Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan lost his final bid Tuesday to delay starting his prison term when Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens turned down his request to remain free on bail.
Ryan is due to report to the federal correctional center near Oxford, Wis., on Wednesday to start serving his 6½-year racketeering and fraud sentence.
The 73-year-old left his Kankakee home about 11:15 a.m., accompanied by his wife, Lura Lynn, and other family members.
* 12:27 pm - Here’s just one of the countless problems with our absolutely awful national political punditocracy. They get all of their information from paid spinmeisters, which essentially serves to form their own goofy opinions. So when somebody not in their little inner circle actually does some research on her own, they automatically assume she was hand-fed…
In a November 5 post on his campaign news website The Page, Time magazine editor-at-large and senior political analyst Mark Halperin claimed that a Chicago Sun-Times column raising questions about the transparency of Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-IL) presidential bid was the product of opposition research provided by the campaign of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY).
But the Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet, who wrote the column, denies the allegation. “I didn’t use anything in that column that came from the Clinton campaign,” Sweet confirmed in an email to Media Matters for America. According to Sweet, Halperin never contacted her before he posted his claim that her column was based on Clinton campaign opposition research coming in over the “transom.”
And these are the people who are supposed to be moderating our national discourse? Mark Halperin is a moron.
* 12:41 pm - Today’s leaders meeting with the governor has been moved to 3 o’clock from ten this morning, apparently due to some scheduling conflicts with two of the legislators.
But it was unclear whether Ryan was actually leaving town yet. Ryan’s attorneys have been tight-lipped about the logistics of his surrender. Ryan must report to the Federal Correctional Institution at Oxford, Wis. — about an hour north of Madison — by 5 p.m. Wednesday, meaning he could leave Kankakee Wednesday morning for the roughly five-hour drive and be there in plenty of time.
His attorneys have called a press conference for 3 p.m. Tuesday in Chicago.
House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) said today that the gambling expansion plan he’s putting together with other legislative leaders is “not real pretty,” but that it may be the key to solving Chicagoland’s mass transit funding needs. […]
“Now we’re in the situation where mass transit riders are being held hostage for what is called a capital bill. Capital means gaming, major expansion of gaming,” Madigan said. “We are working toward that end. It’s not real pretty.
“I don’t know how all of you all feel about gaming, but I’ve known people in my life, severely addicted to gaming,’’ Madigan added. “Not pretty. Marriages lost, families lost, homes lost. Not good. That’s where we’re going. And that’s what we’re working toward.”
Madigan remained mum on what kind of a gambling expansion he could support. The Senate has twice approved gambling measures this legislative session,only to see them stall in the House.
* 3:09 pm - The Associated Press really ought to change the hed it’s using on the Ryan story: “Ill. Governor to Report to Prison.” Last I checked, Rod Blagojevich was still a free man.
* I wanted to give my subscribers a bit of time to digest a new poll from the Glengariff Group before sharing it here. Crosstabs are for subscribers only, but here are the toplines and a bit of analysis from the pollster…
• By a margin of 26.2%-65.0% Illinois voters believe the state is on the wrong track. This is an increase of 13% “wrong track” from our May 2007 voter survey.
• Governor Rod Blagojevich’s support has plummeted falling from 50.6% approving of his performance in May 2007 to only 31.5% who approve of his performance today. 61.2% of Illinois voters disapprove of the job Governor Blagojevich is doing. 42% of Illinois voters STRONGLY DISAPPROVE of Governor Blagojevich’s job performance.
• Governor Blagojevich’s job performance has three particularly severe hits:
- Chicago Voters –support has fallen from 75% approval in May to 44% approval in November.
- African American Voters – support has fallen from 81% approval in May to 38% approval in November.
- Democratic Voters – support has fallen from 71% approval in May to 42% approval in November.
• By a margin of 65%-25% Illinois voters support a Constitutional amendment allowing recalls of elected officials. This number represents a 7.5% point increase from May 2007 when the support level was 57.5%-25.0%. Support has increased in every region of the state with the greatest increases occurring in West/Northwest, Central and Southern Illinois among Independents and Republicans.
• By a margin of 52%-37% Illinois would vote to recall Governor Rod Blagojevich if they had the opportunity.
• Governor Blagojevich would be recalled in every region of the state including Cook County and the City of Chicago. Even Democrats support a recall of Governor Blagojevich.
* Methodology…
The Glengariff Group, Inc. conducted a 600 sample, random digit dial survey of registered Illinois voters. The live operator, telephone survey was conducted from November 1-3, 2007 and has a margin of error of +/- 4.0% with a confidence level of 95%. Respondents were stratified by region of the state, gender, ethnicity, and age. No questions in this survey were commissioned by any candidate, organization or company other than the Glengariff Group, Inc.
Many observers question whether the political climate is suitable for conceiving a new constitution. [..]
The question will be put to voters a year from now, on November 4, 2008. But in order for a new convention to be called, the referendum must win support from either 60 percent of those voting on the question or a majority of all voters. “Those are tough,” says political scientist Kent Redfield. “You’re going to have ballot drop-off at the bottom. People are just going to skip the proposition.”
In fact, more voters — 1,069,939 — ignored the question 19 years ago than those who endorsed the call for a new convention — 900,109. Redfield, a professor of political studies at the University of Illinois at Springfield, says the pooling of dissatisfaction among close observers of state government could buoy support for a new convention. But those political junkies would need to get the remaining electorate hooked on the idea.
It already may be too late. An organized coalition would need 18 months and at least $12 million to wage a PR campaign capable of mustering voter support for a new Con-Con, say Ann Lousin, a research assistant to the 1969-70 convention, and veteran U of I political science professors Sam Gove and James Nowlan. They made that assessment to the Union League Club of Chicago in May. The trio also suggested a crisis in state government, be it a financial meltdown or a major scandal breaking just before next November, might raise enough public ire to swing a successful convention call. […]
“I think you’re going to have organized opposition to Con-Con. The political parties, the politicians, they know how to win with the status quo.” [said Redfield]
Maybe so, but if things don’t start changing soon around here, I can easily see how voters would approve a convention with the idea of tossing the bums out and changing the way business is done.
Elected school officials across Illinois are being asked to back a proposed change to state law that would prohibit voting-age students from serving on the boards of the public districts where they are enrolled.
James Russell, a spokesman for the Illinois Association of School Boards, said it’s not that his group believes teenagers are not mature enough to be elected leaders where they attend classes. Instead, he said, a high school student on a board poses too many potential conflicts of interest.
“The student is now, technically, his teacher or principal’s ‘boss,’ ” according to the recommendation from the school board association’s resolutions committee. “The student is now voting on all salary and contract decisions for all personnel in the district.”
Committee members, who serve on school boards statewide, said problems also could arise because students would become privy to confidential discussions about disciplinary matters involving peers and teachers.
The question: Should students be kept off school boards? Explain fully.
* Yesterday was the last day of filing, so we have some generic stories for you today. First up, the Tribune…
In the north suburban 8th Congressional District, two-term incumbent Democratic Rep. Melissa Bean of Barrington gained a primary challenge from two last-day filers, artist Randi Scheurer of Lindenhurst and computer consultant Jonathan Farnick of Woodstock. Kirk Morris of Gurnee was a final-day filer on the Republican side to join businessman Steve Greenberg of Long Grove and Kenneth Arnold of Gurnee in seeking the GOP nomination.
In the west suburban 6th Congressional District, Jill Morgenthaler, an Army veteran who formerly served as Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s homeland security director, filed to challenge for the seat held by first-term Republican Rep. Peter Roskam of Wheaton. Morgenthaler, of Des Plaines, joins Roselle businessman Stan Jagla in seeking the Democratic nomination.
In the Republican primary for the right to challenge two-term incumbent Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, last-day filers were Norm Hill of Grayslake, who finished seventh in an eight-way race for the 2004 GOP Senate nomination, and conservative trucker Mike Psak of Chicago. Previously filing for the Republican nomination were Willowbrook physician Steve Sauerberg and frequent candidate Andy Martin.
In the 11th Congressional District, which is being vacated by U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller of Morris, three Republicans have filed, including New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann, Jimmy Lee of North Utica and Terry Heenan of New Lenox.
The winner of that will take on Democrat Debbie Halvorson of Crete, who is currently a member of the Illinois Senate. Also running is Green Party candidate Jason Wallace of Normal.
U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood, a Peoria Republican, also is retiring in the 18th district. Three Republicans are vying to replace him, including state Rep. Aaron Schock of Peoria, Jim McConoughey of Dunlap and John Morris of Peoria.
The winner of the GOP race will face Democrat Dick Versace, former basketball coach at Bradley University.
The 14th Congressional District has drawn a big field of contenders hoping to succeed former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, who is retiring. Republicans include Jim Oberweis of Sugar Grove, state Sen. Chris Lauzen of Aurora, Mike Dilger of Evanston and Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns.
Democrats who filed are scientist Bill Foster of Geneva, St. Charles attorney Jotham Stein, Joe Serra of Geneva and John Laesch of Yorkville, who challenged Hastert last year.
Three Democrats are hoping to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. John Shimkus of Collinsville. They include Joe McMenamin of Springfield, Shirley Roney of Mount Vernon and Daniel Davis of Springfield.
In the near Northwest Side’s 32nd Ward, nearly a century of control by the Rostenkowski family organization is coming to an end as incumbent Committeeman Terry Gabinski, a former alderman, is not even filing for re-election, leaving upstart state Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago) unopposed for committeeman.
Colleagues say Gabinski saw the writing on the wall when his ally, Ald. Ted Matlak, lost to challenger Scott Waguespack earlier this year. The old number for Gabinski’s office no longer works, and he could not be reached for comment.
Actually, Fritchey is opposed by Roger J. Romanelli, but he has no overt Machine ties. That might change, however. More from that article…
Down in South Shore in the 7th Ward, Cook County Commissioner Bill Beavers, chairman of the city caucus on the central committee, faces a challenge from Ald. Sandi Jackson, who easily knocked off Beaver’s daughter in the aldermanic race this year. […]
Freshman Ald. Bob Fioretti is trying to oust U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush as committeeman of the near South Side’s 2nd Ward. Rush once challenged Daley for the mayor’s seat, but now Daley is endorsing Rush to keep his committeeman’s seat.
Up in the 50th Ward in Rogers Park, longtime incumbent Bernie Stone faces a challenge from state Sen. Ira Silverstein.
Stone is in big, big trouble.
More in the subscriber-only section. Discuss away.
*** UPDATE *** I didn’t even check before, but it looks like Bobby Rush did not file for ward committeeman, despite the story above. Fioretti looks to be unopposed in the committeeman’s race even though I hear Rush was at the board of elections to file.
* As I told you yesterday, the Illinois Green Party has filed a bunch of candidates in several races statewide. But it all depends on how you look at it, I suppose…
Given the legal right in Illinois to get on the ballot just as easily as Democrats or Republicans this year, Green Party candidates took advantage of the new rules - but not in great numbers.
As the eight-day filing closed for certain state, federal and party offices Monday at the State Board of Elections, totals showed just 18 Green Party candidates among the 960 candidates who submitted petitions.
Phil Huckelberry of Chicago, chairman of the Illinois Green Party’s government and elections committee, said he estimates the number of Green Party county board candidates across the state would be in the low teens. But he also noted that with the party’s power to fill ballot vacancies in races where nobody is picked in the Feb. 5 primary, he hopes the party reaches its goal of having 100 to 110 candidates, state and local, on November ballots in Illinois in 2008. […]
Huckelberry said, for example, that Green candidates for Congress this time had to turn in 600 valid signatures. In a typical congressional district two years ago, he said, that threshold for Greens was about 12,000 signatures. […]
In addition to Roberts, there are nine other candidates for U.S. House in Illinois districts, including two in the 3rd Congressional District, where the incumbent is U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski, D-Chicago. Huckelberry said Jerome Pohlen of Berwyn is the party’s endorsed candidate.
There is an undercount in the story. Five Illinois House candidates have filed, not the four reported. And, as noted above, the party can always slate candidates into other districts, legislative and Congressional.
* The Greens have also filed in several ward committeeman races in Chicago, giving them the ability to do some party-building…
A Green ward boss?
It seems an oxymoron.
The Green Party is supposed to be a bastion of of anti-war, pro-environment independents who don’t sit in back rooms smoking cigars.
But when the smoke cleared at the Cook County Clerk’s office Monday, 23 people had filed to run for Green Party ward committeeman.
Many more filed to run for everything from Metropolitan Water Reclamation District to U.S. Congress. Some Democratic candidates in close elections fear Greens will siphon votes from them, allowing Republicans to win.
Three Greens filed for MWRD. You can see the entire Cook County list here.
The Illinois Republican Party wants Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich to return political donations from a firm that has both state contracts and business ties to the governor’s wife. Mark Wight’s firm has given nearly $100,000 to the governor’s campaign since 2002 and has collected $10 million in state contracts. Illinois GOP Chairman Andy McKenna said in a statement that Blagojevich’s claims of changing business as usual in Springfield are “clearly hollow rhetoric.” There was no immediate response from the governor.
* Editorial: State can’t afford to coast; GOP must fill vacuum - Republicans need to demonstrate the leadership that has been lacking in the top-level Democrats.
They need to be “a voice of reason,” as Bill Brady puts it.
They need to continue insisting that the state live within its means and meet current obligations before taking on new ones.
And they need to persuade rank-and-file Democrats to join them in putting the needs of Illinoisans above petty politics.
Too much is at stake to just let Illinois drift for two years or more while other states sail ahead, leaving us in their wake.
* Ralph Martire: Lawmakers, and voters, could use a dose of reality
Hence, while government requires more revenue to meet basic public service and infrastructure needs, just increasing taxes or fees isn’t going to be either popular - because it only makes an unfair tax system worse - or effective - because the system doesn’t comport with the modern economy. What’s needed to truly fix things is tax reform. One that will enable state and local governments to raise the revenue required to invest in infrastructure and services, in a manner that responds to the modern economy, while simultaneously shifting tax burden from middle- and low-income families to affluent ones.
Mayor Daley’s decision to roll back his record property tax increase by $24.6 million, cut a bottled water tax in half and soften the blow of a liquor tax increase that has neighborhood tavern owners up in arms eased a City Council rebellion on Monday.
The Finance Committee voted 19 to 5 to approve the mayor’s revised $276.8 million tax package. The $83.4 million property tax increase was advanced by a vote of 16 to 6 after several Northwest Side aldermen took a walk.
Wind turbines on Sears Tower and a “green” roof on the Merchandise Mart are two high-profile concepts on the drawing board as part of a wide-ranging, environmentally friendly development plan under consideration by the city.
The Chicago plan, still being drafted and not scheduled to be announced until early next year, comes as cities such as New York and Seattle have rolled out their own agendas, said members of a civic task force convened by Mayor Richard Daley.
* Cook Co. juvy center isn’t safe for kids says administrator
Still making an effort to get some enjoyment in their embattled lives, convicted ex-Gov. George Ryan and his sweet and devoted wife, Lura Lynn, were seen dining and relaxing with a few friends at the elegant Le Petit Paris eatery on East Chestnut last Wednesday. My source told me that the couple were there for about four hours, sipped a little wine and dined on their favorite steak tartar, salad and dessert, and were in good spirits. According to another diner, the gov went around to the tables greeting people and was very well received. Ryan is scheduled to enter a Wisconsin prison on Wednesday to serve a six-year-plus term for fraud.
The Honorable Emil Jones
The Honorable Michael Madigan
The Honorable Frank Watson
The Honorable Tom Cross
Dear Legislative Leaders:
I am writing to invite you to a leaders’ meeting in my office in Springfield at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow morning. The purpose of the meeting is to continue discussions on a long-term transit solution for the Chicago area and an infrastructure bill for the entire state.
Last week, in order to prevent the RTA and CTA from cutting service, increasing fares and laying off workers, I provided the transit agencies with an additional $27 million to keep their operations running through the end of the year.
But the events of last week made clear there is no consensus among legislators on how to provide a long-term solution to the RTA and CTA. What was clear, however, was that a significant number of legislators of both parties and both chambers want to address the state’s critical infrastructure needs together with the needs of the RTA and CTA. That certainly is a reasonable approach and one that creates a bipartisan opportunity to pass a capital bill and find a long-term solution for mass transit in the Chicago area.
Now is the time to seize this opportunity. But to do that, we must all be willing to come together, put past differences aside, and work in good faith to solve these problems and meet these challenges. People across Illinois are counting on us to get the job done without further delay. Let’s avoid another transit crisis and make the needed investments in our aging infrastructure.
I look forward to seeing you all tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Rod R. Blagojevich
Governor
* 1:06 pm - Word’s going around that the governor wants to “turn over a new leaf” with the leaders - particularly Madigan. As someone just pointed out to me, the last time the governor sent out that message Tim Mapes’ wife was fired.
* 1:59 pm - The US Attorney’s office has filed its response to George Ryan’s emergency request for bail from the US Supreme Court. Read it here.
* 2:49 pm - The Illinois Green Party is filing a bunch of candidates today…
In the Illinois House, the Greens have filed in the 15th, 9th, 21st, 41st, 68th districts.
Supporters of a federal shield law [for reporters] say one is needed because law enforcement agencies have come to rely too heavily on the news media to pursue certain cases. Prosecutors are subpoenaing reporters, demanding they reveal confidential sources and, in some cases, intercepting reporters’ mail and phone calls, secretly, to help further their own criminal investigations. To properly carry out the media’s crucial “watchdog” role, we need a law that sets ground rules for the pursuit of confidential sources and provides both reporters and sources a level of comfort that they will be protected.
Opponents, including U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, say the hype skews reality.
Considering the global flow of information, cases of reporters going to jail for refusing to reveal confidential sources remain scant, in his opinion.
Most reporters operate free of government intervention in their day-to-day reporting, he believes.
Fitzgerald took a rare opportunity to share his views in the Washington Post, where he penned a letter to the editor last month. As the lead investigator of the Valerie Plame leak case, he - not surprisingly - opposes a shield law. Since 1935 when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled reporters are obligated to comply with grand jury subpoenas, Fitzgerald argued there has been no shortage of investigative journalism.
“A compelling case has not been made for jettisoning the legal framework that has guided this process for the past 35 years,” Fitzgerald wrote.
But the larger issue is whether highly publicized cases of jailed reporters who refused to divulge confidential sources have created a chilling effect by silencing both whistle-blowers and reporters pursuing controversial stories.
Now, the question: Should a federal shield law be put in place to prevent the jailing of journalists who won’t divulge sources? Explain fully.
* 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.
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.
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.
Palos Hills mayor Gerald Bennett — a close Lipinski ally — is supposedly entering the race officially today. The goal isn’t for Bennett to be competitive. The goal is to split the sizeable anti-Lipinski vote since he and his daddy don’t trust the voters to keep him around in a head-to-head contest.
Nearby, on the southwest side of Chicago, nothing is stirring at the campaign office of another Democratic contender in the 3rd district, lawyer Jim Capparelli. A map of the district is posted on the wall and a table is lined with clipboards and phones, but while it is just four months to primary day, there is no activity inside.
* The Sun-Times’ Mark Brown takes a closer look today at two of the three Democrats who have filed in the race. First, he offers up a bit of history…
Two years ago, U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski challenger John Sullivan, a prosecutor, said a second challenger, John Kelly, was lured into the Democratic primary to split opposition to Lipinski in this district that stretches from Chicago’s Southwest Side to the southwest suburbs. Accused ghost Kelly bested Sullivan, 26 percent to 20 percent.
* And now on to the current contest…
But Capparelli, Bennett and Lipinski all angrily deny the two are ghosts running to help Lipinski. […]
Bennett says that with his name recognition and contacts, his candidacy “will be the first serious challenge the Lipinskis have had in 23 years.” […]
Capparelli — no relation to Democratic Committeeman Ralph Capparelli from the Northwest Side — claims support of Local 399 of the Operating Engineers and Teamsters Local 786. Many of his positions — on the war and abortion, for example — appear to mirror Lipinski’s.
The most interesting thing about Brown’s column is that last little revelation. Lipinski is on the House Transportation Committee, so he has a measure of control over what gets spent where. Other transportation unions seem to have a high opinion of him, and it’s doubtful that any union that depends on Congress for jobs would go out of its way to anger Little Lip.
That Teamsters local does road work (they represent concrete truck drivers, among other things), although the Operating Engineers local represents mostly building maintenance workers.
The 786 backing of Capparelli isn’t solid proof that Capparelli is a Lipper shill, but it certainly is an interesting development.
“I’ll be the first to admit that the number and increasing severity of doomsday plans, accompanied each time by stopgap funding measures at the last minute to postpone the crisis, create a serious credibility issue for the CTA,” said agency President Ron Huberman.
“My worst fear about the Band-Aid funding is that people will not believe we continue to be in a bad fiscal position that forces us to cut service and raise fares.”
Riders say they’re tired of the “Doomsday” rollercoaster ride.
“Cause it’s ‘we’re going to do it,’ then ‘we’re not going to do it,’” said CTA rider Jessica Harris. “Somebody needs to just make a decision on what’s going on.”
“They need to really come with a solution and end it. It’s just like a big headache for people,” said CTA rider Andre McElroy. “If you are going to raise the fares, get it over with, let’s do it.”
McElroy says lawmakers need to come up with a permanent solution instead of all the “quick fixes.”
* Illinoize: Chicago-L announces transit funding rally
* Ryan reassigned to prison in Wisconsin
* Carol Marin: An apology by Ryan could spur hearing
Illinois has done better. It hasn’t had an execution since 1999. I’d argue that’s a point of pride for this state and a testament to what George Ryan did right.
Now, if only he’d do one more thing.
It’s something even his supporters wish he’d do: Offer a heartfelt, sincere apology for what he did wrong.
It wouldn’t keep him out of prison. It shouldn’t keep him out of prison. But, like his death penalty work, it would have meaning.
* Illinoize: 59% of McHenry Co. precincts have no GOP committeemen candidates
* American Airlines offers flights between Springfield, St. Louis
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin plans to participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Springfield to mark return of the service. He says the state capital deserves a reliable and convenient means of getting to major transportation hubs like St. Louis.
* Quinn joins motorcyclists in Veteran’s ride fundraiser
* WurfWhile: Councilman sues Naperville for violation civil rights
On Wednesday Naperville Councilman Dick Furstenau filed suit against the city of Naperville, the police chief and two officers claiming his civil rights were violated in his arrest New Years Day 2006 for shoving a police officer, according to the Naperville Sun. Furstenau has steadfastly denied the charges and has blamed the suit for his loss to Randy Hultgren in the 2006 Republican Primary for State Senate District 48.
* Schoenburg: Deal or no deal? Libri, Timoney explain strategies
So, is there a deal between the two major parties not to run candidates for countywide offices now held by the other side?
That’s a question that I’ve heard at least a few people ask as the filing period nears its Monday end and there aren’t any contests so far for Sangamon County circuit clerk, coroner, state’s attorney, auditor or recorder.
* How independent was $22,000 report of county finances?
* Editorial: Commissioners should not seek larger office staffs
More staff? For what? So they can have someone walk over to Stroger shot-caller Bill Beavers and ask him how to vote on a certain proposal rather than get up and find out for themselves?
Even if these were the most exemplary commissioners ever (which they’re not), it violates all the lessons of Good Government 101 to be asking for more for yourself when you’re telling cash-strapped constituents they have to pay more in taxes in the coming year.
* Cook Co. tax delays costs school district $1 million say officials
* Daley says he’ll cut back property tax increase request
Though Rogge didn’t get into any specifics about Chicago’s chances for 2016, he did say he expected the city to present a “very strong” bid. He also said it’s “far too soon” to rank the seven bid cities. Baku, Azerbaijan; Doha, Qatar; and Prague, Czech Republic, also are bidding for the Summer Olympics.
“Chicago is doing like all the others,” Rogge said. “They are working hard, they are drafting their presentation.”
In his speech to The Chicago Council on Global Affairs and The Economic Club of Chicago, Rogge outlined the ideals and values of the Olympic movement, explaining that there is much more to the Olympics than the games themselves. Although the Olympics can provide significant financial benefits to the countries and companies involved, there is a higher-minded purpose, he said.
Mayor Richard Daley, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Pfleger all tout the goodness of more gun control, but all three of them shy away from the central issue. How can we take guns out of the hands of young men who join gangs, make their living selling drugs and rake in outrageous profits in the process?
* The Thicket: On moments of silence across the country
* Schools tiptoe into moment of silence compliance
