February 25, 2021
Fellow Committee Members:
In my conversations with you all, I’ve emphasized transparency, inclusivity, and accountability. These are our shared values, and that is why one of the first things I would do is call for a full audit of the Democratic Party of Illinois’ finances. Our bylaws state the Chair may call for “an annual audit of the funds of the Central Committee by a Certified Public Accountant and make available a full financial statement including income and expenditures to the members of the Central Committee.” Rules of the Democratic State Central Committee, Art. VI.22 (“Annual Financial Statement”). I will make sure we do that - and more.
In that regard, it has just come to my attention our Democratic Party of Illinois’ (DPI) transferred $2,000,000 on February 19, 2021 from our federal and non-federal ($1,000,000 from each) accounts to the Democratic Majority. On February 22, 2021, Democratic Majority transferred $2,000,000 back to DPI.
On first review, it would appear that $1,000,000 from DPI’s federal account — “hard” money that is raised under stricter, smaller contribution amounts — has now been converted to “soft” non-federal dollars after the transfer back from Dem Majority.
If this is the case, it presents serious questions as to why DPI would have converted funds that are more difficult to raise into state-level funds. Whatever the answer may be, I pledge to you if I am fortunate enough to be elected Chair, I will keep State Central Committee Members informed of the party’s financial decisions — especially ones of this magnitude.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to me on this issue or others. I want the Democratic Party of Illinois to be inclusive, transparent, and a place where we share ideas and information.
Sincerely,
Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-2)
& State Central Committeewoman
This was really odd. Even aside from potentially converting hard money to soft, which is an issue on its own, this was still really odd.
Comment by The Captain Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 2:24 pm
So will Harris and Castro take the same pledge for transparency ….and also pledge to conduct fair and open search for DPI Exec Director/staff and not fill the party with Pritzkers picks. Pledge that Fulks won’t be DPI exec director unless he emerges the lead candidate from a comprehensive open search?
Comment by Pritzker’s proxy Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 2:44 pm
Ha. I bet Harris’ Exec Director search will be as open and transparent as DPI’s last ED search.
Comment by The 647 Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 2:47 pm
Hoping someone with a higher understanding than mine can explain why that would be happening at all, and particularly at this time
Comment by Lincoln Lad Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 2:48 pm
“I’m shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on here at Rick’s”.
Comment by Responsa Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 2:50 pm
The DPI Federal account also transferred $1 million to the DPI state account back in October 2020. Isn’t that the same thing?
Comment by City Zen Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 2:57 pm
===conduct fair and open search for DPI Exec Director===
The merits of this pledge are obvious, but actually making good on it may not be a reasonable expectation. Having an open application process and a national search is something that can be achieved, but I think it would be unrealistic to expect a completely meritocratic hiring decision.
I also think it is a heavy lift to pledge to fire Fulks while also trying to earn support to win, and the caveat of “emerges as lead candidate” makes the pledge easy to back out of.
Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 3:05 pm
Shouldn’t be too difficult… explaining it.
The difficulty might be in… “explaining” it.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 3:12 pm
** pledge to fire Fulks **
Fulks doesn’t work for DPI now, so no one would be making that pledge.
The rumor though is that Fulks would get the ED job if Harris wins.
Comment by SaulGoodman Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 3:16 pm
There’s a perfectly logical explanantion for the transactions, but it’s a secret. No, wait, that’s not what I meant to say…. DPI playing games with money? How shocking. I thought they were as pure as freshly fallen snow. And how weird that DPI would play the games when they hold such a lock on the State right now. Why cause yourself any trouble?
Comment by thisjustinagain Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 3:21 pm
I think that’s called money laundering.
Comment by Bruce( no not him) Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 3:24 pm
May state DPI funds be used for legal fees and federal DPI founds not be able to pay legal fees?
Comment by DuPage Saint Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 3:49 pm
Transparency that the transactions occurred is obviously there. Rationale or explanations clearly not.
Message seems to be directed to the public. Not sure it gets any more Committeeperson votes.
BTW Durbin has been pushing for a better DPI, with critiques from the side, for a while now. I take his recommendation seriously.
Comment by walker Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 3:50 pm
@Bruce: There are plenty of legitimate reasons to move money between state and federal pacs of the same party. To Kelly’s point, if it was money laundering, it was a pretty dumb launder to trade hard cash for soft at even money.
Comment by Socially DIstant Watcher Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 3:51 pm
Kelly’s strategy is to 1) announce support from legislators who can’t vote for her and 2) expose something that isn’t a legal problem which results in bringing on problems for all democrats. Why????
Comment by Predecessorage Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 4:18 pm
And yet, when she was asked about Rep. Kodatt’s resignation yesterday by Steve Graznich on WGN radio, she said she had only seen a headline about it and didn’t know much else. It points out the problem of having a DPI chairman who spends a good part of the week in DC.
Comment by SouthSde Markie Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 4:20 pm
Good question Predecessorage. Subterfuge aimed to confuse the issue.
Comment by Grasping for straws Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 7:38 pm
“I want the Democratic Party of Illinois to be inclusive, transparent, and a place where we share ideas and information.”
That doesn’t sound anything like the Democratic Party…
Comment by Just A Troll Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 9:13 pm