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* All very predictable. Trot out the former state party chairman who is also a former federal prosecutor at a press conference in front of JB Pritzker’s empty mansion next door to his home with toilets in tow and a mention of Rod Blagojevich…
Two toilets brought as props to GOP news conference criticizing @JBPritzker and property tax breaks he received for removing toilets at Astor St mansion #toiletgate #ILGov18 pic.twitter.com/97HoQSPDcN
— Mary Ann Ahern (@MaryAnnAhernNBC) October 2, 2018
PS, this is the house in question. It is a very nice house. Zillow “Zestimate” is $2.8M. (6 beds 3.5 baths 6,387 sqft) pic.twitter.com/rTRV5eu0ed
— Hannah Meisel (@hannahmeisel) October 2, 2018
.@pat_brady says sentencing guidelines for these types of alleged crimes (mail fraud, perjury) is “48 months.” Says “this is how the Blagojevich stuff started.”
— Hannah Meisel (@hannahmeisel) October 2, 2018
* RGA…
Last June, J.B. Pritzker’s campaign for Illinois governor was rocked by an investigative report from the Chicago Sun-Times that detailed how the billionaire removed toilets at his second Gold-Coast Chicago mansion in order to claim the property uninhabitable and receive hundreds of thousands of dollars in property tax refunds and breaks.
Now, the Cook County Inspector General is investigating the scandal and calling the Pritzkers’ efforts to dodge taxes a “scheme to defraud” taxpayers, and is recommending Cook County seek action to recover over $330,000 from the Pritzkers. Specifically, the IG alleges that Cook County was “the victim of sworn affidavits containing false representations” from the Pritzkers. These affidavits were “part of a scheme for obtaining money by means of false representations.”
In fact, the report found that the Pritzkers had the mansion’s toilets removed just 10 days prior to the inspection, and “lined up” the toilets against the wall.
J.B. Pritzker is trying to force an “immediate increase” in taxes on hardworking Illinois families, but won’t pay his own fair share by defrauding taxpayers. Pritzker should immediately apologize for his efforts to defraud taxpayers and return the money.
* Even Jim Dodge is getting into the act…
Last night, news broke in the Chicago Sun Times that, “Cook County’s chief watchdog has concluded that more than $330,000 in property tax breaks and refunds that Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker received on one of his Gold Coast mansions — in part by removing toilets — constituted a “scheme to defraud.”
Since the news broke, Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs, whose campaign has received sizeable donations from the billionaire Pritzker, has failed to comment publicly on the report.
In response, Jim Dodge, the Republican nominee for Treasurer issued the following statement:
“Over and over again Treasurer Frerichs has failed to show any political courage. He failed to speak up about Madigan and the #MeToo issues, failed to speak out about faulty assumptions in the budget before it passed and now he fails to speak out about Pritzker’s scheme to defraud taxpayers.
“At every juncture silent Mike puts political calculations above doing what is right.
“We need a Treasurer who will speak up and tell the truth, not just when its politically advantageous to do so. I will be that kind of Treasurer.”
…Adding… Oops. I missed this one from the ILGOP…
“This report makes it increasingly clear: JB Pritzker is a hypocrite and a fraud. He’s campaigning on a massive tax hike, calling on everyone to pay their ‘fair share,’ yet he devised a corrupt ’scheme to defraud’ Illinois taxpayers. The Inspector General’s report makes it clear that Pritzker ripped toilets out of his mansion just before tax assessors visited so he could claim it as uninhabitable, and reap a tax break worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. A billionaire willing to cheat Illinois taxpayers to save himself some extra cash clearly lacks the integrity to be governor.” - Illinois Republican Party Executive Director Travis Sterling
…Adding… Sam McCann’s not running as a Republican, but I’m putting his statement here anyway…
The same J.B. Pritzker who wants to raise taxes and make the wealthy pay their share got caught with his hypocritical hand in the cookie jar. Illinois’ history of corrupt governors is the laughing stock of the nation, and the last thing we need is another punchline governor connected with a “scheme to defraud” the system that the rest of us are forced to live by.
There are two tax systems in Illinois – the one that J.B. Pritzker and his billionaire buddies abuse, and the one by which ordinary Illinoisans like you and me pay for their tax breaks. If JB wants to be seen as anything other than just another billionaire, he should stop making excuses, own up to what he did, and pay Illinois back the $330,000 in taxes that he dodged.
Illinoisans deserve a governor who understands the world that normal working families live in and will work to protect the tax system from cheaters who laugh all the way to the bank.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 10:44 am
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Previous Post: Lots of coinkidinks
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Speakin’ of news…GovJunk poison plant won an award
Sterigenics International was named the 2015 Private Equity- backed Portfolio Company of the Year by the Illinois Venture Capital Association (IVCA).
According to a release from the company, the voting panel consisted of more than 50 IVCA Board members and prior recipients of IVCA Awards.
“We are honored to receive this award,” said Michael Mulhern, CEO of Sterigenics International. “It is a direct reflection of the commitment and performance of our 1800 employees around the world who are working every day to help improve global public health.”
Comment by Annoin' Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 10:48 am
Leave it to the GOP to take a legitimate hit and push it into cartoon territory.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 10:49 am
Look at the poster on the toilets above…
If ya wanna make the case it’s “Scheme to Defraud” and call it a serious criminal offense… do ya have a poster like this, on toilets, to make that point? They can’t help themselves, ruining chances.
Why go comical?
Amateurs.
You’re outside the building, which is tacky enough, now go with photoshopped JB with a crown?
You are making a case for federal charges… “but, the poster”?
Really speaks to Pat Brady, lol
This coulda been done so much better and more impactful.., but they have toilets, a poster, and Pat Brady…
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 10:52 am
Just imagine how much Pugsley could have saved taxpayer during the Governor’s Mansion restoration. He’d probably rent the Porta-Johns at a business he’d own.
That’s a beautiful house - will you take $25,000 for it? That’s about the cost of a used double-wide without plumbing in Hardin county.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 10:53 am
What is it with the GOP and juvenile humor these days?
Comment by Cheryl44 Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 10:54 am
coming soon: Rauner ads showing JB behind bars.
Comment by Robert the Bruce Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 10:56 am
I know why JB is so fat. He doesn’t have toilets so he is full of s#$%.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 11:02 am
Today would be a good day to apply the shoe on the other foot test.
If this was Governor Rauner’s issue instead of JB’s the hysteria would be exponentially bigger everywhere
Being a Democrat does have its advantages
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 11:04 am
===Today would be a good day to apply the shoe on the other foot test.===
Says the most one-sided commenter on this blog.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 11:06 am
Choose your own name.
I’m fully capable of embarrassing myself without your help.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 11:11 am
When every Republican or pseudo Republican in America is constantly asked to opine on various President Trump issues it does seem as if local Illinois media would at least ask Frerichs, Jesse White, Susana Mendoza etc. to go on record about the new details just released regarding their party’s gubernatorial standard bearer’s toilet removal property tax relief scam.
Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 11:16 am
Clear violation of Illinois False Claim Act. Violation creates liability for over one million.
Comment by Evanston Dem Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 11:18 am
…it’s a very, very, very fine house…
Comment by A guy Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 11:22 am
–Leave it to the GOP to take a legitimate hit and push it into cartoon territory.–
Exactly. They’ve been given a gift — “scheme to defraud” — and they can’t get over the giggles about toilets.
You don’t want folks to laugh about it, you want them to get mad.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 11:26 am
While everyone else wears shoes - only LP applies them. He also applies pants, shirts and hats.
Special guy all the way.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 11:27 am
That house may have been uninhabitable anyway, with or without the toilets. The third floor stairwell was slanted severely and the main floor stairwell had safety issues and had to be braced. There was also water damage and mold. The mold itself could have made the place a health hazard.
Comment by A Jack Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 11:32 am
Pat Brady, the only Republican in Illinois less popular with Republicans than Bruce Rauner. Yeah that’ll work.
Comment by GOPgal Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 11:37 am
If this is all you have to run on , you don’t have much of a message.
Comment by Steve Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 11:42 am
Boy they are childish. I imagine they have a few jokes about passing gas up their sleeve, too.
Comment by Maestro Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 11:47 am
Would claiming homeowner exemptions on three residences over many years constitute intent to defraud?
“County records show Rauner claimed homestead exemptions on a Winnetka home, a Chicago penthouse and a condo on a separate floor but in the same building overlooking Millennium Park. He claimed primary exemptions on the Winnetka property and the Chicago penthouse from 2008 to 2011 and on the second Chicago unit in 2010 and 2011.”
https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130329/news/703299932/
Comment by anon2 Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 11:48 am
JB has probably paid enough in sales taxes , alone in Cook County, to paid for entire school districts budgets in a given year.
Comment by Steve Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 11:53 am
Q: What does Pritzker tell guests visiting his mansion?
A: Hold it.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 12:04 pm
Did rauner claiming he lived in Chicago so his kid could go to Payton Prep ( and thus have her at a great school without having to pay tuition) also constitute “intent to defraud”??
Comment by low level Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 12:09 pm
Dem here. Voting for JB.
With that, I think the toilet thing is tremendously disappointing. We all know a tax raise is coming - to have it come from someone who literally hatched a scheme to save the equivalent of $5 for someone making $45,000 a year (and not worth $1.5b) is quite hypocritical.
And for someone who harbored dreams of public office someday? An alarming lack of judgment. His contrition on this has been poor.
Comment by Messenger Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 12:09 pm
Now that everyone knows Pritzker as governor intends to fire the Tidy Bowl man and unfund the Department of Scrubbibg Bubbles.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 12:16 pm
If elected, JB is also going after urinals and bidets.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 12:18 pm
It’s ironic that Rauner’s own policies will bring higher taxes because of not having a budget and not paying the state’s bills.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 12:21 pm
“Boy they are childish. I imagine they have a few jokes about passing gas up their sleeve, too.” Well, I’d bet they did pass by a BP station along the way, so . . .
Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 12:22 pm
Usually Republicans are for lower taxes on the wealthy. So they can create more jobs and “starve the beast” of government. Not in this case I guess. Oh well
Comment by low level Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 12:23 pm
That McCann react was actually coherent and to the point. The tax money would actually go to Cook County, not “Illinois,” but a lot less error-ridden that some of his other statements.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 12:27 pm
Just think how much more could be getting done if BVR put this kind of effort into governing!
Comment by Boone's is Back Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 1:15 pm
=Today would be a good day to apply the shoe on the other foot test.=
“HI I am Bruce Rauner and 13 veterans died on my watch while I did nothing. I also own a piece of a company that is poisoning people, as governor I said it isn’t a public health crisis”
or
“Hi, I am JB Pritzker and I lied to try and save some money on property taxes even though I am wealthy”
Hmmm, which one will people see as worse?
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 1:17 pm
The failed Gov .
Comment by Jaxon Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 7:01 pm