This just in… Deflection
Monday, Jan 7, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* 2:09 pm - I wonder how much these “video messages” are gonna cost. From a Blagojevich press release…
– Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today urged lawmakers to approve a long-term CTA, Metra and Pace funding plan this week when they return to Springfield for regular session in order to avoid drastic layoffs, service cuts and fare increases planned for January 20.
The Governor also called on transit riders to voice their concerns about a possible doomsday scenario to legislators in Springfield. Transit riders can stop outside the Clark and Lake ‘el’ station on the ground floor of the James R. Thompson Center today and tomorrow to fill out cards to lawmakers or record brief video messages expressing their concerns. Riders can also send their messages to lawmakers via the state website at www.illinois.gov.
If you go to the state site, you’ll see this message…
Join the Governor’s fight to protect mass transit service. Send a message to your legislators today about how a transit doomsday could impact you and why a solution needs to be passed now.
* 3:07 pm -Listen to the governor’s remarks below…
[audio:gov-1-7.mp3]
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Job qualifications
Monday, Jan 7, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
Hmmm…
Job Description:
Office of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich
Position: Press Secretary
Department: Communications
Reports To: Director of Communications
Location: Chicago
Position Summary:
The Press Secretary plays an integral part in creating the administration’s message and disseminating it to the media. The successful candidate will have strong oral and written communication skills; strong record in media relations and crisis communications; and ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
Position Responsibilities:
* Build and maintain relationships with members of the press
* Act as a spokesperson, proactively pitching stories and developing/delivering reaction to reporters’ inquiries
* Collaborate with Governor’s press staff and agency press officers to generate ideas and develop media strategies
* Assist in organizing press conferences and other media-related events
* Draft and edit press releases and other materials for distribution
Job Requirements
Competencies/Qualifications:
* Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications or relevant field
* Five or more years of experience in media relations and/or public relations
* Demonstrated record of success in pitching and placing stories in major media outlets
* Ability to work under tight deadlines
* Ability to implement long-term media strategies, as well as react to rapid-response needs from internal and external sources on a daily basis
* Desire to work in a team-based, cooperative environment
* Experience in government or political settings a plus
Perhaps you can think of more qualifications, job duties, etc. and post them in comments. Have fun.
*** UPDATE *** I posted this in comments, but I suppose I should also post it on the front page. Gerardo Cardenas is the one who is leaving - for a position with AARP.
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Question of the day
Monday, Jan 7, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
Have you received any direct mail from candidates in the past couple of weeks? If so, tell us what you’ve seen.
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In the gutter
Monday, Jan 7, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The rhetoric in the 14th Congressional district Republican primary is going way over the top. From a Jim Oberweis press release…
“When is career politician Chris Lauzen going to ‘man up’ and come clean with the voters of the 14th District regarding his recent announcement that he plans to return $100,000 in tainted campaign contributions he took, over a period of ten years, from a convicted felon and the firm he heads?
“Two weeks ago, Mr. Lauzen announced he was going to give back $100,000 in tainted campaign cash,” said Pascoe. “He claimed then that while he previously knew of the donor’s own criminal conviction, he was unaware of the ethical and legal concerns surrounding the donor’s company — and, in fact, remained unaware until he recently got an email from 15 businessmen who laid out the company’s ongoing troubles.
“Sadly, this statement does not square with the facts as publicly known. On December 27, 2007 — five days after Mr. Lauzen’s announcement was first reported in the Beacon News — the Beacon News revealed that, contrary to Mr. Lauzen’s assertions, he had been made aware of his donor’s company’s legal troubles almost TWO YEARS EARLIER than he had acknowledged.
“Mr. Lauzen’s announcement, as we pointed out before Christmas, raises more questions than it answers. This new information revealing that Mr. Lauzen was publicly upbraided almost two years ago for taking this tainted money raises the bar even further. Mr. Lauzen should release the email he claims he received from the 15 businessmen, and should come clean by revealing now exactly what he knew and when he knew about his donor’s troubled past - and what has changed between now and almost two years ago, when he first was made aware?
* To which Lauzen replied…
“Jim, you’ve left me no choice but to respond to your campaign’s negative attacks. From now on, I will not sit idly by and allow you to mislead the voters.
“The voters only need to look at Team Oberweis’ campaign rhetoric and public statements to realize full well that Jim is ignoring Denny Hastert’s desire to have his endorsed candidate run a positive campaign. In fact, it is rather difficult to find anything but scathing attacks on me that have nothing to do with the issues. […]
“Jim, to quote your political mercenary, it’s time for you to ‘man up’ and gain control of your campaign. Stop hiding behind your attack-dog consultants and let the voters figure out who is most ready and prepared to lead. If you are unable or unwilling to confront me yourself, say so and explain why.”
* So far, the back and forth has generated little to no earned media and the candidates aren’t taking this message to the voters via their paid media…
Some of Oberweis’ and Lauzen’s attacks on each other are the same, down to the capitalization in the press releases. An Oct. 30 press release from Oberweis called Lauzen part of “the Establishment Insiders.” A Dec. 13 Lauzen press release said Oberweis was trying to buy “Insider Establishment clout.”
Whether the “Establishment Insiders” or the “Insider Establishment” are attacks that will resonate with the voters is to be seen. Those messages are not being presented directly to the voters, but to the news media.
The four TV commercials that Oberweis has broadcast deal with immigration, finances, the Oberweis family dairy, and Midwestern values. None of them reference Lauzen or any other candidate.
Likewise, Lauzen plans commercials based on his platform, not attacks.
“The theme … [is] about integrity, service and a philosophy that there ought to be limits on government, a person that will not enrich himself and his family on his service,” Lauzen said.
* Lauzen has clearly developed more detailed issue positions than Oberweis, and Lauzen was recently endorsed by former US Sen. Peter Fitzgerald. The big question remains how much of his own money that Oberweis will spend and whether he can get away with these attacks without attracting the notice of too many voters.
* But Lauzen is famous for his ground game…
Early reports are that between 500 and 600 grassroots supporters of State Senator Chris Lauzen jammed into the Aurora Christian High School where they were energized to knock on doors and get Lauzen supporters to the polls February 5.
* Meanwhile, Democrats are taking notice…
Lets hope they beat the crap out of each other and that things get really really nasty.
This should be lots of fun to watch.
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The disaster continues unabated
Monday, Jan 7, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* My latest syndicated newspaper column takes a look at last week’s special session. After documenting how almost no state Senators showed up and just 70 House members made it to town, I looked at the immediate aftermath and the possibility that Gov. Blagojevich could call yet another special session…
One never knows what will go through the governor’s mind at a time like this. A couple of stray electrons in his brain could bump into each other and set off an uncontrollable chain reaction that his staff and top advisers are helpless to stop. So Statehouse types waited around for a signal about what Blagojevich might do next. Several had come to town prepared for the long haul, bringing enough clothes to get them through the weekend.
Thankfully, sanity finally prevailed. Or maybe it was presidential politics.
One of the reasons so many Democrats, particularly in the Senate, weren’t in town last week was because they were in Iowa campaigning for their former legislative colleague, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama. If the governor had called another special session for Thursday - Iowa Caucus Day - and harangued lawmakers into showing up, he could have been accused of sabotaging Obama’s campaign.
So instead of calling yet another fruitless, futile and politically dangerous special session, the governor cut his losses and went home. Considering the miserable legislative turnout, he probably spent more on his flight back and forth to Springfield and his Chicago press conference than the General Assembly spent on per diems. In the end, last Wednesday was simply an expensive media opportunity for one of the biggest publicity hounds in Illinois history.
* Kurt Erickson saw signs of hope emerge from the special session…
The entire thing was a misstep, but it bears mentioning that something positive did emerge from the wasted day: The governor did not call any more special sessions.
Maybe he’s learning. That would be good.
I wouldn’t bet on that. Here’s something I wrote back in 2005…
The creators of the TV sitcom Seinfeld kept a sign above their desks that read, in part, “NO LESSONS LEARNED.” The idea was that the characters were not supposed to “grow” in the way characters do on most other TV shows — and in real life, for that matter.
Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld might want to make a pilgrimage to Illinois soon, because their brilliant idea has been playing out here for more than two years now.
The governor never learns. He never grows.
The sign also read: “NO HUGS.” Appropriate.
* This is a whopper of a lede…
State Rep. Jay Hoffman’s New Year’s resolution is an ambitious one, given the tenor of Illinois government these days: “I’m trying to not point fingers, and stop the blame game,” the Collinsville Democrat said Friday.
Hoffman is Gov. Blagojevich’s House floor leader. He’s been one of the prime motivators behind the ongoing legislative feud. If he’s telling the truth, he’s gonna have to walk back his behavior a very long way.
Hoffman is a good guy and well-liked, but this past year didn’t do much for his Statehouse reputation. He’d be better off as a go-between or a mediator instead of an enabler. He’s become an extension of the governor’s office on the House floor, and he’s lost his credibility.
* Quote of the week, from Finke…
Blagojevich last week denied he’s Public Official A, the person who keeps appearing in federal indictments and other court documents dealing with people allegedly involved in corruption in the administration. He also referred to the federal investigations as “tangential, collateral things that have no relevance to people …”
OK, but investigators keep saying there’s a Public Official A, and the guess here is that people want to know who that is. Perhaps Blagojevich can pull an O.J. Simpson and conduct his own search for the real culprit, the real Public Official A. Then we can all move on from “tangential, collateral things.”
* More stuff, compiled by Paul…
* Kruesi on CTA: Don’t blame me
* CTA Tattler: Blame Blago and here’s his final chance
* Editorial: The gas guzzling governor
* McQueary: Time for second string long overdue
* Martire: Let’s start over and see some legislative results in 2008
* Opinion: Gambling no solution to state’s problems
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Sauerberg: I’m not crazy
Monday, Jan 7, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* This is a pretty funny lede…
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Steve Sauerberg says he’s got something unique to offer voters in today’s political climate: he’s “not crazy,” he’s “somebody normal.”
* Sauerberg bemoaned the fact that the media isn’t covering his candidacy and then added…
The newcomer and family physician from the Chicago suburbs slammed some current politicians for their “lack of competence.” About his own campaign, he said: “We offer competence, and we offer reasonable behavior and we’re just a solid campaign that is what politics should be about.”
* I’m not exactly sure who he was talking about. Perhaps his primary opponents. But as the Tribbies noted recently, there is some concern that Sauerberg may have some trouble next month, which could be why the state GOP endorsed him…
The vote to back Sauerberg by the Illinois Republican State Central Committee, made up of GOP leaders from each of the state’s congressional districts, was an unusual move. The organization has largely stayed away from involvement in primary contests.
But it underscores potential concerns that Sauerberg of Willowbrook, in his first political race, may face name recognition problems in seeking votes for the nomination and the chance to face two-term incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin.
Sauerberg… said in a statement that his endorsement showed his campaign was “resonating with voters all across Illinois.”
Well, that last statement is kinda “crazy,” if you ask me. I doubt anyone knows who he is at this point.
* It’s likely he’ll get some coverage as the primary approaches (he’s right that it’s been sparse to date) and the presidential race settles down a bit (if it does), but he can’t rely totally on earned media. And, frankly, if he wants to go up against somebody as relatively popular and entrenched as Durbin, he needs to show he can raise money and run decent TV ads before anyone can even begin to think that he has a snowball’s chance.
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* I wondered about this quote as well…
If you heard Barack Obama’s Iowa victory speech, you might conclude Illinois has universal health care.
“I’ll be a president who finally makes health care affordable and available to every single American, the same way I expanded health care in Illinois, by bringing Democrats and Republicans together to get the job done,” the Chicago Democrat said Thursday.
But Illinois doesn’t have universal health care.
He didn’t say he made health care “universal,” only that he “expanded” it in Illinois. Still, if you didn’t pay close attention you may have missed that distinction.
More from the piece…
“He has united Democrats and Republicans to expand health care to over 150,000 Illinois residents,” said campaign spokesman Ben LeBolt.
LeBolt said Obama helped expand Family Care that covers parents and their children by raising income levels so more would qualify. And he pointed to Obama being the chief sponsor of the Health Care Justice Act, which created a commission charged with making suggestions for how to improve and expand coverage.
* Here’s some more background on the bill from Politifact, which took a look at Obama’s claim that he had added more than 150,000 people to the health insurance rolls last September….
The statement is based on a 2003 law Obama sponsored when he was an Illinois state senator. His bill expanded income eligibility for KidCare and FamilyCare, the state health insurance programs for low-income families. Gov. Ron Blagojevich, a Democrat, signed the bill on July 1, 2003.
Obama’s bill worked by increasing the amount of money a family could earn and still qualify for health insurance. Before Obama’s bill, families had to make less than 185 percent of the federal poverty line; after Obama’s bill, they had to make less than 200 percent. In practice, this meant that before Obama’s bill, a family of three couldn’t make more than $28,236 to qualify. After Obama’s bill they could make up to $30,516 and still qualify.
After the new law passed, both programs saw sizable increases in enrollment. Children’s enrollment increased by 55,421 between 2003 and 2005, according to a study from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Adult enrollment increased by 100,458 between 2003 and 2006. That comes to a total of 155,879. So after Obama’s legislation passed, more than 150,000 people did get health insurance.
However…
The numbers for new enrollees don’t distinguish between those who would have qualified without Obama’s legislation, and those who needed his legislation to be able to join.
* Ironically, the state commission set up by an Obama bill to look at how to provide universal health care included this provision…
The proposal’s key feature is an individual mandate, under which the state would require all residents to obtain health coverage. It also would force employers to provide health coverage to their workers or pay into a state fund–an idea known as “pay or play.”
Candidate Obama has rejected Sen. Hillary Clinton’s proposal for individual mandates. Clinton has repeatedly slammed Obama for this omission.
* Meanwhile, the latest aggregate polling data from Pollster.com shows Obama with a large lead over Clinton in New Hampshire. Note the spike…
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Morning shorts
Monday, Jan 7, 2008 - Posted by Paul Richardson
* Critics call for reform of toll collection system; more here
“This system just perpetuates bad public policy,” said Terry Pastika, director of the Elmhurst-based Citizen Advocacy Center, a good-government group.
For one, the tollway could be sending violation notices to the wrong addresses, leaving some drivers to miss out on chances to pay up before fines skyrocket or their driver’s licenses are suspended.
In addition, tollway officials say their license plate image readers have trouble discerning differences among the myriad of plate varieties, affecting about 25 percent of all plates on the road. This may result in fines being leveled against law-abiding motorists.
* Suffredin supported with endorsements, slammed by opponents
U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Secretary of State Jesse White bypassed the two African-American candidates Sunday and threw their support to Suffredin.
“Larry Suffredin is a serious lawyer who will transform the state’s attorney’s office,” said Jackson (D-Ill.).
Suffredin has painted public corruption as the No. 1 issue in the campaign and proposed creating a “public corruption strike force.” Jackson said corruption in county government is an especially acute problem.
As a county commissioner, Suffredin “knows where the bones are buried,” Jackson said.
* Delays plague studies of Illinois hospital safety
The Illinois Hospital Report Card Act was signed into law in 2003 and requires hospitals to report statistics such as infections, staffing levels and the ratio of patients to nurses.
At the time, it was to be the nation’s first move to document hospital-acquired infections, and health care advocates said it would allow people to choose hospitals based on how well they do.
But officials say the report card won’t be ready for public release until October.
* Schoenburg: Treasurer’s reorganization hits Springfield office
Eighteen employees of state Treasurer ALEXI GIANNOULIAS’ office in Springfield were sent notices at the end of 2007 that they are “subject to layoff” because of a consolidation.
However, SCOTT BURNHAM, spokesman for the office, indicated that most people would probably be able to stay on after reapplying.
* Discourage leaf burning, but don’t impose a state ban
* Stopping the flow of urban pollution
It’s a quest similar to those undertaken by neighboring communities after a six-year building boom that changed the landscape of the once mostly-rural suburbs southwest of Chicago. Since 2000, Will County’s population surged 33 percent, making it the fastest-growing county in Illinois and among the most rapidly expanding in the U.S.
Now that the building has slowed, many communities are taking a step back to identify areas straining under the weight of urbanization.
* Counties sue state over special election for Hastert successor
* Weis on hot seat today with Chicago city council
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* Take a look at these New Hampshire polling trend lines from Pollster.com…
You can click it for a larger image and more explanation, but you can easily see that while Clinton is ahead, her numbers are obviously trending downward and Obama’s are sharply rising. New Hampshire’s primary is next Tuesday, so it’s gonna be very, very tough for Clinton to stop Obama’s momentum before then. He’ll have several days of euphoric bounce which may last all five days. A negative attack from Clinton now would likely backfire, unless Obama does something bad to himself.
* One thing that is still hanging out there is the Tony Rezko situation…
A former fundraiser to Gov. Rod Blagojevich pleaded not guilty Thursday to new charges of loan fraud, as did a new defendant in the case.
Antoin “Tony” Rezko of Wilmette and Abdelhamid “Al” Chaib of LaGrange park appeared before U.S. District Judge James Zagel Thursday morning and pleaded not guilty to rigging the prices of pizza franchises to obtain higher bank loans.
But it’s more likely that Clinton will be able to use that in the run-up to Super-Duper Tuesday (February 5th) than next Tuesday. The trial won’t really get underway until after the February 5th voting is over, but if I was on the Clinton campaign I’d be plugging the Rezko trial into this developing media meme of “Obama is untested.” There’s already plenty out there to tease the national reporters.
* The on-site national press corps was all atwitter yesterday with rumors that various candidates were cutting deals with Obama’s campaign to throw their caucus-goers to him. If a candidate doesn’t attain 15 percent in a caucus, that person’s supporters are supposed to choose someone else. Turns out, the deal talk was false…
According to the entrance poll, which only measured first preferences of the participants going in, the numbers were: Obama 35%, Hillary 27%, Edwards 23%.
If we assume that the final state delegate numbers actually approximated the votes of the caucus participants, this means John Edwards was the big second-choice winner, as he boosted his final score by seven points, compared to only three points for Obama and two for Hillary. It was enough to just overtake Hillary for second place, but not enough for first — because it turned out that Obama entered as the clear winner from first choices alone.
* The goofiest lede from Iowa was in the New York Times…
Whether it was because Iowans were searching for an agent of change or they wanted to send a message that a white state would elect a candidate regardless of race, Senator Barack Obama seized victory here Thursday as a coalition of Democrats and independents flooded caucuses in all corners of the state to support his improbable candidacy.
Apparently, some editor belatedly noticed the ridiculous lede and forced a change on the NYT website.
* On to Huckabee for a moment.
National Republicans obviously don’t like the man. He’s neither a neocon nor a corporate conservative, so the establishment party is scared to death about what he’ll do if he’s elected. Plus, most of them picked their own candidate long before Huckabee began to surge, and nobody picked him. So, he’s not their guy on every level.
But that’s no excuse for the national media, which treats the guy like an ignorant hillbilly from the backwoods and has appeared to use almost every excuse imaginable to pile on, and that has clouded their judgement, which is never great to begin with.
Check out this recent post from TIME magazine’s Joe Klein, entitled “Huckabust“…
Just when you think the Republican presidential race can’t get weirder…Mike Huckabee holds a press conference here to announce that he’d just made a last minute decision not to air a negative TV ad slamming Romney.
And then he airs the ad (Video courtesy of Mark Halperin who was setting in the row behund me). For the press corps–a gazillion cameras, nearly a hundred reporters, certainly more than Huckabee has ever seen in one place in his life. […]
That sound you hear rumbling out of Des Moines appears to be a monumental implosion. [emphasis added]
Yeah, that happened.
Human beings tend to look down on anyone who isn’t from what they consider to be the “better” place to live. New Yorkers, particularly, are infamous for this, but all of us do it in one way or another.
That being said, we’re all Americans, and this is all one country, so it’s time to stop the petty sniping from elitist snobs who base their elitism not on their own abilities but simply on their geographic location. It’s unAmerican.
* Quote of the day…
On his last day of campaigning, Huckabee appeared to go after Romney’s experience with a venture capital firm that specialized in re-organizing and sometimes downsizing struggling companies.
“I think sometimes the reason that our campaign is catching fire,” Huckabee said in Burlington, “is because people had rather elect a president who reminds him of the guy they work with — not the guy that laid them off.”
* Republican entrance polling
* Democratic entrance polling
* Entrance polling analysis
*** UPDATE 1 *** I agree with this bit of analysis in the Washington Post…
Since most of Obama’s legislation was enacted in Illinois, most of the evidence is found there — and it has been largely ignored by the media in a kind of Washington snobbery that assumes state legislatures are not to be taken seriously.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Two Illinoize bloggers have good posts up today.
Dan Johnson-Weinberger was in Iowa yesterday and filed a good report. Yellow Dog Democrat says Iowa is deja vu all over again.
*** UPDATE 3 *** As you might have guessed, my father was in Des Moines yesterday and sent along this photo…
*** UPDATE 4 *** It begins, but not from Clinton. Edwards takes a shot…
In an appearance on MSNBC, David Bonior, Edwards’ campaign manager, ripped into Obama’s record on health care from the time when he served in the Illinois State Senate.
“Barack Obama’s kind of change is where you sit down and you cut a deal with the corporate world,” Bonior said. “If you look at his record in Illinois when he had a major — sponsored a major health bill that’s what he did. He watered down with the help of the corporate lobbyist and they got a weak product out of that.”
MSNBC host Joe Scarborough interjected: “Are you saying that Barack Obama is a sellout to corporate interests?”
Bonior responded, “He was four years ago in Illinois. All you have to do is look at the legislation I’m referring to.”
The Obama campaign was quick to respond, defending their candidate’s credentials both on health care policy and his ability to stand up to lobbyists.
“The reason Barack Obama won such a commanding victory in Iowa is because Americans of all parties are hungry for a leader who can bring people together to take on the special interests,” said spokesman Ben Labolt in an email to the Huffington Post. “That’s how Barack Obama actually took on lobbyists and won in Illinois, and that’s how he expanded health care to 150,000 Illinois children and parents.”
The bill that Edwards’ guy referred to barely passed the Senate. So, without the “sell out” it’s doubtful anything would’ve been approved.
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* Apparently, the deadline to take action on the BIMP bill wasn’t last night, but is actually tonight at midnight, regardless of what this article claims…
Gov. Rod Blagojevich had until midnight Thursday to veto legislation, essentially a companion bill to the state budget, that would allow schools to collect the state’s new “foundation level” of $5,734 per student, an increase of $400. Lawmakers voted for the higher foundation level earlier this year. […]
Calls for comment left with the governor’s press office were not returned, but as of 5 p.m. Thursday, the secretary of state’s office said it had not received the bill and the General Assembly Web site showed the bill was still on the governor’s desk.
The legislation, known as a budget implementation bill, raises the foundation level, the minimum amount that a school must spend on each pupil, by $400, to $5,734 from $5,334. Without that change, the State Board of Education says its allocation of general state aid is governed by last year’s foundation level.
The secretary of state has been told to expect some action from the governor today. Word is the office was told the same thing yesterday, but the governor changed his mind. If he doesn’t take action by tonight, the bill becomes law without his signature.
* This article had it right…
Schools around the state are poised to collect more than $600 million set aside for them in August, if Gov. Rod Blagojevich does not veto the legislation before midnight tonight.
If he signs the bill, or takes no other action, the money will be freed up for state school districts. But if he vetoes any part of it, the money — and the school districts — remain in limbo.
* Back in November, the governor indicated that he might change the legislation…
Gov. Rod Blagojevich may be setting up another potentially ugly showdown with state lawmakers. This time, it’s about state spending on schools.
The governor hinted this week that he may take his veto pen to budget legislation sent to him by the General Assembly more than four weeks ago.
“We’re looking at that bill. I think there could be a way to actually put more money into education,” Blagojevich said.
The governor’s move could set up a new battleground in a year that has seen him warring with legislative leaders over everything from health care spending to what time of the day they begin meeting.
* It’s uncertain what he’ll do. The teachers unions and school lobsters are more than a little peeved at the governor for demanding for weeks that the General Assembly pass the BIMP and then sitting on it for so long.
* Watch this space for updates. You can monitor the bill’s status here.
*** UPDATE 1 *** The governor has used his amendatory veto on the BIMP. Stay tuned for more info.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Blagojevich press release…
Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today took action on a Budget Implementation Bill (BIMP) that will give Illinois schools a $560 million increase in state funding. Senate Bill 783, the BIMP for Fiscal Year 2008, provides a record amount of funding for school districts throughout Illinois. With this
year’s increase, the FY08 appropriation is the largest total annual investment in education in state history.
The Governor used his amendatory veto power to get school districts quicker access to additional funding for special education staff. This is the first time
since 1985 that districts will receive a higher rate to help cover special education staff salaries.
Under the BIMP bill, districts will get an additional $1,000 for each certified teacher and $700 for each non-certified staff member. Because of a drafting error, districts were not scheduled to begin receiving that money until FY 2009. If accepted by state lawmakers, Gov. Blagojevich’s amendatory veto means districts will get that money beginning in the
next few weeks.
That’s ridiculous. They could’ve done a cleanup bill. Now, both chambers will have to accept the guv’s AV before schools (and the state police and the secretary of state, etc.) will get their money.
*** UPDATE 3 *** There was another AV message, but this, too, could have been corrected with a trailer bill…
The Governor also issued an amendatory veto to correct an error in the state’s Road Fund cap.
As written, the BIMP bill extends the cap on funding the Illinois State Police (ISP) can use from the Road Fund to $97 million. With only a $97 million extension, the state police could not spend all the money appropriated to them, which would impact staffing. The Governor’s amendatory veto will extend the cap to $106.1 million, consistent with the spending authority given to the agency in the budget passed by the General Assembly. With the correction, ISP will have the funds needed to maintain existing frontline police levels.
“The Governor’s amendatory veto will correct an oversight in the BIMP bill that could have had a very serious and detrimental impact on public safety in Illinois. Making sure the State Police’s spending authority matches its appropriation means we can cover our costs, meet our contract agreements and keep troopers on the frontlines,” said ISP Dir. Larry Trent.
*** UPDATE 4 *** I haven’t been able to get a comment yet from the Senate or the House Democrats, but considering that Speaker Madigan and the governor don’t get along at all and are never on the same page, this update from the SJ-R may not turn out to be true…
School districts in Illinois Friday got step closer to collecting an extra $600 million in state funding contained in the budget passed in August.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich used his amendatory veto powers Friday on a bill authorizing school districts to collect the extra money contained in the budget. Blagojevich’s office described the changes technical.
Lawmakers could approve the changes as early as next week, paving the way for schools to collect the funds.
*** UPDATE 5 *** Here’s a brief transcription of the AV…
following specific recommendations for change:
page 43, after 2007, by deleting, “and 2008″ and page 43 line 3 before 2007 by reinserting “and” and on page 43, line 5 after 97,313,000, by inserting “For fiscal year 2008 only, no road fund monies shall be appropriated by the department of state police for the purposes of this section in excess of $106,100,000.”
page 337, line 20 by replacing 2006-2007 with 2005-2006
page 337 line 21 by replacing 2007-2008 with 2006-2007
page 338 line 18 replacing 2006-2007 with 2005-2006
page 338, line 18 replacing 2007-2008 with 2006-2007
page 338 line 23 replacing 2006-2007 with 2005-2006
page 338 line 24, replacing 2007-2008 with 2006-2007
page 339 line 5 repl 2007-2008 w/ 2006-2007
p 339 line 10 rep 2006-2007 w/2005-2006
p 339 line 11 rep2007-2008 w/2006-2007
p 339 line 21 rep 2006-2007 w/ 2005-2006
and page 339 line 21, re 2007-2008 with 2006-2007
*** UPDATE 6 *** The SJ-R has now revised its story…
School districts in Illinois will have to wait a while longer to collect an extra $600 million in state funding contained in the budget passed in August.
If they ever get it. Stay tuned.
*** UPDATE 7 *** You can read the official AV message by clicking here.
*** UPDATE 8 *** From the governor’s office…
The BIMP is a lengthy and very technical bill. It was important to make sure it accomplished what it is supposed to. It’s good that we took time to be thorough in our review because during the process we found these issues that could cause problems for schools and the state police if they are not fixed.
*** UPDATE 9 *** More from the governor’s office…
[The governor] did talk to some of the leaders. The changes shouldn’t be controversial — they just make sure the BIMP is consistent with the budget lawmakers passed. Without the changes, schools would not get all of the special ed $ they’re supposed to get in the budget, and neither would the state police.
This, of course, doesn’t explain why they couldn’t have just run a trailer bill with cleanup language.
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Morning shorts
Friday, Jan 4, 2008 - Posted by Paul Richardson
* State lawmaker will serve in Iraq
State Rep. Jim Watson, R-Jacksonville, is being deployed to Iraq as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.
“We know that our unit has been mobilized,” Watson said Thursday. “I will be heading out to California around the 17th or 20th of January.” […]
Because he is an elected official, Watson said, his deployment will be for 270 days - a limit established by the Defense Department.
* At 114, daughter of sharecroppers may be oldest to register in state’s history; more here
“I just have to make sure you’re over 18,” Chicago Board of Election Commissioners Chairman Langdon Neal quipped Thursday.
Crammed into the tiny living room of Call’s Bronzeville apartment for her birthday party — she was born Jan. 4, 1894 — were officials of the election board and Ald. Pat Dowell’s (4th) office, and myriad TV cameras.
* Have you registered to vote in Illinois?
* Openlineblog: Hastert endorsement boosts Oberweis poll numbers; Lauzen endorsed by Peter Fitzgerald
* Team America: Debate showdown week approaches for Seals and Footlik
* Alderman wary of Wrigley deal
Former Gov. James Thompson, chairman of the authority, has said that such a transaction would be “very challenging and complex,” but added he believes it could be done without using tax dollars.
Tunney, however, said he’s still “worried about any use of tax dollars.”
* Editorial: Something must be done to handle traffic at O’Hare
* Sun-Times Editorial: Fermilab funding cuts don’t make sense
* Officials hear few reports of smoking ban violations
* Immigrant influx to Chicago suburbs spawns foreign language schools for kids
* For What It’s Worth: Blog with commentary, information on Cook Co. judicial races
* U of I Global campus debut a dud
University of Illinois officials expected that their Global Campus project would start small. But when online classes began Wednesday, there were fewer than 15 students enrolled, far lower than the 75 students predicted last year.
Officials attribute the low enrollment to having little time to market the project after a four-month delay in getting it approved by university trustees. U. of I. President B. Joseph White, who has predicted that online enrollment will eventually exceed the 70,000 students at the university’s three traditional campuses combined, has banked his reputation on the project’s success.
* Chicago Public Radio: Illinois stands with California in admissions fight
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