* Needless to say, I hope they throw the book at this cretin…

State police confirmed Tuesday that an investigation is under way concerning an alleged death threat made against state Sen. Gary Forby and Senate President Emil Jones that was apparently inspired by the lack of relief from recent electric rate increases.

Scott Compton, a spokesman with the state police in Springfield, said nobody is in custody but interviews are under way.

Compton said the investigation is ongoing and that some individuals have been interviewed more than once. “Right now we’re still in the process of trying to determine what, if anything, did take place,” Compton said.

State police are working in cooperation with law enforcement officials in Franklin and Sangamon counties, Compton said. He said when the state police investigation is completed the information will then be forwarded to both state’s attorneys and a decision will be made whether to file charges.

Compton would not say if there is a suspect in the case or how the alleged threat was made.

* Meanwhile, the Tribune editorial page has finally mentioned last Friday’s parliamentary shenanigans in the Senate, but the paper buried it way down in an editorial against the rate freeze…

The Senate voted to impose a one-year freeze on Ameren and ComEd. But Jones used a parliamentary maneuver to keep ComEd out of the legislation. We agree with Jones’ goal, but it was dead wrong to use such a strong-arm tactic to thwart a majority vote. No veteran of Springfield expects it to operate like Mayberry — but this tactic stunned a lot of people and added to an air of distrust in the capital.

* The Northwest Herald editorialized today for a freeze of sorts…

The state House should pass an amended bill, providing ComEd with a modest increase – in the range of 5 to 7 percent – for a year and send the bill back to the Senate. Then, Jones will have to be pressured by lawmakers and residents to do the proper thing and approve the rate-hike rollback.

Rolling back Ameren’s and ComEd’s rates for one year will give lawmakers another shot at addressing the issue. But an agreement would have to be hammered out now, not sidestepped until the 11th hour again.

* The Post-Dispatch also editorializes for a rate freeze…

As the weather heats up, so will demands for rate relief. Warm as things have been so far for Illinois lawmakers, they will get even hotter when customers start receiving huge electric bills during the summer months. Mr. Jones is going to have a hard time preventing a rate freeze in the months to come.

The larger issue for Illinois, however, is the flawed energy deregulation plan that produced major rate hikes. Deregulation has resulted in higher rates in every state where it has been adopted. But freezing electric rates is simple compared to re-regulating utilities.

The General Assembly should move forward with a rate freeze. But its work won’t be done until it creates an independent panel to outline options for fixing the state’s electric power system. The sooner that process starts, the faster a solution will be in sight.

* Sen. Gary Forby tells the Post-Dispatch that he and Senate President Jones had a little talk yesterday…

Forby said Jones, his own party leader in the Senate, apologized, “kind of,” on Tuesday. A Jones spokeswoman said she could neither confirm nor deny that.

But the fallout continues…

Jones’ maneuver has angered even some members of his own party who agreed with him on the freeze issue. “You never (use) a parliamentary maneuver like that on one of your own members,” Sen. William Delgado, D-Chicago, said Tuesday. “That’s something used on the other party.”

* More…

* Ameren: We have not cut off delinquent customers

* Power bill debate heats up

* Ameren threatens to leave talks on rate relief for customers