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Reader comments closed for Thanksgiving - We’ll be back on Monday

Tuesday, Nov 20, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller

It’s time for a holiday break. We’ve all earned it.

I’m thankful for so many things: My eventual good fortune in life, my family, my friends, my subscribers, my blog readers, my advertisers and, of course, Illinoize…

* And, now, I wanna thank you falettinme be mice elf agin…

Flamin’ eyes of people fear
Burnin’ into you
Many men are missin’ much
Hatin’ what they do

Hmmm… I would imagine that the governor doesn’t appreciate this Thanksgiving present from Mayor Daley…

“Morally, [Blagojevich] was opposed to gaming three years ago when he had a press conference,” the mayor said. “Remember the press conference? It changed very quickly, in less than three years. … If you can change your moral viewpoints on casinos, you surely can change your political viewpoint or governmental viewpoint [against raising taxes] on a decision that affects public transportation in this city, in the metropolitan [area].”

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Question of the day

Tuesday, Nov 20, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I was talking about this subject with somebody yesterday, so I thought I would share it with you.

Do you think it’s odd that not a single major news outlet appears to have covered the fact that Congressman Bobby Rush decided not to run for reelection as Democratic ward committeeman?

Also, what’s up with the total failure by any of the majors to note that the governor allowed a $48 million tax increase to take effect without actually signing it into law?

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The bickering never ends

Tuesday, Nov 20, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Sen. Bill Brady, a likely Republican candidate for governor, has proposed limiting the governor’s ability to call special sessions…

For instance, a governor would have to give at least four days’ notice before the first scheduled day of a special session. A special session could be convened on shorter notice if legislative leaders and the governor agree that an emergency exists.

Also, the governor would have to be physically present in the chambers of the Senate and House on the first day of a special session, and the session must be “permanently adjourned” if, after 15 consecutive session days, the House or Senate fails to pass legislation dealing with the stated reason for the special session.

* Brady made his pitch on the same day that Blagojevich called yet another special session, this one dealing with mass transit…

“This is the 17th one. He’s made a mockery out of them and the system,” said Brady, a Bloomington Republican who ran for governor in 2006.

“I’m hoping to remove a governor’s ability to use these special-session calls from the perception of a little kid that doesn’t get his way,” he added in a phone interview Monday.

* Meanwhile, the governor has not yet proposed any actual legislation to bail out mass transit. This has been a constant complaint about every single special session the governor has commanded this year…

“If there is legislation proposed, then we’ll have something for the House and Senate to consider,” Brown said of the session, adding that he considers that prospect “a big ‘if.’”

* The administration’s response…

Blagojevich spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff said it’s the job of lawmakers to draft legislation they can vote on in special sessions.

Ottenhoff noted there is a pending piece of legislation proposed by a House Republican that would redirect sales tax revenue the state collects on gasoline purchases in Cook and the ‘’collar'’ counties to the mass transit agencies to create a steady stream of revenue for them.

That’s a concept Blagojevich said he favors, although questions still remain about how best to replace that revenue in the state budget.

‘’He can like all the concepts he wants,'’ said Steve Brown, spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan, adding that lawmakers need specifics to vote on.

* More…

BROWN: And if he doesn’t identify bills, then there’s nothing for the Senate or the House to consider, and it’s just a meaningless act.

Brown says most of the governor’s special sessions this year have been “absolute failures.” A spokesperson from Blagojevich’s office says the governor is not required to specify bills for special sessions.

* Meanwhile…

Pace is nearly $50 million short of the $261 million needed to run its fixed route and paratransit services next year. To make up the difference, transit officials will cut scores of Metra shuttles as well as weekday and weekend routes. They also are planning to drop all service after 7 p.m. and raise all fixed route fares to $2. Most now are now $1.25.

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On following the law

Tuesday, Nov 20, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Gov. Blagojevich’s decision to forge ahead with his health insurance plan despite the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules’ veto of the proposal is drawing some ire. The SJ-R editorial…

So when the bipartisan legislative panel last week voted 9-2 against the governor’s emergency expansion request, only the uninitiated saw it as a gubernatorial stop sign. Blagojevich didn’t even see it as a speed bump. By Friday, we had learned the orders were already issued to expand the program. He says JCAR’s authority of rulemaking is only advisory.

Then why even ask? Why even pretend to play by the rules, governor? Maybe it’s time for Blagojevich to break out the crown and scepter and start ruling as the sovereign he apparently wants to be. The sad thing is Blagojevich’s disdain for working within the system may end up harming the cause to expand health-care coverage. It certainly has hindered progress in many other important areas: pension reform, infrastructure and school-funding reform, to name a few.

Consistency is generally a good thing. But it’s nothing to be proud of when you consistently screw up.

* What everyone in the “big media” has so far failed to point out is that the governor signed into law an expansion of JCAR’s powers during his first term. To now claim that JCAR’s role is purely “advisory” is ridiculously hypocritical. The governor had this to say yesterday…

“Where is it written that a handful of legislators - 12 of them - can tell the executive branch what it’s going to do when it comes to administering the executive branch?” the governor said.

Um, Governor, it’s in the bll you signed.

* The Tribune asks: Who needs a legislature?

Springfield is awash in speculation that Blagojevich wants to push as many people as possible into the state program and spend as much as possible, even while its legality is in question. That way, the theory goes, the program becomes so entrenched that the legislature would have no alternative but to find money to keep it going.

That would be reckless, particularly in a state that has more than $100 billion in debts and obligations, much of it for pensions and health-care costs. The state’s in a fiscal hole. And the governor is digging faster.

Not mentioned are previous reports that state revenues for the current fiscal year appear to be in decline. We’re in for a much nastier session next year (if you can imagine that) than we had this year unless a peace treaty is signed in blood, and soon.

* And Jim Duffet, who has gone out of his way to push the governor’s plan, had this to say…

“This issue isn’t about Governor Blagojevich. This isn’t about JCAR,’’ said Jim Duffett, executive director of the Campaign for Better Health Care. “The people want action, they want the General Assembly to take action on accessible, affordable health care.’’

If a governor had abused his or her authority to deny health insurance benefits despite a JCAR ruling, I’m sure Duffett would have a far different take on what the “issue” is. We’re supposed to live by our laws. Duffett’s position as an advocate is understandable, but he should remember that Blagojevich won’t be governor forever.

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Morning shorts

Tuesday, Nov 20, 2007 - Posted by Paul Richardson

* Ex-Ryan aide pleads guilty

* Illinoize: Med-Mal ruling not a surprise, but it will have impacts

In fact, there has never been a doubt that the Illinois Supreme Court would ultimately rule on the constitutionality of the 2005 law and the fastest – maybe the only – way to get the law to the Supreme Court is through a lower court ruling of unconstitutionality.

So the process is a step closer to conclusion and, frankly, no one is surprised.

* PeoriaStory: Newspaper guild OKs contract

* CeaseFire funding all but dried up

* State grants funds for U of I super-computer

The building on the Champaign-Urbana campus will house the computer known as Blue Waters, which will be the fastest computer in the world when it is finished in 2011. The university’s bid to build the computer came with a pledge from Gov. Rod Blagojevich that the state would kick in $60 million.

* ‘Illinois Works’ needed to update automotive technology facilities at SIU campus

* IL to crackdown on motorists over Thanksgiving

* Congressman Hare gets noticed as free trade critic

* Ex governor Edgar set to back Giuliani

* Michael Sneed: Edgar to endorse Giuliani

Watch for former Gov. Jim Edgar to formally endorse GOP presidential contender Rudy Giuliani today at the Chicago Sheraton Hotel & Towers.

“It’s a major endorsement for a state which doesn’t have a single Republican on the statewide ticket,” said a Republican source. “Gov. Edgar has a reputation for integrity and continues to remain popular with the voters.”

* 11th-CD candidate Lee wants U.S. to compete in world market

* ILGOPNet: Oberweis consultant comments on what’s next after Hastert resignation

* Peoria Pundit: [Press Release] Morris pledges ‘no new taxes’

* City mail delivery improves study finds

* Does McLean Co. need panel to vet complaints against officials?

* Bike trail grants flow into county

* SBA offers disaster assistance to Illinois residents affected by tornadoes, severe storms and flooding

* Spontaneous Solutions: Stuff that Rich Miller would never post

* Support for Stroger budget is a no show

Three major Cook County elected officials declined Monday to endorse board President Todd Stroger’s plan to more than triple the county sales tax as they stood with him at what he hoped would be a show of support for his budget.

* Stroger political fund must pay $25K fine

Stroger’s 2006 foe, Republican Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica, had filed a complaint asking that Stroger’s fund be fined the full $255,816. But the election board chose the lower fine because the fund is a first-time violator of state campaign-finance laws.