Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » 2007

Monday, Aug 6, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller

First, the setup…

Brand new second-graders should know how to tell time. But after a long summer break, many are rusty, forcing teachers to go back over the basics — which is the hour hand? — instead of diving into second-grade work.

That’s not a problem at Alain Locke Charter Academy in East Garfield Park, which resumed class July 16 after a three-week summer break. […]

Locke switched last summer to a year-round calendar — 10 weeks of school followed by three-week breaks — and it seems to be paying off. Preliminary state test results are up over last year, including a 10 percentage point gain in reading. Teachers also report more time to plan ahead. […]

Evidence of kids backpedaling over the summer is well-documented. Research on year-round calendars is limited; what exists shows some modest benefits, with the most positive effects on poor kids.

Question: Should all public schools be year-round? Why or why not?

62 Comments

To recall or not to recall?

Monday, Aug 6, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller

Even though it would probably be very good for my business, I’m gonna agree with this Daily Herald editorial…

As reported by Daily Herald political writer Eric Krol on Saturday, Republican state Sen. Dan Cronin is launching an effort for a recall amendment to pave the way to get Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich removed from office.

But even though we have been disappointed many, many times — and said so on this page — by Blagojevich’s political grandstanding and ineffectiveness on a variety of issues since he first was elected in 2002, we just can’t give Cronin our endorsement for this effort.

Cronin told Krol: “This is a way for the Republicans to show how we respond to this failure of leadership. And the Democrats are worried (Blagojevich) is going to take his party down the drain.” […]

But we agree with a Blagojevich spokeswoman who calls this a political stunt that won’t help solve the impasse in Springfield. We believe both Republicans and Democrats need to keep their eye on the ball and set priorities on the serious issues facing the state rather than spend time trying to pass an amendment solely to solve one political problem.

Indeed, Republicans had their chance to remove Blagojevich just last year but former state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka and the party itself waged an ineffective campaign and lost soundly in November. Now Republicans and Democrats alike need to figure out a way to work together and in ways that will benefit the state. And politically, Republicans should concentrate on getting their own act together for the 2008 elections and beyond. […]

There’s already enough politicking in Illinois without waging a California-style recall effort that could stymie future efforts to do what’s right. We urge all sides to get the job done they were elected to do and then urge voters to do their job at the polls if they’re unhappy with the results.

While tempting on its face, I’m not enamored with the recall system. There’s little doubt, for instance, that George Ryan would have been recalled. But voters failed to heed several obvious warnings about Ryan’s corrupt ways, so I figure they got just what they deserved. Same with Blagojevich.

Also, governors and political parties have natural ups and downs in popularity. The leaders shouldn’t constantly be subjected to momentary whims or trends.

When discussing this issue, try to remember that the recall provision wouldn’t be repealed after Blagojevich is gone. This is something we could be stuck with for a very long time to come, and would eventually impact both parties.

Have at it.

80 Comments

Flip-flops and alienation

Monday, Aug 6, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller

* My syndicated newspaper column begins with a litany of flip-flops and over the top remarks from Gov. Blagojevich (and it was written before I had heard about this additional goofiness) and ends thusly…

Is it any wonder the Illinois AFL-CIO now feels comfortable challenging the Democratic governor’s pledge to veto any income tax increases? The State Federation of Labor has been a staunch Blagojevich supporter for years, but its leaders demanded last week that the General Assembly ignore the flailing, wild-eyed, veto-threatening man behind the curtain and approve a bill to increase the income tax by a quarter point a year for four years in order to fund public schools.

More importantly, though, the AFL-CIO got behind a proposal to cut Blagojevich out of the distribution of those new education dollars by putting all the cash into a “lock-box” completely controlled by a three-fifths majority of both legislative chambers. This was done because nobody trusts the governor to distribute the funds equitably.

For the AFL-CIO to essentially admit that the man they’ve supported since before the 2002 primary is now completely untrustworthy and should be ignored, bowled over and cut out of the loop shows just how far Blagojevich has sunk. Almost every ally he’s had is bolting for the exit doors.

The unions are also bankrolling a new advertising campaign on black radio stations in Chicago that starts out, “I voted for him, but the man is wrong.” The ad is about the governor’s adamant refusal to support an income tax increase for schools. The spot is running in heavy rotation beginning this morning. The fact that organized labor chose to slam Blagojevich in his most loyal voting base shows just how far away labor has drifted from this man.

Even the Daley clan is getting into the act. Bill Daley, the brother of Chicago’s mayor, wrote an op-ed for the Chicago Tribune last week comparing the governor to the unbendable, unpopular President Bush. Daley urged Blagojevich to drop his expensive universal health insurance idea (which Blagojevich is demanding in return for keeping the government open), stop the sniping, demonstrate thoughtful leadership and start compromising on other issues in order to earn a second chance.

I don’t know how Blagojevich thinks he can effectively govern for the rest of his second term if he stays on this crazy course. It’s like he’s taken every goofy trait from his first term and magnified it tenfold. Maybe when he finally winds up truly alone, he’ll begin to take notice.

Read the whole thing, then discuss.

* And here is a budget and end of session news roundup, compiled by Paul…

* Tribune Editorial: A wink and a nod on ethics reform

* Vote on budget up in the air

* Illinois is days away from running out of money

* No break in IL budget impasse

* Chambers: Budget stalemate reveals an absence of will

* Sun-Times Editorial: Bridge the budget divide

* $852,775 and we’re counting

* Opinion: Ego vs. Compromise

* Clout Street: What would Confucius do on the state budget?

33 Comments

Morning Shorts

Monday, Aug 6, 2007 - Posted by Paul Richardson

* Assessor slams Madigan tax plan

* State officials pick Pepsi for vending machines

* Opinion: Students shouldn’t have to play catch up in schools

* Chicago Public Radio: Last call for political discrimination claims

* Study shows Illinois youth worried about the future

* House hopefuls scramble for support

* Illinoize: Schock running for Congress

* Tribune Editorial: The rise of the netroots

* Change of Subect: Peraica to run for Cook Co. State’s Attorney

* New vehicle impound rule a money-maker

10 Comments

« NEWER POSTS