* Sen. Bill Brady had a press conference today to unveil a new website, StopThePatQuinnTax.com. He also took questions from reporters. My intern Dan Weber asked him about the criticisms lobbed at him by former GOP Gov. Jim Edgar…
* And while we’re posting videos, here’s an unedited video of my intern Barton Lorimor trying to ask Gov. Quinn a couple of questions outside an event last night. Barton didn’t have much luck at first, but he got it done..
…Adding… Brady was also asked what he was doing to reach out to minority communities…
Jeralyn Camp waited until the last minute to file her taxes, but she thought it would be no problem because she would just use TurboTax software and submit it online to the state of Illinois.
Until she actually tried to do it.
“I went to the website to apply for a pin to submit my taxes and the site was down,” Camp said. “Then I called the numbers they gave me and they were all busy.”
Camp said she called three different 800 numbers 10 times apiece and got a busy signal each and every time.
The Department of Revenue’s pin application website is down all day today because of a traffic overload, so you have to call an 800 number to get a pin, but that 800 number is perpetually busy because of a traffic overload. The Department’s response…
“What can I say: It’s April 15th,” said IDOR spokeswoman Sue Hofer. “This is why we encourage everyone in the state to file early.”
Sheesh.
* Despite all the jobs created or saved by the capital construction program, Illinois government is still one of the bigger drags on the state’s economy. More evidence…
Officials at one Illinois hospital say they are going to stop delivering babies because the state isn’t paying its bills.
Kewanee Hospital in Henry County says it will close its birthing center this summer.
The hospital claims it has lost $2 million over the past three years because the state isn’t covering its share of the cost.
They say 73 percent of the babies born there were covered by Medicaid or other public aid.
That means, of course, that lots of poor women will have to go elsewhere to have their babies. Wonderful, eh? Also, there’s just one other hospital in Henry County. [Via]
* There is a huge amount of rhetoric on both sides of the redistricting reform battle. From yesterday’s Senate debate…
Republicans like Senator Kirk Dillard say they oppose Raoul’s plan because, as in the current process, lawmakers get first crack at drawing the map.
DILLARD: Your plan is the politician’s choice.
Dillard supports an alternate plan that would give initial mapmaking power to a commission appointed by the four legislative leaders. But Democrat Raoul dismissed that proposal, which he says would consolidate power instead of keeping it in the hands of lawmakers elected by the voters.
RAOUL: The people get to choose who would draw the map under this scenario, not the legislative leaders.
Sen. Raoul is right that giving the leaders even more authority is probably not the way to go. But it would be an equally divided commission, plus a chairman elected by the commission. Instead of just two leaders from the same party drawing the map, it would be all four plus an independent chairperson.
But there are legions of problems with the GOP/reformer’s proposal. New maps would have to be approved by two-thirds majorities. The only way that will happen is if the maps actually protect huge numbers of incumbents. It’s also doubtful that the bipartisan commission could even elect a chairman. Failing all that, the process moves to the Supreme Court, which would be given unprecedented legislative powers to draw the new maps.
The Republicans have the luxury of an alliance with the reformers. They don’t have to actually pass anything because they know they can jam the Democrats no matter what. So, they can pretty much say whatever they want, and the more incendiary, the better.
The editorial pages are heavily invested in the “Fair Map” proposal and some blasted away at the Senate Democrats for approving the Raoul measure, called “Citizens First.” The Champaign News-Gazette was particularly harsh…
Citizens First ought to be titled Citizens Last because its real intent is to keep the current majority party in power for another 10 years no matter what the voters want. The proposed amendment is the functional equivalent of lipstick on a pig. It’s a ruse, a ploy, a con designed to placate legitimate public anger over the state of the state of Illinois.
Nothing will change if the politicians who created the state’s current dysfunctional politics are charged with coming up with solutions. But that, of course, is the idea.
The Daily Herald called out suburban Democratic Senators by name today, claiming they had “failed their constituents” by voting for the amendment…
Taking the map-drawing power away from those who seek to serve is a crucial and necessary step toward fixing the problems that have fostered corruption, centralized power and almost guaranteed incumbents’ re-election regardless of performance.
The edit boards always forget about the Republican map that was drawn in 1991. The House Democrats managed to hold their majority for eight out of ten years under that GOP map. The Senate Democrats came this/close to picking up the majority in 1996. And there was huge turnover in the House in both 1994 and 1996. Yes, the new map is strongly Democratic, but this state has moved solidly into the “D” camp since it was drawn in 2001. The fact that House Speaker Madigan is so frightened of passing a tax hike this year ought to be some indication that he’s worried he could lose his gavel again.
* John Bambenek points out another problem with the Senate-approved proposal via press release…
Surely, someone could file suit to challenge redistricting like this you say? “Citizens First” however, limits who can file suit to challenge redistricting. In fact, only one person would be allowed under the state constitution to sue if the maps broke state law… the Attorney General. Do any of you think Lisa Madigan will sue dear old dad over redistricting? Me either. Illinois would be the ONLY state in the entire country that only allows the Attorney General to sue to protect the rights of citizens under redistricting. Here is the text from Citizens First that accomplishes this:
“(h) The Supreme Court shall have original and exclusive jurisdiction over actions concerning redistricting the House and Senate, which shall be initiated in the name of the People of the State by the Attorney General.”
For all the bluster during [yesterday’s] floor debate, the amendment has an uncertain future as it moves to the House. Constitutional amendments must pass each chamber by a 3/5 majority, a margin Democrats don’t control in the House.
* Quinn signs pension reform into law: Quinn said he doesn’t know what his action will cost him in terms of union support in this fall’s election, but said “the public will be appreciative of someone, a governor who never flinched from doing something really meaningful.”
Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig said highway and bridge projects valued at $5 billion will be launched in the state this year.
Speaking Tuesday at the annual meeting of Corridor 67 Inc., Hannig said a capital construction program approved last year will keep contractors and Illinois Department of Transportation crews busy for several years.
An adjustment made during last fall’s veto session will allow IDOT to get started on work, even though some parts of the capital program’s revenue package have been delayed by court challenges or administrative hurdles.
“The Legislature voted to let us use road fund dollars for bonds” and requires that the road fund be repaid, Hannig said.
The article is a bit misleading. That $5 billion includes projects which were started last year and will be continued this year, plus projects that start this year and won’t be finished this year. But next year there will be more contracts let.
The governor and Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig held a Statehouse press conference to announce the program today. Among other things, Quinn was asked how the local opt-out of video gaming would hurt the construction rollout. Here’s the Q&A…
Governor Pat Quinn was joined by Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) officials today to unveil a $12.84 billion Multi-Year Highway Improvement Program for Fiscal Years 2011-2016. The proposed program aims to preserve and maintain the state’s highway system of roads and bridges, upgrade facilities for congestion mitigation and safety improvements and expand the system to help spur economic development in Illinois. The entire Multi-Year Plan (MYP) is expected to create an estimated 167,000 direct jobs over the next six years. […]
The $12.84 billion highway improvement program for FY 2011-2016 MYP is based upon conservative estimates of federal, state and local funding, with $7.292 billion in federal funds, $4.888 billion in state funds including $142 million in bonds from the Governor Quinn’s Illinois Jump Start Capital Plan, $2.49 billion for the Illinois Jobs Now! bond program and $660 million in local funds.
The six-year highway improvement program includes $10.103 billion for improvements to the state highway system with $2.737 billion available for local roads.
An initiative pushed by southern Illinois law enforcement that targets people who inhale chemicals to get high gained overwhelming support from a Senate panel Wednesday.
Members of the Criminal Law Committee voted 8-0 to endorse a measure that takes aim at “huffing” — a practice in which fumes from paint and other chemicals are inhaled. Under the legislation, a second huffing offense would be increased to a Class A misdemeanor, carrying a penalty of up to one year in prison.
It is being pushed by law enforcement in Williamson County who complain they see the same abusers over and over again.
Is this stuff harmful and dangerous? Heck, yes. But if the only tool you ever use is a hammer, every problem will look like a nail. There’s gotta be a better way.
* The Senate overwhelmingly approved legislation banning so-called “e-cigarettes.” The devices are plastic tubes that look like cigarettes, often emit a visible vapor that looks a bit like smoke, and deliver nicotine to the user. The problem is that most of those e-cigs are made in China, so the ingredients are often unknown to users. But a House committee decided yesterday it needed more time to study the issue…
Former smokers who use the products and retailers who supply them objected to an outright ban, suggesting that lawmakers should look at regulation of e-cigarettes first. Several former smokers said they tried every FDA-approved smoking cessation tool but still couldn’t quit the habit until finding the e-cigarettes.
State Rep. Constance Howard, D-Chicago, said she also was a former smoker and understood how difficult quitting could be.
“I just wish there was something like these around before my mother died,” she said, to applause from the assembled e-cigarette proponents.
Sponsoring state Rep. Marlow Colvin, D-Chicago, said the FDA hasn’t approved the products yet and have found examples of carcinogens and other chemicals in the cartridges. He and lobbyist Kathy Drea with the American Lung Association said the state should prevent people from buying the e-cigarettes until the FDA has ruled on their safety.
* As we’ve discussed before, the state constitution imposes a limit on the number of constitutional amendments that can be voted on during election years. Republicans have been saying for weeks that the Democrats are attempting to pack the ballot to make sure there is no room for the GOP-backed redistricting reform proposal. The House Republicans helped kill a proposal by House Speaker Michael Madigan a few weeks ago to mandate minimum requirements for judges using that argument, and they did it again yesterday to a different measure on victims’ rights…
House lawmakers Wednesday short-circuited another proposed constitutional amendment, this one on crime victims’ rights, because of concerns about filling up the ballot.
House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 19 received only 65 of the needed 71 ‘yes’ votes for approval, but its sponsor used a parliamentary move to bring it up for a later vote.
This amendment would strengthen the rights provided to crime victims, especially in criminal cases on appeal. Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie, said the intent of the measure should make it overwhelmingly popular with lawmakers.
“Public policy demands that we do the right thing on this amendment,” Lang said.
Republicans brought up the ballot-packing allegations, but Lang angrily pointed out that he’s been working on this issue for a long time…
“You think that two years ago I decided to spend two years of my life working on this amendment just so you could vote no on it because you think there’s some conspiracy is really kind of insulting.”
* Related…
* State Capitol Q&A: Crime victims’ rights subject of amendment proposal
* Legal reformers want to derail lawsuit lending bill
* One of the more interesting revelations in yesterday’s prosecution proffer on Rod and Rob Blagojevich was how cash was funneled to the First Lady…
Starting in the Fall of 2003, top Blagojevich fundraiser Tony Rezko cooked up several ways to make it look like he was putting Patti to work as a real estate broker, money she didn’t earn.
In August 2003, Rezko’s company paid Patti $14,369, made to look like a commission on the sale of property Rezko owned.
From October 2003 to May 2004, Rezko paid Patti a whopping $96,000, or $12,000 a month as a retainer for her services. Then, in January 2004, Rezko made a separate $40,000 payment to Patti Blagojevich, supposedly for sale of a West Loop property.
Not long after depositing that $40,000 check, Patti Blagojevich allegedly wrote a check for more than $38,000 to pay for renovations to the Blagojevich home.
In all, she got $150,369 from Rezko, but what did she do to earn that money? Prosecutors contend she did practically nothing.
The Sun-Times disclosed the remodeling work in 2007, pointing out that a Rezko company, Chicago Construction Services, oversaw it. “The renovations . . . were paid for by the Blagojeviches through their personal checking account,” Rod Blagojevich’s then-spokesman told the Sun-Times in 2008.
Do you remember how former Gov. Rod Blagojevich reacted when the news media first started questioning his wife Patti’s business dealings, in particular how she had collected real estate broker commissions from the sale of properties involving his political pals?
I sure do.
“Sexist,” complained the governor. “Neanderthal,” he roared.
How dare anyone suggest that Patti Blagojevich’s financial success was anything other than the result of her own accomplishments as an independent businesswoman.
The situation was so stinky that, according to the proffer, “Mr. Blagojevich was concerned that there might be the perception that his wife was a ghost payroller if she did not go into Rezko’s office.”
So, Patti Blagojevich was told to show up. “The problem with that approach however,” the proffer says. “was that Blagojevich’s wife was taking care of their infant daughter.”
* Keep in mind when reading the stuff about Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. that this is Blagojevich talking. He’s a professional liar, so take it with a grain of salt. Still, it ain’t good for the congressman…
Thwarted in efforts to trade the Senate appointment for an Obama cabinet post, ambassadorship or a million-dollar job, Blagojevich turned his attention back to the ambitions of U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., the proffer says.
One recorded conversation has the former governor describing Jackson as the only one left who “wants it badly and desperately and he’s the only one who’s willing to, like, offer stuff.”
It was one of a series of Dec. 4, 2008, calls in which Blagojevich described his disdain for Jackson, but his appreciation of the $1.5 million Jackson supporters had promised in campaign cash in exchange for appointing Jackson.
* To advisers about snagging a presidential Cabinet post: “So [Valerie Jarrett’s] holding Health and Human Services, and I’m holding a U.S. Senate seat. OK? She’s holding hers with two hands, just kind’a clinging to, you know, little pieces of it. Me, I’ve got the whole thing wrapped around my arms, mine, OK? . . . I’m willing to trade the thing I got tightly held to her for something she doesn’t hold quite as tightly.”
As an aside, let me mention that from my reading of the government filing, I don’t believe prosecutors envision a speaking role for Rezko at Blago’s trial.
Although Rezko is known to have been cooperating with authorities since going to prison, all the government’s assertions about matters related to him appear to be based on testimony that would be provided by other witnesses. This may be due to the fact Rezko has offered numerous and conflicting accounts about his dealings with Blagojevich and complained that he was being unfairly pressured by prosecutors, all of which would make him a lousy prosecution witness.
Prosecutors appear to be planning to rely instead on a former chief financial officer of Rezko’s company to supply key details about his arrangements with Patti Blagojevich.
* Cellini…
Bill Cellini’s connections to fundraisers for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich at one point left the politically powerful Springfield developer a “nervous wreck,” a new court document says. […]
The charges relate to an alleged attempt by Blagojevich fundraisers Antoin “Tony” Rezko and Christopher Kelly, along with Stuart Levine, then a member of the Teachers’ Retirement System board, to get a $1.5 million donation to Blagojevich’s campaign or a $2 million finder’s fee from a principal in a firm that wanted to manage TRS funds.
Cellini spoke to the would-be money manager, Thomas Rosenberg, but to no avail, the document says.
In a May 8, 2004, call to Levine that was recorded by investigators, Cellini allegedly said Rosenberg was angry about what he saw as a shakedown.
“Cellini told Levine about how Rezko and Kelly had been ‘essentially hammerin’ people’ to make political contributions in order to win State of Illinois contracts, how Cellini was a ‘nervous wreck’ about it, and how Cellini and Levine needed to talk with Rezko and Kelly about Rosenberg’s threats,” the document says.
In the end, the investment firm got its allocation without having to pay the finders fees or campaign contributions.
The last time Illinois saw a year-over-year decrease in foreclosures was in November 2008.
“But that was followed by substantial year-over-year increases in subsequent months,” said Daren Blomquist, a spokesman for the Irvine, Calif.-based research firm.
Either way, Illinois was No. 9 during the quarter and No. 10 during March nationwide in terms of the number of foreclosures.
The employee callbacks, which are based on seniority in specific job categories, are needed to maintain the reduced service levels imposed in February, Rodriguez said, and they do not mark an end to the agency’s budget crisis.
Ald. Joe Moore, 49th, however, said he had heard from many massage therapists opposed to the ordinance.
“This is a legitimate business, and they have a right to operate a legitimate business without going through undo hurdles,” Moore said, saying the proposed ordinance was too broad. “I think it’s like swatting a mosquito with a fly sledgehammer….There are enough regulations on business in this city.”
Ald. Mary Ann Smith, 48th, said she supported delaying a final vote on the ordinance because it would create a burden for the physical therapy businesses that are proliferating in her North Side ward.
Aldermen didn’t ask Chico any questions, not even about his lobbying business.
* Ald. Beale — who irritated cops — to head City Council’s Police Committee
Although he has cozied up to Daley recently in his push to develop Pullman Park, Beale was elected to the City Council in 1999 with the staunch support of State Sen. James Meeks and U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson (D-Il.), longtime Daley critics.
And Beale has turned himself into a political punching bag with a series of proposals viewed as anti-police.
* Daley picks Beale to lead City Council police and fire panel
* Aldermen sign off on Daley’s choice for park board president
Liquor sales would be cut off at 10 p.m. at 23 of the 25 locations, one hour earlier than is currently allowed.
But the booze could flow for an extra hour — until midnight — at Northerly Island, apparently to accommodate the popular outdoor concert venue there. Liquor sales already continue until midnight at Millennium Park.
Daley also wants to allow liquor sales at the South Shore Golf Course, the Ohio Street Beach in Olive Park, Calumet Beach House in Calumet Park, Diversey Driving Range and Miniature Golf Course, DuSable Harbor Building, the South Shore Cultural Center, the 31st Street Boathouse in Burnham Park and the 87th Street Harbor.
* At a time when the governor is cutting the State Police, human services and schools, this has to rank as one of the goofier hires of all time…
A longtime advisor to Gov. Pat Quinn has been hired to be the state’s first canoe czar.
Claude Walker, who has served as an aide to Quinn dating back two decades, will coordinate kayaking and canoeing for the cash-strapped state Department of Natural Resources.
He will earn $85,000 annually.
The new job for the 57-year-old self-described kayaking enthusiast raised eyebrows among some lawmakers, who are in the midst of debating how to keep the state afloat during though budget times.
Claude is a great guy. But Quinn cannot claim on one hand that the state is broke and then pay somebody $85K to be a “canoe czar.”
*** UPDATE *** That didn’t last long. From a DNR spokesperson…
I wanted to reach out to you and let you know that the watertrails coordinator position has been recinded at the request of the Governor’s office today. The IDNR realizes that while watertrails are an important and growing aspect of outdoor recreation in Illinois, the timing was just not right in these tough fiscal times.
* 1:03 pm - The US Attorney’s Rod and Rob Blagojevich prosecutorial roadmap will be made public, despite objections by defense attorneys…
U.S. District Judge James Zagel just issued an order granting “immediate access” to an evidentiary document in the [Blagojevich corruption] case and denies the defense’s request to black out portions of it. […]
Zagel says in his ruling: “The case for redaction has to be proven not presumed. It is not proven here. If the excerpt of a conversation would have a different meaning if more of the conversation were to be reproduced, the defendants here can reproduce it if either believes that the additional language would help defeat the claim of admissibility made by the prosecution.”
The events which are the subject of this case are not those which make a lasting impression on the mind of readers. The words in papers and magazines and the words read by an anchor on radio or television will not be retained in significant detail by members of the public.
I expect that many members of the jury pool will have an impression about the case to be tried. Many have such impressions even now. I do not expect that the printed words in the proffer reprinted or read aloud by news readers will affect the ability of a significant number of potential jurors to comply fully with the rule that they must decide the case on the basis of the evidence heard in court without any reliance on whatever they remember that they read in or saw on the news.
For the foregoing reasons, the motion by Sun Times Media LLC, Associated Press, and Chicago Tribune Company to intervene and for immediate access to the Santiago proffer filed under seal is granted.
* 1:22 pm - A spokesman for the US Attorney’s office says the proffer will be distributed as soon as it is publicly docketed. That should be pretty soon. Stay tuned.
Blagojevich, Rezko, Kelly, and Monk had conversations, individually and collectively, about how the four of them could make money from their control over the State of Illinois government. In those conversations, Blagojevich, Rezko, Kelly, and Monk discussed a number of specific ideas for making money, such as through operating businesses that would get state money in different ways or receiving fees from people who did business with the state. Blagojevich, Rezko, Kelly, and Monk did not expect to have to invest significant money in any of these deals; instead, they were simply looking to collect money from the deals in the form of a finder’s fee or from revenue that might be generated from the deals. As a general matter, Rezko was the one who was trying to set up the money-making arrangements and Kelly and Rezko were the most knowledgeable about how the plans would work. Blagojevich and Monk would then use their power and authority in state government as needed to assist whatever plans Rezko and Kelly put in place. […]
There were occasions after Blagojevich became Governor that Blagojevich, Kelly, Monk, and Rezko all met to discuss their efforts to make money from state action. For example, the four men met in a conference room at the offices of one of Rezko’s businesses in about mid to late 2003.
During the meeting, Rezko led the discussion, standing at an easel or chalkboard and listed at least three or four different ideas or plans to make money being developed by Rezko that involved some kind of state action. At times, Kelly got up during the meeting and clarified or added to things that Rezko was saying. Blagojevich mostly listened during the meeting, but was engaged. As Rezko talked, he indicated how much money Blagojevich, Kelly, Rezko, and Monk could hope to make from the different ideas. The amounts that were associated with the different ideas were typically in the hundreds of thousands of dollars per deal, which would be evenly split four ways.
* The Bear Stearns pension obligation deal, you will recall, involved an $809,000 finders fee for then-Republican National Committeeman Bob Kjellander from Bear Stearns. Kj loaned $600,000 of that to an associate of Tony Rezko, who then paid Kj back from the proceeds of another loan Rezko helped obtain “from another associate of Rezko’s who did business with the State of Illinois.”
Sheesh.
Chris Kelly was apparently upset that Rezko was dipping into the finders fee cash because that money was supposed to eventually be split among the big players, including Gov. Blagojevich…
In about 2004, Kelly told Monk that Kelly was “pissed off” at Rezko because Rezko needed $100,000 and took it from the Individual A account. Kelly indicated that he was upset because he thought Rezko’s withdrawal of the money would somehow alert the authorities to the existence of the account, so Kelly said he told Rezko to put the money back. Kelly was not concerned that Rezko was taking money that belonged to Blagojevich, Monk, Rezko, and Kelly, but that Rezko’s taking of the money might alert the authorities. Kelly mentioned on more than one occasion to Monk that he was upset with Rezko over this matter. Kelly subsequently indicated to Monk that Rezko put the money back in the account.
* Mrs. Blagojevich…
In around October 2003, Blagojevich’s wife entered into a contract on behalf of her company with Rezmar in which Blagojevich’s Wife’s Firm agreed to perform unspecified real estate brokerage services to Rezmar in exchange for a monthly retainer of $12,000 plus the possibility of additional commissions depending on the amount of deals brokered. Beginning in October 2003, at Rezko’s direction, Individual B prepared a series of $12,000 checks pursuant to that agreement, which Individual B delivered to Rezko or his assistant. Ultimately, Rezmar issued 8 separate $12,000 checks, totaling $96,000, to Blagojevich’s Wife’s Firm on approximately a monthly basis from October 2003 through May 2004. Those checks were deposited into a bank account held by
Blagojevich’s Wife’s Firm. […]
Blagojevich was concerned that there might be the perception that his wife was a ghost payroller if she did not go into Rezko’s offices. Monk had conversations with Blagojevich and his wife about the need for her to actually go into the office to work on a regular basis. The problem with that approach, however, was that Blagojevich’s wife was taking care of their infant daughter.
More…
At the closing of the two units, on January 19, 2004, a check for $40,000 was made payable to Blagojevich’s Wife’s Firm. That check was sent back to the title company with instructions that the check be issued to Rezmar. On January 21, 2004, the title company issued a new $40,000 check to Rezmar Realty. After Rezmar received the $40,000 check, Rezko directed Individual B to deposit the check into a Rezmar account and to write a $40,000 check to Blagojevich’s Wife’s Firm. On January 22, 2004, Individual B wrote a check to Blagojevich’s Wife’s Firm for $40,000. The check stub indicates that it was “assignment of funds.” On January 23, 2004, that check was deposited into a bank account held by Blagojevich’s Wife’s Firm. On the same day, Blagojevich’s wife wrote a $40,000 check to herself from her company’s bank account and deposited the check into her personal bank account. On or about January 24, 2004, Blagojevich’s wife then wrote a series of checks totaling $38,010 from her personal bank account to a number of vendors who had performed work on the Blagojevich home.
Disgusting.
* The despicable attempt to sell Obama’s Senate seat…
Blagojevich complained to Deputy Governor A that Blagojevich’s “upward trajectory” was stalled because of Obama’s election. Blagojevich told Deputy Governor A that Blagojevich had made “decisions at the expense of [his] family’s best interests for . . . [his] job as governor.” Blagojevich informed Deputy Governor A “now is the time for me to put my f___ing children and my wife first, for a change.” […]
Harris suggested that Blagojevich tell Labor Union Official that Blagojevich wanted to accommodate the president-elect, but also wanted to take care of the people of Illinois. Blagojevich responded by stating “Yeah. And, and, and my, and me, do I say me.” Harris stated “Right, by, by keeping me strong.” Blagojevich responded to Harris “But I don’t want that. I’m not looking for that. I’d like to get out, the f___ outta here.” Shortly thereafter, Blagojevich stated that “the objective is to, to get a good gig over there.” […]
Based on Harris’s prior conversations with Blagojevich, Harris informed Blagojevich that Harris had told Deputy Governor A that they were looking for a “reasonable ask” in exchange for the Senate seat that “takes care” of Blagojevich’s family and keeps Blagojevich’s future political ambitions open. […]
Deputy Governor A stated that the director of one foundation was “on two corporate boards and makes around $250,000 a year on the, in addition to her salary.” Blagojevich responded “Yeah, see that’s what we’d want. That’s it.” Deputy Governor A told Blagojevich that Blagojevich should make clear during the negotiations for the Senate seat that being on other boards “would be another part of the game.” Blagojevich responded “That’s right.” […]
Blagojevich’s wife had trouble finding the salary information on-line. Blagojevich responded “Don’t worry about it. Yeah, that’s, you negotiate that. I’d like a 4-year contract for a million a year or somethin’. . . . Or 750 or whatever. It’d have to be good. Obama’s got excess money, he just gives them more money.” […]
Later on November 12, 2008, Blagojevich talked to Robert Blagojevich about filling the Senate seat. Regarding filling the Senate seat, Robert Blagojevich stated his advice was that Blagojevich “make sure it’s tit for tat, man you get something. I wouldn’t give anything away.”
But the tapes will clear him. Right.
* The clearest indication yet that Blagojevich is lying about his constant refrain that he really wanted to appoint Attorney General Lisa Madigan to the vacant Senate seat in order to cut a deal with Speaker Madigan on the capital bill and health care…
During the meeting, Labor Union Official advocated that Senate Candidate B be named to the Senate seat. In response, Blagojevich lied and informed Labor Union Official that Blagojevich was in “active” discussions with Individual L and her father about making Individual L the senator. […]
Blagojevich asked whether the Change to Win idea was better than trying to work out a deal to provide the Senate seat to Individual L. Advisor A indicated the Change to Win idea was better to help Blagojevich financially and his future politically. Blagojevich agreed. […]
Blagojevich stated that he was still leaning towards choosing Individual L for the Senate seat because it would help get things done for the people of Illinois, but complained “there’s nothing left there for me” regarding filling the Senate seat. Blagojevich noted “[Senate Candidate A] wants it badly and desperately and he’s the only one who’s willing to, like, offer stuff.”
Shortly thereafter, Blagojevich spoke to Deputy Governor A. Blagojevich told Deputy Governor A that he was trying to elevate Senate Candidate A with the Washington D.C. establishment to help with getting Individual L named senator, although Deputy Governor A believed that Blagojevich was lying to him. Blagojevich told Deputy Governor A he was not “gonna completely” rule out naming Senate Candidate A.
Approximately seven minutes later, Blagojevich spoke to Robert Blagojevich. Blagojevich told Robert Blagojevich that Blagojevich was elevating Senate Candidate A.
*** 4:02 pm *** Statement by Rod Blagojevich…
“There is nothing new. It’s the same old false allegations and lies. I’m looking forward to trial so the truth comes out and everyone will see that I am innocent.”
* The photo below was published in 1971 as part of a story about how SIU student Steve Brown had been named “Outstanding Graduate in Journalism” by the SIU chapter of Sigma Delta Chi…
Brown’s selection was based on character, scholarship and competence to perform journalism tasks, according to William Epperheimer, SDX chapter adviser.
Brown is, of course, the longtime press secretary for House Speaker Michael Madigan. He is no stranger to controversy.
* As I told you last week, former Gov. Jim Edgar is keeping up the public pressure on Sen. Bill Brady’s proposal to cut state spending by 10 percent across the board. But the report I linked to didn’t include this quote by Edgar about the Brady plan…
[Edgar] does not agree with the Republican candidate for governor Bill Brady’s “across-the-board 10 percent cuts in programs. It’s too simplistic.”
A governor must set priorities, Edgar said.
“Some programs are just more essential than others. (But) every section of society will be affected and pay part of the price for the fiscal mismanagement for the past 10 years,” he said.
Edgar offered up a mixed review of Gov. Quinn…
Edgar said he has come around to thinking that Quinn has pretty good first instincts.
“His second instincts are lousy. He needs to say, ‘Here’s what I think we ought to do,’ and stick with it. The last thing (the legislature) wants from a governor is unpredictability,” Edgar said.
He’s absolutely right about that. The constant flip-flopping is a nightmare.
Auditor General William Holland reported Tuesday that as of last June 30, the state was renting office space in 116 locations where its leases had expired. That’s 22 percent of the state’s 525 leases. Ten percent have been “holdovers” for five years or more, Holland said. […]
Procurement reform that took effect Jan. 1 prohibits any holdover lease of more than six months. Beginning July 1, the comptroller is to withhold payment for any rented space where the lease has been expired that long.
All but 19 of the 116 holdover leases as of June 30 had expired at least six months previously. Fifty-seven had been expired at least five years. The oldest had run out in 1998. […]
“The [Department of Central Management Services] has not assessed effective utilization of the space and has not negotiated terms that may be more favorable to the state,” Holland wrote.
CMS is supposed to be a manager. It’s supposed to help the state save money with its huge purchasing powers. Screwups like this are just inexcusable.
* The United Republican Fund is using frustration over a proposed tax hike to build its cellphone call list. From a press release…
When it comes to Pat Quinn’s tax hike, Republicans don’t just need to be the party of “No.”
We need to be the party of, “Hell, no!”
After mortgaging our state’s future through eight years of pension schemes, Big Labor giveaways, waste, fraud and abuse — it’s simply wrong that the Democrats in Springfield want to punish us in a bad economy with higher taxes.
By texting “NO” to 77007, you will receive an immediate link on your phone allowing you to immediately call Pat Quinn’s office.
We’ve already sent him thousands of emails in the past few months — now it’s time to hit the phones.
* Related and a roundup…
* Lots of Questions Still Need Answers in Youth Prison Merger
* Andy Shaw, the executive director of the Better Government Association, has penned a new Tribune op-ed…
The Better Government Association doesn’t endorse political candidates but we heartily embrace good government reform principles of fairness, accountability, integrity, transparency and honesty — the acronym is FAITH.
Then he goes on to gush about Claypool…
That’s why we’re excited about Forrest Claypool’s decision to run as an independent candidate for assessor of Cook County. If he collects enough valid signatures to get on the ballot, voters will be treated to the kind of campaign they deserve.
Assessor James Houlihan is stepping down after three impressive terms. He has repeatedly incurred the wrath of power brokers by putting taxpayers and transparency ahead of politics and patronage. That’s virtually unprecedented in an office with a history of corruption. So when Houlihan says Claypool is infinitely more qualified than Democratic nominee Joseph Berrios, our ears perk up.
And he thoroughly disses Berrios…
Could it be that House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton were sympathetic to the lobbying pitch [by Berrios for video poker] because they moonlight as tax lawyers whose firms ask Berrios to reduce the tax bills of their well-heeled corporate clients? And who gets hit with higher tax bills when Berrios decides to reduce the tax liability of the clients of Madigan and Cullerton? Could it be the rest of us? Duh.
This is all perfectly legal in Illinois, but it’s also eminently unethical and a giant conflict of interest. Anyone who games the system instead of reforming it is suspect. And that means Joe Berrios.
* The Question: Did Shaw, who runs a non-partisan group that isn’t supposed to get into campaigns, go too far here, or was he justified in pointing out the issues and players as he sees them? Explain.
* Gov. Pat Quinn plans to sign the new pension reform bill into law today. But the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club claims a new study shows the pension funds will be insolvent in 10 to 14 years unless something is done about the benefits of current employees ASAP…
According to former Illinois Tool Works chief W. James Farrell, all of the funds definitely are headed toward insolvency, “we estimate by 2020 to 2024.”
The study used fund values as of June 30, 2009 for its estimate, which was pretty near to the bottom of the stock market. Stocks have risen sharply since then. The study also didn’t include changes made by the bill about to be signed into law.
AFSCME, however, told Crain’s that it agreed with the general outlook of the study. The funds are, indeed, heading towards insolvency relatively soon.
* But what to do? AFSCME wants a tax hike and more money pumped in. The civic committee wants deep cuts to current employee benefits. They say it can be done, but Eric Zorn has a long and very good report this week about how that can’t be done.
The analysis, compiled by a former appellate justice for the Quinn administration, looks at Constitutional Convention debates and case law to pretty much demolish the notion that benefits for current employees can be cut. From one such ruling, which was eventually adopted by the Illinois Supreme Court…
In affirming the trial court, the Illinois Appellate Court rejected that argument and held that “a Pension Code modification changing the basis upon which pension benefits are directly determined cannot be applied to diminish the benefits of those who became members of the system prior to the statute’s effective date.” See Kraus, 72 Ill. App. 3d at 850. This holding unambiguously forecloses the analysis in the Sidley Austin memorandum.
The Civic Committee will spend “millions of dollars” this year to raise awareness among voters and put pressure on officials running for office, Farrell said.
* The Illinois Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill last month that effectively deletes a decades-old moratorium on new nuclear power plants. Proponents said the legislation would create new jobs and help Illinois capture bigtime federal money. Opponents aren’t so sure…
“Everybody can create all these imaginary ‘horribles,’ ” said state Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, who has sponsored legislation to allow new plants in the state. “We should be thinking about how we can ensure that Illinois, with its leadership in nuclear power, keeps that.”
But opponents worry that the state, already home to the nation’s highest nuclear capacity, would become a natural destination for nuclear waste from other parts of the country if more plants are added.
“There shouldn’t be any more new ones until you’ve dealt with the waste from the old ones,” said Dave Kraft, director of the Nuclear Energy Information Service, a nuclear power watchdog group in Chicago. The ban, Kraft noted, “was put in place to protect us from becoming a de facto nuclear waste dump. … The (ban) has done its job.”
The feds just awarded $8 billion to help a new nuclear plant get going in Georgia and is looking at 12 more sites. Jacobs’ bill would put Illinois in the running for those federal subsidies. Interestingly enough, Sen. Jacobs claimed that the need for subsidies was one reason he opposed wind power legislation…
A bill that extends for 5 years a preference for Illinois wind has stalled in the General Assembly’s Energy Committee, headed by Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline. Jacobs says electricity customers shouldn’t be forced to subsidize an industry that can’t stand on its own.
“I’m not anti-wind, … but the industry can’t survive without subsidies,” Jacobs said. “There’s plenty of room for everybody. If the wind farms make sense, then build it.”
* A massive jobs and technology bill or a consumer ripoff that will provide an excuse not to upgrade the state’s communications networks? Those are the questions being posed by AT&T’s push to throw off state laws that have required it to invest big money into its landline network. The rewrite of the state’s Telecommunications Act has been put off for several years, but now AT&T is pushing hard for changes this session.
Progress Illinois has a pretty good look today at what’s at stake. AT&T points out that cellphones, Voice Over Internet Protocol, cable companies, etc. have sharply reduced the need for landlines. A quarter of households don’t even have landlines today, but state law still requires big investments in that “legacy” technology…
According to AT&T, the Telecommunication Act’s quality control standards require local phone carriers like themselves to make investments in older technologies when they would rather spend that money on new digital or wireless infrastructure.
These “legacy regulations” (as the Illinois Technology Partnership calls them) also deter burgeoning tech companies from entering the local market. A study commissioned by the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and some of its allies estimates that easing regulations across the board would create or save 105,622 jobs while boosting what ITP’s Lindsay Mosher calls “consumer choice” and helping to ease the state’s persistent digital divide.
Consumer groups are urging more caution. For starters, they argue that the landline quality control standards are in the public interest, particularly for vulnerable Illinois residents — namely the poor and elderly — who aren’t yet linked into the digital world and still face a limited choice of providers.
The consumer advocates also challenge the notion that complete deregulation of the telecom network — which ITP is basically pushing for (PDF) — will automatically create jobs. “AT&T has tried to pitch this as a jobs bill,” says Citizen Utility Board Executive Director David Kolata. “I think this is Orwellian at best.” Indeed, during testimony yesterday at a joint hearing down in Springfield, AT&T Illinois President Paul LaSchiazza could not specify how many jobs would be created if his favored regulatory reforms were enacted.
On the issue of jobs, Kolata provides a contrary perspective. He says that when the General Assembly mandated that AT&T follow standards for their landline systems, the company was given a financial incentive to hire more workers to maintain that system. Service improved, too.
CUB thinks the state ought to update current law and broaden it to include investment requirements in new technologies. Without that requirement, some feel that AT&T won’t have any real incentives to put the bucks into the systems.
AT&T is holding a Statehouse press conference today to unveil its plan and push for passage. From a press release…
The Illinois Chamber, Chicagoland Chamber, and more than 30 additional Chambers call to modernize Illinois’ outdated telecommunications laws in order to create jobs and attract economic investment to fuel Illinois economy.
* Perhaps the most important player in all this is the attorney general. Without her OK, it’s doubtful that Speaker Madigan will move the legislation ahead. At the moment, the AG’s office isn’t exactly thrilled with the AT&T plan…
Illinois does not regulate either cells phones or the Internet. The law being proposed, with backing from AT&T, would focus on land lines and service.
Susan Satter with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office said that’s the problem. She said loosening regulations could allow telephone companies to essentially abandon customers who don’t want to buy higher-priced cell phone/Internet bundles while also charging them more.
Satter told lawmakers there is a need to update Illinois’ telecom law, but not at the expense of nearly 40 percent of customers across the state.
“I think we can get to where we want to get to, in terms of modernizing, without so radically the structure.”
The proposed re-write does include protections for land line only customers, and requires phone companies to continue service to those customers. But Satter fears other changes would allow the companies to offer poorer service.
* And the governor isn’t fully on board as of yet…
Gov. Pat Quinn said his goal is to help negotiate a proposal that improves service but also helps boost investment in telecommunications.
“We want to have more jobs in telecommunications and we have to make sure we protect consumers,” Quinn said.
* Related…
* Quinn signs tax credit for new hires at small businesses
* Quinn approves tax credit for small businesses that add employees
Sneed hears rumbles former lieutenant governor candidate Scott Lee Cohen is angling for a comeback. The millionaire pawnbroker is “intending to run again for high public office” in Illinois, a source said.
Word is Cohen is eyeing a bid to run for . . . governor on an independent ticket!
Ya gotta be kidding?
• But hold on: Cohen spent $2 million on a well-orchestrated race, which he won. After getting bareknuckled by top Dem partymeisters, Cohen — saddled with scandal — withdrew.
A candidate for whom a nomination paper has been filed as a partisan candidate at a Primary Election, and who is defeated for nomination, is prohibited from being listed on the ballot at the General Election as an independent candidate or as a candidate of another political party, and may not file a Declaration of Intent to be a Write-In Candidate at that General Election.
Cohen won the primary, so the “sore loser” provision doesn’t apply to him. If he does run, he’ll need to file 25,000 valid signatures by Monday, June 21.
Candidates for Illinois governor and lieutenant governor would run as a team in their party’s primary under legislation that gained unanimous support from a Senate panel Tuesday.
The Senate Elections Committee endorsed a measure by an 8-0 vote Tuesday to pair the two candidates rather than allowing them to run separately in the primary. The House earlier approved the measure, and it now moves to the full Senate.
The move comes just months after Chicago pawnbroker Scott Lee Cohen, the initial Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, withdrew from the race after embarrassing revelations surfaced about his private life. […]
Raoul passed an identical bill out of the Senate, which is awaiting a vote in the House. As a result, he expects this bill to have little resistance in the Senate.
There won’t be another SLC-like saga again, unless a gubernatorial candidate picks an unvetted running mate.
* Suspended Daley aide lands new six-figure gig at police department
As a deputy director, Picardi will oversee the police department’s general support division, which includes the city auto pound, equipment and supply, and document services and graphics, according to police department spokesman Roderick Drew.
The new gig comes after Mayor Richard Daley suspended Picardi without pay for three months in January for contracts involving Central Auto Body in the Logan Square neighborhood. The shop’s owner, John Szybkowski, was convicted nearly 30 years ago of faking work orders on police department vehicles and giving kickbacks to city workers.
The post the aldermen want to create would be so ineffectual that it can achieve little beyond attracting ceaseless scorn. As Ald. Joe Moore, 49th, told the Tribune, “It is probably worse than doing nothing at all. It tries to give the impression that we’re doing something, and I think that just breeds public cynicism because it’s transparently a paper tiger.”
Thirty-first Ward Alderman Ray Suarez says most massage parlors are legit, but he’s proposed an ordinance to eliminate the questionable ones by banning new massage businesses in areas that are mostly residential.
Crawford and its sister station, the Fisk Generating Plant in nearby Pilsen — a decidedly Mexican neighborhood — date back to the 1920s, making them the “oldest, dirtiest plants located in any urban neighborhood” in America, according to the Chicago Environmental Law and Policy Center.
The investigation, led by the Internal Revenue Service, charges that Robert C. Blum, 57, bought a 37-foot yacht and built his personal home in New Lenox with money from his business. Blum claimed they were business-related expenses, charges say….In 2005, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that Blum — a friend and business associate of the late Chris Kelly, who was Blagojevich campaign fund-raising chief at the time — had been awarded nearly $25 million in state contracts.
* Contractor Robert Blum slapped with tax fraud charges
* Hainesville votes to outsource police protection
Hainesville Mayor Linda Sota cast a tiebreaking vote Tuesday night in favor of shutting the village’s 2-year-old police department and contracting for patrol service from Grayslake or the Lake County sheriff’s office.
* Mark Kirk’s US Senate campaign takes a big whack at Alexi Giannoulias. The Internet spot is called “Downplay - A Brief History of Broadway Bank.” Rate it…
* The Giannoulias campaign ridicules Kirk’s claims that he’s an “independent” in its brief video. Rate it as well…
Mayor Richard Daley defended Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Alexi Giannoulias [yesterday], saying the candidate should not step aside despite revelations about family-owned Broadway Bank.
“Why should he step aside? Tell me,” Daley said. “He went through the primary.”
“Everybody knew that, what was happening to the bank, so why?” the mayor added.
Daley then made a pointed reference to Scott Lee Cohen, whom Daley also defended during the post-primary debacle….
“You forced one candidate out for Lt. Governor because you didn’t like his profession or his personal life, so are we going to? It’s interesting, really interesting how people go through a primary, and they have to step aside because we don’t like what happened. Everybody knew that was happening to the bank, right? So why?”
While the Daley defense was likely welcomed news at Camp G, dredging up Cohen probably stung more than a bit.
