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Leader Brady sees rainbows and unicorns ahead for GOP

Monday, Sep 10, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

Illinois Senate Republican leader Bill Brady said Sunday that voters are seeing state elections as being separate from a national referendum on President Donald Trump.

“What I see happening are people realizing that this is not a national agenda. There’s no question that the national scene and some of the president’s tweets and other things go south on people even though I think he’s done much in terms of policy,” Brady said on WGN AM-720.

“But as people realize this isn’t a national election, it’s a state election about the future of Illinois and it’s about whether or not you want to give control and another (redrawn legislative boundary) map to (House Speaker) Mike Madigan and (Senate President) John Cullerton, they realize how important this is,” he said.

The Bloomington Republican said he is seeing renewed enthusiasm among GOP voters, particularly among core social conservatives who have been divided over Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s tenure and his support of laws expanding abortion, immigration and gay rights.

The full interview is here.

…Adding… Ha!…

It's like he watched only the first half of the Bears game…

— HenryT (@HenryT) September 10, 2018

But, hey, Billy might be right. Who knows anymore?

* Related…

* Rauner falsely claims graduated income taxes always hurt the middle class: Rauner said that in “every state that has put in a graduated income tax, the middle class always pays more.” But 11 of the 32 states that tax income at graduated rates would tax an individual earning the national median at lower rates than Illinois. In some of those states, the rate would be significantly lower. What’s more, tax rates tell only part of the story. Many states, including some with much higher rates, also offer taxpayers generous exemptions and deductions, significantly reducing their actual tax burden.

* Obama, Pritzker sip tea at Urbana coffee shop, warn gov race not in the bag

* Former President Obama Makes Campaign Stop With JB Pritzker

* J.B. Pritzker is skipping the Tribune debate. Maybe he can have a live chicken take his place.

* Rogue billionaires are giving the GOP and Democrats a migraine: In Illinois, where Uihlein resides, he backed state Rep. Jeanne Ives to the tune of $2.5 million as she challenged GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner in the primary. Rauner survived, but is considered to be one the most vulnerable governors running for re-election this fall.

* Rauner lifts road-weight limit for market-bound crop-haulers

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Pritzker responds to mileage tax accusation

Monday, Sep 10, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* As we discussed last week, I’ve been wondering when JB Pritzker was finally going to respond to two different ads (by Gov. Rauner and the RGA) about a mileage tax. And here it is…

I watched a couple of football games Sunday (ugh, those Bears will kill me one day) and I saw the new Pritzker ad four times, but I only saw the original Rauner spot once and have yet to see the RGA’s ad.

Anyway, what do you think of the ad?

…Adding… I suppose it’s what definition you have for “propose,” but I disagree with this take from the Rauner campaign…

Hey, Rich-

Actually, Pritzker did propose a VMT, emphasis added:

Charging gas taxes based on how many miles people drive instead of how much fuel they burn could pump up revenues to help fix Illinois’ roads and bridges, Democratic candidate for governor J.B. Pritzker told the Daily Herald editorial board.

Called a vehicle miles traveled or VMT tax, it’s an idea worth exploring, the billionaire Hyatt hotel heir said in a Thursday interview where he also pushed for a graduated income tax, but gave few specifics.

…

“In some states (such as Oregon) they have done tests recently for a VMT tax because we have more and more electric cars on the road, more and more hybrids, and because gas mileage is rising. It’s only fair if you’re on a road and traveling on that road that you should pay your fair share,” he said.

A VMT tax “is something we should look at … we have to careful how it gets implemented and that’s why it should only be a test at this point.”

How is that a proposal?

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Caption contest!

Monday, Sep 10, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Looks like a tracker is gonna win a bonus. JB Pritzker and Speaker Madigan had always studiously managed to avoid appearing in the same photograph with each other, but check this out from a weekend event…

Not exactly embracing each other, but it’s something.

…Adding… Madigan’s Democratic Majority PAC reported a $1 million contribution from Pritzker over the weekend. Pritzker also contributed $1 million to the Rock Island County Democratic Central Committee and $500K to Sen. Kwame Raoul. And Friends of Michael J Madigan collected a $500,000 check from the Laborers union (as subscribers know, he busted the caps on his personal committee weeks ago).

Everybody’s flush and happy these days.

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*** UPDATED x2 *** It’s just a (campaign) bill

Monday, Sep 10, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Press release…

Sam McCann Introduces Bill to Repeal HB40, Ending Taxpayer-Funded Abortions

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Friday, Conservative Party gubernatorial candidate Sam McCann filed legislation to overturn House Bill 40, a law signed by Governor Rauner earlier this year that allows public funds to be used for abortions. McCann’s Bill would restrict public funding of abortions and return provisions that would bring Illinois in line with federal law in the event that Roe v. Wade is overturned.

McCann issued the following statement:

I am taking action on behalf of conservative families in Illinois to send HB40 to the trash heap, where it belongs. This abominable law is not only immoral, but fiscally reckless, and Illinois can afford neither at this critical time.

After years of failed efforts to address Illinois’ financial crisis, Governor Rauner diverted badly-needed tax dollars to fund the expansion of abortion coverage across Illinois. This law forced taxpayers not only to accept the continued deaths of thousands of innocent babies, but to finance them as well.

I am hereby calling for colleagues in both parties to support this effort to protect innocent life and end forced public funding for abortions.

* Meanwhile, a letter to the editor from a 27-year-old small business owner supporting McCann has made it into two newspapers so far. The gist…

1. He is the only pro-life candidate running for governor (Gov. Bruce Rauner stabbed conservatives in the back when he signed a bill that allowed taxpayer money to fund abortions). J.B. Pritzker and Kash Jackson support the same abortion policies.

2. Sen. McCann is strongly against Gov. Rauner’s transgender birth certificate policy. J.B. Pritzker would also support transgender policies like this. Policies like this endanger children. Sen. McCann will protect children from dangerous transgender policies.

3. Sen. McCann is strong for the Second Amendment.

4. Sen. McCann is against Gov. Rauner’s sanctuary state policy.

*** UPDATE 1 *** This is almost hilarious…

“Unlike Bruce Rauner who waffled on HB 40 and supports a Supreme Court nominee who could overturn Roe v. Wade, JB Pritzker has always stood up for a woman’s right to choose and will fiercely defend that right as governor,” said Pritzker campaign communications director Galia Slayen. “JB opposes this draconian rollback of reproductive rights and would veto an HB 40 repeal if it reached his desk — but the question remains: will Rauner join him or will this failed governor abandon Illinois women once again?”

*** UPDATE 2 *** Now comes Raoul…

Kwame Raoul, Democratic candidate for attorney general, opposes legislation that state Senator Sam McCann introduced last week to reverse the protections in House Bill 40, raising the question of whether Republican attorney general candidate Erika Harold supports his move. HB 40 protects a woman’s right to choose and access healthcare even if Roe v. Wade is overturned.

“We simply can’t trust Erika Harold to defend a woman’s right to choose,” said Aviva Bowen, spokesperson for Raoul. “While she tells voters she’ll ‘enforce the law,’ her anti-choice allies, like Sam McCann and Peter Breen, are working hard to repeal a critically important law protecting women and their access to reproductive healthcare. Voters deserve to know; does Erika stand with McCann or would she actually defend HB 40 in court?”

Harold opposes abortion, even in cases of rape and incest. Last month, state Representative Peter Breen, the ringleader of opposition to HB 40 who even filed a lawsuit to try to block it, hosted a fundraiser featuring Harold.