VRDOLYAK INDICTED *** Updated x9 ***
Thursday, May 10, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller *** The full indictment can be downloaded here. *** *** The press release issued by Fitzgerald can be downloaded here. *** *** If you missed Fitzgerald’s press conference, you can watch part of it at NBC5’s website by clicking here. *** *** UPDATE 9 *** Vrdolyak’s mouthpiece speaks to the Sun-Times…
*** UPDATE 8 *** From the press release…
*** UPDATE 7 *** John Kass’ column is already up. It ends like this…
*** UPDATE 6 *** ABC7 is carrying the press conference live right now. Go here. NBC5’s live video feed can be found here. *** UPDATE 5 *** From the indictment…
[…]
*** UPDATE 4 *** From CBS2…
*** UPDATE 3 ***
*** UPDATE 1 *** John Kass explained “Operation Board Games” in a column…
*** UPDATE 2 *** The Tribune has a brief story up…
I wonder what this might be about? [Emphasis added]…
I’ll open comments when we know what’s going on.
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Will Madigan make the Century Club? *** Updated x24 ***
Thursday, May 10, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller Updated and bumped up and comments are now open. Check update “2″ for some breaking news. We’ll use this later today to live blog the House debate on Madigan’s resolution asking members for an up or down nonbinding vote on whether they support the GRT and I’ll open comments at that time. *** UPDATE 24 *** The Farm Bureau website has a clip of Madigan’s comments, or you can click below… Also, the rollcall is now online. Click here. *** UPDATE 23 *** The rollcall still isn’t online, but the “PRESENT” votes were: Marlow Colvin, Will Davis, LaShawn Ford, Connie Howard, Chuck Jefferson, Al Riley and Eddie Washington. I don’t know if it makes any difference, but they are all African-American Democrats. *** UPDATE 22 *** Madigan went straight to his office without commenting to reporters. *** UPDATE 21 *** You can find the rollcall at this link in a few minutes. *** UPDATE 20 *** 0 YES; 107 NO; 7 PRESENT *** UPDATE 19 *** Speaker Madigan closes the debate. “A proposal for the imposition of a gross receipts tax in Illinois, would constitute a fundamental shift of philosophy of taxation in this state.” This would be the first time that Madigan has specifically come out against the GRT. Madigan said that when people start companies they figure on losing money in the first year or two, and the GRT would harm those business plans. “The gross receipts tax is a regressive tax.” “Even his own lt. governor has stated opposition to the tax. The mayor of Chicago has stated opposition to the tax…” “I plan to vote ‘NO’ today.” *** UPDATE 18 *** Rep. Bill Black: I don’t want to see unnamed sources say, there’s really 35, 45, 55 votes for the gross receipts tax… they just didn’t want to vote against the Speaker… and at a date to be determined they will rise and say they support it. No means no. *** UPDATE 17 *** From the Tribune’s Clout Street blog [emphasis added]…
*** UPDATE 16 *** House GOP Leader Tom Cross: “From a policy standpoint (the GRT) just doesn’t work.” *** UPDATE 15 *** Stephens moved that the resolution vote be exempted from the Century Club award. Madigan: “We were ahead of you. That was the plan.” *** UPDATE 14 *** Rep. Ron Stephens: The governor mentioned yesterday that the electric rate issue is so critical, but the governor has not yet bothered to even call a meeting to negotiate the issue. *** UPDATE 13 *** Rep. Julie Hamos: Also voting “NO” today. “I hope that our votes today will not be misinterpreted that… (we need) efforts to change (business tax structure).” “The governor has made a compelling case… that businesses are not paying their fair share in Illinois.” Suggests a “modified GRT,” perhaps a “value added tax” or a “gross margins tax.” *** UPDATE 12 *** Rep. John Bradley: Disagrees with Hoffman when he said that the House should wait and see what the money will be used to fund. Bradley is saying that it’s important to look at the GRT for what it is, a regressive tax. *** UPDATE 11 *** More Hoffman: The resolution doesn’t even match the changes that the Senate made. Hoffman also read a letter from SEIU and the Laborer’s Union, which claims that the vote on the resolution is “premature.” The labor leaders (Ed Smith and Tom Balanoff) ask that all members vote “NO.” Hoffman said he would also vote “NO.” *** UPDATE 10 *** More Hoffman: “I don’t understand why people can’t hear that (speaking of the governor’s promises not to raise income or sales taxes)… Unless we have 71 votes in this House to raise the income tax, why are we even talking about it?” *** UPDATE 9 *** Rep. Jay Hoffman, Blagojevich’s House floor leader, is speaking. “We have three weeks to get together, to pass a budget… Why are we doing this today? Who would vote for a tax increase without knowing where the money is going to go?” *** UPDATE 8 *** Rep. Rosemary Mulligan just asked Madigan whether they should continue with the vote because of the governor’s request that everyone vote “NO.” Madigan: “I would recommend that we engage in a good faith (debate)” *** UPDATE 7 *** Paul says that House Republicans have signs on the back of their laptops which read: “No means no governor” *** UPDATE 6 *** The House has begun debating the Madigan GRT resolution. Go here for live audio and video. *** UPDATE 5 *** A reporter buddy just cracked that the guv’s request for “No” votes on Madigan’s resolution is like “the high school coach who forfeits the game rather than get skunked.” lol It doesn’t appear, from that comment and the AP story below, that reporters are impressed by this move. *** UPDATE 4 *** The AP’s take on the situation…
*** UPDATE 3 *** My interview this morning on WBEZ can be found here, or you can listen below… *** UPDATE x2 *** This just in from the governor’s office [emphasis added]…
It looks like Madigan may get the trophy after all. LOL *** UPDATE 1 *** If you were wondering about my mention of the House’s “Century Club” trophy, here are a couple of photos. The trophy is “awarded” to members whose bills receive at least 100 “NO” votes. Madigan’s resolution on the GRT might get close. These were taken with my Treo, so they’re not great. Check out the photo behind the trophy in the first example. Madigan hisself… A closeup of the trophy… WBEZ just called asking for an interview, so some posting might be delayed. I’m supposed to be on around 9ish, so tune in your radio or click here to listen on the Intertubes.
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Question of the day
Thursday, May 10, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller Setup, Part One, is Paul’s compilation of GRT-related news stories…
Setup, Part Two, is this e-mail which was forwarded to me yesterday by a friend…
Question: Which of those three options do you prefer?
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Surprising vote on gun bill
Thursday, May 10, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller The rollcall on this bill was pretty surprising…
The Illinois State Rifle Association has kicked up a lot of dust over this bill, claiming at one point that Kotowski was “dancing in the blood of the Virginia Tech victims.” But the bill had bipartisan support and could not have passed without several Republican votes. You can download the rollcall here, but Republican Senators Althoff, Cronin, Dillard, Hultgren, Millner and Murphy all voted for it. Murphy? Matt Murphy, who was backed by conservative money bags Jack Roeser in last year’s primary? I asked Murphy about his vote last night and he said that besides the fact that he supports stuff like this, the bill is popular in his district. Anyway, here is a mailer that ISRA sent out a few weeks back attacking Kotowski. Click the pics to see larger images. It’s quite something… Discuss.
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Morning Shorts
Thursday, May 10, 2007 - Posted by Paul Richardson * Protesters rally against utility rates * Protesters demand rate relief during capitol rally * Illinois is still irate over rates
* Sun-Times Editorial: Power rollback would be a mistake
* Cesspool of mismanagement cited in audit of juvenile center * Mental Health system decried
* AG Madigan investigated Olympia meeting complaint * Erwin selected as new education commissioner * McQueary: If only I could get a life * Mayor introduces ordinance to review police wrongdoing allegations * Daley appoints nephew to states sports authority * Shakman rips county inspector general office
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