Illinois Policy Institute Caught Tweeting “Hate” Piece Against William Kelly

Capture of Illinois Policy Institute’s Direct Message on Twitter

Chicago, Illinois, May 9, 2013 – So how has the Illinois Policy Institute used its 501c3 tax-exempt status lately? To inform and debate Illinois’ broken pension system? No. To pontificate about educational choice and reform? No. To use its official Twitter account to message personal attack pieces against yours truly to its “followers?” To manufacture the hateful attacks in the first place?

The answer is “yes” and “yes.”

The poorly-written attack piece, “How Do You Solve a Problem Like William Kelly” was posted by John Dyslin, a staffer for Commissioner Dan Patlak at the Cook County Board of Review, and appeared in an unregulated sign-up blog online. Yesterday, the Illinois Policy Institute was caught private messaging the piece on Twitter shortly after the hate piece went “live.” Some of the messages were forwarded to me.

Other than a comparison of me to Julie Andrews in ”The Sound of Music,” (weird), the piece was all hate-based vitriol, misleading and false statements, and made-up things I never said. Dyslin’s writing would never pass journalistic muster – in a newsroom you can’t make-up quotes to fit your story. Hate pieces are like that.

Illinois Policy Institute has long portrayed itself as an organization above the fray. But the reality is that it has a history of attacking people behind-the-scenes. John Tillman, Dan Proft, and others in the Illinois GOP political establishment have attacked real conservatives for years. Moreover, they have misused some tea party leaders to help them attack good people. They view the tea parties as something they can control for their own political purposes.

But this time, IPI has publicly been caught in the act of sowing personal attacks. Illinois Policy Institute donors, you have been put on notice about how this organization and its leaders really conduct themselves when they believe no one is looking. It’s reputation is now forever tarnished. Whatever credibility it had, is gone.

So how did this latest round start?

For the past week, Illinois Policy Institute has been furious over a blog I wrote in Chicago Now about the financial interests of key staff in the virtual charter school plan – a plan that could extract $16 million in local tax dollars. Yes, that’s $16 million in Illinois tax dollars that IPI’s staff would control.

Illinois Policy Institute has been asking its subscribers to oppose the new bill that would put a one year moratorium on virtual charter schools – and yet it has never disclosed to them its financial interest in the charter plan. That’s why I wrote the blog.

So, steaming over my column, Illinois Policy Institute sent a threatening email to Chicago Now demanding the blog be taken down. The organization also pressured a tea party group into disinviting me from speaking last weekend. After all, that’s the role of a tax-exempt non-profit i.e. to censor conservative columnists and prevent them from speaking at tea party rallies.

Illinois Policy Institute’s John Tillman and Dan Proft are also livid because I was responsible for helping to upset the rotten applecart known as former GOP Chairman Pat Brady, who resigned Monday.  You see Brady, who was appointed by Illinois Policy Institute board member and fundraiser Andy McKenna, is a key Tillman-Proft ally.

It doesn’t bother me that the Illinois Policy Institute is mourning Pat Brady. He deserved to go. I’m glad I made sure he did. Brady’s resignation must have been the final straw for Tillman and Proft.

In all of this, a serious issue is Illinois Policy Institute’s relationship with John Dyslin. Dyslin lists in his bio that he is a “Liberty Leader” for the Illinois Policy Institute. So did Illinois Policy Institute direct him to write the personal attack piece so they could promote it to their lists? That’s a pretty safe bet and it is a misuse of their 501c3 tax-exempt status.

Dyslin has written other personal attack pieces against me whenever I have dared criticize Illinois Policy Institute’s operations – again likely at IPI’s direction.

According to For the Good of Illinois’ Open the Books Portal, Dyslin’s day job is as a $46,000 a year staffer at the Cook County Board of Review. For months, I’ve seen Dyslin’s posts on Facebook and Twitter during the day when he is supposed to be working on behalf of Cook County taxpayers. Commissioner Patlak should definitely conduct an internal investigation on Mr. Dyslin’s internet “activities” and release the results to the public.

Like many, I have my detractors. But I can also tell you that for years, before I ever penned a word of criticism, I reached out to work with every single one of them over and over again. My hand was bit off every time. I can tell you that all of them have taken aim at me first and always from behind – a cowardly form of attack. I attack from the front and out in the open. I criticize what they “do.” They attack me “personally.” They scream that “I burn bridges.” I will tell you that they burned them first. There weren’t any bridges left to burn.

Dyslin has posted on Facebook that John Tillman, Dan Proft, Jack Roeser, and Sheriff Mark Curran have been in contact with him regarding the article.

What these “detractors” don’t like is that when they attack me, I fight back. What these “detractors” don’t like is that I have shined a spotlight on their bad or unethical behavior. Here’s a solution for them: stop doing bad, unethical things.

I have been an ardent conservative and anti-tax activist for more than 20 years. I have confronted corrupt liberal Democrats at every turn. I also haven’t been afraid to call out corrupt members of my own party. In all of that time, I have never hesitated to put myself, my reputation, and my safety on the line. It didn’t scare me to challenge Rep. Bobby Rush for Congress back in 1994, to challenge Rahm Emanuel or his petitions for mayor on the basis of residency in 2011, and I am sure as hell not scared of the ethically-challenged Illinois Policy Institute.

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William J. Kelly is a conservative columnist with national publications including the Washington Times Communities and the American Spectator. He is the founder of an Emmy award-winning TV production house with offices in Chicago. For more information about William Kelly, watch the “Conservative in Chicago.”

KELLY TO MAKE UPDATED CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCEMENT ON APRIL 13

Chicago, Illinois, March 19, 2013 - On April 13, Republican William J. Kelly will make an updated announcement about his plans for the 2014 election season. In 2010, Kelly ran for Illinois comptroller, coming in second in a three-way race.

“It is no mystery that I have been exploring another bid for Illinois comptroller in 2014,” Kelly says. “On April 13, I will give my supporters an update about my intentions.”

Kelly says he would take on Topinka again in 2014. “After four more years of Topinka, Illinois is worse – not better off. The state’s fiscal situation has grown dire. Illinois has been downgraded again and again. Our pension system is in crisis. And Topinka shares a big part of the blame.”

Kelly points out that Topinka, as a state legislator, regularly supported budgets that skipped pension payments. She served three terms as state treasurer and supported the ill-conceived 1994 pension ramp-up bill. She still maintains one of the highest political pensions in Illinois, having pocked hundreds of thousands of dollars, and has defended the gold-plated pensions of state bureaucrats.

“I have run against Topinka before and I can do it again,” Kelly says.

Kelly says that he continues to be disappointed with the Illinois GOP leadership, who along with Topinka, recently supported a law to give state drivers licenses to 250,000 illegal immigrants. The Illinois Association of Police Chiefs and all but three Illinois sheriffs opposed the law. Kelly’s organization, Safer Families Coalition, led opposition to the law.  He says he is also concerned about top donors and advisers to Rahm Emanuel buying influence within the Illinois GOP. 

Kelly says that his updated announcement will be based on whether Pat Brady is forced to resign his Illinois GOP chairmanship. He has called for Republicans to rally on April 13 at the Republican State Central Committee meeting in Chicago, which will decide Brady’s fate.

“The Illinois GOP needs new leadership now. That is why I have been leading the charge to replace Pat Brady since 2010,” Kelly says. “We need leadership that knows how to win elections and not lose them. We need a GOP that offers real change to the people of Illinois and not the corrupt politics of the past and present. We have an opportunity to rebuild the Illinois GOP and the time to do that is now.”

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KELLY: CURRAN NOT TRUTHFUL ABOUT “DEBATE” ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

On January 10th, Sheriff Mark Curran clearly lost a debate with me regarding his support for driver’s licenses for illegal aliens. In a strange twist, he tried to cover-up the fact that he lost the debate by saying it wasn’t a “debate.”

This so-called “controversy” is absurd. It is like saying that Notre Dame didn’t lose to Alabama because it wasn’t a football game. Only a Democrat would try to spin that the event wasn’t “supposed to be a debate.”

I shouldn’t be surprised – Curran, until recently, was a Democrat.  He told “Frontline” last year that America has “lured” illegal aliens here under false pretenses, that “there is no rule of law” and that he “thinks the Democrat Party is right on many issues.” Curran has spoken about this driver’s license issue for months and testified on behalf of the bill – the only member of law enforcement to do so. For him and a few of his friends to suggest that he wasn’t “prepared” to debate is also absurd.

Curran had been criticizing me in the Illinois Review so I challenged Sheriff Curran to a debate at the RALC on January 10th back in December.  The challenge was sent out as press release, posted extensively in social media, listed on GOP USA’s calendar, etc.     The sheriff sent me an email accepting this specific debate challenge two days later.

The email stated:

Hi Bill, regardless of differences on this issue (driver certificates), I do respect you and did not speak bad of you at Libertyville Township meeting. You do a lot of great things for the party and I will debate you on the drivers’ certificates anytime.

Mark Curran’s email to me accepting the debate challenge at the RALC meeting on January 10th

I told Ray True that Curran had accepted the debate. Sheriff Curran contacted RALC to say that he was coming and Ray and I discussed the debate on a number of occasions. In fact, Ray was looking forward to moderating the debate “PBS” style and said he would try to get two podiums because he only had one.

Now if the Sheriff wants to engage in revisionist history – that is his prerogative as untruthful as it may be. Or maybe he has a selective memory. If that is the case, he should get that checked out.

I wasn’t going to argue the absurdity of the debate-discussion “controversy” at the meeting. But the video reveals the truth: that a debate was intended and expected – until Curran decided differently at the end of the event.

The full video and my rebuttal to Curran’s remarks and stated inaccuracies about this bad bill are available here. 

Unfortunately, this is what Democrats do – they attempt to divide and conquer conservatives by distracting us from the real issues: in this case, that the sheriff broke an oath of office to defend the Constitution and our laws to side with the pro-amnesty open borders coalition and support a law that encourages lawbreakers to come to our state.

At the RALC meeting, I saw and heard the outrage against another former Democrat-turned-Republican named Pat Brady after he refused to support the GOP party platform on gay marriage. Brady is now being called upon to resign or be fired. It is about time. But supporting and encouraging illegal immigration is also against the GOP party platform. Many Republicans are just as outraged about this violation of the GOP party platform as they are about Pat Brady and I am one of them.

Mark, in your email response to me, you said you would debate me on the “driver’s certificates anytime.”

Mark, name the time.

KELLY ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE FOR ILLINOIS COMPTROLLER

Chicago, Illinois, November 10, 2012 – William J. Kelly has announced the formation of an exploratory committee for Illinois comptroller for the 2014 elections. Kelly, who ran previously for the office, made his announcement today at the Illinois Center Right Coalition.

Kelly has issued the following statement:

Today, in wake of Tuesday’s election bloodbath – local, state, and national – Republicans need to start organizing for 2014. Some people will say it is too early – I say, hopefully, it is not already too late. Many have asked me: What do we do now? First, I’ve called for Illinois GOP Chairman Pat Brady to resign for his failures in 2010 and 2012. Earlier this year, we called for direct elections at the Illinois State GOP Convention and now are in the process of filing a lawsuit to return, to Republican voters, the right to vote for their party leadership. Leadership needs to be accountable to the people and that is what direct elections will accomplish. Finally, we will be developing a slate of candidates from top to bottom – from the U.S. Senate on down.

To that end, I am announcing the formation of my exploratory committee to run for Illinois Comptroller. I ran for comptroller in 2010 against Judy Baar Topinka to use the office as a check on the out-of-control spending in Springfield. Two years into Topinka’s rein as comptroller – we are still not better off. We do not have less spending. We do not have lower taxes. We do not have more accountability or transparency. We haven’t been upgraded. We’ve been downgraded – twice.

In this formative stage, I intend to go around the entire state of Illinois for the next two years and meet with and listen to any group that is sincere about reforming the state of Illinois. If my candidacy is in the voters’ best interests, I pledge to be the most accessible candidate and the most transparent comptroller in the history of Illinois.

The slate of candidates that I support in 2014 will be developed in conjunction with proven statewide leaders and organizations. Together, we will them give them candidate training, handle their media, fundraising, aid them in their petition initiatives, and travel with them through the state to ensure their voices are heard and are known to the GOP primary voters.

Like many others, I was deeply disappointed – but not surprised – at Tuesday’s election results. The Illinois GOP has been a fractured party of political insiders for too long. Together, real Republican leaders and organizers have the opportunity to change that in 2012 in beyond.

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A longtime taxpayer watchdog, William J. Kelly is a conservative columnist with national and DC publications. He is the Chairman of FreeCapitalismNow.com, a non-profit organization dedicated to free market principles. A lifelong resident of Illinois, he is the founder and principal of an Emmy award-winning TV production house in Chicago.

OFFICIALS FEAR: FLOOR FIGHT AT IL GOP CONVENTION

Anger over IL GOP’s Attempt to “Bamboozle” Delegates

ACTION ALERT: ILLINOIS GOP CONVENTION – JUNE 8 and 9^th

Chicago, Illinois – The Illinois Republican State Convention begins this Friday, June 8 at the Tinley ParkConvention Center. But activists are already worried that corrupt practices will threaten to undermine the voting rights of registered Republican delegates.

Scores and scores of Illinois Republican voters have complained that they are being denied the opportunity to be a delegate at this year’s convention. After multiple requests, the Illinois Republican Party has yet to release the official list of delegates attending the convention.

The corrupt practices have angered activists and voters alike and officials are fearful that delegates will fight back on the convention floor on Friday and Saturday.

“The Illinois Republican Convention is a historic opportunity for GOP delegates to vote on critical issues like ‘direct elections,’” says William J. Kelly, longtime taxpayer watchdog and candidate for Republican National Committeeman. “But, already, some leaders in the State Central Republican Committee are engaging in dirty backhanded tactics that threaten both the spirit and principles of what the party was founded on.”

Even former Sen. Peter Fitzgerald, long held in esteem for his ethics, has himself urged a return to direct elections in Illinois.

But there is a new sense of urgency in the fight for direct elections.

Last week, Illinois Republican leaders voted for early passage of ObamaCare, gambling expansion, tax increases, and no pension reform. Without direct elections, Illinois GOP leaders can continue to vote for legislation without fear of reprisal from Republican voters.

However, the real question is how will delegates to the convention react? Will Illinois conservative and Tea Party organizations fight back? Or will they attend CPAC Chicago instead?

On Friday and Saturday, convention delegates, in theory, will also vote on candidates for Republican National Committeeman and whether or not to maintain the conservative planks in the party platform.

Currently, there are three candidates for Republican National Committeeman – they include: Rich Williamson, Alexander “Sandy” Stuart, and broadcaster William J. Kelly.  Rich Williamson is the current National Republican Committeeman and Alexander “Sandy” Stuart, a fundraiser for the Illinois GOP, is currently under fire for questions surrounding a downstate fundraising scheme with campaign bundlers to Barack Obama.

But corrupt practices threaten to undermine that voting process as well.

In an email to the candidates, Deb Detmers, Chairman of the selection committee, said that it is the committee’s goal to supply the delegates with one choice for national committeeman.

  “In the spirit of true democracy, shouldn’t the delegates know the names of all the candidates for Republican National Committeeman?” says Kelly. “I think the committee will attempt to bamboozle the delegates by submitting to them only one name for consideration.”

After Kelly requested a list of the selection committee members, Detmers again lashed out at him Friday afternoon.

“After I asked her for the list on the phone, she [Detmers] accused me of questioning her integrity and hung up,” says Kelly. “I may not have questioned Detmers’ integrity – but the federal government already has.”

Previously, Detmers was the Finance Director for former convicted Gov. George Ryan, currently serving a 6 ½ year prison term on federal corruption charges. She was granted immunity from prosecution in exchange for her testimony at trial. She admitted under oath that she took taxpayer money while serving as Ryan’s political director and that she was aware of Ryan’s “aggressive fundraising” tactics but said “I didn’t do anything.”

The Illinois State Central Republican Committee has a fine history replete with corrupt leaders. GOP Chair Pat Brady took over the role of National Republican Committeeman from Bob Kjellander, who was named as “Individual A” in the guilty plea agreement of former Blagojevich aide Lon Monk that he conspired to kickback $500,000 to convicted felon Antonin “Tony” Rezko.

Again, Brady was one of those candidates “recommended” to convention delegates by the “selection committee.” He was also the only candidate in the running when Andy McKenna suddenly announced he was resigning for GOP Party Chair.

Kelly is calling on all delegates to vote “no” if they receive a ballot that does not contain his name. This will force the committee to include all three candidates for National Republican Committeeman on the ballot – not just the selection committee’s handpicked candidate.

The three candidates for National Republican Committeeman will also be speaking to the committee on Friday at 12:30 p.m. “We want all delegates to attend and hear all three candidates speak and make their own decisions. They have a right to know and a right to vote for the candidate of their choice,” says Kelly.

Delegates should plan to attend the Illinois GOP convention on Friday, June 8, and Saturday, June 9, and to stay the day to influence the rule-making process on direct elections, the Republican National Committeeman race, and the language of the party platform.

NEWS: Dan Proft sending bullying emails to tea party organizers

To all my Illinois Tea Party and conservative friends,

I just wanted to let everyone know that I am very gratified that my open letter exposing Dan Proft has struck such a chord. The letter was just a restatement of what so many Illinois conservatives were already thinking and saying in emails and on facebook. My letter also resulted in many others -  conservatives and tea party organizers – sending their own letters to each other, facilitating an open discussion.

It was interesting to see so much agreement. Freedom of speech is important.  Getting at the truth is even more important.

As you can imagine, I’ve had a little experience asking tough questions. As proof, here’s a short video called “A Conservative in Chicago,” which documents my 20 years of conservative activism.

In a recent Illinois Tea Party conference call Tuesday, there was a statement made against me because of my fallout with AM 560 WIND,  which financially sponsored Teacon last year. My friend Andrew Breitbart was also mentioned in the call. Unfortunately, Andrew isn’t here any longer to set the record straight. But I can tell you that he wasn’t a fan of hypocrisy or the way WIND or its co-host Amy Jacobson have conducted themselves.

In fact, here’s the late great Andrew Breitbart criticizing AM 560 WIND on my radio program and a video he had produced for Breitbart.com.

I also understand that there are a few other tea party organizers who have been critical of my letter. With some, it is just self-interest or it is because they were close to Steve Stevlic and the Chicago Tea Party organization. With others, there are still hard feelings because I wrote about Proft friend and ally Steve Stevlic and his prostitution problem in my DC-based columns last year. But if the tea party isn’t about truth, what is it about?

As to any factual statements about Proft that I have made, I encourage everyone to do their own research. There is no need to take my word for it.

In fact, here are just a few links (there’s more of course) for people who are interested in hard facts and would like the opportunity to ask more questions. Read the links and search the State Board of Elections for contributions.

Links:

 http://blogs.suntimes.com/marin/2009/06/in_illinois_politics_you_as_fo.html

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-05-01/news/0904300818_1_steps-politics-republican-campaign-consultant
 http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2012/03/ives-ethical-or-unethical.htm

http://www.suntimes.com/news/elections/10935613-505/key-player-in-42nd-not-even-in-race.html

http://www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure/ContributionsSearchByAllContributions.aspx

I have also heard from many people that Dan Proft has sent bullying and threatening emails to those tea party organizers who expressed criticism of him this week.  He has even asked some of those leaders to throw people out of their groups. Imagine that. All of this, unfortunately, proves the point that I was making.

I know that asking hard questions is never easy so I applaud everyone that is speaking out and want to let you know that if you received a bullying email – you weren’t alone.  It is a common tactic to attack the messenger and that is what has happened here.

It is also not surprising to me at all that “some” people are also attacking me for “daring” to question Proft, his funding, and his true motives. When I say “some” people I mean a few people in the Chicago Tea Party leadership.  But since many of them work for Proft, why should their opinion matter to me? None of this is very surprising.

Before my letter even appeared, a number of organizations had disinvited Proft from speaking engagements at their group due to his support of dubious candidates in the GOP primary. That led a number of tea party organizers to ask the question: Why is Proft, with all his shady Cicero deals and his PAC’s support of questionable candidates, still speaking at Chicago Tea Party’s Tax Day Rally?  It is a legitimate question.

But, frankly, I already knew the answer to that question already.

The current head of the Chicago Tea Party, Eric Kohn, was the operations manager for Proft’s Urqhardt Media,which received no-bid contracts from Cicero. Kohn is currently treasurer for Fiscal Accountability PAC which is one of Dan Proft’s connected PACs.

In the conference call, a Chicago Tea Party cited the importance of “Freedom of Speech” in their “decision” to have Dan Proft speak at the rally and I agree wholeheartedly. Consequently, if “freedom of speech” is the goal, then surely they would also allow me to speak on April 16th, wouldn’t they?

Feel free to ask the Chicago Tea Party organizers about that and let me know.  The answer would be interesting since the organizers have not allowed me to speak at any of the Chicago Tea Party rallies –  even, in 2010, when I was a GOP candidate for comptroller against Judy Baar Topinka – one of Proft’s close friends and allies. From their actions, freedom of speech does not really seem to be the goal.

If anyone has any questions, I would welcome the opportunity to come speak to your organization and present you and your membership with the hard facts. As I have said before in this email, if the Illinois Tea Party isn’t about truth, what are we about?

Regards,

William J. Kelly

Illinois Conservative Candidates Stand with Fox News’ Dick Morris in Chicago

Chicago, Illinois, March 17, 2012 – Illinois conservative candidates from around the state gathered in Chicago recently with Fox News contributor Dick Morris, determined to fight back against President Obama and the Democrat machine in the 2012 elections.  ”America met its first conservative in 1981 and fell in love,” said Morris. “Then we met our first liberal in 2009 and we ran screaming in the other direction. It will be awhile before liberalism shows its face again.”

Among the conservative candidates in attendance were: Richard Grabowski, candidate for congress in the 3rd congressional district; Laura Pollastrini, candidate for State Representative, 42nd district; William J. Kelly, candidate for 42nd ward Chicago committeeman; Angela Dell, candidate for Will County Board; Catherine Perretta, candidate for Will County Board; Jon Zahm, Illinois Director for Rick Santorum, and candidate for delegate and Henry County Board, Lynn Davis-Livesay, State Senate candidate, 19th district and Santorum delegate and many others.

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Kelly Braces for Smithburg’s Last Minute Campaign Attack that He’s is an “Illegal Alien”

Chicago, Illinois, March 15, 2012 –  Republican William J. Kelly, candidate for 42nd ward committeeman, is bracing against a strange last minute attack from his 23 year-old opponent, Tommy Smithburg that he, Kelly, is an illegal alien.

The Kelly campaign maintains that this accusation – like everything else that Smithburg has said in this campaign –  is 100% false. Not only were both of Kelly’s parents, Bill and Barbara Kelly, born in America but William J. Kelly himself was born within Chicago’s city boundaries on March 10, 1966  and was brought home from the hospital one week later – on St. Patrick’s day – 46 years ago today. Kelly says that he has the papers to prove it.

However, the Kelly campaign is not leaving anything to chance. A press conference will be called on Monday where Kelly will produce his:

- Birth certificate

- Social Security card

- Report cards

- Library card

- Boy Scout and Cubs Scout merit badges

- Little League trophy (with name inscribed)

Another line of attack the Smithburg campaign will likely attempt to exploit is that for the few years of Kelly’s life in Chicago friends, family, classmates, and neighbors referred to the young William J. Kelly as “Billy.”

“Judging from the Smithburg campaign’s previous tactics – this self-admitted revelation will likely be used to sow the seeds of confusion and doubt. We only hope that the truth – that William J. Kelly  is, infact, a proud American citizen will get out before the polls close on March 20th,” said a representative for the Kelly campaign.

At the press conference on Monday, Kelly also intends to enter the following undoctored photos into evidence.

Regarding his campaign, Kelly says, “My only goal at this point is to give the people of Chicago what I have wanted my entire life – a real Republican Party . This campaign has been truly vicious – and while my opponent has no record and only offers lies and distortions, it is always important that we maintain our vision, our faith, and yes, our sense of humor.”

Happy St. Patrick’s Day.

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We hope you enjoyed the above satirical smack against negative campaigns. We certainly did.

BLAGO CRONY OCHOA MUST GO-A

O-choa! To which some might say, “Godzundheit” or “God bless you.” Though some may beg to differ, a sneeze isn’t a bad thing. It’s a good thing. A sneeze can help get rid you of what ails you. In this case, what ails Illinois’ convention business is Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority CEO and Blagojevich crony, Juan Ochoa.

This week, under a veil of secrecy, the Chicago Bureau of Tourism & Conventions, met with 40 unnamed tradeshow organizers and representatives from Ochoa’s epic managerial embarrassment and Funland of Political Hackdom known as “McPier.” The only difference between McPier and the now defunct Kiddieland is that the hacks are taking the taxpayers for a ride.

As has been reported in Crain’s, McPier’s projected operating losses will grow eightfold to $28.8 million for fiscal year 2009. To counter McPier’s shortfall, the state’s general sales tax fund was tapped for $18.8 million in 2009 and will is now being tapped $34 million in 2010. Reports indicate that McPier’s cumulative funding gap is expected to exceed $500 million by 2020.

And what does Chicago have to show for it? In November, the Healthcare and Information Management Systems Show announced it would be moving its 2012 show from Chicago to Las Vegas. The NPE Plastics Convention, which brings 60,000 to 80,000 attendees every three years, announced its move to Orlando. In January, the SuperComm Telecommunications Convention cancelled its show for October. Last but not least, the International Home and Housewares Show, which has been held in Chicago since 1939, announced it was considering a move to Orlando. O-Choa! Godzundheit.

On Wednesday, Governor Quinn ousted the 13 member  board that runs McPier but has yet to demand Ochoa’s resignation. Does Governor Quinn want a break with the past or not? Ochoa won his $195,000 post after raising campaign cash for our disgraced former governor. Illinois and Chicago’s economic climate are collapsing under this long-standing culture of corruption, nepotism, and cronyism. McPier is the latest example of this supreme incompetence and greed. In the wake of these mounting convention losses and the fiscal merry-go-round at McPier, it is clear that Juan Ochoa needs to go-a and go-a quick.

Chicago is the greatest city in the world and we deserve better than to have our convention business and the jobs it provides dismantled overnight. We have everything that a great city needs to succeed. It is hard to screw this up and yet these people have.

Governor Pat Quinn needs to demand the immediate resignation of McPier CEO Juan Ochoa and needs to do it now. O-choa! Yeah, one good sneeze might just do the trick.

William J. Kelly is the executive director of the new reform group, www.rebuildillinois.com.

COHEN RESIGNS: SCOTTY, WE HARDLY KNEW YE!

Scotty, we hardly knew ye!

 Democrat Lt. Governor Candidate Scott Lee Cohen Resigns Amid Scandal

Statement by William J. Kelly, Executive Director of Rebuild Illinois

Scott Lee Cohen, the Democrat nominee for lieutenant governor never even got elected to a full term and Second City’s already working on the musical. The Democrats were so eager to get rid of him, they did everything but hold a knife to his throat.

Aside from the reports of Cohen’s abuse of his ex-wife and the accusations that he held a knife to his ex-girlfriend’s throat (prostitute or not), I don’t know why Governor Pat Quinn is complaining. He has proven this year that he doesn’t really want reform. Having Cohen on the Democratic ticket could have had some positive upsides. If Quinn was really desperate for a bridge loan, he could have just had Scotty taken him down to the pawn shop on Clark Street. How much are Abe Lincoln artifacts going for these days? I mean, at Cohen’s pawn shop, you wouldn’t get market value but still. With Illinois on the brink of insolvency, these times call for creativity.

In terms of creativity though, Scott Lee Cohen also falls short. Cohen’s a betting man. He used two million of his pawn shop proceeds to buy the lieutenant governor’s seat and won the primary with no media scrutiny. However, in terms of pioneering pay-to-play politics, Blagojevich beat him to it. It is a good thing Rod Blagojevich didn’t know Scott Lee Cohen in 2008. Blago wouldn’t have sold Obama’s seat, he probably could have pawned it instead.

 Illinois needs campaign finance reform now. We need to enact laws that prevent pay-to-play politics and spending caps across the board. We need full transparency and an end to all legal loop holes that circumvent campaign finance laws. In Illinois, state Republicans have proposed HB5008 to limit campaign contributions from legislative leaders and their caucus committees and political parties. Quinn’s reform bill only made House Speaker Michael Madigan and other elites even more powerful. This law puts no monetary limit on leaders and political parties during the general election. Governor Quinn, what kind of reform is that? Unless Pat Quinn is ready to pass a real reform bill, he may want to keep Scott Lee Cohen’s pawn shop number handy for future reference.