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Friday, May 9, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Have a fantastic Mother’s Day, whether you are a mother or have one. Make sure to stop by Illinoize for more commentary and check out our new project InsiderzExchange - classifieds, calendars and more. We’re still giving it a few minor tweaks, but it’s ready for a weekend run.

* This was my mother’s favorite song when I was a kid, and it was recently given an update by Vanessa Amorosi…

But it’s wisdom born of pain

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Mother’s Day

Friday, May 9, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

It’s been kind of a raucous day on the blog, what with all the craziness in Springfield, so let’s change gears a bit this afternoon.

I wrote about a fond memory of my mom the other day. Now, it’s your turn. Since this is a state politics site, I’m wondering how your moms influenced your political beliefs, practices, etc. Or, you can just say something nice.

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - COWL Cabaret photos

Friday, May 9, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Cole; Krause-Kotowski-Murphy; Pankau; Veterans (Use all caps in password)

Friday, May 9, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Question of the day

Friday, May 9, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I received one of those chain e-mail jokes today. I don’t get many of these (please, don’t “help” me get more) so I don’t know how old this one is, but I thought I’d use it as the setup to our Question of the Day. It’s been edited for length…

Why did the chicken cross the road?

BARACK OBAMA:
The chicken crossed the road because it was time for a CHANGE! The chicken wanted CHANGE!

JOHN MC CAIN:
My friends, that chicken crossed the road because he recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all the chickens on the other side of the road.

HILLARY CLINTON:
When I was First Lady, I personally helped that little chicken to cross the road. This experience makes me uniquely qualified to ensure — right from Day One! — that every chicken in this country gets the chance it deserves to cross the road. But then, this really isn’t about me…….

PAT BUCHANAN:
To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American.

JERRY FALWELL:
Because the chicken was gay! Can’t you people see the plain truth?’ That’s why they call it the ‘other side.’ Yes, my friends, that chicken is gay. And if you eat that chicken, you will become gay too. I say we boycott all chickens until we sort out this abomination that the liberal media whitewashes with seemingly harmless phrases like ‘the other side.’ That chicken should not be crossing the road. It’s as plain and as simple as that.

BILL CLINTON:
I did not cross the road with THAT chicken. What is your definition of chicken?

COLONEL SANDERS:
Did I miss one?

DICK CHENEY:
Where’s my gun?

* Question: How would our state’s leaders answer the eternal question: “Why did the chicken cross the road?”

…Adding… Notice, I said “leaders” with an “s.” Try to come up with answers for as many people as possible, please. Thanks.

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The fun never ends

Friday, May 9, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Gov. Blagojevich was in southern Illinois yesterday for a highway renaming ceremony and was asked about the controversy about moving almost 150 IDOT jobs from Springfield to Benton…

“All I know is there will be 150 new jobs and I’m really excited about it.”

“New” as in “new” for Sen. Gary Forby’s district, but those aren’t “new” jobs. He’s just moving them around.

* Sen. Forby has the quote of the week…

Forby said he doesn’t know why the administration would announce a move without a site in mind.

“That’s the governor’s office,” he said. “I don’t have a clue.”

Neither do we, Gary. Neither do we.

* Meanwhile, on another topic - the governor’s absence from the annual Holocaust memorial service - but on the same frame of reference, the State Journal-Register admits…

We have given up trying to figure out this governor’s motivations.

* Pretty funny, but then they try again anyway…

We have a fairly good idea why he couldn’t be bothered with Wednesday’s Holocaust ceremony. The Hall of Representatives in the Old State Capitol does not provide a secret exit through which the governor could make a hasty retreat and avoid questions from pesky reporters. The governor these days rarely appears in venues where he can’t conveniently avoid any unscripted public contact.

* Meanwhile, the governor has said a capital bill is his top priority, but Sen. Dale Risinger claims the guv has been shafting the state’s Road Fund, which means less cash now for roads and bridges…

About $370 million typically used to be diverted out of the road fund each year and into the budgets of agencies that deal with roads, such as the Illinois State Police or the Secretary of State’s Office, Risinger said.

But he said the Blagojevich administration has made $4.2 billion worth of road fund diversions between fiscal years 2004 and 2009. If road fund diversions had remained at their typical level, the combined amount in that period would have been about $2.2 billion, he said.

* And then there’s this…

The AFSCME report claimed [state] employees are overworked to maintain minimal operational integrity at 24-hour facilities. The report also disclosed that the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Human Services and Department of Corrections collectively spent $62 million in overtime in a year. “When our members came to work in the state of Illinois, they signed up for public service, not for servitude,” said Henry Bayer, executive director of AFSCME Council 31. “All too many of them are forced to work two and even three 16-hour shifts in one week’s time.”

* The administration’s response?

Kelley Quinn, budget spokeswoman for Gov. Rod Blagojevich, said the governor’s office is trying to recruit for positions such as nurses at veterans’ homes.

“We aggressively try to fill those positions, but they are difficult to fill,” Quinn said.

She forgot to add “they are difficult to fill because we don’t have any political friends with those qualifications,” or something like that.

Quinn does have a point that the state can operate more efficiently with less workers. I’d like to see a study, however, of how many contractors were hired - and at what cost - to fill the gaps created by that 2002 early retirement deal which emptied out so many state offices.

* Somewhat related…

* Union for state workers wants mandatory overtime eliminated - Members of AFSCME throw support behind contract clause, legislation…

* Republicans propose moratorium on closing Illinois prisons

* Tribune editorial: Prison blues

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Yet another banner day in the Illinois Senate *** UPDATED x2 ***

Friday, May 9, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Things got ugly in the Senate yesterday…

A Senate panel unanimously approved a ban on “pay-to-play” for state contractors Thursday despite a last-minute threat from Senate President Emil Jones to add a provision proponents said would derail the legislation.

Jones (D-Chicago) wants to amend the bill to make it impossible for all statewide officials to get campaign cash from contractors that do at least $50,000 in business with any of the state’s six constitutional officers. Under Jones’ version, a company that gets a contract from the governor couldn’t give campaign cash to the treasurer, for example.

That would be a change from a bipartisan agreement lawmakers announced last week after more than a year of dickering. The lawmakers’ version would ban companies that hold or seek at least $50,000 in business from contributing to the campaigns of the office-holder who actually awards the contract.

* And a congressional candidate was put in the middle…

Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson (D- Crete), who helped negotiate the pay-to-play deal, said she has no intention of letting Jones tinker with the bill.

“He knows better,” said Halvorson, a congressional candidate whom Jones recently kicked off the powerful rules committee. “[The amendment] will not be put on there because that kills it over in the [House], and I wouldn’t vote for it over here.”

* Is this the explanation? Really?

Cindi Canary, director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, believes Jones is just making noise to ensure the Senate gets proper credit for its contributions to the legislation. The House adopted the idea more than a year ago but it has been intensely negotiated between the chambers since.

* And then things got a bit weirder…

Saying he’s tired of the House “pimping” the Senate, Sen. Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago) said he’ll try to change a bill so lawmakers who vote against raises won’t get the extra cash.

Hendon said it’s unfair for House members who vote against the raise to get the extra pay if the Senate allows raises to take effect.

He said he’s tired of the House ‘’pimping us.'’

* And weirder…

Hendon also took issue with state Sen. Susan Garrett, a Lake Forest Democrat who was leading the push to reject the raises.

“People should not miss out on the fact that she’s a millionaire. She don’t need it. Have you seen her house? Mind-boggling,” Hendon said. “So it just blows my mind how the filthy rich are always the ones saying, we don’t need the raise. No, she don’t.”

* And weirder…

In the middle of Garrett talking to reporters, Senate President Emil Jones Jr., a Chicago Democrat who supports the raises, walked past and loudly quipped that he needed to get some food stamps.

* Would you like some audio? You would? Well here you go. ~~Click on the links if the audio player doesn’t work for you…~~ UPDATE: Y’all were killing my server, so I’ve moved the files to a new server and deleted the audio player…

* Sen. Hendon attacks…

* Sen. Garrett responds…

* Sen. Jones wants foodstamps…

[Thanks to the Daily Herald for the audio clips. The paper now has the audio files on its own site as well.]

Try to avoid just teeing off on individual legislators in comments. It gets boring after a while and we’ve all heard it before. Be a bit original, please. Thanks.

*** UPDATE *** Per a request by a commenter, I’ve trimmed Jones’ “foodstamps” comment and converted it into some ringtone files. Click to download…

* mp3

* WAV

* OGG

Enjoy.

*** UPDATE 2 *** These were cleaned up by John at AgriTalk…

* mp3

* WAV

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Morning Shorts

Friday, May 9, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Businessman tries to force Rezko bankruptcy

* Energy Department defends power-plant plan

* Lake County Circuit Court judges have unanimously elected a new chief judge.

* Stroger closer to firing county public defender

* Stroger scheduled to attend bioterror drill at Sears Centre

Cook County Board President Todd Stroger backed out of a appearance in Palatine last week, but he’s got another Northwest suburban visit on his calendar for next week.

* William Beavers asks Earl Dunlap: Do you own a suit?

* Would the capital city be able to gamble on racing?

Harness racing up to nine months a year at the Illinois State Fairgrounds could help raise money for fairground improvements and the Sangamon County emergency dispatch system, according to Rep. Raymond Poe

* Sun-Times, Trib see ad revenue drop

Tribune Co. reported a $1.82 billion profit in the first quarter due entirely to its conversion into a federally tax-free operation

* Press Release: Illinois AG Madigan Bill Requires Lenders To Provide Info To Help Struggling Homeowners Avoid Foreclosure

* Lawsuit seeks $24 million in I-64 crash that killed two sisters - State trooper slammed into their vehicle

* Suspected embezzler pleads not guilty

A former Illinois treasurer’s office employee accused of embezzling $750,000 in taxpayer funds - a good portion of it Pekin Hospital’s money - pleaded not guilty Tuesday in federal court in Springfield.

* Gray gets his day, his highway

* Friday Beer Blogging: PBR Rules the Week Edition

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CONGRATS TO KEVIN AND PAUL

Friday, May 9, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

Morning Shorts will be a bit late today because I’m doing it myself. My intern Kevin Fanning is graduating from the University of Illinois (Champaign) this weekend. He’ll be back Monday.

Paul Richardson, my intern from last year, is also graduating this weekend with a master’s degree. He’s heading to Loyola Law School this fall, and he may be in Springfield next week for a visit.

I’ll leave comments open so you can congratulate them both.