* The Illinois Student Assistance Commission should win an award for boneheaded moves. On Friday, it sent out a notice that applications for MAP grants would be closed on Monday. It was the earliest deadline ever, and caught pretty much everyone by surprise.
Yesterday, ISAC backtracked and extended the deadline to Friday. But the extension may not have been out of the goodness of their little hearts…
One of the reasons for the extension may be due to a malfunction at the processing center.
“The processing center had an outage from Saturday to Sunday,” said financial aid office director Kathleen Brunson. “We told students we needed them to get that FAFSA done when they couldn’t, so I believe that’s the reason for the extension.”
Jordan said students used to be able to mail their FAFSA as late as August to be eligible for the MAP grant. The deadline then was shortened to July, then April 19 and now March 25.
Sheesh.
* I’ve been telling subscribers about this for several days, but haven’t posted anything here. A jumbled mess like this post seems as good a time as any…
The most vocal supporter of a proposed south suburban airport near Peotone is publicly opposing a former colleague’s apparent bid to be named head of the state’s transportation department.
Incumbent Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig has announced he is stepping down after the spring legislative session, which is set to conclude by the end of May.
Former 11th District U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson told the Kankakee Daily Journal she is seeking the position and has the support of U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, Illinois Senate President John Cullerton and others.
U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. said Halvorson is not qualified to be transportation secretary and that any consideration of her for the post would endanger the airport plan and other state transportation issues.
If you wanna seem something really odd, though, watch Halvorson explain the new book she’s writing. Yeesh.
* If the allegations are true, this would be just another example of how locals don’t think state rules apply to them…
A top prosecutor said he spent hours filling out questionnaires, editing speeches and tending to other political duties while working for McHenry County State’s Attorney Louis Bianchi.
Thomas J. Carroll testified Monday that he and other high-ranking staffers frequently did such political work during office hours under Bianchi’s direction.
“We had different tasks assigned us,” said Carroll, who served as Bianchi’s first assistant from 2005 until 2008, before he was demoted to a lower post.
Bianchi, a Republican serving his second term, faces felony charges alleging he ordered employees to do political work for him on county time. He has denied doing anything improper and remains in office.
* I don’t quite get the last sentence in this story…
Popular daily coupon website Groupon’s Chicago headquarters was the site of the first meeting of the Illinois Innovation Council.
Gov. Pat Quinn’s office says the Monday meeting focused on where Illinois can be a hub for innovation and where Illinois is an emerging leader, like clean energy, biotech and life sciences and information technology. […]
Other entities participating in the council include Reggio’s Pizza, Argonne National Laboratory and Baxter International Inc.
I bet that’s the first time Argonne and Reggio’s Pizza have ever been in the same sentence.
* Speaking of technology…
The use of traditional phone service has dropped to the point that broadband connections now exceed the number of landlines in Illinois.
Figures released on Monday by federal and state regulators showed that high-speed Internet connections outnumbered landlines in 2010 for the first time. Landline usage in the state dropped 31 percent from 2001 to 6.2 million, while the number of high-speed connections jumped from 423,000 to 6.4 million in that period.
Landlines have trailed mobile wireless connections since 2005. Illinois had about 11.6 million wireless subscribers last year.
* Those of you with children about to get a driver’s license, beware. Fees may be going up…
The maximum price high schools can charge students for driver’s education might soon be increased, thanks to state Rep. Sandy Pihos (R-42nd).
Pihos is sponsoring a House bill that would push the standard maximum fee from $50 per student to $250 per student for those taking in-school driver’s education classes, beginning with the 2012-13 school year. Waivers would be available to districts who decide they want to charge more than $250.
According to Pihos, 33 percent of the state’s school districts already apply for and receive waivers from the state that allow them to charge more than the $50. Those waivers, Pihos said, range from $75 per student to $500 per student depending on the district. […]
“I’ve worked hard with the teachers association and the drivers ed association; they are in support of the bill,” Pihos said. “In fact, as far as I can remember, there’s nobody in opposition to the bill. Through the years I haven’t had a constituent call…and express a concern.”
This actually makes sense, since so many districts apply for what are generally automatically approved waivers anyway. But some parents may not be so enamored with the fee hike.
* And your moment of non-Zen…
Lisa Madigan wants to publish the names of everyone who has a Firearms Owners Identification (FOID) card. The law requires everyone who owns or handles a gun to have a FOID card.
There are many youngsters who shoot in competitions and re-enactments who would be on this list. Publishing names of law-abiding citizens by government decree also reminds me of history, namely 1936-1941 and Hitler.
Lisa as Hitler. It’s soooo clear to me now.
* Other odds and ends…
* State Jobs Cut Due to End of Death Penalty
* Audio tape of former Gov. George Ryan released
* Why Barry Bonds jurors owe a debt to Blagojevich
* Controversy over creationist Libertyville teacher
* AG: D23′s e-mails not ‘meeting’
* Southern Illinois casino to reopen after 6-day shutdown: The Harrah’s casino and hotel in southern Illinois that’s been closed for nearly a week because of high levels of the Ohio River is reopening.
- 10th ward - Tuesday, Mar 22, 11 @ 10:12 am:
Rich-what was “really” odd abt Halvorson’s comments? Odd that she’s writing a book or what she said? I missed your point. I’d buy her book and I’m not a fan of hers
- RMati - Tuesday, Mar 22, 11 @ 10:14 am:
Rich, have you seen this: http://www.suntimes.com/news/marin/4376192-417/cicero-pols-play-games-citizens-lose.html
I may have missed it, but not sure.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Mar 22, 11 @ 10:20 am:
RMati, I hadn’t seen that. Thanks.
10th, I found her comments about not wanting to have a real publisher pretty funny.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Mar 22, 11 @ 10:28 am:
–If you wanna seem something really odd, though, watch Halvorson explain the new book she’s writing. Yeesh.–
That’s absolutely hysterical.
HER “memoirs” will be entitled “Breaking Through: The Obama Years” ?! Her description makes it sound like she was Pepper Potts to Obama’s Tony Stark.
But she’s not doing it to make money, lol. However, she will go with a publisher, rather than self-publish, for a “large signing bonus.”
Better make sure your phone’s charged up waiting on that call.
The book should be ready for Christmas gifting, she says. Hmmm. Nah, I’ll wait for the movie.
- Bill F. - Tuesday, Mar 22, 11 @ 10:28 am:
RE: Halvorson. Color me unsurprised that JJJ is boisterously opposing Halvorson’s nod. He stopped JUST short of opposing her on ‘08.
She was in leadership in the Senate. Her former Congressional district is a major inter-modal hub. She worked on the Illiana extension.
Sorry, JJJ, Just because she might gore YOUR particular ox doesn’t DQ her from the position.
- TD - Tuesday, Mar 22, 11 @ 10:32 am:
Think those stats on phone changes skewed polling for the last election? Or will in the future?
- hammer - Tuesday, Mar 22, 11 @ 10:44 am:
How is Reggio’s innovative? That pizza is awful.
- OneMan - Tuesday, Mar 22, 11 @ 10:47 am:
Umm Debster… A suggestion, you should refer to him as President Obama, regardless if you got elected to the state senate at the same time. Also if you were that tight, you would be an ambassador to upper something or other.
- Andrew Davis - Tuesday, Mar 22, 11 @ 10:59 am:
Rich, I am not going to say we have never had a bone headed moment but the processing center that was down during peak FAFSA season was a FEDERAL one that we have no control over. ISAC utilizes information from the US Dept of Education so that our students in Illinois only fill out the one Federal form to gain access to Federal & State grants.
- DoubleDown - Tuesday, Mar 22, 11 @ 10:59 am:
I supported Kinzinger in this last election, I did agree with Ms Halvorson that a airport in Peotone is not needed now. My precinct is where the airport is now.
I truly hope she gets this position. I JJ wants this airport for personnel gains I guess I can want Ms Halvorson to get this postion for my personnel gains also. Isn’t politics fun !!!
- Vote Quimby! - Tuesday, Mar 22, 11 @ 11:09 am:
Wow…now I understand why (a) Halvorson needs a job and (b) why she and Quinn are tight: they both talk the same.
DD: JJJ may want it for “personnel gains” but you want it for “personal gains”. Just sayin’
- How Ironic - Tuesday, Mar 22, 11 @ 11:19 am:
The only ‘gift’ that book would be good for is a wonderful white elephant prize to go with the ugly sweater party I’d have to be attending. I did enjoy the laugh watching the video though. Thanks Rich!
- DoubleDown - Tuesday, Mar 22, 11 @ 11:25 am:
Your right Vote
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Grammar%20Nazi&defid=4397458
- jacketpotato - Tuesday, Mar 22, 11 @ 11:27 am:
“… namely 1936-1941 and Hitler”
Not to be a total history nerd, but didn’t Hitler take power in 1933 and kill himself in 1945? Is the writer saying he did OK things between ‘33 and ‘36 and after ‘41?
- Ghost of John Brown - Tuesday, Mar 22, 11 @ 11:35 am:
===== Lisa as Hitler. It’s soooo clear to me now =====
Shouldn’t there be some standard on when someone can be compared to Hilter? Let’s say you have to have personally ordered the murder of at least 100,000 people to be called Hitler. Above say 1,000 people ordered to be murdered, you can be called Milosevic or pick your dictator of choice.
All of these comparisons to Hitler (on both “sides”) is just silly.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Mar 22, 11 @ 11:41 am:
Ghost, and Stalin gets nothing, no love at all. He had a much longer career, he BEAT Hitler in head-to-head competition and died in his sleep. For murderous 20th Century dictators, he really is the standard.
- The Captain - Tuesday, Mar 22, 11 @ 11:43 am:
I would like to see a list compiled of people who’ve compared other people to Hitler.
- Cincinnatus - Tuesday, Mar 22, 11 @ 12:21 pm:
- The Captain - Tuesday, Mar 22, 11 @ 11:43 am:
“I would like to see a list compiled of people who’ve compared other people to Hitler.”
Among politicos, the list who hasn’t would be shorter…
- shore - Tuesday, Mar 22, 11 @ 1:05 pm:
love it when donkeys get catty.
- Wingtip - Tuesday, Mar 22, 11 @ 1:07 pm:
JJJr.’s concerns for the Peotone Airport have to do the 20 jobs to be created there for his constituents when the Cinnabon opens in the terminal for six months. It’s about job creation. Never mind that the Congressman feels the need to not drive a vehicle that is made in his district.
- Langhorne - Tuesday, Mar 22, 11 @ 1:56 pm:
holding a drivers license is a highly prized rite of passage for teens. graduated licensing has made teen drivers a bit safer. but now a rep wants to allow school districts to more than quintuple the fee for drivers ed classes. this will be an unfair hardship to many teens who need a license to get to work. so scholarships are needed for these teens.
but the isac folks cant be trusted to handle it…..so, who better to offer drivers ed scholarships than, TA-DA, members of the general assembly?? they have decades of experience w scholarhips. admin costs would be low (locals would absorb the cost). lisa can publish the names and school districts of the recipients, but not their addresses. maybe even require the lists to be published in local papers to make the freedom of information folks happy. **brought to you by the charlie sheen school of public policy. winning!!**
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Mar 22, 11 @ 2:47 pm:
@Langhorne:
Schools are charging over the limit right now. Many have been granted waivers to do so. This isn’t going to change things a whole heck of a lot - just eliminate the step of them having to ask the General Assembly every year to charge more.
And, I’m not aware of anybody being denied drivers ed privleges b/c of their inability to pay.
- K3 - Tuesday, Mar 22, 11 @ 3:07 pm:
halvorson would be a great choice for idot. The 11th is a transportation hub for the state so she knows her stuff. Plus it’s not a bad time to have someone at idot who knows her way around dc given that Congress needs to pass a transportation bill this year
- 4 percent - Tuesday, Mar 22, 11 @ 4:23 pm:
I would venture a bet that Rod Blagojevich’s book will still be ranker higher in sales on its 102nd week on the list than Halvorson’s book at any time. She’s groveling for any job right now. Maybe she can lobby Obama since they are this/close.