Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » 2008

Monday, Mar 10, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I’ve already told subscribers some of what I think about the post-Saturday spin. Now, it’s your turn.

* Question: Why do you think Jim Oberweis lost the 14th CD special election?

* Here are some background stories, compiled by Kevin…

* Foster takes seat from GOP

* DCCC Files FEC Complaint Against Jim Oberweis and Oberweis Dairy

* Voters energized, repelled by slugfest

* Will the 18th District go Democratic like the 14th?

* Foster’s win spells trouble for GOP in House, Illinois

* Quick Reminder of What We Have in Oberweis: Just in case there’s anybody left out there who actually believes Jim Oberweis would make a dignified congressman, here’s a quick clip of him making fun of Bill Foster’s oft-halting speech by stuttering

* One expensive election

* Foster trumps Oberweis

* Foster beats Oberweis in Illinois’ 14th CD

* 14th District without a congressman for a month

* The day after upset victory, Bill Foster offers thanks

* Foster says win sends a message

* 14th District election sees low voter turnout

95 Comments

Capital bill thoughts

Monday, Mar 10, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning

[Note from Rich: This is another Kevin piece, so try to help with constructive criticism.]

* Since the Governor enlisted the help of SIU President Glenn Poshard and former Speaker Dennis Hastert to drum up support for a Capital Bill, many are clamoring about a possible light at the end of the tunnel:

We don’t want to jinx our chances for jobs and public works projects that improve life throughout Southern Illinois by predicting success, but recent developments in state government indicate an $11 billion capital improvement bill may be much more than a pipe dream.

While I would like to jump on the bandwagon, history usually leads to cynicism when dealing with a capital bill- especially when said proposal is funded on the back of a lottery lease plan that already failed once.

* Still green from student life in Champaign, I can attest to how badly the school needs infrastructure repairs. My classes were predominantly in the sweat box called Lincoln Hall, and I can remember numerous times that I’ve seen a courageous TA head up to the fourth floor with a broom to fend off the newest pigeon or bat that lost its way.

Additionally, I’m shocked by the work environment of the state’s highest officials. Moving from the Statehouse to Stratton makes you feel like you’ve been transported to the Battle of Britain. Who knows, with another water pipe bursting this might ring even truer?

When driving back home to the suburbs, I’m swerving from lane to lane so that I don’t hit a kiddie-pool sized pothole. Something needs to be done about the roads, bridges, and schools of this state. At this point, I really don’t care what that something is, as long as that something addresses the dire concerns of the state.

* With Illinois’ own son potentially at the top of the ticket in November there may be some room for legislators to do something bold. Senator Meeks has already sponsored a bill similar to last year’s SB 750 tax swap. This is no ordinary year.

What do you think the chances are that a Capital Bill will come to fruition this session? And if it does, what do you think it may look like?

48 Comments

Monday, Mar 10, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Former Gov. Jim Thompson has been saying over and over that there was no way that the Cubs will ever play at Sox Park during the renovations of Wrigley Field. Sox fans and Cub fans would hate it too much, Thompson has said, adding that Cub fans are really Wrigley fans anyway, so people wouldn’t travel to the South Side to watch their alleged team.

Apparently, Cub management never got the memo, or Thompson didn’t. Either way, now we have this goofy story…

The Cubs are hoping to play at least part of a season at U.S. Cellular Field during the proposed reconstruction of Wrigley Field, assuming they succeed in their plan to sell Wrigley to the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority.

That was only one newsworthy item from Cubs Chairman Crane Kenney’s interview with Cubs beat reporters Friday at HoHoKam Park. […]

“Maybe we don’t need to be out for a whole season,” he said. “Maybe construction would start [the] last day of the season, it would go through the off-season and maybe call it until June to get some major work done. Maybe you could phase it in over time.”

Kenney has not approached Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf about the possibility of playing at The Cell.

Everyone from Sam Zell down to Cub management is a bunch of goofballs. Thompson appears to be the only one who knows what he’s doing. So, they should either listen to him and keep their mouths shut, or abandon all hope that their goofy little deal will become law.

The cards are already stacked against them. As Dan puts it…

The idea that an asset worth a billion dollars owned by one of the wealthiest men in Illinois should get government money is so preposterous on its face that I’m a little sad that we have to argue whether or not we should put Sam Zell’s Chicago Cubs on welfare.

19 Comments

Reform and Renewal, Part 1,347,699

Monday, Mar 10, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The Daily Herald took a close look at the governor’s latest campaign finance report, which covered the last six months of 2007…

A total of 73 percent of money recently raised by Blagojevich came from those doing business with the state, lobbying the state or facing state regulation, a Daily Herald investigation found.

Most of that money, in turn, went to pay his legal bills.

• State contractors chipped in at least 55 percent of the $1.5 million Blagojevich raised from individual donors in the last half of 2007.

• Those contractors reaped nearly $6 billion in state business since Blagojevich took office in 2003.

• Road builders and construction companies were the most lucrative source of the campaign cash — $455,750.

• Companies or individuals who rely on the state for favorable EPA rulings, utility regulation or professional licensing made up 13 percent of donations, or $202,701.

• Lobbyists gave $72,500 to the governor’s campaign and accounted for 6 percent of all donors. Blagojevich has railed against lobbyists in “Gucci loafers” as the reason nothing gets done at the statehouse.

* A companion editorial quotes the governor’s campaign spokesperson…

“People donate to the governor’s campaign for a clear reason: Because they are supportive of the governor and the things he is trying to do for the state of Illinois.”

And then follows up with…

Or perhaps for the things they believe he can do for them. In court filings related to the Rezko case, prosecutors allege the governor told a fundraiser he had “lots of ways of helping his friends” and that “he could award contracts, legal work and investment banking to help with fundraising.”

* Meanwhile…

Gov. Blagojevich’s administration went on the attack Friday over questions about his pre-election decision to sanitize the past of a political candidate who twice ran against House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie.

Backed by U.S. Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.) and other lawmakers and activists, Deputy Gov. Louanner Peters said the Chicago Sun-Times and House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) wrongly suggested politics played a role in Blagojevich’s 2005 pardon of Sharon Latiker.

Peters’ comments came at a news conference called to “respond to allegations that clemency petitions for the African-American community are political.”

Latiker, who was convicted in 1992 of stealing $17,000 from the city treasurer’s office, left a well-paying Blagojevich administration job after getting her pardon and took on Currie, a loyalist of the governor’s chief legislative nemesis, Madigan.

“When I read the suggestion this morning . . . I don’t where it came from — Speaker Madigan or the Sun-Times — that Sharon Latiker got an expungement for political reasons, that’s just ridiculous. That’s ridiculous,” Peters said.

Not noted in the article is the ironic note that Peters oversaw the outreach to the African-American community and black churches during the 2006 campaign.

In other words, take whatever she says with a grain of salt on matters like this. She was also reportedly involved with the effort a week ago to figure out whom to blame for the Pilgrim Baptist Church mess.

I believe the Sun-Times when it lays out how it figured out the story. They got the pardon list, they looked at it, they noticed Latiker’s name (which is fairly well known among anyone who follows this stuff), they ran the story. Simple.

* More reform and renewal…

* Ethics legislation in political limbo?

* Rezko’s $7 million fraud trial about ties to Illinois governor

* Who’s giving Blago the big bucks

* Here’s what’s up at the Rezko trial, gov

* One Tony, three trials

* Cross-examination of governor’s ex-counsel to continue

* Dirtying up Levine

* Busy days on the Blago beat

23 Comments

With God on our plates

Monday, Mar 10, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I really wish the General Assembly would stop fooling around with the God issue…

Atheist Rob Sherman believes that if Illinoisans are able to buy license plates saying “In God We Trust,” they also should have the right to purchase “God is Make-Believe” plates. Sherman, a resident of Buffalo Grove, said he wouldn’t put such a plate on his car, “but if some Christian wants it on their car, that’s fine.”

The Illinois House of Representatives last week approved the “In God We Trust” proposal — House Bill 4183 — 105-3 vote. It awaits approval from the Senate.

The bill would give drivers the option of purchasing the specialty license plates for $20 in addition to regular licensing fees. Part of the receipts would be placed into the Illinois Military Relief Fund, which is available to families of men and women in the armed forces.

Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, sponsor of the legislation, said the plates would give Illinoisans the opportunity to recognize the national motto and provide needed resources to military families.

“It’s voluntary. You don’t want the plates, you don’t need to buy them,” Bradley said. “It’s a potential source of revenue for military families and indicates a wonderful message. I would anticipate there would be broad-based support (in the Senate).”

It seems like every time the General Assembly broaches the God topic, they muck it up.

Last year, they voted to require a moment of silence in school under the School Prayer Act. They even overrode the governor’s veto to get it done. This year, the House has already voted to overturn the law they just passed, and now a bit of political gameshmanship has emerged in the Senate over who will control the bill in that chamber.

This isn’t an argument about kicking God out of school, as this article claimed the other day…

State lawmakers voted Tuesday to kick God out of the classroom but put him on special license plates.

Oh, please.

If you believe in God, then you have to agree that God can’t be kicked out of anywhere by mere mortals.

This is, among other things, an argument about which politicians are on God’s “side,” whichever side that may be. And, as Rep. Mike Boland put it, this is also about crass mass marketing schemes, albeit for a good cause…

“The last thing we want is someone over in Iraq or Afghanistan that is getting shot at and worrying about bombs, also distracted with how they are going to pay their house payment,” Boland said. “The fund is strictly voluntary. Now, this (‘In God We Trust’ license plates) will provide a steady revenue source on top of the private donations that come in to help those families.”

No matter which way you look at it, this is just unseemly.

But, perhaps you disagree. Thoughts?

30 Comments

Morning shorts

Monday, Mar 10, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning

* Attorney General has new campaign website

* Aldermen: Why Were Police Cadets Turned Away?

* Daley urges mortgage protection

“I know people are questioning whether Barry Bonds took steroids — or Roger Clemens. Fine. They spent $5 or $10 million on that investigation. It was a waste of money. Why don’t they focus on the foreclosure issue like we’re focusing on it here?” Daley said.

* Report : State set to resume land grab for airport

According to a report in the Southtown Star, the state will file the first lawsuits Monday to obtain about 3,200 additional acres for the airport. State officials currently own 1,940 acres within the airport footprint.

* States balk at higher-ed mandate

* Airport plan will play out like a comedy of errors

Poshard and Hastert are capable, experienced leaders. We think the governor has taken a big step in the right direction by securing their leadership of the coalition. They deserve our statewide participation in the process.

* Our Opinion: Smoke Free Illinois Act under attack

* The future of futuregen

* GAO Adds the 2010 Census to “High-Risk” List

* Retailers sold on the Loop

* Chicago falls to 3rd in U.S. convention industry

The latest annual rankings by Tradeshow Week magazine come amid intense competition among cities for a bigger share of the lucrative convention business. Both Las Vegas and Orlando, which landed 44 and 26 of the 200 largest trade shows last year, respectively, have doubled their exhibit space in recent years, improving their ability to attract events and gain bookings.

* If at first you don’t secede, at least you’ll get attention

* PeoriaPunditRadio: Pro and con on the Con-Con

* Rep. Rush undergoes successful tumor surgery on salivary gland

* Bobby Rush recovering at home after surgery to remove cancerous tumor

7 Comments

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Monday, Mar 10, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

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