Rezko watch…
Monday, Jun 2, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* 2:21 pm - From the US Attorney’s office…
Forwarding from the Court:
We have received a note from the jury. The judge will address the note as soon as the lawyers arrive. Thanks.
Not sure if they spilled coffee again or want to go home early or what, but we’ll be watching.
* 2:45 pm - [Kevin Fanning] The jurors are near a verdict, and returned a note to the judge stating:
“we cannot decide on one count.” St. Eve brought in the panel and gave them an instruction required by law, which essentially says that they must go back and keep trying. “Discuss your differences with an open mind,” St. Eve said. “You are impartial judges of the facts.”
The jury has returned to their closed-door deliberations.
34 Comments  
|
* 7:14 am - From a press release received at 7:10 this morning…
**Media Advisory**
For Monday, June 2, 2008
Governor Blagojevich to comment on new Budget passed by the General Assembly
WHO: Governor Rod R. Blagojevich
WHEN: Monday, June 2 at 10:30 a.m.
WHAT: Governor Rod R. Blagojevich will make a statement about the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget passed by the General Assembly.
LOCATION: Governor’s Office
JRTC
100 W. Randolph, 16th Fl.
Chicago, IL
Special session, anyone?
* 8:48 am - The press conference has been delayed until 11 o’clock.
* 10:08 am - Stand down? I have a couple of solid sources [update: make that three] who say that there are no plans to announce a special session or a veto today.
Instead, the governor will say that there’s a need to “work together” to figure out how to fix the budget deficit problem. But, there’s no guarantee that he won’t go off script. Still, at this point, no special session announcement. That’s a relief. After that press release went out this morning, a pal of mine in the administration was already preparing to return to Springfield as early as tomorrow, which helped to set me off. But that’s not gonna happen yet.
* 11:57 am - So far, all I’ve gotten from inside the press conference is that the leaders will meet next week.
* 12:08 pm - Here’s the governor’s press release…
Gov. Blagojevich announces General Assembly’s Fiscal Year 2009 budget unbalanced, unconstitutional
Governor urges all four leaders to join negotiations on operating and capital budgets
Initial review shows House inaction on new revenue leaves FY09 budget $2.1 billion in the red
CHICAGO – Governor Rod R. Blagojevich announced today that after an initial review, his budget experts have found the Fiscal Year 2009 budget passed by the General Assembly on Saturday to contain $2.1 billion more in spending than anticipated revenue will support, making it unconstitutional. The Illinois State Constitution requires the legislature to pass a balanced budget. The Governor said he will call the four legislative leaders together this week to resume work so the people of Illinois will have a budget that fulfills constitutional requirements and meets the state’s needs by July 1.
“As consumer prices go up and wages stay the same, households across Illinois and across the whole country are making tough decisions. Some people may cut back on expenses, or pick up extra shifts at work – whatever it takes to make ends meet. Our lawmakers should take the same responsible approach when it comes to budgeting the public’s resources. Unfortunately, because the House did not pass new revenue as the Senate did, I have a budget on my desk that jeopardizes the State’s ability to meet its core responsibilities like providing healthcare, educating our youth and protecting the public,” said Gov. Blagojevich.
The new budget lawmakers approved for Fiscal Year 2009, which begins on July 1, includes a $1.2 billion increase in spending over the Governor’s FY2009 introduced budget. The General Assembly’s budget does not include $875 million of new revenue contained in the Governor’s proposed FY09 budget, leaving it $2.1 billion in deficit.
The Illinois Constitution states that the General Assembly “by law shall make appropriations for all expenditures of public funds by the State. Appropriations for a fiscal year shall not exceed funds estimated by the General Assembly to be available during that year.”
While the Illinois State Senate passed two new revenue sources, the House failed to adopt them. Those revenue sources included $530 million through transfers from special purpose funds, and $400 million which would have been freed up through a refinancing of the state’s pension debt.
The Governor warned lawmakers that more work will be required to ensure the state can afford to meet its obligations and serve the public in the fiscal year ahead.
“This budget will not be final until it is balanced. Lawmakers, especially those in the House, have more work to do in order to enact an operating budget that’s balanced and a capital bill that will put people to work and fix our aging infrastructure. I will call a meeting with the four legislative leaders this week to resume the work necessary to make sure we have met our responsibility to the people of Illinois before the new fiscal year begins on July 1. It’s imperative that all four leaders take equal responsibility for ensuring we can pay for new spending, and can meet the state’s most pressing needs. To date this year, that responsibility has not been shared evenly,” the Governor added.
After the state Senate approved new revenue mechanisms in conjunction with the increased spending plan, the House pushed through the spending plan without passing the Senate’s proposals to provide revenue necessary to pay for it.
In early March, Gov. Blagojevich appointed former Republican US House Speaker Dennis Hastert and former Democratic US Congressman Glenn Poshard as co-chairs of the Illinois Works Coalition. The duo focused on crafting and passing an infrastructure and jobs bill that would address pressing capital needs that have built up since the last public works plan was passed nine years ago. The co-chairs facilitated regular meetings with the Governor and four legislative caucuses to draft a capital plan that could be acceptable to all participants. Three of the four leaders participated in those negotiations. In the end, the House Democratic leadership used procedural maneuvers to kill the negotiated capital plan before it could be voted on by the full House.
* A couple of thoughts: 1) Passing the revenue generators will now require a three-fifths vote in the House; 2) That’s unlikely to be achieved.
* 12:25 pm - IIS has posted raw audio. Listen or download.
* Quotes from the presser…
* “My hope is if we can get this done with the leaders and resolve these two important issues then it would be a matter of a day or so when the General Assembly would reconvene and pass a budget that’s balanced as well as a jobs bill.”
* “I’d be delighted to have as many meetings as we can constructively have… What we’d prefer not to have are meetings where some might participate but are more interested in just running place and running out the clock than actually trying to find a way to solve problems.”
* Question: Are you afraid to call a special session? “Of course not.”
* Madigan’s parliamentary maneuver on gaming expansion “Thwarted the will of the people.”
* On Madigan’s statement that the capital plan funding ought to include some “pain” - “I didn’t run for governor or become governor because I was interested in inflicting pain on people… I want to ease their pain.”
* From the Tribune…
Blagojevich was circumspect on the fate of a new ethics bill approved by the Legislature. The bill would prevent those who have state business, or those seeking state contracts, from making campaign donations to the statewide officeholder who doles out the contracts. Blagojevich said that he is working to improve the bill and he will be “deliberate” about the process to ensure that the reforms are sweeping.
He declined to say what these improvements would be, but indicated that he would propose similar restrictions on lawmakers.
Asked if he believes his campaign fund will be indicted as the next step of the federal investigation into his administration after the Antoin “Tony” Rezko corruption trial, Blagojevich said it was “inappropriate” to comment while the Rezko jury is still deliberating.
Unsurprisingly, the IIS audio ends before the Rezko question was asked.
* LOL: Blagojevich Presser Delayed 4 Times
* More thoughts - I figure that Madigan probably won’t show up at the leaders meetings, repeating his oft-stated claim that the governor should just reduce the spending on his own. The governor will say he’s tried to make nice, darnit, and then will take the next step. A total budget veto would not go over well in the Senate, however, so this should be interesting to watch.
* 1:20 pm - Madigan’s spokesperson just asked whether this would be the first time in six years that the governor was interested in a balanced budget.
He also confirmed that if the leaders meeting was about the budget, then Madigan’s budgeteer Rep. Gary Hannig would be sent. If it’s about gaming, then House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie would be dispatched.
94 Comments
|
Question of the day
Monday, Jun 2, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The setup…
For more than 50 years, the Daley family has been shaping Chicago. Now, the next generation of Daleys is making its mark on the city. […]
And if the Daley dynasty does produce a third Chicago mayor, his last name might not be Daley but Thompson — as in Peter Q. Thompson, the eldest son of the late mayor’s eldest daughter.
“Peter is really the prince,'’ said one City Hall insider. “He’s a star.'’
Others point to his younger brother, Patrick Daley Thompson, who owns one of Chicago’s most famous houses — the Bridgeport bungalow of his grandfather, the late mayor. […]
Don’t rule out the current mayor’s eldest daughter, Nora Daley Conroy, says one insider: “She’s the brains of the next generation.'’
* The question: Do you think Chicago will elect another Daley family member as mayor one day soon? Explain.
29 Comments
|
Why they left
Monday, Jun 2, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Besides the threats of impeachment if the General Assembly had to endure yet another overtime session and the overwhelming desire to just leave town and avoid another summer-fall session, there was something else at play under the dome. My syndicated newspaper column takes a look at a concept I shared with subscribers a few weeks ago…
The Illinois Compensation Review Board submitted its pay increase recommendations April 30. Under state law, both chambers had to vote to reject the proposal within 30 session days or the raises automatically took effect. The House did so almost immediately, but as in the past, Senate Democrats decided the House was a collection of wimps. They wanted their pay raise, and Jones refused numerous entreaties to bring the proposal up for a floor vote.
Jones also quickly canceled session days in May. Jones was, in reality, “banking” session days.
If that clock ticked down to the zero hour during the overtime session, the pay raises would take effect immediately…
…meaning the hugely unpopular (with voters) pay raises would almost undoubtedly take effect before this November’s election. The Senate could have just voted to reject the raises during a summer overtime session, but the chamber’s top Democratic leaders had obviously made the pay hikes a top priority.
They went out of their way to publicly skewer dissident members such as Sen. Susan Garrett, who demanded they forgo the pay bump. The attacks made it crystal clear that the pay raise is one of the most - if not the most - important issues to the leadership.
* And…
If that pay-raise clock had started ticking loudly during yet another spectacularly disastrous summer overtime session, Senate Democrats would have freaked out in a very big way. Barack Obama or no Barack Obama, they’d have been absolutely pummeled by their constituents and the press. The pay raise would probably have to be rejected under that scenario, which wouldn’t make the Senate’s leaders happy at all.
So the best way for the Senate Democrats to make sure they got their money was to forge a quick budget resolution with the House and get out of town.
* By the way, if the pay raises do take effect, legislators won’t receive all the pay hike recommended by the Compensation Review Board, but they will get a cost of living raise in the coming fiscal year…
The proposed state government budget for the coming fiscal year includes funding for pay hikes for top elected officials, including Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Illinois legislators.
The boosts amount to 3.8 percent, state Sen. Christine Radogno, R-Lemont, said Saturday.
“It’s a cost-of-living increase. It’s not a pay raise,” said Sen. Donne Trotter, D-Chicago.
18 Comments
|
The keys to the bus
Monday, Jun 2, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* As i told you early Sunday morning, the governor is considering calling a special session this month. The Tribune has a piece today entitled “End to spring session may be short-lived for Illinois lawmakers.”
Legislators shook hands, slapped backs and loaded boxes into cars after their spring session was gaveled to a close, but the celebration was clouded by the realization that their liberation from the state capital may only be a temporary reprieve.
After approving a proposed ban on the style of pay-to-play politics alleged to have taken place in Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration, sending him an underfunded state budget and stalling his push for a huge public works program, the legislature’s return to Springfield may be counted in weeks instead of months.
Anyone thinking that the squabbling among the state’s Democratic leaders ran its course with the legislature’s rare on-time adjournment late Saturday night need only to look at the official statement Blagojevich issued after his pet $33 billion public works plan passed the Senate but was quashed by House Speaker Michael Madigan about 10 p.m.
“I want to congratulate three of the four legislative caucuses for their efforts to pass a capital [construction] plan,” the Democratic governor said… “Despite the House Democratic leadership’s effort to kill the jobs bill, this is only the beginning.”
* Only the beginning. Oy. Gov. Blagojevich asked GOP congressional candidate Aaron Schock what Schock would do about the unbalanced state budget if he was the governor. Said Schock…
“I told him I’d veto it. And he looked at me and goes, ‘You know, I just might do that.’”
* How underfunded is next fiscal year’s budget? The AP takes a look…
It assumes tax revenues will grow by $1 billion despite the weakening economy. That’s twice the growth that Blagojevich’s office estimated in his budget proposal. It doesn’t include $500 million the state will have to contribute to government pension systems. It ignores significant red ink in the current budget, which will carry over to next year.
* Gatehouse claims the deficit is $2 billion, while the Sun-Times says it may be as high as $2.5 billion. Speaker Madigan says the guv can just use his line item and reduction veto powers to put the budget into balance, but…
“I always took the view that the General Assembly could not appropriate more than it estimates to be available in funds, and that doesn’t mean after the reduction vetoes, etc.,” said Lousin, who was the House’s chief lawyer in the early 1970s.
I’m pretty sure she’s right.
* And then there’s the promised amendatory veto of the ethics bill…
There’s no telling what sort of amendments the governor has up his sleeve this time.
* If we do come back to session, it may not be for long. Here’s why…
But given the threat of impeachment, even his allies don’t believe Blagojevich will play the special-session card in the coming weeks after last year’s draining summer-long budget impasse when little was achieved but ill will.
“He knows what’s going on,” said Sen. Donne Trotter (D-Chicago) said of the governor. “From what I’ve heard, he certainly doesn’t want to stir up the natives and have them start talking about impeachment and all this other kind of stuff.”
* Madigan was asked Saturday night about impeachment. Patterson summarizes part of the back and forth…
Q: What would it take to impeach Blagojevich?
A: “It’s going to take 60 votes in the Illinois House.”
* If you were reading the blog Saturday night, you saw that Gov. Blagojevich made a rare visit to the House floor. More from Patterson…
Blagojevich: I’ll call you. Will you take it?
Madigan: Ha, ha, ha
* And what about the stalled capital bill? Bethany Jaeger has the lowdown…
(T)he speaker said the biggest problem with recent attempts to approve a capital plan is that legislators don’t want to accept the tough choices. “My position is there should be a construction program, but it’s going to require some people to do something which is going to carry some pain. They’re not going to be applauded when they vote for a fee increase or a tax increase.”
He wouldn’t offer any alternative revenue sources tonight, “but we’re open,” he said.
* Translation: Madigan wants to do this on his timeline and his way, just like the electric rate issue and the mass transit bailout last year. And, like the transit bailout, he wants higher taxes. Here’s a story that Rep. Jim Sacia has been telling lately. The legislative leaders and the governor are on a bus with four flat tires, so…
Gov. Rod Blagojevich blows up a tire. House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego, blows up a tire. Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson, R-Greenville, blows up a tire. Senate President Emil Jones Jr., D-Chicago, blows up a tire.
“We’ve got all four tires blown up,” said Sacia, R-Pecatonica. “Now what’s the problem? Madigan has got the keys to the bus.”
23 Comments
|
Morning Shorts
Monday, Jun 2, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning
* Straight Party Voting Dead for This Year
* Timely reactions are a real gas
- “I’m really distressed about the high price of gasoline. I want to make sure that if gas prices are going up, it’s because of things we have no control over, not that some of these gas companies are out to take advantage of a situation. I want the public to know somebody is riding herd on this situation.”
- U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood on March 5, 2003. Gas rose to a state average $1.72 a gallon, up 53 cents from the previous year.
* If Rush Retires, Many Are Ready
* Jim Thompson: CS-T editorial makes case for executive clemency for Ryan
* Central Illinois Gazette
Rick Winkel was one of a small minority of Senate Republicans to go along with a $10 billion bond sale proposed by the governor in 2003. But he says today that he would not do it again.
* One plan to fix state’s debt: Get workers to give back
The organizations sent a letter to the governor saying negotiations with state government’s major unions provide the opportunity to scale back pension increases and order new employer contributions for health insurance.
* Read the letter
* State funding for UI included in shaky budget
* Monroe County eyes referendum on tax to pay for levee upgrades
* State’s stance on silence makes no sense
* State says mental heath check system ready to go
* Sen. Jacobs should check his shoe
On May 8 he was quoted thus: “Frankly, if you don’t want politicians selling jobs and you don’t want politicians carrying plastic bags to the Governor’s Mansion full of cash, then you’ve got to pay them.”
* Mike Tryon Tries to Boost Name Identification
* Harmon, Froehlich Bill Provides DuPage Candidates With Equal Ballot Access
* New law may leave some seeing their glass half empty
* Bernard Schoenburg: Ex-state rep fined in ethics panel’s 1st completed case
* We’re mired in standoffs
* Chicago tries to ease traffic mess around train stations
* He zones. She sells. And it’s legal.
* Cook County Board President Todd Stroger names new chief of staff
* Feds raid union boss’ farm
* Possible Fermilab cuts could have major impact
* City Desk: Rep. Peter Roskam
7 Comments
|
|
Comments Off
|
|
Enter your password to view comments
|
It ain’t over yet
Sunday, Jun 1, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
I’m pretty sure the governor is bringing us back in a couple of weeks. At least that’s what he’s thinking now. God help us all.
63 Comments
|
* 6:08 pm - Reports from inside that Speaker Madigan would run a different, scaled back capital plan and tell the Senate to take it or leave it were denied by Madigan’s spokesman.
The Senate-passed version has language that requires all the funding and spending bills to pass or nothing takes effect. So some expect Madigan may choose the weakest part of the package, let it die and then declare all of it dead. The weakest link is most likely the gaming bill.
The other option, of course, is to call no capital bills and adjourn.
* 6:32 pm - Sen Hendon just announced that the Rules Committee would meet for the final time and then the Senate would run the bills and adjourn.
* 7:00 pm - . Gov Blagojevich is reportedly coming to the House floor soon to make a last ditch push for the capital plan.
The House GOP and Rep Jay Hoffman are angrily demanding that the capital plan be brought to the floor. The House Rules Comitye is meeting soon so we’ll know more soon.
* 7:11 pm - Blagojevich just arrived on the House floor.
* 7:18 pm - The guv has been on the floor for several minutes but has not yet been officially recognized. Never seen anything like that.
* 7:28 pm - The Senate adjourned a while ago and the guv was finally introduced in the House.
House will hear capital bills in committee soon.
*** 8:10 pm *** The House Revenue Committee just killed the Lottery sale bill. Since all capital bills are tied together it appears the game is probably over except for much shouting.
* 8:37 p.m.- The House Gaming Committee just approved the gaming expansion bill 17-11, not that it really matters. The next likely step will be for Capital Bill proponents to make a motion to discharge the lottery sale bill. If the motion fails, then there will likely be a motion to overrule the chair. That may lead to some interesting parliamentary procedure.
* 9:02 p.m. - There is a motion to table the motion to concur on the Senate’s amendments to the gaming bill. If it prevails this would essentially kill the bill.
* 9:40 p.m. - The motion to table was ruled passed with 59 votes. The motion to concur with the Senate’s gaming expansion amendments is now effectively dead.
14 House Republicans sided with Madigan on the motion to table. All are anti-gambling or are politically vulnerable.
102 Comments
|
End of session reports
Saturday, May 31, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* We can’t be everywhere, and we can’t always get to the computer to blog, so follow along at home and help us live-blog the end of session in comments…
* Senate audio and video
* House audio and video
* 2:50 pm - One piece of the capital projects package is approved…
The Illinois Senate has approved the lease of the Illinois Lottery to help pay for public works construction projects.
The chamber voted 43-8 to approve the plan in which a private operator would pay the state for the privilege of operating the lottery.
The Senate also passed the gaming expansion bill and is working on the capital projects spending bill now. Listen or watch at this link. Also, the House unanimously sent the ethics bill to the governor.
* 3:22 pm - The capital projects bill just passed the Senate with 51 “Yes” votes and just one “No” vote.
25 Comments
|
|
Comments Off
|
Question of the day
Saturday, May 31, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
Let’s assume for argument’s sake that everything goes as planned and a new state budget is passed by both chambers today.
Question: Do you think Gov. Blagojevich will veto the entire budget, which would necessitate an overtime session?
Or, do you think he will just reduce and line item various parts of the budget, which wouldn’t have to dealt with until the November veto session?
Explain.
46 Comments
|
Durbin slams Blagojevich
Saturday, May 31, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* US Sen. Dick Durbin doesn’t have much good to say about Gov. Rod Blagojevich…
Illinois’ senior Democratic senator said Friday he had a much better working relationship with former Republican Gov. George Ryan than Democratic successor Rod Blagojevich. […]
“You may assume—and it’s natural that you would —that there’s a closer working relationship with the governor and senator than there actually is. There isn’t much,” Durbin said, adding he’s talked privately with Blagojevich only a handful of times since Blagojevich took office in 2003. […]
As for how Ryan compares to Blagojevich, Durbin said he regularly received phone calls from Ryan as late as midnight to discuss public business. That never happens with Blagojevich, he said.
* He also touched on the governor’s legal problems…
Durbin… said he was “troubled” by some of Blagojevich’s early appointments. Some of those appointees, Durbin noted, played prominent roles at the public corruption trial of Antoin “Tony” Rezko, a former top fundraiser for Blagojevich. […]
Asked whether he should have registered his unease to Blagojevich about appointees like Levine, Durbin said, “When it comes to dealing with the state and all of the decisions involved in it, there’s just so much I can do, to be honest with you.”
10 Comments
|
Capital bill roundup
Saturday, May 31, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Funding…
To pay for the construction plan, lawmakers were considering Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s multibillion-dollar proposal to expand gambling and lease of the state lottery.
Included in the mix was the possibility of adding three new casinos, including one in Chicago, one in its suburbs and one in a downstate city.
* Opposition from casinos…
The Illinois Casino Gaming Association opposed both the House and Senate bills, saying they add too much gambling to an already-shrinking market.
* House Speaker Madigan ain’t happy, either…
Madigan reiterated the reason behind lawmakers’ hesitation: “It’s all about trust. It’s all about trust and whether people are prepared to trust Gov. Blagojevich and trust his record of broken promises.”
* Another Lottery shell game?
The state would lease out its rights to upward of 80 percent of the state lottery proceeds for nearly 65 years in exchange for at least $10 billion upfront, with $3 billion set aside for education and $7 billion for construction projects.
So, how much does the lottery bring in annually?
The answer: $600 million. […]
But whoever ends up with the lottery, will likely make at least three times that much over the course of this deal.
80 percent of $600 million is $480 million. Multiply that by the possible length of the lease (65 years) and you get $31.2 billion.
So the state’s giving up $31.2 billion for $10 billion now.
35 Comments
|
Budget roundup
Saturday, May 31, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* First up, Bethany Jaeger’s report…
The General Assembly is expected to approve a state budget before the deadline, but the budget also is expected to contain a rather large hole. Madigan said the legislature’s job is to approve the spending authority. The actual spending is up to the governor. “If he feels that some of those numbers should be changed, he has a reduction veto.”
The state Constitution grants the governor the power to strike out portions of the budget or to reduce the amount of money dedicated to specific programs.
* Spending…
Under one budget plan being considered, spending on regular state operations would jump $2.1 billion over the current budget. […]
The proposal would give universities a 2.8 percent increase over the current fiscal year and would fund an 80-bed expansion of the LaSalle veterans home.
The plan also would overrule Blagojevich’s earlier bid to close Pontiac Correctional Center by earmarking enough money to keep all of the state’s prisons open.
In addition, the spending proposal would add money to fully open the state’s unused maximum-security prison in Thomson, which was built in 2001, but never opened.
* Schools…
It would give schools another $500 million, including nearly $150 million for two dozen schools to pay for long-delayed construction projects.
* AFSCME…
Hannig said the new budget does not include money to cover any pay raises for state workers who are members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The union and state are negotiating a new contract to replace the one that expires June 30. […]
Any pay raises that are part of the contract would have to be added to the budget later in the year, Hannig said.
* Revenues…
Senate Democrats approved issuing pension bonds and sweeping money from restricted state funds to cover about $1 billion of the new spending. But neither proposal has passed the House, and Hannig was noncommittal about whether he thought they will be taken up there.
Senate Republicans also said the Democrats are assuming the state will collect $1 billion more in tax revenue next year, something they said is highly unlikely given the economic slowdown.
* Hole…
But the deal could force Blagojevich to be the bad guy. […]
“Will the governor have to make some reductions? More than likely he will,” Trotter said, noting Blagojevich slashed more than $450 million in legislative projects last year. […]
The state constitution bars officials from passing a budget that spends more than they estimate will be available. But “estimate” is the key word. Legislators could use generous guesses at tax revenue coming in next year to say they’ve passed a balanced plan.
* Motivation?…
[Sen. Terry Link] contended there was an Obama factor that also helped move legislators toward a budget plan, knowing that a fracas among Democrats in the legislature where Obama once served would do little to help him.
“Everything we do here is going to be national, under a microscope,” said Link, a close Obama friend.
“That’s why it’s important that [Saturday] night, this gavel is hit and we’re out of here.”
* Prepare for the worst?
Madigan offered no reason for optimism that the legislative loose ends could be tied up by tonight, telling reporters to “plan for the worst” and blaming his nemesis, Blagojevich, for the lack of legislative cohesion.
“He’s now looking at the consequences of a six-year policy of tearing people apart,” Madigan said of the governor.
8 Comments
|
Bunker pics and Madigan audio
Saturday, May 31, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Here are a couple of photos courtesy of Metro Networks‘ Ben Yount from the tunnel under the Capitol Complex during last night’s tornado evacuation…
* Bethany Jaeger had this onsite report….
We all had to head to the basement of the Statehouse, where tunnels connect buildings on the Capitol complex. Amanda Vinicky, reporter for WUIS public radio station out of the University of Illinois at Springfield, caught up with House Speaker Michael Madigan in one of the tunnels. We listened to her audio file. She asked the speaker about the status of the budget, the leadership style of the governor and the lack of trust plaguing the democratic process.
Madigan’s advice for others was to consider the past five or six years — and to “prepare for the worst.”
* Bethany’s photo….
* Listen to Amanda’s recording of the impromptu Speaker Madigan interview by clicking here.
* The governor stayed in his office during the evacuation…
Blagojevich joked about staying in his office during the tornado warning saying, “Well, with all those lawmakers downstairs, I was a lot safer up here.”
The governor was actually in a safe area when the tornado warning occurred, said his spokeswoman, Rebecca Rausch.
* And some complained…
Rep. Bill Black, R-Danville, announced that he was glad everyone was safe.
“But if we are to use the tunnels in the future for an evacuation because of severe weather, I would urge those responsible to study what went on tonight. It was extremely hot down there. … There was no water, there was no ventilation,” he said.
“I appreciate the fact that we were safe, but I was concerned about some people being overheated. No water. No automatic external defibrillators. No nurse. No medical attention if it’d come to that, and quite frankly, I’m not even sure who was in charge,” Black added. “I think we can prepare a little better than what we were today.”
* Related…
* Tornado sirens halt lawmakers in Springfield
* State Capitol evacuated due to tornado threat
* Storm sweeps through Ill.; lawmakers run for cover
13 Comments
|
Morning shorts
Saturday, May 31, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning
* Tamms reforms on the way?
* Chicago is choke point in overloaded U.S. rail system
* The reality of oil prices
* Roskam says his district’s No. 1 concern is gas prices
* Foster, Durbin cry foul over gas prices
The lawmakers said they supported stepping up efforts in Congress and by the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether fuel suppliers are “gouging” customers or colluding to fix prices artificially high.
* Con Con Considerations: Presentation
* Seeking office in DuPage may get easier
* Lawmakers approve helping Lake in the Hills with runway land dispute
* Many consumers spend early rebates on soaring cost of living
* UI student’s candidacy validated by electoral board
* Legislators: Act may retain IDOT jobs
* IDOT spent on ice, snow; little left for roadkill
* Lawmaker questions IDOT budget
* Lawmakers push hospital plan to care for poor
“This critical infusion of federal dollars will help hospitals and other health-care providers ensure accessible, affordable and quality health care for services in underfunded communities throughout the state,” Schoenberg said.
* GPS for stalkers bill sent to governor
* Veterans home becomes political battle ground
* Potential softening of review board has prosecutors scared
* Why does Lisa Madigan leave the heavy-lifting to Fitzgerald?
* Why Lisa Madigan isn’t taking the lead in fighting political corruption in Illinois
My short answer is that this is nothing new: The feds traditionally handle big corruption cases in part because they have more resources and in part because the “gotcha!” crimes in political corruption cases — mail fraud, for example — are often violations of federal and not state law.
* Feds raid union boss’ farm
* Rezko’s Rubber Checks Drawn from Giannoulias Family Bank
* Gambling with a crooked governor
* Lawmakers urge EPA to block BP plans
“Increased carbon dioxide emissions at Whiting remain a major concern for us,” said a letter from Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Il.; Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Chicago; Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Evanston, and Rep. Melissa Bean, D-Barrington. “We strongly encourage you to revisit those issues and object to the permit” until Indiana and BP “have rectified these problems.”
* Martin Ozinga’s faith pulling him to congressional race
* Hastert Joins Dickstein
* FOX News Documentary Shows Congressmen Sent Millions in Earmarks to Their Own Families
After President Bush flew to Hastert’s district in August 2005 to sign the bill, Hastert and his partners flipped the land for what appeared to be a multi-million dollar profit.
* Clinton expects superdelegates to start deciding
“I think that people will have to ask themselves those questions, who would be the best president in terms of preparation and readiness and effectiveness, and who would be the stronger candidate. And I imagine that process will begin after the end of the last primaries,” Clinton said.
* Friday Beer Blogging: AB (Possible) Buyout Edition
2 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
|
