* Press release…
The members of the Legislative Ethics Commission have unanimously approved the appointment of Julie B. Porter to serve as the Special Legislative Inspector General.
Ms. Porter has committed her career to seeking justice and becoming a voice for those who might not otherwise be heard. As a founding partner at Salvatore Prescott & Porter, PLLC, as well as during her time as a former Assistant United States Attorney in Chicago, Ms. Porter has brought her deep experience with complex commercial litigation and prosecuting public corruption, financial crimes, and child exploitation to a private practice that focuses on sophisticated criminal defense and investigative work, commercial litigation, and civil rights and employment litigation for individuals.
Ms. Porter’s appointment takes effect immediately and will expire on June 30, 2018.
The Office of the Legislative Inspector General is responsible for investigating complaints of violations of any law, rule or regulation or abuse of authority or other forms of misconduct by members of the General Assembly and state employees under the jurisdiction of the legislature.
* Press release…
The newest member of the Legislative Ethics Commission, State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) released the following statement in response to Julie B. Porter’s appointment to Inspector General of the commission:
“Julie Porter has a proven record of fighting public corruption as the Assistant United States Attorney,” Castro said. “She has extensive experience seeking justice for the people of Illinois. I look forward to seeing her get to work as our new Inspector General. I’m confident she will work swiftly and thoroughly to investigate and resolve all outstanding complaints.”
Porter is well known for her work trying complex cases as the corruption case that led to the conviction of Illinois powerbroker Bill Cellini and top Mayor Richard Daley’s top aide Robert Sorich, among others. Porter worked at the U.S. Attorney’s office for 12 years and was appointed chief of the office’s criminal division before leaving to join a private practice in Chicago.
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* Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb says this in Gov. Rauner’s latest TV ad…
“We’re growing union jobs faster than Illinois.”
* The BGA and Politifact look into the claim…
The Rauner campaign said Holcomb’s claim is based on a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report from January 2017 on union employment and membership.
The report shows that from 2015 to 2016 — the first two years Rauner was in office — workers represented by unions in Indiana grew from 319,000 to 335,000, an increase of 5 percent. During that same time, workers represented by unions in Illinois fell by 4 percent, from 892,000 to 856,000. […]
Illinois’ 2015-16 union numbers are no statistical fluke. Even before the Great Recession, Illinois had been losing union jobs at a faster clip than its neighbor to the east.
From 2006-07, the number of workers represented by unions in Illinois fell from 979,000 to 884,000, a decrease of nearly 10 percent. Indiana’s union job losses in that period were less than 1 percent — from 334,000 to 333,000.
Michael Hicks, an economics professor at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., who tracks Midwest job trends, says the pattern bucks conventional wisdom.
“In 2006-07, in the wake of the very difficult manufacturing employment period, Illinois and Indiana shed both public and private union jobs,” Hicks said in an email. “But Indiana was holding on better, when it should not have because we are a more manufacturing intensive state (and private sector unions are more tied to manufacturing).”
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* WCIA TV…
New approval numbers are out comparing the most and least popular governors around the country. The Morning Consults Governor Approval Rankings show Governor Bruce Rauner near the bottom of the list.
Rauner ranks fifth worst as most voters say they disapprove of his performance over the last two years in office. The survey asked more than 250,000 registered voters nationwide.
With his re-election underway inching closer to 2018, he will want to change some minds. The survey shows Rauner suffered a 16-point net loss, with 30% of voters approving of his performance and 55% giving him the thumb’s down.
People were surveyed from July to September, so even after the state passed a budget, many are still not pleased with how Rauner continues to govern.
July through September? That makes for some pretty old results.
More info is here. It’s difficult to figure out exactly what this firm’s methodology is, so I’d advise a bit of caution.
* The firm did provide me these results…
I was told there are no crosstabs available…
The n size for Illinois is 11,177 with a margin of error of +/- 1%
* Related…
* Ready for more governor TV ads? Election Day is 12 months away
* Proposed Law Would Require Disclosure of Political Ad Buyers
* Blunt talk from Democrats about legalizing marijuana
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* Press release…
Attorney General Lisa Madigan today led a multistate group of attorneys general in filing comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) opposing the proposed merger between the Tribune Media Company (Tribune) and Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. (Sinclair). Madigan and the other attorneys general argue the potential merger fails to further the public interest by allowing for increased consolidation that will decrease consumer choices and a diversity of voices in the media marketplace.
The Tribune/Sinclair merger would create the largest television broadcast company in the country. The merged company would own or operate over 200 stations nationwide with the ability to reach 72 percent of U.S. television households, far above the statutory 39 percent limit.
“To ensure people have access to a diverse landscape of perspectives, services and stations, the FCC should reject the proposed Tribune-Sinclair media merger,” Madigan said. “People throughout Illinois depend on their local broadcast stations for diverse viewpoints and this merger threatens that long-held practice.”
In addition, Madigan and the other attorneys general point out that the proposed merger inappropriately relies on an outdated method known as the UHF Discount Rule for calculating national audience reach that does not reflect the reality of today’s technology, understating the audience reach of a UHF station by 50 percent.
The attorneys general argue that, at a minimum, the FCC should delay consideration of the merger until the D.C. Circuit Court completes its rule of the UHF Discount, which is underway.
Joining Madigan in filing today’s comments are the attorneys general of Maryland, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
The comments are here.
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Sen. Link says Speaker Madigan lied
Friday, Nov 3, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Do you get the feeling that nobody seems to be operating off the same page and that the Senate and House Democrats are trying to deflect blame onto each other?…
[Sen. Terry Link (D-Waukegan)] took issue with comments made by Madigan during a hearing on his bill, in which the veteran speaker said the vacancy at the inspector general’s office was “regrettable” but had not prevented the ethics commission from functioning. Madigan spokesman Brown declined comment, saying “the speaker’s statement stands for itself.”
At Tuesday’s hearing, Madigan said the commission’s executive director, Randy Erford, who is part-time and largely handles administrative tasks, took complaints “directly” to Link. On Thursday, Link called Madigan’s comments “a bald-faced lie” and said he has no knowledge of what is in the complaints.
“Never once was any of them taken to me directly. Did Mr. Erford say to me there were complaints? Yes. (But) I have never seen one complaint.
Whew.
* Meanwhile, from the Illinois Policy Institute’s news service…
Years of accused legislative ethics violations that went unseen by a state watchdog could go unpunished because the window to do so has expired.
News that more than two dozen legislative ethics complaints sat unaddressed since 2014 has the Illinois General Assembly scrambling to appoint a new Legislative Inspector General as well as pass new laws that combat ethics breaches such as sexual harassment.
But former Legislative Inspector General Thomas Homer says the dozens of ethics complaints in the Illinois legislature won’t be addressed by whomever is next appointed to his old office. State law limits the inspector general to a 12-month window after an alleged misconduct took place in which they can open an investigation into the matter.
This is an area where the two sides are working together. All they have to do is pass a bill to get rid of that one-year window. These are civil matters so there are no ex post facto or statute of limitation considerations. Both chambers are on board.
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* AP..
The political activist who has accused an Illinois Senate Democratic leader of sexually harassing her said Thursday that she wants to know why Sen. Ira Silverstein faced no repercussions until after she went public this week.
Denise Rotheimer said Silverstein, who relinquished his leadership post and its $21,000 stipend Wednesday night, should resign the Senate seat representing Chicago that he’s held since 1999.
Rotheimer, a victims-rights advocate from Ingleside, testified on Tuesday before a House Committee considering sexual-harassment training for lawmakers, staff, and lobbyists. She described how the 57-year-old Silverstein sent her inappropriate social-media messages, paid her unwanted compliments and called her late at night last year while they were working on legislation.
We’ll circle back to that story in a bit. But first, remember this Silverstein comment to Rotheimer on November 21, 2016 at 10:49pm CST?…
i will check to see if u r a true blond
* Rep. Rita Mayfield (D-Waukegan) sparked quite a conversation on Kyle Hillman’s Facebook page by saying this…
That’s not sexual harassment, that’s bad flirting.
More…
Rita Mayfield: If she actively engaged in the conversation how is that harrassment? Ir appeared she was flirting back. I didnt get a sense of unwanted advances from the dialogue
Kyle Hillman: …the Senator was sponsoring her bill and the ability to advance or kill it. That exchange above coupled with power to kill her bill is textbook sexual harassment.
Rita Mayfield: Your stating that the bill was used as power to force her to flirt with him? I dont buy it. She could have easily found another sponsor. This is not her first bill.
Kyle Hillman: wow.
[female private citizen]: victim blaming…a huge reason most women don’t come forward
Rita Mayfield: No not victim blaming just looking at it objectively. We dont have all the facts. Leys wait for the full investigation before we start with the tar and feathering
Thoughts?
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Cook Dems reject Quinn, slate Raoul
Friday, Nov 3, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Last night…
Sneed has learned former Gov. Pat Quinn, who is tossing his hat into the ring for Illinois attorney general, will urge Dem slatemakers meeting Friday to refrain from endorsing any candidate in the March primary and let voters decide.
“We don’t need a coronation,” Quinn told Sneed.
* Today…
Cook County Democrats on Friday endorsed state Sen. Kwame Raoul of Chicago for attorney general in a rebuke to former Gov. Pat Quinn, who is also seeking the post.
* Press releases in the order they were received. ILGOP…
“It’s no surprise that the most crooked organization in Illinois politics with close ties to Mike Madigan is backing Kwame Raoul for Attorney General. As one of Madigan’s top partners in the Illinois Senate, Raoul has blocked reform and pushed Madigan’s rigged legislative maps and tax hikes. The people of Illinois deserve a reform-minded Attorney General, but Kwame Raoul is just another career politician from Chicago who does Madigan’s bidding.” - Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot
* Jesse Ruiz…
“Today’s decision by the Cook County Democratic Party to slate a fellow political insider is disappointing – but sadly, not surprising.
“Throughout my career, I have been a staunch advocate for transparency and openness in government. I will continue to do so as Attorney General.
“This is going to be a competitive race, and I have every confidence in our supporters and our campaign. I look forward to winning the Democratic nomination on March 20th and being elected as Attorney General next November.”
* Sen. Kwame Raoul…
As a lifelong Illinois Democrat, I’m pleased to receive the endorsement of the Cook County Democratic Organization. 13 years ago, a group of Democratic committeemen came together to appoint me to fill the vacancy of then-IL Senator Barack Obama. Since that time, I’ve worked hard every day to make those committeemen and my constituents proud.
My political journey here in Cook County has included everything from sweeping floors at events to hosting volunteer clinics to becoming a delegate for President Obama. Over that time, I’ve developed a legislative record which uniquely qualifies me to take on the role of Attorney General.
As a prosecutor and a legislator, I’ve spent my career advocating on behalf of victims, speaking up for the voiceless and producing real change in our justice system. I’ve seen the law used to the advantage of large corporations and to the detriment of the middle class and those of lesser means. I’ve worked to shift that balance and make our state’s laws are the great equalizer they ought to be.
Now I hope to continue that work as Attorney General. Illinoisans are under siege from attacks from President Trump and Governor Rauner and I’ve got a record that demonstrates my capacity to stop them. I look forward to putting that record before the voters across the state in the months ahead.
* Tina…
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Open thread
Friday, Nov 3, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Not feeling well this morning. Nothing serious and I may try to get something going later, but I’m not sure. Keep it Illinois-centric and be nice, please.
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