The “Big Guy” knew?
Thursday, Apr 3, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Yesterday’s Tony Rezko trial wasn’t great for Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Rezko and Stu Levine were allegedly trying to shake down Tom Rosenberg for a big contribution to the governor’s campaign or a large finder’s fee. Rosenberg then flipped out and threatened to go to the authorities when he became convinced that his investment allocation deal at the Teachers Retirement System was being held up for nefarious purposes…
Chicago businessman Tom Rosenberg became furious after a $220 million allocation from the state teachers pension fund for his investment firm had stalled, millionaire attorney Stuart P. Levine told the court.
Rosenberg threatened to complain to federal investigators that he suspected Rezko and another Blagojevich fundraiser, Christopher Kelly, were engaged in corruption at the state teachers pension board. […]
“[Rezko] indicated to me that he had made the governor aware of the situation” and what Rosenberg had said, Levine said. He said Rezko indicated that Blagojevich agreed Rosenberg should be calmed and that while he should get the $220 million allocation for his investment firm it would be “the last thing that Mr. Rosenberg should get from the state.”
He quoted Rezko as saying Blagojevich indicated “he doesn’t care what happens to Mr. Rosenberg - that he feels he owes Mr. Rosenberg nothing.”
* And we don’t have to rely solely on admitted drug-lover Stu Levine for this one, either…
Political insider William Cellini also spoke to Rezko about the Rosenberg solution and, in a phone conversation with Levine that was secretly recorded by federal agents, reported hearing the same thing from Rezko about Blagojevich’s knowledge and approval.
“Did he tell you, too, that the big guy said Rosenberg means nothing to him?” Cellini asked on the call played in court Wednesday. Levine explained to jurors that “the big guy” was Blagojevich and that Cellini’s comments meant that the governor did not feel that he owed the uncooperative Rosenberg anything.
* If you read carefully, there is no explicit statement that the governor knew about the alleged shakedown, which Rezko’s lawyers have claimed that Levine concocted himself. Reading only what was actually said, Blagojevich only allegedly knew that Rosenberg was freaking out and making threats. But it’s definitely implied that he knew more, which is why the Sun-Times put the story on the front page with this lede…
Despite Gov. Blagojevich’s repeated denials that he knew anything about alleged pay-to-play schemes, “the big guy” was told about one plan to squeeze campaign contributions from a firm seeking state business, according to bombshell testimony Wednesday at Tony Rezko’s corruption trial.
* Meanwhile…
A measure allowing voters to dump the governor and other statewide officeholders through California-style recall petitions advanced Wednesday in a key test vote in the House, though its approval is far from certain.
Proponents said the bill was prompted by their dissatisfaction with Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who has been criticized by Republicans and his fellow Democrats for what they say is his autocratic and aloof style of governance. But they argued the measure also is good public policy already embraced by 18 other states, including California, which replaced an unpopular governor with action movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2003.
“I would not have filed it but for the dismal performance of this governor,” said Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock), the bill’s sponsor. “Our state is dysfunctional. . . . We are stuck at an absolute impasse because the governor refuses to lead and refuses, frankly, to show up for work. He won’t govern, and he can’t govern.”
The House adopted an amendment to the bill on an 80-25 vote, which Franks said indicates it likely will be approved by a wide margin when he tries to send it to the Senate next week. The favorable reception in the House also underscores Blagojevich’s running feud with Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), who voted for the amendment.
- North of I-80 - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 8:06 am:
Recall: So if Emil wants it to go away and we continue on with Business as Usual, he just ignores it and doesn’t call it…. right?
- cathyr - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 8:08 am:
Rep Franks is wasting our time with this latest effort to get attention. His county desperately needs a capital bill but his pathetic attempt to make a name for himself seem to get keeping in the way. Wake up folks, Illinois will lose billions if you continue to play games.
- Ghost - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 8:36 am:
Recall provision is a good idea. They are going to need it for the 09 budget.
- BigDog - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 8:37 am:
I’m no expert on government or our State laws (actually, I’m an engineer so I really, really would like to see a Capital Bill passed soon!!), but if the entire recall movement, which seems to be overwhelmingly favored by politicians and the public alike, can be thwarted by one man - Emil Jones - who is an ally of the gov, then there are some serious flaws in the system as it is currently set up.
- MOON - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 8:51 am:
“The big guy” knows a lot more than what has been disclosed to date. I see the Feds working up the “food chain” and indicting many more before they arrive at Blagos doorstep.
Part of this “food chain” is Blagos wife and her real estate deals. I think Blagos wife is under the Feds microscope and would not be surprised if she is indicted!
- Leave a light on George - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 8:59 am:
Moon I think you are 100% correct.
- anon - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 8:59 am:
Can we recall Madigan? He seems to be in the way of a capital bill and my members are not happy.
- Madison County Voter - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 8:59 am:
The Recall Legislation is ridiculous. If you think we don’t get anything accomplished in Illinois now, just wait until both parties expend all their energies on trying to oust each other.
- Sock Puppet Express - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 9:03 am:
Speaking of the Big Guy Knowing….word is BG is in hiding at one of the Hayes Houses on the DuQuoin Fair Grounds….Someone want to spin over there and look for empty hair spray cans?
- Downstate - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 9:13 am:
There’s a poll on today’s SJ-R website asking whether folks support a recall. As of right now over 90% of the answering population support it. The legislature needs to give the people what they want.
- MOON - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 9:14 am:
ANON
The recall issue should include all elected officials
With regards to blaming Madigan for no capital bill, your blame is misdirected. The question that needs to be answered is how will the capital bill be funded? Nobody trust either Blago or Jones. How can Madigan and his caucus be assured that the capital expenditures will be appropriately spent? Furthermore, how can Madigan and his caucus be assured that Blago and Jones do not favor their friends in awarding the gaming licenses?
If you want a capital bill then tell Blago and Jones to live up to their word and no more double crosses!
- anon - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 9:17 am:
I don’t know about the last comment. Why on earth would Jones, Blago, Alexi or Obama have any trust in Madigan. They are just banking on people to be too stupid to know that they are doing all they can to block a capital bill. Guess what? Some of us are not that stupid. Lames excuses for inaction…I am for recalling State Rep Madigan. People need to work.
- Ghost - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 9:24 am:
anon, historically is was Jones and Blago who broke theri word to madigan on budegt deals. In fact, Jones may have earned a spot in history for breaking a budget compormise deal and refusing to carry out his part at the behest of the Gov. The Gov use of vetos to attack only political enemies unrelated to the capital needs of the State also shows how he keeps his word.
Blago literaly cut money from repairing half a bridge while approving half just to spite somone wo did not go his way. Make a deal with that guy? who could.
Blago has cut capital spending from the budget every side approved out of vengencae. So its clear the gov does not care about fixing bridges, just linging the pockets of friends.
Madigan is the last person we have to protect the State, and the only one left who keeps his word in these deal sessions. There is no way to make a deal with the Jones since Jones is not a man of his word.
Blame Jones if you want a target, but Madigan is the last bastion tax payers have from the waky spending and plans of our insane Gov and his cronies.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 9:30 am:
So, we have all gotten beyond any shock regarding Blagojevich, eh?
The postings here seem to indicate that.
Instead it appears to be some hissing and spitting over the Recall Amendment.
Why would a legislator do NOTHING during this election year but bolt away from Blagojevich as soon as possible and throw legislation at him so they can tell voters they aren’t like him? This behavior can’t be a surprise, can it?
I would be far angrier if the GA didn’t react in some way to Blagojevich’s legal and political predicament. If any branch of government is supposed to represent the “will” of voters, it should be the GA, right? So, it seems that the legislators are doing what they are supposed to do.
Now quit crying, grab a shovel, and keep digging that hole to bury our “Reform Governor” in, will’ya?
- Shelbyville - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 9:31 am:
Historically, recall is pretty good. I am not certain how the IL. proposal is written, but it generally effects every elected official all the way down to your local school board or subdivision governing board.
- Bruno - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 9:32 am:
You can’t fund a capital bill when you are too wrapped up in funding pensions and payroll.
Where is the money for a capital bill going to come from?
Gambling? Maybe, but sooner or later the national gambling expansion will only cannibalize each others customers. (probably sooner)
What taxes shall be increased to fund the bill? On top of Cook County’s every increasing taxes, Mayor Daley’s ever increasing taxes, Martire & Eddy’s SB2288 tax increases…etc etc.
We need to go WAY beyond recall. The IL Constitution is the foundation and the source of Illinois “dysfunction.” You can’t fix Illinois without fixing the source of the troubles.
A balanced budget clause that actually forced a balanced budget would be a good start.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 9:36 am:
Mark Brown has a great column today on Cellini. The gist of it is, it’s amazing that after all these years the Dark Prince of Springfield is caught on a fed wiretap.
- Downstater - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 9:45 am:
I’m an ardent Republican. And I think Gov. Rod is one of the worst Governors in the state’s history.
HOWEVER, I don’t support the idea of a recall provision for the state of Illinois. I think the long term consequences for the state make this a bad idea.
Frankly, a recall provision would seriously distract a sitting Governor from conducting any other state business. Hence, it could be used by the party out-of-power to continually undermine an opponent, throughout his or her term.
We don’t need more political positioning in this state. We need less!
- anon - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 9:50 am:
Triple hearsay. thats what this trial is amounting to. read the quotes. its stupid. this guy said that another guy said that the big guy said this? when the first guy is a convicted felon trying to reduce his time in the clink and the second guy is a long time republican power broker?
- One of the 35 - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 10:05 am:
The use of the term “big guy” is an oxymoron. The governor has demonstrated repeatedly that he is really a “very small man”.
- Bookworm - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 10:27 am:
Has Bill changed his name to “anon” for the day?
- Team Sleep - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 10:51 am:
Abby Ottenhoff’s quote in Mike Robinson’s story this morning was classic:
“We don’t endorse or allow the awarding of contracts based on campaign contributions,” said spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff. “We never have. We never will. And anyone who suggests otherwise is not telling the truth.”
Okay, Abby. And I really want to buy your 1979 Gremlin, too.
- Snidely Whiplash - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 10:57 am:
In Illinois, recalls would be used for political purposes … what’s the poing?
Wordslinger, if I want political reporting, I’ll get it elsewhere. The SunTimes’ transformation of Brown into a political columnist comes only a close second to the transformation of Roeper into a movie critic in the contest for most irrational media decision.
- Team Sleep - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 10:57 am:
I think recall is a good idea. But you would have to write special campaign contribution bans into the recall amendment to ensure that large, wealthy groups don’t enter the fray. It’s bad enough that Illinois’ primaries and general elections are the wild west of campaign funding; we don’t need recall measures to be the same.
Blago needs to just start working with people - and not just legislators. Showing up for meetings, reaching out to groups, making an effort…all of these would go a long way to changing his public image and private perception.
It’s amazing how many Dems don’t like Blago. At least national GOP voting blocs still favor President Buch. Can the same truly be said for our illustrious governor?
- Mr. Wizard - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 10:58 am:
Imo, one of the reasons the Recall is allowed to proceed is to blunt calls for a con-con. Anybody agree?
- Snidely Whiplash - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 10:59 am:
Correction: “what’s the point?”
Hell, I forgot about Dennis Miller on Monday Night Football. OK, so maybe he’s in third …
- undecided - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 11:00 am:
Are Bill and Abby the same person?
- Deli Girl - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 11:18 am:
Lets see…we could recall close rep races like: Mulligan, Crespo, Munson, Flider, Ramey, Bassi, Biggins, Dugan, Chapa-LaVia and Mathias if we do not get the job done in Nov. Note that I am being bi-partisan to make a point. This is crazy and detracting from the state’s real business.
- chiatty - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 11:20 am:
It was a bad day for Rod, but this recall business is a terrible idea. The last thing we need is to morph into a Midwest version of California, where they have recall elections and voter initiatives on the ballot, that cost ridiculous amounts of money and generate unneeded political controversy. Franks is pushing the recall to get back at Rod (for understandable reasons) and the Tribune is fanning the flames to make themselves (editorial staff) feel noble. The reality is that we shouldn’t empower a very fickle public with this sort of power. The abuses will be worse than tolerating politicians who hang on too long in the midst of scandals. Even though you don’t become a big man by making somebody else feel small, I understand the insatiable desire to kick Rod when he’s down. I just think it’s unwise to amend our constitution to further enable that behavior.
- Greg - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 12:07 pm:
Quick reality check: in the many states that allow it, recalls are very rarely used. And support to repeal such laws is rarer still. The referendum-heavy state governments of the West function fairly well.
- Greg - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 12:12 pm:
Adding: not sure why “recall” is now necessarily preceeded by “California-style”. So one state out of dozens undergoes the process once, and now we expect ratification to lead to nonstop recall action?
- Mark Johnson - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 12:12 pm:
If Blago says “I don’t owe him anything”, couldn’t a resonable juror assume the Governor knew the background details of all the dealing that were going on? Why would he say it that way if he didn’t?
- fed up - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 12:50 pm:
I wonder where deb halvorson stands on the recall measure. She is the majority leader in the senate but I doubt this bill gets anymore traction then the ethics bill that she refuses to let out of committee. Halvorson wants to go to washington but she refuses to back an ethics bill that would shine a light on all the state contracts, sub contracts and jobs her buddy and mentor Emil Jones gives to his family. Deb (just say no to ethics) will stand by Blago and Emil and refuse to let a recall mesure move forward.
- Bill - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 12:55 pm:
Abby is much more talented and tactful than I am but thanks for the compliment.
Mr. Wizard has a point, Bruno. If this recall stuff gets on the ballot, Con Con is toast.
By the way, the Big Guy supports the recall and I bet he is getting a kick out of dirty Tony and Levine calling him that.
Also, there is still no evidence of Rod breaking the law. Just some hearsay from a couple of scumbags.I just thought I would point out that minor point.
On with the fun!
- Butch - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 1:00 pm:
Mr. Wizard- Yes, I believe it is a possible factor to avoid the con-con. So as Illinois is infamous for doing, we put a band-aid on the problems we face.
Greg- They are using the phrase “California-style” not only because the public is aware of what happened in California, but the language was based upon California’s legislation.
Just a couple of notes, if I understand the language, the legislation includes:
Citizens may file a petition with the State Board of Elections alleging a reason for a recall. Petition may not be filed before the first 6 months of the official’s term.
“Sufficiency of reason is not reviewable” means a person could file a petition without any supporting evidence say for example he because he embezzled public funds.This petition would be public record.
Proponents of the petition have 160 days to file signed petitions supporting the recall
-Constitutional Officers would require 20% of the last vote for that office with signatures from at least 5 counties equal to 1% of the last vote for the official in that county
*A petition to recall Governor Blagojevich would require 620,000 signatures (20% of 3.1 million votes)
-General Assembly members and Judges would require 20% of voters who voted for that office in that district in the last election
Personally, I am in support of term limits. But since that will most likely never happen in this state, I’ll settle for the recall.
And for those who have made comments about the power in Jones’ hands, I agree that this should be addressed as well, and not just his hands, but many of the leaders in the legislature. If that much power was meant to be in one person’s hands we would have a king.
- Mmmmmm! - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 1:09 pm:
One’s gotta wonder if Rod Blagojevich ever participated in any of the drug parties.
- What can I say? - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 1:11 pm:
Downstater, I would agree with you IF the gov was actually conducting ANY state business.
- Little Egypt - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 2:16 pm:
Oh Bill, it did seem for a few weeks that the new year had brought you new insight into POA, or as you call him: Hiz Honor; TBGTSHEH (The Best Governor This State Has Ever Had); and God. To have a repeat win as Blogger of the Year, buddy don’t let us down. Get on one side of that fence or the other and stay there.
- Trafficmatt - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 2:47 pm:
All this histeria about recalls and what happened in California.
How many years has the recall provision been on the books in California (and other states), and we have had two recalls (California and the Governor of North Dakota back in 1921)!