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* Tribune…
The top federal prosecutor in central Illinois has given the green light for a panel of lawmakers to resume hearings into Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn’s anti-violence program that now could unfold only weeks before the Nov. 4 election.
U.S. Attorney James Lewis had asked a bipartisan state commission to hold off on talking to witnesses reviewing a critical state audit of Quinn’s Neighborhood Recovery Initiative. Auditor General William Holland scoured through $54.5 million Quinn poured into an agency handling that “hastily implemented” the program announced during the closing weeks of Quinn’s 2010 campaign for governor. […]
On Monday, Bloomington Sen. Jason Barickman, the Republican co-chair of the commission, and his Democratic counterpart, Rep. Frank Mautino of Spring Valley, went over the latest development with Lewis by phone.
“Mr. Lewis confirmed that he had no further requests of the commission,” Barickman said. “As a result, we plan to proceed with our scheduled hearing on Oct. 8” in Chicago. Mautino could not be reached immediately to confirm if that hearing will take place.
The only thing that can stop those October hearings now is if Chicago’s US Attorney, who is also conducting an investigation, asks for a delay.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 10:17 am
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I predict………..delay.
Comment by Nonplussed Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 10:19 am
I predict that after hours of contentious debate, the Legislative Audit Commission will eventually pass a resolution declaring that it “feels like an Arby’s day” for lunch.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 10:23 am
i hope somebody takes the 5th soon?
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 10:33 am
Wow… The only question left is, Will the US Attorney ask for a delay? If they do, that does not bode well for PQ. What’s the batting average of the Feds? .999?
Comment by Walter Mitty Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 10:34 am
The tin-foil hats have convinced me that Barack Hussein Obama will personally order Chicago’s US Attorney to delay the proceedings to protect his fellow DemoNcrat — all according to the master plan of Saul Alinsky and Mike Madigan.
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM (@MisterJayEm) Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 10:34 am
The Republicans on that committee made fools of themselves last time and there’s little reason to believe they wouldn’t do so again.
In any case, small potatoes compared to Rauner’s problems. No comparison.
Comment by too obvious Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 10:35 am
Pretty quick investigation, must not have found much.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 10:36 am
Not a moment too soon for the Rauner Crew,
Dear GOP Inquisitors,
I have been pushing this “wait” agenda since all this began. “Let it ferment” I would say, well, now is your hour.
Things to keep in mind;
Being combative to just be combative is horrible optics.
“Unless you can get him, don’t ‘Go for it’…” - Don’t aim too high and fail.
This isn’t Watergate. Your impact will be measured by your homework, not your theatre.
Snark at your own risk. The snarky manner of questioning is bad optics. Ask, listen, respond, listen, make your point.
“Sit” Mr. Reis.
You are an Audit Commission, not prosecutors, frame it in the monies prism and accountability, not in the prism of a US Attorney.
Emails sway no one. 1, 10, 500… It’s what that’s in emails that sways people. Focus on missing information, not the specific number of emails.
You can control if it’s “Benghazi” or not. The work is serious, making yourselves seem more serious than the work is going down the “Benghazi” prism.
Use this; “We would like more ‘X’, but we know an ongoing Federal investigation limits some things. We don’t want to impede a Federal, possibly criminal, investigation here…” That is the teeth, not you guys.
Do radio and TV talk, but the default is always “Federal, possibly criminal, investigation”. The LAC as a lever can’t make the lift alone.
Be, and seem, bi-partisan, whenever, wherever you can. Not everything is a battle. Big picture. Partisan wrinkles are losing wrinkles.
Finally, the tone is disappointment and frustration with anger third. Anger leading is anger blowing this opportunity to make hay. “We are very upset and disappointed we have to be doing this, we are angered at how this is going…” No one likes angry.
It’s the October Gift; use it right, don’t use it wrong and break it.
Sincerely,
OW
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 10:36 am
As a real republican it doesn’t exactly thrill me to say this but if the rauner republicans continue this partisan political misuse of this issue it will not only hurt all republican canidates up bad down the ballot this year but it could hurt our party in 2015 and 2016. Rauner’s unethical Busness style needs to be out of politics.
Comment by William j Kelly Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 10:41 am
The fact that a Green Light has been given means?
No wrongdoing, or just the witnesses have nothing substantial to add beyond what is already in the documents?
Friday hearings, in Springfield, starting at 10 am and lasting until 10 pm?
LOL
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 10:41 am
A strong reason for the carpet bombing campaigns against Rauner is this news development.
As I had posted a while ago, Quinn has to be up against Rauner in reliable polls by the time Bloodtober begins, because the blood that will be spilled will be the Governor’s.
And that is what seems to have transpired - a direct attempt to get those polls up before Bloodtober begins. The Rauner hammering is due to an all out attempt to get this race tilted towards Quinn, so that it can stay close by November when Bloodtober is over.
Quinn is going to lose support as this spills out. He needs to have some kind of reserves to lose before Election Day.
This explains the full court press on television against his opponent.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 10:42 am
@OW
That is a lucid, intelligent, well thought out objection… overruled.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 10:43 am
Any word from the federal grand jury in Chicago?
Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 10:44 am
No one is going to care about this.
The GOP should put themselves out of what will be their misery and delay this until after the election. Folks on the panel are too eager, too uptight, too rabidly frothing at the mouth.
Comment by Frenchie Mendoza Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 10:45 am
First of all, it sounds like good news for Quinn, i.e. Feds not moving on anything big that Quinn has to worry about.
But if the GOP can come up with evidence that Quinn personally profited from awful nursing homes and then pawned the liabilities off on an elderly graphic artist now in a nursing home himself in order to hide from responsibility to the victims, maybe someone will care about this hearing they want.
Comment by too obvious Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 10:45 am
===Folks on the panel are too eager, too uptight, too rabidly frothing at the mouth. ===
And that all adds up to a great story.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 10:48 am
I completely agree on the premise of wanting, begging the US Attorney asking for delay.
No one in My Party has used this right.
The delay, again, would hammer the “investigation” ambiguity and could be more devastating than ANY hearings…
If they are going to have to go through with the hearings, those were my suggestions.
The purity of the ambiguity of a federal probe should have been the jacket from jump street.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 10:52 am
Frenchie… As someone who has voted for both parties. My hope is there is nothing to see here. But if a Federal grand jury has been convened, it’s not just politics. It’s for us, to find out, will we or won’t we have the possibility of going 3 for 3 with Governors indicted? I understand he has not been. But the Feds don’t look for smoke, if there is no fire. I give them credit and have to believe in our system. And I do wear a tin foil hat. Just not for this. If it is left until after the election, which it may be. To speculate further, how interesting that the first time the LT Gov had to be on the ballot…may matter!Only in Illinois!
Comment by Walter Mitty Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 10:52 am
Maybe this means the US Attorney in Central Illinois didn’t find anything criminal worth pursuing. If that’s true, this is good news for Quinn.
I think Darrell Issa and his gang have pretty much desensitized most of us when it comes to kangaroo legislative inquiries. This could easily turn into Quinnghazi in Barrickman’s hands.
Bring it on. The more it looks like a clown show, the more people will discount anything that comes from it. If the LAC handles this right, all they need to do is repeat everything Bill Holland found. They don’t need anything new, simply reminding everyone of what was said in the audit is damning enough.
But I don’t think the GOP members will be able to restrain themselves. Brady, Oberweis, Barrickman, this is their moment to shine and they’re going to give it all they’ve got.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 10:56 am
–Quinn is going to lose support as this spills out. He needs to have some kind of reserves to lose before Election Day.–
What’s going to “spill out?” Do you have inside dope from the U.S. attorney? You’re not really expecting anything substantive from the LAC are you?
And I’m pretty sure Quinn would be pounding Rauner in late September, regardless. Kind of how elections work.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 10:59 am
The best thing real republicans can start doing right now is to put together a plan for how to clean house and rebuild the IL Republican Party after Rauner’s defeat in November.
Comment by William j Kelly Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 11:00 am
@William J Kelly
Rauner owns the party.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 11:07 am
Bloodtober? Is Svengoolie the new U.S. Attorney?
Comment by Soccermom Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 11:08 am
Ducky, that’s my point. So after Rauner’s defeat in November real republicans will need to clean house( ie. get rid of the rauner republicans) and rebuild our party. The only question is how much long term damage to the republican brand will we have to undue thanks to the rauner effect?
Comment by William j Kelly Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 11:15 am
==The Rauner hammering is due to an all out attempt to get this race tilted towards Quinn, so that it can stay close by November when Bloodtober is over.==
Are you suggesting that a candidate is trying to win an election by campaigning negatively? And that he is hoping the polls tilt more his way?
Comment by Robert the Bruce Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 11:16 am
Wake me up when there is something to report. I mean criminal. Not just a “failed” state program. All government programs are failures according to Republicans.
If there is no “fire” this is bad for the R’s. I sincerely hope that this is not part of the GOP election strategy. If it is, then they are in bigger trouble than we thought.
Comment by Try-4-Truth Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 11:17 am
I was hoping Barickman wouldn’t continue with this. I think he has some real potential for higher office as a generally real moderate republican.
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 11:18 am
WjK, rebuild? With what? Old has been hacks like Dillard & Brady? Walking time bombs like Rutherford? Hey, maybe Jim Ryan can make a come back, again. I would love to see JBT on the gov ticket but I think that train has left the station for good. What else does the ILGOP have?
Comment by dupage dan Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 11:21 am
If timed properly, this will hurt Quinn even if there’s little of substance there. OW is right: The GOPers on the Committee should play off the “Federal criminal investigation,” as their own best play.
This can raise all kinds of dire speculation and distrust in the minds of voters, just when it’s too late to recover before Election Day.
And to expect the Feds to publicly say or hint “There’s nothing there about Quinn himself” before the election, is wishful thinking. The Feds say what they do have, not what they don’t.
Comment by walker Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 11:26 am
I wonder if PQ is sure there is no news or fire to be found as mostly all of these comments are glossing over. In time, we will find out. I am trying to understand this perspective. Was there an accounting for all of this money? I thought we already know, that answer is no. How that isn’t a worry for PQ or those glossing over this, is shocking to me. Neither is my guy. But, I wouldn’t want that collar around me no matter. How it’s perceived as nothing, and turned on the Republicans is missing the main point. Where’s the money? Who received it? In our fiscal shape, don’t all of us want to know?It was our money gang. Not their’s…
Comment by Walter Mitty Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 11:27 am
For all the talk on other threads on how Republicans and Rauner in particular are trying to “buy” the election with money, this example of Democrats and Quinn in particular trying to “buy” the last election for Governor is somehow different?
Well in my mind it is. Try “use of taxpayer money” instead of private donations. Where politically connected individuals and organizations received lots of money for rent, overhead and salaries, while crumbs actually went to combat violence.
Unless someone has a different opinion. If so, explain it to me.
Comment by Louis G Atsaves Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 11:28 am
Bloodtober, is just the month after Bloodtemper, Bloodgust, Bloodly, Bloodune, Blooday, Bloodpril, Bloodarch, Bloodbuary and Bloodanuary.
That’s just where we are now.
Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 11:29 am
Will it be enough for the Democrats on the panel to just remind everyone that Bruce Rauner is immensely wealthy?
Comment by Meanderthal Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 11:29 am
Dupage, I couldn’t have said it better myself, please add brickman, Oberwaste and yourself to the list and we will be off to a fresh start!
Comment by William j Kelly Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 11:39 am
Ducky @ 10;43,
Nice use of a My Cousin Vinny line.
To the post,
A gift to the ILGOP no doubt. Sadly they will open it up and not even know what it is or how to work it. Like when I got my first plastic model car kit. Parts everywhere on Christmas morning! Alas, no car ever built.
Comment by Big Muddy Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 11:39 am
“What else does the ILGOP have?” Alan Keyes? (sorry, I couldn’t resist…)
Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 11:40 am
*list of people that have to GO
Comment by William j Kelly Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 11:40 am
Merry Christmas Mr. Rauner.
Comment by Yipperdo Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 11:41 am
There won’t be any hearings, even if the U.S. attorney in Chicago doesn’t ask for a delay. You can’t hold hearings when witnesses won’t talk, and any witness with anything worth hearing isn’t going to say squat with a criminal investigation pending.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 11:44 am
This thing has “backfire” written all over it.
Comment by Perceval Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 11:46 am
William Kelly PLLLEEAAASE are you kidding? A partisan political misuse get a grip Billy. This is a federal investigation of a program that went wrong,very wrong.
I can also say without any doubt the cleaning up of the Illinois Republican party has already begun.
What needs to be cleaned up more is to cleanse it of people like you. People who ramble on and on with nothing to say. So forgive me when I say those of us who have worked and donated time and money need not hear from the likes of you. You will find that race for Mayor your embarking on is going to be a nightmare like nothing you have seen…..
Comment by leprechaun Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 11:50 am
- William j Kelly - Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 11:40 am:
==*list of people that have to GO==
What if you are on that list Mr. Kelly? Oh I forgot, you are already gone, long gone.
Comment by Western Ave. Doug Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 11:56 am
I’m really feeling like Quinnybaby knows more than what he’s saying; most folks I know who voted for Roddy B. twice feel like doofuses; most folks I know who voted for Obama twice feel like doofuses; I am encouraging them not to go for the trifecta with Quinn; Rauner is not THE answer, but he’s the best choice that Illinois has; remember…. if Quinn is re-elected, then has to leave office, who’s governor? Vallas. Yikes.
Comment by Mattman Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 12:03 pm
Western Ave Doug
He had to be somebody in the party before he can be tossed. You can’t get thrown out of the dance if you were never invited
Comment by In the know Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 12:04 pm
In the know
All true, but he did put on a nice display of crazy at the Daily Herald with JBT. That does make him somebody.
Comment by Western Ave. Doug Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 12:08 pm
Soccermom @ 11:08:
Svengoolie? Ha! My laugh of the day.
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 12:11 pm
To the Post….
It might be Mautino’s best move to let Barickman and Sandack have their tantrums and snide remarks.
Mautino only needs to ask;
“We’ve all read the Auditor General’s report, there is an investigation going on, Mr. Sandack, Mr. Barickman, what are you hoping to accomplish within the parameters of the Legislative Audit Commission?”
Let that fester.
That is the trap My Party can’t walk into.
Careful, no anger, no snark, no snide remarks, no hyperbole, or that lil phrase above will sink the Inquisitors.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 12:16 pm
Can we have a post where only wordslinger and Vanillaman can comment? A sort of battle royal to settle the tension between the two.
Comment by john a logan Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 12:28 pm
– If the LAC handles this right, all they need to do is repeat everything Bill Holland found. They don’t need anything new, simply reminding everyone of what was said in the audit is damning enough.–
No kidding. I wonder if some of those guys have even read the report.
It came out last February. They didn’t get interested until they found out there were a couple of grand juries going on. They didn’t hold that two-day dog-and-pony-show until mid-July.
Not a shining moment for the legislative watchdogs. And now a couple of them think they’re Elliott Ness?
The LAC is a sideshow, at best. Anything of substance will come out of the U.S. attorney’s offices, possibly the state’s attorney’s office. What that will be remains to be seen, on their own timelines.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 12:45 pm
I’m so glad that Mattman is questioning the qualifications of the Lt. Governor candidates. Who is Rauner’s runningmate? That’s his first executive appointment? Yikes!
She does make Rauner look good, when she speaks before him because almost anyone sounds better after her.
Comment by Siriusly Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 1:13 pm
== Who is Rauner’s runningmate? ==
Basically Pat Quinn’s running mate from 2010. With less name recognition /s
Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 2:01 pm
As for the investigation, that seems to have wrapped up quickly.
Likely they either found nothing much to go on, or some clear evidence against the targets of their probe.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 2:02 pm
–As for the investigation, that seems to have wrapped up quickly.–
I wouldn’t assume that they’re done just because they don’t have a problem with the LAC questioning some people.
They haven’t tipped their hands much as to what they’re looking at, except for the early days when Dorothy Brown and her husband seemed to be getting a lot of attention.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 2:12 pm
Barickman is the Eugene McCarthy of the IL state senate.
Comment by Mcleaniac Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 2:56 pm
All that’s wanted is a picture of Quinn walking into the hearings. That’s the endgame. Don’t be surprised if the first motion before the hearings is a letter from Barickman asking Lisa Madigan to enforce a LAC subpoena to Quinn to appear before the committee.
Comment by DuPage Bard Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 4:58 pm
–All that’s wanted is a picture of Quinn walking into the hearings. That’s the endgame. Don’t be surprised if the first motion before the hearings is a letter from Barickman asking Lisa Madigan to enforce a LAC subpoena to Quinn to appear before the committee–
What are you talking about? What subpoena? What enforcement power by the attorney general?
It’s not a TV show, dude.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 6:27 pm