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* Click here and here for background if you need it. The Democratic Party of Illinois’ attorney Samuel Brown said this at today’s FEC hearing about a proposed special committee designed to insulate DPI Chair Robin Kelly from having any involvement in non-federal fundraising and spending…

[US Rep. Kelly] is not going to have anything to do with soliciting non-federal dollars. She won’t be involved in interacting with donors who are giving non-federal funds. She won’t be involved in spending non-federal funds.

So all of the decisions regarding making contributions out of the non-federal account, relating to spending in state races from the non-federal account. Advertising. Regarding terminating someone who does a bad job on that sort of non-federal spending. All of those things are the sole and exclusive province of the special committee. And the chair is both insulated from those activities and she’s subject to a detailed governance regime to make sure that she abides by the restriction.

This now-admitted and very limited role is precisely what Kelly’s opponents warned about during the election process.

The special committee’s membership is not yet completely defined, other than the majority would be automatically appointed based on holding a specific office. Two such offices, House Speaker and Senate President, have been offered as examples.

* The Question: In your mind, is this a workable solution? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please…

bike tracks

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 12:20 pm

Comments

What’s the point of being chair if you have no power and can do nothing?

I don’t understand why the Speaker or President would want to be on a special committee to raise money for DPI. Wouldn’t they be raising money for their own caucuses?

Comment by she-nanigans Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 12:30 pm
This arrangement, and likely any arrangement, will be subject to endless attacks that FEC requirements have been violated. And will hamstring Kelly’s effectiveness.

Comment by Just Lurking Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 12:31 pm
Assuming Welch and Harmon are two members of the special committee, why would they ever ask their donors to give to DPI and not the House/Senate committees or their own campaign accounts?

Comment by uialum Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 12:32 pm
===why would they ever ask their donors to give to DPI===

DPI is a postage discount machine.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 12:33 pm
All of this just to have Kelly as DPI Chair doesn’t seem worth it.

Especially considering that the main goal of a state party is to win statewide elections; federal ones already have their own committees.

Comment by Nick Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 12:34 pm
What a joke. Everyone was critical of DPI when MJM was in charge, but this is much worse. How is this moving the party apparatus forward? Let me answer that for you: Its not.

Comment by Hannibal Lecter Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 12:36 pm
They were warned but they persisted. This was a stupid idea from the get go. This concept is exactly why Robin Kelly never should have been in the mix. This is dumb. Dumb. Dumb.

Comment by Southern Skeptic Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 12:39 pm
Voted no, while laughing.

The point of the whole exercise of Kelly being Chair was… Kelly actually *being* Chair.

Kelly looks ridiculous, those who were duped or wanted to “teach lessons” look even more foolish they bought the idea of Kelly being able to serve, and worse… the governor, his crew, the ones who knew the score, the mocking that can now be put out there… it’s a self own for Kelly and allies.

Here I thought Madigan being Chair was “all bad”… having a compromised role and figurehead “leader” who needs some sort of “around the rules kinda leading” shows, probably, why Madigan knew better than to have this bunch lead… anything.

So… “no”… it’s not workable to the honesty of how it was sold, or to the truth of what Kelly allegedly “won”

It’s comedy, that’s for sure.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 12:39 pm
Nope. This is a Rube Goldberg contraption, not an effective political organization. How long are we going to put up with the charade? I like and admire Robin Kelly, but she is simply not able to be effective as state party chair. And we need an effective state party chair.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 12:42 pm
Kelly needs to resign her role as Chairperson and stay an active member of the State Central Committee. It makes zero sense to have someone at the helm that cannot fulfill the duties. It will be a HUGE deter

The State Central Committee needs to hold a special meeting and elect a new Chairperson!

Comment by DoWhatsRight Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 12:43 pm
DPI’s last D2 reported it had $2,629,508, and the federal committee reported $995,580 on hand as of 5/31/21. It has some cash to operate, but not for too long without a strong fundraising structure. Tying the hands of the chair doesn’t help that.

Comment by facts matter Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 12:45 pm
No. Whoever was most instrumental in stepping on the rake over this needs to be the one who falls on his/her sword now and ends it.

Comment by Responsa Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 12:48 pm
a solution to a self made crisis

Comment by Rabid Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 12:50 pm
I voted yes. It IS a workable solution, just not a good one that works well.

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 12:52 pm
The party has already lost 1/4 of the two year election cycle to this ridiculousness. The party needs to start raising money and organizing for state elections now. The decision by Kelly, Durbin, etc to press forward despite clear advance warning of this issue is a continuing embarrassment that is causing continuous harm.

It’s time for Kelly to step aside so the party can elect a new chair, and get focused on actually winning elections.

Comment by SpiDem Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 12:54 pm
What the point of Kelly being Chair as she can’t be involved with fundraising or contacting donors for the state funds?

Comment by snowman61 Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 12:59 pm
===It has some cash to operate===

DPI can’t currently spend a dime of the state cash.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 1:06 pm
I voted no. JS Mill, you’ve got a point. It’s just unfortunate that they seem to be pressing forwards despite the most positive take on this seeming to be “well, that’s technically workable even if it’s obviously a bad idea.”

Comment by NWL Grad Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 1:13 pm
That’s not even something I thought about OW

There were *so* many people who warned that this is exactly what would happen, and they got talked down. And yet, here we are.

I wonder what’s even in it for Kelly at this point if she can’t do most of the job of being a state party chair?

Comment by Nick Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 1:15 pm
- Nick -, thanks… to this…

===I wonder what’s even in it for Kelly at this point if she can’t do most of the job of being a state party chair?===

Kelly is now the “Phillip Green” of state party chairs.

I dunno what would be in it for her, I guess I’d ask what was promised to her for being Chair as Durbin’s proxy(?)

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 1:22 pm
Yes. It’s a workable solution as in it will work as a structure. As far as if it will be an effective solution when the rubber meets the road remains to be seen.

On the surface it seems to be setting up a situation which gives too much of a temptation to break those rules for no real organizational purpose.

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 1:30 pm
No. For two reasons. First, the obvious problems with fund raising and spending. Second, Rep. Kelly is busy being a Congressperson in DC. The party chair should be someone who is not in DC, and who has plenty of time to lead the state party. Someone like…say…Kristina Zahorik.

The Dems currently have two state party organizations instead of one. As a lowly precinct committeeperson, I get lots of information, guidance, and support from the IDCCA and very little (if any) from the DPI. This goes way back; so, nothing new. I had hoped this would have been solved when Madigan gave up the reins.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 1:30 pm
I suppose there’s the ‘prestige’ aspect of having the title.

I’m sure other members of the Illinois delegation will appreciate her, given that all the money she can legally raise can only really go to help them.

Comment by Nick Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 1:33 pm
This seems to turn her into a figurehead leader of the party. As a Republican I should be pleased. In reality, this is a problem for both parties if the FEC rules that way.

Comment by Louis G Atsaves Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 1:33 pm
No, this is dumb and just begging for someone to mess up and cause a scandal. She needs to do the right thing and step aside.

Comment by Excitable Boy Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 1:33 pm
===just begging for someone to mess up and cause a scandal===

I can’t say I disagree with this. It’s a big landmine.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 1:44 pm
Mike made it look easy even though he wasn’t much for meetings; he did the work for the party in terms of raising money and getting Democrats elected. This Durbin/Kelly charade makes Illinois look stupid not to mention a waste of money trying to squeeze a round peg into a square hole. Get busy DPI, and identify someone to be the chair, elections need to be won and money needs to be raised.

Comment by Stopit & Get busy Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 2:02 pm
This is one of those situations where someone wanted the title but not the job. Its frequently encountered in politics, but I would say that Chicago Democratic politicians have that predilection more than others. Perhaps its the overshadowing of elected offices by political offices in terms of actual power and prestige, but its still a very observable phenomenon.

Comment by Just Another Anon Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 2:25 pm
== DPI is a postage discount machine. ==

Very true…and that’s why I voted yes. Throughout most of Madigan’s tenure, DPI was essentially a bulk mailing account for General Assembly candidates, not a traditional state party organization. It can continue to operate that in that fashion. Kelly will be relegated to acting as little more than a Dem party spokesperson.

It’s workable, but not ideal. The state party should probably do more than stamp mail and issue press releases.

Comment by Roman Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 2:29 pm
Okay, everyone. Take a deep breath. I know a lot of us feel like this might have been an embarrassing or strategic mistake that is worth being mocked for or renders the Chair of the party politically ineffective — but lets take a step back.

For several decades the Democratic Party of Illinois and the State House has been controlled by one person. That specific person’s will and that specific person’s whims directed a party of millions of people and a state of millions more. The overwhelming majority involved in the party or active voters did not have any direct mechanism to change that and this is something we just accepted as a status quo because it has been the status quo.

With this specific person finally being ousted due his involvement in a criminal scheme or at least direct association with it if no knowledge of it was the final straw on the camels back, and it was tense. I don’t think I need to enumerate. I think everyone here is capable of identifying some other straws that were concerns before it looked like Speaker Madigan may have given away the store in exchange for a few internships for some kids ™.

We need to understand and appreciate that having a member of the U.S. House of Representatives as a Chair of the Party that is not able to directly over see fund raising and spending decisions is a strategic choice. I was opinionated about it being a bad choice due to the fact that a United States Congressperson is very busy.

But ask yourselves — what would you do if you wanted to make it impossible for there to be another Mike Madigan — another person with individual and near autocratic control of the Democratic Party of Illinois that can subject the party to their will, whims, and whatever bias or notion they have.

You would make the chair someone that couldn’t have complete and total control of every facet of the party. You know what’s even better? You establish a committee to handle things and once that committee is there, it’s pretty hard for the next person to get rid of regardless of what their role is.

I voted yes because somewhere along the line it occurred to me that this might have been the point of choosing Congresswoman Robin Kelly as the chair in addition to her extensive qualifications, bona fides, and connection to Illinois.

As yourselves, if you had just spent the entirety of your political career tip toeing around near autocratic control of the state party and the legislature, why would you set up another autocrat? And even if you think the person who could be the next autocrat is great, how do you prevent the next chair from going back to operating like Mike Madigan?

Don’t be too quick to assume that what seems like a bug is a feature, especially when that feature limits the amount of power and authority that rests in one person.

If someone values democratic norms and building an inclusive party that accurately represents Democrats in the state, this might be the deliberate path they would pursue.

The committee might have been the plan all along.

Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 2:52 pm
===The committee might have been the plan all along===

Highly doubt it since they submitted three different plans to the FEC.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 2:53 pm
=== The committee might have been the plan all along.===

Then why wait MONTHS after to have it as the “compromise?

You wouldn’t.

It’s still embarrassing, it’s still sold as a bill of goods, it’s still… not what was promised, which was there will be no problem.

The rest, you make compelling points to the going forward… but how they got to the here and now… hmm.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 2:55 pm
===I had hoped this would have been solved when Madigan gave up the reins. ===

It’s barely been 4 months since he resigned his house seat. Some things take time.

Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 2:57 pm
Can they just bring back Madigan? Life was so much simpler then. /S

Comment by Bruce( no not him) Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 2:59 pm
The committee was not the plan all along. But secondary to that - a state Party needs to function. It needs to raise and spend money. It needs to help Democrats win elections. None of those things are happening and several months are gone and away. What’s worse - it’s now a liability to candidates. People had issues with Madigan not just bc of the corruption but because he only helped state House Dems. There is an entire ticket to worry about here and the two people who will have the most impact on what happens to the down ballot candidates (Duckworth and Pritzker) have said they won’t participate in this structure. A 4 paragraph treatise about how this was all a riddle wrapped in quagmire that equals some brilliant plan ignores the problem that the Party is not doing what it needs to do and will not be able to do what he needs to do under any solution here. I voted no. It’s time to end this.

Comment by DuPage Dem Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 3:01 pm
===Highly doubt it since they submitted three different plans to the FEC. ===

If a person is interested in diminishing the potential for a person elected from a legislative house district calling the shots for the entire state, including their specific sphere of influence or their constituents, all three options are better.

I would also hate to be in the place where after being advised of legal options, we picked on, and then had the FEC come and tell us no and do it very publicly. Might as well be cautious since a court challenge would basically be a Democrat targeting campaign finance laws they historically have supported citing Citizens United as a precedent and presenting it in front of a right leaning court.

Whether or not it was intentional, I don’t think we should expect anything other than a “absolutely not” to result in a resignation from the congresswoman.

Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 3:02 pm
=== It’s barely been 4 months since he resigned his house seat. Some things take time===

They had no plan. Time is what’s been wasted, frivolously

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 3:02 pm
=== Whether or not it was intentional===

Your premise was this could have been the plan all along…

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 3:03 pm
===None of those things are happening and several months are gone and away.===

If the state party were doing all of the things you suggest, I don’t think the ILDCAA would be as big of a deal as it is now.

What has the DPI payroll looked like historically? Who has been their full time finance and compliance person?

Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 3:05 pm
=== Whether or not it was intentional, I don’t think we should expect anything other than a “absolutely not” to result in a resignation from the congresswoman.===

Is it because she’s a congresswomen we shouldn’t expect a resignation, or because she clearly can’t do the job?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 3:05 pm
===could===

I wasn’t in the room. I’m just noting that what can be perceived as a quagmire could be the result of a deliberate strategy, and even if deliberate, it may not have been well executed. While all of this is going on, the ILDCAA is still trucking along and it’s not like the DPI was engaged in any party building or sincere candidate recruitment.

Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 3:09 pm
== We need to understand and appreciate that having a member of the U.S. House of Representatives as a Chair of the Party that is not able to directly over see fund raising and spending decisions is a strategic choice. ==

Uh, what strategy? The only thing she can do is raise and spend for federal races. How is that different from your assertion that all Madigan did was raise and spend for General Assembly races? The proposed plan calls for creating a committee, of legislative leaders, to manage fundraising and staff for state races. Again, how is that strategically different?

The only differences are the person serving as chair and the lack of money raised.

Comment by Mockery Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 3:09 pm
=== I’m just noting that what can be perceived as a quagmire could be the result of a deliberate strategy, and even if deliberate, it may not have been well executed===

Now you’re just… I dunno what your “just”… but this was barely thought out past Kelly winning and Durbin beating Pritzker.

This is what happens when no one thinks, and just does… even when warned of major pitfalls.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 3:13 pm
===Uh, what strategy? ===

A person who could never be Queen because they are not likely to be line for the crown might appreciate a Queen that must politely ask for support and assistance rather than one that has the ability to do whatever they please.

Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 3:15 pm
=== A person who could never be Queen because they are not likely to be line for the crown might appreciate a Queen that must politely ask for support and assistance rather than one that has the ability to do whatever they please.===

This is gibberish.

How do I know?

They’re on the third attempt of it making this ridiculousness and it’s still … ridiculous

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 3:18 pm
The farcical irony is…

All the talk about Madigan leaving the House and weeks and months of possibly “no Speaker”… and yet here are the Dems, a strong Dem House Caucus seemingly working well together… and DPI can’t get a Chair.

Comical

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 3:22 pm
===even when warned of major pitfalls.===

I didn’t think it was a good idea for a member of congress to be chair either, but isn’t the discussion fun?

Since there’s a lot of possible intrigue with this kind of thing, I hesitate to quickly assume that they intentionally stepped on a rake for no reason.

These the potential for a lot of other reasons, too. Intentionally hobbling the DPI could even be the goal, but no one is going to say that.

Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 3:24 pm
What a colossal waste of time for the Illinois Democratic Party, all the operatives, donors, staff, electeds and others who have had to be distracted by this. This was known from day one, but those who were pushing Rep. Kelly’s candidacy were so hell-bent on undermining what the governor’s and others’ efforts to line up someone who would’ve been a perfectly good and legitimate party chair that they knowingly pushed a candidate who had no business serving as party chair. Rep. Kelly is good people. But she is a member of Congress. And the rules are the rules. But some people just don’t seem to care about the rules and instead care more about ego and getting what they want even if it’s at the expense of the short and long-term well-being of the party. She can step down and hold her head high because she stepped in to do what I’m sure she thought was the right thing. She probably got some really poor political and legal advice, and that’s not her fault. And anyone here who still supports her staying in this role is probably benefiting from that relationship or making money from it. This is not about you.

Comment by Shytown Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 3:25 pm
- the ILDCAA is still trucking along and it’s not like the DPI was engaged in any party building or sincere candidate recruitment. -

So your argument is that since historically DPI wasn’t engaged in actual party building that it might be a good strategy to officially make it a symbolic organization? And throw in a finance violation risk at the same time?

Not sure I’m seeing the vision there.

Comment by Excitable Boy Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 3:26 pm
Just an important side point to the good points OW is making - a state Party is unique by its very nature. It can raise and spend funds that NO other entity can (I.e. the ILDCCA) because of its unique nature in the law. It’s not just the postage discount that matters. Candidates can share resources in a state party (like slate cards and communications staffers) that they can’t do through other things. So no - the county chairs association cannot just fill in. And again, the problem has been that Madigan did not make use of any of those functions. The Kelly folks came along and claimed they were going to make the Party function like a real Party by…hamstringing the Party from the outset???

Comment by DuPage Dem Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 3:27 pm
=== Intentionally hobbling the DPI could even be the goal, but no one is going to say that.===

One party living in conspiracy theories is enough, thanks.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 3:28 pm
Could have had Harris elected and avoided this whole mess.

Comment by Nick Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 3:33 pm
=== I didn’t think it was a good idea for a member of congress to be chair either, but isn’t the discussion fun? ===

No it is not. It is a waste of time and money and a colossal embarrassment for the State Central Committee.

Comment by Hannibal Lecter Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 4:01 pm
=== the ILDCAA is still trucking along ===

What candidates have the ILDCAA carried across the finish line? Democrats are basically being destroyed outside of the Chicago area with a few exceptions.

Comment by Hannibal Lecter Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 4:05 pm
@ Candy DoGood:

Your comments also reflect a false choice. This was not a choice between Mike Madigan or Robin Kelly. Mike Madigan was already gone. This was a choice between Robin Kelly and Michelle Harris and for whatever reason, the party choice the individual that cannot actually do anything. Let’s be clear, Michelle Harris is no Mike Madigan.

Comment by Hannibal Lecter Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 4:06 pm
“This now-admitted and very limited role is precisely what Kelly’s opponents warned about during the election process.”

I wouldn’t characterize myself as an opponent of Kelly — I just didn’t think that it looked like she’d be able to do the job.

Alas, that has now been confirmed.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 4:40 pm
Boy sure would’ve been nice if someone brought up that this would be an issue during the process. Oh wait…..everyone did.

Comment by Frank talks Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 7:38 pm