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* The Supreme Court today struck down a state law that banned secret compartments in cars…
A unanimous court has decreed the 1999 law violated due process rights. A ruling released Thursday says it’s unreasonable to expect a motorist driving a car with a secret compartment is doing something illegal. […]
The law was adopted to help police fight gangs who authorities said stashed guns and drugs in the hidden spaces.
Read the decision by clicking here.
Discuss.
* Meanwhile, in other judicial news…
Two former aides to Mayor Richard Daley—Robert Sorich and Patrick Slattery—must report to prison Monday unless an appellate court intervenes, a federal judge ruled Thursday morning.
* And…
Witness Chuck Hannon testifies that Tony Rezko told him he periodically hired professionals to check if his phone was tapped.
Hannon told of another interesting conversation allegedly that took place between himself and Rezko in Rezko’s home.
“He asked me if I knew that even that my cell pone was turned off, conversations could be listened to. I said, really? That strikes me … I was surprised,” Hannon said.
* Yikes…
Charles Hannon [testified today that] Rezko offered he and his wife, Fortunee Massuda, a quid pro quo involving Gov. Blagojevich’s controversial proposal to lease the Thompson Center. Rezko, who at the time owed the couple $7 million, offered to sign on Massuda as a consultant for whomever signed up to lease the State of Illinois Building — known as the Thompson Center.
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* Here are some audio clips from yesterday’s Senate Executive Committee hearing on recall, kindly provided by our great friend Ben Yount of Metronetworks…
* Pat Quinn vs. Sen. Trotter and Senate President Jones, while Chairman Silverstein tries to maintain order…
[audio:QuinnandJonesRecall4-16.mp3]
* Senate President Jones, Sen. Trotter and Quinn go at it some more, and Chairman Silverstein’s “circus” comment…
[audio:RecallCircus416.mp3]
* Sens. Iris Martinez and Rickey Hendon go after Rep. Franks…
[audio:MartinezandRecall416.mp3]
* Rep. Jack Franks makes his case and is hammered, while Senate Majority Leader Halvorson asks for a floor debate, but Trotter says he will hold the bill in committee…
[audio:FranksonRecall416.mp3]
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Question of the day
Thursday, Apr 17, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The setup…
State senators advanced legislation Wednesday to allow Illinois voters to say whether the state should put a graduated income tax instead of the current flat tax. […]
Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) called the flat tax—which is 3 percent for individuals—unfair and regressive. He maintained putting the measure before voters would allow debate on potential changes in the state tax strucuture.
To be adopted, the amendment would need approval by three-fifths of both the Senate and House by May 4 to give voters the chance to make the final decision in the November election.
The proposal only would allow lawmakers to put in place some form of graduated rate, or sliding scale, on the state income tax. It does not specify what the new rates would b
* More…
Illinois currently has a flat tax. In fact, the state constitution requires it. The individual state income tax rate is 3 percent regardless of how much someone makes. The income tax businesses pay is a flat pay 4.8 percent, with an additional 2.5 percent replacement tax.
The state constitution also requires the corporate and individual income tax rates not to exceed a ratio of 8:5. That serves to forbid lawmakers from hiking business taxes too far.
But the constitutional amendment approved by the Senate Executive Committee would let voters choose if that system should be scrapped in favor of creating tax brackets with different rates. No specific income brackets or rates are included. If the plan were to be approved, lawmakers would then have to approve a new tax structure.
* The question: Setting aside your personal opinion of the proposal itself, do you think putting this question in front of voters is a good idea or not? Explain.
Again, let’s try to keep the debate over the specific policy proposal out of this as much as possible.
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Fix this now
Thursday, Apr 17, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I’m probably excerpting too much of today’s Sun-Times editorial, but I want you to read as much of it as possible, so here it is…
The granting of clemency to an ex-convict by a governor boils down to granting a favor. And as with any favor in government, the public deserves to know the details.
Right now, we’re being shut out.
Since at least Gov. George Ryan’s administration, the Illinois Prisoner Review Board has given the public access to most of the files on pardons and commutations. But after Gov. Blagojevich was criticized last month for two pardons he granted, the board abruptly changed course.
It has refused a Chicago Sun-Times Freedom of Information Act request for records on all 69 pardons and commutations Blagojevich has granted. This includes police reports, court files and letters supporting a clemency petition. The paper has appealed, with a decision expected this week.
The governor’s office insists that this is not Blagojevich’s call. The Prisoner Review Board, says the governor’s office, is an independent agency that makes independent decisions.
Independent by statute, yes. But remember: The governor appoints the board members, and the agency reports to the governor’s office.
In the name of open government, in the name of ensuring clean favors, Blagojevich’s Prisoner Review Board needs to reopen the books.
Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, nearly everything the government produces is considered a public record. And while the law provides for some exceptions, nothing in the statute allows the Prisoner Review Board to deny complete access to these clemency files. […]
t’s time to end the secrecy. It’s time to reopen the books.
* The secrecy cult within this administration is appalling, often illegal and usually contrary to the state’s Constitution. It’s also downright undemocratic and completely arrogant. This example cited by the CS-T is just one of far too many unconscionable examples of how the Blagojevich administration has denied the citizenry their absolute right to know how their taxes are being spent.
The General Assembly either needs to begin exercising its subpoena powers to force the release of these and other documents, or the attorney general must step in as forcefully as possible. Failing that, harsher measures need to be taken if this governor continues to flout the letter and spirit of the law of the land.
I usually try not to get so fired up about stuff, but access to information is essential to a functioning 21st Century democracy.
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Meanwhile, over in the House…
Thursday, Apr 17, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Too often, smaller bills like this get buried in the coverage of the ongoing Statehouse “civil war.” Kristen McQueary fills us in…
Put yourself in these shoes:You have a 3-year-old daughter with speech delays directly related to hearing loss.
The cost of her hearing aids? Upward of $2,500. Your health insurance plan doesn’t cover it.
Add hearing aids to the long list of products and services many insurance companies consider medically unnecessary. Hey, who needs ears, anyway?
A committee of the Illinois House recently agreed. The insurance committee led by state Rep. Frank Mautino (D-Spring Valley) by an 8-to-7 vote rejected House Bill 5600, which would have required insurance companies to cover the cost of hearing aids. Because federal law protects self-funded employer health insurance plans from such mandates, HB 5600 only would have impacted families in individual or small group plans - not a very wide net.
Still, the insurance committee voted the bill down, agreeing with the insurance industry that such mandates, collectively, create a slippery slope. They drive up the cost of health insurance.
* Meanwhile, in other House news…
People are lining up in Springfield to complain about the governor’s plans to cut money from agriculture programs.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich is threatening to withhold money from research programs, county Extension offices and more.
Critics packed into a legislative hearing Wednesday to criticize the plan, which could mean layoffs and cuts to the 4-H youth program. The governor’s office responded that the state budget is running a $750 million deficit that must be filled.
* Other House news…
* Politics, politics, politics
* Agriculture cuts proposal prompts angry hearing
* Daley gun bill defeated in House
* Gun bill rejection is rural Illinois’ annual “forget you” to Chicago”
* Daley: We need ‘common sense’ on guns
* Daley wants gun crackdown near schools, parks
* Sex offender law tweaked
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Oy
Thursday, Apr 17, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* If you weren’t at yesterday’s Senate Executive Committee, you missed a heckuva show…
What some lawmakers referred to as “grade-school antics” Wednesday likely squashed voters’ chances to choose whether they want the ability to recall the governor and other statewide elected officials.
Amid shushing and yelling “one at a time” — one too many times — state Sen. Ira Silverstein gave up trying to control his committee. A hearing devoted to recall devolved into lawmakers talking over each other and name-calling.
“We’re senators here. We’re not kindergartners here,” said Silverstein, a Chicago Democrat and chairman of the Senate Executive Committee.
* Things got off to a bad start…
Before the Senate Executive Committee was called to order, Quinn approached Trotter to shake hands and said the South Side lawmaker refused the gesture and added, “I already took a bath today.” Trotter did not dispute that account later.
* And went downhill from there…
The Senate president demanded an apology from Quinn, who has toured the state recently urging the Senate not to prevent voters from deciding about recall.
“For you to go out, use taxpayers’ money and slander the Illinois Senate, I resent that,” Jones said.
Quinn refused.
“This Senate has to have the fortitude not to duck the issue,” Quinn said.
“We do not need a lecture from you,” Jones bristled in response.
* And didn’t let up for two solid hours…
Sen. Iris Martinez (D-Chicago) and Sen. Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago) joined in, scolding Franks for alleged transgressions that seemed to have little to do with the legislation at hand.
The suburban legislator was needled for supporting a Martinez opponent in the February primary, backing Hillary Clinton over native son Barack Obama in the race for the White House and having a “bad hairdo.”
* In the end, nothing happened…
Jones and other top Senate Democrats supported Trotter when he announced that, as the bill’s Senate sponsor, he had decided not to ask for a committee vote on it. Instead, he said, he would come back later with amendatory language to “make it better.” […]
“It was whitewash, it was a travesty, they ought to be ashamed of themselves,” Franks said after the committee hearing. “I was concerned that would happen, when a person who did not support the bill controlled the bill, that he would try to kill it, and that’s exactly what he did today.”
* The Tribune counted noses and had the best analysis in the MSM of why the SDems never called the measure for a vote…
After the hearing, [Senate GOP Leader Frank Watson] announced that he and the four other Republican committee members were prepared to vote for the measure. [Exec Committee Chairman Ira Silverstein] and Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson (D-Crete) also told the Tribune they were going to vote for it, indicating there would have been at least seven votes in favor—enough to move the proposal to the Senate.
Senate Republicans said Democrats were doing Blagojevich a favor by delaying action Wednesday. “It’s all about protecting the governor,” Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson (R-Greenville) said.
* But not everything went the governor’s way during yesterday’s hearing…
Just a day after the Blagojevich administration proposed a reorganization of nearly two dozen state agencies and authorities, the Senate Executive Committee decisively turned thumbs-down on the idea.
By a 10-3 vote, the committee Wednesday told the administration no. The full Senate must also reject the plan, but the committee vote indicates the idea has little support, even among Democrats.
“You cannot guarantee there won’t be a bureaucratic mess,” said Sen. Ira Silverstein, D-Chicago. “I’m concerned about the loss of jobs, the loss of services. I have a lot of problems with this.”
* More Senate and recall stuff…
* Blagojevich allies stall recall-election bill
* Recall a bad idea for a bad guv: Hinz
* Panel approves ‘pay to play’ measure
* Senate rejects smoking exemption for casinos
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* This case is just bizarre…
The Cook County state’s attorney’s office has dropped more than 150 DUI cases in which indicted Chicago cop John Haleas was the arresting officer, officials said.
In all, 156 misdemeanor DUI cases have been dropped, said John Gorman, a spokesman for the state’s attorney. In some of the cases, non-DUI charges against the defendants remain, he said.
Haleas, 37, faces felony charges of perjury, official misconduct and obstruction of justice for allegedly lying and falsifying reports about a DUI arrest in April 2005. According to a grand jury indictment, Haleas falsely reported he gave a defendant various field sobriety tests.
* More…
In April of 2005, two prosecutors joined Officer Haleas for a ride-along as he pursued people driving under the influence. The prosecutors claim Haleas failed to follow basic procedure, including failing to inform drivers of the consequences of refusing a breathalyzer exam, failure to observe a suspect for at least 20 minutes and failing to give the driver a field sobriety test. However, prosecutors say the police report Officer Haleas filed indicated he did all of those things.
* More…
Charged separately are officers Michael Bernichio and Daniel Murphy, partners from the Chicago Lawn District who have been charged with official misconduct and other offenses. Haleas, Bernichio and Murphy each face up to five years in prison if convicted.
* And the kicker…
The Schaumburg-based Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists honored Haleas three times as the police officer with the most DUI arrests in Illinois.
* I’m wondering if you think there are broader lessons to be learned here.
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Morning Shorts
Thursday, Apr 17, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning
* My Illinois Constitution - An Interactive Constitution Design Project from the Illinois Citizens Coalition
* Bernard Schoenburg: Lawrence plans to retire as head of Simon institute
* Sneed hears the federal net is tightening around the neck of the mayor of a Will County suburb who is reportedly this/close to being indicted on public corruption charges by a federal grand jury.
* Schock outdistances Callahan in 18th District fundraising
* Ozinga moves forward on congressional run in southwest suburbs
* Witness: Politico said payoff was gov’s ‘patronage’
* Fundraiser quoted as saying payment was ‘patronage’
* The Best and Worst College-Savings Plans
Illinois, for example, made its first appearance this year on Morningstar’s best-plans list by replacing its program manager and shaking up its lackluster investment lineup with higher-rated funds and rock-bottom expenses. Meanwhile, some of the offenders on the previous year’s worst-plans list, such as Missouri’s MOST 529 Advisor Plan, cleaned up their act by cutting expenses or replacing their funds.
* Section 8 list open for 1st time since ‘97
More than 200,000 are expected to try for the coveted vouchers that subsidize private market rentals for the holder. When the application period ends May 15, a lottery will determine the 40,000 applicants who will win a spot on the list.
* Stroger in Washington
Cook County Board President Todd Stroger spent Tuesday and Wednesday in Washington lobbying to forestall implementation of Medicaid rules scheduled to take effect next month, a statement from Stroger’s office said.
* Suburbs gaining more leverage in RTA
* Editorial: Changing a museum’s agenda
* Bridgeport prays for Sorich, Slattery
* Bridgeport aldermen defends patronage case ‘friends’
* Rolodex of clout: Contacts convicted patronage chief kept
* Court deals big blow to clout
At its most sweeping, however, the ruling is nothing less than a frontal assault on the way City Hall has done business for longer than any of us have been alive.
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Morning video
Thursday, Apr 17, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
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