Big-dollar donors favor Lisa Madigan in 1st quarter

[mkfrns]

 

http://www.chicagotr...story?track=rss

 

By Rick Pearson Tribune reporter

6:21 p.m. CDT, April 5, 2013

 

Attorney General Lisa Madigan, who is considering a Democratic primary challenge to Gov. Pat Quinn in 2014, held a fundraising advantage among big-dollar donors through the first quarter of this year, according to campaign finance reports filed Friday.

 

Madigan deposited $736,015 in political donations at the end of March and has raised a total of $770,365 in contributions of $1,000 or more from Jan. 1 through March 31, State Board of Election records show. She had more than $3.6 million in her campaign fund at the start of the year.

 

Quinn raised $551,034 in donations of $1,000 or more over the same period, counting $490,534 he deposited at the end of March, and had more than $1 million in his campaign bank account at the start of the year, state records show.

 

Quinn, elected to a full term in 2010 after replacing impeached and imprisoned former Gov. Rod Blagojevich in 2009, has said he is seeking re-election next year.

 

His fundraising totals illustrated the power of incumbency amid increased speculation about a potential challenge from Madigan or from William Daley, the former chief of staff to President Barack Obama and brother of former Chicago Mayor Richard Daley.

 

Among Quinn’s top donors were the Service Employees International Union, which gave $25,000, the state’s trial lawyers association with $20,000, the painters’ union with $17,600 and the Illinois Laborers' union with $15,000.

 

The union donations came despite contention between the governor and public employee unions over Quinn’s efforts to change workers’ retirement benefits to help salvage the state’s pension system, which has an unfunded liability of $97 billion.

 

Madigan also received hefty labor support, including matching $52,600 donations from an engineers' union and from the association of plumbers and pipefitters. She also got $50,000 from the laborers’ political committee and $20,000 apiece from union operating engineers and the trial lawyers.

 

In a statement Friday, Madigan indicated she had not yet made a decision on running for governor but added “as 2014 approaches, I'm taking steps to ensure that I have the financial and political resources necessary for another campaign.”

 

Critics have questioned the potential conflict if she served as governor while her father, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, the state’s Democratic chairman, remains in power.

 

Daley has not created a campaign finance committee and there are questions whether he would seek a primary run for governor if Lisa Madigan also entered the contest.

 

Meanwhile, businessman Bruce Rauner, who is exploring a potential run for the Republican nomination for governor, has sold his stake in the Chicago Sun-Times, a spokesman said. The website of Crain’s Chicago Business first reported the move.

 

“Bruce has great respect for the role of the press and sold his stake in the company to avoid even the appearance of any conflict of interest if he decides to run,” said Rauner spokesman Chip Englander.

[skinnyb82]

I wonder if the money for her campaign is off-limits when she's sued for civil rights violations and personally sanctioned by every federal district court judge in the state if the ILGA doesn't pass 997 and IL becomes "the wild west."

[Lou]

So this proves that Illinois elections are not about representing We The People but rather those who donate the most.

Bloomberg paid $2.200,000 to buy the 2nd distrtict primary for Robin Kelley..

 

Blago was asking $6,000,000 for Obama's Senate seat.

 

I guess with 'Lil Lisa we'll find out how much it costs to buy the governor's mansion.

 

Welcome to Illinoisp olitics where we have the best politicians money can buy.

[vess1]

It scares me that people who would donate ANYTHING to these clowns, walk among us. The republicans need to start campaigning right now.

[cls74]

So do we have any more info on this Bruce Rauner yet? I can't find anyone big into politics who knows of him. Still scares me that he is friends and has support from Rahm Emanuel.

 

Madigan, Daley, Quinn and Rauner. Is there really a vote we can cast?

[Indigo]

So this proves that Illinois elections are not about representing We The People but rather those who donate the most.

Bloomberg paid $2.200,000 to buy the 2nd distrtict primary for Robin Kelley..

 

Blago was asking $6,000,000 for Obama's Senate seat.

 

I guess with 'Lil Lisa we'll find out how much it costs to buy the governor's mansion.

 

Welcome to Illinoisp olitics where we have the best politicians money can buy rent.

 

Fixed it for ya': Illinois politicians can't be bought. The best you can do is to rent them.

[WCD]

As the state flushes farther down the toilet spiral...

[BobPistol]

All this BIG MONEY. And Democrats claim they are representing the "little people" and the "poor". lol

[spec4]

So do we have any more info on this Bruce Rauner yet? I can't find anyone big into politics who knows of him. Still scares me that he is friends and has support from Rahm Emanuel.

 

Madigan, Daley, Quinn and Rauner. Is there really a vote we can cast?

 

Rauner was interviewed by John Kass on WLS Thursday. His wife is a Democrat and he said he has donated to the Dems. He praised Emanuel as a great businessman and admitted many connections with the Dems in his business dealings. After the interview I told my wife I would vote for him only to vote against Lisa. I don't know about the rest of you, but no way could I be married to a Dem. They stand for everything I'm against.

[cls74]

So do we have any more info on this Bruce Rauner yet? I can't find anyone big into politics who knows of him. Still scares me that he is friends and has support from Rahm Emanuel.

 

Madigan, Daley, Quinn and Rauner. Is there really a vote we can cast?

 

Rauner was interviewed by John Kass on WLS Thursday. His wife is a Democrat and he said he has donated to the Dems. He praised Emanuel as a great businessman and admitted many connections with the Dems in his business dealings. After the interview I told my wife I would vote for him only to vote against Lisa. I don't know about the rest of you, but no way could I be married to a Dem. They stand for everything I'm against.

 

Sounds like a wolf in sheeps clothing. Ol' Rahm is stacking the deck on both sides just to be sure in case all the gun control backfires on the Dem. party. My opinion only, but something doesn't sit right with it

[BackForward]

So do we have any more info on this Bruce Rauner yet? I can't find anyone big into politics who knows of him. Still scares me that he is friends and has support from Rahm Emanuel.

 

Madigan, Daley, Quinn and Rauner. Is there really a vote we can cast?

 

Rauner was interviewed by John Kass on WLS Thursday. His wife is a Democrat and he said he has donated to the Dems. He praised Emanuel as a great businessman and admitted many connections with the Dems in his business dealings. After the interview I told my wife I would vote for him only to vote against Lisa. I don't know about the rest of you, but no way could I be married to a Dem. They stand for everything I'm against.

 

Sounds like a wolf in sheeps clothing. Ol' Rahm is stacking the deck on both sides just to be sure in case all the gun control backfires on the Dem. party. My opinion only, but something doesn't sit right with it

 

Illinois has gone solidly democratic over the years and keeps getting more blue year by year. The only way a republican could ever become governor again is if they can appeal to both sides of the isle like Christie is doing in NJ.

[skinnyb82]

If Lisa runs, barring any unforeseen circumstances, she'll win. I don't disagree with that. If she's dragged before multiple federal judges due to noncompliance with the Seventh's order, that will present a problem and she'll be fodder for the Republican nominee (hopefully Dillard). We'll see. Who knows what'll happen between now and election day 2014. She's ultimately responsible for complying with the Court's order and the district judges will have no problem holding her in contempt and sanctioning her (not the state) if she can't control Chicago.

 

Sent from my SCH-R530U using Tapatalk 2

 

 

[blazzinbird]

If she is elected doesn't her daddy have to leave the house? Conflict of interest.

[Lou]

If she is elected doesn't her daddy have to leave the house? Conflict of interest.

 

In a fair world yes. In Illinois - no.

[blazzinbird]

You don't think the courts would have something to say about that

[skinnyb82]

So much for separation of powers

 

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[Xwing]

Of course the $$$ follow her. She's been pre-ordained with "Daddy's" full power and backing. Madigan does whatever he wants, and has near-dictator power.