THE ILLINOIZE: We cut through the noise of claims about taxing retirement...Halbrook's daughter endorses his opponent...Oberweis' last stand?

October 9, 2020

I’m getting a late start writing the newsletter this morning as I couldn’t help but be glued to the TV for the 4th quarter of the Bears game. I won’t put any spoilers in here in case you’re as crazy as me and DVR these things.

We have quite a few new subscribers this morning. Welcome. Thank you for being here. What we hope you find here is content that gives you better perspective on what’s happening in politics and government in the state without blowing half a day trying to read a bill.

If you enjoy what you read here, please feel free to send me tips to patrick@theillinoize.com. You can always like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or, more importantly, share us with your friends and network as we help get the word out.

WHO IS TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT RETIREMENT INCOME?

This may shock you, but it appears neither side of the battle over the graduated income tax constitutional amendment is telling the whole truth about taxing retirement income.

Those opposing the constitutional amendment are running TV ads saying it would be easier to start taxing retirement income. Illinois doesn’t currently tax retirement income (pensions, Social Security, IRA’s, 401k’s, etc.) dating back to when seniors were heavily living at or below the poverty line. And, politically, who wants to raise taxes on Grandma and Grandpa now?

But taxing retirement income isn’t in the constitution, so it may just be a matter of how much lawmakers are willing to tax on seniors.

Here’s the whole thing, and I assure you I read more tax statute yesterday than any non-lawyer should.

HALBROOK’S DAUGHTER ENDORSES DEM

Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) isn’t going to lose his election November 3.

Bruce Rauner, who struggled in many spots downstate, won the 102nd District by 31 points. Donald Trump won the district by 37 in 2016.

But it was notable yesterday when someone sent me some Facebook ads that Halbrook’s daughter, Ashli Crowe, did endorsing Halbrook’s Democratic opponent, Mitchell Esslinger.

I spoke to Crowe last night and she says her endorsement didn’t have anything to do with family squabbles or dissent, but on policy. She called herself “significantly” more liberal than her father, which she credited to her time attending college in Chicago.

It’s obviously an embarrassment for Halbrook, but House Democrats aren’t going to play in this district and he’ll likely breeze to re-election.

(Disclosure: I worked for an opposing candidate in the 2016 primary Halbrook won.)

CUSTARD’S LAST STAND?

(Please forgive the ice cream pun, I gave up sugar for the month and I’m slowly descending into madness. I miss ice cream.)

Our Ben Garbarek spoke to State Senator Jim Oberweis (R-Sugar Grove), who is taking on freshman Democrat Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D-Naperville). It is Oberweis’ 9th campaign since 2002, and, potentially, his last.

Gone are the flyovers of Soldier Field, now Oberweis is playing a pretty straight-forward attack the incumbent strategy. He says their internals show a dead heat, but they didn’t share the polling data with us. Here’s Ben’s interview with Sen. Oberweis. We offered an interview to Rep. Underwood, but her campaign declined.

CASH HAULS

A few more campaign finance updates:

• Supreme Court Justice Tom Kilbride reported $325,000 in contributions yesterday, nearly all from unions. He’s trying to meet 60% retention and there’s organized opposition.

• Rep. Monica Bristow (D-Alton) took another $102,000 from Speaker Madigan’s committee as well as another $65,000 from mostly trial lawyers and unions. Republicans feel good about their candidate, Amy Elik. Democrats must be sweating it, too.

• Democrat Maura Hirschauer reported another $35,000 from AFSCME in her bid to replace Rep. Karina Villa (D-West Chicago), who is seeking Sen. Jim Oberweis’ seat.

• Planned Parenthood Illinois spent around $40,000 on a new piece of mail for “Vote Yes for Fair Tax,” which is separate from the Pritzker-backed committee.

• Rep. John Connor (D-Lockport) has at least one new mail piece hitting, as the Democratic Party of Illinois reported an expenditure around $50,000. Connor is looking to move up to the Senate to replace retiring Sen. Pat McGuire (D-Joliet).

• Rep. Bob Rita (D-Blue Island) sent $50,000 to the campaign of Suzanne Ness, who is looking to unseat Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee). Skillicorn’s large dollar fundraising has been minimal.

• Martha Paschke, the Democrat looking to upend Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) took in another $32,800 from the Illinois Federation of Teachers yesterday.

• The Illinois Republican Party is spending around $32,000 for at least one mailer for Rep. Brad Stephens (R-Rosemont). He’s getting pounded in mail & on TV by Democrat Michelle Darbro.

I can’t report all the big ones to you, as that would take all day. But, I wanted you to see the trend. All but one of these big donations was for a Democrat. The GOP is getting positively buried in cash, mostly from unions. We’ll know the full extent when third quarter reports are filed next Thursday.

MEA CULPA

In Tuesday’s newsletter, I erroneously told you former Sen. Frank Watson chaired the Republican State Leadership Committee. He’s actually still listed as a candidate. The current chairman is Austin Chambers, who is the DC-based President of the RSLC.

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS

Not sure how often this happens, but two members of the House Republican Caucus share a birthday Sunday. Born on exactly the same day in exactly the same year. Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) and Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) share the same birthdate.

Also, happy birthday yesterday to former Senator John O. Jones, who turned 80.

Enjoy your weekend, everyone.