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Sen. Sam McCann, R-Plainview, has used campaign funds to purchase a sport utility vehicle.
The senator hasn’t stopped at an SUV. He also acknowledges using campaign funds to install a new engine in a personally owned Jeep. And he says that he’s spent more than $19,000 on a trailer and truck to use in parades.
Legislators, who are barred from spending campaign funds for personal use, typically lease rather than purchase vehicles. One expert on campaign finance says that the senator’s purchase of a 2017 Ford Expedition XLT for $61,146 last April raises both ethical and political questions.
“Potentially, you’ve got a violation,” said Kent Redfield, a retired University of Illinois Springfield political science professor. “You certainly have the possibility of violations. It’s just sitting there as a temptation to use. It’s probably not great politics. I would assume a competent opponent would read through your campaign reports and make an issue out of it. It certainly seems to be asking for political trouble.”
McCann, who has pondered a run for governor, responded to an interview request via email, saying that he drives so many miles that a leased vehicle, as opposed to one purchased outright, would be cost prohibitive. He said that he has driven more than 500,000 miles since his first campaign in 2009.
Go read the rest. The dude just can’t stay out of the papers on this stuff.
* As you already know, the Sangamon County GOP is backing a primary opponent against McCann. Click here for some background.
McCann responded on Facebook yesterday…
Please read the whole link below.
THEN - remember that the author doesn’t even bring up the fact that the $100,000,000.00 in tax breaks will be paid for out of the General Revenue Fund. That’s right, we have a backlog of bills owed to vendors of over $15 billion. We owe the pensions somewhere around $200 million that the politicians stole. And instead of paying those bills, they reward the wealthy and well-connected with your tax money that IS ALREADY SPOKEN FOR.
The first version of the bill didn’t include that provision. That was the version I voted for (the first version, without the the extra spending). The second version is the one most republicans ended up voting for and our republican governor signed into law as he hugged Rahm Emmanuel.
I am a real republican. Not a Raunerite. That is why the Sangamon GOP and Illinois GOP are primarying me again. They don’t want public servants who listen to their constituents and consciences, they want a #RaunerRubberStamp
The link he posted is this Chicago Reader piece about the education funding reform bill.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 9:46 am
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Sam, you’re not helping.
Comment by Norseman Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 9:53 am
==We owe the pensions somewhere around $200 million that the politicians stole==
Million?
Comment by AC Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 10:01 am
I would love to see the detailed driving records sam keeps. jacksonville to springfield lets just round up and call it an even 100 miles.
Comment by iggy Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 10:02 am
Sam linking to Ben J, what is the world coming to?
Comment by Doofman Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 10:02 am
I agree, from an appearance standpoint, it would have been better to lease than buy, and just let the campaign fund pay the surcharge for excessive miles. But from a financial standpoint, I can see where the more fiscally prudent move is to buy.
I’d bet his campaign contributors (disclosure, I’ve contributed in the past) will appreciate the smarter financial move of purchasing … and he can probably sell his voters in it also. But it does lead to stories like this …
Comment by RNUG Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 10:03 am
Rauner’s base is begging for Rauner to be primaried after the immigration bill. Go ahead McCann and challenge Rauner.
Comment by Real Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 10:12 am
I find it odd that Bruce Rushton called the dealership to ask about small donations from a business to their State Senator, but he didn’t ask them about the financial difference between leasing and buying with the milage numbers Sam quoted.
He had the easy shot to double check what the Senator was saying, yet he just went with smoke over fire. Makes you wonder if there isn’t any fire to be found here.
Comment by AimtoMisbehave Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 10:12 am
$61,000 for a new Ford? He sure didn’t get a sweetheart deal. Did he buy it from a relative, lol?
For that price, it ought to come with its own driver.
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 10:13 am
Just Googling the price, looks like either an EL or Platinum edition.
Comment by Anon221 Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 10:24 am
Look out, the Rauner people are amazing on used cars. Is it their years of selling huckster nonsense or their inner phony business child that makes them so darn good?
Comment by Sonny Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 10:25 am
To the Post,
Completely unhelpful for himself that McCann continues to make unforced errors to tarnish his own credibility.
I absolutely love this…
===I am a real republican. Not a Raunerite. That is why the Sangamon GOP and Illinois GOP are primarying me again.===
1,000% true.
“But”, McCann can’t help himself if he keeps hurting his chances with these moves.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 10:41 am
==jacksonville to springfield lets just round up and call it an even 100 miles.==
What route are you taking from Jacksonville to Sprinfield?? They’re only about 30 miles apart…
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 10:52 am
First off, buying is cheaper than leasing. The back end of leasing due to mileage costs make leasing unaffordable in most cases. Leasing might be better if you dont drive much. I was in the auto industry for 8 years. Plus McCann does not live in Jacksonville. At least apply a little research when critisizing someone. Geesh.
Comment by Generic Drone Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 11:08 am
Met Sam this morning at groundbreaking for new Mississippi River bridge in Louisiana-Pittsfield. I think he makes Rauner spend a ton of money in the primary (easily replaceable) but it could be better than when Edwin Eisendrath got about 20% against Blagojevich.
If Rauner’s policy is to primary people who don’t do his bidding…. isn’t he doing the exact same thing he rails against Madigan for?
Comment by Vote Quimby Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 12:29 pm
McCann should primary the Governor. He can’t win his primary with just strictly GOP voters. He needed the crossover last time from AFSCME, which they aren’t coming over this time. There’s a real race for Governor on the Dem side. Not sure how he can pick up the votes needed?
So if your going to go down anyway go down big and make Rauner’s life miserable for the next 6 months.
Plus you still have to see what Rauner does on HB40, anything less than a full veto will get a lot of folks in the GOP looking for anyone but Bruce.
Comment by DuPage Bard Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 12:39 pm
Sam; I think the time is now to take him on. Most people are in the ABB mode (Anybody But Bruce). His approval rating even with die hard Republicans is in the toilet. There will never be a better time. I guarantee my help in this campaign. We have been friends for many years, I think this is the prime moment. Rauner only likes to attack, a little quid pro quo seems appropriate.
Comment by Retired Educator Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 12:58 pm
Let’s sit for min… Lemonade?… Cookies?…
The lone thing right now that will help Bruce Rauner now is a dry-run primary for his new Campaign Crew.
The damage of allowing Bruce Rauner to run a real campaign during the primary is huge compared to the 23-27% anyone, including McCann would get in a losing race.
The clearest way to really hurt Rauner is to let that Campaign Crew be “un-tested” come November.
No chance to see where changes in personnel need to happen, or shoring up weaker GOP areas Rauner needs.
(Sips lemonade, takes a pause)
If you’re a Republican and you want Raunerism defeated, the very last thing you’d do is allow Rauner to take out his make-shift Crew for a testing in March to tune up for November.
It’s not just folly, it’s helping Rauner in the best way possible.
Don’t.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 1:06 pm
Most of the sangamon county GOP anyecdotaly seems to like sam. just some of the leadership is in Rauners pocket
Comment by Ghost Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 1:19 pm
Anon221, read the story. It’s an XLT trim level for which he must have paid pretty close to sticker price. Rushton also missed the $50k contribution from the IEA that came in shortly before he bought the new SUV.
If he is putting 50k miles per year or more on his vehicle, that pretty well eliminates any potential cost advantage from leasing.
And he’s not blowing 20 grand a year on gas all at one station.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 1:39 pm
AA- I don’t have any problems with McCann buying instead of leasing. It makes more sense, as long as he gets better with his record keeping. My post was more to the price he paid. It seems like it was closer in price to an EL or Platinum level style. For the XLT only, it must have been loaded.
Comment by Anon221 Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 3:32 pm
According to his Facebook page photos, Sam has been in Springfield, Jacksonville, Pittsfield and Louisiana today. The man does work his district.
Comment by RNUG Friday, Sep 8, 17 @ 4:11 pm