The findings and decision for Sen. Silverstein's ballot challenge are now online if you'd like to read through the lengthy report:https://t.co/wuxbXyZw33
The reason for the confusion, I’m told, is because Proft was doing the buy and the announcer appears in a lot of Proft’s other spots. But, as you will see, the ad is paid for by the Ives campaign.
I’m also told the ad has not yet aired, but is sitting at several TV stations, which is how I came to get it.
Thank you Bruce Rauner for opposing law enforcement and making Illinois a sanctuary state for illegal immigrant criminals.
Thank you for signing legislation that lets me use the girl’s bathroom.
Thank you for making all Illinois families pay for my abortions.
Thank you for making the rest of Illinois bail out Chicago teacher pensions, and for giving Rahm everything he wanted, and more.
Thank you for betraying Illinois Republicans.
Thank you.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Rauner campaign…
Governor Rauner is the only candidate in either party who will take on Mike Madigan, cut taxes, and reform our state. Representative Ives has already admitted that she’s not willing to take on Mike Madigan and will keep his 32% tax hike — not surprising given her history of opposing property tax reductions. Looks like JB Pritzker has some competition as Mike Madigan’s favorite candidate.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Kennedy campaign…
Jeanne Ives’ new ad is appalling and disrespectful to everyone who makes Illinois what it is today. It’s a slap in the face to everyone who’s brought progress and inclusivity to Illinois. We already have enough hate and bigotry in the White House. We don’t need a governor who stands silent against Donald Trump and we certainly don’t need a governor who echoes Donald Trump.
*** UPDATE 3 *** Ives campaign…
Ives Campaign Releases ‘Thank You Bruce Rauner’ Ad
February 2, 2018 - The ad represents Governor Rauner’s chosen constituents based on the policy choices he made, as well as a fair and accurate representation of the implications of those policy choices. Governor Rauner’s record was similarly covered by both National Review and Fox News, as highlighted in the ad.
Those Republican primary voters who don’t know of Rauner’s betrayals of conservatives need to know. Now they will.
They released a longer, 60-second version, which is probably online only. Click here.
*** UPDATE 4 *** Sen. Daniel Biss…
This ad is repulsive. It’s absolutely antithetical of Illinois values and the type of politics we should be holding ourselves to. Any elected official or candidate who does not disavow this horribly offensive ad outright should be ashamed. We must resist this type of racist, xenophobic, and transphobic rhetoric at all levels.”
*** UPDATE 6 *** Colleen K Connell, executive director of the ACLU of Illinois…
It is sad that a candidate for the office of Governor of Illinois would seek to divide voters by attacking our neighbors, friends and colleagues who are newcomers and refugees, those of a different race, those who are transgender, and poor women in need of health care.”
*** UPDATE 7 *** Pritzker campaign…
JB vehemently disagrees with the poison the Ives campaign is spreading on the issues that matter. While Bruce Rauner needs to be defeated in this election, this type of hate has no place in our politics. As governor, JB will defend our communities from forces of hate and ensure Illinois remains a welcome state to all.
Critics of the ad came out in droves, even among some Republicans. Former Illinois Republican party chairman Pat Brady said in a tweet that this is the Ives “we have known for years. There is no room in the Republican Party for racist, bigoted, homophobic candidates like her.”
Equality Illinois said Ives is “launching a campaign of division and rancor.”
“We need a governor who will stand up for all Illinoisans not someone who will target transgender Illinoisans for their personal political benefit,” spokesman Brian Johnson said.
*** UPDATE 9 *** Text from a friend in the biz…
Looks like she’s spending $1.1 million through the 25th.
That’s basically every dime she has in her campaign account.
Asked for a reaction to the ad, Chicago Teachers Union spokeswoman Chris Geovanis emailed, “we’re not going to dignify this racist, sexist, homophobic piece of crap with a response.”
*** UPDATE 11 *** Press release…
Statement from Rebecca Shi, Illinois Business Immigration Coalition Executive Director, to the new Ives ad
“Jeanne Ives’s new ad falsely attacking SB 31 “Illinois trust act,” and equating all undocumented immigrants with criminals is full of misinformation, hate and bigotry. Contrary to the ad, SB 31 was endorsed by Illinois Sheriffs Association, the Illinois Chiefs of Police, and gained broad support from Illinois business, faith, Latino and immigrant leaders. Since its passage, the Trust Act has strengthened trust between immigrants and local police, prevented unnecessary disruptions to businesses, and enabled hardworking, law-abiding immigrants to continue to work, pay taxes and create jobs here in Illinois. The Illinois Trust Act does not make Illinois a sanctuary state and is in full compliance with federal law. Ultimately, SB 31 ensures that our local police focus their limited resources to keep our communities safe, rather than enforcing federal immigration law. Recent Illinois electoral history has shown that the politics of hate, division, and intolerance is not rewarded by Illinois voters of either Party.”
And…
Republican Candidate for Comptroller Darlene Senger issued the following statement on State Representative Jeanne Ives’ campaign ad:
“Illinois is facing real challenges that require common-sense, bi-partisan solutions. Hyper-partisan attacks that focus on our fellow Illinoisans do little to advance debate nor reach consensus. The Republican Party — The Party of Lincoln — has always served as a beacon of freedom and individual rights. Now more than ever, we need to demonstrate our commitment to that standard.”
And…
117th Republican State Representative Dave Severin released the following statement on Jeanne Ives new campaign ad:
“This ad tries to make a point in the most wrong headed and politically divisive way possible. If Republicans in Illinois ever want to make this a two party state, we must lead with our shared vision of lower taxes, balanced budgets and a government that encourages a booming economy. Mike Madigan might as well of written, produced and paid for the ad - and that’s a shame. I call on Ives to immediately remove it from the airwaves.”
* And…
Republican Candidate for Treasurer Jim Dodge issued the following statement on State Representative Jeanne Ives’ campaign ad:
“Our nation’s collective diversity gives us our strength and makes us a beacon of freedom to the world. Illinois is a strong and diverse state - a microcosm of America. Representative Ives’ campaign advertisement is wrong on so many levels and an insult to everything that makes us Illinoisans and Americans. I believe this advertisement does not represent the Republican Party or our shared American values, and should never again see the light of day.”
An Illinois law banning guns within 1,000 feet of public parks violates a right under the Second Amendment to carry a weapon outside the home for self-defense, the state Supreme Court concluded in a unanimous decision issued on Thursday.
The 7-0 ruling came in the criminal case of Julio Chairez, who had appealed his 2013 conviction for having a gun near Aurora’s Virgil Gilman Trail park, just west of Chicago. In addition to striking the law, Thursday’s ruling also vacated Chairez’s conviction.
The 25-page opinion, penned by Chief Justice Lloyd Karmeier, says the law — in its scope — functions as “a categorical prohibition without providing an exception for law-abiding individuals.” He adds: “It is therefore a severe burden on the recognized second amendment right of self-defense.”
Thursday’s ruling is in line with other rulings over recent years by the state’s high court and the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Court of Appeals that found Illinois bans on citizens from carrying guns outside the home were unconstitutional. Such rulings have forced Illinois lawmakers who back tougher gun control laws to rethink their approach.
The Illinois attorney general’s office, whose lawyers defended the law, said Thursday it is reviewing the ruling and didn’t have an immediate comment. It could appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, which Karmeier said hasn’t specifically addressed the issue of gun-free zones around public parks.
Indeed an individual can preserve an undiminished right of self-defense by not entering one of the restricted areas. But the State conceded at oral argument that the 1000-foot firearm restriction zone around a public park would effectively prohibit the possession of a firearm for self-defense within a vast majority of the acreage in the city of Chicago because there are more than 600 parks in the city… Aside from the sheer number of locations and public areas that would qualify under the law, not only in the City of Chicago, but throughout Illinois, the most troubling aspect is the lack of any notification where the 1000-foot restriction zone starts and where it would end.
Innocent behavior could swiftly be transformed into culpable conduct if an individual unknowingly crosses into a firearm restriction zone. The result could create a chilling effect on the second amendment when an otherwise law-abiding individual may inadvertently violate the 1000-foot firearm-restricted zones by just turning a street corner. Likewise, in response to a question at oral argument, the State conceded that an individual who lives within 1000 feet of a public park would violate section 24-1(a)(4), (c)(1.5) every time that individual possessed a firearm for self-defense and walked to his or her vehicle parked on a public street. To remain in compliance with the law, the State said that the individual would need to disassemble his or her firearm and place it in a case before entering the restricted zone. This requirement, however, renders the ability to defend oneself inoperable
Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder is lobbying local legislators to let the city annex the State Fairgrounds and use some city sales tax revenue generated there to make repairs to several of the 170 buildings.
The Coliseum, which normally hosts horse shows year-round, has been closed since October 2016 after structural damage to its roof made it unsafe for use. Building 29 and Barn 38 are closed, as well, and it was announced in January that Barn 13 needed emergency repairs.
Langfelder said local lodging establishments have told him that canceling horse shows has meant a 25 percent reduction to their business. He bemoaned the domino effect on local shops and restaurants, as well.
“Once you lose (the horse shows), it’s hard to get them back,” Langfelder said. “It’s absolutely an economic hit for us.”
* It sounds to me like a good idea, particularly since the foundation has been a dud so far…
Gov. Bruce Rauner created the Illinois Fairgrounds Foundation in 2016 to raise private funds for repairs to the Coliseum. Foundation board chairman John Slayton says it has raised about $30,000 so far.
I grew up in a farming community in South Dakota. I was raised to speak plainly, work hard for what you want and respect others who do the same.
My name is Jeanne Ives. I’m running against Bruce Rauner for the Republican nomination for governor because Rauner deserted the conservative families like mine, who elected him.
I will not lie, cheat or steal, or tolerate others who do.
There must be a reckoning for Rauner’s betrayal. Join me and get the revolution you were promised.
The state agency responsible for overseeing Medicaid in Illinois failed to properly monitor $7.11 billion in payments made to and by managed care organizations, according to a report issued Tuesday by the Illinois auditor general. […]
According to the report, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services could not provide auditors with complete or reliable data that the agency was required to collect under its agreements with the 12 [Managed Care Organizations] it contracted with in 2016. The agency wasn’t able to provide data on paid claims MCOs made to providers; the claims denied by MCOs; administrative costs and coordinated care costs incurred by MCOs; and what percentage of each MCO’s premium income goes to health care and quality improvement as opposed to marketing and other costs, which is information required by federal law.
The report also found that the agency may have made duplicate payments to the MCOs to the tune of $590,237.
* Today…
@RVVoyles and I sat down with @GovRauner today. We asked about a report from auditor gen. on HFS failing to monitor $7 billion in Medicaid bills.
"I heard the reports about that and I'll say this, I think those are fundamentally inaccurate, those are erroneous."
I think those are fundamentally inaccurate. Those are erroneous. I don’t believe that those, uh, those figures or the, the concerns are valid and we’ll have the truth come out with you guys and others here in the near future… I think there’s misinformation and misunderstandings. I think our teams in these departments are handling our, our managed care program and our Medicaid program very well. There’s been a lot of fraud and abuse and mismanagement in the past, we’re correcting it. And I think the teams are doing a fantastic job. And I think these concerns that somehow there’s not oversight or that there are some missing dollars or whatever, I think, I just don’t think that’s right, that’s erroneous.
* Except, if you click here, you’ll see the Department of Healthcare and Family Services concurred with five out of six of the auditor general’s recommendations. And while DHFS only partially concurred with a sixth recommendation, it said it was addressing the problem a different way.
According to DHFS spokesperson John Hoffman, the department is already implementing changes suggested in the audit. Hoffman says many of these adjustments were made prior to the audit being issued.
“We are confident that HealthChoice Illinois will provide quality, whole-person care for millions of residents while saving taxpayer dollars and operating with vigorous accountability throughout. In addition, the Department contracts with an independent, third party, nationally recognized actuary to assist in this process. We will continually work to improve this program, fiscally and programmatically,” says Hoffman.
* Sen. Daniel Biss was at Crain’s today. Here’s Greg Hinz…
The senator appeared to rule out any significant changes in the state’s government pension plans—401(k)s are “a failed experiment. The jury has spoken,” he said—even though he was the chief sponsor of legislation to cut benefits while requiring both taxpayers and employees to pay more. The bill ultimately was ruled out by the courts, and Biss said he “learned my lesson . . . pensions are a promise and the payments should be made.”
Biss indicated he would not reduce pension benefits now even if he legally could. Government just needs to make regular payments rather than diverting pension money to other purposes, he said. And Biss rejected suggestions that, in sponsoring the pension bill, he was following the lead of Madigan, who had been pushing such a plan in opposition to a more limited “consideration” version proposed by Senate President John Cullerton.
“I decided this was the least bad of the bad options,” said Biss, noting he voted against another pension bill personally sponsored by Madigan. “I allowed myself to think we couldn’t do better.”
* Pritzker campaign…
Dan Biss Flails When Asked About Unconstitutional Pension Bill
Biss Asked “Can People Trust You Not to Change Your Opinion On Other Things?” at Crain’s Ed Board
Chicago, IL – While meeting with the Crain’s editorial board today, Dan Biss gave a flailing response to questions on his 2013 bill to cut pension benefits for 467,000 Illinoisans.
In a heated back and forth, Biss was pressed to answer an important question: “If you can so completely change your opinion on something you spent so much time and energy on, what can people trust you not to change your opinion on, on other things?”
“Dan Biss is flailing as he continues to be pressed on his unconstitutional efforts to cut pension benefits for 467,000 downstate teachers, university workers, and state employees,” said Pritzker communications director Galia Slayen. “Biss can try and ramble and deflect now, but this is someone who needed the Supreme Court to step in before he ‘learned his lesson’ that working families deserve the pensions that were promised to them.”
Greg Hinz: If the Supreme Court hadn’t objected, if there was not a legal reason, a constitutional reason to do this, would you come back to something like that? Is it appropriate, or do you also have a moral objection now?
Sen. Daniel Biss: No, I think the Supreme Court was right. I think the Supreme Court was right. Um, I think that these pensions were promised to people, and they were told they were promised, and they were told that it’s a guarantee. And, I don’t think it’s appropriate then to go back and change it, and I…um…like I said, that was a long learning process for me, and I wish I’d learned that lesson differently. But I think that it’s a really, really important lesson.
Greg Hinz: Why this total mindset transition?
Sen. Daniel Biss: Well I think you have to ask the question: was the Supreme Court right or wrong?
Greg Hinz: What I guess I’m asking is a character question: if you could so completely change your opinion of something you spent so much time and energy on, what can people trust you not to change your opinion on, on other things?
An Illinois State Board of Elections hearing examiner has recommended state Rep. Scott Drury be knocked from the Democratic ballot for Illinois attorney general because he filed an incorrect statement of economic interest — a charge the north suburban lawmaker plans to fight. […]
According to the initial hearing examiner’s recommendation, Drury filed a statement of economic interest, required to run for office, but submitted a statement from April 2017 that he submitted to the Secretary of State for his role as state representative.
Drury’s attorneys claim his statement is accurate because it was filed within a year, which is required. And they argue that even if he had filed one for the attorney general post, it would have been identical to the one submitted. […]
Tenuto writes that Drury’s economic interest statement as state representative is “not applicable” and that he was required to file a new statement for the attorney general’s office. Tenuto writes that members of the General Assembly are in a different unit of government than members of the executive branch, and therefore, his previous statement isn’t valid.
Early voting, which was set to begin next week, will be delayed in Chicago and suburbs in Cook County, City Board of Elections officials said Friday.
According to an official with the Board of Elections, too many candidate challenges have not yet finished, delaying early voting in the area.
It remains unclear if delays will be seen in other Illinois counties as well.
*** UPDATE 1 *** From Rep. Drury…
“When I entered this race, I knew the party would do anything it could to prevent a proven reformer from becoming Illinois’ next attorney general. I have instilled a fear in Mike Madigan that has not been seen during his reign in Springfield. Justice was not served today, but the battle is not over. We plan to appeal the decision as soon as this afternoon. I trust justice will prevail in the end, and Illinois will get the chance to elect an Attorney General who works for people, not politicians.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** Press release…
“While I am in this race to win it, I believe democracy only works when we are all allowed do our best and put our vision before the voters to decide. I do not agree with these typical machine shenanigans, which are similar to what I faced when I took on the machine in 2016. I hope that Scott’s appeal is successful as he has gotten the necessary signatures and I don’t believe a technicality, an inconsequential and good faith mistake should result in him being knocked off the ballot.
As Democrats, we need to be better than this”
Aaron Goldstein
Candidate for Illinois Attorney General
Republican governor challenger Jeanne Ives abruptly canceled a Thursday night fundraising speech by an internet commentator who has said he believes African-Americans are intellectually inferior to whites and that correlates to higher poverty and crime among blacks.
The move by Ives to pull Bill Whittle from his role as keynote speaker came just hours before her event at Bull Valley Country Club in McHenry County, coming on the first day of Black History Month. It also came after some of Ives’ legislative colleagues, including Senate GOP leader Bill Brady, urged her to cancel Whittle’s appearance or the fundraiser itself.
No charges have resulted, but Illinois State Police interviewed legislative candidate Christopher Hicks after he made what was reported as an “aggressive” statement at the Litchfield office of state Rep. Avery Bourne, R-Raymond.
According to the police report, Hicks told a legislative aide to Bourne that he would be “coming for blood and vengeance” if Bourne did not co-sponsor a bill about parental rights.
But in an email to me about the situation, Hicks also wrote this: “Joe Woodward and the HRO are trying to run the Republican Party like a Nazi cult. If Avery Bourne does not disassociate herself from the HRO and Joe Woodward this election, she might as well start wearing the HRO swastika on her sleeve.”
I asked Ives’ campaign whether Hicks was still with the campaign or if he was removed, or if he had resigned. Here’s the only response I received…
Hi Rich - There was nothing to resign from he was a volunteer helping to arrange an event.
I followed up, but haven’t yet heard back.
…Adding… From the Ives campaign…
He is one of more than one thousand campaign volunteers. The article you sent to make us aware of his previous mistake includes him acknowledging the mistake and being “extremely apologetic” for it, which was appropriate based on the account of his reported comments. And that is the end of story.
Best,
Kathleen
But is he still with the campaign? I’ll let you know.
* Anyway, if you scroll down in that Ives Tribune story you’ll see this…
Controversies about race have swirled around Republicans nationally and in Illinois — including Ives, a three-term state representative from Wheaton, who is challenging first-term Gov. Bruce Rauner in the March 20 primary.
On Wednesday, Rauner’s handpicked state Lottery Control Board chairman resigned after it came out that he had used the term “sh*thole” on social media last month to describe Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin’s hometown of East St. Louis, which is heavily African-American. President Donald Trump had used the term to describe African nations in a closed-door discussion on immigration last month, a meeting Durbin attended.
On Thursday, the state GOP said the lottery board chairman, Blair Garber of Evanston, also had resigned as a member of the Republican State Central Committee. [Emphasis added.]
I was told by the state party yesterday that they had no details on the process or timeline of his replacement.
* And since we’re talking about Garber again, this press release from yesterday is relevant…
A member of the Illinois Lottery Control Board appointed by Gov. Bruce Rauner resigned yesterday after controversial social media posts about East St. Louis were made public.
State Senator James F. Clayborne, Jr. (D-Belleville) issued the following statement:
“I am thankful that the governor understood the seriousness of these comments and I appreciate his quick and decisive actions. It is my hope that we can move forward and find areas of common ground that benefit the entire Metro-East community.”
Clayborne is the Senate’s Majority Leader and represents East St. Louis.
* The governor was asked by some Decatur Herald & Review reporters today if his budget proposal would include rolling back the income tax. Gov. Rauner said he’d present a balanced budget first and then suggestion some additional options. “We’ll say, if we do the following additional things, we’ll reduce the income tax.”
* But he also said this…
In post-press conference interview, @GovRauner reiterated he will propose a 'balanced budget' in two weeks. He dismissed Civic Federation, Politifact, etc. that show he never has introduced one. "I feel, very strongly, that I've introduced balanced budgets every year."
2) On "Working together on grand bargain" item from his last budget proposal: "I'm not familiar with that." "My view, very strongly, I've introduced balanced budgets every year. This year, let's sit down and talk through it, I'll walk you through it line by line…"
Rauner’s budget plan also counts on $4.6 billion under a category called “working together on ‘grand bargain,’” a bargain that is still being negotiated in the Senate.
Macon County Sheriff Howard Buffett has donated $3 million to Crossing Healthcare to help pay for the new Decatur facility that opened in 2015, officials said Friday.
Crossing CEO Tanya Andricks announced the donation during a visit from Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and several Central Illinois lawmakers. Crossing is a federally qualified health center that serves Macon and surrounding counties.
“This shows what we can do when we come together,” said Rauner, who toured the facility before the announcement.
Half of the funding for the $6 million clinic at 320 Central Ave came from the state, Rauner said. Officials previously said that the remaining half of the facility’s funding was covered by loans.
Rauner said Friday that the donation would allow Crossing officials to “burn their mortgage” and focus on their work.
* Um, OK. Two things. First, here is the governor’s quote…
This is a great day for the people of Decatur, the people of Macon County and the people of Illinois. This is a wonderful day. This shows what we can do when we come together. Come together. Private citizens, members of our government, members of our healthcare, non-profit organizations. Everyone comes together to take on a challenge, solve problems and create a better future, a better quality of life for the people of Illinois.
* The governor asked for rounds of applause for several people, including Sen. Chapin Rose…
He has been an advocate here for Decatur and for this facility since he first got into public service. He has been on me relentlessly. Persistence is the key in every endeavor.
The board broke ground on three acres of vacant city lots last December [2014]. Half of the funding came from the state’s Illinois Jobs Now! Program, and the remaining $3 million was covered with loans.
But with no state budget in place, Andricks said CHIC is carrying the full debt load to finish the building.
Crossing Healthcare is a Federally Qualified Health Center, meaning that its revenue comes from the federal government.
But the center was awarded a $3 million state capital construction grant [in 2014] to build its new facility at 320 Central Ave., according to Crossing Director Tanya Andricks. In early 2015, Rauner froze all state capital grants, but Crossing’s governing board chose to continue with the building project.
“Over the last several years, Crossing has been carrying twice the debt burden as planned,” Andricks said. “This has caused us to delay things like cost of living increases for our staff. And we’ve had to reduce the number of physicians on staff and rely heavily on physician’s assistants and nurse practitioners.” [Emphasis added]
* So, to sum up, the governor freezes the center’s state capital funds, then after more than two years of gridlock he vetoed the budget, then immediately and continually slammed everyone who voted to override his veto, then talked today about how this great facility is the result of people and government coming together and praised Sen. Rose, who voted against the budget and against the veto override.
Lovely.
Also, Sen. Andy Manar, the guy who actually put the money into the budget, voted for the budget and voted for the override, wasn’t invited.
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
Senator Andy Manar today congratulated Decatur’s Crossing Healthcare on receiving a $3 million donation to help pay for a new facility that opened in 2015 despite Gov. Bruce Rauner doing everything in his power to block promised state funding.
“Thank you to Howard Buffett for stepping in to help alleviate some of the unnecessary financial burden that Crossing was forced to endure. Mr. Buffett’s generosity continues to change Decatur for the better, and he should be commended for all he has done,” said Manar, a Bunker Hill Democrat who represents much of Decatur, including Crossing Healthcare.
“Gov. Rauner appears to have conveniently forgotten the role he played in Crossing’s misfortune. I’ll help him remember.
“He froze its funding immediately upon taking office in 2015, blocked negotiations on last year’s ‘grand bargain’ and repeatedly vetoed state budgets that would have provided the money the center was due and desperately needed – money that was sitting idly in a state bank account.”
Crossing Healthcare was among the 14 federally qualified health centers and hospitals in Senate District 48 that Manar visited in November to learn more about the challenges and needs facing health care providers in central Illinois.
The continued delay in capital construction dollars from the state for the 2015 facility and the financial difficulty it created for Crossing, which served more than 19,000 patients in 2016, were significant concerns that were discussed during the senator’s visit.
“It takes a lot of nerve to do what the governor did today – and by ‘nerve’ I don’t mean bravery,” Manar said. “Gov. Rauner seems to not understand the connection between his actions as governor, being in charge of the state of Illinois, and press conferences like the one in Decatur today.”
The plaintiff in the U.S. Supreme Court case Janus vs. AFSCME is responding to critics, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, who call him and others who don’t want to be forced to pay fees to a union “free riders.”
The bishops filed an amicus, or friend of the court, brief last month siding with the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees over a worker who doesn’t want to be forced to pay fees to a union he doesn’t agree with. It cites a Catholic Church social doctrine from 1891 that called for workers associations to defend worker rights.
Liberty Justice Center Director of Litigation Jacob Huebert, who represents plaintiff Mark Janus in the case, didn’t understand why the bishops would file such a brief.
“I don’t know why,” Huebert said. “I don’t know why they would be against freedom of association when that, of course, works to their benefit and everybody else’s when they chose to advocate the things that they advocate.” […]
The bishops brief siding with the union said they’ve long supported the right of workers to collectively bargain and the right is weakened by right-to-work laws.
A “misguided effort to protect one individual from government coercion would leave only individuals to stand against government (or economic) coercion,” the bishops’ filing said. It also said ruling in favor of Janus would create a free rider problem that would weaken unions. […]
“Who’s the real free rider here?” Janus said. “[AFSCME is] taking my money, and thousands of other government workers. So who’s getting the free money here? They’re taking it out of my wallet and putting it in theirs without my asking and without my permission. That’s what I consider wrong. That I consider coercion.”
Also, I need a better moniker for the INN. Any ideas?
Mirroring divides in the Democratic Party, organized labor is split in the heated Democratic Illinois primary pitting Rep. Dan Lipinski against challenger Marie Newman.
This battle for the third congressional district seat is the biggest Democratic House primary in Illinois, and endorsements are picking up for each contender as early balloting for the March 20 primary gets underway. In Illinois, the deadline to mail out ballots to overseas and military voters is Saturday.
In the past weeks, Lipinski has won endorsements from a stack of building trade unions, the Illinois AFL-CIO and the Chicago Federation of Labor. On Friday, Newman is expected to get the backing of SEIU Local 1
* New York US Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is hosting a fundraiser for Newman today. And EMILY’s List also endorsed her today…
Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILY’s List, said in a statement:”With this Congress intent on ripping fundamental rights and autonomy away from women, it is critical that we elect leaders who stand with us. That is why we are endorsing Marie Newman for Congress. Throughout her career, Marie has worked to improve her community and advocate on behalf of children and families. Her record is unimpeachable. As a small businesswoman and nonprofit executive, Marie has shown that she will not back down from a challenge – a trait that will serve her well when fighting for the families of the 3rd District in Washington.
“The reality is that Dan Lipinski has not shown himself to be a leader that women and families can depend on. He has put women’s reproductive health care in jeopardy and sought to end protections against discrimination. This is not an acceptable way to govern – and it’s certainly not what the people of Illinois’ 3rd District deserve. We support Marie Newman in this election and urge the voters in this district to join us. With Trump and Congressional Republicans working around the clock to take us backwards, we need an ally like Marie fighting for progress. It’s time for change.”
* A Planned Parenthood endorsement could be happening as well…
Planned Parenthood, we’re told, could also be endorsing in short order.
*** UPDATE *** 10,000 members in the district. Impressive…
Today, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) announced their endorsement of Democrat Marie Newman in her bid to unseat out-of-touch incumbent, Dan Lipinski. Marie joined union leaders and members from SEIU Local 1, HCII, and SEIU Local 73 at their downtown Chicago office this morning at a press conference to announce the endorsement. This is an unprecedented power move against the thirteen year incumbent Democrat, Lipinski, who recently made public his opposition to a livable wage at $15 an hour. SEIU has been the national leader on the fight for $15 movement.
“Congressman Lipinski’s refusal to support a $15 minimum wage for working people shows how deeply out of touch he is with the working families of his district,” said SEIU Illinois State Council President Tom Balanoff. “Whether it’s voting against Obamacare or voting for restrictions on a woman’s right to choose, it is clear Congressman Lipinski does not share the progressive values of his constituents. SEIU is proud to join a long list of progressive leaders and organizations in endorsing Marie Newman for Congress.”
“When you work hard and play by the rules, you deserve a shot at the American Dream. That is a value I share with the 10,000 SEIU members who are the very backbone of our community here in the Third District, said Marie Newman. “For far too long, Dan Lipinski has turned a blind eye to hardworking Illinois families, ignoring his responsibility to fight to give them a chance. I will never turn my back on our working families, rather, I will fight tirelessly to make sure workers can survive on a livable wage, starting at $15 an hour, have access to affordable and quality healthcare and Medicare for all, and their earned benefits through Social Security and have respect and dignity in the workplace. I could not be more honored to have the support of SEIU members and I look forward to working alongside them as a partner to make sure that, no matter who you are or where you come from, if you work hard you will have a fighting chance at success.”
J.B. Pritzker’s just-announced $7 million contribution to his own campaign brings the total amount the billionaire businessman has self-funded in the Illinois Democratic primary to $49.2 million, surpassing the $45 million of personal funds Donald J. Trump spent nationwide in the Republican presidential primary election in 2016. Despite this unprecedented spending, Pritzker is still slipping in recent polling, causing him to change tact to attack fellow Democratic candidate Daniel Biss.
“JB has now spent more money on a statewide primary than Donald Trump spent on a presidential primary,” said Daniel Biss. “In trying to buy elections, these billionaire businessmen threaten our democracy at its very core. This campaign is about more than taking on JB Pritzker and his fortune—it’s about building a movement powerful enough to overhaul our campaign finance rules and build a system that works for the rest of us.”
* But Sen. Biss had a different take on Pritzker’s fortune on Tuesday night…
You’ve contributed $42 million to your primary campaign for governor so far. Will you pledge to contribute at least $42 million to the general election campaign regardless of who the nominee is?
It’s surprising you weren’t prepared for that question. And the idea that you want to hold the Democratic Party hostage and offer to fund the general election only if you’re the nominee, seems to me to be really problematic.
* Way back in December of 2016, Crain’s Chicago Business reported on some JB Pritzker contributions to the Speaker Madigan operation…
According to campaign records highlighted by the Rauner folks, $119,400 came from Stateline, which is listed at the same West Loop address as the Pritzker Group, and J.B. Pritzker listed the firm on a 2006 statement of economic interest.
Another $82,000 came from TNDP. It, too, has the same West Loop address, and its registered agent is Jay Robert Pritzker.
Republicans say that’s proof Pritzker is a secret agent of sorts of the governor’s arch-enemy, House Speaker Mike Madigan.
“After raising money for Rod Blagojevich, it’s no surprise that Pritzker is trying to hide hundreds of thousands in donations meant to help Mike Madigan,” Illinois Republican Party spokesman Steven Yaffe said in a statement. “Pritzker is just proving he is a political insider who will always side with Madigan to protect the status quo.”
* This morning, Gov. Rauner’s campaign organization sent out an e-mail entitled “WCIA: Pritzker used LLC to donate to Madigan” and linked to the story, which recycled that same info from the more than year-old Crain’s story…
Running short on time and low on resources, Democrats running against billionaire front runner J.B. Pritzker in the upcoming March primary contest are targeting the wealthy philanthropist with accusations that he bought his way into the good graces of powerful House Speaker and Democratic Party Chairman Michael Madigan in a scheme to consolidate party support and deny them the nomination. […]
“That just happens to be where there was money available to give,” Pritzker explained on Wednesday. He and his wife gave another $27,000 in political contributions during that same month under their own names. “As you know, the laws are you either give individually or you give through an organization that is made up of individuals and I am the only individual involved in that organization,” Pritzker said. […]
[Chris Kennedy campaign spokesperson Rebeccca O’Halloran Evans] said, “What’s clear is that Mike Madigan and political insiders are supporting J.B. in exchange for the promise that he’ll protect the status quo. Pritzker has spent more than $40 million in this race to raise his profile and it hasn’t bought him an ounce of courage,” she said in an email. “Pritzker won’t change the system that only works for a wealthy and well-connected few. A system from which he benefits while everyone else suffers.” […]
[Sen. Daniel Biss said] “Whether it’s to hide the liquidation of his offshore assets to avoid taxes, or hiding his donations to Mike Madigan to avoid being seen as Madigan’s chosen candidate, we know J.B. Pritzker is adept at the billionaire game of using shell companies to hide his record from the voters of Illinois.” […]
“J.B. Pritzker secretly bankrolling Mike Madigan only scratches the surface of their close relationship,” ILGOP spokesman Aaron DeGroot said in a statement. “Madigan knows Pritzker is a fellow insider who will protect their corrupt property tax racket and Chicago political machine. Pritzker will never stand up to Madigan, and that’s why Madigan has worked so hard behind the scenes to crown Pritzker with the Democratic nomination for governor.”
The Illinois Constitution requires Gov. Bruce Rauner to draw up a budget plan each year that is balanced. But a wide range of fiscal experts agree he didn’t do it in 2015 after taking office. He didn’t do it in 2016. He didn’t do it last year either, even though he claimed otherwise.
Indeed, the budget Rauner proposed last year was so clearly billions of dollars out of whack that, when he presented it to the General Assembly last March, PolitiFact Illinois handed the governor the lowest possible Pants on Fire! credibility rating for contending it was in balance.
So we were puzzled when Rauner on Monday declared to the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board: “I have introduced balanced budgets every year that I’ve been governor.”
Rauner followed that on Wednesday during his annual State of the State speech to lawmakers in Springfield with a declaration that unintentionally drew a boisterous round of sarcastic cackling from Democrats in the chamber.
“I will submit a balanced budget proposal next month,” Rauner said, pausing a couple of beats before adding, “Again.” […]
Rauner last year earned PolitiFact’s Pants on Fire! rating for his claim that a state budget he proposed was balanced. Indeed, fiscal experts say Rauner has never proposed a balanced budget as required under the state Constitution since taking office in 2015.
All facts to the contrary, Rauner repeated a similar claim this week during an appearance at the Chicago Tribune. “I have introduced balanced budgets every year that I’ve been governor,” Rauner said.
Aides to the governor filibustered when we asked them to back up his latest statement.
A year ago, PolitiFact called Rauner out on his balanced budget claim. His most recent comment is equally outrageous. Once again, we rate it Pants on Fire!
* Pritzker campaign…
“With his approval ratings under water and his accomplishments nonexistent, Bruce Rauner is taking up the Donald Trump playbook of peddling blatant lies,” said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. “Rauner’s disregard for facts and truth is an insult to Illinoisans still reeling from the damage done by his consistent failure to introduce a balanced budget.”
…Adding… DGA…
“By repeatedly lying about his record, Bruce Rauner is playing out his own personal Groundhog Day,” said DGA Illinois Communications Director Sam Salustro. “The fact is that Rauner has never proposed a balanced budget and has only made the state’s financial mess worse. Rauner’s failure to show leadership led to a two-year budget crisis, tripling the bill backlog and costing the state $1 billion in interest payments. That’s history Illinois voters don’t want to repeat.”
We are confident that JB’s message of beating Bruce Rauner and bringing real change to Illinois is resonating with voters across the state. After Dan Biss became the first Democrat to run attack ads in the Democratic primary last week, it’s clear that voters deserve to know the facts about Biss’ real record in Springfield.
* From the Biss campaign…
Today, JB Pritzker released his second attack ad in two days against Daniel Biss. The ads follow a We Ask America poll from earlier this week showing Biss surging with momentum since October while Pritzker loses support, despite spending $21 million on his campaign since then. That total does not include Pritzker’s latest contribution of an additional $7 million dollars from January 25. Pritzker’s primary spending now tops Donald Trump’s in the 2016 presidential primary in all 50 states.
“With his numbers dropping, JB is flailing,” said Biss campaign manager Abby Witt. “Clearly JB is nervous, and he should be. As voters see the choice between another billionaire and a middle class progressive that will make billionaires pay their fair share, Daniel Biss’ numbers are surging and JB’s are plummeting. So it’s no wonder we’re seeing another sloppy attempt to muddy the choice voters are making in this election.
“While middle-class families like Daniel’s send their kids to neighborhood public schools and struggle to pay their property taxes, JB profits from privatizing education and pulls the toilets out of his mansion to get a break on his taxes. If he truly cared about fully funding our public schools, JB Pritzker should pay his fair share in taxes instead of inventing schemes to profit off the backs of working families.”
*** UPDATE *** From Stand for Children Illinois…
Stand for Children and its members across the state of Illinois support public education, not school privatization. We have fought relentlessly for adequate and equitable funding for public schools and will continue the fight to make sure public school students have the quality education they deserve and teachers have the supports they need.
State legislators on Wednesday overrode Gov. Bruce Rauner’s amendatory veto of Senate Bill 444, a trailer bill to the state’s new evidence-based funding formula that passed last year. But school districts awaiting new state equity funding will still have to wait to get those dollars, according to one bill sponsor. […]
SB 444 included a couple tweaks to the funding formula, like modifications to school districts’ equalized assessed value and property tax levies. But the Illinois State Board of Education has since identified about two dozen other technical discrepancies that need fixing in the funding formula bill, according to spokeswoman Jackie Matthews. She said SB 444 becoming law will address some of the larger issues, but another trailer bill will likely still be necessary to iron out the rest.
State Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, said he sees the list of discrepancies as a delay tactic by the governor.
“To produce a list that is as substantial as this is stunning to me,” he said. “So we are no closer to starting the march toward equity then we were five months ago when Gov. Rauner signed the bill into law.”
“For the near future, what appears to be several weeks, if not months, schools should expect continued delay,” he added.
In an email, ISBE communications director Jackie Matthews characterized the 23 items as “discrepancies between legislative intent and the language codified in” the bill. She said the items were identified by staff and by stakeholders who participated in community meetings and webinars hosted by ISBE over the past several months. Matthews wrote that ISBE is on schedule to submit vouchers for this new money to the comptroller in April.
Manar — chief sponsor of the reform legislation — is skeptical.
“I have no belief today that that’s going to be their final list of what they refer to as ‘tweaks,’” he says. “I want to know when they’re going to be done.”
Asked if he’s suggesting some sort of malfeasance, Manar said “not quite, but close.”
Businessman Chris Kennedy said Wednesday that if Democratic nemesis J.B. Pritzker beats him in the March primary, he would support Pritzker over Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner — but Kennedy dubbed it a choice between the “unethical” and the “immoral.”
“It’s a pretty tough choice,” Kennedy said. […]
Kennedy also clarified the promise he made in a Tuesday debate to support whichever candidate wins the Democratic nomination.
“I think he [Pritzker] does represent the poster child for the pay-to-play political system in the state. Do I think ultimately he is a better candidate? Do I think it is better to have him in charge rather than Bruce Rauner? Yes, I think Bruce Rauner, based on his speech today, where he’s accomplished nothing in his years in office, has attacked the poor, relentlessly pushed those who have no resources out of our state, I think he’s immoral. That’s different than being unethical. If you have a choice between the immoral and the unethical, I guess I’d go with the unethical,” Kennedy said.
“I don’t think that the pandering that Biss has been doing and the plundering that Pritzker is doing is of great interest to anybody,” said Kennedy.
He said Pritzker, particularly, “can’t win a general election.”
“When you buy $40 million of a campaign and 40 percent of (likely primary voters) are undecided,” said Kennedy, referring to a WeAskAmerica poll released Wednesday, “it’s because they don’t want you.”
In a scathing report being released this morning, the Civic Federation, a Chicago watchdog group largely funded with corporate cash, says the new governor’s $31.5 billion operating budget does not add up and asserts that it could leave the state in worse shape than it was under former Gov. Pat Quinn.
After nearly a year and a half of all-out budget war in Springfield, the state’s fiscal situation has hit “a new low”—and Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposed 2017 spending plan is making it worse, the nonpartisan Civic Federation says.
In a beyond-blistering report being issued today, the Chicago watchdog says the budget’s reported $3.5 billion deficit—a shortfall Rauner has suggested might be filled with spending cuts and perhaps some tax hikes—in fact is “more like $4.5 billion to $5 billion,” federation President Laurence Msall told me in a phone interview last evening.
“Today we present you with a balanced budget that shows what is possible if we all come together on a comprehensive approach to state finances and job creation” the governor told lawmakers.
Yet, the budget book produced by the governor’s office of management and budget suggests the budget is balanced by [$4.57 billion in] “working together on a grand bargain.” A so-called grand bargain budget compromise, though, has not been achieved or enacted.
Illinois government finance experts agree Rauner’s proposal is not balanced [anywhere from $4.6 billion to $7 billion].
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx claims in a new book that her predecessor Anita Alvarez looked the other way despite multiple complaints of sexual harassment against a former division chief in her office.
Foxx is among 17 women from across the Illinois political sphere — including Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia — who detail their experiences of sexual harassment in former Daily Herald reporter Kerry Lester’s book “No, My Place,” which was released Wednesday.
In the book, Foxx tells of “a chief in our division who was known for everything from literally looking up women’s skirts to saying he wanted his own pretty, female intern, to asking a young woman” about performing oral sex.
Foxx says she “lobbied to get this guy fired. Problem was, he was very good friends with the former state’s attorney.”
Another woman in Illinois politics, now a state representative, recalled a lobbyist at a fundraiser commenting about her chest, and then shouting the remarks to men at the other end of a table at a bar in the 1990s.
And a commissioner for a government agency said a committeeman at a party in 2013 told her, “I’ve never tasted Chinese p—- before,” according to the book.
Written and self-published by former Daily Herald journalist Kerry Lester as a response to the #MeToo movement, the book contains dozens of stories in the women’s own voices of inappropriate behavior they said they encountered.
“In the more than two dozen interviews I conducted for this book, not a single woman who experienced harassment felt that there were appropriate mechanisms in place to report and address a problem,” Lester said in the book. “Often, she just put up with it, hoping with time the dynamics would change.”
Two candidates trying to oust Republican U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam of Wheaton were emerging Wednesday as leaders in the chase for campaign cash in the crowded Democratic primary field.
Though some candidates had yet to file their federal campaign finance reports in the hours before a midnight deadline, Kelly Mazeski of Barrington Hills, had more than $513,000 in her treasury as the year opened, and Sean Casten of Downers Grove had about $409,000. Neither Mazeski nor Casten has held elective office. She sits on the Barrington Hills Plan Commission. He is a scientist and clean-energy entrepreneur. […]
Mazeski has loaned her campaign $295,000 and Casten has loaned his effort $430,000, reports show. Including their own money, she led him in total campaign receipts so far, reporting about $688,000 to his $617,000. Casten started airing a TV ad after Tuesday night’s State of the Union address.
Congressional candidates filed their fourth quarter fundraising and spending reports today, giving us a first look at their financial status at the start of 2018.
The 3rd, 4th, and 6th Congressional Districts have raised particular interest from reporters and engaged voters across the country. In these top races, three Democratic challengers, Marie Newman, Sean Casten, and Kelly Mazeski, have contributed significant amounts to their own campaigns.
With this funding, Marie Newman was able to raise more than incumbent Congressman Dan Lipinski, with $262,092 to his $228,318. This was a major departure from the 3rd quarter of 2017, when Lipinski raised $1.5 million.
Lipinski had $1.6 million in the bank, however, compared to $237K for Newman.
The 4th District race hinges on a three-way primary between Democrats seeking to replace twelve-term Congressman Luis Gutierrez. Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia took a considerable fundraising lead, raising more than twice that of activist Sol Flores. The candidates raised $190,487 and $79,407 respectively in the 4th quarter of 2017. Garcia raised 140% more than Flores during that time period.
Garcia received just over 25% of his contributions from political committees, and was poised with $162,811 in cash on hand heading into 2018, compared to Flores’ $77,988. Alderman Ray Lopez and Alderman Proco “Joe” Moreno recently dropped out of this race ahead of a candidate forum, after polling showed Garcia with a significant lead.
* From Democrat Brendan Kelly’s campaign manager in the 12th District race against Republican Mike Bost…
Hey Rich -
I know you’re probably getting swamped with digital ads AND I know we sent over our new ad earlier today - but I also wanted to highlight for you that we out-raised Bost again this quarter.
From my quick research - this is the first time in IL-12 that a challenger has had two back-to-back quarters over $300,000. Last quarter (Q3 - 2017) we raised over $355,000 and out-raised Bost by about $95,000.
Thanks,
Sam
* In the 13th District, Republican Rodney Davis raised $277K and had $1.1 million cash on hand. Among Democrats, Erik Jones raised $132K and had $238K in the bank. Betsy Londrigan raised $163K and ended with $238K. [These are updated totals.]
I’m Bob Daiber. I’m a progressive Democrat in the race for governor. I am the only candidate who has laid out a progressive income tax model. I’m not afraid to take a bold stance on issues.
I’m for a minimum wage that’s a living wage. I’m pro-union, I’m for restoring funding for state universities. I care about the environment.
You don’t have to vote for a billionaire! I know you don’t want to. You have a choice, and I’m the progressive choice – Bob Daiber, Democrat for governor.
I’m Bob Daiber and I approved this message.
Bob reported having $11,329.31 in the bank at the end of 2017 and has reported no large contributions since then.
* I don’t think I’d ever heard of Bill Whittle until today, when a certain helpful somebody sent me the invite and a link to this backgrounder…
While discussing “black America” during a December 2015 appearance on Molyneux’s program, Whittle described African Americans who support the Democratic Party as literal slaves who prefer to remain in captivity. He said that that the party has “30 million” slaves and the “terms of their slavery are very simple — there’s a word for somebody who is fed, and clothed, and housed, and whose health care is taken care of by another person, and that word is slave.” Whittle then suggested that African Americans commit voter fraud on behalf of Democrats as a condition of their slavery, claiming, “On the voting plantation that the Democratic Party has set up in America, we demand two hours of work from you every two years. Every two years we demand that you go down to the voting places and vote, once, twice, three, four times, however [many] times as you can imagine, or manage, and that’s the work we expect for you in exchange for keeping you in bondage.”
During another 2015 appearance on Molyneux’s show, Whittle compared the “Islamic invasion of Europe” to “inner cities” in America “that are absolutely toxic, violent, enraged, bitter, [and] racist.” He went on to claim Black Lives Matter is “the street muscle” of the Democratic Party and that the group will make sure “everything’s gonna burn” if welfare is reduced. Again drawing a comparison between Europe and the United States, Whittle said, “We have the exact same problem here with these same kind of communities. They’re unemployable — unemployed and unemployable — they’ve been on assistance their entire lives, they’ve never had to work before,” and he said that these people should get jobs because a job “beats the laziness” out of people and “disciplines” them into “civility.”
Whittle called President Obama an “unqualified, unknown individual” who was elected “specifically and only because he is black” and said that electing Obama was “atoning for our slavery” during a January 2016 appearance on Molyneux’s show. Moments later he said, “I didn’t own any slaves, and therefore I’m not responsible for slavery. I’m not benefiting from slavery because I never owned any slaves,” and he said, “There’s nothing in this country that survived the Civil War that was the result of slavery.” Continuing to discuss the Civil War, Whittle said the “greatest tragedy in American history” is “not slavery, it’s not the Civil War, it’s what happened after,” before complaining about the philosophy of W.E.B. DuBois.
In 2013, Whittle published a video for PJ Media with the title “The Lynching” that discussed the February 2012 shooting of unarmed Florida teenager Trayvon Martin. Whittle suggested that George Zimmerman, who killed Martin, had an experience tantamount to a lynching. Whittle said that text messages found on Martin’s phone, which he said were “not ‘airable’ here for extreme graphic content,” showed that Martin was “violent and highly sexualized.” What was “airable” on Whittle’s video, however, was an image (warning: disturbing image) of Martin’s body after he had been shot, which Whittle left on the screen for several minutes.
Whittle bizarrely labeled CNN anchor Don Lemon “racist” against white people because Lemon pointed out that President Donald Trump sounds different when he is using a teleprompter, as compared to when he speaks without one, during a March NRATV appearance.
Yesterday on Fox News’ “Dayside,” conservative radio host Mike Gallagher proposed that airports institute a “Muslims only” line for airport travelers during a segment Tuesday on racial profiling.
*** UPDATE 1 *** GOP state Rep. Grant Wehrli…
“Bill Whittle has a history of espousing racist ideas. That type of shameful rhetoric has no place in the Republican Party and Representative Ives should cancel her fundraiser with him.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** Rep. Bourne…
Exactly. Civility and respect in our public discourse are more important than campaign contributions. Whittle's racially-charged comments are embarrassing and reprehensible. Rep. Ives should do the right thing - cancel her fundraiser. #twillhttps://t.co/dw7UN4jSax
Bill Whittle’s racially infused rhetoric shouldn’t be tolerated in the Land and Party of Lincoln. Representative Ives should disinvite him from her event. #twillhttps://t.co/Wzyrc1RTkh
The Ives for Illinois campaign was unaware of the remarks made by Bill Whittle, reported in Capitol Fax. Whittle was a guest of the event organizer. His comments are obviously offensive and objectionable. Whittle has been disinvited from the event. Representative Ives, additionally, disavows any endorsement from Mr. Whittle. A video of Whittle speaking in support of Ives has been pulled from the campaign’s social media pages.
Rauner campaign weighs in on @JeanneIves having to disinvite controversial radio host with history of racist remarks to her fundraiser: “This just shows how unelectable Representative Ives really is.” #ILGov@GovRauner
Chancellor Carlo Montemagno’s daughter and son-in-law were hired for university jobs created for them, that they never formally applied for and that were never advertised, documents show.
While the chancellor proposes campus-wide cuts, his daughter, Melissa Germain, and her husband, Jeffrey Germain, began working in newly created positions.
“It’s not unusual because that’s part of what you do to negotiate to get the people you want here,” Communications and Marketing Director Rae Goldsmith said of a verbal agreement between Montemagno and SIU President Randy Dunn to bring aboard family.
Faculty Association President Dave Johnson said spousal hires are not uncommon in academia. However, he said, this is the first time he has heard of an administrator bringing a child and her spouse on board.
“I’m not a lawyer and I don’t understand all the legalities involved, but I do take the ethics test on a yearly basis and it says you can’t hire people just because they’re family members,” Johnson said. “They have to be the best people for the position. It would be surprising if the new chancellor’s daughter and son-in-law suddenly became the best people for positions in the weeks and months after he was hired.”
Montemagno’s appointment was approved by the Board of Trustees on July 13. On July 24, Montemagno sent his daughter’s resume to Goldsmith, according to documents obtained by the Daily Egyptian. Two weeks later Melissa Germain signed her new contract, making her assistant director of university communications.
It’s difficult enough to advocate for the interests of higher education without stuff like this happening. They create two new jobs for the dude’s kid and son-in-law as part of his hiring package?
SIU’s Office of Internal Audit, Compliance and Ethics on Thursday opened two inquiries related to the hirings of Chancellor Carlo Montemagno’s daughter and son-in-law, as well as searches involving previous coworkers.
But the decision to allow for this agreement was not easily reached, said Dunn, who added he was given a directive by the Board of Trustees that “I needed to do whatever I could to make this [hire] happen.”
After wrestling with this directive and coming to a consensus with the board that the decision was not illegal, unethical or immoral, Montemagno’s request was supported, he said.
“Legally, it looked like we were probably OK with a broad reading of nepotism law,” Dunn said. “Then I went ahead and moved forward.” […]
“We’ve had a campus that’s come through the worst two years fiscally speaking that it’s ever seen since its founding days,” Dunn said, referring to the budget impasse that left hundreds of positions at SIU unfilled. “In some cases, departments were barely hanging on, so to think that the irony that we’re going to bring in two new people for jobs that may or may not exist at that point was a tough one for me.”
Cochran: So, when you get into a second term, how’s it going to be different if Mike Madigan is still the Speaker? What can you move that you couldn’t move in the first four?
Rauner: Well, you know, our first focus is to try to elect as many reform-minded, Democrats as well as Republicans, and, again, I don’t believe this election’s about party politics. I don’t think it’s about Democrats and Republicans fighting. I think it’s about getting reformers in, in both parties. Because there are good people in both parties who know our system’s broken, who want to change it. And we are going to advocate, we are going to push to have every candidate for the General Assembly make a promise to the people of Illinois, make a promise to their constituents. Promise to vote to put term limits on the ballot so people of Illinois can vote up or down. Just put it on the ballot, please. The other is to sign a pledge to vote for anybody else. It doesn’t really matter who, because there are great Democrats and great Republicans who would love to be Speaker and could do a great job. Vote for anyone else other than Mike Madigan to be Speaker. You know, 30 years is too long. Even if you’re a loyal, hardcore Democrat. Terrific. Select one of your own, another one who could be a Speaker who will do the right things and change the system. That’s what we’re going to be advocating for.
* From an NCSL interview of Senate President John Cullerton…
How would you describe your leadership philosophy?
I like to be liked rather than feared. We have a supermajority. In Illinois, that is 36 votes; we have 37. My goal is to bring everybody together. We need 36 votes to override the governor, so we don’t have a lot of votes to spare. […]
How did being the eldest in a large family prepare you for leading the Senate?
I have five sisters and three brothers and so does my wife. I look upon my caucus as a family. I’m sort of like the oldest sibling. You learn how to negotiate.
We helped launch the Illinois Innovation Network and the Discovery Partners Institute, a U of I-led effort to link the power of great research with entrepreneurship and new business formation. What Stanford and Berkeley and Harvard and MIT are to the coasts, partnerships of the U of I, U of C and Northwestern can even surpass for Illinois.
[Sen. Pat McGuire, D-Crest Hill], a member of the Higher Education Committee, was asked about the state of higher education in Illinois.
“It was a one percenter’s view of higher education,” McGuire said. “I’m really disappointed that the governor continues to be fixated on highly selective, elite institutions at the expense of Illinois’ community colleges and public universities.” […]
McGuire said he didn’t hear anything about the other 80 percent of Illinois college students who don’t attend elite schools.
He wanted Rauner to address why so many Illinois high school graduates were leaving the state to attend college. He called on Rauner to commit to investing in higher education and reverse that trend by ensuring funding for programs like MAP grants, which financially help low-income students attend college.
“What we’re hearing from our public universities is that the reason for the record exodus of Illinois high school graduates to schools out of state is because of the uncertainty,” McGuire said.
I agree with Rauner’s goal of strengthening the state’s elite higher ed institutions. But not everybody can attend those schools, so McGuire is also right.
Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said he’d like to be encouraged by the governor’s address delivered Wednesday, but he doesn’t know what to say.
“At the end of the day, I don’t care if he’s a lone wolf or a head cheerleader, what the state needs is a governor to take charge, engage, and do the job, and that just hasn’t happened,” Cullerton said.
Cullerton said Rauner hasn’t convened a leaders’ meeting in over a year.
Senate Minority Leader Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, said in a statement the governor has reached out to both sides of the aisle for things like education funding reform, and said more bipartisan work is needed to pass a balanced budget as well as meaningful property tax relief.
State Sen. Melinda Bush, D-Grayslake, didn’t hear how that would happen.
“I’m just really frustrated,” Bush said. “I just … there’s just been no substance.”
* Related…
* Democrats, Republicans react to Rauner’s State of the State: Wheaton Rep. Jeanne Ives of Wheaton, Republican candidate for governor: “I don’t know if we’re reading from the same headlines or newspapers or articles about the state of the state. So it was a little bit mystifying that he didn’t hone in a little bit about specific directives that he is going to take control of.”
* Yeah, it’s Morning Consult, and their methodology is more than a bit opaque, but they’ve got Gov. Rauner’s job approval numbers, so let’s take a look…
So, he was still underwater back then, but he was doing significantly better than he is now.
What changed? Well, do you remember what happened on July 10th, the last day of the poll? The governor began a purge of his administration by firing his chief of staff Richard Goldberg and bringing in people from the Illinois Policy Institute.
By the time the next results were released in October, Rauner’s approval rating fell to 30 percent and his disapproval had risen to 55 percent. Pretty much exactly where they are today.
…Adding… Pritzker campaign…
New national polling by Morning Consult shows that Bruce Rauner is the least popular Republican governor running for reelection, with a net approval rating of -24.
The new polling comes as Bruce Rauner is facing a strong challenge from his own party, with primary opponent Jeanne Ives holding him accountable while he dodges responsibility. As Rauner flails in his re-election bid, he has desperately attempted to defend his nonexistent record, earning him the title of the Worst Republican Governor in America.
“Bruce Rauner can’t defend his own record, can’t name a single real accomplishment, and has mismanaged the state government with fatal consequences,” said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. “The most vulnerable incumbent in the country is under water as Illinoisans prepare to end his reign of crisis and devastation across Illinois.”
Raoul’s AG Bid Takes Message to the Airwaves, touts latest congressional endorsement
First Raoul ad states he’s just getting started
CHICAGO – IL Sen. Kwame Raoul’s campaign for Illinois Attorney General debuted its first television ad of the campaign season today.
In the ad, entitled “Call on me,” Sen. Raoul chronicles what’s at stake in the race to replace Attorney General Lisa Madigan and why he’s ready and able to get the job done. The ad cites varying problems facing Illinoisans, how Sen. Raoul has stepped up to confront them during his career in public service and his desire to continue his advocacy as the people’s attorney. […]
Raoul also announced the endorsement of Congressman Danny Davis today.
“This ad is a testament to Kwame’s ability to win on behalf of victims and our communities,” Congressman Danny Davis said. “With so much on the line for families and neighborhoods across the state, we need an attorney general who is ready, willing and able to get the job done,” Congressman Danny Davis said.
The Raoul campaign also enjoys the support of Congresswoman Robin Kelly.
“Since filling President Obama’s seat in the state senate, Kwame has fought tirelessly to pass laws to keep us safe and reform our criminal justice system. Kwame’s work has led to laws which modernize our juvenile justice system, place tougher accountability measures on police, strengthen the state’s gun laws and prioritize prosecuting violent criminals instead of locking up low-level non-violent offenders,” said Congresswoman Robin Kelly about the ad.
The ad will air on broadcast and digital platforms.
Kwame Raoul was born on the South Side of Chicago to Haitian-born immigrants. As a lifelong resident of Illinois, Kwame is committed to safe neighborhoods. In 2004, Kwame was appointed to fill the vacancy left in the 13th Legislative District by former State Senator Barack Obama’s election to the U.S. Senate. Kwame quickly gained the confidence of leaders to handle difficult negotiations and landmark legislation including the abolition of the death penalty, expanding access to healthcare and the strongest voting rights protections in the country.
To date, his attorney general bid has been endorsed by organized labor organizations including Illinois AFL-CIO and the Chicago Teachers Union. His campaign has also received the support of local Democratic activists across the state representing Cook, Kankakee, Madison and St. Clair counties.
Crime.
Gun violence.
Whole communities left behind.
As a prosecutor, I saw the pain it causes.
When Barack Obama was called up to the U.S. Senate, I was called upon to fill his seat.
So I did what I knew: protect people and their rights, reform the criminal justice system to keep people safe and crack down on online predators who prey on our children.
This is the work of my life…and I’m just getting started.
* As I told subscribers last night, JB Pritzker is airing a new 15-second TV ad whacking Sen. Daniel Biss on the pension issue. The spot was running in heavy rotation this morning on Chicago broadcast. Here it is…
There’s more info at a new website the Pritzker campaign created. Click here.
* From Galia Slayen at the Pritzker campaign…
Our campaign is energized by the incredible support JB is receiving as he travels across the state and from our recent polling, we are confident that JB’s message of beating Bruce Rauner and bringing real change to Illinois is resonating with voters.
Last week, Dan Biss began running ads attacking both JB and Chris Kennedy, becoming the first Democrat to attack in the Democratic primary. Simply put, Biss’ rhetoric in this campaign and record in Springfield don’t match up. Voters deserve to know the facts as we get closer to Election Day.
* From the Biss campaign…
Today, JB Pritzker released his first attack ad against Daniel Biss. The ad comes just a day after the latest We Ask America poll showed Pritzker plummeting 9 points since October—despite spending $21 million on his campaign in the same time frame— while Biss moved to second place in the poll, gaining 11 points.
“The more voters see that Daniel Biss can relate to the challenges and hopes of a middle class family, the more our poll numbers surge. The more they learn about JB Pritzker’s billionaire tax scams, the more his plummet,” said Biss campaign manager Abby Witt.
“So, it’s not surprising that JB, scared of a middle class candidate, is pulling a page out of the billionaire playbook with an attack ad that distracts from his own history. As a legislator, Daniel has passed laws to support middle-class and working families, and he’s been honest about his record on pensions. Here’s what JB Pritzker is not telling you: he lobbied for the exact same bill he’s attacking Daniel for, even cutting a check for tens of thousands to fund a PAC created just to pass the bill. He’s trying to hide that—just as he’s done with his tax returns and offshore accounts.
“But no matter how much money he throws on TV, what JB Pritzker can’t hide from is that the choice in this election is between another billionaire and middle class progressive that will make billionaires pay their fair share.”
Pritzker did indeed help fund that PAC, and Sen. Biss received two contributions from it.
* Also, if you actually watch this video, Pritzker didn’t make any “pledge” to stay positive. He said he had run a positive campaign and urged all the candidates to talk about issues and not attack each other. But, whatevs…
Well let me begin by saying to all of you that I have run a positive- I think many of you have seen the ads that I have run, or have heard me speak. I have not spoken ill of my opponents. They have attacked me on occasion and I’ve had to defend myself, but I must say that I think that we should be talking about the issues that are important to the people of Illinois, not attacking each other as Democrats. We should be pulling together to beat Bruce Rauner.
TO: Interested Parties
FROM: Global Strategy Group
DATE: February 1, 2018
RE: JB Pritzker maintains strong lead over opponents
Key findings from Global Strategy Group’s survey conducted this week among of 801 likely Democratic primary voters in Illinois are as follows:
* JB Pritzker maintains his large lead in the Democratic Primary – nearly twenty points ahead of his nearest competitor. JB currently leads with 41% of the vote, ahead of Daniel Biss at 22%, Chris Kennedy at 16%, and 20% of voters undecided.
* Despite weeks of attacks from Governor Bruce Rauner and Daniel Biss, JB Pritzker is very popular and well regarded among Democratic primary voters. JB’s favorability rating is very strong with 65% of voters having a favorable opinion of him, while just 18% of voters have an unfavorable opinion of him.
* In a hypothetical two-way match-up, JB Pritzker maintains his strong lead over Daniel Biss, taking in over 50% of the vote. In a simulated head-to-head match-up against Daniel Biss, JB leads with 52% of the vote to Daniel Biss at 32%.
ABOUT THIS POLL: Global Strategy Group conducted a live telephone survey of 801 likely Democratic primary voters from January 29-31, 2018. The results of this survey have a margin of error of +/-3.5%. Care has been taken to ensure that the survey is weighted to reflect the expected makeup of the 2018 Democratic primary electorate.
The Pritzker campaign has adamantly refused to publicly release or even comment on their polling data since Day One. So, this is an interesting development.
