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State Representative Mike Unes of East Peoria says he will not make a run to fill Congressman Aaron Schock’s 18th District seat.

The Republican issued the following statement:

“People from all walks of life have come forward and given me and my family such encouragement and support asking me to run in the special election. The positive feedback that I have received has been overwhelming and extremely humbling.

“As I said on Tuesday, I wanted to give this the careful consideration it deserves in consultation with my family. After careful consideration and, even with the love, support, and encouragement of my wife and kids, I will not be entering my name for consideration in this special election.”

* Also not a surprise is this DCCC press release…

Known for his prolific fundraising, soon-to-be-former Congressman Aaron Schock has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Republicans in Congress. Travel for some of that fundraising activity is what partially led to an ethics investigation and now his announced resignation. Now that it has become clear that thousands of taxpayer dollars went into Schock’s pocket, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is calling on all recipients of Schock’s contributions to donate those funds to the Treasury to make the taxpayer whole.

“Aaron Schock made a name for himself jet-setting around the country raising dollars for Republicans – some of that at taxpayer expense,” said Matt Thornton of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “If his soon-to-be-former colleagues in the House are truly as concerned with wasteful spending in Washington as they claim to be, then they will donate Schock’s money to the Treasury.”

Congressmen Bob Dold and Mike Bost each received $10K from a Schock campaign committee, according to the DCCC.

* At least one congressman has already jettisoned his Schock money…

Rep. David Jolly, R-Indian Shores, is donating $5,000 he received from disgraced Rep. Aaron Schock, who announced yesterday he was resigning amid a scandal of misuing taxpayer money.

“In an abundance of good faith Congressman Jolly will be donating $2,500 to the Homeless Emergency Project in Clearwater to support veteran housing services and $2,500 to the Philip A. Bryant Melanoma Foundation,” his campaign spokeswoman Sarah Bascom told the Tampa Bay Times.

* The Question: Should Bob Dold and Mike Bost donate their Schock money to charity or otherwise jettison it? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.

panel management

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Mar 20, 15 @ 1:36 pm

Comments

Get rid of it. 10k’s nothing for these guys, especially Dold.

Comment by Southwest Cook Friday, Mar 20, 15 @ 1:39 pm
If it is only 10k, get rid of it. Keeping it is not worth the bad pr.

Comment by G'Kar Friday, Mar 20, 15 @ 1:40 pm
Voted get rid of it. Schock is toxic. You want to distance yourself from him and his dealings as much as possible.

Comment by Stones Friday, Mar 20, 15 @ 1:42 pm
Voted “Get rid of the money”

“Why?”

The Republican Congressional Campaign Committee aren’t going to let these two go broke.

It’s good politics to do so.

Make a statement and splash while donating it.

Food banks or homeless shelters seem to be the best ideas…

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 20, 15 @ 1:42 pm
It should read:

VOTE: Get rid of the money
VOTE: Deal w/a political headache causing you way more than you got in cash

It’s one of those unfortunate no brainers…a bit of a silly analogy, but its like when the NCAA threatens to punish kids for the mistakes of coaches. It’s irrational and unfair, but how it is.

Comment by Downstate GOP Faithless Friday, Mar 20, 15 @ 1:46 pm
Not worth the head aches…give it up.

Comment by Louis Howe Friday, Mar 20, 15 @ 1:47 pm
If only for their own selfish reasons, they need to get rid of it. They have no idea what’s coming down the road, but they sure don’t want their names associated with it.

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Mar 20, 15 @ 1:48 pm
Don’t get rid of it. Call up IPI and have them defend the transactions as upholding free market principles.

Comment by Dr X Friday, Mar 20, 15 @ 1:50 pm
Dr X — FTW

Comment by Wensicia Friday, Mar 20, 15 @ 1:52 pm
Wait, isn’t this money Free Speech? /s

Comment by walker Friday, Mar 20, 15 @ 1:53 pm
Notice….nothing about the DCCC running an 18th District candidate…. or looking for a candidate …. or interested in looking for a candidate….or willing to listen to a candidate…The district was written with such precision that the Identity Politics DC loves to play….won’t play in white rural areas. That’s one of the reasons that Democrats have been in the House minority for all but 4 of the last 22 years.

Comment by Louis Howe Friday, Mar 20, 15 @ 1:54 pm
I never thought about that angle - but now the DCCC “helping” with some of these attacks gives some explanation toward a potential angle for them. Making some of Schock’s PAC beneficiaries look bad is a natural byproduct of making Schock himself look bad. And - at least in Illinois - you have several MOCs who have received money from Congressman Schock and his PAC. Hmm.

Comment by Team Sleep Friday, Mar 20, 15 @ 1:59 pm
I’d donate the money to the Obama Presidential Library.

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Mar 20, 15 @ 2:01 pm
Kick $10k Darrin LaHood’s way

Comment by LizPhairTax Friday, Mar 20, 15 @ 2:05 pm
Get rid of it. Good Optics.

Comment by Nearly Normal Friday, Mar 20, 15 @ 2:06 pm
Dump it.

I’m curious about the folks who are voting “keep it.” Please tell us why you voted that way. It makes zero political sense.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Mar 20, 15 @ 2:13 pm
The money should go to a good cause such as The Salvation Army.

Option two…I too would donate the money to the Obama Presidential Library….in Hawaii.

It

Comment by Sunshine Friday, Mar 20, 15 @ 2:13 pm
I have long believed that when politicians receive campaign funds and use them for any purpose other than their own personal campaign that money should be treated as income.

On the other hand I have long believed that this is the year the Cubs make it to the World Series so I am not the brighest guy in the world.

Comment by HL Friday, Mar 20, 15 @ 2:43 pm
You can always go with Rich’s favorite - Lutheran Social Services!

Comment by Nuclear Bozo Friday, Mar 20, 15 @ 2:51 pm
Get rid of it and at least show some faux integrity…

Comment by I B Strapped Friday, Mar 20, 15 @ 2:52 pm
Don’t get rid of the money. You’ll spend it more wisely than Shock did. And I don’t think the main issue with Shock is how he raised the money, but rather how he spent it.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Friday, Mar 20, 15 @ 2:52 pm
Get rid of it for two reasons:

1. Doing so will generate more than $10,000 in good press

2. It’s just not worth it, it’s a small fraction of a percentage point in the total campaign funds.

Comment by Ahoy! Friday, Mar 20, 15 @ 3:02 pm
Get rid of the dough ASAP. As others have said, they won’t need it in the long haul and some unpleasant surprises might be averted.

Politically, they can still be smacked for taking the cash in the first place but that’s easier to deal with than the alternative.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Friday, Mar 20, 15 @ 3:25 pm
No. They are going to get hit for taking the money regardless of whether they return it, donate it, or pay it to the Treasury.

Comment by 1776 Friday, Mar 20, 15 @ 3:31 pm
Get rid of it. Donate it back to the counties that now, unexpectedly, have to foot the bill for a special election.

Comment by JS Mill Friday, Mar 20, 15 @ 3:38 pm
avoid toxic Schock syndrome. you’ll just get blamed later if you don’t get rid of the money.

Comment by Amalia Friday, Mar 20, 15 @ 3:53 pm
“toxic Schock” is right……looks like Unes got a dose (ba dooomp boomp)

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 20, 15 @ 5:05 pm
Do as the Dems say and give it to the Treasury. It makes you look more like a real fiscal conservative who doesn’t just give lip service to bringing down the debt.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 20, 15 @ 6:07 pm
I voted get rid of it. The money is associated with Schock, therefore it is thought to be dirty.

Use it to your political advantage. Donate it. Or even get stacks of $20’s and go thru Schocks district handing it to anyone who looks like they need it.

Comment by FormerParatrooper Friday, Mar 20, 15 @ 6:09 pm