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Afternoon roundup
Thursday, Mar 9, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller * My favorite passage from the Commission on Government Forecasting & Accountability’s latest revenue projections…
Hilarious. * New ad…
* New endorsement…
* A recent National Journal story asked what the Democratic Party could learn from Dems who “flipped” three congressional seats. One of those Democrats profiled was Nikki Budzinski. Yeah, she ran a very good campaign. Textbook, even. And she has a real feel for this business. But her district was primarily flipped by mapmakers, who redrew the +3 Republican presidential district into a +11 Democratic presidential district…
Again, heckuva campaigner who should do well in Congress. And she’s worth listening to because she’s good at what she does. But the big lesson for Democrats out of her race is to draw much more partisan maps. * This story is weird…
Yes, there’s a mad scramble, but most of those bills are shell bills. And I never heard of the Legislative Review Board. Also, the Senate took last week off, so it has only itself to blame. * Yesterday in Crain’s…
Leinenweber has quite the bite…
No to Simpson, yes to a city map. * I actually agree with part of this take…
* And here’s your feel-good story of the day, from WGLT…
* Isabel’s roundup… * WBEZ | Few hospitals are willing to bear the cost of providing psychiatric care for kids: The chair in the colorful hallway is weighed down with sand, so heavy it barely budges â and canât be used as a weapon. Even walls in a patientâs room need to be softer, to cushion the blow of a banging head. In fact, each patient room can cost around $1 million, a steep price tag many hospitals canât afford, or donât want to spend. … About a quarter of children in Lurieâs unit are waiting for a bed at a residential facility (thereâs a shortage of these beds, too). Some have been waiting for more than three months â and thatâs another bed not available for a child referred through SASS. * Sun-Times | Secret recordings of Madigan, allies wonât be released beyond courtroom, judge rules: U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber said releasing the recordings to the public would âsensationalize the trial more than we want.â * Block Club | OâHare Airport âFlushed Outâ People Experiencing Homelessness As Security Presence Increases: An officer asked Denise if she had a flight ticket â she didnât â and escorted her to the airportâs Blue Line stop, she said. âThey told me I had to leave and that they wonât let me back in,â Denise said. âI asked them where I could go. They said, âItâs not our problem.’â * Press Release | Reps. Mary Miller, Babin, and Harshbarger Launch the Congressional Family Caucus: For years, we have witnessed a concerted effort by activists on the Left to abolish the natural family. The natural family, a man and a woman committed for life to each other and to their children, was ordained by God as the foundation of our society. The natural family is essential for a nation to prosper because the family is the root of self-government, service, community, and personal responsibility. * Center Square | Illinois fire officials speak out against bill to allow ground sparklers: Tom Stryczynski, vice president of the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, said the ground sparklers in question contain 500 grams of pyrotechnic materials. âThat is the highest level of potency right before you need a professional pyrotechnicâs license to handle them and use them,â Stryczynski said. âThat is what you see in the professional shows that are out there.â * WGN | Northwestern professor is the new Federal Reserve vice chair frontrunner: Northwestern University Professor Janice Eberly has emerged as a frontrunner to become the new vice chair of the Federal Reserve. Thatâs according to a report by Bloomberg News. Eberly previously served as chief economist for the Treasury Department under President Obama. If selected, sheâd replace Lael Brainard. Eberly has been interviewed by the White House Chief of Staff and has met with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Brainard. A final decision hasnât been made and Eberly would still have to meet with President Biden. * Sun-Times | Patrick Daley Thompson on prison life: âIt was horrible, absolutely horribleâ: The former Chicago City Council member from Bridgeport offered a glimpse Wednesday of his life behind bars as he fought to keep from having his license to practice law suspended for three years. * WTTW | Chicago Police Officer Who Lied About Ties to Proud Boy Returns to City Payroll: Officer Robert Bakker returned to full duty Wednesday, two weeks after members of the City Councilâs Public Safety Committee demanded that Chicago Police Department officials do more to weed out extremists from the departmentâs ranks. * Sun-Times | 2 former assistant stateâs attorneys charged in botched prosecution of alleged Burge torture victim: Nick Trutenko and Andrew Horvat are accused of lying about Trutenkoâs relationship with a key witness against Jackie Wilson, allegedly tortured into confessing to the 1982 murders of two Chicago police officers. * Block Club | Ald. Daniel La Spata Gains Ground With Mail-In Ballots, Could Avoid Runoff With Sam Royko: La Spata had 50.09 percent of the vote Wednesday, which would be enough to dodge a runoff with closest challenger Sam Royko, who held 23.4 percent of the vote. For comparison, La Spata had 49.1 percent of the vote a week ago to Roykoâs 24.1 percent. * Crainâs | If it seems like everyone has jury duty right now, it’s because they do: Illinois Circuit Court data showed that Cook County had 32,511 more “pending” criminal cases at the end of 2021 than it did in 2019. “By 2022, we had three times as many cases primed for trial as we had in 2019,” Donner said. * Bloomberg | How âexcuseflationâ is keeping prices â and corporate profits â high: And over the last few years, businesses have been able to point to a smorgasbord of âonce-in-a-lifetimeâ emergencies stemming from the pandemic and Russiaâs invasion of Ukraine, which together have effectively roiled everything from semiconductor production to commodities markets and shipping. * NYT | More Black Women Run for Office, but Prospects Fade the Higher They Go: A Black woman has never been a governor, and only two have been senators. Despite progress at lower levels of government, and one boundary-breaking vice president, familiar barriers are slow to fall. * AP | Maine motorists appeal to keep naughty vanity license plates: Maine had for several years allowed people to put just about any combination of letters and numbers on their vehicle plates, including words and phrases that other states would ban. But the state decided to change course and this year recalled 274 plates it deemed inappropriate. * WTTW | Chicago Artist Gives Barrettes New Life in Colorful Mosaic Portraits: âBarrettes speak to childhood joys; I hear them,â Strong said. âEdge control, rollers. Every accessory used holds a memory, and itâs comforting. I donât think I appreciated it as much before. But turning it into art has given me greater appreciation because I didnât realize how important barrettes were to my childhood.â * Shaw Local | Snow on its way into northern Illinois today, likely to impact evening commute: Most of northern Illinois will be under a winter weather advisory starting Thursday evening into Friday morning and could see up to 7 inches of snow closer to parts of the Wisconsin border, according to regional forecasts.
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- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 1:54 pm:
Quiet Time
âDick Simpson, a former Chicago alderman and political science professor emeritus at the University of Illinois Chicago, wonât be giving jurors in the upcoming âComEd fourâ trial a lesson in Chicago machine politics after all.
U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber today agreed to defendantsâ motion to bar Simpson from testifying. They had argued it would be prejudicial to their clients â former Commonwealth Edison CEO Anne Pramaggiore and former ComEd lobbyists Michael McClain, John Hooker and Jay Doherty.â
Sneedless to say, this judge wonât let Simpson spin yarns about âthe Chicago wayâ and âI know a guyâ, no chance Indiana resident John Kass will wear his wrinkly suit and talk of âleg manâ or about the âguys down the streetâ, but our spies saw Doherty having a hush-hush lunch, and all mentioned are ageless and priceless, natch.
- DuPage Saint - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 1:57 pm:
I donât see how you can be throw. Out of Ohare for not having a plan ticket.
- Anon 9:42 - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 1:57 pm:
Three Letter Acronyms (TLAs) can be tricky. It’s best not to assign meaning to them if you are unsure. Rich, I think you’ll agree that “LRB” means Legislative Reference Bureau and not the âLegislative Review Board”.
The Speaker’s Tech Review is a whole other thing (that is if Speaker Welch kept this team intact from Speaker Voldemort’s days, you know, he who shall not be named).
- thechampaignlife - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 1:59 pm:
===And I never heard of the Legislative Review Board.===
They must have gotten mixed up the Prisoner Review Board. Given how most bills are locked up indefinitely in Rules, it is an understandable mistake.
- Anon 9:42 - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:01 pm:
=Sneedless to say, this judge wonât let Simpson spin yarns about âthe Chicago wayâ and âI know a guyâ, no chance Indiana resident John Kass will wear his wrinkly suit and talk of âleg manâ or about the âguys down the streetâ, but our spies saw Doherty having a hush-hush lunch, and all mentioned are ageless and priceless, natch.=
Good stuff, OW. I think the word Kass uses for “guys down the street” is “chumbolones”.
- Amalia - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:07 pm:
Has Personal PAC weighed in on the Mayor’s race? cause it seems like a slam dunk that they would not support Vallas.
- Gravitas - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:11 pm:
I was unaware of the Chicago Mayor having the power to set abortion policies. So this is so much empty virtue signalling.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:13 pm:
===having the power to set abortion policies===
One word: Zoning.
Another word: Funding.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:16 pm:
===Nor does it convince the Court that Professor Simpsonâs testimony is the product of reliable principles or methods.===
Truer words never spoken. Judge Leinenweber did the government a favor.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:20 pm:
Just experienced some “excuseflation” at my local Aldi. Eggs down to $2.33 a dozen. Woo hoo. /s
Streator city council recently voted down a change in city ordinance to allow raising chickens in the city. Support for the change was surprisingly light. City engineer reports the cost of a coop alone would be $500. That’s roughly 200 dozen eggs, or a dozen eggs a week for almost four years.
- Louis G Atsaves - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:20 pm:
Took two classes with Dick Simpson back when the college was called UICC (early 70’s). He would have put the jury to sleep./snark
- Amalia - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:24 pm:
what Rich Miller wrote. also, the Mayor of Chicago automatically becomes a national thought leader, engages in many discussions, has their law department weigh in on cases. Can’t imagine a national thought leader who cozies up to AWAKE, anti vaccine policies, and is so clear about being anti abortion being welcome by the people of Chicago to represent the City and our region.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:26 pm:
===uses for âguys down the streetâ is âchumbolonesâ.===
Dunno if thatâs totally true in the âMâ Daley context to the âSouth Dearbornâ folks.
Thanks. Appreciate it.
To the Simpson stuff, âSneedlessâ this time,
Itâs very telling to the thoughts of the prosecutors that they felt a need to discuss âwith an expertâ the culture of Chicago politics.
Iâve had this belief all along that the defense likely be along the lines of âcriminalizing the art of lobbyingâ
Thatâs it. The art. But criminalizing this idea you hire the most connected and those with the most access to lobby⌠for you. Now thatâs âcriminalâ
âOh noâ says the prosecutor⌠âhereâs our witness to testify about how it all works, âThe Chicago Wayâ andâŚâ
And⌠âNoâ
Nope. And no.
What Simpsonâs testimony was going to do, and the judge says so, is âprejudicial to their clientsâ, the defense, like your in-law uncle complaining about the neighbor getting a garbage can before him or the street over getting an alley paved first⌠or a company with better lobbyist getting legislation passed⌠both chambers⌠and signedâŚ
You know⌠âinstitutional corruptionâ
Yeah, well, spinning tall tales, even true stories, thatâs prejudicial, and a crutch the prosecutors wanted in order to make whatever lobbying (good, bad, ethical or not) happened, inherently criminal⌠because some former alderman wanted to tell a story or three.
Iâm fascinated more and more by this trial. A real first glimpse at what is really the crux of this trial too⌠the culture of the politics.
- ANNON'IN - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:26 pm:
Dick probably saved some grief by not ’splainin’ his six figure taxpayer salary and the money paid researchers.
- Anon 9:42 - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:32 pm:
OW, I apologize for missing the reference to Dirksen being the guys down the street.
I guess that makes me the Chumbolone.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:33 pm:
Dick Simpson has been out of office since 1987. He has no data to support his opinions, no published research documenting the favor economy and patronage. All of his testimony could be simply boil down to, “well, that’s what I heard.”
That doesn’t mean he’d be wrong to say that raises, promotions and jobs are divvied out by political patronage to reward the efforts of political organizations. It’s just that he can’t prove it in this case or any others.
My opinion is as good as his, I just don’t pretend I’m an expert, like Simpson has for the past 40 years.
Not sure why the prosecutors thought this was a good idea. Maybe because they are having a hard time explaining what, exactly, was the quid that went with the pro quo here.
- Anon 9:42 - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:39 pm:
=Dick Simpson has been out of office since 1987.=
More like 1979 but point taken.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:40 pm:
===makes me the Chumbolone===
Not in the slightest, no apologies necessary.
âMâsâ Daleyisms are now, what, 15+ years removed, at least, considering when he uttered them.
Itâs an old Easter egg
- Jerry - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:40 pm:
So Paul Valles is actually believes the guvâmint should tell you how to manage your life. Sounds like Socialism!
- Jerry - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:42 pm:
Isnât âdisâ as in dis city a Daley-ism?
- Steve - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:43 pm:
I like Professor Simpson. The feds might have a complex case. But, most Cook County juries can understand corruption. As a distant observer, I think just sticking to who’s directly involved in the case is the best use of time and attention spans.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:43 pm:
===More like 1979 but point taken.===
My mistake. I sometimes confuse Simpson with Marty Oberman.
- Anon 9:42 - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:44 pm:
=Itâs an old Easter egg=
A delicious one at that.
- Anon 9:42 - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:45 pm:
= I sometimes confuse Simpson with Marty Oberman.=
Easy to do.
- Steve - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:49 pm:
-Not sure why the prosecutors thought this was a good idea-
His book with Thomas Gradel from University of Illinois Press is what the feds probably wanted to establish in the juries’ mind.
https://www.amazon.com/Corrupt-Illinois-Patronage-Cronyism-Criminality/dp/0252078551
- bored now - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:50 pm:
is the ad appearing on tv and any idea yet how much money is going into airing it?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:53 pm:
===probably wanted to establish in the juriesâ mind.===
The judge deemed to possibly be prejudicial.
So is this case about transactions or lobbying that⌠sure, a strong argument can be made, either way⌠were unethical, âbut hey, Simpson will tell us why it was illegalâ
Welp, those stories, theyâre stories.
Proof to the law is what these defendants are wanting to face, not prejudicial testimony about âwell, in 1993, there wasâŚâ
No. Try these defendants on the law.
- Back to the Future - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:55 pm:
Will always think fondly and respectfully of Dick Simpson.
His book âWinning Electionsâ should be required reading for anyone signing up for a leadership position in a campaign.
While admittedly being a very long time fan, I completely agree with Judge Leinenweberâs ruling.
Of course, I would throughly enjoy the old war stories (some of which are likely true), I just donât think they would be helpful in reaching a verdict during this trial.
- Steve - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 3:00 pm:
-The judge deemed to possibly be prejudicial.-
I can’t disagree with you here because the law (as interpreted today ) isn’t what it was in 1998 or 1988 or even 2005.
- Chili - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 3:11 pm:
Good spot for JohnsonâŚ. But how big is the buy?
- Back to the Future - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 3:12 pm:
@Steve
Steve is probably spot on with his comments on the Tom Gradel and Dick Simpson book on corruption.
Tom was a very creative and talented fellow in politics that was also ready to hit the streets to knock on doors, do advance work or challenge conventional thinking.
The book he and Dick Simpson wrote on corruption was very detailed, well researched and moved along. It just has no place in a federal trail.
- Pundent - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 3:34 pm:
Nobody wants to hear Dick Simpson testify before the jury more than Dick Simpson. And maybe that’s why it won’t be happening.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 3:41 pm:
To the ad, it is weird to replay Paul Vallas’s quote over and over again.
- Pundent - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 3:41 pm:
On the Johnson ad, I agree it’s a good spot. But you somehow have to connect Vallas’ comments to what that could mean if he were to become mayor. I don’t know if voters can intuitively connect the dots on that issue. You can do that over the course of a campaign spanning months. Not so sure you can do it in a matter of weeks.
- Telly - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 3:46 pm:
Not having Professor Simpson to answer softball questions might alter the fedsâ case strategy a bit. I imagine theyâll need someone on the stand who can at least layout Madigan and McClainâs relationship. Might have to be a House member or former member, or a former high ranking staffer.
Iâm anxious to see the witness list.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 3:47 pm:
===I donât know if voters can intuitively connect the dots on that issue.===
I’m leaning toward Vallas and I have to admit, even though this ad is terribly produced, it’s going to leave a mark. You may be right about the voters connecting the dots, but his words about opposing abortion are going to alarm a lot of voters who are hearing it for the first time.
They might want to re-edit this thing tho, because it is really hard to watch.
- Retired Lobster - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 3:50 pm:
Leinenweber is spot on with his comments about Simpson (who was always an outsider when he was in politics).
Donât forget, Harry Leinenweber was a politician in a former lifeâŚstate legislator, for sure. And might have served with MJM and McClain.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 3:52 pm:
===And might have served with MJM and McClain.===
You can use the Google Key to checkâŚ
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 3:58 pm:
===might have served with MJM and McClain. ===
He did. Way back in the day. But on the other side of the aisle.
- Amalia - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 4:01 pm:
Dear Chicago Voters: the DNC holds the next convention in Chicago, or you see your Mayor on TV from another location cause he’s the Mayor of Chicago. If if is Paul Vallas, you will hear from someone who is fundamentally opposed to abortion, and the national pundits will mention that even if Paul does not. Do you want that to represent your city, our state? not what Democrats need.
- Bad Goya Vitch - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 4:19 pm:
==One word: Zoning. Another word: Funding.==
Since when do municipalities fund abortion? Medicaid is a state program. And zoning? Any multi-physician clinic can perform it.
When NY Governor Mario Cuomo said that he’s “personally opposed” to abortion, no Democrat gainsaid him. He’s Catholic. They got it.
- AlfondoGonz - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 4:48 pm:
I think there is an argument to be made that a guy like Paul Vallas, whom I’m not particularly enamored with, is exactly the type of Democrat Chicago needs to represent itself nationally.
- cover - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 4:50 pm:
= Three Letter Acronyms (TLAs) can be tricky. Itâs best not to assign meaning to them if you are unsure. Rich, I think youâll agree that âLRBâ means Legislative Reference Bureau and not the âLegislative Review Boardâ. =
âLRBâ could even mean Little River Band in a completely different context. If an acronym isn’t widely used (such as IRS), it’s best to look up what it actually stands for before hitting “print” or “send” - or worse, filing legislation - that gets it wrong.
- Anon324 - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 4:52 pm:
==When NY Governor Mario Cuomo said that heâs âpersonally opposedâ to abortion, no Democrat gainsaid him. Heâs Catholic. They got it.==
It’s the same thing Biden, Pelosi, John Kerry and many other moderate Dems have said. I think this is a play towards “voters don’t do nuance,” but I think this issue is one where a not-insignificant number actually do. The campaign (and its more ardent supporters) seems to feel like it’s a weak point, though, so I get why they are hitting it.
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 4:58 pm:
âPaul Vallas, whom Iâm not particularly enamored with, is exactly the type of Democrat Chicago needs to represent itself nationally.â
A white boomer who spends and spends but doesnât tax? Blagojevich, Ryan, Daley have all done that as governor or mayor. Iâm not particularly fond of Brandon Johnson, but at least there would be an attempt to match spending and revenue.
- Pundent - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 5:07 pm:
It’s entirely plausible for a candidate to be fundamentally opposed to abortion but also pro choice. Many Dems (and Republicans) have made that claim over the years. I can think of a lot of things that I’m personally opposed to but have no issues or concerns if others are engaged in. Ultimately if Vallas is elected Mayor he’ll be judged on how he leads the city.
- Roadrager - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 5:10 pm:
==When NY Governor Mario Cuomo said that heâs âpersonally opposedâ to abortion, no Democrat gainsaid him. Heâs Catholic. They got it.==
And in what century and political context did that occur?
- Anon 9:42 - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 5:20 pm:
=Many Dems (and Republicans) have made that claim over the years.=
Michael Madigan, Richard M. Daley, Jim Thompson, Joe Biden might fit that description.
- JoeMaddon - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 6:17 pm:
**Many Dems (and Republicans) have made that claim over the years.**
Hmmm… and what is different now? Anything happen in the last 12 months?
- Amalia - Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 9:58 pm:
Tribune piece up now looks at Vallas’ Facebook action. it’s not
wonderful. listen to what I say not what I have done, I mean I did not do that……..how can people buy that?
- Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 10, 23 @ 6:41 am:
===but I think this issue is one where a not-insignificant number actually do===
Yeah? Ask former Rep. Mike Zalewski about that hypothesis of yours.