This just in. From a press release…
‘Grand Theft Auto’ Leads to Pilfering of State Funds: Governor’s Defense of Violent Video Games Law Nears $1 Million
SPRINGFIELD, IL – Representatives from Gov. Blagojevich’s office testified during a hearing of the House State Government Administration Committee on Wednesday that its criteria for choosing which state agencies would pay the legal fees for defending a state law ruled unconstitutional was based on which agencies had the money, and that has state Rep. Jack Franks seething.
Franks, who chairs the committee, continued his questioning of the governor’s deputy chief of staff and deputy general counsel for a second week about how the state handled the payment of more than $500,000 in plaintiff’s fees after losing a lawsuit defending a law intended to restrict the sale and rental to minors of games with violent or explicit content.
“We had a strong suspicion last week that the governor was using funds appropriated by the General Assembly as his own personal piggy bank,” Franks said. “Our suspicions were confirmed this week when the governor’s staff admitted that they just stuck the bill with agencies that had available line items.”
Following a circuit court’s decision in December 2005 finding the violent video games law unconstitutional, the court ordered the state to pay legal fees incurred by the plaintiffs. The state departments of Public Health, Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Human Services, and Central Management Services all paid portions of the half-million dollar bill, according to state comptroller’s records.
Committee members discovered Wednesday that the initial $510,000 bill has ballooned to nearly $1 million thanks to payments to the lawyers hired to defend Blagojevich. About $461,520 has been paid for those fees from the funds of six state agencies: the Departments of Human Services, Children and Family Services, Public Health, Corrections, Revenue, and the State Police. The Department of Human Services alone paid more than $300,000 in plaintiff’s costs and defense fees.
“There is no proof that any of the agencies forced to pay for the governor’s public relations campaign got any sort of benefit from paying those fees,” Franks said. “The General Assembly passed a budget and dictated that the money in that budget would be spent a certain way. Now the governor has, once again, completely disregarded the Legislature’s intent for his own personal agenda.” […]
“The governor is going to find it increasingly difficult to get anything done if he can’t be taken at his word,” Franks said. The Woodstock lawmaker said Wednesday’s revelations could not have come at a worse time for the governor, who is trying to negotiate a budget with lawmakers.
[Emphasis added]
Meanwhile, the state-funded radio ad that blatantly violated the state’s ethics code was pulled from the air…
…Lt. Scott Compton, a spokesman for the state police in Springfield, said he could not comment on whether it violated provisions of the ethics act except to say that it was pulled to “err on the side of caution.”
Under the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, which Blagojevich has frequently lauded as a landmark reform measure, broadcast advertisements and public-service announcements on behalf of a state-administered program cannot contain the name, image or voice of a statewide elected official or state lawmaker.
“Thanks to Gov. Rod Blagojevich and the Illinois State Police Internet crime unit, e-criminals will no longer be able to victimize Illinois citizens,” a narrator says in the now-pulled 30-second spot.
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Question of the day
Thursday, May 24, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
In an era of ever-rising gas prices, do you think the state should spend more money to subsidize Amtrak and create an extensive high-speed rail network? Explain.
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MJM presser roundup
Thursday, May 24, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* As you already know, Paul and I did our own report on Speaker Madigan’s press conference yesterday, where he announced that there wasn’t sufficient support for an income or sales tax hike in his caucus. You can find that here and you can listen to the entire press conference at this link [mp3 file].
Let’s look at some excerpts from other stories published this morning…
* Tribune…
In announcing the results of a survey of his members, Madigan sent the strongest message to date that the state is headed toward resolving its fiscal mess with a vastly scaled-back budget that would disappoint many groups seeking boosts for education and health care coverage. And it sets up the next stage in a potential deadline showdown with Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who is still pushing for his $7 billion business tax proposal with the support of Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago).
* Post-Dispatch…
“We will need to revise our priorities and our wish list accordingly and work within whatever revenue we can find,” said Rep. John Fritchey, D-Chicago, co-sponsor of one of several pending measures that sought to raise the state income tax to pay for some of those priorities.
“The facts are starting to align in such a way that we will be closer to a limited budget than a massive budget, and that may not be a bad thing,” Fritchey said. “Needs such as education funding reform, health care and infrastructure are valid needs that unfortunately might have to be put off for some time.”
* Pantagraph…
“Clearly, if the House Democrats do not support a tax increase, there will not be a tax increase,” said state Rep. Mark Beaubien, R-Barrington Hills. “We won’t vote for a tax increase.”
* SJ-R…
Several Senate Democrats, meanwhile, said expanded gambling is emerging as the one revenue generator most of them are willing to talk about.
“It’s probably the best solution as we talk today,” said Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete. “So far, it’s the only thing everybody can come up with.” […]
Hendon said the gambling plan could be used to pay for more than construction.
“If this is the only new revenue, then of course we’d have to spread (the money) around,” said Hendon, who estimates at least $2 billion a year could be raised. “The governor’s health-care plan will get some of the money, and education and capital. It appears that it might be the only game in town.”
* Sun-Times…
But Madigan, acknowledging the difficulty in passing gambling legislation and refusing to be pinned down on what a bill might entail, tempered expectations a gambling deal would soon emerge. […]
Blagojevich spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch said the governor is eager to meet with Madigan, refuses to concede the gross-receipts tax is dead and believes health care should be a top spending priority. The two are scheduled to meet today.
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* The Daily Herald has a brutal front-page story on our “stay at home” and “reclusive” governor today, including a photo of his house. Click the pick for a better look…
![dailyherald_rodathome.jpg dailyherald_rodathome.jpg](https://capitolfax.com//wp-content/dailyherald_rodathome-thumbnail.jpg)
Oof.
Some highlights…
The reclusive governor doesn’t appear in public much, often avoids questions when he does surface, and appears to rely on a few senior staff members and small cadre of fundraising lobbyists for counsel. […]
Mostly, though, Democrats are worried the governor’s disengagement is damaging their party’s chances to make progress on key issues. […]
During his most recent public appearance at a health care rally, Blagojevich asked a staff member if he should answer reporters’ questions, but was told no. The governor also mistook a… Chicago political writer for the publisher of a political blog and insider newsletter. […]
“The governor is here half a day a week to work with the legislature. Maybe he should expand that schedule,” Steve Brown, spokesman for Democratic House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, told the State Journal-Register in Springfield last week.
* A Sun-Times article today wonders whether Blagojevich is the next George Ryan and also takes a whack at him for avoiding the press…
Blagojevich is doing little to squelch speculation that federal prosecutors might make him the next George Ryan. […]
Meanwhile, his credibility with lawmakers in Springfield is eroding.
Blagojevich entered office in 2003 repeatedly vowing to end “business as usual” in state government.
Right now, his silence is deafening.
* Bernie Schoenburg jumps on the pile with a column entitled “History of untrustworthiness haunting Blagojevich”
It may not be easy for the rarely-in-Springfield governor to get a vote of confidence from lawmakers. Perhaps his combination of broken promises and stalled initiatives give a clue why.
Bernie also wacked the guv for railing against lobbyists in “Gucci loafers” while being devoted to wearing very expensive ties.
* But wait, there’s more. The State Journal-Register editorial page dropped in this line today…
But just as importantly, he has failed to gain trust because he is simply not in the game enough.
* And then there’s the AP…
The subpoena could create a distraction for the governor when lawmakers already complain he does a poor job of working with them at the Capitol. Blagojevich was not at the Statehouse Wednesday.
“It was hard enough to keep his attention when it was just us,” said Sen. William Delgado, D-Chicago. “His timing is bad. I don’t envy him.”
Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete, said the news doesn’t help the governor’s credibility on budget plans, but it doesn’t matter much because, “we haven’t embraced many of them anyway.”
* Kristen McQueary wonders whether the feds are closing in, and employs a Cicada analogy…
Because the next time we hear about “bugs” and the Blagojevich administration, it might not be the ash borer or the cicada.
Discuss.
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Morning Shorts
Thursday, May 24, 2007 - Posted by Paul Richardson
* Rockford may win chance at casino
* Michael Sneed: Blagojevich & Rutherford
* Taxpayers footing the bill for elected officials health benefits
* Laptop stolen at Blagojevich campaign office
Chicago police Sgt. Ed Wodnicki said police have no evidence that the burglary was anything more than a typical property crime and that campaign officials said there was nothing of value on the lost computer.
* Attorneys argue for Gov. Ryan to keep pension after conviction; more here
Ray Mitchell, one of Ryan’s attorneys, said Wednesday that unless the court steps in, “his family, his wife … will be left with nothing,” the Chicago Tribune reported its Web site.
* Editorial: 3rd airport could alleviate aviation uncertainty
* Sun-Times Editorial: CTA doing its part, legislature must, too
* CTA to detail ride cuts, fair hikes today; more here
* Lawmakers OK teacher’s searches of lockers
* Study to look at state prison facilities
* Opinion: Trial lawyers trying to pull as fast one with SB1296
* State to tighten teen driving curfews and lengthen permit time
* Teen driving restrictions on the move
* Lawmakers toughen teen driver laws
* With one voice, House OKs teen driving bill
* Detailing the tougher teen driving rules
* Tougher teen driving standards heading to governor
* Editorial: Follow the law — and common sense — on the road
* Lawmakers across the nation want to pump kids up
Illinois, which requires daily P.E. from kindergarten through senior year, is often cited as a state with strong P.E. requirements. But the state allows more than 330 types of waivers, according to Paula Kun of NASPE, including for students taking vocational or technical courses and those taking classes needed to graduate or enroll in college. Just last year the state added waivers for students who need tutoring.
* Judge rules in favor of abortion protesters in lawsuit over signs
* Stroger takes heat for legal adviser
* Paid to defend poor, but doing Stroger’s bidding
* Two key city departments to reunite
* Alderman calls for cab hike hearings
* Aldermen want “green” taxis and city vehicles
and city vehicles
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