* Metropolitan Water Reclamation District President Mariyana Spyropoulos is interested in running for attorney general, according to a person very close to her.
I didn’t even know she was an attorney, but I didn’t need to be reminded that she’s got enough personal and family money to help self-fund a campaign.
Her Greek-American name will definitely stand out on what might wind up being a long ballot.
* A political operative I’ve known for years called me Saturday to tell me a buddy of his had just called to say he had seen someone passing a petition that had Chicago Ald. Walter Burnett running for secretary of state.
I supposed it made a tiny bit of sense because Burnett is Secretary of State Jesse White’s alderman and one of his main guys. So, I reached out to the White folks and was told that it must be some sort of a joke or a weird dirty trick. I didn’t think much more about it.
* Well, one of White’s guys just called me a few minutes ago to say his phone has been blowing up for days with the rumor up to and including this afternoon and asked if I’d post something about it.
So, according to this top White person, Secretary White is definitely running for reelection. There is absolutely no plan to substitute anyone else for White on the ballot. The rumors are simply false, I’m told.
With all the breaking “news” on social media these days about who might be running for what that don’t turn out to be true, I can understand why they’d want to get ahead of this thing.
* The man holding the baby in this photo is my maternal grandfather, George Akers…
* He was born in 1904 and went out west to be a cowboy and work the threshing machine circuit not long after his mom was killed in a tornado. He eventually returned to southern Illinois, married Nettie Juenger in 1937 and settled down, moving north to Pontiac and then (after they were flooded out) to Milks Grove Township in Iroquois County.
I only knew the settled down version, not the cowboy. He was a kind, decent, quiet, humble man. You could just be yourself around him. He was a farmer, but he didn’t own his land. He was small in stature, but could out-work anyone and never once bragged about it. He just always did what he had to do. He never made much money while still providing a good life for his family, was never famous, never involved in politics. I firmly believe he was the most successful person I’ve ever known. He passed away in 1976.
My youngest brother Devin, the baby pictured above with Granddad, turned 45 today. Time flies much too fast.
Happy birthday, Devin. I’ll see you soon.
* The Question: Are there any family stories you’d like to share?
* Phil Kadner recalls a conversation with Speaker Madigan sometime around the turn of the century…
“What is it that you have accomplished?” I asked. “What would you like to be remembered for? What do you really care about?”
Madigan’s answer stunned me and other members of the Daily Southtown editorial board who were present at the time.
He said there were two things that really mattered to him as House speaker. The first was maintaining the Democratic Party’s majority in the Illinois House of Representatives. The second was his daughter, Lisa Madigan’s, political career.
No surprise there, particularly at that time. The House Democrats had the barest of majorities and then-Sen. Madigan was gearing up to run statewide.
* Then Phil goes through the public split the two had back in 2013 when Lisa said she wouldn’t run for governor as long as her father remained the House Speaker…
As for Madigan, he responded, “Lisa and I had spoken about that on several occasions, and she knew very well that I did not plan to retire. She knew what my position was.
He told me he had warned his daughter not to make the same mistake that he had. He had stayed in the Illinois House for too long, gotten too comfortable, and missed his opportunity to move on to higher office.
I thought there was deep regret in his voice. Timing is everything in politics and Madigan seemed to feel he had missed his moment. Lesser people had done better.
That’s sad if it’s true. But sadder still if when it mattered, he decided his career was more important than his daughter’s.
In February, Gov. Bruce Rauner proposed a state budget that included creation of a 401k style savings plan for newer teachers and public workers that he said would save $500 million in the 2018 fiscal year that began July 1.
In July, the Democratic controlled legislature enacted its own budget over the objections of Rauner that nonetheless incorporated his pension overhaul. The governor quickly attacked that budget as unbalanced, in part because it counted on the very savings that he earlier had estimated would be reaped from the 401k-style initiative, commonly referred to as Tier 3.
Now, administrators at the state pension systems that must operate Tier 3 are scratching their heads over how exactly the $500 million estimate came to be, while also raising doubts that any savings might materialize for close to two years.
“Right now, my operating thesis is that July 1 of 2019 would be the earliest possible effective date (for Tier 3),” said Richard Ingram, executive director of the Teachers’ Retirement System which administers pension funds for hundreds of thousands of current and retired suburban and downstate teachers. “There is absolutely no way we can do it by July 1 of next year.”
To recap, if Tier 3 does eventually prove a money saver for Illinois – whatever the amount – it’s unlikely to be this year or even next.
Jason Schaumburg, a Rauner spokesman, said savings estimates were developed by the governor’s staff in consultation with the big state-run retirement systems for teachers, public university workers and general state employees.
But officials of some of those pension plans say they have yet to develop savings estimates because details of Tier 3 are still in flux. Meanwhile, legislative Democrats say they lifted their savings number straight from Rauner because it was his plan and they presumed he knew what he was talking about. […]
Schaumburg disputed that the Democratic iteration of Tier 3 was ripped whole from the pages of Rauner’s budget plan, contending that there were “some significant changes.” Asked what those changes were, however, the governor’s office did not respond to follow-up queries from the Better Government Association.
[Rauner spokesman Hud Englehart] said he is helping head up a restructuring of the office and is still working to recruit and interview new employees.
“When we get the team together and we have it organized, we’re going to return phone calls and all that kind of stuff,” he said. “It’s a matter of trying to put more of a planning focus on the governor’s office than the firehose response,” that was occurring over the last few weeks, he added.
Englehart said he is heading up the communications department to “help develop a comms strategy for the governor’s office that more effectively tells his story of his time here in government.”
A firehose response? There have been almost no responses. It’s been like a badly kinked garden hose.
And they’re back on that “tell the governor’s story” crud again?
The campaign side should tell the “story” of how great Bruce Rauner is. The governing side works for the government, meaning the people. And a huge responsibility of any government comms shop is to give accurate and timely responses to reporters’ questions.
So, how about learning to walk before you run with this pie in the sky “story” silliness? Try to answer some simple questions, like, oh, I don’t know, what those “significant changes” were to the pension bill?
A Chicagoan who until recently was communications chief for Gov. Bruce Rauner is going to work for a political strategies firm run by a one-time top deputy to ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Headed to Tusk Strategies, the firm Bradley Tusk established after departing as Blagojevich’s deputy governor, is Lance Trover, who left Rauner’s office just before the governor shook up top management of his administration this summer. In a statement and an interview, Trover, 38, said that after nearly two decades of working for politicians, including former U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., he looks forward to shifting to a private-sector firm that runs campaigns for Fortune 500 and startup companies around the country.
In Chicago, Trover joins a Tusk office that already includes two other veterans of the Blagojevich government: one-time Deputy Governor Bob Greenlee, and Sheila Nix, who later became chief of staff to Jill Biden when her husband, Joe Biden, was vice president.
Both Greenlee and Nix, as well as Tusk, escaped Illinois government with their reputations intact—no small feat. Still, all are Democrats. Trover always has worked for Republicans.
Trover got out of Rauner Land just before the big Illinois Policy Institute-related purges began, even though the news wasn’t confirmed until after the purge started.
* House Republican Leader Jim Durkin spoke to the City Club of Chicago today. The first question he was asked was why Dan Proft was using his radio show to whack Durkin so hard the past couple of weeks. Durkin’s response, delivered with an exaggerated puzzled look on his face…
I didn’t know that Dan Proft had a radio show.
Much laughter ensued.
* Durkin also claimed “natural attrition” is why many of his members have retired this year. The average age is about 70 of the retirees, he said. And he said other members are relatively new and found out the job just wasn’t for them. “The antagonism, the stress and the anxiety” all combined to convince them to get out.
*** UPDATE *** Response from Proft…
Durkin was in his element at the City Club–you know, with the Chicago Democrats whose bidding he does.
I’m sorry his memory is failing him as he has been on my show. Durkin is better when he’s actually clueless rather than pretending to be.
The circular firing squad abated because of Gov. Rauner’s money and his credible threat to use it against anyone who wasn’t playing ball. He either isn’t making those threats any longer or they’re no longer credible.
TUA in Mt. Prospect
exposes taxpayer traitor David Harris
Lake Arlington- After announcing the latest Taxpayer Traitor David Harris, taxpayers have visited his district to inform the voting public of his treachery.
Over the last 2 weeks TUA has hammered David Harris within his own district. First taxpayers showed up in force at Randhurst Village Mall, handing out wanted fliers for David Harris. Then taxpayers made a visit to Lake Arlington, handing out even more waned fliers and informing voters of all the lavish government pensions their tax dollars were funding. The reaction from the constituents was a mixture of shock and anger. One vocal constituent commented that David Harris should be behind bars, where he (David Harris) belongs.
Thereason the voters are outraged is because of the betrayal David Harris has committed. David Harris has betrayed the taxpayer by siding with Chicago machine boss Michael Madigan, and voting for a 32% increase on state personal income tax to pay for lavish gold plated government pensions.
David Harris is just 1 of 11 Taxpayer Traitors that sided with Chicago machine democrats in raising Illinois personal and corporate state income taxes. Since the traitors’ treachery, TUA has been hard at work exposing each and every one of them. First TUA exposed Steven A. Andersson, who will no longer seek reelection, and is now focusing on David Harris. Once TUA is done with David Harris, TUA will unveil another taxpayer traitor. TUA will not rest until every taxpayer traitor is exposed, and out of office.
Below is a video of TUA representatives in District 53 exposing David Harris for the traitor he is!
Taxpayers United of America is Jim Tobin’s group. Tobin believes Abraham Lincoln fought the Civil War over taxes and has long wanted to abolish the Illinois State Police. He also predicted in 2013 that Illinois would declare bankruptcy by 2015
* The DGA is trying to get some Downstate coverage today…
Today, the DGA launches the Rauner’s Broken Record website to accompany the group’s statewide tour. The tour makes stops today in Springfield and Carbondale and will feature Illinois voters speaking about how Rauner’s failed leadership has negatively impacted their communities.
Rauner promised his business experience would right Illinois’ fiscal stewardship and grow jobs, but the opposite has happened. Under Rauner, jobs were lost, debt climbed, and social services were devastated. Rauner wants voters to give him a second-term, but his Broken Record shows he failed to earn it.
“Bruce Rauner can try and blame others all he wants, but his failures are unavoidable,” said DGA Illinois Communications Director Sam Salustro. “Despite his broken record, Rauner thinks he should get a second term. Illinois voters will not forget the damage Rauner did to the state, and know that a second Rauner term only means more debt, more job loss, and fewer services.”
* From the media advisory…
Springfield
Where: Outside the Governor’s Mansion at 5th and Jackson
When: 9:30 am, Tuesday September 19th
Who: The Rauner’s Broken Record Tour will feature Springfield Alderwoman Doris Turner and Sangamon County Board Member Tony DelGiorno along with local community members who will speak out about Rauner’s failed record.
Carbondale
Where: Heartland Apartments, 805 East College Street, Carbondale IL
When: 2:15 pm, Tuesday September 19th
Who: The Rauner’s Broken Record Tour will feature former Lieutenant Governor Shelia Simon along with local community members who will speak out about Rauner’s failed record.
I get Doris Turner and even Sheila Simon, but Tony DelGiorno?
* From the Illinois Policy Institute’s news service…
An Illinois Republican lawmaker says the question isn’t whether the state should increase its gas tax to raise new revenue for roads and other capital projects. It’s a matter of how high it should be raised.
State Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, said there’s been plenty of talk at the State Capitol about raising the state’s gas tax. Now, those talks are narrowing in on how high the state will raise the tax.
“I don’t know how high we’re going to go,” Brady said. “But certainly the governor and others want a capital bill. We want a capital bill. Our infrastructure is crying for a capital bill in the state of Illinois.”
Brady isn’t sure when lawmakers may sit down and formalize the plan to raise gas taxes in order to build new roads. But those talks may not be too far off.
“I think that [a gas tax increase] may absolutely be where we can come together,” Brady said. “Whether that’s a five percent increase, I don’t know. That’s going to be the ultimate debate.”
The Illinois News Network reported Sunday that legislative leaders planned to meet this week to discuss a capital plan and gas tax hikes, but spokespersons for House Speaker Michael Madigan, House Minority Leader Jim Durkin and Senate Minority Leader Bill Brady denied that a meeting was even scheduled.
But Gov. Bruce Rauner, fresh off his return from an economic summit in Japan and China, said Monday that the leaders are scheduled to meet Tuesday. […]
In response to the governor’s statement about a leaders’ meeting Tuesday, Senate Democrat spokesman John Patterson confirmed it.
“My understanding is the Republican leaders were interested in having a discussion among the leaders, and the Senate President always enjoys working with his colleagues across the aisle,” Patterson said. “I’m not aware of any set agenda.”
Governor Bruce Rauner today announced that the state’s Department of Human Services (IDHS) will broaden access to the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). The move fulfills an agreement made with the legislature in 2015 to raise the income eligibility criteria to 185% of the federal poverty level from 162%. It means 16,000 more children will receive child care each month, for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2018.
Rauner included the funds to boost the levels in his proposed budget and stressed that the CCAP funding decision was made to ensure that parents can continue working without worrying about how their children will be cared for. “I am proud to stand with families who are working two or three jobs just to make a living,” he said. “Many of them are already struggling, and now they’re taking an even deeper cut in their income thanks to the 32% increase in income taxes the legislature passed in July.”
Even with the massive tax hike, the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget estimates the state budget is at least $1.7 billion out of balance. Rauner is asking the legislature to work with him to identify additional spending reforms and bring the budget into balance.
Criteria for CCAP eligibility are determined through the administrative rule making process, which is overseen by the bipartisan, legislative Joint Committee on Administrative Rules. IDHS plans to implement the new criteria through emergency rulemaking, ensuring more families can receive child care as quickly as possible. The Department will also continue working with the child care community to closely monitor the availability of funds and make adjustments, when necessary, to ensure the state is meeting the needs of families while still being fiscally responsible.
* SEIU Healthcare Illinois Vice President Brynn Seibert…
“When Gov. Bruce Rauner first implemented the limits to the Child Care Assistance Program, every expert in the field, including the then-director of the program, predicted disaster. And they were right.
“While restoration of the program to pre-Rauner-cuts levels would be welcome, and was part of the promise he made Illinoisans, it cannot be separated from the reality that his administration continues to implement back-door cuts that could lead to almost 15,000 child care providers being purged in the coming months. What good is a restored program if there are no providers to give care?
“These back-door cuts sought by the Rauner administration via arbitrary interpretation of new federal training guidelines remain a threat to working families and will fall predominantly on poor women of color.
“Illinois may NEVER recover from the damage that Gov. Rauner visited on a successful system of child care built up over the years. But as he faces re-election, we welcome an examination of his record when it comes to the thousands of working parents and children whom he has harmed.”
* Pritzker campaign…
After cutting access to child care for 30,000 children, Bruce Rauner finally decided to restore some of his cuts to the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) – but the damage is done.
By reducing the income eligibility for CCAP by 73% in 2015, Rauner is responsible for slashing services for 30,000 children and destabilizing families and communities. But the announcement that Rauner will roll back his own draconian cuts does not change the years of underfunding and instability Rauner unleashed on Illinois families.
“Bruce Rauner’s assault on early learning will have a lasting impact on Illinois children,” said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. “Kids cannot get their childhood back and providers can’t just resume services like nothing happened. We need a governor who will fight for Illinois children and that’s exactly what JB will do as governor.”
…Adding… Illinois Action for Children…
The restoration of the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) signals a welcome – and long-overdue – commitment by Governor Rauner to live up to the promises he made two years ago. However, a great deal of damage has been done to children, families, and our state’s child care infrastructure over the two-plus years that CCAP income-eligibility was set at a needlessly and harmfully low level.
While the Governor’s action on this matter cannot immediately reverse this damage, we are hopeful that it signals a renewed commitment to early care and education in our state. Furthermore, we call on the Governor and all elected officials to learn from the damage caused by the 2015 CCAP changes and commit to protecting child care eligibility from any politically-fueled cuts moving forward.
…Adding More… Biss campaign…
“While Bruce Rauner was decimating affordable childcare three years ago, Litesa and I were leading the fight to expand eligibility and restore funding,” said Daniel Biss. “An arrogant, out-of-touch billionaire who has never had to worry about affording childcare, Bruce Rauner clearly doesn’t understand how cuts to these programs ripple throughout generations, stifling opportunity and perpetuating hardship.”
“Bruce Rauner shouldn’t get credit for finally restoring eligibility to a program that he demolished. This is too little, too late for thousands of families across Illinois. We need a governor who will fight for us every day—someone with a proven record of success and a stake in the future of our state.”
“The time has come to clean up Illinois,” said Scott Drury – a former federal prosecutor – as he announced his run for Attorney General. “For too long, Illinois has been defined by corruption and self-dealing. We are going to restore people’s trust in government by showing that no one is above the law and making sure that every Illinois citizen is treated fairly.”
According to Drury, since Lisa Madigan announced her plan to retire, there has been a steady push to get him to run: “My phone and inbox have been flooded with requests urging me to enter the race. People are excited about the prospect of an Attorney General with true prosecutorial experience and no entangling alliances.”
Drury is a seven year veteran of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago and a sitting Illinois State Representative. Earlier this year, Drury became the first Democrat in thirty years not to support Mike Madigan for Speaker of the House.
During his time in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Drury prosecuted corrupt public officials and child sex offenders, among others. He also was part of a multi-jurisdictional effort to curb violent gun crime in and around Chicago. Highlights of his prosecutorial career include the successful prosecutions of a Blagojevich appointee, the Melrose Park police chief and his underlings, and a police officer caught on tape beating a man shackled in a wheelchair.
As a State Representative, Drury has been an outspoken advocate for tougher ethics, anti-corruption and consumer protection laws and successfully fought for the passage of ground-breaking police reforms and toughest-in-the-nation legislation to protect women from online sexual abuse. He also took on the NRA and won – working with numerous communities he represents to implement assault weapons bans and regulations.
Before today’s announcement, Drury was vigorously campaigning for Governor. As a result, he has a statewide campaign operation in place and volunteers throughout the State. This gives Drury a decisive advantage over anyone entering the race at this late date.
On changing races, Drury said the Attorney General position provides a better platform from which to clean up Illinois. “Illinois cannot fix its problems until it first builds a foundation of trust. As Attorney General, I can work outside the channels of the established machine and make clear that the old way of doing business in Illinois no longer has a home here.”
Drury grew up in Illinois and currently lives with his wife and two children in suburban Highwood. In addition to his legislative duties, Drury is an adjunct professor at Northwestern’s Law School and practices law in the private sector.
* The Madison County Democratic Party held an Iowa-style caucus last night. People had the choice of 7 locations throughout the county where they could listen to speeches and interact before cvoting. The party decided in advance that a majority of those voting would be needed to endorse. Nobody reached that majority…
That’s a pretty good turnout.
Bob Daiber is the Madison County Regional Superintendent, so he had been expected to win this thing.
* But the Pritzker campaign worked it hard and nearly took it…
“The argument for me to the people in the Democratic party — we want this to become a biannual event. We want to be like Iowa, we want to be an early testing ground for a candidate’s retail appeal.” Pritzker came down and organized, targeted social media ads and motivated laborers to support him, [Madison County Democratic Party Chairman Mark Von Nida] said. “Biss was smart,” Von Nida said. Keeping in mind the viability threshold rule, he concentrated on the two areas in the county where he had a toehold and flooded them with his supporters. “Kennedy had a presence at the different sites, but they were spread out,” not able to reach the 20 percent minimum at any of the sites, meaning he was deemed not viable.
“Getting no voters at all, you probably didn’t take it seriously and organize or you didn’t have a retail appeal,” Von Nida said. “We hope the candidates that run statewide will pay attention to Madison County and take it seriously and court voters … Candidates that were looking for a bounce or some momentum coming out of it, it is what it is.”
* From a loyal reader who was there…
At my site labor comprised 90% of the votes for Pritzker… That AFL-CIO endorsement payed off!
* From the Kennedy campaign…
There’s no question Chris has strong support in Madison County. Our campaign staff and volunteers were nimble and well-organized yesterday. Once it was clear that JB used his resources to bus people in, we teamed with the Daiber campaign to pool our votes so there would be no endorsement.
So, a “moral victory” then?
* Daiber didn’t seem pleased with Pritzker on Twitter…
*** UPDATE *** Statement from Anne Caprara, Pritzker campaign manager…
“First Kennedy complains about the press to the press and now he is upset that our campaign is building a statewide grassroots operation with field offices and organizers in every region. To make such a false accusation isn’t just petty, but Kennedy is using the Bruce Rauner playbook of blaming others when you can’t get the job done.
“We believe that every voter in every county matters and we organized voters in Madison County just as we would anywhere else in the state. To somehow suggest that their time and commitment to the caucus process in Madison County is manufactured is a disrespectful lie and the type of dishonest rhetoric voters have had enough of. The Democratic Party in Madison County did a terrific job organizing an energetic caucus and we commend Bob Daiber on his strong showing.”
Powerful Chicago Ald. Ed Burke, 14th, gave the leader of the Cook County Democratic Party a heads-up over the weekend that his daughter was circulating petitions to run for attorney general.
“He told me that his daughter is going to put out petitions for attorney general,” party Chairman Joe Berrios said. Burke was not asking for his support but was letting him know, Berrios added.
Burke has two daughters who are lawyers, and Berrios wasn’t clear which one was contemplating a run. Burke repeatedly said “no comment” Monday when asked about his conversation with Berrios and which daughter was going to circulate petitions.
One daughter, Jennifer, was appointed by Pat Quinn to a spot on the Illinois Pollution Control Board, which cranked up some controversy. The other daughter, Sarah, is listed as a property tax appeals lawyer at Burke’s law firm, although the Trib reports that she might no longer work there. Jennifer is also now at Burke’s firm.
The county Democratic Party had endorsed Attorney General Lisa Madigan for re-election, but will meet again in two to three weeks to make a new endorsement, Berrios said. “We’ve got to see the shakeout, see who’s going to be a candidate,” he added.
* Tanned, rested and ready?…
NEW:Dan Hynes (frmr Comptroller) considering run for #ILAG supporters note "he's been vetted, statewide experience & financial connections"
I doubt that anyone could clear the field at this point and with so many (white) men running for statewide office this year it could be a tough sell. We’ll see.
*** UPDATE 1 *** I’m kinda thinking that earlier tweet wasn’t authorized by Hynes or anyone close to him…
NEW: Dan Hynes now says "not the right time" and not interested in #ILAG
The City Council’s most powerful alderman said Tuesday that his daughter, considered, but has decided against, running for attorney general to replace Lisa Madigan. […]
Burke, chairman of the City Council’s Finance Committee, said he would nevertheless have been supportive of Sarah’s campaign. But, she decided against it because of the demands of her young family, the alderman said.
* Yesterday, Illinois Review published a story about how it couldn’t get a response from the governor’s office about whether he would sign HB 40. Korecki finally did…
When asked on Monday about Rauner’s past statements that he would veto HB40, [Gov. Rauner’s spokesman Hud Englehart] said: “I know that he hasn’t made up his mind,” on the issue.
Governor Bruce Rauner will veto an abortion bill that could be within votes of passing the Illinois House when they return after spring break, his office told Illinois Review Friday morning.
“Governor Rauner does not support HB40 and will veto the bill if it reaches his desk,” spokesperson Allie Bovis wrote in an email.
(I)n recent weeks, Rauner has met with women across the state to listen to them on the topic, including those on public aid. The bill expands the public funding of abortion to Medicaid recipients and to those receiving state health care and it aims to preserve the legality of abortion in Illinois if the U.S. Supreme Court should strike down Roe v. Wade.
Asked if the governor was still holding those meetings, Englehart noted the governor’s recent return from Asia, but added: “I know that he’s done that.”
It sure looks like he’s laying the groundwork for a flip-flop.
* And now that he has the revenues to operate the government and an education funding reform bill and a new PR emphasis on business recruitment, he can pivot left on “social issues” as soon as the petition filing season ends…
[Rep. David McSweeney] questioned the role politics played in Rauner’s earlier public statements. He pointed to emails published in the Sun-Times last month that alleged First Lady Diana Rauner feared losing suburban votes if Rauner said he’d veto HB40. But then-staffers argued the governor had to walk a tight-rope with his Republican caucus who hated the bill but whose support he needed during an intense budget battle. In the end, Rauner said he would veto it. But Republicans bolted anyway, with 15 voting against Rauner on a key budget vote.
So, the question is, do the Democrats send him the bill now to put him in a political trick box and maybe gin up a GOP primary opponent, or do they wait for him to say publicly that he’ll sign the bill to actually get something done? Personal PAC is arguing for the latter. Some partisan Dems are arguing for the former. Others say a third party option is a better idea against Rauner anyway, so go ahead and wait.
Your own thoughts?
*** UPDATE *** He dodged the question today…
Hey Rich, we just posted our interview with @GovRauner with time markers on each question. HB40 comes up at 8:17. https://t.co/3aXMF848cT
* Let’s take the Tribune’s coverage of the governor’s press conference yesterday in three parts. One…
As for the trip [background here] to the company’s corporate campus in Seattle, Rauner told reporters that city and state officials would be meeting “with leaders at Amazon.” Later, the governor’s office acknowledged there would be no meeting with company officials.
The governor described the trip [to Japan and China] as “extremely successful,” and said “many new projects, many new initiatives will be underway in the coming weeks as a result of our trip.” But Rauner later added that he had received “no firm commitments” from any of the companies he met with during his travels.
“I didn’t want to leave the country when we didn’t have a budget,” Rauner said. “I wanted to be here, because you never know when issues are going to pop.”
The governor did, however, travel internationally at least twice in the midst of the record budget stalemate. In late 2015, Rauner spent the holidays in Spain and Morocco, where he later said he slept in tents and took a camel ride. Last November, Rauner was among dozens of local officials who traveled to the Vatican to celebrate the elevation of Blase Cupich to cardinal.
Gov. Bruce Rauner and Mayor Rahm Emanuel are sending a team to Seattle on Tuesday as part of their efforts to persuade Amazon to bring its second headquarters — along with 50,000 jobs — to Chicago.
Mayoral spokesman Grant Klinzman on Monday said the delegation will be surveying the Amazon campus “to help determine which Chicago area sites would best fit the company’s future needs,” he said in a statement. The mayor’s office, however, said the team isn’t meeting with Amazon officials during the trip.
Among those taking the trip include deputy mayors Bob Rivkin and Andrea Zopp; Deputy Governor Leslie Munger; hedge fund manager Michael Sacks; former Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker; Farzin Parang from the governor’s economic development team; Chicago planning commissioner David Reifman; Deputy Planning Commissioner Aarti Kotak; World Business Chicago President Jeff Malehorn; and Intersect Illinois CEo Mark Peterson. […]
Sites being talked about for the bid include the North Branch Industrial corridor, the old Main Post Office; the Michael Reese Hospital site; a 62-acre South Loop parcel once owned by convicted developer Tony Rezko and the McCormick Place East side that Emanuel offered to demolish in a failed attempt to keep the Lucas Museum in Chicago.
I’m told this trip is “not as weird as it sounds.” And some heavy hitters are making the venture, so I doubt they, at least, would completely waste their time.
* And what’s Munger doing on the trip? Here’s the Sun-Times…
Former state Comptroller Leslie Munger says she is “swamped” overseeing economic development and other projects as deputy governor — but not too busy to roll up her sleeves to help persuade Amazon to build its second headquarters in Chicago.
Munger said Gov. Bruce Rauner appointed her “point person” for the state’s efforts to deliver the Amazon headquarters a few days ago.
She also told the Chicago Sun-Times that Rauner has personally spoken to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos about the coveted project.
“It requires working with the city, working with Intersect Illinois and DCEO [the Department of Commerce and Economic Opporunity],” Munger said Friday of her new assignment. “It requires working with various other agencies in the state to figure out our assets, what we can look at and consider to offer Amazon. My role is to come in at a high leader level to bring the team together to set the goals and roll up my sleeves.”
Gov. Bruce Rauner today signed legislation (HB162) that overhauls the EDGE Tax Credit Program and provides much-needed transparency and taxpayer protections.
“The EDGE Tax Credit Program overhaul is a bipartisan job creation program that is innovative and competitive for businesses,” Gov. Rauner said. “This legislation is another tool to use in our quest to bring high-quality and good-paying jobs to Illinois. It is crucial for the future success of our state that we make Illinois a more business friendly environment through pro-growth measures.”
The EDGE tax credit program is a critical local economic development tool that incentivizes job creation, growth and competitiveness in the state. The new law extends the program until June 30, 2022.
Among the key components in the EDGE tax credit overhaul is that incentives will encourage companies to expand or move to underserved areas in the state, and eligibility thresholds will be lowered to allow more small businesses to grow in Illinois. The overhaul also implements a Gov. Rauner transparency measure, requiring all EDGE agreements be posted within 10 days of the project being secured in Illinois.
“Thank you to Governor Rauner for signing HB 162 and renewing the EDGE Tax Credit Program,” said Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Director Sean McCarthy. “This is a critical local economic development tool that incentivizes job creation, growth and competitiveness in the state. We look forward to working together with companies – large and small—to move, expand and invest here in Illinois.”
“It’s important for us to have every tool available to attract and retain businesses in Illinois and ensure we can offer incentives that allow us to compete with neighboring states,” State Sen. Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) said. “I represent an area that borders Wisconsin. The EDGE program is essential in helping border communities like mine stay competitive.”
“Businesses in Illinois have been able to take advantage of the EDGE program for years,” said State Sen. Pam Althoff (R-McHenry). “Wisconsin, which is just a stone’s throw away, frequently solicits employers in this region to move across the border. But because of the EDGE program, our businesses are staying, providing jobs for thousands of our residents. Extending the EDGE program is especially important in today’s Illinois economy as jobs are already leaving in record numbers.”
“Representing a district on the Illinois-Iowa border, I know how important it is to support policies that make Illinois competitive in attracting new job-creators, and keeping established businesses within our borders. By extending the EDGE program, we’re keeping a pipeline for Illinois jobs open,” said State Sen. Neil Anderson (R-Andalusia).
“Reforming and extending the EDGE tax credit is an important step toward growing new jobs in Illinois and I’m grateful Governor Rauner is signing HB162 today. I look forward to working with the Governor’s office and my colleagues on future efforts to stimulate economic growth for our citizens.” State Rep. Mike Zalewski (D-Riverside), primary sponsor.
“This is about bringing good jobs to our communities. To compete with our neighboring states we absolutely must make Illinois a more attractive place to do business and renewing EDGE will help us do that,” said State Representative Grant Wehrli (R-Naperville).
“Enacting these incentives makes Illinois significantly more competitive with neighboring states in attracting and retaining good-paying jobs for Illinois families,” said Rep. Keith Wheeler (R-Oswego). “This is the type of bipartisan achievement everyone can be proud of.”
“Working together on a bipartisan basis, we are now able to provide incentives that will enable job creators and entrepreneurs to flourish and expand opportunity for families all across Illinois,” said Rep. Patti Bellock (R-Hinsdale). “Growing our economy and creating jobs must continue to be among the State’s top priorities.”
However, state Rep. Jeanne Ives, R-Wheaton, said it falls short for all businesses.
“Businesses are concerned about their workers’ comp rates,” Ives said. “They’re concerned about their tax rate, they’re concerned about their property taxes. They’re concerned about providing a really good quality of life for their employees, and when you’re taxing people out of their homes, you’re not providing quality of life.” […]
Ives said the state should instead cut taxes for every business and not require a labor-intensive application process that is still subjective and not fair across the board. She also said the state needs to invest in infrastructure to lure business.
Cut taxes and invest big bucks in infrastructure. She realizes she’s not in Congress, right?
Hispanics are officially the second-largest ethnic or racial group in Chicago, based on Census data released Thursday.
Hispanics formed 29.7 percent of Chicago’s population in 2016, based on Census estimates. The population climbed 17,751 over the previous year to 803,476.
Meanwhile the black population dropped by more than 40,000 in one year. There are now 793,852 black Chicagoans, about 29.3 percent of the population.
Since 2000, Chicago’s black population has dropped by more than 250,000 people.
The largest racial group in Chicago is white residents. There are an estimated 882,354 white Chicagoans, about 32.6 percent of the population.
Alden Loury, director of research and evaluation at the Metropolitan Planning Council, cautioned that Census data includes “a healthy margin of error.” Experts had expected the Hispanic population to overtake the black population in Chicago, but not this soon, he said.
It’s the first time the Hispanic population has ranked second in the city, and it’s thought to be the first time in at least 50 years that the number of black residents has dipped below 800,000, according to Loury.
“The Latino community has been bolstered by healthy business development and growth, with strong economic centers in Little Village and elsewhere on the Southwest Side,” Loury said.
“We’ve seen nearly the exact opposite for the deeply segregated black neighborhoods on the South and West sides,” Loury said, adding that the city’s historically violent 2016 likely affected the plunging black population, which previously declined by more than 180,000 between 2000 and 2010.
Abortion supporters such as Personal PAC’s Terry Cosgrove says that even though the state House and Senate passed [House Bill 40] back in May, they will not send it to the governor’s desk unless they know for sure the governor will sign it into law.
Every day that move is delayed leaves less time for a potential GOP primary challenger to organize social conservatives to challenge the Republican governor, which may be why Governor Rauner is ignoring requests to confirm his position on HB 40.
Twenty or so pro-life lawmakers met with the governor earlier this year, saying if he wanted them to support his re-election, he would have to veto HB40.
HB 40 would make all Illinois abortions taxpayer-funded and would attempt to exempt Illinois from federal law if a conservative majority U.S. Supreme Court were to overturn the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision.
At the request of State Rep. David McSweeney, last Monday Illinois Review began asking the governor’s office to confirm the commitment he made in April to veto HB 40. The news source followed up Tuesday, and waited to ask for the third time until the governor returned from his trip to Asia.
At the 4:36 mark in reference to Gov. Rauner Rep. McSweeney says…
“I want him to succeed, but he’s failed miserably. Property taxes are higher than ever, we’ve had a 32% increase in the income tax rate, we have a sanctuary state…in the state of Illinois, spending is out of control, we have a number of bills that are terrible that he signed…”
At the 8:44 mark, referencing his push to eliminate the Lt. Gov Office…
“The Governor has opposed me 100%, Sanguetnetti, his Lt. Governor, is allegedly for consolidation, they have done everything to protect their fiefdom and their office, its a waste of taxpayers money. Who cares who the Lt. Governor is in this state? It’s a waste of money. Governor Rauner right now has two deputy Governors that are making a lot of money, why do you need a Lt. Governor on top of it…”
Disappointed with his state rep’s vote to hike state income taxes by 32%, Effingham businessman Brian Milleville announced Wednesday that he’s challenging 5-term GOP incumbent John Cavaletto for his 107th District House seat.
Pointing to Chicago Democrats and what he called “Surrender” Republicans, Milleville said those in office have walked away from central Illinois taxpayers that just can’t afford more taxes.
Milleville says the Illinois Opportunity Project has voiced their support for his candidacy, although no specific amount of funding from the group was agreed upon.
That would be Dan Proft’s group.
* An offshoot of the IOP is “Upstream Ideas,” which published a video commentary the other day…
In Illinois House Minority Leader Jim Durkin’s world, capitulation is compromise. Because he believes now what he has always believed: The Democrats are too strong. Mike Madigan is too strong. Unions are too strong.
The truth is, Jim Durkin is weak. He should be held accountable for his weakness in 2018. Otherwise mediocrity will continue to plague us all. Pat Hughes explains in this week’s Two Minute Warning.
…Adding… I forgot about this until a commenter reminded me…
Uline CEO Richard Uihlein has given another $2 million to a political action committee that has focused on electing Republicans to seats in Springfield.
State elections records show the contribution to Liberty Principles PAC was reported Saturday. The PAC is run by conservative radio host and former unsuccessful candidate for governor Dan Proft.
Uihlein has given money to the PAC before, as has Gov. Rauner. It reported spending more than $10 million on races in 2016.
Please find below a statement from State’s Attorney Foxx:
“I was elected to reform the criminal justice system in Cook County and remain committed to that endeavor. We have made significant progress during my first 10 months in office and there is much more work to do.”
Meanwhile, there’s word that Rep. Scott Drury is having attorney general petitions printed up as this is being written.
…Adding… Media advisory…
HIGHLAND PARK, ILLINOIS – On September 19, 2017, at 11:00 a.m., Scott Drury will host a press conference to address the growing speculation that he intends to run for Attorney General.
Could the daughter of one Democratic political powerhouse replace another as Illinois attorney general?
It’ll happen if the City Council’s elder statesman has his way.
Cook County Democratic Chairman Joe Berrios said he got a courtesy call over the weekend from Ald. Edward Burke (14th) to let him know that Burke’s daughter, Jennifer, was would be circulating nominating petitions to run for attorney general.
Neither Jennifer Burke nor her father could be reached for comment. They work together at the law firm of Klafter & Burke.
The firm specializes in property tax appeals and has three dozen clients that do business with the city — even though that creates a conflict that requires Burke, chairman of the City Council’s Finance Committee, to recuse himself from countless City Council votes.
Man, that’s some serious public relations savvy right there. One of the most unpopular connected insiders in all of Illinois leaks the news on the record that a property tax appeals lawyer and daughter of yet another connected Chicago insider may be running for attorney general.
That may not make Chicago-area folks happy (he caught a little heat at today’s presser for saying it) , but it’s not a bad move at all. The Metro East is dependent upon the STL economy, so a win for them would also be a win for us.
Milwaukee is also bidding for HQ2, so maybe the state should work with them as well.
* From the Illinois Policy Institute’s news service…
The General Assembly’s top four legislative leaders are expected to meet this week, and more tax increases could be part of the discussion, according to Illinois News Network sources and at least one other media outlet.
Mark Maxwell of CBS’ WCIA affiliate in Champaign tweeted Sunday: “4 legislative leaders to meet this week, draw up a capital bill to fund road construction. New taxes on gas/services on the table.”
Sources also told Illinois News Network last week that leaders would discuss a gas tax increase and new service taxes this week as part of a statewide capital projects plan, but spokespersons for GOP legislative leaders denied any such discussions were scheduled.
Direct calls to both Senate Minority Leader Bill Brady and House Minority Leader Jim Durkin on Thursday weren’t successful in getting a response. After following up with text messages, communications people from each office were prompt to respond, but only with denials that such a meeting was to take place.
Durkin spokeswoman Eleni Demertzis said in an email she hadn’t “heard of any discussions.” Asked for direct response from Durkin, Demertzis said, “Like I said, we are unaware of any conversations.”
In a followup email Friday, Demertzis said, “Same answer as yesterday.” When asked if she asked Durkin about the scheduled meeting, Demertzis said, “Like I said yesterday, we are unaware of any discussions, either in the past or planned for the future, about a capital plan or an increase in the motor fuel tax.”
I heard the same thing last week and was told there were no plans to discuss a capital bill. Todd Maisch of the Illinois Chamber talked about the very real need for a capital plan on Rick Pearson’s radio show yesterday (click here), but didn’t sound all that enthused about ways to actually pay for it (gas tax, services, etc.). And without money, you can’t do a capital plan. Also, as I wrote in Crain’s not long ago, the general feeling is that the Democrats don’t want to give Rauner a big “win.” Not to mention that Gov. Rauner has, in the past, talked about his desire to pair a capital plan with major reductions to the prevailing wage, which the Democrats oppose.
* But the four leaders are meeting this week without staff and Gov. Rauner talked to reporters about it a bit today…
Rauner says leaders are meeting Tuesday to talk about the budget: "It is not balanced. It is not in good shape." Says it needs major cuts.
Illegal Hiring Making a Comeback: Former U.S. Rep. Phil Hare Endorses Chris Kennedy
Hare thinking Kennedy will dole out government jobs just like Pat Quinn did
“After witnessing Chris Kennedy’s pathetic attempts to court Mike Madigan, Phil Hare must be thinking Kennedy would dole out illegal patronage jobs just like Pat Quinn did. Since he’s failed at running as a political insider, Kennedy is now running as a phony reformer.” - Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot
After witnessing Kennedy’s pathetic attempts to court Illinois patronage king Mike Madigan (here, here, and here), Hare must be thinking that Kennedy would dole out illegal government jobs for him just like Pat Quinn did.
When Hare lost his congressional campaign in 2010, Pat Quinn took care of him. According to an Office of the Executive Inspector General report on Quinn’s IDOT patronage scandal, IDOT “absorbed” several former staffers from Phil Hare’s Congressional office who were put out of work by Hare’s loss.
News reports said the illegal hirings at IDOT spiked significantly under Quinn and Quinn’s former IDOT secretary even said the “vast majority” of people hired illegally were recommended by Quinn’s office.
It didn’t end there. Quinn’s administration even hired Hare’s son - whose only previous management experience was as assistant manager at a video store - as an assistant warden for the Illinois Department of Corrections. A separate OEIG investigation found that Hare’s son was not qualified for the position.
In Phil Hare’s eyes, Chris Kennedy would run state government like a Chicago political machine.
* Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) was first out of the gate to say he wanted to run for attorney general against Republican Erika Harold…
Raoul said he doesn’t think Lisa Madigan is running from Harold.
“I think Lisa would have acquitted herself well against Miss America,” Raoul said. “I don’t know what’s behind the attorney general’s decision … but I doubt seriously it was any fear of Erika Harold.”
Harold was a Phi Beta Kappa at the U of I and a Harvard Law graduate. She also has some pretty strong campaign chops. So, condescension probably isn’t the best avenue here.
A retiring suburban lawmaker is the latest to express interest in becoming Illinois’ next attorney general.
Elaine Nekritz of Northbrook told the Daily Herald Sunday evening that she was surprised as anyone by news Friday that Chicago Democrat Lisa Madigan announced she would not be seeking re-election for a fifth term Friday.
“Who knew this was going to be an option?” said Nekritz, a Northbrook Democrat. A real estate attorney by trade, Nekritz said such a move would require her to reactivate her law license.
Actually, the state Constitution doesn’t require the attorney general to even be an attorney, let alone have an active law license.
* Jesse Ruiz’s Facebook page is filled with stories and posts about his run, including a claim that President Obama is his “biggest fan.”
Gery Chico — whose resume includes stints as chairman of the State Board of Education and president of the Chicago Board of Education, the Chicago Park District board and City Colleges board — said he, too, is considering a run for attorney general. […]
McHenry County Board Chairman and former state representative Jack Franks says he’s considering a run as well.
“Pretty much my entire public career comes forward to this,” Franks said. “Things that are consumer related and good government and going after the bad guy, fighting for the little guy.” […]
State Rep. Ann Williams, D-Chicago, who once worked for Madigan, said she hasn’t ruled out a run, while noting she’s spoken with many concerned there are few women mentioned as possible contenders for the seat. […]
Other names are also being talked about as possible contenders, including state Rep. Scott Drury, D-Highwood, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, former U.S. Attorney Zach Fardon and Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow. None responded to calls for comment.
Other names surfaced as well, including state Sen. Don Harmon of Oak Park and state Rep. Elgie Sims of Chicago. Their legislative seats are up for election next year, so a run for attorney general would mean risking their spots. Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx is not on the ballot in 2018. Even a former ambassador to the Czech Republic under former President Barack Obama, attorney Andrew Schapiro, is considering a bid, an aide said. […]
State finance disclosure reports show Harmon, a member of the Democratic Senate leadership team, with $662,000 in his campaign bank account, ahead of Dart’s $470,000 and Raoul’s $340,000. Harold so far has raised at least $40,000, mostly from the state Republican Party, which Rauner heavily subsidizes.
Also considering a run from the Illinois legislature is state Sen. Michael Hastings, who was first elected in 2012 to represent a south suburban district that includes parts of Matteson, Frankfort, New Lenox and more.
Sources said Hastings, a former U.S. Army Captain who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, is making calls about a possible run for attorney general – and like Raoul, he would not have to give up his seat.
A third potential candidate from the upper chamber is state Sen. Ira Silverstein, who sources said is also interested in the position.
Why does a billionaire who has already pumped $21m into his own political campaign need nearly $2m in tax credits to diminish investment risk at the expense of taxpayers?
This story just piles on JB’s pattern of shady choices that serve his own interests at the expense of everyone else:
* JB was caught on FBI wiretaps asking Blago to make JB State Treasurer
* JB bought a $3.7 million mansion which JB made “uninhabitable” by removing toilets to get a $230,000 property tax break
* JB donated $100,000 to Blago’s campaign and 4 days later a charity JB was the chief fundraiser for got $1 million in state tax dollars
* JB calling Barack Obama mediocre and not committing to vote for him
Also, the underlying pay-to-play themes are strong in this recent story about his angel investment tax credit, especially given that everyone knows Madigan is behind the scenes supporting JB’s campaign:
* JB wrote $82,000 in campaign contributions using TNDP LLC’s checkbook (the same company that got the tax credit) in 2016 to Mike Madigan’s political committees and his chosen candidates.
* Madigan voted for the legislation creating the state’s angel investment tax credit - 97th GA HB2955 & 96th GA SB2093
And, let’s add this to the list of JB-Rauner connections:
Here’s an issue on which rich Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and J.B. Pritzker —by far the wealthiest of the Democrats aiming to unseat Rauner next year — find common ground.
Both Rauner and Pritzker are fans of a state tax-credit program for rich investors in startup companies in Illinois.
In fact, Pritzker is more than just a supporter of the program — the venture capitalist has profited handsomely from it.
Pritzker’s companies have gotten tax credits worth more than $1.9 million over four years through the Illinois Angel Investment Tax Credit program, records show.
As he did when his big property-tax breaks were revealed earlier this year, Pritzker says he’s merely availed himself of what the law offers him.
“It diminished a little bit of a very high risk,” Pritzker says of the tax credits his companies got. “This is one way I believe we, as Democrats, should stand up for job creation.”
Illinois tech types have long had a problem with finding investors. This tax credit was designed to help remedy that situation by making investments more palatable. Often, the people who are looking for money have nothing but an idea. It’s been quite successful.
State comptroller Susana Mendoza confronted a man accused of fleeing an accident and it’s all caught on camera. […]
The driver of a black pickup allegedly rear ended a car and caused a multivehicle crash. […]
“We were stopped at the red light when all of a sudden this black big pickup truck barrels through the intersection,” she told WGN News. ‘And it was scary, you know, because you’re there on your bike and your 4-year-old is with you. … A couple blocks down the street, wouldnt you know it, a four car accident.”
Mendoza says a woman in the street yelled for help so she sprang into action while her husband and son headed for the sidewalk.
“I was taping him so that he was being taped and hopefully not try to move his vehicle,” she says.
But he tried to leave the scene.
* It turns out, the suspect is John “Quarters” Boyle, a favorite target of John Kass…
It’s a fascinating video with a bunch of chaotic moments. And one thing is absolutely clear: In chaotic moments, people reveal themselves. And Mendoza showed she is one tough lady. She confronted a certified Chicago tough guy, a two-time ex-con. She warned those nearby, she announced she’d called police, she backed the tough guy down and he finally ran away.
And she made wisecracks along the way, like her soon-to-be-famous “Say cheese!”
That was on July 30, 2017, around 12:30 in the afternoon. Some days later, most likely showered and shaved, perhaps even smelling of after-shave and hair product, John “Quarters” Boyle turned himself in to police.
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s office charged Boyle with leaving the scene of an accident involving injury, failure to report a crash and operating an uninsured vehicle. Since there were days between the crash and Boyle turning himself in, no breathalyzer was administered.
On Friday, wearing an Operating Engineers Local 150 T-shirt, Boyle appeared in Cook County before Judge Stephanie Saltouros for a status hearing in the Daley Center.
So far, all but one of the Democratic gubernatorial candidates have chosen a running mate. And all but one of those candidates have chosen an African-American running mate. And all but two of those candidates have chosen a female African-American running mate.
You won’t find any more loyal, dedicated Democratic voters than black women. Perhaps because of this, the party too often seems to take them for granted.
Picking candidates as window dressing can sometimes backfire, but J.B. Pritzker’s choice is about as qualified as a running mate can get. State Rep. Juliana Stratton, D-Chicago, is the director of the Center for Public Safety & Justice at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She founded a mediation services firm and has a long history dealing with the issue of violence, which is, of course, a big issue today. You may remember she defeated state Rep. Ken Dunkin, D-Chicago, after he sided with Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner on a couple of key issues. She proved to be a tireless and capable campaigner, and she quickly showed real legislative chops in Springfield.
State Sen. Daniel Biss, D-Evanston, initially chose a young, gay, Latino Chicago alderman as his running mate, but that didn’t work out. The guy just wasn’t ready for prime time. Biss corrected his mistake by choosing state Rep. Litesa Wallace, D-Rockford, who has a doctorate in educational psychology, which likely gives us our first gubernatorial ticket with two Ph.D.s (Biss’ is in mathematics). Wallace hasn’t been around the Statehouse very long, but she’s quite popular and a good public speaker with a human touch that the wonky Biss lacks. Biss had been aiming at the Bernie Sanders vote with his choice of Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, and Wallace was a Hillary Clinton delegate to last year’s convention, but she has a solidly progressive voting record.
Chris Kennedy was the last of the top-tier candidates to choose a running mate, partly because the party apparatus has been pretty much conquered by Pritzker. So he went outside the party to choose Ra Joy, an African-American man from Chicago’s South Side who ran Change Illinois, a campaign and government reform group.
Kennedy told me he was recently in the Bronzeville neighborhood meeting with a group of young African-American men. One of them, a 30-year-old attorney, said he and people like him were going to teach the Democratic Party a lesson and not vote. They had voted for Democrats for years and nothing has changed. Joy, Kennedy said, will help combat that apathy because he has long fought for change. We’ll see.
Kennedy told me that members of Pritzker’s “enormous” campaign team have been “working the refs,” in this case, reporters and columnists.
“I think they’ve concluded they can’t beat me in the primary, and so they want to try to get me to drop out, so they spread rumors that I’m about to drop out,” Kennedy said.
“That sort of thing doesn’t work with me,” Kennedy added. “I’m the smallest of seven brothers. … They’ll have to swing a lot harder to get me out.”
Responded Pritzker spokeswoman GALIA SLAYEN: “Our campaign is focused on building a professional operation that can go toe-to-toe with Bruce Rauner and hold him accountable every day for the damage he has done to Illinois. Instead of complaining about press to the press, Chris Kennedy’s time would be better spent showing voters why he’s the best candidate to beat Bruce Rauner.”
Good advice. Whining that the other campaign has a stronger team is not a good look.
If you remember way back to spring, the courts blocked the [Rauner] administration from imposing its contract terms on AFSCME until there was a decision on whether an impasse did indeed exist between the union and the state on a new contract. The state says there is an impasse, which would mean it can impose its contract terms. AFSCME says there isn’t one.
The state wanted the Illinois Supreme Court to immediately take up the case last spring, but it refused. The high court said it had to go to the appeals court first.
Oral arguments in the case were originally scheduled for August. However, over the summer the appeals court granted extensions so that both sides could file additional paperwork and replies to paperwork. Given the latest schedule for filing stuff, AFSCME doesn’t think oral arguments will happen until early next year.
That’s just the arguments part of this. Then the court will still have to render its opinion. And it’s pretty much a given that whichever side loses in the appellate court will take it to the state Supreme Court. That process will presumably take several more months.
So, this might possibly wind up being decided after the next election.
The state agency responsible for protecting the children in Semaj Crosby’s home assigned unmanageable caseloads to investigators in its Joliet field office and allowed supervisors there to intimidate and mistreat workers, the Tribune has found.
As allegations of child abuse poured in from the Joliet Township house where 17-month-old Semaj would be found dead in April, investigators in the Department of Children and Family Services’ local office sometimes handled 30 or more new cases per month — well over nationally recognized standards.
Meanwhile, supervisors often bullied staff members and doled out the easiest assignments to favored workers, according to Tribune interviews with current and former investigators. Some of the most sensitive and complex abuse cases were given to interns — the last DCFS investigator who saw Semaj alive, hours before she was reported missing, was an intern, according to DCFS records.
Damage Done: Rauner’s Understaffed DCFS Office Failed Illinois Children
Interns Handled Child Abuse Cases at “Toxic” Children and Family Services Agency
Chicago, IL – Controversy continues to surround Bruce Rauner’s Department of Children and Family Services with a new report detailing the extent of the agency’s mismanagement.
The Chicago Tribune report shed light on the “toxic” culture at the understaffed Joliet DCFS field office after 17-month-old Semaj Crosby was found dead due to asphyxiation inside her home. The allegations detail an office where interns were assigned “some of the most sensitive and complex abuses cases” and caseworkers sometimes handled more than 30 new cases per month — well over nationally recognized standards.
“This is what happens when a governor cares more about numbers and spreadsheets than the tragedy and pain he is inflicting on the lives of Illinois families,” said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. “Bruce Rauner’s damage is done to our state’s social services agencies and the families they serve are still reeling from his failed leadership.”
Today, the JB for Governor campaign released a new digital ad, “Been There,” highlighting JB’s lifelong commitment to standing up for progressive values and his resistance to Donald Trump.
The digital ad shows JB at the March for Women’s Lives in 1992 and the Chicago Pride Parade in 1993. It also highlights his recent resistance to Donald Trump, including protesting Trump’s efforts to strip healthcare from millions, standing up for DREAMers, and marching in the Women’s March on Springfield.
“Donald Trump is unfit to be president, and Illinois needs a governor who will stand up to his bigoted and hateful agenda,” said JB Pritzker. “I’ve spent my life standing up for progressive, Democratic values and no other candidate for governor has worked harder to resist Donald Trump in Illinois. Now more than ever, it’s time for our state to unite and make sure we’re a firewall against this president’s reckless agenda.”
“If it’s pay-to-play with Blagojevich, a corrupt property tax cut from Joe Berrios, or bank-rolling Mike Madigan’s political organizations in exchange for Madigan’s support, then J.B. Pritzker has “been there”. Pritzker is trying to cover up his record as a corrupt insider who uses public service for personal gain and voters should be worried about that.” - Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot
Today, Capitol Fax reported the Pritzker campaign released a new ad citing events in his life that highlight his “progressive values” between 1992 and 2017.
Unsurprisingly, the ad conveniently left out what Pritzker was up to between 1993 and 2016. Here’s what Pritzker is trying to hide:
1996 - Pritzker, wearing a dark green suit, says he helps Blagojevich with “fund-raising” (Chicago Sun-Times, “In Mell’s World, It’s Politics as Usual,” Jorge Oclander, March 23, 1996)
1997 - Pritzker says “Rod [Blagojevich] is going to be very helpful” in his potential 1998 race for Congress
2001 - The Chicago Sun-Times reports Pritzker would help fund Blagojevich’s first gubernatorial race if Pritzker would receive backing from Blago’s father-in-law, Dick Mell, in a potential 2002 race for Congress
2002 - Pritzker gives $20,000 to Friends of Rod Blagojevich (State Board of Elections)
2003 - Blagojevich appoints Pritzker to the top post of a state government commission (The Associated Press, “Governor Appoints Mikva Head Of State Human Rights Commission,” 7/27/2006)
2006 - Pritzker gives $100,000 to Friends of Rod Blagojevich (State Board of Elections)
2006 - Blagojevich authorizes $1 million state grant to a group where Pritzker serves as the finance chief
2008 - FBI wiretaps reveal Pritzker schemed with Blagojevich to be appointed Illinois Treasurer, among other state offices. In the same call, Blago also pressed Pritzker for campaign contributions and Pritzker said “I hear ya, I hear ya”
2012-2016 - Pritzker rips out the toilets of a neighboring “uninhabitable” mansion and Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios approves an 83% property tax cut, slashing the property tax bill on his multi-million dollar Chicago mansion by $230,000
2000-2016 - Pritzker’s lawyers who won him the property tax break gave more than $100,000 in campaign contributions to Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios and his affiliated political organizations (State Board of Elections)
2016 - Pritzker and his company contribute $900,000 to a Super PAC run that a Democratic political operative referred to as a “Madigan joint”
2017 - Madigan steers unions, interests groups, and politicians to throw their support behind Pritzker’s campaign for governor
2017 - Pritzker selects Madigan-backed running mate as his lieutenant governor canidate
Whether it’s pay-to-play and quid pro quo with Blagojevich, a corrupt deal with Joe Berrios to cut his property tax bill, or bankrolling Mike Madigan’s political organizations in exchange for Madigan’s support, Pritzker has “been there”.
J.B. Pritzker is trying to cover up his record as a corrupt insider who uses public service for personal gain and voters should be worried about that.
Terry Cosgrove, the president and CEO of the abortion-rights advocacy group Personal PAC, says a bill that would extend the availability of taxpayer-subsidized abortions to state workers and Medicaid recipients won’t be sent to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s desk unless he says he will sign it.
Lawmakers approved the legislation known as House Bill 40 on May 10. But Democratic state Sen. Don Harmon of Oak Park put a procedural hold on the bill, preventing it from being sent to the Republican governor. […]
There has been speculation that with Rauner’s vow to veto the measure, Democrats were looking for the best time politically to send it to the governor to energize abortion-rights supporters.
But Cosgrove said on WGN 720-AM on Sunday that he wasn’t aware of such a tactic. He said the bill won’t move without a Rauner promise to sign it.
“As far as I know, House Bill 40 is not going to be sent to Gov. Rauner until he says he will sign it as it was passed by the Illinois General Assembly,” he said. “That is my view of what should happen and currently the view of the sponsors and the people in control of the legislation.”
Late last Thursday night, I was chasing a story about the rumored retirement of state Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, Illinois’ first-ever female House majority leader, when I got a text message from a high-level employee of Attorney General Lisa Madigan.
She asked if she could call me Friday morning about something her boss was doing that day. I said of course and went back to work.
A few minutes later, Leader Currie finally returned my repeated calls and texts, and I forgot all about the AG Madigan request.
Back in 1979, when Currie started her first term, Chicago’s House delegation was packed with very conservative white men. But, now, “I don’t feel as if I’m leaving a void” by retiring, the liberal legislator from Chicago’s liberal Hyde Park neighborhood told me Thursday night. The city’s delegation these days is filled with “fresh, bright, able, progressive people,” Currie said.
Currie had a difficult time that night singling out a favored highlight of what will be 40 years in the House and 20 years as Majority Leader by the time she retires. Instead, she ticked off a long list of subjects, ranging from early childhood education, to civil rights and civil liberties, women’s issues, environmental issues, freedom of information, school funding and even the impeachment of Rod Blagojevich.
Currie said her stamina and energy isn’t what it used to be and it was time to “do something different.”
Currie took a lot of grief when House Speaker Michael Madigan made her his majority leader. Some of her fellow independent liberals viewed her as a sell-out to party machine hacks. Downstate legislators were upset that Madigan had picked a fellow Chicagoan instead of maintaining geographic balance by choosing someone from their ranks. And conservative Democrats, some of whom were uncomfortable with a female majority leader, viewed her as too much of an intellectual who was always championing politically “dangerous” ideas like state-regulated needle exchange programs to prevent the spread of AIDS among intravenous drug users.
But she has shown over time that she could effectively work within the system without losing her liberal street cred, and Speaker Madigan is now far more open to liberal causes than he was before he elevated Currie to the second chair. Illinois, for instance, now has five needle exchange centers. Also, as the country has shifted to a partisan divide between urban/suburban vs. exurban/rural, Downstate Democrats have been disappearing and losing some influence within the caucus.
I finished talking with Currie and went to bed. The next morning after I’d written the story about her and done a couple of blog posts, my phone rang. It was that same Lisa Madigan employee who’d texted me the night before. I’d completely forgotten about it.
“Hold on a second,” the staffer said, “Lisa wants to talk to you.”
I instantly knew what it was. This was no routine call.
The attorney general informed me that she wasn’t running for re-election or any other office next year.
“I’m ready to move on to a new challenge,” she said when I asked why.
Attorney General Madigan talked about running for governor more than once in the past, but she took herself out four years ago, saying she wouldn’t run as long as her father, Speaker Madigan, was in office.
But AG Madigan told me she doesn’t regret not having the opportunity to run for governor. “I ran for attorney general because I believed this office would be the greatest opportunity to help people,” she said, flatly denying that she got out because she feared she might lose re-election because of her infamous father’s horrific poll ratings.
She didn’t rule out a future run for office and pointedly refused to rule out a bid for governor beyond 2018.
But if a Democrat defeats Gov. Bruce Rauner next year, that’ll put Madigan out of the running for maybe eight more years. I can’t say I blame her for getting out now. She’s also been mentioned as a possible Chicago mayoral candidate, but I was told in no uncertain terms she wouldn’t run for mayor in 2019. It really sounded to me like she was looking forward to a private sector career.
And what about Speaker Madigan, who’s been in office almost forever? Several people close to him have recently retired. And then came Majority Leader Currie’s announcement. And then his own daughter. But I can’t find anyone who has a convincing argument that he’ll actually hang up his spurs any time soon. He still seems to be enjoying himself.
