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* UPDATED x2 * What Dunkin said he got

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* Rep. Ken Dunkin was asked by the Tribune if the governor made him any promises in exchange for helping him out this week…

Dunkin said his deal with Rauner did not involve a promise of any help in the campaign ahead, but he did get something out of the transaction: Rauner agreed to start processing approvals for lucrative tax credits for filmmakers, which the administration had put on hold during the budget impasse. That program has been a pet project for Dunkin, whose district runs along Michigan Avenue from the Near North Side to Grand Crossing and covers a number of popular TV and movie set locations. Rauner’s team announced the decision on the tax credits Tuesday afternoon.

“He knew I wanted that,” Dunkin said. “So that’s the gain, me gaining a level of respect and him listening to what it is that I believe in.”

A commenter pointed out this development yesterday, noting Dunkin’s support for the program.

*** UPDATE 1 *** Deadline is not impressed…

Yes, Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office in the fiscally plagued state said today that it is re-instituting the lucrative Film Tax Credit because of “economically responsible compromises” with Democrats in Springfield. But, in what one industry source called a “confusing” announcement, the GOP governor also said that “film tax credits for new projects will still not be certified or able to be claimed until an FY16 budget is enacted.” He added, “These changes will allow the Administration to better recruit new investment to Illinois without impacting the budget.”

So the state has lifted its indefinite deferral enacted in June and now is taking applications for the up-to-30% tax credits Illinois offers on qualified expenditures there. However, while the state will honor the credit, nothing will be given out until a budget is passed in Illinois, a source close to the state Department of Commerce told Deadline. Productions in Illinois, like other states with film and TV tax credits, commonly have to wait until principal photography is finished or sometimes up to 18 months before it can submit its receipts to be paid out its allocated credit.

While Fox’s long-previously-approved Empire and NBC’s upcoming Chicago Med — which got a spinoff approval after the deferral was in place — look good, this latest move presents a degree of uncertainty for studios and networks considering bringing their projects to Illinois, at least on paper. If, in a year or more, Illinois finds itself in the unlikely place of not having passed a budget, then nobody’s getting nuthin’. On the other hand, an industry source says they have been unequivocally assured that productions will be paid out by the Prairie State whether or not there is a budget in place at the time. Now if this sounds like classic politics in the Land of Lincoln and Lucious Lyon, let’s remember that this is a state that has been handing out IOUs to state lottery winners the past few months.

*** UPDATE 2 *** Mark Brown…

For the record, Dunkin denied there’s anything in this for him other than the satisfaction of knowing those parents will be able to keep their children in day care.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 8:38 am

Comments

He may have gained a level of respect from the Governor but he lost respect within his own caucus.

Comment by Stones Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 8:42 am
Wonder what he got for his “vacation” on the ASFCME vote or do we need to wait until next year to find out?

Comment by Mouthy Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 8:44 am
Sigh. The love of the wealthy.It’s bipartisan in Illinois. They’re going to raise my income taxes so they can help the mega-rich film industry. Have you ever walked through Hancock Park or Beverly Hills or Brentwood? I have.

Comment by Cassandra Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 8:45 am
===Rauner agreed to start processing approvals for lucrative tax credits for filmmakers, which the administration had put on hold during the budget impasse.===

Hmm.

So if you decide to film in Illinois, Ken Dunkin, the Century Club president, is the person you “thank”, because the hostages needed a hero, and that hero “demanded” tax cuts for filmmakers?

Toronto makes a swell “Chicago”. Canned exteriors of Chicago really can work if edited right.

Makes one think; Ken Dunkin, if “Ken Dunkin” didn’t get what “Ken Dunkin” wanted, would “Ken Dunkin” have voted against the Governor?

How embarrassingly pathetic “Ken Dunkin” pretends “Ken Dunkin” isn’t an utter sellout.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 8:45 am
Wow. I would love to trade baseball cards with this guy. Hey Ken, got any Pete Rose rookie cards… cause I got a Kurt Bevacqua with your name on it. Yeah, I’m sure that is all you got out of it.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 8:47 am
“Dunkin said his deal with Rauner did not involve a promise of any help in the campaign ahead”

And if there’s anyone whom we can take at his word…

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 8:50 am
He totally side-stepped that question in the Sun Times interview yesterday. Was the Trib interview before or after the Sun Times?

Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 8:51 am
Ducky: I have a Mario Mendoza card, maybe we could work out a three-way trade?

Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 8:52 am
Watched Chicago Tonight this morning off of my DVR. How to describe Rep. Dunkin?

Hero? Delusional? Dead man walking? Sellout?

But in his mind he’s the most astute politician in Illinois. At least in his mind. But you can’t make promises to people and abandon them the way he has without serious ramifications. Let’s see if Dunkin get a large influx on money for his primary run from Bruce or one of his cronies.

Comment by Rollo Tamasi Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 8:53 am
Ha! This happens all the time. Trading votes for pork. Democrats do it. Republicans do it.
No news hear, unless someone is trying to create some.

Comment by Apocalypse Now Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 8:54 am
The meeting on the 18th is going to be really interesting.

Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 8:55 am
The governor gave away tax dollars to Hollywood film-makers in order to avoid political embarrassment on one vote in the Illinois House?

That’s an interesting, small-government conservative path to “fiscal sanity,” as the chamber likes to call it.

Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 8:56 am
IllinoisGO is the “Rauner Subsidiary” that will “run” Ken Dunkin, figuratively and truthfully.

The Raunerite Caucus in the Illinois House is taking shape, adding the least trustworthy member in the whole body, out of 118 members, as its Charter Member.

It’s up to the Democratic Caucus to decide the Ken Dunkin fate, but if you see IllinoisGO funding Ken Dunkin, how can you say, “Ken is just being independent”… when Bruce Rauner … controls Ken Dunkin’s voting key.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 8:58 am
I can’t believe this program was in any real long term danger. Hasn’t it had bi-partisan support for a long time?

So what he got - and this is ironic - was a level of certainty for film and TV producers that they will eventually get paid. And what he traded that for was the certainty that old people and children will continue to receive care.

I think he would have done a lot better to say “I agree with Cullerton. We need to start showing we can compromise if we are ever going to fix this mess. So instead of thumping the Governor legislatively, I’m going to let him save face in the hopes we can work towards a solution.”

Comment by Century Club Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:02 am
So Dunkin’s position is that he traded a vote on denying daycare acecess for tax credits for filmmakers.

On the off chance that we don’t trust his answer, I wonder how much worse the truth might be?

Comment by Robert the Bruce Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:03 am
“that’s me gaining a level of respect..”
Sorry Dunkin. One does not gain respect through betrayal, whatever the circumstances or short-term outcomes. Once your utility as a Rauner pawn is exhausted (and it will be), you’ll be out in the cold,

Comment by unspun Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:03 am
One must remember that Ken Dunkin was a product of the Chgo projects, Worked to attain a master’s at Univ of Chgo.
This brush with power is the kind of thing that doesn’t happen to every kid who grows up in an imoverished setting. He’s done well for himself.
How he handles this power is definitely worth a close look.

Comment by S.Side Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:04 am
To update #2:
I wonder how hard Brown laughed as he typed that.

Comment by unspun Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:04 am
===For the record, Dunkin denied there’s anything in this for him other than the satisfaction of knowing those parents will be able to keep their children in day care.===

As far as being an entertainer, Dunkin does not disappoint.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:06 am
Update #2- Spin, Dunkin, spin.

Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:06 am
From “Deadline”

===However, while the state will honor the credit, nothing will be given out until a budget is passed in Illinois, a source close to the state Department of Commerce told Deadline. Productions in Illinois, like other states with film and TV tax credits, commonly have to wait until principal photography is finished or sometimes up to 18 months before it can submit its receipts to be paid out its allocated credit.===

That’s not “helping”, that’s continuing the “IOU” style of “delivering”.

The MPAA won’t cross the governor or Illinois, and their own release makes it clear they “look forward”, but money, especially up-front cash waiting for “alleged” breaks that may come… maybe…

… It a “hurray”, but we can wait just as easy too.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:07 am
AN, buying votes with pork? That’s the old corrupt way. The new guy is different, shakin’ things up.

You know it’s true because he says so.

Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:07 am
As a 10 year old I traded a 1972 Roberto Clemente for a 1978 Lyman Bostock on the assumption that Bostock would eventually be worth just as much since they both died before their time.

It is nice to see Rauner taking career of at least one union–SAG.

Comment by Carhartt Representative Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:08 am
“film tax credits for new projects will still not be certified or able to be claimed until an FY16 budget is enacted.”

Proof of life photo for hostage. Dunkin got nothing.

Comment by Huh? Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:10 am
To Update x 2

Again, Ken Dunkin is the least trustworthy person in Illinois Government.

You don’t win the Century Club Award multiple times and be trustworthy.

Speaks volumes to the character and the man Ken Dunkin is.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:13 am
Let’s just hope his constituents remember this the next time he’s up for election

Comment by anon Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:16 am
The odds are in the favor of Ken Dunkin raising his hand in January 2017 to be sworn in as a state Representative.

“Just better” than even money… at the freight of the IllinoisGO cash, and a wide open Primary that could very well help Dunkin.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:19 am
This is nothing but more spin from Dunkin. The admin released 2 hostages that never made sense to take in the first place - EDGE and Film Tax credits. Those are pro-business programs, I doubt the admin truly wanted to use those as wedges, they just needed the appearance of being even in their shutdown.

It appears that Rauner has come to terms that his bluff was called sometime ago and he now is beginning to walk back much of the ill-advised hostage taking. Hopefully everyone recognizes this and encourages this movement in the right direction.

Comment by Henry Francis Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:22 am
The Land O Lincoln is doomed. This isn’t politics as usual. This is politics on steroids.

Comment by Blue dog dem Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:24 am
=== Hopefully everyone recognizes this and encourages this movement in the right direction.===

Meh. Bruce Rauner is all about Bruce Rauner. He took the hostages for his own benefit (foolishly), and has released the hostages for his own benefit (prudently). But if anyone thinks it is for the benefit of the state government and the citizens it serves, they have not been paying attention.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:36 am
Ducky- Rauner is all about Rauner, and look at the smokescreen he’s created for himself. Dunkin is all over the media right now, while Rauner continues to smile and shake hands.

Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:43 am
Cassandra — you’re right, but the reality is that movie shoots create lots and lots of jobs. (Both of the Soccerchildren are working in film.) The producers will generally shoot wherever they’re offered the sweetest deals, so this kind of thing does, in fact, put money in Illinois pockets (and most of those pockets belong to low- and middle-level workers.)

Comment by Soccermom Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:49 am
Anon221- Exactly. Look at the triumphant Roman emperor-style picture of Rauner the Trib’s website was running with the “compromise” story yesterday. It’s all part of the Rauner PR plan to cover his retreat — and Dunkin probably doesn’t even realize it.

Comment by Keyrock Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:51 am
Soccermom-

Aargh..

Comment by Cassandra Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:56 am
Will Dunkin also get credit for Rauner’s corporate welfare reforms yesterday? /s

Comment by Formerly Known As... Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 10:02 am
Yikes Dunkin’ should earn an Oscar for the performance….this will be fun to watch unravel.

Comment by Anonin' Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 10:04 am
Film tax incentives are notorious ripoff for states. They are overly generous and most of the money spend on credits ends up out of state anyway. So Dunk in basically sold out for some really bad policy, but hey, at least he gets a chance to rub shoulders with some actors.

Here’s a pretty good quick article on why film tax incentives don’t work.

http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/economic-intelligence/2013/04/16/film-tax-credits-dont-give-states-an-economic-boost

Comment by the Other Anonymous Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 10:09 am
I think the specific parents who either got dropped from the program or were denied entrance to the program already lost their child care and their jobs. Some of them will now get both back, others may after they find new day care centers as their original ones closed. And when they find new jobs. Who’s apologizing for that?

Comment by Thoughts Matter Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 10:11 am
===Film tax incentives are notorious ripoff for states===

Tell that to the people who work in the industry here.

Look, I don’t like these incentives, but no money no work. Period.

Also, Mercatus?

lol

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Mercatus_Center

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 10:14 am
Jim Durkin now has 48 votes for a tax hike.

Odds that another 12 want to join Ken Dunkin?

Not very good.

“Dunkin’s Donuts”?

Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 10:25 am
Dunkin is (maybe was) chairman of higher ed approp. It would have been astute of him to negotiate funding for universities, or at least MAP grant funds. That would have shown some seriousness about his job. Sorry, Representative, no gaining respect from this guy.

Comment by My New Handle Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 10:25 am
Oops — anti-gay was supposed to be anti-tax. Turns out my table’s autocorrect changes anti-tax to anti-gay. Weird, very weird.

Comment by the Other Anonymous Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 10:29 am
The incentives are critical to bringing real principal filming to a location away from the studio.

Read the credits after a film/movie as to all those people who worked.

The idea that Dunkin first says he got nothing, then points to the film industry, and even that hostage is still possibly “there” … until a budget is passed.

The tax credits are the residue.

The meat and potato aspect is Dunkin.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 10:29 am
Dunkin’s song. “Snap your fingers and I’ll turn you some flips. I’m your puppet.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liKhLNY5GYI

Comment by DuPage Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 10:36 am
You don’t think that Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, Chicago Police (or whatever they title it), as well as all the other shows and films featuring our city, don’t add to our image as a world city, and an attractive place to visit and do business?

If we, like Rauner, are into hard-to-measure elements building a “business-friendly” environment, which will then produce hard-to-measure economic outcomes, then these credits would be near the top of the list.

Comment by walker Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 11:27 am
Rep. Dunkin was pretty unpopular among his House colleagues well before his dalliance with Rauner. Perhaps Ken thought he didn’t much goodwill to lose.

Comment by nona Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 2:56 pm