This just in… Senate Exec Committee will take up the GRT bill at 2:05 hearing today.. UPDATE: SDem amendment will raise the GRT rates to 1 percent (from .8) and 2 percent (from 1.95). Also there’s a new tax credit applied against the GRT of 2K per employee up to 25 fulltime equiv for 1 percent taxation level and 50 FTE for 2 percent level. UPDATE: A governor’s spokesperson just told me that the guv will testify at tomorrow’s comittee of the whole. UPDATE: 7 to 6 Do Adopt. Viverito voted NO and Halvorson voted YES with a statement about how it needed further work.
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Uh, Jennifer, I’m 45 and too busy to be bored
Tuesday, May 8, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller From your Chicago Sun-Times columnist, Jennifer Hunter…
Bonus question of the day: How old are you? Secondary bonus question of the day: Are you bored?
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Vegas $$$; COWL; Noland; Pensions; Syverson-Jefferson; Kotowski; Wine; Jackson; RTA (Use all caps in password)
Tuesday, May 8, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Question of the day
Tuesday, May 8, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
The company then pulled the product off Illinois shelves…
And then the company pulled it nationwide…
I seriously doubt that anyone has any sympathy for a company that would do such a scummy thing as market a drink called “Cocaine,” and I also doubt anyone wants to promote the use of an illegal drug. Count me solidly in both of those categories. But, all that aside, should government step in on stuff like this? Explain.
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“Intense” might be the right word here
Tuesday, May 8, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller State Sen. Mike Noland got an earful this week from some of his Carpentersville constituents. The village is a hotbed of anti illegal immigrant activity, and Noland held a two-hour public meeting to discuss pending legislation that would allow them to have a drivers certificate. Props to Noland, who said he is “inclined” to support the bill, for having the stones to hold the meeting in the first place. The Daily Herald story was pretty basic…
Not many incendiary quotes were included in that piece, or the fact that the “red T-shirts” bore the slogan “Illegal means Illegal.” But the Courier News had a much more in-depth story that provided some - uh - “interesting” quotes from the audience…
Wow.
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A matter of trust
Tuesday, May 8, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller * Eric Zorn hits it right on the head today with a column about the governor’s gross receipts tax and business opposition. It all boils down to who you trust, Zorn writes. Do you trust that Blagojevich has come up with a reasonable, fair plan, or do you trust big business to take care of the uninsured and assume that their arguments against this “job killing” proposal are valid?
And, I would add, there’s precious little trust of this man at the Statehouse. * The trouble is, this state’s reporters tend to despise Blagojevich and it’s becoming very clear that they are refusing to give him even close to a fair shake. That’s their right, and the governor brings much, if not most, of that on himself, but the agenda has become pretty obvious: Whack the guv at every turn for just about anything. Yesterday, the AP moved a story about the guv’s inauguration fundraising…
I’m not sure exactly what the story was about. Did eight companies contribute $125,000 each? Can’t be because they raised a total of $1.25 million. If their contributions were only a “fraction” of the total, then is it really even a story? Frankly, considering all the hoo-ha about Blagojevich, I figured he was probably raising a lot more from connected insiders. It’s almost (repeat: almost) refreshing to see that he took in so little from those sorts. Also, take a look at this piece from a southern Illinois paper that quotes Chamber honcho Doug Whitley without offering up any response from the other side…
All good points. Valid. Reasonable, even. But offered up in a completely uncritical manner. I’m not sure what the governor has to do to get an even break, but it’s clear that those who operate the “filter” don’t think he deserves one. I would assume that most commenters here believe the same, but just remember what could happen if this practice continues with a future governor whom you support. More tax and spend stories, compiled by our diligent intern Paul Richardson…
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What happens in Vegas does not necessarily stay there
Tuesday, May 8, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller What a dumb idea. “Hey, I know what we should do this weekend. Let’s take up the cable industry’s offer of a free trip to Las Vegas for an ‘educational’ experience!”
The Tribune has a list of attendees…
So how is the trip logged? As a gift…
Bad idea all around.
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Morning Shorts
Tuesday, May 8, 2007 - Posted by Paul Richardson * Casino fight goes up in smoke
* Vallas says odds are long on another run at governor * Kadner: Giants doing battle to control cable TV * Bradley preparing for a big week in Springfield * Opinion: State must raise cap on charter schools * IIS Radio: Cocaine drink, Internet safety, library filters * ISU contacted as part of student loan probe * Report: Early treatment breaks cycle of crime * Cops say kids to attend classes less likely to commit crimes * Illinois lawyers seek to resurrect tobacco case * Parent group lobbies for recess bill * Alcohol company alters ad reach * Editorial: Madigan threatens to sue beverage company * Secretary of State’s daughter suing police over arrest * Editorial: General Assembly should allow Harper to test 4 year degree * Clinton won’t concede Chicago to Obama
* Will ban snuff out taverns? * Opinion divided on state smoking ban * Osbourne: Thanks to the state for smoking ban * Roeper: Smoking ban could use case of stage fright * Sneed: CTA cuts and Clinton/Daley * Chicago teacher’s union challenger pins campaign on school violence
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