This just in…
Wednesday, Sep 19, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* 1:27 pm - The House is planning a Committee of the Whole. The press release didn’t come through properly, so I’ll get back to you in a few minutes.
Also, I’m told by the governor’s office that a hearing scheduled for today on the governor’s lawsuit against the House clerk has been postponed until tomorrow. The governor wanted the court to force the clerk to retroactively enter the guv’s veto message into the House Journal for Sept. 4 - the last time the House was in session. A Sangamon County judge (Kelly) has been holding meetings with both sides to try to work out an agreement, but no luck so far.
If the House had entered the veto messages into the journal on the 4th, they would have been required to take some action on the override by today.
* 2:25 pm - Thanks to some commenters, it needs to be pointed out that the Senate did not enter the governor’s vetoes into its journal on Monday, as the governor claims the Constitution requires in his suit against the House Clerk. The governor has vetoed several Senate bills since the last time that chamber was in session.
I’m sure the guv won’t be taking the Senate Secretary to court, however.
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Arrr… I forgot
Wednesday, Sep 19, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
No drivelswigger, I, my landlubber brain forgot that it’s Talk Like a Pirate Day.
Let’s talk about those bilge rat Cubs like we’re pirates, eh, maties?
And thanks to me pal, David for reminding my addled self.
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Question of the day
Wednesday, Sep 19, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
First, the setup…
Today, [George] Ryan will appear with his wife Lura Lynn in Springfield. Mrs. Ryan will be signing the book “At Home with Illinois Governors: A Social History of the Illinois Executive Mansion.” The book sounds like a fine piece of work. And we certainly understand why Mrs. Ryan, as a co-author, would show up at a book signing.
But if George Ryan wanted to show some class and remorse — if he is actually capable of that — he would stay away from such events. This man tied Illinois up in a web of corruption for years. He enriched his friends with public contracts while receiving lots of financial favors in return. […]
Those who truly care about clean, honest government will refuse to fete Ryan as an honored former governor in a tea-and-cookies ceremony such as today’s. To do so is to diminish the serious crimes he committed.
Question: Do you agree or disagree with the SJ-R editorial?
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He’s come undone
Wednesday, Sep 19, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* This fight over whether to move the Children’s Museum to Grant Park is just downright bizarre. Earlier this week, Mayor Daley exploded at Ald. Brendan Reilly’s refusal to allow the museum to move from Navy Pier to Grant Park, which is supposed to be free of development…
Mayor Richard Daley strongly endorsed a proposal Monday to build a new Chicago Children’s Museum in Grant Park, and he questioned whether race is playing a role among the project’s critics.
Despite opposition by residents of high rises near the proposed museum site, Daley insisted that “we have a lot of support” to go forward.
“You mean you don’t want children from the city in Grant Park?” Daley said. “Why? Are they black? Are they white? Are they Hispanic? Are they poor? You don’t want children? We have children in Grant Park all the time. This is a park for the entire city. What do you mean no one wants children down there? Why not? Wouldn’t you want children down there?”
* The mayor wants to go over Reilly’s head…
Daley is so determined to place the museum at Daley Bicentennial Plaza near Millennium Park that he will push for the matter to be decided by all 50 aldermen, violating the long-standing City Council tradition of abiding by the wishes of the local alderman on zoning and development issues.
Daley has also been pressed recently by Jean “GiGi” Pritzker, the chair of the museum board whose family donated millions for the construction of Millennium Park. The park’s Pritzker Pavilion would be linked to the grounds of the new children’s museum by the snake-like BP Bridge.
* Apparently, things got a little tense at a recent neighborhood meeting…
Rev. Michael Pfleger, pastor of the predominantly black St. Sabina Catholic Church… said he recently discussed with the mayor an incident he says occurred last week at a New East Side neighborhood meeting over the museum project.
According to Pfleger, one woman asked him why the museum wasn’t being built in a black neighborhood and another suggested it be moved to Foster Park at 83rd and Loomis.
* Anyway, things deteriorated further yesterday…
“I hope all 49 [other] aldermen, I hope everyone in the city, understands what this fight is about,” the mayor said. “It’s a fight for the future of this city. That is why I am very strong on this. If you lose this one, you lose the strength of our city. I have never seen anything like it in the city of Chicago in my term of office. This is worth fighting for. If we don’t fight for our children, who are we going to fight for?” […]
Misstating his name, Daley declared, “Ald. Brendan O’Reilly—and I quote—said ‘Grant Park is not a kids’ park.’… Parks are not for kids? He says [Grant Park] is a people’s park, and kids are not invited. I think everybody should be outraged that the people think the children can’t go to a museum to be educated.” […]
Informed of Daley’s heated comments, [Reilly] said that “obviously somebody misquoted me”—a point ultimately confirmed by Daley’s office—and gave no hint of caving in to the powerful mayor, though Reilly has been in office only since May after winning the first election of his young political career.
* The mayor may face an uphill fight in his battle to take away Reilly’s aldermanic privilege on this issue…
Of 17 aldermen surveyed by the Sun-Times on Tuesday, only one — Patrick Levar (45th) — declared his intention to side with Daley. The other 16 were either undecided or chose to uphold the long-standing City Council tradition of abiding by the wishes of the local alderman on zoning and development issues.
“I believe strongly in aldermanic privilege — even though it happened to me,” said Ald. Howard Brookins (21st), who is still trying to persuade his colleagues to approve the Chatham Wal-Mart they rejected three years ago.
“Today, it’s him. The next day, it could be me,” said Ald. Freddrenna Lyle (6th).
* And not only is Daley pimping for a rich donor (again), there is (as always) another connection to the project…
[Daley’s nephew] Patrick Thompson, is the attorney who represented the museum at community meetings.
* Today’s Tribune editorial put it about as bluntly as possible…
This debate is not about people who’ve chosen to live near a park that welcomes people of all races and incomes suddenly wanting to exclude poor minority kids. This is about rich people certain that they have enough influence over you to claim a part of Grant Park for their project. […]
The issue here, Reilly correctly wrote, is “the future of Grant Park” — whether uncounted generations of Chicagoans will enjoy the same open space that’s under the stewardship of this generation. What will we bequeath to them? […]
Chicago offers several good locales for sizable public facilities. There are several locales that wouldn’t present the traffic hazards and headaches of the proposed Grant Park site along three-tier Randolph Street.
* And added…
What’s not reasonable is a suddenly livid mayor characterizing people who’ve accepted Chicago’s invitation to live in a rapidly expanding part of downtown as child-loathing racists.
Why the hysteria, Mr. Mayor? Why set out to divide Chicagoans by race and class?
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Madigan on the hot seat
Wednesday, Sep 19, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Tribune has a pretty good summary…
The state Senate on Tuesday bypassed a long-term fix for Chicago area mass-transit systems, instead passing a plan for a massive public works program that would expand gambling and offer stop-gap funding for public transportation.
The move was the latest attempt by Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) and Gov. Rod Blagojevich to pressure House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) to take up the same issues in his chamber by testing the resolve of rank-and-file House members who want money for local projects.
Madigan, who has cast doubt about a major gambling expansion, favors a mass-transit bill that would ease the cash crunch with a sales-tax increase. Jones’ allies had said as late as Friday that they would call a version of that legislation for a vote this week.
* What’s next?
Despite the Senate’s action, there are doubts by many that the proposal will ever advance in the House, which is controlled by Speaker Michael Madigan. Both Madigan and House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego, have expressed reservations about the size of the gambling expansion, which would also allow the state’s existing casinos to add gaming positions.
Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said history shows that large-scale gambling expansions generally do not win legislative approval. When the House returns next month, Brown said the focus will be on a long-term solution to Chicago’s mass transit needs. […]
“This thing is dead on arrival. It was an exercise in futility,” said state Sen. William Delgado, D-Chicago, who voted “yes.”
* And…
The House could tweak the Senate’s plan to do a limited expansion of gaming, but that risks being shot down in the Senate again. As Hendon said, “I just hope the House doesn’t tweak so much ‘till it’s dead on arrival when it gets over here.”
* The pressure will be on Madigan now…
Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville, said the Senate vote may force Madigan to change his mind.
“If the bill is in his chamber, there will be a tremendous amount of pressure from his members and other constituents to ask him to call that for a vote,” Sullivan predicted.
Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson, R-Greenville, a major proponent of the capital program, said he was aware “there will be some problems in the House.”
“We know this isn’t the last bill we will see,” Watson said. “We want to send a message that capital is important.”
* This is a key point, which could help break the deadlock…
Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete, said the proposal could spur negotiations with the House on millions of dollars in budget cuts Blagojevich made last month that have drawn the ire of many lawmakers.
* The lack of a real resolution on mass transit funding will also be part of the next step…
“I don’t know if this gets much farther,” said Madigan spokesman Steve Brown. “The darnedest thing . . . is it doesn’t deal with the RTA/ CTA problem in any way.”
Brown said the top House priority will be passing a sales tax increase in Cook County and the collar counties and a new real-estate transfer tax in the city to fund mass transit.
The Senate plan does not deal with the CTA’s looming pension crisis and requires the $200 million be repaid if the state sets up a reliable funding stream for transit.
* What’s in the capital plan?
Mass transit: $200 million loan to the RTA to stave off cuts until next June. RTA must pay it back with a funding source to be determined later.
Gambling: Puts a casino in Chicago and two more at locations to be determined later. Existing casinos get access to more slots, table games.
School funding: $259.7 million for general state aid and $1.9 billion in construction over three years, with the first $150 million going to 24 districts waiting since 2002.
Roads and bridges: $4.8 billion in construction spending over six years.
* The Senate roll call is here.
* Gov. Blagojevich’s remarks after the vote…
[audio:gov-9-18.mp3]
* More stories, compiled by Paul…
* Russ Stewart: Doomsday scenario for Gov. Blagojevich?
* Illinois Senate backs casino expansion
* Senate OKs casinos to end transit woes
* Chicago Public Radio: Senate votes for transit bailout and casinos
* Senate OKs package with three casinos
* Carol Marin: Casino plan isn’t worth the gamble
* Indiana casino’s watch Illinois moves with interest
* Editorial: School districts continue to be caught in the crossfire
* Editorial: Don’t treat government as a game
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Weller under siege, may not run
Wednesday, Sep 19, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I was told by some top Republicans yesterday that Congressman Jerry Weller is not yet circulating his nominating petitions. Kristen McQueary reports today that Weller’s donors are getting indications that he may not run for reelection. And that’s bringing up the possibility of a hotly targeted race featuring a prominent Illinois Democrat, who is in the middle of a four-year term…
Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson (D-Crete) is considering running for the 11th District congressional seat, in part because of hot pursuit from Emily’s List, a prominent fundraising group in Washington, D.C., that supports pro-choice Democratic women. Halvorson is meeting with Emily’s List recruiters this month to discuss a possible congressional bid.
Rumors are circulating that Weller may decide against another term, particularly in light of the bad press he is receiving over his Guatemalan financial interests. Phone calls, I’m told, have been made to his top donors indicating he may be preparing to “hang it up.” His family, after all, lives in Guatemala. That’s a long commute. […]
“I don’t know if I want to be one person out of 435,” [Halvorson] said Tuesday. “Compared to, possibly, being the first-ever woman Senate president, I don’t know. It’s a big decision.” […]
Either way, Weller will have to face questions about the Nicaraguan land deals and whether he reported or hid them on his congressional disclosure forms. Then there’s the Central America Free Trade Agreement vote that may have benefitted him directly and the questions that arise every election cycle about where he really lives - Morris, D.C. or Guatemala. He is scheduled to address the Joliet Chamber of Commerce later this week. Will he make a big announcement? Address the media? Or slink away in his Jaguar without taking questions?
* Meanwhile, the news just gets worse for Weller…
Rep. Jerry Weller (R-Ill.) has landed on a Washington watchdog group’s list of the “22 most corrupt” members of Congress – and, separately, been subpoenaed in a criminal case linked to disgraced former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham of California.
The “most corrupt” list, an annual compilation of the group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, includes several congressmen and senators reportedly under investigation for ethical issues, including Reps. John Doolittle (R-Calif.), Alan Mollohan (D-W.Va.) and William Jefferson (D-La.) and Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska).
Weller makes the list, the group said, for a host of ethical questions, including his failure to report some Nicaraguan land deals on his financial disclosure form. The group also alleges Weller appears to have used his position to boost interests in Puerto Rico and Belize in exchange for campaign contributions.
The group’s report on Weller is here.
* And then there’s this…
Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), House Republican Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and 11 other members of Congress have been subpoenaed to testify in the trial of a defense contractor charged with bribing jailed former Rep. Randy ‘’Duke'’ Cunningham.
All of the lawmakers said they would not comply on the advice of House attorneys. […]
Rep. Jerry Weller (R-Ill.) was also subpoenaed.
This Weller situation has become a full-blown problem for the GOP.
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Morning shorts
Wednesday, Sep 19, 2007 - Posted by Paul Richardson
* Gov mum on hiring convicted felon
* Blago mum on charges against Poshard
* Panel to look at plagiarism claims against Poshard; more here
* Cook Co. to cut off drugs for non-residents
* Legislation increases penalties for sex offenders
* Tenants stuck in hard place when landlord loses property
Illinois renters whose landlords default on their mortgage payments soon will be protected from eviction under a state law that will give them until the end of their lease or 120 days to find a new home - but tenants may suffer other effects of foreclosure not covered by the new law.
* Editorial: Quick reply needed on disaster status
* Chicago to unveil new Olympic logo’ more here
* DuPage State’s Attorney hires backed by board
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This just in… Part 2
Tuesday, Sep 18, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* 3:40 pm - I’m told that Chicago will testify in favor of the gaming bill with some reservations.
There’s also word that Senate President Jones may not call the transit bill for a vote. Craziness has resulted with some SDems threatening to drop off the gaming bill.
* 4:10 pm - The transit bill wasn’t called in committee. Mayor Daley stood firm against the changes to the RTA governing board made by Sen Prez Jones.. Sen. Cullerton claimed it was a drafting error. Not. Daley threatened to kill the bill. Nobody knows if the bill will come up again tonight. Sen Jones was the one who insisted on changes opposed to by Daley for whatever reason. Cullerton has sided with Daley all along.
…Adding… Jones inserted the language at the behest of some suburban members. Jones’ version is more advantageous to the ‘burbs while the House version favored Chicago.
* 5:40 pm - The Senate is taking up the gaming bill now. The smoking exemption for the casinos will apparently be dropped but that could imperil the bill’s chances
… Adding… the smoking exemption was specifically dropped because of the roll call realities. But there are a lot of members whovare flipping all over the place at the moment.
* 6:53 pm - The gaming bill just passed with 37 votes.
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* 11:53 am - If you’re waiting for the Senate to start doing something, the Senate Democrats’ spokesperson told me a bit ago that they are working on drafting changes and then will go to Rules Committee.
* 12:23 pm - Senate President Jones reportedly told his leaders this morning that he was very close to a deal with the Senate Repubs on the capital/gaming legislation. The meeting broke up when Jones received a call from Senate GOP Leader Watson. So far, though, no Senate Republicans whom I’ve talked to have reported hearing anything about anything today.
* 12:34 pm - Did you know that Tony Peraica has a blog? I didn’t. Hat tip to Carl. Also, the Illinois GOP has a nifty new website.
* 12:59 pm - From a press release…
Illinoisans wasted nearly 203 million hours of additional time on the road, and 141 million gallons of additional gas as a result of traffic congestion in 2005. The additional wasted time and fuel cost the public an equivalent of $3.9 billion, according to the federally sponsored Urban Mobility Report released today by the Texas Transportation Institute.
* 1:44 pm - The Senate Republicans have not yet agreed to the language of the capital/gaming plan. They’ve gone through several drafts, apparently, and can’t pin it down. A Senate GOP spokesperson wouldn’t even go so far a few minutes ago to say that they even have an agreement in principle. And now there are rumors that they may have to stay in town another day. We’ll see. More on the boat stuff in a few.
* 1:51 pm - The boat people are presently unhappy, for various reasons. Casinos in the Chicago area are concerned about where those two new riverboats will go. They don’t want the new boats too close to them. The smoking ban provision is also causing trouble. The proposal would allow the three Mississippi River boats to set aside 25 percent of their casino space for smokers for five years, or until Missouri and Iowa imposed smoking bans of their own. Those three boats don’t think that’s enough, and the other boats want it applied to them as well. Plus, the provision will not be included in the bill. Instead, it will be added as an amendment which could be stripped when the package reaches the Senate floor.
* 1:55 pm - The Senate is coming in. Listen here.
* 2:02 pm - I did finally get a high-level Senate Republican to say that there is a broad-brush agreement, but he didn’t believe that the details had been worked out. He also said he didn’t know why the Senate was coming back to session as I write this.
* 2:06 pm - Here are some comments made by Senate GOP Leader Frank Watson yesterday, courtesy of Metro Networks…
[audio:FrankWatson9-17.mp3]
* 2:07 pm - ABC7 and CBS2 have cameras in the gallery, expecting action, apparently.
* 2:17 pm - Rules Committee is now meeting.
* 2:23 pm - They’ve scheduled an Executive and a Transportation committee for later this afternoon.
* 2:33 pm - OK, here are the bills they’ve posted for committees this afternoon…
* HB 2035 SA 8 is the gaming bill
* HB 3667 SA 1 & 2 is the mass transit bill (essentially the original transit bill, so maybe Senate President Jones has decided to let Cullerton try to run it and see if it can pass)
* SB 1110 SA 5 is the capital projects bill
* SB 785 SA 1 is the bond authorization bill.
I’ve got to go to committee, so post your updates in comments.
* 3:07 pm - The Senate Republicans’ spokesperson just said that if the Senate Democrats did everything they said they were going to do in the capital legislation language then they would put votes on the bills later today. As of right now, though, they’re still going through the legislation.
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Question of the day
Tuesday, Sep 18, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
Sometime late last night, this blog reached a dubious milestone…
Over one million spam comments have been blocked by Akismet on this blog since I installed the miraculous piece of software just fifteen months ago. I don’t know how it works, but it’s saved me more trouble than you can imagine. Spammers had found a way of getting past captcha code, so Akismet was the only workable solution available.
We’re all familiar with e-mail spam. But you don’t see much, if any, comment spam here because of Akismet. I don’t know what I’ll do if the evil spammers find a way around this software. The flood is truly horrendous. Akismet claims that “93% of all comments are spam.” That ratio is a bit lower here. If you have a blog, then you absolutely need to install this device.
Anyway, the question today is: Do you think the government should be more involved in stopping spam? If so, what should it do? If not, why not?
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Kadner sums up the fight
Tuesday, Sep 18, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* As you probably know, the governor has yet to take any action on the legislation extending the Cook County property tax assessment cap. Phil Kadner writes about the issue today, noting that property tax bills can’t be sent out until the situation is resolved, which means that schools and local governments aren’t gonna get paid. Kadner does a good juob of summing up the Statehouse meltdown…
Cook County Board President Todd Stroger and Houlihan had scheduled a news conference Monday to call attention to the property tax crisis, but they called it off at the last minute.
According to my sources, the governor’s office assured them Blagojevich would take “some action” on the tax cap bill on Wednesday.
“But we don’t know if that means he plans to veto the bill, use his amendatory veto power or sign it as it is,” another source said.
Many people in government refused even to speak on the record about the crisis for fear of getting caught up in the Blagojevich-Madigan feud.
“These guys will kill you if you if they think you’re coming out for one or criticizing the other,” I was told. “They won’t let any legislation pass that you need. Everything’s a vendetta down in Springfield these days. They don’t care about anything else.”
Yep. Everybody seems to wake up each morning wondering how they’re gonna shaft everyone else. The governor doesn’t want to sign any legislation backed by Speaker Madigan, such as the assessment cap, Jones is going along for the ride, and Madigan is doing his utmost to fight back.
Discuss.
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* Senate President Emil Jones said yesterday that he plans to call a vote on the capital projects package today. It would be funded with three new casinos…
The latest plan reportedly involves placing a land-based casino in Chicago and adding two more riverboat casino licenses at unspecified locations. Also, existing casinos will be allowed to expand their operations.
Money from gaming expansion would allow the state to embark on a multibillion-dollar capital program for roads, bridges, schools, mass transit and other projects.
* But even if it passes the Senate, which is not at all assured yet, the proposal faces a dim future in the House…
“His comments that there is not much support for a big gaming expansion in the House remains unchanged,” Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said Monday. […]
“I think all four leaders and the governor have to be on the same page for this to work,” [
Sen. Ira Silverstein, D-Chicago] said. “I think it’s pretty good (bet) it’s dead on arrival in the House.”
* More on the gaming proposal…
“I don’t think I’d be placing any wagers on it at this time,” said Sen. James DeLeo, D-Chicago.
* The mayor is not yet on board. The Tribune went conservative with its explanation today…
A City Hall source said Mayor Richard Daley has not signed onto the casino package, although he is studying it. The mayor has been open to a land-based casino in Chicago under the right circumstances, including an assurance that the city would get a share of the proceeds that would make hosting a casino worth the trouble. But the mayor has not signed on to any riverboat casinos.
* Still more…
State Sen. James Meeks, D-Chicago, said he can’t support a plan that relies on money generated by adding new casinos in the Chicago area.
“I’ve never voted for a gaming bill. So I’m 100 percent sure I won’t be voting for it if that is the solution,” said Meeks. “I think the solution should rest in an income tax increase.”
Complicating the situation are ongoing disagreements between Blagojevich and House Speaker Michael Madigan, who was not included in Monday’s meeting.
“How do you leave out the speaker of the House in this discussion?” Watson asked.
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* This mass transit “solution” is ludicrous…
Senate President Emil Jones is expected to ask lawmakers Tuesday to back a $24.6 billion capital-improvements plan that would be paid for by a major expansion of gambling, according to lawmakers briefed on the plan.
But Jones surprised Chicago lawmakers by proposing a short-term loan for the Chicago area’s struggling transit system rather than moving forward with a vote on a tax package that would raise $435 million a year for the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace.
The loan would be for $229 million, of which $200 million would go to Chicago-area transit agencies and $29 million to Downstate transit systems, said Sen. Donne Trotter (D-Chicago), Jones’ top budget expert. The agencies last week agreed to take a $91 million cash advance offered by Gov. Rod Blagojevich as a way to postpone what officials at the agencies called “Doomsday” service cuts and fare increases.
Jones is covering for the governor, who opposes the regional sales tax hike. Another loan? Ridiculous. Rep. Hamos had it right…
“It is very difficult for me to believe that the only immediate prospect for transit is a loan,” Hamos said. “As of last week, the transit system had to repay $91 million. It would be irresponsible to add another $200 million on top of that with the expectation that they could somehow pay it back — which we all know they could not.”
* More transit stories, compiled by Paul…
* Illinoize: State’s multi-billion dollar construction plans need safeguarding against politics
* Tribune Editorial: Chicago’s transit ‘disgrace’
* Chicago’s woes could aid Metro East transit
* Bethany Jaegar: All in one…gaming, capital, and mass transit
*** UPDATE *** From the governor’s office…
In response to this talk about a “loan” for transit agencies - it’s not a loan. It’s an advance - if there’s a permanent solution. If there is NOT a permanent solution, they don’t have to the pay the $229 mill back.
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Morning shorts
Tuesday, Sep 18, 2007 - Posted by Paul Richardson
* Cook Co. prosecutors seek to audit firm with ties to the gov
* Undercover blogger gives insider’s view of police dept.
* Opening of abortion clinic in Aurora blocked; more here and here
During a hearing in U.S. District Court on Monday, Planned Parenthood attorney Chris Wilson argued that Aurora was “imposing a different review process … in response to political demands” and the protests that have resulted.
“There is no other objection other than the outcry over abortion services,” Wilson told Judge Charles R. Norgle.
Lance Malina, an attorney representing Aurora, told the judge the city was reviewing possible “material omissions” when Planned Parenthood, identifying itself as Gemini, was going through the permit process. At the conclusion, the city will decide whether an operating permit should be issued.
* SIU won’t appeal ruling on Poshard contract
* Poshard says he did not try to influence poll results
* Zorn: 72 year old judge is right to challenge the age-old practice of mandatory retirement
* Ameren unveils rate relief programs
* Energy firm gets notice for alleged pollution
* Vrdolyak’s lawyers seek to have indictment tossed; more here
* Sneed tidbit: Pssst… Sneed hears rumbles 2nd Ward Ald. Bob Fioretti may challenge U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush for his Dem committeeman seat. Hmm.
* Daley implies opposition to Children’s Museum move is racial
* Mayor questions race role in Grant Park debate
* DuPage pushes to hire prosecutors despite budget loss
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This just in…
Monday, Sep 17, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* 2:20 pm - Senate President Emil Jones and Senate GOP Leader Frank Watson have been in the governor’s office for the past hour and a half or so. The Senate was supposed to be in at noon today, but the session was postponed until 2 because the speakers in the chamber aren’t working properly. They’re being worked on as I write this. Don’t expect much floor action right away, if at all, today. I’m told that the two caucuses are preparing to meet soon after the session is opened to discuss today’s meeting at the guv’s office.
* 3:49 pm - Sen. Frank Watson just told reporters after leaving the guv’s office that they wasted their time.
Clarifying… I had a partial quote. Watson said if they don’t get something done soon then it’s a waste of their time.
* 5:12 pm - The governor has a new plan for the CTA. Magic money for subsidies until next June so that they can do a loophole closure bill with a simple majority after Jan. 1st.
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Smoking provision could halt progress
Monday, Sep 17, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Republicans have demanded that the capital projects bill be passed before they’ll consider the RTA/CTA bailout proposal. But the capital bill is funded by a yet-to-be-determined casino expansion plan. That plan (which apparently isn’t even drafted yet, much less agreed) is facing another big obstacle…
Illinois casinos say the statewide smoking ban set to take effect January 1 will cost them about $144 million a year — about 20 percent of their annual take.
So they’re giving lawmakers the hard sell, trying to get an exemption from the ban into a casino expansion plan that the state Senate may consider this week.
* More…
Tom Swoik, executive director of the Illinois Casino Gaming Association, predicted the state would see its annual casino tax take drop 20 percent next year, or nearly $144 million, if patrons can’t smoke.
“If there is a capital bill and there is a casino expansion bill, we’d like to see that exemption put in there,” Swoik said. […]
The Illinois Senate is expected back at the Capitol today, possibly to consider adding up to three new casinos and expanding existing gambling operations to finance billions of dollars worth of construction and repairs to schools, roads and bridges.
The gambling industry sees it as an opportunity to repeal the casino portion of the ban, telling lawmakers smokers will gamble in other states and Illinois will lose millions in tax revenue at a time when it needs every cent.
Drea and other smoking opponents worry such a provision will mysteriously find its way into the fine print of a massive gambling plan with no warning and no debate. Such practices aren’t uncommon in the General Assembly, where legislation containing thousands of pages often emerges with little notice.
The bottom line is we may not see a resolution to this any time soon.
* Related stories, compiled by Paul…
* CTA riders have their doubts
* Solution for transit could run out of gas
* RTA digging itself into deeper hole
* Chicago Public Radio: Transit doomsday clock stops, bill does not
* Chicago transit riders brace for cuts, far hikes
* Disabled transit riders to feel pinch
* Courtney Greve: Pace is out of step
* Senate back in session
* Statehouse Insider: On Blagojevich actions
* State funding fray rolls to county
* Buzz about Con-Con begins
* Schoenburg: State board suggests election judges need better training
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Democratic dysfunction
Monday, Sep 17, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I’ve been surprised that the national media has yet to write much about our Democratic circus here in Illinois. Dan Vock, writing for Stateline, makes a good point today in an article entitled “Democrats’ dysfunction hobbles Illinois”…
Illinois isn’t the only state in the throes of a high-stakes budget standoff. Wisconsin lawmakers are now debating whether and how to greatly expand health insurance coverage, while Michigan legislators are trying to jumpstart the state’s moribund economy at a time when revenues are falling.
But for drama, the Oscar goes to Illinois.
* He doesn’t know the half of it…
Several African-American House members are starting to worry about potential primary opponents backed by Senate President Emil Jones and Gov. Rod Blagojevich, but it’s unclear right now how many will get opponents and how involved the two leaders will be. Jones and Blagojevich have engaged in open political warfare with House Speaker Michael Madigan pretty much all year, and it looks like they may be taking another big step by attempting to take out some of Madigan’s people. […]
For many of these challengers, the big question may be whether Jones, the governor and the governor’s surrogates, particularly the Service Employees International Union, dump big bucks into their races. The governor’s campaign fund doesn’t have much money in it, but his top fundraisers are gearing up in a big way. SEIU will be making endorsements sometime in November after the petition filing deadline ends, so we’ll know more by then.
The House Democrats say they’re ready for anything. But if any of these challengers can put together a credible effort, voter anger over the botched session could make for some interesting contests.
And it will make the war between the state’s top Democrats a whole lot more intense.
* Aaron Chambers takes note of the battle in his latest column and concludes his thoughts this way…
But as Blagojevich and Jones near the end of their fifth year with real power in Springfield, they have done little to undermine Madigan’s power. Madigan has by far the most sophisticated organization in Springfield. If there is a king of Illinois Democrats, it’s Madigan.
We’ll know soon whether Blagojevich, with Jones, can sustain the cuts he made to the local grants — and knock Madigan back on his heels.
But so long as the three egos from Chicago fight for power, those who depend on state services may be the casualties of their war.
Who’s winning?
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The questions pile up
Monday, Sep 17, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* More trouble for Congressman Weller…
Without fanfare, the wife of Rep. Jerry Weller (R-Ill.) formed a not-for-profit corporation this summer dedicated to helping children in her native Guatemala. Her board of directors includes Weller’s mother, his brother and a New York man who has partnered with Weller to buy land in Nicaragua.
Analysts say the Zury Rios Fund, named after Weller’s wife, raises questions about whether Weller’s financial dealings overlap with his wife’s — and whether he can legally exclude her assets from his congressional financial disclosure form. […]
House rules require its members to disclose their spouses’ finances. Weller is one of two congressmen to claim a rare exemption from that requirement, because he says he has no knowledge of his wife’s finances, has not contributed to them and does not expect to benefit from them.
Disclosure experts say the existence of the non-profit and the composition of its board make the exemption “problematic” for Weller to defend.
“Problematic” is a good word.
* More from the AP…
“The fact that his family members are involved would suggest that he has a pretty good idea of what’s going on,’’ said Bill Allison, a senior fellow at the Sunlight Foundation, a government-transparency watchdog group. “Does he just discuss the weather with his family?’’
* Meanwhile Kristen McQueary tells us where Weller was when he wasn’t returning phone calls from Tribune reporters…
Here we have a powerful, veteran congressman allegedly shopping for attractive land deals while on congressional business trips, failing to reveal them on disclosure forms, and no one says a word - not even Weller, who has refused to answer questions or dispute the Tribune’s findings. He has been busy in Guatemala tending to his family and assisting on his wife’s re-election campaign. She is a Guatemalan senator, and they have a toddler.
* McQueary’s column was written before the Tribune disclosed the most recent intrigue, so she closes with this…
Whatever Weller’s faults, the fact remains that he’s smart. He’s a hustler. He will do the rounds in his district shortly before the election, remind voters of his accomplishments and explain the alleged discrepancies on his asset disclosure forms to a degree that satisfies voters and most editorial boards.
At worst, he failed to meet House requirements for disclosure. At best, the issue will be far from the Tribune’s front page come November 2008. That photo of the surf and sand will sit in the newspaper’s archives as a dusty reminder of another Weller political snafu diverted. Case closed.
That analysis assumes there are no further revelations. But she’s right that this race is low on the Democratic totem pole, and we don’t know yet whether Weller’s Democratic foe can put together any sort of real campaign.
Still, the longer Weller refuses to answer questions about his wife’s finances, the more coverage he’ll get when he is finally cornered. It won’t be pretty.
Weller most certainly is a fantastic campaigner. But he has more than enough baggage to make this a race if the Dems have the cash and his opponent (who was once a Republican) is at all credible.
* More congressional stuff, compiled by Paul…
* Republican finds his Democratic side in attempt to defeat Weller
* Schoenburg: Fresh face Giger wants to replace LaHood
* On the heels of House success, sugar farmers look to Senate
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Tony Peraica blasted out this e-mail yesterday…
Dear Friends:
In recent days, you may have read some troubling stories in the newspaper about harassing phone calls made to Cook County Commissioner Liz Gorman by an individual who formerly volunteered on our Cook County Board President campaign.
It’s important that you know the full story - and hear the facts from me.
First, this individual has had a troubled past, and I once represented him in my capacity as an attorney. Afterward, he committed to cleaning up his act. I believe in second chances, so when he asked to volunteer on our campaign, I allowed him to do so. We paid him a small twice-monthly stipend as reimbursement for his mileage. In October of 2006, he was unable to control his behavior and we required him to leave our campaign.
In February 2007 - long after he was a volunteer with our campaign - this individual was working with another Republican organization. During that time, he made harassing phone calls to Cook County Commissioner Liz Gorman.
Let me be clear - these actions were reprehensible. This individual made these calls without my knowledge or approval.
Ms. Gorman, who has long been an ally of the Cook County Democratic Machine, knows I had nothing to do with this individual’s actions - yet she has sought to blame his actions on me.
Why has she gone public with this issue seven months after this individual made the phone calls? Why is she falsely accusing me of having anything to do with this situation? Is an employer to be held responsible for the actions of a former employee (or, in this case, a volunteer)?
The answer to the above questions is simple: the Democrats are fearful of our campaign for reform. They know that we are a real threat to win the State’s Attorney’s office and restore accountability to the top law enforcement office in the county. Because of this fear, they have enlisted the help of their ally, Liz Gorman, to smear and attack me.
The record of Liz Gorman speaks for itself. She has proven herself to be a committed ally of the Democrats - a close associate of indicted political insider Ed Vrdolyak and the disgraced Shaw brothers.
Gorman also has been a staunch ally of Todd Stroger - recruiting Stroger’s former spokesperson, Sean Howard (who was arrested last year for harassing a woman) to join her public relations team at the Cook County GOP. She supported Todd Stroger’s disastrous budget. She has supported the Stroger position against numerous and even bi-partisan reform efforts. She has gone out of her way to oust good Republicans from Cook County GOP committeeman positions - in favor of Democrat shills that will toe her “party line.”
Liz Gorman’s motives are clear: she is smearing me now to provide herself a reason to slate a primary opponent against me for State’s Attorney. Rest assured that any Liz Gorman-backed candidate will be an enemy of reform, and a friend of the corrupt, Democratic machine.
There is a long road ahead before Election Day in November of 2008. The Democrats and Gorman allies will spend the next 13-plus months slinging mud at us … because they fear us. And fear us they should - because our campaign for honest reform will win and put them out of business.
We will not be bowed. We, and now you, know the truth, and we will continue our campaign for honest reform.
I appreciate your continued support. Together, we will reform Cook County.
Sincerely,
Tony Peraica
It’s nice that Peraica has finally distanced himself from Fred Ichniowski, but since my column appeared about the Peraica situation, I’ve received some calls about other alleged strong-arm tactics from Peraica’s campaign and at least one more nasty phone call allegedly from Ichniowski to a different committeeman. Perhaps we’ll be seeing more about this soon.
Also, to the heart of the matter, it wasn’t Liz Gorman who blamed Peraica. Fred Ichniowski told the cops after he was busted that Peraica had encouraged volunteers to call Gorman’s office.
Meanwhile, House GOP Leader Tom Cross was at a Downstate function over the weekend and talked about Demcratic disunity, but added…
Cross encouraged Republicans to seize the chance to work together as a party among all the squabbling. He said the keys to success will be repairing the GOP image, team building and encouraging the involvement of young people in government to lead the future.
“We fight too much. We fight among ourselves too much. We can’t give up,” Cross said.
Thoughts?
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Morning shorts
Monday, Sep 17, 2007 - Posted by Paul Richardson
* Appeal like Ryan’s nixed in other case
* Proposal to limit municipal primaries faces opposition
* Sun-Times Editorial: CeaseFire needs outside help to continue vital work
* Editorial: CeaseFire money must be restored in state budget
* If you’re slated, you’re in
* Giuliani steps up effort in Illinois
* Mary Schmich: Story behind suicide can’t be pried open
* Take hospital oversight from Stroger: panel
* Stroger, allies pound Claypool aide
It could have been a masterful political coup.
Cook County Board President Todd Stroger recently tried to hire the top aide to one of his top agitators.
But ever since Doug Kucia, chief of staff to Commissioner Forrest Claypool, turned down what he said was a $115,000 offer to work for Stroger, Stroger and board allies have been publicly pounding the $90,000 Claypool pays him.
* I-70 bridge over Mississippi River talks revived
* AG Madigan sues mortgage rescue company for fraud
* Illiniois crime drops again, but murders, robberies climb
* Illinois sex offenders at large?
* Did Poshard prod friend to sway vote on resignation?
* City incentives help firms hire hard-to-employ
* Sun-Times Editorial: Weeding out bad teachers, contract contains good things for students
* Aurora’s Planned Parenthood showdown continues; more here and here
* Southern Illinois mayors prove age doesn’t mean a thing
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