A day after the two Democratic primary frontrunners bickered over attendance at a forum, all seven candidates for governor kept things civil at a debate hosted by Whitney Young Magnet High School on Wednesday evening on the city’s Near West Side. […]
State Sen. Daniel Biss (9th) and Ald. Ameya Pawar (47th) were in lock-step with Pritzker and Kennedy in calling for a progressive income tax, changing the funding formula for Chicago Public Schools, raising the minimum wage, reinstating funding for mental health facilities, protecting DACA recipients and banning assault weapons.
Bob Daiber, regional superintendent of schools in downstate Madison County; anti-violence activist Tio Hardiman; and small-business owner Alex Paterakis joined the other candidates in hammering Gov. Bruce Rauner as a crony of President Donald Trump pandering to corporate interests. […]
The only time Pritzker called out Kennedy by name was to agree with him that the state should increase investment in Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab to improve the state’s renewable energy prospects.
Democratic governor candidate Ald. Ameya Pawar released a new nearly 5-minute long digital ad as he was scheduled to begin on Thursday the second leg of his “Don’t Close Our Communities” tour.
The ad called “Unity” shows the Chicago alderman on previous bus visits across the state. The latest leg of his tour is supposed to take him to 14 cities in four days. He’ll be joined by his running mate, Cairo Mayor Tyrone Coleman.
“It’s easy to prey on people’s economic anxieties and turn other communities into the ‘other’ when people feel like they haven’t been listened to. That economic violence is how we get to a place where bombast and ugly political rhetoric is the same as political authenticity,” Pawar says in the video.
“We need to fight back against that. But the only way you fight that is with a positive agenda that brings people together,” he says.
* Hyper-local, but still interesting, considering the history there…
In these troubled times for the nation, it was touching to see peace break out this week in a Far North Side neighborhood long plagued by political conflict.
It was only this summer that a daughter of the 50th Ward’s late, long-serving Ald. Bernie Stone, Ilana Feketitsch, lashed out at the current alderman, Debra Silverstein for what she thought was Silverstein’s delay in naming a park in Stone’s honor. Wounds inflicted during Silverstein’s 2011 election victory over Stone clearly hadn’t healed.
But at an official ribbon-cutting Wednesday at the newly unveiled Berny Stone Park in West Ridge — attended by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and dozens of friends and family of Stone — it was all so much water under the bridge.
A smiling Feketitsch (who previously said of Silverstein’s successful campaign to unseat her father that she was “shocked” at how “some people” would “just dig their claws into you”), and Silverstein (who fired back through gritted teeth in June, “I’m sure she’s very happy”), hugged it out in front of the mayor.
* Heh…
* Related…
* Republicans picnic in Palos Park without Gov. Rauner: “When Gov. Bruce Rauner ran three years ago he said he had no social agenda, and here we are,” said David Dewar who attended the picnic in the character of Uncle Sam. “He promised a lot of pro-life religious organizations that he wasn’t going to do this,” Dewar said. “I believe in the right for babies to decide, not in reproductive rights. Now, they’re forcing me to take my tax dollars to fund something I don’t believe in.”
The veto is self-explanatory. We discussed the “nothing short of a miracle” quote from the governor’s new TV ad yesterday. It was actually used to compliment Sen. Andy Manar for his work on the education funding bill.
* The “Illinois is worth fighting for” slogan in Rauner’s new TV ad was used by US Rep. Cheri Bustos during her 2016 campaign from beginning…
Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos released the first ad of her reelection campaign… “I’m running for reelection because, just like the hardworking men and women across our community, I know that Illinois is worth fighting for.”
Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos released her final TV spot of the 2016 campaign… “Just like the hardworking families I serve, I’ll never give up because I know Illinois is worth fighting for.”
* Greg Hinz reports something that’s being discussed widely in Cook County Democratic circles. Voters are refusing to sign the Democratic slate petitions because they have Toni Preckwinkle’s name on them…
Democratic Organization precinct captains are running into something they rarely face as they pass candidate nominating petitions this fall: rejection. […]
“Voters aren’t just refusing to sign, they’re providing their own, not-so-kind editorial opinions” about Preckwinkle and County Assessor Joe Berrios, said one Democratic ward boss who asked not to be named. “The bulk of the comments are about the pop tax and county sales tax,” which Preckwinkle returned to level raised by her predecessor, Todd Stroger. […]
“It’s a huge problem,” said one source close to the matter who asked not to be named. Some precinct workers are resorting to folding over the top line of the nominating petition so that Preckwinkle’s name, which is listed first, is not visible when voters are asked to sign. […]
Dart has been advertising for volunteer petition passers on his Facebook page. Earlier this week he emailed supporters saying, “In order to get on the ballot we need your help circulating petitions and collecting signatures,” and directing them to a sign up page.
A spokeswoman said Dart is passing both the joint petition and one for himself alone. He has done that in the past, but did not do so four years ago, she said.
Sometimes, I’m told, voters are writing “messages” to Preckwinkle on the petitions.
Cook County Board Commissioner John Daley has decided to vote to repeal the controversial soda tax, boosting the chances for repeal next week.
“I am going to vote to repeal,” Daley told the Chicago Tribune. “I listened to the community, the residents I represent, and there’s been a strong outcry.
“It’s a lot of taxes they’ve been hit with,” added Daley, referring to city property taxes, garbage fees and the recent increase in the state income tax. “It’s every economic group. It’s every ethnic group. It’s every part of the district.” […]
Several commissioners said Daley’s flip on the issue could cause a domino effect among the other seven commissioners who originally supported the tax. But Daley said he won’t try to sway anyone and that commissioners have to make the best decisions they can in the interest of the people they represent.
* Related…
* Preckwinkle: County has ‘reached moment of truth’ on budget, pop tax: Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle on Thursday struck a defiant tone defending the controversial soda pop tax as she delivered her 2018 budget address, telling commissioners to back the tax or make severe cuts to county services.
Hello everyone. Thank you to DeKalb Stands and Northern Illinois University for hosting this great event. I’m so sorry I couldn’t be with you tonight. My running mate Juliana Stratton was looking forward to joining, but unfortunately my opponents didn’t want to share a stage with her. I can’t say I blame them. Juliana is an incredible woman and a powerful fighter for Illinois and together we’re going to put Springfield back on the side of working families.
* After reading his statement, the moderator quickly corrected Pritzker. The other candidates did not object to Stratton’s presence. It was the organizers, she said, who set those rules…
That video came in over the transom from someone who was most definitely not with the Pritzker campaign.
But I think somebody in the Pritzker campaign has subscribed to my YouTube page, so they got a notification and watched the video after I uploaded it and then asked for time to comment. After that, things got a bit testy.
This is from a September 21 e-mail sent by the organizers…
Also, the lineup of candidates has changed slightly. Chris Kennedy is joining the group. J.B. Pritzker can no longer come, but Juliana Stratton will appear in his place.
So, as of a couple of weeks ago, the organizers were obviously OK with Stratton appearing.
* Galia Slayen at the Pritzker campaign maintains that Kennedy threatened not to attend if Stratton was allowed on the stage…
“It’s unfortunate that after Chris Kennedy skipped at least 10 forums and sent surrogates like Emil Jones to represent him, that he refused to be on the same stage with Juliana Stratton and threatened not to attend if JB wasn’t there. To be clear, the forum organizers had originally accepted having Juliana attend until Chris Kennedy’s campaign complained. JB has attended over 25 multi-candidate appearances and looks forward to continuing to share his message with voters across the state.”
* Rebecca Evans at the Kennedy campaign called Slayen’s statement “petty and insulting to voters”…
It was a unanimous decision by the organizing board to keep yesterday’s Democratic gubernatorial candidates forum to just candidates for governor. For the Pritzker campaign to spend their time citing a tally of forum attendance that doesn’t accurately reflect all of the events and meetings Chris has with people throughout Illinois is petty and insulting to voters who want a substantive leader to unite our state. It’s also a signal that, despite paying millions of dollars for TV ads, Pritzker’s campaign must be feeling very insecure about their candidate’s status in this race.
After waiting hours on both campaigns to provide their responses, I reached out to the person who sent that e-mail about Stratton at around 2 o’clock. So far, I’ve heard nothing back. I’ll let you know.
But, hey, if nothing else, I did inadvertently manage to get both spokespersons to go after each other on the record.
Progress! /s
I often host a party the weekend before the primary and invite top staffers from every campaign to attend. I’ve never once seen a fight or even an argument. Next March’s could be different.
*** UPDATE *** From the organizer…
Hi,
We had a great forum last night. We certainly missed Mr. Pritzker and Mr. Pawar, but the five candidates who attended did an excellent job and had a really appreciative audience.
In answer to your question, both are correct. It was a unanimous decision of our group, made after a call from Kennedy’s campaign objecting to Stratton’s being substituted for Pritzker. However, it was only Kennedy who objected, not the other candidates (the reason for our correction to Pritzker’s statement). Kennedy did not threaten “not to attend if JB wasn’t there,” as stated in your email. What Kennedy’s staffer said was that he wasn’t prepared to go onstage with a lieutenant governor candidate and would send his own lieutenant governor candidate as his surrogate in the event that Stratton was involved.
Veteran political commentators agreed. “Governor Rauner said from the time he was a candidate that he was a fiscal conservative with no social agenda. His wife, Diana, a major Planned Parenthood donor, said they were both ‘social-justice warriors.’ One of them turned out to be a liar — and it wasn’t Diana,” says Dan Proft, a conservative Chicago-area talk-show host and former Republican gubernatorial candidate. “Rauner’s fiscal conservatism never materialized, but the radical-left social agenda did, which is why his poll numbers read like a Chicago thermometer in February.”
Maybe the state party will finally have a comment on Proft now that he’s opening up on Rauner. I’ve asked the party for a response yet again, but haven’t heard anything back.
…Adding… The governor was asked about stuff like this today and here’s his response…
Asked about unity of IL GOP, Gov. Rauner repeats "Reasonable people can reasonably disagree." Says "no group is defined by any one issue.”
Speaking of Personal PAC, the group is using Rauner’s signature and threats of a repeal of the abortion-expansion bill to promote its fundraising luncheon later this month.
“The ink had not yet dried on HB 40 becoming law before anti-choice state representatives and senators held a press conference announcing their plans to file legislation immediately repealing HB 40,” says an email from Personal PAC President and CEO Terry Cosgrove.
“We cannot let this happen! The 2018 elections will determine the future of HB 40 and reproductive rights going into the next decade. Your support is now more important than ever,” says the email, which then urges supporters to “buy your tickets now” for the group’s Oct. 30 awards luncheon.
Citizens for Rauner today released a new tv ad highlighting the historic school funding bill signed by Governor Rauner that results in record funding for Illinois public education, a first ever tax credit scholarship program for low income students, and historic changes to the public school funding formula to provide more funding for those children who need it most.
Improving education was a major reason why Bruce ran for governor. He believes education is the most important thing we do as a community and that every child in Illinois deserves an opportunity to attend high quality schools regardless of zip code or family background. Before running for governor, Bruce and his wife, Diana, committed their personal resources to improving education in Illinois schools by supporting early childhood development, charter and choice schools, better teacher training and merit pay.
After taking office, Bruce established the bipartisan Illinois School Funding Reform Commission and tasked it with reforming the way our state funds schools, ensuring our neediest communities receive the school funding necessary to provide a
great education. The result: after decades of other governors and legislatures falling short, Bruce signed historic education reform this fall.
It’s been called ‘nothing short of a miracle.’ Against all odds, the highest level of funding for Illinois public education ever. Common sense tax credits for donations to scholarship programs And historic changes to the public school funding formula to help provide more funding for those children who need it most.
There’s a long way to go. And it won’t be easy. But Illinois is worth fighting for.”
* Maybe this will stop all the questions about whether he’s running again…
Gov. Bruce Rauner can probably expect reporters to keep asking whether he’s running for re-election every time he’s out in public until he offers a definitive answer.
While his campaign team repeatedly has said the governor will seek a second term next year and nominating petitions are being circulated, Rauner has yet to formally kick off his re-election bid either through a video or rally.
That the question is even being asked is indicative of the unorthodox political moves Rauner has made in recent weeks. He signed into law an abortion bill and immigration bill opposed by conservative Republicans, who are part of the base he’ll need to keep to avoid a significant challenge in the March primary and to turn out in the November general election. And after opposing a school funding bill as a Chicago bailout all summer, Rauner switched course and signed the measure into law, declaring victory in the process.
And now he’s running a TV ad about that school bill.
*** UPDATE 1 *** The bill actually hasn’t been called “nothing short of a miracle,” as the ad claims. Those words were used about Sen. Andy Manar’s efforts to pass the bill…
“He basically picked a fight that no one else wanted to touch. The fact that he got it done in this political environment is nothing short of a miracle,” says Amy Ballinger-Cole, former director of government relations for Advance Illinois (a nonpartisan education advocacy group that worked closely with Manar).
*** UPDATE 2*** DGA…
“Apparently Bruce Rauner has decided to run his reelection campaign in an alternate universe,” said DGA Illinois Communications Director Sam Salustro. “For months, Rauner opposed Illinois’ new historic education bill and used the bill to sow divisions within the state. Then, Rauner pushed the state into crisis by vetoing the legislation, threatening schools with closure all for political gain. Now, Rauner is misleading the public to distract from his record of failed leadership.”
*** UPDATE 3 *** Pritzker campaign…
“Bruce Rauner pitted Illinois communities against each other, manufactured a school funding crisis, and then forced others to clean up his mess. It’s shameful that this failed governor would now try to take credit for a school funding formula he opposed,” said Pritzker spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. “Rauner needs to stop peddling sham narratives while using our students as pawns in his political games.”
At a flu shot event Tuesday, Rauner was asked about gun control measures and called the shooting “so horrible, it’s beyond description.”
“Mental illness and behavior like that is just, it’s such a terrible challenge in our society. I hope we as a society can talk further about things we can do to help keep people safe, safer,” the governor said. “No easy answers, but I look forward to having the ongoing dialogue and see what we can come together as a society to deal with mental illness, deal with behaviors that are so outrageous like to try and prevent it.”
Asked if he favors an assault weapons ban, Rauner said he was “not going to get into specific policies. I think all of us should take a moment to remember and to keep the victims and their families in our in thoughts and prayers and I hope we can have an ongoing, constructive dialogue about what we can do to keep all Americans safer.”
Either side of the gun debate can have a tough time changing state laws because of the differing regional attitudes toward firearms across Illinois. Previous efforts to ban assault weapons haven’t succeeded in Springfield, and it took a federal court decision to compel lawmakers to legalize the carrying of concealed weapons. Another challenge is that it’s difficult to define an assault weapon, as gun makers can make minor tweaks and fall outside the criteria.
*** UPDATE *** Today…
.@GovRauner was asked specifically about banning bump stocks in Illinois, a device used in the Las Vegas shooting. Here’s his response ???? pic.twitter.com/sUDWRgRYI7
