…I was burned out from exhaustion, buried in the hail,
Poisoned in the bushes, blown out on the trail,
Hunted like a crocodile, ravaged in the corn.
“Come in,” she said,
“I’ll give you shelter from the storm.”
* 3:35 pm - Yes, I’m still here and still waiting on any action regarding the budget bill. Rumors have been circulating all day that we may not see anything until Monday. But one never knows for sure.
* 4:54 pm - I was just told by the guv’s office, “There is no further news.” So it appears that the lid is on for the rest of today.
* In case you’re wondering, we’ll be keeping an eye on this bill all day today. That’s the budget bill, which Gov. Blagojevich claims he’ll partially veto to take out “pork” and other stuff.
Just days after Gov. Rod Blagojevich approved 9.6 percent pay hikes for himself and Illinois lawmakers, he is poised again to sign off on yet another salary bump.
The latest one would push his salary up by $20,000 at a time when he and lawmakers have been unable to complete their business on time.
The budget sent to Blagojevich last week by the General Assembly would add another 3.5 percent to their pay checks, meaning that the governor and lawmakers would see their salaries jump a total of more than 13 percent in the course of just a few days.
* Expect the guv to sign that provision into law. This is what he said about the other pay raise bill…
“That seems to be among legislators the single biggest priority for them and I felt if that is so important to them then and that’s what really motivates their priorities, then maybe if I respect their priority then they will respect the priority I have, which is giving health care to families,” Blagojevich said.
The governor’s press office suggested to Lee Newspapers that the pay hike in the budget bill would likely be treated the same way.
* Meanwhile, the governor signed the corporate loophole closure bill late yesterday…
A key component of the new state budget was put into place Thursday with the elimination of $250 million worth of business tax breaks.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed Senate Bill 1544, which ends a handful of tax breaks now enjoyed by businesses and creates an amnesty program for some businesses that have unpaid taxes.
Blagojevich called the tax breaks “corporate loopholes” that placed an unfair burden on individual taxpayers.
Not mentioned in the story is that part of the budget deal, which now seems defunct, was to get rid of two of those loophole closures - one on car rental companies and another on banks.
* The guv also vetoed a bill that reinstated the tax credit for start-up costs for providing employee child care…
“This bill creates a corporate tax loophole in a tight fiscal year,” Blagojevich said in a statement.
The legislation passed both chambers with unanimous votes.
* Like I told you yesterday, there wasn’t much news generated at Republican Day, but reporters did their best to write something relevant. Abdon Pallasch (the Sun-Times’ new political writer) had the best lede by far…
Forced to cling together under “one big tent” by a thunderstorm at the state fair Thursday, Illinois Republicans said state Democrats’ disunity would clear the GOP’s way back to relevance in the next election.
“I have no doubt none of us will be booed today the way the Democrats boo their own leadership,” U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood said.
“This big tent is what carries us to election victories,” U.S. Rep. John Shimkus said, referring to the philosophy that the party should welcome supporters of different views and backgrounds.
But officials acknowledged the party has its own troubles, too.
Many people are unhappy with President Bush’s handling of the Iraq war. Closer to home, some key Republicans are retiring from Congress and the General Assembly, meaning the party must fight to keep those seats before trying to pick up new ones.
“It creates a challenge,” said Illinois House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego. “To be blunt about it, we’ve got to first hold before we can start playing offense, and that becomes a money issue.”
The day was devoted to Republicans, but the state’s Democratic leaders got plenty of bashing. Democrats had their state fair day on Wednesday. It was marred by infighting and at one event, Democratic Comptroller Dan Hynes offered an apology. That wasn’t lost on Republicans.
“Like Dan Hynes, I want to apologize for the Democratic Party,” House Republican Tom Cross of Oswego said.
Still going: Few lawmakers attended either the Republican or Democratic rallies, largely because after more than two months in overtime budget session, they wanted to get out of Springfield.
“I never imagined I’d be coming straight over from session to the state fair,” said state Sen. Christine Radogno, a Lemont Republican. “We need some partisan balance in Illinois politics. If there’s any doubt about that, just look at what went on last session.”
* The Tribune compared yesterday’s GOP presidential straw poll to Iowa…
Although more than 14,000 votes were cast in the Iowa straw poll, only 922 ballots were cast at the Illinois event, which was held in rainy weather as part of Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair.
Illinois isn’t Iowa, where the first in the nation real voting takes place next January, so the closest thing to a candidate at the fair Thursday was Chicagoan John Cox, who says he is running but can’t even get on the straw poll ballot because this campaign is not being taken any more seriously than his recent races for US Senate, Congress, or the Cook County recorder of deeds.
* Funniest story of the day from a GOP poll-watcher at the Fair: “A woman came up to vote in the straw poll and asked me what name was on her shirt.” The name? Mitt Romney. Lots and lots of ringers for that guy yesterday.
* The more important vote may have been the one by the Republican County Chairmen’s Association earlier in the day…
Members of the Illinois Republican County Chairmen’s Association, meeting at the Crowne Plaza, had a secret-ballot poll of their own. Thompson got the most support with 22 votes, followed by 13 for Giuliani, nine for Romney, two for Huckabee, one for Hunter and one for McCain.
Other campaigns chose not to do that. State. Rep. Tom Cross, the Illinois House Republican leader from Oswego, is the chairman of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s campaign. He recently told reporters he did not plan to bus in supporters or otherwise try to manipulate the outcome. On Thursday, Cross downplayed the event’s significance in the 2008 presidential race.
“I think this straw poll, and I applaud Andy for doing it, but I think without the candidates here, it doesn’t have the same meaning or the same significance like you saw in Iowa. But it’s a starting point,” he said.
Just before state GOP chairman Andy McKenna announced the results from the podium at the Director’s Lawn at the fair, sign-carrying supporters of Paul, who has developed an Internet-driven following, traded chants with the gathered supporters of the ultimate winner.
And shortly after Thursday’s program, Republican Day at the state fair, some state troopers calmed participants in a disagreement spurred by Paul supporters waving their signs behind the heads of Craig Romney and Illinois Romney chairman Dan Rutherford, a state senator from Chenoa, during TV interviews being done away from the stage.
Paul’s libertarian stylings and campaign of strict interpretation of the Constitution has earned him an unorthodox band of sign-carrying supporters. They frequently interrupted TV reports of the event and at one point, Romney’s Illinois chairman, state Sen. Dan Rutherford (R-Chenoa), ripped a sign out of one Paul supporter’s hands and threw it on the ground.
* Hot dog and beans? Not exactly a State Fair tradition. Then again, Mitt Romney’s son Craig, who was in Springfield yesterday, is from Beantown…
He also grabbed a hot dog and beans and washed it down with lemonade.
Dennis Hastert says he won’t seek another term in Congress.
During an interview this morning on WLS Radio’s “The Don and Roma Morning Show,” the Illinois Republican confirmed that he plans to announce his retirement at a news conference later today.
Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert might not serve out the rest of his term, setting up the possibility of a special election to find a replacement.
Hastert, who will formally announce today that he won’t seek re-election, repeatedly refused to discount an early retirement in a Thursday interview with the Daily Herald.
* Meanwhile, I’m not so sure that I’m buying into the spin on this one…
Darin LaHood, the 39-year-old son of U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood, said Thursday he’s formed an exploratory committee to run for the congressional seat being given up by his father. […]
Rep. LaHood has said he counseled his son, who has three boys ranging in age from 5 years to 9 months, against a run for Congress.
From what I’m hearing, Congressman LaHood is backing the kid all the way right now and the word’s going out that Darin will be the guy.
* And, finally, here’s a bit more on Gutierrez’ announcement yesterday that he’s changed his mind and will seek another term.
This is a 2008 Congressional campaign open thread.
* 1:15 pm - Um… Not exactly anything to report from GOP Day. Everyone got along and the crowd wasn’t bad considering the weather. I may have straw poll details later.
* 4:30 pm - Romney, who bused a ton of people in, won the IL GOP straw poll with Fred Thompson, who had nobody here, in second. Ron Paul, who had a bunch of young supporter here, placed third. Giuliani was 4th, and McCain was 5th
.
Percents…
* 11:20 am - Just talked to Mike Z with the IL Republican Party. Mike’s at the fairgrounds for GOP Day.
It’s starting to rain there and people are being advised to seek shelter. I’ve been hearing thunder at my house. Here’s the radar image from a minute ago. You can click on the pic for the updated radar…
Right now, we’ll have to wait and see if there will be a delay in the program. But if you were planning to leave soon, you might want to wait and check the blog. Mike said he’d call as soon as he knows whether anything will be delayed.
* 11:29 am - The Republicans do have a great big tent near the stage, so a bit of rain will not cancel the event. Right now, they’re waiting for everything to blow over. People have already started voting in the straw poll, and that voting location is under the tent.
My plan is to wait in my office to hear from Mike before I head over there. Y’all can do what you want.
* 11:36 am - State Fair officials have told the party that the storm has passed them to the south, so they’re getting ready to restart the program as I write this. Head on over there.
In honor of yesterday’s race, the question today is: What do you think is the future of horse racing in Illinois? It always seems to be in trouble. Can it survive? How? Should it survive? Explain fully.
Earlier this year, Blagojevich said high-priced lobbyists in “Gucci loafers” were working to defeat his health care ideas.
Just happened to notice that Blagojevich wore Lucky Brand Jeans to open the Illinois State Fair. Those jeans start at about $100.
* And while the State Democratic Party formally endorsed Barack Obama’s presidential bid, there were some objections…
Shirley McCombs of Petersburg, secretary of the state party, voted against the resolution because she supports U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., for the presidency.
“In my lifetime, I want to see a woman get elected,” McCombs said after the meeting. “Women have been in the shotgun seat so long, and it’s time for the move to the driver’s seat, and the person to do that is Hillary Clinton.” […]
Also voting against the endorsement was Julie Kennedy Beckman of Darien, who helps represent the 13th Congressional District on the central committee. Beckman said after the meeting that she backs Obama for president, but knows that many in the party support Clinton. […]
Neil Hartigan, a former state attorney general and appellate court judge, spoke on Clinton’s behalf earlier Wednesday at a Springfield breakfast sponsored by the Democratic County Chairmen’s Association. At that breakfast, state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias was among those who backed Obama.
* Blagojevich said he plans to take his time with the electric rate relief bill…
“I’m suspicious when a company like Ameren is telling me there is a deadline for signing the bill,” said Blagojevich, who likened it to being pressured by a used-car salesman. “When Ameren is saying you’ve had the bill for four, five days and sign it by Friday or else, I think it is prudent to be a little suspicious and to take a good look and look at the fine print in the deal. We’ll see if we can make the deal better or not.”
A Romney report: Craig Romney, son of GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, will stump for his dad at the Illinois State Fair today and, ostensibly, be queried by the press why none of the candidate’s five adult sons has ever served in the military.
• • Translation: Romney, whose son is here to see if dad will emerge victorious in Illinois’ first Republican straw poll, drew criticism following his straw poll win in Iowa from his response to his sons’ lack of military service.
• • Romney’s response: “. . .one of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping to get me elected.”
• • Romney’s response to the question whether they are going over to Iraq: “No, they are not.”
My. My.
* And, as promised, here are some photos from yesterday’s celebrity horse race…
✪ The contestants gather (Dave Dring was a late scratch, by the way)…
✪ Rich and his driver, Jamaica Patton, prepare for the race…
Wednesday’s card featured a celebrity race that was won by Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch and co-driver Marcus Miller, Ervin Miller’s 18-year-old son.
Rich Miller, publisher of the newsletter Capitol Fax and Jamaica Patton placed second. Steve Brown, spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan, and Andy Miller were third. Cindy Davidsmeyer, spokeswoman for Senate President Emil Jones, and Williamsville High School graduate Brandon Simpson finished fourth. Patty Schuh, spokeswoman for Senate GOP Leader Frank Watson, and Springfield’s Tom Simmons took fifth.
* If you want a good idea of how the leaders don’t communicate or listen well, just take a look at this…
Despite disagreeing with the legality of Blagojevich’s maneuver, Madigan did sound an optimistic note about the health care plan [before the State Fair events].
Madigan said he could support an increase in the cigarette tax to pay for an expansion of the Medicaid program.
“I said from Day One it’s a good idea,” said Madigan. […]
Blagojevich was surprised to hear Madigan say a cigarette tax hike could be an option.
“When did he say that?” Blagojevich asked reporters.
Hmmm. Well, let’s see. This is from WBBM AM’s website on July 20th, almost a month ago…
House Speaker Michael Madigan tells WBBM he’ll support a plan that adds more people to those already covered in Illinois. But, Madigan says that plan should be funded by a hike in the cigarette tax
I wrote about Madigan suggesting the cigarette tax hike for health care here on July 25th.
Madigan had been suggesting this privately for quite a while before the At Issue program. And I know I’ve had it in the Capitol Fax at least twice.
In other words, Blagojevich could have had his $500 million for health care weeks ago if he’d been paying attention, or if Madigan had made his intentions known to him personally. This goofy, divisive veto wasn’t needed. The bizarre antics were uncalled for. The “war” could have been over.
From a subscriber who is at the meeting this morning…
US Rep. Luis Gutierrez just announced, at the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Business Expo, that he has reversed his prior retirement plans, and will indeed run for re-election to represent Illinois’s 4th Congressional District.
This is hardly a surprise. I’ve suspected it for months, as have many others. And Mark Brown wrote about the possibility earlier this week…
A letter imploring Rep. Luis Gutierrez to stay in Congress — signed by 10 elected officials from his district including one of his would-be successors — has provided the strongest sign yet that the eight-term House member is rethinking his decision to retire from office.
In fact, I’d say it’s now likely Gutierrez will run for re-election, although I couldn’t wheedle an admission out of him.
“I’m not going to lie to you,” Gutierrez told me Friday. The letter “has had an impact. We’re thinking about it.”
Congressman Luis Gutierrez says he’s changed his mind and he will seek another term in Washington.
The Chicago Democrat had said he wasn’t going to run, partly to spend more time with his wife, who had been having health problems.
But during a morning appearance in Chicago, Gutierrez said she’s better and he wants to run again because he still has work to do on immigration reform.
Gutierrez says a letter from community groups and other elected officials urging him to run helped change his mind.
* I doubt the Republicans will be able to top yesterday’s Democrat Day events for newsworthiness…
Warring factions of Illinois’ Democratic Party turned unity day Wednesday at the Illinois State Fair into a display of name-calling, booing and apologizing for a feud that almost shut down state government.
Organizers tried to focus on their common goal of electing Sen. Barack Obama president, but the diversion couldn’t paper over deep cracks within the party, fissures caused by the caustic 10-week budget stalemate between Democratic leaders.
“It’s embarrassing — it’s not the way people envision their leaders acting,” Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias said. “I think the public is getting sick and tired of this.”
House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) and Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) accused one another of being untruthful.
* And, as I told you yesterday, there was plenty of jeering…
Members claiming to be from a Chicago job training group that’s received hundreds of thousands of dollars in state contracts courtesy of Gov. Rod Blagojevich showed up at a Democratic rally Wednesday to boo the governor’s chief political rival — House Speaker Michael Madigan.
“Veto Madigan,” the nearly two dozen people chanted when Madigan, also chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party, took to the microphone during the annual Democratic rally at the Illinois State Fair.
The group immediately left the rally and headed to buses bearing signs for United Services of Chicago. Group members said they were told not to comment to reporters but said they were with United Services and that Blagojevich paid for the bus trip. […]
United Services of Chicago was awarded a nearly $775,000 contract this year from Blagojevich’s economic development agency. And last year, state auditors red flagged nearly $30,000 in state payments to United Services by the state’s transportation department. The department was missing files and could not explain why United Services got a potentially $900,000 job training contract over others.
United Services is led by Eddie Read, a key supporter of former Cook County Board President John Stroger and chairman of the Black Independent Political Organization. That organization gave $2,500 to Blagojevich’s 2006 campaign.
The governor’s campaign denied any involvement, which nobody really believed, of course.
* There was also some booing yesterday in Chicago…
Mayor Daley accused Gov. Blagojevich Wednesday of engineering a legally shaky and “dangerous” end-run around the General Assembly that threatens to jeopardize the mayor’s chances of getting sorely needed funding for the CTA and Chicago Public Schools.
One day after Blagojevich vowed to cut $500 million from the new state budget and redirect it toward his failed health care initiative, Daley openly questioned the legality of the maneuver as well as the political wisdom of it.
“Something like this really kind of separates people. . . . You’ve got Democrats and Republicans in the House. Once you start dividing them and divide the Senate, that is very, very dangerous in regards to — not only politics, but government,” he said.
Senate President Emil Jones has promised to use his power to protect the governor from any attempt to override a half billion dollars in line item vetoes to free up money for the governor’s program, but House Speaker Michael Madigan vowed to try anyway and he accused Jones of reneging on a deal.
“I’ll be kind and I’ll say that I think Senator Jones changed his mind. For myself, I plan to keep my word and move to override,” Speaker Madigan said.
Jones fired back saying, “He’s not a man of his word, Keep his nose out of the [Senate’s] business, period.” When asked if he feels like the speaker double-crossed him, Jones answered emphatically, “Yes.”
Jones, who is also a Chicago Democrat, accused Madigan and Senate Republican Leader Frank Watson of “a collusion” to breach the leaders’ agreement by derailing a capital bill for state construction projects. The bill failed last week in the Senate.
“So that’s why I changed my mind. That’s a fact,” Jones said Wednesday. “(Madigan) should not have interfered in what we were doing on capital.”
Madigan said Jones’ assertions are untrue.
* More on the Democrats’ “Disunity Day” activities…
After acting like carnies who claim their games are legit, Democratic leaders have developed such a surfeit of mistrust over a monthslong budget battle that Comptroller Dan Hynes decided to make a public apology.
“We’ve let you down, and there is no excuse for this,” Hynes said in opening the day at the traditional Democratic County Chairmen’s breakfast. “It’s supposed to be a day of unity. It’s certainly supposed to be a day of celebration. Frankly, I don’t feel there’s a lot to celebrate today.”
But even Hynes’ act of contrition became the subject of squabbling. Gov. Rod Blagojevich contended that Hynes apologized for “standing in the way” of state worker paychecks, which the comptroller has denied. The governor said he had nothing to apologize for as long as he kept pushing plans for expanding health care.
* The Hynes vs. Blagojevich feud was an interesting side affair…
“In a best-case scenario, he is going to expand our Medicaid deficit by $500 million,” said Comptroller Dan Hynes. “In a worst-case scenario, he is defying the Constitution.”
A day after Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat, infuriated legislators in his own party by vowing to go around them for health care expansion, he seemed to thumb his nose at them — in fact singing about the issue at one point in a Democratic Party rally at the Illinois State Fair.
“I’m just a red-blooded boy and I just can’t stop thinking about health care! Health care! Health care! Health care!'’ Blagojevich sang to the tune of Elvis Presley’s “Girls, Girls, Girls.'’
* More stuff compiled by Paul…
* Editorial: One man’s pork is another man’s health care plan
Illinois legislators already have made the smart move of toughening basic high school graduation requirements; high school administrators and counselors need to press the issue even further in their own schools.
It’s not necessary — or even desirable — that every single high school graduate go on to college. But something is wrong when so few are fully prepared for an increasingly competitive world in which highly educated U.S. students and American success must walk hand-in-hand.
* Count of 24 homeless was based on just 12-block area
Acting Housing Commissioner Ellen Sahli said a separate count conducted between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. on a cold night in January — in a much broader swath that includes all four community areas that take in parts of downtown — turned up 995 homeless people.
Of that number, 352 people were living on the street and in public places. The remaining 643 people were staying in shelters.
House Speaker Michael Madigan today called [the governor’s plan to veto pork and increase health care spending] “contrary to the Constitution.”
Madigan contends the governor can use his veto powers to cut spending, but it would be unconstitutional for him to increase spending in areas where the legislature had designated less.
Madigan adds that he hasn’t decided what, if any, action should be taken to block the governor.
There’s little Madigan can do to “block” the governor except try to renegotiate the budget. That might be tough to do, considering Senate President Jones’ stance.
* 1:40 pm - Hillary Clinton’s people brought 2 busloads of people here today. Kind of a cool reception on such a hot day.
* 1:55 pm - Speaker Madigan was loudly booed when he was introduced - mostly by people wearing Blagojevich t-shirts. Towards the end of his speech a handful began chanting loudly “Veto Madigan!” over and over again. They refused to identify themselves to reporters.
* 2:05 pm - Some of the disruptors went back to a bus with a United Services of Chicago sign on it. One protestor said they were “working” for the governor. Another said the governor paid for the bus. One said that Madigan is “against the people.” A few tried to prevent anyone from talking to the press.
* 2:20 pm - Jones just said that Madigan called Frank Watson during the SGOP caucus meeting and got him to pull votes off the capital bill at the last minute. So that’s why Jones broke the budget deal.
Also the guv’s campaign says they didn’t pay for any buses. Labor paid for it, they said.
* 2:40pm - SGOP spokesperson flatly denied that Madigan had anything to do with the vote on capital. It was purely the lack of trust in the governor for holding off votes from the bond authorization bill.
* 3:45 pm - The governor’s office finally won something. lol… Rebecca Rausch won the celebrity race. I was 2nd.
* 5:23 pm - Sorry for the typos in the above posts. Treo blogging in 100 degree heat while trying to talk to various friends and pals is difficult, to say the least.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention my driver today. Jamaica Patton is the best. What a cool guy. And even though we didn’t have nearly the best horse today, he gave it a real run for the money. Man, is that racing some fun stuff.
I put this in today’s Capitol Fax, but thought I’d tell y’all about it as well…
If you get a chance, head to the Grandstand after about 3 o’clock. The Racing Associations of Illinois is sponsoring a “celebrity” harness horse race. I’ll be racing against the spokespersons for the four legislative leaders and the governor. Word is, there might be a little betting action in the stands - for charity purposes only of course.
See you there.
*** UPDATE *** I’ve been invited to appear on Jerry Agar’s WLS show at 9:20 this morning. Just a brief bit - 10 minutes - but thought you might be interested. Listen here.
…Also… One other thing. Our charity store website has been completely revamped. Looks much better now. Go buy something, please.
* The Tribune has a couple of good details about what’s ahead…
But the administration said it could accomplish its health-care plans through existing powers to shift a percentage of money from other budget lines, as well as by delaying payments to providers of health care to the poor. […]
[Besides the $200 million in “pork”] The governor also plans to eliminate what he called $300 million in legislative add-ons within agency programs and transfer the funds elsewhere. […]
Sen. Donne Trotter (D-Chicago) said the governor can use a 2 percent discretionary transfer authority to create a pot of money worth hundreds of millions of dollars to help underwrite the health-care plans.
But as the day proceeded, a deep skepticism began to take hold that the governor may have overplayed his hand and merely was trying to save face from a disastrous legislative session.
* And the Sun-Times editorial board is clearly not happy, calling the move “the act of a dictator.”
The representatives of the people of Illinois soundly rejected the governor’s health expansion. Now he says he can do it by mandate.
* Carol Marin quotes Hunter S. Thompson’s famous line “When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro,” and asks…
Did Hunter Thompson actually KNOW Rod Blagojevich?
On Tuesday, Jones abandoned a coalition of legislative leaders who’d cut their own budget deal last week without Blagojevich and agreed to stick together and override any vetoes.
Jones denied there was any deal to back up the governor in return for higher pay. “Oh no. I’ve been fighting for these pay raises for a year,” Jones said. But suspicion hung thick at the Capitol, where Jones’ move was viewed as a double-cross.
* Some of the comments on yesterday’s post were quite excellent. Here are just a few…
* Reverse field…
Emil gave Madigan his version of the operating budget, but without embarassing a Democratic Governor w/ an override..Madigan eventually gets his members projects back through negotiating a capital bill. Rod has declared “victory” on health care and he can move straight to capital. Takes 8 to stop emergency rules on JCAR so that is not an option for Madigan. Plus these are poor people w/out insurance! Without the employer payroll tax–Madigan has to do the capital bill or look like an obstructionist. Madigan retrieves the member intiatives and Rod gets his long sought capital bill. Frank Watson’s letter today is further proof that the Governor is moving on capital and is likely to move on Frank’s individual members soon. If a capital bill zooms out of the Senate Madigan has little choice but to negotiate. Give the Goernor credit he is finally taking the advice of his legisaltive allies.
* DuPage Dave…
The sad thing to me is that if the Guv had come out with this as a plan in March- increase breast cancer screening, expand CHIP, and other tinkering with the health care system as steps toward a more “universal” system- and with a price tag of only $500 million- he would have had it approved very easily, I think. Instead we had lots of bluster about Armageddon and being on the side of the Lord, etc., demonizing any opponents of his poorly defined, multi-billion dollar scheme. This whole ordeal has been embarrassing, but it is not even remotely amusing. It’s just sad, sad, sad.
* amy…
surely his lawyers looked at this and said it is worth a shot. and why not. Pork or healthcare? That’s an easy call. and if Lisa Madigan has to weigh in on the legal dispute and does not side with health care, woe to her. this looks good for the people of Illinois.
* Daley calls tax on bottled water good for budget, environment
Money-wise, it’s a good idea. Environmental-wise, it’s a good idea, too….There’s so much plastic in our lives. It’s amazing. Every time you look, there’s plastic all over,” Daley said Tuesday.
Asked whether it was fair to punish people for following doctors’ advice to stay hydrated, the mayor said, “Well, it all depends what effect you’re having upon the environment — not just upon their body, but upon the environment.”
* Transportation Dept. is clean new leader insists
