Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » 2008

Friday, Feb 15, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Monday is a holiday, so enjoy your weekend as much as you can.

Illinoize is in charge until we get back…

* And, now, perhaps the greatest song of defiance against the darkness that sometimes seems to be everywhere around us, with a little rocker at the end for some joyful dancing. Crank up the volume as loud as you can…

May your heart always be joyful,
May your song always be sung,
And may you stay forever young

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Carbon tax? *** UPDATED X1 ***

Friday, Feb 15, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I’ve been telling subscribers about the possibility of a “carbon tax” proposal for over a week now, and Bethany Jaeger gives it mention this afternoon…

There’s more talk about Gov. Rod Blagojevich seeking to garner revenue through a so-called carbon tax, which the Illinois Chamber of Commerce already is prepared to oppose if it appears in his annual budget address February 20. […]

If the governor does propose a form of tax on carbon dioxide emissions, expect vocal opposition from the agribusiness and coal industries. We’ll have more on the carbon tax later if it is indeed proposed. The chamber suggests http://www.carbontax.org/ to learn more in the meantime.

I wonder if the Chamber was being tongue in cheek because that website favors carbon taxes.

…Adding… I’ve also been told about internal discussions involving a corporate asset tax.

*** UPDATE *** The administration responds to the IL Chamber’s worries about the potential for the governor introducing a carbon tax…

Blagojevich spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch issued a written statement that the chamber is misguided. “It seems like a waste of time and resources,” she wrote, “but if that’s what the chamber wants to do, it’s their decision.”

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Raw audio of yesterday’s administrative rules debate in the House (Use all caps in password)

Friday, Feb 15, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Question of the day

Friday, Feb 15, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* First, the setup…

A bill that would require state universities in Illinois to automatically accept the top 10 percent of all high school seniors isn’t going to be an easy sell, state Rep. William Davis (D-Hazel Crest) admits.

But as the bill’s chief sponsor, he hopes that at the very least it will highlight the need for the state to level the playing field in terms of funding for high schools and bring higher education institutions to the forefront in addressing that issue. […]

“The idea is to make high school education more competitive all over,” Davis said, adding he sees the bill “as a way to help minority students in particular.”

Davis said he welcomes the argument that he expects will come from college admissions people: that a top 10 percent student in one school isn’t as prepared for college as one from another school.

He said that argument speaks to the need for more funding for disadvantaged schools and for higher education to take a greater role in high school-related issues.

Texas has a similar law.

* Question: Do you support this idea or not? Explain.

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More gridlock on the way

Friday, Feb 15, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* We discussed this a bit late yesterday afternoon, but there are now more news stories available, so let’s delve deeper…

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan wants to put curbs on Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s power, prompting a Republican leader to predict the legislature will “grind to a halt” this year.

Madigan, D-Chicago, is seeking to add a clause to most House bills preventing Blagojevich and his state agencies from writing their own rules about how to administer the laws.

Madigan believes the governor has abused his authority to do that, especially last fall when the Blagojevich administration unilaterally tired to expand health-care programs by rewriting eligibility requirements. The General Assembly didn’t approve the expansion, and Blagojevich said an obscure legislative panel did not have the authority to stop him.

“The issue today is one that could amount to a constitutional crisis,” said Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, D-Chicago, Madigan’s top lieutenant. “The governor is not a lawmaker. He is an executive.”

Not only will the House put the clause in most House bills, she said but also will add it to any bills that originate in the Senate and are passed over to the House.

* House GOP Leader Tom Cross warned the Democrats that their proposal was folly…

“We will be bogged down in rules that (this special committee) has historically done for many, many years to the point that nothing gets passed and the people of the state of Illinois will not have their issues addressed in this session,” he predicted.

* Here’s the text of the rider that will be added to all relevant House bills…

Notwithstanding any other rulemaking authority that may exist, neither the Governor nor any agency or agency head under the jurisdiction of the Governor has any authority to make or promulgate rules to implement or enforce the provisions of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly.

If, however, the Governor believes that rules are necessary to implement or enforce the provisions of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly, the Governor may suggest rules to the General Assembly by filing them with the Clerk of the House and Secretary of the Senate and by requesting that the General Assembly authorize such rulemaking by law, enact those suggested rules into law, or take any other appropriate action in the General Assembly’s discretion.

* A bit of analysis from Aaron Chambers…

1) As a political matter, Madigan’s new strategy is a clear indication that his bitter feud with Blagojevich, a fellow Chicago Democrat, will continue into its second year. The prospect is both titillating (for us political junkies, anyway) and exhausting.

2) As a practical and legal matter, Madigan’s new strategy will make the already cumbersome and dynamic process of lawmaking downright insane. Again, fun to watch. But not so fun if you have an legislative agenda in Springfield and you actually hope to advance it.

The problem with advancing bills will be most acute when those measures reach the Senate, which has not yet signed off on Madigan’s idea and is not expected to since Senate President Emil Jones is a Blagojevich ally.

* More session stuff, compiled by Kevin…

* Group tells governor to ‘Invest in Kids‘

* Our Opinion: Governor must get real with budget plans

* Comptroller: Budget outlook gloomy

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Daley issues non-denial denial on Laski allegations

Friday, Feb 15, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Mayor Daley was asked about Jim Laski’s book yesterday, including allegations of corruption that lead directly to the 5th Floor…

The mayor was asked point-blank whether Laski was lying when he claimed to have worked through Daley’s top lieutenants to get Hired Truck business for the lifelong friend who betrayed him.

“He’ll say everything in a book about me. Nobody else. That’s how it is,” Daley said, claiming Laski is “definitely” trying to sell the book by making such allegations.

That would be known in the parlance as a “non-denial denial.”

* More…

“Jim Laski has had a lot of personal problems in his life and challenges,” Daley said Thursday. “I know his family. Just get on with his wife, get on with his family, and handle his own situation. I am not going to respond to his personal challenges.”

* Laski responds…

“When is he gonna have the guts to stand up and tell the truth? It’s typical Daley,” Laski said. “Somebody called him on something, and he doesn’t like it. He’s the mayor. He’s not God. Take responsibility.”

* The Sun-Times editorial board made a good point today…

City Hall might try to dismiss Laski, but his book raises a question that won’t go away — what did Daley know?

* The mayor did get off a good shot at the newspapers yesterday…

Mayor Richard Daley on Thursday defended the right of Ald. James Balcer (11th) to deny a zoning request for a property in Daley’s native ward and scoffed at the notion that retribution against a developer who has sued the city played any role.

“It’s all ‘political payback’ when someone denies somebody,” Daley said. “I hear that all the time.” […]

Though fingers have been pointed by the media in the Bridgeport Village case, both the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune have been happy to accept zoning “favors” from him, Daley said.

“It’s all right for you, but it is inappropriate for someone else to get it,” he said.

Deny without directly denying and then shift blame elsewhere. Classic Daley.

* Meanwhile, Laski told Fox Chicago about how things allegedly worked in Bill Lipinski’s 23rd Ward…

Mark Suppelsa: “So you guys would not only forge signatures, but you’d even take a look at absentee ballots.”

Jim Laski: “Yeah.”

Mark Suppelsa: “Would you guys cut and paste too if it wasn’t the right…?”

Jim Laski: “Yeah chads were pasted.”

Mark Suppelsa: “If it wasn’t the right guy, you’d move it to the right…”

Jim Laski: “Sure.”

Mark Suppelsa: “Really.”

Mark Suppelsa: “The Chicago way.”

Jim Laski: “The Chicago way.”

* Could Daley’s Olympics bid be tainted by the “Chicago way”?

Chicago 2016 chairman Pat Ryan met with a member of the International Olympic Committee in Kuwait on Feb. 5, officials confirmed Thursday, possibly breaking an Olympic regulation. That rule is designed to insulate IOC voters who will decide which city will host the games.

But Ryan did not speak with Sheikh Ahmad Fahad al-Sabah — who is an IOC member and head of the Olympic Council of Asia — about Chicago’s efforts to secure the Games, Chicago 2016 spokesman Patrick Sandusky said. Sandusky said they discussed education.

OK.

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Morning shorts

Friday, Feb 15, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning

* Rock Island County Democratic Chairman John Gianulis resigns after leading party for 4 decades…

There are likely to be several suitors for his job. One of the names mentioned today was former Sen. Denny Jacobs of East Moline.

* Judge rejects bid by Tony Rezko to delay fraud trial

Also Thursday, St. Eve declined to bar the testimony of the government’s key witness, Stuart Levine, who pleaded guilty to scheming with Rezko to extort investment firms seeking state business. […]

Court records show St. Eve also declined to reconsider Rezko’s bond on Thursday.

* Moment of silence in schools revisited

* State offers help with housing debt woes

* Rep. Fritchey has Bell’s Palsy, doing better

* Obama to climb on Foster’s bandwagon; view the press release here

* CTA rides to be quieter, faster with $227M boost; more here

* Chicago schools ask state’s help on $180 million shortage

* Briefs: Accused Cook Co. jail guard sues

* State House pays respects to Hyde, Geo-Karis

* U. of I. invents weapon that may fight ’superbug’

* 2 Civil War-era maps are discovered and shed light on Will County

* 40 receive hero awards from Quinn

* Friends find spirited ex-Ald. Leon Despres guilty of turning 100

* Electoral College Pigeonholed, National Popular Vote Adopted in Multiple States

* Friday Beer Blogging: Obama Edition

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Note to readers about the NIU tragedy

Friday, Feb 15, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

The horrific tragedy at Northern Illinois University is on all of our minds today, but this is a political blog, so I don’t want us to get dragged into any “debate” over the incident right now. There are plenty of other news sources and blogs out there that are covering this event, so let’s just keep the victims and the entire NIU campus in our thoughts and prayers today. Thanks.