107 Comments - Anon - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 11:14 am: Its time to see the Mayor get more involved in the transit issue. He needs to encourage the Speaker to quit playing games and get behind the gaming/capital plan being proposed by all of the legislative leaders. Blago let this one go. Perhaps its a sign that he is prepared to workwith others and negotiate in good faith to reach an outcome that provides the taxpayers the services they require with as little hardship as possible. I wouldgladly pay $2.50 more for my phone each month if it means that the CTA gets funded, roads get fixed, and Illinois bridges dont collapse like the one in Monnesota. Its time for the Mayor to get in thegame and push Madigan to shoot straight. - FED UP - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 11:14 am: Does the city spend $48million on the 911 I doubt it this is just another Daley corruption tax. Thank god the Feds are starting to look at the deals Daleys buddys have been getting. - Reckoner - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 11:16 am: The “Weasel Factor” is alive and flourishing in Rod Blagojevich. - FED UP - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 11:17 am: Anon (elvis?) madigan has nothing to do with raising the phone tax. Daleys budget wouldnt need additional revenues if it wasnt for Tif districts and hired trucks and buying overpriced land from daleys friends. Corruption needs to be attacked no more taxes less corruption. - Levois - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 11:19 am: What’s it to the governor if a municipality or a county decided that they wanted to raise certain taxes on “the people”? It wouldn’t be breaking his campaign promise if a local governmental unit decided to raise taxes on “the people”. Wouldn’t it count more if we were talking about state taxes whether that’s in the form of sales and income taxes? Plus there’s this whole property tax issue I don’t know if it’s called a relief, cap, or a swap. Isn’t there something he wanted to do for that? - GoBearsss - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 11:21 am: From what I (thought I) understood - Blago’s only objection to tax hikes on “people” was really only firm in his stance against income tax and sales tax increases. By his own admission. His principled objection never seemed to extend to other things like a telephone tax, which some would call a user fee. I am sure he may still oppose it, but not in the same way. That’s where I think I have disagreed with you whenever you call him out for anything that will raise fees, or other taxes. I just don’t remember him ever committing to holding the line on anything other than the income and sales tax. Maybe I am wrong, though… I just don’t remember. - Anonymous - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 11:22 am: Isn’t this the same rational he is using to oppose the CTA regional tax increase? Shocking that he says one thing and does another… - Rich Miller - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 11:23 am: GoBearsss, if he supported it, he should’ve signed it. - GoBearsss - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 11:32 am: I don’t know whether he supports it or not - I was just making the argument that, as far as I know, his only principled objection to tax increases on “people” is the income tax and sales tax. Meaning, I don’t think that he necessarily HAS to veto it, or else be a hypocrite. Though he probably will veto it, given the track record. - GoBearsss - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 11:33 am: Oh, I didn’t read your whole post. Sorry. I just saw now that he let it become law without his signature. - DC - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 11:44 am: For someone with self-professed “testicular virility” the Governor sure gets timid when it comes to performing, arguably, the largest responsiblity of a Governor: vetoing or signing bills. He should have just signed it and then professed that he understand the need to compromise positions in the interest of public safety. He could have come out of this looking like an intellectual thought leader, almost statesman-like. Instead, he chose an amateur response to a professional obligation. - Ghost - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 11:48 am: This is a much more likely tax on people then the gas referendum issue. Blago makes the blanket stands on issues and plays games with everyone. Then at the end of the day he does not even have the cajones to follow his blanket stands. This is a man without pricipal. Anon Blago is the only game player here. When madigan wanted to talk tax increases to generate money to pay for budget issues, including CTA/RTA, Blago so no way no how, never gonna happen. He even insanely vetoed the bill which just autorized the council to create a referendum to let voters to decide if they were willing to pay an increased tax. But when blago,m the man of no principal, needs support from the mayor to pay big bucks for a chicago casino to generate money for his capital projects, now taxes are ok. At least ok enough that he wont veto a tax the mayor wants. He is basically bribing daley to back off complaining about the money chicago would have to pay for its casino. So Madigan wants to discuss tax increases to help people and the State, Blago refuses to ever discuss it. Daley wants a tax increase for chicago, and Blago wants money from daley, now a tax increase is not a vetoable event. Their is only one game player here, that is Blago. I hope madigan stands up to this guy. If Blago is NOW willing to let tax bills go without veto, then lets dump gaming and go back and loot at tax increases again. After all, the gov would not want to look like he is using budget cuts or his veto powers to direct bribes, er I mean money at the people he wants to buy support from. - Captain America - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 11:51 am: The governor’s decision not to veto Mayor Daley’s telephone surcharge seems prudent to me, particularly since the Governor’s poll numbers have plummeted. Why pick an unnecessary fight with the mayor after you have alienated almost everyone else in the political establishment? I think the voters of Will county should have had the opportunity to vote on the gas tax initiative, rather than have the governor impose his arbitrary and capricious opposition to sales and income tax increases on the people of Will county. If the voters did not support the gas tax increase, then they would defeat it. At least the people of Will County would have a choice one way or another. Chicagoans will not have any choice about the phone tax - Daley will ram it through the City Council. - Truth - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 11:56 am: More fodder for the recall movement. If the Governor doesn’t want to do his job (sign or veto bills), then why should we want him to do it? - Different rules for the KING - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 12:13 pm: Based upon Blagojevich’s performance the last 5 years he should be fired or layed-off. Like he did to so many State of Illinois workers. The majority of them were doing their jobs fine, unlike our governor. - DC - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 12:16 pm: It may have been a prudent decision, but Rich is right: if he supports it, he should have signed it instead of taking a John Kerry approach. - Greg - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 12:37 pm: More than anything else, I think this illustrates the stupidity of his “no taxes on people” principle. Every tax is paid by people. We can certainly quarrel over who should pay what, but simply opposing taxes on “people” is absurd. - Bill - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 12:47 pm: Thanks for the trip down memory lane. It has been an amazing five years!You ani’t seen nothing yet. The best is yet to come! - The 'Broken Heart' of Rogers Park - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 12:55 pm: It’s clear who runs the state. And it sure isn’t the Gov. - Time - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 12:56 pm: Looking forward to seeing how Blago’s memory lane ends. Probably hiding out in the Middle East somewhere. - Bill - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 12:58 pm: Time, It will end in the White House. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 12:59 pm: Bill, your back and forth on the guv is breathtaking. lol. - lifer - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 1:00 pm: I noticed on the trip down memory lane we didn’t see the whole flu vaccine issue. Rich did we pay for that too? - Rich Miller - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 1:01 pm: Good point. - Greg - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 1:04 pm: “It will end in the White House” Bill, are you serious? I can’t tell. If so, I’d be happy to sell you a 50:1 bet that that happens. - Napoleon Has Left The Building - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 1:08 pm: Chambers calls it memory lane, I call it a living nightmare. Lifer makes a good point about the flu shots - that Tribune story last year about what really happened to the flu shots after G Rod donated them was classic. There are too many incidents, scandals, and outright lies to even detail in a timeline like that - but Chambers made a good effort. - Bill. - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 1:10 pm: Boredom does strange things to the mind. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 1:11 pm: Ghost makes the most salient point. There’s no difference in principle between the measure the Gov just passed through to raise telephone taxes and the one he’s sworn to veto to raise revenue for a CTA fix. Oh, wait, except that one can be leveraged to expand gambling, achieving Rod and Emil’s secret dream of making Illinois the Las Vegas of the Midwest. - Bill. - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 1:32 pm: The Governor is opposed to expansion of gambling. Unfortunatly, the Speaker’s obstructionism of the governor’s innovative tax plan has forced him and President Jones to turn to gaming to garner Repub support for capital and transit. The 911 fee is a user fee not a sales tax like the Will County gas tax.. The governor is opposed to sales and income taxes. What part of that is so hard to understand? - plutocrat03 - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 1:36 pm: It you think Charlie Rangle’s proposed taxes are high, wait ’til you see what he carbon dioxide regulations will cost you. It is amazing that Illinois is joining the California lawsiut without so much as a peep out of the state Senatat and House of Reps. I just think of al the jobs that will go away in order to satisfy the global climate change monster. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 1:40 pm: ===What part of that is so hard to understand?=== That he wussed out and didn’t sign it. - Anon Fun - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 1:41 pm: Bill says it will end at the White House? Is that what they’re calling Oxford Federal Pen now? - Getting Away With It All - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 1:47 pm: Bill Ya mean Rod Blagojevich will be pardoned by the White House(Hillary or Obama). Only in America! - GoBearsss - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 1:52 pm: Again, Aaron Chambers demonstrates that Blago has lost for good the State press corps with his behavior. That was a pretty ill-intentioned hit piece. - DC - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 2:00 pm: Anyone watching Fox News? Blagojevich just got called to the carpet for Illinois’ “sanctuary” status on immigration. While it’s not necessarily related to the tacit approval of a tax on people, it demonstrates what a laughing stock the State of Illinois has become in the past five years. - Anonymous - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 2:01 pm: Rod? “wussed out”? Never! - gulag - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 2:03 pm: One shouldn’t forget the (unconstitutional) violent video game ban as another of his accomplishments. - gulag - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 2:05 pm: Or his public letter to the ICC threatening to fire all of the commissioners if they approved the electricity auction, and then his failure to do so. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 2:07 pm: ===That was a pretty ill-intentioned hit piece.=== One person’s history is another person’s “hit piece,” apparently. I doubt it was ill intentioned. Is there anything untrue in the timeline? - ;-) - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 2:14 pm: Gee…. Anything untrue? Ask Bill. - Overtimer - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 2:16 pm: There’s nothing untrue in that Chamber’s piece. He could have gone on for another 50 pages with the timeline o’ “ridiculosity.” - True Comparison - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 2:18 pm: Bill, Sales taxes are user fees. Phone, gas, groceries, cars, bats, balls, boats. You buy, you use, you pay tax. - GoBearsss - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 2:24 pm: For good or bad, this was a hit piece. Just calling a spade a spade. I am sure many people would add and subtract from the timeline to create an infinite number of combinations. Look - before you go and attack me, take a look at it with a clear head. Tell me this wasn’t intended to put the Governor in a negative light. That’s fine with me. Just acknowledge it as a hit piece, not any prime example of quality journalism. Don’t assume I am trying to defend anyone here. Just trying to bring a little reality into this discussion. - OneManBlog - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 2:25 pm: Bill… I didn’t know they were calling the prison in Oxford the ‘White House’ now. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 2:26 pm: Bill - 1) The Governor is NOT opposed to expanding gambling. He’s not only for it, he’s leading the negotiations to expand it FAR BEYOND the need for capital construction and the CTA. 2) A monthly flat tax of $4 million on every telephone in Chicago is a tax, plain and simple. User Fees are paid by people who use a service. If this flat tax was being paid only by people who called 911, then it would be a user fee. It’s being paid by people who don’t use it, that’s a tax. 3) The City currently receives $48 million a year from the 911 tax. Does anyone honestly believe that the new $48 million in taxes each year are really going to be used to double 911 services, or is it more likely that this is going to be used to prop up bloated patronage spending in other parts of the budget? Again, not a user fee. - Bill - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 2:30 pm: True, As you must know, sales taxes are assesed based on a percentage of the price or cost of a good, or hopefully someday, service, whereas, user fees are a flat fee to pay for using a specific service…like the fee you pay for your license plates to use our fine roads in Illinois. I see no problem with Rod not signing but at the same time not obstructing the 911 user fee. He didn’t like it nor support it but didn’t feel the need to veto it since it wasn’t a sales or income tax. That’s completely consistent. That’s the way the Constitution says it should work. - Six Degrees of Separation - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 2:39 pm: I’ve got an add for Aaron Chamber’s timeline: Governor turns and points to Chambers at a press conference, exclaims “Nattering Nabob of Negatism, There!” I do not recall the date. - Bill - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 2:40 pm: YDD, I guess by your argument,then,the Speaker is for expanding gambling also since he is having Cross negotiate not only more casinos but slots at racetracks. By the way, talk about profiles in courage. Why doesn’t he do his own dirty work? - Greg - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 2:46 pm: I agree with Bill that a fee is not a “sales tax.” It is, however, a “tax,” using any sensible definition of the word. Bottom line: the fact that we’re arguing over sales taxes on “people” versus other taxes on “people” is pretty sad. - A Citizen - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 2:47 pm: -Bill- You are really at your best today, I’ve missed that! Keep on keeping on. It helps me sharpen my perspective on the guv. Not necessarily a good thing but I find it helpful. - VanillaMan - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 2:49 pm: Aaron’s article is not trip down memory lane, it is a stumble down a bottomless well. I also believe it is biased against Blagojevich, but for the life of me, I can’t think of anything GOOD, can you? Has it really been that bad? So I was waiting for Bill to mention some of the good things we experienced over the past five years, and he seems tapped out too. A broad view of what I read seems to be that Illinois has been in a fiscal crisis since 2000, and Blagojevich has made the situation worst. While he isn’t the cause of our predicament, he as governor, has been expected to lead us out of it. Instead he has sunk us further by spending billions more than we have and using whatever credit and assets remained as Band-Aids. Remember the “book for every child” stunt? Aaron needs to add that to the list, doesn’t he? What we have learned with Blagojevich is that a governor needs to learn the job. He needs to build a team within each General Assembly chamber to pass legislation. His word is his credit, and without it he can no longer lead. We discovered that PR stunts can offer hope, but without follow-up, nothing is achieved. We discovered that a one-party political system doesn’t ensure agreement when the top dogs fight. We discovered that the Illinois Democratic Party was not ready to make their gubernatorial come-back under a Chicago Alderman’s son-in-law too arrogant to listen and too pugnacious to govern. We are also discovering that when we shoot ourselves in the foot by electing disfunctional leaders, the world doesn’t wait around for us to fix our situation. We lose everything under a competative global market and our lunches are eaten by governments with their heads screwed on right. We just cannot afford losers as governor. So, c’mon Bill! Please add some positive “highlights” to Aaron’s list. We need you now! - Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 2:51 pm: Bill - I think think Madigan has made it EXTREMELY clear that he supports a different funding mechanism for funding the CTA. I don’t know why Madigan has deferred to Cross, except that if I were him, I wouldn’t want to be in the room with Blagojevich either. Rod is an antagonizing, disingenuous, backstabbing child. BUT, thanks for finally admitting that Rod supports expanding gambling. CHAMBERS - Let’s not forget the much ballyhooed “TEAM Illinois”, which was supposed to be a longterm commitment, announced in 2003, to reverse poverty in four communities. A year later was the last press release we saw on TEAM Illinois, and today you can’t even find a reference to it on the DHS website. - Ivote - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 2:52 pm: Chambers’ article a hit piece? I remember the late great Harry S. Truman’s reply when someone in the audience yelled “Give ‘em (the Republicans) hell, Harry! “Give ‘em hell? No, we’re just going to tell the truth and it will SOUND like hell!” - Bill - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 2:52 pm: Why, thank you, A. We aim to please here at Blago Central. Greg, You’re right it is a tax. I’m not advocating it. Little Dick gets more than enough to go around as it is. This manufactured financial “crisis” is just an excuse to gouge the poor citizens even more. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 2:58 pm: And Bill, just because a sales tax is flat doesn’t make it any less of a sales tax. Unless you’re telling me that the governor wouldn’t oppose a $5 flat tax on all sales in Illinois, because that wouldn’t be a sales tax? I’ll tell you right now, Governor Ryan tried to use the same logic almost a decade ago when he doubled “fees” on all license plate renewals. In the minds of voters, a “fee” that everyday people are forced to pay for basic services is a “tax”. You can try to call it whatever you want, but the voters aren’t as stupid as you and Rod would like to believe. They understand that the money is still coming out of their wallet no matter what you call it. But perhaps you’d like to argue that if folks don’t want to pay these “user fees”, all they need to do is stop driving and have their water, phone, electricity and gas disconnected? Sure Bill, try that one on your neighbors. - Bill - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 3:02 pm: Overcame 5 billion dollar deficit, Raised the minimum wage, Increased funding for k-12 education more than any Gov in history, Restructured and paid down pension debt, Provided access to health care for thousands of children, seniors, and veterans, Cut the size of the state workforce significantly, Invited Rich Miller on the Rod bus, Provided pre-school for 3- and 4- year olds Prevented Speaker and the Republicans from hijacking state gov’t, All without raising sales or income taxes. Whatta Guy!! - What planet is he from again? - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 3:03 pm: Don’t forget the “CMS 2″ fiasco either. - VanillaMan - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 3:05 pm: “This manufactured financial “crisis” is just an excuse to gouge the poor citizens even more.” If the crisis is manufactured then it was unnecessary to begin with, right? So exactly who is benefitting from it? With a near virtual denounciation of his administration, why would Blagojevich allow himself to continually fall victim to a manufactured crisis? Sorry Bill, I don’t see it. No one is enjoying this sick ongoing drama. It isn’t a soap opera, it is real. We are broke, and the golden geese have either flew south for safety or have been tapped out. You keep thinking there is more money when it seems clear that this isn’t the case. Were you in class when they talked about taxing a community to the point where it can no longer produce more tax revenue? That is where we are. There are no easy fixes and no hidden Santa Clauses out there. The poor citizens are being gouged by a governing mentality that says that they should pay and pay out of their paychecks and then when they buy stuff they need they pay and pay again. Have you ever added up how much taxes you pay in just one day? We are broke Bill. No more tax money. We are all about ready to move, business are already bailing. This is not a manufactured crisis. - Bill - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 3:08 pm: VanMan, For someone who hates taxes as much as you I’m suprised that you are not more of an admirer of the Governor who has held off the tax and spend Speaker and republican legislators. - True Comparison - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 3:09 pm: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 1, 2007 Statement from Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich On effort to provide long-term mass transit funding for RTA/CTA CHICAGO – “The General Assembly is running short on time to pass a long-term funding plan for mass transit before the CTA and other transit agencies will take actions that hurt their riders in order to balance their budget. “I’ve stated my position on many occasions that increasing the sales tax is the wrong approach. “I know I’m not the only one who feels this way – both the Republican legislative leaders and Senate President Emil Jones have also expressed concern with the proposed sales tax increase. “They’ve also expressed concern that increasing the CTA’s operational funding does nothing to address the CTA’s infrastructure needs – it’s no secret that buses, trains and tracks are in desperate need of repair. Without those fixes, commuter times are not going to improve. “The three legislative leaders have also said that members of their caucuses from outside of the Chicago area are unwilling to support the funding to bail-out the CTA unless the downstate legislators’ communities will also get the funding they need to repair roads and bridges in their areas. Their message has been clear: address infrastructure and transit needs across the state at the same time we address mass transit needs in Chicago. “That’s the reality of the legislative climate right now. “And so if we are going to be able to help the CTA before the Sunday deadline they’ve set, it is imperative to embrace a plan that provides long-term transit funding and meets statewide infrastructure needs. “A number of options have been raised and discussed among the Republican leaders, the Senate President and myself. The plan that I prefer would redirect – not increase – revenue from the existing sales tax on gas in Cook and the collar counties for the RTA. That’s money that is already collected from drivers who contribute to congested roads and air pollution in our region. It makes sense to dedicate that revenue to mass transit, and it also helps reduce congestion and air pollution. “The remaining hole in the state budget can then be filled with revenue from an expansion of gaming in Illinois – an expansion that every one of the legislative leaders has already agreed needs to get done to fund a statewide infrastructure plan. “If there are other options, I’m willing to hear them. But time is running out. We should not add to the tax frenzy working and middle class families are already facing. And we mustn’t turn our heads and ignore the importance of having a healthy and stable mass transit system in the Chicago area. “This is all doable and immediately within our grasp if all four legislative leaders are as serious as I am about fixing mass transit in a way that doesn’t hurt taxpayers. That will be the focus of our meeting later today in Springfield, and I hope we can report progress tonight.” Point of all this is just semantics. I presume some would say that gamblers are not taxpayers or maybe they are not people. Which is it? - ;-) - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 3:10 pm: The only realistic thing was and still is - Rich Miller was on the bus, then he had to take a week off to recover. - VanillaMan - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 3:13 pm: Thanks! OK! Lets take a look… Overcame 5 billion dollar deficit, -Aren’t we billions in the red right now? Raised the minimum wage, -OK Thats 1! Chalk it up on the board! Increased funding for k-12 education more than any Gov in history, -OK, I’m desperate! That’s 2! Restructured and paid down pension debt, -Uh, is that really what he did? Provided access to health care for thousands of children, seniors, and veterans, -Nah-uh, sorry, these folks already had coverage he didn’t provide access. No. Sorry. Cut the size of the state workforce significantly, -No, he replaced them and then some with consultants with campaign ties to him. Invited Rich Miller on the Rod bus, -He thought the bus might break down. Provided pre-school for 3- and 4- year olds -that was already covered in Aaron’s list. Prevented Speaker and the Republicans from hijacking state gov’t, -Now you are trying to be funny, right? All without raising sales or income taxes. -Covered by Aaron’s list too. OK - so thats…uh, TWO! Thank you! But I’m still very depressed! - Secondhand Bookworm - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 3:15 pm: Van Man: it’s “worse,” not “worst.” Top row of keys giving you trouble these days? After reading Aaron’s article I finally realized where all those references to throwing people under the bus come from… reminiscent of Charles Colson’s alleged willingness to “run over his grandmother” to reelect Nixon in ‘72. - True Comparison - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 3:18 pm: VM, you forgot, he provided millions of $’s worth of flu shots to… oh, I forgot they didn’t use them either. You’re right only 2. - Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 3:18 pm: “Restructured and paid down pension debt.” BS meter hits the peg on that one. Let’s try: “Doubled State GO Debt in one swell foop. Gave Big Bob Kj $800k finders fee. Turned around and cut $4 billion from pensions. As a result of this restructuring, the debt is right back where it was when Blago started, and not one dime of that $10 billion has been paid off.” - Greg - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 3:20 pm: Bill, I am appreciative of his income tax position, though I know we arrive at the same position for far different reasons. But if he’s going to tow that line, then he’s gotta keep an open mind about spending levels and minor RTA-style sales tax proposals. - What can I say? - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 3:32 pm: I think it’s fairly obvious that Bill must be from the same planet as his beloved “elvis”. Does anyone really know what he supports at any given time? His 107-0 loss that he called a win??? If that doesn’t say he’s bouncing all over, I don’t know what does. - Sweet Polly Purebred - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 3:32 pm: The timeline did not mention the “GANG OF 35″ that were marched out right after the gov took over. It did not mention the Dawn DeFrates/Mike Casey debacle and it also did not mention the Matt Magalis issue. The latter being the most interesting because the Blago inspired DHS hierarchy marched Mr. Magalis, Victor Kerpita(sp?) and Patrick Lonski out in March of 2003. The original intent was to fire them, but after the fallout over the “35″ DHS placed them on PAID administrative leave and placed others in the jobs that these three had held - all the while paying the three to stay home. Mr. Magalis was brought back after approximately 6 months and Mr. Lonski - who was being paid over $108,000 a year was brought back after approximately 16 months and placed in a non-vital position, until he retired. Now Matt has blown the whistle on the party at DHS and was fired this time. - I.D.O.T. Bleachers - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 3:43 pm: Oh! I almost forgot, Blagojevich decimated I.D.O.T. and the Illinois Tollway of any knowledgeable staff. Just a bunch of high priced Blago zombies wandering the halls. - VanillaMan - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 3:46 pm: I’ve done worse. - VanillaMan - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 3:51 pm: “For someone who hates taxes as much as you I’m suprised that you are not more of an admirer of the Governor who has held off the tax and spend Speaker and republican legislators.” Because I recognize Blagojevich’s game here. His claim is just like the claim the hot dog manufacturers make when they say “all meat”. But in this case, Blagojevich is the weiner. - Anonymous - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 3:53 pm: more lay-offs at the southtown = my prediction that the paper will soon degenerate into a weekly ’shopper’ full of ads and columns by 80 year-old women highlighting their Christmas wreaths is coming true! - Priceless - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 3:58 pm: Love that Blagojevich comment to Washington D.C. reporters today, “Boy, I thought I was out of Illinois,” he said. “It’s got nothing to do with anything. Next question.” Sorry Rod, “It’s got everything to do with everything”. - Levois - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 4:18 pm: LOL at the last item. I don’t know how it was when the governor addresses a more national group. That is I don’t know if they ask him questions about his administrative dealings, but I’ve always imagined that for his health-care iniatives he got heaped with nothing but praise. This person had to have been already from Illinois or these groups see him as a paper tiger. - one of the 35 - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 4:38 pm: Regarding the Blagojevich response to the DC reporters, we can only say that it is good the national media witnessed the characteristic Blagojevich evasiveness first hand. I wonder if this will motivate the DC reporters to dig further? - been there - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 4:43 pm: Shouldn’t Joe Cari be included in the timeline? - Junior - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 4:46 pm: Shouldn’t Tim Martin from I.D.O.T. be included too? - GettingJonesed - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 5:00 pm: I think most understand why Madigan is willing to work with Cross. He is only one not filing law suits or breaking agreements. If Cross want to deal with them that’s his business. - GettingJonesed - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 5:21 pm: Bill for got to mention —triggered more Federal investigations than all previous governors combined — involved in more family real estate deals where no buyer or seller could explain why family ws involved. - Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 6:02 pm: Led the state’s doomed attempt to criminalize the sale of violent video games to children. Despite numerous warnings it was unconstitutional, the governor and supporters crammed it through the General Assembly only to have it, tah-dah, declared unconstitutional, but not before the state ran up thousands (hundreds of thousands?) in legal bills for taxpayers that may or may not have been paid. - some former legislative intern - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 6:19 pm: wrong again, Rod. MJM is the one forced to consider gambling because YOU refused to consider a well reasoned tax plan for mass transit. This tax would impact the counties that use the RTA and not anyone else throughout the state of Illinois. Your plan had NO chance of passing because it would have diverted funds from downstate road projects. On another note, sorry to go off topic, Rich, but could someone please tell me what the heck is going on in the 42nd Ward Democratic Committeeman’s Race? I am glad Ald. Reilly decided to run, but an old Natarus precinct captain told me back around mid September that Reilly was backing the other guy? Is it because Corrigan is a Emil Jones/Blagojevich guy and Reilly is a Madigan guy? If someone could please tell me what is going on there I would really appreciate it. Thanks. - A Citizen - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 6:27 pm: I remember the foreign country that ended up with the flu vaccine, by then Expired, ended up incinerating the whole lot. That country, the guv’s spokespeople will probably report, has had no cases of flu since. Did any money ever change hands in that whole fiasco ? - fyi - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 6:57 pm: Reilly filed in case a substantive opponent filed. Corrigan is his guy and Reilly will withdraw. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 7:07 pm: fyi is correct. - Independent - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 7:26 pm: Russ Stewart believes Reilly will stay and Corrigan will withdraw. That scenario is plausible as aldermen like to solidify their power with committeemen’s seats. Did Reilly announce he is withdrawing? - Rich Miller - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 7:39 pm: Everybody I’ve talked to says Corrigan is withdrawing, but I haven’t talked to anyone in a couple of days. Speculation is just that. - Secondhand Bookworm - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 8:49 pm: So Rod was in DC today touting his healthcare program. Tomorrow’s Friday and going into a holiday weekend. My newly acquired psychic powers tell me some sort of big splashy press release is in the works… - fyi - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 8:50 pm: i’m standing by my original post. i think. russ stewart going the other way firms up my confidence in my pick. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 8:50 pm: More likely a funder. - fyi - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 8:52 pm: Bookworm, you are wise indeed. Along with the rise of the sun tomorrow will come some hot air. - Secondhand Bookworm - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 9:12 pm: Bookworm also saw her shadow today and predicts another week of no session - Another Ex-State Employee - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 9:14 pm: Every one of Blago’s “initiatives” has been only “demonstration” or “ramp up” projects the first year funded at 20% of the full level required for the projects … leaving the legislature one the hook to fully fund it the next year … so even his “wins: weren’t really wins but something snuck in under the tent wall - DC - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 9:27 pm: His true legacy will be that he served as a lame-duck Governor for the last three years of his second term. His goose is cooked. He has a better chance of winning the Chicago marathon next year than he does in getting any substantive legislation passed. Next year is an “emergency” year and I suspect the bill limit will be in full force in the House. Jones will be lucky to get a quorum on any major votes, contrary to the Gov’s blissful ignorance of the lack of senate functionality. His best bet is to avoid national media. Media folks out here on the east coast eat weak governors for breakfast. He’s not ready for the Illinois Channel, let alone prime time. - word - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 9:31 pm: and boy did he prove that today! - A Citizen - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 9:35 pm: His only hope now is to go on the Colbert Report, otherwise all is lost! - Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 10:15 pm: Rich - I believe what you meant to say is that everyone you’ve talked to has said that REILLY is withdrawing. Russ Stewart rarely screws things up this badly, but this is how badly you can screw a story up when you only look at the filings and don’t bother talking to the people involved. - fyi - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 10:31 pm: vindication is mine - Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 10:36 pm: fyi - not to put to fine a point on it, but Reilly was at the fundraiser for Corrigan last night chaired by Alexi Giannoulias. Editor’s Note: Just got of the phone with Mr. Capitolfax himself. He meant to say “Reilly” was withdrawing, but was typing too fast trying to get on the road to Chicago. Let the record reflect that it was his intention to vote “Aye”. Drive safely, Rich! - Cousin Itt - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 11:00 pm: Blago got some dupe in Washington today to say Blago’s healthcare initiatives should be a National model…. a model…Like Gomez Addam’s train set…. - Cousin Itt - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 11:01 pm: Blago got some dupe in Washington today to say Blago’s healthcare initiatives should be a National model…. a model…Like Gomez Addams’ train set…. - Another Ex-State Employee - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 11:09 pm: One item missing from the timeline … the early on (first year) attempt to have CMS rig the bids for the State employee’s health insurance by changing the evaluation criteria after the bids were in to throw out Heallth Alliance and one other (think they were # 2 & 4 but it’s been to long to remember accurately) and give the business to the numbers #13 and 15 companies which just happened to be Chicago based health companies. Someone leaked the original honest evaluation results before the “adjustments for the revised criteria” to the media and CMS had to rebid the whole thing fairly. That move was extremely ironic given his so-called committment to health care. - Another Ex-State Employee - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 11:34 pm: RE DC … just saw on the national news where he got the labor unions to promise to back his health bill sometime in the next four years … guess that must be the quid pro quo for his trying to get a capital spending jobs program passed - Another Ex-State Employee - Thursday, Nov 8, 07 @ 11:45 pm: I’m waiting to see what he comes up with to address the Christmas sales tax revenue that isn’t from $4 gas … isn’t much left to borrow and even the legislature is smart enough to not let him sell off assets … he’ll be forced to some kind of increased taxation, driving even more people and business out of the state. - Anonymous - Friday, Nov 9, 07 @ 8:19 am: Couple of things: 1)As Greg said, every tax is a tax on people; it’s just that some taxes are more direct than others. 2) If you think the price of gas is high now, wait until we ratchet up emission standards. Instead of finding ways to increase our output, we keep coming up with ways to restrict energy production, and a country cannot grow that way. 3)I just don’t see how anyone can put a positive spin on this administration. - Blagojevich Pegged by National Media - Friday, Nov 9, 07 @ 8:26 am: The only committment Blagojevich has kept, is to continue to encourage corruption on a grand scale in Illinois. That’s what the national media should be reporting! - DC - Friday, Nov 9, 07 @ 8:34 am: I hang on to my wallet very tightly when I hear the AFL-CIO, AFSCME, SEIU, Chicago Teacher’s Union, and others are all backing a political candidate the way they did with Governor Chucky in 2002. Of course the big labor unions will back his health care program; he’s calling in that chit now. After the chit is used up, it will be back to “business as usual” - he will owe them another favor in the spring session. Hold on to your wallets… - Castle Blagojevich - Friday, Nov 9, 07 @ 8:47 am: To bad 60 Minutes doesn’t hold Governor Chuckie’s feet to the fire and make him answer all the questions he so passionately avoids. He needs to be exposed! Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.