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Republicans dispute Trib numbers, say Madigan doing better than realized

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With little more than two weeks until Election Day, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s personal investment in eroding the ranks of legislative Democrats led by House Speaker Michael Madigan has grown to nearly $46 million, state campaign finance records show.

The massive influx of cash represents the election-year battle lines playing out in Illinois after more than a year of fighting between Rauner, the first-term governor, and Madigan, the nation’s longest-serving speaker, over the future of the state.

Democrats hold supermajorities in the House and Senate and have been able to stymie Rauner’s economic agenda, which calls for changes in laws that would weaken traditional Democratic allies in organized labor and among workers’ compensation attorneys. The Democrats’ refusal to move on those issues led to a lengthy budget stalemate, which culminated in a temporary spending plan that expires Jan. 1. […]

All told, Rauner, his family and his campaign fund have doled out $45.8 million in political contributions this year. Of the $29 million the Illinois Republican Party has raised this year, nearly $21 million has come from Rauner and $4 million this month through Durkin’s campaign fund.

* But the Illinois Republican Party disputes that story…

FACT CHECK: Madigan Democrats Vastly Outspending Rauner

The Chicago Tribune today misleadingly reports:

“Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s personal investment in eroding the ranks of legislative Democrats led by House Speaker Michael Madigan has grown to nearly $46 million.”

FACT CHECK:

1. Since the day after the 2014 election, Bruce Rauner has made $31,574,500 in political contributions to various campaign entities. Additionally, at the end of third quarter, nearly $5 million remained in the Citizens for Rauner campaign account.

2. Meanwhile, Mike Madigan Democratic legislative candidates have schemed to raise over $56 million.

HOW IT WORKS:

To calculate Democratic fundraising, many news outlets simply look at how much the Democratic Party of Illinois has raised during the quarter and report that figure. The problem with this type of analysis is that Democratic legislative candidates typically receive campaign funds that never pass through the Democratic party campaign committee itself.

How does Democratic fundraising work in reality?

House:

Mike Madigan controls four interconnected campaign funds. This money can be distributed to campaigns in unlimited amounts. Madigan currently has an estimated $13.5 million stored in these funds.

Madigan also uses over 20 select House members in uncompetitive districts as “piggy banks” to store cash. Madigan has primarily funded House candidates by directing these “piggy banks” to transfer money directly to targeted races.

For example, Reps. Anna Moeller, Marty Moylan, Kathleen Willis each transferred out half a million dollars to Democrats in competitive house districts over the last quarter. These transfers have accelerated in recent days.

Additionally, Democratic House members spent much of 2015 receiving large contributions from trial lawyers, special interests, and unions – even if they had no opponent.

The result of this is that most of the Democrats’ spending never passes through the Democratic Party of Illinois or its related campaign funds.

So how much money do the House Democrats have to spend on 2016?

The answer – at least $41 million. This is the sum total of the money that targeted house candidates have raised this cycle, the money Madigan currently has in his accounts, and the money the Democrats have stored in “piggy banks” and other house accounts.

This is a low ball estimate for Democratic spending capabilities, since it does not include any money that outside groups, trial lawyers, special interests, and unions still plan to contribute.

Raised by Targeted Democratic House Candidates this Cycle: $16.6 million
+ Remaining in Madigan’s Four Funds – Estimated $13.5 million
+ Remaining in Non Competitive Democratic House Candidates: $11.5 million
= Minimum House Democratic Spending Capacity: $41.6 million

Senate:

Senate Democrats also have raised much of their money outside the party structure, mostly from trial lawyers, special interests, and unions. So far, targeted Democratic Senate candidates have raised $10.3 million. But John Cullerton still has $4.5 million in the funds he controls. Cullerton relies significantly more than Madigan on coalescing campaign contributions into his committee, Senate Democratic Victory Fund. The Senate Democrats have at least $14.8 million to spend on 2016.

This is again a low ball estimate, since it does not include any money that outside groups, trial lawyers, special interests, and unions still plan to contribute.

Raised by Targeted Democratic Senate Candidates this Cycle: $10.3 million
+ Remaining in Cullerton’s Three Funds: Estimated $4.5 million
=
Minimum Senate Democratic Spending Capacity: $14.8 Million

Add in the Ken Griffin and Richard Uihlein cash, though, and they’re still ahead of the Dems.

* Related…

* Sweet: Pritzker, Uihlein 2 of Illinois’ biggest political donors

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 1:26 am

Comments

Well, if I’m the self-described “Democrat” Diana Rauner, nothing pleases me more than having MY name as a donor to Raunerite destruction of Social Services and state universities.

Congratulations, “I’m a Democrat”, Diana Rauner, your “business decisions”.., have helped crush social services… while your husband touts the “millions” you both have donated… to make it all “A-OK”

With all this campaign money rolling out of the Rauner household, I don’t worry about The Ounce. Diana, while making sure Raunerites get their cash, will also make sure The Ounce, “will be fine”… while the campaign battle allows Illinois’ most needy are hurt.

I’m sorry, you put your name on nearly $46 million in funds to destroy your own party, the state, and it’s social services, you don’t get a smiling pass.

“It’s a business decision”

I haven’t forgotten.

“Bruce has no social agenda”.

We’ll see if Democrats this election remember that too.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 6:16 am
Why so defensive? Why not own it. “Yes I’m putting my money where my mouth is to stop Madigan and the legislators he controls.” As opposed to “we’re not contributing THAT much compared to what Madigan is taking in”. NO one is dropping multi -millions like the guv and to suggest otherwise is disingenuous. I say he goes all col. jessup,

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 8:14 am
OW @6:16, You’re entitled to your political opinions as we all are. Delving into the dynamics of the Rauner marriage is just awful and should be beneath you.

Comment by Responsa Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 8:15 am
Oh - Responsa -, lol…

Diana Rauner can handle criticism, just like she can put her own name to destroying Illinois, as a Raunerite, or as a Democrat…

You put $46 million into campaigns, to close state universities and end social service organizations, with your name on the donations, you catch the heat.

Capiche?

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 8:19 am
So what do you recommend? What will make you happy? Divorce? Legally change her name? Publicly chastise and disavow her husband? Get real.

Comment by Responsa Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 8:34 am
My “green $” is trying to make a blue state red.
I love the color changes in the fall.
Fake bruce rauner

Comment by Magic carpet ride Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 8:59 am
Mrs Rauner should resign from Ounce. Period

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 9:25 am
- Responsa -, lol…

Diana Rauner “can’t help” that her own name is on ALL the donations that have her name?

Diana Rauner didn’t say “it’s a business decision” to sue her husband, then, made sure The Ounce got $5 million while other social services were laying off people, ending services… closing their doors?

Diana Rauner found herself “accidentally” in a seven-figure Ad campaign that made clear…

1) Diana Rauner is a Democrat

2) Diana Rauner told the people of Illinois “Bruce has no social agenda”

3) The ad made clear, party and agenda were being vouched by Diana Rauner, using Diana Rauner’s own credibility as the folcrum.

Are you saying Diana Rauner is a “Babe in the Woods”, unknowingly and by total happenstance had all these purposeful things fall upon her?

Oooh, that’s fun.

If Diana Rauner didn’t want her name to be attached, Diana Rauner has no control over that? Diana Rauner didn’t say her “business decision” spiel? Diana Rauner didn’t vouch for Bruce Rauner on policy and didn’t use her Democrat status to inoculate Bruce Rauner?

Hysterical.

Diana’s name. Diana owns it too.

Otherwise, it’s 3 older, über-wealthy white males funding a shell corporation (ILGOP) to destroy labor, eliminate some social services and close state universities.

Diana Rauner’s name… she’s as complicit as the Raunerites want to paint Labor or any group donating to Diana Rauner’s Democratic Party…

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 9:26 am
OW I missed the Democrats plan to fix social services and higher education, because they have none.

They have not reformed pensins which is the reason over 53% of the state’s budget for higher education goes to pensions and not education.

But somehow you blame Rauner for “destroying higher education”

Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 9:30 am
=So what do you recommend? What will make you happy? Divorce? Legally change her name? Publicly chastise and disavow her husband? Get real.=

Sorry, but Diana became fair game the minute she gave a spoken endorsement in a commercial during the campaign.

She maybe could have stayed out of it but then she decided to make public comments on the business decision.

BTW-She seems like she is/can handle criticism. I am guessing she is a bit stronger than you.

Comment by JS Mill Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 9:33 am
Breathe, OW.

Comment by Chairman McBroom Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 9:36 am
===But somehow you blame Rauner for “destroying higher education”===

No governor since 1858 funded Higher Education at a level of zero, but you already know that.

===They have not reformed pensins which is the reason over 53% of the state’s budget for higher education goes to pensions and not education===

That pesky constitution keeps messing up both sides.

Please keep up, it’s Cullerton’s pension plan Rauner is trying to push. Again, you already know that.

Funding social services at a level of zero wasn’t an accident, Rauner used a Veto, a tool only a governor has to zero out social services. You know this too, so you’re willfully ignorant of blissfully unaware?

Then there’s the $46 million the Rauners personally contributed, so there’s that…

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 9:37 am
It’s his money to do with as he wishes, but I sincerely don’t understand the thinking.

Nearly $32 million of your own dough to maybe flip a few GA seats and hang on to the comptroller’s office? Best-case scenario, how can that possibly be worth it?

If the goal is to do good in the world, there are obviously countless better ways you could spend $32 million.

If the goal is power and an ego-stroke — for that kind of money, you could buy an island in the Caribbean, build a fortress and proclaim yourself Pirate King.

What possible ROI is there for him? I don’t get it.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 9:38 am
OW & Honeybear +1. Diana Rauner hasn’t been a “civilian” for awhile now. Here’s hoping all that Rauner cash turns out to be money down a rat hole. …

Comment by Crispy Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 9:39 am
- Chairman McBroom -

Who’s not breathing? Your concern is compelling.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 9:41 am
OW as a self described “Republican” why don’t you occasionally change the focus in your long posts blaming Republicans and “Raunerites” for the state’s problems to those who have actually had a hand in creating those problems but who refuse any efforts to fix them?

Diana Rauner never ran or was elected to any public office and your focus on her and not the career politicans who have baked this cake is completely ridiculous.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 9:49 am
= 53% of the state’s budget for higher education goes to pensions and not education.=

The pension costs are part of the compensation package for educators.

So the money is going to education.

The problem is, the ILDP and ILGOP were ok borrowing that money for other projects and now have to payback their borrowing.

Comment by JS Mill Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 9:52 am
That is a ton of money to come from one source. This must be really, really important to him or else he has too much money?

I don’t care about the Rauner’s marriage but she put herself out there. Not all spouses get involved in campaigning. Not only was she involved but she indicated that even though she was a Dem, she thought her Republican husband was the right choice for Gov.

Comment by Belle Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 9:56 am
Longest serving Speaker vs one term Governor says doesn’t it? You don’t survive that long in U.S. politics unless you make at least some of the people happy most of the time. You have to believe that if you aren’t buying the Trump and Rauner garbage that the system is corrupt.

We will see if the people of Illinois are happy enough with Rauner to give him more than one term.

Comment by A Jack Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 9:58 am
The GOPies refused to add in the cost of state funded video used in their Severin ad…that saves those cdampaign dollars. BTW that stunt reminds us of Movie Star Lee Daniels and how he beeat his COS to the G & jail. Nice timin’
Today WSJ reports all billionaire spending in the presidential only amounts about $80 million naionwide —- gives a little perspective on looney tunes BigBrain spending.

Comment by Annonin' Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 10:15 am
JS Mill, I don’t think the ILGOP voted for the Blagoevich/ Madigan budgets that underfunded the pensions for the 12 years of one party rule in Springfield.

Now the Democrats won’t call the Cullerton pension bill for a vote and Rauner is the only one getting the blame for decimating higher education

Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 10:20 am
===The pension costs are part of the compensation package for educators.

So the money is going to education.===

Oy. You forgot to add, “by far, the most important part if you talk to them”.

Purposely or not, you’ve highlighted the strategic operation with education in this state. It’s never been student outcomes first. Never.

Comment by A guy Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 10:27 am
“It’s never been student outcomes first.”

Again with the mind-reading…

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 10:32 am
Jay Em, you have evidence that “students first” has been the objective….ever?

Maybe some day students should threaten or go on strike. Except for the fact the teachers would get paid anyway. I know many wonderful school teachers. Had many outstanding school teachers. So have my own children. They’re leadership has let them down.

Comment by A guy Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 10:41 am
- Lucky Pierre -

Making it about me isn’t making an argument. With your logic, Diana Rauner is a Republican.

Diana Rauner isn’t a Republican, Diana Rauner is a Raunerite.

Also, do a search, I feel, continue to feel, and point to McKinney’s Crain’s article on “Balme” as THE single-most, stand slone, best piece on the budgetary problems, including the pension discussion and “blame”.

You want to have s discussion on that, and blame, that’s about as good as it gets.

Get over yourself. I’m a Republican, not a Raunerite. Your continued ignorance is a gag making your own arguments less.

===Diana Rauner never ran or was elected to any public office and your focus on her and not the career politicans who have baked this cake is completely ridiculous===

Diana Rauner, personally… that’s personally… is in for part of $46 million in promoting the closing of state universities and the elimination of some social services, including layoff, programs stopped, and doors closed.

If you’d like, Diana Rauner, the Democrat, has donated in part of $46 million to promote the Illinois Republican Party with her donations.

We can go down that road too…

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 10:48 am
– They’re leadership has let them down.–

I guess the grammar outcome wasn’t so good on this one.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 11:00 am
You made an assertion.

You supplied no evidence for it.

Then, when called out on making an unsupported claim, you respond, “Where’s your evidence?”

Even in 2016, that’s pretty rich.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 11:00 am
Pardon the error, Sling. Pleased to see that’s all you’ve got. But you were right to point it out. I’m ashamed of my stupid phone and my impatience with checking that first. Mea culpa.

Comment by A guy Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 11:07 am
OW for someone who quotes The Godfather religiously you are ignoring that families are off limits.

I see no quotes blaming Shirley Madigan for not buying pants that fit the Speaker better

Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 11:11 am
Maybe it’s a joint checking and she can write one to her party too?

Comment by Rabid Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 11:25 am
LP- the DEMS fix for social services? Are you serious? The private sector social services had contracts with the state which they fulfilled. They have not been paid and now 2 years later the majority of them no longer exist. GONE! So there is no fix for the dead! This is private sector non profit business loss. Private sector job loss. Thousands of jobs lost. Over a million people effected by the loss of private sector social service destruction all because Rauner wouldn’t negotiate a budget till the union busting TA was accepted.

Dead private companies need not be paid.

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 11:48 am
===I see no quotes blaming Shirley Madigan for not buying pants that fit the Speaker better===

When I see Shirley Madigan in political ads…

Diana Rauner, the Democrat, has not only been IN Ads, Diana Rauner is funding Raunerite Ads, and supporting Raunerite ideals, explaining “business decisions”, but supports Bruce Rauner.

===OW for someone who quotes The Godfather religiously you are ignoring that families are off limits.===

Michael Corleone was off-limits, a “civilian” until that meet in Brooklyn, and he took out a New York police Lieutenant, and Sollozzo.

Diana Rauner, has put her name to $46 million… her name… to support Raunerites under the guise of the ILGOP.

Civilians don’t supply the ammo for the both sides going to the mattresses.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 12:03 pm
Jay Em, If I have to provide you evidence that our public education system is utterly broken and the student outcomes have been utterly neglected for a long time, we’re in a useless discussion. We’ve been bombarded for weeks with news concerning only the teacher’s contracts and their willingness, then plans to strike.

Yep, all about the kids. Jeesh.

Comment by A guy Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 12:25 pm
–Jay Em, If I have to provide you evidence that our public education system is utterly broken and the student outcomes have been utterly neglected for a long time, we’re in a useless discussion.–

It’s useless because you made a ridiculously broad assertion, based on nothing.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 12:31 pm
Perhaps you remember the famous Obama quote where he says he is busy mopping up someone else’s mess and he refuses advice others telling him how to do it properly.

Have you seen the Speaker or Senate President helping to mop up the mess they helped create lately?

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2009/10/16/obama_im_busy_with_a_mop_cleaning_up_somebody_elses_mess.html

Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 2:03 pm
===Perhaps you remember the famous Obama quote where he says he is busy mopping up someone else’s mess and he refuses advice others telling him how to do it properly===

Perhaps Rauner is busy mopping up someone else’s mess and he refuses advice others telling him how to do it properly.

I doubt that.

Rauner is too busy taking selfies at Wrigley or having checks written by himself and Diana Rauner for Raunerites? lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 2:22 pm
=JS Mill, I don’t think the ILGOP voted for the Blagoevich/ Madigan budgets that underfunded the pensions for the 12 years of one party rule in Springfield.=

Illinois achieved statehood in 1818, a bit longer than 12 years ago. Sorry if I am unwilling to stick with your lame narrative.

For the last 12 years (since you brought it up) and especially for the period before Rauner, the ILGOP was the party of “No” and we don’t have any power. Heard if from their mouths myself, many times.

What they were really saying is that we lack leadership capacity.

=Now the Democrats won’t call the Cullerton pension bill for a vote and Rauner is the only one getting the blame for decimating higher education=

Like playing wack a mole but I will delve…

1) Cullerton’s bill is (wait for it) unconstitutional.

2) Rauner is the first governor in Illinois history (almost 200 years) to zero fund higher ed.

@Aguy- Man your stuff is just lame. Not close to standards here.

You having a battle of words with MrJM is like taking a tricycle to the Indy 500.

Comment by JS Mill Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 2:57 pm
=I see no quotes blaming Shirley Madigan for not buying pants that fit the Speaker better=

Let me know when you actually see a Shirley Madigan quote of any kind.

Comment by JS Mill Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 2:59 pm
===@Aguy- Man your stuff is just lame. Not close to standards here.

You having a battle of words with MrJM is like taking a tricycle to the Indy 500.===

We were discussing standards….Defend student outcomes. JM can defend himself. You can complete a simile. Can you complete an argument?

Comment by A guy Monday, Oct 24, 16 @ 4:09 pm