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* Press release…
In a stunning display of partisanship, Democratic Rep. Robert Martwick – a supporter of billionaire J.B. Pritzker – last week announced that he would kill his own bill, HB 2517, that would crack down on the kind of vacancy fraud the billionaire is engaging in to wrongly slash his property tax burden.
After House Minority Leader Jim Durkin signed on to the Vacancy Fraud Act, Capitol Fax reports that Martwick issued a statement saying he would not call the bill, calling the bipartisan backing he received “political gamesmanship”.
This week, DNAinfo reports that Rep. Martwick “launched into a ‘tirade’” after finding out that his bill was receiving bipartisan support.
Only a Madigan-Pritzker politician would attack bipartisan reform.
But the Illinois Republican Party is holding Martwick and Pritzker accountable, releasing robocalls today into his district highlighting his capitulation to the broken status quo.
Martwick should stand by his legislation, even if it bothers his political bosses Madigan and Pritkzer.
Martwick’s bill has been languishing in the Rules Committee since late March and its passage deadline has long since passed, so he didn’t actually kill it.
The May 22nd DNAInfo story mentioned in the press release is just plain goofy…
An effort to reduce the number of vacant storefronts in Chicago neighborhoods stalled in Springfield last week amid a political brawl sparked by the race for Illinois governor.
Martwick even says in the story that the bill wasn’t ready to move.
* But politics is politics, so let’s move on to the robocall…
* Script…
Hi, this is Caroline, and I’m calling regarding our State Representative, Robert Martwick.
Martwick has sold taxpayers out to his political boss Mike Madigan’s billionaire financial muscle, and recently revealed tax cheat, JB Pritzker.
Martwick used to support legislation that would crack down on property owners collecting unfair tax breaks on vacant properties. He used to be for the common man.
But the moment billionaire JB Pritzker was exposed using this property tax scheme to cut property taxes on Pritzker’s mansion by $240,000 while making all of us pay more, Martwick immediately flipped his position out of blind loyalty to Madigan and his new friend Pritzker.
Martwick isn’t working for you or me anymore. He’s out to serve the same corrupt system that rewards the well-connected while you pay the price.
Paid for by the Illinois Republican Party.
Not a bad message at all, despite the underlying facts. Props for that.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, May 25, 17 @ 1:58 pm
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===Not a bad message at all, despite the underlying facts.===
Exhibit A for why politics is broken.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, May 25, 17 @ 2:02 pm
As a robo this is an immediate hangup or put down the phone and walk away. If ‘Martwick has sold taxpayers out to his political boss Mike Madigan’s billionaire financial muscle’ what have GOPers done who have accepted any part of Gov Rauner’s $20M prize bag?
Comment by zatoichi Thursday, May 25, 17 @ 2:07 pm
The JB property tax story has legs and it knows how to use them
Comment by Grand Avenue Thursday, May 25, 17 @ 2:14 pm
Rauner and his spokespeople are constantly trashing Chicago and doing everything they can to hurt it (utterly unbecoming of a governor). To have Rauner and the ILGOP he owns as an enemy only helps Chicago Democrats. Predicting 2018 city turnout the likes of which we haven’t seen in a midterm. A chance to vote against Rauner & Trump. The excitement is on the Dem side and it’s only building.
Comment by Moe Berg Thursday, May 25, 17 @ 2:36 pm
So true Moe Berg
Comment by Austinman Thursday, May 25, 17 @ 4:31 pm
Moe Berg
In an environment where the energy of the democratic party is on class warfare and the billionaires not paying their fair share line up with a billionaire Democratic candidate for Governor who is proven to avoid paying his fair share of property taxes to the tune of $240,000?
Sorry I don’t see a lot of the Bernie Sanders wing that could not vote for Hillary going for JB.
Watch out for a 3rd party bid by Ameya Pawar
Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, May 25, 17 @ 5:26 pm
===Watch out for a 3rd party bid by Ameya Pawar===
Highly doubtful.
Unless Rauner decides to fund that run, no upside, even if he loses.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, May 25, 17 @ 5:32 pm
Hillary beat Bernie by 40,000 votes.
Why will the 999,494 Illinois voters who voted for Bernie rally behind a billionaire property tax avoider whose family business has had union trouble for years?
Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, May 25, 17 @ 5:46 pm
===Why will the 999,494 Illinois voters who voted for Bernie rally behind a billionaire property tax avoider whose family business has had union trouble for years===
… because “Bruce Rauner fails”
People vote against their best interest because governors fail all the time. Ask Pat Quinn
Your worry for Bernie voters is touching, lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, May 25, 17 @ 5:49 pm
The joys of nepotism continue! Martwick is related (an actual nephew) to the former Cook County Superintendent of Schools, Richard J. Martwick, a former physical education instructor, who was slated and elected repeatedly since he was the only Democrat with the requisite certificate to run.
It did not hurt that Martwick’s dad was a township committeeman either.
Comment by Chip off of the Old Blockheads? Thursday, May 25, 17 @ 5:59 pm
LP,
We’re all moved by your concern. Might I suggest though that this property tax horse you and the GOP riding have a much better shot of working in a primary than a general. Come election time, this race is largely going to be about the Governor’s record of failure and the challenger’s plans. I’m pretty sure the gov doesn’t want to play character tit for tat with Pritzker and their respective personal and business records.
Comment by Anon0091 Thursday, May 25, 17 @ 6:00 pm
Don’t kid your self Democrats tone deafness to freezing the highest property taxes in America while pretending to be champions of the middle class will haunt them.
Rauner’s plan is reasonable and moderate, local voters decide to raise or lower property taxes and control costs that drive them higher.
The democrats property tax policies are extreme, top down mandates from Springfield legislators who the least trusted by their constituents of any state in America
any
Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, May 25, 17 @ 6:11 pm
===The democrats property tax policies are extreme, top down mandates from Springfield legislators who the least trusted by their constituents of any state in America===
… and Rauner thinks by overriding local control is the best way, having Springfield decide?
That’s an interesting take. You are fur local control… except… lol
I thought local control was a Republican thing.
I guess Raunerism is against local control? That’s fun.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, May 25, 17 @ 6:14 pm
===Rauner’s plan is reasonable and moderate, local voters decide to raise or lower property taxes and control costs that drive them higher.===
Does it still include ending prevailing wage and collective bargaining.
I’m confused at all the Rauner “ideas”, ever evolving, but still trying to lump destroying labor as part of property tax relief.
So, which plan?
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, May 25, 17 @ 6:16 pm
Targets Martwick? the new liberal prince? hilarious.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, May 25, 17 @ 6:32 pm
**Watch out for a 3rd party bid by Ameya Pawar**
LOL - thanks, Lucky Pierre, for proving once and for all that you seriously have no clue.
Comment by JoeMaddon Friday, May 26, 17 @ 12:20 am
Makes me glad I got rid of the land line…no more robo calls!
Comment by Rudykzooti Friday, May 26, 17 @ 6:27 am
First, let me be clear, I don’t like Rauner or his some what empty rhetoric.
Actually, I find this fiscal abundance suddenly written into the Republican coffers, used like it is to produce the Dan Proff organization, web sites and robo calls a turn off.
Rauner failed to negotiate a budget, and has ruined the fiscal future for Illinois.
Simply, he needs to go away and dirty up that spotless wood workshop.
Comment by tinsel town Friday, May 26, 17 @ 8:25 am