This just in… Another pension lawsuit filed
Thursday, Mar 6, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* 4:46 pm - The State Universities Annuitants Association has filed its lawsuit against the pension reform law. Click here to read it.
RNUG’s evening plans will probably have to be changed. But help him out in comments with your own take.
The lawsuit was filed in Champaign County, by the way. The other pension lawsuits have been consolidated in Sangamon County.
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* The House Republicans just sent out a press release documenting Keith Matune’s arrest record. As you know, Matune is challenging Rep. Ron Sandack in the GOP primary.
The HGOP release talked about Matune’s public indecency/resisting arrest charges and the DuPage County bust for allegedly bouncing a check in Virginia, but this other arrest was news to me…
Arrest 3: Charged with criminal trespass: gaining entry to a woman’s dormitory through a window a year after leaving college
Direct from court documents:
On January 17, 1994, Keith Matune knowingly and intentionally entered the Shoemaker Cooperative after having been denied entry as evidenced by his having to enter through a window.
On January 26, 1994, the Court is advised that Matune has been arrested on warrant and posted bond. The Court orders Matune to appear in court in person on February 14, 1994. The Court advises that if Matune fails to appear a re-arrest warrant will be issued.
On February 14, 1994, Matune enters a plea of not guilty and requests trial by jury. The court sets a trial date for June 21, 1994.
On April 18, 1994, Matune signs a plea agreement and the court withholds prosecution, but orders Matune to show written proof of completion of all conditions of probation (2 payments of $50, good and lawful behavior, and not to enter the premises again).
* Kinda creepy. And check this out…
Arrest 2/conviction: Convicted of Public Indecency/Charged with Resisting Arrest – Matune does not disclose conviction on his teaching application in May, 2013 (Which is a crime in itself)
Direct from certified court documents:
On December, 18, 1992, in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, Keith Matune did knowingly or intentionally, in a public place, appear in a state of nudity. Matune also did knowingly or intentionally: forcibly resist, obstruct or interfere with a law enforcement officer. The prosecuting attorney for the State of Indiana filed both charges with affidavit supporting probable cause. Matune appears before the court in Sheriff’s custody.
On April 7, 1993, Matune withdraws his plea of Not Guilty and enters a plea of Guilty to the charge of public indecency. Matune is sentenced to 1 year in jail, the sentence was suspended and Matune was placed on probation for 1 year having to meet the following conditions: pay court costs, maintain good and lawful behavior, and complete any program of counseling recommended for him by his counselors in the State of Virginia. (Matune gave law enforcement and the courts a Virginia address.)
Emphasis was added to point out that less than a year after Matune was put on one-year probation, he was busted again for breaking into that women’s dormitory.
* Now, about that “first” arrest…
Arrest 1: Felony warrant of arrest issued in Montgomery Co., Virginia
On February 3, 1991, Matune wrote a bad check for $500. On March 26, 1991 a felony warrant was issued for the arrest of Keith Matune, a hearing date was set for April 24, 1991 and Matune failed to appear. The warrant was for a felony charge of larceny by check in the amount $500 (not $150 as Matune claims).
Fugitive from justice: felony charge in Illinois
On May 3, 1991, Keith Matune was pulled over in Downers Grove for driving with bright headlights. During this stop, a routine check on the offender revealed an N.C.I.C. warrant for Matune’s arrest out of Montgomery Co., Virginia. Matune was then taken into custody. The Montgomery County Sheriff then notified the Downers Grove police that they “will immediately initiate the extradition process to return him to Montgomery County.” The DuPage County state’s attorney then authorized an additional felony charge of “fugitive from justice.” Matune was booked and taken to DuPage County jail. Court records show bail was set at $20,000.
On May 23, 1991, Matune appeared in DuPage County to face the felony charge of “fugitive from justice.” Court records state that Matune “fled the Commonwealth of Virginia with the intent to avoid prosecution for that [larceny] offense.”
The extradition was only cancelled after Matune was forced to pay restitution.
* OK, so if you look at the original Virginia arrest warrant, you’ll see that the man who swore that Matune wrote a check “with the intent to defraud, knowing that there were insufficient funds in the account to pay said check,” was a guy named Edward Jasie.
Ed Jasie is now deceased, but he was a criminal defense attorney.
So, Matune bounces a check to a noted criminal defense attorney (and a former commonwealth attorney) then heads to Illinois.
Which begs the question, might there be more to the curious case of Keith Matune?
Full document dump is here.
*** UPDATE *** Dan Proft’s new TV ad blasting Sandack and supporting Matune…
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Fun with numbers
Thursday, Mar 6, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From a Daily Herald story originally entitled “Suburbs would pay more under graduated income tax”…
A growing campaign for a graduated income tax in Illinois could push more of the total tax burden onto some areas of the suburbs, where median incomes far outpace state averages, critics say. […]
The suburbs’ higher incomes suggest a graduated tax, whatever it eventually looked like, could be a battleground issue locally. […]
The median annual household income in most suburban counties is higher than the Illinois average of $56,853, census data from 2008 to 2012 shows.
The median household income is $78,538 in DuPage County, $68,674 in Kane County, $83,835 in Kendall County, $79,085 in Lake County, $77,325 in McHenry County and $76,352 in Will County.
In Cook County including Chicago, the median household income is $54,648. However, it’s higher in most suburban Cook County towns, like a median of $71,306 in Streamwood and $81,105 in Hoffman Estates, for example.
* OK, the first thing you really need to understand about a graduated tax is that once you reach a higher tax threshold your increased tax rate does not apply to your full income. It applies only to the income above your new rate level. So, for instance, here are rates that Rep. Naomi Jakobsson has suggested, via the Illinois Policy Institute…
A person making $60K under Jakobsson’s plan would not be paying 6 percent on that entire 60 grand. That person would be paying six percent only on $2,000, and etc. down the line.
* The folks at A Better Illinois, which is advocating for a graduated Illinois tax and is backed by organized labor, among others, put together actual tax rates for all those suburban counties in the Daily Herald article and compared them to today’s current income tax rate. I’ve adjusted the headings a bit to make it more clear that these are Jakobsson’s proposed rates.
Again, this chart compares the current income tax rate of 5 percent to what the actual rate would be for median income in the suburbs if Rep. Jakobsson’s rates were enacted…
You can check their math by clicking here.
* So, under this particular proposal, people earning around the median income would be paying less than they are now, not more.
Then again, if the income tax is allowed to expire on schedule and the graduated tax was implemented down the road, there would most definitely be a tax hike for median earners, but not as high as they’re paying today.
* It should also be noted that the group doesn’t actually support Rep. Jakobsson’s tax rate plan, calling it “less progressive than what’s most likely to be attached to a Fair Tax.”
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Don’t Let Psychologists Prescribe
Thursday, Mar 6, 2014 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
In any discussion about treatment of mental illness, the interests of the patients and their families must come first. In considering Senate Bill 2187 – sometimes called “RxP” – members of the General Assembly should keep that in mind.
SB 2187 would allow psychologists who have no medical training to prescribe powerful medications to patients. Current Illinois law allows only people who have medical training – doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants – to prescribe drugs.
Why does medical training matter? Physical illnesses and mental disorders are often intertwined. Additionally, psychiatric medication, such as drugs for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, can interact negatively with medication for chronic illnesses like diabetes and high blood pressure. Finally, psychiatric drugs are powerful and can create risky side effects. To understand these intricacies, psychiatrists go through four years of medical school and four additional years of residency. They learn to treat the whole patient – not just the brain.
The most recent version of the “RxP” bill would require about 30 semester hours, or 10 college courses, plus 10 weeks of supervision by a psychologist to prescribe medication. The course work could be completed online. Would you allow someone trained online to repair your brakes? Fly a plane? Work as a lifeguard? Treat the family dog?
Psychologists who want to prescribe can follow the route taken by Illinois nurse practitioners, physician assistants and doctors. They can obtain medical training – instead of insisting on a law that would put patients at risk. To become involved, join the Coalition for Patient Safety, http://coalitionforpatientsafety.com.
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Question of the day
Thursday, Mar 6, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sen. Bill Brady’s lack of campaign cash has meant he’s mainly advertising on the Internet. Here’s a recent Facebook ad…
* And here’s one a buddy of mine saw while listening to Billy Idol…
* The Question: Where else could Bill Brady place ads? And what should they say?
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And the winners are…
Thursday, Mar 6, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sen. Bill Cunningham’s choice for yesterday’s caption contest winner was this one by Jeff Trigg…
Does freezing Lake Michigan water stimulate the growth of hair? Ask Sen. Cunningham.
* My personal favorite was posted by Sangamon GOP…
As the rest of the Illinois GOP primary moved on, Dan Rutherford was left in an awkward position.
Sen. Cunningham has graciously donated $200 to our Special Olympics Chicago fundraising page, which put us over $5,000. I’ll be making my own contribution a bit later today.
* Meanwhile, from a press release…
State Senator Daniel Biss (D-Evanston) has introduced legislation expanding restrictions enacted last year to prevent police from using aerial drones to infringe on individuals’ privacy rights. His new proposal prohibits law enforcement from requiring private individuals or companies, except in certain emergencies, to hand over information gathered by drones they own. The Senate Criminal Law Committee approved the plan [yesterday], clearing the way for a vote of the full Senate.
“The need to impose restrictions on drone usage is important so that our legal protections keep pace with advances in technology,” said Biss, who also sponsored last year’s Freedom from Drone Surveillance Act. “As it became clear that individuals and corporations would also be using drones, we needed to put in place measures ensuring law enforcement could not bypass the warrant process by simply requisitioning footage collected by other people’s drones.”
* The photo included with the release…
Caption?
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Progress, but still serious problems
Thursday, Mar 6, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Illinois Kids Count 2014 report: “Child Health Matters,” was released today. Key findings…
Health Care Coverage: Illinois has made significant progress reducing disparities in children’s health insurance coverage through Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and All Kids. The proportion of Illinois children without health insurance declined from 6 percent in 2008 to 3 percent in 2012. The state has also significantly narrowed racial-ethnic disparities in children’s health insurance coverage.
Family Income: There are wide health-related disparities between children in low-income families and those in families with higher incomes. Children in low-income families are less likely to receive comprehensive, coordinated care within a medical home. Low-income children are more likely to be overweight or obese and less likely to engage in vigorous physical activity. They are more likely to have oral health problems and less likely to receive preventive dental care.
Race-ethnicity: Racial-ethnic minority children in Illinois experience multiple disparities in health status, access to care, and environmental supports. Certain disparities are more pronounced among specific groups. The data show that African-American children are most likely to have poor birth outcomes such as low birthweight and most likely to be affected by asthma. Latino children are least likely to have access to continuous and coordinated care through a medical home. Latino parents are least likely to report excellent or good health for their children and other family members.
Special Health Care Needs: More than 450,000 Illinois children have special health care needs. About 40 percent of these children do not have adequate health insurance. Children with special health care needs are much more likely than other children to have frequent school absences. Less than half of youth with special health care needs receive services necessary to make appropriate transitions to adult health care, work, and independence.
Child Abuse and Neglect: Children who have experienced abuse or neglect have significant and complex health care needs. Medical, dental, and behavioral health conditions are very prevalent among children entering foster care. Since FY 2006, substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect in Illinois have increased by 13 percent. Counties with substantially larger increases include DuPage, Kane, Macon, Vermilion, and Will.
Read the full report by clicking here.
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Ditka cuts radio ad for Erika Harold
Thursday, Mar 6, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Illinois Review…
Former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka is cheering for Erika Harold in the 13th CD GOP primary. He’s recorded a radio ad supporting Harold that will start playing on radio stations in the district, saying the former Miss America is a natural leader, a conservative and “tough.”
* Rate it…
Sounds like he literally phoned that one in. They couldn’t get him to a studio or at least have him use a landline?
* Meanwhile…
Erika Harold of Urbana, one of three Republican candidates in the 13th District, will speak Saturday at CPAC 2014, the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C., as one of the top 10 conservatives under 40.
“We are pleased to announce that Erika Harold has been selected as one of our top 10 conservatives under 40,” said American Conservative Union Chairman Al Cardenas. “Our focus at CPAC has always been to showcase rising stars in the conservative movement. The depth and diversity of young leaders like Erika provides hope for America’s future as we face tough challenges ahead.”
Considering how badly she’s polling and how little money she’s raised, she’s probably on the list because she’s become a national media darling.
* But she did provide a thoughtful, if needlessly wordy, answer to a question about campaign finance reform…
The current framework of federal campaign finance laws favors special interest political action committees and political parties at the expense of citizens, as the amount of money citizens can contribute to their preferred candidates is capped at a lower level than the amount of money political action committees and political parties are permitted to contribute.
Moreover, this disparity in contribution limits serves to protect incumbents and disadvantage challengers, as political action committees simply are far more likely to contribute to incumbents in order to gain an audience with these individuals.
Accordingly, I would support legislation that eliminates these contribution limit differentials.
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Scott Walker redux versus a “RINO”?
Thursday, Mar 6, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Give Bruce Rauner chutzpah points for this comment in last night’s debate…
“Why are you running in the Republican primary? I think you should be running in the Democratic primary,” Rauner needled [Dillard], noting that Dillard has taken hundreds of thousands of dollars in public-sector union money. Rauner has long maintained that if a governor takes public union money it is not only a conflict of interest but amounts to a “bribe.”
* Dillard’s response…
“Mr. Rauner doesn’t quite get it and this is one of many things that make him unelectable, that a third of these people that he likes to demonize are Republican Primary voters,”
* More from Dillard’s response…
“Well first of all I’m a lifelong Republican,” Dillard said. He also mentioned that he was the former chairman of the DuPage County Republican Party. He said he’s not going to agree with all policies but did defend his vote for school reform.
Bruce Rauner, the man who’s given hundreds of thousands of dollars to Democrats, called somebody else a RINO?
Sheesh.
* And here’s a bit more from that exchange…
Rauner attacked Dillard’s links to the public employee unions.
“Those are the exact same groups that have supported Pat Quinn, supported the Democratic Governors Association. and helped get us into the financial mess we’re in. Yet, you’re with them aligned. The teachers union has said you’re aligned with them on the policies. They are in favor of a tax hike,” said Rauner.
“I’m not gonna’ agree with the teachers on everything. I’m not for a progressive income tax. I didn’t vote for the 67% income tax,” responded Dillard.
* A little background…
“The union interest here is to continue the gravy train of high taxpayer burdens to fund public employee compensations,” [John Tillman, CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute] said.
“This is all part-and-parcel of the public sector unions’ strategy,” Tillman said. “They want to have tremendous influence over whoever wins the governor’s race in the fall.”
David Yepsen, a long time journalist who is now director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University, said what the unions really want is to not be Wisconsin.
“I think the labor movement in Illinois is genuinely afraid Bruce Rauner will try to do what Scott Walker tried in Wisconsin and they are worried,” Yepsen told Illinois Watchdog.
* More on the Scott Walker fears…
Despite the concerns espoused in the unions’ anti-Rauner literature, though, one point has also become clear: Despite his lavish personal finances and vitriolic anti-organizing rhetoric, Rauner has not outlined any specific plan to hurt organized labor on his campaign website, in his limited press interviews or during debates.
Rauner has not, for example, proposed curbing collective bargaining rights like Walker did, or initiating a right-to-work law, like Daniels and Snyder. Though he has backed creation of “right-to-work” zones, where local governments could opt to adopt right-to-work laws, the candidate has stopped short of endorsing a statewide law outright. (Messages left with Rauner’s campaign for this story were not returned.)
And when it comes to pension cuts, the number one issue facing Illinois public employees of late, Rauner’s opinion likely won’t determine the outcome either way. Many of the same public employee unions financing Illinois Freedom PAC sued Quinn for signing into law last December a landmark bill that cuts Illinois’ public worker pensions. For his part, Rauner has said that law does not go far enough in cutting pensions and shoring up the state’s finances. It’s unclear, however, what he could do on pensions now that the Illinois Supreme Court will likely decide the matter.
Nonetheless, Bowen of IFT argues Rauner has staked out a clear “anti-middle class and anti-union position.” That will translate into anti-union policy, she says, no matter that Rauner currently seems to lack a cohesive strategy for doing so.
And statehouse observers feel that while Rauner may not have the impact of, for example, Scott Walker, who enjoys a Republican-majority legislature, he can still hurt unions.
“At first he can stop things from happening that public employee unions want to see happen,” says Kent Redfield, a professor emeritus of political science at the University of Illinois-Springfield. “And then he can get involved in legislative races and work with the state legislature.” In future elections, Redfield explains, Rauner could create political momentum and raise finances to elect anti-union legislators—who would, in turn, introduce bills that would be harmful to the labor movement.
…Adding… The IFT has a clever little gif page over on Buzzfeed about Rauner.
* Meanwhile, Dillard also got in some punches last night, too…
“If Mr. Rauner is our nominee . . . we are nominating someone who buys influence in all parts of his life. Putting Bruce in charge of Springfield is sort of like putting a rat in charge of the cheese,” Dillard said.
* But Bill Brady piled on Dillard…
“To walk away from $175 to $180 billion [in potential savings], I frankly would say for your own political interest, Kirk Dillard. Last night I said Bruce Rauner was starting to act like Rod Blagojevich; Kirk Dillard is starting to act like Pat Quinn,” Brady said. “Pat Quinn sold out to the unions in the last election. We need a governor who’s willing to stand up for what’s right and not use votes like that or issues like that for political gain.”
* Both of these guys are still vying for second place…
Brady and Dillard got into a dust up when Brady questioned Dillard’s math over savings Dillard said occurred by voting for a Blagojevich-backed bill to refinance the state’s pension obligations.
“Bill, that’s why your business is bankrupt,” Dillard said.
“Wait a second, you want to get into a lawsuit?” Brady shot back. “My business isn’t bankrupt. It’s been through some tough times but it’s not in bankruptcy.”
* Brady did, however, get in some digs at Rauner along the way…
Brady also insisted that he was the only “reliable Republican” in the race, and criticized Rauner — who has spent millions on television ads in his first bid for public office — of trying to buy the race.
“The real question here is: Why should the voters of Illinois trust their vote with Bruce Rauner? Someone that they didn’t even know four months ago,” Brady said. “The three of us have a pretty open book. We’ve got a track record.”
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Quinn has real base problems
Thursday, Mar 6, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* We Ask America tested Gov. Pat Quinn’s job approval rating among likely Democratic primary voters…
Approve 57%
Disapprove 31%
Neutral 12%
* But then they asked this: “I will probably vote to re-elect Pat Quinn as governor no matter who is running against him in the fall.” The response…
Agree 50%
Disagree 34%
Undecided 16%
* From the pollster…
Whoa…a third of likely Democratic voters disagreed with a fairly mildly written re-elect question, and another 16% aren’t so sure.
* Look at the Downstate results for the reason why…
Agree 38%
Disagree 48%
Undecided 15%
* Back to the pollster…
Now, political families fight, but when push comes to shove they tend to stick together. Still, having a third of likely Democratic voters say they’re not sure they’ll vote for an incumbent governor is a swift kick in the patootie.
Will those miffed voters come back home in the fall? Probably. But depending on how deep voters’ walking dread goes, some may not vote at all and a handful may vote against Gov. Quinn because they’ve had it with his schtick. Still, it’s likely Quinn will face Bruce Rauner whose attacks on union bosses will make Quinn the lesser of two evils for some.
But Mr. Quinn may want to tend to a bit of family housekeeping sooner than later.
* Methodology…
Date: 3/4-5/2014 - Participants: 1,262 Likely Dem. Voters - Margin of Error: ± 2.90%
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Oh. My. Goodness.
Thursday, Mar 6, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* After claiming weeks ago that gay marriage had faded as an issue, the AP now has a story about how the issue is impacting some legislative races…
But on the GOP side, two of the toughest primary challenges involve state Reps. Ron Sandack of Downers Grove and Ed Sullivan of Mundelein, two of three House Republicans who broke ranks to vote in favor. The third, former House Republican leader Tom Cross, gave up his seat to run for treasurer.
Sandack is being challenged by Downers Grove High School teacher Keith Mathune and Sullivan by Mundelein bus driver Bob Bednar. Both are being helped by conservative family groups hoping the four-way GOP governor primary lures social conservatives to the polls.
Illinois Families First, a political action committee started by conservative activist Paul Caprio, is working with local religious groups to campaign against Sandack and Sullivan — including raising money and organizing robo-calls.
Another conservative activist, Dan Proft, has directed $13,500 from his political action committee, Liberty Principles, to pay for direct mailk criticizing Sandack’s gay marriage vote.
Matune has criticized Sandack for his vote and for accepting campaign contributions of both opponents and proponents of same-sex marriage.
“I am a pro-traditional marriage person,” Matune said. “I … believe that the residents of our district would not vote (as Sandack has).”
* The Daily Herald looked a bit closer at the Sandack-Matune race…
Campaign advertisements in the 81st state House race continue to question the honesty of candidate Keith Matune, who is challenging incumbent state Rep. Ron Sandack in a bitter race for the Republican party’s nomination in the March 18 primary.
The campaign has been contentious from the start as Sandack and Matune, both of Downers Grove, compete for votes from residents of the 81st District, which includes parts of Downers Grove, Naperville, Lisle, Darien, Westmont and Woodridge.
The race has turned into one of the top handful of GOP primaries in the state. And with incumbent state representatives Jeanne Ives of Wheaton and Sandra Pihos of Glen Ellyn facing tough primaries, too, DuPage County has become a Republican battleground in Illinois.
One recent campaign mailer sent in the 81st District questions Matune’s honesty concerning his reply to a Daily Herald questionnaire that asks all candidates if they have ever “been arrested for or convicted of a crime.”
Matune said he has never been arrested. But the mailer cites documents showing he was arrested in 1992 in Indiana and charged with public indecency, to which he pleaded guilty in 1993.
* And the Tribune focused on social media…
In one recent exchange, Matune tweeted his contention that Sandack is more sympathetic to the Democratic party than to Republicans.
“Sandack is against term limits for (House Speaker Michael) Madigan,” the tweet reads. “The contradiction suggests that he seeks higher office and doesn’t want to be limited by term limits!”
After a local attorney tweeted his support for Matune’s position, Sandack fired back the next day.
“You’re wrong,” the tweet reads. “I want term limits 4 all legislators. I’ve had a TL bill for 2 years now. Look it up. #factsmatter.”
* But that’s not even the half of it. I told subscribers about this mailer earlier today. It’s just too wild not to share with everybody. The mailer, sent by Dan Proft’s Liberty Principles PAC, attacks Rep. Ron Sandack. It includes one of the most over the top images I’ve ever seen. Click for a larger pic…
* Let’s zoom in…
Oy.
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Rate the new Dillard TV ad
Thursday, Mar 6, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Steve Shearer’s union-backed Fund for Progress and Jobs (he filed a D-! to drop the word “Republican” from the name this week) is running a new TV ad on behalf of Kirk Dillard. The 100 percent positive spot is airing in Chicago…
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Mo’ money for Shearer PAC
Wednesday, Mar 5, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Steve Shearer’s anti-Bruce Rauner Republican Fund for Progress and Jobs PAC took in $485K today from labor unions. Expect more to come. I told subscribers about this earlier today.
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Question of the day
Wednesday, Mar 5, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From an article posted on LegalUSPokerSites.com…
John Cullerton, the president of the Illinois State Senate, announced his support for legalized online gambling in his state. The senator said he expects “stiff opposition” to his proposal, but the state could expect a 9-figure windfall in additional revenues if pro-gambling legislation was passed.
The Poker Players Alliance has estimated Illinois would make nearly $200 million a year if it licensed, regulated, and taxed online poker sites. Over the past two years, three other U.S. states have legalized online casinos and card rooms, and these states are already receiving additional revenue from the gaming activity.
Cullerton says the need to protect Illinois’s land-based casinos is going to be a complicating factor in any legalization process. Several factors are leading to Illinois lawmakers trying to find new ways to collect funds. With the state’s tax base increasingly impatient with new taxes, Cullerton believes the state’s leaders need to discuss all possibilities–including tapping the online gambling market. […]
When asked to address moral complaints on the ethics of approving online gaming with state laws, Cullerton added, “The point is people are already gambling, and we’re not making any of the money. There are other states that are just getting started that are bringing in some money. So that may play a role in it when we try to pass a budget.” […]
Still, Cullerton believes the greatest opposition will not come from the problem gambling groups and others against gambling on moral grounds. He believes the state’s already-entrenched gambling interests could line up against the plan. If so, they might pour significant amounts of money into swaying public opinion, lobbying state lawmakers, and defeating any bill put before the legislature. Such efforts have met with success in other states, and can be certain to tap a certain segment of the population which is anti-gambling.
One factor in the favor of Cullerton and his allies is the framework state-backed online gambling has taken in Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware, the other states which have approved online poker. In those states, not everyone can collect a license and start accepting licensed and regulated players. The pre-existing gambling establishments are given the right to secure a license for online gambling websites, so the established gaming operations stand to gain from the venture.
* The Question: Should Illinois legalize onlne gambling? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
surveys & polls
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Bills, bills and more bills
Wednesday, Mar 5, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I doubt this’ll pass any time soon, but we’ll see…
Despite warnings that more than $2.3 billion must be cut from next year’s state budget, the largest state employee union is renewing its call for money to be set aside to pay back wages owed to union workers.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is again calling on lawmakers to approve one of the bills pending that would allocate $112 million to pay the wages owed to workers from as far back as 2011.
AFSCME has begun calculating how much is owed to workers in various parts of the state based on the number of workers in legislative districts. In the Springfield area, AFSCME says more than $17 million is owed to about 4,600 unionized state workers who did not get raises owed to them under previous union contracts.
“They do their jobs every day,” AFSCME Council 31 executive director Henry Bayer said in a statement. “It’s illegal and wrong to withhold wages for work performed.”
* Meanwhile, Exelon’s recent Statehouse maneuvering is more than a bit sketchy. They are worried that municipal aggregation, low natural gas prices and late night wind turbines (which are driving down rates to almost zero) are badly hurting their nuclear power plants’ ability to compete. But they won’t just come out and say what, exactly, they want to do about it…
State lawmakers say shutting the Byron station down would be a major loss.
“It would be a significant negative impact both in jobs and funding for community services, for school districts, many of the services that Byron area residents have come to rely on.” -says 90th District State Representative Tom Demmer.
Exelon representatives say they are in constant contact with state lawmakers, but the company is only making legislators aware of hardships.
“We haven’t asked any officials from Illinois to do anything regarding current market conditions. Right now we’ll just continue to operate safely here at Byron and see what the next few years brings for us.” -Dempsey says.
* They have floated some ideas, however…
Crain’s reported that Exelon lobbyists have floated the idea of a clean energy standard or credit that would provide extra payments for the plants. A company statement, though, denied it has asked for legislation that would change market conditions and did not provide further details on potential plant closures.
But do they also want to give wind turbines a bigger break? Doubtful.
* Seems like a dose of overdue common sense…
The Illinois Senate has advanced legislation making it a crime for 911 dispatchers to tip off criminals when law enforcement is nearby. […]
State Sen. Dave Koehler is the bill’s sponsor. He says the legislation is necessary because in 2010 the Illinois Supreme Court ruled nothing in Illinois law made it illegal for a dispatcher to alert a drug dealer that police were in the area. […]
In 1998 a dispatcher in the Chicago suburbs was convicted of official misconduct after she tipped off a local drug dealer that police were near his house. The dispatcher appealed.
* This is a polite way of saying the bill is deader than a rock on a stump…
Illinois lawmakers have mixed thoughts on a proposal that would allow communities around the state to install speed cameras, which are only allowed in Chicago.
The Springfield bureau of Lee Enterprises newspapers reports the measure by Collinsville Democrat Rep. Jay Hoffman is generating discussion among legislators.
Murphysboro Republican Rep. Mike Bost calls the devices a “cop-in-a-box,” and says his constituents think they harass drivers.
* Passing a committee does not mean it’ll become law. Just sayin…
A bill that would make smoking in a car with a minor present a petty offense is one step closer to becoming law.
The Senate Public Health Committee Tuesday voted 5-2 to send SB2659 to the full Senate. If passed, motorists found in violation of the law would have to pay fines of $100.
“There are very serious health effects associated with exposure to second-hand smoke, especially for minors. This plan is aimed at reducing that exposure,” Chicago Democratic Sen. Ira Silverstein, the bill’s sponsor, said in a statement Tuesday.
According to a provision in the bill, police officers who notice someone smoking in a vehicle with a minor in it cannot stop that vehicle solely for that reason, drawing criticism from some committee members during a hearing last month.
Occupants of motorcycles and convertibles with their tops down would be exempt. Illinois would become the sixth state to have such a law. Arkansas, Louisiana, Maine, Oregon and Utah have enacted similar legislation, and another 14 states are considering measures.
* Not a bad idea…
Those who wait to renew their registration through CyberService or the mail until the last days leading up to the expiration of their current registration will now be provided a way to avoid being issued a ticket for driving that vehicle if the sticker doesn’t arrive in time.
“There should be no more worrying about the possibility of being forced to drive illegally without an up-to-date sticker,” said Van Pelt. “Now all you need is a receipt from the Secretary of State while you wait.”
The legislation provides that this new printed receipt proof of registration is only valid for 30 days from the expiration of the previous registration sticker’s date, giving Illinoisans plenty of time to receive and attach the registration stickers. Senator Van Pelt hopes to avoid future instances of responsible drivers being punished because of the length of time it takes to acquire a current sticker.
* From a press release…
State Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) is holding a press conference to discuss Senate Bill 3138, a measure that would allow Illinois to opt into the Do Not Adopt Registry administered by Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF). The registry aims to protect animals from being adopted by convicted animal abusers by providing shelters, stores and organizations with access to a nationwide searchable database.
Sen. Rezin will be joined by Chris Green, Director of Legislative Affairs with ALDF; Jason Helland, Grundy County State’s Attorney; and other guests.
I didn’t know such a registry existed. Interesting.
* Other stuff…
* Kadner: The south suburban casino lottery: Local mayors can’t get together on a single site for a gambling casino in the south suburbs, and there also seems to be wide disagreement on a revenue-sharing plan if a casino eventually is built.
* Committee to hold hearings on raising Illinois minimum wage to $10.65: The first hearing is 2 p.m. Wednesday in Room 413 of the Stratton Office Building in Springfield. Hoffman said it will be the first of several public hearings on the issue. “These hearings are opportunities for folks on all sides of the debate to engage the legislature, and help impact our decisions if a minimum wage bill is called for a vote,” Hoffman said.
* Proposed Legislation Asks State To Study Interest-Free College Loans
* Bill to support levee fix advancing
* Illinois House panel passes Poison Center bill
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Oh, it’s on
Wednesday, Mar 5, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I caught more than a little good-natured grief while I was out on the town last night regarding my admittedly non-plungy Polar Plunge.
And today, Sen. Bill Cunningham rubs it in…
Whatever, dude.
* Our page was in the top fifteen of all 2,466 Special Olympics Chicago fundraisers. I searched for “Cunningham” and didn’t find any results.
So, top that, Senator.
…Adding… How about we do a caption contest on that second Cunningham photo? I’ll donate $100 to Special Olympics Chicago in the name of the funniest commenter. And I’ll shame Sen. Cunningham into at least matching it.
Heh.
…Adding More… Always a good sport, Sen. Cunningham says he’ll donate $200 in the name of today’s winner. Thanks!
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They’re gonna need all the help they can get
Wednesday, Mar 5, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Newspaper endorsements aren’t truly effective until a candidate uses them in a mailer or TV ad. And since Rep. Ron Sandack is fighting for his political life against a hardcore, well-funded conservative, and Rep. Ed Sullivan is having more trouble than expected with his conservative primary opponent, this Tribune nod is probably not something they’ll be touting to GOP primary voters in its entirety…
Only three Republicans in the Illinois House supported same-sex marriage when it was approved last year. Two of those Republicans face primary challenges, largely because of that vote. They are Rep. Ron Sandack of Downers Grove and Rep. Ed Sullivan of Mundelein.
Their votes caught many same-sex marriage opponents by surprise. Sandack and Sullivan voted in 2010 against legislation that allowed civil unions, a far less-sweeping change in law.
Um, OK.
* But there are some things the two incumbents can use. For instance…
Sullivan and Sandack protect your pocketbook. They are fiscally prudent. They have the record to prove it.
* Meanwhile, this is how the Trib described freshman Rep. Kathleen Willis’ Democratic primary opponent Tony Favela…
Favela is running an aggressive campaign
Who spun them on that?
Favela has raised almost no money and he’s just barely on the HDem radar screen.
Heckuva job, Brownie.
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* Oof…
Sen. Bill Brady twice compared Republican opponent for governor Bruce Rauner to jailed former Gov. Rod Blagojevich during Tuesday night’s GOP candidate forum.
“The more I hear Bruce Rauner speak the more he sounds like Rod Blagojevich,” Brady said. “That’s the way he came to Springfield.” […]
Later in the forum, Brady brought up Rauner’s reported ties to Blago-linked Stuart Levine.
“He’s tied to more felons who are in jail than I think Rod Blagojevich,” Brady said
Too bad Brady doesn’t have any money to burn that message in.
* Kerpow…
After the debate, Dillard lit into Rauner for his past donations to Democrats, including former Democratic National Committee chair Ed Rendell.
“Bruce Rauner is the worst kind of insider,” Dillard said. “Bruce Rauner is the king of all pay-to-play politics in the history of Illinois.”
Dillard questioned Rauner’s contention that he did not know Levine.
“A man like Bruce Rauner who goes and asks for $50 million from the board that Levine controls, you don’t think knows who’s on that board?” Dillard said. “Bruce is a lot of things, but stupid is not one of them.”
Maybe more of that during the debate?
* Oy…
Rutherford’s campaign has been weakened by a federal lawsuit from a former treasurer’s office worker alleging sexual harassment and being forced to do political work on state time. Asked if he should publicly release a taxpayer-funded report looking into the allegations that he commissioned, Rutherford said “no” and cited the lawsuit.
“The report is not going to be released,” he said.
What happened to his rhetoric about how he really, truly, sincerely wants the report to be released, but he just can’t because his lawyer won’t let him?
* Related…
* Zorn: Rauner’s attack on Quinn is a crime against truth
* VIDEO: Bill Brady Compares Bruce Rauner to Blagojevich
* VIDEO: Dillard: “I Will be Able to Tell Mayor Rahm Emanuel No”
* VIDEO: Republican Candidates Talk Job Creation
* VIDEO: Republican Candidates Discuss Equal Pay for Women
* Dillard unveils economic plan with tax credits to create jobs
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Kid… Have you rehabilitated yourself?
Wednesday, Mar 5, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The effort by House Speaker Michael Madigan to rehabilitate his public image after years of negative media coverage appears to be continuing. From a press release…
Hoping to secure a second presidential library for Illinois, House Speaker Michael J. Madigan and State Rep. Monique D. Davis on Monday introduced legislation to devote $100 million in state capital funding toward the presidential library and museum of President Barack Obama.
“Illinois has a long and proud tradition as the birthplace or home of some of our country’s most influential commanders-in-chief, from Lincoln and Grant to Reagan and Obama,” Madigan said. “We hope President Obama selects his adopted home state of Illinois to be the location of his presidential library, which will be a lasting testament to his contributions and leadership as an Illinois state senator, U.S. senator and president of the United States. It’s important that we make a strong financial commitment to honor the legacy of one of Illinois’ favorite sons and the first African-American president of the United States.”
According to the National Archives, the president selects the location of his presidential library with advice from the Archivist of the United States. A number of proposals may be submitted by various interested locations.
According to Politico, among the interested locations are the University of Chicago, which is close to Obama’s Hyde Park home and where he taught constitutional law; the University of Illinois at Chicago; Chicago State University; Columbia University in New York City, where Obama received his undergraduate degree in 1983; and the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where Obama’s parents met. While three Illinois sites are seeking to land the presidential library and museum, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Obama’s former chief-of-staff, said in January that he wants the city to make a single proposal for one location.
“Chicago is a world-class city and the ideal location to build a lasting tribute to President Obama’s achievements,” Madigan said. “Chicago is where the president got his start in public service as a community organizer and as a state senator. Housing his library and museum in the city and state where his impressive career took root is the right thing to do.”
The reported target date for selecting the site of President Obama’s library and museum is early 2015.
If you’ll recall, Madigan derisively referred to Obama as “The Messiah” several years ago.
* Leader Durkin isn’t ready to sign on…
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin says if Illinois could get back to rosier budget days, he’d give the idea consideration.
Durkin says it’s a question of priorities. He also says the proposal is premature, given that other states — like Hawaii, where Obama was born — are still in the running.
Madigan’s plan gives no indication of where Illinois would get the money.
* So, what about the money?…
Steve Brown, a spokesman for the speaker, said a time frame on how the money would be appropriated has not been set, noting the state “will need a new capital plan to accommodate programs like this one.”
The last capital construction program, passed by the Legislature in 2009, funded $31 billion in projects around the state, through approving video gambling and taxing liquor, soft drinks and candy, and increasing driver’s license fees.
Headline is explained here.
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New poll: Rauner still way ahead
Wednesday, Mar 5, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From a We Ask America tracking poll of 1,262 likely GOP primary voters, with the firm’s Feb. 25th tracker numbers in parentheses…
Bill Brady 12% (13)
Kirk Dillard 14.5% (17)
Bruce Rauner 40% (36)
Dan Rutherford 8% (7.5)
Undecided 26% (27)
* From the pollster…
As the results show, Bruce Rauner continues to dominate the others by a wide margin. With only two weeks to go, it will be extraordinarily difficult for any contender to close the gap. Absent a Richter-scale scandal or some kind of proof of certain unions’ claim that they can talk their members into pulling GOP ballots for Dillard (more on that tomorrow), Mr. Rauner’s lead should hold.
We believe that the Fat Lady is clearing her voice.
* Trendlines since last May…
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AFSCME backs Dillard
Wednesday, Mar 5, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I told subscribers this morning that this would likely happen soon. Well, it happened today. From a statement by Henry Bayer, executive director for AFSCME Council 31…
“We believe that Kirk Dillard would be the best choice in the Republican primary because he has a long record of public service and a demonstrated understanding of state government. He rejects the demonization of public employees – correctional officers, caretakers for those with disabilities, and thousands of others who provide the vital public services that Illinois citizens demand.
“On the other hand, his primary opponent Bruce Rauner is a billionaire CEO with no experience and little understanding of state government. He calls himself a ‘political outsider’ but has a long record of political cronyism and questionable business deals.
“Rauner asserts that state and other public employees have no legitimate voice in state government while claiming he would run the state ‘like a business’. Illinois citizens would be ill-served by turning over its veterans’ homes and mental health facilities to someone who sought to squeeze profits out of hundreds of nursing homes that were subsequently plagued by millions of dollars in verdicts from wrongful death and patient-neglect lawsuits.
“We believe Kirk Dillard, with his long experience in the Jim Thompson and Jim Edgar administrations, as well as the state senate, is the responsible choice in the Republican race for governor.”
The IEA and IFT have already endorsed Dillard.
Discuss.
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* I was out of the office chasing other stories when Attorney General Lisa Madigan released a letter to the Macon County Clerk, who was asking for direction on whether to issue same sex marriage licenses. The clerk’s state’s attorney had advised against it, so he turned to Madigan several days ago. From her response…
For the reasons explained in more detail in the legal papers filed in the Lee case, my office’s position is that current Illinois restrictions against same-sex marriage violate the equal protection rights that belong to all citizens under the United States Constitution. Since the United States Supreme Court’s landmark decision in United States v. Windsor, 133 S. Ct. 2675 (2013), there has been a consistent stream of lower federal court decisions declaring restrictions against same-sex marriage unconstitutional. […]
In its February 21, 2014 decision, the court in Lee likewise ruled that “marriage is a fundamental right to be equally enjoyed by all individuals of consenting age regardless of their race, religion, or sexual orientation, and the public policy of this State has been duly amended to reflect that position.” Because the case was filed only against Cook County Clerk David Orr, the court stated that its ruling applied only to Cook County: “Although this Court finds that the marriage ban for same-sex couples violates the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause on its face, this finding can only apply to Cook County based upon the posture of the lawsuit.”
As a general matter, a court decision is not binding on persons who were not parties to the case. In limited circumstances, a person who was not a party may be considered to be in privity with one of the parties and therefore bound by the court’s rulings. That exception does not apply here. […]
Even though the ruling in Lee is not binding on you, the protections guaranteed by the Constitution must exist without regard to county lines, and the Lee decision, along with the federal court decisions noted above, should be persuasive as you evaluate whether to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Additionally, while the ruling in Lee does not control other courts as binding precedent, we expect Lee to be persuasive to other state or federal trial courts addressing the same questions. If there is another suit challenging a county clerk’s refusal to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple in Illinois, our office would likely move to intervene, as we did in Lee, and urge the court to follow the holding in Lee.
Thus, in deciding whether to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples before June 1, each county clerk should consult with his or her State’s Attorney and give full consideration to the rulings in Lee and the many other cases cited above, as well as to the cost and potential outcome of litigation in the event of a lawsuit challenging any denial. In the meantime, same-sex couples who wish to marry in Illinois before June 1 may ask their local clerks to issue the marriage licenses. If such requests are denied, couples may opt to obtain their marriage licenses in Cook County to be married there, or they may file a lawsuit, as the plaintiffs did in Lee, in which we would argue that it is unconstitutional to deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
* Gov. Pat Quinn issued a statement…
Governor Pat Quinn today released the following statement on the state’s immediate recognition of marriage equality for all:
“Nobody should have to wait for equal rights when it comes to love. I encourage every county clerk in Illinois to quickly follow the Attorney General’s guidance.
“Following this guidance, the Illinois Department of Public Health will now accept all marriage licenses issued by any county clerk in Illinois.”
Under current law, the public health department helps ensure that new marriages comply with state laws.
* From Equality Illinois…
Equality Illinois said Monday that a letter released tonight by Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan gives all Illinois counties the green light to immediately begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
The letter released by the Illinois attorney general regarding marriage equality says “the protections guaranteed by the Constitution must exist without regard to county lines.”
The letter was sent in response to a question from Macon County Clerk Stephen Bean in Decatur about whether the federal court decision ordering Cook County Clerk David Orr to begin issuing licenses to same-sex couples applies to counties in the rest of the state. It was shared with all 102 counties in the state.
“We agree with the Attorney General that the recent federal decision knocking down restrictions on marriage equality as unconstitutional should be the determining factor in clerks’ decisions to issue the licenses before the June 1 effective date of the Illinois Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act,” said Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois, the state’s oldest and largest advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Illinoisans.
“Already some 260 couples have obtained licenses in Cook County, according to David Orr’s office, and there are many thousands more around the state awaiting the time that they can have their love legally recognized,” Cherkasov said.
* Tribune…
Lake County officials said Tuesday that they had no plans to start issuing same-sex marriage licenses before June 1, according to State’s Attorney Mike Nerheim.
Lawyers in the prosecutor’s office, which gives legal counsel to Lake County Clerk Willard Helander’s office, view the ruling that Madigan cited as applying only to Cook County, Nerheim said.
Issuing questionably valid licenses could make a mess of future divorce and probate cases, Nerheim said.
“We just want to make sure that those licenses are valid,” he said.
Officials from other counties in the Chicago area did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
*** UPDATE *** Another one…
St. Clair County Clerk Thomas Holbrook on Wednesday said his county was ready to immediately start issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The announcement came a day after Attorney General Lisa Madigan told all Illinois county clerks they had the right to give them out.
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Tonight’s assignments
Tuesday, Mar 4, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* There’s a debate at 6 o’clock…
The 2014 Illinois Republican gubernatorial candidates will participate in a forum on Tuesday, March 4, co-sponsored by NBC 5 Chicago and the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics and Harris School of Public Policy, at 6:00 p.m.
All four candidates in the Republican primary —Bill Brady, Kirk Dillard, Bruce Rauner and Dan Rutherford — will participate in this first-ever partnership between UChicago and NBC 5.
The 60-minute forum will be broadcast live on NBC 5 (WMAQ-TV) from the David and Reva Logan Center for the Arts’ Performance Hall. The event will also be webcast live and will include an additional 30-minute question-and-answer session with the audience at the end.
There’s no link on NBC’s website yet, but help out in comments if you can.
* Also tonight…
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* From the Decatur Herald & Review…
Calling the city’s pensions “dangerously underfunded,” the Illinois Policy Institute released a report intended to highlight a statewide problem stemming from the rising costs of pensions for police, firefighters and local government workers. […]
“Despite more money being thrown into pension systems, the relative health of those pensions systems aren’t that much better, or they’re worse. They’re worse in most cities,” [Ted Dabrowski, vice president of policy for the Illinois Policy Institute] said. “You’ve got a lose-lose situation where taxpayers are throwing in more money and yet they’re not getting any benefit from that.”
In a news release issued Thursday, the institute said “every penny” of property tax revenue in Decatur goes to pay for local government pensions.
But…
In fact, about $7.6 million of the city’s $11.7 million property tax levy is designated for pensions. The remaining money is pledged to the Decatur Public Library, municipal band and general obligation bond debt. […]
The fire and police pension funds have a cash balance of about $130 million. They are now 62 percent and 69 percent funded, respectively, [Decatur City Manager Ryan McCrady] said.
“If we stop putting a penny into those pension funds today, employees that would not get a pension are probably in high school,” he said.
* SJ-R editorial…
The Illinois Policy Institute, a Chicago-based think tank and lobbying organization that makes no secret of its advocacy for 401(k)-style public pension plans, injected itself into the local pension conversation this week by offering Springfield aldermen an embarrassingly flawed assessment of the city’s pension picture.
Aldermen politely sent packing the institute’s representative, Ted Dabrowski, who appeared at Tuesday night’s council meeting to present its study of Springfield’s pension system.
For the study, the Illinois Policy Institute used publicly available data from Springfield and 113 other Illinois cities to score and rank how much of an effect pensions are having on taxpayers, property taxes and municipal budgets. Springfield, the study declares, has the worst-funded municipal pension system of the state’s 20 largest cities and spends 100 percent of its general fund property taxes to pay for police, fire and city pensions.
Not so fast.
Among other flaws, the study accounted for all city pension payments, including those for enterprise funds, such as City Water, Light and Power. It did not, however, account for revenue from those enterprise funds, which skewed the institute’s conclusions. […]
The report also asserts Springfield’s property taxes have “skyrocketed” because of unwieldy pension payments. In fact, property tax rates in Springfield haven’t increased since 1984, but revenue meanwhile has increased because of property appreciation and development.
* Good journalism from the two Downstate papers. Not so much from WGN TV…
It’s not just the state of Illinois as a whole that’s dealing with a huge, pension problem.
Municipal pension systems are also in rough shape. A new audit by a conservative think-tank says pensions are wreaking havoc with municipal budgets. […]
If you wonder why you’re having more potholes than ever, it’s not just the weather,” says John Tillman of the Illinois Policy Institute. “It’s the pension crisis in your own community.”
Tillman says a new audit of 114 Illinois cities and towns reveals an alarming problem. ”It doesn’t matter if you’re a low income community or a high end community,” he says. “All these towns are having trouble keeping up with their pension obligations because the amount of the obligation is growing way too fast.”
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Caption contest!
Tuesday, Mar 4, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From a press release…
The Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois (ABDI) announced that the Board of Directors has unanimously elected Robert L. Myers Jr. as President effective January 2, 2014. Myers succeeds ABDI’s President Bill Olson who retired January 1, 2014, after twenty-nine (29) years of service to ABDI.
“After a thorough and deliberate selection process, the Board of Directors is delighted that Bob will serve as chief staff officer of ABDI,” said Gene McEnery, Chair of the Board of Directors. “Bob has a thorough understanding of the needs of our distributor members and his legislative contacts will be invaluable. I have no doubt that he is the right person to lead ABDI as ABDI enters its 76th year.”
Myers has worked for ABDI for 20 years, most recently as Vice President of Government Relations, where he oversaw all aspects of ABDI’s legislative initiatives.
“I am honored that the Board of Directors chose me to follow in the footsteps of Bill Olson,” said Bob Myers. “I am also thrilled that I will have the ability to rely on Bill’s counsel over the coming year as he is an exceptional executive, leader, role model and friend.”
* The photo…
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Question of the day
Tuesday, Mar 4, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Some of you have been wondering in comments today why a rich guy like Bruce Rauner would spend so much of his own money to win public office. A few have opined about where they’d escape to if they had Rauner’s cash. Some have pointed to the fact that the governor’s salary is so much less than Rauner is currently spending.
But take a look at this December, 2003 interview of Rauner by former Sun-Times columnist Dave Lundy. No link because it’s behind their archives wall…
Lundy: What are your goals over the next few years?
Rauner: I plan on continuing to work in our industry for a number of years. I love our business and would do it as a hobby. But it’s very important for me to have this social service element. And I want to continue to be more involved with my time as well as my money.
I know this will sound corny again, but I remember my grandfather saying, “Bruce, when you die, just make sure the world is a better place because you were here.” That’s just a huge issue for me. I don’t want to die and have people say, “Boy, he was a pretty good equity investor.” That’s nice, but it’s not what I want written on my tombstone.
He wasn’t totally consumed with making money. Yeah, he spent a whole lot of time doing it, but he also clearly wanted to do other stuff, even as far back as 2003.
Also, Rauner has said he will refuse to accept a salary if he’s elected governor. He doesn’t need the cash. He doesn’t want a state pension.
But, because it was a fun little diversion in comments, let’s go with this one today…
* The Question: If you were worth hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars and made $53 million in reported income last year, what would you do with your life?
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* The Macon County State’s Attorney has refused to give permission to County Clerk Steve Bean to issue marriage licenses for gay couples in the wake of a federal judge ordering Cook County to grant the licenses.
Last week, Macon’s Clerk Bean wrote Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan for guidance. You can read that letter and the correspondence between Bean and his state’s attorney by clicking here.
* From the Decatur paper [Fixed link]…
Bean said he was informed [a week ago] Friday by Macon County State’s Attorney’s Office not to issue licenses, as the judge’s order only applied to the Cook County clerk.
“Unless and until ordered to do so by a court of competent jurisdiction, you … may not violate the standing law of the State of Illinois by issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples at this time,” the office’s statement said.
After receiving his first call Wednesday afternoon from a resident inquiring about getting a license, Bean again asked Macon County State’s Attorney Jay Scott to reconsider his opinion or to ask Attorney General Lisa Madigan to provide equal protection to all citizens of Illinois.
Scott said late Wednesday evening that his office’s position had not changed on the matter, reiterating it is a legal interpretation of the ruling devoid of any personal position. In a letter sent to the Bean on Wednesday evening, his office shared legal concerns about same-sex marriage licenses issued before June 1 that could later be challenged in a probate or divorce setting.
“There is a possibility that any same sex marriages occurring before the effective date … could be found invalid after the fact,” the letter states. “A declaration of invalidity of a same sex marriage in a probate or divorce proceeding could have far reaching ramifications.”
However, the letter states the attorney’s office can only advise the clerk, and it is ultimately Bean’s decision whether to proceed immediately with the issuing of licenses.
* McLean County is also issuing licenses…
Despite the lack of guidance from state officials, McLean County will be the third county to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
McLean County Clerk Kathy Michael told BuzzFeed that she plans to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples as soon as late next week — a decision that comes just a day after Champaign County Clerk Gordy Hulten announced he would, under the court ruling, begin issuing such licenses.
Michael said her county will follow Hulten’s reasoning.
“I got ahold of our state’s attorney over the weekend and spent some time discussing this,” Hulten said. “They agreed with the Champaign state’s attorney’s opinion. But why wait go through [litigation] at the expense of the taxpayers? This will save a lot of people a lot of time and money.”
In his announcement, Hulten said he and his state’s attorneys concluded the Cook County ruling, which found the state’s statutory ban on marriage for same-sex couples violates the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, should apply to Champaign County.
* Others are considering it…
In DeWitt, Smith said Thursday she hadn’t yet spoken with her county’s state’s attorney, who is handling a trial. But if he has no legal problem with it, she plans to issue licenses early.
“I will not do it until I discuss it with him,” Smith said. “If he has no problem with it, then I have no problem with it.”
Vermilion Clerk Lynn Foster said she consulted with State’s Attorney Randy Brinegar, who does not believe the county has the authority to change the date, because it’s not a “home rule county” like Cook. However, Foster said she wouldn’t be surprised if the state removes the date restriction, so her office has started making necessary changes in software and printing new marriage licenses if that happens.
“And I don’t have any reason to want to wait,” Foster said. “This legislation has passed, so I don’t see that there’s any reason why we should hold out.”
Foster said her office received a few calls Wednesday and Thursday inquiring whether Vermilion would be issuing licenses immediately.
* I called the attorney general’s office last week and asked about the matter. I was told there could be an announcement by Friday. Then I was told that some sort of announcement could happen Monday.
* It’s now Tuesday and Clerk Bean has sent another e-mail…
Last week Macon County Clerk Steve Bean wrote the Attorney General Madigan asking her office to guidance to downstate county clerks on the recent Federal Court decision on same sex marriages. Attorney General Madigan called me Friday afternoon about the letter. We are awaiting her guidance in how to procedure with same sex marriages. Like the Champaign and Mc Lean County Clerks I believe that all Illinois should have marriage equality fo all Illinois and not a single county.
I hope that the Attorney General will soon provide guidance to rest of the county clerks concerning marriage equality.
Aside from the spelling errors, he does have a point.
* I called the AG’s office again today and was told to expect something late this afternoon. So stay tuned.
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Today’s numbers are a bummer
Tuesday, Mar 4, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* AP…
Poor sales of the new Dodge Dart have pushed Chrysler to temporarily lay off 325 employees at the Belvidere assembly plant that produces the compact sedans in northern Illinois.
Chrysler Group LLC confirmed the layoffs Monday, hours after releasing February sales figures showing a 37 percent decline for the Dart, the Rockford Register Star reported. The layoffs will last through the rest of the week and affect employees on all of the plant’s three shifts.
Overall sales for the company rose 11 percent last month from February of last year, but the Dart has failed to keep up with long-established competitors in the compact sedan market since its debut in 2012.
In a written statement, Chrysler said the layoffs were necessary to “to balance vehicle supply with current sales demand.”
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Meh
Tuesday, Mar 4, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Cable TV advertising is very effective, but it takes a lot longer to burn in a message on cable than it does on broadcast TV. And running ads on a “handful of cable channels” ain’t the way to do it, either…
With two weeks left before voters head to the polls, state Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Hinsdale, is scheduled to begin airing a biographical television ad beginning Tuesday, said campaign spokesman Wes Bleed. […]
Propelled by new money from the state’s two teachers’ unions, Dillard is planning to run his ads on a handful of cable channels statewide.
Bleed said Monday he didn’t know how long Dillard’s will run. “We’re going to keep them going as long as we can,” he said.
Bill Brady also claims he’s going to run some TV ads, but he has about 11 cents in his campaign account. OK, that’s an exaggeration. It’s more like $11.
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This warrants a closer look
Tuesday, Mar 4, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times…
State Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, R-Lemont, on Monday called for a federal inquiry into Gov. Pat Quinn’s $54 million neighborhood crime program that was slammed by the state’s auditor general last week and likened to a “political slush fund,” by one Republican. […]
“Those comments are ridiculous and irresponsible,” said Quinn spokeswoman Brooke Anderson. “As we’ve made clear repeatedly, these issues were resolved more than a year ago.”
Anderson said it was an investigation by the governor’s office that unearthed issues when they came to light in 2012. After that, Quinn immediately moved to abolish the Illinois Violence Prevention Authority, which was created before him, Anderson said. The program still exists and Anderson said as far as the political accusations — not one dollar was awarded until after the 2010 election. […]
“I think there are significant questions. We are actually going to be asking the auditor to forward his findings to the inspector general as well as to the federal prosecutors to take a look at it,” Radogno said after speaking to the City Club of Chicago. “I think there is plenty of reason to think there may have been actual crimes committed, but I don’t know that at this point … I think it’s premature to use the I-word. I think that we need to look further into it.”
When asked if she had reason to believe the line was crossed by intermediaries or the governor himself, Radogno responded: “Probably all of the above.”
As subscribers already know, the claims about no money being expended before the election are technically true. However, lots and lots of contracts were signed before the election. Those groups knew a pile of state cash was heading their way well before election day.
And, frankly, it doesn’t matter when the issues were “resolved.” What matters is if anyone associated with this program broke the law. I don’t think a further investigation would hurt.
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Rate Tom Cross’ new cable TV ad
Tuesday, Mar 4, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From a Tom Cross campaign e-mail to supporters…
Beginning this morning, our campaign took to the airwaves to share our goals for the office of Treasurer, which include balancing the budget and cracking down on fraud and corruption, and also highlight the policy differences between myself and the Frerichs/Quinn Agenda.
The ad, titled “Clear Choice”, succinctly asks two key questions of voters: Do you want more spending or a balanced budget? Do you want higher taxes or greater reform?
* Cross is taking the Rauner route of ignoring his GOP primary opposition. The ad doesn’t even mention the possible existence of a Bob Grogan and instead boosts his own campaign (I expect overlays of any newspaper endorsements he receives down the road) and attacks Frerichs. Rate it…
* This is a cable buy, so I checked in with Comcast…
$37,860 on the Chicago Interconnect
3/5 - 3/9/14 FXNC only all dayparts
$41,640 on the Chicago Interconnect
3/11 - 3/17/14 FXNC only all dayparts
He also heavied up his FXNC only presence in key Comcast zones having a higher GOP voter audience: $19,960 spread across five Comcast zones: Oakbrook, St.Charles/ Wheaton, Orland Park, Mt. Prospect, Frankfort 3/4 - 3/17/14 FXNC only all dayparts
All Fox News, all the time. If you wanna reach hardcore GOP primary voters, that’s the most reliable way to do it. And attacking Democrats doesn’t hurt at all on that channel.
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About today’s endorsements
Tuesday, Mar 4, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From today’s Tribune endorsements…
Republican state Rep. Sandra Pihos of Glen Ellyn says business costs are too high in Illinois — yet she voted against a work comp bill that has helped to curb those costs. She says public employee pensions have to be fixed — but she voted against the comprehensive pension reform bill that was signed into law. Surprise, surprise, she’s received thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from public employee unions. You can’t count on Pihos to make the tough decisions needed to build a strong Illinois economy. Enough. Attorney Peter Breen of Lombard knows that Republicans have to lead on this. As a Lombard Village Board member, Breen has pushed to keep taxes and spending low. We’re confident he would protect taxpayers in Springfield. We have no confidence in Pihos. Breen is endorsed.
A few points.
First, almost all House Republicans voted as a bloc against the workers’ compensation reform bill.
Second, Bruce Rauner has dismissed that workers’ comp bill as weak and ineffective. Rauner also strongly opposed the pension reform bill. So, keep an eye on the Tribune’s endorsement in the governor’s race to see how those two issues play into the paper’s decision.
* And, third, do you notice anything missing? How about what Peter Breen does for a living? Breen is the former executive director and current Vice President and Senior Counsel for the Thomas More Society. The group is staunchly pro-life and has worked hard to stop gay marriage in Illinois. From his Thomas More Society bio…
Peter Breen has appeared in state and federal courts in Illinois and across the country in defense of life, marriage, and religious liberty. Peter is regularly sought out by the television, radio, and print media as an expert legal analyst and in connection with the Thomas More Society’s lawsuits. Prior to his recent promotion, Peter served as the Society’s Executive Director & Legal Counsel, directing its day-to-day operations. During his five-year tenure as Executive Director, the Society grew substantially, successfully taking on numerous lawsuits of national importance, setting fundraising records, and retiring all of its long-term debt.
You’d think the guy’s day job would be relevant here.
Breen is also being backed to the hilt by Dan Proft’s Liberty Principles PAC.
…Adding… Like Rep. Pihos, Democratic House candidate Will Guzzardi is receiving big bucks from public employee unions. Actually, he’s getting tons more money than she is.
And like Pihos, Guzzardi opposes pension reform.
Yet on the very same page, the Trib endorses Guzzardi over Rep. Toni Berrios, who voted for pension reform…
Will Guzzardi lost the Democratic primary in 2012 to state Rep. Toni Berrios by just 125 votes. Guzzardi is trying again to defeat the daughter of Joe Berrios, the Cook County assessor and Democratic Party chairman who loves to install family members in government jobs. Toni Berrios is a loyal soldier for House Speaker Michael Madigan. Though we disagree with his position on pension reform and some other issues, his election would bring some much-needed independence to the House. “The monolithic structures of power in Springfield aren’t doing any good for anyone,” he says. Voters who are fed up with patronage and cronyism should turn out for Guzzardi. He is endorsed.
* But Mother Tribune is OK with “patronage and cronyism” in another House Democratic primary…
Chicago Ald. Deb Mell held this House seat before she was appointed to succeed her father, former Ald. Dick Mell, in the City Council. The Northwest Side district is now represented by Dick Mell’s former aide Jaime Andrade Jr. We were prepared to work up another lather about insider appointments and such but … it turns out Andrade is pretty gutsy. He took a tough vote in favor of pension reform in December and, for that, the state’s biggest employee union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, wants to punish him. AFSCME is bankrolling Nancy Schiavone, an attorney who ran for alderman in 2011. There are other choices. Aaron Goldstein is a sharp, ambitious attorney who served on Rod Blagojevich’s legal defense team. Wendy Jo Harmston is a consultant who started a dog-sitting business. Mark Pasieka also is on the ballot. But Andrade knows and serves his community and understands this state still faces a financial crisis. Andrade is endorsed.
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We have a new record
Tuesday, Mar 4, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* It’s only gonna go up from here…
Wealthy venture capitalist Bruce Rauner has set a new record for personal funding in a campaign for Illinois governor, his out-of-pocket total hitting $6 million after he put another $1 million into his bid Monday. […]
Rauner, a Winnetka businessman who is perhaps the wealthiest candidate ever to run for public office in Illinois, has now raised $14 million ahead of the March 18 primary election — far and away eclipsing the combined money-raising efforts of Republican rivals state Sens. Bill Brady of Bloomington and Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale and state Treasurer Dan Rutherford of Chenoa.
The previous record for personal money in an Illinois governor race came in 2006, when Chicago businessman Ron Gidwitz and his wife donated $5.3 million only to lose the primary election. Still, Rauner has a ways to go to top the U.S. Senate bids of Blair Hull, who spent $28.6 million of his own money to lose the 2004 Democratic primary to Barack Obama, and Peter Fitzgerald, who spent nearly $12 million from his own pocket to win in 1998.
* If he wins the primary, he’ll easily break Hull’s record. NBC 5 looks at other states…
Self-funded political campaigns have taken off in recent years, with the number of such candidates rising from 78 in 1990 to 223 in 2010 and 193 in 2012, according to an analysis by The Washington Times. The Times also found that of 1,752 self-funded candidates in federal elections since 1990, only 42 have been elected—a success rate of just 2.4 percent.
That was certainly the case for pro wrestling executive Linda McMahon, who suffered two straight defeats in her bid for a Connecticut Senate seat, despite dropping $97 million of her own money.
Jeff Greene, a Florida investor who made billions on credit default swaps, lost a Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in 2010 despite contributing $23 million to his own campaign.
In 2002, Texas banker Tony Sanchez spent $60 million of his own money on his Democratic campaign for governor, while billionaire businessman Thomas Golisano spent more than $50 million from his personal fortune in New York’s gubernatorial race. Neither won.
* Sun-Times…
A Rauner campaign aide said the massive infusion of new money is designed to counter the push by unions and other Democratic interests to knock him out of the primary.
“Liberal special interest groups and government union bosses have spent $4 million attempting to hijack the Republican primary and are trying to stop Bruce from spreading his plan to pass term limits, cut spending, and reverse the Quinn 67 percent tax hike,” Rauner spokesman Mike Schrimpf said.
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[The following is a paid advertisement.]
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Today’s quoatable
Monday, Mar 3, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Daily Herald…
“Probably a third, maybe more, of the Republicans in Springfield have sold out to the government union bosses,” Rauner told the Daily Herald editorial board this month.
The constant harsh rhetoric means healing wounds in his own party might take more than money, said state Rep. David Harris, an Arlington Heights Republican.
“Since he’s criticized virtually every member of the legislature, he would have to donate to every member of the legislature to get back into their good graces, Democrats and Republicans alike,” Harris said.
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Question of the day
Monday, Mar 3, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Illinois Issues…
The Illinois State Police announced [Friday] that 5,000 concealed carry licenses have been approved. They have begun printing and mailing licenses as of today. The state police say residents could begin receiving licenses as soon as Monday.
Applicants are required to pass background checks and complete a 16-hour safety course, including a live-fire exercise. Licenses cost $150 and are good for five years. After five years, licensees must reapply and take a three-hour training course. So far, the state police have received more than 50,000 applications since they began taking them in early January. Supporters of the law say they are happy to see that the police are issuing licenses even earlier than expected. “The state police have done a fantastic job. … We thought we’d be three months before we’d get a permit out. So they’re going to get these permits out a little early,” said Benton Democratic Sen. Gary Forby, who was a sponsor of the concealed carry legislation.
Law enforcement officials can object to applications, and so far the state police have objected to about 800. So far, none of those objections have been appealed. The state police plan to deny about 300 applications after they go through one final review process to ensure that the applicants are indeed ineligible.
* The Question: Are you or is anyone you know planning to apply for a concealed carry license? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
web surveys
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A budget-cutting outline
Monday, Mar 3, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Kurt Erickson follows up on a story I posted for subscribers last week about a memo outlining a budget cutting framework for the spring session…
The state’s public universities would see a $248 million reduction while public safety agencies such as the Department of Corrections and the Illinois State Police would see a $303 million cut. […]
State employee health insurance costs, for example, are expected to rise by more than $600 million next year. Medicaid, which provides health insurance for the poor, is expected to jump by about $211 million.
For top agency officials and university presidents, the document, if adopted as a budgeting map by lawmakers, is the exact opposite of what they say they need to operate.
Last month, the Illinois State Board of Education approved a proposed budget calling for a $1 billion increase in spending designed to reverse years of declining dollars from the state. According to the memo, the amount of money being set aside for schools next year will be reduced by $967 million.
* The outline is here [Fixed link]. From my Friday piece…
* $2.4 billion will have to be cut from discretionary spending, according to the agreement. That’s lower than Senate President John Cullerton’s original estimate because of higher than expected revenues. However, overall revenues are still expected to drop by $965 million, due to the half-year partial expiration of the income tax hike.
Mandated expenditures (pensions, health insurance, debt service, Medicaid, etc.) will rise by $1.4 billion, so other programs have to be cut.
* That translates into a $719 million cut to Human Services, a $967 million slash of K-12 education spending, a $248 million hit to higher education, a $303 million drop in public safety spending and a $144 million cut to General Services.
Whew.
* Related…
* Civic Federation: Keep most of Illinois’ ‘temporary’ income tax hike: As the candidates for governor dance around Illinois’ shaky finances, the Civic Federation has plunged into the fray, proposing that the state retain most of the “temporary” income tax increase, according to a report issued today by the government budget watchdog.
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About those endorsements
Monday, Mar 3, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Tribune endorsed Erika Harold over freshman GOP Congressman Rodney Davis…
Davis, of Taylorville, is running a cautious race. It’s not an inspiring act. Harold is more passionate and forthright — unafraid, for example, to argue for specific (and unpopular) changes to Medicare and Social Security benefits. Yes, it’s liberating to be the underdog. But Harold is saying things that need to be said, and Davis — the incumbent — isn’t. Harold is endorsed.
Whatevs. The Trib’s gonna do what the Trib’s gonna do.
* But check out Mother Tribune’s endorsement on the Democratic side…
Our pick is George Gollin, a physics professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He’s a good fit for a district that is home to nine colleges and universities, including U. of I., Illinois State University and Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. He has experience writing and advocating for federal legislation on higher education and made headlines in 2008 for helping to expose and shut down diploma mills across the country. We disagree with many of his positions, but at least we know where he stands.
Gollin did, indeed, help shut down diploma mills.
* But he’s endorsed Carol Ammons to replace retiring Democratic state Rep. Naomi Jakobsson. Ammons got a degree from a sketchy online university that even she now admits could’ve been a diploma mill…
A candidate for Illinois’ 103rd House District seat says she’s now questioning the degree she received from an online university based in the United Kingdom.
Democrat and Urbana Alderwoman Carol Ammons issued a statement Wednesday on her campaign website, saying she’s contacted Walsingham University asking them to explain what she called their ‘misrepresentation.’
Questions about the school were raised by fellow alderman Eric Jakobsson, husband of retiring 103rd District representative Naomi Jakobsson. He called the school a diploma mill.
Ammons said she completed online and correspondence coursework in business administration and earned a degree in 18 months. She says representatives from Walsingham told her it was fully accredited.
She got a degree in 18 months and didn’t think something was up?
* Also, the Trib endorsed Aaron Schock’s potential Democratic opponent…
Miller won us over with his selfless assessment of the recently passed farm bill, which protects needless subsidies to growers while cutting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — barely addressing eligibility requirements. “We get more crop insurance while people on food stamps get less,” he says. “That makes me as a farmer kind of red-faced.” Miller is endorsed.
[Oops. Miller is Schock’s potential Dem opponent. My bad. I just haven’t bothered to keep up with his district. Oops.]
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A head on the wall
Monday, Mar 3, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I’ve been telling subscribers about these developments for weeks…
The future of pension politics in Chicago is playing out in an elongated statehouse district that runs from the Gold Coast to South Chicago, home to some of the richest and poorest folks in the city.
Here, first-term Rep. Christian Mitchell, a fast-rising, 27-year-old Democrat who voted for the statewide pension overhaul last year, is facing a tougher-than-expected primary challenge. Community organizer Jhatayn “Jay” Travis is backed to the hilt by the Chicago Teachers Union, which fears the Legislature will reduce its members’ retirement benefits so that the Emanuel administration won’t have to make a required $696 million pension contribution this year, more than triple last year’s payment.
Teachers unions at the city, state and national level are mobilizing scores of volunteers and have secured more than $300,000 to potentially spend on behalf of Ms. Travis’ campaign, even if winning appears to be a long shot. Meanwhile, on the Northwest Side, the union is mounting a less costly bid to unseat Rep. Maria “Toni” Berrios, daughter of Cook County Assessor and Cook County Democratic Party Chairman Joseph Berrios.
The effort signals a bold shift in strategy for the CTU, which for years has doled out donations in a mostly even-handed fashion. Now, the union is targeting Democratic incumbents perceived to be vulnerable in the March 18 primary. The union’s message: CTU support should not be taken for granted.
The idea is to put a big trophy head on the wall and (even if they don’t win) scare other Chicago legislators out of voting for Chicago pension reform.
The CTU’s independent expenditure PAC broke the seal on campaign contributions this past Friday. So now Mitchell can receive lots more contributions from Speaker Madigan’s operation.
And, by the way, Will Guzzardi has greatly ramped up his fundraising from unions to challenge Rep. Berrios. Guzzardi reported raising close to a hundred grand the other day, mostly from unions.
* Meanwhile, the Chicago Reader has been whacking away at Rep. Mitchell for weeks. The latest…
Born and raised in Chicago—and a graduate of Kenwood High—Travis is a formidable candidate largely because of her years as executive director of the Kenwood Oakland Community Organization. Among other things, she negotiated a community benefits agreement with the city’s Olympics backers.
In this case, Travis and KOCO were early and impassioned fighters against school closings and for an elected school board.
On October 10, as Travis was gathering signatures for her nominating petitions, Mitchell officially signed on as cosponsor to the elected school board proposal.
So now it has three sponsors but remains lodged in the rules committee. At this rate, it may be a law by the next century.
The candidates have different explanations for why Mitchell changed his position on an elected school board.
Travis says—well, you can imagine what she says. “It was quite interesting when, on the week I circulated petitions, Representative Mitchell signed on as a sponsor,” she says. “I think he signed on because he wanted to be able to send out that flyer, even if it’s misleading.”
Not so, says Mitchell. He insists that Travis’s candidacy had nothing to do with his ongoing evolution on the school board. He says it’s just another coincidence that he’s signing on to the measure now that the heavy fighting with the mayor over the cuts and closings is over.
Mitchell says he was originally for a “hybrid board” with five mayoral appointees and four elected members. “What moved me toward a full elected school board is talking to constituents.”
* Not mentioned so far by the Reader is one of the wildest opposition research reports I’ve ever seen, which was leaked in January and alleges that Mitchell’s opponent was involved in a bizarre cult. Here are the documents…
* Executive Summary
* Full report
* The Travis campaign response at the time…
We are currently seeking legal council to address the libelous, scurrilous, erroneous, statements shared with me earlier. Jay Travis is not and has never been a member of a cult or a party to abuse of any kind. For the past twenty years, Jay Travis has been and remains a champion of her community.
We will make every effort to identify the source of this pathetic attempt to draw attention away from the real issues of this race; gutting pensions, closing schools, and being in lock step with those in direct opposition to the needs of the people of the 26th district. That is why Representative Mitchell wants to spread erroneous information about Kwanzaa organizations, because he knows he can not stand on his record.
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* 10:42 am - The Illinois Supreme Court has ruled that all four pension reform lawsuits are to be consolidated and will be heard by a Sangamon County judge. The ruling is here.
Discuss.
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Rate the Web-only ads
Monday, Mar 3, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* In person, Sen. Bill Brady is relaxed and has a great smile. As soon as he gets in front of a TV camera to read ad copy, however, he tenses up. It was a problem in 2010 and it’s still a problem in his new Web video…
I mean, he’s not even looking at the camera.
Sheesh.
* Treasurer Dan Rutherford does well in front of a TV camera. But his campaign is so damaged now that this well-produced Web-only ad won’t do much of anything to help…
Protect Your Wallet from Dan Rutherford on Vimeo.
* And Illinois Review spotted a major typo in Bruce Rauner’s banner ad campaign. “Pat” Brady ain’t running for governor…
Oops.
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More audit fallout for Quinn
Monday, Mar 3, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
Some Illinois Legislative Black Caucus members are saying “I told you so” in the wake of a stunning state Auditor General’s investigation into misspending, waste and possibly even fraud in an anti-violence initiative hastily created by Gov. Pat Quinn.
Quinn created the program in August of 2010 a few days after meeting with ministers from Chicago’s Roseland neighborhood about rising violence. In early September, several Chicago aldermen gave their lists of preferred local groups which could administer the state program. Quinn’s administration sent requests for proposal only to those alderman-recommended groups.
By October, just weeks before the November, 2010 election, the program had mushroomed to $50 million.
Despite initial claims that a specific formula was used to choose the targeted neighborhoods for violence reduction programs, no actual documentation exists for how those decisions were made.
Some of the request for proposal applications were changed retroactively and, curiously enough, quite a few of the highest crime neighborhoods received no funding at all.
The audit found that up to 40 percent of spending couldn’t be documented, several neighborhood groups did not maintain required time sheet documentation, and $2 million in unspent funds couldn’t be explained.
The audit produced some of the most scathing findings and harshest language of any such reports since the Rod Blagojevich days. The audit uncovered “pervasive deficiencies in [the Illinois Violence Prevention Authority’s] planning, implementation, and management of the [Governor’s Neighborhood Recovery Initiative] program,” for instance.
Some Legislative Black Caucus members say Gov. Quinn was specifically warned in 2010 not to deal directly with aldermen or allow them to pick local groups. State grants have a history of problems, and tough regulatory and reporting laws meant that letting politicized aldermen control the recipients could only lead to trouble.
Plus, this was state money. Legislators viewed that as their domain. Going around them to the aldermen was seen as an insult.
But Quinn went around the legislators anyway, threw the program together in a rush and then the whole thing disintegrated.
A 2012 CNN report included minutes from a September, 2010 IVPA meeting that quoted an official from the governor’s office saying “The governor’s office is committed to allocating some of the funds for this initiative immediately and will allocate the rest after the election,” which was deemed a “smoking gun” by some Republicans, who claimed that it proves Quinn used millions in state money to boost his tough election campaign against Bill Brady. Quinn barely edged out Brady that November.
Currying favor with Chicago aldermen also resulted in a recent benefit for Quinn. Some members of the Legislative Black Caucus met with African-American aldermen who are also ward committeemen last year and asked them to hold off on an early Cook County Democratic Party vote to slate Quinn.
The legislators wanted the opportunity to push Quinn on things like Medicaid funding, but their pleas were dismissed, with aldermen saying that, unlike the legislators, they had built a strong relationship with Quinn.
The result is that Quinn isn’t currently finding many allies among the Black Caucus as he gears up to defend himself against the allegations.
In fact, the Senate’s Black Caucus Chairman Sen. Emil Jones III (D-Chicago) has introduced legislation to require that members of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority be confirmed by the Illinois Senate.
The ICJIA is now administering the scaled back anti-violence program. Jones’ bill has been assigned to the Senate Executive Committee and Sen. Jones said last week he wants to use the legislation to bring some “accountability” to the violence programs.
Quinn has been in hot water with the Black Caucus for a while now. For instance, African-American Senators, along with Latinos have refused to support the Senate’s confirmation of Julie Hamos for another term as Director of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services.
They’re angry at the way Hamos has pushed for cuts to the state’s Medicaid program. “Let her get Republican votes,” said one Senator recently when asked about Hamos’ prospects.
The governor recently hired a formerly popular black state official to handle Hamos’ relations with the General Assembly, but the political brick on Hamos appears too big to be schmoozed away.
Anyway, Republicans want a full-scale criminal investigation of this violence program mess, with some justification, so things could get really hairy, really soon. And Gov. Quinn will need all the allies he can get. It’s time he made a peace offering.
* Quinn went on Channel 7 Friday to defend himself…
The governor says his administration caught what he called “paperwork problems” two years ago. It then abolished the IVPA to let the Illinois Justice Information Authority oversee the anti-violence program.
“Everything that was in that audit, we were accomplishing two years ago,” said Quinn.
Meanwhile, the governor is also taking heat from fellow Democrats. Some legislative black caucus members are disappointed that aldermen and neighborhood residents steered the anti-violence grants. Senator Donne Trotter said of the governor: “He thought he would do better with his city friends. Instead of working with his traditional partners– state lawmakers– he tried something new and it backfired in his face.”
“I just don’t agree with that approach. I think when you fight violence you have to have a bubble up approach,” said Gov. Quinn. “The bottom line is, I listened to the parents who had lost their sons and daughters more than anything.”
Quinn says the anti-violence program is now overseen by another state agency called the Illinois Justice Information Authority. But the controversy is far from over, certainly not during this election year.
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* I told my subscribers this would happen on Saturday. From a Sunday press release…
Today, the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) announced their endorsement for Senator Kirk Dillard to be the Republican nominee for Governor.
At a news conference with Senator Dillard, IFT President Dan Montgomery released the following statement:
“Senator Dillard has been a tireless advocate for public schools and our communities and a strong voice for teachers and retirees regarding the unconstitutionality of recent pension theft legislation.
We have already told our members for whom not to vote, and now we’re making it more clear: we encourage anyone who plans to pull a Republican ballot on March 18th to vote for Kirk Dillard,” said Montgomery, a high school English teacher for nearly 20 years.
“While we have a long history of bipartisanship, this is a significant moment for the IFT. Other than our support for Jim Thompson, this is only the second time in our history when we have endorsed a Republican candidate for Governor. This election is simply too important to sit on the sidelines, and we are getting in the game for the future of Illinois.
Kirk Dillard has a record of respecting working families in the past and a willingness to work with us in the future. We are proud to recommend him in the Republican primary.”
The IFT endorsed Jim Thompson in 1986.
Senator Dillard thanked IFT members for their support:
“I’m truly honored by this support from the Illinois Federation of Teachers,” Dillard said.
“As I’ve said about our previous endorsements from teachers organizations, my father was a public school teacher for 40 years, and would be proud to see so many hard-working teachers getting behind our campaign. We are indebted to the excellent teachers who give so much to make sure our daughters get a solid education.”
Dillard and his wife Stephanie are the parents of two daughters, ages 10 and 12, both of whom attend public school.
Additional recommendations for the March 18th Primary Election can be found on the IFT website here.
The IFT endorsement does not currently extend to the General Election.
* Here’s what they’re putting in. From the Tribune…
Montgomery said the union has 20,000 self-identified Republican members and also expects some crossover support for Dillard in the primary. He also said the union will provide Dillard with an unspecified “six-figure” donation.
“It comes not only with significant resources, obviously, but the hearts and minds of our members who will work, have conversations with families and colleagues around the state to hopefully have Sen. Dillard be the winner in the Republican primary,” Montgomery said of the endorsement.
Last month, Dillard gained the support of the Illinois Education Association, which represents teachers outside Chicago, and has received $100,000 from the IEA’s political action committee. He had received the IEA’s backing four years ago when he lost the nomination to state Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington by 193 votes. Brady is back in the race this time along with state Treasurer Dan Rutherford of Chenoa.
Brady, who supported a union-opposed plan to change public employee pensions to close a $100 billion unfunded liability, has contended Dillard “sold out” his vote to unions by opposing the law. The unions also are challenging the law’s state constitutionality.
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Not in Chicago and not so plungy
Monday, Mar 3, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* OK, so I heeded the advice of friends and the weatherman and decided not to drive to Chicago for the Polar Plunge on Sunday. We were supposed to be buried by a blizzard and I didn’t want to risk being stranded or worse. Turns out, we barely got any snow here.
So, what to do? Well, we have a lake in Springfield, and it’s mostly frozen over, so I ventured forth on Sunday afternoon. I had purchased some waders earlier last week to make sure I didn’t die when my body hit that frigid Lake Michigan, but I decided not to use the protection since I had wimped out on the drive.
* Oh, man, I am not a cold water person. On a long ago college spring break camping trip I vowed never again to take a cold shower. I remembered why as soon as my toes touched Lake Springfield yesterday. Have a look…
My feet hurt for almost an hour.
Thanks again to all who donated. We raised close to $5,000 for Special Olympics Chicago. Way to go.
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