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Morning shorts
Thursday, Jun 1, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller · Crain’s: AARP Illinois called on Gov. Rod Blagojevich and the state’s four legislative leaders to stop a scheduled power auction that is estimated to result in an electricity rate hike above 30% beginning next year. Meanwhile, Exelon is a step closer to becoming the nation’s top utility. · Assistant warden under investigation · The Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin and other riverboats in Aurora and Joliet have joined in a lawsuit to stop the state’s new casino tax, which would send money to the horse-racing industry. · From longer prison terms for negligent owners to mandated spaying and neutering, Illinois has a new set of laws designed to prevent serious and sometimes fatal attacks by dangerous dogs. · Ex-cons’ prospects for jobs brighten · A construction strike affecting projects in nine counties, including a massive overhaul of the Dan Ryan Expressway, was scheduled to begin at midnight Thursday, union officials said. · The Cubs may be on the auction block, but not the Tribune Towers · Politicos honor George Dunne · New Mississippi River bridge still in limbo · ‘”Silly, silly, silly, silly“? · Daley OKs maximum school tax hike
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- DOWNSTATE - Thursday, Jun 1, 06 @ 6:35 am:
RICH any truth to the rumor that there was a very bad staff assult at Galesburg.
- Disgusted - Thursday, Jun 1, 06 @ 7:16 am:
“Da Mayor” has learned anything from da gov? You get your rich friends and contributors to FLY you to your summer home, thus avoiding traffic. What’s the good of having all those hangers-on, if you can’t put them to your own good use, other than raiding their pockets, of course.
- Cassandra - Thursday, Jun 1, 06 @ 9:00 am:
What is interesting about the Casey investigation is not what this silly state employee did but that apparently it’s okay
for state employees to have a second job as a lobbyist and for companies doing business with the state, no less. How many more of these did Roger Walker and other agency heads sign off on.
Now, where’s Cindi Canary on this. Isn’t it time for yet another toothless statement about Illinois corruption from Cindi and her group.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Jun 1, 06 @ 10:15 am:
So, even after all the threats towards the ICC Commissioners he appointed, Blagojevich will not stand behind his own statements regarding the reverse auction?
He chose them, he got them, now be a good governor and make them do what you want them to do!
- NW burbs - Thursday, Jun 1, 06 @ 10:21 am:
Huge hat tip to Austin Mayor…
Rich wrote: “Ex-cons’ prospects for jobs brighten”
…And leave it to uber-conservative Peter Roskam to tell us why this is a bad thing.
From the article: “It’s a concept that can sound interesting in theory, at dinner conversation,” said Sen. Peter Roskam, R-Wheaton, who wondered, for example, about legislation that might prompt employers to hire ex-felons instead of single mothers. “But when you really start to put pen to paper, that’s when you run into problems.”
And what has Mr. Roskam ever done to create positive social policy for single mothers? Did he sponsor any family leave legislation? And sort of daycare or healthcare legislation for single moms?
I cannot imagine how immensely difficult it would be to be a single parent (mom or dad) because it’s hard enough raising kids for my wife and I together. But rather than lip service for political ends Mr. Roskam should have been doing something in all his years in Springfield….
Where is the Roskam Law for Single Mothers????
And, in that same Lincoln Courier article IL Retail Managers Association spokesperson Rob Karr pops Roskam’s balloon with one big point — it ain’t like employers aren’t going to hire the best people for the job anyway.
Maybe single moms wouldn’t do well driving forklifts around the stockroom but an ex-con would be good at that job… Maybe an ex-con isn’t the greatest people person for the perfume counter but a single mom might be…
The more I hear from Roskam the less substance there seems to be.
(Of course, at least these comments didn’t go as far as Roskam and the right’s misrepresentations on past bills. But that ain’t saying much.)
- Merlin - Thursday, Jun 1, 06 @ 10:28 am:
Here is another thing that is silly.
Who can help fix the City of Chicago Department of Aviation employee contact website? It has been so wrong for so long most of the employees are either gone or dead. The Commissioner is still listed as Thomas Walker. The main # connects to FedEx.
Check for yourself. Go to the City of Chicago website and then to “Contact Usâ€.
(http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/home.do)
When you click on the little telephone icon that reads “City Phone Directory†and click on Aviation they provide the main # as 773-601-2255 which connects to Fedex. All the phone numbers are wrong, disconnected or fax numbers. I tried to get the department to fix this several times and did not receive a response.
- NW burbs - Thursday, Jun 1, 06 @ 11:05 am:
Merlin — you can’t use your magic to fix it?
- Walking Wounded - Thursday, Jun 1, 06 @ 11:20 am:
Ex-cons don’t necessarily have to rely on private enterprise for jobs. The Secretary of State’s office is very open minded when it comes to employing people who have served time behind bars, whether it was Federal, local or state.
- NW burbs - Thursday, Jun 1, 06 @ 11:50 am:
Walking, by the same token, it seems the US House of Representatives is very open to accepting people (of many persuasions) who are about to serve time…
- Lovie's Leather - Thursday, Jun 1, 06 @ 3:07 pm:
Aw, isn’t Daley just a silly Sally….
- SICKOFITALL - Thursday, Jun 1, 06 @ 4:57 pm:
SB1287 Was also passed as a bill to help Veteran’s. Businesses get the same tax advantage for hiring ex-con’s or Veteran’s. Isn’t that just great. Ex-con’s and Veteran’s being treat as equal’s.