*** UPDATE *** Federal laws, federal consent decrees, state laws, no big deal says a federal judge…
Illinois election officials today asked a panel of federal judges to avoid any delay in candidate filing for the 2012 Congressional election while the court considers a Republican challenge to the new boundaries for U.S. House districts.
But one of the three judges on the panel hearing the case in U.S. District Court said election authorities should be prepared to make changes to the filing schedule that is supposed to run from Nov. 28 to Dec. 5 and suggested the state legislature be on standby over the Thanksgiving holiday. […]
Chief among the state’s concerns is a Feb. 4 deadline for mailing absentee ballots to overseas and military voters. The date is “set in stone,” the state’s lawyers said, based on federal law and a federal consent decree.
But federal Appellate Justice John Tinder of Indiana questioned the state’s hardline position during the second day of trial for the Republican challenge of the new map. Tinder is sitting on a three-judge panel along with U.S. District Judges Joan Lefkow of Illinois and Robert Miller of Indiana.
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* Because of redistricting, campaign season has been hot and heavy for months. Lately, though, I’ve been getting a lot of press releases sent as e-mail attachments. I say this every two years, and my hectoring has done some good, so I’ll repeat myself: Please,don’t do that. Attachments are needlessly time consuming, and if I’m not particularly interested in your race, or your headline isn’t all that appealing, I might not even download your doc-x or pdf file.
Just paste the text into the body of an e-mail message if you don’t have the technology to use html in your missives. I swear I won’t criticize you for plain text campaign e-mails. Promise. Word of honor.
Thanks.
* Meanwhile, I took a mild shot at Treasurer Dan Rutherford yesterday, mentioning that he might want to spend more time in the office after looking at his extensively detailed Twitter feed and noticing a recent news report about another administrative problem at his office. About seven o’clock last night, Rutherford sent out a string of Tweets…
Anyone that would not like to receive my Tweets should remove themselves as a Follower. Remember, you opted in!
There are obviously thousands that want to follow my Tweets because our Followers continue to grow.
Home after a few days at Chicago office and on the road with Cash Dash.
Scores of people found they had money coming from our Unclaimed Property program, even the Crystal Lake school district had $14,500!!!
First 9 months last year Treasurer returned $60 million to people, because of extra efforts in marketing we returned $72 million in 9 months
And then nothing since.
Testy.
…Adding… Right on schedule, he started Tweeting again.
* Leave it to a Metro East trial lawyer to sue Facebook…
Illinois Facebook users won’t “like” that the social media website is keeping track of the websites they visit, according to a class-action lawsuit filed in federal court.
Edwardsville lawyer Mark Goldenberg alleges that Facebook violated Illinois’ Wiretap Act when it tracked, collected and stored users’ Internet browsing history, even when they weren’t logged onto Facebook. […]
“Facebook should reasonably anticipate being hauled into court in Illinois to answer for its unlawful acts,” the lawsuit stated. “Illinois has a strong interest in providing a forum for its residents aggrieved by violations of the law.”
The Facebook suit is filed on behalf of Dana Howard — who is also listed as the plaintiff’s on Goldenberg’s lawsuit against Morgan Stanley. That case settled.
* On to campaigns. Uh-oh…
The Hill reports that Thursday Americans for Prosperity held a press conference to announce targeting 40 Congress members who, AFP says, have indicated they could vote for a tax increase if the supercommittee recommends it happen. Among those listed is Congressman Robert Dold (IL-10).
Republican lawmakers on the supercommittee have put down a proposal that would raise at least $250 billion in new net tax revenues. Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas), the supercommittee chairman, said Wednesday he could go further if Democrats offered more on entitlement spending cuts.
* And the national media cannot let go of its silly fascination with a Rahm Emanuel presidential bid…
In an interview with Rock Center’s Harry Smith, Emanuel said he has no plans to be America’s first Jewish president.
“Not interested. Not going to do it. No. I’ll do it in Hebrew, Lo,” Emanuel told Smith with his famously blunt tongue.
When reminded of other politicians who vowed to avoid a presidential run only to run years later, Emanuel said, “I don’t care.”
When pressed by Smith, Emanuel said, “What part of it is [it] that I’m not getting across? Here, give me a piece of paper, I’ll sign it,” he said.
* Roundup…
* GOP U.S. House members blast Illinois’ new district map in court - Democrat-drawn plan under review by federal panel
* Republicans testify in redistricting lawsuit
* Key Senator Pushes “Nuclear Option” Against Central Bank
* During debate, 12th Congressional District candidates focus on job creation: Wiezer said he’s making attempts to lure businesses to the region, and as an example said he has asked Cracker Barrel to build a restaurant at the Lewis and Clark monument in Hartford.
* How Political Campaigns Can Turn Social Media Support Into Votes
* “Breaking The Internet”
* DOJ Wants ‘Terms Of Service’ Violations Criminalized
* Grassroots group “Illinois with Newt” forms
* The 5th Annual Mashable Awards
7 Comments  
|
* The explanation makes some sense, but that rate increase will rightly make for scary headlines…
Unemployment in Illinois rose in October for a sixth straight month, inching up to 10.1%, even as the state added 30,000 jobs, the Illinois Department of Employment Security said today.
The statewide jobless rate was 10% in September, the first time it reached double digits since August 2010.
The unemployment rate in Illinois is now more than a full percentage point above the national rate, which slipped to 9% last month, suggesting that the state’s recovery from the Great Recession is lagging much of the country. The U.S. rate has hovered between 9% and 9.2% since April.
The Illinois agency said the simultaneous increase in jobs and the unemployment rate could suggest that more residents feel optimistic about finding work and a re-energizing their job search, which is reflected in a higher unemployment rate.
As in most past months, “government” led all job loss categories, with 600 terminations. Governments in Illinois shed 10,500 jobs in the last year. That’s three times more than the second place finisher, “Information” employment.
* Meanwhile, Ohio’s governor claims he made a “stunning” presentation to Sears about relocating its headquarters from Illinois…
Gov. John Kasich said yesterday that he spoke with Louis D’Ambrosio, chief executive officer of Sears Holdings Corp., on Wednesday in an ongoing attempt to lure the Sears headquarters from Illinois to Columbus.
Although Kasich reiterated that he doubts Sears will leave suburban Chicago, he has learned that Ohio, Texas and Illinois are the three finalists in the running to land Sears. The company had received proposals from 19 states.
“You know what he told me?” Kasich said, referring to D’Ambrosio. “He said ‘the presentation that your folks have made for us has been stunning. They have been so good, and so creative, and so ahead of the curve that it’s down to three (states).’ ”
* And Illinois wants a new Cat plant…
llinois is trying to persuade Caterpillar Inc., the world’s largest construction and mining- equipment maker, that its home state is the best location to build a factory that will employ more than 1,000 people.
“We have reached out to them and we will continue our discussions,” Marcelyn Love, a spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, said Nov. 15 in a telephone interview. “We want to continue our relationship with them as well as to strengthen the Illinois economy.”
* OK, this is bizarre. Wired.com reports that Russian hackers destroyed a CWLP water pump…
Hackers gained remote access into the control system of the city water utility in Springfield, Illinois, last week and destroyed a pump, according to a report released by a state fusion center and obtained by a security expert.
The hackers were discovered on Nov. 8 when a water district employee noticed problems in the city’s Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA). The system kept turning on and off, resulting in the burnout of a water pump.
Forensic evidence indicates that the hackers may have been in the system as early as September, according to the “Public Water District Cyber Intrusion” report, released by the Illinois Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center on November 10.
But CWLP flatly denies the story…
“CWLP has not had any breach of its Water or Electric Department Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems,” the utility said in a statement issued this morning.
* Again, this is why the General Assembly should’ve given video gaming to the Lottery instead of the gaming board…
To pull off video gaming, [Illinois Gaming Board Chairman Aaron Jaffe] said the board will have to hire many more investigators to handle licensing for all the people involved, from machine manufacturers and distributors to the establishments where the terminals would be located to repair people.
The Lottery already has a statewide network that video gaming could use, and it seems to work fine.
* The Sun-Times editorialized this week in favor of Chairman Jaffee’s renomination, and the SJ-R published a list of failed gaming expansion proposals since 1997…
*1997: 14 new casino licenses, including two licenses for Chicago that would be city-owned; slot machines at racetracks and dockside gambling. Allowing casinos to dock instead of taking gambling cruises eventually became law.
* 1999: Three new riverboat casinos would be authorized to operate anywhere in the state, including Cook County, dockside gambling.
* 2003: Separate proposals would allow slots at racetracks; increase the number of gaming positions at current casinos; create casinos for Chicago and the south suburbs; legalize 47,000 video poker machines.
* 2005: Various proposals included increasing the number of gaming positions at casinos; giving Chicago a casino, authorizing two other casinos in the suburbs, allowing slot machines at racetracks, legalizing video poker
* 2008: To pay for a capital plan, Gov. Rod Blagojevich proposed three new casino licenses, including one in Chicago; selling the then-unused 10th license; allowing existing casinos to expand; and allowing slot machines at the tracks; and leasing the state lottery.
* And a national search could begin soon to replace Arlene Juracek at the Illinois Power Agency…
Arlene Juracek will remain acting director of the Illinois Power Agency for now, but the state Executive Ethics Commission is expected to conduct a nationwide job search that could lead to replacing the retired Exelon executive whose appointment last month by Governor Pat Quinn has stirred controversy.
Quinn, a Democrat, tapped Juracek to replace Mark Pruitt, who had been the IPA’s only director since its inception in 2008. Though tiny, the agency wields disproportionate clout through its procurement of power for the state’s two largest electric utilities — Commonwealth Edison, an Exelon subsidiary, and Ameren Illinois.
Indeed, Juracek’s longtime association with Exelon raised the eyebrows of some consumer advocates who questioned whether her selection posed a potential conflict of interest. Juracek’s appointment has yet to be confirmed by the Democrat-controlled Illinois Senate.
The General Assembly recently stripped Quinn of control over the IPA, placing the agency in the hands of the non-partisan ethics commission.
Last week, the House of Representatives, where Democrats also hold a majority, passed amended legislation that limits acting IPA directors to 60-day terms. The measure has not been approved by the Senate, however.
Chad Fornoff, executive director of the nine-member commission, said in a Monday interview that Juracek will continue in her current IPA capacity for the foreseeable future. “Unless and until the commission rescinds her appointment, she’s in the job,” he said.
But Fornoff acknowledged commission members appear interested in mounting a broad search for a permanent IPA director.
* Related and a roundup…
* ADDED: Occupy Chicago Holds Bread Line To Protest Tax Breaks for CME, other corporations
* Cities caught in tax break conundrum
* Business tax breaks won’t help farmers
* Chicago-area coal plant to shut down earlier than expected - State Line Power Station to close by March instead of 2014
* Waiting for Emanuel on Pension Overhaul: “At this point, we have not had a lot of engagement from the mayor, so I think that’s good,” Cross told the Chicago News Cooperative.
* Emanuel dumps Daley nephew, 2 others, from sports stadium board
* Jim Reilly to stay on as McPier’s chief — maybe for quite a while
* Quinn eyes Alderman Joe Moore for IEPA spot
* Smart meter foes file to put issue to voters
* Illinois’ lousy financial literacy
* Understanding Illinois’ Smart Grid and Distributed Generation
* Grant Thornton to step up Chicago hiring 40% next year
* Mulch company chooses Illinois over Missouri to consolidate
* Businesses penalized for state unemployment insurance debt: But relief for employers in Illinois won’t come until the state actually issues the bond, probably sometime in 2012. So for companies in Illinois, just as in the other 19 other states facing a similar predicament, higher taxes will kick in next year whether the state passes legislation or not. The federal law governing unemployment loans to states has an automatic repayment process for those that fail to pay back their loans within a certain time. The most recent deadline was November 10.
* Sequestration project at ADM showing early success
* Illinois Coal Debacle: Will Gov. Quinn Allow This Reckless Strip Mine to Jeopardize a Small Town’s Drinking Water?
* In defense of slots at the racetracks
* Sears’ corporate rating cut by S&P
19 Comments
|
Question of the day
Friday, Nov 18, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the Atlantic…
The private voting booth seems natural to today’s voters. But to bygone generations, casting one’s ballot publicly seemed the obvious approach. How could citizens trust the ultimate tally if they couldn’t monitor the individual inputs? Alas, transparency had an unintended consequence: it made vote-buying easy. If John Smith offered George Cooper a barrel of whiskey to vote for Sam Brown, he could verify that he was getting his money’s worth. Under a secret ballot, he could still offer the barrel of whiskey. But it made no sense: what incentive did George have to keep his word if he secretly supported another candidate? Vote buying became difficult.
In an intriguing paper published at Yale Law School more than a decade ago, Ian Ayres and Jeremy Bulow argued that the same logic applies to campaign contributions. Presently, our intuition is that transparency and disclosure are the best policies. But what if, like our counterparts in early America, we’re just enabling a kind of vote buying, whereby legislators know exactly who is bankrolling their campaigns, and skewer their behavior toward special interests as a result? What if less transparency would be as effective for us as it was for them? […]
There is an obvious objection. It was reasonably simple to implement a secret ballot. But campaign contributions? What if it proved impossible to actually keep their provenance secret? What’s to stop me from whispering to Joe Legislator, “You’re going to see $10,000 show up in your campaign account a week from now. It’s from me.” That would be the worst of all worlds: gone would be the transparency of the current system, and politicians would still know who to keep happy!
After studying the issue, however, Larry Lessig concludes in his essential book Republic, Lost that anonymity is in fact possible to maintain. Citing “Voting with Dollars: A New Paradigm for Campaign Finance” by Bruce Ackerman and Ian Ayres, he writes that “the two critical elements are, first, an anonymous donation booth, which takes in contributions and then divides those contributions into random amounts, which it then passes along to the candidates;” that solves the “expect this amount on this day” problem; “and two, the right to revoke any contribution once made. It is this second element that does most of the work: for even if you watched me make the contribution to your campaign, I would still have an opportunity to revoke that contribution the next day. Once again, you’re free to trust me when I say I haven’t revoked it. But just as with vote buying, the need for trust will severely weaken the market.” […]
Lessig points to one failed experiment of this sort. In Dade County, Florida, a blind trust was set up to fund judicial elections. “The funds were solicited from all practicing members of the bar in Dade County, and the funds were distributed on a pro-rata basis to each ‘qualified’ judicial candidate in the county,” he writes. “The trust failed soon after it was adopted due to (i) a lack of attorney participation (donations), and (ii) criticism that the fund distributed funds to all qualified judicial candidates, thereby disallowing attorneys from directing contributions to particular candidates.” That confounding variable is unfortunate. I’d be curious to know what would’ve happened if the anonymous donations could’ve been directed to particular candidates.
* The Question: What do you think of this idea to keep campaign contributions secret? Would it work here? Should it be tried on a limited basis? Explain.
24 Comments
|
Prosecutors argue against Cellini retrial
Friday, Nov 18, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Damage control…
In a filing late Thursday, federal prosecutors argued against a new trial for Springfield power broker William Cellini amid revelations that a juror who helped convict him earlier this month apparently concealed her felony criminal background during jury selection.
In the 25-page filing, the government said Cellini couldn’t prove that the juror’s prior convictions were deliberately concealed or that the court would have excluded her if she provided accurate responses. […]
“Although (name redacted) appears to have two felony convictions, she was sentenced to probation for both, and her probationary sentences terminated over a year before the trial in this case. As such, her civil rights were restored under Illinois law, and (name redacted) was eligible to serve as a juror in this case.”
The prosecutors hope that the judge’s decision will revolve around whether the juror deliberately concealed her convictions or not. If it was an honest mistake, prosecutors say, it’s no big deal. The defense disagrees.
* And it’s been obvious for years that John Kass has had it in for Cellini, but this is a bit much, if you ask me…
But first, let me tell you what my friend Deuce and I did the other day. We went looking for that Cellini juror.
The one who apparently lied about her multiple felony convictions — a DUI and possession of crack cocaine — and by doing so may have screwed up Illinois’ most important political corruption case in years: The successful prosecution of a political untouchable, Illinois Republican boss William Cellini, the multimillionaire who spent decades in the shadows, undetected at the center of the Combine’s web.
Out in that juror’s neighborhood, it was getting dark but still bright enough so the man in her apartment could see us and buzz us in. A little boy stood out on the landing, waiting, and then the older gentleman wearing a Chicago Blackhawks jersey came out.
“She’s not here,” said the man in Hawks colors. His cellphone started to ring, and Deuce asked for his number.
“No,” he said. “I don’t roll like that.”
It was dinnertime. I figured she was behind that door. Just then the boy stepped back out. He said something about the Cellini juror who is believed to have hidden her felony convictions.
“She’s afraid,” he said.
She has nothing to be afraid of, I lied. Don’t worry, I told him. Then we left.
It’s hard to believe an editor signed off on such threatening nonsense. And he had to bring a wingman? I thought Kass was supposed to be a tough guy.
26 Comments
|
Three Strikes Is Too Many; SEVEN TIMES Is Too Much
Friday, Nov 18, 2011 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Three different times, the Illinois legislature has rejected a proposal put forward by out-of-state energy company Tenaska to build the Taylorville Energy Center. This “clean coal” plant would leave Illinois families, businesses and government agencies paying up to SEVEN TIMES today’s market price for electricity.
When the legislature meets November 29, Tenaska will try once again to get Illinois consumers to foot the bill for their coal plant, which Illinois doesn’t need.
Please take a moment now to contact your legislator and let them know you oppose the Taylorville Energy Center. Here are the facts:
• The Taylorville Energy Center would cost Illinois electricity consumers $286 million per year.
• Illinois businesses and industry would bear the risks and absorb most cost overruns, making it harder to create jobs.
• Tenaska wants Illinois consumers to pay even if the Taylorville Energy Center never produces more than a single megawatt of power.
• The plant would add only two-tenths of one percent to the overall amount of power generation capacity available to Illinois
Your voice matters in stopping this legislation. Thanks for letting your legislator know that you oppose the Taylorville Energy Center.
Visit www.STOPCoalition.com to learn more.
Comments Off
|
*** UPDATE *** Family-PAC press release…
Paul Caprio, Director of Family-Pac, Illinois’ leading pro-family political action committee, today accused Governor Quinn of attempting to intentionally hide his pro-choice, abortion on demand position from many Catholics last fall.
Said Caprio, “Governor Quinn has repeatedly stated that he has simply followed his ‘conscience’ relative to his support and promotion of the pro-abortion agenda, including his recent involvement in a lunch sponsored by Personal PAC.
“If that were true, why did he refuse to complete a questionnaire which he received last October from the Catholic Conference of Illinois regarding the issue of abortion and other social issues of importance to Catholics?” (See attached.)
The purpose of the questionnaire was to distribute information to Catholic parishes across Illinois so that Catholics could be better informed on important issues before voting.
Said Caprio, “Why did Quinn not want many of Illinois’ Catholics to be aware of his opposition to the Ultrasound Opportunity Act before they voted last November?
“Did Quinn truly follow his ‘conscience,’ or did he follow the money…that is, the $500,000 that Personal PAC has reported to have donated to his campaign?
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* Catholic Bishops apparently want to have a private meeting with Gov. Pat Quinn so they can scold him about abortion and his continued reference to himself as a Catholic…
Gov. Pat Quinn’s ongoing dispute with the Catholic Church is showing no signs of stopping after Cardinal Francis George sent him a letter this week requesting a face-to-face meeting to discuss his support of abortion rights and civil unions for same-sex couples.
Quinn received the letter from the state’s six Roman Catholic bishops on Wednesday, which asked for a meeting with the practicing Catholic to talk about a number of topics, “the first being your personal approval of laws permitting the killing of unborn children.”
“We would like to discuss with you, both as fellow citizens and as pastors of your Church, how you and we should position ourselves publicly on this issue so you may be true to your responsibility as Governor as we may remain true to ours as bishops,” the letter said.
Quinn revealed the correspondence shortly after presenting an award at the Personal PAC annual luncheon Thursday afternoon, which honors those who have worked to support the pro-choice group. George had previously attacked Quinn for his involvement in the gathering, but later apologized after learning Quinn was honoring Jennie Goodman, a rape victim turned advocate.
* The governor, however, didn’t seem fazed at all…
Quinn did not shy from his religion at Thursday’s luncheon where some $400,000 to $500,000 was raised to fund candidates who support abortion rights. Quinn even quoted the Bible in explaining why he agreed to present the award to Goodman, who now counsels rape victims.
“I think the essence of my faith is service,” Quinn said. “Service to others is the rent we pay for our place on God’s earth. Martin Luther King said everyone can be great because everyone can serve. … Jennie has found that ethic of service.”
Quinn gave Goodman a big hug to thunderous applause. Goodman starred in a television commercial Personal PAC spent $250,000 airing in the final days of the campaign for governor, helping Quinn eke out a narrow victory over anti-abortion Republican Bill Brady.
“You took a lot of heat over giving me this award, and I hope you know I was by your side cheering you on,” Goodman told Quinn.
Had Brady won, “he would be signing one anti-abortion bill after another,” Personal PAC Executive Director Terry Cosgrove told attendees. Cosgrove praised Quinn, saying “He stands up for what he believes in.” Turning to Quinn, Cosgrove shouted down to him, “Governor, I think that’s the Irish Catholic in us, isn’t it?”
* And he even said he’d praise the bishops…
The governor said he had offered to meet Cardinal Francis George and a dozen other Illinois bishops on Dec. 16 here in Chicago. He added that he planned to salute the Church for its school system - noting that he himself is the product of 16 years of Catholic education.
The bishops’ letter concluded by noting their concerns include the “life and well-being of the poor… the fair delivery of health care…aid to children in Catholic schools” and other issues affecting the common good.
Most striking though, is their concern that in light of recent gay rights legislation, “we may be penalized as a ‘discriminatory’ institution because we follow our consciences and the 2,000 year tradition and teaching of the Catholic Church.”
Discuss.
60 Comments
|
* Subscribers were told about this yesterday …
Illinois will owe $1 billion more to its pension funds next fiscal year as smaller employee contributions kick in, according to projections released this week by state actuaries.
The 19 percent increase in obligations, to $5.9 billion from $4.9 billion in fiscal 2012, wasn’t anticipated by budget officials when they presented the current plan in February. The higher cost to Illinois’s five retirement funds risks deepening a budget hole as lawmakers consider tax breaks for businesses threatening to leave the state.
* That billion dollars will take a huge bite out of the budget, but so will other stuff…
“Medicaid’s going to grow by $700 million or $800 million,” said House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego, in an interview. “Now pensions are at $1 billion, and then you’ve got unpaid Medicaid bills. This year’s budget is going to be a very, very difficult one to balance.”
* Understatement of the year by Trotter…
Sen. Donne Trotter, D-Chicago, called the new pension costs “disheartening.”
“Certainly, we’re having a reverse Christmas here,” said Trotter, who supports expanding gambling to bring in more money.
* Part of the reason for the big jump…
About $133 million of SURS’s increased request is because it assumes its future payroll growth will be less than previously anticipated. SURS believes its payroll will increase an average of 3.75 percent annually, instead of the previously assumed 5 percent. […]
Another $105 million of SURS’s increased request is because of a 2010 law establishing a two-tiered pension system. Workers who started after Jan. 1, 2011, receive lower benefits than those who started before that date. That law also capped the maximum salary on which a pension can be based at $106,800 annually.
* And Leader Cross’ pension reform bill won’t solve the immediate problem…
Cross said the new amounts provided by the systems bolster his case that the state’s pension systems need to be reformed, but he conceded that his legislation, Senate Bill 512, would provide no immediate relief.
* Grim…
“Over the last three decades or more, the proper investment was not made in these funds by governors and general assemblies of their time,” said Quinn, a Democrat. “They postponed payments, didn’t make payments, shorted payments, and the chickens are coming home to roost. We have to deal with that reality.”
He didn’t say how the state would make pension payments next year.
He didn’t say because he doesn’t know. A billion more for pensions, $800 million more for Medicaid, tax cuts on the table… Another disaster, campers.
67 Comments
|
|
Comments Off
|
|
Comments Off
|
*** All-Day ScribbleLive News Updates ***
Friday, Nov 18, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller
* After yesterday’s successful test, it’s time to roll this out on a daily basis.
I quietly killed off our daily Morning Shorts posts about a year ago, and I’ve been thinking about how to replace the feature ever since, without all the drudgery of link gathering and bother. The ScribbleLive software is a huge improvement over Morning Shorts.
Not only do you get links to stuff we may not discuss elsewhere on the blog, ScribbleLive offers us instantaneous updates from numerous selected news feeds. You can literally watch the day’s events as they happen by simply monitoring this post throughout the day.
It’s kind of like 24-hour news radio without the audio or the ads (yet). And you don’t even need to refresh your screen.
* BlackBerry users click here, iPad and iPhone users remember to use the “two-finger” scrolling method. Enjoy…
6 Comments
|
ScribbleLive test
Thursday, Nov 17, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller
* We’ve had so much success with the ScribbleLive software that I think I’m going to post a live feed every day. Yes, we have news feeds on the right hand column, but these selected feeds are instantaneous, so you can literally watch the day go by as it happens by simply watching this post. BlackBerry users click here, iPad and iPhone users remember to use the “two-finger” scrolling method…
12 Comments
|
Three Strikes Is Too Many; SEVEN TIMES Is Too Much
Thursday, Nov 17, 2011 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Three different times, the Illinois legislature has rejected a proposal put forward by out-of-state energy company Tenaska to build the Taylorville Energy Center. This “clean coal” plant would leave Illinois families, businesses and government agencies paying up to SEVEN TIMES today’s market price for electricity.
When the legislature meets November 29, Tenaska will try once again to get Illinois consumers to foot the bill for their coal plant, which Illinois doesn’t need.
Please take a moment now to contact your legislator and let them know you oppose the Taylorville Energy Center. Here are the facts:
• The Taylorville Energy Center would cost Illinois electricity consumers $286 million per year.
• Illinois businesses and industry would bear the risks and absorb most cost overruns, making it harder to create jobs.
• Tenaska wants Illinois consumers to pay even if the Taylorville Energy Center never produces more than a single megawatt of power.
• The plant would add only two-tenths of one percent to the overall amount of power generation capacity available to Illinois
Your voice matters in stopping this legislation. Thanks for letting your legislator know that you oppose the Taylorville Energy Center.
Visit www.STOPCoalition.com to learn more.
Comments Off
|
Rep. May: No more free parking for disabled
Thursday, Nov 17, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Rightly or wrongly, lots of senior citizens have disabled placards in their cars. Taking away their freebie ain’t gonna be easy…
Hundreds of thousands of disabled people who have been able to park for free at metered spots throughout Chicago and the rest of Illinois would feed meters like everybody else under a proposal being drafted by a state lawmaker.
State Rep. Karen May (D-Highland Park) announced her idea on Wednesday — the same day Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel introduced a city ordinance to crack down on the growing number of able-bodied people who are illegally using disabled-parking placards to avoid paying the city’s escalating meter fees, set to rise to $5.75 an hour in the Loop in 2012 and to $6.50 in 2013.
State law long has allowed disabled people to park free all day in metered spots — a benefit that dates back to when public transportation wasn’t handicapped-accessible and meters had to be fed with coin after coin.
But a Chicago Sun-Times investigation published this week found that — with one disabled-parking placard in circulation for every 13 passenger vehicles throughout Cook County — the system is widely abused in Chicago. The number of parking tickets and court cases involving placard abuse has increased dramatically, the newspaper found, with people using relatives’ placards, fake placards and even stolen placards to park for free. […]
“There’s a disconnect. Just because you’re handicapped doesn’t mean you should park for free. You should be able to park close,” said May, who expects to have a bill ready by early next year. “I think we will be creative in finding a provision that protects the disabled community and cracks down on the people who are abusing.
“It’s an affront to the disabled community that all these people are abusing it.”
Abuse is certainly a problem, but the “disabled community” might also be affronted when they can’t park for free.
Thoughts?
…Adding… Dan Johnson in comments makes a very valid point…
I think Rep May is right, but unfortunately, all the parking meter money will go to Morgan Stanley. They must have anticipated when they paid the city $1.2B for the revenue over the next 75 years that they would not be getting any revenue from the disabled. To change the law now would be a windfall for Morgan Stanley and should require, at least, a corresponding cut in the parking meter rates to offset that windfall.
Handing more boatloads of money to Morgan Stanley won’t be a great vote for anybody.
37 Comments
|
Unsolicited advice
Thursday, Nov 17, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From yesterday…
Officials with the state treasurer’s office say they’re taking steps to make sure no problems result from an error on a mailing to 36,000 people who participate in Illinois’ Bright Directions college savings program.
The Bright Directions account holders received a quarterly newsletter with their Social Security numbers printed on the outside.
Officials say the mistake was made by the bank that keeps records for the program.
* From Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford’s Twitter feed for the past few days…
Having lunch in St. Charles at Salerno’s Restaurant on the Fox River.
Pictured With Carpentersville Village President Ed Ritter today at our #cashdash event. pic.twitter.com/PbNlqUJ5
With Algonquin Village Trustee Debby Sosine at #cashdash this morning. pic.twitter.com/gI8mq7Pr
Pictured speaking at Carpentersville #CashDash this morning. pic.twitter.com/qfdjwEGC
triblocal.com/lake-zurich/co… Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford Completes Successful Cash Dash Event in Lake Zurich
Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford Completes Successful Cash Dash Event in Crystal Lake triblocal.com/crystal-lake/c…
Join me tomorrow, Thursday, Nov 17, at 6:05am when I am live on @WGNradio 720. I’ll be speaking with Bill Moller. Hope you can tune in.
I hope you get a chance to come out Thurs, Nov 17, to see if the state has any of your unclaimed property. #cashdash
Thursday, Nov 17, we will have our last stop in St. Charles at City Hall (2 E. Main St). Ill be there from 1:30-2 with #cashdash from 1-3pm
Thursday, Nov 17, the next stop is Elgin. I’ll be at the Centre of Elgin (100 Symphony Way) from 11:30-12pm and our #CashDash is 11am-1pm.
On Thursday, Nov 17, I’ll be at the Carpentersville Village Hall (1200 LW Besigner Rd) from 10:30-11 and #cashdash will last from 10-12pm.
Thursday, Nov 17, I’ll begin in Algonquin at 2200 Harnish Dr and will be there at 9:30-10am. The #cashdash event is from 9-11.
At Crystal lake #CashDash with Mayor Shepley, Nick Kachiroubas City Clerk, State Rep Mike Tryon, and Gary Di Renzo. pic.twitter.com/bIdcKoe7
triblocal.com/round-lake/com… Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford Completes Successful Cash Dash Event in Round Lake
21 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply
Pictured with Mayor Suzanne Branding and Police Chief Patrick Finlon of Lake Zurich at our #cashdash pic.twitter.com/Dwne3XHE
With Mayor Mark Knigge of Wauconda at our #cashdash event. pic.twitter.com/TgsVd5w1
Addressing Wauconda residents at our #cashdash event. pic.twitter.com/DNp7LRfO
triblocal.com/grayslake/comm… Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford Completes Successful Cash Dash Event in Grayslake
Pictured with Round Lake President Jim Deetz and Trustee Sonya Sandoval. pic.twitter.com/xB7tNwAz
Pictured with Rep. Sandy Cole at the Grayslake #cashdash today. pic.twitter.com/VuXzrB6x
At Grayslake #cashdash w/Mayor Taylor, Rep Sandy Cole, Chief McCutcheon, and village trustees Worfel and Waldenstrom.
In Libertyville at #cashdash with mayor Terry Weppler and township supervisor Kathleen O’Connor . pic.twitter.com/7k30Ahti
Pictures with Libertyville Mayor Terry Weppler at #cashdash this morning. pic.twitter.com/M9TSAHWf
The last stop #cashdash stop Wednesday is Crystal Lake City Hall (100 W Woodstock St) from 2:30-4:30pm. I’ll be there from 3:30-4.
Wednesday I’ll be at Lake Zurich City Hall (70 E Main) for #cashdash from 2:20-2:50pm and the event runs from 2-4pm. Hope you can join us.
Wednesday I’ll also be in Wauconda at Village Hall (101 N Main St). #CashDash is from 1-3pm and I’ll be there from 1:30-2pm.
Wednesday I’ll be in Round Lake for #cashdash from 11:30-12 and the event will be from 10:30-12:30pm. We will be at 751 W Townline Rd.
Wednesday I’ll be in Grayslake for #cashdash at the Village Hall (10 S. Seymour) from 10:30-11am. The event is from 10am-12pm.
Wednesday I will be doing a #cashdash tour. First stop is Libertyville, @ Village Hall (118 W Cook) from 9-11 & I’ll be there from 9:30-10.
Donna Schaefer, McHenry township supervisor, contributed a box of paperclips at my #smartmoney Seminar today. pic.twitter.com/YsbfSrkn
Chicago Office work before going to McHenry Township in Johnsburg for our Smart Money & IL Funds Seminars.
Im at the Illinois Funds Symposium in Johnsburg this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/GE1LeLqn
Afternoon office discussing reorg of staff to be better customer service.
morn jog at fitness center, City Club of Chicago to hear friend & President of Chicago FOB Mike Shields; he did a very good job
algonquin.patch.com/articles/state… State Treasurer Encourages Algonquin Residents to Collect Unclaimed Property, Money Next Week
In Pilsen, Chicago at my Smart Money Seminar. Enjoyed speaking to the group. #smartmoney pic.twitter.com/SmmNKy3T
Last week’s schedule was much the same.
* Constitutional officers don’t have to sit in their offices all day. I totally get that they should be out there with the public. But that Social Security screwup isn’t the only problem Rutherford’s office has had in the past few months.
I’m no management expert by any means. I can barely manage myself, if that. But perhaps a little less travel and a little more hands-on management is in order here.
33 Comments
|
*** UPDATED x1 *** Redistricting hearing begins
Thursday, Nov 17, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller
*** UPDATE *** Congressman John Shimkus testified at today’s hearing…
Shimkus testified that U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello, a 23-year Democratic congressman from a neighboring southern Illinois district, came to him in early spring of this year to attempt to negotiate a bipartisan congressional map. The two later met one-on-one in Shimkus’ hometown of Collinsville, where Costello, of nearby Belleville, presented rough maps to the Republican.
Shimkus said subsequent attempts to get more detailed information about the boundary lines failed and no further negotiations ensued. “You can’t negotiate when you don’t know the lines,” Shimkus said.
Asked about his relationship with Costello, who had been the state’s longest-serving congressman, Shimkus choked up with emotion and said, “He’s retiring. He’s a close friend and confidante. I’m proud to call him my friend.” Costello announced last month he would be stepping down from Congress.
Asked about the map’s effects on his political career, Shimkus testified that the new Democrat map was “egregious” and “terrible” and would split his hometown of 22,000 people into three congressional districts after he and Costello had represented Collinsville jointly for the past 20 years.
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* The hearing starts today…
Illinois Republicans will get their day in court over the state’s new Democrat-drawn congressional remap.
A Thursday hearing is scheduled on the long-shot legal challenge filed by GOP members of Congress over the map that tries to erase some of their recent gains.
Illinois Democrats dominated the map-making because they control the General Assembly and the governor’s office. The new map drew Republicans out of their districts and lumped incumbent GOP members together or threw them into Democrat-friendly territory.
* The Republicans’ argument is summed up here in their motion for a permanent injunction…
Plaintiffs have alleged that the 2011 Map (the “Adopted Plan”) violates the U.S. Constitution and the Voting Rights Act in three ways: it unconstitutionally creates a racially gerrymandered district; it intentionally dilutes the votes of Latinos; and it unconstitutionally discriminates against Republican voters. […]
While it may be true that Latino Democrats in the Illinois state legislature voted in favor of the Adopted Plan and Latino community groups have remained on the sidelines in this case, the Adopted Plan unlawfully discriminates against Latinos. The record overwhelmingly establishes that the Adopted Plan violates the Equal Protection Clause because race was the predominant factor motivating the shape of Adopted District 4 and the gerrymandered district is not narrowly tailored to comply with any compelling interest.
The record also makes clear that the Adopted Plan intentionally and unlawfully dilutes the votes of Latinos by packing Latinos into District 4, while it reduces the Latino population in neighboring Districts 3 and 5 to arrest the growing Latino community’s influence over contests in those districts.
And while political considerations often properly inform the redistricting process, the Adopted Plan takes partisan gerrymandering to an unconstitutional extreme. The Democratic-controlled Illinois government worked hand-in-hand with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to draw a map that discriminates against and penalizes Republican voters based on their political affiliations and expression of political views. Under any reliable standardfor measuring the constitutionality of political gerrymanders, including the one that Plaintiffs have proposed in their Amended Complaint, the Adopted Plan violates the Constitution.
* The Republicans claim that Democrats created “an excessive supermajority of Latinos” in the newly created District 4 (65.9 percent Latino voting age population) while they “substantially reduced the Latino VAP in neighboring Districts 3 and 5 from where it currently stands.” Here are the districts in question…
The Republican argument is that if the Democrats had spread out the Latino vote and not “packed” so many into the 4th, the Dems could’ve created another Latino district.
* Greg Hinz…
Just about no one in politics that I know believes [the political gerrymandering] challenge will get anywhere. Gerrymandering, like it or not, is a fact of life.
But the Hispanic argument has more heft because the Democrats carved out three majority African-American districts, even though the 2010 census found that Illinois actually has more Latinos.
The Dems counter that the Latino population is much more dispersed and that creating two Latino districts would dilute them so much that incumbent Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Chicago, would be endangered. Republicans dispute that, but the map they’re offering would create districts that are only 53% and 48% Latino of the “voting age” population.
Democrats are concerned that while the panel has one Democratic-appointed judge, it also includes two who were chosen for the bench by former President Ronald Reagan. Both have been brought in to hear the case from Indiana.
Congressman Gutierrez was the primary motivating factor for creating just one new district. Some believe he wants to be the only and only king of Latino politics here, some say he’s right that Latinos are too spread out to “safely” create a new district that guarantees two Latinos will be elected. A 53 percent Latino district could conceivably put Gutierrez in some political danger.
But Gutierrez was also able to prevent any major Latino organizations from supporting the Republican lawsuit, which has surely hurt the Republican case.
Then again, a two-to-one Indiana Republican majority on the judicial panel is giving the Democrats heartburn.
Discuss.
20 Comments
|
Question of the day
Thursday, Nov 17, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller
* During a House Revenue Committee hearing last week, CME Group Executive Chairman Terry Duffy said “people follow jobs,” and pointed to Texas as an example where people are moving in droves to find work. Duffy made the comment to explain the dangers of treating businesses poorly.
Gov. Pat Quinn has said time and time again that businesses tend to locate where they can find educated, trained people.
Both are probably right to an extent.
* The Question: Who is more right, Duffy or Quinn? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
53 Comments
|
* Not all state concealed carry laws are equal. Click the pic for a larger image…
* The reason I bring this up…
The House gave gun rights advocates their first legislative win of the year in a move that some saw as a Republican reversal on protecting states’ rights: approval of a federal regulation that would require states that issue concealed-weapons permits to honor such permits from other states.
The GOP-led chamber approved the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011, intended to allow gun owners to travel more easily from state to state without worrying about whether their concealed carry permit was valid.
The measure passed, 272-154, with 43 Democrats crossing party lines to support it.
The legislation is not expected to be taken up by the Democratic-led Senate. A similar measure failed in the Senate in 2009, although it won support from 20 Democrats.
This bill would mean people living “constitutional carry” states, which have no restrictions at all on concealed carry, could carry concealed weapons in Illinois, and Illinois couldn’t do anything about it. According to Todd Vandermyde with the NRA, the bill would not effect Illinois.
* Joe Walsh…
“Today’s vote brings us one step closer to making Illinois a right-to-carry state and allowing Americans to exercise their Second Amendment rights across state lines. Currently, Illinois is the only state in this nation that denies its citizens the right to keep and bear arms. The vote today shows just how archaic Illinois’ gun laws have become and how important it is that they be repealed.
“I have been on the frontlines of the Second Amendment debate since I came to Congress in January. In a recent back-and-forth debate that I have had with the Brady Campaign, I have defended the Second Amendment stressing the importance of gun rights and how they are being disregarded, especially in Illinois.
“I am pleased with the outcome of today’s vote and will always be an outspoken advocate for Second Amendment rights and particularly, a repeal of Illinois laws preventing the right-to-carry.”
* Randy Hultgren…
Today’s vote is a victory for gun-owning, law-abiding citizens nationwide,” said Hultgren. “The passage of H.R. 822 means that a concealed carry license, like a driver’s license, must be recognized by other states. This commonsense bill ensures that a law-abiding citizen’s Second Amendment right to self-defense does not stop at their state line, and I was proud to support its passage.”
“NRA has made the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act a priority because it enhances the fundamental right to self-defense guaranteed to all law-abiding people,” said Chris W. Cox, executive director of NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action. “People are not immune from crime when they cross state lines. That is why it is vital for them to be able to defend themselves and their loved ones should the need arise. And today, thanks to the work of Randy Hultgren, Congress has moved one step closer to advance crucial self-defense laws in this country.”
Thoughts?
(And I do mean “thoughts.” Do your very best to avoid bumper sticker slogans and talking points. A lifetime banishment is something you don’t want.)
79 Comments
|
Speaker Madigan fights back
Thursday, Nov 17, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller
* House Speaker Michael Madigan was in Rockford yesterday and answered questions about a recent Crain’s story alleging that his actions caused McPier to lose out on as much as a half billion dollars in savings by refusing to approve debt refinancing…
Madigan said he refused to deal with [McPier Executive Director Juan Ochoa] because he would not have any part in aiding corruption in the Blagojevich administration. Blagojevich was impeached by the House and convicted in the Senate Jan. 30, 2009. The ex-governor has since been convicted twice on federal corruption charges and awaits sentencing by Judge James Zagel.
“I say that story was peddled to Crain’s by Juan Ochoa, a direct appointment and direct agent of a twice-convicted felon, Rod Blagojevich,” Madigan said in the interview, which took place after a ceremony in Rockford marking the 10th anniversary of the E.J. “Zeke” Giorgi Legal Clinic. Giorgi, a 29 year state representative from Rockford who died in 1993, was a mentor to Madigan after the Chicagoan was elected to the House in 1970. The two became close friends.
Ochoa, Madigan said, “was part and parcel of the Blagojevich operation, he took orders from the governor’s office, and I was not about to approve issuance of that debt, whether it was the selection of bond counsel, the bond underwriters, which all would have been part and parcel of the Blagojevich fundraising operation, which is the reason Blagojevich is a twice-convicted felon.”
Madigan handed Register Star Senior Editor Chuck Sweeny a copy of a 2007 document, which he described as ” a proposed memorandum of understanding between Ochoa and John Filan, who was Blagojevich’s budget director.
“Ochoa will say he never signed it. Let’s assume that was correct, and he didn’t sign it. But this speaks to the intent of the Blagojevich administration relative to McCormick Place and what they would have done had they been able to issue that debt,” Madigan said.
Discuss.
46 Comments
|
Today’s Number: $850 million
Thursday, Nov 17, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The tax cut package is just way outta hand…
Discussions of tax breaks began when CME Group, which owns the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, said the exchange might leave Illinois unless it gets relief from corporate income taxes. Sears Holding Corp. also wants concessions keep its operations in Hoffman Estates.
After that, tax breaks to benefit other companies were added to the mix, including extension of research and development credits, raising the exemption for estate taxes, and reinstating another business tax credit that had been eliminated when the state raised the income tax.
Gov. Pat Quinn insisted that individuals also share in the package, proposing an increase in the earned income tax credit for low-income wage earners.
Eliminating bonus depreciation would help pay for the package the first two years, but in the third year the cost is estimated at almost $800 million to $850 million. [Emphasis added.]
* Wishful thinking…
At the same time, the provisions would cost more and more. By 2014, the state would face $848 million in lost tax revenue, a number that would only grow.
But that’s assuming no significant jobs are added or businesses expanded, the opposite of the intent of the package, state Rep. Ed Sullivan, R-Mundelein, said at a joint Illinois Senate and House Revenue Committee hearing Wednesday.
“If we’re stagnant, and don’t succeed, then we’re looking at that. But we’re anticipating this creating an economic climate to spur growth,” Sullivan said.
* Meanwhile, CME Group’s competitors are now lobbying against its tax cut…
A trio of competitors to derivatives exchange CME Group Inc. (CME) joined forces Wednesday to persuade Illinois lawmakers to block proposed tax breaks intended to prevent CME from leaving Illinois.
Other exchanges would be hamstrung by the bill that would tax CME and options exchange CBOE Holdings Inc. (CBOE) for 27.54% of all electronic transactions, said David Kupiec, a lobbyist who testified before the Illinois House Revenue and Finance Committee.
Kupiec represented Atlanta-based IntercontinentalExchange Inc. (ICE) and New York-headquartered NYSE Euronext (NYX), and Nasdaq OMX Group Inc. (NDAQ).
Currently, the Chicago-based exchanges pay taxes on all electronic trades, which account for about 85% of all business at CME.
The legislature is “picking winners and losers” among competing businesses if the measure is adopted, said Kupiec.
Kupiec described the 27.54% tax apportionment as an arbitrary figure. State officials said the tax figure came from U.S. census data estimating how much of the exchanges’ electronic trades are based in Illinois. Exchanges should be given the chance to opt out of the new taxing method, Kupiec contended.
More testimony is expected Friday from CME’s competitors.
* Related…
* Deal near to keep Sears in Illinois: The three sides, in Springfield for a legislative hearing, met for two hours in the office of House Speaker Michael Madigan and unexpectedly came away with the framework for a deal that would extend a tax break for Sears but for a shorter time period. Sears would give up some tax relief, allowing cash-strapped Community Unit School District 300 to get about $34 million more over a decade… A key lawmaker on state tax policy said one of the biggest challenges to putting together a major tax package that would help Sears and CME Group is figuring out how to pay for it.
* Illinois tax plan upsets small businesses: In testimony at the Capitol Wednesday, several small business owners said the General Assembly’s consideration of a tax bailout plan for the CME Group Inc., which owns the venerable Chicago Mercantile Exchange, needs to be scrapped or at least delayed until next year.
* Sears tax deal before lawmakers again
* CME Knew of MF Global Fund Shortfall Before CFTC Regulators
76 Comments
|
|
Comments Off
|
|
Comments Off
|
|
Support CapitolFax.com
Visit our advertisers...
 
...............
...............
...............
...............
|
   
|
Hosted by MCS |
SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax |
Advertise Here |
Mobile Version |
Contact Rich Miller
|
