Mayor Davlin open thread
Tuesday, Dec 14, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller * I didn’t want to open up comments this morning on the Mayor Tim Davlin post because we didn’t really know what was going on and I didn’t want any speculation here. However, I think people in our community would probably like an opportunity to express their thoughts and remembrances. So, I’m going to open up comments here. I know I don’t have to say this, but, please, be respectful. A man is dead. He was a father, a grandfather, a son and a brother. Keep that in mind. …Adding… The SJ-R is liveblogging. ![]()
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Question of the day - Golden Horseshoes, Round 6
Tuesday, Dec 14, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller * Our final round…
Remember to explain your votes or they won’t be counted. * And here are our winners from yesterday. Julie Hamos wins best state agency director…
Gary Hannig wins honorable mention…
* Best Illinois congresscritter is, once again, Sen. Dick Durbin…
Honorable mention goes to Peter Roskam for this nomination…
* Best Illinois statewide elected official goes to Comptroller Dan Hynes. Here’s what I wrote…
I don’t think Hynes gets nearly enough credit for the way he’s run his office during our fiscal crisis. He’s done the best possible job in an impossible situation. And he’ll be missed. I should’ve said “constitutional officers” instead of statewide elected officials. However, Auditor General Bill Holland qualifies as both, since he is elected by the Legislature. He wins honorable mention…
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The real issue in the Lavin promotion
Tuesday, Dec 14, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller * The media reaction to Jack Lavin’s elevation to chief of staff has been wholly predictable. Tribune…
AP…
* The Blagojevich and Rezko stuff is just left to hang out there without any real explanation. Zorn did much the same thing yesterday. But, here’s how I look at this, and have since Quinn first elevated Lavin after Quinn became governor. Lavin worked for Rezko and Blagojevich and came through clean. He wasn’t dragged into either man’s trial. As far as I know, he’s never been the target of any probe. He went to work for Rezko when there were no concerns about the man’s criminality. Quinn actually recommended him for that job. He took over DCEO when tons of Democrats flocked to the first Democratic governor in 26 years. If there was a place to get in trouble working for Rod, it was DCEO, and he didn’t. * My real problem here is that Gov. Quinn replaced Jerry Stermer with Michelle Saddler in August. At the time, Quinn was still having trouble with women and minority voters. Now that the election is over, Saddler goes back to running DHS and the white male is promoted. Also, because of the expected media reaction over Rezko/Blagojevich, Quinn probably couldn’t have appointed Lavin to the spot during the campaign. Saddler is a decent person, but I can’t help but feel that she was used.
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Once again, Medicaid becomes a hot national issue
Tuesday, Dec 14, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller * Every time there’s a recession in this country, Medicaid spending becomes a major issue for the states. Back in the early 1990s, it was said that Medicaid was eating states’ budgets alive. Now, the Associated Press refers to the program as a budgetary “monster”….
* Some stats…
* And a bit of perspective…
That’s a very good point. While over half of the recipients are children, it’s the elderly and the disabled who cost the most, even though they represent only 20 percent of the recipient population. * There are a handful of ways to cut medical costs. Cut payments to providers, like doctors and hospitals, cut benefit levels to recipients, kick people off the programs, reform the way payments are made. Providers in Illinois are already receiving fairly low levels of disbursement and Illinois has one of the lowest costs per patient ratios of any Medicaid program in the nation. So, moving on those two items just isn’t very realistic, although some tweaks can be made. That leaves things like managed care, which the Republicans have been pushing and the state is already doing to some extent, and kicking people off Medicaid. They aint’ gonna kick old people off because they vote, so that leaves everyone else. One area being looked at hard is undocumented immigrant children…
* Another thing being looked at is requiring recipients to more regularly prove their income levels qualify them for benefits…
But…
Both the House and the Senate have bipartisan committees set up to look at all these issues and more. The Senate’s committee is meeting this morning. Thoughts?
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This just in… Springfield Mayor Tim Davlin found dead
Tuesday, Dec 14, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller * 10:15 am - The SJ-R’s website is down, but this is what is appearing on Bing News…
I’m hearing the worst. More later. This was posted moments before the above story…
I’m told the mayor apparently committed suicide. * 10:35 am - SJ-R…
* 10:41 am - The Springfield police are not commenting on anything other than that Mayor Davlin is dead. The Illinois State Police have been asked to take control of the investigation. * You can also follow on Twitter…
Bolinski has also confirmed that Mayor Davlin shot himself. * Mayor pro tempore Ward 3 Ald. Frank Kunz will take over as acting mayor until a new mayor is named within 60 days. * From the governor…
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Live Rahm
Tuesday, Dec 14, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller * 9:47 am - If you care, Rahm Emanuel is testifying at the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners about his residency case. Click here to watch. Live-blog in comments if you’d like. * 11:13 am - The hearing has reconvened. * From Carol Moseley Braun’s campaign…
* 2:07 pm - We’re into the weirdos now. The current person just asked Emanuel how often he worked at the White House “as a Senator… as a state Representative.” Sheesh.
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