Dorothy Brown's office 'not normal' —Trump donor issues DACA threat — New take on Cassidy's side gig Presented by Facebook

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

Good Friday morning, Illinois.


THE BUZZ: The Cook County Circuit Court Clerk’s office under Dorothy Brown has long been the subject of ridicule within the legal community, and certainly among journalists, for its grossly incompetent, stone-aged style of record-keeping.

Year after year, those concerns seem brushed aside, or at least minimized, with the belief that Brown couldn’t be around much longer: she would either lose reelection or an interminable federal investigation probing office hiring and her husband’s business practices would catch up to her.

Nope and nope.

A federal judge did finally order Brown to modernize the office, though compliance has been shoddy. In 2015, the Cook County Democratic Party booted her from the party ticket, but she was reelected anyway.

And the federal probe is moving at such a slow pace, it’s drawing feet-dragging complaints similar to the office it’s investigating.

But in February, the U.S. Attorney’s office did give us this: it revealed in a court filing that a witness alleged positions in Brown’s office were being sold off for $10,000 a piece.

Naturally, Brown’s next step was to join the race for Chicago mayor. While still holding onto her circuit court clerk job, she’s now part of a crowded field trying to replace Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

We say all this as a set up to a long form piece in the Chicago Reader, revealing real consequences stemming from an office steeped in bureaucracy.

‘THIS IS NOT NORMAL’ — “Hundreds of Illinois prisoners languish behind bars waiting for Dorothy Brown to do her job,” by Chicago Reader’s Maya Dukmasova: “This could be the story of two wrongful convictions. This could be the story of how James Allen was railroaded by a Chicago police detective and Cook County prosecutors who didn't think he deserved to be free. But before he has the chance to prove that he's innocent of two murders, Allen needs one thing: for Dorothy Brown, the clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, to do her job … Allen has been waiting for three years to have his day in court with this new evidence after Brown's staff was unable to locate his full trial record, which Becker is required to review before he can argue in front of a judge on Allen's behalf. Becker had been requesting these records for 16 months, ever since he took up Allen's case in January 2017.

“… ‘This is not normal,’ says Patricia Mysza, head of the state appellate defender's Cook County office. ‘Our clients have a constitutional right to an appeal . . . It's the clerk's obligation to prepare the complete record on appeal. And without that record our clients are not getting their constitutional right.’ On Friday, Brown's office issued a statement acknowledging that the delay in providing records for Allen's challenge of the Ciralski conviction shouldn't have happened and said the clerk is working to make sure a situation like this doesn't come up again.” Story here

A second piece worth highlighting: Tribune columnist Eric Zorn takes a thoughtful look at the intimidation allegations a prominent state lawmaker leveled against House Speaker Mike Madigan. Zorn explores a different thread involving Kelly Cassidy and her complaint over feeling forced out of a job, namely, he takes another look at that job.

— “There's no bravery in Rep. Cassidy's quitting her side job with Dart,” by Chicago Tribune’s Eric Zorn: “So, wait. What? State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, a North Side Democrat, is being lauded for her 'courage' by the Illinois Senate Women’s Caucus because she went public with the reasons she quit her part-time side job? She’s being portrayed as a martyr and a victim of The Man — veteran Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan — for resigning after two of Madigan’s key allies metaphorically raised their eyebrows about her gig at the Cook County sheriff’s office? At the risk of sounding insufficiently cynical about the ways of Springfield, I have to say I don’t get it … What I do get about all this is that a good case can be made that Cassidy should have stayed put and defied her alleged tormentors to make overt efforts to push her out of her side job. A better case can be made that Cassidy’s divided loyalties — to her constituents and to the sheriff’s office — created such inherent potential conflicts that she should have abstained from any legislative activity regarding Dart’s agenda. Even better yet, she should have never taken the job in the first place.” Story here

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DACA PRESSURE’s ON — POLITICO :“Trump donor to cut off GOP contributions over DACA”: “A Chicago-area businessman who has donated more than $1 million to President Donald Trump is threatening to deny contributions to Republican candidates unless they act on an immigration bill before Congress. David MacNeil, who employs more than 1,600 people through his Bolingbrook-based WeatherTech automotive company, told POLITICO in an interview that the issue has grown deeply personal, given that a top employee in his company could face deportation if a deal isn’t reached for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program … “I’m saying this as a political donor who’s donated seven figures in the last couple of years: I will not donate any more money to anyone who doesn’t support DACA, period,” MacNeil said in a phone call while traveling in Italy. “I’m putting my money where my mouth is.” MacNeil said Dreamers represent both “a national treasure” and “a national asset,” adding: “Think of the value of 800,000 U.S. educated people with all the skills and knowledge they have and then deporting them.” Story here

CONSERVATIVE CONUNDRUM — “Chicago-area GOP congressmen torn in immigration fight," by Crain's Greg Hinz: "Caught between their base and public opinion, pulled one way by conservatives and another by a key fundraiser, Chicago-area GOP members are having a devil of a time figuring out how to vote on various immigration reform measures that are pending before the House as a possible floor showdown nears. In separate statements, Reps. Peter Roskam of Wheaton and Randy Hultgren of Plano said they are hoping that negotiations among Republicans on a possible compromise will come to fruition, with Roskam appearing to leave open the possibility of signing a discharge petition if those talks fail, but Hultgren ruling it out.” Story here

— “Editorial: Sign your names, GOP Congressmen, and stand up for Dreamers,” by Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board: “Peter Roskam and Randy Hultgren should sign a petition to force a vote on immigration in the House. The same goes for Adam Kinzinger. We’re also talking about four other Illinois congressmen: Mike Bost, Rodney Davis, John Shimkus and Darin LaHood. Our state, where one in seven residents is an immigrant, needs its leaders to stand up for Dreamers, younger undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children. The aforementioned Illinois Republicans are notably absent from a push started by moderate members of the GOP to bring four bills to legalize Dreamers to a vote in the House as early as June 25.” Story here

STATE

— “Blue Cross to pay Medicaid suppliers less,” by Crain’s Steven R. Strahler: "Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois plans to cut Medicaid reimbursement rates by 35 percent for medical suppliers—apparently an effort to win back business after new enrollees were blocked from the state's revamped Medicaid managed care program. Another private insurer, IlliniCare, signaled last fall that reimbursements could be slashed by up to 50 percent. The proposed cuts, starting Jan. 1, 2019, cover durable medical equipment--wheelchairs, ventilators and oxygen tanks, for example. According to a letter this month seeking an amended agreement from providers by June 1, Blue Cross is asking for a payment cap equal to no more than 65 percent of the state's Medicaid reimbursement rate." Story here

— “Fact-Check: Rauner says Texas is more union job friendly than Illinois,” by Better Government Association’s Kiannah Sepeda-Miller: “Rauner has long attacked union power in Illinois as an impediment to the state’s economic vitality. Usually, however, he compares Illinois’ job growth to neighboring Indiana, which like Texas is also a so-called right-to-work state where union membership can’t be compelled. That got us wondering: Is Rauner right that the job picture is brighter for union members in Texas? And why is he now pointing to the Lone Star state, with an energy-rich economy that has little in common with Illinois, instead of Indiana next door?” Story here

CHICAGO

— “Column: Hail the Obama temple, and silence at City Hall,” by Chicago Tribune’s John Kass: “Chicago may not have enough cops to patrol the streets, taxes are going up and residents are fleeing for safety and jobs. But you really can’t say City Hall ignores the important things. The Barack Obama Temple of Adoration and Fealty is important. It’s vitally important to Mayor Rahm Emanuel and aldermen seeking re-election, whether taxpayers like it or not. And Wednesday’s speeches honoring the Chicago Sun-Times chairman without ever mentioning that he’s now being paid by the mayor’s money man, Michael Sacks, is important. Silence is always important.” Story here

— “Emanuel’s private emails filled with complaints about crime,” by Chicago Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman: “Private emails written to and from Emanuel during the months of January, February and March were released in response to a Freedom of Information request. For the most part, they once again show that political heavy-hitters and campaign contributors are no longer pitching their ideas to Emanuel on the mayor’s private email accounts at the risk of attracting attention from Chicago’s reinvigorated Board of Ethics. … The mayor’s private emails also remain a gripe channel with most of the email traffic in one direction and a lot of it focused on crime.” Story here

— “Amazon official to Emanuel on Chicago HQ2 pitch: ‘Everyone here was impressed,’” by Chicago Tribune’s Bill Ruthhart: “A top Amazon official and former member of the Obama administration emailed Mayor Rahm Emanuel in January to tell him the company was “impressed” with Chicago’s high-stakes bid to land the online retail giant’s second headquarters and as many as 50,000 jobs, records show. Jay Carney, Amazon’s senior vice president of corporate affairs, sent Emanuel the message on the same day the company announced it had narrowed the list of potential cities for its HQ2 to 20 from 238, and Chicago made the cut.” Story here

— “Why did Carlos Ramirez-Rosa get kicked out of the City Council’s Latino Caucus?” by Chicago Reader’s Ben Joravsky: “At one time or another over the years, the City Council's been inhabited by drunks, philanderers, cokeheads, bribe takers, wire wearers, and various other miscreants of every race, creed, and color. But in all those years no alderman's been exiled from his own brood—until now. On Wednesday, without fanfare or warning, the council's Latino Caucus voted to boot Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa from its ranks. He still gets to represent the 35th Ward—hey, the caucus doesn't have that much clout. It's just its way of letting him know he's out of the club. ‘The knives are out,’ says Ramirez-Rosa. ‘Without notice, they voted to expel me. Never even a warning.’” Story here

— “Chicago’s population drops for third year in a row, losing 3,825 in 2017: Census,” by Chicago Sun-Times’ Tanveer Ali: “The nation’s third-largest city lost residents for the third year in a row in 2017, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates released Wednesday. Chicago’s population stood at an estimated 2,716,450 as of July 1 last year, compared with 2,720,275 the same day in 2016. The drop in residents represents a 0.14 percent decrease over the year.” Story here

— “Editorial: At South Works, dreams dashed once again,” by Chicago Tribune Editorial Board: “This isn’t the first time residents of the Far South Side have had their dreams of a South Works rebirth dashed. There was the $4 billion plan between U.S. Steel and Chicago-based McCaffery Interests to build 13,000 homes and a 1,500-slip marina. And a decade ago, Solo Cup envisioned the construction of a new factory at South Works. Both ideas went nowhere. Places like the South Works site that have been languishing for years should be a top-shelf priority for Emanuel. We said before that he ought to roll up his sleeves and make the redevelopment of the South Works site happen. Mr. Mayor, we’re still waiting.” Story here

AROUND THE COLLARS

— “Immigration activists: ICE action is damaging the suburbs,” by The Daily Herald’s Justin Kmitch: “Fourteen immigrants and immigration rights advocates gathered Thursday afternoon in downtown Aurora to protest what they called unwelcome action by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in recent days in the suburbs. The group, representing Indivisible Aurora, Immigrant Solidarity DuPage and the Immigrant Liberation Alliance, gathered just outside the Paramount Theatre from 3 to 3:30 p.m. holding signs and praying.” Story here

GOVERNOR’s RACE

— “Pritzker may skip Tribune editorial board,” by Crain’s Chicago Business’ Greg Hinz: “Is Democratic gubernatorial hopeful J.B. Pritzker getting ready to stiff the state's largest newspaper? Pritzker's campaign today released a list of debates he's agreed to attend with GOP incumbent Bruce Rauner, and a joint appearance before the paper's editorial board—which would be webcast and which other campaigns have included in their list of agreed-on debates—is not included.” Story here

NBC5’s Mary Ann Ahern adds: “Of note, the Quincy debate is the only one the billionaire Hyatt heir included outside the Chicago area in his schedule - avoiding both southern Illinois, as well as the Springfield-Decatur-Champaign market which candidates typically try to hit. Coverage from WCIA has been unfavorable to Pritzker at times, as the only television station in Springfield broke a story in January on his use of offshore accounts, dominating the political news cycle in Illinois.” Story here



NATION

— “‘He is not taking this guy’s s—,’” by POLITICO’s Eliana Johnson and Michael Crowley: Story here

— “Senate passes harassment bill as civil rights groups slam it,” by POLITICO’s Rachael Bade and Elana Schor: Story here

— “Harvey Weinstein set to turn himself in on sex crime charges in New York,” by New York Daily News’ Shayna Jacobs, Rocco Parascandola and Rich Schapiro: Story here

POLITICO and South China Morning Post Partner to Expand Coverage of US-China Relations. Read our note from POLITICO Editor-in-Chief John Harris and Editor Carrie Budoff Brown to learn more .

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