Morning shorts
Wednesday, Apr 2, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning
* Forum Series: “Should Illinois Citizens Call a Constitutional Convention?”
* Can a Constitutional Convention Fix Illinois’ Broken Government?
* Circuit Court Clerk Gets Chauffeur at Taxpayer Expense
* Accountability? Not in Daley’s government
Christopher Kozicki was the city official who rigged the test scores to make sure that young Andy got the job. Kozicki admitted to that in federal court in the trial of Daley patronage chief Robert Sorich and three others accused of all manner of illegal patronage hiring.
* Candidate’s appearance at event in question
* Controversy In Race For Cook Co. State’s Attorney
* 6 groups want to purchase Midway Airport
Six teams — one including some of the same players who paid $1.82 billion to lease the Chicago Skyway — will vie for the right to make Midway Airport the nation’s first privately-run commercial airport.
* Meeting Ron Huberman
* More clergy visits sought for those awaiting deportation
Often incarcerated for weeks before their cases reach court, immigrant detainees are experiencing severe depression and anxiety, with many unsure about the fates of their families, advocates said at a Tuesday news conference to promote state legislation that would grant religious workers greater access to those inmates in Illinois.
* Republicans stress unity at Lincoln Day Dinner
* No fooling: Sales tax increase kicks in
* House tries upping penalties on late payments from state
* Rep Paul Froehlich On County Secession Bills SB2591 And HB6307
* Illinois Senate in media’s corner
The Illinois Senate overwhelmingly sided with the state’s newspaper industry Tuesday in saying high school sports officials cannot dictate what happens with pictures taken at annual championship tournaments.
* Lawmakers look ahead to session
* Law targets adults who give kids guns
Hoping to target gang actions where adults use children to commit crimes, state Rep. Edward Acevedo wants adults responsible for the juvenile’s access to a firearm to also be charged with murder, which could carry significantly more prison time.
* Why the taxman may be visiting strip clubs
* House Democrats Shouldn’t Take Bait
* Million Dollar Blagojevich
* On tape: No way around clout
“I suggested that Mr. Rosenberg be given a choice,” Levine said he told Kelly and Rezko. “He either pay a finder’s fee or he could raise $1.5 million for the governor’s campaign.”
* Gavel-to-Gavel: ‘If you screw us, we’re gonna cut you’
* Money woes $$$$ . . .
Rumble is President Bush’s big bucks donors have been holding back the cash from GOP presidential contender John McCain because they want him to pick conservative Mitt Romney as his veepmate.
- Ghost - Wednesday, Apr 2, 08 @ 10:27 am:
we should definetly have a con-con. The con-con may decide we do not need any changes, but we should have the discussions and a detailed look at what we have in a con-con. Setting aside the recall issue, we sure could use some changes in regards to things like setting special sessions, guaranyteeing judges raises even in a fiscal crisis etc.
- George Prado - Wednesday, Apr 2, 08 @ 12:02 pm:
Something very interesting has happened during the past 24 hours.
First, CBS 2 Chicago reports that Cook County State’s Attorney candidate - who ran as an “independent outsider” - relied on support from key members of the scandal-plagued Hispanic Democratic Organization (HDO) for her recent fundraiser. At that same fundraiser, Ms. Alvarez posed for a photo with fugitive from justice Jorge Montes de Oca - and that same photo appeared on the cover of last week’s edition of El Dia newspaper.
In a move of shameless desperation, Ms. Alvarez labeled State’s Attorney candidate Tony Peraica a “racist” for “insinuating” her ties to the HDO.
But, in terestingly enough, Ms. Alvarez confirms those same ties to the HDO in a Daily Herald story this morning. Further, she confirms that not only did HDO leaders Eddie Acevedo and Tony Munoz attend her recent fundraising event - but that Acevedo helped emcee the event!
And she still hasn’t answered why she posed for a picture with Montes de Oca, a fugitive from justice at the time, who was arrested this week on charges of writing more than $50,000 in bad checks.
We invite you to watch this troubling situation unfold firsthand by viewing the CBS 2 Chicago report here … and then reading this morning’s Daily Hera ld story.
These reports confirm what we have known all along - that despite her claims of independence and reform, Ms. Alvarez has consistently relied on support from political insiders to further her political career.
Let’s look at some interesting tidbits:
Ms. Alvarez recieves political contributions from major county contractors - mostly law firms - for her Primary Campaign.
Ms. Alvarez has a pre-election sit-down with Mayor Daley (she confirmed this Fox Chicago Sunday) and scores a “surprising” win in the Daley-controlled 11th Ward.
We now learn of her support from the HDO - which operates strongly in that same 11th Ward.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the HDO … this troubled organization has long been knwon as City Hall’s political enforcement arm, and was run by indicted former top Daley ai de Al Sanchez. Acevedo is an HDO leader, and Munoz has reportedly been a major recipient of campaign contributions from Hired Truck scandal contractors.
- i d - Wednesday, Apr 2, 08 @ 1:44 pm:
If Republicans are withholding money to force their choice for vice president, what are Democrats going to do now that Obama, if elected, is planning for Gore to play a big part in his administration?
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Apr 2, 08 @ 2:16 pm:
Support Obama’s wise move of including Gore?
- Angelo T - Wednesday, Apr 2, 08 @ 2:33 pm:
Anita Alvarez should be indicting HDO, Munoz, and Acevedo–not taking money from them or letting Acevedo MC.
- Levois - Wednesday, Apr 2, 08 @ 5:40 pm:
Well if the National Review is writing about Illinois that can’t be good.
- Snidely Whiplash - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 1:15 am:
What’s it matter? Someone could find a picture of Alvarez riding along with Pancho Villa on a border raid, and she’d STILL get elected by a comfy margin.