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Great. A new dark money, neo-liberal "Democratic" group in Illinois...$20 mill ag traditional Dems
Is the new Illinois Democratic group really for Democrats?
3/20/15
A newly formed group of self-described "center-left" Democrats claims to have secured $20 million in commitments to spend on state legislative races here.
But that $20 million apparently isn't meant to counter Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's infamous $20 million campaign stash, which he says will be used to support his allies and punish his enemies. Indeed, the Democratic group appears to be promoting what could be seen as a somewhat softer, neo-liberal version of Raunerism.
Illinoisans for Growth and Opportunity is not a traditional Democratic group, as its name more than implies. The statement announcing the group's launch blasted Democratic leadership, including former Gov. Pat Quinn and both legislative leaders, for passing a budget last year "that they knew would create a financial crisis."
...In interviews last week, the leaders of the group refused to specify which Democratic-allied special interests they were talking about, but they did point to the ultra-liberal Chicago Teachers Union as an organization which takes hardline stances without regard to "reality."
The idea, apparently, is to create a well-funded alternate path for Democrats who may fear upsetting organized labor and other traditional party allies this year. The group doesn't appear to be an overtly Rauneresque "anti-union" organization, but they are definitely not intending to echo organized labor's positions, claiming that they're "not bound by the constructs" of the party and its traditional allies.
Further evidence of this is that the new organization appears mainly designed to buttress Democrats who find themselves in tough primary races. "We're not very interested in the balance of power as relates to Democrats vs. Republicans," said an official with the organization. The hottest Democratic primaries lately have been fought between activist union-allied candidates and business-backed candidates....
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20150320/NEWS02/150329967/is-the-new-illinois-democratic-group-really-for-democrats
3/20/15
A newly formed group of self-described "center-left" Democrats claims to have secured $20 million in commitments to spend on state legislative races here.
But that $20 million apparently isn't meant to counter Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's infamous $20 million campaign stash, which he says will be used to support his allies and punish his enemies. Indeed, the Democratic group appears to be promoting what could be seen as a somewhat softer, neo-liberal version of Raunerism.
Illinoisans for Growth and Opportunity is not a traditional Democratic group, as its name more than implies. The statement announcing the group's launch blasted Democratic leadership, including former Gov. Pat Quinn and both legislative leaders, for passing a budget last year "that they knew would create a financial crisis."
...In interviews last week, the leaders of the group refused to specify which Democratic-allied special interests they were talking about, but they did point to the ultra-liberal Chicago Teachers Union as an organization which takes hardline stances without regard to "reality."
The idea, apparently, is to create a well-funded alternate path for Democrats who may fear upsetting organized labor and other traditional party allies this year. The group doesn't appear to be an overtly Rauneresque "anti-union" organization, but they are definitely not intending to echo organized labor's positions, claiming that they're "not bound by the constructs" of the party and its traditional allies.
Further evidence of this is that the new organization appears mainly designed to buttress Democrats who find themselves in tough primary races. "We're not very interested in the balance of power as relates to Democrats vs. Republicans," said an official with the organization. The hottest Democratic primaries lately have been fought between activist union-allied candidates and business-backed candidates....
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20150320/NEWS02/150329967/is-the-new-illinois-democratic-group-really-for-democrats
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