Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » 2005

Thursday, Apr 7, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller

The personal attacks are increasing in the comments section again.

Frankly, I’m tired of being a blog policeman. I’ve got better things to do with my life, and I simply don’t have time to check on the blog during session days.

This is the end for comments. Other blogs have no comments and they seem to function just fine.

I’m pretty bummed about this, but I’m sick of dealing with the small handful of insistent jerks who have nothing better to do than post anonymous personal attacks on people, and I’m tired of apologizing for things that happen here which are beyond my control.

I may rig up a way to pre-screen comments via e-mail, but I’m not thrilled about that, either. I’ll miss the comments a lot, but feel free to e-mail me any time, unless you’re a moron or a hooligan.

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The wallflower attacks

Thursday, Apr 7, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller

Bradley fires back:

For the second time in less than a year Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, is on the offensive against Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The latest conflict began following a morning radio segment aired Tuesday on the Illinois Radio Network where Blagojevich claimed legislation introduced by Bradley to eliminate the state’s nine riverboat casinos was nothing more than an attempt to raise taxes. Bradley’s House Bill 1920, a plan that eliminates riverboat gambling in Illinois and provides retraining to former employees, sailed out of the state government administration committee last month by an eight-to-one margin.

“Of course I expect the governor to object to my legislation,” Bradley said. “Just last week he announced his proposal to increase the state’s reliance on gambling. It is ironic that last year he attacked me because I wouldn’t support his tax and fee increases, and now he is claiming I want more taxes. He and I disagree on the way government should operate.

“For me, this is about public policy and what is best for the future of this state. This is absolutely not an attempt to increase any tax or fee on the hardworking residents of Illinois.”

The governor’s office then responded with a written statement:

“The Governor’s comments were not directed at Representative Bradley, he was simply answering a question about his position on legislation that would eliminate all of the riverboat casino licenses.”

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Indiana payday loan reform works for consumers, business

Thursday, Apr 7, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller

(The following is a paid advertisement)

The Indiana Law that resulted from negotiations with the Community Financial Services Administration, a payday loan industry group, enacted strong consumer protections and has resulted in a viable short-term loan industry in that state.

Contrary to the claim of opponents to the Monsignor Egan Payday Loan Reform Act (HB 1100), regulations similar to those proposed in Illinois have not cost jobs and business in the payday loan market. Since passage of the law, the number of payday loan stores has increased from 310 to 470.

In Indiana, like in Illinois, the CFSA negotiated in good faith. According to J. Philip Gordon, Deputy and Chief Counsel, Indiana Department of Financial Institutions, “It was the efforts of the CFSA that recreated the industry into a viable and law compliant industry that causes us little or no concern.”

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Question of the day

Thursday, Apr 7, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller

Which victorious candidate in this week’s municipal election is most likely to move up the political ladder? Why?

UPDATE: All posts about Peggy Fuller and/or her “enemies” will be deleted from now on. Since they can’t play nice, they can’t play. Apologies to those her minions attacked.

10 Comments

Big money for big pharma

Thursday, Apr 7, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller

Apparently, he smacks them with one hand and gives them money with the other.

Despite his public criticism of the drug industry’s pricing practices, Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been showering Illinois pharmaceutical companies with tens of millions of dollars in grants and tax breaks to help them expand their operations in Illinois.

Blagojevich’s office on Wednesday announced its latest round of incentives: $15 million in tax credits, job training money and other grants to Japan’s largest drugmaker, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. The company will use the money to assist with an expansion here and relocate from offices in Lincolnshire to a new, larger U.S. headquarters in north suburban Deerfield.

It’s the fourth time in the last seven months Blagojevich, through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, has awarded certain incentives to drugmakers. In all, nearly $40 million in incentives are being awarded to Takeda; Lake Forest-based drug and device maker Hospira Inc.; Deerfield-based Astellas Pharma U.S. Inc.; and the Illinois Technology Innovation Campus, a proposed redevelopment of the vacant G.D. Searle & Co. drug research facility in Skokie into a biotech center.

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Overwhelming majority of tax hikes failed

Thursday, Apr 7, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller

From the Associated Press:

Two-thirds of the Illinois school districts seeking more money were turned down by voters in elections this week, an outcome that at least one advocate interpreted as a call for more state support.

School districts asked for permission to raise taxes in 69 elections Tuesday. They won only 22, according to figures released Wednesday by the Illinois State Board of Education.

In 29 referendums where districts sought to borrow money for construction or other expenses, voters approved only 12.

In all, 65 percent of the referendums failed, following a trend in recent years. Last fall, 75 percent of 51 tax questions failed.

Meanwhile:

A group wanting to change how schools are funded by raising state income taxes and lowering property taxes released a poll Wednesday showing two out of three voters back the concept, but Gov. Blagojevich was unswayed.

The survey of 600 voters paid for by the Service Employees International Union and the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability found that 69 percent favored the plan and 21 percent opposed it.

The March 2-6 poll was conducted by Lake Snell Perry Mermin & Associates, a Washington D.C. political consulting firm.

I’ll post the entire poll later today.

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