Our own Olympic Games
Monday, Nov 5, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Not all of the Statehouse games are being played by Gov. Rod Blagojevich. My syndicated newspaper column looks at House Speaker Michael Madigan…
n the hyper-overreactive world that is the Illinois Statehouse, every move made by every major player is analyzed to death to see who is zooming whom. House Speaker Michael Madigan’s Illinois Gaming Board reform plan is a case in point.
Madigan unveiled his proposal last week. And while the idea has drawn praise from reformers like the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, it includes language that looks designed specifically as a jab at his political nemeses.
For instance, Madigan’s proposal would ban all contacts about Gaming Board matters between the board and the governor’s office, state senators and Senate staff but not a word about Madigan’s House. Zing.
And…
Madigan is just chock full of games these days. The House speaker unveiled a new budget implementation bill last week that took a big swipe at Blagojevich.
School advocates were saying last week that if the BIMP bill didn’t pass by Friday, more than 700 school districts across the state would see reduced state aid payments next month. The BIMP also provides new money for schools in the form of a higher “foundation” level and more money for special education reimbursements. Madigan has declined to pass a Senate-approved BIMP bill because, he says, Jones violated a budget agreement during the summer overtime session. Jones points the finger of blame right back at Madigan.
But with the pressure on, Madigan couldn’t resist playing another game.
Buried on page 25 of Madigan’s alternative BIMP bill was language that authorized Secretary of State Jesse White to make grants to “units of local government, school districts, educational institutions, private agencies, not-for-profit organizations, and for-profit entities.” The grants under White’s control would cover education, transportation, construction, capital improvements and social services.
In other words, Madigan essentially wanted to give White the powers normally delegated solely to the governor and his agencies.
Thankfully, Madigan withdrew that proposal and submitted another one without the above language. But it gives you an idea of how far things have gone this year.
* Finke, meanwhile, isn’t convinced that a capital projects deal is near…
All of those people out there thinking they were going to get projects out of a new capital bill just might want to slow down a bit.
A few weeks ago, the Senate passed a capital bill that earmarked money for all sorts of great and wonderful projects. Since then, the administration has been running all over the state with the project list trying to win support for the capital bill from local officials, construction unions and whoever. The idea was the locals would pressure their House members to support the capital bill because this project or that one would get funded.
The problem is the House wasn’t involved in drafting that project list. This is how Cross - an avid supporter of a capital bill - summed it up Friday. “As far as I’m concerned, what came over from the Senate is not what we are going to work from. We are going to start over.”
So don’t assume that just because your favorite project was on the list before that it will still be there when, or if, a capital bill is finally approved.
* And then there’s this…
With the ink barely dry on a new state budget, two recently released financial reports already are raising concerns about whether state revenues will keep pace with spending.
Both the bipartisan Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability and Comptroller Dan Hynes issued reports warning that income from some state revenues — particularly the sales tax — could be lower than expected.
Unless things turn around, and neither report was optimistic that will happen, the state could be facing financial shortfalls before the budget year ends.
The forecast is for more pain.
* Meanwhile, I’m curious what you think of this…
Since 2003, the governors of Midwestern states have trekked from Germany to Japan in hopes of jump-starting economic expansion and job growth back home. And, by their own accounts, each of their trade missions has returned dividends.
In Indiana, Honda officials are building a new car plant. In Iowa, European wind farm manufacturers are mulling investments.
One governor, however, stands alone.
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has not ventured outside the nation’s borders in any official economic development capacity since taking office in 2003.
Other governors have taken heat for traveling the world. Blagojevich seems content to govern from his house.
* Other stuff, compiled by Paul…
* Blagojevich has put off friends and foes
* Governor’s wife received commission from state contractor
* Editorial: Blagojevich shows why Illinoisans need recall power
* Mark Brown: Giving voters recall powers wouldn’t help
* Officials promise quick fix to state’s finance woes
* Gaming opponents odds look bleak
* Rep: Fritchey: Don’t be afraid of a Con Con
- The Tao Of Corruption - Monday, Nov 5, 07 @ 10:23 am:
How much money is enough for Rod and Patti Blagojevich?
Free up the FEDERAL SUBPOENAS Mr. Blagojevich!
- GoBearsss - Monday, Nov 5, 07 @ 10:27 am:
“Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has not ventured outside the nation’s borders in any official economic development capacity since taking office in 2003.”
I think when you have a city like Chicago in your State (which the other Midwestern states do NOT have), then you can let those other countries come to you. You don’t have to go to them.
- Captain America - Monday, Nov 5, 07 @ 10:29 am:
It’s no surprise that the State’s fiscal forecasts are negative since the national economy appears to be heading towards a recession because of the housing markets and the continued decline of the American automobile industry. Elimination of the third shift at Chrysler’s Belvidere plan will have an obvious negative effect on the State’s receipts.
I generally approve of the Madigan safeguards associated with the gambling expansion/capital bill. I’m not particularly confident that the House and Senate will be able to compromise on a capital/gambling bill. One can only hope for the best, once Cross and Madigan assmble all the components of the House capital/gaming bill.
We’re in for a long three years if the Senate
Democratic caucus does not have the instestinal fortitude to elect a New Senate President to repalce Godfather Jones, who has been Blago’s primary enabler. Without Jones as the enabler, the Governor would be unable to sustain his irresponsible and irrational governing style.
- plutocrat03 - Monday, Nov 5, 07 @ 10:36 am:
International trips by governors are generally junkets by a different name. All you have to do ist to look at the list of those travelling with the group and watch the contribution list. Remember former Governor Ryan’s trip to Cuba? No notable $$ to Illinois were created from that tour.
I do know that the new Honda plant in Indiana was not related to a gubernatorial trip. Honda is very deliberative and methodological in their processes. The presence of the Indiana gov would have been incidental to the process.
Let’s leave the international travel to those who actually need to have that type of contact.
More often than not the local officials who travel with the sister cities programs (and similar efforts) tend to return with all kinds of halfbaked ideas like building clocktowers in their home districts.
- Ghost - Monday, Nov 5, 07 @ 10:43 am:
Madigans actions reflect what we need him to do to reign in Blago and Jones. he is setting up the counterpoint to their actions. We need him to hold up capital plans, block BIMP’s etc. Jones broke his budget deal and never let the senate vote on the overrides! Jones single handedly lied and usurped the power of the Senate, rendering our elected senators impotent. Its not the veto override votes fell short, they were completly blocked! Jones and Blago have become a tyrants usurping government for their own ends! Lets not forget the number of Jones family members on the dole. without madigan fighting back, all would be lost. The more important factor about the little zingers in the BIMP etcx is not that madigan put them in, but that he was also willing to withdraw them! The Gov never withdraws at all. I am amazed that more people are not stunned bu Jones act as the Senate leader in breaking a deal on the budget. This is unheard of. If madigan has to bring the State to a halt to provide a check to the blago/jones actions and achieve balance that let it be done! No more Blago and Jones running the State like it is their empire. Go Madigan!
- FED UP - Monday, Nov 5, 07 @ 10:44 am:
What a big surprise Blago is getting rich from state contractors, he has found a new way to shake down people and companys getting taxpayer funded state contracts he gets them to pay real estate commisions to his wife. I guess E. Jones isnt the only roadblock to a ethics law
- Wumpus - Monday, Nov 5, 07 @ 10:46 am:
I find no fault with Blago not making up reasons to see the world. Most of these trips are bogus reasons and pretty useless.
- Garp - Monday, Nov 5, 07 @ 10:47 am:
Has the governors wife had any clients that did not have state contracts?
- Anon - Monday, Nov 5, 07 @ 10:47 am:
Rich, you should do a little research on Blagojevich’s travel from his time in Congress and you will see that he never went anywhere. As a poster said before, the trips are often viewed as junkets and, while Blagojevich’s fellow congressmen and women were travelling the world on the taxpayers dime, Blagojevich chose to never take a junket. While there is good to come from some of these trips, there is almost always bad stories that accompany them as well. Yet another example of the media demonizing something to the point where elected officials decide that the positive aspects of making a decision are outweighed by the negative press and media spinning generated by said decision.
History will prove here that, as is often the case, Blagojevich is damned if he does and damned if he doesnt.
- GoBearsss - Monday, Nov 5, 07 @ 10:56 am:
Didn’t he go to Bosnia with Jesse Jackson to get the U.S. soldiers that were held prisoner?
- Priorities - Monday, Nov 5, 07 @ 11:01 am:
How can he visit foreign countries when he’s been too busy flying to NYC and LA with Chris Kelly, et al, for fundraising trips?
It’s not about the health of the Illinois economy, it’s about the health of his campaign fund.
- Reddbyrd - Monday, Nov 5, 07 @ 11:26 am:
Apparently Capt. Fax thinks Madigan should be planning the Christmas Gala with Blaggo and The Senate President.
Sure let’s put aside rules skirmish, insults, law suits, firings, “agreements” ,etc. and hand out gambling licenses and projects with blank checks and no oversight.
Let’s forget the Senate and Governor both rejected very modest “independent” gaming board reforms because they WANTED to influence decisions.
The Senate GOPs made at least two requests for some oversight on projects and got zip,zero nada.
All groups and members with unmet MOUs raise your hand. Ok never mind — everyone has got hosed.
Anyone worried about casinos in Country Club Hills and Waukegan. Let’s see how many hands?
Two? Oh, there is a thirds. It that you Mr. Fitzgerald.
- VanillaMan - Monday, Nov 5, 07 @ 11:38 am:
We have repeatedly seen communities get comfortable with their positions in the world and get lazy. Then they wake up too late to see that their lunch has been eaten by others they had once labeled as dopey bumpkins. That has been happening in Chicago and Illinois for several years, and has continued during the Blagojevich administrations.
Chicago has not been keeping up with other cities. We see phenomenal growth once enjoyed by Chicago during the 20th Century, now being enjoyed by other cities, who in turn, become new competitors. At one time, it would have been laughable to consider Indianapolis over Chicago for business - but not anymore. Indy is on the verge of having a million in population, with it’s new infrastructure, new booming business centers, and pro-business governments. Houston and Orlando were seen as sweatboxes - both are booming. Las Vegas and Phoenix? They are among the fastest growing cities in the US and are first-rate draws. This is our competition. The longer we pretend that we do not need to promote ourselves, the more we will lose.
Blagojevich is a self-admitted “C” student, and he probably benefitted from grade inflation to boot. He is not known as a workaholic. His politics is not one of growing, but of divvying up shrinking pies. He is not pro-business in his tax policies, actions or planning. It is easy to understand why he hasn’t shown up in a world market to promote us. It would be ridiculous for a governor with his record to pretend to be a friend to businesses. Businesspeople see right through him.
We need leaders that understand business and understand we live in a new age of competition. A city that fights Wal-Mart, pretends it has a separate economy to support it’s high tax base, and believes it can rest on it’s history, doesn’t have a future.
Go ahead and laugh at Des Moines, Ft. Wayne and Lexington like you used to laugh at Minneapolis, Columbus, Indianapolis and Cincinnati. Each can take a little bite, but all those bites add up, don’t they?
- downhereforyears - Monday, Nov 5, 07 @ 11:47 am:
Oh please don’t encourage blago to travel outside the country….he may have to explain the GRT to those seeking to locate in the states.
And ahem, yet another state contract holder gives the govs wife money for not doing anything. This one deserves 2 subpeonas!
- irishpirate - Monday, Nov 5, 07 @ 12:23 pm:
What amazes me about Blago’s wife and real estate commissions is that this “stuff” is still happening.
I guess you could call it the “Audacity of Dope”. By “dope” I mean foolishness or stupidity.
To paraphrase “The Soprano’s” Blago has the feds so far up his ass he can taste the Brylcreem, yet he still plays around with this stuff. What’s next? Perhaps state employees being encouraged to give to a Blago daughter for her birthday?
- Squideshi - Monday, Nov 5, 07 @ 1:13 pm:
I always note that the Chicago Sun-Times does not allow reader comments. I guess they don’t want feedback or discussion regarding critical issues.
Mark Brown wrote, “We don’t need the electoral gimmick known as recall.”
As has been said repeatedly before, it is virtually impossible to know if a candidate will do the things they promise in a campaign, once actually elected to office. Recall is a necessary check to ensure elected officials remain accountable to the public, whom they are expected to serve. If the voters want to remove an elected official from office, they should be able to do so–plain and simple. There is absolutely no good argument to lock voters into a decision for four years when they obviously can change their minds.
Rep. John Fritchey wrote, “I encourage everyone, regardless of their views or political stance, to set aside fear, cynicism, and apathy, and support the call for a Constitutional Convention.”
What I don’t like is citizens being expected to vote for or against a ConCon without first knowing what rules will be used to select/elect delegates.
- $ Patti $ - Monday, Nov 5, 07 @ 1:51 pm:
While all of Illinois awaits Patrick Fitzgerald’s decisions. Illinois continues to get fleeced.
- GettingJonesed - Monday, Nov 5, 07 @ 2:02 pm:
Sqweshy there was a Con-Con we could go to unicameral legislature, gay marriage, concealed carry, 18 year-old drinking age, merit selection of judges,elected university trustees, no tollways, The Chief
- Levois - Monday, Nov 5, 07 @ 2:56 pm:
That was a great column. It may be a game but many of us sees what Madigan is up against. I wonder if they’re in over their head with him.
- anon - Monday, Nov 5, 07 @ 5:02 pm:
I followed the decision of Honda to not settle in the Danville area. Rep Black (R) praised the Blagojevich Administration and DCEO its outstanding efforts that resulted in their being shortlisted. The decision, forom what I recall, had to do with money saved because Ind. was closer and trucking costs would be down.
As for the Gov not going abroad. Why would he? He’s be criticized for that.
- anon - Monday, Nov 5, 07 @ 5:03 pm:
I followed the decision re: Honda to not settle in the Danville area. Rep Black (R) praised the Blagojevich Administration and DCEO for their outstanding efforts that resulted in being shortlisted. The decision, from what I recall, had to do with money saved because Ind. was closer and trucking costs would be down.
As for the Gov not going abroad. Why would he? He would be criticized for that.
- downhereforyears - Monday, Nov 5, 07 @ 6:16 pm:
anon….did you say that twice to convince yourself of that statement
- Squideshi - Monday, Nov 5, 07 @ 9:21 pm:
Getting Jonesed wrote, “Sqweshy there was a Con-Con we could go to unicameral legislature, gay marriage, concealed carry, 18 year-old drinking age, merit selection of judges,elected university trustees, no tollways, The Chief”
Perhaps, but there is absolutely no guarantee that the selection/election of delegates would be done in a way that even remotely resembles Democracy. Do you think that Madigan, and the other corporate Democrats that will write the rules AFTER people vote for a ConCon, will actually write them in such a way that favors the election of genuine candidates who would support these types of things? Somehow I doubt it.