* Morgan Stanley issues full U.S. recession alert
* Countrywide Financial under IL probe, NY Times reports; more here
* Sun-Times media shareholder demands cost cuts
* Ditka defends charity but dissolves it
* Sun-Times Editorial: Ditka should have kept better on eye on charity
Ditka should have raised questions at the large disparity between the money his fund spent on three celebrity golf tournaments, costing $715,000, according to USA Today, and the charity his fund gave to ex-players.
“Not enough, probably, was given out,” admits Ditka, stating that $159,000 was the actual amount of the payouts, including a sizable sum to Misericordia, the local facility for children with developmental disabilities. One reason his fund didn’t give more money to ex-players, said a person involved in the trust who requested anonymity, was the unexpected difficulty of getting proud or mentally ill ex-players to apply for aid.
* Davlin says Springfield property tax may go up
Davlin blames the legislature, which has boosted — while not providing the money — firefighter pension and death benefits four times since 1999.
The council has no control over the pension benefits given to cops and firefighters, but local governments must provide the annual payment from property tax revenue. Actuaries determine the city’s pension payments, estimating what rate of return the systems will get on their investments.
* CHA proposing adult residents work 20 hours or face eviction
* Clout City: Right to work
City and negotiators for 33 trade unions representing 7,800 city employees recently hashed out a deal on pay and benefits for the next 10 years. Some critics have charged that the Daley administration gave away too much–pay will increase by 16 percent over the next five years alone–in the interest of ensuring labor peace during the possible buildup to the 2016 Olympics. Others, including many of the council’s black aldermen, have long howled that the trades shouldn’t get sweet city deals when they can’t be bothered to improve recruitment outside old white ethnic circles. Former alderman and current Cook County commissioner William Beavers summed up this view during last year’s Big Box minimum-wage debate: Unions, he said, “don’t do nothing for us in the construction industry.”
* Cook officials told to brace for cuts
* Stroger’s sales tax increase plan dies
* Tribune Editorial: The power of taxpayers
* Durbin seeks probe of air controller fatigue and runway safety at O’Hare; more here
* FutureGen developers plan site announcement on Tuesday, despite DOE ’slow down’ advice; more here
“What’s going on at DOE behind the curtain, I’m not sure,” Sheehan said.
“We do intend to move forward on December 18th as planned,” she said, adding the developers believe the DOE has plenty of time to finalize its record of decision. “We do feel collectively that we owe this (announcement) to the states of Texas and Illinois.”
The site announcement, initially due in September, has been delayed several times.
FutureGen’s developers say the coal-fired plant would emit almost no carbon dioxide, trapping the greenhouse gas and storing it underground. The plant is intended to be a prototype, experimenting with the technology so it can be used in future power plants.
* Two states, one big coal windfall
* IL school chiefs’ pay on sharp curve up
School superintendents’ average pay in Illinois climbed 23 percent in the last five years, a jump experts said reflects an increasingly competitive market and a number of retirees with big end-of-career raises.
* JCAR to vote later on smoking ban
“The law supercedes the rules,” Kimberly Parker, a state Department of Public Health spokeswoman, said Wednesday. “The law goes into effect as announced.”
* Russ Stewart: Madigan’s Misery, to quit or fight in 2010?
A new scenario is germinating: Lisa Madigan could run for the Illinois Supreme Court in 2010, when the terms of 1st District (Cook County) Justices Charles Freeman and Thomas Fitzgerald expire; if one or both retire, she would easily win a Democratic primary. And, if a Democrat occupies the White House, Lisa Madigan would be on a short list of potential U.S. Supreme Court appointees. In Illinois, Mike Madigan would back state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias in the primary against Blagojevich, and state Comptroller Dan Hynes would run for Lisa’s spot as attorney general.
* Oberweis to get Hastert endorsement; more here and here
* McQueary: Congressional candidate takes campaign to high school
* 18th CD candidates on tightening of immigration
* WurfWhile: SEIU endorsement gives Foster support, hurts Laesch
- Johnny USA - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 8:50 am:
Ya gotta say this about Lisa Madigan…she loves to get her name in the press by piling on whatever the popular legal pile-on of the day is. Kinda of a attorney general version of ambulance chasing.
Did she ever straighten out that cell phone snooping mess? Or did she just get credit for piling on that, too?
- Levois - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 8:52 am:
Gianoulias for Governor when Madigan didn’t back the guy last year what a reversal. So the state attorney general may not run for governor as rumored.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 9:00 am:
Blago would bury Alexi. If they could question the integrity of Jim Ryan, just imagine what they could do to Alexi.
Doesn’t matter if Blago is 100 times more corrupt. He’s got the funds and we already know the voters are swayed by the 60 second sound bite. Alexi will never take that chance.
- South of I-80 - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 9:09 am:
Everyone knows that it’s the assessor that raised property taxes not the taxing districts raising their levies AKA asking for more money!
- Ghost - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 9:15 am:
While it would be great for Lisa Madigan, the State would be the loser if she does not run for Governor.
AFter a couple of terms as Governor she would be well positioned to run for president.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 9:17 am:
I wouldn’t put too much stock in that last item yet, if I were y’all.
- Ravenswood Right Winger - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 9:22 am:
No way Lisa Madigan gets on the SCOTUSA. She went to Loyola for law school, not a top tier law school.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 9:23 am:
He was referring to the state supreme court, not US, but, again, hold your fire on this.
- Scheduler - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 9:30 am:
I agree with Rich but please remember that no Attorney General has ever became Governor in Illinois, (although most all have tried) and there are a myriad of reasons for this.
With regard to Johnny USA’s determination of “piling on”–that’s what AsG do. It is a 24-7 positive press release operation. Tickle Me Elmo no longer tickles? Task Force, now. Notwithstanding the lead content in almost any toy you can buy.
NAAG is not clled the National Association of Aspiring Governors for nothing.
That said, I like usually like Stewart’s analysis, but the Illinois and US Supreme Court seem to be fall-back positions for Lisa.
And the concept of Mike Madigan backing Alexi for anything (outside of nominally) is hard to fathom.
With regard to the GOP candidates…if this is the best they have…
- Snidely Whiplash - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 9:34 am:
While the last scenario is certainly doable, I fail to believe that Madigan would pass the hundreds of State jobs the AG controls over to the Hynes clique, reward Giannoulias with the governorship after he stepped all over Madigan’s state ticket, and give his daughter a job that, while distinguished, has no practical political power attached to it.
Madigan also doesn’t appear to be very found of Obama, and giving Alexi the guv post would likely give Obama huge influence in State government, policy, contracts and jobs.
As we all know, if Madigan remains Speaker and his daughter is the governor, he’ll basically enjoy more political control over this state than he’s ever dared to dream. With the voters in Illinois and its largest voting block, Cook County, mindlessly voting for every son, daughter, brother and wife of established officials, I doubt Madigan worries much about public perception, especially since his dauther now occupies the position that technically has investigative powers over his own office and political activities.
Lastly, I don’t think Madigan is willing to add the name “Giannoulias” to the roster of noble families now ruling in Illinois; not when there are still plenty of Madigans, Daleys, Joyces, Hyneses, Lipinskis, Strogers and Burkes who have yet to be annointed with their inheritances.
- Scheduler - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 9:39 am:
Ravenswood and Rich–Stewart did say “short list” of US Supreme Court candidates in the event of a Democratic president.
I’d realistically add US Attorney General to that speculation as well.
But I believe she is running for Governor, no matter what, regardless if her father steps down or not. I mean, didn’t Stewart even state at one time that Lisa could not get the nomination/win the election if her father were NOT Speaker of the House? Check his archives on this, I’m positive.
- Snidely Whiplash - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 9:41 am:
I doubt that Stewart actually believes this scenario might take place. He has a tendency to over analyze things and stuff passing thoughts into his columns.
- MOON - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 9:55 am:
What I see happening in 2010 is Obama coming back to Illinois (after not getting the Dem. nomination for Pres.) and running for Illinois Gov.. This will open the senate seat which I think Lisa will go for. As to who replaces Lisa as AG., it could be any number of people.
- Ravenswood Right Winger - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 9:58 am:
Rich-Russ’ article clearly refers to Lisa as a potential SCOTUSA nominee if a Dem wins the White House. This is all moot anyhow, she wants to be Governor.
- Ghost - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 10:01 am:
Snidely if madigan did not worry much about public perception, then he would not be refusing ALL gifts from anyone, far in excess of what is andated by State Ethics laws. he would be taking dinners and tickets to games etc.
As for the inference that Lisa Madigan would allow her father to engage in wrongdoing think again. To begin with she kept almost every republican, several in top spots, when she took over the office. No patronage rampage from her. The she hired for her lead inspector a well credentialed former detective for her Inspector general office, who voted republican in the last election!!!
She has internally banned any employee, their spouse or family members from doanting to her campaign. An act not requried by the ethics law and which no other constitutional officer has undertaken to my knoweldge.
She is about as far away as you can get form the normal Illinois politics. Heck she even left the spouse of her last challanger who served an at will contract position on the payroll because she was good at her job.
She is neither the puppet of her father, nor a person who would cover up misdeeds of her father if she learned he had engaged in wrongdoing.
- Snidely Whiplash - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 10:17 am:
Ghost,
I didn’t imply that she would “allow” her father to engage in wrongdoing. Again, we’re talking about public PERCEPTION, and she ran for the office of AG while her father was State Dem. Chair, State Rep. & Speaker … PERCEPTION …
As for your last sentence … are you telling me that if your father asked you for a favor you could give, you would refuse him EVERY time? And you would prosecute your own father??? Those suppositions seem rather far fetched to the average person, which, again, leads to the point of public PERCEPTION …
The Speaker doesn’t accept gifts (in my opinion) because he’s not greedy for such goodies, doesn’t need them, does add a bit of polish to his public perception for it, and can rest easy that he’s not being investigated for such abuses. I don’t think it’s the Illinois AG (whether she be Lisa Madigan or anyone else) Illinois officials fear; it’s PETER FITZGERALD.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 10:19 am:
Snidely, nobody fears Peter Fitzgerald.
- Snidely Whiplash - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 10:21 am:
DOH!!! Okay, made an idiot of myself mixing up my “P”’s … PATRICK FITZGERALD. Thanks rich.
- Snidely Whiplash - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 10:31 am:
Ghost, I see where you could have come to the conclusion that I was inferring that Madigan needn’t worry about public perception because his daughter would never investigate him: that sentence was poorly written. I was trying to convey my opinion that remaining in his positions while his daughter ran for and then won the AG position tends to show that he doesn’t rank public perception as his number one concern when putting together a ticket. I’d say that’s also shown by Dan Hynes (son of Tom Hynes) being on the same ticket. The main concern of these guys is keeping their power, and setting up their kids to take over the reins once they’re ready to retire. And that’s not a shot targeted specifically at the Madigans, but at the Chicago and Cook County nobility in general, who control nearly every office of any real significance in Chicago and Cook County.
- irishpirate - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 10:33 am:
Russ Stewart writes mucho crappo ofteno.
Lisa Madigan is not going to end up on the US Supreme Court or as Attorney General of the USA anytime soon.
Also the thought that Dan Hynes would sit back and let Gianfooolias run for Governor while he runs for AG is about as likely as me coming in as first runner up in the Miss America Pageant. I would come in no closer than 3rd runner up. Just check out Russ Stewart’s future columns for a prediction.
Here is a plausible scenario: Obama ends up in the White House and supports Hynes for Governor. Mike Madigan ends up in therapy for mumbling “Saint Barack” once too often. Lisa Madigan runs for Secretary of State.
Another scenario: Blago gets indicted and convicted. Pat Quinn becomes governor and runs for election. Blago hides out in his campaign office and claims “sanctuary”. Jesse White retires and everyone moves up a notch in state goverment offices.
- Anon - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 10:46 am:
why speculate when we will know so soon?
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 10:47 am:
===why speculate when we will know so soon?===
That’s why the comment was deleted.
- Scheduler - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 10:50 am:
Lisa Madigan running for Secretary of State–
Biggest laugh I have had all week.
- Ghost - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 10:52 am:
Little surpise, according to the AP Hastert has endorsed Oberweiss.
- Scheduler - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 10:52 am:
Whose “speculation” comment was deleted? Mine? I had some bad connectivity earlier.
- Snidely Whiplash - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 11:02 am:
Ghost, I caught that one the news last night, and while my own district has its own problems, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the residents of that district.
- Crimefighter - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 11:07 am:
At this point Blago has become so tainted he’d lose no matter how much cash he has.
- irishpirate - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 11:41 am:
National pundit picks up on Rich Miller column on Obama.
Andrew Sullivan on Rich Miller column
Some buccaneer must have sent the column along.
Just spreading the Gospel of Rich Miller…….praise be to State Political blogs.
- Southside Tony - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 12:25 pm:
That would be a good move by Madigan to back Giannoulias if this scenario actually pans out….Giannoulias is on the rise and Lisa does not seem like she wants the spot for Governor.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 12:26 pm:
Unless Russ Stewart, Rich or any other political pundit possesses psychic powers, none of them really know for sure what Lisa or Mike Madigan intend to do. Have either one of THEM ever said, on the record, whether they plan to run again and for what office? Everything else is just speculation which could turn out to be dead wrong.
- Odyssey 2010 - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 12:33 pm:
Giannoulias is a serious candidate with or without Madigan.
He has had a stunningly impressive first year, is charismatic, more likely to run well in the African American community, and seemed to match Lisa, Dan and Rod fundraising wise in the first filing period.
- Scheduler - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 12:44 pm:
Southside Tony: What planet are you from?
- Scheduler - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 12:47 pm:
Giannoulias is rising and the Madigans want no part of it.
- nobody sent - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 12:47 pm:
Madigan backing Alexi? Anybody else think Russ Stewart is totally full of it? He’s prognostications aren’t really that good.
- Swami says - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 1:18 pm:
Sorry to break it to the Hynes Kool Aid drinkers, but President Obama will be endorsing Giannoulias for Governor.
And Blagojevich and the Madigans are goibg to do so much damage to each other that people are going to be begging for the new face and Hynes has already tanked in the Senate race
- Bill - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 2:53 pm:
Right Winger,
Loyola IS a top tier law school.
- Lisa Watcher - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 3:15 pm:
Has anyone seen the fox news story last night? Here is the link http://www.myfoxchicago.com/myfox/pages/ContentDetail?contentId=5202253 . What is Lisa doing about this one. Looks like someone might have dropped the ball. International Profit Associates, weren’t they being investigated before she accepted her “in-kind” donation? What is Lisa Madigan doing with John Burgess of International Profit Associates? I heard International Profit Associates, John Burgess and friends are in some type of RICO suit. Disbarred attorneys on the wings of Lisa. That does not look good for her. I just thought it was pretty interesting. Does anyone know anything about this company she is investigating?
- anon - Thursday, Dec 13, 07 @ 6:18 pm:
Odyssey 2010…Give me a break. Giannoulias, serious candidate for Governor? Have you been reading the paper lately regarding his loans as a banker. Nevertheless, Ginannoulias goes as far as Obama and Jesse Jackson Jr. go. These are his major political sponsors.