IN DEFENSE of RAUNER and HB40 — CONSERVATIVES declare political war on GOV — SODA TAX in crosshairs Presented by Facebook

By Natasha Korecki ([email protected]; @natashakorecki) and Kristen East ([email protected]; @kristenicoleast)

Good Tuesday morning, Illinois.


THE BUZZ — Some supporters of HB40 fear the harsh conservative backlash — a steady drumbeat of disapproval against Gov. Bruce Rauner’s signature on the bill expanding public funding of abortion in Illinois — has eclipsed any talk of what they view as a victory for low-income women.

“I feel like the conversation around this is all focused on politics instead of on the women,” Lori Chaiten, ACLU’s Director of the Reproductive Rights Project told POLITICO. “This was a huge step forward for women and communities in Illinois. It is getting drowned out by the negative statements and the politics in this state.”

Opponents will quickly point out that it wasn’t just Rauner’s signature that was the problem — it was that he had promised abortion opponents in his party that he would veto the bill. Rauner said he came to the decision after meeting with groups of women across the state who told him they didn’t have access to abortion because of finances.

“Unfortunately, I do believe we’ve become incredibly polarized, not just in Illinois but across the country,” Chaiten said. “I do think it’s really important to stop for a minute. I think this is what the governor did. He stopped and listened to the experiences of the women of this state and to women who needed access to health care. It was a brave and bold move on his part.”

Former Lt. Governor Corinne Wood, who stood beside Rauner at the news conference where he announced he’d sign HB40, argued that in time, Rauner’s support for the issue will help him win reelection.

“Historically, Republican candidates have been real Republicans — Republicans who don’t want government interference,” Wood said. “There are very strong opinions on either end of the issue. I know that neither side would compromise. This just exemplifies that our government is broken and made up of extremes instead of made up of in the middle. That’s where most people in Illinois come from, the middle.”

Wood added: “When the dust settles for the social conservatives, what I hope they remember is we had a governor who stood up to Mike Madigan.”

BUT THEY’RE NOT HEARING IT

Conservative, “pro-family” representatives from 20 organizations, convened on Monday and declared they had “no confidence” in Rauner — and would actively oppose Rauner in not only the primary but the general election. Family-Pac Director Paul Caprio told POLITICO Monday said if conservatives are unable to oust Rauner in a primary, they would not stop and just accept “the lesser of two evils.” Instead, they’ll work to place an independent on the ballot in the general election.

The quote: “There’s a string of broken promises of a public official that I have never seen in 50 years of politics,” Caprio said of Rauner. “I would rate Bruce Rauner’s chances of reelection at zero percent. I cannot conceive of a way that he wins, including the possible indictment of a Democratic opponent.”

Caprio said there are several possible candidates though none has formally announced: some names include state Rep. Jeanne Ives, state Rep. Peter Breen and state Sen. Sam McCann.

See you in two weeks — Caprio said no possible candidates were present on Monday but would be invited back in two weeks to make a pitch to the larger group.

At that Monday meeting, the group adopted a bill of particulars:

“We hereby express a vote of ‘no confidence’ in Governor Bruce Rauner.

We hereby state that Governor Bruce Rauner, were he to seek re-election for the office of Governor, will not have our support in either a Republican primary or in the General Election of 2018.” Capitol Fax posted the full memo including the organizations involved.

— Fact-checking Gov. Rauner on abortion, by Better Government Association’s Matt Dietrich: “Gov. Bruce Rauner’s signing of a controversial abortion bill last month triggered an avalanche of protest from his fellow Illinois Republicans and pro-life groups, who said he betrayed them … In a Sept. 28 press conference in which he announced his intent to sign the bill, Rauner lamented that he could not convince Democratic lawmakers to split the legislation into separate bills, one covering the trigger provision and the other dealing with insurance coverage. But he defended his action as consistent with his pro-choice principles. ‘I personally am pro-choice. I always have been. And I made no qualms about that when I was elected governor,’ Rauner said. Rauner’s statement sent us combing through video clips, ads and news coverage of the 2014 gubernatorial election to see if he really was consistent in presenting his pro-choice stance to voters during that hotly contested race. Here’s what we found.” Story here

-- “APNewsBreak: Billions in Illinois bills not sent for payment,” by AP’s John O’Connor: “Illinois is chasing a moving target as it tries to dig out of the nation’s worst budget crisis, and a review obtained by The Associated Press shows $7.5 billion worth of unpaid bills — as much as half the total — hadn’t been sent to the official who writes the checks by the end of June. Although many of those IOUs have since been paid, a similar amount in unprocessed bills has replaced them in the last three months, Comptroller Susana Mendoza’s office said Monday. That’s in addition to $9 billion worth of checks that are at the office but being delayed because the state lacks the money to pay them. The mound of past-due bills tripled over the two years Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrats who control the General Assembly were locked in a budget stalemate, which ended in July when lawmakers hiked income taxes over Rauner’s vetoes … The age of bills is important because many that are 90 days or older face a 1 percent-per-month late-payment fee; about $5.5 billion of the current $15.9 billion backlog is subject to the penalty. Mendoza estimates the state will ultimately pay $900 million in late-payment fees on the existing pile of debt.” More here

WALK TO A PARK — Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is among big-city mayors across the country joining a “10-minute walk” park advocacy campaign, which is launching today to establish “the ambitious goal that all Americans should live within a 10-minute walk (or half-mile) of a high-quality park or green space,” said a statement from group promoting the campaign. Those advocating for it include The Trust for Public Land, National Recreation and Park Association, and Urban Land Institute. Other Illinois mayors on board are Elgin Mayor Dave Kaptain, Dolton Mayor Riley Rogers, and Rockford Mayor Thomas McNamara. Read More

AG UPDATE — Sharon Fairley, Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s police oversight chief, has scheduled a morning news conference to announce her candidacy for Attorney General. Fairley, a former federal prosecutor, is getting into a crowded field. Among those who have announced they’re running on the Democratic side: state Rep. Scott Drury and state Sen. Kwame Raoul. Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering is circulating petitions. Here’s NBC’s run-down of who else is considering a run. Republican Erika Harold, a Harvard Law Student and former Miss America, has announced she’s running on the GOP side.

— “Nobel goes to American Richard Thaler for work in behavioral economics,” by NPR’s Scott Neuman: “he 2017 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences has been awarded to Richard Thaler of the University of Chicago for his pioneering work in behavioral economics. The announcement from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm said that the 72-year-old Thaler "has incorporated psychologically realistic assumptions into analyses of economic decision-making. By exploring the consequences of limited rationality, social preferences, and lack of self-control, he has shown how these human traits systematically affect individual decisions as well as market outcomes,’ the committee said in a statement.” Story here

Welcome to the POLITICO Illinois Playbook! We welcome your tips, events, announcements. Send to [email protected] or @natashakorecki SUBSCRIBE to Illinois Playbook For more Illinois news visit: http://www.politico.com/news/illinois

SODA TAX REPEAL DAY

— “Column: The doomed soda tax was never about our health,” by Chicago Tribune’s Dahleen Glanton: “Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has confirmed what most of us suspected all along. That penny-per-ounce soda tax had nothing to do with our health. It was only about the money. Facing a vote on Tuesday that would repeal the controversial tax on sugary drinks, Preckwinkle laid everything on the line and warned us that if the tax goes, so will jobs and services many Cook County residents depend upon.” Story here

— “Poll: TV ads haven’t sweetened opinions on pop tax," by Sun-Times' Tina Sfondeles: “As Cook County commissioners are set to vote to repeal a tax on sweetened beverages on Tuesday, a new poll finds that the millions of dollars in ads spent by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg may not have done much to sway public opinion. A poll of 1,050 registered voters taken on Oct. 6 and Oct. 7 found nearly 86 percent opposing the tax. Pollsters asked the same question in early August, with almost 87 percent opposing the tax then — a statistically insignificant change.” Story here

STATE

— “Illinois governors use field trips to schools to send a message,” by Northern Public Radio’s Jenna Dooley: “Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has been taking a victory lap for the new school funding formula at schools across the state. Such visits can be a low-stakes way for the state’s top politicians to interact with their youngest constituents. … School visits by governors are part civics lesson and part student-friendly stump speech. But these visits are always intentional, no matter who is governor. In this case, Rauner wanted to talk about the recently passed update to the state’s school funding formula.” Story here

— “State Week: Do Republicans still ♥ Rauner?” by NPR Illinois’ Sean Crawford, Brian Mackey and Charles N. Wheeler III: “Fallout continues from Gov. Bruce Rauner's decision to sign a pro-abortion bill, with some Republicans calling him a liar and others courting primary challengers. How will this affect his bid for reelection? Meanwhile, officials continue trying to entice Amazon to choose Chicago for its second headquarters. And Illinois politicians restart the debate on gun control after last weekend's murderous rampage in Las Vegas.” Story here

— “Questions persist on tollway’s no-transponder fee,” by The Daily Herald’s Marni Pyke: “What happened to the Illinois tollway's softer approach to nudging I-PASS customers who drive through tolls without transponders into getting one? Effective in 2018, the Illinois tollway will double rates for I-PASS users who leave home without their transponder. Back in March, staff recommendations suggested a 50 percent penalty instead of 200 percent, $10 gift cards to offset the cost of extra transponders and requiring 10 missed tolls to trigger the fine. Officials even brought up the idea of an amnesty program and a six-month education campaign. Those sweeteners appear to have fallen by the wayside.” Story here

— “Local schools working to comply with breast-feeding law,” by Sauk Valley’s Bob Tomaszweski: “Local education officials are working to comply with a new state law that requires public and charter schools to provide space for nursing mothers. The law, signed by Gov. Bruce Rauner in August, goes into effect Jan. 1 and requires schools to provide a room, other than a bathroom, with an electrical outlet for nursing mothers.” Story here

CHICAGO

— “Rahm donates $11K in campaign contributions from disgraced Harvey Weinstein,” by DNAinfo’s Heather Cherone: “Mayor Rahm Emanuel Monday donated nearly $11,000 in campaign contributions from disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein to a group that counsels Chicago girls exposed to violence, his campaign spokesman said. "The campaign cut a check first thing this morning," said campaign spokesman Pete Giangreco, Emanuel's campaign spokesman said in an email to DNAinfo Chicago.” Story here

— “Emanuel’s podcast loosens up tightly scripted mayor,” by Chicago Tribune’s Bill Ruthhart: “A few weeks ago, Mayor Rahm Emanuel sat down at an expansive, polished conference table across from 72-year-old Claude Lamb, who a few months earlier had been homeless with just $10 in his pocket. Both had lavalier microphones fastened to their shirts for the latest episode of Emanuel's new podcast. And in the straight-to-brass-tacks style that often animates his politics, the mayor wasted no time asking Lamb how he had reached his recent predicament. … Sex, booze and gambling aren't exactly topics image-conscious politicians like Emanuel seek out, but the exchange illustrates what can happen when a control-the-narrative mayor loosens the reins just a little: a spontaneous moment of levity. There have been quite a few so far during the 17 weekly episodes of "Chicago Stories," a new wrinkle at Emanuel's starched-and-pressed City Hall, where events are carefully scripted and the variables that could go wrong — from unruly protesters to awkward press photos — are accounted for.” Story here

— “Chicago moves closer to citywide youth mentoring,” by Columbia Chronicle’s Blaise Mesa: “New donations and more funding for Chicago’s youth services will help brighten the city’s future, according to local youth mentoring experts, and the money is slowly flowing in and expanding youth programs. Youth Guidance’s Becoming a Man program has expanded to 16 more Chicago Public Schools on the Southwest Side with the help of donations from Exelon, a Fortune-100 energy company; Get In Chicago, a community advocacy group against violence; Peoples Gas, a utility company; and ride-share service Uber, according to a Sept. 22 press release from Mayor Rahm Emanuel. The city is making strides toward reaching its universal mentoring goal by 2018. ” Story here

— “Columbus statue defaced a second time on Columbus Day,” by DNAinfo’s Kelly Bauer and Ariel Cheung: “A statue of Christopher Columbus has been defaced for a second time in three days. The statue was splashed with red paint on Monday morning, the same day some were celebrating Columbus Day. The words "mass murderer" and "decolonize!" also appear to have been written on the pedestal of the statue, which stands at Polk and Loomis streets in Little Italy.” Story here

— “Come to Chicago for an MBA? We’ll pass, thanks,” by Crain’s Chicago Business’ Lynne Marek: “Luring foreign students to U.S. business schools has become tougher in the anti-immigrant climate spurred by President Donald Trump's rhetoric and policies, but his rants about Chicago's crime have made it doubly difficult for local institutions. Foreign students, already facing tighter visa quotas and dimmer prospects for U.S. jobs, have been unnerved by web headlines like Trump's threat to "send in the feds" to fight crime in Chicago. Quinlan School of Business Dean Kevin Stevens at Loyola University Chicago laments an MBA market that has been soft for years, even without recent pressures from the White House, and says the focus on Chicago crime has taken it to another level.” Story here

— “Chance the Rapper livestreams traffic stop on Instagram,” by Chicago Sun-Times’ Tom Schuba: “Grammy Award-winner Chance the Rapper livestreamed a traffic stop Sunday to his nearly 7 million Instagram followers in case things went “sideways.” Chance, whose real name is Chancelor Bennett, is seen in a video posted to multiple YouTube pages sitting in the front passenger seat of a vehicle with his child’s mother, Kirsten Corley, behind the wheel.” Story here

— “Outside mayor’s house, protesters oppose converting South Loop school,” by Sun-Times' Sam Charles: “About 50 protesters flocked to Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s Ravenswood home Monday afternoon to voice their opposition to plans to convert the National Teachers Academy elementary school in the South Loop into a high school. The group — which included parents, students and other supporters — gathered outside Emanuel’s home in the 4200 block of North Hermitage to protest the CPS’ decision to change NTA, 55 W. Cermak, into a new neighborhood high school.” Story here

— “Garbage man told: Dump bloody mattress ASAP in mysterious cop death,” by Chicago Sun-Times’ Tim Novak and Robert Herguth: “Three hours after Chicago police Sgt. Donald Markham was pronounced dead of a gunshot wound to the head in his master bedroom, someone identifying herself as a cop called a top city garbage official for a special pickup “as soon as possible” to get rid of the bloody mattress where Markham’s body was found, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned. The police already had removed the mattress from Markham’s Northwest Side home, dumping it behind the Jefferson Park police station. That’s where a city garbage crew was sent to haul it away less than four hours after Markham died.” Story here

CHASING AMAZON

— “Chicago officials gather to talk city’s bid for Amazon’s 2nd headquarters,” by NBC 5 Chicago’s Mary Ann Ahern: “A shared hope of winning Amazon’s second US headquarters bid brought a bi-partisan group of elected officials and leaders together Monday morning. At an invite-only event, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and a Gov. Bruce Rauner showed a rare moment of unity as the full court press to recruit Amazon remained in high gear. The early morning breakfast did not appear on either the mayor’s or the governor’s public schedules, but nevertheless, the pair joined a few hundred others for the pep rally of sorts.” Story here

— “Chris Kennedy to Amazon: No tax deal — ‘Collect and pay,’” by WLS-AM News’ Bill Cameron: “... Meantime, on the bidding for Amazon’s second headquarters, Chris Kennedy seemed to argue ask not what Illinois should do for Amazon, ask what Amazon should do for Illinois, pointing out “We should start by closing their tax advantage. They shouldn’t be able to sell into Cook County and not pay the taxes here. Collect and pay.”” Story here

— “The kind of talk that could sink the Amazon deal,” by Crain’s Chicago Business’ Greg Hinz: “With an exception or two, the Democratic candidates for governor had a grand time yesterday bashing Amazon the evil and deploring the possibility that the city and state might offer the company big to enormous incentives to locate its second headquarters and a promised 50,000 jobs here. I understand the sentiment—and, to a degree, share it. Under banners that declared ‘our revolution,’ the wannabe guvs were talking to a progressive audience at an event hosted by the Chicago Teachers Union. In that crowd, terms like ‘corporate welfare’ are so much mother's milk. But that audience isn't the only one paying attention to what's being done and said regarding the Amazon deal.” Story here

AROUND THE COLLARS

— “Schaumburg man blinded by foul ball sues Cubs,” by The Daily Herald’s Chacour Koop: “A Schaumburg man blinded in one eye after he was hit by a foul ball at Wrigley Field is suing the Chicago Cubs and Major League Baseball. John "Jay" Loos, 60, was watching the Cubs play the Pittsburgh Pirates with his children in August when a line drive traveling up to 100 mph struck his face. He suffered several facial bone and eye injuries that led to blindness in his left eye, according to the lawsuit filed Monday in Cook County.” Story here

— “Relics of Pope John Paul II will be displayed in Des Plaines Wednesday,” by Chicago Sun-Times staff: “Relics of a former pope are on their way to the Chicago area. A lock of hair, a rosary and also some blood from Saint John Paul II will be at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines on Wednesday. The occasion is a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Miracle of Fatima, when three children reported seeing a vision of a woman whom they believed to be the Virgin Mary. John Paul II had long maintained that the Lady of Fatima had saved his life when he was shot in a 1982 assassination attempt.” Story here

— “White House sends Congress plans for immigration enforcement,” by The Wall Street Journal’s Laura Meckler: “The White House sent Congress an expansive set of principles that would sharply increase immigration enforcement at the border and inside the U.S. and significantly cut the number of new legal arrivals, demanding a high price for legislation under consideration to help ‘Dreamers.’ The documents arrive as lawmakers begin an emotional and contentious debate over whether to legalize young people brought to the U.S. illegally as children, often called Dreamers. These young migrants will lose work permits and protection from deportation starting in March under a six-month phaseout ordered by President Donald Trump.” Story here

GOVERNOR’s RACE

— “Rep. Bustos endorses Pritzker for governor,” by Peoria Public Radio’s Cass Herrington: “Illinois’ 17th District Congresswoman Cheri Bustos endorsed Democratic candidate JB Pritzker in his run for Governor, Mon. … The Congresswoman says JB Pritzker is taking a different approach, by focusing on downstate Illinois. “This is a guy who’s going to be our next governor, who’s not going to have to understand how you get to Peoria, how you get to Pekin, how you get to Monmouth,” Bustos said.” Story here

— “Democratic county chairmen back Pritzker for governor,” by Chicago Tribune’s Rick Pearson: “A group of the state’s Democratic county chairmen voted Saturday to back J.B. Pritzker for governor, adding to a list of endorsements for the billionaire entrepreneur and investor. Doug House, president of the Illinois Democratic Chairmen’s Association, said Pritzker gained the backing of nearly 70 percent of the 102 party county leaders during its fall meeting in Springfield.” Story here

NATION

— “Pence leaves NFL game after players kneel during anthem,” by POLITICO’s Brent D. Griffiths: Story here

— “Stephen Miller, the powerful survivor on the president’s right flank,” by The New York Times’ Matt Flegenheimer: Story here

— “Harvey Weinstein is fired after sexual harassment reports,” by The New York Times’ Megan Twohey: Story here

EVENTS

TODAY — City Club of Chicago welcomes Jay Timmons, President & CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers, and Greg Baise, President & CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association. 12 p.m. lunch, Maggiano's Banquets - 111 W. Grand.

THURSDAY — National Louis University is holding a forum with Juliana Stratton, running mate to gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker, along with the Applied Behavioral Sciences faculty to discuss ways to bring healing to Chicago and communities. Stratton has done extensive work with restorative justice and serves as the director of the Center for Public Safety and Justice (CPSJ) at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Thursday; National Louis University Chicago Campus (122 S. Michigan Ave. -- 2nd floor atrium) More information here

WHERE’s RAHM? No schedule available.

WHERE’S RAUNER? attends Lt. Governor’s Second Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Breakfast at National Museum of Mexican Art.

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