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While we wait for the debate: PPP Poll has a one-point governor’s race

Wednesday, Oct 20, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* While we wait for the start of tonight’s 7 o’clock debate [click here for the ABC7 livestream], let’s take a quick look at the new Public Policy Polling poll….

42% Bill Brady
41% Pat Quinn
6% Scott Lee Cohen
1% Lex Green
3% Rich Whitney
6% Undecided

* I asked PPP to check Speaker Madigan’s fave/unfaves and they did…

Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Michael Madigan?
18% Favorable
52% Unfavorable
30% Not sure

Oof.

Methodology…

October 14-16, 2010 Survey of 557 likely voters. The survey’s margin of error is +/-4.2%.

* Please help us live-blog tonight’s debate in comments. Y’all did an excellent job last night. Let’s try it again. Click here for the livestream. The debate begins at 7 pm.

* 7:00 pm - And here we go…

* The Chicago Tribune’s Clout St. blog is also liveblogging. And IL Public Media is live-Tweeting. So is ABC7 and NBC5.

* Brady gets to early release, um, early in the debate. Just a quick mention, but a nice pivot.

* After months of ignoring Sen. Dan Kotowski’s budget reform proposal, Quinn has finally started using it in debates, including twice tonight. It also helps that Brady voted against the proposal - because it was attached to a budget bill.

The same goes for legislator furloughs, which Quinn just mentioned. It was in a budget-bill. Brady voted against the bill, so he voted against all that other stuff as well.

* LOL. Quinn has constantly used the phrase “perish the thought” whenever he mentions the possibility that Brady could be elected. Brady just said: “Governor, perish the thought that you’d tell the truth.” The man understands pivots. Very crucial in debates if people are watching.

* Brady: “Gov. Quinn has used the social issues to divide Illinois.”

* Andy Shaw: “Sen. Brady let me see if I can get an actual answer to the question.” Asks about social issues. Brady says he supports “parental notice,” 2nd Amendment. Tries to be as innocuous as possible.

* “Leaders lead, they don’t punt. Gov. Quinn has punted on issue like he has punted” on everything else, Brady said about death penalty reforms. He’s clearly getting the better of the guv.

* Brady again brings up the allegation that Illinois is deemed to be one of only 7 states to be in a recession. That was on MSNBC a while ago. I’ll be doing a fact check tomorrow on this.

* Quinn brings up George W. Bush and Brady’s support for him in yet another debate. Talks about rail car company that’s expanding and Groupon. Nippon and Groupon, if you’re keeping score at home.

* From Clout St…

Quinn claimed Brady voted against a bill that would have barred spouse abusers from having guns. Do not have a bill number to verify at this point.

So, I asked the Quinn campaign…

Brady Voted Against Denying Domestic Abusers Guns. Brady voted against a bill that required applicants for firearm owner’s ID cards to certify that they had not been convicted of domestic battery or similar offense. It also allowed the police to deny or revoke ID cards if the holder had been convicted of such crimes. [HB 127, Adoption, 92-22, 5/31/97]

There you go.

* Brady: “If you want an Illinois that looks more like an Indiana or a Tennessee…” vote for me. [Miller: Look, man, it’s not that I hate Indiana and Tennessee, but I don’t want to be like them.]

* Quinn shout-out to Lisa Madigan on how he’s working with her on transparency. LM is the most popular person in politics these days, so that can’t hurt. Also, third mention of Sen. Kotowski’s “budgeting for results” bill.

* Brady again brings up an audit. I wonder if anyone showed Quinn the quote from the auditor general about whether he knew what a “business audit” of the state would be. His response? “No.” Apparently not because Quinn didn’t mention it in his response. He used to read this blog. Maybe he’s just too busy now.

* Brady: “You’ve racked up record deficits and debt. $13 billion.” “Slashed” public safety. “I never said I’d slash Veterans Affairs.”

* From Ward Room…

“It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve cut $3 billion it’s still not true.”

* Quinn brings up the “drive through deliveries” bill that mandated more than 24 hours hospital time for new moms, but doesn’t explain it very well at all.

* It’s a good thing that this debate isn’t being watched by a majority of the voters or the guv would be toast.

Keep that in mind, by the way. We’re watching, but not a huge number of people are. This isn’t like a presidential debate.

* Brady: “Let me remind you, governor, that it was you who introduced the bill to cut education by a billion dollars.” Zing.

* Quinn now trying to explain those three Brady “conflict of interest” votes. Actually, it wasn’t much of a “try.” The governor doesn’t seem to know the specifics. Bizarre.

Brady brings up the AFSCME deal in response. “Ethically challenged?” he asks before each point, including “secret pay raises.”

* Moderator asks Brady to explain the votes. Brady glosses over them.

Quinn, however, still doesn’t explain what the three votes were, except to say they were published by the Tribune. For crying out loud, somebody tell the governor to read the gosh-darned Tribune story. Sheesh.

* If your Quinn drinking game word was “Groupon,” you’re plastered by now. Please, don’t comment. You might embarrass yourself.

* Clout St…

*Quinn has ripped Brady twice for not going to a campaign forum sponsored by an African-American advocacy group.

* Mike Flannery…

Brady offers lamest defense/explanation yet of 3 votes he cast in Genl Assembly to spend tax dollars to benefit his interests nr Champaign

Yeah, but Quinn’s explanation was even lamerster. (OK, my drinking game word was “budgeting for results,” so I may be getting a bit tipsy too.)

* Latina panelist Rebecca Sanchez asks Brady about a story I wrote for subscribers a few weeks ago regarding a fundraiser attended by two former Rod Blagojevich cronies. Brady says he doesn’t know what she’s speaking of. She says Juan Ochoa and Dean Martinez. Brady says they’re “good people.” Quinn points out that he fired Martinez. That ought to push the story into the mainstream if anyone is paying attention.

* Brady: “Governor, you didn’t even have the backbone to stand up to Mike Madigan and John Cullerton” on your own reform commission’s ideas.

* Quinn talks about companies “taking” jobs from Indiana and Missouring and “bringing them to Illinois.” This was in context of Brady not paying taxes, believe it or not.

* Quinn uses Bush again in his closing statement. From Clout St…

*Brady closing statement: Illinois is a crossroads, but we need new leadership. Quinn has run state into the ground the past two years. Jobs lost. If you want to continue down that path, vote for Pat Quinn. If you want a difference, lower taxes and more jobs, vote Brady.

*Quinn closing statement: He stabilized government on ethics when he took over. Blamed Bush killing economy. Said he’s creating jobs. Important to have a governor with a heart.

And it’s over.

Thoughts?

94 Comments

Put a smile on your face

Wednesday, Oct 20, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Everything always gets so serious and divisive this time of the year. It’s time for a little diversion.

Bob Sirott interviewed Gov. Pat Quinn the other day. Sirott is a laid-back interviewer, and Quinn picked up on the vibe. I’ve never seen the governor do this before, but it’s pretty darned funny…

Huh?

* Sirott also asked the governor about what could happen if he’s no longer in public service. Check it out…

Go Sox.

25 Comments

Berrios goes up, Walsh fires up the troops

Wednesday, Oct 20, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Joe Berrios is up with his new TV ad. It blasts Forrest Claypool for parking garages, pay raises and stuff, but, frankly, it’s so wordy and the announcer’s cadence is so odd at times that I’m not sure anyone will get it. I could be wrong, though. I’m kinda in a hurry these days and not paying really close attention to all these ads. Then again, neither are most people.

The spot ends with “Support the Democrat,” which is unusual for any ad this year, but Claypool is running as an independent, so that’s mainly what Berrios has going for him. Rate it…

…Adding… Republican congressional candidate Joe Walsh just sent out another weird e-mail to his network about tonight’s League of Women Voters candidates forum at Grayslake Central High School…

Dear Friends:

Get there early tonight. Ms. Bean may very well bus in people from outside of the district. We sure don’t want to miss that. Let’s be respectful, but let’s make sure that our voices are heard. Remember, this woman has been hiding from us and avoiding our questions for months. This “debate” will be rigged in her favor so let’s make it clear to her that she no longer represents us and needs to answer our questions. If not tonight, sometime before the election.

“This woman”?

I predict many breathless cell phone video posts on YouTube tonight.

24 Comments

PPP: Kirk over Giannoulias 42-40

Wednesday, Oct 20, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Public Policy Polling has just released its latest Illinois survey and finds Mark Kirk ahead of Alexi Giannoulias by two points 42-40. PPP’s last poll three weeks ago had Kirk ahead by four. From the pollster…

You would assume that for Mark Kirk to be running ahead as Republican in Illinois that he would be winning a good amount of crossover support from Democrats and that he would have a massive lead with independents. In reality he is doing neither of those things. He’s only getting 10% of the Democratic vote, about average for GOP candidates across the country this year. And he has just a 9 point advantage with independents, below average for what Republican Senate candidates across the country are getting. To put it into perspective when the GOP won another Senate seat this year in a state Obama won by 25 points- Massachusetts- their nominee took independent voters by a 32 point margin.

So how is Kirk ahead if he’s not doing those things? The final outcome in Illinois, perhaps more so than any other state in the country, is going to be determined by the ability of Democrats to mobilize their base in these final two weeks. We find that likely voters there only voted for Barack Obama by a 9 point margin in 2008, compared to his actual 25 point victory in the state. If what Democrats are dealing with on a national basis is an enthusiasm gap then what they’re facing in Illinois could perhaps be better described as an enthusiasm canyon. The only state where we see a bigger disparity between who voted in 2008 and who’s planning to vote this year is Obama’s native Hawaii.

The competitiveness of this race is completely predicated on paltry Democratic turnout. If that proves to be the case it’s about 50-50 as to who will win on election day with perhaps a small advantage for Kirk. If Democratic turnout exceeds current expectations there’s almost no doubt Giannoulias ends up as the winner.

Crosstabs are here. This is a relatively “old” poll since it was conducted Oct. 14-16, so some of these numbers are almost a week old.

Green Party nominee LeAlan Jones has 4 percent and Libertarian Mike Labno has 3 percent. 10 percent are undecided.

* Voters don’t like either of these guys…

Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Alexi Giannoulias?
35% Favorable
47% Unfavorable
18% Not sure

Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Mark Kirk?
35% Favorable
46% Unfavorable
19% Not sure

* And this is bad, bad news for Democrats…

Would you rather Democrats or Republicans held the majority in the next US Senate?
45% Democrats
46% Republicans
9% Not sure

Do you approve or disapprove of Barack Obama’s job performance?
45% Approve
51% Disapprove
4% Not sure

* Lots of undecided females…

* And LeAlan Jones is taking Democratic and black votes away from Giannoulias…

* The DSSC leaked a topline to Lynn Sweet yesterday showing Giannoulias leading Kirk 41-36. The pollster who shall not be named once again screwed up his numbers by using “some other candidate” instead of Libertarian Labno. Stupidity.

17 Comments

Kirk campaign held “Bejing fundraiser” day before tax loophole vote

Wednesday, Oct 20, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Congressman Mark Kirk’s US Senate campaign has been plagued by strange internal leaks for months. And now we have one that includes a plan for a “Bejing fundraiser,” which was held the day before a House vote to close tax loopholes for companies that send jobs out of the country.

The latest leak is the internal agenda of a mid-May Kirk campaign finance meeting. Click here to read it. [Fixed link.]

The memo is chock full of interesting stuff, including his overall fundraising goals, regional goals, out-of-state goals, individual fundraiser event goals, targeted contributors, info about how much Kirk’s entire finance committee had raised to date, PAC goals, etc.

It even has a list of how the campaign’s Internet and e-mail fundraising was doing. According to the memo, the campaign had raised $423,687 by May via all its Internet/e-mail activities. Kirk’s website was bringing in the most, with $294,744. An ad on Drudge, on the other hand, brought in just $50.

* But then there was a curious item. If you can’t read the calendar, click the pic for a larger image…

Pay close attention to the May 27th event: Bejing FR. “FR” is a standard campaign abbreviation for “fundraiser.”

* The Kirk campaign says that the candidate held a “Skype” fundraising meeting with American businesspeople in Bejing, China. I’m told that 12 people participated in the event.

FEC records show that Geoffrey Enck contributed $1,000 to Kirk that day. Enck is the CEO of ITI China Holdings. One of the things the company does is investment banking for Chinese manufacturing plants.

* And then the next day, Kirk voted “No” on a bill to close a tax loopholes that would prevent companies from “using current U.S. foreign tax credit rules to subsidize their foreign activities .”

Now, it’s not like the contributions from Americans doing business in China likely swayed Kirk much. Just about every Republican voted against that bill. And the Kirk campaign points to a story from 2008 about the Obama campaign sending people to China for fundraisers.

But Kirk co-chairs the China Congressional Working Group, and he’s taken heat several times for his ties to the nation. He infamously told Chinese officials that US budget numbers shouldn’t be believed, for instance. Kirk opposed legislation on Chinese currency manipulation.

“When you hear Congressman Kirk talk about job creation, he’s talking about jobs he created in China,” has been a standard line from Alexi Giannoulias this year. And while the campaign fundraiser looks legal, there are plenty of American businesses over there who are, indeed, exporting jobs to that country.

* The internal Kirk campaign leaks have been embarrassing. There was the leaked memo about how Kirk would like to have Sarah Palin’s support. There was the “source with connections to the Kirk campaign” leaking the Navy’s memo about his “partisan political activities during his last two tours of active duty.” Last week, Politico reported on another internal e-mail about how Kirk was worried he’d be “the next moderate victim.” And then there was the Republican-only conference call during which Kirk bragged about his “voter integrity” program that would focus on African-American areas that ArchPundit got ahold of.

You really have to wonder what’s going on over there.

* Roundup…

* Kirk’s Senate campaign troubled by embellishment: Kirk exaggerated his role in the [”Bridge to Nowhere’s”] demise, illustrating a proclivity for embellishment that appears to go beyond run-of-the-mill political puffery. The U.S. Senate contest with Democrat Alexi Giannoulias is the first statewide campaign for the five-term congressman, and the increased exposure and scrutiny have introduced Illinois voters to two Mark Kirks.

* Crossroads puts in $4M more: Crossroads GPS will spend about $1.18 million across Illinois and in the St. Louis market on behalf of GOP Rep. Mark Kirk, who trails Democrat Alexi Giannoulias in recent polls by slim margins.

* GOP Trouble On The Last Frontier: In Illinois, the NRSC dished out $825,000 on ads on Tuesday, the same day that Rep. Mark Kirk (R) and Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (D) faced off in a debate.

* “Half True” Mark Kirk campaign ads say Alexi Giannoulias lost $73 million in our kids’ college savings

* Dems ask black voters to help ‘our president’

* Giannoulias To Kirk: ‘You’re Trying To Suppress The African-American Vote’

* Kerry stumps for Senate hopeful Giannoulias

* Stumping in Illinois, Kerry denounces GOP tactics

* John Kerry stumps for Illinois Senate hopeful

* U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin lends support to fellow Dems

* Kirk says ‘We have to be the party of better’

* Alexi Giannoulias to Mark Kirk: ‘Were you shot at?’

* Senate debate focuses on character

* Gloves Come Off In Senate Candidate Debate

* Kirk, Giannoulias cast differences in relief

* Kirk, Giannoulias hit on social, economic points

* Kirk, Giannoulias dodge tough questions in debate

* Mark Kirk, Alexi Giannoulias Offer Ideas, Sling Mud in Second Debate

* Political Wisdom: Nasty Illinois Senate Race Equals Nasty Debate

* Kirk, Giannoulias Run As Fiscal Conservatives In Debate

* Illinois Senate seat foes get rugged in broadcast debate

* Kirk, Giannoulias Spar in Illinois Senate Debate, but No Knockout Blows

* Candidates Square Off for Obama’s Old Seat

* U.S Senate Candidates Get Personal in Debate

* Heated Debate in Illinois Between Democrat Alexi Giannoulias and Republican Mark Kirk

* Rivals for Obama’s Senate Seat Keep Up Attacks

51 Comments

*** UPDATED x2 *** Afternoon videos

Wednesday, Oct 20, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* You’ve seen this ad before about the rape victim, but Personal PAC is set to announce that they’re putting it on the Chicago morning shows. They’re spending $100K so far, and hope to raise $150K more. Refresh your memory…

* The US Chamber tries to finish off Democratic incumbent Debbie Halvorson…

* Bill Foster whacks Randy Hultgren again…

* The Mark Kirk campaign dressed some guy in a shark costume yesterday…

*** UPDATE *** Um, dudes, the next time you hire a guy to wear a goofy shark suit, make sure he has a sign that correctly spells the word “Miami.” I mean, how hard can this be? From a reader…

*** UPDATE *** Dan Seals vs. Bob Dold on WTTW last night…

Watch the full episode. See more Chicago Tonight.

21 Comments

Question of the day

Wednesday, Oct 20, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Greg Hinz asks: “Does Groupon need state aid?“…

Chicago’s Groupon, one of the web’s fastest-growing companies ever, got a $3.5-million aid package today from the state of Illinois, land of the $13-billion budget deficit. Was this really necessary?

Both the state and the company are insisting yes. The 250 new workers to be hired at the daily dealmakers’ Chicago headquarters under the financial package announced by Gov. Pat Quinn could instead have been moved to one of the company’s other offices.

For instance, Groupon President and Chief Operating Officer Rob Solomon told reporters that in a competitive market, with other states seeking Groupon jobs, the company did consider other locales.

“We thank Gov. Quinn and the state of Illinois for putting together an incentive package that allows us to further expand our workforce,” he said.

Said Mr. Quinn, “We want to keep ‘em here. It’s a competitive environment.”

The amount of money actually is relative peanuts — and fairly routine — divided into job-training and tax credits that are offered to many employers. But with state finances this low, you have to ask.

* The Question: Despite the massive loss of jobs in Illinois, is this too far or is it prudent?

51 Comments

Newt to rally with Brady; Plus: Our sorry budget mess

Wednesday, Oct 20, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I’m not sure this is the type of character you wanna be hanging out with right before an election…

Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich will attend a rally Friday in Collinsville for Illinois Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady.

* Meanwhile, Eric Zorn takes a look at the budget mess…

The annual state budget is about $51 billion. But about half of that isn’t under the direct control of the governor or the General Assembly. […]

The general fund is the pool of money — about $25 billion for the next fiscal year — that we draw on to pay for education, public safety and health and human services, plus a few minor odds and ends. […]

But $25 billion really isn’t the starting point for a governor who wants to cut the budget. About $6 billion of that comes directly from the federal government. And somewhere around $9 billion is money we have to spend on education and Medicare in order to get the full amount of the federal funding. That leaves from $10 billion to $13 billion, according to various estimates, at which lawmakers can swing their axes.

In other words, that’s pretty much the entire deficit. Also, as Zorn reminds his readers, Bill Brady then wants to cut taxes by a billion dollars.

Zorn’s editorial board ought to read his entire piece before writing again about their pie in the sky ideas.

* Meanwhile, Brady repeated his claim that a “business audit” that took two to three months could help him figure out where to cut…

Asked whether the number of layoffs would number in the hundreds or thousands, Brady reiterated that he hopes that trimming the state workforce - which already has the fewest employees per capita in the nation - can be done by not replacing workers who leave or retire.

“We don’t know who’s employed where, what’s necessary, what’s not necessary,” Brady said.

I asked Auditor General Bill Holland if he knew what a “business audit” of state government would actually entail. His reply: “No.”

* Speaking of the budget, Stateline is doing a series on states paying their bills late. Here is yesterday’s installment…

On weekday afternoons when schools let out in Humboldt Park, a predominantly Puerto Rican neighborhood on Chicago’s West Side, dozens of children, ages 6 to 16, head to a community center known as the Youth Service Project. When they arrive at the center’s activity rooms, the children must do their homework first. Then they’re allowed to play, read books about sharks, throw balls at each other or just hang out with friends.

It’s a safe place in a neighborhood troubled by gang violence. Two years ago, two participants at the Youth Service Project were killed, and two more were injured, in the fighting. The youth at the center, which runs an arts education program, responded to the deaths by painting an indoor mural of their memories of that summer’s events. It shows a SWAT team van, a church cross against a blue sky and a funeral home — although the center’s staff, fearing that the funeral home would be a distressing image for the kids to see every day, have moved a bookshelf in front of it.

The center plays an important role in the life of Humboldt Park. Indeed, the state of Illinois, which provides 95 percent of the Youth Service Project’s funding, expects the center to provide all of the services under its contract. The catch is that, with all the state’s fiscal troubles lately, no one knows when the state will actually hand over that money.

In the past, the center has had to wait a month or two to get paid. This year, the center went six months without receiving a single check from the state. To get by, the center exhausted its line of credit, cut back on services and laid off seven of its 32 staff members. Only half as many children were able to take advantage of the Youth Service Project’s programs as did two years ago.

Today’s is about higher education…

Disruptive as California’s delinquency has been to higher education, Illinois’ backlog of unpaid bills is creating worse problems. Illinois lawmakers this year passed an unbalanced budget that does not bring in enough revenue to cover expenditures. Cash flow is so crimped that as of the end of September, the state of Illinois owed its community colleges and universities close to $600 million. That’s more than one-third of the state’s entire budget for higher ed.

* And Brady calls Speaker Madigan a “dictator” but says he thinks Madigan trusts him…

Bill Brady, the Republican candidate for governor, said Tuesday he was ready to work with Democrats on pension reform and other controversial issues if elected, adding he thinks powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan “is looking for a leader … that he can trust” to lead the state.

“And I think Mike Madigan trusts me,” Brady told The Pantagraph editorial board.

At one point, Brady called Madigan, who has been speaker almost continuously since 1983, a “dictator,” but also said the Chicago Democrat “has a lot of respect for an effective governor.”

“We saw it with Edgar,” said Brady, referring to Jim Edgar, the Republican who served two terms as governor in the 1990s and who has endorsed Brady. “And I’m not a clone of Edgar, but I do think you can learn things from that success.”

If Brady wins and Madigan holds onto the House, this will be a fascinating battle. Madigan’s more liberal members will want an all-out revolt, but he’s never been all that fond of funding bureaucrats, so the Speaker may just give Brady all the rope he wants.

64 Comments

*** UPDATED x1 *** Congressional roundup: Hare trails by 7, Foster down by 1, Seals whacks Dold

Wednesday, Oct 20, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The DCCC has spent $360K on Congressman Phil Hare, according to Hotline on Call. Hare will need every dollar he can get. The Hill’s new poll has him trailing Republican Bobby Schilling by seven points…

Rep. Phil Hare (D-Ill.) is in trouble. He ran unopposed in 2008, but this cycle he trails the GOP candidate, Tea Party favorite Bobby Schilling, by seven points — 38 percent to Schilling’s 45 — and 14 percent of likely voters are undecided, according to The Hill 2010 Midterm Election Poll.

Perhaps even more troubling, 50 percent of independent voters support Schilling, while only 29 percent support Hare. Also among independents, 45 percent had a negative view of Hare, while only 18 percent had a negative view of Schilling, who’s never run for office and owns a pizza restaurant.

President Obama carried this district, and 57 percent of independents gave the president low marks.

Meanwhile, Hare trails by 17 points among male voters, while he only leads by two points among female voters. Schilling has a 20-point lead among middle-aged voters. Hare wins younger and older voters by a small margin.

Meanwhile, 95 percent of Republicans said they definitely will vote, while 84 percent of Democrats said the same.

And 38 percent of voters said Obama has brought change to Washington “for the worse,” while 25 percent said it was “for the better” and 34 percent said nothing has changed.

* Here’s a brutal NRCC ad attacking Hare…

*** UPDATE *** From the Hare campaign…

Had the National Republican Campaign Committee bothered to watch Congressman Hare’s complete statement, they would have understood he was clearly saying that we must invest in local communities to keep teachers and firefighters on the job. The myth Hare referred to is that you can’t spend at all during periods of debt. Hare even points out several budget offsets that could pay for these investments like ending tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires and subsidies to the oil industry–offsets Republicans like Schilling refuse to support.

Watch the full video in context here.

Associated Press says clip is out of context: “But add a little context and it becomes clear that Hare was not denying the debt exists. He was calling it a myth that the debt means the federal government can’t spend money on important programs.”

[ *** End Of Update *** ]

* The NRCC’s latest poll has Schilling leading Hare 44-41.

* Hotline on Call also reports that the DCCC has spent $366K recently on Congressman Bill Foster. The Hill poll has Foster trailing Randy Hultgren by one point…

Rep. Bill Foster (D-Ill.) is in a tough battle for his district. He trails Republican Randy Hultgren by one point, 42 percent to 43, with 12 percent of likely voters undecided, according to The Hill 2010 Midterm Election Poll. […]

The poll found 26 percent of likely voters weren’t familiar with Hultgren, compared with 11 percent who didn’t know Foster. And 27 percent of independents said they weren’t familiar with Hultgren. […]

Among independent voters, 45 percent favor Foster, 39 percent favor Hultgren and 13 percent are undecided. Younger voters and female voters are leaning toward Foster, while Hultgren is popular among male and older voters.

President Obama carried this district, but 45 percent of voters said they disapproved of the job he’s doing. And 71 percent said the president would be a factor in their 2010 decision.

When asked about the change Obama brought to Washington, 35 percent said he brought change “for the worse,” 30 percent said he brought change “for the better” and 31 percent said nothing has changed.

* The Democrats are unleashing a double-barreled attack on Republican congressional candidate Bob Dold. Both ads hit him for being pro-life in a pro-choice district. Dold claims he’s pro-choice, but Planned Parenthood begs to differ. First up, Democrat Dan Seals’ ad, which claims that Dold is “hiding who he is”…

* The DCCC’s ad says “Robert Dold has been careful about what he shows us” and goes on to say he is “backed” by the Illinois Federation for Right to Life. Actually, the group “recommended” Dold in the primary. Watch…

According to Hotline on Call, the DCCC has spent $631,000 on Seals.

* Roundup…

* 3Q House Fundraising Reports Roundup

* Durbin Stumps Downstate With Hare

* New 10th District ads have very different messages

* Kinzinger, Halvorson in 11th District showdown

* Area mayors endorse Rep. Halvorson

* Polls: Tight race in 14th Congressional District

* Hare and Shilling Debate in Springfield

* US House Candidates Debate in Springfield

* U.S. Rep. Shimkus: ‘I feel I need to be there’

28 Comments

Morning Shorts

Wednesday, Oct 20, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* New Report: Health Effects from Chicago Coal Plants Costing Millions

The Environmental Law and Policy Center says the health effects of the Fisk and Crawford coal plants in the Pilsen and Little Village neighborhoods are adding up.

Howard Learner is the Environmental Law and Policy Center’s executive director.

He says new research shows the pollution has caused about $750 million to $1 billion in health and related damages over the last eight years.

* Tate & Lyle will move a portion of its Decatur operations to Hoffman Estates

The company anticipates roughly 80 people will be relocated as a result of the move that will cost the company up to $58 million to make, Tate & Lyle spokesman Chris Olsen said. An additional 40 positions in Decatur will be eliminated in 12 months, he said. […]

City officials in recent months have tried to persuade Tate & Lyle to stay in Decatur. At first, they thought hundreds of jobs could be in jeopardy. Tate & Lyle has been Decatur’s third-largest corporate employer.

Decatur Mayor Mike McElroy said he thought some jobs were saved as a result of the work that was done.
“I do know that it could have been more,” McElroy said. “Through the hard work of several people, they certainly brought that number down from what we had been told originally.”

The Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County assisted the city in presenting its incentive package. Some of the incentives are still being discussed but include job training assistance, enterprise zone and qualified work force packages, in addition to infrastructure and environmental considerations, said Craig Coil, president of the organization.

* Tate & Lyle Moves Jobs Out of Decatur

* Tate & Lyle Opening New Building In Hoffman Estates

* Adam Brown’s Statement On Tate & Lyle

* Mayor backs top cop in brutality investigation

Daley told reporters that a “young person was handcuffed and . . . police officers watched it and someone went over and punched him in the jaw. The superintendent immediately suspended [them] — all . . . who watched it and the individual [who] punched the individual who was handcuffed.”

A source close to the officers said Tuesday that the suspect had tried to spit on the sergeant, who “moved” the suspect’s face to avoid getting hit with saliva.

* Daley defends Weis’ decision to strip cops’ police powers

* Dart plans to halt foreclosure evictions — again

Dart, who is mulling a run for Chicago mayor, said he won’t carry out evictions by three banks that have admitted questionable foreclosure practices until they can provide proof that their evictions are legal.

Dart said he plans to halt hundreds of evictions starting Monday unless the lenders — Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and Ally Financial Inc.’s GMAC unit — can provide sworn statements that “everything was done properly.”

* Cook Sheriff Dart stops foreclosure evictions again

* Brown: Halting evictions will just delay the inevitable

* Schmich: Ollie’s death marks Cabrini’s end

When the history of Cabrini-Green is written, the murder of Ollie will mark the day Cabrini really died.

Ollie’s full name was Bassam Naoum, and since Saturday night, when he was shot to death in one of his two small stores, he’s all anyone in Cabrini seems to be talking about. […]

Early Parker, who’s 66, was playing chess over by the Cabrini row houses a little after 9 on Saturday night when somebody ran past and said somebody got shot.

Over on Orleans. At Munchies. It was Ollie, Parker’s boss. Shot repeatedly. In the back.

* CHA Residents Want Lathrop Homes to Remain Affordable

CHA wants Lathrop to be a community of public, affordable and market-rate housing. The surrounding Lathrop neighborhood, off of the Chicago River, has condos and retail activity.

* Federal Judge Suspends CPS Recall Plan for Teachers

* Sun-Times Media cuts more than dozen news, business staffers

Four editorial jobs were cut at the Chicago Sun-Times on Tuesday, four at the weekly Pioneer Press papers since Friday and two at the daily Lake County News-Sun of Waukegan in the past two weeks, said Lynne Stiefel, president of the Chicago Newspaper Guild, the union that represents employees at those papers.

* Sun-Times Jim Tyree Diagnosed With Cancer

* Tribune’s top exec poised to resign

* Tribune CEO Michaels still on the job, despite speculation

* Tribune CEO on job despite reports he would quit, be fired

* Time Out Chicago names Ivy Lester new publisher

* 2nd teen pleads guilty in deaths of former CLTV host’s parents

Reo Jonta Thompson, 18, pleaded guilty to two counts of felony murder in the abduction and shooting deaths of Hammond residents Milton McClendon, 78, and Ruby McClendon, 76.

Thompson, 18, admitted he and co-defendant Gregory Brooks Jr., 19, of Hammond, fatally shot the couple and left their bodies in a Cook County Forest Preserve after abducting them at gunpoint from their home one year ago Monday.

* Former Rezko partner gets 3 years probation

* Rezko Associate Gets Probation, Pay $2.3M

* Carla Oglesby Files for Unemployment

* Kadner: Township school trustees keep legal bills coming

Two of those school districts are suing the township school board, which educates no one. It basically hires the school treasurer to invest money. That’s it.

Joseph Bertrand Jr. was elected to the township school board in April 2007, but other board members refused to seat him - citing an obscure section of state law that prohibits two board members from representing the same school district.

Bertrand filed a lawsuit and won his seat, and the board spent more than $200,000 fighting that lawsuit.

* With recall looming, Stone holds court at BG meeting

Stone used whatever time was available to her to talk about her pet issue, the Land and Lakes Landfill, again accusing Village President Elliott Hartstein of a cover-up involving an alleged altered e-mail by former Village Manager William Brimm concerning the site.

* Will County Board: Taxes likely won’t increase

* Property tax rate stays flat in Bartlett

* Oswego school board votes for 3rd high school

* Oswego keeps its tax levy in line with what it was last year

* Council OKs Park’s Edge annexation

* Rochelle to be home to $35M plant for commuter railcars

* Friday negotiations seek to prevent East Moline police layoffs

* Galesburg aldermen oppose raising taxes

* Henry Alderman’s unpaid taxes raise questions

* Peoria Councilman’s wife gets order of protection

* Peoria Council endorses budget plan

Fifteen firefighter and 13 police officer positions remained cut from the preliminary 2011 budget after the City Council voted 9-1 Tuesday to endorse the administration’s proposed operations budget for next year.

The proposed cuts, if they stand, could potentially result in the closure of a fire station, according to the city’s fire chief and union president.

* Work may begin this year on wind farm north of B-N

The farm, which will bring up to 223 wind turbines over 37,800 acres in Lexington, Lawndale, Chenoa and Yates townships, won final approval from the McLean County Board Tuesday.

* McLean County Board removes Nuckolls from committees

Nuckolls, who did not attend the County Board meeting, is facing misdemeanor charges of domestic battery and interfering with reporting of domestic violence and a felony count of unlawful restraint. Under state law, he cannot be removed from the board unless he is found guilty or pleads guilty to a felony charge.

* Heartland OKs $1.7M bond sale

* Richland issuing bonds to pay for maintenance; state remains behind in payments

* Ex-city officer to be sentenced in Ill. shooting

* Congressmen: There will be a levee meeting

Campaigning is a top priority until Nov. 2, but U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Belleville, said Tuesday he hopes to schedule an initial meeting sometime in November. He, U.S. Rep. John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, would attend and share information on how to address problems.

“Initially, we hope to get the levee district officials together with the Corps of Engineers, FEMA, local officials, state, county and other agencies,” Costello said.

* Johnston City May Cut Jobs To Keep Insurance

* Rahm Lays Out School Reform Ideas

* Emanuel shows fundraising edge, but tough battle ahead in Chicago

* Dart Still Coy on Run for Mayor

* Daily Herald: Cook County sheriff: Dart

* Daily Herald: Cook County clerk: Orr

* Preckwinkle piles up cash in Cook County Board president contest

* Claypool outraising Berrios in Cook County assessor’s contest

* Southtown Star: Gorman for Cook County 17th District

* Daily Herald: Cook County Board: Keats

* Daily Herald: DuPage County, District 1: Puchalski

* Daily Herald: DuPage County, District 2: Redick

* Daily Herald: DuPage County, District 3: Krajewski

* Daily Herald: DuPage County, District 4: McBride

* Daily Herald: Kane County Sheriff: Perez

* Daily Herald: Kane County clerk: Cunningham

* Daily Herald: Kane County treasurer: Rickert

* Daily Herald: Lake County sheriff: Curran

* Daily Herald: Lake County Clerk: Helander

* Daily Herald: Lake Regional Schools Superintendent: McDermott

* At least three Arlington Heights trustees will run in April

6 Comments

Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition

Wednesday, Oct 20, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

Wednesday, Oct 20, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Tonight’s US Senate debate

Tuesday, Oct 19, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I’m not sure I’ll be liveblogging much of the US Senate debate tonight at 7 because it’s a League of Women Voters debate. That means it’ll be stiffly controlled with no real follow-ups. The League and ABC7 sponsored the absolute worst debates of the primary and I don’t think it’ll be much better tonight. I hope I’m wrong.

Anyway, you can watch the debate live by clicking here.

Help everyone out by live-blogging in comments if you can Here are a couple of videos to start things going. First, a new TV ad running Downstate by Working For Us PAC. Rate it…

Our next video is debate-related, but not Illinois-related. I don’t usually post out-of-state stuff, but you really should watch this one…

* 7:05 pm - Basically, they both just said that if you like the way things are going, then vote for the other guy.

* Kirk had an effective attack for once on Giannoulias over the military issue. “In the rear with the gear.” Kirk claimed Giannoulias has based his entire campaign on Kirk’s service, while Giannoulias never served. Kirk, of course, avoided the questions about his embellishments, but it was a decent pivot.

* Twice Kirk was asked what was wrong with the tea party. Twice he completely avoided the question, more so than Giannoulias, who somewhat avoided the two questions on what he would advice the president to do differently.

* Ah, a little news. Kirk finally admitted that he can’t vote for the DREAM Act right now because “it’s not the time.” Kirk said the border situation and Mexico’s situation and everything else is just too bad right now to move forward with that bill.

Giannoulias, however, claims Kirk didn’t answer the question. He actually did, but Kirk certainly buried it under lots of rhetoric.

* “Voter integrity” program question from Charles Thomas to Kirk. Asks Kirk whether the program is not targeted at African-Americans. Kirk says it’s not because, he says, Metro East is 85 percent non African-American. Said he supported Giannoulias for saying he’d respond with his own voter integrity program.

Giannoulias hits back, and presses Kirk over where the voter fraud was on the South and West sides of Chicago. Kirk can’t do so. Giannoulias overreached, however by saying there had “never” been voter fraud there. “Never” is a long time back.

* Stephanopoulos: “Throw away the script” on creating jobs. Giannoulias sticks to the script: “Focus on education.” Kirk not only doesn’t throw away the script, he looks at his notes.

* Kirk said he favors opening up the books on these non-profits that are spending so much money on TV ads throughout the country. Giannoulias blasts Kirk for benefiting from them, mentioning Karl Rove twice.

* Giannoulias has said several times that Kirk won’t answer the questions, but Kirk does appear to be answering the questions - quickly, no doubt, and then moving along to something else - but he is mostly offering up answers. I just received an e-mail from Giannoulias’ campaign claiming that Kirk didn’t answer the DREAM Act question. He did.

* George Stephanopoulos just asked a truly idiotic question. Should Anita Hill apologize to Clarence Thomas? Um, what? Kirk was right to say that was long ago and then pivot to qualifications for justices.

Giannoulias rightly blows off Stephanopoulos’ goofy Anita Hill question as well. This is why we should keep DC people out of Illinois debates. What a crock.

* Thank goodness that is over. Painful to watch. Stephanopoulos was the biggest loser with that unbelievably stupid Anita Hill question. Hey, George, it’s 2010. You wanna refight Vietnam, too? Giannoulias showed once again that he is Policy Lite, if that. Kirk the wonk, but painful to listen to for some reason. I’ve never quite been able to put my finger on that one.

135 Comments

GOP chairman lashes out at Quinn, but is working with a “birther”

Tuesday, Oct 19, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Another silly press release…

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady today released the following statement in response to Pat Quinn’s comments last night at the Heartland Cafe in Chicago.

Quinn said, “We cannot allow the right wing, all of those people on cable TV who don’t wish the President any good at all. They’re a bunch of haters…”

Pat Brady: “I can understand Pat Quinn’s frustration that he has failed at his job as governor, but to start blaming conservatives who question the President or who care deeply about how to solve Illinois’ $13 billion deficit is the height of arrogance. They’re not haters, Governor. They’re citizens, they’re people, and they’re voters.”

If you listen to the audio from the GOP tracker, the rest of the Quinn quote is “They’re a bunch of haters, a lot of them, on those TV shows.” Audio…

Quinn wasn’t talking about Illinois citizens upset about Quinn’s many failures or the state’s horrific budget deficit. The governor was talking about the cable TV goofballs, who don’t even live here. Personally, I can’t bear to watch cable “news,” whether it’s Fox or MSNBC. Shrill haters all. It creeps me out after about 2 minutes. It’s just a vast wasteland of hate.

* And speaking of haters…

Together with a conservative political action committee, the state GOP has teamed up with an infamous anti-Obama birther who’s helped to recruit tea party activists to oversee the vote as official poll workers and independent poll watchers […]

This effort has placed [state GOP chairman Pat Brady] in league with one of the tea party movement’s more unusual characters. The project’s coordinator, Sharon Meroni, is an infamous anti-Obama birther who filed objections against 32 Illinois candidates for failing to provide adequate documentation of their citizenship.

Meroni, who blogs under the pseudonym “Chalice Jackson,” also helped launch a petition demanding Obama’s resignation for “high crimes and misdemeanors.” “Who truly would have believed…that there was ANY chance America could be in the hands of a usurper government?” she wrote in another court filing to contest Obama’s citizenship, which the McHenry County Grand Jury dismissed. Meroni is now helping to select the election judges—as official poll workers are called in Illinois—and poll watchers that the joint project will dispatch on Election Day.

* Doug Ibendahl has more on Meroni…

Meroni (who blogs under the name “Chalice Jackson”) went into a McHenry County court in late 2009 seeking to challenge the citizenship of Barack Obama. Her website has some similar themes.

However I had never heard of her until this summer when she filed 31 frivolous objections against the petitions of independent and new party candidates…. Meroni didn’t care about the number of petition signatures or any of the other claims made in the typical petition challenge. Meroni instead wanted every candidate to produce a birth certificate.

* And the Illinois Republican Party has apparently scrubbed its website of its ballot integrity program…

But the [IL GOP] was apparently inadvertently too candid on its own website about the efforts, and has since scrubbed the earlier references to the RNLA’s training program. Also scrubbed: the party chair’s statement that “ballot integrity will be a key ingredient to our success.”

Sheesh.

53 Comments

Another Quinn flip-flop and other weirdness

Tuesday, Oct 19, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* As usual, give him a few days and Gov. Pat Quinn will flip-flop on his tax hike plan. The truth is, he doesn’t really have a plan. From Crains…

Monday, Mr. Quinn suggested that part of the (income tax hike) proceeds would go to cut local property taxes for schools, but much of the $3 billion left after that would be used to replace existing state aid to education — thereby providing indirect budget relief.

“A great deal of it” would be used as an offset for existing state aide, Mr. Quinn said at one point. But at another, he said things like, “We want to invest in education and low property taxes.”

In other words, Quinn’s “education surcharge” is basically the infamous Lottery scam under a different name.

Man, I’m really getting tired of these flip-flops.

* In other weird education-related news, the IEA’s latest anti Bill Brady Internet video is a bit on the creepy side…

* Unclear on the concept…

Senate Bill 3146 would circumvent the village’s home rule authority, which means the state would control Arlington Park’s slot machine operations.

No. The home rule circumvention means that the town couldn’t stop the slot machines from being placed at the track. The Gaming Board will have control of the slots, just like at the casinos.

* The Palatine Tea Party sent me an e-mail this afternoon saying this radio ad will be playing statewide. I put it on YouTube so you could listen easier…

It’s supposed to be a “get out the vote” ad, but I’m not sure that thing’s gonna motivate anybody. Whew. Somebody got ripped off.

* First came the tracker videos, now comes the oppo dump on a tea party candidate…

Eighth Congressional candidate Joe Walsh bills himself as an average Joe who, like many, fell victim to hard times when his Evanston condominium was foreclosed upon last year. […]

Yet, court records show Walsh had state and federal liens for unpaid taxes long before the recession began in 2007. […]

Starting in 1992, Walsh was handed several liens for failing to pay state and federal income taxes, together totaling nearly $25,000, according to records from the Cook County Recorder of Deeds.

The first lien, in June 1992, was for failing to pay $2,239 in federal income taxes.

In June 1994, Walsh was handed a lien for failing to pay $21,566 in federal income taxes, some going as far back as 1985. Six months later, the state placed another lien for Walsh’s failure to pay $778 in state income taxes. He eventually paid them off and the last lien cleared in 2001.

Oops.

* The most breathless press release of the season is from Republican Joel Pollak’s campaign this morning…

In a speech last night at the Heartland Cafe in Rogers Park,incumbent Jan Schakowsky urged fellow Democrats to intimidate voters into supporting her and other candidates:

“All around the country, people are trying to replicate what we do in Chicago. They–we have a tradition of knockin’ on doors, of pulling people out–you know, people, they talk about ‘message’ and ‘persuasion.’ Here’s our message: ‘I don’t get off your doorstep until you get out to the polls and vote.’ That’s our message! That’s our message!”

Schakowsky is explicitly encouraging Democrats to commit the crime of intimidation.

Yeah. OK.

* Speaking of Schakowsky, the Teaparazzi failed to even get an acknowledgement of their presence the other day. Watch…

* Scott Lee Cohen’s latest targeted mailer clumsily features a Menora…

The guy is doing a ton of mail and nobody’s covering him.

* And, finally, the Jeff Tobolski for Cook County Board campaign is claiming that the Tony Peraica folks are attaching a nasty sticker to their yard signs…

49 Comments

Question of the day

Tuesday, Oct 19, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Mark Kirk and Alexi Giannoulias are squaring off tonight at 7 on ABC7. George Stephanopoulos is co-moderating.

* The Question: What as yet unanswered question(s) would you like to see each of these candidates answer?

Try to post questions for both, please. Thanks.

26 Comments

Big money and Chuck’s bus trip

Tuesday, Oct 19, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Last night at midnight was the deadline to file campaign finance pre-election reports, covering July 1 through October 3rd. As I told subscribers, the Tribune and I have different numbers for Bill Brady and Pat Quinn…

Republican Bill Brady has raised more than $9.3 million from July through Monday in his bid to become governor, edging out Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn, who has collected $8.7 million.

About $4.1 million of Brady’s take has come from the Republican Governors Association, which is betting big that Brady can defeat Quinn on Nov. 2.

The fundraising pace has picked up considerably the past two weeks. From July through Oct. 3, Brady collected $6 million in contributions and donated services, according to campaign discloures filed late Monday. Since Oct. 4, he’s collected another $3.3 million.

Quinn raised more than $1.9 million from various units of the politically powerful Service Employees’ International Union and at least $1.8 million from the Democratic Governors Association. He began July with $2.3 million in cash in his two political funds.

When I count both of Quinn’s campaign committees (and subtract money sent to one from the other), I get $9.3 million for Quinn as of early this morning And when I search the Board of Elections’ website for Brady’s contributions during the same period, I get this…

Either way, the money race is pretty darned close. And there’s lots of it, although not nearly as much as Rod Blagojevich raised. Heck, it’s not as much as Jane Byrne raised for her Chicago mayoral reelection: $10 million. And that was back in 1983. That’s almost $22 million in today’s dollars.

Also, it sure looks like the DGA spent a whole lot of cash on TV ads last summer for nothing. Sheesh, what a waste. The RGA has had much greater success with Brady.

* As of 10:54 this morning, Scott Lee Cohen has not yet filed his pre-election report. It’s not on par with knifing a hooker, but it’s still not legal. Cohen recently loaned his campaign $1 million. Green Party nominee Rich Whitney, on the other extreme, raised just $31,322.48 during the pre-election reporting period and about $2,500 since then.

* If you think Whitney’s numbers are low, try looking at Steve Kim’s pre-election report. $15,760 in cash. Oof. But that was still better than Robert Enriquez’s pathetic $6,288.50 in cash. Having trouble figuring out who they are? Kim is running against Lisa Madigan and Enriquez is up against Jesse White. They’re not Green Party guys, either. They’re Republicans, left out to dry.

* Democratic comptroller candidate filed his pre-election report 7 hours late. And he wants to manage the state’s books? Miller raised $195,274 in the pre-election reporting period to Judy Baar Topinka’s $193,380 in cash, plus $12K in in-kinds. Topinka started out with $473K to Miller’s $158K.

* Chuck Sweeny of the Rockford Register Star rode along on Bill Brady’s fancy campaign bus. His report is quite long and involved, but there are a couple of items of note. This, for instance, is a Brady quote…

“Even some Democrats realize we have to change our ways. And if they want to use me as the bad guy to say I forced them to do it, that’s fine with me,” he says.

That’s quite true. Every Democrat who is worried about what Brady will do is also worried about what Pat Quinn will do. If it wasn’t for the remap, many probably wouldn’t care all that much if Brady was elected because they could simply let him do his thing and take all the blame. Cutting programs will not be popular, no matter what some may think. His best hope is that the economy makes a roaring comeback by 2014.

Something else to take note of…

Pat Saunders of Polo has been listening to Brady’s speech.

“I don’t agree with him on everything, but he isn’t from Chicago, and he’s not a lawyer,” Saunders says.

The Chicago vs. Downstate divide is more intense than I’ve ever seen it. Brady is doing better than recent candidates in Democratic Downstate counties partly for that very reason.

Umm…

We are ahead of schedule, and campaign staffers don’t want to roll into Dixon before the noontime crowd being recruited by local Republicans has assembled. At a hamlet called Woosung, Brady sees a building supplies company, H.P. Lumber. His eyes light up. He says, “Let’s stop here.” The driver brakes quickly, but smoothly.

The owner and staff hadn’t expected guests, but they greet Brady with smiles and handshakes. The candidate kibitzes about building materials and the state of the local economy. Brady reminds me more of a district sales manager than a candidate for the state’s highest office.

I hope he wasn’t cutting business deals. Just kidding. Kinda.

* Speaking of Bloomington homebuilders, the Today Show had a segment today about how a house built with Bloomington building standards couldn’t stand up to high winds. Watch.

51 Comments

Claypool goes up with first TV ad

Tuesday, Oct 19, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Forrest Claypool is up with his first TV ad of the season. Rate it…

Not as hard-hitting as I thought it would be.

* Claypool, Joe Berrios and the other assessor candidates debated last night on WTTW. Watch…

* Tribune coverage…

The major candidates for Cook County assessor both found themselves addressing potential political liabilities during a televised debate Monday night. […]

“What you’re basically saying is that Joe Berrios should get out of politics,” Berrios said during the exchange on WTTW-Ch. 11’s ” Chicago Tonight.” “If my brothers or whoever wants to come and work in government, they shouldn’t be allowed to work in government. If you want to pass a law that says one individual is in government, then none of their friends or relatives can work in government, then you should pass that law.” […]

Claypool, a longtime Democrat, confirmed that he did not vote in February.‬

‪”It was one of those crazy, crazy days, like we all have,” he said. “I think in the last 30 years, I’ve missed two elections out of about 60. … I guarantee you, I’m not going to miss this election.”‬

* Both Berrios and Claypool plan to run ads on black radio stations, WBEZ reports. Claypool was at Sen. James Meeks’ House of Hope on Sunday. ABC7’s photo still wasn’t exactly flattering…

* Clapyool is also running a robocall from Jesse Jackson, Jr...

: This is Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. As head of the Chicago Park District, Forrest Claypool rebuilt parks in our community that had always been neglected. … Instead of favoring clout-heavy business interests downtown, Claypool will put us first.

…Adding… From the Berrios campaign…

Two weeks ago, Claypool, a Cook County Board commissioner, voted against ethics reforms which would have capped individual contributions at $10,000.

On Oct. 1, Houlihan, who is retiring, contributed $100,000 from his own coffer to the campaign of Forrest Claypool, a former Democratic seeking the same office. Eychaner gave Claypool $200,000 on Sept. 17. Houlihan receives money from property tax attorneys, a practice in which Claypool has used as his main criticism against Berrios.

Houlihan has given Claypool over $130,000 in recent months, and held a fundraiser at his home for the former Democrat on October 12th.

78 Comments

They’re forgetting something; Plus: Viral videos

Tuesday, Oct 19, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* There’s a real problem with the coverage today about Bill Brady’s legislation to overturn a state law to ban mass euthanasia of pet animals…

On Monday, Brady promised, if elected, to veto the idea “because I realize the consequences associated with the legislation.” Asked what those consequences were, Brady said, “The people of Illinois don’t want it.”

So, after much thought and the realization of how unpopular it was, Brady wouldn’t sign his own bill.

Trouble is, Brady voted against the original law that banned the mass animal killings not once but twice.

The law was a product of negotiations between the Farm Bureau and the Humane Society. It wasn’t an easy process by any means. The talks lasted two long years, and they were often difficult.

So, it’s hard to disagree with Gov. Pat Quinn on this one…

Quinn said the Brady euthanasia legislation goes directly to the senator’s overall judgment.

“He withdrew it because everybody in Illinois thought it was one of the worst ideas ever submitted to the Illinois General Assembly, and I think he ought to be accountable for it,” Quinn said. “What kind of nonsense was he thinking when he even submitted the bill?”

Not only that, what was he thinking when he twice voted against the original moratorium back in 2009?

* Keep in mind, Brady’s bill was introduced just two days after the February primary. This is what I told subscribers back in late February…

Obviously, Brady is not yet thinking like a statewide candidate. For crying out loud, you can’t introduce a bill to help out your local puppy gas chamber when you’re trying to be governor. I mean, seriously, what kind of thought process concocts an idea like that?

Brady shouldn’t be let off the hook so easily on this thing. He ought to be held accountable not only for his incredibly goofy bill, but for his two votes against the original moratorium.

Now, is this the most important issue in the state? Hardly. But Brady’s legislation sure was the stupidest bill of the year. By far. That’s really saying something, and that alone makes it an issue.

* Meanwhile, Illinois Statehouse News has a story about “viral” YouTube campaign videos…

The four candidates at the top of the ticket have reached almost 425,000 people via the Internet–enough to populate Illinois’ three biggest cities outside of Chicago. Kirk’s video viewers alone would constitute Illinois’ second biggest city; he and Quinn have substantial leads on their opponents in terms of Internet viewership.

It is a large market to tap into and one that professor Max Dawson of Northwestern University’s School of Communication says could revolutionize the output of campaign press.

“This new platform allows for more targeted messaging, more immediate messaging and it allows messages to be customized to an audience,” he said “Uploading is free, less costly allow candid to blanket the public with the platform and reach out to young people.”

The targeted messaging allows candidates to respond to the news of the day quickly or highlight nuances of the campaign that may not seem important enough for statewide airtime. When, for example, legendary Bears Coach and self-described conservative Mike Ditka endorsed Gov. Quinn, the campaign released the announcement on Youtube.

No surprise, Gov. Pat Quinn’s puppy killer video is by far his top-watched YouTube effort at 20,681 views. Bill Brady’s most-viewed YouTube video is an ad from the primary. It was called “Brady Plan” and it has received 7,074 views.

Mark Kirk’s most-watched video, at 9,754 views, is his TV ad called “Risky.” Alexi Giannoulias’ top video has 13,155 views. It’s called “On and On,” a web vid about Kirk’s military embellishments.

None of these are truly “viral” videos. But Quinn’s puppy vid is probably the closest thing we have to that because it is the only one which has generated any sort of buzz and “mainstream” media coverage. ABC7 was one of the outlets that covered the story last night. The Guardian did a piece on it last week.

57 Comments

Morning Shorts

Tuesday, Oct 19, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Quinn names retired FBI agent as tollway watchdog

* Tollway watchdog named inspector general

* Time Running Out To Take Advantage Of Tax Amnesty

* State commended for new panel

* Quinn to improve breast cancer treatment

* Statewide Panel To Work To Improve Breast Cancer Treatment

* State Officials Urge Testing For Radon

* Illinois cracks down on sex offender compliance

* Madigan: More lawyers devoted to FOIA

* Corn prices up as harvest winds down

* Tribune Board Said Ready to Oust Chief Executive

The individual, who spoke on the condition of not being identified, said the board had lost confidence in the ability of Mr. Michaels to lead the troubled company.

* Tribune Co. board is weighing CEO’s fate, sources say

* Watchdog: Chicago 911 officials skirted bidding on $23 million contract

Inspector General Joseph Ferguson concluded the officials at Chicago’s 911 center falsified paperwork to justify giving the contract to a pre-selected firm. That company is identified as Motorola in documents obtained by the Tribune through an open records request.

Office of Emergency Management and Communications officials said using Motorola would preserve “the city’s prior investment of nearly $2 million” in Motorola equipment bought earlier. But the city actually paid only $350,000 for that equipment, according to Ferguson’s report.

* Inspector General’s Report: Chicago OEMC Improperly Dealt Contract

* Judge focuses on carp DNA in lawsuit over locks

* Judge Considering Whether to Close Locks Against Carp

* Burke says Daley ignoring city pension crisis

Daley has vowed to push legislation in the Illinois General Assembly’s fall veto session that would extend a two-tiered pension system to newly hired police officers and firefighters.
During opening day of the city council hearings on Daley’s final city budget, Ald. Edward Burke (14th), chairman of the council’s finance committee, said that’s nowhere near enough to address the city’s pension-fund crisis.

* VIDEO: Richard M. Daley on his struggle to balance the budget

* Chicago writing fewer parking tickets, using Denver boot more

Ticketing was down, primarily because crime-fighting was a higher priority for Chicago Police officers. Even so, police still led the pack with 747,648 tickets, compared to 631,170 for Revenue Department parking enforcement aides and 227,740 for a private contractor hired to assist the city.

While the number of parking tickets issued was dropping, booting was going in the opposite direction. It’s on the upswing.

There were 44,581 boots applied from Jan. 1 through Aug. 31, up by 7 percent or 3,112 from 41,469 boots applied during the first eight months of last year.

* CPS to Meet with Whittier Protesters

* Whittier Protesters Want CPS to Sign Off on Plans

* Maggie Daley scheduled to fly home tomorrow

* District 203 reviews plans for TIF district

* Dist. 203 supports Navistar TIF

* School secretary accused of stealing variety show money

Ruth Ann Kadlec, 55, of the 900 block of Plainfield Road in Darien, is being charged with one count of felony theft after school district officials noticed the money missing from a safe and repeatedly asked Kadlec – who was supposed to deposit the cash in the school’s bank account – where it had gone, according to police and district officials.

* State police sergeant goes on trial in fatal shooting

Illinois State Police Sgt. Bryan Falat is either a hero who used justifiable force to save the lives of himself and his partner, or a quick-tempered cop who opened fire on an unarmed off-duty prison guard.

An eight-member federal jury considered the contrasting portraits Monday as Falat’s civil trial opened.

Falat twice shot Lernard Grigsby after responding to a 911 call at 4:15 a.m. April 24, 2008, inside an employee dormitory at Stateville Correctional Center near Joliet. The 48-year-old guard died four days later, leaving three children who are seeking unspecified damages after accusing Falat of using excessive force.

* Peoria city budget proposal weighs on firefighters

* Agreement between Normal, One Main terminated

* Herald & Review: Meyer earns endorsement for county treasurer

* Herald & Review: Both experienced, but Schneider wins nod

* SJ-R: Voters should OK sales tax hike for schools

* Marion council approves expense

* Report says Marion VA hospital has improved

* Vandergraph unfit for trial

The results of a mental fitness test for 72-year-old Bill Vandergraph, who was pastor of the Full Gospel Pentecostal Church in Alto Pass, show he is not fit to stand trial because of mental illness caused by depression and possible signs of dementia, defense attorney Allen James said Monday.

* Don Monty formally announces candidacy for Carbondale City Council

* Illinois state bird: Groups consider new pecking order

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*** UPDATED x1 *** New ads: Kirk, Quinn, Dold

Tuesday, Oct 19, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* We have three new ads this morning. The first is an independent expenditure by the National Republican Senatorial Committee which hits Alexi Giannoulias on his support for a state income tax increase and ties it to other stuff, including Bright Start and the fact that he paid no income taxes. Rate it…

Script…

ANNOUNCER: Alexi Giannoulias has a message for Illinois…

GIANNOULIAS: We need an income tax increase.

ANNOUNCER: For our seniors, Alexi says…

GIANNOULIAS: We need an income tax increase.

ANNOUNCER: For families whose college savings Alexi devastated while managing the Bright Start program.

GIANNOULIAS: We need an income tax increase.

ANNOUNCER: But in 2009, Alexi Giannoulias paid no income tax.

ANNOUNCER: If you don’t want a tax increase, you don’t want Alexi.

GIANNOULIAS: We need an income tax increase.

* Congressman Luis Gutierrez has cut a TV ad for Pat Quinn in Spanish. Watch…

* Bob Dold’s new ad…

Script…

Supporter: “He’s a businessman not a politician.”
Supporter: “He knows how to get people back to work.”
Supporter: “He’s not a politician; he’s a real person.”
Supporter: “He knows how to create jobs.”
Supporter: “He stands for something.”
Supporter: “We need strong, independent leadership in Washington.”
Supporter: “We need someone fighting for us.”
Supporter: “If I lived in Chicago, I’d vote from him twice.”
Supporter: “Families are on a budget. Why isn’t the government?”
Supporter: “I’m voting for Robert Dold.”
Supporters: “Robert Dold.” “Robert Dold.” “Robert Dold.”
Supporter: “I’m voting for Robert Dold.”
Supporter: “Robert Dold.”

Dold: “I’m Robert Dold, and I approve this message. On November 2nd, I ask for your vote.”

*** UPDATE *** The Dold campaign left something out of the script. Toward the end of the ad a woman says: “We gotta get it right this time.”

From the Dan Seals campaign…

Exactly. We do need to ‘get it right this time’ and vote for someone who’s not going to hide the truth about his real positions and allies. We need to elect an experienced businessman like Dan Seals, who will create jobs without compromising our values.

[ *** End Of Update *** ]

* Jack Roeser and others speak on behalf of Roger Keats for Cook County Board President…

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition and lots, lots more

Tuesday, Oct 19, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

Tuesday, Oct 19, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

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*** UPDATED x2 *** Bean calls Walsh “dangerous” in new TV ad

Tuesday, Oct 19, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

[Updated and bumped up for visibility.]

* I tried getting through to Democratic Congresswoman Melissa Bean’s campaign spokesperson twice today so I could get a copy of her new hard-hitting TV ad. I wasn’t successful. So, I had a buddy make a copy using his mobile phone. That means the video/audio quality is lousy, but this is one tough hit on Republican Joe Walsh and you should watch it.

*** UPDATE 1 *** The Bean campaign sent a better quality version. Rate it…

* Script…

Announcer: Listen to Joe Walsh.

Walsh: “We’re at the beginning of a war.”

Walsh: “This is a revolution.”

Walsh:”We have to make the case for concealed carry by saying it works.”

Walsh: “This protects me from my government.”

Announcer: He’d eliminate protection for our air and water.

Walsh: “It’s a crusade.”

Announcer: He’d ban the right to choose, even to save a woman’s life.

Walsh: “I’m pro-life without exception.”

Announcer: Hidden guns? No environmental protections? End a woman’s right to choose?

Walsh: “Some people may say that’s reckless, but so what?”

Announcer: Reckless? Joe, that’s dangerous.

Bean is obviously concerned about a tightening race.

* Walsh has no money, so he has uploaded an angry YouTube video in response…

Um, yes, Joe, I do believe she’s serious.

*** UPDATE 2 *** From a Joe Walsh campaign e-mail..

Dear Friends:

Be strong. It’s going to continue to get ugly out there. We have two weeks to go and our opponent and her enablers in the media will do and say whatever they can to help her and hurt me. Ignore all this misinformation, let’s keep our heads down and work hard. Let’s make Melissa Bean defend her votes and debate her opponents.

Thank you so much for everything you do,
Joe

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