Morning Spin: Madigan expected to be re-elected state Democratic Party chairman Monday

April 23--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. Subscribe here.

Topspin

During the last few months, House Speaker Michael Madigan has been assailed by governor candidates in his own party and beset by accusations of sexual harassment in the political organizations he controls.

On Monday, he's expected to be re-elected leader of the state Democratic Party, 20 years after he first won the job.

The party's central committee is scheduled to meet at a Springfield hotel near the Capitol to elect its officers, including a party chairman.

"I don't come here with all the answers," Madigan said when elected in 1998. "The people who nominated me talked about the elections I've won, but I've lost elections too. In politics, you win and lose. What you want to do is move on to the next election."

Madigan keeps the post as he tries to boost his party's numbers in the Illinois House in November, when Democrats hope J.B. Pritzker will get them back full control of state government. The speaker's re-election takes place as he has come under fire for his handling of misconduct allegations at the Capitol and in his political organization. Plus, the party faces divisions between old-school Democrats and progressives.

But Madigan's backers to keep the chairman job now include leading progressive Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, who on Friday called the longtime speaker the "clear choice."

"I will support a chair who shares my commitment to true economic justice for all, my belief that a hard day's work should be rewarded with a living wage, and my dedication to fighting for affordable and accessible health care," Garcia said in a statement.

What's on tap

*Mayor Rahm Emanuel will start a campaign against sexual harassment and participate in a panel presented by Axios, a Virginia-based news site founded by former top names at Politico.

*Gov. Bruce Rauner is on a trade mission to Europe. Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti will tour a business in Mount Vernon.

*The Illinois House and Senate are in session. Senate Democrats face a Wednesday deadline if they want to override Rauner's veto of a gun store licensing bill.

*Attorney General Lisa Madigan will hold a morning news conference downtown to announce a lawsuit.

*Metra CEO James Derwinski will be at the City Club of Chicago.

*The week ahead: On Tuesday, the City Council Public Safety Committee could discuss a proposal to enhance penalties for having assault weapons near nursing homes. On Wednesday, the Cook County Board meets and a committee could consider a plan to set up a nonprofit to accept contributions for mental health and substance abuse treatment called the Thomas J. Dart Foundation for the Advancement of Justice.

From the notebook

*More on Madigan: Garcia, a Democratic nominee for Congress and perhaps the state's best known ally of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, has long portrayed himself as a lifelong progressive who's not afraid to take on the Democratic Party status quo that many voters equate with Madigan.

But Garcia and Madigan of late have been in concert with each other.

The 13th Ward Democratic Organization controlled by Madigan gave $25,120 in the waning days of the Democratic primary election cycle to Garcia aide Alma Anaya, according to state reports. She defeated Angie Sandoval to win the nomination. (Hal Dardick)

*Call me maybe: As he admittedly "bombed" his Chicago mayor campaign kickoff speech Saturday, Neal Sales-Griffin sought to connect with the 200 or so supporters who gathered at the Shaprio Ballroom in West Town.

In an effort to display his "realness," the 30-year-old tech entrepreneur gave out his cellphone number and said he would have it displayed on his website, too.

By Saturday night, he had followed through. His homepage had a headline in a large font that read: "I'M NEAL SALES-GRIFFIN. I'D LIKE YOUR VOTE TO BE YOUR MAYOR. CALL ME: 773-272-5734." (Bill Ruthhart)

*McConnaughay says time isn't right for graduated tax: Republicans have been almost universal in their opposition to a graduated income tax in Illinois, but state Sen. Karen McConnaughay of St. Charles said there might be a time for it -- just not right now.

"I think the way we look at it from a policy perspective, graduated income tax has some merit but it also has some downsides," McConnaughay, a member of the state Senate GOP leadership, said Sunday on WGN-AM 720.

"I think for really stable states who have their fiscal house in order and have limited amount of debt, that aren't panicked every budget year about how to bring in enough money to pay the bills, (they) might be better suited for a graduated income tax," she said.

But with Illinois' financial problems, McConnaughay said, "I just don't think Illinois is well suited for that at this particular time," despite vows from Democratic governor candidate J.B. Pritzker and other Democrats to try to implement one.

Creating a federal-style graduated income tax would take a state constitutional amendment.

It also would allow the legislature and governor to change the tax rates at any time. McConnaughay said that ability to alter tax rates lacks the "predictability" that businesses and taxpayers are seeking.

"We need to be very careful about our tax policies, to ensure that what we do tax, whatever tax structure we have in place, creates great stability, and a graduated income tax at this particular point just doesn't do that," she said. (Rick Pearson)

*Feigenholtz says Rauner should call Cook County Jail: Democratic state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz of Chicago is warning that cuts in community mental health services proposed by Gov. Rauner could create havoc for those needing treatment.

"The governor's introduced budget totally eliminates -- pretty much shuts down -- a functioning community mental health system in Illinois," Feigenholtz said Sunday on WGN-AM 720.

Feigenholtz is pushing for permanent reinstatement of $27 million in community mental health center grants, which is funded through state and federal funds via Medicaid. Absent the money, advocates warn community providers will be forced to make drastic cuts in services.

"If I were the governor or the director of (the Department of Healthcare and Family Services), which I am not, I would have picked up the phone and called (Cook County Sheriff) Tom Dart and said, 'I hope you're ready for more inmates.' Because that's exactly what's going to happen here," she said. "If the governor's budget and these cuts are made and this line is not sustained, that is exactly what's going to happen."

Dart has often called Cook County Jail the largest mental health clinic in the world because of its intake of people with undiagnosed or untreated mental illnesses who commit crimes. (Rick Pearson)

*On the "Sunday Spin": Tribune political reporter Rick Pearson's guests were Brian Mackey, state government and politics reporter for NPR Illinois and WUIS-FM Springfield; Feigenholtz and Heather O'Donnell of Thresholds; and McConnaughay. The "Sunday Spin" airs from 7 to 9 a.m. on WGN-AM 720. Listen to the full show here.

What we're writing

*Dorothy Brown brushes aside federal probe, announces run for Chicago mayor.

*Tech entrepreneur Sales-Griffin says he "bombed this speech" in Chicago mayor campaign kickoff.

*Emanuel flexes fundraising muscle with $1.7 million deposited in a single day.

*Illinois Lottery sells tickets for instant games after top prizes are gone -- "inherently unfair," one critic says.

*State of Illinois incorrectly mailed personal information of more than 4,000 people.

*Midway, O'Hare start offering free, unlimited Wi-Fi, city says.

*Chicago sues 2 south suburban towns, claiming they diverted millions designated to pay past due water bills.

*New state law means solar farms could crop up in Illinois.

What we're reading

*For family of Ida B. Wells-Barnett, hopes that renewed interest translates into a monument.

*Central Illinoisan sought in Tennessee Waffle House shooting.

*White Sox pitcher Danny Farquhar suffers ruptured aneurysm.

Follow the money

*Track Illinois campaign contributions in real time here and here.

Beyond Chicago

*Macron to meet with Trump.

*China left out of U.S., North Korea talks.

*Trump administration official doesn't rule out firing Mueller.

*In midterms, Republicans to make Clinton the villain.

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