Quote of the day
Thursday, May 23, 2013
* The Senate sent a bill to the governor today that will mandate the use of hands-free technology for mobile phone calls while driving…
“This is this is just one more step toward us losing essential freedoms in the interest of safety,” said state Sen. Matt Murphy (R-Palatine)
* Earlier this week, Sen. Murphy voted in committee to ban the sale of gun magazines which hold more than ten rounds of ammunition…
“I think this is a chance that this bill could save lives, and I think it’s worth taking that chance,” Murphy said.
- Posted by Rich Miller
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Question of the day
Thursday, May 23, 2013
* President Obama’s senior prom picture has surfaced…
* The Question: Caption?
Keep it clean and light, please. Thanks.
- Posted by Rich Miller
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- Posted by Rich Miller
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Today’s letter
Thursday, May 23, 2013
* Marquell Smith, a Marine Sergeant discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” has written a letter to several African-American state Representative’s who’ve said they oppose or are leaning against voting for the gay marriage bill. Here’s an excerpt, but you should really click here to read the whole thing…
Like you I’m African-American. I learned that the struggles of our people are a symbol of hope for those being discriminated against. We cannot let an important vehicle of past struggles —African-American churches— become the gatekeepers of the rights to dignity of others. Who are we to deny someone else the right to marry because we don’t agree with who they love?
Equality begins when people in positions of power enable everyone to live lives of decency and dignity, free from any prejudice in the law. Black folks did not want anyone’s permission to live freely; we can not rest until this dream is realized for everyone.
Despite our legacy we are now the very people denying others their equal rights. I’m inclined to believe that we can do better but we can’t do it without your support.
When I was discharged from the Marine Corps in 2006 under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, I learned firsthand what separate but equal feels like—and let me tell you it felt awful.
Discuss.
- Posted by Rich Miller
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“That’s leadership”
Thursday, May 23, 2013
* The governor’s press secretary didn’t much care for my characterization of our last three governors that I posted earlier today…
Ryan was a convicted felon, but was a solid governor.
Blagojevich was a convicted felon, and was a horrible governor.
Pat Quinn will never go to prison, but he’s no leader.
* Her response…
Give me a break.
Real leadership requires honesty and making hard but necessary decisions for the common good. Real leadership requires telling the truth, looking at the big picture and doing what’s best for generations to come. Prior governors got things done like approving big early retirement initiatives, pension holidays and unaffordable contracts that helped create the crisis we’re in now. Gov. Quinn has gotten things done like pension reform for new hires, Medicaid restructuring, the first capital bill in a decade, worker’s compensation reform and more.
That’s leadership.
Discuss.
- Posted by Rich Miller
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* From a press release…
An anti-fracking sit-in at Governor Quinn’s office Tuesday, continued Wednesday and resulted in another arrest. To date, two people have been arrested for refusing to leave the Governor’s office because he has yet to fulfill their request that he meet with community members in Central and Southern Illinois that will be most affected by his plans to bring hydraulic fracturing to the state and that he support a moratorium on the practice.
The sit-in began after a house of representatives committee voted to unanimously to support a bill to regulate hydraulic fracturing in the state of Illinois. The bill is scheduled to go to the house for a vote Thursday at noon.
Governor Quinn stated that he plans to sign the bill once it reaches his desk.
While proponents of state bill 1715 claim this the “strongest regulatory bill in the nation” critics claim it has minimal protections. The bill prohibits revealing special fracking solutions, nor can doctors or other officials make public chemicals that have poisoned people. In addition, the bills horizontal setbacks are only 500 feet from schools and 300 feet from rivers, although at least a 3,300 foot buffer zone is recommended.
When asked why she was arrested today, Dayna Conner said, “We know fracking is shown to cause direct harm to people and living communities. It destroys land and homes. We’ll do whatever it takes to keep this destructive means of extraction from harming our families and the land.”
Johnson, Pope, Hardin, Union and Jackson counties in Southern Illinois have voted for a moratorium on fracking as well as the cities of Carbondale, Murphysboro, Alto Pass and Carlyle.
Citizens will continue to put pressure on Quinn to support a moratorium throughout the remainder of the week. The sit-in at the governor’s office will continue Thursday with Occupy Springfield joining in. Illinois Peoples Action is organizing a protest at Governor Quinn’s this Friday at noon.
* A photo provided by the group…
More pics here.
- Posted by Rich Miller
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- Posted by Rich Miller
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Steal this book
Thursday, May 23, 2013
* Sneed…
Former Gov. George Ryan, who has been on his best behavior since he was released from a six-year federal prison term in January, is doing it by the book — he’s penning his memoirs.
“It’s going to be a no holds barred book and he is planning to tell it like it is,” said his son, Homer.
“Dad’s hard at work writing it, has a co-author, and tells me it’s going to be a humdinger,” he said. “I think it’s safe to say a few former top state leaders might be a little worried.”
Sneed is told that Ryan, who fought for a new trial while serving prison time on corruption charges, spends his time “talking to old political friends and allies by phone” while sifting through old files and letters kept at his family home in Kankakee — and making his weekly trek to Chicago to check in with his halfway house resident adviser.
“He carries around a tape recorder and every time he remembers a story or a vignette he spits it out,” said a source. “He’s been in politics for 40 years so he has a lot of stories to tell and is in the market for a publisher.”
* Ted McClelland doesn’t think the book will sell well…
Ryan was a colorless one-term governor who went to prison for crimes confined to the borders of Illinois. He won his last election 15 years ago. Now that he’s out of prison, and out of politics, he clearly has some scores to settle. I’m sure it will make him feel better to sit down and vent about the politicians, prosecutors and judges who done him wrong, but by now, their names are even less remembered than Ryan’s.
Colorless? Are you kidding? He was most definitely a colorful governor.
And while it’s true that the people he may be firing back at aren’t remembered much any more, he’ll likely get some national press if he writes about his death penalty moratorium, his memories of meeting Fidel Castro, etc.
Unlike Blagojevich’s goofy tome, I’m looking forward to Ryan’s book. Despite his many flaws, he was a governor who got things done. We haven’t had a governor like him since then.
Ryan was a convicted felon, but was a solid governor.
Blagojevich was a convicted felon, and was a horrible governor.
Pat Quinn will never go to prison, but he’s no leader.
What we most desperately need in this state is somebody who won’t be going to prison, but who still knows how to operate the levers of government and politics. Is that really too much to ask?
- Posted by Rich Miller
49 Comments
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* David Ormsby probably has the House situation read well…
A new, compromise conceal carry bill that surfaced on Wednesday will likely capture 80 votes or more in the Illinois House, sources say.
* But as I told subscribers this morning, there will be a big problem with this bill among Senate Democratic leadership and Gov. Pat Quinn…
“[The House bill] would overturn every gun regulation that home rule communities already have in statute, including Cook County’s Assault Weapons Ban, Calumet Park, Chicago, Cicero and Highland Parks reporting of lost or stolen ordinances and the Chicago responsible Gun Owners Ordinance. Your community would have NO input on who can carry in public!” [wrote Illinois Council Against Gun Violence Executive Director Colleen Daley]
* Another sticking point between the House and the Senate…
The House version would ban guns in bars where more than 50 percent of sales come from liquor. The Senate bill has a more restrictive standard. […]
A spokeswoman for Senate President John Cullerton said he would review the House bill with Sen. Kwame Raoul, a fellow Chicago Democrat who is sponsoring the stalled but more restrictive Senate version.
Raoul said he was not prepared to support the House bill as is. He said guns should not be allowed in places where any alcoholic beverages are served and that the bill is too restrictive on major cities that may want to crack down on a variety of other firearms issues. Raoul, however, did like the House provision adding a ban on carrying guns at street festivals.
* However…
“Every request from the city of Chicago on a prohibited location is in the bill,” Madigan said.
* A list of places where concealed carry will be prohibited, from a House Democratic fact sheet…
* Preschool, elementary, and secondary schools
* Child care facilities
* Playgrounds
* Public parks located within a municipality under the control of a municipality or park district
* Cook County Forest Preserve
* Bars (more than 50% of its gross receipts from the sale of liquor)
* State buildings
* Local government buildings
* Libraries
* Hospitals, mental health facilities, nursing homes
* Stadiums, arenas, and sporting events
* Airports
* Amusement parks, zoos, and museums
* Colleges and Universities
* Public transportation paid in part of whole with public funds
* Public gatherings authorized by a unit of local government
* Areas prohibited by federal law
* Other stuff…
* A non-resident who has a concealed-carry permit from another state could carry a weapon only in his or her vehicle while traveling in Illinois. A non-resident from a state that has substantially similar requirements as Illinois for a license could obtain a non-resident license at a cost of $300.
* Police, doctors, mental health professionals, health facilities, nursing homes and school personnel would be required to report any person they determine poses a clear and present danger to self and others.
* An applicant would be required to complete 16 hours of training, including exercises at a shooting range and a review of laws. Only one state requires more training. Costello said he’s hopeful that part of the training will be available online.
* Local units of government, including large municipalities that have “home rule,” would not be allowed to set their own rules on carrying firearms.
* More…
Under the plan, local law enforcement could object to carry permit applications based on the person’s arrest record and whether they believe the person to be a danger to themselves or to the public. The objection would be submitted to a newly created seven-member licensing review board that investigates further to make a final determination.
The board would consist of a federal judge, two attorneys, three FBI agents, and one mental health expert — all appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. The additional scrutiny by the board would be in addition to the person having passed a background check and having a valid Firearm Owner’s Identification Card.
* House voting schedule…
House Speaker Michael Madigan, who was involved in negotiations, said the legislation is a “good, sound” response to the court order by appeasing both gun-rights and gun-control advocates.
Madigan said the bill will be up for a vote today in the House Judiciary Committee with a House vote as early as Friday.
The Judiciary Committee meets this morning at 9:30 in room 114. Watch or listen here and keep an eye on our live session post for constant updates.
* Some react…
Pro-gun lawmakers, such as state Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, also expressed hope for passage, saying the measure is a compromise intended to meet a federal court order that Illinois get a concealed-carry law on the books by June 9.
Missing from the conversation Wednesday night was the National Rifle Association, which has not taken a position on the measure. The usually vocal Todd Vandermyde, who lobbies for the NRA, said he was reviewing the legislation.
Phelps said it’s a good sign that no one is claiming victory or defeat.
“I don’t know if anybody’s happy right now,” Phelps said.
* More on the NRA…
Phelps conceded that the lack of NRA approval might help the plan’s chance for passage in the Senate, where many Democrats support a much more restrictive bill. Phelps’ legislation appears to try to skate a thin line of avoiding excessively angering the NRA, thus pushing them to lobby against the bill, while also not giving them a reason to jump for joy, which might scare Senate votes off the plan. But the proposal does not allow Chicago or Cook County to be any more restrictive on licensing than the rest of the state, which some in the Senate may find tough to swallow.
Discuss.
- Posted by Rich Miller
173 Comments
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* This is welcomed news…
Apple will source some components for its first line of U.S.-assembled Mac computers from Illinois, Chief Executive Tim Cook has revealed.
The Illinois-sourced parts will be assembled in a Texas plant the tech firm plans to build at a cost of more than $100 million.
“The product will be assembled in Texas, include components made in Illinois and Florida, and rely on equipment produced in Kentucky and Michigan,” Cook said while giving testimony regarding Apple’s tax policies at the U.S. Capitol Tuesday.
* Not horrible news, but not good news either…
Chicago gained nearly 10,000 people from July 2011 to July 2012, but was the slowest-growing major city in the country according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates released Thursday.
It was the second year in a row that population grew here, but the increase so far shows no signs of making up for the loss of 200,000 people over the previous decade.
The growth here reflects a recession-driven trend of fewer people moving out of urban centers, said demographer Ken Johnson of the University of New Hampshire. […]
Like Chicago, suburbs in Cook County also grew slightly, adding about 7,600 people in contrast to losses from 2000-2010. […]
Among cities with more than one million people, sun-belt metropolises like Dallas, San Antonio, Phoenix, Houston and San Diego all posted gains of more than 1.3 percent, while Chicago grew by little more than one-third of 1 percent.
- Posted by Rich Miller
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- Posted by Rich Miller
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