Gov. Bruce Rauner and a host of other GOP luminaries are slated speak at the Whiteside County Republicans annual Lincoln Day Dinner on Friday […]
The keynote speaker will be Erika Harold, attorney general candidate and Miss America 2003.
That should be interesting.
…Adding… I’m told Harold still plans to attend the event.
* Pritzker campaign…
According to a shocking new report, Republican Attorney General candidate Erika Harold said she’d rather see children adopted to “a heterosexual couple who were known child abusers” than a “loving gay couple.”
As the two share a stage tonight at Lincoln Day Dinner in Deer Grove, will Rauner speak out against these hateful remarks?
“Bruce Rauner hand-picked Erika Harold to run for attorney general and is contributing hundreds of thousands of dollars to boost her candidacy, but does he stand by her blatant homophobia?” said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh.
Sen. Kwame Raoul, D-Chicago, who said during debate he once discriminated against those attracted to the same sex, said he’s changed.
“Evolution is part of what we do as a body,” he said.
* Former Gov. Pat Quinn…
Erika Harold’s reported views about the legitimate adoption rights of gay couples should alarm everyone in Illinois. Ms. Harold should know that there is never a situation when it is acceptable to knowingly put children in an unsafe home.
All children deserve loving parents who will protect them from harm. To expose foster youth to abusive placements is inexcusable and wrong.
As Governor, I stood for tolerance and fought hard to make marriage equality the law of Illinois. As Attorney General, I will speak out against bigotry whenever it surfaces. I will protect children from abusive situations and I will safeguard the rights of gay couples.
As Bruce Rauner’s handpicked candidate for Attorney General, Ms. Harold has the duty to protect children from abuse and combat bigotry of any kind.
* Press release…
Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, an adult adopted person who chaired The Adoption Reform Committee in the Illinois House and championed scores of laws making adoption inclusive in Illinois, said:
“Illinois cannot risk electing an Attorney General who will allow her personal bigotry to reverse years of progress on adoption policies that reflect inclusion, equality and the best interest of the child standards that are codified in Illinois law.
“Whether Harold recalls what she said or not, I demand that she answer that same question now and to answer it publicly. “
Agreed on the need for Harold to speak publicly herself, not through a spokesperson.
DCFS hasn’t published child abuse and neglect numbers since July. It’s something, for the past 35-years, they’ve done monthly. […]
Groups like the ACLU, the Foster Care Alumni of America and the Association of Social Workers Illinois, all depend on the data to keep track of abuse cases and ensure DCFS is doing it’s job. The information on the “Executive Statistical Summary” reports calls collected on the child abuse hotline, detailing where abuse is happening in the state and what the circumstances might be.
DCFS blames the halt on technical issues. A spokesperson says they’re working with Department of Information Technology (DoIT) to replace outdated software.
Some advocate groups the timeline doesn’t add up.
“It’s generally infuriating that we’re not able to get this data this is really core data so we can identify where trends are in the state where abuse cases are happening whether or not the department is doing their job in investigating those abuse cases, and without this data we can’t advocate for those children or the social workers that are suppose to be doing this work,” says Kyle Hillman of the National Association of Social Workers Illinois.
#FacePalm.
Rauner: “On things that we can control, I would give us an A.”
He must be using one heckuva grading curve.
…Adding… From Kyle Hillman in comments…
Also in that news coverage was this:
The last report was issued a month after new director, Beverly Walker, took over. When asked when new data would become available a DCFS spokesperson responded, “We are determining whether there is a legal mandate to produce this particular report.”
Rather than figuring out how to get the data out to the public, they are trying to figure out if they can legally just stop and hide the report numbers.
…Adding… Andrea Durbin at the Illinois Collaboration on Youth in comments…
DCFS testified in a Senate hearing in the fall that calls to the hotline were up 12% in the last two years, after years of declines. Our neighboring states have seen their child welfare systems explode with children due in part to the opioid crisis. This is a bad time for the data to go dark.
* Pritzker campaign…
“Hiding child abuse and neglect statistics is a new low in Bruce Rauner’s cover up of his fatal mismanagement of state government,” said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. “Children are suffering while this failed governor tries to preserve his image instead of protecting the lives of our most vulnerable.”
* Related…
* Boy died after being returned to his mother despite warning. The judge now works for DCFS: Carrie Cross told the judge the next time she would see 3-year-old Elijah Campbell, he would be dead. She was right. “I loved that boy. We had a lot of love for him,” Cross said. Elijah died in 2014 — three years after St. Clair County Judge Laninya Cason terminated Cross’ guardianship and returned the boy to his biological mother, Mio Campbell.
* Scott Kennedy’s extremely handy dandy website pinged me yesterday about a $43,000 independent expenditure by the Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association. It looked like radio ads on behalf of JB Pritzker. I reached out to the IDCCA and they sent it over.
* And that got me to thinking about how much Pritzker was spreading around. His campaign has contributed almost $618,000 to other campaign committees, with the largest being a whopping $200,000 to the St. Clair County Democrats last month.
Most, but not all, of the rest appears to be “street money” to ward, township and county Democratic organizations. The scale of this is pretty amazing. For instance, Pritzker’s campaign gave $15K to the 37th Ward Organization and $10K to Democratic organizations in the 8th Ward, Lyons Township, 34th Ward and a few others (some are repeats). $5K each was given to 26 committees (some repeats). And 28 other contributions were made of less than $5K. Click here for the full list.
You can cover a whole lot of precincts with money like that.
* By contrast, Chris Kennedy’s campaign has made $9,550 in contributions to other committees, but $5K of that went to Personal PAC (although Pritzker got the endorsement and kicked in far more).
And Sen. Daniel Biss’ campaign has given other committees just $4,000 since the beginning of last year. And half of that went to Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, who now backs Pritzker.
Chris Kennedy on Friday accused billionaire rival J.B. Pritzker of trying to buy forgiveness for insulting comments he made about black politicians in a wiretapped conversation with Rod Blagojevich — with $159,000 in contributions to Cook County Democratic ward bosses, many of them African-American. […]
“Since J.B. Pritzker started his apology tour for those comments about African American leadership, he’s s given $374,000 to political organizations across the state, more than $159,000 of which went to committeemen in the Cook County Democratic Party,” Kennedy said.
“He’s taken pay-to-play politics and amplified the system from pay-to-play to fund-to-forgive and fee-to-forget. He’s buying off the leadership.”
The always outspoken Austin was furious when told of Kennedy’s charge.
“I’ve sat quiet long enough. And I’m not gonna sit and die and let Chris Kennedy slander me. The hell with Chris Kennedy. I’m more than insulted by this so and so. Nobody can buy Carrie. Nobody! J.B. didn’t give me a dime when I endorsed him. Not one dime,” Austin said, her voice rising.”
The House speaker is calling in the big guns to help him hold on to his leadership of the state Democratic Party.
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin — one of the most popular and powerful Democrats in the state — has recorded robo-calls in support of Madigan holding his party post as state central committeeman. And U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth is planning to soon follow suit. […]
“This is Sen. Dick Durbin. We need progressive leaders to fight against Trump’s extreme healthcare cuts. That’s why we need to support Michael Madigan and Silvana Tabares for Democratic state central commitee,” Durbin says in the call. “Madigan and Tabares will stand up to Trump and fight for all of us. A vote for Mike Madigan and Silvana Tabares is a vote to resist the Trump agenda.”
* I was working on getting a copy of the audio because I’d also heard about the calls (he’s doing these in other districts, too). They actually start: “This message is sponsored by Friends of Michael J. Madigan.”
Madigan is not popular with rank and file members of his own party, so putting his name up front isn’t the best idea I’ve ever heard. Give Madigan credit for not forming some “dark money” PAC to help these candidates, but I can see this backfiring with more than a few voters.
…Adding… The Madigan folks say that federal law requires the “paid for” language at the beginning of a robocall if a federally elected official is involved. Interesting.
Illinois AFL-CIO President Michael Carrigan also did a recent robocall for Madigan-backed candidates, but the “paid for by Friends of Michael J. Madigan” disclaimer was at the end.
As we’ve discussed, Madigan is also doing mail in several districts. Some negative, some positive. Our Revolution Illinois, a Bernie Sanders affiliated group, is running a slate of candidates against Madigan’s people. The group doesn’t have the money on its own to support them, however.
But, man, we’re in truly weird times when Madigan has to go to these lengths to make sure he retains a firm hold on the state party.
* Every governor does it, and they probably shouldn’t…
Illinois Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza joined State Senator Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, State Representative Christian Mitchell, D-Chicago, State Representative David McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills, and State Representative Greg Harris, D-Chicago, Thursday to introduce the “Truth in Hiring” Act to bring all “offshored” employees of the Governor’s office back into the Governor’s budget.
For too long, Illinois governors – Democratic and Republican – have engaged in the deceptive practice of “offshoring.” The expression comes from the practice of rich people hiding their assets in offshore accounts, in tax havens like the Cayman Islands or Panama, to avoid paying taxes on them.
Illinois governors “offshore” their employees’ salaries to other agencies — for example, paying an education advisor $250,000 from the Department of Human Services; or a deputy chief of staff $140,000 from the Illinois State Police’s budget — to mask the true size of the Governor’s budget.
The most recent payroll shows only 44 of Governor Rauner’s staffers are actually paid from the Governor’s budget. MOST of his staff – 58 people – are hidden in other agency payrolls. If the Governor were honestly reporting all the people working in his office, he would have to disclose his office budget is more than $10 million, instead of the $4.9 million that is budgeted for the current fiscal year.
“That’s more than $5 million being secretly taken away from agencies that need it, like the Department of Children and Family Services that investigates child abuse; or the Department of Aging that cares for Illinois’ seniors,” Comptroller Mendoza said. “This ill-advised practice is silently siphoning money from health care, environmental protection, juvenile justice, economic development and public safety.”
The Truth in Hiring Act, (HB5121; SB3233) simply says that if an employee works in the Governor’s office, they will be paid from the Governor’s payroll. Their salary will be counted in the Governor’s budget. Their salary will not be pulled from agencies that are supposed to protect the most vulnerable or put state troopers on the highways.
“Offshoring is wrong. It was wrong when Governor Quinn did it. It was wrong when Governor Blagojevich did it. It was wrong when Governor Ryan did it. And it’s still wrong when Governor Rauner does it,” Comptroller Mendoza said. “This deceptive practice needs to stop.”
“Every time a governor shifts a new, unexpected six-figure salary onto a state agency’s plate, dollars that had been prioritized for important purposes – economic development, senior services and child protection, to name a few – are being diverted to a paycheck instead,” Senator Manar said. “Governors should understand the importance of being transparent about their expenses. Taxpayers who foot the bill for government, and frankly the lawmakers who determine the appropriations for state agencies, deserve that accountability.”
“This practice subverts the appropriations process. It takes money away from state agencies that protect children, the environment and public safety,” Representative Mitchell said. “This governor, and any future governors, should present the true cost of their staff in their office’s budget and make the case for why they need that level of funding.”
To be clear, this initiative is not intended to criticize employees who have found themselves offshored. In many cases they accepted jobs with the governor’s office not knowing their salaries would be offshored to other agencies.
This initiative follows Comptroller Mendoza’s Debt Transparency Act, which passed last year with unanimous or near-unanimous overrides. The state is already seeing the benefits of that reform as legislators on both sides of the aisle have more up-to-date numbers to craft a budget with and regular citizens have a clearer picture of the state’s finances.
* Accompanying graphic…
Hopefully, the governor won’t fight this idea like he did with the comptroller’s last initiative. She thumped him but good in that Debt Transparency Act battle.
*** UPDATE *** Governor’s office…
Rich,
We’re open to a conversation about changing bookkeeping practices. But, let’s be clear: all state agencies that operate under Governor Rauner are part of the administration and carry out the necessary functions of state government. Unlike previous administrations, we have been transparent and publicly reported employees that work in our office - reflecting that number in our headcount. All salaries are publicly reported. The Rauner administration is spending less on total agency-wide payroll than the previous administration.
Rachel Bold
Press Secretary
Office of Governor Bruce Rauner
Politician Kwame Raoul keeps insisting (insisting) that the hundred thousand dollars he took from Big Tobacco won’t play a role in how he handles the state tobacco lawsuit if he’s elected Attorney General. (Pay to play).
Kwame Raoul keeps insisting that the campaign cash he’s raked in from big utilities won’t affect his oversight of utility company rate hikes. (Pay to play).
And Kwame Raoul keeps insisting (insisting) that the thousands in campaign cash he pocketed from the red light camera operators won’t play any role when it comes to protecting citizens from red light camera abuse. (Pay to play).
With all that campaign cash (pay to play)(pay to play), do you think Kwame Raoul is going to stand up for you……. or them?
You don’t fight the big utilities and the red light camera operators when you’re on their payroll.
With all those conflicts of interest Kwame Raoul can’t be trusted to be on our side as Attorney General.
We need a fighter for us, like Pat Quinn (Pat Quinn).
The Southern Illinois Democratic County Chairmen’s Association is endorsing state Sen. Kwame Raoul’s attorney general bid.
The group said it was an attempt to head off former Gov. Pat Quinn’s candidacy in the race.
“It is time for fresh faces in the leadership positions of Illinois and to move beyond the same-old-same-old so we can grow as a party,” said Nancy Mitchell, chair of the White County Democratic Party.
The group represents Democratic organizations from Alexander, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Union, Wabash, Wayne, White and Williamson Counties.
* Also from the press release…
3½ years ago former Gov. Pat Quinn failed to carry one southern Illinois county. Meanwhile, Raoul has extensively traveled the state and picked up support from organized labor, elected officials and voters along the way. His campaign enjoys the support of elected officials downstaters trust like Secretary Jesse White, state senators Dave Koehler and Andy Manar along with state representative Jay Hoffman.
*** UPDATE *** From Ron Holmes at the Raoul campaign…
Pat Quinn having to pay black actors just to say something nice about him on black radio is the definition of pay to play.
Voters shouldn’t be surprised though. They know Pat Quinn’s failed tenure as Governor was plagued by scandal and now Illinois is a broken mess thanks to Quinn. Pat talks a big game on campaign finance but in the interest of disclosure let’s take a look at his record on “big tobacco, big utilities, and red-light camera operators.”
Some of his contributions from “Big Tobacco”…
Taxpayers for Quinn Altria Client Services 11/23/2009 $10,000
Taxpayers for Quinn National Tobacco Company, L.P. 6/29/2013 $10,500
Taxpayers for Quinn VMR Products, LLC 6/29/2013 $5,000
Some of his contributions from “big utilities”…
Taxpayers for Quinn BlueStar Energy Services 01/18/2010 $1,000
Taxpayers for Quinn BlueStar Energy Services 06/25/2010 $1,000
Taxpayers for Quinn Walls, Charles (ComEd VP of Customer Revenue Assurance) 08/19/2010 $500
Taxpayers for Quinn NextEra Energy Resources, L.L.C. 01/05/2011 $2,500
And those red-light camera operators?
Quinn received $4,000 in contributions from lobbyist Alfred G. Ronan, whose firm, Ronan Potts LLC, had reportedly retained red-light camera vendor RedSpeed Illinois as a client. In 2009, Ronan was described as, “Red Speed’s chief lobbyist in Springfield.” The Chicago Tribune also ran a piece specifically about lobbyist involvement in pushing red-light camera laws around the state, and it reported that Ronan had lobbied for RedSpeed since 2007. The piece also noted that Ronan lobbied for passage of the 2006 state law that opened the suburban traffic camera market to RedSpeed while working for another client.
Taxpayers for Quinn Ronan, Alfred G. 06/25/2013 $500
Taxpayers for Quinn Ronan, Alfred G. 06/26/2013 $1,500
Taxpayers for Quinn Ronan, Alfred G. 11/03/2014 $1,000
Taxpayers for Quinn Ronan, Alfred G. 12/23/2014 $1,000
In February 2012, Quinn SIGNED THE BILL that allowed Chicago to retrofit red-light cameras with speed sensors at intersections near schools and parks.
“Quinn signs Emanuel speed camera bill into law,” Monique Garcia, Chicago Tribune, 2/6/2012.
Gov. Pat Quinn signed a measure into law today that allows Mayor Rahm Emanuel to start using red light cameras to fine speeding drivers as much as $100 for violations.
“I think that you’ve got to understand that if you save even one life, you are saving the whole world,” Quinn said at a morning event at a Chicago school. “I mean, what do you say to a parent that’s been there from the day their son or daughter was born, and they’re killed by a speeding motorist next to their school, or their park?”
Bottom line: Pat Quinn will say or pay someone anything to get elected. He can’t be trusted.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Sharon Fairley…
In the final months of the Democratic primary for Illinois attorney general, the majority of candidates have put their ethics on hold to accept tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions from corporations, utility companies, tax attorneys, and alleged domestic abusers.
Scott Drury - who at a recent forum attacked Speaker Madigan on the issue of sexual harassment and misconduct - was not above taking a $10,000 contribution just two days ago from businessman Blair Hull, who was arrested for abusing his ex-wife.
Pat Quinn, who has repeatedly criticized the broken Cook County property tax assessment system on the campaign trail, pocketed a check for $200,000 on March 1, 2018 from a property tax appeal attorney.
Kwame Raoul’s many questionable campaign contributions are well documented. He has taken money from tobacco billionaires, political leaders, utility companies and red light camera operators. He continues to stand with Senate President John Cullerton, one of his biggest funders and a staunch supporter of disgraced state Senator Ira Silverstein.
Jesse Ruiz and Nancy Rotering have taken tens of thousands of dollars from big utilities as well. Rotering often brags about how she stood up to ComEd as mayor of Highland Park, but she also has no problem taking a check for $11,100 from them.
“We need an independent, experienced and qualified attorney general who is accountable only to the voters of Illinois,” said Sharon Fairley. “I’m not taking money from utility companies, corporations and other donors with conflicts in the office. You wouldn’t hire an attorney who receives thousands of dollars from someone who is suing you. You shouldn’t vote for one either.”
Fifteen years ago, a jury acquitted state Rep. Robert Rita after a woman he had dated accused him of barging into her house in Evergreen Park, pulling her to the floor and threatening to rape her.
Now the case is resurfacing as the Democratic state lawmaker from south suburban Blue Island runs for re-election in a new political climate shaped by a sexual harassment scandal in Springfield as well as the nationwide #MeToo movement.
Emboldened by a belief that her story carries more resonance today, Rita’s former girlfriend is speaking out and siding with a female challenger, Mary Carvlin, in the March 20 primary. Carvlin also has raised the issue in her campaign, calling a news conference to highlight the case and questioning Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan’s continued support for Rita.
“It’s almost like a second chance,” Liz Hogan, Rita’s accuser, told the Tribune.
Rita, who was found not guilty in 2003 on misdemeanor charges of domestic battery and criminal trespass, declined requests for a Tribune interview, though his representatives dismiss the issue as an old charge that ended in acquittal.
* Media advisory from Lorna Brett…
LIZ HOGAN ON HER ABUSER REP BOB RITA & MORE ABOUT SPEAKER MICHEAL MADIGAN’S ROLE
Time’s Up Bob…and Mike
WHAT: Liz Hogan has much more to say about Mike Madigan’s role in protecting her abuser Bob Rita. Hogan to endorse Mary Carvlin.
WHEN: 1:30 PM
WHERE: [Redacted]
WHO: Liz Hogan / Mary Carvlin, candidate for State Representative 28th District
WHY: Men like Bob Rita, Kevin Quinn, Shaw Decreamer, Ira Silverstein can’t keep getting protected / advanced by kingmaker like Mike Madigan.
Carvlin is challenging Rep. Rita in the Democratic primary.
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
Liz Hogan, the woman who brought domestic battery charges against then candidate for state representative Bob Rita, came forward today after over a decade of silence. Miller endorsed Mary Carvlin for State Representative of the 28th District and spoke about Speaker Madigan’s support of abusers.
Hogan called candidate Mary Carvlin after reading a Chicago Tribune column detailing the events that left her battered by Rita. The two met for a three-hour breakfast.
“I had not thought about Bob Rita and what happened for years. It was too painful,” said Liz Hogan. “When I read that column it all came back to me. I felt I needed to tell my story so I called Mary and we had a three-hour breakfast. It felt good to get it all off my chest,” said Hogan.
Hogan was a Cook County sheriff when she dated Rita. Her father Andy McGann was a state representative for ten years and loyal to Speaker Madigan. McGann went to Madigan when his daughter began having troubles with Rita and asked for his help to protect his daughter. Madigan allegedly said he would not get involved. Madigan attended McGann’s funeral with his wife a few years later.
Carvlin wants to be a fresh voice in Springfield and if elected pledges not to vote for Michael J. Madigan for Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Carvlin, a longtime Blue Island resident and veteran Spanish teacher, is running against incumbent Bob Rita. “Voting for Bob Rita is voting for Speaker Michael Madigan. This is a man whose organization has rampant sexual harassment and history of protecting the abuser not the abused.”
“Time’s up for State Representative Bob Rita and Speaker Michael Madigan. They need to step down,” said Mary Carvlin.
Lorna Brett, Hogan’s pro bono advisor and women’s activist said, “It seems Speaker Madigan has finally found religion when it comes to who he sides with in matters of abuse — the abuser or the victim. It’s too little, too late and he should step down as Speaker and as leader of the Democratic Party of Illinois. And, the Democratic women in leadership need to step up and demand this. It’s enough.”
In late 2017, Rauner defended himself to the Chicago Press Corp saying, “I am not in charge…”
Edgar County Watchdogs, Kirk Allen and John Kraft, published an authenticated internal email from First Lady Diana Rauner that suggests Gov. Rauner is correct. He’s not in charge. His wife is.
According to the story, the Watchdogs filed a FOIA inquiry about “protocols” involving Diana Rauner when it came to policy decisions and communications emanating from the Governor’s office. The response from the Governor’s office was that there are no such protocols.
However, in an email from Diana Rauner to the administration’s state communication staff several months before the legislation enacting taxpayer-funding of abortion-on-demand (HB 40) was signed into law by the governor, Diana Rauner clearly indicates she expects to sign off “per protocol”.
Dianna Rauner made it clear August 10th, 2017, at 7:18 pm, several months before HB 40 abortion bill was signed into law, that she will, in fact, sign off on the final version, per protocol.
Per Protocol?
“Happy to discuss further but per protocol I expect to sign off on the final version. Thanks”
While the topic of killing babies in the womb has been a heated debate for years in this country, we find that the Governor’s signing of the Abortion-on-demand bill, with taxpayers picking up the tab, may be the true tipping point in Illinois politics and the Republican Party.
Compound the signing of the bill with the fact his unelected wife affirmed she would sign off on the final version months before it was signed into law, it’s clear there is more to the story as to who is in charge.
The e-mail’s subject was “Statement on HB40.” She sent the e-mail to two press staffers, the governor’s chief of staff and her own chief of staff…
I would suggest:
Governor Rauner is committed to protecting women’s reproductive rights and has a consistent record of standing up for women’s rights. He won’t comment further on a bill that has not been sent to his desk.
Happy to discuss further, but per protocol I expect to sign off on final version. Thanks.
So, yeah, she definitely had some control over the governor’s messaging, but not the content of the legislation. At least, not that we know of.
As for protocols, they don’t have to be written down. Sometimes, you just know.
On March 20th Illinois voters will choose their candidates to run for the office of Governor this November. I am writing today to ask you to join me in voting for my husband, Bruce Rauner. […]
He can win a pivotal second term, but only with your help and support. Bruce will never stop fighting for Illinois, and I am proud to join him. Please vote for Bruce Rauner and join our movement to save Illinois!
Thank you for joining us in this important election!
Women Working for Change (WW4C) is a coalition of women from across the state of Illinois.
We are Democrats, Republicans, independents, doctors, teachers, moms and CEOs.
We joined together on the core principle that if we listen to each other and elevate the conversation above the constant political fighting we can reach real solutions to the problems we face in our state.
WHOIS lists the site’s creation date as November 15, 2017. The first story (the First Lady loves stories) was posted on December 7th. I’m guessing this “group” will get a whole lot more visible after the primary is over in a couple of weeks, assuming Rep. Ives is safely dispatched to the sidelines.
*** UPDATE *** The Illinois Review has picked up on the story. Headline…
Rauner campaign funds non-partisan, pro-abortion women’s group website
Packed room at AT&T center opening on North Side. Mayor Emanuel and Gov. Rauner here. Mayor expected to deliver a letter to Gov urging him to sign gun bill. #twillpic.twitter.com/vWlS0GegA1
He did reiterate his support for “safer schools,” a bump stock ban, a generic call to “support law enforcement” and “do a better job keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and mentally ill.” He ignored a follow up question about whether or not he’ll act before the primary.
Rauner says he has been “clear” on guns (he hasn’t though). He speaks in generalities: supports a conversation, making schools safer, banning bump sticks, more support for police. Gov has not given explicit answers on his position on bills; his conversations about them unclear. pic.twitter.com/7o6iJWVcRw
Saying he “supports a conversation” is a common @GovRauner tactic that buys him more time, and helps him to not get pinned down on an issue. But delaying staking a side has consequences, and it’s bitten him before. (And no doubt Dems have and will use this habit against him) https://t.co/RygCgJzWlj
* The tweet below has a typo. Biss doesn’t say this about teachers, he says it about state employees. “As a matter of politics, I can get away with really offending state employees because I don’t represent that many of them.” He said all legislators have lots of teachers in their districts, so that makes for a heavier lift on pension reform…
Video resurfaces from 2013 when @DanielBiss argued it’s okay to go after teachers’ pensions because there aren’t enough of them to hurt him politically. pic.twitter.com/6M208ESxdz
Illinois voters never know which Daniel Biss they’re going to get on any given day. The Daniel Biss who claims to be the middle class governor or the Daniel Biss who tried to rip pensions away from hard-working retirees.
Daniel Biss led pension reform, an effort funded by JB Pritzker. The two of them ignored the state’s legal obligation to fund teacher and state employee pensions, in favor of their own political interests.
Daniel Biss and JB Pritzker cannot operate with the integrity and the independence needed to fix the broken system in Illinois.
Anyway, the ad has reportedly been sent to the stations, so here it is…
…Adding… Script…
Drury: I’m Scott Drury. I’m a Democrat.
[Buzzer sound.]
Announcer: Really? Let’s follow the money. Drury’s taken $395,000 from Republicans and thousands from Trump’s own donors. And what do they get from Drury? He sided with Republicans and Rauner in the budget fight. He voted against working families. And Drury even voted against a tax on millionaires to improve education.
Drury: I’m a Democrat…
[Buzzer sound, Drury’s face x’d out]
Announcer: Drury. He takes Republican money and votes with them. The last thing we need as attorney general.
