Updated: Will Mike Madigan Be Toppled in the ComEd Bribery Investigation?

Can Lausch bring down Madigan?

Will this federal investigation be the one to finally bring down Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan?

Wait. Pause. This is a story about utility company ComEd agreeing to pay $200 million in fines for bribery, right? Yes. 

But the Madigan aspect is actually bigger (in my opinion) than whatever crimes were committed by ComEd employees. It has the potential of upending Illinois politics as we've known them for half a century. The end of the Madigan Age may be near.

From the Chicago Sun-Times report, June 17 (emphasis added):

Federal prosecutors implicated Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan on Friday in a brazen, Chicago-style bribery scheme involving ComEd that allegedly went on for years and involved payments to Madigan associates exceeding $1.3 million. 

Though the stunning, lengthy details were revealed in documents that charged only ComEd — and not Madigan — with bribery, they said ComEd has agreed to “fully and truthfully cooperate” with federal prosecutors. The company has agreed to pay a $200 million fine and acknowledged that it sought Madigan’s help for legislation that could be worth more than $150 million to the utility company. 

Madigan is not identified by name in the documents, rather as “Public Official A.” But there is no doubt it is him, as the documents identify that person as Illinois’ house speaker. No one in the country has held that title as long as Madigan. 

Mike Madigan

U.S. Attorney John Lausch’s office held a news conference early this afternoon with the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation division. The purpose of the presser is, as the Sun-Times's Jon Seidel put it, "to discuss what could be one of the most significant prosecutions in Illinois history."

I want to note, for accuracy, that the Sun-Times report was not presumptive. Quoted above, it said that "Madigan is not identified by name in the documents, rather as 'Public Official A'." U.S. Attorney Rausch was asked about Madigan in his press conference today, and his response was to not name Madigan (watch full presser on YouTube).

An excellent report by CBS2 Chicago says that "Madigan, 78, has not been charged with a crime, but sources confirmed to CBS 2’s Dana Kozlov that Madigan’s office was served with a subpoena on Friday for documents related to the bribery charge against ComEd."

During his press conference today, Rausch was asked why Madigan has not been named since his own office specifically refers to him as "the Speaker of the House of Representatives" of Illinois. His response was that individuals are not named in ongoing investigations and that no charges have been brought against Public Official A.

The charges against Commonwealth Edison include the following passage (emphasis added).

Public Official A was the Speaker of the House of Representatives and an elected member of that body. As Speaker of the House of Representatives, Public Official A was able to exercise control overwhat measures were called for a vote in the House of Representatives. Public Official A also exercised substantial influence and control over fellow lawmakers concerning legislation, including legislation affecting ComEd.

As the Sun-Times noted, "there is no doubt" that Public Official A is Mike Madigan.

Anybody who has lived in Illinois for more than six months has likely heard rumors about Mike Madigan's allegedly corrupt ways. He's the Teflon Man of Springfield, seemingly untouchable despite a steady stream of suspicion. Madigan has been in the Illinois House of Representatives for nearly half a century, since 1971. He is currently in his 25th two-year term and is running for re-election. His current term ends in January 2021. (See Madigan's bio at  Ballotpedia.)

WLS-TV has an amazing report here.

Today's Sun-Times again: 

The documents filed Friday are full of colorful, Chicago-style quotes. At one point, a Madigan associate warns, “I would say to you don’t put anything in writing . . . all it can do is hurt ya.” At another, that person says, “We had to hire these guys because (Madigan) came to us. It’s just that simple.” A consultant allegedly said payments were made “to keep (Madigan) happy, I think it’s worth it, because you’d hear otherwise.” 

The Madigan associate at one point allegedly explained that, for decades, Madigan had named people to become ComEd employees such as meter readers as part of an “old-fashioned patronage system.”

If you've followed Illinois politics for as long as I have, or for even a fraction of the time that I have, the bigger story here is the possible implication of Madigan in this mess. Predictably, Madigan is denying any wrongdoing in connection to the ComEd scandal.

The Democrat king-maker has had an iron grip on statewide politics that seems unshakable (as I've written about numerous times in the past.) But maybe, just maybe, a tough U.S. Attorney named John Lausch can do what so many in the past could not: topple Madigan.

Stay tuned. This will only get better.

Related: 

• Friends and foes tell Madigan to resign in wake of ComEd bribery case - Chicago Sun-Times, 17 July 2020
• Pritzker Says Madigan Must Resign If Allegations in ComEd Bribery Scheme Are True - NBC5 Chicago, 17 July 2020
• ComEd to pay $200M in federal bribery investigation; Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan implicated in charge - WLS-TV, 17 July 2020
• ComEd Charged with Bribery; Madigan Implicated - WTTW, 17 July 2020
• Fighting Madigan's Iron-Grip of the IL Legislature - Chicago News Bench, 9 Feb 2010
• Secrecy in the Illinois State Capitol - Chicago News Bench, 18 Feb 2010
• Mike Madigan, Blago Enabler - Chicago News Bench, 14 Jan 2009

Ald. Joe Moore's Dead-Beat Sugar Daddy Arrested (Updated)

Cedomir Zuric's mugshot

UPDATE: This six-year old story recently took a sudden dramatic turn in March, 2014.  Fugitive Cedomir Zuric, 52, was arrested for over $500,000 in past due child support payments. He was wanted since 2008. While Zuric was busy shirking his child support debts, he was doling out huge money to Chicago's 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore. In return, Moore supported a controversial zoning change that Zuric wanted very much.

"A tip led Cook County deputies to a North Side man who owes more than half-a-million dollars in overdue child support," reported Lincoln Square Patch on March 26. "The sheriff's department warrant unit arrested Cedomir Zuric, 52, on Friday after learning he was staying at a residence in the 4300 block of North Clarendon Avenue. Zuric owes $555,876 in past due child support payments for three children. A warrant was issued for his arrest in 2008. Zuric's last known address was in the 5700 block of North Lincoln Avenue. Zuric posted a $23,462.24 cash bond and was released from jail." Zuric was due in court on April 3.

Joe Moore, Alderhog

Earlier Post, July 30, 2008 - 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore took big money from dead-beat dad Cedomir Zuric. We therefore DEMAND Moore Return Campaign Contributions from Dead-Beat Dad

We the citizens of Rogers Park DEMAND that Alderman Joe Moore IMMEDIATELY turn over ALL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS from dead-beat dad Cedomir Zuric (a.k.a. Chad Zuric) to the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services toward partial retirement of Zuric's $400,000 child support arrears. (Search for "Zuric Cedomir" at Cook County Recorder of Deeds website.)

Moore abused his office by accepting $14,500 from a dead-beat dad posing as a real estate developer in exchange for Moore's support for a lucrative zoning change and the demolition of the former Adelphi Theater, all the while knowing full well the beneficiary owed $400,000 in child support payments.

Also See:

• Pay-to-Play in the 49th Ward Leaves a Gaping Hole in the Ground Morse Hell Hole
• A Big Hole Mess NBC5 Chicago
• "Squeaky Clean" Ald. Joe Moore Investigated for Ethics Violation NBC5 Chicago
• Developer Pulls Plug on New Building at Former Adelphi Theater Site DNA Info Chicago
• Archive for the 'Cedomir Chad Zuric' Rogers Park Chicago
• Chad Zuric, a Moore crony, may have fled the country) rp1000.blogspot
• Ald Moore took Bribe from Chad Zuric to Expidite Demolition of Adelphi Theater rp1000blogspot

Hallelujah! Ald. Sandi Jackson Quits Chicago City Council

They're creepy and they're kooky: The Jackson Family
Photo: Sandi Jackson for 7th Ward Alderman campaign

Jan. 11, 2013 - Sandi Jackson, wife of former Congressman Jesses Jackson, Jr. has - finally - resigned. Goodbye to bad rubbish. She will no longer be the alderman for Chicago's 7th Ward. According to the Chicago Tribune, she submitted her resignation letter "to Mayor Rahm Emanuel today. It is effective Tuesday," January 15. Jackson was first elected to the city council in 2007. In her letter to Emanuel, she cited "very painful family health matters" as a major factor in her decision to resign.

Emanuel took time to praise her in a statement he released in response to her resignation:

"As Sandi takes this time to focus on her family, we give her our deepest thanks and support for her service to our City and the residents of her ward. Her leadership has been greatly appreciated in the Chicago City Council." 

"Leadership?" What leadership, Mr. Mayor? Sandi Jackson seemed to care more about living it up in D.C. than she cared about representing her own ward. How was she leading from 700 miles away?

Feds Hog Tie William Beavers, The Hog With The Big Nuts

Big Balls Beavers: Nuts

February 24, 2012 - County Commissioner William Beavers has been indicted on federal charges of tax fraud.  According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Beavers was indicted on Thursday, February 23 "for allegedly obstructing the Internal Revenue Service and failing to report, and pay taxes on, all of his income." The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.

The federal charges allege that Beavers, 77, "concealed his under-reporting of income and underpayment of taxes on thousands of dollars that he converted to personal use from his campaign accounts—including more than $68,000 in personal gain on one occasion that was not reported—as well as from his county discretionary spending account."

Altogether, Fitzgerald said that Beavers owes over $226,000 that "he took from his campaign funds and his county expense account to go gambling and to boost his city pension," reports the Sun-Times. "The crime was not taking the money ­— it was failing to report it and pay taxes on it when he converted it to personal use, Fitzgerald said."

Beavers is a man known for outrageous statements, and the indictment was incitement for yet another one from him. Beavers claims that he indicted because "he refused to wear a wire on fellow Commissioner John Daley," says the Sun-Times. “They tried to get to me to become a stool pigeon, and I wouldn’t become a stool pigeon,” Beavers said Thursday, when he learned of the indictment from the Sun-Times. “They wanted me to wear a wire on John Daley. S---.” He said he had no idea why the feds would want him to wear a wire.

Beavers is a man with no class. Before heading back into the county board meeting in 2007, Beavers turned to reporters and loudly declared that that he is “the hog with the big nuts and I’m gonna tell you what it is.”  (What is it about Democrats that makes so frequently speak about their gonads?)

Between 2006 and 2008, says the U.S. Attorney’s Office, "Beavers allegedly paid himself more than $225,000 from three separate campaign accounts and used at least a portion of those funds for personal purposes, including gambling. In 2006, he used more than $68,000 from a campaign account to boost his city pension, and between 2006 and 2008, he used his $1,200 monthly county contingency account for personal purposes without reporting any of these funds as income on his federal tax returns, the indictment alleges."

See the full statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois.

In his announcement of the charges against Beavers, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said, "If politicians choose to use their campaign funds for personal use then they, like all the citizens they serve, share the obligation to honestly report their income and pay the correct amount of taxes,” he said. “The indictment alleges that over a course of three years, Commissioner Beavers repeatedly used his campaign accounts for personal use and then thwarted the Internal Revenue Service by causing his campaign committees to create false records to cover it up.”

• William Beavers Indicted On Tax Fraud Charges (chicagoist.com)
• Beavers: Feds Charged Me Because I Wouldn't Wear A Wire (chicago.cbslocal.com)
• Leave it to Beavers: Another Chicago politician indicted (marathonpundit.blogspot.com)
• Jesse Jackson family castrates "hog with big nuts" (marathonpundit.blogspot.com)

Media Alert: Isaac Hayes to Hold Press Conference to Call on Jackson to tell Truth

MEDIA ADVISORY - Tuesday, September 21, 2010 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - In light of today’s revelations in the Chicago Sun-Times concerning Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., Republican Nominee Isaac Hayes will hold a press conference asking him to be honest with the voters of the Second District. The Sun-Times reported that Oak Brook Businessman Rahuveer Nayak told federal authorities that Mr. Jackson directed him to offer former Gov. Rod Blagojevich six million dollars in campaign cash in return for an appointment to the U.S. Senate seat. The Sun-Times also reported Jackson had Mr. Nayak pay for two airline trips for a “social acquaintance,” Washington, D.C., restaurant hostess Giovana Huidobro.

Who: What: Where: When:

Isaac Hayes, Republican Nominee for Illinois’ 2nd Congressional To ask Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. to tell the truth 63rd Stony Island Ave, Chicago Tuesday, September 21, 2010 - 2:00-2:30 p.m.

Citizens for Isaac Hayes is the campaign committee for Republican nominee Isaac Hayes who is challenging Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. for the Congressional seat in Illinois 2nd District. Mr. Hayes’ campaign is focusing on jobs and small business creation, parental school choice, safe neighborhoods and honest government. Media Contact: Janet D. Restivo, 312-504-4085, janet@isaac4honesty.com RELATED PRESS RELEASES: HAYES OFFERS JACKSON FREE LESSON IN HINDI HAYES CALLS ON JACKSON TO GIVE A STRAIGHT ANSWER HAYES URGES JACKSON TO RESIGN AND STOP THE EMBARRASSMENT

Rockford Tea Party Calls Out City's New HR Director

Something's rotten in Rockford, and here is an important message from the Rockford Tea Party about it. The good people of that fine city should be up in arms over the abuse of taxpayers' and voters' trust. RTP's coordinator David Hale wrote this impassioned email blast on September 7, 2010: UPDATE: The bus to D.C. has NOT been cancelled. The bus will still go to D.C. for the Sept. 12 National Tea Party. Details and registration here. The City of Rockford has a new Director of Human Resources: Julia Scott-Valdez. She was receiving $80,000 yearly from the Rockford Taxpayer for her salary as Deputy City Administrator. On top of that, average benefits to such a position totaled around $45,000 yearly. Shocking enough as that is, as the new Director of HR for the City of Rockford, she is demanding a match of that salary for taking on the position of HR Director an increase of 42 percent to around $114,000. If she doesn't get it Mayor Morrissey is saying that it would open the City of Rockford up to a discrimination lawsuit. So the city would be sued costing taxpayers $100's of $1000's of dollars if they don't pony up the salary, and we would not only pay for the court costs and lawyers costs, but we would also pay for the lawsuit itself. Shocking yes...but here's the real shock. How many employees of the City of Rockford are making more than $100,000 yearly when our unemployment rate sits at 21 percent and the average worker doesn't even make $50,000 yearly. Now why is it that we have a Tea Party? Because we are racists and bigots and want to deprive Blacks of Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness as some Black Leaders in Rockford would have you believe? Or is it because of reasons like this one? Are you listening Ventia Hervey? Folks, we have got to stop this madness from two sides of the same coin. We are called racist because we exist which is the means muting us when we demand fiscal responsibility in our Government. When we're muted, they are able to run roughshod over not only our pocketbooks but over our Constitution. The Government we elected! If I was Mayor there would be a lot of people fired. Of course they could be rehired at a salary more consistent with the local economy. We here in Rockford are not immune to the Taxpayer Abuse by Public Servants. [Some related - and alarming - headlines:] Government Spending Teacher's Paid: It's just a myth: 'underpaid' teachers Illinois Top 100 Government Teacher Salaries 2009 Education In America: Liberalism's Failed Legacy Pensions: Things you won’t hear from Governor Quinn: Federal Pay: Federal workers earning double their private counterparts Public pension double dipping is an invitation to cronyism: editorial Unemployment Rising Homes Devalued: US Homeowner Confidence Drops in Second Quarter Please call the mayor's office [email: Larry.Morrissey@rockfordil.gov] and your local Alderman and demand fiscal responsibility in Rockford Government. The Fall of Our Republic Won't happen by any one Act but by the cuts of a 1000 knives. These recent headlines should give us all pause. Click Here for eVoter. NEXT MEETING: At our next RockfordTeaParty meeting we will discuss the vote we did with the mock ballot based upon the candidates on the ballot at the eVoter website. We will give the results of that vote and that will be the official Rockford Tea Party Vote for this November Election. We will post it publicly and contact media regarding this vote with Press Releases. If you would like to add your vote to the mix please go to eVoter and plug your address and zip code in, print the ballot and vote on paper. We will have a ballot pick up date this week in the parking lot of Heartland Church at Colonial Village at 12 noon near the Parking Garage and once again next week at 12 noon. Our next meeting will take place [in late September/early October] and will most likely be the last meeting this year. This meeting will cover some important information for voting, for our Pre-election Day protest and post election planning. Please come to this next meeting. It will be our last one this year. Watch for one of our next emails for day and time announcements. We will discuss in full the idea of a Pre-Election Protest so please collect and gather your thoughts now. We are also mulling an election night Tea Party Party...your thoughts and feedback over this idea would be appreciated. Why come to a Tea Party meeting to figure out that you are committed to voting? Family. We are a family. We are a community of people that want to see America changed, and the way we do that is with committed participants who support each other and support a massive sweeping change in America this November. Investing your time in a Tea Party Meeting translates into waking up on November 2nd and going to the polls and voting. Attending Tea Party meetings is a commitment to vote. Invest your time and you wont waste your vote. Pledge yourself to vote by coming to the next Tea Party meeting.

Free Watchdog Training From Better Government Association

Help clean up the dirty politics in Illinois! The Better Government Association (BGA) is a great organization that keeps a sharp eye on the corruptocrats in Illinois. They need more sharp eyes. Illinois, after all, is one of the most corrupt states in the nation, from Chicago City Council to the State Legislature. They want to train YOU as one of their watchdogs, and they are offering free training sessions on July 20 and July 27 at Loyola University in Rogers Park on Chicago's north side (details below). As the BGA describes it, "Citizen Watchdog Training teaches you how to keep an eye on government. Veteran investigative journalists, professors and legal professionals share their watchdog tricks of the trade. You'll learn about the structure of local government, basic journalism skills, and the ins-and-outs of the Freedom of Information Act. Hear from whistle-blowers who exposed corruption and demanded change. We'll work with you to investigate government fraud and to advocate for reform." Here are the training times and dates: SESSION 1: Tues, July 20, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. SESSION 2: Tues, July 27, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. LOCATION (BOTH SESSIONS): Loyola University* Quinlan Life Sciences Building map (pdf) Auditorium Rm 142 1032 W. Sheridan Space is limited. Please RSVP by email to mfoconnor@bettergov.org or call 312-821-9026. *Loyola University is not affiliated with the BGA, and it is not a sponsor or co-sponsor of this event.

Chicago Aldermen, SEIU Bullying and Wal-Mart

Chicago, the city that works - sometimes, and in spite of itself. Peter Bella writes about the ongoing nonsense and power plays regarding a proposed Wal-Mart store in Chicago's historic Pullman neighborhood on the south side.

Mayor Richard Daley, to his credit, would like to see Wal-Mart (or any big retailer) build in that impoverished neighborhood. It's what some call a "food desert," with few good places to buy food or, for that matter, much else. That goes hand in hand with a lack of places at which to work. Some Chicago alderman and the unions that pull their strings would happily allow people to continue to struggle with no jobs or adequate shopping opportunities rather than allow a Wal-Mart into the hood. They demand, as Bella notes, a "living wage" of $11.03 per hour. (Has anybody ever offered a reasonable definition of "living wage?")  Even minimum wage is better than no wage at all, but the union bosses and corruptocrats in City Hall would apparently prefer no wages for people in Pullman.

"Earleir this week," writes Bella in his column at Chicago Now, "Alderman Solis, the Zoning Committee Chairman demanded Wal-Mart negotiate with SEIU and other unions over wages and benefits. Solis does not know how things work. How can unions negotiate when there are no employees they represent?"

The answer is actually simple. The union bosses don't give a damn about the employees they claim to represent. If they did, they'd push in favor of Wal-Mart, let some unemployed people start earning something, and then - later - negotiate upwards on their behalf. The bosses, however, live pretty high on the union dues that are ripped out of every member's paycheck. The lower the wage, the lower the dues. Even a union boss understands the law of diminished returns.

John Ruberry at Marathon Pundit notes that "Ald. Anthony Beale (9th) has been trying to bring the retail giant--as well as hundreds of jobs--to the historic Pullman neighborhood. Daley wants an up-and-down vote on proposed South Side store" and that currently the unemployment rate in the Chicago metropolitan area is 11.3 percent.

Six years ago, the Chicago City Council actually did approve a Wal-Mart for Chicago's 37th Ward on the city's west side. Alderman Emma Mitts fought hard to get that store for her constituents (it opened in July, 2006).

Of that 2004 vote, Alderman Helen Shiller (46th Ward) said after that "We are dealing with a huge company with a long history of predatory practices," and said that Wal-Mart does not provide its employees with adequate health care. "They count on the city to provide assistance to their workers," she said. "We are creating more loss than gains." (MSNBC...)  Shiller doesn't seem to understand that (a) the city itself has a long history of predatory taxation practices or that (b) many unemployed people are already count on the city for assistance. A pawn of SEIU herself, Shiller either cannot grasp or will not admit that at least some of those who would be employed by Wal-Mart could depend less on the city for assistance if they had an income, however meager. The real predators are the union bosses and the aldermen they support with campaign contributions and political workers.

Wal-Mart contributes to politicians, too, but they need to counter the opposition. Anti-Wal-Mart spinning by its opponents in public office and in the media is often reaches the deep into the depths of idiocy.

An absurd example of this comes from the University of Illinois at Chicago in a January 8, 2010 news release. The headline of the release boggles the mind: "Study: Chicago Walmart Does Not Boost Employment or Retail Sales." This flies in the face of reality. It smacks of the Big Lie so favored by Joseph Goebbels, who said that "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it."  What thinking person, however, can actually believe that new retailer with a store over 100,000 square feet and needing many new employees to staff it would not boost employment opportunities?

Yet UIC would have you believe that big lie. That January, 2010 news release claimed that "The opening of a Walmart store in Chicago's Austin neighborhood in 2006 has not increased retail activity or employment opportunities, according to a study by researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Loyola University Chicago."

Really?  It hasn't increased employment opportunities? For anybody? Has that Wal-Mart remained unstaffed with no employees in the several years it has been open? How has the store functioned without employees? Half an ounce of critical thinking shows the absurdity of the UIC "study." 37th Ward Alderman Emma Mitts disagreed with the UIC study, noted Chicagoist, "saying on WTTW's Chicago Tonight that 'people see what they want to see,' and that she hadn't heard anyone in her community complaining."

The actions and words of the SEIU and their puppets on the City Council indicate that they really don't give a damn about the people they "represent." The propanda work on their behalf, by many in the media, is shameless. The losers who buy into the Wal-Mart hatred are simply pitiful.

RELATED:
Daley wants up-or-down vote on new Wal-Mart Clout Street/Chicago Tribune
Wal-Mart Hate and Deaf Aldermen Chicago News Bench
Video: Ministers rally around Wal-Mart Marathon Pundit
Pastors add pressure for more Walmart stores Chicago Defender
Wal-Mart gets 25,000 applications for Evergreen Park store Chicago Business
Penn and Teller on Wal-Mart Hatred (Video; Language Advisory) YouTube
Wal-Marts in Chicago (Google map a/o April 25, 2010)
Labor Unions: Employment at Wal-Mart Like Slavery BigGovernment.com
Wal-Mart Employment Opportunities HourlyCareers.com
Defeat of Chicago's big-box "living wage" ordinance means more jobs Marathon Pundit

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ACORN's Tangled Branches

by Warner Todd Huston

News is all over the country that the often criminal group the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) is dead, folding its tent, kaput. All this is because, as Politico puts it, of a "conservative assault that never prompted any prosecutions." But let us not get our hopes up that ACORN is defeated. It isn't. In fact, most of the groups that huddled under ACORN's left-wing are just changing their names and moving on with all the same people involved as if nothing ever happened. And this isn't anything new. The fact is, ACORN activists have always hid behind dozens of false front organizations and corporate identities to disguise their criminal network. In California, for instance, one of the ACORN affiliates is changing its name to “Californians for Community Empowerment” and one of the New York offices will now be known as “New York Communities for Change.” But all the same people that ran these former ACORN offices in these states are still there, no change has been made but the name. We also saw the shady groups connected with ACORN but not named ACORN just last year during the Doug Hoffman, New York 23 arc. There an ACORN affiliate had created a fake political party in order to funnel cash to the Democrat running in that race. One of the organizations hip-deep in that election was a political group called the Working Families Party. Of course, the WFP is more-or-less a front for ACORN in New York and no political party at all. This "party" is run out of the ACORN offices at 88 Third Avenue in Brooklyn, its Co-chair is ACORN President Bertha Lewis, and one of its prime representatives is New York's ACORN leader, Steven Kest. ACORN and the Working Families Party are inextricable. The two are one and the same. The chief duty that the WFP serves to left leaning candidates in New York is supportive. WFP offers its chosen candidates campaign services such as door-to-door canvassing, phone banks, envelope stuffing and other necessary but expensive and time consuming services. WFP also low-balls the costs of these services to its preferred candidates. It so undercuts the costs of these services that it effectively eliminates any other political service operations from being able to compete. In one instance, Democrat candidate Bill de Blasio who ran for a Councilman's seat in Brooklyn using WFPs Data Field services, got a great boost from WFP. These services might have cost $40,000 from a for-profit political service but de Blasio only paid $5,000 for WFPs services. Critics say that WFPs low cost services place their supported candidates at an unfair advantage to all other candidates that must use many thousands of dollars more of their campaign funds for support services to get elected. WFP, in essence, is donating its services as opposed to charging for them. Naturally, the only sort of candidates that are lucky enough to receive WFPs services are the sort that promise fealty to ACORN and the extreme left agenda. In other words, WFP is neither a real political party, nor a proper business but is rather an activist organization out to undermine the political system in New York. It is a pattern that ACORN would love to repeat in various forms all across the country and one of the ways they do so is to co-opt politicians with cheap services and huge financial support and then hide behind a corporate name that people aren't aware is connected to ACORN. But the WFP isn't the only example of this sort of false front organization in connection with ACORN. In fact, many of ACORN's principle operatives have registered dozens and dozens of false corporations with states all across the country, all of which get money from the state in one capacity or another. Some of these false front corporations can be found on your State's Sec. of State website. Each state has a different system, of course, and some are easier to search than others. In the state of Louisiana, for instance, one can search by a person's name. On the Louisiana site you are not limited to the name of the corporation like you are in Illinois or other states so it is a bit easier to find vendors and corporations that are approved to work with the state. (Louisiana mainpage, or go to the search only page) On the Louisiana site I typed in the name of ACORN founder Wade Rathke to see what corporations and LLCs he had registered with the state. I also tried Dale Rathke, his embezzler brother, to see what he had registered with the state. The results are amazing. What I found were dozens of different shell corporations registered to Wade and Dale Rathke all of which have the potential of reaping thousands of dollars from the state of Louisiana. The same thing is happening in every state of the union and it isn't just Wade and Dale doing this. ACORN employees at all levels are doing this in order to hide the fact that they are registering ACORN agencies. Louisiana List (all registered to New Orleans): RATHKE, STEPHEN WADE Agent of “UNITED LABOR ORGANIZATIONS” President of “TEXAS UNITED CITY-COUNTY EMPLOYEES, INC.” President of “BALTIMORE ORGANIZING AND SUPPORT CENTER, INC.” President of “WORKING FAMILIES ASSOCIATION, INC.” Member of “COALITION FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE IN , L.L.C.” President of “CHIEF ORGANIZER FUND, INC.” Director of “CHIEF ORGANIZER FUND, INC.” President of “ACORN INTERNATIONAL, INC.” President of “WAL-MART ALLIANCE FOR REFORM NOW, INC.” President of “AFFILIATED MEDIA FOUNDATION MOVEMENT, INC.” Director of “UNITED LABOR ORGANIZATIONS” Vice-President of “METRO TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC.” Affiliated with “ELYSIAN FIELDS PARTNERSHIP” Director of “PARENT TEACHER GROUP OF CHINCHUBA SCHOOL, INC.” President of “GREENWELL SPRINGS CORPORATION” President of “BROAD STREET CORPORATION, INC.” President of “SIXTH AVENUE CORPORATION” President of “FIFTEENTH STREET CORPORATION” Director of “FIFTEENTH STREET CORPORATION” President of “ACORN BENEFICIAL ASSOCIATION, INC.” President of “ACORN FUND, INC.” President of “HOUSTON ORGANIZING AND SUPPORT CENTER, INC.” Director of “HOUSTON ORGANIZING AND SUPPORT CENTER, INC.” Director of “AUSTIN ORGANIZING AND SUPPORT CENTER, INC.” Treasurer of “AUSTIN ORGANIZING AND SUPPORT CENTER, INC.” President of “MONTANA RADIO NETWORK, INC.” Director of “MONTANA RADIO NETWORK, INC.” President of “PHOENIX ORGANIZING AND SUPPORT CENTER, INC.” Agent of “PARENT TEACHER GROUP OF CHINCHUBA SCHOOL, INC.” RATHKE, DALE Treasurer of “ACORN MANAGEMENT CORPORATION, INC.” Secretary/Treasurer of “METRO TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC.” Affiliated with “ELYSIAN FIELDS PARTNERSHIP” Director of “ COMMUNITY HOUSING ORGANIZATION, INC.” Secretary of “ASSOCIATED REGIONAL MAINTENANCE SYSTEMS, INC.” Secretary/Treasurer of “SIXTH AVENUE CORPORATION” Secretary of “MASSACHUSETTS ACORN HOUSING CORPORATION” Director of “CRESCENT CITY BROADCASTING CORPORATION” Treasurer of “CRESCENT CITY BROADCASTING CORPORATION” Secretary of “SHREVEPORT COMMUNITY TELEVISION, INC.” Secretary of “LOUISIANA ACORN FAIR HOUSING, INC.” Agent of “MASSACHUSETTS ACORN HOUSING CORPORATION” You can be sure to find a similar list of corporations registered in Illinois and every other state to all sorts of ACORN employees and associates. These registered entities are really but shell corporations of ACORN. So, while the main ACORN monster may be either dead or dying, don't assume that this many headed hydra is down for the count. Do not celebrate prematurely for we have much more work to do in order to defeat ACORN and its acolytes.

Also see Warner's blog Publius' Forum. Leave a Comment * Conservative T-Shirts * Follow CNB on Twitter * RSS Feed

ACORN Forced Out of Ohio "Permanently"

The good news is that hydra-headed ACORN has been forced to leave Ohio. It's a big blow to Barack Obama and corrupt politics in Ohio, and a huge victory for fans of a thug-free political process. Let's see if the same legal action can be repeated in other states. The community organizing group ACORN has agreed to permanently give up its business license in Ohio, under a settlement with a libertarian organization. More at Cincinnati.com... Robert Moon reports that "A conservative libertarian group called the 1851 Center for Constitutional Law has gone to court and permanently removed ACORN (the infamous voter fraud group at the core of Obama's agenda) from the state of Ohio." More at Examiner.com... (Also see this press release from the 1851 Center...) Brietbart's Big Government reports that "ACORN has reached a settlement under the Ohio Corrupt Activities Act, similar to the federal RICO Act – the same law that’s used to prosecute mobsters and drug kingpins. Under the settlement, ACORN, along with Project Vote, agreed 'to file a certificate permanently surrendering its business license in Ohio by June 1,' according to The Columbus Dispatch." The bad news: ACORN was already essentially inactive in Ohio, and will probably morph itself into a new entity under a different name with new business licensing. More bad news: U.S. District Judge Nina Gershon says the Federal Government can't block funds for ACORN. RELATED: ACORN Cracked, Run Out of State Under RICO Act in Ohio ACORN leaving Ohio after voter registration controversy ACORN will leave Ohio Court Dismisses ACORN Suit vs. 'Pimp', 'Hooker' and Breitbart.com‎ Leave a Comment * Conservative T-Shirts * Follow CNB on Twitter * RSS Feed

Help Bring Transparency to Grayslake D46 Schools

UPDATE, 2/4/2010: Watch the entire two hours of the meeting at EducationMatters.us February 3, 2010 - Help bring transparency to Grayslake D46 Schools - This is a call to action for transparency advocates. There is a General Meeting TONIGHT of the Community Consolidated School District 46 Board of Education and you are urged to be there. (Note: You can watch the meeting as live streaming video beginning at 7:00 PM: Click to View Live Video Streaming 7:00 PM.) Joe Calomino of the Americans for Prosperity will join in a request for the school district to put it’s check register online. You can read the original request here. The district has been spending frivolously in this economy (links below) and now wants to make over $2 million in cuts. Despite this, they have not been willing to provide data to the public on how they spend their money. It's time to demand an end to this behavior. To put it simply, “No Info, No Taxes”. Please attend the meeting tonight. You do not have to speak, just make your presence felt by being in the audience. Grayslake Middle School District 46 Board Meeting Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at 7:00 pm 440 Barron Boulevard, Grayslake (847) 223-3680 Here are a few past stories of district expenditures: D46 Admin Pay Raises? Grayslake Elementary Cuts 29 Jobs – Who's to Blame Grayslake school district employees going to Disney World Dist. 46 board says sending group to Disney money well spent Money tight? Let’s go to Disney World District 46 Paid For Awards District 46 Superintendent Ellen Correll Defends Paying For Consultant Who Gave Awards CLC finances reeling from state funding lapses District 46 using a guide in considering budget cuts Let's Talk - PPFA - National Family Sexuality Education Month ... Leave a Comment * Conservative T-Shirts * Follow CNB on Twitter * RSS Feed

McKenna Slammed in Party Ethics Investigation

by Warner Todd Huston Early this month Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady revealed that the state party decided to officially reprimand former GOP Chairman Andy McKenna for misuse of party funds and ethics violations. Despite his ethics violations as chairman, McKenna went ahead and launched his bid to become our next Illinois Governor anyway. Should McKenna win office we'll have gone from one ethically ignorant Governor (George Ryan), to a second (Rod Blagojevich) to a third (McKenna). Illinois is already a laughing stock of corruption, why vote for McKenna and make it worse? Anyway, today the State Journal-Register in Springfield (the State Capitol) released some more information about Andy McKenna's ethics violations and the party's reaction to it.

“The Chairman’s office never informed the Illinois Republican State Central Committee of intent to commission this poll, nor did Andrew McKenna ever request approval to conduct this poll from the … Committee,” the report by the ethics committee of the state party said of the poll, which was done by The Tarrance Group at a cost of $28,300. “At no point before, during or after this poll was taken did the ... Committee receive disclosure from Andrew McKenna pursuant to provisions of the … Committee’s Code of Ethics concerning potential personal benefit, appearance of potential personal benefit or appearance of impropriety.”

How can any Republican support Andy McKenna? With the regrettable political climate that the Democrats have foisted on us here in Illinois why continue that mess under a Republican administration as McKenna will surely do? With this 2010 election we have a chance for real, substantive change in Illinois. Let's not throw it all away by voting for your Judy Baar Topinkas, Jim Ryans and Andy McKennas. Let's not stay with the good old boy network that destroyed the Illinois GOP, shall we? RELATED: Pollgate: McKenna "compounded one ethical misstep with another" Marathon Pundit Pollgate update: Andy "Me"Kenna ducking debates Marathon Pundit Leave a Comment * Conservative T-Shirts * Follow CNB on Twitter * RSS Feed

Todd Stroger's Funny Money Game

As if being on the bottom of the polls for Democrat candidates for Cook County Board President wasn't enough, it turns out now that Todd Stroger has no money to campaign with. Incumbent president Stroger has raised a mere $55,000 in six months. And now, this: Stroger squirrels away $500000 in campaign funds. Hoo boy, Todd Stroger is one freaky dude. Half a million bucks but he's not spending it on campaigning. Why not? Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica tweeted this today: "Stroger has no $$$ for TV. Union-owned Amalgamated Bank loaned him $500K in 06 and have sequestered that!!! Todd is done!" Related: Stroger gets $100k boost from Emil Jones Chicago Current Filings: Stroger campaign raised less than $55k over six months Chicago Current The $$$ race -- who gave what to whom, as primary election nears? Crain's Chicago Business Stroger Allegedly Fires Employees Over Politics NBC Chicago Wierdness with the Strogers (Feb 1, 2007) (cache from ilcampaign.org) Todd Stroger Turns It On! Democratic Party, 49th Ward Leave a Comment * Conservative T-Shirts * Follow CNB on Twitter * RSS Feed

Tony Peraica Talks Tough! (Part 4 of 6)

Part 4 of the exclusive Chicago News Bench (CNB) interview series with Tony Peraica, Cook County Board Commissioner (R-16). He doesn't mince his words as he talks about President Barack Obama's involvement with corruption in Chicago and Cook County, ties to Tony Rezko, Mayor Daley's nephew, and others. Tony discusses the nation's highest tax rate, right here in Downtown Chicago, and more. I interviewed Tony Peraica on May 29, 2009 at his Anthony J. Peraica & Associates law offices. (See all six videos in the series.) Cool Hats & Shirts for Cool Conservatives Leave a Comment... Chicago News Bench RSS Feed We're on Twitter...

AMERICA, TODAY IS THE DAY!

TODAY, FEB. 27, IS THE DAY of NATIONAL PROTEST in dozens of cities across the country. We're protesting the growing Federal Monster of Bloated Government. They're called "Tea Parties" in a symbolic gesture to flash that helped start the first American Revolution against the British. JOIN US TODAY as we start the Second American Revolution, this time against the corruptocrats in Washington, D.C. See video for info (below). (Hat tip to Chicago Bungalow) The "Tea Party" protests are non-partisan: "Progressives are angered by Washington's continued pandering to corporate 'fat-cats'and conservatives are angered by Washington's willingness to prop-up failed enterprise. We have a common purpose - Washington is NOT listening!" Source: Portland, OR & SW Washington Tea Party Chicago News Bench Merchandise Chicago News Bench RSS Feed

Robert Sorich, Patronage and Aldermanic Assistants

Robert Sorich was a "patronage chief" for Mayor Richard M. Daley. Sorich was convicted in 2006 of going around certain laws that make political hiring in Chicago illegal. The US Supreme Court today refused undo Sorich's conviction. Okay, fine, but the patronage continues, and it continues in plain sight (examples below). Patronage hiring can be dirty stuff. Basically, it is the hiring of people who are often not qualified for the jobs they get, but are put on the public payroll solely because of their usefulness in a political capacity. It is "the distribution of jobs and favors on a political basis, as to those who have supported one's party or political campaign." (Source) Today, CBS2 Chicago report the Sorich-Supreme Court story: Mayor Richard M. Daley's former patronage chief and two other former city officials have failed to persuade the U.S. Supreme Court to consider setting aside their fraud convictions. The justices, in an order Monday, are letting stand former patronage chief Robert Sorich's July 2006 conviction and 46-month prison term. He was found guilty of skirting laws that ban political city hiring, along with former Department of Streets and Sanitation official Patrick Slattery, and former Sorich aide Timothy McCarthy. Fine, but this post is not about Sorich. It's about the continuing and blatantly open patronage hiring in Chicago. The following people are just a few examples. They are on the city's payroll. They are paid by you, the taxpayers, to staff the offices of city council members. From the Better Government Association website, they are listed below by First Name/Last Name/Title/City Department/Salary/Employer: Frazier, Wayne - Aldermanic Aide - City Council - $34,632 - City of Chicago Vandercook, Elizabeth - Asst To The Alderman - City Council - $63,804 - City of Chicago Land, Michael - Staff Asst To The Alderman - City Council - $51,024 - City of Chicago Lopez, Alicia - Staff Asst To The Alderman - City Council - $51,024 - City of Chicago (Source: http://www.bettergov.org/Research/Employees.aspx) "The Alderman" referred to above is Joe Moore, 49th Ward. Moore is not the only alderman who staffs his office with people paid by the city. This is disturbing because the publicy-paid staff assistants and aides, in many cases, openly campaign for the aldermen in whose offices they work. In other words, people on the city's payroll are paid, in effect, to help re-elect sitting aldermen. Remember: They are legally not employed by the aldermen, they are employed by the City of Chicago. That's you, Chicago resident and taxpayer. Not all of the people working in an alderman's office are public employees. One example, again from Joe Moore's office, is Anne M. Sullivan, "49th Ward Staff Assistant." She is paid out of Ald. Moore's campaign funds, not public tax money. How ethical is it for employees of the City of Chicago to work as office in aldermen's offices? There's probably no problem as long as the only thing they do is shuffle papers and help address the concerns of the aldermen's constituents. However, we have to question the ethics of those public payroll persons being allowed to engage in plainly political purposes. For an alderman to choose a friend and/or political ally to work in his or her office as an aide, on the public's dime, seems to qualify as patronage to us. Just because it's public information doesn't mean it's not wrong. CNB RSS Feed

Are Illinois State's Attorneys Slackers?

Are Illinois authorities doing all they can to clean up the state's systemic corruption? Probably not. State's Attorneys are elected officials too, and in Illinois that means there is a good chance that they are beholden to The Machine Democrats in the north or The Combine Democrats in the south. Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez, a Machine Democrat, was asked some tough questions recently. She was not happy about it. Another touchy moment came when former state Sen. Steve Rauschenberger, R-Elgin, said “the level of corruption in Illinois is unprecedented and unmatched” and asked “why Illinois’ 100 state’s attorneys are not more engaged in uncovering it and prosecuting it.” Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez, a commission member, sat expressionless as he spoke. VIDEO at CBS 2 Chicago. More good video at ABC 7 Chicago. This and other stories at http://www.unitedrepublican.com/ Subscribe to Chicago News Bench

Contractors Gave Blago $80,000 (Steans Gave Him $200,000)

We are shocked (not!) to read a report that Blago got some big bucks from road contractors. The amount, $80,000, is a small fraction of what Queen of Pay To Play, State Senator Heather Steans, has given Blago. Steans and hubby Leo Smith have given Blago some $200,000 for his election campaigns. Unlike the questionable contractors, however, Steans will actually be one of those who will soon be judging Blago in his upcoming Illinois Senate trial. Think about that: It would be like Bugsy Siegel sitting on a jury, judging Al Capone. An Associated Press review of campaign contributions shows Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich raised at least $80,000 from firms with state road contracts at a time federal prosecutors claim he was trying to cash in on construction programs. (Source) Subscribe to Chicago News Bench

Video: The Pay-To-Play Song!

Corruption in government is nothing to sing about. Or is it? The Blue State Cowboys think it is, and they came up with a very clever song about the dung heap of politics in Chicago and Illinois. This is funny as heck, and a darned good tune too. Check out the lyrics, below, then check out their video on YouTube. Chicago's Blue State Cowboys offer their musical take on the political cesspool once known as The Land of Lincoln. PAY TO PLAY (But Keep Love In Your Heart) Matt Farmer VERSE All my life I've been a workin' man On Chicago's northwest side Livin' check to check, never gettin' ahead No matter how hard I tried I had an old friend from the neighborhood He grew up to do just fine He couldn't read or write to save his life But I guess his boss didn't mind Now, I never quite knew what my old friend did To get that money rollin' in But life, I guess, can be pretty good For a state committeeman So, one night over beer at the local bar I said, "How'd you make your dough?" My friend just grinned a wicked grin And said, "Here's all you need to know" CHORUS You've got to pay-to-play in this town If you wanna make that deal go down It's who you know inside the Big Machine Just find the man that's behind the man And put some money in his hand That's how we try to keep our city green VERSE Well, the liquor flowed and the stories flew And my old friend bared his soul About rigging bids and getting neighbor kids Good jobs on a ghost payroll He said he'd be happy to help me out If there was anything he could do Like try to arrange a zoning change Or put me on a movie crew Well we talked and talked until last call And I told him I was beat Then he climbed aboard his hired truck To see a man about a Senate seat And late that night as I lay in bed You know I finally figured it out My friend didn't need to read or write 'Cuz he had himself some clout CHORUS You've got to pay-to-play in this town If you wanna make that deal go down It's who you know inside the Big Machine Just find the man that's behind the man And put some money in his hand That's how we try to keep our city green CHORUS You've got to pay-to-play in this town If you wanna make that deal go down It's who you know inside the Big Machine If you wanna stand out You gotta know who gets the handout That's how we try to keep our city green It's a daily job to keep our city green Subscribe to Chicago News Bench

Schakowsky, "Candidate 3" and Deep Blago Ties

Yes, Alderman Joe Moore is mentioned in this from Doug Ross today: You may recall that "Senate Candidate 1" was Barack Obama's choice: his friend, the ultra-qualified Valerie Jarrett. And "Senate Candidate 5" was Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., a man with a better sense of "fundraising" than Carolyn-esque entitlement. But who was "Senate Candidate 3"? That would appear to be none other than Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL, what else?). Ross also notes: A 2006 ABC investigation revealed that while Save a Life received millions of dollars in government funds and corporate donations, it made a series of "misleading claims [including] deceptive credentials that raise doubts about [its] integrity, funding and training." According to ABC, founder Carol Spizzirri represented herself as a registered nurse specializing in kidney transplants. But ABC claims she never received a degree of any kind nor was she ever registered as a nurse. http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2008/12/obama-blago-senate-seat-auction-another.html...