Question of the day
Wednesday, Mar 5, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The setup…
Tiny plastic bags used to sell small quantities of heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana and other drugs would be banned in Chicago, under a crackdown advanced Tuesday by a City Council committee.
Ald. Robert Fioretti (2nd) persuaded the Health Committee to ban possession of “self-sealing plastic bags under two inches in either height or width,” after picking up 15 of the bags on a recent Sunday afternoon stroll through a West Side park.
Lt. Kevin Navarro, commanding officer of the Chicago Police Department’s Narcotics and Gang Unit, said the ordinance will be an “important tool” to go after grocery stores, health food stores and other businesses. The bags are used by the thousand to sell small quantities of drugs at $10 or $20 a bag.
Navarro referred to the plastic bags as “Marketing 101 for the drug dealers.” Many of them have symbols, allowing drug users to ask for “Superman” or “Blue Dolphin” instead of the drug itself, he said.
* The question: Good idea or not? Should the state follow suit? Explain.
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Just a C?
Wednesday, Mar 5, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* At first glance, when the Pew Center on the States gives Illinois a grade of “C” in its governance, one can’t help but ask: “Just a C?” But there may be some grade inflation afoot, since we’re tied for 48th overall with six other states…
“We respect the Pew Center’s commitment to this project, but unfortunately, the Pew Center chose to focus on politics instead of fiscal facts,” said Kelley Quinn, a spokeswoman for the governor’s budget office.
* It’s true, there is a lot of focus on politics in the analysis, but the grading itself is mostly based on performance. See for yourself here.
And there were a couple of bright spots in Pew’s analysis…
Fortunately for citizens, some positive change is occurring underneath the radar. In the past few years, the governor has required agencies to report more performance information. And some of the yardsticks now used, such as the percentage of ex-offenders who avoid going back to prison, are measuring solid outcomes.
* But politics and governance are completely intertwined, so Pew’s analysis is spot on…
But before those plans bear fruit — before any significant fiscal improvement can take place, for that matter — the administration and the legislature need to restore a working relationship. Many things hang in the balance, such as the $25 billion capital program for roads, bridges, schools, higher education and economic development.
* Meanwhile, Harold Hendersen links to this analysis of state-sponsored “economic stimulus” plans that involve tax cuts…
* Diminished state funding for services (or increased taxes). States, unlike the federal government, must balance their budgets. Therefore, for every dollar a state spends on new tax cuts, it must cut state spending (or raise other state taxes) by a dollar. That means less money for important services such as education, health care, transportation, and public safety — more specifically, less money for teacher and police salaries, road maintenance, and payments to doctors and hospitals.
* No net benefit to the economy. People who receive a state tax cut will have a bit more money to spend, but the teachers, construction workers, and health-care workers who lose their jobs or contracts with the state as a result of cutbacks in services will have much less to spend.
* Harold comments…
I find this mode of argument — that tax cuts can do good in some circumstances and not others — far more persuasive than arguments from those who assume that tax cuts, or tax increases, are always the answer.
Thoughts on all of this?
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House panel rejects smoking ban exemptions
Wednesday, Mar 5, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning
[Note from Rich: Kevin is going to start doing one post a day, so help him out in comments with constructive critiques. Thanks.]
* Yesterday afternoon the Environmental Health Committee voted overwhelmingly to reject two proposals that would skirt the statewide smoking ban. The first proposal, offered by Rep. Shane Cultra, would have lifted the ban entirely. He argued that the ban is a “nightmare,” crippling businesses in his district and sending patrons across the border to Indiana. The committee voted down his legislation 11-3.
* The second proposal was more conciliatory towards the ban, and offered that businesses should be able to buy licenses to allow smoking. Rep. Ramey, the bill’s sponsor, explained that eligible businesses would include bars with food sales of 10 percent or less, casinos, racetracks, veterans’ organizations and other private clubs. Restaurants would be excluded.
Tom Swoik of the Illinois Casino Gaming Association testified as a proponent of the legislation. He argued that January and February revenues for the state’s nine operating casinos fell by more than 17 percent as a direct result of smokers spending less time at the slots and more time outside.
Some on the committee were sympathetic:
“Where does a smoker go in this state?” said Rep. Michael Tryon, a Republican from Crystal Lake. “You can’t have the government interfering in everybody’s life for everything that they do.”
But the measure failed 10-4.
* Smokers squeaked out one victory though:
The committee voted 12-2 for a measure allowing an Algonquin man to open a bar where patrons smoke flavored tobacco.
Aqeel Akhtar told lawmakers he put more than $50,000 into starting his lounge but found out in mid-January that the law only allows tobacco establishments that were open by Jan. 1.
The bill will allow shops if they were licensed by Jan. 1, even if they weren’t open yet.
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Cook thinks it’s a tossup
Wednesday, Mar 5, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The venerated Cook Political Report changed its rating yesterday on the 14th Congressional District special election between Jim Oberweis and Bill Foster from “lean Republican” to “tossup.” Here’s part of the explanation…
Four days out, the special election to fill the seat left vacant by the resignation of former Speaker Dennis Hastert is too close to call… most agree Foster owns the late momentum.
The national GOP’s spending illustrates the party’s deep concern about where things stand in this pricey exurban Chicago district, which has a PVI score of R+5. As of the most recent FEC filings, the NRCC had spent over $1.1 million in independent expenditures – close to one fifth of its cash on hand - against Foster. By contrast, the DCCC had spent just over half that sum against Oberweis.
One Republican familiar with Illinois politics characterized the match up as a “race to the basement.” Indeed, whereas previous electoral experience is an asset for most candidates, Oberweis’s past unsuccessful bids are now coming back to haunt him. […]
Republican insiders also worry that Oberweis has not done enough to confront Foster directly on conservative base-motivating issues such as illegal immigration, and that an ad taking Foster’s debate comments out of context has backfired.
The Obama endorsement ad of Foster, the Tribune’s Foster endorsement, which included some harsh comments about Oberweis, and the Saturday voting are also cited as reasons for the switch. But they note the strong Republican tendencies of the district as Oberweis’ saving grace.
* But here’s something Cook may have missed…
Northern Illinois University, boasting more than 25,000 students, falls within the 14th Congressional District and students registered to vote in DeKalb could have a say in deciding whether Democrat Bill Foster or Republican Jim Oberweis will fill Hastert’s seat through January 2009. But, NIU’s spring break begins Friday and many students will be out of town on vacation and won’t be around to cast their vote in the special Saturday election. […]
Students did have the opportunity to vote early through Monday, but early voting numbers are way down across DeKalb County compared to the Feb. 5 primaries, according to Sharon Holmes, the county clerk. They have received only about one third of the total early and absentee votes they got for the Feb. 5 elections. [emphasis added]
I don’t know how it is now, but back in the day NIU students tended to go home to Chicago or the suburbs on the weekends anyway. Thursday was the big bar night. But spring break means the place will completely empty out.
That might make a difference if this ends up being a close race.
Thoughts?
…Adding… If this alleged ugliness is true and it somehow finds its way into the mainstream before Saturday then things could take a quick turn for the worse. Oy.
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Populist fury rises in Cook
Wednesday, Mar 5, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Tempers appear to be a bit on the high side in suburban Cook County…
After calling on Cook County Board President Todd Stroger to personally “explain himself” for pushing through a sales tax increase, some angry Palatine Village Council members said they had an even better idea — secede from the county.
Talk of tax revolt was in the air this week as officials, business owners and taxpayers throughout the region voiced outrage. But perhaps nowhere was the outrage more visible than in communities that share a border with lower-tax counties.
I had forgotten all about this…
Several northwest suburban leaders proposed creating a new entity — Lincoln County — in the 1970s, and Palatine Councilman Jack Wagner said it was time to explore that again. “This is getting out of hand,” Wagner said. “We can’t afford it.” […]
“It makes it very difficult for us to generate the revenue we have in the past,” said Schaumburg Village Manager Ken Fritz.Although more recent efforts toward secession have focused on southwest suburbs, for years the movement was pushed by Wendell Jones, former Palatine mayor and state senator. His successor in the statehouse, Republican Sen. Matt Murphy, recently proposed a bill that would make it easier for Illinois townships to vote to split off from counties. […]
The Lincoln County proposal is going to be sort of hard to do,” said McLeod, whose town competes with cheaper locales in Kane and Lake Counties. “Sure, they can make some hay with it, but the powers-that-be aren’t going to let this area go.”
* Even Public Radio is getting into the fiery populist act, running a story today on how just days after the County Board passed a huge tax hike, commissioners are looking to double the parking tax even though they get free parking for themselves….
So if you pay for monthly parking in a garage—the tax on your spot would go from right around 20 bucks to 40. If you park for a day and the county taxes you $1, you would pay 2. Pretty straightforward. […]
When commissioners and many of their staffers park downtown, they get to park in the garage under the Daley Center for free. There are even extra spots for Board President Todd Stroger and Finance Committee Chairman John Daley offices.
So if they approve the tax your parking would double—theirs would still be free. The proposal could be considered as soon as Thursday.
* And the Chicago Reader is enraged and disillusioned…
Larry Suffredin reminds us once again that there is no such thing as an effective and pure reformer in Chicago. And anyone who claims to be one is going to end up a liar. […]
After years of marketing himself as a reformer, he had to decide whether to stand tall on his soapbox as the county government shut down or flip-flop and make a deal that would increase Cook County’s sales tax.
He decided to flip, and the criticism was immediate and withering. Given his history of vowing resistance to tax hikes, it was also fair. […]
He also argues that some of his critics in the media didn’t want to see a budget passed. “They’re disappointed because I think they really did want to see the government shut down.”
It’s an old trick to blame the media for your political problems, and Suffredin can be criticized at least as much as he can be credited for the terms of the deal he cut.
From the tone of that piece, it looks like Suffredin was right about the media and the shutdown.
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Is the sky green? Is the grass blue?
Wednesday, Mar 5, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* ABC 7 led a story lat night with this question: Is Governor Rod Blagojevich a man of his word?
That’s the question that’s ricocheted around the state this week after state funds earmarked to restore Pilgrim Baptist Church went to the wrong place.
Another religious leader is also accusing the governor of breaking a promise.
Rabbi Philip Lefkowitz says, as a religious man, he’s not going to accuse Governor Blagojevich of lying to him but believes he did break a commitment made at a Seder. The rabbi claims the governor offered him $400,000 to build a long-dreamed-about, non-sectarian community center in Uptown. That was more than two years ago.
“We were counting on that. We were basing our fundraising dollars on it, and we could develop a mortgage and get the job going. We’re still waiting,” said Lefkowitz, of the Agudas Achim Congregation.
Um, no offense meant, but is Channel 7 just now figuring out that the governor’s word can’t be trusted - even when he makes a promise at a Seder? Where have they been?
* And there’s more weirdness afoot on that Pilgrim Baptist Church grant that went to the “wrong” place. A commenter here yesterday may have tipped off the Tribune…
In the midst of approving a $1 million state grant to officials for a school burned out of the Pilgrim Baptist Church, Gov. Rod Blagojevich granted a pardon and ordered that the criminal record of one of the school’s officers be expunged, according to state records examined by the Tribune.
The Trib reports that Rev. Jesse Jackson pushed for the gubernatorial pardon. Now, go all the way to the end of the story and here’s what you’ll find, after the Blagojevich administration claimed that the grant and the pardon were not connected…
In her petition for a pardon, however, Gill noted that she had applied for the $1 million grant but feared she wouldn’t be able to run the school with a felony record.
Pardons are a governor’s most awesome responsibility. In other words, he should’ve been paying attention to what he was doing there.
* Meanwhile…
A private school that Gov. Blagojevich said errantly received $1 million from his administration allowed a former kindergarten teacher to be sexually harassed and unlawfully retaliated against her when she complained, a state panel ruled in 2006.
The judgment by the state Human Rights Commission against Loop Lab School and one of its former officials, Tyrone Johnson, came two months before Blagojevich’s administration awarded the $1 million grant to the school.
Oops.
* And it looks like there may have been some troubles at that school before the church burned down…
[Former Loop Lab School teacher Gregory Luckett] claims financial problems popped up at the school long before the flames and long before Governor Rod Blagojevich offered state money to rebuild.
“Before the fire we were not getting paid correctly, we were not getting paid on a regular basis, we were not getting paid our rate,” said Luckett.
Longtime Blagojevich critic Rep. Jack Franks has promised to hold hearings on this imbroglio, so it should be a lot of fun.
* Kinda related stuff…
* Cole Hall demolition plan put on hold
* President Peters reconsiders plans for Cole Hall
* NIU president pulls back from call to raze Cole Hall
* Mayor Daley criticizes Gov. Blagojevich’s plan to raze NIU’s Cole Hall
* Second thoughts arise over demolishing NIU lecture hall
* Editorial: Rebuilding NIU shouldn’t be about politics
* Editorial: State can’t afford Blagojevich’s NIU plan
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Morning shorts
Wednesday, Mar 5, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning
* State plans program to reduce foreclosures
The program will offer 30-year fixed-rate mortgages guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration. The interest rate will not exceed 8 percent for loans capped at $417,000, with no prepayment penalties and no income requirement for borrowers.
* Firm lands 2-year deal to run Midway
The Daley administration has chosen a new manager for Midway Airport, signing a two-year, $21.2 million contract that will tide the city over until the airport is privatized.
Skyline Management Group has replaced a clout-heavy partnership that’s held the contract since 2001 and includes former Illinois Gaming Board Chairman Elzie Higginbottom, Mayor Daley’s chief fund-raiser in the black community.
* City may ban little baggies
* State takes over control of controversial hotel
* Good owner, money needed for Lincoln hotel Developers think need exists for downtown site
* The Budget Push
Illinois’ Transportation Secretary says the need for improving roads and bridges is becoming clear to legislators, which may lead to quicker action on a capital budget.
* Ill. House scales back moment of silence
Bill sponsor Rep. John Fritchey, D-Chicago, said the bill would make the moment of silence optional as it was before the law was passed last year. He added that students should be able to think about anything they wish rather than the “anticipated activities of the day” as the law mandates.
* 2nd thoughts on moment of silence
* No class time for God, but a license plate?
* Repeal of act requiring students to report their HIV status defeated
* Poe seeks answers for problems at fairgrounds
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