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SurveyUSA

Wednesday, Dec 14, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller

December trackers are online for US Senate.

Durbin: 46% approve, 39% disapprove.

Obama: 69% approve, 23% disapprove.

Discuss, if you’re at all interested.

20 Comments

Question of the day

Wednesday, Dec 14, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller

There are lots of rumors about how much money Edwin Eisendrath will spend in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. I talked to him about it yesterday and he flatly refused to comment.

How much do you think it will take to defeat Gov. Blagojevich in the primary? Is there any amount? What else will Eisendrath have to do to win?

74 Comments

Killing the airport?

Wednesday, Dec 14, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller

The Congressman isn’t happy.

Congress is expected to pass a defense bill this week that could indefinitely delay construction of the proposed Abraham Lincoln National Airport.

The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to pass overwhelmingly this week a bill supporting military personnel and their families, despite an amendment that would require all new airports be governed by a local airport commission.

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., at a news conference Tuesday said Rep. Jerry Weller, R-Morris, added an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act of 2006 that would require the Federal Aviation Administration to approve only local airport commissions if the governing body is composed of a majority of local residents who live in the county where the airport is located.

The amendment would give Will County officials governing power over the proposed airport and the 4,200-acre footprint, essentially eliminating the Abraham Lincoln National Airport Commission or ALNAC, largely made up of municipalities in Cook County.

“Weller’s amendment is designed to kill the airport. This is bad legislation driven by politics,” Jackson said.

And this from the Sun-Times:

A spokesman for Weller (R-Ill.) refused to comment, answer any questions or even confirm that the proposal exists.

“All you’re getting is a big, fat no comment from us,” Weller spokesman Chris Kennedy said.

Open government at its finest.

30 Comments

Way down

Wednesday, Dec 14, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller

In the middle of a profile of the new head of the Chicago Crime Commission, James Wagner, we get this:

Because of state budget cuts and hiring freezes under Gov. Blagojevich, the Gaming Board has gone from 18 investigators when Wagner started there to just eight at present.

“That’s just not enough to do the job over there,” Wagner told me Tuesday, admitting that frustration with the situation at the Gaming Board was a major factor in his decision to leave after he was recruited for the Crime Commission opening.

There are 10,000 casino employees in Illinois, each of whom has to undergo a background check by the investigative staff before they can be licensed. Owners and managers are supposed to get more extensive background investigations. The Gaming Board also must investigate the companies that supply gaming equipment to the casinos.

“I really was not comfortable we had enough people to do a satisfactory job. We did the best we could, but I would strongly recommend that the state increase the manpower there,” said Wagner with the understatement one would expect from a career FBI agent.

I knew the numbers had dropped. But eight? Unreal.

12 Comments

Doesn’t look so bad from here

Wednesday, Dec 14, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller

This seems kinda quaint, considering Illinois has a fleet of state planes and a Tollway helicopter.

Gov. Bill Richardson found a surefire way to bypass traffic while heading to a bill-signing ceremony in Albuquerque last spring: Instead of driving the 60 miles south, he hopped aboard a speedy state police helicopter.

The New Mexico governor has taken 40 trips on the sleek state-of-the-art chopper since December 2003, when the state bought it for $3.8 million.

There’s nothing illegal about the governor’s flights — which take place, according to his administration, only if the aircraft is not needed by police.

But some Republicans accused Richardson, who is often mentioned as a possible Democratic presidential candidate, of showboating.

Showboating? What about this?

Bobby Rahal helped Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich open three new Open Road Tolling lanes on Dec. 11. The lanes allow drivers with I-PASS to get to their destinations faster on I-294 because they no longer have to slow down or stop at toll booths.

Rahal drove a red 2005 Indianapolis 500 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car through the new Touhy Avenue Plaza.

“Thanks to Bobby Rahal for coming out today to dramatize how Open Road Tolling lanes will allow motorists to get to their destinations faster,” Blagojevich said. “I’ve been coming out for each Open Road Tolling opening because I want drivers to know we are doing everything we can to reduce congestion.”

Now that’s showboating, my friends.

18 Comments

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