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Pot, meet kettle

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* From the Better Government Association…

Gov. Bruce Rauner’s former campaign manager is now working for Republican presidential hopeful Rand Paul, but that’s not Chip Englander’s only new gig.

The political strategist has joined the Chicago office of Michael Best Strategies LLC, a Wisconsin-based lobbying start-up that’s trying to break into Illinois.

This isn’t the first time a top official or political aide, perhaps looking to leverage his or her clout and connections, has gone to work for a lobbying firm.

But this move is notable because on the campaign trail Rauner criticized that revolving door and a day after taking office, on Jan. 13, signed an executive order that bans state employees from working for a lobbying firm for one year after leaving state government. “Business as usual is over in Illinois,” he said at the time.

Englander was never a state employee, so the order doesn’t apply here.

He isn’t a registered lobbyist but the Michael Best web site says he “anchors the practice in Illinois.”

Still, the question remains: Is it hypocritical of Rauner to block ex-state employees from doing what a top aide is doing?

And how will Rauner manage the potential conflict of interest when Michael Best lobbies the governor’s office, as it indicated in state filings it plans to do?

Rauner spokesman Lance Trover says, “Chip Englander is not a registered lobbyist, nor is or was a member of the administration. . . . There’s nothing else to say.”

* Well, OK. But the BGA could’ve looked inward to answer the question of how Rauner will “manage the potential conflict of interest” when Best (not Englander, Best) “lobbies the governor’s office.”

The BGA, you see, is registered with the state as a lobbying entity. Direct hyperlinks are not possible for the full registration info, but if you search the Secretary of State’s website you’ll see that the BGA’s president and CEO Andy Shaw is registered as a lobster, as are two other employees.

Look further and you’ll see that the BGA’s registration filing shows that they intend to lobby the governor’s office and the governor himself.

They even have a contract lobbyist on the payroll, who is involved with several high-profile issues this year and does subcontracting work for the Ounce of Prevention Fund, which is run by the governor’s wife.

* Look, I’m not saying that the BGA is corrupt in any way. Sanctimonious and hypocritical, yes. But not corrupt.

Also, Rauner has no absolute, direct control over Chip’s career now. He isn’t a king. He can’t stop somebody from working for a firm that does some lobbying.

So, the answer to the BGA’s question is the governor should deal with Michael Best the way he deals with any lobster, including the BGA and Andy Shaw (and keep in mind that Rauner has donated big bucks to the BGA in the past).

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 9:54 am

Comments

Englander was never a state employee, he has not received a penny of taxpayer money. This is an apples to oranges comparison.

Comment by Not it Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 9:59 am
This is probably my favorite Cap Fax post of all time. Thank you R. Miller.

Comment by The Captain Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 10:02 am
“Englander was never a state employee, he has not received a penny of taxpayer money. This is an apples to oranges comparison.”

True — unless you understand that the most important currency for lobbyists is access.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 10:05 am
Chip is breaking no laws, executive orders or rules of Illinois state government.

This is a complete non-story.

Comment by Cassiopeia Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 10:06 am
Business as usual is not dead

Comment by AnonymousOne Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 10:07 am
A rare misstep from the surgical tacticians at BGA.

Andy Shaw is uninteresting and a dummy. It’s OK to be one or the other but not both.

Comment by LizPhairTax Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 10:07 am
I’m not disputing the basis of the article or any of the views represented here. One observation that isn’t in this post is that Illinois has become extremely tight when it comes to registering as lobbyists. Many vendors have registered as a measure of preventative medicine, so as not to break any rules or even toe the line of impropriety. It’s just a safer course.

On Englander, I just don’t see an issue. He isn’t and wasn’t a staffer. He moves from cycle to cycle picking up new jobs and contracts. He’s not in violation (you didn’t say he was).

Comment by A guy Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 10:08 am
The order was to keep quinn quiet this is just the boomerang effect.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 10:09 am
* meant to distinguish better…Staffer paid or in the employ of the state of Illinois. Sorry.

Comment by A guy Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 10:10 am
Did you all forget about John Wyma?

Comment by Aschockedobserver Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 10:12 am
Not sure about ethics laws, but I’m pretty sure some grammar rules are getting violated in that statement.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 10:12 am
Mmmmm, lobsters ….

Don’t particularly see the parallel between Andy Shaw/the BGA and a top campaign aide. One is clearly an insider, the other is not.

Comment by The Way I See It Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 10:13 am
(snark)

“My goal is to point out Chip Englander through the prism of what I like to call my own hypocrisy” - Andy Shaw.

To the Post,

Yes, Englander may…may have more access than many people, maybe even most people. Englander is/was a hired gun, whose goal for Candidate Rauner and make him Governor Rauner.

The firm that hired/hires him is banking on that connection and understanding of Rauner. That isn’t corrupt. How Englander and Best may go about it going forward will be watched…

…like every single lobbyist and lobbying firm under the Dome.

The optics are iffy, at best, only good for a lil tweak, no real travesty going on. At all.

I am again embarrassed for Andy Shaw. Only a real Dope tries to make a “point” that isn’t really “there”, playing off their own optic hypocisy.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 10:13 am
Love the info on Andy Shaw , now that’s a twist. Seems to me that his holier than everybody else attitude took a hit.

Comment by 19th warder Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 10:15 am
Who does Andy lobby for, all those law firms and corporations that bankroll him?

Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 10:15 am
“Englander was never a state employee, he has not received a penny of taxpayer money.”

Whether or not Mr. Englander took taxpayer money is not the issue. The issue is the revolving door. What is good for the paid staff of the Governor’s office should be good for the his political campaign staff. In fact, the restrictions ought to be more stringent for the campaign staff. Because of his close relationship, Mr. Englander can parlay his influence with the timex watch to anybody and everybody who will pay his price.

I disagree that the timex watch can’t stop somebody from working for a firm that does some lobbying. All he has to do is institute the same restrictions on his campaign staff as he did on the State employees.

Which lobbyist is more likely to get an audience with the timex watch - a former campaign manager or a former State employee. Hands down it will be the campaign manager, the guy who helped him get into office.

Comment by Huh? Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 10:16 am
This doesn’t bother me that much. I mean, sure, it flies in the face of Rauner’s empty sloganeering, but what doesn’t? When you’re so scared of your agenda that you don’t tell it to the voters, you end up so vague that EVERYTHING looks like hypocrisy.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 10:16 am
It’s also worth mentioning that the BGA is not interested in better government, they are interested in making it look like they care about better government and soliciting donations.

Comment by Not it Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 10:16 am
Will Michael Best and Chip Englander also be lobbying for better government practices that benefit the general community?

Or for wealthy private entities seeking to benefit their own bottom line?

And @The Way I See It - well said concerning the ==insider== distinction as well.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 10:17 am
Go easy on Andy. Not everyone is talented enough to sell $500/year subscriptions for their work to fund their lavish lifestyle, and Andy sure as heck isn’t.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 10:21 am
I’m going to channel my Mother and say “just because everyone does it doesn’t make it okay.”

This is the kind of stuff that makes people decide to not vote. While this is small and most people will not ever know about it or understand it, this is an act that shows a lack of morals.

Thanks for telling us Rich.

Comment by Belle Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 10:21 am
I think it’s kind of up to Bruce. Access is only granted to those he wishes to speak with. Whether he, or his staff gives someone more time than say, the other 12 million residents whose voice he wants to hear is his call.

Comment by Long time listener Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 10:22 am
speculating wildly qualifies as insider information now? come on man Englander is not a state employee the point is beyond moot.

Comment by Prince of Arabia Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 10:24 am
No one is closer to a candidate, esp a successful one, than the campaign manager. The fact englander was (conveniently) never on the state payroll, is a technicality intended to provide a defense for this corrupt bargain. Let’s remember what happened to McKinney. What do you expect from the guy who so successfully cultivated Rambo, Meeks, etc. Now I want to go fly fishing.

Comment by Langhorne Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 10:25 am
Mr. Englander “anchors the practice in Illinois” of a new lobbying firm — but is not a lobbyist himself?

That means, or at least implies to clients, that he opens the doors to power players, even if others might do the talking. How does he do that without calling or texting anyone in power, on behalf of the firm?

If it’s all above board, and it appears to be perfectly legal, why not just have him register as a lobbyist?

Maybe they are just using his name for promotion purposes, and paying him for it, but he’s really doing nothing? Not likely.

Or maybe he’s trying to join about a half dozen other very powerful political brokers behind the scenes in Illinois, who represent the “business as usual” BGA and Rauner claim not to favor.

Comment by walker Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 10:25 am
A Guy raises a good point.

There are a lot of us who have, or who have strongly considered, registering as lobbyists even though to outsiders it really does not appear that what we are doing could be considered lobbying as it generally understood.

Merely registering doesn’t tell us much, other than that the law could stand be drafted more narrowly.

Comment by Gooner Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 10:26 am
This wouldn’t be a story except for Rauner’s constant cry of ending business as usual and saying everyone is corrupt in Springfield. This coupled with his high priced state government “consultants” leads me to believe Rauner thinks some of the barnyard animals are more equal than the others.

Comment by 100 Miles West Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 10:27 am
I will say this; Rauner and his Crew are brazen enough to give you clues as to their next moves and really don’t care who knows it.

It may be true, it doesn’t make it illegal or hypocritical. It just makes it what it is, and where they all think where the action will be.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 10:28 am
One more note — the executive order is typical of Rauner in that it imposes restrictions on others but it does not impact his close friends or associates.

I would have to look over the order, but I suspect it also would not apply to his budget consultant, since I believe she’s a contractor rather than an employee.

Comment by Gooner Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 10:30 am
==He isn’t a king.==

I think you missed the memo.

Comment by too obvious Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 10:33 am
==Who does Andy lobby for, all those law firms and corporations that bankroll him?==

Isn’t he lobbying for BGA initiatives? Registering as a lobster out of caution makes sense, doesn’t it? He seems stuck in a no-win scenario. Register, and he is called a hypocrite. Don’t register, someone points out he is technically lobbying, and he is called a hypocrite.

Now if he is lobbying for private corporations on the side, that would be VERY interesting. That would help explain the negative comments that often pop up here whenever the BGA is mentioned. Is there more to this?

Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 10:36 am
===to fund their lavish lifestyle===

Touche.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 10:40 am
Good Work, Rich.

Comment by HynesGuy Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 11:01 am
==Chip Englander is not a registered lobbyist==

What’s the penalty for lobbying without being registered? Is it legal to market lobbying services if you are not registered? Unregistered lobbying - especially in the financial services industry - is becoming a major problem at all levels of government.

Comment by Lord Frankenfurter Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 11:02 am
Andy Shaw was on Dick Kay’s show on Saturday. He mentioned that he was a lobbyist. The BGA is an organization funded by big business. Too bad they aren’t subject to FOIA’S. Would like to see what right wingers and corporations fund them.

Comment by union leader Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 11:04 am
UL, BGA lists its “major supporters” on its website. Lot of Civvies and law firms.

Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 11:07 am
Andy Shaw registered in 2015 for the BGA: http://www.ilsos.gov/lobbyistsearch/lobbyistsearch

Here are a few articles un unregistered lobbying to ponder.

http://www.rollcall.com/news/street_talk_unregistered_lobbyists_keep_business_humming-222091-1.html

http://www.vox.com/2014/10/3/6889413/lobbyists-unregistered-tim-lapira

http://www.thenation.com/article/178460/shadow-lobbying-complex

Comment by Lord Frankenfurter Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 11:11 am
Chip is essentially in the same boat as Nancy Kimme who was a state employee. She was also a top Rauner insider as often referred to by Cap Fax and is now a lobbyist. The same can be said of many people over the years from both parties as Governor’s have changed.

Comment by 1776 Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 11:32 am
Here’s another good example of potential unregistered lobbying. Both Magic Johnson and his business partner met with Mayor Emanuel before getting charter school contracts and then donating $250K. I don’t believe that Johnson or his partner registered as a lobbyist. If they did, they, in fact they would be barred from donating to Rahm.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-rahm-emanuel-magic-johnson-fundraising-met-20150319-story.html#page=1

Comment by Lord Frankenfurter Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 11:58 am
This reminds me of candidates who self impose contribution limits. Invariably they screw up and receive one above, or some bundled, or whatever, and it becomes a story simply because they invited the scrutiny. Alas, campaign examples have longer legs than this story.

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 11:59 am
The idea was that state “insides” could not parlay their inside knowledge and relationships to lobbying for “special interests”. Seems like Englander is doing the same thing without the obstacles of having been an employee, but he does cover all of the other angles.

Comment by JS Mill Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 1:07 pm
It’s only a conflict of interest when Rauner says it is. Just like state employees are only overpaid when he is the one who hired them.

Comment by nona Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 1:41 pm