Dispelling the “Deep Pockets” Myth
Monday, May 21, 2007 - Posted by Capitol Fax Blog Advertising Department Insurance companies are leading a propaganda campaign against SB 1296. SB 1296 is not about “deep pockets,” but merely responds to a recent Appellate Court case that creates a legal loophole allowing negligent manufacturers, reckless construction companies and even drunk drivers to dodge their responsibility when their negligence injures or kills someone. Opponents of SB 1296 are hoping that recent Appellate Court case will overturn 21 years of legal practice, allowing wrongdoers to shift responsibility for their negligence to individuals and small businesses who have long ago been dismissed as defendants from a lawsuit, by placing their name on jury verdict forms and encouraging juries to assign damages against them. Insurance companies falsely claim that dismissed defendants have always appeared on jury verdict forms. Not true, says the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Before you buy into the “Deep Pockets” propaganda, keep in mind that 88% of all tort cases in Illinois are for $50,000 or less (Illinois Supreme Court annual report). Learn more at www.ProtectOurCourts.org.
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Question of the day
Monday, May 21, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller We did a “one word” thing last week for Blagojevich, Madigan and Jones, and it went over pretty well. So, let’s expand on that today. What one word would you use to describe the following people… Pat Quinn, Lisa Madigan, Jesse White, Dan Hynes and Alexi Giannoulias?
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Daley, mayors gear up to back income tax hike
Monday, May 21, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller * The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, a group founded by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, is set to propose raising the income tax on “people” from 3 percent to 5 percent and hike the corporate income tax rate from the current 4.8 percent to 8 percent, according to Southtown columnist Phil Kadner.
* Meanwhile, a Tribune-backed “Burnham Plan” for schools is pushed in the paper’s editorial page today…
* More tax and spend items, compiled by Paul…
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Paul’s first newspaper column
Monday, May 21, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
He did such a good job that I asked him to expand the piece and then used it in my syndicated newspaper column. Go read the whole thing, but here are some excerpts…
How about some feedback for Paul?
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Details hit on Statehouse renovation
Monday, May 21, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller With everything else going on - sky-high electric bills, huge gasoline prices, talk of tax hikes and legislative pay raises, etc. - this story, entitled “Nothing but the best — on taxpayers’ tab,” will undoubtedly be the talk of the town…
Even so, I am a bit surprised at the Sun-Times’ online reader “poll,” which found that not even 60 percent of respondents thought the expenditures were a waste…
Considering the way the article was written and the type of people who participate in online surveys of this nature (normally, only the angry ones might be expected to register their opinions), I’d expect that number to be way higher.
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Morning Shorts
Monday, May 21, 2007 - Posted by Paul Richardson * NEW Statehouse Reeder: For Blago there are loafers and loafers… * Editorial: Jones should allow vote on contract bill * Statehouse Insider: Fired state employees ordeal is confusing
* Chicago Public Radio: Contradictions in proposed state gun legislation? * Tribune Editorial: Stopping a ’super bug’ * Change of Subject: The state treasurer’s got some serious game * Sun-Times Editorial: Notify the state that it is time to act on abortion * Juries may be able to put dollar amount on grief * Sun-Times Editorial: Key reason for early primary, we are ‘exceptionally average’ * Hilkevich: Amtrak routes gain riders lose time * Web site now provides sex offenders web addresses * Editorial: State officials should act to reduce attacks on prison guards * Chicago consumers cutting back with rising gas prices * Florida shakes up presidential primaries…again
* Editorial: Earlier primary benefits Obama, but… * Carol Marin: Fast Eddie V complicated, cunning * Editorial: Stroger oversteps authority with budget changes * Tribune Editorial: On Daley’s affordable housing plan * Nine new aldermen take oath today
* Chicago power couple juggling family & politics * Stewart wins in rematch for teachers’ union presidency; more here * Champaign repeals smoking ban for bars and restaurants * Rockford may push Governor to veto its tax plan
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