Question of the day
Friday, Jun 16, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
Let’s go back to my syndicated column about that recent poll. It was not only about corruption, but about Judy Baar Topinka’s troubles with Republicans.
The survey also shows big trouble for Topinka with Republicans since the last Glengariff Group poll was taken in April, when 81 percent of Republican voters supported her candidacy. Now just 65 percent back their party’s standard-bearer, a likely result of the governor’s TV ads, which appear to be a lot better done than most of the ads run by her primary opponents. The good news for Topinka is that her support among independents is still the same — 39 percent.
Back in November, Glengariff had Blagojevich at 39 percent, and he was at 41 percent in April, so he hasn’t moved much at all. “While the challenger’s numbers have taken a hit,” pollster Czuba said in a news release, “Rod Blagojevich appears to be stuck at 41 percent of the vote and unable to translate undecided voters into his camp.” Right now, though, the main task at hand is to drive Topinka’s negatives up so high that she can’t recover. However, an incumbent whose administration is unfavorably likened to a convicted former governor and who is stuck at 41 percent is not in the greatest shape, no matter how much money he has.
Blagojevich leads in Chicago 60 to 17 and in suburban Cook County 43 to 28, according to Glengariff. Back in April, Topinka had a big lead in suburban Cook, 50 to 33, so this is another ominous development for her. The Democratic governor even has a slight lead in the Republican collar counties, 36 to 34 — a likely result of Topinka’s big drop in GOP support and strikingly bad news. In April, Topinka had a 51-to-35 lead over Blagojevich in the collars. Topinka leads in all downstate regions.
What do you think Topinka has to do to win back Republican voters? Also, what do you think of the guv’s numbers?
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Could it be done?
Friday, Jun 16, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
I’ve never been a big fan of third party candidates because they whine so much about our (admittedly ridiculously difficult) ballot access laws. If they worked and organized as much as they whined they might get somewhere and force a change in the law. Frankly, it’s been my opinion that most (not all) of these third party types couldn’t make it onto the ballot even if the laws were changed. It’s just an excuse for their failure.
It looks like the Greens may - may - know how to work. From a press release:
“Illinois politics-as-usual is about to change,” said Jennifer Rose, campaign manager for Green gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney, as the Illinois Green Party recently collected its 25,000th signature on the way to getting its slate of candidates to appear on the statewide ballot this fall.
“New” parties are forced by state law to collect 25,000 signatures between March 28 and June 26 to qualify for the fall ballot. The Green Party has now surpassed that number, and Greens are continuing to collect signatures through June 26 to buttress against a possible challenge. […]
The success of the petition drive in spite of harsh ballot access laws could indicate that the Green message resonates well with voters this election cycle, some in the party say. “We have done very well this year because the general public is mad at both the Democrats and the Republicans,” said Huckelberry. “We talk about real issues like alternative energy, and have real solutions to problems like education funding. This makes us more credible than the entrenched parties in the eyes of many voters.”
We’ll see if they can survive a challenge, but what they’ve done so far, if this press release is accurate, isn’t anything to sneeze at.
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More trouble for Alexi, Part 623
Friday, Jun 16, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
Like I said yesterday, lawsuits can provide great fodder for campaign reporting.
Banker Alexi Giannoulias — the Democratic nominee for state treasurer — is accused of approving a $1 million loan to an 86-year-old mentally incompetent woman whose “business partners” have been suspected of fraud in the past.
A lawsuit filed this week in Cook County Circuit Court demands that Broadway Bank — run by the Giannoulias family — not hold Loren Billings responsible for the loan and interest.
Billings, who for years has run the Museum of Holography on the Near West Side, was duped by three Ukrainian businesspeople who convinced her to take out the loan in order to purchase shares in their own holography company, the lawsuit says.
Billings’ attorney says Giannoulias ignored her mental state and the histories of those with her and awarded her the loan in 2002.
Giannoulias campaign spokesman Scott Burnham called those allegations “groundless.”
Yeah, that’s good. Pick a fight with a little old lady. What a marvelous candidate we have here.
Billings invested $50,000 and after just eight months, they convinced her she’d made $993,343. That led her to ask Broadway Bank about a $1 million loan for more investments, the suit says.
How many more stories like this can he take?
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The dark side of Ryan’s character
Friday, Jun 16, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
I doubt I would be so willing to forgive.
As Janet and Scott Willis promoted her new children’s book in the heart of the Cabrini-Green housing complex Thursday, the couple didn’t want the ex-governor’s name to come up.
But “A Dad’s Delight” is about forgiveness, and an inevitable question came up: Do they forgive former Gov. George Ryan, convicted this year of sweeping corruption charges?
Among them was a license-for-bribe scandal that emerged from the fiery highway deaths of six of the Willises’ nine children in 1994. The trucker responsible was an unqualified driver who received his commercial license by bribing an official in then-Secretary of State Ryan’s office.
While the answer was “yes,” said Scott Willis, a retired preacher, full forgiveness can’t be had until the ex-governor asks for it–or at least acknowledges wrongdoing.
“People ask if we’ve forgiven George Ryan for what we believe and what the jury believes that he participated in,” he said. “George Ryan needs God’s forgiveness. … I want to forgive Gov. Ryan.”
Ryan doesn’t deserve all of the blame for the deaths of those six Willis children, but he has never even accepted partial blame for running a shop that traded undeserved commercial drivers licenses for illegal campaign contributions.
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Oy, Part 467,228
Friday, Jun 16, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
I remember the first time I saw this guy. I couldn’t believe he was head of the governor’s security detail. I immediately predicted trouble, and, unfortunately, I was all too right.
The former head of Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s bodyguards has been suspended without pay for three months over misconduct that includes arranging a state-paid personal trip to Chicago with a 22-year-old intern.
A hearing officer for the State Police Merit Board agreed with 23 of 48 charges against Lt. Thomas Ceja.
Here’s a list:
Among substantiated charges, Ceja:
· Arranged a state-paid trip to Chicago in June 2004 with a 22-year-old female intern, ostensibly to attend a meeting although the meeting was canceled before they left Springfield. They attended the symphony and dinner at a “ritzy” restaurant, and Ceja later submitted an inaccurate travel voucher for hotel expenses.
· Improperly socialized with the intern outside of the office.
· Gave a civilian Blagojevich aide access to a meeting that the Secret Service had declared off limits.
· Failed to file in a timely manner a written report on the theft of a loaded handgun and handcuffs from his vehicle during a June 2003 trip to Los Angeles.
· Ordered deletion of information from official logs about an August 2004 accident between two squad cars.
· Allowed a member of the governor’s staff to drive his car during a trip to Washington, D.C.
· Lied to state police investigators about his activities on three occasions (but was cleared of lying on three other occasions).
· Allowed subordinates to become deficient in their training.
That Secret Service thing caused a huge stink with the feds.
Morale ain’t the greatest at the State Police. I may let you in on a little secret next week.
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Morning shorts
Friday, Jun 16, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
· What do you do when you launch a new political TV show? Book Barack Obama as your first guest. That’s a lesson I’ll have to remember if I ever get one of those shows.
· “The four largest riverboat casinos in Illinois—two in Joliet and one each in Aurora and Elgin—obtained an injunction in Circuit Court of Will County on Wednesday, blocking establishment of a Horse Racing Equity Trust Fund that had been passed by the state legislature and signed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich last month.”
· The governor is sending a trade delegation to Israel today. But I’m sure it has nothing to do with the Hate Crimes Commission fiasco.
· Screaming headline: Witness feared being slain… Breathless lede: The former son-in-law of a prominent ex-alderman told federal investigators that he copied and saved city computer files “because he was scared that he may be killed,”… And later in the story the witness admits: “Did I ever think anyone would kill me? The thought may have crossed my mind, but that’s a little extreme.”
· They’re still trying to cut Amtrak. Meanwhile, Bean pushes auto mileage incentive
· WiFi may expand to Naperville, Fox Valley
· Lincoln museum misspells governor’s name, brochures destroyed, costs unknown.
· The Southtown finally goes bloggy. Whalen writes about the Sox
· Robaugh: “Pulling an Einhorn. From this day forward, that will be the term for mayors who do something dumb, lie to the press about it, then concoct a rationale for the stunt that’s even dumber.”
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Yikes
Thursday, Jun 15, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
Civil lawsuits can be such great fodder.
Antoin “Tony” Rezko has long been one of Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s top fundraisers and closest confidants, even recommending candidates for Cabinet directors and state boards and commissions.
But newly obtained public records, including lawsuit documents, show a close circle of Rezko business investors and their relatives received jobs and appointments to influential state posts. The records show Rezko’s ties with the Blagojevich administration are far more extensive than were previously known.
The new documents show, for example, that Blagojevich appointed three Rezko business investors to a controversial board that oversees hospital projects. The board was replaced amid an ongoing federal kickback investigation that led to the indictment of the board’s vice chairman.
The state’s business development agency, run by a former Rezko company executive, employs the daughters of two other business partners, including a man who is a fugitive on federal tax charges.
Another Rezko partner got a loan for pizza franchises through a California businessman whose firm won a $83 million contract for redeveloping the Illinois Tollway’s restaurant oases. The loan came after an introduction from Rezko. […]
The names of the Rezko food company shareholders emerged recently amid a spate of civil lawsuits from former partners, including one filed in Cook County in April by Dr. Fortunee Massuda. […]
In 2003, Blagojevich appointed Massuda to the state’s Health Facilities Planning Board, along with Drs. Michel Malek and Imad Almanaseer. The Tribune previously reported Massuda and Malek each gave Blagojevich’s campaign $25,000 just weeks before being appointed, but their roles as shareholders in Rezko pizza businesses had not been previously disclosed. […]
The three Rezko associates and the other hospital board members were dismissed in 2004. The board was revamped that year after it came under federal scrutiny in part for its approval of Mercy Health System’s plans to build a $49 million hospital in Crystal Lake. As described in federal kickback charges against former board vice chairman Stuart Levine, Almanaseer changed his vote on the Mercy project after Levine whispered in his ear. Massuda and Malek also voted for the project.
Levine and Rezko go way back and have some mutual friends. Rezko not only raised a half mil for the governor’s ‘02 campaign, he provided 10 percent of the governor’s total family income in 2004.
Read the whole thing.
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Question of the day
Thursday, Jun 15, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
First, the latest poll numbers.
Illinoisans don’t want the state or U.S. constitutions rewritten to ban gay marriage, according to a new poll released Wednesday.
While the majority of Illinois voters — 51 percent — said they oppose gay marriage, only 40 percent support asking state lawmakers for a constitutional amendment to ban it, according to a poll by the Chicago-based Glengariff Group. Fifty percent were opposed and 10 percent were undecided.
There is less support for amending the U.S. Constitution with 62 percent opposed, the poll showed.
Gay marriage opponents hope to get a measure on the Illinois ballot this November that would ask voters if the state should amend its constitution. […]
The Illinois poll also tested voters’ appetite on other gay rights issues, including civil unions. Fifty percent of people supported such unions that would give gay couples the legal benefits of marriage without calling it marriage.
There was 50 percent or more support on other issues, including adoption, inheritance rights and health benefits.
QUESTION: Assume that the anti-gay marriage folks get their question on the ballot this fall, and assume for the sake of argument that these poll results are close to reality. Will the referendum pass, and how much of a bind will this put pro gay rights Republican Judy Baar Topinka in?
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“Don’t blame Blagojevich”
Thursday, Jun 15, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
I missed this yesterday. Truth be told, I don’t read the Post-Dispatch editorial page much, especially since they flip-flopped on tort reform - firing up the reform argument in 2004 and flip-flopping a few months later when a medical malpractice reform bill appeared close to passage. Anyway, this was blogged on Illinoize yesterday, but I thought it would be worth a post here.
Blagojevich for the condition of the state’s economy makes only slightly more sense than blaming him for the weather. In truth, no governor has much influence over a state’s prosperity during a single term in office.
Economies don’t turn on a dime.
Things that a governor really can influence — the quality of schools, job training, public health and transportation infrastructure — take years to produce results in terms of increased business, new jobs and higher wages. […]
The real influence of state government is on long-term prosperity. Improving children’s health and education today will bring rewards in years to come: a healthier, better-educated work force, more higher-paying jobs, higher per-capita income and less spending on crime, welfare and social programs. Investing in transportation improvements pays economic dividends over decades; that’s why a new bridge over the Mississippi River is critical to southern Illinois’ economic future.
By those measures, Gov. Blagojevich has made the right calls.
Your thoughts?
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Win some, lose some
Thursday, Jun 15, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
ABATE both won and lost yesterday.
A Downstate judge Wednesday issued an order temporarily blocking the Blagojevich administration from transferring about $350,000 from two special-purpose funds into the state’s main checking account.
The order by Sangamon County Circuit Judge Leo J. Zappa Jr. stemmed from a newly filed lawsuit by a group known as ABATE of Illinois, which is challenging the governor’s diversion of funds set up to benefit motorcycle enthusiasts.
But the ruling could have implications for hundreds of other special-purpose funds that collect fees for designated purposes, such as the road fund, which receives money from the motor fuel tax and the vehicle registration fee.
Zappa’s order prohibiting the administration from shifting revenues from a cycle rider’s training fund and a fund dedicated to the upkeep of off-road motorcycle trails extends until July 10, when the case is next set for hearing.
ABATE was seeking an order from Zappa blocking the governor’s diversion of revenue from 77 funds, few having anything to do with motorcyclists. The money in play in those particular funds totaled more than $30 million..
The judge wouldn’t block the transfers of other state fund monies, so that was the loss part.
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Tollway stories
Thursday, Jun 15, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
Three tollway stories today. First, Speaker Madigan has some questions.
Breaking months of silence on the landmark issue, House Speaker Michael Madigan has raised more than a dozen questions about a potential tollway lease deal in a letter to lawmakers overseeing hearings on the matter.
Madigan says the questions, which range from how tolls would increase to what would happen to the oases, need to be answered before the plan is given serious thought.
The letter resembled one he sent earlier this month to state House members regarding another lease plan — Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s proposal to lease the state lottery for $10 billion to fund education initiatives.
Then there’s this story in the Southtown about a tollway sale/lease hearing earlier this week.
If a system of toll roads built on the backs of suburban commuters is sold or leased, the windfall better wind up in the suburbs.
That was the message given Tuesday to an Illinois Senate committee that’s looking into privatizing the state’s tollway system.
“This is where the needs are,” Will County Executive Larry Walsh told the committee at a hearing in Joliet. […]
State Sen. Christine Radogno (R-LaGrange) noted more than 70 percent of traffic on the tollways is generated by commuters, and most of those vehicles are moving from suburb to suburb to get to work.
“We’ve paid into the system over the last 40 years. Our paying into it gives the system value for someone to come in and buy it,” Radogno said. “Does the money stay in these communities? I think that is a legitimate question.”
And the I-Team follows up on an earlier story.
Was an Illinois Tollway worker fired for refusing to pay off a politically-connected contractor? Two powerful Illinois state senators are formally requesting that the attorney general look into new allegations of corruption at tollway headquarters.
On Monday, the ABC7 I-Team first reported that a tollway worker claimed he was terminated after refusing the give a $100,000 gift to a state contractor. Now, there is new information about which politician allegedly wanted the contractor paid off.
As a middle manager at the Illinois Tollway, Jim Fragackis did not expect to get a call with instructions from a state senator.
The matter has been referred to the attorney general.
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Morning shorts
Thursday, Jun 15, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
· Sen. Bill Brady may have been reading the comments here, because yesterday a commenter pointed out that a Sun-Times story about this week’s devastating audit of DHS reported that the state was paying more than $550,000 to buy 109 shredders. That seemed excessive, and I think shortly thereafter Brady sent out a press release wondering what the heck was going on.
· Was a real estate deal by US House Speaker Denny Hastert corrupt or just a sweet and fortuitous arrangement among old friends investing in a rapidly booming county?
· Daley won’t wait for state
· Sorry, alderman, but that was a lame excuse
· Cook County bumbles beetle battle
· Witness claims Sorich ordered files erased
· Kadner: Crete Mayor Michael Einhorn lies.
· “The Supreme Court of Illinois ordered Wednesday that lawyers in this state must report how many hours they spend helping poor clients every year.”
· Now, here’s a threesome that you don’t often see on the same page: Lauzen, Schmitz and Blagojevich.
· Apparently, Frank Watson prefers diplomacy over my war plans. Good for him, but it would’ve been a grand adventure. Then again, maybe there’s still hope.
· Interesting story, good human interest, but no chance.
· Illinois Legislators Lambaste Governor’s Subsidy Plan
· The Southern has a great piece on my old buddy John Reilly.
After more than four decades in the hotel and restaurant business, it would seem that John Reilly might be looking for a slower pace and a lower gear.
Instead, it’s quite the contrary for the personable Reilly, who goes about his daily duties at Rend Lake Resort and Conference Center as general manager and acts as a one-person tourism committee by continually singing the praises of Rend Lake and all of Southern Illinois. […]
Reilly said he will continue to be a goodwill ambassador for Southern Illinois at every opportunity.
“I don’t want to hear people say that Rend Lake is the best kept secret in the state,” Reilly said. “I wish that I would have gotten to this point quicker than I did but we’re certainly not finished. I don’t think I’ll ever be totally satisfied until everybody knows what we have to offer here in Southern Illinois.”
If you haven’t been to the resort, you really ought to go. I had an amazingly good time when I was last there. This article makes me want to head down to Rend Lake today, but I can’t. Maybe next weekend. You can find a lot more info here.
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