112 Comments - Esteban - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 10:32 am: As someone said” How can Blago consider his office in Chicago as the seat of government while he is suing Madigan regarding the convening of the House in Springfield?” - GoBearsss - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 10:34 am: You mean “even that Blackhawks jaunt was NOT purely personal”, right? Quick question related to the Arizona story: Has Illinois ever had a “Summer Retreat” or “Governor’s Summer Residence”? I know there is the second mansion in DuQuoin, but I don’t think that counts. I know in Michigan, the taxpayer-funded Governor’s Summer Residence is up on Mackinac Island. And I am sure a plane is taken up there when their Governor wants to relax. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 10:35 am: Oops. Fixed. - GoBearsss - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 10:35 am: Also - I think the editors of the Belleville ND are delusional or have never been to Springfield: “the centrally located city with the rent-free mansion where all the other state leaders work?” Do they REALLY think all the other state leaders live and have their primary place of business in Springfield? Do any? - Bill - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 10:36 am: I voted for the Governor twice with the hope that he would base his operations in the Chicagoland area where 2/3rds of the population of Illinois live and where 75% of all state revenue is generated. In order to save money I would encourage him to go to Springfield less and stay home more and take care of the real business of the state. Springfield may have been important in 1865 but it is pretty irrelevant today. It is time for “downstaters” to grow up and face the facts. If downstate legislators continue to hold up our transit bill we will start sending our prisoners and college students to Indiana and Iowa and the rest of you will be out of work. - Tax googler - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 10:42 am: http://www.thompson.com/public/headlines.jsp?id=74 Looks like IRS rule 99-7 is relevant here. And although I love the mansion and the capitol, personally, I think they count as “temporary” work locations under these guidelines. What Does Rev. Rul. 99-7 Say? The ruling holds that in general, daily transportation expenses incurred in going between a taxpayer’s residence and a work location are nondeductible commuting expenses. However, such expenses are deductible under three circumstances. 1. A taxpayer may deduct daily transportation expenses incurred in going between the taxpayer’s residence and a temporary work location outside the metropolitan area where the taxpayer lives and normally works. However, unless situation (2) or (3) applies, daily transportation expenses incurred in going between the taxpayer’s residence and a temporary work location within that metropolitan area are nondeductible commuting expenses. 2. If a taxpayer has one or more regular work locations away from the taxpayer’s residence, the taxpayer may deduct daily transportation expenses incurred between the taxpayer’ residence and a temporary work location in the same trade or business, regardless of the distance. 3. If a taxpayer’s residence is his or her principal place of business within the meaning of Code Section 280A(c)(1)(A), the taxpayer may deduct daily transportation expenses incurred in going between the residence and another work location in the same trade or business, regardless of whether the other work location is regular or temporary and regardless of the distance. - Wumpus - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 10:42 am: Why not have all the legislators do work where it is most convenient to them, in their districts. No need to go to Springfield at all. - archpundit - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 10:43 am: I would go one step further. As the Governor of Illinois, I would want him to have access to reliable and safe transportation wherever he is in the state (out of the state, the Lt. Governor should have such access). On purely personal or campaign trips he should reimburse the state for a first class fare or approximate cost. One of the things about the Mel Carnahan crash that brought this to mind was here was the Governor of the state flying in a puddle jumper. There are simply some security, safety and access reasons to provide transportation to a Governor and the IRS is being silly. - Ghost - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 10:44 am: its an intersting question. What is required for a corporation to decalre a location a buisness office? I go back and forth on this, but for now I am of the oppinion that the Governor can not change the location of the State Capitol by decalration. Agencies may place their offices anywhere. By contrast the capitol is the main seat for our constitutional foficers. heck we even have a State paid for Mansion in Springfield for the Gov. I think Springfiled, for the Gov and all the other constituional offficers, as the Capitol, is their main office. The moremurky issue is whether you can create a sattelite office. I have no idea how the Tax Code treats large corporations. I think the Thompson center qualifies as a sattelite office of State government. - GoBearsss - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 10:46 am: I don’t think it is the IRS being silly. They have nothing to do with this and haven’t commented. It is one AP reporter who thinks he is doing a “gotcha”, and the rest of us just think it is silly. - Dan, a voter - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 11:02 am: I am by no means a Blago supporter, but the questions that need answered are 1)what does the constitution say and 2) what effect does the constitution have on the tax codes of both the State and Federal Government. This can be debated for ever but the bottom line is how will this shake out in a court of law? - Team Sleep - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 11:05 am: For campaign and personal events, let him use a rented jet. I don’t want him to use an IDOT helicopter or plane for something non-governmental and then reimburse the state. But for regular state business, I don’t really care how much he flies, although I think it would be silly for him to fly several times each day. Lawmakers get a per diem and cannot simply say the governor doesn’t deserve to fly. Bill, I agree with you to an extent. Since the Capitol is in Springfield and since session does typically last for the first few months of the year, he should be in town when the GA conducts business. If he wants to be in Chicago during the rest of the year after the GA adjourns, that’s fine. But he really should be in town when the GA is conducting its business. - Levois - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 11:08 am: Thanks for putting this into some perspective. I do think the governor seems to like spending taxpayer’s dollars. Especially since he’s not exactly paying for these expenses and he’s definitely taking advantage of that. Now as to whether or not his flights aren’t of a business nature is another question. If he knew that this was coming up, I was say that he probably cut down on his flights back and forth between Springfield and Chicago. - cermak_rd - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 11:09 am: I would like for all the legislators and the gov. to stay in their home districts and do debates and votes via a secure private network rather than convening in the capitol. I think this would be superior for a few reasons. 1. The legislators were elected to represent their districts and they can better know the pulse of their districts by living there full time. 2. Lobbyists will have more work to do to track down the legislators because they’ll have to visit each district to have face to faces. 3. It will significantly cut down on the travel thereby saving energy and emissions. - Angry Chicagoan - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 11:12 am: Hey, something I agree with Bill on for once. And something the previous Republican combine agreed on too, given the flashy commitment Gov. Thompson showed to Chicago with the State of Illinois Building. Of course I think Blago’s use of transportation is outrageously inefficient, but taxable? I would think the agency that nailed Al Capone could be a little more creative in finding genuine tax evasion than that. - Cassandra - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 11:23 am: Far more important than where Blago and his plane may go is the new report out from the Pew organization describing the status of state employee retirement plans across the country, with Illinois’funding being viewed as among the more problematic. Not to mention the new GASB requirement for a plan to handle state retiree health costs, which apparently will hit in 2008. The Illinois sums due will, no doubt, make Blago’s aviation expenses look like less than pennies… and those retirement costs are likely to crowd out lots of other plans our more activist Democratic leaders may have for spending our money. Unless, of course, those (most) of us who are funding our retirements privately want to take on a huge tax increase to pay for our public sector colleagues’ lush retirements. - scoot - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 11:24 am: Well, there were actually more votes against the Guv then for him in 2006…total up Topinka and Whitney. And of course, it was Cook Co & the city that carried him for a 2nd term. So, in my opinion the voters of Illinois would prolly side w/ the IRS. I should add, I dont care where the Gov wants to live its up to them…but when session is in they should stay at the Mansion and spend some time in the States capitol. - Jaded - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 11:26 am: That’s fine with me Bill. While your at it, stop sending your garbage down here to fill our landfills and ruin our ground water as well. It would look real nice piled up at Millenium Park. I am sure Indiana and Iowa would be more than happy to take all your garbage along with you college students and prisoners. Actually, if Blagojevich never came south of I-80, most of us would like that just fine. He is incompentant anyway, so what’s the use of him coming down. We may not be as edumacated as some of you big city fellers, but we know a skunk when we smell one. - Jaded - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 11:29 am: Sorry, incompetent. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 11:29 am: Illinois Department of Revenue backs him up ? Who put them in their jobs ? Who has the power to lay them off if they don’t back him up ? P l e a s e - Fun(d)-Raiser - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 11:43 am: Bill: You made sense with regard to the demographics and may I add that 1) Chicago has now become Illinois largest “College Town”, and 2)the NIMBY factor prohibits any future prisons from being built in the six-county region, which is slowly becoming the 12-county region. That said, maybe Chicago should be the capital in addition to the de facto capital. - WARDOG - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 11:44 am: Bill–What the hell have you been smoking today!! The reason this state is in such a mess at this time is because Blagojevich did get elected to a second term and your’e sure as hell correct on who got him elected–good old Chicago. You and him and everyone else north of I-80 should make your own state if thats the way you feel about the rest of the state of Illinois and Rich, how come all of a sudden you seem to be defending that rat Blagojevich ? Elvis has left the building!! - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 11:47 am: Wardog, I have always defended the governor’s decision to live in Chicago. Always. Also, I think that people who advocate for Chicago becoming its own state are goofy and should move to Iowa. And stop with the name-calling or find yourself banned. - Commonsense in Illinois - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 11:53 am: I don’t have a problem with where the governor works, I just wish he worked. I have never seen any governor treat his job with more disdain than this governor. Hey, another thought just arose…I wonder if he’s taking a home-office deduction? - WARDOG - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 11:57 am: Rich–No disrespect intended to anyone as far as name calling, but Bill and other upstaters should have a little more respect for us downstaters. Also, a move to Iowa is not in the future. Is your home in Chicago? Just curious. Thanks. - Another Pro-gunner - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 11:58 am: “Perhaps they didn’t notice, but this was an issue during the governor’s reelection campaign last year and for most of his first four years in office. Blagojevich won reelection, despite all the criticism. So, the voters decided that it wasn’t a big deal.” I guess, by that logic, any issue brought up in the campaign should be a done deal, since the voters have spoken. In fact, voters take any number of issues with them to the booth, weigh them, then cast their vote for whichever candidate they like best (or dislike least). Then again, some just vote party line, regardless of issues, stated positions, or controversies. No, Rich, the election result did not mean the voters don’t care about this particular issue. It just means Blago got the necessary votes to retain his position, based, one presumes, on the totality of all of his positions. Unless you have access to some poll that asks the specific question and shows the voters/public support Blago’s Chicago office/plane usage, you simply cannot, with any accuracy, state that “the voters decided that it wasn’t a big deal.” One can vote for a candidate, even if one thinks that candidate is wrong on a particular issue. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 11:59 am: WD, I live in Springfield. - shermans ghost - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 12:01 pm: Rich, just curious as to your response to Wardog. What name calling did he do ? Did you edit something out ? Went back and re-read Bill’s …….piece and really don’t see any difference, but youdaboss. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 12:04 pm: I think calling the governor a “rat” is a bit much. If you couldn’t see that, perhaps you should do a bit of self reflection during the holiday season. - WARDOG - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 12:05 pm: Rich–I have seen you many times in Springfield, but wasn’t sure that you lived there. Thanks for the response. shermans ghost–Thanks for your input. - babs - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 12:10 pm: There wouldn’t be so many questions about all of this if the Gov ever showed up at either SOI office. Is he deducting his mortgage payments? - I mean he does do all of his work from home, doesn’t he? - (618) Democrat - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 12:10 pm: I live downstate and voted for Governor Blagojevich twice. I agree with the Governor that the tax thing with the state aircraft is ridiculous. I think it is great that the Governor lives and works out of Chicago. I think Chicago should be the state Capitol. We would all be better off. - Leave a light on George - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 12:10 pm: What’s the matter? You don’t like rats? - VanillaMan - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 12:15 pm: What I am seeing is a governor with a large staff and neither he nor anyone on his staff took into consideration the impact his decision to be a stay-at-home daddy would have on daily governmental operations. They had five years to figure this one out, yet they still blew it! Blagojevich campaigned as the anti-Springfield candidate, and so his PR stunt of justifying not showing up in Springfield or using the Mansion could be seen as a ploy to just hang around the house. If he was from Cairo, using his logic, he would have just claimed a Cairo office as his place of work and hung around the house there, right? We’ve been seeing just how “hard” this guy works, haven’t we? So the Governor and his large staff of so-called experts didn’t take into consideration what effect his enourmous commuting charges would have on himself, his administration, or taxpayers. Knowing what we know now, it isn’t surprising that he didn’t do any homework on this issue. By demanding that Chicago become his de-facto state capitol, taxpayers have paid millions more than necessary - an utter waste of money. What should have happened is when the IRS made this decision, the Governor should have provided evidence to the public that he had already taken into consideration this tax issue, and was told by his tax lawyers that it was not a problem before he declared himself to be a stay-at-home father. This would have shown that he actually considers the impact of his decisions before he actually makes them. But NO. Not this guy. He doesn’t do that, does he? For the past five years he has been a stay-at-homer. No one even gave this a thought? Why? Because they have a perception about the perks of this job that precludes these worries. They have a boss who has set a pattern of government-by-fiat, breaks precedents at whim, and spends our money whenever he gets an itch, laws-be-damned. This environment would not be one where caution is warranted, or even desired. Blagojevich has created an administration that doesn’t even seem to take into consideration what most of us regularly do regarding personal and business costs - “is this OK with the IRS?” As a result, we are being forced to once again take pity on a guy whose decision to slack off around the house has created more public embarrassment. Blagojevich might be right, but to even have this as an issue shows what a poor executive we have as governor. And Bill your posting is so insulting and foul to fair minded people you should be grateful to even post here. As a Chicagoan who now lives elsewhere in Illinois, I don’t recall anytime that I had to fill out a form and declare myself a moron; unworthy of comment or criticism due to my non-residency in Cook county. Perhaps if you lived around here, you would find that the fresh air, warmer weather, and friendly people may put a better focus on how you see the world. Right now you are being willfully blind but proud of it. Illinois is one of 16 states where the largest city is miles and miles from the state capitol. You don’t here this problem in California, or Florida, or Missouri, or Pennsylvania do you? That is because normal governors realize that their jobs require they live where they work, at least temporarily. Yet, over the past five years we have Blagojevich making it an issue because he scored political PR points over it back in 2002, running as the “outsider”. Blagojevich and the Illinois Democratic party has decided to make this an issue because it works for them. Your whole-hearted swallowing of the ridiculous excuses these people give for ignoring the other 101 counties in Illinois is proof that you do not believe what you claim. Voters are not equal to you, and minority interests do not need to be shown any respect from you. Your mentality is undemocratic. No wonder you love King Rod the Horrible. - WARDOG - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 12:22 pm: Gee, I don’t feel so all alone anymore, Vanilla Man. - Princeville - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 12:27 pm: As a downstater (seems strange to call myself that as I live Central Illinois), I really don’t care where Rod lives. However I resent the trips home nightly when he does come to Springfield and is going to be there the next day also. I think he could have some respect for taxpayers and the usage of the plane. The biggest thing I guess that naws me is this governor’s appearance of dislike for Springfield and the feud developing between Chicago area and anything south of it. It’s getting to be “Billy Yank, meet Johnny Reb” and that is a not a good thing for Illinois. The ‘us against them’ mentality is brewing to the point that nothing for Illinois is going to get agreed on and passed in the GA, the cultral differences between big city and small town is real, but it doesn’t help matters any when Rod at least gives the appearance of snubbing his nose at what downstate takes as importance. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 12:31 pm: ===The ‘us against them’ mentality is brewing to the point that nothing for Illinois is going to get agreed on and passed in the GA=== It’s been much worse in the past - particularly when Illinois refused to redistrict, which kept Chicago in a tiny minority in the GA. - shermans ghost - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 12:34 pm: Well, now we all get to see the wonders wrought by giving them the majority. - BigDog - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 12:39 pm: All of this would be completely irrelevent and nearly everyone would think the matter is just silly (to borrow a word from Daley) if the Governor would just accomplish something (anything!) useful for the people of this state while he’s in office. He could begin by being the grownup of the group and trying to get the leaders to take (gasp!) the lead and pull together a solution for infrastructure and transit. If we forfeit federal $$ by failing to come up with matching funds, these clowns should all be able to be recalled. - Bill - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 12:45 pm: VM, Unlike you, I will try to limit my response to under 350 words. As to your first contention,there is no impact to the governor’s decision to live in Chicago except maybe for hurting the feelings of a few uninformed SoIllians who seem to suffer from perpetual victimhood and regionalphobia. I don’t blame him and while we are on the subject of rats have you ever been in the mansion? I wouldn’t turn out the lights and sleep in that dump either. I am not suprised that the Gov chooses to stay in a hotel when he is in town. As far as the size of his staff is concerned, I would venture to say that it is as small or smaller than Ryan’s and I know that it is smaller than Edgar’s. In fact, the Governor has cut the number of state employees by over ten thousand, something that I would think a right winger like yourself would admire. By the way, if you would read more and write less, you would know that there is no ruling or decision by the IRS. It was just some reporter who called some college professor( from Maryland no less) in an attempt to write yet another scathing but patently untrue story about our esteemed Governor. I am grateful to post here because it is a lot of fun. I don’t consider what I wrote any more insulting than what you write daily about the governor. If I were you I would stick to writing about you being Santa Claus with Rod and Mike sitting on your lap (?!?) and leave the serious stuff to us grown-ups. Enjoy the fresh air,corn dogs, and warm weather (?). The people around there don’t seem too friendly today. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 12:49 pm: === the Governor has cut the number of state employees by over ten thousand, === Yeah. Gov. Ryan. - Bill - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 12:54 pm: Captain, Check the 2001 numbers vs. 2003 numbers. Rather than replace the early outers Governor Blagojevich chose to do more with less. - Bird Man - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 12:56 pm: After 18.5 years of state government employment and with just 3 days before my term appointment’s expiration, I was presented my job-loss notice by the Blagojevich Administration. With my family firmly based in Chatham (south of Springfield), I took a job in DuPage County choosing to commute on weekends and rent an apartment in Naperville. For two years I commuted weekly and paid monthly rent that exceeded my Chatham home mortgage, all at my family’s expense. Did I receive a tax break? No! Did my employer pay my travel/lodging expenses? No! Rod Blagojevich sought and received a job based 200 miles from his family’s residence. Although his job came with a rent-free residence, how is his choice to commute different from mine? Namely, how can he (or anybody else) expect his commuting for personal reasons be subsidized by taxpayers while the rest of the real world (working people) has to pay for their choices from their own pockets? - Bill - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 12:58 pm: That’s one of the nice things about being Governor. - Frank Sobotka - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 12:58 pm: “We define the principal place of business as Chicago and all the flights are billed accordingly.” Missing in most of the pile-on newspaper stories and comments is a certain distinction. ‘Place of business’, for the purposes of travel, is the governor’s ‘headquarters’. Admitting the governor spends most of his time in Chicago is _not_ the same thing as saying ‘Chicago is the seat of government’. Not even close! The reporters that are blurring this line or ignoring the nuance are being deliberately obtuse. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 12:59 pm: Lighten up people! Chicago vs. downstate rivalry is as predictable and traditional as the sun rising in the east. Always has been. Some of the comments make me think of my parents… my dad is from south of I-80 and my mom from north of I-80; he never got past grade school, she was high school valedictorian; he couldn’t carry a tune if his life depended on it, she loves classical music… you get the idea. They bicker and complain and correct one another all the time, but they’ve been married over 50 years, and when they’re apart for more than a day or two they realize they can’t live without each other! - Commonsense in Illinois - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 1:05 pm: I usually try not to comment twice, but it seems to me that we’re losing a bit of focus here. The real issue is whether this governor, or any governor for that matter, is doing the job for which he was elected. There is no real magic about living or working in Springfield or Chicago as long as the job is getting done. In this instance, and with plenty of blame to go around, Illinois is in gridlock and the governor appears to have decided to stay at home and trot out press releases blaming everyone else. Are there questionable flights…probably, but probably no more than predecessors. Again, my only real goal is to have the governor, my governor, work as hard as he can to resolve issues that confront my state. And that is where Rod Blagojevich has continually failed all of us. Can it be turned around? Well, he has three years. Will he? Given the current practices, not likely. - (618) Democrat - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 1:09 pm: Bird Man, you should not have received a tax break. Just as I don’t when I commute eighty miles a day to and from my job. The Governor’s job base is Chicago so when he travels anywhere in Illinois, on government business, it should not be taxed. Seems really simple to me. - Garp - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 1:10 pm: I can’t disagree enough with the Governor of the State not residing in Springfield. If the people of Illinois want to make Chicago the capitol then do so, but this defacto chango routine is disrespectful to the institutions estabilished for governing. This Governor immediatly declared his Springfield independence with such gleeful arrogance that he aliented downstate legislatures and it has been downhill since. I must admit, It is amusing to read how downstaters opinions have evolved from-this governor should live in the mansion provided for him by the taxpayers, to this governor should stay in Chicago-however, that is not the point. Illinois deserves a full time governor that respects the established governing traditions. - Gregor - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 1:16 pm: The mansion is not rat-infested. The governor, as we know, stays in Chicago. Seriously, though, considering it is one of the oldest original ones in the country, it is a pretty nice place. No vermin infestations. Nice decor. Lovely grounds. Walking distance to work. It is certainly nice enough for a governor to occupy, even for only as long as the GA is in session. If Blagojevich only did that little, staying there during sessions, the gesture would go a long way in smoothing things out. As to the idea of letting the legislators all vote in their pyjamas via internet, I don’t approve. The business of lawmaking needs to be done in a centralized public arena and the capitol building is that designated arena. What’s next, outsourcing the legislator jobs to a guy in a cubicle in Mumbai? The governor IMO stays up North not so much to insult the Springfield people, but to stay close to his power base and fundraisers. The problem with that is that you get too insulated, only hearing yourself reflected off a bunch of yes-men and women. You lose touch and you lose the chance to rub up against new ideas and new people. A leader with guts would not hide from critics but would debate them openly in a fair fight of argument and counter-argument. This governor once seemed like he would be that kind of guy. Now he is not. Not at all. - Princeville - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 1:16 pm: Bill–doesn’t the governor have like a 7 room apartment behind the mansion in Sprngfield that is meant for stays and not in the mansion? Anyway, point in commenting was the amount of cut out state employees. While I agree that lots could stand to go–we just to joke about the secretary’s secretary’s secretary–all the cuts down towards the bottom layers has hurt many sites. But then budgets have been cut in some department’s sites that workers are begging for necessities to perform their duties. I don’t find that a good thing. - PJ - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 1:17 pm: Regardless of the legality of the flights, I believe the point of irritation is that the governor just does whatever he wants whenever he wants. He does not make any attempt to be frugral with the state’s money by doing things like staying overnight in Springfield when he has business here two days in a row. I disagree with the idea that a free flight to a hockey game should be considered a normal function of the governor in support of a business organization. When the state’s budget is in the mess that it is in, and state merit workers go years without a raise, it seems inappropriate to continue to spend money on trips that aren’t absolutely necessary and do not provide a direct benefit to the state. And yes, I also think it’s silly to fly all over the state just to sign a bill at the location impacted by the bill. This really gets back to the fact that in any government organization there is no pressure to be efficient, as there is in the private sector. Without this pressure, it’s up to government workers at all levels to be diligent at saving money, simply because it’s the right thing to do. - Huh? - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 1:19 pm: Bill - Your comments about people who live outside crook county and the 5 collar counties inflame the feelings of those people who live “down state”. Your arrogant chicago-centric attitudes do nothing to recognize the fact that we are citizens of this state too. I pay taxes. While the legislature is in session, I expect the governor, who ever it may be, to live and work in the seat of government. Oh by the way, “down state” saved your sorry butts: Southern Illinois supplied grain to northern Illinois following the “Winter of the Deep Snow” in 1830–31. Upper Illinois suffered from a long winter and late spring, so crops were not planted until June, and much of that harvest was killed by an early September frost. Southern Illinois had milder weather, however, and produced grain, much of which was shipped north. - Ghost - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 1:20 pm: The solution is simple, we need to elect a Gov from Cairo - Name/Nickname/Anon - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 1:20 pm: “Rather than replace the early outers Governor Blagojevich chose to do more with less.” What you should have said is that the governor chose to force rank-and-file state employees to do a lot more so he could spend the extra salaries elsewhere. The governor does NOTHING - even speak for himself. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 1:23 pm: I’m not sure I have a problem with asking many state employees to do more. - Leave a light on George - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 1:27 pm: Garp, You get it! We desrve a full time governor. Ever notice that the really sucessful people no matter what profession are the ones who work hard at the job they have instead of contstantly worrying about their next one? - Princeville - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 1:28 pm: Rich-it depends on what the position and duties are. One can’t put all employees in one handbasket which happens to be the case everytime the words ’state employee’ emerges. - DumberThanYouThink - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 1:40 pm: Wish you all would quit saying the IRS is wrong. They might actually check and see all my work is done at the real estate office. It would mean flights are legit, but there might be some taxable beans we have not mentions Shhhhhhhhhh! - Bird Man - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 1:41 pm: (618) Democrat — I agree with you. You commute 80 miles and mine was 200. We pay for that, expect no free lunch and we do our jobs. Maybe therein lies the rub? We do our jobs yet our governor simply doesn’t govern. I don’t care if his job base is Chicago, Springfield or Carbondale, based on his performance, he’s getting a pretty sweet deal. Indeed, it is simple. And, simple is as simple does. - Name/Nickname/Anon - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 1:48 pm: “I’m not sure I have a problem with asking many state employees to do more.” Rich: No offense intended, but you might if you looked at some of the case loads that DCS and CMS case workers are attempting to adjudicate, numbers of parolees that parole agents are attempting to supervise, or numbers of inmates that corrections officers are attempting to guard. When you are running prisons at over double maximum capacity and forcing guards to work 16 hour mandatory shifts because you cant fully staff ANY shift, you aren’t doing more with less. You are endangering the public and selling out your employees. Not all state workers are the director level people that seem to get all the attention here. Some of the lower level employees actually do work for a living. There seems to be a perception to the contrary at times. For the record - I am not a state employee nor have I been one for many years. I do know quite a few of them, however, and I am also married to one. - (618) Democrat - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 1:53 pm: Bird Man, I think the Governor is doing a great job of Governing. I would vote for him again today if I could. Since he has been Governor my state income or sales taxes have not went up one penny. That means more money for me and my family. Keep up the good work Rod. - anon - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 2:00 pm: how does it work for members of Congress? - Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 2:08 pm: ” I don’t blame him and while we are on the subject of rats have you ever been in the mansion? I wouldn’t turn out the lights and sleep in that dump either. I am not suprised that the Gov chooses to stay in a hotel when he is in town.” I really am shocked one of Blago’s people would make that statement. I’ve been in the Mansion and spent the night several times. It was very pleasant and clean. The staff were wonderful. It’s very old and needs minor maintenance but,also very charming and comfortable place. Bill I think you owe an apology to the mansion staff. - Dan, a voter - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 2:14 pm: (618) Democrat, how can Rod keep up the good work when he does not work? Please explain. - anon - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 2:16 pm: If this is such a controversial issue, the best solution would be to elect Rich Daley -Governor for a day so he can tear up the Springfield airport and build a new park thus eliminating one of Rod’s transportation options. - Clock Watcher - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 2:20 pm: Bill - “I wouldn’t turn out the lights and sleep in that dump either. I am not suprised that the Gov chooses to stay in a hotel when he is in town.” That comment should set off a fire storm. Stays in a hotel? I had heard this before but never really knew if it was true. Is it true or are you just spouting? If true do you know if the taxpayers also pay for the hotel expenses? I look forward and appreciate your speedy response. Thanks. - Garp - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 2:21 pm: That mansion is beautiful. Illinois has nothing to be ashamed of when debating the accommodations the taxpayers provide for their governor. It would and should be a privilege to live there. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 2:26 pm: Living in the mansion is not a requirement of the job. Period. Edgar moved out, Thompson moved out, Ryan never lived there full-time. Move along. - Bill - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 2:29 pm: Anon, I’m not one of “Blago’s people.” - He makes Ryan Look like a Saint - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 2:35 pm: Rich, Can we get a recount on the Golden Horseshoe best Poster== I want to change my vote to VM. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 2:54 pm: The story told by “Huh?” explains why Southern Illinois is called “Little Egypt”. - Jaded - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 3:07 pm: What you people are seeing is a classic example of why Bill won the Golden Horseshoe blogger award. He can stir the pot like no other on this site. He is very seldom right…but he can really stir the pot. Of course, all us “downstaters” know what horseshoes are usually covered with (and I am not talking about cheese sauce either). - there you go again.... - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 3:27 pm: ….from a commentor at SJ-R: “(5 ILCS 190/1) (from Ch. 123, par. 1) Sec. 1. That the seat of government shall continue to be at Springfield, in the County of Sangamon, at which place all acts shall be done which are required to be done at the seat of government: Provided, that they may be done at some other place, to be designated by the Governor, when it is necessary in consequence of pestilence or public danger. (Source: R.S. 1874, p. 985.)” Rich; please interpret that for us. - enrico depressario - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 3:28 pm: The state Constitution and various state statutes declare the Governor—and you, Rich—dead wrong. - VanillaMan - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 3:39 pm: I have had the pleasure of living in Peoria, Springfield, Chicago, Chicago Heights, and have traveled this great state extensively. Every place I have called home has been truly a home to me. I am neither a Downstater or a Chicagoan. Too bad this attitude seems to have not been embraced by someone as important as our current governor. He hasn’t helped unite our state - as a matter of fact - he has deliberately fractured it because it serves him politically. Like many of his fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants attitude towards governing, our current governor didn’t consider the long range effect his Chicago-centric administration would have on the state he claims to govern. He is the governor. He doesn’t have to just sit there in his living room or kitchen and let issues such as his commuting costs, Chicago-based operations, and now tax-problems become issues. As governor, he could easily have made it a point to overnight across Illinois, just as you would expect a governor to do. Instead of disrespecting the city of Springfield, Mr. Blagojevich could have discontinued his anti-government diatribe after his inauguration. Instead of finger pointing, the Governor could have ensured the entire state that he recognizes that the entire state exists by showing up for work at what has historically been the center of Illinois government. If he was a smart politician, he could have done what previous governors have done - not make everything outside Chicago come across as a burden to visit. So it disturbs me to see someone as important as an Illinois governor playing games with Illinoians. This governor doesn’t know when to stop campaigning and to start governing, does he? Once he began his term, he needed to have ensured us that he considers himself an Illinoian first. That hasn’t happened. So every story about funding, taxes, and daily governance which mentions his resistance to leaving his house, irritates people. He didn’t have to make this an issue, but he discovered that it worked for him politically. It serves no purpose when a statewide elected official disrespects any part of a state. Under Blagojevich the split between Chicago and the rest of Illinois has widen. While it is true that we have not seen full-time residency from previous governors, we witnessed that previous governors recognized the importance of representing the The Office. Blagojevich boasts instead of soothes. Rich is, of cource, correct that the Chicago/Downstate politics has existed for almost 200 years. So exactly what is it about Mr. Blagojevich that doesn’t get this nearly 200 year old fact of Illinois government? Blagojevich needs to demonstrate that he cares about all Illinoians regardless of address. As governor he should be doing more than tardily appearing for bus rallies and funerals. The Illinois Democratic Party needs to look around the landfills and mountains of garbage that block their view from the rest of the state and stop pretending that they can govern with only Cook County votes. Perhaps Illinois Democrats can RULE with only Cook County votes, but they are also proving that they cannot GOVERN with only Cook County votes. It doesn’t have to be that way. Finally Bill, it is easy to be brief when you are a bomb-thrower. Or when you have nothing new to say. - RJW - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 3:53 pm: Rich: I get so tired of your policing this blog and telling people what they can and can’t say. As long as it isn’t obscene, let it go. I can’t believe you are defending this idiot of a Governor on anything, let alone the issue of using the state plane more than any other recent Governor in history. And, it should be a requirement that the Governor live in the state capital, no matter who they are (or were in the case of Edgar, Ryan, Thompson, etc.). We can rant on this subject if we want to. If you don’t like it limit your website to your idiot friends who only think like you. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 3:54 pm: RJW, if you don’t like it, leave. Goodbye. - RJW - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 3:55 pm: I won’t leave. As long as crazy Bill is still around spewing press releases from the Governor I’ll be around to read them and laugh. - RJW - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 3:57 pm: I’m mostly irritated at the fact that the Governor seems to get away with corruption, incompetence, criminal acts, and any other goofy thing you can think of and nobody does anything about it. - Bookworm - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 4:04 pm: Something else to consider (not to defend Blago’s actions but just to point something out) is that the mansion is not as “empty” as people think. It is open for public tours several days a week. People can and do book wedding receptions, awards banquets and other events there. Plus, the Governor can and often does invite guests to stay there overnight, which he has a right to do. I personally remember one case in which a young boy, his mom, his grandmother and a friend got to stay there after the boy successfully appealed to the guv for a water grant for his subdivision. (The kid actually showed up at the Capitol on the day of the budget speech with valentines to the guv signed by all his classmates!) The family had the place to themselves, of course, and they loved it! This kind of thing happens all the time. So rest assured the place isn’t completely going to waste. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 4:04 pm: ===nobody does anything about it=== about a million front-page stories, editorials and columns, not to mention 250 FBI agents investigating his every breath, madigan refusing to bow down, daley carping, etc., etc. etc. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 4:06 pm: ===We can rant on this subject if we want to.=== No, you can’t. This ain’t a public park. It’s a privately owned website. Deal with it. And I defend the governor when I agree with him. I’m not a moronic partisan like some. There is no requirement that he live at the mansion. Get over your tiny self. - Right On Bill - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 4:07 pm: RJW: I’m a fan of the gov. and if you think Rich “polices” this blog to prevent anti-Rod statements, you must be reading something other than this blog. - (618) Democrat - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 4:13 pm: Vanilla Man, I was in downstate Mattoon, Coles county, yesterday. It seemed to me the Governor had a lot of support in that downstate community. - Solution - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 4:17 pm: Can we get on to the real reason Blago needs to be removed from office. This IRS thing is just diverting attention away from the illegal involvement of this governor in every facet of state goverment. There is no good reason to support this governor. He has proven by his inability to stand behind his word he has no place in state goverment. If Chicago wants to ignore all his indescretions for personal gain then they deserve what they get. - Jaded - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 4:20 pm: (618) Democrat He has tons of support in Coles County. That is why he scored 31% of the vote there in the 2006 election. I wish he would have had that much support in every county! - National view - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 4:20 pm: VM — it’s actually quite common for governors in the states you mentioned to be criticized for not spending enough time in the capital city (Crist/Talahassee, Blunt/Jefferson City, etc.). And because it’s so common, it’s NOT a national story when we have a minor AP story about it in Illinois. The one possible exception to that that my quick googling has found is California, but that’s partly because there IS no governor’s mansion in Sacramento and Arnold and Maria are on the market trying to get a better place to entertain. - NimROD - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 4:23 pm: 618: How many of the weren’t brought in on state charted buses for the photo op? - NimROD - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 4:24 pm: Jaded - He did have that level of support (or less) in practically every county except Cook. - Bookworm - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 4:26 pm: The hullaballoo about Blago not living in the mansion and flying back and forth to Chicago is NOT the main issue. Neither action is illegal as far as I know. They are just the tip of a very big and growing iceberg that threatens to sink the state — bad budgeting, disregard of the legislative process, surrounding himself with questionable friends and advisers, general arrogance, etc. etc. People fasten onto those things because they are easier to grasp and point fingers at than the real problems. - (618) Democrat - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 4:28 pm: NimRod, There were no state charted buses…lol. What is a state charted buses? - Sahims2 - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 4:35 pm: What doesn’t make it right is that the taxpayers of the state get stuck flying his highness back and forth home. He should be living in the gov’s mansion, his main office is in the capitol building of the state, here in Springfield. But no, we have a Chicago politician who doesn’t want to leave his home for the residence down in the sticks… So, we fly him home every time he comes down to the state capitol, which is what is ridiculous. This will be just one of many charges levelled against him someday…. - Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 4:38 pm: Rich, you’ve made a good point that the final arbiter of all of this is the IRS and what all of us think doesn’t really matter. What has been overlooked in most comments is the use of the aircraft by other travelers, including the first family, other state workers, and non-state workers, including “Individual K” and Individual W,” at a minimum. AA is no tax practioner, but I’ve read enough to say that the presence of these folks on some of the various flights muddies the personal/business purpose argument considerably were the IRS to pick this nit. Co-inky-dent-ally, a tax break for the private sector use of aircraft expires at the end of this year and the IRS has already warned practioners and corporations that they will be watching 2007 returns closely in this regard. They’ve killed off the “single-member LLC” aircraft writeoff, where “CapFax LLC” could be formed to buy a Gulfstream G550 and rent it back to Capitol Fax WorldWide, allowing the single LLC member (Rich)to essentially place the tax benefits wherever it’s most advantageous on the financials/tax returns. I wouldn’t want to be anyone with an aircraft use issue on my tax returns over the next couple of years. Hey Bill, I still think you’re the best poster. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 4:46 pm: ===This will be just one of many charges levelled against him someday….=== Now you sound like a Bolshevik. - NimROD - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 5:03 pm: Chartered. It has been a long day! - Princeville - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 5:26 pm: meow-saucers of cream all around. “(5 ILCS 190/1) (from Ch. 123, par. 1) Sec. 1. That the seat of government shall continue to be at Springfield, in the County of Sangamon, at which place all acts shall be done which are required to be done at the seat of government: Provided, that they may be done at some other place, to be designated by the Governor, when it is necessary in consequence of pestilence or public danger. (Source: R.S. 1874, p. 985.)” doesn’t this just mean that things like the GA must meet in the seat of government (Springfield), to me this doesn’t say the governor has to be in Springfield 24/7 or everytime he signs a bill, meets with leaders, whatever. To me it just says the governor can’t up and move the seat of government (the capital) to say Chicago. But he/she could short time hold the seat of government elsewhere if a emergency type event hit Springfield in the extreme. (*Rich thanks for being our gracious host and inviting us into your site, you do a great job, present both sides of issues with links to assorted ’stories’ and I apprecite it) - Bill - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 5:30 pm: c’mon lets go for a hundred hits. AA, Missed you at the party! - Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 5:41 pm: Bill- I was planning on going, but the lousy weather and a touch of the flu kept me stuck in the ‘Patch. I really wanted to get my picture taken with you and Abby! 99 posts-who will put this one in the Century Club? - David - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 5:41 pm: Blago “won re-election” as you stated, Rich, but he did not receive a majority of the votes. More people voted “against” him than “for” him. You can thank the Green Party for 4 more years of this jerk. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 5:44 pm: I seriously doubt he would have lost had the GP not fielded a candidate. He won. It’s been a year. Get used to it. Three more to go, unless he runs again. - Beancounter - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 5:49 pm: As much as I hate to agree–this is probably another non-issue. And I am sooooo weary of reading/hearing about trivial matters like the mansion, etc. I am desperately waiting for the BIG stuff! - David - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 5:51 pm: I agree with Beancounter. When the big stuff happens it will really be a show. - Roger Spark - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 6:33 pm: So it seems that flying his wife and his kids and his kids’ friends around the state is OK, too, since he lives in Chicago and who wants to hang with people who spend too much time there? The only IRS concern is his business home, not his personal home. This may be difficult to figure out for someone who has only a political home. How much time do his official duties require him to be in Springfield, and how much time do they require him to be in Chicago? Schwarzenegger seems to think that he needs to live in Sacramento, and Spitzer seems to think that he needs to live in Albany. But hey, what do they know about governing? - Bookworm - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 6:48 pm: Beancounter, I suspect that if and when the “big stuff” comes down, all the baffling, inexplicable little stuff we’ve been hearing about for years (including his aversion to working out of ANY state facility, be it the mansion, the Capitol or JRTC) will finally fall into place. - Clock Watcher - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 7:48 pm: Hey Bill - I’m still patiently waiting for my answer on the Hotel bill for your buddy Rod…have you any factual information on the subject? Thanks in advance for your speedy response. - anon - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 7:52 pm: –Illinois Department of Revenue backs him up ? Who put them in their jobs ? Who has the power to lay them off if they don’t back him up ? P l e a s e – Anyone who thinks the average revenooer wouldn’t turn their beloved Guv in to the IRS first chance they got, without even asking for the finder’s fee, hasn’t spent any time around them. - Put the pipe down... - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 9:58 pm: Reading some previous posters, it just occurred to me, maybe he stays out of actual state offices because he thinks they’re all bugged by feds? If his detail was in on it, would they even tell him? They are only for protecting his body, not his career… - steve schnorf - Wednesday, Dec 19, 07 @ 10:42 pm: David, actually, about 3/4 of the state’s registered voters did not vote against him or for someone else. - Thunder 2 - Thursday, Dec 20, 07 @ 6:40 am: I think all of you should realize someday we may have a Governor from Southern Illinois, that is south of Mt. Vernon and his main office would be in Carbondale. Ha, wouldn’t that all ruffle your feathers. As you all seem to think just because you are in a big city and most of the Illinois population is there, you think others don’t count. Don’t be surprised someday when you read this Blog and we have a governor from south of Mt. Vernon conducting business in Southern Illinois. You read it here! - David - Thursday, Dec 20, 07 @ 7:20 am: Steve Schnorf - where did you find that information? The sources I used indicate Blago did not have a majority compared to the sum of Republican and GP votes. - steve schnorf - Thursday, Dec 20, 07 @ 8:34 am: Why wouldn’t her main office be in DuQuoin, where we already have a mansion? Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.