Topspin Gov. Bruce Rauner will get the final say on whether Illinois leaves a controversial multistate voter registration system amid concerns the database was inaccurate and vulnerable to hackers. The House on Thursday voted to end the state's participation in the Crosscheck program, sending legislation to Rauner's desk. But his spokeswoman called it a "troubling vote," a possible suggestion he won't sign it. "These systems are intended to ensure access to voting, while preventing opportunities for fraud," spokeswoman Rachel Bold said. "County clerks, who are on the front lines of maintaining voter data have said that they appreciate the Crosscheck system as a source of information." Several states are re-evaluating their participation in the Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program, which is run through the Kansas secretary of state's office and is aimed at flagging duplicate voter registrations across state lines. Critics contend the system does not effectively protect personal information and note that some states have been sued for wiping out voter registrations based solely on the system's findings without following procedures spelled out in federal voting rights laws. A divided vote last year kept Illinois in the system. Political considerations are also at play. The top election official in Crosscheck's home state, Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, was co-chair of a now-defunct panel on voter fraud established by President Donald Trump. Republican state lawmakers argued against the measure Thursday, saying the Illinois Board of Elections should not be barred from accessing data because of political reasons. "The fact that some other states chooses to be a bad actor in how they use the data is not a reflection on the data, it's a reflection on the state that uses it that way, and Illinois does not use it that way," said Rep. Mike Fortner, R-West Chicago. "We are making this a political issue where we should be looking at is as a data issue." Sponsoring Rep. Ann Williams, D-Chicago, said the state would still have access to an alternative multistate voter data system known as the Electronic Registration Information Center. "The concern about voters being disenfranchised should be a concern for all of us, regardless of what party we represent," she said. (Monique Garcia) What's on tap *Mayor Rahm Emanuel will make a jobs announcement. *Gov. Rauner is on a trade mission to Poland and Germany. *U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin will visit a Chicago child education center. *Over the weekend, Cook County Circuit Clerk plans to announce her mayoral bid on Sunday. From the notebook *Trump help with Quincy: Republican state Rep. David McSweeney on Thursday called on Gov. Rauner to get Trump to help with the state-run Quincy veterans home where 13 residents died of Legionnaires' disease over the course of two years. McSweeney encouraged leaders of the House and Senate veterans affairs committees to write a letter to the governor asking him to call Trump by the end of the month. He referenced the state's need for federal money for new construction. A noteworthy opponent of the idea was Republican Sen. Jil Tracy of Quincy, whose district includes the home. She said she sees "no point." "I think it's a little out of the ordinary to request that we call the president right away," Tracy said, adding that the federal officials already have been involved. Contacting Trump about Quincy is an idea Rauner primary opponent state Rep. Jeanne Ives has floated before. Thursday's back-and-forth came during the latest joint committee hearing about the Quincy home, which has been a consistent challenge for Rauner. Democratic Sen. Tom Cullerton, who chairs the Senate veterans affairs committee, said he would consider McSweeney's proposal to write the letter. (Bill Lukitsch) *Former Biss, Pawar staffer gets new gig: Tom Elliott, who served as spokesman for two unsuccessful Democratic candidates for governor, has been named communications director for the Illinois Senate Democratic Victory Fund. "I'm excited to join the Illinois Senate Democratic Victory Fund and help Democratic candidates for the state senate get their message out to as many voters as possible," Elliott said in a statement he released about his new job. The victory fund is one of several campaign funds controlled by Democratic Senate President John Cullerton of Chicago to help bankroll his members' bids. It reported more than $1.2 million in cash in the bank at the start of this month. Elliott previously served as spokesman for the governor campaigns of Chicago Ald. Ameya Pawar and, after Pawar dropped out, state Sen. Daniel Biss of Evanston. (Rick Pearson) *On the "Sunday Spin": Tribune political reporter Rick Pearson's guests are Brian Mackey, state government and politics reporter for NPR Illinois and WUIS-FM Springfield; Democratic state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz of Chicago and Heather O'Donnell of Thresholds on community mental health funding; and Republican state Sen. Karen McConnaughay of St. Charles on the state budget. The "Sunday Spin" airs from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on WGN AM-720. What we're writing *Dorothy Brown plans to run for mayor of Chicago despite federal corruption probe. *Downstate Republican's third-party governor bid poses new threat to Rauner. *Emanuel wins court ruling in sanctuary city lawsuit against Trump administration. *Duckworth takes new baby onto Senate floor for first time. *As pay and benefits stagnate, nontenured faculty and graduate students in Illinois, Chicago look to unions. *State proposal would address insurance coverage of egg, embryo freezing. *South Side Obama center activists removed after disrupting Plan Commission meeting. What we're reading *Dogs that can sniff out electronic devices enlisted in the fight against child porn. *Which canned tuna makes best tuna salad? We taste and rate 13 brands. *Seven-time yellow jersey winner to pay a lot of green. Follow the money *Track Illinois campaign contributions in real time here and here. Beyond Chicago *Congress gets Comey memos. *Giuliani to join Trump's legal team. *Senate confirms Trump's pick to lead NASA. *Federal regulators to fine Wells Fargo $1 billion. *Judge questions scope of Mueller's authority. | 
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