* From a Lisa Madigan press release…
My husband, Pat Byrnes, our daughter Rebecca and I are overjoyed to announce the birth of Lucy Lillian Madigan Byrnes.
Lucy was born this morning, March 11, weighing 7 pounds 3 ounces and measuring 20 inches long.
We are thrilled to welcome a second child into our family, and Rebecca is proud to be a big sister.
After working from home for a short time, I will return to the office on a daily basis. While I am home, I will be in daily contact with my staff and, of course, will ensure that the work of the people of Illinois continues without interruption.
Congrats to the Madigan family.
Comments Off  
|
Poll: Broad support for medical marijuana
Tuesday, Mar 11, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Marijuana Policy Project has released statewide and regional polling about medical marijuana. Full Illinois results can be found here. Below are some of the charts. The statewide poll was of “625 registered voters interviewed February 9-16, 2008 by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, Inc. of Washington, D.C. Margin for error is plus or minus 4%.”
Click the charts for larger images…
Not surprising. The public is often ahead of where the politicians believe the people are. But that won’t stop the fearmongering of the antis.
[h/t: Chambers]
58 Comments
|
Question of the day
Tuesday, Mar 11, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I read all of your comments on yesterday’s QOTD about why Jim Oberweis lost to Bill Foster. Many of them were quite insightful, others less so.
* For instance, this Oberweis defeat was not a failure on the part of the state GOP. They didn’t recruit Oberweis to run. As always, he recruited himself.
* There were also some weird references to “The Combine’s” efforts on behalf of Oberweis. Huh? I’m half thinking of banning that phrase from comments because it’s so over-used and usually just downright goofy.
* You’ll never convince me that Sen. Chris Lauzen could have defeated Foster. If you can’t beat a goof like Oberweis in a primary, you can’t win a general. Also, I will grant you that Lauzen’s games after the primary hurt Oberweis, but John Laesch also played plenty of games after he lost the Dem primary to Foster. Laesch, by the way, withdrew his petition for a discovery recount yesterday…
In a statement posted to his Web site Monday, Laesch said his decision was based on consultation with his senior campaign staff, and was made in light of Saturday’s election results.
* Other excuses were floated yesterday…
Oberweis spokesman Bill Pascoe said Monday that it is too early to accurately assess how the election slipped away. He said he would need to see numbers telling him who voted, and where.
“One of two things is true,” Pascoe said. “Either we had a problem with our message, or a problem with organization.”
Yes, on both counts, plus you gots a problem with your candidate, Bill.
* More from that article…
(O)ne high-ranking Republican operative went so far as to suggest Oberweis step aside.
“Jim Oberweis needs to either get out of the race or come up with a new strategy and a new direction if he has any hope of running in November,” said the Republican leader, who asked not to be identified.
As I’ve said since election night, we’re gonna hear more about that topic as the days go by. But I doubt Oberweis will drop out.
* And a Daily Herald editorial made a good point that was also mentioned in comments here yesterday. Suburban demographics are changing…
But there’s little doubt, either, that the dramatic change also reflects a growing Democratic presence in the suburbs
* And CQ Politics pointed out how rare it is for a party flip to happen in a special election…
Democrat Bill Foster’s special election victory Saturday… marked the first time in nearly four years in which the challenging party won control of a congressional district from the incumbent party in a special election.
According to a study by CQ Politics, the incumbent party had been victorious in each of the past dozen special U.S. House elections… Over the past two decades, a partisan turnover in a special election has occurred about once every two years.
* Robocalls were also mentioned yesterday, and popped up in one story today…
[Former Kendall GOP Chairman Dallas Ingemunson] also wondered if an aggressive campaign, particularly multiple robo-calls from Oberweis’ campaign in the days before the election, turned voters off.
* And the Wall Street Journal had this observation….
Saturday’s result showed once again that a hard line on illegal immigration doesn’t win elections. The longer Republicans pretend that it does the more elections they will lose.
And that will be our QOTD today….
* Question: is the Wall Street Journal right? Explain.
58 Comments
|
Sauerberg unveils insurance proposal
Tuesday, Mar 11, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sauerberg unveiled a plan to revise the health insurance system…
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Steve Sauerberg says the nation’s health care system must undergo a free-market, capitalist overhaul to better serve the American public. […]
Along with fighting insurance fraud and simplifying the application process, Sauerberg’s health care plan would credit subscribers who buy their own insurance. Sauerberg proposes that taxpayers receive a $2,000 rebate for individuals, or a $5,000 rebate for families, to purchase their own insurance, as opposed to giving employers a tax benefit for providing their employees with insurance.
“Giving families control over the insurance they purchase will also ensure that individuals get the coverage most appropriate for their age, and need,” Sauerberg said.
The article doesn’t explain it, but it looks like Sauerberg wants to take away the employer tax benefit. That may not go over too well in a campaign. It’s not like he’s gonna win anyway, but go ahead and discuss.
23 Comments
|
[Note from Rich: This is Kevin’s daily post.]
* The U.S. House and Senate have both passed versions of a bill that would increase federal grants for students and crack down on problems in the college loan industry. Making college more affordable sounds great to taxpayers and state officials, until you get to this little caveat:
The House insists that states maintain consistent funding for public colleges and universities. Governors and state legislators have cried foul, saying the feds don’t have the right to dictate such matters.
With a possible recession looming over state budgets, and concern that higher education is out of reach for a growing number of students, the spat highlights the relationship between state funding and public-college affordability.
Congress argues that when state budgets are very tight, higher education is usually not funded fully funded. State policymakers can just place the burden on the institution who in turn can place the burden on tuition payers.
SIUC President Glenn Poshard had this to say in regards to funding at a hearing on the state budget:
“We’re the largest employer south of Springfield and we’re very concerned about this year’s budget,” Poshard said. “Our state funding (at SIUC) has declined about 5 percent over the last six years from $239 million to $227 million. And that’s become a real problem not only for us but for the middle- and low-income families in our district.”
*The provision in the bill would withhold federal dollars if a state failed to provide at least as much as its average spending for higher education over the past five years (not counting expenditures for capital projects and research and development).
The Association of State Colleges and Universities sees the federal maintenance-of-effort rule as “a rather modest proposal to ensure that states contribute to access to higher education,” says Dan Hurley, the group’s director of state relations and policy analysis.
He acknowledges that, as some critics point out, public institutions can do more to rein in costs. But he adds that too much of the blame has been placed on colleges, and more responsibility needs to shift back to state officials who set budgets and tuition rates.
The value of the provision would mainly be symbolic, because the money the federal government could withhold is too small to sway states determined to cut their budgets, Mr. Hurley says. The bill would withhold a state’s share of $35 million for low-income students distributed through federal Grants for Access and Persistence. The secretary of Education could give waivers to states that experience disaster or severe financial constraints.
* Both the National Governor’s Association and the National Conference of State Legislatures are in a frenzy over this. They believe that it is an unfunded mandate on their sovereign states.
Although I think the bill sounds great, I happen to side with the NGA and the NCSL on this one. The federal government really has no business telling the states what to do with their institutions. Discuss.
16 Comments
|
“If I was lucky, I had a resume”
Tuesday, Mar 11, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* This testimony taints Tony Rezko, but it’s far more damaging to the Blagojevich administration in general…
In her experience, it was who you knew, not what you knew, that reigned supreme in getting appointed to state boards and commissions, a former Blagojevich administration official testified Monday at the trial of Antoin “Tony” Rezko.
Former Director of Illinois Boards and Commissions Jill Hayden spent several hours on the stand Monday detailing the inner workings of who got appointed to state boards in Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration and why.
One of the top criteria, she said, was who recommended the candidates and whether they had clout — not what their qualifications were.
“If I was lucky, I had a resume (on the candidate),” said Hayden. “Generally, we’re not looking for the merit of the candidates.”
* And then there was this…
A former Blagojevich staffer, Jennifer Thomas, testified that she met with Rezko at 8 a.m. on Monday morning a number of times in his Chicago office to discuss hiring state employees and filling board vacancies.
She said she was a staffer of the Department of Intergovernmental Affairs at the time and her boss, Joseph Cini, who headed the department, also was on hand for such meetings.
Asked for the names of those who recommended the most people for state positions, she said: “Tony Rezko, (businessman-fundraiser) Chris Kelly, (lobbyist) Al Ronan — that’s what I remember the most.”
Rezko, of course, is the only person charged with overstepping legal boundaries. But the testimony so far is showing just how brazenly political many of the governor’s appointments were.
* Meanwhile, MSNBC has this brief item today…
Obama’s name came up tangentially at the Rezko trial yesterday — regarding nominations to an Illinois health planning board. At a minimum, Obama’s name is being mentioned just enough that the trial is going to provide a blueprint for some reporters to write some negative stories about Obama.
“Tangentially” is right. The item in question is described by the AP…
Earlier Monday, defense attorneys introduced a memo from a Blagojevich adviser, Matthew Pickering, to attorney Susan Lichtenstein, who had served as the governor’s general counsel. The memo said that after legislation was passed restructuring the Health Facilities Planning Board early in Blagojevich’s term, a number of legislators and other officials, including Sen. Barack Obama, were consulted on how to set up the board.
The memo is actually from David Wilhelm’s firm. It describes how his lobbying firm worked with Speaker Madigan, Senate President Jones, House GOP Leader Cross, Sen. Susan Garrrett and Obama to pass a bill that reduced the size of the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board. The purpose of the memo was to convince Blagojevich to sign the bill.
So, the national media may be using this (and a jury questionnaire that warns them Obama’s name may come up at trial) as a hook to write more Obama-Rezko stories, but this particular item is truly a non-story - unless you think that Sen. Garrett, a noted reformer, is corrupt as well. Balderdash.
* More Rezko stuff…
* Rezko Trial Exhibits
* Blagojevich’s Top Bundlers
* Rezko Donation Chart
* Vetting sheet exhibit
* Rezko rewind. Day 5
16 Comments
|
Taxes, taxes everywhere
Tuesday, Mar 11, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* This secession idea may make some people feel better, but it’s pie in the sky…
Officials in Palatine will work in the coming weeks to see what can be done to alleviate the major sales tax disparity that will soon plague the suburb.
After news last week that the village wanted to secede from Cook County, elected officials in Palatine said on Monday they want to look at options that could help keep economic development in the town viable. Secession from Cook County is still among the options. […]
One is to form a new county with surrounding towns. To start that, a petition would need to be signed by 51 percent of electors. Then, a county-wide referendum would take place.
Another choice is to merge with an adjoining county, like Lake County. To do that, 51 percent of electors would also need to agree. After that, a referendum of Cook and Lake county residents would be needed for the change.
They can grumble all they want, but are communities like Palatine willing to pay Cook County for any existing roads within their new or merged county? What about forest preserve land? Will they be able to reimburse Cook for treatment given to locals at the public hospital?
It might be a whole lot cheaper to find a way to reimburse some businesses for part of the county sales tax increase, or somehow alleviate the hike. Secession and creation of a new county requires Cook County’s agreement. Switching to Lake County would require the agreement of both Cook and Lake.
It’s not gonna happen. This proposal may help Palatine locals feel better, but it does literally nothing to solve what local officials say is a real problem.
* Meanwhile, in the city…
Chicago home sellers getting lower prices if they can unload their properties at all in the stone cold housing market have a new headache: the 40 percent increase in the real estate transfer tax tied to the CTA bail-out.
The City Council’s Finance Committee voted today to shift the increase from buyer to seller, taking $900 out of the pocket of the seller of a $300,000 home even as home prices continue to plunge.
The current tax — $7.50 per $1,000 of sale price — will continue to be paid by the buyer. The $3 increase per $1,000, which takes effect April 1, will shift to the seller.
Ald. Pat O’Connor (40th), sponsor of the ordinance, said he wanted to evenly divide the entire $10.50 city tax between buyer and seller, “But state law will not allow that to happen.” So, he opted for “the next fairest thing.”
There are no good alternatives here, since the tax hike has already been passed. Either the council can roll back the increase and find the transit subsidy money elsewhere, or they can spread the pain, which is what seems to be happening. That seems to be fair, and might help alleviate a small hurdle to buying a house.
* And speaking of tax hikes…
Cub fans who stand to benefit from new skyboxes, washrooms, concessions — and a new or rebuilt upper deck — at a renovated Wrigley Field could be asked to help pay for it.
Sources say the Tribune Co. is exploring the possibility of imposing a ticket tax — in the range of 25 to 50 cents — to help finance a top-to-bottom overhaul of the 94-year-old shrine of Major League Baseball. […]
“The Tribune will contribute because a restored ballpark would allow the team to make more revenue. But the people coming into the ballpark are another group that benefits. They’re going to a ballpark that’s a nicer place. A ticket tax is one of the sources of funding we may go to.” [said a source.]
If they want to raise prices, that’s fine with me, but in the current environment why would anyone in the Cub organization call a price hike a “tax”?
This is just another example of how Sam Zell’s Tribune is as horrible at PR as his team is at baseball.
9 Comments
|
Morning Shorts
Tuesday, Mar 11, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning
* Lawmakers try to cut excessive state overtime
In hopes of forcing the governor’s administration to hire more state workers, a new proposal sponsored by State Rep. Lisa Dugan, D-Bradley, would ban state agencies from forcing their employees to work more than a 40-hour work week.
* Residents, legislators voice opinions at budget hearing
* Generation gap in contest to succeed LaHood
* Callahan officially running for Congress
* Our Opinion: Bid to curb pensions comes too late
* Officials want fairgrounds work done by mid-May
* Kayne West’s mother’s death sparks call for plastic surgery laws
One of Davis’ proposals — which could be considered today — would require that board-certified plastic surgeons perform Botox injections and several other procedures, making it illegal for assistants, other medical staff or even medical doctors outside the plastic surgery specialty to do them.
* Seniors, get ready to ride bus for free
* FEMA officials tour Pontiac flood damage
“I’m thrilled, absolutely thrilled,” Mayor Scott McCoy said after the reversal was announced late last week.
* Boone County Dems elect new chairman, vice chairpersons
* DuPage election judges waiting on primary paychecks
Technical problems with a new management system and bureaucratic hoops caused the problem, DuPage County Election Commission officials said.
* CN offers to pay for overpasses in EJ & E bid
* Kirk wants to resurrect mortgage aid program
He wants Congress to restart the Home Owners’ Loan Corp. of the Great Depression to buy and refinance troubled mortgage loans.
4 Comments
|
|
Comments Off
|
* Monday, 10:47 pm - Patrick Botterman, who ran more Democratic campaigns than I can count, has passed away. My deepest sympathies to his family and his many, many friends.
* Tuesday, 7:41 am - The Daily Herald has a story up…
Harper College trustee and Wheeling Township Democrat Committeeman Patrick Botterman died of a massive heart attack Monday.
Botterman, 44, a lifelong Arlington Heights resident, leaves behind a long resume of Cook County politicking. He ran campaigns for Melissa Bean, Chicago 32nd Ward Alderman Scott Waguespack, Dan Kotowski’s state Senate run in Park Ridge, and Republican Wheeling Township Supervisor Michael B. Schroeder when he ran for but lost the Arlington Heights village president seat to Arlene Mulder in 1993.
“I think Patrick Botterman is the single most influential political mind in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago,” friend and Democratic strategist Kevin Lampe, 46, of Chicago said.
Botterman was a Harper College trustee from 1998 to 2003 and was recently re-elected to the seat.
* And so does Fritchey…
Pat is the one person in politics who I have ever met who would NEVER back away from a fight, big or small, as long as he believed in it. For that trait, many loathed him. For that trait, I will always respect him.
*** UPDATE *** Rep. Fritchey posted this in comments…
Visitation will be held for Pat as follows:
Friday, March 14
3:00p.m. - 9:00p.m.
Glueckert Funeral Home
1520 North Arlington Heights Road
Arlington Heights, Illinois
* Funeral…
Saturday, March 15, 2008 — 9:30 a.m.
Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic Church
34 West Park Street
Arlington Heights, Illinois 60005
(847) 253-5353
132 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
|
Oy
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
|
|
Comments Off
|
* Now comes the big question: Will Oberweis be pushed out of the general election race? Republicans are furious that he could’ve lost Denny Hastert’s seat so convincingly. “He’s just not likeable,” was a phrase I’ve heard more than once tonight.
Oberweis, for his part, said tonight: “We’ll have another run at it in nine months.” But pressure will likely be applied. I doubt that pressure will work, however. He’s a stubborn, if unsuccessful, politician.
* Foster won DuPage, Kendall, Kane, DeKalb and Whiteside counties, plus the city of Aurora (by a big margin). It was not just a numbers blowout, it was pretty much a win across the board. Yes, Aurora and Kane County provided big margins, but those wins in other GOP counties (DuPage? Kendall?) were very important. Huge, even. And even though it was an odd, Saturday special election, this was a serious stomping.
* Results from the Sun-Times…
* 10:12 pm - From Chris Cillizza at the Washington Post…
Republican strategists downplayed the importance of the race, insisting that Oberweis’s past runs for office had badly damaged him in the eyes of voters. Oberweis, who owns a chain of dairies throughout the state, ran unsuccessfully for the Senate in 2002 and 2004, and governor in 2006. His previous primary campaigns were knock down, drag out affairs as was his primary win over state Sen. Chris Lauzen (R) earlier this year — races that left his image among voters seriously tarnished.
Under the bus, Obie goes.
* 9:29 pm - Oberweis is interviewed by the media…
FROM OBERWEIS HQ: We just interviewed Oberweis. He didn’t have much to say. He said they will change strategies between now and November, but they won’t change positions. He wouldn’t comment about what those changes would be. He also wouldn’t talk about the Obama effect in November.
What he needs most is a personality change.
* 9:27 pm - Efforts by some Republicans to push the “story” of Foster’s not so friendly divorce in the past few days didn’t work, and they probably won’t work in the fall, either…
Foster’s ex-wife is [at the victory party]. He introduced her as “my friend.” Guess that answers that.
* 9:20 pm - From Foster’s victory speech…
“This is a great night. Back in the laboratory this is what we’d say was a pretty successful experiment.”
“The voters of the 14th District were given a national stage…sent a clear message to Washington.”
“You want reasonable voices and workable solutions…I’ve heard you loud and clear.”
*** 9:02 pm *** Oberweis concedes…
FROM OBERWEIS HQ: “As I said last month, first is a lot more fun than second.” Oberweis has already talked to Foster and conceded.
* 9:01 pm - Oberweis is about to speak, according to the Beacon-News blog.
* 9:00 pm - From a press release…
DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen released the following statement on Bill Foster’s special election victory in Illinois’ 14th Congressional District. The Democratic Majority in Congress has now grown to 232-198. […]
“Despite spending 20 percent of the their cash on hand, the NRCC was unable to hold a seat easily won by President Bush and held by Speaker Hastert for 20 years. Americans of all political stripes are rejecting Republicans’ divisive, status quo politics and turning to Democratic candidates for change. I am grateful to Senator Dick Durbin, Senator Barack Obama, and the Illinois Democratic delegation and candidates for encouraging the people of this district to vote for change by supporting Bill Foster.”
* 8:50 pm - As you can see by that little red check mark above, the AP has declared Foster the winner.
* 8:46 pm - I’m getting word from inside that Oberweis’ campaign is at least privately acknowledging defeat.
* 8:42 pm - Dave Parro at the Beacon News posted this a few minutes ago at their blog…
FROM OBERWEIS HQ: I think this thing’s over. With 75 percent of precincts reporting, Foster is up 53-47. It’s going to be tough to catch up, and the mood here has turned sour.
I think he’s right. I just don’t see how Oberweis wins.
* 8:39 pm -Our buddy OneMan has been pushing for Oberweis. Here’s a pic from tonight…
* 8:34 pm - All the votes have been counted in Lee County, and Oberweis won there with about a 400 vote margin.
* 8:32 pm - I don’t see how Oberweis wins this. With all votes counted in DeKalb County, he lost to Foster by 1,300 votes.
* 8:30 pm - Wow. Oberweis is losing Kendall County with 84 percent of the votes counted.
* 8:24 pm - With 86 percent of the vote counted in DuPage, Foster is ahead of Oberweis by 50 votes.
* 8:22 pm - The Kane/Aurora lead for Foster is over 3,500 votes.
* 8:20 pm - Oberweis is up in DuPage by 23 votes now with 69 percent of the vote counted. I’m pretty sure they were expecting a larger margin than that. As one Repub source said a few mintues ago about the Republicans: “They are beginning to freak.” Still, there are a lot of votes to be counted yet.
* 8:14 pm - The DuPage County results are about 25 percent counted, and Oberweis is only leading by 37 votes (2 points).
* 8:05 pm - dmsilev, a diarist at Daily Kos, has been counting results as they are reported by local elections officials. Dmsilev has had Oberweis leading since the polls closed and now has Foster slightly ahead.
* 7:57 pm - In Kane County, Oberweis has a super-slim lead with about a third of the vote counted.
* 7:47 pm - Turnout was better in parts of the district than some expected…
In Kane County, home to more than 50 percent of the district’s voters, election officials reported turnout of 22 percent.
* 5:12 pm - Campaign day activities…
Foster maintained an active schedule of that included visits to Aurora and Elgin area restaurants and polling places to greet residents. Campaign spokesman Tom Bowen said 500 volunteers were out knocking on doors to remind people of the rare Saturday election. […]
Oberweis limited his appearances to one radio program, a quick press conference after voting, and the parade. He also conducted a “tele-town hall” meeting where 11,000 voters are contacted with one phone call and invited to ask Oberweis a question. About 2,900 participated in Saturday’s call with the Republican, spokesman Bill Pascoe said.
* 3:36 pm - From a friend…
At noon today there were 182 voters between the two precints at my polling place. [There are] about 800 voters between the two [precincts].
* 3:30 pm - There have been a lot of polling place changes for today, and the Beacon-News reports that GOTV efforts are out in full swing…
One Republican voter in Geneva, who asked to remain anonymous, said he got three “robo-calls” and two visits to the door within a two-hour period reminding him to vote for Oberweis. And that was before noon.
Another robo-call went out from Kane County Clerk’s office John Cunningham, a public service announcement to about 25,000 of the 212,864 registered voters in the county –outside of the city of Aurora voters in the Aurora Election Commission area – who are “displaced” this Saturday.
Comments Off
|
|
Support CapitolFax.com
Visit our advertisers...
...............
...............
...............
...............
...............
...............
|
   
|
Hosted by MCS
SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax
Advertise Here
Mobile Version
Contact Rich Miller
|
