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Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* 3:50 pm - The House has adjourned until tomorrow citing the lack of any bills to debate.

The Senate Dems and Repubs are caucusing until 4:15.

* 5:05 pm - The Senate Rules Committee just popped the pay raise resolution onto the floor. Sen. Hendon claimed the House’s inaction on capital and school funding meant that this was not a good time for raises.

So, it appears that the pay raises may be dead. A vote is expected in minutes.

* 5:40 pm - 47-0-3 the pay raises are rejected.

45 Comments

Caption contest!

Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

Winner gets a free classified ad or calendar posting at InsiderzExchange.

124 Comments

Question of the day

Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The setup…

One of the House Democrats’ point people on education, Rep. Mike Smith of Canton, announced that he’ll host a series of public hearings to consider a proposal to abolish property taxes for school funding by 2010. It’s been floated by Sen. James Meeks, a Chicago Democrat who previously threatened to run against Blagojevich for governor in the absence of education funding reforms. Meeks didn’t run, but he also didn’t get what he wanted.

* The question: Do you favor allowing the property tax for schools to “sunset” in 2010 to force the General Assembly to come up with another funding alternative?

Note: This is not necessarily about abolishing the property tax for schools. They may renew it, at least partially. This is about the sunsetting tactic. Will it work? Should it be tried? Explain.

68 Comments

Pay raise vote this week?

Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Don’t get your hopes up too high…

Senate President Emil Jones has had a change of heart and will allow an up-or-down vote on legislative pay raises this week.

Jones, a Chicago Democrat, told Sen. Susan Garrett, D-Lake Forest, Friday that he will give the chamber a chance to accept or reject the raises when senators meet today and Wednesday in special sessions called by Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

“He made a commitment to call the pay raise for an up-or-down vote,” Garrett said Monday. “I take him at his word on that.”

The commitment was for an up or down vote, but not specifically on the resolution to reject the pay raises. Jones’ people floated alternative ideas back in May. Plus, there’s a lot of backroom maneuvering going on right now. Stay tuned.

The rising number of editorials and public awareness of this issue means any further games could backfire in a big way. So, maybe they will vote to reject the raises, but maybe not. Attendance won’t be high in the Senate this week, so one never knows.

But if they do vote to reject the raises, then Comptroller Dan Hynes is off the hook. Hynes has refused to say yet whether the pay raises kick in this week. The Senate Democrats claim that the pay raises won’t take effect this week because special session days don’t impact the 30-day deadline that the chamber has to reject the raises.

* I told you yesterday that Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn was protesting outside the governor’s City Club speech demanding that the Senate reject the pay raises.

Senate President Jones was not amused…

Outside of the banquet hall where Jones and Blagojevich appeared in Chicago, Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn, a Democrat who opposes the pay raises, warned that the hikes could take effect this week, which Jones branded as incorrect and “stupid.”

As Jones entered the restaurant, he looked at the well-known Quinn and said, “What’s your name?”

* Related…

* Quinn leads pay raise picket at gov’s speech - Jones indicates he may be willing to allow vote on increase

* Comptroller says no money for politician pay hikes

* Bigger payday delayed? Lawmakers salary bump might not happen … yet

* Who Needs Graft when there’s just plain Greed?

* True grit Blagoville . . .

15 Comments

Presumptive hubris

Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* This is a bit presumptuous of him, don’t you think?

Calling Jones one of his most loyal friends, Blagojevich added, “Emil and I are homeboys, man. … There are times I consider myself the first African-American governor of Illinois.”

Bill Clinton never actually called himself the first black president. That was left to others. For Blagojevich to say that really shows you something about him.

* And then there’s this Blagojevich quote from yesterday…

“I give me high marks for being willing to compromise.”

Except that when the does compromise nobody can accept his word.

The governor continued with this interpretation of how the House Democrats respond to his compromising attitude…

“If I say it’s day outside, they’ll tell me it’s night. If I say it’s Friday, they’ll say it’s Monday,” he said.

Perhaps because they’ve been lied to so often.

* He continued…

The governor dismissed the suggestion that his public swipes at Madigan serve to make their relations even frostier.

“I have nothing but love in my heart,” he said.

Maybe, but what comes out of his mouth can’t be construed as “love.”

42 Comments

Governor Bigshot

Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Addicts are being kicked into the street, hospitals and nursing homes will have to wait months to be reimbursed for their services, the governor claims that the state’s budget is $2 billion out of whack.

Yet, there he was playing the big shot at the Kerry Wood Strike Zone fund-raiser last week…

The biggest draw at the Kerry Wood Strike Zone fund-raiser Wednesday night wasn’t one of the star athletes — it was Mark Cuban.

Fans swarmed outside 10Pin Bowling Lounge, 330 N. State, and when Cuban stepped outside they rushed him for autographs. “I can’t really say anything,” he told reporters when asked about his bid to buy the Chicago Cubs. “I just love Chicago.” […]

Gov. Blagojevich came with his 12-year-old daughter Amy, a major fan who likes to call pitches when she watches games with her dad. […]

The party raised about $360,000, which is being matched in a state grant by the governor, to benefit the Organic Food Project. The money will go to supply healthy lunches to students at Louisa May Alcott Elementary School, 2625 N. Orchard, for a year.

The governor just pulled that announcement out of his hat, according to people I know who were there. It was a total surprise.

The charity is a good one. No disputing that. But how about pulling some cash out of the hat for programs that have already been slashed?

33 Comments

Morning Shorts

Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning

* Former state lawmaker Maureen Murphy dies

A private burial will be held this week. A memorial Mass will be said at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Queen of Martyrs Catholic Church at 103rd Street and Central Park Avenue. For an hour before the Mass, there will be a visitation with family members.

* Meeks solicits support for school boycott plan

* A school boycott, or not?

* Evanston amends its gun-ban law

Following on the heels of a Supreme Court decision that held that a blanket ban on handguns violated 2nd Amendment rights, Evanston’s City Council voted 7-1 Monday night to amend the North Shore suburb’s weapons ordinance to conform to the landmark court ruling.

* Feds kick in $2M to fight gangs

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Weisman, who heads Projects Safe Neighborhoods program in Chicago, said the $2 million pledge will go a long way in building on an already successful program.

* Chevy Tahoes to give police fleet a new look

* Chicago’s top cop to rank and file: you’d better measure up

* Police Remember ‘68 Convention

* Thanks, CTA…No Really, Thanks

* Monster trains coming down the tracks?

* Republican Day at the State Fair

* Constitutional Convention Divides Like-Minded Allies

* Why write-in candidate will challenge Phil Hare

13 Comments

Morning video - Happy birthday, Vanessa!

Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Today is my daughter Vanessa’s birthday, so this one’s for her…

There could never be a father
Who loved his daughter more than I love you

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Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

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