Question of the day
Wednesday, Nov 7, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
From a reader…
Why not ask everyone to explain the meaning of their blog names? It
might be interesting for some of those who are kind of new to the blog to find out where names like Vanilla Man, Yellow Dog Democrat, One of the 35, Squideshi, etc. came from.
Do you have a reason behind your blog name?
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Some progress, but slow
Wednesday, Nov 7, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Lee News summed it up pretty well…
Top state leaders left town last week saying they would wrap up this year’s record-setting overtime session within seven to 10 days.
It came as no surprise Tuesday that they are now revising — and extending — their time frame to craft a construction plan financed by an expansion of gambling.
When asked if a deal could be hammered out within the seven- to 10-day window, Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson, R-Greenville, said, “I think we’re talking more time than that.”
Asked whether a deal could be worked out before the end of the year, Watson said, “It’s hard to say.”
Despite the slower-than-predicted pace of talks, the leaders emerged Tuesday from a two-hour, closed-door meeting sounding optimistic that a plan could be pieced together that would bring road, bridge and school construction projects to every corner of the state.
It’s slow progress. Very, very slow.
* SJ-R…
Talks are centering on a land-based casino for Chicago, a new riverboat casino at a location to be determined, allowing existing riverboats to add gaming positions and permitting horse racing tracks to install slot machines. Some lawmakers, though, are pushing for two more riverboat casino licenses in addition to Chicago’s. Others oppose slot machines at horse racing tracks.
“I could vote for slots at the tracks,” Watson said. “I’m not sure I’ve got members who can.”
The negotiators are trying to figure out just how large a gambling-expansion bill can get through the General Assembly. The larger the expansion, the more money generated for public works projects.
Madigan’s call for a completely revamped Illinois Gaming Board is also apparently causing some problems. Madigan has proposed a series of changes to the board that he said will free it from political influences. He is insisting that his changes be part of any gaming expansion.
* Bethany Jaeger: “Tings are OK”
That’s House Speaker Michael Madigan using his best Chicago accent to jokingly gauge the progress of leaders’ meeting with Gov. Rod Blagojevich Tuesday in Springfield to discuss the expansion of gaming for new revenue. Turning on the serious tone, Madigan said, “We had a good meeting, and it appears that we’re making progress. Not everything is resolved. There are differences, which I’m not going to get into.”
* Carol Marin: Capitol mess lies in dome’s shadow
Frankly, even the most talented among them — and there are a number of good legislators — are forced to be just furniture sitting around waiting to be sat on by the leaders they lack the gumption or the ability to fight.
And so the state of Illinois is functionally in the hands of five guys. A governor who hates his own House speaker, Michael Madigan. A House speaker who despises and is despised by his fellow Democrat, Senate President Emil Jones. And two Republicans flailing in the minority, House leader Tom Cross and Senate leader Frank Watson.
Cross’ earnest shuttle diplomacy notwithstanding, what has the paralysis, posturing and outright animosity of this brawling band of brothers already cost us in money thrown down a sinkhole?
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Ryan roundup
Wednesday, Nov 7, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Michael Sneed: Goodbye George
“I was innocent then and I’m innocent now … and we are still pressing ahead in our legal battle.
“But it certainly has been a 10-year nightmare.”
So the man who once wept when he met South African President Nelson Mandela — but has maintained a dry-eyed stoicism since his conviction on corruption charges — spent his final night at home, with his wife, Lura Lynn, his extended family . . . and a piece of banana cream pie.
* Mark Brown: You’re guilty Ryan an we know it
Ryan should have just kept his mouth shut if he didn’t have the sense or decency to acknowledge the error of his ways.
He should have waved at the cameras and climbed into his car and drove to Oxford, Wis., and waved once more from inside the car when he got up there.
Then, in 2012 — when the now 73-year-old former governor will get out of prison, if he lasts that long — he could have waved twice more on the way home. Fine by me.
* John Kass: Shame on Ryan–and us– for corruption
Ryan was our governor, whether you voted for him or not, and most who voted for him will have conveniently forgotten by now. I didn’t vote for him, and many of you didn’t either, but even so, shame washes over all. It stains us, collectively, because he was our governor.
The stain deepens if we pretend George Ryan’s corruption is some isolated case. He’s not the exception, but the rule among the boss hogs in Illinois politics. Ask yourself whether you think they’re in public life to give honest service to overburdened taxpayers, or to amass fortunes for their families and friends.
* Ryan’s decades of service tainted by scandalous end
There is no doubt that Ryan, 73, accomplished some big things after becoming governor in 1999.
He was the first U.S. governor to visit Cuba since Fidel Castro seized power there. He passed a major construction program to rebuild Illinois roads and bridges.
The Republican drew national attention to problems with capital punishment, even being mentioned for the Nobel Peace Prize, after he suspended executions in Illinois and emptied out death row by commuting the sentences of all 167 inmates to life in prison. He cited the risk of the criminal justice system making a grave and irreversible error.
“Why would anybody take any great satisfaction that this man is going to prison?” asked Republican state Rep. Bill Black. “He had decades of, I think, noble service.”
* Sun-Times Editorial: It’s about time ex-gov starts doing his time
* Tribune Editorial: Ryan’s gone, who’s next?
* Ryan remains defiant
* Former governor prepares to do time
* Former governor Ryan going to prison today
* Former governor Ryan leaves for prison this morning
* Prison-bound Ryan still defiant
* Chicago Public Radio: Former Gov. heads to prison
* What former governor can expect in prison
* NBC5 Videos of Ryan saga: Ryan’s statement; Daley, Blago react; Former Gov. Thompson
* Clout Street: Daley offers kind words to ex-Gov Ryan and family
* Small rural town home to federal prison
* Books, governor to arrive at prison on the same day
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Morning shorts
Wednesday, Nov 7, 2007 - Posted by Paul Richardson
* Majority of Illinois voters favor gov’s recall
* Arbitrator urged for cable dispute
Sen. Dale Risinger, R-Peoria, said Monday he believes cable companies want to keep channels they own, such as Comcast’s Sports Net, Versus and the Golf Channel, on basic plans “because it’s cheap to run them. And then they charge us extra for the things that we would like to see, like the sporting events.”
He is proposing legislation to have an arbitrator decide where programming should be carried when independent channels compete with channels owned by cable companies.
Risinger said the cost of attending sporting events such as football games is out of reach for many families.
* Ameren electric rate hikes expected to be a tough sell
* Schools have homework to do, parent survey finds
* Editorial: 18 year olds entitled to run for office
* Roskam’s first year in D.C.
* Illinois’ Lauzen runs hard to the right
Russell and Green speculated that the entry of a Hastert-picked candidate will set up an eventual Lauzen victory by siphoning off Oberweis supporters and encouraging typically conservative primary voters to organize around Lauzen.
But Lauzen said he sees his formula for victory in the primary as simple, and he said the contest involves two issues: “performance versus promises and … I win campaigns.”
Still, Lauzen acknowledges that his biggest asset going into the primary — his far-right base of conservative diehards — could prove problematic in a general election with Foster, when heavy swing-voter turnout is expected in 2008 presidential election.
“Primaries are easy because people generally agree with you,” Lauzen said. “General elections: you need all the people you can get.”
* WurfWhile: Lauzen risks running too far right for general election
* Former Peoria councilman formally launches campaign to replace LaHood
* How taxes affect our bottom line, a close look at the numbers [.pdf]
* Ominous letters are baloney says Cook Co. treasurer
A new Cook County fee requires mortgage firms to pay $5 in order to pay your property taxes electronically.
But instead of paying that $5, mortgage companies are sending letters to thousands of homeowners indicating the firms “may” not be able to pay the property tax bill on time.
“It will be necessary to obtain the original real estate tax bill from you to ensure timely and accurate payment,” a letter reads. “We must receive your bill no later than (Nov. 16). If the tax bill is not received by that date, we may be unable to pay it by the delinquency date (Dec. 3) and the tax collector will impose additional fees for which you may be held responsible.”
That’s baloney, says Treasurer Maria Pappas.
* Report says taxing hospitals could net $241 million for county
A report released Tuesday shows that if the county’s 54 not-for-profit hospitals were required to pay property taxes, they could be forced to cough up as much as $241 million a year. But those findings are so heavily couched and compiled using incomplete data that the results were immediately ripped by hospital officials. The report also doesn’t make allowances for the appeals or court challenges to assessed values
* Tribune Editorial: Singing he recycling blues
* New idea to shave property tax hike
They’re calling it a “public safety assessment.” It amounts to a property tax increase of 40 cents per square foot on businesses with more than 5,000 square feet of commercial or office space in an area bounded by Congress, Halsted, Michigan and the Chicago River.
The concept is simple. Since it takes more equipment and manpower to respond to a high-rise fire or other downtown emergency than it does in the neighborhoods, downtown businesses should pay more for that service.
* Daley ‘trying’ to trim tax hike further
* CPS may limit military recruiters
* Ordinance makes sure people with strollers don’t get the shaft
* McLean Co. inmates sent nearly one hundred miles away
* Let’s say Thanks to the troops
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This just in…
Tuesday, Nov 6, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* 12:13 pm - Off he goes…
Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan lost his final bid Tuesday to delay starting his prison term when Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens turned down his request to remain free on bail.
Ryan is due to report to the federal correctional center near Oxford, Wis., on Wednesday to start serving his 6½-year racketeering and fraud sentence.
The 73-year-old left his Kankakee home about 11:15 a.m., accompanied by his wife, Lura Lynn, and other family members.
* 12:27 pm - Here’s just one of the countless problems with our absolutely awful national political punditocracy. They get all of their information from paid spinmeisters, which essentially serves to form their own goofy opinions. So when somebody not in their little inner circle actually does some research on her own, they automatically assume she was hand-fed…
In a November 5 post on his campaign news website The Page, Time magazine editor-at-large and senior political analyst Mark Halperin claimed that a Chicago Sun-Times column raising questions about the transparency of Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-IL) presidential bid was the product of opposition research provided by the campaign of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY).
But the Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet, who wrote the column, denies the allegation. “I didn’t use anything in that column that came from the Clinton campaign,” Sweet confirmed in an email to Media Matters for America. According to Sweet, Halperin never contacted her before he posted his claim that her column was based on Clinton campaign opposition research coming in over the “transom.”
And these are the people who are supposed to be moderating our national discourse? Mark Halperin is a moron.
* 12:41 pm - Today’s leaders meeting with the governor has been moved to 3 o’clock from ten this morning, apparently due to some scheduling conflicts with two of the legislators.
* 1:07 pm - More on Ryan…
But it was unclear whether Ryan was actually leaving town yet. Ryan’s attorneys have been tight-lipped about the logistics of his surrender. Ryan must report to the Federal Correctional Institution at Oxford, Wis. — about an hour north of Madison — by 5 p.m. Wednesday, meaning he could leave Kankakee Wednesday morning for the roughly five-hour drive and be there in plenty of time.
His attorneys have called a press conference for 3 p.m. Tuesday in Chicago.
I guess I’ll be late to the leaders meeting.
Hat tip to a commenter.
* 2:00 pm - From the Tribbies…
House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) said today that the gambling expansion plan he’s putting together with other legislative leaders is “not real pretty,” but that it may be the key to solving Chicagoland’s mass transit funding needs. […]
“Now we’re in the situation where mass transit riders are being held hostage for what is called a capital bill. Capital means gaming, major expansion of gaming,” Madigan said. “We are working toward that end. It’s not real pretty.
“I don’t know how all of you all feel about gaming, but I’ve known people in my life, severely addicted to gaming,’’ Madigan added. “Not pretty. Marriages lost, families lost, homes lost. Not good. That’s where we’re going. And that’s what we’re working toward.”
Madigan remained mum on what kind of a gambling expansion he could support. The Senate has twice approved gambling measures this legislative session,only to see them stall in the House.
* 3:09 pm - The Associated Press really ought to change the hed it’s using on the Ryan story: “Ill. Governor to Report to Prison.” Last I checked, Rod Blagojevich was still a free man.
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* I wanted to give my subscribers a bit of time to digest a new poll from the Glengariff Group before sharing it here. Crosstabs are for subscribers only, but here are the toplines and a bit of analysis from the pollster…
• By a margin of 26.2%-65.0% Illinois voters believe the state is on the wrong track. This is an increase of 13% “wrong track” from our May 2007 voter survey.
• Governor Rod Blagojevich’s support has plummeted falling from 50.6% approving of his performance in May 2007 to only 31.5% who approve of his performance today. 61.2% of Illinois voters disapprove of the job Governor Blagojevich is doing. 42% of Illinois voters STRONGLY DISAPPROVE of Governor Blagojevich’s job performance.
• Governor Blagojevich’s job performance has three particularly severe hits:
- Chicago Voters –support has fallen from 75% approval in May to 44% approval in November.
- African American Voters – support has fallen from 81% approval in May to 38% approval in November.
- Democratic Voters – support has fallen from 71% approval in May to 42% approval in November.
• By a margin of 65%-25% Illinois voters support a Constitutional amendment allowing recalls of elected officials. This number represents a 7.5% point increase from May 2007 when the support level was 57.5%-25.0%. Support has increased in every region of the state with the greatest increases occurring in West/Northwest, Central and Southern Illinois among Independents and Republicans.
• By a margin of 52%-37% Illinois would vote to recall Governor Rod Blagojevich if they had the opportunity.
• Governor Blagojevich would be recalled in every region of the state including Cook County and the City of Chicago. Even Democrats support a recall of Governor Blagojevich.
* Methodology…
The Glengariff Group, Inc. conducted a 600 sample, random digit dial survey of registered Illinois voters. The live operator, telephone survey was conducted from November 1-3, 2007 and has a margin of error of +/- 4.0% with a confidence level of 95%. Respondents were stratified by region of the state, gender, ethnicity, and age. No questions in this survey were commissioned by any candidate, organization or company other than the Glengariff Group, Inc.
* Meanwhile, Illinois Issues has a new story out that, while including some quotes from the other side, obviously leans in favor of the idea that Illinois voters won’t support a Constitutional Convention next year…
Many observers question whether the political climate is suitable for conceiving a new constitution. [..]
The question will be put to voters a year from now, on November 4, 2008. But in order for a new convention to be called, the referendum must win support from either 60 percent of those voting on the question or a majority of all voters. “Those are tough,” says political scientist Kent Redfield. “You’re going to have ballot drop-off at the bottom. People are just going to skip the proposition.”
In fact, more voters — 1,069,939 — ignored the question 19 years ago than those who endorsed the call for a new convention — 900,109. Redfield, a professor of political studies at the University of Illinois at Springfield, says the pooling of dissatisfaction among close observers of state government could buoy support for a new convention. But those political junkies would need to get the remaining electorate hooked on the idea.
It already may be too late. An organized coalition would need 18 months and at least $12 million to wage a PR campaign capable of mustering voter support for a new Con-Con, say Ann Lousin, a research assistant to the 1969-70 convention, and veteran U of I political science professors Sam Gove and James Nowlan. They made that assessment to the Union League Club of Chicago in May. The trio also suggested a crisis in state government, be it a financial meltdown or a major scandal breaking just before next November, might raise enough public ire to swing a successful convention call. […]
“I think you’re going to have organized opposition to Con-Con. The political parties, the politicians, they know how to win with the status quo.” [said Redfield]
Maybe so, but if things don’t start changing soon around here, I can easily see how voters would approve a convention with the idea of tossing the bums out and changing the way business is done.
Thoughts?
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Question of the day
Tuesday, Nov 6, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
The setup…
Elected school officials across Illinois are being asked to back a proposed change to state law that would prohibit voting-age students from serving on the boards of the public districts where they are enrolled.
James Russell, a spokesman for the Illinois Association of School Boards, said it’s not that his group believes teenagers are not mature enough to be elected leaders where they attend classes. Instead, he said, a high school student on a board poses too many potential conflicts of interest.
“The student is now, technically, his teacher or principal’s ‘boss,’ ” according to the recommendation from the school board association’s resolutions committee. “The student is now voting on all salary and contract decisions for all personnel in the district.”
Committee members, who serve on school boards statewide, said problems also could arise because students would become privy to confidential discussions about disciplinary matters involving peers and teachers.
The question: Should students be kept off school boards? Explain fully.
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Filing day *** Updated x1 ***
Tuesday, Nov 6, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Yesterday was the last day of filing, so we have some generic stories for you today. First up, the Tribune…
In the north suburban 8th Congressional District, two-term incumbent Democratic Rep. Melissa Bean of Barrington gained a primary challenge from two last-day filers, artist Randi Scheurer of Lindenhurst and computer consultant Jonathan Farnick of Woodstock. Kirk Morris of Gurnee was a final-day filer on the Republican side to join businessman Steve Greenberg of Long Grove and Kenneth Arnold of Gurnee in seeking the GOP nomination.
In the west suburban 6th Congressional District, Jill Morgenthaler, an Army veteran who formerly served as Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s homeland security director, filed to challenge for the seat held by first-term Republican Rep. Peter Roskam of Wheaton. Morgenthaler, of Des Plaines, joins Roselle businessman Stan Jagla in seeking the Democratic nomination.
In the Republican primary for the right to challenge two-term incumbent Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, last-day filers were Norm Hill of Grayslake, who finished seventh in an eight-way race for the 2004 GOP Senate nomination, and conservative trucker Mike Psak of Chicago. Previously filing for the Republican nomination were Willowbrook physician Steve Sauerberg and frequent candidate Andy Martin.
* Pantagraph…
In the 11th Congressional District, which is being vacated by U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller of Morris, three Republicans have filed, including New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann, Jimmy Lee of North Utica and Terry Heenan of New Lenox.
The winner of that will take on Democrat Debbie Halvorson of Crete, who is currently a member of the Illinois Senate. Also running is Green Party candidate Jason Wallace of Normal.
U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood, a Peoria Republican, also is retiring in the 18th district. Three Republicans are vying to replace him, including state Rep. Aaron Schock of Peoria, Jim McConoughey of Dunlap and John Morris of Peoria.
The winner of the GOP race will face Democrat Dick Versace, former basketball coach at Bradley University.
The 14th Congressional District has drawn a big field of contenders hoping to succeed former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, who is retiring. Republicans include Jim Oberweis of Sugar Grove, state Sen. Chris Lauzen of Aurora, Mike Dilger of Evanston and Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns.
Democrats who filed are scientist Bill Foster of Geneva, St. Charles attorney Jotham Stein, Joe Serra of Geneva and John Laesch of Yorkville, who challenged Hastert last year.
Three Democrats are hoping to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. John Shimkus of Collinsville. They include Joe McMenamin of Springfield, Shirley Roney of Mount Vernon and Daniel Davis of Springfield.
* Sun-Times…
In the near Northwest Side’s 32nd Ward, nearly a century of control by the Rostenkowski family organization is coming to an end as incumbent Committeeman Terry Gabinski, a former alderman, is not even filing for re-election, leaving upstart state Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago) unopposed for committeeman.
Colleagues say Gabinski saw the writing on the wall when his ally, Ald. Ted Matlak, lost to challenger Scott Waguespack earlier this year. The old number for Gabinski’s office no longer works, and he could not be reached for comment.
Actually, Fritchey is opposed by Roger J. Romanelli, but he has no overt Machine ties. That might change, however. More from that article…
Down in South Shore in the 7th Ward, Cook County Commissioner Bill Beavers, chairman of the city caucus on the central committee, faces a challenge from Ald. Sandi Jackson, who easily knocked off Beaver’s daughter in the aldermanic race this year. […]
Freshman Ald. Bob Fioretti is trying to oust U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush as committeeman of the near South Side’s 2nd Ward. Rush once challenged Daley for the mayor’s seat, but now Daley is endorsing Rush to keep his committeeman’s seat.
Up in the 50th Ward in Rogers Park, longtime incumbent Bernie Stone faces a challenge from state Sen. Ira Silverstein.
Stone is in big, big trouble.
More in the subscriber-only section. Discuss away.
*** UPDATE *** I didn’t even check before, but it looks like Bobby Rush did not file for ward committeeman, despite the story above. Fioretti looks to be unopposed in the committeeman’s race even though I hear Rush was at the board of elections to file.
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Greens surge? Or did they come up short?
Tuesday, Nov 6, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* As I told you yesterday, the Illinois Green Party has filed a bunch of candidates in several races statewide. But it all depends on how you look at it, I suppose…
Given the legal right in Illinois to get on the ballot just as easily as Democrats or Republicans this year, Green Party candidates took advantage of the new rules - but not in great numbers.
As the eight-day filing closed for certain state, federal and party offices Monday at the State Board of Elections, totals showed just 18 Green Party candidates among the 960 candidates who submitted petitions.
Phil Huckelberry of Chicago, chairman of the Illinois Green Party’s government and elections committee, said he estimates the number of Green Party county board candidates across the state would be in the low teens. But he also noted that with the party’s power to fill ballot vacancies in races where nobody is picked in the Feb. 5 primary, he hopes the party reaches its goal of having 100 to 110 candidates, state and local, on November ballots in Illinois in 2008. […]
Huckelberry said, for example, that Green candidates for Congress this time had to turn in 600 valid signatures. In a typical congressional district two years ago, he said, that threshold for Greens was about 12,000 signatures. […]
In addition to Roberts, there are nine other candidates for U.S. House in Illinois districts, including two in the 3rd Congressional District, where the incumbent is U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski, D-Chicago. Huckelberry said Jerome Pohlen of Berwyn is the party’s endorsed candidate.
There is an undercount in the story. Five Illinois House candidates have filed, not the four reported. And, as noted above, the party can always slate candidates into other districts, legislative and Congressional.
* The Greens have also filed in several ward committeeman races in Chicago, giving them the ability to do some party-building…
A Green ward boss?
It seems an oxymoron.
The Green Party is supposed to be a bastion of of anti-war, pro-environment independents who don’t sit in back rooms smoking cigars.
But when the smoke cleared at the Cook County Clerk’s office Monday, 23 people had filed to run for Green Party ward committeeman.
Many more filed to run for everything from Metropolitan Water Reclamation District to U.S. Congress. Some Democratic candidates in close elections fear Greens will siphon votes from them, allowing Republicans to win.
Three Greens filed for MWRD. You can see the entire Cook County list here.
Discuss.
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Morning shorts
Tuesday, Nov 6, 2007 - Posted by Paul Richardson
* Political donations targeted
The Illinois Republican Party wants Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich to return political donations from a firm that has both state contracts and business ties to the governor’s wife. Mark Wight’s firm has given nearly $100,000 to the governor’s campaign since 2002 and has collected $10 million in state contracts. Illinois GOP Chairman Andy McKenna said in a statement that Blagojevich’s claims of changing business as usual in Springfield are “clearly hollow rhetoric.” There was no immediate response from the governor.
* Former Gov. Edgar on state politics, CTA
* Chicago Public Radio: Bus riders get break, but CTA still gets heat
* Editorial: State can’t afford to coast; GOP must fill vacuum - Republicans need to demonstrate the leadership that has been lacking in the top-level Democrats.
They need to be “a voice of reason,” as Bill Brady puts it.
They need to continue insisting that the state live within its means and meet current obligations before taking on new ones.
And they need to persuade rank-and-file Democrats to join them in putting the needs of Illinoisans above petty politics.
Too much is at stake to just let Illinois drift for two years or more while other states sail ahead, leaving us in their wake.
* Ralph Martire: Lawmakers, and voters, could use a dose of reality
Hence, while government requires more revenue to meet basic public service and infrastructure needs, just increasing taxes or fees isn’t going to be either popular - because it only makes an unfair tax system worse - or effective - because the system doesn’t comport with the modern economy. What’s needed to truly fix things is tax reform. One that will enable state and local governments to raise the revenue required to invest in infrastructure and services, in a manner that responds to the modern economy, while simultaneously shifting tax burden from middle- and low-income families to affluent ones.
* Daley’s smaller tax hike may satisfy aldermen
Mayor Daley’s decision to roll back his record property tax increase by $24.6 million, cut a bottled water tax in half and soften the blow of a liquor tax increase that has neighborhood tavern owners up in arms eased a City Council rebellion on Monday.
The Finance Committee voted 19 to 5 to approve the mayor’s revised $276.8 million tax package. The $83.4 million property tax increase was advanced by a vote of 16 to 6 after several Northwest Side aldermen took a walk.
* Daley’s scaled back tax hike advances
* Zorn: Tax on bottled H2O won’t hold water
* Daley weighs ambitious plan to promote ‘green;’ waits on recycling program
Wind turbines on Sears Tower and a “green” roof on the Merchandise Mart are two high-profile concepts on the drawing board as part of a wide-ranging, environmentally friendly development plan under consideration by the city.
The Chicago plan, still being drafted and not scheduled to be announced until early next year, comes as cities such as New York and Seattle have rolled out their own agendas, said members of a civic task force convened by Mayor Richard Daley.
* Cook Co. juvy center isn’t safe for kids says administrator
* Editorial: Assure humane transport of horses
* Year round schools in Illinois win converts
* School committee decides not to finalize moment of silence policy
* Ryan’s lawyers make their case for bail
* Government wants Ryan’s bail denied
* Stella Foster: Eat and Greet
Still making an effort to get some enjoyment in their embattled lives, convicted ex-Gov. George Ryan and his sweet and devoted wife, Lura Lynn, were seen dining and relaxing with a few friends at the elegant Le Petit Paris eatery on East Chestnut last Wednesday. My source told me that the couple were there for about four hours, sipped a little wine and dined on their favorite steak tartar, salad and dessert, and were in good spirits. According to another diner, the gov went around to the tables greeting people and was very well received. Ryan is scheduled to enter a Wisconsin prison on Wednesday to serve a six-year-plus term for fraud.
* Little time to spare as Ryan’s pleas heard
* Advice to Ryan, ‘You can’t change things now’
* State unveils new lottery to benefit veterans
* Illinois student loan agency to cut 68 jobs
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