Thread: Prominent donor threatens GOP over DACA

Prominent donor threatens GOP over DACA


By NATASHA KORECKI
05/23/2018 05:09 AM EDT

CHICAGO — An influential, multi-millionaire GOP donor is threatening to choke off campaign resources to Republican congressmen who haven’t engaged in the latest immigration battle in Congress.

Former Exelon chairman John Rowe, a prominent Chicago business leader who’s donated to dozens of GOP House and Senate members, first told POLITICO in an interview he is tightening the spigot — and in some cases, completely turning off the flow — of money to Republican lawmakers who refuse to sign onto a discharge petition that would force a vote on legislation related to so-called “Dreamers.“

“Every member of the Illinois delegation knows this is one of the most important issues facing them and it determines how much money I’m giving them,” said Rowe, who heads a pro-immigrant business group in Illinois. “This is the home state of Abraham Lincoln.

We’re betraying our entire heritage if we don’t get this done.”

Rowe has directly contributed more than $500,000 to campaigns over the last three years alone, predominantly to Republicans, and raised tens of thousands more. But as co-chair of the Illinois Business Immigration Coalition, he is attempting to pressure Republicans — particularly from his home state — to come up with a resolution on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which gave protections to hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children.

So far, 20 House Republicans have signed onto a Democratic effort to force a vote on related Dreamer legislation — none from Illinois, despite the fact that the state has the fourth-largest DACA population. House Speaker Paul Ryan has privately asked his members not to back the effort.

Rowe’s actions come amid a broader effort by moderates who are trying to force a House vote on the issue.

Other businessmen from the immigration group — including David Bender, the group’s co-chair and a GOP county chairman, and veteran Republican donor William Kunkler — are making similar pledges.

“In truth, we may not be a huge number of people, but in terms of being reliable, active donors, we’re people who give every year to candidates,” Rowe said.

While attending a recent fundraiser for House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, Rowe said he was direct with the Louisiana congressman: “There’s a whole bunch of Republicans like me who simply aren’t going to keep giving money if you don’t get an immigration bill done.”

Rowe also said he refused to return a fundraising call from Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, an immigration hard-liner.

At the same time, Rowe is attempting to reward GOP congressmen who have signed onto the House effort to take up DACA legislation. Last week, Rowe helped raise $50,000 for Florida Rep. Carlos Curbelo, one of the party’s most vulnerable incumbents, at a Chicago fundraiser.

“He’s my kind of Republican — moderate on social issues and very much pro-immigrant,” Rowe said of Curbelo. “He wants a Republican Party that doesn’t look all old, white and male.”

Rowe also donated $2,700 to Rep. Fred Upton after the Michigan Republican committed to forcing a DACA vote.

Rowe is especially critical of Rep. Peter Roskam, who is locked in a competitive race -- and represents a suburban Chicago district that has the largest DACA population of any Illinois member, according to the Illinois Business Immigration Commission.

“I have been actively engaged with the community and various stakeholders and I will make a decision on the right course based on what’s in the best interest of these DREAMers and our nation’s border security,” Roskam said in a statement.

“My hope is that Congress will reach a bipartisan agreement to protect children from deportation who were brought to the United States without documentation.”

Former Illinois House GOP Minority Leader Tom Cross, who is also calling for a DACA resolution, said hitting lawmakers in their pockets may be the best way to get their attention.

“John is a significant donor and has been heavily involved in the Republican Party both in the state and nationally,” Cross said. “There are all kinds of ways to impact members of Congress and the General Assembly. I’m not a donor. I was a recipient as a legislative leader and it can be impactful.”

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/...hreaten-603428

What does Abraham Lincoln got to do with illegal aliens? Nothing. Save your breath and keep your money, the GOP stands for Americans, not illegal aliens.

. “He wants a Republican Party that doesn’t look all old, white and male.”

Just hang on to your horses, chief...

Other businessmen from the immigration group — including David Bender, the group’s co-chair and a GOP county chairman, and veteran Republican donor William Kunkler — are making similar pledges.

Originally Posted by Captainron

. “He wants a Republican Party that doesn’t look all old, white and male.”

Just hang on to your horses, chief...

It should have never been that in the first place.

Ryan’s Super PAC Gives Millions to GOP’s Amnesty Discharge Signers

Dairy-District GOP Pushes Amnesty Discharge in the House

These big money donors need to be put on display BY NAME before the American public which in truth overwhelmingly opposes their illegal alien Amnesty agenda and all of the deaths, rapes, and lost futures that result from their open borders immigration agenda.

Originally Posted by ALIPAC

These big money donors need to be put on display BY NAME . . .

Along with the names of the politicians who accept their money.

llinois Business Immigration Coalition

Supporter List

Join these Illinois businesses to take a stand for sensible and comprehensive immigration reform - and spread the word!

Help us recruit 1000 small Illinois businesses and 300 leading Illinois CEOs.

Name	Title	Business	Community
Angela Adams	Associate General Counsel for Immigration	Indiana University School of Law	Indianapolis, IN
Nihal Advani	Founder & CEO	Georama	Chicago, IL
Greg Baise	President & CEO	Illinois Manufacturers' Associaion	Oak Brook, IL
Eira L. Corral	City Clerk	Village of Hanover Park	Hanover Park, IL
Gordhan Patel	Chairman	American Standard Circuits Inc., United Electronics	West Chicago, IL
Arthur R. Velasquez	Chairman	Azteca Foods	Chicago, IL
Megan Jacobs			Chicago, IL
Junaid Kalmadi	Co-Founder, CEO	Brain.fm	San Francisco, CA
Joel Camacho		Camacho Hardwood Flooring	Chicago, IL
Rich Carrigan	President	United Displaycraft	Des Plaines, IL
Robert Castillo	Chef	Harvest Moon Grille, International Wooden Spoon Catering, Tavern at the Park	Chicago, IL
Martin Cooper	Co-Founder and Chairman	Dyna LLC	Del Mar, CA
Arnav Dalmia	Founder & CEO	Cubii	Chicago, IL
Jason Blumberg	CEO & Managing Director	Energy Foundry	Chicago, IL
Ashish Rangnekar	CEO	BenchPrep	Chicago, IL
Mike Rolfes	Executive Director	Renew Chicago	Chicago, IL
James W. Mabie	Partner	William Blair and Co.	Chicago, IL
Juan Montejano	Business Banker	Urban Partnership Bank	Chicago, IL
Sergio Morfin	President	Computer Wow	Chicago, IL
Colin Tysoe		NWSOFA	Schaumburg, IL
Carla Edelston	Senior Associate Director	Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management	Evanston, IL
Andrea Fox	Former Executive Director	Hanover Park Chamber of Commerce	Hanover Park, IL
Dulce Garduno	Owner	DG Promo Design	Chicago, IL
Jai Shekhawat	Founder and Former CEO	Fieldglass, Inc.	Chicago, IL
Edward J. Wehmer	President, CEO and Founder	Wintrust Financial Corporation	Rosemont, IL
Steven Lefar	CEO	Applied Pathways	Skokie, IL
Dylan Lingelbach	Former CTO	Rentalutions	Chicago, IL
Rishi Shah	CEO	ContextMedia Inc.	Chicago, IL
Ellen Stirling	Owner	Lake Forest Shop	Lake Forest, IL
Rob Meyer	CEO	Numerical Algorithms Group	Lisle, IL
Maja Misheva	Former Developer	Pace University	NYC, NY
David Vinca	Founder & CEO	eSpark Learning	Chicago, IL
Erik Kinnhammar	Manager, International Programs	Chicago Sister Cities International	Chicago, IL
Sylvia Miga	Former Account Executive	Pulido Sanchez Communications	Chicago, IL
Jaime Hernandez		O&J Heating and Cooling	Chicago, IL
James Hill, Jr.	Former Chairman & CEO	Hill, Taylor LLC	Chicago, IL
Martin Cortez		Martin Fire Places	Chicago, IL
Caroline T. Swinney	Assistant Vice Provost for Diversity and Community Engagement	UIC	Chicago, IL
Rigo Padilla Pérez	Commission Member	Illinois DREAM Fund	Chicago, IL
Walter Nathan	Chairman	RTC	Chicago, IL
Jennifer Tani	Assistant Vice President	Roosevelt University	Chicago, IL
Kenneth Stewart	Former Personal Sales Representative	Liberty Mutual Insurance	Mokena, IL
Dan Casey	Founder	Sterling Engineering, Inc.	Elmhurst, IL
Dr. Daniel Poratt		Australian & New Zealand Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery	Chicago, IL
Dr. Walter Coffey		Australian & New Zealand Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery	Chicago, IL
Keith Carman	Vice President, Fulfillment	Stand Fast Packaging Products Inc.	Carol Stream, IL
Tanya Cabrera	Chair	Illinois Dream Fund	Chicago IL
Charles Wintersteen	Immigration Attorney	Charles Wintersteen & Associates	Chicago, IL
Scott D. Pollock	Founding Partner	Scott D. Pollock & Associates, P.C.	Chicago, IL
Alejandro Silva	Co-Founder	Evans Food Group	Chicago, IL
Susan Fortino-Brown	Immigration Attorney	Law Offices of Susan Fortino-Brown	Chicago, IL
Doug Whitley	Former President & CEO	Illinois Chamber of Commerce	Chicago, IL
Michael Fieweger	Partner	Baker & McKenzie LLP	Chicago, IL
Kalman Resnick	Attorney	Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym, Ltd	Chicago, IL
Estelle Gonzales Walgreen	Founder	Historically Speaking News	Lake Forest, IL
John Bucksbaum	CEO	Bucksbaum Retail Properties	Chicago, IL
Richard Lariviere	President	The Field Museum	Chicago, IL
Trajko Papuckoski	Board Member	United Macedonian Diaspora	Orange County, CA
Mercedes Badia-Tavas	Of Counsel/Immigration Attorney	Barnes & Thornberg, LLP	Chicago, IL
Theresa & Alberto Boni Paucar	Founders	Martin's Mini-Market, Inc.	Chicago, IL
Renee Silverman	VP Marketing	Irv's Luggage	Mount Prospect, IL
Dave Borris	Co-Founder	Hel's Kitchen Catering	Northbrook, IL
Norm Bobins	CEO & President	Norman Bobins Consulting LLC	Chicago, IL
Rachel Bronson	Former Vice President	Chicago Council on Global Affairs	Chicago, IL
Martin Cabrera Jr.	Founder & CEO	Cabrera Capital Markets	Chicago, IL
Martin R. Castro	President	Castro Synergies, LLC	Chicago, IL
Alan Channing	Former President & CEO	Sinai Health System	Chicago, IL
Father Brendan Curran		Catholic Businessmen for Immigration Reform	Chicago, IL
Omar Duque	President & CEO	Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce	Chicago, IL
Robert Easter	President Emeritus	University of Illinois	Urbana, IL
Hon. Jim Edgar	Former Governor	State of Illinois
Marc J. Gordon	President & CEO	Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association	Chicago, IL
Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider	President	DePaul University	Chicago, IL
Josh Hoyt	Executive Director/Former Executive Director	National Partnership for New Americans/Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights	Chicago, IL
Christopher G. Kennedy	Former Chairman/Founder and Chairman	University of Illinois Board of Trustees/Top Box Foods	Chicago, IL
Billy Lawless	Owner	The Gage, Acanto, the Dawson, and Beacon Tavern	Chicago, IL
Ken Lehman	Managing Partner	KKP Group, LLC	Evanston, IL
Elizabeth Lively	Former Vice President, Government and External Affairs	Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council (MCHC)	Chicago, IL
Patrick M. Magoon	President & CEO	Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago	Chicago, IL
Clare Muñana	President	Ancora Associates, Inc.	Chicago, IL
Ellen Rudnick	Sr. Advisor on Entrepreneurship and Adjunct Professor	University of Chicago Booth School of Business	Chicago, IL
Jesse Ruiz	Partner	Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP	Chicago, IL
Mark Segal	Former President & CEO/Former Public Policy Committee Chair	The Habitat Company/Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce	Chicago, IL
Sam Toia	President	Illinois Restaurant Association	Chicago, IL
Maryjane A. Wurth	Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer/CEO and President	Illinois Hospital Association/Health Forum	Chicago, IL
Thomas P. Coffey	CEO	The Haymarket Group	Chicago, IL
James Sifuentes	Vice President, Mission and Community Development	Saint Anthony Hospital	Chicago, IL
Sarfaraz K. Niazi, PhD	Founding Executive Chairman	Adello Biologics, LLC (Formerly Therapeutics Proteins International, LLC)	Chicago, IL
Robert A. Salcedo	Former President	Therapeutics Proteins International, LLC	Chicago, IL

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