Jan. 22--Welcome to Clout Street: Morning Spin, our weekday feature to catch you up with what's going on in government and politics from Chicago to Springfield.
Topspin
It's Friday, Jan. 22, the day Chicago Public Schools is expected to provide more details about layoffs.
Word first surfaced Thursday in an unorthodox fashion.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel's press shop is known for trying to keep tight control on information, especially when and how bad news is released. But rarely do you get a firsthand glimpse of how they do it.
A Chicago Tribune reporter ended up with an email that provided a primer on how it works. A CPS spokeswoman sent an email to district CEO Forrest Claypool and other top staffers about the layoff news would be rolled out. Here's what it said:
Attached you'll find the first draft of materials we'll use to communicate publicly about the layoffs Friday. They include:
PUBLIC STATEMENTS
---- statement for Thursday night when news leaks about the Fri morning meetings
---- statement for release Friday morning with broad overview of layoffs
---- description of materials to be released Friday EOD (Editor's note: End of Day)
Here's the short version of what that means: Leak to reporters Thursday night. Offer broad strokes Friday morning. Don't provide actual details until late Friday. That, of course, would give journalists less time to report on the story, and by late Friday afternoon, many of the sources they need become harder to reach headed into the weekend.
What's on tap
*Mayor Rahm Emanuel will give a speech at the Illinois Mentoring Partnerships awards breakfast. Looks like he'll take reporters questions afterward.
*Gov. Bruce Rauner has no public schedule.
What we're writing
*What's going on with the revamped Rauner this week, anyway?
*CPS layoffs coming Friday.
*New Blackhawks practice facility clears hurdle.
*Ex-Redflex CEO on the stand again, says she had no direct proof of cash bribes.
*A look at CPS' finances and how the district might muddle through.
*Judge tosses civil case against one of two Chicago cops sued in police shooting.
*CTU's Karen Lewis hints at economic concessions in contract talks.
What we're reading
*Would gladly trade higher gas prices for some of our 401(k) back.
*What's on the new Illinois quarter?
*The higher purpose of Drake's "Hotline Bling" has been found.
From the notebook
*Madigan beats Cullerton to the punch: House Speaker Michael Madigan got to send a subtle message to his counterpart on the other side of the Capitol as Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner declared he had struck a pension deal with Senate President John Cullerton. In the aftermath of Rauner's Thursday morning news conference, it was not immediately clear whether the governor was correct that an agreement had been reached. As reporters waited for Cullerton's office to put out a statement to clarify things, Speaker Madigan's team went ahead and did so. And offered a helpful bit of advice on how the Senate president should feel on the issue.
"The governor said today that in exchange for negotiating on pension reform, he will continue to demand changes that will drive down the wages and standard of living of middle-class families. Despite the Governor's desire to drive a wedge between Democrats in the House and Senate, neither President Cullerton nor I will agree to make changes proposed by the Governor that will hurt the middle-class families of our state."
There's always been some natural tension between the House Democrats and the Senate Democrats, and Cullerton has had to battle perceptions in his caucus that he's beholden to Madigan. Cullerton used to serve on Madigan's House leadership team before moving over to the Senate and working his way up. Madigan's statement probably doesn't help Cullerton on that front. Rauner has been trying to pit the leading Democrats against each other in an attempt to push his so-called Turnaround Agenda.
*Quinn resurfaces for Noland in IL-8: Former Gov. Pat Quinn endorsed the nomination of state Sen. Mike Noland of Elgin in the March 15 Democratic primary for the 8th Congressional District.
"Mike is one of the good guys. I've known Mike Noland for a long time, and he has always had a strong moral compass. That's the kind of leader we need in Congress," said Quinn, who was defeated in 2014 by Rauner.
Noland, in a statement, said, "Having Gov. Quinn's support means the world me."
The endorsement at a VFW Hall in Elk Grove Village was an attempt to garner support from progressives for Noland. He faces Schaumburg businessman Raja Krishnamoorthi and Villa Park Village President Deb Bullwinkel in the west and northwest suburban race.
The current congresswoman, Democratic Rep. Tammy Duckworth of Hoffman Estates, gave up the seat to seek the party's nomination for the U.S. Senate. (Rick Pearson)
*Rotering backing in IL-10: Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering has gotten the endorsements of the Democratic organizations in Moraine, New Trier and Northfield townships in the 10th Congressional District Democratic race.
"I am honored to have the strong support from these three critical organizations within the 10th Congressional District. Their endorsements are very much appreciated and show significant momentum in our people-powered campaign," Rotering said.
Rotering and former U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider of Deerfield are seeking the March 15 nomination to take on Republican U.S. Rep. Bob Dold of Kenilworth in the North Shore congressional district. (Rick Pearson)
*Equality Illinois CEO stepping down: Bernard Cherkasov, who joined Equality Illinois in 2009, will be leaving as chief executive officer later this year.
Equality Illinois is an advocacy group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Illinoisans and is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
Cherkasov played a major role in the campaigns to legalize civil unions and marriage equality in Illinois. He will remain as the group's CEO while a search for a successor is launched, the organization said. (Rick Pearson)
*The Sunday Spin: On this week's show, Tribune political reporter Rick Pearson will discuss Gov. Rauner's CPS proposals with Democratic state Rep. Rob Martwick of Chicago, an advocate of an elected school board. Also on the show, Tribune reporters John Chase and David Heinzmann will discuss their reporting on Mayor Emanuel, the Chicago Police Department, the Laquan McDonald video and the U.S. Department of Justice investigation. The "Sunday Spin" airs from 7 to 9 a.m. on WGN-AM 720.
Follow the money
*The Illinois Education Association's political arm gave $40,400 to Democratic state Sen. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant of Shorewood. The three-year lawmaker is running against Republican Michelle Smith of Plainfield in November.
*Track campaign contribution reports in real time with this Tribune Twitter account: https://twitter.com/ILCampaignCash
Beyond Chicago
*Presidential race, Republican side: Bush blame game begins.
*Presidential race, Democratic side: The former president asserts himself in Clinton campaign strategy.
*Check out NYT's poll graphic for Iowa and New Hampshire.
*Putin "probably approved" spy's death by radiation.
*Panic on the streets of D.C. (snow).
