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If being a giant hypocrite were an Olympic sport, Southern Illinois state Supreme Court candidate Judy Cates would be a gold medalist. Cates has staked her entire case for a spot on the state’s highest court to a disgusting smear of her opponent Justice David Overstreet. 

The Cates campaign and a Super PAC, both funded by metro east trial lawyers and Democrats, have relentlessly attacked Overstreet over a unanimous June 2020 appellate court decision. Judy Cates claimed that Overstreet freed from jail a child rapist who is now “wandering around Southern Illinois, free to rape again.” 

Judy Cates is a liar. Read what Justice Milton Wharton, an African American Democrat, and author of the opinion in this case, had to say about Judge Judy’s smear. 

And in a last gasp of desperation, her Super PAC is now sending around these alarming texts to voters:

The link sends people to their campaign website against Overstreet. Appalling.

What is more appalling, however, is that when almost the exact same legal scenario played out four years prior, Cates also joined her colleagues in a decision that remanded a child sexual assault case back to trial court.

The Madison-Record reports…

But court records show that four years ago Cates, as appellate court justice in the same court where Overstreet serves, made a very similar concurrence in the case of a Bethalto man.

[…]

In a Nov. 22, 2016 opinion, Cates concurred with a majority to reverse the first conviction of Michael Burgund, who upon second trial was convicted of sexually assaulting his two minor daughters between the ages of one and three. 

The appellate court decision that Cates concurred in, like the one Overstreet concurred in, remanded the case back to the trial court for a second trial. The second Burgund trial took place a year and a half later, in Madison County.

Yes, you are reading this right. Judy Cates and her SuperPAC have spent millions of dollars on TV and in mailboxes spreading the disgusting lie that Overstreet “released” a child “molester” as an “unregistered sex offender” into our communities. 

If that were remotely true, Judy Cates would be guilty of doing the exact same thing 4 years earlier.

“Judy Cates is unfit for the Supreme Court. She has shown time and time again that she will say or do anything to win this campaign. Not only is she a smear merchant trafficking in disgusting lies, Judy Cates is a world class hypocrite.” – ILGOP Chairman Tim Schneider

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Democrat Politicians Who Created $8 Billion Deficit Haven’t Met a Tax Hike They Didn’t Like

The very same Democratic Politicians who created the massive $8 billion deficit are making one final push for their ultimate goal of getting unyielding power to tax middle-class families, small businesses, and retirees. 

The team, led by ultimate tax raising coach J.B. Pritzker, consists of some of the most ardent tax hikers in Illinois. From Toni Preckwinkle, who flipped and gave Cook County the largest sales tax in the country to Illinois’ two U.S. Senators who are always more than willing to advocate for higher taxes on Illinois families.

Curiously missing from tonight’s Tax Hike Team webinar is General Manager, all around shot caller and retirement tax hiker, Speaker Mike Madigan. 

Another tax hiker sidelined from tonight’s event is Treasurer Michael “let’s tax retirement income” Frerichs. Clearly, Frerichs was benched for being too honest with voters when he admitted the Tax Hike Amendment would allow Springfield Politicians to raise taxes on retirement income. 

“These Democrat politicians are the very same people who have plunged Illinois into an $8 billion deficit. Now they want new unyielding taxing powers so they can go after middle-class families next,” said ILGOP Chairman Tim Schneider. “They know this is the worst possible time to raise taxes, but clearly nothing will stop them from trying to get new taxing powers.”

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ILGOP Handing Out Voter Fraud Alert Fliers in DuPage County

WATCH: Video of Electronic Voting Machine “Glitch” 

The Illinois Republican Party has learned of potential voter fraud in DuPage County that has been occurring for more than a week.

 Several voters have reported that while reading the questions on the screen of the electronic voting machines at early voting locations in DuPage County, after 10 seconds, the machine will automatically highlight Mike Madigan endorsed candidates and the Tax Hike Amendment in red.

 “This is an outrageous abuse of our voting system and must be quickly remedied. Speaker Madigan and the Democrats will stop at nothing to enact higher taxes on our middle class families and retirees,” said Tim Schneider, ILGOP Chairman. “Illinois GOP volunteers will be handing out fliers in DuPage County to voters alerting them of this clear abuse of our election system.”

 “This serious issue needs to be immediately corrected before it further impacts the election. We continue to see more and more proof as to just how far Democrats are willing to go to rig this election,” said House Republican Leader Jim Durkin.

WATCH: Video of Electronic Voting Machine “Glitch”

FLIER BEING HANDED OUT IN DUPAGE COUNTY:

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With respected leaders like Ray LaHood, Jim Nowlan, and the people of the 3rd Judicial District fighting Mike Madigan’s control of the Illinois Supreme Court, Justice Tom Kilbride’s likelihood of retention is in serious jeopardy. This isn’t the state Supreme Court Justice’s first rodeo, however. He knows who can save his job with millions in campaign cash.

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider explained, “Justice Kilbride owes his entire judicial career to one man: Speaker Mike Madigan. Kilbride’s seat on the Supreme Court is in jeopardy again, so it’s no surprise that Madigan’s special interest trial lawyer and union allies have already funneled millions to save Madigan’s favorite judge for a third time. Kilbride accepted millions of dollars directly from Madigan-controlled committees in previous campaigns; will Madigan rescue him again?”

Justice Kilbride is so essential to Madigan’s control over state government that the Chicago Sun Times declared in 2010: “The speaker’s greatest victory, arguably, is the retention of Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride.” (Editorial, “Mr. Speaker, you’ve got work to do,” Chicago Sun-Times, Nov. 7, 2010)

Similarly, the Chicago Tribune specifically said “Madigan elected Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Kilbride, despite a stop-Kilbride campaign, as the speaker prepares that new political map.” (Editorial, “Mike Madigan wins big,” Chicago Tribune, Nov. 4, 2010)

Since 2000, the Madigan-controlled Democratic Party of Illinois has given Kilbride’s campaign $2,162,989 (Illinois State Board of Elections, Accessed 10/10/20)

It’s hard to see Madigan allowing his favorite judge on the state’s highest court go down without a fight after investing in Kilbride so heavily in his 2000 campaign and 2010 retention race. Will he step in a third time?

2000 Campaign

CHICAGO TRIBUNE: “Kilbride Won Election In 2000 After Enjoying The Financial Support Of House Speaker Michael Madigan, Whose Campaign Funds Contributed Hundreds Of Thousands Of Dollars.” (Ray Gibson, “High Court Is In The Game,” Chicago Tribune, 12/14/08)

CHICAGO TRIBUNE: “…Justice Thomas Kilbride, whose 20-year labor practice in Rock Island was 150 miles from Chicago politics, was first elected to the Supreme Court with the blessing and support of longtime House Speaker Michael Madigan of Chicago, the head of the state Democratic Party. Madigan funneled more than $700,000 in campaign funds to help Kilbride defeat his Republican opponent in 2000.” (Rick Pearson and David Kidwell, “Specter Of Politics Hangs Over Ruling,” Chicago Tribune, 1/27/11)

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS: Kilbride Won In 2000 “Because Of Hundreds Of Thousands Of Dollars In Late Campaign Contributions From Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan.” (Greg Hinz, “Buying Justice,” Crain’s Chicago Business, 10/18/10)

2010 Retention Campaign

CHICAGO TRIBUNE: In 2010, Kilbride “Raised A Whopping $2.48 Million To Save His Job” From “The Same Sources That Funded His 2000 Campaign: House Speaker Michael Madigan And Organized Labor.” (Editorial, “Kilbride And Madigan,” Chicago Tribune, 10/27/10)

CHICAGO TRIBUNE: “When Kilbride won a district long held by Republicans in 2000, he did it with an influx of hundreds of thousands of dollars that Madigan poured into the race. When Republican-allied business interests tried to deny Kilbride’s bid to win another 10-year term in 2010, Madigan again came through with money and troops.” (Ray Long and Monique Garcia, “Lawmakers May Punt On Pensions,” Chicago Tribune, 6/19/13)

CHICAGO TRIBUNE: “The Madigan-controlled Democratic Party of Illinois has kicked in $1.42 million. The Illinois Federation of Teachers has given more than $454,000 in cash and in-kind contributions, according to the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.” (Editorial, “Kilbride And Madigan,” Chicago Tribune, 10/27/10)

Madigan & Kilbride Connection Round-up

NEWS-GAZETTE EDITORIAL: Kilbride “Owes His Judicial Seat To The Support Of Speaker Madigan.” (Editorial, “Madigan Minions Wear Black Robes,” The News-Gazette, 2/7/18)

THE DAILY GAZETTE EDITORIAL:  “Kilbride Owes His Election In 2000, In No Small Part, To A $600,000 Campaign Contribution By Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan Of Chicago.” (Editorial, “New Chief Justice Should Allow Cameras In Court,” The Daily Gazette, 9/18/10)

CHICAGO TRIBUNE EDITORIAL: “Why Was The Chicago Democratic Speaker So Interested In A Central Illinois Court Race? Consider It A $500,000 Insurance Policy, If You Will.” (Editorial, “It’s Remap Time — Grab Your Hat,” Chicago Tribune, 9/5/01)

CHICAGO TRIBUNE EDITORIAL: “Why Would Madigan Put So Much Money In A Judicial Election When He’s Also Trying To Save His Members In The House? Precisely Because He Wants To Save His Members In The House — For The Next Decade.” (Editorial, “Kilbride And Madigan,” Chicago Tribune, 10/27/10)

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IL House Democrats can choose new path or keep following Madigan’s marching orders

Dem State Rep. Kifowit announces a bid for Speaker of the House, gives Dems a choice

Every election cycle comes with it a time honored right-of-passage for Illinois House Democratic candidates in hotly contested races: the first time a reporter asks them if they will be supporting Michael Madigan for Speaker. Now, you can imagine the difficult place this puts these candidates in. On one hand, Madigan is a corrupt machine politician who has overseen the complete financial destruction of a once great state. On the other hand, he showers them with millions of dollars to get elected.

What is an ambitious politician to do?

Well, with almost no exceptions, House Democratic candidates of past and present have chosen to take Madigan’s money and either keep their mouths shut or chalk their decision on a vote for Speaker up to a lack of choices in which they are forced to vote for Madigan over a Republican.

In the tight contest between incumbent Republican State Representative Grant Wehrli and his opponent Janet Yang Rohr, Rohr refused to even talk about Madigan. 

From the Daily Herald…

“[Yang Rohr] is especially awkward when trying to square her claims to value ethics reform with her unwillingness to take a position on Madigan’s speakership.”

Yang Rohr, unsurprisingly, is up to nearly $340,000 in Madigan money flowing to her campaign account with more than a month to go in the election.

Other Democrat candidates in the past have said they will vote for a Democrat over a Republican regardless of who it is, or like current swing-district State Rep. Katie Stuart, have been confused by such a difficult “hypothetical”.

From the News-Gazette…

“Asked if she intended to vote to re-elect House Speaker Michael Madigan, Stuart pretended to be flummoxed by the question.

‘I don’t know what the options will be,’ Stuart said. ‘You’re asking me a hypothetical question just like I wouldn’t tell you how I would vote on any piece of legislation until I actually read the legislation.’

[…]

That’s why they evade questions on the subject with superficial, glib responses like, “I can’t say whom I’m supporting because I don’t know who’s going to be running for speaker.”

That’s the talking point Democratic public-relations advisers tell House members to give if they’re questioned by reporters or voters. It’s shamefully false, but in politician-world, any answer that avoids an unpleasant subject is worth giving.

We aim to help Rep. Stuart (beneficiary of over $1.3 million in Madigan money) and any other confused House Democrats with the choices they have before them. With Kifowit’s announcement this morning, the choices, in no particular order, are:

1. DEMOCRAT State Representative Stephanie Kifowit
2. Current Speaker of the House Michael J. Madigan
3. Minority Leader Jim Durkin

That’s it! Now that the choices are clear, every House Democrat candidate should be made to go on the record and answer the very simple question of who they would support for Speaker of the House.

“House Democrat candidates have been playing games with voters for years. They’ve ducked and dodged ‘The Madigan Question’ at every turn because when Madigan money means you get to outspend your opponent 5 to 1, the answer doesn’t matter. The time for games is over. A favorite excuse is gone. They have a choice. House Democrats can be complicit in Madigan’s corrupt ways destroying Illinois and their party, or they can turn the page and vote for the other Democrat running.” – ILGOP Chairman Tim Schneider

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Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride isn’t just Mike Madigan’s favorite judge – he’s also the darling of out-of-district ambulance-chasing trial attorneys from Chicago and the Metro East. After the ILGOP announced an Anti-Kilbride coalition of over 500 elected officials and leaders – including all Illinois Republican Congressman and former US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood – trial attorneys have stepped up to save Kilbride’s campaign. 

In just the last week, trial attorney law firms have kicked in to fund television ads for Kilbride that began running on Monday:

• Clifford Law Offices – Chicago – $100,000
• Cooney & Conway – Chicago – $100,000
• Power Rogers – Chicago – $100,000
• Keefe, Keefe, & Unsel – Belleville – $100,000
• Simmons Hanly Conroy – Alton – $100,000
• Cavanagh Law Group – Chicago – $37,500
• Antonio Romanucci – Chicago – $37,500
• Tomasik Kotin & Kasserman – Chicago – $30,000
• Cogan & Power – Chicago – $20,000

We already know why Madigan invests so heavily in Kilbride – the justice returned the favor with Madigan-protecting decisions to block term limits and strike down fair maps. Trial attorneys are no different. They expect a return on their investment, and Kilbride delivers. 

In Kilbride’s 2010 retention race, a report by the NYU Brennan Center found that large plaintiffs law firms laundered $1.4 million dollars in contributions through Mike Madigan’s Democratic Party of Illinois straight to the Kilbride campaign. With any Madigan connection so toxic ten years later, trial lawyers are skipping that step and now contributing directly to Kilbride.

In return for their past funding of his judicial career, Kilbride has handed down some truly wacky decisions in a bid to suit his benefactors – often standing alone amongst his peers.

Highlights of those bizarre decisions in which he was the lone dissenting justice include a case where Kilbride supported allowing a man to sue an ambulance driver that he himself had hit (HARRIS v. THOMPSON). Another case, Kilbride was the only justice to agree with the Illinois Trial Lawyer’s Association (ITLA) that a man injured in Mississippi, who has never worked in Illinois, could sue in Illinois (FENNELL V. ILLINOIS CENTRAL R.R. CO.). And another instance where Kilbride was the lone justice to side with the ITLA, was in supporting a man receiving workers compensation from his employer after he sustained an injury on his commute to his worksite (THE VENTURE—NEWBERG-PERINI, STONE & WEBSTER V. ILLINOIS WORKERS’ COMPENSATION COMM’N).

“There is no special interest or powerful benefactor that Justice Kilbride will not kowtow to so long as the checks keep rolling in to his campaign account. The people of Illinois deserve a Supreme Court free from such obvious and brazen conflicts of interest. Kilbride is compromised and he needs to go.” – ILGOP Chairman Tim Schneider

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Manar receives compensation from a DC-based consulting firm who has a $500k/year no-bid contract from a community college that covers his senate district

Last week, State Senator Andy Manar led a group of Democratic lawmakers in announcing an ethics reform proposal that includes provisions such as:

• Prohibit legislators from lobbying elected officials from other units of government
• Better define who is a lobbyist to ensure consultants and lawyers aren’t able to use loopholes to perform lobbying and skirt registration as a lobbyist
• Expand disclosure of legislators’ outside income

But does Manar’s own side gig at a Washington, D.C.-based consulting firm violate his ethics proposal?

Since early 2012, Manar has worked for THG Advisors, previously known as The Horinko Group. According to their website, THG Advisors is “a community-building consulting firm operating at the intersection of policy, science, and communications” that specializes in “regulatory intervention.” Although the firm does not lobby at this time, they employed lobbyists in 2008-2009 and 2015-2016, according to the U.S. Senate Lobbyist Disclosure Act Database. Lobbying clients included defense contractor BAE Systems.

According to Manar’s 2013 through 2020 statements of economic interest filed with the Secretary of State, he earned at least $1,200 each year from his position with the firm. State law does not require lawmakers to disclose the exact dollar amount of outside income earned, so the public does not know how much money Manar has earned from his position.

Although he continues to report income from the company, Manar’s company biography was removed from the THG Advisors website. A 2017 screenshot from Manar’s company bio says he serves as “Senior Advisor for Public-Private Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement” for THG Advisors and “brings a boots on the ground perspective on how to effectively engage local communities and state program managers and budget officers.”

THG Advisors has received scrutiny locally for receiving $500,000 a year no-bid contracts from Lewis and Clark Community College (LCCC). According to The Telegraph, former LCCC President Dale Chapman was “criticized for signing a no-bid contract with a consulting firm, The Horinko Group in Washington, D.C., at $500,000 annually since 2008.” The LCCC district covers the Macoupin County and Madison County areas of Manar’s senate district.

Andy Manar has many questions to answer regarding his work at THG Advisors:

• What is the nature of Manar’s work at THG Advisors?
• How much does Manar earn from his position at THG Advisors?
• As “Senior Advisor for Public-Private Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement,” what “stakeholders” is Manar “engaging”?
• Does Manar communicate with any public employee or elected officials at the federal, state, or local level regarding his work at THG Advisors? If so, has he ever encouraged them to take official action?
• What is the expanded definition of “consultant” under Manar’s ethics proposal and does it cover his work at THG Advisors? If it does cover his work, when does he plan to leave his position due to the lawmaker-lobbyist prohibition in his ethics proposal?
• If it does not cover his position, does his consulting side gig violate the spirit of his own ethics proposal?
• Is Manar’s salary paid for in any part by the no-bid contract THG Advisors received from LCCC?
• Are there any other units of government in Manar’s senate district that have given contracts to THG Advisors?
• What is the nature of Manar’s work at Priorities USA?
• Does Manar think it’s appropriate for a sitting legislator to receive compensation from a Super PAC?

“Andy Manar has a lot of explaining to do regarding his side gig at a D.C. consulting firm that received many no-bid contracts from a community college in his senate district. As Manar pushes ethics reforms and new disclosure requirements for lobbyists and lawmakers, he should lead by example and explain the nature of his DC consulting firm.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesperson Joe Hackler.

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During the most recent State Central Committee meeting of the Illinois Republican Party, the ILGOP voted unanimously to formally recommend a vote of non-retention for Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride of the 3rd Judicial District. Justice Kilbride is up for retention on the November 2020 ballot and must meet the 60% retention threshold in order to keep his seat on the Illinois Supreme Court.

The ILGOP recommends removing Kilbride from the bench because of his very close ties to corrupt House Speaker Michael Madigan. In 2010, the last time Kilbride faced retention, Mike Madigan made Kilbride’s retention one of his top political priorities because he knew Kilbride was essential to retaining his power over the Supreme Court.

Chicago Sun-Times: “The speaker’s greatest victory, arguably, is the retention of Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride. With Madigan’s massive help, Kilbride remains on the bench, maintaining Democrats’ 4-3 majority on the court. That majority will be critical to the party in redistricting the political boundaries of this state.” (“Mr. Speaker, you’ve got work to do,” Editorial, Chicago Sun Times, Nov. 7, 2010)

Chicago Tribune: “And Madigan elected Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Kilbride, despite a stop-Kilbride campaign, as the speaker prepares that new political map.” (“Mike Madigan wins big,” Editorial, Chicago Tribune, Nov. 4, 2010)

Chicago Tribune: “Kilbride’s response? He has raised a whopping $2.48 million to save his job. The money is coming largely from the same sources that funded his 2000 campaign: House Speaker Michael Madigan and organized labor. The Madigan-controlled Democratic Party of Illinois has kicked in $1.42 million.”  (“Kilbride & Madigan,” Editorial, Chicago Tribune, Oct. 27, 2010)

In return for millions in campaign cash from Madigan, Kilbride has reliably voted to protect Madigan’s power and sided with Madigan’s powerful allies. Kilbride ruled against term limits and struck down pension reform in spite of criticism that he took millions of dollars from those with a stake in the decision.

Worst of all, in 2016, Kilbride wrote the majority opinion striking down the citizen-led ballot (“Fair Maps”) initiative that would have given voters a say in redistricting and taken the power away from Madigan to draw gerrymander maps. The decision was all about Madigan, as evidenced from the Chicago Tribune headline immediately following the decision on August 26, 2016: “Supreme Court’s Democratic majority sides with Madigan on redistricting. Surprise!” August 26, 2016.

“Justice Kilbride is a Madigan pawn occupying a seat on the Illinois Supreme Court, and he must be defeated. Kilbride has been elected by Madigan’s millions and has returned the favor, rejecting every good government reform that has appeared on the docket all in service to Madigan’s stranglehold on Illinois politics. The Illinois Republican Party strongly urges a vote of non-retention for Justice Kilbride.” – ILGOP Chairman Tim Schneider

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