Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Round Up: Election 2010

Monday, Dec 28, 2009 - Posted by Mike Murray

* Feb. primary voting kicks off today

* State eases absentee voting rule

* Early primary a godsend for incumbents

* Schoenburg: Candidates duel over Bright Start accord

* Republicans Risk Aiding Democrats by Battling Their Own in 2010

* Finke: Quinn may be prisoner of publicity

* Female voters not supporting Quinn

* Democrats, Republicans seeking governor post differ on how best to fix finances

* Governor candidates take stands on social issues

Six of the seven Republican candidates call themselves “pro-life,” while the Democrats, Gov. Pat Quinn and Comptroller Dan Hynes, support abortion rights. Only Hynes and Green Party candidate Rich Whitney support legalizing gay marriage.

* If William Kelly Does Not Understand Simple Facts About Displays In Illinois State Capitol Building, How Can He Be Comptroller For Entire State?

* Rauschenberger scored another win in political comeback

Cook County Circuit Court Judge Edward O’Brien sided with Rauschenberger in a case that centers on whether the candidate - a veteran GOP lawmaker who heads up a conservative fundraising operation - is really a Republican.

* 8th Congressional GOP candidates toe the party line on health reform

* 10th Congressional Democrats offering intership

* Bernard Schoenburg: Vigils aim to inform Schock and public

A recently formed social justice organization in Springfield is concentrating on areas including immigrant rights, and that plank of its platform has led to weekly vigils outside the capital city office of U.S. Rep. AARON SCHOCK, R-Peoria.

* “No Climate Tax” pledge signers increase to 13 IL congressional candidates

* O’Brien: I have the experience, record to transform Cook Co.

* Jim Mitchell wants one last term on Kane County Board

* Kane Co. Board Dist. 25 hopefuls differ on opinions, strategies

* DuPage County GOP candidates debate H1N1 vaccine preparation

* Census: Illinois remains 5th largest state but may lose 1 representative

* Will Illinois lose say in U.S. House?

* A call to arms

With the new year that begins Friday, you and every other Illinois voter can begin to sweep your state and county governments clean, or leave matters much as they are.

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Round Up: State Government

Monday, Dec 28, 2009 - Posted by Mike Murray

* State politics delivered decade full of news

* More should post what state still owes them

* Lobbying efforts continue in Springfield for FutureGen

* A look at the state’s quest to acquire FutureGen

* New year brings new public records law to Illinois

* Another new year, a whole bunch of new laws

* Do you text while you drive? It’ll cost you when new state law takes effect this week

* 6,100 drivers get Breathalyzers in law’s 1st year

* Early release sends some DUI offenders back to prison

Anti-drunken driving advocates reacted angrily earlier this week when the Chicago Sun-Times revealed that Gov. Quinn’s administration had released 18 felony drunken drivers from prison early to serve the rest of their prison time on home confinement.[…]

On Thursday, those same anti-DUI advocates were cheering after the governor ordered all 18 back behind bars to serve the remainder of their prison time. Each will be paroled between mid-January and mid-October under the terms of their original sentences.

* Quinn should release data on freed inmates

* State court ruling expected on malpractice caps

* Illinois Department on Aging issues winter tips for seniors

* Convicted of corruption, 12 still await sentencing

It has been more than four years since Jacob Kiferbaum pleaded guilty in a kickback scheme involving a hospital that needed state approval for a construction project, one of the earliest corruption scandals under former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.[…]

What’s keeping them out of prison? For most, it’s the help they’re offering authorities in ongoing cases, involving Blagojevich and others — cooperation that could cut their prison time.

* Blagojevich’s lawyer moving sensitive files to new spot

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Morning Shorts

Monday, Dec 28, 2009 - Posted by Mike Murray

* No. 4 Story of the Decade: Economic downturn hits central Illinois

Thanks to early retirement incentives, agency consolidation and layoffs, state employment of 19,600 in Springfield at the beginning of the decade is down to approximately 17,200 by decade’s end.

* Record-low mortgage rates, but many can’t refinance

* Local home sales soar, up for third straight month

* Extension of COBRA subsidy to help Ill. jobless

* Food Depository Demand Up

The Greater Chicago Food Depository says more than 425,000 people picked up groceries from its food pantries in September. That’s up 70 percent since 2007.

* Stores say sales during holiday season trump last year’s

* Dart: Up to 500 Cook County correctional officers will be hired

* Traffic enforcement increasing in end-of-year push

Law enforcement officers in Illinois are increasing their traffic patrols in an end-of-the-year push to save lives on the roads.[…]

The statewide effort focuses on the deadly nighttime hours when data show more people die in motor vehicle crashes than at any other time of day.

* CBOE to offer members early share buyback : source

* The decade that was in Illinois

* President Obama election voted top Illinois story of decade

* Ice knocks out power for hundreds in Chicago

* Supt. Weis asks public to report more criminals

But his holiday spirits were tempered by a bit of bad news: the murder clearance rate has dipped about 4 percentage points this year to 54 percent. That includes killings committed in 2009, as well as older ones.[…]

The dip in the clearance rate is being attributed in part to a failure of citizens to tip the police off to criminals in their midst.

* Expect extra security at Chicago airports

Passengers at O’Hare and Midway airports can expect additional screening today following the failed Christmas Day attempt to blow up a Detroit-bound Northwest Airlines flight.

* Flight 253 and airline safety, plus a check-up on local transit plans

* Winter weather cancels 450 flights at O’Hare

* 3 new Pace express bus routes are slow to draw riders

* Mercury emissions rise in Illinois, even as figures drop nationwide

* Toxic chemicals in water wells have Grundy County residents on edge

* Lawsuit claims landfill made them sick

Residents living near a now-shuttered west suburban landfill are suing the owners, saying their families were sickened and their property values diminished by the stench allegedly caused by methane, hydrogen sulfide and other “landfill gases.”

* New Web site launched for Chicago Climate Action Plan

* Ohio Endorses Lawsuit Against Illinois in Battle over Carp

* Illinois receives $1.8M Internet grant

* Ex-SIU chancellor won’t get $680K

* Boycott Wrigley rink to bring down prices

* H1N1 vaccine now for all; here’s where to get shot

* State’s changes to juvenile age cutoff may raise costs for county

A new state law that makes the criminal justice system classify some 17-year-olds as children and others as adults keeps alive the question of when to punish and when to rehabilitate.[…]

It also raises the possibility, Winnebago County officials say, that they may spend millions of taxpayer dollars to comply with the new rules.

* Program to offer discounts for new appliances, rebates for old

The “cash for appliances” program is part of the federal government’s effort to stimulate the economy and encourage people to save energy. Each state is awarded federal money based on its population to run its own program. Illinois receives $12.4 million as its share.

* Chicago-area Catholic schools ranked by enrollment

* Tension Eases in CHA Mixed Income

Westhaven Park Tower — on the footprint of the Henry Horner public housing complex — is home to condo owners and public housing residents. This mix has led to some squabbles.

To quell some of the stress Westhaven agreed to add two CHA residents to the condo board. Johnnie Braswell is one of them. She says public housing residents now have a more equitable voice.

* Our View: Help that can pay dividends for the mentally ill

* Our View: When central Illinois reveals its ugliest side, confront and condemn it

Multiple articles in this newspaper over the last couple of weeks have made it abundantly clear just how many miles central Illinois has to go before anyone can truly claim victory on this being a “united” America, at least in regard to race. Clearly a gap remains between how we like to think of ourselves and how we are.

* Affirmative action must be based on income, not race

* Stealing may pay for some villages

* Economic council chairman has plan for ‘uphill battle’

* Word on the Street: Big names dropped into town

* Secret’s out Ho! Ho! Ho!

* The politics of minarets — here and over there

* Need for blood higher at this time of year

* Retailers with most thefts see drop in crime in 2009

* Lincoln, Heartland colleges team up to make obtaining degree easier

* Burris denies flip-flopping on health care

Sen. Roland Burris insisted he would never vote for an overhaul of the nation’s health insurance system unless the bill included a strong public option. And he promised that position wouldn’t change.[…]

But last week the Senate passed a health insurance bill that included no government-run health insurance to serve as a public option for those seeking low-cost coverage — and Burris voted for it.

Burris insists he did not flip-flop.

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Reader comments closed for the holiday weekend

Wednesday, Dec 23, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller

* We’ll probably be back next week sometime for limited blogging, but nothing’s for sure right now. I think all of us need a break, or maybe that’s my own excuse. Either way, I’m done. I hope your holiday is the very best ever.

It just doesn’t get much better than this…

To kids from one to ninety-two

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Hynes campaign claims Quinn “insulting our intelligence” with trial lawyer video

Wednesday, Dec 23, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From the Dan Hynes campaign…

Please take a moment to review the attached, extremely misleading video the Pat Quinn campaign has been circulating among trial attorneys. The video is slick, in more ways than one, and the result is shameless pandering that is totally dishonest, to boot — truncating Dan’s answer in a way that completely changes his meaning. This is an embarrassing and hypocritical move from Illinois’ self-styled “Truthslinger,” and Pat Quinn ought to be ashamed of himself.

The Quinn campaign video script:

MODERATOR: Tort lawyers are killing the golden goose, resulting in higher Medicaid costs, and so what will you do to scale them back?

Pat Quinn: I think victims have the right to a lawyer, have a right to recompense if they’re injured, and I don’t really believe the solution to our Medicaid problems is going after victims and their lawyers

MODERATOR: Thank you Governor Quinn, Comptroller Hynes:

DAN HYNES: I have an understand of health care and a passion for it. Even closer to home, my wife is a physcian — she practices women’s health at the rehabilitation institute in Chicago — and I can tell you after conversations with her, that there is no doubt that physicians who have to engage in the defensive practice of medicine is an issue.

CUT TO SPLIT SCREEN (showing the two quotes side-by-side) with the fade-in question: “Who is fighting for you?”

Only one problem. That’s not even half of Dan’s answer. Here is his FULL response:

“I was a health-care attorney before I ran for comptroller, working with hospitals, physicians, other health care providers on business transactions and regulatory issues. I have an understanding of health care, and a passion for it. Even closer to home, my wife is a physician. She practices women’s health at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, and I can tell you from my conversations with her, that there is no doubt that physicians who have to engage in the defensive practice of medicine, is an issue. But I don’t believe that taking the rights of victims, and those who are supposed to have access to the courts and the civil justice system, is the answer. I think we need to look at this issue and make sure our physicians are allowed to practice medicine, making sure they are allowed to make the decisions, not insurance companies, but ultimately it means making sure the health care system as a whole is working, which is why the health care reform initiative in Washington is so important.”

Just as he attacked Dan in campaign commercials for doing his job by signing state checks, Pat Quinn is insulting our intelligence.

Medical malpractice could become a legislative issue again, depending on how the Illinois Supreme Court decides a challenge to the state law.

And here’s the Quinn video…

* Meanwhile…

Comptroller Dan Hynes has all but ruled out any additional short term borrowing by the state to ease the enormous backlog of unpaid bills.

Meeting Wednesday with the State Journal-Register editorial board, Hynes said borrowing more money in the short term now will only exacerbate payment delays next spring when the state must begin repaying the loans.

He stopped short of issuing a flat “no,” but also did not lay out any formula in which additional borrowing will be acceptable.

“I don’t think we can afford to borrow any more,” Hynes said. “I don’t base my decision on what will make me more popular.”

* And Greg Hinz takes a look ahead. First, he expects Andy McKenna to go negative on Jim Ryan…

Right now, Mr. Ryan is well ahead of the pack in the race for the GOP nomination for governor. His high name recognition as former attorney general and ex-gov candidate is out-polling the Nicarico and Stuart Levine negatives. He has only one opponent with the $$$ to change that: Mr. McKenna.

I expect Mr. McKenna to do just that — go on the attack — unless something funky comes up in the latest polls. But pulling Mr. Ryan back into the pack by elevating his negatives could hurt Mr. McKenna, too, and open the door to another contender, perhaps state Sen. Kirk Dillard.

He doesn’t think that Alexi Giannoulias will lose the primary, and then ponders whether Gov. Pat Quinn will have the resources to hold off Hynes…

“Team Hynes insists it’s making progress, and a poll a few days ago by the Rasmussen organization strongly suggested that Mr. Hynes is more electable than the guv in November and that Mr. Quinn has problems with female voters. But Team Quinn says it will be on TV “pound for pound” in the closing month — in large part due to a contribution from the Service Employees International Union that I hear tops $500,000.

It better be at least that, considering the IFT’s involvement for Hynes.

This will probably be our last roundup for the week. We may have “Morning Shorts” for at least part of next week, but I am taking a break.

So, get your comments in now, campers, because it could be awhile. Happy holidays, merry Christmas and peace be with you all.

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - This just in… (use all caps in password)

Wednesday, Dec 23, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Question of the day

Wednesday, Dec 23, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Predict the winner and his margin of victory in the Democratic and Republican gubernatorial primaries.

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*** UPDATED x1 *** Lavin steps in it at Thomson hearing

Wednesday, Dec 23, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability’s hearing yesterday on selling the Thomson prison to the federal government contained this priceless line…

Opponents groaned and hissed when Quinn’s chief operating officer, Jack Levin, said his boss “would never do anything that puts people at risk.”

Yeah, OK. Quinn has two early prison release programs that are both under fire for putting people at risk. The budget is in such bad shape that at-risk citizens aren’t getting much-needed services. But he wouldn’t do anything to put anyone at risk. Sure.

Credibility is a tough thing to regain. I think much of the opposition to Thomson is based on extreme partisanship and bizarre fears…

One opponent held a sign criticizing the governor: “Quinn to Jihad: Come on inn!”

And…

“I don’t want terrorists in my backyard,” said Diane Bishop, 52, a real estate appraiser who drove two hours from her suburban Chicago home to attend the hearing. “It’s too close to home. They shouldn’t be in the United States.”

And…

“Terrorists would want to hit us to make a point, here in the Midwest, in the American heartland,” protester Amanda Norms said before the meeting. “Is a little economic gain worth the risk?”

And…

But I don’t blame people for booing Lavin’s line one bit.

* Meanwhile, we’re starting to get more info about who will be sent to the prison…

While Guantanamo detainees can get visits only from their attorneys and human rights groups, federal officials opened the door for other terror suspects at Thomson to get outside visits. That is a main concern for opponents — not that prisoners will escape, but that radical sympathizers will be drawn to Thomson.

Lappin said Thomson will be a candidate to jail terrorists convicted in federal court, including those involved in the Sept. 11 attacks. Those convicts also could end up in other prisons in Colorado, Indiana and Illinois, but those facilities already face space crunches. And Thomson would be the most secure federal prison, officials said.

Lappin emphasized that any potential visitors would go through background screening and that their interaction with inmates would be monitored.

More…

Harley Lappin, director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, gave some indication of the type of federal prisoner who would be brought to Thomson. To date, most of the focus has been on the foreign detainees.

Lappin said there are prisoners in the federal system who have been “difficult and disruptive” who would be candidates for Thomson.

“We’re going to bring in some pretty risky folks,” Lappin said. Many of the inmates, he said, would spend a great deal of their time locked in their cells, but that would facilitate the Defense Department mission.

The administration has said the federal inmates and the Guantanamo Bay detainees would be kept apart, and that the Bureau of Prisons and Defense Department would run separate operations.

And the state police director says he’ll need more cash…

Jonathon Monken, director of the Illinois State Police, said the only way state authorities can mitigate the risk is if federal authorities enter into a long-term financial arrangement.

Monken estimated that the state police will need at least $1 million up front to manage the risk.

Thoughts?

*** UPDATE *** The NY Times reports the Thomson prison can’t be purchased for probably another year or so…

The federal Bureau of Prisons does not have enough money to pay Illinois for the center, which would cost about $150 million. Several weeks ago, the White House approached the House Appropriations Committee and floated the idea of adding about $200 million for the project to the military spending bill for the 2010 fiscal year, according to administration and Congressional officials.

But Democratic leaders refused to include the politically charged measure in the legislation. When lawmakers approved the bill on Dec. 19, it contained no financing for Thomson.

The administration will probably not have another opportunity until Congress takes up a supplemental appropriations bill for the Afghanistan war. Lawmakers are not likely to finish that bill until late March or April.

Moreover, the administration now says that the current focus for Thomson financing is the appropriations legislation for the 2011 fiscal year. Congress will not take that measure up until late 2010.

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Illinois Republican Primary Candidate weighs in on social media at eVoter.com

Wednesday, Dec 23, 2009 - Posted by Capitol Fax Blog Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Illinois’ Republican Primary Candidate weighs in on social media at eVoter.com

Rafael Rivadeneira, Republican Candidate for State Representative of the 41st District, says the new social media site, eVoter.com gives his campaign online leverage.

“eVoter.com is an opportunity to level the playing field and give all candidates the opportunity to get their message out there,” said Rivadeneira. “With evoter.com, it doesn’t matter how much money you have. Elections can now be won based on your vision for the people, not money and insider politics.”

Rivadeneira, who recently signed-up for an enhanced profile at eVoter.com, has been using eVoter for extra online communication, search engine optimization, and an added venue to raise support.

“eVoter lets candidates who are not part of the establishment effectively communicate their message to the voters,” he said.

To see how eVoter can help your campaign and to view Rivadeneira’s Candidate Statements, Endorsements, and Video Postings – including “My Republican Story” go to: http://www.evoter.com/rafael

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Morning Shorts

Wednesday, Dec 23, 2009 - Posted by Mike Murray

* Ex-Board of Elections chief Mike Lavelle dies

* ‘I’m going to fight this as long as I have to:’ Sanchez

* PDF: Court Ruling on Sanchez

* Second Chance for Former Streets and San Commissioner

* Fired city inspector is back at work

A $93,840-a-year Chicago plumbing inspector caught doing a side job with no permit, city license or secondary employment form allowing him to perform the “side job” is back on his main job.

* Unemployment extension helps thousands in Illinois

* Local home sales soar, up for third straight month

* 14 county deputies to be laid off next week

* Panel rules for SIU in dispute with former chancellor

* Two suburban hotels falling victim to economy

* Reality television finds a home at Cook County Jail

* Snow trucks hit the streets, two inches possible

* Most city offices closed Thursday

* North Aurora VA clinic a bridge to Hines

Redesigned facility offers greater comfort to veterans, basic medical services, examinations and consultations

* Nearly all of Illinois’ corn crop finally harvested

* Lessons learned from H1N1 outbreak

A study issued last week and reported on by Daily Herald staff writer Robert McCoppin showed Illinois ranked among the bottom 20 states in health emergency response. The same report said the nation has “serious underlying gaps” in its ability to respond to public health emergencies.

Specifically, vaccine production was sorely lacking. It was difficult to get it to those most vulnerable in an efficient, timely manner.

* Study: CTA Should Prioritize Red Line

* CTA expands bus-tracking service to cell phones

* South Side Irish Parade to become part of family festival

* 10-day fest to replace Irish parade

* Overcrowding at LTHS sinking morale of students, teachers

* LTHS board to rethink staggered shifts schedule

* District 229: Where is the money?

* Board OKs new county offer to buy building for Health Department

* Stevenson crash: Judge scolds Lockport police officer accused of DUI in fatal wreck

Edward Stapinski’s blood-alcohol level was nearly triple the legal limit, officials say

* Most video gambling banned in Arlington Heights

* Maywood village manager gets 1-day suspension for working on mayor’s wife’s campaign during business hours, officials say

Maywood Village Manager Jason Ervin was found reviewing campaign petitions of a rival of state Rep. Karen Yarbrough, the mayor’s wife, officials say

* Police chief nominee receives initial approval

Robert Williams is one step closer to becoming Springfield’s new police chief.

* No. 9 Story of the Decade: Springfield police turmoil

Claims of internal race discrimination, difficulty recruiting minorities, accusations of misconduct and plummeting morale among officers plagued the Springfield Police Department through much of the 2000s.

* News conference on Barmore shooting to be held today

A grand jury could decide as early as today whether two Rockford police officers were justified in using deadly force in the Aug. 24 fatal shooting of 23-year-old Mark Anthony Barmore.

* New Lenox hires retiring administrator as consultant

* Hoffman Estates takes over Sears Centre

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