Get Out And Support *Your* Candidates This 4th of July

The Truth Team will be heading off to the deep Northwoods of Wisconsin for a few days this weekend so we won't be there, but we encourage you to get after it by supporting your candidates in parades this Independence Day holiday.

There's no better way to demonstrate your committment to their campaign (well...maybe knocking on doors is...) than walking in a parade.

Here's a few that you can get involved with:

Ron Sandack - State Representative:

Post by Ron Sandack.

Congressman Aaron Schock will be out and about including this parade:

Post by Aaron Schock.

WCIA Reporter Spots Mike Frerichs Around Town?

Is this real life?  Sometimes we here at the Truth Team have to ask ourselves that question.  Illinois politics and campaigns are funny things.  Lots of laughs to be had.  Here's the latest...

Because of our fondness for all things Illinois Treasurer's candidate Mike Frerichs, we get sent things all the time about him.  From tips to story ideas to memes.  But...this screenshot just arrived in our inbox and it is a gem.

This exchange really happened on Twitter?  Hard to believe it, so we had to go look for ourselves.  Indeed.  It is genuine.  You can see it yourself right here.

Below...in all of it's glory is an exchange between a reporter at WCIA Channel 3 in Champaign and a random Tweeter.  Hilarious.

That *is* funny, Jennifer.  Kudos on the sense of humor.

Although...we all know the truth:  Mike Frerichs doesn't drive with his head out the sunroof.  He drives like this:

A Performance Review of Mike Frerichs - Candidate for Illinois Treasurer

We thought it was time to get around to a true performance review for our favorite latex salesman Candidate for Illinois State Treasurer.  Thanks to Andy and Seth for the inspiration.  

We think it would go a little something like this:

Truth Team:  Mr. Frerichs, thanks for coming to your performance review.

Mike Frerichs:  No problem.

Truth Team:  So, you're in charge around here.  Is that fair to say?

Mike Frerichs: Absolutely.  I'm the boss on this campaign for Illinois State Treasurer.

Truth Team:  Ok...so take us through a day in the 'life of a boss'.

Mike Frerichs:  Well...the first thing I do is:

Lie about my accomplishments [like a boss]
Vote to raise my own pay [like a boss]
Propose a massive Service tax on Illinois [like a boss]
Hide my record from taxpayers [like a boss]
Wear earmuffs [like a boss]
Post my whereabouts on Facebook [like a boss]
Make false claims in videos [like a boss]
Duck out of candidate debates [like a boss]
Get asked "What's Your Deal?" [like a boss]
Wear a suit to a Habitat for Humanity build [like a boss]
Read the Truth Team [like a boss]
Say things that are convenient [like a boss]
Put on my earmuffs again [like a boss]
Take tainted campaign contributions [like a boss]
Try to change the subject of the campaign [like a boss]
Ignore my constituents [like a boss]

#FOIAGATE Takes More Turns Courtesy of @MikeforIllinois Self-Inflicted Wounds

This whole #FOIAGATE story just gets weirder. News out this morning is that after much pressure, Mike Frerichs and his cronies over in the Illinois Senate President's office have finally caved and are going to release public information to...wait for it...the public. Gasp!  Can you believe it?  

We're shocked, too.

From the news:

After three months of evasion, blocking and bureaucratic denials, Senate President John Cullerton’s office has finally agreed to release public documents on Sen. Mike Frerichs, as legally required by the Freedom of Information Act. The change of course came one day after Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider gave Cullerton’s office a one-week deadline before filing an official Request for Review with the Attorney General’s office and possible legal action. 

“It shouldn’t be like pulling teeth just to get the Democrats to follow their own laws on transparency and good government,” Schneider said. “Then again, they can’t exactly be proud of their record after massive tax hikes, record debt, and families and businesses leaving the state on their watch.” 

The office of Sen. Cullerton, who himself is Mike Frerichs’ top campaign donor thanks to a $50,000 contribution, since April had been withholding public information on Frerichs’ use of taxpayer dollars. House Speaker Mike Madigan has released nearly identical information about Rep. Tom Cross, at the Frerichs campaign’s request. 

The reversal by Frerichs’ ally Cullerton also came mere hours after Frerichs himself seemed to contradict previous campaign statements, by announcing on WDWS-Champaign that he had consulted with this staff regarding the FOIA and had compiled all the information requested. Regardless, Frerichs still refused to release the documents and maintained that stance during the interview. 

From the interview - WDWS AM-Champaign, July 1, 2014:“I understand in talking to my staff, and say 'why don’t we just release this?' they said we have information compiled, we’re ready to release it - but they have put a very expensive, burdensome request out there, and if they just rein in the scope, they’d be able to release it right away," Frerichs told WDWS-AM on July 1st. 

Frerichs’ on-air comments about who complied the information seemed to contradict comments his spokesman made last week to the State Journal-Register:

State Journal-Register, June 26, 2014
“Koutsky responded that, ‘We are not the FOIA officer,’ meaning Madiar has the role of handling requests made to the Senate via the Freedom of Information Act. … 'We have not asked (for) any special favors,' Koutsky said. 'We are letting the process take its place.'" 

“Mike Frerichs wants to be Illinois’s treasurer, so why does it seem like he’s working so hard to avoid accountability for how he’s spent our tax dollars in his office? With ongoing scandals at IDOT and Governor Quinn’s NRI, now more than ever the hardworking taxpayers deserve full transparency and accountability,” Schneider said.

Add this scandal to the pile of self-inflicted wounds that Mike Frerichs and his team have brought to the campaign.  From the campaign launched 'with a lie' to his call for a massive service tax, Frerichs and company have been the absolute best fodder for someone (like us!) looking to lampoon the Illinois political scene.  

For your voters, Mike:  you better change things up.

But for us?  Please, please, please:  never change.  We dance like this every time you open your mouth:

Don't Let Governor Pat Quinn Off The Hook With His "Ah, Things Happen" Answer

We have to say:  Governor Pat Quinn:  "How Dare You."

Fellow Taxpayers of Illinois...If you're not outraged enough by Illinois State government, the latest from our fearless leader Governor Pat Quinn will get you charged up.

Illinois can't make things right when we have abuses of power and patronage hires like we've seen under Quinn's watch.  The latest came from the Illinois Department of Transportation and forced the head of IDOT to have to resign in shame in the wake of a secret hiring and promotion of her family member.

The Governor's reaction:  "meh."

Well...to be fair, that's not exactly the words he used, but that's a pretty good Cliff's Notes version of his reaction.

Here's the full response from WLS Radio:

Illinois Dept. of Transportation Secretary Ann Schneider has abruptly resigned.
Governor Pat Quinn apparently made Schneider walk the plank because her stepdaughter was hired and promoted at IDOT. 

“Well, I read that in the paper,” Quinn said. “I wasn’t happy to read it. And, ah, things happen. And I wanted to make sure that when I read about that, it was looked into and we’ve acted accordingly.”

Is that the reaction you want from your Chief Executive after a hiring scandal?  A shoulder shrug and the wave off?  Pat Quinn may be a lot of things including how he bills himself as an 'everyday man', but he sure isn't equipped to lead the State of Illinois.  

Five Reactions to Mike Frerichs' Admission on #FOIAGATE

On his local radio station WDWS this week, our favorite latex salesman Illinois State Treasurer candidate Mike Frerichs *actually* admitted that his staff had compiled all the information that has been requested to be released to the taxpayers, but he still - for some reason - doesn't want to let it go.

From his WDWS interview that can be heard here:

"I understand in talking to my staff, and say 'why don’t we just release this?' they said we have information compiled, we’re ready to release it- but they have put a very expensive, burdensome request out there, and if they just rein in the scope, we’d be able to release it right away."

What the what?  That can't be his real answer, right?

We wanted to make sure we weren't off-base with our reaction.  So...We asked five of our friends across Illinois what they thought about this self-inflicted mess that Mike Frerichs and his campaign team have brought on themselves and we were there to capture their reaction.

Dan Proft Dreams of Darius Foster in Illinois

Over on Twitter, rabble-rouser and talk radio host Dan Proft pines away on an Alabama State Representative Candidate named Darius Foster.

You're wondering:  Who?  Why?

Well...us too.  But...after spending 1:10 enthralled with his campaign spot, we have to tip our cap to Dan Proft for sharing this with us.  Thanks, Dan!

'Big Tent' indeed.

Check out the full video here.  Not a bad way to introduce your candidacy to your district, your state, and now your country.

Congressional Candidate Darlene Senger Hosting "Women for Senger" Coalition Kick-Off

Illinois 11th Congressional District Candidate Darlene Senger has been busy closing the gap between her campaign and that of incumbent 'do nothing' Congressman Bill Foster.  She's been working hard to build up her campaign structure, fundraising, and profile.  She's getting support from across the District and across the country.  

Another move she's making is harnessing the power of women voters from across the 11th District.  She's announced this am the formation of "Women for Senger" - a coalition of like-minded women from around Illinois who believe in Darlene.

From her email:

Please join us tomorrow for the official launch of the "Women for Senger" coalition 

Wednesday, July 2, 2014 5:30 - 7:00 pmNevins Brewing Company - 12337 S. Rt. 59, Plainfield, IL 

Join Darlene Senger, candidate for the 11th Congressional District, for a great night of socializing and talking politics. Our goal is to build an army of like-minded women throughout the district who believe we need people like Darlene who are willing to stand up and fight for a better future for us in Congress. 

Demetra DeMonte, Secretary of the Republican National Committee, will be our guest speaker for the evening. Demetra will be giving an update on what the RNC is doing nationwide and how they are going to make sure Darlene gets to Washington.

You can RSVP for the event out in Plainfield here on the Senger for Congress site.  

Schneider for Congress Campaign Posts Cheeky Fundraising Video

If you spent a moment in your inbox yesterday, you must have noted that there was a fundraising deadline.  After all, why else would we all be getting dozens of email fundraising pleas.  While the deadline is important, we here at the Truth Team have to applaud one campaign for taking a different route:  a little humor.

Now..we don't like his politics one bit, but we have to say that after watching this video, we *kinda* like his digital team.

Good on you, Brad Schneider for Congress Campaign.  Enjoy the video, folks.

Post by Brad Schneider.

Rats! He's On To Us...

Gasp!  Dave Diersen is on to our little games.