Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » 2006

Friday, Apr 7, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Talk at you Monday.

If the mood strikes, head to Illinoize. Always lots of fun there.

UPDATE: I don’t care what you’re doing this weekend, you have to make time to check out the Republican interviews over at Krime & JustUs In Da “P” with Coach Ron.

UPDATE: If the Bill Brady interview isn’t loading you can find it here. “Keep pushin’ love.”

UPDATE: WGN TV has posted the impromptu “debate” between Gov. Blagojevich and Treasurer Topinka that happened the morning after the primary election. It cuts off before Topinka walks out, however. Check it out here.

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This just in… NO BUDGET MEETING TODAY - and afternoon shorts

Friday, Apr 7, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Â· The governor and the two Democratic legislative leaders will not have a budget meeting today. No future meetings are scheduled. “The Speaker wasn’t available,” said a spokesperson for Gov. Blagojevich.

Madigan is still meeting with his members to see what they want from the budget. Madigan’s spokesman said that Madigan and staff would be in Springfield on Sunday and would be available. Check back for updates.

UPDATE: I should point out that the governor had invited both Senate President Emil Jones and Speaker Madigan to his office today to negotiate budget details.

This, of course, does not bode well for getting the budget done any time soon. There are just three full scheduled overtime session days left before Passover.

UPDATE 2: From a Blagojevich spokesperson:

(I) wanted to let you know that the staffs are still crunching numbers and the leaders will get together sometime next week. We feel like we made some progress this week and that after several discussions, the leader’s are not that far apart. We look forward to coming back next week and making even more progess and getting to a budget that works not only for the Governor and for legislators but for people.

Meanwhile, here are a few afternoon tidbits.

Â· Don’t bother reading the story at this link, but make extra sure to watch the video. CBS2 had a little fun with Topinka’s “weasel eyes” comment.

Â· Tuition might rise again. U of I trustees will consider increase

Â· Here’s another one I missed this morning:

The overwhelming support in Springfield for an open primary election has motivated Sam Cahnman to take the initiative statewide.

Cahnman, a candidate in the November election for the Illinois House, is advising voters to attend annual township meetings across the state next week to place similar advisory referendums on the fall ballot.

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Friday, Apr 7, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Enough!

Friday, Apr 7, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

It’s way past time for the Illinois State Board of Elections to provide some clear and cogent and complete rules for the replacement of Congressman Lane Evans on the November ballot. There is just way too much confusion out there about how to proceed and this wouldn’t have to be endlessly litigated if the SBE would just do its job.

For instance:

The Democrats need to settle the issue of who gets to vote at their nominating convention. Don Johnston, the17th District committeeman and co-arranger with committeewoman Mary Boland of the convention, contends only precinct committeepeople elected March 21 get to vote. Rock Island County Democratic Chairman John Gianulis thinks votes should go to committeepeople to be appointed later this month to fill the many vacanies that exist — up to 50 percent of the posts may be vacant.

Then there’s the question of how proxy votes will be handled.

The replacement election is a party matter, but the state must exert some oversight and direction. So far, the Board of Elections has only managed to confuse things. They need to get it together now.

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Question of the day

Friday, Apr 7, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

It’s Friday, so let’s lighten things up a little. Come up with a caption for this photo:

By the way, your comments about yesterday’s lightning strike were very popular at the Statehouse. Good job.

59 Comments

Kabuki dance

Friday, Apr 7, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

He-said, she-said political back and forth.

As negotiations on a new state budget crept along Thursday, the Illinois Senate rejected a massive construction-bond program promoted by Democrats.

By identical 32-26 votes, the Senate failed to approve a $1 billion school-construction initiative and a $3.3 billion road-construction program. Because both bills involved the issuing of bonds, a three-fifths’ majority, or 36 votes, was needed to pass. But Republicans, the minority party in the Senate, refused to support them.

Republicans and Democrats traded accusations about who was playing politics.

“These proposals are nothing more than a cynical campaign stunt,” said Sen. Chris Lauzen, R-Aurora.

“It would be in (Republicans) best interest to vote for this,” said Sen. Donne Trotter, D-Chicago, sponsor of the road-construction plan. “If not, then they are just playing political games.”

The Sun-Times has more.

Senate Republicans called Thursday’s deliberations a political charade never intended to truly address the state’s massive infrastructure needs because there was no reliable funding source built into the program. GOP critics also charged the governor could not be trusted to ensure construction work would be spread evenly to Democratic and Republican districts and questioned why the Blagojevich administration did not lobby them when their votes were essential.

“These people have no idea what it takes to govern. We’re on the floor tonight debating the issue, and they want to talk about it tomorrow. This is ludicrous,” said Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson (R-Greenville). “You talk about politics. That’s what it’s about with this governor. He’s not sincere or serious about doing anything.”

But Sen. Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago) defended Blagojevich and said Republicans who didn’t follow the Democrats’ lead were putting politics over school kids.

“You hate the man,” Hendon said. “Let me tell you, I trust the governor. . . . More importantly, you should support the children of Illinois, even if you don’t like Rod, even if you don’t like me, even if you don’t like President Jones.”

The Tribune had the best lede.

A long Thursday at the Statehouse started with a bang but ended with a whimper for Democrats who couldn’t persuade Republican lawmakers to add crucial support for a multibillion-dollar school construction and public works plan pushed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

A thunderbolt struck the Capitol complex with a blinding flash as lawmakers gathered in the morning, temporarily disrupting the Senate’s sound system. Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) quipped that it was “divine intervention” meant to quicken budget talks that will keep lawmakers in session past Friday’s scheduled adjournment.

More here.

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False alarm

Friday, Apr 7, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Sneed has the story.

Former Gov. George Ryan and wife, Lura Lynn, aren’t the only ones anxiously awaiting the verdict in his federal corruption trial.

*To wit: Nail-biting reporters scurried en masse to the Dirksen federal building Thursday when it was learned two women jurors who have been wearing casual clothes during deliberations were spotted in more formal attire — thereby sending a vibe to the fourth estate that a verdict might be imminent.

*Nit wit: This should have been a “not yet” hint: Two female jurors maintained their exercise routines Thursday by donning headphones and walking the stairs outside the jury room.

Yesterday, when the jury decision rumors began, I sent an e-mail to a reporter friend who is covering the trial. He sent this back (slightly edited for content):

It’s BS as far as I can tell. I’ve been checking and we have someone down there. 780 AM reported that “two jurors dressed nicely today.” Well, it’s the forewoman, who ALWAYS dresses nicely, and the hot North Shore Marathoner Mom, who also often dresses nicely. Sun Times sent 7 people over, but they’re apparently treating it as a dress rehearsal.

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JBT under fire

Friday, Apr 7, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Judy Baar Topinka takes some heat for her comments in yesterday’s George Will column.

Yet what can pass for candor or eccentricity in drawing voter attention to a low-level state office becomes magnified under the glare of the race for governor. How her comments, or her latest rendition of “Lady of Spain,” will play with voters in the Nov. 7 election is an open question.

“You can pop off sort of under the radar when you’re the GOP Lincoln Day speaker or the warm-up act,” said Christopher Mooney, a political scientist at the University of Illinois at Springfield. “When you’re the top dog, then people take everything you say much more seriously and pay more attention to it.”

On Thursday, nationally syndicated columnist George Will wrote about Topinka’s challenge to Blagojevich. He said that Topinka “speaks about her opponent with a Chicago vigor: He is `slick’ and `has little weasel eyes.’” […]

But some Republicans are privately expressing concern that Topinka’s campaign has not made a quick transition from a primary in which she largely played defense as the front-runner to a general election in which the level of competition against Blagojevich, a seasoned campaigner, is much higher.

More here.

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The Burke beat

Friday, Apr 7, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

The Tribune has a good backgrounder today about the politics of the Illinois Supreme Court.

The selection this week of Anne Burke, wife of powerful Chicago Ald. Ed Burke (14th), to the state’s highest court has drawn new public attention to the long-standing role of politics in the state’s judicial system.

Many of the justices who have served on the state Supreme Court once stood, hat in hand, before political party leaders as they sought selection for a county judgeship that became a steppingstone. Freeman and Bilandic, Appellate Court judges in 1990, sought the backing of Cook County Democratic Party leaders when they successfully ran for the Supreme Court.

Freeman defeated Mary Ann McMorrow in the Democratic primary in 1990. Two years later, McMorrow got the backing of the Democratic Party organization and won a seat on the high court. McMorrow, the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court, announced Wednesday that she was stepping down and had recommended Burke as her replacement.

“The idea that we get our judges from Mt. Sinai is just not the case,” said Abner Mikva, a former federal judge and congressman who acknowledges politics and knowing then-President Jimmy Carter played a role in his selection to the federal bench. “They’ve all come through some political process at some point. But what matters most is what you do once you get there.”

The Sun-Times editorial board has some reservations about the way Anne Burke was appointed to the Supreme Court this week.

But while we have no problem with the passing of the torch between the two accomplished jurists, we have some reservations about how the torch was passed. McMorrow announced her retirement Wednesday and presented the appointment of Burke by Supreme Court members as a fait accompli. We have no idea who else, if anyone, was considered. That’s emblematic of a judicial selection process in Illinois dominated by insiders. Burke has proved herself to Illinoisans. We suspect she will be overwhelmingly elected if she runs to win a full 10-year term in 2008. But that doesn’t change the fact that the process should have been more open.

The Tribune edit board also weighed in on a separate issue.

But Burke also has raised questions that stem from her behind-the-scenes influence on decisions affecting the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services in recent years. She used a local gossip columnist to steer policy debates and made concerted efforts to discredit former DCFS Director Jess McDonald, who did more to bring stability and professionalism to the department than any director in decades. McDonald had not reacted as Burke and her husband, Ald. Edward Burke (14th), had wanted during their disputed quest to adopt a foster child.

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Morning shorts

Friday, Apr 7, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Â· Skinner: “The Republican National Convention has again been set too lateâ€”Sept. 1st through 4th–for the next GOP presidential nominee to be placed on the Illinois ballot without changing state law.”

Â· Ryan can’t get an answer:

RMMF: “Mr. Speaker am I safe to buy tickets for the Blue & Gold game on April 22nd?”

Speaker: (walking up the stairs) “It should be a good game!”

RMMF: “I know, that’s why I want to go. But will I be safe getting tickets with session?”

Speaker: (smiling) “I don’t know?”

Â· Royko at the Goat

Â· Random thoughts during the jury waiting game

Â· Friday Beer Blogging: Back to Basics Edition

Â· “Maybe a forced time-out might be in order.”

Â· “The nomination of social liberal Judy Baar Topinka by the Illinois Republican Party for Governor last month will provide a case study as to why the national GOP must avoid a pro-choice nominee for President in 2008.”

Â· Doug Wilson Is A Stud

Â· “We hate to burst the bubble of those who are hoping Senator James Meeks will put together a third party bid for governor, but folks, he’s not running.”

Â· More on the Mass Health Insurance Plan

Â· Peoria Pundit: Are ethanol cars really better for the environment? They certainly arenâ€™t good for Peoriaâ€™s budget

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Lightning strikes the capitol

Thursday, Apr 6, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

The Statehouse was just hit by lightning. The power is on, but there may be a problem with the Senate’s audio feed.

Insert your own punchline here.

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Question of the day

Thursday, Apr 6, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

The spring legislative session was originally scheduled to adjourn tomorrow. That is now an impossibility.

Question: Will an overtime session harm Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s reelection bid, or is this just too inside baseball to matter? Explain.

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Thursday, Apr 6, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Thursday, Apr 6, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

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George Will profiles JBT

Thursday, Apr 6, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Judy Baar Topinka goes after Gov. Blagojevich in George Will’s latest syndicated newspaper column and goes out of her way to distance herself from President Bush.

[Blagojevich] is, [Topinka] says, the person referred to as ‘’Public Official A'’ in one or more of five ongoing investigations by Illinois’ Inspector Javert - Patrick Fitzgerald, the Chicago-based federal prosecutor who also is the pursuer of Scooter Libby. Topinka merrily says ‘’there is no loyalty in (Blagojevich’s) administration whatsoever.'’ His ‘’own staff rats him out'’ and ‘’some of his staff have been wired.'’

Topinka speaks about her opponent with a Chicago vigor: He is ‘’slick'’ and ‘’has little weasel eyes.'’ He also has big liberal spending plans for the state (e.g., universal preschool) and for the private sector (a $7.50 minimum wage, $2.35 above the federal minimum). Although Blagojevich, 49, in his clear-sighted youth voted twice for Ronald Reagan, he has become a standard-issue contemporary Democrat whose base is the public employees unions. His creative accounting includes counting as current revenues some savings he forecasts in future pensions.

Topinka’s task is to tap into, or perhaps foment, voter anxiety about the suffocation of the state’s economy by the state’s government. She says Illinois ranks 45th among the states in job creation. Actually since February 2005 it is 38th, which is bad enough. She charges that 15 trucking companies - ‘’They have assets on wheels'’ - have fled the state to escape new fees.

Topinka says Karl Rove urged her to run, hoping to offset in Illinois a probable gubernatorial loss in New York. Would she like President Bush to campaign for her? An aide says, not exactly: ‘’We just want him to raise money.'’ Topinka does not demur as the aide adds: ‘’Late at night.'’ Pause. ‘’In an undisclosed location.'’

Maybe Illinois Republicans have found their John McCain. Now they will find out whether such ‘’straight talk'’ works.

“…whose base is the public employees unions.” Um, George, AFSCME endorsed Topinka.

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The Meeks front

Thursday, Apr 6, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

The meeting with AFSCME apparently went well.

(P)otential third-party gubernatorial candidate and state Sen. James Meeks (D-Chicago) embraced a call from AFSCME Council 31 for $50 million in the 2007 state budget to hire 2,000 workers in the departments of Children and Family Services, Human Services and Corrections.

Meeks called it a “travesty” that those agencies are understaffed, as the union alleges, and said existing state employees are being “put in harm’s way.”

AFSCME, which represents most state workers, has clashed with the governor, didn’t endorse him in last month’s primary and represents a key political constituency if Meeks moves ahead with his candidacy.

Jones, however, questioned the wisdom of ballooning the state work force in tight economic times.

“I don’t know whether it’s viable or not. Everyone has great ideas, but you have to come up with the revenue to do it,” Jones said.

More here.

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Budget roundup

Thursday, Apr 6, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

The AP’s report:

Democrat leaders delivered some good news and bad news at the state Capitol Wednesday as the self-imposed deadline for a new state budget draws near.

The good news: The top two Democrat legislative leaders huddled behind closed doors with Gov. Rod Blagojevich for about two hours in the first serious budget discussions of the spring.

The bad news: The leaders talked only generally about the budget and signaled there still are some major obstacles to clear before an agreement is reached, even as they hope to finish their work within a week.

When did the AP start using the phrase “Democrat leaders”? The last time I checked, it was called the Democratic Party. Only Republicans wanting to make a subtle rhetorical point usually use that Democrat Party stuff. Anyway, here’s the Tribune’s take.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich and fellow Democrats who control the legislature began negotiating Wednesday on how much spending they can include in a new state budget as the governor sought to keep his showcase initiatives intact.

Blagojevich made a rare appearance in the waning days of the spring legislative session, amid grumbling from lawmakers that there may not be enough money for some of his key proposals.

And the Sun-Times:

With a self-imposed adjournment deadline looming, Gov. Blagojevich and top Democratic leaders Wednesday took their first steps toward crafting a new state budget. […]

Our staffs have been meeting, but there are major items I believe the leaders have to resolve, and that’s what this meeting was all about,” said Jones, the only leader to talk about the private session.

It was unclear how far apart dollar-wise the three sides are in a 2007 spending plan, but one area of disagreement appeared to be Blagojevich’s $90 million plan to create a $1,000 tuition tax credit for college students who maintain a “B” average. Sources familiar with the talks indicated Madigan pushed to dole out the money in a state grant program, while Jones advocated a mix between grants and tax credits.

Still, a Blagojevich aide said there were no major areas of contention and that all three leaders plan to resume talks today, six days before lawmakers hope to wrap up their work for the spring.

Lee Newspapers:

Democratic leaders told Gov. Rod Blagojevich to accept a smaller budget Wednesday. […]

“We’re going to do what’s necessary to get a budget and then get - out of here,” said Jones, D-Chicago, following the meeting.

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Oy, part 102,947

Thursday, Apr 6, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

The disaster continues.

State lawmakers lambasted education officials Wednesday over their failure to ensure that critical state tests were delivered on time, questioning whether results would even be valid.

“I would fire everyone that sits in front of me at this point,” state Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora) told state schools Supt. Randy Dunn and his top staff.

Dunn and other administrators at the Illinois State Board of Education appeared for three hours before a committee of House members who questioned how the state agency could have failed to get out state achievement tests to some school districts. Most 3rd through 8th graders were supposed to be tested between March 13 and March 24, but 190 districts asked to delay testing when they didn’t get their test booklets and other materials on time.

Two schools still hadn’t done their testing as of Wednesday, including Prairie Crossing Charter School in Grayslake. In addition, districts also found errors in testing materials.

“Who is responsible for this embarrassment?” asked Rep. William Black (R-Danville).

“We are, I am, no doubt about it,” Dunn quickly responded.

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Switcheroo

Thursday, Apr 6, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Anne Burke replaces McMorrow on Supreme Court.

Mary Ann McMorrow never got to argue a case before the Illinois Supreme Court. When she was a young lawyer, her boss wouldnâ€™t let a woman handle such an important task.

McMorrow made up for that slight by becoming the first woman to sit on the stateâ€™s highest court, even serving as chief justice, in a trailblazing career that will end this summer.

She announced â€œwith a heavy heartâ€ Wednesday that she is retiring July 5.

The court said Appellate Justice Anne Burke, wife of Chicago Alderman Edward Burke, will fill the vacancy created by McMorrowâ€™s departure.

McMorrow, 76, was the only woman in her 1953 class at Loyola law school. She was the first woman to prosecute major felony cases as an assistant Cook County stateâ€™s attorney. She became the first woman on the stateâ€™s highest court after her election in 1992.

More here, here and here.

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Morning shorts

Thursday, Apr 6, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Â· The husband of an Illinois congresswoman was sentenced to five months in prison Wednesday. Robert Creamer is married to US Representative Jan Schakowsky. He was convicted on charges of writing bad checks and tax evasion

Â· Illinois’ largest medical malpractice insurer announced Wednesday it would reduce its physician policy holders’ average premiums by 5.2 percent for the upcoming policy year.

Â· Bernie: Blagojevich money machine rolls on, conflict or not

Â· Pantagraph editoral: Democrats ignore questionable IDOT spending

Â· Senate unanimously OKs bill to bar funeral protests

Â· Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich joined California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and 12 other governors in pressing federal lawmakers Wednesday to find money to reimburse states for the cost of jailing illegal immigrants.

Â· Arrangement involving state fire marshal, AFL-CIO unresolved

Â· More questionable behavior in Kane County. Seriously, what the heck is going on there?

Â· Larry is not pleased at all with a recent Daily Herald story and makes some good points.

Â· Tribune editorial: Fighting for leftover crumbs

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