Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Monday, May 15, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The House and Senate both convene at 3 o’clock this afternoon. Watch it all in real time right here with ScribbleLive…

1 Comment

Mautino fund fined $5K, case won’t be forwarded for prosecution

Monday, May 15, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From the Illinois Policy Institute’s news service…

The Illinois State Board of Elections could determine Monday what sanctions it will impose on Auditor General Frank Mautino’s campaign fund from his time as a state lawmaker.

A year ago, the board ordered Mautino’s campaign to clarify tens of thousands of dollars in spending at Spring Valley bank and a service station in his district. Mautino has taken no action on that order and has exercised his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.

Last month, it was formally determined at a hearing that Mautino was in violation of the board’s order. The hearing officer has since recommended the elections board fine the Mautino camp for failure to amend campaign reports.

The board voted today to fine Mautino’s campaign fund $5,000, but split 4-4 on party lines about whether to refer the matter to a state prosecutor.

* Mautino’s campaign fund is closed and he can’t re-open it without violating state law, which prohibits the auditor general from doing any campaign stuff…

For starters, any fines approved by the election board wouldn’t be paid by Mautino personally, but by his campaign committee. Further, Mautino’s campaign committee won’t pay any fines because it was closed Dec. 31, 2015, and no longer exists.

* Meanwhile, this is from one of Dan Proft’s newspapers…

Auditor General Frank Mautino needs to be fired by the same people who hired him, Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) told the House on Thursday.

“Make no mistake about this: Our auditor general should be removed from by this body,” Ives said. “This body put him into the office and only can this body, with the Senate, take him out of office, and it is our duty to do so at this point.”

Ives demanded the passage of House Joint Resolution, which calls for Mautino’s ouster following controversies regarding discrepancies in his campaign spending. […]

“Specifically, [Mautino] willfully violated the board’s May 18, 2016, order vis-à-vis failing to amend disclosure reports filed in 2014 and 2015 to one, reflect an accurate breakdown between gas and repair made to his account; two, identify the actual recipients of itemized expenditures; and three, identify the specific purpose for the expenditures,” Ives said.

* And this is from the Illinois Policy Institute’s radio network…

State Sen. Laura Murphy, D-Des Plaines, who upon taking office called for Mautino to resign, has since changed her tune.

“The only evidence that the state board of elections found was failure to file an amendment timely, that is not an egregious violation,” Murphy said. […]

Murphy said if federal investigators had something, they’d act.

“If it is a significant crime and if they have evidence, [the feds] move right away, she said. “If there is nothing, then the process seems to be slowed down.

…Adding… Actually, if you click here, you’ll see that Sen. Murphy didn’t call on Mautino to resign, she said he should take a leave of absence during the probe.

…Adding More… Greg Bishop sent me the audio and Sen. Murphy did, indeed, say to him that she had wanted Mautino to “step down.”

17 Comments

Illinois Policy Institute wins two Lisagor Awards

Monday, May 15, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From the Illinois Policy Institute…

I’m proud to announce that the Illinois Policy Institute received two Lisagor Awards from the Chicago Headline Club last night.

Senior Writer Austin Berg earned well deserved recognition for his groundbreaking storytelling work, winning for Best Individual Blog Post (independent) and Best Individual Blog (affiliated).

This was a banner year for our team, which received 14 nominations for the prestigious awards – a new record for the Illinois Policy Institute.

The Chicago Headline Club nominates talented writers, filmmakers and illustrators for its coveted Lisagor Awards each year, and the nominees represent the best of the best in Chicago journalism. With these nominations, our team is among the likes of the Chicago Tribune, Bloomberg News, NBC 5, WGN, NPR and more.

Here is a full list of Lisagor winners.

We have worked hard for years to position ourselves as one of the best sources for news and media throughout Illinois. The continued growth of our audience and recognition among the best in legacy media are steps toward achieving that goal.

The best part? We’re just getting started. As our team grows, we’re tackling new projects and reaching new audiences each day. To see our latest work, check out “Forgotten Illinois,” a short documentary capturing the real life struggles facing small-town Illinoisans across the state.

According to the Headline Club, “The awards recognize the best of Chicago journalism and are named for Peter Lisagor, the Chicago Daily News’ Washington bureau chief from 1959 to 1976.”

Discuss.

…Adding… It wasn’t without some dissent, apparently…

Creditting a dark money organization with journalism awards is very troubling toward the role of what journalism means at this time.

— Rick Pearson (@rap30) May 13, 2017

45 Comments

JB Pritzker airs second TV ad

Monday, May 15, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Press release…

Today, the JB Pritzker for Governor campaign released its second TV ad, “Incubate.”

“Incubate” highlights JB’s visionary work to grow Illinois into one of the top technology hubs in the world. Five years ago, JB brought tech leaders and entrepreneurs together to found 1871, a non-profit technology incubator. In the years since, Chicago transformed from a city falling behind in the tech economy, to a leading center for technology growth and innovation. Along the way, 1871 supported hundreds of startups and helped create over six thousand good paying jobs in Illinois.

“When Illinois was falling behind in the tech economy, I decided to think big, bring people together, and get results for our state,” said JB Pritzker. “I’m proud of our work building 1871, and helping turn Illinois into one of the top technology hubs in the world, a center for creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship. But there is more work to be done. Under Governor Rauner’s failed leadership, Illinois is losing jobs and wasting opportunities. We need a Governor with big ideas, who knows how to bring people together and get things done.”

* Tribune…

Encouraging start-ups is the prominent feature of the new ad, which contains testimonials from people largely affiliated with 1871. The candidate does not speak in the ad.

Instead, it features Suzanne Muchin, founder of Mind + Media Matter Studio, a multiplatform marketing firm and 1871 board member; Matt Moog, CEO of PowerReviews, a customer review technology firm who chaired 1871; Shradha Agarwal, president of Outcome Health, a consumer focused wellness website; Amanda Lannert, CEO of Jellyvision and a member of 1871’s advisory board and Neal Sales-Griffin, CEO of CodeNow, a computer code mentoring firm and one of Encouraging 1871’s first tenants.

In the ad, Moog touts that “Illinois is now one of the fastest growing and largest technology hubs in the world” after Muchin laments that a decade ago the state was far behind on high technology jobs.

“This is what’s possible. When someone like J.B. puts forward a big idea and a big vision, that is exactly what our state needs right now,” Muchin says to close the ad.

* Rate it…

…Adding… Script…

People don’t realize that 10 years ago, Illinois was way behind when it came to tech jobs.

It was both hard to raise money and it was hard to hire the right employees.

JB Pritzker really saw the potential of being able to grow tech jobs right here.

He is the visionary and architect behind 1871.

JB created something unique, which was one of the first non-profit institution like 1871.

I’ve definitely seen first-hand how JB Pritzker has had an impact on not only my company but hundreds if not thousands of other people.

He honestly cares about others doing well and making a name for themselves in Illinois.

One thing I love about JB is that he’s a visionary but he gets it done.

Illinois is now one of the fastest growing and largest technology hubs in the world.

This is what’s possible when someone like JB puts forward a big idea and a big vision. That is exactly what our state needs right now.

34 Comments

« NEWER POSTS