…Adding… I should’ve added this Bailey quote from August 9…
So, JB, if you can fit it into your presidential campaign schedule and want to talk about someone in this race for governor and about the people of Illinois who are struggling under your watch, well I’m here in Illinois. And I’ll be waiting when you fly back. I’ll debate you anyplace anytime.
* Press release…
In recognition of his monumental achievement of enacting the “Rebuild Illinois” capital plan which put billions of dollars into action supporting state transportation and infrastructure projects, technology, education, worker safety and job creation, the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois (ACEC Illinois) has presented a special “Champion of Infrastructure” Award to Governor JB Pritzker.
“Rebuild Illinois” is Illinois’ first capital plan in nearly a decade, providing over $45 billion in investments in roads, bridges, railroads, universities, early childhood centers, and state facilities over six years, creating and supporting over 540,000 jobs and revitalizing the state’s economy. The historic, bipartisan legislation enacted a multimodal plan with over $33.2 billion in funding for various types of transportation infrastructure, including $10.4 billion for state roads and bridges. The recently passed federal Infrastructure investment and Jobs Act adds another $17.8 billion to the state’s infrastructure renewal resources.
A crowd of over one hundred, including the leadership of ACEC Illinois and members from across the state, gathered Friday to honor JB Pritzker’s singular dedication to passing a bipartisan capital plan in his first year in office, as well as his continued support of accelerated road, bridge and construction projects. Many member companies of ACEC Illinois are engaged in the design and planning of projects envisioned with this investment, and speakers credited the Governor with positioning Illinois ahead of other states in this regard.
“Real leaders bring people together, and that’s exactly what Governor Pritzker did when he developed the Rebuild Illinois program that was approved with significant bipartisan support. The reinvestment in Illinois under the Rebuild Illinois program has reinvigorated Illinois’ infrastructure industry and has created thousands of new jobs across the state,” said Kevin Artl, president and CEO of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois. “And now, because of Governor Pritzker’s leadership, Illinois is one of the best-positioned states in the nation to take advantage of the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. With the investment at the state and federal level along with the commitment of the nation’s most talented and innovative engineers located right here in Illinois, the Land of Lincoln is well-prepared for the challenges of the 21st century.”
The historic $45 billion capital plan is expected to address decades-long problems with the state’s infrastructure, improve communities for the next generation, and create hundreds of thousands of new direct and ancillary jobs. Speaking to its importance and impact, its passage by the General Assembly was supported by a range of non-partisan organizations including the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois, the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, and the Chicago Federation of Labor.
“I’m so honored to receive this year’s Champion of Infrastructure Award, particularly from a dedicated organization like the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Illinois has some of the top infrastructure in the country—and I’m not saying that just because I’m biased. We’re consistently ranked among the best because of our commitment to improving the foundations of our state. Rebuild Illinois, our Multi-Year plan, and all the work we’ve done to build a resilient and responsible Illinois are possible because of the pride that people, like ACEC, have in our state.”
* Oof…
I asked Dan Brady, “Do you want Darren Bailey to lead this state?”
He said, “I want the best choice of the people of Illinois to lead this state, and that’s up to the people of Illinois.”
* The Rauner campaign did this sort of thing in one of his races. Politico…
State Rep. Tom Demmer, the GOP nominee for state treasurer, has launched a super-targeted paid digital program for the State Fair. The program has created a “geo fence” around the fairgrounds where everyone within its boundaries will be targeted with digital attack ads against incumbent Treasurer Mike Frerichs on the issue of taxing retirement income like pensions.
— Several Republican candidates for Cook County office booted or withdraw from November ballot: “Among those kicked off: Todd Thielmann, who until recently worked for Tammy Wendt, a Democratic commissioner on the Board of Review. Wendt and Thielmann are cousins — she eventually fired him after the county’s board of ethics sued and fined her for violating the county’s ban on nepotism,” by Tribune’s A.D. Quig
— Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) is being added to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Frontline incumbent-protection program, which provides support for vulnerable incumbents. Casten also has been endorsed by all 14 members of the Illinois Democratic Congressional delegation, including Rep. Marie Newman who he defeated in the June primary. Casten faces Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau in November’s election.
* From earlier this week…
Today, NARAL Pro-Choice America announced four critical endorsements for Congress: … Eric Sorensen (IL-17) … These candidates are running to represent their respective districts in the U.S. House of Representatives.
NARAL Pro-Choice America President Mini Timmaraju released the following statement:
“As we face the fight of our lives, electing leaders who we can count on to safeguard our fundamental rights has never been more important. With MAGA Republicans in Congress planning an outright ban on abortion should they win power, we are fighting seat by seat to ensure these extremists cannot enact their agenda.”
These candidates bring a wealth of experience and strong commitments to protect and advance reproductive freedom in Congress. Jevin Hodge, a long-time community advocate, is a staunch supporter of reproductive freedom and expanding abortion access for all Arizonans. Eric Sorensen, who would make history as the first LGBTQ+ member of Congress from Illinois, has worked to connect vulnerable communities to health services and is committed to protecting abortion rights. Monica Tranel, an attorney fighting for working Montanans, is an advocate for expanded abortion access and has vowed to protect reproductive freedom. Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming, a former member of the Southampton Town Council and prosecutor of sex crimes, has pledged to ensure access to abortion and contraceptives. All four candidates have committed to protecting and expanding abortion access by supporting the Women’s Health Protection Act to lock the federal right to abortion into law.
In June, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization—ending the constitutional right to abortion and opening the door for extremist state lawmakers to put total bans on abortion in place. This decision is already having a devastating impact throughout the country as 14 states have begun enforcing extreme bans on abortion. The people hurt most by these bans and restrictions are those who already face barriers to accessing abortion care—including women; Black, Indigenous, and other people of color; those working to make ends meet; the LGBTQ+ community; immigrants; young people; those living in rural communities; and people with disabilities.
These endorsements come as NARAL Pro-Choice America is ramping up its work to elect candidates up and down the ballot during a critical moment in the fight for reproductive freedom. NARAL, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and EMILY’s List announced a partnership in May to collectively spend a historic $150 million on the 2022 midterms to elect reproductive freedom champions up and down the ballot across the country.
Supporters of the state’s plan to eliminate cash bail have started attending bond hearings in DuPage and Kane counties, gathering information about how cases are being handled before the new law takes effect Jan. 1.
On Tuesday, state Sen. Karina Villa of West Chicago and state Rep. Anna Stava-Murray of Naperville joined the group for a bond call at the DuPage County courthouse in Wheaton. Villa and Stava-Murray, both Democrats, voted in favor in 2020 of the SAFE-T Act, which is eliminating cash bail come Jan. 1. […]
Stava-Murray watched three cases: a man accused of stealing four books of lottery scratch-off tickets from his employer, a man accused of burglary and a woman accused of misdemeanor domestic battery.
The woman was released on personal recognizance. The burglary suspect was ordered held on $3,000 bail. The woman had no criminal history, but the burglary suspect had felony convictions, Stava-Murray said.
The man accused of stealing the lottery tickets had just started a job, and coming up with the $1,000 to be released will be a hardship, Stava-Murray said. She said statistics show that people who are held in jail on bail are at higher risk of being arrested again when they are out.
“What is going to happen Jan. 1 is simple. The people who don’t pose a risk will be out in the community” at their jobs and with their families, she said.
State Rep. Anne Stava-Murray, D-Downers Grove, said the current cash bail system is unfair.
“No one should be able to buy their way out of jail for the same charge for someone who can afford to do the same,” Stava-Murray said. “That is not a system that keeps us safe.” […]
Kendall County State’s Attorney Eric Weiss said judges will have the option to hold people for certain serious crimes, but ending cash bail will lead to a lot of no-shows in court.
“The General Assembly has dictated only certain crimes that meet certain criteria and of certain severity, are even allowed to be considered to be held,” Weis said. “So you can fail to appear multiple times, as long as your crime doesn’t count, they have to release you.”
A resolution encouraging state legislators to work with law enforcement and judicial leaders to address what some say are problems in the Illinois SAFE-T Act was approved Tuesday by a divided Naperville City Council.
The measure, which passed with a 5-3 vote, cites public safety concerns caused by “unreasonably limiting the imposition of cash bail for violent offenders, unreasonably limiting police officer discretion to make arrests, imposing unreasonable police certification and decertification standards, and mandating unreasonable custodial accommodations.” […]
The city is not asking to eliminate or overturn the SAFE-T Act, which was designed to overhaul criminal justice practices, Bruzan Taylor stressed. “We’re just asking for a discussion of some changes,” she said.
During comments from the public, state Rep. Anne Stava-Murray, D-Naperville, told the council she voted for the original bill as well as trailer legislation.
“We have fine-tuned and continue to consider fine-tuning alongside all major stakeholders, including multiple groups with relevant experiences, such as the chiefs of police,” she said.
In its latest ad, the People Who Play By The Rules PAC initially included a video clip of Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow criticizing the end of the cash bail system. Then the link stopped working, and the PAC offered a new one with Glasgow’s words and no image. Playbook hears it’s because Glasgow complained, but PAC’s spokesman Michael Koolidge says “it was purely an aesthetic reason for the change.”
A Glasgow aide told me earlier this week that Glasgow did complain to the committee. But, Glasgow described the law this way: “It’s going to be literally the end of days.” He said it, he should either own it or retract it and not run away. You’ll recall the governor’s office pointed out some major errors in Glasgow’s reasoning.
Unemployment fell slightly in Illinois last month. The July rate of 4.4 percent was down one tenth of a percent from June, which saw the lowest mark since the onset of the pandemic.
Compared to the rate a year ago — 6.2 percent — it shows the economy continues to rebound.
The industry sectors with the largest over-the-month gains in employment include: Professional and Business Services (+10,000), Manufacturing (+6,300), and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+5,700). The industry sectors that reported monthly payroll declines include: Construction (-1,400) and Educational and Health Services (-1,400).
Illinois’ unemployment rate still lags behind the national average of 3.5 percent by nearly a full percentage point.
“As the statewide unemployment rate continues to drop and continued claims levels for unemployment benefits remain at historic lows, IDES encourages employers and jobseekers to utilize the Department’s robust employment services tools for reentry into the workforce,” said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. “Whether it be participating in or a hosting a job fair, training or skills building, IDES has the tools needed to assist in the growth of the expanding labor market.”
“After Illinois reached the lowest unemployment rate since the onset of the pandemic in June, it’s encouraging to see the state’s unemployment rate continue to drop while seeing continued growth in key industries,” said DCEO Director Sylvia I. Garcia. “Looking ahead, DCEO continues to focus on expanding equitable workforce training opportunities, providing incentives to companies who invest in Illinois’ workforce, and providing resources and training opportunities for job seekers.” […]
The number of unemployed workers was down from the prior month, a -1.1 percent decrease to 287,200 and was down -27.1 percent over the same month one year ago. The labor force was almost unchanged (0.0 percent) over-the-month and up +2.2 percent over-the-year. The unemployment rate identifies those individuals who are out of work and seeking employment. An individual who exhausts or is ineligible for benefits is still reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.
A new analysis explores the connection between Illinois’ high unemployment rate, market disruption brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the consequences for Illinois’ unemployment trust fund. […]
Illinois’ pay-as-you-go financing practices have resulted in low trust fund balances, prevented the accumulation of additional reserves during good years, and increased the likelihood of deficits during economic downturns,” said Merriman, who co-leads IGPA’s Fiscal and Economic Working Group. “While dramatic increases in the unemployment rate brought about by a pandemic may be beyond state policymakers’ control, some actions could be taken to diminish the chances of large future UI trust fund deficits.”
Illinois policymakers should thoroughly evaluate the flow of revenues into the UI trust fund and payouts from the fund, especially during the pandemic, the IGPA analysis recommends. Further, they should determine the reasons for and extent of declines in revenues, and similarly, the reasons for and extent of increases in benefit payouts.
Illinois also should formally evaluate the benefits and costs of replacing its pay-as-you-go UI funding system with a forward-funding approach. Such an approach would require higher employer taxes during economic booms but would allow tax-rate stability or even tax cuts during economic downturns. Illinois still has federal relief funds, and these funds could be used to pay the UI debt accumulated in the past or be spent on current investments to make up for earlier deficits. The first option may largely benefit employers by avoiding increased federal payroll taxes. The second potentially distributes future benefits to more people in the form of better infrastructure or services.
…Adding… Hmm…
We have a higher Labor Force participation rate than MI & IN but also higher unemployment than both. No idea what that means. Seems weird. 🤷♂️ https://t.co/URiqbTPD6nhttps://t.co/DzkAtrgS17
Under a blazing sun and in front of hundreds of Republican Party faithful on the Illinois State Fairgrounds Thursday, Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey stayed away from any explicit mention of the types of social issues that are classic red meat for his ultra-conservative voter base.
Instead of invoking abortion, critical race theory, the LGBT community’s influence on the wider culture or even gun rights, Bailey steered clear of the word “woke” while sticking to core “kitchen table” themes like public safety and inflation during his Republican Day speech. […]
Bailey made his grand entrance to the Director’s Lawn on a tractor, though the farm equipment joy ride was mostly for the benefit of reporters and photographers while the majority of the crowd remained in line for their lunch of barbecue and beer.
Bailey’s speech was toned down compared with what he told a much more stratified group of “parental rights” activists two days earlier, when he said he’d prioritize eliminating “critical race theory” and “egregious” sex education standards from Illinois schools at a small rally organized by a group that called Pritzker a “groomer” earlier this summer.
“I say he [Pritzker] doesn’t care. But I want to tell you something. Maybe he just doesn’t know. He’s never woken up in the middle of the night, worrying about keeping a job or managing payroll,” Bailey said.
“He’s never had to choose between filling his car up with gas or putting food on the table. He’s surrounded by security guards in the ritzy Gold Coast, and he’s never had to worry if his family is safe.”
Bailey — who is actually a millionaire from his family business, which includes a farm, trucking firm and excavation company — routinely portrays himself as the everyman on the campaign trail. And Thursday was no different.
“You may have already figured this out,” Bailey told the crowd with a chuckle. “I may be a little bit rough around the edges. But I will work for you, because I’m just like you. And friends, I promise you this: No one will work harder for you.”
* Republicans made clear their distaste for the speculation that Pritzker may be eyeing a run for president. Capitol News Illinois…
The rhetoric at the GOP rally was in stark contrast to that used by Democrats the day before, when Pritzker referred to Republicans as “the lunatic fringe.” Republicans fired back on Thursday by casting the Pritzker administration and Democrats in the Statehouse as extreme leftists and accusing Pritzker of having higher ambitions.
“I have traveled all around our state to help our fellow Republicans rescue Illinois from the leftist Gov. Pritzker,” State party chairman Don Tracy, of Springfield said. “He now wants to run for president. Are you kidding me? What a disaster he’s been for Illinois. Gov. Pritzker has done nothing to address public corruption, crime, the rising cost of gas and groceries.”
Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie charged the crowd of committed Republicans with helping.
“This is what you have to do over the next 80 days,” he said. “J.B. Pritzker’s going to dump millions of dollars into TV ads and stuff in the mailboxes and so forth. There is one surefire way to defeat his money. And that is to invite your neighbors, your friends from church, the moderates — even some of those moderate Democrats who used to be Regan Democrats and they left the party — bring them back.”
But there’s a sense among some Republicans that Bailey at the top of the ticket will make winning over moderate, swing voters impossible because, as Pritzker’s campaign puts it, Bailey’s “too extreme” for Illinois, with his anti-abortion views and a long history of controversial social media posts.
While they didn’t say anything publicly that was explicitly negative, several prominent Republicans refused to outright endorse Bailey.
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin - who supported Richard Irvin in the primary - did not mention Bailey by name during his speech. Instead, he focused on attacking Democrats.
“Republicans are here to serve people, to make your life better, your children’s life better, your grandchildren’s life better and to safeguard your future,” Durkin said. “Democrats, well, let’s talk about them. It’s all about enriching themselves and feeding from the public trough.”
Republicans said that despite all the Democrats’ talk about abortion, the Supreme Court’s ruling won’t impact Illinois.
“The top issues are crime and the economy and the inflationary policies of the Democrats,” former candidate for governor Jeanne Ives said. “So that is where people are looking to make their vote. The abortion issue is way down on the list of concerns.”
* With Chicago home to more than 20% of Illinois’ people, Bailey’s “hellhole” comments have not gone over well in the Windy City. Block Club Chicago…
Darren Bailey, the Republican candidate for Illinois governor, called Chicago — the state’s largest city — a “hellhole” twice Thursday speaking at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield.
The line didn’t land well with Chicagoans.
“Chicagoans are notorious for NOT obsessively loving their city… so this should work out well for him,” one person sarcastically tweeted.
Other Chicagoans responded by sharing photos that show the beauty in the city, making fun of Bailey for not knowing about Chicago or encouraging the politician to visit and help people impacted by problems in the city.
Earlier in the day, Bailey revealed potential campaign problems when he asked county Republican chairmen who gathered for a joint meeting with state central committee members for their contact information — data a well-oiled political operation already would have in hand by this stage of the race.
At that meeting Tracy also acknowledged difficulty in party fundraising.
“Used to be the Democrats were the party of the people and the Republicans were the party of the fat cat donors, the big money. My how times have changed,” Tracy said.
“Now Democrats represent woke corporations, other elites and special interests that have the money that dominates in places like Illinois, and we have become the party of working families,” he said, sidestepping the fact that Pritzker’s predecessor, GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner, was a wealthy private equity executive who during his single term bankrolled the state party organization.
* Fair happenings via Twitter…
“We are going to restore Illinois to like it’s never been before,” Republican candidate for Governor Darren Bailey riles up a crowd of GOP workers. He said he’ll make the state more affordable by lowering taxes & called public safety Illinois’s number one problem. pic.twitter.com/oIozzIve0J
Such a fun time at The Illinois State Fair “Illinois Chopped Challenge”!! Kelly Turner and I chopped it up for charity. Kelly’s team edged me and Adam White, but Adam and I made those “secret ingredients” tasty!!!!! pic.twitter.com/4vLcA2sQln
* John Amdor has been playing around with a new AI image generator this week…
If you're like me, you've often wondered what it would look like if you asked an AI art generator to create "an oil painting of dragons flying around the Illinois State Capitol." The wait is over. pic.twitter.com/HIoFSbHNuE
* From attorney general candidate Tom DeVore’s Republican Day speech…
“You make me attorney general and if Kim Foxx won’t prosecute [arrestees], I will,” DeVore said to cheers from the crowd. “And she better get to prosecuting or we’ll figure out a way to prosecute her.”
Pretty bold statement right there. And prosecute her for what?
David Paul Blumenshine tried to recruit poll watchers as people waited in line for their lunch. Blumenshine led a bus of people to Washington DC for the Trump rally on January 6, 2021. He is also the election integrity coordinator for Bailey’s campaign. The conservative talk show host on Cities 92.9 in Bloomington has lost several campaigns against Brady.
Pic…
David Paul Blumenshine is actively trying to recruit poll watchers as people wait in line for lunch. He participated in the Trump rally on January 6 and is in charge of “election integrity” for the @DarrenBaileyIL campaign. #twillpic.twitter.com/YU2yQRE3zW
Sen. Darren Bailey’s gubernatorial campaign spokesperson confirmed over the weekend that David Paul Blumenshine is the campaign’s State Election Integrity Coordinator.
The spokesperson did not offer a comment, however, when asked if the campaign was aware that Blumenshine organized a “Stop the Steal” bus trip to Washington, DC for the now-infamous January 6, 2021 demonstration designed to delay or halt the counting of electoral votes for president. […]
“Darren Bailey’s agenda is dangerous for Illinois,” said Gov. JB Pritzker’s campaign press secretary Eliza Glezer when asked for comment. “It’s disturbing but not at all surprising to see him aligned with those who rioted on January 6th. He has perpetuated the Big Lie, cozied up to insurrectionists, and proudly embraced Trump’s endorsement. He does not stand for free and fair elections, and before he has a chance to make baseless claims regarding a ‘stolen’ election, Darren Bailey must vow to accept the results of the election in November, regardless of which candidate wins.”
According to a WMBD TV story on January 7th of last year, Blumenshine’s bus trip transported 49 people to the “Stop the Steal” rally. Blumenshine told the station’s reporter that the march after the rally was “reminiscent of Dr. Martin Luther King.” And despite the rally’s name, Blumenshine claimed that the whole thing was merely “a day to celebrate what our president has done.” He claimed the group didn’t participate in the breach of the US Capitol. On December 29, about a week ahead of the rally, a post on Blumenshine’s Facebook campaign page called it “The ultimate ‘Trump 2021 Rally.’”
Volunteers with Bailey’s campaign told police to kick one person out of the rally before the event started. Bailey supporter Lawrence Ligas clearly wasn’t welcome to participate in the rally after he was charged for participating in the January 6 insurrection. Ligas is no longer part of the Bailey campaign team and tried to tell police he was actually a member of the media covering the event on the fairgrounds before he was escorted out.
The Pritzker campaign said Bailey and his party are on a MAGA crusade to plunge Illinois into the past.
“As Governor Pritzker and Illinois Democrats continue to protect and build on critical rights and freedoms, Darren Bailey and Illinois Republicans are an active threat to equality and democracy,” said Pritzker’s campaign press secretary Eliza Glezer. “Any person who repeatedly disparages the economic engine of the state, while spewing racist, sexist, homophobic, and hateful views, doesn’t deserve to hold a position of leadership here or anywhere.”
Illinois now requires every elementary and high school teach a unit on Black History, ranging from African civilizations to U.S. slavery to the Civil Rights movement.
This week, Illinois Family Action (IFA), a conservative, Christian group, based in suburban Chicago, held a meeting with about 35 attendees, discussing those changes and attacking the city’s public school system.
The keynote speaker was the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor Stephanie Trussell, who’s also an Illinois Family Action board member. Trussell’s running mate, gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey, was endorsed by IFA in April. […]
“There’s a group of us inside of Illinois Family Institute, who our entire focus is on Public School Exit. And trying to get children to leave Illinois public schools for safer, better options,” [Tom Burrows, a field director for Illinois Family Institute] argued.
Trussell is an Illinois Family Action board member? Oh, man. The oppo on that group. Whew.
