Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Monday, Aug 19, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From the comptroller’s office…

Our oldest regular voucher for FY 14 is 5 July 2013, those vouchers are 32 working days in arrears.

Our oldest regular voucher for FY 13 is 26 July 2013, those vouchers are 16 working days in arrears.

Our oldest medical voucher is 11 July 2013, those vouchers are 28 working days in arrears.

24 Comments

A good preview

Monday, Aug 19, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Dan Balz writes about the upcoming Democratic gubernatorial primary…

When I asked him how he sized up his opponent, Quinn said: “He’s not a reformer. Never has been. He’s not a progressive. Never has been. He’s not an organizer of grass-roots campaigns. Never has been. When you run in Illinois as a Democrat, you’d better be a progressive, you’d better be a reformer and you’d better know how to interact with everyday people. I’ve been doing that for the last 40 years.” […]

Quinn, [Daley] says, is “a nice guy” but a weak leader who has failed repeatedly to solve the state’s budgetary problems, even though Democrats control the legislature in Springfield. “A state like ours, any state, needs a strong governor. And if there’s anything that most people, I think, would say, it’s that Pat is not a strong governor,” Daley said from his office on the 25th floor of the JPMorgan Chase building.

Daley served as a senior executive at JPMorgan Chase before and after his time in the Obama White House. Quinn has seized on that experience to attack him. When I asked Quinn how he would respond to criticism that his state has such a high jobless rate, his reply offered a taste of the rough campaign ahead.

“Did this come from a banker who was with an institution that wrecked the American economy? Ran it into a ditch, as President Obama said?” he said. “An institution that has engaged in improper mortgage practices found by the attorney general, caused hardship, ruined the housing industry. People are going to judge who’s on their side when it comes to jobs, and we’ll see how they judge.”

He’s right that Quinn isn’t a strong leader.

But Daley still has an office in the JPMorgan Chase building? Really? Sheesh.

This nasty back and forth could create a clear opening for a third candidate. It’s why Quinn doesn’t want Sen. Raoul in the race. I doubt he’ll be able to attack Raoul like he’s been doing to Daley - not without creating a backlash, anyway. And Daley may think he wants Raoul in the mix, but how many Quinn-hating Democrats are gonna be enthusiastic about voting for a bankster with a name like Daley if there’s a viable alternative? To some, this looks to be shaping up as another CM-B 1992. I’m not so sure yet, but there are some resemblances.

39 Comments

Quick thoughts on a massive bill signing dump

Monday, Aug 19, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Gov. Pat Quinn took action on dozens of bills this past Friday. Here’s just one of them…

Bill No.: HB 3139
An Act Concerning: Transportation
Allows motorists to use an electronic form of proof of insurance and changes online requirements for insurance companies.
Action: Vetoed

I loved that bill because I almost always forget to put my updated insurance card in my car.

So why did he veto it? His explanation…

The language in this bill is duplicative of language in Senate Bill 1775, which is still under consideration.

Could it be because HB 3139 was originally sponsored by indicted state Rep. Derrick Smith and SB 1775 is sponsored by Sen. Bill Haine?

* Quinn also signed HB 49…

Makes it a Class 3 felony to sell, purchase, install, transfer, possess, use, or access any automated sales suppression device, zapper, or phantom-ware in Illinois.

Quinn has signed several bills sponsored by Rep. Jack Franks, but I don’t remember a public ceremony for any of them. No mystery there. Franks has often slammed Quinn in public. From Franks’ press release…

Legislation introduced by state Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, cracking down on high-tech sales tax avoidance will be signed into law this afternoon. Franks’ measure takes aim at curtailing the falsification of electronic cash register records to lower a business’ tax liability.

“The notion that billions in sales tax revenue is being lost due to businesses cooking their books is unconscionable,” Franks said. “Even though it was already illegal to cheat on taxes, ‘tax-zappers’ created an easy way for an unscrupulous few to cheat that is very hard to track.”

House Bill 49 bans the possession or sale of computer software, known as a ‘tax-zapper,’ that allows a business to underreport taxable income by doctoring transaction records. By inserting a flash drive into an electronic register, the zapper alters receipts, thereby artificially lowering the business’ tax liability.

Sounds like a good bill.

* Quinn used his amendatory veto powers on this one…

Bill No.: HB 2454
An Act Concerning: Local Government
Restricts content of advisory referenda for township governments.
Action: Amendatory Vetoed

From his veto message…

However, this legislation simultaneously silences the voices of the citizens by limiting the topics which may be the subject of advisory referenda. By restricting the public policy issues which may be raised via referenda to those “directly related to the business of the township,” this bill undercuts the democratic process. While the business of the township is no doubt important, other issues are of equal or greater importance to the citizens, such as health care and the minimum wage. Our citizens must be able to weigh in and address those issues as well.

Government belongs to the people. We must do all we can to ensure they have the opportunity to make their voices heard on these important issues.

* This bill had bipartisan support…

Bill No.: HB 131
An Act Concerning: Reports of Stun Gun and Taser Use by Law Enforcement Officers.
Requires training for law enforcement officers who use tasers and stun guns.
Action: Signed
Effective: Jan. 1, 2014

* Another victims rights law is on the books…

Bill No.: HB 827
An Act Concerning: Criminal Law
Requires Office of the State’s Attorney to inform the victim’s family members of their right to present an impact statement at sentencing.
Action: Signed
Effective: Jan. 1, 2014

* This didn’t get much press…

Bill No.: HB 1063
An Act Concerning: Criminal Law
Removes statute of limitations for criminal actions against alleged perpetrators where victims of sexual offenses were under the age of 18 at the time of the offense.
Action: Signed
Effective: Jan. 1, 2014

* Interesting concept…

Bill No.: HB 1199
An Act Concerning: Transportation
Prohibits a person or entity from using an electronic tracking device, such as a GPS tracker, to determine the location or movement of another person.
Action: Signed
Effective: Jan. 1, 2014

* Pension reform, anyone?…

Bill No.: HB 1375
An Act Concerning: Public Employee Retirement Benefits
Increases survivor’s annuity to provide parity for surviving children of a deceased firefighter.
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately

* Right under the media’s RTA radar screen…

Bill No.: HB 1389
An Act Concerning: Local Government
Extends the RTA’s authority to issue bonds to 2016.
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately

* Probably a good idea, but will there be unexpected consequences?…

Bill No.: HB 1443
An Act Concerning: Criminal Law
Creates the criminal penalty for a school official’s failure to report to law enforcement after knowingly observing hazing.
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately

* This concept began as a bill to abolish DCEO…

Bill No.: HB 1544
An Act Concerning: State Government
Creates the Illinois Business Development Council and requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to develop a strategic economic development plan.
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately

* Expungement…

Bill No.: HB 1548
An Act Concerning: Criminal Law
Allows persons convicted of Class 3 or Class 4 felonies to apply for expungement with the Prisoner Review Board after they have served a tour of military duty.
Action: Signed

* Hooray!!!…

Bill No.: HB 1573
An Act Concerning: Liquor
Doubles the amount of beer a holder of a craft brewer’s license can produce to 930,000 gallons from 465,000.
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately

* Some animal activists are gonna be upset…

Bill No.: HB 1652
An Act Concerning: Wildlife
Prohibits the use of a drone to interfere with hunting.
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately

* This was becoming a problem in some areas…

Bill No.: HB 2520
An Act Concerning: Gaming
Adds poker runs to list of events considered charitable games.
Action: Signed

* This bill makes sure that corporate charter schools pay into the pension fund…

Bill No.: HB 2583
An Act Concerning: Public Employee Benefits
Makes changes and reforms to Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund.
Action: Signed

From the Pension Impact Note…

According to the Chicago Teacher Pension Fund, there have been several instances of charter schools submitting required contributions late or not at all, and the pension fund believes that HB 2583 will provide for better enforcement of required pension contributions. HB 2583 should have a slight positive impact on the pension fund.

* Good idea…

Bill No.: HB 2590
An Act Concerning: Civil Law
Allows employers to seek orders of protection for an employee who has previously been a victim of unlawful violence.
Action: Signed

* I didn’t even know this was a problem…

Bill No.: HB 2640
An Act Concerning: Civil Law
Allows victims of human trafficking who are involuntarily tattooed to apply for assistance from the Crime Victims Compensation Fund for tattoo removal.
Action: Signed

* This could have a major impact…

Bill No.: HB 2695
An Act Concerning: Transportation
Requires that, by Jan. 1, 2016, 25 percent of all state-purchased vehicles be alternative fuel cars and requires the construction of charging stations for these vehicles.
Action: Signed

* Just one more complication for candidates that may have been cleared up…

Bill No.: HB 2716
An Act Concerning: Local Government
Prohibits the nomination of a political party candidate if the township clerk is not properly notified of the caucus time and location.
Action: Signed

* I haven’t seen any coverage of this at all…

Bill No.: HB 2753
An Act Concerning: Energy
Authorizes the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to lease lands on the bed of Lake Michigan for offshore wind energy development and to create and implement a regulatory program.
Action: Signed

* Hmmm…

Bill No.: HB 2787
An Act Concerning: Children
Establishes procedures for the review of unfounded reports to Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and provides new rights to children in review process.
Action: Signed

* Some subscribers will be interested in this one…

Bill No.: HB 2943
An Act Concerning: Government
Closes loopholes in the Lobbyist Registration Act.
Action: Signed
Effective: Jan. 1, 2014

From the synopsis…

Requires a registrant whose client is another registrant to disclose the name and address of the ultimate beneficiary of the registrant’s services. Requires a registrant whose client is another registrant to include in expenditure reports the name and address of the ultimate beneficiary of the expenditure.

* This will help with transparency…

Bill No.: HB 2947
An Act Concerning: State Government
Requires certain data to be included in the Governor’s introduced budget.
Action: Signed
Effective: Jan. 1, 2014

The bill is here.

* Taggers beware…

Bill No.: HB 3043
An Act Concerning: Criminal Law
Increases the penalties for criminal defacement of property.
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately

* Common sense…

Bill No.: HB 3128
An Act Concerning: Civil Law
Allows the termination of parental rights of the father of the child if the mother conceives the child as a result of rape.
Action: Signed
Effective: Jan. 1, 2014

* Butts….

Bill No.: HB 3243
An Act Concerning: Safety
Defines discarded or unused cigarettes as “litter.”
Action: Signed
Effective: Jan. 1, 2014

* Pass on the right…

Bill No.: HB 3367
An Act Concerning: Transportation
Clarifies the law to provide that bicyclists have authority to pass on the right side of a vehicle.
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately

* Good idea…

Bill No.: SB 2182
An Act Concerning: Local Government
Amends Comptroller’s tax incremental financing reporting to include school districts and to expand municipal reporting requirements.
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately.

The full list is here.

24 Comments

*** UPDATED x1 *** Question of the day

Monday, Aug 19, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

*** UPDATE *** He signed the bill into law.

[ *** End Of Update *** ]

* Action is expected today, so let’s get started on the voting…

Gov. Pat Quinn is due to make a decision on a law that would increase the state speed limit.

The legislation would raise the speed limit on rural interstates in Illinois from 65 to 70 mph starting in January. Eight counties in the congested Chicago area would be allowed to keep their limits lower.

However, the Illinois State Police and Quinn’s transportation chief are opposed, saying current speed limits should be enforced more strictly. The governor hasn’t indicated which way he’ll go.

Thirty other states have higher speed limits than Illinois. The bill is here.

* The Question: Should Gov. Quinn sign this bill? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.

survey tools

59 Comments

In other slating news…

Monday, Aug 19, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* You may not have noticed, but the Cook County Democrats slated Mike Frerichs for state treasurer last week…

Down ballot, Frerichs, in his seventh year as a state lawmaker, found his anticipated endorsement challenged by Ervin, a West Side alderman. Frerichs narrowly got the backing of a subcommittee charged to recommend candidates to the full panel of slatemakers, though many African-American committeemen, including Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, initially backed Ervin.

“I feel confident that the Democratic Party is going to present a slate that has ethnic, gender, racial and geographical diversity,” said Frerichs, who noted the contenders for governor have yet to pick their running mates under a new state law that requires them to run as a team in the March 2014 primary.

* And Mark Brown looked at judicial slating…

What’s especially strange is that the partisan pandering is expected even though most would tell you the selections have been made in advance.

“By the time they come here, the cake has been sliced,” said one Northwest Side committeeman. Practically proving the point, neither Ald. Ed Burke (14th) nor House Speaker Mike Madigan, the most powerful voices in picking judges, were even in attendance, although their imprint was evident.

Earlier, as candidates for Appellate Court justice were making their cases, one committeeman sidled up to complain: “It’s all pre-determined.”

When I pressed him for the pre-determined picks, he got skittish. But another laid it out.

“Freddrenna Lyle, David Ellis, John Simon,” he predicted and was proven correct soon afterward.

Lyle has been a judge for less than two years, but she is the former 6th Ward alderman and still popular with her City Council colleagues, many of whom are committeemen.

Ellis hasn’t been a judge at all, but for many years he was the chief legal counsel to Speaker Madigan, the state party chairman. In that capacity, Ellis prosecuted Gov. Rod Blagojevich at his impeachment trial. Madigan’s support made Ellis a shoo-in. Ellis also is a very successful writer of mystery and suspense novels, which he said he expects to continue in his spare time.

Although already serving as an appointed justice, Simon was a somewhat less obvious selection, only in that for many years he was a favored recipient of Republican pinstripe patronage legal work. His father, Seymour Simon, was the Democratic state Supreme Court justice who won the everlasting appreciation of the state GOP by siding with Gov. Jim Thompson in his 1982 recount battle with Democrat Adlai Stevenson III.

* Frerichs, by the way, provided a lot of red meat at the fairgrounds last week…

“He’s that guy standing on his head,” Frerichs said, referring to commercials in which Rauner at first appears upside-down, saying he’ll put things right in Illinois.

“I think a little too much blood has rushed to his head if he thinks that the people of the state of Illinois are going to elect a Scott Walker clone who’s going to try to make this a right-to-work state,” Frerichs said.

Walker is the Republican governor of Wisconsin, and Rauner has said local governments should be able to implement right-to-work laws that would allow people to refuse to join union bargaining units or pay dues at their workplaces.

Frerichs used the “fabulously wealthy” Rauner as an example when recalling one of his grandfather’s sayings: “If you want to live like a Republican, you’ve got to vote for Democrats.”

Rauner spokesman Mike Schrimpf responded later that such talk is “not surprising coming from a leading member of the Democrats’ tax hike caucus. Bruce is focused on economic policies that actually encourage job creation so Illinois will no longer have the highest unemployment rate in the Midwest.”

* And from Frerichs’ Facebook page, a photo with a Lincoln impersonator…

Caption?

18 Comments

Two gun bills signed into law

Monday, Aug 19, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Gov. Pat Quinn signed two new gun-related bills into law over the weekend…

Starting immediately, gun owners whose weapons are lost or stolen will have 72 hours to notify police. And beginning Jan. 1, individual gun owners will have to contact the Illinois State Police before selling a weapon or transferring ownership to ensure that the purchaser is allowed to have a gun.

Quinn said the legislation closes a loophole in the state’s gun laws, which previously required gun show merchants and licensed firearms dealers — but not private sellers — to check that the customer had a valid firearm owner’s identification card. Under the new law, private sellers must contact state police, who will then search records and determine the prospective buyer’s eligibility.

According to the governor’s office, Illinois joins seven other states and the District of Columbia in requiring gun owners report missing firearms to law enforcement.

* These seem like common sense laws. But Quinn’s bill signing took place just 7 miles from the Indiana border. Will the new background check law drive even more sales to the Hoosier State?…

“It’s really important that we have a federal” measure that would monitor guns nationwide, Quinn said, “but you’ve got to start somewhere.”

Your thoughts? Notice I wrote “your thoughts.” Try very hard to avoid bumper sticker slogans in comments.

46 Comments

Two mobile phone bills signed into law

Monday, Aug 19, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The summary…

House Bill 1247 prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle on any road in Illinois while using a mobile phone or other electronic communication device. The bill makes exceptions for hands-free devices, including those with headsets that can initiate a call using a single button or a voice command. The new law takes effect January 1, 2014.

“When people get behind the wheel, they have a responsibility to themselves and to others to drive safely,” State Representative John D’Amico (D-Chicago), a co-sponsor of the bill, said. “When motorists are on the phone, they are not giving their full attention to the most important task they have. This law will help reduce traffic accidents and make Illinois roads safer.”

House Bill 2585 increases the penalties that can be imposed on drivers whose use of an electronic device while driving causes an accident. If the accident causes great bodily harm, the driver can be sentenced to up to 1 year in prison, and a fatal accident can result in a prison sentence of 1 to 3 years. Current law only allows these drivers to be charged with traffic violations. The new law takes effect January 1, 2014.

“Distracted driving is not only dangerous—it’s deadly,” Governor Quinn said in a press release. “Too many Illinois families have suffered because of accidents that could have been prevented. Anyone driving a car should be careful, responsive, and alert behind the wheel. These new laws will save lives.”

* More…

Drivers involved in injury-causing accidents could face up to a year in prison

“If somebody was in a school zone talking on a cell phone and they ran someone over, and if they hurt them severely or killed them, they’d get written up for a $200 ticket. That’s it,” said state Rep. Natalie Manley (D-Joliet), the bill’s chief House sponsor.

“We’ve seen more horrific things by people distracted by video devices or cell phones, and the penalties on the books for those crimes are no more than a petty offense. It’s like their tail lights are out,” she said. “The main goal is public safety, and at the end of the day that’s what we really want.”

* But…

Despite the growing push to require drivers to put their phones on speaker or use a headset, researchers at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety have found little difference between drivers who use hand-held cell phones and those who use hands-free devices.

Rather, researchers contend that all cell phone use is equally distracting once a conversation starts, noting that accident rates did not change in other states that have implemented bans on hand-held phones behind the wheel.

Discuss.

31 Comments

Dillard lashes out at Gidwitz

Monday, Aug 19, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Sen. Kirk Dillard sounds a bit peevish about the defection of Ron Gidwitz to Bruce Rauner’s campaign. Gidwitz was Dillard’s campaign chairman in 2010…

“(Gidwitz) is a Chicago multimillionaire with strong ties to city hall, like Mr. Rauner, the billionaire that he’s for. So it’s not a surprise and they are both social moderates,” Dillard said. […]

Dillard adds that he’s learned from his mistakes of his 2010 campaign for governor. The Hinsdale Republican says he started that campaign too late.

Dillard has moved hard to the right since losing that ‘10 primary to Bill Brady and it shows in that quote. But his campaign committees have filed just three A-1’s this month for a total of only $18,500. He’s been hurt by the defection and, once again, he waited too long to start working.

* The AP looks at the rich people lining up behind Rauner…

Rauner is a billionaire who — at least financially speaking — doesn’t need the help, and money doesn’t always decide Illinois primary races. But if the pattern holds, it could make it difficult for his opponents — state Sens. Bill Brady and Kirk Dillard and Treasurer Dan Rutherford — to fight back with television advertising, mailers or fly-around events, particularly in crucial weeks before the March primary election.

“That’s going to be their problem, I believe,” said Ron Gidwitz, a former Illinois Republican party chairman and gubernatorial candidate who’s serving as Rauner’s finance chairman. […]

“There’s a certain time in which (known candidates) have to say ‘I’ve tried often enough, it’s time to step back,’” said Elizabeth Christie, a retired executive and one of the biggest donors to the state GOP who gave $20,000 to Brady’s 2010 bid and is now a chairwoman of Rauner’s campaign. “I believe a lot of donors are saying it’s time … and I think you’re seeing that in the numbers.” […]

Rauner’s numbers were boosted by a who’s who of GOP donors — including at least half of more than a dozen individuals who regularly help bankroll GOP campaigns in Illinois, according to an Associated Press review of campaign finance data. The group includes Citadel CEO Ken Griffin and hedge fund manager Anne Dias Griffin — who gave a combined $450,000 to Brady’s failed 2010 gubernatorial bid — and a trio of contributors who accounted for almost one-fifth of the money Dillard received during that year’s primary.

* And the Sun-Times wrote about a subscribers-only poll last week, so here it is…

The field of Republican candidates for the governorship still has no clear-cut frontrunner, though Brady is in the lead, according to a Capitol Fax poll of 1,102 likely Republican primary voters released this week. […]

Brady had 21 percent of those surveyed, compared to 17 percent for Rutherford, 14 percent for Rauner and 10 percent for Dillard.

26 Comments

*** UPDATED x1 *** “A bit of an insult”

Monday, Aug 19, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Without offering up any actual evidence, other than black people will likely vote for Sen. Kwame Raoul instead of Gov. Pat Quinn if Raoul runs for governor and the lack of a finished product from Raoul’s pension reform committee, Laura Washington writes…

Now the consultants and operatives are whispering in Raoul’s ear, and telling him what he wants to hear.

You can do it! They urge: You are a black legislator who occupies the state Senate seat once held by Barack Obama. You are respected by Chicago’s black leadership and progressive activists. You’re a WTTW regular, gee whiz!

You are smooth and suave, you’ve got a 1,000-watt smile, they coo. You can raise bucks and show off your policy resume, they wheedle. You can drum up enthusiasm among black voters in Cook County and downstate. Geez, you even have a funny name. Look where that got Obama?

Where will it get Raoul?

Two words: stalking horse. […]

Raoul can’t win, but he could be a spoiler.

That’s the role Bill Daley and Co. are praying he’ll play.

* Sneed piles on…

The Kwame corner. . .

The big question: Will State Sen. Kwame Raoul, who replaced now-President Barack Obama in the state senate, run for governor in the Dem primary and split the vote by siphoning off the African-American and Hispanic votes?

◆ Here’s the deal: If Raoul does run, it’s because he got the green light from his boss, powerful Senate President John Cullerton, who is no fan of Gov. Pat Quinn.

* First of all, as subscribers already know, the polling shows that Democrats aren’t just hungry for another candidate to run, they’re practically starving for it. From an August 12th, Capitol Fax/We Ask America poll of 1,536 likely Democratic primary voters…

Currently, two Democrats have declared their candidacy for governor: Former White House Chief of Staff William Daley and current governor Pat Quinn. We’d like to know whether or not you’re satisfied with your choices, or if you’d prefer additional choices on the ballot.

Satisfied 43.25%
Not satisfied 47.50%
Not sure 9.25%

So, a strong majority is either dissatisfied with their choices or aren’t sure. The voters clearly want somebody else.

*** UPDATE *** I forgot to mention that the poll found 57 percent of African-American Democrats were dissatisfied with their choices and another 12 percent were unsure. Just 31 percent were satisfied with their current choices. Whites were split 45-45.

[ *** End Of Update *** ]

* Also, both columnists may have forgotten that Cook County ain’t everything. Quinn is despised in Downstate and Daley isn’t trusted there. A Downstate running mate for Raoul as well as assistance from his fellow state Senators could help him put together the plurality needed to win.

And it’s not just Downstaters. Sen. Daniel Biss brought Raoul into his Evanston-based district for a forum earlier this month…

Raoul said the governor has the “luxury” to act “ignorant of the negotiations that took place in the months prior to the amendatory veto and come in and say, ‘If I had a chance to partake in it, I would have done this.’”

“Well you did have a chance to partake in it, and you did partake in it, and those things fell,” Raoul noted.

He’ll be getting that sort of help from lots of his colleagues all over the state should he decide to run.

* Next, what does a stalking horse look like? A good example would be Roland Burris, 2002. He received one big contribution, hardly campaigned at all, and siphoned enough black votes away from Paul Vallas to allow Rod Blagojevich to win. If Raoul runs a non-credible race, then, yeah, he’s little more than a stalking horse. So far, at least, he doesn’t appear to be doing so from this vantage point.

In any event, don’t you think you’d have to look at the campaign he puts together before you decide he’s essentially just shilling for Daley? C’mon.

* Raoul’s response…

Raoul said he was offended that Sun-Times columnist Laura Washington suggested his running for governor would help challenger Bill Daley, by undermining Quinn’s support among black voters.

“The notion that I would be characterized as a spoiler — it’s a bit of an insult,” he said.

* And, yes, Cullerton is working hard for Raoul, but it’s not up to him to give Raoul a final “green light.”

* By the way, Raoul also told the Sun-Times that he would be deciding on a run in the next ten days…

“I give myself 10 days or so to make up my mind,” Raoul said. “This is something that’s spiraling out of my control. I don’t think it does the party or the state any good to let it linger very long.” […]

Raoul’s remarks came at a South Side park where Quinn signed a new gun-safety law that Raoul sponsored. At a news conference, the governor said Raoul did more than anyone to win the measure’s approval.

When asked in an interview to rate Quinn’s record in office, Raoul replied, “I think the governor came into office under very challenging circumstances . . . He shouldn’t get all the credit. He shouldn’t get all the blame.”

* And, finally, a trip down memory lane. Washington once wrote this about then Senate President Emil Jones’ remarks regarding another Hyde Park Democrat…

African-American leadership, Jones says, must get past “the crabs in a barrel syndrome. Every time one of us pulls up, we want to pull him down.”

41 Comments

Serious problems ahead

Monday, Aug 19, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…

I had heard that Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner’s longtime personal and business connections to Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel were “killer” issues among GOP primary voters, so I decided to commission a poll.

The question I settled on is pretty mild in comparison to what could be used in a TV ad, so the response may turn out to be even worse than the Capitol Fax/We Ask America poll shows, if that’s possible.

“Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for a candidate for governor if you found out he was a friend and political ally to Chicago Democratic Mayor Rahm Emanuel?” 1,102 likely Republican primary voters were asked on August 13th.

A truly astounding 83 percent of Republicans said they’d be less likely to support that candidate. Any time you see a “less likely” response above 80 percent, you can pretty much figure that the target is toast. But maybe not in this case.

The Rauner people have long known that this was a real problem for their guy, which is just one reason why they’ve been spending so much money this summer - almost $2 million on TV and radio ads through the first week of August, according to one calculation.

And the ties go deeper than the question reveals. Rauner helped Emanuel get his start in business, advising him to become an investment banker after leaving Bill Clinton’s White House and then retaining his firm. Their relationship made Emanuel a wealthy man, so the advertising possibilities are juicy, to say the least.

The problem is that nobody has yet laid a glove on the man. The other candidates either don’t have the money to go up on TV (Kirk Dillard and Bill Brady), or they’re husbanding their resources for the home stretch (Dan Rutherford).

There’s also a timing question that’s been debated by at least some campaigns. Attack Rauner too soon and he could have time to recover. He has the resources and infrastructure to weather a storm over a long haul. Attack him too late and it might not have enough of an impact, or the other candidates themselves might already be too damaged to do him any harm or may even be out of the race. Opposition research is starting to circulate behind the scenes, and let’s just say that some of it ain’t good at all.

And nobody needs an opposition research firm to figure out where state Sen. Kirk Dillard’s main weakness is in the governor’s race.

Rauner has attempted to make this a “change” election in order to avoid the usual Republican primary habit of picking the guy who appears to be owed the next turn at the wheel. Dillard has been in Illinois politics forever, which will work against him if Rauner succeeds in changing the tone. But the state Senator and former Jim Edgar chief of staff also has another well-known problem that looks to be just as much of a killer issue as Rauner’s Rahm situation.

Dillard often worked with Barack Obama in the Illinois Senate and he cut a now infamous TV ad for his former colleague during the 2008 presidential primary season.

“Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for a candidate if he had appeared in a TV commercial for Barack Obama before he was elected president?” the likely Republican primary voters were asked in the poll.

The “less likely” response was an astounding 82 percent.

“Dillard faced thousands of gross rating points driving the Obama TV ad message against him in 2010 and lost by only 193 votes,” pollster Gregg Durham said last week. “Nothing is impossible in Illinois politics.”

That’s true, but the Obama ad tanked Dillard’s 2010 primary campaign, which he barely lost to state Sen. Bill Brady. This year, he has lagged badly in fundraising and in the polls.

Dillard has two things in his favor.

The first is traditional Republican thinking. Dillard narrowly lost the 2010 primary and would’ve likely done better than Bill Brady in the fall campaign against Pat Quinn, so it could be “his turn.”

The second is Jim Edgar, a former governor who is still quite popular among Republicans. Dillard can barely open his mouth without mentioning Edgar and the former governor will likely appear in ads.

Whether any of that is enough to overcome the Obama ad problem is now the biggest question for Dillard.

Bill Brady’s vote for drivers licenses for illegal aliens and Dan Rutherford’s vote for civil unions will also be tested soon.

Discuss.

38 Comments

Reader comments closed for the weekend

Friday, Aug 16, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I recently watched the thoroughly enjoyable documentary “Lemmy” and was surprised when the man who basically invented heavy metal via his band Motorhead said he was really into the new crop of female country singers because of their sweet harmonies.

“Surprised” may not be the word. I spit out my drink when he said that.

But, hey, I agree with him. It’s one of the reasons why I’ve been so into country pop lately.

Country pop tends to live more in the real world. The songs are more about what average people experience day to day. And the new music isn’t just about getting drunk, or driving big rigs down the highway.

Miranda Lambert’s “Mama’s Broken Heart,” for example, is one of the best-written songs about a breakup in years…

Leave it to me to be holding the matches

When the fire trucks show up and there’s nobody else to blame

Heh.

Lambert played at the Illinois State Fair last year and it was among the most enjoyable shows I’ve ever attended at the Grandstand.

* Tonight, Thompson Square is opening for Gary Allan. Maybe I’ll see you there. The group’s biggest hit is one of the better pop songs of the decade…

Comments Off

Question of the day

Friday, Aug 16, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From the Tribune’s Republican Day coverage…

Only one candidate for treasurer showed up: DuPage County Auditor Bob Grogan. DuPage’s former County Board chairman, Bob Schillerstrom, was absent but put out a statement that he is “continuing to explore a potential run for state treasurer but has not made a final determination.”

That fueled talk that House Republican leader Tom Cross of Oswego may be eyeing the treasurer post as he struggles to maintain control of a divided caucus. But Cross, a mainstay at past state fairs, did not attend Thursday. A spokeswoman said Cross was unavailable because he was helping to get his daughter ready to move back to college.

Subscribers have known for quite a while now about those Cross rumors. And Schillerstrom’s absence did, indeed, fuel those rumors.

* The Question: Should Tom Cross run for state treasurer? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please. Also, please notice that I’m asking “should,” not “will.”

survey solutions

40 Comments

Illinois State Fair leftovers

Friday, Aug 16, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I can’t believe I forgot to post this. My niece Rosalee’s county 4-H project won her a trip to the big show last Saturday. She did really well…

* I don’t want to complain too much because I enjoy riding in the annual “celebrity” harness horse race, but my horse this year was not quite up to par. The first thing my driver said to me after we got onto the track was, “Oh, my God, look at that horse!” Huh? “Do you see all the snot coming out of its nose? He’s sick!”

Steve Brown, who won the race, somehow managed to “draw” a horse that was as big as a Clydesdale. So, I get a horse on his last legs and Brown gets a monster.

Anyway, here’s a quick video I took of my horse before the race…

* Click the pick for a larger image to see all the red cups on the track after the Toby Keith concert…

* One of Oscar the Puppy’s favorite things to do is ride in my truck. Every day when it was time to go to the fair, Oscar headed straight for the garage, believing he was going with me. He was bummed out when he had to go to his room instead. Here’s Oscar in his favorite spot, on the front truck seat…

* I gave Oscar some extra treats this week because he missed out on all the State Fair fun…

* If you haven’t made it to the State Fair yet, there’s still plenty of time and lots and lots of stuff to do.

…Adding… My brain may have been fried by too much State Fair, if that’s possible. Initially, the whole reason for this post was this Kankakee Daily Journal story…

Fourteen-year-old Dylan Hummel, of Cabery, sold his grand champion meat goat for $11,050 at the Illinois State Fair Governor’s Sale of Champions Tuesday, shattering the previous record price of $6,900 in 2009.

Seven records were broken and one tied, pushing the sale total to $222,750 — nearly $67,000 higher than the previous record, said Jeff Squibb, state fair spokesman.

The young exhibitors get 80 percent with 20 percent split by the 4-H and FFA organizations of Illinois.

Gov. Pat Quinn and Agriculture Director Bob Flider encouraged bidders from the floor and many others had worked behind the scenes to bring support for exhibitors of grand champion livestock in the junior show and Illinois bred and raised “Land of Lincoln” show.

Another local connection was the record price set for the Land of Lincoln grand champion meat goat shown by Carlee Critchelow, of Chanderville. It brought $3,750 — 50 percent above the previous record of $2,500. That goat was from the herd of Rodney and Lori Meyer’s Hillside Stock Farm, west of Chebanse.

Wow.

Glad to see the ag sector doing so well.

20 Comments

Cook Dems slate Quinn

Friday, Aug 16, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Not unexpected…

Cook Co. Dems endorse @GovernorQuinn as @BillDaleyIL no-shows. @ILGOP rejoicing. Will @KwameRaoul play?

— Charles Thomas (@CThomasABC7) August 16, 2013

* From the Tribune earlier today…

On Thursday, an aide to Daley said the campaign anticipates Quinn will win the backing of the 50 ward and 30 township committeemen who are scheduled to gather at a Loop hotel to consider statewide endorsements. As such, Daley doesn’t plan to show up to the slate-making session to ask for their support or try to persuade them not to endorse Quinn.

“In the last three slate-making sessions, the Cook County Democratic Party has backed Rod Blagojevich and Pat Quinn,” Daley spokesman Pete Giangreco said. “And when you look at the relationship that Joe Berrios and Frank Zuccarelli have with the governor, we don’t see any reason why that would change.”

Berrios, the county assessor who doubles as county Democratic chairman, has been criticized for hiring relatives. Zuccarelli, the Democratic committeeman and supervisor in Thornton Township, runs a potent vote-gathering operation. This week, Zuccarelli gave up his recent appointment by Quinn to the CTA board amid pointed criticisms from Daley about political patronage and double-dipping.

In forgoing slate-making, Daley, the son and brother of former Chicago mayors, is once again seeking to separate himself from his family history. His father, political boss Richard J. Daley, tightly controlled the endorsement process while serving as mayor, personally dictating the Democratic tickets at the state and local level.

At the same time, the slate-making session will mark the second consecutive appearance by Quinn before top county and city Democrats. In his earlier years as a political outsider, Quinn abhorred the slate-making process as an insiders’ game.

Dan Hynes tried to use Quinn’s slating against him in the 2010 cycle and it didn’t work.

…Adding… I’m told the vote was unanimous. ADDING: John Daley and two others didn’t vote for Quinn.

…Adding More… NBC5…

Quinn predictably showed up to the session and gave the crowd of fellow Democrats his “land of Lincoln” stump speech, touching on his Illinois Jobs Now program and emphasizing the importance of “working every day for everyday people.”

“I need your support,” he told the group. “It’s going to be a tough campaign.

29 Comments

Pension art

Friday, Aug 16, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I received an e-mail from our very own pension expert “RNUG” last night entitled Pension Art at State Fair…

Thought you would be amused by this if you missed it at the State Fair. The artist did a good job of summarizing the debate visually.

It was on exhibit in the Artisans (Poultry) Building. Photo quality is so-so since I took it with my phone. Enjoy.

* The label…

* Click the pic for a larger version of the wide angle shot…

* A closeup…

Discuss.

20 Comments

Sen. Kirk returns to the State Fair

Friday, Aug 16, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Sen. Mark Kirk was a featured speaker at yesterday’s Republican Day festivities…

Seven months after returning to Congress following a debilitating stroke, U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk encouraged fellow Illinois Republicans Thursday to look to his example and “never give up” the quest to rebuild their party and recapture the governor’s mansion despite public embarrassments and setbacks.

“I will not ever give up on Illinois,” Kirk said, puncturing the air with his right index finger during a brief speech at Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair.

It is clear that both Kirk and the state’s minority party have a difficult road ahead of them. Kirk is tasked with continued rehabilitation efforts as he makes his own re-election bid in 2016, and the Illinois GOP with projecting unity and offering an attractive alternative to Democrats at a time when the state is in dire financial straits. […]

Kirk, who is declining to make an endorsement in the governor’s race, told the Associated Press that he would be encouraging party members to “adhere to the eleventh commandment of Ronald Reagan.”

“Thou shalt,” Kirk said, “not speak ill of a fellow Republican.”

* More…

In a nod to the difficult road ahead, Republicans waved signs and chanted: “Never Give Up.”

They saved their loudest applause for the man who inspired the mantra, U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, who won cheers as the congressman, who is recovering from a stroke, walked across the stage with the aid of a cane.

“We are the ones who are going to rescue Illinois,” Kirk said.

* More…

U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., called his first trip to Springfield since his January 2012 stroke “great,” and said he’s working on legislation to improve post-stroke treatment for low-income people through government programs.

“Every time I’m below I-80, I feel like I’m in the right place on earth, talking to the people I work for,” Kirk, 53, of Highland Park, told The State Journal-Register in an interview Thursday at the Illinois State Fair.

He said his condition is “excellent.” He walks with a cane and said “fatigue is an issue,” and he is still getting rehabilitation about three times a week.

Kirk said he is planning to offer legislation for what he calls “the stroke agenda.”

“The problem is, if you have no insurance and you’re low-income and you’re on Medicaid in Illinois, if you suffer a stroke, you only go to a rehab specialist four times,” the senator said. “That means you’re not going to really improve very much. I want to set a national standard that moves the country on the way to the opportunities that I had to recover.”

* I had a chance to chat with Sen. Kirk for a few minutes later in the day. He seemed very clear in the head, spoke well and was quite cheerful. He also said he plans to run for reelection. A photo…

Caption?

16 Comments

Another caption contest!

Friday, Aug 16, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* No “Republican Day” coverage would be complete without a photo of Kirk Dillard and Jim Edgar…

36 Comments

Republicans pile on Rauner over Rahm

Friday, Aug 16, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Yesterday’s Republican Day speeches were all about unity and positivity. Not so much during the media availabilities afterwards, however…

The two Republicans who dueled for the governorship in the photo-finish 2010 primary used Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair Thursday to deliver a one-two punch against 2014 rival Bruce Rauner, zeroing in on the billionaire venture capitalist’s close ties to Mayor Rahm Emanuel. […]

[Sen. Bill Brady] called that association a “non-starter” for Republican primary voters and, in a dig at the state Senate colleague he defeated by 193 votes in 2010, likened it to Dillard’s decision to film a 2008 campaign commercial for Barack Obama when the Democrat was running for president.

“People are tired of this one-city, one-party rule and the connections to Rahm,” Brady told the Chicago Sun-Times. “It’s a huge liability for a Republican, just as the Obama connection to Dillard is a huge liability.”

Dillard, who defended himself by noting he spoke out against Obama’s push for universal health care in Illinois when the president was a state senator, jumped on Rauner, as well.

“It’s incredibly troubling that a man who is constantly referred to as a member of Rahm Emanuel’s inner circle, who vacations with the mayor, according to the Chicago Sun Times columnist Mike Sneed, and [who] also is another city of Chicago resident is running for governor,” Dillard said.

* Rauner refused to apologize for his association with Emanuel in his response…

“For somebody to try to say, ‘Well, you touched Rahm or worked with them. … Y ou know what? If we’re going to get stuff done, if the Democrats control [things], we’ve got to do something to work with them. I won’t apologize, and I won’t back down,” he said.

Rauner, who has pledged to spend millions of dollars from his fortune on his campaign, also chalked up the criticism to “desperate” rivals.

“You know what? In politics, when you’re desperate to win, you say stuff,” he said.

* Jon Zahm, who is no Rauner fan, also piled on…

Rahner sponsored the hot dog lunches for all the attendees. But this became a real “fail” for the campaign. Just over a half hour into the event the hot dogs ran out leaving hungry folks to have a hot dog bun only with their beans and Oberweis ice cream. Poor planning and hiring the wrong people to estimate the food needed are two errors that need rectifying.

The other three serious candidates for Governor landed good zings on Rauner:

Brady: “People are tired of this one-city, one-party rule and the connections to Rahm,”

Dillard: “I have experience that money can’t buy.”

Rutherford: “I don’t have to go on a ‘listening tour.’ I have been to all 102 counties and received important feedback and support.”

* A brief video of a little Rauner rally around his motorcycle before the speeches…

* Related…

* Illinois GOP’s governor candidates make pitches at state fair: “I’d like to put them all in a blender, and we’d have a great recipe for success,” said Jack Dorgan, the Illinois Republican Party’s new chairman.

* Time for change, GOP speakers at Illinois State Fair say

* Four governor candidates test their messages at state fair

* Republicans Show Unity at State Fair

* Gubernatorial candidates talk politics on “Republican Day” at the state fair

29 Comments

Caption Contest!

Friday, Aug 16, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* This will be the first of a few Illinois State Fair photos that we’ll do captions for today. Hey, it’s Friday, so I’m gonna try to keep it light today.

From a press release…

Governor Quinn Declares August 14 as “Toby Keith Day”

Keith presented with a proclamation

WHEREAS, Illinois is a leader in supporting the arts, and has always been an important component of the artistic fabric of our state; and,

WHEREAS, there are few forms of music more purely American than the country music genre; and,

WHEREAS, country music, with its themes of rural life, family, hard work, and love for country speaks to Midwestern ideals and Illinois residents can relate to its message; and,

WHEREAS, a country musician who has experienced great success in this genre is Toby Keith; and,

WHEREAS, Toby Keith was born in Clinton, Oklahoma to parents Joan and Hubert; and,

WHEREAS, Toby Keith began playing music at a young age after being inspired by musicians who worked at his grandmother’s supper club; and,

WHEREAS, prior to starting a career in music, Toby Keith worked in the oil industry and played in the USFL football league. His debut album, “Toby Keith,” produced the most played country song of the 1990s, “Should’ve Been A Cowboy”; and,

WHEREAS, his follow up records, Boomtown and Blue Moon, were equally successful due to hits “Who’s That Man” and “Me Too”; and,

WHEREAS, Toby Keith’s 2002 album, Unleashed, sold 3 million copies and included a duet with Willie Nelson, “Beer For My Horses”; and,

WHEREAS, Toby Keith’s albums have sold more than 36 million copies, ranking him among the top-selling genre artists on Billboard’s Top 200 artists of the Decade; and,

WHEREAS, Toby Keith, aside from enormous commercial success, has received critical acclaim and industry awards including the Songwriter/Artist of the Decade distinction from the Nashville Songwriters Association International as well as the American Country Awards’ Artist of the Decade distinction; and,

WHEREAS, Toby Keith is strongly committed to our nation’s veterans and in 2008 played 18 shows for U.S. troops in the Persian Gulf as a part of a U.S.O. Tour; and,

WHEREAS, Toby Keith will perform at the Grandstand of the Illinois State Fair on Wednesday, August 14th at 8:00 pm; and,

THEREFORE, I, Pat Quinn, Governor of the State of Illinois, do hereby proclaim August 14, 2013 as TOBY KEITH DAY in Illinois in recognition of his tremendous musical success and contributions to the country music genre and industry.

* Keith thanked the governor for the honor during his concert the other night. He seemed genuinely touched. Quinn presented the proclamation to him backstage before the show. The photo…

55 Comments

Question of the day

Thursday, Aug 15, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* If you had to choose between the current crop of Republican gubernatorial candidates, whom would it be? Whom would it definitely not be? Explain.

112 Comments

Ask and ye shall receive

Thursday, Aug 15, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I gave AT&T a really hard time here the other day for lousy (actually, almost nonexistent) mobile phone service at the State Fairgrounds.

I went to the Toby Keith show last night. The place was packed and Toby rocked it. A thoroughly enjoyable evening.

I could see that lots of people had their phones out, taking pics and videos and likely posting on social networks, so I decided to send a couple of test texts. They went through fine. I even accessed my e-mail and the Internet. Everything worked like it was supposed to.

So, apparently, AT&T fixed its serious problems and I’d like to express my appreciation by saying “Thanks for doing the job you should’ve been doing all along.”

Too harsh? Maybe. I guess I should be happy.

15 Comments

Progress or no?

Thursday, Aug 15, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* On the one hand…

Members of a legislative pension reform committee won’t put a timetable on when they’ll complete their work, although they continue to say they’re making progress.

Committee members — who spoke privately among themselves Wednesday — said there are still details that must be resolved before a reform plan can be presented to the General Assembly.

“We’re quite close,” said Rep. Elaine Nekritz, D-Northbrook. “I think it’s a matter of getting a few more details hashed out. How long that takes, when that announcement comes, I can’t predict right now.”

* On the other hand…

Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, said he was disappointed by developments Wednesday.

“Today, I don’t think we made much progress,” Brady said. “The biggest obstacle is probably differing opinion on what amount of savings needs to be. At the end of the day, I think it’s coming down to how much savings is necessary to both protect what people have earned and be affordable to future General Assemblies.”

What I believe this shows is a serious attempt at partisan and ideological balance, which had been sorely lacking up until the conference committee began to meet. Speaker Madigan wanted to get as much savings as possible, Senate President Cullerton wanted to find a compromise with the unions. Now, the idea is to negotiate the amount of savings that one side can accept while still keeping in mind the damage that will be done to actual human beings.

The biggest problem, of course, is still constitutionality. I don’t think they’ll get past this issue until the courts weigh in. For now it appears to have been set aside.

67 Comments

I guess it depends what “always” means

Thursday, Aug 15, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From the Twitters…

Bruce Rauner didn't say if he'd sign helmet law; only 'I always wear a helmet' pic.twitter.com/UsJgoyBxTz

— Bernie Schoenburg (@bschoenburg) August 15, 2013

Umm…

33 Comments

*** LIVE COVERAGE *** Illinois State Fair Republican Day

Thursday, Aug 15, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* BlueRoomStream.com will have live video of the State Fair Republican Day rally. The event begins at noon. Click here to watch it.

* Some events have already started, however, so here’s the ScribbleLive feed…

4 Comments

Quinn has special day with special friends

Thursday, Aug 15, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Some out of town reporters seemed surprised that Gov. Pat Quinn received such an enthusiastic ovation at yesterday’s annual Democratic County Chairmen’s Association brunch. After all, every poll shows he’s unpopular with voters, even Democratic voters, and he’s not known to be the insiders’ favorite guy.

But Bill Daley made a not so subtle attempt at an answer yesterday…

“It’s Springfield,” he said. “I think there may be a lot of people who obviously have known or worked for Pat, or work for Pat now, over the years and they’re appreciative of those jobs.”

Lots and lots of those county chairmen either have state jobs or contracts for themselves and/or their family members or close friends. Of course they’re with their meal ticket.

* But that didn’t stop Daley and Sen. Kwame Raoul from taking jabs at Quinn…

Daley attempted to seize on the dysfunction and contended Democrats will lose the governor’s office in 2014 unless he is the nominee. “I believe — and I believe strongly — that there’s got to be change,” Daley said of more than five years of Quinn at the helm.

Quinn brushed aside Daley’s comments and vowed to defeat all challengers.

“There’s nobody in Illinois who can run a grass-roots campaign like I can,” said Quinn, who narrowly won the primary and general elections in 2010 despite low approval ratings. “I’m not afraid of big money, big-time lobby groups. I think I can win the day with the kind of campaign people in Illinois will admire.”

And…

Raoul, a Hyde Park/Kenwood Democrat, didn’t have a formal speaking role at the county chairmen’s brunch but presided over a gaggle of reporters later to verify his interest in the race but stress he hasn’t made up his mind about it.

Raoul said he personally likes Quinn but poked at Quinn’s leadership skills.

“The job of governor entails more than just using a pen to sign bills. It involves leadership, and rolling up your sleeves and engaging the Legislature, not just throwing arrows and rocks at the Legislature,” Raoul said.

“It’s a different style of leadership than I’m accustomed to,” he said.

* There was a major no-show yesterday…

[Effingham County Chair Audrey Griffith] was bothered that one politician never showed up — to either the morning meeting, or to the fair: the head of the Democratic Party of Illinois, House Speaker Michael Madigan, didn’t come at all.

“Be nice if he thought enough to be with us, supporting the party and egging people on to support what they believe in. Would have been really nice,” she said.

He’s suing the governor, he probably didn’t want to answer more questions about his daughter and the governor declared yesterday to be exclusively “Governor’s Day.” It’s no wonder he didn’t show. But still probably bad form.

* Quote of the day…

Democrats couldn’t deny the tensions in the room.

“It’s there,” said Rep. Elaine Nekritz, a top pensions negotiator. “But we can all come together and enjoy a nice breakfast.”

* And tomorrow could be a big day for the governor…

Democrats in Cook County, the largest county party organization in the state, will gather Friday to formally endorse a candidate for governor. County party officials said only Quinn was on the schedule to attend and ask the group for its endorsement, though Daley has reportedly been making phone calls to committee members over recent days.

“It would be very difficult to imagine the party endorsing someone who is not there,” said state Representative Lou Lang of Skokie, the group’s vice chair.

* Related…

* VIDEO: Illinois Senate President John Cullerton talks to reporters

* VIDEO: Pat Quinn speech 8-14-13

* VIDEO: Durbin on Illinois Democratic Party

11 Comments

A little perspective, please

Thursday, Aug 15, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I understand that a brother would be upset, but there’s a reason for this…

The brother of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich says there’s a serious disparity in the sentence his brother received and the prison time lobbed against Jesse Jackson Jr. on Wednesday afternoon.

“It’s out of balance,” Robert Blagojevich said in a telephone conversation of the 30-month sentence given to the former congressman. “The sentence … compared to my brother’s, makes his disproportionately unbalanced and severe, and I’m hoping that the appellate process will finally render my brother some justice.”

The difference here is that Jackson pled guilty. He owned up to his mistakes. Rod Blagojevich continues to say he’s innocent. He does not accept responsibility.

Also, as a commenter pointed out yesterday, you don’t give a guy who pled guilty the maximum sentence because then defendants will be less likely to plead guilty in the future.

* So, was Jackson’s sentence too light? Maybe. But he used campaign money for personal expenses, which wasn’t even a crime not too long ago. Who was harmed? The contributors? Well, yeah, they did have the right to expect that their money would be used for campaign purposes, but it’s not like they’re truly “victims.” What about a candidate who announces she’s retiring on the same day as her fundraiser and doesn’t give the money back? That happened just a few days ago with an incumbent state Rep. Jim Edgar uses his campaign fund to make charitable contributions. George Ryan used his for legal defense.

I’m not making excuses for Jackson here. He violated clear federal laws on numerous occasions. I have no sympathy for him at all. The bizarre way he and his wife lived the high life off his campaign fund is thoroughly disgusting.

I’m just saying that, in my mind at least, what he did is not like robbing a liquor store. And since he pled guilty, he definitely should get a much lighter sentence than Rod Blagojevich.

37 Comments

Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Crosstabs and a roundup

Thursday, Aug 15, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

Thursday, Aug 15, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Question of the day

Wednesday, Aug 14, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Your favorite Illinois State Fair food is…? Specifics, please.

50 Comments

Reverse Robin Hood

Wednesday, Aug 14, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* As the Tribune reported not long ago, some of Chicago’s greatest cultural institutions are struggling now because the wealthy people who run their boards of directors botched their finances…

The turn of the millennium was a heady time for many Chicago cultural institutions. Cheap loans, high investment returns and swelling endowments spawned a slew of new attractions along the lakefront and around downtown.

The Art Institute built its Modern Wing. The Adler Planetarium expanded. The Goodman Theatre constructed a new home in the recently re-energized theater district. New exhibits sprang up at the Field Museum and the Museum of Science and Industry. The Chicago History Museum underwent a gut rehab.

Cultural institutions were joining in the economic bonanza sweeping the country and, as with for-profit companies and individual homeowners, some would pay dearly for taking financial risks.

Encouraged by boards that included some of Chicago’s most influential corporate leaders, many museums and arts organizations decided to leverage their gains by borrowing tens of millions of dollars to fund expansions, renovations and other big-ticket projects. […]

“The recession blew a lot of people’s projections and plans,” said Carroll Joynes, co-founder of the University of Chicago’s Cultural Policy Center. “But the plans would have been unrealistic in many cases and freighted with not very good risk assessment, even if the economy had kept humming.”

* The Field Museum was especially hard hit…

The museum’s financial problems stem from a decision over a decade ago to issue $90 million in bonds for construction projects that included a subterranean storage center for much of its collection. The museum’s board assumed it could raise enough money through a capital campaign to keep the museum on solid footing.

But when that didn’t happen, it had to begin dipping into its endowment. Finally, in December, the museum announced that it would cut $5 million from its budget — $3 million of that from the science program — and would try to raise its endowment by $100 million.

* So, partly in reaction to this, the General Assembly passed a bill that would allow museums and aquariums to reduce the number of required free admission days by half, from 52 down to 26.

The bill passed with strong majorities in both chambers, but Gov. Pat Quinn vetoed it yesterday…

“Many Illinois families can only visit these museums on the 52 days that they are currently open to residents free of charge,” the governor wrote in a letter to lawmakers that explains his veto.

“Limiting the number of days our aquariums and museums are available free of cost would disproportionately limit access to our lower-income families,” he said. “I cannot support any legislation that seeks to reduce exposure to the vast educational resources on display at our museums, particularly for those in our state that are most vulnerable.”

While the problems at the museums and other cultural institutions are certainly severe, cutting free days to make up for the financing mistakes of society’s elite is just plain wrong. It is the sort of template that has been used ever since the great crash. Rich people screw up, poor people gotta give up.

The veto is vintage Pat Quinn. And he makes some solid points.

The veto has a political advantage as well. Sen. Kwame Raoul, a potential Quinn primary challenger, was a co-sponsor of the legislation.

Heh.

48 Comments

Blackburn drops out, endorses Simon

Wednesday, Aug 14, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Democrat Duffy Blackburn used his speech today at the Democratic County Chairman’s event to announce that he is “suspending” his comptroller campaign. “I wholeheartedly endorse Sheila Simon,” he told the attendees.

29 Comments

*** 12 MONTHS FOR SANDI *** 30 MONTHS FOR JJJ *** LIVE *** Jackson sentencing hearing

Wednesday, Aug 14, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Natasha Korecki is live-Tweeting the Jesse Jackson, Jr. sentencing hearing. She’s doing a great job and this is a must-watch…

27 Comments

Caption contest!

Wednesday, Aug 14, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From a friend who is at this morning’s Democratic County Chairmen’s brunch. If you can’t read the t-shirts, they say “Kwame Raoul, Democrat for Illinois”…

Our previous caption contest winners should expect to gather at the Miller tent at about 2:30 today. Send me an e-mail for confirmation.

21 Comments

Zuke nuked

Wednesday, Aug 14, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* An inspector general’s hiring investigation, downgraded university credit ratings, and a possible new challenger emerging. Not a great day for Gov. Pat Quinn.

Oh, and this…

The widening mess that has enveloped the Chicago area’s public transit operators claimed another victim today, with the resignation of embattled Chicago Transit Authority board member Frank Zuccarelli.

In a letter to Gov. Pat Quinn, Mr. Zuccarelli said he’d agreed to be appointed to the board “with a singular purpose in mind — to be a strong advocate for meeting the mass transit needs of the residents of the south suburbs.”

But Mr. Zuccarelli’s decision to continue to bepaid $128,000 a year as the Thornton Township supervisor and to accept the $25,000-a-year CTA post became an immediate lightning rod after Metra and the Regional Transportation Authority officials resigned amid ethical controversies.

State law generally bans such double-dipping, but Mr. Zuccarelli profited from a loophole that exempts township posts.

* More…

Zuccarelli resigned in time to avoid attending Wednesday’s monthly CTA meeting.

Reacting to the resignation, William Daley delivered a blunt, two-sentence reply that, in its brevity, appeared designed not to add to the perception that he was engaging in any “political grandstanding” with his earlier call for Zuccarelli’s departure.

“Frank Zuccarelli had little choice but to do the honorable thing by resigning today,” Daley said. “It’s unfortunate that Gov. Quinn put him in this position in the first place.”

* Quinn’s response…

“I felt he would have brought an important perspective to the CTA Board, which has all too often left this region behind when it came to important transportation access issues. I accept Frank’s decision and will soon announce his replacement.”

…Adding… Commenter 47th Ward probably has this exactly right…

Zuccarelli is no dummy and easily saw the writing on the wall. He isn’t going to fault Quinn for this case of horrible timing. If anything, he’ll be aiming for a bigger plum if Quinn gets re-elected, so there is still plenty of motivation to go all out.

Yep.

* This story has given me a sense of déjà vu. Remember when Rod Blagojevich tried to appoint Sheila Simon to the Illinois Gaming Board back in 2005? Simon said she was surprised at the offer, but also said she wanted the job.

The problem was, Simon sat on the Carbondale city council at the time and state law prohibited a local official from being on the board. So, Blagojevich tried to change the law, but that failed.

In the end, Blagojevich ended up appointing Simon to the Illinois Arts Council.

Simon is no Zuccarelli for many reasons. But this isn’t the first time that a governor has tried to get around a law with an appointment.

15 Comments

Zorn encourages Raoul to run

Wednesday, Aug 14, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Eric Zorn agrees with me that state Sen. Kwame Raoul has a legitimate path to victory if he seeks the Democratic gubernatorial nomination…

Raoul’s profile, record of accomplishment and available seed money make him a plausible foe for two candidates who aren’t generating much enthusiasm among Democratic base voters.

Labor, which is sorely disenchanted with Quinn and Daley, would likely form a core of support for Raoul, as would African-American voters and the same of bloc of white liberals who backed Obama — perhaps enough, all told, that he would win a three-way primary.

Working against him, if he chooses to run, will be his lack of experience as an executive — by day, he’s a partner at a LaSalle Street law firm — and as a big-time candidate — he’s never contended on the statewide stage.

His role in attempting to resolve the pension crisis could also backfire on his ambitions. The Tribune has editorialized against Raoul’s “exasperating … slow walk” of the process so far this summer, and if too little gets done in the end, he’ll end up lumped in with Quinn and the legislative leaders labeled as part of the problem, not part of the solution.

Raoul has been demurely declining to reveal his plans and saying that his sole focus right now is coming up with a pension reform bill. It’s exactly what he should be saying under the circumstances, and offers no clue as to what he might do after Labor Day, when the political season begins in earnest.

It’s his time, though. And the Caucus of Meh! is growing impatient.

Raoul’s State Fair event last night was packed. He’s not there yet, but he is seriously considering this thing.

26 Comments

The sky is very dark, but it’s not falling

Wednesday, Aug 14, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Joe Cahill at Crain’s warns his readers that Illinois and Chicago are about to become Detroit. He concludes…

One of these days, Illinois or Chicago will float a bond offering and find no takers. That’s when we become Detroit.

This is a common fantasy among a large group of folks. We’ve seen it expressed before just about every major state bond offering. The Associated Press fell for it the last time and was completely embarrassed (or should’ve been) after the sale turned out fine. Even Ty Fahner subscribes to this notion, saying in his March address to the Union League Club: “Nobody wants our paper.”

Yet, time after time, Illinois bond sales are way oversubscribed.

* The truth is, Illinois has incredibly strong laws dictating that bond payments are made first - before pension payments, before school payments, before anything. Bond buyers know this.

They also know that they’ll get a better return on their Illinois bond investments, partially because of the hysterical nonsense spewed by people like Fahner.

And if they’re paying attention they also know that the state has no invoices sitting in the hopper that are over 30 days old. They also know that our economy, which has big problems, is still far more diverse and vital than Detroit’s ever was. Yeah, it was a major boom town 50 years ago, but its over-reliance on automobile production doomed it.

* Look, we’ve got problems here. Big, huge, gut-wrenching problems. But comparing Illinois to Detroit is no more valid than the dire and widespread predictions a couple of years ago that we were the next Greece.

* Even so…

Moody’s Investors Service downgraded debt ratings on seven public Illinois universities, and warns more decreases could take place in the future.

The bond rating agency took the actions Friday, about two months after it warned it was reviewing all public universities in Illinois because of the state’s precarious financial situation. The state of Illinois’ debt was downgraded in early June.

In Friday’s downgrades, only Northern Illinois University maintained its debt rating.

The downgrades affect a combined $2.24 billion in debt, but most of that belongs to the University of Illinois.

47 Comments

Report: IG probing IDOT hiring

Wednesday, Aug 14, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From a Better Government Association report…

* The state’s executive inspector general is investigating hiring irregularities, and has interviewed a number of former state government employees.

* Since 2003, IDOT officials routinely manipulated job descriptions as a means to get around court-ordered hiring rules.

* In many cases, once political hires were made, they did not fulfill the responsibilities in their job descriptions.

* The number of political hires at IDOT jumped by 63 percent in the last decade, while the number of highway road maintainers plummeted by nearly 800 posts.