Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Tuesday, Jan 26, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Some members of the Statehouse press corps gave House GOP Leader Tom Cross a hard time today about the poll Andy McKenna ordered done for the state party back when he was chairman. Cross was unveiling a new campaign reform plan at the event, and he was asked about the irony of the situation. Background on the poll controversy is here. Coverage of Cross’ reform proposal is here. And here’s the video of the Blue Room exchange…

We also have video of Leader Cross talking about his campaign finance reform idea. Click here.

Cross’ presser was about limiting the amount of money that legislative leaders could put into campaigns. The Democratic leaders get a lot of grief in this state, but Larry points to a “whip count” of congressional members on where they stand on passing the US Senate-approved health care bill…

Where do Illinois Members of Congress stand on passing the Senate Bill?

Bean, Melissa IL-8 “not made a decision yet”

Costello IL-12 Waiting for leadership

Davis, Danny IL – 7 supports HCR but “hasn’t received marching orders from leadership”

Gutierrez, Luis IL – 4 “Waiting to see what leadership does”

Quigley IL – 5 Waiting for leadership to propose

Schakowsky IL – 9 Waiting to see final bill, no opinion on Senate bill

Apparently, it’s not just state politicians who defer and/or hide behind their leaders.

* Yesterday, I wondered aloud why some legal fees weren’t reported by candidates. The lawyers were instrumental in kicking some candidates’ opponents off the ballot. It turns out that since the candidates themselves were not challenging petitions and ballot status, and since those candidates weren’t paying for the challenges, the fees don’t have to be reported. So, there you have it. It may be a loophole worth looking into, however.

* Progress Illinois asks a good question today: “What Is Hynes’ ‘Plan B’?” From the piece…

During last night’s WTTW debate, Democratic gubernatorial challenger Dan Hynes said that, when Gov. Pat Quinn’s plan to raise the state income tax “failed” during the spring legislative session, he “had no plan B.” It’s a fair point. But I would have liked to hear Quinn or moderator Carol Marin ask Hynes what his own “plan B” would look like if he wins the primary and his proposal to pass a progressive income tax subsequently fails.

Hynes will need a three-fifths vote in both chambers to get that plan on the ballot. The odds are against it. What will he do if it tanks? I’ll be sending that question off to the Hynes campaign this afternoon. I’ll let you know what they say.

* Speaking of Hynes, he unveiled more endorsements today from state legislators. Gov. Quinn has racked up a huge legislative endorsement list, so it’s slim pickings. From a press release…

State Senator William Delgado
State Senator Ed Maloney
State Senator Martin Sandoval
State Senator Maggie Crotty
State Representative LaShawn Ford
State Representative Jack Franks
State Representative Bob Rita

NBC5 covered the event…

Gov. Pat Quinn’s politics amount to “Hail Mary passes and gimmicks,” says State Sen. Marty Sandoval. […]

“The question I ask myself: Are Illinoisians better off today?” Sandoval said. “Very similar to our Chicago sports teams - we can’t quite get a touchdown - we’re tired of the Hail Mary passes and gimmicks.” […]

State Rep Jack Franks, D-Woodstock, took a harsher tone in criticizing the Governor.

“We all know he’s the accidental governor, but he is the incompetent governor as well,” he said.

Make sure to click on the “Illinois’ worst political web sites” link in the middle of that story. Lt. governor candidate Mike Boland’s comes up first. I had forgotten how bad it really was. Yeesh.

* A meeting of the minds. Tony Peraica interviews Dan Proft…

Proft, by the way, has just filed A-1’s totaling $88K, including $25K from a member of the Pritzker family. Where was that cash earlier?

* Speaking of money, as I told subscribers this morning, Pat Quinn’s campaign just took out a second $100,000 loan from Ald. Ed Burke. Also, Cook County Board President candidate Terry O’Brien reported a $130K loan from a family member this morning. Kirk Dillard got another loan from Ron Gidwitz. This one was for $50.000.

* Rep. Julie Hamos has an endorsement ad on broadcast and cable. Rate it…

* Related…

* Campaign cash disclosure lacking in Senate race: Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias raised $521,340 and Chicago attorney Jacob Meister raised $53,511 as the Senate candidates campaigned in the last three months of 2009, but the public won’t likely know who gave the money until after the Feb. 2 primary.

* Axelrod in Chicago: Obama to help Dems keep his old Senate seat

* Endorsement: Integrity, experience set Hoffman apart in Senate race

* Giannoulias not taking anything for granted

* Dems rally to retain U.S. Senate seat

* Fresh Off a Massachusetts Victory, G.O.P. Aims at Illinois

28 Comments

Campaign videos and campaign rancor

Tuesday, Jan 26, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Democratic US Senate candidate Cheryle Jackson claims in an e-mail that she’s going on TV tomorrow with a new ad. Rate it…

* House Republican Leader Tom Cross was asked today about a subscriber story I ran this morning about how the HGOPs are paying for a robocall blasting a House Democratic candidate in the Quad Cities area. My intern Barton Lorimor was there and we have video of Cross’ non-response…

* A video of GOP state Rep. Beth Coulson is making the rounds. Coulson is running for the Republican nomination in the 10th Congressional District. But she was asked in 2000 if she was supporting fellow Republican George W. Bush or any Republican candidates. Coulson refused to commit, including on Mark Kirk’s congressional bid. “I have to wait and see where they are on some of the issues that are important to me.” The full video is here, but I excerpted the best part. Watch…

* A new ad from Cook County Board President candidate Terry O’Brien goes after Toni Preckwinkle and Dorothy Brown. Rate it…

At least O’Brien kept his eyes open in this one.

Preckwinkle has a response ad. Rate it, too…

* I’ve never seen a candidate apologize via robocall, but it happened this week in the 14th CD Republican primary…

In the flier, [state Sen. Randy Hultgren] alleges that [Ethan Hastert] is “employed by the same law firm that lobbies on behalf of foreign mining companies with deplorable human rights records and a history of human trafficking.”

Hastert is an attorney with the law firm of Mayer Brown in Chicago, which does represent several mining interests around the world. The firm is also a major donor to Hastert’s campaign.

But Hastert campaign spokesman Andrew Nelms said the candidate has “never had anything to do with human trafficking,” which he called “reprehensible.”

In an automated call to voters on Monday, Hultgren apologized for “discussing some questionable clients of my opponent’s law firm.”

* Village President Hartstein has a lot to learn about how the House Democrats operate. These are definitely not the most “absurd” pieces that they are capable of…

Calling it the “most absurd campaign piece he has ever seen,” state House District 59 candidate Elliott Hartstein said his Democratic primary opponent is using “distortions” in two direct mail campaign pieces sent in recent days.

Hartstein, who is currently Buffalo Grove village president, said state Rep. Carol Sente claims he tried to take away free speech rights for people attending zoning hearings.

The ad uses quotes from 2005 newspaper stories about Hartstein’s visit to Springfield to lobby for a bill that focused on zoning hearing rules. It concludes by stating, “For Elliott Hartstein, sometimes the First Amendment is just a suggestion, not a right.”

He’s also upset by another piece warning voters of his support for a tax increase to bolster the state’s budget.

“She was appointed by party leaders and her political godfather, Mike Madigan, who is bankrolling a good portion of her campaign,” Hartstein said Monday. “They should be ashamed of themselves for their current tactics in the primary races.”

* 10th state House District Democratic candidate Jonathan Goldman is having no luck with a FOIA request to DCFS. They have some explaining to do. From a press release…

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services has failed one of the first tests of a new law that went into effect Jan. 1of this year that requires state agencies to respond within five business days to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.

On Jan. 8, Jonathan Goldman, a Democratic candidate for state representative in the 10th District, filed a request to DCFS concerning State Rep. Annazette Collin’s employment as a social worker with the agency. He specifically asked for information about her hiring date, salary and who authorized her hiring.

“My curiosity was piqued when I saw that Ms. Collins, who is already employed by the State as a legislator, making $76,732 in 2008, had landed another job with the state during a time of record unemployment when the state has laid off thousands of workers,” said Goldman. “I made a simple FOIA request 18 days ago and still haven’t heard from DCFS.”

When five business days had passed with no response, Goldman contacted DCFS on Jan. 15 to inquire about his request and was told he would receive a letter requesting an extension from the agency in the mail. He still hasn’t received correspondence of any kind from the department.

What’s the point in having a new FOIA law if the Quinn administration won’t follow it? It’s like déjà vu all over again. Sheesh.

* One of Peter LaBarbera’s websites is currently attempting to out a suburban county candidate for having adulterous affairs. No link. Try to avoid the Google. It’s really disgusting. LaBarbera has stooped to a new low.

37 Comments

New McKenna ad, new McKenna documents top the GOP roundup

Tuesday, Jan 26, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* As I told subscribers this morning, Andy McKenna has a new ad whacking Kirk Dillard over Dillard’s appearance in a Barack Obama campaign ad. Rate it…

* Meanwhile, the State Journal-Register got ahold of the complete internal Illinois Republican Party report on McKenna’s use of party funds to finance a poll…

An internal state Republican Party ethics inquiry found that Andy McKenna — former state Republican chairman and now a candidate for governor — “compounded one ethical misstep with another” by commissioning a poll including his own name using party money, and then not telling committee members that the poll could benefit him.

The four-page report, obtained by The State Journal-Register, was submitted by the ethics committee of the Illinois Republican Party.

The report adds background to a joint news release that was issued Jan. 8 by McKenna’s campaign and current party chairman Pat Brady. That statement said McKenna “had no intent to violate the spirit or the intent of the Party’s by-laws and he sincerely apologizes for having done so.”

The internal report said McKenna never told the Republican State Central Committee the poll was being commissioned, that his name was included in the poll or that “information in the poll could benefit him personally.”

You can read the full report by clicking here.

* And GOP gubernatorial candidate Adam Andrzejewsk has a new Internet video. Watch…

* Related…

* Ryan accuses “‘Me’Kenna” of ducking debates

* GOP governor candidates: No need to raise taxes

* Hultgren apologizes after ad rips Hastert

* In Illinois, Republicans fight election déjà vu

* Birkett endoses Cole for Lt. Gov.

* Plummer gets Naperville Township GOP endorsement

22 Comments

*** UPDATED x1 *** New Giannoulias ad whacks Hoffman, and new poll has Hoffman a tiny bit higher - Plus, Coulson goes up

Monday, Jan 25, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Alexi Giannoulias has responded to David Hoffman’s new TV ad by hitting back. Rate it…

*** UPDATE *** Hoffman responds…

“Mr. Giannoulias’ new ad attempts to take David Hoffman to task for daring to question his work record. True to Mr. Giannoulias’ form, his ad does not address the well documented facts of his relationship with Tony Rezko. They are well-sourced. They are well-reported. They are true. These are questions Mr. Giannoulias continues to dodge. Mr. Giannoulias also fails to mention in his ad that not one newspaper in Illinois has determined him fit for the Senate.

“Mr. Giannoulias also misrepresents the facts saying the Tribune called out David on a misstatement. David, in fact, took it upon himself to clarify after making a minor error. Imagine a public official who believes they should be held accountable to the voters for their public statements and actions - a lesson that is lost on Mr. Giannoulias, who has yet to apologize for his mismanagement of the Bright Start Fund and purposely misleading the investors regarding the amount of the losses.”

[ *** End of Update *** ]

In case you missed it, here’s Hoffman’s ad…

* Meanwhile, the respected Public Policy Polling firm is releasing a new survey that shows Giannoulias ahead and Hoffman in second place…

According to a yet-to-be-released survey from Public Policy Polling, Giannoulias has the support of 32 percent of Democratic primary voters — just 2 percentage points shy of the 34 percent he received in a similar poll released Sunday by the Chicago Tribune and WGN.

Former Chicago Inspector General David Hoffman (D) scored 20 percent in the PPP poll, while former Chicago Urban League President Cheryle Robinson Jackson scored 18 percent. About 27 percent of respondents reported they were undecided in the automated poll of 400 likely Democratic voters conducted Jan. 22-25.

Kirk holds an even more commanding lead in the GOP primary field with 42 percent. His chief competition, real estate developer Patrick Hughes (R), had 9 percent of support in the poll and 39 percent were undecided. These results were also similar to the Chicago Tribune poll, but Hughes scored better by about 20 points in his own poll that he released today from a relatively unknown polling firm.

Let’s compare PPP’s poll to the Tribune results, which are in parentheses…

Giannoulias 32 (34 )
Hoffman 20 (16)
Jackson 18 (19)
Undecided 27 (13)

Kirk 42 (47)
Hughes 9 (8)
Undecided 39 (35)

Not a huge difference at all, but Hoffman can probably better use these numbers to his advantage. Whether it means anything is debatable, at best.

…Adding… It should be noted that this PPP poll is much more current than the Trib poll, which was taken Jan. 16-20. Some of those Trib numbers are nine days old.

* In another campaign, 10th CD Republican hopeful Beth Coulson is up on cable TV with a new ad. Rate it…

I expected better.

From a Coulson press release…

Earlier in January, Coulson’s radio ads started airing on radio stations throughout the Chicagoland area, touting her experience as a leader in the 10th Congressional district in bringing lower property taxes and small business tax credits, as well as the endorsements from leaders like former Gov. Jim Edgar. Starting Sunday, Coulson’s media campaign hit television with a district-wide cable buy focusing on her ability to bring fiscal conservatism to Washington.

34 Comments

*** UPDATED w/ more TV ads *** Early afternoon campaign roundup

Monday, Jan 25, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Dawn Clark Netsch is endorsing Dan Hynes this afternoon. From a press release…

“Dan Hynes has been a straight shooter and independent voice from the very beginning. For years, he’s been signaling that our state’s finances are on the wrong track,” said Netsch. “Hynes is a competent manager who doesn’t stick his head in the sand. He has credibility when it comes to the state budget and our fiscal mess. He’s the candidate who has the skills needed to help us recover from this dire situation.”

Should be fun to see how the liberal icon responds to the Harold Washington ad.

* Interesting that with Quinn right there, David Axelrod wouldn’t say anything about that HW ad…

Axelrod refused to comment on the devastating advertisement State Comptroller Dan Hynes is running against Gov. Quinn quoting former Mayor Harold Washington criticizing Quinn. Axelrod was a master campaign ad maker. But with Quinn standing off to his side Monday morning, Axelrod declined to weigh in.

The two were at an event for Misericordia Home.

* Legal fees allegedly aren’t showing up on campaign reports. From a press release…

CHICAGO—Independent Democratic candidates for State Rep. Joe Laiacona and Rudy Lozano Jr. filed a complaint with the State Board of Elections today, citing numerous violations of state election law related to the pre-election reports filed last week by Democratic incumbents Rep. Daniel Burke (D-23), Rep. Deborah Mell (D-40), Rep. Carol Sente (D-59) and Rep. Michael Zalewski (D-21).

Despite the fact that each of the incumbents was engaged in a time-consuming ballot access challenge, they all failed to report any expenditures or in-kind donations for attorney fees or staff costs.

“In November last year, I objected to my opponent’s petition on the grounds that she was not a registered voter,” said Laiacona. “We were both represented by attorneys. The fees I paid my attorney are reported. Mell’s report does not include any attorney’s fees.”

Lozano said, “We filed eight times the minimum number of signatures required. Burke never had a prayer of knocking us off the ballot but that wasn’t their goal. They wanted to cost us a bunch of
money and divert us from campaigning. Burke’s report hides this essential information from the voters.” […]

Illinois law requires the complaint case to be heard immediately and the State Board of Elections to make a decision in a week.

Something is just not right there. More later.

* Jim Ryan says he won’t hurt the poor with his budget cuts…

Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Ryan promised “deep cuts” in state government if he’s elected during a meeting with The Register-Mail Tuesday.

The former Illinois Attorney General says the state was on the verge of bankruptcy, but raising taxes isn’t the way to pull the state out of the hole.

Ryan said the solution is to cut the fat out of state government. “These cuts are going to be painful,” he said. “But for the last 10 years the state has spent more than it has brought in.”

He made a commitment that cuts would not hurt the most vulnerable members of society. “I’m going to go out of my way to protect the poor, the disabled and the elderly,” he said.

But the Civic Federation claims next fiscal year’s deficit will be $12.8 billion. That’s almost half the state’s operating budget. If Ryan wants to balance the budget with cuts alone, he’ll have to hurt everybody.

I really wish newspapers wouldn’t let candidates so easily get away with statements like that.

* Quote of the day goes to Republican gubernatorial candidate Kirk Dillard, even though he was quoted last week…

“I’m not the Senate GOP leader today because I’ve always thought like a governor and not a myopic legislator,” Dillard said. “I’ve always thought globally.”

To those who know him, the bombastic quote sums up Dillard perfectly, displaying an ego and ambition that dates back to his days working as a top aide to Republican Govs. James Thompson and Jim Edgar.

A myopic legislator? Sheesh.

* DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett has endorsed Jim Ryan for governor, and got in a shot at Andy McKenna in the process…

[Birkett] says he was weighing his political future in June when he asked McKenna, then the state GOP chair, for results of a rumored poll.

Birkett says McKenna told him he didn’t have any poll information, something that Birkett says “was a flat-out lie”.

A few weeks later, McKenna resigned as party chair and went on to enter the governor’s race.

Birkett accuses McKenna of putting personal interests ahead of party when he included his own name in the poll without the permission of the republican state central committee.

Birkett made a video about the subject as well. Watch…

Birkett’s claimed chronology…

MARCH 2009: A Zogby poll shows that Birkett was leading the early field for Governor (Birkett 39, Brady 8, Whitley 5).

APRIL 2009: State party takes extensive $28,000 poll, using nearly half of all party funds. Just this month, McKenna admitted breaking party ethics rules by submitting his name in the poll for both Governor and Senator. Birkett was far ahead of McKenna in the poll.

JUNE 16, 2009: Birkett meets with McKenna at his Dad’s business, Schwarz Supply Source, Morton Grove. At the meeting, Birkett asks whether McKenna has any poll #s relating to him. McKenna says no.

You can read the McKenna-ordered poll by clicking here.

Birkett also endorsed Brad Cole for lt. governor.

* Democratic comptroller candidate Rep. David Miller has been accusing his top primary opponent of botching the Bright Start program…

Both Giannoulias and Kelly are facing questions about Bright Start as they campaign statewide for U.S. Senate and state treasurer, respectively. Krishnamoorthi is now running for comptroller, tiptoeing through the Bright Start minefield as well.

His opponent, state Rep. David Miller (D-Lynwood), reminds audiences that Krishnamoorthi oversaw Bright Start when he worked at the treasurer’s office.

More…

Miller, his opponent, questions the timing of Krishnamoorthi’s departure.

“The question for me is, Was he asked to leave, or did he bail at a time when things got hot?” Miller said. “I believe he got pushed out.”

Krishnamoorthi dismissed the allegation: “It is absurd to suggest that I left because of Bright Start.”

Miller also accused Krishnamoorthi of downplaying his role in the Bright Start debacle when he is talking to voters.

“He doesn’t take personal responsibility,” Miller said. “He tries to explain it away as being a part of the downturn in the economy. He talks about transparency and accountability in his speeches, but he’s shown a lack of both. This was his baby.”

*** UPDATE *** With a hat tip to Progress Illinois, here are a couple more new TV ads. Raja Krishnamoorthi…

Dorothy Brown…

* Related…

* GOP governor’s hopefuls split on campaign finance limits

* Our Opinion: For the Republicans, Dillard for governor

* Six Republicans vying for governor

* Trailing candidates show financial strength in Illinois governor’s race

* Democrats focus on jobs; GOP: What took so long?

* Video: Congressman Danny K. Davis endorses David Miller for Illinois Comptroller

40 Comments

Hoffman attacks on air; RedState dreaming; Plummer up with new spot

Monday, Jan 25, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* David Hoffman has finally aired his long-promised attack ad. The spot whacks Alexi Giannoulias on Tony Rezko and touts Hoffman’s newspaper endorsements. Rate it…

Um, the Giannoulias family bank didn’t “let” Rezko bounce a half-million dollars in checks. The bank didn’t honor the checks and the casinos got quite upset about it.

* Erick Erickson, the top dog over at RedState, is dreaming…

Conservatives across the country are seriously considering a last minute air-drop of support into Illinois for Pat Hughes. The thinking goes that the last minute effort to help Scott Brown put him over the finish line and the same could be done in these last eleven days before the Illinois GOP primary. […]

He is not polling well against Kirk right now, but then he has significantly lower name identification. All the polling suggests Kirk’s support is very week and once people find out about Hughes, they break overwhelmingly for Hughes.

Scott Brown was a pretty well-known commodity by the last week and was either leading or coming very close to it by this point in the MA Senate campaign. And even if Hughes’ new poll is right - and that’s seriously doubtful considering that nobody even knows who his pollster is - he’s still trailing by 20 points. That’s a lot to overcome in a week - and that assumes the incoming cash is immediate. The Trib poll is probably more accurate anyway.

* Republican Lt. Governor candidate Jason Plummer, who has raised $731,000 this month alone in cash and (mostly) loans, has a new TV ad. Rate it…

* Related…

* Recommendations in Illinois Senate and governor primaries.

* Hoffman, Kirk best for Senate

* GOP salivating for U.S. Senate seat

* Brown’s win shows Republicans how to seize Obama’s old Illinois Senate seat

* Giannoulias, Hoffman report on fund-raising efforts

* Up close and personal with Dem Senate candidates

* Democratic Endorsement: U.S. Senate - Hoffman

* Republican Endorsement: U.S. Senate - Kirk

43 Comments

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