By Mark Guarino (markguarino10@gmail.com; @markguarino) along with Manuela Tobias (mtobias@politico.com; @manuelatobiasm)
Happy Hump Day, Illinois! Have actually you ever visited, just for old times’ sake, a former workplace, only to remember why you left?
Story Continued Below
Well, that may be just what President Obama will certainly be going through today when he travels to Springfield to address the Illinois General Assembly, where he served as a three-term state senator before heading to Washington. The speech topic, according to the White House: “just what we can do, together, to build a much better politics — one that reflects our much better selves.”
How quaint that the speech will certainly take place in a building hollowed out by the dull thumps of political head-butting from both sides of the aisle. In fact, the stalemate over a budget is so divisive, universities are worried they may Have actually to shut their doors, public institutions likes cities and hospitals are yawning from unpaid debt, social services are being cut for the homeless, disabled and elderly, and general anxiety in the public sector is shooting upward like a cat in a tree. The financial crisis has actually stretched well over 200 days and counting, and partisan feuding has actually not dimmed. So Obama’s homecoming to talk about lawmaker harmony may indeed be the magic spell required to loosen those locked jaws. Or it might end up a hollow experience that Obama can forget however state residents can’t forgive.
— NOT THAT WASHINGTON IS ANY BETTER: As Rich Miller in Crain’s writes, “Never say never, however the man has actually had his own issues along with extreme gridlock in Washington, D.C. As bad as it has actually been there, it’s worse in Springfield right now. The biggest thorn in Obama’s adverse has actually been the far-right tea party movement, which has actually angrily opposed very much his every move since he was sworn into office. The Republicans took over the U.S. Home along with the full support of that movement two years after Obama’s election in 2008. The GOP reinstituted the “Hastert Rule,” named for the now disgraced former Home speaker that refused to move legislation unless it had majority support among his Republican members. That meant a relative handful of all elected members of Congress could block anything they didn’t like, and they especially didn’t like Obama. If Obama backs it, they are instinctively versus it. That attitude has actually spread to Illinois.” http://bit.ly/1oqSnTR
— SPRINGIELD IS NOT JUST BROKEN, THE CITY IS TOO: Even the city where Obama is revisiting is hurting. Mayor Jim Langfelder says the state owes his city more than $7 million in unpaid utility bills due to the budget impasse. He tells Sarah Mueller of Northern Public Radio that he hopes Obama’s speech will certainly inspire state lawmakers to come back to the table and compromise. Writes Mueller: “Hopefully, his message will certainly be just one of coming together,’ Langfelder said, ‘however the various other adverse of that is he does come from the federal government. You can give influence over individual leaders to come with each other to discover a resolution.’ Langfelder says he will certainly watch to see if the president’s visit sparks any energy on the state’s budget impasse, now in its eighth month. If not, he says, he will certainly continue to pursue payment through legislation in the General Assembly. Obama themselves owes a debt to Springfield. Langfelder has actually said recently that he wants to waive the $50,000 invoice that Obama’s campaign owes for security when he kicked off his 2008 candidacy in the city. http://bit.ly/1T6otPX
— RAUNER SUGGESTS OBAMA ON HIS SIDE: That’s just what Gov. Bruce Rauner told ABC-7’s Charles Thomas Tuesday. Thomas quotes Rauner saying, “I chance the President advocates for bipartisan compromise’ and later Thomas writes, ‘The governor noted that President Obama has actually spoken publicly in favor of key elements of Rauner’s controversial turnaround agenda: term limits and redistricting reform. ‘I believe we’ve got to end the practice of drawing our Congressional Districts so that politicians can pick their voters and not the various other means around,’ Obama said on January 12. ‘The president said it. I agree along with your man and the voters of Illinois agree along with him,’ Rauner said.” http://abc7.ws/1XhJjfH
— PLAYBOOK has actually LEARNED: U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth, that is running for the U.S. Senate seat occupied by Republican Mark Kirk, will certainly be Obama’s invited guest for the speech.
STATE
OBAMA DÉJÀ VU VISIT — “Obama Plans Speech in Springfield, Where He Announced Candidacy,” by the Brand-new York Times’ Michael D. Shear: “President Obama will certainly return next month to Springfield, Ill., where he began his campaign to become president, to call for something he has actually strained to deliver in Washington: a much less divisive politics in America. Mr. Obama announced his candidacy for president on Feb. 10, 2007 on the steps of the Old State Capitol in Springfield. He will certainly return to the Capitol exactly nine years later and will certainly speak to the Illinois General Assembly, where he once served as a state senator. Josh Earnest, the White Home press secretary, said Mr. Obama’s remarks would certainly be ‘about just what we can do with each other as a country to build a much better politics and one that reflects our much better self.’ That is a goal that Mr. Obama talked about in his last State of the Union speech, in January. In those remarks, he challenged Americans to answer the question: ‘How can we make our politics reflect what’s ideal in us, and not what’s worst?'” http://nyti.ms/1SHn442
OBAMA VISIT “FUN TO DO” — “Obama looking forward to fun visit to Springfield, his spokesman says,” by the State Journal-Register’s Bernard Schoenburg: “President Barack Obama’s trip to Springfield Wednesday will certainly allow your man to visit old friends, recall his job in the Illinois General Assembly, and continue to talk about the need for people in government to be much less partisan, White Home press secretary Josh Earnest said Monday. Obama’s speech to Illinois lawmakers in the Home chamber at 1:30 p.m. comes exactly nine years from the day Obama, then a member of the U.S. Senate, announced his candidacy for president outside the Old State Capitol. Obama was earlier a member of the state Senate. ‘This is actually something we’ve been talking about for a while,’ Earnest said in a conference call. ‘There has actually always sort of been the sense that going back to Springfield on the anniversary of his announcement speech would certainly be fun to do. And it would certainly serve as the background for a discussion about the kind of potential that the president sees in the country.'” http://bit.ly/1KEuKRz
TALE OF TWO CAPITALS? — “Obama Confronts a Failure of His Presidency in Illinois Capital,” by Bloomberg Politics’ Mike Dorning and Elizabeth Campbell: “Presidents in the final year of their terms love to highlight their legacies. When Barack Obama journeys to the Illinois state capital this week, he’ll instead point up one of his presidency’s greatest failures. National political divisions and partisan rancor Have actually grown worse, not better, under Obama, a development he has actually acknowledged as one of the biggest regrets of his administration. And Springfield, Illinois, has actually become a funhouse mirror of Washington’s dysfunction: a Republican governor locked in a standoff along with a Democratic legislature, producing a financial crisis that has actually left the state without a budget for 222 days and forced cuts in services to the disabled, homeless and the elderly. Obama on Wednesday will certainly address the stalemated Illinois legislature nine years to the day after he announced his presidential campaign a few blocks away. At the time, he held up the state’s government as proof that Washington politicians could defeat partisan differences to solve problems. As the Obama era nears its end, the two capitals are more alike, though not as candidate Obama would certainly Have actually hoped.” http://bloom.bg/1XhwzG1
TRUTHINESS AND PEOPLES GAS: BAD MIX SAYS MADIGAN — “AG Madigan: Former Peoples Gas execs violated state law,” by Steve Daniels: “The chief executives of Peoples Gas and previous parent Integrys Energy Group violated state law last year when they ‘knowingly misled and withheld material information’ from state utility regulators on soaring costs in the utility’s program to replace 2,000 miles of aging gas mains in Chicago, according to Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. Prior to appearing before the Illinois Commerce Commission May 20 to discuss the massive infrastructure project, former Integrys CEO Charles Schrock and former Peoples President John Kleczynski had been briefed in multiple meetings on how the estimated cost to finish the massive infrastructure project by 2030 had soared past $8 billion from just what had been $4.6 billion. Yet they repeatedly told regulators they had no updated cost figure. That’s according to testimony filed in December by Brand-new Peoples Gas parent WEC Energy Group, based in Milwaukee. The commission is investigating whether it must under state law impose fines on company executives for knowingly misrepresenting material facts before the ICC.” http://bit.ly/1Wd9va8
BILL TARGETS SOCIAL MEDIA BRAWLS — “Illinois bill would certainly criminalize filming fights to put online,” by AP’s Ashley Lisenby: “The video posted on Facebook showed a 12-year-old on the ground while yet another boy tried to stomp him, along with classmates standing by, circling the two and recording the fight on their phones. Neither boy was seriously hurt, however Republican Rep. Terri Bryant of Murphysboro in southern Illinois was so disturbed by the spectators’ behavior that she’s proposed a bill making it a crime to record fights to share online. ‘Instead of getting help, they opened their cellphones,’ said Bryant. ‘I just want to send a clear message that it is unacceptable to stage these fights or be a willing bystander.’ Bryant’s proposal, though, has actually prompted concerns about infringing on free speech rights and unnecessarily criminalizing young people. Similar concerns Have actually hindered lawmakers around the country that Have actually tried in recent years to crack down on cyberbullies that take to social media to harass classmates. In addition, intent can be difficult to prosecute.” http://bit.ly/1Q6zagl
KIRK RIVALS SEDATE — “Duckworth focuses on Kirk as rivals trade barbs on CPS, criminal justice reforms,” by Chicago Tribune’s Rick Pearson: “Rep. Tammy Duckworth focused on Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk while candidates Andrea Zopp and state Sen. Napoleon Harris traded criticisms on criminal justice reforms and closing Chicago Public Schools during the initial major compiling of Democratic U.S. Senate hopefuls on Monday. The exchange on criminal justice marked one of the few contentious minutes during a largely sedate joint appearance before the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board. The lack of rancor was symbolized by the candidates declining an offer to ask their opponents a pointed question. Instead, the Democratic hopefuls used the 80 minutes or so to introduce themselves and their campaigns as well as to explain why each believed they were uniquely qualified to challenge Kirk, a first-term Republican that could be among the most vulnerable Senate incumbents up for election this year. Zopp, a former state and federal prosecutor that once headed the Chicago Urban League, pointed to a lack of trust of police in impoverished neighborhoods highlighted by controversy over the November release of video of the 2014 shooting of Laquan McDonald, a black teen, by Jason Van Dyke, a white Chicago officer.” http://trib.in/1QUGAGt
FUNNY MONEY — “State election board wants Mautino explanation,” by Quad City Times’ David Giuliani: “A state agency is seeking former state Rep. Frank Mautino’s “clarification” on the more than $250,000 he paid to a Spring Valley bank since 1999. Mautino, that is now the state’s auditor general, listed Spring Valley City Bank as the recipient of $259,000 in campaign money, despite the fact that the purpose listed in documents for the spending was for everything from food to travel. ‘They are clearly not expenditures to the bank,’ said Tom Newman, director of campaign disclosure for the state Board of Elections. The board has actually sought an explanation from the now-disbanded campaign committee, which was headed by Mautino, D-Spring Valley, Newman said. The committee may amend its reports or reply along with a letter of explanation, he said.” http://bit.ly/1XhwFNK
FOIA FATIGUE — “DeKalb staff concerned on time, money spent responding to FOIA requests,” by Brittany Keeperman: “Freedom of article act requests from the public are on the upswing in DeKalb, and officials are concerned about how to handle the additional cost those requests will certainly bring. Jared Heyn, the city’s management analyst and FOIA officer said the city has actually seen a dramatic increase in FOIA requests over the past 10 years. ‘In 2006, we had as few as 48 FOIAs,” he said. “It jumped up to 199 in 2014 and 294 last year.’ Heyn added that he projected the city would certainly receive more than 400 requests for article in 2016, based on just what has actually come in this year so far. In 2015, he said that staff spent 922 hours responding to FOIA requests, the equivalent of about 18 hours a week. Public bodies are legally needed to respond to noncommercial freedom of article act requests within five days. People seeking article for business purposes often Have actually to wait a little longer, because the window of response time is three weeks for commercial requests.” http://bit.ly/1o1MwEv
DUNKIN CHALLENGER ENDORSED … — “Rep. Ken Dunkin’s Primary Opponent Receives High-Profile Democratic Endorsements.” by NBC’s Tom Schuba: “Julianna Stratton held a news conference Thursday to announce a host of powerful endorsements as she moves forward along with her bid to unseat state Rep. Ken Dunkin, her opponent in the March 15 Democratic primary for the state’s 5th District Home seat. Stratton was endorsed Thursday by Secretary of State Jesse White, Chicago Teacher’s Union President Karen Lewis, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Father Michael Pfleger, among others. Dunkin supporters protested the event, holding signs that read ‘Pass a budget, Springfield’ and ‘Fire Mike Madigan.’ ‘Of all the people that endorsed my opponent not one has actually proposed a solution beyond taking more money from the paychecks of everyday working people,’ Dunkin told Ward Room. ‘They are not the most trusted representatives in their community, so no it’s not daunting because my focus in putting people over politics.'” http://bit.ly/1Roebej
… WHILE DUNKIN EARNS BANK — “Ken Dunkin’s Campaign Receives $500,000 Donation,” by Chicago Defender’s Ken Hare: “Despite being at odds along with Mike Madigan, State Representative, Ken Dunkin’s campaign has actually received the largest political supplement in the state’s history. Dunkin that bucked the Democratic machine and cut a deal along with Governor Rauner to restore budget cuts to Child Care, Disability and the Determination of Needs score has actually been on a roll ever since. Regardless of the machine’s attempt to villainize your man and depict your man as a defector, he continues to get things done for his constituents despite the stranglehold in Springfield. The $500,000 donation which reportedly came from a GOP-linked group proves that there is wider support outside of the Democratic machine for those that would certainly think of leaving the party and pursuing an independent path. A decision that no matter how unpopular, may be necessary for others to consider. ‘Taking into consideration the state of the Black community in Chicago and throughout the state, it’s time for Black people to think of non-traditional options,’ says Cheryl Colbert, a Bronzeville resident.” http://bit.ly/1SfaDfa
** A Message from Nuclear Matters: Providing 90 percent of Illinois’ carbon-free electricity, nuclear energy plants play a vital role in achieving our clean-energy and carbon-reduction goals. Illinois’ nuclear energy fleet supports approximately 28,000 direct and indirect jobs and contributes nearly $9 billion to the state’s economy. Learn more at NuclearMatters.com. **
CHICAGO
RAIL RELIEF — Mayor Rahm Emanuel and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D) announced Tuesday that the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) will certainly receive $125 million of funding from President Obama’s proposed 2017 budget. The money is earmarked for upgrades to the beleaguered red and purple lines, a combined project the city says is one of the largest in CTA history. The project is additionally receiving one more $156 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation, pending approval. Both sources represent about 30 percent of the federal funding required for the project. “I thank President Obama for his leadership and commitment to investment in one of the nation’s busiest rail corridors,” Emanuel said in a statement. The project’s initial phase includes reconstruction of four stations (Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn, Bryn Mawr), reconstruction of 100-year-old tracks and viaduct repair, and the construction of a rail bypass north of the Belmont stop which is intended to ease train congestion. Total cost: $2.131 billion.
CUTS COMING TO CPS — “CPS principals learn of school budget cuts Tuesday,” by Chicago Sun-Times’ Lauren Fitzpatrick: “Feb. 29 is the day Chicago Public Schools now says it could lay off school staffers, must the broke district and Chicago Teachers Union fail to agree on a Brand-new contract before the end of the month. however the union repeated accusations that the district along with which it continues to negotiate has actually manufactured yet another crisis. On Tuesday, principals bracing themselves for unusual midyear budget cuts by a broke district learned how deep reductions to their schools could go. The worst of the cuts hit schools in wealthy neighborhoods, according to data released late Tuesday by CPS.” http://bit.ly/1SHnmYQ
AUSTIN BURIES CPS AID — “Parents Scold Aldermen After Funding Plan For CPS Stalled: ‘Shame On You,'” by DNAinfo’s Ted Cox: “A powerful alderman blocked a measure Tuesday that would certainly Have actually encouraged the city to appropriate emergency funding to Chicago Public Schools. Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th), lead sponsor of the Tax Increment Financing Surplus Action Resolution, wants the city to weed out “surplus” TIF funds and redistribute them to taxing bodies, along with about half going to CPS, which recently declared $100 million in midyear cuts to address a budget shortfall. Some 34 aldermen Have actually signed on in support. Yet Ald. Carrie Austin (34th), chairman of the Budget Committee assigned the measure, abruptly and almost by caveat sent it to the Finance Committee at a hearing Tuesday.” http://dnain.fo/1Wd9O4X
CITY PAYS FOR CPD HIRING RULE — “City To Pay $3.1 Million Settlement Over Discriminatory Police Hiring Practices,” by Chicagoist’s Mae Rice: “Chicago aldermen Have actually approved a $3.1 million settlement to a lawsuit over a Chicago police department hiring rule that, until 2011, illegally discriminated versus immigrants—and at least two aldermen weren’t enthused about it, the Sun-Times reported. Ald. Nick Sposato (38th), a former Chicago firefighter, and Finance Committee Chairman Edward Burke (14th), expressed resistance to the settlement. Sposato additionally expressed continuing support for the law deemed discriminatory, which needed police officers to Have actually lived in the country for at least 10 years before applying. ‘I don’t believe we did anything wrong. I mean — we’re talking about a police officer. We need a history. We need to know just what these people are like,’ Sposato said. In 2011, the hiring rule changed to require only five years of residency from police applicants. The rule joined place, initial Assistant Corporation Counsel Jane Elinor Notz told the Sun-Times, to make sure applicants knew enough people in the States for the city to thoroughly background check them—however five years, it turned out, sufficed for that, which meant, Notz told the Sun-Times, ‘we really had no defense to this lawsuit.’” http://bit.ly/1oqDGjJ
CULTURE FAIL — “Millennial Park drops jazz collection — sources,” by the Chicago Tribune’s Howard Reich: “The ‘Made in Chicago: Globe Class Jazz’ series, which attracted thousands weekly to the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park since 2005, is being phased out, according to sources. Leading jazz attractions such as Ahmad Jamal, Danilo Perez, Orbert Davis’ Chicago Jazz Philharmonic and sprawling tributes to Von Freeman and Fred Anderson turned ‘Made in Chicago’ into a nationally admired feature of summertime jazz in the city. The collection has actually been presented by Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, in association along with the non-profit Jazz Institute of Chicago. Last year, the free six-concert collection (which has actually played on Thursday evenings) was cut back to four, not a surprise to anyone in light of the city’s financial straits. Jazz will certainly continue to be programmed at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park during the summer. will certainly the offerings include artists of major stature, commissions of Brand-new job and the creative programming of past years?'” http://trib.in/1QqyNO8
COOK COUNTY
SUPER BOWL OF SEX TRAFFICKING — Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart said Tuesday that his office, in partnership along with suburban police forces, arrested 79 sex buyers in a sex trafficking sting centered around the Super Bowl. A 14-state effort ran for three weeks, culminating Super Bowl weekend, typically the season when prostitution is highest. Nationwide, the sting made the arrests of 500 johns and 30 pimps. The National Johns Suppression Initiative rescued 73 adult victims and three juveniles. “Sex trafficking continues to destroy countless lives, and this broad national movement must send a strong message to prospective johns that their ‘hobby’ is much more than a ‘victimless’ crime. It’s particularly meaningful that this sting culminated on the day of the Super Bowl, which unfortunately has actually emerged as a prominent haven for sex trafficking,” Dart said in a statement.
DEADBEAT PARENTS BENEFIT FROM DEADBEAT STATE — “Preckwinkle warns of possible county layoffs due to state budget impasse,” by the Chicago Tribune’s Hal Dardick: “along with the state falling further behind in paying its bills, Cook County is starting to think of layoffs of workers that tips collect child support and keep nonviolent offenders from state prisons, County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said Monday. As of Jan. 31, the state was $66.1 million behind in payments to the county because of the Capitol budget impasse that’s in its eighth month, Preckwinkle said. By June 30, the state could be more than $100 million behind. Preckwinkle said she’s particularly concerned about nearly $19 million the county gets for child support enforcement to get parents to pay up for their kids’ care, as well as nearly $2 million for Adult Redeploy Illinois, an offender diversion program praised by Gov. Bruce Rauner. The two programs employ about 300 people, she said. however if the state doesn’t pass a 2016 budget and continues to withhold funding as a result, she’ll Have actually to reconsider the programs, she said. ‘Our present intention is to lay people off and to either skinny the program down or eliminate them, because we can’t carry the state,’ Preckwinkle told the Chicago Tribune editorial board. ‘We’re going to get to the end of the state’s fiscal year, which is June 30, and then Have actually to make some decisions. … We don’t Have actually the money to float the state.’ http://trib.in/20UKUKL
SEARS SHUTTERING STORES — “After challenging holiday season, Sears to speed up store closings,” by AP’s Michelle Chapman and Anne D’Innocenzio: “Sears keeps pruning its business in a years-long makeover, a bid to transform itself from a 123-year-old retail store into a nimble, 21st century operator. Patience appears to be wearing thin. Shares slid early Tuesday to 13-year lows after the company said it would certainly accelerate the closure of some of its stores following a “challenging” holiday season. The company’s stock is down 20 percent this year, and they’ve been cut in half in the past 12 months. Comparable-store sales in the fourth quarter dropped 6.9 percent at Sears, and 7.2 percent at Kmart, which the company additionally owns. That’s a key indicator of a retailer’s health because it excludes the volatility from stores recently opened or closed. While the quarter that contains the critical shopping season was much better compared along with the previous three quarters, overall same-store sales fell 9.2 percent in 2015, along with Sears stores leading the decline … In a bid to turn around its clothing business, Sears said Tuesday it would certainly shake up its sourcing, pricing and inventory. As for store closures, Sears said it will certainly include, however not be limited to, about 50 stores that the company recently announced it would certainly be shuttering in the next few months. http://bit.ly/1QUM6ZN
NATIONAL
PARTY AGITATORS WIN Brand-new HAMPSHIRE — “Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders win the Brand-new Hampshire Primaries” by The Brand-new York Times’ Patrick Healy and Jonathan Martin: “Donald J. Trump and Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont harnessed working-class fury on Tuesday to surge to commanding victories in a Brand-new Hampshire primary that drew a huge turnout across the state. The victory by two outsider candidates dealt a remarkable rebuke to the political establishment, and all however guaranteed protracted, bruising races for each party’s presidential nomination. Mr. Trump, the wealthy businessman whose blunt language and outsider image Have actually electrified lots of Republicans and horrified others, benefited from an unusually large field of candidates that split the vote among traditional politicians like Gov. John Kasich of Ohio, that finished second, and former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida. however Mr. Trump additionally tapped into a deep well of anxiety among Republicans and independents in Brand-new Hampshire, according to exit polling data, and he ran strongest among voters that were worried about illegal immigrants, incipient economic turmoil and the threat of a terrorist attack in the United States. along with more than 80 percent of precincts reporting, Mr. Trump had received 35 percent of the vote, and Mr. Sanders approached 60 percent
REPUBLICAN BRUSH OFF BUDGET — “5 things to know about President Obama’s budget,” by NPR’s Scott Horsley: “President Obama unveils his 2017 budget proposal today. It’s an aspirational blueprint that details how he would certainly set priorities if he controlled the government’s checkbook … which he doesn’t. ‘This budget is not about looking back at the road we Have actually traveled,’ Obama said. ‘It is about looking forward.’ however congressional Republicans are looking past the president. Home Speaker Paul Ryan dismissed the budget as ‘a progressive manual for growing the federal government at the expense of hardworking Americans.’ http://bit.ly/1oqK9v5
TERROR BLAME GAME — “Duckworth blames Kirk for radicalized Muslims” by Roll Call’s Eric Garcia: Rep. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., implied that politicians like incumbent Republican Sen. Mark Kirk could be responsible for radicalization of young Muslims. Kirk’s campaign called Duckworth’s comments ‘dangerously foolish.’ In a session among Democratic senate candidates held by the Chicago Tribune to determine that the paper would certainly endorse in the Democratic race to run versus Kirk, Duckworth was asked about ensuring refugees would certainly not pose a security risk. ‘In the case of those two young people, the Iraq refugees in Texas, they were actually, radicalized here in the United States,’ Duckworth said. ‘They came as teenagers and they were radicalized because they’d been on those talk hotlines along with ISIS. Because they see people like Mark Kirk demonizing Muslim and Islam and wanting to shut down our borders. That’s how we turn people versus us.’ Immediately though, one of the moderators asked, “You believe they were radicalized by U.S. politicians?’ ‘No, I believe they were radicalized by ISIS, that are attempting to get U.S. politicians and the United States to react in fear,’ Duckworth responded … After Duckworth’s remarks, Kirk’s campaign tweeted a response, saying Duckworth ‘says common sense, bipartisan security measures to protect our homeland lead to radicalization.’ http://bit.ly/1TbPWB7
MAKING AMERICA TASTELESS AGAIN — “Trump repeats vulgar word audience member uses to describe Cruz” by CNN’s Jeremy Diamond: “Donald Trump on Monday night repeated the offensive term a woman attending his rally shouted in reference to Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. After initial calling on a woman close to the stage to ‘shout it out’ again, Trump repeated the woman’s one-word insult aimed at Cruz: ‘She said he’s a pussy.’ The term was flung into the political orbit just a day before the Brand-new Hampshire primary as Trump was discussing Cruz’s apparent hesitation during the last GOP debate on whether he would certainly support waterboarding. Suddenly, Trump stopped mid-sentence, pointing to a woman near your man in the crowd: ‘She just said a terrible thing.’ ‘You know just what she said? Shout it out because I don’t want to say,’ Trump continued as the woman appeared to loudly shout the vulgar word again. however realizing most of the crowd could not hear the woman, Trump decided to take matters into his own hands. ‘OK you’re not allowed to say and I never expect to hear that from you again. She said — I never expect to hear that from you again — she said he’s a pussy,’ Trump said as the crowd erupted into a roaring cacophony of laughter and applause. http://cnn.it/20SpzS8
EPHEMERA
POLLING ADD — The Tuesday Playbook ran Public Policy Polling results from a poll related to the Democratic contest for the U.S. Home seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth. But the item neglected this critical info: The poll was conducted Jan. 13-14 among 537 likely Democratic primary voters and had a margin of error of plus/minus 4.2 percent.
KOOKY KANYE — Chicago-raised reality television husband Kanye West issued a tweet Tuesday night that simply said, “BILL COSBY INNOCENT !!!!!!!!!!” Social media exploded, writes Terry Shropshire of the Chicago Defender: “West offered no explanation for his tweet and continued posting on various other topics, like LeBron James’ Nike shoes. His stance was a adjustment of tune from his relatively Brand-new song ‘Facts’ in which he quips, ‘Do anybody feel bad for Bill Cosby? Did he forget names just like Steve Harvey?’ bit.ly/1WdgLCW
HERE’S HAROLD! (RAMIS) — “Second City launching world’s initial film school along with comedy focus” by DNAInfo’s Mina Bloom: “Second City is launching the world’s initial film school along with a comedic focus, the improv institution announced Tuesday. The Harold Ramis Film School is named after the man behind classic comedy films like ‘Caddyshack’ and ‘Groundhog Day,’ Second City alum Harold Ramis. The school will certainly offer a one-year program along with classes in comedy training, film history, storytelling and film production. “Students will certainly graduate along with made content, be it a screenplay, sitcom pilot, hour-long pilot or short film,” the news release reads. Trevor Albert, producer and Ramis’ longtime collaborator, has actually been named the school’s chairperson. Hollywood ability including Steve Carell, Betty Thomas, Adam McKay, Catherine O’Hara, Paul Feig and Jay Roach will certainly sit on the school’s advisory board. Albert told the Tribune that the school will certainly enroll 60 students and tuition will certainly cost $15,000 per year. Originally from Chicago, Ramis got his start writing and performing at Second City beginning in 1969. He went on to make just what Have actually become classic comedy films, including ‘Animal House,’ ‘Caddyshack,’ ‘Ghostbusters’ and ‘Groundhog Day.’ The program will certainly start in September.” http://dnain.fo/1T686D2
RED HOT LOBSTER — Is there any much better headline than “Red Lobster enjoys sales surge after mention in Beyonce song?” Not really. According to the AP, the singer’s Super Bowl halftime performance not only frightened Rudy Giuliani into thinking it was a stealth call-to-arm to black militants (really), it caused people to actually eat at Red Lobster. This magical elixir of a performance featured the Brand-new song “Formation,” which includes the lyric reporting how the singer took her lover to the restaurant following sex. We all figure this isn’t reflective of the singer’s actual life because husband Jay-Z can afford an entire wharf of fresh seafood if he’s hungry, however hey, we’re not talking Lennon-McCartney territory here. Nevertheless, Red Lobster sales spiked 33 percent Sunday. Enough to tempt Drake to name-drop Denny’s next? http://bit.ly/1SHmcMQ
CABRINI-GREEN CASH — Sadly, Cabrini-Green Homes once represented deplorable living conditions for the city’s poorest residents. So there is terrific irony that, on the site of one of the city’s most infamous public housing projects is a Brand-new luxury rental tower where, as Chicagoist’s Rachel Cromidas writes, you can grab a two-bedroom apartment for a mere $3,200 a month. Chicago, say hello to “Xavier.” Writes Cromidas: “One of the initial Brand-new developments to spring up from around Cabrini-Green’s demolition rubble is Xavier, a sleek, 18-story, eco-friendly building, which is now accepting tenant applications at sky-high rental prices … The units boast such amenities as Nest Thermostats, floor-to-ceiling glass windows and exposed concrete ceilings. The building’s shared spaces include a rooftop along with a chef’s kitchen and two dog runs. It sounds divine—if you Have actually the income for it. along with Chicago in the midst of a housing crisis we can’t tips however see the promises of these luxury developments coinciding along with the displacement of Chicago’s working class and the hastening demise of its affordability for anyone making much less than $72,000 a year.” http://bit.ly/1PhyjMt
TODAY: Chicago City Council meeting, 10 a.m. at city hall, 121 N. LaSalle St.
TRUST TALK NEXT WEEK — The Chicago Urban League and the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform is hosting a panel discussion titled “Building Public Trust By Empowering Community Voices,” that will certainly examine the eroding trust between city hall, the CPD, and the public. Chicago broadcasting terrific Robin Robinson moderates. Noon at the Chicago Urban League, 4510 S. Michigan Ave., on Tuesday, Feb. 16. RSVP here.
WHERE’S RAHM? – Presiding over the city council meeting at 10 a.m., 121 N. LaSalle St.
WHERE’S RAUNER? – He’s attending President Obama’s Illinois General Assembly speech, 1:25 p.m. at the capitol building.
** A Message from Nuclear Matters: Some of America’s existing nuclear energy plants face early closure due to current economic and policy conditions. Providing more than 62% of America’s carbon-free electricity, existing, state-of-the-art nuclear energy plants play a vital role in achieving our clean-energy and carbon-reduction goals.
In Illinois, nuclear energy plants give 48 percent of the state’s electricity and 90 percent of our carbon-free electricity. The existing nuclear energy plants in Illinois additionally support approximately 28,000 direct and indirect jobs and contribute $9 billion to the state’s economy.
If we want to keep Illinois working, we need policies that will certainly keep Illinois’ state-of-the-art nuclear energy plants working for all of us. Join us at NuclearMatters.com. **
SUBSCRIBE to the Playbook family: POLITICO Playbook: http://politi.co/1phAeAC… New York Playbook: http://politi.co/1ON8bqW … Florida Playbook:http://politi.co/1JDm23W … New Jersey Playbook: http://politi.co/1HLKltF…Massachusetts Playbook: http://politi.co/1Nhtq5v … Illinois Playbook:http://politi.co/1N7u5sb … California Playbook: http://politi.co/1N8zdJU and our friends at POLITICO Brussels Playbook: http://bit.ly/1Emvt6C
from Golden Land Travel http://ift.tt/1nZvmGY
0 komentar:
Post a Comment