Former Illinois State Sen. THOMAS E. CULLERTON pleaded guilty today to a federal embezzlement charge and admitted fraudulently receiving salary and benefits from a labor union for which he did little to no work.
The guilty plea was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; and Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General in Chicago. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amarjeet S. Bhachu and Erika Csicsila.
Cullerton, 52, of Villa Park, Ill., was hired in 2013 by Teamsters Joint Council 25 as a purported union organizer and remained on the payroll until February 2016. In addition to receiving a salary, monthly car and telephone allowances, and bonuses, Teamsters Joint Council 25 also funded Cullerton’s participation in Teamsters Local Union 734’s health and pension funds, which enabled Cullerton to receive health and welfare benefits.
Cullerton admitted in a plea agreement that he did little to no work as an organizer for the three years he was on the union payroll. When his supervisors requested that he perform his job duties, Cullerton routinely ignored them, the plea agreement states. For the last year he remained on the payroll, Cullerton admitted that he performed no work at all of value for Teamsters Joint Council 25. From March 2013 to February 2016, Cullerton fraudulently obtained from Joint Council 25 and its members approximately $169,488 in salary, bonuses, and other benefits, approximately $57,662 in health and pension contributions, and approximately $21,678 in reimbursed medical claims. Cullerton admitted that he used the money to pay personal expenses, such as his mortgage, utilities, and groceries.
The embezzlement charge is punishable by up to five years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman set sentencing for June 21, 2022, at 10:30 a.m.
* Wait. The Illinois First Alliance is having its inaugural second fundraiser in Naples, Florida?…
Come to think of it, lots of Illinois folks will be down in that region right about then. I know some prominent retirees who are not far from there at this very moment. I won’t be around, but only because of session, although I generally tend to avoid Naples.
* The rest of the email…
Good evening! First Virginia… then San Francisco’s school board…then Michael Madigan gets indicted. Folks, we can actually turn Illinois Red. So much more is possible in a wave - 2022 is our moment. Any winning team works together well.
They work as a team, think as a team, check their egos, and operate with a strategic plan to achieve a goal. For years, Chicago Democrats levered their base strategically to rule Illinois. The Madigan-Pritzker Enterprise playbook is to offer more and more spending and sweet deals to government workers while stirring racial and identity politics to hold their coalition together. The result is a state that no longer helps ordinary people: exploding crime, prosecutors that don’t prosecute, schools that don’t teach, perpetual corruption and ever higher taxes.
This is Democrat Illinois. Democrats are the cause of, and Republicans are the solution to, what ails Illinois. For years, Republicans have operated in clusters - creating silos of information and setting up multiple different political groups and events competing for donors’ time and voters’ attention. Too often, the results were losing campaigns, wasted resources, and mixed messaging.
No more.
We recognize if we are to flip seats at every level from blue to red, if we are to make better use of our resources, tools, and tactics, then we must operate as a team. For the first time in the history of our state, the Illinois Senate Republicans, Illinois House Republicans, and the Illinois Republican Party are truly uniting to win.
Under a joint agreement called Illinois First Alliance, we are coming together to raise resources, coordinate on information and strategies, and frankly, work together as a team to flip as many seats as possible from Democrat Blue to Republican Red. This way, we ensure we are better stewards of the resources donors invest and operate as a well-run team to achieve our goal of saving Illinois. For this reason, we invite you to a special event. Together with the Illinois Senate Republicans, Illinois House Republicans, the Illinois Republican Party, please join the leadership of Team Illinois at 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the home of Muneer Satter [redacted] in Naples, FL for a kickoff event for this effort with special guests, Senate Leader Dan McConchie, Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy, and others. Ticket price is $300 per person with sponsorships available at $3000. We are asking host committee members to contribute $3,000. Campaign sponsors are $10,000 and $30,000.
Sincerely,
Richard Porter
Combining House and Senate GOP forces with the ILGOP is an interesting concept, I suppose, but they can already do that through the state party. We’ll see if it gets any buy-in.
Richard Porter is the state’s National Republican Committeeman. He’s also a Richard Irvin backer. Just a wild guess here, but maybe they will get some dough from a certain someone.
If nothing else, the legislative leaders and some other swells have an excuse to go to Naples in March. The fundraiser is just a couple of miles from the Ritz-Carlton and a mile from the swanky Club Pelican Bay golf course.
By the way, a search of the Board of Elections turned up no results yet for Illinois First Alliance.
According to a polling memo shared with Playbook, the race to fill the Illinois Supreme court seat in the new 2nd District remains a toss-up. The poll, conducted by Brian Stryker’s Impact Research for candidate Elizabeth Rochford, shows a virtual tie. If the election were held today, Rochford would get 12 percent of the vote, to Rene Cruz’s 11 percent, Nancy Rotering’s 10 percent, and 67 percent undecided. All of the candidates are within the margin of error.
The polling memo says Rochford passes her competitors when respondents learn that she’s a Lake County Circuit Court judge and Rotering is mayor of Highland Park: Rochford gets 40 percent to Rotering’s 19 percent. Cruz, a Kane County Circuit Court judge, likely isn’t included in the polling memo because he’s trailing in fundraising. The point being, candidates need money and messaging to get their names before voters for the June 28 primary.
You’d think that Mayor Rotering, who has run for various offices, would be starting off with a much higher base name ID. The poll is here.
* Republican gubernatorial candidate Jesse Sullivan recently completed a 15-day, 52-county “statewide truck tour” and posted a video. Trouble is, there is no Tuscola County in Illinois…
Oops.
There’s a Tuscola County in Michigan on Saginaw Bay. Maybe somebody in the campaign has a summer home there.
* Press release…
[Yesterday], Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) filed approximately 14 times the required amount of petition signatures required by the Illinois State Board of Elections to officially confirm her candidacy for U.S. Representative of Illinois’ 14th Congressional District. This is the largest number of signatures ever submitted by the Lauren Underwood for Congress campaign totalling 5,645 petition signatures collected from every county in the newly-drawn IL-14. Congresswoman Lauren Underwood issued the following statement in response:
Same district, other party…
Jim Marter has the most signatures, the best name recognition, the most endorsements and the strongest grassroots team behind him in this Primary. … Marter submitted his signature package in Springfield early in the morning on Monday and said he was humbled by the 40+ volunteers who circulated them for him, securing over 1,200 signatures from all seven counties within the district.
Another GOP primary candidate in that district named Mike Koolidge…
[Yesterday] morning I was down in Springfield and submitted nearly 1,200 petition signatures, from residents in all 7 counties in the 14th District, to be on the ballot to serve as your next member of Congress!
* Press release…
Today, the National Association of Letter Carriers, announced their endorsement of Nikki Budzinski in Illinois’ 13th Congressional District. The NALC represents thousands of city letter carriers across Illinois.
The NALC’s endorsement is the latest in a broad coalition of support that Budzinski is building, including U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, the Illinois AFL-CIO, EMILY’s List, State Treasurer Mike Frerichs, Rep. “Chuy” García, Rep. Sean Casten, Rep. Cheri Bustos, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Rep. Mike Quigley, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Rep. Bill Foster, Madison County, St. Clair County, and Sangamon County Democrats, State Senator Christopher Belt, Assistant Majority Leader Jay Hoffman, House Democratic Caucus Chair LaToya Greenwood, State Representative Katie Stuart, UFCW Local 881, Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT), The United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC), SEIU State Council, United Steelworkers (USW), IBEW Locals 51, 146, 193, 309, 601 and 649, Communications Workers of America (CWA), Sheet Metal Air Rail and Transportation Workers’ Union, Heat and Frost Insulators, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois (AFFI), Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) Local 8, Leage of Conservation Voters, J Street, Elect Democratic Women, Pastor T. Ray McJunkins, County Chairs Bill Houlihan (Sangamon), and Pam Monetti (Macoupin).
Nikki Budzinski made the following statement: “The U.S. Postal Service is an institution and the men and women who make it run are public servants that frequently are unsung heroes. I am committed to working with the NALC to make sure the U.S. Postal Service has a bright future. I look forward to advocating for the NALC’s members in Congress.”
Tony Bultinck, President of the Illinois Association of Letter Carriers, made the following statement: “Our members need an advocate on the federal level that will fight for us and make sure the United States Postal Service has a bright future in America. Nikki’s years of experience in the labor movement mean that we can work with her, support her, and trust that she will always have our members’ backs. We are eager to work with her.”
Always be kind to your letter carriers, especially if you have a lot of direct mailers to send.
We are writing to ask your administration to freeze any unreleased funds associated with four projects contained within the 2019 Rebuild Illinois initiative which are tied directly to indicted former Speaker Mike Madigan.
The massive 22-count indictment of Madigan calls into question the legitimacy of these projects and whether they inured to the benefit of the community and the taxpayers or whether they were advanced at the behest of Madigan on behalf of or to benefit his private law clients or other politically-connected individuals or entities.
According to a January 2022 report published in the Sun-Times, the 2019 Rebuild Illinois capital package contained $144M of projects directly tied to former Speaker Madigan. Records show that among other projects, Madigan secured $98M to address train brake noise outside three hotels near Midway Airport owned by two brothers, who were clients of Madigan’s property tax business. According to the Better Government Association, the brothers said they never requested the funding. The report also identified three additional projects tied to Madigan, totaling $6M for a control tower at Lewis University Airport in Romeoville, $31M for The Academy for Global Citizenship, a charter school near Madigan’s former House district, and $9M for John Hancock College Prep, a Chicago public high school in Madigan’s former district. According to the BGA, the Academy received tens of millions more than it requested and no funding was requested for John Hancock by CPS.
Although some of the funding for these projects may have already been allocated, and projects completed or underway, we request another layer of review to determine whether they were an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars. If not, and any unallocated funding remains, the General Assembly should reallocate the funds for much-needed capital or infrastructure needs.
We applaud your strong support of much-needed school projects, critical infrastructure needs, roads and bridges, mental health clinics, food pantries and other legislative priorities via the Rebuild Illinois program.
Likewise, we appreciate your strong rebuke of Madigan’s actions as alleged in the indictment and share your view that they constituted a stark violation of the public trust. We join you in your commitment to ensure accountability and integrity in state government and am hopeful we can work together to restore not only the misappropriated public dollars but the trust that Illinoisans have in their elected officials.
Thank you,
Rep. Ann M. Williams
Rep. Terra Costa Howard
Rep. Deb Conroy
Rep. Lindsey LaPointe
Rep. Kelly Cassidy
Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
Rep. Jonathan Carroll
Rep. Kathy Willis
Rep. Anne Stava-Murray
For the better part of the past decade, hotel owners Jon Weglarz and Mark Weglarz fought to put a damper on the noise caused by screeching train brakes outside their Midway Airport-area properties.
Now, it appears they’ve finally succeeded — with the intervention of the Weglarz brothers’ longtime property tax lawyer, then-House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, who delivered $98 million in taxpayer money for what undoubtedly would be one of the most expensive brake jobs in history. […]
Records show at least $144 million went to four projects backed by Madigan that avoided the usual review process and benefited people the former speaker has ties to.
Beside the money for reducing the noise from trains near Midway Airport, those projects also included $31 million for a charter school records show asked for only $1.5 million, $9 million for a new Chicago high school building that the Chicago Public Schools hadn’t sought that funding for and $6 million for a Romeoville airport control tower that a Madigan political ally had wanted for years.
* The Question: Should the governor freeze any unreleased funds associated with those four Madigan projects? Please explain your answer in comments.
*** UPDATE *** This question is now moot. From Jordan Abudayyeh…
At the request of members of the General Assembly who voted for the capital plan, the administration will freeze the funding for the projects outlined in their letter.
Covid delayed but couldn't stop Rep. Tom Weber from sticking with it and passing his bill to change "accident" to "crash" out of the House last week. Congratulations and thank you, Rep! On to the Senate! #bikechihttps://t.co/VHyarkJaoNpic.twitter.com/WHmikXzkus
* Only one of these bills (HB4647) has so far advanced. Media advisory…
Employees, legislators push to raise wages for Direct Support Personnel (DSPs)
New bills include “passthrough” language ensuring funds go to workers, require employers to report on demographics of workforce
Direct Support Personnel (DSPs) who provide the best possible care for individuals with developmental disabilities will hold a State Capitol news conference tomorrow (Wednesday, March 9) and testify before a House subject matter hearing on bills to raise DSP wages, ensure state funding goes to workers and require provider agencies to report to the General Assembly on wage rates, turnover and the demographics of their workforce.
The DSPs are members of AFSCME Council 31 and SEIU Healthcare Illinois.
News conference
WHO: DSPs, their unions and state lawmakers including Sens. Cristina Castro (invited) and Celina Villanueva and Reps. Marcus Evans and Lamont Robinson
WHERE: State Capitol blue room
WHEN: 11:30 a.m. tomorrow (Wednesday, March 9)
Legislative hearing
WHO: DSPs and their unions
WHERE: House Labor & Commerce Committee, Virtual Room 5 www.ilga.gov
WHEN: 2:00 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday, March 9)
Both events will be carried live on BlueRoomStream. DSPs from Chicago, its suburbs, Rockford and central Illinois will be available for media interviews.
The employees, their unions and lawmakers are urging passage of:
• SB 3607 (Villanueva) and HB 4616 (Evans) to raise wages by $3.50 an hour in the coming year and ensure these funds go to workers, not other purposes; and
• HB 4647 (Robinson and Castro) to collect data on wage rates, turnover and workforce demographics to inform advocates, policymakers and legislators.
Background
In Illinois, more than 27,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities live in community residential settings and rely on DSPs to enhance their quality of life. From daily personal care (eating, grooming, and dressing) to teaching essential skills and attending to complex medical needs the work of DSPs is physically and emotionally demanding. Over the past five budget cycles, Illinois has increased funding for these services by 52%, yet starting wages remain barely above minimum wage in many agencies, turnover is often 50% or more and vacancies are staggeringly high.
Further, though agency reimbursement has increased to $16.00 per hour for DSP services, the starting wage at many agencies remains barely above minimum wage. This disparity exists because the state has funded increases earmarked for DSP wages but not always required community agencies to pass the wage increases through to workers.
* Press release…
The Illinois Bankers Association (IBA) applauds House passage of legislation that would create a task force dedicated to reforming the home appraisal process to address inequalities in home ownership created by decades of policies that have particularly impacted minority homebuyers.
Sponsored by Rep. Lamont J. Robinson, D-Chicago, HB 4410 creates the Real Estate Valuation Task Force to address institutional racial and ethnic bias in the home appraisal process and propose reforms to this important part of the mortgage lending process.
“We should all be embarrassed about the long history of discrimination in housing lending for Black and Brown families, which result in very painful consequences that last for generations,” said Rep. Robinson. “This task force is an important step forward to recognize the damage from this institutionalized discrimination and develop a framework for changing how we value property to make sure all residents are treated fairly. I thank the lending organizations for working with me to create this task force and pursue solutions that will matter, especially in minority communities.”
Home appraisals are a common obstacle to obtaining a mortgage loan. According to a recent Lending Tree survey, 58% of Black homeowners believe their race, sexual orientation, or another protected demographic was factored into their home appraisals. Home appraisal valuations are set by appraisers, with banks and other mortgage loan originators strictly prohibited from setting these values.
However, Illinois is currently facing an appraiser shortage. As a result, appraisers are performing valuations with little first-hand knowledge about the communities they work in. The Real Estate Valuation Task Force would seek real solutions to address valuation disparities and engage more people in the profession, especially from communities that are most impacted by inequitable lending practices.
“On behalf of bankers across the state, we commend Rep. Lamont Robinson and the General Assembly for taking steps towards equitable reforms of the mortgage lending process. Inequitable lending in the homebuying process is a decades old problem, and the banking industry is dedicated to unraveling the policies that unfairly impact minority homebuyers,” said Ben Jackson, Executive Vice President of Government Relations for the IBA. “Addressing homeownership disparities requires participation from all parties in the homebuying process, and we look forward collaborating and enacting real change for home lending practices in our state.”
The measure now heads to the Senate for consideration.
A consumer advocacy group says a measure that would ban flavored tobacco products in Illinois, including vapes, could do more harm than good.
State Sen. Julie Morrison, D-Lake Forest, has been a steadfast supporter of banning flavored tobacco products, which she said are intentionally targeted to children with candy-like names. She has introduced Senate Bill 3854, which would prohibit the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes and chewing tobacco. The measure remains in a Senate committee.
Elizabeth Hicks, U.S. Affairs analyst with the Consumer Choice Center, said enacting a flavor ban for vaping products will push adult consumers to switch back to smoking combustible tobacco at a time when smoking cigarettes has been trending down in Illinois.
Documentation Used To Determine Service in a Theater Of Combat Operations
• Military service documentation that reflects service in a combat theater, or
• receipt of combat service medals, and/or Page 1 of 3
• receipt of imminent danger or hostile fire pay or tax benefits.
1. Combat military occupational specialty (MOS);
2. the grant of certain awards such as the Combat Infantry Badge, Medal of Honor, and Purple Heart (among many other awards);
3. Evidence that the veteran received hazardous duty pay;
4. Buddy statements about combat.
You can determine where they participated in combat operations by looking in Section 18 of the DD 214. This section should say that they “served in a designated imminent danger pay area.”
The Southwest Asia Service Medal (SWASM) was established by Executive Order 12754, March 12, 1991. It is awarded to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States serving in Southwest Asia and contiguous waters or airspace thereover, on or after August 2, 1990 to November 30, 1995. Southwest Asia and contiguous waters, as used herein, is defined as an area which includes the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, that portion of the Arabian Sea that lies north of 10 degrees N. latitude and west of 68 degrees E. longitude, as well as the total land areas of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates.
According to Irvin’s documentation (which I agreed not to share publicly because it contains private information), Irvin was stationed in Saudi Arabia from January 8, 1991 To May 3, 1991. Service in that country during that period of time qualified soldiers for Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger Pay.
So, yeah, Irvin qualifies to use that description of himself. Whether his experience lives up to his dramatic TV ad will be up to others to decide.
With the recent changes in COVID mitigations at the state level, the Senate has made several updates to our COVID safety protocols.
You will still be required to show a negative PCR test to gain entry to Senate offices, committee rooms, press boxes and galleries. More information on testing is below. Rapid and at-home tests will not be accepted.
Face masks, which cover the nose and mouth, are strongly encouraged but not required for all persons in Senate areas of the Capitol. Please take care and respect in approaching or meeting with another person within 6ft as to their preference on mask-wearing.
Senate galleries will be open to 50% capacity and all entrants must have a wristband.
Testing protocols remain the same, but please review details below if you need a refresher or need to test for the first time.
Members of the Illinois House are expected to vote today to make masks optional in the chamber. The approval would put an end to standoffs with Republicans who have opposed the face-coverings.
“It’s time,” House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch said in an interview in his office after taking up the issue with his Democratic Caucus.
“We wanted to check with them first. I don’t want to be guessing,” he said. “I’m hopeful that that’s something we can take up [Tuesday] when we convene.” It would go into effect immediately, so we imagine a dramatic moment of masks flying like caps in a graduation scene in the movies.
Welch also met with House Minority Leader Jim Durkin about taking a vote to make masks optional. The response? “It was the shortest meeting I’ve had with him all year,” Welch said.
The expected new guidance follows contentious debates on the House floor with some Republicans being kicked out of the chamber for not wearing masks. The decision also follows Gov. JB Pritzker easing up the indoor mask mandate in Illinois and Congress removing its mask mandate as well.
*** UPDATE *** The House resolution passed with one dissenting vote, Rep. Lakesia Collins (D-Chicago), who sponsored the motions to kick the House Republican violators off the floor.
Thomas DeVore, the attorney representing Wilhour, said the modified rule means the lawsuit isn’t necessary. But, he said they’ll bring the lawsuit again if masks are ever mandated on members without due process.
“I’m pleased to hear the Democratic majority passed a resolution withdrawing their unlawful mask policy,” DeVore told The Center Square. “While the chamber can adopt rules of decorum, this does not include the discretion to adopt public health policy.”
DeVore said they were ready to challenge the rule in Sangamon County court Wednesday. But, the House dropping the rule “at the last minute renders the hearing no longer necessary.”
“The House majority should not believe this issue is over for if they ever try again to adopt an unconstitutional quarantine policy cloaked as a decorum rule, Representative Wilhour and I will return to defend the people’s House,” DeVore said.
Again, the TRO containing the bizarre quarantine reasoning was vacated. There’s nothing on the books upholding this theory.
Tuesday, Mar 8, 2022 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
AARP Illinois has a new State Director.
Philippe Largent, who has spent 25 years advocating for greater access to quality, affordable health care and other issues central to the well-being of Illinois residents, joined AARP Illinois on March 7.
Largent began his career as a budget and policy analyst for the Illinois House of Representatives. He provided counsel to General Assembly members on a variety of issues including healthcare, housing and state government operations.
From 1997 to 2010 Largent served as Director of Legislative Affairs and then VP for Government Affairs for the Illinois Primary Health Care Association, a trade association representing the network of Community Health Centers providing healthcare services to low income, uninsured residents.
He was IPHCA’s lead strategist and advocate for legislative and regulatory matters before the executive branches of federal/state government, U.S. Congress, the IL General Assembly and federal and state agencies.
In 2010, Philippe founded Largent Government Solutions, LLC, a lobbying and consulting firm specializing in state-based lobbying and health care consulting with an emphasis on primary care network development, Medicaid policy, managed care issues, and community health center development/compliance.
In his new role, Largent will be the lead spokesperson for AARP Illinois, while also filling the top executive role with a team of 15 staff members in Springfield and Chicago.
Consulting funds flowing from AT&T to a lobbyist with deep ties to then-House Speaker Michael Madigan and eventually to a former state representative are at the center of a federal investigation into the telephone giant’s lobbying practices in Springfield, the Tribune has learned.
Last month, AT&T disclosed in a regulatory filing that federal prosecutors had notified them they were considering filing criminal charges against its Illinois subsidiary, formally known as Illinois Bell Telephone Co. LLC, involving “a single, nine-month consulting contract in 2017″ worth $22,500.
The Tribune reported that the feds were looking into $22,500 in AT&T money passed through to former state Rep. Edward Acevedo, who was not registered as an AT&T lobbyist at the time and whose work product was questioned.
* Well, the Tribune reporters did some arithmetic and found a big golden nugget in the recent Madigan/McClain indictment…
Though the indictment specifically used the plural, “businesses,” only one company, Commonwealth Edison, has so far been named as having participated in that alleged conduct.
Ninety-five pages later, the indictment ends with two forfeiture allegations, representing money prosecutors will seek to collect as ill-gotten gains from Madigan and his co-defendant, Michael McClain, in the event of a conviction.
The first forfeiture seeks funds that “include but are not limited to approximately $2,850,337.” The second forfeiture is slightly lower, pegged at $2,827,837.
The difference between the numbers? $22,500.
That figure may seem insignificant, but it happens to be the exact amount of a consulting contract that AT&T has acknowledged is under scrutiny by the U.S. attorney’s office as part of the investigation into Madigan’s political operation.
* Candidates wait in snow and cold to file petitions and win chance for coveted top ballot spot: Not among the early filers was cryptocurrency venture capitalist Jesse Sullivan of Petersburg, who was the last announced GOP contender for governor to select a running mate — candidates for governor and lieutenant governor must run as a team. A Sullivan spokesman did not reply when asked if he’s hoping to secure the last ballot spot next week. … Valencia spoke of the challenges of campaigning and collecting petitions this election season. “It took a lot of grit to get through petitions in dead winter during COVID in the surge,” she said. “So, I think today is just about coming together for democracy and really just excited to make the ballot and kick off what’s going to be the next sprint of the race.”
* With cloud of Madigan indictment overhead, candidates file to get on Illinois primary ballot: Also on hand, House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, helped file petitions for House Republicans to get on the ballot. He said he’ll work to make voters fully aware of the cloud of corruption in Illinois politics. “Last week was a very, very convincing blow to the Democrats,” Durkin said. “I don’t know how they could recover, but the fact is my job is to educate everybody about what Democrats, Pritzker, Madigan and Welch have done statewide.”
* Irvin, Bourne and Republican slate kick off 2022 election campaign in Springfield: Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) has served in the House for 10 years. Demmer told supporters at the State House Inn that Illinois government has to be more ethical and more responsible. He noted the Commonwealth Edison deferred prosecution agreement led to charges for several people close to Madigan. Demmer was also the Republican spokesman on the special legislative committee that investigated Madigan throughout 2020. Demmer said that Democrats protected Madigan throughout the process and prevented a thorough investigation. “But we created an environment where it became impossible for Democrats to continue to evade those answers. It became impossible for them to refuse to hold their leader accountable,” Demmer said. “By the time the next term rolled around, Mike Madigan didn’t have enough support to remain Speaker of the House. And folks, today, for the first time in 50 years, we can say Mike Madigan is no longer a public official in the state of Illinois.”
* Under Madigan Corruption Cloud, Election Season Begins in Illinois: “This was the most difficult election I’ve ever been involved in,” Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough said. “First of all this is Chicago; this is winter. There’s a pandemic. They squeezed us – usually we have 90 days, this year we only had 60 days to get petitions. People didn’t answer their doors. Love Ring cameras. They don’t work for us.”
* Campaign 2022 kicks off with ‘camaraderie,’ coffee and catcalls — as candidates line up to get on the ballot: State Sen. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, used the occasion to file about 18,300 petition signatures in his race for governor — and to fire another shot in his ongoing verbal battle against primary opponent Richard Irvin. “I think he’s probably filing as a Republican. He probably should file as a Democrat. I think people are aware of that already,” Bailey said of the Aurora mayor. … “We’re sick and tired of Republicans trying to take away the benefits that working families get from having Democratic leadership,” the governor said. “We’re the party that stands up not only for voting rights and women’s rights, but also for making sure that people earn good wages, that we can create jobs for everybody in the state of Illinois.”
* Candidates for governor converge for filing day: Monday, Schimpf took aim at opponents like Darren Bailey for stoking fear and outrage during his campaign. “I offer the people of Illinois solutions instead of outrage,” Schimpf said. “You know, the missing ingredient is leadership. We need leaders that can listen to the people of Illinois learn in and lead our state in a manner that brings us together.” “People are outraged and people are scared people are moving out of the state people are pulling their children out of school at a public school,” Bailey said in response to Schimpf. “What’s the other thing that you would do, what would it be it would be to stick with the status quo. Status quo is not working.”
* Irvin ‘kicks off’ gubernatorial campaign downstate as Pritzker rallies supporters: “He’s being backed by the money and they want to keep things status quo,” Bailey said prior to filing his petitions. “And everyone that I’ve talked to here in Illinois is sick and tired of the status quo. And the fact that people are leaving this state every day, that gives credence to that.” Irvin, however, dismissed such criticism, pointing to his experience as a combat veteran and efforts by Democrats to defeat him in local elections in Aurora. “Listen, my opponents are gonna say a lot of things,” Irvin said. “And they have to because what they can’t say is that I have a record that doesn’t show that I’m the most capable person of being governor of Illinois.” … In addition to talking to voters, Irvin and Bourne were joined by a camera crew, who appeared to be collecting videos for future television ads.
* Hundreds gather to get their names on the 2022 ballot: It’s a tradition in Illinois politics to line up outside the election office to deposit your petitions on the first day they’re accepted. Candidates will have the entire week to submit their signatures, but filing them today gives them a chance to be the first name on the ballot for their race. “It’s a lot of shared camaraderie,” Gubernatorial candidate Paul Schimpf said. “Only other candidates understand what it’s like to go through this, so it’s a lot of fun.”
* Primary candidates for governor, secretary of state make it official: Without mentioning Madigan by name, Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch noted that he leads the House now and issued a critique of former GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner. Illinois “was held hostage by an extreme special interest agenda (under Rauner), and they’re trying to reboot that,” Welch said.
* Primary ballot hopefuls assemble for petition signature day: Two Democratic primaries are being closely watched. In Illinois’ first congressional district, more than 15 candidates are vying to replace retiring Congressman Bobby Rush. Chicago Alderwoman Pat Dowell is among them. “I am full of joy. I’m excited about this morning,” Dowell said. “I did not expect the line to be this long.”
* Hundreds of candidates in Illinois line up to try for the top spot on the ballot: “It’s exciting! You can feel, even in the cold, the energy. A lot of candidates have worked really hard, but I’m really proud of our campaign,” said Nikki Budzinski, a Democratic congressional hopeful. Jesse Reising, a Republican candidate for the same seat, was also in line. He was just a few spots behind Budzinski. “This is my first time going through this process,” said Reising. “It was quote the spectacle to behold.”
Republican governor candidate Richard Irvin took questions yesterday from reporters for six minutes, during which he swerved here and there, turning his answers into attacks on Gov. JB Pritzker or Republican opponents.
Asked why his ads promote his work as a prosecutor but fail to mention defending people accused of the kind of crimes he says he’s tough on, Irvin said he has “a unique perspective to address crime” and that opponents won’t talk about his time spent serving his country or as a mayor. (See what he did there?)
Pressed a few times for a better answer, he said, “the foundation of our country says every person is innocent until proven guilty. But until then, the Constitution says everyone deserves the best defense possible.”
* And good for Shia, who repeatedly demanded that Irvin answer Dave Dahl’s question about being a defense attorney when Irvin went on a long ramble…
Well, I’ve been a prosecutor first part of my career. And there’s a saying, once a prosecutor always a prosecutor. The fact is, I have a unique perspective, throughout my whole career as a lawyer to be able to address crime and stop it. Now, what a lot of my opponents won’t talk about is my time serving our country. You know, as as someone who served the country’s war. [”But, mayor, you didn’t answer his question.”] Hold on one second, hold the, hold on one second. But they won’t talk about my opponents. They won’t talk about the fact that you know, I’ve actually been a prosecutor that worked along the police side-by-side making a difference in our community. They won’t talk about my time as mayor with proven results of getting things done now. [”But mayor, answer his question.” “You’re a defense attorney…”] Well, listen, this is the United States of America. Most of us believe in the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Illinois, that says the foundation of our of our country is that every person is innocent ’til proven guilty. And once they’re found guilty, they get sentenced and go to jail, and rightfully so. [Reporters try to ask follow-ups.] But until then, but, but until then, the Constitution says it’s the bedrock of our country that everybody deserves the best the best events they can possibly get. But my time is the processor is what makes me uniquely, uniquely uniquely capable of addressing crime in our state. I’ve done it in my city by reducing crime, and I’ll do it in the state of Illinois
Richard Baxter Irvin was born a slave, but he dreamed of being free. Eventually, he lived that dream, following it to the land of the man who made it possible.
He found opportunity here as a mason, helping build his community, brick by brick. Some are still here. He built a legacy I stand on today. I don’t just share the name Richard Irvin. I share his dream of what Illinois could be, where a growing economy provides ladders of opportunity for anyone willing to work. Where families are safe. Where kids are educated, not indoctrinated.
I asked him why he thinks kids are being indoctrinated…
What I said is students should not be indoctrinated and that parents should have a voice in their education in the state of Illinois. We should make sure that we give parents the opportunity to to participate in their youth’s education.
Hannah Meisel quickly followed up by asking if he thought kids were being indoctrinated. Irvin ignored her question.
* Irvin is quite disciplined about ignoring questions and saying only what he wants to say. For instance, check out this exchange from a WGN Radio appearance last week. He was asked a simple question four times and never once answered it…
Q: Is [Ken Griffin] offering more than money? I mean, are there advisors that have come with this or different sorts of advice, or was it strictly a campaign contribution? I guess, you know, is there more cooperation than just the funding?
A: Listen, you know, Ken Griffin, I appreciate his support, as I appreciate the support of anyone that will donate and folks that have donated to my campaign since I announced only a month and two weeks ago, a month and a half ago. And since then, we have created so much excitement in this race and we’ve been traveling all throughout the state talking to our residents and they tell us they want someone like me that can fight against the taxes and spending that’s out of control, can fight against the crime that’s out of control, fight against the corruption that’s out of control. And based on my record, you know, I’m the best person to do that and the best person to beat JB Pritzker when we get to the general and…
Q: I understand, you made that point. But my question was did the Citadel, the Griffin money come with advisors, advice, any other cooperation or was it strictly just the contribution?
A: Listen, as I said, any contribution that I’ve got, whether from Ken Griffin or anyone else, is because they believe that…
Q: Mr. Mayor, I understand that and he clearly does believe in you. He’s giving you a lot of money. But I’ve asked my question a couple of times here. Is there anything more than just the check?
A: As I said, I’ve answered it a number of times…
Q: I didn’t hear the answer. Okay, so there’s nothing other than the check.
A: They, they believe, they believe in my agenda. There are no strings to anything other than pushing forward the agenda of Richard Irvin, taking the state to the next level, returning us to the true Land of Lincoln and putting pride back in Illinois.
Anyone who paid the least bit of attention to Illinois politics over the last few years knew that Mike Madigan was corrupt. Indeed, Democrats connected to Madigan took surprise losses in 2020 in key house districts (House Democrats Net -1), a Supreme Court District (Kilbride retention defeat) and a high profile congressional race (Rodney Davis crushes Betsy Londrigan). A non-corrupt governor would’ve run for the hills rather than stand by Madigan’s side.
By early 2021, Madigan and his entire political machine had been under investigation for two years. Offices raided, indictments raining down. It was obvious who federal investigators were after. And beyond corruption, Illinois had been led for nearly 40 years by Madigan and it had never looked worse.
Yet, the day Madigan opted to step into the shadows, Madigan’s #1 supporter, Governor JB Pritzker, made sure everyone knew exactly how he felt about the now indicted Ex-Speaker.
Pritzker waxed poetic saying, “The people of Illinois have much to be grateful for thanks to his dedicated public service, and the many sacrifices he and his family made to make a difference in our lives.”
Questions for the Governor now:
• Nothing has changed between then and now except the rumors being confirmed - so does the governor still believe the people of Illinois should be grateful for Madigan’s service?
• When other candidates during the 2018 Democratic gubernatorial primary said Madigan should step down, Pritzker demurred. When it was obvious who federal investigators were after, some Democrats voiced that it was time their longtime leader retire. Pritzker never voiced that desire. And when many other Democrats took Madigan’s campaign cash, Pritzker actually gave Madigan over $10 million. Why does Pritzker have such a special affection for one of the most corrupt politicians in America?
The $10 million figure is accurate.
* The full Pritzker quote from the day Madigan resigned from the House…
“When you dedicate your career to public service, it’s your loved ones who make the biggest sacrifices – whether it’s because you’re away from home, working long hours or spending time with constituents,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Michael J. Madigan and his family dedicated countless hours to serving Illinois families, particularly during the Rauner years, when he served as the bulwark against constant cruelty to the most vulnerable.
Over his decades in office, he shepherded through some of the most consequential changes to our state: bringing about the legalization of gay marriage, fighting on the frontlines for workers’ rights, raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, expanding access to voting and protecting women’s reproductive rights. The people of Illinois have much to be grateful for thanks to his dedicated public service, and the many sacrifices he and his family made to make a difference in our lives. I know how dearly he loves his wife Shirley, their children and grandchildren, and I hope that in this next chapter, his family can begin to make up for lost time.”
For years, it’s been consistent: no matter who was in charge, state government continued to waste your money, racking up billions in unpaid bills and spending a fortune on interest that could have been used to improve schools or fix roads.
When I took office, I said those days were over. Now, we pay bills on time.
We’re eliminating the backlog, and last year alone saved $262 million.
Because it’s your money, and it’s time Springfield respected it.
Former Illinois Legislative Inspector General Carol Pope announced her endorsement of Republican Jesse Sullivan for governor Tuesday:
“Jesse Sullivan will make an excellent governor. He means it when he says he wants to eliminate corruption in our state. The residents of Illinois have grown weary of the many indictments charging our elected officials with wrongdoing,” Pope said.
“I am a firm believer in public service. In its truest form, it is a labor of love on behalf of those who seek to advance the public good. It is time for the next generation of civic-minded leaders to step into the arena and work for the betterment of our state.”
“Jesse’s life has been about working on behalf of others, and I know that he will bring a tireless work ethic, and devotion to good governance, to this role,” Pope added. “Jesse is the leader for this moment. ”
“I am absolutely thrilled to have Carol’s support in this race for governor,” Sullivan said. “She has been a tireless advocate for the people of Illinois. I am honored to pick up the baton in this fight against corrupt insiders who have used public office to enrich themselves, at the expense of everyday Illinoisans. As governor, I will push for the strongest ethics reform in the history of our great state, including using every tool at my disposal to transform the office of the legislative general from a ‘paper tiger’ to a real force for accountability, as Carol fought for time and time again. We are going to be the land of Lincoln again.”
Carol Pope served as Illinois’ legislative inspector general until January 6, 2022. She resigned in the wake of ethics reform legislation that left her with “no real power to effect change or shine a light on ethics violations.” Prior to her resignation, the bill had been praised by Republicans and Democrats alike.
Rumble, an upstart website with a reputation for spreading misinformation about vaccines and the 2020 election, has financial ties to the wealthiest political megadonor in Illinois, according to publicly available financial documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
A simple search for the word “vaccine” on Rumble’s homepage returned three times more videos with misinformation than accurate claims, according to research published in Wired Magazine. Rumble’s presentation and distribution of video content amplified misinformation about vaccines and elections more than any other topics, according to the study’s findings.
“Whether they claim that they are responsible for this information, they they are having a role in it,” said Emily Van Duyn, a University of Illinois professor who studies politics and digital media. “That creates a situation where they need to step up and take more ownership of what content is on their platform.” […]
The company was created to compete with rival YouTube, which has taken recent steps to stifle the spread of misinformation, such as false or misleading claims about the 2020 election results or COVID-19 vaccines. Those messages, often banished from YouTube, are welcome and widely available on Rumble. […]
When Rumble went public on December 1st, 2021, it did so with significant financial backing of Ken Griffin’s Chicago-based hedge fund, Citadel Advisers. The Chicago-based hedge fund pooled together funds in February of 2021 to form a a special-purpose acquisition company or “SPAC” (CF Acquisition Corp. VI VI). The Griffin-backed shell company officially “merged” with Rumble. It holds 826,864 shares in Rumble, which are now worth $8,028,849 and amounts to the fifth largest holding position in Rumble.
A recent investment analyst reported the company’s stock went “soaring 10% in December,” and boasts 8 billion minutes watched in the third quarter of 2021.
* Maxwell updates…
Booted from major American social media platforms, anti-Democratic Russian propaganda finds a home on Rumble, an alt-right misinformation amplifier.
Records show Ken Griffin’s Citadel Advisors now holds more shares in Rumble than any other investor.https://t.co/riO0Gy1ezk
Russian state-controlled news network RT said on Thursday it will begin broadcasting on Rumble, a YouTube-like video site, after tech companies including Meta Platforms (FB.O) and Twitter (TWTR.N) have restricted access to RT following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Tech companies in recent days have moved to restrict Russian state-controlled media including RT and Sputnik in response to requests from governments and calls to prevent the spread of Russia propaganda. Russia has called its actions in Ukraine a “special operation.”
The Grif slate may have to deal with this.
*** UPDATE *** From a source close to the billionaire: “We have been out of Rumble for months. The position Mark reported is as of 12/31/21.” The facts “will be clear when its quarterly SEC filing is released in the middle of April,” the top source claimed.
Standing with the people of Ukraine against the brutal assault on their nation and their democracy, the state’s largest union of public service workers is calling on public pension funds to take appropriate steps to divest all assets linked to Russia.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 31 has sent letters today to the Illinois State Board of Investment, which governs investment policy for the State Employees’ Retirement System, as well as to other public pension funds in Illinois in which AFSCME members participate.
“AFSCME strongly condemns Putin’s shameful assault on the nation of Ukraine. Each of us must do our part to support the valiant resistance of the Ukrainian people in their struggle to protect their democracy,” Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch said, calling for the prudent divestment of pension fund assets with ties to Russia.
“This is truly a global emergency,” Lynch said, “that compels all freedom-loving people of conscience to take urgent action to support the people of Ukraine.”
While Russian troops move into Ukraine, an act of war the likes of which has not been seen in Europe since 1939, House Republican Leader Jim Durkin will introduce legislation to send a message to the Ukrainian people that Illinois supports them and will not do business with these vicious warmongers.
“This morning, we woke up to shocking images crossing our TV screens. People in cities throughout Ukraine huddled in subways and shelters while explosions shake their cities as Russian soldiers begin an invasion of their homeland,” said Durkin. “Today, we must send a strong signal to these people that we stand with them and support their sovereignty – that the State of Illinois is prepared to do what we can to help.”
Durkin’s legislation would require Illinois to divest of any pension funds in Russian companies and prohibit the state’s treasury from holding any Russian assets.
“Too often partisanship dominates our efforts in the General Assembly, but this is an opportunity for us to stand up as a bipartisan body and do what is right to support the Ukrainian people in the face of unimaginable hardship. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this done.”
The bill is HB4872, as amended. The bill is currently sitting in the Rules Committee.
* The Question: Should Illinois add “companies domiciled in Russia” to transactions already prohibited by state retirement systems (companies that boycott Israel, for-profit companies that contract to shelter migrant children, Iran-restricted companies, Sudan-restricted companies, and expatriated entities)? Explain.
* I’m told that former state party chair Mike Madigan (4th CD) is not running. These candidates are what I have so far. I’ll update later…
HARRIS, MICHELLE A. (i) 1ST STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEWOMAN
RUSH, BOBBY L. (i) 1ST STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEMAN
EVANS, JR., MARCUS C. 1ST STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEMAN
SIMS, JR., ELGIE R. 1ST STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEMAN
KELLY, ROBIN (i) 2ND STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEWOMAN
DAVIS, WILLIAM “WILL” 2ND STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEMAN
SHORTER, ADAM 2ND STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEMAN
MARTINEZ, IRIS Y. (i) 3RD STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEWOMAN
VILLEGAS, GILBERT “GIL” 3RD STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEMAN
AQUINO, OMAR 3RD STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEMAN
HERNANDEZ, ELIZABETH “LISA” 4TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEWOMAN
GARCIA, JESUS “CHUY” (i) 4TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEMAN
CROKE, MARGARET 5TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEWOMAN
SPYROPOULOS, MARIYANA 5TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEWOMAN
WILLIAMS, ANN M. 5TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEWOMAN
SHEPHERDSON, NANCY 5TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEWOMAN
MARTWICK, ROBERT 5TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEMAN
CULLERTON, JOHN J. (i) 5TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEMAN
VILLIVALAM, RAM 5TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEMAN
Rep. Kelly Burke 6TH SCC
Silvana Tabares 6TH SCC
Bill Cunningham 6TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEMAN
WATSON, PATRICK 6TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEMAN
HYNES, PATRICK J. 6TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEMAN
Danny Davis 7th (i) STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEMAN
Don Harmon 7th STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEMAN
YARBROUGH, KAREN A. (i) 7TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEWOMAN
CASTRO, CRISTINA (i) 8TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEWOMAN
CUDZIK, MICHAEL C. (i) 8TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEMAN
RONEN, CAROL (i) 9TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEWOMAN
CABONARGI, MICHAEL (i) 9TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEMAN
MCINTYRE, RYAN 9TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEMAN
BUSH, MELINDA 10TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEWOMAN
SLOAN, HAL 10TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEWOMAN
GASH, LAUREN BETH (i) 10TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEWOMAN
MAILLARD, THOMAS (i) 10TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEMAN
ZAHORIK, KRISTINA (i) 11TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEWOMAN
MARIOTTI, RENATO 11TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEMAN
JANKO, PETER (i) 11TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEMAN
ROBINSON, VIVIAN (i) 12TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEWOMAN
POSHARD, GLENN 12TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEMAN
GREENWOOD, LaTOYA N. 13TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEWOMAN
MONETTI, PAM 13TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEWOMAN
HOULIHAN, BILL (i) 13TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEMAN
MANLEY, NATALIE A. 14TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEWOMAN
BENSON, CHRISTINE (i) 14TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEWOMAN
BLACKBURN, KEVIN DUFFY 14TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEMAN
WALSH, TOM P. (i) 14TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEMAN
CROWNER, MICHAEL 14TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEMAN
LAESCH, JOHN 14TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEMAN
REDMAN, TERRY C. (i) 15TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEMAN
DANIELS, KATHERINE F.S. 15TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEWOMAN
LINDQUIST, ELIZABETH 16TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEWOMAN
DANIEL, JOHN 16TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEMAN
DAVIDSON, PAMELA 17TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEWOMAN
WEST II, MAURICE (i) 17TH STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEMAN
Wearing a tailored suit (though no tie), Illinois’ billionaire governor JB Pritzker is already a bit out of place in a school hallway. As he surveys the area—a makeshift COVID vaccine clinic at a high school near Chicago—he attempts to give a compliment equivalent to “I love what you’ve done with the place!”
Everything from the TV cameras to the gaggle of other elected officials in the cramped hallway makes the scene wholly unnatural, which Pritzker matches with his awkward, stilted praise.
“Well, great. This is awesome and I love the spacing out,” the governor says, seemingly grasping at straws. “You’ve got it all worked out. You’re in a relatively small area, which is (pause) phenomenal.”
But superimposed above Pritzker’s head are 23 words that transform the otherwise forgettable 10-second video clip: “When your boy just broke up with his girlfriend and you go to his new 75 sq. ft. apartment for the first time.”
It’s the first @pritzkermemes TikTok video I saw back in early December when the newly created account broke through to those of us in the world of Illinois government and politics. And after eight years of covering this stuff, I immediately wondered if the account was a creation of Pritzker’s re-election campaign; it’s not outside the realm of possibility for a politician to hire some Gen Z kid to play up his “dad” image on a platform that’s far outpacing any other social media among young people—a voting bloc that has been low-participation for decades.
Also from this morning’s candidate petition filing palooza in Springfield: A brief post-handshake moment between @GovPritzker+@ilhousegop Leader Jim Durkin, whose relationship has been tense in equal measure (if not more so) than Durkin’s relationship w House Spkr @RepChrisWelch. pic.twitter.com/s8NeDxIN5t
* Gubernatorial candidate Richard Irvin is holding a news media availability today for the first time since launching his campaign almost two months ago…
#TakeItBack Campaign Stop 1:
WHO: Gubernatorial Candidate Richard Irvin and Lieutenant Governor Candidate Avery Bourne
WHAT: #TakeItBack Tour Campaign Stop
WHEN: 12:15pm on Monday, March 7th
WHERE: Downtown Cafe and Bakery, 217 N Main St, Decatur, IL 62523
#TakeItBack Campaign Stop 2:
WHO: #TakeItBack Team: Richard Irvin, Avery Bourne, Steve Kim, John Milhiser, Tom Demmer, and Shannon Teresi.
WHAT: #TakeItBack Kick-Off Event
WHEN: 5:00pm on Monday, March 7th - Media allowed from 5-6pm, with media availability after remarks. Event is closed to press after media availability.
WHERE: Statehouse Inn Governor’s Ballroom, 101 E Adams St, Springfield, IL 62701
* He’ll probably want to talk about this…
In just one week, JB Pritzker’s shoddy ethics have gone from bad to worse. After refusing to answer how much he personally profited off one of the state’s largest contracts, he is now trying to re-write history of how he enabled Mike Madigan to continue to run his criminal enterprise. Also known as Public Official A, the former disgraced House Speaker was indicted with 22 counts of racketeering and bribery charges.
A week ago, we learned that Pritzker knew he was profiting off a personal investment into Centene, a company that holds one of the largest contracts with the state of Illinois. Despite having personally signed a document just last year acknowledging this investment, Pritzker doubled down in his denial by insisting there was no conflict of interest at all.
Now he’s trying to further rewrite history on his cozy relationship with disgraced former House Speaker Mike Madigan by pretending to celebrate the news of his indictment even though he said that the people of Illinois should be “grateful” for his service when Madigan stepped down in February 2021. Despite the state’s largest utility company admitting to attempting to bribe Madigan in exchange for favorable treatment in July 2020, Pritzker allowed Madigan to continue his reign of corruption in Illinois government and refused to call for his immediate resignation.
“JB Pritzker will continue his election year gimmicks because he’s desperate to distance himself from the corruption he enabled for years,” said Irvin for Illinois Campaign spokesperson Eleni Demertzis. “At a time when we need leaders who will hold all public officials to the highest levels of integrity, we learned JB Pritzker prefers to turn a blind eye to corruption and it’s simply unacceptable. ”
Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin promotes a “tough-on-crime” mantra as part of his campaign for Illinois governor.
Since Irvin jumped into the Republican primary earlier this year, Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker and lawmakers have criticized Irvin for touting a crime-busting reputation while ignoring his 15 years of work as a defense attorney.
In a Feb. 20 tweet, Irvin said, “In my first year in office, Aurora homicides went down by 40%. While crime is exploding under anti-police politicians, I have suppressed crime in Aurora. Send me to Springfield and I’ll do the same thing across all Illinois.”
We decided to check out whether Irvin’s claims at reducing homicides in one year stand up to his assertion he “suppressed crime” since taking office in May 2017.
What I would not have done is made these sweeping determinations without, as though I was an emperor, and do all these executive orders without involving the individuals that were affected by it. Now when JB Pritzker made the determination on his own without talking to any of the mayors or any of the, for example, restaurant industry leaders when he shut down all the restaurants that affected our economy. He didn’t even talk to the Restaurant Association to see if there was a way to keep patrons safe.
Wait. The governor called Mayor Irvin himself, according to Mayor Irvin in 2020…
Yesterday on Wednesday, July 15, Governor JB Pritzker announced the state’s new action plan to combat the resurgence of COVID-19 through a series of mitigation efforts. The governor called me on Tuesday evening to explain to me his plan for the state
Also, while the governor and the Illinois Restaurant Association have publicly clashed on numerous occasions, they have generally (not always) kept communications lines open.
* I mean, he now says restaurants should’ve been allowed to open when he hasn’t held an in-person state of the city address in two years?…
Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin will give his first in-person State of the City address in two years at 6:30 p.m. March 15 at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora.
Monday, Mar 7, 2022 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
AARP Illinois has a new State Director.
Philippe Largent, who has spent 25 years advocating for greater access to quality, affordable health care and other issues central to the well-being of Illinois residents, joined AARP Illinois on March 7.
Largent began his career as a budget and policy analyst for the Illinois House of Representatives. He provided counsel to General Assembly members on a variety of issues including healthcare, housing and state government operations.
From 1997 to 2010 Largent served as Director of Legislative Affairs and then VP for Government Affairs for the Illinois Primary Health Care Association, a trade association representing the network of Community Health Centers providing healthcare services to low income, uninsured residents.
He was IPHCA’s lead strategist and advocate for legislative and regulatory matters before the executive branches of federal/state government, U.S. Congress, the IL General Assembly and federal and state agencies.
In 2010, Philippe founded Largent Government Solutions, LLC, a lobbying and consulting firm specializing in state-based lobbying and health care consulting with an emphasis on primary care network development, Medicaid policy, managed care issues, and community health center development/compliance.
In his new role, Largent will be the lead spokesperson for AARP Illinois, while also filling the top executive role with a team of 15 staff members in Springfield and Chicago.
* My dad is on the left in this photo taken last August. He’s sitting next to his sister Phyllis, his brother Denny, his sister Marsha and, on the right, his sister Marilyn…
Since this photo was taken, my Aunts Phyllis and Marilyn and my Uncle Denny have all died. Aunt Phyllis passed over the weekend. My Uncle Bill died several years ago.
Several of you have met my dad, so please keep him in your thoughts today.
* Aunt Marsha posted this on her Facebook page and I think it’s fitting…
* And I’m the baby here sitting on my Uncle Denny’s lap next to my cousins Venita (Phyllis’ daughter) and Cathy (Marilyn’s daughter)…
Mike Madigan’s record of corruption in this state is indisputable, and we will be trying to reverse its effect for years to come. That’s why we need to elect reformers who will stop at nothing to fight crime, reduce taxes, and end the Madigan corruption. Frivolous law suits won’t change that, action from leaders who understand what it takes to implement change will.
Meanwhile, Kwame Raoul has yet to comment on Madigan’s indictment and the $2.5 million in Madigan Money he’s received.
AG Raoul has commented on the indictment.
By the way, DeVore admitted today that his petitions to run for attorney general aren’t ready yet.
Gary Hall: I’ve lived here almost all my life, and as long as I can remember, the Murray Baker Bridge has been jammed with traffic. And you heard all the time how it was unsafe.
Everybody talks about fixing our roads. But JB Pritzker, he’s making it happen. He helped rebuild the bridge and completed it on time and on budget. And JB’s plan will fix hundreds more across downstate.
My dad always said, “Chicago gets the meat, we get the leftovers.” But JB, he’s working for all of us.
By the end of 2020, most people assumed there were only three ways to get House Speaker Michael Madigan out of office, and none was going to happen anytime soon.
Not one of those scenarios involved the Republican Party, the Chicago Tribune editorial board, the Illinois Policy Institute or their fellow travelers and funders of the coordinated effort to dethrone the state’s Democratic king. Their constant attacks on Madigan only tightened the partisan and union support around him and strengthened his resolve to remain in office by any means necessary.
Either the feds were going to ensnare the longest-serving House speaker in the nation, or Father Time would finally catch up with him or his members would somehow get up the nerve to revolt.
But even when a total of 19 House Democrats said they would not vote to reelect him as the weeks clicked away on that chaotic year and 2021 dawned, Madigan and his allies assured themselves that the man with millions of dollars in his campaign account that could also be used for legal defense, his years of healthy living, and his perfect record of dealing with his members for decades would allow him to get through this latest crisis, too.
It wasn’t to be. The 19 couldn’t be cajoled, they couldn’t be bullied. They had more than enough votes to block his reelection and not a single one of them budged. ComEd’s deferred prosecution agreement in the summer of 2020 included allegations of bribery by people close to Madigan to influence Madigan’s decisions. And that set off their revolt and there was no tamping it down.
In the end, folks like Rep. Terra Costa Howard finally had enough of being on Team Bad Guy. No matter how brilliant their leader was, no matter how successful, no matter how much he protected and sheltered them from the consequences of their legislative (and personal) actions, he had to go.
Yes, he was hurting some members politically, but people could also no longer stomach the thought of him staying after the stunning allegations made against his inner circle.
“Speaker Madigan has a duty to recognize that these allegations have cast a deep shadow on the reputation of our House,” Costa Howard said in July of 2020. “He must take action now to avoid inflicting further damage on the members of the House and the Democratic Party.”
“(T)he corruption and unethical behavior that have been revealed by this investigation make it impossible for Rep. Madigan to continue in his leadership roles,” Costa Howard continued back then. “I hope he will do the honorable thing and step down.”
There was no joyous celebration during last week’s statehouse press conference by the 19. Costa Howard even appeared to tear up while speaking, maybe remembering the trauma of the ferocious push-back she and her colleagues endured as they were told over and over again by colleagues and union leaders and others that they were siding with chaos and defeat over continuity and victory and would be punished accordingly, no matter the outcome.
“The possibility that this day was coming and would distract us from our work on behalf of the people we serve was top of mind for many of us as we took this position, even as we faced intense pressure to maintain the status quo,” the 19 said in a joint statement last week about their non-negotiable demand that Madigan step down.
If it hadn’t been for Costa Howard and the rest of the 19, Madigan would’ve still likely been House speaker when he was finally indicted by a federal grand jury on 22 corruption counts. So, if you think the indictment news is politically bad for Illinois Democrats during a remap election year (and it truly is), just think how much worse it would’ve been if he were still in office right now.
One other thing. When Madigan’s chief of staff not so subtly forced Rep. Kelly Cassidy to resign from her part-time job with the Cook County sheriff’s office after her outspokenness on the House’s very real problems with sexual harassment, I warned Madigan pal Mike McClain, as a friend, that he and Madigan needed to stop attacking her or they’d live to regret it. “Keep poking that little bear and she’ll rip your head off,” were, I believe, my exact words. He laughed and waved me off.
Well, Cassidy opened and closed last week’s post-indictment press conference. “We are committed to continuing the work of restoring our constituents’ faith in Illinois government,” Cassidy told reporters. “And there’s a lot of us.”
* I’ve also heard about this Senate Democratic poll. Here’s Pearson at the Trib…
“The other side is using crime as a bludgeon for the next election,” said a longtime Democrat who was not authorized to speak for the House majority, “and there’s a political reality that people want to address crime.”
The issue provides inroads to swing suburban districts that had once been reliable Republican territory but have changed demographically and ideologically in favor of Democrats in recent years.
But an internal poll conducted for Senate Democrats indicated that crime falls below taxes and other concerns among suburban voters, according to a senator who was not authorized to speak about internal caucus discussions. Only in Chicago was crime a top issue, the legislator said, in part because random gun violence being seen in parts of the city that have long been relatively unscathed by violence.
To counter Republican attacks, Democratic legislators are looking to take up issues in Springfield this spring that include carjacking, smash-and-grab retail theft and ghost guns, which can be manufactured from home kits without serial numbers or other ways to trace them.
There’s also an effort to provide increased funding for state and local police to both attract and retain officers after retirements of police hired with an influx of federal dollars in the mid-1990s.
* From my own conversation with a Democratic Senator…
Some of the negatives that they’re polling are polling like 55 percent. And when you get 55 percent on a negative message, that’s huge. […]
As soon as you cross into the suburbs [from the city], [crime] goes from the number one issue down to like number four. So, I mean, it’s still a strong four. It’s not like people don’t give a [crud] about it. They care. But there are a lot of other things. It’s taxes, corruption and inflation. […]
You can tell people are paying attention because they’re talking about supply chain issues and what China’s doing and [etc.] So they’re not just mad that prices are high. They feel like the government screwed up during the pandemic and that’s why prices are high.
And they’d be right about the government. That the feds have allowed meat and poultry monopolies to jack up prices so high is beyond messed up.
Now, it’s just one poll, and from everything I’ve heard from people who track this stuff, the Democrats are doing really, really bad in the suburbs right now. Like blowout bad. But it’s fascinating that the crime issue drops in the suburbs. And I’m betting there are a lot of very thankful Chicago Democrats that relatively few of their incumbents are facing primaries this year.
Let’s face it, Illinoisians are sick and tired of the corruption & scandals that have become all too common in our state. As IL Secretary of State, I will end the Corruption Tax.
Cheryl Bruce, campaign manager for Secretary of State candidate Anna Valencia, released the following statement today after Alexi Giannoulias released a video claiming he’ll clean up Illinois politics and saying that “Illinoisians are sick and tired of the corruption & scandals that have become all too common in our state”:
“Alexi Giannoulias was senior loan officer for a bank that loaned money to convicted mobsters, he engaged in reckless lending practices that led authorities to seize his family bank, and he lost millions of dollars in college savings for thousands of Illinois families. Now he thinks he’s qualified to clean up Illinois politics? Illinoisans already rejected Alexi when he lost Barack Obama’s Senate seat to an opponent plagued by scandal. Now, Alexi on the ballot risks losing Jesse White’s Secretary of State office, too. We’ve already seen what happens when Alexi’s in charge – it’s not reform; it’s a disaster for middle class Illinois families.”
“It reinforces southern Illinois views and prejudices against Chicago and against Madigan, which are now five decades old,” said John Jackson, a visiting professor at the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute in Carbondale. “Republicans are going to try to hang Madigan around the neck of every Democrat who runs for office.”
* On that very same note, the House Republicans sent out a press release yesterday morning blasting freshman Rep. Suzanne Ness (D-Crystal Lake) for not issuing a statement on former Speaker Madigan’s indictment. She issued one last night…
“When I first heard the news about the indictments against Mike Madigan, it reaffirmed that I had made the right decision to vote no alongside 19 other Democrats as the former-Speaker sought to remain in his position.” Ness said.
Ness was elected in the fall of 2020 and was officially sworn-in as State Representative to Illinois’ House District 66 on January 13th, 2021. Being that Ness had not been sworn in as an elected official, she could not be recognized as a member of the 19 Democrats who voted for new leadership, though her no vote was recorded.
That second part is just not true. Rep.-elect Margaret Croke joined what eventually became the 19 House Democrats in November of 2020. She wasn’t sworn in until January.
“There were some pretty dark moments,” [Rep. Kelly Cassidy] said. “I remember at the beginning just talking about being frustrated and wanting to say something and people just recoiling, like I had something contagious.”
Similar sentiments came from Alaina Hampton, a former Madigan aide who left the organization after another operative sexually harassed her. In 2019, she settled a lawsuit against two Madigan-controlled political funds, his 13th Ward Democrats and the state party he still led at the time.
“I certainly feel vindicated,” Hampton said of the indictment. “I feel like I’ve received more justice than I did when my lawsuit settled.”
She said her career in politics clearly suffered as long as Madigan kept his power.
“When Madigan lost the speakership last year, I could kind of feel things in politics in Chicago starting to change,” she said. “Politicians and politicos are kind to me again, and I think people could see the ways things were going and that they kind of felt that they went in the wrong direction initially…This has been a long time coming.”
* Press release from yesterday…
It’s been a full day since Mike Madigan’s indictment was announced, and yet we are still waiting to hear from his protégé and hand-picked Comptroller, Susana Mendoza. Mendoza got her start as a career politician in Danny Solis’s Ward Organization, was married in Ed Burke’s home, and has been closely allied with Madigan for years, calling Madigan her “mentor” and nominating him for speaker.
Comptroller candidate Shannon Teresi released the following statement on Susanna Mendoza’s continued silence:
“Susana Mendoza’s silence is telling. The career politician, state Comptroller, and former member of Madigan’s caucus has nothing to say about the largest corruption scandal since Rod Blagojevich? This delay is disappointing though unsurprising, as the Madigan-controlled Democratic Party of Illinois remains Mendoza’s top donor.”
I reached out and was told that the Mendoza campaign had actually sent a statement to the Associated Press upon request. I asked for it as well…
“The allegations in the indictment are very serious and, if true, former House Speaker Michael Madigan should be held accountable and face the consequences.”
* Also yesterday…
24 hours ago, Mike Madigan was indicted by the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois on 22 counts of public corruption, and the state’s chief law enforcement officer remains silent.
“Kwame Raoul’s silence just goes to show you what money can buy,” said Attorney General candidate Steve Kim. “After taking $2.5 million in Madigan money for his 2018 campaign, our state’s Attorney General would rather announce an investigation into Tik Tok than comment on the corruption indictment of the man who ran this state for nearly half a century. It’s well past time for Kwame Raoul to be accountable to the people of Illinois.”
From AG Raoul’s spokesperson today…
We do not and will not comment on any pending investigation or prosecution being conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s office or any of our law enforcement partners.
* Press release…
State Representative Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport) has filed HB 5718, legislation requiring the state to remove the name and likeness of the disgraced Michael J. Madigan from the Capitol building and other state properties.
Madigan, the former longtime Speaker of the House, was indicted on 22 counts of federal racketeering charges and running a criminal enterprise for more than a decade. Chesney is unwavering in his belief that the state not honor Madigan’s legacy of corruption with portraits, plaques and other accolades, especially in the “people’s house.”
“If Democrats are serious about ridding the state of corruption then they will support efforts to remove the honors typically reserved for those who we revere, not those who perpetuated the corruption,” said Chesney. “Ending this era marked by corrupt politicians starts with removing the tenure of Mike Madigan.”
Chesney was one of the three original petitioners to begin the process of investigating the corruption of House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, a move that eventually led to his resignation last year.
OK, first of all, the Republicans are claiming that the special investigation committee started by Chesney’s petition and chaired by now-Speaker Chris Welch was a sham. Can’t have it both ways.
Secondly, I asked Rep. Chesney what there is to remove. He sent me a photo of this plaque of the list of all Illinois House Speakers…
I pointed out that George Ryan’s name is also on that very plaque. His response…
I had the understanding everything was removed in the Capitol on Ryan. In any event, I’d happily support it such a bill. Public corruption is public corruption.
Um, no. Ryan’s photo is still hanging on the second floor…
* More…
* No perp walk for ex-Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan: Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s arraignment next week will be by telephone, despite objections from prosecutors who wanted an in person court hearing. Although this will be a lengthy legal war, the first skirmish is won by Madigan, who won’t have to walk the media plank into court.
State Sen. Jacqueline Collins, D-Chicago, is jumping into the crowded Democratic primary to replace Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., announcing her bid Friday with a powerhouse group of backers, including Rev. Michael Pfleger.
Collins, a state senator since 2003, is one of 17 Democrats registered with the Federal Election Commission for the 1st Congressional District seat Rush will be vacating next year after 15 terms. The window to file petitions to run in the June Illinois primary opens on Monday and closes on March 14.
In the past weeks, Collins, an assistant majority leader, had been weighing running for another Senate term or making a bid for Congress.
She told the Sun-Times she decided on the House race because, “I feel there is only so much you can do on the state level, and for the issues that I have been campaigning, working, advocating for over the last 20 years — whether it was the proliferation of guns in our community, as well as how do we close the wealth gap between Black, Brown and white communities, those are issues I have to take on to the federal level.
An interesting name in the indictment of Michel Madigan is Victor Reyes, an attorney hired by ComEd with a nod from Madigan. He’s also the attorney representing the Coalition Map, which is supported by the Latino Caucus and others who want to increase the number of Latinos on the City Council. On the other side of the map debate is Michael Kasper, the former legislative attorney for Madigan (who is not mentioned in the indictment). For months, Coalition Map supporters have grumbled about Kasper being part of the process. Now, you could say, they’re even.
For example, I posted this press release on indictment day…
The following is a statement from The People’s Coalition Map on the indictment of Michael Madigan and its implications for Chicago’s redistricting referendum:
“Today’s federal indictment of Michael Madigan is a clear reminder that the days of his iron grip on our state and on this city are over. That’s why it’s appalling that the City and the Rules Committee continue to support a faulty map, drawn in a backroom deal by Madigan’s top lawyer, Mike Kasper.”
Former state Rep. Jeanne Ives, the most powerful Illinois Republican who doesn’t hold an elected office, announced yesterday she’s backing Darren Bailey in his run for governor.
Bailey is also hoping for the endorsement of another notable Republican who’s out of public office: Donald Trump.
The Illinois Republican said he spoke to the former president in December. “I was with him for several hours and I asked for his endorsement. I’m still waiting,” Bailey told Playbook. “He doesn’t like to lose. He knows Illinois is a tough state, and he’s still exploring that option.”
Bailey was at a Trump book publishing event. He got an autograph.
Ives, who ran against former Gov. Bruce Rauner in the Republican primary in 2018, only mentioned one of Bailey’s four GOP rivals by name in her remarks at the news conference at an American Legion post in northwest suburban Palatine.
“Republican voters need to be warned. The same people who ran Rauner’s campaign backed by a billion-dollar checkbook are now running the Irvin-Bourne race backed by the same billion-dollar checkbook,” she said.
As we’ve already discussed, Gov. Rauner’s top campaign consultant in that Ives primary is now being paid by Bailey’s campaign.
“The truth is Richard Irvin and Avery Bourne just may be both Madigan and Pritzker’s favorite Republicans,” Ives said. “The Irvin-Bourne campaign cannot be trusted.” […]
“It’s surprising she would endorse someone who raised property taxes 81 percent, voted for Obama and picked a Never Trumper as his running mate,” said Eleni Demertzis, an Irvin-Bourne campaign spokeswoman, referring to votes Bailey took as a local school board member and a 2008 Democratic Primary vote his campaign said he took to stop Hillary Clinton.
Remember how Rauner’s campaign used the “Madigan’s favorite legislator” attack against Ives in the 2018 primary? Well, the same consultant is now trying to use the line against Irvin. Clever. And I don’t know about Madigan, but I’m thinking that Pritzker would much rather run against Bailey, despite this DGA press release…
“Extremist Darren Bailey is barreling his way towards frontrunner status and is more than willing to take down Richard Irvin and anyone else in the Illinois GOP primary field who stands in his way,” said DGA Senior Communications Advisor Christina Amestoy. “As the Republican candidates battle for support from party insiders and conservative megadonors, they’ll be too busy echoing out-of-touch talking points to deliver real solutions for Illinois families.”
* Richard Irvin was on WGN Radio with Lisa Dent and Steve Bertrand yesterday…
Q: You mentioned JB Pritzker being in the pocket of Madigan and the $10 million. But obviously, Ken Griffin, the richest man in the state of Illinois, is supporting your campaign and has already contributed 20 million and there are people saying that he’s going to contribute more. How do you differentiate one person being in the pocket of somebody when people might say you’re in the pocket of this rich guy in Illinois?
A: Well, first of all, let’s be clear, there is no comparison. Mike Madigan participated in a criminal enterprise. And he got money from JB Pritzker, $10 million, to continue that criminal enterprise. So there is no comparison. As far as Ken Griffin is concerned, you know, he’s, I think everybody will agree that he’s done great things for the state of Illinois, just his businesses, business assets, and, and everything he’s done for the community, his philanthropic support for the state of Illinois. But he is one vote, he’s one person. I didn’t bind to his vision. He bought into and believes in my vision. And that’s why he’s supporting me. And that’s why I’ll be getting support from a lot of folks that will be contributing to the campaign throughout the state of Illinois.
* Background is here if you need it. From Aaron DeGroot at the Rodney Davis campaign…
Hey Rich.
TGIF. Saw that you posted Mary Miller’s bizarre State of the Union tweet yesterday. In the context of that, wanted to flag something for you:
On August 2, 2019, Chris and Mary Miller invited Gov. Pritzker to visit and tour their farm. Here’s a screenshot of an email from Chris Miller to the Governor’s Office.
If you decide to use in a post, here’s a quote from me:
“Very fitting that the Millers would invite Pritzker to their farm, which is incorporated in Delaware, a state considered to be a domestic tax shelter. Perhaps the Millers were going to exchange tax-avoidance strategies with our billionaire governor, who is an expert on that topic himself.”
* Hospitalizations are down 26 percent from a week ago, ICU usage is down 27 percent, the test positivity rate is down 22 percent, cases are down 20 percent and deaths are down 23 percent…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 10,462 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including an increase of 272 deaths since February 25, 2022.
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 3,037,199 cases, including 32,926 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Since February 25, 2022, laboratories have reported 750,521 specimens for a total of 55,089,500. As of last night, 843 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 153 patients were in the ICU and 77 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from February 25 - March 3, 2022 is 1.4%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from February 25 - March 3, 2022 is 1.6%.
A total of 21,157,960 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of last midnight. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 12,488 doses. Since February 25, 2022, 87,414 doses were reported administered in Illinois. Of Illinois’ total population, 76% has received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, more than 67% of Illinois’ total population is fully vaccinated, and more than 49% boosted according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Beginning this weekend, daily deaths reported on weekends and at the beginning of the week may be low as IDPH and local health departments move away from reviewing and processing COVID-19 death records over the weekend. Those deaths will be captured in subsequent days.
All data are provisional and will change. Additional information and COVID-19 data can be found at https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19.html.
Vaccination is the key to ending this pandemic. To find a COVID-19 vaccination location near you, go to www.vaccines.gov.
The rush in the rich countries to declare the pandemic “over” while it continues to ravage the global South is completely predictable—in fact, the same trend has played out again and again. Infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV that are now seen as “Third World diseases” were once serious threats in rich countries, but when incidence of these diseases began to decline there, the global North moved on and reduced investments in new tools and programs. Now, with COVID-19, the developing world has once again been left to fend for itself against an extremely transmissible virus without the necessary vaccine doses, tests, and treatment tools. Some pandemics never truly end—they just become invisible to people in the global North.
You may know malaria as an infectious disease that affects poor “tropical” countries. But for several thousands of years, malaria was a global menace. During the 20th century alone, the disease is estimated to have accounted for up to 5 percent of all human deaths. It was eradicated from the global North by the 1970s, but the rest of the world was left behind. In 2020, there were an estimated 240 million malaria cases, and nearly all of the 627,000 deaths occurred in sub-Saharan Africa. For a disease that affected even our neolithic ancestors, the world had to wait until 2021 for the first-ever malaria vaccine. Though the World Health Organization recently endorsed this partially effective malaria vaccine, expanded manufacturing and scale-up plans remain undetermined.
The same phenomenon has unfolded with tuberculosis, a disease so old that DNA of TB bacteria have been identified in Egyptian mummies. “Consumption,” as TB was once called, was highly prevalent in Europe and North America. From the 1600s to the 1800s, TB caused 25 percent of all deaths in Europe. By the 1980s, TB case numbers had decreased significantly in the West, largely thanks to drug treatments and reductions in poverty. But again, TB remains a problem in developing countries (and among marginalized populations within the global North). In 2020, TB killed 1.5 million people, more than 80 percent of whom lived in low- and middle-income countries. Investments and innovations to make the disease less devastating have been scarce: For example, the TB vaccine we use today is more than 100 years old, and it has limited efficacy in adults. […]
For now, the biggest problem with the global North proclaiming that the coronavirus pandemic is “over” is that it manifests the opposite outcome. Eventually, even rich countries will bear the brunt of tuning out COVID-19. Allowing infectious diseases to circulate in any part of the world within large populations of unvaccinated people will almost surely result in the emergence of new variants that will affect all nations.
In a stunning conclusion to a process that has been marked by frustration and confusion, Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard is now the Supervisor of Thornton Township after being appointed to the position roughly ten minutes before the legal deadline.
Henyard, who said she did not expect the appointment but greeted the news with a pageant-style scream of delight, will fill the shoes of the late Frank Zuccarelli, who passed away in January after nearly thirty years as the supervisor of Illinois’ largest township.
“I’m overjoyed,” said Henyard after taking the oath. “I didn’t see it coming.”
Go read the rest. And watch the videos. There’s even a timeline of all the votes that were taken. It’s a great example of the advantages of online reporting.
Also, as the new township supervisor said, I don’t think anybody saw this coming, particularly with the problems Ms. Henyard has had…
“The people elected us to be the dream team, so we said, and now it’s a nightmare,” Henyard said Tuesday. […]
A special meeting in August was canceled at the last minute. Trustees held a meeting outside of Village Hall without the mayor. Some trustees have not shown up for meetings Henyard called, preventing a needed quorum to take action.
Questions arose about Henyard hiring Dorothy Brown as village administrator and comments she made and later apologized for regarding a Dolton police officer fatally shooting 19-year-old Alexis Wilson.
Residents have been angry and fearful after learning Henyard hired Lavelle Redmond, a registered sex offender, as an inspector, and have voiced their protests outside Village Hall.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Henyard said reports that Redmond was going into people’s houses was not true. She said he works on outdoor violations and has been a “stellar employee.”
Publicly and privately on Thursday, top Illinois Democrats grappled with how to put a positive, election-year spin on federal prosecutors’ newly unsealed corruption case against their longtime leader, the former state House Speaker and party boss Michael Madigan.
Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker even appeared to celebrate the federal case, saying he thought Madigan’s indictment should help the state finally clean up its act.
But behind the scenes – in a memo titled “indictment talking points” – a dozen Illinois House Democrats got a starkly different, eye-opening missive urging them to express “misgivings” about the federal charges against Madigan and his close friend, former Commonwealth Edison lobbyist Michael McClain.
Democratic aides quickly said they had never approved – and in fact strongly disapproved of – the memo’s contents.
* This looks to me like a comedy of errors. First of all, a young former intern who’s been on comms staff for less than three weeks mistakenly sent two (not one) very different versions of draft talking points. As you can clearly see in the email forwarded to me yesterday by someone who was quite angry, nobody was urged to use the “misgivings” version. Redactions are by me because this appears to be an honest mistake by someone who was hired last month…
That went out to about a dozen House Democrats, some of whom were members of the ferociously anti-Madigan 19. With that in mind, you can definitely understand why some House Democrats were upset yesterday. Like, really mad.
Oops.
To be clear, I was told in no uncertain terms that nobody in upper management had tasked anyone with writing talking points defending the former House Speaker. These were unapproved drafts.
* The junior staffer who sent the drafts was not the same person who wrote them. She sent out a retraction a half an hour later…
* Word of the retraction apparently didn’t get back to the comms director, so he sent out another email about 15 minutes later…
* Here are the two versions that were originally sent to members…
Indictment Talking Points
• Today’s announcement, while an unfortunate confirmation of many concerns I have held, is another sign that our state is on a new track to a more ethical and transparent way of conducting the business of government.
• Tackling the challenges our state faces requires a clean slate and clear approach. We cannot progress further without addressing past issues. In this case, the conduct of Speaker Madigan.
• Following the election of a new Speaker, we have had a fresh start in Illinois. Major legislation, from a Medicaid reform omnibus to the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, signify the impact this changing of the guard has had, and for how long it has been needed.
• We have cultivated a new, more equal and bipartisan atmosphere in the House, a positive sign of new things to come, with the promise of further legislative victories to better the lives of all Illinoisans.
• I applaud law enforcement for stepping in and holding those who have committed wrongdoing accountable.
Indictment Talking Points-2
• While I always stand with law enforcement, I unfortunately feel I must call into question certain aspects of the investigation process regarding Speaker Madigan’s case. From the start, he has faced unfair, partisan accusations; charges which appear to have influenced the indictments laid out today.
• For years, our opponents across the aisle have focused their ire and prejudicial scrutiny on Speaker Madigan, to little effect. However, their constant accusations have finally had an impact; the federal government has buckled under their pressure.
• Despite my misgivings regarding this case, I want to reiterate that Speaker Welch has my full support. Our legislative accomplishments since he has taken the lead, including a major Medicaid Reform and the landmark Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, are undoubtedly victories to be proud of.
• Regardless of the outcome of these proceedings, it is incumbent on us to focus on the needs of the people of Illinois, and continue the legislative process to best address their needs.
I stopped pursuing the story yesterday when I found out what had actually happened. And none of those items from the second set of talking points appear to have been used by any member.
* Nonetheless, the ILGOP tried to make some hay today…
In the WBEZ report, aides from current House Speaker Chris Welch’s office - where the memo originated from - looked around for the nearest person to throw under the bus and came up with a “brand-new, junior staff” who supposedly wrote an entire set of talking points about the most consequential event in state government in quite some time and sent them out directly to House members without any approval of superiors.
Here are a few questions and pieces of evidence that need produced if this fanciful story is to be believed:
If indeed a phantom junior staff member exists, who in the Speaker’s office directed such a memo to be developed and provided talking points to guide its construction?
If the Speaker’s Office denies any leadership instruction to develop this memo, how do they explain the origins of the talking points - where on earth would a phantom junior staffer come up with such a defense of Mike Madigan?
Will the Speaker’s Office make available all internal email communications and text messages relating to this memo - both before and after its release?
Again, the staffer in question did not write the talking points.
* Remember this comment by Gov. JB Pritzker yesterday?…
Q: When was the last time you spoke with Mike Madigan?
A: On March 1, I called to let him know that we would be making changes at the Illinois Arts Council.
* I followed up with the governor’s office, but the answer came late in the day, so I set it aside for this morning. CBS 2 apparently noticed the same thing I did and here’s their story…
Gov. JB Pritzker has removed Shirley Madigan from her position as chair of the Illinois Arts Council.
While news of the move broke Thursday — a day after Ms. Madigan’s husband, former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, was indicted — Governor’s office spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh said Ms. Madigan was removed from her position before the indictment was announced.
The Governor’s office said Pritzker will appoint a temporary chair while discussions are held to determine who would be the best permanent chair.
Ms. Madigan will remain on the council, because her term runs through 2023, and Pritzker is not allowed to withdraw an appointment in the middle of the term.
Abudayyeh said the reason for Ms. Madigan’s removal was that the governor wanted to take the council in a new direction.
Nobody owns a state board position, and times change. But Shirley Madigan has been a passionate advocate for the arts for generations. I hate to see her go out like this.
*** UPDATE *** Mrs. Madigan’s resignation letter to Gov. and Mrs. Pritzker is dated yesterday. Click here to read it. That graceful statement should’ve been highlighted instead of the governor’s desire to remove her.
* Some folks asked me yesterday why I wasn’t posting the latest profanity-laden Lori Lightfoot story. Aside from the fact that it’s a local story and not a state issue, I had reason to believe - without speaking to anyone in the mayor’s office or campaign - that the claims about what the mayor said weren’t true, so I let it go, even though I kinda wanted it to be true. Anyway, here’s the mayor’s statement from this morning in which she denies the claims…
“I am aware of the lawsuit that has been filed by a former Chicago Park District employee. While I will continue my practice of not commenting on the specific claims alleged in pending litigation, I feel compelled to state that the deeply offensive and ridiculous claims are wholly lacking in merit, and I welcome the opportunity to prove that fact in court. Furthermore, to be clear, I never have and never will harbor any animus toward Italians or Italian Americans.”
* The Chamber? Todd Maisch at the Illinois Chamber?…
On the budget front in this story, @ILChamber President Todd Maisch told @RepChrisWelch yesterday he believes @GovPritzker budget proposal is the best he's seen in years
* Illinois spreads widen as risk-shy investors exploit liquidity: While Illinois’s credit outlook has improved, investors increasingly are showing a desire to raise cash and avoid risk in the $4 trillion municipal bond market, traditionally a credit haven, said Dan Solender, director of tax-free fixed income for Lord, Abbett & Co., which holds Illinois securities as part of $35 billion in muni debt.
* Site Selection Magazine: In a pandemic-driven season that saw a surge of e-commerce, our Top Metros feature a strong presence of logistics hubs like Chicago, the Midwest megaregion that returns to its spot at the top of our Tier 1 rankings.
* News media Q&A in DeKalb today with Gov. Pritzker…
Q: When was the last time you spoke with Mike Madigan?
A: On March 1, I called to let him know that we would be making changes at the Illinois Arts Council.
Madigan’s spouse Shirley chairs the Arts Council, so I asked the governor’s office if that means she’s being pushed out. No response yet.
Also, as always, please pardon any transcription errors.
* Back to Q&A…
Q: You spoke voluntarily with federal investigators about the investigation. What do you think that people are going to need to know about the conversation you had?
A: Only that I was asked to be a witness and that they wanted to talk about any interactions. And I was happy to cooperate and answer any and all of their questions. I answered all of them, in fact, and if you want more detail about what those questions were, I’d refer you to the US Attorney’s Office for any additional information about them.
Q: Was it clear to you when you talked to the feds in February that they were poised to indict him?
A: It was not clear to me. I mean, they had questions that were obviously around some wrongdoing, but it was not clear to me that they were prepared to indict.
Q: In your dealings with Madigan, during your time in office, did you ever suspect in hindsight now that anything he was doing was not above board and that there was anything more than what he called routine constituent services?
A: Not from any of the interactions that I had with him. Remember, I was governor. He was Speaker of the House, there was a Senate President, there were leaders across the General Assembly, I needed to work with all of them. And so none of the interactions that I had were anything other than about, you know, things to do with doing the right thing in government for the people.
Q: The special investigative committee that closed the books on the Madigan investigation after ComEd came out. It was chaired by then State Representative Chris Welch. They closed that found and found nothing wrong. Was it a mistake in hindsight not to have Madigan called before and testified based on what we now know that there clearly was wrongdoing?
A: In a way I’d say it’s the reverse of that. That is, I think that they were deferring to the US attorney and to the federal authorities to allow them to make a case, and they clearly did.
On Wednesday after the indictment, Welch began his public remarks by addressing his role as the chair of that committee.
“Let me begin by first saying that, as the former chair of the Special Investigating Committee, I said all along, during the course of that process, that I thought that there was a more appropriate forum to deal with the things that we had been hearing in the public domain,” he said in a news conference outside his Capitol office. “And I thought that forum was the United States Attorney’s Office. The United States Attorney’s Office has all the resources that it needs to properly and thoroughly investigate allegations of corruption. I knew that all along.”
Welch said the House has passed ethics reforms since he became speaker and hired a new legislative inspector general. He said he believed he led the investigating committee “openly, honestly and fairly.”
“And we’re going to continue to do that,” he said. “And I think here in the last 13 months, you can speak to our colleagues on both sides of the aisle. I’ve done it my way. The Chris Welch way. The only way I know how. And it’s a new day in Springfield.”
* Back to Pritzker…
Q: Do you ever remember a conversation where you were asked to find a position for Danny Solis?
A: No.
Q: Since Mike Madigan has had a piece in legislation for the past 50 years, he helped write the modern constitution, what would you say to Illinois, to restore faith in the legislative process?
A: Well remember that the vast majority of the people who serve in the General Assembly and broadly in public office have been doing the right thing and not breaking the law, and doing what they felt was best for the people of the state of Illinois. So I would say that you should look to your local leaders who have been doing the right thing, to your state leaders who are operating above board and trying hard to lift up working families across the state and not line their own pockets. But I have to say just, I’ve said this many times, but it is abhorrent to me when people take public office, either with the purpose of lining their own pockets or stealing from the public or who decided somewhere along the way that that’s okay. That’s abhorrent. We’ve got to root that out. And at every turn, I think it’s all up to all of us who, if we run into situations where we think something’s being done that is improper, please call it out, please let people know. And of course, vote those people out if they are caught doing something wrong, they need to go.
Q: Should Madigan resign from the state central committee?
A: Yes, of course.
Q: There are a number of Democrats who say there still needs to be more work to be done. Do you agree with them, and if so, what more needs to be done in light of what we’ve seen come out of how Madigan… and return to the public trust?
A: I think we all need to examine what the charges are. I will say that the federal authorities, you know, the fact that there are laws that hold people accountable, and that they’re getting held accountable is evidence that, we at least in part, through the justice system, have ways of catching people and holding them accountable. But there is much more to do. And I’ve said that from the very beginning. I’ve been pushing for ethics legislation, we got some of it done. There is more to do. There’s no doubt about it. We got rid of the revolving door. Could we do more in that regard? Sure. We’ve stopped people from lobbying state government when they’re serving in state government. We’ve done a number of things that I think have made things better, but we’ve got much, much more to do and it’s clear from the an indictment like this, that our work is not done.
Q: [Garbled]
A: This should be a wake up call to everybody in public service that you better toe the line, you better do the right thing, you better stand up for the people that you represent and not try to line your own pockets.
* Rep. Kelly Cassidy was asked last night about the inadequacies of the recent ethics legislation…
I think that we took significant steps. There’s always more that can be done. Illinois, for good or for ill, and for some of us it’s a frustration, is an incremental state. But we take steps, we see if they work, we take more steps.
* And this is why the governor was in DeKalb today…
Gov. JB Pritzker made a stop in DeKalb Thursday to tout a plan for funding more Illinois students in higher education, including at Northern Illinois University.
He presented his plan to budget for an additional $200 million in state education funding for grants which make college more affordable for students to address what he called an “exodus on young people” leaving Illinois.
Interesting that Jeanne Ives would endorse Darren Bailey for governor.
Bailey's closest allies in the House have Ives on their government payroll for $37K in PR. Reps. Halbrook, Miller, Caulkins were quite upset when Ives' business partner joined the ticket with Jesse Sullivan. pic.twitter.com/IbmYFl3O3X
People who do this politics thing all the time don’t always realize that voters have short memories. Yes, primary voters are higher information voters than general election voters, but the 2018 primary was a long time ago to many people.
* Yikes…
Flashback to RINO Rodney Davis "fanboying" while meeting Barack Obama at the 2013 State of the Union and nearly fainting while getting his autograph!
* This is interesting because Rep. Willis, like Villegas, is up against a Chuy Garcia-backed primary opponent…
Today, State Representative Kathleen Willis (IL-77) announced her endorsement of Alderman Gilbert Villegas for Congress in the race for the newly drawn Illinois 3rd Congressional District. Representative Willis is a member of the 19 Illinois State Representatives who opposed Mike Madigan’s re-election to Speaker of the House.
“I am proud to support Gilbert Villegas for Congress because integrity matters when it comes to choosing our elected officials. Not everyone has the courage to do what’s right in politics, but Gilbert has served his country as a Marine, working families as a Teamsters, and his community as a public servant. We can trust him to fight for us,” said Representative Kathleen Willis.
“I am honored to receive the support from a leader like Kathleen Willis. Her bravery under fire demonstrates incredible leadership at a time when people need it most,” said Alderman Gilbert Villegas. “I look forward to working with her to get things done for the people of Illinois.”
State Rep. Kathleen Willis is currently serving in her fifth term representing Illinois’s 77th House District. A full-time legislator with a strong background in education, Willis has worked tirelessly to make sure her constituents’ voices get heard.
Willis marks the twenty second local official who has come out in support of Alderman Villegas.
* Yesterday…
Today, California’s 40th District Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard announced her support for Delia Ramirez in the newly drawn 3rd congressional district.
“As a non-profit leader and state legislator Delia has kept community and service at the forefront of her work, which has made her effective in passing historic legislation. I enthusiastically support her campaign for Congress because I know Delia is the proven fighter her community needs,” said Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard. “I’m excited to support her candidacy as she fights for working families in Illinois.”
Delia Ramirez is the daughter of Guatemalan immigrants and the first Guatemalan American to serve in the Illinois General Assembly. Ramirez, a graduate of Northeastern Illinois University, has served as the founding executive director of the Center for Changing Lives, former board chair for the Latin United Community Housing Association and Logan Square Neighborhood Association. If elected, Ramirez would be the first Latina to represent a Midwestern state in Congress.
“It is so fitting that we kick off Women’s History Month by earning the endorsement of Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, who made history by becoming the first Mexican-American woman elected to Congress. I am honored to have earned her endorsement and look forward to continuing to fight for immigration reform, an issue close to my heart and which Congresswoman Roybal-Allard has led on in Congress ” said Delia Ramirez.
Congresswoman Roybal-Allard is the latest to endorse Delia Ramirez. Last month, Delia was supported by Congressmen Jesus Chuy Garcia and Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, along with EMILY’s List, Pro-Choice PODER PAC, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Cook County College Teachers Union, and the United Working Families and Working Families Party.
During a telephone interview from Washington on Wednesday, Garcia was asked if he’s giving any thought to another mayoral campaign, particularly if his Democratic Party loses control of the House of Representatives in the November election.
“I am not thinking about that whatsoever and I surely haven’t talked with my wife about it. I’ve got to think that she’d be very reluctant for us to do it, and we do everything together. It’s not on my radar right now. … I treasure that [2015] run. But I was a little younger” then, Garcia said.
“If somebody could show me where there’s a significant pot of gold … to usher in a real era of equity in Chicago, that would be really moving and convincing to me. I don’t see that on the horizon right now. The challenges are just so huge for Chicago. … The job is a huge bear and it will continue to be challenging and torturous on a daily basis, especially as [federal] funding dissipates and goes away. It will make it excruciatingly difficult to govern and provide good news to Chicagoans.”
The fact that the mayor’s job is so bad may turn out to be her best political ally.
* Press release…
Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (D-IL) announced he has been endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters in his re-election campaign. This is LCV’s first endorsement in a member-on-member primary and highlights the urgent need to keep global climate leaders like Rep. Casten in Congress.
“Whether it was as a scientist, a clean energy entrepreneur, or now as a Member of Congress, I have dedicated my entire life to fighting climate change,” said Rep. Sean Casten. “The IPCC report released earlier this week makes it overwhelmingly clear that climate change is the greatest existential crisis we face as a species. Congress must act to address it with the scale and urgency that science has shown is necessary to save our planet. I’m honored to be endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters and will continue to work hand-in-hand with them to ensure we provide a livable planet to our children and grandchildren.”
“Congressman Sean Casten is a tireless and determined advocate for climate action, and we are so proud to support his campaign for reelection,” said LCV Action Fund Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld. “It has never been more important to have leaders in Congress who will fight for the transformational climate progress we so desperately need, and we know nobody will fight harder than Rep. Casten.”
“As the most recent IPCC report makes clear, there is no time to waste for a just and equitable transition to clean energy. Representative Sean Casten has worked relentlessly to fight the climate crisis since his first day in Congress,” said Illinois Environmental Council Executive Director Jennifer Walling. “We are proud to have him leading for our Illinois communities.”
As a member of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, Rep. Casten has quickly established himself as one of Congress’ indispensable climate leaders. He has represented the United States on the global climate stage multiple times at COP25 and COP26.
Rep. Casten has passed—and President Biden has signed into law—multiple pieces of climate legislation to lower the carbon footprint of the federal government, invest in clean energy battery storage technologies, and expand Illinois’ electric vehicle charging network.
In 2019 and 2020, the League of Conservation Voters Victory Fund spent over $115 million in support of pro-climate candidates nationwide.
Rep. Casten has previously been endorsed by pro-climate groups like the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition PAC and 314 Action Fund, as well as climate leaders like Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14), the chair of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis.
The 19 House Democrats who called for Madigan to resign during the ComEd investigation also responded to the indictment Wednesday night. This group was frequently criticized by other veterans in the Democratic caucus for stepping forward to call for change in House leadership.
Rep. Terra Costa Howard (D-Lombard) recalled her experience calling for the corruption to end in the House during the summer of 2020. She said the 19 stood alongside each other, either in person or through encouraging messages between each other.
“This was not easy for any of us,” Costa Howard said. “But at the end of the day, I know that I can look my daughters in the face and tell them doing what’s right isn’t always easy but doing what’s right is the right thing to do.”
Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) said they faced intense pressure to keep the status quo in the chamber, but the 19 couldn’t let that happen.
“This is about Speaker Madigan and what he did, and to what extent he influenced the culture of this building,” Cassidy said. “The first thing you do when you get cancer is you cut out the cancer. Then you treat what happened afterward.”
The 19 said they are still most concerned with how Illinois lawmakers can restore trust in government.
“Madigan utilized his position as Chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois to influence and garner loyalty from legislators by providing or withholding staff and funding to legislators and their campaigns,” the feds alleged.
State Rep. Terra Costa Howard (D-Glen Ellyn), who, along with Cassidy was early in calling for Madigan’s resignation after the speaker was named “Public Official A” in ComEd’s deferred prosecution agreement, was one of those members to whom funding was withheld.
Costa Howard still received some support from Madigan’s deep campaign coffers in 2020, but not nearly as much as her colleagues in similar suburban districts that had historically been GOP territory.
On Wednesday, Costa Howard’s voice wavered in a news conference put on by the group of 19 House Democrats who publicly said prior to last year’s lame duck session that they wouldn’t vote for Madigan as speaker again — a decisive number that ended up attracting even more dissidents to block the speaker’s path.
Q: The Republicans just a few minutes ago said that Speaker Welch is Madigan’s hand-picked successor.
[Loud and long laughter from the gathered members]
Rep. Ann Williams: I think we had something to do with Speaker Welch being speaker.
While true that Madigan called Welch to tell him about his plan to suspend his reelection campaign, what’s not widely known is Welch wasn’t the only person to get a heads-up from Madigan.
* The members were also asked about the dangers that Illinois Democrats will face in an election year because of Madigan’s indictment. Rep. Cassidy gave the response…
I think I’d rather focus on what our colleagues would be facing if we hadn’t been successful. And what this day would look like if he were still speaker, the chaos that our work would have been plunged into, the complete lack of any forward motion on any of the issues that we’re working on here. I think that that’s what today’s story is about.
It’s a rare day when House Speaker Michael Madigan supports a measure in his chamber and it fails. So what kind of issue could create that scenario? A tax increase? Pension overhaul? Try reforming the electric-supplier industry, which should be ripe for a crackdown since it has caused a large percentage of the Chicago-area customers it serves to pay too much for power over the past few years.
The reform measure, a signature issue for Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, fell short by just a few votes late last month thanks to staunch opposition from Exelon, which owns Constellation, the largest alternative electricity supplier in Illinois.
Also helping to defeat the bill was the Illinois Commerce Commission. The ICC, which regulates utilities and suppliers, had advocated for stronger laws but opposed this proposal because of objections to giving greater enforcement responsibilities to the attorney general’s office.
Contributing, too, to the bill’s demise was the neutral position taken by Exelon-owned Commonwealth Edison despite the fact that most consumers buying from alternative suppliers pay more for power than they would with ComEd. ComEd’s downstate counterpart, Ameren Illinois, was a full-throated supporter of the legislation.
In or around April 2018, MADIGAN called Individual BM-1 [Juan Ochoa] and advised Individual BM-1 about the expected timing of Individual BM-1’s appointment to the ComEd board of directors.
In or around April 2018, MADIGAN gave McClain permission to work to kill HB 5626 on behalf of ComEd, and ComEd thereafter worked to defeat HB 5626.
On or about May 2, 2018, MADIGAN placed a call to McClain, and after McClain advised MADIGAN that Pramaggiore was experiencing push-back to the appointment of Individual BM-1 to the ComEd board of directors, and had proposed finding a job that would pay Individual BM-1 the same amount of money as a board member, MADIGAN instructed McClain, “Yeah, Mike, I would suggest that we continue to support [Individual BM-1].”
On or about May 16, 2018, McClain placed a telephone call to Pramaggiore during which they discussed preventing HB 5626 from being passed in the Illinois General Assembly.
On or about May 16, 2018, at approximately 10:20 a.m., MADIGAN placed a call to McClain, during which MADIGAN instructed McClain (i) to discuss Individual 23W-1 with Pramaggiore; and (ii) to “go forward with” the appointment of Individual BM-1.
On or about May 16, 2018, McClain placed a telephone call to Pramaggiore, during which call (i) Pramaggiore advised McClain that she had instructed Marquez to “hire” Individual 23W-1 after checking with Doherty; and (ii) McClain informed Pramaggiore that MADIGAN wanted to “keep pressing” for the appointment of Individual BM-1 to the ComEd board of directors, and Pramaggiore agreed to do so.
On or about May 16, 2018, McClain placed a telephone call to Marquez, during which McClain explained why certain individuals were being paid indirectly through JDDA, by making reference to their utility to MADIGAN’s political operation, and advised Marquez that Individual 23W-1 should be paid $5,000 a month. […]
On or about May 18, 2018, McClain caused an email to be sent to Pramaggiore, Hooker, and other ComEd employees referencing HB 5626 that noted “a friend of ours” had authorized McClain to “go ahead and kill it.”
On or about June 20, 2018, McClain placed a telephone call to Hooker, during which McClain stated that MADIGAN was the person who first “warned” them about HB 5626 and that MADIGAN had given ComEd permission to work to “kill” the legislation.
On or about June 29, 2018, Doherty caused an email to be sent to a ComEd employee, which made it falsely appear that the justification for an additional $5,000 a month sought under JDDA’s revised contract was because JDDA would assume an “expanded role with Cook County Board President’s office and Cook County Commissioners and Department Heads,” when in fact the additional $5,000 a month in compensation sought was intended for payment to Individual 23W-1, who performed little or no work for JDDA or ComEd. […]
On or about July 17, 2018, McClain placed a telephone call to Pramaggiore during which Pramaggiore told McClain that “we’re moving forward with [Individual BM-1]” and that McClain could tell MADIGAN. […]
On or about December 5, 2018, Marquez placed a call to McClain, during which call McClain authorized Marquez to “get rid” of Individual FR-1, meaning ComEd could discontinue making payments to Individual FR-1.
On or about December 6, 2018, McClain sent an email to Marquez and others at ComEd, in which McClain advised, in reference to the ComEd Internship Program, “I am pretty sure the ‘ask’ will be to ‘put aside’ or ‘save’ ten summer jobs for the 13th Ward.”
On or about December 7, 2018, MADIGAN placed a call to McClain, during which call MADIGAN instructed McClain to have ComEd discontinue its indirect payments to Individual 13W-3. […]
On or about February 11, 2019, McClain placed a telephone call to Hooker and the two men discussed that MADIGAN was informed of the plan to have ComEd pay Individual 13W-1 indirectly through Doherty’s lobbying firm and MADIGAN “thought it was great.”[…]
On or about February 18, 2019, Pramaggiore participated in a telephone call with Marquez, during which call, after she was told that the subcontractors associated with Doherty just “collect a check” and that Marquez needed to brief the chief executive officer of ComEd concerning the JDDA contract, Pramaggiore advised Marquez not to make any changes to the contract, because “we do not want to get caught up in a, you know, disruptive battle where, you know, somebody gets their nose out of joint and we’re trying to move somebody off, and then we get forced to give ’em a five- year contract because we’re in the middle of needing to get something done in Springfield.”
As it turned out, a bill very much like that—known now as the HEAT Act—passed the following year with the support of ComEd parent Exelon. But the circumstances, like most energy legislation in Springfield, were complicated.
ComEd, along with downstate utility Ameren Illinois, tried to tie passage of the supplier reforms to an extension of their formula rate-setting authority, which was (and still is) set to expire at the end of 2022. The new system essentially eliminated the Illinois Commerce Commission’s authority to set electricity delivery rates, instead changing them via an annual formula that the utilities wanted extended for another 10 years.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, who took the lead in 2019 on the supplier crackdown, refused to allow his bill to be tied to the formula rate extension. To the surprise of veteran observers of Illinois energy politics, ComEd’s priority stalled while Raoul’s bill passed.
Later, it became clear why. In May 2019, the FBI raided the home of McClain, as well as other close associates of Madigan’s. That news became public in the summer, but no one knew of those actions in May as the spring session wound down. Madigan obviously did.
The [Madigan] indictment was built, in part, on the work of former longtime Chicago City Council member Danny Solis (25th) whose cooperation with federal prosecutors was first exposed by the Chicago Sun-Times in January 2019, and who helped the feds build a similar indictment against Ald. Edward M. Burke (14th), the longest-serving member of the council.
The Sun-Times also exclusively reported in January 2019 on an affidavit detailing the investigation that led to Solis’ cooperation. That document revealed that the feds secretly recorded Madigan in his law office at Madigan & Getzendanner in August 2014. Court records filed in connection with Madigan’s indictment Wednesday confirm the investigation goes back to the same year.
In March 2019, the Sun-Times also reported on a potential deal involving Solis and a Chinatown parking lot that is now part of Madigan’s indictment.
We know from previous reporting that McClain’s phones were tapped and that former 25th Ward Ald. Danny Solis also was caught on wiretaps with Madigan even before he turned FBI mole. The indictment makes clear that after Solis began cooperating he turned his sights on Madigan as well as since-indicted 14th Ward Ald. Edward Burke. […]
There are also new schemes involving Solis’ efforts to set up Madigan, offering to help him get private legal business by squeezing businesses that needed the alderman’s help at the City Council to hire Madigan’s firm, which specializes in helping reduce real estate taxes. Solis told Madigan he wanted a state appointment in return, and the speaker allegedly agreed to help.
My favorite part of the indictment involved Solis telling Madigan he’d made it clear to the representatives of one company that this would require a “quid pro quo.” At first Madigan allegedly responded: “Okay . . . very good.”
But later Madigan allegedly advised Solis not to use the phrase “quid pro quo” the next time he spoke to the business people he was shaking down on the speaker’s behalf, instead offering a more elegant pretext.
“You’re just recommending . . . because if they don’t get a good result on their real estate taxes, the whole project will be in trouble . . . Which is not good for your ward. So you want high quality representation.”
To help boost business for his firm, Madigan allegedly agreed to help then-Chicago Ald. Danny Solis (25) get appointed to a state board — a job that ideally would pay more than $100,000 annually — in exchange for Solis steering clients to Madigan & Getzendanner.
As part of that agreement, Solis — then the chair of the city council’s zoning committee — floated a complicated plan to transfer a parcel of state-owned land in Chicago’s Chinatown neighborhood to the city, which the city would then turn around and sell to developers looking to build a hotel. Solis would strongly advise those developers to retain Madigan’s firm.
Both the plan to appoint Solis to a state board and the scheme pass legislation to sell the land in Chinatown hit major snags, never coming to fruition. But what Madigan didn’t know was that Solis was cooperating with the feds and had secretly recorded multiple conversations with the speaker while talking about plans to drive business to Madigan’s law firm.
In one such conversation in 2017, Solis updated Madigan about the progress of an apartment project, telling the speaker that the developer seemed to be open to retaining Madigan & Getzendanner for help.
In one case in June 2017, Madigan asked then-Ald. Danny Solis — who was chair of the city’s zoning committee — to introduce him to the representative of a company that needed to get a zoning change through City Council, according to the indictment. Madigan wanted to “seek business” for his law firm, according to the indictment.
Solis told Madigan representatives of the company would meet with the then-speaker so Madigan could try to get business for his law firm — and the company still needed to “deal with” the alderman for its zoning change, according to the indictment. […]
Also in 2017, a group that wanted to develop a hotel in Chinatown needed to get the state to transfer its ownership of a plot of land to the city so the group could then get it and develop it, according to the indictment. Madigan agreed to use his position to support the passage of legislation that would transfer the land to the city; in exchange, work would be steered toward his law firm, according to the indictment.
“In the past, I have been able to steer some work to Mike [Madigan], and these guys will do the same thing,” Solis told McClain in that case, according to the indictment. McClain then agreed that would Madigan would help get the land transferred to the city, according to prosecutors.
Solis also told Madigan that, if Madigan helped transfer the land, the developers would “appreciate it” and would give Madigan’s firm tax work, according to the indictment. “OK, all right, very good,” Madigan said, according to prosecutors.
Then-Ald. Daniel Solis, who was secretly cooperating with the investigation, recorded numerous conversations with Madigan as part of the Chinatown land probe, including one where the speaker told Solis he was looking for a colleague to sponsor a House bill approving the land sale.
“I have to find out about who would be the proponent in the House,” Madigan allegedly told Solis in the March 2018 conversation. “We gotta find the appropriate person for that. I have to think it through.”
Like the state appointment Solis wanted, that bill went nowhere.
It was further part of the scheme that, on or about November 2, 2018, MADIGAN told McCLAIN that “we never settled on a sponsor” for the bill concerning the transfer of the Chinatown parcel, and MADIGAN told McCLAIN that Representative B would be a suitable sponsor for the bill in the House of Representatives because Representative B’s seat was within the Senate district that included the Chinatown parcel. […]
It was further part of the scheme that, on or about November 21, 2018, McCLAIN advised Alderman A that a “major hurdle” to passage of legislation concerning the Chinatown parcel had arisen, in that the Illinois Secretary of State had received petitions from local businesspeople in Chinatown who were opposed to the transfer of the Chinatown parcel, and that the Illinois Secretary of State had reached out to leadership in the Senate to express opposition to the transfer.
It was further part of the scheme that, on or about November 23, 2018, after Alderman A advised MADIGAN that there was opposition to legislation providing for the transfer of the Chinatown parcel and that it was best to wait until after upcoming elections and attempt to pass the legislation in May 2019, MADIGAN agreed to do so.
…Adding… Good point…
You gotta' wonder how many more Federal corruption charges might have ensued if the search warrant affidavit in Solis's own corruption case hadn't been accidentally unsealed prematurely. https://t.co/c0jx4Tjd1Nhttps://t.co/0Rg4Ip6h89
Statement from Sheldon Zenner and Gil Soffer, Katten attorneys for Michael Madigan
Neither the law nor the facts support these baseless charges, and the evidence will prove it. Mr. Madigan vehemently rejects the notion that he was involved in criminal activity- before, during or after his long career as a public servant. The government’s overreach in charging him with these alleged crimes is groundless, and we intend to prevail in court.
Statement from Mr. Madigan
I was never involved in any criminal activity. The government is attempting to criminalize a routine constituent service: job recommendations. That is not illegal, and these other charges are equally unfounded. Throughout my 50 years as a public servant, I worked to address the needs of my constituents, always keeping in mind the high standards required and the trust the public placed in me. I adamantly deny these accusations and look back proudly on my time as an elected official, serving the people of Illinois.
* In all the hullaballoo about Madigan, this is kinda getting lost in the shuffle. Via Politico…
STATEMENT TO THE MEDIA REGARDING NEW INDICTMENT AGAINST MIKE McCLAIN; 3-2-22
The Indictment filed today against Mike McClain by the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois is noteworthy in that it is based on many of the same acts that were included in a previous Indictment filed against him in November of 2020. The Government simply repackages these allegations under new theories of wrongdoing.
Added to this legal sleight of hand, the Government now, for the first time, seeks more than $2 million dollars in forfeiture from Mike McClain.
For years, the Government has been trying to force Mike McClain to cooperate in its quest against former Speaker Mike Madigan. These latest charges are nothing more than the Government’s continued attempt to pressure Mike McClain to do the Government’s bidding.
Mike McClain was innocent of the charges when they were first filed in November of 2020. He remains innocent of the recycled and new charges in this latest Indictment. He will never testify falsely about himself or anyone, no matter how many indictments are brought against him. We will fight to prove his innocence
The Government should always seek to justice – to carry out its mission reasonably, equitably, and responsibly. Sadly, it failed to do so today.
