* Over the next ten days, Ameya Pawar will visit 20 towns…
Harvard, Rockford, Chicago Heights, Danville, Springfield, Sauk Village, Jacksonville, Macomb, Naperville, Schaumburg, Dixon, Tinley Park, Rock Island, Des Plaines, Waukegan, Chicago, Elk Grove, Morton Grove, La Grange, Downers Grove
James Meeks, the pastor of Salem Baptist Church in Chicago, ran for the Illinois Senate as an independent in 2002 and won. Afterward, he made school funding reform his priority.
He told anyone who would listen that the school funding formula was a disaster and proposed an income tax increase and property tax swap. When his bill couldn’t get out of committee, he launched a series of protest marches, taking Chicago school children to New Trier High School in Winnetka to emphasize the disparities in school funding.
Working with Republicans and Democrats, Meeks eventually got a very complicated tax bill passed out of the Senate that would have raised $5.2 billion in new revenue, with much of that money — more than $2 billion — going to education.
House Speaker Michael Madigan killed the bill, enraging Meeks, who after leaving office endorsed Bruce Rauner, a Republican, for governor.
Rauner named Meeks to the state board of education, where he serves as chairman.
You may be aware that a bill has passed the state Legislature altering the school funding formula. It does not send billions of new dollars to education. It is, however, aimed at sending what meager new revenues there are to poorer school districts.
Rauner has vowed to veto the measure, claiming it includes a bailout for the Chicago Public Schools pension system.
I tried to reach Meeks this week to see what he has to say about all of this. I was told by the state board’s communications director that Meeks is not doing any interviews on this topic.
So the guy who was once the outspoken champion of school children is now silent.
I was thinking about calling Meeks today. Maybe I still will. He needs to speak his mind about this topic.
*** UPDATE *** Chairman Meeks just called me. He pointed out that one of the quickest ways to undermine an attempt to mediate a fight is to start talking to the press.
In a situation like this, with hate and mistrust at epic levels, Meeks said, “Anything that you say they think you’re on the other guy’s side.” From my own experience dealing with these guys, I couldn’t agree more. Right now, he’s able to talk to everyone, but that role would end pretty quickly if he started expressing his opinions.
So, Meeks says he’s not talking to anyone in the media until this battle is over. “I wouldn’t do an interview for the Jesus Gazette,” Meeks said.
The Thomas More Society has stepped into the fray over recent Illinois conscience legislation by suing Illinois state officials on behalf of over twenty pro-life pregnancy resource centers and pro-life physicians. The litigation is over P.A. 99-690, also known as SB 1564, an Illinois law which forces pregnancy care centers and doctors to promote abortion regardless of their ethical or moral views. Enforcement of that mandate has now been halted by a federal court. A July 19, 2017 preliminary injunction order by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois declared that P.A. 99-690, “targets the free speech rights of people who have a specific viewpoint.”
The preliminary injunction was issued in National Institute of Family and Life Advocates et al v. Rauner et al and is a general prohibition on enforcement of the law in Illinois. It thereby provides the same relief for the plaintiffs in the Thomas More Society case, Dr. Ronald L. Schroeder et al v. Rauner et al., and in consolidated state actions the Thomas More Society filed in Sangamon County, IL earlier this year. These cases are continuing since the preliminary injunction order will be superseded by a permanent order when the case has been finally adjudicated.
Thomas Olp, an attorney for the Thomas More Society, explained that the suspended law is actually an amendment to the existing Illinois Healthcare Right of Conscience Act. According to both cases, it violates federal law and the U.S. Constitution. “Our clients, which include Dr. Ronald L. Schroeder, 1st Way Life Center, and Pregnancy Aid South Suburbs, and around twenty other pregnancy centers in Illinois, provide pro bono medical care, emotional and material resources to women in crisis pregnancy situations. Their efforts are inspired by their religious faith, which precludes them from counseling about the supposed benefits of abortion or referring clients to abortion providers. This now suspended law required them to do just that, and could have exposed them to discrimination, sanctions, and liability if they did not comply. We are pleased that the court saw fit to prohibit enforcement of this unconstitutional law.”
[Madigan] controls the General Assembly. He could’ve passed any budget that he wanted for the last two years. He wouldn’t pass any. Why? He wanted to force crisis and force a bunch of Republicans, so he didn’t have to put his vulnerable, um, members on a, on a bad tax hike vote. That’s why. He, he damaged our human services and our most vulnerable for his most craven political goals. This is just, this is wrong. This is unjust.
And I’ll tell you this, you know, when I first got to know him eight years ago, my second lunch with him, I asked him, because I didn’t know him, he didn’t know me. I was just a private citizen, you know, and I was advocating for school reform. And I raised a PAC and I was supporting money for D’s and R’s, a lot of D’s for school reform. So he met with me. I was no threat to him, he was no, he just wanted some of the PAC money. I asked him at a lunch, I said, ‘What’s your goal for improving the future for Illinois?’ I was like, you know, ‘You’re the most powerful guy, what do you want to do?’ He said, he laughed and said, ‘I got no goal like that.’ And I said, ‘Really? So, what you,’ he said, ‘Bruce, I do two things, I manage power and I make money from managing power.’ I want to throw up my lunch.
I mean, you, this is what we’re dealing with and he’s doing it right now to our, to our children and our teachers. This is wrong. This is wrong. We gotta, we need a, we need an insurrection. The people of Illinois, and this is not about D’s versus R’s. This is about good government and doing what’s right for taxpayers and children and teachers. […]
You know, it’s this Stockholm Syndrome. We suffer from this. And, you know, we’ve been so, we’ve been captive for 35 years. We’re so used to living on, living with this fear and this dictation of terms and, and living on Madigan’s crumbs, that’s what, that’s what people in Illinois have been doing. They’re used to it. […]
It’s not about regular Democrats and Republicans, this is about a power structure designed by one person for the insiders’ benefit. That’s what this is about and I think that with your help and the help of others in the media, we gotta lead a revolution on this and get power back to the people.
I’m told that Rauner has related that story about lunch with Madigan several times over the years, but his comms staff always stopped him from saying it on the record. He’s got a new staff now who either don’t have any control over him or who want to just let Bruce be Bruce.
* Gov. Rauner also dredged up this story about Senate President John Cullerton, which the governor claimed he heard from Cullerton as early as July of 2015…
I spent weeks negotiating with him, and he, he came into my office in, in, in Springfield, one, one day and he said ‘Bruce, I’ve lived in,’ this is a quote, and I’ve said this publicly, ‘I’ve lived in Mike’s shadow for 37 years, I’m not gonna step out now.’ That’s a quote. This is the problem. He’s the President of the Senate. And he, he, he gets his marching orders from one person. This is wrong, this is not democracy. […]
Alarm bells, the sirens have gotta be going off for the people of Illinois. Let’s not tolerate this. This is so clearly, so clearly a power grab and a leverage to on a crisis, that’s what this is.
Our school funding has never involved pensions at the statewide level. This is a Madigan power play right now… When you look in their eyes how much fear do you see? They are petrified that Madigan will give ‘em less or nothing. And they’re, they, they got a gun to their head. That’s why. They, they are, they are so afraid of him and their schools not opening, they’re like ‘Oh, oh, give me wha, whatever you can give me I’ll take it, it’s fine, it’s fine.’ They, they’ve, this is what Madigan has done, that people live in fear, that’s why they support it. When they see the numbers, they go, ‘Oh, Governor, I love, that’s right, that’s the right answer, ooo I don’t want, I don’t, I don’t want him mad at me.’ This is, this is, this is tyranny, this is, this is, this is rule by fear. This is not right… live in fear that he’ll cut ‘em off. That if they don’t get this, he’ll cut ‘em. He’s cut, he’s done it to ‘em four times over the last ten years before I became governor. That’s what they’re afraid of. It’s better to get a, you know, kind of abused a little bit than maybe really damaged and that’s what he’s threat, that’s his threat to ‘em. And I’m saying, don’t do that any more, stand together as a people, let’s do what’s right.
“They are petrified that Madigan will give them less or nothing,” [Rauner] said.
Granite City District 9 Superintendent Jim Greenwald doesn’t see it that way.
“We’re not scared at all,” Greenwald said. “… We’re looking for some fairness.”
Belleville District 201 Superintendent Jeff Dosier said the reason he supported Senate Bill 1 was “because it’s passed both houses.” The Illinois House voted 60-52 to approve the legislation, and the Senate voted 35-22.
“We just need to have that solution, and we need to have that sooner than later,” Dosier said. “… There are many schools in the state that depend on that money right away (in the school year). If it’s a couple months late, it doesn’t hurt us as bad as it does some.”
By the way, Politifact called his claims that the Democrats cut education funding four times “Mostly false.”
There’s no need for expensive special sessions, and Gov. Rauner should simply convene a meeting to end the secrecy regarding whatever classroom funding changes he has in mind, Illinois Senate President John J. Cullerton said in a statement released Friday.
Here is the full statement from Senate President John Cullerton.
“Education advocates and school leaders across our state support Senate Bill 1. They know what it does. What no one knows is what Gov. Rauner’s plan would do. So, rather than expensive special sessions and conflict-driving vetoes, let’s have a meeting so we can see what the governor’s plan is. It can be as simple as that. I would encourage the governor to convene a leaders meeting rather than a special session.”
I dunno. Maybe a special session will work better. It would give rank and file legislators in both parties time together to figure out how to move forward because the leaders clearly can’t work together. That’s what happened during the budget special session, after all.
* Gov. Rauner was asked repeatedly by Statehouse reporters today to explain his planned school funding reform changes. First up, who did the district-by-district analysis?…
REPORTER: Did ISBE score this version of your amendatory veto?
RAUNER: Uh, I don’t know. We, we’ve done the calculations.
REPORTER: Who is we?
RAUNER: Our administration in conjunction with, uh, our legislators and in conjunction with, uh, school officials.
Well, that totally explains everything. I’m so relieved. He’s out there spouting numbers and isn’t even sure where they came from. Excellent work.
* On to what it does. As you’ll recall, Rauner’s own website (which also has the district-by-district breakdown) explains his amendatory veto this way…
The SB 1 number accounts for CPS’ tier funding and FY18 new pension pick-up, and the Governor’s plan number accounts for CPS’ tier funding, FY18 new pension pick-up, and net result of Chicago Block Grant elimination.
REPORTER: Your website said you were eliminating the Chicago block grant.
RAUNER: OK. So, what we are going to do is make sure that the pension payments are treated separately. Chicago has received a special block grant that no other school district gets. Auburn doesn’t get any of that money. Springfield, Decatur doesn’t get any of that money. And that was put in place more than 20 years ago because Chicago pays its own pensions. So, we, all of us in Illinois, taxpayers have been funding, um, Chicago extra money. $250 million per year, in large part because Chicago pays its own teacher pension. That’s a, that was the, that was the tradeoff, that was the negotiated agreement.
In 1995, the Illinois General Assembly passed legislation providing for an annual “block grant” to CPS in lieu of separate funding for each program that the categorical grants fund for non-CPS schools. 105 ILCS 5/1D-1. CPS receives block grant funding for, among other things, bilingual education, the State lunch and free breakfast program, educational service centers, special education (funding for children requiring services, orphanage, personnel, private tuition, summer school, and transportation), regular and vocational transportation, agriculture education, early childhood education, and truants’ optional education. [Emphasis added.]
So, CPS didn’t get the block grant because of their pension payments, as Rauner claimed today. CPS got the block grant in lieu of categorical funding that every other district receives.
* The governor went on to say that after years of not properly funding their pensions, CPS wants both pension funding and a block grant and that’s just not fair. Except the block grant replaced categoricals and CPS is the only school district in the state that pays its pension costs, including its legacy costs.
However, according to the governor’s legal filing, CPS is currently receiving the same proportion of funding for its block grant as it did in 1995. So, there is most definitely an argument to be made against that block grant. What the governor said today isn’t that argument.
One of his recent hires didn’t last a full day, after homophobic and racially-charged tweets surfaced.
Ben Tracy was hired to be Rauner’s body man, which is the assistant who travels almost everywhere with the governor. […]
“We have zero tolerance for any, any behavior that’s just fundamentally inappropriate,” said Rauner.
Although Tracy’s firing has been widely reported, Rauner appeared uncertain of the staffer’s position within his office when asked about it on Thursday.
“I don’t know (his) exact role or title. You know, we’re obviously adding people all the time,” said Rauner. […]
Rauner said he has a team of people who making hiring decisions.
“In that particular case, I don’t know. There are probably a dozen people who are involved in hiring,” said Rauner.
He didn’t know his own body man’s role? He’s only had a body man since the campaign. Perhaps he just doesn’t want to admit that he has a taxpayer-financed valet. And, by the way, there’s nothing wrong with having a body man. They play an important role.
Also, reporters have claimed, including myself, that sources have said Rauner interviewed Tracy. A governor who doesn’t interview his own potential body man is a pretty darned stupid governor. After all, a governor will be with the guy (or woman) hours and hours every day, sometimes seven days a week. So, I find that claim truly difficult to believe.
Also, great move throwing the new staff under the bus on this topic. Same as it ever was. Nothing is ever this man’s fault.
Rauner then described how he learned about the staffer’s social media postings.
“I heard something about it. I don’t know, but I heard somebody came in, they found some old behavior that was completely unacceptable. They terminated him immediately, which is the appropriate thing to do,” said Rauner.
Um, dude, weren’t you in the car with him when the story broke?
Gov. Bruce Rauner on Friday issued an ultimatum in his battle with the General Assembly over school funding, demanding that legislative leaders send Senate Bill 1 to his desk by noon Monday. Rauner said that if legislative leaders do not do that, he will call a special session immediately.
“There is no legitimate reason for Speaker Madigan to be sitting on the school funding bill,” he said.
Rauner acknowledged that the bill in question is a Senate measure, but accused Senate President John Cullerton of acting on orders from Madigan.
“This is the cynical manipulation of this process,” Rauner said. ”(Cullerton) has told my Senate colleagues that Speaker Madigan has ordered him to sit on the bill. .. He takes his orders from Speaker Madigan.”
So, we’re back to the Cullerton is Madigan’s puppet line, eh?
* More headlines from the ILGOP…
Governor Bruce Rauner slammed Mike Madigan’s Democrats in a downstate tour this week, highlighting how Madigan’s Chicago pension bailout will take state education dollars away from downstate schools.
Mike Madigan is holding schoolchildren hostage – he’s having his allies in the Senate hold SB1 from reaching the Governor’s desk in a ploy to force a $500 million taxpayer funded bailout of Chicago schools with no promise of financial reform.
But Governor Rauner is bringing Madigan’s scheme to light.
Check out these headlines from Rauner’s tour:
The Southern: Rauner: Amendatory veto of K-12 funding bill would help Southern Illinois schools
Gov. Bruce Rauner said Thursday that his plan to change the language of a key K-12 funding bill would funnel more money into downstate schools and avoid an unfair “bailout” of Chicago Public Schools.
During an interview with The Southern’s editorial board, Rauner called for the General Assembly to send him the Evidence-Based Funding for Student Success Act, also known as SB1, which passed both chambers of the legislature on May 31 and has been held from the governor’s desk ever since.
Fox St. Louis: Gov. Rauner threatens to veto Illinois school funding bill over Chicago pensions
“What’s happening is our school funding for this year, August and September, that bill to fund that is being held up Speaker Madigan,” Rauner said.
…“They’re sitting on it, holding it until August to force a crisis to force taxpayers of Illinois to fund a bailout of Chicago pensions,” he said.
KFVS: IL Gov. Rauner sits down one-on-one to discuss school funding bill
“Release the bill, don’t sit on it, don’t wait until August to create a crisis,” Gov. Rauner said. “Send it to my desk and I will amendatory veto it and take out the bad pension payment part that’s going to cost tax payers money, and schools will open on time with more money.”
KSDK: GOV. RAUNER STOPS IN METRO EAST TO PUSH FOR VETO
Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner stopped in the Metro East Thursday to talk about schools possibly shutting down because they can’t get state funding. The Governor was in Edwardsville trying to garner support for his plan.
Here’s the issue: Funding has been approved by the Democratic-led Legislature to fund public schools, but the Republican Governor said it unfairly gives millions of dollars to Chicago Schools.
* In other news, Sen. Andy Manar called out an ILGOP staffer on Twitter last night…
GOP staff now aggressively attacking Downstate superintendents b/c they support a bill good for their schools. Get a grip. #desperatepic.twitter.com/WhWEDfjxM3
Says the guy who bullied Leader Radogno out of the Senate & spent $5m against @mccann_sam b/c they had the audacity to not take orders. https://t.co/CvewEiZBpI
A Democratic legislator from the Northwest Side was paid $170,000 for work as a consultant to fellow Democrats during two years when he failed to list that work as a source of income on his required state ethics filings, records examined by the Chicago Sun-Times show.
State Rep. Robert Martwick, D-Chicago, who is an attorney, says the economic-interest statements that legislators have to file with the secretary of state’s office every year are so “poorly written” that he didn’t understand what he needed to include.
“When I get to the disclosures, I try to be as open as I can be,” Martwick says. “I’m a lawyer, but, looking at those questions, I don’t know what they’re asking.”
The ethics forms ask legislators to “list the name and instrument of ownership in any entity doing business in the state of Illinois in which [their] ownership interest” is worth more than $5,000 or from which they made more than $1,200 during the past year.
Pretty simple language.
* Most of the piece is pretty entertaining, but this is a really unnecessary pile-on…
The younger Martwick is the legislator who complained last August on Facebook that the state budget standoff delayed his paycheck. He blasted Gov. Bruce Rauner and then-state Comptroller Leslie Munger for withholding legislators’ checks, saying that amounted to “extortion and conspiracy.”
Offering a financial incentive to an elected official to secure their vote on a subject is corruption. If you do that, you will go to jail. Withholding pay in order to force a vote is no different. Our impasse in Springfield has nothing to do with being able to do that math. Instead it is about one side wanting to impose profound change to our system and is trying to force the other side to do it against the wishes of the people they represent. Politicians in Illinois are not very popular. I often hear “you should work for free.”
Of course if we did that, then the only people who could serve would be people like Rauner, Madigan, Cullerton, and me. Shouldn’t everyone have the opportunity to serve? Do you really just want a bunch of wealthy businessmen and lawyers making the laws that affect your life? Wouldn’t you rather have some representatives who know what it means to struggle from day to day so that when they vote on laws, they can relate to the issues you deal with?
Jaime M Andrade Jr.. is an extremely effective, smart and hard working representative. He has an understanding of the legislative process that is unparalleled. By denying him pay, Leslie Geissler Munger and Bruce Rauner are trying, and succeeding, at putting him in a very difficult financial decision. That is extortion and corruption. Plain and simple. Kudos to Jaime for being willing to do whatever it takes to stay true to the people he represents.
* JB Pritzker is holding a press conference late this morning to talk about HB 40 and “Bruce Rauner’s failure to fight for Illinois women.” He’ll be joined by Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, Sen. Heather Steans, Ald. Pat Dowell and others. I’m told the event will include a denouncement of Rauner’s new communications staffer Brittany Carl, who compared abortion to Nazi eugenics.
* Meanwhile, this was posted the other day but I didn’t see it until yesterday…
"in just one week - Rauner’s newly minted right-wing staff managed to insult Jews, women, the LGBTQ community and people of color." #Twillhttps://t.co/HojJFDebyB
Governor Bruce Rauner should be lauded for hiring “intelligent, diverse, and well-rounded” staff, says Illinois Right-to-Life Executive Director Emily Troscinski.
Troscinski’s comments come amidst demands by Rauner critics that he only hire staff who support abortion rights.
Rauner, who is pro-choice, has nonetheless employed both pro-choice and pro-life staff members since assuming the job of governor in Jan. 2015.
“Democrats and self-proclaimed ‘women’s rights’ groups seem more obsessed with having the government only hire employees that agree with their radical abortion litmus test, rather than hiring those best qualified for the job,” she told Chicago City Wire.
“Our state is on the verge of financial collapse and pro-abortion Democrats are standing knee deep in dredging up abortion quotes rather than fixing our state’s current financial crisis.”
Troscinski is referring to news stories published by media hostile to Rauner attacking a newly-hired communications staff member who criticized people using abortion to “rid the world of disabled and other ‘unwanted’ persons.”
The comment was made in an April blog post.
Reporters from the Chicago Sun-Times and Politico published stories suggesting Rauner should fire the staff member.
Trocinski called the stories “fabricated outrage.”
“This discriminatory smear campaign by pro-abortion democrats sends quite a clear message to Illinoisans: if you’re a successful pro-life woman, you’re not welcome in public service,” Troscinski said.
*** UPDATE *** Pritzker campaign…
Today, JB Pritzker stood with HB 40 sponsors Representative Sara Feigenholtz and Senator Heather Steans, Alderman Pat Dowell, and Illinois women at a press conference at the Chicago Cultural Center to highlight the need for a governor who stands with them in the fight to protect women’s healthcare. JB also announced a postcard campaign, encouraging women from across the state to hold Rauner accountable for his promise to sign HB 40.
Despite campaigning on protecting women’s healthcare, Bruce Rauner has threatened to veto HB 40, critical legislation to protect and expand the right to choose in Illinois. In a further sign of his hard-right turn on reproductive healthcare, a new Rauner hire compared a woman’s right to choose to Nazi eugenics. Instead of condemning this statement, Rauner remained silent.
“I’m running for governor as a proud feminist,” said JB Pritzker. “For over twenty years, I’ve marched for women’s rights and for the right of women to access healthcare. From marching in Washington with NARAL 25 years ago, all the way to the march in Springfield alongside Alderman Dowell this April.
“In the last week, Bruce Rauner has made it clear that he has fully committed to heading down the same path of bigotry and hatred that Donald Trump paved for him. He brought a staffer into the governor’s office who compared the right to choose to Nazi eugenics. As a feminist, as a Jew, and just as a human being I am appalled.
“Today, I stood with Illinois leaders to talk about how we resist Bruce Rauner and Donald Trump and their attacks on women’s rights. We also signed postcards demanding that Rauner sign HB 40 into law. It won’t be long until he starts receiving thousands of them from women across the state. But we won’t stop there. This fight is too important. The stakes are too high. I look forward to standing with women across Illinois as we continue to resist and fight for what’s right.”
…Adding… Pritzker’s people are claiming a turnout of over 350…
Chris Kennedy touted health care coverage as a vital part of the “American dream” this week — yet newly filed campaign expenditures show the Democratic gubernatorial candidate hasn’t paid health insurance costs for his own campaign employees.
The Democrat’s campaign officials says they offered coverage, but no one took them up on it.
That puts Kennedy at odds with at least four other gubernatorial campaigns.
Democrats J.B. Pritzker, state Sen. Daniel Biss and Ald. Ameya Pawar, and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, all listed health insurance payments on campaign disclosure reports due on Monday.
But Kennedy’s health insurance payments are missing.
“It’s something you’d expect to see,” said Sarah Brune, executive director for the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.
* From Kennedy’s campaign manager…
Let’s be clear: Kennedy for Illinois offers full health insurance coverage to all full-time staff members.
My team and I work for a candidate who believes healthcare is a civil right. There’s no discrepancy, no false promises.
Today’s Chicago Sun-Times story is a total nonstory that led with a couple iterations of a blatantly false headline posted online before editors settled on this misleading headline for print.
My pregnant wife delivered our first child prematurely. She has to have weekly shots to help her carry this pregnancy full term. We need health insurance and we have it, which is why I didn’t take the campaign up on its offer for healthcare coverage.
I wasn’t the only one who declined health insurance offered through the campaign. In fact, for the bulk of this campaign, all full-time staff members declined because they had other sources of coverage.
However, as support behind our campaign grows, so does our staff. We now have four staff members who recently requested healthcare coverage and will receive it effective this current quarter.
It’s disheartening that the topic of healthcare coverage, something so critically important to all of us, was irresponsibly reported.
Back to work,
Brendan O’Sullivan
Campaign Manager
Kennedy for Illinois
When asked about his relationship with Madigan and whether the two of them could sit down and talk, Rauner said he had spent “hours and hours and hours” meeting with the speaker.
“When I first met him eight years ago, I asked him what his goal was for improving the quality of life for the people of Illinois. You know what he said to me? He laughed and said ‘I don’t have a goal like that.’ He said ‘I do two things: manage power and make money for managing power,’” said Rauner.
I asked the House Speaker’s spokesman for comment. His e-mailed reply…
Sounds like another election night phone call to me.
You’ll recall that Rauner said on election night that he had spoken with Madigan about the future, but actually hadn’t.
In a discussion about Rauner’s promise to veto a school funding bill that he has called a “Chicago bailout,” Preckwinkle called the governor “profoundly inept and mean-spirited.”
“I’ve lived in Chicago for 50 years. In that time Jim Thompson was governor, Jim Edgar, George Ryan. I disagreed with them sometimes, but I never thought they were unfit for their jobs or evil people. That’s where I am with this governor, and it’s profoundly disturbing,” Preckwinkle said in an interview with WLS-AM’s Bill Cameron, to be aired on Sunday’s “Connected to Chicago.”
Cameron asked Preckwinkle, who is also a ward committeeman with the Cook County Democratic Party, if she really meant “evil.”
“Yes, this is a person who cut funding for autism programs on National Autism Day,” Preckwinkle said.
The St. Clair County Circuit Court has dismissed the Pay Now Illinois coalition suit against Gov. Bruce Rauner and state agencies. Circuit Judge Robert P. LeChien cited the precedence established in the June 15 dismissal of a separate Pay Now Illinois suit by the Illinois Appellate Court. The St. Clair decision is attached.
A statement from Pay Now Illinois Chair Andrea Durbin…
“We obviously are disappointed by the decision in St. Clair County, and are considering our options. All along, we’ve sought to determine what legal options there are to enforce contracts under the law and to ensure that social and human service organizations get paid for the work they are doing on behalf of the people of Illinois. In our continuing efforts to ensure that everyone gets paid, we have requested an extension of the deadline to appeal the dismissal of our original suit to the Illinois Supreme Court.”
“As we look ahead, we are reviewing our next steps, including legislation, to make sure this doesn’t happen again – that anyone who enters into a contract has the right to get paid in a reasonable time period.”
Today, Gov. Bruce Rauner again demanded that lawmakers put the children of Illinois first and send him Senate Bill 1, the education funding bill. Public schools in Illinois may not open in time for the new school year if Democrats in the Illinois Senate don’t send this bill to the governor’s desk. Democratic senators are using a procedural quirk to prevent this measure from reaching the governor’s desk, which puts every public school student in Illinois at risk.
“I’m determined to get our kids back to school on time. It’s my No. 1 priority,” Gov. Rauner said. “That’s why I again insist that lawmakers send me Senate Bill 1 so I can take immediate action. The bill is being held hostage by Democrats in the Senate. They’ve been holding this bill for six weeks now. It’s shameful. Stop putting politics and pensions before our kids. We don’t have any more time to waste. Send me SB 1 now.”
As written, the bill includes a bailout of Chicago’s broken teacher pension system. Gov. Rauner plans to issue an amendatory veto that will eliminate the Chicago Public Schools’ bailout and result in higher state funding for almost every school district in Illinois.
…Adding… The headline on that press release was a bit unfortunate…
Gov. Rauner: Put kids in front of politics, send me the education bill
Um, OK. Kids should probably never be put in front of Illinois politics.
Weeks after former state Department of Children and Family Services Director George Sheldon resigned and took a job with a Florida nonprofit, new details are emerging about insider contract deals and allegations of Sheldon and his top aide’s mismanagement during his tenure at the scandal-tainted agency.
The state paid $262,000 to a longtime Sheldon confidant with whom Sheldon owns Florida property, after an initial $30,000 subcontract was extended two years, with Sheldon’s approval.
Sheldon’s top Cook County administrator resigned last month following a confidential state watchdog report that alleged she failed to account for thousands of dollars in holiday gift cards donated to teenage state wards.
And recent confidential state ethics reports allege breaches of procurement and hiring rules as Sheldon tapped a circle of Florida friends, former aides and lobbyists to help run the child welfare agency.
A series of confidential state watchdog findings were given to Gov. Bruce Rauner in the weeks before Sheldon resigned on June 15. While he admitted some lapses of judgment, Sheldon said the reports had no bearing on his decision to leave DCFS.
Governor Rauner’s leadership of DCFS is completely consistent with his Libertarian philosophy.
He does not believe that government should play a role in helping families. When he could not outsource government, when he could not eliminate it, he wounded it. He first wounded it by piling up unpaid bills then by putting in place incompetent staff whose floundering is destroying people’s confidence in government.
Rauner’s efforts to retain former agency director George Sheldon after state watchdogs showed he was either incompetent or corrupt is proof of his ongoing efforts to sabotage government.
* You’ll recall Moody’s put the state “under review” for a downgrade to junk status just prior to the final budget override votes. Press release…
Moody’s Investors Service has confirmed the State of Illinois’ general obligation bond rating at Baa3, following passage of budget legislation that alleviates immediate liquidity pressures, moves the state closer to fiscal balance and should keep pension and other fixed costs at manageable levels at least in the near term. The rating confirmation, which also applies to state debt linked to the GO (and listed at the end of this section) ends a review for possible downgrade that began July 5. Debt outstanding for all affected securities totals about $32 billion, though not all the non-GO issues have a Moody’s rating. The state’s outlook is negative.
The budget legislation includes income tax increases that the state expects will generate about $5 billion in fiscal 2018, which began July 1. Together with internal and external borrowing provisions in the legislation, the tax increases will help contain a backlog of unpaid bills that has been hovering above $14 billion in recent weeks. The legislation brought an end to a two-year period in which the state operated without a comprehensive budget, covering many of its expenses under court orders or consent decrees rather than standard appropriations. It highlighted two of Illinois’ intrinsic strengths: sovereign control over its taxing and spending policy and a diverse economy with the capacity to generate additional revenue.
While budget passage alleviates immediate threats to the state’s credit, long-term challenges remain. The outsized net pension burden (shown above as a share of revenue compared with state medians) will keep growing in coming years, despite certain reforms included in the budget legislation. Reducing and containing the backlog over the long term will likely depend on repeated operating surpluses, which the state has not produced in recent memory. […]
Factors that Could Lead to an Upgrade
Implementation of a realistic plan to provide long-term funding for pension obligations
Progress in reducing payment backlog and adoption of legal framework to prevent renewed build-up of unpaid bills
Enactment of recurring fiscal measures that support expectation of sustainable, structural balance
Factors that Could Lead to a Downgrade
Structural imbalance that leads to renewed build-up of unpaid bills following issuance of debt to pay down backlog
Efforts to obtain near-term fiscal relief by reducing pension contributions
Political paralysis that results in failure to provide for timely payment of subject-to-appropriation debt
Difficulty managing the impacts of an economic downturn, a reduction in federal Medicaid funding or other unexpected adverse event
Well, that’s a relief. But Illinois is going to be on the edge of junk status for a long time to come.
*** UPDATE *** Senate President John Cullerton’s spokesman John Patterson…
“It’s hard to disagree with many of the points Moody’s makes. Our balanced budget highlights our ability to self-govern and the strengths of Illinois’ diverse economy. What Moody’s seems to ask is: What took you so long? That’s a valid criticism. Looking forward, the Senate President knows more work is needed to continue to shore up our financial stability and keep Illinois moving in a positive direction.”
Several sources tell NBC 5 that Gov. Bruce Rauner had planned to sign the new Automatic Voter Registration bill last week during the Rainbow PUSH Coalition Convention, but at the last minute the event was cancelled.
The bill allows voters to automatically be registered to vote through an electronic process when applying for a driver’s license or state ID, unless they opt out.
The governor signaled his intention to sign the bill, but he’s in the midst of overhauling his staff and there are now questions if his new team approves.
Last year Rauner vetoed similar legislation but changes were made and Senate Bill 1933 unanimously passed through the General Assembly. The governor has up to 60 days to sign or veto the legislation.
A bill that was rewritten to the governor’s specifications, then passed unanimously.
But a few changes were apparently enough to convince Rauner to sign on to automatic voter registration, which has already led to considerable gains in the number of registered voters in Oregon, the first state to implement it last year. Illinois would be the ninth state to adopt automatic voter registration, and advocates estimate it could add over 1 million voters to the state’s rolls.
“We must protect the sanctity of our election process, and we thank the bill sponsors and stakeholders who worked with us on this piece of legislation. The Governor will sign it,” Eleni Demertzis, a Rauner spokeswoman wrote in an email.
The Illinois Policy Institute’s legal arm, you’ll recall, filed a lawsuit last August in a failed attempt to strike down Illinois’ election-day voter registration law.
*** UPDATE *** I did a little calling around and the signing event was pushed back a couple of weeks ago, before the staff purge. There’s been no indication either way out of the governor’s new staff whether he still intends to honor his commitment and sign the bill. But that could be because Rauner now has an overwhelmed skeleton crew with little to no experience in government.
At $9.3 million in expenditures, J.B. Pritzker accounted for 67% of total 2nd quarter spending in the Illinois gubernatorial race. Advertising and media consulting represented a large portion of his committee’s expenditures. Pritzker utilized a Philadelphia media consulting group named Shorr, Johnson, Magnus, who has worked in the past with U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer and Al Franken. Pritzker paid the group $6,317,365 for media buys, consulting, and production. That amount itself is more than the combined total spending of all the other gubernatorial campaigns. In total, Pritzker spent an additional $928,160 on media buys from other sources, media and digital consulting, and media production. Pritzker also spent a significant amount of money building his campaign’s team. He spent $668,286 on payroll and associated fees for campaign staff - almost $500,000 more than any other candidate. [The dude has ramped up staff hiring faster and larger than anyone I think I’ve ever seen.]
Bruce Rauner (R)
Governor Rauner was the second highest spender in the second quarter, reporting nearly $3.4 million. The Rauner campaign enlisted Strategic Media Placement Inc, a major Republican media consulting company in Ohio, for $1,056,336 in media buys. The group has worked with a number of U.S. Senators, Governors, and the Trump campaign. In addition, the campaign spent $75,337 on mailings and postage to potential voters. The Governor also transferred $1.5 million to the Illinois Republican Party, which is reflected in his overall expenditure numbers. [The ubiquitous “duct tape” ads were paid for by a dark money group affiliated with the RGA and are therefore not included here.]
Chris Kennedy (D)
In the second quarter, the Kennedy campaign spent $652,524. A large portion of that, $178,726, went to payroll and associated fees. Kennedy also spent $23,806 on event costs, such as catering and venue reservations. Additionally, Kennedy spent $90,305 on digital consulting from Revolution Messaging, a Washington, D.C.-based progressive digital agency that previously worked with the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign, and $102,800 on polling and market research from two different firms. [Other consultants included Zlato Digital ($7,500), P2 Consulting ($52,550), Porter McNeil ($11,000), Tiffany Hightower ($12,500), Hart Research ($81,500), Grossman Heinz ($24,189), Adelstein & Associates ($19,817), 4C Partners ($9,000) and 3-Street, Inc. ($21,300)]
Daniel Biss (D)
Despite raising over $1 million, Daniel Biss’s campign spent frugally this quarter, only $265,710. A big focus of the Biss campaign this quarter was on digital advertising, as its largest single expenditure was $40,000 towards digital advertising from 270 Strategies, a Chicago consulting and outreach firm that previously worked with the United Way and U.S. Senator Corey Booker. The Biss campaign also spent $85,400 on consulting from a number of different local and national firms. This includes two expenditures worth $44,000 with LBH Chicago, a fundraising and public relations consulting firm that previously worked with Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx and former Illinois Governor Pat Quinn. [LBH is run by Liz Houlihan]
Ameya Pawar (D)
Ameya Pawar’s campaign racked up $155,980 in second quarter spending. The Pawar campaign’s biggest expenditure was the $45,554 spent on staff salaries and associated fees. A significant amount of the campaign’s spending also went toward polling and research. The campaign spent $39,200 working with the Seattle-based research and marketing firm Strategies 360. Additionally, the Pawar campaign spent $15,383 on promotional merchandise. [Strategies 360 does not have an Illinois office and focuses mainly on the American West.]
Robert Daiber (D)
Robert Daiber had the second lowest expenditure total this quarter, with just $41,155. Over three-fourths of Daiber’s total spending went to consulting from individuals and small businesses, all located in Illinois. Daiber’s next largest expenditure was $5,110 for a fundraiser at Sunset Hills Country Club in Edwardsville, IL. [Barzin Emami is his top consultant. Enami ran the unsuccessful 2014 campaign to unseat Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd Karmeier.]
Scott Drury (D)
Scott Drury, who has been in the race for about one month, was the lowest spender in the second quarter, only reporting $3,994. Of these expenditures, the largest amount went to processing donations to his campaign made through the Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue. [Drury was even outraised by the person who wants to run for his House seat.]
“Mike Madigan is trying to hold schoolchildren hostage to get a $500 million bailout for Chicago, just like he held the budget hostage for years to pass his 32% tax hike. It’s a desperate ploy to direct more taxpayer dollars to Chicago by using children as pawns. It’s sick, but that’s the Madigan way.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Steven Yaffe
Democrats in the General Assembly are holding the future of Illinois schoolchildren hostage by “deliberately refusing” to send Governor Rauner any bill to fund education and ensure that schools open.
The News-Gazette editorial board blasted Madigan’s Democrats earlier this week, writing that, “They’ve been holding the school funding formula legislation in the Senate since May 31 — more than six weeks — deliberately refusing to send Senate Bill 1 for action to Gov. Rauner.”
“Democrats need to get the bill to Rauner’s desk as soon as possible.”
The Dispatch Argus editorial board highlighted how Madigan booby trapped his 32% tax hike budget in order to force a bailout.
“Among the devilish details in the 583-page Illinois budget we outlined Wednesday lurks a potentially dangerous phrase requiring school funding to be given out via an evidence-based system…. Senate Bill 1, which creates a needs-based funding method, was approved by the Illinois General Assembly in May. But it has never been sent to Gov. Bruce Rauner. Leaders reportedly are holding it while they seek ways to avoid a veto of the bill over what the GOP leader called a pension bailout for Chicago schools.”
“Critics believe Democratic leaders’ real motivation is to tar Gov. Rauner with slamming closed the schoolhouse doors.”
It’s time for Mike Madigan and his fellow politicians to stop holding children hostage and agree to bipartisan education funding that does not take money from students across the state to bailout Chicago.
As we’ve already discussed, that very same “devilish detail” was also inserted into a bill that Gov. Rauner himself supported. So, spare me.
Whatever you think of the final 2017 budget, a deal wouldn’t have happened if House Speaker Michael Madigan’s Democratic members had not demanded it. And it would not have survived an initial vote or gubernatorial veto if some Republican lawmakers had not defied the governor and voted for it. Just as in the successful 2015 stop-gap budget campaign waged by voters and their state lawmakers, our leaders were given an offer they could not refuse. And they didn’t.
So let’s make them listen again. Demand that your lawmakers tell their leaders — Gov. Rauner, Speaker Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton — to seek and find common ground between Senate Bill 1, which lawmakers approved, and the GOP bill Gov. Rauner favors. Somewhere in the middle is a deal that answers the needs of all of the state’s students — in Chicago and downstate.
Given today’s data of July 19, Illinois is already on the brink of a problem, one that is wholly unnecessary.
There’s no reason Gov. Rauner and Democrats could not have worked out their differences, or still can’t, to reach a compromise.
Instead, Democrats seem intent on repeating their decisive win on the budget battle with one on the school funding formula. Rauner is equally intent on not letting that happen. K-12 kids represent the collateral damage if this battle-of-wills plays itself out to its ultimate conclusion.
Chris will participate as the keynote speaker at the Solution to End Violence Forum this weekend, hosted by Pastor Anthony Williams, where he will announce his plan to address violence in communities. The forum is focused on discussing potential solutions to end the perpetual gun violence that plagues Illinois. Chris will share his personal and family-related experience with gun violence and engage with local residents who have been directly affected by Chicago violence.
* While we’re at it, let’s make a small dent in my in-box and do a little roundup. From the Pritzker campaign…
The day before JB is set to host a Women’s Rights & Resist Lunch at the Chicago Cultural Center, City Clerk Anna Valencia endorsed him for governor. Valencia has been a staunch advocate for women’s rights and economic opportunity during her tenure as Chicago City Clerk.
“I’m honored to receive the endorsement of Clerk Valencia,” said JB Pritzker. “Anna is a strong voice for women’s rights and economic opportunity here in Chicago and across the state. As governor, I will work with leaders like Anna to protect a woman’s right to choose, support women and minority-owned small businesses, and work to close the gender pay gap. We will also fight the hateful attacks we’re seeing from the Trump and Rauner administrations. Bruce Rauner promised Illinois women he would fight for them, but then he threatened to veto HB 40 and surrounded himself with a team of extremists. We have work to do to clean up Rauner’s mess and I look forward to standing with leaders like Anna to get our state back on track and ensure women always have a seat at the table.”
“Equal pay and investing in small businesses aren’t just economic issues, they are women’s issues,” said Anna Valencia. “Whether it is preparing our state’s workforce for the 21st century or making sure schools across our state have fair and equal funding, JB has what it takes to address these issues head on. I am proud to support JB for governor and to fight alongside him for the future of Illinois.”
* Biss campaign…
Governor Rauner has had a bad few weeks.
To distract from his unraveling governorship, Rauner is on a warpath. His target: SB1, the bipartisan education bill that would begin fixing Illinois’ deeply unfair system of school funding.
Illinois has the most unequal school funding system in the entire country, and our governor has the chance to do something about it. Instead, he’s threatening to do what he does best: nothing. Our kids are being deprived of the education they deserve, and it will be low-income students of color who are hurt the most.
School districts across the state don’t have the funding they need because of a set of out-of-date funding formulas combined with a dangerous reliance on property taxes. This system causes unfair balances in funding that punishes educators, families, and students whose schools, in some cases, may not be open next year. SB1 aims to help fix that — it funds each school district in Illinois based on need, and it would increase that funding over time.
Daniel has been fighting for education funding reform throughout his career. He supports SB1 because it’s the right thing to do to start fixing our broken system. But the work doesn’t end there.
That’s why, as governor, Daniel will work to end our reliance on a broken property tax system, so that we have the revenue to fully and equally fund education once and for all. He’s already made proposals to ensure that we have a fairer tax system and that the wealthy pay their fair share. These reforms will help properly fund our schools across the state.
Rauner will try to tell you that SB1 is a Chicago bail out, that it just siphons money into a broken system at the expense of other school districts. This couldn’t be further from the truth. This bill is about equity for all school districts. Rauner is holding our schools hostage in order to score political points. This is unacceptable.
We have a chance to change education in Illinois for the better, and give every student the chance to succeed. That’s something Daniel is committed to, and I hope you’ll join him in this fight.
* Back to the Pritzker campaign…
Another Bruce Rauner hire is the subject of controversy after the Chicago Sun-Times discovered an appalling blog post she wrote that “compared abortion to Nazi eugenics.” Responding to the reports, the Rauner administration said to quote the staffer’s past writing with “full context.”
Rauner filling his administration with radical social conservatives should come as no surprise. Rauner said he didn’t have a social agenda on the campaign trail, but he then abandoned Illinois women as governor, pledging to veto HB 40. This is a bill that ensures all Illinois women have access to reproductive healthcare.
The Rauner administration’s vague and distant response to their latest controversy begs the question: Will Bruce Rauner condemn his new staffer’s atrocious remarks?
“Rauner’s decision to stand by and say nothing when a member of his staff makes such an atrocious comparison tells Illinois women all they need to know about their failed governor,” said Pritzker campaign communications director Galia Slayen. “Comparing the right to choose to the Nazis is indefensible and has no place in the governor’s office. This is an administration being taken over by radical ideologues, intent on furthering the Trump agenda of bigotry and hatred.”
Sources close to the recruiting effort say Josh “J.C.” Griffin, a 5-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, has impressed party leaders and is the leading contender to run for Secretary of State.
WCIA caught up with Griffin in Springfield and asked him about reports that he is working to build a statewide campaign.
“I think it’s premature to say whether or not I’m running for anything,” Griffin said. “But I think the organizations and the counties that I’ve been visiting over the past few months, we’ve had good conversations about what needs to happen and what needs to change.”
Griffin enlisted in the Air Force 2007 and fought in combat during the Iraq War. After leaving the military in 2012, he worked for Norfolk Southern Railway before taking a job in Governor Pat Quinn’s administration.
It’s still not totally clear whether Secretary White is running for reelection. I think he’ll do it, but he said a while back that he’d announce in a couple of weeks and then didn’t.
Professional expertise: Business Development and Training Management, Change Management and Legacy Affairs, Government & Legislative Relations and Organizational Leadership Management.
Replacing her on the Arts Council wouldn’t free up that money for anything or anyone else. If Rep. Skillicorn wants to eliminate all state arts funding, well, that’s quite another thing and he should say so.
The Illinois Arts Council – led by the matriarch of the most powerful political family in Illinois – conferred grants without official meetings, ignored rampant conflicts of interest, and funneled millions of taxpayer dollars to asset-rich organizations – including media outlets – which don’t need public money.
Although Michael Madigan has served as the Illinois House Speaker for 34 years, interrupted for just two years in the 1990s, his wife, Shirley Madigan, has clinched a position on the Illinois Arts Council since 1976. She has served as the chair of the council since 1983.
Governor Bruce Rauner must move immediately to end Shirley Madigan’s tenure on the Illinois Arts Council. Rauner has an historic opportunity to appoint thirteen fresh faces and take a reform majority on this important council of twenty-one. Two weeks ago, Shirley Madigan’s latest term expired alongside twelve other board members.
Over the past three years, Shirley Madigan’s Arts Council rarely met. Instead of holding tri-annual board meetings – as they’ve pledged to do – the council never met during the entire fiscal year of 2016. Still, without the sunshine of a public meeting, the council paid-out grants, salaries, and operational expenses. Only later did the board ratify the payments.
* WGN TV on Gov. Rauner’s latest Lake County visit to view the flooding…
[Rep. Sam Yingling] went on to say the governor’s response to flood was inadequate. Close to 7,000 structures were impacted by flood waters along the Des Plaines River. Hundreds more were impacted in McHenry County.
The governor and Representative Yingling appeared at a press conference Tuesday afternoon.
“We needed a state of emergency declared which came three days too late,” he said. […]
“I think it’s very important that we set aside political spin from serving Illinois. I was in contact with mayors in the area, they did not want me to personally to come during the time their first responders had to focus and get the job done,” the governor said.
At least one mayor said they never told the governor not to come. Another elected official said if you’re a leader you don’t have to ask.
Yingling had said in interviews and his guest column that the declaration of a disaster area by the state was needed for low-interest Federal Emergency Management Agency loans.
Rauner’s director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, James Joseph, seemed to correct Yingling by saying that there are no “low-interest FEMA loans” at one point during the press conference, but mentioned the Small Business Administration loan program.
Afterward, Yingling said he was floored when he heard Joseph say that, because he had just come from a county meeting concerning exactly that issue. Accusing Joseph of doing some spinning of his own, Yingling said FEMA qualifies people for loans, but the SBA is the organization that actually makes the loan.
“He was splitting hairs,” Yingling said, adding that Rauner came because of his guest column. “He wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for that. It was nice of him to take time out to come up here.”
Following a disaster declared by the president, FEMA partners with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to help disaster survivors. The SBA offers low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes.
* The point is that the flooding began Wednesday and the governor waited until after 5 o’clock in the afternoon on Friday to finally activate the State Emergency Operations Center and issue a disaster proclamation that had been requested on Thursday. From that press release…
As reports indicate potential record flooding in the coming days, Governor Bruce Rauner today issued a state disaster proclamation for Lake, McHenry and Kane counties to ensure continued state support to communities as they recover from the recent heavy rains. [Emphasis added.]
This isn’t about whether or not the governor should’ve visited sooner, although he wants to turn it into that “debate.” It’s about whether or not he did his job in a timely manner.
A strong reform bill passed in the legislature recently with overwhelming bipartisan majorities. It awaits the governor’s signature.
The reform legislation, a product of compromise between reform advocates and the law enforcement lobby, ensures that the burden of proving the property owner’s culpability in a forfeiture case rests squarely with the government and raises the standard of proof from probable cause to a preponderance of the evidence for the government to prevail at trial. The bill exempts small sums of cash from forfeiture and provides that possession of a miniscule amount of drugs alone shall not authorize forfeiture of personal property.
The reform legislation also eliminates the current requirement that property owners must pay 10 percent of the value of their property upfront in order to contest seizures, and it creates an expedited procedure will allow innocent owners to have their claims adjudicated more rapidly. These reforms will reduce the financial barriers and long delays that too often deter people from pursuing the return of their property.
Additionally, the legislation requires public reporting of seizure and forfeiture data, which will enable taxpayers and lawmakers to find out how much property is being seized by law enforcement agencies around the state, the types of property forfeited, the amount of forfeiture proceeds received by law enforcement agencies, and how they spend the money.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions signed an order on Wednesday reversing the Obama administration’s limits on civil asset forfeiture, a widely criticized practice in which law enforcement officers seize cash and property from citizens who have not been charged with crimes.
The policy change comes as a number of states — both red and blue — have clamped down on civil forfeiture abuses, and it will allow local police departments to circumvent state laws that restrict the practice. […]
Sessions’ order gives officers a way to bypass state restrictions.
It revives a program called Equitable Sharing or “adoptive forfeiture,” which allows local law enforcement to process forfeiture cases under federal statute and “share” the assets with federal authorities. In practice, the federal government sends up to 80 percent of the assets right back to local departments, effectively allowing them to get around stricter state laws, says Rulli. Eric Holder, Obama’s attorney general, eliminated adoptive forfeiture except in rare cases.
“Sessions is calling [adoptive forfeiture] a ‘partnership’ between the federal government and states,” says [Louis Rulli, a clinical law professor at the University of Pennsylvania and a leading forfeiture expert], “but in fact, it’s an attack on federalism and the ability of states to decide for themselves how they should handle this [issue].”
But the problem isn’t limited to cronies leaving government and creating lobbying empires built on sweetheart deals – we also need to stop the practice of insider lobbyists putting their practices on hold and joining the administration, only to come back to their clients after helping them rig the system. The revolving door swings both ways.[…]
No senior executive official should have been a lobbyist in their preceding 12 months, nor should they be allowed to become a lobbyist 12 months after they leave. [Emphasis added.]
Gov. Bruce Rauner is apparently backing off of a campaign position from 2014 when he said senior administration officials should not be selected from among the ranks of lobbyists.
Rauner’s new chief of staff, Kristina Rasmussen, has been a registered lobbyist in the state since 2010, records show. Rasmussen, the former president of the Illinois Policy Institute, was registered first as a lobbyist for the IPI and later for Illinois Policy Action, an affiliated organization. […]
“Kristina has been fighting for a more prosperous and compassionate Illinois for many years, which aligns completely with the governor’s point of view,” [Rauner spokeswoman Laurel Patrick] said. “She’s thrilled to be part of the team.”
Americans for Prosperity-Illinois (AFP-IL) today announced the roll out of its accountability effort targeting 16 state representatives who voted to override Governor Rauner’s veto of SB9, House Speaker Michael Madigan’s proposal to permanently increase the state income tax by 32 percent. AFP-IL consistently advocated against increasing income taxes throughout the legislative session and has called for a long-term property tax freeze instead. The accountability campaign includes targeted digital ads, direct mail, and grassroots activities.
“We’re disappointed Springfield failed to provide taxpayers relief from their crippling property tax burden yet voted to demand they forfeit more money to the state by permanently increasing their income tax bill by 32%. A bipartisan majority of residents from all over the state supported a long-term property tax freeze, yet lawmakers overrode Gov. Rauner’s veto and passed the permanent income tax hike to help fuel an unbalanced budget,” said AFP-IL State Director Andrew Nelms. “This massive tax increase will cost a taxpayer with a net income of $50,000 a year more than $600 annually. Hardworking Illinoisans are already overtaxed and we want to make sure struggling families know which politicians failed to relieve their property tax burden and instead made living in the Land of Lincoln even more unaffordable.”
* I don’t have the full target list, but here’s one of the mailers…
*** UPDATE 1 *** Here’s the target list…
Steven Andersson - 65th District
Daniel Beiser - 111th District
Deb Conroy - 46th District
Fred Crespo - 44th District
Mike Fortner - 49th District
Michael Halpin - 72nd District
David Harris - 53rd District
Stephanie Kifowit - 84th District
Natalie Manley - 98th District
Bill Mitchell - 101st District
Anna Moeller - 43rd District
Brandon Phelps - 118th District
Sue Scherer - 96th District
Carol Sente - 59th District
Michael Unes - 91st District
Kathleen Willis - 77th District
*** UPDATE 2 *** Pritzker campaign…
The Koch brothers launched new attacks on 16 state legislators who voted to override Bruce Rauner’s reckless budget veto. Americans for Prosperity-Illinois, the local dark money group funded by the Koch brothers, announced their new digital and direct mail campaign earlier today.
Two weeks ago to the day, Bruce Rauner suffered an embarrassing defeat after bipartisan members of the General Assembly successfully overrode his veto four times. In the weeks since, nearly two dozen members of Rauner’s staff were either fired or resigned in protest, as Rauner staffed up with new right-wing hires from the Koch network funded Illinois Policy Institute.
As Bruce Rauner prepares for an all-out war to force his special interest agenda on Illinois, it comes as no surprise that the Koch brothers would send in their attack dogs to do Rauner’s dirty work.
“Bruce Rauner and the Koch brothers are ready to punish anyone who isn’t fully committed to propping up their failing agenda,” said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. “After a mortifying public defeat, it’s clear that Rauner, his new team of radical right-wing staff, and the Koch network will continue working to create devastation across our state.”
One of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s new communications aides has argued that abortion is being used “to rid the world of disabled and other ‘unwanted’ persons” — comparing it to Nazi Germany. […]
Carl, a $45,000-a-year communications specialist was hired this week as part of sweeping changes within Rauner’s administration. Carl, who goes by Brittany Clingen Carl or Brittany Clingen in online articles, is listed as the editor and publisher of Reclaiming Feminism, a conservative blog. […]
“Certainly nothing matches the atrocity of the Holocaust, but it’s undeniable that abortion is being used to rid the world of disabled and other ‘unwanted’ persons — a fact the Left and their pro-abortion allies don’t want discussed,” Carl wrote.
Carl also wrote about parents aborting babies diagnosed with Down syndrome: “Attempting to rid the world of people with Down syndrome simply because they are different constitutes the dangerous and morally reprehensible practice of eugenics not entirely unlike what was practiced in . . . Nazi Germany.” […]
“Any of the writing Brittany did before she worked for the state reflect her personal opinion, not the opinion of the administration,” said Laurel Patrick, Rauner’s new communications director. “If you’re going to quote from her past writing, she asks that you please quote accurately and with full context.”
* That’s an interesting response. Here’s what that same spokesperson said about the one-day body man’s past tweets…
“These tweets are unacceptable,” said Laurel Patrick, an administration spokeswoman. “The individual in question is no longer an employee of our Administration.”
A Republican operative said Diana Rauner should be concerned. “I would like to know, the First Lady, who is a known pro-choice advocate, how she feels about this,” the operative, speaking on condition of anonymity, said. “Really she should be weighing in.”
Yep.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Terry Cosgrove at Personal PAC…
This is just further evidence as to what a complete fraud Governor Rauner and Diana Rauner truly are. They have spent tens of millions of dollars lying to Illinois voters about being pro-choice and moderate. Hiring racist, anti-Semitic, homophobic right-wing activists to run Illinois government puts them on a race to the bottom in competition with Donald Trump as to who can be the most destructive.
*** UPDATE 2 *** From Galia Slayen at the Pritzker campaign…
There is no context in which comparing abortion to Nazi eugenics is appropriate. As a Jewish woman, I find this statement disgusting and entirely indefensible. The Rauner administration’s refusal to condemn it shows that they are being taken over by radical ideologues, intent on furthering the Trump agenda of bigotry and hatred. It may serve his new staff well to take a tour of the Illinois Holocaust Museum.
*** UPDATE 3 *** From the Anti Defamation League…
Lonnie Nasatir, ADL Chicago-Upper Midwest Regional Director, states, “Any analogy comparing the Holocaust to the national debate over abortion is historically inaccurate, inappropriate and offensive especially to survivors and their families. We call upon Ms. Carl to retract her statement.”
*** UPDATE 4 *** Sen. Daniel Biss…
“The latest hire by the Governor reveals Rauner’s true colors; today, that’s attacking the rights of women and teachers. His actions in this moment will be determinative: either he supports this disgusting Trumpian dialogue, or he’ll fire members of his team who continue to use it.”
In a story posted on eagnews.org in May 2013, Carl wrote about a Stanford University professor and author who said teachers unions have created “insurmountable problems for effective schools” and should be stopped.
* From the Illinois Federation of Teachers’ spokesperson Aviva Bowen, who is also Jewish…
The Governor’s recent hires reflect the real Rauner, and it’s appalling.
Republican governors Charlie Baker of Massachusetts, John Kasich of Ohio and Brian Sandoval of Nevada last month sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., saying the plan would hurt their states. Arizona’s Republican Gov. Doug Ducey said last week the bill “needs a lot of work.”
At the nation’s meeting of governors this month in Providence, Rhode Island, Democratic governors spoke out as well. Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo said the bill would almost certainly cause job losses at her state’s hospitals and other health care facilities.
In March, Rauner said he was worried Illinois won’t do very well under a health care plan that later passed the U.S. House. But Rauner is far from the front lines in this battle, which has huge implications for our state. […]
We need to hear Rauner’s voice among those of governors who are passionately and publicly trying to protect their states.
Um, boy. Um, Craig [Dellimore], you know my comments. I’ve expressed my concern about the changes being proposed to the Affordable Care Act and their negative impact on our most vulnerable residents, both in the expanded Medicaid population in Illinois, it’s like about 650,000, as well as the many hundreds of thousands in the standard Medicaid program. I’m very concerned about it and I’ve expressed that these changes could be very damaging and I’ve said it publicly and I’ve expressed those concerns to various members of Congress as well as to the administration.
* The DGA was not amused…
While signing Charlie’s law [yesterday], Bruce Rauner was asked about his near complete silence on Republican efforts to pass Trumpcare. In response, Rauner claimed he spoke up about Medicaid provisions – “These changes can be very damaging and I’ve said it publicly, and I’ve expressed those concerns to Members of Congress, as well as to the Administration.”
To which there is only one proper follow-up – seriously?
Faced with the politically inconvenient prospect of speaking out forcefully about legislation coming from his own party, Bruce Rauner has literally hid from reporters’ questions on Trumpcare. Here’s a smattering of newspaper clips since the last time Rauner spoke about the efforts:
Crain’s Chicago’s Greg Hinz: “I’ve now tried for a good two months to get the Rauner folks to detail the economic impact to the budget of what’s being discussed. No answer. I’ve asked them if, like Walker, he’s open to some of those waivers on pre-existing conditions and other matters. No answer. I’ve asked them what the governor wants and doesn’t want in the legislation. No answer.”
Chicago Sun-Times: “The Senate bill is as mean-spirited as the House bill. Illinois would get hammered even harder. And Gov. Bruce Rauner is still AWOL.”
The LAST time Rauner spoke on Trumpcare, he mentioned that he would work with Governors while the bill moved into the Senate. Well, in the past few months, two letters from a bipartisan group of Governors were made public expressing their opposition the Senate’s actions on health care. Rauner’s name was not on those letters. And four letters were sent by Illinois’ Senators asking for guidance from Rauner. He responded to none.
And Rauner has not answered the easiest question of all – “Do you support the measure?”
“Bruce Rauner has totally and completely abdicated his responsibilities to the residents of Illinois by hiding during the Trumpcare debate,” said DGA Illinois Communications Director Sam Salustro. “While governors from both parties have spoken out against Trumpcare, Rauner’s been silent the whole time. Bruce Rauner’s failed leadership is putting the health and prosperity of middle-class families at risk to avoid taking a politically difficult position.”
…Adding… Pritzker campaign…
After Trumpcare appeared all but dead yesterday, Bruce Rauner decided it was finally time to show “leadership” and comment on the bill. In response, JB Pritzker released the following statement:
“While Republican and Democratic governors have joined forces to fight against Trumpcare, Bruce Rauner has cowardly sat on the sidelines and left the healthcare of millions of Illinoisans unprotected,” said JB Pritzker. “For Rauner to speak out now is an insult to Illinois families and community leaders across the state who have worked tirelessly to oppose this bill, which would have a detrimental impact on our state. Rauner’s ‘concerns’ are too little much too late and evidence of a politician who cares more about playing politics than governing. This isn’t leadership, this is cowardice.”
* Remember on Monday when Gov. Rauner said school superintendents were scared of the “tyrant” Speaker Madigan and that’s why they were supporting SB 1? These superintendents don’t sound all that scared…
Superintendents from across the state, along with dozens of teachers, students, and parents, gathered at Brighton North Elementary School to show their strong support for SB 1. Many superintendents said the state already owes them money from previous years, resulting in program and personnel cuts and job losses.
“If the state of Illinois delays or quits sending our general state aid, I don’t think people realize that our district, Bethalto Unit 8, could not stay open for more than one month if general state aid would stop flowing,” said Dr. Jill Griffin, Bethalto School District Superintendent.
Mark Skertich, superintendent of the Southwestern Illinois School District, which includes Bethalto public schools, said his district would be forced to make more deep cuts if SB-1 isn’t signed into law soon.
“We believe all children should receive an adequate and equitable education and we expect a new funding formula does not include winners and losers. Senate Bill 1 is the only bill poised to become law and advocates for call children,” Skertich said.
Meanwhile, Superintendent Mike Gauch from Harrisburg Unit 3 said he worked on SB1 for years and supports it, even with extra money for teacher pensions in Chicago.
“When SB1 was created, the thought was that all school children in Illinois would be created equal and be treated equally across the board,” said Gauch. “And one of those things that was brought up was the fact that all schools in Illinois get state funding to pay pensions and Chicago is not one of those schools.”
And superintendent Gauch has lots of company supporting SB1.
“Should they not accomplish their work to fund schools, it would be a sad day for our state that our governor and general assembly would hold our kids hostage,” said Superintendent Keith Oates from Marion Unit 2
Lake County school superintendents hope a new state funding formula will promise more equity among all school districts, regardless of their zip code.
“No district loses money, I can tell you from my districts prospective in particular it was important for us to make sure there was no Robin Hood scenario going on,” said Brian Harris, superintendent of Barrington 220 School District.
On Monday, Harris stood with superintendents from poorer school districts urging Gov. Rauner to sign SB 1, a bill that changes the funding formula to an evidence-based system which means lower-income districts, who don’t have a strong property base, will no longer be short changed.
“We need a funding formula,” Quincy Superintendent Roy Webb said. “It’s too critical for schools not to have any funding. The money’s been allocated, and with the new income tax, the money is there for schools, so it would be a shame if they didn’t do something.”
Pikeland School District Superintendent Paula Hawley agreed.
“The bottom line is, we need some way to get this funding to the schools as soon as possible,” Hawley said. “We need to have general state aid coming in in a timely manner starting in August, when it’s supposed to. Senate Bill 1 is the best way to get it to us right now. They have to figure out the politics in Chicago, but don’t penalize us in the meantime.”
Connie Collins, superintendent of Round Lake Area School District 116, said it is urgent the governor signs the bill so districts could have the certainty to open their doors in time for the start of school next month. About 82.5 percent of District 116 students are from low-income families.
* But Cary Grade School District 26 Board President Scott Coffey is not a fan…
Its easy to forecast that we’ll end up in exactly the same place as was projected under the original SB-1, with suburban districts as the “Losers” and low-income/downstate districts as the winners.
“I don’t care what J.B. (Pritzker) spends,” said Daley, referring to the rival who insiders say is prepared to spend $70 million to win the primary, and then a multiple of that against GOP incumbent Bruce Rauner. “What Chris needs to be competitive is $8 million to $10 million. That’s enough to get out the message.” […]
Figures released yesterday for the quarter ended June 30 indicate Kennedy raised just $704,000. That’s less than not only Pritzker, who donated $14 million to himself, but also Evanston state Sen. Daniel Biss, who topped the million-dollar mark. Worse, Kennedy spent all but about $50,000 of it, leaving him with less than $1 million in the bank, ahead of the prime campaign season that opens after Labor Day.
“It was a bad quarter, no question about it,” Daley told me. “There was a lot of political outreach. (But) there wasn’t even a finance committee, just a committee of stakeholders.”
Fixing that is the first thing on his agenda, Daley said. A full finance committee is being assembled (Daley declined to disclose any names), with an initial meeting set for next week. Lists of fundraising targets will be assembled, and regular calls and contacts made, he continued. Some of that will involve the candidate himself. “Chris has to spend more time on it.”
I don’t think he even needs $8-10 million. But he’s not on pace to have a few mil in the bank come January
The lack of fundraising success by a member of the Kennedy family with a huge number of wealthy contacts who proved his worth on cold calls early in his career is, by far, the biggest surprise of his entire campaign. He needs to get on those phones and stay on them. And raising a thousand bucks a pop from Hollywood stars including Larry David is ridiculously low. They blow that on lunch. Take ‘em for more.
There’s a definite side benefit to Kennedy spending lots more time on the phone raising cash. He’ll have fewer opportunities to alienate women and their babies. From a friend today…
I’ve been joking for a while that the Kennedy campaign would be better off if the whole campaign including the candidate went to Europe until after the primary and I think I’ve reached the point where it’s not really a joke anymore.
Maybe he could make those calls from Paris.
* Also, one clarification on the second quarter report from yesterday. Kennedy’s nearly 100 percent burn rate wasn’t as high as it appeared because he deferred a bunch of spending from the first quarter. Still, it wasn’t great by any measure.
* Chris Kennedy spoke at the Mom+Baby governors candidate meet and greet yesterday. I didn’t see anything on his Twitter page about it, but I’m told about 30 moms and 10 kids had to wait at least half an hour for him to arrive. And it went downhill from there. From a few text messages that were forwarded to me…
He was a hot mess. Shirt barely tucked in. He had on biking shoes. He spoke about Trump the entire time. Crazy!
It was embarrassing. He misquoted stats that our members corrected him on. He got called out on lack of supporting single payer and marijuana legalization
He also starting talking education inequity and misspoke on the cps funding. It was nuts.
Now while we had this ridiculous budget fight for the last two years, I said, well if you guys can’t make the cuts necessary to balance the budget and all you guys want to do is raise taxes, I’m not going to support a tax hike, get some reforms that help on workers’ comp and business regulations. But if you’re going to waste a lot of time fighting about that and at minimum, let’s get a capital bill done, let’s do that before all this other stuff. I advocated that two years ago, I advocated that last year. They said no. They didn’t want to do that. They were holding, frankly, holding you guys hostage. Just like they held our schools hostage and our universities and our human services hostage. And it makes me, I won’t use the language I normally use because there’s a camera here, but it makes me very frustrated. It’s ridiculous.
For two years, our universities and our community colleges were held hostage. Our social services were held hostage. And our government agencies and our government workers and our transportation investments were held hostage. This was wrong. And the tragedy is that not only did they jam through a massive tax hike, permanent tax hike, which I was adamantly opposed to, they did it through extorting the pressure. But they didn’t even produce a balanced budget as a result. They cut no wasteful spending. None. And we’re still, we’re still out of balance. And they didn’t allocate any money to pay down debt. None.
And they cut investment in our IT systems, ’cause I was using our IT investments to drive down the cost of government by holding these agencies accountable for productivity and measure results. But they don’t want to measure results. That can actually cut costs, they don’t want that. They don’t want their buddies inside the government to be under pressure to perform and provide you better value for your taxes.
On Monday, Bruce Rauner traveled the state and made empty promises to school administrators, parents, and students. With a taxpayer-funded camera crew in tow, Rauner told the media that his version of the school funding formula would send more money to every school district in the state, except for one, of course.
There’s a problem with Rauner’s statement though. Just two weeks ago, Rauner vetoed a state budget that appropriated funds to our K-12 education system. So, Rauner’s school funding would have looked more like this:
Vetoing the budget means Rauner provided exactly zero dollars to schools across the state.
“Bruce Rauner’s arguments are a sham designed to distract from the fact that he vetoed legislation to fund our schools and continues to hold Illinois children and families hostage,” said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. “Instead of lurching to his next crisis with his new radical and amateur crew in tow, Rauner should sign SB 1 and finally give Illinois families the stability they deserve.”
* Gov. Rauner will be in Rep. Sam Yingling’s district to tour flood damage this afternoon at 2 o’clock. Rauner’s office reportedly reached out to Rep. Yingling last night about the visit, about three hours after Yingling’s Tribune op-ed was posted online…
Bruce Rauner doesn’t care. That’s the conclusion I came to after witnessing the governor’s inadequate response to the historic flooding in my district.
It’s been clear that he doesn’t care about the well-being of my constituents since he took office in 2015. One of his first moves as governor of Illinois was to attempt to reduce almost half of the tax dollars that local governments receive for things like public safety and public works. Without that investment from the state, local governments must choose to eliminate services like emergency services or increase local property taxes — something many residents in Lake County, where we pay the seventh highest property tax rates in the country, can’t afford.
Then, after 2 1/2 years of failing to work cooperatively across party lines, Rauner vetoed a bipartisan state budget that provides funding for higher education, social services and, relevant to our current situation, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency — the agency responsible for preparing Illinois for natural disasters.
It should have been of no surprise when the governor failed to lead when Illinois residents needed him during the first days of record flooding along the Fox and Des Plaines rivers and the Chain O’ Lakes system.
How much do you wanna bet that Rauner calls on Yingling to vote against the override of SB 1 while he’s there?
* Anyway, back to the topic at hand. A reminder from last week…
Rauner defended his decision not to send the National Guard to help with flooding in Lake County. He told reporters Friday the local agencies are very prepared to handle flooding situations and hadn’t asked the state for help
Um, actually, they did ask for a state of emergency declaration, which Rauner didn’t issue until late Friday. He also waited until late Friday to activate the State Emergency Operations Center, which is usually kicked into gear a lot faster than that. Visits are important, but actions are more.
* But, again, back to the point I wanted to make. Rauner also said Friday that Wisconsin’s local governments were overwhelmed by the flooding, unlike Lake County. And he offered praise to the great local first responders.
OK, but the governor has also repeatedly complained about Lake County’s high property taxes, which fund that supposedly excellent preparedness and response.
Monique Davis (center), the longtime 27th District state representative from Morgan Park who retired last December, was honored at a bon-voyage party at Mr. G’s Supper Club on June 16 on the occasion of her retirement. Among the well-wishers at the celebration were Christy Hunter (from left), Shirley Madigan, Speaker of the House Michael Madigan and Clayton Starks. Davis began her tenure in January 1987, and she retired on Dec. 30, 2016, after 29 years of service. Justin Slaughter, 36, was sworn in as the new state representative on Jan. 5.
* The last press release I received from the Illinois Republican Party on state issues was July 7th, the Friday before the Monday Rauner purge began…
On Monday, the Chicago Machine tipped its hand on SB1.
After months claiming that SB1 was about fixing the school funding formula, Chicago Public Schools started making the unsubstantiated argument that an amendatory veto of the bill to remove the Chicago bailout would change the “fundamental purpose” of the legislation.
It’s a clear admission by the Chicago Machine that the “fundamental purpose” of SB1 is a Chicago pension bailout, and not school funding reform.
It’s time Madigan Democrats in the General Assembly either send SB1 to Governor Rauner for an amendatory veto to remove the Chicago bailout, or pass true bipartisan school funding reform that excludes a multi-hundred million dollar bailout of Chicago at the expense of schools across the state.
Otherwise, this is just another case of Mike Madigan and his machine holding Illinois hostage for his Chicago agenda.
*** UPDATE *** From Do Your Job, Inc…
On Monday, Governor Bruce Rauner tipped his hand on SB1.
After claiming in his State of the State address that “we have the largest gap between funding for high income schools and low income schools in the country, both across the state and within the city of Chicago”, Governor Rauner tweeted that SB1 “helps public schools in IL get equitable and adequate funding.”
It’s a clear admission by a man elected to govern that he’s willing to veto a bill he overwhelmingly supports for political reasons and not because it doesn’t overhaul our school funding formula for the better.
It’s time for Governor Rauner to do his job and sign SB1.
Otherwise, this is just another case of Governor Rauner holding Illinois hostage for his extreme agenda.
Rasmussen signed on for an annual salary of $170,000. Tax filings from the nonprofit Illinois Policy Institute show Rasmussen’s salary was less than $160,000 in 2014. In the same year, she collected over $30,000 in “other compensation” from the Policy Institute and related organizations.
According to a former Rauner staffer, Diana Rickert, another IPI recruit, will earn $15,000 more than her predecessors. State records show former Communications Director Brad Hahn and former Deputy Chief of Staff Lance Trover each earned an annual salary of $150,000.
In a 2016 op-ed for the Chicago Tribune, Rickert wrote, “When public-sector unions demand excessive salaries and benefits, politicians just say yes and pass on the bill to taxpayers.”
A press release from the Illinois Policy Institute published in the same month complained that “at $67,836, Illinois lawmakers have the highest base salary in the Midwest and the fifth-highest base salary for legislators in the nation.”
* And Rasmussen not long ago advocated for the elimination of the Dunn Fellowship program with this interesting logic…
Still, fans of the program say it is worth it because you’re getting about $80,000 of work out of a $30,000 worker. But Rasmussen says even that doesn’t add up.
“If you’ve got someone making $80,000 and you’ve got an equally talented person who’s willing to take that job for $30,000 it means that you’re paying folks too much,” she said.
The ACLU accuses a juvenile detention facility in southern Illinois of improperly and unnecessarily seeking prosecutions of several dozen detainees.
The civil liberties group made the allegation about the Illinois Youth Center in Harrisburg in a filing in an ongoing federal lawsuit in Chicago. It blames center staff disgruntled about court-approved limits on how long juveniles can spend in solitary confinement.
* Press release…
The John Howard Association (JHA) is deeply troubled by reports of youth at Illinois Youth Center Harrisburg being prosecuted on new charges based on reckless, minor misconduct, such as pushing, shoving or grabbing that results in no injury or only superficial injuries, behavior that up until recently, would be handled internally by facility staff through the use of the facilities’ disciplinary system.
Over 40 charges have been brought against youth in custody at IYC Harrisburg in a 14-month period, January 2016 through March of 2017. These charges were filed based on staff members who work at IYC Harrisburg individually going to local law enforcement and bringing formal complaints as victims and complaining witnesses. Illustrative of this disturbing trend, is the case of a young man who was charged and convicted for spitting on a staff person at IYC Harrisburg and received a sentence of six years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). This kind of excessive punishment is ruinous for young lives. It also defies basic notions of proportionality, fair treatment, justice and DJJ’s stated mission and goal of rehabilitating youth in its custody.
If staff at Harrisburg feel unsafe and that the facility is dysfunctional such that they feel they must involve outside law enforcement and prosecutors, these are serious issues and worthy of attention. However, these issues should be addressed by DJJ, not the Saline County courts.
Youth lives must not be sacrificed to political gamesmanship and staff concerns must be addressed. Safety and security of staff and youth inside the facility is paramount, and can be achieved short of draconian punishments and responses. DJJ must find a way to achieve this in a fair, humane, and just way.
ACLU Director of Communications and Public Policy Ed Yohnka said furthermore “these events which should be prosecuted as internal disciplinary matters are being handled in courts with adult charges attached.”
The lawsuit said this is a “deliberate and concerted attack” upon the DJJ disciplinary structure put in place by a 2012 Consent Decree and remedial plan.
As part of that agreement with DJJ, U.S. District Court Judge Matthew F. Kennelly approved an end to lengthy, isolated confinement as part of punishment.
When the threat of solitary confinement was removed, the lawsuit alleges that certain DJJ staff at IYC Harrisburg created their own, alternative “correctional” system, engineering a steady stream of youth prosecutions for “staff assaults.”
ACLU lawyer Lindsay Miller calls Saline County State’s Attorney Jason Clark “out of control” for bringing the charges, and claims IYC staff manipulated him into filing the charges.
Illinois Juvenile Justice spokesman Mike Theodore says the department takes all reports of assaults seriously and carefully considers whether to use internal discipline or refer the incident to a prosecutor.
He also says staff can seek prosecution as “private citizens”. […]
ACLU Lawyer Camille Bennett says that center staff are taking the juvenile’s futures into their own hands
“The staff who were going over to the Saline County state’s attorney and the Saline County state’s attorney are saying we don’t think these kids have a chance, so we’re not going to give them a chance,” she said in a phone call with News 3.
The legal filing is here (scroll to the bottom of the page).
A group that ran ads during the late stages of Illinois’ budget impasse is going back on TV for three days to urge Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner to support a Democratic plan to pay for the state’s public schools.
The group is Do Your Job Inc., which is led by state Sen. Michael Hastings, D-Tinley Park; state Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie; and Illinois AFL-CIO President Michael T. Carrigan.
A significant problem remains with the budget plan enacted by lawmakers earlier this month over Rauner’s veto — namely a new method to distribute state public school funding. Without approval of a new funding formula, schools don’t get any state money. Democrats have passed legislation to change the distribution method, but it gives more money to Chicago Public Schools than a Republican alternative.
Democrats have withheld sending the bill to Rauner because he has vowed to use his veto powers to rewrite it, contending the money for CPS is a “bailout.” That ratchets up pressure as the opening date for schools gets nearer. […]
The tax-exempt group said it has purchased $118,000 of TV time on broadcast and cable markets across the state to air the ad from Wednesday through Friday evening.
90 percent. That’s how much of the school funding bill that Gov. Rauner agrees with. So why in the world would he threaten to veto it?
Because Rauner won’t budge on his extreme agenda. He digs in, no matter the cost.
Republicans and Democrats had to go over his head to fix Rauner’s budget crisis. And now, he’s after our schools. Without the money, some won’t reopen this fall. Other schools may close their doors by Thanksgiving.
The Illinois Road & Transportation Builders Association (IRTBA) is pleased and honored that Governor Bruce Rauner gave the keynote presentation at today’s Planning & Design Conference. […]
Governor Rauner addressed this year’s conference theme, “Project Delivery Innovations,” along with a panel of presenters who explored a variety of project delivery methods and included profiles of national, state, and local projects that showcased project delivery alternatives and private investment opportunities.
“There’s going to be a lot of transportation related technology - autonomous vehicles and drones. Given where we are in the country, the ability to do innovative partnerships with tech companies, and doing these transportation related innovations, bring them here […] I think there’s a big opportunity,” Governor Rauner said in his speech.
Rauner concluded his presentation to the transportation industry stating, “The next few months are going to be critical. I really think we can get a capital bill done without having to drag 18 months. We’ve got the road fund money. We’ve stopped the diversions that have been going on throughout the state. Let’s use the money to get it into infrastructure and get these projects moving.”
A capital bill in the next few months? Has anyone shown him the legislative calendar lately? Not to mention that he just vetoed a budget which had some capital projects.
…Adding… Very good point from the Bond Buyer’s reporter…
perhaps more thought should go into avoiding a Moody's cut to junk that's gonna make a new capital bill all the more expensive….. https://t.co/p9POKe64Mj
* The governor also said told the road builders this today…
And we just need to get our friends and get our neighbors and our allies to stand up together and message on this issue. Workers’ comp, the I-55 lane — everything we’re fighting for is a win for the people of Illinois, and we’ve got to message that together.
As an acquaintance asked me today, who talks like that?
* I checked in with Dan Kovats at the Illinois Democratic County Chairmen’s Association. Here’s his response…
Representative Drury has only contacted the IDCCA once since he announced his candidacy for Governor and that was to ask to speak at our event. IDCCA President Doug House did speak with him last night and President House attempted to contact him again this morning. Representative Drury has not returned President House’s call. If he had returned his call he would have already found out that we will offer him a slot to speak at our Chairmen’s Brunch.
Now Representative Drury puts out a press release calling the IDCCA a machine. That couldn’t be further from the truth and if Representative Drury had been in touch with the IDCCA he would know his statement is ridiculous.
I followed up with Kovats and he explained that the first time Drury called the group was to ask about the event last night. The IDCCA had already set its program, so he was turned down. But then House decided to change his mind this morning and Drury hasn’t called him back.
The annual brunch is traditionally held the morning of the Illinois State Fair’s Democrat Day.
…Adding… Here is Drury’s press release from earlier today…
Illinois Democratic Party bosses are refusing to allow Democratic Candidate for Governor Scott Drury to speak at a major gathering of Democrats in August, prompting Drury to refer to the primary process as “rigged.” “The decision to ban a Democrat from speaking to Democrats is a symptom of an out-of-touch Democratic Party more interested in preserving its leaders’ power than building the party of the future,” said Drury. “If we are to beat Bruce Rauner, the Democratic Party must embrace fresh ideas, not suppress them.”
Drury is a three-time elected Democratic State Representative, and the only Democrat in thirty years who did not vote for Michael J. Madigan to be the Speaker of the House. According to Drury’s campaign, Drury was informed yesterday that he has been barred from speaking at the Illinois Democratic County Chairmen’s Association’s Annual Chairmen’s Brunch, which takes place the morning of Democrat Day at the Illinois State Fair. Drury was not provided any explanation for the decision and was told the decision is not appealable.
“To the extent there was any doubt that party bosses only want candidates who have kissed their rings and professed loyalty to them, our exclusion from this event puts that to rest,” said Drury. “Any candidate who appears at this event should wear a big sign stating ‘Approved by the Machine,’” said Drury.
Drury’s campaign is pleased that the strength and grassroots appeal of his message is so strong that entrenched politicians are scrambling to try to stop it. “Our message of honest change and returning ownership of Illinois government to the public has clearly scared those whose existence is dependent on the status quo,” said Tony Coppola, Drury’s campaign manager. “Scott is the only candidate in the race with a record of successfully taking on the machine to solve Illinois’ biggest problems and with a plan to restore Illinois to fiscal health so we can return hope and opportunity to every community in the state. Scott’s message will not be impeded by decisions made in a smoke-filled backroom.”
Before running for office, Drury was a federal prosecutor who fought on the front lines of Illinois’ battle against public corruption and gun violence. As a State Representative, Drury has been committed to rebuilding Illinois’ economy through responsible fiscal and ethical reforms. Drury has also led the charge to reform Illinois’ broken criminal justice system and worked successfully to keep our communities safe by defeating the NRA’s attempt to allow assault weapons in every community throughout the state.
Someone’s got a sense of humor about Republicans helping to override Governor Rauner’s budget veto last week. An anonymous person has set up a Facebook page identifying himself as the “Angry Illinoisan.”
One of Angry Illinoisan’s creations is an adaptation of a “Back to the Future” clip. It features Governor Rauner, some of the ten Republicans that betrayed the governor with State Rep. Steve Andersson at the wheel, and several Republican onlookers that chose to stay firm and reject Mike Madigan’s budget.
One example is a Rauner campaign video, complete with sad piano music and distributed on social media last week, that featured CARLA BLANCHARD, a CPA of Lindenhurst. She spoke of how property taxes are “going up every year” and, “A lot of people are actually moving out of the area instead of sticking around here just to get away from the high property taxes.”
Lake County records show that the tax bill for the Blanchard home, valued at $362,838 in 2016, did go from $15,694 in 2015 to $16,423 in 2016. That is a 4.6 percent increase. But the tax rate actually dropped from 14.67 percent in 2015 to 14.28 percent in 2016. The assessed value of the home was increased from $112,960 to $120,946 over that year. […]
Another campaign video shows BILL LANDWEHR of Grayslake, who says he moved from Northbrook but may put his house on the market. […]
As in the other Lake County example, the tax rate from 2015 to 2016 actually went down, in Landwehr’s case to 14.53 from 15.63. His tax bill increased 6 percent, from $12,078 to $12,803. But that’s because his assessment went up nearly 9.5 percent, from $88,245 to $96,593. Landwehr also couldn’t be reached.
* The property tax issue is very difficult. People, up to and including myself, just don’t understand the system, which is part of the problem with the system we have. But I’ve actually heard people claim that Rauner’s freeze would put Speaker Madigan’s law firm out of business because nobody’s assessed valuations would rise. Um, no.
It’s one thing for John Q. Public to believe in a fantasy, but it’s quite another for the governor to use his office to promote those very same fantasies as fact.
* The rumor mill kicked up hard after McCann filed an A-1 late last night showing he’d raised about $68K from unions in the past few days, including almost $54K from the IEA’s committee.
State Sen McCann on challenging Rauner in GOP Primary: "I am considering it. I have not made a decision." #IlGov18
Democratic candidate for Illinois governor Daniel Biss released his second quarter fundraising results today, reporting more than $1.015 million in receipts and more than $2.3 million cash on hand.
The total represents more in funds raised and cash on hand than the entire Democratic field of candidates who are raising money for their campaigns combined.
In response, Biss Campaign Manager Abby Witt released the following statement:
“Some may be surprised that we’re competitive with established brand name candidates, but our fundraising totals confirm what we already know: People looking for an alternative to J.B. Pritzker—and wary of a strategy that tries to out-Rauner Bruce Rauner—are looking to Daniel Biss.
“With each new small-dollar donation and each volunteer hour, we’re showing that people are building a movement powerful enough to take on the billionaires and the political machine.”
About half of Biss’ money, $501K, came from contributions of $10,000 or higher. And $350K of that was from contributions of $50K or more, about 35 percent of his total.
Another $291K came from contributions of between $1,000 and $9,999. Another $56K came from contris of $500 to $999.
That all comes to about $847K, which is about 84 percent of his total reported.
But, are “small-dollar: contributions defined as under $500? To some, yes. To others, $500 or even $100 is a lot of money. So, add in the $100-499 contributions and you get another $74K.
By the way, Biss’ report also shows that he raised almost $307K from political action committees, about 30 percent of his total.
Biss listed $88K in unitemized receipts and 161 contributions ranging from $1.50 to $99 that came to just under $5K in contributions. That totals $93K, or about 9 percent of the total he reported raising.
Count $100 contributions and less as small donors (about $16K from 271 contributions), add in unitemized receipts and you come up with $104K, or about 10 percent of the total raised.
* What Biss is doing is putting together a relatively strong campaign finance operation with a pretty good but still not quite there yet small-dollar component. So, this idea that he’s got a “movement” going on doesn’t really hold up because his report would look a whole lot different if he did.
Now, building a “movement” can take time, so maybe this will change. Right now, it’s mainly spin.
With Rauner’s [school funding reform] amendment, Rockford would receive $4.5 million more than it would under SB 1, he said during his Galapagos visit. He rattled off several other dollar figures as well — $1.1 million more for Rock Island, $900,000 more for Moline, $4.3 million more for Waukegan, $3 million more for Cicero and $1.8 million more for Round Lake.
The governor says the Democrats’ plan gives too much to Chicago at the expense of other districts. His office posted a comparison chart online, but the numbers don’t match official spreadsheets published by the state board of education.
Rauner’s comparison chart is here. The ISBE spreadsheets are here. It’s unclear at this point how Rauner arrived at his conclusions about what his proposal would do for local communities. Usually, the State Board of Education does this work, but his plan isn’t on the ISBE site.
The SB 1 number accounts for CPS’ tier funding and FY18 new pension pick-up, and the Governor’s plan number accounts for CPS’ tier funding, FY18 new pension pick-up, and net result of Chicago Block Grant elimination.
Notice that the pension pick-up is in his plan and the block grant is being eliminated. But this is what the governor said yesterday…
“Unfortunately, Democrats want to turn this historic opportunity into a bailout for the CPS pension system. The point of this school reform bill is to help low income students across the state, including those in Chicago, get the education they deserve – not to bailout CPS’s mismanaged teacher pension system.”
At issue is the way the bill factors CPS’ finances into what would become the new statewide funding formula. SB 1 eliminates the Chicago block grant, which automatically appropriates specific funding to CPS each year, but takes that $203 million into account – plus the district’s $221 million in employer pension contributions – when calculating the district’s baseline funding minimum.
That, plus the $505.8 million reduction in the bill’s assessment of Chicago’s local fundraising capabilities based on its unfunded pension liability, is what Rauner said led to his decision to issue an amendatory veto.
Meanwhile in budgets it’ll present to principals later this week, CPS is assuming that the funding contained in SB1 will come through. It’s the third year in a row the broke district is banking on money not yet in hand, but officials said the alternative was to send devastating budgets to schools without the extra $300 million.
* But will there be enough votes to override? Rep. David Harris was one of the Republicans who voted to override the governor’s budget vetoes. He was on Chicago Tonight yesterday and it sounded like he wasn’t yet on board to override the governor this time around…
#Illinois#education funding discussion now on @wttw. Votes to override Gov? Trotter says yes in Senate, D. Harris says doubts it in House
With questions swirling around his record as Cook County assessor, Joseph Berrios will take the unprecedented step Tuesday of defending his office before the Cook County Board after a Chicago Tribune investigation exposed widespread inequities in the county’s property tax system.
Published in June, “The Tax Divide” showed the assessor’s office overvalued low-priced homes while undervaluing high-priced ones. These disparities in assessments — known as regressivity — led to inequities in property tax bills, giving the wealthy unsanctioned tax breaks while penalizing low-income residents.
In the weeks since, mounting pressure has put the assessor on the defensive. The county’s independent inspector general opened an investigation; lawmakers at the state and local levels proposed legislation to limit the assessor’s ability to raise campaign contributions from tax attorneys; and a bill has been introduced in the General Assembly that would require greater transparency.
Among the questions Berrios is likely to face at Tuesday’s hearing: Why did his office tout and then quietly abandon a new residential valuation model funded by the MacArthur Foundation designed to reduce regressivity?
* From a letter sent to the Cook County Board by County Clerk David Orr…
I am very concerned that the problems with the assessment process have not been corrected. In 2015, Assessor Berrios, while announcing a new assessment model, stated that the assessment system was regressive. Regressivity hurts low and middle income residents the most—putting them on the hook for a larger property tax bill than they should be paying. We have now learned that the new model, which was created to address regressivity, was never—or only partially—implemented.
The Cook County Clerk’s Office is an integral part of the property tax system and we rely on accurate and fair assessments from the County Assessor’s Office to determine property tax rates.
I am aware that Assessor Berrios and President Preckwinkle are looking for experts to bring solutions and transparency to the assessment process. Still, two question must be asked: (1) why is the Assessor’s Office not using the model that, in 2015, they publicly touted would significantly alleviate this problem and, (2) what assessment model is the office currently using?
Three substantive studies have already been conducted: a 2011 study by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy; a University of Chicago analysis commissioned by the Assessor in 2014 and funded by the MacArthur Foundation; and the Chicago Tribune investigation. Clearly, there is a crisis to solve and we must begin—as you are today—by speaking with the experts that have already spent countless hours studying the assessment process and developing stronger models.
If the choice is to move forward with an expert to offer solutions to the assessment system, then the selection process cannot be conducted behind closed doors. My office, and the other Cook County offices that administer the property tax system, must be involved. We need all hands on deck to assure the public that the property tax system is fair and transparent. Finally, any study of the crisis we face must be conducted with all deliberate speed.
The assessment process is complex. However, there has been a lack of transparency from the Assessor’s Office. The public cannot afford any delay in implementing real solutions.
*** UPDATE *** Chris Kennedy…
Joe Berrios today tried to defend the rigged property tax system in Illinois. All today’s testimony speaks to is the need to overhaul a property tax system that discriminates, preys on our most vulnerable communities and leads to inequities in access to education.
While reputable academic institutions are laying out concrete evidence about the broken system, elected officials are keeping quiet about the need to implement policy changes for fear of not getting political insider support for their next election. I have laid out real reforms that need to be adopted, including banning elected officials from serving as property tax attorneys and ending campaign contributions from property tax lawyers to the assessors’ office.
* “Radical Candor,” which appears to be run by former Rauner staffers, was the first to expose the tweets of the governor’s new “body man” yesterday. It’s also been a sharp critic of the rest of the new Rauner staff…
Psst - I'm not sure if anyone in the digital team is left to read this, but that tweet reads like the Gov is gonna sign SB1 not veto it. https://t.co/zeb2Fc5xSm
* But this has only just begun. Here’s Wordslinger in comments earlier today…
The way this mass purge is going down is shockingly stupid.
It’s bound to create vengeful enemies out of trusted loyalists — who have stories to tell.
Yep. Lots of bodies were quietly buried over the past two and a half years and I expect maps to those corpses will be distributed soon. Actually, between us, that’s already happening.
* After Rep. Chad Hays announced his retirement, former Rep. Bill Black said he might run for the seat. Instead, he’s endorsing a different candidate in the race. From a press release…
Vermilion County Board Chairman Mike Marron announced his intent to run for State Representative in the 104th District as the Republican nominee. Marron was introduced by former State Representative Bill Black who will serve as the Campaign Committee Chairman. “I will give my full support to a young, energetic, and creative man, Mike Marron. He will bring new ideas and new eyes to the General Assembly” said Black, who represented the 104th District from 1986 to 2011. In his announcement, Mike Marron stressed a focus on righting the State’s fiscal ship, business climate, agriculture and transportation issues, and education. The 104th District covers parts of Champaign and Vermilion County.
Mike Marron has served as the Vermilion County Board Chairman for the past two terms. He is responsible for managing and administering the daily operations of Vermilion County and overseeing the $40 million dollar budget. Prior to that, Marron served as Vice-Chairman of the Vermilion County Board.
Marron is a strong advocate for the agriculture industy. For the past 17 years, he has helped manage and operate Marron Family Farms with his father. He also served on the IL Dept.of Agriculture Transition Committee. Marron has worked extensively with the Illinois Soybean Association serving as the Vice-Chairman from 2013-2015. He has been instrumental in coordinating and attending trade missions to Ghana, Haiti, Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, and China.
Mike Marron completed his degree from Murray State University with a BA in Agriculture Economics 1999. Marron is a fifth-generation Fithian native. He and his wife – Brandy, a genetic researcher specialist at the University of Illinois – have one daughter.
Maybe Bill can train this guy to properly throw a rules book. Then again, they probably don’t have rules in book form these days and throwing a legislative laptop can get expensive.
Fear is the operative emotion in the governor’s office, which has essentially been taken over by a conservative think tank, according to remaining staffers. The resignations on the administration’s policy, digital and communications team, were a way to protest the new ideology, sources said. […]
While many are still scratching their heads over the takeover, a source with close knowledge of the governor’s administration said the uproar was sparked by Rauner’s and his wife’s “unhealthy obsession with media and messaging” and discussions the couple had at “North Shore cocktail parties.”
“They had conversations with people at these parties who said ‘I had no idea you were doing this.’ It would blow up the whole week’s plans,” the source said.
Speaking of the state’s first lady, the source said: “I think her footprint on decision making, on his decision making, is larger than most believe.”
The source, too, said the Illinois Policy Institute’s current CEO John Tillman “clearly has the ultimate influence [on the governor] at this point.”
Chris Kennedy’s campaign for governor announced today that it continues to gain momentum from supporters throughout Illinois, having received nearly 6,000 contributions totaling about $1.79 million since the campaign launched earlier this year, with more than $700,000 of that coming in the second fundraising quarter.
The announcement comes on the same day that the campaign named Bill Daley as campaign finance chairman. Daley, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce under President Bill Clinton, served more recently as Chief of Staff to President Barack Obama.
“Illinois residents’ votes aren’t for sale. They won’t replace one billionaire for another. That’s why thousands of Illinois residents contributed to Chris Kennedy’s campaign,” Daley said. “Chris is the only candidate ready to bring fundamental change to Springfield and restore the promise of the American Dream to Illinois families. The latest poll numbers, coupled with the fundraising progress to date from across the state, proves that Chris has the support to do just that.”
The poll, released last week, shows that without spending any money on advertisements, Kennedy leads the race by 6 points at 44 percent.
* The campaign filed its report on paper last night because it had some software issues. The filing shows he raised $704K and spent $652K, a very high burn rate. Chris appears to be the only Kennedy family member who has trouble raising money.
He sure knows how to spend it, though. Compare his money raised and money spent to Daniel Biss, for instance…
Biss for Illinois 06/30/17 Raised: $1,013,798.87 Spent: $265,709.77 CoH: $2,340,170.17https://t.co/AYqZBjSKK7
* I have some questions about Morning Consult’s polling methodology, but their latest round found that Bruce Rauner is the 7th most unpopular governor in the nation…
Bruce Rauner (R-Ill.) and Gina Raimondo (D-R.I.), two governors facing difficult paths to re-election next year, are also among the most unpopular governors… Illinoisans also soured further on Rauner amid his latest budget wrangling with Democratic state lawmakers, and 49 percent of registered voters in the state disapprove of the businessman who ran as a disruptor of the status quo in 2014.
40 percent approved, 11 percent were undecided, according to the poll.
Gov. Bruce Rauner’s “body man” — a hand-picked assistant chosen to travel with the governor on a daily basis — was fired Monday on his first day of the job after a series of homophobic and racially insensitive comments were found on his Twitter page.
The exit is one of at least 20 since last week — when Rauner began a rash of firings, with others resigning in protest.
Ben Tracy was chosen by the administration to replace Kyle Haevers as the governor’s “body man.” Haevers on Sunday was told his services were no longer needed but that he could choose to work for another state department.
A “body man” serves as the governor’s assistant — traveling with him, taking pictures, collecting business cards and helping people connect with the governor. In some cases, the role requires work seven days a week, depending on the governor’s schedule.
We asked the governor’s office additional questions about vetting and to what extent the governor was involved in picking Ben Tracy as his personal aide (as was practice in the past) — the office hasn’t responded.
More recently, he was employed by the Senate Republican campaign operation. He also did a stint with the House GOP.
*** UPDATE *** I had been saving this little tidbit for subscribers tomorrow, but I’m sure there will be plenty of other stuff to tell them. Rauner did, indeed, personally interview Tracy according to my own sources…
Former Rauner staff confirms: @GovRauner interviewed "body man" Ben Tracy Friday, who was fired Monday for racist, homo-phobic tweets
There’s also a funny and revealing story about the governor to go along with this, but I’ll keep that to myself for today, unless somebody else gets it.
…Adding… Sen. Jil Tracy just called to say that while she has a son named Ben, it’s not the same guy. She’s not related to the jettisoned body man.
* Related…
* Rauner ‘body man’ fired first day on job after racially insensitive, homophobic tweets surface
