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The truth trickles out
Tuesday, Jul 11, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller Buried in an AP story this afternoon about All Kids enrollment is this golden nugget: A spokeswoman for the state Department of Healthcare and Family Services says so far about 45,000 kids have signed up. Did you get that? Almost 90 percent of All Kids’ total enrollment right now would have qualified for existing state healthcare services. Is there a need for healthcare for kids? Yes. Is there a demand for All Kids from families who didn’t qualify for state assistance before this year? So far, not so much. Of the total enrollment for All Kids, just eleven percent are the children whom the program was supposedly designed to serve. [emphasis added] UPDATE: Blogger foleyma posted an All Kids acceptance letter online and it shows two things. 1) It’s still being billed as “Governor Blagojevich’s All Kids” and 2) Parents who enrolled their children by the deadline are apparently getting comped for their first month. Click on the pic for a larger view. [jpg file]  UPDATE 2: I think comments are being hit with a coordinated counter-spin. This response prevails: The program just started July 1st. I think you are looking at the numbers wrong. To have enrolled 45,000 and 5,000 to be for a new program with just 11 days started is a reflection on the need. They’ve been pre-enrolling for months, so that bit of spin is not accurate at all. Please, whoever you are, get off the script and engage. Or go away. UPDATE 3: Also, this program was specifically billed as help for middle class and working class families that make too much to qualify for state aid. These are the governor’s own words on the All Kids website: Of the 250,000 children in Illinois without health insurance, more than half come from working and middle class families who earn too much to qualify for state programs like KidCare, but not enough to afford private health insurance. Through All Kids, comprehensive health insurance will be available to every uninsured child at rates their parents can afford. About half of the children without healthcare belong to families who are Medicaid eligible, but those families make up almost 90 percent of the total enrollees in All Kids to date.
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Um, Phil?
Tuesday, Jul 11, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller New congressional candidate Phil Hare has a website. I know Phil, and I think he did a very good job for Lane Evans, but that website really sucks. The Democrats better hope he runs a campaign better than he builds a site. Also, what’s with that photo? Republican Andrea Zinga also has a website, and it’s much better. Consider this a congressional campaign open thread. [Hat tip: Passing Parade]
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Tuesday afternoon time-waster
Tuesday, Jul 11, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller My buddy Pete S. sent me this link. The Widespread Panic fan site PanicStream has a large collection of live Grateful Dead performances which were voted “best” by Panic fans. As Pete wrote, you may disagree that these are the best possible cuts, but they’re still pretty darned good. Have a listen.
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Ethics Commission Chairman: Give us something to do, pretty please
Tuesday, Jul 11, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller Looks like Bernie’s back from vacation. The new chairman of the Illinois Executive Ethics Commission wants some of the same things the previous chairman sought: more openness in the ethics process and more for the commission to do. I wonder if and or when the golden boys and girls on the commission finally decide they’re being used as props?
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Question of the day
Tuesday, Jul 11, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller The Lisa Madigan letter, the Sorich verdicts and the various media scoops have all combined to shake up this election season yet again. But will it mean that much in the end? Time to take another assessment of the chances of both Rod Blagojevich and Judy Baar Topinka. Have at it.
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“Dangerous and Brilliant”
Tuesday, Jul 11, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller Conservative activist Fran Eaton writes this week that after reading a USA Today op-ed by Sen. Barack Obama she concludes that he is both “dangerous” and “brilliant.” Dangerous, I assume, to the Republican cause. If he were to wilt when challenged, he would be harmless and ineffective. But his consistent, calm responses and the confidence he displays in his own worldview is something conservatives in Illinois could learn from and incorporate into their own public discourse. Obama took some heat after he gave a recent speech about faith, politics, liberals and conservatives. Some Democrats, particularly activist bloggers, thought he was attacking them with hackneyed conservative talking points. Obama shot back that he was misunderstood and that the initial press reports were seriously flawed. (Personally I thought it ironic that so many bloggers who regularly slam the mainstream media for getting the story wrong relied on some pretty bad MSM reporting instead of the raw text for their attacks on Obama.) After reading the speech and then the refined version in USA Today, I’ve concluded that Obama may have assumed he could be cautious with his words and that reporters and his target audiences would understand what he was getting at. It doesn’t work that way. You have to make yourself clear and/or then you have to make sure your PR staff “helps” the reporters understand what it is you were trying to say. He did neither. So, an interesting speech about a journey of understanding became yet another intraparty wedge issue for the hapless Democrats. But go read the op-ed and tell us what you think.
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A familiar story
Tuesday, Jul 11, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller Governing Magazine’s blog has two great posts about why New Jersey’s finances have tanked. It’s eerily familiar. I’m probably excerpting way too much, so I hope they’ll forgive me. From Part One, we pick up the story after Democratic Gov. Jim Florio is drummed out of office for raising taxes and Republican Christy Todd Whitman is elected on a promise to cut income taxes by 30 percent. Cut taxes she did, becoming a national star for her party in the process. To pay for the cuts, she took up the bad fiscal habits of prior governors (including Florio). For one thing, she emptied out a retirement health trust fund, taking some $300 million out of the kitty and turning it into a pay as you go program. She also eliminated the state’s annual billion-dollar appropriation to pay for pensions. Read the whole thing. Part Two can be found here.
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The Stroger beat
Tuesday, Jul 11, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller Once again, the Tribune buries the behind-the-scenes maneuvering over appointing an interim county board president. This is from the very end of the paper’s story: Steele has been lobbying hard for the position. But commissioners said Monday that no candidate appears yet to have the necessary votes to win the interim slot now that John Daley has removed himself from the running. Commissioner Forrest Claypool, who lost to Stroger in the March primary, said he would consider the position if no consensus candidate emerges.
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Pantagraph tries again
Tuesday, Jul 11, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller The Pantagraph reiterates its demand today for some pre-election revelations on what’s really going on in the Blagojevich administration. [Attorney General Lisa] Madigan was displeased with us for an earlier editorial suggesting she let the public know before November’s general election if there was sufficient evidence that the Blagojevich administration violated hiring laws, or that the administration has done nothing wrong. […] Expect this demand to spread before election day.
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Morning shorts
Tuesday, Jul 11, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller · The owners of the Chicago area’s horserace tracks have always hated each other and constantly tried to one-up the others. That’s a big reason why it’s always so difficult to pass any riverboat legislation - because the tracks can never seem to agree on how to divvy up their cut. Now, though, it looks like Mr. D has Bidwell very close to a checkmate situation. · “In the wake of allegations about Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s hiring practices, several high-profile Republicans are flocking to Illinois to stump for Republican challenger Judy Baar Topinka.” · Feds keep their word, seek leniency for Fawell’s fiancee · Geils insists on no talks with Chicago · Illinois 4-H sponsors food drive · “Exelon’s proposed takeover of New Jersey utility PSEG continues to run into opposition” · Daley welcomes Gay Games
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Happy birthday, Denny Ray Miller!
Monday, Jul 10, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller  Denny’s on the right, wearing the shades. My brother Doug (on the left) and his family are visiting him this week. I was out there a few weeks ago and we had one heck of a good time. Still recovering, in fact.
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Late afternoon shorts
Monday, Jul 10, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller · The mighty Kos (who, according to TNR, apparently controls the Internets) links to a post on this blog today about Gov. Blagojevich’s troubles and has a few choice words for the incumbent. We finally get a Democrat in the governor’s office in Illinois, and he has to go stink up the joint. Given that the last governor has been convicted of racketeering and bribery, it’s clear the people of Illinois deserve better. If you don’t know who Kos is, he’s a hardcore Democrat with about a kabillion readers every day. He also lived here, so he’s somewhat familiar with the state. · Once again, I forgot to link to my syndicated newspaper column: “There is so much more coming it is breathtaking,” an almost always reliable source said recently when asked about the recent flood of news stories about alleged corruption within Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration. · “Illinois’ highest-ranking judge is seeking as much as $7.7 million in his lawsuit against a suburban newspaper — and has considered pursuing other jobs when his term ends in 2010, legal documents show.” · Report Shows More Illinois Money Woes Beneath Budget Surface · Durbin visits Gitmo · Gov. Signs Law Expanding School Consolidation Options UPDATE: Mayor Daley has settled on his explanation: He should have kept a closer eye on things. “It is fair criticism to say I should have exercised greater oversight to ensure that every worker the city hired regardless of who recommended them was qualified and that proper procedures were always followed,” Daley said in his most extensive comments since convictions last week that rocked City Hall.
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Beavers claims Todd Stroger has the votes
Monday, Jul 10, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller Democratic ward bosses will meet next week to replace retiring County Board President John Stroger on the November ballot and Stroger’s son has a majority of the weighted votes, Ald. William Beavers said Monday. And it looks like Beavers had to toss in a sweetner to make the deal, which includes Todd getting the ballot spot, Beavers getting the county board seat and Beavers’ daughter taking his slot on the city council. On Monday, Beavers disclosed that he has decided to relinquish his powerful job as chairman of the City Council’s Budget Committee as a favor to John Stroger. No word yet on who would get Todd Stroger’s city council slot.
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Preference rules proposed
Monday, Jul 10, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller JBT held a press conference today about allegations that the Blagojevich administration was skirting the state’s veterans preference rules in order to place politically connected types in coded civil service jobs. Let’s skip the blah-blah-blah about how she is so shocked and saddened about the alleged misconduct and head straight to her proposed solutions (from a press release): * Veterans’ Preference Certification: Topinka proposes adding a certification requirement to state civil service hiring that compels the employing agency to certify that the veteran preference laws have been followed and that no veteran has been illegally or improperly passed over for the job in question. Currently, an employing agency already must certify in writing that the agency has fully complied with the Rutan ruling in a hiring decision or that the position in question is Rutan exempt. The Veterans’ Preference Certification simply would be incorporated into the existing Rutan certification process. Thoughts? UPDATE: From the wires: Blagojevich’s campaign said if Topinka supported veterans she would back his veterans’ health care program. UPDATE 2: The guv’s people are pushing this line a lot right now, and Quinn is reportedly gearing up for a major slam on JBT. Topinka said that while Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn should be complimented for making veterans a priority, she said something more substantive, such helping veterans get jobs, has to be done. The guv’s campaign does need to be a little careful that they don’t allow themselves to overreact to Topinka’s goofy statement since JBT’s own son is in the armed forces and served in Afghanistan. The vets’ healthcare plan only costs about $5 million GRF right now, with more money provided by a special lottery game, so this is a fair hit on Topinka, who wants pay raises for non-union state workers that would cost a whole lot more. And how much would it cost to find jobs for vets? If you’re going to claim the mantle of “No” then you should say “no” to everyone.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Tracey; Hendon; Schock; Target feed (Use all caps in password)
Monday, Jul 10, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Question of the day
Monday, Jul 10, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller A week ago, Doug Finke wrote this in his column: Last week we asked readers to suggest names for the new Amtrak trains that will start running in Illinois. Instead of the boring old names honoring Lincoln or other Illinois notables we suggested names that reflect the political climate of the state. Frankly, the response was underwhelming. Aside from the fact that Finke has chosen to call himself “we,” I thought this was a good idea, but that it might be better suited for our blog. So, what should the state name the new Amtrak routes? UPDATE: This was apparently a lame idea by both Finke and myself since the comments have been few and far between. Oops. lol
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Wow
Monday, Jul 10, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller Sometimes, I just shake my head in wonder. “Had my dad immigrated to the southern part of the state, instead of being a steelworker, he’d have been a coal miner, and I probably would have grown up instead of shooting hoops at the playground, shooting rifles and hunting,” said Blagojevich, appearing in casual dress outside the state-funded $50 million World Shooting and Recreational Complex that his administration championed. I’m almost speechless. I trust you aren’t.
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Keep on smiling
Monday, Jul 10, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller Christi Parsons has a good piece on Gov. Blagojevich’s decision to look chipper in the face of increasing adversity, even going so far as saying that the negative headlines are “great.” It’s a plucky strategy for dealing with public relations crises, one that only a public figure with supreme self-confidence can carry off in those shaky days after a negative development makes its way into the civic forum. · Meanwhile, the Daily Herald has a quote from the governor making a good point. “It was only three years ago that you guys would write stories about how the new governor, the new kid on the block, can’t get along. … What do you think part of that was?†Blagojevich said in upbraiding reporters. “You got a lot of disgruntled political leaders, even in my own party, because we wouldn’t do it that way (throw out Republicans and hire Democrats). … That’s why we have 13,000 fewer state employees today.†I don’t disagree at all, but that certainly doesn’t absolve his administration. · And the Tribune runs a somewhat bizarre piece comparing patronage hiring to business networking and alumni organizations. It’s quite the stretch.
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Morning shorts
Monday, Jul 10, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller · State among nation’s leaders in poverty indicators · Durbin interviewed · After a month, Sheridan counselors, Gateway still at odds · The lack of an Illinois capital construction plan is pushing some Rockford-area leaders to some unique steps. · State’s child support payments up · University of Illinois workers protest Democratic Governor Blagojevich · Medicaid money slow or non-existent · Blagojevich and the downstate shooting world · McCain, Giuliani to campaign for Topinka · GOP draws bull’s-eye on Bean · Cook County Seeks Loan Of $200 Million · Did Bush’s visit help or hurt Topinka? · Thursday’s convictions could scare some into making deals as City Hall probe continues · “Prosecutors want a federal judge to deny a defense motion to interview the jurors who convicted former Gov. George Ryan, saying it is an attempt to fish for claims of juror misconduct.” · Law OKs alcohol at Lincoln library, museum · Brunsvold’s influence everywhere · Mitchell: Hiring scandal signals lack of black clout at City Hall
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