ARG has Obama up by just 6 points here
Thursday, Sep 18, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Keep in mind that these are “likely” voters, and we don’t know whether American Research Group’s screen will be successful, but here’s the latest Illinois poll…
Likely voters
McCain 45%
Obama 51%
Obama 1%
Undecided 4%
* Background and the question…
Interview dates: September 13-16, 2008
Sample size: 600 likely voters
Margin of error: ± 4 percentage points, 95% of the time
Question wording and responses:
If the general election were being held today between John McCain for president and Sarah Palin for vice president, the Republicans, and Barack Obama for president and Joe Biden for vice president, the Democrats, for whom would you vote - McCain and Palin, Obama and Biden (names rotated), or someone else?
* From the AP…
A new poll of voters in the eight states home to Big Ten universities shows Barack Obama and John McCain in an extraordinarily tight race for the presidency.
The first Big Ten Battleground Poll shows the candidates are in a statistical tie in seven of the states _ Ohio, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana and Pennsylvania. Obama leads comfortably in his home state of Illinois.
The survey was based on interviews with 600 randomly selected registered voters in each of the states. It is co-directed by University of Wisconsin-Madison political scientists Charles Franklin and Ken Goldstein with help from colleagues from participating universities.
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Senate is coming back for ethics vote. More in a few minutes.
* 2:04 pm - Statement of Senate President Emil Jones…
“I plan to call the Senate back into session to deal with the issue of ethics - only at the request of my friend Barack Obama. I still stand by our interpretation of the 15-day rule.”
No session date has yet been set, but the Senate has until Thursday to vote on the amendatory veto override and stay within the 15 day time limit that began when the House overrode the governor’s AV.
* 2:08 pm - I asked specifically if the somewhat vague statement means that the ethics bill veto override will be called for a vote and was told by Senate President Jones’ spokesperson that Jones has committed to the bill’s sponsor to allow an override vote to take place.
* 2:15 pm - From the Tribune…
Jones spokeswoman Cindy Davidsmeyer said other issues also are expected to be addressed next week but would not elaborate.
When they come back, they’ll also have to deal with the over veto overrides approved by the House. Plus, since they’ll be in session, they’ll have to deal with the governor’s vetoes of Senate bills - and that includes another ethics bill.
Also, there is huge pressure on the Senate to approve funding to keep state parks and historic sites open, and to restore money to slashed programs like alcohol and substance abuse services.
* 2:40 pm - From Gatehouse…
The governor announced today he’ll bring both the House and Senate into special session starting at 1 p.m. Monday.
Blagojevich’s statement announcing the session indicated he wants lawmakers to consider legislation that would “improve transparency in Springfield,” such as passing the major ethics rewrite he proposed last month.
“We have an opportunity to enact real ethics reform in Illinois that will cover all elected officials and help end the conflicts of interests that are inherent in Springfield politics,” Blagojevich said in a statement.
* 2:53 pm - Here’s the governor’s press release…
Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich will be
calling a special session on Monday, Sept. 22, in an
effort to bring real ethics reform to Illinois. The
governor will be asking the General Assembly to
consider legislation that would improve transparency
in Springfield.
“I am calling the House and the Senate back in to
address the issue of true ethics reform in the State
of Illinois,” Gov. Blagojevich said. “We have an
opportunity to enact real ethics reform in Illinois
that will cover all elected officials and help end
the conflicts of interests that are inherent in
Springfield politics.
I am asking the General Assembly to follow my lead
and ban the practice of “pay to play” politics and
then go a step further and bring about more reform by
banning the tradition of double dipping, revamping
the dishonest way pay raises are given out and by
shining a light on legislators who use their
influence to lobby before other boards and
commissions,” said Governor Blagojevich.
The Special Session will convene Sept. 22 at 1 p.m.
* 3:10 pm - As of right now, the secretary of state has not received any official notice of a special session from Gov. Blagojevich.
* 3:13 pm - Interesting…
[Jones spokesperson Cindy Davidsmeyer] said she did not know if Jones was aware of Blagojevich’s special session plans before they were announced. Quinn said Jones now doesn’t have to call the Senate back himself, but she didn’t know if the governor and Jones had talked plans before announcing them.
The Senate had not set a date and time to return next week because schedules with legislators were still being worked out. Davidsmeyer said it’s possible the Senate could take up ethics and other issues – including reversing budget cuts made by the governor – on Monday, “but that’s a lot to do in one day,” she said.
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Question of the day
Thursday, Sep 18, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* You’ve probably seen or heard about this already…
Chicago: City of big - and perhaps, tight - shoulders.
Using a formula that includes unemployment, pollution and congestion,
Forbes magazine has ranked us as America’s most stressful city.
…according to Forbes: “With 7.3 percent unemployment and a gallon of gas going for just under four bucks, the Windy City has some economic headwinds that result in a perfect storm for stress. Chi-town’s pollution problems (No. 7 in poor air quality) and lack of breathing room (No. 2 in population density) couple to create a Midwestern Molotov cocktail of stress.”
* The question: Are you stressed? About what?
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No word yet
Thursday, Sep 18, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Tribune caught up with Senate President Emil Jones last night and asked him about the phone call he received yesterday from Barack Obama urging him to reconvene the Senate and take up the ethics legislation…
Whether that phone call will have any impact on Jones remained unclear.
Stepping outside a Senate Democratic fundraiser at a Chicago hotel Wednesday evening to smoke, Jones was asked whether Obama’s input would sway him.
“Come on, please, please, please, please, I’m here doing other stuff now. I’m not talking to [anyone] in the press,” Jones replied.
Illinois lawmakers passed legislation to ban contributors who have or seek contracts worth at least $50,000 from giving to statewide officials who dole out the business.
He told me a bit more than that, but you’ll have to subscribe to see it. Suffice to say, we still don’t know what Jones will do.
* Eric Zorn blogged today about the ethics bill, the amendatory veto, the House’s override and the Senate’s refusal (so far) to return to session within 15 calendar days of the House’s action…
Here’s a chance for Blagojevich to force the legislative process to work as it’s supposed to; to get beyond the petty sniping, strike a blow for representative democracy and call the Senate into special session before the deadlin
He asked the governor’s spokesman, Lucio Guerrero, whether Blagojevich would do so…
“I think it’s still a bit premature on that,” [Guerrero] wrote back. “We have been working with some legislators on ethics packages and will see how those negotiations go before deciding.”
Zorn wasn’t impressed.
After a bit, Guerrero wrote back to Zorn, and he updated the post…
What you fail to tell your readers is that the Governor has already banned anyone from doing business with the state to contribute to him - and to any other elected official. He did it through Executive Order. I am not sure why you would leave that out. The Executive Order is law starting Jan 1 and eliminated “pay to play” politics from everyone - from the Governor to the General Assembly.
Zorn fired back, saying, in part…
critics contend the order doesn’t have the weight of law because the governor can rescind it at any time. One can agree — as I do — with some of the proposals in the amendatory veto while still disagreeing strongly with the way he is using the amendatory veto to advance them
It’s more than that. I’ve been talking with some legal experts this week, including at the attorney general’s office, who say that the governor’s EO is clearly unconstitutional. The Constitution’s only reference of executive orders has to do with agency reorganization, but using an EO to ban contractors at state agencies from making lawful contributions to political candidates doesn’t seem to fit with that language.
* Related…
* NEW: Boisterous crowd decries social-services cuts in Urbana
* Reconvene the Senate Now
* SJ-R: Bring Senate back now to OK ethics bill
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Is the apology enough?
Thursday, Sep 18, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* There are worse scandals in the world, but it doesn’t excuse this behavior…
Before Tammy Duckworth, the state’s director of Veterans Affairs, headlined a campaign event Wednesday for a north suburban congressional candidate, she scheduled a day off from work to avoid violating a state law prohibiting government employees from politicking on the public’s dime. […]
But when Duckworth drove up to the event for Democrat Dan Seals in a state-owned white Dodge van, she violated another law banning the use of state property or resources for political purposes. By the time the event was over, the van had been moved out of sight of the Wheeling AMVETS Post 66 building, where reporters gathered to hear her endorse Seals.
That was a stupid thing to do, and her spokesperson told reporters later that it was a mistake…
“She will reimburse the state for the use of the state vehicle, and will not make this mistake again,” said Jessica Woodward, a Veterans Affairs spokeswoman.
But that didn’t stop Seals’ opponent, GOP Rep. Mark Kirk, from pouncing…
“It is worrying to see a Blagojevich staffer showing up in a state of Illinois car, when it appears to be a direct violation of the law,” said Kirk, a four-term incumbent who represents the North Shore’s 10th District.
What’s more worrying for me is that the Blagojevich administration has been accused in the past of ignoring or deliberately violating veterans hiring preference laws in order to hire political hacks. We haven’t heard much about that since Duckworth, a decorated war veteran and former congressional candidate, started working for the administration.
But, really, she should’ve known better.
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Note to subscribers and readers
Thursday, Sep 18, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
I’ve been using my laptop this week whilst in Chicago and it’s killing me. I hadn’t used the machine in a while, and it’s kinda outdated, so I didn’t realize when I got here that it would take three times as long to write, review and publish/post.
Sorry about that, but please be patient.
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About those park and site closings…
Thursday, Sep 18, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* In an “exclusive” report, the Associated Press tells us what most of us already knew: The governor has never visited a state park and most state historic sites…
Gov. Rod Blagojevich won’t know what he missed when two dozen state parks and historic sites shut down because of budget cuts.
That’s because he’s never visited them, according to Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guerrero.
“A lot of people haven’t been, I mean the decision to close them are based on attendance figures not on whether the governor likes them or not,” Guerrero said.
Actually, I’m not so sure the closure decisions were based on attendance. Other legislators have asked about that point and were told different things.
* More from Guerrero…
“[The governor is] a student of history so … he obviously realizes the significance of all the sites,” Guerrero said.
The governor does enjoy history books, but during a conversation with me last year he mistakenly claimed that Vandalia was the state’s first capital. Nope.
* And I love this spin…
Blagojevich not visiting adds weight to the argument that the administration’s decisions on what sites to close are not subjective, Guerrero said.
It also adds weight to the argument that he has zero appreciation for the problems he’s creating. I mean, is it too much to ask that the governor visit a state park or historic site once in a while?
* Meanwhile, the park closures have found their way into the 11th Congressional District race…
…Republican challenger Marty Ozinga has called out his Democratic opponent — state Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson — for not doing enough in her leadership role to keep the state parks open.
But, the harshest words came from a fellow state senator, Republican Gary Dahl, at a Grundy County candidates’ breakfast this week.
“I would encourage everybody to call the Senate leadership, and I would include in that Debbie Halvorson,” Dahl told the audience. […]
“Senator Halvorson’s title, which she has been proud of for the last four years — she is the only woman to hold this position — is the Senate Majority Leader,” Dahl expounded after the candidate’s forum. “In my mind, that tells me that she is the No. 1 person in the Democratic Caucus. If she is not able to hold the Democratic Caucus together and stand up to Emil Jones, what is she going to do for us in Congress?
* Kristen Mcqueary wonders aloud whether Sen. Halvorson is unfairly being made to wear the jacket for Senate President Jones’ behavior…
All the while, Halvorson has served as Jones’ chief legislative deputy. As majority leader, she is Jones’ surrogate. She serves at the pleasure of the Senate president and earns a stipend of about $18,000 for the role, in addition to the $65,353 she earns as a lawmaker. […]
Until recently, she and Jones worked as allies. That’s the deal. You can’t be majority leader and be independent of the Senate president. […]
But that doesn’t mean Halvorson should be held accountable for everything Jones says or does. […]
When Halvorson took a more active role in the bill this spring and bucked Jones on other issues, including the recall of public officials, which she supported, Jones removed her as rules committee chairwoman. Jones sidelined another ally, state Sen. Lou Viverito (D-Stickney), last year after he voted against Jones’ wishes. There is a price to pay for disobedience.
“I don’t try to make excuses for him,” Halvorson said of Jones. “I don’t try to baby sit him. I go and tell him, ‘Do you know these comments are crazy? This is ridiculous.’
“But my job as majority leader is to listen to the caucus and make sure the Senate president knows what they want. I also have tried to empower each individual in that caucus. If I carried the water for everyone’s bills, I’d be cuckoo. Sen. Harmon wanted this (ethics) bill. I helped him.
She does, indeed, speak to Jones about these questionable actions, but she only started doing that on a regular basis once she decided to run for Congress.
Halvorson has not been a very powerful majority leader like her predecessor, the late Vince Demuzio. Ironically, her influence has increased since Ozinga got into the race because Jones’ members are worried that their actions could harm Halvorson’s campaign.
Kristen says Halvorson should maybe wear a sleeve, not the entire jacket. In reality, that’s probably true. But she is the majority leader, and that means she’s agreed to be the partner. So, if the jacket fits…
* Related…
* Pat Quinn pushes to keep state parks open
* Bivens: Park closures ‘purely for political gain’
* Union sues governor to block prison closure
* Blagojevich sued over plan to close Pontiac prison
* Lawmakers, union sue Blagojevich over Pontiac prison closing
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Kadner comes out swinging
Thursday, Sep 18, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Phil Kadner writes today about the controversial language inserted into the constitutional convention ballot question by a bipartisan legislative committee. The language, which Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn wants removed, points out that the last time the voters were asked an overwhelming majority voted against it…
Just about every major special interest group (unions and businesses) is opposed to the convention.
So are the most powerful elected leaders of this most corrupt state.
In other words, the people who can buy influence and the people who sell their influence don’t want a constitutional convention. They’re worried that real political reform might take place, such as a recall amendment.
But instead of talking about that, they’re telling teachers they could lose their pensions and scaring women with stories of anti-abortion laws.
They’re probably going to spend millions of dollars before November telling people to vote “no” on the convention.
Yet, despite their money and their power, they still felt the need to corrupt the very language of the ballot question.
They don’t trust the voters. But they fear the voters.
In more than 30 years of reporting, I can’t remember any referendum question including the vote totals of a previous referendum.
“Are you for calling a constitutional convention?”
“Yes” or “No.”
That’s all that’s really needed. The state already is required to mail a pamphlet explaining the pros and cons to all registered voters.
White’s legal staff is reviewing the wording.
If it stands, a court challenge is inevitable.
This may seem like a small thing, but it is the very reason voters need to vote “yes” for the constitutional convention.
* Meanwhile, Ramsin Canon writes about a debate earlier this week over whether to hold a constitutional convention…
Organized by the UIC United chapter of the State Universities Annuitants Association (SUAA), a panel debated the pros and cons of the once-a-generation Constitutional Convention vote on Tuesday night. Representing pro were populist Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn and ethics crusader state Representative John Fritchey (D-Chicago); on the con side were former state Senator, comptroller, and gubernatorial candidate Dawn Clark Netsch and League of Women Voters official Kathryn Nesburg. Over two hours of debate and question-and-answer led to a neat and simple line between the two sides:
Pro: If we have a constitutional convention, we could make things better.
Con: If we have a constitutional convention, we could make things worse.
I’m still waiting for anybody to point to any con-con within the last 50 years in any state that has resulted in a significantly worse document.
* There’s yet another debate today. This is from a Pat Quinn press release..
On Thursday, September 18, at 12:00 p.m., Just one day after Constitution Day, Lt. Governor Pat Quinn will participate in a panel discussion on the topic of a Constitutional Convention, hosted by The Chicago Lawyer Chapter of the American Constitution Society, The John Marshall Law School Faculty and The Chicago Council of Lawyers at John Marshall Law School, 315 South Plymouth Court, Room 300. […]
Lt. Governor Quinn will be joined by Dawn Clark Netsch, former State Senator and former Illinois State Comptroller; State Rep. Mike Fortner (R-West Chicago); and Ronald C. Smith, Professor at The John Marshall Law School. The event will be moderated by Wayne W. Whalen, Managing Partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher, & Flom.
I may go to that. I haven’t been to any of these debates yet, so it might be interesting.
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Morning shorts
Thursday, Sep 18, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning
* Officials: 10th license winner coming soon
Officials are confident the state’s 10th casino license - which has been tied up in litigation for the last decade - finally will be given out this year.
Sixty applications for the lucrative and final gambling license have been sent out so far, said officials from a firm in charge of evaluating suitors before the Illinois Gaming Board makes the final call.
“There’s been a high degree of interest, which is good,” said David Luwisch, a director at Credit Suisse, said Wednesday.
Applications are due Oct. 14, and the next day Credit Suisse will announce the entities that bid, how many millions they are prepared to ante up, and proposed project locations before whittling the list down to three finalists.
* The Illinois toll-pay
* ‘Booters are human beings‘
* City employee shot while booting vehicle
* Booters just do their jobs, treat them with decency
* What’s behind door No. 1 for Stroger? Extra $740 million
“Responsible governments don’t borrow money to pay the bills especially after raising taxes to record levels.” Claypool said. “What Todd Stroger is saying is he’s borrowing money to pay the bills even though he just raised your [sales] taxes by $420 million. He’s showing extraordinary financial mismanagement and arrogance.”
* Stroger Defends Borrowing Plan
* County Board Aruges Billion-Dollar Borrowing Plan
* The Watchdogs: Clout corner
* City revenues drop, but Daley offers no hints at fixes
* Durbin and Sauerberg will debate
Durbin and his Republican challenger, Dr. STEVE SAUERBERG of Willowbrook, have agreed to participate in a televised forum and a radio debate.
Both candidates will appear on “Chicago Tonight” on WTTW-TV, the PBS station in Chicago at 7 p.m. Oct. 6. The forum will be hosted by program part-time host and contributor CAROL MARIN, said MARY FIELD, executive producer.
* CPS scholarship money doubles
* Test results a mixed bag again in 2008
* Clerk’s office releases tax rates
* Property tax bills won’t reflect drop in home values
* 1st African-American woman elected to Chicago City Council dies at 90
“She was still driving her car at age 90,” her son said in a telephone interview. “She enjoyed shopping, going to casinos, living life very large. She was enjoying her retirement.”
* Groundbreaking Former Alderman Anna Langford Dies
* How a little ceramic figurine will change a mayors race.
* Durbin, Obama support VA medical center
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