* Sen. Bill Brady claimed today that an alleged murderer had been released too early from prison. Jonathan Phillips was charged with murder last month after being released from prison in November.
Sen. Brady claimed that under the state’s Truth in Sentencing law, Phillips was released from prison seven months too early.
But a reporter with the Associated Press countered repeatedly that the AP had looked into the Phillips case and determined that he was not set free before the normal day-for-day good time release which any other inmate could get. The scandal sparked last year by AP reporting was that the DoC was releasing prisoners 60 days earlier than the usual good time program.
Brady also claimed today that he could not obtain the list of prisoners who had been released, but reporters pointed out that the information was already available. Brady was joined in the presser by House GOP Leader Tom Cross and Senate GOP Leader Christine Radogno. The legislators unveiled legislation requiring the state to post photos and background information on all prisoners released early.
**UPDATE x1 ** 3:20 p.m. — Sen. Brady talked to reporters after the Senate Executive Committee unanimously approved his early release proposal. He said he plans to stay in the Senate through the campaign…
* Former Republican gubernatorial candidate Adam Andrzeiewski recently asked Attorney General Lisa Madigan for a formal opinion on whether the Senate “joint caucus” last month was illegal. You’ll recall that the entire Senate - both parties - held a private meeting to hear a budget presentation by the NCSL. The meeting was widely denounced in the media and Senate President John Cullerton vowed not to do it again.
The Legislature is not covered under the Open Meetings Act, and the constitution requires that sessions and committee meetings be open to the public unless a super-majority of two-thirds decides otherwise. The Senate Dems said they were on solid constitutional ground because there is no prohibition against “joint caucuses” in the state Constitution.
Madigan’s public access counselor wrote Andrzejewski that since the Open Meetings Act doesn’t apply, “the Public Access Division has no express power to offer an opinion.” She also wrote that since the Public Access Division has no authority over the matter, research into the constitutionality of the joint caucus wouldn’t be warranted. Read her full letter by clicking here.
It’s ironic that the self-described “Champion” of transparency is of no legal assistance on this issue. The Attorney General’s office basically says:
1. Because of politics, we are not going on the record on the substance of this issue
2. If the Legislature invents a type of “meeting” not defined by statue or in the Constitution, they can do what they want in that meeting, and
3. In order to get any finding of a violation of the spirit or letter of Illinois laws, you need to file a law suit and hope that the court finds in favor of transparency.
“This is merely another example of how Illinois’ political class abuses the laws, and citizenry, of Illinois. Why bother having a Freedom of Information Act, an Open Meetings Act, or even a Constitution, if the Legislature can operate outside any rules with impunity?” asked Andrzejewski.
The un-enforceable Illinois Constitution, along with the amorphous laws passed underneath it, deprive the citizens of their putative right to see the workings of their government. This is by design, not by accident, as Lisa Madigan’s actions indicate.
A trip through the Hall of Governors at the state Capitol might leave a person feeling like they are forgetting someone. Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich is not among the portraits of all the other former governors hanging in the hall.
That doesn’t bother state Rep. Bill Black (R-Danville). He is sponsoring legislation to prohibit the state from paying for the portrait of an impeached and convicted governor. Black says the cost of those portraits can be as high as $25,000, and he thinks the taxpayers shouldn’t have to foot the bill.
* The Question: Envision the official Blagojevich portrait. Got it? OK. What is he doing?
* Sheila Simon has put together a video for the Democratic state central committee as they ponder whom to pick for lt. governor. Have a look…
Simon has not yet submitted her former application to the state party, or the party hasn’t yet posted it. Rep. Art Turner told me yesterday that he’ll file his application today.
A criminal defense attorney who represented former Cicero Town President Betty Loren-Maltese has joined the growing list of Democrats who want to succeed Scott Lee Cohen as the party’s lieutenant governor candidate.
Another 25 political newcomers submitted their names to the state Democratic Party, bringing the total to 69. Two potential candidates who submitted their names already have dropped out of consideration.
Among the names posted today at ildems.com is Leonard Goodman, who represented Loren-Maltese during the appeals process following her conviction on racketeering, conspiracy and fraud charges.
Another would-be running mate for Quinn is a 25-year-old from Chicago who says one of his strengths is that he “did not vote for Rod Blagojevich in 2006.”
Given their lack of political experience, applicants were creative in describing what strengths they would add to the Democratic ticket. One suburban Chicago man listed his ” Jamaican wife and three kids” among his strengths, while a self-professed independent listed his “ability to create an organization of farmers, hunters and wizards that will zoom with innovative solutions.”
As of Wednesday, two Springfield-area residents were among the more than 70 people who applied online to become the Democratic nominee for Illinois lieutenant governor.
They are:
Daniel Hoffman Sr., 70, of Springfield. Hoffman said in his online application that he is a Native American who used to work for the Sangamon County sheriff.
“I think I would make a good candidate for lieutenant governor because I have never been a person to kiss butt and have always put the American people first,” he wrote.
– Shannon Kelly, 38, of Williamsville. Kelly is a correctional officer at Logan Correctional Center and has been active in his union there. On his application, he wrote that good promotion of the state’s history will continue to spur tourism, and he called President Obama, who announced for the office in Springfield, the state’s greatest public relations asset.
* While they’re at it, maybe the central committee can convince Quinn to listen to his bodyguards…
Sneed hears State Police are suffering from a case of the jitters over Gov. Quinn’s driving habits.
• Explanation: Contrary to his predecessors, Quinn either drives himself or insists on being driven by his trusty aide/sidekick, Lou Bertuca.
• Translation: “The troopers are worried” said a police source. “They are in a tail car, but not in the front seat.”
• Upshot: The governor insists on a certain amount of independence . . . and feels he gets a lot of work done traveling with Bertuca, who is also entrusted with Quinn’s ancient briefcase, “Betsy.”
* State schools superintendent Christopher Koch told a Senate appropriations committee this morning that he’s anticipating over 13,000 school-related layoffs in the upcoming fiscal year with the budget proposal he’s submitting.
Brutal.
Koch’s statement reinforces the notion that state government has become one of the biggest drags on Illinois’ economy.
…Adding… From my intern Barton Lorimor who is at the hearing…
Koch just said that 13,000 job loss figure is only based on 75% of the school districts responding to ISBE’s inquiry. Still waiting on the other 25% to report their expected losses.
* Every year, Moody’s/Economy.com prepares a report for the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability. I’m still wading through it, but let’s look at a couple quick points.
Retail sales are regaining some strength, but there’s a long way to go…
The contraction of the employment base is also weighing on retail sales in the state. Though estimated retail sales declined precipitously in the fourth quarter of 2008, the pattern of declining retail sales has halted. Estimated sales grew by 4% on an annualized basis in the third quarter but remain 9% below their year-ago level.
While the analysts expect the state’s economy to grow a tiny bit more than the nation as a whole, it won’t help the budget situation…
Moody’s Economy.com expects Illinois’ real gross state product to grow 2.5% over 2010, only a touch stronger than the 2.3% growth forecast nationally and not strong enough to turn the state’s finances around. […]
Illinois follows the U.S. business cycle closely and this time will be no exception. Moody’s Economy.com expects a strong rebound in 2011 and 2012. However, as has been the case during every recovery of the past 40 years, Illinois’ rebound in terms of employment will be slightly weaker than the U.S. rebound.
And then Moody’s practically endorses a new tax on services…
A proposal by the State of Illinois to raise taxes through a broad-based services tax would garner $3.6 billion to $7.3 billion in revenues.
The proposed tax, designed to improve the state’s revenue generating capacity, will help lift the state from its current fiscal woes, which have nearly doubled the average time the state takes to pay accounts payable and led to several rounds of downgrades for the state’s bond rating, which has in turn raised the cost of borrowing.
A services tax is aimed at drawing revenues from some of the state’s fastest-growing and most dynamic industries and relieving some of the burden from historically strong but contracting industries such as manufacturing. Fears that services taxes will push away critical industries may be misplaced; other states with strong financial and corporate headquarters industries such as South Dakota and Delaware also heavily tax services.
* That same approp committee mentioned above will resume taking testimony this morning on the “Brady budget” - legislation based on Brady’s campaign pledge to slash the budget by 10 percent across the board. We already talked about this yesterday, and we’ll have more videos and reports later today, so here’s a roundup of coverage on yesterday’s hearing, which featured two university presidents…
* Senate considers cuts to this year’s budget: [Republican] Sen. Matt Murphy asked the two men if they would consider a deal that would guarantee their schools the money they are owed, with a 10 percent reduction. “It is not acceptable for me to take a 10 percent deal right now and run with it,” Poshard said to Murphy. “You folks passed legislation that guaranteed us a certain amount of appropriation, upon which we built our budget. We depended upon that. We gave a promise to thousands of students based upon that promise to us from the state legislature and the governor.”
* Legislative gamesmanship on state budget: Democrats got the twin benefits of trying to embarrass Republican standard-bearer Brady while again preparing voters for the notion that a tax increase is an inevitable part of the solution. Democrats denied that was their motivation. Brady dismissed the public hearing exercise as a time-wasting “circus” that doesn’t get the state any closer to solving its problems.
* University presidents ask legislators to avoid more cuts: University of Illinois President Stanley Ikenberry said the 10 percent cut would equal $74 million and would come on top of $86 million in cuts already made at the university. Ikenberry said appropriations to the UI have fallen by $100 million since 2002.
* Senate moves slowly on budget cut plans: “We are not trying to put anybody on the hot seat,” said State Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville, the committee’s chairman. “Republicans have said they want 10 percent cuts across the board to services and we wanted to highlight today what the effect of cuts would be.”
* Dems zero in on Brady’s call for cuts: Brady, a Bloomington businessman, said Democrats were playing politics with the state’s “horrific” budget woes. “Ever since February 2, they’ve been politically motivated,” Brady said. “I’m not going to play the political games they are. We have got to deal with the fact that we can’t afford a tax increase.”
* And here’s your local government financial gloom and doom roundup…
* Last December Sheikh Kifah Mustapha completed the Illinois State Police training course to become the ISP’s first Muslim chaplain. But there’s a problem…
According to a police statement, “in early January, the ISP became aware that Mr. Mustapha was potentially identified as a member of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Palestine Committee. An immediate review of our background process began.” […]
Such membership resulted in Mustapha being named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the holy land foundation case, the “largest terrorism financing prosecution in American history.”
The ABC7 report claims that all seven people who went through the chaplain training have been “told to refrain from any state police work.” Apparently, the ISP doesn’t quite know what to do about this situation.
All this came to light when Steve Emerson, a “self-styled national security expert,” started digging…
Mustapha’s name appears on a list of unindicted co-conspirators in the Holy Land Foundation (HLF) Hamas financing trail, which ended with sweeping convictions in November of 2008. On this list he is identified as a member of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Palestine Committee. According to the indictment in the HLF trial, the “Muslim Brotherhood is an international Islamic fundamentalist organization” that is “committed to the globalization of Islam through social engineering and violent jihad.” It created the Palestine Committee with a “designed purpose to support HAMAS” politically and financially.
A 1991 internal memo to Palestine Committee members reveals that members of the committee intended to further the Muslim Brotherhood’s goals “on the American front.” Mustapha appeared on the list due to his positions with HLF and Hamas’ U.S. propaganda arm, the Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP).
The IAP also wasa component in the Palestine Committee’s Hamas-support network.
In a deposition for the civil litigation Boim v. Quranic Literacy Institute Kifah Mustapha explained that he was a “registered agent for HLF in Illinois” from the mid 1990s until 2001 when HLF’s assets were frozen. During this time Mustapha raised money for HLF.
During the deposition Mustapha also described himself as a former member of a volunteer committee for the IAP beginning in the early 1990s. As a volunteer, he “distributed flyers” and helped prepare for “festivals or conventions.” Those meetings often featured incendiary rhetoric and skits portraying Hamas violence against Israelis. Additionally Mustapha said that he donated money to HLF and “maybe” IAP.
The Illinois State Police chief of staff will get better than a 20 percent pay increase if the governor’s office approves the recommendation from the department. […]
Is the midst of a state budget crunch the right time for this? [First deputy director Luis Tigera] said such things should be viewed on a case-by-case basis.
“She does an excellent job,” he said.
Jessica Trame’s salary will rise from $87,108 to $105,000.
Local Republicans also elected a new Republican representative to the State Central Committee for the 14th Congressional District in the form of dairy magnate Jim Oberweis. Oberweis has run for several government offices over the years. Most recently, he lost to Democrat Bill Foster for the 14th Congressional District seat. Oberweis defeated Kane County Clerk Jack Cunningham by about 3,000 votes to win the spot of the State Central Committee. As chairman, Kenyon was able to cast a block of about 13,000 votes representing the precincts not currently filled by a local committeeman. He said he split that block between Oberweis and Cunningham in pretty much the same margins as the final vote came out.
One can’t help but wonder how long it’ll be before the milk magnate announces that he’ll use the post to springboard himself to the state party chairmanship.
* We learned yesterday from the Daily Herald that an Evanston condo owned by 8th District Republican congressional nominee Joe Walsh was foreclosed upon and he was subsequently evicted. He issued a long press release last night which included this slap at the Daily Herald…
I knew getting into this race that the local media would do Melissa Bean’s dirty work for her. And the Daily Herald has now lived down to my expectations. The media elites are part of a dysfunctional political establishment that has destroyed our economy in pursuit of reshaping America into a country working people don’t even recognize and cannot afford.
[Venturi] called the revelation newsworthy, despite Walsh’s insistence in the Wednesday statement that “the local media (is doing) Melissa Bean’s dirty work for her.”
“It’s something that needs to be addressed,” Venturi said. “And if it’s something (Walsh) addresses, it could be a positive for him.”
Two of Walsh’s opponents in the GOP primary - Long Grove Village President Maria Rodriguez and Barrington resident Chris Geissler - said they knew nothing about the foreclosure during the winter campaign.
“I do believe … this kind of information should be divulged by the individual candidate,” Geissler said. “Anyone seeking public office needs to take a hard look at their personal history as well as motivations and be able to reconcile that with the public trust they seek.”
* Walsh and other Republican congressional candidates are currently badgering their Democratic opponents to return contributions from Congressman Charles Rangel, who has stepped aside from his powerful Ways and Means Committee chairmanship because of ethics problems. 10th District Democrat Dan Seals is returning the direct cash, but the GOPs want more…
Seals’ campaign announced Wednesday that the Wilmette business consultant gave $14,000 to local charities in the 10th District, which reaches from northern Cook County into Lake County. That falls short of the $55,000 amount that Seals’ Republican opponent Robert Dold, a Kenilworth businessman, has called on him to return.
Seals deputy campaign manager Jamie Crain said they are giving up only direct contributions from Rangel that have come in over the last two election cycles. This is Seals’ third run. The other $41,000 came from fundraisers associated with Rangel.
* Related…
* Cook Democrats retain Berrios as chairman: The vote was unanimous for the county board of review commissioner and assessor candidate. Yet what was surprising is he was nominated by Chicago Alderman Toni Preckwinkle, the party nominee for county board president.
* Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias sat down for a long interview with Carol Marin last night as part of a day-long media tour. Have a look…
* The Giannoulias campaign has set up a website to counter allegations about his family’s bank and the Bright Start program called TruthAboutAlexi.com. The campaign also rebutted yesterday’s Kirk campaign’s attacks in a long press release. From that release…
KIRK SPIN: When Alexi Giannoulias left the bank, the ratio of brokered deposits to total assets at Broadway was 68 percent, according to FDIC records. The average for all federally insured banks nationwide was 4.5 percent.
THE TRUTH: There are numerous instruments that small and mid-sized banks use to fund their loans. Broadway managed the use of brokered deposits as it grew, and the problems it is currently facing have nothing to do with these deposits.
* Giannoulias’ media tour was far from flawless, however. You can listen to his Tribune editorial board meeting by clicking here. A condensed and edited transcript is here. From the transcript…
Tribune: How did [Michael Giorango, a convicted bookmaker and prostitution ring promoter] come to the bank?
Giannoulias: I wasn’t even around when he first came to the bank, so I don’t know.
Tribune: You haven’t been curious about how this guy wound up with your bank?
Giannoulias: Well, it’s tough to ask my father questions.
Tribune: Was your father the first contact?
Giannoulias: Do I know how a customer met my father? No. He could’ve walked in the door.
In answering questions about Broadway’s loans to Giorango, Giannoulias said Giorango had a relationship at the bank before he worked there full-time after his graduation from law school. But in offering his latest explanation of his contact with Giorango, Giannoulias today at first contended he was unaware of Giorango’s criminal history.
That contradicted Giannoulias’ comments in 2006 to the Tribune, in which he acknowledged knowing Giorango had a criminal background. When reminded today of his past comments, the treasurer said he would have to check his past statements before saying any more because he doesn’t want to give inconsistent answers.
Giannoulias also expanded on his previous explanation for $69 million in dividend payouts that he has said were part of settling his father’s estate after his death in June 2006.
Giannoulias said $40 million was used to pay income taxes for him and his family, the bank’s sole shareholders. The remaining $29 million was paid out to the family as part of his father’s wishes to diversify their assets beyond the bank, he said.
Reiterating previous statements that only 9 percent of the non-performing loans now on Broadway’s books were initiated during his tenure, Giannoulias at first said the 9 percent was based on the number of loans, not their value. His campaign later clarified the figure represented the value of troubled loans.
The story isn’t over. Voters will have plenty to consider as the bank’s fortunes play out in tandem with Giannoulias’ campaign. No doubt he’d rather focus on his record as state treasurer and his vision for the U.S. Senate. Like it or not, though, Giannoulias’ political future depends largely on his handling of the continuing fallout over Broadway Bank.
During his tenure at the bank, from 2002 to 2006, was Alexi Giannoulias a real player who helped shape the bank’s policies and practices, for better or worse?
Or was he a 26-year-old former jock fresh out of law school, still wet behind the ears as a banker despite his title of vice president, who deferred to his father and his brothers?
Either way, fairly or not, he doesn’t come out of this looking good.
* Mark Brown makes an important, but often overlooked point…
Giannoulias’ first campaign contribution was a $200,000 check from his father, Alexis, in November 2005. After his father’s death, the estate of Alexis Giannoulias loaned $800,000 to his son’s campaign for treasurer, while Alexi’s mother, Anna, loaned about $1.5 million more. Those loans are still carried as debts of his Citizens for Giannoulias campaign fund. All together, the family chipped in half of what Giannoulias spent in 2006.
At the time, the Broadway Bank was a high-flying Edgewater-based community bank making loans in such far-flung locations as New York, Florida and California. The aggressive growth strategy more than tripled the size of the bank between 2000 and 2005 and then doubled it again by 2008, taking it from a $200 million to $1.1 billion institution in just a decade.
* The Sun-Times looks at what happened to the treasurer’s family bank…
Broadway Bank isn’t really a bank the way a lot of people understand it. The Giannoulias family’s enterprise writes only a small amount of single-family mortgages or loans to small businesses.
Where it puts its money is real estate development and commercial property. The strategy paid off handsomely in the last decade, making Broadway among the most profitable banks in Chicago. Broadway was a gambler that doubled down on its bet and won. But then it doubled down again.
It increased the value of its assets from $213 million in 2000 to more than $1 billion in 2007. In 2008, it reported a financial loss and last year, with real estate values in full retreat, the loss widened to $75.3 million.
* Related…
* Outside group targets Kirk: In an interview in Springfield this week, Kirk referred to the VoteVets organization as “one of the Democratic shell groups.” “They don’t mention cap and trade because they know that’s not popular with Illinois voters,” he said.
* Giannoulias defends family bank after GOP attacks
* Giannoulias acknowledges family bank will probably fail: Will his candidacy for U.S. Senate survive the bank’s collapse? “Yes,” he said “When I talk to people, people are getting crushed out there. Their primary concern is: how can you help create jobs? How can you help turn this economy around? That’s what I’m going to focus my campaign on.”
* Giannoulias defends family’s bank, but leaves unanswered questions: Mr. Giannoulias personally visited Florida to see property involved in a Giorango loan. Asked if he was aware then of Mr. Giorango’s criminal past, Mr. Giannoulias replied, “I didn’t know the full extent of his legal problems.” Full extent? Mr. Giannoulias declined to say more, despite several efforts to get him to elaborate on exactly what he knew and when he knew it.
* Is Giannoulias turning corner on his family bank woes?: But, so far, I’m not sure Alexi has pulled it off.
Burke has introduced an ordinance to mandate traffic school for drivers nabbed by red light cameras. He hopes teaching violators about the potential for a crash will do more than just a fine to convince them to stop.
* Ousted Security Boss: O’Hare is ‘Least Secure Airport’ in Country
* No Timeline for Decision on Closing Chicago Waterways
* 100 college prep seats set aside for top eighth-graders
The best-scoring eighth-graders from some of the city’s worst-scoring schools are being saved 100 seats at four elite college preps — including the top-scoring high school in the state — in the latest twist to this year’s controversial admission process.
* U. of I. Springfield chancellor to get salary for 14 months after leaving post
The agreement, to be voted on by the university’s board of trustees at its meeting next week, comes as University of Illinois officials have repeatedly said they are under severe financial constraints.
* DuPage Airport board, Schillerstrom ’save face’ in new budget deal
Airport board Chairman Dan Goodwin said the revised budget is a compromise that allows “both sides to save face” because it grants the tech park administration’s full funding request, but calls for the tech park to return $316,000 of the appropriation to pay off some of the $650,000 it owes the airport authority. The tech park’s large debt payback will cut into its $400,000 reserves, which Goodwin said both he and Schillerstrom agreed should not exist.
* [Kane] County ethics reform proposal gets warm reception
The changes would rewrite the code of conduct for county board members. If approved in its current form, the new laws would limit political contributions to no more than $1,000 per calendar year from anyone who does business with or seeks business with the county, or is appointed by the county board to a paid position. County board members would also be limited in their ability to take a paid appointment or receive a county job.
1st Ward Ald. Sam Cunningham said this week that he would like to see Waukegan enact an ordinance making sure that “young men don’t show their underwear” in public.
Peoria’s not going to change its name to Google, and Mayor Jim Ardis said he is not planning to bungee jump off the Murray Baker Bridge, but the floor is open for ideas to lure high-speed Internet to the region.
Officials who formed the Southwestern Illinois Flood Prevention District in 2007 figured to collect enough from a quarter-cent sales tax to pay the $150 million cost for 500-year-level repairs. They figured on 65 percent reimbursement later from the Army Corps of Engineers, which shares flood protection responsibilities.
But estimates have soared to more than $300 million for 500-year protection, and more than $200 million for the 100-year level.
[Mayor] Bergman was accused of shoving Willie Brown, who is one of four people charged with vote fraud in connection with the village municipal election in April. Brown, who could not be reached for comment, told police that Bergman shoved him in the hallway where the Village Board was then meeting following a contentious regular meeting of the board.
