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* From The Lever…
In the wake of a July 4 mass shooting in Highland Park, Ill. that killed 7 people and injured 46, Illinois’ billionaire Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker declared: “We need to ban assault weapons, not just in the state of Illinois, but nationally.”
He also criticized the National Rifle Association (NRA), the controversial gun lobby, tweeting, “As Governor, on behalf of the people of Highland Park — leave us the hell alone.”
Despite the rhetoric, Pritzker and his powerful administration have done nothing to help pass an assault weapons ban that has been languishing in his state’s legislature since February. Even worse, the Pritzker family’s hotel chain, Hyatt Hotels, has been hosting NRA events for years — including as recently as late May.
The NRA’s relationship with Hyatt creates ethics concerns for Pritzker, said Craig Holman, a government affairs lobbyist for the good government group Public Citizen. “This is clearly a conflict of interest,” he said. “It’s the same kind of conflict of interest we saw so rampant with Donald Trump.” […]
The [Pritzker] spokesperson added, “The Governor does not have a financial interest in Hyatt and has never had a role in the business, other than one part-time summer job as a teenager.” […]
Despite Pritzker’s spokesperson’s claim that the governor “does not have a financial interest in Hyatt,” he is commonly described as an heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune. While the governor’s financial disclosure does not show direct Hyatt holdings, a 2019 investigation by the Chicago Tribune pointed out, “The complex and vast nature of Pritzker’s wealth and a lack of transparency illustrate how difficult it can be to learn when a wealthy politician’s financial interests might butt up against what’s in taxpayers’ best interests.”
* The Lever is a David Sirota project. Sirota published a newsletter for the Bernie Sanders campaign…
Bern Notice received attention Monday for having promoted a Guardian column by Zephyr Teachout, a Sanders surrogate, that accused Joseph R. Biden Jr. of having “a big corruption problem” hours before Mr. Sanders disavowed the column. (That newsletter edition was erased from the internet as of Tuesday morning.)
And Sirota is not happy with the pushback on this latest piece…
Illinois @GovPritzker just deployed his spokesperson to attack @LeverNews for reporting that he & Illinois Dems have refused to pass assault weapons ban legislation stuck in the Dem state legislature.
Subscribe to @LeverNews to help us do this reporting: https://t.co/yiT3ToXbNN https://t.co/a3LIR9QjBD
— David Sirota (@davidsirota) July 13, 2022
The bill in question didn’t pick up a single co-sponsor until June - long after session ended. It didn’t pick up any more until after the Highland Park massacre.
* The sponsor…
The bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, on Thursday was calling Democratic colleagues to gauge their support once again. Hirschauer, who helped start a chapter of the gun violence prevention group Moms Demand Action before taking office in January 2021, said “it has some momentum behind it now.”
“It’s a pretty simple bill. It bans military style weapons and high-capacity magazines. The general public in Illinois has clearly said that those types of weapons are designed for the battlefield, not for hunting or any reasonable use,” Hirschauer said.“So, we are moving forward with it. I’m working it from the ground up, roll calling, gathering support and just really doing my homework on it.”
*** UPDATE 1 *** And now you know it’s oppo - likely combined with “out of town stupid” - because now they’re claiming the governor and the Democrats are actually “blocking an assault weapons ban”…
Illinois has a Democratic supermajority and a Democratic governor.
It is positively hilarious that reporting a simple story on them blocking an assault weapons ban is considered “oppo.”
It’s actually called “journalism.”https://t.co/6dQLXPR5sg https://t.co/HpKiYkeuks
— The Lever (@LeverNews) July 13, 2022
*** UPDATE 2 *** I sent the sponsor the link to this post and at first glance thought it was a Republican attack. I pointed out that this was a left-wing group and Rep. Hirschauer said this…
Well, that’s a head scratcher and doesn’t match up with the thoughtful and supportive conversations I have been having daily with members of my caucus and folks in the Democratic Party. My statement stands:
My co-sponsors and I are extremely serious about taking action that will get weapons of war off our streets and I invite my colleagues across the aisle to join me instead of playing tired political games that only serve the NRA agenda.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 1:55 pm
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==The Lever is a David Sirota project. Sirota published a newsletter for the Bernie Sanders campaign==
Once a Bernie Bro, always a Bernie Bro
Comment by Just Sayin Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 1:58 pm
Sirota will sometimes stumble into the right position on an issue. It gives him cover for harassing people online, chasing money where he can find it, and outwardly portraying himself as an independent journalist while on a campaign payroll.
Comment by Roadrager Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 1:59 pm
he could mobilize the people who follow him and read this to start calling lawmakers and engage in grassroots activism instead of attacking the governor who is an ally and attack him using innuendo and unfair comparisons
Comment by ok Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 2:01 pm
===Once a Bernie Bro, always a Bernie Bro===
I thought the young progressive bros were supporting Pritzker until AOC is old enough to have the training wheels taken off her bike. I guess Sirota missed the memo.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 2:02 pm
-Despite Pritzker’s spokesperson’s claim that the governor “does not have a financial interest in Hyatt,” he is commonly described as an heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune.-
The equivalent of “many people are saying.” Either you have proof or you don’t. So what’s the alternative if Pritzker if so bad? Think Darren Bailey will give you what you want?
Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 2:06 pm
Voters don’t do nuance.
Voters *will see* Bailey use a rifle to shoot at a budget in ads… and big in a good light.
Voters do understand visuals… Bailey using a weapon to shoot at something might be more damaging than this.
But… ok.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 2:08 pm
==Despite Pritzker’s spokesperson’s claim that the governor “does not have a financial interest in Hyatt,” he is commonly described as an heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune. While the governor’s financial disclosure does not show direct Hyatt holdings, a 2019 investigation by the Chicago Tribune pointed out, “The complex and vast nature of Pritzker’s wealth and a lack of transparency illustrate how difficult it can be to learn when a wealthy politician’s financial interests might butt up against what’s in taxpayers’ best interests.”==
“The absence of evidence is not evidence of absence,” -Donald Rumsfeld on nuclear weapons and Dave Sirota on J.B. Pritzker with the exact same level of good faith and honesty.
Comment by Nuke The Whales Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 2:10 pm
whomever is paying this guy should get their money back.
Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 2:12 pm
“It’s the same kind of conflict of interest we saw so rampant with Donald Trump.”
Except, it’s not really the same in either degree or substance.
Other than that, totally the same.
Comment by Larry Bowa Jr. Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 2:13 pm
===think Darren Bailey will give===
===Voters *will see* Bailey use===
This oppo dump ain’t about 2022.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 2:16 pm
=== This oppo dump ain’t about 2022.===
Ah. Oh.
Oh.
Ok.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 2:18 pm
Well if he doesn’t hold any Hyatt stock he hardly can get on the phone and tell them what conventions to book. He doesn’t have direct holdings, does that mean maybe he has some in an index fund? Maybe I do too, I’ll have to look. It doesn’t mean I can call them up and tell them not to book the NRA’s convention.
Comment by Da big bad wolf Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 2:20 pm
Meh. Something that will be long forgotten by November.
Bailey may try to use it in ads, but Pritzker can effectively counter them.
For the folks in Alinoy who love Trump, guns, and all things conservative, Bailey is their guy, but numerically there isn’t enough of them carry the state.
And if the Independents don’t still have a bad taste in their mouths from Rauner, Pritzker will probably give them a reminder on that, too.
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 2:24 pm
If this dump isn’t about 22, then the bros that helped bring us Trump’s MAGA world is working to further damage the Dem party for 2024. The MAGA-Trump (MAGAT) party is saying thank you.
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 2:25 pm
Jordan’s response made me giggle. And Bernie’s gun record is nothing to praise if you are a gun control advocate.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 2:26 pm
David Sirota is hardly in Bernie’s orbit of influence anymore. He’s still mad that ‘Don’t Look Up’ got well deserved awful reviews.
Comment by Hot Taeks Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 2:28 pm
Sirota already working in overdrive to crap on a potential JB pres run. I don’t understand how Sirota still gets by in this space. He’s a dishonest broker.
Comment by Shytown Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 2:34 pm
Will Naperville City Council put on the agenda a ban on assault weapons? That’s the word on the street.
Comment by Dupage Mom Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 2:40 pm
oh no, all the anti gun people are now going to vote for bailey. not.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 2:45 pm
==I thought the young progressive bros==
Well, Sirota is 46, so he may not be invited to those parties.
==This oppo dump ain’t about 2022. ==
It might be a little; Sirota seems to hate regular Democrats more than Republicans.
I got burned by believing a Sirota story about Rauner 4 years ago. Turned out to be entirely wrong. When he covers IL issues, it’s what 670 The Score calls “out of town stupid”.
Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 2:57 pm
Sirota is cut from the same journalistic cloth as Tucker Carlson….
Comment by Crete-ture Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 3:12 pm
Apparently this is a very slow news day…when this “oppo dump” gets used and Rodney’s statement of the obvious appears. Should have put the lid on about lunch time
Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 3:27 pm
Aside from the ad hominem attacks on Sirota, where are the factual inaccuracies in Sirota’s story? There aren’t any.
I like JB as much as anyone, but there’s no need to be disingenuous about this. If he can get the votes for the state-level bill, he needs to get it done. Even without a federal ban, it may well prevent another massacre here in IL.
Comment by Marky Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 4:27 pm
===There aren’t any===
LOLOL
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 4:29 pm
Ok, so he’s got nothing
Comment by walker Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 4:30 pm
I’ll reiterate: why should we let the perfect be the enemy of the good? The painfully long Twitter thread from JB’s press sec does nothing to directly address why he’s not acting immediately on Hirschauer’s bill.
Comment by Marky Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 4:35 pm
=== does nothing to directly address why he’s not acting immediately on Hirschauer’s bill===
Kinda hard for a governor to just sign a bill that hasn’t even passed a committee yet. lol
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 4:36 pm
David Sirota. So popular in Philly. Not.
Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 4:52 pm
==David Sirota. So popular in Philly. Not.==
And also very unpopular with a Philly native most likely (Caprara)
Comment by Just Sayin Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 5:44 pm
Good thing his guy Bernie has always been super tough on the gun lobby. /s
Comment by Surly Dan Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 6:18 pm
===It is positively hilarious that reporting a simple story on them blocking an assault weapons ban is considered “oppo.”===
Sounds like a Brian Timpone type of react.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 6:39 pm
===Sounds like a Brian Timpone type of react===
Same dif
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 6:54 pm
Most news coverage, especially out of state news coverage, is still scared of the NRA when they are going bankrupt. NRA is going bankrupt because it is a non-transparent Mad Men corporate country club that has done more damage to gun owners than the plague.
Their time has long passed, and good riddance. NRA exists to pass the most complicated and worst bills they can, in collusion with the police unions, so their lobbyists have permanent job security “fixing” the garbage bills they create. Case in point: former NRA lobbyist Todd Vandermyde.
Comment by Elmer Keith Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 7:06 pm
Purging the dem caucus of Stoneback, Willis, and Zalewski to sign up for this vibe is going to work out great. /s
Comment by Decided Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 7:53 pm
===Same dif===
Indeed.
The update x2… disinformation by this “report” isn’t bad reporting, just “bad” messaging to the truth?
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 8:00 pm
Naperville will discuss a draft ordinance banning assault weapons next Tuesday,
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20220713/naperville-looking-into-prohibiting-the-sale-of-semi-automatic-weapons?fs=e&s=cl
Comment by Name Witheld By Request Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 8:33 pm
Hopefully, The Lever *is* in fact wrong on this and Hirschauer’s bill does come to pass. While a federal assault weapons would be ideal, there’s no reason that IL shouldn’t proceed with a state-level ban.
Comment by Marky Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 8:52 pm
A new look at an old problem.Recent events in Highland Park should educate us to the reality that no ” Background Check” can be successful in preventing mass shootings without local control.By that I mean the deciding voice in who can get a foid card should be those closest to the applicant.If the Highland Police were the issuing authority,or had input into the process perhaps common sense would have kept the shooter from acquiring his weapon. Which was not an assault rifle. it was a long barreled pistol.
Comment by bob Thursday, Jul 14, 22 @ 7:09 am