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The money race

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* Remember, Don Harmon has been Senate President for less than a year…

In December 2019, before he assumed the office of Senate President, Senator Harmon took advantage of the self-funding provision in Illinois’ election code by loaning his campaign committee $100,001 to allow it to take in unlimited contributions from donors.

Republican leaders have been using the self-funding loophole since 2016, and Speaker Madigan began using it in 2018 to great effect. Former Senate President Cullerton, however, never opted to use it. \

Since joining the fundraising fray in December, Senator Harmon has taken in $2.4 million from donors who gave more than they would have been allowed to if contribution limits were in place. That’s more than half his total fundraising since December.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 6, 20 @ 11:03 am

Comments

The move by Harmon tells you all you need to know about him.

A bunch of white guys doing whatever they want trying to become the new Madigoons

Comment by Altgelds Ghost Tuesday, Oct 6, 20 @ 11:13 am
What does this tell you? End the loophole that allows contributions of hundreds of thousands of dollars from special interests.

Comment by Law Man Tuesday, Oct 6, 20 @ 11:18 am
=== End the loophole that allows contributions of hundreds of thousands of dollars from special interests. ===

What “loophole” is that and how can you do that in light of 1st Amendment jurisprudence/Citizens United?

Comment by Powdered Whig Tuesday, Oct 6, 20 @ 11:35 am
==special interests==

Unions. You can say unions.

Comment by City Zen Tuesday, Oct 6, 20 @ 11:42 am
“A bunch of white guys doing whatever they want trying to become the new Madigoons”

Well that’s one perspective. It tells me that he’s a legislative leader determined to support his members in their election efforts, which is his job. Would you prefer he be like the Republicans and be unable to compete? Pretty sure that’s not why his members elected him to be their president.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Oct 6, 20 @ 11:46 am
Does that chart only include HRO and not Citizens for Durkin?

Comment by solution Tuesday, Oct 6, 20 @ 11:52 am
Dunkin continues his ineffective fundraising ability.

Comment by Fav Human Tuesday, Oct 6, 20 @ 11:55 am
Fav Human. In fairness to Durkin, it’s a tough sale when your pitch is “Please contribute money to a super minority caucus whose chances are good that we might even lose more seats in this election cycle.”

Comment by don the legend Tuesday, Oct 6, 20 @ 11:58 am
I suspect the “donors”, like in the case of ComEd, will get what they have paid for.

Comment by Back to the Future Tuesday, Oct 6, 20 @ 11:59 am
The Citizens United decision… decided our current fate.

Comment by Dotnonymous Tuesday, Oct 6, 20 @ 12:01 pm
Harmon’s numbers reflect the most important thing you need to know;

The SDems are sitting at 40 seats… if anything their super majority won’t go below 36, and it may grow.

Winners make policy.

You want policy changed, you lobby those who make policy.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 6, 20 @ 12:14 pm
Lightford and Kifowit couldn’t even dream of those numbers. And that, folks, is the difference.

Comment by ;) Tuesday, Oct 6, 20 @ 12:17 pm
=Unions. You can say unions.=

I guess Griffin and Uihlein and the Kochs and corporations don’t make big donations anymore?

You are allowed to say their names too.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Oct 6, 20 @ 12:52 pm