Reader comments closed for the weekend
Friday, Jun 13, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Bill Luking spent most of his adult life working on behalf of the city he loved. Most Chicagoans have never heard of the man, but he did more for them than just about anyone else in Springfield. So, this one’s for Bill. Rest in peace, buddy. I hope you and Frank can have a couple of cold ones while you’re up there…
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Yowza - $2.5 million in one pop to Rauner
Friday, Jun 13, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Who needs a budget plan when you have friends like this?…
…Adding… A Ken Griffin flashback from a 2012 Tribune interview…
Q. I’m going to come back to this. But I want to touch on two more areas first. What do you think in general about the influence of people with your means on the political process? You said shame on the politicians for listening to the CEOs. Do you think the ultrawealthy have an inordinate or inappropriate amount of influence on the political process?
A. I think they actually have an insufficient influence. Those who have enjoyed the benefits of our system more than ever now owe a duty to protect the system that has created the greatest nation on this planet. And so I hope that other individuals who have really enjoyed growing up in a country that believes in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – and economic freedom is part of the pursuit of happiness – (I hope they realize) they have a duty now to step up and protect that. Not for themselves, but for their kids and for their grandchildren and for the person down the street that they don’t even know.
Emphasis added for obvious reasons. I think he’s having sufficient influence on the Rauner campaign, to say the least.
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Question of the day
Friday, Jun 13, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I have some errands to run ahead of Father’s Day weekend so blogging could be light to non-existent the rest of the day. Speaking of Father’s Day…
* The Question: Do you have any fond political memories of your father? Explain.
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Jack Roeser
Friday, Jun 13, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* There’s been no official statement released, but I have confirmed that conservative activist Jack Roeser passed away early this morning.
The man sure hated him some teachers’ unions. And he gave the GOP establishment in this state fits for decades. He was who he was, he did what he did, and if you didn’t like it, he didn’t care a bit. I couldn’t help admiring him for that.
The man made his mark on this state more than any single non-politician in memory. You may not have agreed with it, maybe even hated what he did, but I gotta tell you I always found him to be a real gentleman in person.
Jack and I had more than our share of go-arounds, but none of our conversations ever ended with anger. There was never any personal animosity between us. And I know he felt the same about many others.
* Jack was very proud of the wildly successful Otto Engineering business he built from scratch and the good things he was able to get done for Carpentersville and the surrounding areas. He deserved to be proud of those accomplishments. He did plenty of good.
From his Widipedia entry…
Roeser enlisted in the Army in 1942 and served during World War II as a Corporal in the 1689th Engineer Battalion Combat Engineers in the Pacific Theater. He served in combat with distinction fighting the Japanese in the Philippines, most notably in the Battle of Leyte. He was one of the first U.S. Soldiers to set foot on Japan after their surrender to the Allies in 1945.
* Look, I know some of you folks completely disagreed with Jack’s politics. But keep it civil in comments. The man has a family and many, many friends. I, for one, will miss him.
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A wealth of arrogance
Friday, Jun 13, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Bruce Rauner really set himself up for a future attack yesterday…
Asked by reporters how he would be able to put in place some cuts that have been discussed for years and discarded, Rauner replied, “I’ve been successful at everything I’ve ever done.”
Everything? Really? Including that shadey and failed nursing home business? OK. Have it your way, Mr. Modesty.
* The biggest complaint I had about the Quinn campaign’s response to yesterday’s Rauner chicken presser was that they didn’t pivot on the word “chicken.” Quinn has already called Rauner “timid” for refusing to lay out a budget plan. Why not press that further? Well, they did today. From a media release…
Paul Vallas: Entitled Rauner “Chickened Out” of Serious Debate With Disastrous 10-point Budget Prank
CHICAGO - Lt. Governor Candidate Paul Vallas said Friday that entitled billionaire Bruce Rauner provided the people of Illinois “with more chickens than answers” with his disastrous budget rollout the day before.
Rauner had waited 465 days, and until after the budget debate in Springfield, before appearing with chickens at a press conference Thursday.
Vallas said this was unworthy of the seriousness required of running for the highest office in the 5th largest state in America.
“I’m particularly offended that Mr. Rauner feels he doesn’t owe the people of Illinois any substance, yet he is entitled to the highest office in our state,” Vallas said at a Friday press conference. “What he did yesterday was embarrassing. Illinois voters deserve a real debate about the real issues.”
* Meanwhile…
Rauner’s campaign passed out to reporters a 12-page, glossy pamphlet that touted $1 billion in savings, however, much of what was proposed appeared to be a repackaged version of what he has said in the past. That includes the wealthy former venture capitalist not taking a salary or pension as governor — saying that would save $708,000.
Notice that Rauner didn’t include his running mate in those cost savings. Supposedly, she’ll be taking a full salary. Why? She isn’t wealthy. So she gets a pass.
* Speaking of wealth…
“No more law firms on the side,” Rauner’s “blueprint” stated, a reflection that Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, each have law practices.
House Republican leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs also is a lawyer and said he would “gladly negotiate what reforms (Rauner) thinks are necessary. I think it’s something that should be brought to the table.”
Poor Jim. Locked in the same sort of cage as those little chickens.
Durkin has four kids at home. Imagine those college costs. I really doubt he could afford to give up his law practice and continue providing for his family the way he has. But, whatever, he’s in the cage now. Just keep nodding in agreement with the guy who doesn’t have to worry about his own personal cash flow, Leader.
/snark.
* And while we’re on the subject of personal wealth…
Rauner — who has used the private jet of his billionaire donor Ken Griffin to campaign around the state — said he would downsize the fleet of state planes, which cost the state $5 million a year.
“We are going to eliminate Illinois’ shuttle service and sell most of the state planes. My wife and I are going to move to Springfield,” Rauner said. “We will stop this process of shuttling people regularly at a high cost to taxpayers to Springfield.”
First of all, no offense meant, but how long is Mrs. Rauner gonna stay in a dingy upstairs Springfield apartment with tourists running around, loud parties and a badly leaking roof?
I mean, heck, I wouldn’t live there.
And do we really want the governor bumming jet rides from kabillionaires all the time?
This is a big state, man. Ever drive from Chicago to Cairo? Takes forever.
Are the state planes over-used? Probably. Could we get rid of them? Sure. But Rauner is insulated from such a decision because he can personally afford other options. What happens if the next governor ain’t so fabulously rich?
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*** UPDATED x2 *** Bill Luking
Friday, Jun 13, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From a press release…
Luking & Associates, LLC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
It is with a heavy heart that Luking & Associates, LLC informs you that William H. Luking, president and founder of Luking & Associates, LLC passed away quietly yesterday afternoon.
Thank you for your thoughts & your friendship at this time. We have lost a friend, mentor, and colleague. The City of Chicago and the State of Illinois have lost a champion.
Arrangements are pending and will be announced when completed.
* People who didn’t know Bill would often comment on his disheveled appearance, but those who did know him constantly marveled at his brilliance. The guy read everything. He knew every legislative trick in the book. I was talking to a colleague of his this morning who said Bill once recited the state plumbing code from memory during a meeting.
Bill’s institutional memory would overload a computer. And now it’s gone. We are all the poorer for his loss, whether you knew him or not. The hole his death creates at the Statehouse is just unimaginable.
I tried to never miss a chance to talk to Bill when I saw him during session. He wouldn’t normally dish about stuff he was working on, but he would discuss what other people were up to, assess their chances, find their weak points, suggest a better route, give me some history, etc. He never wasted my time and I tried never to waste his.
Bill told me years ago that he once met Frank Sinatra and shook his hand. Bill was a young reporter in the hinterlands and Ol’ Blue Eyes came to town for a show. How freaking cool is that?
Many of us will forever be in Bill Luking’s debt. He was most definitely one of a kind. He was also a sweet and generous man.
I’m sure many of you have your own stories about Bill, so I’ll leave comments open. I’ll let you know about arrangements.
*** UPDATE 1 *** From Mayor Rahm Emanuel…
“Bill Luking dedicated himself to the law and the legislative process. His legend and legacy will be lasting. For nearly 30 years, Bill fought for Chicago and its people and was essential to every major legislative initiative passed on the City’s behalf. As a dean of the Illinois statehouse, Bill shared with others his passion for history and always made himself available to mentor young people learning their way around the halls of the state Capitol. On behalf of all of Chicago, thanks Bill.”
As far as I’m concerned Bill’s getting the Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Insider this year. Not gonna be a vote.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Senate President John Cullerton…
I am saddened to hear the news of Bill Luking’s death. He was among the first people to encourage me to run for office in 1976. He was a man of honor, with an incredible knowledge of the legislative process. For decades Bill used his considerable skills to tirelessly advance the interests of the City of Chicago. He will be greatly missed.
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Quinn’s disturbing pattern of silence
Friday, Jun 13, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Lots of people covered Gov. Quinn’s campaign press conference with some ministers, but WBEZ was one of the only outlets to report this angle…
An outspoken Chicago pastor connected Republicans to the Ku Klux Klan and suggested that GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner stands for “evil,” as he appeared next to Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn on Thursday to give the Democrat his endorsement.
Um, what?
* Listen to the raw audio…
* Back to the WBEZ story. The minister in question was speaking of registering voters, including “unlikely voters”…
The governor remained silent as the Rev. Walter “Slim” Coleman, a long-time left-wing activist, spoke at his side during a press event where Quinn accepted the endorsement of several mostly African-American clergy members. […]
“That’s an unlikely voter that began way back in 1961 and ’62 with the Ku Klux Klan, that grew up through the militias, that came outta the militias and, and, and – came in to call themselves conservatives, and then came in to call themselves Republican,” Coleman said.
“That’s a movement that brings an evil that we have got to stop,” Coleman said, as the crowd began to clap. “Our fight – our fight is not – our fight is not with flesh and blood. Our fight is with powers and principalities. And there’s an evil – there’s an evil that a candidate may seem that he’s harmless is gonna raise up in this state and we’re not gonna let it happen!”
* The minister later backed away…
Reached by phone after Thursday’s event, Coleman told WBEZ he does not believe Rauner is evil. He said he was referring instead to the “hatred and prejudice and white supremacy” he believes are represented by the conservative Tea Party movement, which he said gets political cover from the GOP.
“We’re not suggesting that Rauner is a member of the Klan or that there were any Klansmen involved in his campaign or anything like that,” Coleman said in a phone interview Thursday afternoon. “We were just saying that the forces that are unleashed by the - the current day Republican Party are very dangerous forces and very racist forces, and that we don’t want them to take over in Illinois.”
* But the state GOP chairman was justifiably outraged at the governor’s silence…
“It is unacceptable and outrageous for a sitting governor to stand by silently and condone comparisons to the Ku Klux Klan,” [ Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider] said. “Governor Quinn owes the people of Illinois an explanation for why he stood by and said nothing.”
* The Quinn campaign’s reaction…
“We couldn’t disagree more strongly, and the Governor believes this rhetoric has no place in politics,” Anderson wrote in an email.
* The minister apologized, so I’ll leave it at that. What bugs me about this incident is that it isn’t the first time Quinn has remained silent while one of his supporters went off on one of his Republican opponents. Remember this from 2010?…
A West Side get-out-the-vote rally Saturday backfired for Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn when the governor was forced to quickly distance himself from racially charged criticism about his Republican foe made by the man who introduced him, Chicago mayoral candidate state Sen. Rickey Hendon. […]
“Let me tell you a couple things. I’ve served with Bill Brady. I’ve never served with such an idiotic, racist, sexist, homophobic person in my life,” Hendon told the crowd. “If you think that the minimum wage needs to be $3 an hour, vote for Bill Brady. If you think that women have no rights whatsoever except to have his children, vote for Bill Brady. If you think gay and lesbian people need to be locked up and shot in the head, vote for Bill Brady.”
Quinn stood silent and didn’t speak until after a reporter asked him about Hendon’s remarks.
Governor, that’s just not acceptable.
* Related…
* ADDED: Two ministers backing Quinn got money from troubled state program: Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn received a robust re-election endorsement this week from dozens of Chicago area ministers, including at least two whose religious organizations got money from a much-criticized state anti-violence grant program.
* Our Cold Civil War Intensifies
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Quinn cries fowl on Rauner budget plan
Thursday, Jun 12, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From a point-by-point rebuttal by the Quinn campaign to Bruce Rauner’s “plan,” which is far better than the campaign’s initial hyperventilating response…
Here are some corrections and context.
Medicaid
RAUNER: Mentions $12M in payments to the deceased…over 44 years.
FACT: Most of it has already been recouped and every penny will be recovered in the coming months.
Prairie Chickens
RAUNER: Claims Gov. Quinn flew prairie chickens around.
FACT: Um, no he did not. State hunters pay a fee into an endangered species replenishment fund that transported this species. The federal government also supports this program. State taxpayers did not pay a single dime for this endangered species program.
Supreme Court
RAUNER: Counts $40 million in spending as “waste.”
FACT: Enhancing the state’s probation system to keep Illinois residents safer is hardly wasteful.
Governor’s Pension and Salary
RAUNER: Says he won’t take any pay.
FACT: In 2012, Rauner took in $53 million, about 300 times the Governor’s salary. Guess only millionaires and billionaires need apply.
Defined Contribution System for Legislators
RAUNER: Claims the change would save $60 million over 30 years.
FACT: Gov. Quinn’s REAL pension reform to the General Assembly Retirement System will save taxpayers $302 million over 30 years. Quinn’s full pension reform law saves Illinois taxpayers $140 BILLION over the next 30 years.
Constitutional Office Budgets
RAUNER: Wants a 10 percent cut.
FACT: Already happening - Governor Quinn has already reduced the Governor’s Office budget by more than 25 percent and called for other constitutionals to follow suit.
Comptroller and Treasurer’s Office
RAUNER: Wants a merger.
FACT: Doesn’t understand this requires a constitutional amendment.
CMS Cuts
RAUNER: Wants to cut $500 Million from Central Management Services.
FACT: CMS is the agency that handles administration of much of what the state does. It polices state purchases and makes sure they are handled fairly. Saying you can just cut the administrative agency that identifies efficiencies and achieves economies by finding better deals for taxpayers shows just how little Rauner understands about state government.
Medicaid Verification Reform
RAUNER: Wants it.
FACT: Already happening. And as a result of the Governor’s efforts to root out waste, fraud and abuse, Illinois is expected to save about $86 million this year. Not only has the Governor cut waste, he overhauled the state’s Medicaid program entirely in 2012, which has so far saved taxpayers more than $3 billion.
By the way, I brazenly stole the above headline from a “47th Ward” comment.
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*** UPDATED x1 *** Chickens?
Thursday, Jun 12, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* If he wanted to be taken seriously, perhaps he should’ve abandoned the idea of featuring a cage of live chickens while unveiling his new budget proposal…
Standing beside a trio of caged chickens, Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner says he has a plan to cut $1 billion in “wasteful spending” in state government that calls on lawmakers to forfeit their pensions as they know it, to scrap a state plane system and, among other changes, stop the practice of flying in prairie chickens from out of state.
Rauner contended that state planes were used to fly the chickens. During budget debate in the Legislature, lawmakers noted that a federal grant paid for the project.
* Sun-Times photo…
So, we get a copied and pasted high school freshman-level “budget plan” and live chickens. This is so Pat Quinn 30 years ago.
Man, it’s gonna be a long season.
*** UPDATE *** From WLS Radio we get Rauner’s rationale…
GOP challenger Bruce Rauner is now attacking Governor Pat Quinn with live poultry. […]
“They are clear visualization of the fundamental problem,” Rauner said. “We have out of control spending. We have irresponsible politicians making decisions with taxpayer money on a sloppy, unaccountable basis.”
…Adding… I just asked an editor who was there if the chickens clucked throughout the press conference. They were amazingly quiet the whole time, he said. At least they got that part right. Chickens can be quite noisy.
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* Click here to read it. The “blueprint” is incredibly weak. He’s found just $140 million in itemized budgetary “savings.” And most of those savings aren’t even recoverable or part of GRF.
…Adding… A Rauner ally just called to clarify that this is only waste. It’s just the first step, she said. It’s still weak.
On top of that, Rauner also calls for eliminating the state aircraft fleet, he wants an end to “slush funds” like the anti-violence initiative, and he vows not to accept a salary.
He claims unspecified reforms at CMS would save another $500 million. And another $250 million could be saved by verifying Medicaid eligibility.
* Basically, Rauner has given us a few pieces of low-hanging fruit, sprinkled it with some magic fairy dust and added a dash of hot rhetoric.
This isn’t a budget blueprint. It’s rehashed stuff he’s already talked about on the campaign trail. And it absolutely does not prevent the need to keep income tax rates high.
*** UPDATE 1 *** From the Quinnsters…
Quinn for Illinois Statement on Rauner’s Budget Prank Today
Rauner’s Ploy Would Benefit Millionaires and Billionaires That Want to be Governor
CHICAGO - Following is a statement from Quinn for Illinois Communications Director Brooke Anderson in response to the Bruce Rauner budget prank released today:
“What Bruce Rauner released today is a giant prank on the public meant to hide the absence of any real plan to deal with the massive structural challenges facing Illinois.
“Gov. Quinn has cut wasteful spending and made the tough choices to pay the bills while Rauner tried to score political points from the sidelines.
“What Rauner released today is a collection of newspaper clippings and lesser versions of policies Gov. Quinn already has embraced, as the Governor has cut $5.7 billion in spending to date. In fact, as part of his current budget review, Governor Quinn is already evaluating the state’s plane usage.
“Gov. Quinn closed 50 state facilities, reformed Medicaid and enacted reforms that mean Illinois is actually spending less on operations than it did six years ago.
“Rauner’s prank today notably includes a grandstanding salary provision that would mean that only millionaires and billionaires could be Governor.
“Rauner has attempted to sabotage the real savings achieved by Gov. Quinn, whether it be real city and state pension reform, paying our bills and protecting homeowners from property tax increases.
“The question we are left with today after Rauner’s ploy is, ‘Where’s his real budget plan?’”
*** UPDATE 2 *** The official Rauner release just reached my in-box…
Rauner Unveils Government Reform Blueprint and Plan to Cut Wasteful Spending
- Outlines 10 Key Steps -
- Over $1 Billion in Savings -
Bruce Rauner today announced ten key steps needed to reform state government and eliminate wasteful spending as part of a series of policy initiatives he will continue to unveil in the coming weeks.
The proposals will form a Bring Back Blueprint that details the reforms needed to restructure state government so it can be run more effectively and efficiently, create an economic climate that will lead to more and better paying jobs, ensure a fair, pro-growth tax system and find the resources to invest in education.
Click HERE to download the Bring Back Blueprint: Government Reform and Cutting Government Waste.
Today’s reforms follow last week’s announcement by Bruce that the first major initiative he is pushing – legislative term limits – received official word from the state that it had enough signatures to be placed on the ballot.
“Pat Quinn spent five years preserving a broken system. His failure to act has Illinois stuck in a downward spiral that’s resulted in both a record tax hike and yet another phony budget,” Rauner said. “That’s why I’m laying out a series of structural reforms and savings that will transform our state.”
“From selling state planes to making sure chickens aren’t treated better than taxpayers, I’ll root out the waste,” Rauner added. “And I’ll reform broken and outdated systems of government. It’s time to shake things up.”
*** UPDATE 3 *** But, of course…
*** UPDATE 4 *** Commenter “Demoralized” sums it up well…
He identifies $60 million spent for correctional officer overtime as “savings” while at the same time saying more people should have been hired to prevent overtime. You aren’t going to save $60 million because you are going to spend a lot of that on new employees. […]
He identifies money at the Court of Claims as “waste” yet Court of Claims payments are for things owed by the state. I guess he’s for stiffing people what they are owed.
He says get rid of the state air fleet but doesn’t provide any analysis of the real savings because you will start to have to spend money on mileage reimbursement for individuals not taking the plane (not just the Governor uses the planes). He also says it only costs $65 to drive between Chicago and Springfield. It costs double that based on the current mileage reimbursement rate.
All of the audit issues he brings up with equipment aren’t savings. I have no idea how he comes to that conclusion.
As for the payments on Medicaid to deceased individuals that money has been recovered. No savings there either. I also have no idea in general how he comes up with $140 million in savings.
*** UPDATE 5 *** Rauner campaign spokesperson Mike Schrimpf.
“Only Pat Quinn would reject a billion dollars in cuts to wasteful spending and advocate raising taxes instead.”
See “Update 4″ for a pretty good response. Plus, half of those “savings” are from one agency, CMS, and his plan doesn’t even come close to specifying how he’d save $500 million. C’mon. This is so phoney.
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Question of the day
Thursday, Jun 12, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Reboot commissioned a new poll…
Conducted June 10 and 11 by pollster We Ask America, the survey below contains responses from 1,075 registered voters on the broadest question of the election: “If the election for Illinois governor were held today, for whom would you vote?”
Among all respondents, Rauner registered a 10-point lead (47-37, with 16 percent undecided). But Quinn had a commanding lead in Chicago, where his huge showing in 2010 helped him claim victory by a margin of less than 1 percent (46.79 percent to Bill Brady’s 45.94 percent; a difference of 31,834 votes).
“History teaches us to not make strong assumptions from these early polls,” said We Ask America CEO Gregg Durham. “Four years ago, Pat Quinn trailed Bill Brady by 10 points in August and fought his way back to win a close victory. Rauner’s lead in the collar counties and downstate is strong and may hold, but Cook County is the real battle ground.”
The poll shows Quinn leading 65-18 in Chicago, which is pretty darned good for Rauner. The Democrat trails the Republican 36-44 in suburban Cook, which is also pretty darned good.
* And, as we’ve already discussed, FiveThirtyEight gives Rauner a 75 percent chance of winning.
But Larry Sabato checked his crystal ball and rates the race a tossup…
Even though the Land of Lincoln is deep blue, Quinn is deeply vulnerable for many reasons, including recent allegations that an anti-violence initiative he started in 2010 is being investigated for possibly being a “political slush fund.” The GOP apparently chose wisely in its primary by selecting wealthy businessman Bruce Rauner, who is trying to position himself as the sort of outsider and moderate Republican that the state elected governor in the 1970s through the 1990s. […]
If Democrats can mobilize their large party base in Illinois and Connecticut, for instance, that alone would save Quinn and Malloy.
* The Question: What percentage chance of victory would you give Bruce Rauner? Make sure to explain your answer, please. Thanks.
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Furlough logic
Thursday, Jun 12, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Senate President John Cullerton defends eliminating legislative furlough days in the new state budget…
Cullerton defended the legislature’s decision to stop taking unpaid furlough days after five years. It will result in lawmakers collecting at least $3,100 more in salary next year.
The decision actually sprang from Quinn’s move last year to cut lawmaker salaries from the budget because they didn’t pass pension reform during the spring session. Cullerton and Madigan went to court saying Quinn couldn’t do that. Quinn’s lawyers argued it could be done because the legislature was already cutting its members’ salaries through furloughs.
The courts ruled against Quinn. Given that, Cullerton said, lawmakers couldn’t then turn around and continue unpaid furloughs.
I guess I see his point, but as long as Quinn signs the bill which includes making legislative salaries a continuing appropriation, furloughs probably won’t be an issue again.
* Related…
* Finke: Quinn veto budget? Not likely
* Lawmakers split on what to do with salary windfall - Springfield-area lawmakers are split on what they plan to do with a windfall pay raise they’ll see in the new budget year.
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AFL-CIO endorses Topinka over Simon
Thursday, Jun 12, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I told subscribers about this yesterday, and the Illinois AFL-CIO has now publicly revealed its 2014 general endorsements to the general public.
The most significant endorsement went to Republican Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka over Democrat Sheila Simon. Click here to see the full list.
Topinka was endorsed in the primary, but AFL-CIO leaders said at the time that they’d revisit the issue for the general. At the time, however, Simon slapped back at labor…
Simon was clearly stung by the show of support to her fall opponent, lashing out at the union brass and insisting she – not Topinka – carried the support of “rank and file working men and women across the state.”
“It’s not surprising that a small group of insiders endorsed Judy Baar Topinka behind closed doors – after their membership had already recommended no endorsement,” Simon spokesman Dave Mellet said.
That statement didn’t do her much good this week. Simon needed to prevent the AFL-CIO endorsement because those unions can give Topinka real money, which Simon doesn’t have. This is, therefore, a huge development in the race.
The state Fed also endorsed Gov. Pat Quinn, which isn’t much of a surprise.
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Those weren’t rumors
Thursday, Jun 12, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I hinted at this in comments on Tuesday and told subscribers about it yesterday. Bernie today…
Republican state Sen. SAM McCANN didn’t vote in the March 18 primary, Macoupin County election records show.
McCann, whose 50th Senate District represents part of Springfield, couldn’t be reached Wednesday, but the fact that he didn’t cast a ballot in March lends credence to the idea that he was already thinking of his almost-run for governor back then.
McCann on Tuesday issued a late-afternoon statement saying that, “despite rumors to the contrary,” he’s not running as an independent for governor.
But petitions with his name, and apparently his blessing, were being distributed.
Skipping the primary after enthusiastically endorsing Kirk Dillard, means that McCann planned this bid months ago. The “rumors” claim was completely bogus.
But his planning was spotty at best. He didn’t have a running mate’s name on his petitions, so he would’ve been tossed even if he gathered 25,000 valid signatures in a little over two weeks (another bad planning move on McCann’s part).
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“I can’t stand it, I know you planned it”
Thursday, Jun 12, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The governror accused Bruce Rauner of “sabotage” yesterday for working against various pension reform plans. Tribune…
“There’s always going to be people on the sidelines shooting at reforms,” Quinn said of Rauner. “He tried to sabotage the state pension reform, he tried to sabotage the city pension reform. The people in Illinois don’t want saboteurs.”
* The Trib also took a look at Rauner’s connection to the death of the Cook County pension reform plan…
Rauner’s campaign sent an e-mail to lawmakers saying the GOP standard bearer opposed the county plan. The memo also included comments from Illinois Republican Party Chairman Timothy Schneider, who Rauner backed for the statewide post he was elected to last month.
Schneider, a county commissioner from Streamwood, said Rauner staffers asked him if he had an opinion on the legislation. He said he told them he was opposed because it did not identify a way to pay for the almost $147 million more a year the county would be required to pay into the pension fund. They asked him if he “would comment on it.” Schneider said he agreed, and his statement was included in the e-mail. Schneider, however, said he did not personally discuss the issue with Rauner.
“An e-mail did go out that said I was not in favor of this bill unless there was a revenue source identified that was not a property tax or a sales tax,” Schneider said. “It turned out (Rauner) was opposed to it as well.”
Republican lawmakers echoed those concerns but argued they made up their own minds on the merits of the bill.
Yep. It’s all one big coinkydink.
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* Ed Michalowski has refiled his sexual harassment and political intimidation lawsuit against Treasurer Dan Rutherford. The new lawsuit adds the Mitt Romney presidential campaign as a defendant. Sun-Times…
The allegations, filed in a first amended complaint in federal court early Thursday, adds racketeering counts and political discrimination charges tied to the Romney campaign and the Rutherford campaign.
“Beginning in early spring 2011, however, Defendant Rutherford coerced and intimidated, implicitly and explicitly, Plaintiff into performing political work on behalf of the Rutherford Campaign,” the complaint alleges. “For example, Defendant Rutherford demanded that Plaintiff coordinate lunches or dinners with individuals whom Plaintiff was acquainted with, and solicit donations for the Rutherford Campaign from each individual.”
With regard to allegations involving the hiring of interns based on political clout, the lawsuit states:
“Defendant Rutherford hired only candidates whose connections would be useful to the Rutherford Campaign, regardless of the strength of their qualifications or whether other non‐politically connected candidates had superior credentials.”
* From the lawsuit…
At some point during February or March 2011, Defendant Rutherford informed Plaintiff that he had in fact been hired solely to perform political fundraising on behalf of the Rutherford Campaign.
Michalowski also claims that he was ordered to hire college students to collect petition signatures for the Romney campaign. The petition drive didn’t go well. Rutherford allegedly refused to pay the students and allegedly told Michalowski to pay the kids out of his own pocket or be fired.
As far as I could see, there was nothing in the lawsuit directly implicating the people who ran the national Romney campaign in the lawsuit. Rutherford was the candidate’s state chairman, so that’s the sole connection.
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Rauner to make “policy announcement”
Thursday, Jun 12, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* A first from the Rauner campaign…
Media Advisory: Bruce Rauner and Evelyn Sanguinetti to Make Policy Announcement
Gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner along with running mate Evelyn Sanguinetti will make a policy announcement today.
Event: Bruce Rauner and Evelyn Sanguinetti to Make Policy Announcement
Time: 12:30PM
Date: Thursday, June 12, 2014
Location: Courtyard Chicago Midway Airport — Stadium Room
6610 S Cicero Ave
Bedford Park, IL
Not sure if it’s relevant, but that hotel is in Speaker Madigan’s district.
Guesses?
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