Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

The next shoe drops on McCann’s head

Posted in:

Illinois
Polls

* Remember when I asked yesterday about the next shoe to drop? Bernie has it…

In addition to campaign-paid mileage reimbursements received by state Sen. SAM McCANN, R-Plainview, during his time in the General Assembly, he has received more than $19,600 in mileage reimbursements from the state since entering the Senate in 2011.

A State Journal-Register story Feb. 14 detailed the payments McCann received from his campaign that included $38,000 in just the past year, which at a reimbursement rate of 57.5 cents per mile would mean he drove more than 66,000 miles in that year.

That story, which also included “grouped expenditures” that McCann took from his campaign fund, has become fodder for anti-McCann ads being run by Liberty Principles PAC, an independent expenditure group whose chairman and treasurer is Chicago radio talk-show host DAN PROFT. The group has spent more than $1.3 million to help McCann’s opponent in the March 15 primary, BRYCE BENTON of Springfield.

A check of state records shows that McCann also submitted vouchers for state mileage payments totaling more than $19,600, with amounts ranging from $4,755 in 2011 to $2,594 for part of 2015. The reimbursement rate was at 51 cents per mile for part of 2011, but has mostly been at 39 cents per mile.

Can he really be logging all those miles?

* Bernie also cribbed my poll…

Meanwhile, Capitol Fax reported that a Capitol Fax/We Ask America poll done Tuesday of 645 registered Republican voters put the 50th Senate District March 15 primary race at about 43 percent for Benton, 41.4 percent for McCann and 15.6 percent undecided. The margin of error was 3.86 percent.

It was likely GOP voters, but the ads are obviously working.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:07 am

Comments

Sam!?! You were supposed to be the Chosen One!

Comment by CharlieKratos Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:09 am
Great…just great…we can’t win for losing here.

Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:12 am
Each party really needs to host an “intro to mileage reimbursements” course every session…

Comment by NIU Grad Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:13 am
This race might, honestly and truly, boil down to Democrats, Labor, and those most effected by the damage of Bruce Rauner pulling GOP ballots to send a message to Rauner by ensuring McCann wins this primary.

Can Democrats, Labor, and those Rauner has hurt be worth 5+ points in this primary?

I dunno. Can Labor be the difference? Can Social Service groups rally against Rauner here? Will Democrats see this race as too important in Illinois than “Feeling the Bern” or backing Hillary in this specific race?

Can 5+ points be “had”?

I dunno.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:13 am
Bad bookkeeping my foot.

See what I did there?!

In all seriousness - this is where bad bookkeeping is truly important and relevant. Office expenditures and per diems are not meant to be used as slush funds. This means that McCann was claiming all of these mile IN ADDITION TO his campaign mileage and per diems. That is an insane amount of reimbursements. Some of these miles had to be double-paid. I know that the reimbursement for Senators’s official mileage is not close to the IRS level, but still.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:14 am
NIU - the sad thing is that the infrastructure and support systems are there. Each caucus has professional staff and support staff (i.e. Secretary of the Senate) who can help with this kind of thing. There is no excuse in 2015 or 2016 to just claim that everything is a coincidence that neatly ties into a narrative.

Sam is also at fault for only keeping ONE staffer around. That is no one else’s fault but his own. It is impossible to run a district operation with a Senator and one staffer for both the district office and the Capitol office - especially when the district is that large and that difficult to navigate in areas outside of the major metro areas.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:17 am
#Toast

Comment by Ottawa Phil Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:18 am
I posted back when McCann was first targeted by Rauner that he ought to be hopeful that Rauner was open to making himself an issue in this race because McCann has problems that would defeat him.

If Rauner wasn’t an issue, this wouldn’t be a contest - McCann would lose. He has too many funny accounting issues and too many fiscal bookkeeping problems to answer for.

This has always been a problem for him and these issues would always be an issue to any political opponent he faces.

If McCann pulls this off, Rauner is to blame for getting in the way and becoming the issue because Sam should really have a shot at reelection at all. Nice guy, yeah - but still, his accounting issues are really hinky and suspicious.

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:19 am
With the high volume of ads against mccann you’d think it would be working better instead of it being so close. This mileage isn’t out of line. They are trying to make a mountain from a moehill. It’s pathetic.

Comment by anonymous Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:19 am
This is going to sound pretty cynical, but McCAnn has represented his district against Rauner. Do you throw him out because of some expense padding, or do you vote against the bought and paid for Benton? My (cynical) feeling is that you would be better off with McCann, who will represent YOU, than with Benton, who will represent Rauner….
(Don’t worry, you reformers, I can’t vote in this particular election)

Comment by downstate commissioner Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:21 am
It is getting harder to ignore the financial activities of McCann as political mudslinging by his opponents.

Comment by Cassiopeia Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:25 am
Willy has an excellent point, yet many will find it difficult to ask for a Republican Primary Ballot. Unfortunately, many members of those groups sited probably voted for BVR in the General simply because he was not Pat Quinn.

Comment by illini Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:26 am
What was the average price of gas during that time? How many people are on campaign staff?

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:27 am
Props to the Rauner crew on the slow roll out. They must have known about the state reimbursements (which don’t seem to be big enough to merit any consideration on their own) when they started hammering on the campaign reimbursements.

Comment by Century Club Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:30 am
===you’d think it would be working better instead of it being so close==

Don’t be clueless. The opponent started way behind against a known entity. There’s 3 weeks to go.

McCann needs to address this now. His only hope is for Dem crossovers, and possibly Dem-leaning Trump backers (although I don’t see the latter changing the outcome much because they watch the same TV ads).

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:31 am
What if he and his legislative staff needed to be at several non-political events in a day? They both drive.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:31 am
Better to have someone like McCann who has questionable finances, but votes what’s best for his district than to have a YES man who’s never been accountable to voters.

Comment by Union Man Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:34 am
Does anyone have a comparison with other legislators? I wonder how much money this really is compared to what others claim.

Comment by Small Town Girl Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:36 am
Can he really be logging all those miles?

“The road goes on forever and the party never ends.” — Robert Earl Keen

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:39 am
What if Sam wanted to help reimburse some people who walk in parades for him. Let’s say it is 4th of July - walkers in Quincy parade, Jacksonville parade, and Springfield. Can he reimburse some of them through campaign funds?

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:41 am
Should be read, gas reimbursement.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:41 am
Going to be hard to get Dem crossover when Bernie and Hillary are still in race.

Comment by D.P.Gumby Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:42 am
The good news is that I learned a new word from the urban dictionary.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:43 am
Rich, I think you should poll democrat/independent individuals as well. I know many that plan to register republican and vote in the primary for McCann.

Comment by dominionhinny Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:43 am
I was at a Dem event earlier this week with every Labor leader in Springfield. All said they were pulling Republican ballots (and encouraging their members to do the same)to vote for McCann. We’ll see if they actually pull the trigger.

Comment by FIREDup! Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:44 am
Aaron Schock always wanted to be a trendsetter, in the worst way. Now he is.

In Springfield, I’m guessing that reading mileage reimbursement reports is more popular than Oprah’s Book Club recommendations ever were.

And a lot of legislators are whistling past the graveyard.

–…poll done Tuesday of 645 registered Republican voters…–

Pet peeve. There are no “registered” Republicans, Democrats or any other party voters in Illinois. There are in other states.

Here, as Rich points out, for polling purposes, the word is “likely.”

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:45 am
I”m not the biggest McCann fan and find his business tax issues to be very questionable and I personally have a hard time believing it’s just a paperwork issue. The man has a lot of flaws, but I actually believe he has logged those miles. The man is everywhere throughout the district and he is an exceptionally hard worker, I will give him that.

Comment by Ahoy! Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:47 am
===This means that McCann was claiming all of these mile IN ADDITION TO his campaign mileage and per diems. That is an insane amount of reimbursements.====
I’m not a McCann fan but I don’t think the mileage is out of whack. The state reimbursement is only for around 10,000 miles a year. Its 120 miles round trip Plainview to Springfield. 83 trips in a year? And probably a few Chicago trips for hearings. I don’t think its excessive.
66,000 miles for campaigns is 181 mile a day average. Its a big district so again not hard to put on some miles.
I put on 35,0000 miles a year on my car. And that is mainly just commute to work & trips to Springfield. And if you add in my spouses car we proabably have 60,000 between us.

Comment by Been There Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:48 am
Been There -

1. McCann already gets per diems, so his gas costs and routine maintenance for session days is already covered. So unless he recently turned down the per diems, he gets the standard daily amount.

2. His bookkeeping is non-existent, his massive uptick in mileage claims come at a time when he is facing serious personal financial problems. If he is using his mileage claims as a slush fund, then that is the kind of thing that the State Board of Elections (or someone in a more legal-centric) entity should be investigating.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:54 am
There’s an interesting balance on this site of “McCann represents the true Republican Party” and “The only way he wins is if Democrats vote as Republicans.”

Comment by NIU Grad Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:54 am
People obviously know my bias here, but to 10:19’s comment I have to say that Bryce would be ahead by more than 2 points had he started back around Labor Day instead of Thanksgiving.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:55 am
I am skeptical about the poll. I am finding Sam to be very popular when I phone bank and knock doors and no one seems to know who Benton’s name. The ads are definitely have an impact but the cross-over numbers are real and the poll didn’t try to measure them

Comment by Bibe Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:57 am
===There’s an interesting balance on this site of “McCann represents the true Republican Party” and “The only way he wins is if Democrats vote as Republicans.”===

Festering wounds sonetimes need odd medicine to heal(?)

It’s the strangest dynamic, I’ll grant you that, but right now Raunerites own the brand of “GOP” and the irony is Democrats, to stop Raunerites, are needed to help Republicans take back the GOP.

Yikes! Yikes, but it’s true.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:58 am
==What if…==
==What if…==

You know what would affirmatively answer all of the above “what if” attempts at justification in previous comments? Proper bookkeeping. Which apparently doesn’t exist. Sam the man’s shot himself in the foot with this stuff, and left these questions open, unanswerable, and set up on a tee for his opponent to knock out of the park. Nobody to blame but himself.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 11:01 am
Actually, the “what if” questions establish that these may be normal expenses for a legislator with a big district.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 11:07 am
A lot of legislators spend a lot of time in their local office. A lot of legislators have apartments in Springfield. Part of Sam’s district is Springfield, so he is more or less driving to Springfield most days to his office in the Capitol. It is nice Sam is able to make it home at night as he and his wife still have two young ones in school. Sam spends many hours most days driving from down by Carlinville in Macoupin County to Springfield in Sangamon County and back.

Comment by Beaner Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 11:08 am
===from down by Carlinville in Macoupin County to Springfield in Sangamon County and back===

Carlinville ain’t in Montana.

Just sayin…

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 11:08 am
Maybe Auditor General Mautino can hire McCann as an auditor after the election. Seems to have what Mautino sees as the right book cooking skill sets.

Comment by Anon2U Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 11:09 am
no one seems to know who Benton’s name.

The ads for the last 2 weeks have showed McCann and Madigan! over and over-Benton’s name isn’t mentioned in any since the intro ad showing him arresting his future colleagues since he’s a state trooper.

Comment by OurMagician Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 11:10 am
360 - no, they do not. In my time as a Congressional staffer, we had to keep a log for the office and campaign cars. I would get in either car - which eventually and thankfully became one car for both purposes - and dutifully denoted the time and mileage at the beginning of our journey and the time and mileage and the end of our journey. It took a whopping 30 seconds at the most to do that, and it also took no effort to get a receipt at the pump to show how much gas we purchased and where we purchased it.

This is not just some happenstance. This is a pattern. This happened in his personal finances and his business bookkeeping. This is sloppy and raises legit questions.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 11:10 am
Sam McCann is far and above the BEST legislator that truly represents the voice of his people that elected him to speak and vote on their behalf. Because of that, he does not belong in the GA? I’m trying hard not to be cynical, but these Liberty PAC advertisements are a stretch of the truth at best. If this Bryce guy is successful, then my belief in the system is eroded.

Comment by dude Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 11:12 am
Rich is correct. Carlinville is less than 50 miles from Springfield, and session days are covered by per diem.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 11:12 am
===If this Bryce guy is successful, then my belief in the system is eroded. ===

What are you, 12?

My advice to you is to stop whining and start knocking on doors.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 11:14 am
==Actually, the “what if” questions establish==

They don’t “establish” anything. They raise questions that would only be answerable with proper bookkeeping…which he didn’t do…which raises the inevitable question of “why? Was he trying to hide something?”

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 11:17 am
Anonymous - you accusing someone of hiding something is ironic.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 11:21 am
=== … true Republican Party ===

NIU (Go Huskies), what is the true GOP? The party I supported most of my life has left me behind. It’s been replaced by haters and folks more interested in increasing the wealth of the 1% at the expense of the middle class.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 11:21 am
Seconding what Ahoy! stated earlier….

Sam isn’t just driving between Carlinville & Springfield every day. He is out and about throughout his district. Anecdotally I know of several multi-event days he’s attended within his district which could have easily been 200 mile days.

That said, it’s not hard to keep your receipts. I’d like to see him improve his bookeeping skills in his next Senate term.

Comment by Bluegrass Boy Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 11:24 am
==Anonymous - you accusing someone of hiding something is ironic.==

Because I use a generic name instead of a pseudonym (which is still just as “anonymous”). But, if that’s your only answer to the the corner you’ve backed yourself into, feel free the continue

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 11:25 am
Don’t feed ” - Anonymous - “, that’s what ” - Anonymous - ” wants abd enjoys confusing their odd thoughts with every single other ” - Anonymous - “. That speaks volumes.

=== The party I supported most of my life has left me behind. It’s been replaced by haters and folks more interested in increasing the wealth of the 1% at the expense of the middle class.===

You’re on it - Noresman -, and I’m with you, bud.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 11:29 am
== This race might, honestly and truly, boil down to Democrats, Labor, and those most effected by the damage of Bruce Rauner pulling GOP ballots to send a message to Rauner by ensuring McCann wins this primary. ==

And GOP voters like myself who refuse to answer unknown phone callers or take surveys.

Seriously, Sam does need to get a good answer out there. Maybe he’s waiting until closer to the election? And maybe he’ll have to run an attack ad; something questioning why Benton, a member of the FOP, is not endorsed by them. I can see it now, closing with either “why didn’t the FOP endorse their own?” or “what is he (implied Benton) hiding behind the Chicago bought and paid for attack ads?”

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 11:42 am
Has anyone ever seen “crossover” votes actually change a Primary result in the other party?

Everybody talks; few do.

Comment by walker Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 11:43 am
===And GOP voters like myself who refuse to answer unknown phone callers or take surveys.===

Agreed. Good point. At what level you and others are in figurin’, again, I dunno.

McCann needs a shutdown closing argument. That’s true, we’ll see what rolls out.

===Has anyone ever seen “crossover” votes actually change a Primary result in the other party?

Everybody talks; few do.===

Agree as well, but this isn’t just a crossover vote, this is a referendum by proxy.

The referendum, I think, is the driving factor more than just a garden variety infiltration of a primary that has limited results, and I’m being way too polite.

Still, even as a referendum, can the crossover pull a 5+ percentage increase for McCann?

I dunno.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 11:49 am
OW, if you feel posting under an “anonymous” name weakens an argument, why do you hide behind a made up name instead of your real name?

Comment by Laughable Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 11:51 am
“I use a generic name instead of a pseudonym (which is still just as ‘anonymous’).”

No, no, a thousand times NO.

a·non·y·mous adj. (of a person) not identified by name; of unknown name.

pseu·don·y·mous adj. writing or written under a false name.

Oswego Willy is no more an “anonymous” author than are Mark Twain, George Orwell, and Lewis Carroll.

Your comment itself is an example of the distinction.

Because you posted anonymously, I don’t know why you apparently fail to understand the difference between pseudonymity and anonymity. Is it because you are very new to Cap Fax and haven’t read the multiple times the difference has been explained? Or are you a long-time anonymous commenter who is aware of the difference but who disingenuously ignores it?

Are you ignorant, or are you dishonest? We have no way knowing!

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 11:54 am
There is some pretty solid pretzel logic going on in here. Truly entertaining.

How can a republican turn a blind eye to well documented suspect accounting procedures? Does the hypocrisy know no bounds, or does it only go so far? I’ll check with the Doc.

Comment by Phenomynous Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 11:56 am
===Has anyone ever seen “crossover” votes actually change a Primary result in the other party?===

Sangamon County, 2014.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 11:59 am
Anonymiss -

The “What If” questions are exactly the same thing as putting information out about McCann’s finances without providing any other information on what other legislators spend. What did Bomke spend on gas? You are just trying to throw something against the wall and make it look like malfeasance. McCann is bad at bookkeeping and lacks sufficient staff, admittedly, but it does NOT make him dishonest.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 12:01 pm
===but it does NOT make him dishonest===

So glad you have that much faith in politicians.

He’s running for Senate, not sainthood.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 12:03 pm
- Laughable -

I direct you to - @MisterJayEm -’s comment, and keep in mind, as I do, that my only distinctive correlation I have with the other highly esteem writers is “my name”, not their talent or their acclaim.

I just “chose a name”, as you chose - Laughable -. That’s pretty much it.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 12:03 pm
As a constituent of Sam, and typically D voter, I will be crossing over to vote for him. Also, as an ISP retiree, Benton is seen by many ISP as a puppet.

Comment by crossover dem Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 12:12 pm
===Sangamon County, 2014.===

To be honest, I thought about that, and the micro, and Dillard, and working the micro, and understanding the micro politics, versus the macro messaging of Rauner.

I’m glad you did Rich.

In reality, the micro races, the district referendums on a now known Rauner and the impact Labor and Social Services getting involved in McCann, for example, will be an interesting look-see after.

The non-Labor Democrats crossing? I’d like to see if that can be fleshed out, as minuscule as it may turn out to be… or not…

Glad you drummed that up, Rich.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 12:15 pm
Rich, I am an optimist. there are lots of politicians, and not all of them are bad. Some are very good.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 12:18 pm
McCann, if he is smart, should spin his poor bookkeeping due to lack of staff into a positive narrative about how he tries to do more with less to hold down costs.

IF he survives this round and whatever else gets dumped in the next 3 weeks, Sam should be pretty much bulletproof … as long as does better recordkeeping in the future.

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 12:41 pm
That whirring noise you hear is coming from the 125 legislative and campaign staffers now recalculating their bosses’ mileage claims. McCann can either substantiate the claims or practice his response to those FBI questioners who will be stopping by next week. I truly hope this is not another Schock situation.

Comment by chad Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 12:48 pm
If AFSCME is smart they would make sure that their members crossover and vote for AGAINST Brice, Sara and Avery. It is the only way they can flex their muscle at this point. Otherwise it will show them as weak and ineffictive.

Comment by He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 12:56 pm
Too bad the lack of staff is a result of McCann burning through Capitol assistants. He burned through four in his first four years on the job - and not because of retirement or people leaving, either. He forced them out. And he does not save taxpayers anything when it comes to his district operations. He pays his staffer very well and takes full advantage of his office budget.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 12:58 pm
Sam is toast. The ads are brutal but the mileage vouchers/expenses are off the chart. He should have been questioned about them when they were submitted for processing/approval. Somebody wasn’t doing their job..

Comment by Mouthy Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 1:06 pm
I’m a Democrat and already plan to vote Republican this primary to vote for McCann. Might not be true for other crossover voters, but it helps that I don’t have to worry too much about a battle in the Democratic presidential primaries and can focus my primary vote elsewhere.

Also a factor: any Dems running in my area are unchallenged and I feel my ballot would be wasted voting for unopposed candidates.

Comment by Crossover Dem Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 1:09 pm
-He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint-

AFSCME is way ahead of you on that.

Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 1:15 pm
Rich,
Maybe he should have used the money for skimmed off to pay his credit card bill. http://www.thebengilpost.com/macoupin-county-courthouse-news-16

Comment by Anon Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 1:16 pm
=== Too bad the lack of staff is a result of McCann burning through Capitol assistants. He burned through four in his first four years on the job - and not because of retirement or people leaving, either. ===

He’s not the only Solon who burns through staff.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 1:19 pm
===Democrats, Labor, and those most effected by the damage of Bruce Rauner pulling GOP ballots===

Aside from the large number of labor folks in that district that were voting for at least one Republican during the 2014 election, I think this would create an interesting conundrum for voters also seeking the participate in a presidential primary that may matter as well.

Comment by Anon Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 1:20 pm
Yes, but other officials don’t blame all of their problems on everyone else and don’t blame “bookkeeping” issues on a small staff. He’s currently the only GOP Senator with one staffer.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 1:29 pm
—Yes, but other officials don’t blame all of their problems on everyone else…–

Actually, one prominent statewide official comes to mind…..

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 1:31 pm
Word +1

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 1:34 pm
===—Yes, but other officials don’t blame all of their problems on everyone else…–

Actually, one prominent statewide official comes to mind…..===

- Wordslinger - wins. Nicely played.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 1:37 pm
Word - nice drive-by. What does this have to do with Governor Rauner? Does he have to be inserted into everything? I was referencing McCann’s bookkeeping, tax lien, credit card and paperwork problems - but whatever. If you follow McCann’s responses to all of this, he throws everyone else under the bus for everything. Nothing is his fault.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 1:41 pm
And as a former/current staffer, throwing other people under the bus is not my idea of leadership. That is not to say that Rauner is exempt, but we are talking about McCann and his inability to accept responsibility.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 1:42 pm
Word +3, adding me to the list.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 1:55 pm
- Team Sleep -

You opened the door…

===Yes, but other officials don’t blame all of their problems on everyone else…===

With respect.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 2:11 pm
Word + Integer Overflow

“one prominent statewide official”

Yup…

Comment by AC Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 2:12 pm
Willy - okay, but anything Rich posts has a comment section that delves into either Rauner or Madigan. My statement - which had a second part - was also about bookkeeping and staffers.

Not everything has to be about Rauner or Madigan. Not every comment has to be snark.

With respect.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 2:16 pm
This revelation by Bernie makes me think that Sam might not survive after all.

People were buying the huge reimbursements from Sam’s campaign fund because he literally is everywhere in the district. Now this looks like double-dipping, and imagine what Proft will make of it.

Sam has ridden that dead horse of “bookkeeping errors” for too long. Time to pay the piper.

Comment by Indochine Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 2:27 pm
=McCann, if he is smart,= That’s a big “IF”. Sam’s biggest accomplishment is riding the Tea Party wave in his first election.
Sam could be characterized as low-functioning. His constituency was originally anti-government state workers….

Comment by Jo Dirte Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 2:47 pm
Has anyone asked Bryce Benton what his receipts have been for gas since December 21, 2015 when his committee was formed? He conveniently won’t have to file his quarterly report until after the primary. I hope that Bryce’s book keeping is very good that he could come up with that number right now.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 2:55 pm
===McCann already gets per diems, so his gas costs and routine maintenance for session days is already covered====
Actually Team Sleep the per diem is for food and lodging. They get a separate amount for mileage. (But it might be capped)

Comment by Been There Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 3:00 pm
After all of the irrelevant nonsense about monikers and the like, McCann is very likely already #toast. Undecideds will break mostly for the challenger so in the absence of something very meaningful and impactful soon from the incumbent, the race is likely concluded.

Comment by Ottawa Phil Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 3:03 pm
Been There - well, he takes the per diem and rarely (if ever) stays overnight. So where does that $$$ go? I highly doubt that he spends $110+ on food, although with sloppy bookkeeping maybe he does.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 3:10 pm
So that would mean that he may be claiming mileage on top of his per diem, which means that he gets the Senatorial reimbursement rate and the per diem without lodging in town on session days/nights.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 3:12 pm
tell me it aint so Joe (Sam)

Comment by Facts are Stubborn Things Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 3:41 pm
Vote for the guy who will actually represent your wishes in the legislature, and against the guy who’s just gonna be a Rauner button-pusher.

Comment by PublicServant Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 4:29 pm
Vote your interests. They are all dirty dogs.

Comment by present Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 4:32 pm
C’mon Team Sleep, you’re usually good for reasonable commentary. However, on this topic it appears that you’re just throwing up stuff on the wall to see what sticks.

Question his reimbursements or campaign spending. Ask for an investigation if you will.

However, you were mistaken about per diem guidelines and got called on it. Ok, I’ve messed up on facts too; got thrashed by Rich or others and accepted my error. But you want to continue to speculate about the per diems and then criticize him based on the speculation. Unless you have specific information from his travel vouchers, you’re crossing into troll territory.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 4:51 pm
Norseman - to be honest, I do have some actual info and insight but I am not really in a position to post anything on social media. That is not a cop out.

And be reasonable here - if a member gets per diem but never stays in town and eats few if any meals during a session da, then what exactly happens to that $111? The member would either pocket it or put it towards relevant expenses (gas and repairs). McCann had 70+ session days and gets a per diem for each day. That totals nearly $7,800. If he never stays in town and only uses a negligible amount for meals, the money goes somewhere.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 7:56 pm
Benton needs votes outside of Sangamon to win.
A LOT more votes than Noll got in the 2012 primary.
McCann pulled over 75% of the vote in some counties.

Comment by btowntruth Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 8:44 pm
Yes, I believe 66k miles is doable. Some of these clowns put more miles in on the weekend than you can ever imagine. Unlike me to defend a politician.

Comment by Blue dog dem Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 9:04 pm