McHenry County Blog

John Kass lamented the lack of an Illinois Scott Walker last Thursday.

He certainly is asking the right question:

“Where is Illinois’ Scott Walker?”

I was tempted to prepare a sign to affix to me chest asking.

“Are you the Illinois Scott Walker?”

but didn’t get around to it.

That thought pretty much left my mind until Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady started throwing red meat to the audience at the Tinley Park Convention.

“Isn’t it nice to see courage rewarded?” Brady asked after explaining his joy at watching Walker beat back the Democrats’ recall effort.

He noted with irony and derision Pat Quinn’s reaction, “Illinois is different.”

“We are under the thumb of a controlling, vindictive, ethically challenged, self-serving leprechaun, and I mean no disrespect to leprechauns, Speaker Mike Madigan,” Brady said, setting the tone of the gathering.

Brady pointed out that a mere 5,000 votes in the right House districts could have made Tom Cross Speaker.

And just 31,000 votes would have meant Bill Brady would have been elected Governor, instead of Quinn.

A pick of six seats in the Senate and six in the House would turn control over to the GOP.

Next came speeches by elected officials.

First up was Peoria’s Aaron Schock, first elected in 2008.

He told of passing federal free trade legislation for Columbia and having received a call from the CEO of Caterpillar Corporation, based in his home town. He was congratulated and told the a new plant would be built that would create 1,400 new jobs.

But, that the plant would not be build in Illinois because of our Workers’ Comp and tort liability laws.

“If we keep the same boneheads in Springfield, we won’t get the benefits,” Schock said.

House Minority Leader Tom Cross was next.

Signaling a line of attack against Democrats outside of Chicago, he pledged opposition to Mike Madigan’s and John Cullerton’s proposal to transfer $20 billion of teacher pension burden from state taxpayers to property taxpayers.

The man whose rant against Madigan’s one-man rule spread throughout television and the internet was introduced next.

“We want Mike! We want Mike!” spread throughout the room.

“If you take one thing out of this, other states don’t have one person that has total power,” Bost emphasized. “That’s a dictatorship!”

Former State Rep. and State Senator Randy Hultgren, elected to Congress in 2010 followed former colleague Bost.

“Illinois is broke.

“Illinois is broken.

“Reduced to a punchline.”

He told of being in Indiana and talked to its Governor, Mitch Daniels.

“Being Governor in the state next to Illinois is like living next to Homer Simpson.  Anything you do looks good.

“If Wisconsin can do it, Illinois can do it,” Hultgren concluded.

Adam Kinzinger, also elected in 2010, was next up.

“America is the greatest hope for civilization,” the Air Force pilot, now in the Illinois National Guard, started out.

He observed that young folks signing up for the Armed Forces today at age 18 were only 7 on 9-11.

“America is worth defending and I will defend it,” he said movingly.

“The American DNA is a winning DNA.

“The defense of this country also extends here at home.

“We have to beat Mike Madigan.

“We have to build a brick wall in Illinois” so Nancy Pelosi’s prediction that “the route to the [Democratic Party congressional] majority goes through Illinois.,”Kinzinger concluded.

Senate Republican leader Christine Radogno  stepped to the podium.

“We need reinforcements.

“We can’t do it without you.

“You are the grass roots.

“The wave is coming and we’re going to ride it.”

Brady then introduced Congressman Joe Walsh, also in his first term.

He noted that Walsh got no help from the Republican Party in his narrow victory over Democrat Melissa Bean, but “that won’t happen again.”

“There is no person they want to beat more than Joe Walsh.”

Walsh entered to a standing ovation.

He began his speech by relating that he was a naturally smiling Irish Catholic guy.

Then there was the “but.”

“I did not go to Washington last year to smile.

“There’s very little subtle about Joe Walsh.

“When I say the President has not freaking clue what he is doing, I mean every word of it.”

Then Walsh took after Mike Madigan.

“No one person should run a state.

“He is a king.

“He is a dictator.

“He is corrupt.

“He symbolizes everything that is wrong in Illinois.

“Shame on us for not having the courage and the fortitude to say that.”

Moving on to his re-election race against Tammy Duckworth, whose name he did not mention, Walsh said, “This White House and the entire Demcoratic Party has a target on my back.

He explained that he “just goe[es] and say[s] what [he] mean[s].

“Amazing things begin to happen.”

Walsh referenced John Kass’ column:

“Where is Illinois’ Scott Walker?”

[At this point I began wondering if he was standing on the stage.]

“The Republican Party has been compliant.

“We’ve lost our way.

“Every nine minutes somebody move out of this state,” he said emphasizing it was taxpayers moving elsewhere.

“That’s terrible.

“We can’t let that happen.”

Ratcheting up the rhetoric Walsh proclaimed Illinois Republicans “must stand for everything that the Mike Madigans don’t.

“We don’t stand for making everybody dependent on government.

“We stand for the opposite.

“We’re the party of everything else.

“I’m gong to ask you to be responsible for your own life.”

[Hear Joe Walsh's speech, posted by The Prairie State Review, here.]

Another standing ovation occurred after Walsh finished his speech.

Freshman Congressman Bobby Shilling spoke next.

I didn’t get a chance to take notes, but I did get a decent close-up.

After him State Treasurer Dan Rutherford, head of the Mitt Romney effort in Illinois in 2008 and 2012, spoke.

He is widely thought to be laying the groundwork for a campaign for Governor in 2014.

A video greeting from State Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka completed the speeches.

The Chicago Tribune article by Rick Pearson failed to mention that Walsh even spoke, not to mention that he was greeted with a standing ovation and another one after he finished his speech.

He did note the attacks on Mike Madigan.

= = = = =

In the John Kass piece, the columnist mentions Walsh, but not favorably.

“I’m not talking about a Republican who’d scream with veins popping out of his or her neck and a wild angry look in the eye.  If you want someone in your face, you’ve got Republican U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh, and you can have him.  What was compelling about Walker wasn’t his in-you-face personality.  It was his ideas.”

But, as Party Chairman Pat Brady reporting Demcoratic Party Governor as saying, Illinois is different.”

From the crowd’s reaction to Walsh, I think Kass’ take on Walsh was not shared by a large proportion of the Republicans in attendance.

The SuperPAC supporting Mitt Romney called me today and, in a voice that sounded like a gerbil on speed, told me all sorts of bad things Rick Santorum had done.

“Santorum has a record. Don’t ignore it.”

Less than an hour later Peoria’s Congressman Aaron Schock was on another robo-call urgning me to vote for Mitt Romney.

That call was paid for by the Romney campaign.

Not living in the 8th Congressional District, I can’t tell you whether Congressman Joe Walsh sends out a lot of newsletters with postage paid by the U.S. government.

But, reading the Chicago Sun-Times this morning, I did see the article I have posted here.

Walsh criticizes the Congressional postage monitors for issuing rules saying that congressmen can wish their constitutes a Merry Christmas or Happy Hannukah.

When I heard the story on the radio last night it struck me a bit strange.

Walsh obviously saw the possibility of headlines when he learned of the move by the censures.

He sent out a letter to colleagues on Monday and got a big response.

Congressmen are not allowed to send out mass mailings closer than 90 days before an election.

Fellow Illinois Republican Aaron Shock chairs the group making the rules.

Since the deadline for reporting third quarter of the year campaign contributions and expenditures is mid-October, I decided to take a look at how Illinois Republican Congressmen/woman are doing.

I looked at the 14th District GOP candidates first. It pits freshmen Congressmen Randy Hultgren and Joe Walsh against each other.

Randy Hultgren shows net contributions of $165,945, after $21,000 of refunds from July 1st through September 30th.  He has $275,810 in the bank.  Details are below:

Joe Walsh has $446,058 available.

Although Hultgren outraised Walsh during this quarter by about $16,545, Walsh has over $190,000 more in the bank.

Walsh owes $44,000; Hultgren $55,000.

Looking at where the money came from, Walsh got $118,700 from individuals (after refunds);  $27,000 from Political Action Committees (no refunds).

Hulgren’s contributions from individuals after refunds totaled $107,345.  He received $55,900 from PACs (after refunding $1,000).

So, total contributed this quarter:

• $163,245 for Hultgren
• $145,700 for Walsh

Of the donations this quarter, Walsh has a higher percentage from individuals:

• 81.5% for Walsh
• 65.8% for Hultgren

Conversely, Hultgren received a higher percentage from PACs:

• 34.2% for Hultgren
• 18.5% for Walsh

Total available for the coming primary election:

• $446,058 for Walsh
• $275,810 for Hultgren

The other Illinois race pitting two incumbents is the 16th, where 10-term veteran Don Manzullo is being challenged by freshman Adam Kinzinger.

Manzullo raised $316,558 during the three-month period and has $483,994 in the bank.

The 14th and the 8th are the only two congressional districts where it’s incumbent Republican versus incumbent Republican.

Kinzinger, in contrast, has $567,012 cash on hand, after raising $202,441 during July, August and September.

Other Republicans are in danger, however.

Veteran Judy Biggert will be running against former Democratic Congressman Bill Foster.

She has $298,250 in the bank vs. Foster’s $339,687.

Foster has about $40,000 more in hand, but it’s a Republican year, so who knows?

Freshman Bobby Schiller has been put into a convoluted district whose edge nearest McHenry County is Rockford. The potential opponent I have heard most about is Cheri Bustos, who has been endorsed by Emily’s List, the national Pro-Choice group that endorsed opponents of mine in times past.

Schilling has $450,290 available.  Cheri Busto reported $131,451 on hand.

There is another Democratic Party candidate in the face, State Senator David Koehler of Peoria.  He raised $121,777, less than Bustos this quarter.

Congressman Tim Johnson might or might not have former State Rep. Jay Hoffman, a former Rod Blagojevich House floor leader, challenge him in a district Mike Madigan (or maybe it was the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee) drew.

Johnson has $379,425 on hand versus $131,564 in Hoffman’s bank account.

There’s speculation that Hoffman might want to run in retiring Democrat Jerry Costello’s district farther south, but based in the Metro-East area across from St. Louis.

The North Shore’s Robert Dold is running for re-election against a Democrat to be named in next March’s primary election.

He has $367,665 available.  This is a Chicago TV market district in which a lot more than that will be needed.

The biggest Republican congressional campaign fund in our area I have left until last. It belongs to Congressman Peter Roskam.

Unless the Federal Court reverses the Democrats reapportionment map lines, Roskam will represent our household in 2013.

Roskam has $1,767,463 in his campaign coffers.

I looked at Republicans in the 8th Congressional District, too.  The only one reporting that I could find was Barrington’s Andrew Palamo, who had $4,484 on hand.

Peoria’s Aaron Schock reported having $1,9323,275 to spend on his campaign.  That’s even more than Roskam has.

Veteran John Shimkus filed late on Saturday.  He had about $1.2 million available for his re-election campaign.

I surely hope that none of Peoria Congressman Aaron Schock’s district is served by Northern Illinois Gas.

NICOR sent out the flyer you see above to solicit a monthly payment for $4.95.

Protect
yourself
FROM THE
SHOCK
of
Unexpected

Under the really worried woman’s and disturbed husband’s photo is the subject of the ad:

Electric
REPAIR
Bills

But what sticks out in the piece is the “Protect yourself from (the) SHOCK.”

Not much chance of success, I’d suggest, but here is 16th District Congressman Don Manzullo’s press release asking Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to challenge the Health Care Reform bill that President Barack Obama just signed:

Manzullo Joins Illinois Colleagues in Urging IL Attorney General

Madigan to Challenge New Health Care Mandate in Court

WASHINGTON – Congressman Don Manzullo today joined several Illinois Congressional colleagues in urging Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to join 15 other state attorneys general in challenging whether the new federal health care mandate is constitutional.

The new legislation, signed into law by the President today, requires all Americans to purchase health insurance whether they want it or not and whether they can afford it or not. Those who do not comply with the new mandate face federal tax penalties and possible imprisonment for tax evasion. Up to 16,500 new IRS agents could be hired to monitor compliance with this new mandate and enforce penalties against taxpayers.

“This is the first time the federal government has required Americans to buy a product or face fines and possible imprisonment, and it’s blatantly unconstitutional. I urge Attorney General Madigan to join the other states in challenging this mandate on behalf of the people of Illinois,” Manzullo said.

“At a time when Illinois schools are laying off thousands of teachers to deal with the state’s $12 billion budget hole, this bill would add more than $1 billion in extra Medicaid costs to the state’s obligations. It’s a disaster for the people of Illinois, and it needs to be struck down in the courts so we can focus on real reform that makes health care more affordable and accessible to Americans.”

The letter was also signed by U.S. Reps. Aaron Schock, Peter Roskam, Judy Biggert, John Shimkus and Tim Johnson, all of Illinois. To read the letter, visit http://manzullo.house.gov/UploadedFiles/health_care_10_letter_to_AG.pdf
.

I’m not aware that any of the Italian family I married into has membership in the Order of the Sons of Italy, but the group has awarded 16th District Republican Congressman Don Manzullo its Leonardo da Vinci Award. You can read the press release below. The photo is of first term Peoria Congressman Aaron Schock with Manzullo at a recent Rockford fundraiser by the congressman’s Press Secretary Rich Carter at my request.

[ORLAND PARK, IL] The largest organization of Italian-American men and women in America has honored Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) with its Leonardo da Vinci Award of Excellence.

Manzullo, whose grandparents lived in Calabria, Marsala and Palermo in Italy before they emigrated to the United States, accepted the award May 3rd from the Order Sons of Italy in America Grand Lodge of the State of Illinois.

The Gala awards ceremony took place at the Drury Lane Oakbrook.

“It is a tremendous honor for me to receive this prestigious award from the Order Sons of Italy in America,” Manzullo said.

“Growing up and working in my family’s Italian restaurant in New Milford, my Italian-American heritage has always been an important part of my life. I accept this Leonardo da Vinci Award on behalf of my grandparents, Vito and Carmela DiGirolomo and Antonio and Ignasia Manzullo, who came to the United States in search of the American dream, and my parents, Frank and Kathryn Manzullo, whose son was elected to the United States Congress.”

In addition to receiving the da Vinci award, Manzullo will also be featured in the summer edition of the Amici Journal, the National Italian American Lifestyle Magazine.