The Associated Press has posted a document containing the executive summary of a state-commissioned report on how many prisoners the Illinois Department of Corrections is expected to have to house by 2016 and the cost of accommodating them. […]
How to get to the document:
1. Go to this Web site: http://onlinenews.ap.org/state–ftp. (We recommend both bookmarking and printing this page so you have the directions handy).
2. Once at the ftp://ftp.ap.org site, you will be asked for a username and password. Contact the supervisor in the Chicago bureau (312-781-0500) for those details.
2a. If you have trouble with Internet Explorer, try using Windows Explorer (right click on My Computer and choose ‘explore,’ then type in the ftp://ftp.ap.org site)
3. As noted in the directions, scroll down to StateLevel and open it.
4. Scroll down again and open the IL link (for Illinois).
5. You should see choices for documents, audio and video. In this case, choose documents and look for the NATION’S BRIDGES-ILLINOIS folder. The XLS file is there.
* If any news editors are having trouble following those AP instructions, just click here instead.
In a lengthy report that was kept under wraps by the Blagojevich administration for over a year, consultants say the state will need more than 54,000 beds for inmates within the next eight years. Currently, there are 51,300 available beds within Illinois Department of Corrections facilities.
“IDOC would need another 2,735 beds by end-of-2016 to meet projected population demand,” the taxpayer-funded report notes.
Corrections spokesman Derek Schnapp said the agency disagrees with the findings. He says internal growth projections don’t show a need for additional bed space. […]
The $411,000 study, which was completed in September 2007, was released at the request of lawmakers as part of Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s push to close the 1,600-bed Pontiac Correctional Center, which officials say will save about $8 million over two years.
The department had previously ignored numerous requests to make the study public. […]
The report, conducted by Peoria-based engineering firm PSA Dewberry, found that even if Thomson is opened, the sprawling prison system will have a shortage of beds in the coming years.
* Also, just in case you’re looking around for it, the Commission on Government Forecasting & Accountability report on the Pontiac prison closure is at this link.
“One of the most interesting findings from the commission,” [Pontiac Mayor Scott McCoy said], “was the economic loss to the state of Illinois. In order to save $3.6 million annually by closing the Pontiac facility and opening Thomson, it was found that the state of Illinois would lose between $6.9 to $17.2 million in overall economic activity to Iowa. Even on the short end, it’s still a net loss for Illinois.”
“It can’t get any better than this,” McCoy said about COGFA’s procedures. “The COGFA process worked and the truth is here in black and white. Now, I hope the Governor will give this commission and this report the respect it deserves.”
* St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Pat Gauen takes a look at a section of the recent SP-D poll which asked people to choose their single most important issue facing Illinois. At the top (22 percent) was education funding, followed by expanding health care (21 percent), balancing the budget (15 percent) and rebuilding roads and infrastructure (12 percent).
I’d have guessed this was the top priority of a lot more than 9 percent, especially since our leaders in Springfield act as if it’s the mandate of 100 percent. Lack of revenue has impacted each of the “most important issues” that rank higher on this list. But barely a soul in the statehouse dares whisper the idea of increasing income or state sales taxes.
Then again, maybe legislators can eventually overcome their fear of an unpopular governor’s threatened veto.
LOWERING GAS PRICES, 6 PERCENT
The state can’t do much about that, short of decreasing its motor fuel tax. As much as lawmakers don’t want to raise taxes, they don’t want to give any back, either.
Um, Pat, lowering the sales tax on gas would result in a big hit to the budget, which could result in more service cuts or pressures to increase other taxes. Lowering the motor fuel tax would further erode the state’s Road Fund.
POLITICAL/CAMPAIGN ETHICS REFORM, 5 PERCENT
A brand new law takes effect Jan. 1 to keep business people from contributing directly to office holders who give them contracts. It’s the biggest campaign finance reform in many years. But this being Illinois, pay particular attention to the word “directly.”
No mention that in a state as supposedly corrupt as Illinois with voters pulling out their teeth in rage that this issue comes in dead last? Actually, maybe that’s why the SP-D poll found Blagojevich’s job approval ratings to be almost three times as high as other polls.
* Bernie Schoenburg takes a look at 18th Congressional District Democratic underdog Colleen Callahan’s new TV ad. Callahan is up against Republican Aaron Schock. Here’s the text of the ad…
“I’m running for Congress after 30 years as a farm reporter, mom and a businesswoman. My opponent is 27, but that isn’t the problem. He wants to sell nuclear weapons to Taiwan. He’s taken thousands in contributions from Big Oil, voted against money for families of soldiers killed in Iraq, and then voted himself a pay raise. At 27, that’s a pretty bad record. I want to go to Congress to fight for you.”
The “pay raise” vote, the Callahan campaign says, is a reference to House Bill 3866, which included money to fund a 3.5 percent increase in pay for constitutional officers and legislators in a near $60 billion state budget a year ago.
The Callahan campaign itself shows how its selective use of votes means the opponent can’t escape the venom of this ad. While it says he voted against “money for families of soldiers killed in Iraq,” the written explanation I received from Callahan campaign manager Terry Towery said the bill was Senate Bill 241, a supplemental budget bill with money for the military families. But that explanation also says Schock “voted against the bill because of the 9.6 percent salary increase for state lawmakers.”
So they slam him for approving billions for a state budget — which obviously included good things to help lots of people — because of some money for legislators. Then they slam him for a much smaller bill that rejected much more money for legislators. Quite questionable.
Aaron Schock says demanding repayment of an estimated $38,000 in city costs for President George W. Bush’s visit is just politics.
“The stunt that’s being pulled right now could have been done weeks ago,” the Republican candidate for the 18th Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives told the Journal Star editorial board Wednesday. “It’s obviously a political move.” […]
At a news conference at City Hall, Democratic challenger Colleen Callahan called on Schock to pay the entire amount back to taxpayers. She said since the event was “exclusive” and for the purposes of Schock’s campaign, it wasn’t fair for taxpayers to foot the bill.
“Do the right thing,” she said. “Be fair and pay back the money.”
Regardless of whether they support state Rep. Aaron Schock’s bid for Congress, Peoria taxpayers should not be required to donate to Schock’s campaign. […]
There was no public component to the president’s visit; the public should not have to pay, period. The city should bill the candidate for services rendered.
A Republican campaign group stormed into a hotly contested Northwest suburban congressional race today with a “substantial” ad buy to help U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk.
Freedom’s Watch, which has connections to former top advisers to President George Bush, launched a cable ad accusing challenger Dan Seals of wanting to raise taxes.
The ad urges viewers to call Seals and tell him, “High taxes cost us too much.” […]
Former White House spokesman Ari Fleischer and other key Bush aides have had a controlling role in the organization, which does not have to report donors under federal campaign laws.
A right-wing, privately funded swift-boat style group called Freedom’s Watch made a $430,000+ cable advertising buy attacking Dan. You may have even seen their latest attack ad that was put on the air today throughout the 10th District of Illinois. Unlike 527 groups, Freedom’s Watch is a 501(c)(4) organization, allowing it to conceal financial contributors.
Freedom’s Watch is bankrolled by Sheldon Adelson, a billionaire Las Vegas Republican, and the group has been described as the successor of the “Swift Boat Veterans for Truth” group that attacked John Kerry’s military record in 2004.
* The GOP Team America blog has set up an anti Seals site which lays out the case that Seals favors higher taxes. Seals has his own anti Kirk site.
* Here’s the ad…
I don’t think it’s very good, but they sure are pushing a lot of ratings points.
* Related…
* Ozinga, Wallace back out of candidate forum: “We’re not sure exactly why he (Ozinga) decided to do this and make these accusations. It really was our intention and Governors State’s intention to provide an educational forum for the voters. People were looking forward to hearing what a fellow businessman (Ozinga) had in mind in serving in Congress.”
A source tells CBS 2 News Wednesday night that a team of federal agents believes it has the evidence needed to indict Governor Rod Blagojevich. Investigators believe they’ve established solid evidence of fraud and conspiracy.
However, they are not the ones who make the decision to prosecute. It’s up to U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald and the Justice Department in Washington.
Others have told CBS 2 that an indictment of Blagojevich is not imminent. No comment from the Justice Department.
Last week, CBS 2 reported that the IRS assigned three teams of investigators to the Blagojevich case. But the governor says he’s confident he has not broken any laws or rules. He says he’s been careful to file accurate tax returns.
I think I’d better make some late night calls.
I have been hearing for a while that an indictment is not imminent, so I’m not sure where this is coming from.
* Here’s that previous CBS2 report, which ran Saturday and was buried in the middle of their “Gov: Obama Will Regret Supporting Ethics Reform” piece…
Sources tell CBS 2 that at least three teams of IRS agents are now investigating Blagojevich. It’s a large commitment of federal resources. Among other things, they’re sifting through documents related to allegations of criminal wrongdoing by the governor.
* Will Governor Blagojevich mess with the supplemental appropriation and special funds sweep bills passed by the Senate this week and previously approved by the House?
The governor’s budget office [on Wednesday] found problems with $50.7 million of the sweeps, including $11 million it contends is not surplus, but already among general funds and budgeted for other purposes.
There’s $14.5 million officials say can’t be touched because of court action or because it’s for federal programs, $8 million that would be “borrowed” and further delay medical care payments; and $17 million from funds they say won’t be left with sufficient balances to pay for their intended purposes.
* Remember, Blagojevich’s adminstration also issued an unusually gloomy report the same day the Senate and the House cut a deal on about $230 million in spending restorations for things like CTA discount programs, state parks and historic sites, alcohol and substance abuse programs, etc.
And has been reported before, the Senate Democratic budgeteer claimed that the governor tried and failed to insert $45 million in addtional spending into the final plan.
…there’s nothing that would prevent the governor from adding spending for pet programs through an amendatory veto. That could force the Legislature back to Springfield to accept or override it.
[CLARIFICATION: I kinda breezed through that AP graf, but as noted by a commenter, the governor cannot add new spending to an appropriations bill. He can only reduce or remove.]
…because a legislative appropriation doesn’t require a governor to spend, he could sign the bill and hold some money back. He could refuse to open parks or historic sites in districts governed by legislative enemies.
* I just don’t get the logic here. The Sun-Times slams Mayor Daley for warning Wrigleyville taverns and clubs to cut off serving booze after the 7th inning during the upcoming playoffs….
Our nanny-state mayor is at it again, this time calling on every bar and restaurant in Wrigleyville to stop serving booze during the late innings of big Cubs games.
The very next graf shows, however, that the Sun-Times certainly understands the ugly situation outside of that decrepit park…
As if an hour or so of Prohibition-light will discourage the staggerers, the brawlers, the bawlers, the brayers, the upchuckers and the public urinaters. And that’s just the fair-weather fans.
* Yet, on the same editorial page, they endorse Sen. James Meeks’ plan to have Chicago Public School students hold hands in a ring around Cub Park during a playoff game. And here’s the kicker line…
(S)tudents will arrive at Wrigley after school and leave early enough to avoid the crowds leaving the park and rest up for school the next day.
Um, OK. But what about all the “staggerers, the brawlers, the bawlers, the brayers, the upchuckers and the public urinaters” outside the park at the taverns and in the streets while this childrens’ protest is taking place?
* Whenever your heart starts palpitating after reading a lede like this….
A $100,000 state grant for a botanic garden in Englewood that then-state Sen. Barack Obama awarded in 2001 to a group headed by a onetime campaign volunteer is now under investigation by the Illinois attorney general amid new questions, prompted by Chicago Sun-Times reports, about whether the money might have been misspent.
You should take a deep breath and always scroll down for the buried nugget…
Madigan’s office has notified Obama’s presidential campaign of the probe, which was launched this week. But Obama’s actions in awarding the money are not a focus of the investigation, Smith said.
After helping Cicero’s town president win a close election, political strategist Dan Proft received no-bid contracts worth $578,000 a year to serve as the mouthpiece for the town and two local school districts.
Not only is Proft’s firm receiving $180,000 a year to boost Cicero Town President Larry Dominick’s agenda, but the town—in a highly unusual move—also agreed to pay the company another $308,000 a year to promote the new Municipal Complex.
Proft argues that if ever a town needed positive public relations, it’s Cicero.
Scroll way down to almost the very bottom and you’ll see this…
Proft said the town will spend less than 1 percent of the project’s $60 million budget on public relations. The contract will expire next month when the municipal complex is complete.
The money Urquhart collects is not pure profit, he said, noting it is distributed to subcontractors and a staff of three in addition to paying for the expertise of Proft and his partner, Jeff Davis.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration said Wednesday that it has taken the first formal steps toward recovering a $1 million grant given to a politically connected private school that has yet to open its doors.
The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity wrote to officials at the Loop Lab School and told them they were in violation of their grant agreement.
Scrolling downwards…
But school officials have said Blagojevich himself promised the money to them, and have publicly thanked the governor for his kindness.
The school used the money to buy the second floor in a downtown office building near the Sears Tower and renovate the space for classrooms.
Aside from the general cover-up in this thing, how is the state gonna get its money if it’s already been spent? Are we as taxpayers going to own that second floor now?
*** UPDATE 2 *** A funny example from the New York Times…
CHICAGO — In this state with a history of corruption at the highest levels of government and little history of meaningful reform, lawmakers and the governor have embarked on a sudden, surprising scurry to enact ethics legislation this week.
Scroll down…
Further, some said they were certain that it would die in the House, where the leader, John A. Fritchey, chief sponsor of the original bill, is openly disdainful of the governor.
Fritchey is the leader of the House, eh? Anybody tell Madigan yet?
After reviewing regulations the state health department proposed to process smoking cases, however, Hollerich said it appeared that local law enforcement agencies only had the authority to report the results of compliance checks to the state, not to bring charges in circuit courts.
Illinois State Toll Highway Authority chief Brian McPartlin is expected to announce his resignation today after running the state’s tollway for just under two years, sources told the Daily Herald.
“I am not breaking any laws or any ethics rules,” Alvarez said during a joint meeting with Peraica before the Tribune’s editorial board. “Maybe it’s not good enough, but I think the real issues that are affecting the county today are not whether or not my friend for 20 years gave me $50. It’s about guns and gangs and drugs and the violence that’s permeating this city.”
FITZGERALD: The biggest threat to community relations is having people dominated by a gang, who can’t go to school and work and do what they want to do. And if there’s gangs in neighborhoods, we’re going after them. If the gang’s in Little Village, we’ll go after there them. If the gangs move to Evanston, we’ll do them in Evanston. If they move to the Gold Coast or if they move to Wilmette, we’ll go after gangs where they are.
“This decision puts the interests of utilities ahead of consumers at a time when Illinois families can least afford it,” Madigan said in a statement. “Unfortunately, this decision is yet another example of the Illinois Commerce Commission approving higher rates for utilities and giving consumers the short end of the stick.”
The CTA began testing the cars Sept. 12 on the Brown Line. The transit agency pulled 12 to 14 seats out of the cars to accommodate an extra 20 standing riders during rush hour.
Unified support also represents a positive sign in state politics, said Dan Reitz, D-Steeleville.
“It seems to be the one bright spot in the last year and a half or so,” he said, adding support for coal has united downstate Democrats and Republicans in the General Assembly, as well as top administration.
