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Rate the new Tom Cross ad
Wednesday, Nov 6, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times…
Illinois state Treasurer candidate Tom Cross is launching a three-market radio buy today — a day after the Republican made a switch and voted in favor of same-sex marriage legislation in the House.
Cross was one of three Republicans in the House to vote for in favor of the same-sex marriage. The others were Ron Sandack (R-Downers Grove) and Ed Sullivan (R-Mundelein).
Cross switched positions after his campaign told the Sun-Times just three weeks ago that he remained opposed to same-sex marriage. The Sun-Times reported then that his Democratic opponent — state Sen. Mike Frerichs (D-Champaign) — was calling on Cross to support same-sex marriage.“I am proud to be one of only two Downstate Senators to co-sponsor and vote for both marriage equality and civil unions,” Frerichs said then.
Cross’ vote neutralizes what could have been a contentious issue in a general election.
The 60-second ad is targeting three central Illinois markets.
* Listen…
* Script…
Illinois’ elected officials have repeatedly failed to solve the state’s big problems
Now we’re facing Skyrocketing debt, record high taxes and the nation’s worst budget deficit.
That’s why Tom Cross is running for Treasurer.
On day one, Tom Cross will put an end to dishonest budget gimmicks…
…demanding the courts enforce the state’s balanced budget requirement…
…and forcing Springfield politicians to fix the problems they’ve too often ignored.
Tom Cross understands without change, Illinois faces near bankruptcy…
…threatening not just our pocketbooks…
…but our schools and public safety.
A former prosecutor…
…Tom Cross will crack down on the corruption that is costing our pension system…
…and he’ll create a new government integrity unit to restore public confidence.
For too long, Illinois families have been paying the price for failed leadership.
As our Treasurer, Tom Cross will clean up their mess…
…fight the waste and corruption…
…and restore fiscal sanity back in Springfield.
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Question of the day
Wednesday, Nov 6, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Illinois Issues magazine has a long feature on social media and Illinois politics. I highly recommend that you go read the whole thing. Here’s a snippet…
The only caucus that does not have its own social media presence is the House Democrats. “A lot of that is because the individual members do those things, and that seems to work well,” says Steve Brown, spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan. […]
John Patterson, communications director for the Illinois Senate Democrats, says he views the caucus’ social media presence on sites such as Facebook and Twitter as a way for people to keep up on what their senators are doing and be aware of things such as local events that may not always make headlines. “People are always kind of wondering what do state employees do, and I would like people to know that throughout the day, we’re doing all kinds of stuff, and we should have that reflected in what’s going out on Twitter, going up on Facebook or going on our websites,” he says. Patterson says that Senate Democratic communications staff started off on those platforms because it seemed kind of obligatory, but he says that in the last few years, they have really been working to step up their social media game. “In the last two years, we’ve had a big focus on trying to figure out how to use them as communication tools so that we just don’t have a Twitter account or a Facebook account, [but] that we’re actually using them as part of a communications plan and try to use them to grow an audience.” He says that providing information as basic as updates on committee scheduling, which are generally slow or do not happen on the legislature’s state-run website, helped to grow the caucus’ following online. “We quickly noticed a lot of people, particularly lobbyists and reporters, following our Twitter account so that they would know what’s going on in committee rooms, so they knew where they had to be at what time.”
* The Question: Should the House Democrats establish a social media presence? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
surveys
…Adding… Illinois Issues’ blog features an interview with the guy who runs the “Da Speaker” parody Twitter account…
Q: How do you come up with your tweets/ set the tone of the account?
A: I try to keep it in the realm of exaggerated reality. What’s the speaker thinking that he’d never say aloud? It’s satire. Just for fun. A little edgy at times. I avoid cheap shots, I hope. I react to the news of the day. The ideas are the sort of smartass remarks reporters make to each other when passing time between stories.
Q: Are you surprised by the reaction/amount of followers? especially since you don’t tweet very often. Do you plan to continue indefinitely?
A: I’m amazed it has gained a following among people who understand politics. It’s a great audience.
Q: Do you plan to continue indefinitely?
A: I’ll continue until I’m no longer amused and/or until someone gets close to identifying me.
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Zalewski advances gun crimes bill
Wednesday, Nov 6, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* It’s possible we could see a vote soon on this bill…
Rep. Michael Zalewski, a Chicago Democrat, said today that changes to his proposal to increase penalties for gun crimes have made the plan “narrowly tailored” and would bring down the cost of his proposal.
SB 1342 would require first-time offenders who commit an aggravated unlawful use of a weapon to serve 85 percent of a one-year sentence. Knowingly carrying a loaded gun in public without a Firearm Owners Identification Card can result in an aggravated unlawful use of a weapon charge. A felon or gang member would receive a four-year sentence. The proposal would also bar gun offenders from participating in some programs that can substantially shorten their sentences, such as a boot camp program for offenders.
Zalewski’s original proposal called for three years for a first-time offender and five years for felons and gang members. A House committee approved the bill, but Zalewski said he is still working to find the votes to pass it in the House. He faces opposition from the National Rifle Association over the required penalties for first-time offenders. “The sponsor has worked very hard to try to craft a bill, and we just haven’t been able to come to a meeting of the minds on this one issue,” said Todd Vandermyde, a lobbyist for the NRA. He said lawmakers need to consider recent court rulings that upheld gun owners’ rights to carry firearms in public. “Carrying a gun is no longer, per se, a criminal offense.” […]
But the plan has support from Republicans who formerly served as prosecutors. Elmhurst Republican Rep. Dennis Reboletti helped Zalewski revise the proposal. “I think it’s a pretty thoughtful approach,” he said. Reboletti said is open to more negotiation. However, he said he thinks changes to sentences are needed to deter gun crimes and keep gang members from having a revolving door experience at IDoC only to return to the streets armed. “I don’t know what other alternatives there are.” House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, who also worked as a prosecutor before coming to the legislature, has said he supports enhancing sentences for gun crimes.
* More…
(T)he Department of Corrections would see its bulging population grow by 3,000 over the next decade, costing $713 million more for an agency that is operating with less money for more inmates already, agency chief of staff Bryan Gleckler said.
“We are out of public safety dollars,” argued John Maki, executive director of the prison monitoring group, the John Howard Association. “Where will this money come from? What will we not fund?”
Discuss.
And, as always, keep a close eye on our constantly updated live coverage post for updates on this and other legislation.
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* While most everyone else was watching the gay marriage vote play out, Jamey Dunn at Illinois Issues kept her eye on other Statehouse developments, including the supplemental approp…
The Illinois House voted to approve additional spending for the current fiscal year, but the legislation did not include funding for back pay owed to state workers.
House Bill 209 contains $49.6 million in spending, the bulk of which, $30 million, would be used to implement the state’s new concealed carry law. Most of the money in the bill comes from special funds. Only about $500,000 of general revenue funds would be spent under the measure […]
[Steve Brown, spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan], said Madigan does not intend for there to be a vote on back pay [if and when legislators come back to deal with the pension issue]. “I’m not aware of any of that having anything to do with additional spending,” he said. “I am sure there are people out there who think that. I think the governor thinks that, but I’m not sure that there’s much of the legislature that’s subscribers to that idea.”
Brown said he does not think many in the House are interested in approving more GRF spending. “I think the speakers’ view on this other issues is that the agencies were granted lump sums. It’s really up to them to manage that. I don’t think that position has changed. There appears to be some additional revenue. I think the general view of the House has been over the last several years is if there’s revenue that comes in that we don’t know about in May, that ought to go to paying old bills. That ought to be our top priority.”
* Meanwhile, this was an expected development…
The Illinois General Assembly’s budget forecasting arm on Tuesday revised its revenue forecast upward by $369 million for the fiscal year that ends June 30.
The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability’s revised analysis includes $200 million more projected to come from sales taxes, an extra $97 million that was transferred to the General Revenue Fund because it wasn’t needed to pay income tax refunds, and $72 million from court settlement proceeds.
The commission’s estimate raises the general fund estimate for the fiscal year to $35.8 billion from $35.45 billion, an increase of about 1 percent.
Jim Muschinske, the commission’s revenue manager, said after a meeting of the panel made up of House and Senate members that pent-up demand for cars was helping increase sales tax receipts.
* Oy…
Illinois has some of the most stringent requirements in the U.S. for background checks for child care workers, but also had the highest noncompliance rate for those inspections and failed to provide background checks on more than 13 percent of people working with children.
That’s according to the watchdog arm of the federal Department of Health and Human Services, which found that Illinois missed 82 percent of its required inspections of child care facilities and failed to record whether the inspections it did conduct were unannounced.
In states that did check on child care providers’ compliance with background checks, they found that 22 percent had not initiated or renewed their background screenings as required by state laws. In Illinois, 13.1 percent of those screenings were deficient.
* And speaking of the budget…
Illinois prison officials estimate nearly 30,000 newly freed inmates will be eligible for Medicaid coverage in 2014 under President Barack Obama’s health care law.
The Springfield bureau of Lee Enterprises newspapers reports state officials say better access to care for physical and mental health issues may help parolees succeed outside of prison.
The Department of Corrections plans eventually to help inmates connect with Medicaid before they’re released, so they can make a smooth transition into the state and federal health care program for the poor.
* And Reboot Illinois sums up the Tribune’s series on Chicago’s debt problem…
Over the past many years, the city has taken out $4.8 billion in long-term loans to pay for short-term things like Palm Pilot software already practically extinct. And garbage bins, library books and doggie poop bags.
City officials used long-term loans to pay off millions in one-time legal settlements and expenses.
Chicago has added more debt to refinance old loans that will end up costing taxpayers more for years to come in extra interest payments. The move wasn’t done to get a lower interest rate and save taxpayers’ money.
Less than one third of a total of $9.8 billion in borrowing was spent on long-term capital projects that might benefit future taxpayers.
Read those Trib stories by clicking here.
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Stuck in the middle
Wednesday, Nov 6, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The merger between Illinois-based OfficeMax and Florida-based Office Depot is wrapping up…
As anticipated, the merger between OfficeMax and Office Depot was finally completed yesterday, the same day both companies announced their last financial results as independent entities.
The new company will use the name Office Depot Inc and will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ODP. A new CEO has as yet been named. In the interim, Office Depot Chairman/CEO Neil Austrian and OfficeMax President/Ravi Saligram will serve together as co-CEOs. Until a permanent CEO is appointed and a new HQ location chosen, the company will also continue to operate in both Florida and Illinois.
* OfficeMax’s CEO said in September that he was taking himself out of the running for CEO of the merged company. Why is that important? Because he may not be able to effectively fight to locate the merged HQ in Illinois. Crain’s has more…
The new headquarters location is similarly uncertain.
But based on size, OfficeMax loses. Office Depot has 1,104 stores in the U.S. compared with OfficeMax’s 828. Office Depot reported 2012 sales of $10.7 billion and employs about 38,000. Office Max had $6.9 billion in 2012 sales and employs about 29,000 people. Office Depot occupies a 625,000-square-foot campus in Boca Raton, Fla., that was constructed in 2007, while OfficeMax’s headquarters, built in 2006, are 361,000 square feet.
“Office Depot is the bigger company, which might signal something, but it’s really very much up in the air,” Mr. Feng said. “At the end of the day, both companies are going to take a look at which location is less disruptive, which location requires fewer people to move and which location might offer better incentives.” […]
Last month, Mr. Saligram asked Illinois lawmakers to allow OfficeMax to keep employees’ state tax withholdings for 10 to 15 years if the merged company retained a headquarters in Naperville. He didn’t disclose the actual amount sought. Mr. Saligram said the company would retain 2,050 jobs, create 200 more and spend $150 million in Illinois on building leases.
In June, state Sen. Thomas Cullerton, D-Villa Park, introduced a bill worth roughly $30 million in tax credits over a decade if OfficeMax kept a non-retail workforce of 2,000 and makes a $150 million capital investment in the state.
So, essentially we’re stuck in the middle of an intra-corporate battle that will also pit Illinois against Florida.
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Madigan’s role
Wednesday, Nov 6, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* New York Times…
The outcome itself was perhaps less surprising than how long and difficult the debate had proved in a state with both legislative chambers controlled by Democrats and where President Obama, once a member of the State Senate, specifically voiced his support this year. Illinois already permits civil unions for same-sex couples, but even as a wave of state legislatures passed marriage provisions this year, the issue had stalled.
“We were aiming for this to happen a year ago,” said Bernard Cherkasov, the chief executive of Equality Illinois. In May, in the final hours of the State House’s regular session, a leading advocate of the bill reluctantly and tearfully announced that he would delay plans for a vote, suggesting that there were not yet enough votes to pass it.
“In many ways, it has taken longer than we expected,” Mr. Cherkasov said.
Despite Democratic control of both chambers, the issue had been particularly vexing for some Democrats in socially conservative districts outside Chicago and for some black Democrats in Chicago, where some clergy members have suggested that those supporting gay marriage should prepare for election challenges next year.
“We’re prepared to run and elect people who vote where the people’s minds are,” said Bishop Larry Trotter, senior pastor of the Sweet Holy Spirit Church in Chicago and an opponent of same-sex marriage. Mr. Trotter said he believed that most black residents agreed with him, even if it conflicts with the stance of Mr. Obama.
* House Speaker Michael Madigan was given credit by the bill’s sponsor for getting around those religious and political concerns expressed by his members…
Harris said House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, “made the difference in convincing some of my folks who were taking a little bit more time in making up their minds it was the right thing to do.” He said Madigan “pushed the bill across the finish line.”
Madigan said he used the “art of persuasion” on between five and 10 House members in an effort to round up the votes to pass the bill. He said he couldn’t use his art of persuasion when the bill was pending in May because the gap was wider then.
* More…
Later, Madigan acknowledged that he helped persuade “a significant number of people” to vote for the legislation. But always one to leave some mystery hanging, Madigan would not state how many or which lawmakers he brought across the finish line.
“It was over five,” Madigan said, adding that it was not over 10.
* David Ormsby, however, reports today that the total could be as high as 13 or 14…
The 13 were divided between 8 fence sitters and five potentially vulnerable lawmakers who wanted willing to vote for the bill, but on whom a brick had been placed by the Speaker’s political director.
“Madigan had to eyeball about eight members and had give Will the green light for the others who wanted to vote for it,” said the source, referring to Will Cousineau, the House Democratic Staff Issues Director.
“Cousineau may just need to work a little harder defending some,” the source added.
The eight “eyeballed” by Madigan included:
Luis Arroyo of Chicago
John D’Amico of Chicago
Anthony DeLuca of Chicago Heights
Thaddeus Jones of Chicago
André Thapedi of Chicago
Bob Rita of Blue Island
Al Riley of Olympia Fields
Pat Verschoore of Milan
The five that got the “green light” included four of five freshmen members:
Jehan Gordon-Booth of Peoria
Natalie Manley of Joliet
Marty Moylan of Des Plaines
Kathleen Willis of Villa Park
Stephanie Kifowit of Aurora
I’m not so sure about some of those, however. Rep. Verschoore’s spouse, for instance, was instrumental in convincing him to vote for the bill. Rep. D’Amico is Mayor Emanuel’s floor leader, so he had little choice in the matter.
But, whatever the exact number is, there’s no doubt that Madigan’s involvement played a major role here.
* The Speaker, however, was quick to credit President Obama’s public support for changing minds, as well as activists who worked the bill over the summer and the sponsor himself…
The speaker gave much credit to Harris, the bill’s sponsor, saying he was steadfast in the face of “unwarranted criticism” from some in the gay community who were not happy with the way Harris was handling the bill. Some activists had demanded Harris call the bill whether the support was there, contending failure to do so should result in his resignation. Madigan said those efforts “did not help the passage of the bill, it probably hurt the passage of the bill.”
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The religious opposition
Wednesday, Nov 6, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From yesterday’s debate…
“This bill is the worst in the U.S. in protecting religious liberty,” said Rep. Jeanne Ives, R-Wheaton. “It does not have the religious protections most of us agree should happen.” […]
[Rep. Greg Harris] said the bill as written specifically immunizes religious leaders from having to perform same-sex marriages and also exempts religious facilities from hosting them.
Rep. David Reis, R-Willow Hill, said that didn’t go far enough.
“Why are religious rights only granted to priests, pastors and rabbis?” Reis said. “What about our rights? This is about individual religious rights.” […]
Rep. Dwight Kay, R-Glen Carbon, said biblical teachings should determine how someone votes on the issue.
“The Constitution has always looked to the scriptures for guidance,” Kay said. “I’ve heard nothing today about the scriptures. All I’ve heard about is human rights. My conviction is that this is wrong, but my conviction is scripture is right.”
* Also from the debate…
State Rep. Mary Flowers, D-Chicago, who also voted against the bill, said the Bible defines marriage as being between a man and a woman, and no government has the authority to undo that.
“Even if the legal definition of the word ‘marriage’ was changed to include homosexual couples, those couples will not ever be truly married in God’s eyes,” she said.
* And…
State Rep. David Harris, an Arlington Heights Republican, described meeting with a religious leader who urged him to vote “yes” and called him “homophobic” when he disagreed.
“It shows the tenor of the debate,” Harris said.
He said he rejects the suggestion people who vote against same-sex marriage don’t care about civil rights.
“Are those black ministers who represent so many African-American congregations … around this state, are they bigots who don’t care about civil rights? I think not,” Harris said.
* The Sun-Times caught up with Cardinal George and Bishop Trotter…
“It’s no enormous surprise. There was a lot of effort placed into passage of this legislation. I think it’s bad legislation, but we’ve lived with bad laws before. It’ll make some people happy … but it will also, I think, change the nature of our society over a period of time,” Cardinal Francis George told the Chicago Sun-Times after speaking at Holy Name Cathedral. […]
Bishop Larry D. Trotter, who helped lead opposition to the bill, applauded legislators “who stood up for God.”
“Regardless of the passage of SB10, we will always believe that marriage is between one man and one woman,” Trotter said. “Yet we will still love the members of the LGBT community. We pray God’s grace, mercy and blessings over the state of Illinois and the United States of America.”
* From the Catholic Conference of Illinois…
Today’s decision by Illinois lawmakers to change the definition of marriage not only goes against the common consensus of the human race – which understands that nature tells us that marriage is the union of one man and one woman – but it also undermines an institution that is the cornerstone of a healthy society. The optimal condition in which to raise children is a home that includes both a mother and father, since women and men are not interchangeable.
The Catholic Conference of Illinois is deeply disappointed that members of the General Assembly chose to redefine what is outside of its authority: a natural institution like marriage. We remain concerned about the very real threats to religious liberty that are at stake with the passage of this bill.
* Thomas More Society…
“While we believe it regrettable that Illinois legislators have now purported to redefine marriage as something different from the union of one man and one woman, we are at least pleased and reassured to hear that legislators insisted during today’s floor debate in the House of Representatives that Illinois’ Religious Freedom Restoration Act and other constitutional and statutory guaranties of Illinois citizens’ religious liberties remain in full force and effect.
We will do our part to insure that those fundamental religious liberties are given robust and unstinting protection. The free speech and free exercise clauses of our First Amendment remain at the core of our constitutional order, and no law nor any public official may lawfully coerce anyone to deny or disavow his or her religious beliefs, or refrain from professing those beliefs in the public square, or to go against those beliefs in practice.
This is still a free country, and Thomas More Society stands ready to do its utmost to keep it free,” said Tom Brejcha, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Society.
* But religion was also cited by the proponents…
Advocates soon received additional help from Pope Francis, who warned that the Catholic Church could lose its way by focusing too much on social stances, including opposition to homosexuality.
“If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge him?” Francis said in July.
The comments sparked a wave of soul-searching by several Catholic lawmakers who had battled to reconcile their religious beliefs with their sworn duty to represent their constituents who were increasingly supportive of gay rights even as Cardinal Francis George remained opposed.
“As a Catholic follower of Jesus and the pope, Pope Francis, I am clear that our Catholic religious doctrine has at its core love, compassion and justice for all people,” said Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, a Democrat from Aurora who voted for the bill after spending much of the summer undecided.
House Speaker Michael Madigan also cited the pope’s comments in explaining his support for the measure.
“For those that just happen to be gay — living in a very harmonious, productive relationship but illegal — who am I to judge that they should be illegal?” the speaker said.
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*** UPDATED with video *** Getting personal
Wednesday, Nov 6, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* One of the more interesting stories during the gay marriage floor debate yesterday was told by Rep. Ann Williams…
State Rep. Ann Williams, D-Chicago, a co-sponsor of Harris’ bill, spoke about a close friend, former reporter Terry Mutchler, and the committed but secret relationship she had with the late state Sen. Penny Severns, D-Decatur, in the 1990s. Severns died in early 1998 after a lengthy battle with cancer that forced her to drop her bid that year for secretary of state.
“Though I never met Penny, Terry told me they considered themselves married. They had a relationship. They shared a home. They were with each other through good times and bad. They were committed to each other as if they were married, but not within the laws of society. In fact, Penny’s [Senate] death resolution didn’t even mention her loving partner, Terry. Can you imagine that? How heartbreaking,” Williams said.
“Terry just wanted what so many people want — to express their love through marriage,” Williams said.
* Another interesting story…
State Rep. Fred Crespo, a Hoffman Estates Democrat, said after the vote that his own mixed-race marriage helped sway him to a “yes” vote.
* Another…
North Side Democratic Rep. Kelly Cassidy recounted how she once rushed at dawn from Springfield to Chicago when she heard her partner had been hospitalized and was in “excruciating pain.”
Even as she hustled to be there, Cassidy said, she faced a dilemma. She worried whether she would be allowed to go “straight to her side” or be denied access over hospital bureaucracy. Cassidy said she found herself “weighing the risks” of whether she should spend an hour collecting legal paperwork that would give proof that she could be allowed to be in the hospital room with her partner, Kelly.
Cassidy issued a challenge to lawmakers to think about what they would say when asked in future years how they voted on legislation to let Illinois become the 15th state to allow gay marriage.
“What did you do when faced with this historic moment?” Cassidy said. “Please, vote ‘yes’ and join us on the right side of history.”
* Another…
Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, said the issue mattered very much to the families that would be impacted, reading a letter from a 10-year-old girl being raised by a gay couple who asked, “Will you let my two dads be married?”
* Another…
Rep. Ed Sullivan, R-Mundelein, voted for the bill after saying his mother-in-law is gay.
“How do I face my children? How do I tell them there’s something wrong with their grandma? I won’t,” Sullivan said.
* And we’ll close with this news from the Twitters…
*** UPDATE *** Video of the proposal…
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GOP fallout?
Wednesday, Nov 6, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Sun-Times has a story on the potential political consequences for Republican gubernatorial candidates…
“Rauner will get a series of questions on the social issues that he’s refused to take a position on,” [political consultant Don Rose] said. “The guy who won’t take a position is always going to get the same questions. Very few people get away with ducking, particularly on hot-button stuff.” […]
Both Dillard and Brady said they voted against the measure on Tuesday because they believed it was unconstitutional.
Dillard said: “I believe in traditional marriage, which is a tenet of my religious beliefs. The Hinsdale Republican added: “I don’t know whether having gay marriage behind us changes anything in the governor’s race. Only time will tell what the gay marriage vote will mean politically.”
Dillard said it was too soon to know whether he might suffer voter backlash from a no vote.
Brady, a Bloomington Republican, took a shot at Rauner.
“He’s dodged every issue. He’s got to come to grips with the fact that you can’t run for governor and not tell people what your views are,” Brady told the Sun-Times Tuesday. As for the race, Brady said his voting ‘no’ again: “doesn’t change our campaign at all.”
* Mark Brown took a quick look at Rep. Tom Cross’ “Yes” vote…
Cross, who recently gave up his post as the House Republican leader to run for state treasurer, had been another mystery before the vote.
Even though it only makes sense for him as a statewide candidate to show that he’s got some compassion, it still couldn’t have been an easy vote for Cross considering he is facing a GOP primary opponent.
* As did Greg Hinz…
Mr. Cross — call him brave or foolhardy, depending on your view
* And the Daily Herald looked at a couple of House races…
And state Rep. Tom Cross of Oswego, just weeks ago the House’s top Republican, joined state Reps. Ed Sullivan of Mundelein and Ron Sandack of Downers Grove as the only House GOP members to vote “yes.” […]
Earlier this year, former Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady of St. Charles was nearly ousted after Republican state Sen. Jim Oberweis of Sugar Grove and others objected to his lobbying in favor of same-sex marriage.
Both Sullivan and Sandack face potential primary election challengers that don’t share their support of same-sex marriage, and at least one conservative political action committee is looking to put money behind those challengers.
Sullivan’s primary challenge in particular has been one of the more visible signs that same-sex marriage remains controversial in the suburbs, but he spoke at length on the House floor Tuesday about his gay mother-in-law and his decision to vote “yes.”
“If I vote against this bill, a bill I believe in, that I believe is the right thing to do, how do I face my children? How do I tell them that there’s something wrong with their grandmother?” Sullivan said. “Well, I can’t, and I won’t.”
Your thoughts?
* Related…
* Log Cabin Republicans Congratulate GOP lawmakers for supporting gay marriage
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Gay marriage bill passes House
Tuesday, Nov 5, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The House approved the bill 61-54-2. The roll call is here
Rep. Tom Cross was a surprise Yes vote for the HGOP.
Keep an eye on the live coverage post for react and for coverage of a press conference by Rep. Greg Harris and Speaker Madigan.
…Adding… Press release…
CROSS STATEMENT ON SUPPORTING MARRIAGE EQUALITY
PLAINFIELD… Illinois State Representative and candidate for Illinois State Treasurer Tom Cross today released the following statement in response to his vote in support of legislation allowing for marriage equality.
“As a lawmaker, a father, a husband and a private citizen, individual freedom, equality and limited government are principles that are very important to me and help guide my thinking on issues. I believe they must always be considered when weighing where to stand on policies that affect Illinois citizens. Over the past several months, I have thought long and hard about those principles and how they apply to the marriage equality debate.
I also reached out to trusted and respected people in my life, including my father, who is a retired minister, my family and my own minister. In my discussions with them, it became very clear to me that supporting marriage equality was a stance consistent with those principles that have been so central to my thinking over these many years.
I believe that all citizens in Illinois should have the individual freedom to live their lives as they see fit and pursue happiness. I also believe that our government must treat everyone equally and not exclude citizens from engaging in marriage based on their sexual orientation. And lastly, I believe a limited government stays out of the private lives of law-abiding citizens and focuses on minimizing its footprint.
For me, supporting marriage equality is not only the right decision, but also consistent with my belief in individual freedom, equality and limited government. That is why I supported legislation that allows all citizens of Illinois regardless of their sexual orientation to engage in marriage that is recognized by our state. “
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Gay marriage bill amended
Tuesday, Nov 5, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* This was just filed by Rep. Greg Harris and advanced out of the House Rules Committee…
Amend Senate Bill 10 on page 1, by inserting immediately below line 16 the following:
“Section 7. Private clubs. Nothing in this Act is intended to abrogate, limit, or expand the exemption for private clubs under Section 5-103 of the Illinois Human Rights Act.”; and on page 10, by deleting lines 5 and 6.
Lines 5 and 6 from the original include the immediate effective date. So, that’s been deleted. It can now receive a simple majority for passage.
…Adding… I’m told the amendment language on private clubs is essentially just a reiteration of already included language to make extra special sure that there’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that church-affiliated groups like the Knights of Columbus don’t have to rent their facilities for gay weddings.
Also, Rep. Naomi Jakobsson is not in town yet. A family member is ill, I’m told. If she can get here, the bill might possibly be called today.
…Adding… Make sure to watch our live updates post for continuous coverage of this and other issues. It just can’t be beat.
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Caption contest!
Tuesday, Nov 5, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Things are a little slow in comments today. So, here’s a pic of Rahm Emanuel, Jesse White, Pat Quinn and Michael J. Madigan that ought to stir things up a bit…
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Lake County election law repeal moves forward
Tuesday, Nov 5, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Daily Herald…
As Lake County officials await a judicial ruling that could decide who runs local elections in 2014 and beyond, County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor on Tuesday will tell state lawmakers why he opposes the creation of a special commission for that task.
Lawlor is set to testify at 10 a.m. before the House Executive Committee in Springfield. The panel is reviewing a bill that would remove a controversial section from a recently adopted election law that sought to create an election commission in Lake County — and nowhere else.
The Lake County Clerk’s office now oversees elections, voter registration and related programs. County Clerk Willard Helander and various county and state officials from both political parties decried the proposal this summer but couldn’t stop its passage.
Critics say the law illegally singles out Lake County and takes away voters’ rights to choose whom they want to run their elections. Although the legislation doesn’t mention Lake County by name, it describes affected counties by population and geography in such a way that it can only apply to Lake.
Nobody has taken “credit” for the section of the bill passed earlier this year dealing with Lake County. It’s been a strange process, for sure.
The bill to repeal the clause is here. It passed committee today 11-0.
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Tax breaks and car leases
Tuesday, Nov 5, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Lots of stories have been written about the proposed ADM tax break, but others are floating around as well…
Another business incentive is being sought on behalf of the company that emerges from the soon-to-be-completed merger of OfficeMax Inc. and Office Depot Inc., if it chooses Illinois as it headquarters rather than Florida.
Zurich North America insurance wants a payroll tax break in exchange for relocating its Schaumburg offices to another location in Schaumburg. The company would retain 1,000 jobs, create at least 250 more and make capital investments of at least $128 million.
Univar, a chemical distribution company based in Redmond, Wash., is seeking incentives worth $5 million to move its headquarters to Downers Grove. Univar would keep 100 jobs at its two current Illinois locations and add at least 69 jobs.
Fred Crespo, a Hoffman Estates Democrat, is pushing incentives legislation for High Voltage Software, a video-game maker in his district. The bill would give the company tax credits it says it needs to compete with mainly Canadian competitors.
* But it’s possible that action will be deferred until pension reform is taken up…
Big decisions that Illinois lawmakers pushed back to this week’s veto session might just be pushed back again.
Sen. John Sullivan heard early this week that there’s a chance the Legislature will be called back into session after Thanksgiving so that some complex issues can be worked out during the next few weeks.
“I think that could be what happens with ADM and pension reform,” the Rushville Democrat said.
* Meanwhile, the car dealers are pushing a new bill on auto leasing…
If you were to lease a car today, chances are you’d be charged for tax on the full value of the vehicle, just like if you were buying it.
But it’s the leasing company that actually pays taxes, and — due to how the system’s set up in Illinois — it’s likely they only pay a fraction of what they’ve collected to the state.
Proposed legislation, backed by auto dealers, would change it so customers only pay tax on their monthly payments, not the full cost of the car.
The Illinois Department of Revenue supports the change. Spokeswoman Sue Hofer says Illinois won’t lose any tax revenue. “This way we know the person who drives that car off the lot isn’t going to end up paying more sales tax to the person he or she bought it from than that person pays to the state of Illinois,” Hofer says.
Dealers are saying that Illinois is way behind other states in car leasing and that this change could save people $60 a month on a car worth $32,000.
I have no way of immediately verifying that claim, however. The bill is here.
* Related…
* Activists Pushing For Graduated Income Tax
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Question of the day
Tuesday, Nov 5, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I’m gonna let you in on a little secret.
I’ve all but stopped using Google News. The company broke its news search several months ago and despite my requests for action and promises from friends at the company that something would be done, nothing happened. It’s still broken.
* Let me give you just one example. As you might imagine, I spend a good chunk of my blogging days checking for breaking news. I use searches specifically designed to produce the latest results.
Google gives you two basic sorting options on its news search: relevance and by date. I need “by date” so I can find the latest stuff.
Here’s a Google News search of “Christine Radogno” sorted by relevance…
* And here are the same Google News search results by date…
Um, what?
This is just the most extreme example, but the site’s problems drove me nuts, which is why I reached out to the company for help. Yet, as you can clearly see above, it’s still broken.
* So, I’ve switched to Bing. I’m a dedicated Mac guy and Google’s Chicago office paid big bucks to co-host my election night party last year, so using a Microsoft [shudder] product throughout my day was not an easy pill to swallow.
I still occasionally use Google as a backup because I’ve seen a couple of holes in Bing’s results every now and then. But I’m very nearly a one hundred percent Bing News user now. It works and Google doesn’t - at least for my purposes.
* The Question: Have you used Bing’s web and/or news searches? If so, how would you rate your experience? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
Any suggestions you’d have for improvements to Bing would also be a good thing because I’m meeting with a company representative tomorrow to discuss a few tweaks I’d like them to make.
survey services
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Definitely worth a look
Tuesday, Nov 5, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Legislative Audit Commission is meeting today and one item on the agenda is the curious case of Illinois Lottery Director Michael Jones…
Emails obtained by FOX 32 and the Better Government Association show that within days of his appointment, Jones started pushing to hire a Chicago-based company called Independent Lottery Research, a company that Jones helped found and partly owned until he took over the lottery.
“I’d say ‘why don’t we keep the money in Illinois? Why wouldn’t we hire an Illinois company to do research on the Illinois lottery?’” Jones recalls of his conversation.
That contract was killed after Northstar and the governor’s office complained it looked like a conflict–the “optics” problem. But, the next month, Independent Lottery Research changed its name to Independent Gaming Research and invoices show it immediately starting getting work on the Illinois Lottery–about $168,000 in a 1-year period.
Jones says he had nothing to do with picking the company and told us to ask Northstar – so we did.
A spokesman for Northstar’s parent company GTECH says they gave the business to Jones’ old company, because Jones wanted them to.
“The director… strongly encouraged GTECH to use ILR/IGR for various marketing research projects for the Illinois Lottery,” says spokesperson Bob Vincent. “GTECH had not previously done business with those companies. The primary reason GTECH hired ILR/IGR was because of Director Jones’ urging.”
Word is that Jones’ former research company has submitted another bid for work with Northstar.
* This fight appears to go back to when Lottery management was privatized…
Now, it’s fair to say that the marriage between Mr. Jones and Northstar, which is mostly owned by the Gtech division of Lottomatica Group SpA, wasn’t made in heaven. Not only is Mr. Jones a hard-charger, but before his appointment he had teamed up with another group bidding against Northstar. Once in office, he and Northstar squared off in a nasty fight before an independent mediator over whether the company should pay $25 million in penalties for poor performance.
* And the rift between Director Jones and Northstar has been escalating…
A nasty — and growing — rift between Illinois Lottery private manager Northstar Lottery Group and Illinois Lottery Director Michael Jones has suddenly worsened.
A Northstar spokeswoman confirmed the Lottery private manager has instructed the two lead ad agencies working on Lottery advertising — general market agency Downtown Partners Chicago and multicultural agency Commonground Chicago — to work only with Northstar staff on marketing-related matters and discontinue any direct dealings they may have had with Jones.
“Northstar is the sole point of contact to Northstar’s creative agencies,” said the spokeswoman in a statement. Then, per the spokeswoman, “Northstar and the Lottery meet to discuss all aspects of marketing for the Illinois Lottery.”
The Northstar spokeswoman indicated the directive to the two ad agencies merely reflects what is outlined in the private manager’s agreement with the state. Jones declined comment, as did Jim Schmidt, a co-founder and co-creative leader of Downtown Partners.
Contractual rules and regulations notwithstanding, Northstar’s latest move appears to be a direct slap in the face to Jones, who has said repeatedly that developing a new look and feel for Illinois Lottery advertising is one of his top priorities.
* More…
As the top state official overseeing the Illinois Lottery, records show, Michael J. Jones has:
◆ Tried to get the private company that runs the lottery to hire his daughter’s ballet company for a promotion.
◆ Hired a consultant who got more than $115,000 for four months of work assisting with Internet lottery sales — even though the private lottery manager oversees those sales. The same consultant made another $46,000 in that time working for Illinois Senate President John J. Cullerton (D-Chicago), who met her through Jones.
◆ Found himself facing questions raised by the lottery manager’s lawyer over free tickets to professional basketball, baseball and hockey games that he and other state employees got.
Jones says he’s done nothing wrong and calls the questions about his ethics a diversionary tactic on the part of Northstar Lottery Group, the company hired by Illinois officials in 2011 in a deal that made Illinois the first state to have a private manager run most of its lottery operation.
Discuss.
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[The following is a paid advertisement.]
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[The following is a paid advertisement.]
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Expectations rising for marriage bill vote
Tuesday, Nov 5, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From Rep. Greg Harris’ Facebook page…
* Like I did in the subscriber section, the Sun-Times quoted Harris’ post and Harris had some fun with it…
* Most of the Sun-Times story was about Speaker Madigan’s involvement…
But unlike in the spring, when Harris didn’t have the votes to pass the same-sex marriage bill, Madigan (D-Chicago) has been actively working over members to persuade them to pass the legislation.
“I had a brief conversation with [Madigan]. He was asking about the bill because he is trying to pass it,” said Rep. Thaddeus Jones (D-Calumet City), a member of the House Legislative Black Caucus who’s among more than a dozen House members still undecided on the bill.
State Rep. John D’Amico (D-Chicago), another undecided House member, said he, too, had a conversation about Harris’ bill with Madigan. “I’m still meeting with people, talking to my constituents, and I’m not going to make my mind up till I get on the floor and listen to the debate,” D’Amico said.
Harris has been unwilling to divulge how close to 60 votes he is, but gay activist Rick Garcia, who also is helping to pass the measure, said, “We’re closer to 60 than we were even three weeks ago.”
Garcia said there is “a very good chance” Harris will seek a vote on the bill this week and that Madigan’s involvement amounts to a “very significant” development in trying to pass the legislation.
“We’re within striking distance. The speaker isn’t going to make calls if we have 52 or 53 votes, right?” said Garcia, political director of the Civil Rights Agenda. “The speaker will make calls if we’re at 57 votes, you know? He’s not going to bring 10, but he can persuade a couple, and I think that’s what we’re going to rely on.”
* Greg Hinz…
Chief bill sponsor Rep. Greg Harris wasn’t available for comment yesterday. But another sponsor, Rep. Kelly Cassidy, like Mr. Harris a Chicago Democrat who is open about her sexuality, told me yesterday, “I anticipate that the bill will be called for a vote this week.”
Will it pass? “Let’s just say I bought a new suit (for the occasion),” Ms. Cassidy quipped. “I feel really good. I feel excited about coming to Springfield for the first time in a while.”
* Tribune…
Opponents say they are focused on lobbying anywhere from 10 to 15 House lawmakers who could vote either way. They contend any hype about a possible vote is just that until the measure is called, citing the lack of a vote at the end of spring session.
“I think that what they are doing is the same thing they did in late May. They’re trying to make this a self-fulfilling prophecy,” said Robert Gilligan, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Illinois. “We have seen this before. We just hope it has the same ending.”
* Illinois Review…
Opponents say they do not believe there are enough votes in the House to pass SB 10 to the governor, but that the proponents are pushing for a roll call to use in upcoming primary elections.
* Related…
* Rep. Gordon-Booth adds support to same-sex marriage bill: Breaking a longtime silence on the subject, state Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth announced Monday she intends to support legislation permitting same-sex marriage in the Land of Lincoln. The third-term Peoria Democrat had previously not committed on the legislation, Senate Bill 10, and after months of consideration may end up being one of the deciding votes on the measure. It could be voted on as soon as Tuesday, and is believed to be within a handful of votes of securing a majority.
* Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth: Equality under the law is the American way: I will vote for the legalization of same-gender marriage. Many conversations over the last several months with constituents, clergy members, community leaders and legal scholars only bolster my conviction that it is the right course for our state. It is time that Illinois joins the 14 other states that have legalized same-gender marriage and embraces the moral courage and legal soundness exemplified by Brown v. Board of Education: Separate but equal is un-American.
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Revised gun penalty bill proposed
Tuesday, Nov 5, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Rep. Zalewski’s new amendment will likely move out of the House Judiciary Committee today, but as of late yesterday, the NRA was still opposed…
The sponsor of a plan to crack down on gun-related violence in Chicago has tweaked his original proposal in hopes of winning approval in the General Assembly this week.
State Rep. Michael Zalewski’s legislation to boost the minimum amount of time gun-toting criminals must spend in prison now includes a provision that would take a lighter-handed approach when it comes to first-time offenders.
“This legislation will in-crease minimum sentencing for repeat offenders and unlawful gun owners. It strictly addressed the most serious gun crimes and requires serving 85 percent of the imposed sentences,” notes a fact sheet distributed Monday by the Riverside Democrat.
The changes are largely aimed at addressing concerns raised by gun rights advocates, who argued the original version might have meant first-time gun law offenders could face a minimum of four years in prison for what amounts to a mistake.
* More…
State Rep. Michael Zalewski (D-Riverside) amended his proposal, Senate Bill 1342, so that someone caught for the first time carrying a loaded, accessible gun without a state gun permit would face a minimum one-year prison sentence and be required to serve 85 percent of that time.
His original bill established a three-year mandatory minimum sentence for such first-time offenses, a significant step up from existing law that permits one-year sentences with offenders getting set free in as little as six months with good-behavior credits.
Another change Zalewski made Monday involves eliminating county boot camp as a sentencing option for weapons offenses involving gang members, felons or parolees – a move motivated by circumstances in the September mass shootings at Cornell Square Park on the South Side. […]
But Todd Vandermyde, a lobbyist for the National Rifle Association, said he is “skeptical at best” about the changes and insisted they don’t “go far enough” to address concerns about law-abiding gun-owners, particularly from out of state, inadvertently facing prison time.
“This is like Jason out of a ‘Friday the 13th’ movie,” Vandermyde told the Chicago Sun-Times, when asked about the legislation’s overall chances this week, when lawmakers are expected to conclude their fall session. “It’s been killed three times already.”
* From an outline distributed by Zalewski’s spokesperson yesterday…
Strengthening Illinois Gun Laws
SB 1342 (Zalewski)
Detailed Outline
This legislation will increase minimum sentencing for repeat offenders and unlawful gun owners. It strictly addressed the most serious gun crimes and requires serving 85% of the imposed sentences. The legislation has been amended based on the newly effective Firearm Concealed Carry Act (7/9/13).
1. UUW by felons or people in DOC custody (Probationers, Parolees, Mandatory Supervised Release)
o Currently a Class 3 felony for the 1st offense and mandatory imprisonment of 2-10 years
• Subsequent offenses and violation by parolees are Class 2 felonies with mandatory sentences of 3-14 years
o Will remain a Class 3 felony with mandatory imprisonment of 3-10 years ; subsequent offenses will remain Class 2 felonies with mandatory 4-14 year sentences
2. Aggravated UUW (as amended under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act)
o Currently, if the weapon is in close proximity, loaded, and the offender does not have a FOID, it is a Class 4 felony. A 2nd or subsequent offense is a Class 2 felony a mandatory 3-7 year imprisonment.
o Will remain a Class 4 felony with a 1 year minimum for the 1st offense. Subsequent offenses will be Class 2 felonies with a 4-10 year imprisonment.
3. Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Streetgang Member
o Currently, a Class 2 felony with a mandatory prison sentence of 3-10 year
o Will remain a Class 2 felony, but require a mandatory 4-10 years in prison
4. Boot Camp
o County Boot Camp is not authorized for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Streetgang Member or Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by Felons or People in DOC Custody offenses.
These offenses will be added to 730 ILCS 5/3-6-3(a)(2) following (vii), Rules and Regulations for Sentence Credit. The section requires service of 85% of sentenced time.
This bill increases prison sentences for the worst gun offenses and requires the offenders serve at least 85% of the sentence. The legislation has been amended based on the newly effective Firearm Concealed Carry Act (7/9/13).
Penalties are increased for:
o UUW by felons or people in custody of DOC to a minimum of 4 years and a minimum of 5 years for subsequent offenses
o AUUW + no FOID card with a minimum of 4 years for the 2nd offense
o Unlawful possession by a streetgang member up from 3 years to a minimum of 4 years
The Truth in Sentencing/85% service requirement is imposed on:
o UUW by felons or in DOC custody
o AUUW (no FOID and CCL)
o Unlawful possession by a streetgang member
Boot Camp is not permitted for the Unlawful Possession offenses.
Discuss.
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*** UPDATED x1 *** Another computer glitch
Tuesday, Nov 5, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I received a weird e-mail yesterday afternoon with the subject: “Election Day is tomorrow”…
Rich –
Decisions are made by those who show up. That is never truer than on Election Day. And in Illinois, people like you have some important decisions to make.
The polls open tomorrow morning, which means it’s time to step up, make a plan for how you’re going vote, and stick to it.
Commit to vote now:
http://my.democrats.org/Vote-2013
Thanks,
Barack
Others received an e-mail with the subject line “Election Day in Illinois.”
The e-mail was paid for by the Democratic National Committee.
* If you click on the link, you’ll see that they don’t actually have Illinois listed as a state with an election day. So something must be messed up with President Obama’s computer system.
Gee, I wonder where I’ve heard that before?
*** UPDATE *** I just received an e-mail from the DNC with the subject line: “Correction”…
Rich –
Yesterday, you received an email from us that was intended to be sent to every state where there is an election today, November 5th. Due to an error in the data, this message was sent to Illinois.
There are no elections in Illinois today, and we sincerely regret the error.
Thanks,
Democratic National Committee
How come Barack didn’t sign that one?
Heh.
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It’s Time for Marriage Equality in Illinois
Tuesday, Nov 5, 2013 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
“Several of my colleagues have indicated that they would not be willing to cast a vote on this bill today … I apologize to the families who were hoping to wake up tomorrow as full and equal citizens of this state.” – Rep. Greg Harris, May 31, 2013
On May 31, 2013, the Illinois House of Representatives adjourned without taking a vote on the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act. The lack of action by the House left thousands of Illinois couples and their families without the protections and security that only marriage brings. The House denied them the chance to be, as Harris put it, “full and equal citizens of this state.”
Some legislators told Harris they needed more time – and that they would be prepared to vote for SB10 in November. Well, November has arrived. And much has happened since then.
In June, the U.S. Supreme Court found the Defense of Marriage Act to be unconstitutional. In his majority opinion, Justice Anthony Kennedy said excluding gays and lesbians from marriage “humiliates tens of thousands of children now being raised by same-sex couples.”
In September, Steven Rynes lost his battle with cancer. Steven died before he could realize his dream of marrying his partner, Robb Smith. While legislators got more time, Steven Rynes did not.
This isn’t just about the legal protections marriage affords. It’s about dignity. It’s about equality before the law. It’s about fairness.
It is time for the Illinois House of Representatives to get on the right side of history and pass SB10. It’s time to stop excluding same-sex couples from marriage. Illinois families can’t wait.
Watch Illinois couples and Rep. Greg Harris speak out in our latest video…
For more information, visit IllinoisUnites.org.
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Liability drops, costs to rise
Monday, Nov 4, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* A tiny bit of good news…
According to a new report out today by Moody’s Investors Service, the “adjusted net pension liability” in the state’s five retirement systems dropped 9 percent, or $16.5 billion, to “only” $173 billion, in the year ended June 30. Adjusted net pension liability is a form of unfunded liability. Moody’s defines this differently than other ratings agencies, reflecting what it views as overly optimistic assumptions by pension fund managers.
The New York bond rater attributed the 9 percent decline to two factors: The pension funds earned 12.9 percent on their investments, exceeding their assumed 7.9 percent annual return, and interest rates rose, narrowing the spread between what the state expects to earn on pension investments in the future and what Moody’s believes will be earned.
* But, of course, this being Illinois there’s always bad news…
On a three-year average basis, Illinois’ adjusted net pension liability actually rose 7.2 percent, to $165.8 billion, Moody’s said. And Illinois still has a ratio of pension liabilities to revenues of 241 percent, compared with a 50-state median of 45 percent.
As a result, without reform the share of the state’s general (operating) funds that will have to go to pay pension costs will rise from 22 percent in fiscal 2013 to 24 percent in 2014 and potentially 26 percent in 2015, it said.
That 26 percent figure is based on the partial expiration of the tax hike midway through FY 2015.
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Question of the day
Monday, Nov 4, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sen. Bill Brady talked about his lackluster fundraising with WJBC…
Brady raised about $66,000 during the three-month period that ended Sept. 30 and had about $273,000 on hand based on filings with the Illinois State Board of Elections.
Brady says he has grassroots support, which he says is more important than money.
“We really haven’t been as aggressive as we would like to have been in terms of raising money, I need a little more distance. When you’ve asked people and you’ve raised $20 million just two or three years ago, you need a little distance,” Brady said.
Brady says after a costly campaign for governor three years ago, some donors are a bit fatigued and need time before they’ll give again.
“I raised $20 million in the last election for governor. I think there are a lot of people whose pocketbook was fatigued when giving to Bill Brady, but they are coming along. We will raise enough money, we’ve always been outspent though,” Brady said.
* The Question: Is donor fatigue a plausible explanation for Bill Brady’s lack of campaign funds? Take the poll and then make sure to explain your answer in comments, please.
survey solutions
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* Adam Andrzejewski’s “Open the Books” organization sent out an e-mail this morning entitled “We Sued. Taxpayers Won”…
This is a watershed moment in our fight for transparent government. In a Cook County court room, during ten months of legal wrangling, we’ve shown:
1. Citizens own the State of Illinois checkbook spending information;
2. The Comptroller has a constitutional duty to provide this data on request;
3. The Comptroller has a duty under Freedom of Information Act to fulfill requests;
4. Citizens can request the state checkbook from the Comptroller, from 1996 forward.
For the first time in state history, all public State of Illinois checkbook payments since 1996 will soon be online at OpenTheBooks.com. Turns out, “three days of work” wasn’t an “undue burden.”
Our suit forced the IL Comptroller to finally comply with the law. It shouldn’t have taken 18 months and a lawsuit. At OpenTheBooks.com, 40 of the 50 state checkbooks are already posted online.
“We aren’t asking the Comptroller to lead the charge on openness and accountability - only to follow the law.” January 8, 2013 Press Conference
Illinois Freedom of Information law has an enforcement provision that allows for return of reasonable legal fees. Through our attorney, Michael Lotus of Howard Law Firm, our demand for return of our $45,000 (so far) in legal costs is not negotiable. Non-payment would have a chilling effect on future citizen lawsuits of equal importance to rectify instances of trampled rights.
In these hyper-partisan times, Comptroller Judy Baar-Topinka (R) and Attorney General Lisa Madigan (D) found common ground attempting to hide the state checkbook from taxpayers- a position that pitted them against us all.
The taxpayer’s won. Pay up, Judy- and let’s move on. [Emphasis in original]
But, wait. Didn’t Andrzejewski’s group get this info months ago?
* So, I followed up with Andrzejewski. His reply…
We took our time in broadcasting the latest to give the Comptroller opportunity to settle this case. Topinka didn’t seize the opportunity to wrap it up. We are still assessing whether she’s turned over all public information and didn’t withhold or redact too much.
We are serious about driving a judgment and fully enforcing FOIA with return of our legal fees.
Ah, legal fees.
* The comptroller’s spokesman responded…
That “news release” is from left field.
He has the same information that he’s had all along and we haven’t lost a single motion in Court.
I’m not sure how that’s a victory for him, but if it means he is dropping his frivolous lawsuit, so be it.
It sounds like now all that’s left is his absurd attempt to soak taxpayers for his legal fees.
*** UPDATE *** Andrzejewski’s full response to Comptroller Topinka…
We were disappointed to see the response by the Comptroller to our announcement today. Here are some details to set the record straight.
Eighteen months ago we requested the State’s checkbook for 2011 under the Freedom of Information Act. How the taxpayers’ money is spent is a matter of the highest possible public interest. The Comptroller has a duty to the public to make that information available.
The Comptroller responded that it would take “three days” of work to produce these records, and that this was “an undue burden.” After repeated further requests, we were finally forced to bring a lawsuit to get the State’s checkbook. Here’s our complaint: http://forthegoodofillinois.org/wp-content/uploads/20130104-Complaint-by-For-The-Good-Of-Illinois.pdf
The Comptroller, represented by the Attorney General’s office, filed a motion to dismiss our complaint. They argued, among other things, that the State’s outdated computer systems couldn’t remove confidential information from the public spending record. Our response to the Comptroller’s motion is here: http://forthegoodofillinois.org/wp-content/uploads/20130408-Plaintiffs-Motion-For-Relief-Pursuant-To-IL-Rule-191b-1.pdf
We also filed a motion to take discovery, to get information to respond to the Comptroller’s motion to dismiss. The Court granted that motion, and we served written requests for information on the Comptroller. To be clear, we won that motion and the Comptroller lost it.
When the Comptroller saw our detailed, written requests for information, their office finally agreed to provide the information it should have given us from the beginning. The information we forced the Comptroller to disclose was not previously available to the public. For example, we now have itemized payments, which the Comptroller had not produced before.
The Comptroller also stated that it had now written computer code that will allow it to remove confidential information and produce its other spending records. The Comptroller can no longer refuse to produce its entire checkbook by claiming that there are confidential records in it. Our effort in this case has conferred a benefit on everyone who wants to know where the public’s money is going in Illinois.
The Freedom of Information Act provides for attorney’s fees. There is a good reason for this. Citizens of Illinois should not have to fight a legal battle, and spend their own money, to get public records showing how their tax money is spent. Otherwise, the State could withhold public information with little chance that ordinary citizens could ever force that information to be disclosed. This is an important case which we brought on behalf of all Illinois citizens. Seeking our fees is exactly what the Freedom of Information Act provides for.
We are proud of the success we have already had in this case, on behalf of the citizens of Illinois, and we look forward to bringing this case to a conclusion.
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Checkbook cred
Monday, Nov 4, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Bruce Rauner talks about his conservative credentials…
“I’ve been a passionate free market conservative my whole life. I believe in limited government, low taxes and individual liberty, personal responsibility. The reason we are the most prosperous nation in the world in history is because of free market capitalism. I’ve built dozens of successful companies. I’m all about economic freedom as well as economic liberty.
“I’m a huge donor to the Americans for Prosperity, this group, but also Cato Institute, Club for Growth, Illinois Policy Institute, Heartland Institute.”
He didn’t mention his “huge” contributions to Democrats, but I suppose that wouldn’t add to his conservative cred.
* Meanwhile, Rauner’s name popped up in a rather odd story a new book about the 2012 presidential campaign…
On May 10, 2012, a woman dropped by the Evanston office of Pete Giangreco, a Democratic strategist advising the Obama campaign. The anonymous brunette passed along to one of Giangreco’s staffers a GOP consultant’s proposal to resurrect Jeremiah Wright as a campaign issue—remarkably just hours after it was pitched during a meeting at the Wilmette home of Todd Ricketts, whose SuperPac was poised to spend millions to defeat President Barack Obama.
Giangreco read the presentation and that same day raced the proposal over to the Obama re-election headquarters in the Prudential Building, handing it over to Obama campaign manager Jim Messina. Messina quickly put together a conference call which included Obama strategist David Axelrod. They wanted to leak the proposal about Obama’s former pastor to the press. And on May 17, The New York Times trumpeted the scoop on the front page. […]
After the meeting at Todd Ricketts home was finished, Fred Davis, the GOP consultant pushing to revive Wright, headed over to Evanston for lunch with Bruce Rauner, at the time mulling a GOP bid for Illinois governor and now in the 2014 contest. That lunch was a block from Giangreco’s office. […]
Todd and his brother Pete were at the meeting along with Brian Baker, the Ending Spending President. Joe Ricketts was not there, according to the book. Baker “thought the singular focus on Wright was a big mistake.” Tom Ricketts “was negotiating with City Hall for financial help in rebuilding Wrigley Field. ‘This will cause a massive problem for your brother, and for the team, Baker said. This will not go over well in Chicago.”
Baker—who drove Davis to Evanston for his lunch date with Rauner—said to Davis in the car “he was nervous about what the Romney camp would think of a Wright-centric super-Pac effort.”
Elements on the far right really wanted to use the Wright stuff against Obama again last year. They tend to lean toward the tinfoil hat spectrum, so I can only imagine what they’ll make of this.
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The grownup is not behaving like one
Monday, Nov 4, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
The rich irony of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan denouncing somebody else for attempting to be a “kingmaker” is so obvious and laughable that I can’t help but wonder why a guy who’s been a take no prisoners kingmaker himself for so long in this state would ever think of saying such a thing.
You may already know the story. The Better Government Association and the Chicago Sun-Times took a look at some of Madigan’s campaign petition passers to see if they had government jobs.
What they found wasn’t surprising at all. Seventeen of thirty people who passed Madigan’s nominating petitions worked for the government. Another 12 had at one time worked for the government.
Power tends to feed off itself. The longer you’re around, the more power you tend to have, and the more power you have, the more you can get. And Madigan has been around Illinois and Chicago politics forever. He is at the top of the heap as far as state government power goes.
Ideologically, Madigan has moved with the times. He favors both medical marijuana and gay marriage, for example.
Politically, the man is anything but post-modern. He’s the 13th Ward Democratic Committeeman, and he runs his ward like it’s been run for a century or more.
Running an old-time organization, however, requires old-style patronage, and Madigan is a master at finding jobs for his precinct workers.
A good case in point is Patrick Ward, a Madigan precinct worker. Ward was already drawing a public pension while working at Metra, but he wanted a raise and hadn’t received one, so he asked his sponsor for help. Madigan made a couple of calls, then backed off when the man who ran Metra objected to political interference. That guy eventually resigned with a golden parachute and a vow of silence. But when the media got wind of it all heck broke loose and all fingers pointed to Madigan.
The Sun-Times and the Better Government Association’s investigation team took a look at Madigan’s most recent nominating petitions, noticed Ward was a circulator then took a look at the other names.
The BGA sent people door to door to talk to the other circulators and see if they were the same folks who popped up on their government employee searches. Some of those precinct workers alleged that they and their families were harassed, and Madigan got angry.
So, Madigan unleashed a diatribe against the BGA and its leader Andy Shaw for being on “an unrelenting journey to become a kingmaker in Illinois politics.”
Madigan is fiercely protective of the loyal members of his 13th Ward organization, who are almost like family to him.
A statement simply denouncing the BGA’s tactics would’ve been reasonable, although still ironic considering how personally aggressive and “unrelenting” Madigan’s House campaigns can be.
And some of the BGA’s political motivations and top contributors are also fair game. The group preaches political cleanliness, yet it doesn’t always associate with the cleanest of the clean.
But all Madigan did with that “kingmaker” comment was turn the BGA’s Shaw into a folk hero and help Shaw raise lots more money. You’d think Madigan would comprehend the public consequences of such an over the top claim.
Word going around is that Madigan may also be trying to head off another ongoing BGA probe. But all he may have done was whet the group’s appetite.
The Speaker has really been off his game the past several months. He literally ran away and hid from Chicago reporter Chuck Goudie a few months ago, which resulted in a humiliating story on the Chicago media market’s most-watched TV station.
He publicly tossed his own daughter under the bus after she blamed his resistance to retirement for her decision not to run for governor.
And Madigan insulted Senate President Cullerton last May by telling a Sun-Times reporter that Cullerton displayed a “lack of leadership” on pension reform.
Partly due to his daughter’s aborted gubernatorial bid and partly due to the Metra “scandal,” polling has shown that the public’s awareness of Madigan has grown this year. And the public definitely doesn’t like the guy. So, he’s only hurting himself and his members with stunts like this BGA attack.
Madigan is valued at the Statehouse for being the most grown up of the grownups. But he’s simply not acting that way of late.
Thoughts?
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* I told subscribers about this last week, on Friday and filled them in on some details today. Gatehouse had a story up today which was essentially the same stuff I told subscribers last week. The four legislative leaders have been meeting to discuss pension reform and are making progress. But that doesn’t mean a vote will happen this week…
“I’ve been directed to say there is good progress,” Steve Brown, spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, said afterward. “There are some different elements of a reform bill that the leaders agreed to send off to the pension systems to score.”
Brown would not elaborate. […]
“He has been engaged in constructive conversations with all legislative leaders over the last week,” said Cullerton spokeswoman Rikeesha Phelon. “It’s clear that the other leaders consider $138 billion to be the baseline for saving. With that in mind, Cullerton is working with the leaders to identify a fair way to increase those savings. The progress is good, but new ideas are still being considered and scored.”
In the past, it has taken more than a week for actuaries to review, or “score,” pension reform proposals and verify the savings that can be expected. Asked if that would preclude a vote on pension reform next week, Phelon said, “I think that’s a safe assumption. The numbers need to work.” […]
“Discussions have been good, and progress is being made,” [Vicki Crawford, spokeswoman for House Republican Leader Jim Durkin] said. “We need to wait for scoring to come back from the systems, so it is highly unlikely there will be a vote next week. […]
“Leader Radogno believes good progress is being made. As they continue to talk, they will look at the numbers and make sure it all works,” said spokeswoman Patty Schuh. “The numbers have to work. To go without numbers is not a very credible position for the state of Illinois.”
Discuss.
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Coming clean
Monday, Nov 4, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Ron Gidwitz finally comes clean to the Tribune about how he tried to convince state Sen. Jim Oberweis to run for US Senate…
Chicago businessman Ron Gidwitz, a social moderate who also unsuccessfully sought the 2006 GOP nomination for governor, acknowledged he “sort of did suggest very strongly on a number of occasions” that Oberweis consider a U.S. Senate bid in 2014.
Sheesh. Was that so difficult?
* Meanwhile, the two GOP legislative leaders ain’t all that enthusiastic about an Oberweis bid…
“Jim, while he may no longer believe some of the things he said in the past, it will come back,” said Illinois Senate Republican leader Christine Radogno of Lemont, who has discouraged an Oberweis bid. “I don’t think that will help the ticket. I encouraged him to think long and hard.” […]
Rep. Jim Durkin of Western Springs, the new Illinois House Republican leader, said Oberweis should do some “soul searching.” Durkin, who defeated Oberweis for the 2002 GOP U.S. Senate nomination, said Oberweis needs to be aware that a litany of controversial statements “don’t wash away after the election” but “will continue on as long as you’re in the public eye.”
Good advice.
* And here’s a recent photo of Sen. Oberweis with one of his “new” Democratic friends, Sen. Martin Sandoval…
Caption?
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Reader comments closed for the weekend
Friday, Nov 1, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Several bands performed Lou Reed songs in concert this week. Click here for some videos.
My personal favorite tribute, though, was Neil Young, Elvis Costello, My Morning Jacket, Jenny Lewis and more performing “Oh! Sweet Nuthin’” on Wednesday night…
Say a word for Pearly Mae
She can’t tell the night from the day
They threw her out in the street
Just like a cat she landed on her feet
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Twitter as GPS
Friday, Nov 1, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The AP matched up Treasurer Dan Rutherford’s Tweets to his official public schedule and his state travel invoices…
“Just arriving to the DuPage Township Republicans Sunday Brunch fundraiser where I will be the guest speaker,” Rutherford tweeted one Sunday last fall. Hours later, he posted that he was speaking at a Joe Neal for Illinois Senate event and at a fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Bobby Schilling.
Those fundraisers came during his stay in the Chicago suburbs to promote the I-Cash program, which reconnects Illinois residents with financial property they misplaced. While the costs were hardly exorbitant — he stayed at a Red Roof Inn for $70 a night — the reports that Rutherford filed with the state don’t mention the political events but justify the expenses for “performing duties as state treasurer.” […]
The AP found more than 20 such mixed purpose trips by Rutherford over an 18-month period through a review of his social media posts, expense reports and official schedule. Half a dozen were in Chicago, where the treasurer has an office, but the others were in smaller towns across the state tied to the unclaimed property events. […]
Rutherford, of Chenoa, said his office’s I-Cash events are the important “anchor” his political schedule is based around while traveling. He said he doesn’t claim per diems, and he regularly turns down a security detail. And he said his campaign committee and other party funds pay for lodging, including when he was Illinois chairman for the Mitt Romney presidential campaign in 2012.
This is a common practice. You schedule campaign business around state business. Fly down south to cut a ribbon, then stick around for a fundraiser. However, neither of his two predecessors used the I-Cash program to justify extensive political travel.
What makes this story interesting is that Rutherford has made it so easy to track his movements.
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Question of the day
Friday, Nov 1, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Republicans on the pension reform conference committee have been demanding an optional 401(k) retirement plan. Public employees would be able to leave the pension system and start their own retirement accounts with a bit of matching state cash kicked in.
This is not a “cash-out” plan. It doesn’t allow employees to withdraw all the money they’ve put into the system to date. It allows them to exit the system and start their own retirement accounts moving forward. They’d still get the pension benefits they’d already earned up until that point.
Democrats have so far resisted it, partly out of fear that allowing such an optional plan could open the door to the end of a defined benefit plan down the road, as proposed by Bruce Rauner and others…
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner said Thursday he believes his proposed cap on earning additional pension benefits can pass constitutional muster.
Rauner said putting state workers into a 401(k)-style plan while saving pension benefits they have already earned will be sufficient to withstand a court challenge.
“We are not taking away anything historically accrued at all by that move,” Rauner said when asked if his plan was constitutional. […]
Asked later if he agreed with Rauner’s position on pension reform, [Republican attorney general candidate Paul Schimpf] said no.
“I would disagree with that,” he said. “I would have to see his actual plan before I decide to throw a flag on it. I do think a pension is a promise that needs to be kept. It is a contract under contract law.”
* There’s also worry about the loss of employee contributions into the current system (Speaker Madigan, for instance, mentioned this concern to me last week) with the optional plan. But once workers opt out of the mandated benefits system, the state’s overall financial burden would be lower because the government would no longer be on the hook for the employees’ mandated benefits from the day of the opt out forward. Moving every active duty teacher out of the TRS system and into a defined contribution plan, for example, would save at least $71.4 billion in state contributions through FY 2045.
Whatever the case, it’s doubtful that more than a handful of public employees would take advantage of such an option. There’s just no way that they would be financially better off, despite the rhetoric of some that workers should have the right to “control” their own retirement accounts. But some might do it anyway.
The one guarantee here is that the unions will freak out if this is approved. They’ll undoubtedly see this as a slippery slope to Raunerism.
…Adding… Something I meant to mention, but forgot while I was distracted by something else, is that SURS already has a defined contribution plan. Many thanks to a commenter for reminding me.
* The Question: Do you support giving public employees the option to exit the state pension system and set up their own individual retirement accounts with limited state matching contributions? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
panel management
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[The following is a paid advertisement.]
After years of dangerous pollution from Ameren’s E.D. Edwards coal-fired power plant in Bartonville, Ill., local community members are not willing to let Texas-based energy giant Dynegy walk into town asking for a free pass to pollute their community.
A new air modeling study released by the Central Illinois Healthy Community Alliance found that the E.D. Edwards coal plant is allowed to emit toxic sulfur dioxide (SO2) pollution at up to 7.5 times above the limit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says is required to protect public health.
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Numbers for hard times
Friday, Nov 1, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Huge…
The shutdown of as many as 68 Dominick’s grocery stores next month could produce the biggest layoff in metro Chicago in years, with upward of 6,600 employees at risk of losing their jobs. […]
According to executive search firm Challenger Gray & Christmas Inc., employers in Illinois cut a total of 2,202 jobs in Chicago in September — only about a third of the Dominick’s jobs at stake. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, meanwhile, reports that 5,513 people in the Chicago area reported losing a job associated with a mass layoff in the first three months of 2013. Again, that number is significantly below Dominick’s employee headcount.
* Crain’s…
A closely watched indicator of Chicago business activity surged last month as companies ignored the federal government shutdown and scrambled to ramp up production.
The Chicago Business Barometer hit 65.9 in October, up 10.2 points from September, its biggest one-month gain in 30 years.
But…
Employment was up 4.5 points to 57.7, the highest level since June but far below the pace set by new orders and production.
“Purchasers say the increase was due to callbacks from layoffs, temporary workers and using interns to fill in the gap,” she added. “There wasn’t any really new hiring.”
* On to the newspaper industry…
Newspaper circulations in Chicago continued to drop this year as readers shifted to digital channels, while the companies that print the papers kept up efforts to charge for online products.
Average print circulation for the city’s biggest newspaper, Tribune Co.’s Chicago Tribune, declined 8 percent to 677,348 on Sundays and 12 percent to 413,655 on Wednesdays during the six months that ended with September, compared with the same six-month average for 2012, according to the Alliance for Audited Media.
At the Chicago Sun-Times, the average Sunday circulation fell 11 percent to 165,404 and the Wednesday circulation slid 13 percent to 167,493.
* We had several comments yesterday like this one about today’s cut to the food stamp program…
SNAP isn’t supposed to be easy or convenient, folks. Its supposed to be just enough to get by until you can improve your own situation. Anything more invites a cycle of poverty.
Some numbers…
The Illinois Hunger Coalition says about 349,000 seniors and 886,000 children statewide will be affected.
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Is momentum building?
Friday, Nov 1, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* David Ormsby…
State Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago), the measure’s chief House sponsor, strongly hinted on Wednesday night that he plans to call the bill for a vote during the last week of the fall veto session which begins on Tuesday, November 5.
“I think my colleagues should be prepared next week to make history on marriage equality,” Harris told The Illinois Observer during his fall fundraiser in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood.
“I spent the day making calls on marriage,” Harris said. “I’m very happy.”
Another Democratic lawmaker contacted by The Illinois Observer echoed Harris.
“Greg says he’s calling the bill next week and that’s he got the votes,” said the legislator. “I don’t know who he has flipped.” […]
“I understand the Speaker has renewed interest in the marriage bill,” a top Democratic lawmaker told The Illinois Observer.
That last sentence is probably the most important one.
* The AP also sees momentum building…
One legislator who firmed up his support is Rep. Al Riley, an Olympia Fields Democrat who’s been hesitant to discuss his position publicly. He told The Associated Press he’s now a “yes.”
“I’m not in the business of discriminating against people,” he said. The road to “good public policy is that you don’t talk about it all the damn time.”
Riley was always leaning hard in that direction, but it is important for supporters to come out and say so.
* The other side…
Bishop Larry Trotter of Sweet Holy Spirit Church and his coalition of African American pastors around the Chicago area have spoken out against same-sex marriage with aggressive robocall and radio ads. He said the group, which argues marriage should remain between a man and a woman, has started lining up challengers, though he declined to name any. Candidates who want to run for office face an early December petition deadline.
“We have some very serious candidates who are going to run in several of these districts,” Trotter said. “They can’t come to church with our support and then go and vote (against our interests) in Springfield.”
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Report: Sun-Times to endorse candidates
Friday, Nov 1, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* A source tells Crain’s that the Sun-Times will dump its “no endorsements” policy in the next few weeks…
In January 2012, the newspaper announced in an editorial that it was no longer going to endorse candidates, saying, “We have come to doubt the value of candidate endorsements by this newspaper or any newspaper, especially in a day when a multitude of information sources allow even a casual voter to be better informed than ever before.” The paper went on to state that “research on the matter suggests that editorial endorsements don’t change many votes.”
At that time, Bruce Rauner, former chairman of Chicago-based private-equity firm GTCR LLC, was an investor in Wrapports. He’s since sold his 10 percent stake and is a Republican candidate for governor.
The decision to pull back from endorsements came soon after the Sun-Times was purchased by Wrapports, whose chairman is Michael Ferro. It was clearly made by upper management at the firm, as the paper’s top editor, Jim Kirk, who is now also the paper’s publisher, expressed disagreement with the move.
* More…
The source said the turnaround came after much discussion with editorial managers and Mr. Ferro. (Through a spokeswoman, Mr. Kirk declined to comment today.)
Another voice pushing for endorsements? Chicago’s cabbies.
In casual discussions with taxi drivers, Wrapports executives came to realize that it’s easy for a voter to research the background and positions of a gubernatorial or U.S. Senate candidate, the source said. But it’s often more difficult to do that for judges, state representatives and other down-ballot candidates.
Cabbies?
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* Four of the ten pension reform conference committee members were on “Chicago Tonight” this week. Right up front, they were asked whether they thought a bill would be voted on during next week’s veto session. Sen. Matt Murphy (R-Palatine) said he thought it would happen, as did two Democrats, Sen. Kwame Raoul and Rep. Mike Zalewski.
Rep. Darlene Senger (R-Naperville), however, said “I’m not sure.”
Senger said she believed they were “not far off” from an agreement, but said she’d like to see more savings.
But her comments about not being sure appear to jibe with her caucus leader’s recent statement that he would rather wait for a good pension reform bill than rush into something next week.
* Watch…
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Talking points
Friday, Nov 1, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sometimes, trying too hard to stay on message can complicate matters when reporters want to ask about different stuff…
Rauner earlier this week said on a Chicago radio show that high-speed rail is not a priority for Illinois. Asked about high-speed rail Thursday, Rauner initially avoided the questions.
“I have not studied high-speed rail issues,” he said. “I cannot comment on that.”
Reminded of his comments on the radio, Rauner said, “There are many priorities. I don’t think that’s one of the top few.”
He said the state needs to invest in all of its infrastructure to remain competitive.
So, he said he doesn’t like high-speed rail, but he hasn’t studied it so he can’t comment on it, but the state needs to invest in infrastructure to remain competitive.
Got all that?
* He also indicated that maybe he wasn’t as eager to “bulldoze Springfield” as his ads suggest…
He has been staking out the position of being an “outsider” who is going to “shake up Springfield.” After remarks to a Springfield Republican luncheon Thursday, he was more conciliatory toward one of the other thirds of state government.
“I’m excited to transform the government. I need to work with the legislature. I need to understand them. I’ve spent a lot of time getting to know the legislative leaders over the last couple of years,” Rauner said. “I’m going to get to know every member of the legislature,” he continued. “I am going to find ways to get legislation passed.”
Discuss.
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Caption contest!
Friday, Nov 1, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The BGA’s caption…
Better Government Association President and CEO Andy Shaw and John Tillman of the Illinois Policy Institute discussed the State’s pension crisis and “corruption-as-usual culture” at the Union League Club of Chicago on Wednesday, October 30.
I’m sure you can do better than that.
* The photo…
Remember, this is all in fun.
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More Lou
Friday, Nov 1, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Usually, I post a video at the end of the week when comments are turned off. But we’re gonna do something a little different today. I didn’t post many of Lou Reed’s “hits” earlier this week, and that may have disappointed some folks. So let’s start with the Velvet Underground’s “Rock & Roll”…
Jenny said when she was just about five years old
You know my parents are gonna be the death of us all
Two TV sets and two Cadillac cars
But you know, ain’t gonna help me at all
* “Sweet Jane”…
And there’s even some evil mothers
Well they’re gonna tell you that everything is just dirt
* “Perfect Day”…
I thought I was
someone else, someone good
* And, of course…
Plucked her eyebrows on the way
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