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Madigan’s daily press briefing: He’d meet with Rauner and he’s peeved at Durkin

Friday, Jun 23, 2017

* Rep. Greg Harris talks for about the first four minutes, then Speaker Madigan takes questions. Many thanks again to Greg Bishop for the video

Madigan expressed his disappointment that this morning’s scheduled meeting with the other three legislative leaders was canceled and said he would still try to make it happen. He said he would meet with the governor if asked.

* Madigan also seemed peeved at Leader Durkin for not showing up to the meeting

We met once a few days ago. Once a few days ago. He was scheduled to join the other leaders this morning, he should’ve done that.

* Madigan was then asked if, when he meets with Leader Durkin, is he meeting with Durkin or is he meeting with Durkin on behalf of the governor. Madigan laughed and said..

Why don’t you ask him that question?

- Posted by Rich Miller   6 Comments

We’re staying open!

Friday, Jun 23, 2017

* In case you’ve been wondering, the ol’ blog is staying open every day of special session.

I may close comments during the weekend evenings, however. Back in the day, when I couldn’t shut down comments, some commenters would have a few cocktails on a Saturday night and write some things that they normally wouldn’t have said during the sober light of a weekday. I’d rather avoid that.

I’m not quite sure yet how much I’ll be posting this weekend. But the House just announced two more committees of the whole…

House Speaker Michael J. Madigan is offering stakeholders an opportunity to take part in the discussion on education funding reform and pension reform at two committee of the whole hearings this Saturday and Sunday.

Educators and advocates will address legislators at the committee hearing on Saturday about Senate Bill 1—an education funding reform measure that provides fair funding for all schools—which passed the General Assembly in May, and a recently introduced Republican funding bill which creates winning districts and losing districts.

Legislators will discuss pension legislation currently before the House with stakeholders at a committee hearing on Sunday.

Both hearings will convene at 2 p.m. in the House chamber.

Committee of the Whole on Education Funding Reform
When: Saturday, May 24
When: 2 p.m.
Where: Illinois House of Representatives
Springfield, Ill.

Committee of the Whole on Pension Reform
When: Sunday, May 25
When: 2 p.m.
Where: Illinois House of Representatives
Springfield, Ill.

Emphasis added because if the Democrats can prove that, it’s gonna leave a mark.

Our live coverage post will be active every day as well.

* There will also be a Capitol Fax published every day for subscribers, although it might not be posted until later in the morning because, well, I’d like to get a little rest, too. Dragging myself out of bed at 6 o’clock on Saturday and Sunday mornings is not my idea of “rest.”

- Posted by Rich Miller   16 Comments

Hardiman on Madigan: “He’s like the Godfather down there”

Friday, Jun 23, 2017

* CBS 2

[Gubernatorial candidate Tio Hardiman] said he blames both sides in the state’s two-year budget dispute. The Democrat said he blames House Speaker Michael Madigan for the budget impasse as much as Republican Governor Bruce Rauner.

“You have a clash of the titans right now, Bruce Rauner and Mike Madigan must take the blame for not passing the budget. Everybody points fingers at Bruce Rauner and I do believe Bruce Rauner is one of the worst governors that state of Illinois has ever witnessed; but at the same time Mike Madigan is really the unofficial governor. People don’t want to say that, he’s like the Godfather down there in Springfield and both those guys are stepping on the poor and working class people.”

But, what would he do in Rauner’s shoes?

He said the Govenor should just sit down with Madigan and work out a compromise, because “people are hurting out here.”

If it was that easy, they would’ve already done it.

- Posted by Rich Miller   10 Comments

Rauner asked why Madigan could work with other governors and not him

Friday, Jun 23, 2017

* From WJBC

The third day of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s special session is Friday, but it’s still unclear if there will be any movement on a budget.

Rauner told WJBC’s Patti Penn the first two days of the session have been a ‘waste of time.’

He also said the lack of action in the special session so far was “bad faith on the part of the majority,” and that the Democrats prefer “chaos.”

* From the audio

WJBC: Well we have taken some calls in the last couple of days, actually over the weeks. But in the last couple of days, one of the calls that came in was one that you know, might be, it’s tough for me to ask and it’s probably going to be tough for you to hear. That maybe there’s an answer to it is someone had asked ‘Why do you think that our speaker, who has worked with other governors, Gov. Thompson, Edgar, Gov. Ryan, what is it about you that he has not wanted to work with you?”

Despite the gentle nature of the question, it took the governor a beat or two to get back onto his talking points

RAUNER: Um, I really don’t know the answer to that.

Um, he has been very very focused on avoiding a balanced budget. If, if you look back over the years, uh, you can see that this isn’t inconsistent with, uh, the behavior with his majority.

He’s been in power for 35 years and when I’ve looked at the numbers Illinois has never had a true balanced budget during those 35 years. We have always just delayed pension payments, or not paid our bills, or borrowed in the bond markets to come up with what was then called about. The reality is the budgets have not been balanced for decades and it’s the reason that we have over $200 billion in debt today. This didn’t get accrued in the last year or two. This, this has been accrued for decades. And unfortunately, we’ve had failure within the government in multiple ways by multiple parties led by the speaker. He had control of the spending through the General Assembly majority for 35 of the years and there’s never been a balanced budget. And I have said, it’s critical for the people of Illinois that we have balanced budgets, that we stop the deficit spending, that we stop the borrowing. There’s a reason that we have fewer jobs today than we had 17 years ago in Illinois. Businesses see the deficit spending and it scares them away. There’s a reason that we have a brutally high unemployment rate, one of the highest in America. And there’s a reason we have the highest unemployment in America for African American families it’s because our jobs are leaving the state. Businesses won’t stay where they don’t have confidence in the fiscal responsibility of a government.

He went on and on for a while longer. There was no follow-up to try to get him to actually answer the question.

- Posted by Rich Miller   69 Comments

Emanuel goes off on Rauner… again

Friday, Jun 23, 2017

* Sun-Times

Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Friday accused Gov. Bruce Rauner of government by anger for opposing a 28.2 percent telephone tax hike that will free up money the city hopes to use to shore up the Laborers Pension Fund “well into the next decade.”

The mayor noted that the tax was tucked into a statewide telecommunications bill that got 51 votes in the Illinois Senate and 81 votes in the House.

“It affects downstate communities [and] the whole state. That’s why it received overwhelming, bi-partisan votes across urban, suburban [and] rural areas,” the mayor said.

“Somebody needs to give the governor crib notes on how that works. But he clearly, as a rookie governor, doesn’t get it….Even when something that is essential for downstate, for every community as it relates to public safety and an overwhelming bi-partisan vote, he’s gonna veto it.” […]

“This is a person [who] has to understand that you do not negotiate with people who agree with you, as Shimon Peres used to say. You negotiate and work with people who don’t agree with you. And he has to understand, as a leader, he should actually start governing on building and pushing Illinois forward—not through his anger at everybody else….It’s hard to make somebody happy who will never take ‘yes’ for an answer.”

- Posted by Rich Miller   10 Comments

*** UPDATED x4 - Rauner denies Cullerton claim - Cullerton: Special session is a “stunt” - Manar wants Rauner to call daily leaders meetings - Durkin said he opted out on his own *** Cullerton claims Rauner “pulled the plug” on meeting

Friday, Jun 23, 2017

* Senate President John Cullerton just told reporters that the four legislative leaders were supposed to meet today without the governor. Cullerton claimed all of them agreed to show up.

“The governor pulled the plug on that,” Cullerton said. “He told the Republicans not to go.”

Cullerton said he would “urge the governor to get serious about a compromise, and at minimum don’t prevent your Republican leaders from joining the negotiations.”

You can listen to his entire press conference by clicking here.

* Moments later, Speaker Madigan issued this statement…

“President Cullerton and I met earlier this morning to discuss a way to end the Rauner budget crisis. We were scheduled to meet together with Leaders Radogno and Durkin. We were deeply disappointed that both Republican leaders chose to cancel their participation in our meeting, rather than sit down with us and work to advance a balanced budget. It is difficult to move forward on a bipartisan budget when both Republican leaders refuse to meet.”

* But Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno’s office issued this statement…

“In deference to Leader Durkin, he needs the opportunity to negotiate with Speaker Madigan in the House chamber, just as Leader Radogno and the Senate President do in the Senate. We continue to focus on making progress toward a comprehensive solution. We hope we see progress in the House. Leader Radogno has always believed engagement from the House Speaker is what’s been missing all along.”

* And this is from House Republican Leader Jim Durkin…

“The focus on the budget is rightfully before the House. I believe the model initiated by the Senate leaders was positive and where we need to be. A four leaders meeting is premature in light of progress being made in the House.”

That’s fine and all, but the question I asked was “did the governor ask/tell the GOP leaders not to attend a meeting with Cullerton and Madigan?”

*** UPDATE 1 ***  In a follow up chat, Durkin’s spokesperson made it clear that Durkin chose to opt out of the meeting on his own.

Also, notice in Radogno’s release that she said she deferred to Durkin.

[ *** End Of Update *** ]

* Statement provided on background from “a top GOP official”…

This is an absolute fabrication, an obvious attempt to create an alternative universe to deflect from doing nothing with seven days left to get a budget to the governor’s desk. Leader Durkin is meeting with Speaker Madigan now to negotiate on his compromise — perhaps the Democratic leaders are afraid that the Speaker is finally in the hot seat to do a deal or let the state collapse.

Let’s hope this isn’t the start of a March 1 repeat.

*** UPDATE 2 *** Press release…

Illinois will never lift itself out of the state budget crisis if the governor and legislative leaders can’t get in a room and talk to each other about their differences, Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) said Friday.

“Gov. Rauner has made it clear that he is the only one with the authority to convene meetings of the governor and the four legislative leaders. He has not called one since Dec. 6,” Manar said. “These five leaders who control the budget negotiations have not been in a room together in nearly 200 days. It’s no wonder we haven’t resolved the budget crisis.”

Manar called on Gov. Rauner to meet with the four leaders every day for the remaining days of the legislative session until a budget deal is complete. He added that the best place to start discussions is with the balanced budget and reform package the Senate already passed. Those bills all are in the House awaiting action.

Rauner called a 10-day special session of the General Assembly, which costs taxpayers roughly $48,000 per day. The special session began Wednesday and ends June 30, the final day of the current fiscal year.

“Gov. Rauner used his power to get lawmakers back to Springfield to work on a budget. With seven days left until June 30, the best way to finalize a budget now is to work with the balanced budget and reform package that the Senate passed and sent to the House in May,” Manar said. “I’m urging the governor convene leaders’ meetings – every day for as long as it takes for the next week – so that they can begin negotiations and together steer our state out of this mess.”

*** UPDATE 3 *** AP

Cullerton told reporters Friday that special sessions are a “political stunt” to offer the governor political cover. Cullerton says the budget the Democrat-controlled Senate approved draws on Rauner’s ideas.

*** UPDATE 4 *** Gov. Rauner was asked by reporters about Cullerton’s claim that he pulled Republicans out of the scheduled leaders’ meeting. “That’s not true,” Rauner said.

Leader Durkin then chimed in and said it was his idea not to attend the meeting, claiming he and Speaker Madigan have achieved a “break-through” on workers’ comp reform.

- Posted by Rich Miller   39 Comments

NRDC warns of “giant jumping fish” at Oak St. Beach

Friday, Jun 23, 2017

* Tribune

A live Asian carp has been discovered in a Chicago waterway about nine miles from Lake Michigan — well beyond an electric barrier network designed to prevent the invasive fish that have infested the Mississippi River system from reaching the Great Lakes, officials said Friday.

The silver carp was 28 inches long and weighed about 8 pounds, officials with the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee told The Associated Press. It was caught by a commercial fisherman below the T.J. O’Brien Lock and Dam.

* From Henry Henderson, Director of the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Midwest Program…

“Asian carp are like cockroaches, when you see one, you know it’s accompanied by many more you don’t see. This is a nightmare scenario for anyone concerned about the health of the Great Lakes and its economy.”

“We have had fifteen years to deal with this slow motion tragedy. Perhaps this finding, along with the discovery of another species of Asian carp in the Illinois River, will convey the urgency of threat to the Great Lakes.

The Trump Administration cannot delay for one minute more the release of a taxpayer funded study detailing how to deter the carp invasion. Illinois and Indiana, which have been blamed for obstructing action to address the issue, must join Great Lakes states to push for faster, stronger and more aggressive action. Giant jumping fish at Oak Street Beach will not help Illinois’ tourism economy.”

Just this week, members of Congress introduced legislation to force the Trump administration to release a plan outlining technologies to be employed at a key choke point in the Asian carps’ path towards Lake Michigan and the entire Great Lakes ecosystem. That plan would likely take decades to deploy, while Great Lakes conservation groups have called for faster solutions that would address movement of invasive species from both the Great Lakes and Mississippi River system through Chicago’s waterways.

* If you’ve never seen this nasty fish, you’re missing out

- Posted by Rich Miller   30 Comments

Question of the day

Friday, Jun 23, 2017

* Cameron…

* The Question: Do you think JB Pritzker could be independent of Speaker Madigan if he’s elected? Click here to take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.

- Posted by Rich Miller   38 Comments

Rauner takes questions for first time in several days

Friday, Jun 23, 2017

* Gov. Rauner was on the Big John & Ramblin’ Ray show today

We’ve compromised relentlessly for two years. And we’ve backed off on so many things.

Right now there’s a proposal put forth by lawmakers. It’s a reasonable compromise. It moves on every regard. None of it is exactly where I think it should be. But it’s a good step in the right direction. It’s being criticized by the left, it’s being criticized by the right. That’s by definition a compromise. By definition it’s somewhere in the middle.

And what we’ve gotta do is get a balanced budget to my desk. These guys have gotta do their jobs. A balanced budget proposal is on the table. If somebody doesn’t like that, so be it. Put a balanced budget on my desk so I can sign it.

He’s obviously still having trouble with the concept of “compromise.” Backing off demands like “right to work” that can in no way ever become reality isn’t compromising, it’s recognizing harsh reality. And a Republican budget plan isn’t “by definition” a compromise.

Also, putting a balanced budget on his desk is about the easiest thing the House could do. It’s all the other stuff he wants before he’ll sign the budget that is the main holdup here.

* One other notable quote

We’ve gotta stop having politics and game-playing going on.

Practice what you preach, sir.

When they followed up by asking him about those anti-Madigan TV ads, he characterized them as “direct communication” to Illinoisans.

- Posted by Rich Miller   19 Comments

Illinois’ “get along” shirt

Friday, Jun 23, 2017

* From Know Your Meme

The “Get Along” Shirt is an oversized t-shirt that is meant to be worn by bickering children as a disciplinary method. The humorous concept gained much of its momentum after a photograph of two children strapped together by a t-shirt reading “The ‘We Will Get Along’ Shirt” was posted to Reddit in November 2012.

* From a pal…

- Posted by Rich Miller   8 Comments

Pritzker slams Rauner over federal health care overhaul

Friday, Jun 23, 2017

* From the Pritzker campaign…

Yesterday, JB joined protests against the GOP Senate health care bill that would strip insurance coverage from millions of Illinoisans. The protest was organized by Indivisible Chicago, a grassroots movement that formed after the 2016 election to resist Donald Trump.

Here’s what Illinoisans are reading about Bruce Rauner’s cowardice on the devastating GOP heath care plan:

Chicago Sun-Times Editorial: Senate GOP health care bill hammers Illinois, while Rauner is AWOL

    The Senate bill is as mean-spirited as the House bill. Illinois would get hammered even harder. And Gov. Bruce Rauner is still AWOL.

The Chicago Reporter: Illinois Republicans try to lay low on repealing Obamacare

    While a handful of U.S. senators were huddling in secret this week in Washington to draft legislation repealing Obamacare, grassroots activists across the Chicago region and Illinois were working hard to bring as much public attention – and public outrage – to the issue as possible.

    That includes shining a light on the inaction of Governor Bruce Rauner – who has not spoken out as other Republican governors have – and on Republican members of Congress who have avoided public engagement on the issue.

Chicago Sun-Times: Does Rauner have any guiding principles on health care insurance?

    The Senate Republicans released their health care insurance draft bill on Thursday — the House version to overhaul Obamacare passed in May — and once again, GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner isn’t doing much to make sure the final measure is good for Illinois. […]

    Rauner is abdicating his responsibilities to the people of the State of Illinois by his silence…

“Bruce Rauner has no principles and no courage in his spineless failure to protect Illinoisans from TrumpCare,” said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. “In maintaining his cowardly silence, Rauner is siding with Trump and radical Republican Senators over the people of Illinois. Millions of Illinoisans could lose their health care if this bill passes. It is imperative that the governor of this state stand up for them, but Bruce Rauner is once again nowhere to be found.”

* That Lynn Sweet column briefly excerpted above makes it pretty clear why this is a state issue

A core element to GOP proposals is to shift to states the authority to reshape health insurance rules: for those who get it through employers; via Medicaid, the state/public plan for the low-income medically needy; or through the exchanges established under former President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act.

Governors become far more important in the GOP vision of how health insurance should be delivered in this nation.

In Illinois, the politically explosive issue of rising premiums will become the fault of the governor and Illinois General Assembly — not Washington, if the GOP state-centric Obamacare overhaul plans become law. […]

Obamacare requires coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, with caps on how much they could be charged. The Senate bill would allow a state to limit the benefits allowed for someone with a pre-existing condition.

Would Rauner want to change current rules concerning capping coverage costs and for people with pre-existing conditions? Should any benefits be reduced?

At present, Obamacare mandates coverage for 10 essential benefits. The Senate bill allows for states to apply for a waiver so an insurance plan could offer less. That may impact the price.

What is the Rauner view when it comes to the essential benefit current package? Should it be cut? Stay the same?

There’s lots more, so go read the whole thing.

- Posted by Rich Miller   12 Comments

Emanuel doubles down

Friday, Jun 23, 2017

* From Adam Collins in Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s press office…

Five simple questions for Gov. No

As near as I can tell it’s been about two weeks since the Governor has taken a single question from the press. With the state of Illinois now one week away from entering a third consecutive year without a budget there are, of course, many questions for the Governor. In that spirit, here are five fairly fundamental questions the Governor has not answered - and perhaps cannot answer.

1) You have said selling the Thompson Center would be “a huge home run for taxpayers of the State of Illinois” and that selling the building would get the state “more than $300 million in cash from a developer.” Is selling the Thompson Center and netting $300 million in cash for the state no longer a priority for you?

2) Your office said yesterday the Mayor’s offer - to meet your original request on the Thompson Center as long as you agreed to sign the city’s pension reform plan - wasn’t a fair deal. While you might not favor the City of Chicago’s plan, it would have no cost - $0 - to the state of Illinois. Given that the state could desperately use $300 million, why would you say no to that offer?

3) You previously said that in order to get the most money from selling the Thompson Center, you needed the city to guarantee maximum density for the site - something they were reluctant to do. Their offer meets your original request. How can anyone believe you have the ability to reach a budget agreement when you can’t even say “yes” to your own plan?

4) Your top education adviser acknowledged that the education funding plan that passed both houses of the legislature gets you 90% of what you are asking for - but said you will still veto it. You’re familiar with negotiations. Can you seriously not say “yes” to a bill that gets you 90% of what you want? Are you seeking a compromise, or capitulation?

5) Earlier this year you praised bipartisan efforts in the state Senate to reach a grand bargain on the budget, saying of it “there is reason for optimism.” According to press reports, a few weeks later you “intervened in the Illinois Senate on Wednesday to stop a ‘grand bargain’ on the state budget.” Was it that you never really wanted a grand bargain to pass, or were you just unable to say “yes” and support the efforts you had already praised?

This certainly appears designed to gin up Chicago reporters ahead of the governor’s 3 o’clock bill signing, where he’s expected to take some questions.

- Posted by Rich Miller   27 Comments

New school funding reform plan appears DOA

Friday, Jun 23, 2017

* Tribune

Republican lawmakers Thursday put forward a new plan to overhaul the state’s education funding system and send less money to Chicago Public Schools than a competing proposal from Democrats, who are unlikely to approve it. […]

Sen. Jason Barickman, a Bloomington Republican, on Thursday laid out what Rauner’s side would consider a satisfying compromise on the education funding issue. The proposal would provide about $323 million less to Chicago Public Schools compared to a competing proposal that was passed by Democrats in late May and has yet to be sent to Rauner’s desk.

Barickman said the Republicans had picked up where negotiations had stalled in late May.

“We looked at where we were then and we asked ourselves, how can we close the gap here to reach a meaningful compromise with the Democrat majority that allows us to produce a fair and equitable funding formula,” Barickman said.

But the proposal eliminates hundreds of millions of dollars that Democrats had insisted on providing for CPS, including $215 million for the district’s teacher pension fund — CPS is the only district in the state that pays for its own teacher pension system — and $202 million in special grants that the district has historically received from the state.

All Chicago Democrats are needed for any tax hike floor vote, and this school funding reform bill will require new revenues, meaning a tax hike is necessary. You can’t ask Chicago legislators to raise taxes and whack their public schools and expect them to merrily comply.

And the Republicans know this.

- Posted by Rich Miller   34 Comments

Let’s be careful out there

Friday, Jun 23, 2017

* One of the easiest gotcha stories to do during high-profile legislative sessions is to cruise around town looking for legislative license plates outside of taverns, golf courses, etc…

…Adding… The person who sent out that e-mail was not the chief of staff, but John Patterson.

- Posted by Rich Miller   31 Comments

A little context, please

Friday, Jun 23, 2017

During a debate on a resolution, which called for Congress not to cut funding to Planned Parenthood, State Rep. Peter Breen, R-Lombard, stood up and shared his frustration.

“We are 700 days without a budget. What the hell are we doing voting on these resolutions? Why are we not doing the budget?” Breen yelled, before sitting down so the resolution votes could continue.

* Um, Rep. Breen is special counsel to the anti-abortion Thomas More Society. He used to be the group’s executive director. He has a 100 percent pro-life voting record as a legislator. Rep. Breen and the Thomas More Society are providing this person’s criminal defense

David Daleiden, the antiabortion activist who mounted a hidden-camera investigation targeting Planned Parenthood, turned himself in to authorities in Texas on Thursday morning, a week after he was indicted by a Harris County grand jury.

Rep. Breen also testified before the Indiana House of Representatives and urged that state’s legislators to pass the controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act

Allow me to give you one example of where the Illinois Act helped small business. A few years back, disgraced former governor Rod Blagojevich, our fourth governor in prison, issued a rule that every pharmacy in the state had to give out pills that may cause early abortions. This was considered by some people of faith as a direct participation in abortion, ordered by the governor.

* So, yeah, while Rep. Breen made a very good point about doing non-budget stuff yesterday (and, in my own opinion, he’s turned out to be a pretty good legislator), it was likely no accident that the gentleman spoke up during that particular resolution about Planned Parenthood.

- Posted by Rich Miller   19 Comments

After hot dispute, Rauner to sign gun crimes bill today

Friday, Jun 23, 2017

* The Sun-Times’ Tina Sfondeles is reporting this morning that Gov. Rauner will sign the Chicago-backed gun crimes bill today at 3 o’clock. Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson will attend the signing ceremony in Springfield.

The bill got caught in the middle of the ongoing war between Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Rauner, which spiked up yesterday over the sale of the Thompson Center in exchange for the governor signing some city-backed pension bills. From Crain’s yesterday

Rauner aides are now actively pushing the argument that Emanuel ought to lean on Democrats to send to him a bill boosting penalties for certain repeat gun offenders if he wants a Thompson Center deal. But the measure was one of Emanuel’s top priorities, and Springfield sources say it’s a case of needed paperwork still being done and that no one has a hold on the bill.

* Tribune

“The mayor doesn’t want the gun crimes bill sent to the governor because it would disprove his argument that the governor can’t get bipartisan deals done,” Rauner spokesman Lance Trover said.

The Senate tends to wait the full 30 days it has after approval before sending the bill. Sponsoring Sen. Kwame Raoul, D-Chicago, said he wasn’t asked by the governor’s office to make an exception, but he’ll speed up the process now.

* Sun-Times today

Rauner aides had argued Thursday evening that Emanuel didn’t want the gun bill sent to the governor because it would disprove the mayor’s argument that the governor can’t get bipartisan deals done.

State Sen. Kwame Raoul, D-Chicago, sent the bill to the governor’s office Thursday, saying he wasn’t interested in having it caught up in a political game.

“I want it done not for politics sake, not for anybody claiming a win, not even for me,” Raoul said. “Because, as far as the crime is concerned, this is only a piece of the puzzle. And so I don’t even claim it as a win. We have a lot more work to do on that front.”

…Adding… Media advisory…

What: Governor Rauner Signs Compromise Legislation to Increase Penalties for Repeat Gun Offenders

Who: Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson, House Republican Leader Jim Durkin and State Sen. Kwame Raoul

Where: State Capitol – Governor’s Office

Date: Friday, June 23, 2017

Time: 3:00 p.m.

- Posted by Rich Miller   13 Comments

Proft on Rauner’s “massive” tax hikes: “He’s done and so are Republicans for another generation”

Friday, Jun 23, 2017

* Dan Proft on Gov. Rauner’s “unity” speech earlier this week

If Madigan calls [Rauner’s] bluff, he’s in a real trick back. Because if he signs what Republicans have proposed as their compromise budget with those massive tax increases, he’s done and so are Republicans for another generation. […]

Rauner’s focus is wrong, it continues to be wrong. He’s playing the inside game with the political ruling class and the elites which prop them up… The play is for the 95 percent of families that are not in the public sector, that are financing all of this… and receiving very little in return. That is his universe. He should speak to that universe. Yesterday he spoke to the political class.

* Meanwhile, Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee) was also on Proft’s show and said this about Speaker Madigan

My goal is to stop this massive tax hike and I’m going to try to get as many Republicans to come along with me as possible. It depends on what Speaker Madigan wants to do. I’m gonna argue that he needs to put every single Democrat vote on this budget before any Republican should get on it. If he takes his targets and says, ‘Oh, I don’t want them voting for a tax hike,’ I don’t think any Republican should vote for it.

Yeah, that’ll be the structured roll call split. Right.

- Posted by Rich Miller   52 Comments

The Republican special session roundup

Friday, Jun 23, 2017

* From the ILGOP…

Madigan, Cullerton Continue to Stall
When will they debate, vote on compromise budget and reform plan?

It’s day three, and all signs point to another day of stalling from Mike Madigan and John Cullerton.

With the eyes of the state on them, Madigan and Cullerton have so far let down the public, choosing to hold sham hearings and barely show up.

Madigan’s House convened special session for just minutes yesterday, while Cullerton’s Senate adjourned in 10.

Instead of working on a budget, Madigan’s House voted on a series of “trivial matters”, and rehashed a well-worn workers compensation debate.

And in the Senate, lawmakers barely showed up.

The Chicago Tribune editorial board called it a “sorry little spectacle”.

It’s time Madigan and Cullerton get to work and hold votes on a detailed compromise budget and reform plan.

Otherwise, Madigan and Cullerton will continue to receive headlines like these:

Chicago Tribune: Editorial: Madigan and the Do-Littles
Here’s the remarkable part: Madigan’s Democratic members — all of whom, unless they retire to Pensionville, have to ask voters to re-elect them next year — don’t seem to mind.
You would think if they genuinely were frustrated by the lack of a state budget, as they ceaselessly pretend, they would protest. You would think these lawmakers, whose role as public servants is to put the interests of the state ahead of their own and their party’s, would confront Madigan for snubbing every budget proposal out there, including the one from their Senate colleagues. You’d think they would be staging a coup, determined to put a stop to the nonsense and the inaction that threatens their political futures and, more important, Illinois’ future.
They’re not. No urgency. They go along with the silliness and the cynicism. They went along, again, on Thursday.
… What a sorry little spectacle in Springfield.

WMAY: Day Two of Special Session Convenes and Adjourns Quickly
Another day… another legislative special session convened and adjourned in just minutes.

WSIL: Instead of budget, Illinois lawmakers vote on trivial matters
Instead of voting on a budget, lawmakers in the Illinois House renamed a road, talked about the importance of the upcoming bicentennial and designated June as “Immigrant Heritage Month.”
The series of votes on resolutions, which are ceremonial, caused tempers to flare.
During a debate on a resolution, which called for Congress not to cut funding to Planned Parenthood, State Rep. Peter Breen, R-Lombard, stood up and shared his frustration.
“We are 700 days without a budget. What the hell are we doing voting on these resolutions? Why are we not doing the budget?” Breen yelled, before sitting down so the resolution votes could continue.
The Illinois Senate seemed even less productive than the House.
Fewer than 20 of the 59 state senators even bothered to show up to the chamber on Thursday.
The Senate adjourned after just 10 minutes.

WRSP: Tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars spent, Illinois no closer to a budget
Lawmakers again, not voting on any budget bills.
The House spent 45 minutes taking action on non-budgetary items.
The Senate didn’t take any action at all.

NBC Chicago: Stalling Special Session Costs Tax Payers $40K Per Day
In the state Senate less than two dozen showed up at the noon start. They welcomed interns to the floor and a few moments later the Senate adjourned…

- Posted by Rich Miller   25 Comments

Rauner administration loses legal power play to AG Madigan

Friday, Jun 23, 2017

* A ruling yesterday from the 4th appellate district with citations removed

The complaint, in part, requested (1) defendant, Lisa Madigan, in her official capacity as Attorney General of the State of Illinois, be enjoined from representing CMS before the Workers’ Compensation Commission (Commission) on cases involving “personal assistants,” based on her refusal to defend CMS’s determination that a personal assistant was not a State employee for purposes of the Workers’ Compensation Act, and (2) a special assistant Attorney General be appointed to represent CMS. That same month, the Attorney General filed a motion to dismiss pursuant to section 2-615 of the Code of Civil Procedure (Code), alleging the complaint failed to state a legally valid cause of action. In May 2016, the trial court granted the motion to dismiss with prejudice.

CMS appeals, arguing the trial court erred by dismissing its complaint for failure to state a cause of action. We affirm. […]

The motion to dismiss alleged (1) the Attorney General had the exclusive constitutional authority to represent the State, including its officers, employees, and agencies, when the State is the real party in interest in litigation and allowing CMS to choose private counsel would cause “chaos”; (2) the Attorney General was “vigorously defending” these workers’ compensation cases; and (3) the Commission had repeatedly rejected the very argument CMS sought to raise and ruled that personal assistants are employed by the State.

Like it or not, and the Rauner administration clearly does not, the attorney general is the state’s chief legal officer.

- Posted by Rich Miller   12 Comments

*** UPDATED x1 - The plot thickens *** As if things couldn’t get any weirder

Friday, Jun 23, 2017

* Tribune

Is there room for another heel in the Illinois governor’s race?

Former pro wrestler Jon “The Illustrious One” Stewart says yes — and he’s looking to put his rivals for the Libertarian Party nomination in a half nelson, then body-slam Bruce Rauner and whoever the Democrats select in the general election.

“Politics is wrestling with suits and ties on,” Stewart, 50, told Chicago Inc. “I’m comfortable on a mic, and I’m not afraid to tell the truth.”

It isn’t The Illustrious One’s first run for elected office. Back in 1997, he unsuccessfully ran as a Republican for the state House on the North Shore — with a little help from President Donald Trump’s counselor Kellyanne Conway.

“I was her first political client,” said Stewart, who lives in Deerfield and now runs his family’s used-car dealership. “She’s probably one of the smartest people I’ve ever met so I’m not surprised she has got to where she is.

* Let’s welcome him to the race with a caption contest, shall we?

Also, click here for a wrestling promo video where he describes himself as a “son of a millionaire.”

*** UPDATE ***  Many thanks to a commenter for posting a link to this video

Stewart is pro-Trump. The governor has spent the better part of two years running as far away from Trump as he possibly can. So, it’s possible that Stewart could give him some troubles with the base. Remember how some trade unions (particularly Local 150) backed the 2014 Libertarian Party candidate? Hmm.

- Posted by Rich Miller   57 Comments

*** LIVE *** Special session coverage

Friday, Jun 23, 2017

* Watch it all in real time with ScribbleLive

- Posted by Rich Miller   2 Comments

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Friday, Jun 23, 2017

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* Madigan's daily press briefing: He'd meet with Rauner and he's peeved at Durkin
* We're staying open!
* Hardiman on Madigan: "He’s like the Godfather down there"
* Rauner asked why Madigan could work with other governors and not him
* Emanuel goes off on Rauner... again
* *** UPDATED x4 - Rauner denies Cullerton claim - Cullerton: Special session is a "stunt" - Manar wants Rauner to call daily leaders meetings - Durkin said he opted out on his own *** Cullerton claims Rauner "pulled the plug" on meeting
* NRDC warns of "giant jumping fish" at Oak St. Beach
* Question of the day
* Rauner takes questions for first time in several days
* Illinois' "get along" shirt
* Pritzker slams Rauner over federal health care overhaul
* Emanuel doubles down
* New school funding reform plan appears DOA
* Let's be careful out there
* A little context, please
* After hot dispute, Rauner to sign gun crimes bill today
* Proft on Rauner's "massive" tax hikes: "He's done and so are Republicans for another generation"
* The Republican special session roundup
* Rauner administration loses legal power play to AG Madigan
* *** UPDATED x1 - The plot thickens *** As if things couldn't get any weirder
* *** LIVE *** Special session coverage
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today's edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
* Yesterday's stories

Visit our advertisers...

* STATEHOUSE REEDER: Yes, I've seen this before -.....
* Illinois governor signs repeat gun offender pla.....
* Illinois governor signs bill targeting repeat g.....
* Rauner appoints new DCFS director - Herald & Re.....
* Stephen Moore: The Banana Republic Of Illinois..
* Mendoza part of the problem as a legislator - S.....

* EXCHANGE: Herbal farmers grow small garden for health care
* EXCHANGE: Illinois State students dig out 13th century town
* Illinois State Fair to offer mobile ticketing, parking pass
* Obama Foundation seeks library construction management firms
* Auto dealership wins naming rights to Bloomington arena
* Lobbyist wounded in GOP baseball shooting leaves hospital
* NW Indiana's longtime Star Plaza Theatre to be demolished
* FBI: Search for visiting Chinese scholar is agency priority
* Trump slashes grant for group combatting white extremism
* A look at recent settlements in fatal police encounters

* Mendoza issues warning while leaders argue
* People like the building, not the gridlock
* Rauner threatens to reject 911 funding bill over fee increases
* Former Edgar appointee tapped as new DCFS director
* Rauner signs repeat gun offender plan into law
* Illinois House leaders meet, but no action on a budget
* House leaders meet, but no action on a budget
* SJ-R Podcast: Talking with Bernard Schoenburg about the special session
* Schuyler County hog farm opponents seek state ag meeting; threaten lawsuit
* SJ-R Live: Tax hikes vs. spending cuts; two experts disagree

* Was Rauner's televised speech a success? Sort of.
* Time for Rauner to come out of hiding on Obamacare repeal
* How this company defies the law of large numbers
* A new twist in the Rauner-Emanuel Thompson Center squabble
* Toronto's simple marching orders for PrivateBank's Richman: Grow

* Dear Abby: I’ve had it with my brother and his secrets
* Georgia Nicols horoscopes for June 24, 2017
* MAP: Chicago weekend shootings tracker for June 23-26
* Huge, homely mastiff named Martha wins world’s ugliest dog
* Man, 38, seriously wounded in Cragin shooting
* Four Chicago Police officers among five injured in West Side crash
* Struggling Todd Frazier trying to ‘sit back and enjoy the show’
* Hitting one day, pitching the next — that’s how erratic Cubs roll
* 2 men shot on South Side
* ‘Unflappable’ Mark Buehrle all set to have White Sox No. 56 retired

* 'Chicken lady' farms in Rogers Park, despite neighbors' gripes
* $208K grant aims to help Northwest Indiana residents get HIV test, treatment
* Announcing the Daily Southtown 2017 Baseball All-Area Team
* Last tango in Paris for Dwyane Wade, Jimmy Butler: What's on their itineraries
* Eric Brauer the Daily Southtown 2017 Baseball Coach of the Year
* Mego: Making old library part of new building 'ghoulish'; let it die with dignity
* Kyle Schwarber hits major road block in his major-league career
* Thanks to Adrian Wojnarowski, NBA and ESPN get scooped on their own show
* Blackhawks trade down, select D Henri Jokiharju with 29th pick in NHL draft
* Subtracting Jimmy Butler just doesn't add up for Bulls

» State Week: Special Session Begins
» Prosecutors Seek To Uphold 'Making A Murderer' Confession
» Budget Impasse Makes Future Of Sojourn Shelter Unclear
» Bulls Trade Butler To Timberwolves, Go All In On Rebuild
» Illinois Experiments With High Schools Of The Future
» Senate Democrats Urge Republicans To Compromise On Budget Deal
» Cook County Democrats Hear From Gubernatorial Candidates
» $25,000 Reward Offered For Rare Clock Stolen In Chicago
» Obama Presidential Center Could Include Playground, Sledding
» There's At Least One Thing On Which Illinois Democrats And Republicans Agree ...

* Guest Column: Will Illinois get an F in higher education this year?
* Charles Krauthammer: The great Muslim civil war — and us
* Mendoza issues warning while leaders argue
* People like the building, not the gridlock
* Rauner threatens to reject 911 funding bill over fee increases
* Former Edgar appointee tapped as new DCFS director
* Rauner signs repeat gun offender plan into law
* Illinois House leaders meet, but no action on a budget
* Point: Education of state's children harmed with property tax freeze
* Counterpoint: Illinois should cut property taxes now

* Police Beat
* Murphysboro man killed in two-vehicle crash
* PODCAST: Craig Virgin on hall of fame induction
* PODCAST: Dee Brown on hall of fame induction
* PODCAST: Brad Underwood on Illini hall of fame
* PODCAST: Jerry Colangelo on hall of fame induction
* PODCAST: Dick Butkus on hall of fame induction
* PODCAST: Tonja Buford-Bailey on hall of fame induction
* PODCAST: Robert Jones on Illini hall of fame
* PODCAST: Nick Anderson on hall of fame induction

* Anderson, Renteria ejected in White Sox's 3-0 loss to Oakland
* California governor stops parole for Charles Manson follower
* California Gov. Jerry Brown blocks parole for Charles Manson follower and convicted killer Bruce Davis
* Perdomo, Hedges lead Padres past Tigers 1-0
* Bandits top Charge in extras

* Randy Hultgren: US should remain on UN cou...
* Rep. Randy Hultgren constituents decry sec...
* Roskam Twitter Wars With Jake Tapper - Rol...
* Payments in the future will be sent like t...
* Illinois GOP representatives plan fundrais...
* Northern Illinois Congressman Co-Sponsors ...
* Hultgren pushes for job training, educatio...
* Hultgren backs Trump; suburban Democrats d...
* The importance of funding science research...
* Randy Hultgren: US should remain on UN cou...

* Search for US attorney in Chicago narrows ......
* Search for US attorney in Chicago narrows ......
* Guest lineups for the Sunday news shows - ......

* Search for US attorney in Chicago narrows ......
* Search for US attorney in Chicago narrows ......

* All it takes is one to create a problem
* “The Driver’s Side” – News From The Motorist’s Perspective
* Chicago Zombie March, Logan Square Arts Festival, and more things to do in Chicago this weekend
* Raise Your Pride Flag!
* EXTRA: Everybody’s spewing a load of bull in the land of Springpatch
* Steppenwolf releases ‘official statement’ on Hedy Weiss review uproar
* Di Leo: Springfield – The City That Banned Capitalism
* Next week saxophonist Dave Rempis plays solo and leads a full-band performance of a South African jazz classic
* Don't Rain On Our Parade -- Or Park Near The Route
* Fathers Day Sunday.

* Illinois Awarded Funds to Offer Advanced Training on Detecting Impaired Driving
* Illinois EPA Announces Upcoming Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events
* IEMA Highlights Emergency Preparedness for People with Access and Functional Needs in May - Ready Illinois website offers preparedness tips for people, caregivers
* First Lady Launches Illinois Family Connects
* Governor and Lt. Governor Unveil 2016 Journal of Local Government Shared Service Best Practices

* Canada rumored next on the list for 32GB iPhone 6
* OnePlus 5 vs OnePlus 3T: A 6 Month Phone Upgrade? (Video)
* Samsung Galaxy Note 8 hefty price, LG V30 features & more – Pocketnow Daily
* Crunch Report | Google To Stop Scanning Inboxes
* CEO: India should hold off new tariffs to keep OnePlus 5 pricing stable
* Only two months in and there’s a Sony Xperia XA1 deal on Amazon
* HTC U11 Edge Sense updates will let you zoom in and pick up

* Moncada double short of cycle with Knights
* White Sox struggle vs. Cotton in opener loss
* White Sox 7th-rounder tops No. 3 seed in CWS
* Renteria, birthday boy Anderson ejected vs. A's
* Shields faces A's in 2nd start since return
* White Sox struggle vs. Cotton in opener loss
* Lopez featured in prospect duel of the day

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Capitol - Your Illinois News Radar » Turnout myths
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Turnout myths

Wednesday, Nov 1, 2006

The focus in the media for the next week will be largely on voter turnout. But how accurate will the reporting be? This excellent piece has been making the rounds of the blogs all week, but I keep forgetting to post it. The 5 myths of voter turnout, by Michael McDonald, a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution.

1) Thanks to increasing voter apathy, turnout keeps dwindling.

This is the mother of all turnout myths. There may be plenty of apathetic voters, but the idea that ever fewer Americans are showing up at the polls should be put to rest. What’s really happening is that the number of people not eligible to vote is rising — making it seem as though turnout is dropping. […]

3) Negative ads turn off voters and reduce turnout.

Don’t be so sure. The case on this one is still open. Negative TV advertising increased in the mid-1980s, but turnout hasn’t gone down correspondingly. The negative Swift boat campaign against Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., apparently did little to depress turnout in the 2004 presidential race.

Some academic studies have found that negative advertising increases turnout. And that’s not so surprising: A particularly nasty ad grabs people’s attention and gets them talking. People participate when they’re interested.

The danger of going negative is that voters may perceive the attacks as unfair. So campaigns tend to stick to “contrast ads,” in which candidates contrast their records with those of their opponents. When people see stark differences between candidates, they’re more likely to vote.

Go read the whole thing, especially if you’re an editorial writer, reporter, columnist or pundit.

Meanwhile, the Sun-Times has the latest on early voting.

Though most votes will be cast next Tuesday, almost 40,000 city and suburban voters have taken advantage of early voting, which ends Thursday. More than 5,000 voters filled out ballots Tuesday, and election officials expect even more to vote today and Thursday at election offices, village halls and libraries.

- Posted by Rich Miller

  1. - Just me - Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 9:12 am:

    The negative ads may not decrease voter turnout, but they sure are setting the stage for Whitney to become a spoiler in the gubernatorial race.

  2. - Snark - Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 9:17 am:

    Shh, don’t tell Fritchey.

  3. - corvax - Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 9:42 am:

    Given the relative level of ignorance about political matters i’ve encountered (e.g., so many people don’t know who their US congressman is, a tiny minority can name either of their state legislators), i hope the generally low levels of voting reflect the ignorant self-selecting themselves out of the process to spare us the impact of their collective ignorance.

  4. - Veritas - Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 10:32 am:

    “Whatâ€™s really happening is that the number of people not eligible to vote is rising”

    I assume he’s referring to illegal imigrants. If not, I have no idea what he’s talking about.

  5. - ZC - Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 3:35 pm:

    He’s talking about a couple of things. Illegal immigrants, yes, but also legal, non-naturalized immigrants. A considerable percentage in Illinois, considering all the Hispanic immigration to this state. Also people with a felony conviction - that has gone up a great deal in recent decades nationwide, especially for drug possession.

    That said, I think McDonald overstates his case about voter turnout not declining at all. It is a tale of two regions. In the South, since the Voting Rights Act and other civil rights measures finally enfranchised African-Americans, and the rise of the Republican party meant the elections started to actually be competitive, turnout has been going up. That increase in the South “masks” a significant decline in voter turnout that has been going on in the rest of the country. And an increase in voting among older Americans has been masking a decline in turnout rates among younger Americans, so his story doesn’t work for every demographic in American politics either.

    That said, I agree with his other points, especially about the negative ads. Ads can depress you - but they can also scare you, scare you so much you make sure to go vote. There’s no one-size-fits-all principle here.

Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.

* Madigan's daily press briefing: He'd meet with Rauner and he's peeved at Durkin
* We're staying open!
* Hardiman on Madigan: "He’s like the Godfather down there"
* Rauner asked why Madigan could work with other governors and not him
* Emanuel goes off on Rauner... again
* *** UPDATED x4 - Rauner denies Cullerton claim - Cullerton: Special session is a "stunt" - Manar wants Rauner to call daily leaders meetings - Durkin said he opted out on his own *** Cullerton claims Rauner "pulled the plug" on meeting
* NRDC warns of "giant jumping fish" at Oak St. Beach
* Question of the day
* Rauner takes questions for first time in several days
* Illinois' "get along" shirt
* Pritzker slams Rauner over federal health care overhaul
* Emanuel doubles down
* New school funding reform plan appears DOA
* Let's be careful out there
* A little context, please
* After hot dispute, Rauner to sign gun crimes bill today
* Proft on Rauner's "massive" tax hikes: "He's done and so are Republicans for another generation"
* The Republican special session roundup
* Rauner administration loses legal power play to AG Madigan
* *** UPDATED x1 - The plot thickens *** As if things couldn't get any weirder
* *** LIVE *** Special session coverage
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today's edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
* Yesterday's stories

Visit our advertisers...

* STATEHOUSE REEDER: Yes, I've seen this before -.....
* Illinois governor signs repeat gun offender pla.....
* Illinois governor signs bill targeting repeat g.....
* Rauner appoints new DCFS director - Herald & Re.....
* Stephen Moore: The Banana Republic Of Illinois..
* Mendoza part of the problem as a legislator - S.....

* EXCHANGE: Herbal farmers grow small garden for health care
* EXCHANGE: Illinois State students dig out 13th century town
* Illinois State Fair to offer mobile ticketing, parking pass
* Obama Foundation seeks library construction management firms
* Auto dealership wins naming rights to Bloomington arena
* Lobbyist wounded in GOP baseball shooting leaves hospital
* NW Indiana's longtime Star Plaza Theatre to be demolished
* FBI: Search for visiting Chinese scholar is agency priority
* Trump slashes grant for group combatting white extremism
* A look at recent settlements in fatal police encounters

* Mendoza issues warning while leaders argue
* People like the building, not the gridlock
* Rauner threatens to reject 911 funding bill over fee increases
* Former Edgar appointee tapped as new DCFS director
* Rauner signs repeat gun offender plan into law
* Illinois House leaders meet, but no action on a budget
* House leaders meet, but no action on a budget
* SJ-R Podcast: Talking with Bernard Schoenburg about the special session
* Schuyler County hog farm opponents seek state ag meeting; threaten lawsuit
* SJ-R Live: Tax hikes vs. spending cuts; two experts disagree

* Was Rauner's televised speech a success? Sort of.
* Time for Rauner to come out of hiding on Obamacare repeal
* How this company defies the law of large numbers
* A new twist in the Rauner-Emanuel Thompson Center squabble
* Toronto's simple marching orders for PrivateBank's Richman: Grow

* Dear Abby: I’ve had it with my brother and his secrets
* Georgia Nicols horoscopes for June 24, 2017
* MAP: Chicago weekend shootings tracker for June 23-26
* Huge, homely mastiff named Martha wins world’s ugliest dog
* Man, 38, seriously wounded in Cragin shooting
* Four Chicago Police officers among five injured in West Side crash
* Struggling Todd Frazier trying to ‘sit back and enjoy the show’
* Hitting one day, pitching the next — that’s how erratic Cubs roll
* 2 men shot on South Side
* ‘Unflappable’ Mark Buehrle all set to have White Sox No. 56 retired

* 'Chicken lady' farms in Rogers Park, despite neighbors' gripes
* $208K grant aims to help Northwest Indiana residents get HIV test, treatment
* Announcing the Daily Southtown 2017 Baseball All-Area Team
* Last tango in Paris for Dwyane Wade, Jimmy Butler: What's on their itineraries
* Eric Brauer the Daily Southtown 2017 Baseball Coach of the Year
* Mego: Making old library part of new building 'ghoulish'; let it die with dignity
* Kyle Schwarber hits major road block in his major-league career
* Thanks to Adrian Wojnarowski, NBA and ESPN get scooped on their own show
* Blackhawks trade down, select D Henri Jokiharju with 29th pick in NHL draft
* Subtracting Jimmy Butler just doesn't add up for Bulls

» State Week: Special Session Begins
» Prosecutors Seek To Uphold 'Making A Murderer' Confession
» Budget Impasse Makes Future Of Sojourn Shelter Unclear
» Bulls Trade Butler To Timberwolves, Go All In On Rebuild
» Illinois Experiments With High Schools Of The Future
» Senate Democrats Urge Republicans To Compromise On Budget Deal
» Cook County Democrats Hear From Gubernatorial Candidates
» $25,000 Reward Offered For Rare Clock Stolen In Chicago
» Obama Presidential Center Could Include Playground, Sledding
» There's At Least One Thing On Which Illinois Democrats And Republicans Agree ...

* Guest Column: Will Illinois get an F in higher education this year?
* Charles Krauthammer: The great Muslim civil war — and us
* Mendoza issues warning while leaders argue
* People like the building, not the gridlock
* Rauner threatens to reject 911 funding bill over fee increases
* Former Edgar appointee tapped as new DCFS director
* Rauner signs repeat gun offender plan into law
* Illinois House leaders meet, but no action on a budget
* Point: Education of state's children harmed with property tax freeze
* Counterpoint: Illinois should cut property taxes now

* Police Beat
* Murphysboro man killed in two-vehicle crash
* PODCAST: Craig Virgin on hall of fame induction
* PODCAST: Dee Brown on hall of fame induction
* PODCAST: Brad Underwood on Illini hall of fame
* PODCAST: Jerry Colangelo on hall of fame induction
* PODCAST: Dick Butkus on hall of fame induction
* PODCAST: Tonja Buford-Bailey on hall of fame induction
* PODCAST: Robert Jones on Illini hall of fame
* PODCAST: Nick Anderson on hall of fame induction

* Anderson, Renteria ejected in White Sox's 3-0 loss to Oakland
* California governor stops parole for Charles Manson follower
* California Gov. Jerry Brown blocks parole for Charles Manson follower and convicted killer Bruce Davis
* Perdomo, Hedges lead Padres past Tigers 1-0
* Bandits top Charge in extras

* Randy Hultgren: US should remain on UN cou...
* Rep. Randy Hultgren constituents decry sec...
* Roskam Twitter Wars With Jake Tapper - Rol...
* Payments in the future will be sent like t...
* Illinois GOP representatives plan fundrais...
* Northern Illinois Congressman Co-Sponsors ...
* Hultgren pushes for job training, educatio...
* Hultgren backs Trump; suburban Democrats d...
* The importance of funding science research...
* Randy Hultgren: US should remain on UN cou...

* Search for US attorney in Chicago narrows ......
* Search for US attorney in Chicago narrows ......
* Guest lineups for the Sunday news shows - ......

* Search for US attorney in Chicago narrows ......
* Search for US attorney in Chicago narrows ......

* All it takes is one to create a problem
* “The Driver’s Side” – News From The Motorist’s Perspective
* Chicago Zombie March, Logan Square Arts Festival, and more things to do in Chicago this weekend
* Raise Your Pride Flag!
* EXTRA: Everybody’s spewing a load of bull in the land of Springpatch
* Steppenwolf releases ‘official statement’ on Hedy Weiss review uproar
* Di Leo: Springfield – The City That Banned Capitalism
* Next week saxophonist Dave Rempis plays solo and leads a full-band performance of a South African jazz classic
* Don't Rain On Our Parade -- Or Park Near The Route
* Fathers Day Sunday.

* Illinois Awarded Funds to Offer Advanced Training on Detecting Impaired Driving
* Illinois EPA Announces Upcoming Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events
* IEMA Highlights Emergency Preparedness for People with Access and Functional Needs in May - Ready Illinois website offers preparedness tips for people, caregivers
* First Lady Launches Illinois Family Connects
* Governor and Lt. Governor Unveil 2016 Journal of Local Government Shared Service Best Practices

* Canada rumored next on the list for 32GB iPhone 6
* OnePlus 5 vs OnePlus 3T: A 6 Month Phone Upgrade? (Video)
* Samsung Galaxy Note 8 hefty price, LG V30 features & more – Pocketnow Daily
* Crunch Report | Google To Stop Scanning Inboxes
* CEO: India should hold off new tariffs to keep OnePlus 5 pricing stable
* Only two months in and there’s a Sony Xperia XA1 deal on Amazon
* HTC U11 Edge Sense updates will let you zoom in and pick up

* Moncada double short of cycle with Knights
* White Sox struggle vs. Cotton in opener loss
* White Sox 7th-rounder tops No. 3 seed in CWS
* Renteria, birthday boy Anderson ejected vs. A's
* Shields faces A's in 2nd start since return
* White Sox struggle vs. Cotton in opener loss
* Lopez featured in prospect duel of the day

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Policy and Government

Why vulnerable young people need financial education

calendar04 November 2013

The All party group for Financial Education launched its latest report at an event in the House of Commons attended by young people, MPs and representatives from various organisations including Christians Against Poverty.

Read the full document here

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Warmth isn’t just for the wealthy – why we love the summer

Summer is here again, hooray! Here's just a handful of reasons why we love it.
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As it's Carers Week, we meet a man who fell into debt after leaving his job to care for his sick wife.
Blog | Tuesday, 13 June 2017

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This Volunteers’ Week, Joseph tells us why he loves volunteering for CAP – and why you should do it too!
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Diet Menurunkan Berat Badan

5 Best Diets to shed pounds Fast and Maintain it Diet Menurunkan Berat Badan

You will discover way too many diets and fad diet plans currently available. There really is the 5 best diets to lose weight naturally fast achievable work with me. We’ve my own , personal personal favourite a combination Diet Menurunkan Berat Badan of three variations in the Scarsdale Diet with my absolute favourite being the economy version of the diet regime, but on that within a bit.

For me the Scarsdale Diet programs provde the Diet Menurunkan Berat Badan most choices in the form of options that one could eat plus the prices from the foodstuffs recommended can be tailored on your own personal circumstances and budget.

From my own , personal personal Diet Menurunkan Berat Badan journeys into personal weight-loss,

Diet Menurunkan Berat Badan it is critical to select a weight loss program you can stick with in order to firstly lose some weight above all have the ability to maintain your weight off extended. In this posting I outline the 5 best diets to shed pounds fast that I’ve had personal success with and have recommended to others and observed in most all cases they’ve already had success with him or her too.

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Thrift Treasures 73: What’s up, Buster! Early Posey release found at thrift.

I made a short trip to the thrift store today with my son and lookie here … a baggie of cards worth buying.

They had about a dozen bags, 10 of which were filled with 1988 Topps cards, one that had a stack of Pro Set hockey from like 1991-92, and then this one, which had some oddball San Francisco Giants cards.  See the small sections of orange?  I like to buy baggies when they have local odd ball releases.  Sometimes they can be valuable, other times it’s the only place you’ll find them these days as they were more than likely a giveaway for children.  And we all know that once children get a hold of things — especially made of paper — more times than not they’ll end up in the trash.

So I plunked down the$3.99, which is a bit more than I like to spend on a “blind bag,” but I could see there was a rookie-year (or maybe early 2011?) Posey from one of these sets inside. I figured that card alone would be worth my money.

Well, when I opened the bag, I was pleased to find not just the Posey, but the entire nine-card set, which appears to be a Junior Giants giveaway from early 2011.  The back of the cards are not dated, but there is the 2010 Giants World Series logo on the bottom.  It could be a late 2010 release, but I’m guessing early 2011. I’m not positive on how these cards were distributed, but it would appear that they were given individually to a child once they completed a task as described on the back of the card. The set features Posey, Maddision Bumgarner, Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum, Brian Wilson, Freddy Sanchez, Cody Ross, Aubrey Huff and Andres Torres.

IMG_5063 IMG_5064

While I would have been pleased with just those nine cards, I was pleasantly surprised to find a partial set of other Junior Giants cards.  Based on the format, I gather that there were nine cards in this set as well, however this baggue only had seven of them.  Well, lucky for me the most important — Posey — was included here, as was a card of Pablo Sandoval.  If I had to guess, these cards with the black border across top are actually 2010 releases based on the lack of World Series logo and the inclusion of Bengie Molina and Aaron Rowand.  This of course would make the Posey a actual rookie-year release, which of course could make this a tough rookie-year issue to find for a collector.

IMG_5066 IMG_5067There is something funny about the Posey card.  So, this card presumably was given to kids when they finished a portion of their reading program.  Well … read the back. I spy a spelling error …

The remainder of the bag was pretty brutal, but there was one other small nugget in here, a 2002 Fleer Tradition Mini Al Levine, serial numbered 38/50.

To see more Thrift Treasures posts, click HERE

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The Advantages of Social Media, Reconnecting, and Asking for Help

The last two weeks have been rather crazy: another broken vehicle, a “new” member of our household, a week of the flu.  So, it was even crazier than usual.  Unfortunately, my busy life has disconnected me from many friends and family members.  There’s so much to do, and so many needs to meet, my own needs frequently fall to the wayside, especially when it comes to keeping in touch with those far-flung people whom I love but don’t have an urgent need to reach out to.

Social media has had a positive impact, getting me back in touch, keeping some sort of tether between me and these lovely people.  It’s not the same as if I could go out and visit or as if I were on the phone with them every day, but it’s a connection.  And, in some cases, it’s a new connection instead of a re-connection.

My published works haven’t reached the point where I’m using social media to do a whole lot of new marketing, though I’ve had some success with it.  Right now, I’ve had much more success building my readership, including my pre-readership.  And that’s a great resource that isn’t touted as much for new writers.

Writers need an audience.  Unless your work is read, writing isn’t communication.  Sure, some people “do it for themselves,” but I don’t see much point in that.  Writing itself is empty without someone to read it.  That doesn’t mean that it has to be widely read to be of value; just one reader makes a work of writing into a work of communication.

I have been finishing up two novellas, and I wanted to get as much quality feedback as I could on both of them before I finalize and submit them.  This is where social media comes in.  I reached out to my friends and family, and before I knew it I had a whole bunch of pre-readers.  When the time comes, they’ll probably want to check out the finished, published product, too.

So, don’t wait.  Reach out now.  Ask for help preparing your manuscripts for submission.  Post links to your published work.  You don’t need 10,000 followers and a published book to build a following.  A few readers can go a long way.

About Stephanie Allen Crist

Stephanie created and produces in answer to a call from God to use her experiences and gifts to help others. Stephanie is also the author of and two books that can be found on that site. Stephanie strives to share her love, faith, and talents in an inclusive manner to help others who know spiritual pain and who know the bitter taste of the dregs of despair.
This entry was posted in My Projects and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

3 Responses to The Advantages of Social Media, Reconnecting, and Asking for Help

  1. Pingback: The Advantages of Social Media « kaclang0421

  2. Sue says:

    I think you are very smart to reach out now and as one of your pre-readers, I am looking forward to your first novel.

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It is a fine balancing act with servers I guess.. especially with the old
dial up service.. I have had trouble getting connected and staying on line.
Making calls about this and checking on things as I have never had trouble
before with them at all. Phone service has been messed up around here and
that means trouble for us customers. Hope this will be able to post okay.
Weather is divine here could not ask for better right now. We may have
some temps near 90 by the weekend. All the better to make the garden grow.
Got the lawn mowed while the air is less humid and gathering stuff to toss
out this weekend at the city-wide clean up site. Now they will only take it
in boxes or CLEAR bags so all the stuff I placed in garbage bags will have to
be transferred into other bags. Talk about a big hassle.. Sad Not many are
happy with this rule, I sure am one of them. Called city hall and voiced my
opinions on that too. Baring teeth Wondering how many other calls they got about that?
Well hope this posts..  HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT DAY!

I was a caregiver for the elderly on and off for over 30 years.I am now retired and enjoying a new life. I love blogging and have kept a personal journal for 40 years. I enjoy the freedom of being creative and interacting with the millions of other bloggers in the world.I love learning the new things that the computer world has to offer. I have made friends that will last a lifetime blogging, something I never ever thought would happen. I hope you enjoy my blog,and will continue to visit me in the future.

10 responses »

  1. I surely can’t complain about the weather either, this is the kind of thing I miss so dearly during the colder months. I guess enjoy what we’ve got when we’ve got it. Sorry to hear about your connection troubles, I hope that all gets worked out. Have a great day!

  2. There’s that about having dial up. As I have said too many times, I know, I feel your pain having gone through it so much. Every time I think I am tired of spending so much money on cable and its related services, I think…I’d give it all up but the internet. When you’re used to dial up and not had cable ‘ go along without hardly noticing anything because you are used to it. But one experience on cable…it’s all over for you as far as contentment is concerned. 🙂

  3. Well… the good news is that the post made it. I call my politicians, write them, pester them all the time when I’m not happy about things. That’s the only way they feel loved.Have a great day…

  4. Great cartoon!! You got to have a Thursday rant and it is a good one. There is the difference like night and day when you go to a cable hookup. I wish you were able to have that. I have to agree with Carole. Cable internet is lightning fast.Hugs to you and mom.

  5. The post came out great—love the stick guys! They are so much fun! Glad your weather has cooled for now. That humidity is the PITS. Windy here, but hot still and DRY. Have a good day.

  6. Hope the phone thing gets fixed asap. I can say the clear bags make it easier to see if anybody snuck in some things they shouldn’t. Now who would do that? Ha, quite a few. Hope your garden does well for you.

  7. Love the balancing act with the stick figures. I couldn’t wait to see what was next in their act and didn’t expect to see how et ended. Very clever.Hope you get all your problems taken care of. Hate having server or any other computer problems. It’s getting warm and muggy up here. Hope it stays away from you…cuz I know you’ll hate it.

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What is it that brings us to do so much spring cleaning each
year? Maybe it is the air or the sun or the freedom to just
purge all that winter time dirt out of our homes and systems.
Easter Sunday was windy and boy I almost put out all
my blankets to air on the clothesline. I said ALMOST..
I noticed there was also a lot of debris and junk coming
off the trees , blossoms etc. Soo I guess it will have
to wait a while. I mopped floors and did some
cleaning in the garage again. NOT your typical
Easter Sunday at all.
 It got up to 70 here, I ran all the
gas out of the snowblower, started up the lawn
mower and did some mowing. YES you heard that
right.. I MOWED part of our yard. Was that too early?
Yes maybe but my mower was NOT the only one
running either. Things seem to be ahead of schedule this
year. We have thunderstorms in out forecast for this
week. April showers will surely bring out MORE grass
soon too. Sun
I spread the dreaded
Grub killer out one more time this year to see if I
could NIP that
moles dinner in the bud. If this stuff doesn’t work..
well I may get some other kind that is much more
powerful. The ACE hardware guy told me of a kind
that has CASTOR OIL in the pellets etc and when it
gets wet it goes in to the ground and causes all
kinds of trouble for the moles. I am about ready
to use that if this stuff fails. I am so tired of
them tearing up the yard.
Mom took her another walk today down the driveway
and sat in the sun a while as I tended to the
yard work. It was a quiet semi-sunny day.
Sis and I have been working on a few 2′ X 2′ square
pavers to place in the ground in front of our
ramp. Digging all that up is hard work and so
we have had to do it in stages. I placed a few
yesterday just before the rains came. I see
that they settled in nicely, but some are not as
straight as we would have liked. Oh well .. back to
work later and see what we can do to fix them.
Glad there is no real hurry to get it done, it may
take awhile. Wink

I was a caregiver for the elderly on and off for over 30 years.I am now retired and enjoying a new life. I love blogging and have kept a personal journal for 40 years. I enjoy the freedom of being creative and interacting with the millions of other bloggers in the world.I love learning the new things that the computer world has to offer. I have made friends that will last a lifetime blogging, something I never ever thought would happen. I hope you enjoy my blog,and will continue to visit me in the future.

6 responses »

  1. I am delighted that your mom is doing so well. Don’t you and your sis overdo with everything.I hope you have a good week. Hugs to you all!

  2. You all are like me here (and many others too) in that the sun, warmth, just the general light we have makes you full of energy and you look around for things to do.You are brave for doing the paving stones. That’s hard!!!

  3. oh dear, I hope the mole situation is sorted out. We planted a new lawn forom scratch. and the whole area was covered with holes within weeks, IN the end we paved quite a bit of the garden instead. and as you say, slowly does it.LadyPx

  4. HOpe you can get the mole situation under control soon. They can be really destructive. Rained here most of yesterday so staid inside and made chocolate-cherry cupcakes and hid candy for the guys. They’ll be finding it for days because I had to hide it so well this year. Poor Sean couldn’t find any, so his little brother gave him some of his findings! Now THAT’S sharing!

  5. A nice little walk. How wonderful for her. The nice weather makes you want to do everything but you just can’t decided where to start.

  6. Glad to see mom is venturing about, it’s good for her. I don’t even want to think about spring cleaning. The urge hasn’t hit me yet and I hope it does pretty soon cause this place needs it lol

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Mixed Veggies, Tofu and Mashed Potatoes

mmmmhmm how could this go wrong? I love me some potatoes, and when prepared sans pounds of butter and cream, is actually a good source of filling carbohydrates. This recipe is from the Engine 2 (E2) diet, and even though I’m no longer on it, I am still a huge supporter of the dinner meals featured. I made this a little different from the book, but it was largely inspired from it.

Veggies, Tofu and Mashed Potatoes

  • 1 onion
  • 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
  • Braggs amino acids to taste
  • 12 oz red potatoes
  • 1/4 cup-ish unsweetened almond milk
  • 8 oz tofu, pressed
  • 3-4 Tablespoons balsamic
  • 1 green onion, sliced

Sautee mushrooms and onion in Braggs until the veggies are cooked to your desired texture. Steam potatoes, mash with a potato masher and mix in as much almond milk as you’d like until it’s the desired texture. You can add spices here to add to the flavors, but I didn’t. After pressing the tofu, cut into smaller pieces and place in nonstick pan with balsamic vinegar in the bottom already. Flip over once and coat the other side with vinegar. Slice the green onion and place on top of mixed veggies for a fresh crunch.

Enjoy the filling goodness!

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Filed under dinner, lunch, vegan

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1.25" diameter gold fill circle with four leaf clover

stenciled with 'be lucky with bear'

vintage (1960s)

24" sterling silver 2.2mm rolo chain

named after the first town in ireland mark went to visit on his european back pack adventure in 1999

sourced from atlanta, usa

please allow 5 - 7 days for delivery

Related Items


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Posted by: Eoghan | September 9, 2008

I don’t know anyone who does this!

OK, I do. But there’s good reason.

Something interesting from today’s Irish Times. Even couples who blog together have rows. But if Nathalie and I have had an argument, our inner chimps come to the fore and we usually end up hugging it out.

I guess it’s a simple gesture to assure the other person you still love them, even after a scrap! I’m sure it also releases mood enhancing chemicals like oxytocin or endorphins to drug us into chilling out.

Moral of the Story? Make hugs, not War.

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Changing Your Thought Processes

From I am ugly to I am beautiful

From I am worthless to I have worth

From I am sick to I will heal

From I hate myself to I will learn to love myself

From I am weak to I am strong, or I wouldn’t be here today

From I am moody to I have profound emotional depth

From I am lost to I will find myself

From I am scared to I have courage

From I am crazy to It is normal to struggle

From I am in pain to It’s okay to hurt

From I am tired to I will not give up

From I’m not good enough to I am better than “good enough”

From I can’t change to I can change

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Family Court System Sinister?

A woman suspected of abducting her two young sons poses “a risk of harm” to the boys, a family court has said.

Samantha Baldwin was last seen on Monday near Nottingham city centre.  She is believed to be with six-year-old Dylan Madge and Louis Madge, aged nine. Click  here to read entire report.

Some time ago, we discussed a harrowing Panorama programme which exposed the dangers of the way Family Courts operate in secret, purportedly to protect the children.  Infants have been taken from their parents, with often irreparable damage caused, and yet we are still being asked to blindly trust the social workers and other agents of the court.

In 2013,  one top Judge called for an end to this secrecy yet here we are again, reading about a case where no details are given but we are supposed to believe that this mother “poses a risk of harm” to her sons. Says who? What sort of harm?  Does she hold beliefs on religion and morals that don’t fit in with the new politically correct “values” in the UK?  Or what? They look very happy little boys and she doesn’t look like a madwoman, from the photos released to date,  so I’m not sure we should assume the worst at all – just because the “authorities” say so.  In fact, in 2014, Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming suggested to Panorama that parents suspected of abuse flee the country, rather than fight for justice through the Family Courts – because the system is loaded against them.  Click here to read more and view short video

Family life is being attacked on all fronts, so maybe Catholics should be a little more savvy when it comes to investing blind trust in the Family Court system. Let’s not forget that the culture in the UK today is almost entirely anti-family, and certainly anti-traditional family values. Surely, if there is a problem within a family, it ought to be sorted out there, not by removing children from their mother and home, with heartbreak all round.  How can that help? I see it as sinister.  But, maybe you disagree?


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“Female Journalists to Be Awarded”

Enter now and win Lydia.

The poorly thought-out headline of the day is from the Associated Press: Female Journalists to Be Awarded.

To whom will they be awarded?

“Award” is a transitive verb.

  1. to give by judicial decree or after careful consideration
  2. to confer or bestow as being deserved or merited or needed <award scholarships to disadvantaged students>

Female journalists will be given by decree or careful consideration, or conferred or bestowed as being deserved or merited or needed.

To whom?

Who, upon careful consideration, deserves, merits or needs female journalists?

(Answer: We all do.)

The Associated Press should be awarded a few good editors, it seems to me.

They are sorely needed.

“Get awards,” or “are honored,” might make more sense.

The story has to do with the Lydia Cacho case and involves child-fucking.

She set out to expose a pedophile ring in Cancun, naming the rich and powerful she says were involved, and became a journalism sensation after she was abducted by police, allegedly at the behest of a state governor.

On which recently reelected governor see also

Lydia Cacho peered into Cancun’s underworld and came up with a stinging indictment not only of the alleged abusers, but of powerful friends and politicians she says did little or nothing to stop a prominent businessman accused of luring poor girls in the Caribbean resort to his home so that he and his friends could have sex with them.

An “indictment” with sufficient credibility to bring about the extradition of Jean Succar Kuri to Mexico from Arizona — where his case has not been resolved, as far as I know.

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Conversation with Artist Craig Nelson

Posted March 26 2017

Enjoy the high energy, enthusiasm and humor of artist, author & teacher Craig Nelson as he discusses with Lynn Powers the questions you would like to ask a professional artist if you could talk with him one on one.

We filmed 7 art instruction videos with Craig over the years and enjoyed many evenings with him over dinner.  Here are a few of the topics Craig discussed with us in this conversation.

  • How did you get started as an artist?
  • How does Craig judge a show?
  • How important is it to expose yourself to good art, if you are an artist?
  • How do you develop your own style?\
  • Is it important to have one, consistent style?
  • What is important when you are beginning to learn to paint?
  • What do you listen to when you paint?
  • Recommendations for “how to survive as an artist”.
  • How often do you love the painting that you produce?
  • What is gained by painting “quick studies”?
  • “Luck is preparation meeting opportunity.”
  • Discuss some painting terms you use in your book, “60 Minutes to Better Painting: Quick Studies in Oil and Acrylic”

About the Artist: Craig Nelson

Craig Nelson has more than 30 years of experience painting oil landscapes & urban scenes. He began his career painting movie posters & album covers for some of the biggest names in entertainment. He is also an award winning artist including the Grant Teton Natural History Award among many others. He has taught painting since 1974 and he is now the Director of Fine Art, Drawing and Painting at the Academy of Art College in San Francisco. He is a member of the California Art Club and the American Society of Portrait Artists.

Craig nelson filmed 7 video workshops with Creative Catalyst


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Celebrationgoddess's Blog

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Bulgarian Dancing Women and Goulash! May 3, 2011

Filed under: Music - la la la la!!! — celebrationgoddess @ 10:11 pm

TUNES TUESDAY – (enjoy grooving on a Tuesday with some
music, especially an old favorite or something totallynew!!)

Yes I am Romanian and Hungarian (25% of each) and yes I like belly dancing (I have the belly for it!) So tonight’s video feature is some gypsy music that a friend of mine put on facebook. Makes me want to make up some Hungarian goulash and dance dance dance! Funny bits are the fact that they keep cutting the heads of the girls filming and I especially like the older sassy woman!

ENJOY THIS BULGARIAN GYPSY MUSIC VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfKp90Di6Xk

  • 3 cups  chopped onions
  • 1-1/2 cups  coarsely chopped green sweet peppers
  • 3 cloves  garlic, minced
  • 3 pounds  beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 6-ounce can  tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup  water
  • 4 teaspoons  Hungarian paprika or regular paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon  salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon  black pepper
  • 6cups  hot cooked noodlesDirections

    In a 3-1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker combine onions, sweet peppers, and garlic. Top with meat. In a small bowl combine tomato paste, the water, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Pour over meat.
    2. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 10 to 12 hours or on high-heat setting for 5 to 6 hours.
    3. Serve over hot cooked noodles. Makes 10 servings.

Laugh, Learn, and Liven up your Taste Buds!

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