and Washington, IL.
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Question of the day
Friday, Nov 22, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Subscribers know more, but the four legislative leaders said there was progress on pension reform during a teleconference meeting yesterday. Sun-Times…
[Rikeesha Phelon, spokeswoman for Senate President John Cullerton] declined to outline any specifics of the plan being discussed, but said talks on the cost-of-living issue have used a plan proposed last spring by Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, R-Lemont, as a general template.
Earlier this year, she proposed giving a retiree annual increases of 3 percent of an amount equal to the number of years they worked for state government, a university or Downstate and suburban school district, multiplied by $1,000.
An aide to House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, characterized the talks as productive but stressed a final deal isn’t in place to deliver to rank-and-file members.
“We’re optimistic there will be something done before the end of December. We’ve said that all along. But there’s no plan. There’s nothing solid yet to present to the members or anything at this point,” Durkin spokeswoman Vicki Crawford said. “But the talks have been very productive and are ongoing, and that’s a good thing.”
The legislative leaders are expected to resume talks again next week prior to the Thanksgiving holiday.
* The Question: Have you changed your mind about whether a pension reform bill will be passed in the early December session? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
survey software
Also, notice that I did not ask you about whether you wanted it to pass or not. It’s about your thoughts on whether it will or won’t pass.
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We’ve reached our first goal!
Friday, Nov 22, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I told you earlier today that as soon as the tally board hit $1000 on our fundraiser for Peoria-area tornado victims that I’d post an Oscar the Puppy video. That goal has now been reached.
* Oscar and I haven’t been able to sit outside lately because of the weather, so we’re hanging out in our “great room,” by the fireplace. Occasionally, though, I get busy and he gets bored and wants to play. Sometimes, he makes that frustration audibly evident, as he did yesterday…
Many, many thanks to everyone who has donated so far. If you haven’t yet contributed, please click here. It’s a very easy process.
* Meanwhile…
State Sen. Bill Brady is opening his Bloomington offices to accept donations for Washington tornado relief tomorrow.
The tornado-ravaged city is running out of places to store much needed donations. Brady said his office will accept toiletries, baby items, hats and gloves and basic hygiene items.
Brady said gas cards are also in demand.
“A lot of the folks are having to travel a great distance to and from school, to and from work and wherever they are living,” Brady noted.
Brady’s offices at 2203 Eastland Drive will be open Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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A very good question
Friday, Nov 22, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The four Republican candidates for governor were asked during a forum yesterday whether they’d allow the temporary income tax increase to expire. All four said they want it to go away. But Treasurer Dan Rutherford added this…
“I don’t want it to stay, but when someone says they’re going to outright veto it, a fair question is: where are you coming up with $6 billion to $7 billion worth of cuts,” he said.
Sen. Kirk Dillard does have a plan…
“The Senate Republican caucus has a plan that shows you how you phase out that tax. It lays out a menu of options,” he said.
That plan, you may recall, was used by the Senate Democrats last year to hammer Republicans for wanting to cut programs. Republican slams against the Democratic tax hike didn’t work.
Then again, that was last year, a presidential election with the state’s own resident at the top of the ticket. Next year’s electorate will be different.
* Also, this…
As for how the state would make up for that huge loss of revenue, Brady said he would “demand the Legislature live within its means,” while Dillard suggested a constitutional amendment that would withhold legislators’ pay if they didn’t adopt a balanced budget.
* Brady also wants some growth, which would help balance the budget…
Brady said a major goal if elected governor would be to create 100,000 new jobs annually and put policies in place that “move (Illinois) to the forefront of this nation’s economy.”
* From the Illinois Department of Employment Security’s announcement that the state’s unemployment rate had fallen to 8.9 percent…
Illinois has added +268,900 private sector jobs since January 2010 when job growth returned following nearly two years of consecutive monthly declines. Leading growth sectors are Professional and Business Services (+117,700); Education and Health Services (+57,700); and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+51,600). Government has lost the most jobs since January 2010, down -27,300.
That’s an average annual rate of about 70,00 jobs, so Brady would need to raise that growth rate by about 42 percent.
* In other GOP primary news, Rauner’s fundraising juggernaut continues…
State filings from yesterday (11/21) afternoon show Illinois’ richest man, Ken Griffin, pitching in $250,000 to Rauner’s campaign.
It’s the second time this week Rauner received a donation worth a quarter of a million dollars. […]
Both of Rauner’s biggest contributors have previous ties to Democrats. Former CEO of AllScripts Glenn Tullman donated to Gov. Pat Quinn in the last governor’s race. And Griffin, who’s President of Citadel, helped out Chicago Democratic Mayor Rahm Emanuel to the tune of $100,000.
This isn’t the first time Griffin has helped a candidate promising to change how things are done in Springfield; back in 2002 and 2003, Griffin gave $70,000 to Rod Blagojevich.
Not including the $500,000 he put into his own campaign, Rauner has raised more money in the last nine days than Rutherford has raised all year. He’s reported raising more money in the last three days than Dillard has all year. And Rauner raised almost twice as much yesterday as Brady has raised all year.
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* I somehow missed this one earlier in the week…
GOP state Sen. Jim Oberweis told me Tuesday he is definitely making a U.S. Senate bid and, in an unusual twist, confirmed his wife, Julie, became a Florida resident because of the “tax advantages” of the Sunshine State.
Julie Oberweis voted in 2012 from Florida and ironically will not be able to cast a ballot for her husband next year. […]
His wife, however, Oberweis confirmed, spends winters at their condo in Bonita Springs, Fla., which they bought in 2010 for $1.3 million.
She became a Florida resident three years ago. “Obviously, there are tax advantages to being a Florida resident,” Oberweis told me. Oberweis, an anti-tax hawk, ticked off the Florida tax benefits: no state income tax and lower estate and property taxes.
He told me he and his wife file separate state income tax returns and joint federal income tax returns. […]
I told Oberweis it seemed to me the unusual situation regarding his wife’s Florida residency could impact his Illinois Senate run. Voters may not appreciate the Oberweis tax-avoidance strategy.
Oberweis mentioned that Durbin’s wife, Loretta, is a Springfield lobbyist.
I don’t know how “spending winters in Florida” can qualify as an out of state residence, but maybe the Department of Revenue can clear this one up.
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Oscar the Puppy birthday fundraiser!
Friday, Nov 22, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Oscar the Puppy was born on Thanksgiving last year, which is a year ago today. He’s going to the “salon” later today for a much needed haircut…
* This little dog has given me so much love and affection since I got him in January that I cannot possibly imagine life without him. Watching reports of the Illinois tornados last Sunday got me to thinking what I would do if something happened to him. Not a pleasant thought.
But it did get me to thinking that I should do something positive for the world on Oscar’s birthday, and I wanted to give y’all a chance to do the same. So, we’re going to do a bit of fundraising today.
* I called an animal shelter near Washington, IL and they suggested that we donate to the Red Cross. Donating to specific causes on the Red Cross website isn’t easy, but then I found a site sponsored by the Morton Chamber of Commerce that is raising money for the American Red Cross of Central Illinois to support supplies, food, and community restoration for the victims in Washington, Pekin, and East Peoria. I set up a companion site for our own fundraiser. Click here to see it.
I posted the site on Facebook last night, so we got a little head start.
* I will match your contributions up to a total of $1,000. I’ll also give Oscar a big hug every time somebody donates. If we make it to $1,000, I’ll post an Oscar video, and for every $1K afterwards I’ll do the same.
So, let’s get to donating!
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* From a press release…
The campaign manager for Republican candidate for Governor Kirk Dillard and his running mate Jil Tracy denounced the campaign tactics of billionaire Bruce Rauner, who reportedly steered thousands of dollars to the Palatine Township Republican organization ahead of the group’s official endorsement.
“This is the height of pay-to-play,” Glenn Hodas said. “Rauner and his allies are basically buying votes while making it appear as though he’s getting widespread support. It’s absolutely unacceptable.”
The Illinois Observer reports Rauner gave $1,000 to the Palatine Township GOP and $2,500 to Palatine Township Committeeman Aaron Del Mar’s personal political committee earlier this year. Del Mar is also the Chairman of the Cook County Republican Party.
In addition, the Observer reports, Rauner ally and wealthy activist Jack Roeser and his company have contributed a combined $56,500 to Del Mar since Del Mar took over the Cook County GOP organization last year.
Rauner’s campaign was also believed to have paid the $25 membership fee required for several individuals to attend the endorsement session and cast their vote. In the end, Rauner handily won the group’s backing.
“Not only will Rauner spend millions for TV commercials, he’s trying to buy votes at the grass roots level,” Hodas said. “This is the kind of thing Republicans ought to be against. It’s really shameful.”
* The other campaigns chimed in…
“I just don’t think the Republican Party is looking for someone who’s going to try to buy an election,” Bill Brady, Republican, candidate for governor. […]
“The fact is he’s got a lot of money. The fact is he’s got a lot of people with a lot of money and he’s going to go out and try to buy name I.D. and positive favor,” Dan Rutherford, Republican, candidate for governor. “And no one’s ever taken as much special interest or out-of-state money as Bruce Rauner.”
* Denials all around…
Dillard’s news release states Rauner’s campaign “was also believed to have paid the $25 membership fee required for several individuals to attend the endorsement session and cast their vote.”
Rauner spokesman Mike Schrimpf said that wasn’t the case. “The Rauner campaign spent no money last night, however we do greatly appreciate the endorsement as well as the free publicity generated by other campaigns touting our victory,” Schrimpf said in an email.
Del Mar, who is also chairman of the Cook County Republican Party, said donations didn’t have anything to do with the Palatine Township GOP’s endorsement of Rauner. In fact, Del Mar says, Dillard himself made a $250 contribution to the committee this year.
“I believe Bruce Rauner is the best candidate for governor we have,” Del Mar said. “He represented very well to our organization and won our endorsement. Period.”
Del Mar also denied that Rauner “paid anybody’s dues.”
Discuss.
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Off-duty cops hired to patrol exorcism
Thursday, Nov 21, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Yesterday’s gay marriage “exorcism” was unusual, but this Sun-Times tidbit interested me the most…
In an unusual use of public services, the exorcism included two armed Springfield police officers stationed inside the church vestibule where parishioners entered from the street. At one point during the service, one of the officers strode to the front of the church, though his purpose was unclear. There were no disruptions during the hourlong event. [Emphasis added.]
I checked with the Springfield police department this morning and they got back to me late this afternoon to tell me those were off duty officers who were hired by somebody with the church. As far as the person knew, there were no threats issued in advance.
So, no tax dollars were involved, which is a relief, but it seems a bit odd to me.
* Now, on to Sneed…
Sneed hears Paprocki’s decision to conduct a prayer service Wednesday to “exorcise” the evil of the new same-sex marriage law in Illinois even caused Cardinal Francis George — whose nephew is gay — to flinch.
“I am told the cardinal was embarrassed by Paprocki’s decision to conduct such a service,” said a Sneed source.
Sneed is told Paprocki “didn’t have to get permission from the cardinal to conduct the prayer service,” a second source said. “Paprocki’s boss is the pope. But it’s hard to imagine Pope Francis thinking this was a wise move in the era of understanding he is trying to create.”
* Sun-Times…
After the service, sign-waving demonstrators dodged raindrops as they lined up on the sidewalk outside the sandstone pillars of the church and sang songs in favor of same-sex marriage.
One man, Win Colburn, of Springfield, displayed a handwritten placard to passing motorists. In all-capital letters, it read, “JESUS HAD TWO DADS,” a sentiment that angered some worshipers inside the church and produced insults from drivers.
“I don’t want the haters to have the last word,” Colburn told the Chicago Sun-Times.
I don’t like the term “haters” used in this context, but it was still a rather clever sign.
* SJ-R…
The Rev. Martin Woulfe, a longtime advocate of same-sex marriage, said he joined several church and community members in celebration at the Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation. The celebration there began with a live streaming of the bill-signing ceremony in Chicago and was followed by a public prayer of thanksgiving on behalf of gay and lesbians who will soon be able to marry, Woulfe said.
Woulfe said although he disagrees with Paprocki’s actions, it is not his job to judge someone for following their own beliefs.
“Today is a reminder to the population that the bishop does not speak for everyone in central Illinois. He speaks for his faith community, but there are other faith communities who will promote their views and no one person has a monopoly on religious truth,” Woulfe said. “I, of course, follow a very different path and have a very different interpretation. He would see it as a loss, but I see it as a victory.”
* Text of the bishop’s homily is here. You can also watch his press conference…
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Unions gear up for final push
Thursday, Nov 21, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* AP…
Illinois unions are planning an intensive lobbying push in opposition to a developing plan to deal with the state’s $100 billion pension crisis.
The “We are One Coalition” represents the state’s major employee unions. The group sent an email to members about “emergency call-in days” next week and Dec. 2-3.
* From the coalition’s website…
With the leaders’ behind this scheme, it will take everything we’ve got to stop it. So be prepared to give it your all.
It’s also likely that the leaders will unveil their scheme quickly and try to jam it through the House and the Senate without enough time for open hearings or public review.
Pretty sure there will be hearings, but if they do come up with an agreement it’ll roll pretty fast.
* I always feel bad for legislative secretaries during actions like this, but it can’t be helped…
* Pension Emergency Call-In Days - November 25-26, Dec. 2-3 - We will swamp the switchboards of every legislator on these four days. No matter how many times you’ve called your legislators, call again. Call both your representative and your senator. Be sure to leave a strong, clear message “VOTE NO ON ANY PENSION BILL THAT DOESN’T HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE WE ARE ONE UNION COALITION.” Our hotline is 888-412-6570 or click here to call on November 25-26 and December 2-3.
* Pension Emergency Legislative District Actions - Monday, December 2 - We’ll be targeting the district offices of key legislators all across the state for a vigorous grassroots lobbying effort with as many union members and retirees as possible in attendance. Check with your local unions and/or retiree subchapters to see if there is an event in your area — our coalition’s unions will be reaching out to involve their members and retirees in this action day. Then clear your schedule NOW so that you can make sure legislators in your area feel the heat.
…Adding… Eden Martin’s Sun-Times column is about the Gettysburg Address…
President Lincoln wanted people to understand the reason for their war sacrifices. He wanted them to resolve that we not go back to monarchy or any other government by the few. He knew better than most how messy democracy was, but he exhorted citizens to do the work of preserving that democracy, even when it meant accepting decisions with which they profoundly disagreed. Even if it meant they and their representatives had to accept compromise.
Yet compromise is unacceptable in pension reform, Eden?
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* For a long time now, the RTA, Cook County and Chicago have been attempting to stop companies from avoiding paying sales tax revenues by setting up “sham” billing offices in low tax counties. They won today…
The Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday delivered a resounding blow to questionable tax strategies that allow businesses to minimize their sales tax burden in the state.
In a unanimous opinion, the court found that the widespread corporate practice of shifting the official point of purchase from the Chicago area to downstate counties with lower sales taxes inconsistent with state law.
* Hartney Fuel Oil Co. became the big test case. Hartney’s headquarters is in Cook County, but it sent purchase orders to a tiny “sales office” fax machine in downstate Mark, IL. From today’s Illinois Supreme Court opinion…
This shift from Forest View to Mark removed Hartney from the retail occupation tax rolls of Forest View, Cook County, and the RTA. This effected more than a shift in tax allocation; it effected a full removal from tax liability. It did not, however, remove Hartney from the enjoyment of services offered by the Local Governments.
* Hartney wasn’t alone, however. Tribune…
Saddled with some of the nation’s highest sales taxes, some Chicago area businesses have found a creative way to avoid them: They route purchases through offices in places like Kankakee and Channahon with lower sales taxes. Dozens of companies, from airlines and catalog houses to oil companies and computer purveyors, use the strategy to save money on purchases or make their pricing competitive.
The giant loophole exists because Illinois is one of the few states in which sales tax is applied where a purchase is accepted rather than where the product is delivered.
The Illinois Department of Revenue ruled that Hartney was avoiding taxation and had to pay back taxes totaling $23 million, which Hartney paid under protest and then filed suit.
* But the Supremes ruled today that Revenue did not follow applicable state law and Supreme Court precedent when it wrote its original rules, which Hartney used to set up its satellite “office” and avoid taxation.
The bottom line is that it doesn’t appear that companies can use this specific sort of tax avoidance scheme any longer, which is a big win for the high tax entities…
Just how much money is at stake is hard to track. In one instance, the RTA claimed United and American airlines, which set up offices in DeKalb County to buy jet fuel, deprived public transit agencies of nearly $300 million during the past seven years.
* As an aside, Hartney got its money back because it was merely following the DoR’s original rules, which it was entitled to do…
While we do not find Hartney’s approach to retail occupation tax liability consistent with the statute or this court’s precedent, the company did act consistently with the Department’s regulation published at the time.
* Greg Hinz…
The RTA, in a suit later joined by the city of Chicago and Cook County, is seeking $100 million in back payments from companies that it alleges avoided RTA-region sales taxes by routing orders through downstate Channahon and Cook County. That matter has been pending in court pending a ruling in the Hartney case.
It doesn’t appear they’ll get those back taxes, but it does look like the companies can no longer avoid paying the taxes.
* The Supremes, by the way, avoided discussion of whether setups like Hartney’s were shams…
The Local Governments have additionally argued that Hartney’s arrangement should be disregarded as a sham transaction. Analyzing a sham transaction requires assessment of the multiple steps of a transaction, with each being considered relevant, to determine whether economic reality accords with the formal arrangement. Commissioner v. Court Holding Co., 324 U.S. 331, 334 (1945). Because we conclude the regulation erroneously sited tax based solely on purchase order acceptance in the case at bar, the sham transaction doctrine is unavailing. Hartney structured its affairs in accordance with the regulation, by relocating its order-receiving function to a lower tax jurisdiction. Hartney’s arrangement was not without economic substance or economic effect. “The legal right of a taxpayer to decrease the amount of what otherwise would be his taxes, or altogether avoid them, by means which the law permits, cannot be doubted.” Gregory v. Helvering, 293 U.S. 465, 469 (1935)
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* From a press release…
The Committee for Legislative Reform and Term Limits announced today that it has collected more than 150,000 petition signatures and is halfway to placing the term limits amendment on the November 2014 ballot.
“Illinoisans are hungry for term limits and our effort is gaining serious momentum,” said Bruce Rauner, chairman of the committee. “This amendment will help put the people back in charge of state government and folks are enthusiastically signing on.”
The term limits initiative has steadily gained steam since it was announced at the beginning of September.
In September, the committee collected 12,250 signatures. In October, over 61,000 signatures were collected. More than 77,000 signatures have already been collected in the first three weeks of November.
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Question of the day
Thursday, Nov 21, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* It’s now the law of the land…
* Gay marriage bill signed: ‘A triumph of democracy,’ Quinn says: Perhaps the biggest legislative advocate for the law, state Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, the bill’s House sponsor, was the last to speak before Quinn. “When our constitution was written, those who wrote it understood that liberty and equality were not destinations, but they’re journeys,” Harris said.
* Quinn signs gay marriage bill into law - Illinois now poised to become the 16th state to allow same-sex marriages: “It takes both parties to make something happen, and when we work together, look what we can do,” said Republican Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka. “I am available to be a flower girl, and I’ll even waive the fee.”
* Illinois governor signs same-sex marriage into law: “We understand in our state that part of our unfinished business is to help other states in the United States of America achieve marriage equality,” Quinn said before he signed the bill on a desk once used by President Abraham Lincoln. He said part of that mission was to ensure that “love is not relegated to a second class status to any citizen in our country.”
* Sneed: Gov. Pat Quinn sees same-sex marriage bill as ‘road to social justice’: “Nobody should be relegated to second-class status when it comes to love,” Quinn said.
* The Question: What one word describes your reaction to this new law? Keep your response to one word, please. Thanks.
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More Rauner money news
Thursday, Nov 21, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Illinois Review…
Palatine Township Republicans met [yesterday] evening to endorse 2014 primary election candidates. Those candidates receiving 60% or more of the votes were officially endorsed by the Palatine Township Republican Organization (PTRO). The results were as follows:
ILLINOIS GOVERNOR
* Rauner: 65% (endorsed)
* Rutherford: 20%
* Dillard: 11%
* Brady: 4%
* As usual, money was an issue. Illinois Observer…
Palatine Township Committeeman Aaron Del Mar, who is also the Chairman of the Cook County Republican Party, helped engineer Rauner’s victory, sources say.
Del Mar and the committees under his control have been showered with cash from both Rauner and Rauner ally Jack Roeser, a wealthy conservative activist .
Rauner, who recently won the GOP Lake County straw poll, donated $1,000 to the Palatine Township GOP on August 28, 2013 and $2,500 to Del Mar’s personal political committee on August 12, 2013.
Roeser donated $5,000 to Del Mar’s personal political committee on October 19, 2012 and $5,000 on August 16, 2013. And since Del Mar become the Cook County GOP party chief in April 2012, Roeser and his wife and his company, Otto Engineering, have donated $46,500.
“Rauner’s Palatine endorsement was foreordained,” said a GOP source. “Roeser and Rauner are Del Mar’s biggest donors.”
Dillard’s gubernatorial campaign donated $500 to the Palatine Township GOP on September 7, 2013.
* By the way, Rauner has reported raising $519,317.53 since he filed his November 13th letter of intent to bust the state contribution caps.
That total does not include Rauner’s own $500,000 contribution to himself. So, he’s over a million. It does include a $250,000 contribution from Glen Tullman, a $100,000 contribution from Illinois Policy Institute board member Elizabeth Christie, and $20,000 from Edgar Bachrach, who is listed on Rauner’s disclosure as an Illinois Policy Institute board member.
* In other Rauner news, Greg Hinz looked at some more contributions…
The story is that four companies listing the same address — 4615 Northpark Drive, Suite 101 — each in recent days have donated $10,500 to the Rauner campaign, according to a state Board of Elections disclosure filed yesterday.
The question is, why? And who?
The Rauner campaign isn’t saying. The candidate’s spokesman failed to respond to several requests for comment.
What I do know is, three of the firms are in the self-storage business and the fourth is a financial firm, RG Investments No. 4 LLC, according to the filings. None has a listed phone number that I could find.
Greg sent me a link to the story and asked if I had any idea what was going on. I searched around and e-mailed him back some clues…
Update — Rich Miller at Capitol Fax may have figured out part of the mystery.
Another donor who gave $5,300 to Mr. Rauner in June is Colorado Springs businessman Richard Graham. And he has a company, Graham Investments, that lists the Northpark Drive address and is in the warehouse business.
Mr. Graham wasn’t immediately available for comment. Perhaps he was just spreading around his donations. But the question remains: Why would a Colorado guy who runs self-storage facilities be so interested in who’s elected governor of Illinois?
Most likely what’s going on here is that we have a wealthy guy who got around the contribution caps by sending maxed out checks from various corporate entities he controls. It’s legal. And now that there are no caps, it’s no longer even necessary.
Still, as Greg notes, it is a bit odd that a Colorado storage business owner would be so heavily involved in the Illinois governor’s race.
* Meanwhile…
Bruce Rauner’s initiative to get a term limits question on the Nov. 2016 ballot just got a new treasurer, according to newly filed disclosures with the state.
At the last reporting period, the initiative raised $600,000 since August and had $458,000 in the bank at the close of the period.
Harlan Teller of Evanston, who now heads the Center for Economic Progress, will now serve as the treasurer of the Committee for Legislative Reform and Term Limits. Records show he once made a modest donation to Gery Chico for Chicago Mayor.
About the Center for Economic Progress…
We help promote financial education and sound money practices — helping cut ties to predatory financial services.
We provide year-round workshops and one-on-one financial coaching to help clients set financial goals; create a spending plan; access safe and affordable bank products like bank accounts and small dollar loans; and review and correct credit reports and improve credit scores.
We have helped nearly 10,000 families open bank accounts and provided financial workshops in Chicago’s underserved communities to reach thousands more.
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“The belly of the beast”
Thursday, Nov 21, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* My former intern Kevin Fanning recently stumbled across a short essay he wrote back in 2009 about his work for me the year before…
I had the rare opportunity to work for Capitol Fax creator and Illinois political guru Rich Miller. The experience was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to look inside the belly of the beast that is our statehouse, and has often been referenced as the best internship in state politics. Riding shotgun with Mr. Miller enabled me to experience things to which few Illinois politicos are privy, let alone a 22-year-old.
My official duties included daily work on The Capitol Fax blog, interviews with every legislative spokesperson, weekly opinion columns, and intense on-the-ground reporting at the statehouse. The high profile of The Capitol Fax created opportunities to interact with, learn from, and develop relationships with a variety of key players in the legislative process including but not limited to: constitutional officers, caucus leaders, legislators, lobbyists, journalists, and staffers.
Late-night office conversations, backroom restaurant talk, and quiet corner event discussions became a staple of my residency. Much of the real statehouse action takes place behind closed doors, and oftentimes I was lucky enough to be there to observe. The experience was heightened by the rare spectacle that was the 2008 General Assembly session, the Tony Rezko verdict, and the presidential bid of Springfield’s native son, Barack Obama. I had an exceptional time in Springfield, and will continue working on the blog while pursuing my master’s degree.
* I flat out rejected Jim Nowlan when he initially tried to persuade me to bring on Paul Richardson during the summer of 2006. I didn’t want to be tied down, slowed down, held back, whatever, by a tag-along kid. But Paul turned out to be fantastic, and over the years I’ve learned a lot from those young guys, and we had some amazing times along the way.
The University of Illinois program that brought Paul, Kevin, Mike Murray and Dan Weber changed after Nowlan left, and we no longer work together. SIU’s Paul Simon Institute sent me the irrepressible and smart as a whip Barton Lorimor, and I’ve known Owen Irwin since he was a young child. I took Owen on after he invited me to dinner one evening last year and impressively laid out his future plans and asked for my help.
* I didn’t have an intern this past spring. In some ways it was easier because I wasn’t responsible for anyone else. In other ways, though, I really missed the mentoring and the help.
Barton, Owen and I went out to dinner last night and talked about old times and current events. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and wondered later if I should try and find someone for next session.
* So, if you know a young person who is keenly interested in politics and can hang with the big dogs, send me an e-mail or give me a call. Perhaps we can work something out.
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* Illinois’ $100 billion unfunded pension liability just got a bit smaller. Illinois Issues…
As part of a $13 billion national settlement, JPMorgan Chase & Co. has agreed to pay millions to Illinois’ public employee pensions systems for not disclosing the risks associated with some investments.
As part of the settlement, JPMorgan Chase admitted that it the misrepresented the quality of mortgage-backed investments it sold. “Without a doubt, the conduct uncovered in this investigation helped sow the seeds of the mortgage meltdown,” Attorney General Eric Holder said in a prepared statement. “JPMorgan was not the only financial institution during this period to knowingly bundle toxic loans and sell them to unsuspecting investors, but that is no excuse for the firm’s behavior. The size and scope of this resolution should send a clear signal that the Justice Department’s financial fraud investigations are far from over. No firm, no matter how profitable, is above the law, and the passage of time is no shield from accountability.”
Under the deal, the bank will pay $100 million to Illinois pension systems that purchased the investments prior to 2009. “We are still cleaning up the mess that Wall Street made with its reckless investment schemes and fraudulent conduct,” Attorney General Lisa Madigan said in a written statement. “Today’s settlement with Chase will assist Illinois to recover its losses from the dangerous and deceptive securities that put our economy on the path to destruction.” Madigan has been working with President Barack Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. The group’s investigations spurred this and other settlements from big banks and mortgage servicers. […]
The settlement is the largest in U.S. history. It also includes a $4 billion settlement with the Federal Housing Finance Agency and a $4 billion for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Some of that money will go toward loans the bank is forgiving or giving more favorable terms to borrowers. Some will go to new low-interest loans to borrowers in areas hit hardest by the housing crisis. The funds will also be used to tear down long-abandoned homes.
Rob a liquor store, go to prison. Steal billions, send the international economy into a devastating tailspin and give some money to the government.
* More…
The biggest chunk, $72.4 million, will go to the Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System; $16.2 million will go to the State Universities Retirement System; and $11.4 million will go to a unit that invests on behalf of funds that cover other state workers.
Imagine how horrible that settlement would’ve been for former JPMorgan Chase Midwest Chairman Bill Daley if he’d stayed in the governor’s race.
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Edgar stands by his man
Thursday, Nov 21, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Bernie talked to Jim Edgar about Sen. Kirk Dillard’s emphasis on his socially conservative beliefs…
Particularly since Dillard spoke at a Statehouse rally in opposition to same-sex marriage before the House vote that sent the measure to the governor, some observers have sensed that Dillard is stressing conservative credentials in his quest for the GOP nomination.
“I’ve said on social issues Kirk is far more conservative than I am,” Edgar said in another recent interview. “But as I’ve often said, the key thing is fiscal issues. … I would not encourage him to go any farther right. I still think, and even in a Republican primary in Illinois, you want folks in the middle, too.”
“I don’t expect to agree with the candidate I support 100 percent, “Edgar added. “I still think he is the best prepared to be governor.”
Dillard’s campaign just Wednesday issued a news release announcing support from several conservative leaders. They include PHYLLIS SCHLAFLY, president and founder of Eagle Forum; former state Rep. PENNY PULLEN of Arlington Heights, president of Eagle Forum of Illinois; the Rev. BOB VANDEN BOSCH of Lake Zurich, director of Concerned Christian Americans; LIZ EILERS, a member of the board of directors of Springfield Right to Life; and SANDY RIOS, a conservative radio host.
An open letter from the group of endorsers states that among the four GOP candidates for governor, “All but Dillard have failed in their duty to lead on issues like life, marriage and lower taxes.” The word “lead” is boldfaced in the letter.
Discuss.
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