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* Tina Sfondeles…
What do Gov. Bruce Rauner, Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan and Cicero Town President Larry Dominick all have in common?
They all have been tentatively scheduled for depositions in a federal lawsuit that accuses Mike Madigan of winning elections by recruiting “sham” candidates.
Jason Gonzales claims in the suit that Madigan put up two “sham” candidates with Hispanic names to try to split the Hispanic vote in the March 2016 Democratic primary. Madigan beat Gonzales 65.2 percent to 27.1 percent. The other two primary candidates received a combined 7.8 percent. […]
Madigan’s deposition was scheduled for July 18, but Madigan spokesman Steve Brown on Thursday said the deposition was canceled by Gonzales’ attorney. Brown said it hasn’t yet been re-scheduled.
During a July 5 status hearing, [US District Judge Matthew Kennelly] told lawyers, “I don’t care whether it ends up being 10 depositions or 10,000. The first named defendant in the case [Madigan] is getting his deposition taken.”
Lots more in that story, so go read the whole thing.
* Meanwhile…
The governor, speaking with The State Journal-Register after an event honoring veterans, said the November election “is for all the marbles,” saying his opponent, Pritzker, is “totally aligned under Madigan,” while he and statewide Republican candidates stand for lower taxes, jobs and term limits. […]
When asked to be more specific about the alleged corruption Madigan and Pritzker have partaken in, Rauner pointed to Pritzker’s potential offshore holdings and the much-lampooned $230,000 property tax break he received after the removal of toilets from a mansion he owns in Chicago.
“What sort of a person — who inherited billions of dollars and wants to raise the income tax on working families in Illinois — would say, ‘Let’s raise the income tax, but I’m going to keep hiding my billions of inheritance in the Bahamas so I don’t pay my income taxes?’” Rauner said. “What kind of person does that? That’s despicable.”
Rauner continued, “What kind of person inherits billions, buys a mansion in the city of Chicago that’s worth millions of dollars, disconnects the water lines to the toilet so he can claim it as uninhabitable to cut his property tax bill by $230,000? That’s despicable. That’s tax fraud. That puts more tax burden on the working families in Chicago and takes money away from the Chicago schools.”
Not to defend the weird toilet decision, but the house was obviously uninhabited. Pritzker made it legally uninhabitable for tax purposes. I don’t see the “fraud” there. If he was living in the house while paying taxes as if he wasn’t, that, to me, would be fraud. As it stands, it’s just a rich man’s ploy to lower his taxes. Also, lowering one person’s property taxes takes no money away from schools because others have to pick up the slack.
*** UPDATE *** I’m told that Blair Hull, a longtime Democratic Madigan foe and a Rauner contributor, is also being deposed. And…
Asked about being deposed, Rauner says he doesn’t know Jason Gonzales, the plaintiff. Says Madigan “has a pattern of putting up sham candidates in many elections.” https://t.co/TiSDNMEWMq via @suntimes”
— Tina Sfondeles (@TinaSfon) August 13, 2018
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 9:51 am
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===“…That puts more tax burden on the working families in Chicago and takes money away from the Chicago schools.”===
Bruce Rauner clouted his denied Winnetka-living daughter into Payton Prep.
In tax returns and homeowner exemptions, Bruce Rauner has the residence as the Winnetka home, not the Chicago residence as the main residence.
Rauner first denied a worthy child a seat, seats that are finite, so taking a seat denies a seat for another, and according to property tax exemptions and tax returns, there was no Chicago address listed as the primary residence.
Wonder what address was on the drivers license then too.
Rauner did give over $200K to Payton Prep from an unknown reason, and happened after the clouting of his denied Winnetka-living daughter… so I guess I’m confused why Rauner wants to talk about Chicago schools… but ok.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:00 am
JP has said he wants to raise taxes on everyone right away, till a progressive income tax is passed. Then do you think he would cut tax rates on the middle class, if a progressive income tax is ever passed and becomes part of the Illinois constitution?
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:02 am
So Pritzker scheming the property tax system did not take money away from schools, but it did cause others to pay more to pick up the slack.
Fake Pritzker on property taxes - “I pay less so you can pay more”
Comment by Yup! Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:08 am
===Then do you think he would cut tax rates on the middle class, if a progressive income tax is ever passed and becomes part of the Illinois constitution?===
What does this even mean?
Rauner already raised your taxes 32% with his signed budget.
To the Post,
I imagine Mike Kasper sitting like Tom Hagen with Madigan, responding like Michael Corleone, and both knowing there are a lotta buffers…
Madigan and Kasper aren’t like others who say flippant things. Measured truthful responses rarely lead down roads where discrepancies may occur.
Would be fun to watch or read later…
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:08 am
“lowering one person’s property taxes takes no money away from schools because others have to pick up the slack.”
I’m just not sure if this is Rauner not understanding how property taxes work here, or if he is playing to the popular misconception of how taxes work here.
I’m also not sure which I think reflects more poorly on him—I think I’d prefer the former, as dumb but fundamentally truthful should typically lead to better government.
Comment by Chris Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:10 am
No one is better at defending the indefensible than you OW and somehow boomeranging every JB issue back to Governor Rauner.
the clouting of his denied Winnetka-living daughter… so I guess I’m confused why Rauner wants to talk about Chicago schools
Care to offer any proof Rauner’s daughter lived in Winnetka instead of their Chicago residence? Why would she do that when they own a home a couple of miles from Payton?
That would be quite a scoop you are drawing out of thin air.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:11 am
I recall Rauner claimed a homestead exemption on multiple properties at the same time. “That’s despicable. That’s tax fraud.”
Comment by DuPage Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:13 am
===boomeranging every JB issue back to Governor Rauner===
lol
That’s rich coming from you, my dude.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:13 am
===Care to offer any proof Rauner’s daughter lived in Winnetka instead of their Chicago residence?===
Where did she finish 8th grade, and where was she living when applying to Payton Prep and later denied before the clouting?
===No one is better at defending the indefensible than you… and somehow boomeranging every JB issue back to Governor Rauner.===
I’m just confused how the hypocrisy works.
You clout your denied Winnetka living daughter into Payton Prep, and Rauner is concerned about Pritzker gaming the system ”because CPS schools”?
The toilets are a separate thing.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:17 am
I know an individual who buys Historic property for restoration work. Removing toilets to reduce property taxes for a multi-year project is routine.
If Rauner cared about the property tax burden, he would have proposed higher taxes on the out of state Hotel and Gaming companies to provide $100 per household more money to each school district in the State. We need more recurring revenue in the Common School fund.
Comment by Al Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:28 am
Am I misremembering, or did Rauner claim more than one homestead exemption for his Cook County properties? Because if he’s accusing Pritzker of fraud, there is a guy in the mirror who is as guilty.
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:30 am
IPI’s Austin Berg also being deposed:
https://twitter.com/a_r_berg/status/1028782718769917954?s=21
Comment by Phil King Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:32 am
==That puts more tax burden on the working families in Chicago and takes money away from the Chicago schools.==
I don’t like to give Goose Egg Rauner much credit but this line is pretty genius. It’s genius because if the JB campaign corrects him, the correction is much worse.
Rauner: You didn’t pay your taxes so now we have less taxes.
JB: Actually Goosey Brucey, property taxes lowered somewhere means property taxes are paid elsewhere (snark).
Rauner: Oh, so you didn’t pay your taxes so someone ELSE had to pay them.
It’s a lose/lose for JB. I think the issue is small potatoes, but JB just needs to address it head on and move on from it.
The current line that Rauner is saying this stuff to distract from his poor record is a great pivot IMO.
Comment by MG85 Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:33 am
Will Rauner’s strategy of calling Pritzker and Madigan corrupt and trying to link the two as partners win him the election? I found this on the FiveThirty Eight site last night and it’s from July 27. Rauner is in bad shape with 3 months to go.
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/introducing-the-popularity-above-replacement-governor-rankings/
Comment by The Dude Abides Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:38 am
There’s a lot of great stuff in the CST article about the Gonzales/Madigan suit.
IPI folks being deposed. Rauner being deposed. MJM being deposed.
That’s going to be fun!
Comment by SaulGoodman Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:40 am
OW,
All due respect but we get it that you tie all of Illinois mess back to Rauner. Governor’s own. Understood. Do you not see Madigan being deposed in a federal lawsuit as a problem for the man? Keep bashing Rauner and all Raunerites but you kinda lost all objectivity in Flat Bed’s humble opinion by pivoting everything back to Brucie.
Comment by Flat Bed Ford Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:45 am
It’s not just the clouting of the child into Payton Prep and getting public employee pension business in Pennsylvania, it’s the payoffs (oops, I meant donations) that happened: the $250,000 to Payton and the $300,000 to Gov. Rendell’s campaign (a Democrat).
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:46 am
===All due respect===
Doubtful, but…
===but we get it that you tie all of Illinois mess back to Rauner.===
Aw, you must be new to Illinois or you didn’t pay attention.
“Pat Quinn failed”
Rauner had a whole campaign about “Pat Quinn failed”
I get it, you don’t understand, or you’re willfully ignorant, maybe blissfully unaware, but I doubt that.
You ignore the clouting abd how that hurts real Chicago children.
Why?
===Do you not see Madigan being deposed in a federal lawsuit as a problem for the man?===
Reading is fundamental…
In that Post…
===To the Post,
I imagine Mike Kasper sitting like Tom Hagen with Madigan, responding like Michael Corleone, and both knowing there are a lotta buffers…
Madigan and Kasper aren’t like others who say flippant things. Measured truthful responses rarely lead down roads where discrepancies may occur.===
I get it, you either can’t read, or your programming just refuses to see words say things.
You think that comment is purely complimentary?
===Keep bashing Rauner and all Raunerites but you kinda lost all objectivity in Flat Bed’s humble opinion by pivoting everything back to Brucie.===
Ask the Pritzker Crew if I’m easy on them.
Get back to me.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:53 am
Madigan gave us the first tax increase, under governor Quinn. He made sure every democrat voted for it, and passed it late at night, with no Republican votes for it. Madigan rules his party and you will not be in office long, if you go against him. Wait and see how he controls JB when it comes to tax increases on the working class.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:00 am
I just cannot imagine any intelligent judge would want to get into the business of deciding which candidate (legally filed and approved, with citizens’ legitimate signatures on petitions), is a “sham” based on who helped with their campaign.
Is any judge going to try to decide which Newspapers, or News Services are “shams” based on who funds them?
Or which “non-partisan Institutes” are “shams,” based on their partisan cherry-picking or fabrication of “facts?”
These are messy and unfortunate realities of our political world; versions of them have probably been around since democracy was invented.
Comment by walker Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:01 am
===Madigan gave us the first tax increase===
Rauner signed a budget that certified and verified the need for a 32% tax increase.
Why aren’t you upset Rauner has a 32% tax increase in his lone signed budget.
Curious.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:02 am
If you don’t see the “fraud” in purposefully ripping out functioning toilets in a fully inhabitable multi-million dollar home simply to then claim its “uninhabitable” probably indicates we’ve all been in this game too long. Of course its fraud. Its a game and poor people pick up the tab.
Comment by 19th Ward guy Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:02 am
===If you don’t see the “fraud” in…===
… a Chicago child being denied a chance so a Winnetka-living family can clout their daughter into Payton Prep…
Can’t see too many 19th Ward residents “excited” their 2nd, 3rd choices of city high schools are their schools, as Rauner gets to leap frog with clout actual city residents.
That’s fun.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:06 am
Madigan and JB could admit to being serial killers tomorrow and rest assured, OW would be here reminding us all that Rauner once tripped a kid in Jr. high.
Comment by Robert the 1st Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:10 am
Kennelly seems to be running a loosey-goosey show. It might be simpler to list the political types who aren’t on the deposition list.
I agree with Walker, too. I’m not sure how a federal judge decides who’s “real” among candidates who’ve met the state requirements for getting on the ballot.
All those depositions could make for some hilarity, though. I’d love to see Rauner forced to sit still for 90 minutes trying to keep his lies straight under questioning from a sharp lawyer.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:11 am
I agree with -walker-.
Going to be very messy to try to decide where hardball politics and lack of due diligence by the other party stops … and where actual fraud starts.
No judge I know would want to wade into restricting ballot access. The case may turn up a lot of morally and ethically questionable practices, but I don’t see it reaching the level of being unlawful.
After all, those candidates are just exercising their free speech rights … just like Janus /s
Comment by RNUG Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:16 am
Worst judge in the building, imo.
Comment by Rutro Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:20 am
OW,
Take a breath maybe? Go outside. Listen to the birds sing. All this hate for those that offer a differing viewpoint or dare speak against your viewpoint can’t be good for your ticker.
My point remains that Madigan be deposed in a federal lawsuit surely isn’t good news for him or his crew. Compounding the issue is it is weeks before an election.
Comment by Flat Bed Ford Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:23 am
Willy. Not sure what your Rauner rant has to do with JB, but I guess it makes you feel better. Payton Prep been litigated. Ripping out toilets so poor people in Ford Heights, Robbins, Dixmoor pay more hasn’t.
Comment by 19th Ward guy Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:25 am
===Not sure what your Rauner rant has to do with JB,===
How can Rauner be so worried about what is happening to CPS when Rauner thinks nothing of clouting a denied daughter abd denying a chance over a worthy Chicago student?
It’s bizarre.
===Payton Prep been litigated.===
No.
The inspector general found clouting, Rauner still insinuates it was Principal choice, which didn’t exist.
I know, you want it to go away, but, Rauner discussing hurting CPS, Rauner is an enabler with his own clouting.
===All this hate for those that offer a differing viewpoint or dare speak against your viewpoint can’t be good for your ticker.===
Alternative facts… interpretations…
It’s tiring. It’s tiring along with blatent hypocrisy of a Raunerites, Rauner, abd his Crew.
No more.
===My point remains that Madigan be deposed in a federal lawsuit surely isn’t good news for him or his crew.===
Again, if you can’t read what I wrote, you may need more than a heart checkup… LOL
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:32 am
This does seem to be pretty broad discovery, but I don’t care who the judge is, if you are a named defendant in a federal lawsuit and you haven’t been dismissed by the time discovery starts, you’re getting deposed. The up to a full day federal variety. That said, the judge might be wise to pre-emptively assign a referee to sit in to keep things cool and on topic.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:43 am
==Rauner first denied a worthy child a seat, seats that are finite, so taking a seat denies a seat for another…==
Walter Payton Prep enrollment:
2006 = 837
2007 = 890
2008 = 875
2009 = 908
2010 = 892
That’s a lot of variation for a finite number of seats. And the enrollment changes a bit from class to class as well.
I don’t agree with what he did, but I don’t see evidence of anyone denied a seat in CPS’s selective enrollment schools because of this.
Comment by City Zen Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:55 am
===2006 = 837
2007 = 890
2008 = 875
2009 = 908
2010 = 892===
Still finite.
Unless the enrollment is “infinity plus one”… someone got denied.
Capiche?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 12:00 pm
CZ, unless you have specific knowledge of why enrollment fluctuates, your comment is pretty silly. In my understanding, the school is over selected every year and applicants are turned away. Therefore, clouting someone in takes a seat away. QED.
Comment by Jibba Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 12:02 pm
I was once at a party where Blair Hull was walking Jason around and introducing him to potential donors. I was like, “Um, Jason, I don’t know if you’re aware, but Blair gives a lot of money to Rauner. Having him backing your campaign for a Dem nomination could make you look like a plant. Word to the wise, eh Jason?”
Comment by Soccermom Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 12:03 pm
==Madigan and JB could admit to being serial killers tomorrow and rest assured, OW would be here reminding us all that Rauner once tripped a kid in Jr. high.==
Another victim heard from.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 12:19 pm
OW simply points out the ridiculous musings of a person who offers no other service than spewing propaganda.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 12:21 pm
===Madigan and JB could admit to being serial killers tomorrow and rest assured…===
… your ignorant hyperbole is up there with Trump and 5th Avenue and not losing any support.
If you think I’m the problem, you’re probably losing the argument.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 12:23 pm
OW, you’re doing double duty today fighting the bots and paid political hacks. Good on you.
Comment by Jibba Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 12:24 pm
- Jibba -
Appreciate that. The reality is the hypocrisy is so ridiculous, people much more talented than I take aim sharper and slice much cleaner than me. I’m trying to keep up with them.
Thanks.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 12:27 pm
This topic is off the rails.
If assessor rules or precedent is that a home without working toilets is classified as uninhabitable, then JB did nothing wrong. Especially if it is being rehabbed.
I’m hoping JB is keeping Payton Prep hits for later. That was a way more egregious scam complete with suspect phone calls than the toilet thing.
Comment by Original Rambler Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 12:54 pm
A guy who tried to use the deaths of veterans on his watch to political advantage (evidenced by FOIA’d emails) ripping anyone else for any reason is the absolute capital of hypocrisy.
Any bots supporting Rauner are equally compromised.
Keep on keeping on OW.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 1:07 pm
It would be a crime if a “Winnetka living daughter” was caught attending Walter Payton.
Any evidence you have that she actually lived in Winnetka instead of a family resident several miles away?
Only in your mind is Speaker Madigan being disposed pivot back to Bruce Rauner’s daughter. Normal people, not so much
Of course not, but never let the truth get in the way of a good story
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 1:09 pm
Robert the First - I feel for you. I hope you never hear about what happened at the Quincy Veterans Home — you’ll be devastated at the things Rauner did. (And please– nobody tell this guy about the two years that Rauner held the budget hostage.)
Comment by Soccermom Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 1:11 pm
I offer a viewpoint that this ain’t good for MJM and push back on OW’s endless Rauner-bashing and the Madigan defenders are all Because…BOTS!
Comment by Flat Bed Ford Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 1:20 pm
===I offer a viewpoint that this ain’t good for MJM…===
(Sigh)
===To the Post,
I imagine Mike Kasper sitting like Tom Hagen with Madigan, responding like Michael Corleone, and both knowing there are a lotta buffers…
Madigan and Kasper aren’t like others who say flippant things. Measured truthful responses rarely lead down roads where discrepancies may occur.===
I get it, you either can’t read, or your programming just refuses to see words say things.
You think that comment is purely complimentary?===
You are utterly ignorant to words and meanings… or a Raunerite bot?
(You lack, this is me trolling, k… it’s mocking…)
I get it, you can’t see Rauner hypocrisy.
No one is on your lawn. Say what you’d like.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 1:32 pm
Really think we should leave family members - -particularly children out of the political debate.
I get the issue of the school admission, but am uncomfortable bringing a young woman into this debate.
Toilet baloney is fair game and I still laugh at that commercial.
Pritzker should have addressed the toilet deal 8 months ago. Now the more he brings it up the more it reminds people of what he did. Why not just pay the taxes? If he doesn’t get rid of the issue it will keep coming back.
Comment by Back to the Future Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 1:33 pm
===If he doesn’t get rid of the issue it will keep coming back===
He did what he did and it won’t ever go away no matter what he does (and I think he did do something).
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 1:36 pm
===Any evidence you have that she actually lived in Winnetka instead of a family resident several miles away?===
Since it wasn’t the daughter who clouted herself in, she’s not a victim, the child clouted over her by Bruce and Diana is actually the victim.
If they all live in Chicago, why the homeowner’s tax exemption in Winnetka, which is suppose to be the main residence? Why are tax returns listing the Winnetka residence as the “residence”?
Were drivers’ licenses reflective of the Chicago residence?
Lots of questions.
===Only in your mind is Speaker Madigan being disposed pivot back to Bruce Rauner’s daughter.===
LOL, no… keep up…
===Rauner continued, “What kind of person inherits billions, buys a mansion in the city of Chicago that’s worth millions of dollars, disconnects the water lines to the toilet so he can claim it as uninhabitable to cut his property tax bill by $230,000?===
That’s in the Post too.
Can you read?
Ok, Rauner is concerned for CPS… so much so Rauner clouted his denied Winnetka-living daughter into CPS, actually hurting a worthy child.
===Of course not, but never let the truth get in the way of a good story===
What’s not true?
The inspector general on “Chicago Toinght” has a whole segment on Rauner’s gaming CPS.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 1:39 pm
On reflection, you are probably right on this one.
Comment by Back to the Future Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 1:42 pm
Should have said “Rich, you are probably right on this one.”
Staying away from the daughter issue, but I do understand it.
Comment by Back to the Future Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 1:45 pm
==but never let the truth get in the way of a good story==
You are an absolute riot with your comments. You continually level criticisms about people attempting to turn everything around to the Governor and then out of the opposite side of your mouth turn everything around to Madigan.
You are so ridiculous that you can’t possible be a real human being.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 1:52 pm
Soccermom,
I also warned Jason that his rhetoric made him sound like a Rauner plant and that he would need to clean it up if he wanted to be taken seriously by anyone outside of the GOP. We can all see how he responded to either of us.
Comment by Anon0091 Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 3:01 pm
I don’t understand how making a mansion uninhabitable for tax-dodging has anything to do with Rauner only JB cheating the tax system. Plenty of Inverstors of rental property were left with empty houses (me, one of them) when 2008 hit. I didn’t go out and rip out toilets to take it off the tax rolls. What he did may not be criminal, but its disgusting and unethical and pathetic coming from a silver-spoon blowhard who is running on increasing taxes that he avoided. …and I don’t know how anyone can defend that regardless how one feels about a Governor that has done nothing in 3 years. (BTW, he didn’t raise the income tax, he vetoed it; yes, it’s in the budget now, but he didn’t pass it)
Comment by Taxedoutwest Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 4:04 pm
===but he didn’t pass it===
Nope. But he’s spending every single dime of it and then some.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 4:05 pm
===it’s in the budget now, but he didn’t pass it===
Rauner signed it into law.
Signatures are owned by governors, especially signatures that certify and vindicate a 32% tax increase Rauner now uses.
So… there’s that.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 4:08 pm
== I offer a viewpoint that this ain’t good for MJM ==
No, it’s not good for MJM but it probably isn’t any worse that Rauner’s assorted MJM attacks / rants. We will see if it is still the case this time, but MJM has always been careful to stay on the legal side of a definitely fuzzy gray lineed.
What I see coming out of it is a bunch of Sept / Oct hit ads speculating on what MJM testified to. It won’t be pretty, but it shouldn’t affect his base in his district … and that is all that matters.
The absolute worst would be some judge retroactively deciding the line had moved and MJM crossed it … and even then I don’t see it as a knockout blow.
Comment by RNUG Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 4:24 pm
Why does Madigan not stand up for himself when Rauner falsely attacks him on TV, newspapers, etc.? Money?
Comment by Mama Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 4:55 pm
==(BTW, he didn’t raise the income tax, he vetoed it; yes, it’s in the budget now, but he didn’t pass it) ==
He passed it indirectly by not vetoing it.
Comment by Mama Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 5:01 pm
‘it’ means budget Sorry
Comment by Mama Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 5:02 pm
–(BTW, he didn’t raise the income tax, he vetoed it; yes, it’s in the budget now, but he didn’t pass it)–
He’s spending the money. And he told legislators to stay in town to vote on the override of his veto.
If he wanted to kill the tax increase, he could have sat on it for three months and worked to pick off legislators to support a veto. His actions were very clear.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 5:30 pm
The inspector general found clouting, Rauner still insinuates it was Principal choice, which didn’t exist.
“CPS SEHS 2018-2019 Principal’s Discretion
March 30, 2018 chischoolgps
This is cut & pasted from CPS’s website:
PRINCIPAL DISCRETION PROCESS: 2018-2019 SCHOOL YEAR
Principal Discretion is a process that allows Selective Enrollment High School principals to fill a designated number of ninth grade seats, outside of the regular selection process, based on information provided through application packages submitted by students.”
https://chischoolgps.com/cps-sehs-2018-2019-principals-discretion/
LOL, it still exists to this day.
Shocking there is gambling in Casablanca!
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 6:40 pm
Oh “Lucky Pierre”
You must be a new one. First you again change how you grab other people’s comments, something other “LP” commenters have done.
Now,
===A top aide to Arne Duncan — who was then the Chicago Schools CEO and is now the U.S. secretary of education — even kept a log of calls he fielded about would-be admissions from politicians and others, including current gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner.
After that call from Rauner in 2008, the aide called the principal of Payton College Prep, who then admitted Rauner’s daughter — even though her scores didn’t meet Payton admission standards that year, and even though the “principal pick” process had not started, Sullivan said.===
Also this, “New LP”
===At the time there [was] a consent decree in place mandating racial preferences at the schools. Only up to 35 percent white students, 65 percent non-white students could be taken.
The bar was very high for white students. She tested very well, just not quite high enough to meet Payton’s standards.
Our investigation revealed that there was a phone call made to the CEO’s office by Mr. Rauner, and after that somebody in the CEO’s office called Walter Payton and his daughter was admitted to the school.===
Capitol Fax had a whole post, including a link to “Chicago Tonight”.
https://bit.ly/2BbPbp1
What else ya got?
#Pathetic #BeBetter
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 7:03 pm
So…
===it still exists to this day.===
“Lucky Pierre”
… it didn’t exist then, and Rauner used the Democrat Arne Duncan to clout as well
Please, you’re new, so keep up.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 7:06 pm
== Why does Madigan not stand up for himself when Rauner falsely attacks him on TV, newspapers, etc.? ==
Multiple reasons, probably.
1) Rule of politics: on accusations, if you are explaining, you are losing.
2) Responding gives the accusations some level of credibility.
3) It’s harder to pick a fight with someone who won’t fight back
4) Bring ignored probably aggrivates the heck out of Rauner. It does most trolls on social media; the they are looking for attention, and if they don’t get it, they tend to escalate to less rational behaviour.
5) MJM can claim the moral high ground (yeah, I know that is a shaky position in all politics)
6) He can’t stop / change Rauner’s actions by just answering back … and MJM doesn’t waste his time on losing efforts. MJM will spend his time on removing an obstacle instead.
7) As long as his district is secure, it doesn’t matter.
Pick one or more of the above.
Comment by RNUG Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 8:39 pm
=====Rauner pointed to Pritzker’s potential offshore holdings===
So Rauner had absolutely no offshore holdings?
Comment by Seymourkid Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 9:46 pm
==Plenty of investors of rental property were left with empty houses (me, one of them) when 2008 hit. I didn’t go out and rip out toilets to take it off the tax rolls.==
Pritzker’s hobby mansion was given a discount, it wasn’t off the tax rolls. The discount was given for it being vacant and being renovated.
Because your property was vacant, you could have challenged the assessment within 8 days of your township’s file closing day, a decade ago. Why didn’t you?
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 6:39 am
==I don’t understand how making a mansion uninhabitable for tax-dodging has anything to do with Rauner only JB cheating the tax system.==
Neither the Sun Times nor the Tribune, when they broke this story last year, stated the mansion was in good shape when Pritzker bought it, then trashed by Pritzker. So where did your belief come from? The Sun Times article says Pritzker paid 3.7. million for a home that had a market rate of 6.25 million. Why would a person sell a home for 2.5 million less, unless the home already had issues? And if property tax avoidance was a primary goal there were better avenues to take. He could have donated the use of the mansion to one of his nonprofits and paid zero property taxes.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 8:32 am