* Speaker Madigan isn’t making a whole lot of new pals in the Quad Cities these days. I’ve already told you about what he’s doing to House candidate Katelyn Hotle, but check this out…
Statement from Citizens for Jeff Jacobs on Halpin TV Attacks
Yesterday, March 9, 2016 the Illinois State Board of Elections reported a contribution of $75,000 to the Mike Halpin campaign from State Representative Mike Smiddy. Until this past weekend, Representative Smiddy had professed to be neutral on this campaign.
On Monday, March 7, 2016, Smiddy called Representative Pat Verschoore to tell him Madigan’s staff had called and pressured him heavily to contribute money to the Halpin campaign immediately. He apologized to Representative Verschoore for his call but said “I had to do it for my future.” This clearly shows that Speaker Madigan’s promise of neutrality to Rep Pat Verschoore was untrue.
The money is being spent to continue funding baseless and untrue claims by Mike Halpin against Jeff Jacobs. For over five weeks now, Halpin has been attacking Jacobs with these untrue claims to confuse voters. “This is the kind of politics that creates deadlocks and prevents us from getting things done for the people of Illinois in Springfield,” said Jeff Jacobs. The Halpin campaign has trailed Jacobs in various polls for the duration of the campaign. The money from Smiddy is clearly intended to smear Jacobs with untruths in the final days through heavy TV, personal phone calls to voters and direct mail
“Our campaign from day one has been about positive ways to grow our Middle Class through good paying jobs in our communities while working together here and in Springfield to build, not destroy,” said Jacobs.
Verschoore has backed his nephew Jacobs from the get-go. Madigan has claimed time and time again that he’s neutral. But, just like the Dunkin race, it’s not very believable. And just like the Dunkin race, we now have some evidence that he didn’t tell the truth here, either.
I tried e-mailing, calling and texting Rep. Smiddy. If he ever responds, I’ll post it in full.
*** UPDATE *** Rep. Smiddy’s response…
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* Meanwhile, speaking of Hotle, she has one of the better homemade social media ads I’ve seen in a while…
A few more bucks for production and lots more dollars to put it on TV and that might’ve made a difference.
* Hotle, by the way, was endorsed this week by the Moline Dispatch…
Leading the money race in the four-way battle for the Democrats is a pair of lawyers who have split local party and labor backing: Mike Halpin and Jeff Jacobs.
By contrast, Rock Island Ald. Kate Hotle and Glen Evans, are outside looking in on the money race, though Ald. Hotle has felt its bite as the target of attack mailers paid for by Speaker Madigan. We urge voters to reject specious claims, including that she is a Rauner plant, and to focus on the facts. The only elected official in the field, Ms. Hotle is a hard working alderman not afraid to make the tough decisions. She could be the independent voice in Springfield some crave. She also promises a “better style of politics” our state needs.
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War of words continues
Thursday, Mar 10, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* BR (Before Rauner) this sort of hostile language against a chamber’s leader would get a staffer fired. We obviously no longer live in BR…
Whew.
* But Sen. Kwame Raoul did go off on the Prince of Snarkness yesterday in committee…
Oof.
…Adding… Sen. Raoul was apparently responding to Goldberg’s statement about how the last time he appeared before the committee the Senate Democrats were holding “sham” hearings to end negotiations and vote down the Governor’s proposals. Goldberg’s “YouTube” comment refers back to one of those hearings where Raoul again lost his temper. Click here.
* Goldberg said this yesterday at the hearing regarding the pension reform plan…
“We will support any language that the Senate President puts forward”
He qualified it by adding something about if the bill saves money. But, still. That’s a pretty broad invitation for Democratic poison pills.
Any suggestions?
* While we’re somewhat on this topic, here’s a letter from the governor’s education czar…
Dear Superintendents,
Yesterday a letter addressed to me was sent to you by Senate President Cullerton regarding funding Illinois PK-12 schools. Luckily, the letter was also printed in Capitol Fax, so I also had a chance to read it.
To reiterate, Governor Rauner’s proposed budget has three primary goals:
1. End proration of the current funding formula, which disproportionately affects low-income students.
2. Increase early childhood funding by $75,000,000 in order to increase the number of full-day preschool seats available statewide and to ensure continued operation of the current programs.
3. Continue to fund Safe and Alternative Schools.
If passed by the General Assembly, Governor Rauner will sign the bill immediately into law, thereby allowing you to begin planning for 2016-2017 school year.
The Governor agrees and has stated repeatedly that the current funding formula is inadequate. Illinois is last in state support for local education and has some of the largest funding disparities in the country on a district-by-district basis. We believe that more money is needed to support our children, especially those who live in poverty. We have pledged to continue to work with supporters of reform to determine how to create a funding formula that better meets the needs of all children.
Given the history of formula change efforts during times of one-party control, such a compromise will likely not be reached quickly in the current climate. President Cullerton and other Democratic lawmakers did not threaten to hold up school funding last year or years prior — only now that Governor Rauner has been in office for one year. During this first year, the Governor has proposed record funding for PK-12 schools in two consecutive budgets and is hoping to end proration for the first time since 2009. Again, I urge you to support his proposal so that schools open on time in the fall while we continue to work together toward bipartisan funding formula reform.
Sincerely,
Beth Purvis
Secretary of Education
Thanks for the free advertising, Beth, but the governor still has to explain how he can support a funding plan that appears to slash Chicago Public Schools by $78 million. C’mon.
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* Subscribers were told about this buy earlier today and they have details about the ad itself. What I didn’t know at the time was that the money came from IllinoisGO…
*** UPDATE *** Wordslinger in comments…
That’s strange — Dunkin is one of the lowest-rated GA members on the chamber’s last scorecard.
I wonder what changed their mind? When’s the Blue Room rollout of the spot so “Hang in There” Todd can give the skinny to media and members statewide as to the importance of Ken Dunkin?
I’m sure all those members statewide who are owed millions by the state for goods and services already rendered want to see the spot and learn all about Dunkin.
I make a $975,000 contribution minus a $960,000 ad buy nets the chamber $15,000 for selling its name.
It’s like the punchline to the old joke — we’ve already established what you are, now we’re just talking price.
Rep. Dunkin voted with the Chamber just 47 percent of the time in the 2013-14 legislative session, the only rating posted on the group’s website.
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* Meanwhile…
* Related…
* Rauner, Madigan proxy war plays out in Chicago House race
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Because… Quinn!
Wednesday, Mar 9, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the Tribune’s profile of the 8th Congressional District Democratic primary, comes this tidbit about state Sen. Michael Noland…
Noland, also an attorney who has an MBA, pulled in about $76,000 from the state and $10,000 from his law practice in 2014, according to his financial disclosure statement. Noland cited “financial hardship” in 2014 when he modified his mortgage through a federal assistance program that helps homeowners reduce monthly payments and avoid foreclosure.
In an interview, Noland said his family faced a number of financial obligations, including student loans and private school tuition for his daughter. The senator called back the next day to add that his family struggled after then-Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn zeroed out lawmakers’ salaries during a 2013 budget fight. Lawmakers went two months without paychecks before a judge ruled the move unconstitutional and the money was paid out.
Also in 2014, Noland got $8,700 from the city of Elgin as part of its energy-efficiency revolving loan program. Noland said the money was used in large part to buy an energy-efficient furnace. City officials said he was one of 19 homeowners who took part in the program, which was open to all qualified applicants.
And yet, Quinn has endorsed Noland.
* Meanwhile, from a press release…
A new poll shows small businessman Raja Krishnamoorthi has bolstered his lead in the Democratic primary for Congress in the 8th District of Illinois that includes the northwest Chicago suburbs.
Krishnamoorthi has the support of 55 percent of voters with State Sen. Mike Noland at 17 percent and Villa Park President Deb Bullwinkel with 9 percent. Undecided voters accounted for 19 percent of the poll. The margin of error was +/- 4.9 percentage points in the poll taken by GBA Strategies. […]
Taken March 3-6 by GBA Strategies, this live poll of 400 likely Democratic voters asked 8th District voters in the northwest Chicago suburbs which candidate they would vote for if the election were held today.
The poll results follow fundraising reports filed by the candidates last week with the Federal Elections Commission and revealing that Krishnamoorthi has $1,019,784 cash on hand compared to $63,357 for Noland and $3,403 for Bullwinkel.
…Adding… Raja’s campaign claims he’s also leading in Noland’s own Senate district 47-32.
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* Here’s Republican state Senate candidate Sam McCann in the July 11, 2010 edition of the State Journal-Register…
“I didn’t say I was a veteran. I said I was a member of the Marine Corps. … If the Marine Corps doesn’t call that being a member of it, I apologize for making a misstatement. But I signed a contract, took an oath of office.” […]
McCann also said earlier that he wasn’t sure technically what type of discharge he received, but said he has called it “honorable” because he knows it was not dishonorable.
Late in the week, McCann said he no longer has the discharge paper he got when his dream of being a Marine lifer was quashed, but he’s asked the military for another copy. He said he’s waiting for it to arrive.
* September 26, 2010 edition of the SJ-R…
McCann previously promised to try to get a copy of his exact discharge papers, but said this week he has not received them.
He’s clearly touchy about the subject.
“Why is it that the president doesn’t have to display his birth certificate?” McCann said when asked about his discharge papers. The comment echoed the claims of “birthers” who think, despite overwhelming evidence, that President BARACK OBAMA isn’t a U.S. citizen.
When I asked McCann if he believes the president isn’t a citizen, he responded, “No, I didn’t say that.”
* October 14, 2010 edition of the SJ-R…
His campaign literature also said he received an honorable discharge, although McCann later said he wasn’t sure what type of discharge he received. He hasn’t yet secured a document to illuminate that point.
* Today’s SJ-R…
Aaron DeGroot, Benton’s spokesman, said he sent an information request to the National Personnel Records Center, asking about a “William Samuel McCann.”
“We have been unsuccessful in identifying a military service record for the above-named individual,” said the Jan. 19 response from an archives technician. “This does not mean the subject did not have military service, only that we are unable to identify a record based on the limited information you have provided.” […]
Neither McCann nor his campaign consultant, Glenn Hodas, responded to messages Tuesday about the military records issue. […]
McCann, DeGroot said, “has had six years to produce documentation to prove his version of events, and he has not done so.”
All emphasis added.
*** UPDATE *** Bernie has added a statement in an update. Here’s the relevant part…
“I was never a veteran, so there are no discharge papers.”
And, yet, he said he had them and lost them and said repeatedly that he was trying to get them for months in 2010.
Sheesh.
Good candidates get in front of this stuff. Not so good candidates allow themselves to be run over by this stuff.
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