Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Illinois Chamber is helping Dunkin again

Posted in:

Illinois

* Two years ago, the Illinois Chamber’s independent expenditure PAC spent $960,000 to help Rep. Ken Dunkin (D-Chicago) in the Democratic primary. Dunkin lost, of course.

On March 1st, the Chamber reactivated that IE PAC. Two days ago, the Chamber disclosed depositing $165,000 in the account.

Guess what? Check out this screenshot of an online ad that a buddy of mine forwarded me today…

* I talked to the Chamber’s President/CEO Todd Maisch this morning and he wouldn’t say how much of that $160K was going to Dunkin or how much more money will be added to the IE committee.

You just can’t make this stuff up.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Mar 8, 18 @ 11:35 am

Comments

In 2016 the Illinois Chamber got that $1 million from IllinoisGO which doesn’t exist anymore. Absent IllinoisGO it will be interesting to see if anyone is willing to pony up to back Dunkin. I mean, I can’t believe there’s a groundswell of dues-paying Chamber members who want to bankroll Dunkin, and whatever that gets you.

Comment by The Captain Thursday, Mar 8, 18 @ 11:45 am
Whew.

It’s good to know Todd Maisch will still jump when he’s told.

I know, he’s looking out for the Chamber, LOL

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 8, 18 @ 11:46 am
So nice of him to bring all those jobs to Illinois after he left a greater amount of state employees out in the cold following his decision to take a scenic trip from New York home during the arbitration bill.

Comment by Stark Thursday, Mar 8, 18 @ 11:47 am
Looks like a lot of jobs for people not in Dunkin’s district according to the ad.

Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Mar 8, 18 @ 11:49 am
Does the WW4C group also endorse Dunkin??? /s

Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Mar 8, 18 @ 11:51 am
The Illinois Chamber would sell their mothers if they thought it would be profitable for their members.

Comment by Joe M Thursday, Mar 8, 18 @ 11:53 am
Is there a footnote on the “25,000 jobs” statement? For as long as Ken Dunkin was in the General Assembly…that actually isn’t very good. Maybe they had to subtract all the social service jobs he helped cut when he missed those votes while watching tennis.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Thursday, Mar 8, 18 @ 12:02 pm
If the Chamber had any credibility left, doubling down in this folly shredded it.

Comment by factchecker Thursday, Mar 8, 18 @ 12:07 pm
Didn’t see that coming, again. I thought Maisch took a lot of heat from members for backing Dunkin last time.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 8, 18 @ 12:17 pm
why doesn’t it say what office he’s running for? wouldn’t that be helpful?

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Thursday, Mar 8, 18 @ 12:19 pm
If the Illinois Chamber believes running up bills, closing social services, crippling higher education, it makes total sense they would support Ken Dunkin.

That, or Todd Maisch just does what he’s told and it doesn’t matter what Ken Dunkin is or his history the last time he was in the General Assembly

I just thought the Illinois Chamber cared more about Illinois than supporting someone whose absences and votes hurt Illinois so very much.

That’s on me, my bad.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 8, 18 @ 12:44 pm
A laughably inept piece of direct mail, for so many reasons.

Comment by Eugene Thursday, Mar 8, 18 @ 12:45 pm
I hope a lot of memberships get pulled from the Chamber over this.

Comment by Because I said so.... Thursday, Mar 8, 18 @ 1:01 pm
Yeah, I’m sure a lot of members will be real mad about the Chamber supporting a pro business Democrat.

Comment by Ron Thursday, Mar 8, 18 @ 1:14 pm
LOL, Dunkin was one of the lowest rated GA members on the chamber’s scorecard.

They took the ILGO money and spent it on Dunkin because Rauner told them to.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 8, 18 @ 1:23 pm
=== … pro business … ===

LOL. The only business that Dunkin is pro is taking care of Dunkin.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Mar 8, 18 @ 1:26 pm
Sure, 80% rating is real low, right?

Comment by Ron Thursday, Mar 8, 18 @ 1:34 pm
Since Trump was elected, it appears politicians think it is ok to lie. I know they have always told tall stories, but somehow it seems worse now.

Comment by Mama Thursday, Mar 8, 18 @ 1:43 pm
–Sure, 80% rating is real low, right?–

Schockingly, Ron, you’re just making up nonsense. You’re just not good at it.

It was 47%.

https://capitolfax.com/2016/03/10/chamber-spends-almost-a-million-dollars-on-dunkin-tv-ad/

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 8, 18 @ 1:44 pm
Wrong, Dunkin was rated 80% for the 2015-16 session.

Comment by Ron Thursday, Mar 8, 18 @ 2:06 pm
Look at the Chamber website. Won’t let me link to it here.

Comment by Ron Thursday, Mar 8, 18 @ 2:07 pm
Dunkin the “pro business” Democrat. hahaha

Whatever helps you sleep at night…

Comment by Centennial Thursday, Mar 8, 18 @ 3:25 pm
The state-level Illinois Chamber of Commerce has absolutely nothing to do with supporting small and mid-size businesses — they are separate from and work counter to local Chambers — and those businesses are where job growth is occurs.

Comment by walker Thursday, Mar 8, 18 @ 3:48 pm
80% rating from Illinois Chamber for Dunkin.

Keep your head buried deep in the sand Centennial.

Comment by Ron Thursday, Mar 8, 18 @ 4:03 pm
I bet you think all is swell in the Land of Lincoln!

Horrible job growth, unbalanced budget for decade upon decade. One of the highest tax burdens in the nation.

Comment by Ron Thursday, Mar 8, 18 @ 4:04 pm
==80% rating from Illinois Chamber for Dunkin. ==

Compared to 50% the prior session and 44% the one before that. And based on a handful of bills, with a rating system that ignores bills on which he didn’t vote. How many of the representatives that got 100% ratings got a dime from the Chamber?

Comment by Whatever Thursday, Mar 8, 18 @ 4:36 pm
Decades of kleptocracy have finally caught up to Illinois. I’m very much in favor of electing business friendly pols. People are leaving this state at the fastest rate of any other than West Virginia. There are far more opportunities for employment elsewhere and people are fleeing. It doesn’t need to be this way.

Comment by Ron Thursday, Mar 8, 18 @ 4:52 pm
Good to see the Chamber support business friendly Democrats. We need more of them.

Comment by Ron Thursday, Mar 8, 18 @ 4:54 pm
Gee, Ron, it’s sad that you’re not able to back up your claims with links.

How’s about this one? In the #metoo revolution, are Maisch and his chamber members comfortable going all in on Dunk?

Seriously, they don’t remember any of this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVn5ABLjsG4

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 8, 18 @ 6:02 pm
Whew love all the negative talk on dunkin, but as a rep he got alot of good accomplished. Yes he was watching tennis with some black children whom happen to be some of his constituents. Amazing how it’s ok for Robinson to accept all kinds of money and Dunkin isn’t?

Comment by Austinman Thursday, Mar 8, 18 @ 9:17 pm
===Yes he was watching tennis…===

LOL

… just as Bruce Rauner brags.

He kept Durkin in New York

===Mr. Rauner vetoed the legislation. In Illinois it takes three-fifths of each legislative chamber to override a veto, and Democrats had the requisite supermajorities. Yet the House sustained Mr. Rauner’s veto. “I got one Democrat,” he says. “Boy, did we work our tails off. We got one Democrat to stay in New York at the U.S. Open during the vote override.”===

Ken Dunkin, Raunerite extraordinaire, lol

Or as was questioned…

===HOW exactly did he get that Dem to stay in New York? That’s a much more interesting question.===

Hilarious.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 8, 18 @ 9:23 pm
Word, for some reason the site won’t allow me to link to the Chamber’s website.

Dunkin had an 80% rating in 2015-16.

Comment by Ron Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 8:18 am
And 50% and 44% in the two prior sessions.
And exactly how many representatives with 100% ratings is the Chamber giving money to?

Comment by Whatever Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 9:02 am