Morning Shorts
Wednesday, Jun 20, 2007 - Posted by Paul Richardson
* TV competition measure goes to governor
* IL legislature votes to open up pay TV market
* State Senate approves cable bill
* State Senate greenlights cable bill
* Cable competition bill passes
* Senate approves AT&T foray into cable
* Editorial: Free Ma Bell
* Opinion: McQueary’s tax analysis ‘dead on’
* Sun-Times Editorial: Reform ‘pay to play’ or we’ll all pay later
It’s clear most lawmakers want to approve something, and the competing versions of the idea aren’t so different that compromise would be impossible. If they are sincere about demonstrating that Illinois government is not for sale, then there’s no excuse for not passing this legislation.
* Higher speed limit for trucks needs green light from governor
* School’s use of camera assailed
The IEA and local teachers union contend that the video surveillance violated the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act and may also be in violation of state and federal laws governing illegal taping of individuals without permission.
* Daley picks up award, some flak
Daley, however, also got an earful from the senior Republican on the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, who used a Tribune report to club him on the efficacy of Chicago’s “green” initiatives.
* The nation’s Springfields vie to host Simpson’s premiere
* Carpentersville OKs English-only law
- Son of a Son of a Son of Svenghoulie - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 7:56 am:
It is not fair that ATT gets to supply cable TV to cherry-picked subscriber bases without having to also provide public access channels. At the very least, they should carry the same access channels Comcast and the rest already provide, and kick in some of their soon to be stupendous profits to subsidize the production of public access programming. We are more and more losing the local voice in our broadcasting, don’t let that happen.
- Milorad - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 8:09 am:
Truckers rarely obey the speed limit now! If they change the speedlimit there will be more carnage on the roadways. I have had truckers blow by me at 75-80miles an hour. Blagojevich should deep six this bill.
- Leroy - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 8:17 am:
Cameras monitoring teachers? NO WAY! Infringement of rights!
Cameras monitoring cops? NO WAY! Infringement of rights!
Cameras monitoring the rest of us? Absolutely, it is for all our safety.
- GA Watcher - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 9:18 am:
Great Grandson of Svenghoulie:
You should read the AT&T bill as amended (SB 678). Unlike the original, it does protect PEG programming. Also, aside from the buildout provisions which are inadequate everywhere, it is a much better bill than anything passed in other states. At least with the Illinois bill, it has a sunset provision where buildout can be revisited in six years. Kudos to Rep. Jim Brosnahan, AG Lisa Madigan and Speaker Michael Madigan for insisting that consumer and muncipal concerns with the orginal bill be addressed.
- Levois - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 9:58 am:
I hope our Springfield wins. The only thing is that the Simpson’s Springfield isn’t even a state capitol, but that doesn’t have to get in the way of anything. Does it?
- Milorad - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 11:00 am:
Levois, the Illinois state capitol is in Chicago.
- Sahims2 - Thursday, Jun 21, 07 @ 6:40 am:
The Governor announced that he’ll add at least $20 million to the budget to combat 2 of Illinois citizens most aggravating annoyances which has personally affected him, bad hair days and ugliness. “The citizens of this state have demanded protection from these rampant problems, and I alone am willing to address these very important topics.” One proposal recommends the hiring of at least one state trooper per neighborhood to provide the means to take care of any sort of bad hair problems that a citizen may face in the early hours, getting ready for work. This trooper may also serve as a neighborhood watch consultant to provide security to the neighborhood as well. Oversized hair brushes will be provided to citizens on an “as needed” basis to overcome the problem of losing the smaller hair brushes that they once may have owned. On the ugliness front, the term ugly will be replaced by the more politically correct terminology of “physically attractively challenged” so that the word ugly can be listed in the hate crimes terms. This should serve to combat “ugliness” but anyone found out in public that is “physically attractively challenged” will be provided counselling sessions in hair, makeup and wardrobe, free of charge, provided by the funding in the new budget. This program will be ran from the Dept of Natural Resources, as the state will be assisting citizens to improve their own natural resources. Further work is being done on another especially irritating problem to the citizenry, that of combatting cheap toilet paper useage by employers - but final work hasn’t been done yet, so the details of this yet another fine program from the governor will have to wait until another day.