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Friday, Dec 8, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I figure there will be several of these, so I opened up a new thread. Our first is from attorney general candidate and former vice president of the Chicago Board of Education Jesse Ruiz…

It is unfortunate that it had to come to this, but I believe that Forrest Claypool, the Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Public Schools, has chosen to do the right thing in resigning his position.

It is time for Chicago to follow the lead of major cities around the country and move to an elected Board of Education. I believe an elected school board will increase transparency and accountability in the leadership of our public school system.

* Chris Kennedy campaign…

Today’s resignation by Forrest Claypool is just another example of how our broken political system is failing our children. Our city and our state have been operating without a moral framework for far too long. The inspector general’s report shows irresponsible and self-serving leadership by Forrest Claypool at the expense of the more than 350,000 students who attend Chicago Public Schools.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel appointed Barbara Byrd-Bennett, a school chief who is in prison, and Forrest Claypool, another school chief who attempted to skirt ethics laws. Emanuel’s track record proves where his loyalties lie: to his peers who benefit from a discriminatory public education system that works to rob our students of opportunity.

We need an elected school board to bring accountability, transparency and trust to the city’s public schools.

19 Comments

*** UPDATED x1 - CPO Daley responds *** Rauner’s chief legal counsel recommended procurement officer who Rauner claimed was influenced by Madigan

Friday, Dec 8, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller

* AP…

A Republican lawmaker challenged GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner Thursday to prove his claim that the Democratic House speaker improperly influenced an autonomous agency’s decision to cancel a state consulting contract.

Rep. David McSweeney said Rauner made a “really serious charge” when he alleged his political nemesis, Speaker Michael Madigan, pressured the state’s independent monitor to end the $12.5 million contract dealing with Medicaid services.

“I’ve seen no proof. I’d like to see proof, or the governor needs to apologize,” the Barrington Hills Republican said. […]

The chief procurement officer, Ellen Daley, who is appointed by the independent Executive Ethics Commission, found no evidence of that. She nullified the pact on Tuesday, finding it should have been offered to the lowest and best bidder.

* The actual Rauner quote…

Asked if he thought the procurement officer who’d voided the contract was controlled by the speaker, Rauner said he thought Madigan had “heavy influence.”

The governor laughed off a question about McSweeney’s demand today.

* Well, guess what? In March of 2015, Gov. Rauner’s chief legal counsel Jason Barclay sent a letter to the Executive Ethics Commission’s executive director Chad Fornoff recommending that Ellen Daley be hired as Chief Procurement Officer, along with two others for top procurement jobs…

Chad, as we discussed, we would like to offer our own recommendations of individuals for the three open CPO spots… We can give these individuals high marks and recommendations, and would like for the newly constituted board on July 1 to have an opportunity to consider them since they will be the ones working with them going forward.

The letter (with some privacy redactions) is here.

* Rep. McSweeney’s react…

Governor Rauner made very serious charges against Ellen Daley on Wednesday when he said that Speaker Madigan has “heavy influence” over Daley in a feeble attempt to take the focus off his Administration’s no bid $12.5 contract with McKinsey that was rightly voided. Now it turns out that Daley was recommended by the Rauner Administration. Governor Rauner needs to immediately apologize to Ellen Daley‎, members of the General Assembly and most importantly the people of this state for not telling the truth.

*** UPDATE *** AP…

Daley told the AP Friday she is “neither influenced nor biased by politics.”

33 Comments

*** UPDATED x1 *** US Sens. Durbin and Duckworth both endorse JB Pritzker

Friday, Dec 8, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller

* More in a bit…

JB Pritzker on Durbin & Duckworth endorsement: “IL is coming together with a common purpose, beating Bruce Rauner.” pic.twitter.com/3fwOej46dJ

— Derrick Blakley (@BlakleyCBS2) December 8, 2017

Video is here.

*** UPDATE *** Press release…

Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth endorsed JB Pritzker for governor at a campaign event in Chicago. The two endorsements come as support for JB Pritzker continues to grow throughout the state with endorsements from Secretary of State Jesse White, Comptroller Susana Mendoza, Treasurer Mike Frerichs, the Illinois AFL-CIO, and over 30 individual unions.

As the Senior Senator from Illinois, Dick Durbin has served in the U.S. Senate since 1997, and is currently the Democratic Whip. He is a tireless advocate for our state, fighting to strengthen the economy through infrastructure funding and standing up for immigrant families and Dreamers. Senator Tammy Duckworth was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016 after representing Illinois’ Eighth Congressional District for two terms. She is an Iraq War Veteran, a purple heart recipient, and one of the first Army women to fly combat missions in Operation Iraqi Freedom. She has been a relentless advocate for working families and Veterans during her time in public service.

“Senator Duckworth and Senator Durbin are fighting for our values every single day,” said JB Pritzker. “But they can’t do it alone. They need all of us. I’ve introduced bold plans to move our state forward and I will continue to do so throughout this campaign and as governor of this state. We’re going to have to unite and turn our energy and ideas into victories. With Senator Durbin and Senator Duckworth on our side, with over 30 individual unions and the 900,000 members of the statewide AFL-CIO, with elected leaders and issue advocates speaking out on behalf of this campaign, and with the support of hundreds of thousands of working families across this state, we are united and ready for the fight.”

“I’m proud to endorse JB Pritzker for governor because he will be a strong partner and an effective leader for our state,” said Senator Durbin. “I’ve spoken with all the Democratic candidates and heard their visions for our state, and JB has emerged as the clear choice for governor. JB has traveled across Illinois, hearing from people in Rockford and Cairo, Macomb and Danville, and everywhere in between. He has thoughtful and comprehensive policy plans on the issues that matter to Illinoisans. He has shown continued support for immigrants and the Dream Act, protecting health care for all, and creating new and good paying jobs in Illinois — all things that will make Illinois stronger.”

“I’m proud to endorse JB because I know he is ready to fight for working families in Springfield,” said Senator Duckworth. “With JB, I know I’ll have a partner in the governor’s office who will work to create good jobs, help give Veterans the support and opportunity they deserve, and make sure every child gets a quality education. JB understands that pitting Illinois communities against each other is no way to govern, and I’m confident he will work for every Illinoisan as governor. I know JB can bring Democrats together to beat Bruce Rauner and win up and down the ticket, across the state.”

20 Comments

Kennedy says Pritzker will “protect the political establishment,” while Rauner denounces “corrupt” Madigan-Berrios-Pritzker cabal

Friday, Dec 8, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Chris Kennedy…

It’s been one day since the Chicago Tribune and ProPublica Illinois published their investigative story about our rigged property tax system that benefits the well-connected and political insiders at the expense of homeowners, communities of color and working families, and my opponents have yet to join in the call for Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios to resign.

This is a clear signal that a JB Pritzker administration will do nothing more than protect the political establishment while the rest of Illinois residents are left navigating a system that is working against them. Will JB help end the racket and adopt my proposed reforms, including banning elected officials from holding outside jobs as property tax appeals attorneys?

I just don’t see how the government can legally block tax appeals attorneys from holding elected office, but whatever.

* In case you missed it, this is Pritzker’s comment yesterday…

As I’ve stated, we need to reform our flawed and inequitable property tax system. But I’m not here to score political points by attacking other Democrats. That’s what my opponents are doing when we should be focused on defeating Bruce Rauner. The voters will ultimately decide if Mr. Berrios deserves another term.

…Adding… React to Pritzker…

.@JBPritzker I’m not here to score points. I’m here to tell the truth, even if it offends those who protect the status quo. #endtheracket https://t.co/fqIZ4e2xEu

— Chris Kennedy (@KennedyforIL) December 8, 2017

* Meanwhile, the governor is also getting into the act…

The people in power, Madigan and his machine, they like the status quo. #twill #ilgov

— Bruce Rauner (@BruceRauner) December 8, 2017

Madigan's law firm works with Berrios, Berrios reports to Madigan in the Democratic power structure as part of the Chicago Machine. #twill #ilgov

— Bruce Rauner (@BruceRauner) December 8, 2017

38 Comments

*** UPDATED x4 - Pritzker campaign responds - Rauner admin responds - McSweeney supports Ives’ call for investigation *** Murashko memo finally surfaces

Friday, Dec 8, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Thursday, August 24th Rauner administration press release…

General Counsel Dennis Murashko will leave the Administration at the end of August to pursue opportunities in the private sector. As part of the legal team’s succession planning, Kenton Skarin will assume the role of Acting General Counsel to the Governor.

That press release was issued not long after Gov. Rauner told reporters there would be no more major departures.

But Murashko’s departure didn’t happen at the end of August, which would’ve been a week later. It happened the very next day.

* Saturday, August 26th…

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner’s top attorney – whose end of August departure was announced Thursday – was escorted out of the governor’s office at the Thompson Center in downtown Chicago on Friday [August 25th], according to published reports, nearly a week ahead of his planned exit.

What happened? It’s been the object of much speculation.

* September 5th…

But Murashko also authored a memo to the governor raising the question of whether the administration was properly keeping politics out of the office, sources with knowledge of that memo say.

That didn’t turn out to be totally true.

* I obtained a copy of the memo this morning. Click here to read it. It’s addressed to Gov. Rauner and his then-chief of staff Kristina Rasmussen as a response to their request for info on “best practices for interactions between employees of the Office of the Governor (including the Governor) (collectively, ‘Governor’s Office employees’) and members of the Governor’s 2018 reelection campaign.”

I’m told that the governor did not react well to these proposed restrictions, some of which were pretty strict.

* Some quick excerpts…

I’ve asked the governor’s office for comment.

*** UPDATE 1 *** Hmm…

.@JeanneIves calls for an Inspector General investigation into @GovRauner's firing of Dennis Murashko. pic.twitter.com/Y1f3J93XkK

— Mark Maxwell (@WCIA3Mark) December 8, 2017

*** UPDATE 2 *** Rep. Dave McSweeney…

I support Representative Ives call for an EOIG investigation of the overall Murashko situation. The EOIG needs to also immediately respond to the press report about an existing or closed potential investigation of Murashko alleging that he “abused the powers of his office.”

*** UPDATE 3 *** From the governor’s office…

You appear to have an internal document prepared for internal use — one of dozens of legal memos prepared to provide advice to the office on various topics.

As to Mr. Murashko, he resigned from our office. (see attached.)

The attachment is here.

*** UPDATE 4 *** Pritzker campaign…

“Bruce Rauner fired a senior advisor, spent months trying to hide the Murashko memo, and he refuses to answer any questions on the subject,” said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. “As questions about potential ethics violations mount, it is time for Bruce Rauner to come clean to voters about why Dennis Murashko was fired.”

55 Comments

*** UPDATED x1 - Report: Claypool to resign today *** Food for thought

Friday, Dec 8, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Running way behind this morning, so chew on this one for awhile…

It is ok kids to lie to authorities. Go ahead do it multiple times. Even try to get other people to lie for you. However after you are caught admit it. We will support you. #CPS #ClaypoolLessonPlan pic.twitter.com/zoQlZJik58

— Kyle Hillman (@kylehillman) December 8, 2017

Claypool: Lies in an ethics investigation.
Berrios: Rigs tax system to favor the wealthy and lawyers
Preckwinkle: Relies on regressive soda tax to solve budget crisis.
Emanuel: Fails to address police misconduct.
How are those Democrat policies working out Chicago voters?#twill

— Grant Wehrli (@GrantWehrli) December 8, 2017

Tribune editorial backs keeping Claypool after lying and coverup to Inspector General. https://t.co/caMNYQDud7

— Rick Pearson (@rap30) December 8, 2017

*** UPDATE *** Tribune…

Embattled Chicago Public Schools CEO Forrest Claypool plans to resign Friday, sources familiar with his decision said.

Sources said CPS Chief Education Officer Janice Jackson, who has long been seen as the heir apparent to the district’s top office, is expected to be named as interim CEO.

23 Comments

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