Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » 2010

Wednesday, Apr 7, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* We usually focus on major party players here, but let’s pick on a couple of minor actors this afternoon - for equal time’s sake and because it could be fun.

* If you’re at work or are sensitive to images of half-naked persons, then you probably want to avoid ~~the Chicago Republican Party’s~~ Chicago GOP’s website [the site is not official, but is run by the political director for the city party] for a while. The top post on its home-page blog features a photo of an attractive woman, alluringly posed… with no top.

Hey, I’m no prude, but I do wonder what “family values” candidates like Bill Brady and others might be thinking at this moment because their campaign logos and photos are displayed right above that aforementioned softcore pic.

Perhaps the author thought more people would pay attention to the posted rant by displaying that photograph, but it’s pretty much incomprehensible.

There’ll be no link because, well, I have a policy against linking to porno here. Use teh Google if you dare: “Chicago GOP.” Also, let’s keep it clean in comments. Try not to lower yourselves to their level. Thanks.

* I read a particularly silly Green Party press release last week while visiting my dad in the hospital and then forgot about it until I saw it on Larry’s blog today…

Green Party leaders sharply criticized Governor Pat Quinn and the Democratic State Central Committee for bypassing State Rep. Art Turner and other more qualified candidates in nominating Sheila Simon for Lieutenant Governor.

“Pat Quinn’s message is that he can take the black vote for granted,” said Phil Huckelberry, Illinois Green Party Chair. “Our message is that those days are over. Many of our core issues – especially education funding reform and the lack of economic development in the most struggling areas – are at the top of the list across black communities throughout the state. It’s clearer than ever that those issues are not going to be meaningfully addressed by Pat Quinn and the Democrats. But they’re going to be addressed by the Green Party.”

Larry points out the basic flaw in the Green Party’s argument…

Statewide Green African-American candidates: 1

Statewide Democratic African-American Candidates: 3

Oops.

Here’s my favorite part, though…

Simon, a former city council member in Carbondale, is from the same relatively small community as Green gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney.

“Targeting Rich Whitney’s geographical base is a little short-sighted…” said Huckelberry.

Yeah. They went right after Whitney’s base by picking Simon. I’m sure that was the goal all along. Brilliant.

Whitney got 3,941 votes in Jackson County back in 2006 out of almost 16,000 votes cast. Yeah, that ain’t bad, but it’s Jackson County. Relatively small potatoes in the broader voting world.

49 Comments

Odds and ends

Wednesday, Apr 7, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* A few years ago, I was giving a speech at the Executive Mansion to an interest group. Before the speech, I walked out onto a balcony on the main floor. Unbeknownst to me, I set off a silent alarm and a flock of troopers swarmed on my position and ordered me off the balcony. Turns out, they had that door alarmed because the wooden balcony was so rotted they were worried somebody would fall through. The troopers may have saved my startled hide that day.

ABC7 has just posted a brief story about the horrible condition of the mansion…

The mansion needs $12 million to fix heating, plumbing and structural problems. Bricks are displaced and the roof is warped.

About 50,000 tourists visit the mansion each year. And it hosts about 200 events each year. It’s been 40 years since the mechanical systems were rehabbed.

Governor Pat Quinn’s budget proposal allows for just $75,000 in repairs, which is far short of what’s needed to complete the job.

$75K probably wouldn’t even fix the rotted balconies. It’s almost a metaphor for how the leadership of this state has allowed everything to deteriorate.

* Kristen McQueary writes about the race between freshman Democratic congresscritter Debbie Halvorson and Republican Adam Kinzinger…

Kinzinger promises to be a less-partisan Republican. An Iraq war veteran, he recently secured the endorsement of Sarah Palin who will undoubtedly swing through the 11th District at some point to raise money.

Those two sentences don’t jibe, I’m afraid. Among other things, Palin recently described the GOP as the “the party of hell no!” You can’t, on the one hand, predict that a candidate will be less partisan and then immediately note that he has embraced somebody like Palin.

That said, I do believe Kinzinger is a heckuva candidate who has a good shot at this one.

* Several governors have reported receiving ominous letters from some nutball fringe group, but our governor won’t confirm anything…

Gov. Pat Quinn is keeping mum on whether he received one of dozens of foreboding letters sent to governors throughout the country threatening to remove them from office.

“As a matter of policy, this office declines to discuss security matters pertaining to the governor,” Quinn spokesman Bob Reed said.

The letters, sent by the right-wing extremist group Guardians of the free Republics, called on the top state officials across the country to leave office within three days or be removed.

The group’s website (no link from me) claims it is strictly non-violent, but some governors have increased security after receiving the letters.

* And if you actually need any further evidence that Rod Blagojevich is a sociopath, then look no further than this…

In 2008, Rod Blagojevich allegedly set out to shake down Children’s Memorial Hospital after getting a phone call from onetime Cubs manager Dusty Baker, according to court documents.

Baker, who supported the hospital, was asking for state help, according to the filing, which was based on allegations from Blagojevich friend-turned government cooperator John Wyma. Baker was not accused of anything improper.

“Dusty Baker called me. I’m going to do $8 million for them. I want to get [Children’s Memorial Hospital CEO Patrick] Magoon for 50,” Blagojevich allegedly said in a meeting, according to what Wyma told federal authorities.

“50″ allegedly meant a $50,000 campaign contribution. What a menace he was.

* And a roundup…

* Senate Dems Introduce Redistricting Plan

* Fair Map Amendment a good plan for Illinois

* Dems unveil redistricting plans to change constitution

* School voucher pilot program deserves support

* State telecommunications laws due for update

* Bill would require insurance to cover smoking progams

* Blagojevich’s brother wants to suppress recordings

* Blagojevich brother: Don’t play the tapes

* Blagojevich Brothers Differ on Legal Strategy

36 Comments

Question of the day

Wednesday, Apr 7, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Democratic Cook County Assessor nominee Joe Berrios was fuming yesterday about Forrest Claypool’s decision to run for assessor as an independent…

“[Claypool] seems pretty flip and destructive toward the Democratic Party,” Berrios replied in a tersely worded statement. “He is obviously willing to pull down the entire party for his own self-interest.”

Claypool was unrepentant…

Quoting the Better Government Association’s description of Berrios as “pay-to-play personified,” and accusing him of a cozy relationship with House Speaker Michael Madigan, the state party chairman whose law firm routinely argues cases before Berrios on the Board of Review, Claypool said, “He’s in the pocket of the special interests, and that’s affecting our pocketbooks.”

* There is another way to look at the Claypool race, however. Right now, there is really nothing on the ballot to bring out the Democrats who voted for David Hoffman in the US Senate primary. The Democratic problems will also likely tamp down much of the new Obama voters from two years ago. Claypool might be able to bring some of those people out. And when they’re at the voting booth, they might then cast their ballots for other Democratic candidates.

On the other hand, the Tribune and other media outlets will be hammering Berrios/Madigan non-stop to help Claypool, which will probably suppress Democratic turnout.

Cook County plays a huge role in the outcome of statewide races, so any significant impact on turnout and voter behavior needs to be examined. Claypool will undoubtedly have an impact if he gets on the ballot.

* The Question: Assuming he gets on the ballot, will the Claypool campaign be an overall net negative to the Democrats this fall or might it be a net positive? Explain.

70 Comments

PPP: Brady beating Quinn by ten points

Wednesday, Apr 7, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Yet another poll has state Sen. Bill Brady leading Gov. Pat Quinn by a ten-point margin. Public Policy Polling has posted its new numbers. Rasmussen’s results from early March are in parentheses…

Bill Brady 43 (47)
Pat Quinn 33 (37)

An incumbent Democrat in a Democratic state polling in the low thirties is absolutely horrific. There’s just no other way to say it. And setting aside Quinn’s own fate, he’s gotta somehow turn this around or he could take down a whole lot of Democrats this fall. Toplines and crosstabs are here.

From the pollster…

Part of Quinn’s problem within his own party is the same as that of Alexi Giannoulias- many Democrats who aren’t too high on him aren’t choosing a side for now. 28% of Democrats are undecided while only 13% of Republicans are. But Quinn is in a deeper hole than his party’s Senate nominee because 19% of Democrats have already decided to support Brady for Governor compared to only 10% going for Mark Kirk against Giannoulias.

There were contentious primaries on both sides for Governor, but the numbers indicate that the Republicans have unified around Brady while Democrats are just as divided about Quinn as they were two months ago. Only 37% of voters in his party say they approve of the job the Governor is doing to 36% who disapprove, that 1 point net approval pretty much analogous to his one point victory in the primary. For Brady though 44% of Republicans now see him favorably, more than double the percentage of the vote he won in February, while only 11% have a negative opinion of him.

More…

There’s virtually nothing positive that can be derived from Quinn’s poll numbers. Democrats only approve of him by the smallest of margins, 37/36. African Americans disapprove of him by a 24/37 spread, although they still plan to vote for him 51-17. Only 23% of independents and 10% of Republicans think he’s doing a good job.

“It’s very unusual for someone with Pat Quinn’s approval numbers to get reelected,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “Maybe voters won’t like what they see once they become more familiar with Bill Brady but for now Republicans are strongly favored to win this race.”

Quinn’s best hope is that the economy turns around a bit and that he can make Brady look like evil incarnate. But the governor doesn’t even have a campaign team in place yet, while Brady is busily putting together the infrastructure he’ll need in the fall.

* Methodology…

PPP surveyed 591 Illinois voters from April 1st to 5th. The survey’s margin of error is +/-4.0%.

44 Comments

Quinn flip-flops again

Wednesday, Apr 7, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* This is why it’s so difficult to believe Gov. Pat Quinn whenever he threatens a budget cut. He always finds a way to back down…

Gov. Quinn met with Mayor Daley on Tuesday and came out determined to avoid State Police cutbacks so draconian they would require Chicago Police to assume primary responsibility for patrolling 53 miles of Chicago area expressways. […]

On Tuesday, Quinn emerged from an hour-long meeting in the mayor’s office predicting that the crisis would be resolved to the mayor’s satisfaction.

“It’s premature to have any alarm,” the governor said. “The state budget is in process. Once we get to the final days, I think we’ll have everybody singing out of the same hymn book, pretty happy. We’ll have a good conclusion for both the city and the state.”

Everybody will be happy? Is that money just gonna drop down from Heaven or something?

People really don’t seem to get it. There is no money and there won’t be for a very long time. Quinn’s tax hike proposal barely even makes a dent in the deficit. His proposed cuts also barely make a dent, yet everyone is screaming bloody murder about them. Daley wants Quinn to make cuts before the state raises taxes, yet hizzoner throws a gigantic hissy fit when a few cuts are eventually revealed.

Quinn, Daley and everyone else are simply living in a fantasy world, including the Republicans.

* And then there’s this…

Area municipalities shouldn’t fear losing their local portion of the state’s income tax revenue, according to a top state official.

Senate President John Cullerton knocked Gov. Pat Quinn’s proposal to cut the share of income tax municipalities typically receive to 7 percent from the 10 percent.

“I told the governor I didn’t think it was a good idea to not give money to local governments. If we’re going to have to beg, borrow and steal, we can borrow another $300 million instead of not giving it to local government,” Cullerton told the Journal Star editorial board on Tuesday.

“I suggest in this year’s budget, we not underfund local government distributions.”

I get that the state shouldn’t be pushing its budget problems down the food chain, but if there are no other solutions, then that’s one of the few options it has.

* This is almost comical in its duplicity…

State Rep. Keith Farnham faced the music for the state’s budget disaster Tuesday night during a town-hall meeting, vowing to fight future attempts to cut pensions of current teachers and pushing for the state to contract its spending instead of relying on tax increases to make ends meet.

Read that again and tell me it’s intellectually honest.

* And the newspapers aren’t being much of a help, either. Balance that budget, state and locals, but don’t eat into our gravy train…

At a time when public officials should be championing greater openness in government, a bill is pending in Springfield that would do away with requirements that Illinois fire protection districts print public notices in general circulation newspapers.

Instead, appropriation and penalty ordinances could be posted on a Web site.

The state ought to just open a website for all public notices in Illinois and charge everyone a fraction of what newspapers do. But that would eat too much into their cash flow, so it’ll never happen.

* Meanwhile, the state’s credit with vendors is so bad it can’t even buy bullets…

The Illinois Department of Corrections was forced to make an emergency purchase of ammunition last month because of the state’s inability to pay its bills.

The purchase happened after one of the state’s ammunition vendors, Shore Galleries Inc., refused to ship bullets unless the company was paid up front. The state owes the Lincolnwood firm $6,000.

The department was able to quickly find a new vendor in Indiana and ordered 761,000 rounds for nearly $200,000.

Great. We stiffed an Illinois vendor so much that we have to go out of state to find a willing sucker. Indiana gets the business, Illinois gets the shaft. Wonderful news.

* Progress Illinois has a hugely long list of layoffs and budget cut announcements at local schools just in the past few days. Here is a very tiny taste…

- Peoria School District 150 laid off 290 employees and may terminate another 200-400 staff members before the fall. (Illinois Statehouse News, April 6) […]

- Sixty-one first-year teachers are scheduled to receive dismissal notices from the Oswego school district. (ABC 7, April 1)

- Triad schools pink slipped 34 non-tenured teachers, five part-time certified staff members, and two part-time support staff. (Belleville News-Democrat, April 1)

- Central Illinois districts are bleeding teachers and programs. To date, Danville cut 85 employees, the Urbana School District laid off 139 teachers and support staff in February, and the Champaign school board approved $2.3 million in cuts for next year, reducing or eliminating summer enrichment programs, new textbooks, special education programs, and more. (Champaign News-Gazzette, March 31).

* Related…

* Illinois Offers Help for Trapped Miners

* Mautino: Illinois educators can expect state budget woes to continue

* County eyes state budget woes

* Danville displays lower, balanced budget: The city council unanimously approved a resolution urging Gov. Pat Quinn to reconsider the income tax funding cut to municipalities and appealing to the General Assembly to not support it. The city could lose about $850,000, which could account for 20-25 employee cuts.

* Lawmakers review session, look to second half

* Rep. Watson speaks at town hall meeting

26 Comments

Kirk raises a bundle, keeps up the heat

Wednesday, Apr 7, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Republican Mark Kirk says he has raised $2.2 million in the first quarter of the year and had over $3 million in the bank. From a press release….

Five-term Congressman and Navy veteran Mark Kirk today reported his Illinois Senate campaign raised more than $2.2 million since January 1st and more than $6.6 million for the 2010 cycle with over $3 million in the bank at the close of the first quarter.

As of April 1st, the Kirk campaign received contributions from more than 9,000 individual contributors (80% from Illinois). More than 4,200 people (85% of all contributions) donated to the campaign in the last three months alone.

Kirk has been hit in the past for accepting lots of PAC money, so that’s why he’s stressing the number of contributors. Notice that he’s using total numbers of contributors, not dollars, in that second graf.

Giannoulias has not yet issued his fundraising report, but I was told yesterday he raised more in this last quarter than he has in previous quarters. Then again, Giannouolias had a hot primary and Kirk did not. The important number will be the amount he raised after February 2nd, when all heck has broken loose on the family bank. Kirk’s comment about “leading the effort” to repeal the health insurance law (which he has since walked back) reportedly helped Giannoulias’ fundraising.

* The Giannoulias campaign has also been talking up its recent focus group studies. Sen. Dick Durbin mentioned them to the Tribune editorial board yesterday…

Durbin said [yesterday] that campaign focus groups show that instead of expressing concern about Broadway Bank, voters are asking, “What about my job? What is going on in terms of the economy and moving forward?” in the contest against Kirk.

“I think at the end of the day, the overriding issue is going to be the state of the economy and whether it’s turned around — whether Mr. Kirk’s position on economic issues is better for the state or Mr. Giannoulias’,” Durbin said.

But Kirk kept hammering away…

Rep. Mark Kirk insisted he needed to leave a Tuesday news conference in a hurry to get to another appointment, until he was asked about his Democratic opponent in the race for U.S. Senate and the questions swirling around his family’s bank.

“He has built up a record of reckless irresponsibility regarding other people’s money,” Kirk said of Democrat Alexi Giannoulias after speaking at the Shedd Aquarium about his opposition to closing a Coast Guard helicopter station in Waukegan. […]

Days after Democrats dismissed talk Giannoulias should bow out of the race in the light of the bank’s problems, Kirk sounded like someone clearly happy about who he’s running against.

“That’s not Illinois law,” he said, when asked if he thought the White House would try to get Giannoulias to drop out of the race. “Under Illinois law, once you become the elected nominee of your party you’re in it.”

It seems odd that a reporter would ask a Republican congressman what he thought a Democratic White House would do about a Democratic candidate except as a meaty soft ball designed to produce copy, but that’s the game, I suppose.

* In other campaign finance news, Democratic 10th Congressional District hopeful Dan Seals claims to have outraised Republican Bob Dold. From a press release…

In the April Reporting Period from January 14 to March 31, 2010, Seals received $634,076 in contributions. This figure surpasses the first quarter fundraising record of $632,144 set by Rep. Mark Kirk in the first quarter of 2008. Seals will also report nearly $460,000 cash-on-hand.

For the full quarter of January 1 to March 31, Seals raised $662,773, an advantage of more than 31% over opponent Bob Dold’s receipts of just $504,822 during the same period. Seals’ cash-on-hand figure of $460,000 also outstrips Dold’s holdings of just $377,672.

Regardless of that release, Dold is doing pretty well for a first timer.

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