Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Thursday, Mar 23, 2006 - Posted by Capitol Fax Blog Advertising Department

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The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) wants to overrule the experts at the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), who have determined that competition is best for consumers.

In 1997, the legislature passed a law resulting in a 20% residential rate cut and freeze. Illinois consumers now pay rates 30-35% less than the average rate in the 10 largest US cities.

After that freeze expires in December, Illinois utilities must purchase electricity on the open market. The ICC unanimously voted for a competitive bidding system, the Illinois Auction, as the best way for utilities to buy energy. The approved plan also includes many consumer protections.

Instead of welcoming competition, CUB advocates increasing government interference and jeopardizing electric reliability by extending the current rate freeze. This would require utilities to pay more to buy power than they could charge consumers.

When California utilities were prohibited from recovering their costs, consumers paid the price. There were massive blackouts and taxpayers spent billions of dollars to fix the mess.

Experts believe Illinois could experience a California-style energy crisis if the ICC is not allowed to set sound policies to ensure low-cost, reliable electricity.

Hopefully the General Assembly will see the wisdom in defeating this dangerous proposal.

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Guv wants 10 debates

Thursday, Mar 23, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

From a press release:

Chicago — Governor Rod Blagojevich challenged opponent Judy Baar Topinka today to a series of ten public debates to compare their records and discuss the important issues facing the people of Illinois. Governor Blagojevich wrote to Topinka today to extend the invitation.

â€œThe voters of Illinois would benefit from a series of debates where they can hear our positions on important issues. The people of Illinois should see for themselves where we stand, what weâ€™ve done and where we want to lead our state,â€ Blagojevich wrote.

Governor Blagojevich emphasized that he wants to begin the exchange of views early in the general election campaign.

â€œToday I propose to you that we have 10 public debates, beginning in April, with approximately one per month to start and with greater frequency as the election draws near. I see no reason to crowd these important debates into September or October. The voters will benefit from an exchange of views and the sooner the better,â€ Blagojevich wrote.

Governor Blagojevichâ€™s campaign will contact Topinkaâ€™s campaign to discuss the details of the series of debates. The Governor hopes that Topinka will agree to the ambitious debate schedule and that they begin in April.

â€œFrom providing access to preschool for every child in Illinois to raising the minimum wage, Judy Baar Topinka and I disagree on issues that matter to working families. I believe people in every part of Illinois should hear us debate the key issues and the conversation should begin soon,â€ Governor Blagojevich said.

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How did I miss this?

Thursday, Mar 23, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Cornelia Grumman had a great column the other day.

Many Illinois citizens will enter the voting booth today only to confront a raft of candidates they’ve never heard of, particularly as they travel south down the ballot, where they’ll find the races for state representatives, county commissioners and judges.

They’ll feel clueless.

I have the opposite problem. I know too much.

I coordinate the Tribune’s political endorsements for the editorial board. I’m the one who sends detailed questionnaires to the candidates. Nearly 80 percent of the 275 candidates on various ballots in the six-county Chicago-area responded. Together with my colleagues on the board, we read through their answers. We do some reporting on each of them and background checks on many. Since February, we’ve interviewed more than 110 candidates.

Then she went on to list some handy pointers for candidates. Buried way down was this.

Sex sells–sometimes. In 2004, Democratic U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. faced Libertarian Stephanie Sailor in the general election. Sailor released a campaign photo of herself brandishing a handgun while wearing a skin-tight T-shirt and high-heeled boots. Surprisingly, she lost.

Either I’ve completely erased that candidate’s memory from my mind, or I never heard about this photo.

Whatever the case, if you ever plan to run for office you need to read Grumman’s column.

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Massive Rate Increases Lead New Jersey to Rethink Controversial Electric Auction

Thursday, Mar 23, 2006 - Posted by Capitol Fax Blog Advertising Department

(The following is a paid advertisement)

Hereâ€™s the latest on the New Jersey auction that Exelon/ComEd and Ameren want to bring to Illinois:

State reviews auction of electric power
Friday, March 17, 2006
BY TOM JOHNSON
Star-Ledger Staff

Worried about rising electricity bills, the state yesterday decided to re-examine how New Jersey’s utilities purchase the electrical power they sell to light the homes and businesses of more than 3 million customers.

The state Board of Public Utilities will review its annual auction in which the four electric utilities lock up long-term contracts worth about $7 billion to supply power to customers. The move comes one month after the latest auction saw a 55 percent jump in electricity prices.

The huge increase led to an outpouring of criticism from consumers and industry advocates who questioned whether the auction, a secretive process conducted among suppliers and utilities through an online purchasing system, is yielding competitive prices.

Letâ€™s not repeat the mistakes of New Jersey. Vote for HB 5766, the Electric Consumer Protection Act. When even Exelon CEO John Rowe admits that â€œmaking a market system that works here [in Illinois] is still a problemâ€ and New Jersey is rethinking the whole scheme, why should we move ahead with a flawed auction scheme? (Wall Street Journal, 2/28/2006

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Question of the day

Thursday, Mar 23, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

The AP has a list of winners and losers in this year’s primary campaign. That got me to wondering how you might view this topic.

Pick your winners and losers for the ‘06 primary.

60 Comments

Protected: Subscribers only - Campaign roundups

Thursday, Mar 23, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

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The first shot

Thursday, Mar 23, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Expect more of this sort of thing. Blagojevich will make a politically popular but liberal proposal, and Topinka will be forced to say no.

Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich fired the first salvo of the general election campaign Wednesday by challenging Republican foe Judy Baar Topinka to back a $1-an-hour increase in the stateâ€™s minimum wage.

â€œMy opponent â€¦ didnâ€™t lift a finger, ducked the issue of whether she was for a minimum wage increase,â€ Blagojevich said at a campaign news conference on Chicagoâ€™s Northwest Side a few blocks from where he grew up.

Topinka offered a frank retort, offering a preview of what the next seven-plus months are going to be like.

â€œOh my goodness, I guess heâ€™s been polling again and weâ€™re going to do another giveaway program. He specializes in that,â€ she said while walking into a GOP unity breakfast Wednesday morning. â€œThings that canâ€™t be afforded or can be foisted onto someone else.â€

Topinka, however, said sheâ€™s not ready to support increasing the minimum wage to $7.50 an hour.

UPDATE: Greg Blankenship disagrees, and he has a good point.

I guess that I disagree with Rich that JBT will be forced to say no to these popular programs. She will have a choice. She can say no, that we can’t afford it. Or, she can say not only can we do it, we can do it more effectively and more efficiently. The difference is that our way enriches the individual and Rod’s way makes us poorer.

18 Comments

Oberweis takes ball, goes home

Thursday, Mar 23, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Topinka and Oberweis aren’t making nice-nice.

Oberweis suggested Topinka would have to meet certain conditions to get his formal endorsement. The only condition he cited was calling for much-criticized lobbyist Robert Kjellander to resign his post on the Republican National Committee.

Topinka brushed off Oberweis.

“I don’t see that we’re going to talk about conditions, for heaven’s sake, we’re trying to bring a party together,” she said.

Her running mate, DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett, had harsher words.

“If he wants to have any future in Illinois politics he should wake up and smell the coffee,” Birkett said. “Judy won this race fair and square. He lost. He should embrace her.”

How long will it take her to pull her party together? Can she? Do you think a third-party conservative is a possibility?

51 Comments

“Ballot madness”

Thursday, Mar 23, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

I am in almost total agreement with this Tribune editorial about the problems with the new voting equipment in Cook County and Chicago.

Machines were programmed incorrectly. Some were sent out with parts missing. Some had power cords that were too short to reach the nearest outlet. Election judges were expected to follow a complex, multipage manual of instructions for running and closing polls–but were given little or no preparation. Some had training for up to three hours. But some didn’t lay hands on the machines they were in charge of until primary day.

The worst problems began when polls closed. A cellular system to transmit results from more than 3,000 polling places to central counting centers had widespread failure. On the fly, officials ordered precincts to give up on the balky transmissions, pluck the data cartridges out of voting machines and send them to the central office for processing. Many were shipped by taxicab. […]

There’s no excuse for Tuesday’s failures. […]

This needs a lot of scrutiny. Why was this equipment used? How were the contracts let? Why was the preparation so shoddy?

The last part, about merging the county and city election systems, is less appealing to me, but I’m still open to the idea. We still don’t have complete results for several elections. What are your thoughts about Tuesday night’s problems?

13 Comments

Maps

Thursday, Mar 23, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Click on each map for the full county-by-county results.

And if you have trouble with your counties, here’s a map of Illinois with the county names (click for larger image).

Your thoughts?

9 Comments

Morning shorts

Thursday, Mar 23, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Â· This is way late, but Meeks sounds somewhat serious. I’m still not ready to believe he’ll run, though.

Â· $163 per vote

Â· HDO shakes off scandal, wins 4 races

Â· CBS2’s great website has a lot of video from election night.

Â· If Stroger’s replaced, black leaders must unify

Â· Ryan jury intrigue. Sounds like they’re not getting along and maybe one or two holdouts.

Â· Krol has a look ahead. Good stuff.

Â· Topinka leaves impromptu “mini debate”

Â· I don’t know why this guy thinks that Topinka was the “best funded” candidate in the primary, but this isn’t a totally bad analysis.

Â· Duckworth versus Roskam a clear-cut clash

Â· McSweeney vs. Bean.

Â· “Birkett proves he’s a strong addition to Topinka team”

Â· More later

8 Comments

Question of the night

Wednesday, Mar 22, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

This is another election results open thread. Sorry for no posting today. Between working until 6 this morning and driving back to Springfield, I didn’t have a lot of time and energy. You guys are apparently doing well enough without me, though.

Once again, here are the results. Claypool conceded, by the way.

21 Comments

Question of the day

Wednesday, Mar 22, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Check out the results and tell us what sticks out for you the most.

Everyone did a great job last night, by the way. I’m beat. More later.

248 Comments

Oberweis concedes

Wednesday, Mar 22, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

He just called JBT.

24 Comments

McSweeney way up

Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Looks like there could be another loss for the Salvi family.

This is a new results open thread.

38 Comments

Cell phone isn’t working here

Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

My cell isn’t working at the studios, so if you get a call from 312.565… answer the call. Thanks.

Also, please send any updates to my aol email account.

Thanks.

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Geo way behind

Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

With 79 percent of the vote in, Sen. Adeline Geo-Karis is trailing Suzanne Simpson 56-43.

Post results here.

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Just in time for primary day

Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

SurveyUSA released its gubernatorial approval ratings today.

Rod Blagojevich is at 44 percent approve, 52 percent disapprove. Trendlines here (he’s improving) crosstabs here.

12 Comments

Dirty Tricks

Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Well, you knew it had to happen. Two years ago, some “unknown person” put out a reprehensible flier right before primary day accusing Rep. David Miller of some awful stuff.

Miller (D-Calumet City) is up against Bob Shaw this time around, so he’s been waiting for another late hit. It happened today.

Fliers are reportedly being handed out at some Dolton precinct places (Bob Shaw’s brother is mayor of Dolton) that claim Rep. Miller is supporting Forrest Claypool against John Stroger (which would be a big no-no in that district).

The flier is made to look like it came from Miller himself. You can see it here (jpg file).

Have you heard of any other dirty tricks today?

13 Comments

Reminder

Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Bloggers and commenters, please remember that I’ll be highlighting Illinois political blogs tonight on Fox News Chicago from 9 to 11. It would help if bloggers tell me what they’re doing in comments. Thanks.

36 Comments

Uptick

Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

As of 3 o’clock in Cicero Township, Democrats had taken 700 more ballots than Republicans, about 2000 Dem to 1300 GOP.

Keep up the great work in comments. Let’s hear more.

UPDATE: AP story:

Election officials already said turnout for Tuesday’s primary election could be extraordinarily low, and that was before a storm dumped more than nine inches of snow on parts of central Illinois. […]

Voter turnout at Chicago polls was light, and “nothing like it had been in the 2004 presidential (race) where we had lines in the morning,” said Tom Leach, spokesman for the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners. “This kind of election generally generates a 39 percent turnout, hopefully we’ll do that or better.”

4 Comments

Problems?

Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

I’ve heard some serious horror stories about this issue today.

Across Illinois voters are noticing some changes in how they cast their ballots. Punch cards with their pregnant and hanging chads are history. They’re being replaced in several ways. In Chicago a few voters are using touch screens. However, most are using ballots that are filled with a pen and then scanned and recorded by machine.

At about half-dozen polling sites, the optical scanners that read the ballots malfunctioned and voters put their choices in a box to be counted later.

“It makes me a little uneasy about the election process,” said Linda Junker.

A few people also received two ballots by mistake. Election officials warn it will likely take a little longer for results to roll in Tuesday night.

“They’re just not going to come in as fast as in the past because judges have two systems,” said Chicago Elections Chairman Langdon Neal.

Post your own experiences with the new equipment below.

UPDATE: Charlie Madigan has lots more.

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Session cancelled

Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Both the House and Senate have called off Wednesday’s session.

13 Comments

Weather

Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

AP:

A spring snowstorm today forced dozens of central Illinois schools to close and the postponement of a high-profile murder trial.

As much as two inches of snow an hour fell in some spots, with wind gusts of up to 40 miles an hour, weather officials said. A blizzard warning was in effect for 11 counties.

The storm occurred on Election Day, as Illinois residents headed to the polls to cast votes in primary races, including the gubernatorial contest and a host of congressional, legislative and local races.

Election officials had already said–not factoring any weather problems — that turnout for the election could be extraordinarily low.

By midmorning, Mattoon was the hardest-hit with seven inches of snow and Shelbyville and Jacksonville each got six inches of snow, said Ernie Goetsch, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Lincoln.

Forecasters expected snow totals to range from three to eight across central Illinois, including Springfield, Decatur and Champaign.

“It’s beginning to taper off a little bit, it’ll take another two-to-three more hours before it lets up,'’ Goetsch said. “By noon it should be on the way out.'’

27 Comments

A little help…

Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

I’m asking my blog readers to be “citizen reporters” today. You’ll notice below that most posts ask what’s going on in your neck of the woods. Instead of just debating who is going to win, or who should win, try to give us as much detail as possible about what’s happening in various races by you. If you work for a campaign, tell us how it’s going.

The focus is on you today. Have at it.

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Question of the day

Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

The Rockford Register-Star wants uninformed voters to stay home today.

By all means, do not go to the polls today if you canâ€™t identify at least one significant difference between your favorite Republican candidate and the four others who are running in the gubernatorial primary.

Likewise, if you havenâ€™t paid enough attention during Gov. Rod Blagojevichâ€™s administration to spell and pronounce his name, take a pass.

The Belleville News-Democrat wants everyone to vote.

When only a small percentage of people vote, the political insiders win. Choosing not to participate in an election is basically a vote for the status quo. It means that the people who stay home either support the party choice, or else are so apathetic they can’t be bothered.

Is that really the message metro-east residents want to send to the powers that be, particularly given the recent vote fraud convictions in St. Clair County?

Pick a side and defend it.

41 Comments

Almost over

Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Just let me get through this day.

For weeks, the main hopefuls have been sniping at one another and at front-runner Judy Baar Topinka. They’ve criticized Topinka, the state treasurer, for skipping some debates. Businessmen Ron Gidwitz and Jim Oberweis contend they alone have the wealth necessary to face Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who is sitting on $15 million he’s barely had to touch in fending off a primary challenge of his own from former Chicago Alderman Edwin Eisendrath.

This is a statewide election day thread. Post news from your polling place, word on the street, tell us how you voted, etc. Have fun.

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Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Three in a row

Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Sweet makes a good point.

It’s possible that today’s primaries will yield three Democratic House nominees from adjacent suburban Illinois districts — who don’t live in their districts. It’s perfectly legal. All that’s required is to live in the state. But three in a row may be a tempting target for national Republicans to bundle together if, for no other reason, than to irritate Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), the chief of the House Democratic political operation.

Frontrunner Tammy Duckworth, running in the 6th C.D. lives in the 8th C.D.

Dan Seals, the favorite in the 10th C.D. race, lives in the 9th.

And Rep. Melissa Bean (D-Ill.), who represents the 8th, lives in the 10th, just about 1,000 feet over the border.

This is a congressional primary open thread. Post news from your precinct, word on the street, etc.

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Daley takes umbrage

Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Hizzoner fires back at reporters.

Daley and the others bristled when reporters asked what the party would do if Stroger wins but is unable to run in the November election.

“You have John Stroger in the grave. That’s the question. That’s Unfair. Theoretically, you have him in the grave. I’d hate to be your father,” Daley said.

“He’s not dead. He’s still alive and he will be there as long as he can wake up and open his eyes,” said Ald. William Beavers, 7th Ward.

Also, I loved the prose in this Tribune graf.

Writing another chapter to the region’s already healthy election lore, Democratic voters in Cook County also will decide the nomination for County Board president between a hospitalized John Stroger, who faces an uncertain future after suffering a stroke last week, and reform-themed candidate Forrest Claypool.

This is a Cook County presidential race open thread. Predictions, precinct reports, observations, etc.

22 Comments

Tuesday morning shorts

Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Â· Newspapers may not have election results in time for the publication deadlines. The Daily Herald has an explanation. The Tribune has more. A buddy told me yesterday he hoped the George Ryan verdict is handed down today so the papers will have something to report tomorrow morning.

Â· The LA Times does a story about today’s Illinois elections and uses George Ryan as the hook.

Â· Today, you wade into the party divides.

Â· More George Ryan trail intersecting with the primary stuff.

Â· Yesterday Ron Gidwit sent out an e-mail urging supporters to get out and vote. Unfortunately, the Gidwitz campaign informed their people that the polls open at 7am. The polls open at 6. Oops.

Â· Portentous placards or insignificant inducements? More here. Always remember, yard signs don’t vote.

Â· Strange.

But Beachler says that on Wednesday, an IDOT truck pulled up. Workers plucked up several signs - all of them belonging to Edwin Eisendrath, Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s lone opponent today.

At first, Beachler wondered if maybe Blagojevich had dispatched his IDOT minions to harvest all his opponent’s signs. But the next day, another IDOT crew came by to snatch up all of the rest of the signs.

The signs were on private property but the owner didn’t complain.

Â· More later

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