This just in…
Thursday, Nov 13, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* 12:27 PM - Wow…
Illinois faces an unprecedented backlog of bills–totaling nearly $4 billion now–that could hit $5 billion early next year, state Comptroller Dan Hynes said today.
Hynes sounded the warning to Gov. Rod Blagojevich and legislative leaders in a letter that called the backlog of unpaid bills the largest in state history.
* More…
That [state payment] delay could rise to 20 weeks by spring, [Hynes] warned.
Schools could wait several months for more than a billion dollars in payments, food suppliers might end deliveries to state prisons and mental facilities and state police could be turned away from fueling up their vehicles. Nursing homes, colleges and universities and doctors also could face major cutbacks if something isn’t done soon, Hynes cautioned.
“To call this as an imminent crisis is an understatement,” Hynes said in a statement.
He wants lawmakers and the governor to change state law to make it easier for state government to borrow money in the short-term to pay overdue bills and let the state create a revolving line of credit to help the state deal with ongoing borrowing situations.
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Question of the day
Thursday, Nov 13, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I told subscribers about this earlier today…
Jockeying over the state Senate’s next Democratic leader intensified Wednesday as Mayor Daley insisted he had no horse in the race but signaled behind the scenes he wants retiring Senate President Emil Jones’ successor to be from Cook County. […]
Leading up to the closed-door session, Daley dispatched some of his Springfield emissaries to spread word that his preference is someone from the Chicago area, Senate sources said.
But the mayor publicly denied having any role in that maneuver, which was first tipped Wednesday in the Capitol Fax political newsletter published by Chicago Sun-Times columnist Rich Miller.
“I haven’t said that at all. I don’t know who you’re talking to. Who’s Capitol Fax anyway?” Daley said after Wednesday’s City Council meeting.
The above Sun-Times story was entitled: “Daley wants Jones’ successor to be from Cook County.” I, of course, stand behind my original story. And, as I told subscribers today, Daley’s top staff has subscribed to the Capitol Fax for years.
* The Question: Who’s Capitol Fax anyway?
I’ll make sure to forward a copy of your comments to hizzoner.
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Money battles are everywhere
Thursday, Nov 13, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Senate is growing more restive now that Senate President Emil Jones is on the way out…
State Sen. Donne Trotter, the Senate’s lead budget negotiator, said he believes the [governor’s] doomsday predictions for the state budget are overstated. He also said the governor’s decision to shut down parks and historic sites on Nov. 30 is “arbitrary.”
“They said they had enough money to keep them going at least until January or February,” Trotter said Wednesday.
* But this is from a reader…
If Rod is bluffing on closing [state] parks he is going out of his way to appear not to be. CMS sent out certified letters informing targeted employees that they have been laid off as of Dec 1st.
* As we told you yesterday, the Blagojevich administration had apparently stopped paying FamilyCare claims for 500,000 recipients after a judge ordered it to stop paying claims for 25,000 recipients related to an illegal end-run of the General Assembly. The resulting chaos may have played a role in yesterday’s IL Supreme Court decision to stay the lower court ruling for now…
A state-subsidized health care program got a reprieve Wednesday when the Illinois Supreme Court temporarily put on hold a judge’s order to shut it down and the Blagojevich administration said it would pay providers.
It was not immediately clear when the state would resume paying health care providers for services under the FamilyCare program, something it had stopped doing - exacerbating already delayed reimbursements. […]
The stay is in place until the Supreme Court either agrees to hear the case or doesn’t, Hecht said.
* But nobody knows yet when that backlog will be processed…
While the state would pay providers because of Wednesday’s Illinois Supreme Court ruling, the time line for that was unclear, said Annie Thompson, spokeswoman for Blagojevich’s Department of Healthcare and Family Services.
* The governor’s statement…
“This is good news for the families who are struggling in this economy and cannot afford the high cost of private insurance.”
* Meanwhile, on another front, AFSCME has filed a third lawsuit over the Pontiac prison closure…
The union that represents workers at a central Illinois prison filed another lawsuit Wednesday trying to stop the state from closing the facility until safety concerns are addressed.
The lawsuit is the third filed by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees against the Illinois Department of Corrections over the agency’s plan to close the Pontiac Correctional Center by the end of the year. […]
Earlier Wednesday, Livingston County Judge Robert Travers said he’ll wait until Nov. 21 to decide whether to block the state from laying off employees at the Pontiac prison. Pontiac is the Livingston County seat.
That order is being sought by the union as part of one of the other lawsuits. The union claims in that suit that the state did not meet a legal obligation to bargain with the union before it began notifying workers of layoffs.
A third lawsuit, also filed in Livingston County by AFSCME, argues that Blagojevich can’t use money the General Assembly appropriated for the Pontiac prison at other facilities.
* And the union is gearing up for a big legislative battle…
At a Thompson Center rally planned for noon tomorrow (Thursday, Nov. 13), 150 frontline employees of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) will be joined by leading children’s advocates to call on Governor Rod Blagojevich to rescind looming layoffs and budget cuts to DCFS that threaten to undermine child abuse prevention and put kids at risk.
Instead, the governor should act immediately to sign Senate Bill 1103, legislation that includes additional funding for the state’s child welfare safety net, among other essential services.
* Somewhat related…
* CEOs warn Daley that ‘huge layoffs’ are coming to Chicago
* Economy, smoking ban snuff casino profits
* State could pick three casino finalists Friday
* Mental health centers say budget cuts mean crime, higher costs
* Blagojevich’s top money man to head finance agency
* Press release: Governor Blagojevich announces John Filan as the New Executive Director of the Illinois Finance Authority
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*** UPDATE *** Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. has been lining up newspaper endorsements for Obama’s Senate seat, he took a poll to bolster his campaign, he’s been sending reporters so many press releases (from his government account, no less) touting himself for the appointment that his own wife called him a “beast” this week, and now he has a FaceBook group: Appoint Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. to the United States Senate. The group has 247 members and was created by Kenny Johnson, who was backed by Jackson when he ran a losing race for the Illinois House last February against a former Obama staffer, Will Burns.
It’s all getting to be a bit much.
*** UPDATE 2 *** OneMan has created a new FaceBook page: CapFax Commenter ‘Bill’ To Replace Senator Obama
Let’s all join!
*** UPDATE 3 *** Claypool backs down…
Cook County Board Commissioner Forrest Claypool said today he will not run for the congressional seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel, who has been tapped as President-elect Barack Obama’s chief of staff.
“I’m not going to Washington,” Claypool added, responding to speculation that he would take a post in Obama’s administration. “I’ll be staying local.”
Claypool is a former chief of staff to Mayor Richard Daley and has been in the political consulting business with David Axelrod, Obama’s top political advisor.
Claypool’s decision comes as his ally on the County Board, Commissioner Mike Quigley (D-Chicago) is “seriously considering” a run for Emanuel’s 5th Congressional District seat.
*** UPDATE 4 *** Schulter says he’s in…
Forty-seventh Ward Alderman Gene Schulter said he is definitely running for Rahm Emanuel’s seat in the 5th Congressional District.
*** UPDATE 5 *** Obama resigns Sunday…
President-elect Barack Obama said today he will step down from his Senate seat effective this Sunday.
[ *** End of updates *** ]
* Valerie Jarrett says she doesn’t want Obama’s Senate seat, ending days of speculation…
Valerie Jarrett, a close friend and adviser to President-elect Barack Obama, today took herself out of the running to replace him in the U.S. Senate.
“I am not interested in the Senate seat,” Jarrett told the Tribune in an e-mail this afternoon.
* Senate President Emil Jones was evasive when asked about whether he had personally lobbied for the seat…
“It would be a great honor, you know” Jones said. “It would be a great honor.”
Pressed about his chances of getting appointed by Blagojevich, a longtime ally, Jones said: “I don’t know.”
Jones brushed aside questions about whether he had talked to Blagojevich, saying, “You think I should?… Since you asked the question, maybe I should.”
* Sen. Dick Durbin has asked for a meeting with Blagojevich, but that hasn’t happened yet…
Durbin—at IWU today to speak to a class on elections – said Obama should be replaced by someone “who understands there are 102 counties in this state.”
Durbin says he’s got some good candidates for the U.S. Senate, but the choice isn’t his…
Durbin told News 25, “There’s only one vote in this election—it’s Governor Blagojevich, and I don’t have a close personal relationship with him, but I’ve asked to meet with him and talk about this because the person he’s going to choose is someone I’ll be serving with in Washington”.
Durbin has complained before about not getting his calls returned by the governor, so we’ll see if he gets his meeting.
* Join the club, Dick…
Durbin says he hopes to give some recommendations to the governor soon, but he has “no idea” who really has Blagojevich’s ear.
* More Durbin…
“I want a colleague in the Senate who understands that there are 102 counties in this state, and all of them need help,” the Springfield Democrat said.
* Tammy Duckworth is on Durbin’s list…
“I have several names and certainly Tammy would be on that list,” said Durbin, visiting an Illinois Wesleyan University class Wednesday.
* But others want Duckworth in a different job…
A grassroots effort is underway for Barack Obama to appoint Tammy Duckworth, a veteran of the Iraq War and onetime congressional candidate, as Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs in his incoming administration.
Democratic-leaning veterans groups are pushing the appointment among activists and reporters, even launching a petition drive to get Duckworth into the administration.
“If Tammy was offered the Secretary of the VA, she’d excel at it,” said Jon Soltz, the head of the veterans group VoteVets.org and one of the leading advocates for a Duckworth appointment. “She uniquely understands the issues facing not just older generations of veterans, but our newest veterans as well.”
Indeed, Duckworth would be well situated to take on the post. Not just because she has served in Iraq (where she lost both her legs) and currently heads the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, but also because she has strong ties to Obama’s inner circle.
* Congressman Danny Davis recently expressed his interest…
“Yes, I am interested. Yes, there are people who have suggested to me that they would be supportive and that they are supportive of an effort to convince the governor to appoint me to fill that vacancy,” Davis said.
“I couldn’t think of any reason I wouldn’t be interested.”
* And in a different contest, this maneuver would be far, far tougher to do now than back in the “old” days…
Meanwhile, there’s an intriguing wrinkle in the race for Mr. Emanuel’s seat: talk that he really only wants to serve as chief of staff for two years, and wants a mere seat-warmer who would give the job back when Rahm so requests.
Mr. Emanuel’s spokeswoman terms that talk “false and ridiculous.” But at least one source, who claims to have discussed the possibility with Rahmbo personally, says he really was reluctant to give up the seat and really would like to keep his options open to reclaim it down the road.
If that talk is true, look for municipal finance banker John Borovicka, Mr. Emanuel’s chief of staff, to run for the House and for Mr. Emanuel to cut lots of Chicago-style deals to get it for him. (Mr. Borovicka, who also has never run for anything, says he’s thinking about running but has “no plans” to seek it.)
Mayor Daley helped put Emanuel in Congress, but his organization ain’t what it used to be since the Sorich patronage office prosecutions. Rahm might have talked about a place-holder, but pulling it off will be tough, especially considering all the people who are lining up to take the seat.
* Somewhat related…
* Illinois won’t get extra inauguration tickets
* Treasurer proposes Obama resolution
* Giannoulias pushes plan to recognize Obama
* Illinois senators remember Obama in their midst
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Morning shorts
Thursday, Nov 13, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Top Blagojevich budget adviser stepping down
* Senate OKs hearsay evidence
The state Senate unanimously voted Wednesday to give Will County prosecutors a powerful new tool to probe the murder of one of Drew Peterson’s wives and the disappearance of another.
The Senate OKd legislation to allow as evidence hearsay statements from murdered witnesses.
* Naperville home to public hearing on governor’s carpooling scheme
* CPS scores up, but kids aren’t ready for college
* CPS gives kids a voice in cutting dropout rate
* Adults-only housing makes sense for schools
* Illinoize: State & Local Governments Have Bailout Fever
* Lock out Great Lakes’ invaders: study
Waterways engineered more than a century ago to connect the Great Lakes and Mississippi River watersheds should be altered to stop the exchange of invasive species that can cause irreversible damage, an environmental advocacy group says.
* Will there be newspapers to tell us what we need to know?
Problem is, those three theses proceed from the flawed assumption that readership (as differentiated from circulation) is down. But actually, thanks to the Internet, more people are reading these words now than could have ever read them 20 years ago. So the problem isn’t readership. It is, rather, finding a way to translate readership into revenue; newspapers were slow to understand the implications of the technology revolution. They have yet to figure out a business model for the Internet era that enables them to support themselves as they did back when print was king.
* Lake County Pro Second Amendment Resolution
* DuPage Co. board sets $12 mil for capital improvements
* Illinois Senate president contenders open to death penalty fund overhaul
* Stark County receives $25,000 state grant
* U.S. rep: ‘I hope this was not a case of racial profiling’
* Suburbs better at minding budgets
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This just in…
Wednesday, Nov 12, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
12:18 pm - John Filan is the new chairman of the IL Finance Authority. Much rejoicing will ensue I’m sure.
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Question of the day
Wednesday, Nov 12, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The setup…
Everybody knows about BlackBerry addicts, those twitchy-thumbed compulsives who fascinate researchers and comedians. One recent study reported the exotic locations in which mobile device users get their kicks. Bathroom: 79 percent. During romance: 11 percent. At a funeral or memorial service: 16 percent.
Less is written about the laptop addict, an equally tragic modern figure, the kind of person who, say, during a friendly dinner conversation about voters in Pennsylvania pops up to fetch the MacBook and check the difference between the Mennonites and the Amish. […]
And just as a laptop is different from a BlackBerry, so are its addicts. BlackBerry addicts are all about the Web connection. Laptop addicts like that part too—it’s nice to pull into a Panera Bread parking lot with the laptop riding shotgun to piggyback on the free Wi-Fi—but the laptop addict isn’t all about the data.
The laptop addict is an artiste. He keeps his laptop close because at any moment the muse may descend bearing a novel idea or the mot juste, which he must inscribe pronto on the screen. And right after that, he can Google the name of a good massage therapist who can undo the kinks from all those hours hunched over his addiction.
* The Question: Does any of this apply to you? How so? Explain fully.
* Bonus Question: What’s the rudest thing you or someone you know has done with a handheld/laptop? Try to keep it clean, of course.
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The Obama replacement circus gets even crazier
Wednesday, Nov 12, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I didn’t think it was possible, but J3’s ambition has reached a new high…
U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-2nd) is favored among a crowded field of possible replacements for President-elect Barack Obama’s vacant U.S. Senate seat, a new poll suggests.
The Zogby International poll conducted after Election Day says 21 percent of likely Illinois voters want Gov. Rod Blagojevich to appoint Jackson to Obama’s seat, which expires in January 2011. His nearest competitor is Tammy Duckworth, director of the Illinois Department of Vet erans Affairs, who was supported by 14 percent of those responding to the poll.
It goes without saying that 21 percent ain’t exactly a mandate.
Here’s the list of tested Democrats, which, by the way, was sent to reporters from an official congressional e-mail address. Click for a larger image…
* “bored now” has this analysis at the newly revamped and freshly energized Illinoize…
The biggest problem with the survey is that none of the names are well known across the state. While Zogby tried to obfuscate this by combining the “Not Familiar” and “No Response” categories in his public release of the poll. The client (Jesse Jackson) undoubtedly got a better breakdown here.
The only thing we can really determine is that the Congressman really wants the job — enough to commission a poll and release the findings.
Yep.
* More from the poll…
In two prospective Senate races, Jackson would defeat Republican Congressman Ray LaHood by a 50% to 31% margin, the survey shows. Among the 15% who were not certain about whom they would support, nearly two said they were leaning toward Jackson for every one that was leaning toward supporting LaHood. […]
In a prospective match-up against Republican Congressman Mark Kirk, Jackson wins 48% support, compared to 32% for Kirk. Among the 15% who are leaning toward one candidate or the other, Kirk has a 10% to 7% edge, the survey shows.
* Bill Dennis wonders about the inclusion of LaHood…
Really? I’ve heard LaHood mentioned as a candidate for governor. This is the first mention I’ve heard that he might run for Senate.
* Laura Washington probably said it best this week…
U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. has been furiously pitching for weeks. His fingerprints are all over the incessant speculation about his candidacy. Triple J is probably speaking Senatese in his sleep. Time to cool it, congressman.
* And, for whatever reason, The Hill turned to former director of the NAACP’s Washington bureau, Hilary Shelton, for comment…
Shelton also urged that an African-American be selected to take Obama’s Senate seat.
“We strongly believe the Senate should be much more integrated,” said Shelton. Obama is the only African-American member of the Senate, and only the third since Reconstruction.
“Gov. [Rod] Blagojevich [D] should choose someone who is consistent with the will of the people who elected Obama, someone who represents the values and priorities that Obama ran on when he was elected to the U.S. Senate,” Shelton said.
* Roger Simon of the Politico muses…
Gov. Blagojevich is not a fan of Jackson’s either, and, personalities and feuds aside, the argument used against Jackson is that he would “lack appeal downstate” when he had to run for election to the Senate seat in 2010. Lacking appeal downstate is code for, “White people won’t vote for him.”
A Chicago political insider whom I trust says that Jackson is on a list of possible replacements for Obama but that Jackson has only an outside chance.
And continues…
One intriguing name on the shortlist is that of Emil Jones, 73, currently president of the Illinois Senate. He was one of Obama’s political patrons, is close to the governor and is an African-American, yet I got snorts of derision when I ran his name past some other Illinois sources of mine. That’s because Jones is from the old school — he started out as a sewer inspector, which is not bad training for a life in politics — and is not a modern, ready-for-TV candidate, possessing an orator’s tongue. He is a Chicago pol — the ring tone on his cell phone is the theme from “The Godfather” — but he would be a “place holder” only and would not run in 2010. He would fill the seat with an African-American and give the other contenders plenty of time to start their campaigns.
There are many, many reasons not to appoint Jones and Jackson, but all the pundits are getting way ahead of themselves here.
* Related…
* Why 2010 Won’t Be Like 1994
* Durbin has a favored Obama replacement — but he’s not talking
* Durbin talks about daughter’s death before election
* Durbin round up
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* This is just ducky…
The Blagojevich administration has stopped payment on most state-subsidized health care, asking a judge to clarify his order to shut down an illegal expansion of the FamilyCare program.
Court documents indicate state reimbursement to doctors treating more than 500,000 FamilyCare patients stopped Oct. 15, the day Cook County Circuit Judge James R. Epstein ordered the administration to halt an expansion of the program to people with higher incomes. […]
Although rejected repeatedly by the Legislature, Gov. Rod Blagojevich unilaterally reinstated the coverage and expanded it to 400 percent of the poverty level, or $83,000 for four. Participants are supposed to pay premiums on a sliding scale. […]
Two prominent businessmen and a lawyer sued, and after an appellate court upheld Epstein’s April ruling, the judge ordered the administration Oct. 15 to submit its plan for dismantling the program.
In it, the administration says Epstein’s order could be construed to cover nearly all 537,000 participants in FamilyCare, except those receiving welfare cash assistance. So it stopped submitting vouchers it receives from health care providers to the state comptroller for reimbursement.
In other words, the judge told the administration to stop funding the illegal aspect of the Family Care program, so the administration stopped funding everything.
Either they are so incompetent that they can’t tell the difference between the illegal program and the legal program, or they are deliberately creating a crisis of huge proportions. Or both.
Whatever the case, this could turn out to be a freaking disaster for thousands of innocent people caught in this power grab.
* Meanwhile…
State lawmakers might take up a bill this week that gives autistic children up to $36,000 a year in health care coverage to pay for diagnosis and treatment.
But there’s no guarantee the bill will pass, lawmakers and advocates say.
“I think it’s possible but I don’t think it’s likely,” said state Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline. “I think we’re going to see a lot of slow, measured movement.”
The reason it’s not likely to pass is that the House Speaker refuses to allow the governor to create implementation rules because the governor believes that the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules has no legal oversight authority, even though the governor himself signed a law giving JCAR more teeth. The Senate is sticking with the governor so far, and Speaker Madigan won’t budge from his position.
* And Mike Lawrence vents…
In addition to what he said is Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s abuse of the state constitution, Lawrence took to task Speaker of the House Michael Madigan for maintaining “animosity” toward the governor, a fellow Democrat, as well as a continued “distrust” of House Minority Leader Tom Cross.
I generally agree. Madigan has always found a way to deal with everyone else and keep the state moving forward except when it comes to Rod Blagojevich. But if the governor won’t follow the constitution, can’t be trusted to hold up his end of any deal and may be supremely incompetent (see top story), then why should anyone not have “animosity” towards him?
Discuss.
* Somewhat related…
* Scandal city: Merriner’s latest book is the just-published The Man Who Emptied Death Row: Governor George Ryan and the Politics of Crime. And though there’s lots about insider shenanigans in the book — Ryan remains in prison today, convicted of political corruption — Merriner understood there was more to the former Illinois governor’s story.
* Former Ryan prosecutors reunited
* SJ-R Opinion: FOIA needs reform — now: How many stories have to be written about Illinois’ broken Freedom of Information Act before Attorney General Lisa Madigan proposes an overhaul?
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A quick peek at abortion politics
Wednesday, Nov 12, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* My latest syndicated newspaper column takes a look at a couple of abortion-related groups and their influence on the General Assembly…
Two groups, one pro-choice and the other pro-life, are doing their best to bend the Illinois Statehouse to their respective wills. Let’s peek in, shall we?
State Rep. Ruth Munson (R-Elgin) was defeated last week by Democratic challenger Keith Farnham. The House Democrats dumped hundreds of thousands of dollars into Farnham’s campaign, and Farnham himself walked precincts like it was a full-time job.
A pro-choice group called Personal PAC also played a role in the race. Munson, who was considered pro-choice, voted against a compromise parental notification of abortion bill supported by pro-choice groups. Personal PAC vowed to make an example of her.
The political action committee pulls no punches in its aggressive campaigns. One operative running a legislative race in a district where Personal PAC was neutral privately expressed his relief a few weeks ago about not having to deal with the constant brush fires the group creates.
The group spent almost $374,000 between July 1 and Election Day, ranking it ahead of some heavy Statehouse hitters like the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. It’s definitely not a minor player.
Unlike most political action committees, the group does not usually contribute cash. Instead, it runs its own campaigns, and that often drives people a bit crazy. For instance, the group is infamous for putting legislators of different parties into the same mailers. This year, it paired Evanston Democratic Sen. Jeff Schoenberg with Republican Rep. Beth Coulson of Glenview in a mailer supporting Coulson, which didn’t go over too well in some circles. Schoenberg was backing Coulson’s Democratic opponent, Daniel Biss.
As Rep. Munson discovered, keeping Personal PAC off one’s back is not easy. Unlike many organizations, Personal PAC requires purity. Most groups might endorse incumbents with 70 percent voting records (or even lower), but that won’t happen with Personal PAC.
That’s why the group always campaigns hard for what it considers pro-choice incumbents, even when challengers answer surveys indicating that they are also 100 percent pro-choice. This can cause problems, as it did this year when Personal PAC went all-out for Rep. Coulson. A whole lot of Democrats thought the group should’ve taken it easier on Coulson’s pro-choice Democratic opponent, Daniel Biss. Personal PAC was not moved. It’s one thing to say you’re pro-choice, but it’s entirely another to prove you’ll stick with the organization every single time push comes to shove, as Coulson has done over and over again without exception.
Terry Cosgrove, who runs Personal PAC, said months ago that he wanted to defeat Rep. Munson so other legislators could see what happens when they stray too far from their proclaimed pro-choice beliefs.
Actually, he said he wanted to hang Munson’s head on the wall (figuratively, of course). Cosgrove got his trophy.
Meanwhile, some pro-life groups threw down the gauntlet last week. The groups told the Senate Republicans to choose whomever they want to replace retiring Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson, just as long as it isn’t Sen. Christine Radogno (R-Lemont).
Family PAC led the charge. The group, run by longtime conservative activist Paul Caprio, sent a letter to Senate Republicans this week expressing dismay that the pro-choice, pro gay rights Radogno was being seriously considered as Watson’s replacement. Radogno, Caprio wrote, was “not in the mainstream of Senate Republican thinking on key family issues.”
Caprio said that while he has degrees of differences with various members of the Senate Republican caucus, he believed that almost any other Senator in the 22-member caucus would be better as the Republican Leader than Radogno.
Caprio wouldn’t discuss the list of possible alternative candidates, but he did say that he could work with another declared candidate, Sen. Kirk Dillard, even though Dillard (R-Hinsdale) had appeared in a television advertisement for Barack Obama. Caprio said it was “stupid” of Dillard to do that, but he believed Dillard would be an honest broker, unlike Radogno.
Sen. Radogno said last week that she has yet to speak with Caprio about his campaign, but she’d like to sit down with him soon. She said as leader she would try to focus on the issues that “bring Republicans together,” and vowed not to impose any of her beliefs on other members.
It’s not certain how much impact this move by Caprio and social conservative groups will have. The Senate Republican caucus as a whole is very conservative and pro-life groups are very influential with them. But they are also some of the most independent-minded people under the Statehouse dome.
* Related…
* Legislators to decide on leadership
* Over Dinner, Senate Dems to Campaign for Top Job
* New Senate leaders could bring hope Illinoisans need
* Righter says he’s not going to seek leadership of state Senate Republicans
* Rise up, sh’rooms of Springfield, rise up!
* State Capitol Q&A: What is the fall veto session?
* Web site declares ‘It’s Time for Tom’
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Morning shorts
Wednesday, Nov 12, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Daley budget hits, clears 1st hurdle
* Satellite TV tax may sting – but it’s fair
* More Budget Hearings
* Cook County’s Latest Boondoggle
* Local Housing Group Reacts to Citigroup’s Mortgage Relief Plan
Over the next 6 months, Citigroup plans to reach out to a half a million homeowners who are behind on their mortgage payments. Geoff Smith is vice president of the Chicago-based Woodstock Institute, a housing policy group. Smith says the program could really help homeowners but, he still has some concerns.
SMITH: You have a really this really splashy press release with big numbers attached to it in terms of the number of borrowers this is going to help. But then there’s all sorts of fine print that has to be looked at.
* Conflicts, money, bog down probe of Illinois death case billings
A request by the Illinois Attorney General’s Office for an investigation into a lawyer’s bills to a state death penalty defense fund is mired in concerns over conflicts of interest, and a lack of money.
The newspaper found some people charging the fund as much as $300 an hour for merely driving to a trial, expense vouchers labeled only as “out-of-pocket expenses” and inconsistencies in the billing times for meetings. One private investigator was allowed to bill for his support staff’s work at his own professional hourly rate.
“Obviously, there needs to be an investigation,” Duncan said. “The question is who ought to do it.”
The Attorney General’s Office said the appellate prosecutor was involved only in Sutherland’s first case — not the second where the questioned bills were submitted — making it the appropriate investigative arm. “
* Study: Isolate Great Lakes basin
Waterways engineered more than a century ago to connect the Great Lakes and Mississippi River watersheds should be altered to stop the exchange of invasive species that can cause irreversible damage, an environmental advocacy group says.
* 2008 wettest ever for central Ill.
* State rep asks Madigan to review price of road salt
* Time for local candidates to prepare
But just when you thought it was safe to focus on other things - the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are only weeks away - a new batch of candidates are gearing up for the April 2009 consolidated election.
* CTA Likely On Cusp Of Fare Hike
Transit Board To Vote On Plan To Hike Fares 25 Cents
* Compute the commute to save
Stung by roller-coaster gas prices, commuters in record numbers are hopping aboard buses and trains in the Chicago area, but they can shave even more off the cost of getting to work—as much as $500 a year.
By setting aside part of their pre-tax earnings, commuters can help cover transit or van-pooling costs.
The wrinkle is that fewer than 2,000 Chicago-area companies provide such benefits to workers, according to the Regional Transportation Authority.
* One commuter’s experience
* Tollway invites comments on truck fees
* Vrdolyak has to pay $6,000 in jury expenses
A judge has ordered a former Chicago alderman who suddenly pleaded guilty in a real estate kickback case to pay nearly $6,000, the cost of bringing dozens of prospective jurors to court.
Vrdolyak pleaded guilty earlier this month for his role in the sale of a $15 million North Side property. Shadur has said Vrdolyak’s last-minute plea came too late to contact jurors and tell them not to come to court. Vrdolyak’s payment is due by Nov. 21. He faces a maximum five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he’s sentenced Jan. 9.
* New Holocaust museum aims to remember the past, transform the future
* Greeley remains critical after fall
* Attorney General Madigan offers service for vets
* Bacteria that attack guts more widespread than believed, study finds
A nasty germ that wreaks havoc in people’s guts is infecting hospital patients at rates much higher than previously estimated, according to a report released Tuesday.
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