Quinn AV’s procurement reform bill
Tuesday, Aug 18, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller
* 5:15 pm - Gov. Pat Quinn has just filed several amendatory vetoes, including one of the procurement reform legislation. Quinn’s changes to the procurement bill are mostly minor, but this might foreshadow a broader AV of the much-maligned campaign finance bill, which is still on his desk.
The governor proposed some changes to a couple of other bills which started new programs. The amendatory vetoes of HB2445 and HB2547 (a proposal to give the Department of Human Rights jurisdiction to “consider charges of severe bullying”) would enact the programs subject only to legislative appropriations. Seems reasonable.
Quinn also AV’d legislation which creates a commission to maximize federal Medicaid dollars, claiming that the deadline for appointing members (which has already passed) “is too soon to allow for a thorough vetting of candidates.”
* The governor signed another ethics bill into law, this one pertaining to lobbyists and state employees. Bethany has the complete list, but here’s the lobster stuff…
New lobbying rules:
* People who lobby state boards, commissions or retirement boards now will have to register as lobbyists.
* All lobbyists will have to abide by stricter disclosure requirements, including listing all expenditures related to lobbying activities, their clients and the subject matter of lobbying activities. The reports will have to be filed with the secretary of state on a weekly basis when the legislature is in session and monthly during the off-season.
* Many will have to pay a higher $1,000 fee, which is the way the state is expected to pay for more inspectors to monitor lobbying activities. House Speaker Michael Madigan previously said he would consider lowering the fee for smaller nonprofit groups in the future.
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Coulson confirms she’s in 10th CD race
Tuesday, Aug 18, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller
* 12:42 pm - Rep. Beth Coulson (R-Glenview) just confirmed a report earlier this morning that she is preparing to announce for the open 10th Congressional District seat. Coulson told me she’s planning an announcement this coming Monday.
Coulson is a moderate Republican who should fit that district pretty well. Several other candidates are already in the race, or saying they’re in the race, but Rep. Coulson should probably be considered the frontrunner.
Her decision to run will likely give the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee some serious heartburn. Like incumbent Republican Mark Kirk, she’s been able to win time and time again in a Democratic-leaning district in strong Dem years.
This is a major loss for the Illinois House Republicans, who will have a big, expensive fight on their hands to hold onto that district.
From Team America’s scoop earlier today…
At last night’s Lake County Republican Central Committee meeting, State Representative Beth Coulson told the assembled crowd that she’s in for the 10th District race to succeed outgoing Congressman Mark Kirk. As we noted a few weeks ago, Coulson has been mulling jumping into the race, and told Team America that she plans to make a formal announcement this coming Monday, somewhere in the northern part of the district–perhaps near Rosalind Franklin University (formerly the Chicago Medical School) where she previously was a professor of physical therapy. Health care, as you might expect, will be a primary focus of her campaign.
Thoughts?
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State Fair events
Tuesday, Aug 18, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Here’s what I have so far. If you are hosting an event not listed or know of any other events, put them into the comment section. If you want to get on this list tomorrow, e-mail me at capitolfax (at) aol (dot) com.
* Today…
* Springfield Open House for Dan Hynes. 5-7 PM
Hilton Springfield, Vista Rooms 4, 5, & 6 (29th Floor)
700 East Adams Street
To RSVP, please contact Ian Roberts at 312-266-2010, or info@friendsofdan.com.
* Walmart will present a considerable donation to a program that helps Illinois kids learn about agriculture. The donation will occur during a luncheon Tuesday at the Director’s Lawn. The event also is expected to include Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Tom Jennings and Illinois Farm Bureau President Philip Nelson. The luncheon begins at 12:30 p.m. and the formal program begins at 1 p.m.
* US Sen. candidate Alexi Giannoulias. 7-9pm.
3rd Annual Eve of Democrat Day Celebration
The Alamo.
* Rep. Mike Boland free reception at Celtic Mist Pub. 7 - 9 pm.
117 S. 7th Street
Springfield, IL 62701
For more information call 630.251.1538
* Wednesday…
* The Illinois Democratic County Chairmen’s Association is proud to announce that Iowa Governor Chet Culver, one of the fastest rising stars of the national Democratic Party, has committed to be the keynote speaker for the annual Governor’s Day Brunch on Wednesday, August 19th… The Governor’s Day Brunch is scheduled for Wednesday, August 19, 2009. The brunch will begin at 9:00 a.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield. In addition to Iowa Governor Culver, all of Illinois’ statewide constitutional officeholders will speak at the brunch, including Governor Pat Quinn, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Secretary of State Jesse White, Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, and Comptroller Dan Hynes. Also speaking at the brunch will be State Senate President John Cullerton and State House Speaker and Democratic Party of Illinois Chairman Michael Madigan. Many of the Democratic candidates for statewide office in next year’s Democratic primary election are also expected to attend the brunch.
* Illinois State Senator and Candidate for Governor Kirk Dillard Pre-Republican Day Reception. 6:00-9:00 P.M.
D H Brown’s
231 East Monroe
Refreshments provided
RSVP: 630-571-0390
or rsvp@dillardforgovernor.com
* Reception and pizza party for State Rep. Mike Boland. 5 - 7 pm.
Joe Gallina’s Pizza
432 East Monroe
Donation: $20.00
For more information call 630.251.1538
* Thursday…
Senator Bill Brady Republican Candidate for Governor 2010. 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Free Illinois State Fair Republican Day Reception
Sangamon County Republican Party Headquarters
1132 E. Sangamon Avenue, Springfield
(just east of the Fairgrounds’ Main Gate)
* Sen. Matt Murphy for Governor. 2-4pm
Stadium Sports Bar
2300 N Peoria Rd
Springfield
Beer and pizza
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Question of the day
Tuesday, Aug 18, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Stella Foster led with this item today…
THE LOVE TRAIN: Gov. Quinn, besides trying to deal with the state’s budget crisis, has made other changes in his busy life. His longtime, 17-year courtship with Cheryl Byers, a Southern Illinois resident, came to a sudden and unexpected end this past March. I understand that she was often referred to as his “significant other” and was very much a part of his life. Byers, who has been with him through all of his political campaigns, is said to be heartbroken … and rightfully so. After all, she was with him waaaaaay before he became the governor. … My sources tell me that Quinn is now allegedly very friendly with Monica Walker, an accomplished exec at Holland Capital Management.
The two were recently spotted sitting next to each other at the 100th anniversary of the Chicago & Cook County Building Trades Council event at Navy Pier, and apparently Quinn had a friendship with her dating back to when he walked her down the aisle when one of her kids got married years ago.
* The Question: Should Gov. Quinn’s dating be fair game for columnists, reporters, etc? Explain.
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Durbin sends letter, media pounces
Tuesday, Aug 18, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller
* This is what we’ve come to…
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) sent a recommendation letter to a principal last spring on behalf of a staffer’s relative who had been rejected entry to one of Chicago’s most elite public high schools.
News? Really?
At least the Tribune’s lede was relatively bloodless. The Sun-Times, however, took a different approach with its lede…
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin — the No. 2 Democrat in the U.S. Senate — is getting drawn into the growing investigation of how some students get admitted to Chicago’s selective-enrollment high schools.
* Meanwhile, in real news…
Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s tollway executives were ready to give millions of dollars in breaks to the failing operator of the glass-lined oases until the attorney general squashed the plan, citing a “very troubling” history of insider deals, according to a letter obtained by the Daily Herald. […]
The letter reveals the attorney general stopped tollway officials last summer from forgiving $1.4 million in back rent and unpaid fees Wilton owed the state agency.
The settlement proposal also would have changed the contract with Wilton by limiting the amount of fees from advertising sales and other business due to the tollway under the original contract, according to the letter from the attorney general’s office to then-tollway board Chairman John Mitola.
In rejecting the settlement proposal, Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s staff cited a long history of questionable deals between Wilton and the tollway and it found the principal partner of the project was “not credible.”
* Related…
* Former tollway chairman’s undisclosed land deal raises flags
* Ex tollway chair: No ownership, pay for Wheeling Station deal
* Gov names 3 to tollway board
* State worker salary site lacks prominent officials: Alka Nayyar, spokeswoman for the state Department of Central Management Services that is setting up the Web site, said the state isn’t required to get all the salaries up until Jan. 1, 2011, one year after the law signed last week takes effect. For now, she said, only employees under the governor’s control have salaries posted.
* Quinn: “This will be a week of reform”
* Records law revision a welcome change
* Thanks, gov, we needed that; FOIA bill is now law
* It’s a win for freedom here
* Madigan Praises Open Records Laws
* Kadner: Law not perfect, but it does open Government
* Gov. Pat Quinn signs overhaul of state’s open records law
* Quinn signs law forcing government officials to make information public
* New state law goes after government secrecy
* Quinn signs bill cracking down on jail phone scam
* Daley defends Munoz’s clout call for daughter
* Ald. Ricardo Munoz under city schools investigation
* State Rep. Bill Black wants U of I trustee job
* Quinn to act on U of I trustees this week
* U of I Trustees Could Be Forced Out
* U. of I faculty reacts to admissions scandal
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* More Rasmussen toplines…
How would you rate the job Pat Quinn has been doing as Governor… do you strongly approve, somewhat approve, somewhat disapprove, or strongly disapprove of the job he’s been doing?
9% Strongly approve
38% Somewhat approve
32% Somewhat disapprove
17% Strongly disapprove
3% Not sure
Quinn’s 47 percent approval rating is down 10 points since Rasmussen’s June survey.
* Other numbers…
…53% have a favorable view of Quinn, while 43% see him unfavorably.
State Comptroller Daniel Hynes, a fellow Democrat, is challenging Quinn for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. He has 46% favorables and 26% unfavorables.
State Senator Bill Brady polls best among several GOP hopefuls for the governor’s office, with 29% favorables and 21% unfavorables. But 50% of voters don’t know him well enough to have an opinion.
The GOPs are unknown to voters.
* Without crosstabs, this doesn’t tell us all that much, except that the damage to Democrats may not be hugely severe…
When it comes to voting in the 2010 Elections has the state budget crisis and the Blagojevich scandal made you more likely to vote for a Democrat, less likely to vote for a Democrat or will it have no impact on your vote?
7% More likely
29% Less likely
60% No impact
3% Not sure
It’s basically just not an issue for 70 percent of voters, but who those 29 percent are could be key if they’re independents.
* Other toplines…
I’m going to read you a short list of people in the News. For each, please let me know if you have a very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable impression. […]
8* Okay, Pat Quinn
11% Very favorable
42% Somewhat favorable
23% Somewhat unfavorable
20% Very unfavorable
4% Not sure
9* Next, Dan Hynes
6% Very favorable
40% Somewhat favorable
22% Somewhat unfavorable
4% Very unfavorable
28% Not sure
10* Okay, Kirk Dillard
4% Very favorable
18% Somewhat favorable
23% Somewhat unfavorable
4% Very unfavorable
51% Not sure
11* Fine, Matt Murphy
2% Very favorable
15% Somewhat favorable
20% Somewhat unfavorable
4% Very unfavorable
59% Not sure
12* Next, Bill Brady
4% Very favorable
25% Somewhat favorable
16% Somewhat unfavorable
5% Very unfavorable
50% Not sure
13* Okay, Dan Proft
4% Very favorable
13% Somewhat favorable
16% Somewhat unfavorable
4% Very unfavorable
62% Not sure
14* Robert Shillerstrom
4% Very favorable
14% Somewhat favorable
13% Somewhat unfavorable
8% Very unfavorable
62% Not sure
…Adding… Related…
* Will Todd Stroger seek re-election? : Sneed hears rumbles that embattled Cook County Board President Todd Stroger has been conferring with top Dem leaders — and word is that his resolve to seek re-election is weakening big-time.
* Quinn not backing off tax increase, plans to seek full term as governor
* Terry Link Announces for Guv Lite
* Cross my heart: Tom’s not running for gov
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Kirk leads Giannoulias by 3 points
Tuesday, Aug 18, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Rasmussen Reports has Kirk leading Giannoulias 41-38…
In thinking about the 2010 Election for the United States Senate, suppose you had a choice between Republican Mark Kirk and Democrat Alexi Giannoulias. If the election were held today would you vote for Republican Mark Kirk or Democrat Alexi Giannoulias?
41% Kirk
38% Giannoulias
4% Some other candidate
17% Not sure
And Kirk has a much bigger lead over Jackson…
Okay, what if the Democrats nominate Cheryle Jackson. If the 2010 election for United States Senate were held today would you vote for Republican Mark Kirk or Democrat Cheryle Jackson?
47% Kirk
30% Jackson
6% Some other candidate
17% Not sure
* But more Democrats are undecided than Republicans and independents are leaning strongly towards Kirk at the moment…
In a race against Giannoulias, Kirk gets 71% of the Republican vote. Giannoulias earns 63% Democratic support. Voters not affiliated with either party prefer Kirk 45% to 18%.
Kirk picks up 76% of Republicans in a match-up with Jackson, who has the backing of just 51% of Democrats in the state. Unaffiliateds break for Kirk again, this time by a 51% to 12% margin. […]
Among those who favor the health care reform plan, Giannoulias leads Kirk 68% to 17%. But Kirk has an even larger lead – 67% to nine percent (9%) – among voters opposed to the plan.
The electorate is still fluid.
Also, keep in mind that Rasmussen tends to skew GOP in its national polling.
More toplines…
I’m going to read you a short list of people in the News. For each, please let me know if you have a very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable impression.
First, Mark Kirk
10% Very favorable
45% Somewhat favorable
24% Somewhat unfavorable
4% Very unfavorable
17% Not sure
6* Next, Alexi Giannoulias
13% Very favorable
38% Somewhat favorable
22% Somewhat unfavorable
11% Very unfavorable
17% Not sure
7* Okay, Cheryle Jackson
13% Very favorable
23% Somewhat favorable
23% Somewhat unfavorable
14% Very unfavorable
26% Not sure
And…
Generally speaking, do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose the health care reform plan proposed by President Obama and the congressional Democrats?
29% Strongly favor
19% Somewhat favor
9% Somewhat oppose
39% Strongly oppose
3% Not sure
When it comes to health care decisions, who do you fear the most: the federal government or private insurance companies?
49% The federal government
44% Private insurance companies
7% Not sure
500 likely voters, conducted August 12. The margin of error is +/- 4.5 percentage points.
* Meanwhile…
The bathrobe bloggers are already chattering that Giannoulias has the nomination wrapped up.
Let’s hold on a minute. Here’s Jackson’s playbook:
Rake in some heavy green. While her profile will attract some soft-focused free media, this political unknown needs money big time for TV commercial time.
Jackson’s got to play the race and gender cards. She is assiduously wooing Emily’s List, the powerful national PAC that backs women candidates. As Giannoulias has done in the Greek community, she must cultivate a national profile among prominent women and monied Democratic liberals.
The black “keep-the-seaters” are an unpredictable bunch, but they could come in handy, as well.
Bathrobe bloggers?
Whatever.
* Related…
* Will Chris Kennedy run for Senate? ‘He’s been basically underground for three weeks’
* Is Senate candidate Jackson to blame for Blago blunder?
* Kirk hit on health care
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Morning shorts
Tuesday, Aug 18, 2009 - Posted by Mike Murray
* Governor, AFSCME mum on contract meeting
* Quinn not worried yet about video poker bans
* Town by town, critics fight video poker in Illinois
* Counties opting out of video poker could complicate state building plans
* Odds of success for video poker look pretty slim
* Orland Park won’t ban video gaming for now
* Gamblers needed to bankroll state’s construction plan
* If Illinois blows this …
* Trib boss Zell on way out
Eight months after the filing, two sources familiar with the process said creditors are working on a reorganization plan that elbows Zell aside. The creditors, including investment banks owed $8.6 billion from Zell’s Tribune takeover, would stage a takeover of their own and sell off the company’s newspapers and broadcast stations as they see fit.
“The banks will be in charge,” one insider said, adding that they are growing impatient with Zell’s stewardship. The bankruptcy court on Monday granted Zell extended time, until Nov. 30, to be the first to file a reorganization plan. Creditors have to wait at least that long before filing their own plan with the court.
* Tribune creditors seek probe of Zell buyout
Tribune Co. creditors are turning up the heat on Sam Zell by threatening an investigation of the leveraged buyout he used to take over the company.
The creditors asked the federal bankruptcy court for authority to hire an outside law firm to probe Zell’s $8.2 billion deal. Zell took on debt to fund the takeover of what had been a publicly traded company, but the worst market for advertising since the recession forced the media conglomerate into bankruptcy last December.
* A peace treaty on O’Hare expansion
* Chicago reduces services to save cash
But there won’t be regular garbage-pickup service Monday and there won’t be any street sweeping.
Most city offices are closed. That includes public libraries and City Hall.
As part of the 2009 budget, three reduced-service days were planned for 2009. The City Council recently approved moving one of the days from New Year’s Eve to Aug. 17.
Officials say the reduced-service days should save more than $8 million.
* Daley shifts oversight for set-aside contracts program
* Alderman confronted over Uptown crime
Uptown neighborhood residents concerned with violence confronted Ald. Helen Shiller Monday outside of an Olympics 2016 bid meeting at Truman College.
Shiller (46th) avoided the crowd, which had complained she’s ignored their concerns. Shiller told news reporters she was on vacation when video surfaced about what appeared to be a street gang fight at Sheridan and Leland last week. Three men also were shot Sunday morning in the 1200 block of West Leland.
* Chicago Heights extends tax break for theater
* TIF district to Matteson Auto Mall
* Geneva raises tax on all phones
* Wind farm talks draw standing-room crowd
* Getting Around: Funds filling potholes and resurfacing roads
About 90 individual resurfacing projects worth more than $194 million are under way this summer on major arterial streets in Chicago and across the six-county region under the direction of the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Work is more than 90 percent completed on 18 of those projects, according to IDOT spokeswoman Marisa Kollias.
* Study warns cell phone users of hidden expenses
Insurance, roadside assistance not worth cost, group says
* More going to prepaid plans, which can offer a better value
Nearly one in five Americans (17 percent) say they’ve switched to prepaid cell phone service from a contract-based cell phone service in the previous six months because of concerns about their jobs and the recession, according to the latest research released in March by the New Millennium Research Council, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank focusing on technology and telecommunications.
Fewer than half (48 percent) say the extras on their cell phone “such as Internet connectivity, e-mail and texting” are delivering a “great deal” or “some” value, the research showed. About a third (34 percent) have no such extras on their phones.
* Allstate settles decade-long lawsuit
Insurance giant Allstate did not acknowledge wrongdoing but settled the case, Strasen v. Allstate, in Madison County, Ill. Circuit Court.
The plaintiffs alleged that Allstate used a computerized system to review medical bills that failed to correctly calculate medical expenses from home and auto claims.
Allstate settled the case for an undisclosed amount, to avoid the continued “burden” of legal expenses, it said.
* Uptown residents rally for postman sent packing
* No job, even government one, safe today
* Nurses not immune to sick economy
* Beleaguered U. of C. Medical Center chief stepping down
Drew fire for diverting ER patients, staff cuts
* Hog producers battle H1N1 misinformation
* Balloon ride could give Navy Pier a lift
* Bank gets Rezko mansion for $2.8 million
No other bidders tried for convicted fixer’s Wilmette home
* Jury set for Brown’s Chicken murder trial
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