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Saturday caption contest!

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• Illinois
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* Saturdays are usually my lowest traffic days by far. However, since the election is just days away, maybe it’ll be higher today. And maybe this will help boost numbers…

…Adding… The Frerichs campaign’s “caption”…

Democrat Mike Frerichs, candidate for state treasurer, is questioning 22-year incumbent Republican Tom Cross’ commitment to reforming Springfield today after pictures surfaced of Tom Cross campaigning with scandal-plagued incumbent Dan Rutherford. The picture of Cross and Rutherford campaigning together in Pontiac was posted by Rutherford at 9:46 pm last night to his Twitter account, @RutherfordDan.

Rutherford’s office was the target of a scathing auditor general report this summer that found he spent $328,000 in taxpayer dollars over just two years to ramp up an internship program in his office that was filled with the sons and daughter’s of the politically connected. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the interns were handpicked by Rutherford with no application process. Frerichs has also criticized the state treasurer’s office for:

1. Renewing the state’s contract with OppenheimerFunds to manage Bright Start, even after the firm lost $150 million in college savings belonging to 65,000 Illinoisans, and even though the firm is being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. A recent report by investment firm Morningstar also indicates that many Bright Start families are paying above-average fees for lackluster returns, and the report criticizes Illinois for offering parents sub-par tax benefits for college savings;

2. Failing to maximize the state’s investment in Illinois technology companies through Illinois’ Technology Development Accounts, a public-private partnership. Despite an independent study showing that prior investments have created more than 1,000 jobs in Illinois and attracted roughly $150 million in private investment, Rutherford failed to expand the bipartisan program;

3. Refusing to release the results of a taxpayer-funded investigation into allegations of Illinois State Treasurer’s Office employees being coerced to do campaign work on Rutherford’s behalf;

4. Devoting 1/3 of the staff of the state treasurer’s office to promoting his failed bid for governor under the guise of the I-Cash Program, including the coordination of the I-Cash Program with campaign stops.

“Illinois is ready for reform, but Tom Cross is not,” says Frerichs. “Republican Leader Cross was on Blagojevich’s clout list, and according to state records he tried to get jobs for 46 different people. Throughout the campaign, Republican Tom Cross said he thinks Dan Rutherford is doing a good job. I don’t think there is a voter in Illinois who thinks Dan Rutherford passing up the chance to create thousands of jobs for regular people while growing internships for his friends and donors is a job well done.“

Frerichs adds “As state treasurer, on day one I will launch an independent audit of the office to root out patronage and waste, enforce the ban on state employees doing political work, and release the taxpayer funded investigation as Dan Rutherford promised. Tom Cross says he thinks Dan Rutherford is doing a good job, but I believe the people of Illinois deserve better.”

posted by Rich Miller
Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:00 pm

Comments

1. well rep. Cross for a small price you just place this rearview camera strategically and you will never face the accusations (no pun intended) that the treasurer has.

   Comment by 13thone Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:04 pm

2. “We’ll save tons of money if we stop prosecuting sexual harassment!”

   Comment by Angel's Sword Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:09 pm

3. “I will only play 9 holes on Tuesday, but I will get a hot dog, no ketchup, at the Clubhouse”

   Comment by Oswego Willy Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:11 pm

4. If they slip I’ll sue. I know all the tricks.

   Comment by walker Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:11 pm

5. “That delicious aroma other candidates like Mike Frerichs smells is a lil shake…and bake. Shake and Bake!”

   Comment by Oswego Willy Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:15 pm

6. “Dan gave me some good advice. I won’t be tweeting anything damaging except my golf score that particular work or Election Day. Good tip by Dan.”

   Comment by Oswego Willy Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:18 pm

7. Pretense and Past Tense

   Comment by Juvenal Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:19 pm

8. “No no. That’s not true. I get Pongee AND I get to keep my golf cart. Dan just wanted to give Pongee a good home. No trade.”

   Comment by Oswego Willy Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:20 pm

9. “Dan is going to make a great whatever he’s going to do. It’s not like not releasing the taxpayers’ paid report is going to haunt him.”

   Comment by Oswego Willy Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:25 pm

10. “Where Dan and I agree is important; Mike Frerichs is just too tall for the vault. Too tall. Agree. You can print that.”

    Comment by Oswego Willy Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:28 pm

11. “Actually, I’m just here to keep Dan relevant.”

    Comment by Oswego Willy Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:29 pm

12. “As you just heard what Treasurer Rutherford said, and if take way the bitterness and pettiness, that is where we find common ground.”

    Comment by Oswego Willy Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:32 pm

13. “I’ve offered Dan an internship.”

    Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:35 pm

14. Schtick and Tweet

    Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:36 pm

15. “I think what Dan is trying to say is that I will be the state Treasurer in the same way Dan was, but without the blunders, mess ups, and a Dopey press conference. I can promise that.”

    Comment by Oswego Willy Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:36 pm

16. “Ask me that question again and I’ll sue you, how about that. Next question.”

    Comment by Oswego Willy Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:39 pm

17. Tom. I gotta get going so I can hit the precincts for Raumer.

    Comment by Samurai Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:43 pm

18. “You get two Treasurer questions, then I get to tell you a golf story. K?”

    Comment by Oswego Willy Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:43 pm

19. “Dan and I have avoided being in a caption contest, together, for this long, so we should be out of the woods.”

    Comment by Oswego Willy Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:45 pm

20. “If by some chance Frerichs does win, Dan already agreed to make all the doorways 5′11″ throughout the Treasurer’s offices, so good luck with that Mikey.”

    Comment by Oswego Willy Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:47 pm

21. “Wait. ‘Mike’? Oh, Frerichs. Mike. Frerichs. Whew, I had a Madigan flashback there. Got a lil light-headed. Ok. ‘Mike Frerichs’…can we start over, I can’t remember the question.”

    Comment by Oswego Willy Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:49 pm

22. Mr. Cross, I understand why you’re upset but I’ve got your reservation right here on my phone. Says one room for the two of you. Treasurers office policy.

    Comment by LizPhairTax Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:56 pm

23. Sure, happy to do it.

    “Happy birthday to you …”

    Comment by Dave Dahl Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 2:14 pm

24. “Look. I’ve answered this. I answered this at a committee hearing; yeah, I threw Willy’s golf clubs in the pond. On accident. It was an accident. Our bags look the same, ok? I dunno what more I can do but say I’m sorry to Willy, and hope we can be Buds.”

    “…and tell Willy to please, please stop calling Fox Bend every Friday. I’ll call if I change my mind. My foursome is full, Willy, move on.”

    Comment by Oswego Willy Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 2:22 pm

25. Mr. Rutherford, you’re good. I couldn’t see your lips move and the puppet movement was extremely lifelike.

    Comment by Norseman Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 2:52 pm

26. be careful Tom, there could be a camera taking a photo of us.

    Comment by Amalia Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 3:03 pm

27. Cross was in Bloomington on the 29th. He came into the same restaurant where I was with a group of retired educators. So, Rep. Dan Brady brings him in to our part of the restaurant to say hello and work the tables.

    A friend leans over and says “who’s the guy with Brady?”

    I said, “That’s Oswego Willy’s golfing buddy!”

    Seriously, when I told my friends that it was Rep. Tom Cross running for treasurer, they wanted to know his vote on Senate Bill 1 to reduce their pensions.

    When I told them he voted for it, they then told me that he just lost their votes.

    Comment by Nearly Normal Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 3:34 pm

28. “No, that’s a ‘Kevin Artl’ question, not a ‘Tom Cross’ question…”

    - Nearly Normal -,

    When Tom finally invites me again…lol.

    All good.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 3:41 pm

29. Three Men and a Maybe

    Comment by Halloween Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 3:51 pm

30. I just looked at Dan’s Twitter page and it looks like he has taken the Cross photo down.

    Maybe he reads Rich’s blog and decided he didn’t like what he was reading.

    Dumb.

    Comment by Nearly Normal Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 3:54 pm

31. Frerichs adds “As state treasurer, on day one I will launch an independent audit of the office to root out patronage and waste…

    Kind of like he did in Champaign County with his buddies Curt Deedrich and Tony Fabri?

    Comment by North 40 Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 4:02 pm

32. “I plan to be the Treasurer General of Illinois. I’ll litigate financials, or something, you’re a word person, you just clean it up an end with ’sue for the good of…whatever’…”

    Comment by Oswego Willy Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 4:05 pm

33. “Release the taxpayer funded investigation? Have I mentioned I’m gonna sue the General Assembly…”

    Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 4:49 pm

34. Juvenal - Saturday @ 1:19 pm

    Brilliant caption!

    Comment by Enviro Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 5:16 pm

35. Let’s Pretend / Let’s Amend

    Comment by Enviro Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 5:33 pm

36. suer/sooey

    Comment by Wordslinger Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 9:21 pm

37. Kudos to Tom Cross for remaining loyal to his fellow Republican Dan Rutherford. I celebrate loyalty, especially when the going gets tough…

    Comment by Black Ivy Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 1:47 pm

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