Backlash building over state park closings
Thursday, Sep 4, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* We haven’t really focused at all on the state park closures announced last week. Gov. Blagojevich has yet to ever visit a state park, and his cuts made from that ignorance are causing a big reaction around the state…
Eighty people came to Lock 14 of the Illinois and Michigan Canal in La Salle Wednesday night to oppose the state’s plan to close Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park on Nov. 1.
* This number was pretty astounding…
Between 300 and 400 people gathered Friday night at Kickapoo Landing in Kickapoo State Park to discuss saving the park from its Nov. 1 closure.
Tod Satterthwaite, operator of Kickapoo Landing, said dozens volunteered to help the efforts, which include contacting legislators and launching petition drives. […]
Though still under discussion, the group plans to recruit volunteers and organize, he said.
* I thought I heard last night on my teevee that community organizers were bad people? Whatever the case, you can sign an online petition by clicking here.
* More local activism…
This Labor Day weekend many visitors came into the restaurant to sign a petition circulated by local residents to prevent the closings. The petition has been available for signing at the restaurant since Friday. Sunday afternoon 12 pages sat on a table with roughly ten signatures each- and that was just the signatures that had been collected within the previous few hours.
* Same goes for Clinton…
The city and county will be sending out “SOS” messages as Save Our Springs signs protesting the closure of Weldon Springs begin sprouting in yards and businesses, and just about anywhere else a message can be placed.
* There is a ray of hope for at least some funding restorations…
State Rep. Frank Mautino (D-Spring Valley) provided a budget-making scenario that begins when the House reconvenes next week that could restore funding and keep parks open. […]
The House also will consider “fund sweeps” — dollars not in the state’s general revenue, held in separate accounts — that the governor can “sweep” into areas he wants funded, Mautino said.
* But, in the meantime, some of these cuts don’t seem to make any sense…
The Lowden State Park actually makes money — the park’s operating budget is $45,000 each year, and the park annually pulls in about $90,000, he said.
“Why would one close that park when it’s self-sustaining?” [Sen. Tim Bivins] said.
* And…
One of the very real issues of the closings will be maintenance of the Illinois and Michigan National Heritage Canal, which passes through Channahon Parkway and Gebhard Woods state parks […]
“I don’t think it was considered in Springfield when they were (planning to) close these two parks they were losing the manpower to maintain the Canal Corridor as well as Gebhard Woods and the Channahon park,” he said.
* And…
“This news is devastating from the tourism angle,” Cooke said. “It’s beyond comprehension.
“This cut doesn’t just affect Kickapoo, The staff there also oversees Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area and Harry “Babe” Woodyard State Natural Area. People from all over the country come to our local parks.
* There are lots of unanswered questions…
Pliura, who leases land at Moraine View for the horses, then charges for rides, is just one of scores of private businesspeople across the state who make money by providing park users with food, firewood and other services.
Now that Gov. Rod Blagojevich has decided to close down the parks, officials have to figure out how exactly to close the facilities and what to do with vendors like Pliura who provide services there.
* And charges of political motivation are everywhere…
[Rep. Bill Black] said the park closure announcement made by Gov. Rod Blagojevich uses downstate Illinois like a political pawn. Black said it is the a way the governor tries to manipulate and embarrass Michael Madigan, the Illinois House of Representatives Speaker.
Black pointed out that the state gives plenty of money to Chicago’s museums, but parks like Kickapoo, and other sites on the list are those whose funding is cut.
* More charges…
[Sen. Tim Bivins] said it’s not a coincidence that the majority of the funding cuts for state parks and historic sites will come from regions represented by legislators who have not supported Blagojevich’s budget priorities.
“Take a look at where the funding cuts are, and what park districts and historic sites are affected and it is pretty obvious. The Governor’s cuts are blatantly political,” Bivins said. “They affect the districts of lawmakers who continue to try and hold Blagojevich accountable—like Senate Republican Leader Frank Watson or Senator Mike Jacobs, an East Moline Democrat who has been a vocal critic of the Governor on more than one occasion. And it is no coincidence that more than half of the affected sites are in my district and slightly southeast in the 38th District, an area represented by my Republican colleague State Sen. Gary Dahl of Granville.”
Both Bivins and Dahl have Democratic opponents.
* Democratic Rep. Careen Gordon has been hammered repeatedly by Gov. Blagojevich, and this time was no exception…
Gordon found out about the park closing on the night of Thursday, Aug. 28, after a phone call from the press in Springfield. A number of lawmakers she was with also were surprised with the decision, and Gordon said she sent an e-mail in order to establish contact with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, having also received a press release from the governor’s office.
“No phone call was returned to give us any more information than was put out in that press release,” Gordon said. “Not one more piece of information was given to us on Friday before the close of business and before this long holiday weekend.”
* And then there’s the economy angle. With gas prices high, inflation at a scary pace and people worried about the future, many people are taking advantage of state parks, as this restaurant owner explains…
But the effect the closing will have on low-income families and elderly seems to be what makes Gibson the most passionate. “We’ve had tons of people tell us this year that this is their vacation,” she said. “They can’t afford to go to Six Flags or Chicago or Disneyland because of gas. They camp with their kids and walk around and fish and go horseback riding.”
* More on that angle from Rep. Jerry Mitchell…
“Many vacationers are choosing to stay closer to home this year due to the high gas prices and the sluggish economy,” said Mitchell. “So these parks have become a home away from home for many Illinois families this summer. Now as we enter the fall and winter months, these areas will not be open for hunting, snowmobiling, and other cold weather activities citizens enjoy at our state parks.”
* Numbers…
…a press release issued by Blagojevich in March of 2007 announced that 44.4 million people had visited Illinois state parks in 2006, an increase of 316,429 over the previous year.
* Last word…
Ripple effects will be far-reaching, said City engineer Mike Etscheid. The closure will be counterproductive to state tourism efforts to bring people to the area, he said.
“You’re basically telling them, ‘Go to Wisconsin; go to Indiana.’ “
* Related…
* Number of state workers being laid off disputed
* Home of Oregon Icon Will Close
* Friends of Canal to meet today about closures
* Morris fights plan to close parks
* Closure list…
STATE HISTORIC SITES
— Dana-Thomas House, Springfield
— Lincoln log cabin near Charleston
— David Davis mansion, Bloomington
— Fort de Chartres, Randolph County
— Vandalia statehouse
— State center at Bishop Hill, Henry County
— Carl Sandburg birthplace, Galesburg
— Cahokia courthouse
— Bryant Cottage, Bement
— Jubilee College, near Peoria
— Apple River Fort, Elizabeth
— Fort Kaskaskia, Randolph County
— Pierre Menard home, Randolph County
STATE PARKS
— Castle Rock State Park, Oregon
— Lowden State Park, Oregon
— Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park, Sheffield
— Illini State Park, Marseilles
— Channahon Parkway State Park, Channahon
— Gebhard Woods State Park, Morris
— Hidden Springs State Forrest, Strasburg
— Kickapoo State Park, Oakwood
— Moraine View State Park, Leroy
— Weldon Springs State Park, Clinton
— Wolf Creek State Park, Windsor
52 Comments  
|
Question of the day
Thursday, Sep 4, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
Since the Republican National Convention is under way and humming right along, I thought I’d ask this…
Who is your favorite Illinois Republican? Explain.
Bonus Question: Who is your least favorite Illinois Republican? Explain.
Please, make sure you answer the first question before you tackle the bonus question.
121 Comments
|
*** UPDATE *** No meeting yet, but they’ve apparently narrowed the possible days down to two…
Now that state Senator James Meeks has called off his Chicago school boycott, he and Governor Rod Blagojevich are working out a meeting date to discuss plans to help underfunded schools.
Meeks says the governor’s office has suggested Monday or Tuesday as possible dates. […]
Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guerrero says the governor is happy to talk with Meeks but it’s up to the legislature to approve funding.
************************
* After weeks of claiming that Gov. Rod Blagojevich had broken his promises to adequately fund education, Sen. James Meeks now calls the guv a man of his word…
A controversial, four-day Chicago Public Schools boycott ended on Day Two — after Gov. Blagojevich said any meeting with its organizer, the Rev. James Meeks, wouldn’t happen during a boycott.
“We’re asking all students to return to their schools,” Meeks said Wednesday night after about 500 protesters converged on the lobbies of 18 corporate and government downtown buildings during the day.
“We believe the governor is a man of good will and a person of his word,” Meeks said. “So, we are therefore seeking a meeting on Thursday to discuss school funding reform.”
* But…
Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guerrero was noncommittal. “We said we would not meet during the boycott. If the boycott’s over, that’s another thing,” Guerrero said. “But it has to be when all the legislative leaders are available.”
* The governor got away with one on ABC 7…
The governor says Meeks is pointing the finger in the wrong direction.
“I can’t rewrite the school funding formula the legislature has to do that. And I’m with him, we should work to get the legislature to do it,” said Blagojevich.
Apparently, the reporter forgot that Blagojevich just launched the “Rewrite to Do Right” campaign. RRB thinks he can rewrite anything, especially ethics bills. Why not the school funding formula?
* Anyway, the dropoff in the number of school boycott participants is probably what motivated Meeks more than his newfound trust in Blagojevich…
Earlier Wednesday, fewer protesters than Tuesday boarded 20 buses at South Side and West Side churches, headed for destinations such as City Hall and the Thompson Center, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and Aon Corp.
* More details of the attendance drop…
At City Hall, 18 children sat outside Mayor Richard Daley’s office as two retired Chicago Public Schools teachers asked them fill out work sheets and draw pictures. At the James R. Thompson Center, student Shalafonte Walls, 10, worked on a math sheet as people walked past the children. […]
About 10 children were turned away at the Aon building, but later were allowed inside to conduct classes and eat lunch paid for by Aon.
* This, however, has some truth to it…
Organizers said the two-day boycott was effective and brought attention to the issue of school funding at the country’s third-largest school system with more than 400,000 students.
“Everybody in the state is talking about school funding and the inequities between high property value districts and the kind of education they get and low property value districts,'’ Meeks said.
* Related…
* Blagojevich, Daley also use children when pushing political agendas
* McQueary: No hugging in this 10-step program
* Brown: Meeks right about the bottom line
29 Comments
|
A kissable moment?
Thursday, Sep 4, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* As I already told you, the Illinois House is coming back next week to deal with a few issues, including a Lottery lease. Rep. Gary Hannig told one of his local papers that he expects the chamber will take up a capital projects spending bill as well as the Lottery lease revenue bill…
Hannig said he expects the House also will take up a spending bill that will detail what projects can be funded by the capital program. A capital bill passed by the Senate in May itemized some projects, but also included billions of dollars in spending to be determined later. Madigan and many other House Democrats say that is unacceptable because they do not trust Blagojevich to be fair in spreading projects throughout the state.
In addition, House members will be asked to approve a $300 million to $400 million “fund sweeps” bill that could help restore some of the $1.4 billion in cuts Blagojevich made to the state budget for the fiscal year that began July 1. The money would be taken out of restricted state funds and put into the state’s general checkbook account.
Hannig acknowledged that the trick will be deciding how any additional money should be spent. Rank-and-file members each have their own preferences, from restoring cuts to social programs to keeping parks and historic sites open to giving statewide officials cash they need to avoid layoffs and furloughs.
* More…
[Madigan spokesman Steve Brown] wouldn’t get into specifics of that plan but said it would need to safeguard education money and ensure capital projects that are funded actually get done, regardless of what other projects Blagojevich might favor.
Brown said they don’t want to leave room for any “intimidation” by Blagojevich.
Some of the holdup over a capital plan has been that some in the Madigan-controlled House don’t trust Blagojevich to fulfill capital projects without diverting money to his favorite causes and away from others to punish some lawmakers.
* The governor was ecstatic yesterday about the possibility of a capital bill being passed this month…
“That’s a good sign. And if [Speaker Madigan] actually passes it, and it’s real, and we start putting people to work, I may not just hug him. I may actually kiss him,” Blagojevich said.
“Having said that, I love women. I’m happily married. That would be a kiss because I want to put people to work. It would have nothing to do with anything else. And if he wants me not to kiss him, I’d be happy not to do that, too, so long as we put people to work and pass the jobs bill.”
No comment.
* Meanwhile, the Post-Dispatch takes a look at how the Lottery idea, germinated in Illinois, has spread to other states, but without success…
At least 10 states, including Texas, California, Florida and New York, have discussed the concept.
In each of those states, the idea has fallen flat among lawmakers.
Arturo Perez, fiscal analyst with the National Conference of State Legislators, says a prevailing concern among the states is the loss of control over an asset.
In addition, Perez said there are concerns private companies will be more beholden to investors than state taxpayers, meaning they will push the envelope on expansion.
“One question that is asked is whether you are going to see lottery kiosks everywhere you go,” Perez said.
* The SJ-R editorializes on the subject today…
We have three words for those making a decision on exchanging the lottery for cash: Proceed with caution. Make that four words: Proceed with extreme caution.
* Related…
* A Capital Plan Could Bring a Kiss
* Britt: Toon about Gov. Blagojevich and ethics legislation
14 Comments
|
Morning Shorts
Thursday, Sep 4, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning
* Editorial…
Illinoisans might have trouble following Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s proclamation to observe National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month by “encouraging those struggling with substance abuse to seek treatment.”
That’s because the governor is “celebrating” by cutting the legs out from under those who provide such treatment.
His statewide budget cuts chopped $55 million out of the substance abuse treatment system - that’s $55 million out of $200 million devoted to non-Medicaid substance-abuse treatment programs.
Factor in the $55 million in federal matching funds that will be lost if this goes through and the impact is truly devastating.
* State aims to recover $1 mil. Loop Lab School grant
A private school that mistakenly was awarded a $1 million grant by Gov. Blagojevich’s administration is being banned from opening its doors to students because of a wave of building code violations, Chicago buildings officials said today. […]
The state’s Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity “intends to recover the full grant amount,” said Lucio Guerrero, a spokesman for Gov. Blagojevich. The school, Guerrero said, has until Friday to resolve several problems the department has found with the grant. If those aren’t resolved, “DCEO will proceed to formal grant recovery.”
* New fumble for governor’s million-dollar giveaway
“Wow. I’m disappointed. I’ll look into it,” Blagojevich told a Tribune reporter. “I don’t know a lot about that, but thank you.”
* 11th Congressional Candidate Debate
…the Kankakee County Farm Bureau has posted the following videos from their forum/debate with candidates in the 11th Congressional District. This portion seems to be asking the candidates’ positions on foreign trade agreements.
* Sneed…
Here today, gone tomorrow? Antoine Members, the African-American Republican who is running against U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, was crazy about being a Republican on Tuesday but is now thinking about leaving the party!
• • Translation: He feels his trip to the Republican National Convention has been unsuccessful because he can’t get the GOPers to cough up the campaign cash.
• • To wit: “I’ve been thinking about pulling out and running as an Independent,” said Members. “I talked to top Illinois party leaders here, but I’m not getting any funding promises. I love the principles of the Republican Party, but the brand has been destroyed by George Bush. I’ll make a decision when I return to Chicago,” Members told Sneed.
* New GOP leader wants to ‘clean up’ Illinois
* State Republicans bash Blagojevich…
“She has an 80-percent approval rating in her state,” U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.) said of Palin. “Can you imagine the state we would have if we had a governor with an 80 percent approval rating rather than an 8 percent approval rating?”
* CBS 2…
“Anyone that has an 80 percent favorable rating in a state, I don’t think means that they’re considered a kook. They do their job,” said Ill. Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford).
* Rasmussen…
However, in Alaska, the 44-year old Governor and hockey mom earns good or excellent ratings from 64% of voters statewide.
* Smoking bans lead to litter problem
* Cook County Board Approves Vendor Database
* Coming soon to the Web: Cook County Board meetings
* Former city plumbing inspector admits lying in bribery probe
Eric Reyes, 41, admitted to U.S. District Judge Charles Norgle that he knowingly made false statements. He could be sentenced to up to 5 years in prison at a hearing scheduled for Novembe
* Cook County Board President Todd Stroger says patronage is over, but hiring monitor begs to differ
* Cook Co. considers $3.2 million hiring settlement
* Jesse Jackson hospitalized for stomach pains
31 Comments
|
|
Comments Off
|
A couple of things…
Wednesday, Sep 3, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* It’s posted below, but just in case you missed it…
House members have been sent a memo by Speaker Madigan saying they should prepare to return to Springfield next Wednesday at 11 o’clock, with committee hearings at 11:30. They are also being told to prepare to stay overnight for Thursday business. That business will include the Lottery lease, a funds sweep and veto overrides.
* From Illinois Review…
Phil Ponce, host of WTTW’s “Chicago Tonight,” and a journalism professor at Loyola University Chicago, will examine the role of political bloggers at a forum starting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, September 16, at the university’s Water Tower Campus.
Ponce will moderate a panel of bloggers featuring: Eric Zorn of the Chicago Tribune, Rich Miller of capitolfax, Georgia Logothetis of dailykos, Fran Eaton of illinoisreview, and Blake Dvorak of realclearpolitics.
Please join us for this event at Kasbeer Hall, 15th Floor at 25 E. Pearson Street, at the corner of Pearson Street and Wabash Avenue.
Hopefully, I’ll be able to attend.
Comments Off
|
On Palin and the DC goofballs
Wednesday, Sep 3, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* It’s hard to fathom how Sen. Dick Durbin could be this stupid…
Nor does Durbin agree with the characterization that Palin’s experience as governor means she is more prepared than the Democratic ticket of Barack Obama and Joe Biden to take over as vice president or, if needed, as president.
“How you could possibly draw a parallel between that experience as Alaska governor and being a vice president or even president of the United States is a stretch, as far as I’m concerned,” he said.
That’s just a blatant insult to Alaska. Yes, it has fewer residents than Lake County. But remember what Barack Obama said just last week in Denver? “Change doesn’t come from Washington, it comes to Washington.” This tack by Durbin just doesn’t jibe with last week’s message.
* The Republicans were obviously woefully unprepared to defend their nominee in the face of this crazy storm of criticism, innuendo and probing. And they’ve flip-flopped completely about “experience” since just last week.
If you don’t feed the Beast, the Beast will feed on you. The Beast is now feeding like crazy on Palin.
But Durbin walked right into it. His party has a standard bearer with zero administrative experience (not counting his so-far impressive campaign), and Durbin wants to talk about the experience issue?
* Billy Dennis pointed to this Andrew Sullivan piece the other day…
Palin looks to me like a lovely person and a good local politician, with some inevitable rough spots. I’d be delighted if she took a leadership role in the GOP in the future. But in the same league as Obama?
Do Republicans really think that little of him?
I guess they do. We are looking at a different person.
* As somebody wrote the other day (can’t remember who, but I think it was Larry), this is the same sort of mindset about Obama that Illinois Republicans had in 2004. Just get a well-spoken black guy to run against the Democrats’ well-spoken black guy and things will cancel themselves out. Big mistake.
It’s also, obviously, at least some of the mindset behind Palin. Hillary supporters are unhappy? Well, let’s throw a woman out there. No matter that her political beliefs are completely the opposite. She’s got the right chromosome arrangement.
* But local and state leadership is way too often dismissed by the Beltway crowd (including, as we can plainly see, Dick Durbin) as insignificant and irrelevant. It’s part of the problem with that town. Anything or anyone outside of their tiny radar screen just isn’t worth examining. Obama was almost universally dismissed at first because nobody in the punditocracy had apparently ever attended a cocktail party with him. That goes quintuple for Palin.
As a result, the Palin pick has caused one of those oh so special media frenzies that the DC establishment press revels in like pigs at the trough. It’s fascinating to watch, of course, but completely goofy. We’ve got the teen pregnancy thing, the secessionist thing, the Ted Stevens thing, the Abramoff thing, the car wash thing, the book banner thing, even the wacky preacher thing. It’s all coming at us faster than we can comprehend, and without the proper context or perspective, it’s just an infotainment blur.
Because of this gross overreaction, the bar has now been set exceedingly low. A decent convention speech by Palin tonight - one that defies the media portrait of a backwards, white trash mountain woman (which should be pretty easy to accomplish, since she isn’t) - will likely settle things down quite a bit. After things have calmed, a follow-up press conference should do the trick. Reporters will look like raving lunatics, and if she keeps her cool and answers the questions, she’ll come off fine.
* Let’s do our very best in comments to keep the multitude of goofy DC talking points out of our discussion. Try to be original, please. I know this story is like crack cocaine, but we can attempt to rise above.
149 Comments
|
*** UPDATE 12:30 pm *** House members have been sent a memo by Speaker Madigan saying they should prepare to return to Springfield next Wednesday at 11 o’clock, with committee hearings at 11:30. They are also being told to prepare to stay overnight for Thursday business. That business will include the Lottery lease a funds sweep and veto overrides.
* I told subscribers about this development yesterday. Not sure why nobody picked up on the interview this past weekend…
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan plans to call the chamber back into session this month to consider leasing the Illinois Lottery as a way of paying for a public works construction program.
Appearing on WBBM Chicago radio’s “At Issue” program over the weekend, Madigan said he told Gov. Rod Blagojevich at the Democratic National Convention in Denver last week.
“My plan is to go back to work in September with the idea of passing a bill that would authorize a long-term lease of the lottery where the money could be used for a construction program,” Madigan said.
* More from WBBM’s website…
House Speaker Madigan says his staff has made great progress on a bill to fund news schools, roads and bridges across the state, and it would be funded by leasing the Illinois State Lottery. There could be a vote in Springfield by mid- September. That’s what Madigan and Governor Blagojevich were seen discussing, even before their much ballyhood unity in Denver.
* You can listen to the entire interview by clicking here.
* Madigan was asked about a possible rapproachment with the governor in the wake of the infamous “Denver hug.” Here’s some of his response…
“I plan to take whatever good can come out of it, and I’d recommend that to everybody else. People send us to the Capitol Building in Springfield to be productive… We ought to do that, and if disagreements are standing in the way, then we ought to eliminate at least some of the disagreements so we can show some progress.”
That seems reasonable. Madigan has worked with Blagojevich in the past. It’s been frustrating to see him refuse to do anything with the governor over the past couple of years. We no longer have a government. It’s beyond even a parody of government. So a modicum of cooperation is welcome news, as long as it’s done with open eyes and extreme caution.
* Remember, however, that right now Madigan is only talking about the revenue stream for the capital bill, not the actual spending portion. And there’s no guarantee that the Senate will return, either…
“We passed a lottery bill through the Senate (in the spring),” said Cindy Davidsmeyer, spokeswoman for Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago. “We have no information about what the House may or may not consider. Right now, we are not scheduled to be in (Springfield) until the veto session” in November, after the election.
* Also, here’s something else I told readers about yesterday…
If the House does return to Springfield this month, it doesn’t necessarily have to limit its business to a lottery-lease bill. It could also decide to deal with bills vetoed or changed by Blagojevich, including legislation limiting campaign contributions from state contractors.
Brown said no decision’s been made on that. If the House did take up vetoed bills, it would force the Senate to return within two weeks to also consider the bills or they will die.
I think there will be an override of the monster ethics bill AV. Stay tuned.
* The Peoria paper editorialized about that infamous hug today…
The skeptics in us question how a brief embrace can erase months of bitter battling, especially between Blagojevich and Madigan.
Still, it seemed genuine enough. If a little brotherly love can make Illinois government functional again, we’re all for it.
“Genuine enough” compared to what?
15 Comments
|
Party daddy for IL GOP? *** UPDATED x1 ***
Wednesday, Sep 3, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Some Illinois Republicans think their party needs a daddy figure, and they’re looking to former US House Speaker Denny Hastert…
“I think we need to have in this next election cycle, as we get to 2010, someone who has the respect of everyone in the Republican party, to make sure that we have civil primaries and that we support whoever wins,” said state Rep. Jim Durkin, of Western Springs.
Illinois Republicans, Durkin said, have self-destructed during the last two elections by demonizing one another in intense, post-primary battles.
In order to capitalize in 2010 on Illinois Democrats’ own internal feuding, Durkin said, Republicans need “basically someone with that big stick who is going to be able to institute party discipline and who’s going to make sure we’re on the same page.”
Hastert fits the bill, Durkin said, because he’s widely respected and because he holds no office himself.
This is somewhat bizarre, considering that Hastert couldn’t even stop the intra-party bickering in his own congressional district between Sen. Chris Lauzen and Jim Oberweis. Democrat Bill Foster ended up winning the special election this year, which is not exactly a great resume padder for Denny.
Also, Hastert is one of the prime motivators behind helping the spectacularly unpopular Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s push for a gigantic, multibillion dollar infrastructure program.
* House GOP Leader Tom Cross comes out of Denny’s political organization (which is one reason why he’s so gung-ho about the capital bill), but he’s not too keen on Durkin’s party daddy idea…
“I think, and this is not a negative comment, that it also is time for others to kind of step up to the plate and build the party and grow the party and bring it back,” Cross said. “I think [Hastert] will help when asked. I also think he realizes that it’s other people’s time.”
Cross is considering a statewide bid in 2010, possibly for governor or attorney general. The “it’s other people’s time” comment makes more sense in that context.
Thoughts on a party daddy?
* Meanwhile, the IL Repubs had a bit of a messaging problem at the convention this week. Frank Donatelli, the deputy chairman of the Republican National Committee, was speaking to the state’s delegates yesterday morning and lit into Barack Obama’s slogan…
Donatelli belittled the mantra of change being pushed by Democratic nominee Barack Obama, though without mentioning the Illinois senator’s name.
“The key point in John McCain’s public service, in addition to serving a cause greater than himself, is one word: Reform,” Donatelli said. “That’s a different, I would argue, a different concept than change. What does that mean? Change from what to what? It’s just a word that you throw out. reform is a much meatier topic.”
Donatelli was apparently unaware of the sign on the lectern from which he addressed the Illinois Republican delegation. The sign read: “Change for Illinois.”
Oops.
Then again, it’s a valid criticism. What does “Change for Illinois” really mean?
*** UPDATE *** Ummm…
At the Republican National Convention, former Illinois Governor Jim Thompson is promoting his choices for Governor in 2010. Thompson says Bloomington State Senator Bill Brady, along with House Minority Leader Tom Cross and Congressman Mark Kirk are all viable candidates to replace Governor Blagojevich. […]
Meanwhile, a top ally of John McCain is also considering running for governor. State Representative Jim Durkin is the co-chairman of McCain’s state campaign in Illinois.
41 Comments
|
Morning Shorts
Wednesday, Sep 3, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning
* NEW: Planned Parenthood Survives Local Legal Challenges
* NEW: Scott Summers’ Reflects on Lack of Civility in the 3-Way Rockford Congressional Debate
* CPS students welcome for one day
Chicago Public Schools chief Arne Duncan, who criticized Meeks’ boycott, seems content to merely whine ineffectively about the need for more state aid for local schools.
* Meeks leads 1,400 to New Trier
Almost without exception, CPS students said they were treated warmly by their hosts.
In fact, Kathy Miller, a New Trier parent, said she and other North Shore residents had formed a group to explore the issue of school funding inequities.
* ‘Everyone should have someone to go to
The model in use at Schneider isn’t perfect — many kids and teachers are still struggling.
But it’s a vast improvement over the status quo. All but the most resourceful Chicago schools scrape by with far less help.
Every school, especially the ones in our toughest neighborhoods, should be like Schneider.
And this week, the public school system started on the path to take the city there.
* Suburban leaders still seeking viable funding change
Suburban educators, though, say such a “tax swap” would force them to cede some of their resources and control to the state, something they vehemently oppose
* Chicago students register at New Trier to make political point
* School Boycott to Continue
* Cook County faces $3.2 million tab for patronage
* Cook Co. to pay out $3.2 million for patronage hiring practices
* Cook County again set to approve highest bid on parking lot contract
The recommendation came despite Infrastructure’s $298,000 bid being 32 percent more than the lowest proposal of $225,615, by Dynasty Group Inc. of Chicago. It was 22 percent higher than a $243,675 proposal by another vendor.
* Cook County voters to weigh in on recall amendment
* State’s economy improves, but worst may be yet to come
* State park vendors seek answers on closings
* Missouri will prosecute illegal automated political calls
10 Comments
|
|
Support CapitolFax.com
Visit our advertisers...
...............
...............
...............
...............
|
   
|
Hosted by MCS
SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax
Advertise Here
Mobile Version
Contact Rich Miller
|
