* When city folks see rain, their grass gets greener, maybe their trees spruce up a bit and they think the drought problem is over. Not in the least…
Illinois has more than 1,000 miles of inland waterways, which at different points link to the Mississippi River. In 2010, according to Waterways Council Inc., more than 108 million tons of commodities worth almost $20.4 billion — mostly grain and coal — moved on the state’s waterways. The commodities were shipped to 20 states, with Louisiana receiving the most — more than 37.5 million tons of commodities, mostly grain. Much of that is exported through the Gulf of Mexico.
“It’s very much under the radar screen for most people,” said Doug Whitley, president and CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. “I happen to sit on the Chicago River, and I look right down, and I see barge traffic every day. I see sand barges coming through, scrap-metal barges, stone. I don’t see grain here, but Downstate — it’s huge.”
For every one-inch loss of water, a barge must decrease its load by 17 tons of cargo, according to the American Waterways Operators, a trade association based in Arlington, Va.
This year, the river isn’t low by inches. It’s down by feet.
“We’ve been light loading barges,” said Dennis Wilmsmeyer, executive director of America’s Central Port and president of the Inland Rivers, Ports and Terminals trade group. “Barges aren’t as full, they don’t sink as much into water, and that’s allowing us to continue to operate.”
* I’ve told you about my good friend Rob Werden, a farmer in northern Madison County. Rob harvested corn over the weekend and he posted this pic on his Twitter feed yesterday…
Ugh.
Rob told me that one of the fields he farms averaged 4.6 bushels of corn per acre. Unreal.
* The AP’s Chris Wills e-mailed his colleagues in the Statehouse press room today…
Colleagues:
I wanted to let you know that I’m leaving the Associated Press after 22 years and taking a new job as spokesman for the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
Being a reporter has been fun and challenging. It’s been an honor to work alongside many of you and reading (or hearing or watching) the great stories that everyone produces. But it’s time to try something new and face some new challenges.
…tax cuts for the wealthy and pay raises for Judy Biggert?
After thirty years in politics, Judy Biggert isn’t on our side.
She left the middle class behind, voting to bankroll tax cuts for the wealthy…
…by removing Medicare’s promise and increasing costs for us
With nine votes to raise her own pay, no wonder Biggert’s looking out for the wealthy.
Illinois can’t afford Judy Biggert.
* The Illinois GOP has a new video about Brad Schneider. From a press release…
Brad Schneider is the progressive Democrat running for Congress in Illinois’ 10th District. Schneider supports massive tax increases, borrowing money “all day long,” Occupy Wall Street, and the far-left lobby J Street. But at least he has a solid business background—or so we thought.
After touting his business credentials for 17 months, Mr. Schneider reported on his official personal financial disclosure forms that his business, Cadence Consulting Group LLC., has not earned income for at least three years. Breitbart.com, The Washington Free Beacon, Examiner.com and others have all reported on Schneider’s embellished business background.
“Brad Schneider needs to come clean about his business background,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady. “Voters aren’t sure what to believe from him now.”
* President Obama reportedly bypassed a congressman’s objection and agreed to buy the long-vacant Thomson prison from Illinois, according to US Sen. Dick Durbin…
“Finally, the Department of Justice this afternoon is going to present the $165 million check in the Northern District court of Illinois in Rockford to pay for the transfer,” said Durbin, who acknowledged it was a “rare” move to bypass a high-ranking House Appropriations Committee member. “At this point, the president had to intervene and do this directly. I hope people understand he’s doing it for his state.”
Veteran Virginia Republican Rep. Frank Wolf had long blocked the federal Bureau of Prisons purchase of the prison from the state of Illinois, saying he did not trust the Obama administration’s vow not to transfer suspected terrorists from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, into the facility despite a federal law that prohibits such moves. Wolf also said he did not trust Attorney General Eric Holder, whom the GOP-led House found in contempt for the failed Fast and Furious gun-walking program. […]
Durbin, the state’s senior senator and No. 2 Democrat in Washington, said funds for the purchase came from unspent money in the Department of Justice budget for the federal fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.
The Thomson prison issue also has been at the forefront of the highly competitive 17th Congressional District contest between freshman Republican Rep. Bobby Schilling and Democratic challenger Cheri Bustos. At one point, Schilling urged the state to renegotiate the sale price to $75 million in an effort to try to get the support of his fellow Republican, Wolf. But citing the state’s fiscal problems and its previous negotiations with Justice Department officials, Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn’s office rejected Schilling’s effort to lower the price.
Durbin despises Schilling (Bustos is Durbin’s candidate all the way) and wanted this thing done before the election. Schilling can’t take any real credit now because he wanted the price lowered so much. That was never a good move on Schilling’s part because the state really needs that cash.
Wolf says he’s deeply troubled by the sale. He says it’s an “unprecedented directive” to “circumvent Congress.”
Pshaw.
It was a legal maneuver to circumvent a single, obstinate, delusional congresscritter.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Sour grapes? Looks like it…
Congressmen Don Manzullo (IL-16), Bobby Schilling (IL-17), and Dave Loebsack (IA-02) today released the following statement on the Obama administration moving to purchase the Thomson Correctional Center from the state of Illinois:
“The bottom line is that this is a welcome development for our region, particularly those who have been struggling to find good jobs. Thomson Correctional Center has been sitting empty for 10 years, costing the residents of Illinois millions of dollars in upkeep and keeping many Illinoisans and Iowans out of work each year.
“We have been working together towards the same goal of reaching across the divide, finding a solution, and bringing these jobs to our area without moving detainees from Guantanamo to U.S. soil. If the Administration was willing to move on Thomson without closing Guantanamo all along, we question why they waited this long before taking action. But as the old saying goes, ‘There’s no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit.’”
*** UPDATE 3 *** Gov. Quinn and Sen. Durbin talk to reporters…
* Kabillionaire Bruce Rauner is rumored to be interested in a run for governor. But this quote on the front page of the Tribune might not endear him to some Republican leaders…
Rauner has indicated that his indictment of the Illinois political scene goes beyond just the Democrats who control Springfield.
“The politicians here are so weak, so incapable of leading, they’ve just decided to sort of let the circumstances, let the bond market force the change, let the tax revolt force the change because they won’t lead. We have got to replace the leaders,” Rauner said.
* This TV ad by the Now or Never PAC attacking Democratic congressional candidate Tammy Duckworth is causing some controversy…
* According to the Duckworth campaign, WLS TV has refused to run the ad. From a press release…
Chicago area television station WLS has refused to air a false television ad produced by the far right-wing SuperPAC Now or Never. The shadowy Super PAC funded with secretive donors from outside of Illinois placed over $1 million in television ads in the Chicago market in support of Congressman Joe Walsh. WLS reviewed the ad which makes false claims about Tammy Duckworth’s record and determined the content not to be accurate.
Duckworth Campaign Manager Kaitlin Fahey said, “It’s not only concerning that we know nothing about this secretive SuperPAC and where it gets its funding, it’s become clear that they will stop at nothing to help Joe Walsh stay in Congress, up to and including lying about Tammy Duckworth.”
The campaign says they didn’t ask WLS to pull the ad. The station, the Duckworth folks say, made the decision on its own. They have, however, used that decision to convince other stations to pull the ad down.
At least one other station is planning to run the ad. Larry Wert, NBC-Universal general manager, told the Sun-Times that it is airing the same commercial that is under dispute.
“We cleared the spot; it will air tonight,” Wert said.
WLS, however, has not yet publicly said whether it has indeed decided not to run the commercial. And a spokesman from Now or Never said that WLS hasn’t sent a confirmation that the station is considering pulling it. “They are required to give us notice,” said spokesman Tyler Harber.
A Duckworth spokeswoman, Kaitlin Fahey, initially said a “source” from WLS said it would be pulled.
* One of the claims in the ad…
As a Blago appointee, an audit found Duckworth was guilty of misusing or misreporting $4 million of taxpayer money.
Audits don’t find people “guilty,” juries do that, but this is a TV ad, so whatever. The Trib explains…
A state audit did find that receipt of a $4.4 million grant that improved the LaSalle Veterans’ Home was never submitted for inclusion in a state audit report. Department officials at the time said it was an inadvertent omission and that reporting the grant was the responsibility of another state agency.
Ad Took Duckworth Statement Out of Context–Her Statement of Support in this Case was Based on VA Jobs.
On April 1, 2007 Duckworth’s responses to a question and answer session with the Pantagraph were published. When asked about veterans’ homes, she stated “They are well run but they are understaffed. It is so important to me that the governor’s budget get passed because there is an additional 104 positions for staff that will go out to my four veterans’ homes.” [Pantagraph, 4/1/07]
Even so, she did back the budget at the time, which was funded by the Gross Receipts Tax proposal.
The commercial’s cookie-cutter format would look familiar to voters in various other congressional districts where the organization has bought similar spots.
Each ad starts with a Minnesota businesswoman suggesting that uncertainty over tax rates and health care costs has prevented businesses from hiring. In the 10th District version, a voice-over follows the businesswoman’s appearance as slow-motion footage of Schneider plays on-screen.
“Brad Schneider? He supports government-mandated health care, a scheme that will raise taxes and hurt job creators,” the ad says. “And he wants to hit our small businesses with higher taxes, preventing them from creating new jobs.”
The Schneider campaign called the ad “deceptive.”
On the tax issue, the ad is vague, as was the Schneider campaign’s response. Campaign spokeswoman Staci McCabe said Schneider supports “targeted tax breaks for small business to invest in new products, new processes and new people.”
* But there’s more to it than that. The Democrats sent over an analysis that I’ve posted online…
On its “Outsourcing Management” page, Permac Industries states:
Today’s complex manufacturing often necessitates the participation of more than one player in a project. That’s why Permac offers outsourcing management, a process where Permac teams up with other global suppliers – inside the U.S. as well as offshore – to get the job done. But from the customer’s vantage point, they’re only dealing with a single source: Permac. http://www.permacindustries.com/about/services/unique-services/outsourcing-management/
A commenter noted yesterday that one of the people in this ad, which is about job loss, worked for former Congressman Phil Hare. So, Schilling did actually cause this man to lose his job.
Script…
You lose your job, it a, it’s a real bellringer.
Congressman Bobby Schilling voted to keep tax breaks for companies that ship our jobs overseas.
I just see the jobs being sucked away.
Bob, is your goal to eliminate the middle class in this country?
You are pulling the rug out from under us.
Bob, you don’t understand what you’re doing to families.
It doesn’t make any sense.
It’s just not right.
* Kelly Kraft, who was the governor’s budget spokesperson, then elevated to deputy budget director, then moved up to Gov. Pat Quinn’s press secretary this past July has applied to be the executive director of the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority. The position has been vacant for a year.
The Quinn administration contended Monday that Kraft’s “extensive experience” with bonds and budget policy make her “well-equipped to manage (the agency) in a way that is fiscally prudent.” Further, spokeswoman Brooke Anderson said, Kraft’s marketing experience would be an advantage in promoting the ballpark, which in turn would “draw in more revenue for the state.”
Emanuel remains unconvinced.
“Mayor Emanuel has appointed three financial titans — Norm Bobbins, Jim Reynolds and Richard Price — to the ISFA board to ensure the Chicago taxpayers are being protected, and he believes the executive director position should be filled by someone with the proven experience of managing large organizations to find cost savings and efficiencies,” his office said in a statement when asked to react to the possibility of Kraft as the agency’s new executive director.
Bobbins is the retired former LaSalle Bank Corp. chairman, president and chief executive officer. Reynolds is chairman and CEO at Loop Capital. Price, whom Emanuel appointed last week, is chairman and CEO of Mesirow Financial. [….]
By trying to install a top aide at the sports agency, Quinn may be attempting to keep closer tabs on the [Wrigley Field renovation] issue [contemplated by Emanuel].
Quinn has a habit of appointing his friends to positions instead of looking outside his circle. I’ve asked this question before, but when was the last time Quinn did a national search to fill a major position? Ever?
That’s not to say that Kraft wouldn’t do a good job. I don’t have any problems with her. I’m pretty sure she’d be fine. But would she do the best job?
*** UPDATE *** From the governor’s office…
Governor Quinn believes an honest, well-qualified, hard-working woman with strong marketing skills and proven experience implementing budgets and reducing the operational costs of state government is just what the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority needs.
Kelly Kraft has extensive experience with bonds and budget policy from her three+ years working in the Office of Management and Budget, as well as having served as Assistant Budget Director - she would be well-equipped to manage ISFA in a way that is fiscally prudent. Kelly also has strong marketing experience and has developed key relationships in the business and media communities, which would help promote the stadium for other opportunities to draw in more revenue for the state.
More Background about Kelly Kraft
As Director of Communications, Kraft plans and oversees the execution of the administration’s internal and external communications, manages staff, and helps to develop policies that impact the people of Illinois and move the state forward.
Kraft has served as Assistant Budget Director, helping to guide Illinois’ Budgeting for Results, pension reforms, Medicaid restructuring initiatives as well as helping to reduce the state’s discretionary spending to 2008 levels. She had broad experience in government affairs and strategic planning. She has also managed complex subjects like debt issuance, financial reporting, contract negotiations, and budget policy. Prior to her career in public service, Kraft was an award winning and Emmy nominated journalist. She worked as a news anchor, reporter, producer and editor in major television markets such as Las Vegas, Buffalo, San Diego and Chicago. Kraft has also hosted and narrated the award-winning PBS documentaries “Kids in Peril” for law enforcement agencies and students in criminal justice programs. Kraft earned her bachelor’s degree from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana where she studied Journalism and Political Science. She also studied at Thames Valley University in England. She grew up in Peru, Illinois in La Salle County.
For the past couple of election campaign cycles, this one included, incumbent state legislators have bragged in their campaign ads about cutting their pay.
They didn’t actually do that, but they did vote several times to take unpaid furlough days. So, it’s almost the same.
But lots of nonincumbents have upped the ante this fall — refusing to accept a state pension if elected.
Lifetime pensions for part-time legislators became a hot issue when the General Assembly first considered reducing pension benefits for state workers and teachers.
Those union members bitterly complained that legislators getting generous pensions for part-time jobs were passing judgment on full-time workers with modest incomes. And some outspoken conservatives have questioned why legislators should get pensions at all.
The issue heated up to the point where House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) endorsed legislation in the August special session that abolished pensions for newly elected legislators. It failed to pass, but that bill made the issue even more visible.
It also gave those who voted for it (mostly House Democrats) something else to crow about on the campaign trail — they voted to reduce their pensions and eliminate them entirely for new members. The issue now is playing out with a vengeance on the campaign trail.
I had noticed that several candidates had pledged not to take pensions if elected, so I asked the four caucus campaign managers to tell me how many candidates were pledging not to do so.
The House Republicans say 11 of their candidates have vowed to forgo a pension, but they say more are on the way. The 11 are Pat Fee (R-Naperville), Melinda Hult (R-Belleville), John Lawson (R-Schaumburg), Neil Anderson (R-Rock Island), John Cabello (R-Machesny Park), Glenn Nixon (R-Bourbonnais), Dan Kordik (R-Villa Park), Mark Shaw (R-Lake Forest), Julie Bigham Eggers (R-Columbia), Jonathan Greenberg (R-Northbrook) and David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills).
The Senate Republicans identified nine candidates who’ve said they will not take a pension. More, they say, are on the way. The nine are Mike McElroy (R-Decatur), Joe Neal (R-Wadsworth), Arie Friedman (R-Highland Park), Mike Babcock (R-Bethalto), Randy Frese (R-Paloma), Garrett Peck (R-Plainfield), Jim O’Donnell (R-Park Ridge), Mark Minor (R-Ewing) and Bill Albracht (R-Moline).
The Senate Democrats have two such candidates, Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) and Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake).
The House Democrats, as so often is the case, weren’t entirely forthcoming on this issue.
“We’ve had a number of candidates who’ve said they would eliminate and/or reduce pensions (in one form or another) for lawmakers,” wrote the House Democrats’ campaign manager in response to an email inquiry.
The House Democrats say members in that rather broad category include Deborah O’Keefe Conroy (D-Elmhurst), Marty Moylan (D-Des Plaines), Kathleen Willis (D-Addison), Sue Scherer (D-Decatur), Laura Fine (D-Glenview), Stephanie Kifowit (D-Aurora), Natalie Manley (D-Joliet) and Scott Drury (D-Highwood).
That makes 30 candidates who are either vowing to not take a legislative pension or to significantly reduce those pensions. Of course, every House member who voted for that pension change in the special session can also be counted as at least supporting the end of pension benefits for future lawmakers.
The House Democrats say it’s ironic that so many House Republican candidates are promising to forgo pensions when their caucus voted overwhelmingly against the special session bill.
“If the Republicans decide to get on board, we’d pass the bill eliminating pensions for future lawmakers and we’ll make the issue a moot point,” a House Democratic operative said last week.
The legislative pension issue obviously polls well or that many candidates wouldn’t be campaigning on it. But it’s important to remember that campaigns don’t always move policy. People run on issues all the time that are forgotten just as soon as the next election ends.
What makes this somewhat different, though, is the sheer number of candidates in both parties who are talking about this issue, combined with Madigan’s proposal to end pensions for new legislators. Pandora’s Box may have been opened for good.
