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* UPDATED x1 - Rauner camp responds * Pritzker campaign says property tax refund will be returned to county

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* The JB Pritzker campaign just sent out a statement about Pat Brady’s press conference, but the e-mail also included a background comment saying the candidate is in the process of repaying the $330,000 in property tax refunds he received from Cook County.

Anyway, to the statement…

“This is a politically leaked report without new information. Instead of standing outside of JB Pritzker’s home, Pat Brady should be calling for an investigation into Sterigenics, a company Bruce Rauner owned that is emitting high levels of cancer-causing air pollution that is poisoning Illinois families. It’s time for Rauner to release all relevant Sterigenics records so that we can provide answers to the thousands of families who have been exposed to this poison.”

*** UPDATE *** Rauner campaign…

“A bank robber who gives the money back is still a bank robber. Pritzker’s offer to pay back the money he conned out of Illinois taxpayers is nothing less than an admission of guilt that he committed fraud.” -Will Allison, Rauner Campaign Communications Director

This is the second time the Rauner campaign has compared a statewide Democrat to a bank robber, by the way.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 2:49 pm

Comments

This payback was always inevitable. Strange that the Pritzker crew didn’t see that months ago.

When you’re willing to spend $146 million, why do you allow yourself to get pounded over $330K?

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 2:56 pm
(Sigh)

===“This is a politically leaked report without new information. Instead of standing outside of JB Pritzker’s home, Pat Brady should be calling for an investigation into Sterigenics, a company Bruce Rauner owned that is emitting high levels of cancer-causing air pollution that is poisoning Illinois families. It’s time for Rauner to release all relevant Sterigenics records so that we can provide answers to the thousands of families who have been exposed to this poison.”===

Ya release *this* exact statement… with a copy of the receipt of the check… for $330K+

This looks like sour grapes, and being dragged to pay the monies.

Pay the monies, then go after Rauner.

This is like a tailor-made double play… but you only got the out at second.

The inning continues.

Ugh.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 2:58 pm
Own goal, as the Brits would say.

Comment by Fav Human Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 3:00 pm
It’s beyond right that Pritzker pays back the county. Good for him to get a move-on.

Now for a little whataboutism: When will Rauner and certain others call out the Orange Mushroom for not releasing his tax returns, and for saying he’s smart in avoiding taxes?

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 3:01 pm
Perspective?

Easy.

In the same amount of time from when the report was “released” in the paper till this statement… the Pritzker campaign, in metered time, has spent roughly that $330k in campaign spending.

It’s a head scratcher.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 3:05 pm
This should’ve been done months ago. $330k is a casual shopping day for JB. Baffling why they waited so long.

Comment by Mike Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 3:05 pm
Plenty of new information in that report. Including an e-mail summarizing the scheme.

The confidential report is addressed only to Democrats. I can understand why his campaign would be upset. It is dated September 28 but was immediately leaked.

What bothers me is the timeline. From the start of the scheme to today is roughly two years, the same length of time this state went without a budget.

If he gets elected, is this type of stubbornness a harbinger of things to come?

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 3:06 pm
Meanwhile Rauner continues to defraud 20,000 state employees. Maybe it’s time Rauner pay back the money.

Comment by Kayak Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 3:08 pm
what an honest man he is — caught swiping $330,000 from taxpayers, he pays it back when caught.
he should be unanimously elected governor.

Comment by jim Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 3:13 pm
woohoo. taxpayer victory.

now instead of running attack ads the last six weeks just use that money to privately fund road repairs like in the domino’s commercials

Comment by hisgirlfriday Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 3:14 pm
===“A bank robber who gives the money back is still a bank robber. …”===

Mr. Allison,

I read that today too

Your pal,

OW

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 3:18 pm
JB is thick as a brick. Gets dragged through the mud for months, is made a laughingstock in commercials and ultimately accused of fraud. Finally the genius decides to pay the money, which is chump change to him, back to the county.

This is the man who will lead the state as it faces incredible fiscal challenges. Yeah, that should make everyone feel good.

Another billionaire without a clue. This one didn’t even earn it himself.

Comment by SSL Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 3:25 pm
To the update:

Had Rauner admitted to a few of his mistakes and made things right he might be polling higher than 27%. Just sayin’.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 3:31 pm
==Gets dragged through the mud for months, is made a laughingstock in commercials==

*looks at polls*

Not sure you’re right about who’s been laughing…

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 3:31 pm
==“This is a politically leaked report ==

That’s so true - if it wasn’t for the leaks, no one would have imagine this could happen. A billionaire defrauding the county by having the toilets removed from one of his mansions. I knew nothing about this until it was leaked -

LOL

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 3:35 pm
I’ve heard that the FBI is interviewing some of the toilets now. The FBI needs to know which toilet leaked.

Staggering.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 3:38 pm
“Baffling why they waited so long.”

I think it’s because, no matter how they would have spun it, it looks like an admission of guilt. They either thought it was legit, or thought they could get away with it.

Comment by Perrid Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 3:38 pm
Again…

Pritzker’s Crew can (and has) grossly mismanage this whole situation, beyond comical, now being called “Scheme to Defraud”. It can be poorly played.

Pritzker can still lead by 22, and have Bruce at 27%, because Rauner is terribly unlikable, “failed”, and has no constituency.

Both can be true.

Right now, both appear to be true.

I can admire, respect, be impressed with a campaign that has throughly made clear and branded Rauner an abysmal failure…

… I can show “disappointment” and critique that same campaign pointedly, honestly, and directly to the handling of all oppo research on themselves.

Campaigns aren’t simple.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 3:39 pm
Finally. Why did it take JB’s crew this long to figure it out?

Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 3:39 pm
On the other hand, this blows a hole in Rauner’s Berrios - Madigan - Pritzker narrative. According to the IG report, Berrios didn’t know Pritzker owned the house. And Madigan’s firm didn’t handle the appeal.

Comment by A Jack Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 3:44 pm
==Pritzker’s Crew can (and has) grossly mismanage this whole situation, beyond comical, now being called “Scheme to Defraud”. It can be poorly played.==

You don’t think they were really trying to cover up this tax fraud scheme, do you? Hell yeah, they were. This wasn’t mismanagement. It was deliberate. This isn’t about politics, it’s about covering up a scheme.

It wasn’t misplayed anymore than telling us that the getaway car at a bank robbery of $330,000 was driven briskly.

To Pugsley, whom we all know could buy any of us, this is not much of a theft - but to real people, we’d be jailed for less.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 3:47 pm
When will Rauner repay the millions that taxpayers paid because of Rauner’s impasse? Pritzker’s 300k, that he did pay back, is small potatoes compared to what Rauner cost Illinois.

Comment by A Jack Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 3:47 pm
===You don’t think they were really trying to cover up this tax fraud scheme, do you? Hell yeah, they were. This wasn’t mismanagement. It was deliberate. This isn’t about politics, it’s about covering up a scheme.===

From a campaign dynamic, from a campaign knowing their own oppo, from a campaign handling their own business to that oppo, from a perspective of $330K+ is 37 hours of campaign spending…

That’s where I was speaking… from.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 3:50 pm
Meh.

Pritzker still gets my vote. There’s no way — ever, in any way — I’d ever, ever, ever vote for Rauner.

Fool me once. Go to Italy, Bruce. Leave us alone.

Comment by Bobby T Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 4:15 pm
I think Pritzker was in the right on the tax appeal. But it’s like a Chicago parking ticket, sometimes its just easier to pay the parking ticket than battle it out in court.

Comment by A Jack Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 4:21 pm
More like a stolen car.

Return it? Does that mean you erase the crime or the intent? Or the car was just a little bit “too hot?”

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 4:24 pm
A Jack - “On the other hand, this blows a hole in Rauner’s Berrios - Madigan - Pritzker narrative.”

I thought the same. Were Madigan and Berrios and the “machine” all powerful, this report wouldnt have been done In the first place.

It still seems suspicious to me- the house was uninhabitable and the assesment reduced. Still, JB is making amends and thats much better than we’ve seen from the incumbent.

Definitely wont take any bank robber comparisons from a guy whose boss claimed Chicago residency to get his kid into CPS - Payton Prep, thereby saving himself a bunch of money in tuition.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 4:30 pm
But how does this compare to Rauner spending millions in unappropriated funds, but not paying it back?

Comment by A Jack Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 4:36 pm
I guess the fat lady finally sang her song. Someone needs to ask the obvious- if JB followed the rules and did everything by the book- why pay back the money?

Comment by Sue Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 4:40 pm
The guy is running ads that his budget/tax plan is premised off his belief that he should pay more taxes. I think we can accurately establish that is a lie. More astounding is as OW points out, he is burning this much in 37 hours of campaigning, so he would rather burn the money on a 25 point lead, than pay taxes.

So we he is just a liar and has no plan.

Is it too late for a write in campaign?

Comment by the Patriot Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 4:41 pm
Is Rauner gonna return the State Income tax savings from requesting the Legislature to Sunset the 5% tax before he filed his $188 million tax return in 2015?

Goose/Gander!!!

Comment by WhoKnew Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 4:52 pm
“This” is the Chicago way. Rules don’t apply to the rich and connected. That’s the ballgame. Unfortunately, the best team in America isn’t running the Rauner campaign.

Comment by JAH Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 5:01 pm
As Zorn has pointed out, this was a gut rehab, not just a toilet.removal. Why don’t other members of the press correct this?

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 5:13 pm
Anonymous- your guy just capitulated-why support something that was so obviously wrong?

Comment by Sue Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 5:20 pm
–What bothers me is the timeline. From the start of the scheme to today is roughly two years, the same length of time this state went without a budget.

If he gets elected, is this type of stubbornness a harbinger of things to come?–

You mean, will he be like Rauner? Odd knock, coming from you.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 5:36 pm
Sue, please don’t be obtuse. This is PR, he has to try to do something positive with the story. Heck, you’re the reason he didn’t pay the money back when the allegations were first made - because if you are determined to find fault, then him trying to make the problem go away would look like an admission of guilt.

Moving on, can the county accept the check? Has the Assessor’s office actually said JB should not have gotten the deduction or whatever you call it?

Comment by Perrid Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 6:15 pm
Wonder if “ breaking news” for same thing with trump will dilute the harm ?

Comment by Jaxon Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 6:20 pm
Looks like AA will be writing in OW for the second election in a row.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 6:35 pm
So he removes the toilets from a home he owns but is vacant. He removes the toilets so as to make the home technically inhabitable. A tax appeal is made to the County and a county inspector reviewed it and the appeal is subsequently approved. While this sounds very loopholish is it actually illegal? Someone please answer.

Comment by Groucho Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 5:09 pm