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* Clearing out my in-box. Press release…
Today, the Pritzker campaign is launching a new series, highlighting where Dan Biss’ campaign rhetoric is at odds with his record. Dan Biss says he’s a proven progressive, but he voted for unconstitutional cuts to pensions and healthcare. Let’s check the record.
In 2013, Biss wrote the unconstitutional bill that cut pension benefits for 467,000 downstate teachers, university workers, and state employees. This followed a 2012 vote where Biss tried to slash healthcare benefits from nearly 80,000 state retirees and retired suburban and downstate teachers. Both of those efforts were opposed by the Illinois AFL-CIO and ruled unconstitutional by the Illinois Supreme Court.
“Dan Biss led the charge on unconstitutional efforts to undermine pensions for public servants, only to get smacked down by the Supreme Court,” said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. “From cutting pensions for almost half a million Illinoisans to slashing healthcare for 80,000, the Biss record looks a lot closer to Rauner’s latest budget address than that of a true progressive.”
I’m guessing the “series” is a bunch of press releases, but the campaign does have a new “Biss Please” Twitter account.
* And while Biss does have a problem with his voting record in the past, he does have stuff like this in his present…
People’s Action is proud to join our member organization Reclaim Chicago in endorsing Sen. Daniel Biss (D) for governor of Illinois. As a middle-class candidate and father of two children in public schools, Biss has championed progressive issues his entire career and is the only candidate for governor who has real government experience, passing nearly 90 bills during his time in the state legislature.
Biss has pledged to support the People’s Action Protest to Power Platform and promote a bold racial and economic justice agenda. Biss will lead Illinois’s working families into a future with prosperity for all – not just the wealthy few.
By the way, I’m also kind of a fan of Biss’ new “JB Spends” website. You enter any dollar amount you want and it tells you how fast Pritzker’s campaign could spend it. It also gives you some examples. For instance…
JB Pritzker’s campaign spends the average cost of buying a gas station in Cook County in 5 days, 4 hours, 17 minutes, and 51 seconds.
source
The site also has its own Twitter account.
* On to the Kennedy campaign, which is airing a new radio ad featuring former Senate President Emil Jones …
* Script…
A true test of someone’s character is what they say when they don’t think anyone’s listening.
On FBI wiretaps, JB Pritzker said what he really thinks of black folks.
Pritzker used insults and code language to put down our entire community.
We shouldn’t be surprised by Pritzker insulting ourcommunity, Pritzker called Barack Obama a mediocre President
Danny Davis, Bobby Rush, myself and many more Black leaders are supporting Chris Kennedy for Governor.
Chris’ father Robert Kennedy and his uncle President Kennedy fought and struggled and sacrificed alongside Dr. King in the civil rights movement.
Chris has devoted his life fighting for those who are left behind.
That’s the Kennedy way.
It’s time to unite, fight and get it right.
Support Kennedy for Governor.
* Meanwhile…
Chris Kennedy’s Campaign for Governor is sending the following letter today to Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, Comptroller Susana Mendoza, Treasurer Michael Frerichs, State Senator Andy Manar and county chairs who endorsed JB Pritzker:
Dear Friend of JB,
As candidates for governor, my opponents and I all need to be vetted by the press and by the voters. No one should be exempt from that, but unfortunately, JB Pritzker has decided he will not attend the only televised debate taking place outside of the Chicago market.
I am sure that you will agree with me that Pritzker is denying Illinois voters the chance to hear where he stands on the issues facing residents throughout our state.
You have spent years as a champion for communities throughout Illinois, reminding the Democratic party that we should not ignore the voters outside of Chicago. Since you have endorsed JB Pritzker, I am calling on you to encourage your candidate to respect the voters of Central, Southern, Western, Northern and Eastern Illinois and join the debate in the Springfield-Champaign-Decatur market on WCIA-TV on March 5th.
Unfortunately, WCIA may now cancel the debate because Pritzker declined to participate.
We, as Democrats, believe that there should be a free exchange of ideas, that talking about issues isn’t a bad thing. That’s why debates are so important; they allow us to work through important issues and give voters the opportunity to decide.
All voters in our state deserve the same opportunity as those in Chicago. The Governor of Illinois is not responsible to only Chicago but to the whole state. If the debate is cancelled, it sends a message that the only voters who matter are those in Cook County.
In order to win back the governorship, Democrats need the support of not only voters in Chicago but across the state. It would be a colossal mistake to cancel the debate.
Do not let JB Pritzker deprive Illinois voters from hearing from all of us. Please join me in calling for the WCIA debate to continue as scheduled.
Sincerely,
Christopher G. Kennedy
Candidate for Governor
…Adding… Ouch…
Hey @KennedyforIL - I got your letter. It reminded me of the downstate forum I held in Peoria last summer- the one your campaign said you’d attend before ghosting on us. Downstate knows @JBPritzker because he’s been here repeatedly & has a plan to grow our economy. #twill #ilgov
— Cheri Bustos (@CheriBustos) February 15, 2018
* From the Biss campaign…
After JB Pritzker announced that he was unwilling to participate in the only televised debate outside of Chicago, the corporate owner of media host WCIA Channel 3 in Springfield said they were considering canceling the event. In response, the Biss campaign launched a petition to Save Our Downstate Debate, inviting people across the state to add their name to a petition urging WCIA to carry on with the program, so voters can hear from the candidates who aren’t afraid to be heard.
The response to the petition was overwhelming, with 2,400 signatures collected in the last week.
“Clearly, JB Pritzker is worried,” said Biss communications director Tom Elliott. “And Illinois voters clearly want to see this debate continue with or without him. Daniel Biss agreed to participate in this debate early on, and he’s eager to share his vision for our state and how middle-class progressive values drive our campaign. On the first day of expanded early voting across the state, it seems JB is afraid to answer the tough questions being raised about his campaign, which raises serious doubt about whether he’s actually prepared to face Bruce Rauner in the fall.”
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 10:44 am
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“Biss Please” is pretty inappropriate, right?
Comment by Chris Widger Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 10:49 am
Maybe Team Biss could come up with another calculator showing how much money Bruce Rauner has spent getting elected and destroying the state. That might remind them that all that cash is coming for them if they manage to beat Pritzker.
Not all of Pritzker’s spending has been anti-Biss. But the overwhelming majority of Rauner bucks will be anti-Biss come late March.
Something to think about.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 10:51 am
Biss ignored the plain language of the Illinois Constitution in his attacks against state workers’ pension. This disqualifies him to be governor. I’m tired of governors and presidents who ignore our constitutions.
Comment by RIJ Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 10:52 am
===pretty inappropriate, right? ===
Could be. But Biss also uses it.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 10:53 am
RIJ,
Our state constitution also requires a balanced budget. Just saying.
Comment by Downstate Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 10:55 am
“Chris has devoted his life fighting for those who are left behind.”
I thought he devoted his life to building luxury condominiums and office buildings? How many tenants at Wolf Point are “left behind”?
The letter to Durbin and crew reeks of desperation, too.
Comment by TKMH Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 10:56 am
==“Biss Please” is pretty inappropriate, right?==
A lot of millennials, Biss’ target audience, find it clever. It’s a pander in the name of being hip.
Comment by TKMH Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 10:58 am
“Biss please”
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 11:00 am
Downstate, it’s okay to break one part of the Constitution to uphold another? Don’t think so.
Comment by RIJ Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 11:00 am
==I am sure that you will agree with me that Pritzker is denying Illinois voters the chance to hear where he stands on the issues facing residents throughout our state.==
I’m no friend of JB, but this line of thinking doesn’t really work. It is extremely easy to hear where JB stands. Pritzker’s campaign isn’t obligated to do debates if his staff thinks they will hurt him. If Pritzker were willing to do three more debates, Kennedy would want five. These are just the incentives of frontrunners and runners-up, and the letter reeks of intellectual dishonesty.
Comment by Chris Widger Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 11:01 am
Maybe it is just my Cook County sensibilities, but I find this whole dust up over the “only televised debate outside of Chicago” thing silly.
Last I checked my family in St. Louis can still watch events that happen in Chicago when their local stations choose to carry it. Just because it is happens in Springfield doesn’t mean stations in Caro will carry it.
Also in my opinion a lot of people watch debates and of those that do watch them most already have their minds made up.
Comment by Anonish Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 11:03 am
*Also in my opinion _not_ a lot of people…
(yes, i know its not data)
Comment by Anonish Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 11:05 am
The more I look at this democratic primary, the more I see Rauner winning a second, more destructive term, this fall.
JB can’t seem to get away from his ghosts.
Biss is going to get rolled by the Rauner machine with his missteps.
Kennedy needs to just get out out of race.
Comment by Dee Lay Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 11:09 am
Since the Pritzker campaign took it upon themselves to keep
Polling to themselves, while spending at clips of $7 million, looking at the 5-week push of a closing argument ad of “all” those supporting J.B. and trying to finagle this image of being THE choice…
… polling as that Crew is underwater now.
The campaign at times has been a real head scratcher.
They wait and wait, weeks go by before deciding, “we should try to bury Biss”… “we need to marginalize Kennedy”
Rauner has taken it to Pritzker and successfully gotten J.B. to be underwater, and it’s “only February” while ad after ad Pritzker went after Trump, who is polling better than Rauner.
The Pritzker Crew could very well pull this out, comfortably, in the Primary by, ironically, following Rod’s plan of a monster vote total downstate, with nearly two dozen offices scattered around Illinois.
The wasted time, while money isn’t a worry, and refusing to follow the Rauner model of swamping the primary opponents …and going after the incumbent governor, mercilessly… that didn’t happen and now they are polling underwater, looking at chasing Biss with a snappy twitter and the explaining who Biss is, after Biss got his free pass…
… and the tapes….
The campaign is a head scratcher.
They may win, in many ways they do “lead” in so many usual political mole posts… but the wasting of time and…
I dunno, it’s a head scratcher.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 11:11 am
I’ve been going back and forth on who to support of JB or Biss as I find both of them flawed but have ruled out Kennedy.
JB refusing to appear at a downstate debate doesn’t mean much on its own but I’ve decided if I’m still 50/50 when I cast my ballot the coin flip is going to Biss on this one little thing.
Showing up matters. And it’s hard for me to believe JB will lift a finger for my alma mater U of I after election if he can’t be bothered to show up for a WCIA debate when seeking election.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 11:19 am
I’m with RIJ. The idea of voting for Biss is a non-starter based on his past unwavering support and development of unconstitutional pension theft.
Comment by Cocoa Dave Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 11:26 am
- Cocoa Dave -
So does that mean you’re not voting for Kwame or any of the other 100 Democrats that voted for the pension reform bill as well? Happy to provide you with a list to spread around and get Republicans elected to those seats.
Comment by ILDemVoter Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 11:31 am
Cocoa Dave do you also rule out Pritzker for giving money to PACs whose very purpose was implement pension theft?
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 11:33 am
JB is doing six of seven debates. He’s shown up for far more forums than Chris Kennedy. He’s been all over the state far more than either Biss or Kennedy. The idea that he’s avoiding debates for forums or public events because he’s not doing the WCIA debate is more than a bit ridiculous.
Comment by Anon0091 Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 11:34 am
== it’s okay to break one part of the Constitution to uphold another? ==
Actually, the courts can be pretty good about ignoring the Constitution. They ignore balanced budgets and primary school funding.
And they might have even ignored the Pension Clause … except, with the clear declaration it is a contract, both State and Federal Contract Law back it up. That takes it to a different level than just a State declaration of intent that the GA can choose to ignore.
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 11:37 am
- Anon0091 -
LOL
===The idea that he’s avoiding debates for forums or public events because he’s not doing the WCIA debate is more than a bit ridiculous.===
“… but he is skipping the lone downstate televised debate … “
Other than that?
It’s their choice, but if you’re gonna shill, calling this debate “not unlike others” is not a great way to come at this… in an honest manner.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 11:45 am
=== but the campaign does have a new “Biss Please” Twitter account. ===
Ten of the account’s followers - or nearly half - are self-identified Pritzker staff, volunteers or supporters.
Talk about messaging to themselves.
Comment by Louis Capricious Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 11:52 am
–Chris’ father Robert Kennedy and his uncle President Kennedy fought and struggled and sacrificed alongside Dr. King in the civil rights movement.–
Did the Kennedys “fight” for civil rights? That’s a mixed bag. Did they “struggle” and “sacrifice” for civil rights. I don’t see how.
The Kennedy’s relationship with King and the civil rights movement was complex and often very uneasy. They are linked forever by their assassinations.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 12:10 pm
Kennedy & Biss are both fine people, know them both. But it’s going to take JB’s kind of money to beat BVR in November.
Comment by Truckin' On Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 12:18 pm
I just don’t get why Pritzker would spend the money to set up downstate offices and skip the only downstate debate. If he’s hoping to beat Biss by capturing the downstate votes that will be harder for Biss to get, then he should really go whole hog and attend the event.
And I tell you what, if that debate doesn’t get cancelled and Pritzker doesn’t show, then folks downstate will remember that Pritzker stiffed them a debate in their own backyard. It’ll just reinforce what the Blago tapes already have the folks I know back home thinking. Mainly that he’s just another “corrupt Chicago politician.” Those downstate offices won’t mean much at that point.
Comment by Chicago_Downstater Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 12:24 pm
*I do want to say one thing more. I was a bit hyberbolic about the downstate offices when I said they “won’t mean much at that point.” Obviously having a ground team to get your folks to the polls is very, very meaningful. I just think that the damage to his image–especially downstate–will negate a large part of that advantage.
I will attempt to turn down the hyberpole next time.
Comment by Chicago_Downstater Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 12:30 pm
Word….true enough. The Kennedy’s evolved but not to the extent “Camelot” dreamers believe. Bobby showed great courage right after Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, going to the inner city and extemporaneously giving an emotional speech to a angry crowd ready to tear the place down
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 12:37 pm
Voting for Kennedy in the primary and Rauner in the general.
Comment by Ron Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 12:42 pm
Anon0091- Pritzker may have done a lot of forums early in the campaign, but he went into hiding mode once the Rod tapes were released. You can ask any reporter if you don’t believe me. Again, “it’s more than a bit ridiculous” to keep coming by here and blindly defending JB with dated talking points.
How about this… the fundamental premise of JB’s campaign is that he’s best positioned to take on Rauner. He’s underwater statewide, and polling shows Kennedy and Biss doing better against Rauner. Why is JB in this race if general election voters feel about the same about JB as they do Trump?
Comment by Lil Lebowski Urban Achiever Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 12:53 pm
Issues and stances don’t matter, money matters. Skeletons don’t matter, because opponents will use money to conjure skeletons. Facts don’t matter in most elections and particularly in this era. Because of those things, the only answers for a self-respecting Democrat are to (1) fully support Pritzker, who is the only person who can stave off Rauner’s money, (2) reject voting and representative government in general and not participate, or (3) leave the state. Any other approach is self-defeating.
Comment by Chris Widger Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 1:41 pm
=== Today, the Pritzker campaign is launching a new series, highlighting where Dan Biss’ campaign rhetoric is at odds with his record. … . Let’s check the record.===
Well, it’s great that Biss has a voting record, having served in the State House and State Senate.
JBP has no voting record to check, having never been elected to so much as a library board.
At the end of the day, aside from support of the other oligarchs of his party, what qualification does JBP have to be Governor? All I can see is ca$h.
We already have one of those governors.
Comment by Anon III Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 1:50 pm
“He’s underwater statewide, and polling shows Kennedy and Biss doing better against Rauner.”
And how do you think Kennedy or Biss will poll once Rauner throws $50 million and the kitchen sink at them starting March 21? Biss in particular allows Rauner to just pull out the ole Madigan playbook (Madiganbiss.com and bissmadigan.com are both already taken) and become “Madigan’s pawn” faster than you can say g-droppin’.
Comment by Anon0091 Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 1:57 pm
“…his past unwavering support and development of unconstitutional pension theft.”
I wouldn’t call his support unwavering. He has repeatedly apologized for that vote and agreed it was both a mistake and unconstitutional. You can believe him or not, but he has said it on many occasions.
What I find interesting is that so many people seem concerned that Biss wouldn’t be able to compete with Rauner if he wins the primary, because of money. Do you not see the irony in that? If Biss can defeat Pritzker, someone already vastly outspending him and attacking him, why would Rauner be harder to beat? Let’s not forget Rauner is grossly unpopular.
Comment by Techie Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 1:57 pm
===And how do you think Kennedy or Biss will poll once Rauner throws $50 million and the kitchen sink at them starting March 21?===
Right now, spending less than $50 million, Pritzker is already underwater.
Further,
One election at a time. They all need to get past the Primary. That’s the focus. That should be the focus. It’s NCAA tournament basketball thinking…
… Survive and advance.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 2:01 pm
==Voting for Kennedy in the primary and Rauner in the general.==
So you’ll be voting for the Rauner stooge in the primary and the real thing in the general?
Comment by TKMH Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 2:08 pm
Anon0091-
Rauner’s spent only (maybe) $2 million to turn JB’s number upside down. Another $48 and he might actually be able to win because JB is such an unappealing candidate.
Comment by WizzardOfOzzie Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 6:15 pm
Biss may have made a “mistake” in his pension vote, but Rauner’s views and actions towards organized labor means Biss - if nominated - can raise big money from unions nationally. Plus, he’d be the “Sanders” candidate. It would not surprise me if Biss raised $50 million in the general if he wins the primary.
Comment by DarkHorse Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 12:17 am
Kennedy is the least offensive Dem running. Too bad Kennedy won’t embrace pot legalization.
Comment by Ron Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 6:17 am