* In full transparency, I’m only here to show my wife and parents that my journalism degree wasn’t a waste of time and money. But my being here has allowed Rich to take some time off in order to…
We may not have any Oscar pictures this Friday, but we can always count on Oswego Willy to have Tom Cross golfing material at the ready. As we’ll discuss in another post, Willy, you appear to have your work cutout for you this cycle.
* OK, enough of that for now. Let’s get to some headlines…
* No movement in IL pension reform: “What the pension committee has been trying to do all summer is patch a hole in the Titanic,” John Tillman, director of the Illinois Policy Institute, said. Tillman, who wants the state to adopt a 401k style system, said the committee is mired in the status quo.
“While they have met and talked and conversed they have not entertained a single proposal that would fix the structural problems with the current system,” Tillman said.
Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Dan Rutherford is not optimistic the conference committee process will produce pension reform, and predicts the issue will not go away any time soon.
“My sense is the next pressure point is going to be the election,” Rutherford said.
* Day care operator sentenced to probation for pocketing state subsidies
* Mayor Emanuel grounds Midway privatization plan: sources: With only two bidders remaining on the runway, one of the competitors “dropped out” this week, convinced the joint-venture would not be able to meet the mayor’s demands. Another source familiar with the negotiations identified the bidder that walked away as the team that includes Industry Funds Management of Australia and Manchester Airports Group.
That would have left the city with only one bidder for a transaction estimated at $2 billion. Emanuel was simply not willing to forge ahead under those circumstances.
The source refused to identify which of the joint ventures had dropped out of the competition a few weeks before formal bids were due.
Bloomberg news has identified the two bidding groups as Great Lakes Airport Alliance, a partnership between Spain’s Ferrovial and Macquarie Group that leased the Chicago Skyway for 99 years, and a team that includes Industry Funds Management of Australia and Manchester Airports Group
* Emanuel halts Midway privatization bidding
* O’Hare-area residents’ bid to stop runway expansion, noise falls on deaf ears
* GateHouse Media headed for Chapter 11, then new company
* Sun-Times: GIVE WISER PRISON POLICIES A CHANCE: We need political leaders of all stripes to support the idea of diverting nonviolent offenders to destinations other than prison. It’s an issue easy to demagogue because some people who leave prison inevitably again commit crimes, no matter how carefully the risks of release are assessed.
* Thomson prison funding may fall prey to budget battle: Congress must approve the funding and include it in a budget for the new fiscal year that starts October 1. But with another debt ceiling fight looming, funding for the prison could get caught up in the partisan crossfire….It’s unlikely the House and Senate will agree to a budget before October 1.
A temporary spending plan known as a continuing resolution will be enacted if a budget can’t be agreed and Sen. Durbin said that would put the Thomson project “on hold.”
* Feds reduce charges against Blagojevich go-between
* More Burge torture settlements: $12.3 million
* $12.3 million settlement in police torture case spares Daley from testifying
* Study: Tax breaks available to nearly 1 million
* Pat Brady: Gay marriage good for business
* Walsh Hoping for Increased Progress in AFSCME Talks
* Pinstripe patronage at city hall should be taken ‘out of the hands of one person’: alderman
* Gillespie: Why students should quit whining about college costs
* DuPage chief selects Metra appointee: Zediker, 41, a Naperville Republican, served on the County Board for three years but lost his seat in last year’s election.
* Metra attorneys say board member did not harm agency: Schaffer acknowledged that he gave Clifford a document prepared by the agency’s attorneys about three weeks before Clifford wrote a scathing memo alleging that two other board members engaged in political back-scratching. The accusations led to an $871,000 separation agreement with Clifford and spurred two ethics investigations and five board resignations.
But in a letter sent to board members this week, agency lawyers said Schaffer did not ignore his legal or ethical responsibilities when he sent Clifford information related to the CEO’s performance evaluation. Schaffer believed he was acting in Metra’s best interests by sharing the document, which Clifford would have access to anyway in his role as the agency’s highest-ranking employee, according to the legal opinion.
* Local officials beam over interchange progress
* Tri-State access at I-57, 147th Street tears down 50 Posen homes
* Is the billion dollar Illiana Expressway worth building?
* Aldermen to vote on gun-free ordinance for restaurants that serve alcohol
* Niles Trustee Insists Leaning Tower Can Be Saved
* Cary Plant Fined $262,000 Following Explosion
* Utilities director: Quincy has no choice but to raise water rates for EPA mandate
* Enrollment down slightly, but more diverse at ISU
* Heartland enrollment drop hits budget
* SJ-R: State retirees should respond to CMS letters
* East St. Louis to lay off 17 firefighters when funds run out
- RNUG - Friday, Sep 6, 13 @ 7:53 am:
I’m actually OK with more delay on pension reform. If they hold in spending and the economy continues it’s slow recovery, a bit more tax revenue will slightly ease the artificially created urgency to do something, anything.
It’s not going to solve the problem but with enough delay, the income tax cliff will overtake the pensions as the most urgent issue. And then we can have the much needed discussion about revenue enhancement and spending priorities.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 6, 13 @ 8:40 am:
I am a bit troubled with the Rutherford Quote:
===Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Dan Rutherford is not optimistic the conference committee process will produce pension reform, and predicts the issue will not go away any time soon.
“My sense is the next pressure point is going to be the election,” Rutherford said.===
Why?
Rutherford’s interjection of the political season, which is true that its coming, and true that it may be a pressure point, is not allowing the work to be the focus, but allowing the hurdles to dictate that failure is probably the “order of the day”.
Further,
It is such a blatent political “play” at his opponents, both in the rile of the top of one ticket, and the running-mate for another ticket. With Bill Brady and Jil Tracy, both of different “tickets” running against Rutherford, it shows more that Rutherford is playing the “politcal card” quickly, hoping for failure or an impasse and gridlock to derail two tickets at once.
I get it, nice play, heck, two birds with one stone with a failure or impasse.
The reality is, being in the arena this time, might be more than enough, than talking about the hurdles and “failure” to gain favor with voters.
Big gamble.
Rutherford has not inoculated both tickets if an agreement comes to pass too. Double edged sword. Rutherford has now stated he sees problems, politics and elections are going to halt reform and an agreement might be farther down the road …
So, what if Brady and Tracy can get an agreement, especially after Rutherford’s dire beliefs. Rutherford will lokk a bit foolish as real “leaders” got an agreement, while others pointed to roadblocks and pressure points.
For Dan Rutherford, Dan better hope… this is not seen as a petty campaign ploy going ablove the betterment of Illinois, to try to win, while almost hoping… the committee fails… for Dan and his Campaign.
Sometimes saying little, says more than saying Dopey.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 6, 13 @ 9:00 am:
Oh Geez!
===Rutherford has not inoculated both tickets…===
“Rutherford has NOW inoculated both tickets…”
And …
===It is such a blatent political “play” at his opponents, both in the rile of the top of one ticket, and the running-mate for another ticket.===
“It is such a blatent political “play” at his opponents, both in the of arena, with one at the top of one ticket, and the running-mate for another ticket.”
I am a Dope. Apologies.
- Realist - Friday, Sep 6, 13 @ 9:30 am:
If the pension committee is having difficulty, it’s because they are trying to solve the problem by not solving the problem. That’s because there are multiple problems - with funding (as in just do it), revenue and wasteful spending, not the structure of the pension system (except for a handful of loopholes that should to be care of).
- Realist - Friday, Sep 6, 13 @ 9:31 am:
Ack! “…that should be taken care of.”
- wordslinger - Friday, Sep 6, 13 @ 10:01 am:
Just how confused and uninformed must you be on an issue to believe that quoting John Tillman provides insight?
It’s embarrassing for Charles Thomas.
- Nearly Normal - Friday, Sep 6, 13 @ 10:09 am:
I hope Rich is OK and not in therapy over the dismal White Sox season. Right now, the Cubs record is better that the Sox.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 6, 13 @ 10:15 am:
Barton,
I hope you are not going to reveal the “fly-around” schedule for “Two-Putt”. Cross is still trying to secure tee-times in Carbondale and Galena so those locations are not on the “stop” list yet … or so I hear, I don’t know.
- PublicServant - Friday, Sep 6, 13 @ 10:36 am:
Of course Charles Thomas is uninformed, Word. Far from being a neutral reporter, he made up his mind about the pensions long ago, and agrees with Tillman’s position (that’s why he elevates Tillman and IPI’s position by quoting them every chance he gets), and should be called out, as you do here Word, much more frequently. ABC7 ought to be asshamed to continue to give him a “reporter” cover. I can’t find any quotes from Ralph Martire in any of his pension pieces at any rate.
- PublicServant - Friday, Sep 6, 13 @ 10:38 am:
Oops, one too many S’s in the last post, but I’m not taking it back lol!
- wordslinger - Friday, Sep 6, 13 @ 10:41 am:
Maybe Thomas and Tillman could inform us as to the costs, if not the constitutionality, of replacing the pension systems with a “401K-style” systems.
Welcome to the Social Security business. The federales don’t let you short those payments.
- Plutocrat03 - Friday, Sep 6, 13 @ 10:43 am:
“should to be care of”
…and here I though it was your inner Yoda speaking…..
- Bill White - Friday, Sep 6, 13 @ 11:47 am:
A possible scenario I foresee is for a pension solution to emerge after the trial court rules on line item veto of GA salaries but before the time to appeal has expired.
Hypothetically,
1. The trial judge rules that the line item veto is void and unenforceable and orders JBT to pay the GA all of the back salary.
2. Thereafter, the committee releases a compromise that “everyone” can live with, including Pat Quinn.
3. Thereafter, the GA passes the compromise and Quinn signs the compromise.
4. Quinn declines to appeal the trial judge order, ending the litigation.
Timing is everything.
To expect a pension compromise to emerge before the line item veto case is resolved is not politically realistic.
IMHO & FWIW, as always
- Bill White - Friday, Sep 6, 13 @ 11:49 am:
EDITED:
=== To expect a pension compromise to emerge [ IN PUBLIC ] before the line item veto case is resolved is not politically realistic. ===
- Bill White - Friday, Sep 6, 13 @ 11:53 am:
Oswego Willy,
Will you join me in asking Rich Miller to add a preview function to the comment section?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 6, 13 @ 11:54 am:
===To expect a pension compromise to emerge before the line item veto case is resolved is not politically realistic.===
I agree. MJM and Cullerton can not let Quinn or be in a position to claim the stopping of salaraies influenced the compromise …
that being said, “It’s Springfield” so, take that for what its worth too.
I side on the “no compromise that allows Quinn to win on salary hold motivation”. Agree!
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 6, 13 @ 12:00 pm:
- Bill White -,
I think Barton has the “juice”, I mean, he is running the store while the Boss is away.
I don’t mind … my errors too much … it reminds me how much of a Dope I am, and far from perfect, even though a preview would prevent me from reminding everyone else how Dopey I am too …
If you ask Rich via Barton, I will sign on, if I can remember how to spell my name…
To the Post,
The “leaning tower” in Niles is a must-stop, and if they can save it, that would be great. Its like really bad knick-knacks you have around the house you know you really should get rid of, but, they also define you, and are a part of you, so the heck with what is “right”!
Best of luck, “leaning tower”, I am leaning on the side to save you.
- Bill White - Friday, Sep 6, 13 @ 12:00 pm:
Actually, I think the final compromise will happen at the precise moment when the various GOP candidates (state wide and GA) would be most compromised by a bill being passed.
Simple application of OW’s “Madigan Rules”
And yes, Rutherford’s comments encourage and facilitate that strategy.
- Federalist - Friday, Sep 6, 13 @ 12:30 pm:
Bill White,
Please elaborate on your following statement listed below. ‘Everyone’ is a lot of people. And certainly, those already retired will not readily accept any cuts- no matter what type of rationalized trade offs that might be offered- without going to the Illinois SC and most probably even to the Federal Courts.
Interested in your comments.
2. Thereafter, the committee releases a compromise that “everyone” can live with, including Pat Quinn.
- titan - Friday, Sep 6, 13 @ 12:36 pm:
Has anyone mentioned to Charles Thomas and John Tillman what switching to a 401(k) plan would do to the state’s finances in the first few years?
Paying the current retirees, and paying into SS (for those not now in it), without being able to use the current/future employees’ pension plan contributions would be far worse than what we now face.
- Realist - Friday, Sep 6, 13 @ 12:37 pm:
Plutocrat03, not that wise I am.
- Bill White - Friday, Sep 6, 13 @ 12:50 pm:
@Federalist
I am talking about the politics of getting a bill passed. Whether that bill in constitutional is another question.
FWIW, I believe SB1 is blatantly unconstitutional and RNUG has persuaded me that SB2404 is more likely unconstitutional than I previously thought, although future judicial decisions about health care benefits could increase the odds that SB2404 survives legal challenges.
- Demoralized - Friday, Sep 6, 13 @ 1:18 pm:
@titan:
I think their idea would be to scrap the pension system all together and convert ALL of it to a 401K plan.
- wordslinger - Friday, Sep 6, 13 @ 1:35 pm:
I just caught Bernie’s column where Farmer Bruce came out against tenure for college professors.
Mr. Education, hard at work.
The issue came up somehow when he was spinning his $300K contribution to Dem Ed Rendell in PA.
Again, those contributions weren’t pay-to-play for the business Outsider Bruce got from the Pennsylvania state employees retirement system — it was for the children.
Has there ever been a candidate who was more contemptuous of the voters?
- Bill White - Friday, Sep 6, 13 @ 1:39 pm:
@ Demoralied and @ titan
I think the ultimate goal is to scrap Social Security altogether in favor of 401(k) plans.
That way, the banksters can swipe 23 of the two dozen cookies on the plate and encourage the rest of us to fight over the last cookie.