This just in…
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2008 * 2:24 pm - House Speaker Michael Madigan has just informed the House that he will call them into session beyond tomorrow’s scheduled adjournment if the Senate passes the constitutional amendment for recall on Thursday. Members are wondering if they need to be in town before the final 3rd Reading vote. It appears, of course, that they do. Madigan was asked whether he would propose any amendments to the Senate proposal. He said he didn’t plan to do so, but he didn’t know what the sponsor - who will likely be Rep. Jack Franks - will do. Madigan pointed out that if this proposed constitutional amendment is amended in the House, then it would have to be read three times in each chamber again. Sunday is the deadline to get the measure on the November ballot. *** 2:25 pm *** Madigan was just asked by Rep. Ken Dunkin (D-Chicago) why this proposal has become such a high priority. Madigan replied that, at least among House members, “This has become such a priority because of Governor Blagojevich.” Ouch. * 2:39 pm - Rep. Jack Franks spoke to reporters a short time ago about the Senate’s recall proposal, which he calls “a better bill” than his own. He said he won’t amend the bill. Here’s the audio…. [If the audio player isn’t working for you, click here to download the mp3 file.] * 2:43 pm - John Patterson at the Daily Herald no longer has a “bloggy type thing.” He’s got a real blog now with comments and everything. His latest post…
…Adding… Rep. Fritchey just said that the ethics deal is still a deal. He’ll be holding a press conference with Sen. Harmon, House GOP Leader Cross and others at 4:30 this afternoon. The 1 pm press conference unveiling the deal was delayed so Fritchey could make extra sure that the deal was really a deal. * 3:03 pm - The SJ-R has more…
* 3:26 pm - With about an hour to go before the press conference, negotiators are still “tweaking” the compromise ethics bill. So, things could still go wrong, but the train appears mostly on track.
- Posted by Rich Miller
26 Comments |
A complete lack of trust
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2008 * One thing I hear a lot from the governor’s allies and flaks is, “I don’t know why you don’t trust us.” I usually just chuckle and walk away, but they do need to be reminded of the depth of mistrust they sow on an almost hourly basis…
* The Blagojevich administration has been pulling stuff like this since Day One. Last year wasn’t the first time a budget deal was broken. Blagojevich broke one in the summer of 2003 - his first year in office. The governor negotiated and agreed to a budget and then vetoed out a bunch of stuff after the GA had passed the legislation and left town. It’s been all downhill since then. * The big issue now is the capital plan. Last year, the governor vetoed almost all House Democratic line items from the budget, and, as you are well aware, the Senate refused to override the vetoes. Now, the governor believes that the House Dems should just trust him to sign a capital bill without changes and distribute the funds in an even-handed manner. “Oh, sure we’ll do it,” they always say, with a dismissive wave of the hand. “He’ll have our word.” And that word means what, exactly? ![]()
- Posted by Rich Miller
25 Comments |
Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Schools; Capital plan; Immigration; Madigan; Dunn; Pensions; Trial lawyers; Budget; Internet; Constitution; Gas; Colleges; Medical Marijuana (Use all caps in password)
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2008
- Posted by Rich Miller
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Ozinga claims to raise big bucks
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2008 * This first bit isn’t huge news because he’s had a virtual lock on the slot for weeks…
Martin Ozinga III will end weeks of speculation and officially kick off his campaign at 11:30 a.m. today as the Republican candidate in the 11th Congressional District. * But a new e-mail from Ozinga’s campaign is interesting…
* Early fundraising is usually the easiest because the cash is often from friends and family. We also don’t know how many of those early conributors maxed out, and, therefore, will not be allowed to contribute again. * Halvorson has been raising money as well…
Ozinga has said that he won’t put in more than $350,000 of his own cash, beyond that level would allow his opponent Debbie Halvorson to accept larger campaign checks. …Adding… There’s some useful info in this Associated Press story…
- Posted by Rich Miller
18 Comments |
Video Competition in Illinois Has Already Created More Than 1,400 New AT&T Jobs
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2008 [The following is a paid advertisement.] AT&T has been introducing its cable alternative, a cutting-edge service called U-verse, in parts of Illinois since January. Thanks to the support of Attorney General Madigan and General Assembly members who fought for the Cable and Video Competition Law, consumers in Illinois are beginning to enjoy the benefits of competition. Senator Clayborne and Representative Brosnahan sponsored this because people were tired of annual rate increases and poor customer service with few alternatives. They, along with Senate President Jones and House Speaker Madigan, understood this was an important vote for our consumers and our economy Since it was signed by Governor Blagojevich on June 30, 2007, AT&T has created more than 1,400 Illinois jobs related to U-verse’s rollout. They have also started on a more than $1.3 billion investment plan in its Illinois network over the next several years to bring new services, including state-of-the-art television, to consumers. AT&T has consistently rolled out new services to as many customers as possible - as quickly as possible. AT&T is working hard to deliver on that promise with U-verse, which is currently available in parts of more than 230 communities. This legislative collaboration is convincing evidence that the public and the private sector can create a framework that encourages investment and innovation at a time when our economy can certainly use a boost. AT&T has clearly demonstrated it’s committed to connecting people to their world. These connections are made possible thanks to elected officials who’ve created a new era of opportunity in Illinois.
- Posted by Capitol Fax Blog Advertising Department
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Question of the day
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2008 ![]() Caption?
- Posted by Rich Miller
88 Comments |
Here we go…
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2008
* So, how will it be financed?
Even if no tax money is directly used, the impact on state and local tax coffers should also be examined. Zell is a financial wizard when it comes to taxes and Mother Tribune is no slouch either. Will this involve some sort of tax break for Zell? * Thompson did offer this hint…
I’m not sure what that means, exactly, but there will be a real problem convincing legislators to vote for a bill that would change the name or look of Wrigley Field. * Thompson wouldn’t say how much the state would offer to pay for the decrepit ball park, but he did manage an Olympics tie-in, which is something that everybody is doing in Chicago these days…
- Posted by Rich Miller
22 Comments |
Recall Roundup
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2008 * I live-blogged this yesterday, so let’s do a quick wrap-up of what we already know and move from there…
* Quinn’s reaction…
* There’s no guarantee yet that this will pass…
* And there’s also a disagreement on when Gov. Blagojevich might be recalled if the voters approve it in November…
* There is some hope among Blagojevich allies that this recall proposal might lance the boil and stop or slow talk of impeachment, and Quinn seems to be helping that along…
* On a related note, Michigan has a recall law, and some angry voters in that troubled state are raising money and organizing to recall the House Speaker and other state legislators….
* There’s also a recall move against Detroit’s mayor…
* The Senate’s somewhat about-face on recall was due in no small part to exploding voter anger. And that helps explain why a constitutional amendment to do away with the state’s flat-tax mandate failed so miserably yesterday. Here are a bunch of stories on that front…
- Posted by Rich Miller
19 Comments |
Witness: Rezko shared cash with Blagojevich
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2008 * Take some caution with this one…
* The reasons you should be careful about assuming too much are several-fold, including this one…
First, this is Tony Rezko allegedly telling Ata why he wanted the money. We don’t know if Rezko told the truth to Ata or if Ata concocted the story to help hi stay out of prison. And even if Rezko did tell the truth, there’s no guarantee that Blagojevich knew about it. * But the judge will allow the testimony…
* And, of course, there’s more…
Notice there was no denial that Kelly might have received cash for other purposes. * And the governor’s statement…
Man, this is crazy stuff.
- Posted by Rich Miller
25 Comments |
Morning Shorts
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2008 * State may sue school in sex harassment case
* NIU won’t raze Cole Hall * 450 U of I Extension jobs on the chopping block
* Parking cops on booting binge
* Cook County Realtor hired by Stroger demoted after questions of his qualifications * Stroger to skip Palatine secession meeting
* No-show Stroger’s disdain for suburbs * Cook Co.’s public defender fights to keep his position * Media take R. Kelly appeal to Illinois Supreme Court * City receives $153M in federal funds for traffic * ID law disenfranchises voters * Medill’s dean says he made a mistake * Fremd High takes top honors in state journalism competition
- Posted by Kevin Fanning
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2008
- Posted by Rich Miller
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