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* One of the funniest stories of the cycle so far…

Enough Milton Township GOP Committeemen were not prepared to call for U.S. Senator Mark Kirk to resign from his re-election bid and join the Aurora Township GOP, who censured Kirk in October, but one GOP Committeeman stepped forward to voice her frustration with the senator, who is seeking re-election in 2016.

A single precinct committeeman sent a letter and that’s the most-commented story on IR’s front page?

Yikes.

I can feel the Big Mo now!

* AP…

Illinois superdelegates to the Democratic National Convention next summer appear to be lining up behind Hillary Rodham Clinton for president.

An Associated Press survey of the state’s 26 superdelegates found 13 are committed to the former secretary of state or plan to be in her primary battle against Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley.

Four are uncommitted, including Illinois Senate President John Cullerton and Michael Madigan, the House speaker who is chairman of the state Democratic Party. They have their own constituencies to consider before deciding. Nine did not respond to requests from the AP.

I can’t see MJM going for Sanders, but he supported Howard Dean for national party chairman, so I guess one never knows.

* WaPo published the second funniest story of the year…

According to other Republicans, some in the party establishment are so desperate to change the dynamic that they are talking anew about drafting Romney — despite his insistence that he will not run again. Friends have mapped out a strategy for a late entry to pick up delegates and vie for the nomination in a convention fight, according to the Republicans who were briefed on the talks, though Romney has shown no indication of reviving his interest. […]

Angst about Trump intensified this week after he made two comments that could prove damaging in a general election. First, he explained his opposition to raising the minimum wage by saying “wages are too high.”

Well, I dunno. Bruce Rauner once said he’d like to get rid of the minimum wage altogether and he was still elected governor of a Democratic-leaning state.

But, hey, instead of Mittuns, maybe the nationals can draft Rauner and end the Illinois impasse? Maybe that’s why Madigan hasn’t yet picked a Democratic candidate? Could a true grand bargain finally be in the works? [/snark]

*** UPDATE *** From a November 6th Chicagoland Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC statement…

This week, the US House of Representatives passed a multi-year transportation bill with bipartisan support. This follows the US Senate’s passage of similar legislation this summer. Every single American depends on the nation’s critical transportation infrastructure, which is rapidly deteriorating. Investments to repair and rebuild the system are also vitally important to the livelihoods of construction companies and construction workers across the United States. The Chicagoland Operators Joint Labor-Management Pac applauds Congress for finally coming together to pass a comprehensive program after years of short-term extensions.

Over 100 amendments to the transportation bill were considered by Congress. One amendment, sponsored by Rep. Steve King (R-IA), would have stripped the Davis-Bacon Act from the Bill, which for nearly 85 years has ensured the payment of local prevailing wages and benefits on federally-funded transportation construction projects. The amendment was defeated by a vote of 238-188, with 54 Republicans joining with 184 Democrats to block the measure.

Jim Sweeney, Chairman of the Chicagoland Operators Joint Labor Management PAC stated “the bipartisan vote shows that congress understands the fact that prevailing wage laws should be embraced so that local wage and benefit standards are not undermined by “low road” contractors seeking an advantage by deploying a low-wage, low skill, easily exploitable workforce.”

Dave Snelten, co-chair of the Pac and President at Excavators, Inc stated “we are especially thankful that the votes cast against Rep. King’s misguided amendment included all 18 members of the Illinois congressional delegation urban and rural, Republican and Democrat, conservative and liberal.”

Unfortunately, some of our state leaders in Springfield have spent months attempting to push through a similar radical plan which would repeal the state prevailing wage law at the local level. It is passed time our state leaders scrap this radical plan to shrink the middle class, change the business model of many contractors, and learn the lesson that the entire Illinois congressional delegation clearly understands: repealing prevailing wage laws never results in taxpayer savings, but does result in a “race to the bottom.” This race to the bottom economic model undermines high-road construction companies, disrespects skilled construction workers, and diminishes one of the historic standards that helped give rise to the great American middle class and the contractors that employ them.

The Chicagoland Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC is a coalition of the 23,000 member International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150 and more than 2,100 affiliated contractors. Balancing the public policy interests of business and labor is a core value of our organization. We take pride in the fact that labor and management are equally represented on our board of directors. We believe in moderate, responsible public policies that create broad based prosperity.

Emphasis added.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 11:16 am

Comments

Rauner hosting SNL…. let’s do the roll-out on NBC! (TGIF!!!)

Comment by Anon221 Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 11:25 am
I don’t think Artl needs me to send Cannoli for this…

To be fair, as goes Milton Township, so goes… The Illinois Review comments section!

Crickets are looking for the crickets willing to waste their time with this.

Kevin, I’ll enjoy a Cannoli in your honor, but I think you can “handle it from here”.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 11:27 am
If the GOP nominee doesn’t repudiate Trump’s call for rounding up by force and attempting to deport 11 million people, they will lose in a historic landslide.

Same with Carson’s “plan” to abolish Medicare and Medicaid.

Indulging the crazies is good fun until it gets real.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 11:28 am
I would vote for Rauner in the republican primary. But, no way in the general.

Comment by Casual observer Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 11:28 am
===so desperate to change the dynamic that they are talking anew about drafting Romney===

Haha. Come on now. 47% of people won’t even vote for him. LOL. Does anyone at the RNC actually remember the dynamic of the 2012 race? Just shut up and support Rubio. And just hope nobody figures out he is John Edwards before the election.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 11:30 am
Bring out the popcorn and a suitable beverage. The Republican National Convention may not be the complete yawner it was last time. I do hope they invite the empty chair back for a repeat performance as the most eloquent public speaker of the convention.

Comment by Aldyth Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 11:32 am
Let’s be clear. The reason Rauner was elected despite being against the minimum wage was his money flooding the airwaves and many people in the Illinois media not doing their jobs. He was elected without any financial plan and still has not produced a balanced budget. Most people could not get away with that but money talks.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 11:34 am
Rich: I think you’re on to something. Do another Sarah Palin…have Trump pick Rauner as Veep, so he’ll quit his day job, get crushed in the general and then fade into oblivion. Win-Win!

Comment by Skeptic Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 11:35 am
Rauner would love to be told what a great president he would be from someone there than the guy in the mirror. This governin’ is a real distraction from his true destiny (says he to his best friend The Mirror)

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 11:37 am
If Gov. Rauner had any national ambitions, he’s got a perfect opportunity now to stop acting like a character in an Ayn Rand novel, negotiate a budget and position himself as a moderate Republican who knows how to work across the aisle. Sort of like Christie without the bridge scandal. I’m not holding my breath, though.

Comment by olddog Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 11:38 am
- Skeptic -

Let’s not forget, the three scariest words in Illinois Governing;

Slip. And. Sue.

Rauner resigns, Ole Slip and Sue gets to “be hired”… To be “Governor Ole Slip and Sue”

I just felt a chill.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 11:39 am
If only this was the period before 1968 when the whole dark horse thing with Bruce Rauner would even be plausible. The good ole days before these vaunted primaries deciding the candidates instead of the political bosses in a smoke filled room.

Comment by Levois Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 11:39 am
===Slip. And. Sue.===

I am utterly convinced she could do a better job managing the office… and cow tipping, gurlfrend.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 11:42 am
On the bright side maybe with Slip and Sue, Illinois could use her magical powers to undo Rauner’s damage to Social Services, the state museum…

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 11:45 am
Willy, just think of the opportunities for the Consulting Firm under Gov. S & S. Non-slip Floor Coatings, Cushioned Wall Surfaces, on and on. Of course, we’ll have to hire someone who knows something about all this stuff.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 11:56 am
Will Bernie’s delegates even make it on the IL primary ballot? Does he have a ground organization here that can beat petition challenges? Ken Dunkin introduced legislation to legalize cannabis, so maybe that is one delegate with name recognition Bernie could get.

Comment by Jeff Trigg Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 12:01 pm
They added the Davis Bacon language for political commercials for Bost, Skimkus, and Davis. It was junk. The question is going to come. Do you support Bruce Rauner your Republican Governor? The GOP Congressional cannot hide forever.

Comment by truecolors Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 12:18 pm
To the Update;

Knowing that 54 Republicans, that included the entire Illinois Republican Congressional delegation is a very clear signal to those paying attention;

The fight for eliminating prevailing wage is seen outside the Rauner prism as a “No Go” to those representing Illimois in Congress, speaking with one voice, “Not us, we’re no.”.

How does Governor Rauner ask Illinois Republicans to end prevailing wage when the GOP Congressional delegation has already weighed in?

“No.”

This battle against unions with Prevailing Wage and Collective Bargaining is going to destroy Illinois Republicans.

Those not under the $20 million Rauner holds over heads know it’s wrong.

When will the GOP GA learn this too?

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 12:22 pm
Thanks for the shout-out, Rich. I will second the motion: Take my Governor, please.

Comment by Mittuns Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 12:23 pm
Funny thing is that all 15 of the people planning to vote for Marter in the primary are prolific Ill Review commenters–and sadly they think that everybody else thinks like them.

Comment by train111 Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 12:25 pm
1) Thanks Rich for the update to highlight this. I forgot to add that in my comment.

2) I’m with Local 150, all day. I’m a Republican. This battle is the defining moment.

How does a Raunerite miss, what Republicans see?

It’s not an accident Illinois’ delegation was unified.

Why do Raunerites want to be alone?

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 12:27 pm
**Ken Dunkin introduced legislation to legalize cannabis, so maybe that is one delegate with name recognition Bernie could get.**

Nah… Dunkin will be a delegate or the candidate that Rauner tells him to be a delegate for.

Comment by AlabamaShake Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 12:31 pm
Willy, Amen. That’s all.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 12:33 pm
Imagine Mike Madigan all in for Bernie, LOL. The “political revolution” comes to the Southwest Side.

Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 12:34 pm
===diminishes one of the historic standards that helped give rise to the great American middle class and the contractors that employ them.===

Mike Madigan and the contractors he controls are heard from.

Comment by PublicServant Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 12:44 pm
“it is past time” and not “it is passed time” but hey, it passed spellcheck right?

Comment by Skeptic Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 2:00 pm