Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » 2006

Monday, Feb 6, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

It turns out that Jim Oberweis is the only candidate for governor who supports corporal punishment.

Paddling students and other forms of corporal punishment were outlawed in Illinois in 1994, but Republican Jim Oberweis would consider bringing them back if elected governor.

Oberweis, a Sugar Grove dairy mogul, was the only major candidate for governor of either political party to support corporal punishment in schools in responding to a Daily Herald questionnaire. He indicated he would support it if parents and the school principal agree on the specific methods and waive liability.

My recollection is that corporal punishment was only used by teachers who were either sadists or who were too incompetent to keep control of their classes. But that’s my experience.

The question today, is Oberweis right? Why or why not?

81 Comments

Reform and renewal

Monday, Feb 6, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

More trouble for the governor and his pals.

Two music schools that use a close associate of Gov. Rod Blagojevich as their lobbyist got $1.5 million in state grants last year, a dramatic increase from previous years, state records show.

John Wyma, a former top aide and political adviser to Blagojevich, told a state senator last year that he was representing the Music Institute of Chicago and would be working to persuade Blagojevich to release a long-delayed grant.

The Evanston-based school collected $1 million from Blagojevich’s Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in August, state records show.

Wyma also has been hired by the Merit School of Music in Chicago as its lobbyist. After getting a combined $284,000 in state funds during the previous four years, the Merit School got a $500,000 grant from DCEO in December, records show.

Wyma didn’t register the schools as clients until Jan. 23, after they had gotten their money. Lobbyists are required to report new clients within two days of performing work for them.

15 Comments

Payment cycle to increase

Monday, Feb 6, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

It’s not getting any better.

ON WEDNESDAY, Blagojevichâ€™s health-care administrators testified that the average payment cycle â€” the time it takes for the governorâ€™s agency to process payment once it gets a bill â€” will reach 77 days when the fiscal year ends on June 30.

Thatâ€™s two days longer than the last fiscal year, when the payment cycle climaxed at 75 days.

The average now stands at 43 days. This is after the state borrowed $1 billion to pay down Medicaid bills.

19 Comments

Morning shorts

Monday, Feb 6, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

A tollway without an exit.

The governor’s race as a Saturday Nigh Live sketch.

Positive profile of Bill Brady in today’s Daily Herald, although the first paragraph isn’t exactly upbeat.

More trouble for the Peoples settlement.

State never formed panel to study abuse at nursing homes.

Pension forum coming up.

Eisendrath not a snob, says McQueary.

Blagojevich for president, the t-shirt. (Thanks to a commenter for the tip.)

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