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Campaign update
Wednesday, Jul 26, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller · The governor’s preschool plan seems like a pretty decent program on its face. But the program has restrictions on how the slots are doled out, giving priority to children who are at risk of failing in school. After at-risk children are placed, working families meeting certain income guidelines are next in line for openings. Then any open slots would go to other families who applied. However, like all of Gov. Blagojevich’s much-hyped planS, I’m just waiting to be disappointed by depressing revelations in the near future about how the whole thing is screwed up. By the way, we’re all very aware that some people don’t like mandatory pre-school, but this isn’t mandatory. So, please, try to stay away from the black helicopters in comments. · Topinka was in Rockford yesterday. “Out of all 50 states, Illinois ranks last in net assets and second to last in government funds. Boy, are we limping. … We are drowning in red ink, and that means we lack in the ability to invest in our future, especially in critical improvements to our state’s roads and bridges and other transportation needs,†Topinka said. […] The thing about Topinka is her quotes jump right off the page. The governor’s sometimes do, too, but it’s mostly what he says, not how he says it.
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- Disgusted - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 6:31 am:
Yet another look good, feel good program announced with no money to cover everyone who needs it. Preschool is a great idea, but don’t make any big announcement until you can tell all parents that their child can attend. If you can’t get the money to do that, then wait for the announcement until you do. Just another campaign photo op for the governor. The letter to the editor in yesterday Springfield S-JR tells the tale - doctors won’t take All Kids applicants as patients because there is no funding to back it up and besides, they are already owed money by this government. The governor’s tactics are as transparent as glass and you can’t be all things to all people, no matter how many times you use that adjective.
- wndycty - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 6:33 am:
Judy still has not ideas. I’m still waiting to hear what Judy is going to do, besides her ill advised attempt to dump DCEO. I know Blago has the benefits of incumbency, but Judy has the benefit of sitting on her rump, OFFERING NO IDEAS, and criticizing everything that Rod does.
NOTE TO JUDY: You need to actually run a campaign, not just criticize the incumbent, you know offer some ideas.
- Bill - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 6:40 am:
There has been 45 million set aside to pay for the initial cost of the pre-school program. When the governor is re-elected his prudent fiscal management will result in more cost savings to the state which will fund the expansion of the program.
But that’s ok don’t let the facts get in the way of your fun.
- DOWNSATE - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 6:51 am:
JBT is putting out a lot of ideas and one of them is how to deal with this 17.5 billion in debt Blago has us in.Sorry Blago-maniacs but we are sinking on a ship of red ink.51st out of 51 states is not the place to be.
- vole - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 6:56 am:
“I don’t think we should settle for mediocrity any longer” JBT
Illinois has mediocrity written all over it. Too many of Illinois’ citizens think that medicrity is good enough. Mediocrity is the standard and no leadership from Springfield will turn that around. Springfield is just a mirror to the rest of the state.
- DOWNSATE - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 6:58 am:
Will add and it looks like another HOMERUN for JBT.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 7:19 am:
And of course there is wndycty shoveling BB’s BS. Still stuck on defending the patronage-rich, idea poor DCEO, eh wndy? Are you Jack Lavin? Are you Chicago Democrat machiners getting nervous that the well is running dry?
Rod has to defend his horribly managed administration. He has driven the state into LAST PLACE. You Chicagoans must be very proud. I would be as nervous as you, wndy, if my job depended on that guy.
It’s not just Topinka hammering away. Look to the right side of this page and you will see editorials from all over the state stating they are absolutely disgusted by Mr. Photo-Op, No Substance.
Tick, Tock. Tick, tock.
- Anon - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 7:41 am:
I thought it was the “Pre-School for All” bill not the pre-school for some.
- Shallow Pharnyx - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 7:43 am:
Bill,
Where do you come up with “his prudent fiscal management will result in more cost savings”? We are in a deficit!! Have you looked at the budget? Are you aware of which numbers are the plug numbers- the hope we meet (and never do) numbers? The ones necessary to make the budget balanced? Take another look. Compare budget years and then read the Ec & Fisc analysis of each. Get a clue.
- Disgusted Democrat - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 7:47 am:
I am a proud liberal democrat living on the northside of Chicago. I will not vote for Blago. I will vote for JBT OR Stroger or Peracia. I’ll skip those candidates and move down the ballot.
- DOWNSATE - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 7:51 am:
It is not Preschool For All it is Preschool For Re-Election Headlines.Has anyone had enough nerve to ask how much this will add to the Defecit.Don’t tell me a lie and say we can afford it.Give me facts.
- zatoichi - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 8:12 am:
The next plan is “All Things for Everyone”. It is not mandatory but will help take all responsibility for self assistance off everyone because all people are our future. Anyone who does not take part as a provider or a user is simply not a player. Funding will come through a $18B bond fund so the budget is balanced. Lets go for 52nd place! We could own it!
Downsate: The 51st state is…
- Cassandra - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 8:21 am:
Topinka should not be saying she is “willing” to put in the work. That sounds like she is doing us a favor. She isn’t. The theme should be, I want the privilege of working for Illinois citizens to fix these problems. We
are the employers. She is the candidate. She should never forget that. Blago already has.
As to universal preschool….I’d much rather pay for that via my state taxes, always assuming they are not raised, than pay for contracts whose costs are larded by corruption and for an overpaid, underworked and underevaluated state work force (for example, according to the AG report, well over half of DCFS employees lacked a current evaluation. No accountability over there. Nice high salaries for managers, though–the ones who are supposed to be making those evaluations).
Finally, that DCEO move was dumb. Even if she were planning to get rid of the whole agency (a refreshing possibility), candidates can’t say that during a campaign. Nothing gets state workers revved up more, at all levels, than the threat of elimination of their overpaid sinecures.
- DOWNSATE - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 8:41 am:
zatoichi sorry typo on 51 it was my first cup.Cassandra why do you hate state workers so much?
- Bill - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 8:58 am:
Shallow,
The Governor has increased funding for education more than any governor in history, provided access to health insurance to children, seniors, and veterans more than any governor in history, now is providing the opportunity for pre-school for more children than any governor in history,all without raising income or sales tax. Services are what the citizens of Illinois need and want and Gov. Blagojevich is coming through for them. He has cut the cost of state gov’t and the number of state employees more than any governor in recent memory.
The budget is balanced as required by the state constitution, employees are getting paid and the state, under the leadership of the Blagojevich administration is a leader in this counrty in providing critical services to its residents. This is what the voters care about as evidenced by the polls, not some obscure, politically skewed numbers and rankings.
- Capital Now - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 9:34 am:
Now Judy decides she wants a capital program after her and republican legislators refused to put votes on it even though it would trememdously help their district?
Where was she while Frank Watson and IL Republicans refused to support it - including Sen Syverson in Rockford. She even slammed it during session saying it was a waste of money.
With this kind of flip-flopping and not even being able to understand the issues, how you do propose to govern?
- Capital Now - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 9:37 am:
And, why is AFSCME not raising a stink over the elimiation of an entire state agency?
Its a two way street. If the Governor proposed that they would have a coronary.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 9:58 am:
VanillaMan has a toddler named VanillaBaby, who is 20 months old, and VanillaInfant, who is a newborn. So, what does he think of Blagojevich’s pre-school program? After all, isn’t it families like the VanillaFamily that Blagojevich is focusing on regarding this program?
He knows that this program wasn’t designed for VanillaFamilies, except when it comes to paying for it. He sees a governor that has jacked Illinois into a financial disaster; slow growing, anti-business, and uncompetative. He sees that this governor doesn’t care about the debt burden he is placing on children. He sees Illinois sliding further back, and catering to have-nots that look to him for tax support.
Then he hears Topinka discussing the fiscal problems Illinois is facing. He understands that since she is not the governor, she cannot know enough to give great details in how to solve these problems. On the other hand, he knows she has been Illinois’ treasurer for 12 years and unlike Blagojevich has no FBI fraud investigations pending an indictment.
So, I believe VanillaFamilies see through the ruse that is another Blagojevichian PR stunt and listening to the lady. It is too soon to know how they will vote, but they are unhappy with Blagojevich and interested in alternatives. The latest poll confirms that 55% of voters do not want Rod Ryan any longer.
- just watching - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 10:01 am:
Hey Capital now,
Judy is referreing to a capital plan that im sure will actually have a way to freakin pay for it. Frank Watson will not put votes ANY capital plan without an identified and agreed upon revenue source, even if it’s Judy’s plan!
Governor Liar here that needs Memo’s of understanding to get his own freakin speaker to trust him walks around with no way to pay for yet another multi-billion scheme and says “we’ll be able to pay for it trust me” Thats the the thing Governor Liar NO ONE trusts you.
The idiot has TRIPLED the state’s debt so he could pay for more press release programs that don’t actually work.
All he had to do was tell the GA how he would pay for the capital plan and he could have gotten the votes. the things is he doesn’t know how the next 3 governors are going to pay off his massive debt.
The Senate Repubs are the only ones that were fiscally prudent enough to try and figure out how this would be paid for.
Please capital lets bond our state out until my great grandchildren are paying off this worthiless pile of a governor’s debt.
- Wumpus Extremus Maximus - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 10:16 am:
Cassandra, don’t worry! What happens when all these state empolyees start to retire to find out their pension shave been raided to pay for stem cells, somekids, preschool for a few, etc.
- Bill - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 10:18 am:
“The Senate Repubs are the only ones that were fiscally prudent enough to try and figure out how this would be paid for”
Yep, it was really prudent to reward decades long Republican patronage workers with an early retirement bonanza that the state could not afford while that paragon of virtue GRyan was sneaking out the back door with pockets full of cash.
Now they complain about the cash cow that they perfected over 3 decades….the pension holiday.
How will you pay off the bonds,Judy???? Increase taxes like Edgar, Thompson, and Olgilve did. It is the Republican way, after all. Just make sure to provide Bush-like tax cuts for the rich so only the real people have to pay.
- steve schnorf - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 10:31 am:
I would remind you all that unfunded pension liability is debt. This administration has tripled the state’s BONDED indebtedness, but not it’s debt.
- Bill - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 11:03 am:
Whoops! Foiled again,
- Dejavu - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 11:15 am:
The real story was after the staged event. Check out Dan Curry’s 0 for 3 in rolling Meadows.
Reversespin.com
- Lovie's Leather - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 11:38 am:
Hey wndycty, for the record, not doing something is a plan. Like not diverting money from the pension fund, and not diverting money from the state roadway fund, and not promising to deliver all things to all people. By the way, not all kids qualify for “All Kids.” Maybe it should be named “Some Kids” or “The So-called Less Fortunate Kids.” (Does Blago care about the middle class???)
If you ask me, a governor that would not do things would be a pretty good governor! Just manage the state and not add NEW programs. Maybe consolidate some programs and agencies. Maybe get rid of some waste. But overall, fiscally manage the state into liquidity instead of debt. But I guess the neo-cons would never actually vote for somebody because they would make a good governor….
- 'The Gay Governor' - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 12:16 pm:
Bill,
The governor’s ‘prudent fiscal management’?
Get ahold of yourself.
And think of something to say that’s somewhere within - or even close to - the realm of reality.
- Wumpus Extremus Maximus - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 12:26 pm:
To sum up Lovie’s last post…STOP DIGGING! When in a hole, don’t dig yourself a deeper hole. Although, I have no huge problems with the concept of preschool for at-risk kids. Of course the details matter, but it is a worthy idea, just don’t imply it is for all children.
- sam - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 12:28 pm:
“By the way, not all kids qualify for “All Kids.†Maybe it should be named “Some Kids†or “The So-called Less Fortunate Kids.†”
The only ones who don’t qualify are those who already have health insurance. I am sure that is not what you meant.
So… you are just wrong.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 12:50 pm:
Cassandra why do you hate state workers so much?
She likes to tease them, insult them, and make them mad. That’s why she is so special.
- Shallow Pharnyx - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 1:59 pm:
Cassandra is, if nothing else, consistent in her rhetorical rants.
Bill,
Get a grip (on reality). Blogo’s hiring numbers look good because those numbers do not include all of the skeleton workforce- contractors. His administration has encouraged early retirements and then filled positions with contractors who are paid more (because they do not receive healthcare or pension benefits and some are good buddies), so that it would appear as if his administration accomplished a fantastic decrease in state workers. Yeah, the savings in healthcare and pension benefits may justify the increased pay to contractors but lets be truthful about the workforce. Again, check the numbers.
“politically skewed numbers and rankings”- get out the budget books back to Edgars time. Review education approps year-to-year. You’ll find that Blago’s claims are exaggerated (as long as you compare apples to apples).
Bottom line is … it doesn’t matter if you have put forth great ideas (I love preschool and healthcare for all children), it matters if you have the revenue to pay for and sustain the programs. Otherwise, it is all just a publicity stunt to be the first in the nation to offer this or that. And we know how he LOVES good publicity.
- Little Egypt - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 3:07 pm:
This is for Bill and all of the other Blogo lovers:
GoverNOT Hairdo is having problems with the All Kids insurance plan because he is not paying the medical community who provide care for the Medicaid program and those providers are not signing up for any further programs run by the State. Why not you ask? Hello. THEY ARE NOT BEING PAID! In good faith, our medical community (doctors, hospitals, nursing homes) provides care expecting Illinois to pay its bills but they do so very late and in some cases, we have providers filing for bankruptcy. I don’t know about how the rest of you feel, but at the very least our oldest generation deserves better.
This new preschool program will not go any further than the foreign prescription program (I believe that is ISaveRx) and the All Kids program. Think about how the preschool program will be implemented. The State won’t run the preschools. They will expect the private preschools and public school districts to take in more kids. And would you take in more kids if you were the superintendent of a public school that has seen this state promise more money over and over and not deliver. I don’t believe the state can force a private preschool to hire more teachers, build more rooms, and buy more supplies when the State doesn’t pay its bills. Now GoverNOT Hairdo will tell you how much more money he has given to the school districts but it has been done so using a formula so now (Bill) go call your local school district and ask what increase in state funding they have seen in the past 4 years. Don’t go by what you read in the press. Go call your school district. No one is going to sign on for a plan that depends on this state to reimburse them. IT’S A CAMPAIGN SMOKE AND MIRRORS PEOPLE.
- Disgusted - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 7:26 pm:
Interestingly, most supporters of the governor love to quote that he has reduced the state workforce. How come then, the training sessions for new employees are packed to the gills each month. If these people are not new employees, who are they? I have witnessed this for a fact in the building I work in.
Also, if the governor really was interested in promoting people projects, why does he put his name on everything (10 times on the All Kids applications alone) and in the largest font on the whole page? Why are they printing and distributing so much All Kids information when doctors won’t accept the applicants as patients, the federal government hasn’t given it’s approval for the program (even though the governor says they have been talking, the feds have another story)and there is no money to administer this program over time. How much juggling can these so-called public servants do? And I think the reason he has money for preschool is that there are so few All Kids applicants signing up that they are taking the preschool money from that program. One good puff of federal air and this house of cards will fold.
- Cat - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 7:45 pm:
Anybody know if it is true that Blago is printing up more AllKids handbooks that there are eligible kids? And has a mailing of all the handbooks planned - just in time for the election? How much will state taxpayers be contributing to getting Blago’s name in voters’ mailboxes in the next 2-3 months?
- Peaches - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 7:51 pm:
Unfortunately, the higher education community in Illinois has suffered significantly under this governor. Bradley and Lon don’t have any respect for universities in the Midwest (only California and East Coast are appropriate), as well as the Gov who will confess to his very mediocre career at Pepperdine. There is no money for tuition assistance - and tuition and fees climb because state funding covers only 20% - 30% of the cost of educating a student at U of I.
But I forgot - we have had enough to spend $100MM in capital improvements at Chicago State (with one of the new buildings named after E. Jones), with under 9,000 students.
- So-Called "Austin Mayor" - Thursday, Jul 27, 06 @ 9:31 am:
“The governor’s ______ plan seems like a pretty decent program on its face.”
And that’s Blago’s election strategy in a nutshell.