Everyone knows that Billionaire Bully JB Pritzker is best buddies with former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan. He even donated millions of dollars to Madigan’s campaign.
Chip in to stop corruption in Springfield!
Now that Madigan has been indicted for his decades of corruption, JB Pritzker is hiding and avoiding questions.
But we know better.
Pritzker and Madigan are birds of a feather: two corrupt politicians who will do anything and everything to hold onto power. In fact, the investigation into Madigan’s bribery, racketeering and corruption might also implicate Pritzker.
Rich, if Madigan can face justice after nearly four decades of corruption, then justice can come for anyone – even JB Pritzker.
Can you chip in $22 so we can hold Pritzker accountable?
Thanks for helping us hold corrupt Chicago politicians accountable.
Sincerely,
Illinois Republican Party
* Brenden Moore takes a long look at the Madigan operation. Excerpt…
Though much of this could be described as “Campaigning 101,” Madigan’s program stood out for its meticulous and relentless nature. Candidates would often be required to knock on a certain amount of doors in their district every day. And staffers would ultimately report back to Madigan on the candidate’s progress.
“They were meticulous about record-keeping, about setting goals and hitting them,” said an Illinois Democratic operative. “And that’s what Madigan did really well.”
A Republican political operative who has run campaigns against Democratic House candidates added that Madigan’s operation “was organized, it was methodical, it was thoughtful.”
And it extended beyond door-knocking. It also meant protecting members from difficult votes in the House, whether that be blocking unfavorable bills from being considered, allowing targeted members to vote against Democratic bills if it went against their district or temporarily replacing them on a committee to avoid a politically tough vote.
All in all, I agree with state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, who broke from Madigan before other Democrats dared. On my podcast, I asked Cassidy about Madigan’s legacy, and she said it’s not one way or the other: “all the best and worst things that have occurred in this state have his fingers on them.”
By the way, I’d like to thank Cassidy and her 18 Democratic legislative allies who forced Madigan to retire last year by refusing to vote for his re-election as speaker.
If he was still the speaker when the feds indicted him? Ouch. MAGA’s Griffin-funded commercials would be using Madigan as a hammer to pound every Democrat in the state. They’ll still try to do that—just might not be as effective with him out of office.
Madigan had to go. He’d overreached. But when I watch the Rauner/Griffin crowd chortle and cavort over his indictment, well, I definitely don’t feel like joining that celebration.
* Collin Corbett, the founder of Cor Strategies, does quite a bit of polling and other Republican campaign work in Illinois. His conclusion…
Finally, Mike Madigan isn’t on the ballot in 2022. I’m afraid Republican operatives will use this as an excuse to fall back on the mostly failed “Madigan! Madigan! Madigan!” strategy. This tactic works in specific instances where the Democratic candidate has low name recognition and direct dots can be connected showing they’ve worked with Madigan to make people’s lives worse: a prime example being Justice Thomas Kilbride in 2020. But the vast majority of the time, “your state rep is bad because Mike Madigan is bad” has failed miserably—voters would gladly vote against Madigan if given the chance, but guilt by association doesn’t stick.
A red wave is coming in November of 2022 because, for the first time in memory, Republicans dominate on every issue voters care about right now.
In poll after poll over the past year, the top issues to Illinoisans have been crime, the economy, and inflation, three issues on which voters strongly favor Republicans. That’s where our focus needs to be. (Additionally, while voters have extremely short attention spans on national security issues, if Russian aggression continues as we approach November, that’ll be yet another top issue for voters that favors Republicans.)
With suburban voters and key demographics softening towards Republicans, the stars are aligning for Republicans in this election…as long as we don’t screw it up. And thinking the indictment of Mike Madigan last Wednesday was the key to us winning in November is exactly how we can screw it up.
* Baseball is coming back and we’ll get a full season of games…
In a startling turnabout after more than three months of largely stagnant negotiations, Major League Baseball and the MLB Players’ Association have reached a tentative agreement Thursday on a new collective bargaining agreement that will significantly impact the game, capping a five-day stretch of lengthy bartering that resulted in the chance to salvage a full, 162-game season.
The proposed five-year agreement came 99 days after MLB commissioner Rob Manfred imposed a lockout following expiration of the last CBA, and one week after the clubs concluded eight days of bargaining in Florida with no deal, prompting MLB to cancel one week of games.
And it came one day after Manfred announced that “another two series are being removed from the schedule,” pushing Opening Day from March 31 to April 14, a potentially massive black eye for a sport that largely avoided labor fisticuffs since a strike and lockout canceled the 1994 World Series and the first 18 games of the 1995 season.
Instead, the delay will be one week: April 7 is expected to serve as most teams’ Opening Day, with the first week of games to be made up via doubleheaders throughout the course of the season.
A path to a deal seemed to be coming into focus on Thursday morning when the sides resolved how to navigate the question of what to do about direct draft-pick compensation, otherwise known as the qualifying offer. The parties will keep talking about the international amateur system and direct draft pick compensation until July 25. At that point, if the players want to get rid of the qualifying offer, they have to take the international draft. Otherwise, there’s no change to the qualifying offer, and the owners don’t get the international draft.
…Adding… I was looking for some coverage of yesterday’s presser and finally found some. Taylor Vidmar…
Wives of fallen police officers gathered at the Illinois State Capitol on Wednesday to advocate for increased police funding and crackdowns on crime.
The group asked lawmakers to pass Senate Bills 4152-4158, some of which would increase criminal penalties for certain crimes. Senate Bill 4155 would create the “Fund the Police Act” and increase funding to police departments.
All seven bills were read once and referred to the Senate Assignments Committee, where they’ve remained since. The bills are unlikely to be revived after failing to pass the Senate before the chamber’s Feb. 25 third reading deadline, but Amber Oberheim said she won’t stop until action is taken.
“Enough is enough,” said Oberheim, the widow of Champaign police officer Chris Oberheim.
“We urged you to do something to ensure the safety of the residents of Illinois who elected you to make those important decisions,” she said, directing her comments at senators who have failed to support the legislation. “You did not. We are here again today to hold you accountable.”
Senate Bills 4152, 4153, 4154, 4155, 4156, 4157 and 4158 haven’t seen much movement since they were introduced in early February by Republicans. The bills would primarily focus on funding police, specifically for hiring, retention, body cameras and community outreach. State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet), sponsor of the bills, introduced the women and let them take the podium.
According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, nine Illinois officers died in the line of duty. Of those nine, five died by gunfire and three by felonious assault. Widows of U of I Police Lieutenant Aaron Landers, Champaign officer Chris Oberheim, Pontoon Beach officer Tyler Timmins, and Bradley Sergeant Marlene Rittmanic shared their concern for police safety in the state and their push for legislators to do more. […]
Dee Landers, widow of Lt. Aaron Landers, shared she is also a daughter and daughter-in-law of police officers. She shared she won’t be silent and will continue to push for support to protect law enforcement officers in the state.
“It is time we stand in support,” she said. “It’s high time that our legislators are accountable for protecting them.”
* Illinois Restaurant Association…
Today, Sam Toia, President & CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association, testified before the Illinois Senate Tourism and Hospitality Committee on the state of the industry. Mr. Toia, who represents the largest private sector industry in the state, renewed the urgency to support restaurants after the federal government did not include the replenishment of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund in the latest government spending package this week.
Below is his statement:
“The restaurant community was dealt a blow this week when we learned that the door has all but shut for the federal government to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. More than 110,000 restaurants jobs in Illinois are currently at risk without additional aid. We are calling on the state of Illinois to provide $125 million in grants to struggling restaurants to hire and retain team members and invest back in their businesses despite rising costs and mounting debts.”
Meanwhile, the state is running a multi-billion-dollar deficit in the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. The Senate passed an approp bill today to pay off $2 billion of the debt with federal aid, but it’s mainly a placeholder bill while agreed-bill negotiations continue. Something has to pass by the end of this month, which is why the Senate is taking the unusual move of sending a potential approp vehicle to the House a month before the end of session.
Also, Mr. Toia still has not registered as a lobbyist.
* Press release excerpt…
With gasoline prices at the pump topping well over $4 per gallon and expected to continue to climb with projections of over $5 per gallon, State Senators Dave Syverson (R-Cherry Valley) and Donald DeWitte (R-St. Charles) say Illinois legislators must act immediately to provide relief to consumers.
The legislators joined stakeholders during a press conference at the Capitol on Thursday to call on the General Assembly and the Pritzker Administration to immediately cap the state’s sales tax on motor fuel at 18 cents per gallon, which is what consumers were paying last fall before prices started to climb dramatically. […]
Under the Senators’ proposal, Illinois consumers could expect to save nearly $1 billion over the next fiscal year, or 16 cents per gallon, assuming gas prices are at $5.50 per gallon. Additionally, the measure would continue to provide adequate funding for Illinois’ infrastructure projects.
I caught the mention on your blog about legislators proposing to lower the MFT. On the topic of the impact of gas taxes on prices at the pump, I wanted to bring this report to your attention. As you will note from this exhaustive study, gas taxes have little to do with gas prices and when legislators reduce the MFT, only a fraction is passed on to consumers.
Mike Sturino
President & CEO
Illinois Road & Transportation Builders Association
We aren’t touching MFT, and we have never proposed to lower MFT. Our plan caps the sales tax on gas at 18 cents.
* Press release…
Leaders from the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA), the Black Contractors Owners Executives (BCOE), and the Federation of Women Contractors (FWC) are at the state capitol today urging legislators to protect minority and women-owned firms and oppose House Bill 5412.
“HB 5412 will make construction more expensive for everyone and locks out future entrepreneurs from the construction industry. Punishing good companies for a few bad apples is a bad idea,” said Jacqueline Gomez, HACIA’s executive director. “This bill will only create additional obstacles for small, minority and women-owned businesses. The State of Illinois should be reinforcing its diversity and equity bridge - not tearing it down.”
HB 5412 shifts the responsibility for paying wage theft claims from subcontractors who engage in the practice to the primary contractor. A coalition led by HACIA opposes this legislation because of the harm it will inflict on up-and-coming construction firms in Illinois and the employees who become victims of wage theft. By stripping Illinois law of a major disincentive for bad actors, this bill shifts liability for wage theft and encourages bad businesses to continue stealing from their employees because they know that someone else will be held accountable.
More workers will be impacted because there are no repercussions on the bad actor. Meanwhile, contractors operating with integrity will be on the hook. Making all contractors responsible for stolen wages – even if they already compensated the fraudulent subcontractor to pay their employees - will force additional workers to file claims with the Illinois Dept. of Labor. These claims already have a history of taking more than a year to settle, which forces claimants to make do without pay rightfully owed to them. More incidents of wage theft mean more claims from working families – a contradiction to the bill’s intent. […]
“On behalf of BCOE, I am extremely disappointed that special interest groups continue to take priority among our legislators instead of what benefits or protects the people of the State of Illinois,” said Angela Drexel, BCOE’s vice president. “There is better legislation, such as HB 5088, that address the wage theft concern and mitigates adverse impacts to minority contractors. We are disappointed the House decided instead to move forward with HB 5412.”
House Bill 5412 has already passed the Illinois House of Representatives. If the bill is allowed to proceed, a vote in the Illinois State Senate may come within the next couple of weeks. The coalition is calling on members and supporters to contact their state senator to voice their opposition to House Bill 5412 so wage thieves are held accountable.
Nearing the end of the legislative session, Illinois Senate Deputy Minority Leader Sue Rezin (R – Morris) renewed her call today to pass a series of legislative bills she introduced last year in response to the deadly COVID-19 outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home. The legislation would address Governor Pritzker’s failure to implement critical recommendations from the Illinois Auditor General’s Performance Audit of the Legionnaire’s Disease outbreak at the Quincy Veterans’ Home, a report the Governor received three years ago this month.
The 2019 audit called for a timely response for on-site assistance by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), improved communications between IDPH and Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) personnel, and the implementation of all CDC recommendations following a confirmed outbreak (Audit Report Pages IX and X). The Tetra Tech report received two months after the performance audit identified similar issues across our veterans’ homes. Yet, the Pritzker Administration ignored both reports which led to fatal consequences at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home in November 2020 when thirty-six veterans died, making it the deadliest outbreak at a state-run facility in Illinois history.
Last year, an IDPH contractor admitted the agency’s delayed on-site arrival hurt efforts in controlling the spread of COVID-19, which was later reiterated by the Department of Human Services’ Inspector General when he stated, “If these (Quincy) recommendations had been in place at the time of the outbreak, the outcome would have been better.” Deputy Governor Sol Flores’ testimony also provided conflicting accounts of who was responsible for IDPH waiting nearly two weeks from the outbreak’s start to get on-site, even though she claimed to be coordinating the multi-agency response.
“How many reports must land on Governor Pritzker’s desk before he takes the safety of our veterans seriously,” stated Senator Rezin. “It took the Pritzker Administration 11-days to arrive on-site in LaSalle, and it could still take the same number of days today. The Governor’s lax approach toward improving the state’s outbreak response time and care for our veterans is not the type of leadership he pledged as a candidate.”
Two of Senator Rezin’s bills address how Illinois prepares for and responds to outbreaks, while the third one strengthens the powers of the Inspector General when conducting state investigations.
• Senate Bill 3170: Sets a timetable for when IDPH should conduct an on-site visit after being notified of an outbreak.
• Senate Bill 1471: Requires facilities licensed and operated by the State to conduct outbreak preparedness drills.
• Senate Bill 1445: Provides the Inspector General subpoena powers to ensure cooperation with state investigations after former Pritzker political appointee and IDVA Director Linda Chapa LaVia refused to cooperate with the Inspector General’s investigation at IDVA.
“While IDVA Acting Director Terry Prince has been addressing the internal problems existing within the agency, we cannot ignore the fact the state’s mismanagement of the outbreak spanned across multiple state agencies to the Governor’s Office,” continued Senator Rezin. “Therefore, we must put these policies and procedures into state law, ensuring a proper response is undertaken, no matter the people in charge. I am asking Governor Pritzker to publicly support these bills and call for their passage before the end of the session. Doing so will honor the obligation we have to our veterans and their families by solidifying into law the state’s responsibility to show up when veterans need them the most.”
Under HR 62, the Illinois Auditor General is currently conducting a performance audit of the State’s response to the management of the COVID-19 outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home.
Urging mitigation compliance by veterans’ home workers would be helpful as well. Just sayin’.
Well, what I say is we definitely should work to make sure that we do two things that I think are important for gun safety. Make sure that we don’t have more criminals having access to guns, and we don’t have folks with mental illnesses having access to guns. So I will agree that the FOID system in Illinois has to be reworked and come up with a new way to ensure we get less guns in criminals’ hands and less folks with mental illnesses getting guns.
A short answer and directly to the point. I could get used to that. But I’m not sure how strengthening restrictions on gun ownership will fly in a GOP primary when I think most if not all other candidates want to get rid of the FOID law. He also said this…
Irvin: The more laws we create, gun laws, just inhibits and prevents law abiding citizens from protecting themselves.
Q: And it creates criminals out of law-abiding citizens…
Irvin: And it can, in many cases, create criminals out of law-abiding citizens
He also said his FOID card had expired during the pandemic and he’s still waiting on a new one.
* Rodney Davis campaign…
Mary Miller has flip-flopped on the issue of military funding and is attempting to hide from her past votes with the Squad to defund our military and block a pay raise for our troops.
“Carpet-bagging politician Mary Miller voted with AOC and the Squad to defund our military two times. She bragged about being the only Republican from Illinois to vote that way. Miller even attacked Republicans like Rodney Davis, Mike Bost, Jim Jordan, and others who voted for the defense funding legislation in December. Now facing intense pressure for her terrible votes to defund our military, Miller is trying to have it both ways, but we won’t let her get away with it. Mary Miller is a flip-flopper who can’t be trusted.” - Aaron DeGroot, Davis campaign spokesperson
Mary Miller twice voted in September and December against defense funding legislation, known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which provides the Department of Defense (DOD) with the legal authority to spend taxpayer dollars in support of our military. Miller teamed up with AOC and other far-left members of the Squad in opposing the NDAA. In December, Miller bragged about being the only Republican from Illinois to vote against the NDAA and called Republicans who voted for it RINOs.
WCIA 3’s Mark Maxwell previously reported on Miller’s vote against the NDAA in December:
Just yesterday, Miller voted for defense spending legislation which appropriates taxpayer dollars for our military. Even though she voted for defense spending, the effect of her vote against the NDAA which is now law would have limited the military’s ability to spend that money, including their ability to provide pay raises for our troops.
What changed for Miller? Perhaps she realized how terrible her votes are and decided to change course, but that doesn’t change the fact that she bragged about it at the time and attacked Republicans for supporting the NDAA. Mary Miller has pulled a John Kerry and flip-flopped. She can’t be trusted to support our troops.
* Irvin campaign…
Being complicit with corruption is nothing new for JB Pritzker, but a devastating new investigative report unveiled even more fraud at his embattled state agency, the Illinois Department of Employment Security, which has failed to stop scammers from stealing the unemployment benefits of nearly 4,000 Illinois residents.
The state of Illinois has knowingly put money into fraudulent bank accounts–money that was intended to go to unemployed residents who applied for assistance. Instead, scammers hacked accounts and redirected those unemployment funds. The worst part? IDES officials and JB Pritzker knew it was happening, and did nothing to stop it. The problem is ongoing.
While issues at this agency aren’t new, what is new are the extensive lengths the agency under Pritzker’s rule will go to avoid accountability and transparency–even for those residents owed thousands of dollars.
According to IDES through this CBS News Report, it would be ‘unduly burdensome’ to release documents that could show the scope of the problem. The Pritzker Administration also refused questions, including the total number of dollars lost to unemployment fraud.
“As thousands of people across Illinois were desperate to receive their unemployment benefits during the pandemic, the Pritzker administration knowingly sent taxpayer money to scammers,” said Irvin for Illinois campaign spokesperson Eleni Demertzis. “Pritzker’s clear indifference to the needs of the families and businesses struggling through the pandemic continues on.”
* ILGOP…
The picture that’s becoming clear to the people of Illinois is this: JB Pritzker remained a close partner to Mike Madigan until the day before he was indicted for corruption - from giving Madigan’s criminal enterprise $10 million, hiring Madigan’s cronies into his administration, refusing to call on him to resign as Speaker for months, lauding Madigan when he finally left the House and even calling him the week of his indictment.
In January, when the Better Government Association first revealed a massive investigation into millions of dollars of infrastructure projects requested by Mike Madigan that were approved and coordinated by Governor JB Pritzker and his key budget staff, the ILGOP called on Pritzker to answer questions about his role in authorizing taxpayer money be spent on secret infrastructure projects at Mike Madigan’s request. Today, we renew those calls.
Specifically, we demand no money for Madigan-connected projected be allowed to move forward until Governor Pritzker:
1. Releases all communications between the Office of the Speaker of the House and the Governor’s office, the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget, and/or the Illinois Department of Transportation since 2019; and
2. Releases all communications between the Governor’s Office and both the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Transportation regarding Rebuild Illinois projects.
* DPI…
After two months of hiding from the public, the Ken Griffin-funded Rauner Reboot slate emerged again this week to dodge tough questions and repeat outright lies in a short press conference. Led by Richard Irvin’s long-winded diatribes and evasive non-answers, the Griffin slate has resorted to spouting claims that are easily proven as false instead of answering simple questions. Just like Griffin, Irvin and the slate simply refuse to answer the basic questions they don’t like, instead resorting to pivots, dodges, and filibusters to keep the questions at bay.
Try as they might, the Rauner Reboot slate cannot avoid answering questions forever. From who they voted for in past elections to dubious claims about their record, Illinois voters deserve the truth from Griffin and his slate about their real plans for Illinois.
This Women’s History Month, I want to highlight the life and legacy of Grace Scipio. Mrs. Scipio was a longtime Chicago Public Schools teacher who passed away in August of 2019 at the age of 94.
When she passed, Mrs. Scipio had bequeathed $250,000 in her savings account to her alma mater, Spelman College, an HBCU in Atlanta, Georgia. Unfortunately, this wish was overlooked by her bank — who instead surrendered these funds to my office as unclaimed property.
In my role as treasurer, I was honored to facilitate the return of these funds to Spelman college and honor the final wishes of this woman who dedicated her life to educating Illinois children.
Ms. Scipio began her teaching career in 1948 at Doolittle Elementary, later teaching at Burke Elementary and Tanner Elementary. She eventually retired after 39 years and joined the Retired Teachers Association of Chicago, where she volunteered until her death.
Now that her gift has been rightfully reunited with Spelman College, it can be used to further inspire and support our nation’s next leaders of change.
It was my honor to play a small role in ensuring Mrs. Scipio’s legacy is carried forward through my office’s Unclaimed Property program. If you’d like to check if you have any property owed to you, please visit our iCash website.
Thank you for taking a moment to read Mrs. Scipio’s story this Women’s History Month.
A Chicago family said they almost walked away from more than $6,500 in unclaimed funds, left behind by their late father, after years of failed attempts to obtain it from the Illinois State Treasurer’s office.
Three decades after their late father’s death, the family had found his name on a long list of Illinois unclaimed property owners.
Some two years after starting the process of re-claiming their father’s money, his daughter says it was the hardest she ever had to work for any money, and she found the process riddled with unnecessary obstacles.
The Illinois Treasurer’s Office is defending its requirements, saying it has to employ rigorous standards to combat fraud.
Are those standards too complicated when it comes to heirs of a long-deceased relative?
*** UPDATE 1 *** Press release…
Jim Marter for Congress Announces Major Endorsement: Freedom Caucus Congresswoman, Illinois’ Mary Miller
Oswego, IL (March 10, 2022) – “I’m excited and grateful to have Congresswoman Mary Miller’s endorsement. She’s one of the shining stars representing Illinois because of her leadership, intelligence and courage. I’m grateful for both her public service and her endorsement,” said Jim Marter, running to unseat Lauren Underwood in IL-14.
“Mary is a fighter for protecting the vote and protecting our freedoms. We share a passion for securing the border, lowering inflation, defending workers against government overreach and defending children against indoctrination. That’s just scratching the surface. My campaign has been about shared values with the Freedom Caucus and I can assure you, the people of Illinois’ 14th District will be sending her reinforcements to battle the Biden agenda, when they send me to Congress.”
“Elections have consequences and if we increase the number of America First conservatives in Congress, we can return to energy independence, functional supply chains, increased opportunity and a thriving economy. We just need to replace people with radical leftist ideas like Lauren Underwood, with people of courage and principle. Mary Miller has inspired me with her leadership and I will keep my word to the people of my district and ‘do what I said’ which is the Freedom Caucus motto.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** I missed this one…
Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (D-IL) announced he has been endorsed by Congresswoman Katie Porter (D-CA), deputy chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, in his re-election campaign. This endorsement comes on the heels of endorsements from 14 other Members of Congress, including Illinois Reps. Bill Foster and Brad Schneider, as well as Members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, the Blue Dog Caucus, and the Congressional Black Caucus.
“Since Sean and I came to Congress in 2019, we’ve fought hand-in-hand to lower costs for families, hold corporations accountable, and combat the climate crisis,” said Rep. Katie Porter. “Sean brings a wealth of real-world experience into policy-making in a way that is desperately needed in Congress. I’m proud to endorse him.”
“Rep. Porter and I share a common goal in Congress—to do everything we can to deliver real results for our constituents,” said Rep. Sean Casten. “I’m honored to have her support and I look forward to continuing to serve the people of the 6th District.”
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has tapped a dozen challengers for the initial roster of its “Red to Blue” program for top-tier candidates, offering an early look at how it views the House battlefield with redistricting nearly complete.
Republicans only need to flip five seats to undo Democrats’ razor-thin majority and capture the House in November — but Democrats can stretch that number by flipping GOP-held seats the other way, and capitalizing on those opportunities will be a key part of any path to keeping the House during President Joe Biden’s first midterm.
The majority of the program’s roster is running for seats that became much more favorable for Democrats under new redistricting maps. Biden carried 10 of the 12 target districts in 2020.
“I think it’s going to be mostly about defense,” DCCC Executive Director Tim Persico said, speaking about Democrats’ midterm strategy. “But,” he added, “it’s important to play offense.”
* Nikki Budzinski…
Today, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) announced it was adding Nikki Budzinski to its first list of “Red to Blue” candidates - one of only 12 in the country to be added. Budzinski’s addition to the coveted list signals the growing momentum building behind her campaign and that she’s well-positioned to flip this open seat in November.
Red to Blue is a highly competitive battle-tested DCCC program that arms top-tier candidates, who have the best chance to flip seats from Republican to Democrat, with organizational and fundraising support to help them continue to develop strong campaigns. Through the Red to Blue program, the DCCC also provides strategic guidance, staff resources, candidate trainings and more.
Budzinski made the following statement: “I am proud of the grassroots, issues-focused campaign that we have built. The path to holding our house majority runs through winning IL13, and I am thrilled to have the DCCC’s support in that effort. I look forward to continuing to work hard, meet voters, and be a tireless champion for working families in Congress.”
This will also likely help in her primary race, which she’s the overwhelming favorite to win.
* NRCC…
Hi there –
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee just added IL-13 Candidate Nikki Budzinski to its “Red to Blue” frontline list.
Politico noted President Biden carried this district previously by 11 points.
This move signals Democrats know what we do: Nikki Budzinski is extremely vulnerable and will need all the help she can get.
NRCC Comment: “Democrats realize their unending crises and failing socialist agenda are putting previously safe congressional seats in jeopardy, and vulnerable candidate Nikki Budzinski should be worried.” – NRCC Spokeswoman Courtney Parella
Democrats had a 13 to 5 advantage in the congressional delegation coming into the cycle, with Illinois losing one seat through reapportionment. If all the races go as planned by Democrats, they’ll start the next Congress with 14 members, compared to three Republicans. That would be a small step to helping Democrats maintain their slim majority nationwide, since Republicans need a net gain of just five seats for a majority.
Competitive races in the 6th, 13th, 14th, and 17th districts will decide whether Democrats drew a successful gerrymander, or a so-called dummymander, a map that benefits the party it was intended to hurt. In a great GOP cycle, Republicans could end up with one more seat from Illinois than they started with. […]
13th District (Open; Rodney Davis, R)
Democrats redrew this district to be significantly more Democratic, pushing Davis to run in the 15th District. Considering Biden would have won the seat with 54 percent, the Democratic primary is critical because the nominee will start the general election with the advantage.
The Democratic front-runner is Nikki Budzinski. The labor activist and former executive in the Office of Management and Budget had $730,000 in the bank on Dec. 31. On the Republican side, candidates include Jesse Reising, a former DOJ prosecutor and current partner at Kirkland & Ellis, philanthropist Regan Deering and others. The 13th was designed to be a Democratic pickup, but Republicans could hold it under the right conditions. Initial rating: Lean Democratic.
Rodney Davis wasn’t pushed to another district. The Democrats drew a district for him. Mary Miller shifted to the district where Davis already lived. The whole idea that a district’s assigned number has anything to do with anything is not exactly deep thinking. “I must stay within the boundaries of 13 even though I no longer live in 13 because that’s always been my district’s number!” said nobody, ever. Sorry, but I’ve seen this so many times from DC types that it’s starting to bug me.
…Adding… As a subscriber just pointed out, before the last redistricting, the 13th District was represented by Judy Biggert. Nobody thought Rodney was running in the suburbs in 2012.
Nine House reps backpedaled on their request to freeze projects that Madigan had added as line items in the 2019 Rebuild Illinois budget.
In a letter to Gov. JB Pritzker, and obtained by Playbook, the lawmakers said they “now have a better understanding” of the process, are confident the budget items were vetted, and realize that the projects benefit communities of Latino Caucus members. “We stand behind their need to get these projects finished,” according to the letter headed by Rep. Ann Williams.
Questions about the budget arose when the Better Government Association referred to the budget process as being “largely shrouded in secrecy.” Line items are a regular part of the budget with each lawmaker, Democrat and Republican alike, including line-item projects. Leadership can include line-items, too, often to the benefit of members of their caucus.[…]
Amid concerns about the items, Williams and the eight other lawmakersdashed a letter to Pritzker on Monday calling on him to freeze the four development projects that Madigan had listed.
The governor responded in kind and stopped the projects, which made for a good headline — but the line items were programs important to Latino communities.
The backlash was fierce. Some Latino Caucus members sent letters to Pritzker and House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, saying their communities depended on those projects.
The two sides spent much of Wednesday in meetings trying to resolve their concerns before emerging after 10 p.m. Williams’ team then asked Pritzker to take back the freeze.
We would first like to thank you for your quick response to the letter sent on March 7, 2022, regarding the release of funding for capital projects.
In the past few days, we have learned additional information about the process by which capital projects are released after being authorized and appropriated by the General Assembly. We now have a better understanding of how each project is scoped for viability to ensure that a funding recipient is ready and able to deliver a project in a way that complies with applicable statutory standards. We have confirmed that the projects referenced in our recent letter were run through this vetting process.
Most importantly, we have also had conversations with our colleagues, including those in the Latino Caucus who represent the areas impacted by these projects. They and other community leaders have been vocal advocates for these projects, and they remain vital investments in their communities. We stand behind their need to get these projects finished for their communities and we don’t want to place undue burdens on them.
As these projects were considered with the same scrutiny as any other capital project appropriated and authorized by the General Assembly, and remain of critical importance to the legislators who originally advocated for them as well as their communities, we would ask the Governor’s Office to release the remaining funds necessary to complete the projects.
Again, we appreciate your commitment to ensuring accountability and integrity in state government and we look forward to continuing to rebuild the trust 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
*** UPDATE *** Jordan Abudayyeh…
The Governor appreciates that after sending their original letter, the lawmakers who requested the freeze worked to educate themselves on the extensive review process that precedes the release appropriated funds and rescinded their request. It is encouraging to hear that they are now comfortable with all the projects moving forward. Out of an abundance of caution, DCEO and IDOT are currently confirming that the funding process for these projects followed all requirements. It’s clear from community leaders’ feedback that these projects have broad support. The administration hopes to conclude that review and have a decision regarding next steps as soon as possible.
Increased state funding has helped Sparc bump up hourly pay rates for direct service providers (DSPs), those who care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities at the Springfield nonprofit’s group homes and in other settings.
But the increases in this chronically underfunded segment of Illinois’ human services industry “don’t go far enough yet,” said Douglas McDonald, chief executive officer of Sparc. […]
The coalition is calling for a $151 million boost in the $94.8 million Pritzker has proposed in new funding for reimbursement rates to disability service organizations.
The boost would bring the total rate increase to $246.8 million, an amount that would make up for the state not meeting the full Guidehouse recommendation in the current fiscal year and fully funding the increase suggested for fiscal 2023, Evans said. […]
Pritzker’s budget also includes $1 billion in one-time tax cuts for everyday citizens.
“Before we necessarily propose $1 billion in tax breaks, can we try to live up to and meet the commitments that have been outlined for social services?” Evans asked. “Now we’re in a budget situation where it seems we can.”
The additional appropriation is most definitely needed to comply with the Ligas federal consent decree, which the state has been out of compliance with pretty much since it entered into the consent decree eleven years ago. Let’s hope something can be worked out for these folks because their problem is all too real and the state can’t keep treating providers of critical services this way.
But using one-time “extra” money for a permanent fix would risk blowing a hole in the following year’s budget and put the state on a track to the bad old days.
Illinois didn’t get into this deep hole overnight. We’ve seen years and years and years of mismanagement, including doing things like making the structural deficit worse by using temporary revenue streams for permanent programs.
…Adding… Related…
* Advocates want $246M for developmental disability services in Illinois: Providers say direct support professionals should receive 150% of the state’s minimum wage. The decision could affect more than 30,000 direct support professionals and any future workers in the field. “If we do not recruit and hire DSPs, train them, we will no longer have the supports needed to continue to support intellectual and developmental disabilities in the state of Illinois,” said Helen Blackburn, VRS executive director of Centerstone. Blackburn started as a DSP in Southern Illinois 20 years ago. She said there was never a question of whether or not that could be a career. But with wages so low in 2022, Blackburn said it’s difficult for anyone to make ends meet.
[Alderman Danny Solis] assured MADIGAN that “there’s a lot of good stuff happening in my ward” and that he would help MADIGAN obtain legal business for his private law firm; and (d) MADIGAN in return assured Alderman A that he would help him obtain a State board appointment by telling Alderman A, “Just leave it in my hands,” and asked that Alderman A also help a relative of MADIGAN and the relative’s employer obtain business from Organization B.
The relative and the organization are unnamed in the indictment. But the Sun-Times has identified the family member as Andrew R. Madigan, the speaker’s son, and the community-based organization as The Resurrection Project, a Pilsen social service provider that has become an important low-income housing developer on the Southwest Side.
The indictment accuses neither Andrew Madigan nor The Resurrection Project of any wrongdoing, but it suggests that the speaker’s request to Solis to help his son was part of a corrupt exchange of favors between the two politicians. […]
Andrew Madigan works for Alliant/Mesirow Insurance Services, helping the company develop business. For many years, his work included soliciting insurance work from suburban municipal governments, including Alsip, Lyons, McCook, Schiller Park and Summit.
All of those suburbs have been under investigation by federal authorities. McCook’s former mayor Jeffrey Tobolski, who also served as a commissioner on the Cook County Board, has pleaded guilty to taking more than $250,000 in bribes and extortion payments. He is cooperating with investigators and has yet to be sentenced for his crime. […]
“At no point were we pressured about doing business with anybody,” [Raul Raymundo, longtime chief executive officer for The Resurrection Project] emphasized.
State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) joined the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association to urge the General Assembly to pass the Hotel Jobs Recovery Program, which would allocate funds toward rehiring workers after a two year record low occupancy rate caused by the pandemic.
“Nationally and right here in Illinois, the tourism industry took the hardest hit throughout the pandemic,” said Feigenholtz. “Unlike other industries, hotels and lodging were not given federal relief and need an infusion of 250 million in order to keep larger hotels that are destinations for convention visitors afloat. Without this funding, hotels and lodging businesses could be forced to close and many jobs will be lost.”
The Hotel Jobs Recovery Grant Program would provide funds to operators of hotels in an amount equal to $1,500 per hotel room. Eighty percent of the funds would be used for payroll costs and the remaining 20% must be used on public safety upgrades, property taxes, mortgage payments, or debts incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hotels nationally have seen $111.8 billion in losses tied to room reservations and major declines in event rentals and convention scheduling. Senate Bill 4184 calls for $250 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to be allocated to provide grants of $1,500 per room in hotels in the city of Chicago.
The pandemic’s impact on the industry has been startling, as hotels have sustained a large decline in occupancy for more than two years now, with occupancy in Chicago hotels hitting 14.6%in December 2020 and never fully recovering. On average last year, Chicago’s hotel occupancy rate hovered around 44%.
“With this federal funding, our state would begin recovery efforts by adding more jobs and enhance the tourism industry within the city of Chicago and all across the state,” said Feigenholtz.
SB 4184 awaits action in the Senate.
* Press release…
Illinois lawmakers today introduced a resolution that would support Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation’s efforts to build on its history as an original part of the DeKalb County community.
After the U.S. Government in the late 1840s illegally sold more than 1,280 acres of the Nation’s land near the village of Shabbona in southern DeKalb County, the Nation has been working tirelessly to reclaim its Reservation.
“We simply want to reclaim the land that was taken from us and we want to do so in the most community-focused, least disruptive way,” Prairie Band Chairman Joseph Rupnick said. “We’re rooted in the northern Illinois community and after 170 years, we just want this issue resolved.”
Senate Resolution 896 sponsored by state Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) and House Resolution 504 sponsored by state Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) encourage the U.S. Congress to pass legislation that would allow the Nation to secure 1,151 acres of land near Shabbona State Park in the southern part of DeKalb County. HR 504 unanimously passed out of the House State Government Administration Committee this afternoon.
“We have a chance to correct this injustice and it’s our responsibility to do so,” Pacione-Zayas said. “I’m proud to sponsor this resolution in the state Senate and I implore our Congressional leaders to do the same with the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Shab-eh-nay Band Reservation Settlement Act of 2021 that’s currently in the United States Senate.”
In the late 1840s when Chief Shab-eh-nay traveled from his home Reservation in DeKalb to visit his family in Kansas, the U.S. government illegally auctioned off more than 1,280 acres of his land near the village of Shabbona in southern DeKalb County.
In 2001, the U.S. Department of the Interior confirmed the history and legal status of the Shab-eh-nay Reservation as federally recognized Indian Country because the U.S. Government never received the required Congressional approval to auction off land that rightfully belonged to Chief Shab-eh-nay.
The U.S. Congress is the only governing body that has the authority to designate land titles for native nations.
Currently, deeds for homeowners within the Reservation are subject to “all rights, claims, or title to the descendants of a Potawatomi Indian Chieftain named Shabbona and his Band.” The federal legislation would wipe those deeds clean of that clause in favor of assuring current homeowners that their property is theirs without condition. It would also provide clean title to the State and DeKalb County governments who also own land within the current Reservation.
“The U.S. Government made a mistake 170 years ago by illegally selling the Nation’s land,” Demmer said. “Now we as lawmakers here in Illinois and our counterparts in Congress have a chance to correct it.”
* Press release…
To offer support to workers, a group of pro-business Democratic lawmakers held a press conference Wednesday to advocate for an initiative to require the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to expedite complete professional license applications.
“Health care workers, accountants, speech pathologists and a variety of others are eager, qualified and ready to enter their respective industries but are waiting months for professional licenses to be issued by the state,” said State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs), chief Senate sponsor of Senate Bill 670. “Improving convenience, timeliness and accessibility for working people is a necessary step to building our economy and focusing efforts on recovery.”
Under the legislation, IDFPR is required to process applications within four weeks as long as there were no deficiencies submitted.
“We have a shortage of trained experts right now—especially in the real estate, financial and health care fields, which the DFPR regulates,” said State Rep. Mike Halpin (D-Rock Island), chief House sponsor. “Eliminating gratuitous licensing wait times will help fill that gap while cutting down on red tape. I’m happy to join my distinguished colleagues in helping make this legislation law.”
The proposal supports an effort to benefit workers and support economic development throughout the state for an array of industries.
“If you have all the qualifications and there are no discrepancies in your license, then this process shouldn’t keep you waiting months in order to practice your profession,” said State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford).
Senate Bill 670 passed the Senate with bipartisan support and awaits further consideration by the House Health Care Licenses Committee.
* Media advisory…
The families of the victims who were killed in the March 10, 2019 plane crash of a Boeing 737 MAX in Ethiopia will gather Thursday in two countries to try to continue to hold Boeing responsible for the deaths of all 157 on board and to bring attention to a bill recently introduced in the Illinois legislature. Below are the details of the protests that will take place in Toronto, Canada, and in front of the Boeing headquarters in Chicago this Thursday.
WHEN: Thursday, March 10, 2022, at 11:00 am CST to 11:30 am CST and Thursday, March, 10, 2022, at 10 a.m.EST (9 am CST) in Toronto, Canada
WHERE: Boeing Headquarters, 100 North Riverside Plaza, Chicago (in front of office building). Among those who will be holding enlarged photos of the victims is Nadia Milleron, mother of Samya Rose Stumo, 24, whose daughter who was killed in the crash. Another protest will be held across the street from the U.S. Consulate in Toronto, Canada, 360 University Ave. Among the Canadian family members will be Chris Moore, father of Danielle Moore, 24, who was killed in the March 10, 2019 crash of a Boeing MAX jet in Ethiopia. Families, friends and their supporters there will be carrying various signs including, “We are the Victims’ Voice.”
Editor’s Note: After the in-person Chicago event concludes at 11:30 am CST, a Zoom Press Conference will begin with families from around the world sharing their stories and concerns about the Boeing 737 Max that is currently flying in the skies.
WHAT: Illinois needs to pass HB 4968, which would hold companies, including Boeing, responsible for punitive damages when they cause people to die. Boeing must be held responsible for the deaths aboard the 737 Max
Legislation designed to allow tax dollars to pay for public service announcements about proper gun storage practices is now up to the Illinois Senate.
House Bill 4729 would require the Illinois Department of Public Health to develop and implement a two-year statewide safe gun storage public awareness campaign.
State Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Northlake, is one of the sponsors of the legislation and explained what this bill would do.
“It is a public service campaign so that we can have gun owners understand the importance of safely storing their weapons or their guns,” Willis said.
Longtime lobbyist and Democratic political adviser Dan Shomon has severed his contract with the city of Aurora due to Mayor Richard Irvin’s Republican bid for governor.
“I’m really proud of all that our team at Dan Shomon Inc. has accomplished for the City of Aurora and its citizens on many fronts,” Shomon said in a statement to Playbook. “Our team worked with the excellent group of local legislators and Governor Pritzker last year to extend the River Edge Redevelopment Zone Act. During our service to Aurora over many years, we have also helped bring tens of millions of dollars in projects to the city.”
Shomon’s firm has lobbied for Aurora for more than 15 years and in December saw his contract renewed to the tune of $9,300 per month.
Wondered if that was gonna happen.
* Seems a bit chaotic over there…
Is there anyone in the Effingham area that can grab some petitions from a friend and then drive through Greenville and…
* This line by Rep. Tom Demmer about his Democratic opponent for state treasurer’s mention of taxing retirement income prompted some very loud boos in the audience on Monday…
My opponent, Mike Frerichs, sponsored every tax increase he ever came across in Springfield. And he took it a step further in 2020 when he called for a discussion of taxing retirement income in Illinois. Do we want to lose more people to other states?
Then again, there were a lot of retirement-aged folks in that audience.
* If he’s telling the truth, Republican US Senate candidate Bobby Piton is apparently trying to be last on the ballot because he hasn’t yet filed…
We the People provided my campaign over 6,990 signatures, signed and notarized!
Your partnership in this race for a U.S. Senate Seat is crucial to the fight for election integrity, battling government overreach and protecting freedom in Illinois and in the nation. I want to encourage you to get even more involved.
Rest assured, my loyalty is to We the People of Illinois, not the corrupt political parties, the lobbyists or the donor-class, snake oil salesmen.
We the People can disrupt the corruption here in Illinois and lead the way for the rest of the nation to follow. Are you in?
If you still have petitions to turn in, please get them in before March 10th. If you can help financially, here’s the link:
THANK YOU for all your support during this important phase of OUR campaign! We’re in this together, for Illinois and our freedom.
Illinois Sen. John Connor, a Lockport Democrat, is not seeking reelection in the 43rd District, leaving the seat open. Rachel Ventura, a Joliet Democrat and Will County Board member, and Eric Matteson, a Joliet firefighter, seek their party’s nomination in the primary. Republican Michelle Lee of Shorewood also has filed for the open seat.
In House District 97, Michelle Smith of Plainfield and Thomas McCullagh of Shorewood are seeking a seat left open by Rep. Mark Batinick, a Plainfield Republican, who is not seeking reelection. Democrat Harry Benton of Plainfield also has filed for House District 97.
In House District 77, incumbent Rep. Kathleen Willis of Addison is being challenged in the Democrat primary by Norma Hernandez of Melrose Park.
In Senate District 21, Naperville Democrat Sen. Laura Ellman, who was elected in 2018, filed for reelection. Republican Kathleen Murray of Lombard also filed for the same seat.
Norma Hernandez is backed by US Rep. Chuy Garcia.
* More in a seemingly endless list of dueling endorsements in a Democratic primary race for the right to run in a Republican House district…
Chelsea Laliberte Barnes, a Democratic candidate for Illinois State Representative in District 51, announces that she is being endorsed by U.S. Congressman Brad Schneider (D- 10). After collecting 1,100 signatures, Laliberte Barnes officially filed as a candidate Monday in Springfield. Since announcing her run in August 2021, Chelsea has recruited 50 volunteers, raised $75,000, and knocked on over 5,000 doors, all while raising a toddler, running a small business, serving as the Board Chair for two nonprofits, and supporting families as a clinical social worker
And…
Rolling Meadows Mayor Joe Gallo announced his support for Nabeela Syed, candidate for State Representative in Illinois’s 51st House District.
“We need passionate advocates that will fight for our community in Springfield, bringing vital resources back to Rolling Meadows and the working families that live here,” Gallo stated in his endorsement of Syed. “Nabeela is clearly someone who cares deeply about local issues and the concerns of area residents, including property taxes and public safety concerns.”
I just don’t get it, but it’s a free country.
* More…
* Billionaire-Backed Group Enlists Trump-Supporting Citizens to Hunt for Voter Fraud Using Discredited Techniques: VoteRef, records show, is an initiative of the conservative nonprofit group Restoration Action and its related political action committee, both led by Doug Truax, an Illinois insurance broker and podcaster who ran unsuccessfully in the state’s GOP primary for the U.S. Senate in 2014. A ProPublica review found that VoteRef’s origins and funders are closely linked to a super PAC predominantly funded by billionaire Richard Uihlein, founder of the mammoth Wisconsin-based packaging supply company Uline.
* IL-14: So who is Jaime Milton of Fox River Grove who filed for Congress Monday?
* Former Speaker Madigan entered a “Not Guilty” plea today…
Madigan's appearance will likely be waived for the status hearing, and probably every hearing for the foreseeable future. They're now talking about bond, which was prearranged.. Madigan does not have to put up any money.
* Former Gov. Pat Quinn is asking the courts to impose electronic petition circulation so he can more easily get his reform proposal on the ballot. Madigan is mentioned (which is why I put it here) and Quinn is suing Gov. JB Pritzker. Not sure if I’ve ever seen a former governor sue a sitting governor, but PQ gonna PQ…
FROM: Pat Quinn, Former Illinois Governor and Attorney for 9 Illinois voters who are circulating an initiative petition for a statewide binding November voter referendum to clean up Illinois political corruption.
RE: Initial Court Hearing on a voting rights lawsuit filed by 9 Illinois voters against Governor JB Pritzker and Illinois State Board of Elections seeking the right to use electronic petition circulation to qualify an ethics reform referendum in the wake of last week’s bombshell 22-count racketeering conspiracy, bribery, wire fraud, and attempted extortion indictment against former House Speaker Michael Madigan.
WHEN: Wednesday, March 9, 2022 at 10am Before Judge Sophia Hall
Article XIV, Section 3 of the Illinois Constitution gives Illinois voters the initiative petition right to bypass the General Assembly to enact a legislative reform amendment by direct voter referendum. In 1980, Illinois voters collected 475,811 initiative petition signatures to win the passage by referendum of the Cutback Amendment, which reduced the number of Illinois House members from 177 to 118.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul is representing Gov. Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of Elections in Wednesday’s voting rights case.
In 2020 and 2021, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy issued two executive orders allowing for the submission of initiative and referendum petitions electronically in order to “facilitate full participation in the electoral process which is essential to a strong democracy” and consistent with “social distancing and other public health measures to limit the spread of COVID-19.”
In 2021, the Attorney General of Virginia and the Virginia State Board of Elections negotiated a consent agreement to allow for a “safe and contactless” electronic method of petition circulation that was in “the best interests of health, safety, and constitutional rights of Virginia citizens and protect the public from exposure to COVID-19 during the pandemic.”
In 2021 and 2022, Illinois General Assembly members have accommodated themselves with a safe and contactless electronic voting option where members have been debating and voting on bills from sidewalks, cars, and their offices, rather than in the State Capitol. The current state budget was approved by electronic remote voting.
The nine plaintiffs in Wednesday’s hearing include a cancer survivor who is immunocompromised, a disabled person who is totally blind, four elderly persons including one who is 92 years old, a person who has recovered from COVID-19, and persons from communities of color who have suffered disparate impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Illinois voters must file 363,868 initiative petition signatures in one book with the Secretary of State by May 8, 2022 to place the Illinois Democracy Amendment on the November 8 ballot.
The Illinois Democracy Amendment reads as follows: “The purpose of the Amendment is to give Illinois voters the power by petition to require the General Assembly to take mandatory roll call votes on bills which propose stronger ethical standards for Illinois public officials.”
The online petition can be viewed at IllinoisDemocracy.org.
Setting aside the lawsuit, the ballot language seems pretty darned vague.
* House Republicans…
A week ago, federal prosecutors dropped a 22-count indictment against former Speaker Michael Madigan, following a string of investigations, indictments, arrests, and cover-ups. Madigan’s arraignment today begins a new chapter in Illinois’ story of political corruption, but House Democrats haven’t received the message that voters desire real change.
“After taking millions in campaign contributions, House Democrats have not only failed to pass meaningful ethics reform, many have not publicly denounced their former leader,” said Jayme Siemer, Executive Director of the House Republican Majority. “Keeping these tainted funds means Madigan’s influence will remain as their number one donor.”
Among some top races, House Democrats have a Madigan problem.
Mark Walker:
Accepted $1.9 million in campaign contributions from Madigan.
Supported Madigan for Speaker.
Terra Costa Howard:
Accepted $1.6 million in campaign contributions from Madigan.
Katie Stuart:
Accepted $1.5 million in campaign contributions from Madigan.
Supported Madigan for Speaker.
After a week, has not issued a public statement on Madigan’s indictment.
Suzanne Ness:
Accepted $1.2 million in campaign contributions from Madigan.
After 24 hours and a public shaming, issued a public statement on Madigan’s indictment.
Janet Yang Rohr:
Accepted $1.03 million in campaign contributions from Madigan.
Supported Madigan for Speaker.
Maura Hirschauer:
Accepted $523,000 in campaign contributions from Madigan.
Supported Madigan for Speaker.
Has not communicated directly with constituents regarding Madigan’s indictment.
Jay Hoffman:
Accepted $459,000 in campaign contributions from Madigan.
Helped pay for Madigan’s legal defense.
Supported Madigan for Speaker.
After a week, has not issued a public statement on Madigan’s indictment.
Dave Vella:
Accepted $325,000 in campaign contributions from Madigan.
Supported Madigan for Speaker.
After a week, has not issued a public statement on Madigan’s indictment.
Democrats have been silent on these tainted funds, with no indication members will donate these funds to charity, a practice often used by politicians to dispose of funds taken from undesirable sources.
* Richard Irvin campaign…
As former House Speaker Mike Madigan faces arraignment on a 22 count-federal indictment citing years-long bribery and extortion schemes, the criminal enterprise continues to expand with another company being named earlier this week. As the scope of corruption under Mike Madigan continues to grow, so do the questions facing JB Pritzker and his administration’s deafening silence on the matter.
“JB Pritzker was complicit by enabling Madigan’s criminal enterprise that resulted in one of the largest and longest corruption schemes in our state’s history,” Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin said. “We need leaders throughout Illinois government who will actually root out corrupt politicians, not sit silently while they take advantage of hard-working taxpayers across the state.”
According to the Chicago Tribune, “the indictment also alleged that Madigan met with then Gov-elect J.B. Pritzker in December 2018 in part to discuss a lucrative state board position for Solis, ostensibly as a reward for helping Madigan win law business.”
* ILGOP…
Former House Speaker and Chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois, Michael J. Madigan, has been indicted on 22 counts of racketeering, bribery, wire fraud and extortion. Today, he is set to make his first court appearance after the charges were announced.
From WGN…
Democrats are trying desperately to move past Madigan.
“It’s important to focus on the work that this legislature is doing under new leadership,” House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch said.
Hilarious.
Given that the vast majority of House Democrats were elected because Mike Madigan showered them with campaign cash and they returned the favor by voting to make him Speaker, the idea that they can just “move past” him is top tier wishful thinking. They own Madigan just like he owned them for decades.
But as we know, one man - Governor JB Pritzker - went above and beyond in his fealty to Madigan.
Most of the time in politics, power is fueled by the ability to take out your opponents come election time. And one cannot do that unless they have a sizable warchest. Governor JB Pritzker is still avoiding accountability for giving Mike Madigan more corrupt power with his massive $10 million dollars in contributions to the Ex-Speaker over the years.
When will Pritzker answer for his personal support of Madigan’s corrupt enterprise?
Jennifer Lin should catch much of the blame for Evanston’s mishandling of sexual misconduct complaints from teenage girls and young women who worked at the city’s beaches, according to an investigative report released last month from a law firm hired by the town’s city council.
When she was the city’s top human resources manager, the lawyers say, Lin was primarily at fault for Evanston’s yearlong delay in looking into the “pervasive” harassment and abuse suffered by lifeguards and other beach workers.
And the investigators found Lin initially was skeptical of the female lakefront workers who first stepped forward in 2020, suggesting they also “behaved badly” and commenting to another Evanston official that “these millennials hold onto things.”
But long before she came in for that heavy criticism in the independent counsel’s report, Lin already had landed a new, six-figure job in local government.
Records show Lin got interviewed and picked last August to become the director of compliance for Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Iris Martinez – even after Evanston’s city manager punished Lin for allegedly failing to tell her about the severity of the beach workers’ complaints.
So, Lin was hired to oversee compliance under the federal hiring monitor. But the vacant position “did not require applicants to disclose whether they had faced any disciplinary action in a previous or current job.” That is just ridiculous. And the federal monitor who oversaw Lin’s hiring said: “I have nothing to say. Not a word,” when pressed by WBEZ. Such transparency.
One young woman – who says she was raped by a manager when she was a lifeguard in Evanston a few years ago – sent a scathing message to Lin’s county email address last month, hours after the independent counsel’s report was released publicly on Feb. 25.
The woman and more than 50 other current and former beach workers signed a petition to Evanston officials in July 2020. In it, they alleged “blatant sexism, sexual harassment, assault, racism and discrimination” at the lakefront.
The girls and young women called on city officials to “apologize directly to survivors, their families and all lakefront employees for consistently placing underaged employees in oppressive, uncomfortable and dangerous situations and in close proximity with sexual predators.”
“I was truly appalled by the utter mishandling of the Evanston petition and allegations of sexual assault,” the woman wrote to Lin last month. “I would like you to know that people like yourself are the reason why sexual assault so often goes unreported.”
Before going to work for the county in October, Lin also worked for a couple months for state Rep. Denyse Wang Stoneback, D-Skokie. State records show Lin was paid a total of $12,500, at a rate of $38.50 an hour, for being a “contractual worker” with Stoneback from Aug. 1 until Oct. 11.
Stoneback did not return messages.
* I was able to get a response of sorts from Rep. Wang Stoneback (D-Skokie)…
Jennifer Lin worked for me briefly last year, but is no longer affiliated with my office. The findings of the recently released report are troubling and I hope changes are made to prevent this from happening again.
I followed up to ask if the legislator was aware that Lin had issues in Evanston, but did not hear back.
As mayor of Aurora, we eliminated wasteful spending. We balanced budgets every year and made government more efficient by doing more with less. We fought for property tax relief and worked hard to spark economic growth. He wants to raise your taxes, JB Pritzker, and he’s tried to enact the largest tax hike in our state’s history on every resident of Illinois. And he wants to continue to do it. If he’s elected, he will try again.
* In response, Eleni Demertzis at the Irvin campaign sent this along…
Richard Irvin’s record fighting to cut wasteful spending and deliver property tax relief is a stark contrast to a governor fighting for the largest tax hike in Illinois history while evading paying taxes of his own.
On background:
You’ll see that Aurora’s property tax extension for the general fund - which is the portion of the budget where the Mayor and city council have a high degree of control - has gone down under Irvin.
You’ll also see that Aurora’s property tax base has increased by 25%, and the taxes per $100 of EAV have gone down.
Irvin Has Reduced Aurora’s General Fund Property Tax Levy
Since Irvin Became Mayor, Aurora’s Property Tax Extensions For The City General Fund Have Decreased. (Aurora 2021 Budget, Accessed 3/8/22)
The graph below presents the trend of the city’s property tax extensions for General Fund purposes since 2010 (2009 property tax levy).
Since 2016, Aurora’s General Fund Levy Has Fallen From $42,338,000 To $41,778,000. (Aurora Tax Levies & Extensions, 2016-2021)
Since 2016, Aurora General Fund Extension Has Fallen From $42,544,553 To $41,831,003. (Aurora Tax Levies & Extensions, 2016-2021)
Aurora’s Property Tax Base Has Grown 25 Percent Under Irvin
Since 2016, Aurora’s Property Tax Base Has Grown From $3,470,093,810 To $4,368,434,612, An Increase Of More Than 25 Percent. (Aurora Tax Levies & Extensions, 2016-2021)
Since 2016, Aurora’s Tax Rate Per $100 Of EAV Has Fallen From 2.3938 To 1.9444. (Aurora Tax Levies & Extensions, 2016-2021)
Irvin Supported Eliminating The Aurora Election Commission And Using The Savings To Reduce Property Taxes
* I was awash in information and needed some help. So, I turned to a good friend who is an up and coming property tax lawyer and asked him to sort it out for me. Here you go…
Both the Irvin and Pritzker camps are talking past one another. There are various factors at play, the levy (both general revenue and the overall levy), the total assessed value of Aurora’s tax base, and all of the individual tax rates of the various taxing bodies. All of these contribute to a taxpayer’s overall property tax liability. The fact sheets that were sent to you highlight the strengths of each side and downplay the weaknesses (unsurprisingly). The end result is that you are left to compare apples to oranges. I will try to streamline these below:
Levy
The levy is incredibly important because it’s probably the one instrument that the administration can control the most. It’s the overall number of dollars that they are requesting from their taxpayers on an annual basis. Irvin’s people highlight that the general fund levy and the general extension decreased from 2017-2018. This is technically true but it leaves out the other funds that the city controls. Pritzker’s numbers are more reliable in that it takes into account the overall levy of each budgetary line item under the purview of the administration/ city council. As they correctly note, the overall levy increased every year other than from 2019 to 2020. (As Pritzker’s people correctly note, in 2020 the Aurora Library became its own taxing district and was separated from the general operating fund (see p. 61 of the Aurora budget document)). If you count the funds allocated towards the library the overall levy actually increased every year from 2017-2020.
Tax base
The tax base plays an important part because if you grow your tax base it lessens the individual burden for each taxpayer. Irvin’s document correctly points out that the total assessed values for his tax base grew from 2016 through 2020. Whether that is from new businesses locating to Aurora, an increase in property values, an increase in assessments, or all three I do not know.
Individual taxing districts
Attached are tax bills from an average Aurora home for tax years 2016-2020. They have been redacted to maintain this homeowner’s privacy. I’ve also compiled a spreadsheet that accounts for the various Aurora taxing district rates for these pertinent years. Despite Pritzker’s point about the library, they have actually had an individual line item for their tax rate since before Irvin became Mayor, so parsing that out isn’t very difficult.
As you can see from the attached spreadsheet, the Aurora City tax rate and the overall tax rate ( which accounts for Aurora, Aurora’s pensions, and the library) all decreased from 2016 to 2017 and then again from 2019 to 2020. As noted above, this is not due to a decrease in the overall levy but rather from additional assessed values greater spreading out the tax burden. Regardless, Irvin can correctly point to a decrease in these actual tax rates and the subsequent decreased tax dollars for individual taxpayers. However, the City did not request less in total taxes for these particular years.
Overall Conclusion
You asked me to answer whether or not Irvin lowered property taxes. As you can see from above, this isn’t an easy question to answer. However, if I was PolitiFact and I was asked to rate the statement “Richard Irvin lowered property taxes” for accuracy, I would rate the statement as “somewhat true.” He did not “cut” property taxes by decreasing the overall Aurora levy but he did decrease individual property tax liability for Aurora taxpayers by increasing the assessed value of his tax base.
MEDIA ADVISORY: Bicameral group of lawmakers speak out on anti-Semitic packages received around Glenview
SPRINGFIELD – Many residents across the community State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) represents received packages of anti-Semitic flyers on their front lawns last week.
Today, Wednesday, March 9, Senator Fine will hold a press conference to condemn the despicable acts of antisemitism and call for support.
WHO: Senators Laura Fine, Sarah Feigenholtz, Ram Villivalam and Julie Morrison, alongside Representative Bob Morgan, and Alison Slovin with the Wiesenthal Center
WHAT: Press conference on anti-Semitic packages sent to members of the community
WHEN: Wednesday, March 9 at 1:30 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Room, Illinois State Capitol and live on BlueRoomStream.com
* Literature…
The package came in a plastic storage bag and left on porches. I’m told that the beans in the package apparently weighted them down to prevent them from blowing away.
…Adding… Press release…
Members of the General Assembly stood together in solidarity during a press conference Wednesday to condemn the anti-Semitic literature anonymously distributed recently in the district State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) represents, and to provide members of the community actionable ways they can stand up against antisemitism and hate speech.
“This incident is disturbing and intolerable,” Senator Fine said. “As an individual, and as a Jewish woman, I am disgusted by these displays of hate. However, we will not cower from these threatening messages. Instead, I am asking my colleagues and members of my community to stand up against antisemitism to prevent situations like this, or more dangerous incidents, from ever happening again.”
Over the last few weeks, anti-Semitic flyers in plastic bags were left on driveways in Niles, Glenview, and Park Ridge. The flyers included images of prominent Jewish politicians—including Senator Fine—and businesspeople from Illinois and across the country.
“The meteoric rise of antisemitism both in Illinois and globally is breathtaking,” said State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago). “The Jewish community and its allies cannot ignore or dismiss the historical parallel of what occurred before World War II and the Holocaust where six million Jews were murdered across Europe and the antisemitism we are experiencing globally, domestically and in Illinois.”
According to the Anti-Defamation League, anti-Semitic incidents increased by 84% in the Midwest between 2016 and 2020.
“As antisemitism rises across the nation, we must continue to call our hate speech and hate crimes when they happen in our own backyard,” said Representative Bob Morgan (D-Highwood). “The governor’s budget addition for $20 million for security funding for religious and cultural institutions is urgently needed and will help our at-risk communities.”
Members of the General Assembly and advocates are further encouraging everyone to help combat hate speech and stop the spread of violent acts by holding people accountable, raising awareness, and supporting people who are targets of hate speech and notifying authorities and the office of the attorney general when hate crimes take place.
“We need to take bigots at their word and ensure our elected officials are safe and to investigate the sources of these serial attacks,” said Alison Pure-Slovin, director of the Midwest region for the Simon Wiesenthal Center. “The Simon Wiesenthal Center calls for a special Illinois taskforce on anti-Semitism and reiterates its call to FBI Director Wray to establish a special FBI National Taskforce on anti-Semitism to help us beat back the scourge of hate.”
Pritzker’s Hyatt Corporation on Short List of American Companies Refusing to Stand with Ukraine
AURORA - As Russia’s war on Ukraine rages on and companies across the globe sever ties with Russia, JB Pritzker remains radio silent on if his billion dollar hotel chain will do the same. With economic pressure mounting, over 100 American and international corporations have stopped doing business in Russia, condemning the country’s aggression while Pritzker’s Hyatt hotel chain looks the other way.
“While Americans are looking for ways to hamper Russia’s efforts in this unprovoked war on Ukraine, Pritzker needs to answer if he believes his family should pull out of their hotels in Russia,”said Irvin for Illinois campaign spokesperson Eleni Demertzis. “Pritzker talks about standing with Ukraine but when it comes to something he can actually do, his silence is deafening.”
As if staying silent isn’t bad enough, a Crain’s Chicago Business story notes that “the Pritzker family-backed Hyatt and its competitors are downplaying the impact of the Russian invasion on their business” and that they haven’t seen any “material impacts” of the war on their company.
Pritzker’s financial interests continue to be a headache for the governor. Just weeks ago, an investigation uncovered that Pritzker has personally profited off an investment with one of the state’s largest Medicaid vendors. He continues to dishonestly claim that he had no knowledge of the investment even though he signed a document attesting to it.
* Response from Natalie Edelstein at the Pritzker campaign…
No American companies should continue doing business with Russia, Hyatt included. The governor has no leadership or management role in Hyatt, nor does he own stock. He believes that we must stand firm against Vladimir Putin’s senseless aggression, which is why he directed Illinois’ employee pension systems to review potential divestment in Russian assets and why he will continue taking action to support the people of Ukraine and democracy worldwide.
* OK, but what about CIBC Trust Co. (Bahamas) Ltd., which is an offshore Pritzker family trust that holds lots of Hyatt stock? In 2013, JB Pritzker held 6 million shares of Hyatt stock through that trust, according to an SEC 13D filing.
JB unequivocally is not the beneficiary of any trust that holds Hyatt stock-foreign or domestic, with CIBC as the Trustee or with any other Trustee. He has zero interest directly or as a beneficiary in any Hyatt stock.
The listing of CIBC as Trustee for Hyatt stock on the 13D does not include JB.
In an only-in-Illinois kind of way, Ashley Gott, treasurer of Williamson County in southern Illinois, faces a primary from… Ashley Gott.
Yes, that’s right. Treasurer Gott, a Republican man who was appointed to the office before winning it outright in 2020, is being challenged by someone with the same name.
But get this. Challenger Ashley Gott was known as Erin Perry until she changed her name on Jan. 6, according to the Williamson County Clerk’s office. What a move!
* This used to happen fairly regularly (particularly in Cook County judicial races when people would adopt Irish surnames), but then state law was changed way back in 2003…
If a candidate has changed his or her name, whether by a statutory or common law procedure in Illinois or any other jurisdiction, within 3 years before the last day for filing the petition or certificate for that office, whichever is applicable, then (i) the candidate’s name on the petition or certificate must be followed by “formerly known as (list all prior names during the 3-year period) until name changed on (list date of each such name change)” and (ii) the petition or certificate must be accompanied by the candidate’s affidavit stating the candidate’s previous names during the period specified in (i) and the date or dates each of those names was changed; failure to meet these requirements shall be grounds for denying certification of the candidate’s name for the ballot or removing the candidate’s name from the ballot, as appropriate, but these requirements do not apply to name changes resulting from adoption to assume an adoptive parent’s or parents’ surname, marriage to assume a spouse’s surname, or dissolution of marriage or declaration of invalidity of marriage to assume a former surname.
I called the county clerk and Gott/Perry initially filed petitions without noting her name change. She withdrew those petitions and filed another set with the required information. But “formerly known as” will be clearly labeled on her ballot line.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker yanked the appointment of two appointees to the Illinois Prisoner Review Board on Tuesday, the same morning a Senate committee was scheduled to consider them. It was the second time Pritzker pulled the appointments of Aurthur Mae Perkins, 83, of Peoria, and Joseph Ruggiero, 62, of Wheaton, for the Illinois Prisoner Review Board.
The two, both appointees originally made by Republican former Gov. Bruce Rauner, have served on the Prisoner Review Board without Senate confirmation for nearly three years each. “Between the two of them, I think they have served a combined six years on the Prisoner Review Board, raking in approximately a half-million dollars in taxpayer funded salary,” said Sen. Jason Plummer, R-Edwardsville. […]
Senate rules allow the governor to withdraw an appointment and reappoint an individual if the Senate fails to vote on a nominee within 60 session days of the governor’s filing of the appointment. This practice has been used by previous governors. Plummer filed a bill, Senate Bill 3670, that would require the Senate to confirm or deny PRB members within 30 session days or 90 calendar days after appointment, whichever comes first. The bill would also prohibit reappointing a person to the PRB for two years after their appointment is withdrawn.
* Basically what’s happening here is the Senate Democrats are spooked because the Republicans are using Prisoner Review Board release decisions to make political hay. For instance, this is from Richard Irvin’s Monday night speech…
Under JB Pritzker, crime has exploded on his watch. Every day there’s violent crime and kids are murdered but JB Pritzker does nothing. Police officers are murdered, and JB Pritzker does nothing. He let seven convicted murderers out of prison early, including a woman who shot her own two month old, two year old child in the head and killed him. A man a murderer, got out of prison early and beat his five month old baby to death. JB Pritzker, he supports no cash bond to let these same violent criminals out of jail and back into the streets. He has a handpicked parole board vote to let cop killers out of jail and back into our communities.
Irvin made it sound like the man beat his baby to death after he was released from prison and there was an audible gasp in the audience, but that’s not the case. Irvin got it backwards.
* So, it should be no surprise that some SDems have no desire whatsoever to touch any of these PRB appointments. The governor doesn’t want to reappoint either of the two Rauner appointees mentioned above, but his only option at the moment is to continue withdrawing and reappointing, although the two PRB members have not yet been reappointed. So, there are now technically five vacancies on the board.
* And the issue with Ruggiero and Perkins is not new. This is from a press release sent to me almost a year ago…
For the Prisoner Review Board to be able to undertake its difficult and complex mission, members must be able to make parole determinations entirely independently. Subjecting members to political grandstanding sets a new and dangerous precedent for this constitutional function.
The members’ appointments and votes are transparent, and their meetings are open to the public. Additionally, the Senate Executive Appointments Committee sets the schedule for confirming gubernatorial appointees, and it is routine practice for appointees to be withdrawn so that the Senate has more time to consider the appointments.
BACKGROUND
The Prisoner Review Board considers the age and length of time served when making parole determinations.
Appointments
• Joe Ruggiero was appointed by Governor Rauner in July of 2018, but was not confirmed prior to his term’s expiration in early 2021, at which point Governor Pritzker re-appointed him to a new term, similarly only a few days prior to the March hearing.
• Aurthur Mae Perkins was confirmed unanimously by the Senate after her appointment by Rauner in March of 2015, and had a term expire at the start of 2021, which resulted in a re-appointment by Governor Pritzker a few days prior to the originally-scheduled hearing in March of this year.
*** UPDATE *** The governor was asked today why the PRB appointments have been withdrawn…
Because they don’t get taken up by the committee that’s supposed to take those up. So, you know, we’re at the whim of the Senate and their decision about whether to take up and when to take up proposed members.
Under the longstanding definition of money laundering and current federal law that categorizes cannabis as an illegal substance, there is virtually no reason that Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker—as well as his fellow governors across the country—should not be arrested on federal charges. Consider that on an annual basis, the governors of any state that allow regulated and taxed cannabis markets to break more federal money laundering laws than Al Capone could ever imagine. The FBI should be knocking down the doors of the governors’ mansions in every state with a regulated market. And if that sounds ridiculous, it’s because it is—but not for the reason you might be thinking.
At its most basic, the crime of money laundering occurs when illegally obtained money is combined with “clean,” legally obtained cash in order to disguise its origins and allow it to be integrated into the legal economy. If there is a more precise definition of what happens when tax revenue from federally illegal cannabis sales is combined with state coffers, I’d love to hear it. Cannabis sales are taxed approximately 30% in many regulated markets. Those taxes are collected and used by states to fund an array of state services, from education to transportation to public safety. So while the cannabis industry is hamstrung due to IRS tax code 280E and the lack of access to federal banking services, traditional debt vehicles or U.S. equity markets, state governors are essentially laundering money from regulated cannabis sales. How can this be possible?
When you consider the current law, the state governments taxing these regulated markets are no different than a cartel conducting money laundering on a scale that has never been seen—much less endorsed—by a government entity in this country. This is what is patently ridiculous about the current system and why very little of it makes sense.
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.
