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*** UPDATED x2 *** Veto override showdown postponed until April

Wednesday, Mar 14, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* After a governor vetoes a bill and returns it to the originating chamber, the Illinois Constitution requires that chamber to immediately journalize the veto and then take a vote within 15 calendar days.

But the Senate didn’t journalize Rauner’s Tuesday veto of the gun dealer licensing bill yesterday or today. A Senate Democratic spokesperson told me that Rauner didn’t officially return the bill until after the Senate had adjourned, even though the veto message is dated yesterday.

The Senate canceled tomorrow’s session and won’t return until April 10th, so proponents have some time to figure out what to do (and spring break won’t be interrupted).

*** UPDATE 1 *** The governor’s office disagrees…

Rich,

We filed it the same way we filed the vetoes for their out of balance budget and permanent 33% tax increase last summer. Those vetoes were both on the Senate floor within hours of being filed.

Rachel Bold
Press Secretary
Office of Governor Bruce Rauner

Uh-oh. I’m not sure what happens now. I guess the governor could take the Senate to court, which happened with Rod Blagojevich (in his case, it was the House).

*** UPDATE 2 *** Hmm…



The governor’s office claims, however, that the bill was sent to the Senate.

[ *** End Of Updates *** ]

* Anyway, from the Senate Democrats…

Senate Democrats took the lead in advancing comprehensive gun safety legislation Wednesday. Illinois Senate President John J. Cullerton issued the following statement.

    “This was an important step forward. Yes, there’s more to do. But today we saw lawmakers come together and support commonsense gun laws. It is my hope that this unity can continue and our efforts will make a difference.”

On Wednesday, the Illinois Senate approved three gun safety proposals, all of which Senate President Cullerton supported.

Here’s a summary of those proposals and their status:

House Bill 1465 - Prohibits the sale or transfer of an assault weapon, .50 caliber rifle or large capacity magazine to an individual under the age of 21.

    Status: Senate approved 33-22. Returns to Illinois House for final action on changes.

House Bill 1467 - Ban on bump stocks and trigger cranks. Also restores local governments’ ability to enact local regulations and restrictions regarding assault weapons.

    Status: Senate approved 37-16. Returns to Illinois House for final action on changes.

House Bill 1468 - Increases the waiting period to receive an assault weapon after purchase to 72 hours from 24 hours. (Note: This mirrors the existing waiting period for handguns)

    Status: Senate approved 43-15, clears the way for it to go to the governor.

* Meanwhile, from the Ives campaign…

Conservative reform gubernatorial candidate Jeanne Ives issued the following statement today on the Chicago Public Schools walkout and the complaint filed by the Chicago Republican Party with the CPS Inspector General:

“Public resources shouldn’t be used for politics. The Chicago Public Schools are behaving like Illinois’ Political Ruling Class by using the taxpayer’s money improperly–and don’t forget Gov. Rauner just committed the entire state to a massive $17 billion bailout of CPS. I’m all for civic education. I’m all for youth participation. I’m not for children being used as tools of political propaganda by Rahm Emanuel, the Chicago Teachers’ Union and Chicago Democrat politicians.

“The Chicago Republican Party and its Chairman, who is the parent of a CPS student, are right to lodge a complaint with the CPS Inspector General. Chicago Democrat politicians like Rahm are wrong to exploit children in advance of their political ends.”

* Related…

* Rauner primary rival Ives supports arming teachers with guns to ‘harden’ schools

  25 Comments      


*** LIVE *** Session coverage

Wednesday, Mar 14, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Watch it all in real time with ScribbleLive


  2 Comments      


Drury gets million-dollar contribution

Tuesday, Mar 13, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* This has been rumored all week…



Word is that Dury’s new TV ad ties fellow attorney general candidate Pat Quinn to Speaker Madigan. I’ll post it when I get it.

Weirdest year ever.

…Adding… This is an odd poll story because it’s so bereft of numbers, but at the very least it shows Drury believes he’s surging

DRURY INTERNAL POLL — Attorney General candidate Scott Drury released an internal poll Tuesday that showed big movement for Drury, and challengers Kwame Raoul and Pat Quinn in both directions. Drury’s support has jumped 5 percent, Raoul’s 9 percent. Quinn still leads the full slate of candidates although his support dropped about 20 percent. The poll was conducted by Deep Blue Strategies of Chicago. Thirty-three percent of respondents were undecided.

Jumped 5 percent or 5 points? Big difference. I’ll assume it means points. Also, he’s jumped 5 since when? And where’s he at now? 5? 10? I’ve asked the campaign for an explanation.

  30 Comments      


Strangest. Year. Ever.

Tuesday, Mar 13, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From tonight



And don’t forget to check her mentions.

…Adding… From a buddy…

In conservative speak I think that means that they just don’t have any special rights

OK then.

  30 Comments      


*** UPDATED x1 *** Edgar County Watchdogs files OEIG complaint

Tuesday, Mar 13, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The Edgar County Watchdogs ran another story the other day about campaign and messaging e-mails between Diana Rauner and others, including then communications director Diana Rickert. Click here to read it. They’ve been publishing other stories on this topic for a while now (Click here, here and here). Well, they’ve taken it to the next level

In light of the multi-part series we have published recently regarding the activities taking place in the Office of the Governor, specifically, Washington DC campaign figures driving policy with direct communications to state officials in the Governor’s Office, we looked closely at our Illinois State Ethics Act. […]

In this case, we have filed a formal complaint with the Office of the Executive Inspector General (OEIG).

* From the complaint

Based on included information and privileged sources, we believe Governor Bruce Rauner has given his campaign staff control over policy making decisions and communications from his gubernatorial, state government office and is, concurrently, forcing state government staff to work, against their will, on his re-election effort. […]

In conclusion, the activities and circumstances outlined above appear to be clear evidence of violation of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, 5 ILCS 430 5-15(a)-(c). They appear to reveal a governor who violated this law as he was gearing up for his re-election campaign, allowing that campaign and those who run it to direct policy and communications for the official governor’s office.

We request an immediate investigation and resolution of this matter and the recusal of Gov. Rauner from appointing the next Inspector General, as they will be investigating this very serious case. That person needs to be independent of the governor.

* This timeline is also in the complaint

• July 10, 2017 - Gov. Rauner hires new Chief of Staff, Kristina Rasmussen, new communications director, Diana Rickert and new campaign staff as well as new general consultancy, Coldspark, for his re-election campaign.

• July 27, 2017 -Amidst debate in Congress over repeal of Obamacare, Rauner Campaign Consultant Nachama Soloveichik and First Lady Diana Rauner discuss Gov. Rauner’s public position on the issue, including which groups “can be helpful” to his re-election if he publicly opposed Congressional Republicans. Top State Government Staff, Chief of Staff Kristina Rasmussen and Communications Director Diana Rickert, are cc’d on the email.

• Aug. 3, 2017 - Diana Rauner emails Rasmussen, Rickert, Soloveichik and her partner, campaign consultant Mark Harris, advising that Gov Rauner should agree to support a K- 12 School Funding measure he has long opposed “to rewrite the narrative of the past two and a half years.”

• Aug. 4, 2017 - Gov. Rauner leads a meeting of his new state govt. staff and his campaign staff to discuss their organization structure and reporting. General Counsel Dennis Murashko expresses concerns in the meeting regarding political staff directing official staff.

• Aug. 21, 2017 -Murashko delivers a memo on Rauner’s state government office and how it is ethically and legally required to govern itself with regard to campaign staff and the re-election team. Rauner resists the memo.

• Aug. 23, 2017 Murashko resigns, giving two weeks’ notice.

• Aug. 24, 2017 Rickert and her communications team resign. Rauner’s office publicly says it is about a communications flap; privately, sources say, their departure is actually over
issues related to the memo.

• Aug. 25, 2017 Murashko is escorted out of his state office; The reason given: an anonymous OEIG complaint against him.

• Aug. 30, 2017 Rauner officially sign the K-12 school funding bill, the subject of the Aug. 3 email.

• Sept. 5, 2017 - An anonymous source tells reporter Natasha Korecki of Politico that the Murashko OEIG complaint alleged “he had misused the powers of his office.”

• Sept. 7, 2017 -An anonymous source tells reporter Rich Miller of Capitol Fax that “there’s speculation from inside that the memo Murashko wrote about politics in the governor’s office might have been drafted to somehow protect himself from the OEIG beef.”

• Sept. 20, 2017 Rauner publicly announces his opposition to the Graham-Cassidy Obamacare repeal bill pending in Congress, the subject of the Jul. 27 email. The language he uses in his statement mirrors the language suggested in that email.

• Dec. 8, 2017 Murashko’s memo is leaked to Miller, who publishes it.

• Dec. 11, 2017 Korecki complains publicly that her Freedom of Information requests to the Governor’s office, asking for Murashko’s resignation letter and the memo, have been ignored. Rauner’s office responds by releasing the resignation letter, but not the memo, which is already public on account of the leak.

• Dec. 12, 2017 Rauner tells reporters that the Murashko memo was “created at my urging.”

• Jan 4, 2017 Murashko defends himself on Facebook, suggesting his “professional integrity” was tested in the governor’s office, but he chose to do the “right thing.”

• Mar. 9, 2017 The OEIG exonerates Murashko, who publicly slams the anonymous complaint as “baseless” and restates that the memo he wrote “was necessary.” He does not validate Rauner’s claim that he told Murashko to write it.

I’ve been trying to reach Rickert for weeks to no avail. But if she claims that she left over issues related to the Murashko memo and not because she was fired after all the chaos, things could get interesting.

…Adding… On background, a senior Rauner official said in no uncertain terms that Rickert was fired for releasing that now notorious “as a white male” press release without getting clearance. The official also claimed that Rickert was “clearly” the one leaking these e-mails to the Edgar County Watchdogs “in an effort to rehabilitate her reputation.”

*** UPDATE *** Governor’s office…

Rich,

This is lazy and inaccurate conjecture quoting anonymous sources. This office follows all ethics laws. If there is an investigation, we will fully cooperate.

Rachel Bold
Press Secretary
Office of Governor Bruce Rauner

  37 Comments      


Ives launches two new ads

Tuesday, Mar 13, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Jeanne Ives press release…

In one week, Illinois Republicans will weigh in on the direction they want to take the Illinois GOP and thereby Illinois.

Will they nominate a candidate– as FNC Host Tucker Carlson put it, a “Fake Republican Governor”—who doesn’t deserve to be re-elected and will not be re-elected regardless of the Democrat nominee.

Or will they act consistent with their stated desire for new, conservative reform government.

Are Illinois Republicans ready to revolt against the Ruling Class?

Jeanne Ives frames the choice for GOP primary voters in her closing argument TV and radio spots.

The buy is a 2,000-point statewide network buy.

2,000 points?

* Proud

* Real Conservative

…Adding… It’s not 2,000 points per market, I’m told by a Rauner source, it’s 2,000 points total.

  31 Comments      


Rauner veto react

Tuesday, Mar 13, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* There’s more react here from before the governor actually vetoed the gun dealer licensing bill. But I’ll be updating this post with react from now on, so check back. First up, Sen. Harmon…

State Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) issued the following statement in response to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of the Gun Dealer Licensing Act:

“The governor must be much more concerned about his immediate political prospects than we thought, because he decided to be a lap dog for the NRA today rather than listen to the people he represents.

“Eighty-five percent of Illinoisans support licensing gun dealers. Governor Rauner has decided to be the governor of the nine percent who don’t.

“Tomorrow, students across the country will stand up and beg elected officials to do their job and protect schools from gun violence. By issuing this veto on the eve of those demonstrations, the governor is telling them that he has no intention to live up to that responsibility.”

The bill passed with just 30 Senate votes and 64 House votes, so I kinda doubt it’ll be overriden. We’ll see.

* Speaking of the walkout…

Senator Melinda Bush will stand in solidarity with students across the country by leading a walkout against gun violence on Wednesday at the Capitol.

“We’re standing in solidarity to honor gun violence victims and let students across Illinois know that their voices matter and that we hear them,” said Bush (D-Grayslake). “The voices of these students have broken though partisan politics, and their actions have brought about commonsense conversations on gun safety.”

Who: Senators, staff, lobbyists, advocates and anyone who wishes to participate. Speakers will include Senator Bush, Senator Chris Nybo (R-Elmhurst) and Senator Jacqueline Collins (D-Chicago)

What: A 20-minute Capitol walkout and short program: 17 minutes for the Parkland victims, one minute for Chicago Police Commander Paul Bauer and two minutes for all victims of gun violence

Where: Participants will walk from east Capitol doors to the Abraham Lincoln statue for the program

When: 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 14

Why: To stand in solidarity with students across the country and in our districts who are calling for honest, bipartisan conversations about gun safety and to honor the victims in Parkland, Commander Paul Bauer and all victims of gun violence

* Gov. Pat Quinn…

Gov. Rauner’s veto of common-sense regulation of Illinois firearms dealers is appalling but not a surprise. Coming one week before our state’s primary election, it’s a reminder of the governor’s abdication of leadership, regardless of the harm done to all Illinois citizens.

I have worked tirelessly, in and out of office, to make our communities safe from gun violence. As Attorney General, I will challenge efforts by the Trump administration to weaken state regulations of firearms. There is no higher or more urgent calling for an office that must be the lawyer for everyday people and the guardian of their well-being.

* According to published reports, the NRA has contributed to Democratic Rep. Sam Yingling in the past and he’s been given an “A” rating. Here’s his statement…

I’m disappointed in Bruce Rauner’s veto of the common-sense gun safety reform measures outlined in SB1657. In a press release following his veto, the governor tried to offer “starting points” for having “serious conversations,” leading me to question whether the governor has been paying attention to the urgent national and local dialogues following the tragedy in Florida.

The conversations I have had with students, mothers, law enforcement officials, and community members in my district over the last few weeks have brought one fact into focus for me: reasonable gun safety measures promote responsible gun ownership and keep our schools and communities safe.

I will continue working with my colleagues in the legislature to send the governor common-sense gun safety bills. I hope he learns to listen to the people in my district and across Illinois who are demanding that we do better when it comes to protecting our children.

* Kathleen Sances, President and CEO of the Illinois Gun Violence Prevention PAC (GPAC)…

“This veto is a punch in the gut to victims of gun violence and their families who dedicated years of their lives to get this bill passed. The Gun Dealer Licensing Act had the potential to save thousands of lives and instead of following suit with cities like the Village of Lyons, which passed its own version of this legislation catching 51 guns in the first year and a half alone, the governor instead decided to stand shoulder to shoulder with the NRA. And now, thousands more lives might be lost because of his inaction.”

* Rep. Scott Drury…

“It is a sad day for Illinois when a governor puts his political interests ahead of the public interest. Yet, in vetoing the Gun Dealer Licensing Act, Governor Rauner did just that. Illinois is in the midst of a gun violence epidemic. The NRA constantly says that criminals – not guns – kill others. The Gun Dealer Licensing Act will keep guns out of the hands of criminals. As a co-sponsor of the Gun Dealer Licensing Act, I know this legislation could save lives. Governor Rauner failed Illinois today.”

* Jesse Ruiz…

Governor Rauner’s veto of the gun measure that would have required the state of Illinois to license gun dealers shows his complete lack of courage and failed leadership. With the number of mass shootings affecting our country, this measure was a step in the right direction by requiring dealers and employees to be trained to conduct background checks, stop thefts, properly store guns and prevent straw purchasing - all urgently needed reforms in Illinois. With the primary election upon us, let’s hope this frustration turns into action at the polls.

  26 Comments      


*** UPDATED x1 *** POLL: 57 percent of Chicagoans say city is on wrong track, will vote to replace underwater Emanuel

Tuesday, Mar 13, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Melissa Harris…

On Tuesday through Thursday of last week, Max Temkin and I fielded our second Temkin/Harris Poll.

Much has stayed the same with this poll:

We hired veteran pollster Jill Normington of Normington Petts in Washington, D.C., to conduct the survey. (Jill is Tammy Duckworth’s pollster.) The sample size is 500 (includes cell phones); the error rate is +/- 4.4%.

We polled registered voters versus likely voters. This gives us a sample that is slightly younger, more Hispanic and less African American than people who typically vote. However, we’re also able to say, using this methodology, that the results represent the views of a broader swath of Chicagoans. So please view this as a public opinion poll, and do not use it to predict election winners.

The top-line results are attached to this email; below is a summary of the headlines.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s favorability and re-elect numbers “are still terrible but a little better than before,” Jill said.

The Police Department’s favorability has gone up due to significant improvement among African Americans. In fact, favorability is now net positive among this group (50/29).

Not surprisingly, J.B. Pritzker’s name recognition has shot up to three-quarters of Chicagoans from two-thirds since September. Somewhat surprisingly, his favorability among African Americans and Chicagoans overall has increased since September.

And finally, several new, exciting topics in this poll: the express train to O’Hare; tax breaks for Amazon; legalizing the use of recreational marijuana; and an elected school board.

Chicagoans support an express train to O’Hare, no matter what part of the city they live in, whether they have a college degree or not, or whether they’re conservative or liberal. And note the high intensity of the positive: Nearly half of Chicago registered voters polled are strongly in favor of this idea.

And finally, the answer that most surprised us: Strong support for tax breaks for Amazon (59% in favor; 25% opposed). “There is a little bit of an age pattern with people over 60 more likely to be opposed, but there is no partisan bent. Democrats and Republicans are within six points of each other, and it is rare for them to be that close on anything,” Jill told us.

You can read my full analysis at mharris.com and Max’s at maxistentialism.com, which hilariously chronicles a cease-and-desist letter we received after the last poll. We will conduct our next poll in the fall just prior to the general election.

The poll is here.

* Not great news for Mayor Emanuel

Would you say things in Chicago are generally headed in the RIGHT DIRECTION or would you say things are pretty seriously off on the WRONG TRACK?

    RIGHT DIRECTION 28%
    WRONG TRACK 57%
    (DON’T KNOW) 15%

If the 2019 general election for Mayor of Chicago were held today, would you vote to RE-ELECT Rahm Emanuel to another term as Mayor or would you vote to REPLACE him with someone else?

    DEFINITELY RE-ELECT 13%
    PROBABLY RE-ELECT 15
    DEFINITELY REPLACE 17
    PROBABLY REPLACE 40
    (DON’T KNOW) 16

    TOTAL RE-ELECT 27%
    TOTAL REPLACE 57%

President Trump was at 12% favorable, 82% unfavorable. Gov. Rauner was at 17% favorable, 62% unfavorable. Mayor Emanuel was at 36% favorable, 42% unfavorable. And JB Pritzker was at 35% favorable, 24% unfavorable. Lots of undecideds on that last one, which is what we’re seeing in other polls.

Meanwhile, 59% supported “The tax breaks and incentives offered by Chicago to
bring in an Amazon headquarters,” while 25% opposed. Another 66% supported “Making recreational marijuana legal in Chicago,” while 27% were opposed. And 83% supported “Having the Chicago School Board be elected instead of being appointed by the mayor,” while just 10% were opposed.

*** UPDATE *** Text message from a Rahm campaign guy…

Hey Rich, read your post on the Chicago poll. I do not think this poll is grounded in reality. Important to point out that a November GE electorate is fundamentally different than a 2019 municipal electorate. If you look at the demographic makeup of this poll it skews much younger than a typical November electorate let alone a municipal electorate. The racial makeup is also significantly off. Beyond these points, this poll does not reflect what we are seeing with our own internal numbers or numbers that have been reported from other campaigns.

  58 Comments      


Martin Sheen narrates newly voiced Kennedy ad

Tuesday, Mar 13, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Press release…

Chris Kennedy’s campaign for Governor released the following ad today, narrated by Martin Sheen. The ad highlights Chris Kennedy’s values and family history. The ad will run statewide, across multiple markets.

…Adding… This is the same ad as last week’s “Ideals” ad with a new narrator, so the headline was changed.

* The ad

* Script…

RFK: “Few will have the greatness to bend history …. generation.”

Narrator: Chris Kennedy’s father fought for civil rights, equality and fairness

RFK: of all those acts will be written the history of this generation…

Narrator: Today, the fight lives on in Chris’s campaign for Governor. To take on a broken political system. Endorsed by Newspapers across the State as Authentic and Independent… Kennedy will be an Anti-establishment Governor with a progressive agenda. And the vision to reshape Illinois.

  22 Comments      


Union-backed Pritzker criticized for not supporting grad student unions

Tuesday, Mar 13, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Sen. Daniel Biss has been issuing statements of support for graduate student unionization efforts throughout his campaign. JB Pritzker showed up to a picket line at UIUC the other day. WCIA TV’s Mark Maxwell’s report

Billionaire philanthropist J.B. Pritzker who inherited much of his wealth gave a record $100 million donation to Northwestern University in 2015. A graduate student who teaches there says that gift should have come with conditions that the administration acknowledges the graduate student union.

“I live paycheck to paycheck because graduate stipends are barely sufficient to pay my rent, living expenses, and my student loans,” says Jessica Creery, a Ph.D., candidate who says her medical research on epilepsy and Alzheimer’s yielded five million dollars in grant money for the school.

When an accounting error interrupted her paycheck last fall, she says her life nearly went into a tailspin. […]

Creery, who is supporting Daniel Biss in the Democratic primary race, criticized Pritzker for not publicly supporting the efforts of the Northwestern Union Graduate Workers — a union group the school does not yet recognize in collective bargaining.

* Maxwell caught up to Pritzker

Reporter: Your name adorns the campuses at Northwestern and University of Chicago, you’re a donor there. How would you describe your clout on those campuses and how have you used that to support unions, because unionization efforts have been resisted on those two campuses? What would you say about those efforts?

Pritzker: Well, I don’t know about the University of Chicago because I have not been involved at all there. At Northwestern, I’m an alumnus of Northwestern Law School, I’m proud of my own work there and also of the work they do to train lawyers and much of the program that I supported at Northwestern was really aimed at the Center on Wrongful Convictions, at the um… and the organizations that are standing up for our immigrants…

Reporter: But on unionization there?

Pritzker: I have not at all been involved in that.

It goes on for a while longer. Have a look.

…Adding… Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Galia Slayen…

J.B. stands firmly on the side of graduate students in their fight to unionize and has put forward real plans in this campaign to put Springfield back on the side of working families. That’s why J.B. is the only candidate endorsed by the IFT, IEA, statewide Illinois AFL-CIO, and over 30 individual unions and he looks forward to standing with them as governor to defend our labor movement and help workers in Illinois thrive.

  31 Comments      


*** LIVE *** Session coverage

Tuesday, Mar 13, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The House isn’t in this week. Senate committees started at 9 and the chamber convenes at noon. The House’s Human Services Appropriations Committee meets this afternoon in Chicago. Watch it all in real time with ScribbleLive


  Comments Off      


*** UPDATED x4 - DGA, Cullerton, Biss, Kennedy blast Rauner - Prizker says Rauner “cares more about winning his primary than doing his job” - Emanuel: Veto is “slap in the face to crime victims, faith leaders and police” *** Rauner now says he’ll veto gun dealer licensing bill

Tuesday, Mar 13, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* So, he goes through that long, dodging dance yesterday and refuses to answer Chicago reporter questions about whether he’ll sign the gun dealer licensing bill, then goes on a southern Illinois radio station early this morning to say he’ll veto it. Here’s Tina Sfondeles

Despite Democratic pressure from Mayor Rahm Emanuel and gubernatorial rivals just days before the primary election, Gov. Bruce Rauner on Tuesday said he plans to veto a gun measure that would have required the state to license gun dealers.

In an interview with WJPF radio station in southern Illinois, Rauner said he’ll veto the measure, while also calling on the four legislative leaders to appoint members to a public safety commission to talk about mental health and school safety, according to the governor’s office.

The governor’s office said Rauner will veto the bill later Tuesday.

Asked what he’d do about the bill on Monday, Rauner repeatedly said he favored a “comprehensive solution,” without answering what he’d do with it.

The full interview is here.

*** UPDATE 1 *** Press release…

Statement from Mayor Emanuel on Governor Rauner Plan to Veto Gun Dealer Licensing Act

With one week left in his campaign, Governor Rauner just put his primary election ahead of his primary responsibility to protect the safety of the people of Chicago and Illinois. The governor’s decision was cruel, it was cold and it was calculated to benefit his own politics at the expense of public safety. This veto is a slap in the face to crime victims, faith leaders and police who have pleaded with Governor Rauner to protect public safety by signing the Gun Dealer Licensing Act. This failure will be his legacy.

*** UPDATE 2 *** Pritzker campaign…

“With daily gun violence ravaging our communities and tragic mass shootings plaguing our country, Bruce Rauner has decided to veto a commonsense bill that will keep children and families safe from gun violence,” said JB Pritzker. “High schoolers are leading a nationwide movement and parents in our state are demanding change, but Bruce Rauner has provided nothing but empty rhetoric and absent leadership. This is a governor who is telling children across the state that he cares more about winning his primary than doing his job to protect them. Illinoisans deserve a governor who will treat gun violence like a public health epidemic and take charge to stop these countless tragedies, and that’s the governor I’ll be.”

*** UPDATE 3 *** Sen. Daniel Biss…

“After weeks of waffling on this critical issue, carefully weighing political consequences in the absence of any moral conviction, Bruce Rauner has announced he’ll veto a bill I cosponsored to stem the flow of illegal guns in our communities. After decades of school shootings across the country and decades more of gun violence ravaging the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois, people are coming together to demand change. Except Bruce Rauner, apparently. Instead of standing up to do what’s right, he’s putting his fealty to the NRA first, once again proving himself a coward incapable of governing.”

* Chris Kennedy…

Governor Rauner has again put his own political survival above the safety and security of our schools, our communities and our families. This disgusting veto represents everything that is wrong with Springfield where political preservation comes before the citizens our elected leaders are supposed to serve. Governor Rauner made this decision to win a primary but the consequences of it will cost him in November. Students across Illinois will walk out of class tomorrow to protest this decision and urge our elected leaders to take action to prevent the next shooting. I stand with those students. Springfield has abandoned its leadership role in our state and it’s the students who are showing us the way forward.

*** UPDATE 4 *** Senate President Cullerton…

“I urge Governor Rauner to reconsider his actions. It’s not too late. He’s regretted hasty vetoes in the past. Don’t add to that unfortunate collection. He knows this is a good law, one needed to increase safety in Illinois. I would urge Governor Rauner to think this through and do what’s responsible as opposed to what’s political. At the very least, take the time to do another poll before such drastic action.”

* DGA…

“Bruce Rauner failed as a leader, today,” said DGA Illinois Communications Director Sam Salustro. “Families from all over the state have had enough with gun violence and called on Rauner to take a leadership role in protecting them. Instead, they got a stream of empty rhetoric and platitudes, and the confirmation that Rauner will never stand up to the NRA.”

  67 Comments      


Rauner mailer says he’s “tall enough to stand up to Madigan”

Monday, Mar 12, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* This very “tall” mailer hit the boxes in the last day or so…

…Adding… MrJM in comments…

Seriously. Just gaze upon the list of Rauner’s accomplishments on that mailer:

    •”calls for”
    •”wants”
    •”calls for”
    •”promises to” and
    •”aims to.”

After a term in office, his sole non-aspirational accomplishment was a veto that lasted two days before being overridden with the help of his own party.

  70 Comments      


Today’s dodge word: “Comprehensive”

Monday, Mar 12, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Some additional background for this post is here. Gov. Rauner was asked several times today about his stance on a gun dealer licensing bill that’s sitting on his desk. He stayed mum. From the Sun-Times

“I’ve been clear on this issue,” Rauner said after being accused of stalling on the politically sensitive legislation in the midst of an election.

“No, governor, you’re not clear. It’s clear as mud,” a reporter said. “Are you going to sign it or are you not?”

Rauner responded: “A comprehensive solution, that’s what I support.”

Asked if his ambiguous answer could be interpreted as a plan to wait for several in-the-works gun control bills to reach his desk before taking any action, Rauner again dodged.

“A comprehensive solution is what I’m advocating for,” he said.

By my count, Rauner said “comprehensive” five times in two minutes. Check out the video

* Crain’s

“Comprehensive,” said Rauner, includes a ban on bump stock devices that effectively turn semiautomatic firearms into machine guns. It also includes improved school safety, improved efforts to keep firearms out of the hands of convicted criminals and the mentally ill, and more help for police.

But the GOP incumbent wouldn’t say whether that means teachers should be trained to carry firearms in the classroom. Nor would he say whether he’ll block the licensing measure; in previous appearances, he seemed to suggest it would be excessive.

“What I will do is work with the General Assembly to come up with real solutions,” Rauner added, denying that he’s engaged in his own version of a basketball four-corners stall in an effort to offend no one before the primary vote.

* Tribune

Emanuel on Monday again hammered Rauner on the licensing bill, as the mayor has done often since the House passed it. This time, he joined Johnson, gun control advocates and the families of gun violence victims at a news conference at police headquarters to try to pressure the governor to act.

Emanuel nodded to the political pressure facing Rauner, but said the governor has a greater responsibility to look past that and protect Illinois residents.

“When is the right time? Only one person can answer that,” Emanuel said.

“So I would just say the governor may be thinking of his primary election, but we are thinking of the primary responsibility he has for helping us keep our streets safe, whether that’s Downstate, suburban or in the city of Chicago,” he said.

Raw audio of today’s presser is here.

…Adding… The Pritzker campaign says he dodged a total of seven times…

With his primary eight days away, Bruce Rauner is refusing to take action to prevent gun violence, leaving the Gun Dealer Licensing Bill sitting untouched on his desk.

When reporters repeatedly asked about his position on the legislation, Rauner dodged, ducked and dived seven times. After recycling his favorite talking point that he has been “clear on this issue,” a reporter fired back: “clear as mud.”

“Instead of signing the Gun Dealer Licensing Bill immediately, Bruce Rauner is playing politics and putting lives at risk,” said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. “Illinoisans deserve better than a leader who would rather wait out his primary than act swiftly to keep families safe.”

…Adding… DGA transcript…

Question: Governor, as we meet here, the Mayor, the Police Superintendent and a bunch of other people are holding a press conference to urge you to sign SB1657, the gun shop bill, and the other legislation the General Assembly passed. As you know there’s been some action in Florida. The Governor there signed a bill that a lot of people thought a few years ago or a few months ago he would never sign. What are you going to do with this legislation?

Rauner: What I will do, and continue to do for many days, is to work with our members of the General Assembly on a bipartisan basis to come up with real solutions together, on a bipartisan basis. And I’m advocating that we try to accomplish four things. One is to ban bump stocks. Number two is to find ways to keep our schools safer - there are many things we can do in that regard. Third we should find ways, better ways, more thoughtful ways, to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill. Mental illness, unfortunately I believe, has played a major role in a number of these horrible, horrible tragedies. And I believe we should find ways to work together to better support our police officers, our law enforcement officers who put their safety at risk to keep our families safe. I believe we can work together to do those four things.

Question: Since its NCAA time, have you gone to the four-corner offense here? Are you playing stall ball, trying to take the air out of the ball until after the March 20th primary on this issue?

Rauner: I’ve been clear on this issue –

Question: Governor, you’re not clear. As clear as mud. I mean what does that have to do with the bill that’s on your desk. Are you going to sign it or are you not?

Rauner: Comprehensive solution, that’s what I support. A comprehensive solution.

Question: So are you saying you’re waiting for all the legislation to pass through the legislature. All the pending gun bills before you consider any of them.

Rauner: Comprehensive solution is what I’m advocating for.

Question: Governor, you did say the other night apparently that you felt that the feds already sort of handle this gun dealer licensing. Is that where you stand?

Rauner: Well it is true that gun dealers are already federally licensed. That is true.

Question: So that doesn’t need any state intervention as well.

Rauner: Again, I’m going to look at a comprehensive solution.

“Question: Governor, this one seems pretty much like a stand-alone bill that makes a lot of common sense to a lot of people. Why not just sign this one now and work out the details with the other later?

Rauner: Again, comprehensive solution is what I’m advocating.”

  33 Comments      


Kennedy’s “Florida tax” idea

Monday, Mar 12, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From Chris Kennedy’s appearance on Rick Pearson’s WGN Radio show yesterday

When we look at revenue options, let’s look at the tax cheats that are operating in Illinois. Let’s look at the people who say they live in another state and continue to have their jobs here and take income in Illnois and don’t pay income tax here.

The state of New York, the state of California started taxing those people. I talked to the fellow who helps collects those taxes in New York just last week and he said it’s billions of dollars in tax revenue that they get in New York from people who visit there and work, take meetings and work. And we should tax those people here.

If you look at Kennedy’s infrastructure plan, he says Illinois should pass a “Florida Tax to tax people who live out of state but earn income in Illinois.”

* Greg Hinz explains

According to Taxpayers’ Federation of Illinois President Carol Portman, the current tax code is pretty good at collecting money from professional athletes when they play in town—that provision sometimes is called the “Michael Jordan” clause, after the former Bulls star—but largely lets visiting accountants, lawyers, consultants and others off the hook unless they exclusively work here or their business is based here.

“States like New York are more aggressive and tax nonresidents spending just a few workdays there,” Portman says.

In fact, some businesspeople abuse the loophole, intentionally maintaining their official residence in a low-tax state while working here most of the time, says the sponsor of the Senate bill, Chicago Democrat Kwame Raoul. Still, “This is a complicated subject. We have to do it the right way,” he says.

The Civic Federation’s Laurence Msall agrees with Portman that Illinois should consider following the lead of New York, which “taxes you on your first day of working there.” Potentially, the state could net tens of millions of dollars a year in revenue by fully collecting such a tax, he adds.

But both Msall and Portman say there would have to be either reciprocity with other states—we’ll exempt your road warriors if you exempt ours—or a provision creating an Illinois tax credit for taxes paid to other states. That would cut down on the income.

Thoughts?

…Adding… Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago) introduced a bill on this topic last May

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that compensation paid to individuals whose service is performed both within and without this State, but is not otherwise treated as paid in this State under the Act, is paid in this State to the extent that compensation is paid for services performed within this State.

  26 Comments      


Rauner expresses support for Erika Harold, but dodges most questions

Monday, Mar 12, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

…Adding… If you couldn’t access the video link because you don’t subscriber to BlueRoomStream.com (you really should subscribe), then click here for raw audio.

* Gov. Rauner was asked today about the Erika Harold controversy. You’ll recall that three sources told Mary Ann Ahern that Harold said this during a Miss Illinois pageant interview

One of the questions to Harold that year was: If she, like her mother, was responsible to place a child in foster care and had to choose between a.) A loving gay couple or b.) A heterosexual couple who were known child abusers, which would she chose?

All three sources told NBC 5 she chose the child abusers.

* Rauner today

I’ve known Erika Harold for about five years. I’ve found her to be a person of great talent and integrity and good will. And I can’t comment beyond that.

* The governor, who made it clear that he fully supports gay adoption, was then asked if Harold should drop out of the attorney general’s race

I’ve told you about my view of Erika Harold. I think she’s an outstanding person of great talent and integrity and good will.

* He was also asked if this NBC 5 report disqualifies her..

I think rumor, or political hit jobs or whatever. I don’t know the background of that circumstance. I can’t really comment.

* Meanwhile, from Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago)


  53 Comments      


Today’s mail: Fritchey hit on ketchup, polluters, pirates

Monday, Mar 12, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* A couple of recent Bridget Degnen mailers slamming Cook County Commissioner John Fritchey. As a reminder, Fritchey sent out a mailer during his losing 2009 congressional special election bid announcing that he liked ketchup on hot dogs, and the much-hated Lincoln Park Towing company could have its license taken away by the state soon…




Those could be the most Chicago mailers ever.

* Meanwhile, Fritchey has a new cable TV ad

…Adding… Fritchey’s campaign sent me one of his pieces. According to the Ledger, she was a “Senior Public Service Administrator” from 12/2016 through 1/2018…


  26 Comments      


The price of my vote

Monday, Mar 12, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The first gubernatorial candidate to promise to get Illinois out of Daylight Savings Time will receive my vote on March 20th. And I don’t care if it’s Bob “Three State Solution” Marshall.

I mean, c’mon, we all lose an hour’s sleep every night right before a primary? It’s inhumane. Think of the children, for crying out loud.

The government needs to stop messing with peoples’ biological clocks. If Arizona can do it, so can we.

…Adding… Rep. Steve Andersson’s HB 404

Amends the Time Standardization Act. Provides that daylight saving time shall be the year-round standard time of the entire State. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2017.

That would have to be amended, of course, unless Andersson also can pass a trailer bill rolling back time to last July 1, and I wish he wouldn’t.

  54 Comments      


A Kennedy/Biss retirement tax problem: Voters don’t do nuance

Monday, Mar 12, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* As you already know, JB Pritzker is airing a TV ad which claims that Chris Kennedy and Sen. Daniel Biss support taxing retirement income, “one of the few things Illinois doesn’t tax right now. The ad goes on to claim that Pritzker is against doing such a thing.

So, Rick Pearson asked Chris Kennedy on his radio show yesterday morning about taxing retirement income

Chris Kennedy: I wouldn’t do that. The average retiree pension is like $18,000 a year. We’re going to go tax people making 18,000 a year? That’s the group we’re going to attack? I don’t think so. I don’t have the heart for that… There’s nothing about me that would lead me to believe that that’s the right thing to do. That’s not where the money is. Those people need that for their basic income and I think that’s a real bad suggestion and I’ve thought so since the beginning of the campaign, despite the lies that JB Pritzker is telling about me in his new ads…

Rick Pearson: I want you to address that issue.

Chris Kennedy: It’s interesting. I came from a family, we’re very competitive, the Kennedy family, particularly my mother who taught us this lesson: It’s better to win than to lose. But she also made it clear it’s better to lose than to cheat. And I think that’s a lesson that the Kennedy family learned that apparently they don’t teach in the Pritzker family. Because Pritzker, when he couldn’t spend his way to victory, that is, tell the truth about himself, he then had to pick an alternative course, which is to lie about others. And that’s what he’s doing now with his television ads and his radio ads. And it’s unfortunate that he’s in that desperate spot.

Going after the guy’s family now, eh? That’ll help.

…Adding… Pritzker’s campaign manager…


* The Pritzker ad in question references a January 26th WMAY interview with Kennedy

LEACH: If we move to a graduated income tax at some point would that be on the table then? Retirement income?

KENNEDY: I mean, I don’t know what that looks like. I mean, if ifs and buts were candy and nuts we’d all have a merry Christmas, so I don’t know, what…

LEACH: But you want to move to a progressive income tax?

KENNEDY: Absolutely, absolutely.

LEACH: If we do that, under your plan…

KENNEDY: If we means tested, if we means tested, um, retirement income. If you could say OK, people who have more than $250,000 a year household income and have retirement income, could that be part of progressive income tax? I think it could.

So, Kennedy said he’d consider a retirement income tax. The Pritzker ad is not a “lie.” And if Kennedy manages to win the primary, Rauner will undoubtedly blast him with the same sort of ad because 74 percent of Illinoisans oppose such a tax. It’s our state’s political “third rail.” And the same goes for Sen. Daniel Biss, who qualified his own support in a similar manner.

Wait, you say, 60 percent told the Simon poll folks that they’d go for taxing retirement income above $100,000.

But the problem for both Kennedy and Biss is that voters just don’t do nuance very well.

And it’s light-years worse when you’re being heavily outspent on TV and you can’t fight back in kind.

  29 Comments      


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