* Whew. What a week. And I thought it might be slow since the governor was out of the country. Heck, I almost decided to take today off. Glad I didn’t make any plans to leave town or anything.
To the Honorable Members of
The Illinois House of Representatives,
100th General Assembly:
Today, I veto House Bill 688 from the 100th General Assembly, which creates a mechanism for members of police and firefighter pension funds to transfer service credits between funds.
Many of Illinois’ downstate fire and police funds are dangerously underfunded, and some are approaching insolvency. A rising number of retirees, combined with low funding ratios, continues to put pressure on the financial health of local governments. In its current form, this bill will introduce further financial risks. This legislation allows service credits to migrate among the respective funds, which may introduce uncertainty with respect to cashflow management. This bill may also worsen existing unfunded liabilities without comprehensive and foolproof safeguards to assure an appropriate calculation of the true cost for transferring credits. In short, this bill introduces more financial uncertainty to the long-term financial health of these funds and is inappropriate to enact into law.
Illinois is in the midst of a pension crisis that impacts the state as a whole as well as individual local governments. Dramatically underfunded pensions risk the long-term solvency of local governments and put state finances under severe stress, and the underfunding of downstate police and fire pension funds warrants further investigation. In the meantime, the General Assembly should enact pension reforms that mitigate uncertainty and reduce unfunded liabilities. Unfortunately, House Bill 688 increases uncertainty and could contribute to larger unfunded liabilities in local pension funds.
Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(b) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return House Bill 688, entitled “AN ACT concerning employee benefits”, with the foregoing objections, vetoed in its entirety.
* The Belleville News-Democrat has a story up about the looming primary between former GOP state Rep. Dwight Kay and the House Republican-backed candidate Wendy Erhart. Kay lost to Democrat Katie Stuart last year…
“Dwight is a friend. We’ve supported him in the past, but the fact is on Nov. 8, 2016 … he fell short where we picked up five other seats, so we’re going to go in a new direction for the 112th and we feel the voters have spoken,” said Joe Woodward, political director for the House Republican Organization. […]
“The Illinois Republican Party is not funding me and the governor is not funding me,” said Kay, of Glen Carbon. “If money dictates who we send to the capital, maybe I lose. … The fact that they’re not outwardly supporting me in a primary doesn’t concern me.” […]
“Voters come first, and organizations come second,” Woodward said. “But we feel, and my job as a caucus person is, to protect our incumbents and add seats, and Wendy is in the column of adding seats.” […]
“I really respect Dwight’s years of service in the legislature, (but) I think it’s important we get new voices in Springfield,” Erhart said. “We’ve got to look forward, not backward. If we’re going to get Mike Madigan out as speaker of the House, we have to defeat Katie Stuart. Unfortunately Dwight has shown a unique ability to not be able to do that.”
Oh, that last quote is gonna leave a mark.
Kay was tweeting all summer about how he was walking door to door. I do not know if he ever thought the HRO would support a comeback, and it could get interesting to see who else might start playing around in this district.
Erika Harold Statement on Lisa Madigan’s Retirement Announcement
Time for new leadership that puts the people before the powerful political class.
Republican Attorney General candidate Erika Harold released the following statement after Lisa Madigan announced she would not run for a fifth term:
“Illinois voters are tired of politicians putting the powerful political class ahead of the people. As I have traveled the state, I have heard over and over how career politicians have made it a nightmare for too many families in our state. Regardless of who the Democrats put forward, our campaign will continue to focus on protecting the people and not the powerful.“
” I would like to thank Attorney General Lisa Madigan for her service to the people of Illinois and wish her the best in future endeavors.”
Erika announced her candidacy one month ago today. In 2003, Harold was crowned Miss America and became a national leader in the fight to end youth violence and bullying. Harold serves on the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Equality, and as a Commissioner on the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism. Harold is an attorney at Meyer Capel and serves on the national board of directors of Prison Fellowship, the world’s largest outreach to prisoners and their families, advocating for criminal justice reform.
* Another one…
STATEMENT FROM MAYOR EMANUEL ON ATTORNEY GENERAL LISA MADIGAN’S DECISION NOT TO SEEK ANOTHER TERM
“Lisa Madigan’s integrity, intelligence and unwavering commitment to justice made our state stronger and safer. Her service spans two decades and is one of many firsts. She is both the first female elected to serve as Attorney General of Illinois and the first Illinois Attorney General to argue a case before the Supreme Court in three decades. She never shied from criticism or shirked duty, earning her the esteem of colleagues, the respect of her critics and the admiration of the people of Illinois. Despite earning national praise, Attorney General Madigan never forgot her South Side upbringing and fought for Chicago. As a lawyer and lawmaker, she argued against discriminatory business practices, advocated for survivors of sexual assault and advanced access to affordable health care. While Attorney General Madigan may not be running for reelection, I am confident she will continue her selfless service beyond Springfield, and I look forward to working with her in the years to come.”
House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie, D-Chicago — who herself announced Thursday she wouldn’t seek re-election — said she was “totally blindsided” by the announcement, which she called “disappointing.”
“She clearly is not closing the door to later opportunities. So I would hope that at some point we will see her back in the political ring running for attorney general or even governor,” Currie said. “I think she would make a great governor.”
* Jesse White…
Statement from Secretary White on Lisa Madigan’s Decision Not to Run for Reelection
I applaud and commend Lisa Madigan for the outstanding work she has done as Illinois Attorney General. Attorney General Madigan has been a tireless advocate for consumers, children and the public at large.
Through her efforts, she has helped those plagued by fraud and identity theft, strengthened the rights of crime victims, protected children from sexual predators and pornographers and secured debt relief for students victimized by fraudulent and predatory lending practices.
I wish Lisa well in her future endeavors and know that she will continue to make a positive difference in people’s lives.
The Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) Chairwoman and Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge released the following statement:
“Today’s announcement is a clear indication of what we’ve know for months: Erika Harold is an exceptionally strong candidate. So strong, in fact, that Lisa Madigan has decided she doesn’t want to run a campaign for re-election.
“Erika Harold will be an incredible attorney general for Illinois. She will lead the fight against public corruption and bring integrity to the Attorney General’s office. We’re excited for this new open-seat opportunity and look forward to defeating whichever Democrat the Madigan machine decides to run in 2018.
That release may also be designed to help discourage any other Republicans from running.
Democrats are already announcing their interest in the high-profile role, including State Sen. Kwame Raoul, D-Chicago, who has been eying a race for attorney general for years.
On Friday, he said he’s likely to fill the void created by Madigan’s bombshell retirement from politics.
“I’m very interested. It’s an office of extreme potential for great advocacy. My record speaks to being able to serve in that office in terms of my chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee, my work on criminal justice reform and other legal matters. It’s something I have to take a serious look at—and very quickly,” Raoul said.
“I considered running four years ago under the assumption she was gonna run for governor. If she’s not running, there’s a high likelihood that I would do so.”
The timing of her decision, after petition filing opened, could favor officeholders with big bank accounts and/or organizations, but one never truly knows these things.
…Adding… We’ll probably see a lot more of these trial balloons today…
Add Jack Franks to those "seriously considering" AG run. Man, this race is going to be a madhouse. #twill
* They’re coming out of the woodwork. Text from a PR flack…
Andrew Schapiro. Recently returned US Ambassador to Czech. Close friend of Obama’s (law school buds.). Will get in AG race. Schapiro also raised millions for Obama so has shown he can fundraise.
* The Question: Who else will run and what are their chances? Try to talk about both parties if you can, please.
Departure of Madigan’s Respected Second-in-Command is a Bad Omen for House Democrats
Democrats know Madigan is toxic, yet they are poised to nominate an equally-toxic, Madigan-sanctioned candidate for governor
“Leader Currie garnered respect from both sides of the aisle throughout her groundbreaking career. As Speaker Madigan’s second-in-command, her departure is a bad omen for House Democrats. Mike Madigan is toxic, yet Democrats continue to embrace his leadership. Now, Democrats are poised to nominate an equally-toxic, Madigan-sanctioned candidate for governor.” - Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot
Last night, news outlets reported Barbara Flynn Currie, Speaker Madigan’s second-in-command, announced she will not be seeking re-election in 2018.
Leader Currie, who entered the Illinois House of Representatives in 1979, garnered respect from both sides of the aisle throughout her career, but her shocking departure is a bad omen for Democrats.
Currie was thought of as a possible successor to Mike Madigan’s record-breaking Speakership. Everyone, particularly House Democrats, knows Speaker Madigan is toxic. That is why vulnerable members like Sam Yingling refuse to even say his name.
But it seems the Democrats will never learn.
The Democrats are poised to nominate an equally-toxic, Madigan-sanctioned candidate for governor in J.B. Pritzker. Democrat lawmakers and the establishment seem to have no qualms with Madigan as he tears their party apart and steamrolls all opposition for Pritzker.
Will Democrats ever realize Madigan is dragging them down?
* ILGOP…
Lisa Madigan’s Shocking Exit From Illinois politics is Further Proof that the Madigan Brand is Toxic
Beginning of the end of the Madigan Family’s disastrous reign over Illinois
“Thanks to her father, Lisa Madigan knew her days as Attorney General were numbered. The Madigan brand is toxic for every single Illinois Democrat. This should be the beginning of the end of the Madigan Family’s disastrous reign over Illinois.” - Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot
In another shocking development on the toxicity of the Madigan brand, Capitol Fax is reporting that longtime Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, the daughter of House Speaker Mike Madigan, will not be seeking re-election.
Lisa Madigan’s announcement comes on the heels of the departure of Mike Madigan’s second-in-command, House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie.
In 2013, Lisa Madigan floated her name as a potential candidate for governor, but took her name out of consideration because of looming questions about her closeness to her father and the possibility of so much concentrated political power in one family.
There can only be one conclusion from the departure of Leader Curry and Attorney General Madigan - the Madigan brand is toxic and Illinois Democrats know it.
His grief is heavy — “the pain is excruciating” — but activist Ra Joy said he chose to run on Democrat Chris Kennedy’s gubernatorial ticket to turn his pain into “purpose.”
Kennedy officially announced Joy — the executive director for Change Illinois — as his running mate on Thursday. The non-partisan group most recently helped push for automatic voter registration, which Gov. Bruce Rauner recently signed into law. Joy issued his resignation from the advocacy group on Wednesday.
Joy’s 23-year-old son Xavier was gunned down in June in Woodlawn by someone trying to steal his cell phone. His son had chosen to do a year of service in his hometown, spending an AmeriCorp “City Year” on the South and West sides. […]
“He loved Chicago, and he worked on both the South and West sides of the city,” Joy, 44, said. “Part of me, I didn’t want him here. I did not want him here because the risk is just too much. And he wanted to be here.” […]
Kennedy said he was considering Joy for the ticket as early as March, but after Xavier Joy’s death, Kennedy held off on his decision out of respect to the family.
Violence aside, Kennedy said he chose Joy as his running mate after speaking with a group of activists in a Bronzeville apartment who said they were so discouraged about President Donald Trump’s presidency that they didn’t plan to vote.
The pairing of Kennedy and Joy, an African-American who is executive director of Change Illinois, brings a heightened focus on the issue of crime to the Democratic governor primary campaign. Their personal losses also could resonate with families in South and West Side neighborhoods afflicted by the gun violence that has racked Chicago. […]
Joy said “for some people, there’s such a steady drumbeat around crime and violence that it’s become normalized.”
Kennedy, though, bristled when asked if the city’s gun violence was a new normal.
“Hell no. Don’t even think like that. No. Absolutely not,” he said. Instead, Kennedy said of he and his running mate’s experiences with gun violence: “We’re not unique.”
Reports have surfaced over the last few days that several candidates turned down Kennedy’s offer to join the ticket, but the candidate insists that Joy was in the mix from the very beginning.
“Ra was there right from the beginning,” Kennedy said. “He was on the first list I ever made.” […]
“I have lots of executive experience leading statewide organizations,” he said. “I’m ready to lead on day one.”
While most political experts will argue that the lieutenant governor’s pick does not make or break a campaign, the choice does send a signal, according to political strategiest Ron Holmes.
“It is my hope that these picks aren’t simply ‘window dressing’ and are the beginning of specific policies regarding black Illinoisians,” he said in a tweet.
Kennedy said Joy will be a key asset in getting voters, particularly millennials, involved.
“They need somebody who has a proven track record of standing of up to corrupt government…there aren’t many of those in Illinois…he is a citizen servant,” said Kennedy.
Joy said Kennedy’s commitment to attacking violence, and reforming Illinois government, attracted him to Kennedy’s team.
“We have a system where a really small handful of political insiders wield disproportionate power and influence,” Joy said.
Joy was formerly executive director of Change Illinois, which scored a major victory when Governor Rauner signed automatic voter registration for licensed drivers.
“I have proven experience forging alliances, building partnerships and creating wins,” he said.
Kennedy and his supporters see his running mate selection as an opportunity to re-energize his campaign and underline his self-styled image as an outsider challenging the status quo.
This new team plans to talk extensively about curbing Chicago’s gun violence problem. Kennedy has called for up to 2,000 more cops in the city. Asked how he’ll pay for it, Kennedy says, “Why doesn’t Rahm raise the taxes on the people who aren’t paying their fair share? Why doesn’t he sue like Mayor Daley did all of the big buildings in undervalue complaints.”
It’s that kind of talk, an anti-establishment, populace message, that Kennedy is running on. But the campaign has struggled to keep up with billionaire J.B. Pritzker’s fundraising and spending. Even State Senator Daniel Biss outraised Kennedy during the second quarter of this year.
“I don’t feel any need to turn things around. I like where I am,” Kennedy says. “The only way for the well-funded campaigns and the insiders to win in March is to get me to drop out now. So they work people like you with a whole army of communications people that they pay out of the $20 million in expenditures. (They) tell you that the campaign’s in disarray, people are leaving, changes are coming, that I’m about to drop out. None of that is true. I’m the smallest of seven brothers. They’re going to have to swing a lot harder than this.”
During the campaign, Kennedy has focused on Illinois’ extremely high property taxes, saying the system is “rigged” in favor of the wealthy and connected. This summer, the businessman reportedly withdrew his own property tax appeal on his Kenilworth residence. We asked Kennedy about the situation, and he used his answer to lash out at Pritzker.
“There’s no comparison to what all of the people who appeal their property taxes in Cook County do and what J.B. Pritzker did. There’s no comparison between the two,” Kennedy says.
His rhetoric is definitely getting more pointed as we move along.
* “I’m ready to move on to a new challenge,” Attorney General Lisa Madigan explained today after informing me that she will not seek reelection and won’t run for any other office next year.
At the end of her term, she’ll have served 16 years as the state’s top lawyer, plus another 4 years in the Illinois Senate.
“I love working, I love advocating for the people of Illinois. And I’m going to keep doing it through the end of my term,” Madigan said.
* Besides the governor and his running mate, the only other statewide Republican candidate currently backed by the party apparatus is Erika Harold, who is running for attorney general. The Republicans had planned to go after the Democratic incumbent hard by tying her as closely as they could to her wildly unpopular father.
So, was AG Madigan worried about not winning next year? “No, not at all,” she said. “People know my record. People know I work hard every single day for the people of the state… I’ve never lost a race and I’ll never lose a race.”
“I feel strongly that the state would not be well served by having a governor and speaker of the House from the same family and have never planned to run for governor if that would be the case,” Lisa Madigan said in a statement. “With Speaker Madigan planning to continue in office, I will not run for governor.”
AG Madigan said today that she doesn’t regret not having the opportunity to run for governor. “I ran for attorney general because I believed this office would be the greatest opportunity to help people,” she said. “I have no regrets. This job is incredibly fulfilling.”
Madigan pointedly refused to rule out a future bid for governor, however. She said she’s not running for anything next year, but she made sure to leave the the door open and said she just didn’t know what the future would bring.
But if a Democrat defeats Gov. Rauner next year, that’ll put Madigan out of the running for maybe eight more years. I can’t say I blame her for getting out now. She’s also been mentioned as a possible Chicago mayoral candidate, but I got an unequivocal no on that one.
* What’s her current relationship with her father? “It’s good,” she said. “Very good.”
She said she has told Speaker Madigan about her decision and “He is supportive.”
* Asked if she had a preference for who should take her spot, AG Madigan said there will quickly be an “outpouring of qualified Democratic candidates,” adding that she hasn’t given any potential candidate a heads up about her decision.
“Throughout her life as an individual and as a public servant, Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s achievements have been the result of her determination to fight for her convictions and to stand up for what she believed was right. I’ve always been proud of her desire to fight for those who need help the most, which has driven her sense of duty as a person and as Illinois’ attorney general.
“It has been my privilege to watch her fight for the people of Illinois and do the right thing every day. She has authored tougher laws against criminals who prey on children and victims of sexual assault, fought for homeowners faced with losing their homes, and worked to ensure a more open and transparent state government.
“No father could be prouder of his daughter’s personal and professional accomplishments, and I look forward to watching her continue her commitment to helping people in a new capacity.”
* The ILGOP sent me this yesterday, but I was out of the office…
On the heels of disgraced former Governor Rod Blagojevich’s recent news interviews from a Federal prison in Colorado, the Illinois Republican Party is releasing a digital ad highlighting the FBI wiretaps that revealed J.B. Pritzker’s close ties to Blagojevich.
The wiretaps revealed Pritzker schemed with Blagojevich to be appointed Illinois Treasurer, among other state offices. In the same wiretaps, Blagojevich pressed Pritzker for campaign contributions.
There is no doubt Pritzker’s and Blagojevich’s ties run deep.
Illinoisans should be worried about what Pritzker will do if he’s allowed to buy the governor’s office just like he bought influence with Blagojevich.
* Here’s a couple of people you don’t regularly see together. Dan Proft and Toni Preckwinkle…
I've got my Christmas card photo this year and my name permanently etched on the Conservation Cup for Cook Co Dems to enjoy until end times. pic.twitter.com/vjKE6veK3T
Before Bruce Rauner was elected governor, he crisscrossed the state touting his business acumen and vowing to travel the world on his “own dime” to recruit companies and spur investment in Illinois.
When then-Texas Gov. Rick Perry launched a campaign to poach companies from Illinois, Rauner said his fellow Republican was just “doing his job” because governors “should compete to recruit businesses and create jobs.”
“You know, this is not rocket science. Springfield is not some complex thing where you need an advance engineering degree to understand,” Rauner told reporters at a Chicago campaign stop. “This is common sense. This is people, this is negotiation.”
The [Asia trade] visit comes as Illinois seeks to land a manufacturing plant from Japanese automakers Toyota and Mazda, which includes plans to hire as many as 4,000 workers. DeKalb and Rochelle are said to be in the running, and economic development officials from those towns are among the governor’s delegation. They are joined by representatives of the state’s economic and commerce agencies, as well as officials from utility giant Commonwealth Edison and the University of Illinois.
The overseas trip was greeted as a welcome change of pace by the state’s business community, a group that widely backed Rauner’s bid for office as he promoted a wide-ranging economic plan he said would cut regulations and spur job growth. Little of that has materialized amid strong pushback from Democrats, who have blocked Rauner’s efforts to limit collective bargaining rights and overhaul the workers’
Pat Quinn got himself elected in part by helping Ford greatly expand hiring at its Chicago plant. That Toyota/Mazda facility would do wonders to resurrect Rauner’s prospects.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel said the city’s bid to convince Amazon to build its second headquarters in Chicago will be an “all hands on deck” endeavor.
Although the mayor and Gov. Bruce Rauner have been at odds about most issues lately, Emanuel said city and state officials will be working hard to entice Amazon to open its second headquarters in the Chicago area.
Amazon expects to hire as many as 50,000 people full-time to work at the new facility over the course of several years, with an average annual compensation of $100,000 per employee.
“This is of a scale that’s different. Therefore it’s going to be Chicago, county, and state with one voice; and all the resources, all hands on deck, and all the creativity to that effort, and everybody’s going to be pulling in the same direction. That’s the one thing I want to be clear about,” Emanuel said.
* Press release from early this morning…
Gov. Bruce Rauner arrived in Shanghai, China, for the next stop in his first international trade mission of his administration. The Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) greeted the governor and the team of Illinois delegates working to build stronger business, cultural and educational relationships with its Asian partners.
“China and the United States enjoy a long-term friendship,” CPAFFC President Xu Kuangdi said. “I highly appreciate your decision of choosing China as one of your destinations at your first foreign visit as the Governor of Illinois. We must strengthen our friendship through more exchanges and cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, education, etc., to benefit our two peoples, and people of the world. Welcome to China!”
The CPAFFC is a national organization engaged in people-to-people diplomacy of China.
The governor also engaged in trade discussions with the vice chairman of Shanghai 12th Committee to discuss trade relations between China and Illinois. That was followed by an official reception at the Intercontinental Hotel in Shanghai.
The governor expressed the need for additional business opportunities, and he said the best way would be to expand trade, investment and economic relationships.
“I’m honored to be here because of the special friendship between China and Illinois,” Gov. Rauner said. “We have 400 Illinois companies in China creating thousands of jobs, and China has 60 companies headquartered in Illinois, including Wanxiang, Decatur’s Fuyao Glass and Bank of China in Chicago. We shouldn’t stop there. I’m personally committed to expanding this economic relationship to benefit the people of Shanghai and Illinois.”
The meeting began with a discussion of Shanghai’s financial position and economic strength in the world economy with the hope of building a more balanced export exchange, as well as growing from an industrial to a more innovative society. The governor and vice chairman expressed the importance of exchanging ideas and developing an ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship and a pipeline of the next generation of global leaders.
Several cabinet officials now report directly to [Deputy Governor Trey Childress], instead of to chief of staff Kristina Rasmussen. Rasmussen, who joined the administration this year from the Illinois Policy Institute, a conservative think tank — released the charts to staffers earlier this week. […]
Additionally, agency heads now report directly to Childress, rather than to other officials, including the chief of staff.
“When Kristina Rasmussen came in, she wanted to organize the Office of the Governor to take greater advantage of talent in the office, to focus on policy formulation and legislation, and to align leadership more closely with the work of the units,” [Rauner spokesman Jason Schaumburg] said. […]
Former state Comptroller Leslie Munger, who Rauner tapped for her newly created $135,000-a-year deputy governor position after she lost her re-election bid, is in charge of Illinois Bicentennial events and corresponding with taxpayers, according to the organizational charts.
But [Rauner communications head Hud Englehart] on Thursday said the chart did not reflect Munger’s other duties, which he says haven’t changed since she was appointed earlier this year. Those included being involved with economic development, human service agencies, external relations and stakeholder management during the budget fight.
Go read the whole thing. One of the more interesting things about the Sfondeles story is that Rauner administration PR people actually responded to her questions and engaged on some details. That hasn’t been the case with that office in weeks, so maybe they’re finally starting to get their act together. We’ll see.
Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration on Thursday announced it would start organizing its staff into groups of policy experts, the latest move in an office that went through a high-profile shake-up earlier this year.
The first group will focus on economics. Rauner made Illinois’ economic health a key priority of his first-term agenda, but he’s spent much of that time fighting with Democrats over the state budget and was unable to accomplish many of his goals so far.
The teams will be directed by deputy chief of staff for policy Michael Lucci, an alumnus of the conservative Illinois Policy Institute who joined Rauner’s staff amid the summer’s shake-up.
*** UPDATE *** Pritzker campaign…
Even though Bruce Rauner had a crisis expert consulting for months, Rauner stumbled through a “summer of setbacks” and is now doubling down on crisis management by reorganizing his top staff.
Rauner spent $12,500 a month of taxpayer dollars on this pricey crisis expert, but clearly didn’t get his money’s worth. The Sun-Times called Rauner’s summer “terrible” and “very bad” while WBEZ called it “rough” and a “summer of setbacks,” and those are just the stories published this week. Instead of moving beyond his catastrophic and crisis-filled summer, Rauner is doubling down, reorganizing his staff yet again to focus on “charting choppy waters.”
“Bruce Rauner is doubling down on creating crisis and attempting to message them in his favor,” said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. “There’s no number of staff shakeups that can turn around the damage done by this failed governor.”
Democratic state Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie won’t run for re-election in 2018, sources with knowledge of her decision said, signaling a career ending for Illinois’ first female majority leader and a longtime ally of House Speaker Michael Madigan.
Her decision comes more than 20 years after Madigan first named her to the influential post in early 1997 and nearly 40 years after she first entered the House in 1979.
State Rep. Lou Lang, a Skokie Democrat and deputy majority leader, said Currie’s departure will mean a great loss of institutional knowledge. He contended the era of of Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner has worn down many lawmakers who were interested in process.
Currie’s district includes Woodlawn, South Shore, Hyde Park, Kenwood, and South Chicago. Her decision to step aside removes a House Democrat mentioned as a possible Madigan successor and could touch off bids for her seat in Springfield. […]
She is now among a bevy of lawmakers of both parties who have made the same decision not to run again or to step down immediately. Among them was the state’s first woman to serve as a legislative leader, Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno, who stepped down in June.
“I like travel. I like having outings with family. I like music and opera and having opportunities to do that is good.”
Currie said she called several colleagues on Thursday to tell them of her decision.
“I will miss a whole lot about the Legislature. I have loved my time there. I have thoroughly enjoyed the people on both sides of the aisle. It has been a wonderful place,” Currie said. “I could not have asked for a better way to spend my years. I will miss it, but there are other things in life that one can do.”
House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie, D-Chicago, stands up on the House pages’ bench to speak to reporters in 2004.
Currie said her age has nothing to do with her decision: “People have said ‘Hang up your spurs.’ I don’t feel as if I need to hang up my spurs.”
Currie said she planned to make an official announcement next week but the news got out Thursday, Sept. 14, after she told a couple of colleagues.
“I’m not planning to re-up for re-election in 2018 but I do plan to finish out my current term,” Currie told the Hyde Park Herald. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the legislature and will continue to pursue progressive policies in education, social welfare and criminal justice in other venues.”
Currie said she has no immediate plans to leave her Hyde Park home.
Currie attended the University of Chicago. She graduated from the College with honors before earning a Master’s degree in Political Science. She is a member of the Chicago League of Women Voters, the Illinois Women’s Institute for Leadership, Women United for South Shore, and the Board of the ACLU of Illinois. She is active in many civic, community, and environmental organizations. She and her late husband, David P. Currie, a law professor at the University of Chicago, have two wonderful children and four grandchildren.
* Press release…
“Barbara Flynn Currie is one of a kind, and someone whose intelligence and command of a wide range of public policy issues is matched only by her decency. Throughout her career she has been a passionate advocate for the people of Chicago and the state of Illinois. As the first woman to hold the position of Majority Leader, she shattered a glass ceiling and blazed a trail for countless others. From fighting to raise the minimum wage, to expanding access to early childhood education, to advocating for common sense gun laws, Leader Currie has been a voice for the voiceless and a steady champion for the most vulnerable among us. On behalf of a grateful city, I wish Barbara nothing but the best in her well-earned retirement.”
I had a long chat with her tonight and I’ll have more for subscribers tomorrow.
* This has been going around since late August, and she’s never given a straight answer (and I’ve asked her several times). I think it might depend on whether Gov. Rauner picks a new chief of staff, but I’m just not sure…
Might Patty Schuh, respected spksm GOP ILSen, move to @GovRauner Office? No denial, no official confirmation #twill
* Oscar and I both have appointments this afternoon and I’m under a tight deadline for Crain’s, so blogging will be light to non-existent the rest of the day.
* The Question: In your opinion, which gubernatorial candidate has picked the best running mate? Please explain your answer. Thanks.
He is married to Donna More, who ran as a Democrat for Cook County State’s Attorney and lost. She supported Gov. Rauner’s campaign in 2014, but then disavowed that move in 2015. Englehart’s only campaign contributions in the state system are to his wife’s candidacy.
First, the best crisis antidote is to tell it all and tell it fast.
Among expert crisis communicators, this is code for the obvious: the best way to get out of the news is to stop making news. Cover ups, diversions, and delays will inevitably deepen your troubles. “Fast” is a relative term here. What it really means is much faster than normal. Businesses, by their nature, are deliberative organizations. In a crisis, time compresses and, aided by relentless media, there is a premium on speedy decision making.
Second, understand that crisis is the ultimate marketing event.
Every value that your brand stands for is put to the test during a crisis, and your stakeholders will expect you to live up to those values when things aren’t going your way. Think how much better off GM would be if they behaved like customer-concerned leaders when their ignition switch problem surfaced.
Third, crisis is a creature of media and communication.
Let’s face it; operating incidents that don’t make the news are much different than ones that do. Most businesses aren’t accustomed to the kind of scrutiny that comes with a full blown crisis. Sure, they have contingency plans for accidents or incidents that interrupt their business. But very few have plans for dealing with an onslaught of piercing media inquiry.
Next, you can’t talk your way out of trouble.
In fact, it is what you do in a crisis that is important. Think of it this way: you really don’t have anything meaningful to say unless it lines up with what you are doing. Tylenol is the icon for successful crisis management because Johnson & Johnson’s actions did the talking. Taking the product off the shelf told stakeholders all they needed to know.
Finally, you can plan for the unplanned.
In fact, being in control means anticipating failure and being prepared to deal with it. It is the one sure way to improve your odds of success. Develop a worst case scenario and anticipate what it would be like to have the case broadcast on the six o’clock news and/or go viral over social media. Rehearse the communications response and, like you often hear an experienced NFL quarterback say, it will “slow down” the action on the (media) playing field.
One last note. More than 30 percent of all business crises connect directly to executive decisions. The point being, there is no substitute for good decision making when the pressure is on. Do what’s right. Tell the truth. Protect your customer.
Rauner could’ve used this guy a couple of months ago.
*** UPDATE *** From the DGA…
In a 2016 article, Englehart laid out five general practices for crisis communications – there seems to be a lot for Rauner to learn.
Hud Englehart: “First, the best crisis antidote is to tell it all and tell it fast.”
Rauner always tries the opposite and seeks to down-play any turmoil in office. In July, he acted like a 20-person staff turnover was no big deal and he fibbed about interviewing a new staffer. Recently, Rauner’s refused to answer questions about the mysterious firing of his General Counsel.
Englehart: “Second, understand that crisis is the ultimate marketing event.”
Rauner actually nailed this one. When asked about a staffer who compared abortion to Nazi eugenics, Rauner just said he was building the “Best Team in America.” This was also after firing his body man of one day for homophobic tweets.
Englehart: “Third, crisis is a creature of media and communication.”
See: refusing to look at a cartoon for a whole week that the Illinois legislature denounced.
Englehart: “Next, you can’t talk your way out of trouble.”
Rauner once went on Fox News and tried to talk his way out of taking a position on President Trump’s immigration policies. It didn’t work.
Englehart: “Finally, you can plan for the unplanned.”
Another lesson Rauner can learn. One week Rauner was profiling himself as pro-immigrant. The next he was accused about lying about his grandfather’s place of birth, and weakly responded to President Trump’s decision to end DACA.
Will Rauner listen to his new adviser? Maybe he could start by finally addressing the firing of his General Counsel.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Hmm…
Rauner new Comms Strategy Dir "Crisis Mgmt Expert" Hud Englehart, actually has been paid as consultant for months @GovRauner#twill
He misses his family. He’s had to mop floors, wash dishes and scrub toilets. Maybe the work will do him good.
Because while he was governor, he avoided the hard work necessary to help Illinois thrive.
Former Deputy Gov. Bradley Tusk testified during the former governor’s trial that Blagojevich often was missing in action, was hard to contact and didn’t seem to care what legislation passed.
Tusk verified what others had observed: Blagojevich had little interest in doing the hard work it takes to lead a state. A Chicago television reporter once camped outside Blagojevich’s bungalow and found the governor rarely left his home except to go jogging.
Political operative Bradley Tusk got into the venture capital game by accident, but he couldn’t have had a better start. In 2011 he agreed to accept shares in a ride-hailing startup in exchange for guiding entrepreneur Travis Kalanick through the maze of New York’s taxi regulations. Those shares of Uber, paid in lieu of Tusk Strategies’ $25,000-a-month fee, are believed to be worth $100 million now. […]
His two-year-old Tusk Ventures is in the midst of closing its first fund, having raised $31 million to invest in businesses in need of help negotiating regulated markets. The fund will also take advantage of opportunities that come along among the 28 companies Tusk Ventures has a stake in. […]
“I was seen as ‘Who is this political guy, and why am I giving him money?’” he recalled. “But people started to realize [that] almost every new company is a tech company, and most new businesses are regulated by government in some way. And entrenched interests don’t just say thank you when they’re disrupted. They punch back. So we’re needed.”
* Tony Arnold asks “After A Rough Summer, Can Rauner Turn Around His Turnaround Agenda?” His conclusion…
But as Rauner moves forward after a politically gruelling summer, he doesn’t sound like he’s abandoning some parts of his Turnaround Agenda. In a statement, Kirsten Kukowski, a spokeswoman for Rauner’s reelection campaign, touted the governor’s record when it comes to school funding, criminal justice and energy.
But she also made a point to say that key parts of the agenda will be at the center of his reelection campaign.
“It will be clear that the choice next November will be between a governor who will keep fighting for better schools, property tax relief, term limits and to rollback the Madigan tax hike or an opponent who will protect the status quo and keep taxes high,” Kukowski wrote.
Trouble is, he promised the very same things in 2014, including rolling back the tax hike. But he’ll be right to say that almost all the Democratic candidates are talking about the need for even more taxes.
A governor candidate who serves as a lawmaker will find times when it helps to have a running mate who is also in the legislature.
That’s the case for the new tag team of Evanston state Sen. Daniel Biss, a Democratic candidate for governor, and his running mate, state Rep. Litesa Wallace of Rockford. Wallace was chosen after Biss quickly cut ties with his first pick for lieutenant governor, Chicago Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa.
Biss introduced legislation in the Senate prompted by the fallout over the hacking of Equifax. It would eliminate fees that credit-reporting companies are allowed to charge for imposing or lifting a credit security freeze.
Wallace will join with colleagues in the House to sponsor similar legislation, the Biss campaign said.
* From Biss’ press release…
“Companies like Equifax are mishandling private data and then leaving the victims of their negligence to pay the price,” said Daniel Biss. “We shouldn’t have to pay to secure and access our own financial records, especially when a reckless agency has left us vulnerable to identity theft. That may have been business as usual, but that’s not how business will be done in Illinois anymore.”
Under current Illinois law, credit reporting agencies can charge a $10 fee for imposing or lifting a credit security freeze—even when the agency is at fault for a security breach compromising consumer data. Daniel’s bill will eliminate these fees entirely, empowering consumers to protect their credit ratings and preventing agencies from making a profit from their own failures to protect private data.
“Corporations have built a system that works for them while leaving the rest of us behind,” said Litesa Wallace. “These bills provide an overdue correction for a predatory practice and serve as another example of why Daniel is the right candidate to protect middle class and working families like ours as governor.”
* Illinois PIRG…
Consumer advocates praised the introduction of House Bill 4095, legislation to make credit freezes free for all Illinois residents, sponsored by Representative Greg Harris and championed by Attorney General Lisa Madigan. Senator Biss has filed companion legislation in the Senate, Senate Bill 2230.
In response to the Equifax data breach, which has placed over 140 million Americans at risk for various forms of identity theft, consumer advocates and Attorney Generals have advised consumers to seriously consider placing a credit freeze with all three credit bureaus. A credit freeze is the only real tool consumers have to stop new account identity theft.
“We applaud Attorney General Madigan, Representative Harris, and Senator Biss for responding quickly with legislation to protect Illinois consumers,” said Abe Scarr, Illinois PIRG director. “There is no reason why consumers should be charged a fee to place a credit freeze on their sensitive personal information. We look forward to working with legislators from both parties to ensure Illinois residents have free access to this critical tool to protect their financial well-being.”
Illinois residents currently have to pay a fee to access this basic security feature. State law provides exemptions for residents 65 or older, active duty service members, and victims of identity theft with a police report. HB4095 and SB2230 would allow all Illinois residents to place a freeze on their credit reports, or lift an existing freeze, for free.
Joining Illinois PIRG in supporting the legislation are Center for Changing Lives, Citizen Action Illinois, Digital Privacy Alliance, Heartland Alliance, Navicore Solutions, and Woodstock Institute.
“Given recent data breaches, there has never been a more critical time for this legislation,” says Jody Blaylock, Senior Policy Associate with Heartland Alliance. “We must ensure that people, especially those experiencing poverty, can protect their credit and continue to build financial security.”
Seven states have laws making credit freezes free, including Indiana. Illinois PIRG has this guide for consumers interested in placing a credit freeze with all three credit bureaus.
* AG Madigan…
Attorney General Madigan has received an outpouring of questions from concerned and confused Illinois residents about whether their sensitive personal information has been compromised by Equifax’s massive data breach. In response, Madigan is providing updated information to Illinois residents and calling on Equifax to pay credit freeze fees for people with all three major credit reporting agencies, including Experian and TransUnion.
Late last week, Equifax announced it had suffered a massive data breach of sensitive consumer information from May to July of this year, impacting as many as 143 million Americans. Yesterday, Equifax notified Madigan that in Illinois, the breach may impact more than 5.4 million residents.
“Equifax has failed to answer basic questions that millions of Americans whose personal information it likely lost have including: How did the data breach happen? What is Equifax going to do to fix it? And why did it take Equifax six weeks to notify people that their personal information had been stolen?” Madigan said. “Most importantly, it appears that Equifax currently does not have the ability to accurately determine whether your personal information has been stolen. I suggest you assume it has been and put a credit freeze on your credit report to get the best protection you can from identity theft. Equifax needs to stop wasting time and making excuses and start paying for long-term protections that its security failure has made imperative for most Americans.”
Consumers are confused as to whether they have been impacted by the breach, and what they should do if they determine their personal information has been compromised. Some Illinois residents say they received different answers from Equifax at different times, depending on the browser platform they used. Consumers also reported that the Equifax website was inaccessible at times due to high traffic volume.
* The Civic Federation takes a look at whether the FY18 budget is balanced…
The Governor’s Office has not yet made public a budget grid for FY2018 detailing revenues, expenditures and budgetary balance. The FY2018 budget plan distributed by the General Assembly in July showed general operating revenues of $36.4 billion and expenditures of $36.1 billion. The projected surplus of $360 million amounted to less than 1% of expenditures. […]
The narrow surplus shown in the table depends on several uncertain developments. As in the Governor’s proposed FY2018 budget, the legislature’s budget relies on the sale of the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago, with an estimated sale price of $300 million and net proceeds after expenses of about $240 million. The surplus could be reduced if it takes longer than expected to find a buyer or if the structure is sold for less than the projected price.
In its Budget Implementation Act (BIMP), the General Assembly also adopted a pension proposal by the Governor that makes universities and school districts outside Chicago—instead of the State—responsible for pension costs for new employees. The change is expected to save the State $500 million per year, as the reduction in future pension liabilities leads to a sharp decline in current contribution requirements under the State’s funding formula. However, the legislature left timing of the plan’s implementation up to the Teachers’ and State Universities Retirement Systems, raising questions as to how much of the savings will be realized in FY2018.
* But then it also picks up on something that’s gone mostly unnoticed…
In his veto message on the legislature’s FY2018 budget, Governor Rauner stated that the financial plan was $2 billion out of balance. The news release announcing plans for the bond sale put the operating gap at more than $1 billion.
State budget officials said the deficit estimates covered estimated pension savings as well as certain FY2017 costs, such as day-to-day agency expenses, that have not been accounted for and may need to be appropriated in the FY2018 budget. Although the larger deficit estimate included FY2017 group health insurance costs, the legislature’s budget assumes that these bills will be paid from borrowing.
* From the Tribune’s story on yesterday’s ruling by a federal judge allowing part of a Jaon Gonzalez lawsuit against Speaker Madigan to proceed…
By allowing the suit to move forward, Judge Matthew F. Kennelly cleared the way for Gonzales’ lawyers to seek Madigan’s campaign records, emails and other documents. The longtime House speaker and chairman of the state Democratic Party also could be compelled to sit for a sworn deposition as part of that process, said Tony Peraica, Gonzales’ lawyer.
“We’re gonna check every crevice,” said Peraica, a former Republican member of the Cook County Board who ran for chairman. “It’s going to be wonderful.” […]
Gonzales called it a “critical day” for both him as well as other candidates who are thinking about challenging Madigan’s decadeslong reign as House Speaker.
“I just want to say, it’s time for Mike Madigan to retire,” Gonzales said. “He’s been in office now for 46 years. He’s done so much damage to our state that it’s almost beyond repair, though we still have hope. But he needs to go. I can tell you that someday Mike Madigan will leave Illinois politics, either in handcuffs or a coffin or I will beat him.”
Um, OK.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens, however, once Madigan’s attorneys finally get to tell Judge Kennelly that he was operating on at least one mistaken assumption: That Madigan had promised one of those “sham” candidates a job at the attorney general’s office. As we discussed yesterday, that claim appears be false.
The Ameya Pawar for Governor campaign today released a new video, “Don’t Close Our Communities,” as part of its latest digital buy the day after launching a new initiative raising awareness to the problems communities across our state face as a result of decades of disinvestment. Ameya Pawar, 47th Ward alderman and Democratic candidate for Illinois governor, and his running mate Tyrone Coleman, Mayor of Cairo and candidate for lieutenant governor launched the initiative at a press conference followed by a demonstration at the Chicago Regional Housing and Urban Development offices.
The new video opens with Pawar discussing his fight against Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel when he closed 50 public schools in mostly minority and lower-income areas and draws a parallel with how HUD is closing public housing units in Cairo. A lifelong Cairo resident who lives in the public housing at risk of closure gives first-hand testimony on how our government is failing to improve the lives of the poor and working-class. Coleman talks about the need for a government that believes in communities the same way community members believe in each other.
“People are so worried about giving something to somebody, who they don’t feel deserves it. We’re not asking to be millionaires here. We want the same as everybody else…an opportunity,” says Kristin Simulton, a public housing resident in Cairo.
Our government is failing us. Whether it’s schools being closed in Chicago or housing being shuttered in Cairo, communities across the state are feeling the effects of politicians who are out of touch with their needs, pursuing an agenda that benefits the wealthy and corporate interests while leaving the rest of us behind.
“If we’re going to lift every community up - from Chicago to Cairo - then we have to stop allowing politicians to close our communities. To close our public schools. To close public housing. Stop closing our communities. Invest in them,” Pawar says.
Over the coming weeks, the campaign will use its platform to drive the debate around the need for more investments in public institutions to prevent closures. On Thursday, Coleman will embark on the first leg of the Don’t Close Our Communities tour, with scheduled stops in East St. Louis, Urbana, Carbondale, Brookport, Eldorado, Chester, Kaskaskia, and Cairo.
* The Tribune interview of Ra Joy, Chris Kennedy’s new running mate is basically in two parts. One is about how their personal tragedies brought them together…
During the three months since his 23-year-old son was shot and killed in Woodlawn, government reform activist Ra Joy has sought out advice on moving forward with his life.
“I actively sought out individuals who had experienced the sudden dramatic loss of a loved one to gun violence. Talked to a lot of people,” Joy said.
Among those he spoke with was Chris Kennedy. The Democratic candidate for governor is the son of Robert F. Kennedy, who was slain in a 1968 run for the presidency, and the nephew of President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963.
Nobody really wants to talk much about the violence problem, but they both have stories to tell and maybe they can articulate a way forward. We’ll see.
* And the other part is about Joy’s government reform work with Change Illinois…
“Instead of a government that serves all people, we have this system where a small handful of insiders wield disproportionate power at the expense of ordinary voters. As a result, people are hurting all across this state from the classroom to the boardroom to the kitchen table. And, it doesn’t have to be this way,” he said.
“There’s some people in this campaign who talk about fighting the machine,” Joy said. He said that unlike others — who went unnamed — Kennedy was “unencumbered by puppet strings.”
I wasn’t a fan of that group’s remap reform proposal. It was a needlessly complicated Rube Goldberg machine.
But Kennedy has made government reform a big priority, and Joy can certainly speak on that topic from experience.
* From the Kennedy campaign…
Chris Kennedy announced today that he has selected Ra Joy to join his ticket as his Lieutenant Governor nominee. Joy brings to the campaign a strong desire for change and optimism that Illinois can, once again, be a land of opportunity. Together, they will roll up their sleeves, talk truth to power, and get results for families who have been left behind by the status quo.
In announcing his selection of Joy, Kennedy stated, “I am honored that Ra Joy has decided to join me and run for lieutenant governor. Ra believes, as I do, that through sacrifice and hard work, we can truly change the course of Illinois. With Ra at my side, I will take on the entrenched interests that, for so long, have used public office to advance private gain. Ra and I can reform the inherently unfair tax system, we can stem the flood of gun violence, and we can make certain that every child in Illinois has full and equal access to a quality education. I know that Ra will join me in this fight to end a broken system and bring change to Illinois.”
Ra has spent his entire life working in the very areas that are the focus of Kennedy’s campaign. His leadership of CHANGE Illinois is a shining example of the notion that, in a state beholden to political insiders, people can still make a difference.
“It is truly a privilege to join Chris Kennedy on the ticket,” Joy said. “I am a lifelong Illinois resident who knows that the top down approach to state government is leaving too many people behind. We need a leader willing to change the way we run government. Chris Kennedy is that leader. Chris has the heart and the compassion to fight for people and the courage to take on a political establishment that for so long has ignored the needs of our state. Chris has the independence to do what is right – and the ability to do it.”
Joy, 44, is a civic entrepreneur who has dedicated his life to advancing the public interest. Joy has embraced leadership roles as an advocate for redistricting reform and automatic voter registration in his role as executive director of CHANGE Illinois. Joy led statewide and citywide initiatives to elevate the role of the arts and culture in people’s lives, schools, and communities as executive director of Arts Alliance Illinois. Joy was a tireless advocate for local community economic development initiatives as a senior aide to U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston). Joy has been a leader and advocate for fundamental, community-based change for nearly two decades.
Joy’s commitment to civic and social change has resulted in widespread acclaim and recognition. Joy received the Cultural Champion Award from the Chicago Cultural Alliance and the Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. Joy has been awarded fellowships from the Chicago Community Trust and Leadership Greater Chicago. Joy is a member of The City of Chicago’s Cultural Advisory Council and The Economic Club of Chicago.
Joy participated in the Executive Development Program and as a Kellogg Executive Scholar at The Kellogg School of Management of Northwestern University. Joy earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, where he was a member of the varsity football team. Joy, born and raised in Evanston, Illinois, is a graduate of its public schools, graduating from Evanston Township High School in 1991.
Joy is a lifelong resident of Illinois. Joy and his wife, Falona, live on the Southside of Chicago. Falona is a graduate of Stanford University and the Founder and President of SNP – Integrated Strategy for Nonprofits.
* I chatted with Kennedy a bit today and one of the things I asked was why he was confident that his new running mate could take the helm of government if something happened to him.
Kennedy said he wanted to choose someone with “executive experience,” and Ra checked that box because he’s run some organizations.
More importantly, though, Kennedy said he wanted someone with a solid “core,” someone who wouldn’t be influenced by insiders to do something he knew wasn’t right. “That’s a very real issue to me,” Kennedy said.
*New Sites* Resistance Illinois’ Day of Action is this weekend
Dear xxxx
Join us on September 16 or September 17 for one of the many Resistance Illinois events across Illinois. Don’t see something near you? Host your own!
Saturday, September 16
6th Congressional District Democrats
48th Ward Democrats
49th Ward Democrats - New!
Bureau County Democrats
DeKalb County Democrats - New!
DuPage County Democrats
Democratic Party of Evanston - New!
Grundy County Democrats - New!
Kendall County Democrats
Kankakee County Democrats
Kane County Democrats
La Grange Action for a Better Tomorrow
Northwest Suburban Democrats (Arlington Heights)
Northfield Township Democrats - New!
Ogle County Democrats - 9 a.m. New!
Ogle County Democrats - 1 p.m. - New!
Planned Parenthood - Chicago
Planned Parenthood - Madison County Illinois
Sangamon County Democrats
Host your own event
Sunday, September 17
Downers Grove Democrats/Democratic Women of DuPage
Democratic Party of Evanston - New!
Illini Student Democrats
Kankakee County Democrats
Northfield Township Democrats - New!
Whiteside County Democrats - New!
Host your own event
Help make sure your voice is heard and build the resistance in your community!
We must learn from the past and look to the future–and to build that future, every person, in every community, needs a seat at the table and a chance to have their voice heard. This is your opportunity to pull a chair up to our table and lend your voice to a growing movement of Illinoisans.
We are here to listen to your concerns, provide the resources you need to make your voice heard, and empower you to be an active participant in your democracy.
Thanks for your time!
Resistance Illinois
Paid for by the Democratic Party of Illinois, P.O. Box 518, Springfield, IL 62705. http://www.ildems.com.
DPI isn’t exactly known for listening to anyone’s concerns and empowering grassroots activism. Is a new leaf being turned over?
* From the federal judge’s ruling today reviving part of the Jason Gonzales lawsuit against House Speaker Michael Madigan…
Gonzales alleges that Madigan engaged in a campaign to place sham candidates on the ballot… Joe Barbosa and Grasiela Rodriguez. Gonzales alleges that Barbosa and Rodriguez never intended to run but agreed to let Madigan use their names, the purpose being to split the Hispanic vote so that Gonzales would lose the primary in the predominantly Hispanic district.
Gonzales further alleges that Madigan’s official positions give him influence “over doling out jobs, favors and services.” Significantly, he alleges that Madigan used this influence to get Rodriguez a job in the office of the Illinois Attorney General in exchange for her service as a sham candidate—an allegation the Court overlooked in dismissing the amended complaint. [Emphasis added.]
Attorney General Lisa Madigan does employ a woman named Rodriguez, but her first name is Gricelda, not Grasiela.
I’m told by the AG’s office that Gricelda is “not involved in politics.” She was hired as a temp worker for secretarial work and then hired full time because she did so well.
They also flatly deny that anyone at any time ever tried to get the Grasiela of lawsuit infamy a job at the AG’s office. “We had no clue any of this was going on,” until they started getting calls about this part of the lawsuit, I was told today.
And, get this, according to the attorney general’s folks, Gricelda used to work for none other than Tony Peraica, who is Gonzales’ attorney.
Kay’s loss to Katie Stuart was the only real bright spot for Downstate Democrats last year.
* But, as I told subscribers earlier this week, the House Republican Organization is backing someone else…
Wendy Erhart, a Republican, on Wednesday plans to formally announce her campaign for state representative in the 112th House District. […]
Erhart is a strategic initiatives manager with a local community development lender. She has previously worked for banks, according to her LinkedIn page.
According to Erhart’s campaign, she graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 1993. She lives in Maryville with her husband, Doug, and daughter, Katie, and is a board member of the Collinsville Food Pantry.
Erhart served 10 years as a board member with the Southwestern Illinois Leadership Council.
So, before he can get at Stuart, he has to defeat Erhart without HGOP support.
* It seems like just last week (actually, it was last week) that Gov. Rauner unveiled his new opioid task force. This is the same governor who vetoed a bill addressing the heroin epidemic, by the way. Luckily, his veto was overridden. And now we learn this from Rep. Litesa Wallace…
Yesterday, I learned some disturbing news; the Governor’s Office and DHS are not going to spend the $1.2 million for Rosecrance I fought to get appropriated and funded. That money was for a triage center that has proven itself a powerful tool to address the behavioral health and substance abuse issues in our region. It was funded under Quinn after the Singer mental health center was closed and has suffered under the budget impasse. I supported the budget because it funded services we need in our area.
We have a heroin epidemic (more deaths from drug overdose than gunshots). We deserve to see our increased taxes come back to our community in the form of infrastructure, social safety nets and much more. With a fully funded budget in hand, this is an act of cruelty on the part of Bruce Rauner and will NOT help us address this critical need in our region.
She’s a Democrat running for lieutenant governor, but the partisan politics aside, she makes some good points. The Rosecrance triage center does good work. It almost went under last year during the impasse and was saved with some money from Rockford.
I asked the Department of Human Services for a response, but have yet to hear back.
Illinois Poet Laureate Kevin Stein has announced he is stepping away from the position effective Dec. 1, 2017.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to have served as Illinois Poet Laureate,” said Stein, a Caterpillar Professor of English at Bradley University in Peoria. “It has been an honor, as well as a challenge, proffering surprising rewards. The role not only deepened my understanding of poetry’s sustaining gifts but also enriched my appreciation of our state’s diverse citizenry ranging from Chicago to Cairo, Decatur to Moline, and all locales in between.”
Appointed in December 2003, Stein engaged the state’s residents through nearly 250 presentations, poetry readings, school visits and judging activities. One of Stein’s most notable endeavors was the Poetry Now project, in which he presented his work at more than 5o libraries in Illinois and donated funds to these libraries for the purchase of collections written by Illinois poets.
Stein collaborated with Secretary of State Jesse White, the Illinois State Library, and the Center for the Book to fund and cosponsor the Gwendolyn Brooks Emerging Poets Contest for 13 years. Several winners from that contest have since gone on to publish full-length collections of verse. Stein is a teacher and advocate for poetry, as is demonstrated through his time as Illinois Poet Laureate.
Gov. Bruce Rauner will establish a search committee to initiate the laureate selection process. The new Illinois Poet Laureate will be announced in the coming months.
No word on whether he was forced out by Tillman and Proft. [/snark]
Try this, Gov. Rauner. Summon the presidents of the state schools to Springfield. Ask them to make pitches about what each of their universities does best. What programs, classes, professors make their universities distinctive and attractive? And what subject areas are specialties of other state schools? Ask leaders to rethink the degrees they offer and the value that students gain for the tuition dollar at so many schools doing such similar jobs. Ask these administrators what academic expertise each of them could build in a few fields, if they were freed from competing for students in every field.
Do these leaders need a model? Tell them to check out what’s happening in Wisconsin’s single, centrally overseen system. New York and California also have rebalanced their offerings statewide.
But be wary, Governor. You’ll have trouble convincing some special interests, including legislators from university towns, that a campus isn’t first and foremost a cash cow for the local economy. Illinois can’t continue to prop up so many schools that have duplicate administrators, duplicate overhead and duplicate curriculums. Too many campuses are competing for scarce resources to do what other universities are doing better.
Whenever you encounter pushback, keep repeating: “Nine university boards to oversee 12 schools.”
The idea isn’t to weaken already-faltering universities, but to strengthen and rationalize the statewide system. By making schools accountable to centralized oversight. By streamlining procurement and consolidating other business operations. By sending a larger chunk of cash into classrooms and labs, and a smaller chunk into overhead and administration.
* The Question: Your thoughts on the Tribune’s ideas?
Three of the eight Democratic gubernatorial candidates met Saturday at Morello’s Restaurant in Harrisburg, to tell the party faithful why any of them would be a better leader than Gov. Bruce Rauner. […]
Kennedy, the eighth of Bobby and Ethel Kennedy’s 11 children, opened his speech with a joke, comparing his family to the Phelps family of Eldorado, a high-profile, political Democratic family.
“The Kennedys are the Phelpses of Massachusetts,” he said, to which the crowd laughed loudly.
Part of Daiber’s focus is getting the endorsement from Madison County Democrats, who are scheduled to hold an Iowa-style caucus on Sept. 18 to determine who will they support.
“I think this county has got the votes and this endorsement could very well be the endorsement that’s going to make that decision,” Daiber said. “I said this all along, the person who wins this gubernatorial nomination is going to be decided in southwestern Illinois. They could nominate one of their own or they could nominate someone from another part of the state.”
* From Pawar’s campaign…
Ameya Pawar, 47th Ward Alderman and Democratic candidate for Illinois governor, and Tyrone Coleman, Mayor of Cairo and candidate for lieutenant governor, today will announce the Don’t Close Our Communities initiative to raise awareness of the problems that communities across Illinois face as a result of decades of disinvestment. Pawar and Coleman, joined by residents from Cairo and Chicago, will demand investments in our public institutions instead of more closures. […]
Pawar and Coleman will also be inviting other candidates for governor to sign onto the Don’t Close Our Communities Compact, which outlines concrete steps that Illinois must take to facilitate reinvestment in our communities. The Compact will create guidelines for public school closure decisions, safeguard public housing availability, and grow economic opportunity for everyone, regardless of ZIP code.
The body language is telling. And Drury still hasn’t posted a photo of his running mate.
* It’s not the AFL-CIO, but every little bit helps, I suppose…
The Italian American Labor Council of Greater Chicago will honor gubernatorial candidate Chris Kennedy as Man of the Year on Oct. 14 at Alta Villa Banquets in Addison. (312-339-1437)
“Chris is an extremely successful businessman with a heart as big as the state of Illinois,” says IALC President Anthony Guida. “We’re so proud to present this year’s Man of the Year Award to him.”
* ILGOP…
Coming Soon! Orange is the New Blago: Illinois’ Tragic New Sitcom
Critics are raving about the newest farce from the Democratic Party of Illinois
This fall’s hottest new series is just around the corner! Orange is the New Blago follows a misfit band of politicians all vying to outdo one another and win the affections of Mike Madigan, head of the yard.
With the return of star-turned-felon Rod Blagojevich, the series is shedding new light on what it takes to survive in the Democratic Party of Illinois.
Featuring old and new faces, Orange is the New Blago resonates with everyone (unless you believe in real reform and responsible government). From Blago Bankroller J.B. Pritzker to Machine Boss Mike Madigan, the series takes a firsthand look at the prison yard mentality it takes to make it in the dog eat dog world of Chicago politics.
Chris Kennedy has chosen his running mate, sources told NBC 5 Wednesday.
Kennedy is expected to name Ra Joy, the executive director of CHANGE Illinois, as his pick, multiple sources told NBC 5.
An announcement is planned for Thursday morning, according to Rebecca Evans, a spokeswoman for the Kennedy campaign, who has not confirmed the choice.
Joy’s son, Xavier, was gunned down earlier this summer. Xavier wanted to be involved in politics.
2016 MADIGAN PRIMARY OPPONENT’S LAWSUIT TO CONTINUE AGAINST MADIGAN AND HIS MINIONS
Judge Grants Right to Amend Fillings (decision attached)
Mr. Gonzales ran against incumbent Speaker Michael Madigan in the 2016 Democratic primary for the District 22 seat of the Illinois House of Representatives. The Lawsuit argues that Mr. Madigan defeated Mr. Gonzales by engaging in illegal acts both by himself and through his vast network of operatives.
In 2016, Mr. Gonzales filed a 39-count lawsuit in the Northern District of Illinois United States District Court against Mr. Madigan and several of his co-conspirators.
Hearings on the lawsuit will be held on Wednesday.
The judge had twice kicked this lawsuit to the curb, but then agreed to partially reinstate it. Some background is here.
In its ruling dated June 20, 2017, the Court held that Gonzales failed to allege that Madigan acted under color of state law because he “failed to allege that he used any power uniquely granted to him due to his positions as Speaker of the Illinois House and House Representative. This determination was based on the principle that not every action by a state official or employee is deemed to occur under color of state law. See, e.g., Sims, 506 F.3d at 515.
After consideration of Gonzales’s motion, the Court concludes that it read his amended complaint too narrowly and that Gonzales has in fact adequately alleged that Madigan’s conduct in this case involved power and authority he had by virtue of his official positions. Gonzales alleges that Madigan used funds he controls by virtue of his governmental offices—including the accounts of Friends, the Democratic Majority Fund, the 13th Ward Organization, and the Democratic Party of Illinois—to inform voters that Gonzales is a convicted felon.
Perhaps more importantly, he also alleges that Madigan used resources available to him due to his position as a state representative and Speaker of the Illinois House—including political favors, control of campaign funds, and precinct captains—to discredit Gonzales. Gonzales further alleges that Madigan’s official positions give him influence “over doling out jobs, favors and services.” Significantly, he alleges that Madigan used this influence to get Rodriguez a job in the office of the Illinois Attorney General in exchange for her service as a sham candidate—an allegation the Court overlooked in dismissing the amended complaint. Gonzales also alleges that both Barbosa and Rodriguez have volunteered for Madigan’s campaigns and/or used organizations associated with Madigan to obtain employment. In sum, Gonzales has adequately alleged that Madigan used resources available to him by virtue of his official positions and therefore that he acted under color of state law.
Gonzales also points to precedent from the Seventh Circuit that supports this conclusion. In Smith v. Cherry, 489 F.2d 1098 (7th Cir. 1973), the court considered a suit in which Ronald Smith, the losing candidate in the Democratic primary for State Senator of Illinois District 12, alleged that Robert Cherry, his opponent, was a sham candidate. Id. at 1099–1100. After Smith lost the primary to Cherry, Cherry withdrew his candidacy, and the 12th Senatorial Committee (made up of five Democratic Ward Committeemen) appointed as the Democratic nominee Ben Palmer, who had been unable to run in the primary because he was no longer a resident of District 12. Smith filed suit against Cherry, Palmer, and the Committeemen under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging that they had conspired to use Cherry as a sham candidate, knowing that he never intended to run in the general election, in order to make Palmer the nominee. The Seventh Circuit concluded that Smith had adequately alleged a claim under section 1983.Although the court did not expressly consider whether Smith had alleged that defendants acted under color of state law, it repeatedly referred to defendants’ conduct as “official treatment.” Thus Cherry reflects that a state representative’s use of his leverage to manipulate an election can constitute actionable conduct under color of state law.
In sum, the Court grants Gonzales’s motion to vacate the dismissal of the federal claims against Madigan. These claims are still potentially subject to dismissal based on the remaining arguments in defendants’ motion to dismiss the original complaint that the Court did not initially consider.
The Seventh Circuit has, however, recognized the deprivation of a constitutional right where the defendant commits election fraud or engages in willful conduct that undermines the organic processes by which candidates are elected, including by placing sham candidates on the ballot. See Hennings, 523 F.2d at 864 (citing Cherry, 489 F.2d 1098). Therefore Gonzales has alleged that he was deprived of his right to equal protection based on defendants’ registration of the two sham candidates.
Defendants argue that Gonzales’s claim under this theory fails because he characterizes his claim as vote dilution, and vote dilution claims can only arise in the redistricting context. Regardless of whether this statement is true, Gonzales’s claim is not so limited. Although he refers to claims under this theory in shorthand as “vote dilution,” it is clear that he is alleging that defendants perpetrated a fraud by registering two sham candidates in the democratic primary. The fact that Gonzales argues the effect of this fraud was to dilute the Hispanic vote— the two alleged sham candidates have Hispanic surnames—does not negate the fact that the registration of sham candidates can, on its own, constitute a deprivation of a constitutional right.
The widely used practice of putting sham candidates on the ballot may disappear this cycle unless the judge rules against Gonzales before petition season concludes in late November.
Gov. Bruce Rauner left Tokyo today aboard a high-speed Shinkansen train and arrived in Nagoya to visit several of the top auto-suppliers in the world as part of his first international trade mission. In Nagoya, the governor met with senior executives from Aisin Seiki, Toyota Boshoku and Sakae Riken Kogyo.
“These leading Japanese companies are driving economic development and innovation through parts of our state, including our smaller communities,” Gov. Rauner said. “These same communities are the foundation for economic growth in our state.”
Aisin’s main Illinois operations are in Marion and employ more than 2,000 people. The company develops and produces auto parts, including brake pads, engine parts and transmissions. The governor toured Aisin’s state-of-the-art campus and saw firsthand the leading research and development that is being developed.
The governor then met with the senior leadership team of Toyota Boshoku, which employs more than 1,000 people in Lawrenceville. It specializes in the manufacture and sale of seats, door trims and interior components. Last year, Toyota Boshoku announced a 100-person expansion of its Lawrenceville facility.
The governor finished the day with a visit to Sakae Riken Kogyo Co., Ltd. The family business has been operating for more than 45 years and produces a variety of products, including interior and exterior trim for automobiles, as well as parts for household appliances. Its U.S. affiliate, Eakas, has operations in Peru, Illinois, employing more than 400 people.
Understanding the importance of relationships in business in Asia, the governor underscored that “I believe our friendship is about shared values. We both value leadership. We value hard work. We value our families, and we value each other. This is why we will continue to strengthen our relationship, build our businesses and provide for our families.”
The governor thanked all the business and government leaders for a wonderful visit during his final full day in Japan, vowing to return soon to grow the special and highly respected relationship between Illinois and Japan. The governor travels to China on Thursday.
Mark Peterson, President & CEO, Intersect Illinois; Erik Brejla, Assistant Deputy Director, Regional Economic Development, Illinois Department of Commerce; Kelly Nicholl, Chief Marketing Officer, Intersect Illinois; Jason Anderson, Economic Development Director, City of Rochelle; Paul J. Borek, Executive Director, DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation; Inga Carus, CEO & President, Carus Corporation; Jonathon Hallberg, Executive Director, Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation; Sheila Owens, Vice President of Economic Development & Business Development, ComEd; Edward Seidel, Vice President of Economic Development and Innovation, University of Illinois System.
Illinois has more Japanese-Americans than any other Midwestern state, and the governor just attended a Midwestern trade event in Tokyo. Yet, he didn’t appear to take any Japanese-Americans with him.
In 2015, Toyota Boshoku Indiana announced plans to expand its Princeton operations, investing $10.5M & creating 169 new jobs. #INJapanpic.twitter.com/PnkuUs6izz
Even while he’s in Asia trying to drum up business, Bruce Rauner seemingly can’t help himself when it comes to bad mouthing the state of Illinois.
In a recent interview from Japan, Rauner criticized Illinois’ business and regulatory climate. This criticism is the latest in a long history of Bruce Rauner disparaging Illinois’ business climate and blaming everything but his own manufactured budget crisis for the state’s economic struggles.
“Bruce Rauner devastates the Illinois economy when he’s home and then bad mouths the state when he’s abroad,” said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. “Rather than clean up the mess he’s made, Rauner puts the damage he has done on full display in a backwards attempt to attract new businesses our state desperately needs.”
…Adding Still More… Intersect Illinois deleted its tweet of a plate of food after Illinois Working Together made fun of it…
As a summer surge in shootings puts Chicago on track for another staggering homicide total in 2017, an innovative approach to regulating gun dealers in Illinois will wait until next year for a chance to become law. The bill is the latest casualty of the state’s tight network of pro-gun lobbyists, activists, bloggers, and firearms businesses, its sponsor said.
State Senator Don Harmon, a Democrat from the Chicago suburb of Oak Park, shepherded the Gun Dealer Licensing Act out of the upper chamber this spring on a vote of 30-21. Up next was the state House, where his fellow Democrats hold a comfortable 67-51 majority.
OK, first of all, the Senate Democrats have a much larger majority than the House Dems. And since it barely passed the Senate, you could’ve bet right away that it would face problems in the House. And it did. The bill stalled out.
The hard-line firearms website The Truth About Guns accused Springfield Armory and Rock River Arms, two of the primary donors to the Illinois Firearms Manufacturers Association, of compromising their support for gun rights in exchange for exemptions for gun makers, which under the bill aren’t subject to the same vetting as sellers. The site noted that an earlier version of the bill, then opposed by the manufacturers, had included them in the monitoring requirements.
The Illinois State Rifle Association responded with an alert to its members, claiming without evidence that the time and effort spent on the new regulation would add $150 to $300 to the cost of every weapon sold by Illinois gun shops. Harmon was labeled “an enemy of the 2nd Amendment; an enemy of the Constitution; and an enemy of the people.”
The next morning, May 1, the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action published an article echoing both the Truth About Guns missive and the statement from the Illinois State Rifle Association, stepping up the pressure on Springfield Armory and Rock River for their alleged betrayals. The NRA post lambasted as “pusillanimous” the statement by Springfield’s chief executive officer, Dennis Reese, explaining the manufacturing association’s neutrality, which proclaimed that the gun maker’s support for both the Second Amendment and gun owners, but said, “The legislative process is a fluid process….” The NRA noted that the bill’s exemptions for manufacturers would have saved each company substantial expenses that their competitors would have been obligated to pay.
Springfield Armory, a family-owned company that revived the name of the historic arms manufacturer chartered by George Washington in Springfield, Massachusetts, during the American Revolution, proved sensitive to the blowback. By 5 p.m. that day, Reese was vowing to work against the bill.
The McHenry County sheriff was sued Friday over his refusal to release an inmate who, his lawyers say, should be freed on bail under a new state immigration law.
Lawyers representing the Crystal Lake man, Niceforo Macedo-Hernandez, say McHenry County authorities are not complying with the Trust Act, which Gov. Bruce Rauner signed into law last week and which says that, without a judge’s warrant, state and local authorities can’t arrest or detain people based on their immigration status alone.
The suit is the latest effort to free Macedo-Hernandez, a Mexican immigrant who was arrested in August on a misdemeanor domestic battery charge. When his family tried a week ago to pay his $500 bail, county authorities first declined, citing an immigration hold. Eventually they accepted the bond payment, but instead of releasing him to his family, he was transferred into the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which has begun deportation proceedings.
At least two other immigrant inmates in McHenry County Jail have also been denied release under similar circumstances since the Trust Act went into effect.
A McHenry County judge has set bond for Macedo-Hernandez, but Sheriff Bill Prim refused to release him. He declined even after a judge’s order that the inmate’s family be allowed to post bail. Prim essentially decided to hold Macedo-Hernandez without bail because of his questionable immigration status, saying that the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has requested he be held in jail.
Macedo-Hernandez and two other McHenry County residents are now suing Prim for refusing to follow the Trust Act. McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally is backing Prim, claiming in part that the state’s Trust Act is unconstitutional because it is pre-empted by federal immigration law and that legislators can’t tell elected officers what laws to enforce.
The jail has had an agreement with ICE since 2014 that allows it to house federal detainees in the jail for between $85 and $95 a day for each inmate, and a transportation rate from $34 to $48 an hour, according to court documents.
The McHenry County Jail housed 280 daily ICE inmates in 2011, but that number dropped to 179 in 2013, according to the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office website. Prim took office in 2014, and the jail housed 192 inmates in early 2016. Prim said in a 2016 news release that he was encouraged to see the “downward slide” halted.
Federal and state law – including the newly enacted Illinois Trust Act – limit the authority of Illinois law enforcement agencies to engage in immigration enforcement activities. All law enforcement agencies and officers must be aware of and stay within these limitations when conducting law enforcement activities. This guidance provides an overview of relevant federal and state law and may be a useful resource to Illinois law enforcement agencies. In summary, based on constitutional protections, federal and state statutes, and policy considerations, Illinois law enforcement officers and agencies:
* Shall not stop, search, or arrest any individual on the sole basis that the individual is undocumented; arrests may be made only when Illinois law enforcement has an arrest warrant or probable cause to believe that a criminal offense has been committed;
* Are in violation of state law and constitutional protections if they detain an individual pursuant to an ICE detainer beyond his or her normal custody release date;
* Are not required to participate in immigration enforcement activities and shall treat a request from federal immigration authorities for access to detention facilities or individuals held by local authorities as a request, rather than an obligation;
* Are not required to inquire or collect information about individuals’ immigration or citizenship status;
* Should consider whether any internal policies regarding sharing immigration status information with federal immigration authorities will promote trust and confidentiality in their communities;
* Should consider requiring all officers to identify the jurisdiction they represent when engaging with community members or knocking on doors to encourage transparency and cooperation and to avoid any concern or confusion about whether the officers work for federal immigration authorities.
…Adding… A couple of people have reminded me that Jackson’s “The Intelligence Group” received $91,000 from Republican Comptroller Leslie Munger’s campaign last year.
An Illinois state representative and Democratic candidate for governor has failed in another attempt to sue an Illinois conservative radio talk show host and political activist and his political organization for statements made in 2014 political advertisements, as a Cook County judge has again tossed the defamation lawsuit brought by State Rep. Scott Drury against Dan Proft and Liberty Principles PAC.
On Sept. 12, Cook County Circuit Judge Franklin Valderrama dismissed without prejudice Drury’s first amended complaint, leaving it to Drury to decide whether to continue to pursue the litigation he has chased in court for nearly three years.
Drury, of Highwood, first filed suit in 2014, as he neared the end of his campaign to win another term in office from the state’s 58th Legislative District, which includes a large swath of shoreline in southeastern Lake County, including the suburbs of Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Bannockburn and Highland Park.
In that lawsuit, Drury accused Proft and Liberty Principles PAC, as well as his Republican opponent, Dr. Mark Neerhof, of Lake Forest, and Neerhof’s campaign organization of lying about Drury’s positions on an education funding bill then pending in the Illinois General Assembly.
That legislation, known as Senate Bill 16, would have reformed Illinois education funding, potentially cutting state funding to education in more affluent districts to redirect it to other, poorer communities – a move opponents said would unfairly benefit the city of Chicago. […]
In the 2014 campaign, however, Proft and Liberty Principles funded ads on cable television and in direct mail pieces telling voters that Drury supported cutting funding for local schools in the district “by as much as 70 percent;” was in favor of sending the district’s “tax dollars to Chicago schools;” and “has put his Chicago Democrat Party bosses ahead of our schools.”
Upon publication of the mailer, Drury filed suit, alleging Proft and Liberty Principles had coordinated with Neerhof’s campaign to unfairly smear him, and asking the court to order them to pay for publishing false statements about him and his political positions.
Most of the lawsuit, however, was dismissed, as the judge said Drury, as a public figure and politician, needed to do more than demonstrate the statements were false. Rather, the judge said, Drury needed to show the defendants made the statements, knowing they were false and had still published them with “actual malice.”
*** UPDATE *** From Dan Proft…
In 2014, in the course of the Illinois District 58 House race, Democrat State Rep. Scott Drury filed a baseless defamation complaint against me and Liberty Principles PAC and his Republican opponent Mark Neerhof and Neerhoff’s campaign committee. Drury claimed that statements made regarding his support the Democrat school funding bill which were false and defamatory. In fact, they turned out to be both accurate and prescient. Remarkably, this year, Drury came out in support of an identical school funding bill.
We successfully moved to dismiss Drury’s first complaint in 2014. The Court found that Drury failed to plead “actual malice”. As an attorney, Drury is well aware of the legal standard in such cases. His litigatiousness was completely political in nature. His frivolous lawsuit was designed to chill free speech in the political arena by eliminating dissent. Unfortunately for him, he ran into defendants who will not be intimidated.
In the initial dismissal order, the court permitted Drury to file an amended complaint, as to certain of his allegations, giving him yet another chance to try assert a viable claim. We moved to dismiss again.
On Tuesday, the Court again ruled against Drury, dismissing his amended complaint. In a meticulous, 16-page opinion, the Court found, again, that Drury failed to meet the exacting standard required to salvage his baseless complaint.
The Court concluded that, “Drury has failed to allege that Defendants acted with actual malice.” The Court permitted Drury to file a second amended complaint, which is due in 35 days.
Nonetheless, the Court suggested that Drury is going to have a difficult time alleging facts sufficient to satisfy the actual malice standard.
In fact, he cannot truthfully make a defamation claim. This may not stop him for attempting yet again. But we will not be harrassed out of our First Amendment rights by a thin-skinned political hack like Drury who seeks to use the state to silence political opponents because he is unable to defend his record during the time in which he was supposed to be a servant of the state and her families.
5 Questions for Bruce Rauner About Dennis Murashko
While A Scandal Brews, Rauner Remains Silent
Chicago, IL – Last week, reports surfaced about why former Rauner General Counsel Dennis Murashko was summarily dismissed from the administration and escorted from his office. The firing may have been associated with a memo Murashko wrote that questioned “whether the administration was properly keeping politics out of the office.” Another story also alleged that Rauner filled his administration with Illinois Policy Institute staff in exchange for $30 million in campaign donations from Dan Proft’s and Dick Uihlein’s networks.
Others have claimed that Murashko himself abused the powers of his office by handing out, “plum duties to someone with whom he had a personal relationship.” While allegations continue to swirl, Rauner has dodged questions on the controversy saying only, “I will not comment on rumors.”
Here are five questions Bruce Rauner should answer on the abrupt firing of one of his closest advisers:
* Why was Dennis Murashko dismissed?
* Bruce Rauner told reporters there would be no further departures from his administration before announcing Murashko’s departure later that day. What changed?
* When did Bruce Rauner learn about the allegations that Dennis Murashko abused the powers of his office, and what did he do to fix the problem?
* Did Dennis Murashko’s memo on the need for proper boundaries between Rauner’s political and government operations have anything to do with the $30 million promised to him by Dan Proft and Dick Uihlein?
* What has Bruce Rauner done to address the ethics issues raised in Dennis Murashko’s memo?
