* One day, I suddenly understood these Tom Petty lyrics…
Somewhere, somehow somebody
Must’ve kicked you around some
Tell me why you want to lay there
And revel in your abandon
Honey, it don’t make no difference to me, baby
Everybody’s had to fight to be free
You see you don’t have to live like a refugee
Now baby you don’t have to live like a refugee
The song came on the car radio and I sang the lyrics to a friend of mine who just couldn’t get his act together. I didn’t do it to taunt him or to be mean, but to try and help him understand what he was doing to himself because all of his friends were worried about him.
I was in college at the time, but a couple of years later, I realized I was doing the very same thing. I’d been bouncing around with no direction, no plan, no ideas for a plan. Reveling in my abandon. And the clock was ticking…
Tom Petty, the rocker best known as the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, is dead at 66, CBS News has confirmed.
The legendary musician suffered a full cardiac arrest and was found unconscious and not breathing in his Malibu home Sunday night. He was taken to UCLA Santa Monica Hospital and put on life support, reports TMZ.
Yes, we all knew Rauner was pro-choice. But he said at one point he would not sign the bill into law. He could have made numerous arguments against crossing that bright line, such as: “Yes, abortion should be safe and legal, but taxpayer money should not be the source of funding. There are organizations in the private sector that help women cover the cost. Support those groups.”
Something like that. But he did not. Not even close. That’s why his pro-life backers feel egregiously burned. Rauner didn’t have to sign this bill. He did not have to cross that line. In doing so, he has risked losing his core base of support and his re-election chances. That’s how important public financing of abortion is to him. That’s why he is getting lit up.
Supporters of the bill say the opposite, that Rauner helped clear a pathway to re-election by attracting women voters — as if pro-life women voters don’t exist. They do. They deserve respect. And they’re steamed.
Since his election, Rauner rightly blocked bloated Democratic budgets and vetoed an income tax increase. He pushed for pro-business, pro-growth reforms. But then he got in bed with Democrats on an issue that is explosive to his conservative base. He’s poison to that base now and so is his money.
Worse for him and his re-election prospects, those Democrats who praised him Thursday are not going to be with him in November 2018. No way in hell are supporters of public financing of elective abortion going to be helping Rauner, a pro-business Republican, win another term. They’re going to light him up even worse.
Regardless of where you stand on the issue of abortion rights, you must admit that Gov. Bruce Rauner was courageous.
In signing the controversial bill Thursday expanding taxpayer-subsidized abortions for low-income women, the moderate Republican governor angered conservatives across the state —all the way up to Cardinal Blase Cupich.
But in refusing to veto the bill as he had promised, Rauner also did something else. He showed us what could happen when a politician refuses to allow politics to dictate his decisions. That’s something we don’t often see in Springfield — or Washington, for that matter.
So, if you’re a Democratic candidate who believes in unions, taxing the rich and empowering the working class, but are also a practicing Catholic who opposes unrestricted abortion rights up until the moment of birth, you will be ostracized by party leaders who will sic their militant faction on you and pronounce you guilty of being an anti-woman bigot and defender of the white, male patriarchy that must be destroyed.
And they’ll say that even if you’re a woman, even though they’ll deny such tactics to commentators like me.
And if you are Republican who supports any form of abortion rights, even very limited rights, you will be branded as being … well, Bruce Rauner.
The governor of Illinois is definitely an economic conservative who wants to smash the power of public employee unions in the state because he see those unions, rightly, as the foot soldiers and funders of the opposition Democratic Party. He supports smaller government and pro-growth policies designed to grow Illinois’ economy.
But because he was and remains a “liberal” on abortion and alphabet-lifestyle-group rights, he is scorned by the Christian radical right.
This hurts Republicans in Illinois because the religious right provides the foot soldiers, envelope stuffers and phone callers for the GOP, the same function performed by union members for the Democrats.
Conservatives ought to have learned by now that those who are not with us on abortion are, in most cases, not with us at all, and that promises of neutrality on the life question cannot be trusted.
Rauner, we now learn, does have a social agenda, one that is obnoxious to many of the conservatives who took him at his word on the campaign trail. It is a social agenda that is morally repugnant both on the fundamental question of abortion and on the secondary question of public funding for it.
* I asked this question of all the Democratic gubernatorial candidates…
What would you support and what would you oppose in the effort to bring Amazon’s HQ2 to Illinois?
The deadline was noon today.
* And here are their answers in the order they were received. Bob Daiber…
“I understand that Amazon is looking to locate at a site 30 miles from a major population center, 45 minutes from an international airport, access to mass transit, and one to two miles from a major highway system. With that said, I support providing Amazon with the needed infrastructure for transportation and telecommunications at the site they select. Previously, Amazon has looked at seven-year Enterprise Zones for their location, so this should be on the table. Also, it may be necessary to provide workforce studies to show the availability for qualified employees. I do not support any incentives to relocate workers from other centers to Illinois. This center has to be employment for Illinois workers.”
* Tio Hardiman…
Gubernatorial Candidate Tio Hardiman will support Amazon in the following areas; providing Amazon with a tax break but a very minimal tax break, offer concessions in the area of transportation (air and rail), tax payer subsides, and access to our most precious resource the brilliant young technical minds which Illinois has an abundance of qualified potential employees ready to work for Amazon.
Tio Hardiman opposes a refundable state payroll tax credit in any form and committing any state infrastructure dollars to Amazon. Additionally, we would like to see Amazon move their 2nd Headquarters to East St. Louis, Chicago’s west or south side, or the south suburbs of Chicago.
* Sen. Daniel Biss…
“Amazon HQ2 suggests the possibility of exciting opportunities for Illinois families: 50,000 jobs, recruitment from and investment in communities that need it most, and a chance to create an agreement that fosters good working conditions, environmental protections, and long-term economic growth. It’s a chance to make a deal that puts working families first.
“Given this potential for success, but also that our regressive tax structure means that the middle class, the working poor, and small businesses typically foot the bill for corporate tax giveaways, we must closely examine any deal that emerges. This means making sure we’re not spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to create a job that pays much less. It means establishing rules around how and where Amazon invests and hires. It means instituting a clawback mechanism to ensure that, if Amazon doesn’t hold up their end of the bargain, we won’t be expected to keep ours.”
* Chris Kennedy…
The development of an Amazon headquarters in Illinois is a once-in-a-generation opportunity; therefore, Illinois should negotiate with Amazon to bring their headquarters here.
Terms of a deal should be negotiated only within the parameters of the resources Amazon can guarantee to bring to Illinois, because such resources would not exist but for the investment Amazon would bring to our state.
Everyone must be held accountable to this deal. To ensure accountability, the terms of the negotiations should include:
* Public input, and the proposed terms should be published before negotiations are final.
* A clawback provision to ensure Amazon pays back state and local investment dollars if it fails to meet its proposed commitments, such as projected job growth or contributions to site development.
* Additional guarantees, including full payment of all sales taxes imposed upon related or comparable businesses, so as not to give Amazon such a competitive advantage that would put other companies out of business.
Corporate tax breaks are not the way to build an economy, and I’m skeptical of including any incentive in the form of a TIF, given the lack of transparency within the TIF program and within our property tax system.
Illinois is best positioned for this opportunity because of the public sector advantages we offer: a skilled workforce, great schools and universities, a competitive geographic location, a strong transit system, and access to consumers.
But, the factors that will be held against us include our budget instability imposed on us by Bruce Rauner’s failed leadership; our long-held inequitable school funding which has led to a disinvestment in public education, so much so that 75 percent of students are unable to graduate and go on to higher education without remedial education; and our broken tax system that allows the well-connected to get property tax breaks at the expense of low-income and middle class communities.
Illinois needs a governor who will make greater investments across our public sector if we want to be best positioned to grow our economy and our workforce.
* JB Pritzker…
For nearly two decades, I have worked to create an environment for companies like Amazon to see Illinois as one of the nation’s leading technology hubs, and I’m proud of my work with 1871 to create over 7,000 new jobs here. I support efforts to bring Amazon’s HQ2 to Illinois, but any incentives to attract new jobs to our state must be a good investment that yields a positive return for Illinois taxpayers. For example, in any incentive package we need to address concerns about companies not following through on their job creation commitments. The EDGE tax credit program, which was renewed by the legislature with near unanimous support, is updated to address those concerns. As governor, job creation and raising wages for working families will be one of my top priorities.
* Ameya Pawar…
If state and local leaders have the political will to offer Amazon special incentives to open a second headquarters here, where is the political will to bring investments to the many communities across our state who are struggling to survive? I propose that we match every incentive dollar we offer to Amazon with a new dollar dedicated to infrastructure and economic development, to public education, or to affordable housing in underserved communities.
If we have the money to give away billions of dollars in tax revenue to Amazon, then why don’t we have the money to invest in communities to save them from closing? And finally, we ask small businesses to pay their fair share in taxes even as they risk closure from the impacts of online retailers like Amazon, who are leading in job automation. Yet when small businesses ask for help, we tell them we live in a capitalist society.
It’s one thing to attract corporations like Amazon to Illinois because of our transportation infrastructure, our access to fresh water, because we have great colleges and universities, and because of the wealth of art and culture our state has to offer. But it’s another thing entirely to give away billions of dollars in tax incentives while places like Cairo and East St. Louis and hundreds of communities around Illinois are fighting to keep their communities from closing.
We cannot allow politicians to continue to put the profits of major corporations over the well-being of working class families and small businesses in our state, who have been forgotten and ignored for too long. It’s time we take our state back from the wealthy and corporate interests who care more about their own self-interest than improving the lives of people struggling to get ahead. It’s time we invest in communities that need it most to keep our communities from closing.
Dart also made some critical references to House Speaker Michael Madigan, who also chairs the state Democratic Party. The sheriff effectively accused him of taking power away from rank-and-file lawmakers. Dart served in the General Assembly from 1991 to 2003.
“I’ve often told people, ‘Absolutely, truly if the legislature had not become emasculated, which is what had happened, I probably would have stayed down there, because my first two years I’m introducing 120 bills a year and all the rest of the stuff,’” he said.
“But when you have people walk in to you and say, ‘Listen, you all have three bills a year and we pick them by the way,’ then you sit and say, ‘I can’t be impactful here. I’m mortal like everyone else. I either need to get a different job or find a different governmental position where I can be impactful,’” Dart said of a mandate once imposed by the speaker’s office on his Democratic members.
Dart also talked about why he decided not to run for attorney general.
Democratic Attorney General candidate Scott Drury said last week in Urbana that incumbent Attorney General Lisa Madigan, who is stepping down after her current term, shouldn’t be “outsourcing” political corruption cases to the federal government. […]
“When I’m using the term watchdog, it’s more in the sense of watching over the government in Illinois. It hasn’t been done, at least in my lifetime,” Drury said later. “People in government need to know that it’s not just the feds that are out there, that there’s going to be someone in the state, in the top law enforcement position, that is going to be working on this as well. We’ve already been reaching out to state’s attorneys to talk about these issues about being in a collaborative position.” […]
“One of the issues right now, right or wrong, is the perception that the attorney general’s office can only go so far because there’s some sort of conflict that exists between the attorney general and some other people in state government,” he said. “It doesn’t exist with me. There would be a focus not just on corruption but on making sure that the state runs in the right way.
“I just don’t think that that part of the office should be outsourced to the feds. The AG’s office has hundreds of its own attorneys. It has I believe a $45 million budget, so it’s a matter of priority and how you’re going to utilize your resources and a matter of commitment.”
A new bill in the Illinois House would force Michael Madigan to choose between his role as House Speaker or Democratic Party Chairman.
State Rep. Margo McDermed’s bill would bar a legislative leader from also holding their political party’s checkbook. Madigan, D-Chicago, is the only person in the nation that this measure would apply to, as he’s the only statehouse leader that is also the head of his state’s political party. Madigan has served as speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives since 1983, save two years when he was minority leader. He has led the Illinois Democratic Party as its chair since 1998.
Considering that McDermed’s bill would have to pass multiple committees in the Madigan-controlled House, she says it’s highly unlikely to even see a committee hearing.
“There’s no chance of this bill seeing the light of day. Ever,” McDermed, R-Frankfort, said. “But we can’t solve the problem until we name the problem.”
* PolitiFact took a look at claims by pop tax proponents that the new levy will reduce consumption…
“Our Cook County hospital system spends $200 million a year or more treating sugar consumption related diseases,” [Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle] said, noting also that 87 percent of county government’s budget goes into health care. “Obesity, heart disease, diabetes, tooth decay. That’s a tremendous burden on our health care system. And we are facing a public health care crisis in this country related to sugar consumption.” […]
Bloomberg said Cook County’s sweetened beverage tax can bring health benefits by “reducing consumption of unhealthy soda pop and sugary beverages.”
Cook County is only the sixth jurisdiction in the U.S. to enact a sweetened drink tax since Berkeley, Calif., enacted the first one in March 2015. That means there’s been very little formal research on their effects, which makes proving or disproving Bloomberg’s claim difficult.
Academic research in Berkeley and on Mexico’s soda tax has shown declines in sales, however. Anecdotal evidence from tax opponents in Illinois appears to show the same here, as does a recent marketing report in Philadelphia. Studies using modeling schemes to project health outcomes based on reduced consumption also tilt in Bloomberg’s favor.
Cook County’s soda tax may not survive long enough to become part of the extended field study needed to judge the health effects of similar efforts nationwide. But there’s enough evidence out there to rate Bloomberg’s statement Mostly True.
Temp agencies must now give their workers information about equipment, protective clothing and training before sending them to a work place. And if the agency offers transportation to and from work, the service should be free of charge. […]
“It’s one of the few states in the country that really recognizes the changes in the economy and in the labor market,” [Tim Bell, the executive director for the Chicago Worker’s Collaborative] says, “and it’s one of the few states that recognizes that it’s jobs where the conditions are dangerous, they’re precarious, there’s no security, there’s no benefits.”
Next on advocates’ agendas is the issue of wage parity. Bell says many temporary workers “end up working a job for 8 years, 10 years, 12 years–as a temp– never getting vacation pay, never getting sick days, getting paid as little as half of what a direct worker makes.”
Agencies will also be required to make the effort to place workers into permanent jobs, and cover the expenses for background checks and drug tests. These changes go into effect June 2018.
The original bill included an aggressive wish list of reforms but was pared back after negotiations with industry representatives and legislative hearings. The law’s other provisions require temp agencies to:
* Notify workers of the kind of protective clothing, gear and training they will need.
* Bring workers back from job sites if they provide transportation to the job. Often, temp agency vans take workers to jobs far from home, but leave them to get back on their own.
* Stop charging workers for credit reports, criminal background checks and drug tests.
* “Attempt” to place temp workers into permanent positions when they open up. Otherwise, workers often toil for years as perma-temps, without benefits, seniority, time off or job security.
The back-story on this bill is here. It’s a very informative read.
* I’m not sure if we’ll be getting to politics today, so while I make up my mind about what to do, here’s something I didn’t know: Alexander Hamilton’s son William Stephen Hamilton served in the Illinois General Assembly…
Hamilton’s son later was a prominent legislator in the early days of Illinois statehood. The sixth child and fifth son, William was nearly seven when his father was killed in the duel.
Young Hamilton was accepted into West Point in 1814, but resigned three years later for unknown reasons. He then moved west, accepting an appointment as deputy surveyor for public lands. His career eventually brought him to Sangamon County and the newly-established settlement of Springfield.
One of the key issues in those early days of the county was the location of a seat, and Hamilton supported the bid of Sangamo Town, seven miles west of Springfield, the eventual winner. In June 1825, he reportedly executed a federal contract by driving 700 head of cattle from Sangamon County, first to Fort Dearborn in Chicago, then to Fort Howard in Green Bay – a trip of over 400 miles. He is said to have lost only one head on the drive.
In 1824, Hamilton was elected to the House in the Fourth General Assembly. During his term, he accompanied Gov. Edward Coles to Kaskaskia to welcome the Marquis de Lafayette, the Revolutionary War hero who toured the United States in 1824-25.
It would be the only elected office in Illinois for Hamilton, whom some consider an underachiever. One account states that Hamilton’s relatives said he was well-educated, and had read enough law for admission to the bar, but seldom practiced. Another source called Hamilton “a man of great intellectual powers” but “unsteady in his habits.”
Chicago Police touted a drop in September gun violence at a press conference Sunday morning, even as the weekend saw at least 33 people shot in the city, four fatally.
September was the seventh straight month that saw a reduction in gun violence in 2017, First Deputy Supt. Kevin Navarro said at the press conference at CPD headquarters.
This September saw 57 deaths that were ruled homicides, with 488 shooting deaths this year ruled homicides, according to data kept by the Chicago Sun-Times. That total accounts for a 2.6 percent drop from last year’s 501 shooting homicides through September.
In all, the city has recorded at least 524 homicides so far in 2017, including shootings, assaults and other types of incidents, Sun-Times data shows. Chicago suffered one of its bloodiest years in two decades in 2016, with more than 4,300 gunshot victims and nearly 800 total homicides.
* But…
True, but the city saw more murders in the first 9 mos. of 2017 than in all 12 mos. of any year btwn 2004 - 2015. https://t.co/CavjRGkHzG
Governor Bruce Rauner is reaching out to officials in Puerto Rico, letting them know the state of Illinois stands ready to assist with recovery efforts after Hurricane Maria’s devastating impact on the island. Right now, more than 550 Illinois National Guardsmen are on alert and ready to deploy, if needed.
“Our fellow Americans need us,” said Rauner. “I am ready to send our Guardsmen on a mission to make sure the people of Puerto Rico are safe and healthy as they find a way to rebuild after such a tragic blow. We are one people, united by our love for this country and our willingness to help each other in times of need.”
The Illinois National Guard has already been responding to requests for assistance as they have come in through the appropriate federal channels. To date, the Guard has delivered vital relief material to the U.S Virgin Islands and is in Puerto Rico assisting with strategic communication capabilities.
Rauner says the state is ready to do more. While he has the authority to activate the Illinois National Guard within the state’s borders, he cannot send them to other states or territories without an official request. Rauner sent a letter to Ricardo Rossello, the governor of Puerto Rico, today, letting him know the state of Illinois is eager to help and will mobilize troops immediately, if and when more boots are needed on the ground.
The Rauner administration also reached out to the Federal Emergency Management Association to see how it can be of more assistance on the home front.
Rauner and Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti partnered with State Representative Luis Arroyo and other leaders in the Puerto Rican community last week, including La Casa Puertorriqueña and the Puerto Rican Parade Committee, to film a video asking the people of Illinois to pitch in with recovery efforts. The video is available online at www.Ready.Illinois.gov/hurricanehelp.
* Media advisory…
What: Illinois Emergency Management Agency Director James Joseph will hold a conference call with members of the media to provide an update on Illinois’ efforts to assist in Puerto Rico.
Date: Monday, October 2, 2017
Time: 11:30am
A DCFS Child Protective Investigator in the Sterling Office was sent out at the end of the day on Friday, September 29 to check on the welfare of a child. When the investigator arrived, the father, Andrew Sucher, viciously attacked her, knocking her to the ground repeatedly assaulting the investigator about the head.
As a result of the attack, the DCFS investigator sustained very serious brain injuries. She was airlifted to a hospital in Rockford where she has undergone two surgeries. She is currently in a coma.
Out of concern for the family, we are not releasing the employee’s name at this time. Kathy Lane, the president of AFSCME Local 448, knows her very well and was with the family at the hospital throughout the night after the attack. An AFSCME Personal Support Program (PSP) counselor has also been there to provide assistance. Kathy is urgently requesting prayers for this DCFS employee and fellow AFSCME member who is now so gravely injured as a result of her dedication to protecting an endangered child.
“This brutal attack is a horrific reminder of the dangers that DCFS employees confront every day on the job,” said AFSCME Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch. “There must be a thorough review of agency policies, as well as a commitment to assure staffing levels that can protect at-risk children and the employees we count on to safeguard them.”
The assailant has been arrested and is being held on $200,000 bond.
Andrew J. Sucher, 29, was out of jail on $15,000 bond, facing aggravated battery of a child, which carries 2 to 5 years in prison, and misdemeanor battery, domestic battery and interfering with the reporting of a domestic battery in a Whiteside County case when he was arrested Friday in Dixon. […]
Sucher was charged July 31 and pleaded not guilty Aug. 14 in the Whiteside County case. He has a pretrial hearing Oct. 25. A public defender has been assigned.
He also has an active emergency order of protection against him in Whiteside County, also filed July 31.
He was convicted of misdemeanor battery in 2011 in Carroll County and was sentenced to a year of court supervision.
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
State Representatives Tom Demmer (R-Dixon), Tony McCombie (R-Savanna), and Brian Stewart (R-Freeport) urged prayers and community awareness following a brutal attack on a DCFS Child Protective Investigator at a child welfare check on Friday, September 29th in Carroll County.
The three legislators offered the following statement today:
“This tragic attack highlights the dangers faced by our child welfare officers every day and the profound need to continue to educate communities on eliminating violence, especially domestic violence. Along with our fellow legislators, we offer our prayers to the family of the DCFS Investigator, as well as to her co-workers and fellow employees who are saving lives in Illinois’ child welfare system every day. This is terribly frightening and traumatizing for all of our hardworking Child Protective Investigators, but this incident shows how important their work is in protecting children from violence and harm.”
…Adding… Press release…
The Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) released its annual Domestic Violence Homicide Report for 2017 today. ICADV’s report states that 61 people died in Illinois because of domestic violence during the period of the report. 55 were adults and six (6) were under the age of 18. These deaths were identified as part of 44 separate incidents, indicating many perpetrators killed more than one victim at the time, highlighting it is important to understand that domestic violence doesn’t occur to just one victim.
“The numbers have risen,” says Vickie Smith, Executive Director of ICADV. “To us this means we have much more to do in educating our citizens about what domestic violence is and how we all play a part in working to eliminate it from our state.”
Another issue reported in the last four annual reports is the number of perpetrators that commit suicide after the murders. The latest report indicates twelve perpetrators committed suicide after killing their victim(s). “This is important when developing prevention programs. We need to pay attention to suicide ideation as well as threats of homicide when assisting victims with safety planning”, said Smith.
“I’m horrified by the senseless shooting last night in Las Vegas. This violence sears our hearts and leaves countless families forever, tragically changed.
“I extend my sincere condolences to all those who lost loved ones and send prayers for recovery to those wounded. And I’m grateful for the professionalism and bravery of law enforcement and first responders during and after this attack.
“Words and prayers are not enough for Las Vegas and other victims of gun violence across our country. We must come together to tackle this epidemic. Enough is enough.”
* Congressman Bill Foster…
We woke up to unimaginable news this morning. We stand in solidarity with Las Vegas today. We will mourn those we lost too soon and will keep their families and friends close to our hearts. But we cannot accept these tragedies as normal. There is no reason why a fun night at a concert should turn into a death sentence. We owe it to the memory of everyone who died to make sure we do everything we can to prevent another mass shooting.
* More on Twitter…
Prayers for all in Las Vegas. Terrible tragedy. First responders have our undying gratitude.
“My heart goes out to the victims of the tragic shooting in Las Vegas last night and their loved ones. Such senseless and horrifying acts of violence have no place in America or any other nation. The law enforcement officers and first responders who put their lives on the line to protect others deserve our solemn thanks for their bravery and courage in the face of the deadliest shooting in our country’s history.”
* Congressman Kinzinger…
“This morning, we woke up to horrific news of a senseless attack in Las Vegas, with more than 50 lives taken in an act of pure evil. I send my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims. And my thoughts and prayers are with the injured and all those involved in this tragedy.
“Thank you to the first responders, local law enforcement, and the medical personnel in Las Vegas – their work and heroic actions saved lives. As a nation, we mourn this horrific, senseless tragedy and we stand together against this vile act of hate.”
* More from the Kennedy campaign…
“Our thoughts are with the victims of last night’s mass shooting and with the countless families who now face a lifetime of heartache and grief. We must stop the violence that plagues our communities, our state and our country. We need leadership that brings us together to heal, instead of leadership that divides us to foster hate.”
Just who and how many have to die from gun violence?
Background checks, gun trafficking, straw purchases, military weapons , access to mental health, Congress we have got to step up and stop hiding behind the Second Amendment.
Kids can’t play outside or walk to the store.
You can’t go to a concert, movie theater or practice for a charity baseball game.
I know nothing will solve everything but we have got to start somewhere!!
I am not against the Second Amendment, so do not suggest that, but senseless gun violence cannot continue and we must act.
* US Rep. Jan Schakowsky…
“Unspeakable violence terrorized and devastated Las Vegas last night. I cannot imagine the fear and horror that was experienced by tens of thousands of concertgoers outside of the Mandalay Bay Hotel. My thoughts today are with every victim, anyone injured, all those in attendance, and anyone whose loved ones were affected by this national tragedy.
“Only a year and a few months after the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, our country has a harrowing new record for the worst mass shooting in our history. Back home in Chicago, our city has seen close to 500 people murdered by guns so far in 2017. As a country, we cannot accept this as the new normal. Gun violence is a scourge and an epidemic, and it requires bold legislative action. We cannot continue to make excuses. Federal comprehensive gun safety legislation must be a national priority.”
* As I told subscribers this morning, some Statehouse types are in Las Vegas for a conference. So far, everyone is said to be OK. But I thought I would pass this info along…
For families looking to locate missing loved ones in Las Vegas, police urge you to call the number below.
* I’ve reached out to Dan Proft tonight to see if he is backing this candidate [UPDATE: See below}. From a press release…
After Republicans in the General Assembly partnered with Michael Madigan to pass a 32% income tax hike, Mickey Straub, a small business owner and Mayor, today announced his Republican candidacy for State Representative in the 82nd district.
“State government should be cutting taxes, reducing spending, and opening the doors to businesses and families, not the reverse. It pains me to watch our taxes skyrocket and to see all the development just across our state borders!” said conservative and Burr Ridge Mayor Mickey Straub. “Success leaves clues, but so does failure. We need to learn from our past and from our neighbors to change course!”
Mickey Straub announced that he is running to give voters an option to replace Jim Durkin (Western Springs). Durkin is the House Republican Leader and a longtime Springfield politician. “I like Jim, but unfortunately,” said Mickey Straub, “he has become known as the leader of the ‘Surrender Republicans’ since 15 Republicans (including five from his leadership team) just joined hands with Democratic Speaker Michael Madigan to impose a 32% income tax hike on Illinois families.”
The tax hike will cost the average taxpayer in Burr Ridge an additional $1,690, and families throughout the district will pay more: Darien ($871), Homer Glen ($1,112), La Grange ($1,157), and Western Springs ($2,414). Mickey Straub added, “Instead of the ‘Tax and Spend’ policies of the last ten years, let’s try ‘Keep and Save.’”
Mickey Straub said, “I’m running for office because I believe that Illinois is a beacon of prosperity and opportunity and it should be the destination state that it used to be! Instead, families are fleeing Illinois at the rate of one person every five minutes. That’s embarrassing! It’s time to change course and we’re not going to do that without a change in leadership.”
“The future of the State and the Republican Party can only be assured through positive, conservative leadership and free-market policies. Too many longtime Republicans take the easy way out and surrender to the Democrats rather than fight for fiscal prudence and our future.” Mickey Straub added, “Families and small businesses are choosing Burr Ridge because they know we will fight for their best interests and our State leaders should do the same.”
“I know from experience whether it’s a business or community effort Mickey has the courage and values to fight for the community,” said local small business owner Peter Smolka.
Mickey Straub and his supporters will host a campaign kick-off rally on October 19, 2017.
A well-known principled conservative, patriot and experienced businessman, Straub is serving his second term as mayor of Burr Ridge, which continues to prosper. He is also the president of Sales Activity Management, Inc., a faith-based performance measurement company in Burr Ridge, a husband, parent, Catholic and a community leader who led efforts to build a playground. In 2012, Straub visited 50 State Capitols in (less than) 50 Days to “promote Lincoln’s principles and patriotism,” and he recently became the author of an inspirational book, “BIG GOALS…Short Deadlines”. Mickey Straub is also known for having recited the Gettysburg Address at every state capitol and co-founded Proud to be Republican, LLC, an organization once dedicated to promoting the principles of Ronald Reagan and Abraham Lincoln.
*** UPDATE 1 *** From Dan Proft…
I’m very excited about Mickey’s candidacy. He is a proven conservative reform leader.
*** UPDATE 2 *** From one of Proft’s newspapers the other day…
Since assuming control of the Illinois House Republican Caucus four years ago, the law firm of State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) has helped Illinois municipal governments and state agencies amass more than a quarter of a billion dollars in public debt, according to an analysis by Prairie State Wire.
Meanwhile, Durkin has actively backed controversial legislation in Springfield that would encourage more Illinois government borrowing, protecting the buyers of such debt at the expense of taxpayers and, in turn, benefitting his own business.
“It’s a horrible conflict of interest,” said Mark Glennon, publisher of WirePoints Illinois Financial News and a municipal bond expert who has written frequently on the subject. “I was stunned when I found out what law firm Durkin was associated with.”
The firm, Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr, hired Durkin in April 2011 to help lead its “Municipal & Government Practice Group” in Chicago.
Completed deals since 2015 touted on the firm web site total $264 million, including $60 million for Hoffman Estates, $27 million for Berwyn, $11 million for Orland Park, and $10 million for Matteson.
As a partner in the firm, Durkin personally has collected fees on this borrowing.
Yet he didn’t disclose this conflict– nor offer to recuse himself– when voting to support Senate Bill 41, which Glennon described as “an obscene sellout to the municipal bond industry and betrayal of the public interest.”
