GOVERNOR’S PUBLIC SCHEDULE
**Saturday, August 7, 2010**
CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn will encourage shoppers to take advantage of Illinois’ first-ever back-to-school sales tax holiday and help distribute donated backpacks to children in need.
WHO: Governor Quinn
Students from Inner Voice Chicago
Kelly Hiller, Regional Vice President, Office Depot
WHEN: 9 a.m.
WHERE: Office Depot
352 West Grand Avenue
Chicago, 60610
CHAMPAIGN - Governor Pat Quinn will encourage shoppers to take advantage of Illinois’ first-ever back-to-school sales tax holiday.
WHO: Governor Quinn
WHEN: 11:15 a.m.
WHERE: Sears Company
2000 North Neil Street
Champaign, 61820
MARION - Governor Pat Quinn will encourage shoppers to take advantage of Illinois’ first-ever back-to-school sales tax holiday.
WHO: Governor Quinn
WHEN: 1:15 p.m.
WHERE: Fred’s Hometown Discount Store
1008 West Cherry Street
Marion, 62959
BLOOMINGTON - Governor Pat Quinn will encourage shoppers to take advantage of Illinois’ first-ever back-to-school sales tax holiday.
WHO: Governor Quinn
WHEN: 3:30 p.m.
WHERE: The School Shop
1224 South Towanda Avenue
Bloomington, 61701
GOVERNOR’S PUBLIC SCHEDULE
**Sunday, August 8, 2010**
CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn will encourage shoppers and teachers to take advantage of Illinois’ first-ever back-to-school sales tax holiday.
WHO: Governor Quinn
WHEN: 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: Chicago Teacher Store
1855 North Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago, 60647
*** UPDATE *** From a statement by Bill Brady’s campaign…
“[Yesterday] before an audience of more than 1,000 Hispanic business and civic leaders, Governor Pat Quinn had the greatest opportunity of his campaign to outline his position on immigration reform at the state and national level,” said Brady spokesperson Patty Schuh.
“Unlike Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Bill Brady, Governor Quinn failed to do so. While Bill Brady reaffirmed the need by the federal government to fulfill its obligation to control our borders and to promote legal immigration, Pat Quinn buried his head in the sand. Why? Because, Governor Quinn was rushing to board his taxpayer-funded state plane to campaign in support of a sales tax holiday he’s trumpeting while proposing the largest tax increase in Illinois’ history – all at the same time.” [Emphasis added]
And from the front page of today’s Moline Dispatch…
* State Sen. Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago) has a new book out called “Backstabbers: The Reality of Politics.” The New York Times’ Chicago edition has just published a review of what it refers to as Hendon’s “unbridled political primer”…
Mr. Hendon’s book provides local political wannabes with a tour d’horizon of the game, at least as played in his neck of the woods, including pages of dos and don’ts of petition drives. For example, it advises aspiring candidates to personally double check that their petition circulators aren’t producing “garbage.”
There are tips on the best places for billboards and posters; on rehearsing for debates in front of a mirror but not feeling compelled to answer a moderator’s questions; on using low-cost buffets for fund-raisers rather than pricey sit-downs; and on how to uncover “saboteurs” and “informants” in your organization.
When it comes to a politician’s most important moment — Election Day — the stylistic devotee of the upper case urges candidates not only to “GRAB SOME LAST MINUTE CASH” to have on hand, but also to be wily in procuring the favor of election judges, especially in a close race.
“If you’re in a situation where you must do these kinds of things, remember that men will let their guard down with attractive women, especially if the woman flirts with him and pretends to like him.”
No one, certainly not any board of elections, can be trusted. “IF THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH CHEATING YOU, THEY WILL CHEAT YOU,” Mr. Hendon wrote.
I get a feeling that “tour d’horizon” is not the sort of language used in Hendon’s tome. But, whatever. All publicity is good publicity when you’re trying to move units.
* I called Sen. Hendon this afternoon and asked if he had a song request to celebrate his newly elevated literary notoriety. I mean, it isn’t everybody who gets his book reviewed in the New York Times - even if it is the Chicago edition. Rickey chose the obvious tune…
A jury consultant said during interviews with media outlets Thursday she is not surprised the 12 decision makers in the Rod Blagojevich trial have requested Friday afternoon off.
Being on a jury in a major trial such as this can be emotionally draining, said consultant Theresa Zagnoli.
“They know they’re going to have to justify the verdict,” she said. “Not necessarily to the press, but just to their neighbors, their spouses, their families; they need to have a solid reason for why they raised their hand at a certain time.”
* If you’ve lost any faith in juries over the years, then make sure you watch this Chicago Tonight interview with the foreperson of Scott Fawell’s jury.
She talks about how they worked out a problem with people talking all at once (which may come from an old American Indian tradition of passing a sacred object from speaker to speaker), how the original vote went and how jurors were convinced to focus not just on the prosecution’s points but also look at the defense’s arguments. They run a Fawell clip during the interview where he makes some good points about how the jury probably wasn’t qualified, but if you’re looking for something to restore your faith in humanity a bit, watch this…
It now appears that the Blagojevich jurors plan to deliberate into next week, and though it’s awfully hard to guess what’s going on in the jury room, conventional wisdom is that long deliberations tend to yield convictions, as the jurors, mindful of the gravity of finding a person guilty, go over everything with extreme care and work to eradicate the reasonable doubts of a few potential holdouts.
Ex-governor Rod Blagojevich has committed “crimes” against Illinois arguably worse than those of corruption. In his six years in office, Blagojevich mismanaged the state bureaucracy into demoralized chaos and projected to the world such unpredictability, instability and general buffoonery that business has come to see the state as a questionable place, at best, in which to locate or expand. […]
Under Blagojevich, the state’s reputation as a place to do business has suffered as well. We should have a good reputation. Our business taxes are moderate overall; we are at the center of a huge market, and we have a rich transportation system. Yet according to CEO magazine, the Illinois business climate ranks 46th among the 50 states; Forbes, another business publication, says we rank 44th. Part of the reason for the abysmal ratings, I believe, is the perception that Illinois decision-makers are unpredictable and unstable. Business leaders crave predictability and stability, which helps them plan for the future.
For example, in Blagojevich’s first term, he proposed a gross receipts tax on business that would have been the largest tax increase in the state’s history. Businesses everywhere recoiled, and while the tax proposal was rejected by the legislature, businesses continue leery of doing or expanding business in a state whose leaders harbored such goofy (in their eyes) ideas.
Add to all this the surreal behavior of Blagojevich, twice elected as governor by Illinois voters, and you have a state which has become the punching bag of late night TV jokesters.
* Also, Rich Samuels has a Blagojevich flash-back video/audio page that you should browse.
“We’ve got to start talking about issues,” said Pat Brady, the state party chairman in Illinois. “By mid-September, we can’t just be the party of ‘We aren’t the Democrats because people are really fed up.”
* The Question: The budget, corruption and the economy are obvious issues here, so what other issues should the Republicans focus on in Illinois? As always, explain.
* I actually agree with some of what you all are trying to do here. And as a red-blooded, First Amendment-loving American, I love to see citizen engagement and would fight to the death to preserve your right to say whatever you want.
But it’s really difficult to take you seriously when you show up to protests, like you did yesterday, carrying signs like this…
The tagline on this sign is “Ignorance isn’t bliss, it’s dangerous.” Yet, “Freedoms,” “Children” and “Losing” are all misspelled. “Loosing” is a common, though grating, misspelling, so I’ll give you that. But “fredoms” and “childen”?
Oh, the irony.
If a friend had some mustard on his chin, I’m sure you would tell him. So, if a friend brings a ridiculously misspelled sign to a protest, you should probably help her out.
…Adding… Some of you more strident types are missing the humor in this post. If the sign didn’t include the tagline “Ignorance isn’t bliss, it’s dangerous,” I never would’ve used this pic. It’s irony, people.
…Adding More… The sign in that John V. Moore photo above wasn’t a quick, hurry-up-we’re-late-finish-the-thing one-off. It’s been around since at least early July. And, yet, the owner didn’t notice the irony.
* And way to scare the heck outta people with this t-shirt…
“Babies - Guns - Jesus”?
I wonder how Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno and House Republican Leader Tom Cross feel about this sentiment, since they’re both co-hosting the big national tea party rally next month.
* News roundup from yesterday’s presidential visit…
* If school districts were hoping that the new federal aid to states bill would help alleviate the governor’s truly gigantic 42 percent cut to school transportation, they should think again. From the summary…
The amendment includes provisions to ensure that States use these funds for the preservation of jobs serving elementary and secondary education. Amounts from the Education Jobs Fund may not be used for purposes such as equipment, utilities, renovation, or transportation. S.A. 4575 prohibits States from using any of these funds to add to “Rainy-Day Funds” or to pay off State debt. [Emphasis added.]
Had Gov. Pat Quinn waited just a few days to announce his cuts, or if had used the Senate proposal as a guidepost for cutting elsewhere, he may have been able to move money around so at least some of those transportation cuts could’ve been avoided. It may be too late now. We’ll see.
A 10-day sales tax holiday kicks off Friday in Illinois, cutting 5 percent off the ultimate cost on qualifying school items. The National Retail Federation expects families to spend about $600 to get ready for school. The tax holiday would therefore save a family around $30, about the same amount it would cost to go to dinner at a casual restaurant.
However, in today’s economy, experts say, that dinner - or whatever families may put the $30 toward - is a real incentive for many shoppers. And recession-weary retailers are stoking that bargain-hunting mentality with additional promotions, discounts and coupons as a way to create a shopping frenzy similar to that seen on Black Friday, the day-after-Thanksgiving buying spree that kicks off the Christmas shopping season.
In fact, for many retailers the back-to-school period is second only to the Christmas holiday in generating sales and profits.
“The tax savings along with other sales will mean a substantial savings for the consumer,” said retail analyst Neil Stern, partner at Chicago-based McMillan/Doolitte retail consultancy. “If you’re a smart shopper, you can save quite a bit of money over the next 10 days.”
* A trip down memory lane. My syndicated column from a few weeks ago…
This sales tax holiday probably will get more publicity than any other pre-election tax cut Quinn could’ve devised. Retailers usually advertise quite heavily during back-to-school season, and they’ll surely include the automatic 5 percent discount from the sales tax holiday in their nonstop pitches to consumers. Broadcast and print news will do plenty of stories during the Aug. 6-15 tax holiday.
Not to mention all the mothers who will be thankful for a break on their purchases. Quinn knew what he was doing there, or at least stumbled into it.
*** UPDATE *** A lot of people don’t realize that adult clothing also qualifies for this sales tax break. Even, apparently, bras…
G Boutique, a Wicker Park store that specializes in lingerie, has sent an e-mail to its customers reminding them that replacing “nasty old bras that you should have thrown away months ago” and the like now are temporarily eligible for a 5% sales-tax exemption.
Under the tag line of “Thank You Mr. Governor,” the e-mail congratulates the Legislature for realizing that “charging the highest sales tax in the country is NOT helping small business.”
The e-mail then goes on to depict some goods from manufacturers like Hanky Panky — all with a goal of stimulating — sales, that is.
* Our View: Sales tax holiday more about hype than financial hope: Go ahead. Prove us wrong. We hope you prove Gov. Pat Quinn right and stimulate the Illinois economy.
* Democratic Congressman Bobby Rush stepped all over Alexi Giannoulias’ positive message about the president’s trip to town today. Rush told ABC7 that he’s “not sold” on Giannoulias. Watch…
Quote…
“I’m not sold on him. I don’t want just the same old stuff. We want a Senator who is willing to work hard on the real issues that this state is confronted with.”
* ADDED: Raw video of president’s speech at Ford plant.
* Obama on Giannoulias: ‘You can count on him’: “I’m sure a lot of you have heard what he did for Hartmarx,” Obama said. “This is a clothing company that has employed people in this state for more than a century. By the way, I’m a customer,” the president said, to laughter and applause. “When they fell on hard times, the big bank tried to pull their credit and destroy 600 jobs. Alexi stepped in,” Obama said. “He told the bank that if they did that, they would no longer be managing the money of Illinois taxpayers. Because of what he did, Alexi helped save that company and save those jobs. That’s the kind of person you want in the United States Senate.”
* Obama Stumps for Giannoulias in Chicago: During his remarks, Giannoulias repeatedly sought to link Kirk to former President George W. Bush. “Are we going to send people to Washington to get things done, or will we elect those whose only objective is to obstruct and deny the achievements of the other party?” Giannoulias said, according to the pool report. “That’s what this race is all about.”
* Obama bets prestige on Senate seat he once held: Giannoulias may welcome the in-person support from the nation’s top Democrat, but it could come with a price: Obama has a losing track record when it comes to candidates he has personally campaigned for. Democrats lost governor’s races in Virginia and New Jersey last year, and the party suffered a stunning defeat this year when Republicans flipped a Senate seat in liberal Massachusetts long held by the late Edward M. Kennedy.
* Durbin: Alexi will ’surge forward’ with Obama’s backing: Durbin deflected a question about the records that emerged this week which show jailed developer Tony Rezko held an ownership stake in a development project that received a previously undisclosed loan from the Giannoulias family’s Broadway Bank. “The Rezko contribution to [Republican Senate candidate] Mark Kirk?,” Durbin asked coyly. “I only know about the Rezko contribution to Mark Kirk.”
* President Gives Impassioned Speech At Ford Plant
Illinois Sen. Roland Burris is moving ahead with a legal challenge to a judge’s decision blocking new candidates from filing to run in a special election for the final months of President Barack Obama’s old Senate term.
Burris filed a notice Wednesday evening indicating that he will appeal U.S. District Judge John Grady’s ruling that the parties’ nominees for the Nov. 2 general election would automatically be placed on the ballot as nominees for a special election to serve between Election Day and the start of the next Congress.
That decision would make Democratic state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and Republican Rep. Mark Kirk the major-party candidates in a special. But Burris wants the option of running for the seat himself, in order to serve an additional few weeks in his appointed office. […]
“He’s not concerned about serving or not serving two months,” Wright said. “If this is going to be a critical time to vote, then you need somebody who’s been there.”
* Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady attended a somewhat odd little event last night…
Also in Chicago Wednesday night was Sharron Angle, the conservative Republican running against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in Nevada. Angle is here to headline a fund-raising cruise for Bill Brady, the conservative Republican candidate for Illinois governor.
If you’ve been watching the news lately, you know that Sharron Angle is not exactly your usual mainstream Republican. I was wondering all night if she or Brady might do something newsworthy.
Alas, Angle didn’t say much of anything controversial, and neither did Brady. A buddy of mine was there and taped both speeches. Click here to listen to Brady. And click here to listen to Angle. Perhaps the most controversial thing Angle said was when she tried to convince the audience to hold their conventions in Las Vegas. Not a swift move. My buddy also had a camera, but he said Brady went nowhere near Angle all night. Good idea.
* Meanwhile, Brady’s campaign is claiming they’ve busted Pat Quinn’s campaign yet again. The controversy stems from this new Quinn TV ad, which had to be altered to its current form…
From a press release…
QUINN FORCED TO PULL NEW TV ATTACK AD FROM AIR
-After First Quinn Attack Ad Pulled in June, New TV Ad Pulled for Blatantly False Charge Against Brady-
Springfield – For the second time of his campaign, Governor Pat Quinn was forced today to pull his latest attack ad from the airwaves for misleading attacks against Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady.
Yesterday, Brady for Illinois was notified by two television stations in the Springfield-Decatur/ Champaign market of a decision forcing the Quinn campaign to pull its latest TV attack ad for falsely charging that Brady missed 58 percent of the session days in the Illinois State Senate.
“Once again, Pat Quinn’s smear machine has been caught lying about Bill Brady’s record, misleading voters with yet another ad that distorts the truth, and offers no ideas for fixing the fiscal mess on the Governor’s watch,” said Brady Campaign Manager Jerry Clarke.
The move comes after an earlier ad by Pat Quinn, the first of his campaign and funded by the Democratic Governors Association, was pulled after the Daily Herald reported the ad “crossed ethical lines,” by lifting footage from the taxpayer funded General Assembly’s website, and was misleading to viewers.
* But the Quinn campaign says they just tweaked a graphic…
We most certainly did not pull down the ad; we chose to tweak a graphic. It is up and playing across the state. If you are watching television in Champaign today, you will see our ad on the air.
We’re happy to debate Brady’s 17-year record in Springfield — including his record of skipping session days this year to campaign.
Once again, as he tried to do with his wikipedia page and the IL GA website, Bill Brady wants to delete his record from the public record. Senator Brady skipped out on votes 25 out of 43 days this session - that equals 58% of session days http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=386106.
It’s clear Bill Brady and his campaign are concerned that when voters discover what he really stands for they will judge him for neglecting his elected responsibilities and being too extreme on a range of issues. And they’re right.
If Brady and his campaign will try to scrub information that has existed in the public realm for weeks, months, years and even decades, what does it say about how they will govern? Illinois residents shouldn’t expect any forthrightness, transparency, or accountability from a Brady administration.
* So, what did the Quinn people actually do to that graphic? Follow-up response…
We tweaked a graphic to match the voiceover. The voiceover says Brady skipped out on more than half of days this session. The graphic HAD said, “Brady missed more than half of days of session..” - it now says, “Skipped out on more than half of session days.” (we switched out “missed” for “skipped out” - to match the voiceover track).
* And I’ll give the last word to the Brady folks…
The bottom line is, they got caught again. They’ll say and do anything if they think it will help them. When the stations were advised of the accuracy problem, it forced the removal of the ad and forced a change. This isn’t the first time. There’s a pattern here.
* Speaking of ads, remember a while back when I posted an ad made for a University of Illinois at Springfield class? Here’s another one, and from what I hear the Quinn campaign is thinking of doing something just like it. Watch…
* The Illinois Times has an excellent article this week about the declining numbers in the Statehouse press room…
But GateHouse’s shrinking Statehouse press corps is just one example of a statewide trend, which mirrors a national trend. Since the exit of UPI, the remaining wire service the Associated Press and the Chicago Tribune have each cut one Statehouse position, and Lee Enterprises, which owns the Decatur Herald and Review and the Bloomington Pantagraph, has cut two full-time Statehouse reporting positions, bringing the total number of such print positions lost in the last decade to 11. That leaves only 11 daily newspaper reporting positions still in the Capitol today, assuming the Daily Herald and SJ-R do indeed fill their recently vacated positions. Nationwide, the number of newspaper reporters covering state Capitol action full time dropped from 524 to 355, more than 30 percent, between 2003 and 2009, according to a survey by the American Journalism Review.
My quote was a bit on the harsh side…
“For them [traditional news outlets] to be cutting coverage is not only shortsighted but greed-based and moronic,” Miller says, pointing to the state’s budget deficit, imprisoned Gov. George Ryan and impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich. “On a citizen level and a journalistic level, I’m just appalled by it.”
Ray Long of the Tribune had a brighter outlook…
Long remains optimistic. “I think that we’re just probably hitting the nadir and are about to climb back up,” he says. “I believe that journalism is in the recovery mode and that will translate into more Statehouse reporters. … Every news organization understands that there has to be keen observance of a major legislative body like the Illinois General Assembly.”
There was one “up note” in the piece. The Daily Herald claims it will replace its former Statehouse bureau chief in the coming months.
* The Question: Do you see this situation improving or degrading further? And does it matter? Explain.
* Check out this bizarre story of the Antioch police chief who allegedly tried to attack a state representative candidate after the candidate’s son and two friends were harrassed for - get this - campaigning without a permit…
Antioch Police Chief James Foerster is on paid administrative leave while officials investigate accusations he tried to attack state representative candidate Scott Pollak, village officials confirmed Tuesday. […]
Pollak, running as a Democrat in the state House District 61 race, said Foerster had to be restrained by Antioch Mayor Larry Hanson and a police officer during the July 27 meeting in the chief’s office. […]
Pollak said the meeting stemmed from a confrontation earlier that day between a police officer and Pollak’s 18-year-old son and two 16-year-old friends over whether a permit was needed to campaign door-to-door in the Hidden Creek subdivision. […]
He said the officer told the group they needed a permit, which the teens disputed. When Pollak’s son called him to explain the situation, Pollak said he could hear the officer yelling and using profanity. When he arrived at the scene, the officer had left, but his son had copied down the license plate number. [Emphasis added]
Hidden Creek subdivision is a nice place, but I checked with the village administrator and was told it is not a gated community. Why anybody in law enforcement would think that American citizens would need a permit to campaign door to door is simply beyond me. The fact that the police chief allegedly got all hostile doesn’t reflect well on the community, either…
In a written statement presented to the Village Board Monday, Pollack said, “the chief was very blunt and direct and very defensive of his officer and how he had handled the call.”
Pollak said the chief became visibly angry. “The chief suddenly rose from behind his desk and started to fiercely come at me and yelling,” Pollak’s statement read. ”At that time all three officers that were present in the room and also the mayor had to restrain him.”
Pollak said the chief stormed out of the room.
Foerster was placed on leave July 28.
* In other campaign-related news, the man who almost sank Gov. Pat Quinn’s primary hopes may be out after the election, Sneed says…
He let the prisoners out. Now it seems he will be out.
• To wit: Word is Illinois Department of Corrections Director Michael P. Randle, who spearheaded the early inmate release program that caused major headaches for Gov. Quinn, is sending out resumes.
• Quoth a source: “He’s still got his day job with IDOC, but word is he will be replaced after the coming election.”
We’ll see. I was hearing the same thing before the primary. But if he does get out after the election, it’s still too late. Way too late. And he might manage to tube Quinn in the general, so he’ll be looking for another job anyway.
* Meanwhile, the Illinois Civil Justice League doesn’t have much cash in its campaign account yet, but that isn’t stopping it from attacking Illinois Supreme Court Justice Kilbride, who is up for retention this November. From a press release…
llinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride has a record that is hostile to Illinois law enforcement.
He voted in favor of the rights of convicted felons — and ruled against the police — in 81% of the split decision cases on which he has ruled.
That’s not just weak on crime — it’s an insult to the law enforcement professionals who risk their lives every day to protect our families.
* Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias was met with some “pro-testers” today during the president’s visit. From the NRSC…
* And here’s your Campaign 2010 roundup…
* Governing Magazine on Illinois state legislative control: The Democrats ought to be in worse shape than they are in Illinois, considering the black eye the party has gotten from the saga of ousted Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich (now on trial for corruption-related charges) as well as the failed-bank travails of the party’s U.S. Senate nominee, Alexi Giannoulias. But the GOP has longstanding corruption baggage of its own, and the electorate in the populous Chicago area is sufficiently moderate-to-liberal to keep the Democrats in the driver’s seat. It’s possible that eight years of unified Democratic control could grate on voters and push them to vote Republican this fall, but for now anyway, the Democratic margins in the legislature seem big enough to withstand the storm.
* State Rep Greg Harris will not run for Helen Shiller’s 46th ward seat, mum on endorsement: Though he will not be a candidate himself, Harris has also no plans at the moment—or if at all–to endorse any of the currently declared candidates or any candidate that may yet emerge. “One day at a time,” said Harris. “I’m focused on what I’m doing today.”
* Press release: Candidate Bill Brady Wasting Taxpayer Dollars for Personal Gain: Bill Brady and the Illinois Republican Party are behind the petition challenges to several legitimate candidates who have filed to run for office in Illinois. The “binder check” process has revealed countless examples of completely bogus objections to petition signatures. Election office employees threw out tens of thousands of those bogus objections from Brady and the Republicans because the signatures were obviously valid.
*** UPDATE 1 - 12:39 pm *** Natasha Korecki has some scoopage…
It appears jurors in Rod Blagojevich’s case still have much deliberating to do.
The panel asked to meet for just a half a day tomorrow — until 12:30 p.m. — before going home for the weekend, people with knowledge of the request said.
*** UPDATE 2 - 1:06 pm *** Barton took this video of Blagojevich attorney Sheldon Sorosky talks about how he’s holding up during the long wait. Have a look…
[ *** End Of Updates *** ]
* My intern (they’re my interns for life, whether they know it or not) Barton Lorimor is assisting WSIL TV with coverage of the Blagojevich verdict. He arrived at the federal courthouse yesterday afternoon and hasn’t had much to do, so I asked him for a report. Here it is…
Dear Rich,
Day seven started out like any of its six predecessors. There was nothing new for Judge Zagel to report, leaving the roughly 30 reporters gathered here also with nothing to report.
The city outside is a flurry of activity. Lollapalooza is being set up two blocks away in Grant Park. President Obama is scheduled to attend a fundraiser for Alexi Giannoulias and the Democratic National Committee at the Palmer House, which is even closer. But inside the courthouse, the only noise is coming from two flat-screen televisions showing footage of Brett Favre and Alex Rodriguez…again.
Court staffers have remained exceptionally tight-lipped about this case, which has left the idling journalists to speculate about what is actually happening in the jury room and when a verdict might be on its way.
The US Marshals are really enforcing the building’s security. They are ready to take down any unsuspecting red-headed correspondent with a flip camera (yeah, that would be me). What on Earth would give a downstate reporter the idea that it was OK to shoot a short video in a roped-off section of the lobby labeled “Press Area” filled with television cameras?
Actually, Rich, the media could use these week-long stakeouts to their advantage. The next time I read about a newspaper or broadcast outlet laying off part of it’s staff, I will be critical of them for the lack of creativity. Those about to be cut loose should instead be sent to the Dirksen Building until they can’t take it anymore.
I’ll report back to you if anything happens. ANYTHING.
* Part 2 of Carol Felsenthal’s interview with Mark Kirk’s ex-wife Kimberly Vertolli looks almost like a complete 180 from yesterday’s installment. From yesterday…
CF: So at this moment, with that promise, is it your intention to support him and campaign for him?
KV: No, I will not because there’s a person who is a very pernicious force on his team who is wielding a disproportionate amount of negative influence on him. As long as she’s there, I can’t be his moral conscience.
The “promise” mentioned is that Kirk told her he would flip-flop after the election and support repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” But, in yesterday’s report, that wasn’t enough to win her support, because of her hatred for the “Sevengali” figure Dodie McCracken, whom she blamed on her divorce. Vertolli’s comments prompted HuffPo to run the headline: Mark Kirk’s Ex-Wife Won’t Vote For Him.
CF: If you were still registered to vote in Illinois could you see yourself casting a ballot for Mark Kirk?
KV: Oh, absolutely. Great leaders have foibles, they’re not perfect, they’re human beings, they disappoint us sometimes. The best we can do is use our best judgment with the choices we have and do our best to influence them to go on the right path. If I had the choice between Mark Kirk and Alexi Giannoulias, it’s not hard. I’m really disappointed that Obama is going to be coming out and campaigning for Giannoulias. I think it’s beneath [the President.] [Obama] knows about those risky lending practices [of the Giannoulias family’s Broadway Bank]. Giannoulias has horrible judgment, and the President knows it.
CF: Do you think Mark Kirk will win in November?
KV: I feel pretty confident he’s going to win.
It looks to me like Part 2 may have been withheld in order to gin up some media controversy. Whether intentional or not, it was truly dishonest journalism to run all those nasty quotes yesterday and then run the positive stuff today. Chicago Magazine ought to be ashamed of itself. In the end, we belatedly discover, Vertolli is voting for her ex, but isn’t supporting him, whatever that means. And she despises Alexi Giannoulias…
I think he has no business running for the seat. He’s inexperienced, unqualified, he has a terrible record whenever the public’s trust has been placed in him. I don’t think he’s necessarily a bad person; he’s a typical silver spoon candidate. He used daddy’s money to get the position of Illinois treasurer.
* From 1st grade through the beginning of 8th grade, I lived with my family on a farm in rural Iroquois County. I rode the bus to school every day. The trip home took almost an hour, except on Mondays when the Catholic kids had Catechism class. I’m intimately familiar with bus rides, and know how important those buses are to many, many schools in this state.
There’s not a whole lot that most school districts can do about their transportation costs except perhaps privatize them or put off new purchases. But even that won’t be enough to absorb Gov. Pat Quinn’s eye-popping 42 percent cut to school transporation lines…
New Berlin, for example, covers 152 square miles. It relies on 18 buses to transport a majority of its students, School Superintendent Valerie Carr said.
The district had planned for a 20 percent reduction in transportation funding.
“We have already cut back on the purchase of new buses. We are making every attempt to run our buses as long as possible,” Carr said. “An additional 22-percent decrease will make us seriously consider our transportation budget.”
Efficiency efforts also were already under way in Auburn, School Superintendent Kathy Garrett said.
“We have already tried to consolidate some of our routes and looking at some of the stops we’re making and that type of thing. It’s just a bigger problem now,” Garret said.
To keep buses on the road, the district probably will transfer money from its education fund balance to the transportation fund.
Cook County School District 130 awaits $4 million in state payments for the school year that wrapped up in June.
So news that Gov. Pat Quinn plans to ax an additional $146 million in student transportation funding and $68.5 million in reading improvement funding from districts across Illinois has District 130 Supt. Ray Lauk calling the cuts “appalling,” just as he prepares to welcome students back later this month.
“I’m not disillusioned by anything the state does,” said Lauk, whose district serves students from Crestwood, Alsip, Blue Island and Robbins.
“The state has not been fulfilling its commitment to kids and schools for years and years, and this is just more of the same. It’s appalling, but not surprising.”
If there was good news for DHS, Quinn restored funding for small group homes for people with mental illness. When Quinn first announced cuts last month, the homes were on the chopping block, along with all other non-Medicaid programs.
“There was such a clamor that it appears they are going to reverse that,” said Don Moss, a longtime lobbyist for human service issues.
That’s Pat Quinn. Make an announcement of a big cut, then turn over some rocks to come up with some “found money,” and then triumphantly back off. If the schools want to reverse this 42 percent cut, they need to get loud, angry and organized.
* Related and a state roundup…
* Memo: State furloughs invite suit: A top personnel officer in Gov. Quinn’s administration recommended against doubling the number of furlough days for non-union state workers, predicting a wave of litigation could swamp the $18 million in savings targeted under the pay-cut program.
* A U-46 inequity remains an inequity: Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn has been on a tear lately, vetoing legislation and rewriting it to suit his purposes. That typically is a governor’s prerogative. Sometimes the revisions and rejections are for the best, but last week, it seemed, Quinn’s purposes were perhaps too political.
* Aging And Prisons: In a 2004 report, the National Institute of Corrections said that the annual cost of incarceration is around “$60,000 to $70,000 for each elderly inmate compared with about $27,000 for others in the general population.” Part of this is due to rising health-care costs in general; part of it is due to the fact that the stresses of prison life and the poverty that often precedes it wear even more harshly on older people.
* Quinn signs bill inspired by former Duraco workers: Former workers at Duraco Products Inc. in Streamwood rejoiced after Gov. Quinn signed a bill into law that protects workers from wage theft.
* President Obama’s trip home to Chicago is prompting all sorts of mischief. For instance, the National Republican Senatorial Committee has posted a new online video starring Alexi Giannoulias, the beneficiary of an Obama fundraiser today. Watch it…
Script…
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Let me be clear, bankers don’t need another vote in the United States Senate.
VOICEOVER: You all remember my associate Alexi Giannoulias, yes? He’s been a great banker for the mob, for the borgata. Shady loans to Tony Rezko and “Jaws” Giorango.
VOICEOVER: But Alexi’s not doing so hot these days, boss.
VOICEOVER: Alexi’s not paying taxes …
CHYRON: “Wealthy Giannoulias paid no taxes last year” Chicago Tribune, Clout St Blog, 7/2/10
VOICEOVER: … but wants to raise them on the people of Illinois.
GIANNOULIAS: “I have said from day one that we need an income tax increase.”
CHYRON: BUT … “we need an income tax increase”?
VOICEOVER: Eh, Al Capone would be impressed, if you catch my drift.
VOICEOVER: Alexi’s family’s bank was seized by the Feds
CHYRON: “Giannoulias Bank Seized” Politico, 4/23/10
VOICEOVER: And he lost $150 million after gambling kids’ college savings.
CHYRON: Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias … “On Whose Watch The $150 Million Was Lost” Chicago Business Crain’s Blog, 4/5/10
VOICEOVER: Alexi’s screwing up, but Illinois voters are who’s paying the price.
VOICEOVER: Now he thinks some suits from Washington, D.C. can bail him out with fundraisers?
CHYRON: “Obama To Headline Giannoulias Fundraiser In Chicago,” Chicago Sun-Times, 7/19/10
VOICEOVER: Alexi’s going to need a lot more than a few transactions to get out of this one.
CHYRON: Alexi Giannoulias: The Mob Banker Wants A Bailout
* Yesterday was the president’s birthday, so the RNC put up a website to “help” people wish him the best. My personal favorite card…
“[The president’s fundraising] seems a bit out of touch with the average, ordinary American citizen who is currently cutting back. This seems precisely the kind of decadence this administration and particularly President Obama has criticized against,” Schock said during a conference call with reporters Wednesday.
Yep. We don’t want anyone to be decadently out of touch with ordinary Americans. Oh. Wait. Nevermind…
* Speaking of Schock, Bernie asked him about his participation in Right Nation 2010. As I’ve already told you, Glenn Beck and Andrew Breitbart will be featured speakers…
During the call, I asked Schock if he agrees with Beck that Obama is a racist. I also asked if his appearance with Beck, Breitbart and others means Schock sees himself as more conservative than his apparently moderate image.
“Well, I don’t agree with Mr. Beck’s comments,” Schock said.
And as for the strong-right bent to the event, he said, he wasn’t aware of what it was called.
He’s going to an event with Glenn Beck and Andrew Breitbart and doesn’t know what it’s called? Really?
* And while we’re kinda sorta talking about the US Senate race, since Giannoulias is raking in some much-needed cash today, this article from Public Policy Polling is an interesting read…
In 12 of the 13 US Senate races we have polled in the last two months the GOP candidate is actually losing moderate voters by a wider margin than John McCain did in 2008.
The only exception to that rule is Illinois Democratic candidate Alexi Giannoulias, who has had to battle attacks on his ethics, and leads Mark Kirk only 33-27 among moderates.
In all the rest of the races we’ve polled the GOP candidate trailed by at least 21 points with moderates, and the average comes out to 27 points.
President Barack Obama leans down to pick-up a gift box he dropped, given to him by Illinois Gov. Patrick Quinn, right, while being greeted upon his arrival at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2010.
* We can come up with a better caption than that, right?
Also, in case you were wondering, Lynn Sweet reports that the gift box in question contained a set of State of Illinois cuff links. Big spender, that Pat Quinn.
And, please, make sure to keep it clean. Elevate yourselves to high comedy. Thanks.
The city outside is a flurry of activity. Lollapalooza is being set up two blocks away in Grant Park. President Obama is scheduled to attend a fundraiser for Alexi Giannoulias and the Democratic National Committee at the Palmer House, which is even closer. But inside the courthouse, the only noise is coming from two flat-screen televisions showing footage of Brett Favre and Alex Rodriguez…again.
