Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » 2007

Tuesday, Sep 18, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller

* 3:40 pm - I’m told that Chicago will testify in favor of the gaming bill with some reservations.

There’s also word that Senate President Jones may not call the transit bill for a vote. Craziness has resulted with some SDems threatening to drop off the gaming bill.

* 4:10 pm - The transit bill wasn’t called in committee. Mayor Daley stood firm against the changes to the RTA governing board made by Sen Prez Jones.. Sen. Cullerton claimed it was a drafting error. Not. Daley threatened to kill the bill. Nobody knows if the bill will come up again tonight. Sen Jones was the one who insisted on changes opposed to by Daley for whatever reason. Cullerton has sided with Daley all along.

…Adding… Jones inserted the language at the behest of some suburban members. Jones’ version is more advantageous to the ‘burbs while the House version favored Chicago.

* 5:40 pm - The Senate is taking up the gaming bill now. The smoking exemption for the casinos will apparently be dropped but that could imperil the bill’s chances

… Adding… the smoking exemption was specifically dropped because of the roll call realities. But there are a lot of members whovare flipping all over the place at the moment.

* 6:53 pm - The gaming bill just passed with 37 votes.

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This just in… SGOPs: If SDems kept promise, we have votes for the capital bill

Tuesday, Sep 18, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller

* 11:53 am - If you’re waiting for the Senate to start doing something, the Senate Democrats’ spokesperson told me a bit ago that they are working on drafting changes and then will go to Rules Committee.

* 12:23 pm - Senate President Jones reportedly told his leaders this morning that he was very close to a deal with the Senate Repubs on the capital/gaming legislation. The meeting broke up when Jones received a call from Senate GOP Leader Watson. So far, though, no Senate Republicans whom I’ve talked to have reported hearing anything about anything today.

* 12:34 pm - Did you know that Tony Peraica has a blog? I didn’t. Hat tip to Carl. Also, the Illinois GOP has a nifty new website.

* 12:59 pm - From a press release…

Illinoisans wasted nearly 203 million hours of additional time on the road, and 141 million gallons of additional gas as a result of traffic congestion in 2005. The additional wasted time and fuel cost the public an equivalent of $3.9 billion, according to the federally sponsored Urban Mobility Report released today by the Texas Transportation Institute.

* 1:44 pm - The Senate Republicans have not yet agreed to the language of the capital/gaming plan. They’ve gone through several drafts, apparently, and can’t pin it down. A Senate GOP spokesperson wouldn’t even go so far a few minutes ago to say that they even have an agreement in principle. And now there are rumors that they may have to stay in town another day. We’ll see. More on the boat stuff in a few.

* 1:51 pm - The boat people are presently unhappy, for various reasons. Casinos in the Chicago area are concerned about where those two new riverboats will go. They don’t want the new boats too close to them. The smoking ban provision is also causing trouble. The proposal would allow the three Mississippi River boats to set aside 25 percent of their casino space for smokers for five years, or until Missouri and Iowa imposed smoking bans of their own. Those three boats don’t think that’s enough, and the other boats want it applied to them as well. Plus, the provision will not be included in the bill. Instead, it will be added as an amendment which could be stripped when the package reaches the Senate floor.

* 1:55 pm - The Senate is coming in. Listen here.

* 2:02 pm - I did finally get a high-level Senate Republican to say that there is a broad-brush agreement, but he didn’t believe that the details had been worked out. He also said he didn’t know why the Senate was coming back to session as I write this.

* 2:06 pm - Here are some comments made by Senate GOP Leader Frank Watson yesterday, courtesy of Metro Networks…

[audio:FrankWatson9-17.mp3]

* 2:07 pm - ABC7 and CBS2 have cameras in the gallery, expecting action, apparently.

* 2:17 pm - Rules Committee is now meeting.

* 2:23 pm - They’ve scheduled an Executive and a Transportation committee for later this afternoon.

* 2:33 pm - OK, here are the bills they’ve posted for committees this afternoon…

* HB 2035 SA 8 is the gaming bill

* HB 3667 SA 1 & 2 is the mass transit bill (essentially the original transit bill, so maybe Senate President Jones has decided to let Cullerton try to run it and see if it can pass)

* SB 1110 SA 5 is the capital projects bill

* SB 785 SA 1 is the bond authorization bill.

I’ve got to go to committee, so post your updates in comments.

* 3:07 pm - The Senate Republicans’ spokesperson just said that if the Senate Democrats did everything they said they were going to do in the capital legislation language then they would put votes on the bills later today. As of right now, though, they’re still going through the legislation.

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Silverstein; Trotter; Jeffries; Loans; Franks; Lottery; Tracks; Lauzen (Use all caps in password)

Tuesday, Sep 18, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Question of the day

Tuesday, Sep 18, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller

Sometime late last night, this blog reached a dubious milestone…

Over one million spam comments have been blocked by Akismet on this blog since I installed the miraculous piece of software just fifteen months ago. I don’t know how it works, but it’s saved me more trouble than you can imagine. Spammers had found a way of getting past captcha code, so Akismet was the only workable solution available.

We’re all familiar with e-mail spam. But you don’t see much, if any, comment spam here because of Akismet. I don’t know what I’ll do if the evil spammers find a way around this software. The flood is truly horrendous. Akismet claims that “93% of all comments are spam.” That ratio is a bit lower here. If you have a blog, then you absolutely need to install this device.

Anyway, the question today is: Do you think the government should be more involved in stopping spam? If so, what should it do? If not, why not?

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Kadner sums up the fight

Tuesday, Sep 18, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller

* As you probably know, the governor has yet to take any action on the legislation extending the Cook County property tax assessment cap. Phil Kadner writes about the issue today, noting that property tax bills can’t be sent out until the situation is resolved, which means that schools and local governments aren’t gonna get paid. Kadner does a good juob of summing up the Statehouse meltdown…

Cook County Board President Todd Stroger and Houlihan had scheduled a news conference Monday to call attention to the property tax crisis, but they called it off at the last minute.

According to my sources, the governor’s office assured them Blagojevich would take “some action” on the tax cap bill on Wednesday.

“But we don’t know if that means he plans to veto the bill, use his amendatory veto power or sign it as it is,” another source said.

Many people in government refused even to speak on the record about the crisis for fear of getting caught up in the Blagojevich-Madigan feud.

“These guys will kill you if you if they think you’re coming out for one or criticizing the other,” I was told. “They won’t let any legislation pass that you need. Everything’s a vendetta down in Springfield these days. They don’t care about anything else.”

Yep. Everybody seems to wake up each morning wondering how they’re gonna shaft everyone else. The governor doesn’t want to sign any legislation backed by Speaker Madigan, such as the assessment cap, Jones is going along for the ride, and Madigan is doing his utmost to fight back.

Discuss.

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Gaming still on the table, but future, as always, is doubtful

Tuesday, Sep 18, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Senate President Emil Jones said yesterday that he plans to call a vote on the capital projects package today. It would be funded with three new casinos…

The latest plan reportedly involves placing a land-based casino in Chicago and adding two more riverboat casino licenses at unspecified locations. Also, existing casinos will be allowed to expand their operations.

Money from gaming expansion would allow the state to embark on a multibillion-dollar capital program for roads, bridges, schools, mass transit and other projects.

* But even if it passes the Senate, which is not at all assured yet, the proposal faces a dim future in the House…

“His comments that there is not much support for a big gaming expansion in the House remains unchanged,” Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said Monday. […]

“I think all four leaders and the governor have to be on the same page for this to work,” [
Sen. Ira Silverstein, D-Chicago] said. “I think it’s pretty good (bet) it’s dead on arrival in the House.”

* More on the gaming proposal…

“I don’t think I’d be placing any wagers on it at this time,” said Sen. James DeLeo, D-Chicago.

* The mayor is not yet on board. The Tribune went conservative with its explanation today…

A City Hall source said Mayor Richard Daley has not signed onto the casino package, although he is studying it. The mayor has been open to a land-based casino in Chicago under the right circumstances, including an assurance that the city would get a share of the proceeds that would make hosting a casino worth the trouble. But the mayor has not signed on to any riverboat casinos.

* Still more…

State Sen. James Meeks, D-Chicago, said he can’t support a plan that relies on money generated by adding new casinos in the Chicago area.

“I’ve never voted for a gaming bill. So I’m 100 percent sure I won’t be voting for it if that is the solution,” said Meeks. “I think the solution should rest in an income tax increase.”

Complicating the situation are ongoing disagreements between Blagojevich and House Speaker Michael Madigan, who was not included in Monday’s meeting.

“How do you leave out the speaker of the House in this discussion?” Watson asked.

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Another loan proposed for transit *** Updated x1 ***

Tuesday, Sep 18, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller

* This mass transit “solution” is ludicrous…

Senate President Emil Jones is expected to ask lawmakers Tuesday to back a $24.6 billion capital-improvements plan that would be paid for by a major expansion of gambling, according to lawmakers briefed on the plan.

But Jones surprised Chicago lawmakers by proposing a short-term loan for the Chicago area’s struggling transit system rather than moving forward with a vote on a tax package that would raise $435 million a year for the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace.

The loan would be for $229 million, of which $200 million would go to Chicago-area transit agencies and $29 million to Downstate transit systems, said Sen. Donne Trotter (D-Chicago), Jones’ top budget expert. The agencies last week agreed to take a $91 million cash advance offered by Gov. Rod Blagojevich as a way to postpone what officials at the agencies called “Doomsday” service cuts and fare increases.

Jones is covering for the governor, who opposes the regional sales tax hike. Another loan? Ridiculous. Rep. Hamos had it right…

“It is very difficult for me to believe that the only immediate prospect for transit is a loan,” Hamos said. “As of last week, the transit system had to repay $91 million. It would be irresponsible to add another $200 million on top of that with the expectation that they could somehow pay it back — which we all know they could not.”

* More transit stories, compiled by Paul…

* Illinoize: State’s multi-billion dollar construction plans need safeguarding against politics

* Tribune Editorial: Chicago’s transit ‘disgrace’

* Chicago’s woes could aid Metro East transit

* Bethany Jaegar: All in one…gaming, capital, and mass transit

*** UPDATE *** From the governor’s office…

In response to this talk about a “loan” for transit agencies - it’s not a loan. It’s an advance - if there’s a permanent solution. If there is NOT a permanent solution, they don’t have to the pay the $229 mill back.

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Morning shorts

Tuesday, Sep 18, 2007 - Posted by Paul Richardson

* Cook Co. prosecutors seek to audit firm with ties to the gov

* Undercover blogger gives insider’s view of police dept.

* Opening of abortion clinic in Aurora blocked; more here and here

During a hearing in U.S. District Court on Monday, Planned Parenthood attorney Chris Wilson argued that Aurora was “imposing a different review process … in response to political demands” and the protests that have resulted.

“There is no other objection other than the outcry over abortion services,” Wilson told Judge Charles R. Norgle.

Lance Malina, an attorney representing Aurora, told the judge the city was reviewing possible “material omissions” when Planned Parenthood, identifying itself as Gemini, was going through the permit process. At the conclusion, the city will decide whether an operating permit should be issued.

* SIU won’t appeal ruling on Poshard contract

* Poshard says he did not try to influence poll results

* Zorn: 72 year old judge is right to challenge the age-old practice of mandatory retirement

* Ameren unveils rate relief programs

* Energy firm gets notice for alleged pollution

* Vrdolyak’s lawyers seek to have indictment tossed; more here

* Sneed tidbit: Pssst… Sneed hears rumbles 2nd Ward Ald. Bob Fioretti may challenge U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush for his Dem committeeman seat. Hmm.

* Daley implies opposition to Children’s Museum move is racial

* Mayor questions race role in Grant Park debate

* DuPage pushes to hire prosecutors despite budget loss

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Tuesday, Sep 18, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller

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