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April 9, 2018 | ||
Morning Spin | ||
Topspin The Democratic Governors Association frequently has sought to highlight divisions among state Republicans by noting that Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner still hasn't spoken with state Rep. Jeanne Ives since narrowly defeating her in last month's primary. But in a recent southern Illinois TV appearance, Rauner told WSIL-TV that he had made an overture to Ives. Asked by a reporter "when specifically did you reach out to Ives," Rauner replied: "Right after the election." The Ives camp said Rauner wasn't being truthful. "As usual, Gov. Rauner is not telling the truth. What he is saying happened did not happen," Ives spokeswoman Kathleen Murphy said in email. "But that's fine. Rauner's surrogates have made and continue to make it clear that they want Ives and other conservatives out of the party so there's no need for perfunctory and disingenuous outreach," she said. "He and his surrogates are who Republicans chose to lead them. He is the nominee. And Ives wishes him good luck in the general." Ives has said she would vote for Rauner in November but would not endorse him. Rauner told reporters at an event to mark the founding of the Special Olympics that he was making an effort toward unity as he seeks re-election. "What I'm doing pretty much every day is traveling around the state, meeting with not only Republican elected officials as well as grass-roots activists, but also meeting with many community leaders, Democrats, independent voters, talking about coming together as a people," he said. (Rick Pearson) What's on tap *Mayor Rahm Emanuel will break ground on a new Fleet and Facility Management headquarters in Englewood. *Gov. Rauner and Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti will hold a downtown news conference about the legislative session resuming. *The Illinois House is in session for the first time since the primary election. *Senate Republican leader Bill Brady will speak to the City Club of Chicago. *The week ahead: On Tuesday, the Illinois Senate resumes and Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson is at the City Club.
From the notebook *On the other side: As for unity, Ives has not expressed much public support for Rauner. Appearing last week on "Pro-Life Weekly" on the EWTN Global Catholic Television Network, Ives said her candidacy was motivated by Rauner's signature on a bill that expanded taxpayer-subsidized abortions for poor women and those covered by state employee health insurance. "I think the pro-life community needs a wake-up call. You need to watch your politicians carefully and you need to hold them accountability for your votes," Ives said on EWTN. "So, challenging Bruce Rauner was about holding him accountable, and we will continue to hold him accountable as he plays out the rest of his term and we, actually, we're a stronger caucus now having been through that whole process and we will hold politicians accountable in the future in the state of Illinois for their mis-votes on this life issue." Rauner's answer about contacting Ives after the primary brought up memories of his 2014 general election victory speech. Then, he told supporters: "I placed two very important phone calls. I called Speaker (Michael) Madigan. I called (Senate) President (John) Cullerton, and I said to them, 'This is an opportunity for us to work together.'" After spokespeople for both Madigan and Cullerton said Rauner had talked to neither man, the governor acknowledged he'd left voicemail messages with aides for the two leaders. (Rick Pearson) *Durkin says don't do a six-month budget: Illinois House Republican leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs said it would be a mistake for Democrats to try to advance a six-month state budget in hopes that J.B. Pritzker will win the governor's race over Rauner. As lawmakers return to Springfield on Monday after an extended spring break, Durkin said on WGN-AM 720 that Madigan shouldn't be lining up votes on bills for political purposes for the fall legislative elections. "The speaker needs to realize, and also all the members of his caucus need to know, is that the battle lines have been drawn. We know what the issues are at stake in November," Durkin said. "The speaker does not have to go down and spend a month of gotcha votes. He's got an arsenal of those ahead of him. So my plea to him, or request to him, is that let's spend the next six, seven weeks on putting together a full-year budget," he said. Durkin said a half-year budget leading up to the seating of the governor in January is a "very dangerous, dangerous attitude to take" that would create uncertainty involving social service agencies, universities and grade and high school education. (Rick Pearson) *If you pay to build it, they will cut ribbons: The House GOP leader also said he doubts that Democrats who control the General Assembly would be supportive of a capital bill to improve the state's public works, including a costly proposal to renovate the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy, the site of 13 deaths in recent years caused by repeated outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease. "Does the speaker and the Democrat power structure want to give the governor the ability to go around the state of Illinois and say that we've delivered on a number of projects that have been long overdue, the ribbon-cutting ceremonies and whatnot? I don't think the Democrats want to give the governor that luxury," Durkin said. Of course, bills to repair the state's infrastructure typically require a money stream to pay for them. And no one on either side is eager to talk about tax increases in an election year. (Rick Pearson) *Quick Spin: When possible mayoral candidate Paul Vallas first created a campaign fund last week, it was called Paul Vallas for Chicago. Just a few days later, paperwork was filed Friday to rename the committee Paul Vallas for All Chicago. *On the "Sunday Spin": Tribune political reporter Rick Pearson's guests were state Sen. Michael Hastings, D-Tinley Park; WTTW-Ch. 11 correspondent Amanda Vinicky; and Durkin. The "Sunday Spin" airs from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on WGN 720-AM. Listen to the full show here.
What we're writing *Conservative publications blur lines between journalism, politics. *Attorneys for city deny intentionally failing to disclose key evidence in code-of-silence trial. *Fed Chairman Jerome Powell tells Chicago audience it's too soon to know economic impact of China trade dispute. *Alderman says he'll hold neighborhood meetings on dueling plans for police oversight. *Holes in federal law to protect insurance coverage put mentally ill at risk, advocates say. What we're reading *Under fire from Trump, Sessions taps U.S. attorney in Chicago to oversee production of documents to Congress. *It's been a year since a passenger was dragged off a United flight. Has anything really changed? *Even where it's legal to sell marijuana, it's hard to advertise it. *Blackhawks mourn victims of tragic bus crash involving Canadian junior hockey team. Follow the money *Republican state Rep. Jeanne Ives reported a $20,000 contribution to her governor campaign fund from conservative radio host Dan Proft. *Track Illinois campaign contributions in real time here and here. Beyond Chicago *Trump allies talk trade on the Sunday shows. *Republicans warn of impeachment if Democrats win big in midterms. *Michigan Supreme Court weighs case about guns and schools. *Chemical attack hits Syria. |
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