Monday, October 19, 2009

Better than Carol Marin w/Hultgren, Steans, Coulson and Burns: Berkowitz w/Sen. Bill Brady on the Gubernatorial issues;Cable this week & now streaming

State Sen. and Republican Gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady [Bloomington]: No question I disclosed confidential information [Watch the show with Sen. Brady].

Jeff Berkowitz: So, did [Andy McKenna, Jr.] abuse that [disclosure] by asking for that [information] and then turning around and running against you?
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Jeff Berkowitz: Is Andy McKenna ducking and dodging? Because, after he announced he was running, he didn’t go to the Cook County GOP convention. There is a Union League Club of Chicago [Republican Primary gubernatorial] debate coming up on [October] 21st (we’re taping this on October 18th), and I’m told he has declined to attend that. So, is he running...
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Jeff Berkowitz: …back to Kirk Dillard, because Dillard said “I think you have to keep every option open but I think there are other options than looking at tax increases.” That was earlier this week…when he was endorsed by Jim Edgar…and then today on “At Issue,” he said...
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This week's Chicago Metro Suburban edition of "Public Affairs," features State Senator and 2010 Republican Primary gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady (Bloomington). The Chicago Metro Suburban airing schedule for Public Affairs is included, below. The show was recorded on Sunday, October 18, 2009.
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You can also watch the show with Senator Brady on your computer.
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Jeff Berkowitz: Did Andy McKenna, Jr. [former State GOP Chairman], who is running now for Governor in your contest-- running against you-- did he come to you before he made the decision [to run], and ask for you to tell him about your campaign so he could decide about endorsing you or somebody else?

State Senator and Republican Primary gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady (R-Bloomington): We had a discussion- I was hoping to get his support—I filled him in on how well our campaign was doing.

Jeff Berkowitz: Did you disclose confidential information and if so, do you think he abused that trust by getting you to disclose that information?

State Sen. Bill Brady: No question I disclosed confidential information.

Jeff Berkowitz: So, did he abuse that [disclosure] by asking for that[information] and then turning around and running against you?

State Sen. Bill Brady: I am not going to say that. [Andy McKenna, Jr.] has to make that decision.
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Jeff Berkowitz: Is Andy McKenna ducking and dodging? Because, after he announced he was running, he didn’t go to the Cook County GOP convention. There is a Union League Club of Chicago [Republican Primary gubernatorial] debate coming up on [October] 21st (we’re taping this on October 18th ), and I’m told he has declined to attend that. So, is he running a …Rose Garden strategy?

State Sen. Bill Brady: Well, I’m not sure he is running. I’ve seen him at very, very few events.
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Jeff Berkowitz: …back to Kirk Dillard, because Dillard said “I think you have to keep every option open but I think there are other options than looking at tax increases.” That was earlier this week…when he was endorsed by Jim Edgar…and then today on “At Issue,” he said he wouldn’t rule it out. He said, “I’m not ruling out tax increases.” But, he doesn’t think we should go for a tax increase.

State Sen. Bill Brady: Well, he’s voted for tax increases. He voted for the [Regional mass transit] sales tax increase in DuPage. He voted for the tax increase last session. It’s hard for him to say he’s going to rule out tax increases when he’s got a record of voting for tax increases. But, this is the difference between where I want to take the Republican party- a clean break from the past—and where others want to take it.
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Jeff Berkowitz: We want Senator Dillard to come here and talk about that…[and the other gubernatorial issues].
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State Senator Bill Brady was in the State House for eight years and has been in the State Senate for seven years. Senator Brady got two years off [from the General Assembly] for good behavior when he ran for the congressional seat now held by Cong. Tim Johnson. He is a citizen politican, spending a good deal of time running, with his brothers, a variety of real estate related businesses, including property managment, home construction and mortgage.

Sen. Brady ran in the 2006 Republican Gubernatorial primary, coming in third out of four candidates, with about 20% of the vote. As of now, it looks like there are six candidates, including Sen. Brady, likely to file later this month in the 2010 Republican Primary for Governor with a 7th, former Illinois AG Jim Ryan(R) mulling it over and joining the six others in circulating nominating petitions, even as this reporter writes this.

Jim Ryan lost to Rod Blagojevich in the 2002 IL Gov race, 52% to 45% and has been out of politics since. He has advocated, in 2007, for the "tax swap," which would have resulted in a substantial increase in the income tax rate and would have increased state tax revenue, at the time, by more than five billion dollars. He also may have a "Stu Levine," problem.

Levine [who was convicted of Public Corruption] and Jim Ryan are long time friends and Levine gave Jim Ryan, along with others, substantial campaign contributions. However, there has been no allegation or evidence presented that Jim Ryan is connected in any way to Levine's corrupt activities. Both the tax and Levine issues relating to Jim Ryan are discussed on the show with Senator Brady.

Senator Brady lives in Bloomington with his wife Nancy. They have been married 27 years and have three children.
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The show with State Senator and 2010 Republican Primary gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady includes a far ranging discussion of state public policy issues and politics relating to budget deficits, public corruption, spending, taxes, jobs, the business climate, gays, guns, abortion, Comptroller Dan Hynes, Governor Pat Quinn, Andy McKenna, Jim Ryan, Dan Proft, Kirk Dillard, Stu Levine, Bill Cellini, education, school vouchers-school choice and much, much more.
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The Chicago Metro suburban episode of "Public Affairs with Jeff Berkowitz," featuring guest State Senator and Republican Primary gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady airs on:

Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.

and Tuesday night at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, parts of Inverness, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette

and Tuesday night at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 35 in Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Glenview, Golf, Des Plaines, Hanover Park, Mt. Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Schaumburg, Skokie, Streamwood and Wheeling.
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The Public Affairs show featuring State Senator and Republican Primary gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady also airs on Monday night (Oct. 26) throughout the City of Chicago at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 and in Aurora and surrounding areas on ACTV-10 on that same night at 7:30 pm and on Tuesday and Wednesday of that week at 3:30 pm on ACTV-10.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
More than 112 of our shows from the last two years are posted on the Public Affairs YouTube page .
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