Author: jnjhackler

ILGOP Chairman renews call for AVR program to be shut down until scope of “glitches” is understood and all fixes verified

New reporting from the Daily Line reveals that roughly 4,700 sixteen year olds were automatically registered to vote by the Secretary of State’s office. Only when caught by the State Board of Elections were they removed. This is in addition to 297 individuals who opted out of the Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) program but were registered to vote anyways.

Last week, ILGOP Chairman Tim Schneider led the call for suspending the Automatic Voter Registration program in light of hundreds of non-citizens being automatically registered to vote and more than a dozen actually voting in 2018. 

Today, Chairman Schneider released the following statement renewing his call to suspend AVR:

“Shut it down. Shut it down now until we know the entire scope of the Secretary of State’s failures in implementing the AVR program. The fundamental right to vote and the sanctity of our democracy is too important to bury our heads in the sand and trust that Illinois’ state government has everything under control when it clearly does not. We must suspend the AVR program until a full investigation and audit has been performed and measures have been put into place to make sure this never happens again.” 

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Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider released the following statement in response to Governor Pritzker’s State of the State address:

“In his State of the State speech today, Governor Pritzker talked about his desire to reach across the aisle and find common ground to solve the enormous challenges facing Illinois. Republicans in Illinois stand ready to work in good faith with the Governor, but we will not solve the immense challenges we face by pushing the same tax-and-spend policies that created the mess in Illinois.

So far, Governor Pritzker’s priorities have been focused on adding to our financial crisis, not solving it. His priorities have made life more expensive for working families in Illinois, not more affordable. And in the midst of a mass exodus of people fleeing our state, Governor Pritzker’s priorities will only serve to speed up our decline as small businesses shutter, property taxes keep rising, and middle class wallets are hit up time and again.

Illinois is drowning under a tsunami of legal and illegal public corruption. I urge the Governor to follow through on his promises and act with leadership on substantive ethics reforms and non-partisan legislative redistricting. With three months to go on a Fair Maps Amendment deadline, nothing less than urgent action by the Governor is acceptable. 

But there is one person who stands in the way of these critical changes. Mike Madigan has slow-walked ethics reform and refuses to support the non-partisan redrawing of legislative maps. Now is the time for Pritzker to show Madigan that the status quo in Springfield must change. I hope the Governor has the courage to do so.”

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Schneider demands answers from Secretary of State and calls for AVR program to be temporarily suspended

In 2017, Illinois lawmakers passed automatic voter registration into law. Under the law, Illinois citizens are automatically registered to vote through an electronic process administered by the Illinois Secretary of State when they’re applying for a driver’s license or a state ID.

Yesterday, a report revealed that 574 non-citizens were automatically registered to vote by the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office, and the State Board of Elections confirmed today that some of those non-citizens voted in the 2018 election.

ILGOP Chairman Tim Schneider released the following statement in response: 

“The recent reports of non-citizens voting in Illinois is simply unacceptable.  The Secretary of State’s failure to competently administer the Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) process in Illinois compromises the integrity of our entire election system.

Mistakes are made, but when it comes to voting, it simply is inexcusable that non-citizens voted in Illinois and potentially affected the outcome of elections across the state. Those in the Secretary of State’s Office who allowed this to happen should be terminated from their employment with the State. Public hearings in the General Assembly should commence immediately, and the AVR program should be temporarily suspended until we get answers. 

Voting is a right and a privilege reserved only for U.S. citizens. The American people need to know that their government is upholding, not undermining, that right.”

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ILGOP Chairman Tim Schneider released the following statement in response to the revelation that Director of the Department of Agriculture, and former state senator, John Sullivan resigned because he knew about Mike McClain’s “rape in Champaign” email at the time and did nothing: 

“If a random state legislator like John Sullivan knew about McClain’s email at the time, surely there were others who knew about it and also ‘kept their mouths shut.’ It defies belief that John Sullivan knew of the email and its contents, but Speaker Mike Madigan, a close confidant of the email’s author, knew nothing. 

Today’s news begs additional questions: Who else knew about the “rape in Champaign”? When did they find out? Why didn’t they do anything? These questions deserve answers, and that’s why I agree with Leader Durkin that there should be a House investigation to get to the bottom of this scandal.”

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The latest email from Mike McClain, uncovered by WBEZ, to the top staff of the former Quinn administration is beyond comprehension. We all know that McClain is one of Madigan’s closest allies, most trusted lobbyist and personal friend of the Speaker. What we didn’t know is that when McClain carried on as Madigan’s enforcer, he cited the cover-up of a rape as a badge of honor when imploring government officials to protect his patronage hire. 

“The company you keep for decades says a lot about the type of person you are. Madigan and his leadership – the power structure of the Democratic party in Illinois – is rotten to the core. Madigan must provide answers immediately to these two questions: what did you know about the rape and when did you know it?” – ILGOP Chairman Tim Schneider

Republicans aren’t the only ones disgusted by the actions of Madigan’s best friend. Members of Madigan’s own House Democrat Caucus have also voiced their displeasure:

Rep. Kelly Cassidy

“And let’s stop pretending he’s (McClain) a ‘former’ anything. This is the guy who for decades has been seen as the most powerful lobbyist in the state and remains incredibly close to the Speaker.”

Rep. Sara Feigenholtz

The representative tweeted in response to Rep. Cassidy: “…Like a human dumpster fire @RepKellyCassidy”

Rep. Ann Williams

“Stunning and incredibly disturbing to read about the callous dismissal of a rape and its coverup. Anyone involved must be held accountable  and an investigation should be conducted immediately. No one is above the law.”

Rep. Will Guzzardi

“Truly disturbing news. ‘Keeping your mouth shut’ about a rape is reprehensible, and thinking it’s a thing to be commended is really twisted. ‘He is loyal.’ As much as anything, it’s the cult of loyalty in Springfield that’s toxic.”

ILGOP Spokesman Joe Hackler argued this situation is too important for a curt Steve Brown response from the Speaker, saying, “Madigan needs to come out from under the rock he pretends to live under and answer questions. Why was his closest ally going around bragging about the cover-up of a rape? Did McClain ever discuss said rape with him and if he did, why didn’t Madigan do anything about it?” 

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Today, the Illinois Republican Party officially selected Peoria as host of the 2020 ILGOP State Convention to take place June 11-13, 2020 at the Peoria Civic Center. The ILGOP Site Selection Committee voted unanimously to select Peoria as the host city.

Following today’s vote, Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider and ILGOP Co-Chair Mark Shaw issued the following:

ILGOP Chairman Tim Schneider

“I am excited to announce Peoria as host city for the 2020 ILGOP State Convention. Myself, the State Central Committee, and precinct committeeman all across Illinois remember the hospitality Peoria showed us three years ago. We look forward to showcasing this beautiful Illinois River city again as Illinois Republicans gather to organize, network, and nominate our delegates to the 2020 Republican National Convention.”

ILGOP Co-Chair & County Chairman’s Association President Mark Shaw

“It has been a joy to work with stakeholders such as Enjoy Peoria, the Peoria Civic Center,  Peoria Marriott Pere Marquette, and the Peoria Republican Central Committee during the bid submission process. Peoria provides the perfect accommodations for an event this size. The Site Selection Committee is confident that Peoria and the Peoria Civic Center will be the perfect place for Republicans throughout the state to come together and organize for 2020.”

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Featuring a new member of the crime ring, a “Magic Lobbyist List”, and two crime ring members calling it quits

A host of Illinois Democrat corruption news has come out since the Illinois Republican Party unveiled its corruption tracker, including new information from federal investigators about our latest addition to the crime ring. Let’s take a look at the updates:

Dorothy Brown Added to Illinois Democrat Crime Ring Tracker

A mainstay on the FBI docket, Dorothy “Clerk A” Brown has been under federal investigation for 6 years. Her corrupt acts have just recently resurfaced in headlines as federal prosecutors stated in a court document that the grand jury testimony of one of Brown’s top aides at the time was so full of lies that it “affected the government’s ability to file charges against Dorothy Brown.” The yet to be filed charges against Brown of course relate to her scheme to accept bribes of $10,000 to $15,000 for jobs, promotions, and raises within her office.

“Dorothy Brown’s long standing corruption and incompetence is unacceptable. The feds inability to file charges because her equally corrupt former aides lied, doesn’t change what we know to be true. We all understand pay-to-play politics, but Dorothy Brown has pioneered a ‘pay-to-work’ scheme that padded her campaign coffers in exchange for handing out taxpayer funded jobs. The Governor, Mayor, and County Board President should be loudly demanding she step down immediately. Where is their leadership?” – ILGOP Chairman Tim Schneider 

The Magic Lobbyist List

Recently, more light was shed on one aspect of the Madigan machine, a lobbying conspiracy managed day-to-day by powerful statehouse insider and Mike Madigan’s longtime friend, Mike McClain. The news has been reflected on Madigan’s file on DemCorruption.com.

WBEZ reported that the feds’ deep dive into the statehouse lobbying practices has uncovered a unique lobbyist network of favored insiders. WBEZ obtained an email sent from McClain to a group he dubbed the “Magic Lobbyist List” of former Madigan staffers and allies. McClain made clear it was at his and Madigan’s behest that they made the cut and that they were expected to return the favor by referring lobbying clients to each other and donating to Madigan campaign funds. 

Former Madigan staffers cashed in by becoming favored lobbyists, Madigan’s campaign coffers were padded, and the legislative process from beginning to end was controlled by, you guessed it: Mike Madigan. It’s a classic case of Pay-to-Play politics.

Sandoval Resigns and Cullerton Retiring

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, Sandoval submitted his resignation, effective January 1, 2020. The date of his resignation is important as it allowed only a six day special filing period for candidates wishing to serve the remainder of Sandoval’s term. In typical fashion, the only candidate with enough support from the machine and with prior knowledge of the resignation will be able to file the required amount of signatures during the six day filing period. 

Senate President Cullerton is also joining others in scurrying off of the sinking ship, announcing his retirement effective in January 2020. His likely successor has her own ethical problems to face as well. 

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ICYMI: Pritzker says he’s  ‘disgusted’ by state lawmakers tainted by federal investigations

At an event organized by Axios, Governor Pritzker, commenting on the recent spate of federal investigations into Democrat politicians, had this to say: “I’m angry, frankly, and I’m disgusted by these people who take advantage of the public, who take public office and think that this is OK, that the stealing, the lying, that doing businesses that’s taking away from the public trough.”

The hypocrisy from the Governor is stunning and should be addressed. Given that the Governor is disgusted by corruption and those under federal investigation in his own party, how does he feel about himself? He is currently under federal investigation for possible tax fraud. 

The Governor recently said he doesn’t believe Madigan should step down as either Speaker or Chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois despite the Speaker being named in FBI subpoenas and his close allies having their offices raided by federal investigators. If Pritzker finds the Madigan Machine’s public corruption “disgusting”, why would he not call on Madigan to step aside? Is the Governor trying to have his cake and eat it too?

“The Governor’s words ring hollow. He can’t pretend to clutch his pearls about those under federal investigation when he is currently the center of a federal probe himself. Pritzker should cut the act until he calls on Mike Madigan, leader of the Illinois Democrat Crime Ring, to step down.” – Joe Hackler, ILGOP Spokesman

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