This just in…
Monday, May 5, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* 2:28 pm - The Director of the State Department of Corrections has written a letter to Sen. AJ Wilhelmi (D-Joliet) stating that he is committed to opening the “state of the art” prison in Thomson, and wants to close the state prison in Pontiac…
“We believe our goals can best be achieved at this time by keeping the maximum security portion of the [Joliet] Stateville Correctional Center open and by closing the Pontiac Correctional Center.”
Joliet, which was slated for closure by Gov. Blagojevich, is represented by Democrats, Pontiac is represented by Republicans who all voted for recall, but I’m sure that had nothing to do with it. Nope.
* Read Director Walker’s letter by clicking here.
* Last week, you will recall, Wilhelmi claimed he had gotten word that Stateville would remain open. What he didn’t mention is the passage in the letter from Director Walker stating the department’s intention to close Pontiac, instead.
* 3:07 pm - Sen. Dan Rutherford, the Republican who represents Pontiac, responds…
The Pontiac prison is the largest employer in that north-central Illinois community, and its closure would devastate the town, Rutherford said.
“The troubling part is the facility is in absolutely good, functioning order,” he said. “It’s not like it’s a decrepit, falling down place.”
*** 4:12 pm *** Mayor Daley loses it again…
Mayor Richard Daley said Monday that the proposed Children’s Museum in Grant Park is designed to be mostly underground because opponents don’t want to see children. […]
“We just built a four-story building for The Art Institute,” he said. No one objected to that. That’s only for adults.”
Yeah. No kids ever go to the Art Institute. Right. Gotcha. Roger-Wilco.
* And we have finally edged closer to an admission that the “bridge to nowhere” was built that way for a reason…
As he leveled criticism at museum plan critics, Daley also noted that the BP Bridge winds from Millennium Park to Bicentennial Park, which now has tennis courts, gardens and a field house.
“You go across that bridge, and it goes nowhere,” he said. “We want that bridge to go and bring these kids right up to a wonderful children’s park in Millennium Park. Why not?”
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* CBS 2 legal analyst Irv Miller thinks Tony Rezko may be ready to start singing for the G…
As the trial winds down, speculation is rampant that Rezko may yet cut a deal, plead guilty and tell the government everything he knows.
“If Joe Duffy and Tony Rezko knew that Ali Ata was going to be a witness in the case to bolster the testimony of Stuart Levine, that would have been a major consideration before this trial even started,” Miller said.
I have no clue whether Miller [no relation] is right nor not. Time will tell, I suppose. Your thoughts?
* Last week, the administration dumped what it claimed was a hugely expensive lease with Bill Cellini. The Sun-Times reported yesterday that another Rezko trial participant still has a pretty high-dollar lease with the administration…
Even though he’s no longer on the state payroll and has pleaded guilty to federal felony charges, a former top Blagojevich appointee is still getting money from taxpayers.
Ali Ata is one of the owners of a South Side building that has a multimillion-dollar, 10-year lease with the state. The Blagojevich administration is paying Ata and his partners more than $800,000 a year to lease space for the Department of Human Services in the building at 1642 W. 59th St.
I can’t help but wonder whether the Friday announcement on Cellini’s deal might have had something to do with the upcoming Sun-Times piece. Yeah, it’s a bit tinfoil hattish, but the depths that this governor will sink should never be underestimated.
* Related…
* Ata: I wore a wire after I was threatened
* Rezko pals put up own homes as collateral
* Ata took state job for ‘redemption’
* Last-minute Rezko witness packs a punch
* Rezko gavel-to-gavel: Prosecutors about done
* Lawyer apologizes after hinting 9/11 link to Rezko trial witness
*** UPDATE 1 - 11:26 am *** The Sun-Times reports that the prosecution has rested its case. More at the Tribune.
*** UPDATE 2 - 11:41 am *** From the Tribune…
In a surprise, lawyers for Antoin “Tony” Rezko opted Monday not to present any witnesses in his defense at Rezko’s corruption trial.
*** UPDATE 3 - 12:16 pm *** The Sun-Times isn’t so breathless…
The move isn’t a complete surprise.
Last week, Rezko’s lawyers hinted their defense case, if any, would be short — possibly wrapping up in an afternoon. Defense lawyers often say the bulk of their defense comes out through cross examination.
*** UPDATE 4 - 12:46 pm *** From the Daily Herald…
Duffy tried Monday to portray Ata as a businessman who knowingly played fast and loose with tax law and accounting practices in contexts having no relationship to Rezko. He also challenged Ata to document any of his contributions to Rezko.
“We have no records to corroborate the cash you say you gave to Mr. Rezko, is that correct?” Duffy asked.
“That’s correct.”
“We have no records to corroborate meetings you say you had with Mr. Rezko weekly or biweekly?”
“No, not from me.” […]
“Sir, you are a convicted liar, are you not?”
“Yes,” Atta said quietly.
*** UPDATE 5 - 1:19 pm *** The Sun-Times asked Duffy about his decision to not call any witnesses…
When asked after court today why no witnesses were brought to the stand to testify in Rezko’s defense, Rezko lawyer Joseph Duffy said it had to do with a deficient government case.
“We do not believe the government has met their burden in proving its charges against Mr. Rezko,” Duffy said. “Plain and simple.”
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Question of the day
Monday, May 5, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* It’s been noted by some national reporters covering the upcoming presidential primary in our neighboring state, and even some local types, that Illinois and Indiana residents aren’t exactly fond of each other…
They regard us as the land of hoods and thugs. We treat them like the land of hicks and rubes.
Sometimes it seems our only common ground is a mutual lack of affection for Northwest Indiana.
But even there, we’re going in opposite directions. The rest of Indiana doesn’t like Northwest Indiana because they think it’s too much like Chicago, while Chicagoans don’t like Northwest Indiana because it’s in Indiana.
* Question: Try to say one nice thing and one harsh but “true” thing about our neighbors to the East.
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Another goofy blog story *** UPDATED x3 ***
Monday, May 5, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* As always, any “mainstream” media article about the Internet is filled with misinformation, and this one is no exception. Here’s a sample…
The state [Republican] party’s Web site is getting 100,000 hits per month, and the state is working with local county parties to develop their sites, Trover said.
A “hit” means that viewers have accessed a single file. I get more hits than that in a single day. Lots more. Like six or even seven times more. If the IL GOP’s website was really getting 100,000 hits a month, that would be pathetic.
* And how many times does this canard have to be beaten back?
“Even though there’s a lot of good information on the Internet, there’s also a lot of inaccurate information on the internet. Blogs and mass e-mails, especially, are dangerous if they contain bad information because it’s very easy to spread the misinformation, and it’s very difficult to respond it,” said Mike Lawrence, director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University.
Lawrence, who also is the former press secretary to Jim Edgar in the offices of secretary of state and governor, said journalists properly question candidates and “present a more balance presentation of issues” and “hold candidates accountable.”
The Chicago Tribune’s website is viewed by more people in Illinois than any political blog, yet it routinely has errors, like the egregrious one in its lead editorial last Friday that I debunked later that morning.
Also, national political reporters, as a class, are just downright awful. Blogs have often done a lot more to hold candidates accountable than beat reporters. Several reporters were present during George Allen’s “Macaca Moment” and never bothered to report it, for example. Also, ask the governor’s office and the other four leaders whether they’re monitoring this blog to see what we’re doing to them on a daily basis. That would be holding them “accountable.”
One thing my blog does is provide visibility to several Statehouse reporters who might never get read by the majority of legislators and administration tpes. I also try to put things in perspective to give you some of the “real” story that is so often missing from more “mainstream” sources.
* And, as is way too often the case in stories like this, no bloggers were interviewed to counter the attacks from the old guard. How’s that for a more balanced presentation of issues?
* One last item of note. Steve Brown of the House Democrats and the Democratic Party of Illinois, tries to explain why the state party’s website is so awful…
“Democrats do more face to face interaction and real people meeting with real people. That’s what provides energy to efforts like campaigns,” Brown said.
* I’m sure Billy Dennis and others will have more to say about this Peoria Journal Star piece later today. Come back and I’ll update you.
Discuss.
*** UPDATE 1 *** An official at the IL GOP says the “hits” number referenced in the PJ-Star story above was, of course, incorrect. The state party gets 100,000 “page views” a month and about a million “hits” per month. Makes more sense.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Just for snicks, I checked to see if the Tribune had corrected its horrific error from Friday’s editorial. It hadn’t. So much for the accuracy of print.
*** UPDATE 3 *** Billy Dennis’ response piece is now online.
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Politics isn’t always a dirty word
Monday, May 5, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Don Craven is a great lawyer, but I think he may have no case with this one…
Lawyers for 17 former Illinois Department of Transportation workers say a recently disclosed e-mail supports their claim that Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration fired them for political reasons.
But lawyers for the governor’s office say the e-mail simply shows that if you were hired mainly because you’re a Republican, you also can be fired because you’re a Republican.
* Here’s the e-mail…
“Robert, William H. Moss Sr. is a double-exempt employee in traffic safety and is also a Sangamon County Republican Precinct Committeeman,” says the e-mail. “He should be fired don’t you think? The guy is in the paper, renewing his will to work for the other team.”
* A long-ago e-mail from a reporter asking if the firings were political was replied to by IDOT with a statement that no politics were involved. If politics were involved, I don’t see this as a huge deal, regardless of the truth of the initial IDOT response. Moss was apparently hired for his politics by Jim Edgar, and he had a state job that allowed him to be fired because of his politics. It’s that simple.
One of Moss’ lawyers thinks differently…
“That’s something new. They haven’t argued that before,” said John Kerley, Moss’ lawyer. “Our position (is) he was not given that job because of any political influence he exerted over anyone.”
But if Moss was, indeed, double exempt, that means that he’s purely political. If we’re going to ban politics from being considering when firing political hires, then what’s the point of having political hires in the first place? The original e-mail might have been a bit too “truthful,” but that’s about it.
* Also, did anyone understand what Kass was getting at yesterday? His column makes a lot of dark accusations, but never really connects the dots between them.
[And, yes, I know I wrote earlier today that I wouldn’t be linking to SJ-R stories until I could access their website, but a pal sent me the full text and the link to this one.]
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Recall, impeachment, etc.
Monday, May 5, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I posted this Saturday, after comments had been closed for the weekend. It’s a State Journal-Register story about IDOT’s announced move of about 150 jobs from Springfield to Benton…
The southern Illinois city of Benton, apparently the leading candidate to become the new home of the Illinois Department of Transportation’s division of traffic safety, has no building that would accommodate the agency, according to Benton Mayor Gary Kraft.
* As fishy as that sounds, I said on Friday and I’ll say it again: Sen. Gary Forby, who is from Benton, had a legit reason for not being in the Senate for the recall vote last week. His wife was having surgery.
Still, the timing of that Benton announcement, coupled with the announcement that Stateville Prison in Joliet will remain open (Sen. AJ Wilhelmi of Joliet voted “Present” on the recall proposal), plus all the other magic money suddenly released last week has some people legitimately concerned…
“I don’t think it is a coincidence at all,” said Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, a prominent proponent of the drive for recall. “[The governor’s office] basically told senators if you want this money back, then you have to vote ‘no’ on recall.”
* Sen. Michael Bond had his own reasons for voting against recall…
Key to his opposition, Bond said, was that two local judges contacted him to express their fears that judicial recall would have a “devastating chilling effect” in which judges rendering legal but unpopular decisions could result in recall efforts.
He said Lake County judges Mary Schostok and Fred Foreman were so opposed to recall that they drove to Springfield to personally explain why they thought it was a bad idea.
I ran into both of those judges last week. They didn’t drive down specifically to lobby against recall because they were already in town for a conference. But they were both clearly upset that judges had been included in the proposal.
* So, what are the political ramifications?
[Senate President Emil Jones] rejected any suggestion that Democratic lawmakers might pay a price at the ballot box. “No, no, no, no,” the Chicago Democrat said.
* Sens. Terry Link and Mike Jacobs were the only Senate Dems with opponents this fall who voted against recall. And they’re fairly safe to begin with although Link may get a bit of money spent against him, as my syndicated newspaper column points out…
Only two of the “No” votes among Senate Democrats have Republican opponents this fall: Sens. Terry Link and Mike Jacobs. But neither of those Republicans are considered top tier types yet. Sen. Jacobs covered himself a bit by calling on the governor to resign before he is impeached. Sen. Link, who has had some problems locally with his own nominating petitions and with some of his candidates’ campaigns, will undoubtedly be moved up the target list. But his district is so Democratic that it will be very tough to dislodge him. Even so, expect a lot more money to be spent there, if, that is, the Senate Republicans can raise it.
* Also, as I point out, this was not a difficult thing to kill…
The oldest axiom in government is that it’s always easier to kill something than it is to pass something. And that was proved true yet again last week when Senate President Emil Jones and Gov. Rod Blagojevich teamed up to kill off the proposed constitutional amendment for recall of elected officials.
* And I believe there was a method to the madness…
Jones’ actions with recall show the length he will go to protect Blagojevich’s back. Those considering the idea of impeaching the governor in the House have to be wondering what Jones will do if the House takes that drastic step against the governor. The Illinois Constitution directs the Senate to hold a trial and designates the chief justice of the Supreme Court to preside, but nobody knows who is in charge of actually convening the proceedings. A call last week to the Supreme Court came up empty. They don’t appear to know, either. Since there is no definitive timeline in the Constitution, Jones could postpone convening a trial almost indefinitely.
* And what about impeachment? I try to explain…
Impeachment might instead be used as a threatened weapon in order to get things done at the Statehouse. Last year, House Speaker Michael Madigan refused to even consider the prospect of impeachment because he feared the governor could use it to generate a public backlash against him. Those days are pretty much over.
The theory goes that Madigan could use the threat to push Blagojevich to wrap up the spring session in a timely manner, rather than allow it to drag on into the winter, which is what happened with last year’s session.
The Senate’s vote to kill recall was partially a move to prevent Madigan from doing just that.
* A recall proposal on the ballot would have helped Republicans get their voters to the polls. The much-hated Rod Blagojevich isn’t on the ballot this fall, so recall would have been a way to energize the GOP base in the face of a probable Barack Obama landslide here. Sen. Bill Brady, who wants to run for governor, has another idea, however…
Republican Bill Brady of Bloomington said he wants a November advisory ballot question in all 102 counties asking whether the General Assembly should allow voters a chance to decide if a recall provision is needed for the governor and others elected to statewide office.
That won’t be as good as a real referendum, but it might help a bit - especially for Repubs who don’t want a full-blown constitutional convention. Still, that vote would be meaningless.
* Related…
* Campaign reform in play
* Legislators don’t trust us? Feeling is mutual
* SJ-R Opinion: State workers are just pawns to Blagojevich
* Finke: Pretty neat trick, that. A day after the Senate Democrats saved his behind from a possible recall, Gov. Rod Blagojevich took aim at the city he despises and announced that 150 Illinois Department of Transportation jobs will be moved from Springfield to southern Illinois.
* Hoffman’s ties to Gov. Blagojevich now a disadvantage
* Lawmaker calls for impeachment of Blagojevich
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Morning Shorts
Monday, May 5, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning
* Traffic nightmare in works
And now, from the folks who brought us subway breakdowns, doomsday budgets and fulsome fare increases, get ready for 100 miles of “dedicated bus lanes.”
* Dixon mayor declines to speak at firefighters memorial service…
Burke, slated to speak at the memorial, backed out late Friday, citing political arrogance on the part of the Blackhawk Firefighters Association for inviting 14th Congressional District Republican candidate Jim Oberweis, and not extending a similar invitation to his opponent, U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Geneva, to speak at the event.
* LaHood leaving Congress, not political work
The Republican from Peoria said he will seek to continue his political career as a national committeeman for Illinois, representing the state party at the Republican National Convention.
* LaHood to run for RNC committeeman
* UPDATE: IlliniPundit: Former State Sen. Steve Rauschenberger, a lobbyist working for Rod Blagojevich’s largest campaign fundraiser, wants to be Illinois’ next Republican National Committeeman.
* Heated words in 11th District
* Congressional Candidate Jill Morgenthaler’s New Website Up In IL-6
* Durbin Addresses Gas Prices and Profits
* State should pass bill, lift charter school cap
We support a bill in Springfield to allow for additional charter schools, which admit kids by lottery and, in Chicago, serve mostly low-income, minority kids. Currently, state law puts a cap of 60 charter schools in Illinois, with just 30 in Chicago.
* It’s time Illinois requires videotaping
Illinois has been slow to join the ranks of other states that require videotaping in all child abuse cases. We think that needs to change. In the meantime, however, we applaud suburban counties where videotaping is taking place.
* New state task force will focus on quakes
* Stroger names finalists to oversee hospitals
* Stroger’s health board picks praised
* City council’s most power alderman releases ethics statement
* What’s your alderman’s side job?
* Updated…Burt’s back: Natarus now lobbying City Hall
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The SJ-R problem *** UPDATED x4 ***
Monday, May 5, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
I haven’t been able to access the State Journal-Register’s website since Sunday morning. I’m getting a Network Solutions placeholder page when I try…
A friend of mine said last night that he was having the same problem, then all of a sudden he could access the site. The SJ-R’s news feed is showing up in Google and IceRocket like it’s still online, so we figured that the paper has changed Web hosts and it’s taking some time for everyone to be able to access the page.
But until I can get to it, there will be no SJ-R stories posted this morning.
*** UPDATE 1 *** I still can’t access it, but a recent story in the SJ-R’s news feed is entitled “Newspaper’s Web site should be available to all users later today.”
So nice of them to finally let us know.
*** UPDATE 2 *** A couple of pals sent along the content of that new story…
The State Journal-Register’s Web site, www.sj-r.com, is available to the majority of site visitors following technical difficulties Saturday night.
The site is expected to be fully functional to all visitors later today.
The problem was related to maintenance issues involving the site’s server. Some subscribers were able to access the Web site early Sunday afternoon after technicians from The State Journal-Register and the newspaper’s parent company, GateHouse Media Inc., corrected the problem.
The newspaper apologizes for the inconvenience.
*** UPDATE 3 *** Well, it’s four o’clock and neither Kevin nor I can access the SJ-R’s site. What the heck?
*** UPDATE 4 *** It’s 5:54 pm and I finally have access.
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* First there was the millions of dollars in agriculture-related money magically released the day before the recall vote in the Senate…
“The Senate president (Emil Jones of Chicago) came on the floor today and told us we could go ahead and start making notification of our soil and water districts and extension offices,” Demuzio said.
Sen. Demuzio voted “No” on the recall proposal. [UPDATE: Sen. Demuzio did say a few weeks ago that she was going to be a “No” on recall.]
* Then there was today’s announcement that IDOT was moving an office with 150 jobs out of Springfield to Benton and ignoring state law in the process.
Sen. Gary Forby of Benton missed the recall vote, but has a good excuse.
* Now comes word that Stateville prison in Joliet may remain open….
MEDIA ADVISORY
State Senator AJ Wilhelmi will be joined by Senate President Emil Jones to make a major announcement regarding the proposed closure of Stateville Maximum Security Correctional Center.
Sen. AJ Wilhelmi (D-Joliet) voted “Present” on recall.
* As a side note, Rep. Brent Hassert has been downplaying impeachment talk lately…
But until there is more evidence of wrongdoing by the governor, some critics of Blagojevich oppose impeaching him, including the second-highest ranking Republican in the Illinois House, Rep. Brent Hassert (R-Romeoville).
“Somewhere down the line that might change, but right now I don’t see anything that’s impeachable,” Hassert said.
Hassert is on the list of invitees to the Stateville press conference.
*** UPDATE 1 *** The Joliet Herald News has more…
Legislators have found a way to keep Stateville Correctional Center open.
“The word is out that Stateville is not going to be closed,” said state Sen. A.J. Wilhelmi, D-Joliet. “I am proud that we have been able to accomplish this.” […]
State Rep. Brent Hassert, R-Romeoville, said good news is coming.
“Based on my conversations with the governor’s office over the week, I feel we’re going to be in good shape,” said Hassert, whose district includes Stateville.
*** UPDATE 2 *** More magic money discovered since the Senate’s recall vote…
Blagojevich also released an additional $32 million for programs such as medical research grants and community college grants for veterans.
The governor has been saying for weeks that there just wasn’t any money in the budget for these otherwise worthwhile programs and that he had to focus on other priorities, like healthcare… and, apparently, not being recalled.
*** UPDATE 3 *** Legislators, governor’s office flatly deny any pressure was exerted on recall…
On Friday, word spread that the Blagojevich administration was backing off plans to shutter Stateville — the massive state prison in Joliet. An announcement is planned Monday, but Wilhelmi said one has nothing to do with the other.
“Absolutely not,” he said. […]
Asked why he didn’t vote “no” if he felt so strongly, Wilhelmi said, “I didn’t want to engage in what I think is a silly debate. It didn’t deserve any of us engaging.” [..]
Spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff said the projects had been held up because there isn’t money. If senators decide the projects are a priority, the state would consider delaying payments to health-care providers and schools to get around budget constraints. But she denied there was any connection between the local funding and the recall vote.
“No!” Ottenhoff insisted when asked the question.
* But Pat Quinn disagrees…
“The governor really let us down here,” Quinn said. “He was working behind the scenes to keep the recall amendment off the ballot. Voters should be very upset. Instead he was out there opposing it.”
* And…
“I don’t think it is a coincidence at all,” said Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, a prominent proponent of the drive for recall. “[The governor’s office] basically told senators if you want this money back, then you have to vote ‘no’ on recall.”
* And what the heck?
The southern Illinois city of Benton, apparently the leading candidate to become the new home of the Illinois Department of Transportation’s division of traffic safety, has no building that would accommodate the agency, according to Benton Mayor Gary Kraft.
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Rezko lawyer plans brief defense
Friday, May 2, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The testimony phase of the Rezko trial may wrap up early next week…
Tony Rezko’s lawyers originally said they would take weeks to present their defense case. Then they said it could take days.
Today, his lawyers said the whole thing could be done in an afternoon, or possibly a day and a half.
The prosecution said they will likely rest Monday. Rezko lawyer William Ziegelmueller said the defense could be done by late Monday, maybe Tuesday.
* However…
The shortened time frame apparently will not change St. Eve’s plan to start closing arguments on May 12. Before that, the lawyers still have to hash out jury instructions.
* More…
One of [the defense witnesses] is a forensic accountant who is expected to testify that Ata could not have taken the kind of cash from his family business that he has claimed.
* Ata took an early retirement “offer” from his employer after the FBI questioned him shortly after the 9/11 attacks. He was worth $12 million in 2004. So, he apparently didn’t need the money a state job would bring. Why did he want the job? Redemption for being pressured out of his old job…
You didn’t need your state job to pay the bills?” Duffy had asked Ata earlier. “I did not.”
“Your state job had nothing to do with money, did it sir?” Duffy asked
Ata: “No it did not.”
Duffy tried to portray Ata as having a sense of pride to be the highest-ranking Muslim in the Blagojevich administration when he acted as the Executive Director of the Illinois Finance Authority from 2004-2005.
“One of the ways to get redemption was through a state position, is that fair? ” Duffy asked.
“That’s fair,” Ata said.
* More…
But Ata did agree that he sought a state post because, “I felt I needed to prove myself again through a position.” Duffy asked whether Ata wanted to have the highest position in the Blagojevich administration of anyone in the Muslim community.
“It was important to you?” Duffy asked.
“Yes,” said Ata, who was appointed executive director of the Illinois Finance Authority.
Thoughts?
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This just in… *** IDOT to ignore law ***
Friday, May 2, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
[This is getting really long and we have some new information. Comments are now closed on this post. Click on this link for the new updates and comment there instead.]
* 11:00 am - IDOT is planning to move 148 jobs out of Springfield to the southern Illinois town of Benton. IDOT is blaming the price of the lease at its “Annex” building on Dirksen Parkway. It’s a $1.7 million annual lease, but city officials have already pointed out to the administration that there are tons of empty office buildings in town that could be leased for far less.
The building is managed by Bill Cellini’s company, and there are already accusations that the governor - who is taking big hits lately in the Tony Rezko trial - may be looking to distance himself from someone else who has played a role in the trial.
The governor is also being accused privately today of trying to curry favor with Sen. Gary Forby, a Benton Democrat. Forby, a likely “Yes” vote on recall, was not in town yesterday for the Senate’s recall debate.
This could be a stretch. Forby’s wife had surgery yesterday, so he had a very good reason to be home, but this issue is being raised since the governor also promised to release millions of dollars in agricultural program funding shortly before the recall vote.
More in a bit.
* 11:10 am - The SJ-R now has a story online about the move…
“Governor Blagojevich is committed to growing the economy of southern Illinois,” the news release quotes [IDOT Secretary Milton Sees] as saying. “This move will bring new families and jobs to an area that needs them the most.” […]
The [Springfield] building costs about the same per square foot as IDOTs office at 300 W. Adams in Chicago, the news release said.
One legislator’s reaction was swift and strong…
But state Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield, said he believes Gov. Rod Blagojevich is being vindictive in the move and is reacting to low voter approval from central Illinois.
“I’m calling for the House to start impeachment proceedings,” Bomke said today. “This is absurd. I mean, this guy has destroyed the state. He’s destroying communities. He’s destroyed families. Enough is enough.”
* 11:27 am - Mayor Tim Davlin’s response…
“It’s hard to constrain the feelings I have following this announcement. Clearly, this is a devastating blow to our community and as Mayor, I cannot sit idly by without criticizing the decision.
“Any argument that the lease held by IDOT is too expensive will simply not pass a test of credibility. Everyone in government understands that leases are renegotiable and landlords understand that leases can and should be re-negotiated when times so dictate. Moreover, Springfield, the capital city, has hundreds of thousands of square feet available to house these positions, so economics does not even play into the debate.”
“I call on the governor to reconsider what I believe to be a shortsighted decision. There is more at stake than the state budget here. This decision runs the risk of devastating Springfield families.”
“Our economic viability as a city is at stake, and there is no political alliance that will stand in my way of fighting for the people of the Springfield community.”
*** 11:37 am *** I’m wondering whether this office closure is even legal. Check out the State Facilities Closure Act.
*** 11:58 am *** Oh, man, check out the local Benton Chamber of Commerce membership under retail businesses. Not much there.
And then there’s entertainment.
No doubt that they need some more jobs.
*** 1:04 pm *** Dan Long, the director of the Legislative Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, just told me that this office closure does fall under the State Facilities Closure Act. There will be an opportunity for public input…
Within 10 days after it receives notice of the proposed closure, the Commission, in its discretion, may require the State executive branch officer with jurisdiction over the facility to file a recommendation for the closure of the facility with the Commission. […]
If a recommendation is required by the Commission, a 30‑day public comment period must follow the filing of the recommendation. The Commission, in its discretion, may conduct one or more public hearings on the recommendation.
But all the Commission can do is issue an advisory opinion.
****** 2:19 pm ****** Not surprisingly, IDOT says the Facilities Closure Act doesn’t apply…
“This is a relocation. It is not a closure per se,” said IDOT spokesman Brian Williamsen.
“That’s absurd. That’s absolutely absurd,” said Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield. “The act applies to leased facilities and if they aren’t going to lease it, that’s closing it. The law means nothing to (Gov. Rod Blagojevich).”
Sen. Jeff Schoenberg, D-Evanston, agreed.
“The law explicitly states that the act would indeed apply,” Schoenberg said. “There really isn’t any wiggle room in the law despite the administration’s interpretation.”
Director Long said the same thing when I asked him about this earlier. This falls under the law’s jurisdiction. Period.
[This is getting really long and we have some new information. Comments are now closed on this post. Click on this link for the new updates and comment there instead.]
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Question of the day
Friday, May 2, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Steve Dahl and Ron Santo “debate” in the Tribune today over which Chicago baseball team has the best ballpark.
Dahl’s tongue in cheek piece can be enjoyed here, and Santo’s dreary tome can be scanned here.
* Question: Which Chicago baseball park do you prefer? Explain fully, please.
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Not a banner day in the Senate
Friday, May 2, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Yesterday will not go down in history as the Illinois Senate’s finest moment…
“I need a pay raise. I need a pay raise,” [Senate President Emil Jones] told reporters who asked him about the [salary increase] proposal.
* You wonder if Senate President Jones knows how he comes across to the public when he makes comments like that on the same day that he helped engineer the defeat of a recall proposal and then refused to call the alternative House version for a vote…
Some Illinois Republicans maintained that the Senate’s version was designed to fail because it made so many more public officials, including judges, eligible for recall.
Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock), who sponsored the House proposal, predicted his version of recall would have passed and was denied a “fair shot.”
Franks’ narrower proposal would have only allowed voters to toss out legislators, the governor and other statewide officials.
* Jones said yesterday that Franks admitted the Senate version was superior to the House version and snapped at reporters who asked why he didn’t call the House proposal for a vote.
But at least two of Jones’ own members admitted publicly that they didn’t support the Senate version because it included local officials…
Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville, was among the senators who opposed the recall plan on Thursday.
“My biggest concern was for local officials,” Sullivan said. “I know how difficult it is to get people to run for alderman and for city council and for mayors. This would have created a situation, in my opinion, that would have made that even more difficult.”
Sen. Deanna Demuzio, D-Carlinville, also voted “no” and echoed Sullivan’s comments, saying: “Who would want to take on the responsibilities of running for a local municipality or city in rural Illinois?”
* Other Senate Democrats said they couldn’t support their chamber’s proposal because it included judges. The Tribune’s editorial quotes one of those Senate Dems today…
Even the Senate debate was rushed. But some of it was telling. Sen. John Cullerton voted to deny citizens the right to recall the people they put in office. Cullerton was aghast at the notion of “turning over to an outside entity” the question of whether to recall inept judges.
Yes, you, Illinois voters, are that much-feared “outside entity.”
That’s such a complete lie and/or evidence of gross incompetence that it makes me believe the Trib’s editorial page will do anything it can to smear whoever dares question its authority. Cullerton was referring to the fact that the recall proposal required that the Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board file a complaint against a judge before that judge could be recalled. That’s the “outside entity” he was talking about, not voters. The Tribune needs to retract that utterly false statement.
* The bottom line, though, is that if Franks’ proposal had made it to the floor then a whole lot of Senators would have either voted for it or they would’ve been forced to come up with another excuse. We’ll never know.
* There is a bright side, however. As Dan Johnson-Weinberger wrote over at Illinoize yesterday, the odds of the voters approving a constitutional convention just went up…
The main justification for voting yes on the constitutional convention is now clear: the only practical way to give the electorate an opportunity to improve the Illinois Constitution is through a convention. The General Assembly is not able to improve the Constitution.
* And then there’s this…
“We have a chance to do what we want to do, and that’s impeach the governor of Illinois,” [Sen. Mike Jacobs] said. He called on Blagojevich to “do the right thing” and quit first.
* Related stuff…
* Recall cartoon
* Anticlimactic
* Senate rejects recall proposal
* Recall amendment officially dead, for now
* Recall Amendment Fails In Senate
* Illinois: Voters will not get recall option
* State Senate Kills Recall Amendment
* Recall plan narrowly defeated in Illinois Senate
* Con Con Considerations: Special Election, or Regular?
* A Trip down Memory Lane (con-con version)
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Capital plan funding options
Friday, May 2, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Daily Herald has some comments by Senate GOP Leader Frank Watson about the various funding mechanisms for the capital construction bill being discussed by legislative leaders…
…legislative leaders emerged from closed doors to say they continue to have good discussions on piecing together a multibillion-dollar construction spending program, but how to finance it remains elusive.
Senate President Emil Jones Jr., a Chicago Democrat, emerged to tell reporters everything was on the table, including an income tax increase.
Next out of the governor’s office was Senate Republican leader Frank Watson of downstate Greenville, who promptly said an income tax was off the table.
Watson said lawmakers were discussing raising vehicle fees, selling off a portion of the state lottery and gambling expansion to come up with the needed billions.
“Nothing’s concrete,” he said.
[emphasis added]
As I told you yesterday, Jones said he doesn’t think that gaming expansion will fly because the Senate has passed it twice and Speaker Madigan has not let the proposals move.
I’m curious which of those above options do you prefer to fund the capital plan?
* Meanwhile, despite tons of rumors to the contrary, it doesn’t appear that IDOT completely shut down operations on May 1.
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McQueary examines Ozinga’s Machine ties
Friday, May 2, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Kristen McQueary has a must-read column today on new congressional candidate Martin Ozinga III. She includes his bigtime contributions to Gov. Blagojevich’s campaign fund and details even more…
Ozinga has opened his checkbook for gubernatorial candidates, Chicago aldermen, Mayor Richard Daley, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District officials and city ward organizations.
His company, Ozinga Bros., holds a lucrative and powerful position as the sole provider of concrete for city of Chicago projects. He’s handled the big kahunas: Sox park, Soldier Field and the reconstruction of the Dan Ryan, sending his red-and-white striped trucks to pour ready-made cement wherever needed.
* McQueary then asks whether someone who plays in that sandbox can stay clean. Ozinga replied that he and his family have longtime personal associations with Mayor Daley, and adds…
“He knows we’re Republicans from the south suburbs. Maybe because he knows that, our experience with the city of Chicago has always been straightforward, very professional, regulated and aboveboard. That’s the simple story.”
* Kristen concludes…
After 40 minutes, I wasn’t entirely convinced. For railing against the system, Ozinga is doing pretty well within it, running a multimillion-dollar company and befriending politicians on the charity and fundraising circuit.
But she also looks at the positive side. Go read the whole thing.
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Morning shorts
Friday, May 2, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning
* 105-0: House OKs audit of gov’s $1 mil. church pledge
* Madigan: Cut Illinois American water rates
Madigan and state Rep. Renee Kosel (R-New Lenox) have joined forces to oppose Illinois American’s rate hike request, but the ICC has a history of being generous with utility companies.
* Gov’s ex-aide: I gave Rezko cash
* Ali Ata testifies he paid Rezko, donated to Blagojevich
* Blagojevich got gifts from fundraiser now under indictment
* Rezko trial: ‘He was being watched’
* Hoffman’s name comes up at Rezko trial
* Political threats, hired lobbyists and ward organizing - Children Museum supporters, opponents in high gear
* EPA official ousted while fighting Dow
* Voters and ID cards
* Big splash over probe of suburban mayor’s pool house
* Burt’s back: Natarus now lobbying City Hall
* Stellar public servant should need no defense
* Summer jobs, new city park programs aim to curb youth violence
City Hall will spend $1.5 million to provide 1,000 summer jobs for young people in 10 impoverished neighborhoods with the highest levels of teen violence, the mayor said.
* Daley speech focuses on teen jobs, violence
* Daley ready to slice city spending again
* Public Defender Takes Stroger to Court
* Failed clinic operator on county’s health board list
* Cook Co. commissioner has his say over meeting
“I was there with my vote when they really needed me,” Goslin said. “I voted against 13 different tax increases.”
* Friday Beer Blogging: Bud Lime Edition
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