65 Comments - Six Degrees of Separation - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 2:18 pm: The GOP’s need to tread carefully here, lest they be seen as part of the gov’s enablers (more than they are now, anyway). The need for a capital bill has certainly created more pressure to get it done with each passing year of inaction, and these are seemingly more desperate times as evidenced by unholy alliances that have formed. In today’s climate, the best way to pass a capital bill would be to have a veto-proof majority that can agree on a funding source and can eliminate the potential for amendatory abuse of the legislation, and specific projects written into the bill as a “MOU” codified into law. That’s a pretty tall order. - Thanks for taking my call - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 2:23 pm: Mark my words, Hoffman is going to have a race. Say goodbye to the cool million setting in your account Jay. - Macbeth - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 2:40 pm: Why is the GOP standing by Blagojevich? I’m no pundit, but I assume it’s because they get more traction by sticking *by* him than by standing against him — especially when the democrats are pounding the drums for impeachment. If the GOP were in control of something — anything — they’d drop Blagojevich like a hot potato. But by sticking by him through this weirdness — the gov’s own weirdness — they more powerful than if they’d move to the side of the stage and join the chorus. What they’re doing is as perverted and as despicable as what Madigan is doing — especially since Madigan (and Daley) will do the flip as soon as elections are over. They’ll pretend that Blagojevich is what the state needs after all. “Impeachment? Wha?!” They’ll get all bright shining statesmanlike in six months, hunker down, and then hiss at anyone who dares suggest “impeachment” of their beloved Rod. It’s what happened six months ago. “Impeachment? Don’t be silly.” It’s what will happen six months from now. - Squideshi - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 2:40 pm: IP wrote, “Can someone please explain to me why the House Republicans are standing with Rod Blagojevich to call for this $34 billion capital plan, when nobody trusts him, even in a Democratic district represented by his staunchest ally?” Didn’t I ask essentially this same question here yesterday? - laura - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 2:41 pm: hmm it seems that Gordy Hulten is running Dwight Kay’s campaign website… - Chanson - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 2:43 pm: Perhaps if the Republicans and downstate Democrats would have made wiser decisions, the state would not be in the condition it is. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 2:43 pm: There are gonna be a lot of twists and turns in this race before it’s over. Cross-party, cross-ideology, etc., etc., etc. - Cousin Ralph - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 2:47 pm: It would be interesting to see how Jay polls in his own district. That Jay Hoffman is spending so much time in Chicago defending Blago speaks to how out of touch he is with the people in his own district. Guess his plans dont include representing them after November. Good riddance. - IlliniPundit - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 2:49 pm: “hmm it seems that Gordy Hulten is running Dwight Kay’s campaign website… ” Nope. I built it, but I don’t run it. And I didn’t get the poll from Kay. - IlliniPundit - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 2:52 pm: Added to my post, just to be careful: DISCLAIMER: I built the campaign website for Hoffman’s opponent several months ago, but I don’t have any ongoing involvement with that campaign. I didn’t talk to them about this post, didn’t get any information for it from them, and did not get the poll from the Hoffman’s opponent or his campaign. - laura - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 3:01 pm: Thanks for the disclaimer - wordslinger - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 3:12 pm: How do you break the gridlock on a capital bill? It seems to me you have to remove Blagojevich from the equation. You can do that two ways: 1. Impeachment and conviction, with the former being a much better bet than the latter. Without conviction, you’ve gone nowhere. 2. Something along the lines of what Six Degrees wrote above. To do that, you need Jones and Madigan to craft a plan, possibly based on a real funding source like the income tax, to build a veto-proof majority. What would it take to get Jones to abandon Blago? What would it take to get Jones and Madigan together? - Crystal Clear - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 3:15 pm: IP, etal., You all are sure reading a lot into this article. Its pretty simple, everyone supports a capital bill, but as always, the devil is in the detail. I didn’t read the Governor’s name mentioned in that article, and yet IP says the Republicans are standing with the Governor. Little bit of a stretch, I’d say. - Squideshi - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 3:18 pm: Crystal Clear wrote, “I didn’t read the Governor’s name mentioned in that article, and yet IP says the Republicans are standing with the Governor. Little bit of a stretch, I’d say.” Isn’t it pretty clear that House Republicans, including Tom Cross, have repeatedly attempted to downplay talks of impeachment? - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 3:21 pm: ===yet IP says the Republicans are standing with the Governor=== Well, it’s the governor’s proposal. What more do you want? - Crystal Clear - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 3:22 pm: Squid, I don’t see Tom Cross mentioned in the article either. Still stretching… - Crystal Clear - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 3:24 pm: The article says “a capital plan”, it doesn’t say the Governor’s plan or proposal. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 3:27 pm: Listen, CC, a single article does not contain all the facts in the world. Give it up. - Steve - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 3:30 pm: I don’t see much outrage anywhere in Illinois.Jay Hoffman might be at odds with his district on the Blago impeachment issue but it’s Illinois.His district knew Blago was Public Official A before the last election.This is Illinois,virtually anyone can get elected in Illinois.If the state legislature was so outraged they would have impeached Blago by now. - Crystal Clear - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 3:35 pm: Many House GOP’s are guilty of talking out of both sides of their mouth on a capital bill. I, also agree that Cross and some other House GOP’s should never look like they are standing with the Govenor. My point was simply that this article is not a good example, that’s all. - Easy - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 3:41 pm: In Hoffman’s district they want him impeached 65% to 46%. that’s some fascinating polling math–usually the numbers add up to 100. This time 111. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 3:45 pm: That’s a period not a dash, dingdong. 21.08 say no. Take a breath before posting next time. Thanks. - clark and addison - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 3:58 pm: Standing with the Governor would be to chair his campaign for election in 2006 even after Rezko was indicted like Mike Madigan did. Supporting a capital bill crafted by Poshard and Hastert is not standing with the Governor. By that argument than the Senate Republicans have “stood with the Governor” as well. - Greg - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 4:04 pm: Does anyone think it’s possible that GOPer’s are siding with the gov. because everybody wants a capital plan and knowing full well they aren’t going to get one the GOPer’s believe they can be seen as “for something” while free loading on the guys doing the heavy lifting (saying no to the gov)? - Greg - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 4:05 pm: I meant free riding…not free loading…Sorry. - ImTellenYou - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 4:17 pm: I’m not sure why the Republicans are standing with Blagojevich on the capital plan but has occurred to me that they may not want to see him removed from office. I’m guessing that they feel the best way for the Republican party to get past the stain of George Ryan, is for a battered, indited Governor Blagojevich to be in office, still battling it out with members of his own party, in 2010. Maybe they feel standing with him on this capital plan will further that goal. Just a thought. - Inquiring minds want to know... - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 4:18 pm: Somebody from the press should look into why Jay Hoffman had a bunch of IDOT employees walking precincts for him this past weekend. Many were even from Springfield. Is he worried? When is the last tie Jay was walking in June? LOL!! Are the employees trying to keep jobs, stay in Springfield, etc. - Cousin Ralph - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 4:22 pm: Standing with the Gov right now is like joining the Captain of the Titanic for a night cap, “Beautiful night Skipper, hey what’s that over there…”? The smart ones have previously started to man the life boats. The House Republicans are sending confusing messages to their base at a time when the base believes they dont get it. They are looking for leaders who are principled, clear-thinking and straight-talking. Guys like Kay who is not lost in the political fog in Springfield is going to do very well with voters and will inspire GOP activists in a year where, thus far, they have’nt seemed much enthused. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 4:30 pm: I think Cousin Ralph makes a strong point. The GOP is playing a cynical insider’s game with a wildly unpopular Dem regime under fire for corruption for the promise of table scraps. If someone over there could elevate their game above the fray and propose a sober plan based on realistic, non-gambling-related funding, the contast might resonate. - Ding Dong - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 4:46 pm: During his term, Rod has signed hundreds of bills into law. Does that mean, each time a GOPer voted for one of those they “stood” with Rod? Republicans need to stop looking for reasons to be divisive. Republicans don’t like Rod, they have expressed their displeasure a million times, but the state is crumbling and it needs to be repaired. And does anyone find the hypocrisy in madigan saying he doesn’t trust Rod with capital, but trusts him enough to make $2 billion in cuts? - reasonable 1 - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 4:48 pm: Why can’t everyone just focus on the need for a capital plan instead of who’s teaming up with who? Too many personal agendas and gripes! Waste of time! Like the waste of time spent creating a 14 page memo instead of trying to move Illinois forward! And you gotta love #18 in the memo….”He called me a conservative Republican”….IMPEACH!!!!…..Seriously, get real! - Forgetaboutit! - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 4:48 pm: Blagojevich is bulletproof and made of teflon…. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 4:51 pm: Reasonable 1, is it reasonable to trust the governor with the money? - The Doc - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 4:53 pm: *If someone over there could elevate their game above the fray and propose a sober plan based on realistic, non-gambling-related funding, the contast might resonate.* What would that be? Blago appears to be following Daley’s lead in that he’s looking to liquidate assets not nailed to the ground (lottery). That’s a non-starter. Gambling may be even less likely. So where does that leave us? Income tax increase, a favorite of my state senator, John Cullerton (D-Chicago). If the GA really, truly wants a capital plan, and wants it in short order, stop playing chicken with these pie in the sky retreads. Admit it or remain in denial, but an income tax increase is the only realistic method for funding a capital plan in the current environment. - VanillaMan - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 4:59 pm: “The Mice Counsel” by Aesop LONG ago, the mice had a general council to consider what measures they could take to outwit their common enemy, the Cat. Some said this, and some said that; but at last a young mouse got up and said he had a proposal to make, which he thought would meet the case. “You will all agree,” said he, “that our chief danger consists in the sly and treacherous manner in which the enemy approaches us. Now, if we could receive some signal of her approach, we could easily escape from her. I venture, therefore, to propose that a small bell be procured, and attached by a ribbon round the neck of the Cat. By this means we should always know when she was about, and could easily retire while she was in the neighbourhood.” This proposal met with general applause, until an old mouse got up and said: “That is all very well, but who is to bell the Cat?” The mice looked at one another and nobody spoke. Except for Michael Madigan, the Illinois Democratic Party is full of chatty mice trying to save their tails. Madigan’s memo this week outlines his talking points. When reviewed, the mice all piled on - Madigan. Next week the mice will suggest pulling the cat’s teeth. The following week, the mice will suggest tying the cat’s feet together. But without courage and leadership willing to take a stand against Rod Blagojevich, Illinois Democrats can continue to do a reverse Sparticus; cowering and finger pointing instead of making a stand. - steve schnorf - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 5:01 pm: WS: or, they could be trapped proposing a revenue increase (taxes on what?, or gaming) which would be unpopular, and not get a capital bill done. Worst of both worlds; for a revenue increase and nothing to show for it. Why don’t we ponder why our R party has offered no alternative to Blago’s budget, or to Madigan’s. Answer: there isn’t any good alternative from a political perspective. Either massive (and I mean massive) cuts in spending have to be made, out of education, human services, public saftey and/or medicaid, OR very large new revenue sources have to be legislated, some of them almost certainly facing gubernatorial veto. No one in the leadership of the GA is a fool. If I, leader A, propose cuts large enough to balance the budget, I anger hospitals, docs, dentists, teachers, higher ed, advocates for the disabled, the homeless, etc, etc., and I know right now the cuts aren’t going to happen. So, I’ve angered lots of people and solved no problem that I can hold up in my defense. (How do I know the cuts won’t happen? The Republicans wouldn’t support Madigan’s low budget. Why not? Not enough money for medicaid. It was too low!) Or, suppose I propose enough new revenues to balance the budget? That won’t happen either. Anyone who has paid attention to Madigan at all knows the Gov isn’t going to get $2B in new money to spend thru the Illinois House. Once again, worst of both worlds. I’ve put my members in favor of taxes or expanded gaming, and I still don’t have a balanced budget to show for it. I’m not a leader any more, and it doesn’t matter much because my caucus has just taken big losses in the 2008 elections, and because of my great strategic move, I wear the jacket for it. In a crude nutshell, that’s the budget /political problem we can’t solve. And so there’s a very hot potato out there (we used to call it a much more crude name), and no one wants it to end up in their hands. BTW, I think Madigan did the political process a very great favor (unfortunately, the media don’t seem to realize it at all.) He showed people what a budget would look like if it was balance from the spending side, and no one could support it. - A Citizen - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 5:06 pm: No sane entity seriously contemplates putting $34 Billion Dollars within the reach of guv. A more reasonable amount, say $5 Billion this year then repeat in a year or two makes more sense from a control and accountability standpoint. These projects can’t be accomplished in one year AND they can’t nor do they need to spend the $34 Billion in one year. Pare this sucker down to a reasonable amount and give it a try. Set rational priorities and systematically accomplish them - one package at a time. - Kendall County - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 5:13 pm: Everything will be better once Tom Cross is elected Governor of Illinois. Jay Hoffman can switch parties. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 5:20 pm: LOL. Good one. - Selene - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 5:33 pm: Its ridiculous to say the repubs are standing “with” the Gov. Looks liek another tiresome effort to break the coalition formed to pass a capital bill. The repubs, like the Senate Dems, are working WITH the Gov and FOR the people. That is something Madigan refuses to do. As many have said, it’s all about him. Many people are suffering because he will not work with everyone else. Impeach HIM! He’s the one putting our economy at risk. - Princeville - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 5:34 pm: Anybody got any ideas what the undisclosed billions are for? –The final spending package included new road projects ($5.6 billion), school construction ($4.1 billion), public universities ($1 billion), and community colleges ($300 million). Additional billions of dollars are dedicated to private colleges, sewer and water projects, energy development, airports, rail, mass transit, state facilities, health care facilities, civic centers, affordable housing, open space, and technology. Of particular concern were lump sum appropriations of $1 billion for “urban revitalization” and $500 million for “new initiatives” that were not disclosed. [Illinois Manufactures’Association, Springfield Highlights 2 June 2008, article Greed, Lack of Trust Kill the Capital Infrastructure Bill] And also, if the state were indeed of danger of losing the federal funds which tie to transit and roads, why not a CP that focus smaller on just these items to get the ball rolling? I guess I’m being a simpleton today, but what I see is the state is in dire conditions , it can’t pay it’s old bills, it can’t deal with the pensions, it can’t treat it’s workers with an ounce of of respect in dealing with a fair contract, it may cut large amounts of funding from programs that help citizens, but it can give Rickey and Emil raises, can protect pet programs that fall into the governor’s personal prioirty agendas and it can fund civic centers and billions of dollars for undisclosed items in the CP. There has to be something somewhere that I’m just not understanding. - A Citizen - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 5:42 pm: - Princeville - No, I think you understand - It’s a shell game, three card monty, smoke and mirrors. “Trust Me, Trust Me !” - Squideshi - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 5:50 pm: Kendall County, “Everything will be better once Tom Cross is elected Governor of Illinois.” I personally like Tom Cross as a person–even if I may disagree with many of his positions, it at least seems like he’s willing to listen and consider. - left of here - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 5:54 pm: I wonder why Kay’s campaign didn’t give IP their poll numbers from the Jay vs Kay poll. I am guessing Kay got about 25%. - A Citizen - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 6:59 pm: Cross, Watson, Emil, MM, and guv should all take a month off and in their place serving with full powers place some boy/girl scouts. We would be better for it - Check out the scouts’ pledges! If they govern in conformance with those we would have statesmen/women and accomplishments to be truly proud of. When and why did the incumbents become so jaded and disillusioned? Unacceptable. - OAD - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 7:04 pm: The GOP plan, by the numbers: 1. Capitol Plan. 2. Impeachment. 3. ???? 4. Profit! - Observer 2 - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 7:13 pm: I can’t wait for Republican and Democrat Day at the fair this year! To paraphrase the philosopher Flounder, “This is gonna be greeeaaaat!!!!!” - Timmy OToole - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 7:40 pm: Gordy, your blog post still seems shady seeing as though you have at least SOME connection to Hoffmans opponent. All the Leaders are united except SPEAKER MADIGAN. Maybe you should spend more time concentrating on him. - 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 8:27 pm: Princeville asked “Anybody got any ideas what the undisclosed billions are for?” For about $1 billion of that, my understanding is that Sen. Ricky Hendon said he’d tell us later. Presumably once he and the governor decide. - Kremlinologist - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 8:34 pm: Q: “Can someone please explain to me why the House Republicans are standing with Rod Blagojevich to call for this $34 billion capital plan, when nobody trusts him, even in a Democratic district represented by his staunchest ally?” A: “The enemy of my enemy is my friend”. As much as they hate Rod, the House repubs hate Madigan more. Since they don’t have enough votes to really control anything, they settle for the next best thing, sticking it to Mike where they can, and sowing more dissent and delay in hopes the voters get ticked off enough to vote them back in. They can sit back and say “we were in the back seat, blame the driver up front”. Even though they are the ones arguing like kids in the back and asking “are we there yet?” over and over. What’s missing is a strong adult to threaten to turn the car around and take everybody back home unless they STHU and GBTW. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 8:35 pm: To ‘Inquiring minds want to know’, you can bet your last dollar that the IDOT employees walking precincts for Jay Hoffman did it to keep their jobs. I have been at IDOT for 25 years and I have never seen more unqualified inept do-nothing political folks in my life. They are ‘quite the embarrassment’. Jay Hoffman has ‘appointed’ the majority of the political employees at IDOT in his district - it’s almost like the ATT friends and family telephone plan. - Truth - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 8:43 pm: If Representative Hoffman spends all summer in Springfield or Chicago negotiating a new budget or a capital bill, his race may get uncomfortably close. Kay can pound away. Punkin will be hard to beat, but with all the ammunition his opponent has, it sure would be fun to work on that one. Hopefully, this guy Kay has enough skill to make it close. - anon - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 9:06 pm: So somebody spent the money to run a poll in Hoffman’s district in June. And the results show Blago is hated in that Dem District. Since Cross and his crew aint got the cash to do it, it means Jay parted with some of his own funds to find out how bad things are, Madigan popped for a poll to find out how vulnerable Jay is, or some big players are taking a serious look at Jay’s opponent, Dwight Kaye, a business exec of one of the largest employers in the District. Whether it was Jay, Madigan or some sophisticated political entity, the poll proves to all sides that Jay is in trouble. Jay’s stock has gone from buy to sell and Kaye’s stock has gone from dont buy to accumulate. - IlliniPundit - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 10:05 pm: “I wonder why Kay’s campaign didn’t give IP their poll numbers from the Jay vs Kay poll. I am guessing Kay got about 25%. “ This is the complete poll. The head-to-head question wasn’t asked. It wasn’t given to me by Kay’s campaign. “Gordy, your blog post still seems shady seeing as though you have at least SOME connection to Hoffmans opponent. All the Leaders are united except SPEAKER MADIGAN. Maybe you should spend more time concentrating on him. “ Sorry you feel that way. My blog is so locally focused that if Rich hadn’t linked to it here, I doubt anyone connected to Hoffman would have even noticed it. And I’m quite comfortable with my decision to criticize the Governor and his allies for failing to keep multiple promises to fund renovations to Lincoln Hall. If the Speaker breaks a promise of that magnitude which impacts the UI so drastically, I’ll criticize him just as harshly. It doesn’t take too much investigating to find out that I’m no Madigan stooge - just go to my site and search for posts about our local House Democrat, Rep. Naomi Jakobsson. Thanks. - Quizzical - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 10:44 pm: Kremlinologist: Very good! What’s happening in Emil’s car? - Country boy - Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 12:25 am: Hey “Inquiring Minds…”Its my understanding via a little birdie that a lot more than just IDOT employees were in Hoffman’s district. other agencies and their employees in springfield/Central ILL were represented there too. How many, don’t have the slightest idea. Now there’s a story waitin’ to be written, ya’ll! - left of here - Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 6:12 am: Inquiring Minds and Country boy—Whats the story? State employees working on a campaign on their DAY OFF? That happens every election cycle, hell under Big Jim and Big E they did it on State time! - Rich Miller - Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 8:40 am: left of here has a valid point. There’s nothing illegal or unethical about state employees using their day off to campaign for Hoffman, as long as nobody was promised anything governmental in return. - Squideshi - Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 11:35 am: Observer 2 wrote, “I can’t wait for Republican and Democrat Day at the fair this year!” It will be interesting to see how the State Fair Association, which is taxpayer funded, discriminates against ONE of the THREE legally established major political parties in the state. So far, I haven’t heard anything about a Green Day. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 11:37 am: ===So far, I haven’t heard anything about a Green Day.=== Well, why don’t you do something about it? - wordslinger - Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 11:39 am: Green Day is going to be at the fair? Beats Weird Al. - Country boy - Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 6:07 pm: “Left of here” and Rich, I actually agree; there is absolutely nothing wrong with state employees doing this on their day off or even in the evenings after work. I just wonder if Hoffman has called in the troops before to walk his precincts. I guess that’s the point I failed to make or expressly mention. frankly, I think Hoffman is somewhat worried, and that is why he had so many loyals with him that Saturday, given his this/close relationship to the guv. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 6:25 pm: They’ve been out there before, but he knows the storm is coming. He may not know the extent of it yet, but he knows something’s afoot. - Lynn S. - Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 10:45 pm: I am someone who reads and posts at illinipundit.com, and I can guarantee you Gordy is no fan of Mike Madigan, Emil Jones, or Rod Blagojevich. From what I’ve seen, he’s a pretty solid Republican (even if he did support Giuliani!). - IlliniPundit - Friday, Jun 20, 08 @ 10:22 am: Heh. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.