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Friday, May 7, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Sister Rosetta Tharpe will play us out…

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Friday, May 7, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller

* If you didn’t watch it yesterday, I highly recommend taking a look at the hugely entertaining, crisply edited Mark Maxwell story on the House Democrats’ “secret” map room…

It really should win some sort of award.

* Maxwell certainly knows how to sweeten a story. Here he is saying that in order to get from the Capitol Building to the Stratton’s secret map room, he had to walk through a tunnel. He could’ve just walked across the lawn and parking lot, but that wouldn’t have been nearly as dramatic as tunnel video…

The knock at the end is priceless.

* Rep. Bob Morgan’s deer in the headlights reaction is hilarious…

* Rep. Nick Smith gets the Vince Demuzio “Well, we’ll sit down and draw a very fair map” prize this year…

“I don’t have the key, either.”

* And the call to the Speaker’s office was just perfect…

Again, if you can, go watch the whole thing.

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Question of the day

Friday, May 7, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From the Illinois State Board of Education yesterday…

Hi Rich,

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week. Throughout the pandemic, teachers have gone above and beyond to care for our students and our communities. ISBE launched the Thank a Teacher Challenge to encourage people to tell a short story about their favorite teachers, and then tag someone else to do the same. Dr. Ayala, Gov. Pritzker, Lt. Gov. Stratton, Treasurer Frerichs, and President Harmon all posted short videos as part of the challenge. Comptroller Mendoza and Leader McConchie have been “tagged” as well.

Would you consider asking your readers to share a story about who their favorite teacher is as your question of the day tomorrow to close out Teacher Appreciation Week?

Thank you for your consideration.

Best,
Jackie

* The Question: You heard her. Have at it, but please make sure to explain your answer. Thanks.

…Adding… Leader Jim Durkin’s video is here.

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Large crowd gathers for ceremony to honor fallen Illinois officers

Thursday, May 6, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Ben Szalinski of the State Journal-Register…

After a difficult year for Illinois police, officers from around the state gathered at the Illinois Police Officers Memorial outside the state Capitol on Thursday to remember those who died in the line of duty.

Sixteen Illinois officers were killed in the line of duty between 2019 and 2020. COVID-19 killed several of those officers in 2020. In 2019, multiple officers were killed in traffic accidents or by gunfire. Six other officers who lost their lives in previous years also were honored. […]

This was the first time the ceremony was held at the memorial since it was renovated. In addition to a statue with the names of Illinois’ line of duty deaths surrounding it, a wall with various inscriptions and a thin blue line on the ground was added. The memorial ceremony has been annually since the early 1990s. […]

Sheriff’s departments, suburban Chicago police departments, the Chicago Police Department and Illinois State Police were among the departments in attendance. The day began with a memorial service at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield, followed by a procession of the officers in their cars to the Capitol.

* Rep. Morrison put together a moving video…

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HGOPs to mock HDems “transparency” promise on remap

Thursday, May 6, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Heh…

So it appears the ILGOP is trolling the House GOP which is trolling the Democrats for not waiting until mid-August when the granular census data for redistricting will be released. https://t.co/z2ZZapzaDW

— Rick Pearson (@rap30) May 6, 2021

Yeah sure, send the reporters… https://t.co/zkZ41vYRwc

— IL Republican Party (@ILGOP) May 6, 2021

* And that’s all about this Mark Maxwell story…

Our news cameras were rolling as dozens of House Democrats filed in and out of a locked door on the Capitol Complex grounds. Inside, members of House Speaker Chris Welch’s staff showed members one-by-one where the lines of their new districts could be drawn.

“Meeting with members is nothing new,” Welch’s spokeswoman Jaclyn Driscoll said in an emailed statement. “In fact, the room we’re talking to members in is actually the same we met in 10 years ago. This is and will remain a transparent process.”

“It’s just preliminary drafts for each district,” Rep. Nick Smith (D-Chicago) said on his way into the room.

Several other state representatives avoided questions about the meetings or gave evasive answers. Others who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed that they were reviewing the early drafts of the House district maps. Some members felt there weren’t many recognizable changes, but pointed out that the lines could still change several times before they’re finalized.

Not really a big dealio because it happens every ten years, but the full story does get in some zings at Democrats who promised “transparency”…

* HGOP media advisory…

MEDIA ADVISORY: Illinois House Republicans to Highlight the Democratic “Transparency” in Redistricting Process

WHO: Illinois House Republican State Representatives Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield), Avery Bourne (R-Morrisonville), Tim Butler (R-Springfield), Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) and Ryan Spain (R-Peoria)

WHAT: House Republicans to highlight the Democratic “transparency” in the redistricting process.

WHEN: 12:30 PM on Thursday, May 6th, 2021

WHERE: MAP ROOM – 401S in the Stratton Building (by the mounds of old furniture), Springfield, IL. This will be streamed on Blueroom and on the House Republican Facebook Page.

It ain’t much, but it’s all they’ve got at the moment.

…Adding… Forgot to post this…

Rep @ryan_spain (R-Peoria) points at what he calls “the doorway to further corruption in the state of Illinois.” pic.twitter.com/g6hTO7nEk7

— Hannah Meisel (@hannahmeisel) May 6, 2021

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Governor Pritzker Said On The Campaign Trail: “I’m In Favor Of Fair Maps.”

Thursday, May 6, 2021 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

We can’t have fair maps if those maps aren’t drawn using the full set of detailed Census data. But, due to census delays, Illinois politicians are planning to use outdated, estimated numbers to draw election maps that will last for a decade.

We know those estimates missed tens of thousands of us. We need the next set of election district maps to fully reflect our communities, and the only way that can happen is if those maps are drawn with current, complete Census data to give all our communities accurate and fair representation.

Call Governor Pritzker’s office today to ask that he push lawmakers to seek court permission to delay the process so that the next set of election maps are drawn with COMPLETE Census data, NOT old estimates.

Find your lawmakers contact information to ask for them to seek a delay here: https://www.changeil.org/legislator-map/

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Rate the new Darren Bailey campaign video

Thursday, May 6, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From the Darren Bailey for Governor Facebook page…

JB Pritzker unilaterally locked down healthy people while putting our most vulnerable at risk. He shuttered businesses, destroyed livelihoods and jeopardized mental health. He failed to provide PPE and essential resources to the people who needed it most, and this is sadly the result of his failed leadership. Our veterans and every person across the state deserve better.

The spot…

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