Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » 2022 » September
SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax      Advertise Here      About     Exclusive Subscriber Content     Updated Posts    Contact Rich Miller
CapitolFax.com
To subscribe to Capitol Fax, click here.
Reader comments closed for the weekend

Friday, Sep 30, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I have several readers and subscribers down in Southwest Florida. I also have more than a few friends in that part of the world. Some made it out of the hurricane better than others. As I told you Monday, my buddy Bruiser rode it out at Fort Myers Beach. I’ve seen the photos and videos, but he says they don’t do the situation justice. It’s bad. Very bad. Paradise lost? I hope not. It’s such a nice spot.

* Utilities have “mutual assistance” pacts, and I saw on a SW Florida news site last night that crews from 30 states had been sent to the region. So, I reached out to ComEd to see what sort of assistance they were sending to the region. This is the response from John Schoen, ComEd’s Senior Communications Manager…

On Tuesday, we sent 100 ComEd employees, plus support staff, to assist Georgia Power with potential restoration efforts from Hurricane Ian, at their request. We also sent 250 contractors to assist Tampa Electric, at their request. Because Georgia was not significantly impacted, the ComEd crews were redirected to South Carolina to assist Duke Energy, as Hurricane Ian is expected to make landfall there next.

* Anyway

The water was risin’ up at my friend’s door
The man said to his women folk, “Lord, we’d better go”

  Comments Off      


More like this, please, but also please follow through

Friday, Sep 30, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* As we’ve discussed before, the consolidation by just a few companies of the meat and poultry processing industry allows the giant companies to drive up prices for consumers while driving down prices paid to producers. Broadening the industry could help. But I also wonder if smaller companies will be able to navigate the state paperwork to obtain the grants. We saw that happen earlier this week.

Press release…

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced Friday a new $6 million capital grant program designed to strengthen the meat and poultry supply chain by helping independently owned meat processing companies in Illinois build capacity and create and retain jobs.

Through the Meat & Poultry Supply Chain Capital Grant Program, companies are eligible for grants of $250,000 to $1.5 million, with a company match of at least four times the amount awarded.

“The Meat and Poultry Supply Chain Capital Grant Program is part of Illinois’ holistic effort to lower the costs of consumer goods for Illinois families,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “By building capacity in Illinois’ meat processing industry, we are strengthening the supply chain, creating and retaining jobs and working to lower costs for families.”

Meat prices have increased considerably since the pandemic, in part due to limited capacity and lack of competition. […]

Through the program, companies can get funding for the construction of a new facility, expanding or renovating existing facilities, and modernizing processing and manufacturing equipment. Priority goes to applicants located in underserved and rural areas.

  2 Comments      


Bailey on Trump, J6, SAFE-T Act and Rep. Kelly Cassidy

Friday, Sep 30, 2022 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* The Tribune’s Rick Pearson

Bailey, appearing before the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board’s endorsement session of Illinois candidates for governor, also said he wanted to “clarify” comments he’s made previously about former President Donald Trump. While he welcomed Trump’s pre-primary endorsement and had previously said there was “no” daylight between him and Trump, Bailey said he was speaking of a bustling economy under the Republican former chief executive’s leadership.

“Honored to have his endorsement, obviously, but he’s not on the ballot. I’m on the ballot,” Bailey said, adding that Illinois was his “focus.”

Asked if the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack at the Capitol has shown Trump’s culpability in the insurrection, Bailey said, “I’m not educated enough or informed enough to give you an answer on that.”

“I am 150% ingrained in Illinois. That’s Washington. That’s national politics,” said Bailey, who said the constitutional transition from Trump “was followed” and Democrat Joe Biden “is president.”

* Crain’s on today’s Illinois Associated Press Media Association Editors forum

“I am always open to working with people who are rational and reasonable with their proposals,” the governor added [about Sen. Scott Bennett’s proposed SAFE-T Act changes].

Meanwhile, Bailey latched on to crime, the biggest theme of his campaign, early and often, noting, “law and order is out of control,” and continued to beat the drum later.

And when given his own chance to address the SAFE-T act, Bailey said, “Sometimes, I can’t figure out if our governor’s a fool or a liar but he’s trying to dupe us… he intends to let criminals out of jail.”

Touting the endorsement of various police groups, Bailey said the act should be repealed but added if he were to win the election, he’d call a special session to make necessary changes to the law.

* WBEZ also interviewed Bailey

And Bailey moved to repeal the Reproductive Health Act of 2019 — the subject of his tense late-night exchange with the law’s lead House architect, Rep. Cassidy.

At one point during that hearing, Cassidy dramatically recounted her own emergency abortion in 2000 as Bailey pressed her on how many abortions in Illinois were the result of medical emergencies.

Bailey didn’t acknowledge Cassidy’s ordeal that night, and today she still remembers how “dismissive” that felt. […]

Bailey recalls their exchange, too. He disputes that the procedure Cassidy underwent truly represented an abortion because of its emergency, life-saving nature but said he remains “against what Kelly Cassidy stands for” on the issue.

Bailey said he hopes, despite their legislative clashes, he and Cassidy — and, more broadly, Democrats in general — can collaborate to fix the state’s problems if he is governor.

“I respect Kelly Cassidy. I know she respects me,” he said. “I look forward to working with legislators, whatever their background is, whatever their beliefs are….We’re going to stay on point fixing the things that truly matter to the people of Illinois.”

* Rich asked Rep. Cassidy if she does, indeed, respect Sen. Bailey…

Anyone who knows me knows my ability and willingness to engage across the aisle and build genuine relationships with my Republican colleagues. And when he first came to Springfield, I had some hope that Darren Bailey and I could also build a relationship. But that means sincerely acknowledging each other’s humanity.

There are very few people in Springfield I don’t interact with, but someone who has the audacity to ignorantly declare that he knows better than my doctor and I do about an incredibly painful period in my life brings to mind the old saying “when someone shows you who they are, believe them.” Add on his cartoonish embrace of anti scientific nonsense in an effort to raise his profile during a deadly pandemic that quite literally cost people their lives, and he’s not someone to be taken seriously. Period.

…Adding… The Bailey campaign pointed to this photo, taken after their 2019 row, to dispute Cassidy’s account


Representative Kelly Cassidy stopped me in the hall to introduce newly seated Representative Yoni Pizer.
They are both…

Posted by Darren Bailey for Governor on Tuesday, February 18, 2020

  20 Comments      


It’s just a bill

Friday, Sep 30, 2022 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* KFVS

Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza is asking the state legislature to change the way it pays families of fallen first responders.

The way the current law is written, money for benefits could run out before the end of the year, requiring the state legislature to approve supplemental appropriations.

In Williamson County on Thursday, September 29, Mendoza urged lawmakers to pass a bill in the legislature to approve more funding.

“No family should have to wait a minute more than it takes to process their claim and get it to my office for payment. Now I immediately knew that this was a problem that needed to be fixed and I’m happy to be able to lead the charge along with these wonderful members of the legislature who are going to carry the bill on behalf of all of these families and unfortunately the future families who will in fact have to receive benefits,” Mendoza said.

* The Southern

Together with State Rep. Dave Vella of Rockford and State Sen. Christopher Belt of Swansea, Mendoza is championing HB 5785 and SB 4229, which are measures to ensure timely compensation for the next of kin of fallen first responders and members of the armed forces.

“It seemed absurd to me. Legislators budgeted $5 million that year in death benefits. We underestimated by almost half what benefits would be needed,” Mendoza said.

She added that no family should have to wait longer than it takes for the Comptroller’s Office to get the claim and pay it. […]

The legislation also will extend the time a family has to apply for benefits. They currently have one year; the new law extends it to two years.

* The Telegraph

Inappropriate and coercive teacher-student relationships would be outlawed under legislation introduced by state Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville. […]

Stuart introduced House Bill 5809 in response to an incident in which a male former teacher at Granite City High School published an online book detailing a reported sexual relationship with a female student, then 18 years old.

The student later obtained a restraining order against the teacher. The teacher resigned and has lost his teaching license. He was cleared of criminal wrongdoing because the student was above the legal age of consent at the time.

“My bill will close what is, honestly, an appalling blind spot in our current state laws,” Stuart said. “No educator should be having this kind of relationship with a student, and no student — regardless of age — can truly consent to this kind of relationship. The risk of coercion is too high, and the imbalance of power is too great.”

* Press Release…

Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), an advocacy organization dedicated to safeguarding India’s pluralist and tolerant ethos, has welcomed the announcement by Illinois State Senator Ram Villivalam that the state will change a law, passed earlier this year to set up an Indian American Advisory Council, that uses religion to define the Indian American community, thus creating the potential for anti-Muslim discrimination.

After meeting civil society groups, Senator Villivalam tweeted: “It has been brought to my attention that the Indian American Advisory Council law was drafted with language that is not inclusive to all Indian Americans who call Illinois home. I am committed to working with my colleagues, stakeholders, and constituents to rectify this language. Just like we have done with hundreds of other laws and programs, we will ensure this law reflects the diversity and the welcoming nature of our state. I am proud of the work that has been done on behalf of and in collaboration with the Muslim American community.” […]

The current law says the Council will, “advise the [Illinois] Governor and the General Assembly on policy issues impacting Indian Americans and immigrants; to advance the role and civic participation of Indian Americans in this State; to enhance trade and cooperation between Indian-majority countries and this State; and, in cooperation with State agencies, boards, and commissions, to build relationships with and disseminate information to Indian American and immigrant communities across this State.” […]

The activists urged the lawmakers to pause any appointments to this Council until the law was altered. Illinois must consult extensively with the Indian community, including all faiths, caste, and language, to select the Council’s members, they said.

* The Center Square

Last April, the House narrowly passed a measure that lowered the criminal penalties for what they call low-level possession of drugs like fentanyl and heroin. Misdemeanors under the bill include possession of less than five grams of cocaine, less than five pills of most scheduled III substances such as Xanax and Valium, and less than 40 pills of oxycodone and similar painkillers. […]

Republicans have introduced legislation designed to allow state attorneys to prosecute fentanyl dealers.

  2 Comments      


Ratepayers, taxpayers picking up some big legal tabs

Friday, Sep 30, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Crain’s

Commonwealth Edison ratepayers are helping to cover the cost of the utility’s $140 million settlement of lawsuits stemming from the death of one cable TV worker and the permanent injury of another due to a faulty power pole in downstate Sterling. […]

Additionally, it’s possible more as-yet unquantified settlement costs may be recovered based on reconciliations that took place last year, the ICC says. […]

The treatment of legal costs is in line with the virtually risk-free environment in which ComEd operates, thanks to a series of changes in law over the past 15 years. The company bears no risk from customers who can’t pay, for example. When past-due accounts are written off and the amounts are above what the utility budgets for in its base rates, ComEd collects the remainder in a surcharge.

That’s thanks to a 2009 law. Before that, utility shareholders had to cover those costs.

* Crain’s

Why has Chicago paid out more than $250 million in just three years for legal settlements involving alleged misconduct by Chicago Police officers?

A prime reason, other than the misconduct itself, is that city officials have failed to follow, analyze and learn from the misconduct, leaving the door open to further abuse and claims, according to an eyebrow-raising report from Chicago Inspector General Deborah Witzburg.

“The City lacks a comprehensive approach to the collection of litigation data,” Witzburg said in a statement about the review, which covered 2017-2020. “It is therefore critically impaired in its ability to effectively manage the risk of expense to the City and harm to its residents arising out of CPD’s operations,” she added.

“Given the pressing need to reform CPD’s practices—and the extraordinary number of dollars involved—the City should take every opportunity to learn lessons from those instances in which the conduct of CPD and its members gives rise to costly legal claims.”

The report is here

$83 million a year could pay for a lot of stuff. Just sayin…

  18 Comments      


Question of the day

Friday, Sep 30, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I’ve believed for quite a while that the Thompson Center is an apt metaphor for Illinois government

Chicago’s relationship with the Thompson Center has always been tortured. Jahn specified insulated double-paned windows for the glass-faced $172 million structure, which was known as the State of Illinois Center when it opened in 1985. But cost-cutting builders opted for single panes, creating a building that baked the government employees working inside. Stubborn air conditioning and heating woes persisted despite the best efforts of engineers to ameliorate the situation, and the building began to rack up millions of dollars of deferred maintenance.

In 2015, just after then-Illinois Governor ​​Bruce Rauner proposed selling the beleaguered building, Chicago Magazine talked to unhappy state employees who worked there, who complained about threadbare carpets and noisy open-plan offices. What was supposed to be a monument to transparency in public service had become an example of government failure.

The state starts up a lot of well-meaning programs, then cheaps out because it’s already fiscally over-extended, or nothing works right because the state isn’t properly staffed and the regulations are onerous because somebody corruptly gamed the system in the past, and working for or with the state winds up being more trouble than it’s worth.

* The Question: More Thompson Center metaphors?

  34 Comments      


As early voting begins, Pritzker defends his record

Friday, Sep 30, 2022 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Pritzker “makes no apologies” as his re-election campaign puts his record up for examination, Tina Sfondeles reports

When J.B. Pritzker first announced his run for governor in a packed South Side gymnasium in 2017, he told reporters he’d be a “progressive governor for everyone.”

Since then, the Gold Coast Democrat has signed four budgets, touted improvements in the state’s shoddy financial ratings, and signed legislation that raised the minimum wage, legalized marijuana and enshrined the right to get an abortion in Illinois at a historic time. […]

“I have had to manage through a lot of crises over the course of my life, and I’m not suggesting they’re all like a global pandemic,” he told the Chicago Sun-Times in an interview a little over a week ago.

“I’m just saying that in a difficult circumstance, when tensions are high, and it’s an emergency, that reacting quickly, being decisive, listening to experts, those are all things that I had learned through the course of my personal life and my business life.”

* Yesterday, Pritzker made several campaign stops highlighting early voting

In Springfield, he was joined by Nikki Budzinski, the Democratic nominee for the 13th Congressional District, and state Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield. […]

There, Pritzker touted policy achievements such as raising the minimum wage while vowing to protect abortion rights and declaring his support for the “workers rights amendment.”

But, above all else, the message of the day was: every day up to Nov. 8 is Election Day. […]

Pritzker signed several laws last year that expand early voting and curbside voting, making ballot dropboxes — a pandemic-era innovation — a permanent feature and allowing voters to permanently opt in to vote-by-mail.

* The Tribune on the governor‘s “flurry” of donations to Dem candidates and orgs

The governor’s largesse comes with early voting getting underway in some parts of the state and as Republican candidates relentlessly hammer their Democratic rivals on crime and an overhaul of the state’s criminal justice system that includes ending cash bail on Jan. 1. […]

The governor “does not take the threat of Republican extremism lightly and is committed to supporting candidates who will fight for our shared Democratic values at every level of government,” Edelstein said in a statement.

Along with Pritzker’s $1 million, the Giannoulias campaign on Thursday reported $769,000 in additional contributions from labor unions, auto dealers and other supporters. That’s on top of more than $1.3 million in large-dollar contributions that campaign had previously reported since July 1.

Giannoulias spent more than $5.2 million in the first half of the year to win the primary and came into the general election campaign with more than $773,000 cash on hand in his campaign fund, state campaign finance records show.

* Politico

Former Gov. Jim Edgar had thoughts on Pritzker’s big donations: “For the party of the rich, we sure don’t show it sometimes. And the party of the Democrats, who are supposed to be the working man, they seem to have all the money,” Edgar said Thursday in Springfield after Pritzker made donations to Democrats up and down the ballot — including $1 million to secretary for state candidate Alexi Giannoulias. Edgar has endorsed Dan Brady, the Republican in the race.

* WGLT

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said he’s open to tweaking the Safe-T Act that will do away with the cash bail system in the state starting in January.

Pritzker’s Republican opponent, Darren Bailey, claims the law will let people out of jail who should be kept behind bars. During a stop in Bloomington on Thursday, Pritzker said that is not the case.

“The Safe-T Act is about keeping people safe all across our state, keeping murderers, rapists, and domestic abusers in jail, not letting them buy their way out, which is the system that we had,” said Pritzker. […]

On the flip side, the governor said moms who shoplift should not be kept locked up for months on end just because they can’t afford a few hundred dollars in bond. Pritzker said the legislation is not done.

“You know Republicans act like they don’t vote for amendments to bills. But they voted for thousands of amendments to existing bills and we’re always willing to consider changes to a bill that need to be made,” said Pritzker.

  11 Comments      


Today’s quotable

Friday, Sep 30, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Rick Pearson at the Tribune

Republican governor candidate Darren Bailey likened Chicago to an “unruly child” Thursday and said he considers the city he has frequently referred to as a “hellhole” as part of his family in the way “I consider all of Illinois my family.” […]

In recent weeks, Bailey moved into the 875 North Michigan Avenue building, formerly the John Hancock Center, as he spends more time in the state’s most populous area. And he was asked if he wanted to retract his “hellhole” comments, but did not do so.

“Raising children. When we had the unruly child, we dealt with it. Said, ‘this is a problem,’” Bailey said. “The family. Family. I consider all of Illinois my family. I consider Chicago my family and I want to get Chicago fixed and there’s other parts of Illinois that have issues, too. Let’s address it. Let’s deal with it. Let’s unify.”

* So, how did Bailey and his family deal with their unruly children? Well, Bailey spoke at a Belleville church last fall and addressed this very topic. The link magically came over the transom today

So during that time, this was what God was preparing, you know, during that time, with all the other stuff with the farm, our oldest son rebelled and I kicked him out of the house.

It took us about a year and a half to, Cindy and I tried ourselves to outsmart him. I’m president of the school board, leader in the church. But we raised him pretty smart. So he would outfox us and maneuver us everywhere. We tried to head him off at the pass. But, he eventually, through a work of God, came back.

Two years later, our daughter, our number third child, she rebelled to the extent that I felt that I needed to kick her out of the house.

And by then, through all this prayer and fasting that we were going through, we got on our faces quickly. We didn’t rely on our own means and our friends. We got on our faces before God and, thank goodness, you know, within six months, she was back.

And the cool thing is that today those two children and number one our son of whom, you know, couldn’t stand us at the time and wanted to get away. His house is probably the distance of this tent behind us. So, God is good. And they’re both leaders in their churches, using the experiences that they went through to teach young people, to teach them, encouraging them what not to do and what to do if they do make mistakes.

Glad that all had a happy conclusion, but you can’t just kick a city out of a state, even though he did try.

…Adding… Democratic Party of Illinois…

In case you missed recent coverage of his latest denigration of Chicago, Darren Bailey referred to the state’s largest city as an “unruly child” in the Illinois “family” — and Bailey, who has repeatedly called Chicago a “hellhole” and sponsored legislation to remove it from the rest of the state, is no stranger to “unruly children.”

In a 2021 video, Bailey recounted kicking his own children out of his house when they “rebelled,” saying: “Our oldest son rebelled, I kicked him out of the house. … Two years later, our daughter, our number third child, she rebelled to the extent that I felt that I needed to kick her out of the house.”

Every day, it becomes more clear that Bailey is incapable of serving as a governor for all of Illinois. From posting insensitive and inappropriate sentiments about members of the LGBTQ+ and Muslim communities, to encouraging mass shooting victims to “move on and celebrate” 90 minutes after a massacre, to comparing abortion to the Holocaust, it’s apparent that Darren Bailey has no interest in bringing Illinosians together.

When Darren Bailey identifies a problem, his solution is to simply throw it out. Comparing the city of Chicago to an unruly child makes perfect sense in Bailey’s mind because at the end of the day, he knows he’s kicking both to the curb.

  61 Comments      


A look at Champaign-Urbana’s 2021 homicide rate shows real problems in the area

Friday, Sep 30, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Champaign News-Gazette editor Jeff D’Alessio

The News-Gazette requested homicide data from more than 400 cities, villages and townships similar in size to Champaign (17 deaths by firearm in 2021, 16 of them homicides) and Urbana (nine homicides). […]

— Of the 68 U.S. cities with populations within 5,000 of Champaign (pop. 88,302), according to 2020 U.S. Census figures, only one has had more homicides by firearm in 2021.

That city: Trenton, N.J., with 36, four shy of the 2020 total that gave the crime-plagued New Jersey capital the seventh-highest murder rate of any city in the U.S., according to FBI data. […]

— Of 316 U.S. cities, villages and townships with populations within 5,000 of Urbana (38,336), five reported more homicides by firearm this year, including three that ranked in the top five nationally on 2020’s highest murder rate list — Petersburg, Va., Pine Bluff, Ark., and Saginaw, Mich. […]

— Of the 46 U.S. cities with populations within 10,000 of Champaign-Urbana combined (126,638), only Hartford, Conn., has had a higher death-by-firearm count in 2021, with 32.

Waukegan had 8 homicides, Cicero had 4, Belleville and DeKalb had 3. Several had 1.

  40 Comments      


Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition

Friday, Sep 30, 2022 - Posted by Isabel Miller

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

  Comments Off      


Open thread

Friday, Sep 30, 2022 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* It’s Friday? Already? What’s going on? (Keep it Illinois-centric.)

  24 Comments      


Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

Friday, Sep 30, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

  Comments Off      


Live coverage

Friday, Sep 30, 2022 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Follow along with ScribbleLive


  Comments Off      


Question of the day

Thursday, Sep 29, 2022 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* CBS

Survivors of the mass shooting at a suburban Chicago Independence Day parade and family members of those killed filed 11 lawsuits Wednesday against the manufacturer of the rifle used in the attack, accusing gun-maker Smith & Wesson of illegally targeting its ads at young men at risk of committing mass violence.

The sweeping effort by dozens of victims of the Highland Park shooting, anti-gun violence advocates and private attorneys announced Wednesday is the latest bid to hold gun manufacturers accountable for a mass killing despite broad protections for the industry in federal law.

The group’s strategy mirrors the approach used by relatives of victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook school killings, who in February reached a $73 million settlement with the firearm company that produced the rifle used in that attack. That was believed to be the largest payment by a gun-maker related to a mass killing and hinged on the families’ accusation that Remington violated Connecticut consumer protection law by marketing its AR-15-style weapons to young men already at risk of committing violence.

“The shooter did not act on his own,” said Alla Lefkowitz, senior director of affirmative litigation for the gun safety organization Everytown. “What happened in Highland Park on July 4 was the result of deliberate choices made by certain members of the industry.”

The complaint is here.

* USA Today

A central claim of the legal action is that the gun manufacturer behind the M&P 15 semiautomatic rifle illegally targeted young men at risk of violence with advertisements for firearms. […]

The suit alleges Smith & Wesson ads mimic a first-person shooter perspective depicted in many popular video games, utilize visuals of apparent military or law enforcement personnel and emphasize the gun’s combat features. […]

Families of Sandy Hook victims claimed Remington violated Connecticut consumer protection law by marketing its guns to young men with an existing risk of committing violence. A lawyer at the center of the Sandy Hook settlement issued a letter in June to the maker of the AR-15 used in the Uvalde Elementary School mass shooting in Texas on behalf of the father of one of the victims, seeking answers about marketing their products to teens and children.

In addition to Smith & Wesson, the accused gunman and his father, the victims are also suing Red Dot Arms, the gun store where the accused gunman purchased the weapon and Bud’s Gun Shop, an online gun distributor.

* Legal strategy breakdown by the Tribune

Gun manufacturers have historically been protected from lawsuits like this under the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, a law Congress passed in 2005 that gives gun manufacturers and dealers broad immunity from lawsuits. But attorneys and experts on Wednesday asserted that there is an exception that allows for the lawsuits to proceed.

“That exception is when a member of the gun industry knowingly violates a state or federal law applicable to the sale or marketing of firearms, and here that is exactly what is being alleged,” Alla Lefkowitz, senior director of affirmative litigation for Everytown Law, said at the news conference. “Smith & Wesson, in addition to the two guns shops named as defendants, did violate the law.”

Lefkowitz said the legal coalition believes Smith & Wesson violated Illinois consumer protection laws by using deceptive marketing and advertising to sell the M&P15 as a military weapon. But the lawsuit claims that the sales do not reflect this, and attorneys on Wednesday called the idea that the weapon was used by the military a “fiction” pushed by the company, which went so far as to trademark the name “M&P,” a reference to “military and police” as a way to attract customers. […]

It was people like Crimo, the lawsuit contends, that Smith & Wesson had directly in their crosshairs as they sought to make more money through such marketing, which also promised “more adrenaline” and encourages consumers to “kick brass.”

* ABC Chicago

While police say the assault-style rifle Crimo III allegedly used in the shooting, a Smith and Wesson M&P 15, was legally purchased, the lawsuit says Smith and Wesson “facilitates violence for profit,” and targets vulnerable young men to market their products too.

“The shooter fits the demographic of customers that Smith & Wesson targeted with its negligent and unlawful marketing,” the lawsuit says. “An avid user of the social media platforms used by Smith & Wesson to promote its assault rifles, the shooter displayed his hardcore violent fantasies online, styling himself on one platform as a “Master Gunnery Sergeant,” and on others as a video game assassin. He spewed hatred online and often posted videos of himself playing first-person-shooter games.”

The lawsuit says that after the shooting, Smith and Wesson portrayed itself as the victim and outlines what the plaintiffs say is a pattern and history of marketing towards young men with a propensity for violence.

“Smith & Wessson’s marketing campaigns don’t just blur the line between fantasy and reality, they destroy it,” said attorney Ari Scharg, with Edelson.

* Sun-Times

The civil lawsuits now pending in Lake County are separate from the criminal charges that shooting suspect Robert Crimo III faces and assert the defendants violated the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act, which prohibits consumer fraud and deceptive practices. […]

The gunmaker, the lawsuits say, “markets its assault rifles to young, impulsive men by appealing to their propensity for risk and excitement” by maintaining an active presence on social media using violent video games — including ones played by Crimo — and social influencers as marketing tools.

“For Smith & Wesson, the younger the shooter, the better,” the lawsuits say.

They say the gunmaker’s marketing campaign continued even though Smith & Wesson “knew or should have known in the last decade, mass shooters have used Smith & Wesson weapons as their weapons of choice.”

* The Question: Your thoughts on this legal action?

  35 Comments      


Proft releases his own poll

Thursday, Sep 29, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Press release…

Fabrizio, Lee & Associates recently completed a survey of 800 likely voters in the 2022 Illinois gubernatorial general election, and it is clear that the Pritzker vs. Bailey race is tightening significantly.

Some key takeaways:

- Pritzker previously was leading Bailey by 10 points in August, but Bailey has chopped that lead in half to 5 in September.

- Among “definite” voters, Pritzker is only up by 3 points, which is within margin of error.

- If you have an option of both candidates, Prizker’s lead is 3; if you’ve heard of both, Pritzker is up by only 1.

- Bailey is crushing it with independents, leading Pritzker by 12 points.

- Bailey is leading among all men by 2 points, while Pritzker leads with women by 12.

- Pritzker is underwater in both Total Approval (49% Approve vs. 50% Disapprove), and Strongly Disapprove (45%) vs. Strongly Approve (just 18%).

The poll’s margin of error is +/- 3.46%.

More here.

  36 Comments      


Campaign notebook

Thursday, Sep 29, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I think the last time Pritzker was at a Chicago Tribune editorial board meeting was during the 2018 Democratic primary. He’s met with several other newspaper editorial boards, but he hasn’t been back to the Tribune since then…


* A new ballot initiative committee has been formed to oppose the Workers’ Rights Amendment. It’s called Say No to the Proposed Amendment 1 Tax Hike, has no money yet, but is chaired by former Republican Comptroller Leslie Munger.

* Oppo dump!


* Must watch…


* Also must-watch, with the background that Rep. Kelly was once the lone “Present” vote on Speaker Welch’s election and with a forewarning that Welch is an absolutely horrible singer

Harmon clearly has Welch beat when it comes to musical talent.

* There aren’t too many statewide Republican candidates that Jim Edgar can endorse, and Dan Brady is definitely one of them…

Former Illinois Governor and Secretary of State Jim Edgar, plus major labor, business, public safety and advocacy organizations have endorsed Dan Brady, a Bloomington Republican, for Illinois Secretary of State.

“As former Secretary of State, I know Dan Brady possesses the skills, experience, and work ethic to improve the office and provide efficiency to the public,” former Gov. Jim Edgar said. “As former Governor, I know Dan has the experience and talent to work with the General Assembly and the executive branch to provide service for the people.”

“It is truly an honor to receive Gov. Edgar’s endorsement,” Brady said. “He continues to be the standard by which honest and responsible governing is judged, and I will be proud to carry that legacy of public service as your next Secretary of State.”

Brady has also received the endorsements of the Illinois Education Association, Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge, the Sheriffs’ of Illinois PAC, Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois, and ABATE of Illinois.

Kathi Griffin, Illinois Education Association President: “The Illinois Education Association is the largest union in Illinois. On behalf of our board and more than 135,000 members, I’m glad to recommend Dan Brady for Secretary of State. He is recommended because of his commitment to public education. Dan Brady’s vision for continuing drivers’ education, improving library development and helping ease the school bus driver shortage makes him the most qualified candidate for Secretary of State.”

* Center Square

The Republican candidate for Illinois treasurer is speaking out against Democratic lawmakers and warns tax increases are coming after the November election.

Tom Demmer, a state representative from Dixon, hosted a news conference Wednesday and said the Democrats are being secretive with the public about their post-election plans.

“The concerning item I want to talk about today is how Illinois Democrats seem to be hiding many of their pending tax increases until right after the election,” Demmer said.

Demmer, who faces off against incumbent Democratic Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs in the November election, said some of the increases are already going into effect.

“On Jan. 1, this temporary gas tax freeze expires, and the gas tax will increase again. That was timed to cover just half a year and push us right past the election,” Demmer said. “Cook County residents have not seen what they will be required to pay this year and will not see until the end of the year. Again conveniently timed until after the election.”

Um, Rep. Demmer voted Yes on that bill after he proposed his own set of temporary tax cuts earlier this year.

* Speaking of that race, here’s a new digital ad

* ILGOP…

100 of 102 Illinois State’s Attorneys have come out against the [un] SAFE-T act - including multiple Democratic States Attorneys who have filed lawsuits to stop its most dangerous provisions that go into effect on January 1st 2023. Meanwhile, Speaker of the House Chris Welch is doubling down on House Democrats’ support with open arms.

From the Chicago Tribune yesterday:

“Despite continuing criticism about the law that will do away with cash bail next year, Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch doubled down in his support for the SAFE-T Act, addressing critics head on during a City Club speech.”

As reported by NBC5 Chicago:

“The debate over the SAFE-T Act is pitting Democrats against members of their own party. Today Speaker of the house Chris Welch defended the wide-ranging bill but several States Attorneys are suing the Governor and the Attorney General saying the changes are unconstitutional.

In his speech, Welch defended the Act despite its extreme unpopularity with the general public, saying “We know the SAFE-T Act will help people, it will help people.”

Violent crime in Chicago is up 37% over this time last year. Meanwhile, since similarly eliminating cash bail for most nonviolent offenses in 2019, New York City has seen a massive spike in crime citywide. It has also increased recidivism - 20.1% of “felony arraignments” are rearrested, with 16.1% failing to appear at arraignment.

“It’s unclear who the ‘people’ are that Speaker Welch feels that the un-SAFE-T Act will help, because the Act will lead to the release of more dangerous criminals and more crime in our communities,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy. “The question remains, does Democratic leadership in the General Assembly even care about law-abiding citizens of Illinois including crime victims? With so many Illinois Democrat legislators recently indicted for criminal misconduct, it may be that protecting career criminals is more of a priority for Democrat legislators than public safety.”

Seven members of the Illinois General Assembly and nine Chicago Democrat Aldermen and women have been indicted, convicted or plead guilty since 2019. Also, the [un] SAFE-T Act’s chief sponsor, Senator Elgie Sims, is now under federal criminal investigation, and another Democrat - Senator Michael Hastings - has faced accusations of domestic violence and workplace harassment.

* Block Club Chicago

Residents of a Far North Side tent city were given fake eviction notices this week as part of an apparent stunt from a college student linked to a political gadfly challenging the incumbent aldermen.

The one-page notices titled “Maria Hadden’s Five Day Notice To Vacate” were stuffed into belongings and posted on signs in and around Touhy Park, 7348 N. Paulina St., residents said. They were dated Sept. 27 and listed the name of Hadden, the 49th Ward alderperson, in bold blue type over a line reading “landlord/agent.” […]

It also says residents will be relocated for free to the Four Seasons Hotel in Gold Coast. Their stay at the hotel, 120 E. Delaware Place, would be open-ended “for as long as it takes for Maria Hadden to find you appropriate housing,” the notice states.

The worst part is this reasoning from the person who admitted handing out the “eviction notices”

“I do have a plan for the homeless problem there, and this was a publicity stunt to drive traffic to my site where I am going to discuss it,” [Sarah Lim, a DePaul University freshman who is considering a run for mayor] said.

* Yes, this is normal, Center Square

With the bulk coming from Cook County and Chicago, more than 463,000 vote-by-mail ballots could be in the mix for Illinois’ Nov. 8 election, delaying election outcomes by up to two weeks.

Along with early voting beginning Thursday in Illinois, local elections officials are sending out requested vote-by-mail ballots. Illinois State Board of Elections spokesman Matt Dietrich said those mail-in ballots will take up to two weeks to count after the polls close Nov. 8.

“It really depends on how many vote-by-mail ballots are still out on election night,” Dietrich told The Center Square. “We do want to be clear to people that this is normal.” […]

Dietrich remembers that as recently as the 2014 Illinois Treasurer’s race, projections changed drastically.

The article goes on to warn about “election integrity.”

* More…

* The national wave of unfounded election-fraud accusations does not spare Illinois: Votebeat, a nonpartisan website covering voting and elections, reported earlier this month that many of the letters were sent to practically every state in response to calls from conspiracy theorists, including Mike Lindell, the CEO of My Pillow and Trump supporter who continues to state without proof that the 2020 election was stolen. Lindell and others have called on sympathizers to request these records, providing them with a template that many are using in their own states. The requesters are then directed to provide whatever they get back to a central repository for analysis. Jessica Huseman, Votebeat’s editorial director, said the requesters are seeking something known in elections parlance as “cast vote record.” That cannot be used to show fraud anyway, she said.

* Chicago Teachers Union endorses Brandon Johnson for mayor, but he’s not in the race yet: In 2015 and 2019, CTU and SEIU threw their support to Cook County commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia and Board President Toni Preckwinkle, respectively, in their unsuccessful campaigns. Garcia, now a congressman, is considering a run for mayor in 2023 but those efforts are potentially complicated by the teachers union supporting another candidate.

* Former asbestos attorney seeking Madison County judgeship has fundraising advantage: To date, Julian has established a more than a 6-1 campaign cash lead with receipts of approximately $171,000 to $24,450.

  8 Comments      


Oppo dump! Mark Curran on Trump, “election fraud” and J6

Thursday, Sep 29, 2022 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Dave McKinney of WBEZ reported earlier this month

In one matchup, ex-Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran, a Republican, faces Democratic Lake County Judge Elizabeth “Liz” Rochford. The 2nd Supreme Court District covers Kane, Lake and McHenry counties as well as DeKalb and Kendall counties. […]

Asked who won the 2020 presidency, [Mark] Curran told WBEZ, “It’s kind of irrelevant, but Joe Biden won the election.” But in a Jan. 3, 2021, Facebook post, Curran circulated now-debunked claims about vote fraud in the presidential elections.

* The Curran post


* A little more from the above post…

Despite the fact 18 more states signed on to Texas’ petition, the Supreme Court dismissed the case, citing lack of standing. Only Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a student of history, compared the long list of anomalies to another election nearly 200 years in the past.

“The more data comes out on vote anomalies that clearly are not legitimate the more it looks like 2020 may be the biggest presidential theft since Adams and Clay robbed Andrew Jackson in 1824.” Gingrich tweeted. “State legislatures should demand recounts.”

* But, wait, there’s more where that came from…

* Note the date below the video on his “Who knows what 2021 will bring” Dec 30, 2020 post

* Here’s a link to Curran’s Dec 14 post about China’s alleged influence on the 2020 election.

  13 Comments      


Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Campaign updates

Thursday, Sep 29, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

  Comments Off      


CPS and the mayor are fighting with others over state money that doesn’t exist

Thursday, Sep 29, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* We talked about this escalating conflict yesterday, but here’s an update from the Sun-Times

Chicago’s Board of Education on Wednesday narrowly approved key steps toward the construction of a Near South Side high school despite significant opposition from even the strongest advocates for a new neighborhood school.

The school board in a 4-3 vote opted to move forward with leasing former public housing land from the Chicago Housing Authority to build a high school and to acquire another nearby parcel for the CHA in exchange. The district will also ask the city’s Public Building Commission to begin designing the school.

The rare split vote came after heavy debate about the need, viability and fiscal responsibility of the project. Several board members questioned the speed with which the city is attempting to push forward the proposal, with one calling the decision to proceed a “misuse of public money.” […]

State Rep. Theresa Mah, a Chicago Democrat, made waves this week when she said she would block $50 million in state funding for the project that she had pushed through the General Assembly two years ago. Long a supporter of an open-enrollment high school for Near South residents, Mah said the city has not taken genuine community concerns into consideration. She accused Lightfoot and CPS of “manufacturing” support for the school.

I asked the governor’s people this morning what Gov. Pritzker will do with the disputed state funds. But, as it turns out, there’s no public money to “misuse.”

* From Jordan Abudayyeh at the governor’s office…

Capital projects are generally funded through the issuance of state bonds. To ensure that Illinois continues its improving fiscal trajectory, this administration also requires that capital bonds are backed by a specific revenue source, so that they can be paid back in a predictable and stable manner.

The authority to issue bonds is granted by the General Assembly, and requires a vote of 3/5 of the members.

In the case of this project, the General Assembly included the appropriation for the project but not the bonding authority in legislation. Until the administration has the needed bond authority or other source of revenue, this project is not funded.

So, while there is an official state appropriation, there’s no actual state money for CPS to spend because no bonding was authorized. It’s kinda like writing a check to pay off a bill and never mailing it because the bank account doesn’t exist.

All of this bitter infighting is over nada.

  10 Comments      


Anti-domestic violence groups defend new law: “It’s about doing your job”

Thursday, Sep 29, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Madison County Record

Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine on Wednesday sent a letter to Gov. J.B. Pritzker, saying he is willing to work with the governor to correct problems with the SAFE-T Act before it takes effect Jan. 1.

Haine’s letter, in response to Pritzker’s Sept. 23 message, said the SAFE-T Act, which abolishes the cash bail system in Illinois, will limit the ability of his office – as well as local judges – to detain dangerous defendants prior to trial.

SA Haine’s letter contains this quote from a publication by the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah entitled “Does Bail Reform Increase Crime? An Empirical Assessment of the Public Safety Implications of Bail Reform in Cook County, Illinois”

“(T)he percentage of aggravated domestic violence prosecutions that prosecutors dropped increased from 56% before [Cook County’s 2017 bail reform] to 70% after. A reasonable inference is that the increase in dropped cases resulted from batterers more frequently obtaining pretrial release and intimidating their victims into not pursuing charges at trial.”

But Cook County’s bail reform isn’t the same as the SAFE-T Act.

* Something that’s gotten lost in the uproar is that respected groups which advocate for domestic violence victims are strongly in favor of the state law because they contend the SAFE-T Act is a major improvement to the current system. From Mike Miletich’s latest story

“It isn’t about letting people out of jail,” said Vickie Smith, President and CEO of the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence. “It’s about doing your job to determine whether or not the individual being charged is a danger to the community or individuals.”

ICADV said the law will prioritize the safety of survivors by having a comprehensive, fact-based hearing process for individual decisions about pretrial release. Smith said no one can force crime victims to participate in the hearing process. Attorneys or local crisis advocates can go to court hearings on their behalf. However, Smith stressed that it is important to allow them to have the opportunity to participate if they choose to. […]

Advocates noted that lawmakers needed to address the current timeline for pretrial hearings as people are frequently arrested and appear in bond court within a few hours, leaving victims confused and worried about their future. […]

[Mallory Littlejohn, the Legal Director with the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation] explained that pretrial release may be denied if the defendant is charged with stalking or aggravated stalking and it is alleged that release poses a real and present threat to the safety of a victim. A judge can also deny release if the survivor of abuse was a family or household member with an order of protection against the defendants. The law calls for denial of pretrial release for any defendants charged with domestic battery if the suspect poses a threat to the safety of a victim or other people as well.

“We were able to include issues regarding civil no contact orders and stalking no contact orders when the bill originally only referenced orders of protection. That’s an expansion,” said Carrie Ward, President and CEO of the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault. […]

“We believe firmly that whether or not you can write a check is not how we should determine whether or not someone is safe enough to let out of jail,” Smith explained. “In the best interest of victims of domestic violence and the community, we need these procedures in place so we actually look at an individual, look at the circumstances and then decide whether or not they can be released or if they should be detained.”

There’s more, so go read the rest.

  10 Comments      


Fun with numbers

Thursday, Sep 29, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Wirepoints

Crime is perhaps the top issue for Illinois voters this year and the extraordinarily divisive SAFE-T Act is central to it.

Nope. Not even close.

That piece was published today - a day after WGN released its poll

But despite Bailey’s efforts, and an onslaught of political ads paid for by Dan Proft’s “People Who Play By the Rules” PAC, Illinois likely voters say the economy is still the No. 1 issue (35%) driving their vote in November, followed by threats to democracy (17%) and abortion access (14%).

Crime is fourth on that list, with only 10% of voters picking the issue as their top concern. Of that group, the advantage does go to Bailey. About 58% of those who say crime is their top issue support his campaign.

* Speaking of that poll…


That 2022 primary poll was taken in May, before Bailey started surging. Polls can’t predict the future, they can only give you a snapshot of the time they were taken.

The Quinn poll was taken for the Tribune, not WGN. Another poll taken for the Trib in late October had Quinn behind by 2.

I don’t know what other independent polls are out there, but that internal poll that Fox 32 ridiculously hyped was a push poll and Bailey was still trailing.

* One more…


The simple explanation is that the story has an error. It doesn’t match up with the actual poll results. And, excuse me, but how does it hurt Bailey that WGN screwed up a story that more people saw than will see its accurate tweet?

That being said, I do have one issue with the poll and I told subscribers about it today.

  35 Comments      


Pritzker handing out $11 million to candidates, parties, organizations

Thursday, Sep 29, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Politico

Gov. JB Pritzker is in the process of donating more than $11 million from his campaign fund to Illinois Democrats up and down the ballot, according to the State Board of Elections and his campaign office. […]

The governor is still talking with Illinois Senate Democrats before a likely donation of $1 million. Pritzker wants to ensure that those resources aren’t used to support senators the governor has urged to resign.

Statewide candidates Kwame Raoul, the incumbent attorney general, and Alexi Giannoulias, the secretary of state candidate, each received $1 million. Raoul faces Republican Tom DeVore, an attorney notorious for filing lawsuits against Pritzker’s Covid-19 mandates. And Giannoulias, a former state treasurer, faces Republican state Rep. Dan Brady.

Supreme donations: The Democrats running in the two highly contested Illinois Supreme Court races — Elizabeth Rochford and Mary Kay O’Brien — each received $500,000.

Courting counties: Pritzker donated $1 million to Cook County Democrats, the bluest county in the state and anywhere from $10,000 to $100,000 to other Democratic county organizations across Illinois.

There’s more.

Also, the Senate Democrats have already said they won’t be backing Sen. Michael Hastings’ reelection and Sen. Emil Jones III has no Republican opponent.

  47 Comments      


Open thread

Thursday, Sep 29, 2022 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Check out these “Gubernatorial gourds”



Anyways, feel free to chat about some Illinois-centric topics. Today, I’m thinking about my favorite pumpkin patch.

  16 Comments      


Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

Thursday, Sep 29, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

  Comments Off      


Live coverage

Thursday, Sep 29, 2022 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Follow along with ScribbleLive


  Comments Off      


PREVIOUS POSTS »
* Isabel’s afternoon roundup (updated)
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Fundraiser list
* Feds approve Medicaid coverage for state violence prevention pilot project
* Question of the day
* Bost and Bailey set aside feud as Illinois Republicans tout unity at RNC delegate breakfast
* State pre-pays $422 million in pension payments
* Dillard's gambit
* Isabel’s morning briefing
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today's edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
* Live coverage
* Selected press releases (Live updates)
* Illinois react (Updated and comments opened)
* Yesterday's stories

Support CapitolFax.com
Visit our advertisers...

...............

...............

...............

...............


Loading


Main Menu
Home
Illinois
YouTube
Pundit rankings
Obama
Subscriber Content
Durbin
Burris
Blagojevich Trial
Advertising
Updated Posts
Polls

Archives
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004

Blog*Spot Archives
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005

Syndication

RSS Feed 2.0
Comments RSS 2.0




Hosted by MCS SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax Advertise Here Mobile Version Contact Rich Miller