August 3, 2005

The $ game

The latest Illinois campaign finance reports were recently issued. The reports cover the period from 1/1/2005 to 6/30/2005

Bottom line figures for our three state legislators in the area:

Sen. Mike Jacobs: Funds on hand:$174,938.69 (details here)
Jacobs raised $225,230.87 during the 6 month reporting period (excluding in-kind contributions), $100,000 of which (75%) came from "Friends of Denny Jacobs". Excluding that figure, he raised $125,230.87.

Rep. Mike Boland: Funds on hand:$125,818.89 (details here)
or 72% of Jacobs' total (or a shade more if you exclude the funds from Jacob's dad.) This despite the fact that Boland raised $24,109.04 during the 6 month reporting period, which is only 19.25% of the amount Jacobs raised if you exclude the funds from his father's campaign coffers, and only 10.7% if you include it.

The difference is in the fact that Jacobs outspent Boland by five and a half times, $52,242.18 compared to Boland's $9,463.36.

Jacobs reported spending $3,430.05 more at two steak houses alone than all of Boland's spending combined. According to the reports, Jacobs dropped $12,893.41 at two restaurants, $5,211.61 at the Blue Ribbon Steakhouse and $7,681.80 at Johnny's Italian Steakhouse. Though no doubt much of the expense was part of fund-raising soirees, at an average of $2,150.00 a month spent on high-end dining, Jacobs and his friends must be very well fed and watered indeed.

(details of the expenditures can be found in the links for each candidate.)

Rep. Pat Verschoore: Funds on hand:$55,758.01 (details here)
(44% of Boland's total for comparable district size) [Alright, fess up. Who donated the $.01? And don't say "Everyone."]

Verschoore raised $10,658.54 during the 6 month reporting period, or 44.2% of the amount Boland raised.

Look over the numbers and read more at the links below. What do they reveal to you?

A further breakdown of the reports:

Sen. Mike "Young"™ Jacobs

1. Individual Contributions:
a. Itemized $36,400.00
(Excluding Loans)
b. Not-Itemized $15,572.00
2. Transfers In:
a. Itemized $172,553.87
b. Not-Itemized $705.00
3. Loans Received:
a. Itemized $0.00
b. Not-Itemized $0.00
4. Other Receipts:
a. Itemized $0.00
b. Not-Itemized $0.00

TOTAL RECEIPTS (1-4) $225,230.87
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. In-Kind Contributions:
a. Itemized $2,034.68
b. Not-Itemized $0.00

TOTAL IN-KIND $2,034.68
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXPENDITURES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Transfers Out:
a. Itemized $3,203.00
b. Not-Itemized $800.00
7. Loans Made:
a. Itemized $0.00
b. Not-Itemized $0.00
8. Expenditures:
a. Itemized $43,092.26
b. Not-Itemized $5,146.92

TOTAL EXPENDITURES (6-8) $52,242.18
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEBTS AND OBLIGATIONS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. a. Itemized $0.00
b. Not-Itemized $0.00

TOTAL DEBTS AND OBLIGATIONS $0.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FUNDS BALANCE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Funds available at the beginning of the reporting period $1,950.00
Total Receipts $225,230.87
Subtotal $227,180.87
Total Expenditures $52,242.18
Funds available at the close of the reporting period $174,938.69

Investment Total $0.00


"Transfers In" includes big bucks from several insurance, medical, pharmicist, optometrist and big health care pacs and interests, roughly 14 in all, (which may explain the support for phony "tort reform"), and, oddly enough, the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce.

Further details can be found on this page.


Rep. Mike Boland

RECEIPTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Individual Contributions:
a. Itemized $5,300.75
(Excluding Loans)
b. Not-Itemized $3,202.00
2. Transfers In:
a. Itemized $13,885.00
b. Not-Itemized $1,550.00
3. Loans Received:
a. Itemized $0.00
b. Not-Itemized $0.00
4. Other Receipts:
a. Itemized $171.29
b. Not-Itemized $0.00

TOTAL RECEIPTS (1-4) $24,109.04
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. In-Kind Contributions:
a. Itemized $0.00
b. Not-Itemized $0.00

TOTAL IN-KIND $0.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXPENDITURES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Transfers Out:
a. Itemized $0.00
b. Not-Itemized $311.00
7. Loans Made:
a. Itemized $0.00
b. Not-Itemized $0.00
8. Expenditures:
a. Itemized $8,436.18
b. Not-Itemized $716.18

TOTAL EXPENDITURES (6-8) $9,463.36
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEBTS AND OBLIGATIONS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. a. Itemized $0.00
b. Not-Itemized $0.00

TOTAL DEBTS AND OBLIGATIONS $0.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FUNDS BALANCE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Funds available at the beginning of the reporting period $111,173.21
Total Receipts $24,109.04
Subtotal $135,282.25
Total Expenditures $9,463.36
Funds available at the close of the reporting period $125,818.89

Investment Total $0.00

Boland also reports a "Fight Back Fund" which reported $1,057.45 on hand with no money spent or received during the reporting period.

Bolands full itemized report can be found on this page.

It includes $2,800 from R.I. County Democrats, no "In-kind" contributions reported, only $311.00 in non-itemized "Transfers Out" reported, and only one restaurant listed, spending $204.68 at Boone's Saloon in Springfield.


Rep. Pat Verschoore

RECEIPTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Individual Contributions:
a. Itemized $3,525.00
(Excluding Loans)
b. Not-Itemized $900.00
2. Transfers In:
a. Itemized $5,300.00
b. Not-Itemized $750.00
3. Loans Received:
a. Itemized $0.00
b. Not-Itemized $0.00
4. Other Receipts:
a. Itemized $0.00
b. Not-Itemized $183.54

TOTAL RECEIPTS (1-4) $10,658.54
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. In-Kind Contributions:
a. Itemized $0.00
b. Not-Itemized $0.00

TOTAL IN-KIND $0.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXPENDITURES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Transfers Out:
a. Itemized $700.00
b. Not-Itemized $280.00
7. Loans Made:
a. Itemized $0.00
b. Not-Itemized $0.00
8. Expenditures:
a. Itemized $13,946.32
b. Not-Itemized $2,523.62

TOTAL EXPENDITURES (6-8) $17,449.94
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEBTS AND OBLIGATIONS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. a. Itemized $0.00
b. Not-Itemized $0.00

TOTAL DEBTS AND OBLIGATIONS $0.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FUNDS BALANCE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Funds available at the beginning of the reporting period $62,549.41
Total Receipts $10,658.54
Subtotal $73,207.95
Total Expenditures $17,449.94
Funds available at the close of the reporting period $55,758.01

Investment Total $0.00

Verschoores complete report with itemized lists of donors (Including $2,800.00 from R.I. County Dem Central Committee.) can be found on this page.

12 Comments:

At 8/03/2005 3:30 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

it's unbelievable what it costs to run a campaign then I see...

 
At 8/03/2005 4:02 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Boland's problem is that he would be running against two Senators, Denny and Mike -- and probably Lane, Pat, John G, etcetcetc, who would line up with Jacobs. That's a tough lever to pull if you're in Mike Boland's shoes.

As it stands now, Mike Boland enjoys some leadership in the House. He's paid well, has one of the best pensions in America and gets to travel around IL to push his ideas.

Not a bad gig overall, political campers.

 
At 8/03/2005 4:30 PM, Blogger The Inside Dope said...

I'm still staying with my prediction that Boland stays a state Rep.

Take the few moments to look at the itemized lists in the links provided. If you keep those donors in mind, you'll understand what's behind their positions in the future.

They've all got labor donors, which is unsurprising, but Jacobs has by far the most health care and insurance donors.

Boland and Vershoore got dough from the R.I. County Dems, but Jacobs did not.

Boland, despite getting money from the Dems, only paid out $310 to an unspecified source, vs Jacobs' paying out around ten times that much, to Blackhawk Township, Lane Evans, and Whiteside County Dems.

There are also other things to be gleaned from who supports who for those who take a bit of time to look it over, but it would take up quite a bit of space to do it here.

 
At 8/03/2005 5:49 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I was under the impression Boland,Jacobs and Vershoore were to return 2800.00 back to the RI Party? I see Verschoore did in April, and Jacobs returned 2K in June, and Boland DEPOSITED his 2800 in his own account. Anyone following this one?

 
At 8/04/2005 12:13 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

anonymous 17:49

you have a keen eye at following the money. You are right Boland has recieved a $2800 refund of his support of the Rock Island County Democratic Party. Turns out he contributed too much into the committee's federal fund and would have to declare his committee as a federal committee. the refund was to fix that problem and Boland was expected to make a contribution into the local party fund instead. Looks like everyone else returned the money.

I guess Boland doesn't want the support of the local party anymore, he can go it alone. Pay up Mike or don't come looking for help. Maybe a primary is in the making and we should support a candidate who works for and contributes to the other democrats in the county and not just for himself.

I heard he used the $2800 to buy a poll to tell him that he isn't as popular as he thought he was. I guess it was money well spent if he got the message

 
At 8/04/2005 12:36 AM, Blogger The Inside Dope said...

Head Usher, Damn, you beat me to it!!

While I was away from Dope Central, it dawned on me that I'd used the wrong figures for comparison. I just got home and signed on to correct it only to see that you'd beat me to the punch.

I will make the correction to show the true comparison in money raised.

And I'm not bad at math, but obviously I'm not up to speed in interpreting campaign finance reports. Sorry about the error.

 
At 8/04/2005 9:44 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh Usher - go back to planning your next big party at Blue Ribbon and having your campaign pay for it.

 
At 8/04/2005 8:10 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Usher - again you are strangely silent. We got the last word on you again - S--- for brains that you are.

 
At 8/04/2005 8:34 PM, Blogger The Inside Dope said...

The 72% figure (not 75%) is correct as I posted it. Based on cash on hand reported for both campaigns, Boland has 72% of Jacobs amount.

As I explain, this is despite the fact that Jacobs raised much more money than Boland in the reporting period, as Jacobs spent 5.5 times what Boland did in the same period.

 
At 8/06/2005 10:42 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dope, I was correct again. Jacobs - I mean Usher is planning his next big fundraiser at Blue Ribbon Steakhouse.

I can't wait to see the cardboard movie theater cutout they use of Keifer Sutherland.

What a joke. People here don't know Jacobs - what makes Usher think famous people know him? They don't.

The big question is why Jacobs can't get any real support from higher tier dems like our US Senators.

Other more worthy politicians can get that because they are really Democrats.

 
At 8/07/2005 4:45 AM, Blogger The Inside Dope said...

I have no doubt that Jude Cole is at least aquainted with Jacobs. Cole grew up in Carbon Cliff & East Moline and they likely knew each other in school.

Cole's song "Baby, It's Tonight" from his 1990 album "A View From 3rd Street" became a big hit. He followed that up with another hit, "Start The Car" from his 1992 album of the same name. Around that time he returned to the area.

He played a show at RibCo during that visit. I was there the afternoon of the show when Keifer Sutherland called the bar trying to get in touch with him.

Cole and Sutherland have been close friends for many years, with Sutherland and his first wife even naming their only child "Sarah Jude Sutherland". That marriage only lasted a couple years, and following that, Sutherland started dating Julia Roberts and Cole dated her sister. Sutherland has also built a recording studio with Cole to use for budding artists they plan to discover.

So yes, there is a connection there, and Cole and Sutherland will likely show up.

I just wonder if Cole and Sutherland have any idea what sort of policies Jacobs supports.

 
At 8/12/2005 2:05 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

If you would look on Jude Cole albums you would see Mike Jacobs names in thanks on about every one of them. They are very close friends. Jude Cole is married to Michelle Pheiffer's sister. They see the Jacobs family every time they are in town. And if you really want the skinny you will know that Mike Jacobs sang backup on Jude Cole demos!

 

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