During Governor Rauner’s State of the State address, Mike Madigan’s corruption was on full display.
As Governor Rauner was explaining the need for term limits, supported by 80% of Illinoisans, he quipped that the remaining 20% must be in the chamber. The remark was not only met with laughter from elected officials in the audience, but also a telling nod from the Speaker of the House.
Madigan’s nod shows he is more interested in maintaining his hold on power than in doing what’s right for the people of Illinois. He knows that a vast majority of Illinoisans want term limits, but he doesn’t care — because term limits would put an end to his 47-year political career.
The Madigan Machine is not hiding in the background, it’s out in the open for the people to see.
What the commercial that is generating the expected hysteria from the expected quarters attempted to do — admittedly, provocatively — was to properly and truthfully characterize the extreme issue positions Rauner took and their implications. The commercial does not attack people. It tackles issues by truthfully illustrating the constituencies Rauner has chosen to serve to the exclusion of others.
* Rep. David McSweeney endorsed his fellow Republican state Rep. Ives for governor back in January. He is a solid Ives supporter, but he now wants her to take down her new TV ad…
Biss hopes to use the resulting revenue in areas where he said Illinois has struggled, including K-12 education, higher education and infrastructure.
“The issue’s not that we don’t have the money to solve problems. The issue is the money’s going somewhere else because of who’s making the decisions, and this is a campaign about taking power back for the rest of us,” he said.
Biss frequently criticized Pritzker during the meeting, calling him “Madigan’s hand-picked candidate” and pointing to his efforts to avoid paying taxes. Biss defended his own record of both working with and standing up to the speaker.
“The amount of opportunity that Rauner has to attack Pritzker is, frankly, flabbergasting,” Biss said. “(Rauner) wants to have an ugly, nasty … campaign that will be dispiriting to the entire state, and he wants to run against Madigan’s candidate who has ties to (former Gov.) Rod Blagojevich.”
* Biss campaign…
Late last week, JB Prtizker launched two attack ads in two days against Daniel Biss following two polls - including his own - showing Biss surging and Pritzker faltering.
The Pritzker panic rolled over into this week, with his campaign spokesperson posting five straight tweets targeting Biss this morning alone.
Judging by his campaign’s growing preoccupation with, and repeated attacks on, Biss, it’s fair to say JB Pritzker woke up this Groundhog Day weekend and saw nothing but a giant Daniel Biss-shaped shadow.
* Tweets…
* Meanwhile, the Belleville News-Democrat is hoping for a Biss-Ives matchup…
Illinois politics could be so much more interesting were it to act more like a fantasy sports league, where we pick our players and create our own match-ups.
The clash of the billionaires for Illinois governor is too predictable to be very interesting, and who really trusts the political machines that handed us the current system. How much more interesting the race would be between the folks positioning themselves farther right and farther left of the party heirs apparent.
In this corner, Republican state Rep. Jeanne Ives. And in the opposing corner, state Sen. Daniel Biss.
Now that would be a clash of ideals.
* Biss at DePaul: “I tell people that Bruce Rauner has been a horrible governor for the state of Illinois, but one of the best governors the University of Wisconsin has ever had,” Biss said.
* Biss calls for education reform, criticizes Rauner at campus discussion: Following the discussion, much of the audience stayed to make phone calls for Biss’ campaign. Allie McRaith, a field organizer for the campaign, said she believes the enthusiasm and excitement Biss has been building among volunteers will help him as the primary campaign enters the stretch run.
* You’d think Rep. Jeanne Ives would be doing everything she could to get the President involved in her primary. Yeah, it won’t help her in the general election, but you win one election at a time and that new TV ad of hers isn’t gonna help in the general, either. Donald Trump received over a half million primary votes here last year and Rauner consistently dodges questions about him. From the City Club’s question and answer period today…
Question: Rauner distanced himself from President Trump. Is there communication with President Trump for support in your campaign?
Ives: Not that I know of.
Ives went on to say she voted for Trump in the primary and had his sign in her yard.
She also praised Trump’s handling of the military, “and restoring conference in their commander in chief.” She said she had “full confidence” in the President.
*** UPDATE 1 *** As mentioned above, Ives was specifically asked today how she voted in the Republican presidential primary and she said she voted for Trump. Click here for the video clip which was provided by a certain helpful someone who also passed along a link to this press release from March of 2016…
Today, the Cruz for President campaign announced the endorsement of Illinois State Representative Jeanne Ives.
That certain helpful someone also said this: “What happened to ‘I don’t lie cheat or steal or tolerate those that do’?”
*** UPDATE 2 *** From the Ives campaign…
Rich,
Jeanne simply misunderstood the question about who she supported in the primary.
She has really only ever been asked if she supported Trump in 2016. For some reason, she is rarely asked about who she supported in the primary.
Not a lie, just a misunderstanding.
Thank you.
Best,
Kathleen
[ *** End Of Updates *** ]
* This might make the headlines, however…
Audience member says the transgender depiction in ad was offensive. Ives says it is an "accurate representation." #twill
“What’s so offensive about the ad?” Ives asks, calling it an accurate “visual representation” of the policies Rauner put in place. “The transgender man, that’s typically what a transgender man looks like.” Man in audience says “no it’s not” She says yes, they’ve showed at my door
This began a short back-and-forth exchange between Ives and some members of the audience, with one man saying something like “you ask what’s offensive,” that inaccurate portrayal of a transgender man in a dress is offensive https://t.co/GauN7SYC3s
Told by an audience member that it was, specifically, the representation of the transgender woman in the ad that was offensive, Ives responds: “That is an accurate representation of what the policy looks like on the ground.”
Assessor Joe Berrios started with two Democratic primary opponents, Raila and the well-funded Fritz Kaegi. Not having a woman in the race and a head-to-head primary are most definitely not in Berrios’ best interests.
Raila immediately said she would challenge the ruling, first with the Cook County Electoral Board, and if necessary after that, by filing suit in circuit court.
She and her attorney, Frank Avila, denied there was fraud and accused the hearing officer of bias in favor of Kaegi.
It was Kaegi who pressed the petition challenge against Raila after incumbent Berrios dropped his own challenge.
Kaegi has the backing of much of the Democratic Party’s progressive establishment, including Cook County Clerk David Orr.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Kaegi campaign…
-A Cook County Electoral Board hearing officer concluded on Monday that Assessor candidate Andrea Raila has not met the legal threshold of valid petition signatures to qualify to appear on the March 20 Democratic primary ballot. As such, progressive Democrat Fritz Kaegi is preparing to challenge embattled incumbent Assessor Joe Berrios head on.
“The Cook County Electoral Board conducted a professional, thorough and fair process that culminated in the decision this morning, based on what they viewed as ‘clear and convincing evidence,’” said Rebecca Reynolds, campaign manager for Kaegi. “We look forward to continuing to focus squarely on defeating Joe Berrios, because the voters deserve an Assessor who operates fairly, transparently and professionally–and that’s what’s at stake in this election.”
…(T)he appellate court has granted Scott Drury’s motion to stay the circuit court’s judgment pending appeal, and has also granted his motion for expedited consideration. The briefing will be completed by February 9, with no extensions granted.
All the guy had to do was file the same disclosure form he’d already filed and he would’ve had no problems staying on the ballot. It just makes no sense to me.
A Democratic state lawmaker from Lake County said Sunday that he believes House Speaker Michael Madigan once thought he was “wearing a wire” during a meeting between the two.
A Madigan spokesman said he didn’t have any information to verify that state Rep. Scott Drury’s story was “accurate.” Drury has long been at odds with Madigan, who also is the state Democratic Party chairman. The former federal prosecutor was the only Democrat who did not vote for Madigan for speaker in the current General Assembly.
Drury’s tale dates back to 2016. He recounted an effort to advance legislation involving protection of children’s data on computers used in schools. The three-term lawmaker from Highwood said he got a call from Madigan saying, “ ‛Hey, we should go to dinner.’ ”
* For whatever reason, the Republican Party decided not to field a candidate in Democrat Dan Lipinski’s 3rd District. And now, a white supremacist is the only GOP candidate on the ballot….
Arthur Jones — an outspoken Holocaust denier, activist anti-Semite and white supremacist — is poised to become the Republican nominee for an Illinois congressional seat representing parts of Chicago and nearby suburbs.
“Well first of all, I’m running for Congress not the chancellor of Germany. All right. To me the Holocaust is what I said it is: It’s an international extortion racket,” Jones told the Chicago Sun-Times.
Indeed, Jones’ website for his latest congressional run includes a section titled “The ‘Holocaust Racket’” where he calls the genocide carried out by the German Nazi regime and collaborators in other nations “the biggest blackest lie in history.”
Jones, 70, a retired insurance agent who lives in suburban Lyons, has unsuccessfully run for elected offices in the Chicago area and Milwaukee since the 1970s. […]
Tim Schneider, chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, said in a statement to the Sun-Times, “The Illinois Republican Party and our country have no place for Nazis like Arthur Jones. We strongly oppose his racist views and his candidacy for any public office, including the 3rd Congressional District.”
Most recently, in 2016, Jones ran unopposed on the Republican ballot but was removed for flagrant disregard of the election code. Jones said his candidacy was challenged by members of the Illinois Republican Party, who questioned the legitimacy of his signatures.
In 2017, Jones said he went door-to-door stumping for signatures, and after his paperwork was reviewed, Republicans did not attempt to remove him from the ballot.
“Well, it’s absolutely the best opportunity in my entire political career,” Jones said. “Every time I’ve run it’s been against a Republican who follows this politically correct nonsense. This time they screwed up.” […]
The lack of a GOP challenger means Jones will likely face off against Democratic incumbent Rep. Dan Lipinski or challenger Marie Newman on Nov. 6 in the 3rd District, a traditionally Democratic district.
“I’ll have nine months to campaign for the general election,” Jones said. “I think I have a good chance.”
He will not, however, be reaching out to the Republican president for support. Newsweek quotes Jones as saying he regretted voting for Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election, because Trump has “surrounded himself with hordes of Jews.”
* The first outlet to report on Jones’ candidacy was Riverside-Brookfield Landmark back in December…
“If you want to describe my philosophy it’s populist-slash-National Socialist,” Jones said.
Jones said he was a registered Republican, even though he doesn’t consider himself a dedicated follower of any specific political party.
According to Jones, “Donald Trump has come closest to my beliefs, except for his position on the Middle East. I think he made a tragic error in recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. It’s going to cause more doggone trouble than he can possibly imagine.”
Jones also criticized incumbent Congressman Danial Lipinski (D-3rd Congressional District) for being too supportive of Israel.
A member of the Nationalist Socialist Party in his younger days, Jones took part in the Nazis’ march on Chicago’s Marquette Park in 1978. While he doesn’t deny nor repudiate his “past affiliations,” he says he votes Republican “90 percent of the time.”
“Philosophically, I’m a National Socialist,” Jones said. “Officially, I don’t belong to any party except my own, the America First Committee.”
Jones hopes three’s a charm after blowing his retirement savings on two prior congressional runs. He hopes to win the Republican primary and go on to challenge Lipinski this November. The 3rd District covers portions of Chicago’s South Side and a large swath of the south suburbs.
Part of the reason he’s jumping in again is what he describes as Lipinski’s strange affiliation with the American Israel Pro Israel Affairs Committee.
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
Governor Rauner released the following statement regarding Arthur Jones’ candidacy in Illinois’ 3rd Congressional District:
“There is no room for Neo Nazis in American politics. I condemn this man in the strongest possible terms.”
She said she was willing to go into Champaign-Urbana — into what she called “the belly of the beast” — and say that “we’re going to tell higher ed that you either bring your tuition and fees in line with your conference peers or we’re going to bring your state spending in line with your conference peers. We’re No. 3 in terms of state support for higher education. It’s just that one-half of it goes to pensions.
“But the truth is that higher education in Illinois is unaffordable and it’s forcing our best students and our middle-class families to choose another place. That is wrong. We’re going to reverse that trend.”
The plural of anecdote is not data. I get that. But I was in Walgreen’s Sunday afternoon and a couple of employees were talking about going to another state for graduate school. One of them was my cashier. He told me that after what happened the past few years, he just couldn’t depend on a MAP grant and was looking elsewhere.
The pace at which Illinois high school graduates are leaving the state to attend college is accelerating at the same time most public universities are struggling to maintain enrollment — and that has state higher education officials worried.
“It’s deeply troubling and I choose those words carefully,” said Al Bowman, executive director of the Illinois Board of Higher Education and former president of Illinois State University. […]
“Illinois has had a history of out-migration for many, many years,” said Bowman. “The difference is it has accelerated during recent years, particularly during the budget impasse” when the state went without a full-year budget in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 and higher education saw significant funding cuts. […]
The pool of 18-year-olds in the Midwest is shrinking and the composition of the pool has changed. There are more students from underrepresented groups with historically lower college participation rates than the general population, he said.
“It’s a highly competitive marketplace,” added Bowman. “Some universities have learned how to compete in that environment. For others, it’s a learning curve.”
There was a bit of role reversal last week at a meeting of the Illinois Senate Higher Education Committee. Instead of college and university officials being told by senators what they should be doing or what they’re doing wrong, there were appeals for ideas, information, suggestions from two senators who are on a separate higher education working group.
“Our purpose truly at this point is to consider ways to help Illinois and higher education thrive again,” said Sen. Pat McGuire, D-Crest Hill, who chairs the Senate Higher Education Committee. “We’re asking now what are you doing to recruit, retain and graduate Illinois students? And it’s been a fascinating conversation.”
Separately, Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, practically begged for feedback on his legislation, introduced last October, that includes a wide-ranging reorganization of public higher education in the state. But the idea behind SB 2234, he said, was “to start a conversation” about the higher ed system.
“We need your help. It’s been 3 1/2 months. Please start giving us your ideas,” he said.
The early reaction to Rose’s legislation was skeptical, with many higher education leaders viewing it as an attempt to eliminate programs and downsize particular institutions. That’s not his goal, Rose insists.
Details contained in a lawsuit brought against Gov. Bruce Rauner by a former business associate have called into further question the governor’s insistence that he no longer plays a role in his business investments.
Appearing before the Chicago Tribune’s editorial board Monday, Rauner was asked to address an account from former associate Harreld “Kip” Kirkpatrick III describing how the two discussed the business investment on which Kirkpatrick’s case centers.
“No private business was conducted on public property,” Rauner told the Tribune during a mini-debate with his rival in the March Republican primary, state Rep. Jeanne Ives of Wheaton. “That issue is a contract dispute, contract dispute. It’s not an investment decision. A contract dispute that stemmed from before I was governor.”
Pressed on whether he spoke with Kirkpatrick at all about that dispute, the governor doubled down: “I was not doing private business on state property,” he said.
Gov. Rauner: Yeah, so that’s just, that’s just false, I did not do that, um, did not have any business meetings on public property, I wouldn’t do that. And there’s, a lot of people have raised that question, it’s just, there’s no there there, there’s no, no business meetings on public property.
Reporter: But the public schedule said it was a former private business partner, correct?
Gov. Rauner: Um, yeah. Uh-huh. We weren’t discussing any, anything about old business.
Reporter: He says otherwise, correct?
Gov. Rauner: [Laughs] He said a lot of things that were not true.
Reporter: So this isn’t true?
Gov. Rauner: Yep. That’s right. It’s not true.
* DGA…
“Bruce Rauner has a problem being honest with the Illinois public,” said DGA Illinois Communications Director Sam Salustro. “Rauner was caught meeting with a business associate on state property despite promising a blind trust from his business interests. Now that he’s failed the public, Rauner’s trying to lie his way out of the scandal. Rauner needs to fess up and be honest with voters for a change.”
Anybody can sue anybody for anything and say whatever they want in the process. So, maybe they didn’t talk about a private business deal at the mansion. It’s one person’s word against another’s at the moment.
Illinoisans “want a government where people come together to solve problems and get things done,” Gov. Bruce Rauner said during his 2015 State of the State address. “They don’t want partisan bickering, political infighting or personal conflict to get in the way of serving the needs of the families of Illinois.”
“Together, we will do great things for the people of Illinois,” he said. “The task ahead of us is daunting, and we have no time to waste.”
A wasted year later, after months and months of hardheaded, partisan gridlock and no state budget, the governor delivered his second State of the State address.
“I understand that union leaders and trial lawyers are putting pressure on you to keep the status quo,” Rauner told his audience of state legislators, many of whom (particularly the Democrats) didn’t react so well. They believed (and still do) that they were legitimately resisting Rauner’s attempts to bust unions with “right to work” laws and other proposals that went against their own principles.
“We must fix our workers’ comp system, labor regulations, liability costs and property taxes that make us uncompetitive and push job creators out. . . .Let’s get it done!” Rauner implored.
“If each of us commits to serious negotiation based on mutual respect for our co-equal branches of government, there’s not a doubt in my mind we can come together to pass a balanced budget alongside reforms,” Rauner told the General Assembly in January 2016.
A year later, with no budget passed and the Democratic-controlled Legislature continuing to resist his pro-business, anti-union agenda, Rauner delivered his third State of the State address.
“Abraham Lincoln once said: ‘The best way to predict the future is to create it,’” said the Republican governor.
But there’s a problem.
Lincoln never said that, according to three top Lincoln scholars.
And with that gaffe, Rauner became an unwitting circulator of fake history, committing a cardinal oratorical sin for the chief executive of a state called the “Land of Lincoln.”
Oops.
One can only wonder why the governor’s people didn’t check in with somebody over at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum down the street.
* Rep. Jeanne Ives will speak at the City Club today. Click here to watch the live video, which usually starts sometime after noon. If you miss it, you can click here for the club’s video archives.
“When you look at the ad, it’s a policy ad. It’s not a personal attack on Rauner,” she said. “I don’t go after his character or anything like that. It is a policy ad that in a new way takes what he has done and signed into law and puts it into a visual measure.” […]
“I guess the visual was necessary to raise awareness to Republican primary voters that have been asleep for a while. That’s what the ad was about. We needed to still alert Republican primary voters to the policies he put in place,” Ives said at what was billed as a “meet and greet” at Houlihan’s restaurant in Champaign. About 50 people attended.
“Honestly, if they played this in a ‘Saturday Night Live’ sketch as a spoof on the worst Republican governor in America, people would laugh at it,” she said.
She said she would not take down the ad, and said that Harold and the others criticizing it “are bought and sold by Gov.Rauner. Rauner is funding Erika’s campaign. Rauner is funding the GOP establishment. That’s all that is. This is all going to die down. You know what? People needed to see the results of his policies.”
Asked how she could attract Democratic voters in a general election by attacking parts of their constituency, she said that “I have Democrats who messaged me and said they liked the ad.
* From John McGlasson, 16th Congressional District Republican State Central Committeeman…
As a member of the Illinois Republican State Central Committee, I wish to voice my concern about the Illinois Republican Chairman Tim Schneider taking sides in the primary for governor by objecting to the recent campaign advertisement issued by Representative Jeanne Ives.
It is up to the voters to decide whether this ad is good or bad. In my opinion it addresses important issues in the race. It hits them head on and without ambiguity. The voters deserve to know where the candidates stand in order to make an informed decision when they cast their ballot.
Chairman Schneider’s job is to serve all Republicans and support the eventual nominee.
The bills cited in the video are HB 1785, SB 31, HB 40 and SB 2814. According to polling data, HB 1785 and SB 31 are opposed by a supermajority of Illinois GENERAL election voters. All are opposed by a supermajority of GOP primary voters as they were a supermajority of GOP legislators.
* HB 1785, Transgender Birth Certificates: 6 of 73 House and Senate Republicans voted for it (0 in the Senate). Ives voted ‘No.’ Rauner signed it.
* SB 31, Sanctuary State: 6 of 73 House and Senate Republicans voted for it. Ives voted ‘No.’ Rauner signed it.
* HB 40, Taxpayer-Funding of Abortion: 0 of 73 House and Senate Republicans voted for it. Ives voted ‘No.’ Rauner signed it.
* SB 2814: 27 of 73 House and Senate Republicans voted for it. Ives voted ‘No.’ Rauner signed it.
‘Thank you for signing legislation that lets me use the girls’ bathroom,’ an actor, dressed as a transgender woman, with a visible five o’clock shadow, said, referring to the House Bill 1785.
In fact, that bill does not refer to bathroom rights but allows transgender people to change the gender on their birth certificates, with a doctor’s approval.
The Republican candidate challenging Gov. Bruce Rauner vowed Sunday to return a financial contribution after a campaign staffer retweeted a supportive message from a Twitter account that also contains Nazi propaganda.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Jeanne Ives’ campaign removed the message Sunday from her Twitter feed. Later, it tweeted the following note: “We had a staffer re-tweet this message without realizing who this individual was. It has been removed. We repudiate him. Disavow any endorsement and are returning any contribution.”
The campaign had retweeted a note that read, in part, “I don8d $1k 2 @JeanneIves 2 defeat @BruceRauner in illinois gubernatorial race.” It also said, “luv this campaign ad” and included a link to Ives’ controversial new spot targeting the transgender community and illegal immigrants, among others.
That message came from an account containing anti-Semitic messages and a cover photo of a man holding out his hand in what appeared to be a Nazi salute. The owner of the account could not immediately be reached for comment.
* They’re not yet going after Ives and are sticking to their basic messaging. Press release…
Today, the Rauner campaign launched the latest in the series of ads featuring JB Pritzker and the infamous Rod Blagojevich FBI wiretaps.
JB Pritzker’s voice is not featured in this newest ad, but money talks and Blagojevich was listening. The ad features Blagojevich talking about raising millions of dollars from Pritzker and giving him Barack Obama’s Senate seat in return.
Blagojevich closes the conversation saying, “incidentally [Pritzker] asked me for it. Don’t repeat that.”
Pritzker may claim he did nothing wrong, but Blagojevich’s implications are clear: Pritzker was asking for the Senate seat and could match the price tag.
I don’t think Pritzker asked Blagojevich for the Senate seat. He wanted the treasurer’s job if Alexi Giannoulias got a White House gig as was rumored at the time.
*** UPDATE *** The ad claims the audio is “The unedited FBI wiretap of Rod Blagojevich talking about JB Pritzker.” It’s not unedited. From the full transcript with the quotes used in the Rauner ad highlighted…
BLAGOJEVICH: “501(c)(4) issue advocacy, 10, 15, 20 35 million dollars in an organization like that. But, I, we can get goin’ with an ind-, you know a board that, you know I’m comfortable with and then when I’m no longer governor I go over there. What about that?”
SCOFIELD: “I think it’s worth explorin’.”
BLAGOJEVICH: “I betcha JB can raise me money like that.”
(UI)
BLAGOJEVICH: “For a Senate seat. Huh?”
SCOFIELD: “Yep.”
BLAGOJEVICH: “If I can get JB to do somethin’ like that is it worth, ah, givin’ him the Senate seat?Incidentally, he, he asked me for it. Don’t repeat that.”
SCOFIELD: “He did?”
BLAGOJEVICH: “Yeah.”
SCOFIELD: “Huh. Okay.”
(PAUSE)
SCOFIELD: “Man I don’t know. That’s a hard one to do.”
BLAGOJEVICH: “What’s that? JB?”
SCOFIELD: “Yeah.”
BLAGOJEVICH: “Huh?”
SCOFIELD: “Yeah.”
BLAGOJEVICH: “Yeah you’re darn right it’s hard. But if you have an organization that, you know you go out and advocate and, and he’ll help fund it by getting some of his billionaire friends to, to invest in it. Huh?”
SCOFIELD: “Tempting.”
BLAGOJEVICH: “Um, you, you, look, I really believe you can do more good than just putting Valerie Jarrett there and get nothin’ back.”
[BREAK]
BLAGOJEVICH: “(Sighs) 501(c)(4). How’s that sound to you? $10 million dollars, $15 million dollars.”
SCOFIELD: “Ah, it sounds good to me.”
BLAGOJEVICH: “Issue advocacy that will last beyond me bein’ governor. Somethin’ I can work on. Try to do other things. What do you think of that?”
SCOFIELD: “I think it’s a good place to land.”
[PAUSE]
BLAGOJEVICH: “Okay. JB, he can do it, couldn’t he?”
SCOFIELD: “Ah, sure, JB could do it.”
BLAGOJEVICH: “Who knows him, that we know that’s close to him? Mmm, that I don’t know.”
[PAUSE]
SCOFIELD: “I don’t know, Greg from my office knows him, but is not real close to him. But you know I could ask Greg who’s close to him. I can find out.”
[PAUSE]
BLAGOJEVICH: “I mean I don’t wanna be the one to ask somethin’ like that. Alright. No I can find out.”
In another wild election year in Illinois, the race involving Joe Berrios has produced the most bizarre whodunit tale — and what may have been the dirtiest trick of this political season.
Soon after announcing he would take on Berrios for the Democratic nomination for county assessor, challenger Fritz Kaegi says he noticed someone had set up websites purporting to represent him and his rage-against-the-machine campaign.
But Kaegi says he had nothing to do with the new FritzKaegi.org website. Nor, he says, did he set up other accounts that supposedly communicated on his behalf on Twitter, Facebook and a political fundraising site. […]
The GoDaddy domain registrar and website-hosting company has identified the man behind the fake Kaegi campaign site as Quenton Galvin, according to court records.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Galvin is owner of Non Stop Web Design of Grayslake — a company that has done campaign work for many years for Berrios, who’s chairman of the powerful county Democratic Party.
* Hillman adds some much-needed perspective…
Remember that time Forrest Claypool campaign registered Joe Berrios’ web domain and we all laughed at Berrios campaign for not securing his name. I do. https://t.co/hKFo7pxAjh#Twill@Suntimes
Forrest Claypool, who’s running as an independent for Cook County Assessor, launched www.joeberrios.com on Monday, to “highlight the abysmal record of Cook County’s most notorious insider politician.” In a statement to the press, Claypool campaign manager Tom Bowen said “voters can see the complete record of Joe Berrios in all its infamy. Whether it’s tax breaks for politically-connected insiders, investigations for corruption, massive tax increases, or lobbying for the liquor and gaming industry, Joe has done it all while we pay the price.” Bowen notes that “over the course of more than 20 years of public office, Berrios has endured countless investigations for corruption, ghost payrolling, improper hiring, and sweetheart contracts,” while giving property tax breaks to campaign donors and backing Todd Stroger’s tax hikes in Cook County.
“You’ve got to get your domain name registered early, long before you consider running for office. … If you don’t do that, it is inevitable that someone is going to grab the domain name and make your life difficult.” That was Democratic strategist Kari Chisholm talking to The Hill earlier this year about the phenomenon of political campaigns snatching up opponents’ internet domain names. The latest example of this inevitability can be found right here in Illinois, where independent Cook County assessor candidate Forrest Claypool’s team apparently beat Democratic nominee Joe Berrios to the following domain: www.joeberrios.com.
Oops. Now the Claypool campaign is using the site to slam Berrios’ record as chair of the Cook County Board of Review. It doesn’t show up yet in the Google search results for “Joe Berrios,” but you can bet that will change in the coming weeks.
Election officials in Chicago say the start of early voting is likely to be delayed because of so many candidate ballot challenges.
Early voting is slated to begin statewide [this] week on Thursday.
Chicago Board of Election Commissioners spokesman Jim Allen said Friday that with rulings pending on which candidates are going to be on the ballot, voting equipment won’t be programmed, tested and ready for ballots in several languages by Thursday.
Allen declined to offer further details, saying the board would issue more information Monday.
I don’t know if there are more challenges than usual this cycle, but resolutions to these cases do seem to be taking far too long. They went back and forth on Sen. Silverstein’s case so many times I lost count.
We need a better system if we want to start voting this early.
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
Although Feb. 8, 2018 was the new statutory starting date for Early Voting, there remain ongoing cases involving objections to candidates’ petitions. As a result, ballots are not ready, and the programming and testing of voting equipment cannot be completed by Feb. 8. The Board of Election Commissioners anticipates that balloting systems will be fully tested and available by Feb. 21, if not sooner.
Objections to certain countywide and statewide candidates’ nominating petitions were resolved recently or still are being resolved. Programming and testing of the equipment in the city’s more than 1,000 ballot variations in four languages is still under way.
The Board will update the Early Voting schedule at chicagoelections.com as soon as possible. Any voters who arrive at the Chicago Election Board to use Early Voting in the meantime will be provided with an application to Vote By Mail. Chicago voters also may apply online to Vote By Mail at chicagoelections.com.
* Speaking of challenges…
On Friday, Scott Drury, Democratic candidate for Attorney General, filed his Notice of Appeal, beginning the process of contesting the decision of a Circuit Court of Cook County associate judge who ordered Drury’s name removed from the Democratic ballot for Illinois Attorney General. In the Notice, Drury asks the appellate court to reverse the decision of the circuit court and affirm the original decision of the State Officers Electoral Board which found that Drury’s name should remain on the ballot. Drury also asks the court to order that his name be printed on every ballot issued during the pendency of the appeal in order to avoid any prejudice.
On Friday, Drury also filed an emergency motion to expedite the appeal and stay the circuit court’s order, pending completion of the appeal. In the motion, Drury contends that, absent a stay, a new election may be necessary because of the potential taint of ballots being issued without his name. Drury further contends that a stay is necessary to protect his rights and the rights of voters.
The circuit court’s decision has already begun to wreak havoc on the election process. The Chicago Board of Elections has indicated that it is going to delay the start of early voting, in part, because of the pendency of Drury’s case. “The fact that Mike Madigan would rather taint the election for Illinois’ chief legal officer than have an attorney general he cannot control, demonstrates how little he cares for Illinois residents and how much he cares about his self-preservation,” said Drury.
The appeal and related motions are pending before the Illinois Appellate Court – First Judicial District in Chicago, Illinois. The court has not yet ruled on Drury’s motion.
Drury is being represented by Casey Westover of Reed Smith LLP and Patrick Dwyer, III of Dwyer & Coogan, P.C.
The Ives for Illinois campaign is pleased to announce it has received a $2 million donation from businessman Dick Uihlein. These funds will support and ensure that Jeanne Ives is able to introduce herself to the GOP primary electorate and present a clear choice for those voters between the crony bailouts and extreme Left social policy agenda of Gov. Rauner’s and the conservative reform policy record and vision of Ives.
Ives has now raised more than $3.5 million in the few short weeks of her insurgent campaign against Gov. Rauner.
“Mr. Uihlein’s commitment to a conservative reform policy revolution is humbling as is the commitment of of every donor and volunteer to our campaign,” said Ives. “People doing what they can with what they have is how we win this race for the people who play by the rules and do their part to make Illinois a great place to live, work and raise a family. A state government aligned with their interests is long overdue in Illinois.”
Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider released the following statement on State Representative Jeanne Ives’ recently released campaign advertisement:
“There is no place in the Illinois Republican Party for rhetoric that attacks our fellow Illinoisans based on their race, gender or humanity. Representative Ives’ campaign ad does not reflect who we are as the Party of Lincoln and as proud residents of our great and diverse state. She should pull down the ad and immediately apologize to the Illinoisans who were negatively portrayed in a cowardly attempt to stoke political division.”
* And…
Republican Attorney General Candidate Erika Harold released the following statement on new Ives campaign ad:
“This ad denigrates, mocks and marginalizes groups of Illinoisans and cannot represent our Republican Party. I call on the Ives campaign to immediately take it off the air. The Republican Party must be about fighting for the ideals and values that have made our country the envy of the world and promoting the dignity and value of every Illinoisan.”
* OK, but keep in mind that Gov. Rauner’s campaign never once mentioned Ives’ ad in his official statement yesterday…
Governor Rauner is the only candidate in either party who will take on Mike Madigan, cut taxes, and reform our state. Representative Ives has already admitted that she’s not willing to take on Mike Madigan and will keep his 32% tax hike — not surprising given her history of opposing property tax reductions. Looks like JB Pritzker has some competition as Mike Madigan’s favorite candidate.
This Ives ad is a meatball right over the plate. But instead of taking a swing himself, he’s making everybody else - from fellow Republicans, to the news media, to activists, to Democrats - do his work for him.
* The governor will have the perfect opportunity to say something this evening. From tonight’s Equality Illinois fundraising gala schedule…
8:00 p.m. - 8:20 p.m. Introduction of Elected Officials and Candidates, featuring brief remarks by First Lady Diana Rauner, Gov. Bruce Rauner, and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel
If he doesn’t say something tonight, then he’ll probably again have to be dragged into reacting and that won’t be a good look.
* Meanwhile, one of the weirdest things about the controversy surrounding Ives’ ad was that some of her supporters were apparently so freaked out by the spot that they took to social media to accuse others of fabricating the ad to make Ives look bad. For instance, here’s somebody claiming I made the ad myself…
* This guy posted several tweets accusing the CS-T of fabricating the story…
the whole video looks poorly fabricated, still waiting for a confirmation from Ives Camp HQ that this is her ad or is it another fabricated ad.
* But other Ives supporters are taking this route…
A bit of political analysis from @AllenSkillicorn’s Facebook page. He admits this ad was designed to “offend those that will never vote for us anyways.” It’s right out of the Milo playbook — the guy Breitbart fired. pic.twitter.com/zxvEr8XsTO
Also, to those on the left side of the equation who said the ad was merely a PR ploy by Ives and would never actually air, Chicago-area folks are telling me they’ve been seeing the ad on their teevees today.
*** UPDATE *** Here you go…
Full quote: @GovRauner “I think that just shows how unelectable @JeanneIves really is.”
On if her ad hurts the Illinois Republican Party: “Rep. @JeanneIves has associated herself with questionable individuals that really don’t represent the views of the people of IL.”
The findings and decision for Sen. Silverstein's ballot challenge are now online if you'd like to read through the lengthy report:https://t.co/wuxbXyZw33
The reason for the confusion, I’m told, is because Proft was doing the buy and the announcer appears in a lot of Proft’s other spots. But, as you will see, the ad is paid for by the Ives campaign.
I’m also told the ad has not yet aired, but is sitting at several TV stations, which is how I came to get it.
Thank you Bruce Rauner for opposing law enforcement and making Illinois a sanctuary state for illegal immigrant criminals.
Thank you for signing legislation that lets me use the girl’s bathroom.
Thank you for making all Illinois families pay for my abortions.
Thank you for making the rest of Illinois bail out Chicago teacher pensions, and for giving Rahm everything he wanted, and more.
Thank you for betraying Illinois Republicans.
Thank you.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Rauner campaign…
Governor Rauner is the only candidate in either party who will take on Mike Madigan, cut taxes, and reform our state. Representative Ives has already admitted that she’s not willing to take on Mike Madigan and will keep his 32% tax hike — not surprising given her history of opposing property tax reductions. Looks like JB Pritzker has some competition as Mike Madigan’s favorite candidate.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Kennedy campaign…
Jeanne Ives’ new ad is appalling and disrespectful to everyone who makes Illinois what it is today. It’s a slap in the face to everyone who’s brought progress and inclusivity to Illinois. We already have enough hate and bigotry in the White House. We don’t need a governor who stands silent against Donald Trump and we certainly don’t need a governor who echoes Donald Trump.
*** UPDATE 3 *** Ives campaign…
Ives Campaign Releases ‘Thank You Bruce Rauner’ Ad
February 2, 2018 - The ad represents Governor Rauner’s chosen constituents based on the policy choices he made, as well as a fair and accurate representation of the implications of those policy choices. Governor Rauner’s record was similarly covered by both National Review and Fox News, as highlighted in the ad.
Those Republican primary voters who don’t know of Rauner’s betrayals of conservatives need to know. Now they will.
They released a longer, 60-second version, which is probably online only. Click here.
*** UPDATE 4 *** Sen. Daniel Biss…
This ad is repulsive. It’s absolutely antithetical of Illinois values and the type of politics we should be holding ourselves to. Any elected official or candidate who does not disavow this horribly offensive ad outright should be ashamed. We must resist this type of racist, xenophobic, and transphobic rhetoric at all levels.”
*** UPDATE 6 *** Colleen K Connell, executive director of the ACLU of Illinois…
It is sad that a candidate for the office of Governor of Illinois would seek to divide voters by attacking our neighbors, friends and colleagues who are newcomers and refugees, those of a different race, those who are transgender, and poor women in need of health care.”
*** UPDATE 7 *** Pritzker campaign…
JB vehemently disagrees with the poison the Ives campaign is spreading on the issues that matter. While Bruce Rauner needs to be defeated in this election, this type of hate has no place in our politics. As governor, JB will defend our communities from forces of hate and ensure Illinois remains a welcome state to all.
Critics of the ad came out in droves, even among some Republicans. Former Illinois Republican party chairman Pat Brady said in a tweet that this is the Ives “we have known for years. There is no room in the Republican Party for racist, bigoted, homophobic candidates like her.”
Equality Illinois said Ives is “launching a campaign of division and rancor.”
“We need a governor who will stand up for all Illinoisans not someone who will target transgender Illinoisans for their personal political benefit,” spokesman Brian Johnson said.
*** UPDATE 9 *** Text from a friend in the biz…
Looks like she’s spending $1.1 million through the 25th.
That’s basically every dime she has in her campaign account.
Asked for a reaction to the ad, Chicago Teachers Union spokeswoman Chris Geovanis emailed, “we’re not going to dignify this racist, sexist, homophobic piece of crap with a response.”
*** UPDATE 11 *** Press release…
Statement from Rebecca Shi, Illinois Business Immigration Coalition Executive Director, to the new Ives ad
“Jeanne Ives’s new ad falsely attacking SB 31 “Illinois trust act,” and equating all undocumented immigrants with criminals is full of misinformation, hate and bigotry. Contrary to the ad, SB 31 was endorsed by Illinois Sheriffs Association, the Illinois Chiefs of Police, and gained broad support from Illinois business, faith, Latino and immigrant leaders. Since its passage, the Trust Act has strengthened trust between immigrants and local police, prevented unnecessary disruptions to businesses, and enabled hardworking, law-abiding immigrants to continue to work, pay taxes and create jobs here in Illinois. The Illinois Trust Act does not make Illinois a sanctuary state and is in full compliance with federal law. Ultimately, SB 31 ensures that our local police focus their limited resources to keep our communities safe, rather than enforcing federal immigration law. Recent Illinois electoral history has shown that the politics of hate, division, and intolerance is not rewarded by Illinois voters of either Party.”
And…
Republican Candidate for Comptroller Darlene Senger issued the following statement on State Representative Jeanne Ives’ campaign ad:
“Illinois is facing real challenges that require common-sense, bi-partisan solutions. Hyper-partisan attacks that focus on our fellow Illinoisans do little to advance debate nor reach consensus. The Republican Party — The Party of Lincoln — has always served as a beacon of freedom and individual rights. Now more than ever, we need to demonstrate our commitment to that standard.”
And…
117th Republican State Representative Dave Severin released the following statement on Jeanne Ives new campaign ad:
“This ad tries to make a point in the most wrong headed and politically divisive way possible. If Republicans in Illinois ever want to make this a two party state, we must lead with our shared vision of lower taxes, balanced budgets and a government that encourages a booming economy. Mike Madigan might as well of written, produced and paid for the ad - and that’s a shame. I call on Ives to immediately remove it from the airwaves.”
* And…
Republican Candidate for Treasurer Jim Dodge issued the following statement on State Representative Jeanne Ives’ campaign ad:
“Our nation’s collective diversity gives us our strength and makes us a beacon of freedom to the world. Illinois is a strong and diverse state - a microcosm of America. Representative Ives’ campaign advertisement is wrong on so many levels and an insult to everything that makes us Illinoisans and Americans. I believe this advertisement does not represent the Republican Party or our shared American values, and should never again see the light of day.”
An Illinois law banning guns within 1,000 feet of public parks violates a right under the Second Amendment to carry a weapon outside the home for self-defense, the state Supreme Court concluded in a unanimous decision issued on Thursday.
The 7-0 ruling came in the criminal case of Julio Chairez, who had appealed his 2013 conviction for having a gun near Aurora’s Virgil Gilman Trail park, just west of Chicago. In addition to striking the law, Thursday’s ruling also vacated Chairez’s conviction.
The 25-page opinion, penned by Chief Justice Lloyd Karmeier, says the law — in its scope — functions as “a categorical prohibition without providing an exception for law-abiding individuals.” He adds: “It is therefore a severe burden on the recognized second amendment right of self-defense.”
Thursday’s ruling is in line with other rulings over recent years by the state’s high court and the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Court of Appeals that found Illinois bans on citizens from carrying guns outside the home were unconstitutional. Such rulings have forced Illinois lawmakers who back tougher gun control laws to rethink their approach.
The Illinois attorney general’s office, whose lawyers defended the law, said Thursday it is reviewing the ruling and didn’t have an immediate comment. It could appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, which Karmeier said hasn’t specifically addressed the issue of gun-free zones around public parks.
Indeed an individual can preserve an undiminished right of self-defense by not entering one of the restricted areas. But the State conceded at oral argument that the 1000-foot firearm restriction zone around a public park would effectively prohibit the possession of a firearm for self-defense within a vast majority of the acreage in the city of Chicago because there are more than 600 parks in the city… Aside from the sheer number of locations and public areas that would qualify under the law, not only in the City of Chicago, but throughout Illinois, the most troubling aspect is the lack of any notification where the 1000-foot restriction zone starts and where it would end.
Innocent behavior could swiftly be transformed into culpable conduct if an individual unknowingly crosses into a firearm restriction zone. The result could create a chilling effect on the second amendment when an otherwise law-abiding individual may inadvertently violate the 1000-foot firearm-restricted zones by just turning a street corner. Likewise, in response to a question at oral argument, the State conceded that an individual who lives within 1000 feet of a public park would violate section 24-1(a)(4), (c)(1.5) every time that individual possessed a firearm for self-defense and walked to his or her vehicle parked on a public street. To remain in compliance with the law, the State said that the individual would need to disassemble his or her firearm and place it in a case before entering the restricted zone. This requirement, however, renders the ability to defend oneself inoperable
Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder is lobbying local legislators to let the city annex the State Fairgrounds and use some city sales tax revenue generated there to make repairs to several of the 170 buildings.
The Coliseum, which normally hosts horse shows year-round, has been closed since October 2016 after structural damage to its roof made it unsafe for use. Building 29 and Barn 38 are closed, as well, and it was announced in January that Barn 13 needed emergency repairs.
Langfelder said local lodging establishments have told him that canceling horse shows has meant a 25 percent reduction to their business. He bemoaned the domino effect on local shops and restaurants, as well.
“Once you lose (the horse shows), it’s hard to get them back,” Langfelder said. “It’s absolutely an economic hit for us.”
* It sounds to me like a good idea, particularly since the foundation has been a dud so far…
Gov. Bruce Rauner created the Illinois Fairgrounds Foundation in 2016 to raise private funds for repairs to the Coliseum. Foundation board chairman John Slayton says it has raised about $30,000 so far.
I grew up in a farming community in South Dakota. I was raised to speak plainly, work hard for what you want and respect others who do the same.
My name is Jeanne Ives. I’m running against Bruce Rauner for the Republican nomination for governor because Rauner deserted the conservative families like mine, who elected him.
I will not lie, cheat or steal, or tolerate others who do.
There must be a reckoning for Rauner’s betrayal. Join me and get the revolution you were promised.
The state agency responsible for overseeing Medicaid in Illinois failed to properly monitor $7.11 billion in payments made to and by managed care organizations, according to a report issued Tuesday by the Illinois auditor general. […]
According to the report, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services could not provide auditors with complete or reliable data that the agency was required to collect under its agreements with the 12 [Managed Care Organizations] it contracted with in 2016. The agency wasn’t able to provide data on paid claims MCOs made to providers; the claims denied by MCOs; administrative costs and coordinated care costs incurred by MCOs; and what percentage of each MCO’s premium income goes to health care and quality improvement as opposed to marketing and other costs, which is information required by federal law.
The report also found that the agency may have made duplicate payments to the MCOs to the tune of $590,237.
* Today…
@RVVoyles and I sat down with @GovRauner today. We asked about a report from auditor gen. on HFS failing to monitor $7 billion in Medicaid bills.
"I heard the reports about that and I'll say this, I think those are fundamentally inaccurate, those are erroneous."
I think those are fundamentally inaccurate. Those are erroneous. I don’t believe that those, uh, those figures or the, the concerns are valid and we’ll have the truth come out with you guys and others here in the near future… I think there’s misinformation and misunderstandings. I think our teams in these departments are handling our, our managed care program and our Medicaid program very well. There’s been a lot of fraud and abuse and mismanagement in the past, we’re correcting it. And I think the teams are doing a fantastic job. And I think these concerns that somehow there’s not oversight or that there are some missing dollars or whatever, I think, I just don’t think that’s right, that’s erroneous.
* Except, if you click here, you’ll see the Department of Healthcare and Family Services concurred with five out of six of the auditor general’s recommendations. And while DHFS only partially concurred with a sixth recommendation, it said it was addressing the problem a different way.
According to DHFS spokesperson John Hoffman, the department is already implementing changes suggested in the audit. Hoffman says many of these adjustments were made prior to the audit being issued.
“We are confident that HealthChoice Illinois will provide quality, whole-person care for millions of residents while saving taxpayer dollars and operating with vigorous accountability throughout. In addition, the Department contracts with an independent, third party, nationally recognized actuary to assist in this process. We will continually work to improve this program, fiscally and programmatically,” says Hoffman.
* Sen. Daniel Biss was at Crain’s today. Here’s Greg Hinz…
The senator appeared to rule out any significant changes in the state’s government pension plans—401(k)s are “a failed experiment. The jury has spoken,” he said—even though he was the chief sponsor of legislation to cut benefits while requiring both taxpayers and employees to pay more. The bill ultimately was ruled out by the courts, and Biss said he “learned my lesson . . . pensions are a promise and the payments should be made.”
Biss indicated he would not reduce pension benefits now even if he legally could. Government just needs to make regular payments rather than diverting pension money to other purposes, he said. And Biss rejected suggestions that, in sponsoring the pension bill, he was following the lead of Madigan, who had been pushing such a plan in opposition to a more limited “consideration” version proposed by Senate President John Cullerton.
“I decided this was the least bad of the bad options,” said Biss, noting he voted against another pension bill personally sponsored by Madigan. “I allowed myself to think we couldn’t do better.”
* Pritzker campaign…
Dan Biss Flails When Asked About Unconstitutional Pension Bill
Biss Asked “Can People Trust You Not to Change Your Opinion On Other Things?” at Crain’s Ed Board
Chicago, IL – While meeting with the Crain’s editorial board today, Dan Biss gave a flailing response to questions on his 2013 bill to cut pension benefits for 467,000 Illinoisans.
In a heated back and forth, Biss was pressed to answer an important question: “If you can so completely change your opinion on something you spent so much time and energy on, what can people trust you not to change your opinion on, on other things?”
“Dan Biss is flailing as he continues to be pressed on his unconstitutional efforts to cut pension benefits for 467,000 downstate teachers, university workers, and state employees,” said Pritzker communications director Galia Slayen. “Biss can try and ramble and deflect now, but this is someone who needed the Supreme Court to step in before he ‘learned his lesson’ that working families deserve the pensions that were promised to them.”
Greg Hinz: If the Supreme Court hadn’t objected, if there was not a legal reason, a constitutional reason to do this, would you come back to something like that? Is it appropriate, or do you also have a moral objection now?
Sen. Daniel Biss: No, I think the Supreme Court was right. I think the Supreme Court was right. Um, I think that these pensions were promised to people, and they were told they were promised, and they were told that it’s a guarantee. And, I don’t think it’s appropriate then to go back and change it, and I…um…like I said, that was a long learning process for me, and I wish I’d learned that lesson differently. But I think that it’s a really, really important lesson.
Greg Hinz: Why this total mindset transition?
Sen. Daniel Biss: Well I think you have to ask the question: was the Supreme Court right or wrong?
Greg Hinz: What I guess I’m asking is a character question: if you could so completely change your opinion of something you spent so much time and energy on, what can people trust you not to change your opinion on, on other things?
An Illinois State Board of Elections hearing examiner has recommended state Rep. Scott Drury be knocked from the Democratic ballot for Illinois attorney general because he filed an incorrect statement of economic interest — a charge the north suburban lawmaker plans to fight. […]
According to the initial hearing examiner’s recommendation, Drury filed a statement of economic interest, required to run for office, but submitted a statement from April 2017 that he submitted to the Secretary of State for his role as state representative.
Drury’s attorneys claim his statement is accurate because it was filed within a year, which is required. And they argue that even if he had filed one for the attorney general post, it would have been identical to the one submitted. […]
Tenuto writes that Drury’s economic interest statement as state representative is “not applicable” and that he was required to file a new statement for the attorney general’s office. Tenuto writes that members of the General Assembly are in a different unit of government than members of the executive branch, and therefore, his previous statement isn’t valid.
Early voting, which was set to begin next week, will be delayed in Chicago and suburbs in Cook County, City Board of Elections officials said Friday.
According to an official with the Board of Elections, too many candidate challenges have not yet finished, delaying early voting in the area.
It remains unclear if delays will be seen in other Illinois counties as well.
*** UPDATE 1 *** From Rep. Drury…
“When I entered this race, I knew the party would do anything it could to prevent a proven reformer from becoming Illinois’ next attorney general. I have instilled a fear in Mike Madigan that has not been seen during his reign in Springfield. Justice was not served today, but the battle is not over. We plan to appeal the decision as soon as this afternoon. I trust justice will prevail in the end, and Illinois will get the chance to elect an Attorney General who works for people, not politicians.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** Press release…
“While I am in this race to win it, I believe democracy only works when we are all allowed do our best and put our vision before the voters to decide. I do not agree with these typical machine shenanigans, which are similar to what I faced when I took on the machine in 2016. I hope that Scott’s appeal is successful as he has gotten the necessary signatures and I don’t believe a technicality, an inconsequential and good faith mistake should result in him being knocked off the ballot.
As Democrats, we need to be better than this”
Aaron Goldstein
Candidate for Illinois Attorney General
Republican governor challenger Jeanne Ives abruptly canceled a Thursday night fundraising speech by an internet commentator who has said he believes African-Americans are intellectually inferior to whites and that correlates to higher poverty and crime among blacks.
The move by Ives to pull Bill Whittle from his role as keynote speaker came just hours before her event at Bull Valley Country Club in McHenry County, coming on the first day of Black History Month. It also came after some of Ives’ legislative colleagues, including Senate GOP leader Bill Brady, urged her to cancel Whittle’s appearance or the fundraiser itself.
No charges have resulted, but Illinois State Police interviewed legislative candidate Christopher Hicks after he made what was reported as an “aggressive” statement at the Litchfield office of state Rep. Avery Bourne, R-Raymond.
According to the police report, Hicks told a legislative aide to Bourne that he would be “coming for blood and vengeance” if Bourne did not co-sponsor a bill about parental rights.
But in an email to me about the situation, Hicks also wrote this: “Joe Woodward and the HRO are trying to run the Republican Party like a Nazi cult. If Avery Bourne does not disassociate herself from the HRO and Joe Woodward this election, she might as well start wearing the HRO swastika on her sleeve.”
I asked Ives’ campaign whether Hicks was still with the campaign or if he was removed, or if he had resigned. Here’s the only response I received…
Hi Rich - There was nothing to resign from he was a volunteer helping to arrange an event.
I followed up, but haven’t yet heard back.
…Adding… From the Ives campaign…
He is one of more than one thousand campaign volunteers. The article you sent to make us aware of his previous mistake includes him acknowledging the mistake and being “extremely apologetic” for it, which was appropriate based on the account of his reported comments. And that is the end of story.
Best,
Kathleen
But is he still with the campaign? I’ll let you know.
* Anyway, if you scroll down in that Ives Tribune story you’ll see this…
Controversies about race have swirled around Republicans nationally and in Illinois — including Ives, a three-term state representative from Wheaton, who is challenging first-term Gov. Bruce Rauner in the March 20 primary.
On Wednesday, Rauner’s handpicked state Lottery Control Board chairman resigned after it came out that he had used the term “sh*thole” on social media last month to describe Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin’s hometown of East St. Louis, which is heavily African-American. President Donald Trump had used the term to describe African nations in a closed-door discussion on immigration last month, a meeting Durbin attended.
On Thursday, the state GOP said the lottery board chairman, Blair Garber of Evanston, also had resigned as a member of the Republican State Central Committee. [Emphasis added.]
I was told by the state party yesterday that they had no details on the process or timeline of his replacement.
* And since we’re talking about Garber again, this press release from yesterday is relevant…
A member of the Illinois Lottery Control Board appointed by Gov. Bruce Rauner resigned yesterday after controversial social media posts about East St. Louis were made public.
State Senator James F. Clayborne, Jr. (D-Belleville) issued the following statement:
“I am thankful that the governor understood the seriousness of these comments and I appreciate his quick and decisive actions. It is my hope that we can move forward and find areas of common ground that benefit the entire Metro-East community.”
Clayborne is the Senate’s Majority Leader and represents East St. Louis.
* The governor was asked by some Decatur Herald & Review reporters today if his budget proposal would include rolling back the income tax. Gov. Rauner said he’d present a balanced budget first and then suggestion some additional options. “We’ll say, if we do the following additional things, we’ll reduce the income tax.”
* But he also said this…
In post-press conference interview, @GovRauner reiterated he will propose a 'balanced budget' in two weeks. He dismissed Civic Federation, Politifact, etc. that show he never has introduced one. "I feel, very strongly, that I've introduced balanced budgets every year."
2) On "Working together on grand bargain" item from his last budget proposal: "I'm not familiar with that." "My view, very strongly, I've introduced balanced budgets every year. This year, let's sit down and talk through it, I'll walk you through it line by line…"
Rauner’s budget plan also counts on $4.6 billion under a category called “working together on ‘grand bargain,’” a bargain that is still being negotiated in the Senate.
Macon County Sheriff Howard Buffett has donated $3 million to Crossing Healthcare to help pay for the new Decatur facility that opened in 2015, officials said Friday.
Crossing CEO Tanya Andricks announced the donation during a visit from Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and several Central Illinois lawmakers. Crossing is a federally qualified health center that serves Macon and surrounding counties.
“This shows what we can do when we come together,” said Rauner, who toured the facility before the announcement.
Half of the funding for the $6 million clinic at 320 Central Ave came from the state, Rauner said. Officials previously said that the remaining half of the facility’s funding was covered by loans.
Rauner said Friday that the donation would allow Crossing officials to “burn their mortgage” and focus on their work.
* Um, OK. Two things. First, here is the governor’s quote…
This is a great day for the people of Decatur, the people of Macon County and the people of Illinois. This is a wonderful day. This shows what we can do when we come together. Come together. Private citizens, members of our government, members of our healthcare, non-profit organizations. Everyone comes together to take on a challenge, solve problems and create a better future, a better quality of life for the people of Illinois.
* The governor asked for rounds of applause for several people, including Sen. Chapin Rose…
He has been an advocate here for Decatur and for this facility since he first got into public service. He has been on me relentlessly. Persistence is the key in every endeavor.
The board broke ground on three acres of vacant city lots last December [2014]. Half of the funding came from the state’s Illinois Jobs Now! Program, and the remaining $3 million was covered with loans.
But with no state budget in place, Andricks said CHIC is carrying the full debt load to finish the building.
Crossing Healthcare is a Federally Qualified Health Center, meaning that its revenue comes from the federal government.
But the center was awarded a $3 million state capital construction grant [in 2014] to build its new facility at 320 Central Ave., according to Crossing Director Tanya Andricks. In early 2015, Rauner froze all state capital grants, but Crossing’s governing board chose to continue with the building project.
“Over the last several years, Crossing has been carrying twice the debt burden as planned,” Andricks said. “This has caused us to delay things like cost of living increases for our staff. And we’ve had to reduce the number of physicians on staff and rely heavily on physician’s assistants and nurse practitioners.” [Emphasis added]
* So, to sum up, the governor freezes the center’s state capital funds, then after more than two years of gridlock he vetoed the budget, then immediately and continually slammed everyone who voted to override his veto, then talked today about how this great facility is the result of people and government coming together and praised Sen. Rose, who voted against the budget and against the veto override.
Lovely.
Also, Sen. Andy Manar, the guy who actually put the money into the budget, voted for the budget and voted for the override, wasn’t invited.
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
Senator Andy Manar today congratulated Decatur’s Crossing Healthcare on receiving a $3 million donation to help pay for a new facility that opened in 2015 despite Gov. Bruce Rauner doing everything in his power to block promised state funding.
“Thank you to Howard Buffett for stepping in to help alleviate some of the unnecessary financial burden that Crossing was forced to endure. Mr. Buffett’s generosity continues to change Decatur for the better, and he should be commended for all he has done,” said Manar, a Bunker Hill Democrat who represents much of Decatur, including Crossing Healthcare.
“Gov. Rauner appears to have conveniently forgotten the role he played in Crossing’s misfortune. I’ll help him remember.
“He froze its funding immediately upon taking office in 2015, blocked negotiations on last year’s ‘grand bargain’ and repeatedly vetoed state budgets that would have provided the money the center was due and desperately needed – money that was sitting idly in a state bank account.”
Crossing Healthcare was among the 14 federally qualified health centers and hospitals in Senate District 48 that Manar visited in November to learn more about the challenges and needs facing health care providers in central Illinois.
The continued delay in capital construction dollars from the state for the 2015 facility and the financial difficulty it created for Crossing, which served more than 19,000 patients in 2016, were significant concerns that were discussed during the senator’s visit.
“It takes a lot of nerve to do what the governor did today – and by ‘nerve’ I don’t mean bravery,” Manar said. “Gov. Rauner seems to not understand the connection between his actions as governor, being in charge of the state of Illinois, and press conferences like the one in Decatur today.”
The plaintiff in the U.S. Supreme Court case Janus vs. AFSCME is responding to critics, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, who call him and others who don’t want to be forced to pay fees to a union “free riders.”
The bishops filed an amicus, or friend of the court, brief last month siding with the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees over a worker who doesn’t want to be forced to pay fees to a union he doesn’t agree with. It cites a Catholic Church social doctrine from 1891 that called for workers associations to defend worker rights.
Liberty Justice Center Director of Litigation Jacob Huebert, who represents plaintiff Mark Janus in the case, didn’t understand why the bishops would file such a brief.
“I don’t know why,” Huebert said. “I don’t know why they would be against freedom of association when that, of course, works to their benefit and everybody else’s when they chose to advocate the things that they advocate.” […]
The bishops brief siding with the union said they’ve long supported the right of workers to collectively bargain and the right is weakened by right-to-work laws.
A “misguided effort to protect one individual from government coercion would leave only individuals to stand against government (or economic) coercion,” the bishops’ filing said. It also said ruling in favor of Janus would create a free rider problem that would weaken unions. […]
“Who’s the real free rider here?” Janus said. “[AFSCME is] taking my money, and thousands of other government workers. So who’s getting the free money here? They’re taking it out of my wallet and putting it in theirs without my asking and without my permission. That’s what I consider wrong. That I consider coercion.”
Also, I need a better moniker for the INN. Any ideas?
Mirroring divides in the Democratic Party, organized labor is split in the heated Democratic Illinois primary pitting Rep. Dan Lipinski against challenger Marie Newman.
This battle for the third congressional district seat is the biggest Democratic House primary in Illinois, and endorsements are picking up for each contender as early balloting for the March 20 primary gets underway. In Illinois, the deadline to mail out ballots to overseas and military voters is Saturday.
In the past weeks, Lipinski has won endorsements from a stack of building trade unions, the Illinois AFL-CIO and the Chicago Federation of Labor. On Friday, Newman is expected to get the backing of SEIU Local 1
* New York US Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is hosting a fundraiser for Newman today. And EMILY’s List also endorsed her today…
Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILY’s List, said in a statement:”With this Congress intent on ripping fundamental rights and autonomy away from women, it is critical that we elect leaders who stand with us. That is why we are endorsing Marie Newman for Congress. Throughout her career, Marie has worked to improve her community and advocate on behalf of children and families. Her record is unimpeachable. As a small businesswoman and nonprofit executive, Marie has shown that she will not back down from a challenge – a trait that will serve her well when fighting for the families of the 3rd District in Washington.
“The reality is that Dan Lipinski has not shown himself to be a leader that women and families can depend on. He has put women’s reproductive health care in jeopardy and sought to end protections against discrimination. This is not an acceptable way to govern – and it’s certainly not what the people of Illinois’ 3rd District deserve. We support Marie Newman in this election and urge the voters in this district to join us. With Trump and Congressional Republicans working around the clock to take us backwards, we need an ally like Marie fighting for progress. It’s time for change.”
* A Planned Parenthood endorsement could be happening as well…
Planned Parenthood, we’re told, could also be endorsing in short order.
*** UPDATE *** 10,000 members in the district. Impressive…
Today, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) announced their endorsement of Democrat Marie Newman in her bid to unseat out-of-touch incumbent, Dan Lipinski. Marie joined union leaders and members from SEIU Local 1, HCII, and SEIU Local 73 at their downtown Chicago office this morning at a press conference to announce the endorsement. This is an unprecedented power move against the thirteen year incumbent Democrat, Lipinski, who recently made public his opposition to a livable wage at $15 an hour. SEIU has been the national leader on the fight for $15 movement.
“Congressman Lipinski’s refusal to support a $15 minimum wage for working people shows how deeply out of touch he is with the working families of his district,” said SEIU Illinois State Council President Tom Balanoff. “Whether it’s voting against Obamacare or voting for restrictions on a woman’s right to choose, it is clear Congressman Lipinski does not share the progressive values of his constituents. SEIU is proud to join a long list of progressive leaders and organizations in endorsing Marie Newman for Congress.”
“When you work hard and play by the rules, you deserve a shot at the American Dream. That is a value I share with the 10,000 SEIU members who are the very backbone of our community here in the Third District, said Marie Newman. “For far too long, Dan Lipinski has turned a blind eye to hardworking Illinois families, ignoring his responsibility to fight to give them a chance. I will never turn my back on our working families, rather, I will fight tirelessly to make sure workers can survive on a livable wage, starting at $15 an hour, have access to affordable and quality healthcare and Medicare for all, and their earned benefits through Social Security and have respect and dignity in the workplace. I could not be more honored to have the support of SEIU members and I look forward to working alongside them as a partner to make sure that, no matter who you are or where you come from, if you work hard you will have a fighting chance at success.”
J.B. Pritzker’s just-announced $7 million contribution to his own campaign brings the total amount the billionaire businessman has self-funded in the Illinois Democratic primary to $49.2 million, surpassing the $45 million of personal funds Donald J. Trump spent nationwide in the Republican presidential primary election in 2016. Despite this unprecedented spending, Pritzker is still slipping in recent polling, causing him to change tact to attack fellow Democratic candidate Daniel Biss.
“JB has now spent more money on a statewide primary than Donald Trump spent on a presidential primary,” said Daniel Biss. “In trying to buy elections, these billionaire businessmen threaten our democracy at its very core. This campaign is about more than taking on JB Pritzker and his fortune—it’s about building a movement powerful enough to overhaul our campaign finance rules and build a system that works for the rest of us.”
* But Sen. Biss had a different take on Pritzker’s fortune on Tuesday night…
You’ve contributed $42 million to your primary campaign for governor so far. Will you pledge to contribute at least $42 million to the general election campaign regardless of who the nominee is?
It’s surprising you weren’t prepared for that question. And the idea that you want to hold the Democratic Party hostage and offer to fund the general election only if you’re the nominee, seems to me to be really problematic.
* Way back in December of 2016, Crain’s Chicago Business reported on some JB Pritzker contributions to the Speaker Madigan operation…
According to campaign records highlighted by the Rauner folks, $119,400 came from Stateline, which is listed at the same West Loop address as the Pritzker Group, and J.B. Pritzker listed the firm on a 2006 statement of economic interest.
Another $82,000 came from TNDP. It, too, has the same West Loop address, and its registered agent is Jay Robert Pritzker.
Republicans say that’s proof Pritzker is a secret agent of sorts of the governor’s arch-enemy, House Speaker Mike Madigan.
“After raising money for Rod Blagojevich, it’s no surprise that Pritzker is trying to hide hundreds of thousands in donations meant to help Mike Madigan,” Illinois Republican Party spokesman Steven Yaffe said in a statement. “Pritzker is just proving he is a political insider who will always side with Madigan to protect the status quo.”
* This morning, Gov. Rauner’s campaign organization sent out an e-mail entitled “WCIA: Pritzker used LLC to donate to Madigan” and linked to the story, which recycled that same info from the more than year-old Crain’s story…
Running short on time and low on resources, Democrats running against billionaire front runner J.B. Pritzker in the upcoming March primary contest are targeting the wealthy philanthropist with accusations that he bought his way into the good graces of powerful House Speaker and Democratic Party Chairman Michael Madigan in a scheme to consolidate party support and deny them the nomination. […]
“That just happens to be where there was money available to give,” Pritzker explained on Wednesday. He and his wife gave another $27,000 in political contributions during that same month under their own names. “As you know, the laws are you either give individually or you give through an organization that is made up of individuals and I am the only individual involved in that organization,” Pritzker said. […]
[Chris Kennedy campaign spokesperson Rebeccca O’Halloran Evans] said, “What’s clear is that Mike Madigan and political insiders are supporting J.B. in exchange for the promise that he’ll protect the status quo. Pritzker has spent more than $40 million in this race to raise his profile and it hasn’t bought him an ounce of courage,” she said in an email. “Pritzker won’t change the system that only works for a wealthy and well-connected few. A system from which he benefits while everyone else suffers.” […]
[Sen. Daniel Biss said] “Whether it’s to hide the liquidation of his offshore assets to avoid taxes, or hiding his donations to Mike Madigan to avoid being seen as Madigan’s chosen candidate, we know J.B. Pritzker is adept at the billionaire game of using shell companies to hide his record from the voters of Illinois.” […]
“J.B. Pritzker secretly bankrolling Mike Madigan only scratches the surface of their close relationship,” ILGOP spokesman Aaron DeGroot said in a statement. “Madigan knows Pritzker is a fellow insider who will protect their corrupt property tax racket and Chicago political machine. Pritzker will never stand up to Madigan, and that’s why Madigan has worked so hard behind the scenes to crown Pritzker with the Democratic nomination for governor.”
The Illinois Constitution requires Gov. Bruce Rauner to draw up a budget plan each year that is balanced. But a wide range of fiscal experts agree he didn’t do it in 2015 after taking office. He didn’t do it in 2016. He didn’t do it last year either, even though he claimed otherwise.
Indeed, the budget Rauner proposed last year was so clearly billions of dollars out of whack that, when he presented it to the General Assembly last March, PolitiFact Illinois handed the governor the lowest possible Pants on Fire! credibility rating for contending it was in balance.
So we were puzzled when Rauner on Monday declared to the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board: “I have introduced balanced budgets every year that I’ve been governor.”
Rauner followed that on Wednesday during his annual State of the State speech to lawmakers in Springfield with a declaration that unintentionally drew a boisterous round of sarcastic cackling from Democrats in the chamber.
“I will submit a balanced budget proposal next month,” Rauner said, pausing a couple of beats before adding, “Again.” […]
Rauner last year earned PolitiFact’s Pants on Fire! rating for his claim that a state budget he proposed was balanced. Indeed, fiscal experts say Rauner has never proposed a balanced budget as required under the state Constitution since taking office in 2015.
All facts to the contrary, Rauner repeated a similar claim this week during an appearance at the Chicago Tribune. “I have introduced balanced budgets every year that I’ve been governor,” Rauner said.
Aides to the governor filibustered when we asked them to back up his latest statement.
A year ago, PolitiFact called Rauner out on his balanced budget claim. His most recent comment is equally outrageous. Once again, we rate it Pants on Fire!
* Pritzker campaign…
“With his approval ratings under water and his accomplishments nonexistent, Bruce Rauner is taking up the Donald Trump playbook of peddling blatant lies,” said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. “Rauner’s disregard for facts and truth is an insult to Illinoisans still reeling from the damage done by his consistent failure to introduce a balanced budget.”
…Adding… DGA…
“By repeatedly lying about his record, Bruce Rauner is playing out his own personal Groundhog Day,” said DGA Illinois Communications Director Sam Salustro. “The fact is that Rauner has never proposed a balanced budget and has only made the state’s financial mess worse. Rauner’s failure to show leadership led to a two-year budget crisis, tripling the bill backlog and costing the state $1 billion in interest payments. That’s history Illinois voters don’t want to repeat.”
We are confident that JB’s message of beating Bruce Rauner and bringing real change to Illinois is resonating with voters across the state. After Dan Biss became the first Democrat to run attack ads in the Democratic primary last week, it’s clear that voters deserve to know the facts about Biss’ real record in Springfield.
* From the Biss campaign…
Today, JB Pritzker released his second attack ad in two days against Daniel Biss. The ads follow a We Ask America poll from earlier this week showing Biss surging with momentum since October while Pritzker loses support, despite spending $21 million on his campaign since then. That total does not include Pritzker’s latest contribution of an additional $7 million dollars from January 25. Pritzker’s primary spending now tops Donald Trump’s in the 2016 presidential primary in all 50 states.
“With his numbers dropping, JB is flailing,” said Biss campaign manager Abby Witt. “Clearly JB is nervous, and he should be. As voters see the choice between another billionaire and a middle class progressive that will make billionaires pay their fair share, Daniel Biss’ numbers are surging and JB’s are plummeting. So it’s no wonder we’re seeing another sloppy attempt to muddy the choice voters are making in this election.
“While middle-class families like Daniel’s send their kids to neighborhood public schools and struggle to pay their property taxes, JB profits from privatizing education and pulls the toilets out of his mansion to get a break on his taxes. If he truly cared about fully funding our public schools, JB Pritzker should pay his fair share in taxes instead of inventing schemes to profit off the backs of working families.”
*** UPDATE *** From Stand for Children Illinois…
Stand for Children and its members across the state of Illinois support public education, not school privatization. We have fought relentlessly for adequate and equitable funding for public schools and will continue the fight to make sure public school students have the quality education they deserve and teachers have the supports they need.
