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.
State Sen. Kwame Raoul released a new TV commercial Tuesday that leaves no doubt as to who he believes is his prime opponent.
“Pat Quinn’s incompetence in illegal hiring gave us Bruce Rauner,” the ad says. “Quinn failed as governor. Why would we want to make him attorney general?”
Quinn said he doesn’t believe he failed as a governor. “I signed six straight budgets and the guy who came after me didn’t do any. I’ve been a lawyer for everyday people, I’m not a corporate guy, I don’t take campaign contributions from utility companies, or banks, or red light camera operators.”
According to Quinn, Raoul has taken donations from all three.
Pat Quinn’s incompetence and illegal hiring gave us Bruce Rauner. Jobs for friends and family, endless investigations, and now Illinois is a broken mess. Quinn failed as Governor.
Why would we make him Attorney General?
Kwame Raoul was called to fill Barack Obama’s seat. Now Kwame’s endorsed by teachers, firefighters, nurses, and the state’s pro-choice group to protect Illinois and serve us. Kwame Raoul – Attorney General
…Adding… Quinn is also running the sound from the TV ad as a radio spot. Click here.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Raoul campaign…
Quote: Pat Quinn’s incompetence and illegal hiring gave us Bruce Rauner
“Audit draft shows more mismanagement in Quinn’s anti-violence program,” Joe Mahr, Ray Long, Chicago Tribune, 4/5/2016.
Republican Bruce Rauner went on to beat Democrat Quinn in 2014 after relentlessly charging that Quinn used the grants as a political slush fund to help win votes in Democratic strongholds. Rauner’s administration declined to comment on the draft audit, citing the confidentiality of the process before an audit is released. But in the administration’s response to auditors, also obtained by the Tribune, the agency’s new leaders blame the Quinn administration for the debacle.
“Jim Dey: Investigation into illegal hiring under Quinn expanded,” Jim Dey, The News-Gazette, 5/4/2017.
Last week, a court-appointed outside monitor released a voluminous report that laid bare all the gory details surrounding five years of illegal patronage hiring at the Illinois Department of Transportation. But that report didn’t close the book on the wide-ranging conspiracy to violate state hiring rules by top officials in former Gov. Pat Quinn’s administration. Indeed, there could be more much forthcoming.
Quote: Jobs for friends and family…
“Watchdog details how top Democrats under ex-Gov. Quinn got state jobs for friends, family,” Monique Garcia, Ray Long, Hal Dardick, Chicago Tribune, 4/25/2017.
A new report issued Monday by a court-appointed watchdog charged with looking into patronage hiring at the Illinois Department of Transportation details how top Democrats clouted relatives and friends into positions under former Gov. Pat Quinn, even as many of those hired had little or no experience. “
Quinn and his administration under yet another FBI investigation!” Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs, 10/27/2014
Quote: Endless investigations and and now Illinois is a broken mess thanks to Quinn.
“Jim Dey: Investigation into illegal hiring under Quinn expanded,” Jim Dey, The News-Gazette, 5/4/2017.
Last week, a court-appointed outside monitor released a voluminous report that laid bare all the gory details surrounding five years of illegal patronage hiring at the Illinois Department of Transportation. But that report didn’t close the book on the wide-ranging conspiracy to violate state hiring rules by top officials in former Gov. Pat Quinn’s administration. Indeed, there could be more much forthcoming. Why? Federal Magistrate Sidney Schenkier on Monday signed an order directing the court-appointed monitor, Chicago lawyer Noelle Brennan, to conduct a wide-ranging examination of “all positions under the jurisdiction of” Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office and file a “preliminary status report” of her findings by July 31. The question behind all this is: If IDOT became a patronage dumping ground for politically connected job seekers under Quinn, what about the rest of the state’s executive departments and bureaus? “Editorial: Was Pat Quinn running the state of Illinois – or a job fair?” Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 4/28/2017 The OEIG’s 2014 investigation stopped short of blaming the governor’s office for the explosion of exempt “staff assistant” jobs created under Quinn, but Brennan’s report says Quinn staffers were “the driving force.” The report notes that of 154 staff assistants hired from 2009 to 2013, 53 had connections to Quinn’s office and another 56 were sponsored by other elected officials.
“Feds subpoena emails in Quinn anti-violence fund inquiry,” Ray Long & Monique Garcia, Chicago Tribune, 7/4/2014
federal grand jury has issued a subpoena for emails of key players in Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn’s troubled $54.5 million anti-violence program, including the former head of the program and two former ranking members of Quinn’s administration.
“Quinn and his administration under yet another FBI investigation!” Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs, 10/27/2014
“Watchdog details how top Democrats under ex-Gov. Quinn got state jobs for friends, family,” Monique Garcia, Ray Long, Hal Dardick, Chicago Tribune, 4/25/2017.
Bottom line: Fact’s don’t lie but Pat Quinn and his campaign sure do.
* Democratic Cook County Assessor candidate Fritz Kaegi put another $250K into his own primary race, bringing his self-funding total to just under $1.6 million. Kaegi says he’s a progressive, so the self-funding bit is apparently OK with folks who don’t like rich candidates in other races.
* And The JOBS PAC was just reinvigorated with $300,000 from the Illinois Manufacturers Association and is now making independent expenditures on behalf of two opponents of the Cook County pop tax, commissioners John Fritchey and Richard Boykin.
*** UPDATE 2 *** The Biss campaign just reported $270 in contributions, including $100K from Jonathan Soros, who had earlier agreed to match small donors.
Chris Kennedy, Democratic candidate for governor, called on the state of Illinois to divest from gun and weapon companies today during a news conference outside the James R. Thompson Center.
“Just like a budget is a reflection of an organization’s values, so too is an investment portfolio a reflection of an organization’s morality,” said Kennedy, who was joined by his running mate, Ra Joy. “Investing in gun manufacturers makes the companies more profitable because it drives down their cost of capital making easier for them to make money.
“Our government should not be using one hand to stem the flow of guns into our communities and, at the same time, using the other hand to subsidize the gun businesses by investing in them.”
Kennedy also highlighted the fact that State Sen. Daniel Biss benefits from these pension investments as a member of the Illinois General Assembly.
“Once again, Biss claims this is the moral issue of the day, yet finds a way to flip flop and benefit from being on opposing sides,” Kennedy said. “For Biss, what sets the issue of gun investments apart from earlier issues like pensions is that with the gun issue: there is no separation of time. Biss is on both side simultaneously.
“He speaks about the horrors of guns and benefits from investments in them at the same time.
“Biss has been in Springfield seven years and has done way too little to be a responsible steward of his investments or the investments of the people of the state.”
Sturm, Ruger & Co. and Vista Outdoor are among the gun and weapon companies the companies that the state of Illinois invests in.
* The Question: Your thoughts on this idea?
…Adding… Biss’ campaign calls the premise of the Kennedy press release “absurd” and points to the candidate’s long record on gun control.
They add that Biss called for pension investment divestiture from “dirty energy” companies in January and Kennedy remained silent, perhaps, they suggest, because Kennedy invests in some of those companies.
…Adding… Kennedy campaign…
Chris did divest last year as soon as he learned his index funds included those investments.
Speaker Michael J. Madigan issued the following statement Tuesday:
“Over the past several weeks, I have had meetings with members, staff and lobbyists to discuss issues of sexual harassment. Due to my recent meetings with staff, I felt it necessary to address some of the concerns they raised directly with the members of the House Democratic Caucus. The statement below was delivered to the caucus this afternoon:
“A handout you received during last week’s caucus detailed complaints brought to the chief of staff, directors, supervisors and the ethics officer over the last five years, including sexual harassment complaints made by staff against members. I want to be crystal clear - it is inappropriate for members to make sexual comments or sexual advances to, or engage in sexual relationships with, staff, whether that person is employed directly by you, the Office of the Speaker, or another caucus. This applies to both male and female legislators.
“It is clear from my discussions that staff view you as their superiors or supervisors, and with that you are in positions of power over them. This dynamic is ripe for potential harassment. I expect each of you to treat staff with respect and keep your relationships strictly professional. If I become aware of any complaints against a member by staff, or another member, I will personally get involved to put an end to it.”
*** UPDATE *** Alaina Hampton press release…
“Speaker Madigan now says he is committed to getting ‘personally involved’ in preventing sexual harassment. That may prove to be a step forward–but today, it rings hollow. The Speaker had three months to get ‘personally involved’ in my case, but took no action until he knew the story was about to come out.
“Perhaps my telling my own story publicly, combined with the EEOC’s notification of my right to sue last week, has caused the Speaker to have a revelation about his ethical and moral obligation to those who have been harassed and even assaulted in his own organization. More likely, he’s being driven to action by the threat of losing his grip on power–not by any personal concern for the well being of the women in the House Democratic Caucus or the Democratic Party of Illinois.
“I, and countless other victims and survivors, will be watching the Speaker’s next moves closely. We are hopeful that he will back up his words with meaningful and swift action.”
Dan Caulkins says the Democratic Victory Fund’s recent decision to contribute $55,400 to the campaign fund of Sen. Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago) should be seen as a slap in the face to women everywhere.
“It’s beyond shameful, when you consider that they portray themselves as the party of female voters,” Caulkins told the Chambana Sun. “It sends a terrible message and outweighs any statement claiming to have regard for the victims. It’s like they are trying to buy their way out of this.”
Darren Bailey views the Democratic Victory Fund’s recent move to contribute over $55,000 to the re-election campaign of Sen. Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago) as just another example of just how much Illinois politicians are intent on maintaining the status quo in Springfield.
“I think politics has easily become the biggest industry in the state,” Bailey told the SE Illinois News. “So many people involved now are just there for self-seeking reasons. They’ve entrenched themselves in telling voters whatever they need to keep things moving along.”
Dwight Kay says the State Democratic Victory Fund’s recent decision to provide more than $55,000 in campaign funds to the re-election effort of Sen. Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago) sends a clear and dangerous message to voters.
“That kind of money is not just given out because you like someone,” Kay told the East Central Reporter. “It sends the horrible message that if someone is willing to spend that kind of money on a candidate that’s not putting in that much for themselves, that candidate is essentially bought and paid for.”
Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) thinks the “good ol’ boy network” is alive and well in Springfield, as evidenced by the Democratic Victory Fund’s recent decision to contribute more than $55,000 to the re-election campaign of Sen. Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago).
“Democrats are only interested in maintaining power so it is no surprise they are supporting Sen. Silverstein, a longtime incumbent with plenty of name recognition,” Ives told the Prairie State Wire.
“The Democratic Victory Fund would support Silverstein after all the controversy because he has held a position of leadership for a long time, and kept his mouth shut, while he alone took the fall for the wrongdoings in Springfield that could have brought down other legislators, namely Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago),” Rotheimer told the Lake County Gazette on March 1. “Unless the Democrats demand that the $55,400 in campaign funds that Sen. Ira Silverstein received from the State Democratic Victory Fund are returned, the Democratic Party in Illinois consents to a Democratic senator’s unlawful behavior that was found to be in violation of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act and conduct that is unbecoming to a legislator.”
* Today at the Statehouse…
Denise Rotheimer, a lobbyist-turned-candidate who accused Sen Ira Silverstein of sexually harassing her, says @JeanneIves is the “only champion” for her and “stood with me since the beginning.” Both pushing for HB4840, which would expand access to info from Leg Inspector General pic.twitter.com/lvrq1PkJei
A letter to Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2 members from its president, James Tracy, is sparking backlash from the Northwest Side GOP Club and some union members for Tracy’s endorsement of Democratic State Central Committee candidates Cynthia Santos and John Cullerton.
In his letter to Local 2 members, Tracy encourages members to support Santos and Cullerton in the upcoming Democratic primary, writing “they support the right to choose and will stand with Democrats at the state and federal level to protect funding for Planned Parenthood, stop extreme cuts to women’s health and demand equal pay for women.”
A recent post on the Northwest Side GOP Club Facebook page showing a snapshot of Tracy’s letter to union members is calling out the union president for using his post to take on issues such as Planned Parenthood funding and a “progressive” tax.
“This is insane,” the Northwest Side GOP Club’s Facebook post reads. “So the Local 2 Firefighters Union now takes positions on abortion? They are pro-abortion?”
Illinois residents have picked “The Blues Brothers” as the top movie in state history, making it the first item on a list of Illinois’ top 200 people, places and things.
The list is being compiled as part of Illinois’ bicentennial celebration. Every two weeks, people may cast votes online for their favorites in a new category. By early December voters will have selected 10 favorites in 20 categories.
More than 1,500 people voted on the first category, selecting the movie featuring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd. The next movies selected were “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and “A League of Their Own.”
OK, I’m finally on board with this bicentennial thing.
* To me, “The Blues Brothers” is an art film. The camera’s framing of Elwood as he sits next to his SRO’s window while the L train passes by is one of my favorites in any movie…
For one of the most memorable comedy films of the late 20th century, The Blues Brothers starts grimly enough, with an arresting aerial shot of industrial Chicago, as the smoke from dark satanic chimneys smear the sunset. It’s as if director John Landis is tipping us off that what follows, a film of madcap fun and action rampage, is comic escapism from the bleak modern American life.
To obtain the seven limousines for the wedding party, my father used up his last favor with Mad Pete Trullo.
And…
Jake: You traded the Bluesmobile for this?
Elwood: No, for a microphone.
Jake: A microphone?
[pause]
Jake: Okay I can see that.
* Some of my friends have memorized the entire script…
Four fried chickens and a Coke.
I hate Illinois Nazis!
* Plus the great music and by-then-forgotten African-American stars (who even knew that Cab Calloway was still alive?), a car chase under the L tracks, SWAT teams…
No, sir, Mayor Daley no longer dines here. He’s dead, sir.
Every frame, every song, every sentence of that movie is something I hold dear. Plus it’s about a couple of misfit musicians trying to do a good deed for once. I’ve known people like that most of my adult life…
Jake, you get wise. You get to church.
The film’s back-story was even fascinating. Anyway, I have lots of work to do today and I wish I had more time, so I’ll close with this…
Monday’s hearing was called after the administration released an August 2016 report from Belleville-based consulting engineer BRiC Partnership suggesting steps to mitigate the problem, including replacing the underground water-distribution system and plumbing inside 15 campus buildings where the most susceptible residents live for $8 million.
[Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Director Erica Jeffries] said in December that plumbing replacement could cost $500 million or more; in January, she told lawmakers about the BRiC report and said it put the price tag at $25 million to $30 million. She has never explained why she used estimates that at a minimum were more than four times higher than the actual number.
BRiC’s 2016 report, which cost $20,000, listed about a dozen ideas for a total of $17 million. The administration paid BRiC another $40,000 to update and expand its 2016 report. That update released last month indicated plumbing replacement for the entire campus would be $11 million; expanded options for the other ideas combined would cost no more than $24 million.
Jeffries explained Monday that the August 2016 delivery of the BRiC report was just two months after the June completion of a $6.5 million water-treatment facility and wanted to test its effectiveness before taking any more actions. But Public Health officials had confirmed two more cases of Legionnaires’ in late July, just days before BRiC’s arrival on campus.
Emphasis added for obvious reasons.
Director Jefferies, you’ll recall, said yesterday that she prefers “to speak with journalists who have journalistic integrity.” Hmm.
…Adding… Pritzker campaign…
At a hearing yesterday, Bruce Rauner’s administration announced that the Legionnaires crisis that has already lasted nearly three years and taken 13 lives will continue for at least another “three to five” years.
After 13 residents died on Rauner’s watch, the failed governor has struggled to deal with the health crisis, desperately resorting to press stunts and cover ups instead of real action to fix the problem. Now, as Rauner feels political pressure for his nearly three years of inaction, his administration is taking a page out of the Trump playbook and attacking the press instead of solving the crisis.
“Bruce Rauner has fatally mismanaged the Quincy Veterans’ home, and now he is attacking the press and covering up information instead of taking real action to fix the problem,” said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. “Our state’s heroes can’t wait three to five years for this failed governor to address a crisis he has let spiral out of control.”
Would having access to the correspondence of House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, shed light on his handling of sexual harassment allegations by associates?
We don’t know — and it’s designed that way because the documents of Madigan, like all Illinois lawmakers, are exempt from the state Freedom of Information Act.
The legislation, enacted in 1984, is a critical tool to ensure our public bodies are transparent and that, to quote the act, “all persons are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts and policies of those who represent them as public officials and public employees.”
That sounds good, but the General Assembly has elected to exclude one noteworthy group from disclosure rules — lawmakers themselves. The argument is legislators deal with sensitive constituent issues and share draft legislation that are negotiating documents. (Congress has a similar exemption and cites similar logic.)
That means a citizen can get, say, five years’ worth of internal emails of the local township cemetery board, the calendar of Gov. Bruce Rauner and any other documents related public business, but can’t see any paperwork for our elected citizen legislature.
For Madigan, that also means all correspondence is exempt for his two high-profile positions — as speaker, which he’s held since 1983, and as head of the state Democratic party, his position since 1998.
* It’s certainly true that the GA exempted itself. Here’s the law…
Preliminary drafts, notes, recommendations, memoranda and other records in which opinions are expressed, or policies or actions are formulated, except that a specific record or relevant portion of a record shall not be exempt when the record is publicly cited and identified by the head of the public body. The exemption provided in this paragraph (f) extends to all those records of officers and agencies of the General Assembly that pertain to the preparation of legislative documents. […]
A person whose request to inspect or copy a public record is denied by a public body, except the General Assembly and committees, commissions, and agencies thereof, may file a request for review with the Public Access Counselor established in the Office of the Attorney General not later than 60 days after the date of the final denial.
Reports and records of the obligation, receipt and use of public funds of the State, units of local government and school districts are public records available for inspection by the public according to law.
All officers of the Executive Branch shall keep accounts and shall make such reports as may be required by law. They shall provide the Governor with information relating to their respective offices, either in writing under oath, or otherwise, as the Governor may require.
There is no such language in the Legislature’s article, which is an argument legislators use when they say they were meant to be exempted. The same goes for the judicial article. The courts have also ruled that because the GA didn’t include the judiciary in the FOIA statute, the judicial branch was exempted. So, I highly doubt the folks in black robes will ever open that Pandora’s Box by prying open GA records.
Also, I have no idea how a state government could legally subject a political campaign committee to the FOIA laws.
* Look, I’d love to see the GA covered by FOIA. But unless somebody wants to go out and gather enough petition signatures to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot (and that could work because it may fall under the “Amendments shall be limited to structural and procedural subjects contained in Article IV” language) not much can be done unless GA members voluntarily do it themselves.
Fat chance of that happening.
…Adding… From an attorney…
If you look on the GA website, both the House and Senate have memos with categories of items available under FOIA. What isn’t available is personal correspondence (e.g. letters constituents send to their members). Also, the draft exemption applies to all units of government, not just the GA.
• Quorum calls for meetings of the House and House Committees
• Legislation and motions filed by members of the House, including roll call of voting
• Reports and fiscal notes filed with the Clerk
• Documents filed in House Committee hearings (roll calls, witness slips, notices of
action)
• Transcripts and audio recordings of House floor debate
• Video of House floor debate (2005 to present)
• Audio recordings of House Committee hearings
• Vouchers and documents detailing District Office expenditures
• Vouchers and documents detailing House Operations and Leadership expenditures
• Official Journals of the House
• District Office leases
• Personnel Rules adopted by each member for their District Offices
• Name, title, start date and salary for employees of the House
• Property inventories for House Operations, Leadership, and District Offices
A new Public Policy Polling survey shows political newcomer Marie Newman in a statistical dead heat with longtime Congressman Dan Lipinski. The poll, made available first to POLITICO, showed 43 percent of those surveyed supported Lipinski and 41 percent backed Newman — the two percentage points were within the margin of error. The automated poll of 648 likely Democratic primary voters was taken Feb. 27-28. […]
The numbers reflect a huge jump in Newman’s name recognition since October, when she only logged 18 percent in a Normington Petts poll. Since then, various groups, including NARAL, Planned Parenthood and SEIU have backed Newman, and a superPAC targeting Lipinski has helped drive up her name ID and his negatives. While Lipinski has more money in his account than Newman, over the last few weeks, the Citizens for a Better Illinois political action committee spent nearly $700,000 on ads attacking Lipinski. Newman had the help of veteran Democrats U.S. Reps. Jan Schakowsky and Luis Gutierrez who publicly rejected Lipinski, calling his views opposing abortion rights and votes on immigration too conservative for his district. The AFL-CIO has backed Lipinski and he has the support from dozens of mayors and village presidents in the 3rd Congressional District.
The survey was conducted from February 27-28, 2018. PPP surveyed 648 IL-03 likely Democratic primary voters. The margin of error is +/- 3.9%. This poll was conducted by automated telephone interviews.
* The breakdown of those who participated in the survey are:
o 55% women, 45% men
o 16% Hispanic or Latino, 71% white, 7% African-American, 6% other
o 31% aged 18-45, 46% aged 46-65, 23% older than age 65
During the last Census, the district was 66 percent white, 25 percent Latino and 5 percent African-American. However, that’s probably not how the actual voting breaks down.
United for Progress, Inc., has launched a new television ad, “Don’t Be Fooled,” which highlights Marie Newman’s record of fly-by-night campaign exaggerations, misstatements, poor management, and policies that will hurt Illinois workers.
“A member of Congress can’t deliver progressive change in Washington without character and experience. And Marie Newman unfortunately has neither,” said United For Progress, Inc. Treasurer Bruce Goren. “She claims to fight for workers and yet took a stand against 14,000 airline workers in her own district. She shamelessly lied about her record as a nonprofit leader and business owner. She claims to be a progressive and yet has no record of fighting for progressive change. We ran this ad because voters in the 3rd District deserve to know the truth: Marie Newman would be a disastrous choice for Congress.”
If Marie Newman has her way, subsidized foreign airlines will take away U.S. jobs. But that’s not the only thing fly-by-night with Marie Newman. She says she set up a charity for bullied children. But the IRS has no record of it. The restaurant she ran was cited for over a dozen health code violations. Her experience for public office? Dropping out of the race for Library Board. Don’t be fooled by the flimflam. Send Marie Newman and her out-of-state attack dogs packing.
* This is yet another pre-primary week when one chamber is in session while the other takes a break. It’s the House’s turn to work this week, but after its scheduled adjournment on Thursday it won’t return until April 9th. The Senate is off this week, comes back to town next week and then leaves until April 10th. Watch all the action with ScribbleLive…
