Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Saturday, Feb 14, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The CS-T offers up a pretty darned strong endorsement of Democrat Mike Quigley for the 5th Congressional District special election…

Quigley’s a fighter, but he’s also a pragmatist who has found a way to work with many colleagues, even those with whom he has clashed, and we suspect that in Congress he’ll be no different.

Back in November, voters elected Barack Obama as part of a wave of change.

Quigley is, in his own way, part of the same wave.

A true instrument for change.

Send him to Congress.

That’ll be in a whole lot of mail.

* For a roundup of just about everything else, scroll down to other posts on this blog and then go here.

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Roland Burris admits to untruths under oath

Saturday, Feb 14, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Did US Sen. Roland Burris perjure himself before the IL House impeachment committee? From the Sun-Times…

Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s brother solicited U.S. Sen. Roland Burris for up to $10,000 in campaign cash before Blagojevich named Burris to the coveted post — something Burris initially failed to disclose under oath before an Illinois House impeachment panel, records and interviews show.

* Burris has now offered three different versions of events regarding Rod Blagojevich’s appointment of him to the Senate. In his original sworn affidavit to the impeachment committee, Burris wrote…

Prior to the December 26, 2008 telephone call from Mr. Adams, Jr., there was not any contact between myself or any of my representatives with Governor Blagojevich or any of his representatives regarding my appointment to the United States Senate.

But when he testifed to the House impeachment committee, Burris said he also had a conversation about his interest in the appointment with Lon Monk, a Statehouse lobbyist who was Blagojevich’s former chief of staff. Other than that, though, Burris said there were no further conversations.

* Now, however, Burris has filed another affidavit with the impeachment committee chairperson, Majority Leader Barbara Currie…

In his new affidavit, Burris confirms he also spoke of his interest in the Senate appointment with Blagojevich insiders John Harris, Doug Scofield and John Wyma.

So, he’s gone from no contact with anyone in his original sworn affidavit, to one guy in his sworn testimony, to five guys in his revised affidavit.

* And here’s the kicker…

Burris acknowledged having three conversations with Robert Blagojevich, who headed the Friends of Blagojevich campaign fund — and one of those was likely recorded by the FBI. […]

In October and again in November, Burris spoke with Robert Blagojevich, who initially asked him to host a fund-raiser. Burris said he’d get back to him after the election, sources with knowledge of the conversations said. The two later talked again, and Burris again was asked for campaign cash.

Burris said he refused to contribute and “made it unequivocally clear … that it would be inappropriate and pose a major conflict because I was interested in the Senate vacancy.”

A source with knowledge of the exchange said there was some discussion about Burris possibly getting others to give or raise money on his behalf. Not so, according to Burris: “I did not donate or help raise a single dollar for the governor from those conversations and would never consider making a donation through a third party.”

Robert Blagojevich’s lawyer claims that his client didn’t know of Burris’ interest in the Senate seat. That would be a crucial point because Burris said during his testimony that there was no quid pro quo offered or accepted.

The question now is whether anyone can be believed at this point. Since Burris has given us three different sworn versions of events, he isn’t exactly the greatest witness for himself. But if Burris is on the FBI surveillance tapes talking to Rob Blagojevich, then we may eventually get an answer.

…Adding… This video clip shows how poor the follow-up questions were to Burris during the impeachment hearing. The Republicans had him cold and they let him off…

[Hat tip: Progress Illinois]

* Transcript…

REPRESENTATIVE DURKIN: Did you talk to any members of the Governor’s staff or anyone closely related to the Governor, including family members or any lobbyists connected with him, including let me throw out some names, John Harris, Rob Blagojevich, Doug Scofield, Bob Greenleaf, Lon Monk, John Wyma, did you talk to anybody who was associated with the Governor about your desire to seek the appointment prior to the Governor’s arrest?

MR. WRIGHT: Give us a moment.

MR. BURRIS: I talked to some friends about my desire to be appointed, yes.

The question was asked again, and Burris talked about his meeting with Monk. But no follow-ups were asked about the others.

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5th CD roundup

Friday, Feb 13, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller

* State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz announced to her supporters yesterday that she has raised $550,000 for her congressional campaign. That’s lower than I expected. Also keep in mind that we don’t know yet how much of that is for the primary and how much for the general. Why is it lower than expected? Larry explains it well…

[Feigenholtz’s] December 31st report was for $324,000. Meaning since then she has raised about $225,000.

Considering all the time she has put into fundraising and her early numbers, there was an expectation for much bigger numbers in this reporting period.

* Rep. John Fritchey got a late start in this campaign, but appears to be catching up…

John Fritchey’s campaign disclosed today that it has raised between $400,000 and $450,000 since January 1. Campaign Manager Josh Levin says they are still trundling in the sacks and tallying the final amount of their pile.

Larry explains…

[Rep. John Fritchey] has roughly doubled [Feigenholtz’s] take since January 5th. Do the math and they aren’t that far apart. We don’t quite know what the independent expenditures will do, but Fritchey is certainly in a stronger position with this kind of showing.

That independent expenditure thing will be very important if and when it happens. Subscribe to find out why.

* Meanwhile, Rep. Feigenholtz has a new broadcast TV ad. The ad buy is for about $93,000 and has 250 ratings points behind it. It’s running today the 13th through the 19th…

* Rep. Fritchey goes on the air this coming Tuesday with a broadcast TV ad of his own. The ad buy is reportedly $170,250 for about 400 ratings points. It will run February 17-23.

* On another topic, the ground game is getting play in candidate e-mails to supporters. From Mike Quigley yesterday…

In just 25 days, we’ve contacted 41,307 voters.

We did it faster, smarter and cheaper than any of our opponents and we could not have done it without the tremendous outpouring of support you have shown us. Mike has said to us on numerous occasions that he is blessed to have so many great friends and supporters.

From Sara Feigenholtz Wednesday…

And because of YOU, over the last four weeks we’ve made direct contact with over 40,000 registered voters in the 5th Congressional District!

So Quigley’s operation claimed it contacted about the same amount of people over a shorter period of time.

* The Tribune finally notices some of the weird goings-on in the district…

One of the leading Democratic candidates to replace Rahm Emanuel in Congress repeatedly declined to say Thursday whether her campaign conducted a phone survey last month in which pollsters raised allegations about foes in the March 3 special primary.

Voters were asked if it would concern them that state Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago) took campaign contributions from groups the poll alleged were associated with organized crime. The pollsters also attempted to link Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley (D-Chicago) with County Board President Todd Stroger, whom Quigley often opposes.

The survey concluded with a plug that state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) is an independent champion for women and immigrants. In an appearance before the Tribune’s editorial board Thursday, Feigenholtz was asked at least a half-dozen times about the issue, but would neither confirm nor deny her campaign was behind the negative poll. She maintained she’s running as a reformer.

She was asked a half-dozen times about the poll and refused to answer? Uh-oh.

* The Tribune story also had a bit of hard news…

Also at Thursday’s session, candidate Ald. Patrick O’Connor (40th) said Emanuel phoned him shortly after Obama’s Nov. 4 win and asked him he would be interested in the seat.

O’Connor recalled that he urged Emanuel not to give up his rising congressional career. O’Connor also said Emanuel did not ask him to “hold the seat” for him until he ends his White House tenure.

Whatever O’Connor says, that sure sounds like Rahm wanted a placeholder.

* Watch the Tribune editorial board interview at this link.

The Feigenholtz grilling starts about 53 minutes in. It ain’t pretty. And the Tribsters also made a good point about how she’s not talking to reporters. I’m hearing that a lot. The Trib claims they called “dozens” of times to interview her without success. She’s just far too controlled by her DC-based campaign staff.

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