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* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
Operating Engineers Union Local 150 is making good on its threat to back a Republican primary opponent against House Republican Leader Jim Durkin.
The union local’s president, Jim Sweeney, told me he had about a dozen members in Durkin’s district passing nominating petitions for Burr Ridge Mayor Mickey Straub a couple of weekends ago. Straub is running against Durkin as a Republican. Sweeney said he expected to double that number the following weekend.
Challenging a legislative leader in a primary is just not done. But these are not normal times.
Local 150 led the fight against Bruce Rauner in the 2014 Republican gubernatorial primary and then backed a Libertarian Party candidate against him that fall.
The union’s leadership has fumed as Rauner has pushed his anti-union agenda, and now wants some payback on Durkin for helping to kill their bill to ban the creation of “right to work” zones by local governments. The governor vetoed the bill and the union tried twice to override Rauner without success, mainly because Durkin was able to keep his caucus together.
Since the union blames Durkin, they’ll ally themselves with anybody, including Republican activist Dan Proft, if they have to. Proft is backing Straub against Durkin, who he claims isn’t fit to be Leader. But Proft is not exactly known for being a big union supporter.
In fact, according to the Daily Law Bulletin, Proft co-founded the Liberty Justice Center, which, irony of ironies, is representing Lincolnshire against a lawsuit backed by Local 150 over the village’s creation of a local right to work zone – the very event that Local 150’s vetoed bill tried to outlaw. Don’t even try to wrap your mind around all that. You’ll go nuts. This fight is beyond ideology. Sweeney and Proft have a common cause — messing with Durkin — and they’re sticking with that.
Leader Durkin, for his part, took the diplomatic high road, releasing a statement saying: “Our caucus has worked with Local 150 in the past and will continue to work with them, where we can, in the future.”
And, indeed, Local 150 recently sent a mailer praising Rep. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) for her vote to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of the union’s right to work zone ban.
But you gotta figure Leader Durkin had to be gritting his teeth when he approved that statement. A primary race is a lot like a family fight. And even though Local 150 has a ton of Republican members and has supported Republican candidates in the past, its involvement is undoubtedly seen as outside meddling. The fact that Sweeney lives in Speaker Mike Madigan’s district probably doesn’t help matters much.
The race is already starting to heat up. One of Proft’s newspapers, the West Cook News, published a story a few days ago about Durkin’s law practice, connecting the Leader’s bond work for the City of Berwyn to legislation allowing local governments to tie bond payments directly to revenue they receive from the state. Durkin voted for the securitization legislation, which just recently helped the City of Chicago obtain a “AAA” credit rating on a bond sale. Critics contend the law will allow municipal governments to more easily go into ever-deeper debt, and the paper ran a quote from someone calling Durkin’s vote a “horrible conflict of interest.”
The same publication ran another story about a Republican congressional candidate making fun of Durkin’s bill to set up a statewide sexual harassment hotline. “What does it say about Rep. Durkin and his colleagues whom he supposedly leads when he all but admits that an anonymous hotline is required?” said Jeffrey Leef, a River Forest radiologist who is running against U.S. Rep. Danny Davis and has supported a universal annual base salary of $30,000 to $40,000 (yes, you read that right). “The only submission that Jim Durkin should be making is my order of french fries when he takes his more-appropriate job of cashier at McDonald’s.” Classy.
I’m thinking we’ll see more stuff like that, and not just in obscure publications, but in mailers and other advertising. A fundraising e-mail from September claims the Illinois Policy Institute’s John Tillman, along with the Illinois Opportunity Project’s Proft, Pat Hughes and Matt Besler, had already raised $25 million toward a $30 million goal to elect “a ‘Reform Slate’ of candidates to run in House elections across the state to pick up the nine seats Republicans need to gain control of the House and depose Madigan once and for all.” They haven’t yet reported receiving that cash, however.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 2:56 am
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Jeez, Rauner’s policies not only have hurt JL but have hurt the Republican party.
Too bad the Republicans couldn’t see this rift coming about 2 years ago. They were so scared of Rauner’s money going against them that they turned their head to the things Rauner said we needed. Now the base is getting pissed but the Republicans started pushing back (recent veto session) it seems they waited too long.
Now the party is running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Rauner screwed everyone folks.
Comment by Anon Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 6:27 am
Liberty, Justice, Reform…to win politician word salad bingo, they still need to use the words Patriotic and Jobs. Sad!
Comment by The_Equalizer Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 7:31 am
To the Post,
Here’s, for me, the real crux of all things Rauner, IPI, Proft, and the real power play going on, not the ideology intersect of Proft, IPI, Local 150 is this… which Rich, in his well-written piece, sheds some light to some, but a big ole white hot spotlight to others…
=== the Illinois Policy Institute’s John Tillman, along with the Illinois Opportunity Project’s Proft, Pat Hughes and Matt Besler, had already raised $25 million toward a $30 million goal to elect “a ‘Reform Slate’ of candidates to run in House elections across the state to pick up the nine seats Republicans need to gain control of the House and depose Madigan once and for all.”===
Lest we forget this “Summer of Rauner’s Disconnect”
The goal Bruce and Diana Rauner sought, after dismissing my honest, favorite, “Superstar” Rich Goldberg, and eventually “twenty-plus” others was to get messaging Diana Rauner could not only control, but put Bruce, and herself, in the best light while destroying Illinois, hurting working people, close state universities, and cripple other social services not named The Ounce.
Part of this plan has two important things occurring.
IPI taking complete control, including the Chief of Staff, the executive Press and Communications Shops, and Policy senior Staff when working together, the IPI would consolidate its power, controlling the governor’s office.
With that secure, Proft would control the political apparatus, with Z being put in a position of being forced to choose to accept the dismantling of his apparatus, and the dismissal of some of his most loyal people since the beginning. Well, at that time, Z obliged, and Proft put his own figurehead in, Matt Besler, to be the “new Z” even with a press release explaining all Besler will have, that Z gave up.
What did Rauner get?
Ah, that’s where that grab above comes in.
That “$25-30 million”
Those monies Bruce and Diana Rauner didn’t need to raise to help both Bruce and the Legislative races.
Rauner sold out his executive office operations, and his political operations, for the price of $25-30 million, allowing both Bruce and Diana Rauner more freedom by farming out useless things like the boring governing, and the wasteful things like worrying about Raunerites that have now been bought and sold a couple times over.
So, why is 150 in the mix?
As Rich points out, the “enemy of my enemy” is the short term game, but my point is… this isn’t ideology, or a feeling of political betrayal, as Proft wants people to think.
This was a business deal, “gone South”, with the “as a white male” ruining IPI, and the signing of HB40 to fulcrum for Proft to take revenge.
Durkin? Proft wants us all to think going against Rauner is something to face a challenge. Local 150 wants Durkin held accountable for staying strong with Bruce Rauner. Durkin isn’t allowing Proft to control his political operations… so the marriage of Proft and 150 begins, but will end like a Las Begas quickie divorce once the ballots are counted.
It’s a marriage of convenience. The “$25-30 million” was, and is, about power, not ideology. That’s why this marriage works.
I’m with Durkin. Proft, even with 150, is too dangerous to have poison the GA caucuses.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 8:06 am
Is there a viable Democrat in this district in the off chance Durkin does not get through the primary?
Comment by DuPage Saint Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 8:16 am
76th about to get interesting.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 8:34 am
For my own cite, and clarification for my comment… the Hinz column in Crain’s, as a Post here by Rich.
http://bit.ly/2z3TH4N
OW
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 8:42 am
“Local 150 led the fight against Bruce Rauner in the 2014 Republican gubernatorial primary and then backed a Libertarian Party candidate against him that fall.”
These dopes are just flat out confused.
Comment by A State Employee Guy Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 9:25 am
===A fundraising e-mail from September claims the Illinois Policy Institute’s John Tillman, along with the Illinois Opportunity Project’s Proft, Pat Hughes and Matt Besler, had already raised $25 million toward a $30 million goal to elect “a ‘Reform Slate’ of candidates to run in House elections across the state to pick up the nine seats Republicans need to gain control of the House and depose Madigan once and for all.” ==
To quote Tom Cruise…Show me the money. This is a myth until it’s true.
Comment by A guy Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 9:27 am
“Local 150 led the fight against Bruce Rauner in the 2014 Republican gubernatorial primary and then backed a Libertarian Party candidate against him that fall.”
These people are just flat out confused.
Comment by A State Employee Guy Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 9:27 am
===These people are just flat out confused.===
Not in the slightest.
“Anyone but Rauner” and the attempt to strip away conservative trade labor voters was the goal.
The fact 2 in 5 households voted Rauner wasn’t a great outcome.
No confusion at all. They know who they are.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 9:34 am
Some real 3 dimensional chess being played over there at Local 150… s/
Comment by DuesPayingMember Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 9:36 am
The Local 150/Proft alliance reminds me of the WWII alliance between the USA and the USSR. A common enemy is a powerful unifier.
Comment by anon2 Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 9:42 am
I don’t understand — how is Tillman and the Illinois Policy Institute raising money to run a slate of candidates?
I thought they were a non-partisan, independent, goo-goo think tank. Or a media company. Or the Justice League of America legal advocacy group. Or a dessert topping or something.
For some reason, I can’t find Illinois Opportunity Project at ISBE. Is there any reason to believe that that they have $25M to $30M?b
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 9:44 am
If the folks at the union actually think that any Libertarian (read: small gov’t, read: market decides wages) candidate would be a better friend than Rauner, tell them that I have a bridge I’d like to sell them.
Comment by A State Employee Guy Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 9:45 am
===If the folks at the union actually think that any Libertarian (read: small gov’t, read: market decides wages) candidate would be a better friend than Rauner, tell them that I have a bridge I’d like to sell them.===
(Sigh)
They never thought a Libertarian would win.
They want to leak Rauner votes away from Rauner, any way possible.
That’s how leveraging vote plurality works…
===Some real 3 dimensional chess being played over there at Local 150===
They felt betrayed by Durkin.
They want Durkin to pay.
Durkin is backed by Rauner.
A union looking out for themselves is pretty apparent here.
Teaming with Proft is the confusing part, but not really all that confusing.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 9:48 am
this is a much longer story of working against the general interests of the union members. whether this or extreme gun issues, there’s a long list of stories about this union. basics people. teaming with Proft is not working in your basic interests.
Comment by Amalia Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 9:53 am
Here’s a radical idea for the union: back a Democrat.
And we wonder why labor is flat on its back.
Comment by A State Employee Guy Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 9:59 am
===Here’s a radical idea for the union: back a Democrat.
And we wonder why labor is flat on its back.===
Explain “Reagan Democrats”
Thanks.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 10:00 am
This idea that there “aren’t” blue-collar, union members or organizations that lean Republican, especially in the trade membership…
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 10:05 am
“”Don’t even try to wrap your mind around all that. You’ll go nuts. “”
yep
Comment by walker Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 10:13 am
Local 150 is about one thing, Local 150.
Comment by tobor Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 10:21 am
Not smart to alienate someone you could work with in the future, and a waste of money. While I’m sure it’s fun to play games like this it seems unwise. It would be an empty victory anyways since this other guy would probably be much worse for them if Proft is backing him already.
Comment by TopHatMonocle Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 10:54 am
Local 150 and IOP. Yep there’s a marriage that will last until death do them part.
Look for an earlier death. Maybe tragic, maybe not.
Comment by A guy Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 10:57 am
=to elect “a ‘Reform Slate’ of candidates to run in House elections across the state to pick up the nine seats Republicans need to gain control of the House and depose Madigan once and for all.”=
Well, based on Proft’s record, these are nine seats Madigan & Co are certain to pick up next year.
Comment by Colin O'Scopey Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 11:01 am
Nobody has spent more money and lost more races than Proft, Tillman and Pat Hughes. Proft got 7% when he ran and the 2010 version of Ives, Pat Hughes, got a whopping 19% against Mark Kirk. Hughes like Ives claimed to represent the “heart and sole” of the Repunlican party. Their fundraising numbers complete nonsense. Why so much attention to this crew of misfit toys?
Comment by 19th Ward Guy Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:07 pm
I have many friends and family–including my mother–who live in that district. Frankly, my mother votes D more then R–but they all like Jim. Can’t see him losing.
Comment by Eire17 Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:19 pm
its a dog whistle, to vote for Ives while your at it
Comment by Rabid Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:47 pm
I don’t think anyone can explain Reagan Democrats, Willy, so I won’t even try. Suffice it to say its the job of the union to make sure its knuckle-headed members don’t vote against their own interests.
Comment by A State Employee Guy Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 2:03 pm
Is Proft targeting McConnaughay, too?
https://kanecountyreporter.com/stories/511272508-sen-karen-mcconnaughay-rep-anna-moeller-took-money-from-taxi-cab-lobby-to-help-ban-ride-sharing
Comment by Roman Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 5:03 pm
voting Rauner out in the primary is in the unions best interest
Comment by Rabid Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 9:02 am